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Metrical Old Testament

I, II, III, IV.

[Volumes I, II, III, IV.]

A Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament

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[Volumes I, II, III, IV.]

[I]

A Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament
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(MS. Selden Supra 52.)

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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

[Genesis incepit.]

1

God fader in heuyn of myghtes most
That mad this mold and all man kynd,
The sun þat sendes vs throwth to tast
wesdom and welth and wytt at wyn,
The grace of the holy gast
In whom all gudnes behoues to be gyn
Thrugh mediacy of mary chast
That helpes to safe vus of our syn,
Swylke myȝt vnto me send
thys boke ryȝt to aray,
Begynnyng, myddes, and end,
that yt be to goddes pay.

2

This buke is of grett degre,
Os all wettys that ben wyse,
ffor of the bybyll sall yt be
the poyntes that ar mad most in price,
Als maysters of dyuinite
and on, the maystur of storyse,
ffor sympyll men soyn forto se,
settes yt þus in this schort assyse;
And in moyr schort maner
is my mynd forto make yt,
That men may lyghtly leyre
to tell and vnder take yt.

3

This boke that is the bybyll cald,
and all that owtt of yt is drawn,
ffor holy wrytt we sall yt hald
and honour yt euer os our awn;
All patriarkes and prophettes yt told,
so [e]uer þer saynges sekerly ar knawn,
And all wer fygurs fayr to fald
how coymmyng of crist myȝt be kawn.
God graunt vs crist to knaw
All our form faders crauyd
And so to lere is law
that our sawlis may be sauyd.

4

In this begynnyng god vus wysch
well for werke with wyll and toyȝt.
In this boke that [is] cald genesis
ther may men see the soth vnsogh
how god, that beldes in endlese blyse,
all only with hys word hath wrogh
heuyn on heght for hym and hys,
this erth and all that euer is oght.
This erth was wyde and wast
and no gud on yt grouyd;
On the heght the holi gast
Abown the waters mouyd.

5

hell he mad marke thrugh hys myȝt
So that no medcyn mend yt may;
God bad that in the heuyns on hyght
Suld be mad lyght for [euer and] ay,
And þer in mad he angels bryght
to serue hym self euermoyr to pay.
The merknes namyd he to be nyȝt,
And the lyghtnes to be day.
O[f] angels on was schefe,
And hys name lucyfer,
Vnto his lord most lefe,
in ynglysch “lyȝt beyrer”.

6

And for he was so fayr that tyd,
Angels in hest [sone can] he hent,
And sayd he suld be glorefyd
lyke to hym that hys lyfe had lent.
Then in this blyse myȝt he not byd
bott hastely to hell he wentt,
ffor syn in heuyn is non hyde.
All dyd the same of hys assent;
The tend ordyr of angell
Thurgh prid, os kend our clerkes,
Vnto fowle fendes fell.
þer wer the fyrst day werkes.

7

When god that semly syȝt con see,
hym toyȝt yt well withoutyn were.
A firmament then bad he be
To part the waters in sonder seyre.
The watur a bown þan ordand he
To wend abowt with wyndes clere,
That oþer by neth in law degre
To moyst the erth in his manere.
The firmament namyd he heuyn,
To lend lastand for ay.
Ther ys no moyr to neuyn.
So sessyd the secund day.

8

The waters that wer on erth ordand
god hath them geddyrd all in a sted,
And the sted that thei suld in stand
ys callyd the se by ryghwyse rede;
And the dry erth namyd he the land,
he bad that yt suld spryng and sprede
herbys and treyse with wod and wand
And sed to saw when thei wer dede,
So that new suld vp spryng
There sted for to restoyre
And flours and frutt furth bryng.
The thryd endyd þore.

9

God ordand then grett lyghtys two
T[o] moy[u] apon the firmament
To parte the days the nyghtys fro,
and ȝer fro ȝer be sesons sent,
The moyr be for the day to go
And the lesse to the nyȝt at attent.
The sun and the moyn namyd he them,
By them on erthe the lyȝt is lent.
Sternys on heuyn he sett
with bemys schynand for bryght
By certan mesurs mett.
Thus was the faurt day dyght.

10

God bad that in the see suld brede
dyuerse fysches to flett with fyn,
And of them selfe thei sall haue sede
All way to wax waters with in;
And fowls he ordand fayr forto fede
with wynges and wynd ther way to wynd,
By erth and ayer þer lyfes to lede
And same won withoutyn fynd.
he blessyd þos werkes fayr
That they n[o] myrth suld myse,
Bot fyll both watur and ayer.
The fyft day werke was this.

11

Then bad god þer suld bestes bee
on dyuerse kynd os thei ar kend
On ylka syd in seyre cuntre,
And wormes on the wome to wende.
Then sayd he to hym self, “make we
A man that may bestes mys Amend,
ffor haue power and pauste
on bestes and fowls withoutyn end.
And that man wyll we geyse
Aftur our awn ymage ay
And like to our awn liknes.”
So was don the sext day.

12

God toght the consell was not clere
A man alon hys lyf to led;
Som oþer suld be vnto hym nere
hym forto helpe yf he had nede.
Owt of hys syde hee sonderd seyre
A crokyd rybe, os clerkes can rede,
And þer of formyd he hym a fere,
A female, frutt furth to bred.
he gafe them power playn
Abuf All erthly thynge,
with all gudes that myȝt gayn
Tyll thei breke hys bydyng.

13

God gaf man fre wyll to be wyse,
And in certan he sett hys name;
Then plantyd he erthly paradyse
And [in] that place he putt Adam.
he fyllyd yt full of all delyce
And made hym suferan of the same,
wyls he wold wone withoutyn vyce,
þer forto byd withoutyn blame.
Ther wer all erbys and tress
with flours and frutt gud woyn;
God bad Adam go chese,
and ette of all bot on.

14

In myddes of paradyse yt stud
with frut [so] fayr to fede and fyll;
Who of that frutt myȝt fang þer fude
suld clerly knaw both gud and yll.
þerfor god wernyd hym for hys gud,
And bad hym lett that frutt be styll,
“yf þou yt ethe, with wordes wode
Soyn [þ]o[u] be wast owt of thy wyll.”
Of all oþer that ther wer
he gaf hym largely lefe,
That bad he hym for beyr
ffor dowt of moyr myschefe.

15

Bot then the fend, our fellyst foe,
That fallyn was not fer be fore,
ffor that werkyng he was full wo
That þo wyghys so worthy were;
within hym selfe persauyd he soe
That thei the same sted suld restore
That he and hys felows fell fro;
That mad hym mornyng mekyll more.
he toyght so suld not be,
þerfor in schort qwylle
he soyght vp sotelte
them both for to gyle.

16

he wyst full well withoutyn wene
how god had demyd in all degre.
As a serpent soyn was he sen,
with woman face full fayr and [free].
To Eue he sayd, “what may yt meyn
That ȝe tent noyȝt to this tree?”
Scho sayd, “that wold turne vs te tene;
God bad that we suld lett yt be”.
The fend sayd, “foyles the more,
by that skyll scornyd ar ȝe;
God wold not that ȝe wer
Alway so wyse os he”.

17

“This frutt may gyf wysdom and wytt,
Als godes so sall ȝe both be gyn”.
Scho saw that frutt so fayr and fytt,
And eth þer of this welth to wyn.
Scho bad Adam to ette of yt,
To bytt þeron he wold noȝt blyne.
hys boldnes and that balfull bytt
Cast hym in care and all hys kynd.
When thei this frutt had takyd,
qwerfor thei wer both blamyd,
Thei saw then thei wer nakyd,
ffull yll thei wer a schamyd.

18

With lefys þer priuates can thei hyd,
And playnly durst thei not apeyre.
God callyd on Adam in that tyd,
And he sayd, “lord, I hyd me heyre,
I hath so doyn, I der not byd.”
God askyd why and in what manere.
“lord, yf I wer yll ocupyd
yt was thrugh fandyng of my fere”.
God askyd why that schoe went
That forbeyd frutt for to fele.
Scho sayd, “lord, the serpent
gart me do ylka deyle.”

19

God told then vnto all thre
what thei suld feyle for þer forfeytt.
To the worme he sayd, “waryd þou be,
wend on thy wome ay erth forto eytte;
And, woman, frutt that comys on the
Sall be broyȝt furth with paynys grett;
And, Adam, for þou trowd not me,
wyn þou thy foyd with swynke and swett;
So sall all thyn of spryng
vnto the vttmast ende”.
To manys kynd com this thyng
Thrugh falssyng of the fend.

20

fro paradyse thei wer exilyd
withoutyn grace agayn to passe.
So went thei both os bestes wyld,
Thei cowd no louyng. bot alase,
Soyn Eue consauyd and bare a chyld,
Cayn, that sythyn so cursyd was
Be cause of Abell meke and myld
That he slow with a cheke of a nase;
ffor the offerand of abell
was accepte in goddes syȝt,
And Caymys went down to hell
and to god gaf noe lyȝt.

21

When Adam wyst withoutyn wer
This wekyd werk, he was full wo;
he morned euer and mad yll cher
ffor meke Abell was murtherd so.
Bot aftur that full mony A ȝer,
When he tyll Eue agan can go,
Then bare scho suns and doyghters sere,
The story says sexty and moe;
Then ylke on oþer toke
and lyfyd be law of kynd,
Als who so likes to loke
may seke And forther fynd.

22

Of caymys kynd come Tubulcan,
of metall mellyd he amang,
And diuerse thynges to helpe of man
ordand he both schort and lang.
hys brothyr Iuball he began
musyke, ose mynstralsy and sang.
The harpe by hym was ordand then
And oþer myrth qwer men suld gang.
Of Adam suns the thryd
hyght Seth, man myld of mode.
he wrott what dedes thei dyd
That last aftur the flode.

23

Of seth then com Matussile,
lyfyd he ix C sexty and ix ȝere,
Of hym com lameth, of hym noe
that vnto god wer gud and dere.
And Noe had suns fully thre,
Sem, cham, Jafeth in fere.
Then was the werld gone in degree
Thre Thowssand [ȝere] for neuen by nere.
No rayn on erth then fell
to gayr the gresse vp ryse,
Bot faur fludes of a well
that went from paradyce.

24

Then was no lernyng of no law;
Thei lyfyd in lust euyn at þer lyst.
þer creatur thei cowde noyȝt knaw,
The wenyd that non ther werkes wyst.
fforto greyfe god thei had non aw,
þerfor all myrthes son thei myst.
God spake to noye and sayd this saw,
“þou and thy chylder sall [be] blest;
All folke so fowll I fynd
coruppyd and soyllyd with syn;
Me rewthes I made man kynd
To wond thys werld with in.

25

“And sen I se them so myse gone
And in hert ha[ue] no mynd of me,
I sall dystroy them euery ylkon.
Ouer all this werld sall wax A see
So that on lyue sall lefe ryȝt none
Bot þou, þi wyf, thi suns thre,
And þair thre wyfes, ȝe aght alon
In land to lyf sall leuyd be.
Bestes and fowles in flygh
Non beys for ruth refusyd,
Or all to ded be dyght
ffor syn ȝe folke hath vsyd.”

26

“To make an erke of tymber strang
þou and þi meneȝe into abyd,
Thre hunderth cubbettes loke yt be lang,
And fyfty cubbeyttes it sall be wyd,
And thryty cubbeyttes the heght sall gang;
And sett a wyndow in the syde,
And cloyse yt well, elles dows þou wrang,
To turne the watur in ylka tyde.
And stages grett plenty
bus the make, mony and fayre,
Wher bestes and fowles may be,
of ylka kynd a payre.”

27

When all was wroygh in hys kynd wyse,
yt raynnyd, als then was goddes wyll,
ffaurty days be full asysse
And faurty nyghtys to tell þer tyll.
The watur ouer the werld can ryse,
ffyfty cubbeyttes ouer the heghest hyll;
yt drownyd the pepyll in all partyse
Bot VIII that in the arch wer styll.
Then monethes yt encressyd,
And in armynie that tyd,
When the watur sessyd,
the arch be gan to abyd.

28

And þerby Noe can vnderstand
That thei wer sett apon som playn.
A rayuen he sent furth to seke the land,
Bot that fowlle com not a gayn.
Then to A dowfe he hath commawnd
To seke hym sum thyng for certan.
An olyue branche full soyn he fand
and broyȝt to schep,—then wer thei fayn.
Soyne thei saw then drye
apeyr in dyuerse place.
To land thei hast in hye
And louyd god on hys grace.

29

The bestes in ther kyndes knew
Vnto what party thei suld repayre
To hold them hole of hyd and hew,
And fowles flow furth in the Ayre.
And noye suns then satt and sew,
And soyn the broyȝt furth frutt full fayre,
And so the werld then wex all new;
Thei multiplyd with mony an heyre.
God gafe a sygne to noye
Of the raynbow ryȝt þore,
That he suld neuer dystroye
the we[rl]d with watur moyre.

30

Noye was the fyrst that vynes sett
wyhc bare of grapes full grett plente.
Of them so sadly can he eytt
That of the wyn dronkyn was he;
he fell on slepe down on hys flett;
Caym com and scornyd hys preuyty,
his brethyr duly dyde þer dette
And hyd hym Agayn in god degree.
When Noye his werkyng wyst
he werryd hym for thi;
his brethyr both wer blest
Als þer werke was worthy.

31

The pepyll fast then multiplied
Tho thowssandes moe, or VI, or VII.
Thei fand a feld was lang and wyde,
And þor in hand thei ordand euyn
And began A grett towr in that tyd
wych thei sayd suld rech vnto heuen.
When god saw them sett so in prid,
he kast forto dystroy þer steuen.
Noyne wyst what oþer wald,
Bot euyn ose foylles thei foyn,
Wherfor that place is callyd
This day bablion.

32

Sythyn Noe persauyd by knawyng clere
That day was comyn that hym bod dy;
Then had he lyfyd in landes here
ix C wynters and als fyfty.
yf we suld say hys suns all sere
And then depart þer progenite
[þ]att lesson wer full long to leere.
þerfor we lefe them mor lyghtly
And neuen bot that nedes,
and euyn vnto vnderstand,
And þat most lely ledes
to lere our law in land.

33

Of seme come phaloge forþer þan,
And of phaloge come thare,
Abraham, Nacor, and Aran;
Thare suns wer all thos thre.
Of Aran com loth, þat lele man,
That honerd god in gud degree.
Vnto this pepyll god began
To multiplye and make them free.
Then wer þer systers Tway,
abram toke saray,
And Nacor toke melkala,
Thei wer ther wyfes worthay.

34

Ther was ay wunt to wun
In vrry, whar caldeis wonnand were.
Ther dyed Aran ȝongest son,
was loth fader, os we herd here.
And loth with abraham furth was fun
as with hys eme and man most nere.
Then thare so with yll was bown,
To lyf he myȝt not langer here.
he died when he was old
Twa hunderth ȝer, men wott.
Then is her no ferthermer told
Bot of Abram and loth.

35

God spake to abraham for his sped,
“On this fold may þou not be fune,
Bot take thy wyfe and with the lede,
I sall the wysch wher þou sall wune
To haue enogh and neuer nede,
with loth also thi brothyr sune.
þor sall I multiplye thi sed
And helpe the os I hath be gune.”
To the land of Canan
so sent he furth þos thre.
God sayd to abraham then,
“This land gyf i to the.”

