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

III. KINGS.

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

IN this thridde book of Kingis is contened the ending of Dauith, and the coro|nacioun of Salomon, ȝit lyuynge Dauith; and how the Lord magnyfied Salomon with wisdom, and richessis, and in al prosperite, for the loue of Dauith his fadir, aboue alle kingis that weren bifor him and after, and ȝaf to hym pees on ech side. Also how the rewme was departid in the daies of Roboam, sone of Salomon, in to tweie kyng|doms, but the Lord reseruede the kyngdom of Juda to the generacioun of Dauith, for the merit of Dauith; and of alle kingis that weren afterward on Juda and on Israel, in to the transmygracioun of Babiloyne.

[Here beginneth the thridde book of Kyngis [From AM. The thridde of Kynges L. The iii. of Kinges P. No initial rubric in the other Mss.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] AND kyng Dauid wax [wexide I. waxide EKLb.] eld [ful old L.] , and hadde ful many daies of age; and [Om. S.] whanne he was hilid with clothis, he was not maad hoot [he was not made hoot; for he was a wer|riour fro his ȝong age, and for he was hugely agast in the siȝt of the aungel. Lire here. C.] . [verse 2] Therfor hise seruauntis seiden to hym, Seke we to oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng a ȝong wexynge virgyn; and stonde sche bifor the kyng, and nursche sche hym, and slepe in his bosum, and make hoot [sche hoot I.] oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng. [verse 3] Therfor thei souȝten a ȝong wexyng virgyn, fair in alle the coostis of Israel; and thei founden Abisag of Sunam [Sunamye S.] , and thei brouȝten hir to the kyng. [verse 4] Forsothe [And I.] the damysel was ful fair, and sche slepte with the kyng [sche slepte with the king; Abisag was weddid to Dauyth. Lire here. C.] , and mynystride to hym; forsothe the king knew not hir fleischli [Om I.] . [verse 5] Sotheli [And I.] Adonye, sone [the sone I.] of Agith, was reisid [reisid up I.] , and seide, Y schal regne. And he made to hym a chare, and knyȝtis [ordeynede kniȝtis I.] , and fifti men, that

runnen bifor hym. [verse 6] Nether [Nethir Dauid I.] his fadir re|preuyde hym ony tyme, and [ne I.] seide, Whi `didist thou [hast thou do I.] this? Forsothe [But I.] also he was ful fair, the secounde child aftir Absolon; [verse 7] and his word was with Joab, sone [the sone I.] of Saruye, and with `Abiathar, preest [the preest Abiathar I.] , that [whiche I.] helpiden the partis of Adonye. [verse 8] Sotheli [But I.] Sadoch, the preest, and Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, and Nathan, the prophete, and Semey, and Cerethi, and Ferethi, and al the strengthe of the oost of Dauid, weren not with Adonye. [verse 9] Therfor whanne rammes weren offrid, and caluys, and alle fatte thingis, bisidis the stoon Zoelech [bisidis the stoon Zoeleth; Ebreys seyen, the stoon drawun, for stronge men asayeden her strengthe at it; also Ebreys seyen, bisidis the welle of a fullere. Lire here. C.] , that was nyȝ the welle of Rogel, Adonye clepide alle hise britheren, sones [the sones I.] of the kyng, and alle the [Om. I.] men of Juda, ser|uauntis of the kyng. [verse 10] Sotheli [But I.] `he clepide not [Om. I.] Nathan, the profete, and Banaie, and alle stronge men, and Salomon, his bro|thir [brothir he clepide not I.] . [verse 11] Therfor [And so I.] Nathan seide to Bersa|bee, modir [the modir I.] of Salomon, Whether [wher ceteri passim.] thou herdist [hast herd I.] , that Adonye, sone [the sone I.] of Agith, regnede [hath regnyd I.] , and oure lord Dauid knoweth not this? [verse 12] Now therfor come thou, take thou counsel of me, and saue thi lijf, and of Salomon thi sone. [verse 13] Go thou, and entre to kyng Dauid, and seie thou to hym, Whether not thou, my lord the kyng, hast swore to me, thin handmaide, and seidist, that Salomon thi sone schal regne aftir me, and he schal sitte in my trone? Whi therfor regneth Adonye? [verse 14] And ȝit while thou schalt speke there with the kyng, Y schal come aftir thee, and `Y schal fille [fulfille I.] thi wordis. [verse 15] Therfor Bersabee entride to the kyng in the closet [bed place I.] ; for|sothe [and I.] the kyng was ful eeld, and Abisag of Sunam `mynystride [seruyde I.] to hym. [verse 16] Ber|sabee [And Bersabee I.] bowide hir silf, and worschipide the kyng; to whom the kyng seide, What wolt thou to thee? [verse 17] And sche answeride, and seide, My lord the [Om. I.] kyng, thou hast swore to thin handmaide bi thi Lord

God, Salomon thy [thy A sec. m.] sone schal regne aftir [verse 18] me, and he schal sitte in my trone; and lo! Adonye hath regnede now, `while [verse 19] thou, my lord the kyng, knowist not [thee my lord kyng, vnwitynge I.] ; he hath slayn oxis [oxen I.] , and alle fatte thingis, and ful many rammes; and he clepide [hath clepid I.] alle the [Om. S.] sones of the king, also `Abiathar preest [the preest Abiathar I.] , and Joab, the prince of chyualri [the chyualri I.] ; but he clepide not Salomon, thi seruaunt. [verse 20] Netheles, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, the iȝen of al Israel biholden in to thee, that thou schewe to hem, who owith to sitte in thi [verse 21] trone, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, aftir thee; and it schal be, whanne my lord the [Om. I.] kyng hath slepte with hise fadris, Y and my sone Salomon schulen be synneris [Y and my sone Salomon schulen be synneris; that is, Adonye schal putte on vs crymes, to priue vs fro liyf. Lire here. CK.] . [verse 22] `While sche spak [Bersabee spekynge I.] ȝit with the king, Na|than, the prophete, cam. [verse 23] And thei telden to the kyng, and seiden, Nathan, the pro|phete, is present. And whanne he hadde entrid in the siȝt of the kyng, and hadde [verse 24] worschipide hym lowli to [in to I.] erthe [the erthe EIKLP.] , Nathan seide, My lord the kyng, seidist thou, Adonye regne [regne he I.] aftir me, and sitte he on my trone? [verse 25] For he cam [hath come I.] doun to dai, and offride oxis [oxen I.] , and fatte thingis, and ful many wetheris; and he clepide alle the sones of the kyng, also [and also I.] Abiathar, preest; and whanne thei eten, and drunken bifor [verse 26] hym, and seiden, Kyng Adonye lyue; he clepide not me, thi seruaunt, and Sadoch, preest [the preest I.] , and Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, and Salomon, thi sone. [verse 27] Whether this word ȝede out fro my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, and thou schewidist not to me, thi seruaunt, who schulde sitte on [upon I. in I.] the trone of my lord the [Om. I.] king after hym? [verse 28] And kyng Dauid an|sweride, and seide, Clepe ȝe Bersabee to me. And whanne sche hadde entrid bifor the kyng, and hadde stonde bifor hym, [verse 29] the kyng swoor, and seide, The Lord lyueth, that delyueryde [hath delyuered I.] my lijf fro al an|gwisch; [verse 30] for as Y swore to thee bi the Lord God of Israel, and seide, Salomon,

thi sone, schal regne after me, and he schal sitte on my trone for me, so Y schal do to dai. [verse 31] And Bersabee, with the [hir I.] cheer cast [bowid I.] doun in to erthe [the erthe I.] , worschipide the kyng, and seide, My lord the [Om. CI.] kyng Dauid lyue with outen ende [with outen ende; that is, in blisful liyf, which is euer|lastinge. Lire here. C.] . [verse 32] And kyng Dauid seide, Clepe ȝe Sadoch, the preest, to me, and Nathan, the prophete, and Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada. And whanne thei hadden [verse 33] entrid bifor the kyng, the kyng seide to hem, Take with ȝou the seruauntis of ȝoure lord, and putte ȝe my sone Salomon on [upon I.] my mule, and lede ȝe hym in to Gyon. [verse 34] And Sadoch, the preest, and Nathan, the profete, anoynte [anoynte thei I.] hym in to kyng on [upon I.] Israel and Juda; and ȝe schulen synge with a clarioun [trumpe I.] , and ȝe schulen seie, Lyue kyng Salomon! [verse 35] Ȝe schulen stie [stie up I.] aftir hym, and ȝe schulen come to Jerusalem; and he schal sitte on [upon I.] my trone, and he schal regne for me; and Y schal comaunde to hym, that he be duyk on [upon I.] Israel and on [Om. I.] Juda. [verse 36] And Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, answeride to the kyng, and seide, Amen, `that is, so be it [it doon B.] , ether [Om. GS.] verili, ether feithfuli [The gloss omitted in CI.] ; so speke the Lord God of my lord the kyng. [verse 37] As the Lord was with my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, so be he with Salomon, and make he the trone of Salomon heiȝere than the trone of my lord the [Om. I.] kyng Dauid. [verse 38] Ther|for [Thanne I.] Sadoch, the preest, ȝede doun, and Nathan, the prophete, and Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, and Cerethi, and Ferethi; and thei puttiden Salomon on [upon I.] the mule of Dauid, the kyng, and thei brouȝten hym in to Gion. [verse 39] And Sadoch, the preest, took an horn of oile of the tabernacle, and anoyntide Salomon; and thei sungen with a clarioun; and al the puple seide, Lyue kyng Salomon! [verse 40] And al the multitude stiede [stiede up I.] after hym, and the puple of men syngynge with pipis, and `of men [Om. I.] beynge glad with greet ioye, `stiede aftir hym [Om. I.] ; and the erthe sownede of the cry of hem.

[verse 41] Forsothe [And I.] Adonye herde, and alle that weren clepid of hym to feeste [the feeste IKM.] ; and thanne the feeste was endid. But also Joab seide, whanne the vois of trumpe [the trumpe K.] was herd, What wole it [Om. A sec. m.] to it silf the cry of the citee [Om. S.] makynge noise? [verse 42] Ȝit the [Om. I.] while he spak, Jonathan, sone [the sone I.] of Abia|thar, the preest, cam; to whom Adonye seide, Entre thou, for thou art a strong man, and tellynge goode thingis. [verse 43] And Jonathan [Jona|thas I.] answeride to Adonye, Nay; for oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng Dauid hath or|deyned [verse 44] Salomon kyng; and Dauid sente [hath sent I.] with Salomon Sadoch, the preest, and Na|than, the prophete, and Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, and Cerethi, and Ferethi; and thei puttiden [han putt I.] Salomon on [upon I.] the mule of the kyng. [verse 45] And Sadoch, the preest, and Nathan, the prophete, anoyntiden [han anoyntid I.] hym kyng in Gion; and thei camen doun fro thennus beynge glad, and the citee sown|ede; this is the vois which [that I.] ȝe herden. [verse 46] But also Salomon sittith on [upon I.] the trone of [verse 47] rewme [the rewme I.] ; and the seruauntis of the kyng entriden [han entrid I.] , and blessiden [han blessid I.] oure lord the [Om. I.] kyng Dauid, and seiden, God make large the name of Salomon aboue thi name, and magnyfye [make greet I.] his trone aboue thi trone. And [verse 48] kyng Dauid worschipide in his bed; and ferthermore he spak these thingis, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, that ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] to dai a sittere in my trone, while myn iȝen seen [seynge it I.] . [verse 49] Therfor alle, that weren clepid of Adonye to feeste [the feeste IKLP.] , weren aferd, and ris|iden [risen E. resen up I. resen P.] , and ech man ȝede in to his weie. [verse 50] Sotheli [And I.] Adonye dredde Salomon, and roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to the tabernacle of the Lord, and helde [he helde I.] the horn [horn or corner I.] of the auter. [verse 51] And thei telden to Salomon, and seiden, Lo! Adonye dredith the kyng Salomon, and holdith [he holdith I.] the horn [cornere I.] of the auter, and seith, Kyng Salomon swere to me to dai, that he schal not sle his seruaunt bi [with I.] swerd.

[verse 52] And Salomon seide, If he is a good man [if he is a good man; not sekinge aftir|ward ymagy|naciouns, to gete the rewme. Lire here. C.] , sotheli not oon [an I.] heer of hym schal falle in to erthe [the erthe I.] ; but if yuel be foundun in hym, he schal die. [verse 53] Therfor kyng Salomon sente, and ledde `hym out [out Adonye I.] fro the auter; and he entride, and worschipide kyng Salo|mon; and Salomon seide to hym, Go in to thin hows.

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Forsothe the daies of Dauid neiȝiden, that he schulde die; and he comaundide to Salomon, his sone, and seide, Lo! [verse 2] Y entre in to the weie of al erthe [erthe, that is, to deth I.] ; be thou coumfortid, and be thou a strong man. [verse 3] And kepe thou the kepyngis and heestis [the heestis I.] of thi Lord God, that thou go in hise weies, and kepe hise cerymonyes, and hise heestis, and hise domes, and witnessyngis, as it is writun in the lawe of Moises; that thou vndurstonde alle thingis whiche thou doist, and whidur euer thou schalt turne thee. [verse 4] That the Lord conferme hise wordis, whiche the Lord spak of me, and seide, If thi sones kepen my weies, and goen bifor me in treuthe, in al her herte, and in al her soule, a man schal not be takun awei of thee fro the trone of Israel. [verse 5] Also thou knowist what thingis Joab, the sone of Saruye, dide [hath do I.] to me [dide to me; Rabi Salomon seith, that Joab schewide to othere men the priuy lettris of Dauyth to sle Vrie. Lire here. C.] ; what thingis he dide to twey princis of the oost of Israel, to Abner, sone [the sone I.] of Ner, and to Amasa, sone [the sone I.] of Jether, whiche he killide, and schedde the blood of batel [the blood of batel; that is, he schedde out in the tyme of pees mannus blood, that owith not to be sched out no but in batel. Lire here. C.] in pees; and puttide [he hath putt I.] the blood of batel in his girdil, that was aboute hise leendis, and in [Om. I.] his scho [schoyng I.] , that was in hise feet. [verse 6] Therfor thou schalt do by thi wisdom, and thou schalt not lede forth his hoor|nesse pesibli to hellis [to hellis; Ebreys seyen, to a dich, ether sepulcre, for Dauyth pur|poside not, that Joab schulde go doun to the helle of damp|ned men; ther|for that was o cause whi Da|uyth wolde, that he were pu|nyschid here, lest he were punyschid in helle, as Rabi Salomon seith; as it was seid of Achar in vii. c^o. of Josue. Lire here. C.] . [verse 7] But also thou schalt ȝelde grace to the sones of Bersellai of Galaad, and thei schulen be eetynge

in thi boord; for thei metten me, whanne Y fledde fro the face of Absolon, thi bro|ther. [verse 8] Also thou hast anentis thee Semey, sone [the sone I.] of Gera, sone [the sone I.] of Gemyny, of Bahu|rym, which [the which I.] Semei curside me bi the worste cursyng, whanne Y ȝede to `the castels [defensable placis I.] ; but for [for thi I.] he cam doun to me in to metyng [my metyng I.] , whanne Y passide Jordan, and Y swoor to him bi the Lord, and seide, Y [verse 9] schal not slee thee bi [with I.] swerd, nyle thou suffre hym to be vnpunyschid; forsothe thou art a wise man, and thou schalt wite what thou schalt do to hym, and thou schalt lede forth hise hoor heeris with blood to hellis. [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] Dauid slepte with hise fadris, and was biriede in the citee of Dauid. [verse 11] Forsothe [And I.] the daies, in whiche Dauid regnede on [upon I.] Israel, ben fourti ȝeer; in Ebron he regned seuene ȝeer, in [and in CI.] Jerusalem [Israel N.] thre and thretti ȝeer. [verse 12] Forsothe Salomon sat on [upon I.] the trone of Dauid, his fadir, and his rewme was maad stidfast greetli. [verse 13] And Adonye, sone [the sone I.] of Agith, entride to Bersabee, modir [the modir I.] of Salomon; and sche seide to hym, Whether thin entryng is pesible? And he answer|ide, It is pesible. [verse 14] And he addide [addide to I.] , A word of me is to thee. `To whom [And I.] sche seide, Speke thou. [verse 15] And he seide, Thou knowist that [for BC.] the rewme was myn, and al Israel purposide to make me in to king to hem; but the rewme is translatid, and is maad my brotheris; for [for whi I.] of the Lord it is or|deyned to hym. [verse 16] Now therfor Y preye of the oon axyng; schende [confounde I.] thou not my face. And sche seide to hym, Speke thou. [verse 17] And he seide, Y preie, that thou seie to Salomon the king; for he may not denye ony thing to thee; that he ȝyue to [Om. I.] me Abisag of Sunam wijf [to wijf I.] . [verse 18] And Bersabee seide, Wel, Y schal speke for thee to the kyng. [verse 19] Therfor Bersabee cam to kyng [the kyng I.] Salomon, to speke to hym for Adonye; and the kyng roos aȝens the comyng of

hir [his modir I.] , and worschipide hir, and `sat on [he sat upon I.] his trone; and a trone was set to the modir of the kyng, and sche sat at his riȝt side. [verse 20] And sche seide to hym, Y preie of thee o litil axyng; schende [confounde I.] thou not my face. And the kyng seide to hir, My modir, axe thou; for [forsothe I.] it is not leueful that Y turne awei thi [my I.] face. [verse 21] And sche seide, Abisag of Sunam [Abisag of Sunam; sche was wijf of Da|uyth, and therbi the queen; and so bi hir he hadde weye to come to the rewme, bi the help of Joab and of Abiathar, and of othere men fauoringe him. And Salomon, that was of scharpere wit than his modir, perseyuede this, and answeride, axe thou to him also the rewme, as [if] he seide, by this he pur|posith to come to the rewme. For Adonye spak this word aȝenus his liyf, for he ymagynede aȝenus thekyng, and for he axide the wiyf of his fadir aȝenus the lawe, in xviii. c<sup>o</sup>. of Leuyticy. Lire here. C.] be ȝouun wijf to Adonye, thi brother. [verse 22] And kyng Salomon answeride, and seide to his modir, Whi axist thou Abisag of Sunam to Adonye? Axe thou to hym also the rewme; for [certis I.] he is `my gretter [myn eldir I.] brothir, and he hath Abiathar, preest, and Joab, sone [the sone I.] of Saruye. [verse 23] Ther|for kyng Salomon swoor bi the Lord, and seide, God do to me these thingis, and adde these thinges [thingis to I.] , for Adonie spak [hath spoke I.] this word aȝens his lijf. [verse 24] And now the Lord lyueth, that confermede [hath confermed I.] me, and hath set me on [upon I.] the trone of my fadir, and that hath maad to me an hows, as he spak, for Adonye schal be slayn to dai. [verse 25] And kyng Salomon sente bi the hond of Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada; which [and I.] Banaie killide [slewȝe I.] Adonye, and he was deed. [verse 26] Also the kyng seide to Abiathar, preest [the preest I.] , Go thou in to Anatot, to thi feeld [to thi feeld; that is, to the place of thi possessioun; for prestis hadden citees assigned for her dwelling in xxxv. c^o. of Numeri and xxi. c^o. of Josue. Lire here. C.] ; and [Om. A.] sotheli thou art a man of deeth, `that is, worthi the [to EL.] deeth, for conspiryng aȝens me, and the ordynaunce of God, and of my fadir [that is, worthi of deth, for conspiring aȝens me and Dauid my fadir I marg.] ; but to dai Y schal not sle thee, for thou barist [hast bore I.] the arke of the Lord God bifor Dauid, my fadir, and thou suffridist trauele in alle thingis, in whiche my fadir trauelide. [verse 27] Therfor Salomon puttide out Abiathar, that he schulde not be preest [the preest A sec. m. I.] of the Lord, that the word of the Lord were fillid [fulfillid I.] , which [that I.] he spak on [upon I.] the hows of Heli, in Silo [in Silo; that he schulde be cast out fro presthod, as in I. book ii. c^o. Lire here. Aaron was maad hiȝeste prest bi Goddis chesing, in xxviii. c^o. of Exodi and in xvii. c^o. of Numeri. And he hadde ii. sones, Eliazar and Ythamar, that dwelliden, whanne ii. othere weren deed bifor the Lord, in x. c^o. of Leuitici; and thanne, bi God|dis wille, the presthod pass|ide to Eleazar and hise sones, in xx. c^o. of Numeri; of] . [verse 28] Forsothe [And I.] a messager cam to Salomon, that [and seide that I.] Joab hadde bowid aftir Adonye, and that he hadde not bowid after Salomon. Therfor Joab fledde in to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took

the horn of the auter. [verse 29] And it was teld to [which Eleazar this Sadoch cam doun. So|theli Heli cam doun of Ytha|mar; and whanne Heli was iuge of the puple, he took to him the presthod, as it was seid in I. book of Kingis ii. c^o.; and of him cam doun this Abiathar, whom Salomon castide out, in puttinge Sa|doch in his stide. Lire here. C.] kyng Salomon, that Joab hadde fledde in to the tabernacle of the Lord, and was bisidis the auter; and Salomon sente Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, and seide, Go thou, and sle hym. [verse 30] And Banaie cam to the tabernacle of the Lord, and seide to Joab, The kyng seith these thingis, Go thou out. And he [Joab I.] seide, Y schal not go out, but Y schal die here. Banaie telde the word to the kyng, and seide, Joab spak thes thingis, and an|sweride these thingis to me. [verse 31] And the kyng seide to Banaie, Do thou as he spak [hath spoke I.] [Do thou as he spak; seiynge, Y schal die, for he was drawun awey violently fro the auter, and so was slayn, as it is bedun in xxi. c^o. of Exody. Lire here. C.] , and sle thou hym, and birie him [Om. IS.] ; and thou schalt remoue the innocent blood, that was [is I.] sched out of Joab, fro me, and fro the hows of my fadir. [verse 32] And the Lord ȝelde on [upon I.] his [Joabs I.] heed his blood, for he killide twei iust men, and [Om. I.] betere than hym silf, and he killide hem bi [with I.] swerd, while [Om. I.] Dauid, my fadir, `wiste not [vnwiting it I.] , Abner, the sone of Ner, the prince of the chyualrie of Israel, and Amasa, sone [the sone I.] of Jether, the [Om. I.] prince of the oost of Juda. [verse 33] And the blood of hem schal turne aȝen in to the heed of Joab, and in to the heed of his seed with outen ende; forsothe [but I.] pees be of the Lord til in to with outen ende to Dauid, and to his seed, and to the hous and trone of hym. [verse 34] Therfor Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, stiede [stiede up I.] , and asailide [asailide Joab I.] , and killide Joab [him I.] ; and Joab was biried in his hows in de|seert [Joab was biried in his hows in desert; Rabi Salomon seith, that he made in desert a spitele for pore men; wherfore Ebreys seyen, that he is sauyd, and that temporal deth was ȝouun to him, in to clensing of hise synnes. Lire here. C.] . [verse 35] And the kyng ordeynede Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, on [upon I.] the oost for hym [Joab I.] ; and the kyng puttide [putte I.] Sadoch preest [the preest I.] for Abiathar. [verse 36] Also the kyng sente, and cle|pide Semey, and seide to hym, Bilde to thee an hows in Jerusalem, and dwelle thou there, and thou schalt not go out fro [verse 37] thennus [Jerusalem I.] hidur and thidur; sotheli [for I.] in what euer dai thou goist out, and passist the stronde of Cedron, wite thou thee worthi to be slayn; thi blood schal be on thin heed. [verse 38] And Semei seide to the kyng,

