The Byble in Englyshe that is to saye, the content of all the holye scrypture, bothe of the olde and newe Testament, truly translated after the veryte of the Hebrue and Greke textes, by the diligent studye of dyuers excellent lerned [men e]xperte in the fore[saide] tongues.

To the Reader.

IN consideracion that the bokes before are foūde in th•• ••ebrue tong / receaued of all men: & that the other folowing / which are called Hagriog ••apha (because they were wōre to be reade / not openly and in comē / but as it were in secret and aparte (a••e ney¦ther founde in the He∣brue nor in the ••alde: in which tonges they haue not of long bene wrytten (in lesse then it were happly the booke of Sapie^̄ce) wher vp on it were nowe very harde / to repayre & amende them: And that also they are not receaued nor taken as legyitymate & leafull / as well of the Hebrues of the whole Church / as. S. Hierome she weth:we haue separat them / & set them asyde / that they may the bet¦ter* 1.1 be knowen: to the intent that men may knowe of which ••oked witnes ought to be receued / & of whiche not. For the sayde. S. Hierome speakyng of the boke of Iudith (which is Hagiogriphe) sayth that the auc¦torite therof is not estemed worthy and suffycyent to confyrme and stablysh the thynges that lyght in dis∣put acyon. And generally of all the bokes called Ha∣giogripha / he sayth / that men maye reade thē to the edyfying of the peple:but not to confirme & strength∣then the doctrine of the Church. I leaue out here the law (as they call it of Canon. c. Sancta Romana. xv distine. where he she w••th hys iudgement. Lyke wyse the Blose of. c. Canones. rvi. distin. which sath / that men reade thē / but in generall: as though be shulde saye / that generally & thorowly they are not alowed And not without a cause: For that they haue bene corrup••ch and faisy••yed in many places / it appeateth suffycyently by Eusebius in his boke called Historia Ecclesiastica: which thing is easy to be knowen euen* 1.2 now a dayes •• certain poites •• namely in the bokes of the Ma••••••ces: whose second boke S. Hie. cōfesseth that he found not ī the Hebrue▪ by the meanes wher∣of it is become vnto vs the more suspect and the lesse receaued. In lyke maner is it of the thyrde & fourthe boke of Esdras / whiche S. Hierome protesteth that* 1.3 he wolde not haue translated / esteamyng thē fordrea∣mes: where as Iosephus yet in hys boke of hys Au∣tyquy••yes declateth the summe of the matter after the maner of a story / as well of the boke of Macha∣bees* 1.4 as of the .••ii. of Esdras: al though be esteame the bokes cōpyled frō the raygne of king Artaxerses vn∣to his tyme. to be Agiogrtpha. Wherfore then / whē thou wylt maynteyne any thing for certem rēdringe a reson of thy fayth / take heade to proceade therin by the liuing and piththy Scriptures / folowyng S. Pe¦ter / which* 1.5 sayth: He that speaketh / let him speake as though he spake the word of God He saith the word of God / as a thyng most true & cert•• / opened by Pro¦phetes & Apostles / inspyred with the holy goost: of* 1.6 whom we haue wytnesse moare cleare then the day. Lawers hauynge greate desyre to confyrme and sta∣blysh* 1.7 theyr opynyōs by the lawe of mā / say that they shame to speake without law: How much more scare & dreade thē ought he tohaue / that saith be is a Chri∣stian / the which holdeth not him selfe / or reasteth not in the lawes of the lyuing god: but in mēnes inuēcy∣ons / iudgyi••ge* 1.8 of all thynges accordynge to them / & lening to an vncerten ymaginacion & phantasy: Let vs therfore that are builded on the foūdatyan of the* 1.9 hely Prophetes and Apostles / & on the heade corner stone (on whiche they them selues were founded / and which they preached / that is Iesus Christ / the su••e stone) leaue the thynges that are ••ncerien to folowe the certē: holdynge vs & ••eas••inge vs in them / & faste∣ning our ancre there / as in asure place. For our Chri∣ten* 1.10 fayth consysteth not in doubtetull thynges / but in playne & most certen assuraūce / & in moost true per suasyon / taken & confyrmed by infallible verite. In whiche God graūte vs to walcke perpetuallye / to* 1.11 thyntent that accordynge to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (fulfyllynge his holy wyl in vs / and settynge asyde all mu••cyo••s contrary vnto him) we maye lyue to hys honoure / & to the edy∣fyinge of hys Churche.

SO BE IT,

❧ The volume of the Bokes called Hagio∣grapha.

• The thyrde Boke of Esdras.
• The fourth Boke of Esdras.
• The Boke of Tobiah.
• The Boke of Iudith,
• The rest of the Boke of Hester.
• The Boke of wysdome.
• Ecclesiasticus.
• Baruch the Prophete.
• The song of the. iij. chyldren in the ouen.
• The story of Susanna.
• The story of Bel and of the Dragon.
• The prayer of Manasseh.
• The fyrste Boke of the Machabees.
• The seconde Boke of the Machabees.

The thyrde Booke of Esdras.

¶ Iosios holdeth passeouer. After his death is Iechonias ••is sonne made Kynge in his steade: whome the Kynge of Egypte putteth out, and setteth in his brother Ioachim. Ie¦rusalein is destroyed, and Sedechis taken.

CAPI. I.

ANd Iosias helde [unspec A] the feast of Easter in Ieru¦salem vnto the Lorde, and dewe the Passeouer y^•. xiiij oay of the first moneth. He set the prestes also in ordre (accordyng to theyr dayly courses) being arayed in long garmentes in the tēple of y^• Lord. And he spake vnto y^• Le∣uites the holy ministers of Israell, that they shulde halow thē selues vnto the Lord, to set the holy arcke of the Lorde, in the house that kyng Salomon the sōne of Dauid had buyl ded, & sayde: Ye shal nomore beare the Arcke vpon your shulders. Now serue your Lord, & take the charge of his people of Israel, af∣ter your villages & your trybes: accordynge as kyng Dauid the kyng of Israel hath or∣dayned, & accordyng as Salomon his sōne hath honorably prepared: ye loke that ye all do seruyce in the tēple, accordynge to the or∣dring & destribucion of the principal mē whi¦che are appoynted out of the tribes, to do ser¦uice* 1.12 for the children of Israel. * 1.13 Kyl the pas∣seouer, & prepare offringes for your brethren & do accordynge to the commaundement of y^• Lord / which was giuen vnto Moses. And vnto the people y^• was founde Iosias gaue. xxx, M. of shepe, lābes, kyddes, & Goates; & [unspec B] iij. M. oxen. These the kynge (of his kyngly liberalite) gaue vnto y^• people, accordyng as he had {pro}mysed: & to the Prestes for the Pas∣seouer) he gaue. ij. M. shepe, & an. C. oxen. Moreouer / Iechonias & Semetas, & Natha nael brethrē, & Hasabias, Iehiel, & Iosabao gaue thē to the Passeouer. v. M. shepe and v. C. bullockes.

And when these thinges were brought to passe, the Prestes & the Leuites stode goodly in theyr ordre, & had the vnleuened bred tho∣rowe out the tribes. And after the ordring of the principal mē in the tribes, they offred vn to the Lord in the syght of the people accor∣dyng‡ 1.14 as it is wrytten in the boke of Moses & so they rosted the Easter lābe as according was. As for the thāke offeringes & the other they dyght thē in kettels & pott{is}, and set thē before the people w^t good wyl, & afterwarde before thē selues, and the prestes. For the pre¦stes offred the fat, vntyl the tyme was expy∣red, but the Leuytes prepared for thē selues & for theyr brethrē the chyldrē of Aaron. The holy syngers also the chyldrē of Asaph stode in their ordre / accordyng as Dauyd deuised So dyd Asaph Zachary & Iouthun, which were appoyuted by the kyng. Moreouer the porters and dore kepers stode by the dores & that diligētly, so that none wente out of his [unspec C] standyng and seruice: for theyr brethren (the Leuites) prepared for thē. Thus were al thī∣ges performed, that belōged to the offeryng of the Lord. In that day they helde the passe ouer, and offred thank offerynges besyde the sacrifyce of the Lorde, accordyng to the com¦maundement of kyng Iosias.

So the chyldrē of Israel which were thē present helde an honorable Passeouer, & the teast of swete bread. vij. dayes long. Yee such a Passeouer was not kepte in Israel, frō the tyme of y^• Prophete Samuel. And al the kin∣ges of Israel helde not suche an Easter / as this which kyng Iosias helde, & the prestes the Leuites, the Iewes and al Israel, of all thē y^• were at Ierusalē. And in the. xviij. yere of the raygne of Iosias was this Passeouer kepte. And with a parfecte herte dyd kynge Iosyas order al his workes / before the lorde and the thynges that were wrytten of hym in tymes paste, concernynge those that syn∣ned and were vngodly agaynste the Lorde: before all people / and that soughte no••▪ the worde of the Lorde vpon Israell. * 1.15 After al these actes of Kynge Iosyas Pharao the kynge of Egypte wente vp & came towarde Carmis by Euphrates, and Iosyas went to

mete him. Then sēt the kyng of Egipt vnto Iosias saying: what haue I to do w^t the / O kyng of Iuda? I am not sent of the Lord to fyght agaynst y^•, for my war is vpō Euphra¦tes, [unspec D] go y^• thy waye home agayne in al y^• hast And Iosias wolde not turne agayne vpon his charet, but vndertoke to fyght agaynst him, & herkened not vnto the worde of y^• pro¦phete, which he tolde hi out of the mouth of God, but pytched a batayle agaynst him in the felde of Mageddo. And the princes prea¦sed to kyng Iosias. Then sayd the kyng vn to his seruaūtes: Cary me awaye out of the batayle, for I am sore woūded. And immedi¦atly his seruaūtes toke him away out of the front of the batayle. Then sat he vp vpon y^e second charet, came to Ierusalē, died / & was buried in h{is} fathers sepulcre. And in al Iew¦ry they mourned for Iosias / yee the rulers also with their wyues made lamētacion for him vnto this day: And this was done euer styll in Israel.

These thynges are wryten in the boke of the stories of the kynges of Iuda / namely / all the actes and workes of kynge Iosias / his kyngly power & maiesty, his vnderstan∣dyng in the lawe of God, & what he dyd, yee thinges which are not wryten in the boke of the kynges of Israel & Iuda. * 1.16 And the peo¦ple toke Iechonias the sonne of Iosias and [unspec E] made him kynge in steade of Iosias his fa∣ther / when he was. xxxiij. yeare olde. And he raygned ouer Israel thre monethes. And y^• kyng of Egypt put him downe, y^t he shulde not raygne in Ierusalem, & raysed vp a taxe of the people: namely, an. C. talentes of syl∣uer and one talente of golde. The kynge of Egypt also made Ioachim his brother king of Iuda and Ierusalē. As for thē of the kyn¦ges councel with the kyng him selfe and Za ra••••••s his brother, he toke thē & caried them awaye presoners into Egypt. Fyue & twen∣tie yeare olde was Ioachim, when he was made kyng in the lāde of Iuda and Ierusa¦lē, & he dyd euyl before the Lord. After this / * 1.17 Nabuchodonosor y^• kyng of Babilō came vp, and bounde him with bandes of yron, & caried him vnto Babylō. Nabuchodonosor also toke also the vessels y^• were halowed in the tēple of the Lord, and al the Iewels and caryed thē vnto Babilon, & brought thē into his owne tēple at Babylon. Of his vnclen∣nes and vngodlynes, it is wrytten in y^e boke of the actes of the kinges. And Ioachim his sonne raygned in his steade: He was made kynge beyng. xviij. yeare olde, and raygned [unspec F] but thre monethes and. x. dayes in Ierusalē & dyd euyll before the Lord. So after a yere Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought vnto Babylon w^t the holy vessels of the Lord, & made Sedechias his brother kyng of Iuda & Ierusalē, whē he was. xxj. yeare olde: and he raygned. xi. yeare.

And he dyd euyll also in the syght of the Lorde, and cared not for the wordes y^t were spoken vnto hi * 1.18 by the prophete Ieremy at the mouth of the Lorde. And where he had made an othe vnto kyng Nabuchodonosor, he forswore hi selfe, and fel from him hauig a styfneck & a hert, & trangressed all the sta∣tutes and ordinaunces of the Lorde God of Israel. The rulers also & heades of the peo∣ple of the Lord dyd much euyl, & became vn¦godly, more then the Heathen, beynge defy∣led in al maner of abhominacions: Yee / & de¦filed the holy tēple of the Lord at Ierusalē. And the God of theyr fathers sente his mes∣saungers vnto thē, to turne them backe & to cal them agayne frō their sines: for he wolde fayne haue spared them for his holy taberna¦cles sake. Neuertheles, they had his messaū∣gers in derision: & loke what god spake vn∣to [unspec G] thē by his {pro}phetes, they made but a sport of it. This drewe on so longe, tyll the Lorde was wroth with his people for their vngod∣lynes / and tyl he caused the kynges of y^• Cal dees to come vp, whiche slew their yonge mē with the swerde / yee euen in the compasse of their holy temple / & spared no body / neither yong nor olde, nether maden nor yonge mā: but they were all delyuered into the power of the kinges of the Caldees, and al the holy vessels of the Lorde and the kynges treasu∣res toke they / and caried them vnto Babilō * 1.19 As for the house of the Lorde, they wēt vp into it / and brent it, & brake downe the wal∣les of Ierusalem / set fyre vpon her towres / destroyed al her noble buyldiges & brought them to nought / and the people that were not slayne with the swearde / they caryed vn to Babylon.

Thus became they presoners & bōde mē of the kyng of Babilon, tyll they were dely∣uered & raygned for them selues / * 1.20 when the wordes of the Lorde were fulfylled, whiche he promysed them by the mouth of the Pro∣phete Ieremy, and tyl the lande had her rest namely / all the tyme that it lay waste / had it rest and quytnes. lxxvij, yeares.

¶ Cyru•• gyueth lyeence to the I••••••es to returne to Ieru∣salem, and restoreth them the vessele of the temple. After that a••e there letters sende to Artaxerses, whiche ac••use the Iewes for buyldynge of the cytie: and so is the buyldyng ••r••¦uen of vntyll the. 11. yeare of Darius.

CAPI. II.

N* 1.21 Owe when the kyng Cyrus raygned uer the Persians / & when the Lorde [unspec A] wolde perfourme the worde that he had pro¦mysed by the mouth of the prophet Ieremy: the Lorde raysed vp the sprete of Cyrus / the kynge of Persians, so that he caused thys wrytynge to be proclaymed thorowe out his whole realme, sayinge: Thus sayeth Cyrus the kyng of Persians: The Lorde of Israel that hye Lorde hath made me kynge of the lande, and commaunded me to buylde hym an house at Ierusalē in Iewry. If there be any nowe of your people, the Lorde be wyth hym, and go vp wyth hym to Ierusalem. And all they that dwell rounde aboute that place shall helpe them, whether yt be wyth golde, wyth syluer, wyth gyftes, horses and necessary catell, and all other thynges that are brought wyth a fre wyll to the house of the Lorde at Ierusalem.

Then the principall men out of the trybes and vyllages of Iuda and Beniamin stode vp: so dyd the prestes also and the Leuites (whom the Lorde had moued) to go vp, and to buylde the house of the Lorde at Ierusa∣lem. And they that were about them, helped them with al maner of gold, and syluer, and catell also and with many lyberall gyftes, and thys dyd many one, whose mynde was stered vp there to. * 1.22 Kynge Cyrus also [unspec B] brought forth the vessels and ornamentes, that were halowed vnto the Lorde (whyche Nabuchodonosor the kynge of Babylō had caryed awaye from Ierusalem / and conse∣crated them to hys Idoll and ymage) & de∣liuered them to Mithrid atus his treasurer, and by him they were delyuered to Salma∣nasar the debyte in Iewry. And this was the nōbre of them: Two thousande &. iiij. C. syluer boulles. xxx. syluer basens. xxx. basēs of golde. ij. M. and. iiij. C. vessels of syluer, and a thousande besyde. All the vessels of gold and syluer were. v. M. viij. C. and. lx. These were nōbred vnto Salmanasar, and to thē that were come agayne with hym to Ierusalem out of the captiuite of Babylon. * 1.23 Nowe in y^• tyme of kynge Artaxerses the kynge of Persia / these men: Balemus and Mithridatus / Sabellius / Rathim{us} / Bal∣themus, Semelius the Scribe, & other that dwelt in Samaria & in other places vnder y^• dominiō therof, wrote a letter vnto kynge Artaxerses, wherin they complayned vnto the kynge of them in Iewry and Ierusalem The letter was made after thys maner.

Syr, thy seruaūtes Rathimus the story [unspec C] wryter, Sabellius the Scribe, & other iud∣ges of the courte in Celosyrya & Phenyces. Be it knowen & manifeste to oure Lorde the kyng, y^t the Iewes which are come vp from you vnto vs into Ierusalem the rebellious and wicked cytye, begynne to buylde it agayne, and the walles aboute it, and to set vp the temple a new Now yf this cytie & the walles therof be set vp agayne, they shall not onely refuse to geue trybutes and taxes but also rebell vtterly agaynste the kynge. And for so moch as they take thys in hande now aboute the temple, we thought it reasō to thinke no scorne of it, but to shewe it vnto oure Lorde the kynge, and to certyfie hym therof: to thintent that if it please the kinge he maye cause it to be sought in the bokes of olde: and thou shalt fynde soche warning wrytten, & shalt vnderstande, that this cytie hath all way bene rebelyous and disobediēt that it hath subdued kynges and cytyes, & that the Iewes whiche dwell therin, haue euer bene a rebellyous, obstynate, vnfayth∣full / and fyghtyng people / for the whiche cause thys cytye is wasted. Wherfore nowe we certyfye our Lorde the Kynge / y^t yf thys cytye be buylded & occupyed agayne / and y^e walles therof set vp a new▪ thou canst haue no passage into Celosyria and Phenices.

Then wrote the kynge to Rathimus the story wryter / to Balthemus / to Sabelius y^e Scribe / & to y^e other officers & dwellers in Syria and Phenices / after thys maner: I haue red the epistle which thou sētest vn∣to me, & haue commaunded to make diligēt search / & haue founde / y^t the cytie hath euen resysted kynges / y^t the same people are dys∣obedient / and haue caused much warre, and that myghty kynges haue raygned in Ieru¦salem / whiche also haue raysed vp taxes of Syria and Phenices. Wherof / I haue cō∣maūded [unspec D] those people, y^t they shal nat buylde the cytie / that they make nomore in it / and that they proceade no forther with the buyl¦dynge: for so much as it myght be the cause of warre / and displeasure vnto kynges.

Nowe when Rathymus and Sabellius the Scribe / & the rulers in the lāde had ••e•• the wrytynge of kynge Artaxerses / they gat them together, and came in all the haste to Ierusalem with an hoost of horsmē / & with muche people of fote, & forbad thē to buylde. And so they lefte of from buyldynge of the temple of Ierusalem vnto the seconde yeare of y^• raygne of Darius kynge of perseans.

¶ Dari••s maketh a feast. The thre sentenses of the thre yonge men, of whiche the fyrst is declared.

CAPI. III.

Kynge Darius made a greate feast vn∣to hys seruauntes, vnto all his courte, [unspec A] and to all the offycers of Medea & Persia, yee to all the debytes and rulers that were vnder hym, from India vnto Ethiopia / an hundreth &. xxvij. countres. So when they had eaten and droucken beynge satysfyed, & were gone home agayne / Darius y^• kynge wente into his chambre / layed hym downe to slepe, & so awaked. Thē the thre yong mē, that kepte the kynges personne, and wat∣ched his body, cōmoned amonge thē selues, & spake one to another: let euery one of vs saye some thynge / and loke whose sētence is [unspec B] wyser & more excellent then the other, vnto hym shal kynge Darius geue great gyftes, and clothe hym with purple. He shall geue hym vessels of golde to dryncke in / clothes of golde and couerynges: he shal make hym a costely charet and a brydle of golde / he shall geue hym a bonet of whyte sylke, and a cheyne of golde aboute his necke: yee he shalbe the seconde & pryncypall nexte vnto kynge Datius / & that because of hys wys∣dome, & shalbe called the kynges kynsman.

So, euery one wrote his meaning, sealed it / and layed it vnder the kynges pyllowe / and sayde: when the kynge aryseth, we wyll geue hym oure wrytynges, and loke whose worde the kyng and his chefe Lordes iudge to be the most wysely spoken / the same shall haue the victory. One wrote: Wyne is a [unspec C] stronge thynge. The seconde wrote: The kynge is stronger. The thyrde wrote: womē haue yet more strength / but aboue al thyn∣ges the trueth beareth awaye the vyctory. Nowe when the kynge was rysen vp / they toke theyr wrytynges & delyuered thē vnto hym / and so he red them. Then sent he forth to call all his chefe lordes, all the debytes & rulers of the countrees of Medea & Persia. And when they were set downe in the coun∣cell / the wryttynges were red before them. And he commaunded to call for the ponge mē / y^t they myght declare theyr meaninges them selues by mouth. So when they were sente for, & came in / the kynge sayde vnto them: shewe vs & make vs to vnderstande what the thynges are that ye haue wrytten.

Then beganne the fyrst (which had spekē [unspec D] of the strength of wyne) & sayde: O ye men * 1.24 wyne is meruelous strōge and ouercom∣meth thē y^• dryncke it: it disceaueth y^• mynde. and bringeth both y^• poore man & the Kynge to dotage & vanyte. Thus doth it also with the bonde man & with the fre / with the poore and ryche: it taketh awaye theyr vnderstā∣dynge, & maketh thē carelesse & mery / so that none of thē remembreth any heuynes dette or dewty: It causeth a mā to thynke also y^• the thynge which he doth / is honest & good: and remembreth not that he is a kynge / nor that he is in auctoryte / & that he ought not do such thynges. Moreouer / when men are drynckynge / they forget all frendshype / all brotherly fayth fulnes & loue: but as soone as they are dronkē / they drawe out y^• swerde and wyll fyght: & whē they are layed downe frō the wyne, & so rysen vp agayne, they can nat tel what they dyd: iudge ye nowe is nat wyne y^• strongest? For who wolde els take in hande to do suche thynges? And when he had spoken thys / he helde his tonge.

¶ The declar ••••yon of the. ii. last sentences of the yonge mē, propounded in the Chapter before: of whiche the laste, that to, the & ve••••••ye beareth the vyctory in all thynges is moste commended and alowed. Durius wryteth letters to all the rulers vnder hym, tha•• they shoulde ••yde zo••o ba••ell to the buyldynge of Ierusalefn.

CAPI. IIII.

THEN the seconde (which had sayde, [unspec A] that the Kyng was stronger) beganne to speake / sayenge: D ye men, are nat they the strongest & moste excellēte / y^e cōquere the lande & the see, and all that is in the see and in the earth? Nowe is the kynge lorde af all these thynges / & hath dominion of thē all: & loke what he cōmaundeth, it is done. If he sende his men forth a warfare) they go, and breake downe hylles / walles and towres, They are slayne / and sleye (other men) thē selues / & ouerpasse nat the kyinges worde. If they get the victory / they bryng y^• kynge all the spoyle. Lyke wyse, the other y^• medle nat with warres and fyghtynge, but tyl the grounde: when they reape, they brynge tri∣bute vnto the Kynge. And yf the kynge a lone do but commaunde to kyll / they kyll: yf he cōmaunde to forgeue, they forgeue: yf he commaunde to smyte, they smyte: yf he byd dryue awaye, they dryue awaye: yf he com∣maunde to buylde, they buylde: yf he com∣maūde to breake downe, they breake downe: yf he commaūde to plante, they plante. The commen people and the rulers are obedient vnto hym. And the kynge in the meane sea∣son sytteth hym downe, eateth, & drynketh, and taketh hys test: then kepte they watch rounde aboute the kynge / and nat one of them darre get hym out of the waye to do his owne busynes, but must be obediēt vn∣to the kynge at a worde. Iudge ye nowe, [unspec B] D ye mē, howe shulde nat he go farre aboue vnto whom men are thus obedient? And whē he had spokē this, he helde h{is} tōge. The

thyrde, whose name was Zorobabel, whiche had spoken of wemen and of trueth, began to saye after this maner: O ye men / it is not the greate kynge / it is not the multitude of men / neyther is it wyne that excelleth: who is it then that hath the Lordshyp ouer them Haue not wemen borne the kynge / and all the people that rule those thinges? Haue not wemen borne thē / and brought thē vp, that plāte the vynes, wherout the wyne cōmeth? They make garmentes for all men, they ge∣ue honour vnto all men, and without wemē cannot men lyue. If they gather golde and syluer and all precious thynges, & se a faire well fauoured woman, they leaue all toge∣ther, and turne their eyes onely vnto y^• wo∣man, and gape vpon her, & haue more desyre vnto her, thē vnto the syluer & golde, or any [unspec C] maner of precious thynge. * 1.25 A man leaueth his father y^• brought hi vp, leueth his owne naturall countre, & cleaueth vnto the womā yee he ••eopardeth his lyfe with the womā / & remembreth nether father / nor mother / nor countre. By this then ye must nedes knowe, that wemen haue the dominion ouer you.

Doth it not greue you? A man taketh hys swerde, and goeth his way to steale, to kyll / to murther, to sayle vpon the see, and seyth a lyon, and goeth in the darckenes: & when he hath stollen, disceyued and robbed, he bryn∣geth it vnto his loue. Agayne / a man loueth his wyfe better then father and mother: yee many one there be / y^• renne out of theyr wyt∣tes, and become bōdmen for theyr wyues sa∣kes: many one also haue peryshed, haue ben slayne, & haue synned because of wemen.

And now beleue me / I knowe a kynge whiche is great in his power, and al landes stande in awe of hym, and no man dare laye hande vpon him: yet dyd I se / that Apame (the daughter of the great kyng Bartacus) the kynges concubyne / sat besyde the kynge vpon the ryght hande / & toke of his crowne from his head, & set it vpon her owne heade, and smote the kyng with her left hande, Mo¦reouer, [unspec D] the kynge loked vpon her with open mouth: if she laughed vpon him / he laughed also: but yf she toke any displeasure with hī the kynge was fayne to flatter her, & to gyue her good wordes, tyll he had gotten her fa∣uour agayne.

O ye men / are not wemen then stronger? Greate is the earth, & hye is the heauē. Who doth these thinges? Thē y^• kyng & y^• Princes loked one vpon another. So he beganne to speake of y^• trueth: O ye men, are not wemē stronger▪ Greate is the earth, hye is the hea¦uen, swyft is the course of the sonne▪ * 1.26 he cō∣paseth the heauen roūde about, and fetcheth his course agayne to his owne place in one daye. Is he not excellēt that dothe this▪ yee greate is the trueth, & stronger then al thin∣ges. All the earth calleth vpō the trueth / the heauen prayseth it / all worckes shake and tremble at it / and with it is no vnrightuous thynge. Wyne is vnryghtuous: the Kyng is vnryghtuous: wemē are vnryghtuous: al y^• chyldren of men are vnryghtuous, yee all [unspec E] theyr workes are vnryghtuous / and there is no trueth in thē, in theyr vnryghtuousnes also shall they be destroyed & perysh. As for the trueth, & it endureth, & is alway strōge:* 1.27 it lyueth and cōquereth for euermore worlde without ende.

The trueth accepteth no personnes, it put∣teth no differēce betwixt the rych or poore, be twyxt the myghtye or simple, but doth right vnto euery mā, whether they be euil or good and all men are louyngly delte withal in the workes of it. In the iudgement of it there is no vnryghteous thyng, but strength kyng∣dome and power and magtesty for euermore Blessed be thae God of trueth.

And with that he helde his tong, and all the people cryed, & sayd: Great is the trueth, and aboue all. Then sayde the kynge vnto him: Aske what thou wylt / more then is ap∣poynted in the wrytyng, and I shall geue it the / for thou art founde wyser then thy com∣panyons: thou shalt syt nexte me, & be called my kynsmā. Then sayd he vnto the kynge: Remembre thy promyse and vowe, whyche thou ha•••• vowed and promysed (in the daye when thou camest to y^• kyngdome) to buylde vp Ierusalē, & to sende againe al the vessels and Iewels, that were takē away out of Ie¦rusalem: whiche Cyrus seperated, when he offred in Babylon, & wold sende thē agayne. And thy mynde was to buylde vp the tem∣ple whiche the Edomytes brent, when Ieru¦salem [unspec F] was destroyed by the Chaldees. This onely (O kynge) is the thing that I requyre this is the maiesty, which I desyre and aske of the: that thou perfourme the vowe, which thou w^t thyne owne mouth hast made vnto the kynge of heauen.

Then Darius the kynge stode vp / and kyssed hym, * 1.28 & wrote a letter vnto al the de∣bites and Shreues / to al the Lordes and no∣bles / that they shulde conuey him forth, and at thē y^• wolde go vp w^t him to buylde Ieru salē. He wrote a letter also vnto al y^• shreues y^• were in Celosiria & Phenices, & vnto Liba¦nus, that they shuld drawe ••••dretre••s from

Lybanus vnto Ierusalē, to buylde the cytie withall. Moreouer he wrote vnto all the Ie¦wes that were gone out of his realme into Iewry because of y^e fredome, that no officer no ruler / nor shreue, shulde come to theyr do∣res / and that all theyr lande which they had conquered, shuld be fre & not tributary: And that y^e Edomites shulde geue ouer the cities and villages of the Iewes, whiche they had takē in: yee and that they shulde yerely geue xx. talentes to the buyldyng of the tēple, vn∣tyll the tyme that it were fynyshed / and to the dayly halowyng of y^• brent offerīges (as it is commaunded) ten talentes yearely also And that all they which come from Babylō to buylde the cytie, shulde haue fre lybertie / they and theyr chyldren, & all the Prestes.

He wrote the greatnesse also, & commaū∣ded [unspec G] that the holy garmēt shulde be geuē thē wherin they ministred: and wrote that com∣maundemētes shulde be geuen to the Leui∣tes / vntyll the day / that the house were fyny shed, and Ierusalem buylded vp: and com∣maūded that all they that watched the cytie shulde haue theyr porcyons and wages.

He gaue ouer also al the vessels that Cy∣rus had seperated from Babylon, & all that Cyrus had geuen in commaundemente / the same charged he also / that it shulde be done and sent vnto Ierusalem. Nowe when this yong mā was gone forth, he turned his face towarde Ierusalem / and praysed y^• kynge of heauen / and sayde▪ * Of the commeth the victory / of the cōmeth wysdome & clearenesse & I am thy seruaūt. Blessed art thou / which hast geuen me wysdome: the wyll I prayse / O Lord / thou God of our fathers.

And so he toke the letters, and wēt vnto Babylon: And when he came there, he tolde thys vnto all his brethren that were at Ba∣bylon / and they praysed the God of their fa∣thers, that he had geuē them refreshyng and libertye to go vp, and to buylde Ierusalē & the tēple (wherin the name of the Lord is cal¦led vpon) & they reioysed with instrumētes and gladnesse seuen dayes longe.

¶ They that returne to Ierusalem are nombred. They be∣gynne to laye the foundacyon of the tēple, but are let by the meanes of enemes: and so is the buyldynge dryuen of by the space of two yeares.

CAPI. V.

AFter this were the pryncypall men of [unspec A] all the vyllages chosen in the trybes & kynredes / that they shulde go vp with theyr wyues and chyldren / with theyr seruauntes and maydens / with all theyr catel and sub∣staunce. And Darius the kyng sent with thē a thousande horsmen / to conuey them safely vnto Ierusalem: and theyr brethren were glad / playeng vpon instrumentes / and syn∣gyng / and he caused them to go together w^t them. And these are the names of the men / whiche wente vp out of the vyllages, accor∣dynge to the trybes. Of the Preestes, the son¦ne of Phinehes, the sonne of Aaron: Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, Ioachim the sonne of * 1.29 Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel (of the kynred of Dauid, out of y^• kinred of Phares of the trybe of Iuda) which spake wōderfull thynges vnder Darius the Kynge of Per∣sia in the seconde yere of his raigne in y^• first moneth of Nisan.

These also are they of Iewry, which came vp / and turned agayne vnto Ierusalem / out of the captyuyte that Nabuchodonosor the Kynge of Babylon had brought vnto Babylon. And euery man sought hys por∣cyon agayne in Iewry, hys cytye / they that came with Zorobabel, and with Iesus. Ne∣hemias, Saraias / Ra••laias, El••••eus, Em¦manius, Mardocheus, Beelserus, Mechpsa Rochor, Oliorus, Emonias, one of theyre Prynces.

And the nōbre of thē accordynge to theyr kynredes and rulers were. The chyldren of Phares two thousande, an hūdreth &. lxxij. The chyldren of Ares. iij. M. an. C. and. lvij [unspec B] The chyldren of Femo, an. C. &. xlij. The son¦nes of Iesus and Ioabes. a. M. iij. C. & two The sonnes of Beniu. ij. M. iiij. C. and. lxx. The sonnes of Choroba. ij. C. &. v. The son∣nes of Banica, an. C. and. lxviij. The sōnes of Rebech. iiij. C. and thre. The sōnes of Ar∣chad. iiij. C. and. xxvij. The sōnes of Cham xxxvij. The sōnes of Zoroar. ij. M. &. lxvij. The sonnes of Adinu. iiij. C. &. lxj. The son∣nes of Adarectis an. C. and. viij. The son∣nes of Ciaso and zelas an. C. and seuē. The sonnes o•• Azorec. iiij. C. and. xxxix. The son∣nes of Iedarbone, an. C. and. xxxij. The son¦nes of Hananias an. C. and. xxx. The sōnes of Asoni. xc. The sonnes of Marsar. iiij. C. and. xxij. The sonnes of zabarus. xcv. The sōnes of Sepholemon an. C. and. xxiii. The sonnes of Nepopas. lv. The sonnes of He∣chana••us an. C. and. lviij. The sonnes of ze¦bethanus an. C. and. xxxij. The sonnes of Crearpratros (which is called also Enoha∣dies & Modias.) iiij. C. and. xxiij. Of them of Gramos and Gabea an. C. and. xxi. Of them of Besselon and ••eage. lxv. Of them of Bastarus, an. C. and xxii. Of them of Be chenobes. lv. Of the sonnes of Lyptis, there were an. C. and. lv. Of the sōnes of Labo••∣nus. iij. C. &. lvij. Of the sonnes of Sichem

iij. C. and. lxx. Of the sōnes of Suadon and Elimon. iij. C. and. lxxviij. Of the sonnes of Ericus. ij. M. an. C. and. xlv. The sonnes of Anaas. iij. C. and. lxx.

The Prestes: The sōnes of Ieddus: The [unspec C] sonnes of Euther: the sonnes of El Iasib. iij C. and. lxxij. The sonnes of En••erus. ij. C. and. lij. The sōnes of Fasurius. iij. C. &. lvij The sonnes of Carea. ij. C. and. xxvij. The Leuytes: The sonnes of Iesus in Ca••••hell and Banus, and Serebias / and Edeas / se∣uentye and foure.

The whole nōbre of these. from. xij. yeres was. xxx. M. iiij. C. and lxij. Of the sonnes / daughters & wyues, the whole summe was xl. M. ij. C. &. xlij. The sonnes of the prestes that praysed God in the tēple. The sonnes of Asaph. C. and. xxviij. But the dore kepers were: The chyldren of Esmenus: the childrē of Aser: the chyldren of Amon: the chyldrē of Acuba, Toba the chyldren of Tobi: an. C. & xxxix. in all.

The Preestes that serued in the temple: The sonnes of Sel, the sonnes of Gaspha / the sonnes of Tobloch, the sonnes of Caria, the sonnes of Sub, the sonnes of Hel••u / the sonnes of Sabana / the sonnes of Armacha the sonnes of Acub, the sonnes of Utha / the sonnes of Cetha / the sonnes of Aggab / the sonnes of Obay / the sonnes of Anam / the sonnes of Canna, the sonnes of Geddu / the sonnes of ••n, the sonnes of Rad•• / the son∣nes of Desanon / the sonnes of Nechoba, the sonnes of Caseba, the sonnes of Goz•• / the sonnes of Ozui, the sonnes of S••••ona / the sonnes of A••ra, the sonnes of Hastē, the son∣nes of Asiana / the sonnes of Manei / the son¦nes of Nasisin / the sonnes of Accua / the son∣nes of Agista / the sonnes of Azui / the son∣nes of Fauon / the sonnes of Phasalon / the sonnes of Meeda / the sonnes of Susa / the sonnes of Cared / the sonnes of Barcus / the sonnes of Sarea / the sonnes of Coesi / the sonnes of Nasit, the sōnes of Agista / the sō∣nes of Pedon: Salomon his sonnes / the son¦nes of Asophot, the sonnes of Phazida / the sōnes of Cel••, the sōnes of Dedon / the sōnes of Gaddahel / the sōnes of Zapheus / the son¦nes of Aggia, the sōnes of Sacharet, the sō∣nes of Sabathem, the sonnes of Saroneth the sōnes of Malsit / the sonnes of Ania, the sonnes of Sasus, the sonnes of Addus / the sōnes of Suba, the sonnes of Eara / the son∣nes of Rabotis / the sonnes of Phasphat, the sōnes of Malmon. Al these ministred in the Saynctuary, and were seruauntes of Salo¦mon: euen. iiij. C. and. lxxxij.

These folowynge are they / that went vp [unspec D] from Chelmellat Thelarsa (whose Prynees were Carmelā and Careth) and myght not shewe forth theyr cyties & kynreddes, howe they were of Israel: The sōnes of Dalarus the sonnes of Tuben, the sonnes of Necho∣daicus. Of the Prestes that executed the of∣fyce of the Presthode, and were not founde: The sonnes of Obia / the sonnes of Achisos the sonnes of Addyn, whiche maryed one of the daughters of Phargelen, and were na∣med alter him. The wrytyng of the same kin¦red was sought in the register of theyr gene∣racion, but it was not foūde: & therfore were they forbyddē to execute the office of y^• prest∣hode. Unto thē sayd Nehemias & As••haras, that they shulde haue no porcyon in the Sā¦ctuary / tyll there rose vp an hye Prest / that were well instructe in the playne clearenes and trueth. Of all Israel (besyde seruaūtes and maydens) there were. xlij. M. in. C. and xl. Now were there of seruauntes and may∣dens, vij. M. iij. C. &. xxxvj. Of syngyng mē and syngynge women there were two hun∣dreth, & lxv. Foure hundreth. and. xxxv. Ca∣mels, Seuen thousande, and. xxxvi. horses. Two hundreth thousande and. xiv. mules. Fyue. M. and. xxv. asses.

Theyr heades also and the rulers in the [unspec E] tribes, whē they came to Ierusalem, & wo••••e buylde and set vp the temple of God againe in his place, they gaue (after theyr avyl••••e / vnto the temple, to the treasure & to the ser∣uice of y^e Sāctuary. xij. M. poūdes of golde, fyue thousande of syluer, & an hundreth pre∣stes garmentes. And so owelt the Prestes & the Leuites, and the people that went out to Ierusalem, & in the countre there aboute, y^• syngers also & the porters, euery one of Is∣rael in his owne lande.

* 1.30 So when the seuēth moneth came, and whē the chyldrē of Israell were euery mā at his busynes, they came al with one cōsent in to the court, which was before y^• East dore. And there stode Iesua the sonne of Iosedec & his brethren the Prestes, & Zorobabell the sōne of Salathiel, & his brethrē, settyng vp an aulter, to offre brent sacrifices vpō it, as it is writtē in the lawe of Moses.

There came people also of other coūtrees and the Heathen out of al landes to see vp y^e aulter in his place, and offred sacrifices and brent offerynges vnto the Lorde in the mor∣nynge. And so they helde the feast of taber∣nacles, * 1.31 as it is commaunded in the lawe. And dayly offered they as accordnge was, & made y^• sacrifices appoynted, the offrīges

also of the Sabbathes and of the newe mo∣nes, and all holy feastes. * 1.32 And al they that vowed offerynges vnto the Lorde, beganne at the newe mone of the. vij, moneth to offre vnto God / for the temple of the Lorde was not yet buylded. And they gaue vnto y^• Ma¦sons and Carpenters, money / meate / & drin∣ke [unspec F] with cherefulnesse. Unto them of Sidon also and Tyre they gaue cartes, that they shulde cary Cedre trees from Libanus to be toystes and beames, & that they shuld make shyppes in the hauen of Ioppe, accordynge as it was appointed and ordained by Cirus kynge of the Persyans.

And in the second yeare they came into y^• temple of God at Ierusalem. * 1.33 In the secōd moneth begāne Zorobabel the sonne of Sa¦lathiel, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and their brethren the Prestes and Leuites, and all they that were come vnto Ierusalem out ot the captiuite of Babylon, & layed the foū∣dacion of the temple, in the new mone of the second moneth in y^• secōd yere that they were came into Iewry & Ierusalē. And they ap∣poynted the Leuit{is} (that were aboue. xx. yere olde) vnto the seruice of the Lord: so Iesua & his sonnes & his brethren, al the Leuites sto∣de together, and perfourmed the lawe & ordi¦naunce in the house of the Lorde.

And the Prestes stode, & had theyr gar∣mentes and trōpettes, and the Leuytes, the sonnes of Asaph had Cimbals geuyng thā∣kes and prayses vnto the Lorde, accordyng * 1.34 as Dauyd the kynge of Israel had orday∣ned. And the song that they dyd syng vnto y^• Lorde, was after this matter. * 1.35 O syng vn∣to the Lorde for he is gracious, & his good∣nes vpon Israel endureth foreuer. And al y^• [unspec G] people blew out with trompettes, and song with loude voyce, praysynge the Lord toge∣ther in the rearing vp of the house of y^• Lord * 1.36 There came also from among the Prestes and Leuites the rulers and elders, accordig to the tribes and kynredes (such as had sene the house afore) to the buyldyng of this tem¦ple with greate crye and great mournynge, many also with trōpettes & great toy: In so much, that the trōpettes myght not well be hearde for the wepyng and mournyng. For the cōmen people blewe goodly vpon the trō¦pettes, so that it myght be harde farre of.

* 1.37 Then came the enemies of the tribes of Iuda and Bemamin, to knowe what that trompettyng and noyse of shawmes myght be. And they perceyue y^t it was they whiche were come agayne out of captyuite, & wolde buylde the temple vp a newe vnto the Lord God of Israel. So they went to Zorobabell and Iesua, and to the rulers of the villages and sayde vnto them. Shal we buylde with you also? For we lyke wyse haue herde your Lorde, and we walke after the same maner, from the dayes of Asbazareth the kynge of Assiria, which brought vs hyther. Then Zo¦robabel and Iesua and the rulers of the vil¦lages of Israel sayde vnto them. It is not mete, that ye shulde builde the temple of our God w^t vs: we our selues alone wyll buylde vnto the Lorde of Israel lyke * 1.38 as Cyrus y^• kyng of the Persyās hath cōmaunded vs.

But the Heathen in the lande layde them¦selues agaynst those y^t were in Iewry, helde vp y^• buylding from them, layed wayt vpon them preuely / stopped such as brought any thynge to them, forbad them to buylde, and hidered those y^t made thē passage, that y^e buil¦dyng shuld not be finyshed: & this cōtynued so long as kynge Cyrus lyued: & so they put of the buylding for the space of two yeres, vn¦tyl the raygne of kyng Darius.

¶ Aggeus and zachary prophecye They buylde the temple without let or hynderaunce, by the commaundemente of Darius.

CAPI. VI.

NOtwithstandynge in the seconde yere [unspec A] of the raygne of Darius. Aggeus and Zachary the sōne of Addo prophecied vpon them in Iewry, and Ierusalem, in the name* 1.39 of the God of Israel. * 1.40 Then zorobabell the sone of Salathiell, and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec stode vp / and beganne to buylde the house of the Lorde at Ierusalem, when the Prophetes of the Lorde helped them. At the same tyme came Sysennes the vnder Shreue in Syrya and Phenices / with the lande lordes and his companyons, and said vnto them. Who hath bydden and commaun¦ded you to buylde this house, to make y^• rofe and al other thynges agayne? And who are the worcke men / that buylde them? Neuer∣thelesse the elders of the Iewes had suche grace of the Lorde / that they wolde not be let(though they were prouoked therto) buyl¦ded on styll / vntyl that Kyng▪ Darius were certifyed therof, & an answered receyued frō him. The letter that these mē sent vnto king Darius, was after this maner.

Sysennes the vnder Shreue in Syrya and Phenyces, and the landlordes w^t theyr companyons, which are head rulers in Sy∣rya and Phenices, sende theyr salutacion vn¦to Darius the Kynge. We certyfy the Lorde the kinge, y^t we came into the lāde of Iewry / and went to Ierusalē; where we founde the buyldynge

and went to Ierusalē: where we founde thē buylding the great house of God and the ••¦ple, with great costely fre stone & w^t goodly tymbre for the walles: yee they make greate haste with the worcke / & helpe one another / and it goeth forth prosperously in their han¦des, and with great dylygence and worship is it made. Then asked we the elders, who [unspec B] had commaūded them to make vp the house and the building, and this we dyd, to the in∣tent that we myght certyfie the perfectly / & write vnto the, the names of those that were the rulers of the worke. So they gaue vs thys answere: we are the seruauntes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth: and as for this house, ‡ 1.41 it hath bene buylded and set vp afore tyme by the great & myghty Kinge of Israel. But when our fathers prouoked God vnto wrath / and synned agaynste the God of Israel, * 1.42 he gaue them ouer into the power of Nabuchodonosor King of Baby∣lon the Kynge of the Caldees / whiche brake downe the house / & brent it / & caryed awaye the peple presoners vnto Babilon. * 1.43 Neuer¦theles, in y^e fyrst yeare y^t kyng Cyrus rayg∣ned at Babylon, Cyrus y^e kynge wrote & cō∣maunded to buylde vp thys house agayne: & all the holy vessels of golde & syluer that Nabuchodonosor caried away from Ieru∣salem vnto Babylon, and appropriated vn to his owne tēple: these brought Cyr{us}forth againe, and delyuered them to Zorobabel & to Salmanasar, the vnder Shreue, com∣maundynge them that they shulde bringe those same vessels to Ierusalem into the temple, & to begynne from y^• tyme forthe / to buylde y^e tēple agayne i his owne place. Thē Salmanasat layed y^• foūdacyō of y^e Lordes [unspec C] house at Ierusalem / & euer sence haue they buylded / & yet is it not ended. And therfore O kynge, yf thou thynckest it good / let it be sought in the Lybraries and rolles of kyng Cyrus that are in Babylon, yf it be founde theu y^t the buyldīge of the house of the Lord at Ierusalem was begon by the coūcel & cō¦sent of king Cirus & if our lorde the kyng be so mynded let hym wryte vnto vs therof. * 1.44 Then cōmaunded Kynge Darius, to seke in the Lybraryes: and so at Egbathanis in a lytle cyte in medea ther was founde such a wrytynge: In the first yeare of the raygne of Cyrus, the same King Cyrus cōmaunded that the house of y^e Lorde at Ierusalē shuld be buylded agayne (and odours to be made ther cōtynually vnto y^e Lord (whose heygth shalbe x. cubites, & the bredeth, thre score cu∣bites / & foure square with thre hewen sto∣nes w^t a loft of tymbre of the same countre / yee w^t a new loft, & the expenses therof to be geuen of the house of kyng Cyrus. And the ornamētes of golde and syluer / that Nabu∣chodonosor toke out of y^e house of y^e Lorde at Ierusalē, shalbe set againe in y^e tēple at Ie∣rusalem, where they were afore. Sysennes also the vnder shreue i Syria & Phenices, y^e Prynces & their cōpanions, & the other y^t be head rulers in Syria & Phenices, shall not medle nor haue any thīge to do with y^t place.

I Cyrus haue commaunded also, y^t they [unspec D] shal builde the house of the Lord whole vp, and haue ordeined them, to helpe those that become out of captiuyte: tyl the house of the Lord be finished: and out of the tribute and taxing that is yearly raysed vp in Syria & Phenices, diligently to gyue the a certayne summe to the offeryng of the Lord: and the same to be deliuered vnto Zorobabel the of∣fycer, that he ther withal may ordeine oxen / rammes, lambes / and corne, salt, wyne and oyle, and that cōtinually euery yeare: after the expences * 1.45 which the Prestes that be at Ierusalem, shew to be made dayly: this shal¦be geuen vnto them without delaye / y^• they may offer sacrifices dayly to the hyest God, for the kynge and for his seruauntes, and to praye for theyr lyues. Let it be proclamed also on euery syde, that whosoeuer breaketh or despyseth this cōmaundemēt of the king, shalbe hanged vpon a galowes (made of h{is} owne good) and all his goodes shalbe seaso¦ned vnto y^e king. The Lord therfore (whose name is there called vpon) rote out and de∣stroye al the kynges and peple / that vnder∣take by vyolence to hynder the same / orto deale vnturteously w^t the house of the Lord at Ierusalem. I Daryus the Kynge haue ordeyned / that these thynges shall be done with all dylygence.

¶ The temple is fynyshed and dedicate: and the feaste of vnleuened brebde is holden.

CAPI. VII.

THen Sysennes the vnder shreues in [unspec A] Celosyrya / and Phenyces / and the o∣ther Landelordes with their companyons / obeyed the thynges that Kynge Daryus had ordeyned, and were dylygent in the ho∣ly worckes, & were felowe helpers with the olde rulers of the Iewes. And so the worke of the Sanctuary wente forthe and prospe∣ted, when Aggeus and Zachary {pro}phecyed. And they perfourmed all thynges thorow y^• cōmaundement of the Lord God of Israel, and after the deuyce of Cyrus / Darius and Artaxerses kynges of Persia.

And thus was oure house finished vnto

the. xxiii. daye of the moneth Adde ni the. vi. yeare of kinge Darius. And the chyldren of Israel the prestes and the Leuytes / and the other that were come out of captyuyte / and such as were ioyned vnto them, dyd accor∣dynge as it is written in the boke of Moses And in the dedication of the temple: they of∣fred an hūdred oxen two hundred rammes, foure hundred lambes / and twelue goates for y^e synnes of al y^e people of Israel / after y^e nombre of the trybes of Israel. The prestes [unspec C] also & the Leuites stode arayed in y^e prestly garmētes, after y^• tribes / ouer al the workes of the Lorde God of Israell accordynge to the boke of Moses & the porters by al dores.

And the chyldren of Israel (with those y^e were come out of captyuite (helde the passe∣ouer the fouretene day of the fyrst moneth / when the prestes and the Leuytes were san∣ctifyed. They y^e came out of captiuyte / were not all sanctyfyed together: but the leuytes were all sanctyfyed together, and so al they that came out of captyuite, killed the easter lambe / for theyr brethrē / for the prestes and for them selues. And the chyldren of Israel that came out of captyuyte, and escaped frō [unspec D] all the abhominacyos of y^• Heathen, sought y^• Lorde, & kepte the feast of vnleaued bread seuen dayes longe, eatyng and drynckynge and were mery before the Lord: that y^e Lord had turned the deuyse of the kynge of Assy∣ria, and comforted theyr handes to the wor∣kes of the Lorde God of Israel.

¶ Esdras causeth the people to assemble and come toge∣ther, and then readeth them the law. They kepe the feast of Tabernacles.

CAPI. VIII.

ANo after hym * 1.46 when artaxerses the kynge of the Persyans raygned, there [unspec A] wente vnto hym Esdras the sonne of Sa∣raias / the sonne of Azarias / the sonne of Helchiach / the sonne of Sallum / the sonne of Sadoch / the sonne of Achitob / the sonne of Amarias, the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Boccus / the sonne of Abysu / the sonne of Phineas / the sonne of Eleazar / the sonne of Aarō the fyrst preste. This Esdras wēte vp from babylon (for he had good vnderstan∣dynge in the lawe of Moses, that was geuē of the Lord God of Israel, to be taught and done in dede.) And the kyng fauoured him, and dyd hym great worshyppe and honour after al hys desyres. There went vp w^t him also certayn of the chyldren of Israel, of the prestes / of the Leuites / of the syngers / por∣ters & mynysters of the tēple at Ierusalem.

In the seuenthe yeare of the raygne of kynge Artaxerses / in the fyfth moneth that is in the seuenth yeare of y^• raygne, they wēt from Babylon in the newe moone of the. v. moneth, and came the hye waye to Ierusalē after his commaūdement, lyke as the Lorde had prospered their iourney. For i these Es∣dras gat greate instruccyon that he shulde leaue none of y^• thinges behinde, which are in the lawe and commaūdementes of God. And he taught whole Israel al ryghtuous∣nes and iudgment.

Then came the Secretaries of kyng Ar∣taxerses, and delyuered the wrytinges (that were come frō Artaxerses the kynge) to Es∣dras the preste & reder of the lawe of y^e Lord And thys is the copye of the letter: Kynge Artaxerses sendeth hys gretynge vnto Es∣dras the preste and reder of the lawe of the Lorde. Of frendshype & good wyll I haue ordeyned and charged / yf there be eny of the Iewes / of the prestes & Leuytes in my real∣me / which desyreth and is cōtent to go with the vnto Ierusalem, y^t he maye do it. Ther∣fore / yf any be mided to beare the company, [unspec B] let them come together / and go with y^• (lyke as I am content and my seuen frendes / my coūcelers) to se what they do at Ierusalem & in Iewry / & kepe the thynkes accordynge as thou hast in the lawe of the Lorde: and to brynge the gyftes vnto God the Lord of Is¦rael / that I and my frendes haue promysed to Ierusalem / and al the syluer and gold y^• is in the countre of Babylon vnto the Lorde to Ierusalem / with the thyng that is geuen for the people in the Lordes temple at Ie∣rusalem. Yee, that the same syluer and golde maye be gathered, and oxen, rammes, shepe and goates & other y^t belonge to these thyn∣ges: & that they may offer sacryfyces vnto y^e Lorde, vpō the aulter of their Lorde, which is at Ierusalem. And whatsoeuer thou & thy brethren wyll do with the syluer & gold, that do after thy mynde / accordyng to y^e cō∣maundement of the Lord thy God, & lyke∣wyse, w^t the holy vessels that are geuen the, tor y^• seruyce of y^• house of y^• Lord thy God: which is in Ierusalem & other thīges what soeuer is necessary for y^• to the worcke of the temple of thy god, that shal be geuen the of y^• kīges tresure & loke what thou w^t thy bre¦thren wyl do with the gold & syluer, that do after the wyll of the Lord. And I kyng Ar∣taxerses haue commaūded the kepers of y^• treasures in Syria and Phenyces, y^• what soeuer Esdras the preste and reder of the lawe of the Lorde doth wryte it shalbe dily∣gently geuen hym: tyl an hundred talentes

of syluer, and of golde in lyke maner. Of cor¦ne also an hundreth measures, and tyl an hū¦dreth vessels of wyne, & other plēteous thyn¦ges without nombre. Let all thynges be do∣ne after the law of God, vnto the hyest God y^t the wrath of God aryse nat in the realme of the kyng, & of his sonnes. I cōmaūde you also that ye requyre no taxe nor tribute of y^• prestes / Leuytes / syngers, and ministers of the tēple, nor of the writers: & that no mā ha∣ue auctorite to medle any thyng agaynst thē As for the (O Esdras) set thou iudges and [unspec C] arbyters in the whole lande of Syria & Phe¦nices / after the wysdome of God: & learne al such as are ignoraūt in the lawe of God thy Lord / & let al them that offende agaynst the lawe / be diligently punyshed: whether it be with death / with payne / to be condemned in money, or to be banyshed.

Then sayde Esdras the wryter * 1.47 Blessed be the God of our fathers, that hath gyuē so good a minde & wyl into the hert of the king to magnifie his house that is at Ierusalem and hath made me to be accepted in the sight of the kyng, of his councell / of hys frendes / & of his nobles. And so I was stedfast in my mynde / accordyng as the Lord my God hel∣ped me / and I chose out mē of Israell to go vp w^t me. ‡ 1.48 And these are y^• hedes, (after their kynredes and houses of theyr fathers) that went vp with me from Babylon / out of the kyngdome of Artaxerses: Of the sonnes of Phares / Gersonius. Of the sonnes of Sie∣marith / Amenus. Of the sonnes of Dauid / Accus / the sonne of Cecilia.

Of the sonnes of Phares, Zachary: and w^t him turned agayne an hundreth and fyf∣tye men. Of the sonnes of the captayne of Moabylon / Zaraei, and with him. ij. C, and l. men. Of the sōnes of Zachnes, Iechonias Zecholy, and with him two hundreth & fyf∣tye men. Of the sonnes of Salamasias / Go¦tholy / and. lxx. with him. Of the sonnes of Zaphacia. Zarias Mihely / and with hym foure score. Of the sōnes of Iob / Abdias Ie¦heli, and with hym two hundreth & twelue men. Of the sonnes of Ba••ia, Salimoth y^• sonnes of Iosapha / and with hym an hun∣dreth an thre score men. Of the sōnes of Beer Zachari Behei / and with him two hundreth and. viij. men. Of the sonnes of Esead, Io∣hannes Ezecham, and with him an hūdreth and tenne men. Of the sonnes of Adoniram those that were the laste, and these are theyr names. Eliphalam the sonne of Gebeil and Semeias / and with hym. lxx. men. All these called I together by the water Thia, where we pitched our tentes thre dayes, and there I mustered them.

* 1.49 As for the sonnes of the prestes & Leui∣tes / [unspec D] I founde none there. Then sent I vnto Eleazar / and Eccelom / and Masmam / and Malobam / and Enaathan / and Samea / & Ioribimathan / Eunagan Zachary, Mosol¦lamum (these were the leders & men of expe∣ryence) and I sente them worde / that they shulde come vnto Loddeus / whiche was by the place of the treasury / and commaunded them that they shulde speake vnto Loddeus and to his brethren and to those that were in the treasury, to sende vs such men as myght execute the prestes offyce in the house of the Lorde our God. And with the myghty hāde of our Lord God / they brought vnto vs mē of good experience, from among the sonnes of Moolius / the sonne of Leui / the sonne of Israel / Sebebiam and the sonnes and hys brethrē Asbin and Anin / of whom there were xviij. From amonge the chyldren of the son∣nes of Cananeus, and theyr sonnes were. xx. men. And of them that serued in the tem∣ple / whom Dauid had ordeyned, and y^• prin¦cipall men that ministred for the worcke vn¦to the Leuites in the temple two hundreth & twentie men / whose names are all tokened vp in wrytynge.

‡ 1.50 Then cōmaūded I a fastyng vnto the yonge men before the Lorde / that I myght desyre of hym a prosperous iourney and a good waye for vs / yee for vs, for our chyldrē and for the catell, because of the layenges a∣wayt / & I durst not requyre of the kyng hors¦men & fote men, to conuey vs safely agaynst our enemyes, for we had said vnto the king that the power of the Lorde our God shulde be w^t them / that seke hi w^t theyr whole hert. And therfore / we besought God oure Lord earnestly because of these thynges, & he was merciful vnto vs, and herd our prayer. And I seperated frō among the rulers of the peo¦ple, & from the prestes of the temple. xij. men and Sebebia & Asania, and ten men of theire brethren w^t them. And I weied thē the gold and the siluer & al the prestly ornamentes of the house of our God, which the kynge / and his coūcel, and his Prynces, and whole Is∣rael had geuē. And when I had weyed it / I gaue them an hundreth and fyfty talētes in siluer / and an būdreth talētes of siluer vessel an hūdreth talentes of golde / and of golden vessell seuen tymes twentye / and vessels of other metall (yee, of good metal) twelue, gli∣steryng as the golde, and sayde vnto them: ye are holy vnto the Lorde / and the Ues∣sels

are holy, & the golde and the siluer is pro¦mysed vnto the Lorde God of our fathers. Be dilygente nowe and kepe it / vntyll the tyme that ye delyuer it to the Rulers of the people / to the preestes, to the Leuytes / and to the princypall men of the cyties of Israel in Ierusalem / & in the chamber of the house* 1.51 of our God. So the Preestes and the Le∣uytes whiche receyued of me the golde / the syluer, and the vessel / brought it into Ieru∣salem into the temple of the lorde. And from the ryuer of Thyawe brake vp the twelueth day of the fyrst moneth / tyll we came to Ie∣rusalem. And when the thyrde day was past the weyed golde / and syluer was delyuered in the house of the Lord our God the fourth day, vnto Marimoth the sonne of Ior the prest / and with him was Eleazar the sonne of Phinees, and with them were Iosabdus the sonnes of Iesnet, Medias and the sonne of Banus, and certaine of the Leuites to the nōbre and to the weyght: & the weight of thē was wrytten vp the same tyme. As for those that were come out of captiuite, they offred sacryfyce vnto the Lord God of Israel: euē twelue oxen for al Israell. lxxxvj. Ramines lxxij. shepe. xij, goates for sinne, twelue kine for a thankofferyng / al to the sacrifyce of the Lord. And the kynges cōmyssion delyuered they vnto the stewardes and debytes of the kynge, & to the vndershreues in Celosyria and Phenices, & they honoured the people & the temple of the Lorde.

‡ 1.52 Nowe, when these thynges were done, the rulers came vnto me / and sayd: The ge∣neracion of Israel / the Princes, the Prestes and Leuites, the straunge people & indwel∣lers of the lande / haue not put awaye theyr vnclennesse, from the Cananites / Hethytes Pheresytes, from the Moabites, Egyptiās, and Edomytes. For bothe they & theyr son∣nes haue mingled them selues w^e the daugh¦ters of them / and the holy sede is mixte with the out landysh Heathen, & sens the begyn∣nyng of theyr raygne haue the rulers & hea∣des bene partakers of theyr wyckednesse. [unspec F]

* 1.53 As sone as I had herde these thynges / immediatly I rent my holy garmentes, and pulled out the heare of my head & my beerd / and sat me downe sorowfull and heuye. So al they that were moued thorowe the worde of the Lord God of Israel, came vnto me: be yng sorowful for this wyckednes, and I sat styl, full of heuynesse vntyl the euenynge sa∣crifice. Then stode I vp from fastynge / ha∣uyng rente clothes & the holy garment, kne¦led downe vpon my knees, helde out my hā∣des vnto the Lorde, and sayde: O Lorde / I am cōfounded and ashamed before thy fa••e for our synnes are become many vpon our heades, and our wyckednesses are exalted vnto the heauen: for sens the tyme of our fa¦thers we are in great synne vnto this daye. And for the synnes of vs and our fathers / we with our brethren and with our Prestes haue bene delyuered vnto the kynges of the earth, into the swearde / and into captiuite: & became a spoyle with confusion and shame vnto thys daye. And nowe, O Lorde God / howe great is the mercy that we haue gottē of the••in that y^u hast left vs a rote & a name i y^• place of thy sāctuary, to discouer our light i the house of the Lord our God, & hast geuē vs meate at all tymes of our minystracyon. And when we were in captiuyte, we were not forsakē of the Lord our God: but he ma∣de the kynges of Persia gracyous & fauou∣rable vnto vs, so that they gaue vs vytay∣les and meate, yee and leue to buyld vp the temple of our Lord God agayne, to repayre the wasted places of Syon, and to dwell in Iewry and Ierusalem. And now, O Lord, what shall we saye / hauynge al these thyn∣ges in possessyon? For we haue broken thy commaundementes / which thou gauest vn [unspec G] to vs by the hādes of thy seruauntes y^e pro∣phetes / sayeng: The lande that ye go vnto and that is geuē you for an herytage to ha¦ue in possession, is defiled with the vnclēnes and fylthynes of the Heathen, and w^t theyr abhominacion haue they poluted it al toge∣ther. Therfore, shal ye not ioyne your daugh¦ters, vnto theyr sonnes, nor mary your son∣nes vnto theyr daughters. Moreouer / ye shall neuer seke to make peace with thē that ye maye increase and eate the best in the lād, and that ye maye deuide the inheritaunce of the lande vnto youre children for euermore. As for the thynge that now happeneth vnto vs, it commeth all for our wycked worckes and great sinnes, yet hast thou geuē vs soch a rote, y^t we are come agayne into our owne lande / and we are so wycked y^t we haue bro∣ken thy statutes & cōmaundementes agayne and mengled our selues with the vnclennes of the outlandysh Heathen. O Lorde / arte y^• angrye with vs? wylte thou rote vs cleane out? that our rote and name remayne no more? O Lord God of Israel thou art true, for oure rote endureth yet vnto thys present day. And beholde, now are we before the in our synnes, now can we not stāde before the in them.

* 1.54 And when Esdras w^t thys prayer had

knoledged the synne, wepynge, and lyenge stat vpon the grounde before the tēple, there gathered vnto hym from Ierusalē a greate multitude of men and wemen / of yonge mē and maydens, for there was a very greate wepyng & mournynge in the cōgregacyon. So when Iechonias the sōne of Iehely one of the chyldren of Israel cryed, he sayd vnto Esoras: we haue synned against the Lorde, because we haue maried out landysh wemē of the Heathen. Nowe axt y^u ouer all Israel. We wyll sweare an othe therfore vnto the Lorde, that we shall put awaye all our wy∣ues, whiche we haue taken of the Heathen, with theyr chyldren: lyke as it is appoynted the by oure fore elders. Stande vp then, open thou it / & declare it playnely vnto vs, accordynge to the lawe of the Lorde: for the matter belongeth vnto the, & we wyll helpe the, quite thy self manly. So Esdras arose, and toke an othe of the rulers of the prestes, and of the Leuytes / and of all Israel / to do after these thynges: and they sware.

¶ After Esdras had reade the lawe, the people put a waye theyr straunge wyues: and then returneth euery man merely vnto hys owne dweyllynge.

CAPI. IX.

THEN Esdras stode vp frō the courte of the temple without, & went in to the [unspec A] chamber of Ionath as the sōne of Nasabus,* 1.55 and remayned there, & dyd eate no meat, nor dronke drynke, for the multytude of the peo∣ple. And there was made a proclamacion in all Iewry & at Ierusalem, for all such as were gathered at Ierusalē out of captiuite, y^t who soeuer came not to Ierusalem within two or thre dayes (accordynge to the iudge∣ment of y^• olde lordes of councel) his goodes shulde be taken from hym / and be excluded frō the congregacion of the captyuyte. And in thre dayes were all they of the trybe of Iuda and Beniamin gathered together at Ierusalem, the twētyeth daye of the nynth moneth. And the whole multytude sat trem blynge in the courte of the temple, for it was wynter. So Esdras arose vp, & sayde vnto them: ye haue done vnryghteously, in that ye haue takē outlandysh wiues to mariage, and so to in crease the synnes of Israel. And nowe knoledge the same, and geue prayse vnto the Lorde God of our fathers / & per∣fourme his wyll / departynge from the Hea∣then of the lande / and from the outlandy she wyues. Then cryed the whole multytude [unspec B] with loude voyce / & sayd: lyke as y^• hast spo∣ken, so wyll we do: but for so much as y^• peo∣ple are many / and the wynter here / we may nat stāde without the house: agayne, thys worke is nat a thynge / y^t can be fynyshed in a daye or two, for we be many y^• haue synned in these thynges. Ordeyne therfore that the rulers of the multytude & they y^t dwell with vs, & as many as haue outlandysh wiues, y^• prestes also and iudges of euery place may stāde in the tyme appoynted, tyi they swage the wrath of the Lorde in this busynes.

Then Ionathas the sonne of Ezely, and Ozias and Thecan receaued the charge of this matter / & Bozoramus, and Leius / and Sabatheus helped them therto. After thys, all they stode vp that were come out of cap∣tyuyte. And Esdras the prest chose vnto hym the pryncypall men from amonge the fathers accordynge to theyr names / & in the newe mone of the tenth moneth they sat to∣gether, to examen thys matter. And so the [unspec C] matter was a determynynge (concernynge the men that had outlandysh wyues) vntyl the newe mone of the fyrst moneth. And of the prestes that had myxte them selues with outlandysh wyues / there were founde. * 1.56 Of the sonnes of Iesu the sonne of Iosedec and hys brethren, Mazeas / Eleazar / Ioribus & Ioadeus / whiche offred them selues to put awaye theyr wyues / and to offre a ramme for theyr ignoraunce. And of the sonnes of Semmeri / Masseas / and Esses / & I••elech Azarias. Of the sōnes of Fosera, Limosias, Hismaen / Nathanea / Iussio, Ieddus, and Talsas. And of the Leuytes Iosabdus, Semeis / and Colnis / Caletas / Fa••teas, Colnas / & Elionas. Of the syngers of the Sanctuary / Eliarib, Zackarus. Of the porters, Sallumus and Tolbanes. And of Israel / of the chyldren of Foro, Osi / & Re∣mias, & Geddias, & Melchias / Michilus, Eleazarus / Iemmebias / & Bannas. And the chyldrē of Iolamā / Chamas•• Zachari / Ieizrelus / Ioddius, Erimoth / and Elias. And of y^• sonnes of Iathoim / Eliadas, Lia∣samus [unspec D] / & Zochias, Larimoth / Sabdis / and Tebedias. And of the sonnes of Zebes / Io∣hannes / Amanias / Zabdias / & Emineus. And of y^• sonnes of Bann{us} / Olāmus / Ma∣luchus / Ieddus, Iasub, Asabus / and Ieri∣moth. And of y^• sonnes of Addin, Naatus, & Moosias, & Cale{us}, and Raanas, Mansuas Mathathias / Besel, Bann{us}, & Manasses.

And of the sōnes of Naue, Nones, Afeas, Melchias, Sameas, Simon / Beniamin, Malchus and Marras. And of the sōnes of Asom, Carianeus / Mathathias, Ba••nus, Eliphalach, Manasses, Seme••. Of the son¦nes of Bauues, Ieremy, Moodias, Abra∣mas,

Ioel / Baneas / Peliaas / Iona / Ma∣rimoth, Eliasib, Mathaneus, Eliasis, Ozi∣as, Dielus / Semedi{us}, Zambris, & Ioseph. Of the sonnes of Nobeus, Idelus, Matha thias, Sabad{us}, Zecheda, Sedmi, Iesseus, and Baneas. All these bad taken outlādysh wemen to mariage, and they put thē a waye with theyr chyldren. The prestes and Leui∣tes / and [unspec E] all they that were of Israel, dwelt at Ierusalem and thorowout all the lande, in the newe moone of the seuenth moneth, & the chyldren of Israell were in theyr dwel∣lynges. And the whole multitude came to∣gether vpon the floore at the East syde of the holy porte of the tēple. And they spake vnto Esdras the hye preste and reader / that he wolde brynge the lawe of Moses, whiche was geuen of the Lorde God of Israel. So Esdras the hye Prest brought y^• lawe vnto the whole multitude of thē / to mā & womā, & to all Prestes / y^• they myght heare y^• lawe, * 1.57 in the newe mone of y^•. vii. moneth. And he red in the flore y^• is before the holy porte of the temple / frō the mornyng early vnto the euenynge before men and wemen. And they applyed theyr mynde all vnto the lawe.

And Esdras the Prest and reader of the [unspec F] lawe stode vp vpon a pulpy•• of wodde, whi¦che was made therfore: and vpon his ryght hande there stode by hym Mathathias / Sa¦mus / Ananias / Azarias / Urias / Ozechias, and Balsamus: Upon his lefte hande stode Faldeus / Misael / Malachias / Abuschas / Sabus / Nabadias and Zachary. Then toke Esdras the boke before the whole mul∣tytude / for he was the pryncypall / & had in most honoure of them all. And when he had red out the lawe / they stode al strayght vpō theyr fete. So Esoras praysed the Lorde the most hye God / y^• almyghty God of Hostes. And all the people answered: Amen: and helde vp theyr handes / fell downe flat vpō the earth / and praysed the Lorde. And Ie∣sus / Eeneas, Sarebias / Iaddimus / Accu∣bus / Sabbatheus / Cal••••hes, Azarias / Io∣radus, Ananias, & Philias the Leuites lyft their handes vpwarde, & bowed their faces to the grounde / & praysed the Lorde: Those [unspec G] were they which taught the law of the Lord and red the lawe of the Lord / in the congre∣gacion: & euery man set them before that vn¦derstode the lawe. Then spoke Atharates vnto Esdras the hye Prest & reder / & to the Leuites that taught the multytude / saying Thys daye is holy vnto the Lorde: and all they that had hearde the lawe / wepte. So Edsras sayde: * 1.58 Departe youre waye then / and eate y^• best / & drynke the swetest, & sende gyftes vnto them that haue nothynge: for this daye is holy vnto the Lorde and be nat ye sory / for the Lorde wyll brynge you to honoure. And the Leuytes shewed it openly to them all, saynge: This daye is holy be ye not sory. Then wente they theyr waye euery chone, and dyd eate and dryncke, and were mery, and sente rewardes vnto them that had nothynge, y^• they also myght eate with gladnesse: for they were excedyngly reioy∣sed, thorowe the wordes that were red vnto them in the lawe. And so they were all ga∣thered together at Ierusalem to holde the feast, accordynge to the couenaunte of the Lorde God of Israel.

The ende of the thryde boke of Esdras.

❧ The. iiij. booke of Esdras.

¶ The people is reproued for theyr vnthanckfulnes. God wyll fynde another people yf these wyll nat be enformed.

CAPI. I.

THe seconde booke of [unspec A] the Prophete * 1.59 Esdras (the sōne of Saraias, y^• sōne of Azarias, the sonne of, Helchia the sōne of Sallum, the sonne of Sado••, y^• Sonne of Achitob, the sonne of Achia, the sonne of Phinees the, sonne of Hely the sōne of Amerias, the sōne of Azarias, the sōne of Maraioth, the sōne of Sarahias / the sōne of Uzi, the sonne of Boccus y^• sonne of Abisu / the sonne of Phinees / the sōne of Elezar, the sonne of Aaron / of the trybe of Liue) which was presoner in the lande of Mades / in the raygne of Artaxerses Kynge of Persia.

* 1.60 And the worde of the Lorde came vnto me / saying: go thy waye, & she we my people theyr synful dedes / and theyr chyldren theyr wyckednesses / whiche they haue done a∣gaynst me, that they may tell theyr chylders chyldren the same: for the sinnes of theyr fa∣thers are increased in them. And why? they [unspec B] haue forgotten me, and haue offred vnto straunge goddes. Am nat I euen he that brought them out of the lande of Egypt, frō the house of bondage? But they haue prouo¦ked me vnto wrath, and despised my coun∣cels. Pull thou out then the hearre of thy heade, and cast all euell ouer them, for they haue nat bene obediente vnto my lawe.

It is a people without lernynge & nour∣toure. Howe longe shall I forbeare them, vnto whom I haue done so muche good? * 1.61 Many kynges haue I destroyed for theyr sakes: ‡ 1.62 Pharao with his seruauntes & all his power haue I smytten downe & slayne: All the nacions haue I destroyed and roted out before thē, & in the East haue I brought two landes & people to nought, euen Tyre and Sydō, & haue slayne all theyr enemyes. Speake thou therfore vnto them, sayinge. Thus sayeth the Lorde: * 1.63 I led you thorowe the see / and haue geuen you sure stretes sēse the begynnynge. ‡ 1.64 I gaue you Moses to be youre captayne, and Aaron to be the prest:

* 1.65 I gaue you lyght in a pyler of fyre, and greate wonders haue I done amonge you: yet haue ye forgotten me, sayeth the Lorde.

Thus sayeth the almyghte Lorde: I gaue you quayles to eate, & tentes for youre suc∣coure: Neuertheles ye murmured, and ascri¦bed not the vyctory of youre enemyes vnto my name: yee, thys same daye do ye yet mur moure. Where are the benefytes, y^• I haue done for you? When ye were hongrye in the wyldernes, * 1.66 dyd ye nat cry vnto me saying: why hast thou brought vs into this wylder¦nes, to kyll vs? It had bene better for vs, to haue serued the Egypcyans / then to dye in thys wyldernesse. Then had I pytye vpon youre mournynges, and gaue you Manna to eate. Ye dyd eate angels foode. ‡ 1.67 When ye were thyrstye, dyd I nat hewe the harde∣stone / & caused water to flowe therout? For the heate I couered you with the leaues of [unspec C] the trees. A good pleasaunte fat lande gaue I you: I cast out the Cananites, the Phere∣sytes and Philystines before you. * 1.68 What shall I do more for you / sayeth the Lorde.

Thus sayeth y^• Almyghtye Lorde: ‡ 1.69 Whē ye ware in the wildernes, in the water of the Amorytes, beynge a thyrst, & blasphemynge my name, I gaue you nat fyre for your blas phemyes, but cast a tree into the water, and made the ryuer swete. What shal I do vnto the, O Iacob? Thou Iuda woldest nat obeye me * 1.70 I wyll turne me to another peo∣ple / & vnto those. Wyt I geue my name that they may kepe my statutes. Sayng ye haue forsaken me. I wyl forsake you also. When ye desire me to be gracious vnto you, I shal haue no mercy vpon you. * 1.71 When ye call vpo me, I wyll nat heare you. For ye haue defyled youre handes with bloude / & youre fete are swyft to commyt manstaughter. Ye haue nat forsaken me (in a maner) but youre owne selues, sayeth the Lorde.

Thus sayeth the almyghtye Lorde: haue I nat prayed you, as a father his sōnes, as a mother her daughters / and as a norsse her yonge babes / that ye wolde be my people / & I shulde be youre God: that ye wolde be my chyldren, & I shulde be your owne fathers? * 1.72 I gathered you together / as an henne ga¦thereth her chekens vnder her wynges. But nowe what shall I do vnto you? I shal cast [unspec D] you out fro my face? * 1.73 When ye offre vnto me / I shal turne my face from you: for your solempne feast dayes, youre newe moones / and your circumcysyons haue I forsake. I sent vnto you my seruaūtes the Prophetes, whom ye haue taken and stayne, and torne theyr bodyes in peces / whose bloude I wyll requere of youre handes, sayeth the Lorde.

Thus sayeth the Almyghty Lorde: your house must be desolate. I wyll caste you out as the wynde doth the strawe, youre chyldrē shall nat be fruteful, for they haue despysed my commaundement / and done the thynge that is euell before me. Youre houses wyl I geue vnto a people that shall come, & * 1.74 they that neuer harde me / shall beleue in me: and they vnto whom I neuer shewed tokē, shall do the thyng y^• I cōmaunde thē. They haue sene no Prophetes, yet shall they call theyr synnes to remembraunce / and knowledge them. I reporte me vnto the grace, y^• I wyl do for the people which is come / whose chil∣dren reioyse in gladnes: & though they haue not sene me with bodely eyes, yet in sprete they beleue the thing that I saye. And nowe brother, beholde what greate worshyppe / & se the people that cōmeth frō the East / vnto whom I wyl geue the dukedom * 1.75 of Abra∣ham, Isaac and Iacob, of Oseas, Amos, & Micheas, of Ioel, Abdy / Ionas / Naum / & Abacu•• / of Sophony•• Aggeus, Zachary / & Malachy, which is called also an angell (or messenger) of the Lorde.

CAPI. II.

[unspec A]

The Synagoge syndeth faute with her owne chyldrē. The Gentles are called.

THVS sayeth the Lorde: I brought thys people out of bondage, I gaue them my commaundementes by my seruair∣tes the Prophetes / whiche they wholde nat heare / but despysed my counsels. The mother that bare them / sayeth vnto them: Go youre waye ye chyldren / for I am a wyd¦dowe and forsaken: I brought you vp with gladnesse / but with sorowe and heuynes haue I loste you: for ye haue synned before the Lorde youre God, and done the thynge that is euell before hym. But what shall I

nowe do vnto you? I am a wyddowe and forsaken: go youre waye, O my chyldrē, and aske mercy of the Lorde. As for me, O fa∣ther / I call vpon the for a wytnesse ouer the mother of these chyldren, whiche wolde not kepe my couenaunt, that thou brynge them to confusyon, and theyr mothers to spoyle, that she beare no more. Let theyr names be scatred abroade amonge the Heathen, let them be put out of the earth, for they haue thought scorne of my couenaunte.

Wo be vnto the Assur / thou that hydest y^• vnryghtuous by the. Thou wycked people, remēbre * 1.76 what I dyd vnto Sodome & Go∣morre, whose lāde is turned to pytch and as∣shes. Euen so also wyll I do vnto all them / that heare me not, sayeth y^• almyghty Lorde. Thus sayeth the Lorde vnto Esdras: Tell my people / y^t I wyl geue thē the Kyngdome of Iesusalem, whiche I wolde haue geuen vnto Israel. Theyr glory also wyll I take vnto me / & geue them the euerlastynge ta∣bernacles / whiche I had prepared for those.

The tree of lyfe shalbe vnto them a swete [unspec B] smellynge oyntement: they shall neyther la∣boure nor be weery. Go ye youre waye / and ye shall receaue it. Praye for youre selues a fewe dayes / y^t they maye dwel therin. Nowe is the Kyngdome prepared for you, therfore watche. Take heauen & earth to witnesse for I haue broken the euell in peaces, & created the good / for I lyue sayeth the Lorde. Mo∣ther embrace thy chyldren, & brynge thē vp with gladnesse: make theyr fote as fast as a py••er / for I haue chosen the, sayeth y^• Lorde.

And those that be dead wyll I rayse vp agayne from theyr places, and brynge them out of the graues / for I haue knowen my name in Israell. Feare nat thou mother of the chyldren / for I haue chosen the, sayeth the Lorde. And for thy helpe I shall sende the my seruauntes Esay and Ieremy / after whose councel I haue sanctifyed and prepa¦red for the twelue trees loded with dyuerse frutes / and as many welles, flowynge with mylke & hony / and seuen moūtaynes / wher¦vpon there growe roses and lylyes / wherin I wyll fyll my chyldren with ioye. Execute iustyce for the wyddowe, be iudge for the fa∣therles: geue to the poore: defende the com∣forteles: clothe y^• naked: heale the wounded and sycke: laugh ••at a lame man to scorne: defende the crepel, and let the blynde come into the syght of my clearnes, kepe the old & the yonge within thy walles. * 1.77 Whersoeuer thou fyndest the dead / take them, and burye them / & I shal geue the / the ty••st place in my resurreccyon. Holde styll (O my people) and take thy rest, for thy quietnes is come. Feade [unspec C] thy chyldren. O thou good norsse / stablysh theyr fete: As for the seruauntes whom I haue geuen the / there shall nat one of them perysh, for I wyl seke them from thy nōbre, vexe nat thy selfe.

For when the daye of trouble and heuy∣nes cōmeth / other shall wepe and be sorow∣full / but thou shalt be mery and plenteous. The Heathē shalbe gelous, but they shalbe able to do nothynge agaynst the / sayeth the Lorde. My handes shall couer the / so that thy children shal nat se the fyre enerlastyng. Be ioyfull, O thou mother with thy chyl∣dren / for I wyll delyuer the / sayeth y^• Lorde. Remembre thy deed chyldren / for I shall brynge them out of the earth / and shewe mercy vnto them / for I am mercyfull / sayeth the Lorde almyghty.

Embrace thy chyldren / vntyll I come, and shewe mercy vnto them / for my welles runne ouer / and my grace shall nat fayle.

I Esdras receaued a charge of the Lorde vpon the mount Oreb / that I shulde go vn¦to Israell. But when I came vnto Israell they set me at naught and despised the com∣maundemente of the Lorde. And therfore I saye vnto you, O ye Heathē that heare and vnderstande: Loke for youre shepherde / he shall geue you euerlastynge rest, for he is nye at hande / that shall come in the ende of the worlde. Be readye to the rewarde of the kyngdome, for the euerlastynge lyght shall shyne vpon you for euermore. Fle the sha∣dowe of this worlde / receaue the ioyfulnes of your glory. I testifie my sauyour openly: O receaue the gyfte that is geuen you / & be glad, geuynge thankes vnto hym y^• hathe called you to the heauenly kyngdome.

Aryse vp, and stande faste: beholde the [unspec D] nombre of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lorde, whiche are departed from the shadowe of the worlde / and haue receaued gloryous garmentes of the Lorde. Take thy nombre O Syon / and shut vp thy pury¦fyed, whiche haue fulfylled the lawe of the Lorde. The nombre of thy chyldren whom thou longedest for / is fulfylled: beseche the power of the Lorde, that thy people whiche haue bene called frō the begynnynge / maye be halowed.

* 1.78 I Esdras sawe vpon the mount Syon a great people / whom I coulde nat nombre, and they all prysed the Lorde with songes of thankesgeuynge. And in the myddest of them there was a yonge man of an hye

stature, more excellente then al they, & vpon euery one of theyr heades he set a crowne, & was euer higher and higher, whiche I mar∣ueled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and sayd: Syr, what are these? He answered and sayde vnto me: These be they, that haue put of the mortall clothynge and put on the im∣mortal, and haue testifyed and knowledged the name of God. Nowe are they crowned, & receyue the rewarde.

Then sayde I vnto the Aungell: what yonge personne is it, that crowneth them / & geueth thē the palmes in theyr handes? So he answered, & sayde vnto me: It is y^• sonne of God, whom they haue knowledged in the worlde. Then begāne I greately to cōmende thē, y^• stode so styfly for the name of the Lord And so the angel sayd vnto me: Go thy way, & tell my people, what maner of thinges and howe greate wonders of the Lorde thy God, thou hast sene.

¶ The wonderous workes whiche God dyd for the people are recited. Esdras marueleth that God suffreth the Babilo¦niās▪ to haue rule ouer his people, which yet are siners also.

CAPI. III.

IN the thyrtyeth yeare of the fall of the cy∣tie, [unspec A] I was at Babylon, and laye troubled vpon my bed / and my thoughtes came vp ouer my herte: for I sawe the desolacion of Syon, and the plentuous wealthe of them that dwelte at Babylon: and my sprete was sore moued / so that I beganne to speake fe∣refull wordes to the most hyest / and sayd: O Lorde Lord / thou spakest at the begynnyng when thou plantedst the earth (and that thy selfe alone) and gauest commaundement vn¦to the people / and a body vnto Adā / whiche was a creature of thy handes, & hast brethed in him the brethe of lyfe: & so he lyued before the / and thou leddeste him into Paradyse / whiche garden of pleasure thy ryght hande had plāted, or euer y^• earth was made. And vnto him thou gauest commaundemente to loue thy way / whiche he trāsgressed, and im∣medyately thou appoyntedst death in hym / and in his g••neracions. Of hym came na∣cyons, trybes people and kynreddes out of [unspec B] nombre. * 1.79 And euery people walcked after their owne wyll / and dyd nyce thynges be∣fore the: & as for thy cōmaundementes, they despysed them.

* 1.80 But in processe of tyme thou brough∣test the water floude / vpon those that dwelte in the worlde, and destroyedst them. And ly¦ke as the death was in Adam, so was y^• wa∣ter floude also in these. Neuerthelesse one of thē thou leftest: namely Noe with his house holde, of whome came all ryghtuous men. And it happened that when they that dwelt vpon the earth / beganne to multyplye, and had gotten many chyldren, and were a great people / they begāne to be more vngodly thē the fyrste.

Nowe when they all lyued so wyckedly before the / * 1.81 thou dydest chose the a man frō amonge them, whose name was Abraham. Him thou louedst, and vnto hym onely thou shewedst thy wyl, and madest an euerlasting couenaunt with hym, promysynge him, that thou woldest neuer forsake his sede. * 1.82 And vnto him thou gauest Isaac, * vnto Isaac also thou gauest Iacob and Esau. As 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iacob thou dydest chose him / and put ba•••••• Esau. * And so Iacob became a greate mul∣tytude. [unspec C]

And it happened that when thou leddest his sede out of Egypt, * 1.83 thou broughtest thē vp to the mounte Syon bowyng downe the heauens, settynge fast the earthe, mouynge the grounde, makyng the depthes to shake / and troublynge the worlde: And thy glorye went thorowe foure partes of fyre, and earth¦quakes, and wyndes / and colde: that tho•• myghtest geue the lawe vnto the sede of Ia∣cob / & diligēce vnto y^• generacion of Israel.

And yet tokest thou not away from them that wycked herte, y^• thy lawe myght brynge forth frute in them. For the fyrst Adam ••a•••• a wycked hert / transgressed, and was ouer∣come, & so be all they that are borne of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 * 1.84 Thus remayneth wickednes with th〈…〉〈…〉 in the herte of the people, w^t the wycke•••••••• of the rote: so that the good departed away and the euyll abode styll. So the tymes pas∣sed awaye / and the yeares were brought to an ende. * 1.85 Then dydest thou rayse the vp a seruaūt called Dauid, * 1.86 whom thou cōmaū∣dedst to buylde a cyte vnto thy name, and to offre vp incense and sacryfyce vnto the ther¦in. This was done nowe many yeares. Thē the inhabiters of the cyte forsoke the & in all thīges dyd euē as Adā & al his generacions had done: for they also had a wicked hert.

And so thou gauest thy cyte ouer into the [unspec D] handes of thyne enemyes. Are they of Baby¦lon thē better and more ryghtuous then thy people, that they shall therfore haue the do∣mynyon of Syon? For when I came there / and sawe theyr vngodlynes, and so greate wyckednesse / that it coulde not be nombred•• yee / when my soule saw so many euyl do••••s (in the thyrtye yeare) my herte fayled me for I sawe, how thou suffredst them in such vn¦godlynes, and sparest the wicked doe••s: but

thyne owne people hast thou roted out / and preserued thyne enemyes, and this hast thou not shewed me.

I cannot perceyue howe thys happened. Do they of Babylon then better, then they of Syon? Or is there any other people / that knoweth the / sauynge the people of Israel? Or what generacion hath so beleued thy co¦uenaūtes, as Iacob? And yet theyr rewarde appeareth not, & theyr labour hath no frute. For I haue gone here & there thorow y^• Hea∣then, & I se that they be riche & wealthy, and thyncke not vpon thy cōmaūdementes. Wey thou therfore our wyckednesse now in the ba¦laūce, and theirs also y^t dwel in the worlde, & so shal thy name be no where foūde but in Is¦rael. Or where is there a people vpon earth / that hath not sined before the? Or what peo¦ple hath so kept thy cōmaundemētes? Thou shalt fynde / that Israel by name hath kepte thy preceptes / but not the other people and Heathen.

¶ The angell reproueth Esoras because he semed to entre into the profounde iudgementes of God.

CAPI. IIII.

AND the angel that was sent vnto me [unspec A] (whose name was Urtell) gaue me an answere, & said: Thy hert hath takē to much vpon it in ti, is worlde, and y^u thynkest to cō∣prehende the way of the hyest. Then sayd I: Yee my Lorde. And he answered me, & sayd: I am sent to shew the thre wayes, and to set forth thre symylitudes, before the: wherof yf thou caust declare me one, I wyll shewe the also the waye / that thou desyrest to se: and I shall shewe the frome whence the wycked herte commeth. And I sayde: Tell on my Lorde. Then sayde he vnto me: Go thy way, weye me the weyght of the fyre / or measure me the blaste of the wynde / or cal me agayne the daye that is past. Then answered I and sayde: What man borne is able to do that? Why requyrest thou such of me? And he said vnto me: If I shulde aske the / howe depe dwellynges are in the see? Or how great wa¦ter springes are vpon the firmamēt? Or how great water springes are in the begynnynge of the depe? Or whiche are the out goynges of Paradyse? Peraduenture thou woldest saye vnto me: I neuer wente downe yet into the depe nor hel, neither dyd I euer clime vp into heauen. Neuerthelesse / nowe haue I as¦ked the but onely of fyre and wynde and of the day, where thorow thou hast trauayled / and from the which thou canst not be sepera¦ted: and yet canste thou geue me no answree of them.

He sayd moreouer vnto me: Thyne owne thinges, & suche as are growne vp with the, canst thou not knowe: howe shuld thy vessel then be able to comprehende the waye of the Hyest / and nowe outwardely in the corrupte worlde, to vnderstāde the corrupcion that is euidēt in my sight? Then saide I vnto him: It were better that we were not at all / then that we shulde lyue in wyckednesse / & to suf∣fre / & not to knowe wherfore. He answered [unspec B] me / & sayde: I wente in a wod, & * 1.87 the trees toke such a deuyse and sayd: Come let vs go and fyght against the see, that it may depart away before vs, and that we maye make vs yet more woddes.

The floudes of the see also in lyke maner toke thys deuyse, and sayde: Come let vs go vp / and fyght agaynst the trees of the wood y^t we maye make our lande the wyder. The thought & deuyce of the wod was but vaine & nothing worth, for the fyre came and consu¦med the wod: The thought of the floudes of the see came likewise to naught also, for the sande stode vp and stopped them.

If thou were iudge nowe betwyxte these two, whom woldest thou iustyfie, or whome woldest thou condemne? I answered & sayd: Uerely it is a folyshe thought that they both haue deuysed. For the grounde is geuen vn∣to the wod, and the see also hath his place to here his floudes. Then answered he me / and sayde: Thou hast geuen a ryght iudgement, why iudgest thou not thyselfe also? For lyke as the grounde is geuen vnto the wod / and the see to his floudes: euen so * 1.88 they y^t dwell vpon earth, may vnderstande nothyng, but that whiche is vpon earth: and he that dwel¦leth aboue the heauēs, may only vnderstand the thynges, y^• are aboue the heauens. Then answered I / and sayd: I beseche y^•, O Lord, let me haue vnderstandynge: for it was not my mynde to be curyous of thy hye thinges, but of suche as we dayly medle withall / na∣mely, wherefore that Israell is blasphemed of the Heathē, and for what cause the people (whom thou euer hast loued) is geuen ouer / to be punisshed of vngodly nacyons: & why y^• lawe of our fathers is brought to naught, and the wrytten couenauntes come to none effecte, and we passe away out of the worlde as the greshoppers, & our life is a very feare and we are not worthy to optayne mercye. What wyll he do then vnto his name / which is called vpō ouer vs? Of these thīges haue I asked a questyon.

Then answered he me, & sayde: The more [unspec C] thou searchest / the more thou shalt mar••••ile

for the worlde hasteth fast to passe awaye / & cannot comprehende the thinges y^• are pro∣mysed for the rightuous in tyme to come, for * 1.89 this worlde is ful of vnryghtuousnes and weakenes.

But as concernynge the thinges wherof thou askest me / I wyll tell the. The euyll is sowed, but the destruccion thereof is not yet come. Yf the euyl nowe that is sowed, be not turned vpsyde downe, & yf the place where the euyll is sowne, passe not awaye / then can¦not the thyng come that is sowne with good for the corne of euyll sede hathe bene sowne in the he••t of man from the begynnyng, and how muche vngodlines hath he brought vp vnto this tyme? and how muche shall he yet brynge forth, vntyll he come into the barne?

Pōdre nowe by thyself, whē the corne of euyll sede is cut downe, howe great a barne shall it fyll? I answered and sayde. Howe & whē shall these thinges come to passe? wher∣fore are your yeares fewe & euyl? And he an∣swered me, sayinge: Hast not thou to muche vpon the hyest, for thy hastynes to be aboue him is but vaine / thou makest to much a do. Did not the soules also of y^• rightuous aske questyon of these thynges in theyr holynes / saying: * 1.90 Howe long shall I hope of thys fa¦shyon? When cōmeth the frute of my barne / and my reward? And vpon this Ieremiel y^• Archangel gaue thē answere, and sayd: Euē when y^• nōbre of the sedes is filled in you / for he hath weyed y^• world in the balaūce: in me∣sure & nōbre hath he measured y^• tyme, & mo∣ueth it not, vntyll y^• same measure be fulfyl∣led. Thē answered I & said: O Lord, Lord, now are we al ful of sine, & for our sake per∣aduenture it is not / y^t the barne of the rygh∣tuous shal not be fylled, because of the sines of thē that dwel vpon the earth.

So he answered me, & sayd: Go thy waye [unspec D] to a womā with chylde, and aske of her, whē she hath fulfylled her nyne monethes, yf her chyldebed may kepe y^• birth any longer with in her. Then sayd I: No Lorde, that can she not. And he sayde vnto me: In hell the secret places of soules are lyke the preuy chambre of a woman. For lyke as a woman that tra∣uayleth, maketh haste / when the tyme / and necessyte of the byrthe is at hande. Euen so doth she haste to delyuer it that is commyt∣ted vnto her. Loke what thou desyrest to se / it shall be shewed the from the begynnynge. Then answered I, & sayde: If I haue foūde fauoure in thy syght / and yf it be possyble / and yf it be mete therefore, shewe me then / whether there be more to come then is past / or more paste then is for to come. What is paste / I knowe: but what is for to come / I knowe not.

And he sayde vnto me: Stande vp vpon the ryght syde / and I shall expounde the sy∣mylitude vnto the. So I stode, and behold, an whote burnynge ouen wente ouer before me: and it happened that when the flamme was gone by / the smoke had the vpper hād•• After this there went ouer before me a wate¦ry cloude, and sent downe much rayne with a storme: & when the stormy rayne was past the droppes remayned styll. Then sayde he vnto me: lyke as the rayne is more then the droppes / and as the fyre exceadeth the smo∣ke / euen so the measure of the thynges that are past, hath the vpperhande. Then wente the droppes and the smoke aboue: and I pra¦yed and sayde: May I lyue (thynkest thou) vntyll that tyme? Or what shall happen in those dayes? He answered me, and sayde: As for the tokēs wherof thou askest me / I may tell the of them in a parte: but as touchynge thy lyfe, I may not shewe the / for I am not sent therfore.

¶ Esdras and the Angell comen together.

CAPI. V.

NEuerthelesse / as concernynge the to∣kens / marke [unspec A] this: Beholde / the dayes shall come / that they whiche dwell vppon earth, shalbe taken in a greate nombre / and the waye of the trueth shalbe hyd / & the land shalbe baren from fayth: but * 1.91 iniquite shal haue the vpperhande, lyke as thou hast sene nowe, & as thou hast herde longe ago: And y^• lande that thou seyst now to haue rule, shalt thou shortly se waste. But yf God graunte the to lyue, thou shalt se after the thyrde trō∣pet, that the sūne shal sodenly shyne againe in the night, & the mone thre times ī the day, & bloude shall droppe out of wodde, and the stone shall geue his voyce, & the people shal¦be vnquyete: and euen he shall rule, whom they hope not / that dwell vpon earthe / & the foules shall flyt, & the Sodomytshe see shall cast out his fysh, & make a noyse in the night which many shall not knowe / but they shall all heare the voyce therof.

There shalbe a cōfusion also in many pla¦ces, and the fyre shalbe oft sent agayne / and the wylde beastes shall go theyr waye / and menstruous wemen shall beare monstres / & salt waters shall be founde in the sw••te••one frende shal fyght agaynst another: then shal all wyt and vnderstandyng be hyd and put aside īto their secrete places, & shalbe sought of many, and yet not be foūde•• then shal vn∣ryghtuousnes

and voluptuousnes haue the vpperhande vpon earth. One lāde also shal aske another / and say: Is ryghtuousnes go¦ne thorowe the? And it shall saye: No. At the same tyme shall men hope, but nothynge op¦tayne: they shall laboure / but theyr wayes shall not prospere.

To shewe the suche tokens I haue leue / and yf thou wylte praye agayne, & wepe as nowe and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater thinges. Then I awaked, and a [unspec B] fearefulnes went thorowe all my body / and my mynde was feble and carefull, so that I almost sowned withall. So the angell that was come to talke with me, helde me / cōfor∣ted me / and set me vpon my fete.

And in the seconde nyght it happened / y^e Salathiel the captayne of the people came vnto me / saying: Where hast thou bene? and why is thy countenaunce so heuy? Knowest thou not, that Israel is cōmitted vnto the, in the lande of theyr captiuite? Up then / & eate, & forsake vs not, as y^• shepherde that leaueth his flocke in the handes of wycked wolues. Then sayd I vnto hym: Go thy way fro me, & come not nye me, & he herde it / as I said: so went he his way fro me. And so I fasted seuē dayes, mournyng & wepyng, lyke as Uriell the angel cōmaunded me. And after seuē dai¦es it happened y^• the thoughtes of my herte were very greuous vnto me agayne / & my soule receyued the sprete of vnderstandyng / and I beganne to talke with the moste hyest agayne / and sayde: O Lorde, Lord / of euery wood of the earth and all the trees therof •• thou hast chosen the one onely vyneyarde: and of all landes of the whole worlde thou hast chosen one pyt: and of al floures of the grounde thou hast chosen the one lylye: and of all the depthes of the see thou hast fylled the one ryuer: and of all buylded cyties thou hast halowed Syon vnto thy selfe: and of al the foules that are created, thou hast named the one doue: & of all the catell that are made thou hast prouyded the one shepe: and amōg all the multytudes of folckes thou hast got∣ten the one people, & vnto this people whom thou louedst / thou gauest a law / that is pro∣ued of all.

And nowe, O Lorde, why haste thou ge∣uen this one people ouer vnto many? and v∣pon the one rote thou hast prepared other, & why hast thou seat••ed thy one onely people among many? whiche treade them downe / yee whiche haue euer withstande thy promy¦ses, and neuer beleued thy couenauntes? And thoughe thou werest enemye vnto thy people / yet shuldest thou punysh them with thyne owne hādes. Nowe whē I had spokē, these wordes y^• angell y^• came to me y^• nyght afore, was sente vnto me, & snyde vnto me: [unspec C] Heare me / and herken to the thynge that I say, & I shal tel the more. And I said: Speke on my Lorde. Then sayd he vnto me. Thou arte sore vexed & troubled for Israels sake. Louest thou that people better thē hym that made them? And I sayd to hym: No Lorde / but of very grefe & cōpassion haue I spoken For my reines payne me euery hour, because I wolde haue experiēce of the way of y^e most hiest, & to seke out parte of his iudgmēt. And he sayde vnto me: y^• thou mayest not. And I sayde: Wherfore Lorde? where vnto was I borne then? Or why was not my mothers childbed then my graue? So had I not sene the misery & trouble of Iacob, & the trauaile of my people of Israel.

And he sayd vnto me: Nōbre the thynges that are not yet come: gather me together y^• droppes, y^e are scatred abroade: make me the floures grene agayne, that are withered: opē me the thyng that is closed: & bryng me forth the wyndes, y^e are shut vp: Shewe me the y∣mage of a voyce, and then shal I declare the thyng, that thou labourest to knowe. And I sayde: O Lord / Lord, who may knowe these thinges, but he that hath not his dwellynge with men? As for me / I am vnwyse, howe may I then speake of these thynges wherof thou askest me? Then sayde he vnto me: lyke as y^u cāst do none of these thīges that I haue spoken of, euē so canst thou not fynde out my iudgement, or in the ende y^• loue that I haue promysed vnto my people. And I sayd: Be∣holde, O Lorde / yet art thou nye vnto them that haue no ende: and what shall they do / y^• haue bene before me / or we that be nowe / or they that shall come after vs? And he sayde vnto me: I wyll lyken my iudgemente vnto a ryng. Lyke as there is no slackenesse of the last, euen so is there no swyftnesse of y^• fyrste So I answered and sayd: couldest thou not make those (that haue bene made, & be now / and that are for to come) in one, that thou myghtest shewe thy iudgemente the soner? Then answered he me / and sayde: The crea∣ture may not haste aboue the maker, neither may the worlde holde thē at once, that shal∣be [unspec D] created.