36

Abraham and loth can same dwell
with mekyll myrth full mony a ȝere;
Thei wex so rych that þer catell
Couerd the cuntre fer and nere.
Then mad thei counand them a mell
That the suld make ther wonnyng sere,
ffor grett debatt that oft fell
Amang them that ther hyrdmen were.
Abraham wonnyd styll at home
wher god had byddyn hym come,
And loth wentt to sodome,
A cyte be syd the flume.

37

Sodome was A grett cety,
gommer an oþer nere ther by,
And next them was þer oþer thre,
The wych wer fyllyd with syn fouly.
Thei drede not god in no degre,
Bot lyfyd in lust and lechere—
And þat thei schewyd in syȝt to see—
And agaynst kynd most on cumly.
ffoule is to declare
how þer werkyns was.
No syb ne spoussyd þai spare,
ne nowther lad ne las.

38

long aftur that this grett warre con spryng
Amang kynges of that cuntre.
ffor god sayd thei sall sese for no thyng,
Or tho V cytes conquerd be.
Baram was of sodam kyng,
And gomer also gouernd he.
When he herd tell of this tythyng,
he semyld pepyll full grett plente,
Agayns his enmys to go
with schott, scheld, and spere;
And loth was on of þo,
A full wysman of were.

39

Sone wer þai semyld ylkon
And bett on fast with burnyscht brandes.
The sodomites wer soyn sloyn;
The myȝt not flee, thei lefyd þer landes.
And in that batell loth was tane
And holdyn in hys enmys handes.
Abraham, hys eme, was wyll of wone
when he herd tell [of] þos tythandes.
he wold not byd ne blyne,
Bott went with power playne,
And rescuyd hys cosyn,
And broyȝt hym home agayn.

40

Thus sauyd he all thies folkes in fere
That presond war and putt to pyn.
Melchesedeke when he can here
how abraham had sauyd hys cosyn,
Agayns hym wentt he with gud chere,
And present hym with bred and wyne.
he sayd, “I wott withoutyn were
God is thy frend full fast and fyne.”
he was both prest and kyng,
And keper of the lay;
he wyst well that this thyng
was gretly god to pay.

41

The thryd day abraham was comyn hame
To se his seruandes old and yonge.
God come to hym and callyd by name
Abraham, “I thanke the of this thyng;
Als I desyrre, þou doys the same;
þerfor thi frutt sall spred and spryng.
þou sall haue welth of wyld and tame
And myght without more mournyng.”
he sayd, “what myrt emong
[haue I] of tame and wyld,
fforto lyfe her þus lang
And dye withoutyn chyld?”

42

God kend hym comforth in that tyd;
ffurth of hys hows he can hym lede,
And bad hym see on ylka syde
Ouer all the land in lengh and brede.
“All sall be thyne and with the abyd
And to thyn heyrs ay furth to fede.
Ose grauell in the se is multyplyd,
So sall I multiplye thi sede.
Who so may tell be tale
the stern Apon heuyn,
Als essely thei sall
thi sed nowmer and neuyn.”

43

Abraham was all merueld then
That euer hys sede suld sogattes ȝelde
By cause that his wyfe was baran,
And thei wer both in grett eld.
The wyf wroyȝt ose a gud woman
To geyt a barne to be þer beld;
hyr seruant preuely scho wan
tyl abraham at hys wyll to weld.
þerfor so yt be fell:
scho beldyd by hym all nyȝt
And consauyd ysmaell,
that afterward was full wyght.

44

When Agar wyst scho was with chyld,
hyr hert in pride be gane to ryse;
hyr maystrys that was meke and myld
In all hyr dedes scho can dyspyse.
Then sarai wyst scho was be gylyd,
Bot euer scho wrogh os woman wyse.
hyr and hyr barn both can scho bylde,
And prayd euer god for bettur gyse
To send them sum ryȝt ayre
That myȝt ther welthes weld.
Bot scho was in dyspayr
any barn to beyre for eld.

45

Aftur qwen abraham was old
A C wynters, then wex he tame,
And in that tyme god to hym told
Wher he wonnyd in his hows at hame,
“To haue A son þou sall be bold,
And ysac sall be his name;
he sall haue frutt full mony fold.”
Abraham toke tent and trowd that same.
God commaund in þat tyd
that abraham and all his
Suld all be circumcisyd,
so to amend þer mys.

46

So dyd thei sone and hyght in hy
The law of god hertly to hold.
ffor abraham it is sayd schortly
That abraham then he suld be cald,
And hys wyf, that hygh sarai,
ffull sare suld hyr name be tald.
Ther kynredyn and þer cumpany
wer circumsysed so ȝong and old.
ffor Abraham trowd þat thyng,
ose clerkes declare it can;
The trowth and the begynnyng
of our fayth þer be gane.

47

ffell aftur long apon a day
Abraham was tyllyd vnder A tre
In hy seson hym to play
By syd A hyll that heght Mambre.
Thre chylder com þor in the way
als comly ose euer men myȝt see,
[And] cled in honest wed wer þai,
All semand on eld to be,
ffor thei wer fayr to syȝt;
he helsyd them os hende,
And herberd them all nyȝt,
And askyd whedder þei wende.

48

Vnto hym answerd on of þai
And sayd, “we ar goddes messynger;
I am sent [vn]to sara,
Scho sall haue A son this same ȝere,
And to morn wendes my felows twa
To do goddes bedyng, both in fere;
To sodom and Gomor þei go
To synke them down for syns sere.”
Tokyn of the trinite
to abraham þer was tone.
All yf he saw ther thre,
All he honerde os one.

49

Abraham had care then for hys kyne
And for hys frendes þat ill suld fare.
he prayd god for to abyd and blyn
And gud folke for the yll to spare.
God sayd þer was non gud þer in
Bot loth and þo that with hym ware;
And fro that wo well suld thei wyn.
So was he comforth of his care.
Tway chylder wentt at morn
to sodom the gaynyst gate.
Thei fand loth them be forne
When thei enterd the ȝatte.

50

Vnto hys hows with them he hyed
And ordand mett for them and mo.
Hys ennemys com on ylka syd
And bad furth þo chylder two.
Hys doyghturs proferd he that tyd,
Bot thei sayd nay, thei wold non of þo.
Then vnto god he cald and cryde
þos byttur folkes to scheld hym fro.
God mad them blynd to be
So that thei toke no tent,
Tyll loth with hys meneȝe
And þo chylder wer went.

51

When loth was passyd the Cyte playn
with hys wyfe and two doghturs dere,
God bad their suld not go agayn,
ne of that fayr forther inquere.
þos cytes sanke þer certan,
And the sownd was herd, a hydwyse bere.
The wyf then wyst hyr frendes wer slayn
And lokyd agayn with sympyll chere.
ffor scho dyd that owtrage
That god bad dame do neuer,
Scho wurthyd to an ymag
of salt and sall be euere.

52

When loth saw how scho was dyȝt
þer styll to stand in a salt stone,
To a hyll syd, that sogor hyȝt,
hys way full wysly he hath tane.
þor dwellyd thei fere from all men syȝt,
ffor cyty neyr them was none.
The wemen wenyd no werly wyȝt
wer leuyd on lyfe bot them allon.
þerfor, or euer the syne
þe werld to fulfyll,
Thei gafe ther fadyr wyne
and made hym slepe full styll.

53

The eldyr systur by hym lay,
The werld to maynten at hyr myȝt.
he delt with hyr or yt was day,
And gatt A son that sythyn moab hyght.
The ȝonger systur then wold asay
To fob hyr fader a noder nyght.
Scho consauyd by þer preuay play
A man that semly was to syȝt.
loth leue we her at home
In wastes that wer wyld
And tell of abraham
and of ysaac that was hys chyld.

54

Thei wentt wher thei had wonnyd be forne,
And in grett lykkyng can the lend.
Sara was mery euyn and morne,
fforto be comford well scho kend.
Bott aftur, when hyr sone was borne,
Then was hyr myrth mekyll amend.
ffor Agar that was wontt hyr to scorn
þan had no fors hyr to defend.
Sara, þat worthy wyue,
when ysac myȝt oght mell,
Agar owt can scho dryfe
with hyr sun ysmaell.

55

To flee then was scho ferly fayn;
with saray durst scho not be sene.
In wyldernes scho wonnyd with payn,
Cared from all comforth clene.
An angell gart hyr turn agayn,
And bad that scho suld bowsom bene.
And abraham dyd all hys mayn
And mad Acord them two be twene.
To gedder then thei dwell
In feleschep full fayre;
Grett myrth thei mad them a mell
ffor ysaac theyr ayre.

56

Sythyn god hys seruand wold asay
yf he to hym bowsom wold be.
hee spake to abraham on A day
and sayd, “thi sadnes wyll I se;
Take thi sun that þou lufes well ay
and make hym sacrafyce to mee.
In wyldernes by syde the way
A certan hyll schew sall I the.
An awter þer on þou rays
and offer hym me vntyll.”
Abraham heyrs how he says
and grauntt yt with full gud wyll.

57

Abraham vnto hys son beheld,
A bold man both in bone and lyre.
he wenyd that he suld haue beyn hys beld
when he was old and weke o swyre;
Bot vnto god he can hym ȝeld,
ay redy to do hys desyre.
hys asse he fand furth in the feld
And chargeyd hym with wud and fyre.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
So went thei furth in fere,
qwer god bad thei suld goe.

58

ysaac saw in hys fader hand
a sword and askyd hym what yt ment.
he sayd, “sun, we sall make offerand
To god; so hath hym selfe a sent.”
“ffader”, he says, “fyr soyne we fand,
bott wher ar bestes that suld be brentt?”
he says, “sun, þat god hath ordand,
ffor to hys frendes ay takes he tent.”
So wentt þei furth þer ways;
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Os god wold deme þei dyd.

59

when abbraham was werre of the hyll,
qwych god to hym had told be fore,
The wud he tok hys sun vntyll
And bad hym beyre to thei come þore
hys fader forwerd to fulfyll.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
was he wyse, os god wold yt were.
Apon that hyll on heght,
os god hym self had sayd,
An Auter þer on thei dyght
and wud and fyre on layd.

60

When the fyre was brynnand bryȝt,
þan Abraham vnto god con see,
And to hys sun thus sayd he ryȝt,
“Sun, I sall make offerand of the.”
Ysaac sayd with semland lyght,
“ffader, os god wyll, be houeyse yt to be.
what hest to hym that ȝe hath heght
leffe yt noȝt for luf of me.”
hys sword in hand he hent
So forto make offerand,
Bot god his angell sent
ffrom heuyn and held his hand.

61

hys sun he suld ha[ve] sacrifysyd,
Bot then he wyst god wold yt not.
A wedder he saw hym be syd
That god had sent hym all vnsoght.
þerof he made offerand that tyd,
And when thei had þer wrschyp wroyght,
hom agayn hely thei hyed
And thankes god with wyll and toyght.
Soyne aftur sara was dede
and put vnto sepulcure.
Abraham toke in hyr sted
A wyf that heght Sethure.

62

Scho was woman wynsom to weld,
Non heynder haldyn vnder heuyn,
And wyls scho bode vnder hys beld,
scho bayr hym sonys seuyn.
Aftur when ysac wex on eld,
A stalworthy man of state and steuyn,
hys fader, for hys sed suld ȝeld,
A gu[d] wyfe to hym can he neuyn:
Rebecca, A damisell—
hyr fa[yr]er is not fon—
The doyghtur of batuell;
Nacor is his brothur son.

63

ffull sun he sent his chefe seruant
ffor this mareyg to make yt clere.
he wentt hym furth, and soyn he fand
The maydyn at a well þor nere.
hee told hyr fader of this tythand
ffro Abraham, his eme full dere,
how his son suld be hyr husband.
þerfor þei wer full fayn in fere;
wyghtly þei wer acord.
the seruand soyn hyr lede
vnto abraham, hys lord,
and ysac with wyne hyr forto wede.

64

what worthed, qwen þei wedded were,
soyn aftur sall be told vus tyll.
Bot of abraham now lefe we heyre,
And all his story steke we styll.
When he had lyfyd A hunderth ȝere
and sexty and fyue to fulfyll,
Then dyed hee soyn with seknes sere
And went full well with goddes wyll.
Ay whyls he lyfyd in lede,
euer trew was his entent,
And þerfor his word and dede
mun euer moyr [be] on ment.

65

ysaac lelly led his lyue
in the law of god with gud entent.
And rebecca, his worthy wyfe,
consauyd two suns so god hir sent.
Be twyx them two be gan grett stryfe
with in hyr wom, or þei furth went,
qwer for hyr care was kene os knyfe.
scho askyd of god what yt ment.
he sayd, “þou sall furth bryng
two maners of pepyl expresse,
And the more in all thyng
sall serue vnto [the] lesse.”

66

And so yt was, os clerkes wott,
The lesse was mayster of the more:
ffor at þer byrth was grett debat
whedder of them suld go furth be fore.
Bot esau was mor strang of state,
And the fyrst sted he cane restore;
And Jacob þan wentt aftyr latt;
þer moyder was all marryd þore.
Esau, the alder chyld,
was all ouer hyllyd with here;
And Jacob was mor myld
and soft on body and bayre.

67

Isaac had both by est and west
mo catell then men myȝt neuyn by name.
his luf on Esaw he kast
And mad hym hyrd of wyld and tame.
he sett his hert on hym to rest,
for he suld be heyr of the same.
Bot rebecca lufyd Iacob best,
for he wonnyd ay at hame.
Als he satt vnder hir beld,
hys dyner was well grayd.
his brothyr com from the feld,
And of sum part he hym prayd.

68

Bot Iacob sayd he suld haue none,
oles then he wold to hym sell
hys heritage and thynges ylkon
that aftur hys fader vnto hym fell.
Then Esau wyst no bettur wone
but grauntt this connand þem a mell.
with honger so he was ouergone,
he tent non oþer tales to tell.
When ysaac was on eld
A hunderth ȝere, we fynd,
Then wex hee all vnweld,
and both his Eyne wer blynd.

69

H[e] callyd Esau, hys elder son,
and sayd, “I wold þou went in hye
Vnto the wud, os þou was wun,
and take with the thyn archerye
And fand to geytt me veneson,
for wyld flesch ette wold I.
Then sall þou haue my beneson
and my blessyng be for I dy.
“ffader”, he sayd, “full fayn”.
þer with he went his way.
The moyder with all hyr mayn
wyll mar hym and scho may.

70

ffor Iacob that was hyr yonger son
hath scho soght a sotell gyn:
“Thy brothyr is furth for venyson,
his fader blessyng forto wyn.
Go to the feld; ther sall þou f[on]
two fatt kyddes; bryng them or þou blyn,
And In hys wedes þou sall be wonn,
And so be blessyd or he com in.”
“Moder”, he sayd, “nay mare
þus to tell in this tyd.
My brothyr is hyllyd with hayre,
And I am soft of hyd.

71

All yf my fader be blynd in bed,
he wyll feyle that I be noȝt trew.
“Deyre son,” scho sayd, “be not Adrede;
my self þerfor sall schape and sew.”
In kyddes skyns hys handes scho hym cled
and mad a broth full gud and new.
“Goe fast at thy fader wer fede
and say þat þou is esau!”
he dyde als scho hym bad.
vnto ysaac hee wentt.
“ffader, be ȝe glad;
heyr is mett þat ȝe of ment.”