The word of the kyng is good; as my lord the [Om. I.] kyng spak, so thi seruaunt schal do. Therfor [And so I.] Semey dwellide in Jeru|salem in [Om. I.] many daies. [verse 39] Forsothe [But I.] it was doon after thre ȝeer, that the seruauntis of Semei fledden to Achis, sone [the sone I.] of Maa|cha, the [Om. I.] kyng of Geth; and it was teld to Semey, that hise seruauntis hadden [weren I.] go in to Geth. [verse 40] And Semey roos [roos up I.] , and sadlide his asse, and ȝede to Achis, in to Geth, to seke hise seruauntis; and brouȝte [he brouȝte I.] hem aȝen fro Geth. [verse 41] Forsothe [And I.] it was teld to kyng Salomon, that Semey hadde go [goon out I.] to Geth fro Jerusalem, and hadde come aȝen. [verse 42] And Salomon sente, and clepide hym, and seide to hym, Whether Y witnessede not to thee bi the Lord, and bifor seide to thee, In what euer dai thou schalt go out hidur and thidur, wite thou that thou schalt die; and thou answeridist to me, The word is good, which [that I.] Y herde [haue herd of thee I.] ? [verse 43] Whi therfor keptist thou not the ooth of the Lord, and the comaundement [heest I.] which [that I.] Y comaundide to thee? [verse 44] And the kyng seide to Semei, Thou knowist al the yuel, of which [the which I.] thin herte is gilti to thee [thi selff I.] , which yuel thou didist [hast do I.] to my fadir; the Lord hath ȝolde thi malice in to thin heed. [verse 45] And kyng Salomon schal be blessid; and the trone of Dauid schal be stable bifor the Lord til in to with outen ende. [verse 46] Therfor the kyng comaundide [comaunde A.] to Banaie, sone [the sone IS.] of Joiada; and he assailide [assailede Semey I.] , and smoot Semey [him I.] , and he was deed.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Therfor the rewme was confermyd in to the hondis of Salomon; and bi affynyte, `ether aliaunce [Om. CI.] , he was ioyned to Pharao, kyng of Egipt; for he [Salomon I.] took [took to wijf I.] the douȝter

of Farao [the douȝter of Farao; Sa|lomon synnede not in this, for this womman forsook hethen|esse, and was conuertid to the feith of o veri God. Lire here. C.] , and brouȝte [brouȝte hir I.] in to the citee of Dauid, til [til that I.] he `fillide bildynge [bildynge hadde fulfillid I.] his hows, and the hows of the Lord, and the [Om. S.] wal of Jerusalem bi cumpas. [verse 2] Netheles the puple [puple of the citee K.] offride [offride ȝit K.] in hiȝe places; for [forsothe I.] the temple was not bildid to [in I.] the name of the Lord til in to that dai. [verse 3] Forsothe [Sothely I.] Salo|mon louyde the Lord, and ȝede in the comaundementis [heestis I.] of Dauid, his fadir, out takun that Salomon offride in hiȝe placis [offride in hiȝe places; this was leueful thanne, nethe|les it was lesse good than to offre in the place, where the arke of God was. Bifor the bilding of the temple, whanne the arke hadde not stable abid|ing, it was leueful to offre in othere places than bifor the arke; but aftir the bilding of the temple, this was not leue|ful, no but [bi] special stiring of God, as Elie dide, in III. book of Kingis, xviii. c<sup>o</sup>. Lire here. C.] , and brente encense `in hiȝe places [Om. I.] . [verse 4] Ther|for [And so I.] Salomon ȝede [wente I.] in to Gabaon, to offre there; for [certis I.] thilke [that EIL.] was the moost hiȝ place [hiȝe place; not in greet|nesse of erthe, but of reue|rence and onour; for the tabernacle and the auter of brent sacrifice, whiche Moyses made, weren there; in I. book of Paral. xxi. c^o. Lire here. C.] . Salomon offride on [upon I.] that auter in Gabaon a thousynde offryngis in to brent sacrifice. [verse 5] Sotheli the Lord apperide to Salomon bi sleep in the nyȝt, and seide, Axe thou `that, that [what that E. that what L.] thou wolt, that Y ȝyue [ȝyue it I.] to thee. [verse 6] And Salomon seide, Thou hast do greet merci with thi seruaunt Da|uid, my fadir, as he ȝede in thi siȝt, in treuthe, and riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse I.] , and riȝtful [in riȝtful I.] herte with thee; thou hast kepte to hym thi greet merci, and hast ȝouun to hym a sone, sittynge on [upon I.] his trone, as it is to dai. [verse 7] And now, Lord God, thou hast maad thi seruaunt to regne for Dauid, my fadir; forsothe Y am a litil child, and not know|ynge myn outgoynge and entryng [myn yn comyng I.] . [verse 8] And thi seruaunt is in the myddis of the pu|ple, which thou hast chose, of puple with outen noumbre, that may not be noumbrid and rikened, for multitude. [verse 9] Therfor thou schalt ȝyue to thi seruaunt an herte able to be tauȝt, `that is, liȝtned of thee [Om. I.] , that he may deme the [thi I.] puple, and iuge [discryue I.] bitwixe good and yuel; for who may deme this puple, thi puple, this [thus I.] miche puple [this myche puple; as if he seye, no man may, with out thi special liȝtnyng. Lire here. C.] ? [verse 10] Therfor the word pleside bifore the Lord, that Salomon [he I.] hadde axid sich a thing. [verse 11] And the Lord seide to Salomon, For thou axidist this word, and axidist not to thee many daies, nether richessis, nether the

lyues of thin enemyes, but thou axidist to thee wisdom to deme doom, lo! [verse 12] Y haue do to thee vpe [aftir I.] thi wordis, and Y haue ȝoue to thee a wyse herte and vndirstond|ynge [an vndirstondynge I.] , in so myche that no man [that no man; this is vndur|stondun, in comparisoun of kingis that weren bifor him and aftir, for bothe Adam maad in the fulnesse of kun|ning in iii. c^o. of Genesis, and Moises that spak to God, face to face, in xxxiii. c^o. of Exodi, weren wisere than Salomon, and the postlis weren more liȝtned, than ony othere in the elde testa|ment. in kingis; this schal be vndurstondun in these thre to gidere, that is, wisdom, glorie, and riches, for grete Alisaun|dre and em|perours of Rome, weren myȝtiere and gloriousere than Salomon, and summe weren richere, as Octouyan, netheles thei failiden in wis|dom, in which they weren not liyk Salomon. Lire here. C.] bifor thee was lijk thee [Om. C.] , nether schal rise aftir thee. [verse 13] But also Y haue ȝoue to thee these thingis, whiche thou axidist not, that is, richessis, and glorie, that no man be lijk thee in kyngis in alle tymes aftirward. [verse 14] Forsothe if thou goist in my weies, and kepist my biddyngis and comaundementis [myn heestis I.] , as thi fadir ȝede [ȝede in hem I.] , Y schal make thi daies long. [verse 15] Therfor Salomon wakide, and vn|dirstood [he vndirstood I.] [vndurstood, etc.; therfor it was propirly a reuelacioun of God which is maad ofte in sleep. Lire here. C.] what the sweuen was. And whanne he hadde come to Jerusalem, he stood bifor the arke of boond of pees of the Lord, and he offride brent sacrifices [sacrifice I.] , and made [he made I.] pesible sacrifices, and a greet feeste to alle hise meynees. [verse 16] Thanne twei wymmen hooris [strumpetis I.] camen to the kyng, and [verse 17] stoden bifor hym; of whiche [the whiche I.] oon seide, My lord, Y biseche, Y and this womman dwelliden in oon [an I.] hows, and Y childide at hir in a couche. [verse 18] Sotheli [And I.] in the thridde dai aftir that Y childide [had childid I.] , also [also and I.] this wom|man childide; and we weren togidere in the hows, and noon other was with vs in the [that I.] hows, outakun vs tweyne. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] the sone of this womman was deed in the nyȝt, for sche slepte, and oppresside [ouerlay I.] [verse 20] hym; and sche roos [roos up I.] in the fourthe part of the nyȝt in silence, and took [sche took I.] my sone fro the side of me, thin handmaide slep|ynge, and settide [sche leide it I. sette EL.] in hir bosum; forsothe [and I.] sche puttide [putte L.] in my bosum hir sone, that was deed. [verse 21] And whanne Y hadde ryse eerli, to ȝyue mylk to my sone, he ap|peride deed; whom Y bihelde diligentlier [diligentli A. more diligently I.] bi cleer liȝt, and Y perseyuede, that he was not myn, whom Y hadde gendrid. [verse 22] The tother womman answeride, It is not

so as thou seist, but thi sone is deed; for|sothe [and I.] `my sone [myn I.] lyueth. Aȝenward sche seide, Thou liest; for my sone lyueth, and thi sone is deed. And bi this maner thei stryueden [streuen EIL. streuyn P.] bifore the kyng. [verse 23] Thanne the kyng seide, This womman seith, My sone lyueth, and thi sone is deed; and this womman answerith, Nay, but thi sone is deed; forsothe [and I.] my sone lyueth. [verse 24] Therfor the kyng seide, Brynge ȝe to me a swerd. And whanne thei hadden brouȝt a swerd [verse 25] bifor the kyng, he seide, Departe ȝe the quyk ȝong child in to [Om. I.] twei partis, and ȝyue ȝe the half part to oon [the toon I. the oon K.] , and the [Om. I.] half part to the tother. [verse 26] Forsothe [And I.] the womman, whos sone was quik, seide to the kyng; for her entrailis weren mouyd on hir sone; Lord, Y biseche, ȝyue ȝe to hir the quik child, and nyle ȝe sle hym. Aȝenward sche seide, Be he [the child I.] nethir to me, nether [Om. EILP.] to thee, but be he departid. [verse 27] The kyng answeride, and seide, Ȝyue ȝe to this womman the ȝong child quyk, and be he not slayn; forsothe [for I.] this is `his modir [the modir of him I.] . [verse 28] Therfor al Israel herde the doom, which [that I.] the kyng hadde demyd; and thei dredden the kyng, and sien, that the wisdom of God [wisdom of God; that is, ȝouun to him of God; was in him; aboue the maner of othere men, and ther|for they dred|den him, more than bifore. Lire here. C.] was in hym, to make doom.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] `Forsothe kyng Salomon [Kyng Salomon sothly I.] was regnynge on [upon I.] al Israel. [verse 2] And these weren the princes which he hadde; Azarie, sone [the sone I.] of Sadoch, [verse 3] preest [the preest I.] [prest; in Ebreu it is, was vndur his fadir, that was the hiȝeste prest. Lire here. C.] ; Helioreb, and Haia, sones [the sone I.] of Sila, `weren scryueyns [the writer I.] ; Josophat, sone [the sone I.] [verse 4] of Achilud, was chaunseler; Banaie, sone [the sone I.] of Joiada, was on [prince upon I.] the oost; forsothe [and I.] Sa|doch [verse 5] and Abiathar [and Abia|thar; Salomon clepide him aȝen in to the temple, that he schulde lyue of the auter, ne|theles not to the hiȝeste presthod. Lire here. C.] weren preestis; Azarie, sone [the sone I.] of Nathan, was on [upon I.] hem that stoden niȝ the kyng; Zabul, the sone of Nathan, was preest, `that is, greet and worschip|ful [Om. I.] , [verse 6] a freend of the kyng; and Ahiasar was stiward of the hows; and Adonyram,

sone [the sone I.] of Adda, was on [upon I.] the tributis. [verse 7] For|sothe Salomon hadde twelue `prefectis, ether [Om. I.] cheef minystrys [maistris I.] , on [upon I.] al Israel, that [the whiche I.] ȝauen lijflode to the kyng, and to his hows; sotheli bi ech monethe bi it silf in the ȝeer, ech prefect [cheef maister I.] bi hym silf mynystride necessaries. [verse 8] And these ben the names of hem; Benhur, in the hil of [verse 9] Effraym; Bendechar, in Macces, and in Salebbym, and in Bethsames, and in He|lon, [verse 10] and in Bethanan; Beneseth, in Ara|both; forsothe [and I.] Socco, and al the lond of [verse 11] Epher was his; Benabidanab, whos was al Neptad, hadde Dortaphaed, `Solomons douȝter [the douȝter of Salomon I.] , to wijf. [verse 12] Bena, sone [the sone I.] of Achilud, gouernyde Thaneth, and Mageddo, and al Bethsan, which [that I.] is bisidis Sarthana, vndur Jezrael, fro Bethsan `til to [vnto I.] Abelmeula, euene aȝens Zelmaan. [verse 13] Bengaber in Ra|moth of Galaad hadde Anothiair, of the sone of Manasses, in Galaad; he was souereyn in al the cuntrey of Argob, which [that I.] is in Basan, to sixti greet citees and wallid, that [the whiche I.] hadden brasun lockis. [verse 14] Achymadab, sone [the sone I.] of Addo, was souereyn [verse 15] in Manaym; Achymaas was in Neptalym, but also he hadde Bachsemath, douȝter [the douȝtir I.] [verse 16] of Salomon, in wedloc; Banaa, sone [the sone I.] of [verse 17] Husy, was [Om. I.] in Aser, and in Balod; Jose|phat, sone [the sone I.] of Pharue, was in Ysachar; [verse 18] Semey, sone [the sone I.] of Hela, was [Om. I.] in Beniamyn; [verse 19] Gaber, sone [the sone] of Sury, was [Om. I.] in the lond of Galaad, and in the lond of Seon, kyng of Amorrey, and of Og, kyng of Basan, on [and upon I.] alle thingis, that weren in that lond. [verse 20] Juda and Israel weren vnnoumbrable, as the soond of the see in multitude, etynge, and drynkynge, and beynge glad. [verse 21] For|sothe Solomon was in his lordschip, and hadde alle rewmes [the rewmes I.] , as fro the flood of the lond of Filisteis `til to [vnto I.] the laste part of Egipt, of men offrynge ȝiftis [ȝiftis; that is, tributis. Lire here. C.] to hym, and seruynge to hym, in alle the daies of his lijf. [verse 22] Forsothe the mete of

Salomon was bi ech day, thritti chorus [Chorus coun|teyneth thretti buschelis. Lire here. C. et plures.] of clene flour of whete, and sixti chorus of [verse 23] mele, ten fatte oxis [oxen I.] , and twenti oxis [oxen I.] of lesewe [the lesewe I.] , and an hundrid wetheris, ou|takun huntyng of hertys, of geet, and of buglis, and of briddis maad fat. [verse 24] For he helde al the cuntrei that was biȝende the flood, as fro Caphsa `til to [vnto I.] Gasa, and alle the kyngis of tho [the A pr. m. CEGLMPQRSUbç.] cuntreis; and he hadde pees bi ech part in cumpas. [verse 25] And Juda and Israel dwelliden withouten ony drede, ech man vndur his vyne, and vndur his fige tree, fro Dan `til to [vnto I.] Bersabe, in alle the daies of Salomon. [verse 26] And Salomon hadde fourty thousynd cratchis [bi Ebreys a cracche is takun here for a place departid for ech hors bi him silf. Lire here. C.] of horsis for charis, and twelue thousynde of roode [rode D. rood P. reed R. reede Mb. reade Q. rede F pr. m. W.] horsis; and the forseid prefectis [cheef maistris of the kyng I.] nur|shiden tho horsis. [verse 27] But also with greet bisynesse thei ȝauen necessaries to the [verse 28] boord of kyng Salomon in her tyme; also thei brouȝten barli, and forage of horsis and werk [of werk I.] beestis, in to the place where the king was, `bi ordenaunce [aftir that it was ordeyned I.] to hem. [verse 29] Also God ȝaf to Salomon wisdom, and prudence ful myche, and largenesse [largenesse of herte; to spende in greet worschip. Lire here. C.] of herte, as the soond which [that I.] is in the brenke of the see. [verse 30] And the wisdom of Solomon passide the wisdom of alle eest [verse 31] men, and Egipcians; and he was wisere than alle men; he [and he DKMX.] was wisere than Ethan Esraite, and than Eman, and than Cacal, and than Dorda, the sones of Maol; and he [Salomon I.] was named [losid I.] among alle folkis bi cum|pas. [verse 32] And Salomon spak thre thousynde parablis, and hise songis weren fyue thou|synde [fyue thou|synde; in Ebreu it is, a thousinde and V. C.] ; [verse 33] and he disputide of trees fro a cedre which [that I.] is in the [Om. GKLNOSbç.] Lyban, `til to [vnto I.] the ysope that goith out of the wal; he disputide of werk beestis, and briddis, and crepynge [of crepynge I.] beestis, and fischis [of fischis I.] . [verse 34] And thei [men I.] camen fro alle puplis to here the wisdom of Salomon, and fro alle kyngis [the kyngis I.] of erthe, that herden his wisdom.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Also Hiram, kyng [the kyng I.] of Tire, sente hise seruauntis to Salomon; for he herde that thei [Israel I.] hadden anoyntide hym kyng for his fadir; for Hiram was frend of Dauid in al time. [verse 2] Sotheli [And I.] also Salomon sente to [verse 3] Hiram, and seide, Thou knowist the wille of Dauid, my fadir, and for he miȝte not bilde an hows to the name of his God, for batels [his batels I.] neiȝynge bi cumpas, til the Lord ȝaf hem vndur the step of hise feet. [verse 4] Now [But now I.] forsothe [Om. I.] my Lord God ȝaf [hath ȝouen I.] reste to me bi cumpas, and noon aduersarie is, nethir [verse 5] yuel asailyng; wherfor Y thenke to buylde a temple to the name of my Lord God, as God spak to Dauid, my fadir, and seide, Thi sone, whom Y schal ȝyue to thee for thee on [upon I.] thi trone, he schal bilde an hows to my name. [verse 6] Therfor comaunde thou, that thi seruauntis hewe doun to me cedris of the Liban; and my seruauntis be with thi seruauntis; sotheli [and I.] Y schal ȝyue to thee the meede of thi seruauntis, what euere meede [Om. I.] thou schalt axe; for thou woost, that in my puple is not a man that kan hewe trees, as Sidonyes [men of Sydonye I.] kunnen [Om. I.] . [verse 7] Therfor whanne Hiram hadde herde the wordis of Salomon, he was ful glad, and seide, Blessid be the Lord God to dai, that ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] to Dauid a [the I.] sone moost wijs on [upon I.] this puple ful myche. [verse 8] And Hiram sente to Salomon, and seide, Y haue herde what euer thingis [thing I.] thou sentist [hast sent I.] to me; Y schal do al thi wille, in trees of cedres, and of beechis [beeche I.] [of beechis; Ebreys seyn, in trees of box, where oure translacioun hath, of beechis. C.] . [verse 9] My seruauntis schulen putte doun tho [the I.] trees fro the Liban [hil of Liban I.] to the see, and Y schal araye tho trees in schippis in the see, `til to [vnto I.] the place which [that I. where L.] thou schalt signyfie to me; and Y schal dresse tho there, that thou take tho; and thou schalt ȝyue necessaries [necessarie S.] to me, that mete be ȝouun to myn hows. [verse 10] Therfor [And so I.] Hiram ȝaf to Salomon `trees of cedres [cedre trees I.] , and `trees

[verse 11] of beechis [beeche trees I.] , bi al his wille; forsothe [and I.] Salomon ȝaf to Hiram twenti thousynde chorus of wheete, in to meete to [into A pr. m. DEIMSbç.] his hows, and twenti chorus of pureste [moost pure I.] oile; Salomon ȝaf these thingis to Hiram bi alle ȝeeris. [verse 12] Also the Lord ȝaf wisdom to Salomon, as he spak to hym; and pees was bitwixe Hiram and Salomon, and bothe [bothe thei I.] smytiden [smoten togidre I. smiten EL.] boond of pees. [verse 13] And kyng Salomon chees werk men of al Israel; and the summe was thretti thou|synde of men. [verse 14] And `Salomon sente hem in to the Liban [into Liban Salamon sente I.] , ten thousynde [thousynde men I.] bi ech monethe bi whilis, so that in twei monethis bi whilis thei weren in her howsis; and Adonyram was on [upon I. in K.] sich a summe. [verse 15] Ther|for [And so I.] seuenti thousynde of hem [hors A rec. m.] , that baren burthuns, weren to Salomon, and foure score thousynde of masouns in the hil, [verse 16] with out the souereyns, that weren mais|tris of alle werkis [the werkis I.] , bi the noumbre of thre thousynde and thre hundrid, comaundynge to the puple, and to hem that maden werk. [verse 17] And the kyng comaundide, that thei schulden take greete stonys, `and pre|ciouse stonys [Om. K.] [precious stonys; Ebreys seyen heuye stonys, for siche stonys ben able for the founde|ment. Lire here. C.] , in to [Om. X.] the foundement of the temple, and that thei schulden make [verse 18] tho square; whiche stoonys the masouns of Salomon, and the masouns of Hyram, hewiden. Forsothe [And I.] Biblies [men of Biblies I.] maden redi trees and stonus, to the hows to [Om. S.] be bildid.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Forsothe it was doon in the fourthe [foure I.] hundrid and fourescore ȝeer [Moises gouer|nede the puple bi xl. ȝeer, in xvi. c^o. of Exodi, Josue bi xl. ȝeer in iij. c^o. of Judicum, Othonyel bi xl. ȝeer, in iij. c^o. of Judicum, Aioth bi xl. ȝeer, in iij. c^o. of Judicum, Del|bora bi xl. ȝeer, in v. c^o. of Judi|cum, Gedeon bi xl. ȝeer, in viij. c^o. of Judicum, Abymelech bi iij. ȝeer, in ix. c^o. of Judicum, Thola bi xxiij. ȝeer, in x. c^o. of Judicum, Jair bi xxij. ȝeer, in x. c^o. of Judi|cum, with out domesman bi xviii., in x. c^o. of Judicum, Jepte bi sixe ȝeer, in xij. c^o. of Judicum, Abessan bi vij. ȝeer, in xij. c^o. of Judicum, Abilon bi x. ȝeer, in xii. c^o. of Judicum, Abdon bi viij. ȝeer, in xij. c^o. of Judicum, Sampson bi. xx. ȝeer, in xvi. c^o. of Judicum, Hely bi xl. ȝeer, in I. book of Kingis iiij. c^o., Samuel and Saul bi xl. ȝeer, in xiij. c^o. of Dedis, Dauyth bi xl. ȝeer, in III. book of Kingis ii. c^o., Salomon bi iij. ȝeer, here in this text; thus the noumbre teld here, is proued bi Scrip|ture. Lire here. C.] of the goynge out of the sones of Israel fro the lond of Egipt, in the fourthe ȝeer [in the fourthe ȝeer, of the rewme of Salo|mon. Lire here. C.] , in the monethe Zio; thilke [that I.] is the secounde monethe [thilke is the secounde monethe, of the iiij. ȝeer of the rewme of Sa|lomon. Lire here. C.] of the rewme of Salomon on [upon I.] Israel; he bigan to bilde an hows [the temple of Salamon K marg.] to the Lord. [verse 2] For|sothe [And I.] the hows which [that I.] kyng Salomon

bildide to the Lord, hadde sexti cubitis in `lengthe, and twenti cubitis [Om. I.] in breede, and thretti cubitis in heiȝthe. [verse 3] And a porche was bifor the temple of twenti cubitis of lengthe, by the mesure of the breed of the temple; and the porche hadde ten cubitis of breede, bifor the face of the temple. [verse 4] And Salomon made in the temple `wyndows streyte [narowe wyndows I.] without|forth, and large with ynne. [verse 5] And he bild|ide on [upon I.] the wal of the temple bildyngis of tablis bi cumpas, in the wallis of the hows, `bi cumpas of [aboute I.] the temple, and of [Om. I.] Goddis answeryng place; and he made sidis in the cumpas. [verse 6] The bildyng of tablis, that was vndur, hadde fyue cubitis of breede; and the myddil bildyng of tablis was of sixe cubits of breede; and the thridde bildyng of tablis was hauynge seuene cubitis of breede. Sotheli [And I.] he puttide [putte I.] beemys in the hous bi cumpas with out|forth, that tho cleuiden not [tho clyueden not, etc.; that is, the closingis in of the aleris. Lire here. C.] to the wallis of the temple. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] whanne the hows was bildid, it was bildid [bild I.] of `stoonys hewid and perfit [perfit hewyn stoonys I.] ; and an [Om. I.] hamer, and ax, and al thing maad of yrun, weren not herd in the hows, while it was in bildyng. [verse 8] The dore of the myddil side was in the wal of the riȝthalf hows [of the hows I.] ; and bi a vijs thei [men I.] stieden [stieden up I.] in to the myddil soler, and fro the myddil soler in to the thridde soler. [verse 9] And Salomon bildide the hows, and endide it. Also [And DKX.] Salomon hilide the [verse 10] hows with couplis of cedre [cedre trees I.] , and bildide [he bildide I.] a bildyng of tablis ouer al the hows, bi fyue cubitis of heiȝthe, and hilide [he hilide I.] the hows with `trees of cedre [cedre trees I.] . [verse 11] And the word of the Lord was maad to Salomon, and [verse 12] seide, This is the hows, which [that I.] thou bildist [bildidist K.] ; if thou gost in myn heestis, and dost my domes, and kepist alle my com|aundementis, and goist bi tho, Y schal make stidefast my word to thee, `which [verse 13] word [that I.] Y spak to Dauid, thi fadir; and Y schal dwelle in the myddis of the sones of

Israel, and Y schal not forsake my puple Israel. [verse 14] Therfor Salomon bildide the [verse 15] hows, and endide it; and he bildide the wallis of the hows with ynne with tablis of cedre, fro the pawment of the hows `til to [vnto I.] the heiȝnesse of the wal, and `til to [vnto I.] the couplis; and hilide [he hilide hem I.] with trees of cedre with ynne; and he hilide the paw|ment of the hows with tablis of beeche. [verse 16] And he bildide a wal of tablis of cedre of twenti cubitis at the hyndrere [hyndir EILXç. hindere K.] part of the temple, fro the pawment `til to [vnto I.] the hiȝere partis; and he made the ynnere hows of Goddis answeryng place, in to the hooli of hooli thingis. [verse 17] Sotheli [And I. Forsothe EL.] thilke [that EL.] temple bifor the doris of Goddis answering place was of fourti cubitis. [verse 18] And al the hows with ynne was clothid with cedre, and hadde hise smethenessis, and hise ioynyngis maad suteli, and grauyngis ap|perynge [semynge I.] aboue; alle thingis weren clothid with tablis [bordis I.] of cedre, and outirli a stoon miȝte not appere in the wal. [verse 19] Forsothe [And I.] Salomon made Goddis answeryng place in the myddis of the hows, in the ynnere part, that he schulde sette there the arke of boond of pees of the Lord. [verse 20] Sotheli [And I.] Goddis answeryng place hadde twenti cubitis of lengthe, and twenti cubitis of breede, and twenti cubitis of hiȝte; and he hilide, and clothide it with pureste [moost pure I.] gold; but also he clothide the auter with cedre. [verse 21] Also he hilide [hilide it I.] with pureste gold the [an D.] hows bifor `Goddis answeryng place [or the oracle I marg.] , and fastnyde [he fastnyde the I.] platis with goldun nailis. [verse 22] No thing was in the temple, `which thing [that I.] was not hilid with gold; but also he hilid with gold al the auter of Goddis answeryng place. [verse 23] And he made in `Goddis answeryng place [the oracle I.] twey cheru|byns of the [Om. C.] trees of olyues, of ten cubits [verse 24] of heiȝte; o wynge of cherub was of fyue cubitis, and the tother wynge of cherub was of fyue cubitis, that is, hauynge ten cubitis, fro the heiȝnesse of `the o [that oon I. the too K. the DEMXb. Om. ç.] wynge

`til to [vnto I.] the hiȝnesse of the tother wynge. [verse 25] And the secunde cherub was of ten cubitis in euene mesure; and o werk was in the [verse 26] twey cherubyns, that is, o cherub hadde the hiȝthe of ten cubitis, and in lijk maner the tother cherub. [verse 27] And he [Salomon I.] settide [sette EIL.] che|rubyns [the cherubyns I.] in the myddis of the ynnere tem|ple; forsothe [and I.] the cherubyns helden forth her wyngis, and o wenge touchide the wal [oon wal I.] , and the wynge of the secunde che|rub touchide the tother wal; forsothe [and I.] the othere [tothere EKLç.] wyngis in the middil part of the temple touchiden hem silf togidere. [verse 28] And [verse 29] he hilide the cherubyns with gold, and alle the wallis of the temple `bi cumpas [aboute I.] ; and grauyde [he grauyde hem I.] with dyuerse grauyngis and smethenesse; and he made in tho wallys cherubyns, and palmes, and dyuerse peyn|turis, as stondinge forth and goynge out of the wal. [verse 30] But also he hilide with gold the pawment of the hows, withynne [with ynne forth I.] and with outforthe. [verse 31] And in the entryng of `Goddis answering place [the oracle I.] he made twei litil doris of the [Om. I.] trees of olyues; and he [verse 32] made postis of fyue corneris, and twei doris of the trees of olyues; and grauyde [he grauyde I.] in tho the peynture of cherubyns, and the licnessis of palmes, and grauyngis aboue stondynge forth gretli; and he hilide tho with gold; and he hilide as wel the che|rubyns, as palmes, and othere thingis with gold. [verse 33] And in the entring of the temple he made postis foure cornerid of the [Om. I.] trees [verse 34] of olyues; and he made twei doris of the [Om. I.] trees of beech [of beech; Ebreys seyen of box. C.] , ech aȝens other; and euer either dore was double, and it was openyd holdynge it silf togidere. [verse 35] And he grauyde cherubyns, and palmes, and grauyngis ap|perynge greetli; and he hilide alle thingis with goldun platis, bi square werk at reule. [verse 36] And he bildide a large street [street, or an alure I.] with ynne, bi thre ordris of stoonys maad fair, and bi oon ordre of trees of cedre. [verse 37] The hows of the Lord was foundid in the fourthe ȝeer [in the fourthe ȝeer; of the rewme of Salo|mon. Lire here. C] ,

[verse 38] in the monethe Zio; and the hows was maad perfit [perfit or eendid I.] in al his werk, and in alle [alle his I.] vessels, ether `purtenauncis [purtynaunce W.] , in the ele|uenthe ȝeer, in the monethe Zebul; thilke [that EL.] is the eiȝthe monethe; and he bildide that hows in seuene ȝeer.