And I sayde: Howe hast thou sayde then vnto thy seruaunte, that thou lyuynge ma∣ker, hast made the creature lyuynge at once, and the creature bare it? euē so might it now also beare them that be present, at once. And

he sayde vnto me: Aske the chyldebed of a womā, and saye vnto her: If thou bryngest forth chyldren, why doest thou it not to ge∣ther, but one after another? Praye her ther∣fore / to brynge forthe ten chyldren at once. And I sayde: she cannot / but muste do it one after another.

Then sayde he vnto me: Euen so haue I geuē a chyldebed vnto the earthe, for those y^• be sowen vpō it by processe of tyme. For lyke as a yong chylde may not bryng forth y^• thin¦ges that belong to the aged: euē so haue I or dayned the worlde which I made.

And I asked and sayd: Seyng thou hast nowe geuen me awaye. I wyl speake before the: for our mother of whom thou hast tolde me / is yet yonge / and nowe she draweth nye vnto age: He answered me, and sayde. Aske a womā that beareth chyldren, and she shall tell y^•. Say vntō her: wherfore are not they (whom thou haste nowe brought forth) lyke those that were before y^•, but lesse of stature? And she shall answere the: They that be bor∣ne in the youth of strēgth, are of one fashyon and they that are borne in the tyme of age / (when the chyldebed fayleth) are other wise. Consydre nowe thy selfe, howe that ye are lesse of stature, then those y^t were before you / & so are they y^t come after you, lesse thē ye: as the creatures which now begynne to be old, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth. Then sayd I: Lord I beseche the, yf I haue founde fauoure in thy syght, shewe thy ser∣uaunt / by whome doest thou vyset thy crea¦ture?

¶ The Angel instructeth Esdras, and geueth hym answere to his questyons

CAPI. VI.

AND he sayde vnto me. In the begyn∣nyng when the grounde was made: be¦fore [unspec A] the world stode, or euer the windes blew before it thondred and syghtned, or euer the foundacions of Paradyse were layed / be∣fore the fayre floures were sene, or euer the mouable powers were stablished / before the innumerable multitude of Angels were ga∣thered together, or euer the highnesses of the ayre were lyfted vp / afore the measures of the firmament were named, or euer the chim¦neis in Syon were hote, & or the present ye∣res were sought out / and or euer the inuen∣cyons of them that nowe synne, were put a∣syde, before they were sealed that nowe ga∣ther fayth for a treasure: then dyd I consy∣dre and pondre all these thynges, and they all were made thorowe me, and thorowe none other: by me also they be ended, and by none other. Then answered I and sayde: whiche shall be the partynge asunder of the tymes? Or when shalbe the ende of the fyrst and the begynnynge of it that folowethe? And he sayd vnto me: From Abraham vnto Isaac, when Iacob and Esau were borne of hym. Iacobs hande helde fyrste the hele of Esau: for Esau is the ende of this world, and Iacob is the begynnyng of it that foloweth The hande of man betwyxte the hele and the hande. Other questyon (Esdras) aske thou not.

I answered then, & sayde: O Lord, Lord / yf I haue founde fauour in thy syght / I be¦sech the, shewe thy seruaunte the ende of thy tokens, wherof thou shewedst me parte the last nyght. So he answered and sayde vnto me: Stande vp vpon thy fete, and heare the perfecte voyce of sounde. There shall come a greate mocyon / but the place where thou standest shall not be moued. And therfore whē thou herest the wordes, be not afrayed: [unspec B] for of the ende shall the worde and founda∣cyon of the earth be vnderstand. And why? the worde therof trembleth and quaketh for it knoweth, that it muste be chaunged at the ende. And it happened, y^• when I had hearde it, I stode vp vpon my fete, and herkened: & beholde, there was a voyce that spake, & the sounde of it was lyke y^• sounde of many wa∣ters, and it sayde: Beholde, the dayes come / that I wyll begynne to drawe nye, & to vy∣set them that dwell vpon earth, and wyll be∣gynne to make inquisycion of them / what they be that haue hurt equite with vnrygh∣tuousnes / and when the low estate of Syon shalbe fulfylled: and when the worlde, that shall vanyshe away, shalbe ouersealed, then wyll I do these tokens.

The Bokes shalbe opened before the fir∣mament, and they shall se all together, & the chyldrē of a yere olde shall speake with their voyces: the wemen with chylde shall brynge forth vntymely chyldren of thre or foure mo∣nethes olde, and they shall lyue / and be ray∣sed vp: and sodēly shall the sowen places ap∣peare as the vnsowen / the full store houses shall sodenly be founde emptye: & the trom∣pet shall geue a sounde, which whē euery mā heareth, they shalbe sodenly afrayed. * 1.92 At y^e tyme shall frēdes fight one agaynst another lyke enemyes, and the earthe shall stande in feare with them.

The sprynges of the welles shall stande styll / and in thre houres they shall not renne Whosoeuer remaineth frō all these thynges

that I haue told the / shall escape, and se my saluacyon, and the ende of your worlde. And the men that haue receyued / shall se it / they that haue not tasted deathe from theyr byrth: and the hert of the in dwellers shal be chaunged, & turned into another meanynge for euyll shalbe put out / and disceyte shalbe quenched. As for fayth, it shall floryshe, cor∣rupcion shalbe ouercome: & the truth, which hath bene so longe without frute, shalbe de∣clared. And it happened when he talked w^t me, that I loked demurely vpon him, before whome I stode / and these wordes sayde he vnto me: I am come to shewe the / the tyme of the nyght for to come.

Yf thou wylte praye yet more, and fast se∣uen dayes agayne, I shall tell the more thin¦ges, and greater then before, for thy voyce is hearde before the Hyest: for why? y^• mygh∣tye hathe sene thy ryghtuous dealynge / he [unspec C] hath sene also thy chastyte / which thou hast had euer sence thy youth: and therfore hathe he sent me to shewe the al these thynges, & to saye vnto the: Be of good comforte, & feare not / and hast not w^t the tymes that are paste to thyncke vayne thynges, & make not haste of the latter tymes.

And it happened after this / that I wept agayne / and fasted seuen dayes in lyke ma∣ner, y^• I myght fulfyll the thre wekes: which he tolde me. In the eyght night was my hert vexed withi me agayne, & I begāne to speke before the hyest: for my sprete was greately set on fyre / and my soule was in destresse, & I sayd, O Lord, thou spakest vnto thy crea∣ture frō the begynnyng (euen the fyrst daye) and saydest. ‡ 1.93 Let heauen & earth be made / and thy worde was a perfecte worcke. And then was there the sprete, and the darckenes∣ses were yet on euery syde / and sylence: there was no mans voyce as yet from the. Then cōmaunded thou a fayre lyght to come forth out of thy treasures, that thy workes myght appere and be sene.

Upon the seconde daye thou made est the sprete of the firmament, and commaūdest it to part in sunder, and to make a deuysion be twixte the waters, that the one parte myght remayne aboue / and the other beneth. Upon the thyrde day thou broughtest to passe, that the waters were gathered in the seuēth part of y^• earth: Sixe partes hast thou dryed vp / and kepte them, to thyntent that mē myght sowe & occupye husbandry therin. As soone as thy worde wente forth / the worcke was made. For immediatly there was greate in∣numerable frute / and many diuerse pleasu∣res & desyres of tēptacyon, floures of chaun∣geable coloure and smel / and this was done the thyrde day.

* 1.94 Upon the. iiij. daye thou cōmaundedst y^• [unspec D] the Sunne shuld geue his shyne, & the mone her lyght: the starres dydest thou set in ordre & gauest thē a charge: to do seruyce euen vn∣to man / that was for to be made. Upon the fyfth daye thou saydest vnto the seuenthe part (where the * 1.95 waters were gathered) that* 1.96 they shulde brynge forthe diuerse beastes / foules and fysshes. And so it came to passe, that the domme water and without soule / brought forth lyuynge beastes / at the com∣maundement of God, that all people myght prayse thy wonderous worckes. Then dy∣dest thou preserue two soules / the one thou calledst Enoch and the other Leuiathan, & didest seperate the one from the other: for the seuenth parte (namely, where the water was gathered together) myght not holde them bothe. Unto Enoch thou gauest one parte / whiche was dryed vp the thyrde daye / that he shulde dwel in the same part / wherin are a thousande hylles. But vnto Leuiathan thou gauest the seuēth part, namely y^• moyst and haste kepte him to deuoure what thou wylte, and whan. Upon the syxte daye thou gauest cōmaundement vnto the earthe, that before the / it shulde brynge forth beastes, ca¦xell / and all that crepe, and (besydes this) A∣dam also, whome thou madest Lorde of all thy creatures. Of hym come we all, and the people also, whom thou hast chosē specyally vnto thy selfe. Al this haue I said nowe and spoken before the O Lord, y^t I myght shewe howe that the world is made for our sakes. As for the other people whiche also come of Adam thou hast said that they are nothyng / but be lyke a spetle, & hast lyckened the aboū¦daunce of them vnto a droppe (that falleth) from the rofe of the house:

And nowe, O Lorde / the Heathen which haue euer bene reputed as nothynge / haue begōne to be Lordes ouer vs / and to deuour vs: but we thy people (whom thou hast cal∣led the fyrst borne, thy onely begotten, & thy feruente louer (are geuen into theyr handes and power. Yf the worlde nowe be made for our sakes, why haue we not the inherytaūce in possessyon with the worlde? Howe longe shall this endure?

¶ The Angell sheweth Esdras many thynges to come.

CAPI. VII.

AND it happened after that I had spo∣ken [unspec A] out these wordes / there was sente vnto me an Angell, whiche had bene by me

also the nightes afore, and he sayd vnto me: Up Esdras / and here the wordes that I am come to tell the. And I sayd: speake on Lord my God. Then sayd he vnto me. The see is set in a wyde place / that it might be depe and greate: but the entraunce is narowe & small lyke a ryuer. For who wolde go into the see / to loke vpon it / and to rule it? If he wente not thorow the narowe, how myght he come into the brode.

Item another: A cytie is buylded and set vpon a brode felde / and is full of al goodes, the entraūce is narowe and sodayne, lyke as yf there were a fyre at the ryght hande, and a depe water at the lefte, and as it were onely one strayte path betwixte thē bothe, so small that there coulde but one man go there.

If this cyte nowe were geuē to an heyre / & he neuer went thorowe the parlous waye / how wolde he receyue his enheritaūce? And I sayde: It is so Lord. Then said he to me: Euen so is Israel also a porcyon. And why? for theyr sakes haue I made the world: and when Adam transgressed my statutes, then was the thyng iudged that was done. Thē were the entraūces of the worlde made na∣rowe, ful of sorowe & trauayle. They are but fewe •• euil, ful of parels & labour. For the en¦traunces of the fore worlde were wide & sure, and brought immortall frute.

If they nowe whiche are entred into this worlde, maye not comprehende these strayte and vaine thinges, muche lesse may they cō∣prehende and vnderstande the secrete thyn∣ges: Why disquietest thou thy self thē, seyng thou art but a corruptyble man? And what woldest thou knowe where as thou art but mortall? And why hast thou not receyued in to thyne herte the thynge that is for to come, [unspec B] but that is present?

Then sayd I: O Lord Lord, * 1.97 thou hast ordayned in thy lawe, that the ryghtuous shulde inherete these thīges, but that the vn¦faythful and vngodly shulde perysh. Neuer thelesse, the rightuous shal suffre strayte thī¦ges / & hope for wide: for they that haue liued vngodly and suffred strayte thynges / shall not se the wyde.

And he sayd vnto me: There is no iudge aboue God / and none that hath vnderstan∣dynge aboue the Hyest. For there be many y^e peryshe, because they despyse y^• lawe of God that is set before them. For God hath geuen strayte cōmaundement to such as come, that they knowe what they do / and howe they shulde lyue: and yf they kept this they shuld not be punyshed.

Neuerthelesse, they were not obediēt vn∣to hym, but spake agaynste hym: ymagyned vayne thynges / and purposed to synne, and sayd moreouer, that there was no God / and that God regarded it not. Hys wayes haue they not knowen, his lawe haue they despy∣sed / and denyed hys promyses: in his statu∣tes & ordynaunces haue they not bene fayth full and stedfaste, and haue not perfourmed hys workes.

And therfore Esdras: vnto the full, plen∣ty: and to the emptye / emptynesse. Beholde / the tyme shal come / that these tokens which I haue tolde the shall come to passe / and the bryde shall appeare / and the earth that now passeth awaye / shalbe shewed: and whosoe∣uer is delyuered frō the forsayde euyls, shal se my wonders. For my sonne Iesus shalbe opēly declared, with those that be with him. and they that remayne, shalbe mery in foure hundreth yeares.

After these same yeares shall my sonne Christ dye / and al men that haue lyfe, and y^• world shalbe turned into the olde sylence se∣uen dayes / lyke as in the fore iudgementes, so that no mā shal remayne. And after seuen dayes, the world that yet a waked not / shal∣be raysed vp / and shal dye corrupte. And the earth shall restore those that haue slept ī ••er and so shal the dust those that dwel in silēce / and the secrete places shal deliuer those that be commytted vnto thē. And the most hyest [unspec C] shalbe openly declared vpō the seate of iud∣gement, and all mysery shall vanysh away / and long suffryng shalbe gathered together But the iudgement shal cōtinue / the trueth shall remayne / and fayth shal waxe stronge, the worcke shall folowe, & the rewarde shall be shewed: the ryghtuousnes shall watch / & the vnryghtuousnesses shall beare no rule.

Then sayde I: * 1.98 Abraham prayed fyrste for the Sodomites / ‡ 1.99 & Moses for y^• fathers that sinned in the wyldernes, & he that came after him for Israel, in the tyme of Achas & Samuel: and ‡ 1.100 Dauid for the destruccyon ‡ 1.101 and Salomon for them that came into the Saynctuary, * 1.102 and Helias for those that re¦ceyued rayne, & for the deade, that he myght lyue, & Ezechias for the people in the time of Se••••acherib: & diuerse other in lyke maner whiche haue prayed for many.

Euē so now, seyng the corrupte is growen vp / and wyckednes increased, and the ••yg••¦teous haue prayed for y^• vngodly, wherfore shall it not be so nowe also?

He answered me / and sayd: Thys presente world is not the ende / there remaineth much

honour in it, therefore haue they prayed for the weake. But the daye of dome shalbe the ende of this tyme / & the beginnyng of the im¦mortalite for to come, wherin all corrupcion vanished, al volupteousnes is loused, al mis¦beleue taken away, ryghtuousnesse growne & the veryte spronge vp. Then shall no man be able to saue hym that is destroyed, nor to oppresse him that hath gotten the vyctorye. I answered then, and sayd: This is my first and last sayinge: that it had bene better / not to haue geuē the earth vnto Adā: or els whē it was geuen him, to kepe hym that he shuld not sinne. For what profite is it for mē nowe in this present tyme to lyue in heuinesse, and after death to loke for punyshment. O thou Adam / what hast thou done? For thoughe it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen a∣lone, but we all that come of the. For what profyte is it vnto vs, yf there be promysed vs an immortall tyme, where as we medle wyth deadly worckes? and that there is pro¦mysed vs an euerlasting hope, where as our selues are euyll & vayne, and that there are layed vp for vs dwellynges of health & fre∣dome, where as we haue lyued euyll, & that the worshyppe of the hiest is kept to defende them, whiche haue led a paciente lyfe, where as we haue walked in the most wycked wai∣es of all? And that there shalbe shewed a pa¦radyse, whose frute endureth for euer, wher∣in is fredome and medycyne, where as we shall not go in? for we haue walcked in vn∣pleasaūt places: And that the faces of them whiche haue absteyned, shal shyne aboue the starres, where as our faces shall be blacke [unspec D] and darcke? For whyle we lyued & dyd vn∣ryghtuously, we consydered not, y^• we shulde suffre therfore after death?

Then answered he me, and sayde: Thys is the consyderacyon and thought of the bat¦tayle, whiche man hathe vpon earth: that yf he be ouer come, he shall suffre as thou haste sayde. But yf he get the vyctorye, he shall re∣ceyue the thynge that I saye. For thys is the lyfe wherof Moyses spake vnto the people, whyle he lyued / sayng: * 1.103 Chose the lyfe, that thou mayst liue. Neuerthelesse / they beleued hym not / neither the Prophetes after hym. No nor me whiche haue spoken vnto them / that heuynes shulde not reach vnto them to theyr destruccyon, lyke as ioye is for to come ouer those that haue suffered them selues to be enfourmed in saluacyon.

I aunswered then, and sayde: I knowe Lorde / that the hyest is mercyfull / in that he hath mercy vpon them / which are not yet in the worlde / and vpon those also that walcke in his lawe: and that * 1.104 he is pacient and lōg sufferynge towarde those that haue synned in theyr worckes / and that he is lyberall to geue where as it requyreth: and that he is of great mercy / for he multiplied his louing kyndnesses towarde those y^• are present / and that are paste / and to them whiche are for to come. For yf he multiplye not hys mercyes / the worlde shall not be made lyuynge / with those y^• dwel therin. He geueth also / for yf he gaue not of his goodnes, that they whiche haue done euyll / myght bē eased, from theyr wyckednes, the ten thousande parte of men shuld not be made lyuyng. And yf the iudge forgaue not those that be healed with hys worde, & if he wolde destroye the multytude that stryueth, there shulde be very fewe lefte in an innumerable multitude.

¶ Esdras prayeth God rather to loue vpon his owne mer∣cye, then on the synnes of the people.

CAPI. VIII.

ANd he answered me, sayeng: The most Hyest made this worlde for many, but [unspec A] the worlde to come for fewe. I wyll tell the a symylitude / Esdras: As when thou askeste the earth / it shall say vnto the / that it geueth muche moulde / where of earthen vessels are made, but lytle of it y^e golde cōmeth of. Euen so is it w^t the worke of thys worlde. * 1.105 There be many created / but fewe shall be saued. Then answered I and sayde: Thē swalo we vp the witte (thou soule) and deuoure the vn¦derstandynge / for thou art agreed to herken and to geue eare, and wyllyng to prophecy / for thou hast no longer space geuen the, but onely to lyue. O Lord / wylte thou not gyue thy seruaunt leaue, that we may pray before the / & that thou mayest gyue sede vnto oure herte, & tyllynge to our vndestandyng, that there maye cōme frute of it: & that euery one which is corrupte / and beareth the state and place of a man / may lyue?

For thou art alone, & we al are one work manshyppe of thy handes, lyke as thou hast sayd / and lyke as the body is fashioned now in the mothers wōbe / & thou geuest the mē∣bres, and thy creature is preserued in fyre & water: & .ix. monethes doth thy worke suffre thy creature, whiche is fashyoned in her: but the thing that preserueth / and it that is pre∣serued / shall both be kept together: and whē tyme is / the wombe delyuereth the thynge that is kepte and growen in her.

For thou hast commaūded the brestes to geue mylcke vnto the fruyte, that the thyng

which is created and fashyoned, may be no∣ryshed for a tyme: and then thou dysposest & ordrest it with thy mercy / bringeste it vp w^t thy righteousnes, nurturest it in thy lawe, & refourmest it with thy vnderstandyng, mor∣tifiest it as thy creature, & makest it lyuyng as thy worcke. Seyunge then that thou de∣stroyest [unspec B] him, which with so great labours is created and fashyoned thorowe thy com∣maundemēt, thou couldest lyghtly ordeine, also, that the thynge which is made, myght be preserued.

And thys I speake now of all men in ge∣nerall / as y^u knowest: but of thy people / for whose sake I am sory: & of thy inheritaūce: for whose cause I mourne: and of Israell / for whom I am wofull: and for Iacob / for whose sake I am greued / therfore begynne I to pray before the, for my selfe & for them / for I se the fall of vs, euen of vs / that dwel vpon earth. But I haue herde the swiftnes of y^• iudge, which is to come: therfore heare my voice, and vnderstande my wordes, and I shall speake before the. Thys is the be∣gynnynge of the wordes of Esdras / before he was receaued. And I sayde, O Lorde / thou that dwellest in euerlastignesse, whose eyes are lyfte vp in the ayre, whose stoole is exceadynge hye, whose glory & maiesty may not be comprehended, before whom the Ho∣stes of aungels stande with trēbling, whose kepyng is turned in wynde and fyre / whose worde is true, whose talckynge is stedfaste, whose commaundement is stronge, whose ordinaunce is fearful, whose loke drieth vp the depthes, whose wrath maketh the moū∣taynes to melte awaye / and whose trueth beareth wytnes: O heare the prayer of thy seruaunt / and marke with thyne eares the petycyon of thy creature.

For whyle I lyue, I wyll speake, and so longe as I haue vnderstanding, I wyl an∣swere. O loke not vpon the synnes of thy people / which serue the in trueth. Haue no respecte vnto the wicked studies of the Hea¦then, but to the desyre of those that kept thy testimonyes with sorowes. Thyncke not vpō those that haue walked fame••ly before the / but vpon them / whiche with wyll haue knowen thy feare.

Let it not be thy wyll to destroye them, which haue had beastly maners, but to loke vpon thē that haue clearly taught thy law. Take thou no indignacyō at thē, which are worse then beastes: but loue them / that all waye put theyr trust in thy ryghteousnes & glory: for we & our fathers haue al the same sycknes and dysease, but because of our sin∣nes thou shalt be called mercyfull.

For yf thou hast mercy vpon vs / y^• shalt [unspec C] be called mercyfull / where as we haue no worckes of righteousnes: for the righteous whiche haue sayed vp many good worckes together, shal out of theyr dedes receaue re∣warde. For what is man, that thou shuldest take displeasure at him? Or what is the cor∣ruptible mortal generacyon, that thou shul dest be so rough towarde hym?

‡ 1.106 For of a trueth there is no man amonge them that be borne, but he hath dealte wyc∣kedly: and among the faithful there is none whiche hath not done amysse. For in thys (O Lord (thy ryghteousnes and thy good∣nes shalbe praysed and declared, yf thou be mercyfull vnto them, which are not rych in good worckes.

Then answered he me and sayde: Some thinges hast thou spoken a right, and accor¦ding vnto thy wordes it shall be. For I wyl not verely consydre the worckes of them / which haue synned before death / before the iudgment, before destruccyon, but * 1.107 I wyll reioyce ouer the worcke and thought of the ryghteous. I wyll remēbre also the pylgre∣mage the holy makynge and the rewarde. Lyke as I haue spoken now, so shal it come to passe. For as the husbande man so weth much sede vpon the grounde / and planteth many trees, and yet alwaye the thynge that is sowne or planted is not al kepte safe, ne∣ther doth it all take rote: Euen so is it of thē that are sowne in the worlde / they shall not all be salued.

I answered then and sayde: If I haue foūde grace, then let me speake. Like as the husbande mans sede perisheth, yf it receaue not rayne in dewe season, or it there come to much rayne vpō it: Euen so perysheth man also, which is created with thy handes, and is lyke vnto thyne owne ymage and to thy selfe, for whose sake thou hast made al thyn∣ges / and lykened hym vnto the husbande mans sede. Be not wroth at vs / O Lorde / but spare thy people / and haue mercy vpon thyne owne inherytaunce: O be mercyfull vnto thy creature.

Then answered he me & sayde: Thinges [unspec D] present are for the presēte, & thinges to come for suche as be to come. For thou lackeste yet much, seynge thou mayest loue my crea∣ture aboue me: I haue oft times drawne me vnto the, but neuer to the vnryghteous. In this also thou art maruelous before y^• Hieit in that thou hast humbled thy selfe as it be∣commeth

the / and haste not regarded thyne owne selfe / that thou art had ī such honour amōge the ryghteous. Therfore shall great wrechednes and mysery come vpō thē, that in the latter tyme shall dwell in the worlde, because they haue walcked in greate pryde.

But vnderstande thou for thy selfe / and seke out glory for such as be lyke the: for vn to you is paradyse opened / the tre of lyfe is planted, the tyme to come is prepared, plen∣teousnes made ready: a cytie is buylded for you, & a rest is prepared, yee perfecte good∣nes and wysdome. The rote of euel is marc∣ked from you / the weaknes & mothe is hyd frō you, & into hell flyeth corrupcyon in for∣getfulnes. Sorowes are vanyshed awaye / and in the ende is shewed the treasure of im¦mortalyte. And therfore aske thou no more questions, concernyng the multytude of thē that peryshe. For they haue taken libertye / despysed the Hyeste / thought scorne of hys lawe / and forsaken his wayes.

Morouer / they haue troden downe hys ryghteous, and * 1.108 sayde in theyr herte / that there is no God, yee and that wyttingly, for they dye. For lyke as the thige that I haue spoken of, is made ready for you: Euen so is thyrst & payne prepared for them. For it was not hys wyll that man shulde come to naught: but they which be created haue de∣fyled the name of hym that made them, and are vnthanckful vnto him / which prepared lyfe for them. And therfore is my iudgment now at hand. These thiges haue I not she¦wed vnto all men / but vnto fewe / namely vnto the, and to such as be lyke the. Then answered I & sayd, Beholde O Lorde, nowe hast y^• shewed me the multitude of the tokēs, which y^• wylt begyn to do at the last: but at what tyme & whē, thou hast not shewed me.

¶ Esdras hath visyon•• vnto hym.

CAPI. IX.

HE answered me then & sayd: Measure [unspec A] thou y^• tyme dylygētly in it selfe / when thou seyst that one parte of the tokens come to passe / whiche I haue tolde the before: so shalte thou vnderstande / that it is the very same tyme / wherin the Hyest wyll begynne to vyset the worlde, whiche he made. And when there shall be sene earth quake & vproare of the people in the worlde, thē shalt thou well vnderstande / that the most hyest spake of those thinges / from the dayes that were before the, euen from the beginnynge.

For lyke as all that is made in the world hath a beginning and ende / and the ende is manyfest: Euen so the tymes also of y^• Hyest haue playne begynnynges in wonders and sygnes, and the ende in worcking and in to∣kens. And euery one that shalbe saued / and shall be able to escape by hys worckes and by faith, wherin ye haue beleued▪ shalbe pre¦serued from the saide parels, and shal se my sauyoure in my lande and within my bor∣ders, for I haue halowed me frō the world. Thē shall they be in carefulnes, which now haue abused my wayes: & they y^• haue caste thē oute despytefully, shal dwell in paynes.

For suche as in theyr lyfe haue receaued benefytes, and haue not knowne me / & they that haue abhorred my lawe / whyle they had yet fredome, and whē they had yet open leysure of amendemēt and conuersyon, and vnderstode not, but despised it: y^• same must knowe it after death in payne. And therfore be thou nomore careful, howe the vngodly shalbe punished, & howe the ryghteous shal be saued, and whose the world is, & for whō the worlde / and when it is. Then answered I and sayde: * 1.109 I haue talcked before & now I speake, and wyl speake also herafter, that [unspec B] there be many mo of them whiche peryshe / thē shalbe saued / lyke as the floude is grea∣ter then the droppes.

And he answered me / sayinge, lyke as the felde is, so is also the sede: as the floures be / so are the coulours also: suche as the work∣man is, such is also the worcke: and as the husband man is him selfe, so is his husban∣drye also / for it was the tyme of the worlde.

And when I prepared for them that are nowe or euer the worlde was made / where in they shulde dwell / then was there no man that withstode me. Nowe when euery one was / and the maker also in the worlde which is nowe prepared / & the moneth that ceaseth not / and the lawe which is vnsear∣cheable, theyr maners were corrupte. So I consydred the worlde / & beholde / there was parell / because of the thoughtes that were come into it. And I sawe / and spared them greatly / and haue kepte me a wynebery of the grapes / & a plante from amonge many generacyons. Let the multytude peryshe then / whiche are growne vp in vayne / and let my grape and wynebery be kepte: euen my plante: for with greate laboure haue I made it vp.

Neuertheles, yf thou wylt take vpon the yet seuen dayes mo (but thou shalt not faste in them (go thy waye then in to the felde of floures, where no house is buylded, and eat onely of the floures of y^• felde, tast not flesh, dryncke no wyne, but eate floures onely.

Praye vnto the Hyest contynually, so wyll I come / and talke with the.

So I went my waye and came into the [unspec C] felde which is called Ardath (lyke as he cō∣maunded me) and there I sat amonge the floures, & dyd eat of the herbes of the felde, and the meat of the same satisfyed me. After seuen dayes I sat vpon the grasse / and my herte was vexed within me lyke as afore: & I opened my mouth / and beganne to talke before the Hyest / and sayde: O Lorde / thou that shewest thy selfe vnto vs, * 1.110 thou haste declared and opened thy selfe vnto oure fa∣thers in the wyldernes, in a place where no man dwelleth / in a baren place / when they came out of Egygpt, and thou spakest, say∣inge: Heare me O Israel, & marke my wor∣des y^u seade of Iacob. Beholde, I sowe my lawe in you / and it shall bringe frute in you & ye shalbe honoured in it for euer. For oure fathers which receaued y^• lawe / kepte it not and obserued not thy ordinaunces and sta∣tutes, and the frute of thy lawe was not de∣clared: for it myghte not / for why? it was thyne. * 1.111 For they that receaeud it, perished, because they kepte not the thynge that was sowen in them.

It is a custome when the grounde recea∣ueth sede, or the see a shyp, or a vessell meate and drincke, that when it perisheth or is bro¦ken wherin a thing is sowen, or wherin any thynge is put: the thynges also peryshe and are broken, which are sowen or put therin. [unspec D] But vnto vs it hath not happened so for we that haue receyued the lawe, perysh i sinne, & oure herte whiche also receaued the lawe: notwithstādyng ‡ 1.112 the lawe perysheth not / but remayneth in hys laboure.

And when I consydered these thinges in my herte after thys maner / I loked aboute me with mine eyes, and vpon the right syde * 1.113 I sawe a woman, whiche mourned sore / made greate lamentacyon / and wepte with loude voyce: her clothes were rent in peces, and she had asshes vpon her heade. Then let I my thoughtes go, that I was in and turned me vnto her, and sayde wherfore we∣pest thou? why art thou so sory & discomfor∣ted? And she sayde vnto me: Syr, let me be∣wayle my selfe and take yet more sorow: for I am sore vexed i my mynde / & brought ve∣ry lowe. And I saide vnto her: what ay••eth y^•? Or who hath done eny thyng to y^•? tel me. She saide: I thy hand maid haue bene vn∣fruteful & baren, and haue had an husband thyrtie yeares. And these, xxx. yeares I do nothynge els daye and nyght & all houres but make my prayer to y^• Hyest. After thyr∣tie yeares God herde me thy handmayden, loked vpon my humylite. cōsydred my trou¦ble, and gaue me a sōne, and I was glad of him, so was my husbāde also & al my neygh∣bours, & we gaue greate honoure vnto the Myghtie. And I noryshed hym with great trauayle. So when he grewe vp, and came to the tyme, that he shulde haue a wyfe / I made a feast.

¶ Esdias and the woman that appeareth vnto him com∣men together.

CAPI. X.

ANd it happened that when my sonne [unspec A] went into his chamber he fell downe, & dyed: then ouerthrewe we all the lyghtes, & all my neyghbours rose vp to cōforte me. Then toke I my rest vnto the seconde day at night: & whē they had all rested, that they might comforte me / I rested & also rose vp by night, & fled / and am come hyther in to th{is} felde, as thou seyst: & am purposed not to returne into the cyte, but to remayne here, & neither to eate nor dryncke, but continually to mourne and to fast, vntyll I dye.

Then let I my meditacyons & thoughtes fal, that I was in, & spake to her in displea∣sure: Thou most foolysh woman, seist thou not oure heuynes & mournyng / & what hap¦peneth vnto vs? how Syon our mother is all wofull and sory / and howe she is cleane brought downe and in misery? seinge we be all nowe in heuynes, & make oure moue (for we be all sorowful.) As for the heuines that thou takest, it is but for one sōne. Demaūde the earthe, and she shall tel the, that it is she which ought (by reason) to mourne / for the fall of so many that growe vpon her.

For from the begynnyng all men are borne of her, and other shal come: and behold they walke almost al into destruccyon, and many of them shall be roted out. Who shulde then (by reason) make more mournynge / then she, that hath lost so great a multitude? & not thou / which art sory, but for one. But yf thou woldeste saye vnto me: My mour∣nynge is not lyke y^• mournyng of the earth, for I haue lost the frute of my body, whiche I bare with heuines & sorowe: but the earth is accordyng to the maner of the earth, and the present multitude goeth againe into her as it is come to passe: Then say I vnto the: lyke as thou hast borne with trauayle & so∣rowe / euē so the earth also frō the begining geueth her frute vnto man, for hym y^• made her. And therfere withholde thy sorowe and heuynes by thy selfe * 1.114 & loke what hap∣peneth

vnto the, beare it strongly. For yf thou ludgest the marcke and ende of God to be righteous and good, & receauest his coū∣celī tyme, thou shalt be cōmēded therin. Go thy way then into the cyte to thy husbande.

And she sayde vnto me: that wyll I not do / I wyll not go into the cytye, but heare [unspec B] wyl I die. So I commened more with her, and sayde: Do not so, but be counceled / and folowe me, for how many falles hath Stō? Be of good comforte because of the sorowe of Ierusalem. For thou se••st that our San∣ctuary is layed waste / oure aulter broken / oure temple destroyed, oure playenge of in∣strumentes and syngyng layed downe / the thankesgeutnge put to sylence, our myrthis vanyshed awaye / the lyght of oure candel∣stick is quenched, the arcke of the couenaūt is taken from vs / all oure holy thynges are defyled / and the name that is called vpon ouer vs, is dishonoured: our childrē are put to shame, our prestes are brente, oure Leuy∣tes are caryed away into captiuite, oure vir¦gins are defyled, and oure wyues rauished, oure ryghteous men spoyled, and oure chyl¦dren destroyed, oure yong men are brought in bondage / and oure stronge worthyes are become weake: and Syō (which seale is the greatest of all) is lowsed vp from her wor∣shyp for she is delyuered into the handes of them that hate vs.

And therfore shake of thy great heuy∣nes / and put awaye the multytude of so∣rowes: that the Mighty maye be mercy full vnto the, and that the Hyeste maye geue the rest from thy laboure and trauayle. And it happened / that when I was talkynge with her, her face dyd shine and glyster, so that I was afrayed of her, & mused what it myght be. And immediatly she caste oute a greate voyce / very fearful / so that the earth shoke at the noise of the woman: and I loked, and beholde the woman appeared vnto me no∣more but there was a cyte builded, & a place was shewed frō the grounde & foundacion.

Then was I afrayed / and cryed with loude voyce / and sayde: where is Uriel the [unspec C] angell, * 1.115 which came to me at the fyrst? For he hath caused me to come in many conside∣racyons and hye thoughtes, and myne ende is turned to corrupcion, & my prayer to re∣buke. And as I was speakynge these wor∣des, he came vnto me, and loked vpon me, & I laye as one that had bene deed, and myne vnderstanding was altered, and he toke me by the ryght hande, and cōforted me, and set me vpon my fete, and sayde vnto me: what ayleth the? and why is thyne vndestanding vexed? and the vnderstandyng of thy herte, & wherfore art thou sory? And I sayd: Be∣cause thou hast forsakē me: & I haue done * 1.116 accordynge vnto thy wordes / I wente in to the folde, and there haue I sene thinges, that I am not able to expresse. He sayd vn∣to me: Stande vp and be manly / and I shall geue the exortacyon.

Then sayd I: Speake on to me my Lord forsake me not, lest I dye in vayne: for I ha¦ue sene that I knewe not, and herde that I do not knowe. Or shall my vnderstandyng be disceaued / & my minde? But nowe I be∣seche the, that thou wylt shewe thy seruaūte of this wōder. He answered me then & sayd: heare me, and I shall enfourme the, and tel the wherfore thou art afrayed / for the hyest hath opened many secrete thīges vnto the.

He hath sene that thy waye is ryght, and that thou takest sorowe continually for thy people, and makest greate lamentacyon for Sion: and therfore vnderstande the visyon whiche thou sawest a lytle whyle ago after thys maner: Thou sawest a woman mour∣ninge, and thou hast comforted her. Neuer∣theles now seyst thou the lykenes of the wo¦mā nomore, but thou thoughtest there was a cyte buylded: and lyke as she tolde the of y^• fal of her sonne, so is this the answere: The woman whom thou saweste / is Syon / and where as she tolde the / that she hathe bene thyrtye yeares vnfrutefull and baren, those are the. xxx. yeares, wherin there was no of∣ferynge made in her.

But after. xxx. yeares Salomon buylded [unspec D] her / & offred / & then bare the baren a sonne. And where as she tolde y^•: that she noryshed hym with laboure, that was the dwellyng of Ierusalem. But where as she tolde the y^• her sōue dyed whan he came into his cham∣ber, that is the fall of Ierusalem. And thou sawest her lykenesse / howe she mourned for her sōne: and what els happened vnto her / I haue shewed y^•. And now God seyth / that thou arte sory in thy mynde / & suffrest from thy herte for her, & so hath he shewed the her clearnesse, and the fayrnes of her bewtye.

And therfore I bad the remayne in y^• felde where no house is builded. For I knew that the Hyest wolde shewe thys vnto the / ther∣fore I commaunded the to go into the felde / where no foundacyon of buyldynge is. For in the place where the Hyest wyll shewe his cytie, there shal be no mans buyldyng. And therfore feare not / and let not thyne herte be afrayed / but go thy waye in, and se the

glorious and fayre buyldynge, and howe greate it is, and howe greate thou thynkest it after the measure of thyne eyes, and then shalte thou heare as muche as thyne eares maye comprehende. For thou art blessed a∣boue many other, and arte called with the Hyest, as the fewe. But to morowe at nyght thou shalt remayne here, & so shall the Hyest shewe the vysiōs of hye thynges, whyche he wyll do vnto them, that dwell vpon earth in the last dayes. So I slepte y^• same nyght and the other lyke as he commaunded me.

¶ In this Chapter & in the. ii. next ensuynge, he entreateth of certen vysyons and of the interpretacyons therof.

CAPI. XI.

THEN sawe I a dreame: and beholde, there came vp from the see an Aegle, [unspec A] whiche had. xii. wynges & thre heades: And I sawe, & beholde, he spred his wynges ouer all the earth, and all the wyndes of the ayre blewe in thē, & so they were put together a∣gayne. And I behelde, & out of his fethers there grewe other lytle cōtrary fethers: the heades rested, the heade in the myddest was greater thē y^• other, yet rested it with the re∣sidue. Moreouer I sawe, that the Aegle flewe with his wynges, & rayned vpō earth, and ouer all thē that dwel vpon the earth: & I sawe that all thinges vnder heauen were subiecte vnto hym / & no man spake agaynst hym / no not one creature vpō earth. I sawe also that the Aegle stode vp vpon hys cla∣wes, & gaue a sounde with his fethers / and a boyce saynge after this maner: watch not all together, slepe euery man in his owne place, and watch for a tyme / but let the hea∣des be preserued at the last. Neuertheles I sawe / that the voyce wente nat oute of hys heades / but from the myddest of hys body And I nombred his cōtrary fethers / and be holde, there were eyght of them. And I lo∣ked / and beholde vpon the ryght syde there arose one fether / & rayned ouer all the earth. And it happened / that when it raygned, the ende of it came, and the place therof appea∣red nomore. So the nexte folowynge stode [unspec B] vp, and raygned, and had a great tyme: and it happened, that when it raygned, the ende of it came also lyke as the fyrst, so that it ap∣peared nomore.

Then came there a voyce vnto it, & sayd, Heare thou that haste kepte in the earth so longe thys I saye vnto the, before thou be∣gynnest to appere nomore: There shal none after the atteyne vnto thy tyme. Then arose the thyrde, & raygned as the other afore, and appeared nomore also. So went it with all the residue one after another / so that euery one raygned / and then appered nomore. Then I loked / and beholde / inprocesse of tyme the fethers that foloweth were set vp vpon the ryght syde / that they myght rule also: and some of them ruled / but within a whyle they appeared nomore: for some of them were set vp, but ruled nat. After thys I loked, and beholde the. xij. fethers appea∣red no more / and the two wynges: and there was nomore vpō the Aegles body / but two heades that rested, and syxe fethers. Then sawe I also / that the syxe fethers were par∣ted in two / and remayned vnder the heade, that was vpon the ryght syde, for the foure continued in theyr place. So I loked, and [unspec C] beholde, they that were vnder the wynges, thought to set vp them selues, & to haue the rule. Then was there one set vp, but shortly it appeared nomore / & the seconde was souer awaye then the fyrst. And I behelde and lo, y^• two thought also by thē selues to raygne: and when they so thought / beholde / there waked one of the heades that were at rest, namely / it that was in the myddest, for that was the greater of the two heades. And thē I sawe, that the two heades were fylled with hym, & the heade was turned with thē that were by hym, and dyd eate vp the two vnder wynges, that wolde haue raygned.

But thys heade put the whole earth in feare / and bare rule in it / ouer all those that dwelt vpō earth with much labour / and he had the gouernaunce of the worlde / ouer al the foules y^• haue bene. After this I loked, and beholde / the heade that was in y^• myd∣dest, sodenly appeared nomore, lyke as the wynges: then came the two heades, whiche ruled vpon earth / & ouer those y^• dwell ther∣in. And I behelde / & lo, the heade vpon the [unspec D] ryght syde, deuoured it that was vpon the lefte syde. And I herde a voyce, which sayde vnto me, loke before the, and consydre the tnynge that thou seyest. Then I sawe and beholde, as it were a lyon that roareth, ren∣nynge hastely out of the wod / & he sent out a mans voyce vnto the Aegle / & sayd: Heare thou / I wyl talke with the / & the Hyest shal saye vnto y^•: Is it nat thou y^• hast y^• victory of the foure beastes / whō I made ro raygne vpon earth and in my worlde / and that the ende of their times might come thorow the▪

And the fourtth came, and ouerwanne all the beastes that were paste / and had power ouer the worlde with great fearfulnes, and ouer the whole cōpasse of the earth with the most wicked laboure, & so longe tyme ••welt

he vpon the earth with disceate / & the earth hast thou iudged nat with trueth. For thou hast troubled the meke, thou haste hurte the peaceable & quyete, thou hast loued lyers, & destroyed y^• dwellynges of thē that brought forth frute, and hast cast downe the walles of such as dyd y^• no harme. Therfore is thy wrongeous dealynge and blasphemye come vp vnto the Hyest, and thy pryde vnto the Myghty. The Hyest also hath loked vpon the proude tymes, and beholde / they are en∣ded, & theyr abhomynacyons are fulfylled. And therfore appeare nomore thou Aegle, & thy horrible wynges, & thy wycked fethers, and thy vngracyous heades, & thy synfull clawes, and all thy vayne body: that the earth maye be refreshed / and come agayne to her selfe / when she is delyuered from thy vyolence / and that she maye hope for the iudgement & mercy of hym that made her.

CAPI. XII.

AND it happened when y^• Lyon spake [unspec A] these wordes vnto y^• Aegle, I sawe / & beholde / the heade that afore had the vpper hande appeared nomore: nether did y^• foure wynges appere any more / y^t came to hym & were set vp to raygne: and theyr kyngdome was small & full of vproure. And I sawe, & beholde, they appered nomore, & the whole body of y^• Aegle was brent, & the earth was in greate feare. Then awaked I out of the traunce of my mynde, & from greate teare, and sayde vnto my sprete: Lo, this hast thou geuen me in y^• thou searchest out the wayes of the Hyest: ••o, yet am I weery in my minde, and very weake in my sprete, & lytle strēgth is there in me, for y^• great feare y^• I receaued this nyght. Therfore wyll I nowe beseche the ••yest y^• he wil cōforte me vnto the ende: and I sayde / Lorde Lorde, yf I haue foūde grate before thy syght, •• yf I am iustyfyed with the before many other / & yf my prayer become vp before thy face, cōforte me then, and shewe ••••e thy seruaunte the interpreta∣cyon and playne difference of this horrible syght / that thou mayst perfectly cōforte my soule: for thou haste iudged me worthy, to shewe me the last of tymes

And he sayde vnto me: this is the interpre¦tacyon of this syght. The Aegle whom thou sawest come vp frō the see, is the kyngdome * 1.117 whiche was sene in the vysyon of thy bro∣ther Daniel, but it was not expoūded vnto him / for nowe I declare it vnto y^e, Beholde [unspec B] the dayes come y^•, there shal ryse vp a kyng∣dome vpon earth / & it shalbe feared aboue all the Kyngdomes y^• were before it. In the same Kyngdome shall. xij. Kynges raygne, one after another. For the seconde shall be∣gynne to raygne / and shall haue more tyme then the other twelue: & this do the twelue wynges signifie / which thou sawest. As for the voyce that spake / & that thou sawest go out from the heades / but not frō the body / it betokeneth / y^• after the tyme of that Kyng¦dome there shall aryse greate stryuynges / & it shall stande in parell of fallynge: neuer∣theles it shall nat yet fall / but shalbe set into his begynnynge. And the eyght vnderwyn∣ges which y^• sawest hange vnto the wynges of hym, betoken / y^• in hym there shall aryse eyght kynges, whose tyme shalbe but smal, and theyr yeares swyfte / & two of them shall beare. But when the myddest tyme, cōmeth, there shalbe foure kepte in the tyme / when his tyme begynneth to come that it maye be ended, but two shalbe kepte vnto the ende.

And where as thou sawest thre heades re∣stynge / this [unspec C] is the interpretacyō: In his last shall the Hyest rayse vp thre kyngdomes, & cal many agayne into thē / & they shall haue the domynyon of y^• earth / & of those y^• dwell therin, w^t much labour aboue all those that were before thē. Therfore are they called the heades of y^• Aegle: for it is they y^• shal bryng forth his wyckednes agayne / and that shal perfourme & fynish his last. And where as thou sawest / y^• the greate heade appeared no∣more / it signifieth / y^e one of thē shal dye vpō his bed, and yet with payne / for the two that remayne / shalbe slayne w^t the swerde. For y^• swerde of y^• one shall deuoure the other but at the last shal he fall thorowe y^• swerde him selfe. And where as y^• sawest two vnder∣wynges vpō the heade y^• is on y^• ryght syde, it sygnyfyeth that it is they / whom y^• Hyest hathe kepte vnto theyr ende: this is a small Kyngdome, and full of trouble. The Lyon whom y^• sawest rysinge vp out of the wod, and roarynge / & speakyng vnto the Aegle, & rebukynge him for his vnryghteousnesse, is the wynde, which y^• Hyest hathe kepte for them & for theyr wyckednesse vnto the ende: he shall reproue them, & rente them asunder before them. For he shal set thē lyuynge be∣fore [unspec D] the iudgemente / and shal rebuke them: for the resydue of my people shal he delyuer with trouble / those y^• be preserued ouer mine endes: and he shall make them ioyful vntyl the cōmynge of the daye of iudgemēt, wher∣of I haue spokē vnto the frō y^• begynninge. This is the dreame that thou sawest & this is the interpretacion. Thou onely hast bene mete to knowe the secrete of the Hyest.

Therfore wryte all these thynges y^• thou hast sene in a boke, and hyde thē / and teach thē the wyse in y^• people, whose hartes thou knowest maye comprehende and kepe these secretes. But wayt thou here thy self yet se∣uene dayes mo, that it maye be shewed the, whatsoeuer it pleaseth the Hyest to declare vnto the, and with that he wente his waye.

And when all the people perceaued / that the seuen dayes were past / and I nat come agayne into the cytie / they gathered thē all together from y^• least vnto the most, & came vnto me, and sayde: what haue we offended the•• & what euell haue we done agaynst the, that thou forsakest vs / & syttest here in thys place? For of all people thou onely art lefte vs / as a grape of the vyne, & as a candel in a darke place / & as an hauen and shype pre∣serued frō the tempest. Haue we ••at els ad∣uersite ynough, but thou muste forsake vs? Were it nat better for vs / that we had bene brent with Syon? For we are nat better, thē they that dyed there: & they wepte w^t loude voyce. Then answered I them I sayde: Be of good comforte O Israell / & be nat heuy thou house of Iacob: for the Hyest hath you in remembraūce, & the Myghtie hathe not forgotten you in temptacion. As for me / I haue not forsaken you, neyther am I depar¦ted from you: but am come into thys place to praye, for the desolacyon of Syon, that I myght seke mercy for the lowe estate of youre Sāctuary. And nowe go youre waye home euery man, and after these dayes wyll I come vnto you. So the people went theyr waye into the cytie / lyke as I ••mom••unded them, but I remayned styl in the felde seuen dayes / as the Angell bad me / and dyd eate onely of the floures of the felde / and had my meate of the herbes in those dayes.

CAPI. XIII.

AND it happened after y^• seuen dayes, [unspec A] that I dreamed a dreame by nyght. And beholde, there arose a wynde frō the see, that it moued all the floude therof. And I loked / & beholde, the man was stronge and increased with the cloudes of heauen. And when he turned his countenaunce to consy∣der, all the thynges trembled that were sene vnder hym, and when the voyce went out of hys mouth, all they brent that herde hym, lyke as the earth when it feleth the fyre.

After these I sawe / & beholde, there was gathered together a multitude of men out of nombre from the foure wyndes of the heauen / to fyghte agaynst the man / that came oute from the see. And I loked / and beholde, he graued hym selfe a great moun∣tayne, and flewe vp vpon it. But I wolde haue sene the border or place, wherout the hyll was graued / and I coulde not.

I sawe after these, that all they which ca∣me to fyght agaynst hym, were sore afrayed and yet burst they fyght. Neuertheles, whē he sawe the fearsnesse and violēce of the peo¦ple / he neyther lyfte vp hys hande nor helde swerde, nor any weapē: but only (As I sawe) he sente out of hys mouth / as it had bene a blast of fyre, & out of hys lyppes the wynde of the flamme: and out of hys tonge be cast out sparkes and stormes, and they were all myxte together: the blast of fyre, the wynde of the flammes, & the greate storme, and fell with a russhe vpon the people, whiche was prepared to fyght and brent them vp euery∣chone: so that of the innumerable multitude there was nothyng sene / but onely dust and smoke. When I sawe this: I was afrayed.

Afterwarde sawe I the same man come [unspec B] downe from the moūtayne, & callynge vnto him another peaceable people: & there came muche people vnto hym: some were glad some were sory / some of them were bounde, so that they were caryed and broughr forth.

Then was I sycke thorowe great feare, and I a waked, and sayde: thou hast shewed thy seruaunte all thy wonders from the be∣gynnynge / and haste counted me worthy, that thou myghtest receaue my prayer, shew me nowe yet the interpretacion of this drea∣me. For thus I consydre in my vnder∣standynge: Wo vnto them that shal be lefte in those dayes and muche more wo vnto thē that are nat left behynde: for they that were not lefte / were in heuynes.

Nowe vnderstāde I the thynges that are layed vp in the latter dayes which shal hap¦pen vnto them / & to those that are lefte be∣hynde. Therfore are they, come into greate parelles / & many necessities / lyke as these dreames declare. Yet is it easier, y^• he which suffred hurte / come in these, then to passe a∣waye as a cloude out of the worlde, & nowe to se the thynges that shall happē in the last

Then answered he me / & sayde: The in∣terpretacion of the syght shall I shewe the, and I wyl open vnto the, the thynge y^• thou hast required. For thou hast spoken of them that are left behynde / and thys is the inter∣pretacyon. He that taketh awaye the parell in that tyme, hath kepte him self. They that be fallen into harme, are such as haue wor∣kes & fayth vnto the Most myghtie. know thys therfore / that they whiche be lefte be∣hynde,

are more blessed, thē they that be deed. This is the meanynge of the visyon. Where as thou sawest a man commynge vp from y^e depe of the see, the same is he whom God the Hyest hathe kepte a great season, whiche by his owne selfe shal delyuer his creature, and he shall ordre thē that are left behynde. And where as y^• sawest, that oute of his mouth there came a blast of wynde, fyre & storme, and howe that he lyft vp nether swerde nor weapen / but that the rushynge in of him de∣stroyed the whole multitude, that came to fyght against him: it signifieth, that y^e daies come, whā God wyll delyuer them that are [unspec C] vpon earth, and in a traunce of mynde shall he come vpon them / that dwell in the earth. And one shall vndertake to fyght agaynste another, one cyte against another, one place agaynst another * 1.118 one people agaynst ano∣ther, and one realme against another, when this commeth to passe / then shall the tokens come, that I shewed the before: and thē shall my sonne be declared, whom y^u sawest clyme vp as a man. And when al the people, heare his voyce, euery mā shal in theyr owne lande leaue the battayll y^t they haue one agaynste another / & an innumerable multitude shal∣be gathered together / as they that be wyl∣lynge to come / & to ouercome hym by fygh∣tynge. But he shall stande vpō the toppe of the mount Syō. Neuerthelesse Syon shall come, & shalbe shewed, beynge prepared and buylded for all men, lyke as thou sawest the hyll grauen forth without any handes. But my sōne shall rebuke the people y^e are come, for theyr wyckednes, with the tempest, & for theyr euell ymagynacyons: & theyr paynes wherwith they shalbe punyshed, are lycke∣ned vnto the flamme: and with out any la∣boure / shall he destroye them / euen by the lawe / whiche is compared vnto the fyre.

And where as thou sawest, that he gathe∣red another peaceable people vnto hī: those are the ten tribes which were caryed awaye presoners out of theyr owne lande, * 1.119 in the tyme of Oseas the kynge / whom Salma∣nasar the kynge of Assyria toke presoner, and caryed them ouer the water, & so came they into another lande.

But they gaue them this councell, that they shulde leaue the multitude of the Hea∣then, and to go forth into a forther countre where neuer mankynde dwelt: that they myght there kepe theyr statutes, which they neuer kepte in theyr owne lande. And so they entred in at the narowe passages of the wa∣ter of Euphrates / & God shewed tokens for them, * 1.120 and helde styll the floude tyll they were passed ouer: for thorow y^e countre there was a greate waye, namely of a yeare and a halfe iourney, for the same regyon is called Asareth. Then dwelt they there vnto the latter tyme: & whē they come forth agayne, the Hyest shall holde styl the sprenges of the streame agayne, that they may go thorowe, therfore sawest thou the multytude with peace. And they that he lefte behynde of thy people, are those that be founde within my border. Nowe when he destroyeth the mul∣tytude that is gathered together, he shall defende his people that remayne, and then shall he shewe them greate wonders.

Then sayde I O Lorde, Lorde, shewe me this, wherfore haue I sene the man cōming vp from the depe of the see? And he sayde vn¦to me: Lyke as thou cāst nether seke out nor knowe these thynges that are in the depe of the see, euen so mayest thou not se my sonne, or those that be with hym / but in the tyme of the daye. This is the interpretacyon of the dreame which y^u sawest, therfore thou onely arte here lyghtened: for thou haste forsaken thyne owne lawe, & applyed thy dylygence vnto myne, and sought it. * 1.121 Thy lyfe hast thou ordred in wysdome, and ‡ 1.122 haste called vnderstandyng thy mother, & therfore haue I shewed the, the treasure of the Hyest. Af∣ter thre dayes I wyll shew the more, & talke with the at more large / yee heuy and won∣derous thynges wyll I declare vnto the.

Then wēt I forth into the felde, geuyng prayse & thankes greatly vnto God, because of hys wonders whiche he dyd in tyme / and because he gouerneth the same / and such as is in tyme / and there I sat thre dayes.

¶ God appereth vnto Esdras in the bush, and sheweth him what he shall do.

CAPI. XIIII.

VPON the thyrde daye I sat vnder an oke tree / then came there a voyce [unspec A] vnto me out of the bush / and sayde: Esdras, Esdras? And I sayde: here am I Lorde, and stode vp vpon my fete. Then spake he vnto me: * 1.123 In the bush dyd I appere vnto Moses / and talked with hym / when my people serued in Egypte / and I sente hym / and led my people out of Egypt / and brought hym vpō the mount Syon / where I helde him by me a longe season, and tolde hym my wonderous worckes / and shewed hym the secretes of the tymes and the ende, and commaunded hym, sayinge: These wor¦des shalt thou declare, & not hyde them. And nowe I saye vnto the, that thou laye vp in

thyne herte the dreames that thou hast sene / & the interpretacions whiche I haue shewed the: for thou shalte be receyued of all, thou shalt be turned and remayne with my coun∣cell, and with such as be lyke the, vntyll the tymes be ended. For the worlde hath lost his youth, and the tymes begynne to waxe olde. For the tyme is deuided into twelue partes / and ten partes of it are gone all redye / and halfe of the tenth parte: yet remayneth there y^t which is after the half of the tenth parte.

Therfore, prepayre and ordre thy house / and refourme thy people: comforte suche of [unspec B] them as be in trouble: and tel nowe of the de¦struccion: let go from the mortall thoughtes cast awaye the burthens of man: put of the weake nature: laye vp in some places the thoughtes that are most heuy vnto the, and haste the to flyt from these tymes: for suche euyl and wyckednesse as thou hast now sene happen, shal they do yet muche worsse. * 1.124 For the weaker that the worlde and the tyme is / the more shal synne and wyckednes increase in them that dwel vpon earth. For the truth is fled farre away, & lesyng is harde at hāde. For nowe hasteth the vysion to come / that thou hast sene.

Then answered I before the, & sayde: Be∣holde Lorde, I wyl go as y^• hast cōmaunded me, & refourme the people which are present But they y^• shall be borne afterwarde, who wylexhorte or rebuke thē? Thus the worlde is set in darknes: & they that owel therin, are w^t out lyght: for thy lawe is kyndled, because no man knoweth the thynges that are done of the, or y^• shall be done. If I haue founde grace before the, sēde the holy ghost into me, & I shall wryte al that hath bene done in the world seus the begynnyng / which was wryt ten in thy lawe, that mē may fynde the path, and that they whiche wyll lyue in the latter dayes, may lyue.

And he answered me, sayeng: Go thy way gather the people together, & say vnto them that they seke the not for fourtye dayes, but loke thou gather the many boxe trees / and take with the Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, E∣canus and Asiel / these fyue / which are redy to wrytte swyftely / and come hyther / and I shall lyght a candle of vnderstandynge in thyne herte, whiche shall not be put out / tyl the thinges be perfourmed which thou shalt beginne to wryt. And then shalt thou declare some thynges openly vnto the perfecte, and some thynges shalt thou shewe secretly vn∣to the wyse. Tomorowe this houre shalte thou begynne to wryte.

Then went I forth (as he commaunded [unspec C] me) and gathered al the people together, and sayde: Heare these wordes O Israell: Oure fathers at the begynnynge were straungers in Egygte, from whence they were deliuered and receyued the lawe of lyfe * 1.125 whiche they kepte not / whiche ye also haue transgressed after them. Then was thys lande and the lande of Syon parted amonge you by lot to possesse. But your fathers and ye your sel∣ues also haue done vnryghtuousnes, and haue not kepte the wayes whiche the Hyest commaunded you. And for so muche as he is a rightuous iudge, he toke from you in time the thyng that he had geuen you. And nowe are ye here and your brethren amonge you. Therfore yf so be that ye wyll subdue youre owne vnderstandynge, and refourme youre herte, ye shalbe kepte alyue, and after death shall ye optayne mercy. For after death shal the iudgemente come / when we shall lyue a∣gayne: and then shal the names of the rygh∣tuous be manifest, & the worckes of the vn∣godly shalbe declared. Let no man therfore come now vnto me, nor aske any question at me these fourtye dayes.

So I toke the fyue men (as he commaū∣ded [unspec D] me) and we wente into the felde, and re∣mayned there. The nexte day a voyce called me sayinge: Esdras * 1.126 open thy mouth, and drynke that I geue the. Then opened I my mouth, & beholde, he reached me a ful cuppe which was ful as it were w^t water / but y^• cou¦••er of it was lyke fyre. And I toke it and drancke. And when I had droncke it / my herte had vnderstandyng, & wysdome grew in my brest: for my sprete was kepte in remē∣braunce, and my mouth was opened & shut nomore. The hyest gaue vnderstandyng vn to the fyue men / that they wrote the hye thin¦ges of the nyght / which they vnderstode not But in the nyght they dyd eate breade: as for me / I spake in the day and helde my tong by nyght. In. xl. dayes, they wrote two hun∣dreth and foure bokes.

And it happened when the fourtye dayes were fulfilled / that the Hyest spake, sayinge: The fyrste that thou hast wrytten / speake o∣penly, the worthy & vnworthy maye rede it. But kepe the. lxx. last / that thou mayst shew it onely to suche as be wyse among thy peo∣ple. For in them is the sprynge of vnderstan¦dynge, the fountayne of wysdome, and the streame of knowledge. And I dyd so.

¶ The punyshment that euyl people shal haue, which God commaundeth Esdras to shewe vnto them.

CAPI. XV.

BEholde, speake thou in the eares of my [unspec A] people y^• wordes of prophecy whiche I wyll put in thy mouth, saieth the Lorde: and cause thē to be wryten in a letter, for it is the trueth. Feare not the ymaginaciōs agaynst the. Let not the vnfaithfulnes of thē trouble the, that speake against the. For all the vn faythful shall dye in their vnfaythfulnes. Beholde sayeth the Lorde / I wyl bryng pla¦ges vpon the worlde, the swearde / hongre / death and destruccion / for wyckednes hath the vpper hande in all the earthe, and theyr shamefull workes are fulfylled.

Therfore sayeth the Lorde: I wyll holde my tonge nomore vnto theyr wyckednesse / whiche they do so vngodly: nether wyl I suf¦fre thē in the thinges / that they deale wyth all so wyckedly. Beholde * 1.127 the innocente bloude of the troubled crieth vnto me, and y^• soules of the rightuous complayne continu¦ally: and therfore (sayeth the Lorde) I wyl su¦rely auenge, & receyue vnto me all the inno∣cent bloude from amonge them.

* 1.128 Beholde / my people / is led as a flocke of shepe to be slayne / I wyll not suffre them nowe to dwell in Egypte / but wyll brynge thē out with a myghtye hāde and a stretched out arme, and smyte it with plages as afore, and wyll destroye all the lande of it. Egypte shall mourne, and the foundacions of it shal be smytten with the plage and punyshment, that God shall brynge vpon it.

They that tyll the ground••, shal mourne: [unspec B] for theyr sedes shall be destroyed thorow the blastynge and hayle / and an horryble starre. Wo worth the worlde and them that dwell therin / for the swearde and theyr destrucyon draweth nye / and one people shall stande vp to fyght agaynst another / & swerdes in their hādes. For men shalbe vnstedfast, and some shal do vyolence vnto other: they shal not re¦garde theyr kyng and prynces / the wayes of theyr doinges and hādlinges in theyr power A man shall besyre to go into the cyte / & shal not be able. For because of theyr pryde the cyties shalbe brought in feate / the houses shall shake / and men shall be afrayed. A man shall haue no pytie vpon hys neygh∣boure / but one shall prouoke another vnto batayle to spoyle theyr goodes because of the honger of bread, and because of the great trouble.

Beholde, I gather and call together all the Kynges of the earth which are from the [unspec C] vprysyng, from the South, from the East & Lybanus to turne vnto thē, and restore the thinges that they haue geuen them. Lyke as they do yet this daye vnto my chosen, so wyl I do also, and recompense thē in theyr boso∣me. Thus sayeth the Lorde God: My ryght hand shal not spare the synners, & my swerde shall not ••easse ouer them, that shed the inno¦cent bloude vpon earth. The fire is gone out from his wrath, and hath consumed the foū∣dacious of the earth, and the sinners like the strawe that is kyndled. Wo worth them that synne, & kepe not my commaundementes / sayeth the Lorde. I wyll not spare them. Go your way ye chyldren frome vyolence defyle not my Saynctuary: for the Lord knoweth all them that synne agaynst him / and ther∣fore deliuereth he them vnto death & destruc¦cyon. For nowe are the plages come vpon y^• worlde, and ye shall remayne in them. For God shall not delyuer you, because ye haue synned against him.

Beholde, an horryble vysyon commeth [unspec D] from the Easte, where generacions of Dra∣gōs shal come out / and the people of the Ara¦bes with many charettes, and the multitude of them shall be as the wynde vpon earthe / that all they whiche heare them ragynge in theyr wrath, may feare and be afrayed / and as the wylde bores out of the wood, so shall they go out, and with great power shal they come & stande fyghtyng w^t them & shal wast the porcyon of the lande of the Assyrians.

And then shall the Dragons haue the vp∣per hande, not remembryng their byrth, and shall turne aboute swearynge together in greate power, to persecute them. But these shalbe afrayed, & kepe silence at theyr power and shall fle: and one out of the lande of the Assirians shal besege them, & consume one of them / and in theyr hoste shalbe feare & drede, and stryfe among theyr kynges.

Beholde cloudes from the Easte, & from [unspec E] the North vnto the South, and they are ve¦ry horryble to loke vpon, full of wrath and storme. They shall smyte one vpon another and they shal smyte at the great starre vpon earth and theyr starre, and the bloude shalbe from the swerde vnto the bely, and the smoke of man vnto the Camels lytter: And there shalbe great ferefulnesse & tremblyng vpon earthe / and they that se the wrath shall be afrayed / and a tremblynge shall come vpon them.

And then shall there come greate raynes from the South & from the Northe, & parte from the West, and from the stormy wynde from the East, and shall shut thē vp agayne and the cloude which he raysed vp in wrath, and the starre to cause feare towarde y^• East

& west wynde, shalbe destroyed: & the greate cloudes shalbe lyfte vp, & the myghtie clou∣des full of wrathe / and the starre / that they maye make all the earth afrayed and them that dwell therin▪ and that they maye poure out ouer all places an horryble starre / fyre and hayle and flyenge sweardes / and many waters: that all feldes may be full, and al ry¦uers / and they shal breake downe the cyties and walles, moūtaines and hylles / al trees, wood / and the grasse of the medowes / and al their frute. And they shal go stedfast vnto Babylon / and make her afrayed / they shall come to her and besege her / the starre & all wrath shall they poure out vpon her.

Then shall the dust & smoke go vp vnto [unspec G] the heauen, and all they that be aboute her. shal bewayle her: and they that remayne vn¦der her, shal do seruice vnto them that haue put her in feare? And thou Asia y^e comfortest thy selfe also vpō the hope of Babylon / and art a worship of her personne: Wo be vnto the thou wretch / because thou hast made thy selfe lyke vnto her, & hast deckte thy daugh∣ters in whoredome / that they might triūphe and please thy louers, whiche haue alwaye desired to cōmitte whordome with the: thou hast folowed the abhominable cite in all her workes and inuencions.

Therfore sayth God: I wyl sende plages vpō the / wyddowhode, pouerte / hōgre, war¦res / and pestylence / to wast thy houses with destruccion and death, and the glorye of thy power shalbe dryed vp as a floure, whē the heate riseth y^t is sent ouer the: Thou shalt be sycke as a pore wyfe that is plaged & beaten of wemē: so that the myghtie and louer shal not be able to receyue the. Wolde I so hate the sayeth the Lord? If thou haddest not al∣waye slayne my chosen, exaltynge the stroke of thy handes / and sayde ouer theyr death / whē thou wast dronken: set forth the beautie of thy countenaunce.

The reward of thy whoredome shalbe re¦compensed the in thy bosome / therfore shalt tho•• receyue rewarde.

Lyke as thou hast done vnto my chosen (sayeth the Lorde) euē so shall God do vnto [unspec H] the / and shal deliuer the into the plage. Thy chyldren shall dye of honger / and thou shalt fall thorowe the swerde. Thy cyties shalbe broken downe, & all thyne shall perishe with the swerde in the felde. They that be in the mountaynes shall dye of hongre / and eate their owne flesh, & dryncke their owne bloud for very hongre of bred and thyrst of water. Thou vnhappy shalt come thorowe the see. and receyue plages agayne.

In the passage they shall cast downe the slayne cytie, & shall rote out one parte of thy lande, & consume the porcyon of glory. They shall treade the downe lyke stubble, & they shalbe thy fyre & shal consume the: thy cities & thy lande, thy woode & thy frutefull ••rees shal they burne vp w^t the fyre. Thy chyldren shal they cary awaye captiue, & loke what y^• hast, they shall spoyle it, & marre the bewtye of thy face.

¶ The Heathen shalbe punysshed.

CAPI. XVI.

WO be vnto the Babylon & Asia, wo be [unspec A] vnto the Egypt & Syrya: gyrde your selues w^t clothes of sack & hearre / & mourne your chyldren / be sory / for your destruccyon is at hande. A swerde is sente vpon you, and who wyll turne it backe? A fyre is kyndled a¦mong you, and who wyl quench it? Plages are sēt vnto you & what is he that wyl driue them away? May any man dryue awaye an hongrye lion in the wod? Or maye any man quēch the fyre in stubble, whā it hath begōne to burne? May one turne agayne the arowe that is shot of a strōg archer: The myghtye Lorde sendeth the plages, & what is he that wyl driue them away? The fyre is kindled & gone forth in his wrath, & what is he y^• wyll quenche it? He shal cast lyghtnynges, & who shal not fere? He shal thōdre, & who shall not be afrayed: The Lorde shal threaten, & who shall not vtterly be beaten to poulder at his presence? The earth quaketh, & the foundaci¦ons therof: the see aryseth vp w^t waues from the depe, & the floudes of it are vnquyete & the fyshes therof also before the Lord / & be∣fore the glory of his power. For strong is his ryght hande y^• holdeth the bowe, his arowes that he shoteth, are sharpe, & shal not mysse / when they begynne to be shot into the endes of the worlde.

Beholde the plages are sente, & shall not [unspec B] turne agayne / tyl they come vpon earth. The fyre is kyndled, and shal not be put out / tyll it cosume the foundacions of the earth. Like as an arowe whiche is shot of a myghtye ar¦cher, returneth not backe warde: euen so the plages that shal be sent vpon earth / shal not turne agayne. Wo is me, wo is me / who wil delyuer me in those dayes? The begynnyng of sorowes and great mournyng: the begyn¦nyng of darth and greate death / the begyn∣nyng of warres / and the powers shal stande in feare: the begynnynge of euyls / and they shal tremble euery one. What shal I do in these thynges / when the plages come? Be∣holde

/ honger, and plage / trouble and an¦guysh are sent, as scourges for amendemēt. But for all these thinges they shal not turne from theyr wyckednesse, nor be alway minde full of the scourges.

Beholde, vitailes shalbe so good cheape [unspec C] vpon erath, that they shall thinke thē selues to be in good case: & euen then shall myschefe growe vpon earth, warres, darth and great disquietnes. For many of them y^t dwel vpon earth shal perish of honger, & the other that escape the hongre, shall the swerde destroy: & the deed shalbe cast out as dong, & there shal be no mā to cōfort them. For the earth shalbe wasted, & the cities shalbe cast downe: there shalbe no mā left to tyl the earth & to sowe it. The trees shal geue frute, & who shal plucke them of & gather them? The grapes shall be rype, & who shall treade thē? For all places shalbe desolate of men, so y^• one man shal de∣syre to se another, or to here his voyce. For of one whole cytie there shalbe ten left, & two in the felde, which shall hyde them selues in the thycke busshes, and in the clyffes of stones: lyke as whē there remayne thre or foure oly∣ues vpon the olyue tree, oras when a vyne∣yard is gathered, there are left some grapes, of them that diligentely sought thorowe the vyneyarde.

Euen so in those dayes there shalbe thre [unspec D] or foure left, for thē that search theyr houses with the swerde. And the earth shalbe left waste, and the feldes therof shall waxe olde: and her wayes and al her pathes shall grow full of thornes, because no man shal trauaile there thorowe. The daughters shal mourne, hauynge no brydegromes: the wemen shall make lamentacion, hauyng no husbandes / their daughters shal mourne, hauīg no help of theyr brydgrome. In the warres shal they be destroyed, and theyr husbādes shal perish of hongre. O ye seruauntes of the Lord, here these thynges / and marke thē. Beholde / the worde of the Lorde, O receyue it: beleue not the Goddes of whom the Lord speaketh. Be holde / the plages drawe nye, & are not slacke in tarieng. Lyke as a trauaylynge woman / which after the. ix. moneth bryngeth forth a sonne, when the houre of the byrthe is come, an houre two or thre afore that the paynes come vpon her body, and when the chylde cō¦meth to the byrth, they tary not the twyncke lynge of an eye: Euen so shall not the plages be slacke to come vpon earth, and the worlde shall mourne, & sorowes shall come vpon it on euery syde.

O my people, heare my worde / make you redy to the batayle: and in all euyll be euen as pylgrems vpon earth. * 1.129 He that selleth / let him be as he that flyeth his waye: and he that byeth as one that wyll see. Whoso occu∣pyeth marchaundyes / as he that wynneth not: & he that buyldeth / as he that shall not dwell therin: he that soweth, as one that shal not reape: he that twysteth the vineyarde, as he that shall not gather the grapes: they that mary / as they that shal get no chyldren: and they that mary not: as the wyddowes: and therfore * 1.130 they that labour, labour in vayne For straungers shall reape their frutes, and spoyle their goodes, ouerthrow their houses, & take their chyldren captiue, for in captiuite and hongre shal they get chyldren. And they that occupye their marchaundies with rob∣bery, howe longe decke they theyr cytyes / theyr houses / theyr possessyons / and person∣nes? the more wyll I punyshe them for theyr synnes, sayeth the Lorde. Lyke as an whore enuyeth an honest woman / so shall ryghtu∣ousnes hate iniquite, when she decketh her selfe / and shall accuse her to her face, when he cōmeth that defendeth / whiche shal make inquisicion for all synne vpon earthe. And therfore be not ye lyke thereunto, nor to the workes therof: for or euer it be long, iniquite shalbe taken away out of the earth / & rightu¦ousnes shall raygne amonge you.

Let not the symer saye / that he hathe not [unspec F] synned: for coles of fyre shall burne vpon his head, which sayeth before the Lord God and his glory: I haue not synned. Beholde / the Lord knoweth all the worckes of men / their ymaginacions, their thoughtes and theyr hertes. * 1.131 For he spake but the worde: let the earth be made / and it was made: let the hea∣uen be made, and it was made. In his worde were the statres made / & he knoweth the nō∣bre of them. He searcheth the groūde of the depe, & the treasures therof: he hathe measu∣red the see•• and what it conteyneth. He hath shut the see in the myddest of the waters▪ and with his worde hath he hāged the eart•• vpō the waters. He spredeth out the heauen•• lyke a vawte, vpō the waters hath he founded it. In the deserte and drye wyldernes hathe he made springes of water / and poles vpon the toppe of the mountaynes / that the floudes myght poure downe frome the stony rockes to water the earth. He made man / & put hys herte in the myddest of the bodye / and gaue hym breth / lyfe and vnderstandyng, yee and the sprete of the Almyghty God, which made al thynges, and hath serched the grounde of all the secretes of the earth.

He knoweth your ymagynacyons and in∣uencions / and [unspec G] what ye thynke when ye sīne / and wolde hyde your synnes. Therfore hath the Lorde searched and sought out all youre workes / and he shall bewraye you all. And when your synnes are brought forth / ye shal be ashamed before men, & your owne synnes shalbe your owne accusers ī that day. What wyll ye do? Or howe wyll ye hyde youre syn∣nes before God and his Aungels? Beholde / God himselfe is the iudge, feare him / leue of from your synnes, and forget your vnrygh∣tuousnes, & medle nomore with them: so shal God leade you forthe, and delyuer you from all trouble. For beholde / the heate of a great multitude is kyndled ouer you, & they shall take awaye certayne of you / and fede the slayne with Idols: & they that consent vnto thē, shalbe had in derision, laughed to scorne and troden vnder fote.

For vnto the places there shalbe a place / and in the nexte cytyes a great insurreccyon [unspec H] vpon those that feare the Lorde. They shall be lyke mad mē / they shall spare no mā: they shal spoyle & waste suche as fere the Lorde / theyr goodes shall they take from them, and shutte them out of theyr houses. Then shal it be knowen who are my chosen, & they shalbe tryed as the golde in the fyre. Here O ye my beloued / sayeth the Lorde: beholde / the day∣es of trouble are at hāde / but I wyll delyuer you frō the same. Be not ye afrayed, dispayre not / for God is your captayne.

Who so kepeth my commaundementes and preceptes (sayeth the Lorde God) let not youre synnes weye you downe / and let not youre vnryghtuousnesse be lyfte vp. Wo be vnto them that are subdued vnto theyr synnes / and tangled in theyr wyckednesse: lyke as a felde is hedged in with bus∣shes / and the path therof couered with thornes, that no mā may trauayle thorow: and so is he taken / and caste in the fyre / and brent.

¶ The ende of the. iiij. Boke of Esdras.

❧ Here be ginneth the Booke of Tobias.

¶ Tobias beynge taken prysoner, forsaketh not the lawe of truthe. The mercy and charyte of Tobias and the maners of him in his youth. He taketh Hannah to wyfe. by whome he hath a sonne named Tobias. He succoureth Gabel with mo¦ney. He and his are fayne to flye, but after the death of Den∣naherib they returne agayne.

CAPI. I.

TObias was of the try [unspec A] be & cite of Nepthali, which lieth in y^• hye coūtres of Galile aboue Naason the way towarde y^• west, hauīg the cytie of Sephet vpon the lefte syde.

Thoughe he was taken presonerin the dayes of Salmanasar kyng of the Assyryās neuerthelesse beyng in captiuite, he forsoke not the waye of trueth: In so muche y^• what soeuer he myght ger / he parted it dayly with his felowes presoners & brethren / that were of his kynred. And thoughe he were yonger then all in the tribe of Nepthali, yet dyd not he behaue him selfe childeshly in his workes And when al the other went to y^• golden cal∣ues, which Ieroboā the kyng of Israel had made he him self alone fled al their cōpanies & gat him to Ierusalem vnto y^• temple of the Lorde, & there worshypped y^• Lorde God of Israell, faythfully offerynge of all his fyrste frutes & tythes, so that in the thyrde yeare he ministred al the tythes vnto the straungers & conuertes. These & suche lyke thinges dyd he obserue accordyng to the law of God, whē he was yet but yonge.

But when he was a mā, he toke out of his [unspec B] owne tribe a wife called Anna, & of her he be gat a sōne, whom he called after his owne na¦me, & taught hī from his youth vp / to feare God, & to refrayne from all synne.

Nowe when he with his wyfe, hys sonne and with all his kynred was come in capti∣uite vnto the cytie of Niniue / what tyme as they al dyd eate of the meates of the Heathē / he kept his his soule / and was neuer defyled in theyr meates. And for so muche as he was myndeful of the Lorde in al his herte. God gaue him fauoure in the syght of Salmana far the kynge / whiche gaue him power to go where he wolde, and so had he lybertie to do whatsoeuer him lyst.

So wente Tobias vnto all them y^• were [unspec C] in preson, and comforted them and, gaue thē wholsome exortacions. And whan he came

to Rages a citie of the Medes, hauynge ten talētes of syluer (of the thynges where with the kyng had honoured him) & sawe among a greate company of people of his kynred / one Gabelus (which was of his owne tribe) beyng in necessite, he gaue hī the said weight of syluer vnder an hand wrytyng.

After a longe season when Salmanasar the kynge was deed, and Sennaherib hys sonne reigned in his steade, which hated the chyldren of Israel, Tobias went dayly tho∣rowe out al his kynred / and comforted thē, & gaue of hys goodes to euery one of them / as much as he myght: he fed the hongrie, clo¦thed the naked, & buried the dead and slayne and that diligently.

And when Sennaherib the kynge came [unspec D] agayne and fled out of Iewry (what tyme as God punysshed him for his blasphemy) and in his wrath slew many of the chyldren of Is¦rael. Tobias buried their bodies. But when it was tolde the kyng, he cōmannded to fleye him / and toke awaye all his goodes. Ne∣uertheles, Tobias with hys sonne and with hys wyfe fled hys way and was hyd naked / for there were many that loued hym. But after. xlv. dayes the kynge was slayne of his owne sonnes. Then came Tobias agayne to his house, & all his goodes were restored vnto hym.

¶ Tobias byddeth suche of hys frendes as feare God, to a Ban••quet or Feaste. He is reproued of hys frendes He feareth God more then the Kyng He becommeth blynde by the permyssyon and sufferaunce of God, Hys kynsfolckes mocke hym.

CAPI. II.

AFter these thynges vpon a solempne [unspec A] day of the Lorde Tobias made a good feast in his house / and sayde vnto his sonne: Go thy way & bryng hither some of our tribe suche as feare God, that they may make me¦ry with vs. And when he was gone / he came agayne / and tolde his father / that one of the chyldren of Israel lay slayne vpon the strete And immediately he leapte from his table / left the feast / came fasting to the deed coarse, toke him & bare him preuely into his house / that when the Sunne was downe / he might safely burye hym. And when he had hyd the coarse / he dyd eate hys meate with mour∣nyng and feare / remembrynge the wordes / that the Lord sayde by the Prophete Amos: your hye feastes shalbe turned to sorow and heuynesse.

But when the Sunne was downe, he [unspec B] wente his waye and buryed him: Thē al his neyghbours reproued him sayeng: It is not longe / sens it was commaunded to sleye the because of this matter, and hast scarce esca∣ped the daunger of death / and buriest thou the deed agayne? Neuertheles Tobias fea∣rynge God more then the kyng / toke the bo¦dyes of the slayne / and hyd thē in his house / and buried them at mydnyght.

It happened vpon a day, that he had bu¦ried [unspec C] y^• deed, & was wery, came home, & layed him downe by the wall & slepte. And whyle he was a slepe / there fell downe vpon his eyes warme dong out of the swalowes nest / so that he was blinde. This temptacion dyd God suffre to happen vnto hym / that they whiche came after, myght haue an exāple of his pacience, lyke as of holy Iob. For in so muche as he euer fered God from hys youth vp / & kepte his commaundementes, he grud¦ged not agaynst God, that y^• plage of blynd¦nes chaunsed vnto him / but remayned sted∣fast in the feare of God, & thāked God, al the dayes of his lyfe.

For lyke as blessed Iob was had in dery∣sion [unspec D] of kynges, euen so was he laughed to scorne of his elders and kynsfolckes, whiche sayde vnto him: where is thy hope / for the which thou hast done almes and buryed the deed? But Tobias rebuked them / & spake: Saye not so / for we are the chyldren of holy men / and loke for the lyfe, whiche God shall geue vnto them / that neuer turne theyr bele¦ue from him. Anna hys wyfe wente dayly to the weeuynge worcke: & loke what lyuynge she coulde get with the labour of her hādes / she brought it. And it happened y^• she toke a kyd and brought it home.

And when her husbande herde it crye / he sayd: loke y^• it be not stollē / restore it agayne to the owners: for it is not lawful for vs / to eate or to touch any thynge of theft. Then was his wyfe angrie, and sayde: Now is thy hope become vayne openly / and thy almes dedes are manyfest. With these & suche lyke wordes dyd she cast him in the tethe.

¶ The prayer of Tobias. Sara the daughter of Raguel is sclaundred of her fathers seruaunt. The prayer and fastyng of Sara. And also the innocēcy and chastyte of her. The pray¦ers of Tobias and of Sara are herde.

CAPI. III.

THen Tobias toke it heuely / and with [unspec A] teares beganne to make his prayer, say¦enge: O Lorde thou arte ryghtuous, and all thy iudgementes are true, yee all thy wayes are mercy, faythfulnes and iudgement. And nowe O Lorde be myndeful of me, and take no vengeaunce of my sinnes, nether remēbre my mysdedes, nether the misdedes of my el∣ders For we haue nat bene obediēt vnto thy commaundementes, therfore are we spoyled

brought into captiuite, into death / into deri¦sion & shame vnto al naciōs, among whom thou hast scatred vs. And nowe O Lord, thy iudgementes are great, for we haue not done accordyng to thy commaundemētes, nether haue we walcked innocently before the. And nowe O Lorde, deale with me accordyng to thy wyll / and commaunde my sprete to be re¦ceyued in peace, for more expedyente were it for me to dye / then to lyue.

At the same tyme it happened / that Sara [unspec B] the daughter of Raguel at Rages a cytie of the Medes was sclaundred of one of her fa∣thers handmaydes, namely / that she shulde haue had seuen husbandes, whiche as sone as they were gone in vnto her, were slayne of y^• deuyll called Asmodeus. Therfore, whē she reproued the maydē for her faute / she an¦swered her / saying: God let vs neuer se sōne nor daughter of the more vpon earthe / thou kyller of thy husbandes. Wylt thou sleye me also, as thou hast slayne seuen men? At thys voyce wente Sara into an hye chambre of her house, and thre dayes and thre nyghtes she neither eate nor drancke, but cōtinued in prayer, and besought God with teares / that he wolde delyuer her from thys rebuke.

Upon the thyrde day it chaunced, y^• when [unspec C] she had made an ende of her prayer, she pray¦sed the Lord saying: Blessed be thy name O God of our fathers / whiche when thou arte wrothe, shewest mercy, & in tyme of trouble thou forgeuest the synnes of them, that call vpon the. Unto the O Lorde turne I my fa∣ce / vnto the lyft I vp myne eyes. I beseche the O Lorde / lose me out of the bondes of thys rebuke / or els take me vtterly awaye from of the earthe. Thou knowest Lorde / y^• I neuer had desyre vnto man, and that I haue kepte my soule cleane from al vnclenly lust. I haue not kepte company with those that passe theyr tyme in sporte, neyther haue I made my self partaker with thē that walke in lyght behauour. Neuertheles an husbāde haue I cōsented to take / not for my pleasure but in thy feare.

Now peraduēture eyther I haue bene vn¦worthy [unspec D] of them / or els were they v••mete for me, for thou happly hast kept me to another husbande. For why? thy councel is not in the power of man. But whosoeuer loueth the & serueth the a ryght / is sure of thys / that yf his lyfe be tempted and proued / it standeth in the ••ryeng / and yf he endure in pacyence / he shall haue a rewarde and be hyghly crow¦ned: and yf he be in trouble / that God (no doute) shall delyuer hym: and yf his lyfe be in chastenyng, that he shal haue leue to come vnto thy mercy.

For thou hast no pleasure in our dampna¦cyon: and why? after a storme thou makeste the wether fayre and styll: after wepyng and heuynes thou geuest greate ioye. Thy name O God of Israel be praysed for euer. At the same tyme were both their prayers herde in the sight of the maiesty of the hyest god. And Raphael the holy Angell of the Lorde was sent to helpe them both, whose prayers came at one tyme together before God.

CAPI. IIII.

[unspec A]

¶ Tobias thynckynge to dye geueth a goodly exhortacyon and monycion to his sonne.

SO when Tobias thought hys prayer to be herde / that he myght dye / he called vn¦to hym his sonne Tobias and sayde vnto him: My sōne, heare the wordes of my mouth and lay them in thyne herte as a foundacion When God taketh awaye my soule, burye thou my bodye and holde thy mother in ho∣nour al the dayes of her lyfe. For thou ough¦test to remēbre, what and howe great parels she suffered for the in her wombe. And when she also hathe fulfylled the tyme of her lyfe / bury her beside me. Haue god in thy thought all the dayes of thy lyfe, and beware / least at any tyme thou consente vnto synne, and lest thou let slyppe the cōmaundementes of the Lorde our God.

Geue almes of thy goodes, and turne ne∣uer [unspec B] thy face from the poore: & so shal it come to passe, that y^• face of the Lorde shall not be turned awaye from the. Be mercyfull after thy power. If thou hast much, geue plentu∣ously: yf thou hast lytle / do thy diligēce, glad¦ly to geue of that litle. For so gatherest y^• thy selfe a good rewarde in the day of necessyte. For mercy delyuereth from all synne & from death, & suffreth not the soule to come in dar∣kenes. A great cōfort is mercy before the hie God / vnto all them that shewe it.

My sonne / kepe the well from all whor∣dome, [unspec C] and (be syde thy wyfe) se that no faute be knowne of y^•. Let neuer pryde haue rule in thy mynde nor in thy worde / for in pryde beganne all destruccyon.

Whosoeuer worketh any thinge for the / immediatly geue him his hire, and loke that thy hired seruaūtes wages remayne not by the ouer night. Loke that thou neuer do vn∣to another man / the thynge that thou wol∣dest not another man shulde do vnto y^•. Eate thy bred with the hongrye & poore / & couer the naked with thy clothes. Set thy bredde and wyne vpon the burial of the righteous▪

and do not thou eate & dryncke therof w^t the synnees. Aske euer councel at the wyse.

Be alwaye thanckefull vnto God / and beseche him / that he wyll ordre thy wayes / & y^• whatsoeuer y^• deuysest or takest in hand / it may remayne in him. I certyfie the also my sōne, y^• (when thou wast yet, but a babe) I de¦lyuered ten talētes of syluer vnto Gabelus, at Rages a citie of the Medes, & hys hande wryttynge haue I by me. And therfore seke some meanes, how y^• mayest come by hym / & receyue of him the sayde weyght of syluer / & geue him his handwrytyng agayne.

My sonne, be not afraied: trueth it is we leade here a poore lyfe: but greate good shal we haue / yt we feare God, and departe from all synne / and do well:

¶ The obedyence of yonge Tobias to his father, whiche is sent into Rages. An Aungell accompanyeth with hym in his iourney.

CAPI. V.

THEN answered Tobias his father / [unspec A] and sayde: father / all that thou hast cō∣maunded me, wyl I do / and that diligently But howe I shall require this money I can¦not tell? Neyther bothe he knowe me, nor I him What token shall I geue him? And as for the way thyther / I neuer knewe it. Then his father answerd hym, and sayde: I haue his hande wrytyng by me, which when thou shewest hym, immediately he shall paye the But go thy way now / and get the some faith¦ful man to go with the for an hyre / that thou mayest receyue the money / whyle I am yet lyuynge. Then went Tobias out, and vpon the strete he founde a fayre yonge man stan∣dyng, gyrded vp / and as it were one readye to take his iourney. And he knewe not that it was an Angell of God / but saluted hym / and sayde: From whēce art thou / thou good yonge man? He aunswered: Of the chyldren of Israel.

And Tobias sayde vnto hym? knowest y^• [unspec B] the waye, that ledeth vnto the countre of the Medes? He answered: I knowe it well / and all those stretes haue I gone oft tymes, and haue lodged with our brother Gabel{us} / that dwelleth in Rages a citye of the Medes / whiche lyeth vpon the mounte Egabthanis Tobias sayd vnto him: I praye the / tary for me, tyl I haue tolde my father these thinges Then went Tobias in▪ & tolde his father al▪ At the which his father maruelled / & prayed that he wolde come in vnto him.

Nowe whē the Angel came in / he saluted him, and sayd: Ioye be with y^• foreuer more. [unspec C] And olde Tobias sayd: what ioy can I haue that sit here in darkenes, & se not the light of heauē? The yonge man sayde vnto him: Be of good cheare / God shall helpe the shortly. And Tobias sayd vnto him: Canst y^u bryng my sonne to Gabelus / vnto the cytie of Ra∣ges in Medea? And when y^• cōmest agayne / I shall paye the thy hyre. And the Aungell sayde vnto him: I shall leade thy sonne / and brynge him to the agayne. Thē Tobias an∣swered him, tell me I praye y^• / of what house or of what trybe arte thou? The Angell Ra∣phael sayde vnto him: Askest thou after the kynred of an hyrelyng / or sekest thou a gyde for thy sonne to go with hym? But that I make the not carefull, I am Azarias y^• sōne of great Hananias. And Tobias answered: thou art come of a great kynred: but I praye the, be not displesed / that I desyred to know thy kynred. The Angel sayde vnto him: thy sonne shall I leade forth safely, & bryng him whole to the agayne.

Then answered Tobias, and sayde: wel, [unspec D] go on your way, & God be in your iourney, & his angel beare you company. So whē they had prepared all thynges, y^• they wolde take w^t them in theyr iourney: Tobias bad his fa¦ther & his mother farewel, and they wēte on theyr way both together. Nowe when they were gone: his mother beganne to wepe, & sayde: The staffe of our age hast thou taken away, & sent hym from vs.

Wolde God that money had neuer bene, for the whiche thou hast sent hym awaye. If we had bene content with our pouerte, thys had bene great ryches vnto vs / that we saw our sōne here. Then saide Tobias vnto her: wepe not, oure sōne shall come to vs agayne safe & sounde, & thine eyes shal se him. For I trust, that the good Angel of God shal beare him cōpany, & ordre wel all the thynges that he dothe: so y^t he shall come to vs agayne w^t ioye. At these wordes his mother left of from wepyng, and helde her tonge.

¶ Yonge Tobias is delyuered from the fyshe, by the angell The Angell exhorteth Tobias to take ••ar•• to his wyfe.

CAPI. VI.

SO Tobias went on hys way / & a dogge [unspec A] folowed hym / and the fyrste nyght they abode by the water of Tygris. Then wente he out to wash his fete / & behold / there came forth an horrible fyshe to deuoure hym. Of whom Tobias was afrayed, & cryed with a loude voyce / sayenge: Lorde / he commeth vpon me. And the Angell sayde vnto him: Take hym by the gyll / and drawe hym to the. And he dyd so / and drewe hym vpon the

lande. And the fyshe begane to leape at hys fete.

Then sayde the Aungell vnto hym: take [unspec B] out the bowels of thys fyshe / and as for the herte / the gall & the leuer / kepe them by the. For these thīges are necessary and good for medecyne. Tobias dyd so / and rosted the fysh / and they toke hym with them in theyr iourney: the resydue they salted, as much as was suffycyent for them / tyll they came to Rages a cytye of the Medes. Then To∣bias asked the aungell / & sayde vnto hym: I praye the brother Azaria, tell me, wherto are these thinges good of the fysh that thou hast bydden me kepe?

The Aungell answered him and sayde: If thou layeste a pece of the herte vpon the coales / the smoke therof dryueth awaye all maner of euyll sprytes / whether it be from man or from woman, so that from thence forth the same shall come nomore vnto thē. The gall is good to anointe or to stryke the eyes withall / where as there is any blemith in then, so that they shalbe whole.

And Tobias sayde vnto hym: where wylt [unspec C] thou that we remaine? The Aungel answe∣red & sayde: Here is a nye kynsman of thyne, one Raguell by name, which hath a daugh∣ter called Sara, and hath nether sonne nor daughter but her. All hys good belongeth vnto the, and thou must mary her, and ther∣fore desyre her of her father, & he shall geue her the to wyfe. Then answered Tobias and saide: As I vnderstande, she hath bene maryed vnto seuen husbandes, and they al are deed: and I haue herde saye, that the deuell slewe them. I am afrayed therfore, leste suche thynges happen vnto me also: whiche yf it came to pa••se (seynge I am the onely sonne of my father and my mother) I shulde bryng them in theyr age with sorowe to theyr graues.

Then saide y^e Aungel Raphael vnto him: [unspec D] Heare me, & I wyll tell the what they be, or whom the deuell hath power Namely, they that receaue mariage of such a fashion, that they shut God out from thē & frō theyr hert. & geue thē selues to theyr owne lust, euen as it were an horse & Mule, which haue no vn¦derstāding: vpō such hath the deuel power. But when thou takeste her, and arte come into the chamber, wytholde thy selfe from her thre dayes, and geue thy diligence vnto nothyng but vnto prayer with her.

And in the first nyght, rost the liuer of the fysh. & the deuel shalbe dryuen awaye. The secōde night shalt thou be receaued into the company of the holy patriarkes. The thyrde night shalt thou optayne y^• blyssyng of God so that whole chyldren shalbe borne of you. After the thyrde nyght take the mayden in the feare of God, and more for the desyre of chyldren, then for any fleshly lust: that in the sede of of Abraham thou mayest optaine the blessynge in chyldren.

¶ Yonge Tobias and the Aungell come to the house of Raguell. He requyieth Raguels daughter to wyfe and ob∣tayneth her.

CAPI. VII.

THen wente they into Raguell, whiche [unspec A] receaued them ioyfully. And when Raguel loked vpon Tobias, he sayde vn∣to Anna hys wyfe: Howe lyke is thys yong man vnto my systers sonne? And when he had spoken thys, he sayde: whence be ye good brethren? They sayde: Of the trybe of Nephthaly, out of the captyuyte of Ny∣niue. Then sayde Raguel vnto them know ye my brother Tobias? They sayde: yee, we knowe hym well. And when he had spoken muche good of hym / the Aungell: sayde vnto Raguell. Tobias of whome thou askest,, is thys yonge mans father. Then Raguell bowed himselfe downe and wepte, toke hym aboute the necke, and kys∣sed hym, and sayde: Gods blessynge haue thou my sonne, for thou arte the sonne of a good verteous man. And Anna his wyfe & Sara hys daughter wepte also.

Now whē they had talked together, Ra∣guel [unspec B] bad kyll a wether, and to make a feste. And when he prayed them to syt downe to dynner, Tobias sayd: I will nether eat nor dryncke here thys daye, excepte thou fyrste graūt me my peticion, & promise me to geue me thy daughter Sara. When Raguel herd th{is}, he was astonied, for he knew, what had happened vnto the other seuen men, y^e went in vnto her: and he beganne to feare, that it shulde chaūce vnto him also in lyke maner.

And whyle he stode so in doute and gaue the yonge man no answere, the aungel saide vnto him: Feare not to geue him thy daugh¦ter, for vnto this man that feareth God, be∣lōgeth thy daughter to wife, therfore might none other haue her.

Then sayde Raguell: I doute not / but [unspec C] God hathe accepted my prayers and teares in his sight: & I trust he caused you to come vnto me for y^• same intent, that thys daugh¦ter of myne myghte be maryed in her owne kinred / accordynge to the lawe of Moses. And now dowte thou not / but I wyll geue her vnto the: So he toke the ryght hande of

hys daughter / and gaue her into the ryght hand of Tobias, and saide: The God of A∣braham / the God of Isaac / and the God of Iacob be with you, ioyne you together, and fulfyll hys blessyng in you. And they toke a letter, and made a wrytyng of the mariage. And thē made they mery, and praysed God. And Raguell called Anna hys wyfe vnto hym / and bad her prepare another chamber and thither he brought Sara his daughter and she wepte. Then sayde be vnto her: Be of good chere my daughter / the Lord of hea¦uen geue the ioye, for the heuynes that thou hast suffred.

¶ The Angel bindeth the deuyl. Tobias exhorteth his wife to prater, & they pray thre dayes before they lye together.

CAPI. VIII.

NOwe after that they had supped / they [unspec A] brought the yong man into her. Then thought Tobias vpon the wordes of the Aungell / and toke out of hys bagge a pece of the lyuer of the fyshe / and layed it vpon the hote coales. So the Aungell Raphaell toke holde of the deuell / and sente hym a∣waye / and bounde hym in the wyldernes of the byer Egypt. Then spake Tobias vnto the vyrgyn / and sayde: Up Sara / let vs make oure prayer vnto God to day / to mo∣rowe / and ouermorowe: for these thre nygh∣tes wyll we reconcyle ourselues with God: and whan the thyrde nyght is past / we shal ioyne together in dutye of maryage.

For we are the chyldren of holy men and we maye not come together as the Heathen / that knowe not God.

Then stode they vp both together / and [unspec B] besought God earnestly / that he wolde pre∣serue them. And Tobias sayde: O Lorde God of oure fathers / praysed be thou of hea¦uen and earth / of the see / welles / & floudes / and of all thy creatures y^• be therin. Thou madest Adam of the * 1.132 moulde of the earthe / and gauest him Eua for an helper And now Lord thou knowest that it is not because of voluptuousnes / y^• I take th{is} syster of myne to wyfe, but only for the loue of chyldren / in whō thy name be blessed for euer. And Sara sayde: haue mercy vpon vs (O Lorde) haue mercy vpō vs / and let vs both come whole and sounde together to a good age.

And aboute y^• cocke crowynge it happe∣ned / that [unspec C] Raguel called his seruaūtes / and they wente with hym, to make a graue. For he sayde: it is chaunced now vnto hym per∣aduenture / as it did vnto the other seuē mē, that went in vnto her. Now when they had made y^• graue / Raguel came agayne to hys wyfe, and sayde vnto her: sende one of thy maydens, to loke yf he be deed, that I maye burye hym afore it be lyght daye. So she sēt a mayden to se, which when she came into y^e chāber, founde them whole and sounde, sle∣pyng together. And so she came againe, and brought good tydinges. Then Raguel and Anna hys wyfe praysed the Lord and sayd: Praysed be y^•, O Lorde God of Israell, for it is not happened vnto vs as we thought. For thou haste dealte mercyfully with vs, [unspec D] and put awaye frō vs the enemye that per∣secuted vs, and hast shewed mercy vnto yō¦der two beloued. O Lorde, cause them to magnify the more perfectly, and to offre the sacryfyce of thy prayse, and of theyr health: that all people may knowe / that thou only arte God in all the earthe.

And immediatly Raguel commaunded hys seruauntes / to fyll the graue / that they had made / with earth / a fore it was lyght / and bade hys wyfe prepare a feaste / and to make redy all thynges that were necessary for meate / to such as wente by the waye.

He caused two fat kyne also / and foure we∣thers to be slayne, and meates to be prepa∣red for all his neyhbours and frendes. And Raguel charged Tobias to remaine with hī two wekes. As for all the good that he had, he gaue Tobias the halfe of it, & made thys wrytynge, that the halfe whiche remayned, shulde fall vnto Tobias after theyr death.

¶ The aungel goeth to Gabellus, at the desyre of Tobias which desyuereth the letter, and receaueth the ••uonye.

CAPI. IX.

THEN Tobias called vnto hym the [unspec A] Aungell / whome he thought to haue bene a man / and sayde vnto hym: Brother Azarias / I praye the herken vnto my wor∣des: Yf I shulde geue my selfe to be thy ser∣uaunte / I shal not deserue thy prouidence. Neuerthelesse I beseche the / that thou wylt take the beastes and the seruauntes, and go vnto Gabelus in rages the cyte of Medes / and deliuer hym his hand wrytyng / and re∣ceaue the money of him / and praye hym to come to my mariage. For thou knowest thy [unspec B] selfe, that my father doth nombre the dayes: and if I tary one day to long, he wylbe sory in his mynd. Nowe seist thou how earnestly Raguell hathe requyred me / so that I can∣not saye hym nay.

Then toke Raphaell foure of Raguels seruauntes, and two Camels, and wēte vn∣to Rages the cyte of the Medes: and when he had foūde Gabelus he gaue him his hād∣writyng, & receaued all the money. He tolde

him also of Tobias the sonne of Tobi, how [unspec C] all thynges had happened / and caused him to come w^t hym to the mariage. Now when he came into the house of Raguel / he found Tobias syttyng at the table: and he leaped vp, and they kyssed one another, and Gabe∣lus wepte, and praysed God, and sayde: the blessyng of the God of Israel haue thou for thou art the sonne of a ryght verteous and iust man, and of one that feareth God, and geueth great aimes. And blessyng haue thy wife, & your elders, that ye may se your chyl¦dren & your childers chyldrē, vnto the thyrd & fourth generaciō, & your sede be blessed of the god of Israell, which reygneth worlde without ende. And when they all had sayde [unspec D] Amē, they wēt to y^• feast, but with y^• feare of the Lord helde they the feast of the mariage.

