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

IV. KINGS.

[The fourthe of Kingus [Here bigynneth the fourthe book of Kyngis E. No initial rubric in ACFH. From the commencement of IV. Kings to the end of II. Chronicles the text is taken from B.] .] CAP. I.

[verse 1] MOAB forsothe trespasside in Yrael, aftir that Acab was deed. [verse 2] And Ochosias felle thoruȝ the wyndowes of his soup|ynge place, that he hade in Samarye, and he wexe seeke; and he sente mes|sangers, seiynge to hem, Gooth, and counselith Belzabub, the god of Accha|ron, whether I may lyue fro this myn infirmyte. [verse 3] The aungel forsothe of the Lord spak to Helias Thesbytes, seyinge, Riys, and go doun in to the aȝein com|mynge of the messagers of the kynge of Samarie; and thou schalt seye to hem, Whether God is not in Yrael, that ȝe goon to counseylen Belzabub, the god of Accharon? [verse 4] Wherfore these thingis seith the Lord, Fro the bed, upon the whiche thou steyȝidist up, thou schalt not goo doun, bot bi deth thou schalt dyen. And Helias went. [verse 5] And the messagers ben turned aȝeyn to Ochosias. `The whiche [that E pr. m.] seyde to hem, Why ben ȝe turned aȝeyn? [verse 6] And thei answerden to hym, A man

aȝein came to us, and seyde to us, Gooth, and turneth aȝein to the kynge, that sente ȝou; and ȝe schuln to hym seyn, These thingis seith the Lord, Whether for there was not God in Yrael, thou sentist, that Belzabub be counseyled, the god of Aacharon [Nacharon BFH.] ? Therfore fro the bed upon the whiche thou steiȝedist up, thou schalt not goo doun, bot by deth thou schalt dye. [verse 7] The whiche seyde to hem, Of what fygure and habyte is that man, that aȝeyn came to ȝou, and spake to ȝou these wordis? [verse 8] And thei seyden, A rowȝ man, and with an hery gyrdyl gyrd to the reenys. The whiche seith, Helyas Thesbytes it is. [verse 9] And he sente to hym the prince of fyftye, and the fyfty men that with hym weren. The whiche steiȝ|iden up to hym, and to hym syttynge in the cop of the hill seith, Man of God, the kynge comaundid, that thou come doun. [verse 10] And Helyas answerynge seith to the quynquagenarye, Ȝif the man of God I am, come doun fijr fro heuen, and de|uoure thee and thi fyfty men. Than fijr came doun fro heuen, and deuouride hym, and the fyfty that weren with hym. [verse 11] Eft he sente to hym another prynce of fyfty, and fyfty with hym, the whiche spac to hym, Man of God, these thinges seth the kynge, Hyȝe, come doun. [verse 12] An|swerynge Helyas seith, Ȝif the man of God I am, come doun fijr fro heuen, and deuoure thee and thi fyfty. Than the fijr of God came doun fro heuen, and de|uouride hym and his fyfty. [verse 13] Eft soonys he sente the thridd prynce of fyfty, and the fyfty that weren with hym. The whiche whan was commen, bowed the kneeȝis aȝeins Hely, and preyede him, and seith, Man of God, wylle thou not dispijse my lijf, and the lijues of thi seruauntis that ben with me. [verse 14] Loo! fijre came doun fro heuen, and deuourede the two first princis of fyfty, and the fyftees that weren with hem; and now, I beseche, that thou haue mercye to my lijf. [verse 15] The aungel forsothe

of the Lord spak to Helyas Thesbytes, seyinge, Comme doun with hym; ne drede thou. Thanne he roose and came [verse 16] doun with hym to the kynge; and spac to hym, These thingis seith the Lord, For thou sentist messagers to counseylen Belzabub, god of Accharon, as ther were not God in Yrael, of the whiche thou miȝtist not asken a worde; therfore fro thi bed, upon the whiche thou steyȝidist up, thou schalt not goo doun, bot by deth thou schalt dye. [verse 17] Thanne he is deed aftir the word of the Lord, that Helye spac; and Joram, his brothir, regnede for hym, the seconde ȝeer of Joram, the sone of Josaphath, kyng of Jude; forsothe he hade not a sone. [verse 18] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Ochosie, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] he wrouȝt, whethir thei [these CE.] ben not writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael?

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Done it is forsoth, whan the Lord wolde reren Helyas by a whyrlwynd in to heuen, Helyas and Helyse wenten fro Galgalis. [verse 2] And Helyas to Helyse seide, Sytt here, for the Lord hath sent me vnto Bethel. To whom seith Helese, the Lord liueth and thi soule liueth, for I schal not forsake thee. And whanne thei [verse 3] weren goo doun fro Bethel, the sonys of prophetis, that weren in Bethel, wenten out to Helysee, and seyden to hym, Whether thou hast knowe, for the Lord to day schal taken thi lord fro thee? The whiche answerde, And I haue knowen; beeth stylle. [verse 4] Helyas forsothe seide to Helise, Sytt heere, for the Lord hath sente me into Jericho. And he seith, The Lord liueth and thy soule liueth, for I schal not forsake thee. And when [verse 5] thei weren commen to Jericho, the sonys of prophetis, that weren in Jericho, neyȝ|iden to Helyse, and seyden to hym, Whe|ther thou hast knowen, that the Lord schal taken to day thi lord fro thee?

And he seith, I haue knowen; beeth styll. [verse 6] Helyas forsothe seyde to hym, Sytt here, for the Lord hath [Om. E pr. m.] sente me vnto Jordan. The whiche seith, The Lord liueth and thi soule lyueth, for I schal not forsake thee. Thanne both thei wenten to gydre; [verse 7] and fyfty men of the sonys of prophetis foloweden, the whiche and stoden forn aȝeynst aferre; thei forsothe stoden both upon Jordane. [verse 8] And Helyas tooke his mantyll, and inwrappyde it, and smote the watirs; the whiche ben deuydid in to eithir partye, and thei wenten both thorȝ the drye. [verse 9] And whanne thei weren goon ouer, Helyas seyde to Helise, Aske that thou wilt, that I doo to thee, er I be taken awey fro thee. And Helise seyde, I beseche, that ther be doo thi spirite double in me. [verse 10] The whiche an|swerde, An hard thing thou hast askede; neuer the later ȝif thou seest me, whanne I schal be taken fro thee, it schal be that thou hast askyde; ȝif forsothe thou seest not, it schal not be. [verse 11] And whanne thei wenten, and goynge speke wordis, loo! the fijren chaare and the fijren hors de|uyden euer either; and Helyas steyȝide up by `the whirlwynde [whirlwynde B. the wirlynge wynde H.] in to heuen. [verse 12] Helise forsothe sawe, and criede, Fader myn! fader myn! the chaar of Yrael, and charieter [the charieter A.] of it. And he sawȝ hym no more. And he toke his clothis, and kutt hem in to two partyes. [verse 13] And he rerede the mantyll of Helye, that hadde fallen to hym; and, turned [he turned A.] aȝein, stode upon the brynke of Jordan. [verse 14] And with the mantyll of Helye, that hadde fallen to hym, he smote the waters, and thei ben not deuydid. And he seide, Where is the God of Helye also nowe? And he smote the watirs, and thei ben dyuydid hidre and thidre; and Helisee passede ouer. [verse 15] Forsothe the sonys of the pro|phetis that weren in Jericho, seeinge, aȝeinward seyden, The spirite of Helye hath restyde upon Helisee. And thei

commynge in to aȝein commynge of hym, honoureden hym redye in to the erth. [verse 16] And thei seyden to hym, Loo! with thi seruauntis ben fyfty stronge men, that mown goon, and seechen thi lord, lest perauenture the Spirite of the Lord haue taken hym, and throwen hym in oon of the hillis, or in oon of the valeys. The whiche seithe, Wylle ȝe not senden. [verse 17] And they constreyniden hym, to tyme that he assentide to hem, and seyde, Sendith. And thei senten fyfty men; whiche whanne hadden souȝt three days, founden not. [verse 18] And thei turneden aȝeyn to hym; and he dwellyde in Jericho. And he seyde to hem, Whether I seyde not to ȝou, Willith not senden? [verse 19] Than the men of the cytee seyden to Helyse, Lo! the dwellynge of this cytee is best, as thou thi silf, lord, byholdist; bot and the watirs ben werst, and the erth bareyn. [verse 20] And he seith, Bringith to me a newe vessel, and puttith in it salt. The whiche whan [verse 21] they hadden brouȝte, goon oute to the welle of watirs, he putte in to it salt, and seith, These thingis seith the Lord, I haue heelide these watirs, and there schal be no more in hem deth, ne ba|reynte. [verse 22] Thanne the watirs ben helyde into this day, aftir the word of Helise, that he spac. [verse 23] Forsothe Helise steyȝide up thens in to Bethel; and whanne he schulde stey up by the weye, lytyl chil|dren wenten out fro the cyte, and scorn|eden to hym seyinge, Stey up, ballard! stey up, ballard! [verse 24] The whiche whan he byheld, sawȝe hem, and cursed to hem in name of the Lord. And two beris wente oute fro the wyild wode, and to|tereden [to-teeren CE pr. m.] of hem two and fourty chyl|dren. [verse 25] Forsothe he wente thens in to the hill of Carmele, and thens turnede aȝein in to Samarye.

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Joram forsoth, the sone of Acab, regn|ede upon Yrael, in Samarie, the eiȝteenth ȝeer of Josaphath, kyng of Juda. And [verse 2] he regnyde twelue ȝeer, and dyde yuel bifore the Lord, bot not as his fadir [verse 3] and modir; forsothe he toke aweye the ymagis of Baal, that his fadir hadde maade, neuer the latir he cleeuyde in the synnys of Jeroboam, the sone of Na|bath, that made Yrael to synnen; and he wente not aweye fro hem. [verse 4] Forsothe Mesa, the kyng of Moab, nuryschede many beestis, and payed to the kyng of Yrael an hundreth thousand of lombis, and an hundreth thousand of [Om. AB.] wetheris, with their fleeses [flees CE.] . [verse 5] And whann Acab was deed, he brake the bonde of pese that he hade with the kyng of Yrael. [verse 6] Thann kyng Joram wente out in that day fro Samarie, and noumbrede alle Yrael. [verse 7] And he sente to Josaphath, kyng of Juda, seyinge, Kynge Moab is goon aweye fro me; comme with me aȝeynst hym to batayl. The whiche answerde, I schal steyen up; he that is myn, is thyne; my puple thi puple, and myn hors thin hors. [verse 8] And he seyde, By what weye schuln we steyȝen up? And he an|swerde, By the desert of Ydume. [verse 9] Thann the kyng of Yrael, and the kyng of Juda, and the kyng of Edom, wenten, and ȝeeden aboute by the weye of seuene days; and ther was not watir to the hoost, and to the beestis, that foleweden hem. [verse 10] And the kyng of Yrael seide, Allas! allas! allas! the Lord hath ga|derd us three kyngis, that he take [take vs A.] in the hond of Moab. [verse 11] And Josaphath seith, Is there not a prophete of the Lord, that we preyen the Lord by hym? And oon answerde of the seruauntis of the [Om. ABF.] kynge of Yrael, There is here Helisee, the sone

of Saphath, that heelde watir vpon the hondis of Helye. [verse 12] And Josaphath seith, Is ther anentis hym the worde of the Lord? And the kyng of Yrael came doun to hym, and Josaphath, kyng of Juda, and the kyng of Edom. [verse 13] Forsothe Helisee seyde to the kyng of Yrael, What is to me and to thee? Goo to the pro|phetis of thi fadir and thi [of thi CE. Om. B.] modir. And the kyng of Yrael seith to hym, Why the Lord hath gaderde these three kyngis, that he take hem in to the hondis of Moab? [verse 14] And Helyse seyde to hym, The Lord of hoostis liueth, in whose siȝt I stonde, that ȝif not the cheer of Josa|phath, kyng of Juda, I schamyde, forsoth I schulde not haue taken hede to thee, ne haue byholden. [verse 15] Now forsothe bryngith to me an sawtrer. And whanne the sawtrer songe, the honde of the Lord is [verse 16] don upon hym, and he seith, These thingis seith the Lord, Makith the wombe of this streme dychis and dychis. [verse 17] Forsothe these thingis seith the Lord, Ȝe schuln not seen wynde, ne reyn, and this wombe schal ben fulfilled with watirs, and drynke schuln ȝe, and ȝoure meyne, and ȝoure beestis. [verse 18] Lytyll is this in the siȝt of the Lord. Ferthermore also he [verse 19] schal taken Moab in to ȝoure hondis; and ȝe schul smyten alle streyngthid [the strengthid A.] cytee, and alle chosen cyte, and ȝe schuln hewen doun eche tree berynge fruyt, and alle the wellis of watirs ȝe schuln stoppen, and alle noble feeld ȝe schuln coueren with stonys. [verse 20] It is doo than erly, whann sacrifice is wont to be offerd, and, loo! watirs camen by the weye of Edom; and the erth is fulfillid with watirs. [verse 21] Alle forsothe Moabitis herynge, that kyngis hadden steyȝiden up, that thei fiȝten aȝeynus hem, thei clepiden to gydre alle that weren gird abowen with knyȝtis gyrdill, and thei stoden in the termys. [verse 22] And first erly rijsynge, and nowe the

sunne sprungen forn aȝeinst of the wa|tirs, Moabitis seen aȝenward rede watirs as blode. [verse 23] And thei seiden, Blood of swerde it is; the kyngis han fouȝten aȝeynst hem seluen, and thei ben slayn to gidre; nowe, Moab, goo to the praye. [verse 24] And thei wenten in to the tentis of Yrael; forsothe Yrael ryisynge smote Moab, and thei flowen byfore hem. Thanne camen thei that ouercomen, and [verse 25] smyten Moab, and distruyden the cytees; and alle the best feelde thei fulfilliden, eche seendynge stoonys; and alle the wellis of watirs thei stoppyden, and alle the treese berynge fruyt thei heweden doun, so that oonly the wallis made with erthe laften; and the cyte is enuyround of slyngers, and of grete partye smyten. [verse 26] And whanne kyng Moab hadde seen, that is, the enemyes to han the ouerhond, he tooke with him seuen hundreth men drawynge oute swerdis, that thei breken oute to king Edom; and thei myȝten not. [verse 27] And takynge his first goten sone, that was to regnen for hym, he offerd brent sacrifice upon the wall; and greet indignacioun is made in Yrael; and anoon thei wenten aweye fro hym, and turneden aȝeyn into their lond.

CAP. IV.

[verse 1] Forsothe a maner womman of the wiyuys of prophetis cryede to Helise, seyinge, Thy seruaunt, my man, is deed, and thou hast knowen for thy seruaunt was dreed|ynge God; and loo! a creaunsure came, that he take my two sonys to seruen to hym. [verse 2] To whom seyde Helisee, What wilt thou that I doo to [Om. BF.] thee? sey to me, what hast thou in thin hous? And sche an|swerde, I thi seruaunt haue not eny thinge in my hous, bot a lytill of oyle, by the whiche I be anoyntid. [verse 3] To whome he seith, Goo, and aske by borwynge of alle thi neyȝbours voyd vessellis not fewe.

[verse 4] And goo in, and close thi dore, whanne thou and thi sonys weren with inne forth; and putte therof in to alle these vessellis; and whanne thei weren ful, thou schalt take. [verse 5] And so the woman wente, and closede the dore vpon hir silf and vpon hir children, thei offerden vesselis, and sche heelde in. [verse 6] And whanne the ves|selis weren fulle, sche seyde to hire sone, Brynge to me ȝit a vessel. And he an|swerde, I haue not. And the oyle stode. [verse 7] Sche forsothe came, and schewide to the man of God; and he, Goo, he seith, sylle the oyle, and ȝeelde to thi creaunser; thou forsothe and thi sonys liuith of the remnaunt. [verse 8] Forsothe a maner day is done, and Helisee passed thorȝ Suna cyte; for|sothe ther was there a grete womman, that heelde hym, that he ete brede. And whann oft sithes he passede thens, he turnede asyde to hyre, that he ete brede. [verse 9] The whiche seyde to hyre man, I per|ceyue that this is an holy man, that oft [verse 10] sithis passith bi us; thanne make we to hym a litill soupynge place, and putte we in it to hym a lityll bed, and a borde, and a lytyll seete, and a candilstyke; that whanne he comith to us, he dwelle ther. [verse 11] Thann a maner day is done, and com|mynge he turnede asyde in to the soup|ynge place, and restyde there. [verse 12] And he seide to Gyazi, his child, Clepe this [this seruaunt B. sec. m.] Suna|myte. The whiche whanne hade clepyd hyre, and sche hadde stonden beforn hym, [verse 13] he seide to his childe, Speke to hire, Lo! bisily in alle thingis thou hast serued to us; what wilt thou that I do to thee? Whethir hast thou a nede, and wilt that I speke to the kyng, or to the prince of chyualrye? The whiche answerd, In the mydil of my peple I dwelle. [verse 14] And he seith, What thanne sche wille that I do to hyre? And Giazi seide to hym, Ne

aske thou, forsothe sche hath no sone, and hyre man is olde. [verse 15] And so he co|maundid, that he clepe hyre. The whiche whanne was clepid, and hade stonden by|fore [verse 16] the doore, he seyde to hyre, In this tyme and in this same houre, ȝif the liyf were leder, thou schalt haue a sone in thy wombe. And sche answerde, Wylle thou not, I beseche, my lord, man of God, wylle thou not lyȝen to thin hond wom|man. [verse 17] And the womman conceyuede, and bare a chijlde in tyme, and in the same houre, that Helise hadde seyde. [verse 18] Forsothe the child wexe; and whan ther was a maner day, and he was gon oute to his [verse 19] fadir, and to the repers, he seith to his fadir, Myn heued `I aake [akith A.] , my heued `I aake [akith A.] . And he seyde to a childe, Take, and leed hym to his modir. [verse 20] The whiche whanne he hadde taken, and lade to his modir, sche putte hym upon hir knees vnto the mydday, and he is deed. [verse 21] For|sothe sche steiȝede up, and leyde hym vpon the bed of the man of God, and closede the dore. And sche gon oute, [verse 22] clepyde hyre man, and seith, Sende with me, I bisech, oon of the childre, and a sche asse, and I schal rennen oute vnto [verse 23] the man of God, and turnen aȝein. The whiche seith to hyre, For what cause gost thou to him? to day ben not kalen|dis, ne sabot. The whiche answerde, I schal goon. [verse 24] And sche greythede the sche asse, and comaundid to the chijlde, Driyf, and go forth; ne make thou to me abijd|ynge in goynge, and that doo that I co|maunde to thee. [verse 25] Than sche wente forthe, and came to the man of God, in to the hill of Carmele. And whan the man of God hade seen hyre forn aȝeynst, he seith to Giazi, his chijld, Lo! that Sunamyte; [verse 26] go than in to aȝein commynge of hyre, and seye to hyre, Whethir riȝt it is don aboute thee, and thi man, and thi chylde?

