The true copye of a prolog wrytten about two C. yeres paste by Iohn Wycklife (as maye iustly be gatherid bi that, that Iohn Bale hath writte[n] of him in his boke entitlid the Summarie of famouse writers of the Ile of great Brita[n]) the originall whereof is founde written in an olde English Bible bitwixt the olde Testament and the Newe. Whych Bible remaynith now in ye Kyng hys maiesties chamber.

¶ The. vi. chapiter

THe. iiii. boke of kingis tel∣lyth in generall, howe the rewme of Israell and the rewm of Iuda, werē con∣querid of hethen men: for mani sins whichthei diddē a yens God & men, and werē obstinat & diddē not frut∣ful penaūce in due tyme. First it tel∣ith inspecial, howe the wicked Kyng Ocosias, sent to take counsel at Bel∣zebub: where he myght liue and •…•…∣kyuer of hys syknes. Therfore God sent Helie the prophete to tel to hym: that he shuld dye & not go downe of his bed. Thā this King sēte to Helie a prince on. l. men, and fiftie▪ mē with hym: to clepe Heli to the Kyng. And fiere came doune fro heauen and de∣uoured

this prince and fifti mē that weren wyth hym: for in scorne they clepidden Helie the mā of God. And in lyke maner fyre deuoured an o∣ther prince and fiftie men with him. The thyrdde prince and hys fyftie y^• mekid hem to God & to the prophet: weren sauyd on lyue. And God bade Heli go downe w^t hem to the Kyng and repreue hyme of hys synne: & tel to the kynge hym sylfe, that he shall die, and go not downe of his bedde. After this the prophet Helie should be rauishid awey fro erth, and Elise knew this, & sued him in eche place, tilto the rauishing. And Helie smote wyth his mātell the waters of Ior∣dan: and tho werē departed therby: and Helie and Elise yeden ouir bi y^• drye bottome therof. Than Helie was rauished in a chair of fiere fro Elise: and stied bi a whirlwynd into heauen. And y^e double sprite of Helie rested on Elise. And wyth the •…•…n∣tyl▪

of Helie he smot •…•…wise the waters of Iordan, and in the seconde tyme tho werē departed & Elise passed o∣uer: Afterwarde Elise dweled in Ie¦rico: & healed y^• waters frō bitternes & barēnes bi putting of salt in y^e wa¦tir. Thā Elise stighid into Bethell & as he stighid bi y^e weie: little childrē yedē out of y^e citie, & seiden to hym in scorne. Thou ballard stigh vp. And he curssed hem in y^e name of God: & tweie beeres yedē out of y^e foreste: & torenten of hem. xlii. children. After these thyngis, Ioram the Kynge of Israel, and Iosaphat the Kynge of Iuda, & also the thredde Kynge that was Kynge of Edome: weren in de∣serte & hadden no water, and weren in poynte of peryshinge. These three Kyngis camen to Elise for help: and by spiryte of prophecie he bade hem make dichis, and they sighen neither wynde neyther rayne, and the boune of dyches was filled of waters. And

he before seyde, that God should be∣take Moab into the hondis of these Kyngis: & they shulden distrie cities and fyeldes and trees, and thus it was done in dede. Also Elise multi∣plyed a lyttle oyle: and made a pore wydowe to fyl many vessels therof, and bade hyr paye hyr dettes wyth some therof, and y^t she and hir sonns shuldē liue by y^e residue therof. After ward Elise beforseid to a good wo∣man, y^• her berwed him frely & larg∣ly: that she shoulde conceiue a sonne And whan Elise knewe y^• this sonne was deade: he sent his seruaunt Gi∣hezi wyth hys stafe to reise hym and neyther voyce nor sense was in the childe. Than Elise entred into a clo∣set where the chyld laie deade: & prei∣ed to God and laye on the chyld, and leyde hys mouthe to the mouthe of the child & his hondis on the chylds hondes. And the chyld yoxyd seue•…•… siethis, and opened his ien: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