¶ Tobias and hys wyfe are sadde for the t••riaūc•• of their sonne. Raguel seudeth agayne. Tobias with hys wyfe.

CAPI. X.

NOw whyle yonge Tobias made long [unspec A] taryeng / by reason of the mariage, his father was full of care and heuynesse / and thought: what shulde be the cause / that my sonne taryeth so longe? Or why shulde he be kept so long there? Peraduenture Ga∣belus is deade / and no man wyll geue hym the money. Thus begānne he to be very so∣rowfull, he and Anna hys wyfe with him, & beganne to wepe both together / because theyr sōne was not come againe vnto them at the daye appoynted. As for his mother / she wepte with discomfortable teares / and sayd: Wo is me, my sonne: Oh what ayled [unspec B] vs to sende the awaye into a straūge coūtre y^• lyght of our eyes, thou staffe of our age / thou comforte of oure lyfe, thou hope of our generacyon? Seynge all the thynges y^• we haue are onely ī the / we shuld not haue sent the away from vs. Then Tobias com∣forted her, and sayd: holde thy tonge and be not dyscomforted, oure sonne is whole and sounde: the man that we sente hym with all; is faithful ynough. Neuertheles she might in no wise be comforted: but dayly went out loked aboute, and wente about all the stre∣tes, wherby she thought he shulde come a∣gayne. ••••at (yf it were possyble) she myght le hym commynge a farre of.

But Raguell sayde vnto hys sonne in lawe▪ O cary here, and I shall sende a mes∣saunger [unspec C] vnto thy father Tobias, to tel him that thou art in good health. Tobias saide vnto hym: I am suce, that my father & my my mother counte euery day, and that their hertes are sory.

So when Raguell prayed Tobias with many wordes, and wolde in no wyse heare hym / he delyuered Sara vnto him, and the halfe part of all his good: in seruaūtes and handmaydens, in shepe, in Camels, and in kyne, and much money, & so sent him away from hym with peace and ioye, and sayde: The holy aungell of the Lorde be with you [unspec D] in your iourney, and bringe you forth safe & sounde, that ye may finde al thinges i good case with your elders, & that myne eyes may se your children afore I dye. So the parens embraced their daughter, kissed her, and let her go, exhorting her to honour her father & mother in law, to loue her husbande, to rule well her husholde, to kepe her house in good ordre, and to shewe her selfe fautelesse.

¶ Yonge Tobias leuing his wyfe & houshold in the mydhe waye / commeth before with the Aungel The ••••came of his mother loking after her sūne. He is 〈…〉〈…〉 receaued of his father and mother. Sar•• cometh seuen dares ••••t••r.

CAPI. XI.

AS they nowe were goyng home ward [unspec A] agayne, vpon the. xi. daye they came to Charra, whiche lyeth in the halfe waye towarde Niniue. And the Aungell sayde. Brother Tobias, thou knowest howe thou haste left thy father: therfore yf it please the, we two wyl go before, and let the housholde with thy wyfe and the catell come softe and fayrly after vs. And when Tobias was content that they shulde go before, Raphael sayde vnto hym: Take of the gall of the fysh with the, for it shalbe necessary. So To∣bias toke of the gal, & they wēt theyr waye. But Anna the mother of Tobias sat dayly [unspec B] by the waye syde vpon the toppe of an hyll / from whence she myght se farre aboute her. And whyle she was waytynge there for hys commynge / she loked a farre of, and anone she perceaued her sonne commynge / and ranne and tolde her husbande / saying: Be∣holde, thy sonne commeth. And Raphael sayde vnto Tobias: As soone as thou com∣mest into the house, immediatly worshyppe the Lorde thy God, and geue thankes vnto hym: then go to thy father: and kysse hym, & stryke his eyes ouer with the gal of the fish, that thou hast brought with y^•. For be sure, that his eyes shal straight waye be opened / and thy father shal se the lyght of heauen, & shal reioyce at the syght of the. Then y^• dog that had bene with them in theyr iourneye, ranne before, and came as a messenger, and wagged with his tayle for gladnesse.

So the blynde father arose and beganne [unspec C] to runne, and stombled with hys fete / and

gaue a seruaūt his hand, ranne to mete his sonne, receaued him, and kyssed him, he and his wyfe / and they begāne to wepe for ioye.

Nowe when they had worshypped and thanked God / they sat downe. Then toke Tobias of the fyshes gall / and anoynted hys fathers eyes: and taried helfe an houre and than beganne the blemysh to go out of his eyes lyke as it had bene the whyte skine of an egge: which Tobias toke / and drewe from hys eyes, and immediatly he receaued hys syght.

Then they praysed God, he and his wyfe, [unspec D] and all they that knewe hym. And Tobias sayde: O Lorde God of Israell / I geue the praise and thanckes for thou hast chastened me, and made me whole. And lo, nowe do I se my sōne Tobias. After seuen dayes came Sara his sōnes wyfe also whole and soūde with all the housholde & catell, with camels and much money of hys wyues, and with the money that he had receaued of Gabel{us}: and he tolde his father and hys mother al y^• benefytes which God had done for hym / by the man that led hym. Achior also and Na∣bath Tobias sister sōnes came, & were glad and reioysed with hym / by reason of all the good that God had shewed vnto hym. And so for the space of seuē dayes they made me∣ry / and were ryght ioyfull euerychone.

¶ Yonge Tobias rechened by vnto hys father the plea∣sures that the aungell dyd hym. He offred vnto the aungell holfe the goodes that he brought with hym.

CAPI. XII.

THen Tobyas called his sonne vnto [unspec A] hym, and sayde: What may we geue thys holy man / that wente with the? To∣bias answered hys father / and sayde: Fa∣ther / what rewarde shall we geue him? Or what thynge can deserue his benefytes? He hath bene my gyde, and brought me safe a∣gayne: he receaued the money frō Gabelus he caused me to get my wyfe / he droue the euyll spryte from her / be hath bene an occa∣syon of gladnesse to her father and mother: he delyuered me / that I was not deuoured of the fyshe, he hath made the to se the lyght of heauen, yee we all haue receaued greate good of him. Howe shulde we worthely de∣serue these thynges vnto him? But I praye the my father, that thou wylt desyre him / yf happly he wyll voutch safe / to take w^t hym the halfe of all that we haue brought.

So the father and the sonne called hym / [unspec B] toke him asyde / and beganne to praye hym, y^• he wolde be cōtent to take in good worth / the halfe parte of al that they had brought. Then sayde he secretly vnto them. Prayse ye the god of heauen, and geue thankes vn to hym before all men lyuynge / for he hathe shewed his mercy vnto vs. It is good to hy¦de the kinges secrete, but to shew & to praise y^• worckes of god, it is an honorable thyng. Prayer is good with fastinge, and mercy is better, then to hoorde vp treasures of gold. For mercy delyuereth from death / clenseth synne, and causeth to fynde euerlasting lyfe. But they that do synne & vnrighteousnes, are the enemyes of theyr owne soule.

Wherfore I tell you the truth, and wyll [unspec C] hyde nothinge from you. When thou pray∣edst with teares, and buryedst the deed, and leftest thy dyner, and hiddest the deed in thy house vpon the day tyme / that thou mygh∣test buryē them in the nyghte / I offred thy prayer before the Lorde. And because thou wast accept and beloued of God, it was ne∣cessary that temtacyon shulde trye the. And now hath the Lord sent me to heale the, and to delyuet Sara thy sonnes wyfe from the euyll spryte. For I am Raphael an aungel, one of the seuen that stande before God.

When they hearde thys / they were sore [unspec C] afrayed / and trembled / and fell downe vpon theyr faces vnto the grounde. Then sayde the Aungel: Peace be with you, feare not. Where as I haue bene with you / it is the wyll of God: geue prayse and thanckes vnto hym.

You thought that I dyd * 1.133 eat and dryncke with you / but I vse meate that is inuysy∣ble / and drincke that cannot be sene of men,

Nowe therfore is the tyme that I muste rurne agayne, vnto him that sent me: but be ye thanckfull vnto God, and tel out all hys wonderous worckes.

And when he had spoken these wordes / he was taken awaye out of theyr syghte / so that they sawe hym nomore. Then tell they downe flat vpon their faces by the spaces of thre houres, & praysed God: when they rose vp, they tolde all hys wonderous worckes.

¶ Tobias the elder geueth thankes vnto God.

CAPI. XIII.

THen olde Tobias opened 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mouthe [unspec A] and praysed the Lorde / and sayde: Great art thou O Lorde for euermore / and thy kigdome worlde without ende: for thou scourgest and healest: thou ledest vnto hell, and bryngest out agayne / and there is none that may escape thyne hande. O geue than∣kes vnto the Lorde, ye chyldren of Israell, and prayse hym in the syght of the heathen.

For amonge the Heathen whiche knowe

hym not hathe he scatered you, to the intent that ye shulde shewe forth hys maruelous worckes: and cause them for to knowe, that there is none other God almyghtye but he. He hathe chastened vs for our mysdedes / & for hys owne mercye sake shall he saue vs.

Consydre then, howe he hath dealt with you / and prayse hym with feare & drede, and magnyfye the euerlastynge kynge in youre worckes. I wyll praye him euen in the lande [unspec B] of my captiuyte / for he hath shewed his ma∣testye vnto synful people. Turne you ther∣fore O ye synners, and do ryghteousnes be∣fore God / and be ye sure, that he wyll shewe his mercy vpon you. As for me, & my soule, we wyll reioyse in God. O prayse the Lorde all ye his chosen, holde y^• dayes of gladnesse, and be thankfull vnto hym. O Ierusalem thou cytie of God / the Lorde hath punyshed the for the workes of thyne owne handes. O prayse the Lorde in thy good thynges / and geue thankes to the euerlastynge God, that he may buylde vp his tabernacle agayne in the / that he maye call agayne vnto the, all suche as be in captiuyte / & that thou mayest haue ioye for euermore. With a fayre lyght shalte thou shyne / and all the endes of the worlde shall honoure the. The people shall come vnto the from farre / they shall brynge gyftes, & worship the Lorde in the / and thy laude shall they haue for a Sanctuary / for they shall call vpon the greate name in the. [unspec C]

Cursed shall they be that despyse the / & all that blaspheme the / shalbe condempned: but blessed shall they be that buylde the vp. As for the / thou shalt reioyse in the chyldre, for they all shalbe blessed / and gathered to∣gether vnto the Lorde. Blessed are they all that loue the / and that be glad of thy peace. Prayse thou the Lorde, O my soule, for the Lorde our God hathe delyuered hys cytie Ierusalem from all her troubles. I wyll counte my selfe happye / yf my sede remayne to se the clearnes of Ierusalem.

The gates of Ierusalem shalbe buylded with Saphyre and Smarage / and all the compasse of her walles with precyous sto∣nes. All her stretes shalbe paued with white marble stone / and in al stretes shal Alleluya be songe. Praysed be the Lorde / whiche hath exalted her / that his kyngdome maye be vpon her for euermore. Amen. And so Tobias made an ende of hys talkynge.

¶ Tobias prophecyeth the destruction of Niniue His sōme returned to Raguel, alter the decesse of h•• father & mother.

CAPI. XIIII.

AND after that Tobias had gottē his sight agayne, he lyued. xlii▪ yeares, & [unspec A] sawe his chylders chyldren Now when he was. C, and. ii. yeare olde, he dyed: and was buryed honorably in Niniue. For when he was sixe and fyftye yeares of age he lost the syght of his eyes, and whē he was thre score yeare olde he gat his syght agayne. The re∣sidue of his lyfe led he in ioye / and increased well in y^• feare of God / & departed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peace.

But in the houre of hys death he called [unspec B] vnto hym hys sonne Tobias / and seuen yonge springaldes hys sōnes chyldren, and sayde vnto thē: The destruccyon of Niniue is at hande, for the worde of the Lorde can not fayle, and oure brethren that are scatred out of the lande of Israel / shal come thyther agayne. And the whole lande of it that hathe bene waste / shalbe fylled: & the huose of God that was brent in it / shalbe buylded agayne: and all suche as feare God / shall returne thyther: the Heathen also shall for∣sake theyr Idols, and come to Ierusalem, and dwel there, & al the kynges of the earth shalbe glad of her, and worshyp the Lorde God of Israel.

And therfore my chyldren, heare your fa∣ther: [unspec C] Serue the Lorde in the trueth, seke a•• his wyll / and do the thynge that pleaseth hym. Commaunde youre chyldren that they do ryght / geue almes / be myndeful of God, and euer to be thankful vnto hym in trueth and with all theyr power. Heare me nowe therfore my chyldren / & abyde not here: but in what daye soeuer ye haue buryed youre mother besyde me / get you from hence. For I se, that the wyckednes of it shall brynge it to destruccyon and ende.

After the death of his mother, Tobyas [unspec D] departed awaye frō Niniue, with his wyfe and chyldren, and with his childers childrē, and came agayne to hys father & mother in lawe, and founde them whole and in a good age, and toke the care of them. And he closed theyr eyes, and was heyre vnto al Raguels goodes, and sawe the fyfth generacyon, and his chylders childrē. And whē he was. x••ix. yeare of age, he dyed in y^• feare the Lorde, and his kynsfolkes buryed him. And all his posteryte continued in a good lyfe, and holy conuersacyon: so that they were loued and accepted bothe of God and men / and of all the people of the lande.

¶ The ende of the booke of Tobias.

❧: The booke of Iudith.

¶ The buyidynge of Egbathanis. The vyctory of Nabu∣chodonosor agaynste Arphaxat. The messengers of Nabu∣chodonosor are dyspysed.

CAPI I.

ARphaxat the Kyng of [unspec A] the Medes subdued many peo∣ple vnto his dominyon, & buyl∣ded a noble stronge cytie, which he called Egbathanis. The wal¦les of it made he offre stone, foure squared, seuentye cubytes hye / and thrytye cubytes brode. He made towres there vpon an hun∣dreth cubites hye. But vpon the foure cor∣ners euery syde was twentye fote brode. He made the portes in the heygth, lyke as the towres. This Kynge trusted in his mightye host / and in his glorious charettes.

So in the twelfth yeare of his raygne it [unspec B] happened, y^• Nabuchodonosor the kynge of y^• Assirians (which raygned in y^• great cytye of Niniue) fought agaynste Arphaxat, and ouercame hym in the great felde called Ra∣gau, beside Euphrates & Tigris & Iadason in y^• felde of Erioth y^• kynge of the Elykes.

Then was y^• Kyngdome of Nabuchodo∣nosor exalted, & his herte was lyfte vp & he sente vnto all them y^• dwelt in Celicea, in Damascus, in Libanus, & vnto y^• Heathen that dwelt in Carmel & Cedar, & to such as dwelt in Galtle in y^e great felde of Esdrelon, [unspec C] to all them y^• were in Samaria, & beyonde the water of Iordane vnto Ierusalem and the whole lande of Iesse vnto y^• moūtaynes of Ethiopia. Unto all these dyd Nabucho∣donosor the Kynge of the Assirians sende messaūgers. But they all with one consent wolde nat agre vnto him, & sent y^• messaun∣gers agayne empty, & put them awaye with out honour. Thē Nabuchodonosor y^• kynge toke indignacyon at those landes, & sware by his troue, and by his Kyngdome, that he wolde be auenged of all those countres.

¶ Holoferne•• is sent of Nabuchodonosor, to sub due al the worlde. The preparacyon and pursute of Holofernes.

CAPI. II.

IN the thyrtenth yeare of Kynge Nabu∣chodonosor, [unspec A] vpon the. xxii. daye of the fyrst moneth, it was deuysed in the courte of Nabuchodonosor y^• Kynge of the Assirians, that he wolde detende hym selfe. So he cal∣led vnto hym all the elders / all his captay∣nes / and mē of warre, and shewed them hys secrete coūsel, & tolde them that his purpose was / to brynge the whole earth vnder his domynyon. Nowe when they were all con∣tent with this sayenge, Nabuchodonosor the kynge called Holofernes the chefe cap∣tayne of his warres, & sayde vnto hym: Go thy waye forth agaynste all the Kyngdo∣mes of the west, and specially agaynst those that haue despised my cōmaundemēt. Thou shalt spare no realme, all strōge cyties shalt thou brynge in subteccyon vnto me.

Then Holofernes called together al the [unspec B] captaynes & rulers of all the power in Assi∣ria, & mustred the soudyers vnto the hoste (lyke as y^• Kyng commaunded him (namely an hundred & twentye thousande fightynge men vpon fote, & twelue thousande archers vpon horsebacke. All his ordinaūce sent he before w^t an inunmerable multytude of ca∣mels, so that y^• hoost was well prouyded for wyth oxen: and smal catell, & that wythout nombre. He caused corne to be prepared out of al Siria for his host. Much gold & siluer also toke he out of the Kynges house. So [unspec C] he toke his iourneye / he and all his hoost, with charettes / horsmen, & archers: of whō there were so many, that they couered the grounde of the lande, lyke the greshopers.

And when he was gone past the borders of the Assyrians, he came towarde the great mountaynes of Ange, which lye vpon y^• left syde of Celicia: & so he went vp into al theyr castels, and wanne euery stronge holde. As for the welthy cytie of Melothus, he brake it downe / & spoyled all the chyldrē of Thar∣sis and the Ismaelites, which laye towarde the wyldernes, & vpon the South syde of y^• lande of Chelon. He wente ouer Euphrates also, & came into Mesopotamia and brake downe all the hye cyties that were there, frō [unspec D] the broke of Mambre tyl a man come to the see: and he toke the borders in from Celicia vnto y^• coastes of Iaphet towarde y^• South. He caryed awaye all the Madiates, & spoy∣led all theyr goddes, & whosoeuer withstode hym / he slewe them with the swerde. After thys he wente downe into the felde of Da∣mascus in the tyme of haruest / & brente vp all the corne & all the trees / and caused the vynes to be cut downe. And the feare of him fell vpon all them that dwelt in the earth.

¶ Kynges become wyllyngly subiect to Holofernes The▪ tyrannye and crueltye▪ of hym.

CAPI. III.

SO the Kynges and Prynces of al cyties [unspec A] and landes sent theyr Embassytoures: namely, they of Syrya and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal, and Lybia, & Celicia, which

came to Holofernes, & sayde: Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs: It is better for vs to ser∣ue y^• great kyng Nabuchdoonosor with our lyues, and to be subiecte vnto the, then y^• we shulde dye, & be slayne, and receaue greater hurte. All our cyties & possessions, al moun∣taynes & hylles, all feldes, great & small ca∣tel, shepe, goates, horses & camels, all oure goodes & housholdes, be in thy power, vn∣der thy subieccyon be it al together. We our selues also and oure chyldren wylbe thyne∣owne, come vnto vs a peaceable Lorde, and vse oure seruyce at thy pleasure.

Then came Holofernes downe from the [unspec B] mountaynes with horsmen & great power, and conquered all stronge fensed cities, and all that dwelt in the lande. And out of all cyties he toke stronge men, & suche as were mete for y^• warre, to helpe hym. There came such a feare also vpon those countrees, that the indwellers of all the cyties, the Princes and rulers / and the people together / wente forth to mete hym as he came / and receaued hym honorably with garlādes and torches, with daunses / tabrettes and pypes.

Neuerthelesse, though they dyd this, yet [unspec C] myght they nat swage his rigorious sto∣mack: but he destroyed their cyties, & hewed downe their woddes. For Nabuchodonosor the kynge had cōmaunded hym y^t he shulde roote out all the Goddes of the lande: to the intent y^• he only myght be called & taken for God, of y^• nacyons whiche Holofernes with his power brought vnder him. So went he thorowe Syria Sabal, and thorow all Ap∣pamia, and all Mesopotamia, and came to the I••umeans / in the lande of Gabaa and Septopoly / and toke theyr cyties / and re∣mayned there thyrtye dayes, wherin he cau∣sed all the whole multytude of hys Hoste to be gathered together.

¶ Israel requyred helpe of God, against Holofernes. They f••••t and praye.

CAPI. IIII.

WHen the chyldrē of Israel y^• dwelt [unspec A] in Iewry hearde thys / they were sore afrayed of hym. There came trēblynge and feare vpon thē / least he shuld do that vnto the cytie of Ierusalem / and the temple of the Lorde, y^• he had done to other cyties & theyr temples. So they sent into al Samaria roūde about vnto Iericho, toke in & occupyed al the toppes of the mountay¦nes, made fast the townes w^t walles / & pre∣pared corne for them agaynste the battayll.

Eliachim also the Preste wrote vnto all them that dwelte towarde Esdrelon (which lyeth ouer agaynst y^• great felde by Dotha∣im) and vnto all those by whom men myght haue passage vnto them, that they shulde take in the wayes of y^• mountaynes / wher∣by there might be any waye & passage to Ie∣rusalē / and that they shulde holde dilygent watch where any strayte was betwixt the mountaynes. And the childrē of Israel dyd, as Eliachim the Prest of the Lorde had com¦maunded thē. And all the people cryed vn∣to [unspec B] the Lorde earnestly / & humbled theyr sou¦les w^t fastynges & prayers, they and theyr wyues The prestes put on hearye clothes, & layed the yong babes before the temple of the Lorde, & couered the aulter of the Lorde with an hearye cloth. And w^t one accorde they cryed vnto the Lorde God of Israel, y^• theyr chyldren shulde not be geuen into a praye, & theyr wyues into a spoyle / y^• theyr cyties shulde not be layed wast, & that theyr Sanctuary shulde not be vnhalowed / & so they to be a shame & rebuke vnto y^• Heathē.

Then Eliachim the hye Prest of y^• Lorde went rounde about all Israel, & spake vnto them sayinge: Be ye sure / that the Lorde wyll heare youre peticyons / yf ye contynue stedfast in fastynges & prayers in the syght of the Lorde. Remēbre Moyses the seruaūt of the Lorde / which ouerthrowe the Amale∣chites (that trusted in theyr might & power, in theyr hoost / in theyr shyldes in theyr char¦rettes & horsmen) not w^t weapens, but with holy prayers. Euen so shal all the enemyes of Israell be / yf ye continue in this worke / that ye haue begonne. So vpon thys exhor¦tacyon they contynued in prayer before the Lorde. In so much y^t they whiche offred brēt sacrifyces vnto the Lorde / offred the offrin¦ges vnto the Lorde / beynge arayed in hea∣rye clothes & had asshes vpō theyr heades. And they all be sought God frō theyr whole hert / y^• he wolde vyset hys people of Israel.

¶ Holofernes is discontent with the Iewes, Iehior ••he∣with vnto Holofernes the m••ruelles of God done vnto the Iewes, for which thinge the ••••••ers vnder Holofernes were very angry with him.

CAPI V.

AND worde came to Holofernes the Prynce of y^• warres of the Assyryans, [unspec A] that the chyldren of Israel prepared thē sel∣ues to make resistaūce, & how they had stop∣ped y^• wayes betwixte y^• moūtaynes. Then was he exceadynge wroth, & called all the Prynces of Moab, & the Captaynes of Am¦mon, & sayde vnto thē. Tel me, what people is thys, that kepeth in the mountaynes? Or what & howe great are theyr cytes? What

is theyr power? Or what maner of Hooste haue they? who is theyr Captaine? And why do they despyse vs (more then all those that dwel in the East) and come nat forth to mete vs, that they myght receaue vs with peace? Then Achior the Captayne of all the Am∣monites answered, & sayd: Syr, yf it please the to heare, I wyll tell the trueth before the cōcernynge this people y^• dwel in the moun∣taynes, and there shall no lye go out of my mouth. This people is of the generacyō [unspec B] of the Caldees, they dwelt fyrst in Mesopo∣tamia, for they wolde not folowe y^• goddes of theyr fathers that were in the lande of the Caldees, & so forsoke they the coustomes of theyr fore fathers) which had many goddes) and worshipped one God, that made heauē and earth: whiche also cōmaunded thē, that they shulde go frō thence, & dwel at Haran. Nowe when there came a dearth into the whole lande, they wente downe to Egypte, & there they dwels * 1.134 foure hundreth yeares, in the which they multiplied so greatly, that theyr Hoost myght nat be nombred. And when the kynge of Egypte oppressed them, and subdued thē in buyldynge of his cyties with makynge of claye & bryck, they cryed vnto God theyr Lorde, which punished the whole lande of Egypt with diuerse plages.

Nowe when the Kynge of Egypte let thē [unspec C] go theyr waye, and the plage ceassed, & then folowed after them, to take them, & to bring them agayne into his seruice, whyle they were flyenge awaye, the God of heauen ope¦ned the see / so that the waters stode fast vpō bothe the sydes as a wall, and these wente thorowe the botome of the see drye shod. In the which place when an innumerable peo∣ple of the Egypcyans folowed vpon them, they were so ouer whelmed with y^• waters: that there remayned nat one / to tell them y^• came after / howe it happened. So when thys people was passed thorow the reed see, they came into the wildernes of the mounte Sinai / where neuer mā myght dwel afore, and where the sonne of mā had neuer rested. There were the bytter waters made swete for them / that they myght drynke, and forty yeares had they meate from heauen. Where soeuer they wente (without bowe & arowe, without bukler or swerde) theyr God fought for them / and caused them to haue the vyc∣tory. [unspec D] Yee, no man was able to hurte thys people / excepte it were so, that they departed vnfaythfully from the worshyppynge of the Lorde theyr God. But as ofte as they worshypped any other besyde theyr God, he gaue them ouer to be spoyled / to be slayne / and to be put to confusion. Neuerthelesse, as oft as they were fory for departyng from the worshyppe of theyr God / the same God of heauen gaue them power and strength to with stande theyr enemyes.

Moreouer / they slewe the Kynge of the Cananites / Iebusites / Pheresites / Hethi∣tes / Euites / and Amorites / & all y^• myghtye in Hesebon / & toke theyr landes and cyties in possession: & so longe as they synned nat in the syght of theyr God / it wente wel with thē / for theyr God hateth vnrighteousnesse. For in tymes paste when they wente out of [unspec E] the waye / which God had geuen them / that they shulde walke in it, they were destroyed in dyuerse bataylles of many nacyons: and many of them were caryed awaye preson∣ners vnto a straunge countre. But nowe lately they haue turned them selues agayne vnto the Lorde theyr God / and are come together agayne out of the countres where they were scaterd abrode: & thus haue they cōquered these mountaynes / & dwel therin: and as for Ierusalem where theyr Sanc∣tuary is / they haue it agayne in possessyon.

And therfore my Lorde, make dilygent inquysyon / yf thys people haue done wyc∣kednesse in the syght of their God, then let vs go vp agaynst them / for douteles theyr [unspec F] God shall delyuer them into thy handes / and subdue them vnto thy power. But yf this people haue not displeased theyr God, we shall nat be able to withstande them, for theyr God shall defende them, and so shall we be a shame to all the worlde.

Nowe when Achior had spoken out these wordes, all the greate men of Holofernes were wroth, amd thought to sleye hym / and sayde one to another: what is he this / which darre saye, that the chyldren of Israell are able to withstande Nabuchodhnosor the kynge and his hoost? where as they are an vnwepened people / without strength or vn¦derstandynge of the feates of warre? That Achior therfore maye knowe that he hathe disceaued vs / we wyll go vp into the moun∣taynes: and when the myghty men of them are taken, that he also shalbe styckte with the swerde, that al people maye knowe, that Nabuchodonosor is the God of the earth, & that there is none other without hym.

¶ Achior is commytted into the handes of the Iewes by Holofernes. He is tyed to a ••••••e, but is lowsed of the Iewes The praier of the people, Achior is comforted of the Iewes.

CAPI. VI.

SO when they had left of speakyng, Holo fernes toke sore indignacyon / and sayde [unspec A] vnto Achior: For so muche as thou hast pro∣phecyed vnto vs / sayeng: that the people of Israel shalbe defended of theyr God, I wylt shewe the / that there is no God but Nabu∣chodonosor. Yee when we sley them al as one man / thou also shalt perysh with thē thorow the swerde of the Assirians, & all Israel shal be destroyed with the / and then shalte thou fele / that Nabuchodonosor is the Lorde of the whole earth. Then shal the swerde of my knyghthode go thorowe thy sydes / and thou shalt fal downe styckte among the wounded of Israel / and shalt not come to thy selfe a∣gayne / but be vtterly destroyed with them. But yf thou thinkest thy prophecy to be true, why doest thou then chaunge thy coloure? why arte thou afrayed? Thynkest thou that my wordes are not able to be perfourmed? [unspec B] But that thou mayest know, that thou shalt fele these thynges with them / beholde, from this houre forth wyll I sende the vnto yon∣der people / that when the punishment of my swerde (which they haue worthely deserued) falleth vpon them, thou mayest be punyshed with them.

So Holofernes cōmaunded his seruaun¦tes to take Achior, & to cary hym vnto Be∣thulia, & to delyuer hym into the handes of the chyldren of Israel. Then Holofernes ser¦uauntes toke hym, & went thorow the plaine felde. But when they drew nye vnto the moū¦taynes, the stynge casters came out agaynst them: Neuerthelesse they gat them away by the syde of the mountayne / & bounde Achior hande and fote to a tree / & so lefte him boūde with wythes / and turned agayne vnto their Lorde.

Notwithstandynge y^• chyldren of Israell wente downe frō Bethulia / came vnto him / lowsed him / brought him into Bethulia / set hym in the myddest of the people, and asked him what the matter was, that y^• Assirians had lefte him bounde?

Osias the sonne of Micha of the tribe of [unspec C] Symeon / and Charmim (which is also cal∣led Gothoniel) were the principall rulers at the same tyme. Nowe when Achior stode in the myddest of the Senatours, and before them al he tolde them / what answere be gaue Holofernes / to the thyng that he asked him / and howe Holofernes people wolde haue slayne hm for so sayinge / and howe Holofer∣nes hym selfe was wroth, and commaunded hym for the same cause to be delyuered vnto the Israelites: that when he ouercame the chyldren of Israell, he myght cōmaunde A∣chior also to be put to death with diuers tor∣mentes / because he sayde: the God of heauen is theyr defēder. And whē Achior had plaine¦ly tolde out al these thinges, al the people fel downe vpon their faces, praisyng the Lord / & poured out theyr praiers together vnto the Lorde, w^t a general cōplaynt & wepyng, and sayde: O Lorde God of heauē & of earth, be∣holde their pryde / & loke vpon our lowlynes and cōsydre how it standeth w^t thy saynctes / and make it to be knowē / that thou forsakest nat those / whiche holde them fast by the, and howe y^• thou bryngest thē lowe / that presume of them selues, and make theyr boste in theyr [unspec D] owne strength. So when the wepynge and prayer of the people (whiche they had made the whole daye longe) was ended / they com∣forted Achior, sayenge: The God of oure fa∣thers / whose power and strength thou hast praysed / shal so rewarde the / that thou shalt rather se theyr destruccyon. When the Lorde oure God then shall geue his seruaūtes thys lybertye / God be also with the among vs: so that yf it please the, thou w^t all thyne mayest dwell with vs.

Nowe when Oseas had ended the coūcel he toke him into his house, and made a great supper, called the elders to it / and so they re∣fresshed them selues after the fastynge. And afterwarde was all the people called toge∣ther / which made their prayers al the nygh•• longe in the congregacion / and besought the God of Israel for helpe.

¶ Bethulia is beseged of Holofernes. The people requy∣teth helpe of God. They of Bethulia wolde gyue ouer the ci¦tye for wante of water. The prayer of the people with teares and lamentacyon.

CAPI. VII.

THe nexte daye / Holofernes commaun∣ded hys hoste / to go vp agaynste Be∣thulia. [unspec A] There were an hundred and twen∣tye thousande fyghtynge men on fote and two and twentye thousande horssemen / be∣syde the preparyng of them that were wōne: and came to them on euery syde out of the countrees and cityes whiche he had taken. All these prepared them selues vnto the bat∣tayl agaynst the Israelites / and came on by the hyl syde / vnto the toppe that loketh ouer agaynste Dothaim / from the place which is called Belma / vnto Chelmon that lyeth to∣warde Esdrelon. [unspec B]

Nowe when the chyldrē of Israel saw so great a multitude of the Assirians / they fell downe flat vpon the groūde / strawed asshes vpon theyr heades, and prayed with one ac∣corde,

that the God of Israel wolde shew his mercy vpō his people. And so they toke their weapens, and sat betwixte the mountaynes in the naro we place, and kepte the waye day and nyght. But whyle Holofernes was go∣ynge aboute / he founde the water sprynge / whiche from the South syde was conueyed into y^e cytie by a cōdite: this cōmaunded he to be directe another waye / & to cut their cōdite in sunder. There were welles also not farre from the walles / whiche they vsed secretely / more for pleasure then for necessyte.

Then wente the Ammonites & y^• Moa∣bytes [unspec C] vnto Holofernes, & sayd: The chyldrē of Israell trust neyther in speare nor arowe / but kepe and defende the mountaynes and hylles. That thou mayest ouercome thē ther¦fore without y^• strykynge of any batayle / set men to kepe the welles that they drawe no water out of them: so shalt thou destroy them without swearde, or at the least they shall be so feble, that they must be fayne to geue ouer the cytye: Whiche they thynke not able to be wonne, for so muche as it lyeth in the moun∣taynes. These wordes pleased Holofernes well & all his mē of warre, and he set an hun∣dreth at euery well rounde aboute.

And when this watch had endured twen¦tye dayes / the Cisternes & all that had wa∣ter, [unspec D] fayled them that dwelt in the cyte of Be∣thulia, so that in the whole cyte they had not dryncke ynough for one daye / for the people had water geuen them daylye in a measure. Then came the men and wemen, yonge per∣sonnes and chyldren all vnto Osias, & sayde all with one voyce: God be••udge betwyxte vs and the, for thou hast dealt euyl with vs: thou woldest not speake peaceably with the Kynge of the Assyrians, therfore hathe God solde vs in theyr handes / and there is no mā to helpe vs where as we are brought downe before theyr eyes in thirst and great destruc∣cyon. Therfore gather nowe together al the people that be in the cytie / that we maye all yelde our selues wyllyngely vnto the people of Holofernes: for better it is that we be cap∣tyue and prayse the Lorde with oure lyues / then to be slayne and peryshe, and to be laug¦hed to scorne & shamed of euery man / when we se our wyues and children dye before our eyes. We take heauen and earth this daye to recorde / and the God of oure fathers (whi¦che punysshed vs accordynge to the deser∣uyng of our synnes) and gaue you warning, that ye geue vp the cyte nowe into the power of Holofernes hoste / that our ende maye be shorte with the swearde / whiche els shall en∣dure long, for want of water and for thyrste.

When they had spoken out these wordes, [unspec E] there was a great wepyng & howlyng in the whole cōgregacion, and y^t of euery man, and they cried an whole hour long vnto God w^t one voyce, saying: we haue synned w^t our fa¦thers, we haue done amyse / we haue dealte wyckedly. Thou y^• art gracious, haue mercy vpon vs, punysh our vnryghtuousnes with thyne owne scourge, & geue not those ouer y^• knowledge the / vnto a people which knowe the not / least they say amonge the Heythen: where is their God.

And when they were so wery with thys cryenge and wepynge, that they helde theyr tonges / Osias stode vp with watrye eyes / and sayde: O take good hertes vnto you / (deare brethren) and be of good cheare / and let vs wayte yet these fyue dayes for mercye of the Lorde: peraduenture he shal cut away his indignacyon, and geue glorye vnto hys name. But yf he helpe vs not when these fyue dayes are paste / we shall do as ye haue sayde.

¶ Of the vertuous woman Iudith, whiche reproueth the aunci••••t••s because they tempted the Lorde. She also mo∣ueth them to encorage and hertē the people, and sheweth her councel agaynst the enemyes of the Iewes.

CAPI. VIII.

AND it happened when these wordes came to the eares of Iudith a wyddow, [unspec A] whiche was the daughter of Merari, the sonne of Idox, the sonne of Ioseph / the sōne of Osia / the sonne of Elai / the sonne of Iam¦mor, the sonne of Iedeon / the sonne of Ra∣phoim / the sonne of Achitob, the sōne of Mel¦chia / the sonne of Euam / the sonne of Natha¦nia / the sonne of Salathiel / the sonne of Si¦meon, the sonne of Ruben. And her husband was called Manasses, whyche dyed in the dayes of the barlye harueste. For whyle he was byndynge the sheues together in the felde / the heate came vpon his heade, and he dyed at Bethulia his cytye / and there was he buryed besyde his fathers. Nowe was Iudyth hys desolate wyddowe thre yeares and syxe monethes. And in the hygher par∣tes of her house she made her selfe a preuye chambre, where she dwelt / beyinge closed in with her maydens. She ware a smocke of hearre / and fasted al the dayes of her lyfe / ex¦cepte [unspec B] the Sabbathes / and newe mones and the solempne daies that the people of Israel kepte. She was a very fayre and beautifull persone. Her husband also had left her great ryches, a plentuous housholde / great vnmo¦uable possessiōs and many catell. This Iu∣dith was a woman of a very good reporte

with euery one, for she feared y^• Lorde great¦ly, and there was no body that spake an euel worde of her.

Whē this Iudith herde, how Osias had promysed the people, y^t after the fyfte day he wolde giue vp the cyte vnto the Assiriās, she sent for the elders Chābri & Charmy, & when they came to her, she sayde: what thynge is this, wherin Osias hath cōsented that if god helpe not w^tin fyue dayes, he wyll geue ouer the cytie to the Assirians? What are ye, y^• ye tempte the Lord? This deuice optayneth no mercy of God, but prouoketh hi vnto wrath and displeasure. Wyll ye set the mercy of the Lorde a tyme and appoyute hym a day after your wyll?

Neuerthelesse, for so muche as the Lord is [unspec C] pacyente / let vs rather repent, pouryng out teares, and beseching him of grace. For God threateneth not as a man: neyther wyll he be prouoked vnto wrath as the chyldren of men. And therfore let vs hertely fall downe before him / and serue him with a meke sprete and with wepynge eyes say vnto the Lorde / that he deale with vs accordyng to his owne wyll and mercy: that lyke as our hert is now vexed / and brought lowe thorowe the pryde of them / it maye so be conforted thorowe hys grace: in so muche as we folowe not the syn∣nes of our fathers, which forsoke theyr God, and worshypped other Goddes: for the whi∣che synne they peryshed with the swearde / were spoyled & brought to shame of all theyr ennemyes. As for vs, we knowe none other God but onely hym, for whose comforte let vs tary with mekenesse. He shal requyre and make inquysicion for our bloude / frome the vexacions of our enemyes: he shall brynge downe all the Heythen / that ryse vp against vs, and put them to dyshonoure / euen the Lorde our God.

Therfore deare brethren, seynge ye are [unspec D] the honorable & elders in the people of God / vnto whom all the people haue respecte, and vpon whom the lyfe of the people standeth / lyft vp theyr hertes with your exhortacyon / that they maye call to remembraunce / howe oure fathers also in tymes past were temp∣ted, that they myght be proued / yf they wor∣shypped theyr God a ryght. They ought to remembre, howe * 1.135 our father Abraham be∣ynge tempted, and tryed thorowe many try∣bulacyons / was founde a louer and frende of God. So was Isaac / so was Iacob / so was Moises / and al they that pleased God / beyng tryed thorowe many troubles / were founde stedfast in fayth. Agayne / they that receyued not theyr tēptacyons with the feare of God, but put them selues forth with vn∣paciency and murmurynge agaynste God / peryshed of the destroyer / and were slayne of serpentes. And therfore shuld not we vn∣dertake to be auenged / for the thyng that is done vnto vs: but to consydre / that all these punyshementes are farre lesse then our syn∣nes and mysdedes. Beleuinge also that this correccyon commeth vnto vs (as to the ser∣uauntes of God) for amendemente / and not for our destruccion.

Then sayde Osias & the elders vnto Iu∣dith: [unspec E] All that thou speakest / is true / and no man can reproue thy wordes. Pray thou for vs now therfore vnto God, for thou arte an holy woman / and fearest God. And Iudith sayde vnto them: Seyng / ye knowe that my wordes are of God, then proue my councell and deuyse, yf it be of God: & beseche God / y^• he wyll brynge my councel to good ende.

Thus haue I deuised: Ye shal stande this nyght before the porte / and I wyll go forthe w^t Abra my mayden. Praye ye therfore vnto God / that he wyl graciously remēbre his peo¦ple of Israel w^tin fiue dayes, as ye haue said As for the thynge that I go in hande w^tal / aske ye no questions of it, tyl I open it vnto you my selfe: do ye nothīg els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me. Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda sayd vnto her: Go thy way i peace, the Lorde be w^t the / that we may be auēged of oure ennemyes. And so they wente from her agayne.

¶ The prayer of Iudith for the vyctory.

CAPI. IX.

NOwe when they were gone theyr way / Iudyth [unspec A] wente into her closet, put on an hearrye smocke / strawed asshes vpon her heade / fell downe before the Lord, and cryed vnto hym / sayinge: O Lorde God of my fa∣ther * 1.136 Symeon / which gauest hym a swerde for a defence agaynst the enemyes / that vsed vyolence and wylfulnes and that rauisshed the vyrgin and put her to dyshonesty. Thou that gauest theyr wyues into a pray / & theyr daughters into captiuite / and al theyr praye for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes, whyche bare a zele vnto the, helpe me wyddowe, O Lorde my God / I beseche the. For thou hast done all thynges from the begynnynge: and loke what thou hast taken in hande and deui¦sed, it came euer to passe. For all thy wayes are prepared / and thy iudgementes are done in thy euerlastyng for knoweledge. O loke nowe vpon the armies of the Assyrians, lyke as it was thy pleasure somtime to loke vpon

the host of y^• Egipciās, when they being wea¦pened: {per}secute thy seruaūt{is}, & put theyr trust in their charettes, horsmē / & in the multitude of their men of warre. But y^u lokedst vpon their host / castyng a thycke darkenes before them: & when they came into the depe / the wa¦ters ouerwhelmed them.

Euen so Lorde, let it go with these / that truste in the power & multitude of their men [unspec B] of warre in theyr charettes, arowes / & spea∣res / and knowe not, that thou onely art our God, whiche destroyest warres from the be∣gynnyng / and that thou art the Lord. O lift vp thyne arme nowe, lyke as euer trō the be∣gynning, & in thy power brynge their power to naught / cause theyr myght to fall in thy wrathe. They make theyr boste, that they wyll vnhalowe and defyle thy Sanctuary / and to wayst the tabernacle of thy name, & to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with theyr swerde. Bryng to passe (O Lorde) that the pryde of the enemye maye be cut downe with his owne swearde, that he maye be takē w^t the snare of his eyes in me / and that thou mayest smyte hi with the lyppes of my loue. O geue me a stedfast minde / that I maye de¦spyse him and his strength, & that I may de∣stroye hym.

Thys shall brynge thy name an euerla∣stynge remembraunce, yf the hande of a wo∣man ouer throwe hym. For thy power (O Lord) stādeth not in y^• power of men, neyther hast y^u any pleasure in the strength of horses. There was neuer proude persone y^t pleased the, but in the prayer of y^• humble and meke hath thy pleasure bene euermore.

O thou God of the heauens / thou maker [unspec C] of the waters / and Lorde of all creatures / heare me poore woman, callynge vpon the, & puttynge my truste in thy mercy. Remembre thy couenaunt / O Lorde, and mynister wor∣des in my mouth, and stablysh this deuice in my hert, that thy house maye contynue styll in holynes / and that all the Heythen maye knowe / that thou art God / and that there is none other but thou.

¶ Iudish decketh her selfe ••o go to Holofernes. The bles∣synge that the Elders gaue Iudith. Holofernes is in loue with Iudith.

CAPI. X.

ANd whē she had left of cryeng vnto the [unspec A] Lord / she rose vp from the place, where she had lyen flat before the Lord, & called her mayden / wente downe into her house, layed the hearrye clothe frē her / put of the garmne¦••es of her wyddowhode / wasshed her body / anoynted her selfe with precyous thynges▪ of swete sauoure / broyded and platted her hearre / set an hooue vpon her head / and put on suche apparell as belongeth vnto glad∣nesse, slyppers vpon her fete / armellett{is}, spā¦ges, earynges, fynger rynges, and deckt her selfe w^t all her best aray.

The Lorde gaue her also a specyall beau¦tye and fayrenes (for all this deckyng of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse and pleasure of the fleshe, but of a ryght dis∣crecyon and vertue, therfore dyd the Lorde increase her bewtye) so that she was excea∣dyng amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes. She gaue hyr mayde also a botell of wyne / a pot with oyle, pottage, cake bread & chese / and went her way.

Nowe whan she came to the porte of the [unspec B] cytie / she founde Osias and the elders of the cytie waytyng there. Whiche whā they sawe her, they were astonnyed, & marueled great∣ly at her vewty. Neuerthelesse / they asked no questiō at her / but let her go, saying: The god of our fathers geue the his grace, & with hys power perfourme al the deuyse of thy herte: y^• Ierusalē maye reioyce ouer the, & that thy name may be in the nōbre of the holy & rygh¦tuous. And al they y^• were there, sayde w^t one voyce: so be it, so be it. Iudith made her pray¦er vnto the Lord, & went out at the porte, she and her mayde.

And as she was going downe the moun∣tayne / it happened that aboute y^• sprynge of the day / the spyes of the Assyriās met w^t her / & toke her, saying: whence cōmest y^u? Or whi∣ther goest y^u? She answered: I am a daugh∣ter of the Hebrues / & am fled from them: for I knowe, y^t they shal be geuē vnto you to be spoyled: because they thought scorne to yelde thē selues vnto you / that they myght fynde mercy in your syght. Therfore / haue I deuy¦sed by my selfe after this maner: I wyl go be¦fore the prince Holofernes, & tell him al their secretes, & wyl shewe him, how he may come by them, & wynne them, so that not one man of his hoste shal perysh.

And whan these men had hearde her wor∣des, [unspec C] and considered her fayre face, they were astonnyed (for they wondred at her excellent bewty) & said vnto her: Thou hast saued thy life by fyndynge out this deuyce, that y^u wol∣dest come downe to oure Lorde: and be thou sure / that whan thou commest vnto hym, he shall intreate the well / and thou shalt please hym at the herte. So they brought her into Holofernes pauylyon / and tolde him of her. Nowe when she came in before him, immedi¦ately he was ouercome and taken with her

bewty. Then said his seruaūtes to him: who wolde despyse the people of the Iewes, that haue so fayre wemē? Shuld we not by reasō fyght agaynst thē for these? So whē Iudith sawe Holofernes syttynge in a canapy▪ that was wrought of purple sylke / golde, Sma∣radge, & precyous stones, she loked fast vpō hym, and fell downe vpon the earth. And Holofernes seruaūtes toke her vp agayne / at theyr Lordes cōmaundement.

¶ Holofrenes requyreth of Iudith the cause of her cōming whiche geueth him a ••uttell answere.

CAPI. X.

THen sayde Holofernes vnto her: Be of [unspec A] good chere, and feare not in thyne hert, for I neuer hurte man, that wolde serue Na¦buchodonosor the Kynge. As for thy people, yf they had not despysed me / I shulde not haue lyft vp my speare agaynst thē. But tell me nowe / what is the cause that thou art de¦parted from them / and wherfore arte thou come vnto vs?

And Iudith sayde vnto hym: Syr / vn∣derstande y^• wordes of thy hand mayden: for yf y^u wylt do after the wordes of thy hād may¦den / the Lord shal bryng thy matter to a pro¦sperous effecte. As truly as Nabuchodono∣sor a Lord of the lande lyueth / & as truely as his power lyueth, which is in the to the puni¦shement of al men that go wrong, al mē shal not onely be subdued vnto him thorow the / but all the beastes also of the felde obey him. For all people speake of thy prudent actyui∣te, & it hath euer bene reported, howe thou o∣nely art good & myghty in al his kingdome, & thy discrecion is cōmended in all landes.

The thyng is manyfest also, that Achior [unspec B] spake, and it is well knowen, what thou cō∣maundest to do vnto him. For this is playne and of a surety, that our God is so wroth w^t vs (by reason of our sinnes) y^t he hath shewed by his Prophetes vnto the people, how that for theyr synnes he wyll delyuer them ouer vnto the enemy. And for so much as the chyl¦dren of Israel know that they haue so disple¦sed theyr God, they are sore afrayed of the.

They suffre greate hongre also, and for want of water; they are deade nowe in a ma∣ner. Moreouer, they are appoynted to slaye all theyr catell, that they maye dryucke the bloude of them: and are purposed to spende al the holy ornamentes of their God (which he hathe forbyddē them to touche) for corne, wyne and oyle. Seynge nowe, that they do [unspec C] these thynges, it is a playne case, that they must nedes be destroyed. Which when I thy handmayde•• perceyued, I fled from them, and the Lord hath sent me vnto the, to shew the these thynges. For I thy handmayden worshyppe God euen here nowe besyde the, and thy handemayden shall go for the, and I wyll make my prayer vnto God, and he shal tell me, when he wyll rewarde them theyr synne, then shall I come and shewe the and brynge the thorowe the myddest of Ierusalē, so that thou shalte haue all the people of Is∣rael, as the shepe wythout a shepherde: there shal not so much as one dog barcke agaynst the, for these thynges are shewed me by the prouydence of God: & for so much as God is displeased with them, he hath sent me to tell the the same.

These wordes pleased Holofernes & all [unspec D] his seruauntes, which marueled at the wys∣dome of her, and sayde one to another: there is not suche a woman vpon earth, in bewtye and discrecyon of wordes. And Holofernes sayde vnto her: God hath done well, that he hath sent the hyther before thy people, that y^• mayest geue them into our hand••••. And for so muche as thy promyse is good, y〈…〉〈…〉 God perfourme it vnto me, he shalbe my go〈…〉〈…〉 and thou shalt be excellente and great 〈…〉〈…〉 court of Nabuchodonosor, & thy name shalbe spoken of in all the lande.

Holofernes cōmaundeth that Iudith be well intreat •• Sh•• desyreth lycen••e to go out in the nyght c••••••ō to 〈…〉〈…〉¦neth it. ••••ga•• is set vnto h•••• to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her to▪ come into Ho∣lofernes to a Banckes, & the cometh. Holo••••••••es is 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

CAPI. XI.

THen cōmaunded he her to go in, where [unspec A] his treasure laye / and charged that she shulde haue her dwellynge there) and ap∣poynted what shulde be gyuen her frome hys table. Iudith answered hym, and sayd: As for the meate that thou haste commaun∣ded to geue me / I may not eate of it as now (least I dysplease my God) but wyll eate of suche as I haue brought with me. Then sayde Holoferues vnto her: If these thyn∣ges that thou haste brought wyth the fayle / what shal we do vnto the? And Iudith said: As truely as thou lyuest my Lorde / thy hād∣mayden shall not spende all thys / tyll God haue brought to passe in my hande / the thin¦ges that I haue deuysed.

So hys seruauntes brought her into the [unspec B] tent, where as he had appointed. And as she was goyng in, she desyred y^• she myght haue leue to go forth by nyght & before day, to her prayer & to make intercessyon vnto the Lord Then cōmaūded Holofernes his Chāberla••¦nes, y^• she shulde go out & in at her pleasure / to pray vnto God those thre dayes.

And so in the nyght season she went forth into the valley of Bethulia, and wasshed her selfe in the well water. Then wente she vp / and besought the Lorde God of Israell that he wolde prospere her waye, for the delyue∣raunce of hys people. And so she wente in / & remayned clene in her tente, tyll she toke her meate in the euenyng.

Upon the fourth daye it happened / that [unspec C] Holofernes made a supper vnto hys seruaū¦tes, and sayd vnto Uagao his chāber••ayne: Go thy waye / and councell thys Hebruesse / that she may be wyllynge to consent to kepe company with me. For it were a shame vnto all the Assyryans, that a woman shulde so laugh a man to scorne, that she were come frō hym vnmedled withall.

Then went Uagao vnto Iudith, & sayd: Let not y^• good daughter be afraied, to come into my Lorde, that she may be honoured be¦fore him / that she may eate and drincke wine and be mery with him. Unto whome Iudith answered: Who am I / that I shulde saye my Lorde naye? whatsoeuer is good before his eyes / I shall do it: and loke what is hys pleasure, that shall I thyncke well done, as longe as I lyue.

So she stode vp / and deckte her self with [unspec D] her apparell / and wente in / and stode before him. And Holofernes herte was whole mo∣ued / so that he brent in desyre towarde her. And Holofernes sayd vnto her dryncke now and syt downe / and be mery / for thou haste founde fauoure before me. Then sayde Iu∣dith: Syr / I wyll dryncke / for my mynde is meryer to daye / then euer it was in all my lyfe. And she toke, and dyd eate / and drancke before him, y^• thinges y^• her mayden had pre∣pared for her. And Holofernes was mery w^t her / and drancke more wine, then euer he did afore in his lyfe.

¶ Holofernes slepet•••• for very dronckēne••, and Iudith cut ••eth of his heade, ••nd goeth ther with to her owne people of who•••• she is r••••••yued with ••oy. They geue thākes vnto God 〈◊〉〈◊〉 theyr deliueraunce. Iudith speaketh vnto Achior. Which maru••leth at her fe••••e done to Holofernes.

CAPI. XIII.

NOwe when it was late in the nyght, his [unspec A] seruauntes made haste euery man to his lodgynge. And Uagao shut the Cham∣bre dores / and wente his waye, for they were all ouerladen with wyne. So was Iudith alone in the chambre. As for Holofernes he laye vpon the bed all droncken, and of verye dronckēnes fel a slepe.

Then commaunced Iudith her mayden, to stande without before the dore, & to waite. And Iudith stode before the bed / makynge her prayer with tearess, & moued her lyppes secretely, & sayde: Strengthen me / O Lorde God of Israel, & haue respecte vnto the wor¦kes of my hādes in this houre, y^• thou mayest set vp thy cyte of Ierusalem, lyke as y^• haste promysed: O graūte that by the I may per∣fourme y^• thyng, which I haue deuysed tho∣rowe the beleue that I haue in the.

And when she had spokē thys, she went to [unspec B] the bedsteade, & lowsed the swerde that han∣ged vpon it, & drew it out. Thē toke she holde of the hearrye lockes of hys heade, and sayd: Strengthen me, O Lorde God in this hour & with that, she gaue him two strokes vpon the necke, and smote of his head. Then toke she the canapy away, & rolled the deed body asyde. Immediatly she gather forth, & dely∣uered y^e head of Holofernes vnto her maidē, & bad her put it in her wallet.

And so these two wente forth together af∣ter theyr custome, as though they wolde pray & so passed by the host, & came thorow the va¦ley vnto the porte of the cytye. And Iudyth cryed a farre of vnto the watchemē vpon the walles: Opē the gates (sayde she) for God is w^t vs, which hath shewed his power •• Israel And when they hearde her voyce, they called the elders of the cite together. And they came a•• to mete her, lytle & great, yonge & olde, for they thoughte not y^• she shulde haue come so sone. So they lyghted candels, & gathered a boute her euery ••hone: but she wente vp in¦to an hye place, and caused sylence to be pro∣clamed.

When euery man now helde hys tonge / [unspec C] Iudith sayde: O prayse the Lord our God / for he hath not despysed) nor forsaken them, that put their trust in him / & in me his hand∣maidē he hath perfourmed his mercy, which he promysed vnto the house of Israel: yee in my hand thys same nyght hath he slayne the enemye of hys people.

And with that she toke forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet / and shewed it them / sayinge. Beholde the heade of Holofer¦nes the captayne of the Assyryans, and thys is the canapy, wherin he laye in his dronckē¦nes: where the Lord our God hath slayne h•• by the hande of a woman.

But as truly as the Lorde liueth / his An¦gell hath kepte me, goynge thyther / remay∣nyng there, & cōmynge hyther agayne frome thence. And the Lord hath not suffred me his hand mayden to be defyled / but without any fylthines of sine hath he brought me agayne vnto you: & that with great vyctorye, so y^• I

am escaped, and ye delyuered / O geue than∣kes vnto him euerychone, for he is gracious and his mercy endureth for euer.

So they praysed the Lorde al together, & [unspec D] gaue thākes vnto him. And to her they said: The Lorde hath blessed the in his power, for thorow the he hath brought our enemyes to naught. And Ozias the chefe ruler of y^• peo∣ple of Israel, said vnto her: Blessed art thou daughter of the Lord the hye God, aboue all wemen vpon earth.

Blessed be y^• Lord, the maker of heauen & earth, which hath gyded y^• a ryght to woūde and to smyte of the head of the Captayne of oure enemyes. For this daye he hath made thy name so honourable, y^e thy prayse shal ne¦uer come out of the mouth of mē / which shal alwaye remembre the power of the Lorde / seying: thou hast not spared thyne owne self, but put the in ••eopardy, consideryng the an∣guysh and trouble of thy people, and so hast helped theyr fall before God our Lorde. And all the people sayd. Amen. Amen.

Achior also was called, & he came. Then [unspec E] sayde Iudith vnto hym: The God of Israel vnto whō y^u gauest witnes, y^• he wolde be auē¦ged of his enemyes, euen he hath this nyght thorow my hand smytten of y^• head of all the vnfaythfull. And that y^u mayest se y^e it so is / beholde this is y^• head of Holofernes, which in his presumptuous pryde despysed y^• God of the people of Israell, & threatened the w^t destruceyō, saying: whē y^• people of Israel is taken / I shall cause y^• also to be styck••e with the swerde. When Achior sawe Holofernes head / he fell downe vpō his face to y^• groūde for very anguyshe & feare, so y^• he sowned w^t all. But after y^• he was come agayne to hym self, he fel downe before her, and praysed her saying: Blessed art thou of thy God in al the tabernacles of Iacob: for all the people that here of thy name / shall prayse the God of Is¦rael because of the.

¶ The councel of Iudith. Achior beynge an Heathen man, turneth to God. The Assirians are afrayed of the Iewes.

CAPI. XIIII.

IUdith sayde vnto all the people▪ Brethrē, [unspec A] heare me. Styck vp this heade vpon our walles, & when the Sūne ariseth, take euery man his weapē / & fall out vyolently: not as though ye wolde go besyde thē, but to rēne v∣pon thē / with vyo••ēce. When the spyes •• the ••entes se thys / they shall of necessyte be com∣pelled to ••le backward, and to rayse vp their captayne to the batayle. So when their ca∣ptaynes come into Holofernes pa••ylyon / and fynde y^• dead body wrapped in y^• bloude, fearfulnes shall fall vpon them: and whē ye perceyue that they flye, folow thē without al care, for God shal delyuer them vnto you / to be destroyed.

Then Achior seying y^• power of God whi¦che he had shewed vnto y^• peple of Israel, fel of from h{is} Heathenish belefe, & put his trust in God, & let him selfe be circūcised, & so was he nōbred amōg the people of Israel, he & all his posterite vnto this daye.

Nowe as sone as it was daye, they styckt [unspec B] vp Holofernes heade vpon the walles, and euery man toke his weapen, & so they wente out with an horryble cry. When the spyes sawe that, they came vnto Holofernes tente. And they that were within the tente, came before hys chamber, and made a greate rus∣shing to wake him vp, because they thought with the noyse to haue raysed him. For there durst not one of the Assyrians knocke, go in or open.

But when the captaynes & princes & al the chefe in the kyng of the Assyriās host came to¦gether, they sayde vnto the Chāberlay••es. Go your way in & wake him vp, for the myse are crept out of theyr holes, & darre prouoke vs vnto batayle.

Then wente Uagao into his chambre / [unspec C] stode before the bed, and clapped with hys handes, for he thought he had bene slepynge with Iudith.

But whē he had herkened perfectly with his eares / and coulde perceyue no sterynge, he wente nyer to the bed / and lyfte it vp, and thē sawe he y^e deed body of Holofernes lyēge there without a heade / weltred in his bloud vpon the earthe. Then cryed he with loude voyce / and with wepynge rente his clothes / and went into Iudithes tent, and found her not: And so he leapt out vnto the people and sayd: one woman of y^• Iewes, hath broughte all Nabuchodonosors people to shame. For lo / Holofernes lyeth vpon the grounde and hath no heade.

When y^• chefe of the Assyrians hoste herde that, they rente theyr clothes, and there fell an intollerable feare and tremblynge vpon thē, so that their myndes were sore afrayed. And there was an excedynge greate crye in the whole hoste.

¶ The flyght of the Assyryans / The ••••••su•••• of Israel after 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Israel becommeth ••••che, by the spoyles of the Assyriās Iudith is praysed of Ioachim and of the people.

CAPI. XV.

NOw when al y^• host herd y^• Holofernes [unspec A] was headed, their mynde and councell fell from them: and soch a feare came vpon

them, that they vndertoke to defende thē sel∣ues by flieng away: one spake not to another but hanged downe theyr heades, lefte all be∣hynde them / & made haste to escape from the Hebrues: for they herde / that they were ha∣styng to come after with theyr weapens, and so they fled by the wayes of the feldes / and thorow al the fo••e pathes of the dales.

And when the chyldren of Israell sawe that they fled / they folowed vpon them / and went downe with trompettes / blowyng and makynge a greate crye after them. As for the Assirians, they had no ordre and kepte not thē selues together, but fled theyr waye. Neuerthelesse, the cyldren of Israel fel vpō them with one company and ordre / and dis∣comfited as many as they myght get. And Os••as sent messaungers vnto all the cytyes and countrees of Israel.

So all the regyons and euery cytie sente [unspec B] out their best men after them in harnes, and smote them with the swearde / tyll they came to the vttemost parte of theyr borders. And the other that were in Bethulia came in to the tentes of the Assiriās, & toke al y^• they whi¦che were fled had left behynde them, & so they founde great good. And they y^• came agayne to Bethulia frome the batayle, toke w^t them suche thinges as had bene theyrs: there was no nōbre of the catel / & of al costly Iewels, so that from the lowest vnto y^• hyest / they were al made ••iche of the spoiles of thē. And Ioa∣chim the Hye preste at Ierusalē, came to Be¦thulia with all the elders / that they myght se Iudith.

Now when she came out vnto them / they [unspec C] begāne al to prayse her w^t one voyce, saying: y^u worshyp of the cyte of Ierusalē, thou ioy of Israell, y^u honoure of our people, y^u hast done manly, & thy herte is cōforted, because y^u hast loued clenlynes & chastite, & hast knowen no man but thyne owne husband: therfore hath the hande of the Lorde cōforted the, & blessed shalt y^u be for euer. And al the people sayd: so be it, so be it.

In thyrty dayes coulde the people of Is∣rael scarse gather vp the spoyles of the Assi∣rians. But al that belongeth vnto Holofer∣nes / and had bene his specyally (whether it were of gold / of syluer, precious stones / clo∣thyng, and al ornamentes) they gaue it vn∣to Iudith. And al the people reioysed / bothe wemen / maydens / and yonge people / with pypes and harpes.

¶ The ••onge of Iudith for the vyctory. After the v••c••••••ye o••tayned, the people commeth to Ierusalem, to worshyppe and prayse God.

CAPI. XVI.

THen songe Iudith thys songe vnto the [unspec A] Lorde: Begynne vnto the Lorde vpon the Tabrettes, synge vnto the Lorde vpon the cymbales. O syng vnto hym a new song of thankesgeuyng, be ioyful & cal vpon hys name. It is the Lord that destroyeth warres euē the Lorde in his name. Which hath pit∣ched his tentes in the myddest of his people / that he myght delyuer vs from the hande of our enemyes. Assur came out of the moun∣taynes of the North in the multytude of his strength. His people stopped the water bro∣kes / and theyr horsses couered y^• valleys. He purposed to haue brent vp my lande, & to ••••ey my yong men w^t the swearde.

He wolde haue caryed away my chyldren [unspec B] and vyrgins into captiuyte, but y^• almygh∣tye Lorde hyndred hym / and delyuered hym into y^• handes of a woman / whiche brought hym to confusion. For theyr myghtye was not destroyed of the yonge men. It was not y^• sonnes of Tytan that slewe hym / neyther haue the greate gyauntes set them selues a∣gaynst hym: but Iudith y^• daughter of Me¦rari with her fayre beautye hath discou••fited hym / and brought hym to naught. For she layed awaye her wyddowes garmente / and put on the apparel of gladnesse to the reioy∣synge of the chyldren of Israel. She anoyn∣ted her face, and bounde vp her hearre in an hooue / to begyle him. Her slyppers rauished hys eyes, her bewtie captyuated his mynde, with the swerde smote she of his necke. The Persians were astonnyed at her stedfastnes [unspec C] and the Medes at her boldnes. Then how∣led the armyes of the Assyrians / when my symple appeared, drye of thyrst. The sonnes of the daughters haue pearsed thē thorowe and slayne them as fugytyue chyldren: they peryshed in the batayle, for the very feare of the Lorde my God. Let vs synge a songe of thankesgeuyng vnto the Lorde, a new song of prayse wyll we synge vnto oure God: Lorde, Lord, thou arte a greate God, mygh∣tye in power, whom no man may ouercome. All thy creatures shulde serue the: for thou spakest but the worde, and they were made: thou se••test thy sprete, and they were crea∣ted / and no man can withstande thy voyce▪ The mountaynes shall moue from the fo••••▪dacyons with the waters / the stony Rockes shall melt before the lyke waxe. But they y^• fere the: shalbe great with the in al thynges. Wo vnto the people that ••ise vp against my generacyon, for the Almyghtye Lorde wyll auenge hym selfe of them, and in the daye of

Iudgement wylhe vyset thē. For he shal geue fire & wormes into their flesh, that they may burne and fele it for euermore.

After thys it happened / that after the [unspec D] victory, al the people came to Ierusalem, to geue prayse and thanckes vnto the Lorde. And when they were puryfyed / they offred all theyr brentsacryfyces and theyr promy∣sed offrynges. And Iudith offred all Holo∣fernes weapēs, and al the Iewels / that the people had geuen her / and the canapy that she toke from hys bed, and hanged them vp vnto the Lorde. The people was ioyful, as the vse is: and thys ioye by reason of the vi∣ctory, with Iudith, endured thre monethes.

So after these dayes / euery man wente home agayne, and Iudith was in great re∣putacyon at Bethulia / and ryght honora∣bly taken in al the land of Israel. Unto her vertue also was chastyte ioyned / so that af∣ter her husbande Manasses dyed / she neuer knew man all the dayes of her lyfe. Upon the hye solempne dayes she wente out with greate worshyppe. She dwelt in her husbā∣des house an hundred and fyue yeare, & left her hand maiden fr••, and dyed, and was bu∣ryed besyde her husband in Bethulia. And al the people mourned for her seuen dayes. So long as she lyued / there was none that troubled Israell / & many yeares also after her death. The daye wherin this vyctory was gotten / was solemp••y holden, and rekened of the Iewes in the nō••er of the holy dayes, and it is yet greatly holden of y^• Iewes euer sēce / vnto th{is} day.

¶ The ende of the Booke of Iudyth.

❧: The reaste of the Chapters of the boke of Esther which are nether founde in the Hebrue, nor in the Chalde.

¶ The dreame of Mardocheus.

¶ The. xi. Chapter after the Latyn.

MArdocheus the sonne of Iair, the sōne Semei, the sōne of Cisei of y^• tribe of Bē••a••in, a Iew: which had his dwell••ge ī the cite of Susis, a mā of great reputacion, & excellent amōge al them y^• were in the kin∣ges court▪ (Neuertheles, he was one of the presoners / whō Nabuchodonosor y^• kyng of Babilō had caried away frō Ierusalē vnto Babilon w^t Iechonias the king of Iuda.) In the secōde yeare of y^• raigne of great Ar∣taxerses in the fyrst daye of the moneth Ni∣san, had this Mardocheus such a dreme: He thought he herde a greate tempest / horrible thōderclappes, erthquakes, & great vproure in the land, and that he sawe two great dra∣gons / ready to fyght one agaynst another. Theyr crye was greate. At the whiche roa∣ryng and crye all Heathen were vp, to fight against the righteous people. And the same [unspec B] day was ful of darcknes and very vncleare full of trouble and anguyshe / yee a greate fearfulnes was there in all the lande. The ryghteous were amased / for they feared the plage and euyl that was deuised ouer them, and were at a pointe with thē selues to dye. So they cryed vnto God: and whyle they were crienge, y^• lytle wel grewe into a great ryuer & into many waters. And with that it was day / & the sūne rose vp againe. And the lowly were exalted / & deuoured the glory∣ous & proude. Now when Mardocheus had sene thys dreame / he awoke / & mused stedfastly in his hert, what God wolde do: and so he desyred to knowe al the matter / •• his mynde was therupon vntyll the night.

¶ Mardocheus v••••••••eth the ••reason deuysed against the Kyng, and to therfore rewarded of hym.

CAPI. XII.

AT the same tyme dwelt Mardocheus [unspec A] with Bagatha and Tares in the kyn∣ges courte the kynges Chāberlaines & por∣ters of the palace. But when he hearde their deuyce / & had dylygently consydered theyr ymaginaciōs, he perceaued y^• they wente a▪bout, to lay their cruel hādes vpō the kyng Artaxerses: and so he certifyed y^• king ther∣of. Then caused the Kynge to examen the two gelded with tormentes. And when they had graunted it, they were put to death.

This the kinge caused to be put in y^• Cro∣nicles for an euerlasting remēbraunce / and Mardocheus wrote vp y^• same matter. So [unspec B] the kynge commaunded that Mardocheus shulde remaine in the court, & for this faith∣fulnes of hys, he gaue him a rewarde. But Amā the sonne of Amadathu the Agagite / which was holden in great honour & repu∣tacion ī the kinges court vndertoke to hurt Mardocheus & his people / because of the two Chāberlaines that were put to death.

¶ The copy of the letters of Artaxerses agaist the Iewes. The prayer of Mardocheus.

CAPI. XIII.

THe great king Artaxerses which raig∣neth [unspec A] frō Iuda vnto Ethiopia, ouer an h••dreth and seuen & twentye lādes, sendeth his fredly salutacyon vnto all the Princes and debites of the countrees / which be sub∣iecte vnto hys domynion. When I was ma••e lord ouer many people, & had subdued the whole earthe vnto my domynyon / my mynde was not with crueltye and wronge to exalte my self by the reason of my power: but purposed with equyte alwaye and gen∣tylnes / to gouerne those that be vnder my iurisdiccyon / and wholy to set them in a pe∣ceable lyfe, and therby to brynge my Kyng∣dome vnto tranquilyte, that men might sa∣fely go thorowe on euery syde / and to renue peace agayne / which al men desyre. Nowe [unspec B] when I asked my coūcelers how these thin∣ges might be brough to a good ende / there was one by vs / excellēt in wysdome, whose good wyl / trueth / and faythfulnes hath oft bene shewed and proued (whiche was also y^• princypall and next vnto the kynge) Aman by name: which certifyed vs, how that in al lādes there was scatred abrode a rebellious folke, that made statutes & lawes agaynste all other people / and haue alwaye despysed the proclamed commaundementes of Kyn∣ges: and how that for thys cause it were not to be suffred, that such rule shulde contynue by you and not to be put downe. Seynge: [unspec C] now we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man / vsyng straūge and other maner of lawes / & with∣stande oure statutes and doinges, and go a∣boute to stablysh shrewed matters, that our kingdome shuld neuer come to good estate, and stedfastnes: Therfore haue we com∣maunded / that all they that are appoynted in wrytynge and shewed vnto you by Amā (whiche is ordeyned and set ouer all oure landes) and the most pryncypall nexte vnto the kynge, and in maner as a father) shal w^t theyr wyues and chyldren be destroyed and roted oute with the swerde of theyre ene∣myes and aduersaries: & that there shall be no mercy shewed / and no man spared. And this shalbe done the. xiiij. day of the mo••leth (called Adar) of thys yeare, that they which of olde (and now also) haue euer bene rebel∣lious / maye in one daye with vyolence be thrust downe into the hell, to the intent that after thys maner / oure empyre maye haue peace and tranquilite.

But Mardocheus thought vpon all the [unspec D] worckes and noble actes of the Lorde, and made his prayer vnto him, saying: O Lord Lorde, thou valeaunt and almyghty kinge (for al thinges are in thy power, and if thou wilt helpe & delyuer Israel, there is no man that can withstāde nor let the: for thou hast made heauen and earth / and what wonde∣rous thing so euer is vnder the heauē: thou art Lorde of all thinges, and there is no mā that can resist thy maiestye (O Lord) Thou knowest all thynges / thou woteste Lorde y^• it was nether of malice / nor presūpcion / nor for any desyre of glory, y^• I wolde not vowe downe my selfe nor worshyp yonder proude presumpteous Amā (for I wolde haue bene contente / & that with good wyl / yf it myght haue done Israel any good, to haue kist euē his fotsteppes) but that I dyd it, because I wolde not set the honour of a man in the steade of the glorye of God / and because I wolde worship none but onely y^• my Lorde. And thys haue I done in no pryde nor pre∣sūpcyon. And therfore O Lord thou God [unspec E] & kyng, haue mercy vpō thy people for they ymagin how they may bring vs to naught, yee their minde & desyre is to destroy and to ouerthrowe the people / that hath euer bene thyne enheritaūce of olde. O despise not thy porciō, which thou hast delyuered & brought oute of Egypte for thyne owne selfe. Heare my prayer / and be mercyfull vnto the peo∣ple, whom y^u hast chosen for an herytage vn to thy selfe. Turne oure complainte and so∣rowe into ioye, that we may lyue O Lorde / & prayse thy name. O Lorde / suffre not the mouthes of thē y^• prayse the, to be destroied.

All the people of Israell in lyke maner cryed as earnestly as they coulde vnto the Lord, for theyr death and destruccyon stode before theyr eyes.

¶ The prayer of Es••her for the delyueraunce of her au•• her people.

CAPI. XIIII.

QUene Esther also being ī the battayl [unspec A] of death, resorted vnto the lorde, laied awaye her gloryous apparell / and put on the garmentes that serued for sigh∣thynge and mournynge. In the steade of precyous oyntment / she scatred asshes and dong vpō her head: and as for her body, she humbled it with fastynge / and broughte it very lowe. All the places where she was wont to haue ioy afore, those filled she with the heare / that she plucte out her selfe. She prayed also vnto the Lorde God of Israell with these wordes▪

O my Lorde, thou onely art oure kynge / helpe me desolate woman / whiche haue no helper but the, for my mysery & destruccyon

is harde at my hande. Fro my youth vp I haue hetde out of the kinred of my father y^• thou tokest Israel from amonge all people (& so haue oure fathers of theyr fore elders) y^• they shulde be thy perpetual inherytaūce / and loke what thou didest promise thē, thou hast made it good vnto them.

Now wel Lord, we haue synned before the / [unspec B] therfore hast thou geuen vs into the handes of oure enemyes / because we worshypped theyr goddes. Lorde, thou art ryghteous. Neuertheles it satisfieth them not / that we are in bitter and heuy captiuite and oppres∣sed amonge them, but thou hast layed theyr handes vpō the handes of theyr goddes: so that they begynne to take awaye / y^e thynge that thou with thy mouth hast ordened and appoynted to destroye thyne inheritaunce / to shut and to stoppe the mouthe of thē that prayse the, to quench the glory & worshippe of thy house and thine aulter, and to open y^• mouthes of the Heathen, y^• they may prayse the power and vertue of the goddes, and to magnifye the fleshly kynge for euer.

O Lorde, geue not thy scepter vnto them [unspec C] that be nothing, lest they laugh vs to scorne in oure mysery & fall: but turne theyr deuice vpō them selues, and punish him, that hath begonne the same ouer vs and set him to an example. Thyncke vpon vs O Lorde / and shewe thy selfe vnto vs in the tyme of oure distres and of our trouble. Strength me O thou Kynge of Goddes / thou Lorde of all power, geue me an cloquēt & pleasaūt spech in my mouth before the Lyon. Turne hys hert in to y^• hate of oure enemye / to destroye him, and all such as consent vnto hym. But deliuer vs with thy hade, and helpe me thy hand mayde, which haue no defence nor hel per put onely the: Lorde / thou knowest all thynges, thou wotest y^t I loue not the glory and worshyp of the vnryghteous, and that I hate and abhorre the bed of the vncircum cysed and of all Heathen.

Thou knowest my necessite / that I hate the token of my preemynence and worshyp, which I beare vpō my head / what tyme as I must shewe my selfe and be sene, & that I abhorre it as an vncleane cloth, and that I weare it not when I am quyete and alone by my selfe. Thou knowest also that I thy hande mayden haue not eaten at Amans ta¦ble, and that I haue had no pleasure nor de lyte in the Kynges feaste / that I haue not drōcke the wyne of the drinckoffringes, and that I thy hande maiden haue no ioy sence the daye that I was brought hyther / vnto this day / but onely in the O Lorde. O thou God of Abrahā, O thou mighty God aboue all, heare the voyce of them, that haue none other hope, & delyuer vs out of the hand of the wicked / and deliuer me out of my feare.

¶ Mardocheus moueth Hester to go into the Kynge / and make intercession for her people / and she performeth hys request.

CAPI. XV.

MArdocheus also bad Hester go in vnto [unspec A] the kyng, and praye for her people and for her countre. Remembre (sayeth he) the dayes of thy lowe estate, howe thou waste norished vnder my hand: For Aman which is next vnto the kynge, hath geuen sentence of death agaynst vs. Cal thou therfore vpō the Lorde, & speake for vs vnto the kynge / & deliuer vs from death And vpō the thyrde daye it happened / that Hester layed awaye the mournynge garmentes / and put on her gloryous apparel / & deckte her selfe goodly (after that she had called vpon God, which is y^• beholder and Sauioure of al thinges) toke two maydes with her: vpō the one she leaned her selfe, as one that was tender: the other folowed her / and bare y^• trayne of her vesture. The shyne of her bewtye made her face rose colored. The similitude of her face was chearfull & amiable / but her hert was sorowful for greate feare. She wēte in tho∣row al the dores, and stode before the kyng, The kynge sat vpon the trone of hys king∣dome, and was clothed in his goodly aray / all of golde, and set with precyous stones, & he was very terryble. He lyfte vp hys face / that shone in the clearnes, and loked grily vpon her. Then fel the Quene downe / was pale & faynt, leaned her selfe vpon the head of the mayde that went with her.

Neuertheles, God turned y^• kinges mynde [unspec B] that he was gentle / y^t he leaped oute of hys seate for feare, and gat her i hys armes, and held her vp tyll she came to her selfe againe He gaue her louing wordes also, and sayde vnto her: Hester / what is the matter? I am thy brother / be of good chere, thou shalt not dye: for our commaundement toucheth the comōs & not y^•. Come nye. And with that he helde vp his golden rod / and layde it vpon her neck, and embraced her frendly / & sayd: talke with me. Then sayd she: ‡ 1.137 I sawe y^• (O Lorde) as an Angell of God, & my hert was troubled for feare of thy magesty and clear nesse: For excellent and wonderful art thou (O Lorde) and thy face is ful of amite. But as she was thus speakyng vnto him, she fel downe agayne for fayntnes: for the whiche

cause the kyng was afraied, and all his ser∣uauntes comforted her.

¶ The Copye of the letters of Arthaxerses, wherby he re∣uoketh those which he fyrst sende forth.

CAPI. XVI.

THe greate Kynge Artaxerses / whiche [unspec A] raineth from Iudia vnto Ethiopia o∣uer an hundreth and. xxvij. landes / sendeth vnto the Prices and rulers of the same lan∣des / suche as loue him / hys frendly saluta∣cion. There be many y^• for the sondry frend∣shippes & benefytes which are diuersly done vnto them for theyr worshyppe / be euer the more proude and hye mynded / & vndertake not onely to hurte oure subiectes (for plen∣teous benefytes maye they not suffre / and begīne to ymagin some thing against those that do them good / and take not onely all vnthākfulnes awaye frō men) but in pryde and presumpcion (as they that be vnmynd∣full and vnthankefull for the good dedes) they go aboute to escape the iudgemente of God, that seyth all thinges / whiche (iudge∣ment) hateth & punisheth al wyckednes. It happeneth ofte also, that they whiche be set in office by the hyer power, & vnto whom the busynes and causes of the subiectes are committed to be handled, waxe proude, and defyle them selues with sheddynge of inno∣cēt bloude / which bryngeth them to intolle∣rable hurt. Which also with false & disceat∣full wordes and with lyeng tales, disceaue & betray the innocent goodnes of Princes.

Nowe is it profitable and good / that we [unspec B] take hede, make search therafter / and consi∣der, not onely what hath happened vnto vs of olde: but the shamefull, vnhonest / & noy∣some thinges, that the debites haue now ta¦ken in hande before our eyes / and therby to beware in tyme to come / that we may make the Kyngdome quyete and peaceable for al men, and that we myghte some tyme drawe it to chaunge: and as for the thynge that nowe is presente before oure eyes / to with∣stande it, and to put it downe, after the most frendly maner.

What tyme nowe as Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Macedonian (a straūger ve∣rely of the persians bloude / and farre from oure goodnes) was come in amonge vs as an aleaunt, and had optained the frendship that we beare towarde all people / so that he was called oure father / and had in hye ho∣noure of euery man / as the next and princi∣pal vnto y^• King, he coulde not forbeare him self frō his pryde, hath vndertake not onely to rob vs of the kyngdome / but of our lyfe.

With manyfolde disceate also hath he de∣sired [unspec C] to destroye Mardocheus our helper & preseruer / whiche hath done vs good in all thinges: and innocēt Hester the lyke parta∣ker of oure kyngdome / with all her people. For his mynde was (when he had taken thē oute of the waye / and robbed vs of thē) by this meanes to trāslate the kingdome of the Persians vnto thē of Mocedonia. But we fynde / that the Iewes (which were accused of the wicked, that they might be destroyed) are no euyll doers / but vse reasonable and right lawes: and that they be the chyldrē of the most Hye lyuynge God / by whome the kyngdome of vs & oure progenitours hath bene wel ordred hytherto. Wherfore, as for the letters and cōmaundementes, that were put forth by Aman the sonne of Amadathu ye shall do well, yf ye holde them of none ef∣fecte: for he that set them vp and inuented thē, hangeth at Susis before the port, with all his kynted, & God (which hath all thyn∣ges in his power) hath rewarded hym after hys deseruynge.

And vpon thys ye shall puplysh and set vp [unspec D] the copy of thys letter in all places / that the Iewes may frely and without hinderaunce holde them selues after theyr owne statu∣tes / and that they maye be helped / and that vpon the. xiij. day of the. xij. moneth. Adar / they maye be auenged of them, which in the tyme of theyr anguyshe and trouble / wolde haue oppressed them. For the God that go∣uerneth all thinges, hath turned to ioye the day, where in the chosen people shulde haue peryshed.

Moreouer, among the hye solēpne dayes y^• ye haue ye shall holde thys daye also with al gladnesse: that ••ow and in tyme to come, thys daye maye be a remembraūce to good / for al such as loue the prosperite of the Per∣sians: but a remembraunce of destruccyon to those that be sedycious vnto vs.

All cyties & landes that do not thys, shal horribly peryshe and be destroyed with the swerde and fyre / and shall not onely be nomore inhabyted of men / but be abhorred also of the wylde beastes and foules.

The ende of the reast of the boke of Esther.

❧: The booke of wysdome.

¶Howe we ought to searche and enquyre after God, and who ••e those that fynde hym. Of the holy goost, we ought to flye from backbytynge and murmurynge. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

CAPI. I.

O Sette your affeccion [unspec A] vpon ryghteousnesse, ye that be iudges of the earth. Haue a good opiniō of the Lorde, and seke hym in the synglenesse of herte. For he wyll be founde of them that tempte hym nat, and appereth vnto suche as put theyr truste in hym As for frowarde thoughtes / they separate from God / but vertue) yf it be alowed) reformeth y^• vnwyse. And why? wysdome shall nat entre into a frowarde soule, nor dwel in the body that is subdued vnto synne. For the holy goost ab∣horreth fayned nurtoure / and withdraweth hym selfe from the thoughtes that are with¦out vnderstandinge: and where wyckednes hathe the vpper hande, he flyeth frō thence. For the sprete of wysdome is louynge, gen∣tle and gracyous / & wyll haue no pleasure in hym that speaketh euell with his lyppes. For God is a wytnesse of hys raynes, a true searcher out of his herte, and an hearer of his tonge. For the sprete of the Lorde fylleth the rounde compasse of the worlde: and the same that vpholdeth all thynges / hathe knowledge also of the voyce:

Therfore, he that speaketh vnryghteous [unspec B] thynges, can not be hyd, nether maye he es∣cape the iudgemēt of reprofe. And why? in∣quisicion shalbe made for the thoughtes of the vngodly, and the reprote of hys wordes shal come vnto God, so that his wickednes shalbe punished, for the eare of gelousy hea∣reth all thynges, and the noyse of the grud∣ginges shall not be hyd. Therfore, beware of murmurynge, which is nothynge worth, and refrayne youre tonge from sclaunder. For there is no worde so darcke and secrete, that it shall goo for naught: and the mouth that speaketh lyes, sleyeth the soule.

O seke nat your owne death in y^• erroure [unspec C] of youre lyfe, destroye not youre selues tho∣row the worckes of youre awne hādes. For God hath not made death, nether hath he pleasure in the destruccyon of the lyuynge. For he created all thinges, that they myght haue theyr beynge: yee all the people of the earth hathe he made that they shulde haue health, that there shulde be no destruccyō in them, and that the kyngdome of hell shulde not be vpō earth (for ryghteousnesse is euer∣lastinge & immortall, but vnryghteousnes bryngeth death.) Neuerthelesse, y^• vngodly call her vnto them bothe with wordes and workes: and whyle they thynke to haue a frende of her, they come to naught: for the vngodly that are confederate with her and take her parte, are worthy of death.

¶ The ymaginacyons and desyres of the wycked, and the••e councell agaynst the faythfull.

CAPI. II.

FOR the vngodly talke and ymagin [unspec A] thus amonge thē selues (but not right:) The tyme of our lyfe is but short & tedious, and when a man is once gone, he hathe no more ioye nor pleasure, neyther knowe we any man that turneth agayne frō death: for we are borne of naught, & we shal be hereaf∣ter as though we had neuer bene. For oure breth is as a smoke in oure nosetre••s, & the wordes as a sparke to moue oure herte. As for oure body / it shalbe very asshes that are quenched, and oure soule shall vanish as the softe ayre. Oure lyfe shal passe awaye as the trace of a cloude, and come to naught as the myst that is dryuen awaye with y^• bea∣mes of the Sonne, and put downe with the heate therof. Oure name also shalbe forgot¦ten by lytle and lytle, and no man shal haue oure workes in remembraunce.

For oure tyme is a very shadowe y^• passeth awaye / & after oure ende there is no retur∣nynge, [unspec B] for it is fast sealed, so that no man cō¦meth agayne: Come on therfore / let vs en∣ioye the pleasures that there are, and let vs soone vse the creature lyke as in youth. Let vs fyll oure selues with good wyne & oynt∣ment, and let there no floure of the tyme go by vs. Let vs crowne our selues with roses afore they be withered. Let there be no fayre medowe / but our lust go thorowe it. Let euery one of you be partake•• of oure volup∣teousnes. Let vs leaue some token of oure pleasure in euery place, for that is oure por∣cyon, els get we nothynge. Let vs oppresse the poore ryghteous / let vs nat spare the wyddowe nor olde man: let vs nat regarde the heades y^• are graye for age. Let y^• lawe of vnryghteousnesse be oure auctorite, for the thing y^• is feble is nothing worth. Therfore [unspec C] let vs defraude the ryghteous, & ••hy? he is not for oure profet / yee he is cleane contarye to oure doynges. He checketh vs for offen∣dynge agaynst the lawe / & ••••landreth vs as trangressours of al nurtou••. He maketh his boast to haue the knowledge of God, yee he

calleth him selfe Goddes sonne. He is the be wrayer of our thought{is}. It greueth vs also to loke vpō him, for his lite is not like other mens, his wayes are of another fashyō. He counteth vs but vayne personnes, he with∣draweth hym selfe from our wayes as from fylthyues: he commendeth greatly the latter ende of the iuit, and maketh hys boast that God is his father. Let vs se then yt his wor¦des be true, let vs proue what shall come vpon hym: so shall we knowe what ende he shall haue. For yf he be y^• true sonne of God, [unspec D] he wyl receaue hym, and delyuer hym from the handes of his enemyes Let vs examen hym with despytefull rebuke aod tormen∣tynge, that we may knowe hys dignite, and proue his pacyence. Let vs condemne hym with the most shameful death: for lyke as he hathe spoken, so shall he be rewarded.

Suche thynges do the vngodly ymagin, and go astraye, for theyr owne wyckednes hath blynded them. As for the mysteries of God, they vnderstande thē not: they neyther hope for the rewarde of ryghteousnesse, nor regarde the worshyp that holy soules shall haue. For God created mā to be vnde stroied: yee after y^• * 1.138 ymage of hys owne lyckenesse made he hym. Neuerthelesse thorowe enuye of the deuell came death in to the worlde: & they that holde of his syde, do as he dothe.

¶ The conseruatyon and assurance of the ryghteous. The rewarde of the faythfull.

CAPI. III.

BVT the soules of the ryghteous are in the hande of God, and the payne of [unspec A] death shall not touch them. In the syght of the vnwyse they appeared to dye, and theyr ende is taken for very destruccyon. The waye of the ryghteous is iudged to be vt∣ter destruceyon, but they are in rest. And though they suffre payne before men, yet is theyr hope full of immbrtalyte. They are punyshed but in fewe thinges, neuerthelesse in many thynges shall they be well rewar∣ded. For God proueth them, and fyndeth them me••e for hymselfe: yee as the golde in the fornace dothe he trye the, and receaueth them as a 〈…〉〈…〉 offerynge, and when the tyme commeth they shalbe loked vpon.

The ryghteous shall shyne as y^• sparkes [unspec B] that renne thorow the red busshe. They shal iudge the nacions, and haue dominion ouer the people, and theyr Lorde shall raygne for euer. They that ••u•• theyr trust in him / shall vnderstande the trueth, & suche as be fayth∣full; wyl agre vnto him in loue: for his cho∣seu shall haue gyftes and peace. But the vngodly shalbe punished according to their owne ymaginacions, for they haue despised the ryghteous, and forsaken the Lorde.

Who so despyseth wysdome & uurtoure, [unspec C] he is vnhappye, & as for the hope of suche, it is but vayne, theyr labours vnfruteful, and theyr workes vnprofytable. Theyr wyues are vndisercte, and theyr chyldren most vn∣godly. Theyr creature is cursed. Blessed is rather the baren and vndefyled, which hath nat knownethe synfull bed: she shall haue frute in the rewarde of the holy soules. And blessed is the gelded, which with his hādes hathe wrought no vnryghteousnesse, nor ymagined wycked thynges agaynste God. For vnto him shall be geuen y^• speciall gyfte of fayth / & the most acceptable porcion in y^• temple of God. For glorious is the frute of [unspec D] good labour / & the rote of wysdome shal ne∣uer fade awaye. As for the chyldren of ad∣uouterers / they shall come to an ende / & the sede of an vnryghteous bed shall be roted out. And though they lyue longe / yet shall they he nothynge regarded / & theyr last age shalbe without honoure. Yf they dye hastely they haue no hope, nether shal they be spokē to in the daye of knowledge. For horible is the death and ende of the vnryghteous.

¶ Of the chaste generacyon of the faythfull, and of them felicite. Of the death of the ryghteous, and of the condem∣ne ••yon, of the vnfaythfull.

CAPI. IIII.

O Howe fayre is a chast generacyō with vertue? The memoriall therof is im∣mortal / [unspec A] for it is knowen with God and with men. When it is present / men take example there at: & yf it go awaye / yet they desyre it. It is all waye crowned & holden in honour, and wynneth the rewarde of the vndefyled batrayll. But the multitude of vngodly chyldren is vnprofitable / and the thynges that are planted with whordome / shal take no depe rote, nor laye any fast foundacyon. Though they be grene in the braūches, for a tyme, yet shal they be shaken with y^• winde, for they stande not fast / and thorowe the ve∣hemecye of the wynde they shalbe roted out. For the vnparfecte braunches shalbe bro∣ken, theyr frute shalbe vnprofitable & sowre to eate, ye mete for nothynge. And whyeal y^• chyldren that are borne of the wicked, muste beare recorde of the wyckednesse agaynste theyr fathers & mothers, whe they be asked. But though the ryghteous be ouertaken with death / yet shall he be in rest.

Age is an honorable thinge: neuertheles [unspec B] it▪ standeth not onely in the lenght of tyme,

nor in the multytude of yeares: but a mans wysdome is the graye hearre, and an vnde∣fyled lyfe is the olde age. He pleased God, & was beloued of him: so that where as he ly∣ued amōge sinners, he translated him * 1.139 Yee sodenly was he taken awaye, to the intente that wyckednesse shulde not alter hys vn∣derstandyng, & that ypocrysie shulde nat be gyle his soule. For the craftye bewitthynge of lyes make good thynges darck, the vn∣sted fastnesse also and wyckednes of bolup∣teous desyreturne asyde the vnderstandyng of the symple. Though he was soone deed, yet fulfylled he moch tyme: For hys soule pleaseth God: therfore hasted he to take him awaye from amonge the wycked. Thys the people se, and vnderstande it not: they laye not vp suche thynges in theyr hertes, howe that the louynge fauoure and mercy of God is vpon hys saynctes / and that he hathe re∣specte vnto hys chosen.

Thus the ryghteous that is deed, condē∣neth [unspec C] the vngodly which are lyuynge: & the youth that is soone brought to an ende / the long lyfe of the vnrighteous. For they se the ende of the wyse, but they vnderstande not what God hath deuysed for him, and wher∣fore the Lorde hathe taken him awaye. And why? they se him & despise him, therfore shal God also laugh thē to scorne: So that they thē selues shall dye here after (but without honour) yee in shame amonge the deed for euermore. For without any voyce shall he burst those y^• be pufte vp, & remoue them frō the foūdacyons, so y^• they shalbe layed wast vnto the hyest. They shall mourne, & theyr memoryall shall peryshe. So they beynge afrayed shal remēbre theyr synnes / & theyr owne wyckeduesse shall bewraye them.

¶ The constantue•• of the ryghteous before theyr persecu∣ters. The hope or the vnfaythfull is vndurable and vayne. The blessednes of the saynctes and godly.

CAPI. V.

THEN shall the ryghteous stande in [unspec A] greate stedfastnesse agaynste suche as haue dealt extremely with them / and taken awaye theyr labours. When they se it, they shalbe vexed with horible feare, and shall wonder at the hastynesse of the sodayne health: gronyng for very dystresse of mynd, and shall saye wythin them selues, hauynge in warde sorowe, and mournynge for very anguysh of mynde.

These are they, whom we somtyme had in derisyō, & iested vpon. We fooles thought theyr lyfe very madnesse, and theyr ende to be with out honoure. But lo / how they are counted amonge the chyldren of God, and theyr porcyō is amonge the sayntes. Ther∣fore we haue erred from the waye of trueth, the lyght of ryghteousnesse hath not shyned vnto vs, & the sunne of vnderstandyng rose nat vp vpō vs. We haue weried our selues in y^• waye of wickednesse & destruccion. Te∣dyous wayes haue we gone: but as for the waye of the Lorde we haue not knowne it.

What good hathe our pryde done vnto vs? Or, what profyt hathe the pompe of ry∣ches [unspec B] brought vs? All those thynges are pas∣sed awaye lyke a shadow, and as a messaun ger renuyng before: as a shyppe that passeth ouer the waues of the water, which when it is gone by, the trace therof cannat be founde nether the path of it in the floudes. Or as a byrde that flyeth thorowe in the ayre, and no man can se any token where she is flowen, but onely heareth the noyse of her wynges, beatynge the lyght wynde, partynge y^• ayre, thorowe the vehemencye of her goynge, and flyeth on shakynge her winges, where as af¦terwarde no token of her way can be foūde. Or lyke as when an arowe is shorte at a marck, it parteth y^• ayre / which ymmediatly commeth together agayne, so that a mā can not knowe where it wēte thorow. Euē to we in lyke maner as soone as we were borne, be ganne immediatly to drawe so oure ende / & haue shewed no token of vertue, but are cō∣sumed in oure owne wyckednesse.

Such wordes shal they that haue synned [unspec C] speake in the hell, for y^• hope of the vngodly is lyke a drye thystell floure (or duste) that is blowen awaye with the wynde: lyke a thyn∣ne fome that is scatred abrode with the storme: lyke as the smoke which is dispersed here & there with the wynde, & as the remem¦braunce of a straunger y^• taryeth for a daye, and then departeth. But the ryghteous shal lyue for euermore: theyr reward also is with the Lorde: & theyr remembraunce with the Hyest. Therfore, shal they receaue a glorio{us} Kyngdome, and a bewtyfull crowne of the Lordes hande: for w^t his ryght hande shall he couer thē, and with hys owne holy arme shall he defende them, His gelousy also shal take awaye the harnesse / & he shall weapen the creature to be auenged of y^• enemyes. He shall put on ryghteousnes for a breast plate, and take sure iudgement in steade of an hel∣met. The inuincible shylde of equite shal he take, hys cruell wrath shall he sharpen for a speare, & the whole compase of the worlde shall syght with hym agaynste the vnwyse.

Then shall the thonder bolies go out of [unspec D]

the lyghtenynges / & come out of the rayne∣bowe of the cloudes to the place appoynted: out of y^• harde stony indignacion there, shal fall thycke hayles, and the water of the see shalbe wroth agaynst them, and the floudes shal renne roughly together. Yee a myghty wynde shall stande vp agaynst them, and a storme shal scater them abrode. Thus y^• vn∣ryghteous dealynge of thē shall brynge all the lande to a wyldernes, & wyckednes shall ouerthrowe the dwellynges of the myghty.

¶ The callynge of Kynges, Prynces, and Iudges: whiche are also exhorted to searche wysdome.

CAPI. VI.

WYsdome is better then strength, & a man of vnderstandyng is more [unspec A] worthe then one that is stronge. Heare therfore (O ye Kynges) & vnderstāoc: O lerne ye that be iudges of the endes of the earth. Geue eare ye y^• rule the multitudes, & delyte in much people. For the power is ge∣uen you of the Lorde, and the strength frō y^• Hyest: whiche shall trye youre workes and search out youre ymaginacions: Howe that ye being officers of his kyngdome, haue nat executed true iudgemēt / haue nat kepte the lawe of ryghteousnes, nor walked after the [unspec B] wyll of God. Horryble and that right soone shall he appeare vnto you: for an harde iud∣gemēt shal they haue y^• beare rule. Mercy is gaunted vnto the simple, but they that be in auctoryte shalbe sore punished. For God which is lorde ouer al, shal excepte no mans personne, nether shall he stāde in awe of any mans greatnesse. For he hathe made the smal & great, & careth for all a lyke. But the myghty shall haue the sorer punishmente.

Unto you therfore (O ye Kynges) do I speake / that ye way lerne wysdome and not go amysse. For they y^• kepe his ryghteous∣nes shalbe ryghteously iudged / & they that are lerned in ryghteous thinges, shal fynde to make answere. Wherfore, set youre luste vpon my wordes, and loue them, so shall ye come by nurtour. Wysdome is a noble thing sene & neuer faydeth awaye: yee she is easely of them that loue her, and founde of suche as seke her. She preuenteth them that de∣syre [unspec C] her, y^• she maye fyrste shewe her selfe vn∣to thē. Who so awaketh vnto her by tymes, shall haue no greate trauayle / for he shall fynde her syttynge readye at hys dores. To thynke vpon her, is parfecte vnderstāding: and who so watcheth for her, shalbe safe, & that soone. For she goeth about, seking such as are mete for her, sheweth her selfe che∣refully vnto them in theyr goinges, and meteth thē with al diligence. For y^• vnfay∣ned desyre of refourmaciō is her begynyng: to care for nurtour is loue / & loue is the ke∣pynge of her lawes. Now the kepyng of the lawes is perfeccion and an vncorrupte lyfe, and an vncorrupt lyfe maketh a man fami∣lier wyth God. And so y^• desyre of wysdome ledeth to the Kyngdome euerlastynge. If [unspec D] youre delyte be then in royall seates & cep∣ters (O ye kynges of the people) set youre lust vpō wysdome, that ye maye raygne for euer more. O loue the lyght of wysdome / all ye that be rulers of the people. As for wys∣dome what she is, and howe she came vp, I I wyl tel you, & wyl not hyde the mysteryes of God from you: but wyl seke her out from the begynnynge of the natiuite, & brynge y^• knowledge of her into lyght, & wyl not kepe backe the trueth: Nether wyll I haue to do with cōsumynge enuye, for such a man shall not be partaker of wysdome. But the mul∣tytude of y^• wyse is the welfare of y^• worlde, and a wyse kynge is the vpholdynge of the people. O receaue nourtoure then thorowe my wordes / and it shall do you good.

¶ Wysdome ought to be preferred before all thynges.

CAPI. VII.

I My selfe also am a mortall man lyke as [unspec A] all other, & am come of the earthy genera¦cyon of hym that was fyrst made, and in my mothers wōbe was I fashyoned to be flesh: In y^• tyme of ten monethes was I brought together in bloude thorowe the sede of man, and the cōmodyous appetyte of slepe. When I was borne, I receaued lyke ayre as other men / & fell vpon the earth (whiche is my na∣ture) cryenge & wepynge at the fyrst, as all other do. I was wrapped in swadlynge clo∣thes, & brought vp with greate cares. For there is no kynge y^• hathe had any other be∣gynnynge of byrth. All mē then haue one en¦traunce vnto lyfe, & one goynge out in lyke [unspec B] maner. Wherfore I desyred, and vnder∣standinge was geuen me: I called, and the sprete of wysdome came in to me. I set more by her then by kyngdomes & royall seates, & counted ryches nothynge in comparyson of her. As for precious stone, I cōpared it not vnto her: for all golde is but small grauell vnto her, & syluer shalbe counted but claye before her sight. I loued her aboue wellfare and beautye, and purposed to take her for my lyght, for her lyght cannat be quenched. All good thynges came to me w^t her, & innume∣rable ryches thorow her hādes. I was glad in thē all, for this wysdome went before me, and I knew not that she is the mother of al

good thynges. Nowe as I my selfe learned vnfaynedly, so do I make other men parta∣kers of her, and hyde her ryches frō no man: for she is an infynite tresure vnto mē, which who so vse, become partakers of the loue & frendshype of God, & are accepted vnto hym for the gyftes of wysdome.