The whiche answerde, Riȝt. [verse 27] And whann sche was commen to the man of God, in to the hyll, sche cauȝte his feete; and Giazi wente niȝ, for to meuen hyre aweye. And the man of God seith, Lete hyr; forsothe the liyf of hyre is in bytter|nesse, and the Lord hath hillid fro me, and hath not schewed to me. [verse 28] The whiche seyde to hym, Whethir I askide my sone of my lord? Whethir I seyde not to thee, Ne begijle thou me? [verse 29] And he seith to Giazy, Gyrde thi reenys, and take my staf in thin hond, and goo; ȝif eny [a ACEFH.] man aȝein comme to thee, ne salute thou hym; and ȝif eny man salutith thee, answere thou not to hym; and putte my staf vpon the face of the chylde. [verse 30] Bot the moder of the chyld seith, The Lord lyueth and thi soule lyueth, I schal not leue thee. Thanne he roos, and folowed hyre. [verse 31] Giazi forsothe wente before hem, and putt the staf upon the face of the chyld; and ther was not voice, ne witte. And he turned aȝein in to `aȝein com|mynge [the aȝen comyng A.] of hym; and he tolde to hym, seyinge, The child hath not rysen. [verse 32] Than Helisee wente in to the hous, and lo! the child laye deed in the bed of hym. [verse 33] And goon in he closede the dore vpon hym, and vpon the chyld; and he preyed the Lord. [verse 34] And he steiȝide up, and laye vpon the chyld; and he putte his mouth vpon the mouth of hym, and his eeȝen vpon the eeȝen of hym, and his hondis vpon the hondis of hym. And he bowede hym silf vpon hym; and made hoote is the flesche of the chyld. [verse 35] And he eft `turnede aȝein [wente E pr. m.] in the hous oonys hydre and thidre; and he steiȝide vp, and laye vpon hym, and the chyld brethed seuen sithes, and opnede the eeȝen. [verse 36] And he clepide Giazi, and seyde to hym, Clepe this Sunamyte. The whiche clepid wente in to hym. The whiche seith, Take thi

sone. [verse 37] Sche came, and felle at hys feet, and honourede vpon the erthe; and sche toke hyre sone, and wente oute. [verse 38] And Helisee turnede aȝein in to Galgala. For|sothe ther was hunger in the lond, and the sonys of prophetis dwelliden before hym. And Helisee seyde to oon of his childre, Sete a grete potte, and seethe potage to the sonis of prophetes. [verse 39] And oon wente oute in to the feelde, that he gedre wijld herbis; and he foond as a wijld vyne, and he gederde of it wijld gourdis of the feeld. And he fulfillide his mantylle, and turnede aȝein, and [Om. CE.] hewede [heewȝ CE.] to gydre in to the pott of pot|age; he wyst not forsothe what it was. [verse 40] Thanne they helden in to felawis, that thei myȝten eten; and whanne thei haden tastyden of the seethinge, thei crieden oute, seyinge, Deth in the pott! deth in the pott! man of God. And thei myȝten not eeten. [verse 41] And he, Bryngith to, he seith, mele. And whanne thei haden brouȝt, he putt in to the pott, and seith, Heeldith in to the puple, that thei eten; and there was no more eny thing of bytternesse in the pott. [verse 42] Forsothe a maner man came fro Balsalisa, bryngynge to the man of God loouys of first fruytes, and tenne barly loouys, and newe whete, in his bagge. And he seide, Ȝeue to the puple, that it ete. [verse 43] And his seruaunt answerde to hym, Howe myche is this, that I putt before an hundreth men? Eft he seith, Ȝeue to the puple, that it ete; these thingis forsothe seith the Lord, Thei schul eten, and ther schal leuen ouer. [verse 44] And so he sette before hem, the whiche eeten; and ther laft ouer, aftir the worde of the Lorde.

CAP. V.

[verse 1] Naaman, the prince of chyualrye of the kyng of Cyrye, was a grete man anentis

his lord, and a wirschipide; by hym for|sothe the Lord ȝaue helth to Cyrye; forsothe he was a stronge man and riche, but mesell. [verse 2] Forsothe fro Cyrye wenten out lytyll theeues, and thei haden brouȝt fro the lond of Yrael a lytill chyld wom|man caytife, that was in the seruyce of the wiyf of Naaman. [verse 3] The whiche seith to hir lady, Wolde God, my lord were at a prophete that is in Samarye; for|sothe he schulde han helyde hym fro the lepre that he hath. [verse 4] And so Naaman wente in to his lord, and tolde to hym, seyinge, Thus and thus spake the chyld womman of the lond of Yrael. [verse 5] And so the kyng of Cyrye seyde to hym, Go, and I schal sende letters to the kyng of Yrael. The whiche whann was gon, and hade take with hym tenn talentis of syluer, and sexe thousand platis of gold, and tenn chaungynge maner of clothis, [verse 6] he tooke to the kyng of Yrael lettris in to these wordis; Whanne thou takist this lettre, wyte thou, that I haue sente to thee Naaman my seruaunt, that thou hele hym fro his lepre. [verse 7] And whanne the kyng of Yrael hade red the letters, he kutte his clothis, and seith, Whethir a god I am, that I mow slen and quyck|en, for he hath sente to me, that I hele a man fro his lepre? Takith heed and seeth, that occasiouns he sechith aȝeyns me. [verse 8] The whiche whanne Helisee, the man of God, hadde herde, that is, the kyng of Yrael to han kutte his clothis, he sente to hym, seyinge, Why hast thou kutte thy clothis? come he to me, and wyte a prophete to be in Yrael. [verse 9] Thanne Naaman came with hors and chaaris, and stood at the dore of the hous of Helisee. [verse 10] And Helisee sente to hym a messanger, seyinge, Goo, and be waschen seuen sithis in Jordan; and thi flesche schal receyuen helth, and thou schalt be clensed. [verse 11] Naaman wroth wente aweye,

seyinge, I wende that he schulde goon oute to me, and stondynge schulde in|wardly clepen the name of his God, and touche with his hond the place of the lepre, and helen me. [verse 12] Whethir not beter ben Abana and Pharphar, the floodis of Damask, thanne alle the waters of Yrael, that I be waschen in hem, and be clens|ede? [verse 13] Whann thann he hadde turnyde hymsilf, and goon aweye endeynynge, wenten to hym his seruauntis, and speken to hym, Fader, and ȝif a grete thinge the prophete hadde seide to thee, certis thou owedist to done; myche more for nowe he seyde to thee, Be wasched, and thou schalt be clansede. [verse 14] He wente doun, and wasche in Jordane seuen sithis, aftir the worde of the man of God; and the flesche of hym is restorid as the flesche of a litil chyld, and he is clensed. [verse 15] And turned aȝein to the man of God with alle his felawschip came, and stood before hym; and seith, Vereyly I woot, that ther is noon other God in all erth [the erthe E pr. m.] , bot oonly the God of Yrael; also, I beseche, that thou take a blissynge of thi seruaunt. [verse 16] And he answerde, The Lord lyueth be|fore whom I stonde, for I schal not taken. And whanne forsynge he made, vtturly he assentyde not. [verse 17] And so Naaman seide, As thou wilt; bot, I beseche, graunte to me, thi seruaunt, that I take two bur|downs charge fro the lond; forsothe thi seruaunt schal no more make brent sacri|fice, or slayn sacrifice, to alyen goddis, bot to the Lord. [verse 18] This forsothe oonly is, of the whiche thou preye the Lord for thi seruaunt, whanne my lord goth in to the temple of Remmon, that he honoure, and hym lenynge vpon myn hond, ȝif I ho|noure in the temple of Remmon, he ho|nouryng in the same place, that the Lord forȝeue to me, thi seruaunt, for this thing.

[verse 19] The whiche seide to hym, Goo in pese. Thann he ȝeede fro hym the chosen tyme of the lond. [verse 20] And Giazi, the childe of the man of God, seide, My lord hath sparede to this Naaman Cyro, that he take not of hym that he brouȝte; the Lord liueth, for I schal rennen aftir hym, and I schal taken of hym sumwhate. [verse 21] And Giazi fo|lowede aftir the bac of Naaman; whom whan he hade seen rennynge to hym, he `leep doun [stood doun stille E pr. m. wente doun stille E sec. vice. leep doun E tertia vice.] of the chaar in to aȝein com|mynge of hym; and seith, Whether riȝt ben alle thingis? [verse 22] And he seith, Riȝt; my lord sente me to thee, seyinge, Nowe ben commen to me two yonge men fro the hyll of Effraym, of the sonys of pro|phetes; ȝeue to hem a talent of syluer, and double chaungynge clothis. [verse 23] And Naaman seyde, Beter it is that thou take two talentis. And he constreyned hym; and he boond two talentis of syluer in two baggis, and double clothis, and putte to his two chylder, the whiche and bern before hym. [verse 24] And whanne he was com|myn nowe at euen, he tooke fro the hond of hem, and leyde up in the house; and he laft the men, and they wenten aweye. [verse 25] He forsothe goon in stode bifore his lord. And Helisee seyde, Whenns comyst thou, Giezi? The whiche answerde, Thi ser|uaunt ȝeede not o whydre. [verse 26] And he seith, Whether myn hert was not in present, whanne the man turnede aȝein fro his chaar in to aȝein commynge of thee? Nowe thanne thou hast taken syluer, and taken clothes, that thou bye olyuis, and vinis, and scheep, and oxen, and ser|uauntis, [verse 27] and hond wymmen; bot and the leepre of Naaman schal cleue to thee, and to thi seede in to euermore. And he wente out from hym mesell as snowe.

CAP. VI.

[verse 1] Seyden forsothe the sonys of prophetis to Helisee, Loo! the place in the whiche we dwellen before thee, is streyt to us; [verse 2] goo we vnto Jordan, and taken eche fro the wood sundrye matteers, that we beelden to us there a place to dwellen. The whiche seide, Gooth. [verse 3] And oon of hem seith, Comme thanne and thou with thi seruauntis. He answerde, I schal commen. [verse 4] And he wente with hem. And whanne thei weren commen to Jordan, they hewen treese. [verse 5] It fell forsothe, that whanne oon had hewen a mateer, felle the yren of the axe in to the watir; and he criede oute, and seith, Allas! allas! allas! my lord, and that same I tooke of borowynge. [verse 6] Forsothe the man of God seyde, Where felle it? And he schewyde to hym the place. Thanne he hewede of a tree, and putte thidir; and the yren swam. [verse 7] And he saith, Take. The whiche strauȝt out the hoond, and took it. [verse 8] The kyng forsothe of Cyrye fauȝte aȝeynst Yrael; and wente in counseil with his seruauntis, seiynge, In this place and that sette we buschementis. [verse 9] And so the man of God sente to the kynge of Yrael, seyinge, Be war, lest thou passe to that place, for ther ben Cyris in busche|mentis. [verse 10] And so the kyng of Yrael sente to that place, `the whiche [that C.] the man of God hade spoken to hym, and he [be B.] before occupiede it, and he weytyde hym there not oonys, ne twyes. [verse 11] And the herte of the kyng of Cyrye is distourbled for this thing; and, the seruauntis clepid to gydre, seith, Whi han ȝe not schewed to me, who be my traitour anentis the kyng of Yrael? [verse 12] And oon of the seruauntis of hym seyde, Nay, my lord kyng, bot Helisee, the prophete, that is in Yrael,

schewith to the kyng alle wordis, what|euer thou hast spoken in thy priue chaumbre. [verse 13] And he seyde to hym, Gooth, and seeth, wher he be, that I sende, and take hym. And thei tolden to hym, sey|inge, Loo! in Dotaym he dwellith. [verse 14] And he sente thidre hors, and chaaris, and the strengthe of the oost; the whiche, when thei weren commen at nyȝt, they enuyrounden the cyte. [verse 15] The seruaunt forsothe of the man of God rysynge erly wente oute, and he sawe the hoost in enuyroun of the cyte, and hors, and chaaris. And he tolde to hym, seyinge, Allas! allas! allas! my lord, what schal we done? [verse 16] And he answerde, Wylle thou not dreede; forsothe mo ben with us than with hem. [verse 17] And whanne Helise hade preyede, he seith, Lord, opyn the eeȝen of this chylde, that he see. And the Lord opnede the eeȝen of the chijld, and he sawȝ. And loo! an hyll ful of hors, and of fyren chaaris, in enuyroun of He|lisee. [verse 18] Forsothe the enmyes camen doun to hym; bot Helisee preyede to the Lord, seyinge, Smyit, I beseche, this folc with blyndnesse. And the Lord smoot hem, lest thei seeȝen, after the worde of Helisee. [verse 19] Forsothe Helisee seyde to hem, This is not the weye, ne this is not [Om. CE.] the cyte; folowith me, and I schal schewe to ȝou the man, whom ȝe [thou E pr. v. ȝee sec. v.] seeken. And he ladde hem in to Samarye. [verse 20] And whan thei weren commen in to Samarie, Helisee seyde, Lord, opne the eeȝen of these, that thei seen. And the Lord opnede the eeȝen of hem, and thei seen hem selfen to ben in the mydill of Samarye. [verse 21] And the kynge of Yrael seide to Helisee, whanne he hadde seen hem, Whether I schal smyten hem, fader myne? [verse 22] And he seith, Thou schalt not smyten hem, ne forsoth thou hast taken hem with swerde [the swerde E.] , and with thi bowe, that thou smyte; bot putte

brede and watir before hem, that thei eten and drynken, and goon to their lord. [verse 23] And there is putte to hem grete greith|inge of metis; and thei eeten, and drunk|en. And he laft hem, and thei wenten to their lord; and no more camen the theeuis of Cyrye in to the lond of Yrael. [verse 24] It is done forsothe aftir these thingis, Benadab, kyng of Cyrye, gaderde alle his hoost, and steyȝede vp, and beseegyde Samarye. [verse 25] And there is maad grete hun|gre in Samarye; and so long it is be|seegide [to be seegide B.] , to the tyme that the heued of an asse were sold for foure scoor [hundrid E pr. v. score sec. v.] platis of syluer, and the ferth parte of a me|sure of the dryt of culuers for fyue platis of syluer. [verse 26] And whanne the kyng of Yrael passed by the wall, a maner womman criede to hym, seiynge, Saue me, my lord kyng. [verse 27] The whiche seith, Nay, saue thee the Lord; wherof may I saue thee? of the corn flore, or of the presse? And the kyng seide to hire, What wylt thou to thee? The whiche [verse 28] answerde, Thys womman seide to me, Ȝeue thi sone, that we eten hym to day; and my sone we schal eten to morwe. [verse 29] Thanne we seetheden my sone, and eeten. And I seide to hire the tother day, Ȝeue thi sone, that we eten hym; the which hyde hyre sone. [verse 30] The which thing whanne the kyng hade herde, he kutt his clothis, and passede by the wall; and alle the puple sawe an hayre, with whiche [the whiche E pr. m.] the kyng was clothid [clad C.] at the flesch with in forthe. [verse 31] And the kynge seith, Thes thingis do to me God, and thes thingis adde, ȝif the heued of Helisee, the sone of Saphath, schulde stonden vpon hym to day. [verse 32] Helisee forsothe satt in his hous, and olde men seeten with hym; and so he sente beforn a man, and er the mes|sager came, he seide to the old men, Whether ȝe knowen, that the sone of a

man sleere hath sente hithir, that myn heued be gyrd off? Seeȝith than, whanne the messager commith, closeth the dore, and suffreth hym not to commen in; lo! forsothe the soun of the feet of his lord is bihynde hym. [verse 33] And ȝit hym spekynge to hem, apeeride the messager, that came to hym; and seith, Loo! so myche yuel of the Lord is; what more schal I abyden of the Lord?

CAP. VII.