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Forsothe Salomon bildide his owne hows in thrittene [the threttenethe K.] ȝeer, and brouȝte it [Om. DEGLMNPbç.] til to perfeccioun [perfeccioun or perfit eend I.] . [verse 2] He bildide an hows of the forest of Liban, of an hundrid cubitis of lengthe, and of fifti cubitis of breede, and of thretti cubitis of hiȝthe; and he bildide foure aleis bitwixe the pilers of cedre; for he hadde hewe doun trees of cedres in to pilers. [verse 3] And he clothide al the chaumbir with wallis [tablis A sec. m. b.] of cedris [cedre I.] ; which [the which I.] chaumbir was susteyned [born up I.] with fyue and fourti pi|leris. Sotheli [And I.] oon ordre hadde fiftene pi|leris, [verse 4] set aȝens hem silf togidere, and bi|holdynge hem silf [silf eche I.] euene aȝens, bi [other bi I.] euene space bitwixe the pilers; [verse 5] and on [upon I.] the pilers weren [Om. I.] foure square trees, euene in alle thingis. [verse 6] And he made a porche of pilers of fifti cubitis of lengthe, and of thritti cubitis of breede; and `he made [Om. I.] an other porche in the face of the gretter porche; and he made pileris, and pomels on the pileris. [verse 7] Also he [Salomon I.] maad a porche of the kyngis seete, in which [whiche porche was I.] the seete of doom was [Om. I.] ; and he [Om. K.] hilide [hilide it I.] with trees of cedre, fro the pawment `til to [vnto I.] the hiȝ|nesse. [verse 8] And a litil hows, in which he [Salomon I.] sat to deme, was in the myddil porche, bi lijk werk. Also Salomon made an hows to the douȝter of Farao, whom he hadde weddid, bi sich werk, bi what maner werk he made and this porche. [verse 9] He made alle thingis of preciouse stoonys, that weren sawid at sum [a I.] reule and mesure, bothe with ynne and with outforth, fro the foundement `til to [vnto I.] the hiȝnesse of wallis,

and with ynne and `til to [vnto I.] the gretter [grett K.] street, ethir court. [verse 10] Sotheli [And I.] the founde|mentis weren of preciouse stoonys, grete [of grete I.] [verse 11] stoonys of ten, ethir of [Om. I.] eiȝte cubitis; and preciouse stoonys hewun of euene mesure weren aboue; in lijk maner and of cedre. [verse 12] And the gretter court, `ethir voide space [Om. I.] , was round, of thre ordris of hewun stonus, and of oon ordre of hewun cedre [cedre trees I.] ; also and in the [Om. S.] ynnere large strete of the hows of the Lord, and in the porche of the hows of the Lord. [verse 13] Also kyng Salo|mon sente, and brouȝte fro Tire Hiram, [verse 14] the sone of a womman widewe, of the lynage of Neptalym, of the fadir a [of a I.] man of Tyre, Hiram [Om. I.] , a crafty man of brasse, and ful of wisdom, and vndirstondynge [of vndirstondynge I.] , and doctryn [of techyng I.] , to make al werk of bras. And whanne he hadde come to kyng Sa|lomon, he made al hys werk [brasen werk I.] . [verse 15] And he made twey pilers of bras, o piler of eiȝtene cubitis of hiȝthe; and a lyne of twelue cubitis cumpasside euer either piler. [verse 16] Also he [Hiram I.] made twei pomels, ȝotun of bras, that [whiche I.] weren set on the heedis of the pilers; o pomel of fyue cubitis of hiȝthe, and the tothir pomel of fyue cubitis of heiȝthe; [verse 17] and bi the maner of a net, and of chaynes knyt to gidere to hem [hem self I.] , bi wonderful werk. Euer either pomel of the pilers was ȝotun; seuen werkis lijk nettis of orders weren in o pomel, and seuen werkis lijk nettis weren [Om. I.] in the tother pomel. [verse 18] And he made perfitli the pilers, and twei ordris `bi cum|pas of [aboute I.] alle werkis [the werkis I.] lijk nettis, that tho schulden hile the pomels, that [whiche I.] weren on [upon I.] the hiȝnesse of pumgarnadis; in the same maner he dide also to the secounde pomel. [verse 19] Sotheli [And I.] the pomels, that weren on [upon I.] the heedis of the pilers in the porche, weren maad as bi the [Om. I.] werk of lilye, of foure [verse 20] cubitis; and eft othere pomels in the hiȝnesse of pilers aboue, bi the mesure of the piler, aȝens [sett aȝens I.] the werkis lijk nettis;

forsothe [and I.] twey hundrid ordris of pumgar|nadis weren in the cumpas of the secounde pomel. [verse 21] And he settide [sette I.] the twey pilers in the porche of the temple; and whanne he hadde set the riȝthalf pilere, he clepide it bi name Jachym [Jachym, that is, stidefastnesse C marg. K.] ; in lijk maner he reis|ide [reiside up I.] the secounde pilere, and he clepide the name therof Booz [Booz, that is, strengthe C marg. K.] . [verse 22] And he settide [sette I.] on [upon I.] the heedis of the pilers a [the C.] werk bi the [Om. EL.] maner of a lilie; and the werk of the pilers was maad perfit [up fully I.] . [verse 23] Also he [Hiram I.] made a ȝotun see, that is, a waisching vessel for preestis, round in cumpas, of ten cu|bitis fro brynke til [Om. IX.] to the [Om. KXç.] brinke; the heiȝnesse therof was of fyue cubitis; and a corde of thretti cubitis ȝede aboute it bi cumpas. [verse 24] And grauyng [the grauyng I.] vndir the brynke cumpasside it, and cumpasside [it came aboute I.] the see bi ten cubitis; tweyne ordris of grauyngis conteynynge summe stories weren ȝotun, [verse 25] and stoden on [upon I.] twelue oxis [oxen I.] ; of whiche oxis [oxen I.] thre bihelden to the north, and thre to the west, and thre to the south, and three to the eest; and the see was aboue on [upon I.] tho oxis [oxen I.] , of whiche [whiche oxen I.] alle the hyndere [hyndrere A sec. m.] thingis weren hid `with ynne [withynne the see I.] . [verse 26] Sotheli [And I.] the thicknesse of the see was of thre ounces [thre ounces; in Ebreu it is here of iiij. fyngris; and bi Ebreys a pawm is as myche as iiij. fingris. Lire here. C.] , and the brynke therof was as the brynke of a cuppe, and as the leef of a lilie crokid aȝen; the see took [conteynede I.] twei thou|synde bathus [bathus is a mesure of thre buschelis, and metreta con|teineth two quartis and an halff. I.] , thre [and thre K.] [this word iij. thousynde metretis, is not in Ebrew, ne|ther in bokis amendid, but it was first a glos to schewe what is signe|fied bi bathus, and aftirward bi ignoraunce of writeris, it was set in the text. A metrete conteyneth ij. quartis and an half; and bi this the see conteynede xi. tunnes and an half, and iij. sextaries. Bi Isidore the see conteynede lxv. tunnes and x. sextaries. A sextarie is as a chopyn of Pariys, but for lengthe and variyng of me|suris in tymes and cuntreys, we han no cer teynte of E|brew mesuris. Lire here. C.] thousynde metretis [a metrete conteyneth twei quartis and an half. Lire here. C. et plures.] . [verse 27] And he made ten brasun foundementes, ech foundement of foure cubites of lengthe, and of foure cubitis of brede, and of thre cubitis of hiȝnes. [verse 28] And thilke [that EL.] werk of foundementis [the foundementis I.] was rasid [raasid I.] bitwixe; and grauyngis weren bitwixe [bitwene I.] the ioynturis. [verse 29] And bitwixe [bitwene I.] the litil corouns and serclis [the serclis I.] weren liouns, oxis [oxen I.] , and cherubyns; and in the ioynturis in lijk maner aboue; and vndir the lyouns and oxis [the oxen I.] weren as reynes of bridels of bras hangynge doun. [verse 30] And bi ech foundement weren foure

wheelis, and brasun extrees; and bi foure partis weren as litle schuldryngis vndir the waischyng vessel, `the schuldryngis [Om. I.] [schuldryngis; that is, schorte pileris to sus|teyne the waschyng ves|sel. Lire here. C.] ȝotun, and biholdynge aȝens hemsilf to|gidere. [verse 31] And the mouth of the waischyng vessel with ynne was in the hiȝnesse of the heed [of the heed; this word heed, is not in E|breu, but for al this lettre it is had thus in Ebreu, and the mouth ther|of was round aboue, bi o cu|bit; for on the hiȝnesse that was of o cubit, was a sercle that was clepid the mouth, hauynge half a cubit in heiȝthe. Lire here. C.] , and that, that apperide with outforth, was of o cubit, and it was al round, and hadde togidere o cubit and an half; sotheli [and I.] dyuerse grauyngis weren in the corneris of pilers, and the mydil piler bitwixe [bitwene I.] was square, not [and not S.] round. [verse 32] And the foure wheelis, that [whiche I.] weren bi foure corneris of the foundement, cleuyden to|gidere to hem silf vndir the foundement; o wheele hadde o cubit and an half of hiȝthe. [verse 33] Sotheli [And I.] the wheelis weren siche, whiche maner wheelis ben wont to be maad in a chare; and the extrees, and the `naue stockis [nauelstockis L.] , and the spokis, and [and the KOX.] dowlis [felies I.] of tho wheelis, alle thingis weren ȝotun. [verse 34] For also the foure litle schuldryngis, bi alle the corners of o foundement, weren ioyned to gidere, and ȝotun [and ȝotun; that is, weren ȝotun to gidere with that foun|dement, and maden o body. Lire here. C.] of that foundement. [verse 35] Sotheli [And I.] in the hiȝnesse of the foundement was sum [a I.] roundenesse, of o cubite and an half, so maad craftili, that the waischyng vessel myȝte be set aboue, hauynge his purtrei|yngis, and dyuerse grauyngis of it silf. [verse 36] Also he [Hiram I.] grauyde in tho wallis [tablis C.] , that weren of bras, and in the corneris, cheru|byns, and liouns, and palmes, as bi the licnesse of a man stondynge, that tho semeden not grauun, but put to bi cum|pas. [verse 37] Bi this maner he made ten founde|mentis, bi o ȝetyng and mesure [oo mesure I.] , and lijk grauyng. [verse 38] Also he made ten waischyng vessels of bras; o waischyng vessel took fourti bathus, and it was of foure cubitis; and he puttide [putte I.] ech waischyng vessel bi it silf bi ech foundement bi it silf, that is, ten. [verse 39] And he made ten foundementis, fyue at the riȝt half of the temple, and fyue at the left half; sotheli [and I.] he settide [sette I.] the see

at the riȝt half of the temple, aȝens the eest, at the south [south coost I.] . [verse 40] Also Hiram made cawdrouns, and pannes, and wyn vessels; and he made perfitli al the werk of kyng Salomon in the temple of the Lord. [verse 41] He made twey pilers, and twei cordis [cordis; that is, serclis cum|passinge the pomels, at the maner of cordis. Lire here. C.] of pomels [the pomels I.] on [upon I.] the pomels of pilers [the pilers I.] , and twei werkis lijk nettis, that tho schulden hile twey [the two I.] cordis, that weren on [upon I.] the heedis of pileris [the pileris I.] . [verse 42] And `he made [Om. I.] pum|garnadis foure hundrid in twey werkis lijk nettis; `he made [Om. I.] tweyne [and two I.] ordris of pumgarnadis in [on C.] ech werk [a werk B.] lijk a net, to hile the cordis of the pomels, that weren on the heedis of pilers. [verse 43] And he made ten foundementis, and ten waischyng vessels [verse 44] on [upon I.] the foundementis; and o se, `that is, a waischyng vessel for preestis [Om. CI.] , and [verse 45] twelue oxis [oxen I.] vndur the see; and `he made [Om. I.] cawdruns, and pannys, and wyn vessels. Alle vessels [the vessels I.] , whiche Hiram made to kyng Salomon [Salomon; for he made siche thingis to be maad; ether the kyng, that is, Hiram, that was seid king of crafty men, for the excellence of craft. Lire here. C.] in the hows of the Lord, weren of latoun. [verse 46] And the kyng ȝetide tho ves|sels in the feeldi cuntrey of Jordan, in cleyi lond, bitwixe Sochot and Sarcham. [verse 47] And Salomon settide [sette I.] alle the vessels [vessels in a hous I.] ; forsothe [but I.] for greet [the greet I.] multitude no weiȝte was of bras [the bras I.] , `that is, it passide al comyn weiȝte [Om. I.] . [verse 48] And Salomon made alle vessels [the vessels I.] in the hows of the Lord; sotheli [certis I.] he made the golden auter, `that is, the auter of encense, that was with ynne the temple [Om. I.] , and the goldun boord, on [upon I.] whych the [verse 49] loouys of settynge forth weren set; and he made [made of moost pure golde I.] goldun candilstikis, fyue at the riȝt half, and fyue at the left half, aȝens Goddis answerynge place, `of purest gold [Om. I.] ; and he made as the flouris of a lilie, and [Om. I.] goldun lanterns aboue, and goldun tongis; [verse 50] and pottis, and hokis, and violis, and morteris, and censeris of pureste gold; and the herris, ether heengis, of the doris of the ynnere hows of the hooli of hooli thingis, and of the doris of the hows of the temple

weren of gold. [verse 51] And Salomon performyde al the werk, which [that I.] he made in the hows of the Lord; and he brouȝte ynne the thingis, whiche Dauid, his fadir, hadde halewid; siluer, and gold, and vessels; and he kepte [kepte thoo I.] in the tresours of the hows of the Lord.

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Thanne [Whanne A.] alle the gretter men in birthe in Israel, with the [Om. I.] princes of lynagis [the lynagis I.] , and the [with I.] duykis of meynees [the meynees I.] of the sones of Israel, weren gaderid to kyng Salomon, in to Jerusalem, that thei schulden bere the arke of boond of pees of the Lord fro the citee of Dauid, that is, fro Syon. [verse 2] And al Israel cam to gidere in the moneth Bethanym [that is, Sep|tembre. Lire here. C. et plures.] [of Bethanym C.] , in the solempne dai; thilke [which EL.] is the seuenthe moneth. [verse 3] And alle the elde men of Israel camen; and the preestis [verse 4] token the arke, and baren [thei baren I.] the arke of the [Om. A.] Lord, and the tabernacle of boond of pees, and alle vessels [the vessels I.] of the seyntuarye, that weren in the tabernacle; and the preestis and dekenes baren tho. [verse 5] Sotheli [And I.] kyng Salomon, and al the multitude of Israel, that camen togidere to hym, ȝede with hym bifor the arke; and thei offriden scheep and oxis [oxen I.] , with out gessyng [with out gess|ing; this is seid bi figuratif speche, clepid iperbole, to sig|nefie the multi|tude of sacri|fices. Lire here. C.] and noumbre. [verse 6] And prestis brouȝten the arke of boond of pees of the Lord in to his place, in to Goddis answerynge place of the temple, in to the hooli of hooli thingis, vndur the wengis of cherubyns [the cherubyns I.] . [verse 7] For|sothe [And I.] cherubyns [the cherubyns I.] spredden forth wengis [her wengis I.] ouer the place of the arke; and hiliden [thei hiliden I.] the arke, and the barris therof aboue. [verse 8] And whanne the barris stoden forth, and the hiȝnesse [hiȝnesses KX.] of tho apperiden with out the seyntuarye, bifor `Goddis answerynge place [the oracle I text. that is, Goddis answerynge place I marg.] , tho [tho barrus I.] apperyden no ferther with out|forth; whiche [the whiche I.] barris also weren there `til in to [vnto I.] present [this present I.] day. [verse 9] Forsothe [And I.] in the arke is [was I.] noon other thing [in the arke is noon other thing; the con|trarie of this semeth in ix. c^o. to Ebreys, where Poul seith thus, that the ȝerde of Aaron, and a goldun vessel hauynge man|na, weren there with the tablis. This is soilid in double maner, first thus, that the tablis a|loone weren there princi|paly, for herfor the arke was maad. The ȝerde of Aaron was there bi occa|sioun, to putte awey rebellioun of presthod; and the goldun vessel with manna was there, to the mynde of meete ȝouun fro heu|ene. In the se|counde maner thus, that the ȝerde of Aaron and the goldun vessel weren not withynne the arke, but with|outforth in a cofere maad therto, and put in the side of the arke. Lire here. C.] , no but twei tablis of stoon, whiche tablis [Om. I.] Moyses in

Oreb hadde put in the ark, whanne the Lord made boond of pees with the sones of Israel, whanne thei ȝeden out of the loond of Egipt. [verse 10] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon whanne the preestis hadden go out of the seyntuarie, a cloude fillide the hows of [verse 11] the Lord; and the preestis myȝten not stonde and mynystre, for the cloude; for whi the glorye of the Lord hadde fillid the hows of the Lord. [verse 12] Thanne Salomon seide, The Lord seide, that he wolde [verse 13] dwelle in a cloude [in a cloude; in Ebreu it is in a myist, and so it is in II. book of Paralip. vi. c^o. Lire here. C.] . Y bildynge haue bildid an hows in to thi dwelling place, in to thi moost stidefast trone with outen ende. [verse 14] And the kyng turnede his face, and blesside al the chirche in Israel; for al the chirche of Israel stood [stood there I.] . [verse 15] And Sa|lomon seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Israel, that spak with his mouth to Dauid, my fadir, and performyde in hise hondis, [verse 16] and seide, Fro the dai in which Y ledde my puple Israel out of Egipt, Y chees not a citee of alle the lynagis of Israel, that an hows schulde be bildid, and my name schulde be there; but Y chees Dauid, that he schulde be ouer my puple Israel. [verse 17] And Dauid, my fadir, wolde bilde [haue bildid I.] an hows to the name of the Lord God of Israel. [verse 18] And the Lord seide to Dauid, my fadir, That thou thouȝtist in thin herte to bilde an hows to my name, thou didist wel, [verse 19] tretynge this same thing in soule [thi soule I.] ; nethe|les thou schalt not bilde an hows to me, but thi sone, that schal go out of thi reynes, he schal bilde an hows to my name. [verse 20] The Lord hath [hath now I.] confermyd his word, which [that I.] he spak; and Y stood for Dauid, my fadir, and Y sat on [upon I.] the trone of Israel, as the Lord spak; and Y haue bildid an hows to the name of the Lord God of Israel. [verse 21] And Y haue ordeyned there a place of the arke, in which arke the boond of pees of the Lord is, which he smoot with oure fadris, whanne thei ȝeden out of the lond of Egipt. [verse 22] Forsothe [And I.] Salomon stood bifoor the auter [Salomon stood bifore the auter; of brent sacrifices, for prestis aloone entriden to the auter of en|cense. Lire here. C.] of the

Lord, in the siȝt of the chirch of Israel; and he helde forth hise hondis aȝens [verse 23] heuene, and seide, Lord God of Israel, no God in heuene aboue, nether [ne EL.] on [upon I. in EKLX.] erthe bynethe, is lijk thee, which kepist coue|naunt and mercy to thi seruauntis, that [verse 24] goon bifor thee in al her herte; and thou kepist to Dauid, my fadir, thi seruaunt, tho thingis whiche thou hast spoke to him; bi mouth thou hast spoke, and bi hondis thou hast fillid [fulfillid I.] , as this day preu|eth. [verse 25] Now therfor, Lord God of Israel, kepe thou to thi seruaunt Dauid, my fadir, tho thingis whiche thou spakist to hym, and seidist, A man of thee schal not be taken awei bifor me, which man schal sitte on [upon I.] the trone of Israel, so netheles if thi sones kepen thi weye, that thei go bifor me, as thou ȝedist in my siȝt. [verse 26] And now, Lord God of Israel, thi wordis [thi wordis, etc. Not ony chaungeable|ness is signe|fied herbi in God, but in men, to whiche the benefices of God ben bihiȝt vndur condi|cioun, that they here wel hem silf; therfor this is the sentence, thi wordis ben maad stidefast, that is, ȝyue thou to me and to othere eiris of Dauyth, stidefastnesse of soule in good abiding, that they be not defraudid fro the biheest. Lire here. C.] be maad stidfast, whiche thou spakist to thi seruaunt Dauid, my fadir. [verse 27] Therfor whe|ther it is to gesse, that God dwellith verily on [upon I.] erthe [that God dwellith verily on erthe; bi this, he exclud|ith the errour of hem, that gessiden that God bi the Godhed hath manus forme. Lire here. C.] ; for if heuene, and heuene of heuenes moun not take thee, how myche more this hows, which [that I.] Y bildid [haue bildid I.] to thee, `mai not take thee [Om. I.] . [verse 28] But, my Lord God, biholde thou to the preiere [biholde thou to the preier, etc., as if he seide, this hows is not bildid, that thou dwelle there, as a man dwellith in his hows, but that prey|eris maad there be more able to be herd than in an other place, for the excercise of Goddis wor|schiping. Lire here. C.] of thi ser|uaunt, and to the bisechyngis of hym; here thou the `ympne, ether [Om. I.] preysing, and preiere [the preiere I.] , which [that I.] thi seruaunt preieth bifor [verse 29] thee to day; that thin iȝen be openyd on [upon I.] this hows bi niȝt and dai, on [upon I.] the hows, of [Om. C.] which thou seidist, My name schal be there; that thou here the preier, which [that I.] thi seruaunt preieth to thee in this place; [verse 30] that thou here the bisechyng of thi ser|uaunt, and of thi puple Israel, what euer thing he preieth [preie KX.] in this place, and here thou [thou it I.] in the place of thi dwellyng in heuene; and whanne thou hast herd, thou schalt be mercyful. [verse 31] If a man synneth aȝens a man, and hath ony ooth, bi which he is holdun boundun, and cometh [he come I.] for the ooth in to thin hows, bifor thin auter,

[verse 32] thou schalt here [here him I.] in heuene, and thou schalt do [do iustly I.] , and thou schalt deme thi ser|uauntis; and thou schalt condempne the wickid man, and schalt [thou schalt I.] ȝelde his weie on [upon I.] his heed, and thou schalt iustifie the iust man, and schalt [thou schalt I.] ȝelde to hym vp [aftir I.] his riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse I.] . [verse 33] If thi puple Israel fleeth hise enemyes, for he schal do synne to thee [do synne to thee; that is, the synne to comynge, schal be cause of fliȝt suynge. Lire here. C.] , and thei doen penaunce [penaunce, or forthinken her synne I.] , and knoulechen to thi greet name, and comen, and worschipen, and bisechen thee in this [verse 34] hows, here thou in heuene, and forȝyue thou the synne of thi puple; and thou schalt lede hem aȝen in to the lond, which [that I.] thou hast ȝoue to the fadris of hem. [verse 35] If heuene is closid, and reyneth not for the synnes of hem [men I.] , and thei preyen in this place, and doen penaunce to thi name, and ben conuertid [altogidre turned I.] fro her synnes for her [verse 36] turment, here thou hem in heuene, and forȝyue thou the synnes of thi seruauntis, and of thi puple Israel, and schewe thou to hem good [a good I.] weie, bi which thei schulen go, and ȝyue thou reyn to hem on [upon I.] the lond, which [that I.] thou hast ȝoue to hem in to possessioun. [verse 37] If hungur risith in the lond, ether pestilence is, ether corrupt eyr is, ether rust, ether locuste [a locuste A.] , ether myldew, and his [if his I.] enemy turmentith hym, and bi|segith the ȝatis [ȝatis of him I.] , al [and al I.] wounde [veniaunce I.] , al sike|nesse [sikenesse, al deuour|ing L.] , [verse 38] al cursyng, and wichyng [al wischyng I.] of yuel, that bifallith to ech man of thi puple Israel, if [and if I.] ony man knowith the wounde of his herte, and holdith forth hise hondis [verse 39] in this hows, thou schalt here [here it I.] in heuene, in the place of thi dwellyng, and thou schalt do mercy, and thou schalt do that thou ȝyue to ech man vpe [aftir I.] alle hise weies, as thou seest his herte; for thou aloone knowist the herte of alle the sones of men, [verse 40] that thei drede thee in alle daies in whiche thei lyuen on [upon I.] the face of the lond, which [that I.] thou hast ȝoue to oure fadrys. [verse 41] Ferthermore and whanne an alien, which [that I.]