God hath graunted me to talke wysely, [unspec C] and conueniently to handle the thinges that he hath gracyously lent me. For it is he / that ledeth vnto wysdome / and teacheth to vse wysdome a ryght. In his hande are both we and our wordes: yee all our wysdome / oure vnderstandynge and knowledge of all oure worckes. For he hath geuen me the true scy∣ence of these thynges: so that I knowe howe the worlde was made / and the powers of the elementes: the begynnynge / endynge and myddest of the tymes: howe the tymes alter / how one goeth after another, and howe they are fulfylled, the course of the yeare, the or∣dinaūces of the starres: the natures & kynd∣nes of beastes: the furiousnes of beastes: the power of the wyndes: the ymagynacyons of men: the diuersities of yong plantes: the ver¦tues of rotes, and al suche thinges as are se∣crete and not loked for / haue I learned. For the worckmaster of all thynges hath taught me wysdome. In her is the sprete of vnder∣standynge, [unspec D] whiche is holy / manyfolde / one onely / sutell / courteous, discrete / quycke / vn defyled / playne / swete / louynge the thynge that is good, sharpe / which forbiddeth not to do well / gentle / kynde / stedfast / sure / fre: ha∣uynge all vertues, circumspecte in all thyn∣ges: receyuynge all spretes of vnderstan∣dynge beynge cleane and sharpe. For wys∣dome is nymbler then all nymble thynges: she goeth thorowe & attayneth to all thyn∣ges because of her clenues. For she is the breth of the power of God, and a pure cleane expressynge of the clearenes of Almyghtye God. Therfore can no vndefiled thyng come vnto her: for she is the bryghtenesse of the euerlastynge lyght / the vndefyled myrroure of the maiesty of God, and the ymage of hys goodnesse. And for so much as she is one, the [unspec E] maye do all thynges: and beyng stedfast her selfe she renueth all / and amonge the people conueyeth she her selfe into the holy soules. She maketh Godes frendes and prophetes: for God loueth no man / but hym in whome wysdome dwelleth. For she is more beautye∣full then the Sunne, and geueth more lyght then the starres, and the daye is not to be cō∣pared vnto her: for vpon the daye commeth nyght. But wyckednesse cannot ouercome wysdome, and foolyshnes maye not be w^t her

¶ The effecte of wysdome.

CAPI. VIII.

WYsdome reacheth from one ende to [unspec A] another mightely, & louingly doth she ordre al thinges. I haue loued her, & laboure for her, euen fro my youth vp: I dyd my diligēce to mary my selfe with her, such loue had I vnto her beuty. Who so hath the company of God, commendeth her nobi∣lite, yee the Lorde of all thynges himselfe lo∣ueth her. For she is the scolemay stresse of the nurtoure of God / and the choser out of hys workes. Yf a mā wolde desyre ryches in this lyfe, what is rycher then wysdome, that wor¦keth all thynges? Thou wylte saye: vnder∣standynge worketh. What is it amonge all thynges / that worketh more then wysdome? If a man loue vertue and ryghtuousnes, let hym laboure for wysdome, for she hath great vertues. And why? she teacheth sobernesse & prudence, rightuousnes and strength, which are such thynges as men can haue nothynge more profytable in their lyfe. If a man desyre [unspec B] muche knowledge, she can tel y^• thinges that are paste / and discerne thynges for to come: she knoweth the soteltyes of wordes / and cā expounde darke sentences. She can tell of tokens and wonderous thīges, or euer they come to passe, and the endes of al tymes and ages. So I purposed after thys maner: I wyll take her vnto my company, and comen louyngly with her: no doute she shall gyue me good councell / and speake comfortablye vnto me in my carefulnes and grefe. For her sake shall I be well and honestely taken amonge the comens and Lordes of the coun¦cell. Thoughe I be yonge, yet shall I haue sharpe vnderstandyng, so that I shalbe mar¦uelous in the syght of greate men / and the fa¦ces of Prynces shal wonder at me. When I holde my tonge, they shall byde my leasure: when I speake, they shall loke vpon me, and yf I talke muche, they shal lay their handes vpon theyr mouth. Moreouer / by the mea∣nes of her I shall optayne immortalite / and leaue behinde me an euerlastynge memoryal amonge them that come after me. I shall set the people in ordre / and the nacyons shall be subdued vnto me. Horrible tyrauntes shalbe afrayed, when they do but heare of me: amōg the multytude I shal be counted good / and myghtie in battayle. When I come home / I shal fynde reste with her for her cōpany hath no bitternes, & her felowshyp hath no tedy∣ousnesse / but myrth and ioye.

Nowe when I consydered these thynges [unspec C]

by my selfe / and pondered them in my herte, how that to be ioyned vnto wysdome is im∣mortalyte / and greate pleasure to haue her frendshyp: howe that in the worckes of her handes are infynyte ryches, howe that, who so kepeth company with her shall be wyse: and that he which talketh w^t her, shall come to honoure: I went aboute sekyng, together vnto me. For I was a lad of a rype wytte / and had a good vnderstandynge.

But when I grewe to more vnderstan∣dyng, I came to an vndefyled body. Neuer∣thelesse when I perceyued that I coulde not kepe my selfe chaste / excepte God gaue it me (and that was apoynte of wysdome also / to know whose gyft it was) I stepped vnto the Lorde / and besought him / & with my whole herte I sayde after this maner.

¶ A prayer of Salomon to optayne wysdome.

CAPI. IX.

O God of my fathers / and Lorde of mer¦cyes (thou that haste made all thynges [unspec A] with thy worde, and ordayned man thorowe thy wysdome that he shulde haue * 1.140 domy∣nyon ouer the creature whyche thou haste made: that he shulde ordre the worlde accor∣dynge to equyte and ryghtuousnes / and exe¦cute iudgemēt with a true hert) geue me wis∣dome, which is euer about thy seate, and put me not out from amonge thy chyldren: for I thy seruaunt and sonne of thy handmayden, and a feble personne / of a short tyme / and to yonge to the vnderstandyng of iudgemente and the lawes. And though a man be neuer so perfecte among the chyldren of men / yet if thy wysdome be not with hym / he shalbe no∣thyng regarded. But thou hast chosen me to be a kynge vnto thy people / and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters.

Thou hast commaunded me to buylde a [unspec B] tēple vpō thy holy mounte, & an aulter in the cytie wherin thou dwellest: a lickenesse of thy holy tabernacle whyche thou hast prepared from the begynnynge / & thy wysdome wyth the / which knoweth thy worckes: which also was with the / when thou madest the worlde & knewe what was acceptable in thy syght and ryght in thy cōmaundementes. O sende her out of thy holy heauens and frō the trone of thy maiesty / that she may be with me, and labour with me, that I maye knowe, what is acceptable in thy syght. For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thynges: and she shal lede me soberly in my worckes / and preserue me in her power. So shall my workes be ac∣ceptable, and then shall I gouerne thy peo∣ple ryghtuously / and be worthy to syt in my fathers seate. For what man is he, that may know y^e councel of God? Or, who can thinke what the wyll of God is? For the thoughtes of mortall men are miserable / and oure fore∣castes are but vncertayne. And why? a mor∣tal [unspec C] and vncorruptible body is heuy vnto the soule / and the early mansyon kepeth downe that vnderstandyng that museth vpon ma∣ny thinges. Uery hardly can we discerne the thynges that are vpon earth, and greate la∣boure haue we / or we can fynde the thynges which are before our eyes. Who wyll then / seke out the grounde of the thynges that are done in heauen? Oh Lorde / who can haue knowledge of thy vnderstandyng and mea∣nyng, excepte thou geue wysdome, and sende thy holy ghost from aboue •• that the wayes of them whiche are vpon earthe / maye be re∣fourmed: that men maye learne the thynges that are pleasaūte vnto the, and be preserued thorowe wysdome.

¶ The delyueraunce of the righteous commeth through wysdome.

CAPI. X.

WYsdome preserued the fyrste man, [unspec A] whom God made a Father of the worlde, whē he was created alone brought him out of his offence toke hym out of the * 1.141 moulde of the earth, & gaue hī power to rule all thynges. * 1.142 When the vnryghtu∣ous went away in hys wrath from this wys¦dome, the brotherhed perysshed thorowe the wrath of murthur. Agayne / whē the * 1.143 water destroyed the whole worlde / wysdome preser¦ued the ryghtuous thorow a poore tre, wher¦of she was gouerner herself. Moreouer whē wyckednesse had gotten the vpper hande so that the nacions were puft vp with pryde she knew the ryghtuous, preserued him faut¦lesse vnto God, and layed vp sure mercye for his chyldren. She preserued the rightuous / * 1.144 whē he fled frō the vngodly that e••pyshed / what tyme as y^• fyre fell downe vpon the. v. cyties: Lyke as yet thys daye the vnfruteful waste / and smokynge land geueth testimony [unspec B] of their wyckednesse: yee the vnrype & vnty∣mely frutes that growe vpon the trees.

And for a token of a remembraūce of the vnfaythfull soule / there standeth a pyler of salt. For al suche as regarded not wysdome, gat not onely thys hurte, y^t they knewe not the thynges whiche were good, but also lefte behinde them vnto mē / a memoriall of their foolishnes: so that in y^e thynges wherin they synned / they coulde not be hyd. But as for suche as take hede vnto wysdome, she shal de¦lyuer them from sorowe.

* 1.145 Whē the ryghtuous fled because of his [unspec C] brothers wrath, wysdome led him the ryght waye, shewed him the Kyngdome of God / gaue hym knowledge of holy thinges, made him rych in his laboures, & brought to passe the thynges that he wente aboute. In the dis¦ceatfulnes of such as defrauded hi, she stode by hym, & made him ryche. She saued him from the enemyes, & defended hym from the disceyuers. She made hym stronge in bat∣tayle & gaue him the vyctory / that he myght knowe, howe that wysdome is stronger then all thynges. * 1.146 When the ryghtuous was solde / she forsoke hym not / but delyuered hym from synners. She wente downe wyth hym into the dongeon, and fayled hym not in the bandes: ‡ 1.147 ••yll she had broughte hym the scepter of the realme, and power agaynst those that oppressed hym▪ As for theym that had accused hym / she declared them to be lyers / and brought hym to perpetual wor¦shyppe. [unspec D]

* 1.148 She deliuered the ryghtuous people & fautelesse lede / from the nacions that oppres¦sed them. She entred into the soule of the ser¦uaunt of God, and stode by hym in wonders and tokēs agaynst the horrible kinges. She gaue the ryghtuous the rewarde of their la∣bours, and led thē forth a maruelous waye / on the daye tyme she was a shadowe vnto them, and a lyght of startes in the nyght sea¦son. ‡ 1.149 She brought thē thorowe y^• reed see / & caryed them thorowe the great water. She drowned theyr enemyes in the see, & brought them out of the depe. So the rightuous toke the spoyles of the vngodly, ‡ 1.150 and praysed thy holy name, O Lorde, and magnified thy vic¦toryous hande with one accorde. ‡ 1.151 For wys∣dome openeth the mouth of the dōme / and maketh the tonges of babes to speake.

¶ The miracles done for Israel. The vengeaūce of synners The great power and mercy of God.

CAPI. XI.

SHe ordred their worckes in the handes of [unspec A] the holy prophete: so that they went tho∣rowe the wildernes that was not inhabyted, and pitched their tentes in the waste deserte. They stode agaynst their enemies / and were* 1.152 auenged of theyr aduersaryes. ‡ 1.153 When they were thyrstye / they called vpon the / and wa∣ter was gyuen thē out of the most hye rocke / and theyre thyrst was quenched out of the harde stone. For by the thynges / where tho∣rowe theyr enemyes were punished, were the chyldren of Israell helped in theyr nede / to theyr comforte. For vnto the enemyes thou gauest mans bloude in steade of lyuynge wa¦ter. And where as they had scarcenesse in y^• rebuke, when the chyldren were slayne, thou gauest vnto thyne owne a plentuous water vnloked for: declarynge by the thyrste that was at that tyme / howe thou woldest bryng thyne owne vnto honoure / and sleye their aduersaries.

‡ 1.154 For when they were tryed and nourtured [unspec B] with fatherly mercy / they knowledged how the vngodly were iudged, and punished tho¦rowe the wrath of God. These hast thou ex∣horted as a father / and proued them: but vn∣to y^• other thou hast bene a boysterous king, layed hard to their charge, & condēpned thē. Whether they were absent or presente / theyr punyshment was alyke. For their grefe was double: namely, mournynge / and the remē∣braunce of thynges past. But whē they per∣ceyued that their punishmētes did thē good, they thought vpon the Lorde / and wonde∣red at the ende. For at y^• last they helde much of him, of whome in the out castynge they thought scorne, as of an obiecte. Neuerthe∣lesse / the ryghtuous dyd not so when they were thyrstye: but euen lyke as the though∣tes of the folyshe were, so was also the wyc∣kednes. [unspec C] ‡ 1.155 Where as certayne men nowe (tho¦rowe errour) dyd worshyppe dōme serpentes and vayne beastes thou sendedst a multitud: of domme beastes vpon them for a venge∣aunce: that they myght knowe, y^• loke where withall a man synneth / by the same also shal he be punysshed. ‡ 1.156 For vnto thy almyghtye hande, that made the worlde of naught, it was not vnpossyble / to sende amonge them an heape of Beeres, or wood Lyons, or cruel beastes of a straunge kynde / suche as are vn¦knowen / or spou••e fyre or cast out a smoking breth / or shote horryble sparkes out of theyr eyes / whiche myght not onely destroye them with hurtynge / but also kyl them with their horyble syght. Yee wythout these beastes might they haue bene slayne with one winde, beyng persecuted of there owne workes, and scatered abroade thorowe the brethe of thy power.

Neuertheles, thou hast ordred all thinges [unspec D] in measure, nombre & weight. For thou haste euer had great strēgth & myght, & who maye w^t stande y^• power of thyne arme? And why? lyke as the smal thyng y^• the balaūce weyeth so is the worlde before y^•: yee as a droppe of y^• mornynge dewe, that falleth downe vpon the earth. Thou hast mercy vpō al / for thou hast power of al thynges: * 1.157 & makest the as though thou sawest not the synnes of men / because they shulde amende. For thou louest

all the thynges that are / and hatest none of thē whō thou hast made: neither dydest thou ordayne or make any thynge, of euyll wyll.

How myght any thyng endure / yf it were not thy wyll? Or howe coulde any thynge be preserued / excepte it were called of the? But thou sparest all / for all are thyne (O Lorde) y^u louer of soules.

¶ The mercye of God towarde synners, the workes of god are vnreprouable. God gyueth leysoure to repent vs.

CAPI. XII.

O Lorde / howe gracyous & swete is thy [unspec A] sprete in al thing{is}? Therfore chastenest y^u thē measurably y^t go wrong, & warnest thē concernyng y^• thinges wherin they offende: y^• speakest vnto thē (O Lorde) & exhortest them to leaue theyr wyckednes / and to put theyr trust in y^•. * 1.158 As for those olde inhabiters of thy holy lande, thou myghtest not awaye w^t thē, for they cōmitted abhominable worckes agaynst the: as witch craft, sorcery and Ido∣latry, they slewe theyr owne chyldren wyth∣out mercy: they dyd eate vp mens bowels / & deuoured the bloude: yee because of suche ab¦hominaciōs, mysoeleuers & offeringes / thou slewest the fathers of the desolate soules by the handes of our fathers: y^• the land whiche thou louest aboue al other, myght be a dwel∣lynge [unspec B] for the chyldren of God.

Neuertheles, thou sparedst them also (as men) & sendedst y^• forerūners of thyne hooste euen hornettes to destroye them out by lytle & lytle. Not that thou wast vnable to subdue the vngodly vnto the rightuous in batayle / or w^t cruel beastes / or with one roughe word to destroye them together: * 1.159 But thy mynde was to dryue them out by lytle and lytle ge∣uynge thē tyme & place to amende: knowyng well, that it was an vnryghtuous nacyon & wicked of nature, and y^• their thought might neuer be altered. For it was a cursed sede frō the beginnyng / and feared no man: Yet hast thou pardoned theyr synnes. For who wyll saye vnto the: why hast thou done that? Or who wyll stāde agaynst thy iudgemente? Or [unspec C] who wyl come before thy face an auenger of vnryghtuous mē? Or who wyl blame y^•, if y^• people perysh, whō y^u hast made? For there is* 1.160 none other god but y^u, that carest for al thing{is} y^• thou mayest declare how that thy iudgemēt is not vnright. There darre nether king, nor tyraūt in thy syght require accōptes of them whom thou hast destroyed.

For so muche then as thou art ryghtuous thy selfe, y^u ordrest all thynges ryghtuouslye * 1.161 & punishest euen him that hathe not deser∣ued to be punyshed, & takest him for a straū∣ger and an aleaūt in the lande of thy power. For thy power is the begynnynge of rygh∣tuousnes: and because thou art Lorde of all thinges / therfore art thou gracious vnto al. When mē thinke y^• not to be of a full strength thou declarest thy power: and boldly deliue∣rest thou thē ouer that knowe the not. But thou Lord of power iudgest quietly / and or∣drest vs with great worship / for thou maiest do as thou wylte.

By suche workes nowe hast thou taught thy people, that a man also shulde be iuste & [unspec D] louynge: and hast made thy chyldren to be of a good hope: for euen when thou iudgest / thou geuest rowme to amende from synnes. For in so muche as thou hast punyshed / and with such diligence deliuered the enemies of thy seruauntes, whiche were worthy to dye (where thorowe thou gauest them tyme and place of amendement that they myght turne from their wyckednes) with how great dyli∣gēce then punishest thou thyne owne chyldrē vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne & made couenauntes of good promyses? So where as thou doest but chasten vs / thou punishest our enemyes diuerse wayes, to the intente that when we punyshe / we shulde remembre thy goodnesse: & when oure selues are puny∣shed, to put our trust in thy mercy.

Wherfore, where as men haue lyued ig∣norauntly & vnryghtuously thou hast puny¦shed [unspec E] thēfore / euen thorow y^• same thynges y^• they worshypped. * 1.162 For they wente astraye very longe in the waye of errour, & helde the beastes (which euen their enemyes despysed) for goddes / lyuinge as chyldren of no vnder standyng. Therfore hast thou sente a scorne∣full punyshment among thē, as amonge the chyldrē of ignoraunce. As for suche as wolde not be refourmed by those scornes and rebu∣kes / they felt the worthy punyshmēt of God. For the thynges that they suffred, they bare them vnpaciently, beyng not content in thē, but vnwyllyng. And when they peryshed by the same thinges y^t they toke for goddes, they knowledged then / that there was, but one true God, whom afore they wold not know: therfore came the ende of theyr damnacyon vpon them.

¶ At thynges be vayne, excepte the knowledge of God. Ido¦laters and Idoles are mocked.

CAPI. XIII.

VAyne are al men, which haue not know¦ledge [unspec A] of God: * 1.163 as were they that out of the good thynges whyche are sene, knewe not hym, y^• of hym selfe is euerlastyng. Ney∣ther toke they so much regarde of the workes

that are made / as to knowe, who was the craftesman of them but some toke the fyre / some the winde or ayre, some the course of the starres / some the water / some toke Sunne and Moone / or the lyghtes of heauen which rule the earth / for goddes. But though they had suche pleasure in theyr beuty / that they thought them to haue bene goddes: yet shuld they haue knowen / howe muche more fayrer he is that made them. For the maker of bew∣tye hath ordayned all these thynges. Or yf they marueled at the power and worckes of them / they shulde haue perceyued therby / that he whiche made these thynges, is mygh¦tyer then they.

For by the greatenesse and bewty of the creatures, the maker therof may playnely be [unspec B] knowen. Notwithstandynge / they are the lesse to be blamed, that seke God, and wolde fynde hym / and yet mysse. And why? for so muche as they go about in his worckes and seke after thē / it is a token, that they regarde and holde moche of his workes that are sene: howbeit they are not wholy to be excused. For yf theyr vnderstandyng & knowledge be so great, that they can discerne the world and the creatures, why do they not rather fynde out the Lorde therof?

But vnhappye are they, and amonge the deade is theyr hope, that call them Goddes whiche are but the workes of mens handes: golde / syluer / and the thynge that is founde out by connynge, the similitudes of beastes. or any vayne stone that hath bene made by hande of olde. * 1.164 Or as whā a carpēter cut∣teth downe a tree out of the wod / and pareth of the barke of it cōningly: & so w^t the one {per}te maketh a vessel to be vsed, & dresseth meat w^t the resydue. As for the other parte y^• is lefte / which is {pro}fytable for nothing (for it is a cro∣ked [unspec C] pece of wod & full of knobbes) he carueth it diligently thorowe his vanite, & according to the knowledge of his cōnnyng) he geueth it some proporcyon, fashyoneth it after the si militude of a mā, or maketh it like some beast straketh it ouer with redd / and paynteth it / & loke what foule spot is in it he casteth some coloure vpon it.

Then maketh he a conuenient tabernacle for it / setteth it in the wall, & maketh it faste with yron, prouydynge so for it / least it hap∣pen to fall: for it is well knowen / that it can not helpe it selfe: And why? it is but an yma∣ge / and must of necessyte be helped.

Then goeth he & offreth of his goodes vn¦to it, for his chyldren and for his wyfe: he se∣keth [unspec D] helpe at it, he asketh councell at it: he is not ashamed to speake vnto it that hathe no soule: for health, he maketh his peticion vn∣to hym that is sycke: for lyfe, he prayeth vnto him that is deed: he calleth vpō him for help, that is not able to helpe him selfe: & to sende him a good iourneye / he prayeth him y^• maye not go. And in al the thynges that he taketh in hande (whether it be to optayne any thing or to worcke) he prayeth vnto hym / that can do no maner of good.

¶ The detestacyon and abhomynacion of ymages. A curse of them, and of him that maketh them. The euyls that come of Idolatrye.

CAPI. XIIII.

AGayne / another man / purposynge to sayle / and begynnyng to take his iour¦nye [unspec A] thorowe the ragynge see, calleth for help vnto a stocke, that is farre weaker / then the tree that beareth hym. For as for it / coue∣teousnesse of moneye hath founde it out, and the craftesman made it with hys connynge. But thy prouydence / O Father / gouerneth all thynges from the begynnyng: * 1.165 for thou hast made awaye in the see / and a sure path in the myddest of the waues: declarynge ther by / that thou haste power to helpe in al thin¦ges, yee though a man wente to the see with∣out shyppe. Neuerthelesse / that the worc∣kes [unspec B] of thy wysdome shulde not be vayne / ‡ 1.166 thou hast caused an arcke to be made: & ther∣fore do men commytte theyr lyues to a small pece of wodd, passyng ouer the see in a shyp / and are saued.

* 1.167 For in y^• olde tyme also when the proude grauntes peryshed / he (in whō the hope was lefte to encrease the worlde) wente into the shyppe / whiche was gouerned thorowe thy hande / and so left sede behynde him vnto the worlde. For happye is y^• tree, where thorowe ryghtuousnes cōmeth: but cursed is the ydol that is made with hādes / * 1.168 ye both it and he that made it. He / because he made it: and it / because it was called God / where as it is but a frayle thynge. ‡ 1.169 For the vngodly & hys vngodlynes are both lyke abhominable vn∣to God. Euen so the worke and he that made it also, shall be punyshed together. There∣fore shall there a plage come vpon the ydols of the Heythen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abhomynacyon / a temptacyon vnto the soules of men / and a snare for the fete of the vnwyse. And why? y^• sekynge out of ydoles is the begynnynge of whordome / and the bryngynge vp of thē is the destruccyon of lyfe. For they were not from the begynnynge / nether shall they con∣tynue [unspec C] for euer. The welthy ydelnes of men

hath founde them out vpon earthe, therfore shal they come shortly to an ende.

Whē a father mourned for hys sōne y^• was takē awaye frō him / he made him an ymage (in all y^• haste) of his deed sonne: & so begāne to worshyppe him as God, which was but a deed mā, & ordened his saruaūtes to offre vn¦to him. Th{us} by processe of tyme & thorow an vngracio{us} custome, this erroure was kepte: as lawe, and tyrauntes cōpelled men by vio¦lence to honour ymages. As for those that were so farre of, that men myght not wor∣shyppe them presently, theyr pycture was brought frō farre (lyke the ymage of a Kyng whō they wolde honoure) to the intent that with greate diligence they myght worshypp him which was farre of / as thoughe he had bene present, Agayne / the synguler connyng of the cratesman gaue the ignoraunte also a great occasyon to worshyp ymages. For the workeman wylling to do him a pleasure that set him a worcke / laboured with all his con∣nynge [unspec D] to make the ymage of the best fashyon And so (thorowe the beuty of the worcke) the comē people was disceyued, in so much that they toke him nowe for a God / which a lytle afore was but honored as a man. And thys was the erroure of mans lyfe / when men (ey∣ther for to serue theyr owne affeccion, or to do some plesure vnto kinges) ascribed vnto sto¦nes and stockes y^• name of god, which ought to be gyuen vnto no man.

Moreouer, this was not ynough for thē that they erred in the knowledge of God: but where as they lyued in the greate war∣res of ignorauncy / those many & greate pla∣ges called they peace. For eyther * 1.170 they slue theyr owne chyldren, and offred them / or dyd sacrifice in the nyght season / or els helde vn reasonable watches: so that they kepte ney∣ther lyfe nor maryage cleane: but eyther one slue another to death malyciously / or els gre¦ued [unspec E] his neyghboure wyth aduoutrye. And thus were al thynges myxte together: bloud manslaughter / theft / dissimulacyon / corrup∣cyon / vnfaytfulnesse / sedycyon / periurye / dis quyetynge of good men / vnthanfulnes / de∣fylynge of soules / chaungynge of byrth, vn∣sted fastnesse of maryage, mysorder of aduou trye and vnclenesse. And why? the honou∣rynge of abhomynable ymages is the cause, the begynnynge and ende of all euyll. For they that worshyppe Idols, eyther they are mad when they be mery, or prophecie lyes or lyue vngodly, or els lyghtly forsweare them selues. Frr in so much as their truste is in y^• Idols (which haue nether soule ner vn¦derstandynge) thoughe they sweare falsely, yet they thynke it shall not hurte them.

Therfore commeth a greate plage vpon them, & that worthely: for they haue an euyll opinion of God / gyuyng hede vnto Idols / swearyng vniustly to disceyue, & despysynge rightuousnes. For theyr swearing is no ver¦tue, but a plage of thē y^• sine, & goeth euer w^t the offence of the vngodly.

¶ The voyce of the faythfull, praysynge the mercy of God, for whose graces sake they serue not Idols.

CAPI. XV.

BUt y^u (O our God) art swete, long suffe∣ryng [unspec A] & true, & in mercy ordrest y^u al thin∣ges. Though we synne, yet are we thyne / for we knowe thy strēgth. If we synne not / then are we sure, that thou regardest vs. For to knowe the / is perfecte ryghtuousnes: Yee to knowe thy ryghtuousnes and power / is the rote of immortalyte. As for the thynge / that men haue founde out thorowe theyr euyll sci¦ence / it hath not disceyued vs: as the payn∣tyng of the picture (an vnprofytable labour) and carued image, w^t diuerse colours, whose syght entysed the ignoraunt: so that he hono∣reth and loueth the pycture of a deed image that hath no soule.

Neuertheles, they that loue such euyl thi∣ges, [unspec B] are worthy of death: they y^• trust in thē / they y^• make them, they that loue them, & they that honoure thē. The potter also taketh & tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, & giueth it the fashion of a vessel, whatsoeuer serueth for our vse: & so of one pece of claye he maketh some cleane vessel for seruice, & some cōtrary. But wherto euery vessel serueth, y^• knoweth the potter hym selfe. So with his vayne la∣boure he maketh a God of the same claye: this dothe euen he / whiche a lytle afore was made of earthe hym selfe / and within a lytle whyle after (when he dyeth) turneth to earth agayne.

Notwithstandyng, he careth not the more [unspec C] because he shall labour, nor because hys lyfe is short: but stryueth to excell gold smythes, the siluer smythes and coper smythes, and ta¦keth it for an honour to make vayne thyn∣ges. For his herte is asshes, hys hope is but vaine earth, & his life is more vile then clay: for so much as he knoweth not his owne ma¦ker, y^• gaue hi his soule to worke, & brethed in hī the breth of lyfe. They coūte our lyfe but a pastyme, & our cōuersacion to be, but a mar∣ket, & that men shulde euer be gettyng, & that by euyl meanes. Nowe he y^• of earth maketh frayle vessels & ymages, knoweth hī selfe to offēde aboue al other.

All y^• enemyes of thy people & that holde thē in subieccyon, are vnwise, vnhappy, and [unspec D] exceadynge proude vnto theyr owne soules / for they iudge all the Idols of the Heathen to be goddes, which nether haue eye syght to se, nor noses to smell, nor eares to heare / nor fyngers of handes for to grope: & as for their fete, they are to slowe to go. For man made them / & he that hath but a borowed sprete / fashioned them. But no mā can make a God lyke vnto hym: for seynge he is but mortall hym selfe / it is but mortall that he maketh with vnryghtuous handes. He hym selfe is better then they whom he worshyppeth, for helyued though he was mortall / so dyd ne∣uer they. Yee they worshyppe beastes also / which are most miserable: for compare thin∣ges that cannot fele vnto them / and they are worse then those. Yet is there not one of these beastes / that with his syght can behold any good thing / nether haue they geuē pray∣se nor thanckes vnto God.

¶ The punyshment of Idolatrers, and the benefytes done vnto the faythfull,

CAPI. XVI.

FOr these and suche other thynges haue [unspec A] they suffred worthy punyshement and thorowe the multytude of beastes are they ro¦ted out. In steade of the whiche punyshmen¦tes thou hast gracyously ordred thyne owne people / and geuen their desyre that they lon∣ged for: a newe and straunge tayst, * 1.171 prepa∣rynge them quales to be theyr meate: to the intent that (by the thynges which were shew¦ed and sent vnto them) they that were so gre¦dy of meate / myght be withdrawen euen frō the desyre that was necessary. But these with in shorce tyme were brought vnto pouertye / and tasted a newe meate. For it was re∣quysite that (without any excuse) destruccion shulde come vpon those which vsed tyranny, and to shewe onely vnto the other, how their enemyes were destroyed. ‡ 1.172 For when the cru¦el woodnesse of the beastes came vpon them, they peryshed thorow the stinges of the cruel Serpentes.

Notwithstandynge, thy wrath endured [unspec B] not perpetually / but they were put in feare for a lytle season / that they myght be refour∣med, hauyng a token of saluacyon, to remē∣bre the commaundemēt of thy lawe. For he that cōuerted / was not healed by the thynge y^• he sawe / but by the / O sauiour of all. So in this thou shewedst thyne enemyes / that it is thou / which deliuered trō all euyll. As for them * 1.173 whē they were byttē▪ w^t greshoppers and flyes, they dyed / for they were worthy to perysh by such: But neyther y^• teth of dra∣gōs nor of venimous wormes ouercame thy chyldrē, for thy mercy was euer by thē & hel∣ped thē. Therfore were they punyshed to re∣mēbre thy wordes, but hastely were they hea¦led agayn / lest they shuld fal into so depe for∣getfulnes, y^• they myght not vse thy helpe.

It was nether herbe nor playster that re∣stored thē to the helth / but thy word (O lord) [unspec C] which healeth all thynges. It is y^u (O Lord) that hast the power of lyfe and death ‡ 1.174 : thou ledest vnto deathes dore / and bryngest vp agayne. But mā thorow wickednes slayeth his owne soule, and when hys sprete goeth forth / it turneth not agayne, neyther may he call agayne the soule that is taken awaye: It is not possyble to eskape thy hande. For the vngodly that wolde not knowe y^• / were punyshed by y^• strength of thyne arme: wyth straunge waters / hayles and raynes were they persecuted, and thorowe fyre were they consumed. For it was a wonderous thynge that fyre myght do more then water whiche quencheth all thynges: but the worlde is the auenger of the ryghtuous. Somtyme was the fyre so tame / that the beastes which were sent to punysh the vngodly, brente not: and that because they shulde se and knowe / that they were persecuted with the punyshmente of God. And some tyme brent the fyre in the [unspec D] water on euery syde, that it myght destroye y^• vnrightuous nacion of the earth. ‡ 1.175 Againe thou haste fed thyne owne people w^t Angels fode, and sent the breade redy from Heauen (without their laboure) beynge very plea∣saunt and of good tast. And to shewe thy ry∣ches & swetenesse vnto thy chyldren, thou ga¦uest euery one theyr desyre, so that euery mā myght take what lyked hym best. But the snowe and yse abode the vyolence of the fyre & melted not: that they myght knowe / that the fyre burnyng in the hayle and rayne / de∣stroyed the frute of the enemyes: the fyre al∣so forgat his strength agayne / that the rygh tuous myght be noryshed. For the creature that serueth the (whiche art the maker) is fe∣arse in punyshyng y^• vnryghtuous, but is ea¦sy & gētle to do good / vnto suche as put their trust in the. Therfore dyd all thynges alter [unspec E] at the same tyme / and were all obedient vn∣to thy grace, whiche is the nurse of all thyn∣ges, accordynge to the desyre of them that had nede therof: that thy chyldren (O Lord) whō thou louest, myght knowe, * 1.176 that it is not nature and the growynge of frutes that fedeth men, but that it is thy worde, whiche preserueth them that put theyr truste in the.

For loke what myght not be destroyed wyth the fyre / as soone as it was warmed wyth a lytle Sūne beame / it meltetd: y^• al mē myght knowe, that thankes ought to be geuen vn∣to the before the Sunne ryse, and that thou oughtest to be worshypped before the daye springe. For the hope of the vnthākfull shall melt awaye as the wynter yse, & perysshe as water, that is not necessary.

¶ The iudgementes of God vpon the Egyptions.

CAPI. XVII.

GReate are * 1.177 thy iudgementes (O Lord) [unspec A] and thy councels can not be expressed: therfore men do erre / that wyl not be refour¦med w^t thy wysdome. * 1.178 For when y^• vnrygh∣suons thought to haue thy holy people in subieccyon, they were bounde with the ban∣des of darknes & long nyght, shut vnder the rofe, thynkynge to escape the euerlastynge wysdome And whyle they thought to be hyd in the darckenesse of their synnes / they were scatred abrode in the very middest of y^• darke couerynge of forgetfulnes / put to horryble feare & wōderously vexed: for the corner wher they myght not kepe them from feare (becau¦se the sounde came downe and vexed them) yee many terrible and straunge visions ma∣de them afrayed.

No power of the fyre myght geue them [unspec B] lyght, nether myght the cleare tlammes of y^• starres lyghtē that horrible nyght. For there appeared vnto them a sodayne fyre / verye dredefull: At the which (when they sawe no∣thynge they were so afrayed / y^• they thought the thynge whiche they sawe / to be the more fearfull. * 1.179 As for the sorcery & enchauntmēt that they vsed / it came to derysyon / and the proude wysdome was brought to shame. For they that promysed to dryue away the feare∣fulnes & drede from that weake soules, were sicke for feare them selues / and y^• with scorne And though none of the wonders feared thē / yet were they afrayed at the beastes whiche came vpon them, & at the Hyssyng of the ser∣pentes. In so much that with trēblyng they swowned, & sayd they sawnot y^• ayre, whiche no man yet may escape:

For it is an heuy thynge / when a mans [unspec C] owne conscience beareth recorde of his wye∣kednes and condempneth hym. And why••a vexed and wounded conscyence, taketh euer cruell thynges in hād. * 1.180 Fearefulnes is no∣thyng els / but a declaring that a man seketh helpe and defence / to answere for hym selfe. And loke how much lesse the hope is within, the more is the vncertentye of the matter, for the whiche he is punyshed. But they y^• came in the myghtye nyght: slepe the slepe that fel vpon them from vnder and from aboue: som¦tyme were they afrayed thorowe the feare of the wonders / and somtime they were so wea¦ke that they swowned withall: for an hastye and sodayne ferfulnes came vpon them. Af∣terwarde / yf any of them had fallen / he was kepte and shut in preson / but without chay∣nes. But if any dwelt in a vyllage / if he had bene an heyrde or husbandman he suffred in∣tollerable necessyte: for they were all bounde with one cheyne of darkenes.

Whether it were a blasynge wynde / or [unspec D] a swete songe of the byrdes among the thyc¦ke braunches of the trees / or the vehemen∣cy of hastye runnynge water / or great noyse of the fallyng downe of Stones / or the play enge and runnynge of beastes whom they sawe not / or the myghtye noyse of roarynge beastes / or the sownde that aunswereth a∣gayne in the hye Mountaynes: it made them swowne for very feare. For all the earthe shyned with cleare lyght / and no man was hyndered in his labour. Onely vpon them there fell a heuy nyght / an ymage of darek∣nesse that was to come vpon them. Yee they were vnto them selues the moste heuy & hor∣ryble darcknes.

¶ The Fyre lyghte that the Israelytes had in Egypte. The persecucyon of the faythfull. The Lorde smote all the fyrste borne of Egypte. The synne of the people in the wyldernesse. Aaton stode betwyte the lyue and the deed, with his censoure.

CAPI. XVIII.

NEuertheles / thy Saynctes had a very [unspec A] great lyght (and the ennemyes herde theyr voyce / but they sawe not the fygure of them.) And because they suffred not the same thynges / they magnyfied the: and they that were vexed afore (because they were not hurte nowe) thancked the / and besought the (O God) that there myghte be a dyffe∣rence. * 1.181 Therfore had they a burnynge pyler of fyre to lede them in the vnknowne waye, and thou gaueste them the Sunne for a fre gyft without any hurte. Reason it was that they shulde want lyght, and be put in y^• preson of darcknes / whiche kepte thy chyl∣dren [unspec B] in captyuyte / by whom the vncorrupte lyght of the lawe of the worlde was for to be geuē. * 1.182 When they thought to slaye the ba bes of the ryghtuous (one beynge layed out, and preserued to be leader vnto the other) * 1.183 thou broughtest out y^e whole multytude of the chyldren / and destroyedst these in the myghtye water. Of that nyght were oure fathers certyfyed afore / that they knowynge

vnto what othes they had geuen credence / myght be of good cheare, Thus thy people receaued y^• health of the ryghteous / but the vngodly were destroyed. For lyke as thou hast hurte our enemyes / so hast thou promo¦ted vs whome thou calledest afore. For the ryghteous chyldren of the good men offred secretly / & ordred the lawe of ryghteousnes vnto vnite: that the iust shuld receaue good and cuyll in lyke maner, syngynge prayses vnto the father of all men. Agayne / there was herde an vnconueniēt voyce of the ene¦myes / and a pyteous crye for chyldren that were bewayled. The master and the ser∣uaunt were punyshed in lyke maner. For they altogether had innumetable that died one deathe.

* 1.184 Neyther were the lyuinge sufficient to [unspec C] bury the deed, for in the twyncklynge of an eye / the noblest nacion of them was destroy¦ed. As ofte as God helped them afore / yet wolde it not make thē beleue: but in the de∣struccyon of the fyrste borne they knowled∣ged / that it was the people of God. For whyle all thynges were styll / and when the nyght was in the myddest of her course, thy Almyghtye worde (O Lorde) leapte downe from heauen oute of thy royall trone / as a rough man of warre, in the myddeste of the lande that was destroyed: and the sharpe swerde perfourmed theyr strayte commaū∣dement, standynge and fyllyng all thynges with death: yee it stode vpon the earth & rea¦ched vnto the heauen. Then the sight of the euyl dreames vexed them sodenly, and fear∣fulnesse came vpon them vnawares.

Then laye there one here / another there / halfe deed, halfe quycke, & shewed the cause of hys deathe. For the vysyons that vexed them shewed them these thynges afore: so that they were not ignoraunte / wherfore they peryshed.

The tētacion of death touched the rygh∣teous [unspec D] also, and among the multytude in the wyldernesse there was insurreccyō, but thy wrath endured not lōge. For the blamelesse man wente in all the hast, and toke the bat∣tayll vpō him, brought forth the weapen of his myny stracyon: euen prayer and the cen∣sours of reconcylynge, set him selfe agaynst the wrath / and so brought the misery to an ende: declaringe the chy, that he was thy ser¦uaunt. For he ouercame not the multytude with bodely power / nor wyth weapens of myght: but with the worde he sobdued hym that vexed hym / puttynge them in remem∣braunce of the othe and couenaunte made vnto the fathers. For when the deed were fallen downe by heapes one vpō another he stode in the myddest, pacified the wrath, and parted y^• waye vnto lyuynge. * 1.185 And whyem hys longe garment was al the bewtye / and in the foure rowes of the stones was y^e glo∣ry of the fathers grauen / and thy maiesty was wrytten in the crowne of hys heade. Unto these the destroyer gaue place / & was afrayed of them: for it was onely a temtaciō worthy of wrath.

¶ The deeth of the Egypcyans, and the greate ioye of the Hebrues. The meate that was geuen at the despre of the preople. The elementes serut not onely to the wyll of God / but also to the wyll of man.

CAPI. XIX.

AS FOR the vngodly / the wrathe [unspec A] came vpon them without mercye vn∣to the ende. For he knewe before what shulde happen vnto them: howe that (when they had consented to let them go / and had sente oute with great dylygence) they wolde repente, and folowe vpon them. * 1.186 For when they were yet mournynge and ma∣kynge lamentacyon by the graues of the dead, they deuysed another fooly shenes: so that they persecuted them in theyr flyenge. whom they had cast out afore with prayer. Worthy necessyte also broughte them vnto thys ende, for they had cleane forgotten the thynges that happened vnto them afore. But the thinge that was wantinge of theyr punyshemente / was requysyte so to be ful∣fylled vpon them wyth tormentes / that thy people myghte haue a maruelous pas∣sage thorowe, and that these myght fynde a straunge death.

Thē was euery creature fashioned againe [unspec B] of newe, accordinge to the wyll of theyr ma∣ker / obeyenge thy commaundementes that thy chyldren myght be kept without hurte / For the cloude ouershadowed theyr tentes / and y^e dry earth appeared / where afore was water: so that in y^• reed see there was awaye without unpedimēt, and the great depe be∣came a grene felde: where thorow al the peo¦ple wēte that were defended with thy hand, seing thy wonderous and maruelous wor∣kes. For as the horses, so were they fed, and leapte lyke lambes, praisynge the (O Lord) which haddest deliuered thē. And whyethey were yet myndefull of the thynges / y^t hap∣pened whyle they dwelt in the lāde: how the groūde brought for the flyes in steade of ca∣tell: & howe the ryuer scrauled with the mul¦tytude of frogges in steade of rythes. [unspec C]

* 1.187 But at the last they sawe a new creacion

of byrdes / what tyme as they were dicea∣ued with lust / and desyred delicate meates. For when they were speakynge of theyr ap∣petite, the quailes came vp vnto them from the see / and punyshementes came vpon the synners, not without the tokēs which came to passe afore by the vehemē••ye of the strea∣mes: for they suffred worthely accordyng to theyr wyckednesses / they dealt so abhomy∣nably & churiyshly w^t straūgers. Some re∣ceaued no vnknowne gestes / some brought the straungers into bondage that dyd them good. Besyde all these thynges there were some / that not onely receaued no straūgers with theyr wylles / but persecuted those al∣so / * 1.188 & dyd them much euyll / that receaued them gladly. Therfore were they punished with * 1.189 blyndnesse / lyke as they that were couered w^t sodayne darcknesse at the dores of the ryghteous / so that euery one sought the en••rau••••e of bys dore.

Thus the elementes turned into them [unspec D] selues / lyke as when one tyme is chaunged vpon an instrument of musycke, and yet all the resydue kepe theyr melody: which maye easely be perceaued, by the syght of the thin¦ges that are come to passe. The drye lande was turned into a waterye / and the thynge that afore sw••mme in the water / wēte now vpon the drye ground. The fyre had power in the water (contrary to hys owne vertue) and the water forgace hys owne kynde to quenche. Agayne, the flammes of the noyso¦me beastes hurte not the flesh of them that went with thē / neyther melted they the yse / which els melteth lightely. In al thyn¦ges hast thou promoted thy people (O Lorde) and brough them to honour: thou hast not despy¦sed thē, but alway and i all places hast thou stande by thē.

❧: Here endeth the Booke of wysdome.

❧ The booke of Iesus the sonne of Syrach / which is called in Latin / Ecclesiasticus.

¶ The Prologe of Iesus the sonne of Syrach vnto his boke.

MAny and greate men haue declared wys∣dome vnto vs out of the lawe / out of the Prophe∣tes and out of other that folowed them. In the whiche thynges Isra∣ell oughte to be commended / by the reason of doctrine and wysdome: Therfore they that haue it and reade it / shulde not onely them selues be wise there thorow, but serue other also wyth teachynge and wrytynge.

After that my graunde father Iesus had geuen dylygente laboure to reade the lawe, the Prophetes and other bokes that were lefte vs of oure fathers, and had well exer∣cysed hymselfe therin: he purposed also to wryte some thynge of wysdome and good maners, to the intent that they whiche were wyllynge to learne and to be wyse / myghte haue the more vnderstandynge / and be the more apte to leade a good conuersacyon.

Wherfore / I exhorte you to receaue it lo∣uyngly, to reade it with diligēce / and to ta∣ke it in good worth, though our wordes be not so eloquent as the famous oratours.

For the thynge y^t is wrytten in the Hebrue tonge / soundeth not so well when it is tran∣slated into another speach. Not onely thys boke of myne but also the law, the Prophe∣tes and other bokes sounde farre otherwise, then they do, when they are spoken in theyr owne language. Now in the. xxxviii. yeare when I came into Egipt ī the tyme of Pro∣lomy Euerges & cōtinueo there al my lyfe / I gat lybertye to reade & write many good thinges. Wherfore / I thought it good and necessary, to bestowe my dylygence and tra∣uayle to interprete thys boke. And cōsyde∣ryng that I had tyme / I laboured and dyd my best to perfourme thys boke, & to bringe it vnto lyght: that the straungers al∣so which are dysposed to lerne / myght apply thē selues vn∣to good maners, & lyue ac∣cordyng to the lawe of the Lorde.

❧ Eccleciasticus.

¶ Wysdome proceadeth and commeth of God. A prayse o•• the feare of God. Righteousnes to a degre to come by wysdome.

CAPI. I.

AL wisdome commeth [unspec A] of god the Lord / and hath bene euer wyth hym / and is before al tyme. Who hath nombred the sande of the see, the droppes of y^• rayne / and the dayes of tyme? Who hathe measured the heygth of heauen / the bredth of the earthe, & the ••epnesse of the see? Who hathe soughte oute the grounde of Goddes wysdome / whiche hath bene before all thin∣ges? * 1.190 Wysdome hath bene before all thyn∣ges* 1.191 / and the vnderstandynge of prudence from euerlastynge. (Goddes worde in the heygth is the wel of wisdome, and the euer∣lastyng cōmaundementes are the entraūce of her.) Unto whome hathe the rote of wys∣dome bene declared? Or who hath knowen her wyt? Unto whō hath the doctrine of wis∣dome bene discouered & shewed? & who hath vnderstande y^• many folde entraūce of her?

There is one: euen the Hyest / the maker [unspec B] of all thynges / the Almyghtye / the kynge / of power (of whome men oughte to stande greatly ī awe) which sytteth vpō his trone / beynge a God of domynyon: He had crea∣ted her thorowe the holy goost: he hath sene her: nōbred her, and measured her: He hath poured her oute vpon all hys worckes, and vpon all fleshe accordynge to hys gyfte: he geueth her rychely vnto thē that loue him:

The feare of the Lorde is worshyppe and triumphe / gladnesse and a ioyfull crowne: The feare of the Lorde maketh a mery hert, geueth gladnesse, ioye and longe life. Who so feareth the Lorde / it shall go well with hym at the last, and in the daye of his death he shall be blessed.

The loue of God is honorable wysdome: [unspec C] loke vnto whom it appeareth, they loue it, for they se what wonderous thinges it doth. * 1.192 The feare of the Lord is y^• begynnynge of wysdome, and was made with the faythful in the mothers wombe: it shall go with the chosen wemen, and shall be knowen of the ryghteous and faythfull. The feare of the Lorde is the ryght Gods seruyce, that pre∣serueth and iustifyeth the herte, and geueth myrth and gladnesse. Who so feareth y^• lord shall be happy: and when he hath nede of cō¦forte, he shal be blessed. To feare God is the wysdome that maketh rich, and bringeth al good with her. She filleth the whole house with her gyftes / and the garners with her treasure. The feare of the Lord is y^• crowne of wysdome / and geueth plenteous peace and health. He hath sene her & nombred her (both these are the giftes of God) knowled∣ge and vnderstanding of wysdome hath he poured out as rayne / and thē that helde her fast, hath he brought vnto honour.

The feare of the Lorde is the rote of wys∣dome / and [unspec D] her braunches are longe lyfe. In the treasures of wysdome is vnderstādinge and deuocyon of knowledge / but wysdome is abhorred of synners. The feare of y^• Lord dryueth oute synne: for he that is without feare, cānot be made righteous, and his wil∣full boldnes is his owne destruccion. A pa∣ciēt man wyl suffre vnto the ryme / and then shall he haue y^• rewarde of ioye. A good vn∣derstandynge wyll hyde hys wordes for a tyme, & many mes lippes shal speake of hys wysdome. In the treasures of wysdome is y^• declaracyon of doctryne, but the synner ab∣horeth the worshippe of God. My sonne / yt thou desyre wysdome / kepe the commaun∣dement, and God shal geue her vnto the: for the feare of the Lorde is wysdome and nur∣ture / he hath pleasure in fayth and louynge mekenesse, and he shal fyl the treasures ther¦of. Be not obstinate and vnfaythfull to the feare of the Lorde / and come not vnto hym with a double hert. Be not an ypocryce in y^• light of men, and take good hede what thou speakest. Marcke well these thynges / lest y^• happen to fal and bringe thy soule to disho∣noure / and so god discouer thy secretes, and cast the downe in the middest of the congre∣gacyo: because thou woldest not ceceaue the teare of God, and because thy herte is ful of faynednes and disceace.

¶ He exhorteth the seruaūtes of god to righteousnes lo••e, vnderstandynge, and •• cyence / ••••d exhorteth him that 〈◊〉〈◊〉, teth God / to beleue / to hope, and to loue because God ••••i∣ther confoundeth nor forsaketh them / that truste in hym. A curse vpon the sotell, fearce, and impacyent of herte.

CAPI. II.

My sonne / * 1.193 yf thou wylte come into the [unspec A] seruyce of God / stande faste in ryghte∣ousnesse and feare / and arme thy soule to temptacyon, setle thyne herte, and be pacy∣ent: bowe downe thine eare, receaue the wor¦des of vnderstandinge, and shryncke not a∣waye, when thou art entysed.

Holde the fast vpon God, ioyne thy selfe vn¦to him, and suffre that thy life may increace at the last. Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto y^•

receaue it: suffre ī heuynesse / and be pacient in thy trouble. * 1.194 For lyke as golde & syluer are tryed in the fyre / euen so are acceptable mē in y^• fornace of aduersite. Beleue ī God, & he shall helpe the: ordre thy waye a ryght, and put thy trust in him. Hold fast his feare and grow therin. O ye that feare the Lord, take sure holde of his mercy: shrincke not a waye from him, that ye fal not. O ye that feare the Lord, beleue hī, and your rewarde shal not be emptye. O ye that feare y^e Lord: put your trust in him / and mercy shall come vnto you for pleasure. O ye y^t feare y^e Lord / set your loue vpon him and you hertes shal be lyghtened.

Consydre the olde generacions of mē O [unspec B] ye chyldren (& marck them well: * 1.195 was there euer eny one confounded, that put hys trust in the Lord? Who euer cōtinued in his feare and was forsaken? Or whome dyd he euer despyse, that called faithfully vpō him? For God is gracyous & mercyfull / he forgeueth sinnes in the tyme of trouble / and is a defen¦der for all them that seke hym in the truthe. Wo be vnto him, y^t hath a double hert, wyc∣ked lippes and euyll occupied hādes, and to the synner that goeth two maner of wayes. Wo be vnto them y^• are loose of herte, which put not theyr trust in god, and therfore shall they not be defended of hym. Wo be vnto thē that haue lost pacience, forsakē y^• ryght wayes, and are turned back into frowarde wayes. What wyll they do, whan the Lord shall begynne to vyset them?

They that feare the Lord, wyll not mis∣trust [unspec C] his worde: and they y^• * 1.196 loue him, wyll kepe his commaundement. They that feare the Lord, wyl seke out the thinges, that are pleasaunt vnto him, * 1.197 & they that loue him: shall fulfyll hys lawe. They that feare the Lorde, wyll prepare theyr hertes, and hum∣ble theyr soules ī his sight. They that feare the Lorde, kepe his commaūdementes, and wyll be pacient tyl they se hym selfe, saying: * 1.198 better it is for vs to fal into y^t handes of y^e Lorde / then into the handes of men: for hys mercy is as greate as hym selfe.

¶ To our father and mother ought we to geue double ho¦nour. Of the blessynge and ruesse of the father and mother No man ought ouce curyously to searthe oure the secretes of God.

CAPI. III.

THe chyldren of wysdome are a congre∣gacyon [unspec A] of the ryghteous / and theyr ex¦trcise is obedience and loue. Heare me your father (O my deare chyldren) and do there after, that ye may be safe.

* 1.199 For y^• Lorde wyll haue the father honou∣red of the children: and loke what a mother commaūdeth her chyldren to do / he wyll ha¦ue it kept. Who so honoureth his father his synnes shall be forgeuen him: * 1.200 & he that ho¦noureth his mother is lyke one y^• gathereth treasure together. Who so honoureth h{is} fa∣ther shall haue ioye of his owne chyldren: & when he maketh his prayer he shal be herde. He y^• honoureth his father, shal haue a long lyfe: and he that is obedyent for the Lordes sake / hys mother shall haue ioye of hym.

He that feareth the Lorde, honoureth hys [unspec B] father and mother / and doth thē seruyce, as it were vnto the Lorde hym selfe. Honoure thy father in dede, in worde, and ī al paciēce that thou mayest haue Gods blessinge / and hys blessynge shall abyde with y^• at the last.

* 1.201 The blessing of the father buyldeth vp the houses of the children / but the mothers curse roteth out the foundacyons. Reioyse not whē thy father is reproued, for it is not honoure vnto the / but a shame. For the wor¦shype of a mās father is his owne worship / & where the father is without honoure, it is the dishonesty of the sonne. My sonne, make much of thy father in hys age / & greue hym not as long as he lyueth. And if his vnder∣standynge fayle / haue pacience with hym / and despise him not in thy strength. For the good dede y^• thou shewest vnto thy father / shal not be forgottē: and when thou thy self wanteste / it shall be rewarded the (& for thy mothers offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, yee it shall be founded for the in ryghteousnes) and in the daye of trouble y^• shalt be remembred: the synnes also shall melte awaye / lyke as the yse in the fayre warme water.

He that forsaketh his father / shall come [unspec C] to shame: and he that defieth his mother, is cursed of God. My sonne / perfourme thy worckes wyth louynge mekenesse / so shalte thou be loued aboue other men. The grea∣ter thou arte / the more humble thy selfe (in all thynges) and thou shalt fynde fauoure in the syght of God. For greate power be∣longeth onely vnto God / and he is honou∣red of the lowly.

* 1.202 Seke not out the thynges y^• are aboue thy capacyte / and search not the grounde of such thinges as are to myghtye for the: but loke what God hath cōmaunded the: thinke vpon that all waye / and be not curyous in many of hys worckes. For it is not nedeful for the / to se with thyne eyes the thynges

that are secret. Make not thou to muche search ī superssuous thinges, and be not cu¦rious in many of his workes: for many thin¦ges are shewed vnto the al ready, which be aboue the capacite of men. The medlyng w^t such hath begyled many a mā / and tangled theyr wittes in vanyte.

An harde hert shall fare euyll at the last: (and he that louethe peryll / shall peryshe [unspec D] therm) an hert that goeth two wayes / shall not prospere: and he that is froward of hert wyll euer be worse and worsse.) A wycked hert shalbe laden with sorowes, and the vn godly sinner wyl heape one sinne vpon ano¦ther. The coūcel of y^• proude hath no health for the plante of synne shall be roted oute in them / & not knowen. The herte of hym that hath vnderstanding shal perceaue hye thin¦ges, and a good eare wyl gladly herken vn¦to wisdome. An herte that is wyse and hath vnderstandynge / wyll abstayne from syn∣nes, & increase ī the workes of righteousnes Water quencheth burnynge fyre, * 1.203 & mercy reconcileth synnes. God hath respecte vnto hym that is thanckeful: he thyncketh vpon hym agaynst the tyme to come: so that when he falleth / he shall fynde a stronge holde.

¶ Alme•• muste be done with all menkenes. The studye of wysdome and her frute. A iudge ought to be mercyfull. An exhortacyon to eschue euell and to do good.

CAPI. IIII.

MY sōne, * 1.204 defraude nat the poore of his almes, and turne not away thyne eyes [unspec A] from him that hathe nede. Despise not an hongrye soule, & defye nat the poore in hys necessite: greue not the herte of hym that is helplesse, and withdrawe nat the gyfte from the nedefull. Refuse nat the prayer of one y^• is in trouble turne nat awaye thy face from the nedy. Cast nat thyne eyes asyde from the poore, for any euell wyll, that thou geue hym not occasion to speake euell of y^•. For if he complayne of the in y^• bytternes of hys soule, his prayer shall be herde, euen he y^• made him, shal heare hym. Be curteous vn∣to the company of y^• poore / hūble thy soule vnto the elder. & bowe downe thy head to a man of worshyppe. Let it not greue the to bowe downe thyne eare vnto y^• poore / but paye thy dett / and geue hym a frendly an∣swere, and that with mekenesse.

* 1.205 Delyuer hym that suffreth wronge from [unspec B] the hande of the oppressour, and be nat faint harted when thou syttest in iudgement. Be mercyfull vnto the fatherlesse as a father, & be in steade of an housbande vnto theyr mo∣ther: so shalt thou be as an obediēt sonne of the Hyest, and he shal loue the more then thy mother dothe: Wysdome bretheth lyfe into her chyldren, receaueth them that seke her, & wyl go before thē in the waye of ryghteous∣nes. He that loueth her, loueth life, and they that seke her dilygently, shall haue greate ioye. They that kepe her, shal haue the hery¦tage of lyfe: for where she entreth in, there is the blessing of God. They y^• honour her shal be y^• seruaūtes of the holy one: & they y^• loue her, are beloued of god. Who so geueth eare vnto her / shall iudge the Heathen: & he that hathe respecte vnto her / shall dwele safely.

He that beleueth her, shal haue her in pos¦sessyon [unspec C] & his generacyō shal endure: for whē he falleth, she dothe go with hym / & choseth him amonge the best. Feare, drede & tempta¦cyon shall she brynge vpon hym / & trye hym in her doctryne: tyll she haue so proued him in his thoughtes / that he cōmytte his soule vnto her Then shal she stablishe him / bring the ryght waye vnto hym, make him a glad man, shewe hym her secretes, & heape vpon hym the tresures of knowledge, and vnder∣standynge of ryghteousnes. But yf he go wronge, she shall forsake him / and geue him ouer into the handes of hys enemye.

My sonne, make much of the tyme, eschue [unspec D] the thinge that is euell, & for thy lyfe shame not to saye the trueth. For there is a shame that bryngeth synne / & there is a shame that bryngeth worshippe & fauoure. * 1.206 Accepte no person after thyne owne wyll / that thou be nat confounded to thyne owne decaye. Be not a shamed of thy neyghboure in hys aduersyte / & kepe not backe thy counsel whō it maye do good / nether hyde thy wysdome in her bewty. For in the tonge is wysdome knowne / so is vnderstandinge knowledge / and lernyng in the talkinge of the wyse, and stedfastnesse in the workes of righteousnes. In no wyse speake agaynste the worde of trueth / but be ashamed of the lyes of thyne owne ignoraūce. Shame not to cōtesse thine erroure / & submytte not thy selfe vnto euery man because of synne. Withstande not the face of the myghtye, & stryue y^• not agaynste the streame. But for righteousnes take pay¦nes with all thy soule, & for the trueth stryue thou vnto death / and God shall fyght for the agaynst thyne enemyes. Be not hasty in thy tonge / nether slacke and negligēt in thy workes. Be not as a lyon in thyne owne house, destroying thy housholde folkes, and oppressing thē that are vnder the. * 1.207 Let not thyne hande be stretched out to receaue, and shut when thou shuldest geue.

CAPI. V.

[unspec A]

¶ In ••ythc•• maye we nat put any confydence. The ven∣geaunce of God ought to be feared, and to repētaunce maye we us•• be slowe.

TRust not vnto thy ryches, * 1.208 & saye not: tush, I haue ynough for my lyfe (For it shal not helpe in the tyme of vengaunce & temptacyon.) Folowe not the lust of thyne owne herte in thy strength, and saye nat: tush, howe haue I had strength or who wyl brynge me vnder because of my workes? for douties God shall auenge ••t. And saye nat. I haue synned and what euell hathe happe¦ned me? For the almyghty is a paciēt rewar¦der. * 1.209 Because thy synne is forgeuen the, be not therfore without feare, nether heape one synne vpon another. * 1.210 And saye not rush the mercy of the Lorde is greate, he shal forgeue me my synnes, be they neuer so many. * 1.211 For lyke as he is mercyful, so goeth wrath from him also, & his indygnacion cōmeth downe vpon synners. Make no taryenge to turne vnto the Lorde, & put nat of frō day to day: for sodenly shal his wrath come, and in the tyme of vengaunce he shall destroye the.

* 1.212 Trust not in wicked ryches for they shall not helpe the in the day of punyshment and wrath. Be not caried about to euery wynde, [unspec B] and go nat into euery waye: for so dothe the synner that hathe a double tonge. Stande fast in the waye of the Lorde, be stedfast in thy vnderstādyng, abyde by the worde, and folowe y^• worde of peace & righteousnes. Be gentle to heare the worde of God, that thou maiest vnderstāde it, & make a true answere with wysdome. * 1.213 Be swyft to heare, but slowe & pacyent in geuynge answere. If y^• hast vnderstādynge / shape thy neyghboure an answere: If no, laye thyne hande vpon thy mouth: lest thou he trapped in an vn∣discrete worde / & so confounded. Honour & worshyppe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a mans wyse talkynge, but the tonge of the vndiscrese is his owne de∣struccion. * 1.214 Be nat a preuy accuser as longe as thou lyuest / & vse no sclaunder with thy tonge. For shame & sorowe goeth ouer the these / & an euel name ouer hym y^• is double longed: but he y^• is a preuy accuser of other men, shalbe hated, enuyed & cōfounded. Se that thou iustyfie the small & greate alyke.

¶ It is the propertye of a synner to be euell longed. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and good councell of the wyse is to be embraced. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shulde be searched for. The profet therof.

CAPI. VI.

BE not thy neyghbours enemye for thy [unspec A] frende sake: for who so is euel shall be the heyre of rebuke and dishonoure / & who∣soeuer beareth enuye and a double tonge offendeth. * 1.215 Be not proude in the deuyce of thyne owne vnderstandyng (left thy strēgth be hurte by foolyshnes / and) left thy leaues wither / and thy frute be destroyed / and so thou be left as a drye tree (in the wyldernes.) For a wycked soule destroyeth hym y^• hathe it / maketh hym to be laughed to scorne of his enemyes, (and bryngeth hym to the por∣cyon of the vngodly.) * 1.216 A swete worde mul¦tiplieth frendes / and pacifie••h them that be at varyaunce / and a thankfull tonge wyll be plenteous in a good man. Holde frend∣shyppe with many / neuertheles haue but one counceler of a thousande. [unspec B]

Yf thou gettest a frende, * 1.217 proue him fyrst, and be not hastye to geue hym credens. For some man is a frende / but for a tyme / & wyl not abyde in the daye of trouble. And there is some frende that turneth to enemyt•• / and taketh parte agaynste the: and yf he knowe any hurt by the / he telleth it out. * 1.218 Agayne, some frēde is but a companyon at the table, ••nd in the daye of nede he continueth not. But a sure frende wyll be vnto the euen as thyne owne selfe, and deale faythfully with thy housholde folke. If thou suffre trouble and aduersyte, he is with the, & hydeth not hymselfe from the. Departe from thyne enemyes, yee and beware of thy frendes.

A faythfull frende is a stronge defence: [unspec C] who so fyndeth suche one, fyndeth a tresure, A faythfull frēde hathe no peace, y^• weyght of golde and syluer is nat to be compared to the goodnesse of his fayth. A faythfull frende is a medycyne of lyfe / and they that teare the Lorde / shall fynde hym. Who so feareth the Lorde / shall prospere with fren∣des: & as he is hym selfe / so shall hys frende be also. My sonne / receaue doctryne from thy youth vp / so shalt thou fynde wysdome tyll thou be olde. Go to her as one that pl••weth / and soweth / and wayte pacyently for hir good frutes. For thou shalt haue but lytle laboure in her worcke / but thou shalte eate of her frutes ryght soone. O howe ex∣ceadynge sharpe is wysdome to vnlerned men? an vnstedstast body wyll nat remayne in her. Unto suche / she is as it were a touch stone / and he casteth her from hym in al the hast: for wysdome is with hym but in name, there be but fewe that haue knowledge of her (•• But with them that knowe her / she abydeth euen vnto the apperynge of God.)

Geue eare (my sōne) receaue my doctrine, and refuse not my councell. Put thy fote into her lynckes, * 1.219 and take her yocke vpō

thy necke: bowe downe thy shoulder vnto her, beare her paciently, and be not wery of her bandes. Come vnto her with thy whole herte / & kepe her wayes with all thy power. Seke after her, and she shalbe shewed the: and when thou haste her / forsake her not. For at the last thou shalt fynde rest in her, & that shall be turned to thy great toye. Then shal her fetters be a stronge defence for the, [unspec D] and her yocke a gloryous rayment. For the bewtye of lyfe is in her, & her bandes are the couplinge together of saluacyō. Yee a glori∣ous raymēt is it, thou shalt put it on, and the same crowne of toye shalt thou weare.

My sonne, yf thou wylt take hede, thou shalt haue vnderstandynge, and yf thou wylt applye thy mynde / thou shalt be wyse. If thou wylt bowe downe thyne eare / thou shalt receaue doctryne / and yf thou delyte in hearynge, thou shalt be wyse. Stande with the multytude of suche elders as haue vnderstandynge, and consente vnto theyr wysdome wich thyne herte: * 1.220 that y^• mayest heare all godly sermons / & that the worthy sentences eskape the nat. And yf thou seyst a man of descrete vnderstandynge, get the soone vnto hym, and let thy fote treade vpō the steppes of his dores. * 1.221 Let thy mynde be vpon the cōmaundementes of God / and be earnestly occupyed in his lawes: so shall he stablysh thy herte, and geue the wysdome at thyne owne desyre.

¶ ••e must forsake euell, & yet not in••••••fy•• our selues. The behauiour of the wyse towarde hys wyfe, hys frynde, hys chyldren, his seruaūtes, his father & mother, the prestes it.

CAPI. VII.

DO no euell / so shall ther no harme hap¦pen [unspec A] vnto the. Departe away from the thynge that is wycked / and no mysfortune shall medle with the. My sonne / sowe no euell thynges in the forowes of vnryghte∣onsnes / so shalt thou nat reape them seuen folde. Laboure not vnto man for any lord∣shyppe, neyther vnto the kynge for the seate of honoure. * 1.222 Iustifye not thy self before God (for he knoweth the herte) and desyre not to be reputed wyse in the presence of the kynge. Make no labour to be made a iudge, excepte it so were, that thou couldest mygh∣tely put downe wyckednes: for yf thou shul∣dest stande in awe of the presence of y^• mygh¦tye, thou shuldest fayle in geuynge sentence. Offende not in the multitude of the cytye, & put not thy selfe amōge the people. * 1.223 Bynde not two synnes together, for in one synne shalt thou not be vnpunyshed. Saye not: rush, God wyll loke vpon the multytude of my oblacions, and when I offre to the hyest God, he wyll accepte it.

Be not faynte herted when thou makest thy prayer, nether slack in geuing of almes. [unspec B] Laugh no man to scorne in the heuynesse of his soule, for God (which seyth all thynges) is he * 1.224 that can brynge downe / and sett vp agayne. Accepte no lesyng agaynst thy bro∣ther / nether do the same agaynst thy frende. Use not to make any maner of lye / for the custome therof is not good. Make not ma∣ny wordes, when thou arte amonge the el∣ders: * 1.225 and when y^• prayest, make nat much bablynge. * 1.226 Let no laboxyous worke be tedyous vnto the, nether the housbandrye whiche the Almyghtye hath created. Make not thy boast in the multitude of thy wicked¦nes / but humble thy selfe euen from thyne herte: and remembre that the wrath shal not belonge in taryinge / and that y^• vengeaūce of the flesh of y^• vngodly is a very fyre and worme. Geue not ouer thy frende for any good, nor thy faithful brother for y^• best gold

Departe not from a discrete and good [unspec C] woman / that is fallen vnto the for thy por∣cyon in the feare of the Lorde, for the gyft of her honesty is a boue golde. * 1.227 Where as thy seruaunt worketh truly / intreate hym not euel / nor the Hyrelinge that is faythful vnto the, Loue a dyscrete seruaūt as thyne owne soule / defraude him not of his libertie, nether leaue hym a poore man. * 1.228 If y^• haue catell / loke well to them: and yf they be for thy profet, kepe thē. * 1.229 If y^• haue sōnes, bring them vp in nourture & lernynge, and holde them in awe from theyr youth vp. If thou haue daughters, kepe theyr body, & shewe not thy face chereful towarde them. Marie thy doughter, and so shalt thou perfourme a weyghtie mater: but geue her to a man of vnderstandynge. If thou haue •• wyfe after thyne owne mynde, forsake her not (•• but commytte not thy selfe to the hatefull.

* 1.230 Honoure thy father frō thy whole hert, & forget not the soroufull trauayle that thy mother had with the: remembre y^• thou wast borne thorowe them, & howe caust thou re∣compense them the thynges that they haue [unspec D] done for the? Feare the Lorde with all thy soule / & honoure his minysters. Loue thy maker with all thy strength, * 1.231 •• forsake not his seruauntes. Feare the Lorde with al thy soule, & honoure his Prestes. * 1.232 Geue them theyr porcion of the fyrst frutes and increase of the earth, lyke as it is commaunded the: (and reconsyle thy selfe of thy neglygence w^t the lytle flock) geue them the shulders, and

appoynted offringes and fyrstlynges. Reache thyne hande vnto the poore, y^t God maye blesse the with plenteousnes. * 1.233 Be lyberall vnto all men lyuynge, ‡ 1.234 yet let not but do good euen to them that are deed.

* 1.235 Let not thē that wepe, be without com∣forte / but mourne w^t such as mourne, ‡ 1.236 Let it not greue the to vyset the sycke / for that shall make the to be beloued. Whatsoeuer thou takest in hāde / remembre the ende, and thou shalt neuer do amysse.

¶ Agaynst thy better is no stryuynge. Of the deeth of thine enemye maiest thou not reioyse, nor delpyse thy neyghbours nor the wordc•• of the wyse.

CAPI. VIII.

STryue not with a myghtye mā, lest thou [unspec A] chaunse to fal into hys handes. * 1.237 Make no varyaunce w^t a rych man, lest he happen to bringe vp an harde quarell againste the. * 1.238 For golde and syluer hathe vndone many a man, yee euen the kertes of kynges hathe it made to fal. Stryue not with a man that is full of wordes, and laye no styckes vpon hys fyre. Kepe no company with the vnler∣ned, lest he geue thy kynred an euel reporte. * 1.239 Deipyse not a man that turneth hym selfe awaye from synne, and caste hym nat in the teeth withall: but remēbre that we are fraile euerychone. * 1.240 Thynke scorne of no man in his olde age, for we waxe olde also. Be not glade of the death of thyne enemye / but re∣mēbre y^• we must dye al y^• sorte of vs (& faine wolde we come into ioye.) * 1.241 Despyse not y^• sermons of such elders as haue vnderstan∣dynge / but acquaynte thy selfe w^t the wyse sentēces of the: for of them y^u shalt lerne wys dome & the doctryne of vnderstanding, and howe to serue great men without cōplaint.

Go not from the doctryne of the elders, [unspec B] for they haue lerned it of theyr fathers. For of them thou shalt lerne vnderstandyng, so that thou mayest make answere in the tyme of nede. Kyndle not the coales of synners, (whan thou rebukest them) lest thou be bret in the fyrie flammes of theyr synnes. Resyst not the ••ace of the blasphemer / that he laye not wayte for thy mouth. ‡ 1.242 Lende not vnto him that is myghtter then thy selfe: If thou lendest hym, coūte it but lost. Be not surtye aboue thy power: yf thou be, then thynke surely to paye it. Go not to lawe with the iudge / for he wyll iudge accordynge to hys owne honoure. ‡ 1.243 Trauaylle not by y^• waye with hym that is braynelesse, lest he do the [unspec C] euell: for he foloweth his owne wylfulnes, and so shale thou perysh thorowe his foly.

‡ 1.244 Stryue not with hym that is angrie & cruell / and go not with hym into the wyl∣derues: for bloude is nothinge in hys syght, and where there is no helpe / he shall mur∣ther the. * 1.245 Take no councell at fooles, for they loue nothynge but the thynges that please them selues. Make no councel be∣fore a straunger / for thou canst not tei what wyllcome of it. Open not thyne herte vnto euery man / lest he be vnthanckfull to the, and put the to reprofe.

¶ The ieopardyes of chastenes are to be eschued. An olde, treade is to be preferred before a newe. The glery •• rychesse o•• synners. Rightwes men shuld be bydden to gest. Laboure is the chefe thinge in a worcke man, & wysdome in a prynce.

CAPI. IX.

BE not gelous ouer the wyfe of thy bo∣some, [unspec A] that she shewe not some shrewed poynte of wycked doctryne vpō the. * 1.246 Geue not the power of thy lyfe vnto a womā, lest she come in thy strength / and so thou be cō founded: Loke not vpon a woman y^t is de∣syrous of many men / lest thou fall into her snares. Use not the cōpany of a womā that is a player & a daunser / & heare her not, lest thou perysh thorow her entysynge. Beholde not a mayden / that thou be not hurte in her bewry. * 1.247 Cast not thy mynde vpō harlottes in any maner of thynge / leste thou destroye bothe thy selfe and thyne herytage. Go not about gasynge in euery lane of the cytie, ne∣ther wandre thou abrode in the stretes ther∣of. * 1.248 Turne awaye thy face frō a bewtyfull womā, & loke not vpō the fayrnesse of other. [unspec B]

Many a mā hathe peryshed thorowe the* 1.249 bewtye of wemen, for thorowe it the desyre is kyndled as it were afyre (. An aduoute∣rous woman shalbe trodden vnder fote as myre / of euery one that goeth by the waye: Many a man wonderynge at the bewtye of a straunge woman / hathe bene cast out / for her wordes kyndie as a fyre. Syt not with another mans wyfe by any meanes, lye not with her vpō the bed / make no wordes with her at the wyne: leste thyne herte consente vnto her / and so thou with thy bloude fall into destruccion. Forsake not an olde frende. for the neve shall not be lyke hym.

A newe frēde is newe wyne: let him be old and thou shalt dryncke hym with pleasure. Desyre not the honoure and ryches of a syn ner, for thou knowest not what destruccyon is for to come vpon hym. Delite not thou in the thynge that the vngodly haue pleasure in, beinge sure, that the vngobly shal not be acceptēd vntyll theyr graue.

Kepe the from the man that hath power [unspec C]

to sleye, so nedest thou not to be afrayed of deathe. And yf thou comest vnto hym, make [unspec C] no faute, lest he happē to take away thy lyfe. Remembre that thou goest in the myddest of snares, and vpon the bul workes of thy cytie. Beware of thy neyghboure as tye as thou canst, ‡ 1.250 & medle with such as be wyse & haue vnderstandynge. Let iust men be thy gestes, let thy myrth be in the feare of God, let the re¦membraunce of God be in thy mynde, ‡ 1.251 and let al thy talkynge be in y^• cōmaundementes of the Hiest. In the handes of craftesmen shal the worckes be cōmēded, * 1.252 so shall the Prin∣ces of the people in the wysdome of their tal∣kynge. A man full of wordes is perelous in his cytie: and he that is rasshe in his talkyng shalbe abhored.

¶ Of kynges and Iudges. Pryde, and couetousnesse are to be abhored. Laboure is praysed.

CAPI. X.

A Wyse iudge wyl ordre his people with [unspec A] discrecion: and where a man of vnder∣standynge beareth rule, there goeth it wel. * 1.253 As the iudge of the people is him self, euē so are his offycers, and loke what maner of mā the ruler of the cyte is, suche are they y^t dwell therin also. * 1.254 An vnwyse kyng destroyeth his people, but wher they that be in auctorite are men of vnderstandynge, there the cytye pro∣spereth.

The power of the earth is in the hande of God (and all iniquyte of the people is to be abhorred) and when his tyme is / he shall set a profytable ruler vpon it. In the hande of God is the power of man, & vpon the Scri∣bes shall he laye his honoure. * 1.255 Remēbre no wronge of thy neyghboure / and medle thou with no vnryghtuous workes. Pryde is ha∣tefull before God and man, and all wycked∣nes of the Hethē is to be abhored. ‡ 1.256 Because of vnryghtuous dealynge / wronge / blasphe myes & diuers disceyte, a realme shalbe tran∣slated from one people to another.

There is nothyng worse then a couetous man? Why art thou proude, O thou earth & [unspec B] asshes? There is not a more wycked thynge, then to loue money. And why? such one hath hys soule to sell: yet is he but fylthye donge whyle he lyueth.

And though the phisicion shewe his helpe neuer so longe, yet in conclusion it goeth af∣ter this maner, to daye a kynge, to morowe deed. For when a man dyeth / he is the heyre of serpentes / beastes, and wormes. The be∣gynnynge of mans pryde / is to fall awaye from God: and why? his hert is gone trō hys maker, for pryde is the orygynal of all synne Who so taketh holde therof, shall be fylled with cursynges, and at the last it shall ouer∣throwe hym. Therfore hath y^• Lord brought the congregacyons of the wycked to dysho∣nour, and destroyed them vnto the ende. [unspec C]

* 1.257 God hath destroyed the seates of proude princes, and set vp the meke in theyr steade. God hath wythered the rotes of the proude Heathen, & planted the lowly amonge them. * 1.258 God hath ouerthrowen y^• lādes of the Hey∣then, and destroyed the vnto the groūde. He hath caused them to wyther awaye, he hath brought thē to naught, & made the memorral of them to ceasse from out of the earth. (God hath destroyed the name of y^t proude, & lefte the name of y^e hūble of mīde.) Pryde was not made for mā, nether wrothfulnes for mēs chil¦dren. The sede of men y^t feareth God, shalbe brought to honour: but the sede which trans∣gresseth the cōmaundementes of the Lorde / shalbe shamed. He y^t is the ruler amonge bre∣thren, is holden in honour amōg thē, & he that regardeth such as feare the Lord. The glory of y^• ryche, of the honorable, & of the poore is the feare of God.

Despyse not y^• the iust pore man, & magny¦fye [unspec D] not the rych vngodly Great is the iudge & myghtye in honour, yet is there none grea∣ter, then he that feareth God. * 1.259 Unto the ser∣uaūt y^t is discrete, shal the fre do seruice. ‡ 1.260 He that is wise & wel nurtoured, wil not grudge when he is refourmed, & an ignoraunt body shall not come to honour. Be not proude to do thy worke, & dispare not in tyme of aduer syte. * 1.261 Better is he that laboureth, & hath plē tuousnes of al thinges, then he that is gorge ous & wanteth breade.

My sōne, kepe thy soule in mekenes, and [unspec E] geue her her due honour. Who shall iustyfye hym, that synneth agaynst hym selfe? Who wyll honoure hym / that dyshonoureth hys owne soule? The poore is honoured for hys faythfulnes and trueth, but the ryche is had in reputacion because of his goodes. He that ordreth hym selfe honestely in pouerte, howe moch more shal he behaue hymselfe honestly in ryches? And who so ordreth hym selfe vn∣honestly in ryches, how muche more shall he behaue him selfe vnhonestly in pouerte?

¶ The prayse of humslite. After the outwarde apperaunce o••ght we not to iudge Of heady and rashe iuogement. The ryche to not without offence All thynges rome of God. Al mē are not to be brought into thyne house.

CAPI. XI.

THe wysdome of hym that is broughte [unspec A] lowe, shall lyfte vp hys heade and shall make hym to syt amonge greate men. Com∣mende

not thou a man in his bewtye, neither despyse a man in his vtter aperaunce. The Bee is but a small beast amonge the foules, yet is her frute exceding swete. Be not proude of thy rayment / * 1.262 & exalte not thy selfe in the daye of thy honoure: for the worckes of the Hyest onely are wonderfull: yee gloryous, se¦crete, and vnknowen are hys worckes. Ma∣ny tyrauntes haue bene fayne to syt downe vpon the earthe, ‡ 1.263 and the vnlyckely hathe worne the crowne. Many myghty men haue bene brought lowe / and the honorable haue bene delyuered into other mens hādes. * 1.264 Cō¦dēne no man / before thou haue tryed out the matter: and when thou hast made inquisiciō, then refourme ryghtuously. ‡ 1.265 Geue no sen∣tence / before y^u hast herde the cause but fyrste let men tell out theyr tales.

Stryue not for a matter that toucheth not thy selfe / and stande not in the iugement [unspec B] of synners. My sonne, medle not with many matters: * 1.266 and yf thou wylte be ryche, thou shalt not be without offence, for though thou folo ••est it, y^u shalt not get it: and though y^• rēutst thy way afore, yet shalt y^• not escape. ‡ 1.267 There is some mā y^t laboureth, & the more he weryeth hym selfe, the lesse he hath. Agayne / some man is slouthfull / hath nede of helpe: wanteth strength, and hath greate pour••tye and Gods eye loketh vpon hym to good, set∣tech hym vp from his lowe estate / * 1.268 and lyf∣teth vp his heed: so that many men maruell at hym, and geue honoure vnto God. [unspec C]

* 1.269 Prosperyte and aduersyte / lyfe & death, pouerte and rythes come all of the Lorde. Wysdome / nurtoure and knowledge of the lawe are with God: loue and the wayes of good are with hym. Erroure and darknesse are made for synners (and they that exalte them selues leuyll, waxe olde in euyll. (The gyfte of God remayneth for the ryghtuous / and his good wyll shall geue prosperyte for euer. Some man is ryche by lyuing nygard∣ly / and that is the porcyon of his rewarde / in that he sayeth: ‡ 1.270 now haue I gotten rest, & nowe wyll I eate and dryncke of my goodes my selfe alone. And yet he consydreth not / y^t the tyme draweth nye (& deathe approcheth) y^t he must leaue all these thynges vnto other men, and dye hym selfe. Stande thou fast in thy couenaunt / and exercyse thy selfe therin / and remayne in y^e worcke vnto thy age. Cō∣tynue not in the workes of synners, but put thy trust in God / and byde in thyne estate: for it is but an easy thynge in the syght of God / to make a poore man ryche, and that sodēly / The blessynge of God hasteth to the reward [unspec D] of the ryghtuous / and maketh hys fruytes sone to floryshe & prospere. Saye not: what helpeth it me? & what shall I haue y^t whyle? Agayne, say not: I haue ynough, how can I wante? ‡ 1.271 When thou art in welfare / forgette not aduersite: and when it goeth not well w^t the / haue a good hope, that it shall be better. For it is but a smal thynge vnto God, in the daye of death to rewarde euery man accor∣dyng to his waies. The aduersite of an hour maketh one to forget all pleasure: and when a mā dyeth / his work{is} are discouered. Praise no body before his death, for a man shall be knowen in his chyldren.

Brynge not euery man into thyne house / for the dysceatfull layeth wayte dyuersly. [unspec E] Lyke as a partrych in a maūde, so is the hert of the proude: and lyke as a spye, that loketh vpon the fall of his neyghbour. For he tur∣neth good vnto euyll / and sclaundreth y^• cho¦sen. Of one sparke is made a great fyre (and of one disceytfull man, is bloude increased) & an vngodly man layeth wayte for bloude. Beware of y^• disceytfull / for be ymagynech wycked thynges, to brynge the into a perpe∣tuall shame. If thou takest an aleaunt vnto the, he shall destroye the in vnquyenesse, and bryue the from thyne owne wayes.

¶ Unto whom we ought to do good. Ehan••••es ought to be eschued.

CAPI. XII.

WHen thou wylte do good, knowe [unspec A] to whom thou doest it, & so shalte thou be greately thanked for thy benefytes. * 1.272 Do good vnto the ryghtuous and thou shalte finde great rewarde though not of hym / yet (no doute) the Lorde hym selfe shall rewarde the. He standeth not in a good case that is alwaye occupyed in euyl, and geueth no almes: for the Hyest ha∣teth the synners / and hath mercy vpon them that shewe the workes of repentaunce. Geue thou vnto suche as feare God / and receyue not a synner. As for the vngodly and syn∣ners, he shal recōpence vēgeaūce vnto them, & kepe thē to the daye of wrath. Geue thou vnto the good / and receyue not the sinner: do well vnto hym that is lowly, but geue not to the vngodly. Let not the bred be geuē hym / that he be not myghtyer then thy self therin: For so shalt y^• receyue twyse as much euyll / in al the good that thou doest vnto him: And why? y^• Hyghest hateth synners, and shall re∣warde vengeaunce to the vngodly.

In prosperite / a frende shal not be knowen / and in aduersyte an enemy shal not be hyd. For when a man is in wealth / it greueth his

enemies: but in heuinesse and trouble a man shall knowe hys frende. Truste neuer thyne enemy, for lyke as an yron rusteth, so doth his wickednes. And though he make much crout thyng & knelynge, yet kepe wel thy mynde, & beware of hi. Set him not by y^•, neither let hī [unspec B] syt at thy right hand: lest he turne hī, get into thy place, take thy rowme & seke thy seate / & so thou at y^• last remēbre my wordes, & be pric¦ked at my sayinges.

Who wyl haue pytie of the charmer, that is stynged of the serpēt / or of al such as come nye the beastes? Euen so is it with hym that kepeth cōpany with a wycked man, and lap∣peth [unspec C] him self in his synnes. For a season wyl he byde wyth the, but yf thou stomble / he ta∣ryeth not. * 1.273 An enemye is swete in his lippes and ymagineth disceyt in his hart, to throwe the into the pit. Ye he can wepe with his eies, & yf he may fynde oportunite, he wyll not be satisfied with bloud. If aduersyte come vpō y^• / thou shalt fynde hym there fyrst, & though he pretende to do the help, yet shall he vnder myne the. He shal shake his head, and clappe his bādes ouer y^• for very gladnesse: & whyle he maketh many wordes, he shall dysguyse his countenaunce.

¶ The cō••anyes of the proude and of the ryche 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be es∣chued. The loue of God. Lyke do cōpany with theyr lyfe.

CAPI. XIII.

WHo so toucheth pytche, shalbe fy∣led [unspec A] with all: and he that is famyli∣er with the proude, shall cloth him selfe with pryde. He taketh a burthen vpon him / that accompanyeth a more honorable man then hym self. Therfore / kepe no famy∣liarite with one that is rycher then thy selfe Howe agre the ketell and the pot together? for yf the one be smytten agaynste the other / it shalbe broken. The ryche dealeth vnrygh∣tuously, and threateneth with all: but y^• poore beyng oppressed and wrongefully dealt with all / suffreth scarnesse, and geueth fayre wor∣des. If thou be for his protyte, he vseth the: but yf thou haue nothynge / he shall forsake the. As long as thou hast any thyng of thyne owne / he shall be a good felowe with the: yee he shall make the a bare man / and not be so∣ry for the. If he haue nede of the / he shall de∣fraude the: and (with a preuy mocke) shall he put the in an hope, and geue the al good wor¦des / and saye: what wātest thou? Thus shall he shame the in his meate / vntil he haue supt the cleane vp twyse or thryse / and at the laste shall he laugh the scorne. Afterwarde / when he seyth that thou hast nothyng / he shal for∣sake the and shake his heade at the. (Sub∣mytte thy selfe vnto God / and wayte vpon hys hande.

Beware / that thou be not bysceyued and [unspec B] brought downe in thy symplenesse. Be not to humble in thy wysdome: least when thou art brought lowe, y^u be disceyued thorowe fooly∣shnes. If thou be called of a myghtye man / absent thy selfe, so shall he call the to him the more oft. Preasse not thou vnto hym, y^e thou be not shut out: but go not thou farre of / least he forget the. Withdrawe not thy self from his speach, but beleue not his many wordes. For with muche communicacion shall he tē∣pte the / & (with a preuye mocke) shall he que∣styon the of thy secretes. The vnmercyfull mynde of his shal marck thy wordes, he shal not spare to do the hurte, and to put y^• in pre∣son. Beware, and take good hede to thy self / for y^u walkest in parel of thy ouerthrowynge.

Nowe when thou hearest hys wordes / [unspec C] make the as though thou werest ī a dreame, and wake vp. Loue God all thy lyfe longe, and call vpon hym in thy nede. Euery beaste loueth his lyke, euē so let euery man loue his neyghbour. Al flesh wyl resorte to theyr lyke, and euery man wyl kepe company with such as he is hym selfe. But as the wolfe agreeth w^t the lābe, so doth y^• vngodly with the rygh∣tuous. * 1.274 What felowshyp shuld an holy mā haue w^t a dogge? Howe can the ryche & the pore agre together? The wylde Asse is the ly¦ons pray in the wyldernes, euen so are poore men the meate of the ryche. Lyke as y^• proude may not away w^t lowlynes, euen so doth the rych abhorre the poore. If a riche mā fal, his frēdes set hī vp agayne: but when y^• poore fal leth his acquayntaūce forsake him. If a rich mā fal into an errour, he hath many helpers: he speaketh proude wordes, & yet men iustify hym.

But yf a poore man go wrong, he is puny¦shed: [unspec D] yee though he speake wysely, yet can it haue no place. Whē the rych mā speaketh / e∣uery body holdeth his tonge: & loke what he sayeth, they prayse it vnto the cloudes. But if the poore mā speake, they saye: What felowe is this? & yf he do amysse, they shal destroy hī. Riches are good vnto him y^e hath no sinne in his cōscience, & pouerte is a wycked thing in the mouth of the vngodly. The hert of man chaūgeth hys countenaūce, whether it be in good or euyl. A chereful coūtenaunce is a to¦kē of a good hert, for els it is an harde thyng to knowe the thought.

¶ The offence of the tonge. Man is but a vayne thynge. Happy is he that conepnurth in wysdome.

CAPI. XIIII.

BLessed is the man, y^t hathe not fallen w^t [unspec A] the worde of his mouth, & is not pricked w^t the confrience of syune. Happye is he that hath no heuines in his minde / & is not fallen from his hope. It becōmeth not a couerous man and a nygarde to be rych: & what shulde a nygarde do w^t golde? He y^t with al his care¦fulnes heapeth together vnryghtuously, ga¦thereth for other folckes, & another mā shall make good chere w^t his goodes. He that is wycked vnto hi selfe / How shuld he be good vnto other men? How can such one haue any pleasure of his goodes: There is nothynge worse, then whē one diffauoureth hym selfe, & this is a reward of his wickednes. If he do any good / he doth it not knowynge therof / & agaynst his wyl, & at the last he declareth his vnryghtuousnes. A nygarde hath a wycked eye, he turneth away his face, & despiseth his* 1.275 owne soule. * 1.276 A couetous mās eye hathe ne∣uer ynough in the porcyon of wyckednes, vn¦tyll the tyme y^t he wither away, and haue lost his owne soule.

A wycked eye spareth bread, and there is [unspec B] scarcenes vpō his table. My sonne, do good to thy selfe of that thou haste / and geue the Lorde hys due offerynges. Remembre that death tarteth not, & howe y^t the couenaunt of the graue is shewed vnto the: for y^• couenaūe of thys worlde shal dye the death. * 1.277 Do good vnto thy frende before thou dye / & according to thy abylite teache out thyne hāde / & geue vnto the pore. Be not disapoynted of y^e good day, & let not the porcyon of y^e good day ouer passe the. Shalt thou not leaue thy trauales & laboures vnto other men? In the deuiding of the herytage geue & take, & sanctyfye thy soule. Worke y^u rightuousnes before thy death for in the hell there is no meate to fynde. * 1.278 Al flesh shall fade away lyke grasse, & lyke a flo∣ryshyng leafe in a grene tree. Some growe / some are cast downe: euen so is the generaci∣on of flesh & bloude: one commeth to an ende, another is borne.

All transitorye thynges shall fayle at the [unspec C] last, and the worker therof shall go withall. Euery thosen worke shall be iustified, and he that medleth withal, shal haue honour ther∣in. Blessed is y^e man that kepeth him in wys∣dome, and exercyseth him selfe in vnderstan∣dynge, and with diserecion shall he thyncke vpon the fore knowledge of God. Which cōsydereth the wayes of wysdome in his herte, hath vnderstandynge in her secretes / goeth after her (as one that seketh her out) and cō∣tinueth ī her wayes. He loketh i at her wyn∣dowes, & herkeneth at her dores. He taketh his rest beside her house, & fasteneth his stake in the walles. He shall pitch his tēte nye vn∣to her hand, & in his tent shall good thynges rest for euermore. He shall set his chyldrē vn∣der her couering / & shal dwel vnder her braū¦ches. Under her coueryng, shall he be defen∣ded frō the heate, and in her glory shal he rest

¶ The goodnesse that foloweth hym whiche f••raith God. God reiecteth and casteth of the syuuer. God is not the aue∣tor of euyll.

CAPI. XV.

HE that feareth God, wyll do good: and [unspec A] who so kepeth the lawe / shall optayne wysdome. As an honorable mother shall she mete hym / and as a virgin shall she receyue him. * 1.279 With the bred of lyfe and vnderstan∣dyng shall she fede him, * 1.280 & geue him the wa¦ter of wholso me wysdome to drinke. If he be cōstant in her / he shal not be moued: and if he holde him fast by her / he shall not come to cō¦fusion. She shal bring him to honour amōg his neyghboures / and in the myddest of y^• cō¦gregacyon shal she open his mouth With y^• sprete of wisdome and vnderstandynge shal she fyl hym, and clothe hym with the garmēt of glory. She shal heape y^• treasure of myrth and ioye vpon hym / and geue him an eueria stynge name to herytage. Foolyth men wyll not take holde vpō her: but such as haue vn∣derstandynge, wyl mete her (Folysh mē shal not se her) for she is farre from pryde and dy∣sceat. Men y^t go aboute w^t lyes / wyll not re∣mēbre her▪ but mē of trueth shalbe founde in her, & shall prospere euē vnto y^• beholdyng of God Prayse is not semely in y^• mouth of the vngodly, for he is not sent of the Lord. For of God cōmeth wysdome, and the prayse shal stande by the wysdome of God, & shalbe plen¦tuous in a faythful mouth / & the Lorde shall geue her vnto hym.

Saye not y^•: It is the Lordes faute y^t I [unspec B] am gone by / for y^• shalt not do the thing that God hateth. Saye not y^•: he hath caused me to do wrōge, for he hath no nede of y^• vngod∣ly. God hateth al abhominacion of errour, & they y^t feare God wyll loue none such. ‡ 1.281 God made man frō the begynnynge, & lefte him in the hāde of his coūcel. He gaue him his com∣maundemētes & preceptes: yf y^• wylt obserue the cōmaūdemētes, & kepe acceptable fayth∣fulnes for euer / they shall preserue the. * 1.282 He hath set water & fire before y^•, reach out thyn hande vnto which thou wylt. Before man is lyfe and death, good and euyl: loke what him lyketh, shalbe geuen him. For the wysdome of God is greate and myghty in power / and beholdeth all men contynually. The eyes of

the Lorde are vpon thē that feare hym / and he knoweth all the worckes of man. He hath commaunded no man to do vngodly, nether hath he geuen any man space to synne.

¶ Of vnhappye and wycked chyldren. No man can hyde hym selfe frome God. An exhortacyon to the receyuynge of instruccyon.

CAPI. XVI.

DELYTE not thou i the multitude of [unspec A] vngodly chyldre / and haue no pleasure in thē / yf they feare not God. Trust not y^• to theyr lyfe / and regard not theyr labours: for one sonne that feareth God / is better / then a thousande vngodly. And better it is for a man to dye wythout chyldren then to leaue behynde him suche chyldren as are vn¦godly. For by one that hath vnderstandyng may a whole cytie be vpholden / but though the vngodly be many / yet shall it be wasted thorowe them. Many suche thynges hathe myne eye sene / & greater thynges then these haue I herde with myne eares. * 1.283 In the con¦gregation of the vngodly shall a fyre burne, and among vnfaythful people shal y^• wrath be kyndled. [unspec B]

* 1.284 The olde giaūtes optayned no grace for theyr synnes / which were destroied / trusting to theyr owne strength. Nether spared he thē amonge whom Loth whiche was a * 1.285 straū∣ger / but smote them and abhorred them be∣cause of the pryde of theyr wordes. He had no pytie vppon them / but destroyed all the people / that were so stoute in synne. ‡ 1.286 And for so muche as he ouersawe not the syxe hū¦breth thousande / that gathered themselues together in y^• hardenesse of theyr hert: it were maruell yf one beyng hardnecked / shulde be fre. * 1.287 For mercy and wrath is w^t hym / he is bothe myghtye to forgyue and to poure out displeasure. Lyke as hys mercy is great, e∣uen so is his punyshment also / he iudgeth a man accordyng to hys workes. The vngod¦ly shal not escape in his spoyle / and the long pacience of him that sheweth mercy, shal not byde behynde. All mercy shal make place vn¦to euery man accordyng to the worthynes of his workes / and after the vnderstandyng of his pylgremage. [unspec C]

Saye not thou: I wyll hyde my selfe frō God, for who wyll thyncke vpon me from aboue? I shall not be knowen in so greate a heape of people / for what is my soule amōge so many creatures? Behold / the heauen / yee the heauen of heauens / the depe, the earthe / and all that therin is / shalbe moued at hys presence: the Mountaynes / the hylles / and the foundaryons of the earth shall shake for feare / when God visiteth them. These thyn∣ges dothe no herte vnderstande, but he vn∣derstandeth euery herte, and who vnderstan¦deth his wayes? No man seyth hys stormes, and the moste parte of hys worckes are se∣crete. Who wyll declare the worckes of hys ryghtuousnes? Or who shalbe able to abyde them? For the couenaunte is farre frome so∣me / and tryenge out of men is in the ende. He that is humble of herte / thyncketh vpon suche thynges: but an vnwyso and errony∣ous man casteth hys mynde vnto foolysshe thynges.

My sonne, herken thou vnto me, and lear∣ne [unspec D] vnderstandynge, and marcke my wordes with thyne herts. I wyll geue the a sure do∣ctryne, & playnely shall I instructe the (mar∣ke my wordes then in thyne here: for in rygh∣tuousnes of the sprete do I speake of the wō∣ders that God hath shewed amōg his worc∣kes from the begynnnyng. And in the trueth do I shew the knowledge of him. (God hath set hys worckes in good ordre frome the be∣gynnynge, and parte of them hath he sunde∣red from the other. He hath garnyshed hys worckes from euerlastynge, and they? begin¦nynges, accordyng to theyr generacyons. None of them hindered another, nether was any of them dysobediente vnto hys wordes. After thys, God loked vpon the earthe / and fylled it with hys goodes. With all maner of lyuyng beastes hath he couered the groūde & they al shall be turned vnto earth agayne.

CAPI. XVII.

[unspec A]

¶ The creacyon of man, and the goodnesse that God haths done vnto hym. Of aulmes and repentaunce.

GOd * 1.288 shope man of the earth, and made hym after hys owne ymage, and tur∣ned hym vnto earthe agayne, and clothed hym wyth hys owne strength. He gaue hym the nombre of dayes and certayne ty∣me / yee and gaue hym power of the thyn∣ges that are vpon earthe. He made all flesh to stande in awe of hym / so that he had the domynyon of all beastes and foules. * 1.289 He made out of hym an helper lyke vnto hym selfe / and gaue them dyscrecyon and tonge / eyes and eares / and a herte to vnderstande, and fylled them with instruceyon and vnder¦stādynge. He created for thē also the knowe∣ledge of the sprete / fylled theyr hertes wyth vnderstāding / and shewed thē good & euyll. He set his eye vpon theyr hertes, declarynge vnto them hys greate and noble worckes: that they shulde prayse hys holy name to∣gether, reioyse of his wonders / and be tel∣lynge of hys noble Actes. Besyde thys / he

gaue them instruccyon, and the lawe of lyfe* 1.290 for an heretage.

He made an euerlastyng couenaunt with them and shewed them hys ryghtuousnesse and iudgemētes. They sawe his glory wyth theyr eyes / and theyr eares herde the matesty of his voice. And he sayd vnto them: beware of all vnryghtuous thynges. He gaue euery man also a commaundemente concernynge his neyghbour. [unspec B]

Theyr w••••yes are euer before him, and are not hyd from his eyes. * 1.291 He hathe set a ruler vpon euery people, * 1.292 but Israel is y^• Lordes porcyon. All their workes are as y^• Sunne / in syght of God, and hys eyes are alwaye lo kynge vpon theyr wayes. All theyr vnrygh∣tuousnesses are manyfest vnto hym, and all theyr wyckednesses are open in his syght.

* 1.293 The mercy y^• a man sheweth is as it were a purse with hym, and the grace that is geuē to man preserueth hym as the aple of an eye. * 1.294 At the last shall he awake, & rewarde euery man vpō his heade, and shall turne them to∣gether into the nethermost partes of y^• earth: * 1.295 But vnto thē that wyll repent, he hath gee¦uen the waye of ryghtuousnes. As for suche as be weake, he cōforted them, suffred them and sendeth them the porcyon of the veryte. O turne then vnto the Lorde, forsake thy si∣nes, make thy prayer before the Lord / do the lesse offence, turne agayne vnto y^• Lorde, for∣sake thyne vnryghtuousnes / be an vtter ene¦mye to abhomynacion, learne to knowe the ryghtuousnes and iudgemētes of God / stād in the porcyon that is set forth for the and in the prayer of the most hie god. Go in the por¦cyon of the holy worlde, with suche as be ly∣uyng & geue thankes vnto God. [unspec C]

* 1.296 Who wyll prayse the Lorde in the hell? Abyde not thou in the erroure of the vngod∣ly / but geue hym thanckes before death. As for the deade, thanckefulnesse peryshed from hym as nothyng. Geue thou thanckes in thy lyfe, yee whyle thou art liuyng & whole shalt thou geue thanckes, and prayse God, and re¦ioyse in his mercy. O how great is the louīg kyndnesse of the Lorde, & his mercyful good nesse vnto suche as turne vnto hym? For all thynges may not be in mā: and why the sōne of mā is not immortall, and he hath pleasure in the vanite of wyckednes. What is more cleare then the Sunne? yet shall it fayle. Or what is more wycked then the thynge that fleshe & bloude hath ymagyned? & that same shalbe reproued. The Lord seyth the power of the hye heauē / & al are but earth & asshes.

¶ The maruelous worckes of God▪ the ••nysetye and wret∣chednes of man. Agaynst God ought we not to complaynt. Praye muste we contynuallye.

CAPI. XVIII.