[verse 1] Helisee forsothe seide, Here ȝe the word of the Lord; these thingis seith the Lord, In this tyme to morwe a buschell of tryid floure schal be at `half an ounce of monee [thre schillyngis E pr. m.] , and two buschels of barly for half an ounce of monee, in the ȝate of Samarye. [verse 2] Answerynge forsothe oon of the duykis, vpon whose hond the kyng lenyde, to the man of God, seide, Ȝif the Lord make also the goters in heuen to be opnyde, whether it schal mow ben that thou spekist? The whiche seith, Thou schalt seen with thin eeȝen, and therof thou schalt not eten. [verse 3] Than foure leprouse men weren byside the en|tree of the ȝate, the whiche seyden to gydre, What wil we be here, to the tyme that we dyen? [verse 4] Whether we wyln goon in to the cyte, by hungre we schul dyen; whethir we schuln dwellen here, to dyen it is to us. Commith thann, and fleeȝe we ouer to the tentis of Cyrie; ȝif thei sparen to us, we schul lyuen; `ȝif for|sothe [for ȝif A.] thei wiln slen, neuer the later we schul dyen. [verse 5] Thanne they rysen at euen, that thei comen to the tentis of Cirie; and whanne thei weren commen to the bigynnynge of the tentis of Cyrye, no man there thei founden. [verse 6] Forsothe the Lord hadde made [made hem A.] to heren a [such a C.] soun in the tentis of Cyrye of charis, and of hors,

and of a [Om. E pr. m.] mych hoost; and thei seyden to gydre, Loo! by meede the kyng of Yrael hath hyred aȝeynst us the kyngis of Etheis and of Egipciens; and thei ben commen vpon us. [verse 7] Thanne thei risen, and flowen in dercnessis, and laften their tentis, and hors, and mulis, and asses, in the tentis; and thei flowen, their lyuis oonly coueitynge to sauen. [verse 8] Thann whanne thoo [thoo ilke E pr. m.] mesels weren commen to the bigyn|nynge of the tentis, thei wenten in to oon tabernacle, and eten, and drunken; and token thenns syluer, and gold, and clothis; and thei wenten aweye, and hydden; and eft thei ben turned aȝeyn to another tabernacle, and thenns lyc maner beerynge aweye, hydden. [verse 9] And they seyden to gidir, We do not riȝt, this is forsothe a day of good message; ȝif we holden oure pese, and wyln not tellen vnto the morowe, we schul be vndernum|men of hydous gylt; commith, and goo we, and tellen in the halle of the kyng. [verse 10] And whanne thei weren commen to the ȝate of the cytee, thei tolden to hem, seyinge, We wenten to the tentis of Sy|rie, and no man ther we founden, bot hors and assis bounden, and the piȝt tentis. [verse 11] Thanne the porteris ȝeden, and tolden in the paleys of the kyng with|inne forth. [verse 12] The whiche rose at nyȝt, and seith to his seruauntis, I sey to ȝou, what to us Cyryes han done; thei wyten, for [therfor E pr. m.] with hungre we traueylen, and ther|fore they ben goon oute of the tentis, and lurken in the feeldis, seyinge, Whanne thei weren goon oute of the cyte, we schuln taken hem on lyue, and thann we schuln mowe goon in to the cytee. [verse 13] For|soth oon of his seruauntis answerde, Take we the fyue hors, that ben laft in the cytee; for thei oonly ben in alle the multitude of Yrael, the tother forsothe ben wastyde; and seendynge we schuln

mowe aspyen. [verse 14] Thanne thei brouȝten forthe two hors; and the kyng sente in to the tentis of Cyries, seyinge, Goth, and seeth. [verse 15] The whiche wenten aftre hem vnto Jordan; and, lo! al the wey was ful of clothis, and of [Om. B.] vesselis, that the Cyryes hadden throwen aweye, whanne thei weren distourblid. And the messagers turnede aȝeyn, scheweden to the kyng. [verse 16] And the puple goon oute, to|brast the tentis of Cyrye; and a buschel of floure is maad at `half an ounce of monee [thre schillyngis E pr. m.] , and two buschels of barly for half an ounce of monee, aftir the word of the Lord. [verse 17] Forsothe the kynge that duyk, in whose hond he hade lenyd, he sett at the ȝate; whom the puple alto|trade in the entre of the ȝate, and is deed, aftir that, that the man of God hadde spoken, whanne the kyng came doun to hym. [verse 18] And it is done aftir the word of the man of God, the whiche he hade seide to the kyng, whanne he seith, Two buschels of barly schuln ben at one half ounce of monee, and oon buschell of flour for oon half ounce of monee, this same tyme to morwe in the ȝate of Sa|marie; [verse 19] whanne the [that CE.] duyk hadde an|swerde to the man of God, and hadde seyde, Also ȝif the Lord make the goters in heuen to be opnede, whether it schal mow [not A.] be done that thou spekist? and he seid, Thou schalt seen with thin eeȝen, and therof thou schalt not eten. [verse 20] Thanne it felle to hym, as it was seyde beforn; and the puple to-trade him `in the ȝate [Om. CE pr. m.] , and he is deed [deed in the ȝate CE.] .

CAP. VIII.

[verse 1] Helisee forsothe [Om. E pr. m.] spac to the womman, whose sone he made to lyue, seyinge, Rijs, goo, and thou and thin hous, in pil|grymage, whereuer thou schalt fynde; the Lord forsothe schal clepen hungre,

and it schal commen vpon the lond seuen ȝeer. [verse 2] The whiche rose, and dyde aftir the word of the man of God; and goo|ynge with hyre hous pylgrymagid in the lond of Phylisteis many dayes. [verse 3] And whanne seuen ȝeer weren fynyschid, the womman is turnede aȝein fro the lond of Philisteis; and sche wente oute, that sche preye the kyng for hyre hous, and for hir feeldis. [verse 4] The kynge forsothe spak with Giezi, the chijld of the man of God, seyinge, Telle to me alle the grete thingis that Helisee dide. [verse 5] And whanne he tolde to the kynge, what maner wijse he hade rered the deed, the womman apeeride, whose sone he hade quyckenede, criynge to the kyng for hyre hous, and for hyre feeldis. And Giezi seide, My lord kyng, this is the womman, and this is the sone of hyre, that Helisee rerede. [verse 6] And the kynge askyde the womman, the whiche tolde to hym tho thingis to be soth. And the kyng ȝaue to hyre an geldynge, sei|ynge, Restore to hyre alle thingis that ben hyres, and alle the rentes of feeldis, fro the day that sche laft the lond vnto the tyme that is nowe. [verse 7] Forsothe He|lisee cam to Damask, and Benadab, kyng of Cyrye, wexe seeke; and thei tolden to hym, seyinge, The man of God is com|men hydre. [verse 8] And the kyng seith to Asael, Take with thee ȝiftis, and goo in to aȝein commynge of the man of God, and coun|seyle by hym the Lord, seyinge, Ȝif I schal mow ascapen of this myn enfir|myte? [verse 9] Than [And than A sec. m.] Asael wente in to aȝein commynge of hym, hauynge with hym ȝiftis, and alle the [Om. B.] goodis of Damaske, fourty chamel [chamels A.] chaargis. And whanne he hade stonden before hym, seith, Thi sone, Benadab, kyng of Syrie, sente me to thee, seyinge, Ȝif I schal mowe be heelid of this myn enfirmyte? [verse 10] And Helisee seide, Goo, seye to hym, Thou schalt ben hoole;

bot the Lord hath schewide to me for by deth he schal dye. [verse 11] And he stode with hym, and is distourbled, vnto the sched|ynge doun of the cheere; and the man of God wepte. [verse 12] To whom Asael seith, Why my lord weepith? And he an|swerde, For I wote what thou be to doo to the sonis of Yrael euyls; the strength|ide cytees of hem thou schalt brenne up with fijr, and the ȝonge men of hem thou schalt slee with swerde, and the lytyll chyldre of hem thou schalt hurtlyn, and the wymmen with chijlde thou schalt deuyde. [verse 13] And Asael seyde, What for|sothe am I, thi seruaunt, an hound, that I doo this grete thinge? And Helisee seith, The Lord hath schewide to me thee to be kyng of Cyrye. [verse 14] The which whanne hade goon aweye fro Helisee, came to his lord; the which seith to hym, What seide Helisee to thee? And he answerde, He seide to me, Thou schalt resseyue helth. [verse 15] And whanne the tother day was commen, he toke an couerlyte, and helte in with watir, and spradde vpon his face; the whiche deed, Asael regnede for hym. [verse 16] The fyft ȝeer of Joram, the sone of Acab, kyng of Yrael, regnede Joram, the sone of Josaphath, king of Juda. [verse 17] Of two and thritty ȝeer he was whanne he beganne to regnen, and eiȝte ȝere he regnyde in Jerusalem. [verse 18] And he wente in the weyes of the kyngis of Yrael, as wente the hous of Acab; the douȝter forsothe of Acab was his wiyf; and he dydde that, that is yuel in the siȝt of the Lord. [verse 19] And the Lord wolde not scateren Juda, for Dauid, his ser|uaunt, as he hadde behoten to hym, that he schulde ȝeue to hym a lanterne, and to his sones [sone ABFH.] alle days. [verse 20] In tho days wente aweye Edom, that thei weren not vndur Juda; and he sette to hym a kyng.

[verse 21] And Joram came to Seyr, and alle the charis with hym; and he roose the nyȝt, and smote Ydumes, that hym hadden enuyround, and the princis of the chaaris; the puple forsothe fleeyȝ in to their taber|naclis. [verse 22] Than went Edom, that he were not vndur Juda vnto this day; thanne wente aweye Lobna and in that tyme. [verse 23] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Joram, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether not these ben writen in the booke of the wordis of the days of the [Om. B.] kyngis of Juda? [verse 24] And Joram slepte with his faders, and is byryed with hem in the cytee of Dauid; and Ochosias, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 25] The twelfith ȝeer of Joram, the sone of kyng Achab, regn|ede Ochosias, the sone of kyng Joram, of Jude. [verse 26] Of two and twenty ȝeer was Ocho|sias, the sone of Joram, whanne he be|ganne to regnen, and oon ȝeer he regned in Jerusalem; the name of his modir Athalia, the douȝter of Amry, kyng of Yrael. [verse 27] And he wente in the weyes of the hous of Achab, and dydde that, that is yuel before the Lord, as the hous of Acab; forsothe the sone in lawe in lawe of the hous of Acab he was. [verse 28] Forsothe he wente with Joram, the sone of Acab, to fiȝten aȝeyn Azael, kyng of Cyrie, in to Ra|moth Galaad; and Cyries woundeden Jo|ram. [verse 29] The whiche is turned aȝeyn, that he were helyd in Jezrael; for Cyries woundeden hym in Ramoth, fiȝtynge aȝeynst Azael, kynge of Cyrie. For|sothe Ochozias, the sone of Joram, kyng of Juda, came doun to visyten Joram, the sone of Achab, in Jezrael, the whiche seekened there.

CAP. IX.

[verse 1] Forsothe Helisee, the [Om. BF.] prophete, clepide oon of the sonys of prophetis, and seith to hym, Gyrde thi reenys, and take this

oynment vessel of oyle in thin hond, and goo in to Ramoth Galaad. [verse 2] And whanne thou commyst thidre, thou schalt seen Hieu, the sone of Josaphath, the sone of Nampsy; and goon in thou schalt reren hym fro the mydill of his bretheren, and thou schalt bryngen hym with inforth in to the [Om. H.] inner more [Om. E pr. m.] bed place. [verse 3] And holdinge an oynment vessel of oyle thou [Om. H.] schalt heelden vpon his heued, and seye, These thingis seith the Lord, I haue anoyntyde thee in to kynge vpon Yrael; and thou schalt opne the dore, and fleeȝen, and there thou schalt not abyden. [verse 4] Thanne ȝeede a ȝonge waxen child of the profete [verse 5] in to Ramoth Galaad, and wente in thidir. Lo! forsothe the princis of the hoostis seeten; and he seith, A worde to me anentis thee, O! prince. And Hieu seide, To whom of us alle? And he seide, To thee, O! prince. [verse 6] And he roos, and wente in to the bede place. And he helde oyle vpon his heuede, and seith, These thingis seith the Lord God of Ysrael, I haue anoyntyde thee in to kyng vpon the puple of the Lord of [verse 7] Yrael; and thou schalt smyten the hous of Achab, thi lord, that I venge the blode of my seruauntis prophetis, and the blode of alle the seruauntis of the Lord, fro the hond of Jezabel. [verse 8] And I schal distruy alle the hous of Achab, and slen fro the hous of Achab a pysser to the walle, and closed, and the last in Yrael. [verse 9] And I schal ȝeue the hous of Achab as the hous of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, and as the hous of Basaa, the sone of Ahia. [verse 10] Jezabel forsothe houndis schulen eten in the feelde [feeldis A.] of Jezrael; and there schal not ben that byrye hyre. And he opnede the dore, and fleyȝ. [verse 11] Hieu for|sothe wente oute to the seruauntis of his lord, the whiche seyden to hym, Whether

riȝt ben alle thingis? What came this wood man to thee? The whiche seith to hem, Ȝe han knowen the man, and what he hath spoken. [verse 12] And thei answerden, It is fals; but more telle thou to us. The whiche seith to hem, These thingis and these thingis he spac to me, and seith, These thingis seith the Lord, I haue anoyntide thee kynge vpon Ysrael. [verse 13] And so thei hyȝeden, and echone, takynge his mantylle, putten vndur his feet in lyck|nesse of a kyngis chayer. And they sungen with trumpe, and seyden, Hieu schal regnen. [verse 14] Thanne Hieu, the sone of Josaphath, the sone of Nampsy, coniured aȝeynst Joram. Forsothe Joram hadde byseegyd Ramoth Galaad, he and alle Yrael, aȝeynst Azael, kyng [the kyng E pr. m.] of Cyrye. [verse 15] And he was turned aȝeyn, that he were helyd in Jezrael for the woundis; for Cy|ries hadden smyten hym fiȝtynge aȝeynst Azael, kyng of Cyrie. And Hieu seide, Ȝif it plese to ȝou, no man goo oute fugy|tyue fro the cyte, lest he go, and tell in Jezrael. [verse 16] And he steyȝide vp, and wente forth into Jezrael; Joram forsothe laye seeke there, and Ochosias, kyng of Ju|da, hadde goon doun to vysyte Joram. [verse 17] Thanne the wayte, that stode vpon the toure of Jezrael, see the glub of Hieu commynge, and seith, I see a glub. And Joram seide, Take the chare, and sende in to aȝeyn commynge of hem; and the gooer sey, Whether riȝt ben alle thingis? [verse 18] Thanne ȝeede, that steyȝide up the chaare, in to aȝeyn commynge of hym, and seith, Thes thingis seith the kyng, Apayid ben alle thingis? And Hieu seyde to hym, What to thee and to pese? Go, and folow me. The weyt forsothe tolde, sey|inge, The messager cam to hem, and he is not turned aȝeyn. [verse 19] Also he sent the secounde chaar of hors, and he came to

hem, and seith, These thingis seith the kyng, Where is there pese? And Hieu seith, What to thee and to pese? Passe, and folowe me. [verse 20] Forsothe the weyt tolde, seyinge, He came vnto hem, and he turn|ith not aȝein; forsothe the goynge is as the goynge of Hieu, the sone of Nampsy; `ful swyftlyche [a prince E pr. m.] forsothe he [Om. E pr. m.] goth. [verse 21] And Joram seith, Ioynith the chaar. And they ioyneden his chaar. And Joram, the kyng of Yrael, wente oute, and Ochosias, kyng of Juda, ech in their chaaris; and thei wenten oute into aȝeyncommynge of Hieu, and thei founden hym in the feeld of Nabath Jezraelyte. [verse 22] And whanne Joram hadde seen Hieu, he seide, Pese is there, Hieu? And he answerde, What pese? Ȝit the fornycaciouns of Jezabel, thi modir, and hyr many venymyngis thrijuen. [verse 23] Forsothe Joram turnede his hond, and fleeȝinge seith to Ochosie, Busschementis! busschementis! Ochosie. [verse 24] Bot Hieu bente the bowe with the honde, and smote Jo|ram bytwene the schulders, and the arewe is sent out thoruȝ his hert; and anoon he felle in his chaare. [verse 25] And Hieu seith to duyke Badachar, Take, throwe hym in the feelde of Naboth Jezraelite; I haue mynde forsothe, when I and thow syttynge in the chaar foloweden Achab, his fadir, for the Lord hadde rerede out [verse 26] this [his A.] charge [chaare FH.] upon hym, seyinge, Whe|ther not for the blode of Naboth, and for the blode of the sonys of hym, the whiche I sawe ȝisterday [ȝistai C et E passim.] , seith the Lord, I schal ȝelden to thee in this feeld, seith the Lord. Nowe thanne take hym, and throwe hym in the feeld, aftir the word of the Lord. [verse 27] Ochosias forsothe, kyng of Juda, seeinge this, fleeȝ by the weye of the hous of the gardyn; and Hieu folewede hym, and seith, Also this smytith in his chare.

And thei smyten hym in the steyinge up of Gaber, that is besyde Jeblaam; the whiche fleyȝ in to Magedo, and is deed there. [verse 28] And his seruauntis putten hym vpon his chaar, and token in to Jerusa|lem; and biriden hym in the sepulcre with his fadirs, in the cytee of Dauith. [verse 29] The elleuenth ȝeer of Joram, the sone of Achab, the kyng of Yrael, regnede Ocho|sias vpon Judam. [verse 30] And Hieu came in to Jezrael. Forsothe Jezabel, his entree herde, peyntyde hyre eeȝen with strum|pettis oynment, and sche anournede hyre heued; and sche byhelde thoruȝ the wyn|dowe [verse 31] Hieu commynge in by the ȝate, and seith, Whether pese may be to Zamry, that hath slayn his lord? [verse 32] And Hieu rerede up his face to the wyndowe, and seith, What is sche this? And there boweden hem to hym two or thre gel|dingis, and seyden to hym, This is sche, that Jezabel. [verse 33] And he seyde to hem, Tumblith hyre doun. And thei tum|bliden hyre; and the wall is sprengid with the blod, and the hors houes, that treden hyre. [verse 34] And when he was goon in, that he ete and drynke, he seith, Gooth, and seeth that cursed, and burieth hyre, for the douȝter of a kyng sche is. [verse 35] And when thei weren gon, that they biryen hyre, thei founden not, no [Om. ACEFH.] bot the scul, and the feet, and gobitis of the hond; [verse 36] and they turned aȝein, tolden to hym. And Hieu seith, The word of the Lord it is, the whiche he spak by his seruaunt Helye Thesbyten, seyinge, In the feeld of Jezrael houndis schulen eten the flesche [verse 37] of Jezabel; and the flesche of Jezabel schul be as drytt vpon the face of the erthe in the feeld of Jezrael, so that men passynge bysydis seyn, Whether sche this is not that Jezabel?

CAP. X.