is not of thi puple Israel, cometh fro a fer lond for thi name; for [forsothe I.] thi grete name, [verse 42] and thi strong hond, and thin arm `holdun forth [streiȝt out I.] schal be herd euery where; ther|for whanne he cometh, and preieth in [verse 43] this place, thou schalt here in heuene, in [and in KX.] the firmament of thi dwellyng place, and thou schalt do alle thingis, for whiche [the whiche I.] the alien clepith thee, that alle puplis of londis lerne to drede thi name, as thi puple Is|rael doith, and preue [preue thei I.] , that thi name is clepid [inwardly clepid I.] on [upon I.] this hows, which [that I.] Y bildide [haue bildid I.] . [verse 44] If thi puple goith out to batel aȝens hise enemyes, bi the weie whidir euer thou sendist hem, thei schulen preye thee aȝens the weie of the citee which thou hast chose, and aȝens [forn aȝens I.] the hows which [that I.] Y bild|ide [verse 45] [haue bildid I.] to thi name, and thou schalt here in heuene the preyeris of hem, and the bi|sechyngis of hem, and thou schalt make the doom of hem. [verse 46] That if thei synnen to thee, for no man is that synneth not, and thou art wrooth, and [therfore and I.] bitakist hem to her enemyes, and thei ben led prisoneris in to [verse 47] the lond [hond A.] of enemyes, fer ether nyȝ, and thei doon penaunce in her herte in the place of prisonyng [her prisonyng I.] , and ben conuertid [al to gidre turned I.] , and bi|sechen in her prisonyng, and seien, We han [haue I.] synned, we han [haue I.] do wickidli, we [verse 48] han [haue I.] do vnfeithfuli; and [and if S.] thei turnen aȝen to thee in al her herte and al [in al I.] her soule, in the lond of her enemyes, to which [the which I.] thei ben led prisoneris, and thei preyen thee aȝens [her prisonyng I.] the weie of her lond which [that I.] thou hast ȝoue to her fadris, and of [aȝens I.] the citee which [that I.] thou hast chose, and of [aȝens I.] the temple which [that I.] Y bildide [haue bildid I.] to thi name, [verse 49] thou schalt here in heuene, in the firma|ment of thi seete, the preiers of hem, and the bisechingis of hem, and thou shalt [verse 50] make the doom of hem; and thou schalt be merciful to thi puple, that synnede [hath synned I.] to thee, and to alle the wickidnessis, bi whiche thei trespassiden [han trespassid I.] aȝens thee; and [forn aȝens I.]

thou schalt do merci bifor tho men, that hadden hem prisoneris, that tho men do mercy to hem. [verse 51] For it is thi puple, and thin erytage, whiche thou leddist out of the lond of Egipt, fro the myddis of yrone [the yrone I.] [verse 52] furneis [irone fur|neis; that is, hard at the maner of irun. Lire here. C.] ; that thin yȝen be opyn to the bisechyng of thi seruaunt, and of thi pu|ple Israel; and thou schalt here hem in alle thingis, for whiche [the whiche I.] thei clepen [schulen clepe KX pr. m.] thee. [verse 53] For thou hast departid hem to thee in to heritage fro alle the puplis of erthe, as thou spakist bi Moyses, thi seruaunt, whanne thou, Lord God, leddist oure fa|dris out of Egipt. [verse 54] Forsothe it was don, whanne Salomon, preiynge the Lord, hadde fillid al this preier and bisechyng, he roos [roos up I.] fro the [Om. I.] siȝt of the auter of the Lord; for [sothely I.] he hadde set fast euer either kne to the erthe, and hadde [he hadde I.] holde forth the [his I.] hondis to heuene. [verse 55] Therfor he stood, and bless|ide al the chirche of Israel, and seide with [verse 56] greet vois, Blessid be the Lord God of Is|rael, that ȝaf [hath ȝoue I.] reste to his puple Israel, bi alle thingis whiche he spak; a word felde not doun, sotheli nether [Om. I.] oon [Om. CI.] , of alle goodis [the gode thingis I.] whiche he spak bi Moises, his ser|uaunt. [verse 57] Oure Lord God be with vs, as he was with oure fadris, and forsake not vs, [verse 58] nether caste [caste us I.] awey; but bowe he oure hertis to hym silf, that we go in alle hise weies, and kepe hise comaundementis [hestis I.] , and cerymonyes, and domes, whiche euere he comaundide [hath comaundid I.] to oure fadris. [verse 59] And these wordis of me, bi whiche Y preiede [haue preied I.] bifor the Lord, be [be thei I.] neiȝynge [be neiȝynge, etc.; that is, worthi to be herd bifor God. Lire here. C.] to oure Lord God bi dai and niȝt, that he make doom to [to me I.] his seruaunt, and to his puple Israel bi [verse 60] alle daies; and alle the puplis of erthe wite, that the Lord hym silf is God, and noon [noon other CF pr. m. GIMQ.] `is ouer [Om. CGM.] `with out [Om. I.] hym. [verse 61] Also oure herte be perfit with oure Lord God, that we go in hise domes, and kepe hise co|maundementis [hestis I.] , as and [also I.] to dai. [verse 62] Therfor the kyng, and al Israel with hym, offriden

sacrifices bifor the Lord. [verse 63] And Salomon killide [slewȝ I.] pesible sacrifices, whiche he of|fride to the Lord; of oxis [oxen I.] two [he offride two I.] and twenti thousynde, and of scheep sixe score thousynde; and the king and the sones of Israel halewiden the temple of the Lord. [verse 64] In that dai the kyng halewide [the king halewide; that is, made to be halewid, and to be maad redy, that sa|crifices shulden be brent there, that myȝten not be brent on the auter: this halewing was maad bi the bischop, to whos office this perteyn|ede, and for this was doon at the stiring of the king, the king is seid to haue do this. Lire here. C.] the myddil of the greet street, that was bifor the hows of the Lord; for he made there brent sa|crifice, and sacrifice [offryng I.] , and the innere fat|nesse of pesible thingis; for the brasun auter that was bifor the Lord, was to litil, and myȝte [it myȝt I.] not take the brent sacri|fice, and the sacrifice [offryng I.] , and the ynnere fatnesse of pesible thingis. [verse 65] Therfor Salo|mon made in that tyme a solempne feeste, and al Israel with hym, a grete multi|tude, fro the entryng of Emath `til to [vnto I.] the stronde of Egipt, bifor oure Lord God, in seuene daies and seuene daies, that is, fourtene daies. [verse 66] And in the eiȝthe day he [Salomon I.] delyueryde the puplis, whiche [the whiche I.] blessiden the kyng, and ȝeden forth in to her taber|naclis, and weren [thei weren CI.] glade and of ioyful herte on [of I.] alle the goodis whiche [that I.] God hadde do to Dauid, his seruaunt, and to Israel, his puple.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon, whanne Salo|mon had perfourmed the bildyng of the hows of the Lord, and the bildyng of the kyng, and al thing that he coueitide, and [verse 2] wolde make, the Lord apperide to Salo|mon [hym A.] the secunde tyme, as he apperide to hym [Salomon A.] in Gabaon. [verse 3] And the Lord seide to hym, Y haue herd thi preier, and thi bi|sechyng, which [that I.] thou bisouȝtist [hast bisouȝt I.] bifor

me; Y haue halewid this hows, which [that I.] thou bildidist [hast bildid I.] , that Y schulde sette there my name with outen ende; and myn iȝen and myn herte schulen be there in alle daies. [verse 4] Also if thou goist bifore me, as thi fadir ȝede, in simplenesse of herte, and in equite, and doist alle thingis whiche Y comaundide [haue comaundid I.] to thee, and kepist my domes, [verse 5] and my lawful thingis, Y schal sette the trone of thi rewme on [upon I.] Israel with outen ende, as Y spak to Dauid, thi fadir, and seide, A man of thi kyn schal not be takun awei fro the trone of Israel. [verse 6] Forsothe if bi turnyng awei ȝe and ȝoure sones turnen awey, and suen not me, and kepen not myn hestis and cerymonyes, whiche Y set|tide [haue sett I. sette EL.] forth to ȝou, but ȝe goen, and wor|schipen alien goddis, and onouren hem `bi [verse 7] outward [vttirward K.] reuerence [Om. I.] , Y schal do awei Is|rael fro the face of the lond which [that I.] Y ȝaue to hem; and Y schal caste awei fro my siȝt the temple [the temple; in distriynge it, as it was doon bi Nabugodo|nosor. Lire here. C.] , which Y halewid to my name; and Israel schal be in to a pro|uerbe and in to a fable, to alle puplis. [verse 8] And this hows schal be in to ensaumple of Goddis offence; ech man that schal passe bi it, schal wondre, and schal hisse, and schal seye, Whi hath the Lord do thus to this lond, and to this hows? [verse 9] And thei [men I.] schulen answere, For thei forsoken her Lord God, that ladde the fadris of hem out of Egipt; and thei sueden alien god|dis, and worschipiden hem, and onouriden hem; therfor the Lord brouȝte [hath brouȝt I.] in on [upon I.] hem al this yuel. [verse 10] Sotheli whanne twenti ȝeer weren fillid [fulfillid I.] , aftir that Salomon hadde bildid tweyne housis, that is, the hows of the Lord, and the hows of the kyng, [verse 11] while Hiram, kyng of Tire, ȝaf to Salo|mon trees of cedre, and of beech [firr I.] , and gold, bi al thing that he hadde nedeful; thanne Salomon ȝaf to Hiram twenti citees in the lond of Galile. [verse 12] And Hiram ȝede out of Tyre that he schulde se the citees, whiche Salomon hadde ȝoue to hym, and [verse 13] tho plesiden not hym; and he seide, Whe|thir

thes ben the citees, whiche thou, bro|ther, hast ȝoue to me? And he [Hiram I.] clepide tho citees the lond of Chabul [Chabul, that is, displesing K.] [lond of Cha|bal; that is, of displesyng ethir of tow|nesse. Lire here. C.] , `til in to [vnto I.] this dai. [verse 14] Also Hiram sente to king Sa|lomon sixe score talentis of gold. [verse 15] This is the summe of `costis [this is the summe of costis; in E|breu it is, this is the rente, which Salomon reiside; and this is not re|ferrid to the lettre goynge next bifore, but to this that sueth aftirward of aliens, which Salomon made tributaries. Lire here. C.] , which summe Salo|mon the kyng ȝaf [the expencis that kyng Salomon offride I.] to bilde the hows of the Lord, and his [his owne I.] house Mello, and the wal of Jerusalem, and Ezer, and Mag|geddo, and Gazer. [verse 16] Farao [And Farao I.] , kyng of Egipt, stiede [stiede up I.] , and took Gazer, and brente [to-brente C.] it bi fier; and he killide Chananei, that dwell|ide in the citee, and ȝaf [Farao ȝaf I.] it [that citee I.] in to dower [the dower A pr. m. DEFILMOSbç.] to [of DEFIKLMOXbç.] his douȝtir, the wijf of Salomon. [verse 17] Ther|for Salomon bildide Gazer, and the lower [verse 18] Bethoron, and Balaath, and Palmyra in [verse 19] the lond of wildirnesse; and he made strong alle the townes, that [whiche I.] perteyneden to hym, and weren with out wal, and the citees of chaaris, and the citees of knyȝtis, and what euer thing pleside hym to bilde in Jerusalem, and in the [Om. I.] Liban, and in al the lond of his power. [verse 20] Salomon made tri|butaries `til to [vnto I. into S.] this dai al the puple, that lefte of Ammorreis, Etheis, and Fereseis, and Eueys, and Jebuseys, that [whiche I.] ben not of [verse 21] the sones of Israel, the [and the I.] sones of these hethen men, that [whiche I. the whiche sones I.] dwelliden in the lond, that is, whiche [Om. I.] the sones of Israel myȝten not distrye. [verse 22] Sotheli kyng Salomon or|deynede not ony man of the sones of Israel to serue [to serue; that is, in vile werkis, and of the feeldis. Lire here. C.] , but thei weren men werriours [of werre I.] , and mynystris [ser|uauntis I.] of him, and princes, and dukis, and prefectis [maistris I.] of his chares and horsis. [verse 23] Sotheli [And I.] fyue hundrid and fifti `souereynes weren princes [princes weren souereyns I.] ouer alle the werkis of Salomon, whiche [the whiche I.] princes had|den the puple suget [suget to hem I.] , and comaundiden to werkis ordeyned. [verse 24] Sotheli [And I.] the douȝter of Farao stiede [stiede up I.] fro the citee of Dauid in to hir hows, `which hows [that I.] Salomon hadde bildid [bildid it S.] to hir; thanne he bildide Mello. [verse 25] Also Salomon offride in thre tymes bi

alle ȝeeris brent sacrifices and pesible sa|crifices, on [upon I.] the auter which [that I.] he hadde bildid to the Lord; and he brente en|cense [he brente encence; not bi him silf, but bi the bischops to whos office it perteynede. Lire here. C.] bifor the Lord, and the temple was performed. [verse 26] Also king Salomon made `o schip [a nauey ELP sup. ras.] in Asiongaber, which [that I.] is bisidis Haila, in the brenke of the Reed sea, and [Om. IS.] in the lond of Idumee. [verse 27] And Iram sente in that schip [naueye ELP.] hise seruauntis, schipmen, and kunnynge of the see, with the ser|uauntis [verse 28] of Salomon; and whanne thei hadden come in to Ophir, thei brouȝten fro thennus gold of foure hundrid and twenti talentis to kyng Salomon.

CAP. X.

[verse 1] But also the queen of Saba, whanne the fame of Salomon was herd, cam in the name of the Lord [cam in the name of the Lord; sche bileuyde in God and wor|schipide him, thouȝ sche kepte not Moyses lawe, for sche was not boundun therto. Lire here. C.] to tempte [assaye I.] hym in derk and douti questiouns. [verse 2] And sche entride with myche felouschipe and richessis in to Jerusalem, and with camels berynge swete smellynge thingis, and gold greetli with out noumbre, and preciouse stoonys; and sche cam to king Salomon, and spak to hym alle thingis whiche sche hadde in hir herte. [verse 3] And Salomon tauȝte hir alle wordis whiche sche hadde put forth; no word was, that myȝte be hid fro the kyng, and which he answeryde not to hir. [verse 4] For|sothe [And I.] the queen of Saba siȝ al the wisdom of Salomon, and the hows which [that I.] he hadde [verse 5] bildid, and the metis of his table, and the dwellyng places of hise seruauntis, and the ordris of mynystris [the men seruynge him I.] , and the clothis of hem, and the boteleris, and the brent sacrifices whiche he offride in the hows of the Lord; and sche hadde no more spirite. [verse 6] And sche seide to the kyng, The word is trewe, which [that I.] Y herde in my lond, [verse 7] of thi wordis, and of thi wisdom; and Y bileuyde not to men tellynge to me, til Y [Om. M.] my silf cam, and siȝ [Y siȝ C.] with myn iȝen, and preuede that the half part was not teld to me; thi wisdom is more and thi werkis, than the tale [fame I.] which [that I.] Y herde. [verse 8] Thi men

ben blessid, and thi seruauntis ben blessid, these that stonden bifor thee euere, and heren thi wisdom. [verse 9] Blessid be thi Lord God, whom thou plesedist, and hath set thee on the trone of Israel; for the Lord louyde Israel with outen ende, and hath ordeynyd thee kyng, that thou schuldist do doom and riȝtfulnesse. [verse 10] Therfor sche ȝaf to the kyng sixe score talentis of gold, and ful many swete smellynge thingis, and precious stoonus; so many swete smellynge thingis weren no more brouȝt, as tho which the queen of Saba ȝaf to kyng Salomon. [verse 11] But also the schip of Hi|ram, that brouȝte gold fro Ophir, brouȝte fro Ophir ful many trees of tyme, and preciouse stoonys. [verse 12] And kyng Salomon made of the trees of tyme vndir set|tyngis [vndurset|tingis; Rabi Salomon seith, that he made therof grees, to stie fro the kingis hows in to the hows of the Lord, and in the sidis weren siche trees, that men schulden lene hem there. Lire here. C.] of the hows of the Lord, and of the kyngis hows, and harpis, and sitols to syngeris; siche trees of tyme weren not brouȝt nether seyn, til in to present [this present I.] dai. [verse 13] Sotheli kyng Salomon ȝaf to the queen of Saba alle thingis whiche sche wolde [wolde haue I.] , and axide of hym, outakun these thingis whiche he hadde ȝoue to hir bi the kyngis ȝifte wilfuli; and sche turnede aȝen, and ȝede in to hir lond with hir seruauntis. [verse 14] Forsothe [Certis I.] the weȝte of gold, that was offrid to Salomon bi ech ȝeer, was of sixe hundrid and sixe and sixti talentis [verse 15] of gold, outakun [withoute I.] that which [that I.] men [the men plures.] that [whiche I.] weren on [upon I.] the talagis, `that is, rentis for thingis borun aboute in the lond [Om. I.] , and marchauntis [that marchauntis I.] , and alle men sillynge scheeldys, and alle [that alle I.] the kyngis of Arabie, and dukis [the dukis I.] of erthe [the lond I.] ȝauen. [verse 16] And kyng Salomon made two hundrid scheeldis of pureste [moost pure I.] gold [of pureste gold; without forth, but withynne tho weren of other mater. Lire here. C.] ; he ȝaf sixe hundrid siclis of gold in to the [Om. I.] platis of oo scheeld; [verse 17] and he made thre hundrid of [Om. DGIKNOXç.] bokeleris of preued gold; thre hundrid talentis of gold clothiden [hiliden I.] o bokeler. And the kyng puttide [putte I.] tho [tho bokelers I.] in the hows of the forest of

Lyban. [verse 18] Also kyng Salomon made a greet trone of yuer, and clothide [he hilide I.] it with ful [verse 19] fyn gold; which [and the I.] trone hadde sixe grees; and the hiȝnesse of the trone was round in the hynderere [hinder EKLX. hyndir I.] part; and tweine hondis on [weren on I.] this side and on that side, holdynge the seete, and twei lyouns stoden bisidis [verse 20] ech hond; and twelue litil liouns stond|ynge on [upon I.] sixe [the sixe I.] grees on this side and on that side; siche a werk was not maad in alle rewmes. [verse 21] But also alle the vessels, of which kyng Salomon drank, weren of gold, and alle the purtenaunce of the hows of the forest of Liban was of pureste gold; siluer was not, nether it was arettid of [to A.] ony prijs [of ony priys; that is, of litil priys in com|parisoun. Lire here. C.] in the daies of Salomon. [verse 22] For the schip of `the kyng [Salomon I.] wente [ȝede I.] onys bi [in I.] thre ȝeer with the schip of Hiram in to Tharsis, and brouȝte fro thennus gold, and siluer, and teeth of olifauntis, and apis, and pokokis [pecokis I.] . [verse 23] Therfor kyng Salo|mon was magnified aboue alle kyngis of erthe in richessis and wisdom. [verse 24] And al erthe [men I.] desiride to se the cheer of Salomon, to [and to I.] here the wisdom of him, which wis|dom God hadde ȝoue in [in to I.] his herte. [verse 25] And alle men brouȝten ȝiftis to hym, vessels of gold, and of siluer, clothis, and armeris of batel, and swete smellynge thingis, and horsis, and mulis, bi ech ȝeer. [verse 26] And Salo|mon gaderide togidere charis, and knyȝtis [horsmen I.] ; and a thousinde and foure hundrid charis weren maad to hym, and twelue thou|synde `of knyȝtis [horsmen I.] ; and he disposide hem bi strengthid citees, and with the kyng in Jerusalem. [verse 27] And he [Salomon I.] made, that so greet aboundaunce of siluer was in Jerusalem, how greet was also of stoonys; and he ȝaf the multitude of cedris as sicomoris [sicomoris trees I.] , that [the whiche I.] growen in feeldy places. [verse 28] And the horsis of Salomon weren led out of Egipt, and of Coa; for the [Om. I.] marchauntis of the kyng bouȝten [bouȝten hem I.] of Coa, and brouȝten for [hem to him for I.]

prijs ordeyned. [verse 29] Forsothe [For I.] a chare [a chare; that is, iiij. horsis of a chare. C. ȝede out; that is, was bouȝt. Lire here. C.] ȝede out of Egipt for sixe hundrid siclis of sil|uer, and an hors for an hundrid and fifti [sixti K.] siclis [siclis of siluer KMX pr. m.] ; and bi this maner alle the kyngis of Etheis and of Sirye seelden horsis.

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] Forsothe kyng Salomon louyde bren|nyngli [ful myche I.] many alien wymmen, and [also he louyde I.] the douȝtir of Pharao, and wymmen of Moab, and Amonytis [of Amon I.] , and Ydumeis [of Ydumee I.] , and Sydo|neis [of Sidonye I.] , [verse 2] and Etheis [of Ethey I.] ; of the folkis of whiche the Lord seide to the sones of Israel, Ȝe schulen not entre to tho folkis, nether ony of hem schulen entre to ȝou; for most cer|teynli thei schulen turne awei ȝoure hertis, that ȝe sue the goddis of hem. Therfor [And so I.] kyng Salomon was couplid to these wym|men, bi moost brennyng loue. [verse 3] And wyues as queenys weren seuene hundrid to hym, and thre hundrid secundarie wyues; and the wymmen turneden awey [turneden awey, etc., fro the loue of God, and fro keping of his heestis. Lire here. C.] his herte. [verse 4] And whanne he was thanne eld, his herte was bischrewid bi wymmen, that he suede alien goddis; and his herte was not perfit with his Lord God, as the herte of Dauid, his fadir, `was perfit [Om. I.] . [verse 5] But Salomon wor|schipide Astartes [Salomon worschipide Astartes, etc.; Salomon was not so fonned, that he bi|leuyde ony thing of God|hed to be in the idols, but he worschipide idols, for he nolde offende hise wyues. So Adam eet of the tre for|bedun at the tising of his wiyf, lest he schulde make her sory, as Austyn seith. For as Poul seith in I Pistle to Tymo. ii. c^o. Adam was not disseyued, that he bileuyde, that by eting of that tre he schulde haue kunnyng of good and of yuel, as the serpent bihiȝte. Lire here. C.] , the goddesse of Sido|neis, and Chamos, the god of Moabitis, [verse 6] and Moloch, the idol of Amonytis; and Salomon dide that, that pleside not bifor the Lord, and he fillide [fulfillide I.] not that he suede the Lord, as Dauid, his fadir, dide [Om. I.] . [verse 7] Thanne Salomon bildide a temple to Cha|mos, the idol of Moab, in the [an I.] hil [in the hil; that is, of Olyuete. Lire here. C.] which [that I.] is aȝens [forn aȝens I.] Jerusalem, and to Moloch, the idol of the sones of Amon. [verse 8] And bi this maner he dide to alle hise alien wyues, that [the whiche I.] brenten encencis, and offriden to her goddis. [verse 9] Therfor the Lord was wrooth to Salomon, for his soule was turned awei fro the Lord God of Israel; that apperide [verse 10] to Salomon [him I.] the secounde tyme, and co|maundide of this [his I.] word, that he schulde

not sue alien goddis; and he kepte not tho thingis, whiche the Lord comaundide to hym. [verse 11] Therfor the Lord seide to Salo|mon, For thou haddist this thing anentis thee, and keptist not my couenaunt, and myn heestis, whiche Y comaundide to thee, Y schal breke, and Y schal departe thi rewme, and Y schal ȝyue it to thi ser|uaunt. [verse 12] Netheles Y schal not do in [bi EL.] thi daies, for Dauid, thi fadir; Y schal kitte [verse 13] it fro the hond of thi sone; nether Y schal do a wey al the rewme, but Y schal ȝyue o lynage to thi sone, for Dauid, my ser|uaunt, and for Jerusalem, which [whom I.] Y chees [haue chosen I.] . [verse 14] Forsothe the Lord reiside to Solomon an aduersarie, Adad Ydumey, of the kyngis seed, that was in Edom. [verse 15] For whanne Dauid was in Ydumee, and Joab, the prince of chyualrie [his chyualrie I.] , hadde stied [stied up I. stie S.] to birie hem that weren slayn, and he hadde slayn [verse 16] ech male kynde in Ydumee; for Joab, and al Israel dwelliden there bi sixe [six|tene EL.] monethis, til thei killiden [hadden killid I.] ech male kynde in Ydu|mee; [verse 17] Adad hym silf fledde, and men of Ydumee, of [and men of I.] `the seruauntis of his fadir [his fadris seruauntis I.] , with hym, that he schulde entre in to Egipt; sotheli [and I.] Adad was a litil child. [verse 18] And whanne thei hadden rise fro Madian, thei camen in to Faran; and thei token with hem men of Faran, and entriden in to Egipt, to Pharao, kyng of Egipt; which [and I.] Farao ȝaf an hows to hym, and ordeynede [ordeynede to him I.] metis, and assignede [assignede to him I.] lond. [verse 19] And Adad foond grace bifor Farao greetli, in so myche that Farao ȝaf to hym a wijf, the sister of his wijf, sister [the sistir KX.] of the [his X.] queen, of Taphnes. [verse 20] And the sistir of Taphnes gendrid to hym [Adad I.] a sone, Genebath; and Taphnes nurschide hym in the hows of Farao; and Genebath dwellide bifor Farao, with hise [the I.] sones [sones of Farao I.] . [verse 21] And whanne Adad hadde herd in Egipt, that Dauid slepte [slepte; for he diede bi kindly deth. Lire here. C.] with hise fadris, and that Joab, the prince of chyualrie [Dauid chyualrie I.] , was deed [was deed; for he was slayn bi swerd. Lire here. C.] , he seide to Farao,