HE that lyueth for euermore, * 1.297 made all [unspec A] thynges together. God onely is rygh∣tuous, and remayneth a vyctoryous kynge for euer. * 1.298 Who shall be able to expresse the workes of him? Who wyll seke out the gron̄¦de of his noble Actes? Who shall declare the power of his greatenesse? Or, who wyll take vpon hym to tell out his mercy? As for the wonderous workes of the Lorde, there may nothynge be taken from theym / nothynge maye be put vnto them / neyther maye the grounde of them be founde out. But when a man hath done hys best / he muste begyune agayne: and when he thyncketh to become to an ende / he muste go agayne to hys la∣boure. What is man? Wherto is he worth? What good or euyll can he do? * 1.299 If the nom∣bre of a mās dayes be almost an hundreth ye re / it is muche.

Lyke as the droppes of rayne are vnto [unspec B] the see / and as a grauell stone is in compary¦son of the sāde: * 1.300 so are these few yeares to y^• dayes of euerlastynge. Therfore is the Lord pacient with them, and poureth out his mer¦cye vpon them. He sawe and perceyued the thoughtes and ymaginacyons of theyr hert, that they were euyll, therfore heaped he vp hys mercyfull goodnes vpon them / and she∣wed them the waye of ryghtuousnes. The mercy that a mā hath / reacheth to his neygh boure: but the mercy of God is vpon all flesh He chasteneth / he teacheth and nurtoureth: yee euen as a shepherde turneth agayne hys flocke, so dothe he all them that receyue cha∣stenyng, nurtoure and doctryne. * 1.301 Mercyful is he vnto them, that stande in awe of hys iudgementes.

My sonne, when thou doest good, make [unspec C] no grudgyng at it: and whatsoeuer thou ge∣uest, speake no disconfortable wordes. Shal not the dew coule the heate? euē so is a worde better then a gyft. * 1.302 Is not a frēdly worde a good honest gyft? but a gracious mā geueth thē both. * 1.303 A foole shall cast a man in y^e teeth, and that roughly / and a gyft of the nygarde putteth out the eyes. Get the ryghtuousnesse before thou come to iudgement. Lerne before thou speake / and go to physicke or euer thou be sycke: * 1.304 examen iudge thy selfe, before the iudgement come, & so shalt thou fynde grace in the syght of God. Humble thy selfe afore thou be sycke, & in tyme of thy dyscease she we thy conuersacyon. * 1.305 Let not to praye alway and stande not in feare to be refourmed vn∣to death, for the rewarde of God endureth

for euer. Before thou prayest / prepare thy soule / and be not as one that tempted God. Thynke vpon the wrathful indingnacyon, y^e shalbe at the ende / & the houre of vengeaūce,* 1.306 whē he shal turne away his face. Whe y^• hast ynough, remēbre the tyme of hongre: & when thou art rich, thinke vpon the tyme of pouer te and scarcenesse. [unspec D]

From the mornynge vntyll the euenyng the tyme is chaunged / and al suche thynges are sone done in y^• syght of God. A wyse man feareth God in all thynges, & in the dayes of trāsgressyon he kepeth hym selfe from s••••ne. A discrete man hath pleasure in wysdome / and he that findeth her / maketh much of her They y^e haue had vnderstanding, haue dealt wysely in wordes, haue vnderstāde the truth & ryghtuousnes, & haue sought out wyse sē∣tences & iudgemētes. ‡ 1.307 Folowe not thy lust{is}, but turne the frō thyne owne wyll. For yf y^• geuest thy soule her desires, it shal make thin enemies to laugh the to scorne. Take not thy pleasure in greate voluptuousnes, & medle not to much w^tal. Make not to great chere of the thyng that thou hast wōne by auaūtage, lest thou fal into pouerte, & haue nothyng in thy purse.

¶ Wyne and whoredome brynge men to pouertye▪ In thy wordes muste thou vse dyscrecyon The difference of the wys¦dome of God and man. Wherby thou maye••i knowe what is in a man. Correc••yon muste be vsed without ang••e.

CAPI. XIX.

A Labouryng man that is geuē vnto drō [unspec A] kennes, shall not be rych: & he that ma∣keth not much of smal thiges, shall fat by lyt¦le & litle. ‡ 1.308 Wyne & wemen ‡ 1.309 make wyse men rēnagates, & put men of vnderstandynge to reprofe: and he that accompanieth aduo••ite∣rers, shal become a wycked man. Moches & wormes shall haue hym to herytage / yee he shalbe set vp to a greater example, and hys soule shalbe roted out of the nōbre. * 1.310 He that is hastye to geue credence, is lyght mynded, and doth agaynst hym selfe. Who so reioy∣seth in wyckednes, shalbe punyshed: he that hateth to be refourmed hys lyfe shalbe short¦ned, & he that abhorreth babling of wordes / quencheth wyckednesse. He that offendeth agaynst his owne soule, shall repente it: and he that reioyseth in wyckednesse / shall be pu¦nyshed.

Rehearse not a wycked & churlysh worde [unspec B] twise / and thou shalt not be hidered. Shewe thy secretes; nether to frende nor foo: and if y^• hast offended / tell it not out. For he shall herken vnto the and marke the: and whē he fyndeth oportunite / he shall hate y^• (& so shal he be alwaye aboute y^•. (* 1.311 If y^• hast herde a worde agaynst thy neyghbour, let it be dead w^t in the: & be sure thou shalte haue no harme therby. A foole trauayleth w^t a worde, lyke as a womā that is payned w^t bearynge of a chylde. Lyke as an arowe shot in a dogges thyghe, so is a worde in a fooles hert. * 1.312 Tell thy frende his faute, least he be ignoraunt / & say. I haue not done it, or yf he haue spoken, that he do it nomore. Reproue thy neyghbour that he kepe his tong, & if he haue spokē, that he say it nomore.

Tell thy neyghbour his faute, for oft ty∣mes [unspec C] an offēce is made / and geue not credēce to euery worde. A man falleth somtyme with hys tong, but not with hys wyl. For * 1.313 what is he / y^• hath not offended in his tong. Geue thy neyghboure warnyng / before thou threa¦ten hym / and geue place vnto the lawe of the Lorde. The feare of God is all wysdome / & he that is a ryght wyse man, kepeth y^• lawe. As for the doctryne of wyckednesse / it is no wysdome / and the prudence of synners is no good vnderstandyng: it is but wyckednes, & abhominaciō & a blaspheming of wysdome. A symple man of small vnderstandyng that feareth God / is better then one y^• hath much wysdome, and trangresseth the lawe of the Hyest. A crafty sotell man can be wyse, but [unspec D] he is vnryghtuous, and with gyftes he wre∣steth the open and manifest lawe. A wycked man can behaue hym selfe humblye, and can douke with his heade / and yet is he / but a dis¦ceauer within. He hydeth hys ••ice, * 1.314 & disgui¦seth it: & because he shulde not be knowen, he preuenteth the.

And though he be so weake y^• he can do y^• no harme, yet whē he may fynde oportunite / he shall do some euyll. A mā may be knowen by his face, & one that hath vnderstandyng / maye be percyeued by the loke of his counte¦naunce. * 1.315 A mans garment, laughter, & go∣ynge, declare what he is.

¶ Of correccion and repentaunte. Of the gyfte of the wyse man and of the foole. Of ly••age.

CAPI. XX.

SOME man * 1.316 reproueth hys neygh∣boure [unspec A] ofte tymes / but not in due season: Agayne / some man holdeth hys tonge / and he is wyse and dyscrete. It is muche better to gyue warnynge and to reproue / then to beare euyll wyll: for he that knowe∣ledgeth hym selfe opēly / shalbe preserued frō hurt and destruccion. Lyke as when a••gelded man thorowe desyre and lust defyleth a may den / euen so is it with hym that vseth vyo∣lence: & vnryghtuousnes in the law. O howe

good a thynge is it, a man that is reproued / to shewe openly his repentaunce: for so shalt thou escape wylfull synne.

Some man kepeth silence / and is founde wyse: but he that is not ashamed what he sayeth / is hatefull. Some man holdeth hys tonge, because be hath not y^• vnderstandyng of the language: and some man kepeth silēce waytyng a conuentent tyme. * 1.317 A wyse man wyll holde hys tonge tyll he se oporcunyte / but a want on and vndyscrete body shall re∣garde no tyme. He that vseth many wordes / shall hurte his owne soule: and he y^• taketh auctoryte vpon hym vnryghtuously, shalbe hated. Some man hath oft tymes pro••pery∣te in wicked thinges: Agayne, some mā get∣teth much, and hath harme and losse. There is some gyft that is nothyng worth: Agayne thece is some gift, whose rewarde is double. Some mā getteth a fal for beyng to proude. and some commeth to worshyppe from lowe estate. Some mā bieth much for a lytle price, and must paye for it seuen folde.

* 1.318 A wyse man with hys wordes maketh [unspec B] hym selfe to be loued, but the favours of foo∣les shalbe poured out. The gyfte of the vn∣wyse shall do the no good, for his eyes are seuenfolde. * 1.319 He shall geue lytle, and saye he gaue much: he openeth his mouth and crieth out / as it were one that cryeth out wynd. To day he lendeth, to morowe asketh he agayne and suche a man is to be hated. The foole sayth: I haue no frende / I haue no thanke for all my good dedes: yee euen they y^• eat my breade, speake no good of me. O how oft, & of howe many shall he be laughed to scorne? He taketh a more perelous fal by suche wordes then yf he fel vpon the grounde: euen so shal the falses of wycked mē come hastely. In the mouth of hym y^• is vutaught, are many vn∣conuenient and vnmete wordes. A wyse sen∣tcce shal not be alowed at y^• mouth of the fole for he speaketh it not in due season.

Some man synneth not / because he hath [unspec C] not wherwithal, & in his reaste he shalbe stin¦ged. Some mā there is y^• destroieth his owne soule w^t shame, ‡ & for an vnwyse bodies sake destroyeth it / and w^t acceptyng of personnes shal he vndo him selfe. Some mā promyseth his frende a gift for very shame, & getteth an enemye of him for naught. A lye is a wycked shame in a mā. yet shall it be euer in y^• mouth of the vnwise. A thefe is better, then a man y^• is accustomed to lye / but they both shal haue destruccyon to herytage. The condicyons of lyers are vnbonest / and theyr shame is euer with them.

A wyse man shall brynge hym selfe to ho∣nour [unspec D] with his wordes, * 1.320 & he that hath vn∣deritandynge / shall be set by amonge greate men. * 1.321 He that tylleth hys lande / shall en∣crease hys heape of corne: he that worcketh ryghtuousnes, shalbe exalted, & he that plea∣seth great mē, shall escape much euyll. ‡ 1.322 Re∣wardes and gyftes blynd the eyes of y^• wise / & make h••m dōme, that he cā not tel mē theyr fautes. * 1.323 Wysdome y^• is hyd, & treasure that is hoorded vp, what pfyte is in thē both? Bet¦ter is he that kepeth his ignoraunce secrete, then a man that hydeth his wysdome.

¶ Of the repentaunce of synne. We in aye not heaye synne vpon synne. The boldenesse of an hery tyhe. The ende of syn nere. Of the foole and of the wyse man. Of hym that curseth the deuyll.

CAPI. XXI.

My sone, if thou hast sinned, do it no more: [unspec A] * 1.324 but praye for thy fore synnes / that they maye be forgyuen the. Fle from synne / euen as from a serpent / for yf thou cōmest to nye her, she wyl byte the. The teth therof are as the teeth of a lion, to sley the soules of mē. The wyckednes of man is as a sharpe two edged swerde, whiche maketh suche woūdes that they can not be healed.

Scryfe and wrongeous dealynge shall waste awaye a mans goodes, and thorowe pride a rich house shalbe brought to naught / so the ryches of the proude shalbe rored out. * 1.325 The prayer of the poore goeth out of the mouth, and commeth vnto the eares, & hys vengeaunce (or defence) shal come, and that hastely. Who so hateth to be refourmed, it is a token of a vngodly personne: but he that feareth God, wyll remēbre him selfe. A mygh tye man is knowen a farre ot by hys tonge / but he y^• hath vnderstandynge / perceyueth y^• he shall haue a fall.

Who so buyldeth hys house with other [unspec B] mens cost / is lyke one that gathereth stones in wynter. * 1.326 The cōgregacion of y^• vngodly is lyke stubble gathered together / theyr ende is a flamme of fyre. The waye of the vngod∣ly is set with stones, but in theyr ende is hell, darcknes, and paynes. He that kepeth the lawe. wyll holde fast y^• vnderstandyng ther∣of, and the ende of the feare of God is wys∣dome & vnderstandyng. He that is not wise, wyll not be taught in good: but the vnwyse man aboundeth in wyckednesse: and where bytternesse is, there is no vnderstandynge. The knowledge of the wyse shall flowe lyke water that rūneth ouer, & his councel is lyke a fountayne of lyfe.

The herte of a foole is lyke a broken ves∣sel, he can kepe no wysdome. When a man of

vnderstandynge beareth a wyse worde / he shal commēde it, and make much of it. But yfa voluptuous man heare it, he shall haue no pleasure therin / but cast it behynde hys backe. The talckynge of a foole is lyke an heuy burthen by y^• way: but to heare a wyfe man speake / it is a pleasure. Where a doute is in the congregacyon / it is asked at the mouth of the wise, and they shal pondre hys wordes in theyr hertes. Like as is a house y^• is destroied / euen so is wisdome vnto a fole:

As for the knowledge of the vnwyse / it is but darke wordes. Doctrine is vnto him that hath no vnderstandynge / euen as fet∣ters about hys fete, and lyke manicles vpō his right hand. ‡ 1.327 A fole lifteth vp his voyce with laughter / but a wyse man shall scarse laugh secretly.

Leruynge is vnto a wyse man a Iewel of [unspec D] golde, & lyke as an armelet vpon hys ryght arme. A foolyshe mans fote is sone in hys neyghbou••g house / but one that hath expe∣rience, shal be ashamed at the persone of the myghty. A fole wyll pepe in at the wyndow into the house, but he that is wel nourtured wyll stande without: A foly she man stādeth herkenynge at the dore, but he that is wyse, wyll be ashamed:

The lyppes of the vnwyse wylbe tellynge folyshe thynges / but the wordes of suche as haue vnderstādyng, shalbe weyed in the ba∣launce. The hert of foles is in theyr mouth, but the mouth of the wyse is in theyr herte. When the vngodly curseth the blasphemer, he curseth hys owne soule. * 1.328 A preuy accu∣ser of other men shal defyle his owne soule, & be hated of euery mā:) but he that kepeth his tong & is discrete, shal come to honour.)

¶ The purgacyon of the slouthfull. Of the foolyshe sonne and dauughter, we must haue dyscrecyon howe & to whom we ought to preach, of sorowynge vpon the deade. A fole is not to be much talked with all. Iniuryes & wronges do brenke frendshypy and amytye.

CAPI. XXII.

A Slouthfull body is moulded of a sto∣ne [unspec A] of cla••e, and euery man wyl speake to hys vysprayse. A slouthfull body is made of the donge of oxen and euery one that toucheth hym muste washe hys handes a∣gayne. A mysnurtured sonne is the disho¦noure of the father. A foolyshe daughter shall be lytle regarded. A wyse daughter is an herytage vnto her husbande: but she that commeth to dishonesty / bringeth her father in heuynes. A daughter that is past shame, dishonoureth both her father & her husbād, the vngodly shal regarde her, but they both shall despyse her. The playeng of Musicke is not mete where heuines is / euen so is the correcciō and doctrine of wysdome euer vn pleasaunt vnto fooles.

Who so teacheth a foole, is euen as one y^• [unspec B] gleweth a potsharde together: as one that telleth a tale to hym that heareth hym not / and as one that raiseth a mā out of an heuy slepe. Who so telleth a foole of wysdome, is euen as a mā, which speaketh to one that is a slepe. When he hath tolde hys tale / he say∣eth: what is the matter? When one dyeth / lamentacyon is made for hym / because the lyght fayleth hym: euen so let men mourne ouer a foole: for he wanteh vnderstanding. Make but lytle wepyng because of the deed. for he is come to rest / but the lyfe of the fole is worse thē the deeth. Seuen dates do men mourne for him that is deed, but the lamen∣tacion ouer the vnwyse and vngodly shuld endure all the dayes of theyr lyfe.

Talke not much with a foole, and go not [unspec C] with him that hath no vnderstanding. Be∣ware of him, lest it turne y^• to trauayle, and thou shalt not be defyled w^t hys synne. De∣parte frō him, and thou shalt finde rest, and shalt not be drawen back into h{is} folyshnes. What is heuier then leade? And what shuld a foole be called els but leade? ‡ 1.329 Sand, salt / and a lūpe of yron is easier to beare then an vnwyse, folish, and vngodly mā, Like as y^• bande of wod bounde together in the foun∣dacion of the house cānot be lowsed: euen so it is w^t the hert y^• is stablyshed in y^• thought of councell. The thought of the wyse shall neyther feare / nor be offended at any tyme.

Lyke as a fayre playitred wall in a wyn∣ter [unspec D] house, & an hye building, may not abyde the wynde and storme: euen so is a foles hert afrayed in hys ymagynacion / he feareth at euery thynge, and cannot endure.) A waue∣ryng hart in the ymaginacyon of a fole wyl not euer stand in awe, but he y^• abydeth ithe cōmaundemētes of God, wyl alway feare.)

He that nyppeth a mans eye / bryngeth forth teares: & he y^• prycketh y^• hert, bringeth forth the meanyng and thought, Who so ca¦steth a stone at y^• byrdes, frayeth thē awaye: and he that blasphemeth his frēde, breaketh the frendshyppe: though y^• drewest a sl••••rde at thy frende yet dispayre not / for y^u mayest come agayne to thy frende. If he speake sowrely, feare not, for ye maye be agreed to∣gether agayne: except it be that thou blas∣pheme him, dysdayne him, open his secretes & woūde him traytorously: for all such thin∣ges shall dryue awaye a frende.

Be faythfull vnto thy neyghbour in hys [unspec E] pouerte, that thou may est reioyce with him also in hys prosperyte. Abyde stedfast vnto him in the tune of his trouble, that y^• matest be heyre wyth hym in hys heritage. Like as the vapour and smoke goeth out at y^• ouen before the fyre, euen so euyl wordes, rebukes and threatenynges go before bloudshed∣dyng. Be not a shamed to defende thy trēde: as for me / I wyll not hyde my face from hym / though he shulde do me harme. Who∣soeuer heareth it, shal beware of him. ‡ 1.330 Who shall set a watche before my mouthe / and a sure seale vpon my lyppes / y^• I fal not with them, and that my tonge destroy me not?

¶ A proper agaynste pryde▪ ••echery, and glotony Of othrs, blasph••my, and of wyse communicacion. Of the thre ky••∣des of s••••nes. M••hy synnes proceade of abuou••ry. Of the feare of God.

CAPI. XXIII.

O Lorde / father and gouernoure of my [unspec A] lyfe / leaue me not in theyr y magyna∣cyon and councell. Oh let me not fal in such reprofe. Who wyll kepe my thought with the scourge / and the doctryne of wysdome in myne herte? that he spare not myne igno∣raunce / that I fall not wyth them, lest mine ignoraunces increase / that myne offences be not many in nombre / and that my sinnes exceade not: leste I fall before myne ene∣myes, and so my aduersary reioyce: O Lord thou father and God of my lyfe / leaue me not in theyr ymaginacyō. O let me not haue a proude loke, but turne awaye all ••olupte ousnes fro me. Take fro me the lustes of the body / let not the desyres of vnclennes take holde vpō me, and geue me not ouer into an vnshamefast and obstynate mynde. [unspec B]

Heare me (O ye chyldren.) I wyll geue you a doctrine, howe ye shall ordre your mouthe: who so kepeth it, shal not perish thorow his lippes, nor be hurt thorow wicked worckes As for the synner / he shall be taken in hys owne vanyte: he that is proude and cursed, shal fal therin. * 1.331 Let not thy mouth be acu∣stomed w^t swearynge / for in it there are ma∣ny falles. Let not the naming of God be cō∣tynually ithy mouth: (and medle not w^t the names of saintes / for y^u shalt not be excused of thē) for lyke as a seruaūt which is oft pu∣nished cannot be without some fore / euen so whatsoeuer he be y^• sweare•••• & nameth god shall not be clene pourged frō sinne, A man y^• vseth much swearing, shalbe filled w^t wic kednes / & the plage shall neuer go from his house. If he begyle hys brother / hys faure shalbe vpon hym: yf he knowledge not hys sine, he maketh a doble offēre, & if he sweare in vayne / he shall not be founde ryghteous for his house shall be full of plages▪

* 1.332 The wordes of y^• swearer bryngeth death [unspec C] (God graunte that it be not founde in the house of Iacob.) But they that feare God / eschue all such, & lye not weltryng in synne.

* 1.333 Use not thy mouth to vnhoneste and fyl∣thy talkynge, for in it is the worde of synne. Remembre thy father and thy mother / whē thou art set among great men: lest God for∣get the in theyr syght / and lest thou dotyng in thy custome, suffre rebuke / and wyshe not to haue bene borne, & so curse y^• daye of thy naryuite. * 1.334 The man y^e is accustomed w^t the wordes of blasphemy, wyll neuer be refour¦med all y^• dayes of his lyfe. To synne twyse is to much, but the thyrde bringeth wrath & destruccion. An hote stomack cannot be quē¦ched (euen lyke a burnynge fyre) tyll it haue swalowed vp somthing: euen so an vnchast man hath no reste in hys fleshe, tyll he haue kyndled a fyre.

All bred is swete to an whoremonger, he wyll not leaue of / tyll he haue hys purpose. A mā that breaketh wedlock▪ and regardeth [unspec D] not hys soule but sayeth: * 1.335 Tush, who seyth me? I am compassed about with barcknes / the walles couer me, nobody seyth me: whō nede I to feare? The Hyest wyl not remem∣bre my synnes. He vnderstandeth not y^• hys eyes se all thynges / for all such feare of men dryueth awaye the feare of God from hym:for he feareth onely the eies of men, and con¦sydereth not that the eyes of the Lorde are much clearer thē the Sūne, beholdig al the wayes of men and the grounde of the depe, and lokynge euen to mens hertes in secrete places. The Lorde God knewe all thynges or euer they were made / and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vpon thē al. * 1.336 The same man shalbe openly punished in the stretes of y^• cyte: & shalbe chased abrode lyke a yonge horse foale: and when he thin∣keth lest vpō it, he shalbe taken. Thus shal he be put to shame of euery man, because he wolde not vnderstāde the feare of the Lord-And thus shall it go also with euery wyfe / that leaueth her housbande / and getteth en∣herytaūce by a straūge mariage. * 1.337 First, she hath bene vnfaythfull vnto the lawe of the Hyeste: Secondly / she hathe forsaken her owne housbande. Thyrdly, she hath played the whore in aduoutry, and gotten her chyl¦dren by another man. She shall be brought out of the congregacyon / and her chyldren shall be loked vpon Her chyldren shall not

take rote: & as for frute, her braunches shal brynge forth none. A shamefull reporte shal she leaue behide her, and her dishonour shal not be put out. And they that remayne, shal knowe / that there is nothynge better / then the feare of God: and that there is nothyng sweter then to take hede vnto the commaū∣dementes of the Lord. A greate worshyppe is it to folowe the Lorde, for longe lyfe shal∣be receyued of hym.

¶ •• prayse of wysdome proceadyng forth of the mouth of God. Of her wo••ike•• & place where she ceasteth.

CAPI. XXIIII.

Wysdome shall prayse her selfe / and be [unspec A] honoured in God / and reioyse in the middest of his people: In the cōgrgaeciōs of the Hyeste shall she open her mouthe / and triumphe i the beholdyng of his power: In the myddeste of her people shall she be exal∣ted, and wondred at in the holy fulnesse. In the multitude of the chosen she shalbe com∣mended / and amonge such as be blessed she shalbe praysed, and shal say: I am come out of the mouth of the Hyest, first borne before al creatures. I caused the light that fayleth not to aryse in the heauē, and couered al the earth as a cloude. My dwellyng is aboue in the heyth / and my seate is in the piler of the cloude. I my selfe alone haue gōne rounde aboute the compasse of heauen, and pearsed the grounde of the depe: I haue walcked in the floudes of the see / and haue stande in all landes: my domynion is in euery people and in euery naciō / and with my power haue I troden downe y^• hertes of al, both hye & low.

In all these thynges also I sought rest, [unspec B] and a dwellynge in some enherytaunce. So the creator: of al thiges gaue me a cōmaun dement: and he that made me, appointed me a tabernacle / and sayde vnto me: Let thy dwelling be i Iacob, and thyne inheritaūce in Israel, and rote thy selfe amonge my cho¦sen. * 1.338 I was created frō the begynning and before the worlde, and shal not leaue of vn∣to the world to come. * 1.339 In the holy habyta∣ciō haue I serued before him / and so was I stablyshed in Siō. * 1.340 In the holy cytie reited I in lyke maner: and in Ierusalem was my power, I roke rote in an honorable people / euen in the porcyon of the Lorde and in hys herytage / & kept me in the fulnes of y^• sayn∣ctes. I am set vp an hye lyke a Ceder vpon Libanus, and as a Cipers tre vpon y^• moūt Hermō. I am exalted like a palmetre in Ca des, & as a rose plante in Iericho: As a faire Oliue tre in the felde, & am exalted like as a plāteyne tre by y^• water syde. I haue geuē a smel in the stretes, as y^• Cinamon & Balme, y^• hath so good a sauoue: yee a swete odoure haue I geuen as it were Myrre of the beest.

I haue made my dwellynges to smell as [unspec C] it were of rosm Galbanum, of Clowes, and Incence / and as Lybanus when it is not hewen downe, & myne odoure is as the pure Balme. As the Terebinte haue I stretched out my braūches, and my braūches are the braunches of honour and louing fauour. ✚ ‡ 1.341 As the vyne haue I brought forth frute of a sweter sauoure / & my floures are the frute of honour and ryches. I am the mother of bewtye / of loue / of feare / of knowledge and of holy hope. ‡ 1.342 In me is all grace of life and trueth. In me is al hope of lyfe and vertue. O come vnto me all ye that be desyrous of me, and fyll your selues with my frutes: for my spryte is sweter then hony / and so is my inheritaunce more then the hony combe: the remembraūce of me endureth for euermore. They that eate me / shall haue the more ho••¦ger: and they that dryncke me, shall thyrst y^• more. Who so herkeneth vnto me / shall not come to cōfusyon: & they that worcke in me, shall not offende. They that make me to be knowen, shall haue euerlastynge lyfe. ⊢

All these thinges are the boke of lyfe, the couenaunt of the Hiest / and the knowledge of the trueth. ‡ 1.343 Moses cōmaunded the lawe in the preceptes of righteousnes for an heri¦tage vnto the house of Iacob, and commit∣ted y^• promyses vnto Israel. * 1.344 (Out of Da∣uid h{is} seruaūt he ordened to raise vp a most myghte kyng / sytting in the seat of honour for euermore). * 1.345 Thys fylleth w^t wysdome lyke as the floude of Physon / and as the floude of Tygris / when the new frutes are a growynge

Thys bryngeth a plenteous vnderstan∣ding [unspec D] lyke Euphrates: & filleth it vp, as Ior* 1.346 dane in the tyme of haruest. Thys maketh nourture to breake forth as the light, & as y^• water Gyhon in the haruest. The fyrst hath not knowne her perfectly / nomore shall the last seke out y^• groūd of her. For her thought is fuller then the see, and her councel is pro¦founder then the greate depe.

I wysdome haue cast out floudes. I am as a great waterbroke oute of y^• riuer I am as the ryuer Dorix, and as a water condyte am I come out of the garden of pleasure. I sayde: I wyll water the garden of my yong plantes, and fyll the frute of wy byrth. So my waterbroke became exceadynge greate, and my riuer approached vnto the see. For I make doctryne to be vnto all men as syght

as the fayre morning, and I shal make it to be euer the clearer. I wyll pearse thorow al the lower partes of the earthe / I wyll loke vpō all such as be a slepe, and lighten al thē that put theyr trust in the Lorde. I shall yet youre out doctryne / lyke as prophecye / and leaue it vnto such as seke after wysdome / & their generacions shall I neuer fayle, vnto the holy euerlasting world. * 1.347 Behold, howe that I haue not laboured for my self onely / but for all them that seke after the trueth.

¶ Of thre thinges which please god, and of thre which he hateth. Of nyne thynges that be not to be suspecte, and of the tenth: the fely of the malyce of a woman.

CAPI. XXV.

THre thynges there are / that my spryte [unspec A] fauoureth / whiche be also alowed be∣before God and men. * 1.348 The vnyte of bre∣thren / * 1.349 the loue of neighbours, * 1.350 and man and wyfe that agre well together. Thre thynges there be whiche my soule hateth and I vtterly abhorre the lyfe of them: A poore man that is proude. A ryche man that is a lyar / * 1.351 and an olde body that dotethe / and is vnchaste.

If thou haste gathered nothynge in thy youth / what wylte thou fynde then in thyne age. O howe pleasaunt a thynge is it, when gray headed mē are dyscrete, ‡ & whē y^• elders cā geue good coūcel: O how comely a thig is wysdome vnto aged men: yee vnderstan¦dyng and councel is a glorious thing. The crowne of olde men is to hane much experi∣ence: & the feare of god is theyr worshyppe.

There be nyne thynges / whiche I haue [unspec B] iudged in my hert to be happy, and y^• tenth wyll I tell forth vnto men with my tonge. A man that whyle he lyueth / hathe ioye of his chyldren / & seyeth y^• fal of his enemyes. Well is hym that dwelleth with an hous∣wyfe of vnderstanding, * 1.352 and that hath not fallē with his tong, and that hath not bene fayne to serue such as are vnmete for hym. Wel is him, that fyndeth a faythful frende: and well is him which talketh of wysdome to an eare that heareth hi. O how great is he / that fyndeth wysdome and knowledge? Yet is he not aboue him, y^• feareth the Lord. The feare of God hath set it selfe aboue all thynges. Blessed is the man, vnto whom it is graunted to haue the feare of God. Unto whō shal he be lyckened, that kepeth it fast? The feare of God is the beginnynge of his loue, and the begynning of fayth is to cleue faste vnto it. The heuynes of the hert is all the punyshemēt, & the wyckednes of a wo∣man goeth aboue al. All punishmēt & plage is nothynge in comparyson of the plage of the hert, euen so all wyckednes is nothyng to the wyckednes of a woman.

Whatsoeuer happeneth vnto a mā is no∣thynge [unspec C] in cōparison of it, that his euyl wyl∣lers do vnto him: and al vengeaunce is no∣thynge to the vengeaunce of the enemye.

There is not a more wycked heade then the head of the serpent / & there is no wrath aboue y^• wrath of a womā. * 1.353 I wyll rather dwell with a lyon and dragon, then to kepe house with a wycked wyfe. The wycked∣nesse of a womā chaūgeth her face, she shall moffel her countenaūce as it were a Beare, & as a sack shal she shew it amōge the negh¦bours. Her husbande is brought to shame among his neghbours, and whē he heareth it, it maketh him to syghe. All wyckednes is but lytle to the wyckednes of a woman / the porcion of the vngodly shall fall vpon her:

Lyke as to clymme vp a sandy waye is [unspec D] to the fete of the aged / euen so is a wyfe full of wordes to a styll quyete man. * 1.354 Loke not to narowly vpō the bewtye of a womā, leste thou be prouoked ī desire towarde her▪ The wrath of a woman is dishonoure and great confusiō. If a woman get the mastrey, then is she contrary to her husbande. A wycked wyfe maketh a sory herte / an heuy counte∣naunce and a deed woūde. * 1.355 (Weake hādes and feble knees is a womā that her husbād is not the better for.) Of the woman came the begynnynge of synne / & thorowe her we all are deed. Geue thy water no passage / no not a lytle, nether geue a wycked womā her wyll. If she walcke not after thy hande, she shall confounde the in the syehgt of thy ene∣mies. Cut her of then from thy flesh, that she do not alwaye abuse the.

¶ The p••ap se of good a womā. Of the feare of thre thyn∣ges and of the fourth. Of the Ielouze and droncken womā. Of two thynges that cause sorow, and of the thyrde which moueth wrath.

CAPI. XXVI.

Happye is the man that hathe a verte∣ous [unspec A] wyfe, for the nombre of his yeares shalbe dubble. An honest woman maketh her husbande a ioyfull man / and she shall fyll y^• yeares of his lyfe in peace. A verteous womā is a noble gyft, whiche shalbe geuen for a good porcion vnto such as feare God: Whether a man be rych or poore, he may ha¦ue euer a mery hert, and a chearful counte∣naunce. There be thre thinges that my hert feareth, and my face is afrayed of y^• fourth. Treason in a cytie / a sedicious people / and noisome tonges, all these are heuyer thē the

death. But when one is gelous ouer hys wyfe / it bryngeth payne and sorowe vnto the herte: and a woman that telleth out all thynges / is a scourge of the tonge. When one hathe an euell wyfe / it is euen as when an vnylke payre of oxen muste drawe toge∣ther, * 1.356 he that getteth her / he getteth a scor∣pyon. A droncken woman is a great plage, for she cannot couer her owne shame.

The whordome of a woman maye be [unspec B] knowen in the pryde of her eyes and eye led∣des. * 1.357 If thy daughter be not shamefast, holde her straytly, lest she abuse herselfe thorowe ouermoche lyberte. Beware of all the dishonestye of her eyes, and maruell not yf she do agaynste the. Lyke as one y^t goeth by the waye and is thirstie, so shall she open her mouth and dryncke of euery next water that she maye get. By euery hedge shal she set her downe / and open her quyuer against euery arowe. A louynge wyre reioyseth her husbande, and fedeth his bones with her wis¦dome. A woman of fewe wordes is a gyfte of God / and to all well nurtured myndes maye nothynge be compared.

An honest and manerly woman is a gyft aboue other gyftes / and there is no weyght [unspec C] to be compared / vnto a mynde that can rule itselfe. Lyke as the Sunne when it aryseth is an ornament in the hye heuen of the lorde so is a vertuous wyfe the bewtye of all her house. Lyke as the clere lyght is vpon y^• ho∣ly candelsticke, so is the bewre of y^• face vpō an honest body. * 1.358 Lyke as the golden puers are vpon the sockettes of syluer / so are the fayre legges vnto a woman that hath a co∣stant mynde. Perpetual are the foundaciōs that be layde vpon a whole stonye rocke / so are the commaundementes of God vpon the her••e of an holy woman.

There be two thinges that grene my hert and in the thyrde is a displeasure come vpō [unspec D] me When an expert man of warre suffreth scarsenes a••d pouerte. When men of vn∣derstandynge and wysdome are not sert by. And when one departeth from ryghteous∣nes vnto synne. Who so doth suche / the Lorde hathe prepared him vnto the swerde. There be two maner of thynges, whiche me thynke to be herde & perylous. A marchaūt can not lyghtly kepe hym from wronge, ne∣ther a taueruer him selfe from synne.

¶ Of the po••e that wolde be ryche The probacyon of the man that feareth God The vnconstantnesse of a foole. The ••••tretes of a trende are not to be vttred. The wycked ymagi¦neth euell, whiche ••. turneth vpon hym selfe.

CAPI. XXVII.

BEcause of pouerte haue many one of∣fended: and he that seketh to be ryche / [unspec A] turneth his eyes asyde. Lyke as a nayie in the wall stycketh fast betwyxte two stones, euen so doth synne sticke betwyxte the byes and the seller. If he holde hym not di∣lygently in the feare of the Lorde, his house shall soone be ouerthrowen. Lyke as when one syfteth, the fylthynes remayneth in the syue: So, remayneth there some vncleane [unspec B] thynge in the thought of man: The ouen proueth the potters vessell, * 1.359 so dothe temp∣tacyō of trouble trye ryghteous men * 1.360 The tre of the felde is knowen by hys frute so is the thought of mans herte knowne by hys wordes. Prayse no man excepte thou haue herde him, for a man is knowen by his wor∣des. If thou folowest ryghteousnes, thou shalt get her, and put her vpō the as a fayre garmente. And thou shalt dwel with her, & she shal defende the for euer, and in the daye of knowledge thou shalt finde sted fastnesse. The byrdes resorte vnto theyr lyke, so doth the truth turne vnto them that be occupyed withall. The lyon wayteth the praye: so dothe synners lurke vpon the workers of wyckednes. The talkynge of hym that fea∣reth God, is nothynge but wysdome: as for a foole, he chaūgeth as the Moone. If thou be amonge the vndiscrete, kepe thy wor•••• to a conuenient tyme / but amonge suche as be wyse / speake on hardely. The talkynge of [unspec C] fooles is abhominacion / and theyr sporte is volupteousnesse and mysnurtoure. * 1.361 Moch swearynge maketh the hearre to stande vp: and to striue with suche / stoppeth the eares.

The stryfe of the proude is bloudeshed∣dynge / and theyr blasphemynge is heuy to heare. * 1.362 Who so discouereth secretes, leseth his credence, and fyndeth no frende after his wyl. Loue thy frende, and bynde thy selfe in faythfulnes with hym: but yf y^• bewrayest his secretes, thou shalt not get hym agayne For lyke as the man is that destroyeth hys enemye, so is he also that dealeth falsly in the frendshyp of his neyghboure. [unspec D]

Lyke as one that letteth a byrde go out of his hande, cannot take her agayne: Euen to thou / yf thou geue ouer thy frende, thou canst not get him againe: Yee thou canst not come by him, for he is to farre of. He is vn∣to the as a Roo escaped out of the snare / for his soule is wounded. As for woundes, they may be bounde vp agayne, & an euell worde maye be reconcyled: but who so bewrayeth the secres of a frende, there is no more hope to be had vnto hym.

* 1.363 He y^• wyncketh with the eyes, ymage∣neth some cuell, and no man shall take hym from it when thou art present, he shall hylie commēde and prayse thy wordes: but at the last he shall turne his tayle / and scaūder thy sayenge. Many thynges haue I hated, but nothynge so euell / for the Lord himselfe al∣so [unspec E] abhorreth soch a one.

* 1.364 Who so casteth a stone on hye, it shall fall vpon hys awne head: and he that smyteth with gyle, woundeth him selfe. Who so dyg∣geth a pyt, shall fall therin: (& he that layeth a stone ī his neghbours waye, shall stomble theron) & he that layeth a snare for another, shalbe takē in it him self. * 1.365 Who so geueth a wycked noysome councell, it shall come vpō hym selfe, & he shal not knowe from whence. The proude blaspheme, and are scornefull, but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lyon. They that reioyse at the fal of y^e ryghteous, shalbe taken in the snare, anguysh of herte shall consume them before they dye. Anger & rygorousnesse are two abhominable thyn¦ges, & the vngodly hath thē both vpō hym.

We ought not to desyre vengeaūce but to forgeue the office, of the wyces of the tonge, and of the daughters therof.

CAPI. XXVIII. [unspec A]

HE * 1.366 that seketh vengeaunce, shal fynde vengeaunce of the Lorde / which shall surely kepe hym his synnes. * 1.367 Forgeue thy neyghboure the hurt that he hath done the, and so shall thy synnes be forgeuē the also, whc̄ thou prayest. Amā that beareth hatred agaynst another / howe darre he desyre for∣geuenesse of God? He that sheweth no mer∣cy to a man whiche is lyke him selfe, howe darre he aske forgeuenesse of his synnes? If he that is but flesh / beareth hatred & kepeth it / who wyll intreate for his synnes? Remē∣bre the ende / and let enemyte passe / whiche seketh death and destruccyon / and abyde thou in the commaundementes. Remēbre the commaundement / so shalt thou not be [unspec B] rygorous ouer thy neyghboure. Thyncke vpō the couenaunt of the Hyest / & forgeue thy neyghbours ignoraunce. * 1.368 Beware of stryfe / & thou shalt make thy synnes fewer. For an angrie man kindleth variaūce, and the vngodly disquyeteth frendes, and put∣teth discorde amonge them that be at peace. * 1.369 The more wod there is, y^e more vehement is the fyre: and the myghtier that mē be / the greater is the wrath: and the lōger the strife endureth / the more it burneth.

An hastye brawlynge kynleth a fyre, & an [unspec C] hastye stryte sheddeth blouoe: A tonge also that beareth false witnesse, bryngeth death. If thou blowe the sparke: it shal burne. If y^• spyt vpon it: it shall go forth, and both these out of y^e mouth. * 1.370 The sclaūderet a dubble tonged is cursed, for many one y^• be frendes setteth he at varyaunce. The thyrde tonge hath disquieted many one, and dryuen them frome one lande to another. Stronge cyties of the ryche hath it broken downe / and ouer∣throwen the houses of greate men. (The strēgth of the people hath it brought downe and bene the decaye of myghtye nacyons.) The thyrde tonge hath cast out many an ho∣nest woman / and robbed them of theyr la∣bours. Who so herkeneth vnto suche, shall neuer fynde rest / and neuer dwel safely. The stroke of the rod maketh yedders / but the stroke of the tonge smyteth the bones in sunder. Their be many that haue peryshed wyth the swerde / but many mo thorowe the tonge.

Well is hym that is kepte from an euyll [unspec D] tonge / and commeth not in the angre therof, which draweth not the yocke of suche, and is not bounde in the bandes of it. For the yock thereof is of yron, and the bande of it of stele The death therof is a very euyll death: hell were better for one / then suche a tonge. But the fyre of it maye not oppresse them that feare God / and the flamme thereof maye not burne thē. Suche as forsake the Lorde / shal fall therein: and it shall burne them, and no man shalbe able to quenche it. It shall fall vpon them as a Lyon, and deuoure them as a leoparde. Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes: why doest thou not rather make do¦res and barres for thy mouth? Thou wcyest thy golde & syluer: Why doest y^u not weye thy wordes also vpon the y^• balance? Beware / y^• y^u slyde not in thy tonge, & so fall before thyue enemyes, y^• lay wayte for the, (& thy fal be in∣curable, euen vnto death.)

¶ Howe we ought to lende oure monye, and do almes. Of a faythfull man answerynge for hys frende. Of lyberalite and hospytalyte.

CAPI. XXIX. [unspec A]

WHo so wyll shewe mercy, * 1.371 let him lende vnto hys neyghboure: and he that is able / let hym kepe the commaundemente. Lende vnto thy neygh∣boure in tyme of his nede, and pay thou thy neyghboure agayne in due season. Kepe thy worde, and deale faythfully with hym / and thou shalte allwaye fynde the thynge that is necessary for the. There haue bene many that when a thynge was lent them, reckened it to be founde, and made them trauayle and laboure, that helped thē. Whyle they receyne

anythinge / they kysse the handes of suche as geue them / and for theyr neyghbours good they humble theyr voyce. But when they shulde paye agayne / they kepe it back, and geue euell wordes / and make many ex¦cuses by reason of the tyme: and though he be able / yet geueth he scarse y^• halfe agayne, and rekeneth the other to be founde. And yf he with holde not his money yet hathe he an enemye of hym / and that vndeserued. [unspec B]

He payeth him with cursynge & rebuke, and geueth hym euell wordes for hys good dede. There be many one which are not glad for to lende, not because of euel, but they fea∣re to lese the thyng that they lende. Yet haue thou pacyence with the symple / and with∣holde not mercy from hym. Helpe the poore for the commaundemētes sake / and let hym not go emptie from the because of hys ne∣cessite. Lese thy money for thy brother and neyghbours sake / and burie it not vnder a stone / where it rusteth & corrupteth. * 1.372 Ga∣ther thy treasure after the commaundement of the Hyest, and so shall it brynge the more profyt then golde: * 1.373 Laye vp the almes in the herte of the poore and it shall kepe the from all euel. * 1.374 A mans almes is as a purse with him / and shall kepe a mans fauoure as the apple of an eye: and after warde shall it aryse / and paye euery man his rewarde vpō his heade. It shal fyght for the against thyne enemyes / better then the chylde of a [unspec C] gyaunte / or speare of the myghtye.

A good honest mā is suertie for his neygh¦boure / but a wycked personne letteth hym come to shame. Forget not the frendeshyp of thy suertye, for he hathe geuen his soule for the. The vngodly despyseth the good dede of hys suertye, and the vnthanckfull and ignoraunte leaueth his suertie in daun¦ger. Some man promeseth for his neygh∣boure: and when he hathe lost hys honeste, he shal forsake him. Suertishyppe hathe destroyed many a ryche man / and remoued them as the waues in the see. Myghtie peo∣ple hathe it dryuen awaye, and caused them to wandre in straunge coūtres. An vngodly man transgressynge the commaundemente of the Lorde / shall fall into an euell suerti∣shyppe: and though he force him selfe to get out / yet shall he fall into iudgement. Helpe thy neyghboure out after thy power / and beware / that thou thy selfe fal not into such dett. * 1.375 The chefe thynge that kepeth in the lyfe / is water / and bred / clothinge and lod∣gynge / to couer the shame. [unspec D]

Better is it to haue a poore lyuynge in a mans owne house, then delicate fare among the straūge. * 1.376 Be it lytle or much that thou hast, holde the content withall / & thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabounde: for a myse¦rable lyfe is it, to go from house to house: & where a man is fremde / he darre not open his mouth. Though one be lodged, & haue meate & dryncke, yet shal he be taken as vn∣worthy / & heare many bytter rough wordes, namely thus: Go thy waye thou straunger, and prepare a table for thy selfe, and fede me also of that thou hast. A way thou straūger (so, that he regardeth his honoure no more) my brother cōmeth into my house / and so he telleth hym the necessite of his house These thynges are heuy to a man that hath vnder standynge: namely / the forbyddynge of the house, & that y^• lēoer casteth hym in the teth.

¶ Of the correccyon of chyldren. Of the commodytye of health. Deeth is better then a sorowefull lyfe Of hydde wys¦dome. Of the ioye and sorowe of the herte.

CAPI. XXX. [unspec A]

WHo so loueth his chylde, * 1.377 holdeth him styll vnder coreccion, that he may haue ioye of him after warde and y^• he grope not after hys neyghbours dores. * 1.378 He that teacheth his sōne, shal haue ioye in hym / and nede not to be ashamed of hym amonge hys aquayntaunce.

Whose enfourmeth and teacheth his sōne, greueth the enemye: & before his frendes he maye haue ioye of hym. Though the father dye, yet is he as though he were not deed: for he hathe left one behynde him that is lyke hym. In his lyfe he sawe hym and had ioye in hym / and was not sory in his death / ney∣ther was he ashamed before the enemyes. For he left behynde him an auenger against his enemies, & a good doer vnto the frēdes. For the lyfe of chyldren he shall bynde the woundes together, and his herte is greued at euery crye. An vntamed horse wylbe harde / & a wanton childe wylbe wylfull. If thou brynge vp thy sonne delicatly, he shall make y^• afayed: and yf thou playe with him, [unspec B] he shall brynge the to heuynes. Laugh not with him / lest thou wepe with him also, and lest thy teth be set on edge at the last.

* 1.379 Geue him no liberte in his youth / & ex∣cuse not his foly. Bowe downe hys necke whyle he is young / hyt hym vpon the sydes whyle he is yet but a chylde / lest he waxe stubberne / and geue no more force of the / & so shalt thou haue heuynes of soule. Teach thy childe / and be diligent therin / lest it be to thy shame. Better is the poore beyng whole and stronge / then a man to be ryche, and not

to haue his health: Health and wellfare is about all, golde, and a whole body aboue al treasure. There is no tyches aboue a sounde body / & no ioye aboue the ioye of the herte. Death is better then a wreched lyfe, & eter∣nall rest better then contynuall syckenes. The good thyng{is} y^• are put in a close mouth are lyke as whē meate is laied vpō y^• graue.

What good doth the offerynge vnto an [unspec C] Idol? * 1.380 For he cā nether eate, tast, nor smel. Euen so is he that is chased of the Lorde / & heareth the rewardes of iniquytte. He seyth with is eyes / & groneth lyke a gelded man, that lyeth w^t a vyrgin & sygheth. * 1.381 Geue not ouer thy mynde into heuynes, and vexe not thy selfe in thyne owne councell. ‡ 1.382 The ioye and chearfulnes of y^• hert is y^• lyfe of man / & a mannes gladnes is the prolongyng of his dayes. Loue thyne owne soule, & comforte thyne hert: as for sorowe & heuynes dryue it farre frō y^•, * 1.383 for heuynes hath slayne many a man / & bryngeth no profyt, zele & anger shorten y^• dayes of the lyfe: carefulnes and sorow bring age before y^• tyme. Unto a mery hert euery thing hath a good tast y^• he eateth

¶ We ought to geue dilygent hede to honesty. Of thē that ••ake payue to gather ryches. The prayse of a ryche mā with¦out a faute. We ought to fle dronckenesse & folowe so••••••nt••.

CAPI. XXXI.

TRauayle & carfulnes for * 1.384 ryches ta∣keth [unspec A] away the slepe, & maketh the flesh to consume. When one lyeth & taketh care, he waketh euer vp, lyke as a great sycknes breaketh the slepe. The ryche hathe greate laboure in gatheringe his ryches together, and then with the pleasure of his ryches he taketh his rest and is refreshed. But who so laboureth & prospereth not, he is poore: & though he leaue of, yet is he a begger. He y^• loueth ryches, shall not be iustified: & who so foloweth corrupcion / shall haue ynough therof. * 1.385 Many one are come in greate mys∣fortune by the reason of golde / and haue founde theyr destruccyon before them. It is a tre of fallynge vnto them that offre it vp, & all such as be foolysh fall therin. Blessed is the ryche / whiche is founde without ble∣mysh / and hathe not gone after golde / nor hoped in money & tresures. Where is there such a one? and we shal commende him, and call him blessed, for greate thinges dothe he amonge his people. Who so is tryed / and founde parfecte in such thynges / shalbe cō∣mended and praysed. Who myght offende, and hath not offēded? Who coulde do euel, and hathe not done it? Therfore shall hys good be stablyshed, & the whole cōgregaciō shall declare his almesses. Yf thou syt at a greate mans table / open not thy mouth wyde vpon it / and make not many wordes. Remembre, that an euel eye is a shrowe.

What thing created is worse then a wyc∣ked [unspec B] eye? therfore wepeth it before euery mās face? Laye not thine hāde vpon euery thing that thyne eye seyth / & stryue not with hym in the dyshe. * 1.386 Ponder by thy selfe what thy neyghboure wolde fayne haue, & be discrete in euery poynte. Eate the thynge that is set before the manerly, as it becommeth a man: and eate not to much / lest thou be abhorred. Leaue y^• of fyrst of al / because of nurtoure, lest thou be he whom no man maye satisfye, which may turne to thy decaye. When thou syttest amonge many men / reache not thyne hande out fyrst of all. * 1.387 Oho we well contēt is a wyse man with a lytle wyne? so that in slepe y^• shalt not be sycke therof, nor fele any payne. A swete whosome slepe shall suche a one haue / & fele no inwarde grefe. He ryseth vp by tymes in y^• morninge / & is well at ••ase in him selfe But an vnsaciable eater slepeth vnquietly / & hath ache & payne of the body. It y^• felest that y^• hast eaten to moche, aryse, go thy waye, cast it of thy stomacke / and take thy rest: & it shall ease the so that thou shalt brynge no syckenesse vnto thy body. [unspec C]

My sonne, heare me / & despyse me not: & at the last y^u shalt fynde as I haue tolde the. * 1.388 In all thy workes be diligent & quycke, so shall there no sycknes happe vnto y^•. * 1.389 Who so is liberal in dealyng out his meate many men shall blesse hym / and prayse hym with theyr lyppes: and the same is a sure token of hys loue and faythfulnes. But he that is vnfaythful in meate / the whole cytie shal cō¦playne of hym: and that is a sure experience of his infidelite and wyckednes. * 1.390 Be not thou a wyne bybber, for wyne hath destroied many a man. The fyre proueth the herde yron / euen so doth wyne proue hertes of the proude / when they be droncken. [unspec D]

* 1.391 Wyne sobrely droncken / queckeneth the lyfe of mā. If thou drynckest it measurably, thou shalt be temperate. What lyfe is it that maye continue without wyne (•• What taketh awaye the lyfe? euen death.) Wyne was made frō the begynnyng to make men glad (and not for drōckennes) Wyne measu¦rably droncken is a reioysyng of the soule & body. (A measurable dryncke is health to soule & body. But yf it be droncken with ex∣cesse, it maketh bytternes and sorowe vnto the mynde. Dronkennes fylleth the mynde of the foolysh with shame and ruyne, myny∣sheth

the strength, and maketh woundes. * 1.392 Rebuke not thy neyghbour at the wyne, and despyse hym not in his myrth. Geue hym no despytefull wordes & preasse not vpon hym with contrary sayinges.

¶ Of the discrecyon and prayse of the preacher, and of the hearer. Of the feare, fayth, and cōfydence of God.

CAPI. XXXII.

YF thou be made a ruler, * 1.393 pryde not thy [unspec A] self therin / but be thou as one of the peo¦ple. * 1.394 Take dylygent care for them and loke well therto: and when thou hast done all thy dewtye / syt the downe / that thou mayest be mery with them / and receyue a crowne of ho¦nour. Talke wysely and honestly / for wys∣dome becommeth the ryght wel. Hynder not musycke. Speake not, where there is no au∣dyence: * 1.395 and poure not forth wysdome out of tyme / at an importunite. Lyke as the Car buncle stone shyneth that is set in golde / so doth a songe garnysh the wyne feast: and as the Smaragde that is set in golde, so is the swetnesse of Musycke by the myrth of wyne, (Geue eare, and be styll / and for thy good be∣hauour thou shalte be loued.)

Thou yonge man / speake that becōmeth [unspec B] the, and that is profytable, & yet scarse when thou art twyse asked. Comprehende muche with fewe wordes. In many thynges be as one that is ignoraunt / geue eare, and holde thy tonge withall. Yf thou be amonge men of hyer auctoryte / desyre not to compare thy selfe vnto them: and when an elder speaketh make not thou many wordes therin. Before the thonder goeth lyghtenynge / and before nurtoure and shamefastnes: goeth loue and fauour. Stande vp by tymes / and be not the laste: but get the home soone, and there take thy pastyme / and do what thou wylt: so that thou do no euell / and defye no man. But for all thynges geue thankes, vnto hym y^• hath made the / & replenyshed the with his goods.

Who so feareth the Lorde / wyll receyue his doctryne: and they that get them to hym [unspec C] by tymes / shall fynde grace. He that seketh the lawe shall be fylled withall: As for hym that is but fayned, he wyll be offended therat They that feare the Lorde / shall fynde the iudgement, and theyr ryghtuousnesse shalbe kyndled as a lyght. An vngodly man wyll not be refourmed, but can help him self with the example of other in his purpose. A man of vnderstandynge despyseth no good coun¦cell: but a wylde and proude body hathe no feare (Yee euen whan he hath dealt rashly w^t another man, but his owne doynges shall be his rebuke.) My sonne, do nothyng without aduisement, so shal it not repent the after the dede. Go not in the waye where thou mayest fal / nor where thou mayest stomble agaynst the stone. Geue not thy selfe into a laborious slyppery waye, and beware of thyne owne chyldren, (and take hede of theym that be of thyne owne housholde.) In all thy worckes put thy trust in God frō thy whole herte, for that is the kepynge of the commaundemen∣tes. Who so beleueth Gods worde / taketh hede to the commaundementes: and he that putteth hys trust in the Lorde, shall wante nothynge.

¶ The delyueraunce of hym that feareth God. The an∣swere of the wyse. The lytle dyscrecyon of a foole. Man is in the hande of God, as the earthe is in the hande of the Potter. We ought not to dyspose oure selues, to become sub¦iecte to other.

CAPI. XXXIII.

THere shall no euyll happen vnto hym [unspec A] that feareth God: but when he is in tē∣tacyon, the Lord shall delyuer hym and kepe hym frome euyll. A wyse man hateth not the lawe, but an ypocryte is as a shyp in raging water. A man of vnderstandynge geueth cre¦dence vnto the lawe of God / and the lawe is faythfull vnto hym. Be sure of the matter, then talke therof: Be fyrst well instruct, then mayest thou geue answere. The herre of the foolysh is lyke a carte whele, and his though¦tes renne aboute lyke the axell tree. Lyke as a wylde horse y^• neyeth vnder euery one that sytteth vpon him, so is it w^t a scorneful frend Why doth one day excell another, seyng al y^• dayes of the yeare come of the Sunne? The wysdome of the Lorde hath so parted them a sunder, & so hath he ordayned the tymes & so∣lempne feastes. Some of them hath he chosē & halowed before other dayes. And at mē are made of the * 1.396 grounde, and out of the earthe of Adam.

In the multitude of science hath the Lord [unspec B] sundered them, and made their wayes of di∣uerse fashyons. Some of them hath he bles∣sed, made much of them, halowed them, and claymed them to hymselfe. But some of thē hath he cursed, brought thē lowe, & put them out of theyr estate. * 1.397 Lyke as the claye is in the potters hande, and all the ordrynge ther∣of at his pleasure: so are men also in the hāde of hym that made them, so that he may geue them as it lyketh hym best. * 1.398 Agaynste euyll is good, and agaynste death is lyfe: so is the vngodly agaynst suche as fere God. Behold these are the workes of the Hyest, and there are euer two agaynst two, & one set agaynste another. I am awaked vp last of all, as one that gathereth after in haruest. In the gift{is}

of God and in his blessinge. I am increased, and haue fylled my wyne presse, lyke a grape gatherer. * 1.399 Behold, how I haue not labou∣red onely for my selfe, but for al such as loue nurtoure and wysdome.

Heare me, O ye greate men of the people [unspec C] and herken with youre eares ye tulers of the cōgregacyon. Geue not thy sonne and wyfe / thy brother and frēde power ouer the whyle thou lyuest: and geue not awaye thy substaū¦ce and good to another, lest it repent the / and thou be fayne to begge therfore thy selfe. As longe as thou lyuest and hast brethe / let no man chaūge the: For better it is thy children to pray the / then that thou shuldest be sayne to loke in theyr hādes. In all thy worckes be excellent, that thy honoure be neuer stayned. At the tyme when thou shalt ende thy dayes, & fynysh thy lyfe / distribute thyne inheritaū∣ce. The fodder / the whyp / and the burden be longed vnto the Asse: Meate / correccion, & worke vnto the seruaunt.

If thou set thy seruaunt to laboure, thou [unspec D] shalt fynde rest. But yf thou let him go ydel / he shall seke libertye. The yocke & the whyp bowe downe the harde necke, but tame thou thy euyll seruaunte with bondes and correc∣cyon. Sende him to laboure / that he go not ydle: For ydelnesse brigeth much euyll. Set him to worke, for that belongeth vnto him / and becommeth him well. If he be not obe∣diēt / binde his fete, but do not to much vnto him in any wyse / and without discrecyon do nothinge. * 1.400 If thou haue a (faythful) seruaūt let him be vnto the as thyne owne soule: (in∣treade him as a brother) for in bloude hast y^• gotten him. If thou haue a seruaunte / holde him as thy selfe, for thou hast nede of him as of thy selfe. If thou intreatest him euyll, and kepest him harde, & makest hym to be proude and to renne awaye from the / thou canst not tell what waye thou shalt seke him.

¶ Of dreames, diuinacyons, and euchauntementes. We ought to confute vayne hope, and lying. The prayse of them that feare God. Of dyuers workes of men God dothe not a∣lowe the workes of an vnfaythfull man.

CAPI. XXXIIII.

VNwyse people begile them selues with [unspec A] vayne and disceatful hope, and fooles truste in dreames. Who so regardeth drea∣mes / is lyke hym that wyll take holde of a shadowe, and folowe after the wynde: Euen so is it with the apperynges of dreames. Be¦fore the face is the lycknes of a face. Who cā be clensed of the vncleane? Or what trueth can be spoken of a lyer? Sothsayinge / wyt∣crafte / sorcery and dreamyng is but vanyte: lyke as when a woman trauayleth w^t childe and hath many fantasies in her hert. Where as such visiōs come not of God, set not thine herte vpon them: For dreames haue discea∣ued many a man / and they fayled, that put theyr trust therin.

The lawe shalbe fulfylled without lyes / [unspec B] & wysdome is suffyciēt to a faythful mouth. What knowledge hath he that is not tryed? A wyse man that is well instructe / vnderstā¦deth muche: & he y^• hath good experience, can talke of wysdome. He that hath no experiēce / knoweth lytle: and he that erreth, causeth muche wyckedues. He y^• is not tryed / what thinges knoweth he? Who so foloweth no ru¦le / is full of wyckednes.

When I was yet in errour / I lerned much also: yee I was so lerned, that I coulde not expresse it all / and came oft in parell of death therouer / tyll I was delyuered from it (tho∣rowe the grace of God.) Now I se / that they which feare God, haue the ryght sprete: for theyr hope stādeth in hym, that can helpe thē And the eyes of the Lorde are on them that loue him. Who so feareth the Lorde, stādeth in awe of no man, and is not afrayed, for the Lorde is his hope and comforte.

Blessed is the soule of him that feareth the [unspec C] Lorde: In whō putteth he his trust? Who is his strength? * 1.401 For the eyes of the Lord haue respecte vnto them / that loue him. He is their mighty proteccion, and stronge groūd: A defēce for the heate, and refuge for the hote none daye / a succore for stumblynge, and an helpe for fallynge. He setteth vp the soule / & lyghteneth the eyes: He geueth lyfe / and bles¦synge. He that geueth an offringe of vnrygh tuous good, his offeringe is refused: and the scornefull dealynges of the vnryghtuous please not God (The Lorde is theyrs onely / y^• pacientely abyde hym in the waye of the trueth & of ryghtuousnes. The hyghest doth not alowe the gyftes of the wycked.) And * 1.402 God hath no delyte in y^• offeringes of the vn¦godly, nether may synne be reconcyled in the multitude of oblacyons. Who so bryngeth an offerynge out of the goodes of the poore / doth euen as one that kylleth the sōne before the fathers eyes.

The bred of the nedefull is the lyfe of the [unspec D] poore: he y^• defraudeth hym therof, is a man of bloude. Who so robbeth hys neyghboure of his liuyng, doth as a great sine as though he s••e we him to death. * 1.403 He y^• defraudeth the laborer of his hyre, is a bloud shedder. When one buildeth and another breaketh downe / what profyte haue they then but laboure?

Whē one prayeth & another curseth, whose voyce wyl y^• Lorde heare? ‡ 1.404 He y^• washeth hi selfe because of a deed body, & then toucheth* 1.405 y^• deed agayne, what doth his washyng? So is it with a mā y^t fasteth for his sinnes, & doth thē agayne: who wyll heare his prayer? Or what doth his fastyng helpe him?

¶ It is well done to praye, and to do sacryfice. The prayer of the fal heeles, and of the widdowe: and him that humbleth hym selfe.

CAPI. XXXV.

WHo so kepeth the lawe, * 1.406 bryngeth [unspec A] offringes ynough. He that holdeth fast the commaundemente, offreth the ryght health offeringe. He that is thanke¦full and recompenseth, offreth fyne floure. * 1.407 Who so is mercyfull and geueth almes / that is the ryght thankeoffrynge. God hath plea∣sure / when one departeth from synne, and to forsake vnryghtuousnes reconcyleth vs w^t him. ‡ 1.408 Thou shalt not appeare emptie before the Lorde / for all suche is done because of the commaundement. * 1.409 The offringe of the righ¦tuous maketh the aulter fat, & a swete smell is it before the Hyest. The offerynge of the ryghtuous is acceptable vnto God, and shal neuer be forgotten. Gyue God his honoure with a chereful herte, and kepe not backe the fyrstlynges of thy handes. * 1.410 In all thy gyf∣tes shewe a mercyful countenaunce, and ha∣lowe thy tythes vnto God with gladnesse. Gyue vnto God, accordynge as he hath enry¦ched and prospered the: * 1.411 and loke what thin hāde is able, geue with a chereful eye: for the Lord recompenseth, and geueth the seuen ty∣mes as muche agayne.

Geue no vnryghtuous gyftes, for suche [unspec B] wyll he nat receyue. Beware of wrongeous offringes, for the Lord is a rightuous iudge: and regarderh no mannes personne: He ac∣cepteth not the personne of the poore, but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed. * 1.412 He despyseth not the desyre of the fatherlesse / nor the wyddowe, when she poureth out her prayer before hym. Doth not God se the tea∣res, that renne downe the chekes of the wyd∣dowe? Or heareth he not the cōplaynte ouer suche as make her to wepe For from hyr che¦kes do the teares go vp vnto heauē / and the Lorde which heareth thē / doth accepte them? Who so serueth God after his pleasure, shal∣be accepted, and hys prayer reacheth vnto the cloudes. * 1.413 The prayer of him y^• humbleth [unspec C] him sylfe, goeth thorow the cloudes, tyll she come nye. She will not be comforted, nor go her waye, tyll the hyest God haue respecte vnto her, geue true sentence, and perfourme the iudgement. And the Lorde wyll not be slack in cōmynge: nor tary long: tyll he haue smytten in sonder the ba ckes of the vnmer∣cyfull, and auenged him selfe of the Heathē tyl he haue taken awaye the multytude of the cruell, and broken the cepter of the vn∣ryghtuous: tyll he geue euery man after his workes / and rewarde thē after their doyng{is}: tyl he haue deliuered his people, mayntained their cause, & reioysed thē ī his mercy. O how fayre a thyng is mercy in the time of anguish & trouble? It is lyke a cloude of rayne that cō¦meth in the tyme of a drouth.

¶ A prayer to God in the person of all faythfull men: with the prayse of a good woman.

CAPI. XXXVI.

HAue mercy vpon vs / O Lorde / thou [unspec A] God of all thynges. Haue respecte vn∣to vs / shewe vs the light of thy mercyes, and sende thy feare amonge the Heathen & straū∣gers, which seke not after the: that they may knowe, how that there is no God but thou / and that they maye shewe thy wonderous workes. Lyfte vp thyne hande ouer the out∣landy she Heathen / that they maye learne to knowe thy myght and power: Lyke as thou arte halowed in vs before them, so brynge to passe / that thou mayest be magnyfyed also in them before vs: that they may know the, like as we knowe the. For there is none other God, but onely thou O Lorde. Renue the to∣kens, and chaunge the wonderous worckes. Shew thyne hande / and thy ryght arme glo¦ryously. Rayse vp thy indignacyon, & poure out thy wrath. Take awaye the aduersary / and smyte the enemy. Make the tyme short / remembre thy couenaunt, that thy wonde∣rous worckes may be praysed. Let the wrath of the fyre consume thē that lyue so carelesse: and let them peryshe that do thy people hurt Smyte in sunder the heade of the Prynces / that be oure enemyes / and say: there is none other but we. [unspec B]

Gather all the trybes of Iacob together agayne, y^• they may knowe / howe that there is none other God but onely thou, that they maye shewe thy wonderous workes / and be thou thy peoples herytage, lyke as from the begyynnynge. O Lord haue merey vpon the people that hath thy name, and vpō Israel / * 1.414 whō y^u hast lyckened to a fyrst borne sonne. O be mercyfull vnto Ierusalem the cytie of thy Sanctuary, * 1.415 the cytie of thy rest. Fyll Syon with thy vnspeakable vertues, & thy people with thy glorye. Geue wytnes vnto thy creature, whom thou madest from the beginnynge / & rayse vp the prophecyes that

haue bene shewed in thy name. Rewarde thē that wayte for the / that thy Prophetes may be founde faythfull. O Lorde heare the pray¦er of thy seruaūtes, accordyng to the blessing of Aaron ouer thy people (& gyde thou vs in the way of ryghteousnes) * 1.416 that all they whi¦che dwel vpon the earthe, maye knowe, that thou art the Lorde the eternall God, whiche is from euerlastyng.

The bely deuoureth all meates, yet is one [unspec C] meate better then another. Lyke as the tong tasteth venyson, * 1.417 so doth an herte of vnder∣standyng marcke false wordes. A frowarde hert geueth heuines, but a man of experience lifteth hym vp agayne. The woman recey∣ueth euery man / yet is one daughter better then another. A fayre wyfe reioyseth her hus∣band / & a man loueth nothyng better. If she be louynge & vertuous wyth all, then is not her husbande lyke other men. He that hathe gotten a vertuous woman / hath a goodly possession: she is vnto him an helpe / and py∣ler wherupon he resteth. Where no hedge is, there y^• goodes are spoyled: & where no hus∣wyfe is / there the frendles mourneth. Lyke as there is no credēce geuē to a robber / that goeth from one cytye to anoher: So is not the man beleued / that hath no nest, and must turne in / where he may abyde in the nyght.

¶ Howe a man shulde knowe frendes and councellers, and searche the company of a holy man.

CAPI. XXXVII.

EUery frende sayeth: I wyll be frendely [unspec A] vnto him also. But there is some frend, whiche is onely a frende in name. Remay∣neth there not heuynes vnto death, when a companyon and frende is turned to an ene∣mye? O most wycked presumpcyon: From whense art thou spronge vp, to couer y^e earth with falshede & disceate? * 1.418 There is some cō∣panyon whiche in prosperite reioyseth wyth his frende: but in the tyme of trouble, he ta∣keth parte against hym. There is some com∣panyon that mourneth with his frende for the bely sake: but when trouble commeth, he taketh holde of the shylde. Forget not thy frende in thy mynde / and thynke vpon hym in thy ryches. Seke no councell at thy kyns men / and hyde thy councel frō such as beare the no good wyl. * 1.419 Euery coūceler bryngeth forth his coūcell. Neuertheles, there is some that counceleth / but for his owne profite: Beware of the counceller, and be aduysed a∣fore whereto thou wylte vse him, for he wyll councel for him selfe. Lest he cast the lot vpō the, and say vnto the, Thy way & purpose is good, & after warde he stāde agaynst the, and loke what shall become of the.

Aske no councel at him / that suspecteth y^• [unspec B] for an enemy, and hyde thy councel frō suche as hate the. Aske no councell at a woman, cō¦cernyng the thinges that she longeth for: nor at a fearfull and fayne herted bodye, in mat∣ters of warre: or at a marchaunt, howe deare he wyll cheape thy wares towarde his: or at a byer of sellynge: Or at an enuyous man, of thankes geuyng: or at the vnmercyfull / of louyng kyndnes, (or at an vnhonest man, of honestye.) Or at the slouthfull / of workynge Or at an hyrelynge whiche hath no house, or profyte or wealth: (An ydle bodye wolde not gladly heare speake of much labour.) Take no suche folkes to councel, but be dilygent to seke councel at a vertuous man that feareth God / suche one as thou knowest to be kepte of the cōmaundementes, which hath a mind after thyne owne mynde / and is sory for the when thou stumblest.

And holde thy councel fast in thyne hert: [unspec C] for there is no man more faythfull to kepe it: then thou thy selfe. For a mans mynde is sū∣tyme more disposed to tell oute / then seuen watchemen that sit aboue in an hye place lo∣kyng aboute them. And aboue all this praye y^• hyest, that he wyll leade thy waye in fayth∣fulnes and truthe. Before all thy workes aske councel fyrst: and or euer thou doest any thyng / be well aduised. There be foure thyn¦ges that declare a chaunged herte, wherout there spryngeth euyl and good, death & lyfe / and a masterfull tonge that bableth muche. Some man is apte and well instructe in ma¦ny thynges, and yet very vnprofitable vnto hym selfe. Some man there is, that can geue wyse and prudent councell / and yet is he ha∣ted / and continueth a begger: for that grate is not geuē him of God / to be accepted. Ano∣ther is robbed of all wysdome, yet is he wyse vnto him selfe, & the frute of vnderstandyng is commendable in his mouth.

A wyse man maketh his people wyse, & y^e [unspec D] frutes of his wysdome fayle not. A wyse mā shall be plentuously blessed of God, & al they that se hym, shall speake good of hym. The lyfe of a man standeth in the nombre of the dayes / but y^e daies of Israel are inumerable A wyse man shall optayne fayfulnes and cre¦dence among hys people / and his name shal be perpetuall. My sonne / proue thy soule in thy lyfe: & yf thou se any euyll thinge, geue it not vnto her. * 1.420 For all thynges are not profy¦table for al men, nether hath euery soule plea¦sure in euery thynge. Be not gredye in euery eatyng, & be not to hastye vpon all meates. * 1.421

For excesse of meates bringeth syckenes, and glotony cōmeth at the last to an vnmeasura¦ble heate. Thorow surfet haue many one pe∣risshed: but he that dyeteth him selfe tempe∣ratly, prolongeth his lyfe.

¶ A physicion in syckenes ought we to pray, and to fynde a Physycion whiche healeth by prayer. The ••ew••pynge of the deed. S••du••••. Wysdome. Artificers or craftesmen.

CAPI. XXXVIII.

HOnour the Phisicion, honoure him be∣cause of necessite. God hath created hī [unspec A] (for of the Hyest commeth medycine) and he shall receyue gyftes of the kynge. The wys∣dome of the Phisycion bringeth him to great worshype, and in the syght of the greate men of thys worlde / he shal be honorably taken.

The Lorde hathe created medycyne of the earthe / and he that is wyse / wyll not ab∣horre it. * 1.422 Was not the bytter water ma∣de swete with a tre? that men myght learne to knowe the vertue therof. The Lorde hath geuen men wysdome / and vnderstan∣dyng, that he might be honoured in his won¦derous workes. With suche doth he heale men / & taketh awaye theyr paynes, Of suche doth the Apotecarye make a con••eccyon / yet can no man perfourme all his workes. For of the Lorde cōmeth prosperous welth ouer all the earth.

My sonne, despyse not this in thy sycknes, [unspec B] but * 1.423 praye vnto the Lorde / & he shall make the whole. Leaue of from synne / and order thy handes a ryght / clense thyne hert frō all wyckednes. Geue a swete sauoured offering and the fyne floure for a token of remem∣braunce, make the offerynge fat / as one that geueth the fyrste fruytes, and geue rowme to the Phisycion. For the Lorde hath created hym let hym not go from the / for thou haste nede of hym. The houre maye come, that the sycke maye be helped thorowe thē, when they praye vnto the Lorde, that he maye recouer / and get helth to lyue longer. He that sinneth before hys maker shall fall into the handes of the Phisycion.

My sonne, * 1.424 bryng forth thy teares ouer the deade: and begyn to mourne / as yt thou haddest suffered great harme thy selfe: & then couer his body after a conuenyent maner / & despyse not his buryall. Enforce thy selfe to wepe / & prouoke thy selfe to mourne, * 1.425 and make lamentacyon expedientlye / and that a daye or two / leest thou be euel spoken of: and then comforte thy selfe because of the heuy∣nes. * 1.426 For of heuynes cōmeth death / the he∣uynes of the hert breaketh strength. Heuy∣nes and pouerte greueth the herte in tempta∣cyon and offente. Take no heuynes to herte / dryue it awaye / and remember the last thyn∣ges. Forget it not / for there is no turning a∣gayne. Thou shalte do hym no good / but hurt thy selfe. Remēber his iudgment, thine also shal be lyke wyse: vnto me yester daye, vnto the to daye. * 1.427 Let the remēbraunce of y^• deed ceasse in hys rest / and comforte thy selfe agayne ouer hym / seing his spiryte is depar∣ted from hym. The wysdome of the scrybe is at conuenyent tyme of rest: & he that ceasseth [unspec C] from exercyse and laboure / shall be wyse. He that holdeth the plough, and hath plesure in proddyng / and driuyng the oxen, and goeth aboute with suche workes / he can speake of oxen: He setteth his hert to make forowes / & is dilygent to geue the kyne foder. So is eue¦ry carpenter also & workmaster, that labou∣reth styl nyght and daye: he carueth, graueth & cutteth out, and his desyre is in sondry con∣nynge thynges, his hert ymagineth, howe he maye cūnyngly cast an ymage, his dilygence also and watchyng perfourmeth the worke. The yronsmyth in lyke maner hydeth by his stythye, and doth his dilygence to labour the yron. The vapoure of the fyre brenneth his fleshe, and he must fyght with the hea•• of the fornace. The noyse of the hammer soundeth euer in his eares / and his eyes loke styll vpō the thynge that he maketh. He hath set hys mynde therupon / that he wyll make out his worke, and therfore he watcheth / howe he maye set it out, and bryngeth it to an ende.

So doth the potter syt by his worke, he [unspec D] turneth the whele aboute with his fete, he is dilygent and careful in all doynges, and his laboure and worke is without nomber. He fashioneth the claye with his arme, and with his fete he temporeth it. His herte ymagy∣neth howe he maye make it pleasaunte / and his dilygence is to clense the ouen. All these hope in theyr handes / and euery one thync∣keth to be cunnynge in his worke. Without these maye not the cyties be maynteyned / in∣habited nor occupied, and come not h••e in the congregacyon: in the councell of the people / they be not requyred, they vnderstande not the couenaunte of the lawe: they cannot de∣clare equyte and iudgemēt, they cānot fynd out the darke sentences, but thorowe them shall the creature of the worlde be mayntey∣ned, theyr prayer concerneth only the worke and labour of connynge.

¶ A wyse man. The workes of God. Unto the good / good thynges do profet: but vnto the euell, euen good thyn∣ges are euell.

CAPI. XXXIX.

HE that applyeth hys mynde to vnder∣stande [unspec A] the law of God, doth diligently seke out the wysdome of them of the old tyme, and exerciseth him selfe in the Prophetes. He kepeth the saynges of famous men, and pre∣seth to the to vnderstandynge of darcke sen∣tences of wysdome, He seketh out y^• mystery of secrete sayinges / & exerciseth him self ther in continually. He doth seruice amōge great men, & appeareth before the prince: He goeth into a straūge countre, & trauayleth thorowe it: loke what good or euyll is among men, he proueth it & seketh it out, He purposeth in his herte, to resorte early vnto the Lord y^• made him, & to pray before the Hyest God. He ope∣neth his mouth in prayer, & prayeth for hys sinnes. Whē the great Lorde wyll, he shalbe fylled with y^• sprete of vnderstandyng / that he may then poure out wyse sentences, & ge∣ue thanckes vnto the Lorde in hys prayer. He shall ordre his deuice, and lede his know¦ledge [unspec B] a ryght, and geue him vnderstanding of secrete thynges. He shall shewe forth the* 1.428 science of his lernynge / and reioyse in the co∣uenaunt of the lawe of the Lord. The whole congregacyon shall commende his wysdo∣me / and it shall neuer be put out. The remē∣braunce of him shal neuer be forgotten / and his name shall continue from one generaciō to another. Hys wysdome shalbe spoken of / amonge the people, and the whole congrega¦cyō shal openly declare his prayse. Whyle he lyueth, he hath a greater name then a thou∣sāde besyde: & after his death, the same name remayneth vnto hym. Yet wyll I speake of mo men of vnderstandynge / for I am ful as the Moone.

Herken vnto me (ye holy vertuous chyl∣dren) [unspec C] brynge forth frute / as the rose y^t is plā∣ted by the brokes of the felde / and geue ye a swete smell as Libanus. Florysh as the rose garden / synge a songe of prayse. O geue thā∣kes vnto God ouer all his worckes. Geue glory and honoure vnto the Lorde, shew his prayse with youre lyppes. Yee euen with the ••onge of your lippes / with harpes & playing and in geuynge thanckes vnto hym / saye after this maner. * 1.429 All the worckes of the Lorde are exceadynge good, and all his cō, maundementes are mete and conueniente in due season.

A mā nede not to saye: what is that? what is that? for at tyme conuenient they shall all [unspec D] be sought. At his commaundemēt the water was as a wal, and at the word of his mouth the water stode styll. * 1.430 In his commaunde∣ment is euery thynge acceptable and recon∣cyled, and his health can not be mynisshed. The worckes of al flessh are before him, and there is nothyng hyd from his eies. He seyth from euerlastyng to euerlastynge / and there is nothynge to wonderfull or hye vnto hym. A man nede not to saye then / what is thys / or that? For he hathe made all thynges to do good vnto man. His blessynge shall renne ouer as the streame, and moysture the earth lyke a floud of water. Lyke as he maketh the water for drouth / so shal his wrath fal vpon the Heathen.

* 1.431 His wayes are playne and ryght vnto the [unspec E] iust / but the vngodly stomble at them. For the good / are good thinges created from the begynnyng, & euyl thynges for the vngodly. * 1.432 Al thynges necessary for y^• lyfe of man are created frō the begynnyng: water / fyre / yron & salt, meel, wheat, and hony mylke & wyne, oyle & clothyng. * 1.433 All these thynges are crea¦ted for the best to the faythful: But to the vn godly shal al these thinges be turned to the hurt & harme. There be spretes y^t are created for vengeaunce, & in their rigorusnes haue they fastened theyr tormētes. * 1.434 In the tyme of the ende they shal poure out their strength & pacifie the wrath of hī that made thē. * 1.435 Fire hayle / hōgre & deth: al these thinges are crea¦ted for vengeaunce.

The teeth of wylde noysome beastes, the scorpions, serpētes, and the swerde are crea∣ted [unspec F] also for vengeaūce, to the destruccyon of the vngodly. They shal be glad to do his cō∣maundementes: and when nede is, they shal be ready vpon earthe: and when theyr houre is come, they shall not ouerpasse the cōmaun¦dement of the Lorde.

Thefore haue I taken a good corage vn∣to me from the begynnynge / and thought to put these thinges in wrytinge / & to leaue thē behynde me. * 1.436 All the workes of the Lord are good / & he geueth euery one in due season, & whan nede is / so that a man nede not to say: this is worse then that. For in due seasō they are al pleasaunt & good: And therfore prayse the Lord with whole hert & mouth, and geue thankes vnto his name.

¶ Many myseryes lyghte in a mannes lyfe. All thynges passe awaye, but a fyrme and stablyshe fayth remayneth. Of the blessynge of the ryghtuous, and prerogatyue of the feare of God.

CAPI. XL.

A GREAT trauayle is created for all men / and an heuy yocke vpon the chyl∣dren [unspec A] of Adam / frome the daye that they go out of theyre mothers wombe / tyll they be

buryed in (the earth) y^e mother of al thynges: namely, theyr thoughtes & ymaginacyons / feare of the hert, councell, meditacions / lon∣gyng & desyre, the day of death: from the hiest that sytteth vpon the glorious seate / vnto y^e lowest and moste symple vpon the earth: frō hym that is gorgyously arayed and weareth a crowne / vntyl him that is / but homely and symply clothed. There is nothing but wrath zele / fearfulnes / vnquyetnesse / and feare of death / rygorous, angre and strife. And in the nyght when one shulde reste and slepe vpon his bedde / the slepe chaungeth hys vnderstādynge and knowledge. A lytle or nothynge is hys rest, in the slepe as well as in the daye of laboure.

He feareth and is disquieted in the vision [unspec B] of his hert, as one that renneth out of a bat∣tayle: and in the tyme of health he awaketh and marueleth that y^e feare was nothynge: Suche thynges happen vnto all fleshe both man and beast: but seuen folde to the vngod∣ly. Moreouer death, bloudsheddyng, stryfe & swearde, oppression, hongre, destruccion and punyshment: * 1.437 these thynges are all created agaynst the vngodly, & for their sakes came y^• floude also. * 1.438 All y^• is of y^e earth, shall turne to earth agayne: & all waters ebbe agayne in¦to the see. All brybes & vnryghtuousnes shal be put away / but faythfulnes & trueth shall endure for euer. The substaūce & goodes of y^• vngodly shalbe dryed vp and syncke awaye as a water floude, & they shall make a sounde lyke a great thonder in the rayne.

Lyke as the rightuous reioyseth when he [unspec C] openeth his hande / so shal the trāsgressours be faynt / when theyr goodes vanysh and cō∣sume awaye. * 1.439 The chyldren of the vngodly shall not optayne many braunches: and the vncleane rotes vpō the hye rockes shalbe ro¦ted out before the grasse by the water side and vpon the ryuer banckes.

Frendlynes and liberalite in the increase and blessyng of God / is lyke a paradyse and gardē of pleasure: such mercy also and kind∣nes endureth for euer. * 1.440 To laboure & to be cōtent with that a man hath, is a swete plea∣sauntlyfe: and that is to fynde a treasure a∣boue all treasures. To beget chyldren and to repaire the citie, maketh a perpetual name but an honeste woman is more worthe then they bothe. Wyne and mynstrelsye reioyse the herte / but the loue of wysdome is aboue them bothe. [unspec D]

Pypynge and harpynge make a swete noyse, but a frendly tonge goeth beyonde thē both. Thyne eye desyreth fauoure and bew∣tye / but a grene sede tyme / rather then they both. A frende and companyon come toge∣ther at oportunyte, but aboue them both is a wyfe that agreeth with her husbande. One brother helpeth another in the tyme of trou∣ble, but almes shall delyuer more then they both. Golde and syluer fasten the fete / but a good councell is more pleasaunte then they both. Temporall substaunce and strength lyft vp the mynde: but the feare of the Lorde more then they both. The feare of the Lord wanteth nothynge, and nedeth no helpe. The feare of the Lorde is a pleasaunte gar∣den of blessynge, and nothynge so beautyful as it is. My sonne, lede not a beggers lyfe, for better it were to dye then to beg. Who so loke the to another mās table, taketh no thought for his owne lyuyng how to vpholde his life, for he fedeth him self with other mens meate But a wyse and wel nurtoured man wyl be∣warre therof. Begging is swete in the mouth of the vnshamefast, but in his bely there bur¦neth a fyre.

¶ Of the remembraunce of deeth. Deeth is not to be feared A cuiffe vpon them that forsake the law of God. Good name and fame, An exhortacyon to geue hede vnto wysdome. Of what thynges a man ought to be ashamed.

CAPI. XLI.

O Deathe / howe bytter is the remem∣braūce of the / to a man that seketh rest [unspec A] and comforte in hys substaunce and ryches / vnto the man y^• hath nothing to vexe him, & that hath prosperite in all thynges, yee vnto hī that yet is able to receiue meate? O death, howe acceptable & good is thy iudgemente vnto the nedeful / & vnto him whose strength fayleth / and that is now in his last age, and that in all thynges is full of care and feare∣fulnes: vnto him also that is in dispaire, and hath no hope nor paciēce? Be not thou afray∣ed of death: remembre them that haue bene be¦fore the: and that come after the: thys is the iudgement of the Lorde ouer all flesh. * 1.441 And why woldest thou be agaynste thys pleasure of the hyest? Whether it be ten, an hundreth / or a thousand yeares: death asketh not how longe one hath lyued,

The chyldrē of the vngodly are abhomy∣nable [unspec B] chyldren / and so are they that kepe cō∣pany with the vngodly. * 1.442 The inheritaunce of vngodly chyldren shall come to naught / & theyr posterite shal haue perpetuall shame and confusyon. The chyldren complayne of an vngodly father: and why? for hys sake they are rebuked and despysed. Wo be vnto you (O ye vngodly) which haue forsakē the

lawe of the hyest God: yf ye be borne / ye shal be borne to cursynge / yf ye dye, the curse shal be your porcyon.

* 1.443 All that is of the earthe / shall turne to earthe agayne: so go the vngodly also out of the curse into destruccyon. The sorowe of mē is in theyre bodye: but the name of the vn∣godlye shall be put out. * 1.444 Laboure to get the a good name, for that shall contynue su∣••er by the / then a thousande greate trea∣sures of golde. A good lyfe hath a nomber of dayes / but a good name endureth euer.

* 1.445 My chyldren / kepe wysdome in peace: [unspec C] for wysdome that is hyd and a tresur that is not sene, what profyt is in them both? A man that hideth his folyshnes, is better then a mā that hydeth hys wysdome. Therfore be ye turned at my wordes: for it is not good / in all thynges alwaye to be ashamed. True fayth must proue and measure it.

Be ashamed of whoredome, before father and mother: Be ashamed of lesynge, before the Prynce and men of auctoryte: Of synne, before the iudge and ruler: Of offence before the Congregacyon and people: Of vnrygh∣tuousnesse, before a companyon and frende: Of theft, before thy neyghbours. ‡ 1.446 As for the truth of God and his couenaunt / be not asha¦med therof.

Be ashamed to lye with thyne elbowes vpon the bred: Be ashamed to loke vpon har¦lottes: Be ashamed to turne awaye thy face from thy frende: Be ashamed to take and not to geue: Be ashamed also to loke vpon a no∣ther mans wyfe / and to make many triflyng wordes with her mayden, or to stande by her bedsyde. Be ashamed to vpbrayde thy frende when thou geuest any thynge, caste hym not in the te••he withall.

¶ Secretes maye not be opened. The lawe of God must be taught. A doughter. A woman. God knoweth all thynges / ye euen the secretes of the he••••e.

CAPI. XLII.

REhearse not a thynge twyse, and dys∣close [unspec A] not the wordes / that thou haste herde in secrete. Be shamefast and well ma∣nered in dede / so shall euery man fauour the. Of these thynges be not thou ashamed / and accepte no personne to offende. Namely, of these thynges be not ashamed: Of the lawe of God / of the couenaunt, of iudgement: to brynge the vngodly from his vngodlynesse vnto ryghtuousnes / & to make hym a good man: to deale faithfully with thy neyghbour and companyon: to destrybute the herytage vnto thy frendes: to be diligent to kepe true measure and weyght: to be content / whether thou gettest muche or lytle / to deale truelye with temporall gooddes / in byinge and sel∣lynge: to bryng vp chyldren with dilygence: to correcte an euell seruaunte: to kepe that thine is frō an euel wyfe, to set a locke where many handes are, what thou delyuerest and geuest out to kepe / to tell it, and to weye it: to wryte vp all thy out geuynge and recey∣uynge: to enfourme the vnlearned and vn∣wyse. Of the aged / that are iudged of the yonge. Yf thou be dylygente in these thyn∣ges, truely thou shalte be learned and wyse and accepted of all men.

The doughter maketh y^• father to watch se¦cretly: [unspec B] & y^e carefulnes y^t he hath for her taketh away his slepe: yee in y^e youth, leest she shulde ouergrow hī: And whē she hath an husband: lest she shuld be hated: lest she shulde be defy∣led or rauyshed in her vyrginite, or gotten w^t chylde in her fathers house: Or (when she cō¦meth to y^• man) leest she behaue her selfe not right or cōtynue vnfruteful. * 1.447 If thy daugh¦ter be wāton, kepe her straytly, leest she cau∣se thyne enemyes to laugh y^• to scorne, & the holy cytie to geue the an euell reporte, & so y^• be fayne to heare thy shame of euery man, & be confoūded before all y^• people. * 1.448 Beholde not euery bodyes beautye, & haue not much dwellynge amonge wemen. For lyke as the worme and moth cometh out of clothynge, so doth wyckednesse of women.* 1.449

It is better to be with an euell man, then [unspec C] with a frendely wyfe y^• putteth one to shame and rebuke. I wyl remember the workes of the lorde, & declare the thyng y^t I haue sene. In the wordes of the Lorde are his workes The Sunne ouerloketh all thynges with his shyne / and all his workes are full of the clerenes therof. Hath not the lord brought to passe that his sayntes shulde tell out all hys wunderous workes / whiche the almyghtie Lorde hath stably shed? All thynges endure in his glory. He seketh out the ground of the depe and the hert of men, and he knoweth all theyr ymaginacion & wysdome. For the Lord [unspec D] knoweth all scyence, and he loketh into y^• to∣ken of the tyme. He declareth the thynges that are past and for to come: and discloseth thynges that are secrete. * 1.450 No thought maye escape hym / neyther maye any worde be hyd from hym. He hath garnyshed the hye excel∣lent workes of his wysdome, & he is frō euer¦lastyng to euerlastyng. Unto hym maye no∣thynge be added neyther can he be mynished he hath no nede also of any mans councel. O how amiable are al his work{is}, & as a sparke to loke vpon? They lyue all / and endure

for euer: and whē soeuer nede is they are al obedient vnto him. They are al double, one against another: he hath made nothing that hath faute or blemysh. * 1.451 He hath stablyshed the goodes of euery one: and who maye be satysfyed with his glorye, when he seyth it.

¶ The summe of the ••reacyon of the worckes of God.

CAPI. XLIII.

THe glorye of the heyght, is * 1.452 the fayre [unspec A] and cleare fyrmamente, the bewtye of the heauen is his gloryous clearnes. The sunne when it appeareth declareth the daye in the goinge oute of it / a maruelous worke of the Hyest. At none it burneth the earthe, and who maye abyde the heate therof?

Who so kepeth an ouen when it is hote▪ ••hre tymes more dothe the Sunne burne vpon the mountaynes, when it bretheth oute the fyrye beames and shynethe: wyth the brightnes of it, it blyndeth the eyes. Greate is the Lorde that made it, and in his commaundement he causeth it to renne hastely.

* 1.453 The mone also is in all, and at conue∣niente season it sheweth the tymes, and is a tokē of the tyme. * 1.454 The token of the solēpne feaste is taken of the Moone, a lyght that minisheth and increaseth againe. The Mo¦neth is called after the Moone, it groweth wonderously in her chaungynge.

The armye of heauē also is in the Heygth [unspec B] in the fyrmamēt of heauē it geueth a cleare and gloryous shyne, Thys is the clearnes of the starres, the bewtyfull apparell of hea¦uen, the apparell that the Lorde lighteneth in the Heygth. In his holy worde they con∣tynue in theyr ordre, and not one of thē fay∣leth in hys watche. * 1.455 Loke vpon the rayne¦bowe▪ and prayse hym that made it: very bewtyfull is it in his shyne. He cōpaseth the heauen about with his clearnes and glory, the hādes of the Hiest haue bended it. Tho∣rowe hys commaundement he maketh the snowe to fal, and the thonder of his iudge∣ment to smyte hastly. Thorowe hys com∣maundement the treasures are opened, and the cloudes fle as the foules. In hys power hath he strengthened the cloudes, and bro∣ken the hayle stones.

The mountaynes melt at y^• syght of him, [unspec C] the wynde bloweth accordynge to his wyll. The sounde of his thonder beateth y^• earth, & so doth the storme of the north: the whyrle wynde also lyghteth downe as a fethered foule, casteth oute and spredeth the snowe abrode and as the greshoppers that destroy all, so falleth it downe. The eye marueleth at the bewtye of the whytenesse therof / and the herte is afraye at y^• rayne of it. He pou∣reth out the frost vpon earth / lyke salt / and when it is frosen, it is as sharpe as y^• prycke of a thystle.

When the colde Northwynde bloweth, harde Chrystall commeth of the water. He lyghteth downe vpon all the gatherynges together of water / & putteth on the waters as a brest plate. He deuoureth the mountay¦nes, and burneth the wildernesses: and loke what is grene / he putteth it oute lyke fyre. The medicine of all these is / when a cloude commeth hastely: and whē a dewe commeth vpon the heate, it shal be refreshed agayne.

In hys worde he stylleth the wynde: In his councell he setteth the depe, & (the Lord) Iesus planted it.

They that sayle ouer the see / tell of the pa¦rels and harmes therof, and when we heare it with oure eares / we maruell therat. For there be straunge wonderous worckes / diuerse maner of nyce beastes and wha••fy∣shes. Thorowe hym are all thynges set in good ordre and perfourmed, and in hys worde all thynges endure.

I speake much, but I can not sufficiently [unspec D] attayne vnto it, for he hym selfe onely is the perfeccyon of all wordes. We shulde prayse the Lorde after al our power, for he is great in all hys worckes. The Lorde is to be fea∣red, yee very greate is he, * 1.456 and maruelous is hys power. Prayse the Lorde / and ma∣gnify him as much as ye maye / yet doth he farre exceade all prayse. * 1.457 O magnifye hym with all youre power / and laboure earne∣stly, yet are ye in no wyse able suffycyētly to prayse hym. Who hath sene him, y^t he might tell vs? * 1.458 Who cā magnifie hym so greatly as he is? For there are hyd yet greater thin∣ges then these be: as for vs / we haue sene but fewe of his worckes. For the Lord hath made all thynges / and geuen wysdome to suche as feare God.

CAPI. XLIIII.

[unspec A]

¶ The prayse of certen holy men▪ Hen••••••▪ Noe, Abr••ha••, Isaac, and Iacob.

LET VS commende the noble fa∣mous men / and the generacyon of our fore elders and fathers. Many more glory∣ous actes hath the Lorde done, and shewed hys greate power euer sens the begyn∣nynge. The noble famous men raygned in theyr kyngdomes / and bare excellente rule. In theyr wysdome and vnderstan∣dynge / they folowed the councell shewed in the prophecyes. * 1.459 They led the ••ol••ke

thorow the councel & wysdome of the Scri∣bes of the people. Wise sentēces are founde in theyre instruccyon. They soughte the swetenes & melody of Musycke & broughte forth the pleasaūt sōges in scripture. They were ryche also, and coulde cōforte and pa∣cifye those that dwelt with them. All these were very noble and honorable men ī theyr generacyōs / and were well reported of in theyr tymes. These haue lefte a name be∣hynde thē, so that theyr prayse shall alwaye be spoken of. Afterwarde there were some / whose remembraunce is gone. ‡ 1.460 They came to naughte & peryshed / as though they had neuer bene: & became as though they had neuer bene borne / yee and theyr chyloren al∣so with them.

Neuertheles these are louyng men, whose [unspec B] ryghteousnesse shall neuer be forgotten / but continue by their posterite. Theyr chyl∣dren are an holy good herytage: Theyr sede endured fast in the couenaunt. For their sa∣kes shall theyr chyldren & sede contynue for euer / and theyre prayse shall neuer be put downe, Theyr bodyes are buryed in peace / but their name liueth for euermore, The peo¦ple can speake of theyre wysdome / and the cōgregaciō cā talke of their prayse. * 1.461 Enoch walked right & acceptably before the Lorde: therfore was he translated for an example of amēdement to the generaciōs, * 1.462 Noe was a stedfast and righteous man, and in y^• time of wrath he became a reconcylynge.

Therfore was he left a remnaunt vnto the earth, when the floude came. An euerlastīg couenaūt was made with him, that all flesh shulde * 1.463 perishe nomore w^t the water. Abra∣ham was a * 1.464 greate father of many people / in glory was there none lyke vnto him. He kepte the lawe of the Hyeste, and came into a couenaunt with him. He set the couenaūt in his fleshe, and when he * 1.465 was proued, he was founde faythfull. Therfore swore god vnto him with an othe, that he wolde blesse al people in his sede, that he wolde multiply and increase him as the duste of the earth, & to exalt his sede as the starres: yee and that his sede shuld haue the possessyō, an inhery∣taunce of the lande from see to see, and from the ryuer vnto the borders of the worlde. * 1.466 With Isaac dyd he stablysh the same co∣uenaunt, for Abraham his fathers sake. Yee that gracious blessing and health of al mē, and couenaunt dyd he stablysh with Isaac, and made it to reit vpon the head of Iacob. He knewe him * 1.467 in that he prospered hym so wel and richely, and gaue him an herytage, and sundered his porcyon by it ••elfe, * 1.468 & par¦ted it among the twelue tribes. Mercyfull men brought he out of him, which founde fa¦uoure in the syght of all fleshe.

¶ The prayse of Moses, Aaton, and Phinehes.

CAPI. XLV.

MOses* 1.469 beloued of God & men, whose [unspec A] remembraunce is in Hye prayse: hym that the Lorde made lyke in the glory of the saynctes / and magnyfyed hym / so that the enemyes stode in awe of hym, thorowe his wordes he dyd greate wonders. He ma∣de him greate in the syghte of kynges, gaue hym commaundemente before hys people / & shewed him his glorious power. * 1.470 He sta∣blyshed hym with faythfulnes & mekenes, and chose hym out of all men. For he herde his voyce▪, and he led hym in the darcke cloude, * 1.471 and there he gaue him y^• commaū∣dementes, yee the lawe of lyfe and wysdo∣me that he might teach Iacob h{is} couenaūt, and Israel his lawes: [unspec B]

He chose Aaron hys brother also oute of the trybe of Leui, exalted hym, & made hym such lyke. * 1.472 An euerlasting cauenaūt made he with hym, and gaue hym the presthode in the people. He made him glorious i bew∣tyfull araye, and clothed hym with the gar∣mēt of honoure. He put perfecte ioye vpon him, and gyrded him with strength. He deckte hym with syde clothes, & a tunycle, with an ouerbody cote also and a gyrdle. Roūde about made he hym belles of golde, and that many: * 1.473 that when he went in, the sounde myghte be herde, that they myghte make a noyse in the Sanctuary, & geue the people warnynge. The holy garment was wrought & brodred with golde, yalowe syl∣cke and purple. And in the brestlappe there was a goodly worcke, wherin was fastened lyght and perfectnesse.

* 1.474 Upō y^• same also there was a worcke fa∣stened, [unspec C] & set wyth costly precyous stones, all bounde with golde: and thys he brought in hys mynistracyon. The stones were faste∣ned for a remembraunce, after the nomber of the twelue trybes of Israell. Upon hys mytre there was a plate of pure gold, a gra¦uen ymage of holynes, a famous & noble worcke, garnyshed, and pleasaūt to loke v∣pon. Before hī were there sene no such faire ornametes, & these it behoued him alway to vse: There might none other put thē on, but onely his childrē & his childers children per petually. Dayly perfourmed he his offeri∣ges two tymes. ‡ 1.475 Moses fylled hys handes, and anoynted hym with holy oyle.

Thys was nowe confyrmed hym wyth [unspec D] an euerlastinge couenaunt, and to his sede, as the dayes of heauen / namely: that hys children shulde alway ministre before hym / and perfourme the offyce of the presthode / and wyshe the people good in his name.

Before all men lyuynge chose he him / that he shulde offre incense before the Lorde, and make odours for a swete sauoure and re∣membraunce / that he shulde reconcyle the people of the Lord w^t him againe. ‡ 1.476 He gaue him auctorite also in his cōmaundemētes & in the couenaūt, that he shulde teach Iacob the statutes and testymonyes and to enfour me Israell in hys lawe,

* 1.477 Therfore there stode vp certayne agaynst [unspec E] hym / and had enuye at hym in the wylder∣nesse: namely / they that were of Dathan and Abirams side, and the furyous congre∣gacion of Chore. This the Lorde sawe, and it displeased hym, and in hys wrothfull in∣dignacion were they consumed. A greate wonder dyd he vpon them / and consumed them with the fyre. * 1.478 Besydes thys / he ma∣de Aaron yet more honorable and glorious.

He gaue hym an herytage / and parted the fyrst frutes vnto him. * 1.479 Unto hym special∣ly he appoynted the bred for sustenaunce / (for the prestes dyd eat of the offrynges of y^• Lorde) this gaue he vnto him and his sede. * 1.480 Els had he no herytage nor porcion in the lāde and with the people. For the Lord hym selfe is his porcyon and enherytaunce.

The thyrde noble & excellēt man is * 1.481 Phi∣nehes [unspec F] y^• sonne of Eleazer, which pleased the God of Israel / because he had the zele and feare of the Lorde. For whē the people were turned backe / he put hym selfe forth ryght sone, and y^• with a good wyll, to pacifye the wrath of the Lorde towarde Israell. Ther∣fore was there a couenaūt of peace made w^t him, y^t he shulde be the principal among the ryghteous in the people, that he and his po∣sterite shulde haue the offyce of the prsthode for euer) Lyke as there was made a coue∣naūt with Dauid of the trybe of Iuda, that from amonge his sonnes onely there shulde be a kyng:) And that Aaron also and his se de shulde be the heritage, to geue vs wysdo∣me in our hert, to iudge his people in righ∣teousnes: y^• hys goodes shulde not come in to forgetfulnes, & that their honoure might endure for euer.

