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

II. KINGS.

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

THIS secounde book of Kingis makith mencioun of the coronacioun of Dauith, first in Ebron bi the men of Juda, and aftirward in Jerusalem of al the peple of Israel; and of his werres; and how the Lord punischide Dauith with grete angwischis and disesis for the deeth of Vrie his seruaunt, and for the rauyschinge of Bersabee, the wijf of Vrie, and seide to him bi the profete, that werris scholden not ceese fro him in alle hise daies. Neuertheles the Lord louede Dauith, and ȝaf victorie to him of alle hise enemyes.

[Heere bigynnith the secunde book of Kyngis [From IM. The secounde of Kinges. LP. Here bigynneth the secunde book. O. No initial rubric in the other MSS.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon, after that Saul was deed, that Dauid turnede aȝen fro the sleyng of Amalech, and dwellide [he dwellide I.] twei daies in Sichelech. [verse 2] Forsothe [And I.] in the thridde dai a man apperide, comynge fro the castels [tentis I.] of Saul with the [a I.] cloth to-rent, and his heed spreynt with dust; and as he cam to Dauid, he felde on [upon I.] his face, and worschipide [worschipide him I.] . [verse 3] And Dauid seide to hym, Fro whennus comest thou? Which [And he I.] seide to Dauid, Y fledde fro the castels [tentis I.] of Israel. [verse 4] And Dauid seide to hym, What is the word which [that I.] is doon [doon there I.] ; schewe thou [thou it I.] to me. And he seide, The puple [puple of Israel I.] fledde [hath fled I.] fro the batel, and many of the puple felden [fledden IOU.] , and ben deed; but also Saul, and Jonathas, his sonne, perischyden [han perischid I.] . [verse 5] And Dauid seide to the ȝong man, that telde to hym [hym this I.] , Wherof woost thou, that Saul is deed, and Jo|nathas,

his sonne? [verse 6] And the ȝong man seide, that telde to hym, Bi hap Y cam in to the hil of Gelboe, and Saul lenyde on [upon I.] his spere; forsothe [and I.] charis and knyȝtis [horse men I.] [verse 7] neiȝiden to hym; and he turnede [yturned I.] bihynde his bak, `and siȝ me, and [and seynge me I.] clepide. To whom whanne Y hadde answeride, Y am present; he seide to me, Who art thou? [verse 8] And Y seide to hym, Y am a man of Amalech. [verse 9] And he spak to me, Stonde thou on [upon I.] me, and sle me; for angwischis holden me, and ȝit al my lijf is in me. [verse 10] And Y stood on [upon I.] hym, and Y killide [slowe I.] hym; for Y wiste that he myȝte not lyue aftir the fallyng; and Y took the diademe, that was in [on I.] his heed, and the bye fro his arm, and Y brouȝte [haue brouȝt hem I.] hidur to thee, my lord. [verse 11] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid took and to-rente hise clothis, and [and eke I.] the men [verse 12] that weren with hym; and thei weiliden, and wepten, and fastiden `til to [vnto I.] euentid [the euentid IK.] , on Saul, and Jonathas, his sone, and on the puple of the Lord, and on the hows of Israel, for thei hadden feld [falle doun I. falle ELM.] bi swerd. [verse 13] And Dauid seide to the ȝong man, that telde to him, Of whennus art thou? And he answeride, Y am the sone of a man comelyng, of a man of Amalech. [verse 14] And Dauid seide to him, Whi dreddist thou not to sende [putte C sec. m. M. putte forth I.] thine hond, that thou schuldist sle the crist of the Lord? [verse 15] And Dauid clepide oon of hise children, and seide, Go thou, and falle on hym. Which [And he I.] smoot that ȝong man, and he was deed. [verse 16] And Dauid seide to hym, Thi blood be on thin heed; for thi mouth spak aȝens thee, and seide, Y killide the crist [anoyntid I.] of the Lord. [verse 17] For|sooth Dauid biweilide sych a weilyng on [verse 18] Saul, and on Jonathas, his sone; and comaundide [he comaundide I.] , that thei [men I.] schulden teche the sones of Juda weilyng [weiling; in Ebreu it is, that thei schulden teche the sones of Juda the bouwe, that is, the craft of scheting; thus it is in Ebreu, and in bokis amendid. Lire here. C.] [the weilyng I.] , as it is [was A.] writun in the Book of Just Men. And Dauid seyde, Israel, biholde thou, for these men [Om. I.] that ben deed, woundid [ben woundid I.] on thin hiȝe

[verse 19] placis; the noble men of Israel ben slayn on [upon I.] thin hillis. [verse 20] Hou felden [han falle I.] stronge men [hou felden stronge men; as if he seide, it semeth not mannus victo|rie, but Goddis veniaunce, for the synnes of Saul and of his felowis; and therfor it is to eschewe souereynly fro siche synnes. nyle ȝe telle and so forth, that is, if this myȝte be that it were not teld, Y wolde that bi al the desir of soule. Lire here. C.] ? nyle ȝe telle [telle this I.] in Geth, nether telle ȝe in the [Om. C.] weilottis of Ascolon; lest perauenture the douȝtris of Filisteis be glad, lest the douȝtris of vncircumcidid men `be glad [ioyen I.] . [verse 21] Hillis of Gelboe, neither dew nethir reyn come on [upon I.] you, nether the [be thei the I.] feeldis of firste fruytis be [Om. I.] ; for the scheeld of stronge men was cast awey there, the scheeld of Saul, as `if he were not anoyntid [if he hadde not ben anoynted I. it were not anoynted X.] with oile [with oile, that is, of con|secracioun of the king bi Samuel. Lire here. C.] . [verse 22] Of the blood of slayn men, of [and of I.] the fatnesse of strong men, the arewe of Jonathas ȝede neuer abak, and the swerd of Saul turnede not aȝen void. [verse 23] Saul and Jonathas amy|able, and fair in her lijf, weren not de|partid also in deeth [her deeth EIL.] ; thei weren swiftere than eglis, strongere than liouns. [verse 24] Douȝtris of Israel, wepe ȝe on Saul, that clothide [clothide ȝou, etc.; that is, with colourid and preciouse clothis, takun of the prey of enemyes. Lire here. C.] ȝou with fyn reed colourid [Om. BC. colourid clothing I.] in [and in A pr. m. CEFLMPRSU.] delicis, that ȝaf goldun ournementis to ȝoure atyre. [verse 25] Hou `felden doun stronge men [han stronge men falle doun I.] in batel? Jonathas was slayn in the [Om. I.] hiȝe places. [verse 26] Y make sorewe on [upon I.] thee, my brother Jonathas, ful fair, `and amyable more than the [ouer the I.] loue of wymmen; as a modir loueth oon [hir I.] aloone [only I.] sone, so Y louyde thee. [verse 27] Hou therfor `felden doun stronge men [han stronge men falle doun I.] , and armeris of batel perischide [han perischid I.] ?

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Therfor aftir these thingis Dauid coun|seilide [counseilide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal stie [stie up I.] in to oon of the citees of Juda? And the Lord seide to hym, Stie thou [thou up I.] . And Dauid seide to the Lord, Whidur schal Y stie [stie up I.] ? And the Lord answeride to hym, In to Ebron. [verse 2] Therfor Dauid stiede, and hise twei wyues, Achynoem of Jezrael, and Abigail, the wijf of Nabal of Carmele. [verse 3] But also Dauid ledde the men

that weren with hym, ech man with his hows; and thei dwelliden in the townes of Ebron. [verse 4] And the men of Juda camen, and anoyntiden [and anoynt|iden there Da|uyth; Dauyth was anoyntid thries; first in the hows, in the firste book of Kingis xvi. c^o.; the ii. tyme here of the hows of Juda; the thridde tyme on al Israel, in v. c^o.; in signe that a man owith to haue anoynt|ing of the Hooly Goost, in herte bi veri feith, in mouth bi knouleching therof, and in the hond bi good worching. Lire here. C.] there Dauid, that he schulde regne on [in A. upon I.] the hows of Juda. And it was teld to Dauid, that men of Jabes of Ga|laad hadden biried Saul. [verse 5] Therfor Dauid sente messangeris to the men of Jabes of Galaad, and seide to hem, Blessid be ȝe of the Lord, that diden this mercy with ȝour [ȝou A.] lord Saul, and birieden hym. [verse 6] And now sotheli the Lord schal ȝelde to ȝou merci and treuthe, but also Y schal ȝelde thank|yng, for ȝe diden this word. [verse 7] Ȝoure hondis be coumfortid, and be ȝe sones [the sones I.] of strengthe; for thouȝ ȝoure lord Saul is [be I.] deed, netheles the hows of Juda anoyntide [hath anoyntid I.] me kyng to `hym silf [hym I.] . [verse 8] Forsothe [Certis I.] Abner, the sone of Ner, prince of the oost of Saul, took Isbosech, the sone of Saul, and ledde [he ledde I.] hym [verse 9] aboute bi the [Om. I.] castels, and made [he made I.] him [Om. plures.] kyng on Galaad, and on Gethsury, and on Jezrael, and on Effraym, and on Ben|iamyn, and on al Israel. Isbosech, the [Om. KX.] sone of Saul, was of fourti ȝeer, whanne he began to regne on [upon I.] Israel; and he regnede twei ȝeer. Sotheli [And I.] the hous aloone of Juda suede Dauid. [verse 11] And the noumbre of daies, bi whiche Dauid dwellide regnynge in Ebron on the hows of Juda, was of seuene ȝeer and sixe monethis. [verse 12] And Ab|ner, the sone of Ner, ȝede out, and the children of Isbosech, sone [the sone I.] of Saul, fro the castels in [of A. Om. D.] Gabaon. [verse 13] Forsothe [And I.] Joab, the sone of Saruye, and the children of Dauid ȝeden out, and camen [thei camen I.] to hem bisidis the cisterne in [of I.] Gabaon. And whanne thei hadden come togidere in to o place euene aȝens [aȝens either other I.] , these saten on o part of the cis|terne, and thei on the [that I.] tother. [verse 14] And Abner seide to Joab, `The children rise [Rise these children up I.] , and plei [plei thei I.] befor us [pleye bifor vs; that is, schewe her strengthe and nobley; and here pleie is set for sle ethir fiȝte. Lire here. C.] . And Joab answeride, Rise thei [thei up I.] . [verse 15] Therfor [Thanne I.] thei risiden [resen up I.] , and passiden [passiden forth I.] twelue in noumbre of Beniamyn, of the

part of Isbosech, sone [the sone I.] of Saul; and twelue of the children [seuauntis I.] of Dauid. [verse 16] And ech man, whanne `the heed of his felowe was takun [he hadde take his felowe bi the heede I.] , fastnede [ficchide I.] the [his I.] swerde in to the side of `the contrarye [his aduersarie I.] ; and thei felden doun togidere. And the name of that place was clepid The Feeld of stronge men [the feeld of stronge men; in Ebreu it is, the feeld of men slayn togidere. Lire here. C.] in Gabaon. [verse 17] And `batel hard ynow [ful harde batel I.] roos in that dai; and Abner [Abner was dryuen awei I.] and the sones of Israel `weren dryuun [Om. I.] of the children [seuauntis I.] of Dauid. [verse 18] For|sothe thre sones of Saruye weren there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asahel; forsothe [and I.] Asahel was a `rennere moost swift [ful swifte rennere I.] , as oon of the capretis that dwellen in woodis. [verse 19] Forsothe [Sotheli plures. And I.] Asahel pursuede Abner, and bowide [he bowide I.] not [Om. I.] , nether to the riȝt side nether [ne EL.] to the left side, ceessynge to pursue Abner. [verse 20] Therfor Abner bihelde bihynde his bac, and seide, Whether thou art Asahel? Which [The which I.] answeride, Y am. [verse 21] And Abner seide to hym, Go [Go thou I.] to the riȝtside, ether to the lefte side; and take oon of the ȝonge men, and take to thee hise spuylis. Sotheli [But I.] Asahel nolde [wolde not I.] ceesse, that ne he [Om. A.] pursuede hym [Abner I.] . [verse 22] And eft Abner spak to Asahel, Go thou awei; nyle thou pursue me, lest Y be compellid to peerse [stike I.] thee in to erthe [the erthe K.] , and Y schal not mowe reise [reise thanne I.] my face to Joab, thi brother. [verse 23] And Asahel dispiside to here, and nolde [he wolde not I.] bowe awey. Therfor [therfor the spere of Azahel yturned awey I.] Abner smoot him `with the spere turned awei [Om. I.] [turned awey; that is, turned aȝenus him. in the schar; in Ebreu it is, smoot him bi|hinde the mawe in the fyuethe rib, vndur which ben the mem|bris of liyf. Lire here. C.] in the schar, and roof [stikide him I. roof him X sec. m.] thorouȝ, and he was deed in the same place; and alle men that passiden bi the [that I.] place, in which place [Om. I.] Asahel felde doun, and was deed, stoden [abiden I.] stille. [verse 24] Forsothe [And I.] while Joab and Abisai pursueden Abner fleynge, the sunne ȝede doun; and thei camen til [Om. EILX. in M.] to the litil hil of the [a I.] water cundiyt, which [that I.] is euene aȝens the valey, and the weie of deseert in Ga|baon. [verse 25] And the sones of Beniamyn weren gaderid [gaderid togidre I.] to Abner, and thei weren gaderid

togidere in to o cumpeny, and stoden [thei stoden I.] in the hiȝnesse [hiȝte I.] of oon [an I.] heep of erthe. [verse 26] And Abner criede to Joab, and seide, Whether thi swerd schal be feers `til to [vnto I.] sleyng? Whether thou knowist not, that dispeir [that dispeir, etc., of fliȝt without batel for bi sich maner ech part settith al for al. Lire here. C.] is perelouse? Hou longe seist thou not to the puple, that it ceesse to pursue hise britheren? [verse 27] And Joab seyde, The Lord lyueth, for if thou haddist spoke [spoke thus I.] eerli, the puple pursuynge his brother hadde go awey. [verse 28] And Joab sownede with a cla|rioun, and al the oost stood [stood stille I.] ; and thei pursueden no ferthere Israel, nether bi|gunnen batel. [verse 29] Forsothe [And I.] Abner and hise men ȝeden [ȝeden thenns I.] by the feeldi places of Moab in al that nyȝt, and passiden [thei passiden I.] Jordan; and whanne al Bethoron was compassid, thei camen to the castels. [verse 30] Sotheli [And I.] whanne Abner was left, Joab turnede aȝen, and gaderide togidere al the [his I.] puple; and ten men and nyne, outakun [withoute I.] Asahel, failiden of the children [seruauntis I.] of Dauid. [verse 31] Forsothe the seruauntis of Dauid smytiden [smeten EIL.] of Benia|myn, and of the men that weren with Abner, thre hundrid men and sixti, whiche [the which I.] also weren deed. [verse 32] And thei token Asahel, and birieden hym in the sepulcre of his fadir in Bethleem. And Joab, and the men that weren with hym, ȝeden in al that nyȝt, and in thilke morewtid thei camen in to Ebron.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Therfor long [a long I.] strijf was maad bitwixe the hows of Dauid and `bitwixe [Om. EL.] the hows of Saul; and Dauid profitide and euere was strongere than hym silf [than him silf, in com|parisoun of tyme passid, for his power encreesside euere. Lire here. C.] , forsothe [but I.] the hows of Saul decreesside ech dai. [verse 2] And sones weren borne to Dauid in Ebron; and his firste gendrid [bigoten I.] sone was Amon, of [verse 3] Achynoem of Jezrael; and aftir hym was Celeab, of Abigail, wijf [the wyf I.] of Nabal of Car|mele; sotheli [and I. forsothe K.] the thrydde was Absolon,

the sone of Maacha, douȝtir [the douȝter I.] of Tholomay, [verse 4] kyng of Gessur; forsothe [and I.] the fourthe was Adonyas, the sone of Agith; and the fyuethe was Saphacias, the sone of Abi|tail; [verse 5] and [Om. ELP.] the sixte was Gethraam of Egla [of Egla, that was the douȝter of Saul, and sche was clepid speciali the wiyf of Da|uyth, for sche was first weddid. Lire here. C.] , the wijf of Dauid. These weren borne to Dauid in Ebron. [verse 6] Therfor whanne batel was bytwixe the hows of Saul and the hows of Dauid, Abner, the sone of Ner, gouernyde the hows of Saul. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] a [to Saul was a I.] concubyn, that is, a [Om. CF.] secoundarie wijf, Respha bi name, the douȝtir of Achia, `was to Saul [Om. I.] ; and Abner entride to hir. [verse 8] And Isbosech seide to Abner, Whi `entridist thou [hast thou entrid I.] to the concubyn of my fadir? Which [And Abner I.] was wrooth greetli for the wordis of Isbosech, and seide [he seide I.] , Whether Y am [am not C. be EL.] the heed of a dogge aȝens Juda to dai, and Y have do merci on the hous of Saul, thi fadir, and on hise britheren, and neiȝ|boris, and Y bitook not thee in to the hondis of David, and thou hast souȝt in me that, that thou schuldist repreue me [Om. plures.] for a womman to dai? [verse 9] God do these thingis to Abner, and adde these thingis to hym [and adde these thingis to him; that is, so many yuels and mo, than to ony wrecche, nobut Y fille the word of the Lord, that thi rewme be translatid to Dauyth. Lire here. C.] , no [Om. I.] but as [if I do so wth Dauid, as I.] the Lord swoor to Dauid [him I.] , `so [verse 10] Y do with hym [Om. I.] , that the rewme be trans|latid fro the hous of Saul, and the trone of Dauid be reisid on [upon I.] Israel and on Juda, fro Dan `til to [til AO sec. m. to EIL.] Bersabee. [verse 11] And Isbosech myȝte not answere ony thing to Abner, for he dredde Abner. [verse 12] Therfor Abner sente messangeris to Dauid, and thei seiden `for hym [to hym A pr. m. for Abner I.] , Whos is the lond? and that the messangeris schulden speke [speke thus I.] , Make thou frenschipis with me, and myn hond schal be with thee, and Y schal brynge al Israel to thee. [verse 13] And Dauid seide, Best [Om. I.] Y schal make frenschipis [ful gode frenschipis I.] with thee, but Y axe of thee o thing, and seie [I seie I.] , Thou schalt not se my face, bifore that thou brynge [brynge to me I.] Mycol, the douȝter of Saul, and so thou schalt come, and schalt se me. [verse 14] Therfor Dauid sente [therfor Da|uyth sente, etc.; for Abner wroot aȝen to Dauyth, that he myȝte not bringe Mychol, no but of the wille of Isbo|sech hir bro|ther, and ther|for Dauyth axide hir of Isbosech. Lire here. C.] messangeris to Isbosech, the sone

of Saul, and seide, Ȝelde thou my wijf Mycol [Mycol to me I.] , whom Y spouside to me for an hundryd prepucies of Filisteis. [verse 15] Therfor Isbosech sente, and took hir fro hir hose|bonde [therfor Isbo|sech sente, and took hir fro hir hosebonde; he was not hir hosebonde in truthe, but in gessing of the peple, for in truthe, sche was the wiyf of Dauyth, and it was neuere leueful to a womman, to haue tweyne hosebondis to gidere. C.] , [verse 16] Faltiel, son [the son I.] of Lais; and hir hose|bonde suede hir and wepte [wente G.] [wepte; our doctouris seyen comynly that he wepte for ioye, for sche was brouȝt aȝen to hir hose|bonde, and he touchide not hir fleisly, but kepte hir as a sister; summe Ebrew doc|tours seyen that he wepte for sorewe, for excercise of greet perfec|cioun ȝede awey fro him, for he arettide excercise of greet perfec|cioun to kepe siche a ladi so fair and noble, as a sistir, with out fleisly cou|pling. Lire here. C.] til [til to EKLMPX.] Bahu|rym. And Abner seide to hym, Go thou, and turne aȝen; and he [Lais I.] turnede aȝen. [verse 17] Also Abner brouȝte in a word to the eldere men of Israel, and seide, Bothe ȝistirdai and the thridde dai ago ȝe souȝten Dauid, that he schulde regne on [upon I.] ȝou. [verse 18] Now therfor do ȝe; for the Lord spak to Dauid, and seide, In the hond of my seruaunt Dauid Y schal saue my puple Israel fro the hond of Filisteis, and of alle his enemyes. [verse 19] Forsothe [And also I.] Abner spak also [Om. I.] to Beniamyn, and he ȝede, that he schulde speke to [with EL.] Dauid, in Ebron, alle thingis that plesiden Israel and al Beniamin. [verse 20] And he cam to Dauid in Ebron with twenti men. And Dauid made a feeste to Abner, and to the [Om. CK.] men that camen with hym. [verse 21] And Abner seide to Dauid, Y schal rise [rise up I.] , that Y gadere al Israel to thee, my lord the kyng, and that Y make boond of pees with thee, and that thou regne on alle, as thi soule desirith. Therfor whanne Dauid hadde ledde forth Abner, and he [Abner I.] hadde [verse 22] go in pees, anoon the children of Dauid and Joab camen with a ful grete prey, whanne theues [the theues I.] weren slayn; sotheli [and I.] Ab|ner was not [not thanne I.] with Dauid, in Ebron, for Dauid hadde left hym, and he ȝede forth in pees. [verse 23] And Joab, and the oostis that weren with hym, camen aftirward; ther|for it was teld to Joab of telleris, Abner, the sone of Ner, cam to the kyng, and the kyng lefte hym, and he ȝede [ȝede forth I.] in pees. [verse 24] And Joab entride to the kyng, and seide, What hast thou do? Lo! Abner cam to thee; whi leftist [leetist I.] thou hym, and [that I.] he ȝede, and departide [departide fro thee I.] ? [verse 25] Knowist thou [Om. A.] not Abner, the sone of Ner, for herto he cam to thee,

that he schulde disseyue thee, and that he schulde knowe thi going out and thin entryng [goyng yn I.] , and schulde [that he schulde I.] knowe alle thingis whiche [that I.] thou doist? [verse 26] Therfor Joab ȝede out fro Dauid, and sente messangeris aftir Abner; and `ledde hym [Joab brouȝte Abner I.] aȝen fro the cis|terne of Cyrie [fro the cis|terne of Cirie; that place was clepid so, for thilke cisterne was in sum weye that lay toward Sirie, as sum men seyen; in Ebreu it is, fro the sisterne of thorn, for a notable thorn and greet was there. Lire here. C.] , `while Dauid knew not [vnwitinge Dauid I.] . [verse 27] And whanne Abner hadde come aȝen in to Ebron, Joab ledde hym asidis half to `the myddil [myddis I.] of the ȝate, that he schulde speke to hym in gile; and he [Joab I.] smoot Ab|ner there in the schar, and he was deed, in to the [Om. I.] veniaunce of the blood of his brother Asahel. [verse 28] That whanne Dauid hadde herd the [this I.] thing doon, he seide, Y am clene and my rewme anentis God til [Om. I.] in to with outen ende fro [of I.] the blood of Abner, sone [the sone I.] [verse 29] of Ner; and come it on the heed of Joab, and on [upon I.] al the hows of his fadir; a [and faile ther not fro the hous of Joab a I.] man suffrynge flux [flowyng I.] of seed, and a leprouse man, holdynge spyndil [a spyndil IK.] , and fallynge [a man fallinge I.] bi swerd, and hauynge nede to [of EL.] breed, `that is, suffrynge hungur [Om. BI.] , `faile not of the hows of Joab [Om. I.] . [verse 30] Therfor Joab, and Abisay, his brother, killiden Abner, for he hadde slayn Asahel, her brother, in Gabaon, in batel. [verse 31] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid seide to Joab, and to al the puple that was with hym, To rende ȝe ȝour clothis, and be ȝe gird with sackis, and biweile [weile plures.] ȝe bifor the heersis, `ether dirige [Om. I.] , of Abner. Forsothe [Certis I.] kyng Dauid suede the beere. [verse 32] And whanne thei hadden biried Abner in Ebron, kyng Dauid reiside his vois, and wepte [he wepte I.] on the biriel of Abner; `forsothe and [and certis I.] al the puple wepte. [verse 33] And the kyng biweilide, and bymoren|yde Abner, and seide, Abner, thou diedist not as dredeful men, `ethir cowardis [Om. CI.] , ben wont to die. [verse 34] Thin hondis weren not boundun, and thi feet weren not greuyd with stockis, but thou feldist [hast falle I.] doun, as men ben wont to falle bifor the sones of wickidnesse. And al the puple doublide togidere, and wepte on [upon I.] hym [Abner I.] . [verse 35] And whanne