72

“A, sun,” he sayd, “well hath þou wroyȝt;
þi wysdom now hath þou wun.”
Bot by the voce ay well hym toght
yt was Iacob, his ȝonger sun.
he gropyd hym fast bot all for noyȝt,
be felyn was the falshed fun.
he ette of all that he had broȝt;
to blese hym then was he be gun.
he mad hym ouer all oþer
lord, both lowd and styll.
þus begylyd he his brothyr,
bot all was goddes wyll.

73

Esau veneson hath tone
and broyȝt his fader for his beld.
“Who is þou?” he askyd on one.
“ser, Esau, your eldyst chyld.”
“A, son”, he sayd, “her hath ben on
and brogh me flesch, full fayr and wyld.
I hath hym blest, and he is gone.”
the[n] wyst he well he was be gyld.
“Myn heritage he hath
and power ouer all oyder.
Now wott I well yt was
Iacob, thy ȝonger brothyr.”

74

Esau then with sore syghyng sayd,
“that ȝe ar blynd, I by with wo.
ffor now is the secund brayd
that he hath me dyssauyd so.
ffyrst for mett when I hym prayd,
myn heritage he toke me fro,
And now this tym hath me be trayd,
wyls ȝe bad me your arand go.
well was he namyd for thy
Iacob, for so he hyght
That wyll geytt with gyllery
that hee geyttes not with ryȝt.”

75

“bot fader,” he sayd, “I pray [now yow]
yf any blessyng be laft for me.”
“Son, I hath gyfyn to hys be hofe
wytt, wyn and oyle, all thre.
And in all maters that may moue
ouer all my howsha[l]d hed is he.
bot in the dew of heuyn Aboue
and in erth sall thi blessyng be.”
The fader fulfyllyd his toyȝt;
the son was fayn þerfor.
Thus all this werld was wroght,
euyn os god wold yt wer.

76

When Esau wyst this wytterly
how he hys heritag had lorne,
Vnto hys brothyr he had enuy
and grett malyce myde day and morn.
Rebecca send Iacob for thy
Into Aran, wher scho was borne,
And als scho wold, hee wentt in hye.
bot seyre ferlys he fand be forne.
Als he lay on a land,
slepand Abowtt mydnyght,
A stegh he saw vp stand
from erthe to heuyn on hyght.

77

That stegh began euuynly at his crown;
Vnto his syght yt semyd so
Als Angels wentt euyn vp and down
full mony tym both to and fro.
God told to hym in that seson
how that he suld wede wyfes two,
And how his generacion
ouer all the werld suld grathly go.
hee sayd, “for abraham sake
that was thi fader free,
whedder þou slepe or wake,
thy beld ay sall I be.”

78

Than Iacob of þer maters mels
and says he saw god in gud astate.
And in his tale þis furth he tels
and says, “by this werke well I watt
That in this sted is no thyng els
bot goddes awn howse and heuyn ȝate
And dredfull to them that heyr dwels,
bot yf þei flee fro all debate.”
A stone lay at his hede;
that rayssyd hee vp on end.
In a tokynyng yt leuyd
how god hys myrth þore mend.

79

So went he furth, and sone he fand
laban and his two doghturs dere.
ffor rachell was then his connand
forto be seruand VII ȝere.
And at the end, to vnderstand,
when rachell suld haue neghyd nere,
Then was lya by hym ligand:
no wounder yf he schawyd [no] chere.
Iacob was full euyll payd,
for he had noygh his awne.
Bot laban to hym sayd,
this custom þor was knawne:

80

The elder systur to sett be fore
in wrschype that to wemen fell.
A new forward the festyd þore:
oyder VII ȝere that he suld dwell
To be most maystur of þer store,
And then he suld resaue rachell.
And forto make hym myȝt more,
this connand mad thei a mell:
To haue yf þer fell any
bestes of colours sere.
Swylke mad Iacob mony.
how, that ȝe sall heyre.

81

When bellyng tym of bestes be gane,
os men by course of kynd may neuyn,
Vnto the wud he wendes then
and gat hym wandes mony and euyn.
The barke warly a way he wan
in sonder places, VI of seuen,
And sett them wher the bestes rane,
and so thrugh grace of god of heuen,
On the wandes ose thei lokyd
and toke to them reward,
Som bar blake and som brokyd,
sum skellyd and sum garde.

82

By the faurt ȝere were fully gone,
Iacob had catell grett plente.
he toke his wyfes and welth, gud on,
and karyd vnto his awn cuntre.
hys wyfes had seruandes, ayther on,
that seruyd them in seyre degree.
Iacob for spoushed sparyd none,
bot [made] them all berand to be,
So that he had hym self,
to rekyn old and ȝonge,
Of suns full semly XII;
of them grett sede myȝt spryng.

83

Sex of þe suns com of ly[a]:
Iudas, semeon and leui,
Iȝachar, Ȝabulon, ruben. all th[a]
[trewly] war born of hyr body
With a doghtur that heght dyna.
then this two seruandes had in hy
Dan, neptalyn, gad, asser, no ma;
so wer þei X to tell schortly.
When rachell can be gyn,
then bayr þat worthy wyfe
Ioseph and byniamyn;
with hym scho lyfyd hyr lyfe.

84

Iacob was noyed on a nyȝt
in his way os he wentt:
hee wrestyld with an angell brygh
that his on schank was all to schent.
þat angell com from heuyn on heght
and told vnto hym goddes entent.
I[s]raell was his name be ryght,
And Iacob suld no moyr be ment.
Wher for þus forther fell:
all his lyneyg lese and moyre
wer namyd chylder of israel
in werld heyr whyls thei woyre.

85

Now in this processe or we passe,
is gud the dedes forto dyscrye
Of the eldyst brothyr that hyght Iudas;
for on hym iones the genology.
his brothyr rewll he refusyd [has]
And karyd into chana[ny]
And [in] that land wed he was
with mekyll welth, os was worthy.
his wyf was fayr and free
and bayre of hyr body
Thre suns semly to see;
ther names heyr say sall I.

86

The fyrst hyght her, os I herd tell,
and onam was the name of an oþer.
Thei wer both fayr of flesch and fell.
and sela men callyd the toþer.
ffull mekyll myrth was them a mell,
for thei had mobles mony A fo[ther].
And forther mer so yt be fell
that wedd was the eldyst brothyr.
he was eldyst and heyre.
ther weddyd thei were,
he and a woman full fayr,
hyr nam[e] was thamar.

87

Moyr semly woman myght none see,
yf thei suld sech on yche syde.
Bot he was euyll in his degree;
þerfor he myȝt no langer abyd.
ffor wekydly then wastyd hee
the sed that suld be multiplyd.
þerfor god ordand hym to be
funden ded in that same tyde;
ffor he rewllyd hym not ryȝt,
als course of kynd wyll tell.
The fend on the fyrst nyȝt
had forse hym forto fell.

88

Then of this dole had Iudas dred
And sayd vnto his secund sun,
“Go þou, rayse vp thi broþer sed
ose men then in this werld was wun!”
Bot hee vnethly dyd his dett
euyn os his brothyr had be gun;
wherfor he seruyd the same mede.
Or yt was day, ded was he fun.
Then Iudas was full wrath
when this tene was be tyde,
And toght yt was grett wath
to wed hyr with the thryde.

89

And he was yong to tell þat tyd;
þerfor he hath consell tone:
he send hyr home—[yt is] nott to hyd—
to hyr fader, that scho was fro gone,
And bad that scho suld þor abyd
In wedohede with welth gud one.
And Iudas wyfe in þos days dyed;
the[n] was he wedow leuyd alone.
Seruandes semly to se
had his katell forto kepe,
ffor he had grett plente
of asses, nawtt and schepe.

90

When thamar herd thies tyghynges tell
that Iudas wyf was ded hym fra,
with hym then wer scho leuer to dwell
then with hys yongest sun sela.
Of this mater meuyd scho a mell
And watyd hyr tyme for to ta.
And forthermer yt so be fell
that with his seruand suld he ga
In clowes to clype his schepe,
Als custom was þen þore.
Than thamar tuke gud kepe
And ordand fast þerfor.

91

Hyr wedow wedes scho layd away,
and [gart] hi[r] face to schyn os glasse,
[and cl]ed hyr in full rych a ray;
ffor so scho trows to rape Iudas.
Scho sett hyr on A somerday
In the way wher he suld passe.
when he hyr say, soyn can he say,
“ffayr woman, all my hert þou hasse”.
his seruandes gart he go
be for furth on þer way,
And allon leuyd bot them two
to make them myrth and play.

92

Then his entent he hyr told vntyll;
That yt was thamar trowd he noyȝt.
“Woman, and þou wyll wyrke my wyll,
then sall I send the sone vnsoght
A fayr kyd lame to kepe or kyll.”
the woman answerd ose scho toght,
“Syr, I wyll haue, as yt is skyll,
A wede to byd tyll yt be broght.”
he sayd, “þat sall þou haue.”
he toke the be all of his herme
And also his walkyng stafe;
he kast both in hi[r] berme.

93

Then was scho bown what he wold byd,
ffor scho kepyd to haue helpe þerby.
And in that tyme so yt be tyd:
tway chylder bred in hyr body.
Then Iudas went and deuly dyd
hys schepe clyppyng withoutyn cry.
And scho wentt home and helyd and hyd
all this processe preuely.
Iudas a kyd then sent,
as he had heght certayn.
Bot the woman was went,
and the kyd broyȝt agayn.

94

Then Iudas was grettly agayst
And wroth, for his wedd was a way.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
When thre mo[neth]yse wer playnly past,
Then thamar feld full fell a fray:
hyr wome so wex that folke full fast
demyd of dede ylke day.
Sum sayd that scho was gylty
to god agayns þer law,
And sum sayd scho wer worthy
þerfor to hang and draw.

95

When Iudas herd how all þis wentt,
he was full wroth, we may warrand.
he bad scho suld be aftur sentt,
for all the dome hang in hys hand.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
To tell the sothe or take iugment
aftur the law of the land.
Than thamar was furth broyȝt,
as the law was then vsyd,
Bot so wysly scho wrogh
that scho was well excusyd.

96

Iudas then spake with word bold
And sayd, “the suth sall non man spare.
Thamar, the trewth bus heyr be told.
who is defawt of all þis fare?”
Then schewde scho furth his bee of gold,
and hys stafe had scho redy þer.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
Then Iudas knew all dele,
and þus he sayd in hye,
“by This werke now wott I uell
That scho is wyser then I,”

97

“And hyr ow for to beyr no blame.”
so was scho sauyd from scath and scorne.
And with wrschyp scho wund at hame
tyll tym hyr chylder suld be borne.
The meydwyf wyst and sayd the same
that scho suld haue twa men at morn.
The fyrst scho gafe Phares to name
by cause that come furth be forne;
The secund son furth ȝede
so like vnto his broþer
At the mydwyfe fest A thred
to knaw on fro the toþer.

98

When the secund past from his place,
thei namyd hym ȝaram, that þor werre.
The moyder, quen hyr was ouer past,
was ferly fayn that thei well farre.
Then holy wrytt schews how yt was
in genology of this charre,
And says þus, “Iudas gendyrd has
Phares and ȝamar of thamar.”
Then gatt þer Phares esrom.
thes processe leue we playne,
And tell how Iacob come
to his cuntre agayn.

99

When Iacob com to his cuntre,
of hys moyder dede herd he tell.
Ysac, his fader, myȝt no see;
for febylnes son seke he fell.
Ten of his suns then ordand hee
to kepe his catell þam omell,
And Ioseph and byniamyn to be
ay styll at hom with hym to dwell.
An Auter þer þei rayse
to make sacrafyce,
And honerd god all ways
with wrschyp on þer wyse.

100

Then Ioseph dremyd with goddes wyll
and says his brethyr how he beheld,
how thei and he vnder A hyll
geyddyrd scheffes fayr in the feld.
he sayd that hys schefe stod vp styll,
And XI vnto his can held.
his brethyr toke gud entent þer tyll
and toght that he wold wrschep weld.
he sayd, “sone and the mone
and oþer sternys eleuyn
war bown both morn and noyne
to honour [me] full euyn.”

101

The eleuyn had full grett hethyng
And sayd to hym, “be lyue, lett se:
What wold þou dreme of this dremyng?
hoppes þou to guferne grett degree,
Or þat þou sall ouer vs be kyng,
And we all suggettes vnto the?”
þan hatreyd in þer hertes thei hyng
And toght þat bargan suld not be.
Isac in hert can hyd
þer steuyns and held þem styll.
And what so suld be tyde,
he prayd god to wyrke his wyll.

102

Bott well he trowd in his entent
that dreme suld men of myghtes more.
hys brethyr of grett malys ment
And sayd that suld hym son ryȝt sore.
Sythyn on a day was Ioseph sent
to se hys brethyr and als þer store.
þai saw and sayd he suld be schentt
for talys that he had told be fore.
Bot his brothir ruben
held hym owt of þer handes
And sold hym to strang men,
And forto led into fer landes.

103

Then all þo ten hath tane to red
to feyn a falshed for þat fude,
To say he was etyn in A sted
with wyld bestes, os þei vnderstud.
And this to maynten with holhed
thei wett his coyte with kyddes blud.
When Iacob herd his sun was ded,
no wounder was þof he wer wude.
Of hym and all þat hepe
now lett we leue in hand,
And tell furth how Ioseph
was ledd furth into egype land.

104

Puthefar he can hym lede
to pharo, that þer was kyng.
That stewerd wyf for his fayrhed
can waytte Ioseph in bowr to bryng.
And for he wold not do in dede,
In downgyn depe scho dyd hym thryng.
And to hyr lord scho spake gud sped
that he suld hast hym for hyng.
Bot when he presond was,
two felows þer he fand
That wer for þer trespasse
haldyn full herd in band.

105

The kyng was with ther werkes wrath;
butler and baker þer namys [þei] call.
A pon a nyght þei dremyd bath
And told yt furth to grett and small.
And Ioseph rede ther dremys full rath
and sayd what son suld aftur fall:
The butler forto scape [all scathe],
and the baker to by for all.
So was the butler ryght
resauyd the kyng be forne;
The bakster, als he heght,
was hangyd at morne.

106

Sythyn dremyd the kyng An oþer nyȝt,
that mad hym meruell in his mode.
hym toght he saw A selcoth syght:
seuyn bestes [fatt com] from the f[lo]de,
And aftur them saw he ryght
seuyn bestes leyne for fawt of fude.
Bot the leyn ware moyr of myȝt
And stroyd the fatt euyn os thei stud.
his dreme he told [the clerkes]
to constru by clergy,
Bott non cowd wytt what werkes
that syght suld sygnyfye.

107

The butler spake then for his sped,
“lord, in your preson lyges in [b]end
A lele man of the ebrew lede;
Of this mater can he make end.”
Then was Ioseph tan forto rede
this consell, ose the butler kend.
he bad the kyng tent and take hede
how god suld in seuyn wyntur send
Of catell, corne plente,
all men to weld at wyll;
And oþer seuyn, sayd hee,
men suld for hu[n]gur spyll.