Suffre thou me, that Y go in to my lond. [verse 22] And Farao seide to hym, For [And I.] of what thing hast thou nede at [anentis I.] me, that thou sekist to go to thi lond? And he an|sweride, Of no thing; but Y biseche thee, that thou `delyuere me [lete me go I.] . [verse 23] Also God reiside an [an other I.] aduersarie to Salomon, Rason, sone [the sone I.] of Eliadam, that fledde Adadezer, kyng [verse 24] of Soba, his lord; and gaderide men aȝens hym, and was maad the prince of theuys, whanne Dauid killide hem; and thei ȝeden to Damask, and dwelliden there; and thei maden hym [Razon I.] kyng in Damask. [verse 25] And he was aduersarie [was aduer|sarie; thouȝ he was aduersarie bi wille of anoying, he noyede not myche to Israel to lette the pees of the puple. Lire here. C.] of Israel in alle the daies of Salomon; and this is the yuel of Adad, and the [his I.] hatrede aȝens Israel; and he regnede in Sirie. [verse 26] Also Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath, of Effraym of Saredera, the ser|uaunt of Salomon, of which [the which I.] Jeroboam, a womman widewe, Serua bi name, was modir, reisyde [he reisyde I.] hond [his hond IKMOSX sec. m.] aȝens the kyng. [verse 27] And this was cause of rebelte aȝens the kyng; for Salomon bildide Mello, and made euene the swolowe of the citee of Dauid, his fadir. [verse 28] Forsothe [And I.] Jeroboam was a miȝti man and strong [a strong I.] ; and Salo|mon siȝ the ȝong wexynge man of good kynrede, and witti in thingis to be doon, and Salomon made hym [Jeroboam I.] `prefect, ether [Om. I.] souereyn, on [upon I. in EL.] the tributis of al the hows of Joseph. [verse 29] Therfor it was doon in that tyme, that Jeroboam ȝede out of Jerusa|lem; and Ahias of Sylo, a profete, hilid with a newe mentil, foond hym [Jeroboam I.] in the weie; sotheli [and I.] thei tweyne weren oneli [aloone I.] in the feeld. [verse 30] And Ahias took his newe mentil, with which he was hilid, and kit|tide [he kitte it I.] [verse 31] in to twelue partis; and seide to Jeroboam, Take to thee ten kyttyngis [kyttyngis of the mantel I.] ; for the Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal kytte the rewme fro the hond of Salomon, and Y schal ȝyue to [verse 32] thee ten lynagis; forsothe [but I.] o lynage schal dwelle to hym, for Dauid, my seruaunt,

and for Jerusalem, the citee which Y chees [verse 33] of alle the lynagis of Israel; this kittyng [kittyng of the rewme I.] schal be; for Salomon forsook me, and worschipide Astartes, goddesse [the goddesse I.] of Sido|neis [Sydonye I.] , and Chamos, the god of Moab, and Moloch, the god of the sones of Amon; and ȝede [for he ȝede I.] not in my weies, that he dide riȝtwisnesse [riȝtful|nesse plures.] bifor me, and [in I.] myn heestis, and my domes, as Dauid, his fadir, dide [Om. I.] . [verse 34] And Y schal not take awey al the rewme fro `his hond [the hond of Salomon I.] , but Y schal putte hym duyk in alle the daies of his lijf, for Dauid, my seruaunt, whom Y chees, which Dauid [Om. I.] kepte myn heestis, and my co|maundementis. [verse 35] Sotheli [But I.] Y schal take awey the rewme fro the hond of `his sone [the sone of Salomon I.] , and [verse 36] Y schal ȝyue ten lynagis to thee [thee, Jeroboam I.] ; for|sothe [and I.] Y schal ȝyue o lynage to `his sone [the sone of Salomon I.] , that a lanterne dwelle to Dauid, my ser|uaunt, in alle daies bifor me in Jerusalem, the citee which [that I.] Y chees, that my name schulde be there. [verse 37] Forsothe [And I.] Y schal take thee [thee, Jeroboam I.] , and thou schalt regne on [upon I.] alle thingis whiche thi soule desirith, and thou schalt be kyng on [upon I.] Israel. [verse 38] Therfor if thou schalt here alle thingis whiche Y schal comaunde to thee, and if thou schalt go in my weies, and if thou schalt do that, that is riȝtful bifore me, and if thou schalt kepe my comaundementis, and myn heestis, as Da|uid, my seruaunt, dide, Y schal be with thee, and Y schal bilde a feithful hows to thee, as Y bildide an hows to Dauid, and [verse 39] Y schal ȝyue Israel to thee; and Y schal turmente the seed of Dauid on this thing, netheles not in alle daies. [verse 40] Therfor Salo|mon wolde sle [haue sleie I.] Jeroboam, which [the which I.] roos, and fledde in to Egipt, to Susach, kyng of Egipt; and he was in Egipt `til to [vnto I.] the deeth of Salomon. [verse 41] Forsothe the residue of the wordis of Salomon, and alle thingis whiche he dide, and his wisdom, lo! alle thingis [tho thingis I.] ben writun in the book of wordis of daies of Salomon. [verse 42] Sotheli [And I.] the daies bi [in I.] whiche Salomon regnede in Jerusalem on [upon I.]

al Israel, ben fourti ȝeer. [verse 43] And Salomon slepte with hise fadris, and was biriede in the citee of Dauid, his fadir; and Ro|boam, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Sothely I.] Roboam cam in to Sichem; for al Israel was gaderid thidur to make hym kyng. [verse 2] `And sotheli [But and I.] Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath, whanne he was ȝit in Egipt, and fledde fro the face of kyng Salomon, turnede aȝen fro Egipt, for the deeth of [verse 3] Salomon was herd; and thei [men of Israel I.] senten, and clepiden hym. Therfor Jeroboam cam, and al the multitude of Israel, and thei spaken [verse 4] to Roboam, and seiden, Thi fadir puttide hardeste [the most hard I.] ȝok on [upon I.] vs, therfor abate thou a litil now of the hardest comaundement of thi fadir, and of the greuousiste [greuouste DKObç. ful greuous I.] ȝok which [that I.] he puttide [hath put I.] on [upon I.] vs, and we schulen serue to thee. [verse 5] Which [And I.] Roboam seide to hem, Go ȝe `til to [vnto I.] the thridde dai, and turne ȝe aȝen to me. [verse 6] And whanne the puple hadde go, kyng [the kyng I.] Roboam took counsel with the eldere men, that [the whiche I.] stoden bifor Salomon, his fadir, while he lyuyde ȝit; and Ro|boam seide, What counsel ȝyue ȝe to me, that Y answere to the puple? [verse 7] Whiche [The whiche I.] seiden to hym, If thou obeiest to dai to this puple, and seruest this puple, and ȝyuest stide to her axyng, and spekist to hem liȝte [esie I.] wordis, thei schulen be ser|uauntis to thee in alle daies. [verse 8] Which [And I.] Ro|boam forsook the counsel of elde men, which [that I.] thei ȝauen to hym, and took [he took I.] ȝonge [ȝonge; more ȝonge in ver|tues and kun|nyng, than in age. Lire here. C.] men, that weren nurschid with [verse 9] hym, and stoden nyȝ him; and he seide to hem, What counsel ȝyue ȝe to me, that Y answere to this puple, that seiden to me, Make thou esyere the ȝok which [that I.] thi fadir puttide [hath put up I.] on vs? [verse 10] And the ȝonge men, that weren nurschid with hym, seiden to hym, Thus speke thou to this puple, that spaken to thee, and seiden, Thi fadir made greuouse oure ȝok, releeue thou [thus A.] vs; thus

thou schalt speke to hem, My leest fyngur is grettere [is grettere; that is, is myche myȝ|tiere. Lire here. C.] than the bak of my fader; [verse 11] and now my fadir puttide on [upon I.] ȝou a gre|uouse ȝok, forsothe Y schal adde [ley to more I.] on [upon I.] ȝoure ȝok; my fadir beet [betide I. beot K.] ȝou with scourgis, forsothe [but I.] Y schal bete ȝou with scor|piouns [a scorpioun here is seide a kynde of hard|este scourge, that hath knottis of lede ether of irun in the ende of cordis. Lire here. C et plures.] . [verse 12] Therfor Jeroboam, and al the puple, cam to Roboam, in the thridde dai, as the kyng spak, seiynge, Turne ȝe aȝen to me in the thridde dai. [verse 13] And the kyng answeride harde thingis to the puple, while the counsel of eldere men was for|sakun, which [that I.] thei hadden ȝoue to hym; [verse 14] and he spak to hem bi the counsel of ȝonge men, and seide, My fadir made greuouse ȝoure ȝok, forsothe [but I.] Y schal adde [leye to I.] to ȝoure ȝok; my fadir beet ȝou with scourgis, forsothe [but I.] Y schal bete ȝou with scorpiouns. [verse 15] And the kyng assentide not to the puple [puplis I.] , for the Lord hadde turned [turned him I.] awey, `ether hadde wlatid [Om. BI.] hym [Om. I.] , that the Lord schulde reise [reise up I.] his word, which [that I.] he hadde spoke in the hond of Ahias [the prophete Ahias I.] of Silo to Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath. [verse 16] Ther|for [Thanne I.] the puple siȝ, that the kyng nolde [wolde not I.] here hem; and the puple answeride to the kyng, and seide, What part is to vs in Dauid, ether what eritage in the sone of Ysay? Israel, turne thou aȝen in to thi tabernaclis; now, Dauid, se thou thin hows. And Israel ȝede in to hise taber|naclis. [verse 17] Forsothe Roboam regnede on [upon I.] the sones of Israel, whiche [the whiche I.] euere [Om. IS.] dwelliden in the citees of Juda. [verse 18] Therfore kyng Ro|boam sente Adhuram [Roboam sente Adhuram; that he schulde peese the pu|ple and seye, that thilke word of Ro|boam was liȝtly seid, and they ouȝten not go awey fro the kyng for this. And al the puple of Israel stonyde him; for dispit of his lord, for the puple hadde him suspect, lest he hadde be in the councel of the king in answer|inge so to hem, for they that ben on tributis, ben wonnt to councele of encreessing of tho. Lire here. C.] , that was on the tributis; and al the puple of Israel stonyde hym, and he was deed. [verse 19] Forsothe kyng Roboam stiede [stiede up I.] hastili on [upon I.] the [his I.] chare, and fledde in to Jerusalem; and Israel depart|ide fro the hows of Dauid, til in to pre|sent [this present I.] dai. [verse 20] Forsothe it was doon, whanne al Israel hadde herd that Jeroboam turn|ede aȝen, thei senten, and clepiden hym, whanne the cumpany was gaderid togi|dere,

and thei maden hym kyng on [upon I.] al Israel; and no man suede the hows of Dauid, outakun the lynage aloone of Juda. [verse 21] Forsothe [And I.] Roboam cam to Jerusalem, and gaderide [gaderide togidre I.] al the hows of Juda, and the lynage of Beniamyn, an hundrid and fourescore thousynde of chosun men and weriours, that thei schulden fiȝte aȝens the hows of Israel, and schulden brynge aȝen the rewme to Roboam, sone [the sone I.] of Solo|mon. [verse 22] Forsothe the word of God was made to Semeia, the man of God, and [verse 23] seide, Speke thou to Roboam, sone [the sone I.] of Sa|lomon, the [Om. I.] kyng of Juda, and to al the hows of Juda and of Beniamyn, and to the residue of the puple, and seie thou, [verse 24] The Lord seith thes thingis, Ȝe schulen not stie [stie up I.] , nether ȝe schulen fiȝte aȝens ȝoure britheren, the sones of Israel; `a man [Om. I.] turne [turne eche man I.] aȝen in to his hows, for this word is doon of me. Thei herden the word of the Lord, and thei turneden aȝen fro the iurney, as the Lord comaundide to hem. [verse 25] Forsothe [And I.] Jeroboam bildide Sichem, in the hil of Effraym, and dwellide there; and he ȝede out fro thennus, and bildide Phanuel. [verse 26] And Jeroboam seide in his herte, Now the rewme schal turne aȝen to the [verse 27] hows of Dauid, if this puple stieth [schal stie up I.] to Jerusalem, that it make sacrifices [sacrifice I.] in the hows of the Lord in Jerusalem; and the [thanne the I.] herte of this puple schal turne [turne aȝen I.] to her lord, Roboam, kyng of Juda; and thei schulen sle me, and schulen turne aȝen to hym. [verse 28] And by counsel thouȝt out, he [Jeroboam I.] made tweyne goldun caluys, and seide [he seide I.] to hem [the peple I.] , Nyle ȝe stie [wende up I.] more in to Jerusalem; Israel, lo! thi goddis, that [whiche I.] ledden thee out of the lond of Egipt. [verse 29] And he [Jeroboam I.] set|tide [sette EIL.] oon [oo calff I.] in Bethel, and the tother in Dan. [verse 30] And this word was maad to Israel in to synne; for the puple ȝede til [Om. I.] in to Dan, to worschipe the calf. [verse 31] And Jero|boam made templis in hiȝe placis, and `he

made [Om. I.] preestis of the laste men [of the laste men; that is, of ech lynage with out dif|ference, for the kynrede of Leuy nolde as|sente to him. Lire here. C.] of the puple, that [the whiche I.] weren not of the sones of Leuy. [verse 32] And he [the kyng I.] ordeynede a solempne dai in the eiȝthe monethe, in the fiftenthe dai of the monethe, bi the [Om. I.] licnesse of so|lempnyte [the solempnyte I.] which [that I.] was halewid in Juda. And he [the king I.] stiede [wente up I.] , and made in lijk maner an auter in Bethel, that he schulde offre to the calues, whiche he hadde maad; and he ordeynede in Bethel preestis of the [Om. C.] hiȝe places, whiche he hadde maad. [verse 33] And he styede on [up upon I.] the auter, which [that I.] he hadde bildid in Bethel, in the fiftenthe day of the eiȝthe monethe, which he [the kyng I.] hadde feyn|ed of his herte; and he made solempnyte [a solempnyte I.] to the sones of Israel, and he stiede on [upon I.] the auter, that he schulde brenne en|cence [brenne en|cence; so he mystook to him preesthod. Lire here. C.] .

CAP. XIII.

[verse 1] And lo! a man of God cam fro Juda, bi the word of the Lord, in to Bethel, while Jeroboam stood on [upon I.] the auter, `and castide [castinge I.] encence. [verse 2] And `the man of God [he I.] criede aȝens the auter, bi the word of the Lord, and seide, Auter! auter! the Lord seith these thingis, Lo! a sone, Josias by name, shal be borun to [of K.] the hows of Da|uid; and he schal offre on [upon I.] thee the preestis [offre on thee the prestis, etc.; for abho|mynacioun of idolatrie, and this was accept, ether plesaunt, to God, as sa|crifice. Lire here. C.] of hiȝe thingis, that [the whiche I.] brennen now encensis [encense I.] yn thee, and he schal brenne the bonys of men on [upon I.] thee. [verse 3] And he ȝaf a signe [token I.] in that dai, `and seide [seiynge I.] , This schal be `the signe [a token to ȝou I.] that the Lord spak, Lo! the auter schal be kit, and the aische which [that I.] is `there ynne [in the auter I.] , schal be sched out. [verse 4] And whanne the kyng hadde herd the word of the man of God, which word [Om. I.] he hadde cried aȝens the auter in Bethel, the kyng helde forth his hond fro the auter, and seide, Take ȝe hym. And his hond driede, which [that I.] he hadde holde forth, and he myȝte not drawe it aȝen to hym silf. [verse 5] Also the auter was kit, and the aische was

sched out of the auter, bi the signe [token I.] which [that I.] the man of God bifor seide, in the word of the Lord. [verse 6] And the kyng seide to the man of God, Biseche thou the face of thi [the I.] Lord God [thi God I.] , and preie thou for me, that myn hond be restorid to me. And the man of God preiede the face of God [the Lord A sec. m.] ; and the hond of the king turnede aȝen to hym, and it was maad as it was bifore. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] the kyng spak to the man of God, Come thou hoom with me, that thou ete, and Y schal ȝyue ȝiftis to thee. [verse 8] And the man of God seide to the kyng, Thouȝ thou schalt ȝyue to me the half part of thin hows, Y schal not come with thee, nether Y schal ete breed, nether Y schal [verse 9] drynke watir in this place; `for so [for|sothe I.] it is [was K.] comaundid [boden I.] to me bi the word of the Lord, comaundinge [biddynge I.] , Thou schalt not ete breed, nether thou schalt drynke water [drynke watir; with idola|trours in this place. C.] , nether thou schalt turne aȝen bi the weie bi which thou camest. [verse 10] Therfor he ȝede bi another weie, and turnede not aȝen bi the weie, bi which he cam in to Bethel. [verse 11] Forsothe sum [an I.] elde profete dwellide [dwellide thanne I.] in Bethel, to whom hise sones camen, and telden to hym alle the werkis whiche the man of God hadde do in that dai in Beth|el; and thei telden to her fader the wordis whiche he [the man of God I.] spak to the kyng. [verse 12] And the fadir of hem seide to hem, Bi what weie ȝede he? Hise sones schewiden to hym the weie, bi which the man of God ȝede, that cam fro Juda. [verse 13] And he seide to hise sones, Sadle ȝe an asse to me. And whanne [verse 14] thei hadden sadlid [sadlid the asse I.] , he stiede [stiede up I.] , and ȝede after the man [aftir the man, etc.; that he schulde dis|seiue hym, and make to abide, that herbi he schulde preue his profesie voide. Lire here. C.] of God, and foond hym sit|tyng vndur a terebynte. And he seide to the man of God, Whether thou art the man of God, that camest fro Juda? He answeride [answeride to hym plures. answeride hym E.] , Y am [it am I.] . [verse 15] And he seide to hym, Come thou with me hoom, that thou ete breed. [verse 16] And he seide, Y may not turne aȝen, nether come with thee, nether Y schal ete breed, nether Y schal drynke water in

[verse 17] this place; for the Lord spak to me in the word of the Lord, and seide, Thou schalt not ete breed, and thou schalt not drynke water there, nether thou schalt turne aȝen bi the weie bi which [the whiche S.] thou ȝedist [ȝedist thidre I.] . [verse 18] Which [And he I.] seide to hym, And Y am a profete lijk thee; and an aungel spak to me bi the word of the Lord, and seide, Lede aȝen hym in to thin hows, that he ete breed, and drynke watir. He disseyuede the [verse 19] man of God, and brouȝte him [Om. plures.] aȝen with hym. Therfor he ete breed in his hows, and drank watir. [verse 20] And whanne he sat at the table, the word of the Lord was maad to the prophete [to the pro|fete; reuela|cioun of pro|fesie is ȝouun sum tyme to yuele men, as to Balaam, in xxii. c^o. of Nu|meri. Lire here. C.] that brouȝte hym aȝen; [verse 21] and he criede to the man of God that cam fro Juda, and seide, The Lord seith these thingis, For thou obeidist not to the mouth of the Lord, and keptist not the comaunde|ment which [that I.] thi [the R.] Lord God comaundide [verse 22] to thee, and thou turnedist aȝen, and etist breed, and drankist watir in the place in which Y comaundide to thee, that thou schuldist not ete breed, nether schuldist [thou schuldist I.] drynke watir, thi deed bodi schal not be borun in to the sepulcre of thi fadris. [verse 23] And whanne he hadde ete and drunke, the pro|phete, whom he hadde brouȝt aȝen, sadlide his asse. [verse 24] And whanne he hadde go [go forth I.] , a lioun foond hym in the weye, and killide [and killide; hou myche schal God pu|nysche the greuouse synnes of wick|id men, sithen he punyschith the litil synne of an hooly man by deth. Lire here. C.] hym [Om. plures.] . And his deed bodi was cast forth in the weie; sotheli the [his I.] asse stood bisydis hym, and the lioun [lioun also I.] stood bisidis the deed bodi. [verse 25] And lo! men passynge sien the deed bodi cast forth in the weye, and the lyoun stondynge bisidis the deed bodi; and thei camen, and pupplischiden [pupplischiden it I.] in the citee, in which thilke [the I. that EL.] eeld prophete dwell|ide. [verse 26] And whanne thilke prophete, that brouȝte hym aȝen fro the weye, hadde herd this, he seide, It is the man of God, that was vnobedient to the mouth of God; and the Lord bitook [hath bitake I.] hym to the [a I.] lioun, that brak [hath broken I.] hym, and killide hym [Om. I.] , bi the word

of the Lord which [that I.] he spak to hym. [verse 27] And [And thanne I.] he seide to hise sones, Sadle ȝe an asse to me. [verse 28] And whanne thei hadden sadlid, and he hadde go, he foond his deed bodi cast forth in the weie, and the asse and the [a I.] lioun stondinge bisidis the deed bodi; and the lioun eet not [eet not, etc.; bi this it ap|perith, that he was sauyd, for he acceptide Goddis sen|tence, and purgide the synne of vn|obedience by bodily deth. Lire here. C.] the deed bodi, nether hirtide the asse. [verse 29] Therfor the profete took the deed bodi of the man of God, and put|tide [putte EL.] it on [upon I.] the asse; and he turnede aȝen, and brouȝte it in to the cyte of the eeld prophete, that he schulde biweile hym. [verse 30] And he puttide [putte I.] his deed bodi in his se|pulcre, and thei biweiliden him, Alas! [and seiden, Alas I.] alas! my brother! [verse 31] And whanne thei had|den biweilid hym, he seide to hise sones, Whanne Y schal be deed, birie ȝe [Om. S.] me in the sepulcre, in which the man of God is biried; putte ȝe my bonys bisidis hise bonys. [verse 32] For sotheli the word schal come, which [that I.] he bifor seide in the word of the Lord, aȝens the auter which [that I.] is in Bethel, and aȝens alle the templis of hiȝ placis, that [whiche I.] ben in the citees of Samarie. After these wordis Jeroboam turnede not aȝen [awey IKLMOSX.] [Jeroboam turnede not aȝen, etc.; for thouȝ Jero|boam siȝ the forseid signes in the auter kit, and in his hond dried, netheles he ȝede not awey fro his malice. Josephus touchith the cause therof, and seith, that the false pro|fete tauȝte Jero|boam, that the forseid signes schewiden not Goddis vertu, for he that ȝaf the signe, was slayn of a lioun, a fals spekere; also he seide that the auter was brokun, for the birthun of sa|crifices put theronne, and that the kyngis hond was dry|ed, for the trauel of of|fring; and whanne he restide fro that trauel, his hond turnede aȝen to the formere staat, bi the vertu of kynde. Lire here. C.] fro his werste [ful wickid I.] weie, but aȝenward of the laste puplis [of the puple A sec. m. men DFG IKMNOQSWbç.] he made preestis of hiȝe places; who euer wolde, fillide [fille AELPb. fille ful D. he fillide I. fulfille KSç. fulfilide M.] his [the kyngis I.] hond [fille his hond; in offringe a solempne sacri|fice, as Aaron dide, and bi this he was maad prest; ether this is referrid to Je|roboam, that selde presthod, and therfor he that ȝaf more prijs to Jero|boam, gat the presthod. Lire here. C.] , and [Om. D.] he was maad preest of hiȝ placis. [verse 33] And for this cause the hows of Jeroboam synnede, and it was distried, and doon awey fro the face of erthe [the erthe IK.] .

