A Hyve Fvll of Hunnye :: :: University of Virginia Library

This shewes of Lots Captiuity:
And eke of Abrams victory:
By whose successe it came to passe
His Brother Lot, deliu'red was:
Melchisedech with Giftes also
VVyth Abram meeteth as they goe:
And blesseth Abram in the way,
To whom Abram, his Tythes doth paye.

1

It chaunced then within a while,
in dayes of Nelams kynge,
Whose name Rederlaomer hyghte,
who wyth hym then did brynge

2

Three Princes great with puysant power,
which came his parte to take,
Agaynst fiue other Kynges to fight,
his quarell good to make.

3

The first of three was Amraphell
the kyng of Synear,
The secōd king was Arioch.
the Kinge of Elazar:

4

The thirde the kynge of Nacions was.
and Tidnall was his name,
These foure did marche in battell raye,
by Armes to trye the same.

5

Gaynste Beta, Kinge, of Sodome Soyle
and Byrza of Gomora,
Semeaber of Zeboim,
and Shineah of Adma:

6

The fifth, the Kinge of Bela was,
which Bela now we saye.

Zoar to bee, where after Lot
desir'de from plague to staye.

7

All those in Armes to gether met,
where salt Sea nowe is founde,
That then the vale of Shibden was,
where slime pittes did abounde.

8

The cause of strife, and bloudy Warres
betweene these Kinges that fell,
Was that these last recited Kinges,
conspiringe did rebell.

9

For, twelue Yeares space they subiecte were,
and did their Tribute paye:
The thirteenth Yeare, reuolted they,
and did the same denaye,
And in the next Yeare followinge,
began the bloudy Fraye.

10

And or they met in Shibden vale,
I tolde you erst before,
Rederlaomer with his Power,
destroyd the Countrey sore.

11

And smote with Sworde the Raphaims,
which mighty Giauntes bee:
Who gaue them selues to filtch, and steale,
and liu'de by Robbery.

12

Hee smote the Susims, and Emims,
the Horites eke, also
Th' Amalechites, the Amorites,
and many Countreys moe.

13

When Bera, and king Birza heard
what mischiefe they had done,
Howe Townes, and Citties were destroyed,
and slaughter great begonne:

14

Then marched they to Shibden vale,
with all the power they might,

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Did guide their Army in such sorte,
as redy were to fight

15

With them the Kinge Semeaber,
and Shineabe also:
And Belas Kinge forth went as one
to geue the ouerthrowe,

16

Against these fiue the other fower,
their Battailes dyd empale,
They all in fight together ioyn'de
alonge in Shibden vale.

17

It so beefell the Sodome Kinge
and Gomors Kinge likewise
For feare did flee, and sawe their power
fall downe before their Eyes.

18

And such as yet were left behinde,
made speede to scape awaie:
And to the Mountaynes fledde for life:
forgettinge Battell Raie.

19

Redelaomer and his power,
which now the better had
With Sodoms, and Gomorrans goods,
went thence away right glad:

20

And Lot likewise, with them they tooke,
Which did at Sodome dwell:
Of all the goods hee then possest,
they left him nere a dele.

21

And one of them which had escap'te,
to Abram ranne apase:
And toulde hym all: & how that Lot
to them nowe Captiue was.

22

Abram with Mamre brother then
of Escoll and Aner,
Together these in perfect league
confederated were.

23

Uppon this newes prepar'd themselues,
and Abram forth him spedde,
And Harnised his Yongmen freshe,
borne in his house, and bredde,

24

Three hundred, and eightene were they,
and euery one a man
They all pursude the Ennemy,
vntil they came to Dan.

25

And Abram there vpon them set,
hee, and his men by Night:
And smote them, and pursued them
to Hoba in their flight.

26

And there recouered all the goods,
and brought thence backe agayne:
His Brother Lot, and People all,
that then were left vnslayne.

27

When after hee returned had,
from slaughter of the Kinge
Rederlaomer, and the rest
of Kinges, that hee did bringe:

28

There mette him in the Ualley playne,
which Kynges Dale is to name,
Kinge Bera, Kinge of Sodome Lande,
and halste him in the same.

29

Melchisedech of Salem Kinge,
came also forth in fine,
Him to salute with Presente meete,
and brought forth Breade, and Wine.

30

Hee was the Priest to God of Gods,
in perfecte doctrine staid,
And by the holy sprite of God,
hee Abram blest, and sayd,

31

Blest bee thou Abram euermore,
of God the Lorde on hye,

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Possessor both of Heauen and Earth,
and all that liues thereby.

32

And blessed bee the God most high,
the God of Sea, and Lande,
Which hath thy Foes deliuered,
by might into thy hande.

33

And then the Kinge of Sodome sayd
to Abram in this wise,
Geue me the Soules, and take the Goods:
as please thee them deuise.

34

Abram to him thus aunswered,
I haue lifte vp my hande
To God, that owes both Heauen and Earth,
before whose Face I stande.

35

I will not take of that is thine,
whateuer that it bee,
So much as is a little Threed,
or Lachet shooe from thee:

36

Least thou perhaps, hereafter say,
Abram is rich by mee,
Saue onely that which eaten is
by these Yongmen you see:

37

And eke the partes I do except
of those with me that wente,
Aner, Escoll, and Mamre eke,
their partes shall them content.