108

And when the kyng can vnderstand
þat swylke defawt suld aftur fall,
he mad hym stewerd of his land,
all men to come at his call.
Then in fyrst seuyn ȝere he ordand
And geydderd corne of grett and small,
Wher with the folke ther fud he fand
Whyls hungur was in werld ouer all.
hys kyn in canaan
for hungur was nere lorne.
his fader herd tell then
that in egyp was corne.

109

Ten of hys suns sent he [þer] þen
for corn yf þei þerby myȝt wyn.
To wen þei were full mere men,
Non leuyd at home bot byngemyn.
when Ioseph saw his brethyr ten,
he knew all comyn of a kyne.
Bot none of them cowd hym kene,
for hegh a state þat he was in.
he askyd them when þai come.
Ruben and noe noþer,
he sayd, “ser, we haue at home
our fader and our yongest brothyr.”

110

“That we were twelfe cownt we cane,
bot on was dede, drownd in a dale,
with wyld bestes in chanaan;
for hym our fader hath mekyll bale.”
When Ioseph herd, he wyst well þan
how that his fader in hele was hale.
In werld was not A myryer man;
“bott ferther,” he toght, “asay I sall.”
he toght to geddyr them, bryng
Beniamyn hym be forne,
ffor þai twa was most yong
And both of Rachell borne.

111

he sayd, “for soth, I sall you spyll
bot yf ȝe be to my bedyng bayn.
ffyrst your sekkes sall I do fyll
of corne to make your fader fayn.
Bryngys þan Beniamyn me vntyll;
That yong boy wyll I se certayn.
And symeon, he sall heyr byd styll
In preson tyll ȝe come agayn.”
þus sayd he to asay
yf þer luf war fyne
Vnto þer fader all way,
and to that barne Beniamyn.

112

Thei wentt furth, os he can them warn;
þer was no consell forto craue.
þai told þer fader how þai had farn,
And symeon laft, þem all to sayue;
And them bad bryng the yongest barne,
his helpe or hele yf þei wold haue.
The fader toght loth hym to tharn;
ffor rowth he remyd als he wold raue.
Ther syluer, that þei noyȝt wyst,
was in þer sekkes certayn.
That made hym haue moyr trest
to send them saue agayn.

113

A gayn þei wentt full fayr in fere
hertly to hold os þei had heght.
Then Iacob satt with sympyll chere,
full drery both day and nyght.
Tyll egypt son þei neghyd nere,
And to Ioseph þei went full wyght.
Of beniamyn his brothyr dere
had he grett hast to haue a syght.
Bot þat he was þer brothyr
wold not he lett be herd,
Bot askyd euer on and oþer
how þer fader ferd.

114

þer sekes he dyd to fyll that tyd
and bad them wend þer way with wyn
with symeon, that was be syd.
bot hastely þer blys can blyn.
A cupe of gold gart he then hyd
with In the seke of beniamyn
So with that gawd to garre hym byd,
ffor he toght þei twa suld not twyn.
In þer way as þei wentt
And trowd of nokyns trayne,
Sun armyd men war sentt
And broyȝt then beniamyn agayn.

115

To Ioseph fell þei down be dene,
and he lett os he lufyd þem noyȝt.
Vnto þem carpyd he wordes kene
and sayd, “fals thefes, what was your toght;
yow forto beld bown haue I bene,
and wekydly heyr haue ȝe wroght,
And of your selfe yt sall be sene.”
als he dyd þer sekkes be soght,
his cowpe was fun with schame
in the yongest brothir seke.
Ioseph sayd he þat same
suld hyng hegh by the neke.

116

Iudas sayd, “mercy lord, lett be;
lett vs not lose that lytyll knaue.
Our fader toke hym vnto me;
I hyght hym sothly hym for to sayue,
And sertes bott yf he sound hym see,
ffull sune sall he be grathyd in graue.
lett hym go home, and dwell wyll we
In hold, wher so ȝe wyll vs haue.
When Ioseph wyst þer wyll
And saw them wepe so soyre:
“Brethyr,” he sayd, “be styll
and mowne ȝe yow no more.”

117

This tokyn to them he told,
“when my fader to feld me sent,
I am the same man ȝe sold
for XX pennys of payment.”
Then all þer hertes be gan to cald;
ffull well þei hopyd to haue ben schent.
Bot Ioseph say[d] þen, “brethyr, be bold;
I forgyf yow with gud entent.”
þei kyssyd and for ioy grett;
myrth was them a mange.
And þus þis meneȝe mett
that mekyll spech of sprange.

118

Then Ioseph sent his brethir ten
to foche his fader, wher þei hym fand,
And all þer kyn þat þei cowd ken
gart he bryng into egyp land.
And in on yle that hyght Iessen,
þor was þer wunyng well ordand.
his dreme was fayr fulfyllyd þen,
for all þei heldyd to his hand.
When Iacob das war weryd
vnto a C XL and [VII],
he dyed and was enterd
in chanan, wher he had bene.

119

Then had Ioseph welth in weld
of gold and syluer and gud store.
his brethyr gudly can hym be held
with men and wyfes þat with them were.
And aftur whe[n] he was of eld,
A hunderth ȝer [and X], no more,
his saule to god then can he ȝeld,
Als all his helders had don be fore.
his brethyr ylkon
with In schort tym war dede;
Bott folke war full gud one
that com of þer kynred.

120

And þo þat aftur them can dwell,
þei myltyplyd ay mo and moe,
And wer namyd chylder of israel,
for Iacob name was schon[ge]d so.
þei mad grett mornyng them a mell,
for Ioseph was so fer them fro,
ffor aftur werd, os men may tell,
þer welth was turn to wer and wo.
þis buke then ende we þus,
that is namyd genesis.
To be gyn Exodus
god with his wyll vs wysch.

Exodus incepit.

121

When Ioseph and hys brethyr ylkon
wer ded, then com þer A new kyng.
Of Ioseph wyst he ryȝt none,
ne noyȝt wold knaw of his comyng.
Bot he leuyd, and þai myȝt allone,
þer kynred suld ouercome all thyng.
þerfor he hath the consell tone
In gre[t] thraldom them forto bryng.
he gart them beyre and draw
And do both dyke and delue,
So forto hald the law
And lose ther lyneg twelfe.

122

Now wer thei sett in sorow sere;
þei fand neuer of defawt be forne.
And so thei fayr IIII C ȝere
with grett myschefe mydday and morne.
Bot vnto god ay war thei dere,
All that of þat blud was borne:
hee multiplyed in all maner
them selfe, þer catell and þer corne.
The kyng was kend by clerkes
A chyld of them suld spryng
To wast hym and his werkes
and vnto bale hym bryng.

123

To lett this harme then ordand hee
All man kynd in þer byrth to qwell
That of the israel borne suld be,
[bot] All woman kynd to dwell.
A man wonnyd in that same Cyte;
heght [am]ryn and his wyfe Iacabell.
Scho bare a sun semly to see,
by qwom seyr farlys aftur fell.
Thre monethes thei hym hyd,
and lengur thei durst not abyd
Bott in a case hy[m] dyd
and layd hym by the see syd.

124

The kyng had [then] a doyghtur dere,
Tremouth scho heght, os I herd say.
with hyr maydyns fayr in fere
In that place wentt scho to play.
Thei saw the case in watur clere
In poynt to falle and flett a way.
At hyr byddyng thei broyȝt yt nere;
A full fayr chyld þer in fand þei.
ffor hyr sun scho yt chese
and was full mery in mode
And gart nam[e] yt moyses
als funleng of the flud.

125

The lady trowd full well that tyd
that yt was on of ebreus lede,
And at þei sent yt so to hyd
And durst no noþer do for dred.
Scho sent to lades on ylka syd
the chyld to norysch and furth fede.
Bot the barn wold not with them abyd,
ne towch þer pape[s] for nokyns nede.
Then had the lady kare;
that syȝt full sore hyr rewys.
Scho bad them seke yt ay whare
A noryse of Ebreus.

126

This chyldes systur, A damsell,
then with that lady was dwelland.
Scho herd how all this ferly be fell,
And socur sone þerfor scho fand.
Scho mad hyr moder Iacabell
that chyld to warysch and warrand.
The lady dy[d] hym with hyr dwell
And payd hyr hyre in hyr hand.
The chyld with all his mayn
fell to the pappe full nere.
Then was that lady fayn;
so wer all foure in fere.

127

ffor he to sowke so had be gun,
The lady bad no bettur ȝele.
The chyld was fayn when he had fown
the moder pappe fully to fele.
The systur wyst how þei had wonn
hyr brothyr lyfe, that lykyd hyr well.
Bot the moder was most fayn of hyr sun,
that scho went had been drownd ylk dele.
Scho fosterd hym full fayre
tyll he cowd styr and stand.
To court then can scho care,
als the lady had hyr cunnand.

128

ffor all þer consell well scho knew;
Vnto the lady scho hym toke.
And Tremowth toke hym for hyr trew
and for hyr sun hym neuer for suke.
he was so fayr of hyd and hew:
all men had lyst on hym to loke.
Be for his tyme was neuer Iew
so fayr to syȝt, so says the boke.
And yf men myȝt hym see,
that were sory of[t] sy[the].
Trugh blyse of his bewty
thei suld be glade and blythe.

129

So yt be fell a pon a day:
the kyng and the lordes that [with] hym wore
Sat in the palys them to play,
and cunnand clerkes was with them þore.
A damsell in rych a ray
broght the chyld them furth be fore.
And [of] that fayr full fayn war thei,
for all men lufyd hym, lese and more.
The kyng can on hym loke
and was ryght glad for þi.
In hand sone he hym toke
and kyssyd hym curtasly.

130

Be twyx hys schankes he sett hym ryȝt
and lappyd hym to hym for grett lufe.
And for he was so worthy a wyght,
hys pertenes he toght forto proue.
his crown of gold, full fayr and bryght,
that barne hed sett he a boue.
And sone was schewyd in þer syȝt
A wonder case forto controue:
That chyld full lyghtly lete,
the crown kast he downe
And fylyd yt with his fete
forto breke yt full bowne.

131

So qwen thies clerkes this syȝt can see,
Vnto the kyng thei [said] full sone,
“Syr, wott þou not we wernyd the
with on Ebrew to be vn downe?
Se this sygne, that same is hee;
þerfor be wyse with wordes fone.
hys bane belyu bot yf þou be,
thynke þor to abyd n[o] bettur bone.
The case sen þou knavs,
rewle the by ryghwyse rede.”
The kyng sees by þer sawys
that barne behouys to be ded.

132

Then a wys man of þer law
Sayd the chyld suld not be schent.
This dede that he hath done þis day,
yt [ys] not doyn be yll entent;
That sall be seyn sone on a say.
hott colys he gart bryn[g] in present
And proferd the chyld [with] forto play.
And in his mowth he soyn þem hentt.
he kyd well he was yong,
And no man wold hym marre;
The coylys brynt so his tong
that he spake euer the warre.

133

This mater sone was mouyd and ment
In chamber emang this madyns all.
Tremuth toke þerto full gud tent,
And fast scho hyed into the hall.
The chyld in ermys sone hath scho hent
ffor no defawt to hym suld fall.
loe, how sone god hath socur sent;
that he wyll saue, be sauyd thei sall.
To chamber scho hym bare;
Then was he owt of drede.
All that the clerkes sayd ayre
was aftur done in dede.

134

Scho was full fayn to be his belde,
And in hyr boure scho cane hym hyde,
Tyll he was waxin well of eld.
was none so semly in no syde;
All folke had hele that hym be held;
so was he fayr of hew and hyde.
And sythyn when he myȝt wepyns weld,
he mustyrd manhed mony a tyde.
And on a day yt be tyd
he hard and was nerhand
how on of egypt chyd
with a chyld of his land.

135

Then moyses meud hym þem omell
both for his kyn and his cuntre.
The man of egypt can he qwell
And hyde hym that none suld see.
ffull soyne the kyng þerof herd tell
And demed that moyses ded suld be.
And þer he durst no langer dwell,
bot fast to madian hastyd hee,
A Cyte sett be fore
vnder oreb hyll to be.
Getro was byschope þore
and gouerynd grett degre.

136

hys doyghtyrs [keped] his fee in feld,
os custom was þa[n] cum[on]ly.
The wemen myȝt no watur weld
for hyrdmen that ware moyr myghty.
Then moyses stud and them beheld
And helpyd the wemen with maystry.
þei told þer fader vnder teld,
And [he] bad bryng hym home in hye.
Sythyn Getro gafe hym to
hys doghtur, heght Cephoram.
Scho bare hym chylder two,
Eliaȝar and gersam.

137

with hym laft moyses for his lay
to be hys hyrd, yt is not to hyd,
Als his doghturs wer wontt all way.
ffor wrschyp was [yt] cald þat tyde.
with his schepe wentt he on a day
Vnder the monte of Synay syde.
þer fand he farlys hym to flay;
Abayst he was þer for to abyde.
A buske he saw vp stand
with floures and leues grene,
And that buske was byrnand,
bo[t] sulpyng was none sene.

138

Of meruyll myȝt no man hym blame;
swyl[k] ferlis ner be fore hym fell.
God carpyd to hym and cald by name
with In a buske wher he can dwell,
“Moyses, I am god the same
Of Abraham, ysac and israel;
ffor the chylder that suffers schame
all myn entent I sall the tell.
I wyll mustyr my myȝt
and owt of bale them bryng,
Als I be fore hath heyght
to them and þere ofspryng.”

139

“My messynger I wyll make the
to pharo of egypt kyng:
To byd hym lett my folke go free
owt of his land at þer lykyng,
To make þer sacrafyce to me
In wyldernese of werldly thyng.
Thy brothyr Aron sall with the be
and beyr wytnese to old and ȝyng
how þou spekkes with me here,
and yf þei trow the noght,
Sygnes, sore and sere,
sall I send soyne vn soght.”

140

Then sayd moyses, “lord, vnderstand
this; I wold sum oþer wentt.
þei lufe me noyȝt in egypt land,
vnto my talys þei wyll not tent.”
he bad hym then cast down his wand,
And sone yt semyd os a serpent.
And mesyll lyke yt made his hand
to apeyre in the kynges present.
“yf þei aske the of whom
þou had þ[e]ir segnes and whore,
Say, ‘I am that am’;
that is my name euer moyre.”

141

Moyses says, “it sall be done
in this case, ose þou hath commawnd.”
he toke his leue at Getron
and held the way to egypt land.
Als god hym heyght, his brothir Aron
euyn in the way be for hym he fand.
Of his fader and his kyn ylkon
he told to hym full gud tythand,
And how all his enmys
wer dede and done a way.
And he told on what wyse
god sent hym for say.

142

his fader and all hys frendes wer fayn
of his cummyng to that cuntre.
he sayd he suld them bryng from payn
vnto a place of grett plente.
And to fulfyll the purpase playn
to pharo went aron and hee,
And schewyd to hym the segnes certayn
wylke god bad þei suld lett hym see.
“ffor the schylder of israel,”
þei [say], “god sentt vs hase.”
Bot for oght þei cowd tell,
he sayd þei suld not pase.