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] In that tyme Abia, sone of Jeroboam, was sijk. [verse 2] And Jeroboam seide to his wijf, Rise thou [thou up I.] , and chaunge clothing [the clothing DIKMOX sec. m. ç.] , that thou be not knowun, that thou art the wijf of Jeroboam; and go thou in to Silo, where Ahia, the prophete, is, which [that I.] spak

to me, that Y schulde regne on [upon I.] this puple. [verse 3] Also take thou in the [thin I.] hond ten looues, and a cake, and a vessil of hony, and go thou to hym; for he schal schewe to thee, what schal bifalle to this child. [verse 4] The wijf of Jeroboam dide as he seide, and sche roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede in to Silo, and cam in to the hows of Ahia; and he [Ahia I.] miȝte not se, for hise iȝen dasewiden for eelde. [verse 5] For|sothe the Lord seide to Ahia, Lo! the wijf of Jeroboam entrith, that sche coun|sele thee [with thee I.] on [of I.] hir sone, which [that I.] is sijk; thou schalt speke these and these thingis to hir. Therfor whanne sche hadde en|trid, and hadde feyned hir silf to be that [verse 6] `womman which [Om. I.] sche was not, Ahia herde the soune of the feet of hir entrynge bi the dore, and he seide, Entre thou, the wijf of Jeroboam; whi feynest thou thee to bee an other womman [Om. I.] ? Forsothe Y am sent an hard messanger [hard messan|ger; that is, tellinge harde thingis. Lire here. C.] to thee. [verse 7] Go thou, and seie to Jeroboam, The Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, For Y enhaunside [haue enhaunsid I.] thee fro the myddis of the puple, and Y ȝaf thee duyk on [upon I.] my puple [verse 8] Israel, and Y kittide [haue kitt I.] the rewme of the hows of Dauid, and Y ȝaf it to thee, and thou were not as my seruaunt Dauid, that kepte myn heestis, and suede me in al his herte, and dide that that was plesaunt in [verse 9] my siȝt; but thou wrouȝtist [hast wrouȝt I.] yuel [wrouȝtest yuel, etc.; in gouernail of the puple. Lire here. C.] , ouer alle men that weren bifore thee, and madist to thee alien goddis, and wellid [wellid thoo I.] to gidere, that thou schuldist excite [stire I.] me to wrathfulnesse, sotheli thou hast cast forth me bihyndis thi [the CN.] bak. [verse 10] Therfor lo! Y schal brynge in yuels on [upon I.] the hows of Jeroboam, and Y schal smyte of [the hous of I.] Jero|boam `til to [vnto I.] a pissere [Y schal smyte of Jeroboam til to a pissere, etc.; that is, if a dogge is smytun, ether a feble man, that ouȝte to be sparid, myche more othere men of the hous of Jero|boam schulen be distried. Lire here. C.] to the wal, and prisoned [vnto him that is prisoned I.] , and the laste in Israel; and Y schal clense the relikis [relikis or releffis I.] of the hows of Jeroboam, as dung [as dung; dung is not clensid in it silf, but the place in which the dung is, is clensid, whanne the dung is cast out; and bi this it is vndurstondun, that they of the hows of Jeroboam schulden not be clensid in hem silf, but the rewme of Israel schulde be clensid, bi the casting out and distri|yng of hem. Lire here. C.] is wont to be clensid [verse 11] `til to [vnto I.] the [Om. IR.] purete, `ether clennesse [Om. I.] ; so|theli doggis schulen ete hem, that schulen die of the hows of Jeroboam in citee [the citee CI.] ; forsothe [and I.] briddis of the eyr schulen de|uoure

hem, that schulen die in the feeld; for the Lord spak. [verse 12] Therfor rise thou, and go in to thin hows; and in thilke en|tryng of thi feet in to the citee the child schal die. [verse 13] And al Israel schal biweile him [Om. A.] , and schal birie [birie him A.] ; for this child aloone of Jeroboam schal be borun in to sepul|cre [a sepulcre I. the sepulcre KOb.] , for a good word is foundun on [upon I.] hym of the Lord God of Israel, in the hows of Jeroboam. [verse 14] Forsothe the Lord schal ordeyne to hym a kyng on [upon I.] Israel, that schal smyte the hows of Jeroboam, [verse 15] in this dai and in this tyme [in this tyme; that is, of nyȝ, Lire here. C.] ; and the Lord God of Israel schal smyte, as a reed in the water is wont to be mouyd; and he schal drawe out Israel fro this good lond, which [that I.] he ȝaf to her fadris, and he schal wyndewe [winewe I.] hem ouer the flood, for thei maden to hem woodis [mawmet woodis I.] [maden to hem wodis; that is, diden idolatrie and lecherie in wodis. Lire here. C.] , that thei schulden terre the Lord to ire. [verse 16] And the Lord God schal bitake Israel to [Om. BCEP pr. m.] hise [Om. BCEFOP pr. m.] enemyes [Om. BCEP pr. m.] , for the synnes [synne Kb.] of Jeroboam, that synnede, and made Israel to do synne. [verse 17] Therfor the wijf of Jeroboam roos, and ȝede, and cam in to Thersa; whanne [and whanne IK.] sche entride in to the thresch|fold of the hows, the child was deed. [verse 18] And thei [men I.] birieden hym; and al Israel biweilide hym, bi the word of the Lord, which [that I.] he spak in the hoond of his seruaunt, Ahia the prophet. [verse 19] Forsothe, lo! the residue of wordis [the wordis I.] of Jeroboam, how he fauȝt, and how he regnede, ben writun in the book of wordis of the daies of kyngis of Israel. [verse 20] Forsothe the daies, in whiche Jeroboam regnede, ben two and twenti ȝeer; and Jeroboam slepte with hise fadris, and Nadab, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 21] For|sothe Roboam, the sone of Salomon, regnede in Juda; Roboam was of oon and fourti ȝeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnede seuentene ȝeer in [whanne in S.] Jerusalem, the citee which [that I.] the Lord chees of alle the lynagis of Israel, that he schulde sette his

name there. Sotheli [And I.] the name of his moder was Naama Amanyte. [verse 22] And Juda dide yuel bifor the Lord, and thei terriden hym to ire on alle thingis, whiche her fadris diden in her synnes, bi whiche thei synneden. [verse 23] For also thei bildiden to hem silf auters, and ymagis [auteris and ymagis; for idolatrie. Lire here. C. and wodis, etc.; that is, thicke wodis aboute the places of idolis, to vse leccherie there. Lire here. C.] , and wodis, on eche hiȝ hil, and vndur ech tree ful of [verse 24] bowis. But also `men of wymmens con|diciouns [men of wymmen condiciouns A. wommanysche men I.] [men of wym|mens condi|ciouns; that is, men geldid ether maad feble, that weren ordeyn|ed in the wor|schiping of sum goddesse, as sum men seyen. Sothely the Ebreu word, which is set here, signe|fieth an hoore|ling; and here bi men of wym|mens condi|ciouns semen to be vndur|stondun faire ȝonge men set in hoore howsis, to haunte the synne of So|dom, as in II. book of Ma|chab. iiij. c<sup>o</sup>. Jason settide ȝonge men in hoore housis, vndur the hiȝ tour. Lire here. C.] weren in the lond, and thei diden alle abhominaciouns [the abhomynaciouns I.] of hethene men, whiche the Lord al to-brak bifor the face of the sones of Israel. [verse 25] Forsothe in the fifthe ȝeer of the rewme of Roboam, Sesach, the kyng of Egipt, styede [styede up I.] in to [verse 26] Jerusalem; and he took the tresouris of the hows of the Lord, and the kyngis tresouris, and he rauischide [rauischide thenns I.] alle thingis; also `he rauischide [Om. I.] the goldun scheeldis, whiche [also the whiche I.] Salomon made. [verse 27] For whiche [the whiche I.] kyng Roboam made brasun scheeldis, and ȝaf [he ȝaf I.] tho in the hondis of duykis of scheeld makeris, and of hem that wakiden [walkiden Kb. makeden L.] bifor the dore of the hows of the Lord. [verse 28] And whanne the kyng entride in to the hows of the Lord, thei that hadden office to go bifore, baren tho, and baren [thei baren thoo I.] aȝen to the place of armer of scheeld makeris. [verse 29] For|sothe, lo! the residue of wordis [the wordis I.] of Ro|boam, and alle thingis whiche he dide, ben writun in the book of wordis of daies of kyngis of Juda. [verse 30] And batel was bitwixe Roboam and Jeroboam, in alle daies. [verse 31] And Roboam slepte with hise fadris, and was biried with hem in the citee of Dauid. Forsothe [And I.] the name of his modir was Naama Amanyte; and Abia, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] Therfor in the eiȝtenthe ȝeer of the rewme of Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath, Abia regnede on [upon I.] Juda. [verse 2] Thre ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; the name of his

modir was Maacha, douȝter [the douȝter I.] of Abessalon. [verse 3] And he ȝede in alle the synnes of his fadir, which he dide bifor hym; and his herte was not perfit with his Lord God, as the herte of Dauid, his fadir, `was perfit [Om. I.] . [verse 4] But for Dauid his Lord God ȝaf to hym a lan|terne in Jerusalem, that he schulde reise his sone after hym, and that he schulde [verse 5] stonde in Jerusalem; for Dauid hadde do riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse I.] in the iȝen of the Lord, and hadde not bowid fro alle thingis whiche [that I.] the Lord hadde comaundid to him, in alle the daies of his lijf, outakun the word of Urie Ethei [the word of Vrie Ethei; Dauyth syn|nede in the noumbring of the puple, and in sentence ȝouun aȝenus Myphiboseth, as it is teld in ij. book, but these synnes weren ful litle, in comparisoun of the synne in the dede of Vrie, and ther|for these ben not arettid; for a litil thing is arettid as no|thing, as the Filosofore seith in ij. book of Fisikis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 6] Netheles batel was bitwix Abia and Jeroboam, in al the tyme of his lijf. [verse 7] Sotheli the residue of [Om. C.] wordis [the wordis DI.] of Abia, and alle thinges whiche [that I.] he dide, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngys of Juda? And batel was bitwixe Abia and Jero|boam. [verse 8] And Abia slepte with his fadris; and thei birieden hym in the citee of Dauid; and Asa, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 9] Sotheli [And I.] Asa, king of Jude, regnede in the twentithe ȝeer of Jeroboam, kyng [verse 10] of Israel; and Asa regnede oon and fourti ȝeer in Jerusalem. The [Om. C.] name of his modir was Maacha, douȝter [the douȝter I.] of Abessalon. [verse 11] And Asa dide riȝtfulnesse [riȝtwisnesse I.] in the siȝt of the [verse 12] Lord, as Dauid, his fadir, dide; and he took awey fro the loond men of wymmens condiciouns, and he purgide alle the filthis of idols, whiche his fadris maden. [verse 13] Fer|thermore and he remouyde Maacha, his modir, that sche schulde not be princesse in the solempne thingis of Priapus [the ydol Priapus I.] [Priapus; that is, an idol liyk a man, with outra|giouse membre of man. C et plures.] , and in his wode [mawmett wode I.] which [that I.] sche hadde halewid; and he distriede the denne [he distriede the den; in which the wymmen hauntiden lec|cherie, for the worschipe of the idol. Lire here. C.] of hym, and he brak the foulest symylacre, and brente [brente it I.] [verse 14] in the stronde of Cedron; sotheli he dide not awei hiȝ [the hiȝ I.] thingis [hiȝe thingis; that is, hiȝe places, in whiche the sones of Israel maden sacrifice to God, bifor that the temple was bildid; and for that tyme it was leeueful, not aftirward. Lire here. C.] ; netheles the herte of Asa was perfit with hys Lord God, in alle hise daies. [verse 15] And he brouȝte in to the hous of the Lord tho thingis, whiche [that I.] his fadir hadde halewid and auowid, siluer [and siluer I.] ,

and gold, and vessel [vessels I.] . [verse 16] Forsothe batel was bitwixe Asa and Baasa, kyng of Israel, in alle the daies of hem. [verse 17] And Baasa, kyng of Israel, stiede [wente up I.] in to Juda, and bildide Rama, that [and C.] no man of the part of Aza, kyng of Juda, myȝte go out, ether go [Om. I.] yn. [verse 18] Therfor Asa took al the siluer and gold, that lefte in the tresouris of the hows of the Lord, and in the tresouris of the kyngis hows, and ȝaf it in to the hondis of hise seruauntis; and sente [he sente it I.] to Benadab, sone [the sone I.] of Tabrennon, sone of Ozi|on, the kyng of Sirie, that dwellide in Da|mask, [verse 19] and seide, Boond [A boond I.] of pees is bitwixe me and thee, and bitwixe my fadir and thi fadir, and therfor Y sente to thee ȝiftis, gold, and siluer; and Y axe, that thou come, and make voide the boond of pees, which [that I.] thou hast with Baasa, kyng of Is|rael, and that he go awey fro me. [verse 20] Bena|dab assentide to kyng Asa, and sente the princes of his oost in to the citees of Is|rael; and thei smytiden [smeten EI. smiten L.] Ahion, and Dan, and Abel, the [and the I.] hows of Maacha, and al Cenoroth, that is, al the lond of Neptalym. [verse 21] And whanne Baasa hadde herd this thing, he lefte to bilde Rama, and turnede aȝen in to Thersa. [verse 22] Forsothe kyng Asa sente message in to al Juda, and seide, No man be excusid. And thei token the stoonys of Rama, and the trees therof, bi whiche Baasa hadde bildid; and kyng Asa bildide of the same `stoonys and trees [thingis I.] Gabaa of Beniamyn, and Maspha. [verse 23] Sotheli the re|sidue of alle wordis [the wordis I.] of Asa, and of al his strengthe, and alle thingis whiche [that I.] he dide, and the citees whiche he bildide, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of kingis of Juda? Netheles Asa hadde ache in feet [his feet I.] [Asa hadde ache in feet; for he co|maundide Ana|nye the pro|fete to be sent in to stockis, that repreuyde him, for he tristide more in men than in God, as it is seid in II. book of Paralip. xvi. c^o. Lire here. C.] , in the tyme of his eelde. [verse 24] And Asa slepte with hise fadris, and he was biried with hem in the citee of Dauid, his fader; and Joso|phat, his sone, regnede for him. [verse 25] Forsothe Nadab, the sone of Jeroboam, regnede on [upon I.]

Israel, in [Om. C.] the secunde ȝeer of Asa, king [the king I.] of Juda; and he regnede on Israel two ȝeer. [verse 26] And he dide that, that was yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, and he ȝede in the weies of his fadir, and in the synnes of hym, in whiche he made Israel to do synne. [verse 27] Forsothe [And I.] Baasa, the sone of Ahia, of the hows of Ysachar, settide tre|soun to hym, and smoot [he smoot I.] him in Gebe|thon [in Gebethon; this was a citee in the lynage of Dan, but Filisteis occu|pieden it, aȝenus which citee Nadab ȝede to rekeuere it. Lire here. C.] , which [that I.] is a citee of Filisteis; sothely [and I.] Nadab and al Israel bisegiden Gebethon. [verse 28] Therfor Baasa killide hym [Nadab I.] , in the thridde ȝeer of Asa, king [the king I.] of Juda, and regnede for hym. [verse 29] And whanne he [Baasa I.] hadde regnede, he smoot al the hows of Jeroboam; he [and he KMWXç. and O.] lefte not [Om. DIKMOSXç.] sotheli [Om. OSWç.] not o man of his seed, til he dide awei hym, bi the word of the Lord, which [that I.] he spak in the hond of his seruaunt, Ahia of Silo, a pro|fete, [verse 30] for the synnes of Jeroboam whiche [the whiche I.] he synnede, and in whiche he made Israel to do [Om. I.] synne, and for the trespas, bi which he wraththide the Lord God of Israel. [verse 31] Sotheli the residue of wordis [the wordis I.] of Nadab, and alle thingis whiche he wrouȝte, whe|ther these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Israel? [verse 32] And batel was bitwixe Asa and Baasa, kyng of Israel, in al the daies of hem. [verse 33] In the thridde ȝeer of Asa, kyng of Juda, Baasa, sone [the sone CI.] of Ahia, regnede on [upon I.] al Is|rael, in Thersa, foure and twenti ȝeer. [verse 34] And he dide yuel bifor the Lord, and he ȝede in the weies of Jeroboam, and in hise synnes, bi whiche he made Israel to do synne.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] Forsothe the word of the Lord was maad to Hieu, sone [the sone I.] of Anany, aȝens Baasa, [verse 2] and seide, For that that Y reiside [haue upreisid I.] thee fro dust, and settide [sette I.] thee duyk on [upon I.] Israel, my puple; sotheli thou ȝedist in the weie of Jeroboam, and madist [thou hast made I.] my puple Israel to do synne, that thou schuldist terre me to ire, in the synnes of hem; lo [lo herfore I.] ! [verse 3] Y schal kitte awey the hyndrere thingis of Baasa, and the hyndrere thingis of `his hows [the hows of him I.] , and Y schal make thin hows as the hows of Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath. [verse 4] Doggis [houndis I.] schulen ete that man of Baasa, that schal be deed in citee [the citee CKL. a citee I.] , and briddis of the eyr schulen ete that man of Baasa, that schal die in the feeld. [verse 5] Sotheli the residue of wordis [the wordis I.] of Baasa, and what euer thingis he dide, and hise batels, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kynges of Israel? [verse 6] Therfor [And so I.] Baasa slepte with hise fadris, and he was biried in Thersa; and Hela, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 7] Forsothe whanne the word of the Lord was maad in the hond of Hieu, sone [the sone I.] of Anany, aȝens Baasa, and aȝens his hows, and aȝens al yuel [the yuel I.] which he dide bifor the Lord, to terre hym to ire in the werkis of hise hondis, that he schulde be as the hows of Jero|boam, for this cause he [Baasa I.] killide hym, that is, Hieu [that is, Hieu, etc.; this sen|tence is not in Ebreu; it is a glos. In Ebreu it is, and for he killide Na|dab, his lord, bi tresoun, as Rabi Salomon seith. Lire here. C.] , the prophete, the sone of Anany. [verse 8] In the sixe and twentithe ȝeer of Aza, kyng of Juda, Hela, the sone of Baasa, regnyde on [upon I.] Israel, in Thersa, twei ȝeer. [verse 9] And Zamry, `his seruaunt [the seruaunt of Hela I.] , duyk of the half part of knyȝtis [his kniȝtis I.] , rebellide aȝens hym; sotheli Hela was in Thersa, and drank, and was drunkun in the hows of Arsa, prefect [a cheef officer I.] of Thersa. [verse 10] Therfor Zamri felde in, and smoot [smoot Hela I.] , and killide hym, in the seuene and twentithe ȝeer of Asa, kyng of Juda; and regnede for hym. [verse 11] And whanne

he [Zamry I.] hadde regned, and hadde [Om. I.] setun on [upon I.] his trone, he smoot al the hows of Baasa, and he [Om. C.] lefte not therof a pissere to the wal, and hise kynnesmen, and frendis. [verse 12] And [Also and I.] Zamri dide awey al the hows of Baasa, bi the word of the Lord, which [that I.] he spak to Baasa, in the hond of Hieu, the pro|phete, [verse 13] for alle the synnes of Baasa, and for the synnes of Hela, his sone, whiche [the whiche I.] synneden, and maden Israel to do [Om. I.] synne, and wraththiden the Lord God of Israel in her vanytees. [verse 14] Sotheli the residue of the wordis of Hela, and alle thingis whiche he dide, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Israel? [verse 15] In the seuene and twentithe ȝeer of Aza, kyng of Juda, Zamri regnede seuene daies in Tharsa; forsothe the oost [oost of Israel I.] bisegide Gebethon, the citee of Philisteis. [verse 16] And whanne it [the Philistees I.] hadde herd, that Zamri hadde rebellid, and hadde slayn the kyng, al Israel made Amry kyng to hem [the oost I.] , that was prince of [on A.] the chyualrye, on [upon I.] Israel, in that dai, in `the castels [her tentis I.] . [verse 17] Therfor Amry stiede [stiede up I.] , and al Israel with hym, fro Gebe|thon, and bisegide Thersa. [verse 18] Sothely [And I.] Zamri siȝ, that the citee schulde be ouercomun, and he entride in to the palis, and brente [verse 19] hym silf with the kyngis hows; and he was deed in hise synnes whiche he syn|nede, doynge yuel bifor the Lord, and goynge [in goynge I.] in the weie of Jeroboam, and in hise synnes, bi whiche he made Israel to do synne. [verse 20] Sotheli the residue of wordis [the wordis I.] of Zamri, and of his tresouns, and tyraun|trie, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Israel? [verse 21] Thanne the puple of Israel was departid in to twei partis; the half part of the [Om. I.] puple suede Thebny, sone [the sone I.] of Ge|neth, to make hym kyng, and the half [oother half I.] part suede Amry. [verse 22] Sotheli [And I.] the puple that was with Amry, hadde maystry [the maystry I.] ouer the

puple that suede Thebny, the sone of Ge|neth; and Thebny was deed, and Amri regnede. [verse 23] In the oon and thrittithe ȝeer of Aza, kyng of Juda, Amri regnede on [upon I.] Israel, twelue ȝeer; in Thersa he regnede sixe ȝeer. [verse 24] And he bouȝte of Soomeer, for twei talentis of siluer, the hil of Samarie, and `bildide that hil [he bildide it I.] ; and he clepide the name of the citee, which [that I.] he hadde bildid, bi the name of Soomer, lord of the hil of Samarie. [verse 25] Forsothe Amry dide yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, and wrouȝte wei|wardli [wickidly I.] , ouer [bifore I.] alle men that weren bifor hym. [verse 26] And he ȝede in al the weie of Jero|boam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath, and in hise synnes, bi whiche he made Israel to do synne, that he schulde terre to ire, in his vany|tees, the Lord God of Israel. [verse 27] Forsothe the residue of wordis [the wordis BCI.] of Amry, and hise batels, which he dide, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Israel? [verse 28] And Amry slepte with hise fadris, and was biried in Sama|rie; and Achab, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 29] Forsothe Achab, the sone of Amry, regn|ede on [upon I.] Israel, in the `eiȝte and thrittithe ȝeer [eiȝthe and thretti K.] of Asa, kyng of Juda; and Achab, sone [the sone I.] of Amry, regnede on [upon I.] Israel, in Sa|marie, two and twenti ȝeer. [verse 30] And Achab, sone [the sone I.] of Amry, dide yuel in the siȝte of the Lord, ouer alle men that weren bifor [verse 31] hym; and it suffiside not to hym that he ȝede in the synnes of Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Nabath, ferthermore and he weddide a wijf, Jezabel, the douȝter of Methaal, kyng of Sydoneis; and he [Achab I.] ȝede, and seruyde Baal, and worschipide hym. [verse 32] And he set|tide [sette up I.] an auter to Baal in the temple of Baal, which [that I.] he hadde bildid in Samarie, [verse 33] and he plauntide a wode [mawmet wode I.] ; and Achab add|ide [addide to I.] in his werk, and terride to ire the Lord God of Israel, more [ouer I.] thanne alle kyngis [the kyngis I.] of Israel that weren bifor hym. [verse 34] Forsothe in hise daies Ahiel of Bethel

bildide Jerico; in [and A pr. m. DEFGLMNPQRSUWXbç.] Abiram, his [to his K sec. m.] firste sone [in Abiram his firste sone; that is, whanne he settide the foundementis, Abiram, his firste gendrid sone, diede, and whanne he ȝede forth in bildinge, hise sones dieden ech aftir other, til to the laste sone, that was deed in the filling of the werk. Lire here. C.] , he foundide it, in [and CGIK.] Segub, his [to his K sec. m.] laste sone, he settide ȝatis [the ȝatis I.] therof, bi the word of the Lord, which [that I.] he hadde spoke in the hond of Josue, sone [the sone I.] of Nun.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] And Elie `of Thesbi [Thesbithes I.] , of the dwelleris of Galaad, seide to Achab, The Lord God of Israel lyueth, in whos siȝt Y stonde, deeu and reyn schal not be in these ȝeeris, no but bi the wordis of my mouth. [verse 2] And the word of the Lord was maad to hym [Hely I.] , [verse 3] and seide, Go thou awey fro hennus [go thou awei fro hennes; fro the face of Achab and of Jezabel; and herbi it is leue|ful to hooli men, to fle per|secucioun of her persoones. Lire here. C.] , and go aȝens the eest, and be thou hid in the stronde of Carith, which [that I.] is aȝens Jor|dan, [verse 4] and there thou schalt drynke of the stronde; and Y comaundide [haue comaundid I.] to crowis, that thei feede thee there. [verse 5] Therfor he [Hely I.] ȝede, and dide bi the word of the Lord; and whanne he hadde go, he sat in the stronde of Carith, which [that I.] is aȝens Jordan. [verse 6] And crowis baren to hym breed and fleisch eerli; in [and in I.] lijk maner in the euentid; and he drank of the stronde. [verse 7] Forsothe [And I.] after summe daies the stronde was dried; for it hadde not reynede on the erthe. [verse 8] Therfor the word of the Lord was maad to hym [Hely I.] , [verse 9] and seide, Rise thou, and go in to Serepta of Sydoneis, and thou schalt dwelle there; for Y comaundide [haue comaundid I.] to a womman, widewe there, that sche feede thee. [verse 10] He [Hely I.] roos, and ȝede in to Sarepta of Sidoneis; and whanne he hadde come to the ȝate of the citee, a womman widewe gaderynge stickis apperide to hym; and he clepide hir, and seide to hir, Ȝyue thou to me a litil of water in a vessel, that Y drynke. [verse 11] And whanne sche ȝede to bringe [bringe it I. bringe him watir K.] , he

criede bihynde hir bac, and seide, Y bi|seche, bringe thou to me also a mussel of breed in thin hond. [verse 12] And sche answeride, Thi Lord God lyueth, for Y haue no breed, no but as myche of mele in a pot, as a fist may take, and a litil of oile in a vessel; lo! Y gadere twei stickis, that Y entre, and make it to me, and to my sone, that [and I.] we ete and die. [verse 13] And Elie seide to hir, Nyle thou drede, but go, and make as thou seidist; netheles make thou firste to me of that litil mele a litil loof, bakun vndur the [Om. DGIKMNOQWbç.] aischis [aisshen G.] , and brynge thou [thou it I.] to me; sotheli thou schalt make afterward to thee and to thi sone. [verse 14] Forsothe the Lord God of Israel seith thes thingis, The pot of mele schal not faile, and the vessel of oile schal not be abatid, til to the dai in which the Lord schal ȝyue reyn on the face of erthe [the erthe I.] . [verse 15] And sche ȝede, and dide bi the word of Elie; and he [Hely I.] eet, and sche, and hir hows. [verse 16] And fro that dai the pot of mele failide not, and the vessel of oile was not abatid, bi the word of the Lord, which [that I.] he hadde spoke in the hond of Elie. [verse 17] Forsothe it was doon aftir these wordis, the sone of a womman hosewijf was sijk, and the sijknesse was moost [ful I.] strong, so that breeth [the breeth I.] dwellide not in hym. [verse 18] Therfor sche seide to Elie, What to me and to thee, thou man of God? Entridist [Hast thou entrid I.] thou to me, that my wickid|nessis [wickidnesse CL.] schulden be remembrid, and that thou schuldist sle my sone? [verse 19] And Elie seide to hir, Ȝyue thi sone to me. And he took `that sone [it I.] fro hir bosum, and bar [bar it I.] in to the soler, where he dwellide; and he puttide [putte I.] hym on his bed. [verse 20] And he criede to the Lord, and seide, My Lord God, whether thou hast turmentid also the wi|dewe, at [anentis I.] whom Y am susteyned in al maner, that thou killidist hir sone? [verse 21] He [Hely I.] sprad abrood hym silf, and mat [was metid up I. maat L.] on the child bi thre tymes; and he cryede to the Lord, and seide, My Lord God, Y biseche,