CAPI. XLVI.

[unspec A]

¶ The praise of Iosue, Caleb and Samuell.

MAnly and stronge in battayll was Ie∣sus the sonne of Naue, which insteade of Moses y^• Prophete was geuen to be cap∣tayne of the people whiche accordinge vnto hys name was a greate sauyoure vnto the elect of god, to punish the enemies that ••ose vp agaynst Israel, y^• Israel myght optaine theyr inheritaunce. O howe greate, noble & excellent was he, when he lyft vp his hand / & drewe out his swerde agaynst the cytyes? Who stode so manly before hym? For the Lorde hym selfe brought in the enemyes. * 1.482 Stode not the sūne styl at his commaunde∣mente / and one daye was as longe as two? He called vpon the Hyest and moste mygh∣tye when the enemies preassed vpon him on euery syde: and the Lorde herde hym wyth the hayle stones. They smote the Heythe∣neshe people myghtely / & in falling downe they slewe all the aduersaryes / so that the Heathen knewe his hoost, and al his defen∣ce, y^t the Lord hym selfe fought agaynst thē / for he folowed vpō the myghtie men of thē. [unspec B] * 1.483 In the tyme of Moses also, he and Ca••ch the sonne of Iephune / dyd a good worcke / which stode agaynst the enemyes / w^t helde the people from synne, & stylled the wycked murmuring. * 1.484 And of syxe hūdreth thousā∣de* 1.485 people of fote, they two were preserued / to brige thē into y^e heritage, namely, a ••ande that floweth with mylcke and hony. * 1.486 The* 1.487 Lorde gaue strēgth also vnto Caleb, which remained with hym vnto his age: so that he went vp into the hye places of the lāde, and his sede cōquered the same for an herytage: that al the chyldrē of Israel myght se, howe good a thynge it is, to be obedient vnto the Lorde. And the iudges or rulers (euery one after his name) whose hert went not a who∣ryng, nor departed from the Lord, and that forsoke not the Lorde vnfaythfully, whose remembraūce hath a good reporte: yee their bones florish out of their place, and their na¦mes shal neuer be chaūged, (but honoure re¦mayneth styl w^t the childrē of those holy mē)

* 1.488 Samuel the Prophete beloued of the [unspec C] Lorde his God, * ordayned a kyng, & anoyn¦ted the prynces ouer the people. In the law of the Lorde he iudged the congregacyon, and the Lorde had respecte vnto Iacob. The Prophete was founde diligent in hys faythfulnes: and he is knowen faythfull in his wordes. * 1.489 He called vpon the Lord the almyghtye, when the enemyes preased vpō him on euery syde, what tyme as he offred y^• suckyng lambes. And the Lord thōdred frō heauen and made his voyce to be herd with a greate noyse, He discomfyted the prynces of Tire, & all the rulers of the Philistines.

* 1.490 Before his laste ende he made protesta∣cyon in the syghte of the Lorde / and hys a∣noynted that he toke neyther substaunce nor good of eny man / no not so muche as a sho / and no man myght accuse hym. After thys he tolde / that hys ende was at hande / and shewed the kynge also hys ende and deathe / and from the earthe lyfte he vp hys voice in the prophecy, that the vngodly peo¦ple shulde peryshe:

¶ The prayse of Nathan, Dauid, and Salomon.

CAPI. XLVII.

AFterward in the time of king Dauid / [unspec A] there rose vp a prophet called Nathā: For like as y^• fat is taken away from the of∣feryng, so was Dauid chosen out of the chil¦drē of Israell. He toke his pastyme with the lyons and as with kyddes / and with bea∣res lyke as with lambes. * 1.491 Slewe he not a gyaunte when he was yet but yonge / and toke away the rebuke frō his people? what tyme as he toke the stone in hys hande / and smote downe proude Goliath w^t the s••inge? For he called vpon the hyest Lorde, whiche gaue him strength in hys ryghte hande / so that he ouerthrewe the myghtye gyaunte in the battyll, that he might set vp the horne of hys people agayne. * 1.492 Thus brought he [unspec B] hym to worshpype aboue all prynces / and made hym to haue a good reporte in the prayse of the Lorde / that he shulde were a crowne of glory, * 1.493 For he destroyed the ene∣mies on euery syde, roted out the Philysty∣nes hys aduersaryes / and brake theyr hor∣nes in sunder / lyke as it is broken yet thys daye. In all hys worckes he praysed the Hyest and Holyest / and asc••ybed the ho∣nour vnto hym. With his whole hert dyd he prayse y^• Lorde and loued god that made* 1.494 hym. * 1.495 He set syngers also before the aul∣ter / and in theyr tune he made swete son∣ges, He ordeyned to kepe the holy daies wor¦shypfully / and that the solempne feastes thorowe the whose yeare shulde be honora∣bly holden, with praysynge the name of the Lorde, and with syngynge by tymes in the mornynge in the Sanctuary.

* 1.496 The Lorde toke awaye his synnes, and [unspec C] exalted his horne for euer. He gaue hym the couenaūt of the kingdome, and the trone of worshipe in Israell. * 1.497 After hi there rose vp the wyse sōne called Salomon, and for hys sake he droue the enemyes awaye farre of. This Salomō raigned w^t peace in his tyme (for God gaue him rest frō his enemyes on euery syde, y^t he myghe builde him an house in his name, and prepare the Sāctuary for euer) lyke as he was well instructe in hys youthe / & fylled with wysdome and vnder∣standinge, as it were with a water floude.

He couered and filled the whole lande with similitudes and wyse prudent sentences.

Hys name wente abrode in the Iles, be∣cause [unspec D] of his peace he was beloued. All lan∣des marueled at his sōges, prouerbes, simi∣litudes, and at his peace, and at the name of the Lorde God, which is called the God of Israel. * 1.498 He gathered golde as tynne, & he had as much syluer as leade. * 1.499 He was mo∣ued in inordynate loue towarde wemen / & was ouercome in affeccyon. He stayned his honoure and worshyppe / yee hys posteryte defyled he also, in bryngynge the wrathe of the Lorde vpon hys chyldren / and sorowe after his ioye: * 1.500 so y^• his kyngdome was de∣uyded, & Ephraim became an vnfaythfull / and an vncōstāt kyngdome. * 1.501 Neuertheles God forsoke not his mercy, neyther was he vtterly destroyed because of his worckes, y^• he shulde leaue him no posterite.

As for y^• sede that came vpō him, which he [unspec E] loued, he brought it not vtterly to naught but gaue yet a remnaūte vnto Iacob, and a rote vnto Dauid out of hym. Thus rested Salomon with his fathers, and out of hys sede he left behynde hym a very foolyshnes of the people, and such one as had no vnder standynge: * 1.502 euen, Roboam, whiche turned awaye the people thorowe his councel, and Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat, ‡ 1.503 which cau¦sed Israell to sinne, and shewed Ephraim y^• way of vngodlynes: In so much that theyr synnes and misdedes had the vpper hand so sore, that at the last they were dryuen out of the land for the same: Yee he sought out and brought vp all wyckednes, tyll the venge∣aunce came vppon them.

¶ The prayse of Eliah, Elizeas, Hezekiah, and Esaye.

CAPI. XLVIII.

THEN stode vp * 1.504 Eliah the Prophet [unspec A] as a fyre / and hys worde brente lyke a creshet. He brought an honger vpon them / and in hys zele he made them fewe in nom∣bre. For they might not away with the com∣maundementes of the Lorde. Thorowe the worde of the Lord he shut the heauen, * 1.505 and thre times brought he the fyre downe. Thus became Eliah honorable in his wonderous dedes. Who may make his boast to be lyke him? * 1.506 One that was deed raysed he vp from deathe, and ithe worde of the hyest he brought hym oute of the graue agayne.

* He caste downe kinges & destroyed them / and the honorable from theyr seate. Upon

the mount Syna he herde the punyshment, and vpon Horeb the iudgement of the ven∣geaunce. He prophecyed recōpensynge vnto kynges, * 1.507 & ordeyned prophetes after hym. * 1.508 He was taken vp in the storme of fyre: in a charet of horses of the Lorde. He was orda∣ned in the reprouynges in tyme to pacyfye the wrath of the Lorde, * 1.509 to turne the hertes of the fathers vnto the chyldren, and to set vp the trybes of Iacob agayne. Blessed were they that saw the, and were garnyshed in loue: for we lyue in lyfe: (but after death [unspec B] we shall haue no such name.)

* 1.510 Elias was couered in y^• storme, but He∣lyseus was fylled with his sprete. Whyle he lyued he was afrayed of no prynce / and no man myght ouercome him. There coulde no worde disceaue him, * 1.511 & after his death his body prophecied. ‡ 1.512 He dyd wonders in his lyfe, & in death were his workes maruelous. For all this, the people amended not, nether departed they frō theyr synnes: * 1.513 tyll they were caried away presoners out of the lāde, and were scatred abrode in all countrees, so that of them there ramayned, but a very lytle people / and a prynce vnto the house of Dauid. Howe be it some of them dyd ryght, [unspec C] and some heaped vp vngodlynes.

* 1.514 Hezekias made his cytie stronge / con∣ueyed water in to it / dygged thorowe the stony rocke with yron / & made vp a well by the water syde. ‡ 1.515 In his tyme came Sen∣naheryb vp and sent Rabsakes / lyft vp his hande agaynste Syon / and defied thē with greate pryde. Then trymbled theyr nettes and hādes / so that they sorowed lyke a wo∣man trauaylinge with chylde. So they cal∣led vpon the Lorde / which is mercyful / and lyfte vp theyr handes before hym. Imme∣diatly the Lorde harde them out of heauen: (he thought nomore vpon theyr sinnes / nor gaue them ouer to theyr enemyes:) but dely¦uered them by the hande of Esay the holy prophet. ‡ 1.516 He smote the hoost of y^• Assyrians, and his angell destroyed thē. For Hezekias had done the thynge y^• pleased the Lorde / & remayned stedfastly in the waye of Dauid his father, as Esay the greate and faythful prophet / in the syght of God, had cōmaun∣ded hym. * 1.517 In his tyme the Sunne wente backwarde, & he lengthened the kinges lyfe. With a ryghte sprete prophecyed ••e, what shulde come to passe at the last: and to suche as were sorowfull in Syon he gaue cōsola¦cion, wher w^t they myght cōfort them selues for euermore. He shewed thynges y^• were ••or to come & secrete, or euer they came to passe.

¶ Of Iosiah, Hezethiah, Dauid, Ieremy, Ezechiel, zo••o babel, Iesua, Nehemiah, Enoch, and Ioseph

CAPI. XLIX.

THE remēbraunce of ‡ 1.518 Iosias is lyke [unspec A] as whā the apothecary maketh many precious swete smellyng thynges together. His remembraunce shalbe swete as hony in all mouthes / & as the playenge of Musyck at a bancket of wyne. He was appoynted to turne the people agayne / & to take awaye all abhomynacions of the vngodly. He dy∣rected his herte vnto the Lorde, and in the tyme of the vngodly he set vp the worshyp of God agayne. All kynges (except Dauid, Hezechiah and Iosiah) cōmytted wycked∣nes / for euen the kynges of Iuda also for∣soke the lawe of God. For they gaue theyr horne vnto other / theyr honoure and wor∣shyppe also to a straunge people. [unspec B]

Therfore was the electe cyt••e of y^• Sanc∣tuary brent with fyre, * 1.519 & the streates therof laye desolate & wast in the hande of Ieremy: for they intreated hym euell / whiche neuer∣theles was a prohpet ordeyned frō hys mo∣thers wombe / y^t he myght rote out / breake of, * 1.520 and destroye: and that he myght builde vp, and plant agayne. * 1.521 Ezechiel sawe the glorye of the Lorde in a vysion / which was shewed him vpon y^• charet of y^• Cherubins. For he thought vpō the enemies in y^• rayne, to do good vnto suche as had ordred theyr wayes a ryght. And the bones of the twelue prophetes floryshed from out of theyr place: for they gaue comforte & consolatyon vnto Iacob, & delyuered thē faythfully. * 1.522 Howe shall we prayse Zorobabel / whiche was as a rynge in the rght hande?

‡ 1.523 So was Iesus also the sōne of Iosedec: [unspec C] these men in theyr tymes buylded the house, and set vp y^•▪ Sanctuary of y^• Lorde agayne which was prepared for an euerlasting wor¦shyp. ‡ 1.524 And Nehemias is all waye to be cō¦mended, ‡ 1.525 whiche set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe / made the portes and barres agayne / & buylded our houses of the newe. ‡ 1.526 But vpon the earth is there no man created like Enoch, for he was takē vp from the earth. * 1.527 And Ioseph / which was Lorde of hys brethren, & the vp holder of hys people: his bones were couered and kepte. Seth & Sem were in great honoure amonge the people: & so was Adam aboue all the beastes / whan he was created.

¶ Of Symon the sonne of Onias.

CAPI. L. [unspec A]

SYmon * 1.528 the sōne of Onias the hye prest, which in his lyfe set vp y^• house agayne,

and in his dayes made fast the temple. The heygth of the temple also was founden of him, the double buyldinge, & the hye walles of the tēple. In his dayes the welles of wa∣ter flowed out, and were exceadynge full as the see. He toke care for his people, & dely∣uered them frō destruccyon. He kepte hys cytie & made it stronge, that it shulde not be beseged. He dwelt in honoure & worshyppe amonge his people, & enlarged the intraūce of the house, & the courte. He gaue lyght as the mornynge starre in the myndest of the cloudes, and as the moone whan it is full. He shyned as the sunne in the tēple of God. He is as bryght as the rayne bowe in the fayre cloudes / and florysheth as the floures and roses in the sprynge of the yeare, and as lylyes by the ryuers of water: Lyke as the braunches vpon the mount Libanus in the tyme of sommer: as a fyre & incense that is kindled. Lyke as an whole ornamēt of pure golde, set with al maner of precious stones, and as an Olyue tree that is frutefull / and as a Cipres tree which groweth vp an hye.

When he put on the garment of honoure, [unspec B] and was clothed with all bewtye: when he went to the holy aulter / to garnysh the coue rynge of the Sanctuarye: when he toke the porcyons out of the Prestes hande / he hym selfe stode by the herth of the aulter and his brethren rounde about in ordre. As y^• braun¦ches of Cedre tree vpon the moūt Libanus, ••o stode they rounde about him. And as the braunches of the Olyue tree / so stode al the sones of Aaron in the glorye & the oblatiōs of the Lorde in theyr handes / before all the congregacion of Israel. And that he myght suffycyently perfourme hys setuyce vpon y^• aulter / and garnysh the offrynge of y^• hyest God / he stretched out his hande / and toke of the drynck offerynge, and poured in of the wyne: so he poured vpon the botome of the aulter a good smel vnto the hyest Prynce.

Then beganne the sonnes of Aaron to [unspec C] syng, & to blowe with trōpettes / & to make a great noyce / for remembraunce and prayse vnto the Lorde. Then were all the people afrayed, & fell downe to the earth vpō theyr faces / to worshyppe the Lorde theyr God, and to geue thankes to the almyghty God. They sunge godly also with theyr voyces, so that there was a pleasaunce noyse in the great house of the Lorde. And the people in theyr prayer besought the Lorde the hyest, that he wolde be mercyfull / tyll the honour of the Lorde were perfourmed. Thus ended they theyr mynistracyon and seruice. Then went he downe and stretched out hys hādes ouer the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they shulde geue prayse & than∣kes out of theyr lyppes vnto the Lorde, and to reioyse in his name. He beganne yet once also to praye / that he myght openly shewe the thankesgeuynge before y^• Hyest, namely thus: O geue prayse and thankes (pe al) vn∣to the Lorde our God, which hath euer done noble & great thinges: which hath increased oure dayes from our mothers wombe, and dealt with vs accordynge to his mercy: that he wyll geue vs the ioyfulnes of herte / and peace for our tyme in Israel. Which fayth∣fully kepeth his mercy for vs euermore, and alwaye delyuereth vs in due season.

There be two maner of people that I ab∣horre [unspec D] fro my hert: as for the thyrde, whom I hate / it is no people. They that syt vpon the moūtayne of Samaria, the Phylystynes, & the foolysh people that dwell in Sichimis.

I Iesus the sonne of Sirach Eleazarus of Ierusalem, haue tokened vp these infor∣macyons and documentes of wysdome and vnderstandynge in thys boke / & poured out the wysdome of my herte. Blessed is he that exercyseth hym selfe therin: and who so ta∣keth such to herte, shal be wyse for euer. Yf he do these thynges, he shal be strōge in al. For the lyght of the Lorde leadeth hym.

¶ The prayer of Iesus the ••ou••e of Sirach.

CAPI. LI.

I Wyll thanke the, O Lorde and kynge, [unspec A] and prayse the, O God my sauyoure. I wyll yelde prayse vnto thy name: for thou arte my defender and helper / and haste pre∣serued my bodye from destruccyon, from the snare of traytorous tonges, and from the lyppes that are ocupyed with lyes. Thou hast bene my helper / from suche as stode vp agaynst me / and hast delyuered me after the multytude of thy mercy, and for thy holy na¦mes sake Thou bast delyuered me from the roarynge of them / that prepared thēselues to deuoure me / out of the handes of such as sought after my lyfe: from the multitude of thē that troubled me / and went about to set fyre vpō me on euery syde, so that I am not brent in the myddest of the fyre: Frō the depe of hell, from an vnclene tonge / from lyenge wordes, from the wycked Kynge / and from an vnryghteous tonge. My soule shall prayse y^• Lord vnto death, for my lyfe drewe nye vnto hell downwarde.

They cōpassed me round aboute on eue∣ry syde, and there was no man to helpe me. [unspec B] I loked aboute me, yf there were any man

that wolde socoure me, but there was none. Then thought I vpon thy mercy, O Lorde, and vpon thy actes that thou haste done euer of olde: namely, that thou delyuerest suche as put theyr trust in the, and ryddest thē out of the handes of the Heathen. Thus lyfte I vp my prayer from the earth / and prayed for delyueraunce frō death. I called vpon the Lorde the father of my Lorde, that he wolde not leaue me without helpe, in the daye of my trouble and in the tyme of the proude: I wyl prayse thy name cōtynually, yeldynge honour and thankes vnto it: and so my prayer was herde. Thou sauedest me from destruccion, and deliueredest me from the vnryghteous tyme. Therfore wyll I a knowledge and prayse the / and magnyfye thy name O Lorde.

When I was yet but yonge, or euer I [unspec C] went astraye, I desyred wysdome openly in my prayer. I came therfore before the tēple, and sought her vnto y^• laste. Then floryshed she vnto me, as a grape that is soone type. My hert reioysed in her / then went my tote the ryght waye, yee from youth vp: sought I after her: I bowed downe myne eare and receaued her. I founde me much my soome: and prospered greatly in her. Therfore wyl I ascrybe the glory vnto hym / that geueth me wysdome: for I am aduysed to do there after. I wyll be gelous to cleue vnto the thynge that is good / so shall I not be con∣founded. My soule hache wrestled with her, and I haue bene dilygent to be occupyed in her. I lyfte vp myne handes an hye / then was my soule lyghtened thorowe wisdome, that I knowledged my folyshnes. I ordred my soule after her, she & I were one hert frō the begynnynge and I founde her i•• clen∣nesse. And therfore shall I not be forsaken. [unspec D]

My herte longed after her / and I gat a good treasure. Thorowe her the Lorde hath geuen me a newe tonge, wherwith I wyll prayse hym. * 1.529 O come vnto me ye vnlerned, and dwell in the house of wysdome: with∣drawe not youre selues from her, but talke and comen of these thynges / for youre sou∣les are very thyrsty. I opened my mouth, & spake. O come and bye wysdome without money, bowe downe your necke vnder her yocke, & youre soule shal receaue wysdome. She is harde at hande and is content to be founde. Beholde with your eyes, * 1.530 howe y^• I haue had but lytle laboure, and yet haue foūde much reast. O receaue wysdome, & ye shal haue plenteousnes of syluer & golde in possession. Let youre mynde reioyse in hys mercy, and be not ashamed of hys prayse. Worke hys worke by tymes, and he shall: geue you your rewarde in due tyme.

¶ The ende of the boke of Ie¦sus the sonne of Strach / which is called in La¦tyne / Ecclesiasticus.

❧: The booke of the Prophete Baruch.

CAPI. I.

[unspec A]

¶ Baruch wrote a boke, durynge the captiuyte of Babylō, whiche he redde before Iecontah & all the people. The Ie∣wes sent the boke with money, vnto Ierusalē to theyr other brethren: to the intent that they shulde praye for them.

ANd these are the wor∣des of the booke, whiche were wrytten by Baruch the sōne of Nerias, the sonne of Maasias, the sonne of Sedechias / y^e sōne of Sedeias / the sonne of Helchias / at Ba∣bylon in the fyfte yeare / and in the seuenth day of the moneth / what tyme as y^• Caldees toke Ierusalem / and brent it vp with fyre.

And Baruch dyd rede y^• wordes of thys booke, that Iechoniah the sonne of Ioac•••• kynge of Iuda myght heare: and in the pre∣sence of all the people, y^• were come to heare the booke: yee and before all the noble kyn∣ges sonnes / before the Lordes of the coūcell and elders: and before the whole people, trō the lowest vnto the hyest: before all them that dwelt at Babylō, by y^• water of Sody. Whiche whan they herde it / wepte, fasted, and prayed before the Lorde.

They made a colleccyon also of money, [unspec B] accordynge to euery mans power / and sent it to Ierusalem vnto Ioachim the sonne of Helchia / the sonne of Salon prest with the other prestes: and to all the people whiche were with him at Ierusalem / what tyme as they had gotten the ornamentes of the tem∣ple of the Lorde (that were taken awaye out of the temple) that they myght brynge them agayne in to the lande of Iuda / the tenth daye of the moneth Siban: namely / syluer vessels (which Sedechiah the sonne of Io∣siah kynge of Iuda had made) after that Nabuchodonosor kynge of Babylon had taken Iechomah, with al his prīces / lordes, [unspec C] and all the people / and led them captyne from Ierusalem vnto Babylon.

And they sayd: Behold, we haue sent you money, * 1.531 to bye you burnt offerynges and

insence withall: make you vnleuened bred, and offre for synne vpon the aulter of the Lorde our God. * 1.532 And praye for the prospe∣ryte of Naburchodonosor kynge of Babylō / and for the welfare of Balthasar his sonne: that theyr dayes may be vpon earth / as the dayes of heauen: that God also maye geue vs strength, and lyghten our eyes: that we may lyue vnder the defence of Nabuchodo nosor kynge of Babylon, and vnder the pro¦teccyon of Balthasar his sonne: y^• we maye longe do them seruyce / and fynde fauoure in theyr syght. Praye for vs also vnto the Lord our God, for we haue synned agaynst the Lorde our God & vnto thys daye is not his wrath turned yet awaye frō vs. And se y^• ye rede this boke (whiche we haue sent vnto you to be rehearced in the tēple of y^• Lorde) vpon the hye dayes, & at a tyme conuenient. [unspec D]

Thus shal ye saye: * 1.533 The Lorde our God is ryghteous, but we are worthye of confu∣syon & shame: lyke as it is come to passe this daye / vnto all Iuda, and to euery one that dwelleth at Ierusalem: to our kynges prin∣ces, prestes, prophetes and to oure fathers. We haue synned before the Lorde our God, we haue not put our trust in him / nor geuen hym credence / we haue not obeyed him, we haue not herkened vnto y^• voyce of y^• Lorde our God, to walke in the commaundemen∣tes that the gaue vs. Sens the daye that he brought oure forfathers out of the lande of Egypt vnto this present daye, we haue bene euer amys beleuyng and an vnfaythful peo∣ple vnto the Lorde our God: destroyng our selues vtterly, and shrynkynge backe, that we shulde not heare hys voyce.

* 1.534 Wherfore there are come vpō vs great plages and dyuers curses, lyke as the Lorde [unspec E] deuysed by Moses his seruaunt: * 1.535 whiche brought our forefathers out of the lande of Egypte / to geue vs a lande, that floweth w^t mylck and hony, lyke as it is to se this day, Neuerthelesse, we haue not herkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde our God, accordyng to all the wordes of the prophetes, whom he sente vnto vs & to our rulers: but euery mā folowed his owne mynde & wycked ymagi∣nacyon: to offre vnto straunge goddes, & to do euell in the syght of the Lorde oure God.

¶ The Iewes confesse that they suffre Iustly for theyr syn∣nes. The true cōfessyon of the Chrysten. The Iewes desyre to haue the wrath of God turned frō them. The Lorde wyll that we obeye vnto pr••u•••••• althoughe they beeuel. He pro∣myseth that he wyll call agayue the people from captiuitie, and geue them a newe and an euerlastynge testament.

CAPI. II.

FOR the * 1.536 whiche cause the Lorde oure God hathe perfourmed hys deuyce, [unspec A] wherof he certyfyed vs / and oure heades y^• ruled in Ierusalem: yee and oure kynges, oure prynces / wyth all Israel and Iuda. And such plages hath the Lorde brought vpon vs, as neuer came to passe vnder the heauen lyke as it is fulfylled in Ierusalem, * 1.537 acordynge as it is wrytten in the lawe of Moses: that a man shulde eate the flesh of hys owne sonne / and the flesh of hys one daughter. Moreouer, he hathe delyuered them into the handes of all the kynges, that are rounde about vs (to be confounded and desolate) and scatred them abrode in all landes and nacions. Thus are we brought beneth & not aboue, because we haue sinned [unspec B] against the Lorde our God, & haue not bene obediēt vnto his voyce. * 1.538 Therfore y^• Lorde our God is ryghteous / and we with our fa∣thers (as reasō is) are brought to oyē shame, as it is to se this daye. And as for these pla∣ges y^t are come vpon vs all ready, the Lorde had deuysed them for vs: yet wolde we not praye vnto the Lorde our God, y^• we myght euery mā turne frō his vngodly wayes. So the Lorde hathe caused such plages to come vpon vs: for he is ryghteous in all hys wor¦kes, which he hathe cōmaunded vs: whiche we also haue not done / nor harkened vnto his voyce / for to walke in the cōmaundemē¦tes of the Lorde / that he had geuen vnto vs.

* 1.539 And now, O Lorde God of Israel thou that * 1.540 haste brought thy people out of the lande of Egypte with a myghtye hande, with tokens and wondres / with thy greate power and out stretched arme: and hast got¦ten thy selfe a name / as it is come to passe this daye. O Lorde our God / we haue syn∣ned / we haue done wyckedly / we haue beha¦ued our selues vngodly in al thy ryghteous¦nesses. Turne thy wrath from vs (we besech the) for we are but a fewe lefte amonge the [unspec C] Heathen, where y^u hast scatered vs. * 1.541 Heare our prayers (O Lorde) and our peticyons, brynge vs out of captiyte / for thyne owne sake: get vs fauoure in the syght of them, whiche haue led vs awaye: that all landes may knowe / y^• thou art the Lorde our God, and that Israell & hys generacyon calleth vpon thy name. O Lorde / loke downe from thy holy house vpon vs: enclyne thyne eare, and heare vs / open thine eyes Lord & se vs.

* 1.542 For the deed / y^• be gone downe to theyr graues / & whose soules are out of theyr bo∣dyes, * ascribe vnto y^• Lorde / nether praise nor ryghteous makyng: but the soule that is

vexed for the multitude of her synnes which goeth on heuely and weakely / whose eyes be begynne to fayle: yee suche a soule ascrybeth prayse and ryghtuousnesse vnto the Lorde. O Lorde, we poure out oure prayers before [unspec D] the / and requyre mercy in thy syght, O Lord oure God: not for any godlynesse of our fore∣fathers, but because thou hast sente out thy wrath and indignacyon vpon vs: according as thou dydest threaten vs, by thy seruaūtes the prophetes, sayinge:

* 1.543 Thus sayeth the Lorde: Bowe downe your shulders and neckes / and serue y^• kyng of Babylon / so shall ye remayne styll in the lande / that I gaue vnto your fathers. Yf ye wyll not do thys / nor heare the voyce of the Lorde youre God / to serue the kynge of Ba∣bylon: I shall destroye you in y^• cities of Iu∣da / within Ierusalem and without. I wyll also take from you the voyce of myrth & the voyce of ioye / the voyce of the bridegrome & the voyce of the bryde, and there shall no mā dwell more in the lande. But they wolde not herken vnto thy voyce, to do the kyng of Ba¦bylon seruice: and therfore hast thou perfour¦med the wordes that thou spakest by thy ser∣uauntes the prophetes: namely / that the bo∣nes of our kiges, & the bones of oure fathers shulde be translated out of theyr place.

And lo / nowe are they layde out in y^• heat [unspec E] of the sonne, and in the colde of the nyght / & deade in greate mysery / with hunger / wyth sweard, with pestilence & are clene cast forth. As for the temple wherin thy name was cal∣led vpon / thou hast layde it waste, as it is to sethys day: and that for the wyckednes of y^• house of Israell and the house of Iuda. O Lorde oure God / thou hast intreated vs af∣ter all thy goodnes, & accordynge to all that great louynge mercy of thyne / lyke as thou spakest by thy seruaunte Moyses, in the day whan thou dydest commaūde hym / to wryte thy lawe before y^• chyldren of Israel, saying: * 1.544 Yf ye wyll not herken vnto my voyce / then shal thys greate multytude be turned into a very small people / for I wyll scatre them a∣brode. Notwithstandynge I am sure / that this folke wyl not heare me: for it is an hard [unspec F] necked people. But in the lande of theyr ca∣ptiuite / they shal remembre them selues, and learne to knowe / that I am the Lorde theyr God / whan I geue them an herte to vnder∣stande / and eares to heare. Then shall they prayse me in the lande of theyr captiuite: and thyncke vpō my name. Then shall they tur∣ne them from theyr harde backes / and from their vngodlynes. Then shall they remēbre the thynges / that happened vnto theyr fore∣fathers, whiche synned agaynst me. So wyl I brynge them agayne into the laude, which I promised with an othe vnto their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: & they shall be Lordes of it, yee I wyll increase them, & not minish thē. * 1.545 And I wyl make another coue¦naunt with them: suche one as shall endure for euer: namely / that I wyl be theyr God / & they shalbe my people: & I wyl nomore driue my people the chyldren of Israell, out of the lande that I haue geuen them.

¶ The people contynueth in theyr prayer beg••nne for their delyueraunce. He prayseth wysdome vnto the people, shew∣inge that so greate aduersities came vnto them for the dyspy¦synge therof. Onely God was the fynder of wysdome. Of the incarnocyon of Chryste.

CAPI. III.

AND nowe, O Lorde almyghtye, thou [unspec A] God of Israell: oure soule that is in trouble / and oure sprete that is vexed, cryeth vnto the: heare vs▪ O Lorde) and haue pytie vpon vs, for thou arte a mercyfull God: be gracyous vnto vs / for we haue synned be∣fore the. Thou endurest for euer, shulde we then vtterly perysshe? O Lorde almyghtye / thou God of Israel: Heare now the prayer * 1.546 of the deed Israelites and of theyr chyldren, whiche haue synned before the, and not her∣kened vnto the voice of the Lord their God, for the which cause these plages hange now vpon vs. O Lorde, remembre not the wyc∣kednes of our forefathers, but thynke vpon thy power and name nowe at this tyme: for thou arte the Lorde our God, & the (O Lord) wyl we prayse. * 1.547 For thou hast put thy feare* 1.548 in our hertes, to the intent that we shuld call [unspec B] vpon thy name / and prayse the in oure cap∣tyuyte: and that we myght turne frome the wyckednesse of our forefathers, that synned before the.

Beholde, we are yet this daye in our cap∣tyuyte, where as thou hast scatred vs, to be an abhominacion, curse / and synne: * 1.549 lyke as it hathe happened vnto oure fathers also / bycause of all theyr wyckednesse and depar∣tynge from the.

O Israel, here the commaundementes of lyfe: pōdre them well with thyne eares / that thou mayest learne wysdome. But how hap¦peneth it Israell, that thou art in thyne ene∣myes land? thou art waxen olde in a straūge countre, and defyled with the deed. Why art thou become lyke them, y^• go downe to theyr graues? Euē because thou hast * 1.550 forsakē the well of wysdome. For yf thou haddest wale∣ked* 1.551 in y^• waye of God, truely y^• shuldest haue remayned styll safe in thyne owne lande.

O learne then where discrecion is / where vertue is / where vnderstādyng is, that thou mayest knowe also frome whence commeth * 1.552 longe lyfe, a necessary lyuing / the lyghte of the eyes / and quyetnes. Who euer founde out her place? or who came euer into hyr trea¦sures.

Where are the prynces of the Heathen be∣come / and [unspec C] such as ruled the beastes vpō the earth? They that had theyr pastyme with y^• foules of the ayre / they that hoorded vp syl∣uer and gold (wherin men trust so much) and made no ende of theyr gatheryng? What is become of them that coyned syluer, and were so carefull / and coulde not bryng theyr wor∣kes to passe? They be coted out / & gone downe to hell / & other men are come vp in theyr stea∣des. Yonge men haue sene lyght / & dwelte v∣pon earth: but the way of reformacyon haue they not knowen, nor vnderstande the pa∣thes therof: nether haue theyr chyldren recea¦ued it. yet ryght farre is it frō them. It hath not bene herde of in the lande of Canaan, ne∣ther hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bene sene at Theman.

The Agarenes sought after wysdome, but [unspec D] that whiche is earthly, lyke as the marchaū∣tes of the lande do. They of Theman are con¦nynge also, and they laboure for wysdome & vnderstandynge: but the waye of true wys∣dome they knowe not, neyther do they thinc∣ke vpon the pathes therof. O Israell, howe great is the house of God? & how large is the place of his possession? * 1.553 Great is he, & hathe none ende: yee & vnmeasurable. What is be∣come of those famouse gyauntes, that were so great of bodies & so worthy men of warre, Those had not the Lord chosen, nether haue they founde the waye of reformacyon, there∣fore were they destroted & for so much as they had no wysdome, they perysshed because of theyr foolyshnesse.

Who hathe gone vp into heauen, to take [unspec E] wysdome there, and brought her downe frō the cloudes? Who hath gone ouer the see to fynde her, and hath chosen her aboue golde, & so brought her hyther? No man knoweth the wayes of wysdome, neyther is there any that can seke out her pathes. But he y^• wo∣teth all thynges, knoweth her, and he hathe foūde her out w^t hys fore knowledge. * 1.554 This same is he which prepared the earth at y^• be∣gynnynge, & fylled it with all maner of fou∣les & beastes. ‡ 1.555 When he sendeth out y^• lyght, it goeth: and when he calleth it agayne, it o∣beyeth hym with feare. The Starres kepe theyr watche, and geue theyr lyght, yee and that gladly. When he calleth them, they say: here we be. And so wyth chearefulnesse they shewe lyghte vnto hym that made them. * 1.556 This is oure God, and there shall none other be compared vnto hym. It is he, that hath founde out all wysdome, and hath ge∣uen her vnto Iacob his seruaunt, and to Is¦rael his beloued. * 1.557 After warde dyd he shewe hym selfe vpon earthe, and dwelt amonge men.

¶ The rewarde of them that kepe the lowe, and the puny∣shement of them that despyse it. A comfortynge of the people beynge in captyn•••• A complaynte of Ierusalem, and vnder the fygure thereof, of the Churche: A consolacyon and com∣tortynge of the same.

CAPI. IIII.

THis is the Booke of the commaunde∣mentes of God / and the lawe that en∣dureth [unspec A] for euer. All they that kepe it / shall come to lyfe: but such as forsake it, shal come to death. Turne the O Iacob, and take hold of it: walcke by this waye thorow his bryght¦nesse and shyne. Gene not thyne honoure to another / and thy worshyppe to a straunge people. O Israell, * 1.558 howe happye are we se∣yng that God hath shewed vs suche thinges as are pleasaunt vnto hym? Be of good che∣re / thou people of God, O thou auncient Is∣rael. * 1.559 Nowe are ye solde amonge y^• Heath••, howbeit / not for your vtter destruccyon: but because ye prouoked God the Lord to wrath and displeasure, therfore were ye delyuered vnto your enemyes: for ye displeased y^• euer∣lastynge God that made you, offeringe vnto deuels & not to God. Ye haue forgotten hym that brought you vp / and your nursse haue ye greued, O Ierusalem.

Whan she sawe y^• the wrath of God was [unspec B] commynge vpon you: she sayde: Herken O ye that dwell aboute Syon / for God hathe brought me in to great heuynes: & why? I se the captiuite of my people / of my sonnes and daughters, which the euerlastyng God wyll bryng vpon them. With ioy did I norish thē, but nowe must I leaue them with wepynge and sorowe.

Let no man reioyce ouer me wyddowe & forsaken: which for the synnes of my chyldrē am desolate of euery man. For why? they de∣parted from the lawe of God: they wold not knowe hys ryghtuousnes, nor walcke in the way of his cōmaundementes: and as for the pathes of the trueth and godlynes, they had no lust to go in them.

O ye dwellers aboute Syon: come / and [unspec C] let vs call to remembraunce the captyuyte / y^• the euerlasting God hath brought vpō my sonnes & my daughters. * 1.560 He hath brought a people vpon them frō farre, an vncurteous

people and of a straunge language: whiche nether regarde the olde, nor pytie the yonge.

These haue caryed awaye the deare be∣loued of my wyddowes, leauynge me alone / both desolate and chyldlesse. But alas, what can I helpe you? Now he that hath brought these plages vpō you, delyuer you also from the handes of your enemyes.

Go your waye (O my chyldren) go youre waye: for I am desolate & forsaken, * 1.561 I haue put of the clothynge of peace, and put vpon me the sack cloth of prayer / and for my tyme I wyll call vpon the most Hyest. Be of good cheare O my chyldren: crye vnto the Lorde / and he shall delyuer you from the power of y^• prynces, youre enemyes,

For verely / I haue euer a good hope of your prosperous health: yee a very gladnes is come vpon me from the holy one / because of the mercy that ye shall haue of our euerla∣stynge sauyour.

With mournynge and wepynge dyd I let you go fro me / but with loye and perpetu¦all [unspec D] gladnesse / shall the Lorde brynge you a∣gayne vnto me. Lyke as the neyghboures of Syon sawe your captiuite from God. Euen so shal they also se shortly your health in god which shall come on you with great honour and euerlastyng worshyppe.

O my chyldrē, * 1.562 suffre paciētly the wrathe that shall come vpon you. For the enemye hath persecuted the / but shortely thou shalte se his destruccyon / and shalte treade vppon hys necke. My derlynges haue gone rough harde wayes / for they are led awaye as a flocke that is scatred abroade with the enemi¦es. But be of good comforte (O my chyl∣dren) and crye vnto the Lorde: For he that led you awaye / hath you yet in remēbraūce: and lyke as ye haue bene mynded to swarue from your God, * 1.563 so shall ye nowe endeuour your selues. x. tymes more, to turne agayne & to seke him. For he y^• hath brought these pla¦ges vpō you, shal bryng you euerlasting ••oy agayne w^t your helth. Take a good herte vn¦to the, O Ierusalē: for he whyche gaue the y^e name, exhorteth the so do.

‡ 1.564 The wycked doers that nowe put the to trouble, shal perysh: and suche as haue reioy sed at thy fall / shalbe punyshed. The cytyes whom thy chyldren serue / and that haue ca∣ryed awaye thy sonnes, shalbe correcte. For lyke as they be nowe glad of thy decaye (and reioyse at thy fall) so shall they mourne in their owne destrucciō. The ioye of their mul¦tytude shalbe taken away / and their cheare shalbe turned to sorowe. For a fyre shall fall vpon them from the euerlastynge God, long to endure: and it shalbe inhabyted of deuels for a great season.

¶ Ierusalem is moued vnto gladnes for the returne of he•• people, and vnder the fygure therof, the Churche.

CAPI. V.

O Ierusalem, loke aboute the towarde [unspec A] the Easte / and beholde the loye that cō¦meth vnto the from God. For lo / thy sonnes (whom thou hast forsaken, and that were sea tred abrode) come gathered together / frome the East and west reioysynge in the worde of the holy one, vnto the honour of God.

Put of thy mournyng clothes (O Ierusa∣lem) and thy sorow, & decke the with the wor∣shyppe & honour / that cammeth vnto the frō God, w^t euerlastyng glory. God shal put the garmente of ryghtuousnes vpon the, and set a crowne of euerlasting worshyp vpon thine head: for vpon y^• wyl God declare his bright¦nesse, y^• is vnder the heauen. Yee an euerla∣styng name shalbe geuen the of god, w^t peace of ryghtuousnesse, & the honour of Goddes feare.

Aryse, O Ierusalem, stande vp on hye: [unspec B] loke about the towarde the cast, and beholde thy chyldren gathered from the Easte / vnto the West: which reioyce in the holy worde, ha¦uynge God in remembraunce. They depar∣ted from the on fote, & were led away of their enemyes: but nowe shall the Lorde brynge them to the caryed with honoure / as chyl∣dren of the kyngdome. For God is purposed to brynge downe all stoute mountaynes, yee and all hye rockes / to fyll the valleys / and so to make them euen wyth the grounde: that Israel may be dilygent to lyue vnto the honoure of God. The woddes and all plea∣saunt trees shall ouershadowe Israel, at the commaundement of God. For hyther shall God brynge Israel with ioyfull myrth, and in the lyght of his magestye: with the mer∣cy and ryghtuousnesse, that commeth of him selfe.

¶ I copye of the epystle that Ieremy sent vnto the Iewes, whiche were led awaye presoners by the kynge of Babylon: wherin he certifieth them of the thynge, that was commaun¦ded him of God.

CAPI. VI.

BEcause of the synnes that ye haue done [unspec A] agaynst God / ye shall be * 1.565 led away cap¦tyue vnto Babylon / euen of Nabuchodono∣sor the Kynge of Babylon. So whan ye be¦come into Babylon / ye shall remayne there many yeares, and for alonge season: namely seuen generacions: & after that wyl I bringe you awaye peaceably from thence. Nowe

shall ye se in Babylon goddes of golde, of sil¦uer, of wod & of stone: borne vpon mens shul¦ders, to cast out a fearfulnesse before the Hea¦then. But loke that ye do not as the other: be not ye afrayed, & let not the feare of them o∣uer come you.

Therfore, whan ye se the multitude of peo¦ple [unspec B] worshyppyng them behynde & before, say ye in your hertes: O Lorde, & it is thou / that oughtest onely to be worshypped? Myne An gell also shalbe with you, and I my selfe wyl care for yoursoules. As for the tibre of those goddes, y^• carpenter hath polyshed them: yee gylted be they, & layed ouer with syluer, yet are they but vaine thinges, & can not speake Lyke as a wenche that loueth peramours is trymly deckte, euen so are these made & han∣ged with golde. Crownes of golde verely ha¦ue their goddes vpon theyr heades: so the pre¦stes thēselues take y^• golde & syluer from thē and put it to theyr owne vses: yee they geue of the same vnto harlottes, •• trymme theyr whores withal: agayne, they take it from the whores, & decke theyr goddes therwith. ‡ 1.566 Yet* 1.567 can not these goddes deliuer themselues frō ruste and mothes. When they haue couered them with clothynge of purple, they wype theyr faces for the dust of the temple, wherof their is much among them. One hath a scep∣tre in hys hande / as thoughe he were iudge of the countre: yet can he not fley suche as of∣fende hym. Another hath a swearde or an axe in his hande / for al that, is he neither able to defende hym selfe from battayle / nor frome murtherers.

By thys ye maye vnderstande / that they be no goddes: therfore se that ye neither wor∣shyppe [unspec C] them / nor feare them. For lyke as a vessell that a man vseth / is nothynge worth when it is broken / euen so is it with theyr goddes. When they be set vp in the temple / theyr eyes be full of duste, thorowe the fete of those that come in. And lyke as the dores are shut in rounde aboute vpon hym that hathe offended the kynge. Or as it were a deed bo∣dy kepte besyde the graue. Euen so the pre∣stes kepe the dores with barres and lockes / leest theyr Goddes be spoyled with robbers. They set vp candels before them (yee verely and that many) wherof they cānot se one, but euen as blockes, so stande they in the temple It is sayde, that the serpentes and wormes / whiche come of the earthe, gnawe out theyr hertes, eatyng them and theyr clothes also / & yet they fele it not. Theyr faces are blacke thorow the smoke that is in the temple. The oules / swalowes / and byrdes / he vpon them yee and the cattes runne ouer theyr heades.

By this ye maye be sure, that they are not [unspec D] goddes, therfore feare them not. The golde that they haue / is to make them bewtyfull: for all that, excepte some body dyght of theyr rust / they wyll geue no shyne: and when they were cast īto a fourme / they felt it not. They are bought for money / and haue no breth of lyfe within thē. * 1.568 They must be borne vpon mens shoulders / as those that haue no fere: wherby they declare vnto men / that they be ntohynge worth. * 1.569 Confounded be they then that worshyppe them. For yf they fall to the groūde they can not rise vp agayne of them¦selues. Yee though one helpe them vp and set them ryght / yet are they not able to stande a lone: but must haue proppes set vnder them lyke deed men. As for the thynge that is of∣fred vnto them / their prestes sel it, and abuse it: yee the prestes wyues take therof, but vn∣to the sycke & poore they geue nothyng of it / the wemen with childe & the menstruous lay handes of theyr offringes. By this ye may be sure, y^t they are no goddes, therfore be not ye afrayde of thē. From whence cōmeth it then, that they be called goddes? The wemen syt before the goddes of syluer / golde & wodde / and the prestes syt in theyr temples / hauyng open clothes, whose heades & beerdes are sha¦uen & haue nothyng vpon theyr heades: to∣ryng and crieng vpon their goddes, as men do at the feast / when one is deed.

The prestes also take awaye the garmen∣tes [unspec E] of the ymages, and decke their wyues & chyldren with all. Whether it be good or euil that any man do vnto thē / they are not able to recompence it: they can neyther set vp a kynge nor put hym downe. In lyke maner they may neither geue ryches, nor rewarde e∣uyl. * 1.570 Though a man make a vowe vnto thē and kepe it not / they wyll not requyre it. They can saue no man from death / neyther delyuer the weake from the myghtye. They can not restore a blinde man to his sight / nor helpe any man at hys nede. They can shewe no mercy to y^• wyddowe / nor do good to the fatherlesse. Theyr goddes of woode, stone / golde / and syluer / are but euen as other sto∣nes▪ that be hewen of the mountayne. They that worshyppe them / shalbe confounded. Howe shulde they then be taken for Goddes? Yee howe darre men call them goddes? And thoughe the ••aldees worshypped them not, hearynge that they were but domme & could not speake. Yet they themselues offre vnto Bel / and wolde fayne haue him to speake: as who saye / they coulde fele / that maye not

moue. But whan these men come to vnder∣standyng / they shal forsake thē / for their god¦des haue no felynge. A great sorte of wemen gyrde with coardes / syt in the stretes / and burne olyue beryes. Nowe yf one of them be conueyed awaye / and lye with any suche as come by: she casteth her neghbours in y^• teth▪ because she was not so worthely reputed / nor her coorde broken. What so euer is done for them / it is but in vayne and loste. Howe maye it then be thought or sayde / that they are goddes? Carpenters and golde smythes make them / nether be they any other thyng, but euen what the worcke men wyll make of them. Yee the gold smythes them selues that make them / are of no longe contynuaunce. Howe shulde then the thynges that are made of them / be Goddes? Uayne therfore are the thinges (yee very shame is it) that they leaue behynde them for theyr prosperyte. For as soone as there commeth any warre or plage vpon them / then the prestes ymagyn, where they may hyde themselues with them. Howe can men thyncke then that they be Goddes / whiche neither may defende thēselues from warre / nor delyuer them from mysfortune? For seynge they be but of wood / of stone / of syluer and of golde: all people and kynges shall knowe herafter / that they be but vayne thynges: yee it shalbe openly declared / that they be no goddes: but euen the very workes of mēs handes / and that God hath nothinge to do with thē. (It is manifest then that they are no goddes, but the worckes of mens han¦des / and no worke of God in them. (They cā set no kyng in the lande / nor geue rayne vn∣to men. They can gyue no sentence of a mat∣ter / nether defende the land from wrong. For they are not able to do so muche as a crowe / that flyeth betwixte heauen and earth.

Whan there happeneth a fyre into the hou¦se [unspec G] of those goddes of wodde / and syluer / and of golde, the prestes wyl escape and saue thē¦selues / but the Goddes burne as the balkes therin. They cannot withstande any kynge or batayle: howe maye it then be thought or graunted, that they be goddes? Moreouer / these goddes of wodde, of stone, of golde and syluer may neyther defende thēselues from theues nor robbers: yee the very wycked are stronger then they. These stripe them out of their appparel, that they be clothed withall, these take theyr golde and siluer from them, and so get thē away: yet can they not helpe themselues. Therfore it is much better for a mā, to be a kyng, and so to shewe his power: or els a profitable vessell in a house, wherin he that oweth it, might haue pleasure: yee or to be a dore in a house, to kepe such thynges safe as be therin, then to be such a vaine god The Sunne, the Moone and al the startes▪ seynge they gyue theyr shyne and lyght, are obediēt, and do men good. Whan the lyght∣nynge glystreth, all is cleare. The wynde bloweth in euery countre: and whā God cō∣maundeth the cloudes to go rounde aboute the whole worlde, they do as they are byddē: whan the fyre is sent downe from aboue and cōmaunded, it burneth vp hylles & woddes▪ But as for those Goddes, they are not lyke one of these thynges, nether in bewty, nether strength. Wherfore men shulde not thynke▪ nor saye that they be goddes, seyng they can nether gyue sentence in iudgment, nor do mē good. For so muche nowe as ye are sure, that [unspec H] they be no goddes / then feare them not. For they can nether speake euyl nor good of kyn¦ges. They can shewe no tokens in heauē for the Heythen, nether shyne as the Sunne, nor geue lyght as the Moone: yee the vnreaso∣nable beastes are better then they, for they can get them vnder the rofe, and do themsel¦ues good. So can ye be certyfyed by no ma∣ner of meanes, that they be goddes: therfore feare them not. For lyke as a searcrowe in a garden of herbes kepeth nothynge, euen so are theyr goddes of wod, of syluer and gold: and lyke as a whyte thorne in an Orcharde, that euery byrde sytteth vpon: yee lyke as a deed body that is cast in the darcke. Euen so is it with those goddes of wood, syluer and golde: By the purple and scarlet which they haue vpon them, and soone faydeth awaye, ye maye vnderstande, that they be no Goddes: yee they them selues shal be consumed at the last, whi∣che shalbe a greate confu∣sion of the land. Bles∣sed is the Godlye man, that hath no Images and wor∣shyp∣peth none, for he shalbe farre from reprofe.

¶ The ende of the Boke of the Prophete Baruch / whiche is not in the Canon of the Hebrue.

The Songe of the thre chyldren / whiche were put into the hote brenning ouen. The cōmen trāslacion readeth this song in the. iij. chap. of Daniel.

ANd they walked in the myddest of the flāme. praysynge God & magnyfyenge the Lorde. Asarias stode vp, and prayed on this maner. Euen in the myddest of the fyre opened he his mouth, & sayd: Bles¦sed be thou (O Lorde God of oure fathers) ryght worthy to be praysed and honoured is the name of thyne for euermore: for thou arte ryghtuous in all thynges that thou hast do∣ne to vs: Yee faythfull are all thy worckes / thy wayes are ryght, and all thy iudgemen∣tes true. In all the thynges that thou haste brought vpon vs, and vpon the holy citie of our fathers (euen Ierusalem) thou haste exe∣cuted true iudgmēt: yee accordynge to ryght and equyte hast thou brought all these chyn∣ges vpon vs, because of our synnes.

For why? we haue offended, & done wyc∣kedly, departyng from the: * 1.571 In all thynges haue we trespaced, & not obeied thy cōmaun∣dementes, nor kepte them, neyther done as y^• hast byddē vs, y^• we myght {pro}spere. * 1.572 Wher∣fore all that thou hast brought vpon vs, and euery thynge that thou hast done to vs, thou hast done them in true iudgement: As in deli¦uerynge vs in to the hādes of our enemyes / amonge vngodly and wycked abhomynaci∣ons, & to an vnryghtuous kyng, yee y^• moste frowarde vpō earth. And nowe we maye not open oure mouthes, we are become a shame and reprofe vnto thy seruauntes, and to thē that worshyppe the. Yet for thy names sake (we beseche the) geue vs not vp for euer, bre∣ke not thy couenaunt, & take not awaye thy mercy frō vs / for thy beloued Abrahās sake / for thy seruaūt Isaacs sake & for thy holy Is¦raels sake. To whō y^u hast spoken & promised * 1.573 y^• thou woldest multyplye theyr sede as the starres of heauē, & as the sande that lyeth v∣pon the see shore. For we (O Lorde) are beco∣me lesse then any people, and be kepte vnder this day in all the worlde, because of our sin∣nes: So y^• now we haue nether prynce, duke, prophete, burnt offeryng, sacrilyce, oblacyon incence, nor Sanctuary before the.

Neuerthelesse, in a contryte herte and an humble sprete let vs be receyued, y^• we maye optayne thy mercy. Lyke as ī the burnt offe∣ryng of rammes and bullockes, & lyke as in thousandes of fat lambes so let oure offe∣rynge be in thy syght thys daye, that it maye please y^•, * 1.574 for there is no cōfusyon vnto thē, y^• put there trust in the. And nowe we folowe the wyth al our herte / we feare the, & seke thy face. Put vs not to shame, but deale with vs after thy louyng kyndnesse, & accordynge to the multitude of thy mercies. Delyuer vs by thy myracles (O Lorde) and get thy name & honoure: that all they which do thy seruaun∣tes euell, maye be confounded. Let them be a shamed thorowe thy almyghtye power, & let theyr strēgth be broken: that they may know howe y^• thou onely art the Lorde God, & ho∣noure worthy thorowe out all y^• worlde.

And the kynges seruauntes that put them in, ceassed not to make the ouen hote wyth wylde fyre, drye strawe, pytche and fagot••es so that the slame went out of the ouen vpon a. xlix. cubites: yee it toke away and brent vp those Caldees, that it gat holde vpon besyde the ouen. But the Angell of the Lorde came downe into the ouen to Asarias and hys fe∣lowes, and smote the flamme of the fyre out of the ouen, and made the middest of the ouē as it had bene a colde wynde blowynge: so y^• the fyre nether touched them, greued them, nor dyd them hurte. Then these thre (as out of one mouth) praysed, honoured, and blessed god in the fornace, sayinge.

* 1.575 Blessed be thou, O Lord god of oure fa∣thers: for thou art prayse and honoure wor∣thy, yee and to be magnyfied for euermore. * 1.576 Blessed be y^• holy name of thy glory, for it is worthy to be praysed, and magnyfyed in all worldes. Blessed be thou in the holy tem∣ple of thy glorye, for aboue all thynges thou art to be praysed, ye & more then worthy to he magnified for euer, Blessed be y^u in the trone of thy kyngdome, for aboue all y^• art worthy to be well spoken of, and to be more then ma∣gnified for euer. Blessed be thou / that lokest thorowe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & syttest vpon the Cheru∣byns: for thou art worthy to be praysed / and aboue all to be magnyfyed for euer. Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen, for thou art prayse & honour worthy for euer.

O al ye workes of y^• Lord: speake good of the Lord / prayse hym, & set him vp for euer.

* 1.577 O ye angels of the Lord / speake good of the Lorde, prayse him / & set hym vp for euer.

O ye heauens, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye waters that be aboue the firma∣ment, speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.

O all ye powers of the Lorde, speake good of y^• Lord / prayse hym, & set hym vp for euer.

* 1.578 O ye Sunne & Moone, speake good of y^• Lorde: prayse hym / & set him vp for euer.

O ye startes of heauen▪ speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

* 1.579 O ye showers & dewe, speake good of y^• Lorde: prayse hym / and set hym vp for euer.

O all ye wyndes of God, speake good of y^• Lord: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

O ye fyre & heate, speake good of the Lord: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye wynter & sammer, speake good of y^• Lord: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.

O ye dewes & frostes / speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

O ye frost & colde, speake good of y^• Lord: prayse him / and set him for euer.

O ye yse and snowe, speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

O ye nyghtes and dayes: speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, & set him vp for euer.

O ye lyght and darcknes, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him / & set him vp for euer.

O ye lyghtnynges and cloudes / speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set hym vp for euer.

O let the earth speake good of the Lorde: yee let i•• prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye moūtaynes and hilles, speake good of y^• Lorde: prayse him / & set him vp for euer.

O all ye grene thynges vpon the earthe / speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / & set him vp for euer.

O ye welles, speake good of y^• Lord: praise him / and set vp for euer.

O ye sees and floudes, speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym, and set him vp for euer.

O ye whalles and al that moue in the wa∣ters, speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

O all ye foules of the ayre, speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, & set him vp for euer.

O all ye beastes & catel, speake good of y^• Lorde, prayse hym / & set hym vp for euer.

O ye chyldren of men / speake good of the Lorde, prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O let Israell speake good of the Lorde: prayse him, and set him vp for euer.

O ye prestes of the Lorde, speake good of the Lorde / prayse him / & set him vp for euer.

* 1.580 O ye seruaūtes of y^• Lord / speake good of the Lorde: prayse hym / and set him vp for euer.

O ye spretes and soules of the rightuous speake good of the Lorde, prayse hym, & set him vp for euer.

O ye holy and humble men of hert / speake ye good of the Lorde: prayse ye hym / and set him vp for euer.

O Ananias, Asarias and Misael / speake ye good of the Lord: prayse ye him, & set hym vp for euer. * 1.581 Which hath delyuered vs frō y^• hel / kept vs from the hande of death, ryd vs from the myddest of the burnynge flamme, & saued vs euen in the myddest of the fyre, * 1.582 O geue thākes therfore vnto the Lord: for he is kynde harted, & his mercy endureth for euer. O all deuoute men / speake ye good of the Lorde, euen the God of all goddes: O prayse hym / and geue hym thanckes / for his mercy endureth worlde without ende.

The story of Susā na / which is the. xiij. chapter of Daniel after the Latin.

THere dwelte a man in Babylon / [unspec] called Ioachim, y^• toke a wyfe / whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Helchia, a very fair woman, & suche a one as feared God. Her father & her mother also were god¦ly people / & taught theyr daughter accordīg to the lawe of Moyses. Nowe Ioachim (her husbāde) was a great rich man, & had a fayre orcharde ioyninge vnto his house. And to h•• resorted the Iewes comēly, because he was a mā of reputacion among thē. The same yere were there made two Iudges, suche as the Lorde speaketh of: Al the wyckednesse of Ba¦bylon / cōmeth from the elders (that is) from the iudges / whiche seme to rule the people. These came ofte to Ioachims house, and all such as had any thyng to do in the law, came thyther vnto them.

Nowe when the people came agayne at af¦ter [unspec B] noone / Susanna went into her husbādes orcharde to walcke. The elders seinge this / that she wente in daylye / and walcked: they burned for luste to her / yee they were almost out of theyr wyttes / and caste downe theyr eyes / that they shulde not se heauen / nor re∣membre / that God is a ryghtuous iudge. For they were both wounded with the loue of her / nether durst one shew another his grefe And for shame / they duest not tel her there in ordinate lust / that they wold fayne haue had to do with her. Yet they layed wayte for her earnestly from daye to day / that they myght (at the least) haue a syght of her. And the one sayde to the other: Up / let vs go home / forit is diner tyme. So they wēt their way frō her.

When they returned agayne, they came together, enquyryng out y^• matter betwyxte them selues: yee the one tolde y^• other of hys wycked lust. Then appoynted they a tyme, when they myght take Susanna alone.

It happned also y^• they spyed out a con∣uenient [unspec C] tyme, when she went forth to walke (as her maner was) and no body wyth her, but two maydens, & thought * 1.583 to wasshe her selfe in the gardē, for it was an hote season. And there was not one person there, excepte the two elders, had y^• hyd them selues, to be∣holde her. So she sayde to her maydens: go fet me oyle and sope, and shut the orcharde dore, that I may wash me. And they dyd as she bad them, and shut the orchard dore, and went out them selues at a backe dore, to fet the thyng that she had commaūded, but Su¦sanna knewe not, that the elders laye there hyd within. Nowe when the maydens were gone forth, the two elders gat them vp, and ranne vpō her, saying: now the orcharde do∣res are shut, that no man can se vs: we haue a lust vnto the, therfore cōsente vnto vs, and lye wyth vs.

If thou wylt not, we shal brynge a testy∣moniall agaynst the: that there was a yonge [unspec D] felo we wyth the, and that thou hast sente a∣way thy maydēs from the for the same cause Susanna syghed, & sayde: Alas. * I am in trouble on euery syde. Though I folow your mynde, it wyll be my death, & yf I cōsent not vnto you, I can not escape your hādes. Wel it is better for me, to fall into your hāde with out the dede doynge, then to synne in y^e syght of the Lorde: and wyth that, she cryed out wyth a loude voyce: the elders also cried out agaynst her.

Then rāne there one to the orchard dore, and smote it open. Nowe when the seruaun∣tes of the house herde the erye in the orchard, they russhed in at the backe dore, to se what the matter was. So when the elders tolde [unspec E] them, the seruauntes were greatly ashamed, for whyethere was neuer such a reporte made of Susanna. On the morowe after came the people to Ioachim her husbande, & the two elders came also, full of myscheuous ymagi¦nacyon agaynst Susanna, to brynge her vn¦to death, and spake thus before the people: Sende for Susanna the daughter of Hel∣chias, Ioachims wyfe. And imediately they sente for her. So she came wyth her father & mother her chyldrē and all her kynred. Now Susanna was a tender person, and marue∣lous fayre of face. Therfore the wycked men commaunded to take of the clothes from her face (for she was couered) that at the leest, they might so be satisfyed in her buety. Then her frendes, yee and all they that knewe her, beganne to wepe.

Those two elders stode vp in the myddest of the people, * 1.584 & layed theyr handes vpon the heade of Susanna: which wepte, and lo∣ked vp towarde Heauen / for her herte had a sure toust in the Lord. And the elders sayde: As we were walkynge in the orchard alone, thys woman came in with her two maydēs: whom she sente away from her, and sparred the orcharde dores: wyth that a yonge felow (whiche there was hyd) came vnto her, and laye with her. As for vs / we stode in a corner of the orcharde. And when we sawe this wyc¦kednes / we [unspec F] ranne to her: and perceaued, that they had medled together. But we could not holde him, for he was stronger then we: thus he opened the dore / and gat him away. Now when we had taken thys woman, we asked her / what yonge felowe thys was: but she wolde not tel vs. This is the matter, and we be wytnesses of the same. The comen sorte be¦leued them / as those that were the elders and iudges of the people, and so they condemned her to death. Susāna cryed out with a loude voyce, and sayd: O euerlastyng God, * 1.585 thou sercher of secretes, thou that knowest al thyn¦ges afore they come to pas: thou wotest, that they haue borne false wytnes agaynste me: & beholde, I muste dye, where as I neuer dyd any suche thynges, as these men haue maly∣cyously inuented agaynst me. And the Lorde herde her voyce. For when she was led forth to death, the Lorde raysed vp the sprete of a yonge chylde / whose name was Daniel, whi¦che [unspec G] cryed with a loude voyce: * 1.586 I am cleane from this bloude. Then al the people turned them towarde hym, and sayde. What meane these wordes / that thou hast spoken? Daniel stode in the myddest of thē, and sayde: Are ye suche fooles, O ye chyldren of Israel, that ye can not discerne nor know the truth? Ye haue here condemned a daughter of Israell vnto death, and know not y^• trueth wherfore: Go syt on iudgement agayne / for they haue spo¦ken false wytnesse agaynst her.

Wherfore the people turned agayne in al the hast. And the elders (that is, the pryncy∣pall heades) sayde vnto him: come syt downe here amonge vs, and shewe vs this matter / seyng God hath geuē the as greate honoure as an elder. And Daniel said vnto thē. * 1.587 Put these two asyde one from another / and then shall I heare thē. When they were put asun¦der one frome another he called one of them

and sayde vnto hym: O thou olde canckerd earle, that hast vsed thy wickednesse so lōg: thyne vngracyous dedes which y^u hast done afore / are nowe come to lyght. For thou hast geuen false iudgementes, thou hast op¦pressed the innocent / & letten the gyltye go fre / where as yet y^• Lord sayeth: * 1.588 The inno¦cent & ryghtuous se thou sley. not. Wel thā / yf thou hast sene her tell me vnder what tre sawest thou them talkyng together? He an∣swered: vnder a Molbery tree. And Danyel sayde: very well / now thou lyest euen vpon thyne head. Lo the messaunger of the Lorde hath receaued the sentence of him, to cut the in two. Then put he hym asyde / & called for the other, & sayde vnto hym: O thou sede of Canaan / but not of Iuda: Fayrenesse hathe disceaued the, and lust hath subuerted thine hert. Thus dealte ye afore with the daugh∣ters of Israel, and they (for feare) consented vnto you: but the daughter of Iuda wolde not abyde youre wyckednesse. Nowe tel me thā vnder what tree dydest y^• take thē, spea∣kinge together? He answered: Under a Pō∣granate tree. Then sayde Daniel vnto him: very wel, now thou lyest also euē vpō thine heade. The messaunger of the Lorde stan∣deth waytyng with the swerde, to cut the in two, and to sleye you both.

Wyth that, all the whole multitude gaue a greate shoute, & praysed God, * 1.589 which al∣waye delyuered them that put theyr trust in hym. And they came vpon the two elders (whome Danyell had conuycte wyth theyre owne mouth: that they had geuen false wit∣nesse) & dealte with them / euen lyke wyse as they wolde haue done with theyr neyghbou¦res: yee they dyd * 1.590 accordyng to the lawe of Moses, and put thē to death. Thus the in∣nocent blende was saued the same daye.

Then Helthiah & hys wyfe praysed God for theyr daughter Susāna, with Ioachim her husbāde and all the kynred: y^• there was no dishonestye foūde in her. From that day forth was Danyel had in great reputacion in the syght of the people. (And king Astia∣ges was layed with his fathers, and Cirus of Persya reygned in hys steade.)

¶ The ende of the storye of Susanna.

❧: The storye of Bel / and of the Dragon / whi¦che is the. xiiij. chapter of Daniel after the Latin.

O Aniel dyd eate at the kynges table, and was had in reuerence aboue al his frēdes. There was at Bavilō an yma ge, called Bel: & ther were spēt vpon him euery day. xij. cakes. xl. shepe and syxe greate pottes of wyne. Hym dyd the kynge worshyp him selfe, and wente daylye to honour him: but Daniel worshipped his owne God. And the kynge sayde vnty him: Why dost not thou worshyppe Bel? He an∣swered & sayde. * Because I maye not wor∣shyppe thynges that be made with handes, ‡ 1.591 but the liuing God, which made heauen & earth, and hath power vpon all fleshe. The kyng sayde vnto hym: thinckest thou not, y^t Bel is a lyuynge God? Or seyst y^• not howe much he eateth & dryncketh euery daye? Da¦niel smyled, and sayd: O kyng, disceaue not thy selfe: for thys is but made of claye with∣in, & of metall without, * 1.592 neyther eateth he euer any thynge,

Then the kynge was wroth, & called for hys prestes, and sayde vnto them: If ye tell me not who is thys, that eateth vp these ex∣penses, ye shall dye: but yf ye can certify me, that Bel eateth them, then Daniel shall dye, for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said vnto the kinge: let it so be accordynge as thou hast saide. The Prestes of Bel were. lxx. besyde theyr wyues & chyl∣dren. And the kynge wente wyth Danyel in to the temple of Bel. So Bels prestes sayd: Lo / we wyll go out / and set thou the meate there (O kinge) and poure in the wyne: then shut the dore faste / and seale it wyth thyne owne sygnet: and to morow whē thou com∣mest in / yf thou fyndest not that Bell hathe eaten vp all, we wyl suffre death: or els Da∣nyell that hath lyed vpon vs. The Prestes [unspec B] thought them selues sure ynough, for vnder the altare they had made a preuy entraūce / and there wente they in euer / & dyd eate vp what there was.

So when they were gone forth, the kynge set meates before Bel. Now Daniel had cō∣maunded hys seruauntes to brynge asshes, & these he syfted thorowe out all the temple / that the kynge myght se. Then wente they out, and sparred the dore, sealyng it with the kynges signet / & so departed. In the nyght came the prestes with theyr wyues and chil¦dren (as they were wōte to do) & dyd eate & dryncke vp al. In the morning by tymes at the breake of the daye / the kynge arose / and [unspec C] Daniel wyth hym. And the kynge sayd: Da¦niel, are the seales whole yet? He answered:

Yet (O kyng) they be whole. Now as soone as he had opened y^• dore, the kyng loked vn to the aultare, and cryed with a loude voice Greate art thou O Bel / and with the is no disceate. Thē laughed Danyel, and helde y^• kynge that he shulde not go in, and said. Be holde the pauement, marcke well, whose to∣testeppes are these? The king saide: I se the fotesteppes of men, wemen and chyldren.

Therfore the kynge was angrye / and [unspec D] toke the prestes, with their wyues and chyl∣dren, and they shewed hym the preuy dores / where they came in, & dyd eate vp such thyn ges as were vpō the aultare. For the which cause the kyng slewe thē, * 1.593 & deliuered Bel into Daniels power / which destroyed hym and hys temple.

And in that same place there was a great Dragon, which they of Babylon worshyp∣ped. And the king saide vnto Daniel, satest thou / that thys is but a God of metal also? lo / he lyueth / he eateth and dricketh: so that thou canst not saye / y^• he is no lyuyng God / therfore worshype hym. Daniel sayde vnto the kynge: I wyll worshyppe the Lorde my God, * 1.594 he is y^• true lyuinge god: as for this / he is not the god of lyfe. But geue me leaue (O Kynge) and I shall destroye thys Dra∣gon without swearde or staffe. The Kynge [unspec E] said. I geue y^• leaue. Thē Daniel toke pitch / fatte and hearrye wol / and dyd sethe thē to∣gether / and made lompes therof: this he put in the Dragons mouth / and so the Dragon burst in sonder: and Daniel sayd: lo there is he whome ye worshypped. When they of Babylon herde y^• / they toke greate inding∣nacyon / & gathered them together agaynst the kynge, saiynge: The Kynge is become a Iewe & he hath destroied Bel, he hath siaine the Dragon, and put the prestes to deathe. So they came to the kyng, and sayd: let vs haue Daniel, or els we wyll destroy the and thyne house. Now when the kynge sawe, y^• they russhed in so sore vpon hym / and that necessite cōstrained him, ‡ 1.595 he delyuered Da∣niel vnto them: which cast him into the liōs denne, where he was sixe daies. In y^• denne there were seuen lyōs, & they had geue them euery daye two bodyes & two shepe: whiche then were not geuen them, to the intēt that they myght deuoure Daniel.

There was in Iewry a Prophete called [unspec F] Abacuc, which had made potage, and brokē bred in a depe platter, and was goyng into the felde, for to bryng it to the reapers. But the Angel of the Lorde sayde vnto Abacuc: go cary the meate that thou hast into Baby¦lon, vnto Daniel, which is in the lyōs dēne.

And Abacuc sayde: Lorde / I neuer sawe Babylon: and as for the denne / I knowe it not. * 1.596 Then the Angel of the Lord toke him by the toppe / and bare hym by the heare of the head, and (thorow a myghtye wynde) set him in Babylon vpon the denne. And Aba∣cuc cried. saying: O Danyel * 1.597 y^• seruaunt of God, haue, take y^• breakfast / that God hath sent the. And Daniel sayde: O God / hast y^• thought vpon me? well / thou neuer saylest them that loue the. So Daniel arose, & dyd eate: and the Angel of the Lorde set Abacuc in his owne place agayne immediatly.

Upon the seuenth daye, the kinge wente [unspec G] to bewepe Daniel: and when he came to the dēne, he loked in: and beholde, Daniel sat ī the myddest of the Lyons. Then cryed the kyng with a loude voyce, saying: Great art thou, O Lord God of Danyel: * 1.598 & he drewe hym out of the lyōs dēne. ‡ 1.599 As for those that were the cause of his destructyō, he did cast thē into the denne, and they were deuoured in a momēt before hys face. After th{is}, wrote the kynge vnto all people, kynredes and tonges / that dwelt in al countrees, sayēge: peace be multiplied with you. My commaū demente, is in all the dominion of my real∣me: that men feare & stāde in awe of Daniels god, for he is y^• lyuīge god, which endureth euer: hys▪ kyngdome abideth vncorrupt, & hys power is euerlastinge. It is he that cā deliuer & saue he doth wōders & maruelous workes ī heauen & ī earth, for he hath saued Daniel frō the power of the Lyons.

¶ The ende of the Storye of Bel.

❧: The prayer of Manasses king of Iuda when he was holden captyue in Babylon.

O Lorde almyghtye / [unspec A] god of our fathers Abrahā I∣saac & Iacob / & of the rightu∣ous sede of them: which haste made heauen & earth, w^t al the ornament therof, which hast ordened the see by the worde of thy commaundemēt; which hast shut vp the depe, and haste sealed it for thy fearfull and laudable name / which all men feare, and trēble before the face of thy vertue, and for y^• anger of thy threatenyng / the which is importable to sinners. But the mercy of thy promes is greate and vnsear∣cheable, for thou arte the Lorde God moste

hyghe, aboue all the earth, lōg suffryng, and exceadynge mercyful, and repentaūt for the malice of mē. Thou Lord after thy goodnes hast promysed repentaunce of the remission of synnes: and thou that arte the God of the rightuous / hast not put repentaunce to the rightuous, Abrahā Isaac / and Iacob, vnto thē that haue synned against the: But because I haue sinned aboue the nombre of the sandes of the see, and that myne iniquy∣tyes are multyplyed / I am humbled wyth many bādes of yron, & ther is in me no brea∣thynge. I haue prouoked thyne anger, and haue done euyll before the / in commyttinge abhomynacyons and multyplyinge offen∣ces. And now I bowe the knees of my hert / requyring goodnes of the O Lord, I haue, synned Lorde I haue synned / and knowe myne inyquytye. I desyre the by prayer / O Lorde forgeue me: forgeue me and destroye me not with myne inyquytyes / neyther do thou alwayes remēbre myne euylles to pu∣nysh them, but saue me (whiche am vnwor∣thy) after thy great mercy: and I wyll prayse the euerlastyngly / all the dayes of my lyfe: for all the vertue of heuē prayseth the, and vnto the be∣longeth glory, worlde with oute ende. Amen

❧: The fyrst boke of the Machabees.

¶ After the deathe of Alexander the Kyng of Macedonia. Antio••hu•• taketh the kingdome. Many of the childrē of Is¦rael moke couenaūt with the Gētyles. Antiochus subdueth Egypt •• Ierusalē vnto his dominion. Ierusalē being burnt maketh lawes of her owne, and forbyddeth to kepe Goddes lawes. Ant••••ch•••• setteth vp an Ibol ouer the alt••r of god.

CAPI. I.

AFter that Alexandre [unspec A] the sonne of Philippe, kynge of Macedonia wēt forth of the lāde of Cethim, & slew Darius king of the persyans and Medes: It happened, y^• he toke greate warres in hand, wanne very many stronge cities, and slewe many kynges of the earth: going thorow to the endes of the worlde / and gettyng many spoyles of the people: In so much / that the worlde stode in greate awe of hym, * 1.600 & there¦fore was he proude in his herte. Now whan he had gathered a myghtye stronge hoost & subdued the lādes & people with theyr prin∣ces, so y^• they became tributaries vnto him, he fel syck. And whē he perceaued y^• he mu•• nedes dye / he called for hys noble estates (whiche had bene brought vp with hym of chyldren) * 1.601 & parted hys kyngdome among them / whyle he was yet alyue. So Aleāder raygned. xii. yeare, and then dyed.

After hys death fell the kyngdome vnto hys prynces, and they optained it euery one in hys rowne / and caused them selues to be crowned as kynges: and so dyd theyr chyl∣drē after them many yeares, and much wic∣kednesse increased i the worlde. Out of these came y^• vngracious rote, noble Anty••chus the sonne of Antiochus y^• king (* 1.602 which had bene a pledge at Rome) and he raygned in the. C. xxxvij. yeare of the empyre of the Grekes.

In those dayes wēte there out of Israel [unspec B] wycked men, which moued much people w^t theyr councell, sayege: * 1.603 Let vs go & make a couenaunt with the Heathen / y^• are rounde aboute vs: ‡ 1.604 for sence we departed frō them / we haue had much sorow. So thys deuyce pleased them well, and certayne of y^• people toke vpon thē for to go vnto y^• kyng, which gaue thē licence to do after the ordinaūce of y^• Heathen. ‡ 1.605 Then set they vp an open scole (at Ierusalem) of the lawes of the Heathē / & were nomore cyrcum••ised: but forsoke the holy Testamente, & ioyned them selues to y^• Heathē * 1.606 , & were cleane solde to do mischefe,

So when Antiochus begāne to be migh¦tie in hys kyngdome, he wente about to op∣tayne y^• lande of Egypt also, that he myght haue the domyniō of two realmes▪ * 1.607 Upon this entred he into Egipt w^t a stōge hoost / wyth charettes, elephantes, horsmen and a greate nombre of shyppes / and begaune to warre agaīst Ptolomy the king of Egipte.

But Ptolomy was afrayed of hym / and fled: and many of his people were wounded to death. Thus Antiochus wanne many stronge cyties, and toke awaye great good out of the lande of Egypte.

* 1.608 And after that Antiochus had smytten [unspec C] Egipt, he turned againe in y^•. C. xl••••. yeare, and went towarde Israel, & came vp to I••∣••usalē w^t a myghty people: & entred proud∣ly into the Sanctuary, and toke awaye the golden altare, the cādelstycke and al the or∣namentes therof, the cable of the shewbred / the pouring vessel, the chargers▪ the golden spones, the valie, y^• crownes and golden ap¦parell of the temple, & brake downe all. He toke also the syiuer & golde, y^• precious Iew els. & the secrete treasures that he founde.〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

none other answere, neyther caste they one stone at them, nor made fast theyr preuy pla∣ces, but sayde: We wyll dye all in our inno∣cēcy, heauen & earth shal testyfie w^t vs, that ye put vs to death wrongeously. Thus they fought agaynste thē vpon y^• Sabboth / and slewe both men & catell, theyr wyues & theyr chyldren, to the nōbre of a thousande people.

When Mathathias & his frendes herde [unspec E] this, they mourned for them ryght sore / and sayde one to another: If so be that we all do as oure brethren haue done / & fyght not for our lyues & for our lawes agaynst the Hea∣then: then shall they the soner roce vs out of the earth. So they concluded among thē sel¦ues at the same tyme, sayeng: Whatsoeuer he be that commeth to make battayll with vs vpon the Sabbath daye / we wyll fyght agaynst him, & not dye all, as oure brethren that were murthured so haynouly. Upon this came the Synagoge of the Iewes vn∣to the stronge men or Israell, all suche as were feruent in the lawe. And all they that were fled for persecucyon, came to helpe thē, and to stande by thē: In so much that they gathered an hoost of men, & slewe the wyc∣ked doers in their gelousy, and the vngodly men in theyr wrath. Some of the wycked fled vnto the Heathen / and escaped.

Thus Mathathias & his frendes went about, and destroyed the aulters / and circū∣cysed the children, that had not yet receaued circūcisyon: as many as they founde within the costes of Israel: and folowed myghtely vpō the chyldren of pryde / and this acte pro¦spered in theyr hādes: In so much, that they kepte the lawe agaynste the power of the Gentyles & the kynges / and gaue not ouer theyr domynion vnto wycked doers.

After this when the tyme drewe on faste, [unspec F] that Mathathias shulde dye / he sayde vnto his sonnes: Nowe is pryde and persecucyon increased / nowe is the tyme of destruccion & wrathfull dyspleasure: wherfore (O my son∣nes) be ye feruent in the lawe, and leoparde youre lyues for the Testament of youre fa∣thers: call to remembraunce what actes our fathers dyd in theyr tyme, so shal ye receaue greate honoure and an euerlastynge name.

* 1.609 Remembre Abraā, was not he founde faythful in temtacion / and it was reckened vnto him for rightuousnes? ‡ 1.610 Ioseph i tyme of his trouble kepte the cōmaundement and was made a Lorde of Egipt. ‡ 1.611 Phinehes our father was so feruent for y^• honour of God, that he optayned the couenaunt of an euer∣lastynge presthode. * 1.612 Iosue for fulfyllinge y^• worde of God, was made the captayne of Israel. ‡ 1.613 Caleb bare recorde before the cōgre gacyon and receaued an heretage. * 1.614 Dauid also in his mercyfull kyndnesse / optayned the trone of an euerlastynge kyngdome.

* 1.615 Elias beyng gelous & feruēt in the lawe, was taken vp into heauen. Hananias / Asa¦rias & Mysael remayned stedfast in fayth, and were delyuered out of the fyre. In lyke maner * 1.616 Daniel beinge vngyltye / was sa∣ued from the mouth of the Lyons.

And thus ye maye consydre thorow out [unspec G] all ages sence y^• worlde begāne{is} * 1.617 that who∣soeuer put their trust in God, were not ouer come * 1.618 Feare not ye then y^• wordes of an vn¦godly man, ‡ 1.619 for his glory is but donge and wormes: to day is he set vp, and to morowe is he gone: for he is turned into earth / & his memoryal is come to naught. Wherfore (O my sonnes) take good hertes vnto you / and quyte youre selues lyke men in the lawe: for yf ye do the chynges that are commaunded you in the lawe of the Lorde youre God, ye shal optayne greate honoure therin.

And beholde / I knowe that your brother Symon is a man of wysdome: se y^• ye geue eare vnto hym alwaye / he shalbe a father vnto you. As for Iudas Machabeus / he hathe euer bene mightye & stronge from his youth vp, let him be your captayne / & ordre the battayll of y^• people: thus shal ye brynge vnto you al those y^• fauoure the lawe, and se that ye auenge the wrōge of your people, & recompence the Heathen agayne. & applye yourselues whole to the commaundement of the lawe. So he gaue them his blessynge, and was layed by his fathers: & died in the: C. &. xlvi. yeare at Modyn, where hys sōnes buryed him in hys fathers sepulcre / and all Israell made greate lamentacyon for hym.

¶ Iudas is made ruler ouer the Iewes. He kylleth Appol¦lonius and Scran the Prince of Syrta. The confydence of Iudas towarde God. Iudas determyneth to fyght agaynst Lysias, whom Antiochus had made cuptayne ouer his host. The prayer of the absteyncts.

CAPI. III.

THEN stode vp Iudas Machabeus in his fathers steade / & all his brethren [unspec A] helped hym: and so dyd all they that helde wyth hys father / and fought wyth chere∣fulnesse for Israell. So Iudas gat hys peo¦ple great honoure: He put on a brest plate as a gyaunte, & arayed him selfe wyth hys har∣nesse / and defended the hoste with hys swe∣arde. In his actes he was lyke a Lyon, & as a lyons whelpe roaringe at his praye. * 1.620 He* 1.621 was an enemye to the wycked, & hunted thē

out: * 1.622 & brent vp those y^• vexed his people: So that his enemyes fled for feare of hym, and all y^• workers of vngodlynes were put to trouble: suche lucke & prosperyte was in his hāde. This greued dyuerse kynges, but Iacob was greatly reioysed thorow his ac∣tes, & he gat him selfe a great name for euer.

He wente thorow the cyties of Iuda / de∣stroyenge the vngodly out of thē, turnynge awaye the wrath from Israell / and recea∣uynge such as were oppressed: and the fame of him went vnto the vtter most parte of the earth. Then Appollonius (a prynce of Sy∣ria) gathered a myghtye greate hoost of the Heathē, & out of Samaria, to fight agaynst Israell. Which when Iudas perceaued / he went forth to mete hym / fought with hym, slewe him / and a great multitude with him, the remnaūt fled, & he toke theyr substaūce, Iudas also toke Appolonius owne swerde, and fought with it all his lyfe longe.

Now whē Seron (an other prynce of Si¦ria) [unspec B] herde saye, y^• Iudas had gathered vnto hym the cōgregacyon & church of the fayth∣ful: he sayde: I wyl get me a name, & a pray se thorowe out y^• realme: for I wyl go fyght with Iudas, & them that are with hym / as many as haue despysed the kynges cōmaū∣dement. So he made hym ready / and there went with him a greate myghtye hoost of y^• vngodly; to stande by him, and to be auēged of the chyldren of Israell. And when they came nye vnto Bethoron, Iudas wēt forth agaynst them with a small company. And when hys people sawe such a great hoost be fore them, they sayde vnto Iudas: Howe are we able (beinge so fewe) to fyght agaynst so great a multitude, and so strong, seinge we be so weery, and haue fasted all thys daye?

* 1.623 But Iudas sayde: It is a smal matter for many to be ouercomed w^t fewe, yee there is no difference to the God of heauen, to de∣lyuer by a great multitude, or by a smal cō∣pany: * 1.624 for the victory of the battell stādeth not in y^• multitude of the host, but y^• strēgth commeth from heauen. Beholde, they come agaynst vs with a presumptnous & proude multytude, to destroye vs, oure wyues and our chyldren / and to robbe vs. But we wyll fyght for our lyues / & for our lawes, and the Lorde hym selfe shal destroye thē before our face: therfore be not ye afrayed of them.

As soone as he had spoken these wordes, [unspec C] he leapte sodenly vpon them. Thus was Seron smytten / and his hoost put to flight, and Iudas folowed vpō them beyonde Be∣thoron vnto the playne felde: where there were slayne eyght hundreth men of them, and the resydue fled into the lande of the Phylystynes. Then al the Heathē on euery syde were afrayed of Iudas and hys bre∣thren: so that the rumoure of hym came vn∣to the kynges eares, for all the Gentyles coulde not tell of the warres of Iudas.

So when kynge Antiochus hearde these [unspec D] tidynges, he was angry in his minde: wher¦fore he sente forth / and gathered an hoost of his whole realme / very strōge armyes: and opened hys treasury / and gaue hys hoost a yeares wages in hande / commaundynge them to be ready at all tymes.

Neuerthelesse when he sawe / that there was not moneye ynoughe in his treasuries, and that thorowe the dyscorde and persecu∣cyon, whiche he made in the lande (to put downe the lawes that had bene of olde ty∣mes) hys customes and trybutes of the lāde were mynyshed: he feared that he was not able for to beare the costes and charges any longer / nor to haue suche gyftes / to geue so lyberally, as he dyd afore, more then y^• kyn∣ges that were before hym.

Wherfore, he was heuy in his mynde, and thought▪ * 1.625 to go in to Persides / for to take trybutes of the lande / and so to gather moche money. So he lefte Lysyas (a noble man of the kynges bloude) to ouerse the kyn¦ges busynesses / from the water Euphrates vnto the borders of Egypte: & to kepe well his sonne Antiochus / tyll he came agayne.

Moreouer / he gaue him half of his hoost, [unspec E] and Elephantes / and commytted vnto him euery thynge of hys mynde / concernynge those which dwelt in Iuda and Ierusalem, that he shulde sende out an army agaynste them / to destroye & to rote out the power of Israell and the remnaunte of Ierusalem: to put out theyr memoriall from that place, to set straungers for to inhabyte all theyr quarters / and to parte theyr lande amonge* 1.626 them: Thus the kynge toke the other parte of the hoost / & departed frō Antioch (a cytie of his reame) ouer the water of Euphrates, in the hundreth and. xlvij. yeare, and wente thorowe the hye countries.

* 1.627 And Lysyas chose vnto hym Ptolomy the sonne of Doriminus, Nicanor, and Gor∣gias myghty men, and the kynges frendes. These he sent with .xl. thousande fote men and. vii. thousand horsmē, for to go in to the lāde of Iuda & to destroye it / as the kynge commaunded. So they wēre forth wyth all their power / and came to Emuians into the playne felde. Whan the marchauntes heard

the rumoure of them / they and theyr ser∣uauntes toke very muche syluer and gol••••, for to bye the chyldren of Israel to be theyr bonde men. There came vnto them also yet ••••o men of warre on euery syde / out of Sy∣ria and from the Palestynes.

Nowe when Iudas & his brethren sawe [unspec F] that trouble increased, & that the host drewe ney vnto theyr borders: cōsidering y^• kinges wordes which he cōmaunded vnto the peo∣ple: namely, that they shulde vtterly waste and destroye thē: They sayde one to another: Let vs redresse the decaye of oure people, let vs fyght for oure folke and for our Sanc∣tuarye. Then the congregacyon were soone ready gathered to fyght, to praye & to make supplicacyon vnto God for mercy & grace.

* 1.628 As for Ierusalem, it laye voyde, & was as it had bene a wildernesse. There went no man in nor out at it / & the Sanctuary was troden downe. The al••aūtes kepte y^• castel, there was the habytacyon of the Heathen. The myrth of Iacob was tak•• away, y^• pipe and the harpe was gone frō amonge them.

The Israelytes gathered thē to gether, and came to Maspha before Ierusalem: for in Maspha was the place * 1.629 where they prayed afore tyme in Israel. So they fasted that daye, and put sackclothes vpon them, ••ast asshes vpon theyr heades / tente theyr clothes / & layde forth the bokes of the lawe (wherout the Heathen sought the lykenesse of theyr ymages) and brought the Prestes ornamentes, the fyrstlinges and the tythes. They set there also the * 1.630 absteyners (whiche had fulfylled theyr dayes) before God / and cryed with a loude voyce towarde heauen, sayinge: What shall we do with these? and [unspec G] whyther shall we cary them awaye? For thy Sanctuary is troden downe and defyled, thy prestes are come to heuynesse and dys∣honour: and beholde / the Heathen are come together for to destroye vs. Thou knowest what thynges they ymagine agaynste vs. Howe maye we stande before them / except thou (O God) be oure helpe?

They blewe out the trōpette also with a loude voyce. The Iudas ordened * 1.631 captay∣nes ouer the people: ouer thousandes / ouer hundredes, ouer ••yfrye, and ouer ten. But as for suche as buylded thē houses, maryed wyues / planted them vyneyardes, & those that were fearfull he: cōma••••ed thē euery mā to go home agayne, accordynge * 1.632 to the lawe. So the hoost remoued / and pytched vpon the southsyde of Emmaus.

And Iudas sayde: Arme your selues: be stronge (O my chyldren) make you ready agaynst to morowe in the mournynge / that ye maye fyght with these people / which are agreed together to destroye vs and oure Sanctuary. Better is it for vs to dye in battayl / than to ••e our people and our sanc∣tuary in suche a myserable case. * 1.633 Neuerthe¦lesse / as thy wyll is in heauen / so be it.

¶ Iuda•• goeth agaynst Gorgias which ••••eth ••n wayte. He pu••••••th Gorgias and his hoost to ••••yght. ••ysya•• ••••••••deth ••••wrye▪ but Iudas dryueth hym out. Iudas pu••••••y••th the temple and de••y••at••th the ••u••••••re.

CAPI. IIII.

THEN toke Gorgias fyue thousande [unspec A] men of fote / and a thousande of the* 1.634 best horsmen: & remoued by nyght to come nye where the Iewes hoost laye / and so to slaye them sodenly. Nowe the men that kepte the cast••ll / were the co••••eyers of thē. Then arose Iudas to smyte the chefe and principal of the kynges Hoost at Emmaus, for the army was not yet come together. In the meane season came Gorgias by nyght in to Iudas tentes: and when he founde no man there / he sought them in the mountay∣nes / and thought they had bene fled awaye because of hym. But when it was daye, Iudas shewed hym selfe in the felde with thre thousande men onely, which had nether harnesse nor swardes to theyr myndes.

But on the other syde, they sawe that the Heathen were myghtye and well harnessed, and theyr hors••••ē aboute them / and all these well experte in feates of warre. Then sayde Iudas to the mē that were with hym: Feare not ye the multitude of them / be not afrayed of theyr vyolente runnynge: remēbre, howe oure fathers were delyue••ed * 1.635 in the reed see, when Pharao folowed vpon them with a greate Hoost.

Euen so let vs also crye nowe towarde heauen: & the Lorde shall haue mercy vpon vs, and remembre the couenaunt of our fa∣thers, yee & destroye this Hoost before oure face this daye: And all the Heathen shall knowe / that it is God hym selfe / whiche de∣lyuereth and saueth Israell.

Then the Heathen left vp theyr eyes: and [unspec B] when they sawe that they were commynge agaynst them, they went out of theyr tentes into the battayll: and they that were with Iudas, blewe vp the trōpettes. * 1.636 So they buckled together, and the Heathen were dis¦comfyted and fled ouer the playne felde: but the hynmost of them were slayne. For they folowed vpō them vnto Assaremoth, and in

to the feldes of Idumea towarde Azot and Iam••••a: so that there were slayne of them vpon a thre thousande men. So Iudas tur∣ned agayne wyth hys Hoste, and sayde vnto the people: Be not gredy of the spoyles / we haue yet a batayle to fyght: for Gorgias and his hoste are here by vs in the mountaynes / but stande ye fast agaynst our enemyes / and ouer come them: then may ye safely take the spoyles.

As Iudas was speakynge these wordes, [unspec C] beholde there appeared one parte of thē vpō the mounte. But whan Gorgyas sawe that they of hys partye were fled / and the tentes brent vp (for by the smoke they myght vnder stande what was done) they perceyuing this were very sore afrayed: and when they sawe also that Iudas and his host were in the feld redy to strike batta••le, they fled euer••chone in to the lande of the Heathen.

So Iudas turned agayne to spoyle the tentes / where they gat muche golde and syl∣uer, precious stones, purple & greate ryches. Thus they went home / and songe a Psalme of thankesgeuynge, and praysed God in hea¦uen: * 1.637 for he is gracyous, & hys mercy endu∣reth for euer: And so Israel had a great victo¦ry in that daye.

Nowe al the Heathen that escaped / came and tolde Lysias euery thynge as it happe∣ned. Wherfore Lisias was sore afrayed, and greued in hys minde / because Israel had not gottē such misfortune as he wold they shuld / neyther as the Kynge cōmaūded. The nexte yeare folowynge, gathered Lysias thre score thousande chosen mē of fote / & fyue thousāde horsmen, to fyght agaynst them.

So they came into Iewry, and pytched [unspec D] their tētes at Bethoron, where Iudas came agaynst them with ten thousande men. And whē he sawe so great & myghtye an hoste / he made hys prayer and sayde: Blessed be thou (O sauiour of Israell) * 1.638 whyche dyddest de∣stroy the violent power of the gyaunt, in the hande of thy seruaunte Dauyd, * 1.639 and gauest the hoste of the Heythen into the hande of Io¦nathas (the sonne of Saul) and of hys wea∣pen bearer.

Put thys hoste nowe into the hande of thy people of Israell / and let them be confoun∣ded in theyr multytude and horsmen. Make them afrayed, & discomforte the boldnes of their strēgth / that they maye be moued tho∣row their destruccion. Cast them downe tho¦row the swearde of thy louers / then shall all they that knowe thy name / prayse the wyth thankesgeuyng.

So they stroke the battayl, and their wer slayne of Lysyas hoste, fyue thousande men. Then Lysias seynge the discomfitynge of hys men / and the manlynesse of the Iewes / howe they were ready, either to ••yue or to dye lyke men: He went vnto Antyoche / and chose out men of warre: that whan they were ga∣thered together, they myght come agayne in to Iewry. Then sayde Iudas and his bre∣thren: beholde, our enemyes are discomfited: Let vs nowe go vp / to clense▪ and to repayre the Sanctuary.

* 1.640 Upon thys / all the hoste gathered them [unspec E] together / and wente vp into mounte Syon. Nowe whan they sawe the Sāctuary layed waste, y^• aulter defyled / the dores brēt vp, the shrubbes growynge in the courtes, lyke as in a wod or vpon mountaynes, yee & y^• the pre∣stes Celles were broken downe: They rente their clothes, made great lamentacion, caste asshes vpon their heades, fell downe flat to the grounde / made a greate noyse wyth the trompettes, & cryed towarde heauen:

Then Iudas appoynted certayne men to fyght agaynst those which were in the castel tyll they had clensed the Sanctuary. So he chose prestes y^• were vndefyled, suche as had pleasure in the lawe of God: and they clensed the Sanctuary, and bare oute the defyled stones into an vncleane place. And for so muche as the aulter of burnt offeringes was vnhalowed, he toke aduysemente, what he myght do w^t all: so he thought it was beste to destroy it (least it shuld happen to do thē any shame) for the Heythen had defyled it, & ther∣fore they brake it downe. As for the stones / they layed them vp vpon the mountayne by the house in a cōuenient place: tyl there came a Prophete, to shewe, what shulde be done wyth them.

* 1.641 So they toke whole stones accordige to [unspec F] y^• lawe, & buylded a newe aulter suche one as was before, & made vp y^• Sanctuary within and without, and halowed the house and the courtes. They made newe ornamentes, and brought the candelstycke, the aulter of incen¦se, and the table in to the temple. The incense layed they vpon the aulter / and lyghted the lampes whiche were vpon the candelstycke / y^• they myght burne in the temple. They set the shewbred vpon the table, and hanged vp the vayle, and set vp the temple, as it was a∣fore. * 1.642 And vpon the. xxv. daye of the. ix. mo∣neth, whiche is called the moneth of Ca••••eu, in the. Cxl viij. yere: they rose vp by tymes in the mornynge for to do sacryfyce (accordyng to the lawe) vpon the newe burnte offerynge

aulter that they had made: after the tyme & season that the Heythen had defyled it. The same day was it set vp agayne, with songes pypes / harpes & cymbales.

And all the people fell vpon their faces / [unspec G] worshyppyng & thanckyng the God of hea∣uen, whiche had geuen them the vyctorye. * 1.643 So they kepte the dedicacion of the aulter. vii••. dayes, offrynge burnt sacrifyces & thāk∣offerynges with gladnesse.. They deckte the temple also with crownes & shyldes of gold and halowed the portes & celles, & hāged do∣res vpō thē. Th{us} there was very great glad∣nes amonge the people, because the blasphe∣my of the Heythen was put away. So Iu∣das & his brethren with the whole congrega¦cion of Israel / ordeyned, y^• the tyme of the de¦dicacions* 1.644 of the aulter shulde be kept in his season from yeare to yeare / by the space of. vii••. dayes, from the. xxv. day of the moneth Casieu: wyth myrth and gladnes.

And at y^• same tyme buylded they vp the mount Syon with hye walles and stronge towres roūde aboute: lest the Gentiles shuld come and treade it downe / as they dyd afore Therfore Iudas set men of warre in it, to kepe it: & made it stronge / for to defende * 1.645 Be thsura: that the people myght haue refuge a¦gaynst the Edomytes.

CAPI. V.

[unspec A]

¶ Iud••s vaynquyshed the Heathen that go aboute to de∣stroye Israel and is holpen of his brethren Simon and Iona th••s. He ouerthroweth the cytie of Ephron because they de∣nyed hym passage thorowe it.

IT happened also that whan the Heythen rounde about herd, howe that the aulter & the Sāctuary were set vp ī their olde estate it displeased them very sore, wherefore they thought to destroy y^• generacion of Iacob y^• was among thē: In so moche y^• they begāne to sley and to persecute certayne of the people * 1.646 Then Iudas fought agaynste the chyl∣dren* 1.647 of Esau in ••dumia, and agaynst those whiche were at Arabathane (for they dwelte rounde aboute the Israelites) where he slewe and spoyled a greate multitude of them. He thought also vpon the malyce and vnfayth∣fulnes of the chyldren of Bean / howe they were a snare & stoppe vnto the people, & how they layed wayte for them in the hye waye: wherfore he shut them vp into towres / and came vnto them, destroyed them vtterly, and brent vp theyr towres / wyth all that were in them.

Afterwarde wente he agaynste the chyl∣dren of Ammon / wherof he founde a mygh∣tye power & a greate multitude of people / with Timothy their captayne. So he stroke many battayles with them / whyche were dy¦stroyed before him. And when he had slayne them, he wanne Gazer the cytie / wyth the townes belongynge therto, and so turned a∣gayne into Iewry. The Heathen also in Ga¦laad gathered thē together agaynst the Is∣raelites that were in their quarters / to s••ey•• thē: but they fled to the Castell of Dathemā / and sente letters vnto Iudas & his brethren, [unspec B] sayinge: The Heythen are gathered agaynst vs on euery syde, to destroye vs, & nowe they make them redy for to come / & lay sege to the castell, wherunto we are sled, and Timothy is the captayne of their Hoste: come therfore / and delyuer vs out of their handes: for there is a greate multitude of vs slayne al readye. Yee & our brethren y^• were at Tubin, are slay∣ne & destroyed (wel nye a thousāde mē) & their wyues, theyr chyldren & theyr goodes haue the enemyes led away captiue.

Whyle these letters were yet a readynge, beholde, there came other messaungers from Galile, with rente clothes: whiche tolde euen the same tydynges / and sayde / that they of Ptolomais / of Tyrus and of Sydon were gathered agaynst them, and that all Galilee was fylled with enemyes to destroye Israell * 1.648 When Iudas & the people herde this / they came together (a great congregacion) to de∣uyse, what they myght do for theyr brethren / that were in trouble & beseged of theyr ene∣myes. And Iudas sayd vnto Simō his bro∣ther: chose the out certayne men, and go deli∣uer thy brethrē in Galile: As for me and my brother Ionathas / we wyll go into Galaa∣dithim. So he left Iosephus the sonne of Za¦chary / and Azarias to be Captaynes of the people, and to kepe the remnaunt of the Host in Iewry, and commaunded them / sayinge: Take the ouersyght of thys people / and se y^t ye make no warre agaynst the Heythen / vn∣tyll the tyme that we come agayne. And vn∣to Simon he gaue thre thousande men, for to go into Galile / but Iudas hym selfe had eyght thousande in Galaadithim.

Then wente Symeon into Galile / and [unspec C] stroke dyuers batayles with y^• Heythen: whō he discomfyted, and folowed vpō them vnto y^• porte of Ptolomais, And there were slayne of the Heythen almoste thre thousande men. So he toke the spoyles of them / and caryed awaye the Israelites / that were in Galilee and Arbatis / wyth theyr wyues / theyr chyl∣dren and all that they had / & brought them into Iewry wyth greate gladnesse. Iudas Machabeus also & his brother Ionathas / went ouer Iordane, and trauayled. iij. dayes

iourney in the wyldernesse: where the Ne∣buthees met them, and receiued them louing¦ly / and tolde them euery thyng that had hap¦pened vnto theyr brethren in Galaadithim, and how that many of them were beseged in Barasa / Bosor, Al••mis Casphor, Mageth & Carnaim (all these are stronge walled and myghtye greate cyties) and that they were kepte in other cities of Galaad also: and to morow they are apoynted to bryng their host vnto these cities, to take them / and to winne them in one daye.