al the multitude cam to take mete with Dauid, while the dai was ȝit cleer, Dauid swoor, and seide, God do to me these thingis, and adde these thingis [thingis to I.] , if Y schal taast breed ethir ony othir thing bifor the going doun of the sune. [verse 36] And al the puple herde [herde this I.] ; and alle thingis which the kyng dide in the siȝt of al the puple plesiden [verse 37] hem; and al the comyn puple and al Israel knewe in that day, that it was not doon of the kyng, that Abner, the sone of Ner, was slayn. [verse 38] Also the kyng seide to hise seruauntis, Whether ȝe witen not, that the prince and gretteste [the gretteste I.] felde [hath fallen I.] doun to dai in Israel? [verse 39] Forsothe [And I.] Y am `delicat [Y am deli|cat; in Ebreu it is tendir. C.] , ether tendir [Om. I.] , ȝit [ȝit tendre I.] and anoyntid kyng; sotheli [and I.] these sones of Saruye ben hard to me; the Lord ȝelde to hym that doith yuel bi [after I.] his malice.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] Isbosech, the sone of Saul, herde that Abner hadde falde [falle I.] doun in Ebron; and `hise hondis [the hondis of Isbosech I.] weren discoum|fortid, and al Israel was disturblid [troublid I.] . [verse 2] For|sothe [And I.] twei men, princes of theues [of theuys; in Ebreu it is of cumpenyes. C.] , weren to [with I.] the sone [sones I.] of Saul; name [the name I.] to oon [the toon K.] was Baana, and name to the tother was Rechab, the sones of Remmon Berothite, of the sones of Beniamyn; for also Beroth is arettid [rikened I.] in [in the lynage of I.] Beniamyn. [verse 3] And men of Be|roth fledden in to Gethaym; and thei weren comelyngis there `til to [vnto I.] that tyme. [verse 4] Forsothe [And I.] a sone feble in feet [his feet I.] was to Jonathas, the sone of Saul; forsothe [and I.] he was fyue ȝeer eld, whanne the messanger cam fro Saul and Jonathas [fro Jonathas I.] , fro Jezrael [Jezrael, tellinge that thei weren dede I.] . Therfor his nurse took hym, and fledde; and whanne sche hastide to fle, sche felde doun, and the child was maad lame; and `he hadde a name [the name of the child was I.] Myphibosech. [verse 5] Therfor Rechab and Baana, sones [the sones I.] of Remmon of Beroth, camen, and entriden in the [a I.] hoot

dai in to the hows of Isbosech, that slepte on [upon I.] his bed in [at I.] myd dai [in mydday; this that sueth, and the wom|man kepere of the dore of the hows purgide wheete and slepte, is not in Ebreu. For|sothe they en|triden; in E|breu it is, and thei camen til to the myddis of the hows, and token whete. C.] , `and the womman oischer [seruaunt G. that kepte the doris I.] of the hous clensynge [makynge cleene GQ. purgynge I.] wheete, slepte [The whole passage is omitted in AEFLNPRUb pr. m.] strongli [Om. AEFGLNPQRUb pr. m. faste Ib sec. m.] . [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] thei entriden into the hows pryueli, and token [thei token I.] eeris of whete; and Rechab, and Baana, his bro|ther, smytiden [smoten I. smeten ELP. smyten F.] Isbosech in the schar, and fledden [thei fledden I.] . [verse 7] Sotheli [But I.] whanne thei hadden entrid in to the hous, he [Isbosech I.] slepte on [upon I.] his bedde in a closet; and thei smytiden [smoten I. smeten ELP. smyten F.] and killiden hym; and whanne `his heed was takun [thei hadden take his heed I.] , thei ȝeden bi the weie of deseert in al the [that EIKLM.] nyȝt. [verse 8] And thei brouȝten the heed of Isbosech to Dauid, in [in to I.] Ebron, and thei seiden to the kyng, Lo! the heed of Is|bosech, sone [the sone I.] of Saul, thin enemy, that souȝte thi lijf; and the Lord ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] to dai to oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng veniaunce of Saul and of his seed. [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid an|sweride to Rechab, and Baana, his brother, the sones of Remmon of Beroth, and seide [he seide I.] to hem, The Lord lyueth, that delyueride [hath delyuered I.] [verse 10] my lijf fro al angwisch; for Y helde hym that telde to me, and seide, Saul is deed, which man gesside hym silf to telle [haue told I.] prosperitees [prosperitees to himselff I.] , and [but I.] Y killide hym in Siche|lech, to whom it bihofte [it bihofte, etc.; that is, bi gessing of the puple. Lire here. C.] me ȝyue [to haue ȝoue I.] meede [verse 11] for message [his message I.] ; hou myche more now, whanne wickid men han slayn a giltles man in his hows on [upon I.] his bed, schal I not seke his blood of ȝoure hond, and schal [schal not I.] Y do awey ȝou fro erthe [the erthe I.] ? [verse 12] Therfor Dauid comaundide to his children [seruauntis I.] , and thei kill|iden hem; and thei kittiden [kitten I.] awei [off I.] the [her I.] hondis and `feet of hem [her feet I.] , and hangiden [thei hangiden I.] hem ouer the [a I.] cisterne in Ebron. For|sothe [And I.] thei token the heed of Isbosech, and birieden [thei birieden it I.] in the sepulcre of Abner, in Ebron.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] And [Forsothe I.] alle the lynagis of Israel camen to Dauid, in [into I.] Ebron, and seiden, Lo! we

ben thi boon and thi fleisch. [verse 2] But also ȝistirdai and the thridde day ago, whanne Saul was kyng on [upon I.] vs, thou leddist out, and leddist aȝen Israel; forsothe [certis I.] the Lord seide to thee, Thou schalt fede my puple Israel, and thou schalt be duyk on [upon I.] Israel. [verse 3] Also and the eldere men of Israel camen to the kyng, in [into I.] Ebron; and kyng Dauid smoot with hem boond of pees in Ebron, bifor the Lord; and thei anoynt|iden Dauid in to kyng on [upon I.] Israel. [verse 4] Dauid was a sone of thretti ȝeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnyde fourti [verse 5] ȝeer in Ebron; he regnede on [upon I.] Juda seuene ȝeer and sixe monethis; forsothe [and I.] in Jerusalem he regnede thretti [thretti ȝeer I.] and thre ȝeer, on [upon I.] al Israel and Juda. [verse 6] And the kyng ȝede, and alle men that weren with hym, in to Jerusalem, to Jebusey, dweller [the dweller I.] of the lond. And it was seide of hem to Dauid, Thou schalt not entre hidur, no [Om. I.] but thou do awei blynde men and lame, seiynge [that seiden I.] , Dauid schal not entre hydur. [verse 7] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid took the tour of Syon; this is the citee of Dauid. [verse 8] For Dauid hadde `sette forth meede [purposid I.] in that dai to [to haue ȝoue mede to I.] hym, that hadde smyte Jebusei, and hadde [that hadde I.] touchid the goteris of roouys [the hous roouys I.] , and hadde [that hadde I.] take awey lame men and blynde, hatynge the lijf of Dauid. Therfor it is seid in prouerbe [comoun speche I.] , A blynde man and lame [a lame IK.] schulen not entre in to the temple. [verse 9] For|sothe [And I.] Dauid dwellide in the tour, and clepide [he clepide I.] it the citee of Dauid; and he bildide bi cumpas fro Mello [Mello was a swolew that was bifor that tour. Lire here. C.] , and with ynne. [verse 10] And he entride profitynge and en|creessynge; and the Lord God of oostis was with hym. [verse 11] Also Hyram, kyng [the kyng I.] of Tire, sent messangeris to Dauid, and cedre trees, and crafti men of trees, and crafti men of stoonus to wallis; and thei bildiden the hows of Dauid. [verse 12] And Dauid knew, that the Lord hadde confermed hym kyng on [upon I. of K.] Israel, and that he hadde

enhaunsid his rewme on [upon I.] his puple Israel. [verse 13] Therfor Dauid took ȝit concubyns, and wyues [and wyues; this word and is set here for that is, for tho weren verily hise wyues, but thei ben seid here with concubyns, for they weren secundarie wyues, and not pryncipal. Lire here. C.] of Jerusalem, after that he cam fro Ebron; and also othere sones and douȝ|tris weren borun to Dauid. [verse 14] And these ben the names of hem that weren borun to hym in Jerusalem; Samua, and Sobab, [verse 15] and Nathan, and Salomon, and Jobaar, [verse 16] and Helisua, and Repheg, and Japhia, and Helysama, and Holida, and Heliphe|lech. [verse 17] Therfor [Thanne I.] Filisteis [the Philistees I.] herden, that thei hadden anoyntid Dauid kyng on [upon I.] Israel, and alle Filisteis [the Philistees I.] stieden [ȝeden up I.] to seke Dauid. And whanne Dauid hadde herd this, he ȝede [wente I.] doun into a strong hold. [verse 18] Forsothe [And I.] Filisteis [the Philistees I.] camen, and weren [thei weren I.] spred abrood in the valei of Raphaym. [verse 19] And Dauid counseilide [counseilide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal stie [stie up I.] to Filisties, and whether thou schalt ȝyue hem in myn hond? And the Lord seide to Dauid, Stie thou [thou up I.] , for Y schal bitake [bitake the Philistees I.] , and Y schal ȝyue Filisteis [hem I.] in thin hond. [verse 20] Therfor Dauid cam in to Baal Farasym, and smoot [he smoot I.] hem [the Philistees I.] there, and seide, The Lord departide [hath departid I.] myn enemyes bifor me, as watris ben departid. Therfor the name of that place was clepid Baal Farasym [Baal Fara|sym; that is, the feeld ether pleyn of de|parting. Lire here. C.] . [verse 21] And thei [the Philistees I.] leften there her sculptils [grauen ymagis I.] , whiche Dauid took [Dauyth took; in Ebreu it is brente. C.] , and hise men. [verse 22] And Filisteis [the Philistees I.] addiden [addiden to I.] ȝit, that thei schulden [wolden I.] stie [wende up I.] , and thei weren spred abrood in the valey of Raphaym. [verse 23] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid councelide [coun|selide with I.] the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal stie [stie up I.] agens Filisties [the Philistees I.] , and whether thou schalt bitake hem in to myn hondis? Which [And the Lord I.] answeride, Thou schalt not stie [stie up I.] aȝens hem, but cumpasse thou [thou hem I.] bihynde her bak, and thou schalt come to hem on the contrarie side of the pere trees. [verse 24] And whanne thou schalt here the sown of cry [a crier I.] goynge in [into I.] the cop of `pere trees [the pere trees I.] [pere trees; this was a signe of aun|gels comynge in to the help of Dauyth to fiȝte aȝenes ad|uersaries. Lire here. C.] , thanne thou schalt biginne batel;

for thanne the Lord schal go out befor thi face, that he smyte the castels [tentis I.] of Filisteis. [verse 25] Therfor Dauid dide as the Lord comaundide to hym; and he smoot Fi|listeys [the Philistees I.] fro Gabaa til `the while [Om. I.] thei camen to Jezer.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Forsothe Dauid gaderide eft alle the chosun men of Israel, thritti thousynde. [verse 2] And Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede, and al the puple that was with hym of the men of Juda, to brynge the arke of God, on [upon I.] which [the which I.] the name of the Lord of oostis, sittynge in cherubyn on [upon I.] that [the I.] arke, was clepid [inwardly clepid I.] . [verse 3] And thei puttiden the arke of God on a newe wayn, and thei token it fro the hows of Amynadab, that was in Gabaa. Forsothe [And I.] Oza and Haio, the sons of Amynadab, dryueden [dreuen I. drywen E. dreuin P.] the newe wayn. [verse 4] And whanne thei hadden take it fro the hows of Amynadab, that was in Gabaa, and [that I.] kepte the arke of God [the Lord I.] , Haio ȝede bifor the arke. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid and al Israel pleieden [pleieden; not bi pley of dis|solucioun, but of deuocioun. Lire here. C.] byfor the Lord, in alle `trees maad craftili [treen instrumentis of melodie I.] , and harpis [in harpis I.] , and sitols, and tympans, and trumpis, and cymbalis. [verse 6] Forsothe [But I.] after that thei camen [hadden come I.] to the corn floor of Nachor, Oza helde forth the [his I.] hond to the arke of God, and helde it, for the oxun kikiden [wynsiden I.] , and bow|iden it [the arke aside I.] . [verse 7] And the Lord was wrooth bi indignacioun aȝens Oza [Oza was smytun, for he ordeynede the arke to be put on vnre|sonable beestis in the wayn, for it schulde be borun on the schuldris of dekenes, as it is seid in vii. c<sup>o</sup>. of Numeri and in many mo places; and Oza knew this, ether ouȝte to knowe this; netheles he was smytun, whanne he touchide the arke bowid, for thanne it was opin, that it schulde not be borun so, but in the schuldris of resonable men. Lire here. C.] , and smoot [he smoot I.] hym on [upon I.] `the foli [his fool hardynesse I.] ; and he was deed there bisidis the arke of God [the Lord I.] . [verse 8] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid was sori [Dauyth was sori; not of Goddis riȝtful|nesse, but more of the offence of Oza, for which he dis|seruede to be smytun; and of this dede Dauyth dredde, lest he were vnworthi to bringe the arke to his hows. C.] , for the Lord hadde smyte [sleyn I.] Oza; and the name of that place was clepid the Smytyng of Oza `til in to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 9] And Dauid dredde the Lord in that [al that EL.] dai, and seide [he seide I.] , Hou schal the arke of the Lord entre to me? [verse 10] And he nolde [wolde not I.] turne the arke of the Lord to hym silf in to the citee of Dauid, but he turnede it in to

the hows of Obethedom of Geth. [verse 11] And the arke of the Lord dwellide in the hows of Obethedom [Obethedom was of the de|kenes, as it is seid in ȝ book of Paralipomenon, vi. c^o.; and he is seid of Geth, for he was in Geth, with Dauyth fleynge Saul. Lire here. C.] of Geth thre monethis; and the Lord blessid Obethedom, and al his hows. [verse 12] And it was teld to kyng Dauid, that the Lord hadde blessid Obethedom, and alle `thingis of hym [his thingis I.] , for the arke of God. And Dauid seide, Y schal go, and brynge the arke with blessyng in to myn hows. Therfor Dauid ȝede, and brouȝte the arke of God fro the hows of Obeth|edom in to the citee of Dauid with ioye; and ther weren with Dauid seuen cum|panyes [mesures b sec. m.] , and the slain [offrid b.] sacrifice of a calff [This passage is omitted in AEFGLNPWb. pr. m.] . [verse 13] And whanne thei, that baren the arke of the Lord, hadden stied [stied up I.] six paaces [paas I.] , thei offriden an oxe and a ram. And Dauid smoot in organs boundun [fastned I.] to the [his I.] arm; [verse 14] and daunside [he daunside I.] with alle strengthis [his strengthis I.] bifor the Lord; sotheli [and I.] Dauid was clothid with a lynnun surplis. [verse 15] And Dauid, and al the hows of Israel, ledden forth the arke of testament [witnessyng I.] of the Lord in hertli [hertily I.] song, and in sown of trumpe. [verse 16] And whanne the arke of the Lord hadde [Om. A.] entride in to the citee of Dauid, Mychol, the douȝtir of Saul, bihelde bi [forth at I.] a wyndow, and sche siȝ the kyng skippynge [hoppinge I.] and daunsynge bi|for the Lord; and sche dispiside hym in hir herte. [verse 17] And thei brouȝten in the arke of the Lord, and settiden it in his [the I.] place [place theroff I.] , in the [Om. I.] myddis [myddil I.] of tabernacle [the tabernacle EIX sec. m.] , which [the which I.] tabernacle Dauid hadde maad `redy ther|to [therfore EL.] ; and Dauid offride brent sacrifices and pesible bifor the Lord. [verse 18] And whanne Dauid hadde endid tho, and hadde offrid brent sacrifices and pesible, he blesside the puple in the name of the Lord of oostis. [verse 19] And he ȝaf to al the multitude of Israel, as wel to man as to womman, to ech `o thinne loof [a kake of bred I.] , and o part rostid of bugle fleisch, and flour of wheete fried with oile; and al the puple ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , ech man [Om. I.] in to his hows. [verse 20] And Dauid turnede aȝen to blesse

his hows, and Mychol, the douȝtir of Saul, ȝede out in to the comyng of Dauid, and seide [sche seide I.] , Hou glorious was [hath I.] the kyng of Israel to [be to I.] day vnhilynge hym silf bifor the handmaidis [handmaidyns I.] of hise seruauntis, and he was maad nakid, as if oon of the harlotis [knaues I.] be [had be I.] maad nakid? [verse 21] And Dauid seide to My|chol, The Lord lyueth, for Y schal pley bifor the Lord, that chees [hath chose I.] me rathere than thi fadir, and than [rather than I.] al the hows of hym, and comaundide [he hath comaundid I.] to me, that Y schulde be duyk on [upon I.] the [his I.] puple `of the [verse 22] Lord of [Om. I.] Israel; and Y schal pleie, and Y schal be maad `vilere more [more vile I.] than Y am [am ȝit I.] maad, and Y schal be meke in myn iȝen, and Y schal appere gloriousere [more glorious I.] with the [tho I.] handmaydys [handmaidens I.] , of whiche thou spak|ist [hast spoke I.] . [verse 23] Therfor a sone was not borun to Mychol, the douȝtir of Saul, til in to the dai of hir deeth.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Forsothe it was doon, whanne [that whanne I.] the [Om. IK sec. m.] kyng Dauid hadde sete in his hows, and the Lord hadde ȝoue reste to hym on ech [verse 2] side fro alle hise enemyes, he seyde to Nathan the prophete, Seest thou not, that Y dwelle in an hows of cedre, and the arke of God is put in the myddis of skynnys [or kyuered with lethir I marg.] ? [verse 3] And Nathan seide [Nathan seide; not bi spirit of pro|fesie, but bi spirit of man, as it is opin aftirward. Lire here. C.] to the kyng, Go thou, and do al thing which [that I.] is in thin herte, for the Lord is with thee. [verse 4] Forsothe [And I.] it was don in that niȝt, and lo! the word of the Lord, seiynge [was maad I.] to Nathan, [verse 5] Go thou, and speke to my servaunt Dauid, The Lord seith these thingis, Whether thou schalt bilde to me an hows to dwelle ynne? [verse 6] For [Sothly I.] Y `dwellide not [haue not dwellid I.] in an hows fro the dai in which Y ledde the sones of Israel out of the lond of Egipt til in to this dai; but Y ȝede [haue go I.] in tabernacle [a tabernacle I.] and

[verse 7] in [Om. C.] tent [a tent I.] , bi alle places, to whiche Y passyde with alle the sones of Israel? Whether Y spekynge spak [haue spoke I.] to oon of the lynagis of Israel, to whom Y comaundyde, that he schulde feede my puple Israel, and seide [I seide I.] , Whi `bildidist thou not [hast thou not bildid I.] an hows of cedre to me? [verse 8] And now thou schalt seie these thingis to my seruaunt Dauid, The Lord of oostis seith these thingis, Y took [haue take I.] thee fro lesewis [the lesewis I.] suynge flockis, that thou schuldist be duyk on [upon I.] my puple Israel, [verse 9] and Y was [haue be I.] with thee in alle thingis, where euere thou ȝedist [hast go I.] , and Y killide [haue killid I.] alle thin enemyes fro thi face, and Y made [haue made I.] to thee a greet name bi the name [verse 10] of grete men that ben in erthe; and Y schall sette a place to my puple Israel, and Y schal plaunte hym, and Y schal dwelle with hym, and he schal no more be troblid, and the sones of wickidnesse schulen not adde [adde to I.] , that thei turmente [verse 11] hym as bifor, fro the dai in which Y or|denede iugis on [upon I.] my puple Israel; and Y schal ȝyue reste to thee fro alle thin enemyes. And the Lord biforseith to thee, that `the Lord [he I.] schal mak an hows to [verse 12] thee; and whanne thi daies be fillid [fulfillid I.] , and thou hast slept with thi fadris, Y schal reyse [reyse up I.] thi seed aftir thee, which [the which I.] schal go out of thi wombe, and Y schal make `stidfast his rewme [his rewme stable I.] . [verse 13] He schal bilde an hows to my name, and Y schal make stable the troone of his rewme til in to [verse 14] with outen ende [with outen ende; that is, in to long tyme, as in Salomon, hillis ben seid euer|lastinge, for the rewme of Salomon fail|ide, in the caytifte of Ba|biloyne, ether nameli in the dayes of E|roude, that was an alien. Lire here. C.] ; Y schal be to hym in to fadir [a fadir IX sec. m.] , and he schal be to me in to a sone; and if he schal do ony thing wick|idli, Y schal chastise hym in the [Om. I.] ȝerde of men, and in the woundis of the sones of men. [verse 15] Forsothe Y schal not do awey my mercy fro hym, as Y dide [dide it I.] awei fro Saul, whom Y remouede [haue remoued I.] fro my face. [verse 16] And thin hows schal be feithful, and thi rewme schal be til [Om. A.] in to with outen ende bifor

my face, and thi trone schal be stidfast contynueli. [verse 17] By alle these wordys, and bi al this reuelacioun, so [thus I.] Nathan spak to Dauid. [verse 18] Forsothe Dauid the kyng entride [entride in to the tabernacle I.] , and satt [he satt I.] bifor the Lord, and seide, Who am Y, my [Om. I.] Lord God, and what is myn hows, that thou brouȝtist [hast brouȝt I.] me hidur to? [verse 19] But also this is seyn litil in thi siȝt, my Lord God; no but thou schuldist speke also of the hows of thi seruaunt in to long tyme. Forsothe [for I.] this is the lawe of [verse 20] Adam [lawe of A|dam; that ech man be bisy and desiringe the prosperite of hise eiris. Lire here. C.] , Lord God; what therfor may Dauid adde [adde to I.] ȝit, that he speke to thee? For [Therfor FGIKLNOQRSUW. herfor P.] thou, Lord God, knowist thi seruaunt; thou hast do alle these grete [Om. I.] [verse 21] thingis, for thi word, and bi [aftir I.] thin herte, so that thou madist [madist tho I.] knowun to thi ser|uaunt. [verse 22] Herfor, Lord God, thou art mag|nyfied [maad greet I.] , for noon is lijk thee, ne there is no God outakun thee, in alle thingis whiche we herden [han herd I.] with oure eeris. [verse 23] Sotheli what folk in erthe is as the puple of Is|rael, for which [for which, etc.; in Ebreu it is, for which Goddis ȝeden, that is, thre persoones in the Trinyte, that ben o God in substaunce, therfor it sueth in singuler noumbre, that he schulde aȝen bie it to him silf. Lire here. C.] the Lord God ȝede, that he schulde aȝenbie [aȝenbiȝgge K.] it to him in to a puple, and schulde [that he schulde I.] sette to hym silf a name, and schulde do to it [his puple I.] grete thingis, and orible on [upon I.] erthe, in [and b.] castinge out therof [Om. A sec. m. therfore EL.] the folk [folkis E. folk of kynde I.] and [of E.] `goddis therof [her goddis I.] fro the face of thi puple, which [the which I.] thou `aȝen bouȝtist [hast aȝen bouȝt I.] to thee fro Egipt? [verse 24] And thou confermidist [hast con|fermyd I.] to thee thi puple Israel in to a puple euerlastynge, and thou, Lord, art maad in to God to hem. [verse 25] Now ther|for, Lord God, reise [reise up I.] thou [Om. I.] withouten ende the word that thou hast spoke on [upon I.] thi seruaunt and on [upon I.] his hows, and do as [verse 26] thou hast spoke; and thy name be mag|nyfied [maad greet I.] til [Om. I.] in to withouten ende, and be it seid, The Lord of oostis is God on [upon I.] Is|rael; and the hows of thi seruaunt Dauid [verse 27] schal be stablischid byfor the Lord; for thou, Lord of oostis, God of Israel, hast maad reuelacioun to the eere of thi ser|uaunt,

and seidist, Y schal bilde an hows to thee; therfor thi seruaunt foond [hath founden bi I.] his herte, that he schulde preie thee bi this preier. [verse 28] Now therfor, Lord God, thou art veri God, and thi wordis schulen be trewe; for thou hast spoke these goodis [gode thingis I.] to thi [verse 29] seruaunt; therfor bigynne thou, and blesse the hows of thi seruaunt, that it be [be in to I.] with|outen ende bifor thee; for thou, Lord God, hast spoke these thingis, and bi [thorouȝ I.] thi bless|yng the hows of thi seruaunt schal be blessid withouten ende.