143

Moyses þen cast down his wand,
And soyne it semyd os a serpent.
he toke the tayle vp in his hand,
and ase a wand agayn yt went.
As mesyll furth his fyngurs stand,
And hole a gayn [sone] he þem hentt.
The kyng sayd he hade clerkes connand
cowd do the same by experiment.
he sett þer segnes at noyȝt
And sayd þer folke þerfore
Suld be in bondon broyȝt
wele wers þen euer thei were.

144

God sent vnto them veniance ten
[so forto make theym turne theire moode.]—
all the waters of egypt then
In feld and towne were turnd into blude
So that it myght [noght] helpe to men,
Ne vnto bestes, ne fowles fode.
Bot swylke faw[t] fell not in Jessen,
Wher þei wonyd that to god wer gud.
The secund soyne can fall
to greue [þem] als god wyld:
Both feld, hows and hall
with taydes and froskes wer fyllyd.

145

All was venomd with the vermyne
that suld oght reche þer releue.
Bot pharo þerfor wold not fyne,
bot goddes folke more then can he greue.
Then the thryd god send þem s[y]ne:
grett myse that made þem mor myschefe.
þei stroyd and corumpyd both corn and wyne.
No man myȝt for þer malice meue.
No thyng myȝt [byd þer byte]
yf þei safe aftur suld be.
Bot pharo wold not ȝett
þerfor lett this folke go free.

146

he sayd he suld them bynd in band;
god send the faurt veniance for thye:
grett fleand loppes ouer all the land,
batte men and bestes full bytturly.
Wher so þei fell on fott or hand,
ffull hedos herm had þei in hye.
Bott goddes folke non swylke fawtes fand;
þei wonnyd in well, as was worthy.
Kyng pharo was frowerd
and euer of wekyd wyll.
his hert was mad so herd:
goddes folke ay haldes he styll.

147

þerfor the fyft co[me] aftur fa[st],
þat well wers then any oþer was.
Moran was ouer þer catell kast,
on schepe, swyn, oxe and asse
So that in lyfe þer myȝt none last.
the kyng þerof most herme has,
Bot when this perell was ouerpast,
he wold not lett the pepyll pase.
þerfor the sext was sene:
when moyses mouyd his wand,
A powder yll and vnclene
was cast ouer all the land.

148

That powder blew ouer all by lyue;
wher so yt blew, [sone] wex a [blayne].
yt mad like messels man and wyfe
þat ware not to goddes bedyng bayn.
Both nyȝt and day swylke dust can dryue.
than was the seuynt of frost [and rayn]
with hale stons that dyd them str[yv]e;
wher so þei bett, þei brast þer brayn.
Swylk thonour and lefynyng
in all that land was wroght
[That herbes and all maner of thyng
was waist and broght to noght.]

149

The aght was yll wormes fleand;
þei couerd ouer all þat cuntre.
Agayns the storme myȝt no thyng stand:
þei left no fruttes, ne leuys on tre.
The IX [then] fell neyr at hand:
so marke that none myȝt oþer see;
No lyȝt was leuyd in all þat land,
And that enduryd by days thre.
The tent was sodan ded
of all folke, fo and frend.
Then toke the kyng to red
to lett the pepyll wend.

150

The kyng gafe leue vnto moysen
and Aron to wend os þei [wold].
On mold wer non more meri men
fro tym [þei herd] þer talys bee [told].
þei hyghed þem fast vnto Jessen,
wher the Jewes wonnyd both ȝing and old,
And sett þem certan tyms and when
to wend, and bad þei suld be bold
To borow and with þem beyre
All guds þat þei myȝt gette.
And so ordand thei here
full smartly small and grette.

151

Sexti and ten in yowth and eld
wer told when þei enturd þat land.
Now wer þei that myȝt wepyn weld
to reckynd thre C thowssand,
Owttakyn wemen and hyrdes in feld
and chylder that in [n]a stoure myȝt stand.
þei prayd all god to be þer beld,
And furth þei went, as was ordand.
On days at þer desyre
with all fudes wer þei fede;
On nyghtys with flawme of fyre
in lyghtnes ware þei lede.

152

When pharo wyst that þei wendyd ware,
moyses and aron and ilka iew,
he commawndyd all men, both lesse and mare,
aftur þat pepyll forto persew
with chares and mules and mekyll store.
to the greke se he gart remew.
ffull well he hopyd to haue þem þore,
for kyndly course no ferre he knew.
he sayd, “forsoth, we sall
bynd them full soyre in bandes.”
Bot god that gouerans all,
he sauys ay his seruandes.

153

when þei herd, yt is not to hyd,
the kyng was command on swylke a wyse,
þei saw the see on þat on syde
and on þat oþer all þer enmys,
ffor ferd full fast þen can þei chyde
and sayd, “oure lyuys not lang l[yse];
Bettur had vs ben forto byde
and [haue] bene sauyd in the kyng seruyce.
þei wend moyses had wyst
and tylyd þem furth with trayne.
hee sayd, “be ȝe of gud trest;
god sall vs saue certayn.”

154

To god he bad þem crye and call,
and to the see wyghtly he wentt.
hys wand he lete in the watur fall
and prayd to god with gud entent.
The watur stud vpe ose a walle:
swylke grace god to þem þor sentt.
Thurght owt þe see so wentt þei all
þat nowdyr chyld ne wyf wer schent.
Pharo con aftur fownd
and trowd well þem to haue tane.
he and his meneȝe wer drownyd;
on lyfe þer lafte not one.

155

When Moyses and all hys meneȝe
stud on land and lokyd agayn
And saw how þei ware past the see,
and all þer enmys sleghly slayn,
To call on god þen commawnd hee,
and this songe sayd he certayn:
“Cantemus domino gloriose,
loue we god and his power playne,
That sauys vs on this wyse
owt of all wo to wende,
And hath stroyd our enmys
that soght vs forto schend.”

156

Moyses þus and hys folke in fere
mad joy to god, both moyre and lesse.
So wentt þei furth and neghed nere
A forest that was fayr to gese.
þore fand þei wellys, fayr and clere,
with watur semand fayr and fresche.
Bot to asay on sydes sere,
yt was all blend with bytturnese.
þat gart þem be grochand
and murmerand in þer mode.
Then moyses with hys wand
thrugh goddes grace made yt gude.

157

þus louyd þei god of all his grace
[þat for þem] wroght swylke werkes grett.
þei [soiourned] þore a certayn space
tyll þei were rest and well refette.
Sythyn past þei vnto a noþer place,
A forest of syne, was fere to gette,
And þore thei[m] fell a febyll case,
defawtt of fude, both drynke and mette.
Bot god herd moyses steuyn,
and Aron helpe he wold.
he send þem foyde fro heuyn,
flour that manna was cald.

158

þore fell be fore þem foulys sere,
aftur þer lyst and lykyng was.
And so þei were fede XL ȝere,
ay qwyls þei wonnyd in wyldernese;
þer cloghyng was euer in lyke clere,
And euer þer fude was fayr and fresche.
So wer þ[e] folke fede fayre in fere;
þer bestes lyue[d] with grouand gresse.
þen past þei furth fro Syn,
a forest fayr and wyde,
To the forest of raphadyn,
and þore þei buskyd to abyde.

159

Watur be for þem [fand þei non]
in ryuer, ne in dyke to stande.
þerfor þei mournyd and mad grett mone.
To moyses ware þei all grochand.
God spake to moyses and aron
and bad that he suld with his wand
Before the folke stryke on the ston,
and watur suld he haue at hande.
Moyses sayd, “men take tent
to me, both most and lest.”
he stroke, and watur went
owt both to man and beste.

160

ffor moyses sayd, “to me take hede,”
And mad no mynd of goddes myght,
God spake vnto hym þer gud sped
and reckynd to hym this reson ryȝt,
“ffor þat þou demyd not of this dede
þat yt be me was done and dyght,
my folke, I say, þou sall not lede
Into the land that [I]þem heght.”
Then word of them sprang
in Cytys on ylka syde.
þai say, “yf thei last lang,
our remys þei sall ouer ryde.”

161

ffaure kynges hath horssus and harnes hent,
Amalec and oþer thre.
þei say, “this ebrews sall be schentt,
bot yf thei sped þem fast to flee.”
Bot moyses sone hys men hath sentt
and made þer cheftan Josue.
he prayd at home with gud entent
so that the vyctory hade hee.
Whyls moyses held hys hende
vp vnto heuyn on hyghte,
þer myȝt non enmys lend
agaynys hys folke to fyght.

162

Iosue ouercom all þos enmyse,
and full grett welth he wan þerby
Of catell and of cloghes of price,
And home agayn fast can þei hye.
Moyses gart make grett sacrafyce,
ffor god had ȝ[y]fyn þem the victory,
And ordand pristys and princis wyse
forto kepe furth þer cumpany.
Getro of madian,
þat moyses founded fro,
he soght vnto hym þen
with wyf and chylder also.

163

Aftur that tyme þei toke the ways
wher the montt of synay was nere,
wher moyses for the pepyll prays,
and god vnto hym þor can apeyre.
he fastyd full faurty days,
the law of god for he wold lere.
Then commawndmentes, os clerkes says,
war to hym takyn in tables sere.
Bot whyls he þor can dwell
to lere goddes laws lely,
hys folke full fowll fell
and made þem mawmentry.

164

A calf of gold þei gart vp stand
and honerd yt with all þer mayne.
“þis broyȝt vs owt of egyp land
and sall vs saue”, þei say, “certayn.”
þen god vnto moyses commawnd,
“wend down vnto þi pepyll agayn,
ffor þei haue synnyd and tone on hand
a werke that wyll wurth to payn.”
Moyses þen from god past
and hyed hym to þat halfe.
he fand his folke full fast
kneland be for þat calfe.

165

þat mawmentry þat þei of ment
was hedows thyng [to] hym at here.
he brake þer calfe and sone yt brent
and kest the powder in watur clere.
þei dranke þer of euer os þei went,
for oþer watur was non so nere.
[On] þos þat to þat syn assent
the veniance of god cane apere,
ffor he wald haue þem spylt
aftur þer awne desyre.
The berdes of þem wer gylt
like vnto the gold wyre.

166

when moyses and his broþer Aron
saw sygne of god in þat sted,
Oþer wyttenese nede þem none
bot at þer here was waxin rede.
of þem that was [with] tresone tone
and bold to breke that moyses bede,
ware XXIII milia sloyne;
þen wer the remland wyll of rede.
To fete þei can þe[m] fal[d].
and moyses gatte [þem] grace,
And þen to þem he told
how god spake in þat space.

167

A[n] arke, he sayd, þei suld do make,
þer in to hold þat holy store:
The tables þat god can to hym take,
with manna and with mekyll more.
All þer sacrafyce for goddes sake
and all þat offerd suld be þore.
And þer with suld none wune ne wake
bot folke þat were ordand þerfor.
This arke þei made in hye
of gold and prescius stone.
The lynege of leuy
to tent þerto was tone.

168

Aron was ordand byschop to be
forto resaue the sacrafyce,
And prestes and dekyns in þer degree
at serue to hym in sere seruyce.
And ryght so the duke Josue
was chosyn os a prince and most in price,
wher so þei come in ylke cuntre
to sett the batels in asyce.
A tabernakyll þei toke
to kepe godes arke ay clene.
So endes the secund boke,
þat of moyses wyll mene.

Numeri.

169

When moyses þus had ordand all
full cunnandly os he well can
Vnto goddes seruyce what suld fall,
and what to werres that wrschyp wan,
Then remeuyd þei both grett and small
to A forest þat heght faran.
þer tabernakyll þer can þei stall;
with the arke of god þus þei be gane.
god bad moyses, [hys jew],
suld fayre on the feld
And nowmer his men all new,
All þat myȝt weppyns weld.

170

þen moyses dyd os god commaund:
he toke all þat past XX ȝere
VI C and III milia
Acowntyd of knyghtes in armys clere,
And fyghand folke on fote he fand
sex hunderth and V milia in fere,
with outyn clerkes þat were ordand
to serue god on sydes sere.
And [þei] wer told be tale,
of the lynage of leuy,
To XXX milia hale;
þat was a fayr cumpany.

171

Sone aftur þen begane debate:
Aron and his systur mary
Moyses, þer broþer, can þei hate
and had to hym full grett enuy.
þei say it falys not for his astate,
and als þat he was not worthy
To gouerand þem and gyd all gatte
or forto make ouer þem maystry.
þei sayd he was to bold
at bryng þem from þer blyse
To suffer hungur and cald,
and all þer myrth to mysse.

172

ffor þis defawt gret veniance fell,
os god hym se[l]f vowched saue to send:
Mary all sone was fowl mesell,
and þat endured VIII days to ende.
When Aron saw þis and herd tell,
hy[s] awn defawt well [he] kend;
To moyses fette fast dow[n] he fell
and prayd to god his myse to amend.
Then moyses for hym prayd
And for his systur also.
lepur þat on hyr was layde
full tytt was tane hyr fro.

173

Then made þei myrth euerylka man
and toke þer tentes in þat tyde
And flytted furth fro faran
vnto a forest fast be syde.
And fude enogh þer fand þei þan;
þei beld þem þor a whyle to abyde.
þer myȝt þei se to canan,
qwylke god had heyȝt þem not to hyde.
Bot þei fand fandyng
or tyme þat þei come þore.
þen moyses mad gedderyng
of all folke hym before.

174

And sayd, “sers, ȝe sall vnderstand
how god hath sent yow solace sere,
þat led yow owt of Egypt land
fro pharo and his folke in fere
And broyȝt yow sou[nd]ly ouer the sand,
when all drowned þat your enmys were.
And for your hele he hath ordand,
and for your fode, þis fawrte ȝere.
And thynk als on þis thyng
how your elders and ȝe
hath groned and made gruchyng
both vnto god and me.”

175

“þerfor all myse forto amend
honers hym euer with all your myȝt
And kepe his law ose I hath kend
in word and dede both day and nyȝt.
And certan men I rede we send
to serche the land that he hath heyȝt,
And se how the folke may þem dyffend
and aftur þer rede rewle vs ryȝt.”
Josue toke he þen
and Calafe to wende ydder.
The folke toke oþer ten
and send furth all to geydder.

176

In canan þer cowrse þei cast
and soyȝt the land in lengh and brede.
By fawrty days war fully past,
had þei notyd all þat was nede.
The ten com fyrst, [þat] went furth last,
and to moyses þei spake gud spede.
The folke þen floked abowt þem fast
All forto herkyn and take hede;
And frayned how þei had faryn
owt in the vncuth land,
And yf þei suld yt tharne,
or haue yt in þer hand.

177

The ten þen can þer tales tell,
þat stound þem gretly in þer steuyn.
þei sayd þer was not in to dwell
a bettur land vnder heuyn,
ffor þor was wyn and watur of well,
whett and oyle all ordand euyn,
Bot at the folke ware ferse and fell,
and Nowmer of þem myȝt no man neuyn.
“þei ar wytty of were
and well of armys kend;
hors, scheld and spere
haue þei redy at hend.

178

þei ar so grett on grone to gang;
we seme bo[t] barns to þer bodes.
And þer Cetes ar sett so strong;
þei cownt no cumyng of enmys.
yt is no tyme to tary lang
to loke wher no releue lyse.”
þen wax þor murmur þ[em] a mang,
as rebels þei be gan to ryse.
And to moyses þei [say],
“how durst þou do this thyng,
þus traturly [be tray]
vs all and our of spryng?”