So Iudas and his hoste turned in al the haste in the wyldernesse warde Bosor, and wanne the cytie / slewe all the males with the swearde, toke all theyr goodes, and set fyre vpon the cytie. And in the nyght they toke their iourneye from thence, and came to the castell: And by tymes in the mornynge when they loked vp / beholde / there was an innu∣merable people bearynge ladders and other instrumētes of warre / to take the castell and to ouercome them.

When Iudas sawe that the battayll be∣ganne, and that the noyse therof wente vp & range in to the heauen, and that there was so greate a crye in the cytie: He sayd vnto his host fyght this daye for youre brethren. And so came behynde their enemyes in thre com∣panyes, and blewe vp the trompettes / and cryed in their prayer to God.

But as soone as Timothes hoste percey∣ued y^• Machabeus was there, they fled from hym, and the other slewe them downe ryght sore: so that there were kylled of thē the same daye / almost eyght thousande men. Then de¦parted Iudas vnto Maspha, layed sege vn∣to it, and wanne it, slewe all the males in it, spoyled it / and set fyre vpon it. From thence went he and toke Casbon, Mageth, Bosor / and the other cyties in Galaad.

* 1.649 After this gathered Timothy another [unspec D] Hoste, whiche pitched their tentes before Ra¦phon beyonde the water. Iudas also sent to spye the Hoste, & they brought him worde a∣gayne, saying: All the Heythen that be roūde aboute vs are gathered vnto hym / and the Hoste is very greate: Yee they haue hyred the Arabians to helpe them, and haue pytched their tentes beyonde the water, and are ready to come & fyght agaynst the. So Iudas wēt on to mete them.

And Timothy sayde vnto the captaynes of his hoste: when Iudas & hys hooste come nye the ryuer: yf he go ouer fyrst, we shall not be able to withstande him: for whyche wyl be to stronge for vs. But yf he dare not come ouer / so that he pytch his tent besyde the wa¦ter: then wyl we go ouer / for we shalbe strōg ynough agaynst him. Nowe as soone as Iu¦das came to y^• ryuer, he appoynted certayne scrybes of the people, & commaunded them, sayinge: se that ye leaue none behynde vpon this syde of the ryuer, but let euery mā come to the battayle. So he wente first ouer vnto them & his people after hym.

And all the Heythen were dyscomfyted before him, and let their weapens fall, & rāne into the tēple that was at Carnaim. Whiche cytie Iudas wanne, and brente the temple wyth all that were in it: So was Carnaim subdued, and myght not withstāde Iudas. Then Iudas gathered all the Israelit{is} that were in Galaadithim / from the lest vnto the moste, wyth theyr wyues and theyr chyldren (a very great hoost) for to come into the land of Israel.

* 1.650 So they came vnto Ephrō, which was [unspec E] a myghtye, great and stronge cytie, and laye in their waye. For they coulde not go by it•• nether of the ryght hande nor of the lefte, but must go thorowe it. Neuertheles they y^t were in y^• cytie, wolde not let them go thorowe, but walled vp the portes w^t stones. And Iudas sent vnto thē w^t peaceable wordes, sayinge: Let vs passe thorow your lande, y^t we may go into our owne countre: there shal no body do you harme, we wyl but onely go thorowe on fote. But they wolde not let them in.

Wherfore Iudas commaunded a procla¦macyon to be made thorowe out the Hoste, that euery man shulde kepe his ordre: and so they dyd there best lyke valeaunt men.

And Iudas beseged y^• cytie all that daye and all that nyght, & so wanne it: where they slewe as many as were males, and destroyed the citie, and spoyled it, and wente thorowe all the cytie ouer them y^t were slayne. Then went they ouer Iordane into the plaine feld before Betsan. And Iudas helped those for∣ward y^t came behinde, & gaue the people good exhortacion al the way thorow, tyl they were come into the lande of Iuda. Thus they wēt vp vnto the mount Syon, where they offred with myrth * 1.651 & thākesgeuynge: because there were none of them slayne, but came home a∣gayne peaceably.

Nowe what tyme as Iudas & Ionathas were in the lande of Galaad, and Symon their brother in Galilee before Ptolomays: Then Iosephus the Sōne of Zachary and Asaryas the captaynes, hearing of the actes that were done and of the ••attales that were stroken, sayde: Let vs get vs a name also /

and go fyght agaynste the Heathen that are rounde aboute vs.

So they gaue theyr hoste a commaunde∣ment / and wente towarde Iamnya. Then [unspec F] came Gorgyas & his men out of the cytie, to fyght agaynst them: Iosephus also & Asary as were chased vnto y^• borders of Iewrye, & there were slayne that daye of the people of Israel. ij. M. men: so that there was a great misery amonge y^• people, * 1.652 & all because they were not obedient vnto Iudas and his bre∣thren, but thought they shulde quyte thē sel∣nes manfully. Neuertheles they came not of the sede of these men, by whom Israell was helped. But the men that were with Iudas, were greatly commended in the syght of all Israell and all Heythen, where so euer theyr name was herde vpō, & the people came vnto them, byddyng them welcome.

After this wente Iudas forth wyth hys brethren, and fought agaynst the chyldren of Esau, in the lande y^• lyeth towarde the south where he wanne the cytie of Hebron and the townēs that lye besyde it: & as for the walles and towres rounde aboute it, he brente them vp. Then remoued he to go into the lāde of the Philistines, and wente thorowe Sama∣ria. At the same tyme were there many pre∣stes slayne in the battayle, whiche wylfully and without aduysemente wente out for to fyght to get thē honoure. And when Iudas came to Azot in y^• Philistines lāde, * 1.653 he brake downe their aulters / bren••e the ymages of their Idols, spoyled the cities, & came again in to the lande of Iuda.

¶ Antiochus wyllyng to take the cyti•• of Elynas for a pray is d••y•••••• •• way of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He telleth into syckenesse and dyeth. His sonne Anti••ch••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••a•••• kynge. The be••••g•• of the tower of Sion. Eu••••tor cōm••••h into Iewrye with a great armye. The boldnes of E••••az••r.

CAPI. VI.

NO we when kyng Antiochus trauayled thorow the hye countrees, he herde y^• E∣lymas [unspec A] in Persia was a noble & plentuous citie in syluer & golde, & that there was in it a very riche tēple: where as were clothes, cote armours & shyldes of golde, whiche Alexan∣der the sōne of Philippe kyng of Macedonia (that raygned fyrst in Greke londe) had lefte behynde hym. Wherfore he wente aboute to take the citie & to spoyle it, but he was not a∣ble: for the citesīs were warned of it, & fought w^t him. And so he fled & departed with greate heuynesse, and came agayne into Babylon. Moreouer there came one whyche brought hym tidynges in Persyde, * 1.654 that his hoostes whiche were in the lande of Iuda / were dry¦uen away, and how that Lysias wente forth fyrst wyth a great power, and was dryuen a∣way of the Iewes: howe y^• they had wōne the victory, & gotten great goodes out of the ho∣stes y^• peryshed: howe they had broken downe the abhomynacion, * 1.655 whiche he set vp vpon* 1.656 the altare at Ierusalem, and fenced the Sāc¦tuary withe hye walles, lyke as it was afore: yee and Bethsura his cyte also.

So it chaunced, that when the kyng had [unspec B] herde these wordes, he was afrayed and gre∣ued very sore. Wherfore he layed him downe vpon his bed, and fell sycke for very sorowe: & al because it had not happened as he had de¦uysed. And there contynued he longe / for his grefe was euermore and more / so that he saw he must nedes dye. Therfore he sent for hys frendes, & sayde vnto them: the slepe is gone fro myne eyes, for the very sorowe and vexa∣cion of herte that I haue. For when I cōsidre in my mynde the greate aduersite that I am come vnto, & the floudes of heuynesse whiche I am come in, where as afore tyme I was so mery, and so greatly set by (by reason of my power) Agayne consyderyng the euyl that I haue done at Ierusalem, from whence I toke all the ryches of golde & syluer that were in it / and sent to fetche away the inhabytoures of Iewry without any reason why: I knowe that these troubles are come vpon me for the same cause. And beholde / I must dye wyth great sorowe in a straūge lande. Then called he for one Philippe a frende of his, whom he made ruler of all his realme / & gaue hym the crowne / his roabe & his ryng: y^• he shuld take his sōne Antiochus vnto him / & brynge hym vp / tyll he myght raygne him selfe. * 1.657 So the kyng Antiochus dyed there, in the. cxlix. yere [unspec C] When Lysias knewe that the kynge was deed, he ordayned Antiochus his sone (* 1.658 whō he had brought vp) to raygne in hys fathers steade, & called hym Eupator. Nowe they that were in the castell (at Ierusalem) kepte in the Iewes rounde aboute the Sanctuary & sought euer styll to do them harme, for the strengthenynge of the Heythen.

Wherfore Iudas thought to destroye thē and called all the people together / that they myght laye sege vnto thē. So they came to∣gether in the. Cl. yeare, & beseged them / lay∣inge forth theyr ordinaunce and instrumētes of warre. Then certaine of them that were be seged / wente forth (vnto whom some vngod∣ly men of Israel ioyned them selues also) and went vnto the kynge, sayinge: Howe longe wyll it be / or thou punysh and auenge oure brethren? We haue euer bene mynded to do

thy father seruyce / to walke in his statutes / and to obeye his commaundementes: Ther∣fore oure people fell from vs / & whersoeuer they founde any of vs / they slewe them: (and spoyled our inherytaunce) and they haue not onely medled wyth vs / but with all our coūtrees: and beholde / thys daye are they bese∣gyng the castel at Ierusalem, * 1.659 & haue made vp the strong holde in Bethsura: And if thou doest not preuente them ryght sone / they wyl do more then these / & thou shalte not be able to ouercome them.

* 1.660 When y^• kynge herde thys / he was very [unspec D] angrye, and called all hys frendes, the Cap∣taynes of hys fote men, and of all hys horse∣men together. He hyred men of warre also out of other realmes and out of the Iles of y^• see, whiche came vnto hym. And the nōbre of hys hoste was an hundreth thousande fote men, & twēty thousande horsmen, and. xxxij. Elephātes well exercised to battayle. These came thorowe Idumea vnto Bethsura, and* 1.661 beseged it a longe season, and made dyuerse instrumētes of warre agaynste it. But y^e Ie∣wes came out and brent thē, and fought lyke men. Then departed Iudas frō the castel at Ierusalē, & remoued the host toward Beth∣zacaran ouer agaynst the kynges army.

So the kynge arose before the daye, and brought the power of hys Hoste into the way [unspec E] to Bethzacaran / where the Hoostes made thē redy to y^• battayl, blowyng the trōpettes. And to prouoke the Elephantes for to fight, they shewed them the sappe of reed grapes & molberies. And deuyded the Elephātes a∣mong the Host: so y^• by euery Elephant there stode a. M. men well harnessed, & helmettes of stele vpon theyr heades: Ye vnto euery one of y^• Elephātes also, were ordained. ••. C. hors¦men of the best, which wayted of the Elephāt goyng where so euer he wente, and departed not from him. Euery Elephant was couered with a strong tower of wod, wherupon were xxxij. valeaunt men with weapens to fyght, and within it was a man of Iude to rule the beest.

As for the remnaunt of the horsmen / he set them vpon both the sides in two partes with trompettes, to prouoke the hoste, and to stere vp suche as were slow in the armye. And whē the sunne shone vpon theyr shyldes of golde and stele, the mountaynes glistred agayne at them, and were as bryght as the cressettes of fyre. The kynges host also was deuided, one parte vpon the hye Mountaynes, the other lowe beneth: so they went on, takynge good hede / and kepynge theyr ordre. And all they that dwelt in the lande / were afrayed at the noyse of theyr hoost, when the multitude wēt forth, & when the weapens smote together / for the hoost was both great and myghty. Iudas also & his hoost entred into the bat∣tayle, & slewe. vj. C. men of the kinges army. Nowe when Eleasar y^• sonne of Saura dyd se one of y^• Elephantes deckt w^t the kynges badge / & was a more godly beest then the o∣ther: he thought y^• kynge shuld be vpon him & ieoparde him self to deliuer his people, and to get hym a perpetuall name.

Wherfore he ranne wyth a corage vnto [unspec F] the Elephāte in y^• myddest of the hoost, smy∣tyng them downe of bothe the sydes / & slewe many aboute him. So wente he to the Ele∣phantes fete / & gat hym vnder hym, & slewe him: then fell the Elephant downe vpon hī / & there he died. Iudas also & his men seing y^• power of the kyng & the myghtye vyolēce of his host / departed frō them. And the kynges armye wente vp agaynst thē towarde Ieru∣salem, & pytched their tētes in Iewry besyde mount Syon: Moreouer, the kyng toke tr••¦se with them that were in * 1.662 Bethsura.

But when they came out of the cyte be∣cause they had no vytailes within, & the lāde laye vntylled) the kynge toke bethsura, & set mē to kepe it, & turned his hooste to the place of the Sanctuary / & layed siege to it a great whyle. Where he made al maner ordinaunce handbowes, fyrye dartes, rackettes to caste stones, scorpions to shut arowes, and slinges The Iewes also made ordynaunce agaynst theirs, and fought a longe season.

But in the cytie there were no vytayles / for it was the seuenth yeare of the warres / & those Heythen y^• remayned in Iewrye / had eaten vp all their stoare. And in the Sanc∣tuary were fewe mē lefte,▪ for y^• hungre came so vpon thē, that they were scatred abroade euery man to hys owne place.

So when Lysyas hearde that Phylyppe (* 1.663 whō Antiochus the kynge whyle he was yet lyuyng / had ordayned to brynge vp An∣tiochus his sonne / that he myght be kynge) was come agayne out of Persia and Medea with the kynges hoost, & thought to optayne the kyngdome. He gat him to the kynge in al [unspec G] the haste, & to the captaynes of the hoste, and sayde: we decrease dayly, & our vytayles are but small: Agayne / the place that we laye sege vnto, is very strōg / & it were oure parte to se for the realme. Let vs agree with these men, and take truce wyth them, and with all theyr people, and graunte them to lyue after theyr lawe, as they dyd afore. For they be

greued & do all these thynges agaynst vs, be¦cause we haue despysed theyr lawe. So the kynge and the prynces were content, & sente vnto them to make peace, & they receyued it. Now when the king & the princes had made an othe vnto thē, they came out of the castell, and the kynge wente vp to mounte Syon. But when he sawe that the place was well fenced / he brake the othe that he had made, & commaunded to destroye the wall rounde a∣boute. Then departed he in all the haste, & re¦turned vnto Antioche / where he founde Phi¦lyppe hauynge dominion of the cytie. So he fought agaynst him, & toke the cytie agayne into his handes.

¶ Demetrius raygned after he had kylled Antiochus and Lysyas. He troubleth the chyldren of Israel thorowe the coū¦cell of certayne wycked personnes. The prayer of the Prestes agaynste Nicanor. Iudas kylleth Nicanor, after he had made hys prayer.

CAPI. VII.

IN the. C••••. yere came Demetrius the sōne [unspec A] of Seleucus from the citiē of Rome with a small cōpany of men, vnto a cytie of the see caste, & there he bare rule. And it chaunced / y^t when he came to Antioche the cyte of his pro¦genitours, his host toke Antiochus & Lisias to brynge them vnto hym. But when it was tolde hym, he sayde: let me not se theyr faces: So the hoste put them to death. Nowe when Demetrius was set vpon the trone of hys kyngdome, there came vnto him wicked and vngodly mē of Israell: whose captayne was Alcimus, that wolde haue bene made hye preste: These men accused y^• people of Israel vnto the kynge, sayinge: Iudas & his bre∣thren haue slayne thy frēdes, and dryuen vs out of oure owne lāde. Wherfore, sende now some man (to whom thou geuest credēce) that he may go and se all the destruccyon, whiche he hath done vnto vs & to the kynges lande, and let him be punished with all his frendes and fauourers.

Then the kynge chose Bachides a frende [unspec B] of hys, which was a man of greate power in the realme (beyonde the greate water) and faythfull vnto the kynge: and sente him to se the destruccyon that Iudas had done. And as for that wycked Alcimus, he made hym hye preste, and commaunded hym to be auēn¦ged of the chyldren of Israel. So they stode vp / and came with a greate hooste into the lande of Iuda, sendynge messengers to Iu∣das & his brethren, & speakynge vnto them wyth peaceable wordes: but vnder disceyte. * 1.664 Therfore Iudas & his people beleued not theyr sayinge, for they sawe that they were come wyth a great Hoste.

After this came the scribes together vnto Alcimus & Bachides, trustynge the best vn∣to them. And fyrste the Assideans requyred peace of them, sayinge: Alcimus the preste is come of the sede of Aarō, how can he disceyue vs? So they gaue them louynge wordes, & swore vnto them, and sayde: we wyll do you no harme: neither your frēdes: & they beleued them. But the very same daye toke they. lx. men of them & slewe them accordynge to the wordes that are wrytten: * 1.665 They haue caste the fleshe of thy saynetes, & shed their bloude [unspec C] roūde aboute Ierusalem, & there was no mā y^e wolde bury them. So there came a greate feare & drede amonge the people / sayinge: there is neither trueth nor ryghtuousnesse in thē, for they haue broken the appoyntmente & othe that they made. And Bachides remo¦ued his hoste from Ierusalem, and pytched hys tente at Betzecha: where he sent forth / & toke many of them that had forsaken hym: He slewe many of the people also and caste them into a greate pyt. Then commytted he the lande vnto Alcimus / and lefte men of warre wyth hym to helpe hym, & Bachydes him selfe went vnto the kynge, And thus Al∣cimus defended his hye presthode: & al suche as vexed Israel resorted vnto hym: In so muche that they optayned the lande of Iuda & dyd muche euyll vnto the Israelites.

Nowe when Iudas sawe all the mischefe that Alcimus and his cōpany had done (yee more then the Heythen them selues) vnto the Israelites: He went forth rounde aboute all the borders of Iewrye / and punysshed those vnfaithful rennagates, so that they came no more out into the coūtre. So when Alcimus sawe, that Iudas and his people had gotten the vpperhande, and that he was not able to abide them: he went agayne to the kyng, and sayde all the worste of them that he coulde. Then the kyng sent Nicanor one of his chefe prynces (whiche bare euyl wyll vnto Israel) and commaunded hym, that he shulde vtter¦ly destroye the people.

* 1.666 So Nicanor came to Ierusalem with [unspec D] a great hoste / and sent vnto Iudas and hys brethren wyth frendely wordes (but vnder disceyte) sayinge: there shall be no warre be∣twyxte me & you:- I wyll come wyth a fewe men / to se howe ye do / with frēdshype. Upon thys he came vnto Iudas, and they saluted one another peaceably: but y^• enemyes were appoynted to take Iudas by vyolence. Ne∣uertheles it was tolde Iudas, that he came vnto hym but vnder disceyte: wherfore he

gat hym awaye from him, & wold se hys face no more. When Nicanor perceyued that his councell was bewrayed / he went out to fight agaynste Iudas / besyde Carpharsamala: where there were slayne of Nicanors hoste. v. M. men: and the resydue sled vnto the Ca∣stell of Dauyd.

After this came Nicanor vp vnto mount Syon: and the prestes with the elders of the people wente forth to salute him peaceably / & to shewe him the burnt sacrifices that were offered for the kynge. But he laughed them and the people to scorne, moked them / defy∣led their offeringes, & spake disdaynedly / yee [unspec E] and swore in his wroth, sayenge: * 1.667 If Iu∣das and his hoste be not delyuered nowe in∣to my hādes, as soone as euer I come agay∣ne (& fare well) I shall burne vp thys house. Wyth that / wente he out in a greate angre. Then the prestes came in / and stode before the aulter of the temple, wepynge & sayinge. * 1.668 for so muche as thou (O Lorde) haste cho∣sen this house / that thy name myght be cal∣led vpō therin, & that it shulde be * 1.669 an house of prayer and peticion for thy people: Be a∣venged of this man and his host / and let thē he slayne with the sweard: remembre y^e blas∣phemies of them, and suffre them not to con∣tynue any longer.

When Nicanor was gone from Ierusa∣lem, he pytched hys tente at Bethoron / and there an hoste met hym out of Syria. And Iudas came to Adarsa with thre thousande men / & made his prayer vnto God, sayinge: O Lorde, * 1.670 because the messengers of kynge Senacherib blaphemed the / the Angel wēte forth and slewe an hundreth foure score and fyue thousāde of them. Euen so destroy thou thys hoste before vs to daye: y^• other people maye knowe howe that he hath blasphemed thy Sanctuary: and punysh hym accordyng to hys malyciousnesse.

And so the hoostes stroke y^• felde, the thyr∣tene daye of the Moneth * 1.671 Adar: and Nica∣nors hoste was discomfyted, * 1.672 & he him selfe was fyrste slayne in the battayle. When Ni∣canors men of warre sawe that he was kyl∣led, they cast awaye their weapens and fled: but the Iewes folowed vpon them an whole dayes iourney / from Adazer vnto Gazara / blowynge with the trōpettes, and makynge tokēs after them. So the Iewes came forth of all y^• townes there aboute / and blewe out theyr hornes vpō them, and turned agaynste them. Thus were they all slayne / & not one of them lefte.

Then they toke their substaūce for a pray / and smote of Nicanors heed and hys ryght hande (* 1.673 whiche he helde vp so proudly) and brought it with them, and hanged it vp afo∣re Ierusalem. Wherfore, the people were ex∣cedyngly reioysed / and passed ouer that day in greate gladnesse. And Iudas ordeyned, y^• the same daye (namely the thyrtynth daye of the moneth Adar) shulde be kepte in myrth euery yere. Thus the lande of Iuda was in rest a lytle whyle.

¶ Iudas consyderynge the power and godly polly••y•• of the Romaynes, maketh peace with them. The re••ceypt of the Ro¦maync•• sent vnto the Iewee.

CAPI. VIII.

IUdas herde also the fame of the Romay∣nes / that [unspec A] they were myghtye & baleaunte men, & a greable to all thing{is} y^• are requyred of them, and make peace with al men, which come vnto them. and how they were dough∣tye men of strēgth. Besydes that it was tolde hym of their battayles, & noble actes whiche they dyd in Galatia, howe they had conque∣red them, and brought them vnder trybute: and what greate thynges they had done in Spayne, howe that with theyr wysdome & sober behauour, they had wonne the Mynes of syluer and golde that are there / and op∣tayned all the lande, with other places farre from them: howe they had discomfyted and slayne downe the kynges that came vppon them, from the vttermost parte of the earth, and howe other people gaue them trybute uery yeare. Howe they had slayne and ouer∣come Philip and Perses kynges of Cethim, & other mo (in battayle) whiche had brought theyre ordynaunce agaynst them, howe they discomfyted great Antyochus kyng of Asia (that wolde nedes fyghte wyth theym) ha∣uynge an hundreth and twentye Elephātes, with horssemen, Charettes, and a very great hooste: howe they toke hym selfe alyue, and ordeyned hym (with suche as shulde raygne after hym) to paye them a greate trybute: * 1.674 [unspec B] Yee, and to fynde them good suretyes and pledge: besydes all thys, howe they had ta∣ken from him India, Media and Lydia (hys beste landes) and geuen them to kynge Eu∣menus. Agayne, howe they perceyuyng that the Grekes were commynge to vexe them: sente agaynst them a captayne of an hooste, whiche gaue them battayle, slewe many of them, led awaye theyr wyues and chyldren captiue, spoyled them, toke possession of their lande, destroyed theyr stronge holdes, and subdued them to be theyr bondemen, vnto thys daye. Moreouer, howe that as for other

kyngdomes and Iles, whyche somtyme w^tstode them, they destroyed thē, and broughte them vnder theyr domynyon. But helped euer theyr owne frendes and those that were confederate with them, and conquered king domes both farre and nye•• & that whosoeuer herde of their renowne, was afrayed of thē: for whō they wold help to theyr kyngdomes, those raygned: & whō it lyked not thē to ray∣gne, they put hī downe. And howe they were come to greate preemynence: hauynge no kynge among them, nether any man clothed in purple, to be magnified there thorow, but had ordayned them selues a parlamēt, wher in there sat thre hundreth and twenty Sena tours dayly vpon the councell, to dyspatche euer the busynesse of the people, and to kepe good ordre. And how that euery yeare they chose a Mayre, to haue the gouernaunce of all theyr land: to whom euery man was obe∣dyent, and there was neyther euyll wyll nor discencion among them.

Then Iudas chose Eupolemus the sonne [unspec C] of Ihon the sonne of Iacob, and Iason the sonne of Eleazar, and sent them vnto Rome for to make frendshyppe and a bonde of loue with them: that they myght take from them the bondage of y^e Grekes, for y^e Iewes sawe, that y^e Grekes wolde subdue the kyngdome of Israel. So they went vnto Rome (a very greate iourney) and came into y^e perlamente, & sayd: Iudas Machabeus with his brethrē & the people of the Iewes hath sent vs vnto you, to make a bonde of frendshyppe & peace with you, and ye to note vs as your louers & frendes. And the matter pleased y^e Romaines ryght well, wherfore it was wrytten vp: of the which the Romaynes made a wrytyng in tables of brasse, and sente it to Ierusalem: that they myght haue by them a memoryall of the same peace and bond of frēdshyp after this maner. God saue the Romaynes & the people of the Iewes both by see & by lande, and kepe the swearde & enemy from them for euermore. If there come fyrst any warre vpō the Romaines or any of their frēdes thorow out al their dominion, y^e people of the Iewes shall help them (as the tyme requyreth) and that w^t al their hertes. Also they shal neither gyue nor sende vnto theyr enemies vytayles weapens, money nor shyppes: but fulfyl this charge at the Romaynes pleasure, and take nothyng of them therfore. Agayne yf the peo¦ple of y^e Iewes happē fyrst to haue warre, the Romaynes shall stand by them with a good wyll, accordyng as the tyme wyll suffre. Ney¦ther shal they geue vnto the Iewes enemies vitayles, weapēs, money nor shippes. Thus are the Romaynes contēt to do, & shal fulfyll theyr charge without any disceit.

According to these articles, the Romaynes [unspec D] made the bonde with the Iewes. Nowe after these articles (sayde they) yf any of the parti∣es wyl put to them, or take any thyng frō thē they shall do it with the consent of both: and whatsoeuer they adde vnto thē or take from them, it shall stande fast. And as touchynge the euyl that kyng Demetrius hath done vn¦to the Iewes, we haue wrytten vnto him say¦inge: wherfore layest thou thy heuy yocke v∣pon the Iewes our frendes and louers? If they make any cōplaynte of the againe vnto vs, we shall defende them, & fyght with the by see and by lande,

¶ After the death of Nycanor, Demetrius sendeth his ar∣mye agaynste Iudas. Iudas is slayne. Ionathas is put in the ste••de of hys brother. The stryte betwene Ionathas and Bachydes Al••ymus is t••ken with the palsye and dyeth. Ba∣chydes returneth agayne vnto the kyng He cōmeth vpon Io¦nathas by the coūt. •• of certayne wycked personnes, and is o∣uercome. The truce of Ionathas with Bachydes.

CAPI. IX.

IN the meane season whē Demetrius herde [unspec A] that * 1.675 Nicanor and hys hoste was slayne in the felde / he proseded further to sende Bachides & Alcimus agayne into Iewry, & those that were in the right winge of his host w^t thē. So they went forth by the way y^t ledeth vnto Galgala / and pytched their tentes be∣fore Mesaloth which is in Arbellus, & wan∣ne the cytie & slewe muche people. In y^e fyrste moneth of y^e. Clij. yeare, they brought theyr hoste to Ierusalem, & rose vp & came to Be∣rea, w^t. xx. M. fotemen, &. ii. M. horsmen.

Nowe Iudas had pytched hys tentes at Laysa, with thre thousande chosen mē. And when they sawe the multitude of the other army that it was so great, they were sore afraied, and many conueyed them selues out of the hoste / In so muche that there abode no mo of them but eyght hundred men. When Iudas sawe that his hoste fayled him, and y^t he must nedes fyght: it brake hys herte, that he had no tyme to gather them togyther: wherfore the man was in extreme trouble. Neuerthelesse, he sayde vnto them, that re∣mayned with hym. Up, let vs go agaynste oure enemyes, peraduenture we shalbe able. to fyght with them. But they wolde haue stopped hym, sayinge: we shall not be able, therfore let vs nowe saue our lyues, and tur¦ne agayne to our brethren and then wyll we fyght agaynst thē, for we are here but fewe. And Iudas sayde: God forbyd, y^t we shulde [unspec B] fle from them. Wherfore, yf oure tyme be come, let vs dye manfully for our brethren.

and let vs not stayne oure honoure. Then the hoost remoued out of the tentes, & stode against them. The horssmen are deuyded in two partes: the sling casters and archers wente before the hoost / and all the mightye mē were formost in the felde. Bachides hym selfe was in the ryght wyng of the battayll, and the hooste drewe nye in two partes, and blewe the trompertes. They of Iudas ••yde blew the trōpettes also, and the earth shoke at the noise of the hoostes, and they stroke a felde from the morowe tyl nyght. And whē Iudas sawe that Bachides hoost was strō∣gest of the ryght syde / he toke with hym all the hardye men / and brake the right wynge of their ordre / and folowed vpō them vnto the mount Azot.

Now whē they which were of y^• left wing, sawe that y^• right syde was discomfyte, they persecuted Iudas & them that were w^t him. Then was there a sore battaylle / for many were slayne and wōded of both the parties / Iudas also him self was kylled, and the rē∣naunt fled. So Ionathas and Symon toke Iudas theyr brother, and buried him in his fathers sepulchre in the cyte of Moden. And all the people of Israel made great lamen∣tacyon for nym / & mourned longe, salenge: Alas / that thys worthy shulde be slayne / which deliuered the people of Israel. As for other thynges perteyninge to the battailes of Iudas / the noble actes that he dyd & of hys worthynesse: they are not wrytten / for they were very many.

* 1.676 And after the death of Iudas, wycked [unspec C] men came vp i al the coastes of Israel, and there arose all such as worcke vngodlines. In those dayes was there a greate dearthe in the lande / and all the countre gaue ouer them selues and theirs vnto Bachides. So Bachydes chose wycked men / & made them lo••des in the land. These sought out & made search for Iudas frēdes, ••nd brought them vnto Bachides: which auēged him self vpō them with great despyte. And there came so great trouble i Israel, as was not sens the tyme that no prophere was sene there.

Then came all Iudas frendes together, and sayde vnto Ionathas: For so much as thy brother Iudas is deed, ther is none like him to go forth against cur enemies, agaist Bachides, & suche as are aduersaryes vnto oure people. Wherfore thys daye we chose the for hym / to be oure prince and captayne to ordre oure battaille. And Ionathas toke the gouernaunce vpon hym at the same ty∣me, and ruled isteade of his brother Iudas When Bachides gat knowledge therof, he sought for to sley hym. But Ionathas and Symon his brother / perceauynge that, sled into the wildernes of ••hec••a with al theyr company, and pytched theyr tentes by the water pole of Asphar.

Which when Bachydes vnderstode, he came ouer Iordane with al his host vpon y^• Sabbath day. Now had Ionathas sēt hys brother Ihon (a captayne of the people) to pray his frendes the Nabuthites, that they wolde lende them their ordiuaunce, for they had much. So the chyldren of Iambry came out of Madaba, and toke Ihon and al that he had, and wente their waye withal. Then [unspec D] came worde vnto Ionathas and Simō his brother / that the chyldren of Iambry made a greate mariage, and brought the bride frō Madaba wyth greate pompe: for she was daughter to one of the noblest princes of Ca¦naan. Wherfore they remembred the bloude of Ihon their brother, & wete vp, & hid them selues vnder the shadowe of the moūtayne.

So they lift vp their eyes, and loked: and beholde, there was much a do, and great re∣payre: for the brydegrome came forth▪ & his frendes and hys brethren met thē with tym∣panyes / instrumētes of musicke / and many weapēs. Then Ionathas & they that were with hym / rose oute of theyr lourkynge pla∣ces agaynst them, and slewe many of them. As for the remnaut, they fled into the moū∣taynes, and they toke all their substaunce.

Thus the maryage was turned to mor∣ninge, and the noyse of their melody into la¦mentacyon. And so when they had auenged the bloude of theyre brother, they turned a∣gayne vnto Iordane.

Bachides hearynge thys / came vnto the very border of Iordane with a great power vpon y^• Sabbath day. And Ionathas sayd [unspec E] to hys companye, let vs get vp / and fyght agayne our enemies: for it stādeth not with vs to daye / as in tyme paste: Beholde / oure enemyes are in our waye / the water of Ior∣dane vpon the one syde of vs, with bankes, fennes and woddes of the other side, so that there is no place for vs to departe vnto. * 1.677 Wherfore crie nowe vnto heauen, that ye maye be deliuered frō the power of your ene¦mies. So they stroke y^• battaille. And Iona¦thas stretched out his hādes to smite Bachy des, but he fled bacwarde. The Ionathas & they that were wyth hym leapte into Ior∣dane, & swymmed ouer Iordane vnto hym, and there were staine of Bachides side that daye, a thousande men.

Therfore Bachydes with hys hoost tur∣ned againe to Ierusalem, and builte vp the castels and strong holdes that were in Iew¦rye / Iericho / Emaus / Bethoron / Bethell / Thamnata / Phara and Topo, w^t hye wal∣les, with portes and with lockes: and set mē to kepe them, that they might vse theyr ma∣lyce vpon Israell. He walled vp the cytye Bethsurah / Gazarah and the castell / and prouided thē with mē and vitayles. He toke also the chefest mens sonnes in the countre for pledges, and put them in the castel at Ie¦rusalem to be kepte.

Afterwarde in the hundred fyftye & thre yeare in the secōde moneth, Alcimus cōmaū¦ded, that the walles of the inmost Sanctua¦ry shuld be destroyed, and the buyldīges of the prophetes also. And when he began to destroye thē / the thynges y^t he wēte aboute / were hindered, for he was smyttē with a pal sey, and his mouth shut, so that he coulde no more speake, nor cōmaūde any of hys house concernyng his busynesse. Thus dyed Alci∣mus in greate misery at the same tyme. And whē Bachides sawe that Alcim{us} was dead, he turned agayne to the kyng, and so y^e lāde was in reast two yeares. Then all the vn∣godly [unspec F] men helde a councel, saieng: Behold, Ionathas and his cōpany are at ease, and dwell without care. Wherfore let vs bringe Bachides hyther / and he shall take them al in one nyght.

So they wente and gaue Bachydes this councell / which arose to come with a greate hoost, & snet letters preuely to his adheren∣tes, which were i Iewry, to take Ionathas / & those that were w^t him: but they might not for the other had gotten knowledge of their deuice. And Ionathas toke fyfty men of the countre (which were the ryngleaders of thē) and slewe them. Then Ionathas & Simō with theyr company departed vnto the cyte Bethbessen which lyeth in the wildernes / & repayred y^• decay therof / and made it strōg. When Bachydes knewe thys, he gathered all hys hoost / and sent worde to them that were of Iewry. Then came he & layed sege to Bethbessen and fought agaynst it a long [unspec G] season, & made instrumētes of warre. Now Ionathas left his brother Simō in y^e cytie, and wente forth him selfe into the coūtre / & came with a certayne nōbre, and slewe Oda¦res and his brethrē, and the children of Pha¦seron in their tentes: so that he begāne to be stronge and to increase in power.

As for Symon and hys companye / they wente out of the cytye / and brent vp the in∣strumentes of warre, & fought agaynst Ba∣chides, and discōfyted hym. And Bachides was sore vexed, because his councel and tra¦uayl was in vaine. Wherfore he was wroth at the wycked men (that gaue hym councell to come into their lande) and slewe many of them. Then purposed he with his company to go awaye into hys owne countre: wherof whē Ionathas had knowledge, he sent em∣bassytours vnto hym, for to make peace w^t hym, and that he shuld delyuer him his pre∣sonners agayne. To the whiche Bachides consented gladly, and dyd according to his desyre: yee and made an othe / that he shulde neuer do him harme al the dayes of his life. So he restored vnto hym al the presonners that he had taken out of the lande of Iuda, & then turned and wente hys way into hys owne lāde, nether proceded he any further to come vnto y^e borders of Iuda. Thus Israell had no more warre. And Ionathas dwelt at Machemas, & began there to gouerne y^e peo¦ple, & destroyed y^• vngodly mē out of Israel.

¶ Demetrius desyreth to haue peace with Ionathas Alex¦ander moueth warre agaynste Demetrius. Demetrius is slayne. The frendshippe of Ptolomeus and Alexander.

CAPI. X.

IN the hundred and thre score yeare came [unspec A] Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus* 1.678 and toke Ptolomays / whose cytezyns re∣ceaued hym / and there he rayghned.

When Kynge Demetrius herde therof, he gathered an exceadynge great hoost, and wente for the agaynste hym to fyght. Wher∣fore Demetrius sēt letters vnto Ionathas with louyng wordes / and praysed hym gre∣atly. For he sayd: we wil first make peace w^t him, before he binde hī selfe with Alexander against vs: els he shall remēbre y^• euyl y^t we haue done against hī, his brother & his peo∣ple. And so he gaue Ionathas leue to gather an host, to make weapens, and to be cōfede∣rate w^t him, & commaūded the pledges that were īthe castell, to be deliuered vnto hym.

Then came Ionathas to Ierusalem, and red the letters in the audience of al the peo∣ple, and of them that were in the castel. And therfore were they sore afraied, because they herde, that the kyng had geuen hym licence to gather an hoost. Thus were the pledges [unspec B] delyuered vnto Ionathas / whiche restored thē to their parētes. Ionathas also dwelt at Ierusalem, and beganne to buylde vp & to repayre the citie: commaunding the worck∣men, to wall it, and the mount Sion round aboute with fre stone / to be a stronge holde, and so they dyd. As for y^e Heathen that were

in y^t castels which Bachides had made vp / they fled: so that euery man lefte the place / & went into his owne coūtre. Only at Beth∣sura remayned certayne of y^e Iewes. which had forsakē the lawe and commaundemen∣tes of God, for Bethsura was their refuge.

Nowe when kyng Alexander herde of the promyses that Demetrius had made vnto Ionathas, and whē it was tolde him of the battels and noble actes / whiche he and hys brethren had done, and of the greate trauay¦les that they had taken, he saide: where shal we fynde suche a man? well / we wyll make him our frende, and be confederat with him. Upon this he wrote a lettre vnto him, with these wordes: kynge Alexander saluteth his brother Ionathas. We haue herd of y^e, that thou art a valeaūt man, and mete to be our frende: Wherfore thys daye we ordeyne the to be the hye preste of thy people / and to be called the kynges frende.) Upon this, he sēt hym a purple clothynge / and a crowne of golde) that thou mayeste consydre what is for oure profyt, and kepe frendshyppe to∣warde vs.

So in the seueth moneth of the hundred [unspec C] and thre score yeare vpō the solempne feaste day of y^e tabernacles, Ionathas put y^e holy raymente vpon hym. Then gathered he an hoost, and made many weapēs. Which whē Demetrius herde, he was maruelous sory, & sayde: Alas / what haue we done, that Alex∣ander hath preuēted vs in gettyng y^• frend∣shyppe of the Iewes / for hys owne defence? Yet wyll I wryte louyngly vnto them also / yee and promyse them dygnites and rewar∣des, that they maye be of my syde. Wherupō he wrote vnto thē these wordes. Kinge De? metrius sendeth greting vnto y^t people of y^e Iewes. Where as ye haue kepte your coue∣naūt towarde vs, & continued in our frend∣ship / not enclining to our enemies, we were glad, when we herde therof. Wherfore re∣mayne styll / & be faythfull to vs: & we shall wel recompense you for y^• thinges, y^t ye haue done on oure partye: we shall release you of many charges, & geue you rewardes. And now I dyscharge you & al y^e Iewes frō tri∣butes, I forgeue you the customes of salt, & release you of y^• crowne taxes / of the thyrde parte of sede, & half of y^e frute of trees, which is myne owne dewtye. These I leaue for you, frō this daye forth: so y^t they shal not be taken of the lande of Iuda nor of the thre ci∣ties which are added ther vnto out of Sa∣maria and Galylee / frome thys daye forthe [unspec D] for euermore. Ierusalē also with al thinges belongyng therto, shalbe holy and fre, yee y^e tythes and trybutes shall pertayne vnto it. As for the power of y^e castell which is at Ie¦rusalē I remyt & geue it vnto the hye prest, that he may set ī it such mē, as he shal chose to kepe it. I frely delyuer al the Iewes that are presonners thorow out al my realme: so that euery one of thē shalbe fre frō payinge any trybute / yee euen of their catell.

All the solempne feastes. Sabbathes, new moones, the dayes appoynted, the thre dayes before & after the feast, shall be fre for all the Iewes in my realme: so that in them no man shall haue power to do any thynge, or to moue any busynesse against any of thē in any maner of cause. There shall thyrtye thousande also of the Iewes be wrytten vp in the kynges hoost / and haue their wages payed, as all other men of warre of the kin∣ges shulde haue: and of them shalbe ordey∣ned certayne, to kepe the kynges strong hol¦des: yee and some of them shalbe set ouer the kinges busynesse, that they maye faithfully deale with the same. The Iewes also shall haue prynces of theyr owne / and walcke in theyr owne lawes / as the kynge hath com∣maunded in the lande of Iuda.

And the; thre cyties that are fallen vnto [unspec E] Iewry from the countre of Samarya & Ga¦ltiee: shalbe taken as Iewry / and be vnder one: nether be subtecte to any straunge lord, but to the hye preste. As for Prolomais and the lande perteynynge therto / I geue it vn∣to the Sanctuary at Ierusalem / for the ne∣cessary expences of the holy thinges. More∣ouer, I wyll geue euery yeare fyftene thou∣sand Sycles of syluer out of the kīges che∣ker (which pertayneth vnto me) to y^• worcke of the temple: yee and loke what remayneth (which they y^t had oure matters in hande in tymes past, haue not pated) y^• same shal they geue vnto them also. And besydes al thys / the fyue thousand Sycles which they toke yearly of the rentes of the Sanctuary, shall belong vnto the prestes that do seruyce.

Item whosoeuer they be that fle vnto the temple at Ierusalem or within the liber¦ties therof, where as they are fallen into the kynges daunger for any maner of busynes, they shall be pardoned & all y^e goodes that they haue in my reaime / shalbe fre. For the buyldyng also and repayring of the worcke of the Sanctuary / expenses shall be geuen out of the kynges Checker: Yee and for the makynge of the walles rounde aboute Ie∣rusalem, for the breaking downe of the olde and for the settinge vp of the strong holdes

in Iewry, shal the costes and charges bege¦uen out of the kynges Checker.

* 1.679 But when Ionathas and the people hearde these wordes / they gaue no credence vnto them / neyther receaued them: for they remembred the greate wyckednesse that he had done vnto Israell, and how sore he had vexed them. Wherfore / they agreed vnto Alexander, for he was a prynce that had de∣alte frendly wyth them / and so they stode by hym alwaye. * 1.680 Then gathered kynge Alexander a greate hoost / and brought hys armye agaynste Demetrius. So the two kynges stroke bataylle together / but De∣metrius hoost iled / and Alexander folowed after and fell vpon them. A myghtye sore felde was it / contynuynge tyll the Sonne wente downe, and Demetrius was slayne the same daye.

And Alexandre sente ambassitoures vn∣to [unspec F] Ptolomy the kyng of Egypte wyth these wordes / sayenge: For so muche as I am come agayne to my reaime / and am let in the trone of my progenytours / and haue gotten the domynyon / ouercomed Deme∣trius / conquered the lande / and stryken a felde with hym, so that we haue dysconfyted both him and his hoost, and syt in the trone of hys Kyngdome. Let vs nowe make frēoshippe together / geue me thy daughter to wyfe: so shall I be thy sonne in lawe / and both geue the rewardes / and her great dyg∣nyte. Ptolomy the kyng gaue answere, say∣enge: Happy be the daye wherin thou arte come agayne to the lande of thy Progeny∣tours, and set in the trone of theyr kyngdo∣me. As nowe wyll I fulfyll thy wrytynge: but mete me at Ptolomais, that we maye se one another, & that I may mary my daugh¦ter vnto the accordinge to thy desyre. So Ptolomy wente out of Egypte wyth hys daughter Cleopatra, and came vnto Ptolo¦mays in the. Clxij. yeare: where kinge Alex∣ander met hym / and he gaue Alexander his daughter Cleopatra, & maried the at Pto∣lomais with greate worshyppe / lyke as the maner of kynges is to be. Thē wrote kyng Alexander vnto Ionathas / that he shulde [unspec G] come and mete hym. So he wente honora∣bly vnto Ptolomais / and there he mete the two kynges, and gaue them greate presen∣tes of golde and siluer / and founde fauoure in their syght. And there came together a∣gaist Ionathas certayne wycked men & vn gracyous persones of Israel, makyng com playntes of him, but the kyng regarded thē not. As for Ionathas, the kynge commaun¦ded to take of hys garmentes and to clothe him purple: and so they dyd. Then y^t kinge appoynted hym to syt by hym / and sayde vnto hys princes: Go with hym into y^e mid∣dest of the cytye, and make a proclamacion, that no man complayne against him of any matter / and that no mā trouble hym for eny maner of cause.

So it happened, that when hys accusers sawe the worshyppe which was proclamed of hym, and that he was clothed in purple: they sled euerychone. And the Kynge made much of hym, wrote hym amonge hys chefe frendes, made hym a duke, and partaker of hys domynyon. * 1.681 Thus Ionathas wente agayne to Ierusalē with peace & gladnes. In the. Clxv. yeare came Demetri{us} the sōne of Demetrius from Creta into hys fathers lande: wherof when Alexander herde tel, he was ryght sory, and retourned vnto Antio∣che. And Demetrius chose * 1.682 Appollonyus, (which had the gouernaunce of Celosyrya) to be hys captayne.

So he gathered a greate hoost and came vnto Iamnta / and sente word vnto Iona∣thas the hye prest, sayeng: Darteste y^u with∣stand vs thy self alone? As for me, I am but laughed to scorne and shamed, because thou prouedst thy strēgth agaynst vs in the moū¦taynes. Nowe therfore / yf thou trust este in [unspec H] thine owe strēght, come downe to vs into y^e plaine felde, & there let vs proue our strēgth together: thou shalt fynde, that I haue vale aunt men of warre with me, & shalt knowe whom I am, & the other that stande by me.

Which saye, that your fote is not able to stande before oure face, for thy fathers haue bene twise chased into theyr owne lāde. And nowe / how wylt y^u be able to abyde so great an hoost of horssinē & fotemē in y^• feld, where as is nether rocke, stone nor place to fle vn∣to? When Ionathas herd the wordes of Ap∣polloni{us}, he was moued i hys mynde: wher∣fore he chose tenne thousande mē, and went oute of Ierusalem / and Symon hys bro∣ther met him for to helpe him: And they pit∣ched their tentes at Ioppa, but y^e cytie kepte hym forth / for Ioppa was an holde of Ap∣pollonius. Then Ionathas laied sege to it, and they that were in the cyte, for very feare let hym in: and so Ionathas wanne Iop∣pa. Appollonius hearinge of this, toke thre thousande horssmen / with a greate hoost of fote, and wente as though he wold go to A∣zotus, and came immediatly into the plaine felde: because he had so many horssmen, and put hys trust in thē. So Ionathas folowed

vpon him to Azotus, & there they strocke the battayll. Now had Appolloni{us} left a thou∣sande horsmē behynde thē priuely in y^• tētes. And when Ionathas knewe y^e suche wayte was layed behynde them, they went rounde aboute the enemyes hoost / and shot dartes at y^e people frō the morninge to y^e euenynge. As for Ionathas people, they kepte theyr ordre as he had commaunded them, and the enemyes horses were euer labourynge.

Then brought Symon forth hys hoost, [unspec I] and set them agaynste the fote men. For the horsmen were weery all ready. So he dys∣comfited them / and they fled. And they that were scatred in the felde / gat thē to Azotus, and came into the temple of Dagon theyr Idoll, y^t they myght there saue theyr lyues. But Ionathas set fyre vpon Azotus and al the cyties rounde aboute it, and toke theyr goodes, and * 1.683 brent vp the temple of Da∣gon, with all them that were fled into it.

Thus were slayne & brent well nye. viij. M. men. So Ionathas remoued the hoost frō thence, & brought thē to Ascalon: where the men of the cytie came forth / & met hym with great worshyp. After this went Iona∣thas & his hoost a gayne to Ierusalem, with great substaunce of good. And when kynge Alexander herde these thynges / he thought to do Ionathas more worshype, & sent hym a colar of golde, as y^e vse is to be geuē vnto suche as are of the kynges nexte bloude. He gaue him also the cytie of Accaron (with the landes belongynge therto) in possessyon.

CAPI. XI.

[unspec A]

¶ The dissencion betwyre Ptolomes & Alexan̄der his sōne in ••••we The deeth of Alexan••der. Demetrius taygneth af¦ter the deeth of Ptolom••us. Syon is besegid of Ionathas. De netriu•• seinge that no m•• resisted him, sēdeth his armye 〈…〉〈…〉pho moueth A••••••••chns against Demetr••us. De me••••nus is desiuered by the suciour of Ianathas. After hys dcly g••r••unce he meaketh hys couenau•••• that he had made.

AND the kynge of Egypte gathered ••an hoost (lyke the sande y^e lyeth vpon y^e sce s••bore) & many shippes: * 1.684 & went aboute thor••we dysceate to obtayne y^e kyngdome of Alexander / & to ioyne it vnto hys owne realm••e. Upon this he toke hys iourney into Siri••, & was letten into y^e cyties, & mē came forth to mete hym: for kynge Alexander had commaunded them so to do, because he was his father in lawe. Nowe whē Ptolomy en∣tred into any cytie, he lefte men of warre to kepe it / and thys he dyd thorowe out all the cyties. And when he came to Azotus, * 1.685 they shewed him the temple of Dagon & Azotus that was brent vp / with the other thynges which were destroyed, the deed bodyes caste aborde / and the graues that they had made by y^e waye syde, for suche as were slayne in y^e felde. And tolde the kynge y^e Ionathas had done all these thinges, to y^e intēt they might get hym euell wyll. But the kynge sayde not a worde therto. And Ionathas met the kynge with great honoure at Ioppa, where they saluted one another, & toke theyr rest. So when Ionathas had gone w^t the kyng, vnto y^• water that was called Eleutherus, he turned agayne to Ierusalem. Now Pto∣lomy had gotten y^t domynyon of the cyties vnto Selencia vpō y^t see coast, ymagyning wycked councels agaynste Alexander, and sent ambassitours vnto Demetrius, saying [unspec B] Come, let vs make a bonde betwyxte vs, so shall I geue the my daughter that Alexan∣der hathe / and thou shalt raygne in thy fa∣thers kyngdome. I repeute that I gaue Alexander my daughter, for he goeth about to sley me. And thus he sclaundreth Alexan∣der / because he wolde haue had his realme.

Thus he toke his daughter frō him gaue her vnto Demetrius, & forsoke Alexander, so that his malice was openly knowen. And Ptolomy came to Antioch, where he set two crownes vpō his owne heade, the crowne of Egypt & of Asia. In the meane season was kynge Alexander in Cilicia / for they that dwelt in those places, had rebelled agaynst him. But when Alexander herde of this / he came to warre agaynst him. So kyng Pto∣lomy brought forth his hoost & met hi with a mighty power, & chased him away. Then fled Alexander into Araby, there to be defē∣ded / & kynge Ptolomys honoure incrased. And Zabdiel y^• Arabian smote of Alexādets heade, and sent it vnto Ptolomy. But the thyrde day after / dyed kynge Ptolomy him selfe: & they whom he had sett in the stronge holdes / were stayne of those that were with [unspec C] in the cyties. And Demetrius raygned in the hundred and seuen and syxtie yeare.

At y^e sametyme gathered Ionathas thē that were in Iewry, to laye sege vnto y^e ca∣stel which was at Ierusalē, & so they made many instrumētes of warre agaynst it. Thē wente there certayne vngodly personnes (which hated theyr owne people) vnto king Demetrius / & tolde hym that Ionathas be seged y^• castel. So when he herde it / he was angrie, and immediatly came vnto Ptolo∣meus / & wrote vnto Ionathas / y^t he shulde not laye sege to the castel, but come & speake with him in all y^• haste. Neuertheles, when Ionathas herde this, he commaunded to besege it. He chose also certayne of y^• elders and〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

Arius kynge of the Sparcians sendeth gre¦tynge vnto Omas the hye prest. It is foūde [unspec C] in wrytynge, that the Sparcians & Iewes are brethren, and come out of the generacyō of Abraham. And nowe for so much as this is come to oure knowledge, ye shall do well, to wryte vnto vs of youre prosperite. As for vs, we haue wrytten oure mynde vnto you: Oure catell and goodes are yours, & yours ours. These thynges haue we commaūded to be shewed vnto you.

When Ionathas herde, that Demetrius prynces were come forth to fyght agaynste hym w^t a greater hoost then afore, he wente from Ierusalem, & met them in the lande of Hemath, for he gaue them not space to come into his owne coūtre. And he sent spyes vn∣to theyr tentes, whiche came agayne & tolde hym, y^• they were appoynted to come vpon him in the nyght season. Wherfore whē the sunne was gone downe, Ionathas cōmaun¦ded his men to watch all the nyght, & to be ready w^t weapens for to fyght: & set watch∣men [unspec D] rounde aboute the hoost. But when the aduersaryes herde y^• Ionathas was ready with his men to the battayll, they feared, & were afrayed in theyr hertes, and kyndled fyres in theyr tentes, brake vp, and gat thē awaye. Neuerthelesse Ionathas and hys company knewe it not tyl the mornynge, for they sawe the fyres burnynge.

Then Ionathas folowed vpon them, but he myght not ouertake them, for they were gone ouer the water Eleutherus. So Iona¦thas departed vnto the Arabians (whiche were called Zabadei) slewe thē, & toke theyr goodes. He proceaded further also, & came vnto Damascus, & went thorowe al y^t coun¦tre. But Simō his brother toke his iourney and came to Ascalon and to the next strong holdes: departynge vnto Ioppa, & wanne it. For he herde y^• they wolde stande of De∣metrius partye: wherfore he set mē of warre in the cytie, to kepe it. After this came Iona thas home agayne / and called the elders of the people together: & deuysed with thē for to buylde vp the stronge holdes in Iewry & the walles of Ierusalē, to set vp an hye wal betwixte the castell & the cytie / for to sepa∣rate it frō the cytie y^t it myght be alone / and that men shulde neyther bye nor sell in it.

Upon thys they came together for to buylde vp the cytie / and for so muche as the wall vpō the broke of the westsyde (called Caphecah) was fallen downe, they repaired it. And Simō set vp Adiadath i Sephelah, and made it strōge settynge portes & lockes vpō it. Nowe when * 1.686 Tryphon purposed to raygne in Asya / to be crowned / and to sleye the kynge Antiochus: he was afrayed that Ionathas wolde not suffre hym / but fyght agaynst him. Wherfore he went aboute to take Ionathas / and to kyll hym.

So he departed / & came vnto Bethsan. Then went Ionathas forth agaynste hym [unspec E] to the battayll with fourtye thousande cho∣sen men / and came vnto Bethsan also. But when Triphon sawe that Ionathas came with so greate an Hoost to destroye him / he was afrayed: and therfore he receaued hym honorably / commended hym vnto all hys frendes, and gaue him rewardes / and com∣maunded his men of warre to be as obediēt vnto hym as to him selfe.

And sayde vnto Ionathas: why haste thou caused this people to take suche tra∣uayle / seynge there is no warre betwixt vs▪ Therfore sende them home agayne / & chose certayne men to wayte vpon the / and come thou with me to Ptolomais: for I wyl geue it the / with the other stronge holdes / men of warre and theyr offycers: As for me I must departe, this is onely the cause of my com∣mynge. [unspec F] Sonathas beleued him / and dyd as he sayde / puttynge awaye his hoost / whiche went in to the lāde of Iuda: He kept but. iij. M. by hym, wher of the sene. ij. M. into Ga∣lilee, and one. M. went with hym selfe.

Nowe as soone as Ionathas entred in to Ptolamais, the cytesyns sparred the ga∣tes of the cytie / and toke hym, and slewe all them with the swearde / that came in with hym. Then sent Triphon an Hoost of fote men and horsmen into Galilee and into the greate playne felde / to destroye all Iona∣thas company. But when they knewe that Ionathas was taken, and all they slayne that wayted vpon hym: they toke councell together / and came forth ready to the bat∣tayll. So when they whiche folowed vpon them / sawe that it was a matter of lyfe, they turned backe agayne. As for the other, they went in to the lande of Iuda peaceably, and bewayled Ionathas, and them that were with hym ryght sore. And Israell made greate lamentacyon. Then all the Heathen that were rounde aboute thē, sought to de∣stroye them. For they sayde: nowe haue they no captayne, nor any man to helpe them. Therfore let vs ouercome them, and rote out theyr name from amonge men.

¶ After Ionathas w•••• tak••. Symon to chosen captayne, of whom Triphon t•••••••••••• hy•• ch••lo•••• and monn••y for the

redempeyon of Ionathan hylleth hym and his chyldren. The graue o•• Ionathas. Triphon kylleth Antiochus, and posses∣seth the 〈…〉〈…〉 truce with Symon: Sy∣mon wy••••••••h E••z•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 possesseth the tower of Syon. He ma¦keth his sonne 〈…〉〈…〉.

CAPI. XIII.

NOwe when Simō herde y^t Triphon ga¦thered [unspec A] a great host, to come into y^• lande of Iuda, & to destroye it, & sawe that the peo∣ple was in greate fearfulnes & care: He came vp to Ierusalē, & gathered the people toge∣ther, & gaue thē exhortaciō, saying: Ye knowe what great battayls I & my brethrē & my fa∣thers house haue strikē for the law and y^• Sāc¦tuary, & what maner of troubles we haue le∣ne: thorow occasion wherof * 1.687 al my brethren are slayne for Israels sake, & I am left alone And nowe let not me spare myne owne life in any maner of trouble, for I am no better thē my brethrē: but wyl auēge my people and the Sanctuary, our chyldren & oure wyues: tor all the Heythen are gathered together, to de∣stroy vs of very malyce.

At these wordes the hertes of the people were kyndled together, so that they cryed w^t a loude voyce, saying: Thou shalt be our cap¦tayne in steade of Iudas & Ionathas thy bre¦thrē, ordre y^• our battayle, & whatsoeuer y^• cō∣maūdest [unspec B] vs, we shal do it. So he gathered al the mē of warre, making hast to ••yn••••h al the walles of Ierusalē, whiche he made stronge roūde about Then sent he Ionathas y^• s••••e of Absalomus w^t a fresh hoste vnto Ioppa / which droue thē out y^• were in the castel, & re∣mayned there hi self. Triphon also remoued frō Ptolomais with a great army / to come i to the lāde of Iuda, & Ionathas with him in¦warde. And Simō pytched his tentes at Ad d{us} before the playne felde.

But when Triphon knewe that Symon stode vp in steade of his brother Ionathas, & that he wolde warre against hi: he sent messē¦gers vnto hi, saying, where as we haue kept Ionathas thy brother, it is for money y^• he is owyng in the kinges accōpt, concernynge the busynesse that he had in hàde. Wherfore sēde now an. C. talētes of syluer & ••is two sō¦nes for suretye, that when he is lette forth he shall not forsake vs: & we shall sende hym a∣gayne. Neuertheles Symon knewe, that he dissēbled in his wordes: yet cōmaūded he the money and chyldren to be deliuered vnto hi: lest he shulde be the greater enemye agaynst the people of Israel: and say: because he sent him not the money and the chyldren, therfore is Ionathas deed.

So Simon sent him the children and an [unspec C] hundreth talentes, but he dissembled, & wold not let Ionathas go. Afterwarde came Tri¦phon into the lande, to destroye it, and wente rounde aboute by the waye, that ledeth vnto Ador, But where soeuer they wente, thyther went Simon & h{is} host also. Now they y^t were in the castell, sent messsaūgers vnto Triphō that he shulde make hast to come by the wyl dernes, & to sende thē vytayles. And Triphō made redy al his horsmē, to come that same night. Neuertheles it was a very gret snow so that he came not in galaadith••m. And whē he drewe nye Baschama, he slewe Ionathas & his sonnes there, and then turned for to go home into his owne lande.

Then sente Simon for to fet his brothers deed coarse, & buried it in Modin his fathers cyte. So al Israel beway••ed him w^t great la¦mētacion, & mourned for ••••••ery longe. And Simon made vpō the sepulcre of his father and his brethrē, a buylding hye to loke vnto of fre stone behynde and before: & set vp seuē pillers, one agaynst another (for his father / his mother & foure brethrē) and set great pil¦lers roūde aboute, with armes vpon thē for a perpetuall memory, and carued shippes be¦syde the armes: that they might be sene of mē saylyng in the see. This sepulcre whiche he made at Modin, stādeth yet vnto this daye.

* 1.688 Now as Triphon went for the to walke [unspec D] with the yonge kyng Antiochus, he slew him trayterously / & raygned in his steade, crow∣ned him selte kynge of Asia / and dyd muche euyl in the lande. Symon also buylte vy the castels in Iewry, makynge thē stronge with hye towres, great walles▪ portes and lockes and layed vp vytayles in the strong holdes, And Symon chose certayne mē, and sent thē to kynge Demetrius: to desyre hym, that he wolde discharge the lāde from al bōdage, for Triphon had spoiled it very fore▪ Wherupō Demetrius the kyng answered hi, and wrote vnto him after this maner.

Demetrius the kynge sendeth gretynge vnto Symon the hye preste his frende, with the elders and people of the Iewes. The gol¦den crowne and precious stone that ye sente vnto vs, haue we receyued: and are redye to make a stedfast peace with you / yee and to wryte vnto our offycers, for to release you / concernynge the thynges wherin we made you fre: and the appoyntment that we make with you, shalbe ••yrme and stable. The stronge holdes which ye haue buylded, shall be youre owne. As for any ouersyghte or fawte commytted vnto thys daye / we forge ue it, and the crowne care hat ye ought vs al¦so. And where as was any other trioute i Ie∣rusalem, it shal nowe be no cry••••••••▪ and loke

who are mete among you to be in our court, let them be wrytten vp, that there maye be peace betwyxte vs.

Thus the yocke of the Heythen was takē [unspec E] from Israel, in the hundreth and seuentyeth yeare. And the people of the Iewes beganne to write in theyr letters & actes on th{is} maner * 1.689 In the fyrst yeare of Symon the hye prest, and prynce of the Iewes.

In those dayes wēt Simon vnto Gaza / & beseged it roūde aboute: where he set vp or dinaūce of warre. And wāne a towre, whiche he toke. So they that gat into the towrelept into the cite, whiche was in great a feare: In so muche that the people of the cytie rēt their clothes, & clymmed vp vpon the walles w^t theyr wyues & chyldren besechynge Symon to be at one with them, sayinge.

O rewarde vs not after our wyckednes, but be gracious vnto vs, and we shal do the seruyce. Then Simon for very pitye, wolde fyght nomore agaynst them / but put thē out [unspec F] of the cytie, and caused the houses (wherein the ymages were) to be clensed: & so entred the cytie with Psalmes of prayse, gyuynge thanckes vnto the Lorde. So when he had cast all abhominaciōs out of the cytie, he set suche men in it as kepte the law of God, and made the cyte stronge, & buylded a dwellyng place for him selfe.

Nowe when they in the castel at Ierusalē were kept so straytely, that they coulde not come forth into the coūtre, & might nether bie nor sell: they were very hungrye, & many of them famished to death: In somuch that they besought Simō to be at one w^t them, whiche he graūted them. So he put them out from thence, & clensed the castel from fylthynesse. And vpō the. xxiij. daye of the secōde moneth in the. C. lxxj. yere they entred īto it w^t than∣kesgyuyng & braunches of palme trees, with harpes, crowdes, cymbales / and lutes / syn∣gynge Psalmes, and songes of prayse vnto God / for that the great enemy of Israel was ouercome.

And Symon ordayned, that the same day shulde be kepte euery yeare in gladnesse, and made stronge the hyl of the temple that was besyde the castell, where he dwelte hym selfe with his company. Simon also perceyuyng that Ihon his sonne was a myghtye man of armes, made him captayne of al the hostes & caused him to dwel at Gaza.

¶ Demetrius is ouercome of Arsaces. Symon beyng cap∣tayne there is great quycenesse in Israel, The couenaunt of frendshyppe with the Romaynes & with the people of Spar¦ta is renued.

CAPI. XIIII.

IN the. Clxxij. yeare gathered kynge De∣metrius his host, and departed vnto Me∣dia, [unspec A] to get hym helpe for to fyght agaynste Triphon. Nowe when Arsaces the kynge of Persia and Medea herde, that Demetrius was entred w^t in his borders: he sent out one of his prynces to take him alyue: & to brynge hym vnto hym. So he went and slewe▪ De∣metrius hoste, toke him selfe, brought him to Arsaces, whiche kept hī inwarde. And al the lāde of Iuda was in rest, so longe as Symō lyued, for he sought the wealth of his people, therfore were they glad to haue him for theyr ruler, & to do him worshype alway.

Symon wāne the cytie of Ioppa also for an hauē towne, & made it an entraūce into the Iles of the see. He enlarged the borders of h{is} people, and cōquered them more lāde. He ga¦thered vp many of their people that were pri¦soners: he had the dominion of Gaza, Beth∣sura & the castel, whiche he clensed frō fylthy∣nes, & there was no man that resisted hī. So that euery mā tylled his groūde in peace, the [unspec B] lande of Iuda & the trees gaue theyr frute & encreace. The elders sat all in iudgement / & toke theyr deuice for the wealth of the lande: the yonge men put on worshyp & harnesse v∣pon them. He prouyded vytayles for the cy∣ties, & made goodly stronge holdes of thē: so that the fame of his worshyp was spoken of vnto the ende of the worlde. * 1.690 For he made peace thorow out the lande, & Israel was ful of myrth and ioy.

Euery man sat vnder his vyne and fygg trees, & there was no mā to fray them away. There was none in the lāde to fyght against thē, for then the kynges were ouercome. He helped those that were in aduersite amonge his people, he was diligēt to se the law kept: as for such as were vngodly & wicked, he to∣ke them away. He set vp the Sanctuary, & en∣creased the holy vessels of the temple.

When the Romaynes and Sparcyans had gotten worde, that Ionathas was deed they were ryght sory. But when they herde that Simon his brother was made hie prest in his steade, & howe he had wonne the lande agayne with the cyties in it: they wrote vnto him in tables of brasse, to renue the frēdshyp and bonde of loue, whiche they had made a∣fore with Iudas and Ionathas hys brethrē.* 1.691 Whiche wrytynges were red before the con∣gregacyon at Ierusalem.

And this is the copye of the letters / that [unspec C] the Sparcians sent: The Senatours and c••¦tesins of Sparta sence gretyng vnto Simō the great prest, with the elders / preestes / and

the other people of the Iewes their brethrē: When your ambassytours that were sent vn to our people, certifyed vs of your worshyp / honoure and prosperous wealth: we were glad of theyr cōmyng, and haue wrytten the earande whiche they spake before the coun∣cell of the people: namely / that Numenius the sonne of Antiochus. And Antipater the sōne of Iason the Iewes embassitours are come vnto vs, for to renue the olde frendship with vs. Upon this the people cōsented, that the men shulde be honorably intreated, and that the copy of theyr earande shulde be wry¦ten in the speciall bookes of the people, for a perpetual memory vnto the Sparcians: yee & that we shulde sende a copy of the same vn∣to Symon the great Preste.

After this dyd Simon sēde Numeni{us} vn¦to [unspec D] Rome, with a golden shylde of a thousāde poūde weight, to cōfyrme y^• frēdshyp w^t thē: which when the Romaynes vnderstode, they sayde: what thāckes shal we recōpēce againe vnto Simon & his chyldrē? For he hath sta∣blished his brethreē, & ouercome y^• enemies of Israel. Wherfore, they graunted hī to be fre. And al this wrote y^• Iewes ī tables of brasse, & nayled it vnto the pyllers vpō the mounte Syon. The copy of the wrytynges is this.

The. xviij. day of the moneth * 1.692 Elul in y^• Clxxij. yere in the thirde yere of Symō y^• hye prest, in the great cōgregaciō the prestes, ru∣lers of the people, & elders of y^• coūtre at Asa∣tame, were these wordes openly declared.

For so much as there was much warre in [unspec E] our land, therfore Simon the sonne of Ma∣tathias (come of the chyldren of Iareb) and his brethren, put them selues in parell / and resysted the enemies of their people: y^• theyr Sanctuary & lawe myght be mayntayned, and dyd theyr people great worshype: Iona∣thas in lyke maner, after that he had gouer∣ned his people & bene their hye preste: dyed & lyeth buried besyde his elders.

After that wold theyr enemyes haue tro∣den their holy thynges vnder fote, destroyed their lande, and vtterly waysted their San∣ctuary. Then Symon withstode them / and fought for his people, spēt much of his owne money, weapened the valeaunt men of hys people, gaue them wages, made stronge the cyties of Iuda / with Bethsura that lyeth v∣pon the borders of Iewry (where the ordy∣nasice of the enemies laye somtyme) & set Ie∣wes there for to kepe it.

He made fast Ioppa also, which lieth vpō [unspec F] the see, & Gaza that bordreth vpon Azotus (where y^• enemies dwelt afore) & there he set Iewes to kepe it: & whatsoeuer was mete for the subduyng of the aduersaryes, y^• layed he therin. Nowe whē the people sawe the noble actes of Simō, & what worshyp he purposed to do for thē, his godly behauour, & faythful∣nes which he kept vnto thē, & how he sought by al wayes y^• wealth of his people, because he dyd al th{is}, therfore they chose hi to be their prince & hye prest. And in his tyme they {pro}spe¦red wel by hi, so y^t the Heythen were take out of their lāde: & they also whiche were in the ci¦tie of Dauid at Ierusalēm the castel (where they wēt out & defyled al thinges that were a¦boute the Sāctuary, & did great harme vnto clēlynes) & Symon put men of the Iewes in it, for the defence of the lande and cytie, & set vp the walles of Ierusalem.

And kyng Demetrius cōfyrmed hi in his [unspec G] hye presthode, made hi h{is} frēde, & dyd hi great worshyp. For he herd that the Romaynes cal¦led the Iewes their frendes, louers & brethrē: how honorably they receyued Simōs embas¦sitours: how the Iewes & preestes cōsented y^t he shulde be theyr prince & hye prest perpetu∣ally (tyl God raysed vp the true {pro}phete) & y^• he shuld be their captaine, to care for the Sāctuary, & to set officers vpō the worckes ther∣of, ouer y^• lāde, ouer the weapēs, ouer the hou¦ses of defence: to make prouision for the holy thinges, & to be obeyed of euery mā, & all the wrytynges of the lande to be made in his na∣me: y^t he shuld be clothed in purple & gol••e, & that it shuld be lawful for none of the people nor prestes to breake any of these thynges, to w^t stande his wordes, nor to cal any cōgrega¦cion in the lande without him: that he shulde be clothed in purple, & weare a colar of gold: And if there were any which disobeyed or bra¦ke this ordinaunce, y^• he shulde be punyshed.

So all the people consented to alowe Si¦mon, and to do accordynge to these wordes: Symon also himselfe toke it vpon hym, and was cōtent to be the hye Prest, the captayne and prince of the Iewes and prestes / and to gouerne them all. And they commaunded to make this wrytynge in tables of brasse, and fasten it vnto the compasse of the Sanctuary in an open place: and to lay vp a copy of the same in the treasury, that Symon & his poste rite myght haue it.

¶ Antiochus maketh a couenaunt of frendshyppe with Sy∣mon, and Tryphon is persecuted. The Romaynee wryte let∣ters. vnto kynges and nacyons in the defence of the Iewes. Antiochus refusynge the helpe that Symon sente hym, brea∣keth his couenaunt.

CAPI. XV.

MOreouer, kyng Antiochus the sonne of [unspec A] Demetrius sente letters frō the Iles of

the see, vnto Symon the hye preste & prynce of the Iewes, & to all the people cōtaynynge these wordes: Anttochus y^• kyng sendeth gre tyng vnto Symon the hye prest & to the peo∣ple of the Iewes. For so muche as certayne wycked mē haue gotten y^• kyngdome of oure {pro}genitors, I am purposed to chalēge y^• real me agayne, and to restore it to the olde estate

Wherfore I haue gathered a great host, & made shippes of warre, y^• I may go thorowe [unspec B] the coūtre, & be auenged of thē which haue de stroyed our lande, & wasted many cities i my realme. And therfore now I make y^• fre also frō al the tributes, wherof al k••ges my proge nitours haue discharged the & frō other custo¦uies (where frō they haue released y^•) whatso∣euer they be: Ye I gyue the leaue to smyte mo¦ney of thyne owne w^tin thy lande. As for Ie∣rusalē, I wil that it be holy & fre: & al the we∣pens & houses of defence which y^• haste buyl∣ded & kepest in thyn hādes, shalbe thine. Wher as any thynge is or shalbe owynge vnto the kyng, I forgeue it the, from this tyme forth for euermore. And when we haue optayned our kyngedome, we shal do the, thy people & the temple great worshyp: so y^• your honoure shalbe knowē thorow out the whole worlde.

In the. Clxxiiij. yeare went Antiochus in to his fathers lāde, & al the mē of warre came together vnto hi, so y^• fewe were lette w^t Cri∣phon. So the kyng Antioch{us} folowed vpon him, but he fled vnto Dora, whiche lyeth by the see syde: for he sawe y^• there was myschefe cōmyng vnto him, & that his hoste had forsa¦ken him. Then came Antiochus vnto Dora with an hundreth & twentye thousande men of armes vpon fote, & eyght thousande hors∣men. So he cōpased the citte rounde aboute, & the shippes came by the see. Thus they vex¦ed the cytie by lande & by water, in so muche that they suffred no man to go in nor out.

In the meane season came * 1.693 Numenius (& they that had bene w^t him) from the cite of Rome, hauing letters writtē vnto the kyng{is} [unspec C] & {pro}uyncies, wherin were cōtayned these wor¦des: Lucius the Consul of Rome sēdeth gre∣tyng vnto Ptolomy the kyng. The embassi∣tours of the Iewes our frēdes being sent frō Simon the hye prest & from the people of the Iewes, came vnto vs for to renue the old frē shyp, & bōde of loue, brought a shylde of gold weing a thousāde poūde, which we were cōtēt to receyue of them. Wherfore we thought it good to wryte vnto the kynges and prouyn∣cies, to do them no harme, nor to take parte agaynst them, their cyties nor countrees, ne∣ther to mayntene their enemies agaynst thē. If there be any wycked personnes therfore, fled from their countre vnto you, delyuer thē vnto Symon the hye preste, that he may pu∣nysh them accordyng to theyr owne lawe.

The same wordes wrote the Romaynes also vnto Demetrius the kynge, to Attaius, Araba, Arsaces & to al regiōs: as Sāsanes, to thē of Sparta, Delo, Mido, Ciciō, Carea, Sa¦mos, Pamphilia, Lycia, Alicarnassū, & to the [unspec D] Rhodes, to Faselis, Coo, Sida, Arado, Gor∣tina, Gnydū, to Cypres, & to Cyren. And of e∣uery lettre they sēt a copye to Simon the hye prest & to the people of the Iewes. So Antio¦chus y^• kyng brought his hoste vnto Dora y^• secōde tyme, to take it: where he made diuers ordinaūces of warre, & kepte Triphō in, y^• he shulde not come forth. Then sent Symon to Antiochus two thousāde chosen men to help him w^t gold, syluer, & other plentuous geere: Neuerthelesse, he wolde not receyue thē, but brake al the couenaunt which he made w^t Si∣mon atore, and w^t drewe him selfe from him.

He sēt Athenobius also a frende of his vn¦to Simō, for to reason w^t him, saying: Ye w^t∣holde fro me Ioppa. & Gaza (with the castel y^• is at Ierusalē) which are cities of my realme whose borders ye haue destroied, & done great euyl in the lāde, hauyng the dominaciō in ma¦ny other places of my kyngdome. Wherfore delyuer now y^• cities which ye haue take, w^t y^• trybutes of the places y^• ye haue rule vpon without y^• borders of Iewry: Orels geue me v. C. talentes of siluer, yee and for the harme that ye haue done in y^• cyties & for the trybu∣tes of the same, other fyne hundreth talētes. [unspec E] If no, we shal come and fyght agaynst you.

So Athenobi{us} the kynges frēde came to Ierusalē, & when he sawe the great worshyp & honour of Symō in golde, siluer & so great plēty of ornamentes: he marueled, & tolde Sy¦mon as y^• king cōmaūded hi. Then answered Symon & sayd vnto hi. * 1.694 As for vs, we haue nether takē other mens lādes, nor w^thold thē, but onely our fathers heritage, which our e∣nemies had vnrightuously in possession a cer¦tayne tyme. This herytage of oure fathers haue we chalenged in processe of tyme. And where as y^• cōplanest cōcerning Ioppa & Ga¦za, they did gret harme to our people & in our lāde, yet wyl we gyue an. C. taletes for them.

Neuertheles Athenobius answered hi not one word, but curned agayne wrothfully vn¦to the kyng, & tolde him al these wordes, & the great dignite of Symon, with al y^• he had se∣••ie, & the king was very angry. In the meane tyme fled Triphō by shyp vnto Orthosaida. Then the kyng made Cēdebens captayne of

the see coast, & gaue hi an host of fote men & horsmen, cōmaundyng hym to remoue the host towarde Iewry, & to buylde vp y^• cyte of Cedron, to make vp the portes, & to warre a∣gainst the people of the Iewes. As for y^• king him selfe, he folowed vpon Triphō. So Cen¦debeus came vnto Iamnia, & begāue to vexe the people, to treade downe Iewry, to take y^• people presoners, to sley them, & to buylde vp* 1.695 Cedron: where he let horsmen & other men of warre, that they mygnt come forth & go tho∣rowe the stretes of Iewry, lyke as the kyng had cōmaunded hym.

¶ Cendebeus the Captayne of Antiochus hooste is put to flyght of the sonnes of Symon Ptolomeus: the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of A••••¦bus hylleth Symon and his two sonnes at a bancket. Ihon kylleth them that lye in wayte for his lyfe.

CAPI. XVI. [unspec A]

THen came Thon vp from * 1.696 Gaza, & told Symon his father, what Cenoebe{us} had done among their people. Upon this called Simo•• two of his eldest sōnes, Iubas and Ihon, & said vnto them, I & my brethren and my fathers house, haue euer frō our youth vp vnto this daye, foughten agaynste the ene∣myes of Israel, and God gaue vs good for∣tune to delyuer Israel oft tymes. And now for so muche as I am olde, be ye insteade of me and my brother, to go forth and fyght for our people, and the help of God be with you. So he chose. xx. M. fightyng men of the coū¦tre with horsmen also, whiche wente forth a∣gaynst Cendebeus, and rested at Modin:

In the mornynge they arose, and went in [unspec B] to the playne feide: and beholde, a myghtye great host came agaynst them, bothe of fote men and horsmen. Nowe was there a water broke betwyxt them, and Ihon remoued the host towarde them. And when he sawe that the people was afrayed to go ouer the water broke, he went ouer fyrst him selfe: & the men seinge this, folowed hym.

Then Ihon set his horimen and fote men in ordre, the one by y^• other, for their enemyes horsmen were very many. But when they blew vp the prestes trōpettes, Cendebeus fled with his host, wherof many were slayue, and the remnaunt gat them to theyr strong holde Iudas also Ihons brother was wounded at the same tyme. And Ihon folowed styl vpon the enemyes, tyll he came to Cedrō, * 1.697 whiche he buylded. The enemyes fled also vnto the towres that were in the feldes of Azotus, and those dyd Ihon burne vp. Thus there were slayne. i••. M. men of them, & Ihon turned a∣gayne peaceably into Iewry.

And in the felde of Iericho was Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus made captayne: whiche because he had aboundaunce of syluer and golde (for he had maried the daughter of Si¦mō the hye prest) waxed proude in his mynde, and thought to conquere the lande, ymage∣nyng [unspec C] falshed agaynst Symon and his sones to destroye them. Now as Symon was go∣yng aboute thorowe the cyties, that were in the countre of Iewry, and caring for them: he came downe to Iericho with Matathias and Iudas his sonnes, in the. Clxxvij. yere in the xj. Moneth called * 1.698 Sabat. Then Ptolomy the sonne of Abobus receiued them (but with disceyte) into a stronge house of hys called Doch, which he had buylded, where he made them a bancket.

So when Symon and his sonnes were mery and had dronken well, Ptolomy stode vp with his men (whom he had hyd there) & toke their weapens, entred into the bancket house, and slewe Symon with hys two son∣nes, and certayne of his seruaunces. Suche great vnfaythfulnesse dyd Ptolomy in Isra¦el, and recōpensed euyl for good. Then wrote this Ptolomy the same vnto kynge Antio∣chus, requyryng him, that he shulde sende hym an host to helpe him: and so shulde he de lyuer hym the lanoe, with the cyties and try∣buces of the same. He sent other ••e•••• also his to Gaza, for to take Ihon: and w••ot•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the captaynes to come to hym, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hul••e [unspec D] gyue them syiuer, golde and rewardes. And to Ierusalem he sent other, to take 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the Sanctuary.

Then ranne there one before, and tolde Ihon in Gaza, that his father & his brethren were slayne, & howe that Ptolomy ha•• se••re to slepe hym also When Iohn herde this, he was sore abashed, and layed handes of them that were come to destroye hym, and slewe them: for he knewe, that they went ••••••••te to kyll hym.

As for other thynges concernyng Ihon: of his warres, of his noble actes (wherin he behaued him selfe manfully) of the buylding of wastes which he made, and other of his de¦des: They are wrytten in the cronicles of his presthode, frō the time forth that he was ma•••• hye prest after hys father.

❧ The ende of the fyrste Booke of the Machabees. Eee. v.

The seconde booke of the Machabees.

¶ An Epystle of the Iewes that dwelt at Ierusalem sente vnto them which dwelt in Egypt, wherin they exhorte them to geue thankes for the death of Antiochus. Of the fyre that was hyd in the pyt. The prayer of Nehemias.

CAPI. I.

THe brethren of the Ie∣wes [unspec A] which be at Ierusalem, and in the lande of Iewry, wysh vn∣to those brethren of the Iewes that are thorowe out Egypte: good fortune, health, and peace.

God be gracious vnto you / and thyncke vpon his couenaunt that he made with Abra¦ham Isaac and Iacob his faythfull seruaū∣tes: * 1.699 and gyue you all such an herte, that ye may loue and serue hym, yee and perfourme his wyll with an whole herte and of a wyll••g mynde: He open your hertes in his lawe and in his commaundementes / sende you peace: heare your prayers / be at one w^t you, and ne∣uer forsake you in tyme of trouble. This is here our prayer for you.

What tyme as Demetrius raygned, •• the Clxix. yeare, we Iewes wrote vnto you in the trouble and vyolēce that came vnto vs. In those yeares / after that Iason departed out of the holy lande & kyngdome / they brēt vp the portes / & shed innocent bloude. Then made we our prayer vnto y^• lord, & were herd: we offred: & lyghted the cādels, settyng forth cakes & bred. * 1.700 And nowe come ye vnto the feast of tabernacles in the moneth * 1.701 Casieu.

In the▪ Clxxxvii••. yeare / the people that [unspec B] was at Ierusalem and in Iewry / the coun∣cell and Iudas hym selfe / sent this wholeso∣me salutacyon vnto Aristobolus kynge Pto¦lomys maister / which came of the generacyō of the annoynted prestes: and to the Iewes that were in Egypte: in so muche as God hath delyuered vs from greate parels / we thancke hym hyghlye. In that we resysted so myghty a kynge. And why? he brought men out of Perses by heapes / to fyght agaynste vs / and the holye citie. For as he was in Per¦sis (namely / the Captayne with the greate host) he peryshed in the temple of Naneas / beynge disceyued thorowe the deuyse of Na∣neas prest{is}. For as he was purposed to haue dwelt there. Antiochus and hys frendes ca∣me thy••hec / to receyue muche moneye for a dowry. So when Naneas prestes had layed forth the moneye / he entred with a smal com∣pany into the cōpasse of the temple, & so they shut the temple.

Nowe whē Antiochus entred by openyng [unspec C] the preuye intraunce of the tēple, the prestes stoned the captayne to death, hewed them in peces that were with hym / smote of theyr hea¦des / and threw them out. In al thynges god be praysed / whiche hath delyuered the wyc∣ked into our handes.

Where as we nowe are purposed to kepe the puryficacyon of the temple vpō the. xxv. daye of the moneth Cas••le••, we thought ne∣cessarye to certifye you therof: that ye also myght * 1.702 kepe the tabernacles feast day / and the day of the fyre, which was geuen vs whē Nehemias offred, after that he had set vp y^• temple & the aulter. For what tyme as our fa¦thers were led away vnto Persis, the prestes (which then sought the honour of God) toke the fyre preuely from the aulter, & hyd it in a valley, where as was a depe dry pyt: & therin they kepte it, so that the place was vnknowē to euery man. Nowe after many yeares whē it pleased God, that Nehemy as shuld be sent from the kynge of Persia, * 1.703 he sent the chyl∣ders chyldrē of those prestes (whiche had hyd the fyre) to seke it. And as they tolde vs they [unspec D] founde no fyre / but thycke water. Then com¦māunded he them to drawe it vp, & to bryng it hym, and the offringes withal. Now when the sacrifices were layed on and ordred / the prest Nehemias commaunded to sprynkle them and the wod with water. When thys was done / and the tyme come that the Sūne shone, whiche afore was hyd in the cloude: there was a great fyre kyndled. In so muche that euery man marueled. Nowe all the pre∣stes prayed., whyle the sacryfyce was a ma∣kynge. Ionathas prayed fyrst, and the other gaue answere.

And Nehemias prayer was after this ma¦ner: O Lorde God maker of al thinges, y^• fea¦reful & stronge, thou ryghteous, & mercyful, y^• that art onely a gracious kyng, onely libe∣rall, onely iust, Almyghtye / & euerlastynge / thou that delyuerest Israel from all trouble, thou that hast chosen the fathers, & halowed them: receyue the offeryng for the whole peo¦ple of Israel, preserue thyne ownē porcion / & halowe it. Gather those together / that are scarred abrode from vs: delyuer them that are vnder the Heythens bondage / loke vpō them / which are despised / and abhorred / that the Heythen maye knowe / and se / howe that thou art oure God: Punyshe them that op∣presse / and proudely put vs to dishonoure. Set thy people agayne in thy holy place / * 1.704

lyke as Moyses hath spoken.

And the prestes songe Psalmes of thanc∣kesgeuyng, [unspec E] so longe as the sacrifice endured Nowe when the sacrifice was brente, Nehe∣mias commaunded the greate stones to be sprynckled with the resydue of the water. * 1.705 Whiche when it was done, there was kynd∣led a flamine of them also: but it was consu∣med thorowe the lyght, that shyned from the aulter. So when this matter was knowen / it was tolde the kynge of Persia / that in the place where the prestes / whiche were led a∣waye / had hyd fyre / there appeared water in¦steade of fyre / and that Nehemias and hys company had puryfied the sacrifices wyth∣all. Then the kynge consyderynge and pon∣derynge the matter diligētly, made him a tē∣ple to proue the thynge that was done. And when he founde it so in dede / he gaue the pre¦stes many gyftes and dyuers rewardes: yee, he toke them with hys owne hand and gaue thē, And Nehemias called y^e same place Ne∣phthar, whiche is as much to saye, as a clen¦synge: but many men call it Nephi.

¶ Howe Ieremy hydde the tabernacle, the Arche, and the aulter in the hyl. Of the. v. bokes of Iason cont••y••ed in one.

CAPI. II.

IT is founde also in the wrytinges of Iere¦my [unspec A] the prophete, that he cōmaunded them which were caried away, to take fire ‡ 1.706 as it is sayd afore. * 1.707 He cōmauded thē also, that they shulde not forget the law and cōmaundemē∣tes of the Lord, & that they shulde not erre in theyr mindes, when they se Images of siluer and golde with theyr ornamentes. These & such other thinges cōmaunded he them, and exhorted them y^t they shulde not let the law of God go out of their hertes.

It is wrytten also howe the Prophete (at the commaundement of God) charged them to take the Tabernacle / and the arcke wyth them: and he went forth vnto the moūtayne, where Moyses clymed vp, * 1.708 & sawe the hery¦tage of God. And when Ieremy came there, he founde an open caue, wherin he layed the tabernacle / the arke and y^• aulter of incense / and so stopped the hole. There came certaine men together also folowyng hym, to marcke the place, but they coulde not fynde it. Whi∣che [unspec B] when Ieremye perceyued / he reproued them, saynge: As for that place / it shalbe vn∣knowen / vntyll the tyme that God gather his people together agayne / and receyue thē vnto mercy. Then shal God shewe the these thiges, & the maiestye of the Lorde shall ap∣peare,* 1.709 and y^• cloude also lyke as it was shew∣ed vnto Moyses, and lyke as where Salo∣mon desyred that y^e place might be sanctifyed and it was shewed him.

For he beynge a wyse man, handled hono¦rably and wysely, offerynge vnto God in the halowynge of the temple, when it was fynis∣shed. * 1.710 And lyke as whē Moses prayed vnto the Lorde, the fyre came downe from heauē / and consumed the burntofferynge: Euen so prayed Salomon also, * 1.711 and the fyre came downe from heauen / and cōsumed the burnt offerynge. And Moyses sayd: because the si∣offerynge was not eaten, therfore it is consu¦med. In lyke maner Salomon kepte the de¦dycacion (or halowyng) eyght dayes.

In the Annotacions and wrytynges of [unspec C] * 1.712 Ieremy, were these thynges put also and how he made a lybrary: and how he gathe∣red out of all countrees the bokes of the pro∣phetes, of Dauyd, the epystles of the kyn∣ges, and of the presentes. Euen so Iu∣das also / loke what he lerned by experyence of warre / and suche thynges as hathe hap∣pened vnto vs, he gathered them all toge∣ther / and so we haue them by vs. If ye nowe desyre to haue the same / sende some body to fetch thē vnto you. Where as we then are a∣boute to celebrate the puryf••cacyon / we haue written vnto you. Therfore ye shall do wel, yf ye kepe the same dayes. We hope also, that the God (whiche delyuered hys people, and gaue thē al the herytage, kingdome, presthode & Sanctuary * 1.713 that he promysed them in the lawe) shall shortly haue mercy vpon vs, and gather vs together from vnder the heauen into his holy place: for he hath saued vs from great parels, and hath clensed the place.

As concernynge Iudas Machabeus, and [unspec D] his brethren, the puryfycacyon of the greate temple / the dedycacion of the aulter / yee / and of the warres that concerne noble Antio chus, and * 1.714 Eupator his sonne, of y^• shynyn∣ges that came downe from heauen vpon tho¦se / which manfully defended the Iewes. For thoughe they were but fewe / yet defended they the whole lande / droue awaye the ene∣myes host, recouered agayne the tēple / that was spoken of thorowe out all the worlde / delyuered the cytye / doynge theyr best / that the lawe of the Lord whiche was put downe / myght with all ••ranquylyte be restored a∣gayne vnto the Lorde, that was so mercy∣full vnto them. As touchynge Iason also of Cyren, we haue vndertaken compendiously to bryng into one bok••, the thinges that were comprehended of hym in fyue. For we con∣syderynge

the multitude of the bokes, & howe harde it shulde be for thē that wold medle w^t stories & actes (and that because of so dyuers matters) haue vnder takē so to cōprehend the stories: y^• such as are disposed to rede, myght haue pleasure & pastyme therin: & that they which are diligēt in such thinges, myght the better thinke vpō them: yee and that whoso∣euer rede them, myght haue profyte therby.

Neuertheles, we our selues that haue med∣led [unspec E] with this matter for the shortnyng of it / haue taken no smal labour, but great diligē¦ce, watchīges, & trauayle. Lyke as they that make a feast, wolde fayne do other men plea¦sure: Euē so we also (for many mēs sakes) are very wel cōtent to take the labour / where as we may shortly cōprehende, the thinges that other men haue truly wrytten.

For he y^t buyldeth an house a newe / muste prouyde for many thynges, to y^• whole buyl∣dynge: but he that paynteth it afterwarde / seketh but onely what is comly / mete and cō∣ueniēt to garnysh it withall. Euen so do we also in lyke maner. And why? He that begyn¦neth to wryte a story for y^• fyrst, must with his vnderstandyng gather the matter together, set his wordes in ordre / and diligently seke out of euery parte: But he that afterwarde wyl shorten it / vseth few wordes / & toucheth not the matter at y^• largiest, Let thys be suffi¦cient for a Prologe / nowe wyll we begynne to shewe the matter: for it is but a foolyshe thyng to make a longe Prologe / & to be short in the storye it selfe.

¶ O•• the honoure done vnto the temple by the kynges of the Gentyles. Symon vtter teth what treasure to in the tem¦ple. Heliodorus is sent to take them awaye. He is strycken of God, and healed at the prayer of O••••as.

CAPI. III.

WHat tyme as the holy cytie was inhabi¦ted [unspec A] in al peace & wealth / and when the lawes were yet very well kepte (For so was it ordayned by O••ias the hie prest and other godly mē / that were enemies to wyckednes) It came therto / * 1.715 that euen the kynges & prī¦ces them selues dyd the place great worshyp & garnyshed the temple with great gyftes: In so muche that Seleueus kynge of Asia of his owne rentes / bare al the coastes belon¦gyng to the seruice of the offrynges. Then * 1.716 Simon of the tribe of Ben Iamin / a ruler of the temple, laboured to worke some mischefe in the cyte: but the hie preste resysted him.

Neuerthelesse when he myght not ouer∣come Onias / he gat him to * 1.717 Appollon••us y^• sonne of Thersa) which then was chefe Lord in Celosyria and Phenices) and tolde hym, y^• the treasury in Ierusalem was ful of innu∣merable money / & how that the comō goodes (whiche belonged not vnto the offerynges) were exceadyng great also: yee and howe it were possible / y^• all these myght come vnder the kynges power.

Nowe when Appolonius had shewed the [unspec B] kynge of the money / as it was tolde hym: the king called for Heliodorus hys stewarde & sent him with a commaundement / to bring hym the same money. Immediatly Heliodo∣rus toke his iourney / but vnder a coloure / as thoughe he wolde go thorowe Celosyrya and Phenices to viset the cities, but his pur¦pose was to fulfyll the kynges pleasure. So when he came to Ierusalem, and was louyn¦gly receyued of the hye preste into the cyte: he tolde what was determyned cōcernynge the money, & shewed the cause of his cōmyn••: he asked also / yf it were so in dede. Then y^• hye prest told him, y^t there was such money layed vp for the vpholdyng of wyddowes & father lesse chyldrē, and howe that a certayne of it belōged vnto Hyrcanus Tobias a noble mā and that of al the money (which y^• wycked Si¦mō had bewraied) there were. iiij. C. talentes of syluer, &. ij. C. of golde: ye & that it were vn¦possibell for those mens meanynge to be dis∣ceyued, that had layed vp theyr money in the place and temple (which is had in worshippe thorowe y^• whole worlde) for y^• mayntaynaū∣ce and honoure of the same. Where vnto He¦liodorus answered, that the kynge had com∣maunded hym in any wyse / to brynge him in the money.

So at the daye appoynted / Heliodorus [unspec C] entred into the temple to ordre this matter. But there was no small feare thorowe out y^• whole cytie. The Prestes fell downe before the aulter in theyr vestymentes / and called vnto heauen vpon him, * 1.718 which had made a lawe conceruynge stuffe geuen to kepe that they shulde be safely preserued, for such as cō¦mytte them vnto kepyng. Then who so had loked the hye preste in the face▪ it wolde haue greued his herte: For his countenaunce and the chaungynge of hys coloure / declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde. The mā was all in heuynesse, and his body in feare. Wher by they that loked vpon him, might perceiue the grefe of his hert. The other people also ca¦me out of their houses by heapes vnto the co¦mō praier, because the place was like to come into confusion. The wemē came together tho¦rowe the stretes, with hearrye clothes about theyr brestes:

The vyrgyns also that were kept in, rāne

to O••ias, some i the walles, other some lo∣ked out of the wyndowes: yee they all helde vp theyr handes towarde heauen, & prayed A myserable thynge was it, to loke vpō the comen people, & the hye prest beinge in such trouble. But they besought almyghty god, that the goodes which were commytted vn¦to them, myghte be kepte whole, for those y^• had delyuered thē vnto theyr kepynge. Ne∣uertheles the thyng that Heliodorus was determyned to do, that perfourmed he in the same place, he hym selfe personally beynge about the treasury wyth hys men of warre. But y^• spryte of almyghty God shewed him selfe openly, so that al they which presumed to obeye Helyodorus, fell thorow the power of God into a great fearfulnesse and drede. * 1.719 For there appeared vnto them an horse, w^t a terrible man sytting vpon hym, deckce in goodly araye, & the horse smote at Heliodo∣rus w^t hys fore fete. Nowe he that sat vpon the horse / had harnesse of golde vpon hym.

Moreouer there appeared. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. fayre & beu∣tyfull yōge men in goodly aray, which stode by him, scourged hym of both the sides, and gaue hym many strypes without ceassinge. * 1.720 With that fel Heliodorus sodēly vnto the [unspec E] grounde. So they toke him vp (beinge com¦pased aboute wyth great darcknesse (& bare hym oute vpon a bere. Thus he that came wyth so many runners and men of warre in to the sayde treasury, was borne out, where as no man myght helpe him: & so the power of God was manyfest and knowne. He laye styll domme also by the power of God, desti¦tute of all hope & lyfe. And they praysed the lord, that he had shewed his power vpō his place and tēple, which a lytie afore was full of feare & trouble: and that thorow the reue¦lacyon of the almightie Lorde it was fylled wyth ioye and gladnesse.

Thē certaine of Heliodorus frēdes praied Onias / that in all hast he wolde call vpon God, to graūte him his lyfe / which was ge¦uynge vp the goost. So the hye prest consi∣dered the matter, and lest the kyng shuld sus¦pecte that the Iewes had done Heliodorus some euyll: he offred an health offrynge for him. Now when the hie Prest had opteined hys peticion, the same yonge men in y^• same clothyng appeared, & stode besyde Heliodo∣rus, saying: Thancke Onias the hye prest / [unspec F] for y^• Lord * 1.721 , for his sake hath graūted y^• thy lyfe: therfore seyng y^• god hath scourged the geue hym prayse & thākes / and shewe euery man his might & power. And whē they had spokē these wordes, they appeared nomore.

So Heliodorus offered vnto God, made great vowes vnto him, which had graūted him his lyfe, thācked Onias, toke his host / & went agayne to the kynge. Then testified he vnto euery man of the great worckes of God, y^• he had sene with his eyes. And whē the kinge asked Heliodorus who were mete to be sent yet once agayne to Ierusalem, he sayde: yf thou hast any enemy or aduersary vnto thy realme, sende him thyther, & thou shalt haue him punished, if he escape w^t his lyfe: for in y^• place (no doute) there is a speci∣all power & worcking of god. For he y^• dwel¦leth ī heauē, visiteth & defēdeth y^• place: & al that come to do it harme, he punisheth & pla¦geth thē. This is now the matter cōcerning Heliodorus, & the kepynge of the tresury at Ierusalem.

¶ Symon reporteth ••uyll of Onias. I••••on desy••••ng•• the o••••yce of the hye Prest corrupteth the ky••g with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••rdes▪ The wycked intent of Iosan.

CAPI. IIII.

THys Simon nowe * 1.722 (of whō we spake [unspec A] afore (being a bewrayer of the moneye and of hys owne naturall countre, reported the worste of O••ias: as though he had mo∣ued Helyodorus vnto thys, & as though he had bene a brynger vp of euy••. Th{us} was he not ashamed to cal hi an enemy of y^• realme that was so faythful an ouerscer & defender of the cite & of his people: yee & so feruent in the law of God. But whē the malice of Si∣mon increased so farre, y^• thorow his frēdes there were certayne manslaughters cōm••••∣ted: Onias cōsydered the parell that myght come thorow this strife, & how that Appolo¦nius (namely the chefe Lorde in Celosiria & Phenices) was al set vpō ••yrāny, & Symōs malice increased the same: He gat h•• to the kyng, not as an accuser of the cytesins, but as one y^• by hī selfe intēded the comō wealth of the whole multitude. For he sawe it was not possible to lyue in peace, nether Simon to leaue of fro his folyshnesse, except y^• kige dyd loke therto. But after the deeth of Se∣leucus, [unspec B] when Antiochus (whiche is called y^• noble) toke y^• kyngdome: Iason the brother of O••ias laboured to be hye preste. For he came vnto the king, & {pro}mised him ••hre hun¦dreth &. lx. talētes of siluer, & of the other rē∣tes. lxxx. talentes, Besides this he promised hī yet an. C. &. L. if he might haue y^• scole of the children, & that he myght cal them of Ie¦rusalem Antiochiās. Which when the king had graūted, & he had gotten y^• superiorite / he begāne immediatly to drawe his k••••••mē to the custome of the Heathen, put downe y^•

thynges y^• the Iewes had set vp of loue, by Iohn y^• father of Eupolemtus, which was sent ambassytour vnto Rome, for to make y^• bōde of frē••shippe & loue. He put downe all the Iewes & Liberties of y^• Iewes, & set vp the wycked statutes. He durst make a figh∣ting scole vnder y^• castel, & set fayre yōge mē to lerne the maners of whores & brothels.