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon aftir these thingis, Dauid smoot Filisteis [the Filisteis I.] , and made low hem; and Dauid took awei the bridil of tribute fro the hond of Filisteis [fro the hond of Filisteis; for first Filisteis token tribute of Ebreis, and weren lordis of hem, but aftir|ward Filisteys serueden Da|uyth vndur tribute. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] And Dauid smoot Moab, and mat [he metide I.] hem with a coorde [litil coorde I.] , and made [he made hem I.] euene to the erthe; forsothe `he mat [Dauid metide hem bi I.] twey [two litil I.] cordis, oon to sle, and oon [another I.] to quikene. And Moab seruyde Dauid vndur tribute. [verse 3] And Dauid smoot Adadezer, sone [the sone I.] of Roob, kyng of Soba, whanne he ȝede forth to be lord ouer the flood Eufrates. [verse 4] And whanne a thousynde and seuene hundrid kniȝtis [horse men I.] of his part weren takun, and twenti thou|synde of foot men, Dauid hoxide [kitte the hoxes of I.] alle `drawynge beestis [the beestis drawynge I.] in charis; but Dauid lefte of tho an hundrid charis, that is, the horsis of an hundrid charis. [verse 5] Also Sirie of Damask cam, that it [he I.] schulde bere help to Adadezer, kyng of Soba; and Dauid smoot of Sirie two and twenti thousynde of men. [verse 6] And Dauid settide strengthe [settide strengthe; that is, werriours in a strong hold, that men of Sirie schul|den beholdun sikirliere vndur tribute. Lire here. C.] in Sirie of Damask, and Sirie was maad seruynge Dauid vndur tribute. And the Lord kepte Dauid in alle thingis, to what euer thingis he ȝede forth. [verse 7] And Dauid took goldun armeris and bies, whiche the seruauntis of Adadezer hadden, and he brouȝte tho in to Jerusalem. [verse 8] And of Bethe, and of Beroth, citees [the citees I.] of Adadezer,

Dauith the [Om. I.] kyng took ful myche metal [bras I.] ; `of the [Om. QSWbç.] whiche Salomon made alle the [Om. DMQSWXbç.] brasen vessels in the temple, and [Om. KX.] the brasen see, and the [Om. QXb.] pilers, and the auter [The whole passage from the word of omitted in AELPRU.] . [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Thou, kyng [the kyng I.] of Emath, herde that Dauid hadde smyte al the strengthe of Adadezer. [verse 10] And Thou sente Joram, his sone, to `kyng Dauid [Dauid the kyng I.] , that he schulde grete hym, and thanke, and do thank|yngis, for he hadde ouercome Adadezer, and hadde smyte [sleyn I.] hym; for Thou was enemy to [of I.] Adadeser; and vessels of sil|ver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of bras weren in his hond. [verse 11] And the same vessels kyng Dauid halewid `to the Lord, with the siluer and gold, whiche he hadde [Om. A.] halewid [Om. AI.] of alle hethene men, whiche `hethene men [Om. I.] he made [had maad I.] suget [verse 12] of Sirye, and Moab [of Moab I.] , and the [of the I.] sones of Amon, and Filisteis [of Filisteis I.] , and Amalech [of Amalech I.] , and of the spuylis of Adadezer, sone [the sone I.] of Roob, kyng of Soba. [verse 13] Also Dauid made to hym a name, whanne he turnede aȝen, whanne Sirie was takun, for eiȝtene thou|synde [thousynde men I.] weren slayn in the valey, where salt is [was I.] maad, and in Gebelem, to thre and twenti thousynde. [verse 14] And he [Dauid I.] settide [sette I.] keperis in Ydumee, and ordeinede strong hold, and al Ydumee was maad seruynge to Dauid; and the Lord kepte Dauid in alle thingis, to whateuer thingis he ȝede forth. [verse 15] And Dauid regnede on [upon I.] al Israel, and Dauid dide doom, and riȝtfulnesse [riȝt|wisnesse I.] to al his puple. [verse 16] Forsothe [And I.] Joab, the sone of Saruy, was ouer the oost [oost of Dauid I.] ; sotheli [and I.] Josa|phat, sone [the sone I.] of Achilud, was chaunceler [chaunceler; in Ebreu it is, recordour. C.] ; [verse 17] and Sadoch, sone [the sone I.] of Achitob, and Achy|melech, sone [the sone I.] of Abiathar, weren preestis; and Saraye was scryuyn [a scribe I.] . [verse 18] Forsothe [But I.] Ba|nanye, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, was ouer Cerethi and Pherethi, that is, ouer archeris and arblasteris [arowblasters ELP.] ; sotheli [and I.] the sones of Dauid weren prestis [the sones of Dauyth weren prestis; that is, grettere men in dignete, ether the firste to onours; for it may not be seid that thei weren prestis propirly, mynystringe in the taber|nacle, for thei weren not of the kyn of Aaron. Lire here. C.]

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] And Dauid seide, Whether ony man is, that lefte of the hows of Saul, that Y do mercy with hym for Jonathas? [verse 2] Forsothe [And ther was I.] a seruaunt, Siba bi name, was [Om. I.] of the hous of Saul; whom whanne the kyng hadde clepid to hym silf, `the kyng [he I.] seide to hym, Whethir thou art not Siba? And he an|sweride, Y am thi seruaunt. [verse 3] And the kyng seide, Whether ony man lyueth of the hows of Saul, that Y do with hym the mercy of God? And Siba seide to the kyng, A sone of Jonathas lyueth, feble [the whiche is sijk I.] in the feet. [verse 4] The [And the I.] kyng seide, Where is he? And Siba seide to the kyng, Lo! he is in the hows of Machir, sone [the sone I.] of Amyel, in Lodabar. [verse 5] Therfor `Dauid the kyng [kyng Dauid I.] sente, and took hym [Jonathas sone I.] fro the hows of Machir, sone [the sone I.] of Amyel, fro Lodobar. [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] whanne Myphibosech, the sone of Jonathas, sone of Saul, hadde come to Dauid, he felde in to his face, and wor|schipide [worschipe A.] . And Dauid seide, Myphibosech! Which [And he I.] answeride, Y am present, thi ser|uaunt. [verse 7] And Dauid seide to hym, Drede thou not, for Y doynge schal do mersi to thee for Jonathas, thi fadir; and Y schal restore to thee alle the [Om. I.] feeldis of Saul, thi fadir, and thou schalt ete breed in my boord [table I.] euere. [verse 8] Which [The which I.] worschipide him, and seide, Who am Y, thi seruaunt, for thou hast biholde on [upon I.] a deed dogge [hound I.] lijk me? [verse 9] Therfor the kyng clepide Siba, the child of Saul; and seide to hym, Y haue ȝoue to the sone of thi lord alle thingis, which euer weren of Saul, and al the hows of [verse 10] hym; therfor worche thou the lond to hym, thou, and thi sones, and thi ser|uauntis, and thou schalt brynge in meetis to the sone [to the sone, etc.; that is, to Myca, sone of Myphiboseth, who is now thi lord. Lire here. C.] of thi lord, that he be fed; forsothe [but I.] Myphibosech, sone [the sone I.] of thi lord, schal ete euer breed on [of I.] my bord. Sotheli [And I.] fiftene sones and twenti seruauntis weren to Siba. [verse 11] And Siba seyde to the kyng, As

thou, my lord kyng, hast comaundid to thi seruaunt, so thi seruaunt schal do; and Myphibosech, as oon of the sones of the kyng, schal ete on [upon I.] thi boord. [verse 12] For|sothe [And I.] Myphibosech hadde a litil sone, Mycha bi name; sotheli [And I.] al the meyne of the hows of Siba seruyde Myphibosech. [verse 13] Forsothe [And I.] Myphibosech dwellide in Jeru|salem; for he eet contynueli of the kingis boord, and was [he was I.] crokid [halt I.] on either foot.

CAP. X.

[verse 1] Forsothe it was doon aftir these thingis, that Naas, kyng of the sones of Amon, diede; and Anoon, his sone, regnede for hym. And [verse 2] Dauid seide, Y schal do mercy with Anon, the sone of Naas, as his fadir dide mercy with me. Therfor Dauid sente coumfort|ynge hym by hise seruauntis on [upon I.] the deeth of the fadir. Sotheli [And I.] whanne the ser|uauntis of Dauid hadden come in to the [verse 3] lond of the sones of Amon, princes [the princis I.] of the sones of Amon seiden to Anon, her lord, Gessist thou that for the onour of thi fadir Dauid sente [hath sent I.] coumfortouris to thee; and not [not rather I.] herfor David sente hise seruauntis to thee, that he schulde aspie, and enserche the citee, and distrie it? [verse 4] Therfor Anoon took the seruauntis of Dauid, and scha|uyde [he schauyde I.] half the part of `the beerd of hem [her beerd I.] , and he kittide [kitte I.] awey the myddil clothis of hem `til to [vnto I.] the buttokis [hipes I.] ; and [and so I.] lefte hem. [verse 5] And whanne this was teld to Dauid, he sente in to the comyng of hem, for the men weren schent ful vilensly. And Dauid co|maundide to hem, Dwelle ȝe in Jerico, til ȝoure beerd wexe, and thanne turne ȝe aȝen. [verse 6] Sotheli [And I.] the sones of Amon sien [the sones of Amon sien; for thei knewen that not bi fraude, but of veri frenschip, Dauyth sente messangeris; and netheles thei knoulech|iden not gilt, nether axiden forȝyuenesse, but thei maden hem redi to defende her foli, in clepinge othere men into her help aȝenus Dauyth, and this doyng agreggide notably ether gretly her gilt. Lire here. C.] , that thei hadden do wrong to Dauid, and thei senten, and hiriden bi [with I.] meede Roob [of Roob I.] of Sirye, and Soba [of Soba I.] of Sirie, twenti thou|synde of foot men, and of kyng Maacha, a

thousynde men, and of Istob twelue thou|synde of men. [verse 7] And whanne Dauid hadde herd this, he sent [sente forth I.] Joab and al the oost of fiȝteris. [verse 8] Therfor the sones of Amon ȝeden out, and dressiden scheltrun bifor hem in the entryng of the ȝate. For|sothe [and I.] Soba, and Roob of Sirie, and Istob, and Maacha weren asidis half in the feeld. [verse 9] Therfor Joab siȝ, that batel [the batel I.] was maad redi aȝens hym, bothe euene aȝens [aȝens hym I.] and bihynde the [his I.] bak; and he chees to hym silf of alle the chosun men of Israel, and ordeynede [he ordeynede I.] scheltrun aȝens Sirus [Sirie I.] . [verse 10] For|sothe [And I.] he [Joab I.] bitook to Abisai, his brothir, the tother part of the puple, which [the which I.] dres|side scheltrun aȝens the sones of Amon. [verse 11] And Joab seide, If men of Sirie han the maistrie aȝens me, thou [thou, Abisay I.] schalt be to me in to help; sotheli [and I.] if the sones of Amon han the maistrie aȝens thee, Y schal helpe [verse 12] thee; be thou a strong man, and fiȝte we for oure puple, and for the citee of oure God; forsothe [for I.] the Lord schal do that, that is good in his siȝt. [verse 13] Therfor Joab and his [the I.] puple that was with hym, bigan batel aȝens men of Sirie, whiche [the whiche I.] fledden anoon fro his face. [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] the sones of Amon sien, that men of Sirie hadden fled; and thei fledden also fro the face of Abisai, and entriden [thei entriden I.] in to the citee; and Joab turnede aȝen fro the sones of Amon, and cam in to Jerusalem. [verse 15] Forsothe [And I.] men [the men GQ.] of Sirye sien that thei hadden feld [fled FKOS sup. ras. W. falle EILMP.] bifor Israel, and thei weren gaderid to gidere. [verse 16] And Adadezer sente, and ledde out men of Sirie that weren biȝende the flood, and he brouȝte [brouȝte forth I.] the oost of hem; sotheli [and I.] Sobach, mayster of the chyualrie of Adadezer, was the prince of hem. [verse 17] And whanne this was teld to Dauid, he drow togidere al Israel, and passide [he passide ouer I.] Jordan, and cam in to Helama. And men of Sirie dressiden scheltrun aȝens Dauid, and fouȝten aȝens hym. [verse 18] And Sireis fledden fro the face of

Israel; and Dauid killide of Sireis [the Sireis I.] seuene hundrid charis, and fourti thousynde of knyȝtis [horsmen I.] ; and he smoot Sobach, the prince of chyualrie [the chyualrie I.] , which [the which I.] was deed anoon. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] alle kyngis [the kyngis I.] , that weren in the [Om. I.] help of Adadezer, siȝen that thei weren ouercomun of Israel, and thei maden pees with Israel, and serueden hem; and Sireis [the Sireis I.] dredden to ȝyue help to the sones of Amon.

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon, whanne the ȝeer turnede aȝen in that tyme wherynne [in whiche I.] kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Dauid sente [sente forth I.] Joab, and with hym hise seruauntis, and al Israel; and thei dis|trieden the sones of Amon, and bisegiden Rabath; forsothe [and I.] Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem [Dauyth dwell|ide in Jerusa|lem; whanne othere men ȝeden forth to batel, Dauyth dwell|ide as idil in Jerusalem, and therfor he was drawun to do auoutrie; wher|for the poete seith, If thou takist awey idilnessis, the craftis of couei|tise, that is, of leccherie, pe|rischiden; and in xxxiii. c^o. Ec^ci. ydilnesse tauȝte myche malice. C.] . [verse 2] While these thingis weren doon, it befelde, that Dauid roos in a dai fro his bed after mydday, and walkide [he walkide I.] in the soler of the kyngis hows; and he siȝ a womman [And he siȝ a womman; vnchast siȝt is ful perelouse, for Dauyth that was so hooly and good, was drawun herbi to auow|trie, and aftir|ward to procure mansleyng bi tresoun, and at the laste to par|forme it in werk. Lire here. C.] waischynge hir silf euen aȝens [aȝens him I.] on [upon I.] hir soler; sotheli [and I.] the womman was ful fair. [verse 3] Therfor the kyng sente, and enqueride, what womman it was; and it was teld to hym, that sche was Bersabee, the douȝtir of Heliam, and was [sche was I.] the wijf of Vrye Ethei. [verse 4] Therfor [Thanne I.] bi messangeris sent Dauid took hir; and whanne sche entride to hym, he slepte with hir, and anoon sche was halewid fro hir vn|clenesse [bareyn wymmen weren seid vnclene I. marg.] [halewid fro hir vnclennesse; that is, fro flux of vncleene blood that schulde come til to the child bering, for sche conseyuede in that ligging bi, and vncleene blood renneth no more aftir conseyuyng of child, for thilke blood goith in to the formyng and mete of the child. Lire here. C.] . [verse 5] And sche turnede aȝen in to hir hows, with child [a child I.] conseyued; and sche sente, and telde [schewide I.] to Dauid, and seide, Y haue conseyued. [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid sente to Joab, and seide, Sende thou Vrye Ethei to me; and Joab sente Vrye to Dauid. [verse 7] And Vrie cam to Dauid; and Dauid axide, hou riȝtfuli Joab dide and the puple, and hou [what maner wise I.] the batel was mynystrid [serued I.] . [verse 8] And

Dauid seide to Vrye, Go in to thin hows, and waische thi feet. Vrye ȝede out [forth I.] fro the hows of the kyng, and the kyngis mete suede hym. [verse 9] Sotheli [And I.] Vrye slepte bifor the ȝate of the kyngis hows with othere seruauntis of his lord, and ȝede [he ȝede I.] not doun to his hows. [verse 10] And it was teld to Dauid of men, seiynge, Vrye `ȝede not [hath not go I.] to his hows. And Dauid seide to Vrye, Whether [For EL.] thou camest not fro the weye? whi ȝedist thou not doun in to thin hows? [verse 11] And Vrie seide to Dauid, The arke of God, Israel [of Israel I pr. m. W sup. ras.] and Juda dwellen in tentis, and my lord Joab, and the seruauntis of my lord dwellen on [upon I.] the face of erthe [the erthe I.] , and schal Y go in to myn hows, to ete and drynke, and slepe with my wijf? Bi thin helthe, and bi the helthe of thi soule, Y schal not do this thing. [verse 12] Therfor Dauid seide to Vrye, Dwelle thou here also to dai, and to morewe Y schal delyuere thee. Vrie dwellide in Jerusalem in that day and the tothir. [verse 13] And Dauid clepide hym, that he schulde ete and drynke bifor hym, and Dauid made drunkun Vrye [Dauyth made drunkun Vrie; that is, made to ȝyue to him pryuely wyn able to make drunkun, and bileuyde that he schulde herby forȝete the arke and the oost, and that so he schulde be maad hoot of wyn, and schulde slepe with his wiyf; and ȝit netheles Vrie was not dis|seyued. Lire here. C.] ; and he ȝede out in the euentid, and slepte in his bed with the seruauntes of his lord; and ȝede [he ȝede I.] not doun in to his hows. [verse 14] Therfor [Therfor whanne A sec. m. Thanne I.] the morewtid was maad, and [Om. A sec. m.] Dauid wroot epistle to Joab, and sente [he sente it I.] bi the hond of [verse 15] Vrye, and wroot [he wroot I.] in the pistle [epistle CE.] , Sette [Putte I.] ȝe Vrye euene aȝens the batel, where the batel is strongeste, `that is, where the aduersaries ben stronge [Om. BCIX.] , and forsake [leeue I.] ȝe hym, that he be smitun and perische. [verse 16] Therfor whanne Joab bisegide the citee, he settide [sette I.] Vrie in the [that I.] place where he wiste that strongeste men [enmyes I.] weren. [verse 17] And men ȝeden out of the citee, and fouȝten aȝens Joab, and thei killiden of the puple of seruauntis [the seruauntis BCIMUç.] of Dauid, and also Vrye Ethei was deed [deed there I.] . [verse 18] Therfor [And so I.] Joab sente, and [verse 19] telde alle the [these I.] wordis of the batel; and he comaundyde to the messanger, and seide,

Whanne thou hast fillid [fulfillid I.] alle wordis [the wordis IX sec. m. ç.] of [verse 20] the batel to the kyng, if thou seest, that he is wrooth, and seith, Whi neiȝiden ȝe to the wal to fiȝte? whether ȝe wisten not, that many dartis ben sent [sent out I.] `fro aboue fro [verse 21] the wal [fro the wal aboue I.] ? who smoot Abymelech, sone [the sone I.] of Gerobaal? whether not a womman sente [lete falle I.] on [upon I.] hym a gobet of a mylnestoon fro the [a I.] wal [wal an hiȝe I.] , and killide [sche killide I.] hym in Thebes? whi neiȝiden ȝe bisidis the wal? thou schalt seie [seie thanne I.] , Also thi seruaunt, Vrye Ethei, diede [was sleyn I.] . [verse 22] Therfor [Thanne I.] the messanger ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , and telde to Dauid alle thingis whiche Joab hadde comaundid to hym. [verse 23] And the messanger seide to Dauid, `Men hadden [Enmyes han had I.] the maistri aȝens us, and thei ȝeden out to vs in to the feeld; sotheli [and I.] bi [with I.] `fers|nesse maad [gret fersnesse I.] we pursueden hem `til to [vnto I.] the ȝate of the citee. [verse 24] And archeris [scheters I.] senten [senten out I.] dartis to thi seruauntis fro the wal aboue, and summe of the `kyngis ser|uauntis [seruauntis of the kyng I.] ben deed; forsothe [and I.] also thi seruaunt, Vrye Ethei, is deed. [verse 25] And Dauid seide to the messanger, Thou schalt seie these thingis to Joab, This thing breke not thee; for the bifallyng [happe I.] of batel is dyuerse, and swerd wastith [fordoith I.] now this man, now that man; coumforte thi fiȝteris aȝens the citee, that thou distrye it, and excite [stire I.] thou hem [hem therto I.] . [verse 26] Forsothe [And I.] the wijf of Vrye herde, that Vrye hir hosebond was deed, and sche biweilide hym [and sche biweilide him; oneli bi feyn|yng, and bi appering, for sche desiride his deth, that bi this sche schulde ascape stonyng, and be maad the wiyf of the kyng, and for this entent sche procuride Dauyth to hir hosebondis deth. Lire here. C.] . [verse 27] And whanne the morenyng was passid, Dauid sente, and brouȝte hir in to his hows; and sche was maad wijf to hym, and sche childide a sone to hym. And this word which [that I.] Dauid hadde do displeside bifor the Lord.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] Therfor the Lord sente Nathan to Dauid; and whanne he hadde come to Dauid, he seide to Dauid [him I.] , Answere thou doom [a doom I.] to me; twei men weren in o [a I.] citee; o [the oo I. the too K.] man was riche, and the tother was [Om. I.] pore. [verse 2] The riche man [The riche man; this riche man is vndur|stondun Dauyth, hauyng many wyues; the pore man is vndur|stondun Vrie, that hadde onely o wiyf, whom he hadde bouȝt, in ȝyuynge dower for hir, and whom he hadde nurschid, for he took hir a litil damesel. Sche eet of his breed, for sche comynede with hym in mete and bed. This pilgrym that cam to the riche man, is the deuel, which is alienyd fro the comynyng of heuenly cyte|seyns, for hardnesse in synne; to which pilgrym Da|uyth made a feeste bi consent in to auoutrie, and mansleyng brouȝt forth in to dede, for the deuel delitith in sychesynnes. Dauyth seide, he schal ȝelde the scheep in to the fourthe fold, and so it was doon to him, for hise iiii. sones weren deed, for the deeth of Vrie; the firste, the sone of Bersabee, the ii. Amon, the iii. Absolon, the iiii. Adonye. And Dauyth seide, bi herte and mouth, Y haue synned to the Lord; he defendide not his synne, but knoulechede mekely, wher|for it sueth, also the Lord hath turned awey thi synne, as to the gilt, in for|ȝyuynge it for thi penaunce, and as to the peyne, in tem|peringe it; for thouȝ thou art a manquellere and worthi the deth, netheles thou schalt not die in thi propir persoone, but in thi sone borun. Of whiche the cause sueth, for thou hast maad the enemyes to blasfeme the name of the Lord; for yuele men and vn|kunnynge blas|femeden bi this the priuy domes of God, and seiden, that he dide vniustly in repreuynge Saul, and in chesinge Da|uyth, that dide synnes more worse than Saul hadde do. Lire here. C.] hadde ful many