bit oke y^• chyld quicke to his mothir. And Elise, whā hūge•…•… was in Gal∣gal a: healed the pot of noyful meate by sendinge in of mele, that no more byt ternes was in the meate: Than Elise made a little breade to suffyce to an hundride men: and theye leften reliefes •…•…han the Kynge of Sirie sente let•…•…ers to the Kynge of Israell that he shoulde cure Naaman of his lepre, & the Kynge of Israell torent his clothes for sorow: Elise bade y^t Naaman should be waisshen. vii. si∣this in the water of Iordan, and so he shulde be cured. And thus it was don in dede. Than Naaman know∣lechyd, that none other God is in all earth: no but onli the God of Israel And Elise toke no yeft, yea freli pro ferrid and preased of Naamā. Thā Gihezie ran after Naaman, vnwit∣ting, either not cōsēting his master, and made a leesinge, that Elise sent •…•…o hym: that he shoulde yeue a talent

of siluer, & double chaūgyng clothes to tweie young men of the sonnes of prophetis. And Naaman cōstraynid hyme to take the duble that he axed and ordeinid twey chyldren to beare it before hym. But hereof Elise seyd, that the Lepre of Naaman shoulde cleue to Gihezi and to his sede with∣outen ende. And Gihezi yede out fro Elise: and was a mesel as snowe. Whan the sonnes of prophets yedē to the wode to hew downe wode to bylde places for hem to dwell in: y^• Irun of an axe fel doūe into y^e watir And Elise castid downe y^e tre, either helue: and the Irū houide, and was taken vp therbi. Whan the Kyng of Sirie, set bushme▪ •…•…ts priuily ayens the Kyng of Israell: Elise warned the King of Israel therof. And whā it was certified to y^e King of Sirie, that Elise tolde his priuyties to the Kyng of Israel: the Kynge of Sirie sent a grete multitud of his ooste to

take Elise. And whan the oste com∣passid y^e Citie Doatim, wherin Eli∣se was: God made thys oost blynde at the praier of Elise. And so he ledde hem into the myddys of Samarie. And whē the Kyng of Israel would siea hem: Elise seide naye. But make redie a feaste to hem, and let hem go in peace to hir Lorde. And whan ful stronge hunger was in Samarie, y^t women eaten her owne children: oo womā axid dome of the king ayens an other womman, that would not by couenaunt bringe forth hir childe to be eaten, whan they hadden eaten the chyld of the fyrst wōman. Than the kynge that weride the heyre next hys bodye: to rente hys clothys for sorowe, and swore stronglie, that in that daye he would gird of the head of Elise. E•…•…ise bifore knew the com∣ing of this messenger todo this dede & bade men close y^• dore, & suffer not him to enter, for his lord cōeth anōe

after hyme, to reuoke hys oothe and sentence. Than Elise seide in goddis name that tomorow in thys tyme, a bushel of wheat floure shalbe for oo statere, that is a lyttle quantetie of money, as it were a peny: and two bushels of barlie for oo statere in the yate of Samarie. And Elise seide to a greate duike, that bileuid not this word: thou shalt se it wyth thine ien and shalte not eate therof. And thus it was in dede. For whan the oost of Sirie fled by nyght for dreade that God made amonge hem: they leften al here goodis and fledden nakyd, & couetidē onli to saue here liues. And whan a bushell of whete flour was solde on the morowe for oo statere: the kyng made that noble Duike ke∣par at the yate, and t•…•…e cōpani trade hym to death, as Elise before seide. Also Elise spake to y^e woman▪ whos sonne he made to lyue: and bade hyr and hir house go a pylgrimag either