the soule of this child turne aȝen in to the entrailis of hym. [verse 22] The Lord herde the vois of Elie, and the soule of the child turnede aȝen with ynne hym, and he lyuede aȝen. [verse 23] And Elie took the child, and puttide [putte I.] hym doun of the soler in to the lower hows, and bitook him [Om. plures.] to his modir; and he seide to hir, Lo! thi sone lyueth. [verse 24] And the womman seide to Elie, Now in this Y haue knowe, that thou art the [a I.] man of God, and the word of God [the Lord A.] is soth in thi mouth.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] Aftir many daies the word of the Lord was maad to Elie, in the thridde ȝeer [in the thridde ȝeer; this tyme is rekenyd fro the goyng out of Elie fro the lond of Israel; and fro the forbeding of reyn, til to his goyng out, passiden vi. monethis and more; for he was hid longe in the stronde of Sarith, so that of the drienesse of tyme the stronde was dried, bifor that he ȝede awey, as it is seid in xvij. c^o. bifore. For James seith in v. c^o. that Elie preiede, and it reyn|ede not bi iii. ȝeer and vi. monethis. Lire here. C.] , and seide, Go, and schewe thee to Achab, that Y ȝyue reyn on [upon I.] the face of erthe [the erthe I.] . [verse 2] Therfor Elie ȝede to schewe hym silf [Om. GIKMNosbç.] to Achab; forsothe [certis I.] greet [a greet K.] hungur was in Samarie. [verse 3] And Achab clepide Abdie, dis|pendere [the dispendere I. Om. C.] , ether [Om. C.] stiward, of his hows; for|sothe Abdie dredde greetli the Lord God of Israel. [verse 4] For whanne Jezabel killide the prophetis of the Lord, he took an hundrid prophetis, and hidde hem, bi fifties and fifties, in dennes, and fedde hem with breed and watir. [verse 5] Therfor [Thanne I.] Achab seide to Abdie, Go thou in to the lond, to alle wellis [the wellis I.] of watris, and in to alle valeis, if in hap we moun fynde gras, and saue horsis and mulis; and werk beestis pe|rische not outirli. [verse 6] Therfor [And I.] thei depart|iden the cuntreis to hem silf, that thei schulden cumpasse tho; Achab ȝede bi o weye, and Abdie ȝede bi another weie, `bi hym silf [aside halff I.] . [verse 7] And whanne Abdie was in the weie, Elie mette hym; and whanne he hadde knowe Elie, he felde on his face, and seide, Whethir thou art my lord Elie? To whom he answeride, Y am. [verse 8] And Elie seide, Go thou, and seie to thi lord, Elie

is present. [verse 9] And Abdie seide, What `syn|nede Y [haue I synned I.] , for thou bitakist me in the hond of Achab, that he sle me? [verse 10] Thi Lord God lyueth, for no folk ethir rewme is, whidur my lord, sekynge thee, sente not; and whanne alle men answeriden, He is not here, he [the kyng I.] chargide [hath chargid I.] greetli alle rewmes [all rewmes; this is vndir|stondun of rewmes nyȝ him; and Achab chargide hem gretly, that if Elie were foundun in the lond, he schulde be takun, and sent to him. Lire here. C.] and folkis, for thou were not foundun; [verse 11] and now thou seist to me, Go [Go thou C.] , and seie to thi lord, Elie is present [nyȝ I.] . [verse 12] And whanne Y schal departe fro thee, the Spirit of the Lord schal bere thee awey in to a place which [that I.] Y knowe not; and Y schal entre, and `Y schal [Om. I.] telle to Achab, and he schal not fynde thee, and he schal sle me; for|sothe [certis I.] thi seruaunt dredith the Lord fro his ȝong childhod. [verse 13] Whether it is not schewid to thee, my lord, what Y dide, whanne Jesabel killide the prophetis of the Lord, that Y hidde of the [tho ç.] prophetis of the Lord an hundrid men, bi fifty and bi [Om. IKORUX.] fifti, in dennes, and Y fedde hem with breed and watir? [verse 14] And now thou seist, Go, and seie to thi lord, Elie is present [nyȝ I.] , that he sle me. [verse 15] And Elie seide, The Lord of oostis lyueth, bifor whos siȝt Y stonde, for to dai Y schal appere to hym [Achab I.] . [verse 16] Ther|for Abdie ȝede in to the metyng of Achab, and schewide [schewide it I.] to hym; and Achab cam in to the meetyng of Elie. [verse 17] And whanne he hadde seyn Elie, he seide, Whether thou art he, that disturblist Israel? [verse 18] And he [Hely I.] seide, Not Y disturble Israel, but thou, and the hows of thi fadir [thou and the hows of thi fa|dir; for the Lord sente this veniaunce, for thi malice. Lire here. C.] whiche [the whiche I.] han forsake the comaundementis of the Lord, and sueden [suen I.] Baalym, `disturbliden Israel [Om. I.] . [verse 19] Netheles now sende thou, and gadere to me al Israel, in [into I.] the hil of Carmele, and foure [the foure I.] hundrid and fifti prophetis of Baal, and foure hundrid prophetis of woodis [mawmet woodis I.] [profetis of woodis; that is, of idols in the woodis. Lire here. C.] , that eten of the table of Jezabel. [verse 20] Achab sente to alle the sones of Israel, and ga|deride prophetis [togidre the prophetis I.] in the hil of Carmele. [verse 21] Forsothe Elie neiȝede to al the puple of Israel, and seide, Hou long halten ȝe in

to twey partis? If the Lord is God [if the Lord is God; that is, if it is preued to ȝou by a visible myracle, that God of Is|rael is veri God, and not Baal. Sue ȝe him; in wor|schipinge him, and noon other. Lire here. C.] , sue ȝe hym; forsothe [and I.] if Baal is God, sue ȝe hym. And the puple answeride not o word to hym. [verse 22] And Elie seide eft to the puple, Y dwellide [haue dwellid I.] aloone a prophete of the Lord; sotheli [and I.] the prophetis of Baal ben foure hundrid and fifti, and the pro|phetis of woodis [the mawmet woodis I.] ben foure hundrid men. [verse 23] Tweyne oxis be ȝouun to us; and chese thei oon oxe, and thei schulen kitte in to gobetis, and schulen [Om. IL.] putte [putte it I.] on trees [wode I.] , but putte thei not fier vndur; and Y schal make the tother oxe in to sacrifice, and Y schal putte [putte it I.] on [upon I.] the trees [wode I.] , and Y schal not putte fier vnder. [verse 24] Clepe ȝe [ȝe thanne I.] the name [names I.] of ȝoure goddis, and Y schal clepe the name of my God; and the God that herith bi fier [fier fallinge doun I.] [bi fier; ȝouun fro heuene, the waste the sacri|fice, Lire here. C.] , be he God. And al the puple answeride, and seide, The resoun is best, `which resoun [that I.] Elie spak [hath spoken I.] . [verse 25] Therfor Elie seide to the prophetis of Baal, Chese ȝe oon [an I.] oxe to ȝou, and make ȝe first [first ȝoure sacrifice I.] , for ȝe ben the mo; and clepe ȝe the names of ȝoure goddis, and putte ȝe not fier vnder. [verse 26] And whanne thei [the prophetis I.] hadden take the oxe [and whanne thei hadden take the oxe; the false pro|fetis token the setting forth of Elye, for thei weren compellid of the puple to do this, which ap|preueden the resoun set forth of Elie, and for they tristiden in the power of the feend, which may do siche thingis, whanne he is suffrid of God. Wherfor and in the tyme of auntecrist, he schal make fier to come doun fro heuene, as it is had in xiii. c<sup>o</sup>. of Apoc., and in hap at the cleping of hem, the fend dide liyk thing in another tyme. Lire here. C.] , whom [that I.] Elie ȝaf to hem [whom Elie ȝaf to hem; for the oxe chosun for the prestis of Baal, fledde fro hem, and hidde him vn|dur the mentel of Elie, for the wlating of idolatrie; and thanne Elie ȝaf to hem, to conuycting of falsenesse of idolatrie, and to schewing of truthe of Goddis wor|schiping. Lire here. C.] , thei maden sacri|fice, and clepiden [ynwardly clepiden I.] the name of Baal, fro the morewtid `til to [vnto I.] myddai [the mydday I.] , and seiden, Baal, here vs! And no vois was, nether ony that answerd [herde A pr. m. BCU.] ; and thei [the prophetis I.] skippiden ouer the auter, which [that I.] thei hadden maad. [verse 27] And whanne it was thanne myddai, Elie scornede hem, and seide, Crie ȝe with gretter vois, for [forsothe I.] Baal is ȝoure god, and in hap he spekith with an other, ethir he is in a herborgerie, ether in weie [the weie I.] , ether certis he slepith, that he be reisid [reisid up I.] . [verse 28] Ther|for thei crieden with greet vois, and thei kerueden [kitten I.] hem silf with knyues and laun|cetis, bi [after I.] her custom, til thei weren bisched with blood. [verse 29] Sotheli [But I.] after that mydday passide, and while thei prophesieden [prophesieden, or preieden I.] , the tyme cam, in which the sacrifice is wont

to be offrid, nether vois was herd `of her goddis [Om. I.] , nether ony answeride, nether per|ceyuede hem preiynge. [verse 30] Elie seide to al the puple, Come ȝe to me. And whanne the puple cam to him, he arrayede the auter of the Lord, that was distried. [verse 31] And he took twelue stonys, bi the noumbre of [and A. of the I.] lynagis of sones [the sones CEIKLMb.] of Jacob [Israel M.] , to which [the which I.] Jacob the word of the Lord was maad, and seide, Israel schal be thi name. [verse 32] And he [Hely I.] bildide an auter of stonys [thilke stonys I.] , in the name of the Lord, and he made a ledyng to [Om. AEO pr. m.] of watir, `ether a dich [Om. I.] , as bi [Om. I.] twei litle dichis [forowis I. dikis S.] [twey litle dichis, etc.; in Ebreu it is thus, and he made a forow of iii. buyschelis of seed, that is, so myche seed myȝte be sowun withynne the cumpas of the forow, as Rabi Salomon seith. Lire here. C.] in the cumpas of the auter. [verse 33] And he dresside trees [wode I.] , and he departide the oxe bi membris, and puttide [putte it I.] on [upon I.] the [verse 34] trees [wode I.] , and seide, Fille ȝe foure pottis with watir, and schede [heelde I.] ȝe [ȝe it I.] on [upon I.] the brent sacri|fice, and on [upon I.] the trees [wode I.] . And eft he seide, Also the secounde tyme do ȝe this. `And thei diden [Whiche whanne thei hadden do I.] the secounde tyme. And [Om. I.] he seide, Do ȝe the same thing [thing also I.] the thridde tyme; and thei diden the thridde tyme. [verse 35] And the watris runnen aboute the auter, and the dich [ridde I.] of ledyng to [Om. AEL.] `of watir [Om. GIKQb.] was fillid. [verse 36] And whanne the tyme was thanne, that the brent sacrifice schulde be offrid, Elye the prophete neiȝede, and seide, Lord God of Abraham [Lord God of Abraham, etc.; me bileueth that Elie made this preyer an hiȝ, that the puple myȝte here, to the onour of God, and to the con|uersioun of the puple. Bi thi comaundement; in offringe in hiȝe placis with out Jerusalem, aftir the bild|ing of the temple; which thing was vn|leueful, no but of special dis|pensacioun of God, which thing Elie dide in this poynt, and the Lord schewide this, bi fier comynge doun on the brent sacrifice of him. Lire here. C.] , of Isaac, and of Israel, schewe thou to dai that thou art God of Israel, and that Y am thi seruaunt, and haue do alle these wordis bi thi comaunde|ment. [verse 37] Lord, here thou me; Lord, here thou me; that this puple lerne, that thou art the Lord God, and that [Om. AELP.] thou hast conuertid eft the herte of hem. [verse 38] Sotheli fier of the Lord felde doun [doun thanne I.] , and deuouride brent [the brent I.] sacrifice, and [Om. I.] trees [the wode I.] , and stonus [the stonus I.] , and lickide [it lickide I.] vp also the poudre, and the water that was in the `leding of water [watir ridde I.] . [verse 39] And whanne al the puple hadde seyn this, it [the peple I marg.] felde in to his face, and seide, The Lord

he is God; the Lord he is God. [verse 40] And Elie seide to hem, Take ȝe the prophetis of Baal [take ȝe the profetis of Baal; Elie siȝ the puple fer|uent to the onour of God, for the reue|rence of my|racle seyn, therfor he wolde haste the deth of the prestis, that disseyueden the puple, lest Jezabel schulde induse the kyng, hir hose|bond, and the king the puple, to kepe the liyf of hem. Lire here. C.] ; not oon sotheli ascape of hem. And whanne thei hadden take hem, Elie ledde hem to the stronde of Cison, and killide hem there. [verse 41] And Elie seide to Achab, Stie thou [thou up, and I.] , ete, and drynke, for the sown of myche reyn is [is nyȝ I.] . [verse 42] Achab stiede [ȝede up I.] to ete and drynke; forsothe [but I.] Elie stiede [ȝede up I.] in to the hil of Carmele, and he settide [sette I.] lowli his face to the erthe, bitwixe hise [verse 43] knees; and seide to his child, Stie thou [thou up I.] , and biholde [biholde thou I.] aȝens the see. And whanne he hadde stied [stied up I.] , and hadde [Om. I.] biholde, he seide, No thing is. And eft Elie seide to hym, Turne thou aȝen bi [Om. I.] seuene tymes. [verse 44] Sotheli [And I.] in the seuenthe tyme, lo! a litil cloude as the step of a man stiede [stiede up I.] fro the see. And Elie seide, Stie thou [thou up I.] , and seie to Achab, Ioyne thi chare, and go doun, lest the reyn byfor ocupie thee. [verse 45] And whanne thei [men I.] turneden [hadden turned I.] hem [hemselff I.] hidur and thidur, lo! heuenes weren maad derk, and cloud [a cloud I.] , and wynd, and greet reyn was maad. Therfor Achab stiede [stiede up I.] , and ȝede [verse 46] in to Jezrael; and the hond of the Lord was maad on [upon I.] Elie, and whanne the [his I.] leendis weren gird, he ran bifor Achab, til he cam in to Jezrael.

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] Forsothe Achab telde to Jezabel alle thingis whiche [that I.] Elie hadde do, and how he hadde slayn by [with I.] swerd alle the pro|phetis of Baal. [verse 2] And Jezabel sente a mes|sanger to Elie, and seide, Goddis do these thingis to me, and adde these thingis [thingis to I.] , no but to morewe in this our Y schal putte thi lijf as the lijf of oon of hem. [verse 3] Therfor Elie dredde [Eli dredde; God suffride him for to drede, by mannus freelte, lest he were reisid ouer myche, of the stidefastnesse bifor goinge. Lire here. C.] , and roos, and ȝede whidur euer wille [his wille I.] bar hym; and he cam in to Bersabe of Juda, and he lefte there his [verse 4] child; and ȝede in to deseert, the weie of

o dai. And whanne he cam, and [he I.] sat vndir o iunypere tre, he axide to his soule, that he schulde die; and he seide, Lord, it suffisith to me, take my soule; for [certis I.] Y am not betere than my fadris. [verse 5] And he castide forth hym silf, and slepte in the schadewe of the iunypere tree [the iunypere tre, which is a tre wexynge in desert, whos schadewe ser|pentis fleen, as Plyneus seith. Lire here. C.] . And lo! the aungel of the Lord touchide hym, and seide to hym, Rise thou, and ete. [verse 6] He bihelde, and, lo! at his heed was a loof bakun vndur aischis [askys L.] , and a vessel of watir. Therfor he [Hely I.] ete, and drank, and slepte eft. [verse 7] And the aungel of the Lord turnede aȝen the secounde tyme, and touch|ide hym; and `the aungel [he I.] seide to hym, Rise thou, and ete; for a greet weie is to thee. [verse 8] And whanne he hadde rise, he ete, and drank; and he [Hely I.] ȝede in the strengthe of that mete bi [Om. DGIKMNOQSWbç.] fourti dayes and fourti nyȝtis, `til to [vnto I.] Oreb, the hil of God. [verse 9] And whanne he hadde come thidur, he dwell|ide in a denne; and lo! the word of the Lord `was maad [Om. plures.] to him, and seide to hym, Elie, what doist thou here? [verse 10] And he answeride, Bi feruent loue [feruent loue; that is, of al the herte. Lire here. C.] Y louede [haue loued I.] feruentli, for the Lord God of oostis; for the sones of Israel forsoken [han forsake I.] the couenaunt of the Lord; thei destrieden [han destried I.] [feruent loue; that is, of al the herte. Lire here. C.] thin auters, and killiden [killid I.] bi [with I.] swerd thi prophetis; and Y am left aloone, and thei seken my lijf, that thei do it awei. [verse 11] And he [the Lord I.] seide to Elie, Go thou out, and stonde in the hil, bifor the Lord. And lo! the Lord passith, and a greet wynde, and strong [a strong I.] , turnynge vpsodoun hillis, and al to brekinge stonys bifor [blowith before I.] the Lord; not in the wynde ys the Lord. And aftir the wynd is a stir|ynge; not in the stiryng is the Lord. [verse 12] And [Om. S.] aftir the stiryng is fier [a fier I.] ; not in the fier is the Lord. And aftir the fier is the [an I.] issyng of thinne wynd [wynd, or brethinge softly I.] ; there is the Lord. [verse 13] And whanne Elie hadde herd this, he hilide his face with a mentil, and he ȝede out, and stood in the dore of the denne. And a vois spak to hym, and seide, Elie,

what doist thou here? [verse 14] And he answeride, Bi [With I.] feruent loue Y louede [haue loued I.] feruentli, for the Lord God of oostis; for the sones of Israel forsoken [han forsake I.] thi couenaunt; thei dis|trieden [han destried I.] thin auteris, and thei killiden [han killid I.] bi [with I.] swerd thi prophetis; and Y am left aloone, and thei seken my lijf, that thei do it awey. [verse 15] And the Lord seide to hym, Go, and turne aȝen in to thi weie, bi the deseert, in to Damask; and whanne thou schalt come thidur, thou schalt anoynte [verse 16] Asahel kyng on [upon I.] Sirie; and thou schalt anoynte kyng on [upon I.] Israel Hieu, the sone of Namsi; sotheli [and I.] thou schalt anoynte pro|phete [a prophete I.] for thee, Elise, sone [the sone CI.] of Saphat, which [that I.] is of Abelmeula. [verse 17] And it schal be, who euer schal fle the swerd of Asa|hel, Hieu schal sle hym; and who euer schal fle the swerd of Hieu, Elise schal sle hym. [verse 18] And Y schal leeue to me in Israel seuene thousynde of men, of whiche the knees ben not bowid bifor Baal, and ech mouth that worschipide not hym, and kisside hond [not his hond I.] [kisside hond; that is, of the ydol, to reue|rence therof, ether his owne hond, as Job seith, If Y kisside myn hond, which is the moste wickidnesse, that is idola|trie. Lire here. C.] . [verse 19] Therfor Elie ȝede forth fro thennus, and foond Elise, sone [the sone I.] of Sa|phat, erynge in twelue ȝockis of oxis [oxen I.] ; and he was oon in the twelue ȝockis of oxys [oxen I.] , erynge. And whanne Elie hadde come to hym, Elie castide his mentil on [upon I.] hym. [verse 20] Which [And he I.] ran anoon after Elie, whanne the oxis [oxen I.] weren left, and seide, Y preie thee, kysse Y my fadir and my modir, and so Y schal sue thee. And Elie seide to hym, Go thou, and turne aȝen, for [certis I.] Y haue do to thee that that was myn. [verse 21] `Sotheli he [And Helisee I.] turnede aȝen fro Elie, and took tweine [the two I.] oxis [oxen IK.] , and killide hem [Helizee slewe hise oxen, and fedde pore men of that that he hadde, that he were not lett bi worldli hauing to sue the pro|phet. Ambrose. I.] ; and with the plow of oxis [the oxen I. oxen K.] he sethide the fleischis [fleish I.] , and ȝaf [ȝaf hem I.] to the puple, and thei eeten; and he [Helisee I.] roos [roos up I.] , and ȝede, and suede Elie, and `my|nystride to [seruyde I.] hym.

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] Forsothe [Certis I.] Benadab, kyng of Sirye, ga|deride [gaderide togidere I.] al his oost, and two and thritti kyngis with hym, and horsis, and charis; and he stiede [stiede up I.] aȝens Samarie, and fauȝt, and bisegide it. [verse 2] And he sente messan|geris [messangeris; for Achab sente first messan|geris to Bena|dab, to seke pees, and he answeride as it sueth. Lire here. C.] to Achab, kyng of Israel, in to [verse 3] the [his I.] citee, and seide, Benadab seith these thingis, Thi siluer and thi gold is myn, and thi wyues, and thi beste sones ben myn. [verse 4] And the kyng of Israel answeride, Bi thi word, my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, Y am thin, and alle my thingis `ben thine [Om. I.] . [verse 5] And the messangeris turneden aȝen, and seiden, Benadab, that sente vs to thee, seith these thingis, Thou schalt ȝyue to me thi siluer, and thi gold, and thi wyues, and thi sones. [verse 6] Therfor to morewe, in this same our, Y schal sende my seruauntis to thee, and thei schulen seke thin hows, and the hows of thi seruauntis; and thei schulen putte in her hondis, and take awey al thing that schal plese hem. [verse 7] Forsothe the kyng of Israel clepide alle the eldere men of the [that I.] lond, and seide, Perseyue ȝe, and se, that he settith tresoun to vs; for he sente to me for my wyues, and sones, and [Om. I.] for siluer, and gold, and Y forsook not. [verse 8] And alle the gretter men in birthe, and al the puple seiden to hym, Here thou not, ne|ther assente thou to hym. [verse 9] And he [Achab I.] an|sweride to the messangeris of Benadab, Seie ȝe to my lord the [Om. I.] kyng, Y schal do alle thingis, for whiche thou sentist in the bigynnyng to me, thi seruaunt; forsothe [but I.] Y may not do this thing. [verse 10] And the mes|sangeris turneden aȝen, and telden alle thingis to hym. Which [The which I.] sente aȝen, and seide, Goddis do these thingis to me, and adde these thingis [thingis to I.] , if the dust of Samarie schal suffice to the fistis of al the puple that sueth me. [verse 11] And the kyng of Israel answeride, and seide, Seie ȝe to hym, A gird man, `that is, he that goith to batel [Om. I.] , haue not glorie euenli as a man vngird [vngird; that is, as he that hath the victo|rie, and hath put of hise armeris. Lire here. C.] . [verse 12] Forsothe [And I.] it was doon, whanne Benadab

hadde herd this word, he drank, and [and also I.] the kyngis, in schadewyng places; and he seide to hise seruauntis, Cumpasse ȝe the citee. And thei cumpassiden it. [verse 13] And lo! o pro|phete neiȝede to Acab, kyng of Israel, and seide to hym, The Lord God seith these thingis, Certis thou hast seyn al this mul|titude ful greet; lo! Y schal bitake it in to thin hond to dai, that thou wite that Y am the [Om. DGIKMNOQSWX sec. m. b.] Lord [the Lord, and that thou turne awey fro idolatrie. Lire here. C.] . [verse 14] And Achab seide, Bi whom? And he seide to Achab, The Lord seith these thingis, Bi the squyeris [squyeris, or the footmen I.] of the princes [bi the squy|eris of the princes; that is, bi the squy|eris of princes of the lond of Israel, as it is expowned comynly. Rabi Salomon seith, that herbi ben vndurstondun the children of noble men that weren not of the sones of Israel, but weren ȝouun ostachis to Achab; wherfor in Ebreu it is had thus, bi the children of princes of pro|uynces. Lire here. C.] of prouynces. And Achab seide, Who schal bigynne to fiȝte? And the prophete seide, Thou. [verse 15] Therfor he noumbryde the children of the princes of prouynces, and he foond the noumbre of twei hundrid and two and thretti; and aftir hem he [Om. S.] noumbride the puple, alle the sones of Israel, seuene thousynde. [verse 16] And thei ȝeden out in myddai. Forsothe Be|nadab drank, and was drunkun in his schadewyng place, and two and thretti kyngis with hym, that camen to the help of hym. [verse 17] Sotheli [And I.] the children of princes [the princes I.] of prouynces ȝeden out in the firste frount. Therfor Benadab sente men, whiche [to wite who these weren the whiche I.] telden to hym, and seide, Men ȝeden out of Sa|marie. [verse 18] And he seide, Whether thei comen for pees, take ȝe hem quyke; whether to fiȝte, take ȝe hem quyke. [verse 19] Therfor the children of prynces [the prynces I.] of prouynces ȝeden [verse 20] out, and the residue oost suede; and ech smoot the man that cam aȝens hym. And men of Sirie fledden, and Israel [al Israel K.] pursuede hem; also Benadab, kyng [the kyng I.] of Sirie, fledde on an hors with his kniȝtis. [verse 21] Also the king of Israel ȝede out, and smoot horsis and charis, and he smoot Sirie with a ful greet veniaunce. [verse 22] Forsothe a prophete neiȝede [neiȝede nyȝ I.] to the kyng of Israel, and seide, Go thou, and be [be thou K.] coumfortid [be coumfortid; in taking trist in God, to de|fende thee in batel to com|ynge. Lire here. C.] , and wyte, and se, what thou schalt do; for the kyng of Sirie schal stie [weende up I.] aȝens thee in the ȝeer suynge. [verse 23] Sotheli the seruauntis of the