[verse 3] scheep, and oxun; sotheli [and I.] the pore man hadde vttirli no thing, outakun o litil scheep, which [the which I.] he hadde bouȝt, and nurschid, and which [the which I.] `hadde wexid [wexide I.] at [anentis I.] hym with hise sones, and eet togidere [bothe I.] of his breed, and drank of his cuppe, and slepte in his bosum; and it was as a douȝter to hym. [verse 4] Forsothe [But I.] whanne a pilgrym `hadde come [came I.] to the [this I.] riche man, he sparide to take of hise [his owne I.] scheep and oxun, that he schulde make a feeste to that pilgrym, that cam to hym; and he took the scheep of the pore man, and `made redi [greithide I.] metis to the man that cam to hym. [verse 5] Forsothe [Certis I.] Dauid was ful wrooth with indignacioun aȝens that man, and seide [he seide I.] to Nathan, The Lord lyueth, for the man [verse 6] that dide this [this thing I.] is the sone of deeth [is the sone of deeth; that is, worthi of deth, for the hidous|nesse of the dede. Lire here. C.] ; he schal ȝelde the scheep in to foure folde, for he dide this word, and sparide not. [verse 7] For|sothe [And I.] Nathan seide to Dauid, Thou art thilke [that EL.] man, that hast do this thing. The Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, Y anoyntide [haue anoyntid I.] thee `in to [Om. I.] kyng on [upon I.] Israel, and Y delyuerede thee fro the [verse 8] hond of Saul, and Y ȝaf to thee the hows of thi lord, and the wyues of thi lord in thi bosum, and Y ȝaf to thee the hows of Israel, and of Juda; and if these thingis ben litil, Y schal [schulde I pr. m.] adde [thanne do I.] to thee myche grettere thingis. [verse 9] Whi therfor hast thou dispisid the word of the Lord, that thou didist yuels in my siȝt? Thou hast smyte [killid I.] by swerd Vrye Ethei, and thou hast take his wijf in to wijf to thee, and thou hast slayn hym with the swerd of the sones of Amon. [verse 10] Wherfor swerd [a swerd K.] schal not go awey fro thin hows [fro thin hows, etc.; for the brother killide the brother, as Absolon killide Amon, in xiii. c^o., and Salo|mon killide Adonye, in iii. book ii. c^o., and Absolon roos aȝenus Dauyth his fadir, in this book xv. c^o. C.] til in to with outen ende; for thou dispysidist [hast dispisid I.] me, and tokist [hast take I.] the wijf of Vrye Ethei, that sche schulde be thi wijf. [verse 11] Therfor the Lord seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal reise on [upon I.] thee yuel [the yuel I.] of thin hows, and Y schal take thi wyues in `thin iȝen [thi siȝt I.] , and Y

schal ȝyue [ȝyue hem I.] to thi neiȝbore, and he schal slepe with thi wyues in the iȝen of this sunne, `that is, opynli bifor alle men, as in xv. chapitre [Gloss omitted in I. chapitre bifore K.] . [verse 12] For thou hast [haue I.] do priueli; forsothe [certis I.] Y schal do this word in the siȝt of al Israel, and in the siȝt of this sunne. [verse 13] And Dauid seide to Nathan, Y haue synned to the Lord. And Nathan seide to Dauid, Also [Certis I.] the Lord hath turned awei thi synne; thou schalt not die. [verse 14] Netheles for thou madist [hast made I.] enemyes to blasfeme the name of the Lord, for this word the child which [that I.] is borun to thee schal die bi deeth. [verse 15] And Nathan turnede aȝen in to his hows. And the Lord smoot the litil child, whom the wijf of Vrye childide to Dauid, and he [Dauid I.] dispeiride [dispeiride of the lijf of it I.] [he dispei|ride; Dauyth dispeiride of the helthe of the child bi weye of kynde, not of myracle, and therfor he preyede, for he wiste not, wher God spak bi determyna|cioun, ether bi manassing. Lire here. C.] . [verse 16] And Dauid preiede [preiede to C.] the Lord for the litil child; and Dauid fastide bi fastyng, and entride [he ȝede I.] asidis half, and lai [he lai I.] on [upon I.] the erthe. [verse 17] Sotheli [And I.] the eldere men of his hows camen, and constreyneden hym `bi meke preieris [Om. I.] , that he schulde rise [rise up I.] fro the erthe; and he nolde [wolde not I.] , nethir he eet mete with hem. [verse 18] Forsothe [And I.] it bifelde in the seuenthe dai, that the ȝong child diede; and the seruauntis of Dauid dredde to telle to hym, that the litil child was deed; for thei seiden, Lo! whanne [while I.] the litil child lyuede ȝit, we spaken to hym, and he herde not oure vois; hou myche more, if we seien the child is deed, he schal turment himsilf? [verse 19] Therfore whanne Dauid hadde herd [seen I.] his seruauntis [children I.] spek|ynge [to speke I.] priueli, `ether moterynge [Om. A.] , he un|derstood that the ȝong child was deed; `and he seyde to his seruauntis, Whether the child is deed [Om. EPRU.] ? Whiche [The whiche I.] answeriden to hym, He is deed. [verse 20] Therfor Dauid roos [roos up I.] fro the erthe, and was waischid [weischen I.] , and anoyntid; and whanne he hadde chaungid cloth [his clothis I.] , he entride in to the hows of the Lord, and worschipide, and cam in to his hows; and he axide, that

thei schulden sette breed to hym, and he eet. [verse 21] Sothely [And I.] his seruauntis seiden to hym, What is the word which [that I.] thou hast do? Thou fastidist [hast fastid I.] , and weptist [wept I.] for the ȝong child, whanne [while I.] he lyuede ȝit; sotheli [but I.] whanne the child was deed, thou risidist [hast risen up I.] and etist breed? [verse 22] And Dauid seide, Y fast|ide and wepte for the ȝong child, whanne he lyuyde ȝit; for Y seide [for I seide; that is, Y thouȝte in myn herte. Lire here. C.] , Who woot, if perauenture the Lord ȝyue hym to me, and the ȝong child lyue? [verse 23] `Now forsothe [But now I.] for he is deed, whi `fast Y [schal I faste for him I.] ? whether Y schal mow aȝen clepe hym more? Y schal `go more to [more rathir go to I.] hym, but he schal not turne [come I.] aȝen to me. [verse 24] And Dauid coumfortid Ber|sabee, his wijf; and he entride to hir, and slepte [he slepte I.] with hir. And sche gendride a sone, and Dauid clepide his name Sa|lomon [Salomon is interpretid pe|sible; and this was of Goddis ordenaunce, for it was schewid to Dauyth, that Salomon schulde regne aftir him, and that he schulde lyue in so greet pees, that he schulde bilde a temple to the Lord, as the Lord bihiȝte to Dauyth, in vii. c<sup>o</sup>. bifore. Lire here. C.] ; and the Lord louyde hym. [verse 25] And he sente Salomon [him I.] in the hond of Nathan, the prophete; and he clepide his name Amyable [Louely I.] to the Lord, for the Lord louyde hym. [verse 26] Therfor [Thanne I.] Joab fauȝt aȝens Rabath [Rabath; that was the prin|cipal citee and the kingis citee, and ther|for the king and hise wer|riours put|tiden hem silf therinne. Lire here. C.] , of [the kyng of I.] the sones of Amon, and he fauȝt aȝens the `kyngis citee [citee of the kyng I.] . [verse 27] And Joab sente mes|sangeris to Dauid, and seide, Y fauȝte [haue fouȝte I.] aȝens Rabath, and the citee of watris schal be takun. [verse 28] Now therfor gadere thou the tother part of the puple, and bisege thou the citee, and take thou it, lest whanne the citee is [be I.] wastid of me, the victorie be arettid to my name. [verse 29] Therfor Dauid gaderide [gaderide to gidre I.] al the puple, and he ȝede forth aȝens Rabath; and whanne he hadde fouȝte [fouȝte aȝens that citee I.] , he took it. [verse 30] And he [Dauid I.] took the dia|deme of the kyng [diademe of the king; that is, of the idol of hem, which is clepid Mel|chon, that is interpretid the king of hem. Lire here. C.] of hem [Amon I.] fro his heed, bi weiȝte [the weiȝte of I.] a talent of gold, hauynge pre|ciouseste [preciouse ADb.] peerlis; and it was put on [upon I.] the heed of Dauid, `that is [Om. KX.] , aftir that it was weldid [wellid CDEFGKLMNOPQRSUWXbç.] and purgid bi fier [Gloss omitted in I.] ; but also Dauid bar awey ful myche prey of the [that I.] citee. [verse 31] Also [And I.] he ledde forth the puple ther|of [the puple, etc.; that is, not al the pu|ple, but onely hem that ȝauen councel, that dispit schulde be doon to hise messangeris. Lire here. C.] , and sawide [he sawide it I.] , and `dide aboute [cumpasside I.] hem `yrun instrumentis of turment [with iren bounde cartis I.] , and de|partide

[he departide hem I.] with knyues, and `ledde ouer bi the licnesse of tijl stoonus [in the schapp of her sidis he stikide hem thorouȝ I.] ; so [thus I.] he dide to alle the citees of the sones of Amon. And Dauid turnede aȝen, and al his oost, in to Jerusalem.

CAP. XIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon aftir these thingis, that Amon, the sone of Dauid, louyde the faireste [ful fair I.] sistir, Thamar bi name, of Absolon, sone [the sone CDIKMOWXç.] of Dauid. [verse 2] And Amon perischide [peiride I.] greetli for hir, so that he was sijk for `the loue of hir [hir loue I.] . For whanne [sith I.] she was a virgyn, it semyde hard to hym, that he schulde do ony thing vnonestli with hir. [verse 3] Forsothe [But ther was I.] a freend [freend to Amon I.] , Jonadab bi name, sone [the sone I.] of Semmaa, bro|ther [the brothir I.] of Dauid, `was to Amon [Om. I.] ; Jonadab [and Jonadab I.] was a ful prudent man. [verse 4] Which [The which I.] seide to Amon, Sone of the kyng, whi art thou maad feble so bi leenesse bi alle daies? whi schewist thou not to me [me thin herte I.] ? And Amon seide to him, Y loue Thamar, the sister of my brother Absolon. [verse 5] And Jona|dab answeride to hym, Li thou on [upon I.] thi bed, and feyne thou sikenesse; and whanne thi fadir cometh, that he visyte thee, seie thou to hym, Y preye [biseeche I.] , come Thamar, my sister, that sche ȝyue mete to me, and make [make sche I.] a seew, that Y ete [ete it I.] of hir hond. [verse 6] Therfor [Thanne I.] Amon lay doun, and `bigan as [feynede I.] to be sijk. And whanne the kyng hadde come to visite him, Amon seide to the kyng, Y biseche, come Thamar, my sistir, that sche make twei [two maner I. two L.] soupyngis bifor my iȝen, and that Y take of hir hond meete [the meete I.] maad redi. [verse 7] Therfor Dauid sente to the hows of Thamar, and seide, Come thou in to the hows of Amon, thi brother, and make thou [Om. A.] seew [a seew I.] to hym. [verse 8] And Thamar cam in to the hows of Amon [Om. I.] , hir brother. Sotheli [And I.] he lai [lai doun I.] ; and sche took mele, and

medlide [medlide to gidre I.] , and made [sche made it I.] moist bifor hise iȝen, [verse 9] and sethide [sche sethide I.] soupyngis [soupinge metis I.] ; and sche took that, that sche hadde sode, and helde [heelde it I.] out, and settide [sette it I. sette E.] byfor hym, and he nolde [wolde not I.] ete. And Amon seide, Putte ȝe out alle men fro me. And whanne thei hadden put out [verse 10] alle men, Amon seide to Thamar, Bere the mete in to the closet, that Y ete of thin hond. Therfor Thamar took the soup|ingis [soupynge mete I.] whiche [that I.] sche hadde maad, and brouȝte in to Amon, hir brother, in the closet. [verse 11] And whanne sche hadde proferid mete [the mete I.] to hym, he took hir, and seide, Come thou, my sistir, li [and lie A pr. m. I.] thou with me. [verse 12] And sche answeride to hym, My brother, nyle thou, nyle thou oppresse me, for [certis I.] this [this thing I.] is not leueful in Israel; nyle thou do this foli. [verse 13] For [Forsothe I.] Y schal not mow bere my schen|schip, and thou schalt be as oon of the vnwise men in Israel; but rather speke thou to the kyng, and he schal not denye [he schal not denye, etc. Rabi Salomon seith, that sche was not the kyndly douȝter of Dauyth, for whanne Da|uyth took in batel hir modir, sche was with childe bi hir formere hose|bonde, and aftirward Da|uyth weddide hir, bi licence of the lawe, therfor Thamar myȝte be wed|did to Amon. Lire here. C.] me to thee. [verse 14] Sotheli [But I.] he nolde [wolde not I.] assente to hir preieris; but he was strengere in myȝtis, and oppresside [he oppresside I.] hir, and lay with hir. [verse 15] And `Amon hadde hir hateful bi ful grete haterede [thanne with ful grete hatred Amon hatide hir I.] , so that the hatrede was gretter, bi which he hatide hir, than the loue bi which he louyde hir bifor. And Amon seide to hir, Rise thou, and go [go henns I.] . [verse 16] And sche answeride to hym, This yuel is more which [that I.] thou doist now aȝens me, and puttist me out, than that, that thou didist bifore. And he nolde [wolde not I.] here hir; [verse 17] but whanne the child was clepide, that mynystride [seruide I.] to hym, he seide, Putte thou out this womman fro me, and close thou the dore aftir hir. [verse 18] And sche was clothid with a coote doun to the heele; for the kyngis douȝtris virgyns vsiden siche clothis. Therfor [Thanne I.] the mynystre [seruaunt I.] of Amon puttide [putte IX.] hir out [forth I.] , and closide the dore aftir hir. [verse 19] And sche spreynte aische [asken EL. aiȝsshis K.] to

hir heed, whanne the coote to `the heele [hir long coote I.] was to-rent, and whanne [Om. I.] the [hir I.] hondis weren [Om. I.] put on hir heed, and [Om. I.] sche ȝede entrynge and criynge. [verse 20] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon, hir brother, seide to hir, Whether Amon, thi brothir, hath leyn with thee? But `now, sister, be stille [thou now stille, sistir I.] ; he is thi brother, and turmente [turmente thou I.] not thin herte for this thing. Therfor Thamar dwellide moren|ynge in the hows of Absolon, hir brothir. [verse 21] Forsothe [And I.] whanne `kyng Dauid [the kyng Dauid I.] hadde herd these wordis, he was ful sori, and he nolde [wolde not I.] make sore the spyrit of Amon [he nolde make sori the spirit of Amon; for that tyme, for he was feble, siyk, and soreuful for the dede, but he repreuyde Amon aftir|ward in due tyme; and he killide not Amon for this violence, for it was not preued, and he compellide not Amon to wedde hir, for the hatrede, and for drede of deth. Lire here. C.] , his sone; for he louyde Amon, for he was the [his I.] firste gendrid [bygoten sone I.] `to hym [Om. I.] . [verse 22] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon spak not to Amon, nether yuel nether [ne EILP.] good; for Absolon hatide Amon, for he hadde defoulid Thamar, his sistir. [verse 23] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon aftir the tyme of twei ȝeer, that the scheep of Absolon weren shorun in Baalasor, which [that I.] is bi|sidis Effraym. And Absolon clepide alle the sones of the kyng. [verse 24] And he cam to the kyng, and seide to hym, Lo! the scheep of thi seruaunt ben schorun; Y preye, come the king with hise seruauntis to his seruaunt. [verse 25] And the kyng seide to Absolon, Nyle thou, my sone, nyle thou preye, that alle we come, and greeue [charge I.] thee. Forsothe [And I.] whanne he constreynede [he constreyn|ede, etc.; that is, mekely preyede his fadir. Lire here. C.] Dauid, and he nolde [wolde not I.] go, he blesside Absolon. [verse 26] And Absolon seide to Dauid, If thou nylt [wilt not I.] come, Y byseche [byseche thee I.] , come nameli Amon, my brother, with vs. And the kyng seide to hym, It is no nede, that he go with thee. [verse 27] Therfor Absolon constreynede hym [Dauid I.] ; and he delyuerede with him Amon, and alle the sones of the kyng. And Absolon hadde maad a feeste as the feeste of a kyng. [verse 28] Sotheli [And I.] Absolon comaundide to hise children, and seide, Aspie ȝe, whanne Amon is drunkun of wyn, and Y [whanne Y I.] seie to ȝou, Smyte ȝe, and sle [sleeth I.] hym. Nyle ȝe drede, for Y am that comaunde [Y am that comaunde; as if he seide, Y take the dede on me, and Y schal de|fende ȝou. Lire here. C.] to ȝou; be ȝe

strengthid, and be ȝe stronge men. [verse 29] Ther|for the children of Absolon diden aȝens Amon, as Absolon hadde comaundide to hem; and alle the sones of the kyng risiden [resen up I. resen E.] , and stieden ech on [upon I.] his mule, and fledden. [verse 30] And whanne thei ȝeden ȝit in the weie, fame cam [cam therof I.] to the kyng, and seide [it was seid I.] , Absolon hath kild [sleyn I.] alle the sones of the king, and `nameli not oon lefte [he hath not left nameli oon I.] of hem. [verse 31] Therfor the kyng roos [roos up I.] , and to|rente hise clothis, and felde doun on [upon I.] the erthe; and alle hise seruauntis that stoden nyȝ to hym, to-renten her clothis. [verse 32] Sotheli [But I.] Jonadab, sone [the sone I.] of Semmaa, brother of Da|uid, answeride and seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, gesse [gesse thou I.] not, that alle the children, and sones of the kyng, ben slayn; Amon aloone is deed, for he was set in hatrede to Ab|solon, fro the day in which he oppresside Thamar, his sistir. [verse 33] Now therfor, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, set [set he I.] not this word on [upon I.] his herte, and seie, Alle the sones of the kyng ben slayn; for Amon aloone is deed. Forsothe [Certis I.] Absolon fledde. [verse 34] And a child aspiere [spiere A pr. m. DIMPX sec. m. bç.] reiside [reiside up I.] hise iȝen, and bihelde, and lo! myche puple cam bi a weye out of the comyn weie bi the side of the [an I.] hil. [verse 35] And Jonadab seide to the kyng, Lo! the sones of the kyng comen; bi [aftir I.] the word of thi seruaunt, so it is doon. [verse 36] And whanne he hadde ceessid to speke, also the sones of the kyng apperiden; and thei entriden, and reisiden [reisiden up I.] her vois, and wepten; but also the kyng and alle his seruauntis wepten bi [with I.] ful greet wepyng. [verse 37] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon fledde, and ȝede [he ȝede I.] to Tholmai, sone [the sone I.] of Amyur, the kyng of Gessur. Therfor Dauid biweilide his sone Amon in many daies. [verse 38] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon, whanne he hadde fled, and hadde come in to [Om. I.] Ges|sur, was [he was I.] there thre ȝeer. [verse 39] And Dauid ceesside to pursue Absolon, for he was coumfortid on [upon I.] the deeth of Amon.

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] Forsothe Joab, the sone of Saruye, vndirstood, that the herte of the kyng [verse 2] was turned to Absolon; and he sente to Thecua, and took [he took I.] fro thennus a wise womman, and he seide to hir, Feyne thee to morene, and be thou clothid with clooth [a clooth I.] of duyl [deyl K. deol L. doel M. deel E.] , and be thou anoyntid [not anoyntid C sec. m.] with oile, that thou be [be now I.] as a womman by moren|ynge [mournynge I.] `now in [Om. I.] ful myche tyme a deed man. [verse 3] And thou schalt entre to the kyng, and thou schalt speke to hym siche [siche manere I.] wordis. Sotheli [And I.] Joab puttide [putte I.] the wordis in hir mouth. [verse 4] Therfor whanne the wom|man of Thecua hadde entrid to the kyng, sche felde bifor hym on the erthe, and worschipide, and seide, A [O I.] ! kyng, kepe [kepe thou I.] me. [verse 5] And the kyng seide to hir, What hast thou of [Om. I.] cause? And sche answeride, Alas! Y am a womman widewe, for [Certis I.] myn [verse 6] hosebonde is deed; and tweyne sones weren of [to I.] thin handmayde, whiche [the whiche I.] de|batiden aȝens hem silf in the feeld, and `noon was [ther was no man I.] that myȝte forbede hem, and oon [the oon I. the toon K.] smoot `the tother [that other I.] , and killide hym. [verse 7] And lo! al the kynrede risith aȝens thin handmayde, and seith, Ȝyue thou hym [hym to us I.] that killide his brothir, that we sle hym for the lijf of his brother whom he killide, and that we do awei the eir; and thei seken to quenche my sparcle whych [that I.] is lefte, that name [the name I.] dwelle not to myn hose|bonde, and relikis [that remenauntis I.] , `ethir remenauntis [Om. I.] , be not to him on erthe. [verse 8] And the kyng seide to the womman, Go in to thin hows, and Y schal comaunde for thee. [verse 9] And the womman of Thecua seide to the kyng, My lord the kyng, this wickidnesse be on me [this wickid|nesse be on me; Ebrews seyen thus, and wel as it semeth, My lord the king, for many causis and harde, thou mayst forȝete this cause, and thanne this wickidnesse schal be in me and in myn hows, and my sone schal be slayn of men sekinge his blood, and thou schalt be inno|cent, for this schal be doon with out thyn entent; as if she seide, Plese it more to thee to conferme this with an ooth, and to make sikur me and my sone, ther|for the kyng seide at the laste, the Lord lyueth, that is, Y swere to thee bi the Lord lyuynge for noon of the heeris, etc. Lire here C.] , and on the hows of my fadir; for|sothe the kyng and his trone be innocent [thei giltlees I.] . [verse 10] And the kyng seide, Brynge thou hym to me, that aȝenseith thee, and he schal no more adde [adde to I.] that he touche thee. [verse 11] And sche seide, The kyng haue mynde on [of I.] his

Lord God, and the nexte men of blood to take veniaunce be [be thei I.] not multiplied, and `thei schulen not sle [sle thei not I.] my sone. And the kyng seide, The Lord lyueth, for noon of the heeris of thi sone schal falle on [upon I.] the [Om. KX pr. m.] erthe. [verse 12] Therfor the womman seide, Thin handmayde speke a word to [to thee I.] my lord the [Om. I.] kyng. And the kyng seide, Speke thou. [verse 13] And the womman seide, Whi `thouȝtist thou [hast thou thouȝt I.] sich a thing aȝens the puple of God? and the [whi hath the I.] kyng spak [spoke I.] this word, that he do synne, and brynge not aȝen his sone cast [throwen I.] out? [verse 14] Alle we dyen, and as watris that schulen not turne aȝen, we sliden in to erthe [the erthe I.] ; and God nyl [wil not I.] that a soule perische, but he withdrawith, and thenkith lest he perische outirly, which [that I.] is cast awey. [verse 15] Now therfor come thou, that Y speke to my lord the [Om. I.] kyng this word, while the puple is present [while the pu|ple is present; that is, that the sentence ȝouun for me and for my sone, which is confermed bi thyn ooth, be pupplischid bi|for the puple, and that it haue the same effect, in thee and in thi sone. Lire here. C.] ; and thin handmaide seide, Y schal speke to the kyng, if in ony maner the kyng do the word of his handmayde. [verse 16] And the kyng herde the wordis, that he schulde delyuere his handmayde fro the hondis of alle men, that wolden do awei me, and my sone togidere [bothe I.] , fro the eritage of the Lord. [verse 17] Therfor thin hand mayde seie, that the word of my lord the kyng be maad as sacrifice, `that is, that the sen|tence ȝouun of hym be plesaunt to God, as sacrifice plesith [plesith to GQb.] God [Gloss omitted in I.] ; for as an aungel of the Lord, so is my lord the kyng, that he be not mouyd bi blessyng nether bi cursyng. Wherfor and thi Lord God is with thee. [verse 18] And the kyng answeride, and seide to the womman, Hide thou not fro me the word which Y axe thee. And the womman seide to hym, Speke thou, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng. [verse 19] And the kyng seide, Whether the hond of Joab is with thee in alle these thingis? The womman answeride, and seide, Bi the helthe of thi soule, my lord the kyng, nether to the left side nether to the riȝt

side is ony thing of alle these thingis, whiche my lord the kyng spak [hath spoke I.] . For thi seruaunt Joab hym silf comaundide to me, and he puttide [hath put to I.] alle these wordis in to the [verse 20] mouth of thin handmaide, that Y schulde turne the figure of this word; for thi seruaunt Joab comaundide this thing [thing to me I.] . Forsothe [Certis I.] thou, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, art wijs, as an aungel of God hath [that hath I.] wisdom, that thou vnderstonde alle thingis on [upon I.] erthe. [verse 21] And the kyng seide to Joab, Lo! Y am plesid, and Y haue do thi word; therfor go thou, and aȝen clepe thou the child Absolon. [verse 22] And Joab felde on [upon I.] his face to erthe [the erthe I.] , and worschipide [he worschipide I.] , and blesside the kyng; and Joab seide, Thi seruaunt hath vndirstonde to dai, that Y foond [haue founden I.] grace in thin iȝen, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, for thou hast do the word of thi seruaunt. [verse 23] Therfor Joab roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to Gessur, and brouȝte Absolon in to Jerusalem. [verse 24] Forsothe [And I.] the kyng seide, Turne he aȝen in to his hows, and se not he my face. [verse 25] Therfor Absolon turnede aȝen in to his hows, and siȝ not the face of the kyng. Sotheli no man in al Israel was so fair as Absolon, and ful comeli; fro the step of the foot `til to [vnto I.] the top, `no [verse 26] wem was [ther was no wem I.] in hym; and in as myche as `he clippide [thei clippiden G.] more the [his I.] heeris, bi so myche [myche the more I.] thei [tho BC.] wexiden more [Om. I.] ; forsothe [but I.] he was clippid onys in the ȝeer [onys in the ȝeer, in Ebreu it is, in tyme determynd. C.] , for the [his I.] heer greuede him. And whanne he clippide the heeris [heeris of his heed I.] , he weiȝide `the heeris of his heed [hem I.] bi [with I.] twei hundrid siclis with [bi AX pr. m.] comyn weiȝte. [verse 27] Forsothe [And I.] thre sones, and a douȝ|ter, Thamar bi name, of `excellent forme [semely schap I.] weren borun to Absolon. [verse 28] And Absolon dwellide in Jerusalem twei ȝeer, and he siȝ not the face of the kyng. [verse 29] Therfor he sente to Joab, that he schulde sende hym to the kyng; which [and I.] Joab nolde [wolde not I.] come to hym. And whanne he [Absolon I.] hadde sent the secounde tyme, and Joab nolde [wolde not I.]