strange lond, where euer she founde couenable. For God shal bring strōg hunger on the londe seuen yere. And at the. vii. yeres ende: the kyng resto∣rid to hir al hir things, & al the rētes of hir fields in the time of hir absēce. Benadab kynge of Sirie, sent Asael to Elise: to enquire where this king myght recouer of hys sycknes. And God shewed to Elise: y^t Benadab should die. And Elise wepte ful sore whā he sigh Asael: for God shewed to him that Asael shulde be kynge of Sirie, & do mani euilles to the chyl∣dren of Israell. Br•…•…n of her stronge cites: and slea by swerde the younge men of hem, and hurle the little chil∣dren on hem, and kerue womē with chylde. Ioram y^• sonne of Iosaphat dyd euel in goddis syght: as y^e house of Achab did, for the daughter of A∣chab was hys wife. But God nolde distrie Iuda for Dauid his seruant: as he bihyght to hym, to yeue a lan∣terne

to hym and to hys sonnes in al daies. After these thingis Elise bad one of y^• sonnes of prophets anoynt Hieu into Kyng of Israell: and seye to hym. Thou shalt distrie the house of Achab, and God shall make it as the house of Ieroboā. And doggis shulen e•…•…te Iesabell in the fyelde of Israel: and none shal birye hir. And Hieu kylled Ioram Kyng of Israel & Ocosias king of Iuda, & Iesabell the curssed quen. And dogs eatē the flesh of Iesabel: hir flesh was a tord on the face of the earthe. Than Hieu made. lxx. sones of Achab to be slain of her Kepers and noryshers: and he kylled. xlii. men brithern of Ocosias And after this doynge Hieu feyned him to worship Baall, more then A∣chab did. And bi this feining he ga∣drid togider al prophetis & priestis & seruāts of Baal, in y^• tēple of Bal & killed hē al: And casted out of y^e tē∣ple of Baal: his Image, & brent it &

drofe yt into duste. And dystryed the house of Baal: & made gongis for it. And so Hieu dyd aweye Baal fro Israell. Nethelesse Hieu yede not a weye fro the synnys of Ieroboam: neyther forsoke gold•…•…n calues that werē in Bethel and Dā▪ But for Hi∣eu dyde thys vengeaunce ayens the house of Achab: God saide, that hys sonnes to the. iiii. generacyon shulen syt on y^• tron of Israel. Than Atha∣lia the mother of Ocosias: whan hir sonne was deade, kylede al the blude of the kyng, & reygned. vi. yere. But Ioas the sun of Ocosias kynge was kept preuili. vi. yere in y^• tēple of god & in y^• vii. yere he was made king by help of Ioiada y^e greate priest, & A∣thalia was slaine. Therfore Ioiada made a bōde of peace betwix God & the kynge & the puple: that it shulde be the puple of God. And the puple distried the auters of Baal, and alto∣brake his Imagis: & kylliden Ma∣than

the prieste of Baall bifore the auter. This Ioas began to reygne whan he was vii. yere olde: and he reignyd. xl. yere in Ierusalem, and dyd rightfulnes bifore God in al the dayes, in whych Ioiada the prieste taught hym. And Ioas bade prie∣stis take all the money that was of∣fered for price of soulis and by free wyll: to make reparatiō of the tem∣ple. And for priestis weren necligent in thys reparation: Ioas the Kyng bade priestis yelde this money to re∣paration, & take it no more. And the chaūceller of the Kyng & the Bishop Ioiada, heeldidē out of y^• arcke mo∣nei: & yauē it into y^e hōd of mastirs & workmē & thei spēdidē it wel in this office & necessari reparatiō: & maden no rekēing to souereins, but tretidē this monei in feith either good cōsci ēce. For as myche as Asaell Kynge of Sirie came wyth hys ooste, to warre ayens Ierusalē: Ioas kynge

of Iuda toke all thyngis whych fa∣thers haddē hale wed and which he had offred: & al the siluer that might be foundē in the treasouris of the tē∣ple of God, and in the paleise of the Kyng, & sent al to Asael kyng of Si∣rie, and he yede a wei fro Ierusalem. The seruaūtes of Ioas sworen to∣gidir, & kylliden hym: and Amasias hys sonne reignid for hym. Ioachas the sonne of Hieu reignid on Israel: and dyd iuill, as Ieroboam dyd. Therfore god bitoke Israel into the hōdis of Asael kyng of Sirie, and of Benadab his son al daies, that there were not lefte to Ioachas of all the puple of Israell, no but fiue hundrid horsmē, and te•…•… charis, and. x. M. of fotemen. Than Ioachas bisought God: and he yafe a sanioure to Isra ell, and Israel was deliuerid fro the honde of the kyng of Sirie. Thā E∣lise felde into great siknes: by which he was deade. And whā Ioas kyng