kyng of Sirie seiden to hym, The Goddis of hillis ben the Goddis of the sones of Israel, therfor thei ouercamen vs; but it is betere that we fiȝte aȝens hem in feeldi placis, and we schulen geet hem [hem there I.] . [verse 24] Ther|for do thou this word [word or counseil I.] ; remoue thou alle kyngis fro thin oost, and sette thou princis [verse 25] for hem; and restore thou the noumbre of knyȝtis, that felden [felden or weren sleyn I.] of thine, and horsis [the horsis C.] bi [aftir I. be S.] the formere [forme DEGMNQSW. forme of O.] horsis, and restore thou [the I.] charis, bi the charis whiche [that I.] thou haddist bifore; and we schulen fiȝte aȝens hem in feeldy places, and thou schalt se, that we schulen gete hem. He [Benadab I.] bileuyde to the counsel of hem, and dide so. [verse 26] Ther|for after that the ȝeer hadde passid, Be|nadab noumbride men of Sirie, and he stiede [stiede up I.] in to Affech, to fiȝte aȝens Israel. [verse 27] Forsothe the sones of Israel weren noum|brid; and whanne meetis weren takun, thei ȝeden [wenten I.] forth euene aȝens, and thei, as twey litle flockis of geet, settiden tentis aȝens men of Sirie. Forsothe men of Si|rie filliden the erthe [lond I.] . [verse 28] And o prophete of God neiȝede [And o profete of God neiȝide; thouȝ this pro|fete is not nemyd here, doctours bothe Latyns and Ebreys seyen, that he was Mycheas, sone of Romula. God of hillis, etc.; men of Sirie weren ouercomun, for they blasfem|eden God, and the profete seide that Achab schulde not spare Ben|adab and his puple, but sle hem, for they blasfemeden God. Lire here. C.] , and seide to the kyng of Israel, The Lord God seith these thingis, For men of Sirie seiden, God of hillis is the Lord of hem, and he is not God of valeis, Y schal ȝyue al this greet multi|tude in thin hond, and ȝe schulen wite that Y am the [Om. GIKMNbç.] Lord. [verse 29] In [And I.] seuene daies these and thei dressiden scheltruns euene aȝens [aȝens ech oother I.] ; forsothe [and I.] in the seuenthe dai the batel was joyned togidere, and the sones of Israel smytiden [smoten I. smeten EL.] of men [the men I.] of Syrie an hundrid thousynde of [Om. A.] foot men in o dai. [verse 30] Forsothe [And I.] thei that leften fledden in to the citee of Affech, and the wal felde doun on [upon I.] seuene and twenti thousynde of men that leften. Forsothe Benadab fledde, and en|tride in to the citee, in to a closet that was [verse 31] with ynne a closet; and hise seruauntis seiden to him, We herden [han herd I.] that the kyngis of the hows of Israel ben merciful, therfor

putte we sackis in oure leendis, and cordis in oure heedis, and go we out to the kyng of Israel; in hap he schal saue oure lyues. [verse 32] Thei [Thanne thei I.] girdiden [girden C.] her leendis with sackis, and puttiden [putten L. puttend E.] coordis in her heedis, and thei camen to the kyng of Israel, and seiden to hym, Thi seruaunt Benadab seith, Y preye thee, lete [Om. plures. that EL.] `my soule lyue [lyue my lijf I.] . And he [Achab I.] seide, If Benadab lyueth ȝit, he is my brother [he is my bro|ther; that is, Y wole make pees with him. Lire here. C.] . [verse 33] Which [The which I.] thing [seiyng I.] the [Om. EI.] men of Sirie token for a graciouse word, and rauyschiden [thei rauyschiden I.] hastily the word of his mouth, and seiden, Thi brother Benadab lyueth. And Achab seide to hem, Go ȝe, and brynge ȝe hym to me. Therfor Benadab ȝede out to hym, and he reiside [reiside up I.] Benadab in to his chare. [verse 34] `Which Benadab [And he I.] seide to hym [Achab I.] , Y schal ȝelde the citees whiche my fadir took fro thi fadir, and make thou stretis to thee in Damask, as my fadir made in Samarie; and Y schal be boundun to pees, and Y schal departe fro thee. Therfor he [Achab I.] made boond of pees [pees with him I.] , and delyuerede hym. [verse 35] Thanne sum [a I.] man of the sones of prophetis seide to his fe|lowe, in the word of the Lord, Smyte thou me. And he nolde [wolde not I.] smyte. [verse 36] To `whiche felowe [whom I.] he [the prophet I.] seide, For thou noldist [woldist not I.] here the vois of the Lord, lo! thou schalt go fro me, and a lioun schal smyte thee. And whanne he hadde go a litil fro hym [the prophet I.] , a lioun foond hym, and slowȝ hym [Om. plures.] . [verse 37] But also the prophete foond another man, and he seide to that man, Smyte thou me. Which [And he I.] smoot him, and woundide him [Om. plures.] . [verse 38] Therfor the prophete ȝede [wente I.] , and mette the [Om. I.] kyng [kyng Achab I.] in the weie; and he chaungide his mouth and iȝen [his iȝen I.] , by sprynging [sprengyng I.] of dust [bi sprynging of dust; in Ebreu it is, he chaungide with a cloth, that is, bi wlapping of a cloth. Lire here. C.] . [verse 39] And whanne the kyng hadde passid, he criede to the kyng, and seide, Thi ser|uaunt ȝede out to fiȝte anoon, and whanne o man hadde fledde, sum [a I.] man brouȝte hym to me, and seide, Kepe thou this

man; and if he aschapith [ascapith awey I.] , thi lijf schal be for his lijf [thi liyf schal be for his liyf, and Y resseyu|ede him in this condicioun. Lire here. C.] , ether thou schalt paye a talent of siluere. [verse 40] Sotheli while Y was tro|blid, and turnede me hidur and thidur, sodeynly he apperide not. And the kyng of Israel seide to hym, This is thi doom which [that I.] thou hast demed. [verse 41] And anoon he wipide [wipte DEKLMSXbç.] awey [and anoon he wipte awey, etc.; in Ebreu it is, remouyde the cloth, ether binding, fro his face. Lire here. C.] the dust fro his face, and the kyng of Israel knew him, that he was of the prophetis. [verse 42] Which [The which I.] seide to the kyng, The Lord seith these thingis, For thou deliueridist fro thin hond a man worthi the [Om. I.] deeth, thi lijf schal be for his lijf, and thi puple `schal be [O m. I.] for his puple. [verse 43] Therfor the kyng of Israel turnede aȝen in to his hows, and dispiside to here [here Goddis word I.] , and cam [he cam I.] wod in to Samarie [and cam wood in to Sa|marie; Jose|phus seith, that he killide the profete. Lire here. C.] .

CAP. XXI.

[verse 1] Forsothe after these wordis, in that tyme, the vyner of Naboth of Jezrael, `that was in Jezrael [Om. I.] , was bisidis the pa|leis of Achab, kyng of Samarye. [verse 2] Therfor Achab spak to Naboth, and seide, Ȝyue thou to me the [thi IK.] vyner [vynȝeerd I. vyne D.] , that Y make to me [me theroff I.] a gardyn of wortis, for it is nyȝ [nyȝ to me I.] , and nyȝ myn hows; and Y schal ȝyue to thee a betere vyner for it; ethir if thou gessist it more profitable to thee, Y schall ȝyue [ȝyue thee I.] the prijs of siluer, as myche as it is worth. [verse 3] To whom Naboth answeride, The Lord be merciful to me, that Y ȝyue not to thee the eritage of my fadris [the eritage of my fadris; for priys, ether for other eri|tage, for the lond of Israel was propirly Goddis himsilf, and it myȝte not be seeld for euere, but onely til to the iubile in xxv. c^o. of Leuitici; and therfor nether that was grauntid in the lawe, no but in nede, but Naboth was riche, and ther|for he was not compellid to sille his eritage; forsothe the king wolde haue it, for euerlastinge tyme. Lire here. C.] . [verse 4] Ther|for Acab cam in to his hows, hauynge indignacioun, and gnastyng on the word which [that I.] Naboth of Jezrael hadde spoke to him, and seide, Y schal not ȝyue to thee the eritage of my fadirs. And Achab castide doun him silf in to his bed [in to his bed; for indigna|cioun and vn|pacience, and bi this it is opin, that the kyng myȝte not take for his wille, the feeldis of hise sugetis. Lire here. C.] , and turnede awei his face to the wal, and ete not breed. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] Jezabel, his wijf, entride to hym, and seide to hym, What is this thing, wherof thi soule is maad sory? and whi etist thou not breed? [verse 6] Which [The which I.] answeride to hir, Y spak to Na|both

of Jezrael, and Y seide to hym, Ȝyue thi vyner [vynȝerd I.] to me for money takun, ethir if it plesith thee, Y schal ȝyue to thee a betere vyner for it. And he seide, Y schal not ȝyue to thee my vyner [vynȝerd I.] . [verse 7] Therfor Je|zabel, his wijf, seide to hym, Thou art of [a L.] greet auctorite, and thou gouernest wel Is|rael; rise thou, and ete breed, and be thou `pacient, ethir coumfortid [coumfortid ether pacient CFMW. pacient or of euen ynwitt I.] ; Y schal ȝyue to thee the vyner of Naboth of Jez|rael. [verse 8] Therfor sche [Jezabel I.] wroot lettris [sche wroot lettris, etc.; bi the wille and knowing of Achab. Lire here. C.] in the name of Achab, and seelide tho with the ryng of hym; and sche sente to the gret|tere men in birthe, and to the beste men, that weren in the citee of hym [Naboth I.] , and dwelliden with Naboth [him I.] . [verse 9] Sotheli [And I.] this was the sentence of the lettre; Preche ȝe fastyng, and make ȝe Naboth to sitte [verse 10] among the firste men of the puple; and sende ȝe priueli twei men, the sones of Belial, aȝens hym, and sey thei fals wit|nessyng, Naboth blesside [hath blessid I.] God and the kyng [kyng, that is, hath cursid I.] [Naboth bless|ide God and the king; that is, curside, as in ii. c^o. of Job, Blesse thou God, and die thou; for the orrour of cursing, Jewis signefieden it bi the contrarie name. Lire here. C.] ; and lede ȝe out hym, and [Om. C.] stoon ȝe him [Om. plures.] , and die he so. [verse 11] Therfor hise cite|seyns, the grettere men in birthe, and the beste men that dwelliden with hym in the citee, diden as Jezabel hadde comaundid, and as it was writun in the lettris, whiche [that I.] sche hadde sent to hem. [verse 12] Thei prechiden fastyng, and maden Naboth to sitte among [verse 13] the firste men of the puple; and whanne twey men, sones of the deuel, weren brouȝt, thei maden hem to sitte aȝens hym [Naboth I.] , and thei, that is [is to wite I.] , as men of the deuel, seiden witnessyng aȝens him bifor al the multi|tude, Naboth blesside God and the kyng; for which thing thei ledden hym with out the citee, and killiden him [Om. plures.] with stoonys. [verse 14] And thei senten to Jezabel, and seiden, Naboth is stoonyd, and is deed. [verse 15] Forsothe it was doon, whanne Jezabel hadde herd Naboth stonyd and deed, sche spak to Achab, Rise thou, take thou [Om. I.] in posses|sioun the vyner of Naboth of Jezrael,

which [that I.] nolde [wolde not I.] assente to thee, and ȝyue it for money takun; for Naboth lyueth not, but is deed. [verse 16] And whanne Achab hadde herd this, that is, Naboth deed [to be deed I.] , he roos, and ȝede doun in to the vyner of Naboth of Jezrael, to haue it [to haue it, etc.; for hise goodis weren forfetid bi mannus doom. Lire here. C.] in [in to CO pr. m.] possessioun. [verse 17] Therfor the word of the Lord was maad [verse 18] to Elie of Thesbi, and seide, Rise thou, go doun in to the comyng of Achab, kyng of Israel, which [that I.] is in Samarie; lo! he goith doun to the vyner of Naboth, that he haue it in possessioun. [verse 19] And thou schalt speke to hym, and `thou schalt [Om. I.] seie, The Lord God [Om. CEL.] seith these thingis, Thou hast slayn [slayn Naboth I.] [thou hast slayn; for the lettris of the deth of Naboth weren maad and sent bi the knowing and will of Achab. Lire here. C.] , ferthermore and thou hast take [take his vynȝerd I.] in possessioun; and aftir these thingis thou schalt adde [adde to mo yuelis I.] , In this place, wherynne doggis lickiden the blood of Naboth, thei schulen licke also thi blood. [verse 20] And Achab seyde to Elie, Whether thou hast founde me thin enemy? Which [And I.] Elie [Om. C.] seide, Y haue founde [founde thee so I.] , for thou art seeld [sold to the deuel I.] [for thou art seeld; as a thing seeld passith in to the lordschip and possessioun of the biere, so Achab semyde al suget to idols, and seruynge to idols. madist Israel to do synne; not onely in the worschiping of caluys, as othere kyngis bifor goyng diden, but also in the worschiping of Baal. Lire here. C.] that thou schuldist do yuel in the siȝt of the Lord. [verse 21] Therfor the Lord seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal brynge yn [Om. C.] on [upon I.] thee yuel, and Y schal kitte awey thin [the D.] hyn|drere [hyndere IXC.] thingis, and Y schal sle of Achab a pissere to the wal, and prisoned [the prisoned I.] , and [verse 22] the laste in Israel; and Y schal ȝyue thin hows as [to be as I.] the hows of Jeroboam, sone [the sone I.] of Naboth, and as the hows of Baasa, sone [the sone I.] of Ahia; for thou didist [didist yuel I.] to excite me to wrathfulnesse, and madist Israel to do synne. [verse 23] But also the Lord spak of [to I.] Jeza|bel, and seide, Doggis schulen ete Jezabel [verse 24] in the feeld of Jesrael; if Achab schal die in the citee, doggis schulen ete hym; sotheli if he schal die in the feeld, briddis of the eyr schulen ete hym. [verse 25] Therfor noon other was sich as Achab [was sich as Achab; that is, in kingis bifor goynge him, for he brouȝte in to his rewme the worschip|ing of Baal, at exciting of his wiyf. Lire here. C.] , that was seeld to do yuel in the siȝt of the Lord; for [verse 26] Jezabel his wijf excitide hym [hym therto I.] ; and he was maad abhomynable, in so myche that

he suede the ydols that Ammorreis [men of Ammorey I.] maden, which Ammorreis [men I.] the Lord wastide fro the face of the sones of Israel. [verse 27] Therfor whanne Achab hadde herd these wordis, he to-rente his cloth, and hilide his fleisch with an hayre, and he fastide, and slepte in a sak, and ȝede with the heed cast doun. [verse 28] The [And the I.] word of the Lord was maad to Elie of Thesbi, and seide, Whethir thou hast not seyn Achab maad low bifor me? [verse 29] Therfor for he is maad low [he is maad low; this pe|naunce was for drede of deth, as it is seid comynly, and therfor it dis|seruede not grace and auoiding of euerlastinge peyne, thouȝ it disseruede di|laiyng of tem|peral peyne; othere men seyen, that this was veri pe|naunce onely at an our, for he turnede aȝen to yuele passid. Lire hire. C.] for the [Om. I.] cause of me, Y schal not brynge yn yuel in hise daies, but in the daies of his sone Y schal bryng yn yuel to his hows.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] Therfor thre ȝeeris [ȝeer I. ȝer EL.] passiden with out batel bitwixe Sirie and Israel. [verse 2] Forsothe [And I.] in the thridde ȝeer Josephat, king of Juda, ȝede doun to the kyng of Israel. [verse 3] And the kyng of Israel seide to hise seruauntis, Witen ȝe not, that Ramoth of Galaad is oure, and we ben necgligent to take it fro the hoond of the kyng of Sirie? [verse 4] And he [Achab I.] seide to Josaphat [Johasaphat, king of Juda I.] , Whether thou schalt come with me to fiȝte in to Ramoth of Galaad? [verse 5] And Josophat seide to the kyng of Israel, As Y am, so and thou; my puple and thi puple ben oon; and my knyȝtis and thy knyȝtis `ben oon [Om. I.] . And Josephat seide to the kyng of Israel, Y preie thee, axe thou to dai the word of the Lord. [verse 6] Therfor [And DKMç.] the kyng of Israel gaderide [gaderide to gidre I.] prophetis aboute foure hundrid men, and he seide to hem, Owe Y to go in to Ramoth of Galaad to fiȝte, ethir to [owe I to I.] reste? Whiche [The whiche I.] answeriden, Stie thou [thou up I.] , and the Lord schal ȝyue it in the hond of the kyng [kyng of Israel I.] . [verse 7] Forsothe Jose|phat seide, Is [Is ther I.] not here ony profete of the Lord, that we axe bi hym? [verse 8] And the kyng of Israel seide to Josephat, O man, Mychee [Mychee bi name I.] , sone [the sone I.] of Hiemla, is left, bi whom we moun axe the Lord; but Y hate hym, for he prophesieth not good [good thing I.] to me, but

yuel. To whome Josephat seide, Kyng, spek thou not so. [verse 9] Therfor the kyng of Israel clepide summe [a I.] chaumburleyn [chaumburleyn of his I.] , and seide to hym, Haste thou [thou thee I.] to brynge My|chee, sone [the sone I.] of Hiemla. [verse 10] Forsothe the kyng of Israel, and Josephat, kyng of Juda, saten, ech in his trone, clothid with kyngis ournement [ourment A.] , in the [a I.] large hows bisidis the dore [wikett I.] of the ȝate of Samarie; and alle prophetis [the prophetis CGINO.] prophecieden in the siȝt of hem. [verse 11] Also Sedechie, sone [the sone I.] of Chanaan, made to hym silf hornes of yrun, and seide, The Lord God seith these thingis, With these [these hornes I.] thou schalt scatere [scatere abrood I.] Sirye, til thou do awei it. [verse 12] And alle prophetis prophecieden in lijk maner, and seiden, Stye thou in to Ramoth of Galaad, and go thou with prosperite; and the Lord schal bitake thin enemyes in the hond of the kyng. [verse 13] So|theli the messanger, that ȝede to clepe Mychee, spak to hym, and seide, Lo! the wordis of prophetis [the prophetis EL.] with o mouth prechen goodis to the kyng; therfor thi word be lijk hem, and speke thou goodis. [verse 14] To whom Mychee seide, The Lord lyueth, for what euer thing the Lord schal seie to me, Y schal speke this. [verse 15] Therfor he cam to the kyng. And the kyng seide to hym, Mychee, owen we go [to go ELbç.] in to Ramoth of Galaad to fiȝte, ether ceesse? To which kyng he answeride, Stie thou, and go in prosperite [go in pros|perite; he seide not this for certeyn, but more bi deny|ing, ether bi de|siring; and the kyng per|seyuede this by signes, ther|for he coniour|ide hym to speke truthe. Lire here. C.] ; and the Lord schal bitake it `in to [in BC sec. m.] the hond of the kyng. [verse 16] Forsothe the kyng seide to hym, Eft and eft Y coniure thee, that thou speke not to me, no but that that is soth in the name of the Lord. [verse 17] And he seide, Y siȝ al Israel scaterid in the hillis, as scheep not hauynge a scheep|herde; and the Lord seide, These han no lord, ech man turne aȝen in to his hows in pees. [verse 18] Therfor the kyng of Israel seide to Josaphat, Whethir Y seide not to thee, that he prophecieth not good to me, but euere yuel? [verse 19] Sotheli thilke Mychee addide, and seide, Therefore here thou the word

of the Lord; Y siȝ the Lord sittynge on his trone, and Y siȝ al the oost of heuene stondynge nyȝ hym, on the riȝt side and on the left side. [verse 20] And the Lord seide, Who schal disseyue Achab, kyng of Is|rael, that he stye, and falle in Ramoth of Galaad? And oon seide siche wordis, and another in anothir maner. [verse 21] Sotheli a spi|rit ȝede out, and stood bifor the Lord, and seide, Y schal disseyue hym. To whom the Lord spak, In what thing? [verse 22] And he seide, Y schal go out, and Y schal be a spirit of leesyng in the mouth of alle hise prophetis. And the Lord seide, Thou schalt disseyue [thou schalt disseyue; not that falsnesse is shewid of the Lord, ether of his co|maundemens, but God suf|frith bi iust doom, that yuele men be disseyuede of fendis, that han not power to do ony thing no but as he suffrith. Lire here. C.] , and schalt haue the may|stry; go thou out, and do so. [verse 23] Now ther|for, lo! the Lord ȝaf a spirit of leesyng in the mouth of alle prophetis that ben here; and the Lord spak yuel aȝens thee. [verse 24] For|sothe Sedechie, sone of Canaan, neiȝede, and smoot Mychee on the cheke, and seide, Whether the Spirit of the Lord forsook me, and spak to thee? [verse 25] And Mychee seide, Thou schalt se in that dai, whanne thou schalt go in to closet [a closet CW. the closet K.] with ynne closet, that thou be hid. [verse 26] And the kyng of Israel seide, Take ȝe [Om. S.] Mychee, and dwelle he at Amon, prince of the citee, and at Joas, [verse 27] the [Om. S.] sone of Amalech; and seie ȝe to hem, The kyng seith these thingis, Sende ȝe this man in to prisoun, and susteyne ȝe hym with breed of tribulacioun, and with watir of angwisch, til Y turne aȝen in pees. [verse 28] And Mychee seide, If thou schalt turne aȝen in pees, the Lord spak not in me. And he seide, Here ȝe, alle puplis. [verse 29] Therfor the kyng of Israel stiede, and Josaphat, kyng of Juda, in to Ramoth of Galaad. [verse 30] Therfor the kyng of Israel seide to Josephat, Take thou armeris, and entre thou in to batel, and be thou clothid in thi clothis, that is, noble [in noble plures.] signes of the kyng. Certis the kyng of Israel chaung|ide hise clothing [his clothing; that is, aray of king. Lire here. C.] , and entride in to batel. Sotheli the kyng of Sirie hadde comaundid [verse 31] to two and thritti princes of charis, and seide, Ȝe schulen not fiȝte aȝens ony man

lesse, ethir more, no [Om. C.] but aȝens the kyng of Israel oonli. [verse 32] Therfor whanne the princes of charis hadden seyn Josephat, thei suposiden that he was king of Israel, and bi feersnesse maad thei fouȝten aȝens hym. [verse 33] And Josephat criede [Josephath criede; cleping Goddis help, and declaringe his baner. Lire here. C.] ; and the princis of charis vndurstoden, that it was not the king of Israel, and thei ceessiden fro hym. [verse 34] Sotheli sum man bente a bowe, and dresside an arowe in to vncerteyn, and bi hap he smoot the kyng of Israel bitwixe the lunge and the stomak. And the kyng seide to his charietere, Turne thin hond, and cast me out of the oost [cast me out of the oost; not fully, but he was cast out of that scheltrun in to another. Lire here. C.] , for Y am woundid greuousli. [verse 35] Therfor batel was ioyned in that dai, and the kyng of Israel stood in his chare aȝens men of Sirie, and he was deed at euentid. Forsothe the blood of the wounde fletide doun in to the bothome of the chare. [verse 36] And a criere sownede in al the oost, before that [Om. A.] the sunne ȝede doun, and seide, Ech man turne aȝen in to his citee, and in to his lond. [verse 37] Forsothe the kyng was deed, and was borun in to Samarie; and thei birieden the kyng in Samarie. [verse 38] And thei waisch|iden his chare in the cisterne of Samarie, and doggis lickiden his blood, and thei wayschiden the reynes [and they waischiden the raynes; in Ebreu it is thus, and thei waischiden the armeris, fro the blood of Achab. Bi the word of the Lord, etc.; that is, bisidis the place, wher|ynne Naboth was stonyd, upe this that the Lord seide bi Elie, for Achab hadde the hows of his armer in Jezrael, and therfor hise armeris in whiche he was woundid, weren brouȝt thidur, and waschun there fro blood of Achab, and doggis lickiden it in that same place, where Naboth was slayn. Lire here. C.] , bi the word of the Lord whiche he hadde spoke. [verse 39] Sotheli the residue of wordis of Achab, and alle thingis whiche he dide, and the hows of yuer which he bildide, and of alle citees whiche he bildide, whether these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Israel? [verse 40] Therfor Achab slepte with hise fadris, and Ocozie, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 41] Forsothe Jose|phat, sone of Asa, bigan to regne on Juda in the fourthe ȝeer of Achab, kyng of Is|rael. [verse 42] Josephat was of fyue and thretti ȝeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnede fyue and twenti ȝeer in Jerusa|lem; the name of his modir was [Om. S.] Azuba, douȝter of Salai. [verse 43] And he ȝede in al the weye of Asa, his fadir, and bowide not fro it; and he dide that, that was riȝtful in

the siȝt of the Lord. [verse 44] Netheles he dide not awey hiȝ thingis, for ȝit the puple made sacrifice, and brente encense in hiȝ places. [verse 45] And Josephat hadde pees with the king of Israel. [verse 46] Sotheli the residue of wordis of Josephat, and the werkis and batels, whiche he dide, whethir these ben not writun in the book of wordis of daies of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 47] But also he took awey fro the loond the relikis of men turned in to wymmens condiciouns, that leften in the daies of Aza, his fadir. [verse 48] Ne|thir a kyng was ordeyned thanne in Edom. [verse 49] Forsothe [Sotheli FGKLNOPQRSUWç.] king Josephat made schippis in the see, that schulden seile in to Ophir for gold, and tho myȝten not go, for thei weren brokun [tho weren brokun; bi Goddis doom, for he hadde homelynesse and felouschipe with Ocozie, king of Israel, in ij. book of Paral. XX. c^o. Lire here. C.] in Asiongaber. [verse 50] Thanne Ocozie, sone of Achab, seide to Josephat, My seruauntis go with thine in schippis. And Josephat nolde [and Josephat nolde; that is, be assossied with him the ij. tyme in nauey. Lire here. C.] . [verse 51] And Josephat slepte with hise fadris, and was biried with hem in the citee of Dauid, his fadir; and Jo|ram, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 52] Forsothe Ocozie, sone of Achab, bigan to regne on Israel, in Samarie, in the seuenetenthe ȝeer of Josephat, kyng of Juda; and Ocozie regnede on Israel twei ȝeer. [verse 53] And he dide yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, and ȝede in the wey of his fadir, and of his modir, and in the weie of Jeroboam, sone of Na|bath, that made Israel to do synne. [verse 54] And he seruyde Baal, and worschipide hym, and wraththide the Lord God of Israel, bi alle thingis whiche his fadir hadde do.

Here endith the thridde book of Kyngis, and here bigynneth the fourthe [Here endith the thridde book of Kyngis, and bigynneth the fourthe book. BNQ. Here endith the thridde book of Kyngis, and bygynnethe the fourthe book of Kyngis. CSX. Here endith the thridde book of Kyngis, and bigynnith a prolog on the iv. book. GM. Heere endeth the thridde book of Kinges, se now the fourthe. K. Heere eendith the iij ^e. book, and bigynneth the iiij ^e. book of Kynges. R. Here eendith the thrydde book of Kyngis. ç. No final rubric in ELP.] .