[verse 30] come, Absolon seide to hise seruauntis, Ȝe knowen the feeld of Joab bisidis my feeld hauynge ripe barli; therfor go ȝe, and brenne ȝe it with fier. Therfor the ser|uauntis [and the seru|auntis, etc.; this vers til thidur and Joab roos, is not in Ebreu. C.] of Absolon brenten the corn with fier. And the seruauntis of Joab camen with her clothis to-rent, and seiden, The ser|uauntis of Absolon han brent the [a I.] part of [verse 31] feeld [the feeld C. thi feeld I.] bi [with I.] fier. And Joab roos [roos up I.] , and cam to Absolon in to his hows, and seide, Whi [verse 32] han thi seruauntis brent my corn bi [with I.] fier? And Absolon answeride to Joab, Y sente to thee, and bisouȝte that thou schuldist come to me, and that Y schulde sende thee to the kyng, that thou schuldist seie to hym, Whi cam Y fro Gessur? It was betere to me to be [haue be I.] there; therfor Y biseche, that Y se the face of the kyng, that if he is myndeful of my wickidnesse, sle he me. [verse 33] Joab entride to the kyng, and telde to hym. And Absolon was clepid, and entryde [he entryde K.] to the kyng, and worschipide [he worschipide I.] on the face of erthe [the erthe I.] bifor hym, and the kyng kisside Absolon.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] Therfor aftir these thingis Absolon made a chaar to hym, and knyȝtis, and fifti men, that schulden go bifor hym. [verse 2] And Absolon roos eerli, and stood bisidis the entryng of the ȝate in the weie; and Absolon clepide to hym ech man, that hadde a cause that he schulde come to the doom of the kyng, and Absolon seide, Of what [which A.] citee art thou? Which answer|ide, and seide, Of o [a I.] lynage of Israel Y am, thi seruaunt. [verse 3] And Absolon answer|ide to hym, Thi wordis semen to me good and iust, but noon is ordeyned of the kyng to here thee. And Absolon seide, [verse 4] Who schal ordeyne me iuge on the lond, that alle men that han cause come to me, and Y deme iustly? [verse 5] But whanne a man cam to Absolon to greete hym, he helde forth the [his I.] hond, and took, and kisside that [verse 6] man; and Absolon dide this to al Israel,

that cam to doom to be herd of the kyng; and Absolon drow [to him I.] awei [drow awei, etc.; in Ebreu it is, stal the hertis. C.] [Om. I.] the hertis of men of Israel. [verse 7] Forsothe [But I.] aftir foure ȝeer [after foure ȝeer; many Latyn bokis han here, after iiii. ȝeer, but the truthe of Ebreu, and oure bokis amendid, han aftir xl. ȝeer; and it is seid in the book of Ebreu ques|tiouns, that these xl. ȝeer bi|gunnen in that tyme, wherynne Saul killide the prestis of the Lord, and these xl. ȝeer ben endid in the conspiring of Absolon aȝenus his fadir. Lire here. C.] Absolon seide to kyng Dauid, Y schal go, and Y [Om. BC.] schal ȝelde my vowis, whiche Y [verse 8] vowide to the Lord in Ebron [in Ebron, that is, to be offrid in Ebron. Lire here. C.] ; for thi seruaunt vowynge vowide, whanne he was in Gessur of Sirie, and seide [I seide I.] , If the Lord bryngith aȝen me in to Jerusalem, Y schal make sacrifice to the Lord. [verse 9] And the kyng seide to hym, Go thou in pees. And Absolon roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to Ebron. [verse 10] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon sente aspieris in to al the lynage of Israel, and seide, Anoon as ȝe heren the sown of clarioun, seye ȝe, Absolon schal regne in Ebron. [verse 11] Forsothe [And I.] twei hundrid men clepid of Jerusalem ȝeden [ȝeden forth I.] with Absolon, and ȝede with sym|ple herte, and outirli thei knewen not the cause. [verse 12] Also Absolon clepide Achitofel of Gilo, the councelour of Dauid, fro his citee Gilo. And whanne he [Absolon I.] offride [had offrid I.] sacri|fices [sacrifice I.] a strong swerynge togidere was maad, and the puple rennynge togidere was encreessid with Absolon. [verse 13] Therfor a messanger cam to Dauid, and seide, With al herte al Israel sueth Absolon. [verse 14] And Dauid seide to hise seruauntis that weren with hym in Jerusalem, Rise ȝe [ȝe up I.] , and flee we [rise ȝe and fle we; sithen Dauyth was asayed and most hardi in batels, and was in the strongeste place, and hadde with him manye and strongeste werriours, he departide not fro the citee for the drede of Absolon princi|paly, but for the drede of God, whom he wiste that he hadde offendid bifore, and for this bi the sentence of God, this yuel cam on him; as Nathan the pro|fete seide to him bifor in xii. c^o., The Lord seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal reise on thee yuel of thyn hows, and therfor to plese the ire of God, Dauyth wolde meke him silf bifor God, that herde the prey|eris of meke men; and thilke mekenesse ap|peride in the schameful going out of the citee, whanne it is seid fle we and so forth. Lire here. C.] ; for noon ascaping schal be to us fro the face of Absolon [fro the face of Absolon; not for the vertu of him, but of God, whose scourge he was, to the punysching of Dauyth. Lire here. C.] ; therfor [sothely I.] haste ȝe to go out, lest he come, and ocupie vs, and fille [fulfille I.] on [Om. A. upon I.] vs fallynge [his fallynge I.] , and smyte the citee bi [with I.] the [Om. I.] scharpnesse of swerd. [verse 15] And the seruauntis of the kyng seiden to hym, We thi seruauntis schulen performe gladli alle thingis, what euer thingis [Om. I.] oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng schal com|aunde. [verse 16] Therfor [Thanne I.] the kyng ȝede out, and al his hous, on [upon I.] her feet; and the king lefte ten [his ten I.] wymmen concubyns [Om. I.] , `that is [Om. EIPX.] , secundarie wyues [Om. EPX.] , to kepe the [his I.] hous. [verse 17] And the king ȝede out, and al Israel, on [upon I.] her feet, and the kyng stood fer fro the [his I.] hous. [verse 18] And alle hise seruauntis ȝeden bisidis

him, and the legiouns of Cerethi [archers I.] and of [Om. CQXb.] Ferethi [alblasters I.] , and alle men [the stronge fiȝtinge men I.] of Geth `strong fiȝters [Om. I.] , sixe hundrid men, that sueden him fro Geth, ȝeden on foote bifor the kyng [bifor the king; Dauyth made al his puple to go bifor him, that he schulde putte him silf in the gretter perel, if Abso|lon pursuede him; he dide this, for he was in synne, and othere men suffriden not, no but for him. Lire here. C.] . [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] the kyng seide to Ethai of Geth, Whi comest thou with vs? Turne thou aȝen, and dwelle with the kyng, for thou art a pilgrym, and thou [Om. I.] ȝedist out fro thi place. [verse 20] Thou camest ȝis|tirdai, and to dai thou art compellid to go out with vs. Sotheli [certis I.] Y schal go, whi|dur Y schal go; turne aȝen, and lede aȝen thi britheren with thee, and the Lord do mercy and treuthe with thee, for thou schewidist [hast schewid to me I.] grace and feith. [verse 21] And Ethai answeride to the kyng, and seide, The Lord lyueth, and my lord the kyng lyueth, for in what euer place thou schalt be, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, ether in deeth ethir in lijf, there thi seruaunt schal be. [verse 22] And Dauid seide to Ethay, Come thou, and passe [passe forth I.] . And Ethai of Geth passide [passide forth I.] , and the kyng, and alle men that weren with hym, and the tother multitude. [verse 23] And alle men wepten with greet vois, and al the puple passide [passide forth I.] ; and the kyng ȝede ouer the strond of Cedron, and al the puple ȝede aȝens the weie of the olyue tree, that bi|holdith to deseert [the deseert I.] . [verse 24] Forsothe [Certis I.] and Sadoch the preest cam [cam forth I.] , and alle the dekenes with hym, and thei baren [baren forth with hem I.] the arke of boond of pees of God, and thei diden [settiden I.] doun the arke of God; and Abiathar stiede [stiede up I.] , til al the puple was passid [passid forth I.] that ȝede out of the citee. [verse 25] And the kyng seide to Sadoch, Bere aȝen the arke of God in to the citee; if Y schal fynde grace in the iȝen of the Lord, he schal lede me aȝen, and he schal schewe to me that arke and his taber|nacle. [verse 26] Sotheli if the Lord seith [schal sey I.] , Thou plesist not me [Om. D.] ; Y am redi [Y am redi; that is, to resseyue fleing, exiling and deth, that the good plesaunce of God be fillid. Lire here. C.] , do he that, that is good bifor hym silf. [verse 27] And the kyng seide to Sadoch, preest [the preest I.] , A [O I.] ! thou seere, `that is, profete [Om. I. that is, a profete K.] , turne aȝen in to

the citee, with pees; and Achymaas, thi sone, and Jonathas, the sone of Abiathar, ȝoure twei sones, be with ȝou. [verse 28] Lo! Y schal be hid in the [Om. I.] feeldi places of de|seert [the deseert I.] , til word come fro ȝou, and schewe to me. [verse 29] Therfor Sadoch and Abiathar baren aȝen the arke of God in to Jeru|salem, and dwelliden [thei dwelliden I.] there. [verse 30] Forsothe Dauid stiede on [up upon I.] the hil of olyue trees, stiynge [goynge up I.] and wepynge, with the [his I.] heed hilyd, and `goynge with nakid feet [with bare feet passynge forth I.] ; but also [and I.] al the puple [puple also I.] that was with hym, stiede [stiede up I.] with the [her I.] heed hilid, and wepte. [verse 31] Forsothe [And I.] it was teld to Dauid, that Achitofel was in the sweryng togidere with Absolon; and Dauid seide, Lord, Y byseche, make thou fonned the counsel of Achitofel. [verse 32] And whanne Dauid stiede [stiede up I.] in to the [Om. I.] hiȝenesse of the hil, in which he schulde worschipe the Lord, lo! Cusi of Arath, with the [his I.] cloth to-rent, and with the [his I.] heed ful of erthe, cam to hym [Dauid I.] . [verse 33] And Dauid seide to hym, If thou comest with me, thou schalt be to me to [Om. I.] charge; [verse 34] sotheli if thou turnest aȝen in [Om. I.] to the citee, and seist to Absolon, Y am thi seruaunt, kyng [O kyng I.] , suffre thou me to lyue; as Y was the seruaunt of thi fadir, so Y schal be thi seruaunt [so Y schal be thi seruaunt; thouȝ it nedith not to excuse Chusi of a profitable lee|syng, netheles it may be seid that no leesing was there; for he serueth a man, that doith and purposith to do to the good of that man. Forsothe it was good to Absolon, that he were lettid of his worste entent, and were bitakun to his fadir; most for his fadir nolde sle him, but more kepe to the amending of him, as it is opyn of these thingis, that ben had in xix. c<sup>o</sup>. Lire here. C.] ; thou schalt distrye the counsel of Achitofel. [verse 35] Forsothe [And I.] thou hast with thee Sadoch and Abiathar, preestis [the preestis I.] ; and `thou schalt schewe ech word [Om. I.] , what euer word thou schalt here in the hows of the kyng [kyng, thou schalt schewe it to the prestis I.] , to [Om. I.] Sadoch and Abiathar, preestis [Om. I.] . [verse 36] Sotheli [And her I.] twei sones `of hem [Om. I.] ben [beeth L.] with hem, Achymaas, sone [the sone I.] of Sadoch, and Jonathan, sone [the sone I.] of Abiathar; and ȝe schulen sende bi hem to me ech word which [that I.] ȝe schulen here. [verse 37] Therfor whanne Chusi, freend of Dauid, cam in to the citee, also Absolon entryde in to Jeru|salem.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] And whanne Dauid hadde passid a litil the cop of the [an I.] hil, Siba, the child of Mysphobosech, apperide in to his comyng, with tweyne assis, that weren chargid with twei hundrid looues, and with [Om. A.] an hundrid bundels of dried grapis, and with an hundrid gobetis [peisis I.] of pressid figus, and with twei vessels of wyn. [verse 2] And the kyng seide to Siba, What wolen these thingis to hem silf? And Siba answeride, My lord the kyng, the assis ben to the mey|neals of the kyng, that thei sitte [sitte on hem I.] ; the [and the I.] looues and `figis pressid [the pressid figis I.] ben to thi chil|dren to ete; forsothe [certis I.] the wyn is, that if ony man faile in deseert, he drynke. [verse 3] And the kyng seide, Where is the sone of thi lord? And Siba answeride to the kyng, He dwellide [dwellide stille I.] in Jerusalem, `and seide [seyynge I.] , To dai the Lord of the hows of Israel schal restore to me the rewme of my fadir. [verse 4] And the kyng seide to Siba, Alle thingis [alle thingis, etc.; this was seid yuele, vn|auysely and vniustly, for this Siba seide fals. Lire here. C.] that weren of Mysphibosech ben thine. And Siba seide, Y preye, fynde Y grace bifor thee, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng. [verse 5] Therfor [Thanne I.] kyng Dauid cam `til to [vnto I. to EL.] Bahurym, and lo! a man of the meynee of the hows of Saul, Semey bi name, sone of Gera, ȝede out fro thennus; he ȝede forth goynge out, and curside. [verse 6] And he sente stoonys aȝens Da|uid, and aȝens alle seruauntis [the seruauntis I.] of kyng Dauid; forsothe [and I.] al the puple, and alle fiȝteris [the fiȝtinge men I.] ȝeden at the riȝtside and at the left side of the king. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] Semey spak so [thus I.] , whanne he curside the kyng, Go out, go out, thou man of bloodis [man of bloodis; that is, schedere out of myche gilteles blood. Lire here. C.] , and man of Belial! [verse 8] The Lord hath ȝolde to thee al the blood of the hows of Saul, for thou rauyschedist [hast rauischid I.] the rewme fro [for DEMPX sec. m. bc.] hym; and the Lord ȝaf [hath ȝouen I.] the rewme in to the hond of Absolon, thi sone; and lo! thin yuels oppressen thee, for thou art a man of

blodis. [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] Abisay, the sone of Saruye, seide to the kyng, Whi cursith this dogge, that schal die, my lord the kyng? Y schal go, and Y schal girde of his heed. [verse 10] And the kyng seide, Ȝe sones of Saruye, what is to me and to ȝou? Suffre ye hym, that he curse; for [forsothe I.] the Lord comaundide [hath comaundid I.] to hym [for the Lord comaundide to him; Semey synnede in this cursing, for he curside [bi wickid] wille. Dauyth siȝ that Semey, aloone and vnarmed, dide wrong to Dauyth stide|fastly and with out drede, and opinly bifor many wer|riours, most stronge and most hardy, and most redi to venge the wrong doon to the king; and Dauyth per|seyuede that this was not of thilke Semey onely, but of God doinge there specialy; and Dauyth clepide this the comaundement of God; nethe|less God is not autour nether cause of synne, in as myche as it is synne. God is autour of the power, bi which me synneth; this power is fre wille. Also God is autour of the stiring of fre wille in to consent to stire poweris of execucioun, but God is not au|tour of defor|myte ether de|faute, which is in vnriȝ[t]ful dede; and this defaute of riȝt|fulnesse mak|ith synne. So here the stide|fastnesse and hardynesse of Semey in asail|inge Dauyth, and the sub|staunce of the doyng, was of God, that Da|uyth were punyschid herby, and his pacience were preued, but the defaute, that is, that he dide this bi wickid wille, was not of God, but in the defaute ether errour of fre wille. Lire here. C.] , that he schulde curse Dauid; and who is he that dare seie, Whi dide he so? [verse 11] And the kyng seide to Abysay, and to alle hise ser|uauntis, Lo! my sone, that ȝede out of my wombe, sekith my lijf; hou myche more now this sone of Gemyny? Suffre ȝe hym, that he curse bi comaundement [verse 12] of the Lord; if in hap the Lord biholde my turmentyng, and ȝelde good to me for this `cursyng of this dai [daies cursyng I.] . [verse 13] Therfor Dauid ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , and hise felowis, bi the weie with hym; forsothe [but I.] Semey ȝede [ȝede aside I.] bi the slade of the hil `bi the side [Om. I.] aȝens hym [Dauid I.] ; and curside [curside Dauid I.] , and sente [threwe I.] stoonus aȝens him, and spreynte erthe. [verse 14] And so `Dauid the king [kyng Dauid I.] cam, and al the puple weery with hym, and thei weren refreischid there. [verse 15] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon, and al the puple of Israel entriden in to Jerusalem, but also Achitofel with hym [Absolon I.] . [verse 16] Sotheli [And I.] whanne Chusi of Arath, the frend of Dauid, hadde come to Absolon, he spak [seyde I.] to Absolon [him I.] , [verse 17] Heil, kyng! heil, kyng! To whom Ab|solon seide, This is thi grace to thi freend [freend Dauid I.] ; whi ȝedist thou not [not forth I.] with thi freend? [verse 18] And Chusi answeride to Abso|lon, Nay [nay; that is, Y ouȝte not go with Da|uyth. Lire here. C.] , for Y shal be seruaunt [the seruaunt I.] of hym, whom the Lord hath chose, and al this puple, and al Israel; and Y schal dwelle with him. [verse 19] But that Y seie also this, to whom schal Y serue? whethir not to the sone of the kyng? as Y obeiede to thi fadir, so [so and I.] Y schal obeie to thee. [verse 20] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon seide to Achitofel, Take ȝe counsel, what we owen to do. [verse 21] And Achytofel seide to Absolon, Entre thou

to the concubyns [secundarie wyues I.] of thi fadir, whiche he lefte [hath left I.] to kepe the [his I.] hows; that whanne al Israel herith, that thou hast defoulid thi fadir [fadir bed I.] , the hondis of hem be strengthid with thee. [verse 22] Therfor thei tildeden [streiȝten out I.] Abso|lon a tabernacle in the soler, and he en|tride to the concubyns of his fadir bifor al Israel. [verse 23] Sotheli [And I.] the counsel of Achito|fel, which [that I.] he ȝaf in tho daies, was as if a man counselide [had counseilid with I.] God; so [and so I.] was al the counsel of Achitofel, bothe whanne he was with Dauid, and whanne he was with Absolon.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] Therfor [Thanne I.] Achitofel seide to Absolon, Y schal chese [chese to me I.] twelue thousynde of men `to me [Om. I.] , and Y schal rise [rise up I.] , and pursue Dauid in this nyȝt. [verse 2] And Y schal falle on hym, for he is wery, and with vnboundun hondis Y schal smyte hym. And whanne al the puple fleeth which [that I.] is with hym, Y schal smyte the kyng `desolat, ether [Om. I.] left aloone. [verse 3] And Y schal lede aȝen al the puple, as o man is wont to turne [be turned I.] aȝen; for [for Absolon I.] thou sekist o man, and al the puple schal be in pees. [verse 4] And the word of him [Achitofel I.] plesyde Ab|solon, and alle the grete [grettere BC.] men in birthe of Israel. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon seide, Clepe ȝe also Chusy of Arath, and here we what also he seith. And whanne Chusi hadde [verse 6] come to Absolon, Absolon seide to hym, Achitofel spak [hath spoke I.] siche a word; owen we do [do theraftir I.] , ethir nay? what counsel ȝyuest thou? [verse 7] And Chusi seide to Absolon, This is not good counsel, which [that I.] Achitofel ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] in this tyme. [verse 8] And eft Chusi seide, Thou knowist, that thi fadir, and the men that ben with him, ben moost [ful I.] stronge, and in bitter soule [will I.] , as if a femal [schue I.] bere is fers in the [a I.] forest, whanne the [hir I.] whelpis ben rauyschid [rauyschid fro hir I.] ; but also thi fader is a man werriour, and he schal not dwelle with the puple. [verse 9] In hap now he is hid [ether lurketh X sec. m. marg.] in the [Om. plures.] dichis, ethir in