[verse 1] Of Achab forsoth weren seuenty sonis in Samary. Than Hieu wrote lettris, and sente in to Samarye to the best of the cytee, and to the more thoruȝ birth, and [verse 2] to the nurischis of Achab, seyinge, Anoon as ȝe taken thes lettres, ȝe that haue the sonis of ȝoure lord, and chaaris, and hors, [verse 3] and stronge cytees, and aarmys, chesith the beter, and hym that to ȝou schal plesen of the sonis of ȝour lord, and put|tith hym vpon the see of his fadir, and fiȝtith for the hous of ȝoure lord. [verse 4] And thei dredden hugelye, and seyden, Loo! two kyngis myȝten not stonden beforn hym, and what maner wijse schuln we mowen to withstonden hym? [verse 5] Thanne the prouostis of the hous senten, and the prefect of the cyte, and the more thoruȝ birthe, and the nurischis to Hieu, sey|inge, Thi seruauntis we ben; what euer thingis thou schalt comaunde, we schul done, and we schul not ordeyne to us a kynge; what euer thinge to thee plesith, do. [verse 6] Forsothe he wrote aȝein lettris to hem the secounde tyme, seyinge, Ȝif myn ȝe ben, and obeschen to me, takith the heuedis of the sonis of ȝoure lord, and commith to me this same houre to morowe in to Jezrael. Forsothe the sonis of the kyng, seuenty men, anentis the best of the cytee weren nurischide. [verse 7] And when lettris weren commen to hem, thei token the sonis of the kyng, and slewen the seuenty men, and putten the heuedis of hem in cofynes; and senten to hym in to Jezrael. [verse 8] Forsothe a messagere came to hym, and schewede to hym, seyinge, Thei han brouȝt the heuedis of the sonys of the kyng. The whiche answerde, Put|tith hem at the two stone hepis, besydis the entre of the ȝate, vnto to morowe. [verse 9] And when the day hadde liȝted, he wente out, and stondynge seide to alle the pu|ple, Riȝtwyse ȝe ben; ȝif I haue coniured

aȝeynus my lord, and slayn hym; who smoot alle these? [verse 10] Seeth thann nowe, for there hath not fallen of the wordis of the Lord in the erthe, the whiche the Lord spac vpon the hous of Achab; and the Lord dydde that he spak in the hond of Helye, his seruaunt. [verse 11] Thanne [Om. AB pr. m. FH.] Hieu smoot alle that weren laft of the hous of Achab in Jezrael, and alle the best of hym, and knowen, and prestis, to the tyme that ther laft not of hym relykys. [verse 12] And he roos, and came in to Samerye; and when thei weren commen to the [verse 13] chaumbre of scheperdis in the weye, he fonde the bretheren of Ochosie, kyng of Juda; and he seide to hem, Who for|sothe ben ȝe? And thei answerden, The bretheren of Ochosie we ben, and we ben commen doun to saluten the sonis of the kyng and the sonys of the qween. [verse 14] The whiche seith, Takith hem on lyue. Whom when thei hadden taken alyue, thei throtyden hem in the cystern, besyde the chaumbre, two and fourty men; and he laft not of hem eny man. [verse 15] And when he was goon thens, he foond Jonadab, the sone of Reechab, in to aȝein com|mynge to hym, and blessede to hym. And Hieu seith to hym, Whether is thin hert riȝt with myne herte, as myn hert with thin hert? And Jonadab seith, It is. Ȝif it is, he seith, ȝeue me thin honde. The whiche ȝaue to hym his hond; and he rerede hym to hym in to the chaar. [verse 16] And he seyde to hym, Comme with me, and see my loue for the Lord. And [verse 17] hym sett in his chaar, he ladde in to Sa|marye. And he smote alle that weren laft of Achab in Samarye vnto oon, after the word of the Lord, that he spac by Helye. [verse 18] Than Hieu gaderd alle the pu|ple, and seide to hem, Achab heryide Baal a lytyl, I forsothe schal herye hym more. [verse 19] Nowe than alle the prophetis of

Baal, and alle his seruauntis, and alle the prestis of hem clepith to me; noon be that cumme not, forsothe grete sacri|fice is to me to Baal; who so euer be aweye, he schal not lyuen. Forsothe Hieu dydde this aspyingly, that he dis|truye alle the heryeris of Baal. [verse 20] And he seyde, Halowith a solempne day to Baal. [verse 21] And he clepid, and sente in to al the termes of Yrael; and ther camen alle the seruauntis of Baal, and ther was not lafte not oone forsothe that came not. And thei wenten in to the temple of Baal; and the hous of Baal is fulfillid, from the heeȝist to the heeȝist. [verse 22] And he seide to hem that haden maistrye vpon the clothes, Bryngith forth the vesty|mentis to alle the seruauntis of Baal; and thei brouȝtyn to hym the clothis. [verse 23] And Hieu wente in, and Jonadab, the sone of Reechab, in to the temple of Baal. And he seith to the herieris of Baal, Enserchith, and seeth, lest eny man perauenture be with ȝou of the seruauntis of the Lord; bot that aloon ben the ser|uauntis of Baal. [verse 24] Thanne thei wenten in, that thei done slayne offryngis, and brent sacrifices [sacrifice ABFH.] . Hieu made redy forsothe with oute forthe foure score men, and hadde seyde to hem, Who so euer fleeȝith of alle these, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] I schal brynge in to ȝoure hondis, his lijf schal ben for the lijf of hym. [verse 25] It is do forsothe, when the brent sacrifice was fulfillid, Hieu co|maundide to the knyȝtis and to his duykis, Gooth in, and smytith hem, that noon ascaape. And the knyȝtis and the duykis smyten hem in the mouthe of the [Om. AC pr. m.] swerd, and threwen aweye. And thei wenten in to the cyte of the temple of [verse 26] Baal, and thei brouȝten forthe the ymage fro the temple of Baal, and thei brenden, and distruyden it. [verse 27] Forsothe thei dis|troyeden

the hous of Baal, and thei maaden for it waardropis vnto this day. [verse 28] And so Hieu dyde aweye Baal from Yrael; [verse 29] neuerthelatre fro the synnes of Jero|boam, the sone of Naboth, that maad Yrael to synne, he ȝeede not aweye, ne dyde aweye the golden caluis, that weren in Bethel and in Dan. [verse 30] The Lord for|sothe seyde to Hieu, For wysely thou hast done that that was riȝt, and it pleside in myn eeȝen, and alle thingis that weren in myne herte thou dyddist aȝeynst the hous of [Om. BF sec. m.] Achab, thi sonys vnto the ferth generacioun schuln sytten vpon the trone of Yrael. [verse 31] Bot Hieu kepte not, that he wente in the lawe of the Lord God of Yrael in al his herte; forsothe he wente not fro the synnes of Jeroba|ham, that maad Yrael to synnen. [verse 32] In tho days the Lord beganne to noyȝen vpon Yrael; and Azael smote hem in [and AB.] [verse 33] alle the coostis of Yrael, fro Jordane aȝeyns the este coost, alle the lond of Galaad, and Gad, and Ruben, and Ma|nasse, fro Aroer that is vpon the streme of Arnon, and Galaad, and Basan. [verse 34] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Hieu, and alle thingis that he dide, and his strengthe, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 35] And Hieu slepte with his fadirs; and thei birieden hym in Samarie; and Joacath, his sone, regn|ede for hym. [verse 36] The days forsothe, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] Hieu regned vpon Yrael in Sa|marye, ben eiȝt and twenty ȝeer.

CAP. XI.

[verse 1] Athalia forsothe, the modir of Ochosie, seeȝinge hyre sone deed, roos, and slewȝ alle the kyngis seede. [verse 2] Forsothe Jozaba, the douȝtir of kyng Joram, the sister of Ochosie, takynge Joas, the sone of Ocho|sie, staal hym fro the myddis of the sonis of the kyng, that weren slayn; and his

nurische fro the chaumbre of three bed|dis; and sche hydde hym fro the face of Athalie, that he were not slayne. [verse 3] And he was with hyre in the hous of the Lord priuely sex ȝeer. Forsothe Athalie regnede vpon the lond sex ȝeer. [verse 4] The se|uenth forsothe ȝeer Joiada sente, and tak|ynge rewlers of hundrethis, and knyȝtis, and brouȝte in to hym in to the temple of the Lord; and he couenauntyde with hem a couenaunt of pese, and, adiurynge hem in the temple of the Lord, schewide to hem the sone of the kynge. [verse 5] And he comaundide [couenauntide A.] to hem, seyinge, This is the [verse 6] word, the whiche ȝe owe to done; the thrydde partye of ȝou go in the saboth, and keep he wele the watchis of the hous of the kyng; the thrydde forsothe party be at the ȝate of Seir; and the thridde party be at the ȝate that is bihynde the dwellynge place of the scheld bereris [berer AB.] ; and ȝe schulen kepen the watchis of the hous of Messa. [verse 7] Two forsothe partyes of ȝou alle goynge oute the saboth, keepen thei the watchis of the hous of the Lord aboute the kynge. [verse 8] And ȝee schul `setten hym [besetten C. behooldyn E pr. m.] aboute, hauynge aarmys in ȝoure hondis; and ȝif eny man comme with in the purseynt of the temple, be he slayn; and ȝe schul ben with the kynge com|mynge in and goynge out. [verse 9] And the keepers of hundrethis dyden aftir alle thingis that Joiada, the prest, hadde co|maundide to hem; and ech takynge their men that wenten in to the saboth, with hem that wenten out fro the saboth, camen to Joiada, the prest. [verse 10] The whiche ȝaue to hem the speris, and the armys of kyng Dauid, that weren in the hous of the Lord. [verse 11] And eche stoden hauynge aarmys in their hond, fro the riȝt partye of the temple vnto the left paartye of the auter and of the hous, aboute the kynge. [verse 12] And

he brouȝt forthe the sone of the kyng, and putte vpon hym a dyademe, and wit|nessynge; and thei maden him king, and anoynteden; and, ioyinge with the hondis, seyden, Lyue the kyng! [verse 13] Forsothe Atha|lia herde the voice of the puple ren|nynge, and goon in to the peplis in to [verse 14] the temple of the Lord, sche sawȝ the kyng stondinge vpon the chayer aftir the maner, and syngers, and companyes be|sidis hym, and alle the puple of the lond glaadinge, and syngynge with trompis. And sche kytt hyre clothis, and cryede, Coniuracioun! coniuracioun! [verse 15] Forsothe Joiada comaundide to the rewlers of hun|drethis, that weren vpon the hoost, and seith to hem, Leedith hyre out of the purseyntis of the temple; and who so euer folewith hyre, be he smyten with a swerde. Forsothe the prest hadde seyde, Be sche not slayn in the temple of the Lord. [verse 16] And thei putten to hyre hondis, and stykeden hyre by the weye of the entree of the hors besyde the paleys; and sche is slayn there. [verse 17] Than Joiada coue|nauntyde couenaunt of pese bytwen the the Lord and the kyng, and bytwene the puple, that ther were a puple of the Lord; bytwene the king and the puple. [verse 18] And alle the puple of the lond wente in to the temple of Baal; and thei dis|truyden his auters, and the ymagis broosiden to gydris miȝtily; Mathan for|sothe, the prest of Baal, thei slewen be|fore the auter. And the prest sette waardis in the hous of the Lord; and toke the rewlers of hundrethis, and the [Om. B.] legiouns of Cerethey and Ferethey, and alle the puple of the lond. [verse 19] And thei brouȝten the kyng fro the hous of the Lord; and thei camen by the weye of the ȝaat of the scheeld bereris in to the paleys; and he sate vpon the trone of

kyngis [the kyngis A.] . [verse 20] And alle the puple of the lond glaadid [of Galaad A.] , and alle the cytee restide in oon. Athalia forsothe is slayn with swerde in the hous of the kyng. [verse 21] And of seuen ȝeer was Joas, when he beganne to regne.

CAP. XII.

[verse 1] The seuenth ȝeer of Hieu regnede Joas; fourty ȝeer he regnede in Jerusa|lem; the name of his modir Sebia of Bersabe. [verse 2] And Joas dyde riȝt beforn the Lord alle days, the whiche tauȝte hym Joiada, the prest. [verse 3] Neuerthelater heeȝe thingis he dide not aweye; ȝit forsothe the puple offride, and brente encense in heiȝtis. [verse 4] And Joias seide to the prestis, Al the monee of seyntis [the seyntis A.] , `the whiche [that C.] were brouȝt in to the temple of the Lord of men passynge, `the whiche [that C.] is offred for the synne of the soule, and the whiche thei bryngen in wilfully, and by dome of their herte, in to the temple of the Lord, [verse 5] the prestis taken thei it aftir their ordre. And enstoore thei the coueryngis of the hous, ȝif eny thinge thei seen necessarye in the restorynge. [verse 6] Thanne vnto the three and twentithe ȝeer of kyng Joas, the prestis restooreden not the couer|yngis of the temple. [verse 7] And kyng Joas clepide Joiada, the bischop, and the prestis, seyinge to hem, Why the couer|yngis ȝe restoren not of the temple? Wille ȝe than not no more taken the monee aftir ȝoure ordre, bot to the re|stooringe of the temple ȝeldith it. [verse 8] And the prestis ben forfendid to eny more takyn monee of the puple, and to re|storen the coueryngis of the hous. [verse 9] And Joiada, the bischop, toke oon tresoringe place, and he opnede an hoole ther aboue, and putte it bisyde the auter, at the riȝt syde of men commynge in to the house of the Lord; and the prestis, that

kepten the doris, putten in it al the monee that was brouȝt to the temple of the Lord. [verse 10] And when he sauȝ to myche monee to be in the tresorye, a scribe of the kyngis [kyng AE.] steyȝide up, and a byschop, and thei heelden out, and noumbreden the monee that was foundun in the hous of the Lord. [verse 11] And thei ȝeuen it aftir the noumbre and mesure in the hond of hem, that weren before to the masouns of the hous of the Lord, the whiche ȝeuen it in carpentaris, and in thes masouns, that [verse 12] wrouȝten in the hous of the Lord, and the coueryngis maaden; and in hem that [thei A.] hewyden [heewen C.] stonys; and that schuld|en byen treese and stonys, the whiche weren hewen out; so that the enstor|ynge of the hous of the Lord were ful|fillid in alle thingis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] nededen expensis to the hous to be warnyschid. [verse 13] Neuerthelatre ther weren not maad of the same monee the stenys of the temple of the Lord, and the fleschookis, and the censeris, and the trompis, and all golden vessel [vessels A.] and silueren, of the monee that was brouȝt in to the temple of the Lord. [verse 14] To thes forsothe that maden werk was ȝeuen, that the temple of the Lord were enstooride [restoryd A.] . [verse 15] And no reknynge was maad to tho men that token the monee, that thei delen it to the craftyse men [crafty men A.] ; bot in feith thei tretiden it. [verse 16] The monee for|sothe for trespasse, and the monee for synnes, thei brouȝten not in to the temple of the Lord, for it was of prestis. [verse 17] Than Azael, kyng of Cyrye, steyȝide up, and fauȝt aȝeynus Geth; and he took it, and he dresside his face, that he steyȝe up in to Jerusalem. [verse 18] For what thing Joas, king of Juda, took alle the halowed thingis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] Josaphath, and Joram, and Ochosias, hise faders, kyngis of Juda, hadden sacred, and the whiche he hadde

offred, and al the syluer and gold, that myȝt be founden in the tresouries of the temple of the Lord, and in paleys [the paleys CE.] of the kyng. And he sente to Azael, the kyng of Cyrye, and wente aweye fro Jerusalem. [verse 19] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Joas, and alle thingis that he dyde, whe|ther thes ben not writen in the book of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 20] Forsothe his seruauntis rysen, and coniureden bytwene hemseluen; and thei smyten Joas in the hous of Mello, in the goynge doun of Sela. [verse 21] Josafath for|sothe, the sone of Semath, and Joiadath, the sone of Somer, his seruauntis, smyten hym, and he is deed; and thei birieden hym with his faders in the cytee of Da|uith; and Amazias, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XIII.

[verse 1] The three and twentithe ȝeer of Joas, the sone of Ochasie, kyng of Juda, regn|ede Joachas, the sone of Hieu, vpon Yrael, in [and B.] Samarie seuentene ȝeer. [verse 2] And he dyde yuel before the Lord, and he folowide the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that maad Yrael to synne; and he bow|ide not aweye fro hem. [verse 3] And the wood|nesse of the Lord is wroth aȝeynst Yrael, and he toke hem in to the hondis of Azael, kynge of Cyrye, and in the hond of Benadab, the sone of Azael, all days. [verse 4] Forsothe Joachaz preyide the face of the Lord, and the Lord herde hym; he sawe forsothe the angwysche of Yrael, for the kyng of Cyrye hadde `to troden [troden B.] hem. [verse 5] And the Lord ȝaue a saueour to Yrael, and he is delyuerd fro the hond of the kyng of Cyrie; and the sonys of Yrael dwelliden in their tabernaclis, as ȝistirday and the thrid day henns. [verse 6] Neuerthelatre thei wenten not aweye fro the synnes of the hous of Jeroboam, that made Yrael

to synnen, and in hem thei ȝeden; forsothe and the mawmett wode abood stylle in Samarye. [verse 7] And ther ben not laft to Joa|chas of the puple, bot fyue hundreth hors men, and ten chaaris, and ten thousandis of fote men; forsothe the kyng of Cyrye hadde slayn hem, and hadde brouȝte hem doun as powdre in the threschynge of the corn flore. [verse 8] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Joachaz, and alle thingis that he dyde, bot and his strengthe, whether not these thingis ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 9] And Joachaz slepte with his faders, and thei byryeden hym in Sama|rye; and Joas, his sone, regned for hym. [verse 10] The seuenth [seuene CE.] and thrittithe [thretti A.] ȝeer of Joas, kyng of Juda, regnede Joas, the sone of Joachaz, vpon Yrael in Samarye sextene ȝeer. [verse 11] And he dyde that, that is euyl in the siȝt of the Lord; forsothe he bowide not doun fro alle the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, the whiche maad Yrael to synne; in hem he wente. [verse 12] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Joas, and alle thingis that he dyde, bot and the strength of hym, what maner wijse he fauȝte aȝeynst Amaziam, kyng of Juda, whether not these ben wryten in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 13] And Joas slepte with his fadirs; Jeroboam forsothe, his sone, sate vpon his see. Bot Joas is byryed in Samarye with the kyngis of Yrael. [verse 14] He|lise forsothe sijkide in sijknesse, by the whiche and he is deed; and Joas, the kynge of Yrael, came doun to hym, and wepte beforn hym, and seyde, Fader myne! fadir myne! the chaar of Yrael, and the charieter of it! [verse 15] And Helise seith to hym, Brynge forthe a bowe and arowis. And whanne he hadde brouȝt [verse 16] to hym a bowe and arowis, he seide to the kyng of Yrael, Putte thin hond vpon

the bowe. And whann he hadde putte his hond, Helisee putte aboue his hondis [verse 17] to the hondis of the kyng, and seith, Opyn the eeste wyndowe. And whanne he hade opnede, Helise seyde, Kast an arowe; and he kest. And Helise seith, The arowe of the help of the Lord, and the arowe of helthe aȝeyns Cyrye; and thou schalt smyten Cyrye in to Affeth, to the tyme that thou waast it. [verse 18] And he seith, Taak the arowis. The whiche whanne he hadde taaken, eft he seyde to hym, Smyte with a dart the erth. And whanne he hadde smyten thre sithis, and [verse 19] hadde stonden, the man of God wrath|thede aȝeyns hym, and seith, Ȝif thou haddist smyten fyue sithis, or sexe sithis, or seuen sithis, thou haddist smyten Cy|rye vnto the hool waastynge; nowe for|sothe thou schalt smyten it three sithis. [verse 20] Thanne Helise dyȝede, and thei birieden hym. Forsothe the lityl theeuis of Moab camen in to the lond in that ȝeer. [verse 21] Summe forsothe byryinge a man, seeȝen the lytyl theeuis, and kasten the careyn in the se|pulcre of Helise; the whiche whanne hadde touchid the boonis of Helisee, the man quyckened aȝeyn, and stode vpon his feet. [verse 22] Thanne Azael, kyng of Cyrie, tourmentyde Yrael alle the days of Joa|chaz. [verse 23] And the Lord hadde reuthe of hem, and he turnede aȝeyn to hem for his co|uenaunt, that he hadde with Abraham, Ysaac, and Jacob; and he wolde not sca|tren hem, ne fully throwen aweye, into the present tyme. [verse 24] Forsothe Azael, the kyng of Cyrye, diede; and Benadab, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 25] Bot Joas, the sone of Joachaz, toke the cytees fro the hond of Benadab, the sone of Azael, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] he hadde taken fro the hond of Joachas, his fadir, thorȝ riȝt of bateyl; thre sithis Joas smoot hym, and he ȝeeld|ide the cytees to Yrael.