179

“We myȝt haue lyued in egypt land
and gouernd vs in gud degre.
Now hath þou stald vs heyr to stand
to dye in payn and pouerte.”
To kyll hym haue þei made connande.
so come Calafe and Josue.
þei toke vnto [þem] new tythand
and bade abayst þei suld not be.
“Yf ȝe in trewth be ryȝt
and to god call and craue,
The land that he hath heyȝt,
þat hette we you to haue.”

180

“ffor all the ways os we can wend,
we fand fell folke full of enuy
And grett, bot god is not þer frend,
for þei lyfe all in mawmentry.
þer Cetys sone [we] sall do schend
and stroye þer borows by and by.
ffor þei ar folke full of þe fende,
and in god sall we fast afy,
Sen þat he fayled vs neuer,
In stowre when we war stede;
he wyll be with vs euer.”
þen war the rebels rade.

181

To moyses fette þei fell in hye
and mad grett sorow in goddes syȝt.
Then moyses prayd god allmyghty
forto haue pety of þer plyȝt.
God answerd to hym opynly
and sayd, “for þat þou trawd not ryȝt,
þer sall none of þat cumpany
cume in the land, qwylk I haue heyȝt.
þoo ten þat told tythand
my folke so to greue,
þei sall lend in this land
with mornyng and myscheue.”

182

“And all þat trowde vnto þer tale
to tene moyses, my seruant dere,
here sall þei abyd and be in bale.
all þat ar past ouer thryty ȝere,
þer chylder and þer heyrys all,
sall fyll that land both ferr and nere.
Josue and Calafe þei tway sall
be souerans in all sydes sere;
ffor þei went wysly þore
and told yow trew thythand;
þei and þer heyrys euer more
sall be lordes of þat land.”

183

Then all þo rebels þem repent
and prayd to god for bettur bone.
Bot to þer tales toke he no tent;
als he had demed, so most yt be [done].
And neuer the lesse lyȝt he þem lent
a bowt mydnyȝt with owtyn moyne,
And fresche watur wher so þei went,
and fode, yf þat þei wer fele or fone,
Euyn at þer awn likyng
aftur þer tonges wold tast,
And keped ay þer cloghyng
withowtyn wem or wast.

184

ffor þis debate be gan to be
grett murmur all þos men amang.
A crewell man þat heyȝt Core
agayn moyses moued mekyll wrang.
ffull rych he was of gold and fee;
þerfor he toyȝt hym self more strang
And mekyll more worthy þen hee
to gouarn folke and for þe[m] gang.
he gatte of hys assent
Datan and abyron,
And told þem his entent,
and gart þem fondly fon.

185

Tway hunderth rebels gart he ryse
and fyfty at þer steuyn to stand.
To þe tabernakyll, as wreches vn wyse,
went þei furth to make offerand.
þei senssed þor and dyd seruyce,
as byschoppes had be fore ordand,
And sayd aron was not of price
swylk werkkes to take on hand,
Bot Core suld be þen
þer hed, os hym well aw,
And abyron and datan
byschoppes to led [þer] law.

186

God was not of þat purpasse payd;
þerfor yt turned þem vnto tene.
Moyses and aron to þem sayd,
“sers, ȝe wot well with owtyn wene
Thrugh grace of god we two war grayd
to be in state as we haue bene.
yf any oþer be bettur arayd,
to morn þen sall the soth be sene.”
To come þen haue þei hyȝt
on the morn, both lest and mast.
Bot god ordand þat nyȝt
that all þat werke was wast.

187

God send his veniance sone certan
wher Datan and abyron can dwell.
The erth opynd, yt is not to layn,
And sodanly þei sanke to hell
And all þat of þer fayr ware fayn,
wyf and chyld down with þem fell.
The erthe sone was closed agayn;
þer was no tokyn of to tell.
Bot Core come on the morne
with fe[le] folke on fotte,
As connand was be forne,
agayns moyses to mote.

188

Moyses spake þen vnto Core
and to two hunderth and fyfty,
“Gose, both my broþer aron and ȝe,
and gyfe sense vnto god allmighty,
And by sume seyn þen sall we se
qwylke man of all þis cumpany
ys best worthy byschop to be!”
to this asent þei sayd in hy.
Vnto the tabernakyll
full tytt þei toke the way.
God send full sone merakyll
þos fals folke to afflay.

189

As Core to the Auter went
for to gyfe [sense] as sufferan syre,
A sodan fyre from heuyn was sent
and brent þem vp both bone and lyre.
Two hunderth and fyfty war schent
with oþer þat dyd þer desyre.
ȝet ware þei mo þat malyce ment
agayns moyses with grett yre.
To be soueran, þei sayd,
he had ouer grett gylt,
ffor he had þor betrayd
þer folke and fowle spylt.

190

her for full hyddos herme þei haue:
thonour and lefnyng down dyscend
And stroyd þem vp, both knyȝt and knaue.
þen moyses all mys [to] amend
Gart kepe the sensurs, who so wold craue,
in the arke of god to be kene
how god wyll euer his seruant saue
and fro þer face ay þem dyffend.
And þus this story twyns
þat is cald Numeri,
And a new boke be gynnys
þat is named Dewtronomij.

Devtronomij.

191

þoo folke fulfylled with felony
þat god fed XL ȝer before.
To moyses had þei euer enuy
and vnto aron mekyll more.
Thei sayd all he was vnworthy
to be þer sufferan byschop þore.
Then moyses had ordand in hye
to wytt of god qwylke worthy ware.
“lordyns”, he sayd, “take tent
to stynt this stryuyng strang;
ffro god sall grace be sentt
who dos well, and who wrang.”

192

“To morne I byd þer be ordand,
of all the kynrendys of aleuyn
A man to take þer cawse on hand
In all þat nedfull is to neuyn,
And ylkon of þem bryng a wand
Into the arke of god of heuyn.
Aron, my broþer, his sall stand
als for the twelft; þen ar þei euyn.
ylk man, þat þei not myse,
sall wrytt his kynraden name,
And Aron sall wrytt on hys
leuy and lay þat same.”

193

So on the morn þei mett on ond,
the XI princese mekyll of price.
And ylkon wrott with in his wand,
And Aron wand for leuy lese.
þen vnto moyses war þei tane
as formost wytte and most wyse.
In the arke of god he layd ylkon
And closed yt at þer a[wn] deuyse.
þei prade with hert and hend,
ylkon in þer degree,
þat god sume seyn suld send
who suld þer byschope be.

194

ffull sone on the morne þei com clene
þat specialte to spyre and spye.
The aleuyn princes all be dene
fand all þer wandes ded and drye.
Bot Aron wand bayr leues grene
and flowrs fayr to syȝt semly.
þerby þei wyst withowtyn wene
god lufed the lyneg of leuy.
þat wand was done to tent
in the arke of the tabernakyll,
ffor yt suld be on ment
how god dyd þer merakyll.

195

þen sessed þer stryue, yf yt ware late,
Agayns Aron, þat ay was clene,
And he stud styll in his astate,
byschop os he had eyr bene.
To Cades þen þei toke the gatte,
A soyle þat was full seldom sene.
And þer began A new debate
for watur wantyng, os I wene.
Then moyses, os god wold,
owt of the roche full ryfe
Broyȝt watur, qwylke was cald
All way the watur of stryfe.

196

Be cawse of stryuyng in þat stede
a gayns moyses with yll entent,
þor moyses systur Mary was dede;
for hyr mekyll mone was ment.
And aron sone wex wyll of rede
ffor eld and seknes þat was sentt.
he dyed with mony bowsom bede;
we hope his sawle to welth is went.
his soyne Eleaser
to byschope þen chase þei.
And how þei forthermer fare,
ȝett sume dele sall we say.

197

herrott, the kyng of cananews,
when he herd tell the new tythand
how moyses come with mony jewes
and wold with strengh dystroy his land,
With þem wold he take no trewse,
b[ot] sone his ost he had ordand.
And moyses furth his men remeuys
tyll þei þoo folke on feldes fand.
Sone ware þei in prese,
and full smertly can smytte.
The ouerhand had moyses,
and the kyng was dyscumfete.

198

þor gatte þei gudes full grett plente,
and for þat welth þei wold not fyne,
Bot furthe þei sewed more forto se,
and þat suyng þei [r]owed syne.
ffor þei come in a wast cuntre,
wher þei fand noþer bred ne wyne.
þerfor be gane debate to be
þat moyses wold þai war putt to pyne.
Bot he sone them re[leu]ed
and mend þer myschawnce.
þen was god with þem greuede,
and sone he sent veniance.

199

Wyld wormes wex þem a mang,
full mekyll of fors and fell os fyre,
Qwylke sume with toth, and sume with tang,
bott and brent þem bone and lyre.
To moyses fast þen can þei gang
for socur os to þer soueran syre.
And all yf þei had wryed hym wrang,
his wyll was to do þer desyre.
he prayd god þem to amend
and for gyf þer trespasse.
And þor god hath hym kend
to cast a worme of brasse

200

And als a seyn hym forto rayse.
and þus þen told he in his tayle:
“Als sone os þei yt sees”, he says,
“of all hurtes þei sall be hole.”
And so was done by dyuerse days,
wher so þei went be down or dale.
To Arnon fluyd þei toke the ways,
þat lyged þen low in a vayle.
A Suthervn syre Seon
was kyng of Amaryce;
Abowt þat flud Arnon
was he man mekyll in price.

201

And for moyses hys men wold saue
and hald þem sownd by se and sand,
he send to Seon leue to craue
to lede his folke thrugh owt his land.
Bot Seon sayd he suld not haue,
bot sone þei suld be bon in band.
Seon was strekyn with his awn staue;
Moyses dystroyed all þat wold stand.
þer wan þei welth gud on,
more þen men myȝt of tell.
In a Cyte cald Esmon,
þor drest þei þem to dwell.

202

whyls þei soiornde in þat Cyte,
A land was nere þat heyȝt basan,
And Og was kyng of þat cuntre.
of Ebrews herd he tythand þen.
he ordand hym þer bayn to be,
bot god þat all gud consell can
Ordand þat ouercomyn was he,
and Ebrews all þat wrschepe wan.
þus logyd þei in sere landes
and conquerd sere kyngdome
And held þem in þer handes,
or þei come to the flome.

203

ȝett wonned on, ose þer way lyse,
heyȝt balake, a kyng full cruell,
And he was mayster of moabyse,
A folke þat was full fers and fell.
how Ebrew ouer all þen wan the price,
be dyuerse tythynges herd he tell.
And for þei ware of were so wyse,
he drede [hym] more with þem to mell.
he cald to hys conse[ll]
to se what ware to do,
To take trewse or batell,
and þus þei told hym to,

204

“The Ebrews ar men full myȝty
and mony [mo þan] we may bryng.
[to fyght] with þem ware grett foly;
þer god is with them in all thyng.
Bot balam, the prophett, wones herby,
þat god wyll graunt all his askyng.
Make hym go curse þat cumpany
and wary þem both old and yong.
þen sall þer god with draw
his helpe, wher in þei treyste.
So sall þei lyg full low
and lyfe euyn as vs lyst.”

205

The kyng in hast, ys no at hyde,
hath send his seruant, os þei ordand,
And balam wold no langer byd,
he com furth as the kyng cum[m]and.
his ase stud styll when he suld ryde,
And balame bett hym with a wand.
The best spake and told in þat tyde
how þat he saw an angell stand
The way hym for to lett.
then was the prophett flayde,
hamward his hede he sett,
bot sone the angell sayd,

206

“hald furth þi gatt, os þou be gan,
vnto the kyng of Amo[r]yse.
When þou comys to flom iordan
and sees wher the chylder of israel lyys,
God bydes the þat þou þem not ban
bot blesse þem all on the best[e] wy[s]e.
And he sall be with þe þor þen
And saue þe from all yll enmyse.”
Then past the prophett playn,
euyn os the angell hym lede.
The kyng was þen full fayn,
for he wened well haue spede.

207

All his entent he told hym tyll
þat he suld wary the jews all way.
he sayd, “ser, haue vs vnto an hyll
wher we may se all þer aray.”
Then was he fayn [þat] to fulfyll,
vnto the heghtest hyll hasted þei.
And þer the prophet stod full styll,
and þus to þem cane he say,
“[ȝ]e chylder of israel,
þat myrth full lang hath myst,
Tythynges to yow I tell:
god byddes that ȝe be blest”

208

“with all gudnese, ase he be gane
to abraham your fader free,
To ysac and to jacob þen,
of whos kynradyn all comyn ar ȝe.
ȝe sall conquer all chanan
and haue yt in your pawste.”
Then was the kyng a carefull man,
when þat he herd yt so suld be.
ffull sore he was a schamed,
for he þat fyght had soyȝt,
And balaam fast he blamed,
for þat he band þem noyȝt.

209

he prayd to wary þem on all wyse
so þat he myȝt þem bett and bynd.
Agayns hys boyde he blyst þem thryse,
and als he sayd, so suld þei fynd.
Then balac, kyng of moabyse,
went a way as wroth os wynd.
And balam þer mad prophecy[se]
þat crist suld come amang þer kynd.
he sayd a sterne suld ryse
of jacob begynnyng,
And a wand of mekyll price
of israel owt suld spryng,

210

Qwylke suld conquere kyng and cuntre
of moabyse in mony a sted.
And suns of seth, also sayd he,
suld be hent from handes of dede.
The stern to crist may lykynd be
to lyȝt þem þat lay low os led,
The wand, Mary his moyder fre,
þat suld com of the jew kynred.
Thes wordes was fro god sent.
kyng balake cursed þat qwylle,
Bot balaam, or euer he went,
he wroyȝt a weked wyle.

211

he saw the kyng was not well payd,
þerfor sum comforth wold he kene.
“ser, I sall þe lere,” he sayd,
“to stroye moyses and all his men.
gayr damsels be gayly gratt
to seke in Cytes, neyn or ten,
And when þei ar ryȝtly arayde,
vnto the Ebrews send þem þen.
Grett myrth þer sall þei make
to ȝong men euyn and morne
And gayr þem god forsake.
so sall þei sone be lorne.”

212

The kyng hath sent, os he can say,
[For] ffayrest wemen þat men fand.
[He did theym cloth in rych array
and thus to theym he command],
“loke wysly þat ȝe wend your way
to our enmyse of vncowth land,
And fowndes to gayr þem leyf þer lay.
lett belfagor be þer warrand.”
þo wemen werly soyȝt
þis falshed to fulfyll.
The Ebrews groched noyȝt
forto werke all þer wyll.

213

þei leued the law þat moyses lent
and vnto mawmentre mad þer mene.
And for þei so to syn assent,
god was greued vnto þem ylkon.
To moyses told he his entent
and bad tyte veniance suld be tone.
with wo so XX milia went,
and wemen war full wyll of wone.
ffynnes, a full fell man,
Eleaȝar son was hee,
Sloght þer maysters þan;
the remnand fast can flee.