o place, in which he wole [wole hide him I.] ; and whanne ony man fallith in the bigynnyng, who euer schal here [here it I.] , he schal here, and schal [Om. I.] seie, Wounde [Veniaunce I. ether vengeaunce X sec. m. marg.] is maad [don I.] in the puple that suede Absolon. [verse 10] And ech strongeste [ful strong I.] man, whos herte is as `the herte [Om. I.] of a lioun, schal be discoumfortid for drede; for al the puple of Israel knowith, that thi fadir is strong, and that alle men [the men I.] ben stronge, that ben with him. [verse 11] But this semeth to me to be riȝtful counsel; al Israel be gaderid to thee, fro Dan `til to [vnto I. til E.] Bersabee, vnnoum|brable as the [Om. I.] soond [soont A.] of the see; and thou schalt be in the myddis of hem. [verse 12] And we schulen falle on [upon I.] hym, in what euer place he is foundun, and we schulen hile hym, as dew is wont to falle on [upon I.] the [Om. KX.] erthe; and [and sothely I.] we schulen not leeue of [oon of I.] the men that ben with hym [Dauid I.] , `sotheli not oon [Om. I.] . [verse 13] `That if he [And if he that I.] entrith in to ony citee, al Israel schal cumpasse that citee [al Israel schal cumpasse that citee; Chusi spekith bi figuratiyf speche, and this is the sentence; we schulen so distrie al that citee, that noon aȝen stonding schal be; wher|for in Ebreu it is had thus, al Israel schal ȝyue felou|schipis of armed men aboute that citee, to distrie al. Lire here. C.] with roopis, and we schulen drawe it in to the stronde, that [ȝhe that I.] no thing be foundun, sotheli [Om. I.] not a litil stoon therof [be founden therof I.] . [verse 14] And Absolon seide, and alle the men of Israel, The counsel of Chusi of Arath is betere than the counsel of Achitofel; sotheli [and I.] the profitable counsel [the profitable councel; that is, spedeful for the entent of Ab|solon. C.] of Achitofel was destried bi Goddis wille, that the Lord schulde brynge in yuel on Absolon. [verse 15] And Chusi seide to Sadoch and to Abiathar, preestis [the preestis I.] , Achitofel ȝaf coun|sel to Absolon, and to the eldere men of Israel in this and this maner, and Y ȝaf sich and sich counsel. [verse 16] Now therfor sende ȝe soone, and telle ȝe to Dauid, and seie ȝe, Dwelle thou not this [in this C.] nyȝt in the [Om. I.] feeldi places of deseert [the deseert I.] , but passe thou [thou forth I.] with out delay [tariyng I.] ; lest perauenture the kyng be destried [the kyng be distried; `Da|uyth be sopun vp bi the coun|cel of Achitofel, parformed of Absalon in ab|sence of Chusi; and therfor in Ebreu it is, lest it be coun|celid to the king, that is, to Ab|solon, that he do the councel of Achitofel. Lire here. C] , and al the puple which [that I.] is with hym. [verse 17] Forsothe [And I.] Jonathas and Achymaas stoden bisidis the welle of Rogel; an [and an I.] handmaide ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , and telde to hem, and thei ȝeden forth to telle the

message to kyng Dauid; for [certis I.] thei myȝten not be seyn, nether entre in to the citee. [verse 18] Forsothe [And I.] a child siȝ hem, and he schew|ide [schewide it I.] to Absolon; sotheli [and I.] thei entriden with swift goyng in to the hows of `sum man [a man IM.] in Bahurym, that hadde a pit [putt I.] in his place, and thei ȝeden doun in to that pit. [verse 19] For|sothe [And I.] a womman took, and spred abrood an hilyng of [ouer I.] the mouth of the pit as driynge `barli with the pile takun a wey [pild barli I.] , and so the thing was hid. [verse 20] And whanne the seruauntis of Absolon hadde come in to the hows, thei seiden to the womman, Where is Achymaas and Jonathas? And the womman answeride to hem, Thei [And thei K.] passiden [passidin forth I.] hastily, whanne `watir [whanne watir, etc., in Ebreu it is, they passiden the ryuer of watris, that is, Jordan, as Ebrews seyen. Lire here. C.] was tastid a litil [thei hadden taasted a litil watir I.] . And whanne thei that souȝten hem hadden not founde [founde hem I.] , thei turneden aȝen in to Jerusalem. [verse 21] And whanne thei `that souȝten [Om. I.] hadden go [go forth I.] , thei stieden [stieden up I.] fro the pit; and thei ȝeden, and telden to kyng Dauid, and seiden, Rise `ȝe, passe ȝe [ȝe up and passeth I.] soone the flood, for Achitofel ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] sich counsel aȝens ȝou. [verse 22] Therfor Dauid roos [roos up I.] , and al the puple that was with hym, and thei passiden Jordan, til it was cleer dai, bifor that the word was pupplischid; and sotheli not oon [oo man I.] was left, that `passide not [ne he passide I.] the flood. [verse 23] Forsothe [And I.] Achitofel siȝ, that his counsel was not doon, and he sadlide his asse, and roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to his hows, and in to his citee; and whanne his hows was dis|posid, he perischide bi hangyng [hangyng him selff I.] [bi hangyng; by him silf he hangide him silf for indigna|cioun, that his councel was not doon, and for by the foly of Absalon and of his puple, he perseyuede and helde for cer|teyn, that Da|uyth schulde haue the mais|try, and turne aȝen in to the rewme; wher|for he dredde to be slayn of him bi foul deth and peyneful, and therfor he wolde haste his deth bi an other weye. Lire here. C.] , and he was biried in the sepulcre of his fadir. [verse 24] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid cam in to the [Om. I.] castels, and Absolon passide Jordan, he and alle the [Om. I.] men of Israel with hym. [verse 25] Forsothe [And I.] Ab|solon ordeynede Amasan for Joab on [upon I.] the [his I.] oost; forsothe [and I.] Amasan was the sone of a man that was clepid Jethra of Jeȝrael, which [the which I.] entride to Abigail, douȝ|ter [the douȝtir I.] of Naas, the sistir of Saruye, that was

the modir of Joab. [verse 26] And Israel settide tentis with Absolon in the lond of Galaad. [verse 27] And whanne Dauid hadde come in to cas|tels [the castels I.] , Sobi, the sone of Naas of Rabath, of the sones of Amon, and Machir, the sone of Amyel, of Lodobar, and Berzellai, [verse 28] of Galaad, of Rogelym, brouȝten to hym [Dauid I.] beddyngis [beddyng I.] , and tapitis, and erthun vessels, wheete [and wheete I.] , and barli, and mele, and flour, and benys, and lente [fetchis I.] , and fried chichis [thing that is clepid cycer I. fried chichis, that is, gadering of cornys that is clepid cicer X sec. m. marg.] , [verse 29] and hony, and botere, and scheep, and fatte calues. And thei ȝauen [ȝauen tho I.] to Dauid, and to the puple that weren with hym, to ete; for thei supposiden the puple to be maad feynt for hungur and thirst in deseert.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] Therfor Dauid, whanne the [his A sec. m. he had biholde his I.] puple `was biholdun [Om. I.] , ordeynede tribunes [chefteyns of thousyndis I.] and centu|riouns [of hundridus I.] on [upon I.] hem. [verse 2] And he ȝaf the thridde part of the puple vndur the hond of Joab; and the thridde part vndur the hond of Abisai, sone [the sone I.] of Saruye, brother [the brothir I.] of Joab; and the thridde part vndur the hond of Ethai, that was of Geth. And the kyng seide to the puple, Also Y schal go out [Y schal go out, etc., for he wolde be of the firste to trauel in perel. Lire here. C.] with ȝou. [verse 3] And the puple answeride, Thou schalt not go out; for whether we fleen, it schal not perteyne to hem bi greet werk [foors I.] of vs; whether half the part fallith [falle I.] doun of vs, thei schulen not recke ynow [myche I.] , for thou [thou oon I.] art rekynyd for ten thousynde; therfor it is betere, that thou be to vs in the citee in stronge hold [socour I.] . [verse 4] `To whiche [And I.] the kyng seide [seide to hem I.] , Y schal do this [that I.] , that semeth riȝtful to ȝou. Therfor the kyng stood bisidis the ȝate, and the puple ȝede out bi her cumpenyes, bi hundridis and bi thousyndis. [verse 5] And the king co|maundide

to Joab, and to Abisai, and Ethai [to Ethai I.] , and seyde, Kepe ȝe to me the child Absolon. And al the puple herde the kyng comaundinge to alle the princes for Ab|solon. [verse 6] Therfor the puple ȝede out in to the feeld aȝens Israel; and the [a I.] batel was maad in the forest of Effraym. [verse 7] And the puple of Israel was slayn there of the oost of Dauid, and a greet sleyng [slauȝter I.] of twenti thousynde was maad in that dai. [verse 8] For|sothe [And I.] the [Om. C.] batel was scaterid [sparpuylid I.] there on [upon I.] the face of al erthe [the loond I.] , and many mo weren of the puple whiche the forest wastide, than thei whiche the swerd deuourid in that dai. [verse 9] Sotheli it bifeld, that Absalon sittinge on [upon I.] a mule, cam aȝens the ser|uauntis of Dauid; and whanne the mule hadde entrid vndur a thicke ook, and greet [a greet I.] , the heed of Absolon cleuyde to the ook; and whanne he was hangid bitwixe heuene and erthe, the mule, on [upon I.] which [whom I.] he sat, passide [passide forth I.] . [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] `sum man [a man IM.] siȝ this, and telde [tolde it I.] to Joab, and seide, Y siȝ Ab|solon hange on an ook. [verse 11] And Joab seide to the man that `hadde telde [tolde IKL.] to hym, If thou siȝest [siȝe him I.] , whi persidist [perschidist I.] thou not hym [hym thorouȝ I.] to the erthe, and Y schulde haue ȝoue `to thee [Om. G.] ten siclis of siluer, and a girdil? [verse 12] And he seide to Joab, Thouȝ thou paiedist in myn hondis a thousynde platis of siluer, Y nolde [wolde not I.] sende myn hond in to the sone of the king; for the [Om. I.] while we herden, the kyng comaundide to thee, and to Abisai, and to Ethai, and seide, Kepe ȝe to me the child Absolon. [verse 13] But and if [thouȝ I.] Y hadde do [do fool hardily I.] aȝens my lijf hardili [Om. I.] , this myȝte not be [haue be I.] hid fro the kyng, and thou woldist stonde on the contrarye side. [verse 14] And Joab seide, Not as thou wolt [woldest EL.] , `Absolon schal be kept [Om. I.] , but Y schal asaile hym bifor thee. Therfore Joab took thre speris in his hond, and fitchide [he fitchide I.] tho in the herte of Absolon. And whanne he spraulide, ȝit [verse 15] cleuynge in the ook, ten ȝonge squieris of

Joab runnen, and smytiden [smoten I. smiten E.] , and killiden hym. [verse 16] Sotheli [And I.] Joab sownede [trumpide I.] with a clarioun, and withhelde [helde with him I.] the puple, lest it pursuede Israel fleynge, and he wolde spare the multitude. [verse 17] And thei [men I.] token Absolon, and castiden [threwen I.] forth him in to a greet dich in the forest, and baren [thei baren I.] to|gidere a ful greet heep of stoonys on [upon I.] hym; forsothe [and I.] al Israel fledde in to his [her I.] tabernaclis. [verse 18] Forsothe [And I.] Absolon, while he lyuyde ȝit, hadde reisid to hym a me|morial, which [that I.] is in the valey of the kyng; for he seide, Y haue no sone, and this schal be the mynde of my name; and he clepide `the memorial [that token of mynde I.] bi his name, and it is clepid the Hond, `that is, werk [Om. I.] , of Ab|solon `til to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] Achy|maas, sone [the sone I.] of Sadoch, seide, Y schal renne, and Y schal telle to the kyng, that the Lord hath maad doom to hym of the hond of hise enemyes. [verse 20] To whom Joab seide, Thou schalt not be messanger [a messanger A sec. m.] in this dai, but thou schalt telle [telle this I.] in another dai; I nyle [wil not I.] that thou telle [telle this I.] to dai, for the sone of the kyng is deed. [verse 21] And Joab seide to Chusi [Joab seide to Chusi; this Chusy was a simple man of the puple, and was not that Chusi that was frend and councelour of Dauyth, of whom it is seid in xv. and xvii. c<sup>o</sup>. Lire here. C.] , Go thou, and telle to the kyng tho thingis that thou hast seyn. Chusi worschypide Joab, and ran. [verse 22] Eft [forth. And eft I.] Achy|maas, sone [the sone I.] of Sadoch, seide to Joab, What lettith, if also Y renne aftir Chusi? And Joab seide to hym, What wolt thou renne, my sone? Come thou hidur, thou schalt not be a berere of good message. Which [The which I.] answeride, [verse 23] `What sotheli if [But what I.] Y schal renne? And Joab seide to hym, Renn thou. Therfor Achymaas ran bi the weie of schortnesse, `and sped [Om. I.] , and passide [he passide I.] Chusi. [verse 24] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid sat bi|twixe twei ȝatis; sotheli [and I.] the spiere [waiter I.] , that was in the hiȝnesse of the ȝate on the wal, reiside [reiside up.] the [his I.] iȝen, and siȝ [he sawȝe I.] a man [verse 25] aloone rennynge; and the spiere [biholder I.] criede, and schewide to the kyng. And the kyng seide to hym, If he is aloone, good mes|sage

is in his mouth. [verse 26] Sotheli [But I.] while he hastide, and neiȝede neer, the spiere [waiter an hiȝe I.] siȝ another man rennynge [come rennynge I.] ; and the spiere criede `in the hiȝnesse [an hiȝe I.] , and seide, Another man rennynge aloone apperith to me. And the kyng seide to hym, And this man is a good messanger. [verse 27] Sotheli [And I.] the spiere [waiter I.] seide, Y biholde the rennyng of the for|mere, as the rennyng of Achymaas, sone [the sone I.] of Sadoch. And the kyng seide, He is a good man, and he cometh bryngynge a [Om. I.] good message. [verse 28] Forsothe [And I.] Achymaas criede, and seide to the kyng, Heil kyng! And he worschipide the kyng lowli bifor hym to erthe [the erthe I.] , and seide, Blessid be thi [the A.] Lord God, that closide [hath closid I.] togidere the men, that reisyden [reisiden to gidre I.] her hondis aȝens my lord the [Om. I.] kyng. [verse 29] And the kyng seide, Whe|ther pees is to the child Absolon? And Achymaas seide, Y siȝ [siȝ a gret biriel A sec. m. marg. sawȝe a biriel I.] , `that is, Y herde, a great noise [Om. I.] , whanne Joab, thi seruaunt, thou [oo I.] kyng, sente [sende I.] me thi seruaunt [seruaunt to thee I.] ; Y kan [knowe I.] noon othir thing. [verse 30] To whom the kyng seide, Passe thou [ouer I.] , and stonde here. And whanne he hadde passid, and stood, [verse 31] Chusi apperide; and he cam and seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, Y brynge good mes|sage; for [certis I.] the Lord hath demed to dai for thee of the hond of alle men that risiden [risen E. han risen I.] aȝens thee. [verse 32] Forsothe [And I.] the kyng seide to Chusi, Whether pees is to the child Abso|lon? To whom Chusi answeride, and seide, The enemyes of my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, and alle men that risiden [resen ILP. risen E.] aȝens hym in to yuel, be [be thei I.] maad as the child. [verse 33] Therfor the kyng was sory, and stiede [stiede up I.] in to the soler of the ȝate, and wepte [he wepte I.] , and spak thus goynge [and wepte, and spak thus goyng; Dauith biwailide the goostly deth of Absalon, for he diede in dedly synne, in pursuynge in dede his fadir; and ther|for this word Absolon my sone, is set six sithis here, and in xix. c^o. for vi. condi|ciouns of the peyne of helle; for peyne of harm, that is, of wanting of blis, and the peyne of feel|ing is there, gnasting of teth and wep|ing, outermere derknessis, and during with outen ende, ben in helle. Lire here. C.] , My sone, Absolon! Absolon, my sone! who ȝyueth to me, that Y die for thee? Absolon [Absolon; goostly: Abso|lon that pur|sueth Dauyth and hise men, signefieth a tiraunt op|pressere of sim|ple men; whos heed cleueth to an ook, in desiringe hiȝe thingis of the world; he is persid with iii. speris, in as|sentinge to thre maner coueitise; he is cast forth in to a dich, in goinge doun to helle. Lire here. C.] , my sone! my sone, Ab|solon!

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] Forsothe it was teld to Joab, that the [verse 2] kyng wepte, and biweilide his sone; and the victorie in that dai was turned in to morenyng to al the puple; for the puple herde, that it was seid in that dai, The kyng makith sorewe on his sone. [verse 3] And the puple eschewide [ethchewide I.] to entre in to the citee in that dai, as the puple turned and fleynge fro batel [the batel A pr. m.] is wont to bowe awey. [verse 4] Sotheli [And I.] the kyng hilide his heed, and criede with greet vois, My sone, Absolon! [verse 5] Absolon, my sone! Therfor Joab entride to the kyng in to the hows, and seide, Thou hast schent to dai the cheris [cheer KX. cheere O.] of alle thi seruauntis, that han maad saaf thi lijf, and the lijf of thi sones and of thi douȝ|tris, and the lijf of thi wyues, and the lijf of thi [the ADM.] secoundarie wyues. [verse 6] Thou louest hem that haten thee, and thou hatist hem that louen thee; and thou schewidist [hast schewid I.] to dai that thou reckist not of thi duykis and of thi seruauntis; and verily Y haue knowe now, that [for plures.] if Absolon lyuede, and alle we hadden be deed, thanne it schulde plese thee. [verse 7] Now therfor ryse [ryse up I.] thou [Om. I.] , and go [go thou I.] forth, and speke thou, and make satis|faccioun to this eruauntis; for Y swere to thee bi the Lord, that if thou schalt not go out [forth I.] , sotheli [and I.] not o man schal dwelle with thee in this nyȝt; and this schal be worse to thee, than alle yuels [the yuels I.] that camen on thee fro thi ȝong wexynge age til in to present [this present IK.] tyme. [verse 8] Therfor the kyng roos [roos up I.] , and sat in the ȝate; and it was teld to al the puple, that the kyng sat in the ȝate, and al the multitude cam bifor the kyng. Forsothe Israel [al Israel E.] fledde in to hise [her IEL.] taber|naclis. [verse 9] And al the puple stryuede in al the lynagis of Israel, and seide, The kyng delyuerede [hath delyuered I.] vs fro the hond of alle oure enemyes, and he sauide vs fro the hond of Filisteis; and now `he fleeth [hath fled I.] fro the lond [he fleeth fro the lond; that is, fro the kingis citee, as if they seiden, it is vnworthi, that the king fle for Absolon. Lire here. C.]

for Absolon. [verse 10] Forsothe [Certis I.] Absolon, whom we anoyntiden on [upon I.] vs, is deed in batel; hou longe ben ȝe stille, `that is [Om. DKMSXC.] , fro [in R. Om. KS.] know|lechyng of synne, and fro axyng of forȝyuenesse [Gloss omitted in I.] , and bryngen not aȝen the kyng? And the counsel of al Israel cam to the kyng. [verse 11] Forsothe [And I.] kyng Dauid sente to Sadoch and to [Om. C.] Abiathar, preestis [the preestis I.] , and seide, Speke ȝe to the grettere men in birthe of Juda, and seie ȝe, Whi camen ȝe the [Om. I.] laste to brynge aȝen the kyng in to his hows? Sotheli [And I.] the word of al Israel cam to the kyng, that thei wolden brynge hym aȝen in to his hows. For the kyng seide, Ȝe schulen seie these thingis to the [verse 12] puple, Ȝe ben my britheren [ȝe ben my britheren; Dauyth sente to the men of Juda, that weren with Absolon, that they schulden be of the firste to lede him aȝen, for of this that thei weren of Juda, they weren ascham|ed to appere in his siȝt, for they hadden forfetid aȝenus him more than straungeris; and therfor Dauyth per|seyuede this, and sente for hem, that they schulden come sikirly, for he was redy to forȝyue. Lire here. C.] , ȝe ben my boon and my fleisch; whi the laste bryngen ȝe aȝens the kyng? [verse 13] And seie ȝe to Amasa, Whether thou art not my boon and my fleisch? God do these thingis to me, and adde these thingis [thingis to I.] [adde these thingis; that is, grettere yuels than Y suffride in the persecu|cioun of Abso|lon. Lire here. C.] , if thou schalt not be maistir of chyualrye bifore me in al tyme aftir Joab [aftir Joab; summe bokis han aftir Joab; that is, vndur Joab, for the Ebreu word here, is set sum tyme for vndur, and sum tyme it signefieth for; and the same sentence is, for Dauyth pur|poside not to remoue Joab fro his office, but that Amasa schulde fille his while in tyme and places where it semyde spede|ful. Lire here. C.] . [verse 14] And Dauid bowide [bowide to him I.] the herte of alle men of Juda as of o man; and thei senten to the kyng, and seiden, Turne thou aȝen, and alle thi seruauntis. [verse 15] And the kyng turnede aȝen, and cam `til to [vnto I.] Jordan; and al Juda cam til in to Galgala to mete the kyng, and lede [to lede I.] hym ouer Jordan. [verse 16] Forsothe [But I.] Semei, the sone of Gera, sone [the sone I.] of Gemyny, of Bahurym, hast|ide, and cam doun with the men of Juda [verse 17] in to the metyng of kyng Dauid, with a thousynde men of Beniamyn; and Siba, a [the I.] child of the hows of Saul, and fiftene sones of hym, and twenti seruauntis weren with hym; and thei braken in to Jordan, [verse 18] bifor the kyng, and passide [thei passide I.] the forthis [foordis IKR. fordes L.] , that thei schulden lede ouer the hows of the kyng, and schulden [Om. DIKMXC.] do bi the co|maundement [heest I.] of the kyng. Sotheli [Certis I.] Se|mei, the sone of Gera, knelide bifor the king, whanne he hadde passid now Jor|dan,