CAP. XIV.

[verse 1] In the secounde ȝeer of Joas, the sone of Joachas, kyng of Yrael, regnede Ama|zias, the sone of Joas, kyng of Juda. [verse 2] Of fyue and twenty ȝeer he was, whanne he beganne to regnen; twenty forsothe and nyne ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Joaden of Jerusalem. [verse 3] And he dyde riȝt before the Lord, neuerthe|latre not as Dauid, his fadir; aftir alle thingis that Joas, his fadir, dyde he dide, [verse 4] bot that oonly, that heeȝe thingis he dydde not aweye; ȝit forsothe the puple offrede, and brende encense in heiȝtis. [verse 5] And whan he hadde weldyde the rewme, he smoote his seruauntis, that hadden slayn the [verse 6] kyng, his fadre; the sonys forsothe of hem that hadden slayn, he slewȝ not; after that that is writen in the boke of the lawe of Moyses, as the Lord co|maundide to Moyses, seyinge, The fadirs schuln not dyȝen for the sonys, ne the sonys for the fadirs, bot echone schal dyen in his synne. [verse 7] He smote Edom in the valey of placis of salt, tenn thousandis; and he cauȝte the place, that hatte Petra, in bateyl; and he clepide his name Jeze|chel, vnto the day that is nowe. [verse 8] Thanne Amazias sente messagers to Joas, the sone of Joachas, the sone of Hieu, kyng of Yrael, seyinge, Comme, and see we us. [verse 9] And Joas, kyng of Yrael, sente aȝeyn to Amazias, kyng of Juda, seyinge, The thistill of Lybane sente to the cedre, that is in Libane, seyinge, Ȝeue thi douȝtir to my sone wijf; and the beestis of the wijlde wode, that ben in Lybane, wenten, and treden [treteden B.] the thistill. [verse 10] And smytynge thou haddist the ouerhond vpon Edom, and thin herte arered thee; be thou apayid [paȝid C.] with thi glorie, and sytt in thi hous; why stirist thou euyl, that thou

falle, and Juda with thee? [verse 11] And Ama|zias assentyde not; and Joas, the kyng of Yrael, steyȝide up, and thei seeȝen hem silf, he and Amazias, the kyng of Juda, in Bethsames, the bourȝtoun of Jude. [verse 12] And Juda is smyten beforn Yrael; and thei flowen echone in to their taber|naclis. [verse 13] Joas, the kyng of Yrael, forsothe toke Amazie, the kynge of Juda, the sone of Joas, the sone of Ochosie, in Beth|sames, and brouȝte hym in to Jerusa|lem; and he to-brast the walle of Jerusa|lem, fro the ȝaat of Effraym vnto the ȝaat of the cornere, in foure hundreth cubitis. [verse 14] And he toke al the gold and syluer, and alle the vessels, that ben foundun in the hous of the Lord, and in the tresories of the kyng, and prisoners, and is turnede aȝeyn in to Samarye. [verse 15] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Joas, the whiche he dyde, and his strengthe, in the whiche he fauȝte aȝeynst Amazie, kyng of Juda, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 16] And Joas slepte with his fadirs, and is biryed in Samarye with the kyngis of Yrael; and Jeroboam, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 17] Forsothe Amazias, the sone of Joas, lyuede kyng of Juda, aftir that Joas, the sone of Joachas, kyng of Yrael, dyȝide, fyue and twenty ȝeer. [verse 18] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Amazie, whe|ther not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 19] And there is maad aȝeyn hym coniuracyoun in Jerusalem, and he fleeiȝ [fleeth B.] in to Lachis; and thei senten aftir hym in to Lachis, and thei slewen hym there. [verse 20] And brouȝten hym thennus in hors, and he is biryide in Jerusalem with his fa|dirs, in the cytee of Dauid. [verse 21] Forsothe alle the puple of Jude toke Azaria, ȝeeris born sixteene; and thei ordeynde hym

kyng for his fadir Amazie. [verse 22] And he bylde Ahilam, and restoorride it to Jude, aftir that the kyng hadde slepte with his fadirs. [verse 23] The fyftenth ȝeer of Amazias, the sone of Joas, kyng of Juda, regned Jero|boam, the sone of Joas, kyng of Yrael, in [verse 24] Samarye oon and fourty ȝeer; and dydde that, that is euyl before the Lord; and he wente not aweye fro alle the synnys of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that maad Yrael to synne. [verse 25] And he restoor|ide the termys of Yrael, fro the entree of Emath vnto the se of wyldrenesse, aftir the word of the Lord God of Yrael, that he spak by his seruaunt Jonas, the sone of Amathie, prophete, that was of Geth, that is in Oofer. [verse 26] Forsothe the Lord sawe the tourmentynge of Yrael to myche bittir, and that thei weren waastid vnto the closed of the prisone, and vttirmostis, and ther was not the whiche myȝt helpen Yrael. [verse 27] And the Lord spac not, that he schulde done aweye the name of Yrael fro vndir heuen, bot he sauede hem in the hond of Jeroboham, the sone of Joas. [verse 28] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Jeroboam, and alle thingis that he dyde, and his strengthe, in the whiche he fauȝte, and howe he restoride Damask, and E|math of Jude, in Yrael, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 29] And Jeroboam slepte with his fadirs, the kyngis of Yrael; and Azarias, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XV.

[verse 1] The seuen and twentithe ȝeer of Jero|boam, kyng of Yrael, regned Azarie, the [verse 2] sone of Amazie, kyng of Juda; of sex|tene ȝeer he was, whanne he begane to regnen, and two and fyfty ȝeer he reg|nede in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Jecelia of Jerusalem. [verse 3] And he dyde that, that was plesaunt beforn the Lord, aftir alle thingis that Amazias, his fadir, hadde

[verse 4] done; neuer the latre the heeȝe thingis he distruyde not; ȝit the puple sacri|fiside, and brent encense in heiȝtis. [verse 5] The Lord forsothe smoote the kyng, and he was messel vnto the day of his deth; and he dwellede in the hous freely asyde. Joathas forsoth, the kyngis sone, go|uernde the paleys, and he demyde the puple of the lond. [verse 6] The remnaunt for|sothe of the wordis of Azarie, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the [Om. C.] days of kyngis of Juda? [verse 7] And Aza|rie slepte with his fadirs; and they biri|eden hym with his moris [fadris C pr. m.] in the cytee of Dauith; and Joathas, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 8] The eiȝt and thrittithe ȝeer of Azaria, kyng of Juda, regnede Zacharie, the sone of Jeroboam, vpon Yrael in Sa|marie sexe monethis. [verse 9] And he dyde that, that was euyl beforn the Lord, as his fadirs dyden; he wente not aweye fro the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Na|bath, that maad Yrael to synnen. [verse 10] For|sothe Sellum, the sone of Jabes, in Sa|marye coniurede aȝenus hym; and he smoot hym opynly, and slewȝ, and regn|ede for hym. [verse 11] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Zacharie, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the [Om. CE.] kyngis of Yrael? [verse 12] This is the word of the Lord, that he spake to Hieu, seyinge, Thi sonys vnto the ferth generacioun schul sytten of thee vpon the trone of Ysrael; and it is done so. [verse 13] Sellum, the sone of Jabes, regnede the nyne and thrittithe ȝeere of Azarie, kyng of Juda; he regnede forsothe oon monethe in Samarye. [verse 14] And Manaheu, the sone of Gaddy, steyȝide up fro Tharsa, and came in to Samarie; and smoot Sellum, the sone of Jabes, in Samarye, and slewȝ hym, and regnede for hym. [verse 15] The rem|naunt forsothe of the wordis of Sellum,

and his coniuracyoun, by the whiche he bente buschementis, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 16] Than Manaheu smoot Thersam, and alle that weren in it, and his termys fro Thersa; forsothe they wolden not openen to hym; and he slewȝ alle the wymmen of it with childe, and kutte hem. [verse 17] The nyne and thrittithe ȝeer of Azarie, kyng of Juda, regnede Manaheu, the sone of Gaddi, vpon Yrael tenn ȝeer in Samarie. [verse 18] And he dydde that, that was euyl beforn the Lord; and he wente not aweye fro the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that maad Yrael to synnen. [verse 19] Alle the days of hym came Phul, the kyng of Assiries, in Thersa. And Manaheu gaue to Phul a thousand talentis of syluer, that he were to hym in to help, and that [verse 20] he fasten his rewme; and Manaheu co|maundid syluer vpon Yrael to alle the myȝty and to the ryche, that he schulde ȝeue to the kyng of Assiries; fyfty ciclis of syluer, thoruȝ oute alle ȝeeris; and the king of Assiries is turned aȝein, and dwellide not in Therse. [verse 21] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Manaheu, and alle thingis that he dide, whether not these ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 22] And Manaheu slepte with his fadirs; and Phasaya, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 23] The fyftythe ȝeer of Azaria, kyng of Juda, regnede Phasaye, the sone of Manaheu, vpon Yrael in Samarye two ȝeer. [verse 24] And he dyde that, that was euyl before the Lord; and he wente not aweye fro the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that maad Yrael to synnen. [verse 25] For|sothe Phacee, the sone of Romelie, duyk of his hoost, coniurede aȝeyn hym, and smoote hym in Samarye, in the toure of the kyngis hous, bisydis Argob, and bi|sidis Arib, and with hym fyfty men of the sonis of Galaditis; and he slewȝ hym,

and regnede for hym. [verse 26] The remnaunt for|sothe of the wordis of Phasaye, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether thes ben not writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 27] The two and fyftithe [fifti A.] ȝeer of Azarie, kyng of Jude, regnede Phacee, the sone of Rome|lie, vpon Yrael in Samarye twenty ȝeer. [verse 28] And dydde that, that was euyl beforn the Lord; and he wente not aweye fro the synnes of Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, that maad Yrael to synnen. [verse 29] In the days of Phacee, kyng of Yrael, came Theglath Falasar, the kyng of Assur, and toke Ayon, and Aybel, the hous of Maacha, and Janoe, and Cedes, and Asor, and Ga|laad, and Galilee, and al the lond of Neptalym; and translatyde hem in to Assiries. [verse 30] Forsothe Osee, the sone of Hela, coniurede, and bende busschementis aȝeyns Phacee, the sone of Romelie, and smoote hym and slewȝ; and for hym regned, the twentithe ȝeer of Jonathan, the sone of Osee. [verse 31] The remnaunt for|sothe of the wordis of Phacee, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether thes ben not writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Yrael? [verse 32] The secounde ȝeer of Phacee, the sone of Ro|melye, kyng of Yrael, regnede Joathan, [verse 33] the sone of Osee, kyng of Juda; of fyue and twenti ȝeer he was, whanne he by|ganne to regnen, and sixtene ȝeer he regned in Jerusalem; name of his modir Cerusa, the douȝtir of Sadoch. [verse 34] And he dyde that, that was plesaunt beforn the Lord; aftir alle thingis that hadde done [verse 35] Oseas, his fadir, he wrouȝt; neuerthelatre the heiȝtis he dyde not aweye; ȝitt the puple offred, and brent encense in heiȝtis; he bylde up the altherheeȝist ȝaat of the hous of the Lord. [verse 36] The remnaunt for|sothe of the wordis of Joathan, and alle the thingis that he dyde, whether thes ben not writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 37] In

tho days byganne the Lord to senden into Judam Rasym, the kyng of Cyrye; and Phacee, the sone of Romelie. [verse 38] And Joathan slepte with his fadirs, and is biryed with hem in the cytee of Dauid, his fadir; and Achaz, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XVI.

[verse 1] The seuententhe [seuenth A. seuentithe BH.] ȝeer of Phacee, the sone of Romelie, regned Achaz, the sone of Joathan, kyng of Juda. [verse 2] Of twenty ȝeer was Achaz, whan he began to reg|nen, and sexteen ȝeer he regned in Jeru|salem; he dyde not that was plesaunt in the siȝt of the Lord his God, as Dauith, [verse 3] his fadir, bot ȝeede in the weye [ways A.] of the kyngis of Yrael. Forthermore and his sone he sacrid, ouer berynge thoruȝ fyre, aftir the mawmettis of heithen men, the whiche the Lord scatered beforn the sonys of Yrael. [verse 4] Forsothe he offred slayn sacrifices, and brende encense in heiȝtis, and in hillis, and vnder ech tree ful of braunchis. [verse 5] Than Rasyn, kyng of Cyrye, steyȝide up, and Phacee, the sone of Ro|melie, kyng of Yrael, in to Jerusalem to fiȝten; and whanne thei bysegiden Achaz, they myȝten not ouercomme hym. [verse 6] In that tyme Rasyn, kyng of Cyrye, re|storide Ahilam to Cyrye, and kest out the Jewis fro Ahyla; and Ydumeis and Cyries camen in to Ahilam, and dwelten there vnto this day. [verse 7] Forsothe Achaz sente messagers to Teglath Falasar, kyng of Assurye, seyinge, Thi seruaunt and thi sone I am; steyȝe up, and make me safe fro the hond of the kyng of Cyrye, and fro the hond of the kyng of Yrael, that han rysen to gyther aȝeynus me. [verse 8] And whan Achaz hadde gedrede to gydre syl|uer and gold, that myȝt ben foundun in the hous of the Lord, and in the tresuries of the kyng, and sente to the kyng of [verse 9] Assuries ȝiftis; the whiche and assentide

to the wylle of hym. The kyng forsothe of Assuries steyȝide up in to Damasc, and waastyde it, and brouȝt ouer the dwellers of it to [into FH.] Cyrynen [Cyrenen CE.] ; Rasyn forsothe he slewȝ. [verse 10] And kyng Achas wente in to aȝein commyng to Teglath Phalasar, kyng of Assirie, in to Damask; and whanne he hadde seen the auter of Damasc, kyng Achaz sente to Vrias, the prest, the ex|saumpler [exsaumple A.] of it, and the licnesse, aftir al the werk of it. [verse 11] And Vrias, the prest, maad vp the auter aftir alle thingis that king Achas hadde comaundide of Da|masc, so dyde the prest Vrias, to the tyme that kyng Achaz came from Da|mask. [verse 12] And whanne the kyng schuld commen fro Damask, he sawȝ the auter, and wirschipide it; and he steiȝid up, and offred brent sacrificis, and his sacri|fice; [verse 13] and he offrede sacrificis of licours, and held the blode of pesyble thingis, `the whiche [that C.] he [Om. ABFH.] hadde offred vpon the auter. [verse 14] Forsothe the brasen auter, that was beforn the Lord, he bare ouer fro the face of the temple, and fro the place of the auter, and fro the place of the temple of the Lord; and putte it on syde of the auter at the north. [verse 15] King for|sothe Achaz comaundide to Vrie, the prest, seyinge, Vpon the more auter offre the morowtyde brent sacrifice, and the euentyde sacrifice, and the brent sacri|fice of the kyng, and his sacrifice, and the brent sacrificis of al the puple of the lond, and the sacrificis of hem, and the sacrificis of the licours of hem; and al the blode of the brent sacrifice, and al the blood of the slayn sacrifyce, vpon it thou schalt heelden; forsothe the brasen auter schal be maad redye at my wylle. [verse 16] Than Vrias, the prest, dyde aftir alle thingis that kyng Achaz hadde comaund|yde to hym. [verse 17] Forsothe kyng Achaz toke

grauen feete, and the watir [licour E pr. m.] vessel, that was there aboue, and the se he putte doun of the brasen oxen, that susteyn|eden it, and he putte vpon the pament greithid with stoon. [verse 18] Forsothe the place where the kingis offrynge was leyd of the saboth, that he hadde bylde in the temple, and the commynge in of the kyng withouten forth, he turnede in to the temple of the Lord for the kyng of Assiries. [verse 19] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Achaz, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 20] And Achaz slepte with his fadirs, and is biried with hem in the cytee of Dauid; and Ezechias, his sone, regned for hym.

CAP. XVII.