214

And for þi þat þis ffyneys
dystroyed þem þat ware goddes enmyse,
fforto be byschop god hym chese
aftur his fader for his seruys.
And for his sake he grawnt peyse
vnto all Ebrews þat ware wyse,
And sayd he suld þer kynd encresse
vnto grett reuerence forto ryse.
with moyses then was none
þat he lede ouer the se,
Bot þei ware ded ylkon
bot Calaphe and josue.

215

þen commawnd god vnto moysen,
for he suld fayn his fo[e]s to fere,
þat he suld reckyn the remnand þen
of all þo þat myȝt armys bere.
he fand thre hunderth thowssand men
þat myȝty were to wend in were
withowtyn prestes and clerkes to ken,
qwylke XXIII milia ware.
god bad moyses be wyse
and þat his h[o]st ware grayde
To stroye the moabyse,
that had þem þor be trayd.

216

Moyses withowtyn more abayd,
XII milia toke he þem amang;
þer leder fyneys he made
þem forto gyd wher þei suld gang.
To moabyse full ryȝt þei rode
and stroyde þem all with strokes strang.
ffyue hethyn kynges with cuntreys brayd
in few days to ded þei dang.
Balam þei haue not leued,
þat fyrst conseld the kyng:
ffynyes stroke of his hed
for his fals consellyng.

217

All batels þus þei broyȝt to end;
þen past þei home with mekyll pride.
No tong in erth myȝt tell the tend
Of welth þat þei haue in þat tyde.
Ryȝt to the flome all folke was frend;
to do þem dere durst non abyd.
Two of þer lyneg þer wold lend,
by cawse the land was large and wyd;
þat was gad and ruben.
the kynrendes toke to rede
And asked leue of moysen
to dwell styll in þat stede.

218

þus prayde þei throly, all and sume,
bot moyses made þis connand þen
That þei suld passe ouer the flome
And helpe to conquere canan.
And when þei gerico had wun
into þer boundom, best and man,
Vnto þat cuntre suld þei come
and be þer styll, os þei be gane.
Ten cytes made moyses,
in tyme þei soiournd þore,
To þem þat cuntre chese
to haue and hald euer moyre.

219

Then moyses both with hert and hand
loued his god of grett powere,
ffor he wyst that he suld from þem wend.
he told the folke his consell clere;
he sayd, “sers, I sall sun make end,
for canan come [I] not nere.
kepes commawnmentes, os I haue kend,
and oþer law loke ȝe non lere.
Elyaȝar sall byschop be
to stand in Aron stede,
And ȝe sall hald Josue
your Duke, when I am dede.”

220

“þat on may mekyll [you] a[v]ayle
þat god yow here gyf mynd and myȝt;
þat oþer sall wend in batell
and ffell your foys with fors in fyȝt.
þerfor in fayth loke ȝe not fayle,
bot euer in trowth be trew and ryȝt.
þen nawder enmyse, [ne] yll consell
sall do yow dere be day or nyȝt.
haue mynd hou god hath wrogh
for yow and your of spryng.
loke ȝe for geyt hym noyȝt,
bot thanke hym ouer all thyng.”

221

“Sone sall ȝe passe flom iordan
to the land þat yow leuest wore.
And when ȝe come to canan
and hath all þat god heyȝt yow þore,
loke ȝe dystroy all mawmentes þen
of fendes þat ȝe fynd ȝow be fore,
And part the land as ȝe well can
aftur your lynage, lesse and more.
who so hath most meneȝe,
born all of a blode,
þem nedes the most cuntre
to fynd ther bestes fode.”

222

As moyses þus his consell kend
to can the law and kepe yt well,
A whyt clowde down fro heuyn dyscend
and couerd hym ouer ylka dele.
he was a way when þei lest wend,
bot wheder ward wyst þei not well.
Ne more þei herd of his end,
ne his graue cowd no man fynd ne fele.
þei soyȝt and sayd alas
with mornyng þem amang,
Os yt no wonder was,
for he had led þem lang.

223

Moyses mad end in þis maner.
full mekyll mone was for hym ment.
To god his dedes war euer dere,
for trew in trowth was his entent.
ffull leue he was goddes law to lere,
os long os he on lyfe was lent,
wherfor we wott withowtyn were
his sawle vnto heuyn is hent.
This boke þus end wyll we
þat made is of moysen,
And tell furth of Josue.
god grawnt vs myrth. Amen.

Josue

224

moyr of the store may men se
what was done aftur moyses dede.
A nobyll duke, heyȝt Josue,
was ordand to stand in his sted;
Elyaȝar, byschope was he
the pepyll forto rewle and rede.
þen neght þei nere þat [cuntre]
god þem heyȝt of his godhede,
So þat yt myȝt be sene,
the land of canan;
Noyȝt bot the flome be twen.
and þus þei ordand þan.

225

Be cawse the Cyte of gerico
was next the flome and fast þerby,
Josue had ordand two
most cunnand of þat cumpany
Vnto þat Cyte forto go
and bad þat þei suld spyre and spye
The wardes and the wals also
and all þat passage preuely,
how þei myȝt tytyst take
þat Cyty be on asent.
This message forto make
two wyght men furth þer went.

226

To Jerico þei toke the way,
A Cety semly vnto syȝt.
þei spyrd full ryȝt all þer aray,
both ways be neth and wals on heyȝt.
So dyd þei dewly all þat day
to tyme þat neght nere þe nyȝt;
þer þar loygyng in a place toke þei
with A woman þat raab hyȝt.
Scho had fayr rent in hand,
laft of hyr elders be forn;
Bot scho was commyn kend
as hostler euyn and morn.

227

Whyls þei the Cyte þus aspyd,
all yf þei ware wytty and wyse,
To the wardyns þei wer ascryde
þat Raab herberd swylk to spyse.
The bayles went in the euyn tyde
to foche þem furth be for þe justyce.
Bot preuely scho can þem hyde
and hold from handes of þer enmyse.
Scho lett þem lang or day
ouer the wals of þat Cyte
And teched þem the redy way
from all enmyse to flee.

228

Bot fyrst scho festend þis connand
or euer scho wan þem ouer þe wall:
“when ȝe sall entur into þis land
and gouer[n] þis Cyte, grett and small,
Me and myn, loke ȝe warrand
þat no defawt vnto vs fall.”
herto þei both held vp þer hand
and sayd, “this cunnand kepe we sall.
þou and þi meneȝe both
sall well be sayued,” þei say.
þei went withowtyn wothe
ouer the flome the euyn way.

229

Vnto Josue þei reckynd ryȝt
of Jerico all poyntes playn,
And wher þei suld muster þer myȝt
to wyn yt well with owtyn payn;
And how þei [had to] Raab heyȝ
so þat scho suld be saued certayn,
By cawse scho sayued þem in the nyȝt,
when bayles suld þem haue slayn.
þei loued god with gud wyll
þat þo ȝong men so ȝemed,
And hetes yt to fulfyll
and do euyn os þei demed.

230

Josue bad the pepyll pray
and honer god with mayn and mode,
And ordan þat on the thryd day
suld þei passe furth ouer the flud.
The suns of leuy, be for went þai
berand the arke of god full gud.
Thei fand þer wath and redy way,
wher neuer folke be fortym ȝode.
Wemen and chylder ȝyng
then next þem fowled fast.
The flud sessyd of fluyng
whyls all the pepyll past.

231

When þei war past, both best and man,
the stremys wex agayn full strang.
þei loyge þem in canan,
þat land þat þei had coyuet lang.
Elyaȝar has ordand þen
þat certan men sone suld gang
ffor twelf stones to the flome Jordan
and make an Auter þem amang.
þei purueyd sone a place
wher god honerd suld be.
Ther held þei fest of pasce
with grett solempnite.

232

And [when] the solempne day was done
And all the folke refreyshed were,
Josue semled hys host full sone
of lysty men, both lesse and mayre;
Pristes and dekyns gart he gone
and beyr goddes arke vp þem be forne.
To Jerico þei went ylkon
and hastely, when þei come þore,
A day Jornay abowt
be strengh þei haue dystroyde.
þen þei with In had dowtt
full sone forto be noyde.

233

Then Josue bad the clargy gang
with all the lynage of leuy
And beyr the arke vp þem amang
abowt the town to ylk party,
And at þei suld syng solemp song
and make all maner of mynstralsy.
And yf the wals war neuer so strang,
so suld god send þem þe vyctory.
“Bot o thyng I yow of warne:
when ȝe entur with in,
Sparse no manys wyfe ne barne
bot Raab and hyr kyn.”

234

“ffor scho our messyngers con sayue
when we þem sent ouer the flude.”
And also he commawnd knyt and knaue
and comyns þat with hym ȝode
þat þei suld nawder hyde ne haue
to þem selfe syluer ne oþer gud,
Bot stryke þem down with sword and staue
and stroy all þat be for þem stud.
gold to þat tabernakyll
he bad þat þei suld beyre,
To god þat dyd þat merakyll
to þem in all þer were.

235

þat þei suld kepe þis commaw[n]ment
he charegd þe ost, both old and ȝong,
And sayd forsothe þei suld be schent
þat to þem self toke any thyng.
Abowt the Cety þen þei went
full solemply [and] sanges can syng.
And on the seuynt day hath god sent
entre [e]wyn at þer awn lykyng
Wher the arke of god [can] dwell,
the folke abydyn styll.
The wals fayled and down fell,
and þei enturd at wyll.

236

So when þei had þis Cyte wun,
þei slow and brent both best and man.
Bo[t] raab, os þei had begun,
and hyr kyn þei keped as þei cane.
On Achor, þat was caryn son,
A full rych mantyll fand he þen;
he hyd yt when he had yt fun;
þat boldnes aftur myȝt he ban.
he brake goddes commawnment,
þat Josue for bede.
þerfor fele folke war schent,
and he had dulfull dede.

237

Bot how þat care be gan to com,
the story furth reherses ryȝt.
þor stud a fferrom, ner the flome,
A rych Cyte þat Adan hyȝt.
Josue semled all and sum
his knyȝtes þat ware wyse and wyȝt,
And XXX thowssand on a thrum
sent he with þo folke to fyȝt.
Bot þei þat ware with in
so boldly batell bede,
þe Ebrews, moyre and myn,
war sum slayn, and sum fled.

238

when Josue herd þis folke to flayd,
no meruell yf he war yll meued.
“Sum of our self has synd,” he sayd,
“wher for our god is to vs greued.”
lottes a mang them sone þei layd
so forto se the soth, þei beleued.
þei fand how Achor þem be trayd,
and how þe mantyll had þem myscheued.
To ded sone was he staned,
as his werke was worthy.
And Josue fast wold fownd
forto venge þ[i]s velany.

239

To Adan [he] ys wentt agayn
with XXX milia and well moe,
And when he come nere on a playn,
he parted hys pepell euyn in two:
The on half to a mowntan
preuely bad he þem go.
To tyme þe saw his syng certan,
the Cety suld þei entur so.
þei past furth preuely
In buschement so forto be.
he and hys company
A sawted þat Cety.

240

with In thei ware full sterne and stowte,
for þem had falyn so fayr be for.
Thei opynd the ȝattes and wentt owt,
all men of Armes, lesse and more.
Then Josue feyned to fle for dowt
to þei fare fro the Cyte wore;
Then to the mowntane he made a schowt
and set his syng to þem þore.
To the Cety þen þei wentt
and fand full euyn entre.
ffull fast þei schott and brentt
þat folke myȝt farre see.

241

when Josue agayn [can] loke
vnto the Cyte styfe of stone,
he saw þor fyre and full grett smoke
and sparkes fleand full gud [w]one.
To his men þen he vndertoke
þat þat Cyte to þem was tone.
he bad þem wett wele ylka noke
þat þer enmys scaped none.
All that be hynd oght dwelt
belyue ware dongyn down,
þat wentt be fore ware feld
with þem þat toke the town.

242

Ther ware the panyms put to payn;
þei had no bodes þem to beld.
And the Ebrews ware farly fayn
to se þer Enmys feld in feld.
Thrugh owt the Cyte past þei playn
and spared none in yowth ne eld.
þei gatt þer gold þat myȝt þem gayn
and oþer welth at wyll to weld.
So went þei, old and ȝong,
to þer awn cumpany
And mad full grett offeryng
to god, os was worthy.

243

When þei had wonn þis grett renown,
grett word of þem be gan to ryse,
how Jacob suns wold dyng al down
and in were how þei wan þe prise.
So was A cuntre heyȝt gabown,
and the pepyll heyȝ gabonyse.
þei sembled in þat same seson
and toke þer cownsell on þis wyse:
To putt þem furth in presse
þer land forto dyffend,
Or elles persew for peyse,
and þus þer consell kend.

244

þei toke twelfe of þat same Cete,
qwylke þat þei for most cunnand knew,
And sent þem vnto Josue
for sympyll peyse forto persew.
þei sayd, “we cum fro far cuntre
with ye, ser, forto take peyse and trew;
B[y] our cloghys þat may þou se;
when we went furth, þen ware þei new.
Or we wyn hom agayn,
wyl be full mony a day.”
þei toke trewse by þis trayn,
and fast þei went þer way.

245

when Josue þus þer peyse had sworn,
he trowed þem folke of full far land.
Bot hym was told sone on the morn
þat þei ware neghbours nere at hand
Of canan—þis toyȝt hym scorne—
Not III days jornay þens dwelland.
Bot for sewrty was fest be forn,
he sayd þe peyse suld stably stand,
So þat þei suld not fall,
þat land whyls þei wonned in,
To bere wode and fuell
þer sacurfyce to be gyne.

246

kyng of ierusalem herd tell
of bayle þat in þat land be gan,
how þat the chylder of israel
ware comyn fare ouer flom iordan,
And how þei hade wun þem o mell
fyrst Jerico and sythyn Adan
And gabonyse with þem to dwell.
þat mad hym a full mornand man.
hee sayd hys men to ryse
and prestly to persew
To stroy the gabonyse,
for þei had takyn trew.

247

ffor IIII kynges sone had he send,
qwylk well he wyst [wold] with hym [l]ast.
To gabonyse wyghtly þei wend
þem and þer Cytes down to cast.
Bot Josue wold þem dyffend,
ffor þei in fayth war festynd fast.
with his meneȝe þem to amend
to paynyms planly ys he past.
he tokyd [þem] in þat tyme
so þat þer fled bot fone,
ffro on howr aftur prime
to fowr howrs aftur none.

248

hym toyȝt the day went hastely;
þerfor he prayd god for his grace,
And god of hys gud curtasay
lenghed þat day II days space:
he made the sone to stand for þi
and passe not furth his kyndly pase,
Tyll Iosue had the vyctory
and ouercomyng of all hys foyse.
Sqwylke grace os god dyd þore
Agayns the cowrse of kynd
was neuer seyne be fore,
als fere os men may mynd.

249

The paynyms os in parke war pynd,
to byd þem batell was not to abyd.
The fyue kynges held þem be hynd,
and [in] a hole þei haue þem hyde.
Bot Josue furth can þe[m] fynd.
þat he was kyng þore well he kyd.
þar handes to þer bakkes gart he bynd,
and on this wyse with þem he dyd:
he gart þem lyg on lang
apon the grownd þor grayd
And Ebrews on þem gang,
and þus to þem he sayd,

250

“Als ȝe fare with kynges fyue
þat sulse þem heyr vnder your fette,
So sall ȝe be lordes in your lyue
of paynyms kynges, her I yow hett,
And haue maystry of man and wyfe
þat wyll no to yow make þem mett.
þer sall none stand with yow to stryfe,
whyls ȝe [your god with gud wyll] grett.”
þen gart he hang þos kynges,
als oþer had bene be fore,
And sythyn of oþer thynges
sone made he maystur more.