[verse 19] and seide to the kyng, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, arette thou not wickidnesse to me, nether haue thou mynde of the wrongis of thi seruaunt in the dai, in which thou, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, ȝedist out of Jerusalem, nether sette thou, kyng, in [tho wrongis in I.] thin herte; [verse 20] for Y thi seruaunt knoleche my synne; and therfor to dai Y cam the firste of al the hows of Joseph, and Y cam doun in to the meetyng of my lord the [Om. I.] kyng. [verse 21] Forsothe [And I.] Abisai, the sone of Saruye, an|sweride and seide, Whether Semei, that curside the crist of the Lord, schal not be slayn for these wordis? [verse 22] And Dauid seide, What is to me and to ȝou, ȝe [the I.] sones of Saruye? Whi ben ȝe maad to me to dai in to Sathan [in to Sathan; that is, aduer|sarie. C.] ? Therfor whether a man schal be slayn to dai in Israel? Whether Y knowe not me maad kyng to dai on [in BC. upon I.] Israel? [verse 23] And the kyng seide to Semey, Thou schalt not die [thou schalt not die; for if Dauyth hadde suffrid Semey to be slayn anoon, othere men that weren with Absolon in pursuynge Dauyth, wolden haue dred to hem silf, and thei that had|den not come ȝit, wolden haue go abak, and in hap summen that hadden come thanne, wolden haue go awey priuely; and so the sleyng of Semey myȝte haue be occa|sioun of greet dissencioun, and of greet yuel aȝenus Dauyth. Lire here. C] ; and the kyng swoor to hym. [verse 24] Also Myphibosech, sone [the sone I.] of Jo|nathas, sone [the sone I.] of Saul [sone of Saul; summe bokis han here, the sone of Jona|thas, sone of Saul, but the truthe of Ebreu and oure bokis amendid, han not so. Lire here. C.] , cam doun with vnwaischun feet, and with berd [his berd I.] vnclip|pid, in to the comyng of the kyng. And Mysphibosech hadde not waische hise clothis, fro the dai in which the kyng ȝede out of Jerusalem til to the dai of his turnyng [comyng I.] aȝen in pees. [verse 25] And whanne at Jerusalem he hadde come to the kyng, the kyng seide to him, Myphibosech, whi camest thou not [not forth I.] with me? [verse 26] And he an|sweride and seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, my seruaunt dispiside me; and Y thi seruaunt seide to hym, that he schulde sadle [haue sadlid I.] the [an I.] asse to me, and Y schulde stie [haue stied up I.] , and Y schulde [haue I.] go with the king; for [Om. I.] Y thi ser|uaunt am crokid [halt I.] . [verse 27] More ouer and he accuside me, thi seruaunt, to thee, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng; forsothe [but I.] thou, my lord `the kyng [Om. I.] , art as the aungel of God; do thou that, that is plesaunt to thee. [verse 28] For [Certis ne ther I.] the hows of my fadir was not [Om. I.] no but gilti of [to I.] deeth to my lord the kyng; so|theli [and I.] thou hast set me thi seruaunt among

the gestis of thi boord [table I.] ; what therfor haue Y of iust pleynt, ether what may Y more crye to the kyng? [verse 29] Sotheli [And I.] the kyng seide to hym, What spekist thou more? that that Y haue spoke is stide|fast; thou and Siba depart possessyouns [the possessyouns I.] [thou and Ciba, departe possessiouns; here Dauyth grauntide vniustly to the seruaunt of Myphibosech, the half of the eritage of My|phibosech, wherfor the rewme was departid aftir|ward, in the tyme of Ro|boam sone of his sone, as it was seide pleynliere in I. book xx. c^o. Here it is to perseyue, hou myche flater|eris and bac|biteris ben perelouse to princes, for Dauyth so hooly and iust, was takun and disseyued bi the wordis of Ciba, flaterere and bacbitere, that he graunt|ide to Siba the eritage of My|phibosech his lord, in the absence of My|phibosech, and while he herde not; and that is worse, aftir that he herde Myphibosech, verily excus|inge him silf, he withdrow not al his vniust seiyng, but he made the worste ser|uaunt euene with his lord, and netheles he ouȝte to haue hanged thilke ser|uaunt, for the fals accusing of his lord of tresoun aȝenus the kingis mageste. Lire here. C.] . [verse 30] And Myphibosech answeride to the kyng, Ȝhe, take he alle thingis, aftir that my lord the [Om. I.] kyng turnede [is turned I.] aȝen pesibli in to his hows. [verse 31] Also Berzellai of Galaad, a ful eld man, cam doun fro Rogelym, and ledde the kyng ouer Jordan, redi also to sue hym ouer [biȝonde I.] the flood. [verse 32] Forsothe [And I.] Berzellai of Galaad was ful eld, that is, of foure score ȝeer, and he ȝaf metis to the kyng, whanne the kyng dwellyde in cas|tels; for Berzellai was a ful riche man. [verse 33] Therfor [And so I.] the kyng seide to Berzellai, Come thou with me, that thou reste si|kirli with me in Jerusalem. [verse 34] And Ber|zellai seide to the kyng, Hou manye ben the daies [hou many ben the dayes, etc.; as if he seyde, it is tyme that Y thenke of deth, not of onours ether of delices, and this is aȝenus elde now that preessen forth hem silf to the courtis of grete men. Lire here. C.] of ȝeeres of my lijf, that Y stie [stie up I.] with the kyng in to Jerusalem? [verse 35] Y am of foure score ȝeer to dai; whether my wittis ben quike to deme swete thing ethir bittir, ether mete [wher mete I.] and drynk may delite thi seruaunt, ether may Y here more the vois of syngeris ether of syng|sters? Whi is thi seruaunt to charge to my lord the [Om. I.] kyng? [verse 36] Y thi seruaunt schal go forth a litil fro Jordan with thee, Y [verse 37] haue no nede to this ȝeldyng; but Y bi|seche [biseche thee I.] , that Y thi seruaunt turne aȝen, and die in my citee, and be biried bisidis the sepulcre of my fadir and of my modir; forsothe [but I.] Chamaam is [Om. I.] thi seruaunt, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, go he with thee, and do thou to hym that that semeth good to thee. [verse 38] Therfor the kyng seide to hym [Bar|zellay I.] , Chamaam passe [go forth I.] with me; and Y schal do to hym what euer thing plesith thee, and thou schalt gete al thing, which [that I.] thou axist of me. [verse 39] And whanne al the puple and the kyng hadden passid Jordan, the kyng abood; and `the kyng [Om. EL.] kisside Ber|zellai,

and blesside hym; and he turnede aȝen in to his place. [verse 40] Therfor [Thanne I.] the kyng passide [passide forth I.] in to Galgala, and Chamaam with hym. Sotheli [And I.] al the puple of Juda hadde ledde the kyng ouer, and the half part oneli of the puple of Israel was present. [verse 41] Therfor alle the men of Israel camen to|gidere to the king, and seiden to hym, Whi han oure britheren, the men of Juda, stole thee, and han led [led forth I.] the kyng and his hows ouer Jordan, and alle the men of Dauid with hym? [verse 42] And ech man of Juda answeride to the men of Israel, For the kyng is neer to me; whi art thou wrooth on [upon I.] this thing? Whether we han ete ony thing of the kyng, ether ȝiftis ben ȝouun to vs? [verse 43] And a man of Israel answeride to the men of Juda, and seide, Y am grettere bi ten partis at [to I.] the kyng, and Dauith perteyneth more to me than to thee; whi hast thou do wrong to me, and `it was [whi was it I.] not teld [schewid I.] to `me the formere [me that I am formere I.] , that Y schulde brynge aȝen my kyng? Forsothe [And I.] the men of Juda answeryden hardere to the men of Israel.

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] Also it bifelde, that a man of Belial was there, Siba bi name, the sone of Bothri, a man of the generacioun of Ge|myny; and he sownede with a clarioun [trumpe I.] , and seide, No part is to vs in Dauid, nether eritage in the sone of Ysai; thou, Israel, turne aȝen in to thi tabernaclis. [verse 2] And al Israel was departid fro Dauid [and Israel was departid fro Dauyth; at a tyme that Dauyth were punyschid so; for tresoun aȝenus Urie, and that Siba schulde be slayn for his malice. Lire here. C.] , and suede Siba, the sone of Bothri; for|sothe [and I.] the men of Juda cleuyden to her kyng, fro Jordan `til to [vnto I.] Jerusalem. [verse 3] And whanne the kyng hadde come in to his hows in Jerusalem, he took ten wymmen, hise secundarie wyues, whiche he hadde left to kepe the [his I.] hous, and he bitook [took A.] hem in to keping, and ȝaf mete to hem; and he [Dauid I.] entride not to hem; but thei weren closid `til to [vnto I.] the dai of her deeth, and lyueden

in widewehed. [verse 4] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid seide to Amasa, Clepe thou to gidere to me alle the men of Juda in to the thridde dai, and be thou present. [verse 5] Therfor Amasa ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , that he clepe to gidere the puple of Ju|da; and he dwellide ouer the couenaunt [couenaunt tyme I.] , which [that I.] the kyng hadde set to hym. [verse 6] So|theli [And I.] Dauid seide to Abisai, Now Siba, the sone of Botri, schal turmente vs more than Absolon dide [Om. I.] ; therfor take [take thou I.] the ser|uauntis of [of Joab I.] thi lord, and pursue hym, lest in hap he fynde strengthid citees, and ascape vs. [verse 7] Therfor the men of Joab ȝeden [wenten I.] [men of Joab ȝeden, etc.; that is, that weren wont to go out with Joab, and obeye to him. Lire here. C.] out with Abisai, and Cerethi and Ferethi [arblasters and archers I marg.] , and alle stronge [the stronge C.] men ȝeden out of Jerusalem to pursue Siba, the sone of Bochry. [verse 8] And whanne thei weren bisidis the greet stoon, which [that I.] is in Gabaon, Amasa cam, and ran to hem; forsothe [and I.] Joab was clothid with a streit coote at the mesure of his abit [schap I.] , and was [he was I.] gird aboue with a swerd, `ether dagger [Om. IKX.] , hang|ynge doun `til to [vnto I.] the [his I.] entrayls in a schethe, `which swerd [and it was I. which swerd ether dagger K.] maad `craftily myȝte go out [to drawe out I.] [myȝte go out; in Ebren it is, and it ȝede out, and felde doun; Raby Salomon seith, that Joab disposide so of purpos, that it felde doun to the erthe fro the schethe, that Amasa schulde bileue so, that Joab reisede the swerd fro erthe to putte aȝen in the schethe, and not to smyte him; therfor it sueth, forsothe Amasa kepte not the swerd, that is, kepte not him silf, for smyt|ing of the swerd. Lire here. C.] bi liȝt touchyng, and smyte [to smyte I.] . Ther|for [And so I.] [verse 9] Joab seide to Amasa, Heil, my bro|ther! And he [Joab I.] helde with the [his I.] riȝt hond the chyn of Amasa, as kissinge him. [verse 10] For|sothe [And I.] Amasa took not [no I.] kepe of [to I.] the swerd [knyif I.] , `which swerd [that I.] Joab hadde, and Joab smoot Amasa in the side, and schedde out his entrailis in to the erthe, and Ama|sa was deed; and Joab addide not `the se|counde [to an other I.] wounde. Forsothe [And I.] Joab and Abi|sai, his brother, pursueden Siba, the sone of Bochri. [verse 11] In the meene tyme whanne `sum men [summe L.] of the children of Dauid, of the felowis of Joab, hadden [hadde] stonde bisidis the deed bodi of Amasa, thei seiden, Lo! he that wolde [wolde haue I.] be the felowe of Dauid for Joab. [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] Amasa was bispreynt with blood, and lay in the myddil of the weie. Sum [A I.] man siȝ this, that al the pu|ple abood to se Amasa, and he remouyde

Amasa fro the weie in to the feeld, and he hilide Amasa with a cloth, lest men passynge schulden abide for hym. [verse 13] Therfor whanne he was remouyd fro [for BC.] the weie, ech man passide [passide forth I.] suynge Joab to pursue Siba, the sone of Bochri. [verse 14] Forsothe [Certis I.] Siba hadde passide bi alle the lynagis [bi alle the lynagis; and he excitide hem to make him silf king. Lire here. C.] of Israel til in to Habela, and in to Bethmacha; and alle chosun [the chosun I.] men weren gaderid to hym. [verse 15] Therfor thei [the oost of Joab I marg.] camen, and fouȝten aȝens hym [Siba I.] in Habela, and in Bethmacha, and cumpassiden the citee with strengthingis; and the citee was bisegid. Sotheli [And I.] al the cumpany, that was with Joab, enforside to distrie the wallis. [verse 16] And a wijs wom|man of the citee criede an [on K. a EL.] hiȝ, Here ȝe! here ȝe! seie ȝe to Joab, Neiȝe thou hidur, and Y schal speke with thee. [verse 17] And whanne he hadde neiȝed to hir, sche seide to hym, Art thou Joab? And he answeride, Y am. To whom sche spak thus, Here thou the wordis [word CE.] of thin handmayde. Which [Om. I.] Joab answeride, Y here. [verse 18] And eft sche seide, A word was seid in eld prouerbe, Thei that axen, axe in Habela; and so thei pro|fitiden. [verse 19] Whethir Y am [wher Y am; the womman spekith in the persoone of the cytee, as if sche seide, This citee helde euere truthe and feith to the king; and ther|for in Ebreu it is thus, Y am oon of pe|sible and trewe, that is, oon of the noumbre of citees pesible and trewe to the kyng. Lire here. C.] not, that answere treuthe to Israel? and sekist thou to dis|trie a citee, and to distrie [do awey I.] a modir citee in Israel [a modir citee in Israel; for ech citee is mo|dir of the pu|ple borun and nurschid there. In sum bokis it is set in, of citees, but it is not of the text; for nether it is in Ebreu, ne|ther in bokis amendid. Lire here. C.] ? whi castidist [throwist I.] thou doun the eritage of the Lord? [verse 20] And Joab answeride, and seide, Fer be [be this fro me I.] , fer be this fro me; Y `caste not doun [destrie not the citee I.] , nether Y distrye [waste it I.] . [verse 21] The thing hath not so it silf; but a man of the hil of Effraym, Siba, sone [the sone I.] of Bochri, bi surname, reiside his hond aȝens kyng Dauid; bitake ȝe him aloone [aloone to us I.] , and we schulen go awei fro the citee. And the womman seide to Joab, Lo! his heed schal be sent to thee bi the wal. [verse 22] Therfor [Thanne I.] the womman entride [wente yn I.] to al the puple, and sche spak to hem wiseli; whiche [and thei I.] `castiden forth [threwen I.] to Joab the heed of Siba, sone [the sone I.] of Bochri, gird of. And Joab sownede with a trumpe, and thei departiden fro the citee, ech man

in to hise tabernaclis; forsothe [and I.] Joab turnede aȝen to Jerusalem to the kyng. [verse 23] Therfor [And so I.] Joab was on [upon I.] al the oost of Is|rael; forsothe [and I.] Benanye, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, [verse 24] was on [upon I.] Cerethi [scheeters I.] and Ferethi [up arblasters I.] ; forsothe [and I.] Adhuram was on [upon I.] tributis [the tributis I.] ; forsothe [and I.] Jo|saphat, sone [the sone I.] of Achilud, was chaunceler; [verse 25] forsothe [and I.] Siba was scryueyn; forsothe [but I.] Sadoch and Abiathar weren preestis [prestis of Dauyth; that is, a greet man among iugis and princes anentis Da|uyth. Lire here. C.] ; [verse 26] forsothe [and I.] Hira of Hiarith was preest [the preest I.] of Dauid.

CAP. XXI.

[verse 1] Also [And C.] hungur was maad in the lond of Israel in the daies of Dauid [in the daies of Dauyth; for he was necligent to punysche the opyn synne of Saul, that kill|ide Gabaonytis for couetise of her eritage, aȝenus the ooth of Josue, and of the princes of Israel. Lire here. C.] , bi thre ȝeer contynueli. And Dauid counselide the an|swere of the Lord [that is, axide counsel of the Lord in the answering place K marg.] ; and the Lord seide, For [it is for I.] Saul, and his [for his I.] hows, and blood [for blood I.] , for he killide men [the men I.] of Gabaon. [verse 2] Therfor whanne Gabaonytis [men of Gabony I.] weren clepid, the kyng seide to hem; sotheli Gabaonytis [men of Gabony I.] ben not of the sones of Israel, but [Om. I.] thei ben the relikys [leeuyngis I.] of Ammorreis [Ammorey I.] ; and the sones of Israel hadden swore to hem, `that is [Om. CI.] , that thei schulden not `be slayn [sle hem I.] [that they schulden not be slayn; summe bokis han here, that they schulden not punysche ether not sle hem, but this is not in Ebreu, ne|ther in bokis amendid, ne|theles it is vndurstondun; wherfor sum man settide it first bi the maner of a glos, and aftir|ward it was set in the text bi the ignor|aunce of wri|teres. Lire here. C.] , and Saul wolde smyte hem for feruent loue, as for the [verse 3] sones of Israel and of Juda; therfor Da|uid seide to Gabaonytis [the men of Gabonye I.] , What schal Y do to ȝou, and what schal be ȝoure amendis, that ȝe blesse the eritage of the Lord? [verse 4] And [Om. C.] Gabaonytis seiden to hym, No ques|tioun is to vs on [upon I.] gold and siluer, but aȝens Saul, and aȝens his hows; nether [and nethir K.] we wolen, that a man of Israel be slayn. To whiche [whom I.] the kyng seide, What therfor wolen ȝe, that Y do to ȝou? [verse 5] Whiche [And thei I.] seiden to the king, We owen [owen so I.] to do awei so [Om. I.] the man, that `al to brak [Om. I.] ethir [Om. CI.] de|foulide [Om. C.] VS [Om. I.] , and oppresside [oppresside us I.] wickidli, that not oon sotheli be residue [left I.] of his genera|cioun in alle the coostis of Israel. [verse 6] Seuene men of hise sones be ȝouun to vs, that we `crucifie hem [do hem on crosse I.] to the Lord [to the Lord; that is, to the declaring of Goddis riȝtful|nesse. Lire here.] in Gabaa of

Saul, sum tyme the chosun man of the Lord. And the kyng seide, Y schal ȝyue [ȝyue hem to ȝou I.] . [verse 7] And the kyng sparide Myphibosech, sone [the sone I.] of Jonathas, sone [the sone I.] of Saul, for the ooth of the Lord, that was bitwixe Dauid and bi|twixe [Om. I.] Jonathas, sone [the sone I.] of Saul. [verse 8] Therfor [And so I.] the kyng took twei sones of Respha, douȝ|ter [the douȝter CI.] of Ahira, whiche sche childide to Saul, Armony, and Mysphibosech; and he took fyue sones [fyue sones; these weren the kyndly sones of Merob, sister of Mychol, but Mychol nurschide hem, and purchaside in to sones af|tirward, for sche hadde no kyndly sones; therfor thei ben seid hir sones, and by this, sche is seid to haue gendrid to Adriel, not for sche was his wiyf, but for Merob, hir sister, was his wiyf. Lire here. C.] of Mychol, douȝter [the douȝter I.] of Saul, whiche sche gendride to Adriel, sone [the sone I.] of Berzellai, that was of Molaty. [verse 9] And he [Dauid I.] ȝaf hem in to the hondis of Gabaonytis [the men of Gabonye I.] , whiche [and thei I.] crucifieden [diden I.] tho sones [seuen sones I.] in [upon crosse in I.] the [an I.] hil bifor the Lord; and these seuene felden [fellen doun I.] slayn togidere in the daies of the firste rep [ripp I.] , whanne the repyng of barli bigan. [verse 10] Forsothe Respha, douȝtir [the douȝtir I.] of Ahia, took [took to hir I.] an heire, and `araiede to hir silf a place aboue the [leide it vndir hir upon a I.] stoon, fro the bigynnyng of heruest til [til that I.] watir droppide `on hem [Om. I.] fro heuene; and sche suffride not briddis to tere hem bi dai, nether beestis bi nyȝt. [verse 11] And tho thingis whiche Respha, secoundarie [the secoundarie I.] wijf of Saul, douȝtir [the douȝtir I.] of Ahia, hadde do, weren teld to Dauid. [verse 12] And Dauid ȝede, and took the boonys of Saul, and the boonys of Jonathas, his sone, of [fro I.] the men of Jabes of Galaad; that [whiche I.] hadden stole tho boonys fro the street of Bethsan, in which street [Om. I.] the [Om. EI.] Filisteis hadden hangid hem, whanne thei hadden slayn [slawe I.] Saul in Gelboe. [verse 13] And Dauid bar out fro thennus the boonys of Saul, and the boonys of Jonathas, his sone; and thei gaderiden [gaderiden to gidre I.] the boonys of hem that weren crucified, and birieden [thei birieden I.] tho with the boonys of Saul and of Jonathas, his sone, in the lond of Beniamyn, in the side of the sepulcre of Cys, fadir [the fadir I.] of Saul. [verse 14] And thei diden al thingis, what euer thingis [Om. I.] the kyng comaundide [comaundide hem I.] ; and the Lord dide mercy to the lond aftir these thingis. [verse 15] Forsothe batel of Filisteis [the Philistees I.] was

maad eft aȝens Israel; and Dauid ȝede doun, and hise seruauntis with hym, and fouȝten aȝen Filisteis [the Philistees I.] . [verse 16] Sotheli [Forsothe C.] whanne Dauid failide, Jesbydenob [Jesbedenov; this is al o word bi the Ebreu. Lire here. C.] , that was of the kyn of Arapha, that is, of [Om. C.] giauntis [the giauntis EL.] , and the yrun of his [whos I.] spere peiside thre hundrid ouncis, and he was gird with a newe swerd [a newe swerd; this word swerd, is not in Ebreu, but thus it is in Ebreu; and he was gird of the newe, that is, as Ebreis sey|en, in that day he was knyȝt of the newe. Lire here. C.] , enforside [enforside him I.] to smyte Dauid [Dauid, whanne he feilide I.] . [verse 17] And Abisai, sone [the sone I.] of Saruye, was in help to Dauid; and he smoot and killide the Filistei. Than the men of Dauid sworen, and seiden, Now [Now, Dauid I.] thou schalt not go out with vs in to batel, lest thou quenche the lanterne of Israel. [verse 18] Also the secounde batel was in Gob aȝens Filisteis; thanne Sobo|thai of Osothai smoot Zephi, of the gene|racioun of Arapha, of the kyn of giauntis. [verse 19] Also the thridde batel was in Gob aȝens Filisteis; in which batel a man ȝouun of God [a man ȝouun of God; that is, Dauyth, that was chosun of God, and ȝouun to the gouer|nail of the pu|ple, as in I. book xvi. c^o. the sone of fo|rest; for he dwellide longe in wodis fle|ynge fro the face of Saul. a broidrerer; for he cam of the kyn of Beseleel, that was principal in the werk of broiderie of the tabernacle. The firste batel here teld, was the laste, and the iii. batel was the firste. Lire here. C.] , the sone of forest [a forest I.] , a [and a K.] broiderer, a man of Bethleem, smoot Golyath of Geth, whos `schaft of spere [spere schaft I.] was as a [the C.] beem of webbis. [verse 20] The fourthe batel was in Geth; where ynne was an hiȝ man, that hadde sixe fyngris in the [his I.] hondis and feet [in his feet I.] , that is, foure and twenti; and he was of the [verse 21] kyn of Arapha; and he blasfemyde Is|rael; sotheli [and I.] Jonathan, sone [the sone I.] of Samaa, brother [the brother I.] of Dauid, killide hym. [verse 22] These foure [foure geauntis I.] weren borun of Arapha in Geth, and thei felden doun in the hond of Dauid, and of hise seruauntis.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Sothely I.] Dauid spak to the Lord the wordis of this song, in the dai in which the Lord delyuerede hym fro the [Om. C.] hond of alle hise enemyes, and fro the hond of Saul. [verse 2] And Dauid seide, The Lord is my stoon, and my strengthe, and my [verse 3] sauyour; my God, my stronge [stronge helper I. strengthe ELb.] , I schal

hope in to hym; my scheeld, and the horn of myn helthe, `my reisere [myn upreiser I.] , and my refuyt; my sauyour, thou schalt delyuere me fro wickidnesse [thou schalt delyuere me fro wickidnesse; that is, hast de|lyuerid. Wick|idnesse of Da|uyth is clepid here, in the doynge of Ber|sabee, fro whiche wickid|nesse he was delyuerid, as to gilt, bi veri contricioun and knowleching, and as to peyne, bi Goddis ven|iaunce. Lire here. C.] . [verse 4] Y schal inwardly clepe the Lord worthi to be preisid; and Y schal be saaf fro myn enemyes. [verse 5] For the sorewis of deeth cumpasside [han cumpassed I.] me; the strondis of Belial [the strondis of Belial; that is, the fersnessis of persecucioun of Saul, that was with out ȝok of chastis|ing, and of God|dis lawe. Lire here. C.] maden [han maad I.] me aferd. [verse 6] The coordis of helle [the cordis of helle; in Ebreu it is, the felou|schipis of helle, that is, fendis excitinge Saul to pursue me. Lire here. C.] cumpassiden [han enuyround I.] me; the snaris of deeth camen [han go I.] bifor me. [verse 7] In tribulacioun Y schal clepe [ynwardly clepe I.] , `that is, Y clepide [that is, I haue clepid B marg. Om. I.] thee [the IK sec. m. b.] , Lord, and Y schal crie to my God; and he herd [hath herd I.] fro his holi temple my vois, and my crye schal come to hise eeris. [verse 8] The erthe was mouyd, and trem|blide; the foundementis of hillis weren smytun and schakun togidere, for the Lord was wrooth to hem. [verse 9] Smoke stiede [stiede up I.] fro hise nosethirlis [nesethirles C.] , and fier of his mouth [fyer of his mouth; that is, siche punysch|ing was maad of his wille and comaundement. Lire here. C.] schal deuoure; colis weren kyndlid of it. [verse 10] And he bowide heuenes, and cam doun; and myist vndur hise feet. [verse 11] And he stiede on [upon I.] cherubyn, and fliȝ; and he slood on the [Om. L sec. m.] pennys [federys EL.] of wynd [the wynd I.] . [verse 12] He puttide [hath put I. putte DE.] derknessis [derknesse E.] hidyng [an hidyng I.] place in his cumpas, and riddlide [he hath wynewid I.] watris fro the cloudis of [verse 13] heuenes; for briȝtnesse in his siȝt colis of fier weren kyndelid. [verse 14] The Lord schal thundur fro heuene; and hiȝ God schal ȝyue his vois. [verse 15] He sente hise arowis, and scateride hem; he [and I.] sente leitis, and wast|ide hem. [verse 16] And the schedyngis out of the see apperiden, and the foundementis of the world weren schewid; fro [for C.] the blamyng of the Lord, fro the brething of the spirit of his strong veniaunce. [verse 17] He sente fro heuene, and took me; and drow me out of manye watris. [verse 18] He delyuerede me fro my myȝtiest [ful myȝti I.] enemy, and fro hem that hatid|en me; for thei weren strongere than Y. [verse 19] Thei camen bifore me in the dai of my turmentyng; and the Lord was maad my stidfastnesse. [verse 20] And he ledde me out in to largenesse, and he delyuerede me; for Y