[verse 1] The twelfthe ȝeer of Achaz, kyng of Juda, regnede Osee, the sone of Hela, in Samarie vpon Yrael nyne ȝeer. [verse 2] And he dyde euyl before the Lord, bot not as the kyngis of Yrael, that weren beforn hym. [verse 3] Aȝeynus this steyȝide up Salmanaser, kyng of Assiries, and Osee is maad to hym seruaunt, and ȝeeldide to hym tributis. [verse 4] And whanne the kyng of Assiries hadde perceyued, that Osee enforcede to re|bellen, and that he hadde sente messa|gers to Sua, kyng of Egipt, lest he schulde ȝeuen tributis to the kyng of Assiries, as eche ȝeer he was wont, he bysegyde hym, and bounden he putte in to prysoun. [verse 5] And he wente thoruȝ out al the lond, and steyȝynge to Samarie he bysegide it thre ȝeer. [verse 6] The nynethe ȝeer forsoth of Osee, the kyng of Assiries toke Samarie, and translatyde Ysrael into Assiries; and he sett hem in Hela, and in Thabor, besyde the flode of Gozam, in the cytees of Medis. [verse 7] It is done for|sothe,

whanne the sonys of Yrael hadden synned beforn the Lord their God, that ladde hem out fro [of A.] the lond of Egipt, fro the hond of Pharao, kyng of Egipte, [verse 8] thei heryeden alyen goddis; and wenten aftir the custom of heithene, whom the Lord hadde waastyde in the siȝt of the sonys of Yrael, and of the kyngis of Yrael, for lijk maner thei hadden done. [verse 9] And the sonys of Yrael offendiden with wordis not riȝt the Lord their God, and thei bildiden to hem heeȝe thingis in alle their cytees, fro the toure of kepers vnto the strengthid cytee. [verse 10] And thei maden to hem ymagis, and mawmett wodis, in all heeȝe hill, and vndir al braunchy [braunchid H.] [verse 11] tree; and they brenden there encense vpon the auters in maner of heithen, whom the Lord hade translatide fro the face of hem. And thei diden the warst [verse 12] wordis, terryng the Lord; and they heryeden the vnclennesse [vnclennessis ABCFH.] , of the whiche the Lord comaundide to hem, that thei schulden not done that worde. [verse 13] And the Lord witnesside in Yrael and in Juda, by the hond of alle prophetis, and the seeȝers, seyinge, Turnith aȝeyn [awey A.] fro ȝoure warst weyes, and kepith myn hestis, and my cerymonyes, aftir al the lawe `the whiche [that C.] I haue comaundide to ȝoure fa|dirs, and as I sente to ȝou in the hond of my seruauntis prophetis. [verse 14] The whiche herden not, bot hardeneden their noll af|tir the noll of their fadirs, that wolden not obeyschen to the Lord their God. [verse 15] And thei kasten aweye the lawful thingis of hym, and the couenaunt that he coue|nauntyde with the fadirs of hem, and the witnessingis by the whiche he wytness|ede hem [to hem E pr. m.] ; and thei foloweden vanytes, and vaynly thei diden; and thei folow|eden heithen folc, that weren by the enuyroun of hem; vpon the whiche the Lord had comaundyde to hem, that thei

schulden not done as and [Om. ABFH.] thei dyden. [verse 16] And thei forsoken alle the hestis of the Lord their God, and thei maaden to hem two ȝoten calues, and mawmette wodis [templis E pr. m.] ; and thei honoureden alle the knyȝthode [verse 17] of heuen; and thei serueden to Baal, and thei sacreden to it their sonys and their douȝtris thoruȝ fyer, and to dyuynynge thei inwardly serueden, and to dyuyn|ynge in chiterynge of briddis; and thei bitauȝten hem seluen that thei done euyl byforn the Lord, and thei terreden hym. [verse 18] And the Lord is wrothe hydously to Yrael; and he toke hem aweye fro his siȝt, and ther laft not bot the lynage of Juda aloon. [verse 19] Bot and not he, Juda, kepte the hestis of the Lord his God, neuer the later he errid, and went in the errours of Yrael, the whiche he hadde wrouȝt. [verse 20] And the Lord threwe aweye al the seed of Yrael, and tourmentyde hem, and he toke hem in the hond of distriers [the destriers ABFH.] ; to the tyme that he cast hem aweye fro his [verse 21] face, fro that nowe tyme fro the whiche Yrael was kutt of fro the hous of Dauid, and thei ordeyneden to hem a kyng, Je|roboam, the sone of Nabath. Forsothe Jeroboam seuerede Yrael fro the Lord, and made hem to synnen a grete synne. [verse 22] And the sonys of Yrael wenten in alle the [Om. A.] synnes of Jeroboam, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] he hadde done; and thei wenten not aweye [verse 23] fro hem, for to the Lord dyde Yrael awey fro his face, as he hadde spoken in the hond of alle his seruauntis prophetis; and Yrael is translatyd fro his lond in to Assiries vnto this day. [verse 24] Forsothe the kyng of Assiries brouȝt the puple fro Babiloyne, and fro Cutha, and fro Hay|lath, and fro Emath, and fro Sepharuaym, and he sette hem in the cytees of Sama|rye for the sonys of Yrael; the whiche weeldiden Samarie, and dwelliden in the cytees of it. [verse 25] And whanne there thei had|den

begunne to dwellen, thei dredden not the Lord; and the Lord sente to hem lyouns, that slewen hem. [verse 26] And it is told to the kyng of Assiries, and seide, The folc that thou hast translatyde, and maad to dwellen in the cytees of Samarye, knowen not the lawful thingis of the God of the lond; and the Lord sente in to hem lyouns, and loo! thei schuln slen hem; for thy that thei knowen not the custum of the God of the lond. [verse 27] The [And the ABFH.] kyng forsothe of Assiries comaundyde, seyinge, Bringith hidre oon of the prestis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] in to caytyfte ȝe han brouȝt, that he goo, and dwelle with hem, and teche hem the lawful thingis of God of the lond. [verse 28] Thanne whanne oon of thes prestis, that weren ladde caytyfe fro Sa|marie, was commen, he dwellide in Bethel, and tauȝte hem, in what maner wyse thei schulden herie the Lord. [verse 29] And ech folc forgid his god, and putten hem in heeȝe templis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] Samaritis maden, folc and folc in their cytees, in the whiche thei dwelliden. [verse 30] Forsothe Babyloynes men maden Socoth Benoth; forsothe Cutheny men maaden Vergel; and the men of E|math [verse 31] maaden Asma; bot Euey maaden Nabaath and Tharcha; thes forsothe that weren of Sepharuaym brenden their sonys with fyre to Adramalech and Ara|malech [Amalech B.] , goddis of Sepharuaym. [verse 32] And ne|uer the latere thei herieden the Lord; thei maaden forsothe to hem prestis of the most newe thingis of heeȝe thingis, and thei putten hem in heeȝe heithen templis. [verse 33] And whanne thei schulden heryen God, forsothe to their goddis [goodis B.] thei serueden, aftir the vsage of heithen men, fro the whiche thei were translatyde to Samarye; [verse 34] vnto the day that is nowe thei folow|eden [folewen E.] the old maner; they dredden not the Lord, ne keepen his cerymonyes, and domys, and lawe, and maundement, that

the Lord hadde comaundide to the sonys [verse 35] of Jacob, whome he clepide Yrael; and hadde smyten with hem couenaunt, and hadde comaundide to hem, seyinge, Wylle ȝe not dreeden alyen goddis, and honour|ith not hem, ne herieth hem, and offre [verse 36] ȝe not to hem; bot the Lord ȝoure God, that ladde ȝou out fro the lond of Egipt in grete strengthe, and in aarme strauȝte out, hym dreedith, and hym [to hym A.] honourith, and to him offrith. [verse 37] The cerymonyes for|sothe, and the domys, and the lawe, and the maundement that he wroote to ȝou, keepith, that ȝe done alle days; and dreed ȝe not alyen goddis. [verse 38] And the couenaunt that he smoote with ȝou, willith not for|ȝeten, [verse 39] ne herie ȝee alyen goddis; bot the Lord ȝoure God dreedith, and he schal delyuere ȝou fro the hond of alle ȝoure enmyes. [verse 40] Thei forsothe herden not, bot aftir their vsage beforn hadde thei diden euyl. [verse 41] Thanne thes gentylis forsothe weren dreedynge God; bot neuer the later and [Om. E pr. m. in H.] to their mawmettis seruynge, for and the sonys of hem and the sonys sonys so done, as dyden their fadirs, vnto the present day.

CAP. XVIII.

[verse 1] The thrid ȝeer of Osee, the sone of Hela, kyng of Yrael, regned Ezechias, the sone of Achaz, kyng of Juda. [verse 2] Of fyue and twenty ȝeer he was, whanne he beganne to regnen, and twenty and nyne ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Abisa, douȝtir of Zacharie. [verse 3] And he dyde that [Om. BFH.] , that was good beforn the Lord, aftir alle thingis that Dauith, his fadir, hadde done. [verse 4] And he scatered the heeȝe thingis, and to-brusede the ymagis, and hewȝ doun the mawmett wodis, and he to-braste the brasen ad|dere, that Moyses hadde maad; forsothe vnto that tyme the sonys of Yrael

brenden to it encense; and he clepide the name of it Noestam. [verse 5] And in the Lord God of Yrael he hoopide; also aftir hym was not lijk to hym of alle the kyngis of Juda, bot nouther in hem that weren beforn hym. [verse 6] And he cleeuede to the Lord, and he wente not aweye fro the steppis of hym, and he dyde his heestis, the whiche the Lord hadde co|maundide [verse 7] to Moyses; wherfore and the Lord was with hym, and in alle thingis to the whiche he went forth, wysely he had hym silf. Forsothe he rebellide aȝeynus the king of Assiries, and therfore [verse 8] he serued not to hym; and he smoote the Philisteis vnto Gasam, and alle the termys of hem, fro the toure of keepers vnto the strengthid cytee. [verse 9] The ferth ȝeer of kyng Ezechie, the whiche was the seuenthe ȝeer of Osee, the sone of Hela, kyng of Yrael, Salmanazer, kyng of Assirie, steyȝide vp to Samarie, and ouercame it, and toke [toke it A.] . [verse 10] For aftir three ȝeer, the sext ȝeer of Ezechie, that is nynthe ȝeer of Osee, kyng of Yrael, [verse 11] taken is Samarie; and the kyng of As|siries translatyde Yrael in to Assiries, and sette hem in Haila, and in Habor, flodis of Gosam, in the cytees of Medis; [verse 12] for thei herden not the voice of the Lord their God, bot wenten besyde the couenaunt of hym; alle thingis that Moyses, the seruaunt of the Lord, hadde comaundide, thei herden not, ne dyden. [verse 13] The fourtenthe ȝeer of kyng Ezekie, steyȝide up Sena|cherub, kyng of Assiries, to alle the strengthid cytees of Juda, and toke hem. [verse 14] Than Ezechias, kyng of Juda, sente mes|sagers to the kyng of Assiries in Lachis, seyinge, I haue synned; go aweye fro me, and al that thou puttist on to me, I schale beren. And so the kyng of Assiries comaundide to Ezechie, kyng of Juda, thre [foure E pr. m.] hundreth talentis of syl|uer,

and thritty talentis of gold. [verse 15] And Ezechias ȝaue alle the syluer, that was founden in the hous of the Lord, and in the kingis tresouries. [verse 16] In that tyme Eze|chias brake the doris of the temple of the Lord, and the platis of gold, the whiche he hadde affitchide, and he ȝaue hem to the kyng of Assiries. [verse 17] Forsothe the kyng of Assiries sente Thercam and Rapsacem fro Lachis to kyng Ezechie, with stronge hond to Jerusalem; the whiche whanne hadden steyȝide up, thei camen to Jerusalem, and stoden bysydis the kundyte of watir of the ouer fysch poond, that is in the weye of the fullers feeld. [verse 18] And thei clepide the kyng; for|sothe Eliachym, the sone of Elchie, pro|uost of the hous, wente out to hem, and Sobna, scribe, and Joache, the sone of Azaf, chauncelere. [verse 19] And Rapsaces seide to hem, Spekith to Ezechie, Thes thingis seith the grete kyng, kyng of Assiries, What is this trust, in the whiche thou leuist? [verse 20] Perauenture thou hast goon in counseil, that thou greithe thee to batayl. In what tristist thou, that thou be hardy to rebellen? [verse 21] Whether hopist thou in the reeden staf and broken [the broken E pr. m.] , Egipt, vpon whiche ȝif a man lene, to-broken it schal goon in to his hond, and thrillen it? So is Pharao, the kyng of Egipt, to alle that trusten in hym. [verse 22] And ȝif thou seist to me, In the Lord oure God we han trust; whether not he is, of whome Ezechie toke aweye the heeȝe thingis and the auters, and comaundide to Jude and to Jerusalem, Beforn this auter ȝe schuln honouren in Jerusalem? [verse 23] Nowe thanne gooth to my lord, king of Assiries, and I schal ȝeue to ȝou two thousand of hors, and seeȝith, whether ȝe mown han steyȝers vpon hem? [verse 24] And what maner wijse mowen ȝe with stonden beforn oon prince [satrape E pr. m.] of

the lest seruauntis of my lord? Whether hast thou trust in Egipt, for the chaaris and hors men? [verse 25] Whether with oute the wille of God I haue steyȝide up to this place, that I distruye it? The Lord seide to me, Steyȝe ȝe [Om. CEH.] up to this lond, and dis|truye it. [verse 26] Forsothe Eliachym, the sone of Elchie, and Sobna, and Joache, seyden to Rapsace, We preyen, that thou speke to us, thi seruauntis, Ciriely; forsothe we vndirstonden that tong; and speke thou not to us Jewly, heerynge the puple, that is vpon the walle. [verse 27] And Rapsaces an|swerde to hym, seyinge, Whether to thi lord and to thee sente me my lord, that I schulde speken thes wordis, and not more to the men that sytten vpon the wall, that thei eten their dritt, and drynken their vryne with ȝou? [verse 28] And so Rapsaces stode, and cryede out with a grete voyce Jewly, and seith, Heerith the wordis of the grete kyng, kyng of As|siries. [verse 29] Thes thingis seith the kyng, `Disceyue not ȝou [Lede not ȝou doun E pr. m.] Ezechie; forsothe he schal not mowen delyuer ȝou fro myn [verse 30] hond; ne ȝyue he trust to ȝou vpon the Lord, seying, Delyuerynge schal dely|ueren us the Lord, and this cyte schal not be taken in the hond of the kyng of [verse 31] Assiries; wille ȝe not heeren Ezechias. Thes thingis forsothe seith the kyng of Assiries, Dooth with me that to ȝou is profytable, and comith out to me; and ete ech oon of his vijne, and of his fijge tree, and ȝe schuln drynke watirs of ȝoure [verse 32] cisternys, to the tyme that I come, and translate ȝou in to the lond that is lijc to ȝour lond, in to the lond berynge fruyt, and plenteuows of wijne, the lond of brede, and of vynys, the lond of olyues, `and of oyle [Om. A.] , and of hony; and ȝe schulen lyuen, and not dyȝen. Wylle ȝe not heeren Ezechie, that ȝou disceyueth, seyinge, The Lord schal delyueren us. [verse 33] Whether delyuerden the goddis of Gentylis their

lond fro the hond of the kyng of Assi|ries? [verse 34] Where is the god of Emath, and Arfath? Where is the god of Saphar|uaym, Ana, and Aua [Ayra ABC sec. m. FH.] ? Whether thei de|lyuerden Samarie fro myn hond? [verse 35] Who forsothe ben thes in alle the goddis of londis, `the whiche [that C pr. m.] delyuerden their re|gyoun fro my hond, that the Lord may delyueren Jerusalem fro myn hond? [verse 36] And so the puple was styll, and answerde not to hym eny thinge; forsothe maunde|ment of the kyng thei hadde taken, that thei schulden not answeren to hym [hym any thyng E pr. m.] . [verse 37] And Eliachym, the sone of Elchie, the pro|uost of the hous, came, and Sobna, scribe, and Joache, the sone of Azaf, chaunce|lere, to Ezechie, the clothis kutt; and thei tolden to hym the wordis of Rap|saces.

CAP. XIX.

[verse 1] The whiche thingis whanne kyng Eze|chie hadde herde, he cutte his clothis, and is couerde with a sac; and he wente in to the hous of the Lord. [verse 2] And he sente Elia|chym, the prouost of the hous, and [to ABFH.] Sobna, scribe, and the olde men of the prestis, couerd with sackis, to Ysay, the prophete, the sone of Amos. [verse 3] The whiche seyden, Thes thingis seith Ezechias, Days of tri|bulacyoun, and of blamynge, and of blas|femye thes days; ther ben commyn sonys to the birthe, and strengthis hath not the childe berere. [verse 4] Ȝif perauenture heere the Lord thi God alle the wordis of Rapsaces, whom sente the kynge of Assiries, his lord, that he repreue the Lord lyuynge, and vndernym with wordis, the whiche herde the Lord thi God; and make ory|soun for thes relikis, that ben founden. [verse 5] Thanne the seruauntis of kyng Ezechie [verse 6] camen to Ysay; and Ysay seith to hem, Thes thingis seith to ȝoure lord, Thes thingis seith the [ȝoure A.] Lord, Wille ȝe not

dreeden fro the face of the wordis that ȝe han herde, with the whiche the chil|dren of the kyng of Assiries han blas|femyden me. [verse 7] Loo! I schal senden in to hym a spirit, and he schal here a mes|sager, and he schal `be turned [turnyn E pr. m.] aȝeyn in to his lond; and I schal throwen hym doun by swerd in his owne lond. [verse 8] Thanne Rapsaces is turned aȝeyn, and foond the kyng of Assiries ouercommynge Lob|nam; forsothe he hade herde, that he was goon aweye fro Lachis. [verse 9] And whanne he hade herd of kyng Thea|racha of Etheope, messager [message A.] seyinge, Lo! he is goon out, that he fiȝt aȝeynus thee; that he goo aȝeynus hym, he sente mes|sagers [verse 10] to Ezechie, seyinge, Thes thingis seyith to Ezekie, kyng of Juda, Leede thee not asyde [doun E pr. m.] the [that H.] Lord thi God, in the whiche thou hast trust, ne sey thou, Jerusalem schal not be taken in to the [verse 11] hondis of the kyng of Assiries; thou forsothe thi silf hast herd what thingis the kyngis of Assiries han done in alle [the B.] londis, what maner thei han waastiden hem; whether than aloon thou schalt mowen ben delyuered? [verse 12] Whether the goddis of Gentylis delyuerden alle whom my faders waastyden, Gozam, that is, and Aran, and Reseph, and the sonys of Eden, that weren in Thelassar? [verse 13] Wher is the kyng of Emath, and the kyng of Arfath? and the kyng of the cytee of Cepharuaym, Ana, and Aua? [verse 14] And so whanne Ezechias hade taken the lettres fro the hond of the messagers, and hadde rad hem, he steyȝide up in to the hous of the Lord, and he spradde hym out [verse 15] beforn the Lord; and preyide in his siȝt, seyinge, Lord God of Yrael, that syttyst vpon cherubyn, thou ert aloon God of alle kyngis of the [Om. AC.] erth; thou maadist