This was now the beginning of the Hea¦thenysh [unspec C] & straunge cōuersacion, brought in thorow the vngracious & vnhearde wicked¦nesse of Iason, which shulde not be called a Prest, but an vngodly persōne. In so much that the prestes were now no more occupied about the seruyse of the aulter, but despised y^• tēple, regarded not the offriges: yee gaue their dilig••ce to lerne to fight, to wrastle, to lepe, to daūce, & to put at y^• stone not setting by the honour of the fathers, but lyked the glory of the Grekes best of al: for the which they stroue perlously, & were gredy to folow their statutes, yee, theyr lust was in al thin∣ges to be lyke them, which afore were theyr enemies & destroyers. Howbeit to do wicked¦ly agaist the law of god, shal not escape vn∣punished: but of this we shal speke here af∣ter. [unspec D] What time as the Olimpiades sportes were played at Tirus (the king him self be∣being present (this vngracious Iason sent wycked men, bearing from them of Ierusa¦lem (which nowe were called Antiochians) iij. C. drachmas of syluer for an offeryng to Hercules. These had they that caried them desyred vnder such a fashiō, as though they shulde not haue bene offred but bestowed to other vses. Neuertheles he y^t sent them, sent them to the intent that they shulde be offred vnto Hercules. But because of those y^t were present, they were geuen as to the makynge of shippes. And Appollonius y^• sōne of Ne∣steus was sēt into Egipt, because of the no∣ble mē of king Ptolomy Phylometor. Now when Antiochus perceued, that he was put out from medlyng in the realme, he sought his owne profite, departed from thēce, came to Ioppa, & then to Ierusalē: where he was honorably receued of Iasō, & the cite & was brought in w^t torche lyght and with greate prayse: & so he turned his host vnto Pheny∣ces. After. iij. yere Iason sent Menelaus / y^• [unspec E] foresayde Simōs brother, * 1.723 to beare the mo¦ney vnto y^• kyng. & to brynge hym answere of other necessary matters. But he (when he was praysed of the kyng for magnifying of his power) turned y^• presthod vnto him self, layinge vp. iij. C. talentes of syluer for Ia∣son. So whē he had gotten cōmanndemetes frō the king (he came hauing nothing that becōmeth a prest, but bearyng the stomacke of a cruel tyraūt & y^• wrath of a wylde brute beest. * 1.724 Thē Iason (which had disceued his* 1.725 owne brother) seynge that he him selfe was begyled also was fayne to fle into the lande of the Amnionites, & Menelaus gat the do∣miniō. But as for the money that he had {pro}∣mysed vnto y^e kyng, he dyd nothing therin / when Sostratus the ruler of the castell re∣quyred it of him. For Sostratus was y^• mā that gathered the customes: wherfore they were both called before y^• kinge. Thus was Menelaus put out of the presthode, & Lysi∣machus his brother came in his steade. So∣stratus also was made lord of the Cypr••••s. It happened in the meane season, that the [unspec F] Tharsians & Mallaciās made insurreceiō, because they were geuen for a present vnto kyng Antiochus cōcubyne. Then came the kyng in all the haste, to styll them againe, & to pacifye the matter, leauyng Andronicus there to be his debyte, as one mete therfore. Now Menelaus supposing that he had got∣ten a ryght couenyent tyme / stole certayne vessels of golde out of the temple, and gaue them to Andronicus for a present: & some he solde at Tirus & in the cities therby. Which when Onias knew of a suerty, he reproued him: but he kepte him in a Santuary beside Daphenis, that lyeth by Antioche wherfore Menelaus gat hi to Andronicus & prayed him y^• he woldslay Onias. So whā he came to Onias, he counceled hi craftely to come out of the Sanctuary, geuyng him his hāde with an othe (how be it he suspect hym) and then he slew Onias, without any regarde of ryghtuousnesse. For the whiche cause not only the Iewes, but other nacyōs also toke indignacyon / & were displeased for the vn∣ryghtuous death of so godly a man. [unspec G]

And when the kynge was come agayne from Cilicia, the Iewes and certaine of the Grekes wente vnto him, complayninge for y^• vnryghtuous death of Onias. Yee Antio chus hym selfe was sory in hys mynde for Onias, so that it pitied him, & he wepte / re∣membrynge hys sobernesse & manerly beha¦uoure. Wherfore he was so kyndled in hys minde, that he cōmaūded Andronicus to be striped out of his purple clothing, & so to be led thorow out the cite, yee: & y^• vngracious man to be slayne in the same place / where he cōmitted his wickednes vpō Onias. Thus the Lorde rewarded hym his punishmēt, as he had deserued. Now when Lysymachus had done many wycked dedes in the temple

thorowe the councel of Manelaus / and the voice came abrode: the multitude gathered them together agaynst Lysimachus: for he had caryed out nowe much golde.

So when the people arose, and were ful of displeasure / Lysymachus armed. ••ii. M. vnthriftes to defende him: a certaine tira••it beyng theyr captayne, which was growen bothe in age and woodnesse. But when the people vnderstode the purpose of Lysy∣machus, some gat stones, some good strong clubbes, & some cast ashes vpō Listmachus Thus there were many of thē woūded, some beynge slayne, & al the other chased awaye.

But as for the wycked churchrobber hym [unspec H] selfe, they killed him beside the treasury. Of these matters therfore there was kepte a courte agaynst Manelaus. Now when the kynge came to Tirus, they made a cōplaite vnto hym of Menelaus / concernynge this busynesse, and the ambassytours were thre. But Menelaus wēt & promysed Ptolomy, to geue hym much money / yf he wolde per∣swade y^• king. So Ptolomy wēt to the king into a courte, (where as he was set to coole hym) & brought hym out of y^e mynde. In so much y^e he discharged Menelaus from the accusacyons, that not withstandynge was cause of all myschefe: and those poore men / which yf they had tolde theyr cause, yee, be∣fore the Scithiās, they shuld haue bene iud¦ged innocent, them he condemned to death.

Thus were they soone punyshed, whiche folowed vpon the matter for the cite, for the people, & for the holy vessel. Wherfore they of Tyrus toke indignacion, and ••••cied thē honorably. And so thorow the couecousnes of them that were in power, Manelaus re∣mayned styl in auethorite, increasing in ma¦lyce, to the hurt of the cytesyns.

¶ Of the signes and toh•••••• sene in Ierusalem. Of the ende and offēce of ••asan. The puri••t•• of •• n••ochus against the Iewes. The •• poy••y••g•• of the temple.

CAPI. V.

AT the same tyme Antiochus made hi [unspec A] ready to go agayne into Egipt. Then were there sene at Ierusale. xl. dayes long / horsmen, running to and fro in the ayre whi¦the had raiment of golde, & speares. There were sene also whole hoostes of men weape¦ned, & horses running in an ordre / how they came together, howe they helde forth theyr shyldes, howe the harnessed men drewe out theyr sweardes, and shote their dartes.

The shyne of the golde weapens was sene, and all of maner of armure. Wherfore euery man prayed, that those tokens might turne to good. Nowe when there was gone forth a false rumour, as though Antiochus had bene deed: Iason toke a. M. mē, & came sodenly vpon the cytye. The cytesyns ran vnto the walles, at the laste was the cytye taken, & Manelaus fled in to the castell.

As for Iason, he spared not hys owne cy∣tesyns [unspec B] i the slaughter, nether consydered he what greate euel it were, to destroye y^t pros∣perite of his owne kynsmen: but dyd as one that had gotten the victory of his enemies, & not of his frendes. For al this gat he not y^• superiorite, but at the last receaued cōfusyō for his malice, * 1.726 & & led againe lyke a vaga∣bunde into the lande of the Ammonytes.

Finally, for a rewarde of his wickednesse, he was accused before Aretha the kynge of the Arabiās: In so much that he was fa••e to fle frō cyte to cite, being despised of euery mā as a forsaker of the lawes, & an abhomy¦nable persōne. And at the last (as an open e∣nemy of hys owne natural countre & of the cytesyns) he was dryuen in to Egypte.

Thus he that afore put many out of their owne natyue land, perished from home him self. He wēt to Lacedemon, thinckyng there to haue gotten succour by reason of kinred, And he that afore had casten many one our vnburyed, was throwen out hym selfe / no man mournynge for hym, nor putting•• him in hys graue: so that he nether enioyned the buryall of a straunger, nether was he parta¦ker of hys fathers sepulcre.

Nowe when thys was done, the kyng sus∣pecte, [unspec C] that the Iewes wolde haue fallen fro hym: wherfore he came in a greate dysplea∣sure out of Egypte, * 1.727 & toke y^e cytie by vyo∣lence. He cōmaunded his m•• of warre also / y^t they shuld kyl & no•• spare, but sley downe such as w^t stode them, or climed vp vpō the houses. Thus was there a great slaughter of yong men, oldemen, wemen, children and virgines. In. iii. dayes were there slayne. lxxx. M. xl. M. put in preson, & no lesse sold. Yet was he not content w^t this, but durst go into the moste holy temple (Menelaus that traytour to y^• lawes & to hys owne natural countre, being his gyde) & with his wycked hādes toke the holy vessel, which other kin∣ges & cities had geuen thither for the garny¦shing & honour of the place: them toke he in his handes vnworthely, & defyled them.

So mad was Antiochus, that he consy∣dered [unspec D] not, how that God was a lytle wroth for the sinnes of them that dwelt in the cite, for the which such cōfucion came vpon that place. ‡ 1.728 And why▪ if it had not happened thē

to haue bene lapped in many synnes / thys Antiochus (as soone as he had come) had so denly bene punyshed / and shut oute for hys presūpeyon, * 1.729 lyke as Heliodorus was, whō Seleucus the kynge sent to robbe the trea∣sury. Neuertheles, God hath not chosen the people for the places sake / but the place for the peoples sake: and therfore is y^• place be∣come partaker of y^• peoples trouble, but af∣terwarde shal it enioye the wealth of them. And lyke as it is nowe forsakē in the wrath of Almyghtye G••d, so when the great God is recōciled, it shalbe set vp i hye worship a∣gaine. So whē Antiochus had takē a. M. & [unspec E] viii. C. talētes out of y^• tēple, he gat him to Antioch ī al the hast, thincking in his pride / that he myght make men sayle vpon y^• drye land, & to go vpō the see, such an hye mynde had he. He left debites there, to vexe the peo¦ple: At Ierusalē left he Philyp a Phrigian, in maners more cruel thē him self y^t set hym there: At Garisim he left Andronicus & Me¦nelaus, which were more greuous to the cy∣tesins thē other. * 1.730 Nowe as he was thus set in malyce agaynst the Iewes, he sent Appol lonius an hated prynce / with xxij. M. com∣maūding him to sley those y^• were of perfect age, & to sel the wemen, maidens & children. Whē he came now to Ierusalem, he fayned peace, & kepte him styll vntyl the Sabboth day. And then he cōmaūded his men to take them to their weapens (for the Iewes kepte holy day) & so he slew all thē that were gone forth to the open play, runnyng here & there thorow the cytye with his men weapened / & murthured a great nōbre. ‡ 1.731 But Iudas Ma¦chabe{us} which was the tenth, fled into y^• wil∣dernes / led his life there with his company among wild•• ••eastes & vpon the mountay∣nes, dwelyng there and eating grasse / lest they shulde ••e partakers of the fylthynesse.

¶ The Iewe•••••••• compelled to leaue the lawe of god. The temple is defy••••••. The ••end••r•• are monyshed that they shal not abhorre the aduersyte wherwith the ••o•••••• afflycte••h them. The greuous payne of Eleazarus.

CAPI. VI.

NOt long after this, sent the king a mes¦saunger [unspec A] of Antioche, for to compel the Iewes, to altre the ordinaūces of y^• fathers & the law of god, to defile the tēple that was at Ierusalē / & to call it the tēple of Iupiter Olimpius: & that they shuld be ī Gazarim / as those which dwel at the place of Iupiter herberous. This wicked sedicion of the vn godly was heuy vpon all the people: for the tēple was full of voluptuousnes, bibbynge & bollynge of the Heathen, of rybaudes and harlottes together. The wemen wente into the holy place, and bare in that was not lau¦full. The aulter also was full of vnlaufull thynges, which the lawe forbyddeth to laye vpon it. The Sabbothes were not kepte, y^• other solēpne feastes of the lande were not regarded. To be playne / there durst no mā be a knowne that he was a Iewe. In y^• day of the kinges byrth they were cōpelled par∣force to offre: & when y^• feast of Bachus was kept, they were constrayned to were garlan¦des of yuye, & so to go aboute y^• honoure of Bachus. Morouer thorow the coūcel of [unspec B] Ptolomi there went out a cōmaūdement in y^• next cities of the Heathen, y^t they shuld in∣treate the Iewes in lyke maner: namely / to cōpel them for to do sacrifice after the lawes of the Gentiles: and who so wolde not / to put them to death. Apyteous thing was it to se. There were. ij. wemen accused to haue circumcised theyr sonnes, whom when they had led roūde aboute the cyte (the babes hā∣gyng at their brestes) they cast them downe headlīges ouer the walles. Some that were crepte in dennes & had kepte the Sabboth, were accused vnto Phylyppe / & brent in the fyre: because that for the feare of God they kepte the commaūdement so styfly / & wolde not defende them selues. Now I beseche all those which reade thys boke, that they refu¦se it not for these falles of aduersite: & iudge y^• thinges (that are happened) for no destrue cyō, but for a chastenyng of our people. And why? When God suffreth not synners lōge to folow their owne mynde / but shortly pu∣nysheth them, * 1.732 it is a tokē of his greate lo∣uynge kyndnes. For thys grace haue we of [unspec C] god more then other people, that he suffreth not vs lōg to sine vnpunished like as other nacyons, that when the day of iudgment cō¦meth, he maye punysh them in the fulnes of theyr synnes. If we sinne, he correcteth vs, but he neuer withdraweth his mercy from vs: & though he punysh with aduersyte, yet doth he neuer forsake his people. But let th{is} that we haue spoken now w^t few wordes, be for a warnyng & exhortacyon of y^• Heathen:

Now wyll we come to the declarynge of y^• matter. Eleazar one of y^• principall Scry¦bes, an aged man & of a wel fauored conute naunce, was constrained to gape with open mouth, * 1.733 & to eate swynes fleshe. But he de∣syryng rather to dye gloriously then to lyue with shame, offred him selfe wyllyngly to y^• martyrdome. Now when he saw y^• he must nedes go to it, he toke it paciētly: for he was at a poynte wyth hym selfe / that he wolde

cōsente to no vnlauful thynge for any plea∣sure of lyfe. They y^• stode by beyng moued [unspec D] with pyte (but not a ryght) for the olde frend shyppe of the mā, toke hym asyde pryuely, & prayed hym, that he wolde let suche flesh be brought hym as were lauful to eate / & then to make a countenaunce, as though he had eaten of the flesh of the sacrifyce lyke as the kyng cōmaunded, for so he might be delyue∣red frō death & so for the olde frendshype of the man, they shewed hym this kyndnes.

But he beganne to cōsydre hys discrete & honorable age, h{is} noble & worshypful stock, and nowe y^• from hys youth vp he had bene of an honest & good cōuersacyon: yee & howe constantly he had kept the ordinaunces and lawes cōmaūded by God, wherfore he gaue them this answere, & sayd: Yet had I rather fyrst be layde ī my graue. * 1.734 For it becōmeth not myne age (sayde he) in any wyse to dissē∣ble, wherby many yonge personnes myght thynke, that Eleazar beyng. ••xxx. yeare olde &. x. were nowe gone to a straunge lyfe: & so thorow myne ypocrisy (for a lytle tyme of a transytory lyfe) they myght be disceaued: by this meanes also shulde I defyle myne age, and make it abhomynable. For though I were nowe deliuered frō the tormētes of mē, yet shulde I not escape y^• hand of almyghty* 1.735 God nether alyue nor deed. Wherfore, I wil [unspec E] dye māfully, & do as it becōmeth myne age: wherby I maye peraduenture leaue an exā∣ple of stedfastnes for suche as be yonge, yf I w^t a readye mynde & māfully dye an honest death, for the moste worthy and holy lawes.

When he had sayde these wordes, imme∣diatly he was drawē to the tormente. Nowe they y^• led him & were mylde a lytle afore be∣ganne to take displeasure because of y^• wor∣des y^t he sayd: for they thought he had spokē thē of an hye mynde. But whē he was in his mariyrdome, he mourned & sayde: Thou (O Lorde) whiche haste the holy knowlege, knowest openly: y^t where as I myght be de∣lyuered frō death, I suffre these sore paynes of my body: but ī my minde I am wel cōtent to suffee thē because I feare the. Thus thys mādyed, leauinge y^• memorial of his death for an exāple, not only vnto yong men, but vnto all y^• people, to be stedfast and manly.

¶ The punishmēt of the▪ vii. brethren and of they•• mother.

CAPI. VII.

IT happened also that there were. vij. bre¦thren (with theyr mother) taken, & cōpel∣led [unspec A] by the kynge * 1.736 agaynst the lawe to eate swynes flesh: namely w^t scourges & ••er••ren whyppes. And one of them whiche was the these, sayde: what sekest thou, & what requi∣rest thou of vs? As for vs, we are readye ra∣ther to suffre death, then to offede the lawes of God & the fathers. Then was the kynge angrye, and ••ad heate cauldrons & brasen pottes. Whiche when they were made hote, immediatly he cōmaunded the tonge of hym that spake fyrst, to be cut out to put y^• skyn∣ne ouer his head, to pare of the edges of his handes & fete: yee and y^• in the syght of hys mother and the other of his brethrē. Nowe when he was cleane marred, he cōmaunded a fyre to be made, and so (whyle there was any breath in hym) to be fryed in the cau∣dron: In the which when he had bene longe payned, the other brethren with theyr mo∣ther exhorted him to dye manfully, sayeng: The Lorde God shall regarde the trueth, •• comforte vs, lyke as Moses testifyeth * 1.737 and declareth in his songe, sayenge: and he wyll haue compassyon on hys seruauntes.

So when the fyrst was deed after thys maner, they brought the secōde to haue him [unspec B] in derysyon, pulled the skynne w^t the heare ouer his heade, & asked him, yf he wold eat•• swynes flesh, or he were payned in the other mēbres also thorow out his bodye. But he answered boldly, & sayde: I wyll not do it. And so was he tormented like as the fyrst, •• when he was euen at the geuyng vp y^• gost, he sayde: Thou most vngracious personne puttest vs nowe to death, but y^• kyng of the worlde shall rayse vs vp (which dye for hys lawes) in y^• resurreceiō of euerlastyng lyfe.

After him, was the th••rde had in dery∣syon: and whē he was requyred, he put out his tonge, & that right soone, holdyng forth hys bandes manfully, & spake w^t a stedfast fayth: These haue I of heauē, but nowe for the lawe of God I despyse thē: for my trust is, y^t I shall receaue thē of hym agayne. In so much y^t the kynge & they which were with him, marueled at the yong mans boldnesse, that he nothynge regarded the paynes. [unspec C]

Nowe when he was deed also, they vexed the fourth with tornementes in lyke maner. So when he was nowe at hys death, he sayde: It is better y^• we beynge put to death of men, haue our hope and trust in God, for he shall rayse vs vp agayne. * 1.738 As for the, thou shalt haue no resurreccyon to lyfe.

And when they had spoken to the fyfth, they tormented hym. Thē loked he vnto the kyng, & sayd: thou hast power among men, for thou art a mortal man also th•• self, to do what thou wylt, but thynke not, that God hathe forsaken oure generacion. A••yde the

tary styl a whyle, and thou shalt se the great power of God, howe he wyl punysh the and thy sede. After hym they brought the syxte, which beynge at the poynte of death, sayde: Be not disceaued (O kynge) for this we suf∣fre for our owne sakes, because we haue offē ded our God, & therfore meruelous thinges are shewed vpon vs. But thynke not thou, whiche takest in hande to stryue agaynste God, that thou shalt escape vnpunyshed.

This excellent mother (worthy to be well [unspec D] reported of, and had in remembraūce) sawe her seuen sonnes dye in one day, and suffred it paciently, because of the hope that she had in God: yee, she exhorted euery one of thē in especyall, and that boldly & stedfastly with perfyte wysdome, wakynge vp her wyuysh thought with a manly stomacke, and sayde vnto them: I can not tel how ye came in my wōbe, for I nether gaue you breth nor soule, no nor lyfe. It is not I y^• ioyned the mēbres of youre bodyes together, but the maker of the worlde, whiche fashyoned the byrth of man, & beganne all thynges. Euen he also of his owne mercy shall geue you breath & lyfe agayne, lyke as ye nowe regarde not youre owne selues for hys lawes sake.

Nowe thought Antyochus that she had despysed hym, therfore he let her go with her reproues, and beganne to exhorte the yongest sōne (which yet was lefte) not onely with wordes but swore vnto hym with an othe, that he shulde make hym a ryche and welthy man (yf he wolde forsake the lawes of hys fathers) yee, and that he shulde geue hym, what soeuer were necessarye for hym. [unspec E] But when the yonge man wolde not be mo∣ued, for all these thynges, he called hys mo∣ther, and counceled her to saue her sonnes lyfe. And when he had exhorted her with many wordes, she promysed hym that she shulde speake vnto her sonne. So she tur∣ned her vnto hym (laughynge the cruell ty∣raunte to scorne) and spake with a bolde voyce: O my sonne, haue pytie vpō me, that bare the. ix. monethes in my wombe, that gaue the sucke, noryshed the and brought the vp vnto thys age.

I beseche the (my sonne) loke vpon heauē and earth and all that is therin, & consydre, that God made them and mans generacyō of nought: so shalt thou not feare this hang man, but suffre death stedfastly, lyke as thy brethren haue done: y^• I maye receaue the againe in the same mercy with thy brethren.

Whyle she was yet speakynge these wor¦des, the yonge man sayde: Whom loke ye for? Wherfore do ye tary? I wyll not obeye the kynges cōmaundement, * 1.739 but the lawe that God gaue vs by Moses. As for thou that ymagyneste all myschefe agaynste the Iewes, thou shalte not escape the hande of [unspec F] God, for we suffre these thynges, because of oure synnes.

And though God be angry with vs a lytle whyle for oure chastenynge and refor∣macyon) yet shall he be at one agayne with his seruaūtes. But thou. (O shameful and moste abhomynable personne.) Pryde not thy selfe thorowe vayne hope, in beynge so malycyous vpon the seruauntes of God: for thou hast not yet escaped the iudgement of the God whiche is almyghtye, and seyth all thynges. My brethren that haue suffred a lytle payne, are nowe vnder the couenaū•• of euerlastynge lyfe: but thorowe the iudge¦ment of God, thou shalt be punyshed righte ously for thy pryde.

As for me (lyke as my brethren haue done) I offce my soule and my body for the lawes of oure fathers, callynge vpon God, that he wyll soone be mercyfull vnto oure people: yee and with payne and punyshmēt * 1.740 to make the graunte, that he only is God, In me nowe and in my brethren the wrath of almyghtye God is at an ende, whiche ryghteously is fallen vpon all oure people.

Then the kynge beynge kyndled in an∣ger, was more cruell vpon hym then vpon all the other, and toke indygnacyon, that he was so lyghtly regarded. So thys yonge man dyed vndefyled, and put his trust styll in the Lorde. Last of al after the sōnes, was the mother put to death also. Let this nowe be ynough spoken, concernynge the offryn∣ges, and extreme cruelnesse.

¶ Iudas gathereth together hys hoost. Nicanor is sent a∣gaynst Iudas. Iudas exhorteth hys soudyars to cōstantnes Nicanor is ouer come. The Iewes geue thākes after they haue put theyr enemyes to flyght, dyuidynge the spoyles vnto the fatherles and vnto the wydowes. Nicanor flyeth vnto Antiochus.

CAPI. VIII.

THEN Iudas Machabeus, and they [unspec A] that were with hym, wente pryuely in to y^• townes called theyr kynsfolkes & fren∣des together, toke vnto them all suche as contynued yet in the fayth and lawe of the Iewes, and brought forth. vt. M. men.

So they called vpon the Lorde, that he wolde haue an eye vnto his people, whiche was trodden downe of euery man: to be gra¦cyous vnto the temple that was defyled of the vngodly: to haue cōpassyon vpon the de¦struccyon of the cytie, whiche was shortly

lyke to be layed waste, to heare the voyce of the bloude that cryed vnto hym: to remēbre the moste vnryghteous deathes of yonge innocent chyldren, y^• blasphemyes also done vnto his name, and to punysh them.

* 1.741 Nowe when Machabeus had gathered this multitude together, he was to mightye for the Heathen (for the wrath of the Lorde was turned into mercy) he fel vpō y^• townes and cyties vnwares, brent them, toke the most commodious places, and slew many of the enemyes. But specyally he made suche chases by nyght, in so muche that hys man∣lynesse was spoken of euery where.

So when Phylippe sawe that the man [unspec B] increased by lytle & lytle, and that y^• matter prospered w^t him for the most part: he wrote vnto Ptolomy (which was a captayne in Celosyria and Phenices) to helpe him in the kynges busynes. Then sent he Nycanor Pa¦trocly* 1.742 (a speciall frende of his) in al the halt, and gaue him of the comen sorte of the Hea∣then no lesse then. xx. M. harnessed men, to rote out y^• whole generacyon of the Iewes, hauynge to helpe hym one Gorgias a man of warre, which in matters cōcernynge bat∣tayls, had great experiēce. Nicanor ornened also the tribute (which the Romaynes shuld haue had) to be geuen vnto the kinge, out of the captyuyte of the Iewes, namely. ij. M. talētes. And immediatly he sent to y^• cyties of the see coast, requyrynge them for to bye Iewes to be theyr seruauntes & bonde men, promisynge to sell thē. lxxx. and ten for one talente: but he considered not y^• wrath of al∣myghtye God, that was to come vpon hym.

When Iudas knewe of this, he tolde the [unspec C] Iewes y^• were w^t him of Nicanors cōming. Nowe were there some of them fearfull, not trustynge vnto the ryghteousnes of God, & fled theyr waye. But the other y^• remayned, came together, & besought the Lorde, to de∣lyuer thē from that wycked Nicanor, which had solde thē, or euer he came nye them: and though he wolde not do it for theyr sakes, yet for the couenaūt y^t he made with their fa∣thers, & because they called vpon his holy & glorius name. * 1.743 And so Machabeus called his men together, namely about. vj. M. ex∣hortynge them not to agree vnto theyr ene∣myes, * 1.744 nether to be afrayed for y^• multitude of theyr aduersaries cōmynge against them vuryghteously: but to fyght manly, cōsyde∣rynge the reprofe y^• they had done to y^• holy place without cause, howe they had despy∣sed & oppressed the cytie, yee, & destroyed the lawes of the fathers. * 1.745 For they (sayde he) trust in they'r weapens & boldnesse, but oure confidēce is in y^• almighty Lorde, whiche in the twyncklyng of an eye may both destroye them y^• come agaynst vs, and al the worlde.

He exhorted thē also to call to remēbraūce [unspec D] the helpe, y^• God shewed vnto theyr fathers: ‡ 1.746 as whē there perished an. C. &. lxxxv. M. of Sennacheribs people: And of the battayll that they had in Babylon agaynst the Gal∣lacyans: howe al the Macedonians y^t came to helpe thē, stode in feare: & how they being but only. vj. M. slew an. C. &. xx. M. thorow the helpe y^t was geuen thē frō heauen, wher∣by they also had receaued many benefytes.

Thorowe these wordes the mē toke good hertes vnto them, ready to dye for the lawe and the countre. So he set vpon euery com¦pany a captayne, one of his owne brethren: Symon, Ioseph and Ionathas: geuynge eche one. xv. C. men He caused Esdras also to reade the holy boke vnto thē, and to geue them a token of the helpe of God.

* 1.747 Then he hym selfe beynge captayne in the fore front of the battayll, buckled with Nicanor. And God was theyr helpe, in so much y^• they slewe aboue. ix. M. men & con∣pelled the more parte of Nicanors hoost to [unspec E] fle, they were so woūded & feable. Thus they toke the money from those that came to bye thē, & folowed vpon thē on euery syde. But when y^• tyme came vpon thē, they returned, for it was the Sabbath, & therfore they fo∣lowed nomore vpon thē. So they toke theyr weapens and spoyles and kepte the Sab∣bath, geuynge thākes vnto y^• Lorde, whiche had delyuered them that daye, and shewed them his mercy. After the Sabboth * 1.748 they distributed the spoyles to the sycke, to the fa¦therlesse and to wyddowes, and the resydue had they them selues with theyrs. When this was done, and they all had made a ge∣nerall prayer: they besought the mercyfull Lorde to be at one with his seruauntes.

Of those also that were with Timotheus and Bachides, which fought against them, they slewe. xx. M. wanne hye and strōge hol¦des, and deuyded mo spoyles: euer geuynge an equal porcyon vnto y^• sycke, to the father les, to wyddowes and to aged persons. And when they had dylygently gathered theyr weapens together, they layed them all in cō¦ueniente places, & the remnaunt of the spoy les brought they to Ierusalem. They slewe also Phylarches y^• wycked personne, which was with Timotheus, and had vexed many Iewes. And when they helde the thankes∣geuyng [unspec F] at Ierusalem for the vyctorye, they brente〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

had ordred thē selues manly with their wea∣pens and handes, they slewe in the two Ca∣stels mo then twentye thousande.

* 1.749 Now Timotheus ‡ 1.750 whō the Iewes had ouercome afore, gathered a multytude of straūge people, brought an hoste also of hors men of the Asiās, to wine Iewry by strength But whē he drewe nye, Machabe{us} & they that [unspec E] were w^t him * 1.751 fel to their prater, sprinckled as shes vpō their heades, beyng gyrded w^t hear∣rye cloth about their loynes, fel downe before the aulter, & besought the Lord that he wolde be merciful to them, but an enemy vnto their enemies, & to take {per}te agaynst their aduersa¦ries, * 1.752 accordyng as it is promised in the law So after the prayer, they wēt on further frō the cytie: and when they came nye the ene∣mtes, they prepared them selues against thē.

And by tymes in the mornynge at the breake of the day, both the hostes buckled to gether. * 1.753 The one part had the Lord for their refuge, whiche is the gyuer of prosperyte, strength & vyctory. The other had a manly stomake, whiche is a captayne of warre.

The battayl now beyng greate, * 1.754 there ap∣pered vnto the enemyes frō Heauen. v. men vpō horsbacks with brydels of golde, ledyng the Iewes, & two of them hauyng Machabe us betwyxt thē, that kept hī safe on euery syde with their weapens, but shot dartes & lyght nynges vpō the enemies: where thorow they were confounded with blyndnesse & so sore a∣fraied, y^t they fell downe. There were staine of fore men. xx. M. and. v. C. and. vi. C. hors∣men. As for Timotheus hi selfe, he fled vnto Gazar a very stronge holde, wherin Cereas [unspec F] was captayne. But Machabeus & his com∣pany layed sege to it cherefully. iiij. dayes.

Nowe they y^• were within trustynge to the strength of y^• place, cursed & bāued excedinge ly, & made great crakyng with wycked wor∣des. Neuerthelesse vpon the fyft daye in the mornyng. xx. yong men of Machabeus cōpa ny, beyng set on fyre in their mindes (because of y^• blasphemy) came māfully vnto the wal, & with bolde stomackes they and their other cōpanions clymmed vp vpon the towres, vn¦dertakyng to set fyre vpon the portes, and to burne those blasphemous personnes quycke Two dayes were they destroyng the castell, whiche when they founde Timotheus (that was crept into a corner) they kylled hi, & slew Cereas his brother in like maner w^t Appollo phanes. When this was done, they song Psal mes, with prayses & thanckesgiuynges vnto the Lorde, which had done so great thynges for Israel, and geuen them the vyctory.

¶ Lysias goeth aboute to ouercome the Iewes. Succoure ••o sent from heauen vnto the Iewes. The letter of Lysias to the Iewes. The letter of kynge Intiochus vnto Lysias. A letter of the same vnto the Iewes. A letter of the Romoynes to the Iewes.

CAPI. XI.

NOt longe after this, Lysias the kynges [unspec A] stewarde and a kinsman of his (whiche had the gouernaūce of his matters) toke sore displeasure for y^• thīges that had happened: & when he had gathered. lxxx. M. men of fote with all the host of y^• horsmen, he came agaist the Iewes, thynckyng to wynne the cytie, to make it an habitacion for the Heythen, * 1.755 and the temple wolde he haue to be an house of lu¦cre, lyke as the other Goddes houses of the Heythen are, & to sell the prestes offyce euery yeare: Not consyderynge the power of God, but was wylde in his mynde, * 1.756 trustyng in y^• multitude of fote men, in thousandes of hors men, & in his. lxxx. Elephantes.

So he came into Iewry & then to Beth∣sura [unspec B] (a castell of defence) lyinge in a narowe place. v. furlonges from Ierusalem, & wāne it. Nowe when Machabe us and his cōpany knewe that the stronge holdes were taken, * 1.757 they fell to their prayers with wepyng and teares before the Lord. And all the people in lyke maner besought hī, that he wolde send a good angell to delyuer Israel. Machabeus hym selfe was the fyrst that made him ready to the battayl, exhortyng the other that were with him, to ieoparde them selues, & to helpe their brethren. And when they were goynge forth of Ierusalem together with a redy and wyllyng mynde, * 1.758 there appeared before the vpon horsbacke a man in whyte clothynge wyth harnesse of golde, shakyng his speare. Then they praysed the Lorde all together, which had shewed them mercy, & were com∣forted in their myndes: in so muche that they were ready, not onely to fyght with men, but with the most cruel beastes, yee, and to runne thorowe walles of yron.

Thus they went on wyllyngly hauynge [unspec C] an helper frō heauen, and the Lord mercyful vnto thē. They fell myghtely vpon their ene¦myes lyke lyons, brought downe. xi. M. fote men. xvj. C. horsmen, put al y^• other to nyght, many of them beyng wounded, and some gat away naked. Yee Lisias him selfe was fayne to fle shamefully, and so to escape. Neuerthe∣lesse, y^• man was not without vnderstanding, but cōsydered by hī selfe that his power was mynished, and pondred howe the Iewes ••••¦yng defended by the helpe of Almighty god, were not able to be ouercome: wherfore he sent them worde, & promysed, y^• he wolde con∣sent

to al thynges which were reasonable, & to make the kyng their frende. To the which prayer of Lisias, Machabeus agreed, seking in all thynges the comen wealth: and what∣soeuer Machabeus wrote vnto Lysias con∣cernynge the Iewes, the kynge graunted it. For there were letters wrytten vnto the Ie∣wes frō Lysias, contaynyng these wordes.

Lysias sendeth gretynge to the people of the Iewes. Thou and Absalon which were sent from you, delyuered me wrytynges, and requyred me to fulfyl the thynges cōcerning theyr earande. Therfore loke what might be graunted, I certifyed the kynge therof: and what soeuer was cōuement. I agreed therto If ye nowe wyll be faythful in the matters, I shall endeuour my selfe hereafter also to do you good. As concernynge other thynges by euery article therof: I haue cōmitted them to your messaungers, and to those whom I sēt vnto you, to comen with you of the same, fare ye well, In the hundreth &. xlviij. yeare, the .xxiiij. day of the moneth Discorinthius.

Now the kinges lettre cōtayned these wor¦des. Kyng Antiochus sendeth gretyng vnto his brother Lysias. For so muche as our fa∣ther * 1.759 is nowe deade, oure wyll is, that they which are in oure realine, lyue wythout any insurreccion, & euery man to be diligēt in his owne matters. We vnderstand also y^• the Ie¦wes wold not consent to our father, for to be brought vnto the custome of the Gentyles, but styfly to kepe their owne statutes: for the whiche cause they requyre of vs also, to let them remayne styll by theyr owne lawes.

Wherfore, oure mynde is, y^• this people [unspec E] shalbe in rest: we haue concluded & determy∣ned also, to restore them their temple againe: that they may lyue accordyng to the vse and custome of theyr fore fathers. Thou shalt do vs a pleasure therfore, yf thou sēde vnto thē and agre with them: that when they are certi¦fyed of our minde, they may be of good there and loke to theyr owne wealth.

And this was the letter, that the kynge wrote vnto y^• Iewes: kynge Antiochus sen∣deth gretynge vnto the councell and y^• other people of y^• Iewes: If ye fare well, we haue our desyre: as for vs, we are in good health. Menelaus came and tolde vs, howe y^• youre desyre was to come downe to youre people, whyche are with vs.

Wherfore those that wyll come, we gyue [unspec F] them fre liberte, vnto the. xxx. daye of the mo¦neth of Apryl, that they may vse the meates of the Iewes and theyr owne lawes, lyke as a fore: & none of them bp any maner of waies to haue harme, for thynges dene in igno∣raunce. Menelaus whom we haue sent vn∣to you, shall comen with you at large, fare ye wel In the. Cxlviij. yeare, the. xv. days of the moneth of Apryl.

The Romaynes also sent a letter, contay∣nynge these wordes: Quyntus Memin••us & Titus Manilius embassitours of the Ro∣maynes, sende gretynge vnto the people of the Iewes. Loke what Lysyas the kynges kynsman hath graunted you, we graunt you the same also. But as conceryng the thynges whyche he referred vnto the kynge, sende by ther some with spede: and pondre the matter diligently amonge your selues, that we may casth the beste to youre prefyte, for we muste departe nowe vnto Antioche. And therfore wryte shortly agayne, y^• we may knowe your mynde: Fare well. In the hundreth. xiviij. yere, the fyftenth daye of the Moneth of Apryll.

¶ Timotheus troubleth the Iewes. The wyther dede of the Iepites agaynst the Iewes. Iudas is auenged of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 He setteth fyre on the gate of 〈…〉〈…〉. The pursure of the Iewes agaynst Tymothy. Tymothy is taken 〈…〉〈…〉 go vn∣hurte. Iudas pursueth Gorgyas. Iudas sacryfyes for the deade, sheweth the hope of the resur••••••••yon.

CAPI. XII.

WHen these couenauntes were ma••e [unspec A] Lysias went vnto the kynge, & the Iewes tylled their grounde. But Timotheus, Appollonius the sonne of ••e∣me••. Ieromy and Demophon the proude, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ca••or the captayne of Cipers, & they thatsay in those places: wold not let them lyue in rest and peace. They of Ioppa also did euen such a shamefull dede. They prayed the Iewes y^• dwelt amonge them, to go wyth their wyues and chyldren into the shyppes whiche they had prepared, and dyd with them, as though they had ought thē no euyl wyl. For so much then as there was gone forth a general pro∣clamacyon thorow the cyte, because of peace, they consented therto, and suspecte nothyng: but when they were gone forth into the depe, they drowned no lesse then two hundreth of them.

When Iudas knew of this cruelte shewed vnto his people, he commaunded those that were with hī to make them ready, exhortyng them to cal vpon God the ryghtuous iudge: went forth agaynst those murtherers of hys brethren, set fyre in the hauē by nyght, brente vp the shyppes, and those that escaped from the fyre, he slewe with the swearde. And when [unspec B] he had done thys, he departed as though he wolde come agayne, and rote out all them of

Ioppa. But when he had gottē worde, that the Iānites were mynded to do in lyke ma∣ner vnto y^• Iewes which dwelt amonge thē, he came vpon the Iamnites by nyght, & set fyre on the hauen wyth the shyppes: so that the lyght of the fyre was sene at Ierusalem, vpon a. ij. C. and. xl. furlonges:

Nowe when they were gone from thence ix: furlonges, in their iourney towarde Ty∣motheus. v. M. mē of fote and. v. C. horsmē of the Arabians fought w^t him. So when y^• battel was earnest, & prospered with Iudas thorowe the helpe of God: the resydue of the Arabians being ouercome, besought Iudas to be at one w^t them, & promysed to gyue him certaine pastures, & to do hī good in other thī¦ges. Iudas thynking that they shuld in dede be profytable concernynge many thynges, promysed them peace: wherupon they shoke handes, and so they departed to their tentes. Iudas wente also vnto a cytie, whiche was very faste kepte with brydges, fensed roūde aboute with walles, and dyuerse kyndes of people dwellynge therin, called Caspin. [unspec C]

They that were within it, put suche truste in the strength of the walles, & in their stoare of vitayles: that they were the slacker ī theyr doynges, cursynge and reuylynge Iudas w^t blasphemyes, and speakynge suche wordes as it becommeth not. But Machabeus cal∣lynge vpon the greate Prynce of the worlde (whiche without any battayle rāmes, or ordi¦naūce of warre, dyd * 1.760 cast downe the walles of Iericho, in the tyme of Iosue) fell māfully vpon the walles, toke the cytie, and thorowe the helpe of the Lorde) made an exceadynge greate slaughter: In so much y^• a lake of two furlonges brode which laye therby, semed to flowe wyth the bloude of the slayne.

Then departed they from thence. vij. C. & I. fourlonges, and came to Taraca vnto the Iewes that are called Tubianei. But as for Timotheus, they coulde not get him there: for (not one matter dispatched) he was depar¦ted from thence, and had lefte certayne men in a very stronge holde. But Dositheus and Sosipater, which were Captaynes with Ma¦chabeus, stewe those y^• Timotheus had lefte in the house of defence, euen. x. M. men. And Machabeus prepared hym with the. vj. M. men y^• were aboute him, set them in ordre by companyes, and went forth agaynst Timo∣theus, which had with him an. C. and. xx. M men of fote. ij. M. and. v. C. horsmen.

When Timotheus had knowledge of Iu¦das [unspec D] cōmynge, he sent y^• women, children and the other baggage vnto a castel called Car∣nion. (For it coulde not be wōne, & was hard to come vnto, the wayes of the same places were so narow) & when Iudas cōpany came first in syght, y^• enemyes were smytten wyth feare, thorowe the presence of God, whyche seyth all thynges: In so muche y^• they fleyng one here, another there, were rather dyscōfy∣ted of theyr owne people, * 1.761 and woūded w^t y^• strokes of their owne sweardes. Iudas also was very earnest in folowynge vpon them, punishyng those vngodly, and slewe. xxx. M mē of thē. Timotheus also hym selfe fel into the hādes of Dositheus and Sosipater, whō he besought with many teares, to let hym go with his life: because he had many of the Ie∣wes fathers & brethrē in prison, which (if they put hī to death) myght be dysapoynted. So when he had promysed faythfully to delyuer them agayne according to the cōdiciō made, they let him go without harme, for the health of the brethren. And when Iudas had slayne xxv. M. he went from Carmon.

Now after y^• he had chased away & slayne [unspec E] his enemies, he remoued the hoste towarde * 1.762 Ephrom a strong cytie, wherin dwelt many diuerse people of the Heythen, & the stronge yong men kepte the walles, defendyng them myghtely. In this cytie was much ordynaū∣ce and prouision of dartes. But when Iudas and his cōpany had called vpon Almyghtye God (whiche wyth his power breaketh the strength of the enemyes) they wāne the cytie, and slewe. xxv. M. of thē, y^• were within. Frō thence wente they to the cytie of the Scithy∣ans, whiche lyeth. vi. C. furlonges from Ie∣rusalē. But when the Iewes whiche were in the citie testyfied, that the cytesyns dealte lo¦uyngely with them, yee, and intreated them kyndely in the tyme of their aduersyte, Iu∣das and his company gaue them thanckes, desyrynge them to be frēdly styll vnto them: and so they came to Ierusalem the hye feaste of the wekes beynge at hande. And after the feast of Pentecost they went forth agaynste Gorgias the gouernoure of Idumea, wyth. iij. M. men of fote &. iiij. C. horsmen. Which when they met together, it chaunsed a fewe of y^• Iewes to be slayne. And Dositheus one of y^• Bachenors a mighty horsmā toke holde [unspec F] of Gorgias, and wolde haue takē hī quycke. But an horsman of Thracia fell vpon hym, and smote of his arme, so y^• Gorgias escaped & fled into Moresa. When they nowe y^• were of Gorgias syde, had foughten longe & were weary: Iudas called vpō the Lorde, that he wolde be their helper, & captayne of the felde: and wyth that he beganue wyth a manly

voice to take vp a song of prayse, & a cry: In so muche y^• he made the enemyes afrayed, & Gorgias mē of warre toke their flyght. So Iudas gathered his host, & came into y^• cite of Odolla. And when the seuenth day came vpō them, they clēsed them selues (as the cu¦stome was) & kept the Sabboth in the same place. And vpon the day folowyng, Iudas & his cōpany came to take vp the bodyes of thē that were slaine, & to bury them in the fa¦thers graues. Nowe vnder the cotes of cer∣tayne Iewes which were slayne, they foūde Iewels that they had taken out of the tēple & frō the Idols of the * 1.763 Iamniters: whiche thyng is forbydden the Iewes by the law. Then euery man saw, y^t this was the cause, [unspec G] wherfore they were slaine. And so euery mā gaue thanckes vnto y^• Lorde for hys rygh∣tuous iudgment, which had opened y^• thing that was hyd. They fell downe also vnto their prayers, & besought God, y^t the fawte which was made, might be put out of remē∣braūce. Besydes that, Iudas exhorted y^• peo¦ple earnestly, to kepe them selues from such synne: for so much as they sawe before theyr eyes: y^• these men were slaine for the same of∣fēce. So he gathered of euery one a certaine, in so much y^• he brought together two thou∣sande drachmas of syluer which he sent vn∣to Ierusalē, that there myght a sacryfice be offred for the misdede. In the which place he dyd wel & ryght: for he had some consydera¦cion & pondering of y^• lyfe that is after this tyme. For yf he had not thought that they, which were slayne, dyd yet lyue, it had bene superfluous & vaine, to make any vow or sa¦cryfice for them, y^• were deed. But for so mu∣che as he saw, y^• they which dye ī the fauour & beleue of God, are in good rest and ioy, he thought it to be good & honorable for a recō¦cylyng, to do the same for those which were slayne, that the offence myght be forgeuen.

¶ The cōming of Enpater into Iewrye. The deth of Me∣nel mo▪ Machabeus goynge to fyght against Eupater, mo∣neth his soudrats vnto prayer. He kylleth .xiiii. Women in the tētes of Antiochus. Robocus the betraier of the Iewes is taken. Antiochus retayneth frendshipe with the Iewes.

CAPI. XIII.

IN y^•. Cxlix. yeare gat ‡ 1.764 Iudas knowlege, [unspec A] y^• Antiochus Eupater was cōming with a great power into Iewry, & Lisias the ste∣warde & ruler of his matters with hym ha∣uing an. C. & x. M. men of fote. v. M. hors∣men. xxij. Elephātes. &. iii. C. charettes. Me¦nelaus also ioyned himselfe with them (but with great disceat) & spake faire to the kīge not for any good of y^• coūcre, but because he thought, to haue bene made some great mā of auctoryte. But y^• kyng of kinges moued Antiochus mynde agaynst thys vngodly personne, and Lysias infourmed the kyng, * 1.765 that thys Menelaus was the cause of all myschefe: so that the king commaunded to take him, and (as the maner of them is) to put him vnto death in the same place.

There was also in the same place a tower of. L. cubites hye, heapped with asshes: but aboue it was so made, that men might loke downe on euery syde. Where into the kinge cōmaunded that shameful person to be cast among the asshes, as one that was cause of all vngraciousnes. And reason it was that the vnthrift shuld dye such a death, and not to be buried for he had done much mischefe vnto the aulter of God (whose fyre & asshes were holy) therfore was it ryght, y^• he hym selfe also shulde be destroyed wyth asshes.

But y^• kynge was wood in hys mynde, and came to shewe him self more cruell vn∣to the Iewes, then hys father was. Whiche [unspec B] when Iudas perceaued, * 1.766 he cōmaūded the people to cal vpon y^• Lorde night and day: that he wold now helpe thē also, lyke as he had done alwaye: For they were afrayed to be put from theyr lawe, from theyr natu∣rall countre and from the holy temple: and not to suffre the people (which a lytle while afore beganne to recouer) to be subdued a∣gayne of the blasphemous nacions.

So when they had done thys together, [unspec C] and besought the Lord for mercy, with we∣pynge and fastynge thre dayes longe, flat vpon the groūde: Iudas exhorted them, to make them selues ready. But he and the el¦ders together deuised, to go forth first with theyre people, afore the kynge brought hys hoost into Iewry, and afore he beseged the cytie, & so to cōmytte the matter vnto God.

Wherfore he ascrybed the power of all thynges vnto God the maker of y^• worlde, exhorting his people to fyght māfully (yee, euen vnto death) for the lawes, the temple, the cyte, theyr owne natyue countre, and to defende the eytesins: and set his host before Modyn. He gaue them also that were with him, a token of the victory of God, chosyng out the mālyest yonge men, wente by night into the kynges pauylyō, slewe of the hoost xiiii. M. men, * 1.767 & the greatest Elephantes, wyth those that sat vpon them.

Thus when they had brought a greate [unspec D] feare and rumour amōge the tētes of theyr enemyes, & all thynges wente prosperously with thē, they departed in the breake of the day, God deyng theyr helper and defender.

Now whē the kynge perceaued the manly∣nesse of the Iewes, he went about to take y^e strōge places by craft, & remoued his hooste * 1.768 vnto Bethsura, whiche was a well kepte house of defence of the Iewes: but they were chaced away, hurte, & disconfyted. And Iu∣das sent vnto thē that were in it, such thyn∣ges as were necessary. In y^e Iewes host al∣so there was one Rhodocus, which tolde the enemies their secretes: but they sought him out, & whē they had gottē him, they put him in preson. After this did y^e king comen with them that were in Bethsura, toke truce with them, departed, & stroke a battayl wyth Iu∣das, which ouercame him. But when he vn¦derstode, [unspec E] that Phylyp (whom he had left to be ouerseer of his businesses at Antioch) be∣gāne to rebel against him, he was astōnyed in his mynde: so y^t he yelded him selfe to the Iewes, & made them an othe, to do whatso∣euer they thought ryght. Now whē he was reconcyled w^t thē, he offred, made much of y^e tēple, gaue greate gyftes vnto it, enbraced Machabeus, makynge him captayne & go∣uernour frō Ptolomais vnto the Garenes.

Neuerthelesse when he came to Ptolo∣mays, y^e people of the cytie were not content with the bonde of frendshype: for they were afraied, that he wolde breake the couenaūt.

Then wente Lysias vp into the seate, and enfourmed the people, shewed thē the cause why, and pacifyed thē. So he came agayne to Antioche. Thys is now the matter cōcer∣nyng the kynges iourney, & his returne.

¶ By the mocyon of the Lord, Demetrins sēdeth Nicanor to kil the Iewes. Nicanor maketh a cōpare•• with the Iewes which he yet breaketh through the mocyon of the king. Ni∣canor cōmaūdeth R••aia to be takē. The boldnes of Razia.

CAPI. XIIII.

AFter thre yeares was Iudas infour∣med, [unspec A] how that Demetrius the sōne of Seleucus was come vp w^t a greate power & shyppes, thorowe the hauen of Tripolis, to take certayne commodyous places & coū¦trees, against Antiochus and his captayne Lysias. Now Alcimus (which had bene hye Prest, & wylfully defyled him self, in y^e tyme of the myxtyng) seing, that by no meanes he could be helped, nor haue any more intraūce to y^• aultare: he came to king Demetrius in the hūdreth & one & fyftye yeare, presentyng vnto hym a crowne of golde, a palme & an olyue tree: which (as men thought) belōged to the temple, & that daye he helde his tong. But when he had gotten oportunyte for his madnesse, Demetrius called hym to coūcel, and asked hym, what thinges or coūcels the Iewes leaned vnto? He answered: The Iewes y^• be called Assidei (whose captayne is Iudas Machabeus (maintaine warres, make insurreceyons, and wyl not let the re∣alme be inpeace.

For I beynge depryued of my fathers ho∣noure [unspec B] (I meane the hye presthode (am come hyther: partly because I was faithful vnto the kynge, and partly because I sought the profyt of the cytesyns. And why? all oure people, thorow the wickednesse of them, are not a litle troubled. Wherfore I beseche the (O kynge) consydre all these thynges dyly∣gently, and then make some prouysion for y^e lande and the people, according to the kind∣nesse that thou hast offred vnto thē. For as lōge as Iudas hath the vpperhāde, it is not possible that men can lyue in peace.

When he had spoken these wordes, other frendes also hauynge euyll wyll at Iudas, set the kynge Demetrius on fyre agaynste hī. * 1.769 Which immediatly sent Nicanor (ruler of the Elephātes) a captayne, into Iewrye: cōmaundinge him, to take Iudas him selfe alyue, but to staye thē that were with him, & to make Alcimus hye prest of y^e great tēple.

Then the Heathen whiche fled oute of [unspec C] Iewry frō Iudas, came to Nicanor by floc∣kes, thinckynge the harme and decay of the Iewes to be theyr welfare. Nowe when the Iewes herde of Nicanors commynge, and the gatheryng together of the Heathē: they spr••ckled thē selues with earth, ‡ 1.770 & be sought hym, whiche made them hys people, & euer defended hys owne porcion with euydēt to∣kens, that he wolde preserue them styll. So at the commaundemēt of the captayne, they remoued from thence, and came to a towne called Dessason. And Symō Iudas brother fel ī hāde w^t Nicanor, but thorow y^e sodayne commyng of the enemyes, he was afrayed.

Neuertheles Nicanor hearynge the man∣lynes of them that were wyth Iudas, & the bolde stomackes that they had to fyght for theyr naturall countre, durst not proue the matter wyth bloudsheddynge. Wherfore he sent Possidonius, Theodocius & Mathias before, to geue and to take peace. So when they had taken long aduisement there vpō, and the captaine shewed it vnto the multy∣tude, they were agreed in one minde, to haue peace. And they appointed a day to sit vpon these maters quyecly amonge them selues, the stoles also were brought and set forth. Neuerthelesse Iudas commaūded certaine men of armes to wayte in co••enient places,

lest there shulde sodenly aryse any euyl tho∣row the enemyes. And so they cōmoned rea¦sonably [unspec D] together. Nycanor, whyle he abode at Ierusalē, ordred him selfe not vnreasona¦bly, but sent away the people y^t were gathe∣red together. He loued Iudas euer with his hert, & fauoured him. He prayed him also to take a wyfe, & to brīge forth children. So he maryed, lyued ī rest, & they led a comen lyfe. But Alcimus p••eceauyng y^e loue that was betwyxte them, & how they were agreed to∣gether, came to Demetrius, & told him that Nycanor had taken straūge matters ī hāde & ordened Iudas (an enemy of y^e realme) to be the kīges successour. Then the king was sore displeased, & thorowe y^e wycked accusa∣cions whiche Alcimus made of Nicanor, he was so prouoked, that he wrote vnto Nyca∣nor, saying: that he was very angrie for the frēdship & agremēt, whiche he had made w^t Machabeus. Neuertheles he cōmaūded hī in al the hast, that he shuld take Machabeus presoner, and sēde him to Antioche. Which [unspec E] letters when Nicanor had sene he was at ••{is} wyttes ende, & sore greued, y^t he shuld breke the thynges wherin they had agreed: speci∣ally, seing Machabeus was y^e mā, y^t neuer dyd him harme. But because he myght not w^t stande the kyng, he sought oportunyte to fulfyl his cōmaundemēt. Not withstādinge when Machabeus sawe y^• Nicanor beganne to be churlysh vnto him, & y^t he intreated hī more rughly thē he was wont, he perceaued y^t such vnkyndnes came not of good, & ther¦fore he gathered a fewe of hys men, & wyth∣drew him selfe frō Nicanor. Which when he knewe y^t Machabeus bad manfully preuen∣ted him, he came into y^• great & most holy tē∣ple: & cōmaūded the prestes (which were do∣inge their vsual offringes) to delyuer him y^• mā. And whē they sware y^t they could not tel where y^e mā was whō he sought, he stretched out his hāde, * 1.771 & made an othe, saying: If ye wyl not delyuer me Iudas captyue. I shal remoue this tēple of god ī to y^e plaine felde, I shall breake downe the aulter, & cōsecrate this tēple vnto Bachus. After these wordes he departed. Thē the prestes lyft vp their hā¦des [unspec F] towarde heauē, & be sought hym y^t was euer y^e defēder of their people, saying, Thou O Lord of al, which hast nede of nothynge, woldest y^t the tēple of thy habitacion shulde be amōge vs. Therfore now O mooste holy Lorde, kepe thys house euer vndefyled, * 1.772 which lately was clensed. Nowe was there accused vnto Nicanor, one Razi•• an Alder∣man of Ierusalē, a louer of the whole ••p••••••, & a man of good reporte: which for y^• kynde hert y^t he bare vnto the people, was called a father of y^e Iewes. This mā oft tymes, whē the Iewes were mynded to kepe thē selues vndefiled, defēded & delyuered thē being cō¦tent stedfastly to spende his body & hys lyfe for his people. So Nicanor wyllyng to de∣clare [unspec G] y^• hate y^t he bare to the Iewes, set fyue hundreth men of warre to take hym: for he thought, yf he gat hym he shulde brynge the Iewes in great decay. Nowe when the peo∣ple beganne to rush in at h{is} house, to breake the dores, & to set fyre on it: he beynge nowe taken, wolde haue defended him selfe with hys swearde: chosynge rather to dye man∣fully, then to yelde him selfe to those wicked doers: & because of his noble stocke, he had rather haue bene put to extreme cruelte. Not withstanding what tyme as he myssed of hys stroke for hast, & the multytude ••el in¦violētly betwixte the dores: he ranne boldly to the wall, & cast him selfe downe manfully among the heape of them, which gaue so••e place to his fall, so that he fel vpon hys be∣ly. Neuerthelesse whyle there was yet breth wythin him, he was kyndled in his mynde, & whyle his bloude gusshed out exceadīgly (for he was very sore woūded) he ranne tho∣row the myddest of the people, and gat hym to the toppe of a rocke. So when his bloude was nowe gone, he toke out his owne bow∣els with both his hādes, & threw thē vpon y^e people: callyng vpō y^e Lord of lyfe & spryte, to rewarde him this agayne, and so he died.

¶ Nicanor goeth aboute to come vpon Iudas on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both day. The blasphemy of Nicanor. Machabeus expoū∣dyng vnto the Iewes the visyō ••••••deneth theyr h••ries. The prayer of Machabeus. After the host of Nicanor is ones o∣uercome▪ Machabeus commaunoeth his h••••d and his han∣des to be ••u•• of, and his tonge to be geuen vnto fowles.

CAPI. XV.

NOwe when * 1.773 Nicanor knewe y^e Iudas [unspec A] was in the countre of Samaria, he thought w^t al his power to stryke a felde w^t him vpon a Sabboth daye. Neuertheles the Iewes y^t were cōpelled to go w^t him, sayde: O do not so cruelly & vnkyndly, but halow the Sabboth daye, and worshype hym that seyth all thynges. For all thys, yet saide the vngracyous personne: * 1.774 Is there a myghty one in heauē, that cōmaūded the Sabboth daye to be kepte? And when they sayde yee the lyuynge God, the myghtye Lorde in hea¦uen * 1.775 commaunded the seuenth daye to be kept, he sayd: And I am mighty vpō earth, to commaūde them for to arme themselues, & to perfourme the kynges busynesse. Not∣w^tstādyng he myght not haue his purpose.

Nicanor had deuysed with great pride to [unspec B] ouercome Iudas, & to bring away the vyc∣tory. But Machabeus had euer a fast confy¦dence & a perfect hope in god, that he wolde helpe him, & exhorted his people, not to be a∣frayed at the cōming of the Heathen: but al¦way to remēbre the helpe that had bene she∣wed vnto thē frō heauē, yee & to be sure now also, that almyghtye God wolde geue them the vyctory. He spake vnto them out of the law & prophetes, putting thē in remēbraūce of the battayls, that they had striken afore, and made them to be of a good corage.

So when theyr hartes were plucte vp, he shewed them also the disceatfulnesse of the Heathen, and how they wolde kepe no coue∣naūt nor othe. Thus he weapened them nat wyth the armoure of shylde & speare, but w^t wholsome wordes and exhortacyōs. He she∣wed [unspec C] thē a dreame also, wherthorow he made them al glad, whiche was thys: he thought that he sawe Onias (whiche had bene hye prest, a vertuous & louing man, sad & of ho¦nest cōuersacion, wel spoken, & one that had bene exercysed in Godlynes from a chylde) holdyng vp his handes towarde heauen, & praying for his people. After this ther apea¦red vnto hī another man, which was aged, honorable & glorious. And Onias sayde. This is a louer of the brethren, & of the peo∣ple of Israell. This is he that praieth much for the people, and for al y^e holy cite: Ieremy the prophet of god. He thought also that Ie¦remy helde out his ryght hāde, & gaue vnto Iudas a swearde of gold, saying: Take th{is} holy swear••, a gyft frō god, wherwith thou shalt smyte downe the enemyes of the peo∣ple of Israel. And so they were wel cōforted thorow the wordes of Iudas, & toke corage vnto them, so that the yōgemen were deter¦myned in theyr myndes to fyghte, & to byde styfly at it: In so much y^t ī the thīges which they toke in hande, their boldnesse shewed y^e same, because the holy cytie and the temple were in parell: for the which they toke more care, then for theyr wyues, chyldren, brethrē & kynsfolckes. Againe, they that were in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, were most careful for those which were to fight. Nowe when they were al in a hope that the iudgmēt of the matter was at hāde, & the enemyes drew nye, the host beyng set ī aray, y^e Elephātes & horsmen euery one stā∣dyng in hys place: Machabeus consydered the cōming of the multytude, y^e ordynaunce of diuerse weapēs, the cruelnes of y^e beestes, [unspec D] & helde vp his handes towarde heauen, cal∣ling vpon the Lord y^t doth wōders, ‡ 1.776 which geueth n•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the multytude of weapons & power of the host (but to them that please him) according to his owne wyl. Therfore in hys prayer he sayde these wor∣des. O Lorde, * 1.777 thou y^• dyddest sende thyne Angell in the tyme of Ez••kyah kyng of Iu∣da, and in the hoste of Sennaherib slewest an hūdreth foure score & fiue thousāde: sende now also thy good angell before vs (O lord of heauens) in the fearfulnesse and drede of thy myghtye arme, that they which come against thy holy people to blaspheme them, maye be afrayed. And so he made an ende of his wordes. Thē Nicanor & they that were wyth hym, drewe nye wyth shawmes and sōges: but Iudas & his copany with praier & callynge vpon God. With theyr handes they smote, but w^t theyr hertes they prayed vnto the Lorde, & slewe no lesse then. xxxv. M. mē: For thorow the present helpe of god they were gloriously comforted.

Now when they left of, & were turning a∣gaine [unspec E] w^t ioy, they vnderstode that Nicanor hym selfe was slayne with the other. Then they gaue a great shoute & a crye praysynge the Almighty Lord w^t a loude voyce. And Iudas) which was euer ready to spende his body & lyfe for h{is} cyte••īs) cōmaūded to smyte of Nycanors heade, with his arme & hande, & to be brought to Ierusalē. When he came there, he called al the people, & the prestes to y^e aulter with those that were in the castel, & shewed thē Nicanors head, and his wicked hāde, which he had presūtuously holden vp agaīst y^e tēple of god. He caused y^e tong also of y^e vngodly. Nicanor to be cut ī litle peces & to be cast to y^e foules, & the cruel mās hāde to be hāged vp before the tēple. So euery mā gaue thākes vnto the lord, saing: blessed be he, y^t hath kept his place vndefyled. As for Nicanors head, he hāged it vp vpon the hie castell, for an euydent & playne token of the helpe of god. And so they agreed al together to kepe y^e day holy, namely the. xiij. day of y^e moneth Adar, which in y^• Siriās language, is called the nexte day before Mardocheus daye. Thus was Nicanor slayne, & frō that tyme forth the Iewes had the cite in posses∣syon: And here wyll I nowe make an ende.

The ende of the seconde boke of the Ma¦chabees.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In the pro loge to the Prouer.
• * 1.2

  In the. iiii boke the. 22 chap.
• * 1.3

  In the 〈…〉〈…〉. log of 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.4

  In 〈…〉〈…〉 13. o〈…〉〈…〉 t••qu〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.5

  i. Pet〈…〉〈…〉 i. Pe〈…〉〈…〉. •• ii. P〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.6

  i Co••••. ••. Eph〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.7

  In the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. loge 〈…〉〈…〉 Ino••••••.
• * 1.8

  In the 〈…〉〈…〉og•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Prou••••.
• * 1.9

  In the 〈…〉〈…〉 loge 〈…〉〈…〉 the be〈…〉〈…〉 o•• the 〈…〉〈…〉 ge••.
• * 1.10

  In the 〈…〉〈…〉 boke 〈…〉〈…〉. Appied.
• * 1.11

  Eru〈…〉〈…〉 Hi〈…〉〈…〉 ge lo••••••.
• * 1.12

  Exod. xii. ••
• * 1.13

  〈…〉〈…〉. 25. •• Reg. 23. ••
• ‡ 1.14

  Exod. xii. b
• * 1.15

  4. Reg. 2••. •• 3, Pu••. ••5. ••
• * 1.16

  3. Reg. 33. •• 2. Pa. 2••. a
• * 1.17

  4. Re. 24. a
• * 1.18

  I••••e. 36. ••
• * 1.19

  I••••••. ••9 •• and. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••
• * 1.20

  I••••••. 〈…〉〈…〉. and. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.21

  ••. Pat. 36. d ••▪ Esdr, s. a.
• * 1.22

  ••. Esdr••. ••. ••
• * 1.23

  〈…〉〈…〉. iiii. ••
• * 1.24

  P••on. xx. ••.
• * 1.25

  Eene. it •• ••••t. xix. •• ••. ••o••. ••. b Ephe. v. ••
• * 1.26

  Eccle, i. a
• * 1.27

  Esaye. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a
• * 1.28

  2. Es••••. 2. b 3. Esor. 6. d
• * 1.29

  Math. ••••
• * 1.30

  i. E••. ••iii. a.
• * 1.31

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •• Num. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.32

  1. Esdr. 3. b
• * 1.33

  Eccl. 29. b c
• * 1.34

  1. Par. 16 b
• * 1.35

  Psal. 135. a Esay. xii ••
• * 1.36

  1. Esor. 3. d
• * 1.37

  1. Esor. 4. a
• * 1.38

  1. Esdr. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.39

  Agg〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.40

  1. Esdr▪ ••
• ‡ 1.41

  3. Reg. vi. a
• * 1.42

  •• Re. 24. 25 Iere. 39. ••ii.
• * 1.43

  •• Esdr. ••, c.
• * 1.44

  •• Esd. vi. c. ••i. Es. iiii. a
• * 1.45

  Esor. vi. b.
• * 1.46

  i. Esd. vii. d
• * 1.47

  1. Esdr 7. a
• ‡ 1.48

  1. Esdr. 8. b
• * 1.49

  1. Esdr. 8. b
• ‡ 1.50

  ••. Esdr. i. a
• * 1.51

  1. Esdr. 8. d
• ‡ 1.52

  1. Esdr. ix. a
• * 1.53

  1. Esdr. ix. ••
• * 1.54

  1. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.55

  •• Esdr. x. b.
• * 1.56

  1. Esdr x. ••.
• * 1.57

  ii. Esd. iii. •• •• Esdr. iii. n
• * 1.58

  2. Esdr. ••. ••
• * 1.59

  i. Esd▪ v•••• ••. Esdr. ••. ••
• * 1.60

  Esay. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.61

  Num. 21. d. Iosu. 8. 10. and. xii.
• ‡ 1.62

  Exo. xiiii g.
• * 1.63

  Exo. xiiii. ••.
• ‡ 1.64

  Exo. iii. b.
• * 1.65

  ••••. xviii. a Exo. xiii. d.
• * 1.66

  ••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• ‡ 1.67

  Sapi. xvi. •• Num. xx, b.
• * 1.68

  Esa. v. ••.
• ‡ 1.69

  ••••••. xv. ••.
• * 1.70

  Deut. 32. ••.
• * 1.71

  Esa. i. ••.
• * 1.72

  Math. 23. d.
• * 1.73

  Esaye. •• ••. and. lxv. a.
• * 1.74

  Esa. ••xv. ••. R••ma▪ x. ••.
• * 1.75

  Esa. xli. d. Luke. xiii. f. Mat. viii. d
• * 1.76

  Gene. xix. ••
• * 1.77

  Tobi. i. d.
• * 1.78

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.79

  ••••••••. vi. ••.
• * 1.80

  ••••ne. vii. ••
• * 1.81

  Gene. 12. 15.
• * 1.82

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.83

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.84

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.85

  1. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.86

  2. Reg.
• * 1.87

  Iudi ix. •• 2. Pat. ••
• * 1.88

  Eso••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iohan. ••▪ •• 1. Corin. ••••
• * 1.89

  ••. Iohn. v. ••
• * 1.90

  ••pora. 6. b
• * 1.91

  Mat. 24. ••
• * 1.92

  Mich. vii. a Math. x. c
• ‡ 1.93

  ••ene. i. a
• * 1.94

  Gen••. ••
• * 1.95

  Deut▪ ••••
• * 1.96

  Gene. ••.
• * 1.97

  Deute. 8. a
• * 1.98

  Gene. 18. d.
• ‡ 1.99

  Exodi. ••2.
• ‡ 1.100

  2. Reg. 2•• ••
• ‡ 1.101

  ••. Pa•• •• 3. Re••
• * 1.102

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.103

  Deut. xxx. b
• * 1.104

  Roma. ••
• * 1.105

  Math••▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 and 〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.106

  3. Pe viii. g 2. Pat. vi. f 1. Iohn. 1. ••
• * 1.107

  Gen. iiii. a.
• * 1.108

  Psa. xiiii. ••
• * 1.109

  4. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.110

  Exod. xix. d 〈…〉〈…〉. xxiiii a Deu. iiii. b.
• * 1.111

  Deute. 32. f.
• ‡ 1.112

  ••saye. xl a ••••mo ••••
• * 1.113

  4. Esdr. x. d
• * 1.114

  Hebr. xii. a.
• * 1.115

  4. Esd 4. a
• * 1.116

  4. Es••. ••▪
• * 1.117

  Danie. 7. c.
• * 1.118

  Mat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• * 1.119

  4. Re. 17. a.
• * 1.120

  E••o. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Iosu••. ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.121

  3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• ‡ 1.122

  Pro••••. ••••. ••
• * 1.123

  Exods. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.124

  Mat. ••4. a 2 Iohn. 2. c
• * 1.125

  Deute. 4. d
• * 1.126

  Ezech. 3. ••. Apoca. x. d
• * 1.127

  Apoc. vi b. and. xix. a.
• * 1.128

  Psal. 44. c. Rom••, •• c 1. Cor. 4. b.
• * 1.129

  1. Cor ••
• * 1.130

  Psa. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prou〈…〉〈…〉 Eccle x. ••
• * 1.131

  Gene. li
• * 1.132

  Gene. ii. a.
• * 1.133

  G••. x••••••▪ •• Iudi, 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• * 1.134

  Gene xv. ••. Actes. vii. a Exod. xii. f. Gala. iii. c.
• * 1.135

  Gen. xxii. a.
• * 1.136

  Gene. 34. •• and. xlix. a
• ‡ 1.137

  G•• xx••••li. l••
• * 1.138

  Gene. i. d.
• * 1.139

  〈…〉〈…〉. v. s,
• * 1.140

  Gene. ••. ••
• * 1.141

  Gene. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• * 1.142

  Gene. 4. ••
• * 1.143

  Gene. v••••.
• * 1.144

  Gene. xix. ••
• * 1.145

  Gene. 2 ••▪ ••
• * 1.146

  Gent. 37. •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vii. b
• ‡ 1.147

  Gent. xii. s
• * 1.148

  Exodi. i. b. 〈…〉〈…〉. b
• ‡ 1.149

  Exodi. 13. f
• ‡ 1.150

  Exod. xv. a
• ‡ 1.151

  Psa. viii. a Math. ii. c
• * 1.152

  Exod. 27. a Num. xx. a
• ‡ 1.153

  Exodi. 16. a
• ‡ 1.154

  Deute. 8. a
• ‡ 1.155

  Sapi. xii, •• Roma. ••. ••
• ‡ 1.156

  Leuit.. 26. •• 〈…〉〈…〉. 16. a Iere. vii. c
• * 1.157

  Roma. ii. a
• * 1.158

  Deut. ix. a xii. d. xviii c
• * 1.159

  Exodi 23 d Deut. vii. d
• * 1.160

  ••. Petr. v. a
• * 1.161

  Io••. ix. a
• * 1.162

  Sap〈…〉〈…〉 Roma. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.163

  Roma. ••••
• * 1.164

  Esay. 44. b Iere, x. a
• * 1.165

  Exod. 14. b
• ‡ 1.166

  Gene. vi. b.
• * 1.167

  Gene. vii. d
• * 1.168

  Psal. 115. a and. 135. c. Baru. vi. d
• ‡ 1.169

  Psal. vii. d
• * 1.170

  Deut▪ ••8. b Iere. vii. b and. xix. a
• * 1.171

  Nume. xi. ••
• ‡ 1.172

  Nume. 2••. b
• * 1.173

  Exodi. x. d.
• ‡ 1.174

  Deute. 32. •• i. Regū. ii. b
• ‡ 1.175

  Exodi. 16. ••
• * 1.176

  Deute. 8. a. Math. 4. ••
• * 1.177

  Roma •• ••. c
• * 1.178

  Exod••. x. c
• * 1.179

  Exodi. 7. b.
• * 1.180

  Psal. 46. a
• * 1.181

  Exodi 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.182

  Exodi 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.183

  Exodi 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.184

  Exod, xii, c.
• * 1.185

  Exo. 28. b. c
• * 1.186

  Exo xiiii a
• * 1.187

  Exo. ••vi c. Nam. xi. g
• * 1.188

  iii. Iohn. b,
• * 1.189

  Gene. xix. c.
• * 1.190

  Re. iii b 〈…〉〈…〉. iiii, d. ••d. ••8, c. ••cob. 1. ••.
• * 1.191

  〈…〉〈…〉. xi. c
• * 1.192

  〈…〉〈…〉. ixi. b. ••ou••. ix. ••
• * 1.193

  Mar. iiii. a 2. Tim iii. ••
• * 1.194

  Sapi. iii. a. Pro. xvii. a
• * 1.195

  Ps. xxxi▪ a Esa. xxvi. b
• * 1.196

  Iohn. 14. c.
• * 1.197

  Roma. 13. c
• * 1.198

  ••. Reg 24. c Susan. d,
• * 1.199

  Exod▪ Deu••▪ 〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.200

  Ep••••▪
• * 1.201

  Gen▪ 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.202

  Ps••. 〈…〉〈…〉 Prou. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.203

  Psal. xii. a.
• * 1.204

  ••••••. xv. d.
• * 1.205

  ••en••. 14. c.
• * 1.206

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.207

  Act••••. xx. g.
• * 1.208

  Luke. ••ii. ••. Eccle. xi. ••.
• * 1.209

  Rom. vii. ••
• * 1.210

  Eccl••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a.
• * 1.211

  Eccle. 16. b
• * 1.212

  Prou. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a and. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a. Exc. vii. d. soph. ••. ••.
• * 1.213

  Iames. ••. ••.
• * 1.214

  L••u••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d.
• * 1.215

  Rom. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ P•••••• ••••
• * 1.216

  Eccle. ••.
• * 1.217

  Deu. 1••. ••. and. 33. ••. M••••••••. ••▪ Math. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• * 1.218

  Eccl. 37••
• * 1.219

  Math ••••••••
• * 1.220

  Eccle. 8. a.
• * 1.221

  Psal. ••. ••.
• * 1.222

  Psa. 143. a Eccles. 7. ••. Io••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a. ••u••••. 18. b.
• * 1.223

  Eccle. 12. ••.
• * 1.224

  1. Reg. 2. b.
• * 1.225

  Mat. vi. a.
• * 1.226

  Rom. xii. b.
• * 1.227

  Luke. xix. ••.
• * 1.228

  Deu. 2••. b.
• * 1.229

  Eccle. 30. ••
• * 1.230

  Eccles. 3. a. T••b••. 4. a.
• * 1.231

  Deute. 12. ••
• * 1.232

  Num. 18. b
• * 1.233

  Gala. vi. a.
• ‡ 1.234

  To•••• ••. d.
• * 1.235

  Rom. 12. b.
• ‡ 1.236

  Math. 25. d
• * 1.237

  Math. v. d
• * 1.238

  Eccle. 3••. a.
• * 1.239

  G••lo vi a. 2. Cor. 2. b
• * 1.240

  Leu••t. 19. g.
• * 1.241

  Eccle. 6. b.
• ‡ 1.242

  Eccle. 29. a.
• ‡ 1.243

  Gene. 4. b.
• ‡ 1.244

  Prou. 22. d Esa. iii. a.
• * 1.245

  〈…〉〈…〉. xxx••••••
• * 1.246

  pro. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.247

  Prou. ••
• * 1.248

  M••th. ••▪
• * 1.249

  〈…〉〈…〉 Iu•• 〈…〉〈…〉.
• ‡ 1.250

  Eccl. viii. c •• xxxvii. a.
• ‡ 1.251

  Deut. vi. b and. xi. c.
• * 1.252

  ••••. Re. iii. c.
• * 1.253

  ••••o. xxix. a
• * 1.254

  ••••▪ Re. xi•• a Prou. 28. b ••uz. xxix. a.
• * 1.255

  ••eui. xix. d
• ‡ 1.256

  Iere. 27. a Daniel. 4. c
• * 1.257

  Sapi. vi. b Luk. 1. c. 14 c. and. 18. b
• * 1.258

  Gene. 29. c.
• * 1.259

  Prou. 17. a
• ‡ 1.260

  2. Reg. 12. ••
• * 1.261

  Pro. xii. b.
• * 1.262

  Actes. xii. d
• ‡ 1.263

  ••. Reg. ••v. f ••etth. vi. a
• * 1.264

  Deute. 13. d
• ‡ 1.265

  Prou. 18. c.
• * 1.266

  Ma•• xix. c 〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.267

  ••rouer ••. c Psa. 127. ••
• * 1.268

  Iob. xlii. ••
• * 1.269

  Iob. i. c Ezech. 28. b
• ‡ 1.270

  Luke. xii▪ c
• ‡ 1.271

  Ezech 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.272

  Gala 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.273

  ••••••••. xi••. b.
• * 1.274

  2. L••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.275

  Prou. 17. c Eccles. i. a
• * 1.276

  Eccle. xix. c and. xxv. c Iato, iii. a
• * 1.277

  Eccles. 4 a Tobi. 4 b Luka. 16. b
• * 1.278

  Esaye xl. a 1 Pritl. •• d Iacobi. ••. b
• * 1.279

  Mas•• ••
• * 1.280

  Ioh••. •• ••
• ‡ 1.281

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.282

  Iere ••••••
• * 1.283

  Eccle. xxi. b
• * 1.284

  Gene. vi. a
• * 1.285

  Gene. xix. e
• ‡ 1.286

  Num. 14. •• ••••d. xxvi. t
• * 1.287

  Eccles. v. a
• * 1.288

  Gene. ••. d
• * 1.289

  Gene. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d.
• * 1.290

  Exodi. xx. a Deute. 4. •• and▪ ix.
• * 1.291

  Roma. 1•• a
• * 1.292

  Deu••e. 4. c and x. c
• * 1.293

  E••••••e. 29. b
• * 1.294

  Math. 25. c
• * 1.295

  Actes. iii. c
• * 1.296

  Psal. vii. •• Esaye. 38. d
• * 1.297

  Gene. i. ••
• * 1.298

  Psal. ii Eccle, ••••
• * 1.299

  Psal. ••••••
• * 1.300

  2. P••••••▪
• * 1.301

  E••••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• * 1.302

  P••ou. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •• and, 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.303

  Eccle. ••••••
• * 1.304

  1. Cro••
• * 1.305

  Luke. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• ••. 〈…〉〈…〉. ••••
• * 1.306

  ••••••les. ••l. d
• ‡ 1.307

  〈…〉〈…〉. viv 〈…〉〈…〉xiii. ••
• ‡ 1.308

  ••ere. 19. ••
• ‡ 1.309

  •• Reg. ii. a
• * 1.310

  I••sut. 22. c
• * 1.311

  Eccle. 22. b and. xxvii. c
• * 1.312

  Leui. xix. d Math. 18. b
• * 1.313

  Eccle. 14. a and. xxv. b Iame. iii. c
• * 1.314

  Mat. vi. ••
• * 1.315

  Eccles. 31. ••
• * 1.316

  Eccle. 31. d
• * 1.317

  Eccle iii. a Eccl••s. 32. a
• * 1.318

  Eccle. vi. d
• * 1.319

  Eccle. 18. c
• * 1.320

  Gene 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dan••••••
• * 1.321

  Prou. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and. ••••••
• ‡ 1.322

  Eccle. •• Deut. ••••
• * 1.323

  Eccle. ••••
• * 1.324

  Eccl ••. ••. ••. and. 〈…〉〈…〉 Psal 〈…〉〈…〉 Luke. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.325

  Exod 〈…〉〈…〉 and. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.326

  Eccl xv.
• ‡ 1.327

  •••••••• 19. b.
• * 1.328

  ••••euit. xix. d
• ‡ 1.329

  Pro••. ••7. a
• ‡ 1.330

  Psal. 141. b
• * 1.331

  Exodi. xx. b Eccle. 27. d Ma••n. v. b
• * 1.332

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.333

  Eph〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.334

  •• 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.335

  Esa. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.336

  Leui〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.337

  Exod. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.338

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. viii. ••.
• * 1.339

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, xxxi. ••
• * 1.340

  Psal, 132. a
• ‡ 1.341

  Iohn. xv. a
• ‡ 1.342

  Iohn. 1••▪ a
• ‡ 1.343

  Exod 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. and. xxiiii. ••
• * 1.344

  Psal. 131. b. Ac••••s. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d.
• * 1.345

  Deut iiii, •• and. xxix. b.
• * 1.346

  Iosus. iii. ••
• * 1.347

  Eccle. 33. b.
• * 1.348

  Gene. xiii. b.
• * 1.349

  Ro••a. xi. a
• * 1.350

  Eccles. xi. d.
• * 1.351

  Ge. xviii. b.
• * 1.352

  Eccle. xix. c and xxiiii a ••••d••c iii. c.
• * 1.353

  Pr〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.354

  Eccle •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.355

  〈…〉〈…〉 ••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.356

  ••••. 16. a
• * 1.357

  ••••. 42. b
• * 1.358

  〈…〉〈…〉. v. d.
• * 1.359

  S••••i. iii. a.
• * 1.360

  S••••i. iii. a.
• * 1.361

  Eccle. ••2. b.
• * 1.362

  Eccle. 19. ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 xxii. d.
• * 1.363

  Proue. x. b.
• * 1.364

  Exodi. 21. b
• * 1.365

  Hester. 7. b. Psal. 7. ••. Prou. 20. c. Eccles. 10. a
• * 1.366

  D••n 32, c. Roma. 12. c.
• * 1.367

  Math 5. b. 6. b. 18. b.
• * 1.368

  Eccle. 58. a.
• * 1.369

  Prou. 26. c
• * 1.370

  Eccle. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.371

  Deut. 〈…〉〈…〉 Luce. 6. ••.
• * 1.372

  Math. 6. ••. ••••ce. 12. d. Eim. 6. d.
• * 1.373

  ••••no. 4. b
• * 1.374

  Dan. 4, d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 12. d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. x. a
• * 1.375

  ••••les. 39. c
• * 1.376

  Psal. 35. b. i. Tim. vi. b Hebre 13. a.
• * 1.377

  Prou. 13. f. and. xxiii. ••
• * 1.378

  Deut. vi a.
• * 1.379

  Eccles. 7. c.
• * 1.380

  ••e••. b.
• * 1.381

  Prou 12. d. 15. ••. 17. d.
• ‡ 1.382

  Eccles. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. c ••rou. 14. ••
• * 1.383

  2, Cor, 7. b.
• * 1.384

  i. Tim. vi. ••
• * 1.385

  Eccles. ••. ••.
• * 1.386

  Math. ••
• * 1.387

  Eccl. ••••
• * 1.388

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.389

  Prou. ••••
• * 1.390

  Ephe. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Iud••t. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.391

  Prou. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••. 〈…〉〈…〉 ••.
• * 1.392

  Eccle. xx. ••
• * 1.393

  ••••u••e. 17. d
• * 1.394

  ••••ma. xii b
• * 1.395

  Eccles. iii. a Eccle. xx. ••.
• * 1.396

  Gene. ii. a
• * 1.397

  Roma. ix. ••.
• * 1.398

  1. Corin. 6. ••
• * 1.399

  Eccle. 24. b
• * 1.400

  Eccle. vii. c
• * 1.401

  P••••. ••6 ••
• * 1.402

  Prou. x〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.403

  Deut. ••4•• Eccle. 〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.404

  Num. xix. b
• * 1.405

  Prou. 26. b Pe••. ii. b
• * 1.406

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. vii. ••
• * 1.407

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 13. 〈…〉〈…〉. 4. c
• ‡ 1.408

  ••xod. 34. 8
• * 1.409

  Gene. 4. ••
• * 1.410

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ix. ••
• * 1.411

  ••ob••. 4. b
• * 1.412

  Iudit. 4. b
• * 1.413

  ••••••no. iii d 〈◊〉〈◊〉. x. ••
• * 1.414

  Exodi. 4. e.
• * 1.415

  1. Per. 6. g
• * 1.416

  Nume. 6. d
• * 1.417

  ••. Cor••. 2. d
• * 1.418

  Eccle. vi. ••
• * 1.419

  Eccl. viii. •• and ix. ••
• * 1.420

  i. Cor. vi, •• and. x. ••.
• * 1.421

  Eccle. xxx. ••
• * 1.422

  Exod. xv. d ••. Reg. 4. c
• * 1.423

  ••. Pat. 16, d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••8. a
• * 1.424

  Eccle. 22. ••
• * 1.425

  1. Ehe••. 4.
• * 1.426

  Prou. xii. d and. xviii. d Eccle. xxx. d
• * 1.427

  2. Reg. xii. e
• * 1.428

  Eccle. 44 b
• * 1.429

  Gene. ••, d
• * 1.430

  Gene. vii. b
• * 1.431

  Osce. 14. •• Rome. ••. ••
• * 1.432

  Eccles. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• * 1.433

  1. Eim. ••. ••
• * 1.434

  Math. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.435

  Eccles. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.436

  Gene. ••. ••
• * 1.437

  Eccle. 39. ••
• * 1.438

  Gene. vii. d and. iii. d
• * 1.439

  Eccle. 41. b
• * 1.440

  ••. Eym. 6. b Philip. 4. b
• * 1.441

  Gene. 8. d
• * 1.442

  Eccles. xl. c
• * 1.443

  Eccle. xi. b.
• * 1.444

  Eccl. xxii. a
• * 1.445

  Eccle. xx. d.
• ‡ 1.446

  Rome. i. b.
• * 1.447

  Eccle. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ ••▪
• * 1.448

  Eccle. ••. ••▪
• * 1.449

  Gene. ••▪ ••▪
• * 1.450

  Io••. 〈…〉〈…〉 Esay〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.451

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.452

  ••sal. v••ii. ••▪
• * 1.453

  〈…〉〈…〉. i. ••.
• * 1.454

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.455

  Gene. ix. d.
• * 1.456

  Psa. x••vi. ••▪
• * 1.457

  Psal ••vi. ••▪
• * 1.458

  Deute. v ••. Ihon. ••. ••.
• * 1.459

  Exodi. 18. ••▪
• ‡ 1.460

  Gen. vii. d.
• * 1.461

  Eccl. 49. ••. Gene. v. t.
• * 1.462

  Gene. vi. a ••. vii. viii.
• * 1.463

  Gene. ix. ••.
• * 1.464

  Gen xvii. ••
• * 1.465

  Gen. xxii. a
• * 1.466

  Gen xxvi. a
• * 1.467

  Gen. xxviii ••. xxi••. xxx.
• * 1.468

  Iosul 〈…〉〈…〉 and. ii••.
• * 1.469

  Exod 〈…〉〈…〉 A••t••••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.470

  Num〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.471

  Exod. i〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.472

  Exod. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.473

  Exodi. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.474

  Exod. 〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.475

  Leui. 〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.476

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. xvi•• 〈…〉〈…〉. xxi. a▪ Mala. ii. ••
• * 1.477

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. xvi. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.478

  Nu. xvii. b
• * 1.479

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, xxv. •• Leuit. 24. ••
• * 1.480

  D••••••. x••i. b and. xviii. Eze••. 44. d
• * 1.481

  Num. xv▪ c.
• * 1.482

  Iosut. xii •• Num. 27. d
• * 1.483

  Deut. 34. d Iosue. ••. a.
• * 1.484

  Iosac. x. c.
• * 1.485

  Nu. xxvi g
• * 1.486

  Nu. xiiii. a
• * 1.487

  Iosu xiiii c
• * 1.488

  1. Reg. x. a. and. xvi. ••.
• * 1.489

  i. Reg. vii a
• * 1.490

  ii. Re. xii. a
• * 1.491

  2. Reg. xii. ••
• * 1.492

  ••. Re. xvii. f
• * 1.493

  3. Reg. 18. b
• * 1.494

  2. Pa. 26. a
• * 1.495

  2. Reg. v. b.
• * 1.496

  2. Re. xii. o.
• * 1.497

  3. Reg. iii. ••
• * 1.498

  iii. Reg.
• * 1.499

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.500

  iii. Re. xi. ••
• * 1.501

  ii. Re. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• * 1.502

  iii. Re. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• ‡ 1.503

  iii. Re. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ ••
• * 1.504

  3. Re. xv••. ••
• * 1.505

  iii. Re. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ •• 4. Reg. ••. ••
• * 1.506

  3. Re. x••••▪ ••.
• * 1.507

  ••••. Re. 19. ••
• * 1.508

  ••. Reg. ii. c.
• * 1.509

  Luke. ••. ••.
• * 1.510

  ••••. Reg. ii. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.511

  ••. Re. 13. ••.
• ‡ 1.512

  ••. Reg. b. •• vii viii.
• * 1.513

  4. Re. 1••. b
• * 1.514

  •• Pa. 32. a
• ‡ 1.515

  ••. Re. 〈…〉〈…〉. 36. ••.
• ‡ 1.516

  ••. Re. 19. ••.
• * 1.517

  ••. Reg. xx. b ••e••. 38, b
• ‡ 1.518

  4. Re. 22. a. and. 23. 2. pat. 34. a.
• * 1.519

  4. Re. 25. d.
• * 1.520

  Iere. i. a.
• * 1.521

  Eze. ••. a
• * 1.522

  Agg. ii. a 1. Esor. iii a 3. Esor. v. a
• ‡ 1.523

  Agge. i. •• and. ii. ••
• ‡ 1.524

  2. Esor i. a.
• ‡ 1.525

  2. Esor. 7. a
• ‡ 1.526

  Gene. v. ••. Eccle. 44. b. Hebre. 12. ••
• * 1.527

  Gene. 4••. f. 4••. ••. 45. c.
• * 1.528

  1. Ma••. 3. 4
• * 1.529

  Esay. ••v. a.
• * 1.530

  Eccles. vi. c
• * 1.531

  Den. xiiii c. Iere. 29. b.
• * 1.532

  1. Tim. 2. b.
• * 1.533

  Baru••. ii b. Da••••, ix. ••.
• * 1.534

  Leui. 26 Deu. 28
• * 1.535

  Exodi. 12, 23, 14.
• * 1.536

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.537

  Deui. •• 4. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.538

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.539

  Da••••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.540

  Exo. 7. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 10. 11. 1••, xiiii.
• * 1.541

  2. Pat. ••▪
• * 1.542

  Deu. ••. 261. Esay. 41. ••. Psal. 113. 1.
• * 1.543

  ••••t. 27. a
• * 1.544

  Deute. 4. d and, xxviii.
• * 1.545

  Hebre. 8. •• zacha. 8. b Apoc. xxi. b
• * 1.546

  Ephe. ii. ••
• * 1.547

  D••ui. iii. c Iere. ••. c. 3, •• and ••. c
• * 1.548

  Num. 14. a Psal 77. a
• * 1.549

  Psal. 79. a
• * 1.550

  Iere. ii. b
• * 1.551

  Proue. i. a and. iii. a
• * 1.552

  Psal. xix. b and. xxix. ••
• * 1.553

  Deute. 4. •• Ier. xx••▪ •• Psa. xx••••. ••
• * 1.554

  Gene. •• d
• ‡ 1.555

  Iosue. i. •• Esay. 38. ••. E••••••. xi••••. a
• * 1.556

  Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Deut. ••. ••••
• * 1.557

  Iohan. ••. 1. Io••••. ••
• * 1.558

  Psa. ••••••••
• * 1.559

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and. xx••.
• * 1.560

  Deute. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• Iere. ••. ••
• * 1.561

  Deute. 4. •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• Esa. ••xxx. a
• * 1.562

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.563

  Esay. iv. ••
• ‡ 1.564

  I••••••. ••. a. b c
• * 1.565

  Iere. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. ••
• ‡ 1.566

  Deute. vs. c
• * 1.567

  ••Iere. x a
• * 1.568

  Sepi. 14▪
• * 1.569

  Psal. 114▪
• * 1.570

  Eccle. v, ••
• * 1.571

  Daniel. ix. ••
• * 1.572

  ••a••••. ii b.
• * 1.573

  Gene. xv. •• 22 •• xxvi b. Deut••. x. d
• * 1.574

  ••. 〈…〉〈…〉 Rom•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Esaye. •• Rom••. ••
• * 1.575

  ••. M••••. •• ••
• * 1.576

  Psal. ••••••
• * 1.577

  Psal. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• and. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• * 1.578

  ••••al. ••49 ••
• * 1.579

  ••••al. ••36. ••
• * 1.580

  Psal. 113. •• ••34. a. and ••xxxv. a ••po••a x••x. c
• * 1.581

  Iere. xx. ••. Esay. 43. a
• * 1.582

  Psa ••xvi•• a and. ••vi. a
• * 1.583

  Exodi. ii. a 2, Reg. xi. a
• * 1.584

  Leu••••••. ••••
• * 1.585

  Hebre. 4. ••
• * 1.586

  2. Reg. ••▪ •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xx. ••
• * 1.587

  2. Reg. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.588

  ••od. 22. a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xvii. ••
• * 1.589

  Psa. xvi. ••
• * 1.590

  ••••••••. xix d 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xix ••
• ‡ 1.591

  Deut. iiii. e and. v. c Exodi. xx. a Deute. vi. d Mat. iiii. a
• * 1.592

  Eccle. xxx. ••
• * 1.593

  I••rem. li. g Es••. xlvi. a Iere. l. ••.
• * 1.594

  Daniel. 6. c
• ‡ 1.595

  Dani. vi. c
• * 1.596

  Ez••••. ••▪
• * 1.597

  3. Re. ••▪
• * 1.598

  Iere 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hest. ••▪ D••••••▪ ••▪
• ‡ 1.599

  Dani▪ ••▪ Luke▪ •• Es〈…〉〈…〉▪
• * 1.600

  Iudi••. i. b.
• * 1.601

  D•••••• vii •• and. viii. ••.
• * 1.602

  1. Mac •• ••
• * 1.603

  Deu. v•••• a. Iud••••▪
• ‡ 1.604

  〈…〉〈…〉
• ‡ 1.605

  1. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.606

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••i. d
• * 1.607

  •• M•••• v▪ a
• * 1.608

  2. M••••. v. c
• * 1.609

  Iacob. ii. d Roma. 4. d Gene. 22. b
• ‡ 1.610

  Hebre. xi d. Eccle. 44. c Gene. 41. b
• ‡ 1.611

  Num. 25. c Eccles. 45. ••
• * 1.612

  Num. 27. d Iosu••. i. a
• ‡ 1.613

  Num. 14. ••
• * 1.614

  1. Reg. ••••
• * 1.615

  4. Reg. •• Daut. ••••
• * 1.616

  Daui. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• * 1.617

  Hebre. ••
• * 1.618

  Math. ••
• ‡ 1.619

  Esay. •• and. 51. •• ••. Petri •• Iacob. •• Ecle••s. •• Psal. ••
• * 1.620

  Ioseph •• cap. 85 12. ar•• ••
• * 1.621

  Psal. ••
• * 1.622

  ••. Mat. 8. ••
• * 1.623

  1. Reg. 14. a
• * 1.624

  2. Pat. 25. b
• * 1.625

  ••. Mat. ••. a.
• * 1.626

  Ioseph. ca∣••t. li. antiq.
• * 1.627

  2. Mat. ••. d.
• * 1.628

  ••. M••••h. •• d
• * 1.629

  ••. Reg. 7. b.
• * 1.630

  Num. 6. a.
• * 1.631

  Exod••. 28. d
• * 1.632

  Deu••. xx ••. Iudi. 7. a.
• * 1.633

  Math. •• Luke. ••.
• * 1.634

  ••o 〈…〉〈…〉 li••. •• 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.635

  Exod. ••4.
• * 1.636

  2. ••••ac. ••••
• * 1.637

  Ps•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a Psa. 118. a
• * 1.638

  ••. Reg. 17. g
• * 1.639

  ••. Reg. 14. b
• * 1.640

  ••••. Mac. ••. a
• * 1.641

  Erod. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d D••ut 27. •• Ios••••. 8. g
• * 1.642

  ••••. Mac. x. a
• * 1.643

  3. Par. 7. b
• * 1.644

  Iohan. x. c
• * 1.645

  ••. Math••. 6. d. c
• * 1.646

  Ios••p. ••ap. xii. lib. xii.
• * 1.647

  Ezec. x••••. •• & ▪ xxxv. a ii. Ma••. x. ••
• * 1.648

  2, M••••••▪
• * 1.649

  2. Mat. x. d
• * 1.650

  2. Mac. 1••••
• * 1.651

  ••. Pa••. 20. a
• * 1.652

  i. Mat. v. b
• * 1.653

  Deuti. vi a
• * 1.654

  Ioseph. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xiii. li. xii en¦tiq.
• * 1.655

  i. Matha. iii. c. &. iiii
• * 1.656

  i Math 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.657

  ii. M•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.658

  Iose〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. li. •• 1. Ma•••• 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.659

  Math••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 g
• * 1.660

  ••. Math••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. d
• * 1.661

  i Math. iiii 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xi ••
• * 1.662

  i. Machab•• iiii. ••. vi. d. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Mat. x••. •• ••. xv. d
• * 1.663

  2. Mat. 6. ••
• * 1.664

  1. Math. i b
• * 1.665

  Psal. 79. ••
• * 1.666

  2. Mat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••
• * 1.667

  2. Mar. 14 ••
• * 1.668

  2. Para. 3. c 3. Regū. 8. ••. Esap. 56. b
• * 1.669

  Math. 21. b
• * 1.670

  Esay. 37. •• 2. Mat, 8. d and xv. d 4. Re. 19. g
• * 1.671

  Februar••••.
• * 1.672

  2. Mat. 15 d
• * 1.673

  2. mat. 14. ••
• * 1.674

  ••. Math. •• ••
• * 1.675

  1. Ma〈…〉〈…〉 Iosep in 17. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.676

  Ioseph 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. lib, 13. an
• * 1.677

  ••. Para x. a ••. Mat. 4. b
• * 1.678

  Iosep••▪ ii. i〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.679

  ••. Mat, 7. d
• * 1.680

  Ioseph. ••a. v. lib. xiii.
• * 1.681

  Iosep••▪ c••. 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.682

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.683

  ••▪ M••t. xi. a.
• * 1.684

  Io••rphus. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 7. lib. 13.
• * 1.685

  Mat. x. c.
• * 1.686

  ••. ••••Sapn•••• xxix ••••
• * 1.687

  ••. ••a••. 6. c ix, b. xiii. b
• * 1.688

  Ioseph. ca. x. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xii••
• * 1.689

  1. Mac. 14 d
• * 1.690

  〈…〉〈…〉 3. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.691

  ••. Mat. and. xii. ••
• * 1.692

  August.
• * 1.693

  1. Math ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• * 1.694

  ••••••••. ••••••••
• * 1.695

  •• ••at. 16 b
• * 1.696

  ••at. 13. ••
• * 1.697

  ••. ••at. 15. ••
• * 1.698

  Ianuary.
• * 1.699

  Deut. xxx. ••
• * 1.700

  Leui 23. ••
• * 1.701

  Nouember
• * 1.702

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Num. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.703

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. a x••••••.
• * 1.704

  Deu••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪
• * 1.705

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. vi. d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 18. 18. •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 48. ••
• ‡ 1.706

  ••. Ma••. i. ••
• * 1.707

  Iere. 29. b. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. vi. ••
• * 1.708

  Deut. 34. a
• * 1.709

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. •• ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 8. ••
• * 1.710

  Leuit. ix. d
• * 1.711

  2. Pat. 7. a
• * 1.712

  Some r••de Nehemias.
• * 1.713

  Deut. xxx. ••
• * 1.714

  ••. Ma••. vi. a
• * 1.715

  ••. Math. 1. ••
• * 1.716

  i••. M••••••, iii
• * 1.717

  2. Mat. iii. b
• * 1.718

  Ero••. ••••
• * 1.719

  ••. M••••. x •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. xi. ••
• * 1.720

  •• M••••. v. ••
• * 1.721

  ••••••••. 27. ••
• * 1.722

  2. M••••. ••. ••
• * 1.723

  These we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••pt ••u•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.724

  ••. Ma••. 4. c
• * 1.725

  ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.726

  ••. Ma••. 4. ••
• * 1.727

  •• Ma••h •• ••
• ‡ 1.728

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••
• * 1.729

  2. Ma••. 3. d
• * 1.730

  1. Mac. 1. ••.
• ‡ 1.731

  ••. Mach. •• c
• * 1.732

  Pro•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.733

  Lou••••. x••••
• * 1.734

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••. ••.
• * 1.735

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. i. a.
• * 1.736

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. xi. ••.
• * 1.737

  D••ut. 32. c.
• * 1.738

  Iohn. v. c.
• * 1.739

  〈…〉〈…〉 D〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.740

  ••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.741

  Ma••. ii. a.
• * 1.742

  Ma••. 3. ••.
• * 1.743

  Mat. v. b
• * 1.744

  Deut. 20. a. Pa••. xx. c.
• * 1.745

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 17. d Psal. xix. b.
• ‡ 1.746

  4. Reg. 19. g Esaye. 37. a 1. Ma••. 7. c.
• * 1.747

  i. Ma••. a. ••.
• * 1.748

  Nume. 31. d 1. Reg xxx e Deut. 2••. b.
• * 1.749

  1. Ma••. v. ••
• ‡ 1.750

  2. Ma••. 8. ••.
• * 1.751

  ••. Ma••. xi. d
• * 1.752

  Deut. 28. a.
• * 1.753

  Iere. 17. d. f. Pat. 32. b
• * 1.754

  4. Reg. 6. a. ••. M•••• ••. a and. xi. d.
• * 1.755

  ••••••••••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.756

  Esay. ••••••
• * 1.757

  a. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.758

  ••. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.759

  •• Ma••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. b
• * 1.760

  Iosue. vi. c
• * 1.761

  Iudi. vi•• 1. Reg •• 2. Pa•• ••▪
• * 1.762

  i. Math. ••
• * 1.763

  Deut. vii. ••. ••osu. vii. a
• ‡ 1.764

  i. Mat. vi. d
• * 1.765

  ii. Mat. 4 ••
• * 1.766

  2. Mat. 19. ••
• * 1.767

  1. Mac. vi. f
• * 1.768

  ••. Mat. xi. ••
• * 1.769

  ••. M••••▪ ••▪
• ‡ 1.770

  2. M•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.771

  ••▪ Mat. 7. ••.
• * 1.772

  ••. Mat. 4. ••. ••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. x. a
• * 1.773

  ••. M••••. 7. ••.
• * 1.774

  3. Reg. xx. ••.
• * 1.775

  Exod. xx. ••.
• ‡ 1.776

  ••. Para. 14. Iudi. vii. b.
• * 1.777

  4. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ii. 〈◊〉〈◊〉