pleside hym. [verse 21] The Lord schal ȝelde to me vp [vp ether aftir D. aftir EIL.] my riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse E.] ; and he schal ȝelde to me vp [aftir IKN.] , `ethir aftir [or vp K. ether vpe N. Om. IRW.] , the clennesse of myn hondis. [verse 22] For Y kepte the weies of the Lord; and Y dide not wickidli fro my God. [verse 23] For alle hise domes weren in my siȝt; and Y dide not awei fro me hise heestis. [verse 24] And Y schal be perfit with hym; and Y schal kepe me fro my wickidnesse. [verse 25] And the Lord schal restore to me vpe [aftir I.] my riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse EL.] ; and vp [aftir I.] the clennesse of myn hondis in the siȝt of hise iȝen. [verse 26] With the hooli thou schalt be hooli, and with the stronge, `that is, to suffre aduersitees [verse 27] pacientli [Om. I.] , thou schalt be perfit [perfit; in ȝyuynge to him grace to suffre aduersi|tes, bothe paciently and ioyfuly, as mar|tris ioyeden in passiouns. Lire here. C.] ; and with a chosun man `to blis [Om. I.] thou schalt be chosun, and with a weiward man thou schalt be maad weiward, `that is, in ȝeld|ynge iustli peyne to hym vpe [in G.] his wei|wardnesse [wickednesse E. The whole gloss omitted in I.] [weiward|nesse; ether thus, with a weiward man thou schalt be maad weiward, bi his errour; for whanne weyward men ben iustly punyschid of God, they seyen that God doith weiward|ly with hem. C.] . [verse 28] And thou schalt make saaf a pore puple; and with thin iȝen thou schalt make lowe hem that ben hiȝe. [verse 29] For thou, Lord, art my lanterne, and thou, Lord [Om. C.] , schalt liȝtne my derknessis [derknesse E.] [lyȝtne my derknesses; that is, meede|ful werkis quenchid bi dedly synne comynge aboue, that ben quyk|enyd and liȝt|nyd bi grace rekyuerid. Lire here. C.] . [verse 30] For Y gird, `that is, maad redi to batel [Om. I.] , schal renne in [to I.] thee, `that is, in thi vertu [Om. I.] ; and in my God Y schal `scippe ouer [ouerpasse I.] the wal. [verse 31] `God his weie [The weie of God I.] is `with out wem [vndefoulid I.] ; the speche of the Lord is examynyd bi [with I.] fier, `that is, is [Om. FG.] pure and clene as metal preuyd [purid EGb.] in the furneys [Gloss omitted in CI.] ; he is a scheeld of alle men hopynge in hym. [verse 32] For who is God, outakun the Lord; and who is strong, outakun oure God? [verse 33] God, that hath gird me with strengthe, and hath [verse 34] maad pleyn my perfit weie; and he made [hath maad I.] euene my feet with hertis, and settide [hath sett I.] me [verse 35] on [upon I.] myn hiȝe thingis; and he tauȝte [hath tauȝt I.] myn hondis to batel, and made [he hath maad I.] myn armes [and made myn armes, etc.; in Ebreu it is, and a brasun bowe was gr[a] untid to myn arm; for as Raby Salomon seith, he bente liȝtly a brasun bowe. Lire here. C.] as a brasun bouwe. [verse 36] Thou hast ȝoue to me the sheeld of thin heelthe; and my mylde|nesse [and my myldenesse; in Ebreu it is, thi myldenesse multipliede me, that is, of God|dis good wille, and not of my merit, multi|pliyng in chil|dren, in tempo|ral goodis and goostly, cam to me. Lire here. C.] multipliede [hath multiplied I.] me. [verse 37] Thou schalt alarge my steppis vndur me; and myn heelis schulen not faile. [verse 38] Y schal pursue myn

enemyes, and Y schal al to-breke hem; and Y schal not turne aȝen, til Y waste hem. [verse 39] Y schal waste hem, and Y schal breke [breke hem I.] , that thei rise not; thei schulen falle vndur my feet. [verse 40] Thou hast gird me with strengthe to batel; thou hast bowid vnder me hem that aȝenstoden [stoden aȝens K.] me. [verse 41] Thou hast ȝoue myn enemyes abac to me, men hat|ynge me; and Y schal distrie hem. [verse 42] Thei schulen crye, `that is, to ydols ether to mennus help [Om. I.] , and noon schal be that schal saue [saue hem I.] ; `thei schulen [Om. IL.] crie to the Lord, and he schal not here hem. [verse 43] Y schal do awei hem as the dust of erthe; Y schal `powne hem [do hem to gidre I.] , and Y schal do [do hem I.] awei as the clei [fenne I.] of stretis. [verse 44] Thou schalt saue me fro aȝenseiyngis of my puple; thou schalt kepe me in to the heed of folkis; the puple, whom Y knowe not, schal serue me. [verse 45] Alien sones schulen aȝenstonde me; bi heryng of eere thei schulen obeie to me. [verse 46] Alien sones fletiden awei; and thei schulen be drawun togidere in her angwischis [in her an|gwischis; in Ebreu it is, in her closingis. C.] . [verse 47] The Lord lyueth, and my God is blessid; and the stronge God of myn helthe schal be enhaunsid. [verse 48] God, that ȝyuest veniauncis to me; and hast cast doun puplis vndur me. [verse 49] Which ledist me out fro myn ene|myes, and reisist me fro men aȝenstond|inge me; thou schalt deliuere me fro the wickid man. [verse 50] Therfor, Lord, Y schal know|leche to thee in hethene men; and Y schal synge to thi name. [verse 51] And [That I.] he magnyfieth [maketh greet I.] the helthis of his kyng; and doith mercyes [mercy EI.] to his crist Dauid, and to his seed til in to withouten ende [til in to with outen ende; for the sones of Dauyth regned|en til to the caitifte of Baby|loyne; and aftir the turning aȝen fro Babi|loyne, Zoroba|bel, that cam doun of Da|uyth, hadde the duchee, ether leding, on the puple, and othere men suyngly of the lynage of Dauyth, til to Eroude, an ali|en, vndur whom Crist was borun of the seed of Dauyth, bi fleisch, of which Crist the rewme dwellith, in to worldis of worldis. Lire here. C.] .

CAP. XXIII.

[verse 1] Forsothe these ben the laste wordis, whiche Dauid, the sone of Ysai, seide. The man seide, to whom it is ordeyned of Crist, of the [Om. I.] God of Jacob, the noble salm [verse 2] makere of Israel; The spiryt of the Lord spak bi me, and his word bi my tunge. [verse 3] Dauid [Om. I.] seide, God of Israel spak to me,

the stronge [stronge help I.] of Israel, the `iust Lord [lordschipere I.] of men, `is Lord [the riȝtwise lordschiper I.] in the drede of God. [verse 4] As the liȝt of the morewtid, whanne the sunne risith eerli, is briȝt with out cloudis; and as an erbe cometh forth of the erthe bi reynes. [verse 5] And myn hows is not so greet anentis God, that he schulde make with me euerlastynge couenaunt, stidefast and maad strong in alle thingis; for al myn helthe hangith [is I.] of [on EKL.] him, and al the [my I.] wille `that is, al my desir, goith in to hym [Om. I.] , and no thing is therof, that makith not fruyt [that makith not fruyt; and this is doon, whanne al thing that cometh forth of the wille, ether of auysement, is doon yn to the glorie of God. Lire here. C.] . [verse 6] Forsothe alle trespassouris schulen be drawun out as thornes, that ben not takun with hondis. [verse 7] And if ony man wole touche tho, he schal be armed with irun, and with tre [a tre I.] formed in to spere [a spere I.] ; and the [tho I.] thornes schulen be kyndlid, and schulen be brent `til to [vnto I.] nouȝt. [verse 8] These ben the names of the stronge men of Dauid. Dauid sittith in the chaier, the wiseste prince among thre; he is as a moost tendir worm of tree [a tree I.] [he is as a moost tendir worm of tre; for thouȝ this worm in him silf is most tendir, netheles he persith the harde tre; so Dauyth most benygne and most mylde, was most strong aȝenus enemyes rebellinge, ether as most tendir worm, that is, ful swete and amyable anen|tis hise men, and hard aȝenus aduersaries. Lire here. C.] , that killide eiȝte hundrid with o fersnesse. [verse 9] Aftir hym was Eleazar, the sone of his fadirs [fadir I.] brother Abohi; among thre stronge men, that weren with Dauid, whanne thei seiden schenschip to Filisteis [the Philistees I.] , and weren gaderid thidir in to batel. [verse 10] And whanne the men of Israel hadden stied [stied up I.] , he [Eleazar I.] stood [he stood, etc.; in batel, whanne hise felowis ȝeden abak. Lire here. C.] , and smoot Filisties [the Philistees I.] , til [til that I.] his hond failide, and was starke with the swerd. And the Lord made greet helthe in that dai; and the puple that fledde turnede aȝen to drawe awei the spuylis of slayn men. [verse 11] And aftir hym [Eleazar I.] was Semma, the sone of Age, of Arari. And Filisteis weren gaderid in the stacioun; forsothe [and I.] there was a feeld ful of lente [lentes or fetchis I.] ; and whanne the puple [puple of Israel I.] fledde [verse 12] fro the face of Filisteis, he [Semma I.] stood in the myddis of the feeld, and bihelde it [and bihelde it; for he de|fendide the feeld. Lire here. C.] ; and he smoot Filisteis [the Philistees I.] , and the Lord made greet [there greet I.] helthe. [verse 13] Also and thre men ȝeden doun bifore, that [whiche I.] weren princes among

thretti [thretti men I.] , and camen [thei camen I.] to Dauid in the tyme of reep [ripp I.] in to the denne of Odollam. For|sothe [And I.] the castels [tentis I.] of Filisteis weren set in the valei of giauntis. [verse 14] And Dauid was in a strong hold; sotheli [And I.] the stacioun of Filisteis was thanne in Bethleem. [verse 15] Ther|for [Thanne I.] Dauid desiride water of the lake, and seide, If ony man wolde ȝyue to me drynk [if ony man wolde ȝyue to me drynke, etc.; Dauyth seide this, not for coueitise of the watir, but for he wolde asaye the hardynesse of hem; and therfor it sueth, and he nolde drynke, but offride it to the Lord; he schew|ide bi this, that he that settith forth him silf to perels aȝenus vnfeithful men, makith most acceptable sa|crifice to God. Lire here. C.] of watir [the watir I.] of the cisterne, which [that I.] is in Bethleem, bisidis the ȝate. [verse 16] Therfor thre stronge men braken in to the castels [tentis I.] of Filisteis, and drowen watir of the cisterne of Bethleem, that was [is K.] bisidis the ȝate, and brouȝten [thei brouȝten it I.] to Dauid; and he nolde [wolde not I.] [verse 17] drinke, but offride it to the Lord, and seide, The Lord be merciful to me, that Y do not this; whether Y schal drynke the blood of these men, that ȝeden forth, and the perel of soulis [her lyues I.] ? Therfor he nolde [wolde not I.] drynke. Thre strongeste [ful stronge I.] men diden thes thingis. [verse 18] Also Abisay, brother [the brother I.] of Joab, the sone of Saruye, was prince of thre [the thre men I.] ; he it is that reiside his schaft [spere I.] aȝens thre hundrid men, whiche [the whiche I.] he killide; `he [verse 19] was [Om. I.] nemid [nempnyd I. named K. nemmed L.] among thre [tho thre I.] , and was [he was I.] the noblere among thre [hem thre I.] , and he was the prince of hem; but he cam not to the thre firste men. [verse 20] And Banaye, the sone of Joiada, strongeste [the strongeste I.] man of grete werkis, of Capseel, he smoot twei liouns of Moab, `that is, twei knyȝtis hardi as liouns [that is, two stronge hardi knyȝtis I marg.] ; and he ȝede doun, and smoot a lioun in the myddil cisterne in the daies of snow. [verse 21] Also he [Banaye I.] killide a man of Egipt, a man worthi of spectacle [biholdyng I.] , hauynge a spere in the [his I.] hond; therfor [and so I.] whanne he hadde come doun with a ȝerde to that man, bi miȝt [strengthe KMOX. riȝt strengthis S. ryȝt strong D. niȝt ELPb.] he wrooth [wrong L.] out the spere fro the hond of the man of Egipt, and killide hym with his owne spere. [verse 22] Banaye, sone [the sone I.] [verse 23] of Joiada, dide these thingis; and he was nemyed among thre stronge men, that weren among the thretti noblere men;

netheles he cam not til [Om. I.] to the thre [firste thre I.] . And Dauid made hym a counselour of priuyte [prince L.] to hym silf. [verse 24] Asahel, the brother of Joab, was among thretti [the thretti I.] men; Eleanan, the sone of his fadris brother, of Bethleem; [verse 25] Semma, of Arari; Elcha, of Arodi; [verse 26] Helas, of Phelti; Hira, sone [the sone I.] of Aches, of Thecua; [verse 27] Abiezer, of Amatoth; Mobannoy, of Co|sathi; [verse 28] Selmon, of Achotes; Macharai, of [verse 29] Nethophath; Heled, the sone of Baana, and he was of Netophath; Hiray, sone [the sone I.] of Rabai, of Gebeeth, of the sones of Benia|myn; [verse 30] Banay, of Effrata; Hedday, of the [verse 31] stronde of Gaas; Abiabon, of Arbath; As|maneth, [verse 32] of Berromy; Eliaba, of Sabony; sones [the sones I.] of Assen, Jonathan, and Jasan; [verse 33] Semma, of Herodi; Hayam, sone [the sone I.] of Sa|rai, [verse 34] of Zaroth; Eliphelech, sone [the sone I.] of Saal|bai, the sone of Maachati; Heliam, sone [the sone I.] [verse 35] of Achitofel, of Gilo; Esrai, of Carmele; [verse 36] Pharai, of Arbi; Ygaal, sone [the sone I.] of Nathan, [verse 37] of Soba; Bonny, of Gaddi; Silech, of Am|mony; Naarai, of Beroth, the squyer of [verse 38] Joab, the sone of Saruye; Haray, of Jethri; [verse 39] Gareb, and he was of Gethri; Vrye, of E|thei; alle [alle these I.] weren seuene and thretti men.

CAP. XXIV.

[verse 1] And the strong veniaunce of the Lord addide to be wrooth aȝens Israel [and the strong ven|iaunce of the Lord addide to be wrooth aȝenus Israel; of this that the Lord wolde punysche the puple, he suf|fride Dauyth to be reisid bi pride to the noumbring of the puple; wherfor the gloss of Gregre on this place seith thus, The dedis of go|uernours ben disposid for the maneris of su|getis, that ofte for the yuel of the floc, the liyf ȝhe of a good schep|parde tres|passith, for Dauyth was preisid bi God witnesse, and he was blowun with the bol|nyng of sudeyn pride, and synnede in noumbringe puple, and the puple resseyu|ede peyne; for the hertis of gouernours ben disposid, vp the meritis of the puplis. The synne of the puple for which it was punysch|id, is not ex|pressid in the text, but in the book of Ebreu questiouns it is seid, that this was herfor, for the puple aȝen stood not Da|uyth as it ouȝte, in the dede of Vrie, but for this dede was priuy til it was al doon; the puple myȝte not withstonde Da|uyth in the synne to be lettid, and aftir that this synne cam in to the knowing of the puple, the pu|ple ouȝte not to punysche it, for the peyne was determynd thanne of God, as it is opin in xii. c^o. bi the] , and he stiride in [aȝens I.] hem Dauid, seiynge to Joab, Go thou, and noumbre thou Israel and Juda. [verse 2] And the kyng seide to Joab, the prince of his oost, Go thou bi alle lynagis [the lynagis I.] of Israel fro Dan `til to [vnto I.] Bersabee, and noumbre thou the puple, that Y wite the noumbre therof. [verse 3] And Joab seide to the kyng, Thi Lord God encresse to this [thi I.] pu|ple, `hou greet [as myche as I.] it is now, and eft multiplie he [ȝe A. he it I.] an hundrid fold in the siȝt of my lord the kyng; but what wole my lord the [Om. I.] kyng to hym silf in sich a thing? [verse 4] Sotheli [But I.] the word of the kyng ouer cam the wordis of Joab, and of the princes of the oost;

and Joab ȝede out, and the princes of the [Om. plures.] [wordis of Na|than, therfor it is seid betere, that the synne of the puple, was the rebelte therof aȝenus Dauyth in suynge Siba, sone of Bothry, that was the worste man and ful of dis|sencioun, and Siba aloone was punyschid for this rebelte. Lire here. C.] knyȝtis, fro the face of the kyng, that thei schulden noumbre the puple of Israel. [verse 5] And whanne thei hadden passid Jordan, thei camen in to Aroer, to the riȝt side of the [verse 6] citee which [that I.] is in the valei of Gad; and thei passiden [passiden forth I.] bi Jazer in to Galaad, and in to the lowere lond of Odsi, and camen [thei camen I.] in to the wodi places of Dan; and thei [verse 7] cumpassiden [ȝeden aboute I.] bisidis Sidon, and passiden nyȝ the wallis of Tire, and nyȝ al the lond of Euei, and of Chananei; and thei camen to [in to K.] the south of Juda, in Bersabee. [verse 8] And whanne al the lond was cumpassid, thei camen aftir nyne monethis and twenti daies in to Jerusalem. [verse 9] Therfor [And so I.] Joab ȝaf the noumbre of discriuyng of the puple to the kyng. And of Israel weren foundun nyne hundryd thousynd [ix. hundrid thousynde, in I. book of Pa|ralip. xxi. c^o. is a thousinde thousinde, and an hundrid thousinde; here is set the lesse noumbre, and there the gret|ter noumbre, and of Juda is set there the lesse noumbre, and here the gretter. Lire here. C.] of stronge men, that drewen out swerd; and of Juda fyue hundrid thousynde of fiȝteris. [verse 10] Forsothe [And I.] the herte of Dauid smoot hym, `that is, his concience repreuyde hym [Om. I.] , aftir that the puple was noumbrid; and Dauid seide to the Lord, Y synnede [haue synned I.] greetli [Y synnede greetly; in pride, and in breking of Goddis heest, for in xxxi. c<sup>o</sup>. of Exody, whanne the sones of Israel weren noum|brid, ech man schulde [offre] to the Lord half a sicle, and this was not doon here. C.] in this dede; but, Lord, Y preye that thou turne awei the wickidnesse of thi seruaunt, for Y dide [haue do I.] ful folili. [verse 11] Therfor Dauid roos eerli, and the word of the Lord was maad to Gad, the prophete and seere, and seide, [verse 12] Go thou, and speke to Dauid, The Lord seith these thingis, The chesyng [chois I.] of thre thingis is ȝouun to thee; chese thou oon, which thou wolt of these, that Y do to thee. [verse 13] And whanne Gad hadde come to Dauid, he telde to Dauid [him I.] , and seide, Ether hungur schal come to thee in thi lond se|uene ȝeer; ethir thre monethis thou schalt fle thin aduersaries, and thei schulen pur|sue thee; ether certis thre daies pestilence schal be in thi lond; now therfor de|lyuere thou, `ether auyse thou [ether examyne thou B marg. Om. I.] , and se, what word Y schal answere to hym that sente me. [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] Dauid seide to Gad,

Y am constreyned on ech side greetli; but it is betere that Y falle in to the hondis of the Lord [in to the hondis of the Lord; if Da|uyth hadde chose huugur of vii. ȝeer, he and riche men wolden haue purueyed to hem silf of liyflode, and pore men schulden haue be turmentid gretly; and if he hadde chose fliȝt bifor ene|myes, he and myȝty men schulden haue be defendid and pore men slayn, therfor he chees pesti|lence, comyn peyne to alle, for he tristide in Goddis mersi. Lire here. C.] , for his emercies ben manye, than in [into IKb.] the [Om. K.] hondis of men. [verse 15] And the Lord sente pestilence in to Israel fro the morewtid `til to [vnto I.] the tyme ordeyned [to the tyme ordeyned; that is, til to the oure of sacrifice of euentid; the ii. laste dayes of pestilence, weren seid bi manassing, and weren releessid for the pe|naunce of Dauyth. Lire here. C.] ; and seuenti thousynde of men weren deed of the puple fro Dan `til to [vnto I.] Bersabee. [verse 16] And whanne the aungel of the Lord hadde holde [helde I.] forth his hond ouer Jerusalem, that he schulde distrie it, the Lord hadde mercy on the turmentyng; and seide [he seide I.] to the aun|gel smytynge the puple, It sufficith now; withholde thin hond. Forsothe [And I.] the aun|gel of the Lord was bisidis the corn floor of Areuna Jebusey. [verse 17] And Dauid seide to the Lord, whanne he hadde seyn the aun|gel sleynge the puple, Y am [it am I.] he [Om. plures.] that `haue synned [synnede I.] , and Y dide [haue do I.] wickidli; what han these do, that ben scheep? Y biseche, thin hond be turned aȝens me, and aȝens the hows of my fadir. [verse 18] Forsothe [Certis I.] Gad, the pro|phete, cam to Dauid in that dai, and seide to hym, Stie thou [thou up I.] , and ordeyne an auter to the Lord in the corn floor of Areuna Jebusei. [verse 19] And Dauid stiede, vpe [up, aftir I.] the word of Gad, which the Lord hadde comaundid to hym. [verse 20] And Areuna bihelde, and per|seyuede [vndirstode I.] , that the kyng and hise seruauntis [verse 21] passiden [passiden ouer I.] to hym; and he ȝede out, and worschipide the kyng bi [with I.] low cheer to the erthe; and seide, What `cause is [is the cause I.] , that my lord the [Om. I.] kyng cometh to his seruaunt? To whom Dauid seide, That Y bie of thee the corn floor, and bilde an auter to the Lord, and the sleynge ceesse, which [that I.] is cruel in the puple. [verse 22] And Areuna seide to Dauid, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng take, and offre, as it plesith hym [to hym I.] ; thou hast oxis [oxen IG.] in to brent sacrifice, and a wayn and ȝockis of oxis [oxun AMb.] in to vss [the vss I.] of wode. [verse 23] Areuna ȝaf alle thingis [Areuna ȝaf alle thingis, etc.; that is, wolde ȝyue. Lire here. C.] to the king. And Areuna seide to the king, Thi Lord God reseyue thi vow. [verse 24] To whom the king answeride, and

seide, Not as thou wolt, but Y schal bie [bie it I.] of thee for prijs, and Y schal not offre to `my Lord [the Lord my I.] God brent sacrifices ȝouun freli. Therfor Dauid bouȝte the corn floor [bouȝte the corn floor; for vi. hundrid siclis of gold, in the firste book of Paralip. xxi. c<sup>o</sup>. Lire here. C.] , and `he bouȝte [Om. I.] oxis [the oxen I.] for fifti siclis of siluer. [verse 25] And Dauid bildide there an auter to the Lord, and offride brent sacrifices and pe|sible sacrifices; and the Lord dide merci to the lond, and the veniaunce was re|freyned fro Israel.

Here endith the secounde book of Kyngis, and here bigynneth the thridde [Here endith the secounde book of Kyngis, and bigynneth a prolog on the iii. book of Kynges. G. Here endith the secounde book of Kyngis, and bigynneth the thridde. IQ. Here endith the secounde book of Kingis, se now the thridde. K. Here endith the secounde book of Kingis, and here bigynneth a prologe on the thridde. M. Here eendith the secunde book of Kyngis, and bygynneth the thridde book of Kyngis. NRSX. Here endith the secounde book of Kingis, and here bigynneth the thridde. O. Here endeth the secounde book, and bigynneth the thridde. b. Here endith the secunde book of Kyngis. ç. No final rubric in ELP.] .