of Israell came to hym and wepte: Elise bade hym bryng a bowe and arrowis, and bade him set his hond on the bowe. And Elise set his hon∣dis on the kyngis hōdis: & bade him shote oute at the easte window ope∣nid. And Elise seyd. Thys is the ar∣row of Gods helpe ayens Sirie in Apheth, til thou waste it. Efte Elise bade Ioas smyte the earth wyth a dart. And whā he had sinyttē thries and styntid: Elise was wroth ayens hym, and seyd. If thou haddist smit∣ten. v. sythis, or. vi. sythis or. vii. si∣this: y^u shuldist haue smittē Siri til∣to the endynge. But no we thou shalt sinyte it thryes. Elise dyed and was biried. And whan a dead body was byryed in the sepulchre of Elise: the man liued ayen and stod on hys fete. Amasias kyng of Iuda reignid. ix. yere: and dyd ryghtfulnes in partie, but not as Dauid. He killyd ten. M. men of Edom: and for pryde therof,

he terrid the kyng of Israel to war. And Amasias was ouercommen in this batteile, and the kyng of Israel toke him prisoner, & brake the walle of Ierusalem by. iiii. C. cubitis. And the kyng of Israel toke aweye al the gold & siluer, & all the vesseles that weren founden in gods house: and in the tresouris of the king, and toke pledgis and turnyd ayene into Samarie. At the laste the men of A∣masias conspiriden ayens hym: and he fled into Lachis, and they senten thydur and kylliden hym there, and biriden him in Ierusalem with his fathers. And Asarie his son reignyd for hym in Ierusalem. L. yere. He dyd ryghtfulnes in partie: as Ama∣sias hys fathir dyd, and God smote hym wyth lepre, tyll into the daye of hys death. And Ioathas hys sonne gouernid the paleis: and demid the Puple of the Londe. And euer the Kyngis of Israell dyden iuyll: and

yeden in the synnis of Ieroboam. And in the dayes of Manaheu kyng of Israell: Phull the Kyng of Assiri∣ens, toke greate try bute of hym, to make Manaheu strōg in the rewm. And in the dayes of Phace Kyng of Israell, that dyd iuill in Gods sight: came Teglathfalasar Kynge of As∣sur, & toke many placis in the londe of Israell. And he toke Galaad, and Galile and al the lond of Neptalim: and translatid hem into Assiriens. Aftir that Achaz reignyd on Iuda xvi. yere, in Ierusalem, and yede in the weyes of Kyngis of Israel: and dyd foule Idolatrie. And after these thyngis Osee the Kynge of Israell reygned. ix. yere and did iuill: but not as the kingis of Israell that weren bifore hym.

And thys Osee was made tri∣butarye to Salmanasar Kynge of Assyryens. And whanne thys O∣see woulde be Rebell and paye not

tribute to Salmanasar: he bisegi•…•… Osee and prisoned hym, and bysegid Samarie thre yere and toke it in the nynth yere of Osee, & translatyd Is∣raell into Assiriens. Than the scrip∣ture rehersyth many great synnis of the puple of Israel: for whych they weren conquerid and driuen oute of here londe. Than the kyng of Assiri∣ens brought puple fro Babilō, and fro many other heathen cōtreis, and settid hem in the cities of Samarie: for the chyldren of Israell. And for thys puple dred not God: he sent in∣to hem Lions that kylliden hem. Therfore the kyng of Assiriens sent thydir oo prieste of Israell: to teach hem the lawe of God of Israell: and so they worshypyden Godde of Israel, and here heathē Gods (▪togidyr▪)