The ensamples of vertue and vice, gathered oute of holye scripture. By Nicolas Hanape patriarch of Ierusalem. Very necessarye for all christen men and women to loke vpon. And Englyshed by Thomas Paynell

¶Of the auiditye and gredinesse of wemen. Ca. Cxxvii. (Book 127)

THe fyrst woman saw that the tree was faire and de∣lectable to the eyes.* 1.1 Then

immediatlye there followeth. That wythout any deliberation she toke of the frute therof, and did eat.

Al be it that Sara was a good wo∣man, yet she was so desirous to haue children,* 1.2 that she woulde haue one of her maid, sayinge vnto Abraham. Go in vnto my maid.

When Rebecca was asked whether she would go wyth Abrahams seruāt by and by she answered,* 1.3 I wil go, she saide not I wil goe if it be your plea∣sure, or anye like wordes, but I wyll goe.

Lothes doughters had rather haue children by their father,* 1.4 than to bee wythout children.

When Rachel saw that she was ba¦ren and bare no children,* 1.5 she enuyed her sister, and saide to Iacob her hus∣band. Geue me children, or els I am but dead.

Dina being desirous to see the we∣men of the land, Sichem saw her, and opprest her.* 1.6 What shal we saye then of those whiche desire to see men, and to be sene of them? It is no maxnel. &c

The ladye who me Ioseph serued, faried not to be inticed of him,* 1.7 but she required him to gredely.

Ara Calephs doughter obtaind of her father springes of water,* 1.8 for she euen with sythes asked them.

Samsons wife lay so sore vpō him, that he told her the obscure rydle, the whych he woulde not open vnto hys Parentes.* 1.9 But she eftsones tolde it vnto her frendes, although it was to the hindraunce of her husband.

* 1.10Dalida by great importunitye ob∣tayned, that Sampson tolde wher in his mighty strength did reast.

Anna Samuels mother wepte, and coulde take no sustinaunce,* 1.11 for the greate desyre she hadde to haue Chyldren.

* 1.12She was verye greadye to haue a Chylde, that tooke awaye an nother mannes.

Iezabel was so desirous and grea∣dye to delyuer vp Nabothes vineyard to her husband,* 1.13 that she brought forth false witnesses, and thrise procured, and caused Naboth to be stoned most

cruelly.

When that the Sunamite woulde go to Elizeus,* 1.14 and that her husbande would not fullye consent there to, she said, I wil go, so immediatly she pre∣pared an asse, and sayde vnto her ser∣uaunt by the waye, looke thou by no impedimēt or let vnto me, but do that I commaund thee.

Athalia Ochozias mother coneting to raign ouer the land,* 1.15 destroyed al y^e kinges sede, except Ioas thinfant, the which was secreatly hidden, and ta∣ken away.

Anna Tobias wife, daily loked, & went about the stretes,* 1.16 where by she thought there shoulde be any hope of his comming, that she might see hym comming a farre of.

Esther was not contente, that the kinge had geuen her Amans house,* 1.17 & that he had destroyd and slain in Su∣san the chefe city 500. men. But also the next day folowing she caused 300. mo to be slain.

The woman of Canane obtayned her doughters healthe throughe im∣portune* 1.18

prayer.

The mother of Zebedes children: taried not that our lord shuld reward her children after thexcellēcy of theyr merits.* 1.19 But preuenting the time, she desyred that the one mighte be set on his righthand in his kingdome, & the other on his left.

Herodias laid such wait, and so ha∣ted Ihon the Baptist, that she chose y^t her doughter should rather ask his bo¦dy,* 1.20 then the half of Herodes kingdō.

Our lord doth put an ensample of a widow,* 1.21 the whiche was so molesti∣ous and greuous vnto a iudge which feared not God, nether regarded man that at the last he aduenged her of her aduersary.

* 1.22A maid named Rhoda, perceiuinge that Peter knocked at the doore, dyd not open it but for gladnesse, leauing hym wythout, ran in, and told theim that were wythin.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gen. 3.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 16
• * 1.3

  Gen. 24.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 19.
• * 1.5

  Gen. 30.
• * 1.6

  Gene. 34.
• * 1.7

  Gen. ••9.
• * 1.8

  Iosu. 15.
• * 1.9

  Iudi. 14.
• * 1.10

  Iudi. 16.
• * 1.11

  1. Reg. 1.
• * 1.12

  3. Reg. 3.
• * 1.13

  3. reg. 21.
• * 1.14

  4. reg. 4.
• * 1.15

  4. reg. 11.
• * 1.16

  Tob. 10.
• * 1.17

  Esther. 9.
• * 1.18

  Math. 15.
• * 1.19

  Mat. 20.
• * 1.20

  Mat. 14.
• * 1.21

  Luc. 18.
• * 1.22

  Act. 12.