heuen and erthe. [verse 16] Bowe doun thin ere, and here; opyn thin eeȝen, Lord, and see; and here thou alle the wordis of Senacherub, that sente, that he repreue to us the lyuynge God. [verse 17] Forsothe, Lord, the kyngis of Assiries scatirden the Gen|tylis, [verse 18] and the londis of alle, and senten the goddis of hem in to fyre; forsothe they weren not goddis, bot the wercis of the hondis of men, of tree and stoon; and thei distruyeden hem. [verse 19] Now than, Lord oure God, maake vs saaf fro the hond of hem, that alle rewmys of the erth knowen for thou ert Lord God aloon. [verse 20] Forsothe Ysayas, the sone of Amos, sente to Ezechie, seyinge, Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Yrael, What thingis thou preyedist me vpon Senacherub, kyng of Assiries, I haue herde. [verse 21] This is the word, that the Lord hath spoken of hym; He hath dispiside thee, and scorned thee, thou meyden douȝtir of Syon; aftir thi bac the heued he meuede, thou douȝtir of Jerusalem. [verse 22] To whom hast thou repreued, and whom hast thou blasfemede? Aȝeynus whome hast thou enhauncid thi voice, and hast reride in to heeiȝ thin eeȝen? Aȝenus the hooly of Yrael. [verse 23] By the hond [hondis ABFH.] of thi seruauntes thou hast putte reprofe to the Lord, and seidist, In the [Om. ABFH.] multitude of my chaaris I steiȝide up the heiȝtis of hillis, in the ouermost of Lybane, and I hewȝ doun the heeȝe cedris of it, and the chosen firris of it; and I wente in vnto the termys of it, and the wijlde wode of [verse 24] the Carmele of it I haue hewen doun; and I haue dronken alyen watirs, and haue dryed with the steppis of my feet alle the closed watirs. [verse 25] Whether hast thou not herde, what I haue done fro the

bigynnynge? Fro [For B.] the olde days I haue fourmyd it, and nowe I haue brouȝt to; and the streyngthid cytees schuln ben in to fallynge of the fiȝtynge hyllis. [verse 26] And thilk that sytten in hem meeke in hond, han tremblyd to gydre, and ben con|foundyd; thei ben maad as hey of the feeld, and as greene herbe of rofys, the whiche is maad drye, er it myȝt comme to rijpnesse. [verse 27] And thi dwellynge place, and thi goynge oute, and thi commynge in, and thi weye I knewe beforn, and thi woodnesse aȝeynus me. [verse 28] Thou wexe wood in me, and thi pride steyȝide up in to my eris; and so I schal putten a cercle in thyn noos thrillis, and a bernacle in thi lippis, and I schal brynge thee aȝeyn by the weye that thou came. [verse 29] To thee for|sothe, Ezechie, this schal ben a tokne; ete this ȝere that thou fyndist; in the secounde forsothe ȝere that freely growen; bot in the thrid ȝeer sowith, and repith, and plauntith vynes, and etith the fruyt of hem. [verse 30] And what euer were laft of the hous of Juda, it schal putten the rote benethe, and maken fruyt abouen. [verse 31] Fro [For A.] Jerusalem forsoth schuln goon out re|lykis, and that schal ben saued of the hyll of Syon; the zeel of the Lord of hoostis schal done that. [verse 32] For what thing thes thinges seith the Lord of the kyng of Assiries, He schal not commen in to this [the AH. thi B.] cytee, ne senden arowe in to it, and targett schal not ocupien it, and warn|yschynge schal not enuyroun it. [verse 33] By the weye that he came he schal be turned aȝeyn, and this cytee he schal not comme [verse 34] in, seith the Lord; and I schal defenden this cytee, and sauen it for me, and for Dauid, my seruaunt. [verse 35] It is done thanne, the aungel of the Lord came in that nyȝt, and smoote in the tentis of Assiries an hundreth fourescoore and fyue thousandis.

And whanne erly he hade rysen, he sawȝ alle the bodies of the deed; and aȝeyn gooynge wente aweye. [verse 36] And Senacherub, the [Om. A.] kyng of Assiries, is turned aȝeyn, and dwellide in Nynyue. [verse 37] And whanne he schulde honouren in the temple of Nesarath, his god, Toramelech and Cirasar, the sonys of hym, smyten hym with swerd; and thei flowen in to the lond of Armeneys; and Asseraddon, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XX.

[verse 1] In tho dayes sijknede Ezechias vnto the deeth; and there cam to hym Ysayas, the sone of Amos, prophete, and seyde [seith A.] to hym, Thes thingis seith the Lord God, Comaunde to thin hous, forsothe thou schalt dyen, and not lyuen. [verse 2] The whiche turned his face to the wall, and honourede [verse 3] the Lord, seyinge, I beseche, Lord, haue mynde, how I haue goon before thee in treuthe, and in perfyte herte, and that is plesaunt before thee haue [I haue AC pr. m.] done. And so Ezechias wepte with grete weepynge. [verse 4] And ere Ysay were gon out the half partye of the porche, the word of the [verse 5] Lord is done to hym, seyinge, Turne aȝeyn, and sey to Ezechie, the duke of my puple, Thes thingis seith the Lord of Dauid, thi fadre, I haue herd thi preyer, and seen thi tere, and, loo! I have helid thee. The thrid day thou schalt steyȝen up to the temple of the Lord, [verse 6] and I schal adden to thy days fyueteen ȝeer; bot and fro the hond of the kyng of Assiries I schal delyueren thee, and this cytee, and I schal defenden this cyte for me, and for Dauid, my seruaunt. [verse 7] And Ysay seyde, Bryngith to me a masse of fijgis. The whiche whan thei hadden brouȝt to, and putte vpon his botche, he is heelid. [verse 8] Ezechie forsothe seide to Ysay, What schal ben the tokne, for the Lord schal helyn me, and for the thrid day

I am to steyȝen up the temple of the Lord? [verse 9] To whom seith Ysay, This schal ben the tokne fro the Lord, that the Lord be to do the word that he spac; wylt thou, that vmbre steyȝe up tenn lynys, or that it be turned aȝeyn as fele grees? [verse 10] And Ezechie seith, It is liȝt vmbre to cresen tenn lynis, ne this I wylle that be done, bot that it be turned aȝeyn bac|ward tenn degrees. [verse 11] And so Ysay, the prophete, inwardly clepyde the Lord, and brouȝt aȝeyn the vmbre by the lynys, with the whiche nowe it hadde goon doun in the orloge of Achaz, bacward tenn degrees. [verse 12] In that tyme sente Berodachaladam, the sone of Baladam, kyng of Babyloyne, lettris and ȝiftis to Ezechie; forsothe he hadde herd, that Ezechie was sijk, and hadde couerde. [verse 13] And Ezechias gladide in the commynge of hem, and schewide to hem the hous of swote spycis [oynementis E pr. m.] , and gold, and siluer, and dyuerse pymentis, and oynementis, and the hous of his vessels, and alle thingis that he myȝt han in his tresouries; ther was not a word, that Ezechie schewide not to hem in his hous, and in alle his power. [verse 14] Forsothe Ysay, the prophete, came to kynge [the kynge B.] Ezechie, and seide to hym, What seyden thes men, or whenns camen thei to thee? To whome seith Ezechie, Fro a ferre lond thei camen to me, fro Babyloyne. [verse 15] And he answerde, What seeȝen thei in thin hous? Ezechie seith, Alle thingis, what euer ben in myn hous, thei seeȝen; no thing is that I haue not schewide to hem in my tresuries. [verse 16] And so Ysay seyde to Ezechie, Heere thou the word of the Lord. [verse 17] Lo! days commen, and alle thingis that ben in thi hous schuln be taken aweye, and the whiche thi fadirs hydden vnto this day, in to Babyloyne; ther schal not leuen eny thinge, seith the Lord. [verse 18] Bot and of thi sonys, that schul goon out of thee, the

whiche thou schalt geten schul ben taken aweye, and thei schul ben geldyngis in the paleys of the kyng of Babyloyne. [verse 19] Ezechie seide to Ysay, Good is the word of the Lord, that he spac; be oonly pees and treuthe in my days. [verse 20] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Ezechie, and alle his streyngthe, and howe he maad the fische poond, and the watre cundite, and brouȝten in watirs in to the cytee, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordys of the days of kyngis of Juda?

CAP. XXI.

[verse 21] And Ezechie slepte with his fadirs, and Manasses, his sone, regnede for hym. [verse 1] Of twelue ȝeer was Manasses, whanne he beganne to regnen, and fyue and fourty ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; the name of his modir, Asiba. [verse 2] And he dide euyl in the siȝt of the Lord, after the mawmettis of Gentils, the whiche the Lord dide aweye fro the face of the sonys of Yrael. [verse 3] And he is turned, and bylde [bieldide A.] up heeȝe thingis, the whiche Ezechie, his fadir, scatirde; and he rerede up the auters of Baal, and maad mawmett woddis, as dyde Achab, kyng of Yrael; and he honourede al the knyȝthod of heuen, and heryede it. [verse 4] And he maad up autirs in the hous of the Lord, of the whiche the Lord seide, In Jeru|salem I schal putten my name. [verse 5] And he maad up autirs of alle the knyȝthode of heuen in [and A.] two poorchis of the temple of [verse 6] the Lord; and he ouerladde his sone thorȝ fijr; and he dyuynede, and he weytide the dyuynynge of chiterynge of briddis; and maad enchaunteris, and clepers of deuyls he multiplied, that he dide euyl beforn the Lord, and terrede hym. [verse 7] And he putte the mawmett of the mawmett wodde, that he hadde maad, in to the temple of the Lord, vpon the whiche the Lord spac to Dauid, and to Salomon, his

sone, In this temple, and in Jerusalem that I haue chosen of alle the lynagis of Yrael, I schal putte my name vnto euer|more. [verse 8] And I schal make no more to be styred the fote of Yrael fro the lond that I ȝaue to the fadirs of hem; so neuer the later ȝif thei kepen in dede alle thingis that I bad hem, and al the lawe that Moyses, my seruaunt, comaundyde to hem. [verse 9] Thei forsothe herden not, bot ben bouȝt doun of Manasse, that thei don euyl ouer the Gentilis, the whiche the Lord to-trade fro the face of the sonys of Yrael. [verse 10] And the Lord spac in the hond [verse 11] of his seruauntis prophetis, seyinge, For Manasses, king of Juda, dyde alle thes abomynacyouns most euylouer alle thingis the whiche dyden Amorreis beforn hym, and also he maad Juda to synnen in his [verse 12] vnclennessis [vnclennesse B.] ; therfore thes thingis seith the Lord God of Yrael, Lo! I schal bryngen in euyls vpon Jerusalem and Judam, that who so euer heerith, bothe the eris of hym [verse 13] schal tynclyn; and I schal stretchen out vpon Jerusalem the lytyl coord of Sama|rye, and the birthen of the hous of Achab, and I schal don aweye Jerusalem, as tablis ben wont to ben don aweye; doynge aweye I schal turnen, and bryngyn ofter [efte B.] the poyntel vpon his face. [verse 14] For|sothe I schal leuen the relikis of myn herytage [eritages E.] , and schal taken hem in to the hond of his enmyes; and thei schul ben in waastite, and in rauyne to alle their [verse 15] aduersaries; for thi that thei dyden euyl beforn me, and dwelliden stedfast ter|rynge me, fro the day that their fadirs wenten out of Egipt vnto this day. [verse 16] Fer|thermore and Manasses schad myche gyltlesse blode ouer gretely, to the tyme that Jerusalem wer fulfyld vp to the mouthe, with oute his synnes in whiche he maad Judam to synnen, that he do yuel beforn the Lord. [verse 17] The remnaunt for|sothe

of the wordis of Manasse, and alle thingis that he dyde, and his synne that he synned, whether thes ben not wryten in the boke of the wordis of the days of kyngis of Juda? [verse 18] And Manasses slept with his fadirs, and is byryed in the gardyne of his hous, in the gardyn of Azam; and Amon, his sone, regned for hym. [verse 19] Of two and twenty ȝeer he was, whanne he beganne to regnen; two forsothe ȝeer he regned in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Messalometh, douȝtir of Arus of Jethaba. [verse 20] And he dyde euyl in the siȝt of the Lord, as dydde Ma|nasses, his fadir. [verse 21] And he wente in al the weye, by the whiche his fadir wente, and he seruede in the vnclennessis [vnclennesse B.] in whiche serued his fadir, and honourede [verse 22] hem; and forsoke the Lord God of his fadirs, and wente not in the weye of the Lord. [verse 23] And his seruauntis benten to hym buschementis, and slewen the kyng in his hous. [verse 24] The [And the A.] puple forsothe of the lond smoote alle, that coniureden aȝeinus king Amon, and thei setten to hem king, Jo|siam, his sone, for him. [verse 25] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Amon, that he dide, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordes of the days of kyngis of Juda? [verse 26] And thei birieden him in his sepulcre in the gardyn of Aza; and Josias, his sone, regnede for hym.

CAP. XXII.

[verse 1] Of eyȝt ȝeere was Josias, whann he byganne to regnen, and oon and thrytty ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Ydida, the douȝtir of Fadaya of Besocath. [verse 2] And he dyde that, that was plesaunt beforn the Lord, and he wente by alle the wayes of Dauid, his fadir, and bowede not, neither to the riȝt, ne to the

left. [verse 3] Forsothe the eyȝtenthe ȝeer of kyng Josie, sente the kyng Safan, the sone of Asua, the sone of Mesulam, the scribe of the temple of the Lord, seyinge to hym, [verse 4] Goo to Elchiam, the grete preest, that the monee, that is brouȝt in to the temple of the Lord, be blowen to gydre, the whiche the porteris of the temple gaderden of [verse 5] the puple; and be it ȝeuen to wriȝtis by the prouostis of the hous of the Lord; the whiche and delen it to hem that wirchen in the temple of the Lord, to the coueryngis of the temple of the Lord [verse 6] to ben enstorid, that is, to the mayster carpenters, and masouns, and to hem that maken to gydre the bytwene [betwix A.] broken, and that there be bouȝt trees and stonys of the quarrees, to the enstorynge of the [verse 7] temple of the Lord; neuer the later the syluer be not tolde to hem, that thei taken, bot in power haue [ha E.] thei, and in feith. [verse 8] Forsothe Elchias, the bischop, seide to Sapham, scribe, The boke of the lawe I haue founden in the hous of the Lord. And Elchias ȝaue the volym to Sapham, scribe, the whiche and radde it. [verse 9] Forsothe Sapham, scribe, came to the kyng, and told to hym what thingis he hade comaundide, and seith, Thi ser|uauntis blewen to gydre the monee, that is founden in the hous of the Lord, and han ȝeuen, that it be delid to the wriȝtis of the prefectis of the werkis of the temple of the Lord. [verse 10] Forsothe Sapham, scribe, tolde to the kyng, seyinge, El|chias, the prest of God, ȝaue to me a boke; the whiche whanne Sapham hade [verse 11] radde before the kyng, and the king had herd the wordis of the boke of the lawe of the Lord, he kutte his clothis. [verse 12] And he comaundyde to Elchie, the prest, and to Aychan, the sone of Saphan, and to Achabor, the sone of Mycha, and to Sa|pham, scribe, and to Achie, seruaunt of

[verse 13] the kyng, seyinge, Gooth, and counseilith the Lord vpon me, and vpon the puple, and vpon al Juda, of the wordis of this volyme, that is founden; grete forsothe wrathe of the Lord is tende up aȝeynus us, for oure fadirs herden not the wordis of this boke, that thei schulde done al that is writen to us. [verse 14] And so Elchias, the prest, and Aycham, and Achabor, and Saphan, and Asia, wenten to Oldam, prophetisse, wyf of Sellum, sone of The|chue, sone of Aras, keper of the clothes, the whiche dwellede in Jerusalem, in `the secounde wallynge [welsum fortune E sec. m. sup. ras. the secounde wallyng tert. m.] ; and thei speken to hire. [verse 15] And sche answerd to hem, Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Yrael, Seith to the man, that sente ȝou to me, [verse 16] Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Ysrael, Loo! I schal brynge forth euyls vpon this place, and vpon the dwellers of it, alle the wordis of the lawe, the whiche [verse 17] the kyng of Juda radde; for thei for|soken me, and sacrifiden to alyen goddis, terrynge me in alle the werkis of their hondis; and myn indignacioun schal be tend up in this place, and schal not ben qweynt. [verse 18] To the kyng forsothe of Juda that sente ȝou, that ȝe counseylen the Lord, thus seith, Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Yrael, For thy that thou [verse 19] herdyst the wordis of the volyme, and thi herte is gaastyde, and thou ert meeked beforn the Lord, the werdis herd aȝeyn this place and the dwellers of it, that is, that schulden ben maad in to stoneynge, and into cursidhed, and thou kuttist thy clothis, and thou weptist be|forn me, and I herde, seith the Lord; [verse 20] therfore I schal gedere thee to thi fadirs, and thou schalt be gadred to thy sepulcre in pese; that thin eeȝen seen not alle the euylis, the whiche I am to brynge in vpon this place.

CAP. XXIII.

