An abridgeme[n]t of all the canonical books of the olde Testament written in Sternholds meter by VV. Samuel minister. The names of the books are in the next leaf following.

The first Chapiter.

A Man two wiues had wedded tho, the one no children had: She had suche wo she praid to God, who sent to her a lad. Elkanah was her husbands name, and Hannah was shée hight: And Samuel did shée call her sonne whom shée to God had plight.

The ii. chapiter.

BEgin did Hannah for to sing, and sang a goodly song: The sonnes of Ely were vnthrift{is} and did the people wrong. Ely them did rebukte but small, for whiche God did him chide: He sent a man to tel him plain his house should be destroyd.

The iii. chapiter.

COnsumde was Elies sight away, and as he lay and slept:

Samuel thrise the Lord did call, who vnto Ely s••ept. •• call thée not it is the Lord, doo thou to him obay: And so hée did, and Ely knew, on him what God did say.

The iiii. chapiter.

DOughtely fought the Israelites yet were they put to flight: The Philistian hoste twise bet thē down and took their Ark by might. The sonnes of Ely they were kild, whiche when their father hard: He fel out of his seat for wo, and burst his neck backward.

The v. chapiter.

EArly arose the Asdodits, their Dagon for to sée▪ The Ark of God twise thrue him down, and bated his degrée. Stricken they were with Emerodes the Ark made them ful wo: From whence it came they did decrée, thither to let it go.

The vj. chapiter.

FUlly and whole they did consent, that home the Ark should wend: With mise and arses made of golde, so home they did it send Two kine new milche did cary it the right way home they went The Bethsanites they it receiude, for whiche they were all shent.

The vii. chapiter.

GOD willed Israel that they should, their Idols quite destroy: By Samuels mouth and they confest their sinnes to him on hie. They willed Samuel for to pray, the enemies they did fear: They were destroyd & fought no more the space of many a yéer.

The viii. chapiter.

HOw Samuels sonnes did wickedly the people did it ming: And not content of Samuel, they did desire a king. He them denide and axt the Lord who did to them consent: And bad him tel what he would doo, when he one to them sent.

The ix. chapiter.

IT came to passe that Saule Cis sonne, his Asses went to finde: The Sear fondée he did inquire, who tolde him all his minde. Thy Asses they are found, and thou the Israelites must guide: He feasted him and on the morn, he took him sole on side.

The x. chapiter.

KIsse did Samuel and anoint, then Saul to be their King: And told him things which came to passe as he afore did ming. ••o Prophecy he did and tolde, his vnckle halfe his hap: The lot did fall to Saule as King, And vnthrift{is} grudgd therat.

The xi. chapiter.

LAy siege to Iabes Nahas did, whiche was an Ammonite: They did submit he sent them woord, their eyes to thrust out quite. Then seuen dayes respite they did take then ayd lesse they would yéeld.

So Saule did win the peoples hart{is} in winning of the féeld.

The xii. chapiter.

MArk my woords said Samuel then, your willes I haue obayed: If I did wrong or taken bribe, it shall again be paide. How God had doon in time afore, and would doo he them tolde: With thunder and raine he feard all, and sharply them controlde.

The xiii. Chapiter.

NOw Saule being king, he got him men against his foes to fight: And when the hoste drue néer to Saule, he did that was not right. He offended God in dooing the thing that Samuel should haue doon, A Smith to make them tooles to fight, in Israel had they none.

The xiiii. chapiter.

OUer with one then Ionathas went his signe was true they fled When Saule it knew with all his men, he folowd vpon the dead.

If any did eat ere night were come then die he should said Saule: Ionathas eat and should haue dide, the hoste denide it all.

The xv. chapiter.

POinted was Saule of Gods owne, mouth the Amalakites to kil: He disobayd the almightie Lord, and folowd his foolishe wil. Then Samuel shewd him how that God, was sory he made him king: Obedience more he looks to haue, then any burnt offering.

¶Halfe Samuels first book ye haue had, some say the first of Kings: VVherin is shewd the meruaylous woorks, of God in his dooings. Of Dauids calling to be King, Samuel did him noint: It shalbe shewd you afterward, the Chapters shall it point.