[verse 1] And thei tolden to the kyng that sche hadde seide; the whiche sent, and ben gadred to hym alle the olde men of Juda, and of Jerusalem. [verse 2] And the kyng steyȝide up the temple of the Lord, and alle the men of Juda, and alle that dwelliden in Jerusalem with hym, prestis, and pro|phetis, and alle the puple, fro lytyl vnto mychil; and he radde, alle men heer|ynge, alle the wordis of the boke of the pese couenaunt of the Lord, the whiche is founden in the hous of the Lord. [verse 3] And the kyng stood vpon a gree; and he smote pese couenaunt before the Lord, that thei goon after the Lord, and keepen his heestis and witnessyngis and cery|moynes in al herte and in al soule, that thei reren the wordis of this pese coue|naunt, that weren wryten in that boke; and the puple assentyde to the [that E.] coue|naunt. [verse 4] And the kyng comaundyde to Elchie, the bischop, and to the prestis of the secound ordre, and to the ȝate kepers, that thei throwen forthe fro the temple of the Lord alle the vessels, that weren maad to Baal, and in the maw|mett wodde [place E pr. m.] , and to al the knyȝthod of heuen; and he brende hem with outen forth Jerusalem, in the valey of Cedron, and he toke the poudre of hem in to Bethel. [verse 5] And he dyde aweye the deuyl clepers, whome the kyngis of Juda had|den sett to sacrifien in heiȝtis by the cytees of Juda, and the [in the CE.] enuyroun of Jerusalem, and hem that brenden en|cense to Baal, and to the sunne, and to the mone, and to the twelue syngnys, and to alle the knyȝthode of heuen. [verse 6] And he comaundyde to ben born out the mawmett wodde fro the hous of the Lord with out forth Jerusalem in the

valey of Cedron, and brende [brenne B.] it there, and brouȝt it [Om. ABFH.] in to poudre, and threwȝ forth vpon the sepulcris of the comun. [verse 7] Forsothe he distruyȝide the lytyl housis of the wommannysch maad men, that weren in the hous of the Lord; for the whiche wymmen weueden as lytyll houses of the mawmett wodde. [verse 8] And he gadrede alle the prestis of the [Om. ABFH.] cytees of Juda, and he defoulide the heyȝtis, where the prestis sacrifieden, fro Gaba vnto Ber|sabe; and he distruyed the auters of the ȝatis in the entree of the dore of Josie, prince of the [Om. B.] cytee, that was at the left syde of the ȝate of the cytee. [verse 9] Neuer the latre the prestis of the heeȝe thingis steyȝiden not vp to the auter of the Lord in Jerusalem, bot oonly eten therfe loouys in the mydill of their bretheren. [verse 10] For|sothe he defoulide Topheth, that is in the valeye of the sone of Ennon, that no man schuld sacryn his sone or his douȝtre thorȝ fyr to Moloch. [verse 11] Forsothe he toke awey the hors, the whiche the kingis of Jude hadden ȝeuen to the sunne, in the entree of the temple of the Lord, besijdis the chayer of Nathanmylech, geldynge, that was in Faturym; the chaare forsothe of the sunne he brende with fijr. [verse 12] And the auters, that weren vpon the rooues of the soupynge place of Achath, the whiche the kyngis of Juda hadden maad, and the auters that Manasses hadde maad in the two poorchis of the temple of the Lord, the kyng de|struyede; and he ran to Jude, and he scatrede the askis [ashen A.] of hem in to the streme of Cedron. [verse 13] The heeȝe thingis forsothe, that weren in Jerusalem at the riȝt partye of the hyll of the offencyoun, the whiche Salomon, kyng of Yrael, hadde bylde, and Astaroth, the mawmett of Sydonyes, and Camos, of the offency|oun of [and ABF. Om. C.] Moab, and Melchon, the abomy|nacyouns

of the sonys of Amon, the [verse 14] kyng defoulide; and broosede the ymagis, and hewȝ doun the mawmett woodis, and fulfillide the places of hem with the boonis of deed men. [verse 15] Ferthermore and the auter that was in Bethel, and the heeȝe thinge, that Jeroboam, the sone of Nabath, hadde maad, the whiche maad Yrael to synnen; and that heeȝ auter he distruyede, and brende, and mynuschede in to poudre, and also [al A.] brende up the mawmett woode. [verse 16] And Josias turned, sauȝ there sepulcris that weren in the hyll; and he sente, and toke the boonys fro the sepulcris, and brende hem vpon the auter, and putte it aftir the word of the Lord, that the man of God spac, the whiche hadde before seide these wordis. [verse 17] And he seith, Whose is this towmbe that I see? And the cyteȝeens of that cyte answerden to hym, The sepulcre it is of the man of God, that came fro Juda, and before seide thes wordis, `the whiche [whiche A. that C.] thou hast done vpon the auter of Bethel. [verse 18] And he seith, Lefe hym; no man styrre the boonys of hym. And vntouchid laften [thei laften A.] the boonys of hym with the boonis of the prophete, that came fro Samarye. [verse 19] Ferthermore and alle the mawmett templis of the heeȝe thingis, that weren in the cytees of Samarye, the whiche the kyngis of Yrael hadden maad to terre the Lord, Josias toke aweye; and he dyde to hem aftir alle the werkis that he hadde done in Bethel. [verse 20] And he slewȝ alle the prestis of the heeȝe thingis, that weren ther vpon the auteres [waters ABH.] , and he brende mens boonys vpon thoo [it E pr. m.] ; and he turnede aȝeyn to Jerusalem. [verse 21] And he comaundide to al [Om. A.] the puple, seyinge, Makith pask to the Lord ȝoure God, aftir that is writen in the boke of this pese

of couenaunt. [verse 22] Ne forsothe ther is maad siche a pask fro the days of iugis, that demeden Yrael, and of alle the days of the kyngis of Yrael, and of the kyngis of [verse 23] Juda, as in the eiȝtenthe ȝeer of kyng Josie this pasch is maad to the Lord in Jerusalem. [verse 24] Bot and the clepers of de|uyls, and deuynours, and the fyguris of mawmettis, and the vnclennesses [vnclennesse AH.] , and abomynacyouns [the abhomynaciouns C.] , that weren in the lond of Juda and of Jerusalem, Josias dyde aweye, that he make stable the wordis of the lawe, that ben writen in the boke, that Elchias, the prest, fonde in the temple of the Lord. [verse 25] Lijk hym was not beforn hym a kyng, that was turned aȝeyn to the Lord in al his herte, and in alle his soule, and in al his vertue, aftir al the lawe of Moyses; ne aftir hym rose lijke to hym. [verse 26] Neuerthelatre the Lord is not turned aweye fro the wrath of his grete woodnes, in the whiche his wodnes is wrothe aȝeynus Juda, for the terryngis [terrynge A.] in the whiche Manasses hadde terred hym. [verse 27] And so the Lord seide, Also Judam I schal taken aweye fro my face, as I toke aweye Yrael; and I schal throwen aweye this cytee, that I chees, Jerusalem, and the hous of the whiche I seide, My name schal ben there. [verse 28] The remnaunt forsothe of the wordis of Josie, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether not thes ben writen in the boke of the wordis of the days of the kyngis of Juda? [verse 29] In his days steyȝide up Pharao Nechao, kyng of Egipt, aȝeynus the kyng of Assiries, at the flode of Eufraten; and Josias, kyng of Juda, wente in to aȝein commynge of hym, and is slayn in Magedo, whanne he had seen hym. [verse 30] And his seruauntis beeren hym deed fro Magedo, and brouȝten hym in to Jerusalem, and byryeden hym in his sepulcre; and the puple of the lond

toke Joachas, the sone of Josie, and anoyntyden hym, and setten hym kyng for his fadir. [verse 31] Of three and twenty ȝeer was Joachaz, whanne he hadde begune to regnen, and thre monethis he regned in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Amychael, douȝter of Jeremye of Lobna. [verse 32] And he dyde euyl beforn the Lord, aftir alle thingis that the fadirs of hym hadden done. [verse 33] And Pharao Nechao bond [enoyntide E pr. m.] hym in Reblatha, that is in the lond of Emath, that he `regne not [schulde regne E pr. m.] in Jerusalem; and he putte vpon a multynge to the lond, in an hundreth talentis of syluer, and a talent of gold. [verse 34] And Pharao Nechao ordeynde kyng Eliachym, the sone of Josias, for Josias, his fadir; and he turnede his name Joachym; forsothe Joachaz [Om. E pr. m.] he toke, and ladde in to Egipt. [verse 35] Forsothe Joa|chym ȝaue to Pharao syluer and gold, whanne he hadde comaundide to the lond by alle ȝeeris, that it were brouȝt, aftir the heest of Pharao; and echon aftir their strengthis he askyde bothe syluer and gold, of the puple of the lond, that he myȝte ȝeue to Pharao Nechao. [verse 36] Of fyue and twenty ȝeer was Joachym, whanne he hadde begunne to regnen, and elleuen ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; the name of his modir, Zebida, douȝter of Fadaya of Ruma. [verse 37] And he dyde euyl before the Lord, aftir alle thingis that his fadirs haden done.

CAP. XXIV.

[verse 1] In his days of steyȝide up Nabugo|donosor, kyng of Babyloyne, and Joa|chym is maad to hym seruaunt three ȝeer; and eft he rebellide aȝeynus hym. [verse 2] And the Lord sente in to hym lytyll theuis of Caldeys, and lytyll theuis of Cyrye, and lytyl theuis of Moab, and lytil theuis of the sonys of Amon; and

he in [Om. E pr. m.] sente hem in to Judam, that he scatere hym, aftir the word of the Lord, that he hadde spoken bi his seruauntis prophetis. [verse 3] This forsothe is done by the word of the Lord aȝeyns Judam, that he do it aweye beforne hym, for the synnes of Manasses, and alle thingis that he [verse 4] dyde, and for the gyltles blode that he schedde; and he fulfillide Jerusalem with the blode of innocentis; and for this thing the Lord wolde not be plesid. [verse 5] The rem|naunt forsothe of the wordis of Joachym, and alle thingis that he dyde, whether thes ben not writen in the boke of the wordis of days of kyngis of Juda? [verse 6] And Joachym slepte with his fadirs, and Joachym, his sone, regned fore hym. [verse 7] And the kyng of Egipt addide no more, that he schulde goon out fro his lond; forsothe the kynge of Babyloyne hadde taken, fro the ryuer of Egipt vnto the flode of Eufraten, alle thingis that weren of the kyng of Egipt. [verse 8] Of tenn and eiȝt ȝeer was Joachym, whanne he hade be|gunne to regnen, and three monethis he regned in Jerusalem; name of his modir, Naessa, douȝter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. [verse 9] And he dyde euyl beforn the Lord, aftir alle thingis that his fadir hadde done. [verse 10] In that tyme steyȝide up the seruauntis of Nabugodonosor, kyng of Babyloyne, in to Jerusalem, and the cyte is enuyround with streyngthingis. [verse 11] And Nabugodo|nosor came, the kyng of Babiloyne, to the cyte with his seruauntis, that they ouercommen it. [verse 12] And Joachym, kyng of Juda, wente out to the kyng of Ba|biloyne, he, and his modir, and his seruauntis, and his princis, and his geldyngis; and the kyng of Babyloyne toke hym, the eiȝtithe ȝeer of his regne. [verse 13] And he brouȝte thens alle the tresoures

of the hous of the Lord, and the tre|soures of the kingis hous; and he heewȝ to gydre alle the golden vessels, that Sa|lomon, kyng of Yrael, hade maad in the temple of the Lord, aftir the word of the Lord. [verse 14] And he translatide al Jerusalem, and alle the princis, and alle the stronge men of the hoost, tenn thousand, in to caytyfte, and alle craftise men, and en|closere; no thinge is laft, out take the pore puple of the lond. [verse 15] Joachym for|sothe he translatyde in to Babyloyne, and the kyngis modir, and the kyngis wijf, and the kyngis geldyngis; and the domysmen of the lond he ladde in to caytifte fro Jerusalem in to Babiloyne; [verse 16] and alle the stronge men, seuen thou|sand; and craftise men and enclosers, a thousand; alle stronge men and fiȝters; and the kynge of Babiloyne ladde hem caytyfe in to Babyloyne. [verse 17] And he sette Mathathiam, his vncle, for hym; and he putte on a name to hym Sedechie. [verse 18] The oon and twentithe [twenti A.] ȝeer of age hadde Sedechias, whanne he hadde begunne to regnen, and elleuen ȝeer he regnede in Jerusalem; name of his modir was Amy|chal, douȝtir of Jeremye of Lobna. [verse 19] And he dyde euyl byfore the Lord, aftir alle thingis that Joachym hadde done. [verse 20] For|sothe the Lord wrathede aȝeinus Jerusa|lem and Judam, to the tyme that he threwȝ hem aweye fro his face; and Sedechie wente aweye fro the kyng of Babiloyne.

CAP. XXV.

[verse 1] It is done forsothe the nynthe ȝeer of his regne, the tenthe monethe, the tenthe day of the monethe, Nabu|godonosor, kyng of Babyloyne, came, he, and al his hoost, in to Jerusalem; and

thei enuyrounden it, and maden up in his enuyroun streyngthingis. [verse 2] And the cyte is closede, and palid, vnto the elle|uenthe [verse 3] ȝeer of kyng Sedechie, the nynthe day of the monethe; and hungir wexe grete in the cyte, and ther was not brede to the puple of the lond. [verse 4] And the cyte is to-broken, and alle men fiȝters flowen the nyȝt by the weye of the ȝate, that is bytwene the double wall, at the spring|ynge of the kyng; forsothe Caldeis be|segyden in enuyroun the cyte. And so Sedechias fleiȝ by the weye that ledith [verse 5] to the wijld feeldis of wyldirnesse; and the hoost of Caldeis pursueden the kyng, and he cauȝte hym in the pleyn of Jeri|cho; and alle the fiȝters, that weren with hym, ben scaterd, and forsoken hym. [verse 6] Thanne they ladden the taken kyng to the kyng of Babyloyne, in Reblatha, the whiche spake with [to ABFH.] hym dome. [verse 7] The sonys forsothe of Sedechie he slewȝ be|fore hym, and his eeȝen he putte out, and boond hym with cheynys, and brouȝte hym in to Babyloyne. [verse 8] The fyfthe mo|neth, the seuenth day of the moneth, it is the nyntenthe ȝeer of the kyng of Babiloyne, came Nabusardam, prince of the hoost, the seruaunt of the kyng of [verse 9] Babyloyne, in to Jerusalem; and brende up the hous of the Lord, and the hous of the kyng, and the housis of Jerusalem, [verse 10] and eche hous he brende with fijre; and the wallis of Jerusalem in enuyroun de|struyede al the hoost of Caldeys, that was with the prince [princis A.] of knyȝtis. [verse 11] The tother forsothe partye of the puple, that laft in the cyte, and the thorȝ fleers, that ouerflowen to the kyng of Babiloyn, and the laft comoun, Nabusardan, prince of [verse 12] knyȝthode, translatyde; and of the pore men of the lond he laft wyne [viyn A.] makers,

and erthtiliers. [verse 13] Forsothe the brasen py|lers, that weren in the temple of the Lord, and the feet, and the brasen se, that was in the hous of the Lord, Caldeis breeken to gydre; and al the brasse thei beeren ouer in to Babiloyne. [verse 14] And brasen pottis, trowels, and fleschokis, and cuppis, and morters, and alle the brasen [goldene E pr. m.] vessels, in whiche thei mynystriden, thei token; also and encenseeris, and violis. [verse 15] The whiche forsothe weren golden, and whiche sylueren, toke the prince of the [verse 16] knyȝthod, that is, two pylers, oon se, and the feet, that Salomon hade maad in to the temple of the Lord; and ther was not peys of the brasse of alle the vessels. [verse 17] Tenn and eiȝt cubitis of heiȝt hadde oon pyler, and a brasen heued couerynge vpon hym of heyȝt of thre cubitis, and a calle, and poumgarnetis vpon the heued couerynge of the pyler, all brasen; and lijc honourynge hadde the secound pyler. [verse 18] Forsothe the [of the B.] prince of the knyȝthode toke Sarayam, the first preste, and Sophonyam, the secound [verse 19] preste, and the thre porters, and oon geldynge of the cyte, that was prefect vpon the fiȝtynge men, and fyue men of hem that stoden before the kyng, the whiche he foond in the cyte, and So|pher, the prince of the hoost, that prouede the newe knyȝtis of the puple of the lond, and sixe men of the comoun, that weren [verse 20] founden in the cyte; the whiche Nabu|sardan, prince of the knyȝthode, takynge ladde to the kyng of Babyloyne, in Reb|latha. [verse 21] And the kyng of Babiloyne smote hem, and slewȝ hem in Reblatha, in the lond of Emath; and Juda is translatyd fro his lond. [verse 22] To the puple forsothe that was laft in the lond of Juda, the whiche Nabugodonosor, kyng of Baby|tilieris.

loyne, hadde laft, he made rewler Godo|lyam, the sone of Aycham, the sone of Safan. [verse 23] The whiche thingis whanne alle the duykis of knyȝtis, they, and alle the men that weren with hem haden herd, that is, that the kyng of Babyloyne hadde ordeynd Godolie, camen to Godo|lie, in [and B.] Maspha, Ismael, the sone of Na|thanye, and Johannan, the sone of Charee, and Saraye, the sone of Tenameth Ne|thophathite, and Jechonias, the sone of Mechati, thei, and Machath, and the fe|lawis of hem. [verse 24] And Godolias swore to hem, and to the felawis of hem, seyinge, Wylle ȝe not dreden to seruen to the Cal|deis; dwellith in the lond, and seruith to the kyng of Babiloyne, and wele it schal be to ȝou. [verse 25] It is done forsothe in the seuenth moneth, came Ismael, the sone of Nathanye, the sone of Elisama, of the kyngis seed, and ten men with hym, and smyten Godolie, the whiche is deed; bot and the Jewis and the Caldeis, that weren with him in Maspha. [verse 26] And al the puple rijsynge to gydre fro litil vnto mychil, and the princis of knyȝtis, camen in to Egipt, dreedynge the Caldeis. [verse 27] It is done thanne in the seuen and thrittithe ȝeer of the transmygracioun of Joachym, kyng of Jude, the twelfthe monethe, the seuen and twentithe day of the monethe, Euil|meredoch, kyng of Babiloyne, the ȝeer that he beganne to regnen, rerede up the heued of Joachym, kyng of Juda, fro [verse 28] prisone, and he spac to hym benyngly; and he putte his trone vpon the trone of kyngis, that weren with hym in Babi|loyne. [verse 29] And he chaungide his clothis, that he hadde in prisoun; and he eet breed euermore in his siȝt, alle days of his lyfe. [verse 30] Ȝeer fruyt forsothe he ordeynde to hym with oute cesynge; the whiche

and was ȝouen to hym of the kyng by eche days, alle the days of his lijf.

Here eendith the fourthe boke of Kingus, and bigynneth the prolog in the first boke of Paralipomenon [Here endith the fourth book of Kyngis, and now bigynneth the proloog of twey bookis of Paralipomenon. A. Explicit quartus liber Regum. E. Here endith the fourt bok Kyngis. F. No final rubric in CH.]