251

Sex Cytes wan þei þat same day
and on the morn als oþer mo.
To galgala þen toke þei way
vnto þer frendes þat þei wentt fro.
Of all þis fayre full fayn ware þei
and thanked god wher so þei go.
þen made þei m[y]rth and mekyll play;
þei wyst of non to werke þem wo.
Bot sone aftur þei war
noyd of new maner:
Kyng Jabyn of Dasore
geydderd full grett power

252

Of kynges and dukes and mony a knyȝt,
þat wysly cowd the wepyns weld;
Thre hunderth chareottes hath he dyȝt
of vetell and tentes with to teld,
ffowr hunderth thowssand folke to fyȝt
ffull well at hors with spere and scheld.
To see þat was a semly syȝt
when þat þei fared furth on the feld.
When Ebrews con þem se,
þei ware adred sum dele,
Bot god sayd vnto Josue
he suld ouercom þem well.

253

Duke Josue and fynyes
wold take no tyme to tary lang;
þei putt þem furth full fast in presse
agayns þer enmys forto gang.
þer was no poynttyng vnto peyse
bot ylk man his fere to fang.
The Ebrews con euer incresse,
bot p[a]ynyms toyȝt the stoure full strang:
þei had no strengh to stand
a gayns goddes folke to stryfe.
Of IIII hunderth thowssand
þer leued bot few on lyfe.

254

þer chareys was fest on fyr ylkon
with vessell and with mony a tent.
þei spoled and spylt and spared non,
tyll all was wast and schamly schent.
Bot tresour to þem haue þei tone;
Cytes and burghes haue þei brent.
When þei had wonn so welth gud wone,
to galgala a gayn þei went.
þen was none leued in land,
kyng ne prince with pryde,
þat þem durst more gayn stand,
ne in batell þem abyd.

255

Ne forto fle war leued bot fone;
þei conquerd all þos cuntreys clene.
Thyrty kynges to ded was done
with owtyn Dukes and knyghtes kene.
Bott all þis werke was not wroght sone;
þei toke full mony tym be twene.
Then forto noye þem fand þei none,
bot all on myrth þei wold mene.
þei made grett sacurfyce
vnto god allmighty
wyt wrschepe on this wyse,
als yt was well worthy.

256

Duke Josue þen folke [a]rayse
on sylo, þat was A solempne syȝt.
And all þus to þem he says,
“heuys vp your hertes to god on myght
And wrschep hym with wyll all ways
þat now hath fulfylled þat he heyȝt
In abraham and in ysac days,
þat þei suld haue þis remes be ryȝt
To þem and þer of spryng
and weld yt with honowrs;
ffor now is all þat hetyng
fulfylled in vs and ours.”

257

“The grownd þer of in þem be gane
and past furth to þer progenyte.
yow menys how moyses commawnd þen
to vs and to all our cumpany,
'qwen ȝe haue conqwerde Canan
and hath yt at your awn maystry,
Depart yt als wele os ȝe cane
to the twelf kynradyns communly'.
þus was his bydyng last,
and so part yt we sall.
Sythyn sall we lottes cast
qwylke part to qwylke sall fall.”

258

Ten of the wysest furth can fayre
and [m]ett the land in lengh and bred.
when þei had done þat charge and charre,
agayn then hastely can þei sped.
Then Josue, and Eleȝaar
to ylke a kynradyn toke gud hede
And gafe ylkon aftur þei wayre
mony or few þer on to fede.
So wentt þei all and sum
aftur þer cowrse was cast.
And þei be ȝond the flome
vnto þer partes past.

259

Qwen XX ȝeres war full spend
fro tyme þei past flome iordayn,
þen Josue full clere kend
þat he most passe by kynd of man.
Aftur the Ebrews hath he sent,
and to þem þus sayd he þan,
“Syrs, I may no langer lend
to gouerne yow, ose I be gan.
My tyme neghys nere
þat me behouys fownd yow fro.
My consell sall ȝe heyre
and takes gud tent þer to.”

260

“honowrs god euer, old and ȝyng,
and kyndly kepes hys commawndment.
And coueyttes now non oþer kyng,
bot trows in hym with trew entent.
whyls ȝe do so, all erthly thyng
þat nedfull is [is] to yow sent.
And what tyme ȝe breke þis bydyng,
full sodanly ȝe sall be schent.
hath mynd, both more and lesse,
what dedes he for yow dyde
And of seyre grett kyndnese
he to your kyndradyn kyde.”

261

“he lede þem fayr fro fayran
and mad þer way thrugh waters clere
and drowned þer enmys ylkon
þat none with noye myȝt negheþem nere,
And sythyn in wyldernes [gud wone]
sent þem [of] foyde full XL ȝere.
This land to þer lynag alon
he heyȝt, and now ȝe haue yt here.
þerfor for geyttes hym noyȝt
b[ot] neuyn hym in your nede.
whyls ȝe of hym hath toyȝt,
all way ȝe sall well spede.”

262

“I warn yow all so and all Ebrews
þat ar of Jacob kynradyn knawn
þat ȝe comyn not with Ca[na]news,
nor with non nacon bot [your awn];
ffor yf ȝe mell yow with swylke sch[r]ews,
in donger sone sall ȝe be [drawn].
And whyls ȝe vse all honest thews,
full sauely sa[ll] your sede be sawn.”
þus lerned he lest and most
to eschew all yll thyng.
And then he gafe his gost
to goddes awn goueryng.

263

þus qwen þis nobyll Duke was Ded,
the folke made doyle withowtyn drede.
And whyls þei wroyȝt aftur his rede,
þei had lordschep of ylke led.
Eleȝaar, ther sufferan hed,
the same way sone aftur ȝode.
And hys sun fynyes in his sted
was ordand furth þos folke to led.
This boke ys of Josue
sen tyme þei past the flome,
And oþer new say sall we,
þat is called Iudicum.

Judicum

264

when Josue, þat gentyll knyȝt,
was hent to heuyn, ose men may here,
The Ebrews, men of grett myȝt,
þen leued in myrth full mony A ȝere.
And forto wyn þat was þer ryȝt
sadly þei soyȝt on sydes sere,
And fynys for þem to fyȝt
ferd with the folke both farre and nere.
þe Cyte of salem
in þe sort of byniamyn,
Sythen cald ierusalem,
þat went þei forto wyn.

265

The Cyte was both lang and wyde,
warded and walled full well for were.
þei segede yt on ylka syde
with men of ermys and oþer geyre.
The cananews war bold to byde,
þei dowtede non to do þem dere.
Bot at the last layd was þer pride;
þei fand full fe[w] folke þem to fere.
had þei lufed god lely,
no man myȝt þem haue noyde;
þei lyued in mawmentry,
þat dyde þem be dystroyde.

266

The Ebrews enturd as þei toyȝt,
and all þer enmys fast þei feld.
þei spoled and spylt and spared noyȝt
bo[t] tresour þat þei toke vnt[eld].
And when þei hade þer werkes wroyȝt,
at home no langer þei þem held,
Bot in Ebron fast haue soyȝt
vnto Mowntans wher gyantes dweld.
When fynyes þem fand,
he stroyde þem in a thrawe
And delyuerd all þer land
to clerkes þat keped þe law.

267

þei conqwerd marches, lesse and more,
and welth enogh so can þei wyne.
Bot Salem, os I sayd be fore,
fell in þe sort of Byngemyn,
And þerfor þus was ordand þore
þat þei and þers suld dwell þer in.
þat Cyte sone can þei restore
in grett comforth to all þer kyn.
þei partyde þem amang
thresour by chaunse to chesse,
And so all can þei gang
vnto þer awn Cetyse.

268

þus ware þe Ebrews ylkon
logyde in þe land of canan.
þei had no lord bot [god] all on
forto do sewtt ne seruyce þan.
Ne forto noye þem fand þei none,
the commawnmentes kepe why[l]s þei cane.
Bot hastely þei hath mysgone,
And byniamyns folke fyrst be gane.
Both moyses and Iosue
bad þat þei suld þem kepe
ffro folke of þat cuntre
and paynems feleschepe.

269

The lordes of byniamyn lynage
to breke þis bedyng hath be gune;
when þei sufferd for certan stage,
the hethyn men a mang þem wun.
And towns lett þei for tripage,
wher in philystyyns was fun.
And paynyms, both man and page,
to be þer seruandes hath þei bun.
And euyn os þei began,
all oþer soyne assent
þat vnethes on man
toke [kepe to] þe commawndment.

270

In hertes þei war so sterne and stowt
for weltes of gud and grett maystri.
The law þem lyst not leue ne lawt
bot lyued in lust and lechery.
By cawse þei had no werre withowt,
amang þem wex full grett enuy.
And the byniamyns was most abowt
to groche and greue god allmighty.
þat was schewed in schort tyd
at the Cyte of gabaon,
next salen nere be syde,
how fowle þer þei fon.

271

þer yt be fell apon a day
prowd beniamyns with þer meneȝe
wentt in a place þem forto play
be for the ȝattes of þat Cete.
An Ebrew com þer in the way
with his wyfe, full fayre and fre.
Amang þem self þen can þei say,
“yond woman þis nyȝt weld wyll we”.
þer curstnes so þe kyd,
qwat for scath and qwatt for scorne.
ffor dedes þei to hyr dyde,
scho was fun dede at morn.

272

hyr husband þen had mekyll care;
No wonder was þof he were wo.
The body he toke and with hym bare
to his cuntre, wher he com froo.
he sent to Cetys lesse and more
to gabaon be lyfe at goo
þor forto venge þat fellows fare,
and hastely þei hafe done so.
Bott þei þat wroght þis woghe
with in ware sterne and stowt;
Ten thowsand sone þe sloghe
of þem þat ware with owt.

273

Then ware þe Ebrews put to payn,
ffor þat asawt full sore þem rews.
ffor fynyes þen was not fayn
of the feyghyng, for all ware jews.
his host he sembled sone agayn,
and to þe rebels he remews.
XX milia sone ware slayn,
for with þem wold he take no trews.
Both wyf, chyld and page
þei byrttynd sone and brent.
So was all þat lynage
for þer sy[n] schamly schent.

274

By cawse þei toke þe trew manys wyfe,
þat progenyte was put to p[y]n
Bot sex hunderth þat fled on lyue.
þer lyued no mo of all þat lyne,
Qwylke aftur, qwen þei toyȝt to th[ryue],
with oþer Ebrews acordy[d] syne.
And stylly so with owtyn stryfe
þei saued þe sort of beniamyne.
All þer possessions playn
to þem þei con restore
And so ordand agayn
XII, os þei ware be fore.

275

In gabaon þei con þem sese
with oþer cytes large and lang.
þen leued þe Ebrews all at ese;
wold non with greue agayn þem gange.
Als lang os þei wold god plese,
was non in ward to wyrke þem wrang.
And when þei melled oþer ways,
sone mengyd myschef þem amang.
[When they left moyses law
and to mavmentres theym mende],
So Cananews couth knaw
þat god was not þer frend.

276

Then fynyes dede aftur tytt
þat þem to maynte[n] euer h[ym] melled.
þei folowd all þer flesch delytt,
and god his helpyng from þem held.
þen Cananews with owt respett
dang þem down qwer so þei dweld:
þus scaped þei not vndyscumfeytt;
fylysteyns in feldes þei felled.
þus aboyde þei sorows sere,
and no wrschepe þei wan.
þis lastyd XX ȝere,
and þus fell aftur þen.

277

A semly man, þat Cenys hyȝt,
of Iudas generacion,
he proferd hym for þem to fyȝt
and vnto batell mad hym bown.
Phylysteyns he putt to þe flyȝt
and feld þer foys in feld and town.
Sythyn XL ȝere he rewled þem ryȝt
and dyed sone aftur þat seson.
þen sone the folke can fon
and wroyȝt as wryches vnwyse.
So come to þe kyng Eglon
with full mony moabyse.

278

he conquerde cuntres to and fro
and greued þem with full grett owtrag:
Sum to byrn and sum to slo
and sum þei sett in sere seruage.
he toke þe Cyte of Ierico
and putt the pepyll to pay trypage.
hyt was his ded, for he dyed so;
his lordschep last bot a lytill stage.
An Ebrew, þat hyȝt howade,
þat well cowd plese and playn,
Made kyng Eglon oft glade
with fals talyes þat he cowd feyne.

279

ffell on a day þe kyng and he
ware in a chamber þem alone.
he slogh þe kyng in preuyte
and laft hym ded styll ose a stone.
And he wentt in the same Cete
and warned þe Ebrews ylkon
And bade þei suld son arayd be;
þer enmys suld als tytt be tone.
When moabyse wyst þer kyng
was so dede, sone þei remeued
And fled both old and ȝyng,
and Ebrews fast persewed.

280

In þat persewyng hade þei payn:
þer wold no cety þem socour.
X milia of þem was slayn,
so ware þei stound in þat stoure.
The Ebrews can [þen ordand]
howade to be þer gouernowre.
To XVIII ȝeres was past playn,
full s[u]rely saued he þer honour.
Then re[gn]ed Senagar,
þat VI C ons sloght
Of panyms, þat prowd ware,
with a soke of a ploght.

281

Sythyn Ebrews assent to syn
and cowd not kepe þer laws clene,
þen com on þem kyng Iabyn
with cananews þat ware full kene.
he wold no sesse to slo and byrn,
bot sone aftur hade he tene.
Two Ebrews, comyn of gentyll kyn,
In batell to hym þem betwene.
Barrett and Debora
þus ware þei named þore,
And well gouerand þei two
full XL ȝere and more.

282

When XL ȝeres was fully past,
for þei to god ware euer grochand,
In grett dyscumforth war þei cast
for hungar þat fell in þat land.
And VII wynters, so lang yt last,
to sympyll folke no fode þei fand.
þen vnto god þei cryed full fast
and prayd his help with hert and hand.
ffor als þei fayled mett,
ȝett had þei mo enmys
þat dyde þem greuance grett,
madyans and malachys.

283

when þei to god þer kayrs knew
how þ[ei] a gayns hy[s] wyll were went,
On gedion, a gentyll Jew,
of þer awn lynage, hath he lent.
And for he in his trowth was trew,
god hath his angell to hym sent,
like vnto A man in hyd and hew,
and told hym how his maker ment
fforto aray hym ryȝt,
both hert, hed and hend,
And þen wend furth to fyȝt,
goddes folke forto dyffend.

284

Gedeon was þat same morne
purueyd in a preue stede
To clepe his schepe and thresch his corne
so forto ordand cloghes and brede.
The angell þat com hym be forne
and broyȝt bodword os god hym bede,
he wened full well yt had ben scorne.
þerfor he was full wyll of rede
And toyȝt he suld asay
by some experiment
Whedder yt ware trew or nay
þat god his seruant had hym sent.

285

A flesse he sprede be for his fette
on þe erthe and all nyȝt lett yt ly.
he sayd, “yf þis flese be wett
to morn at morn and þe moldes dry,
þen wyll I trow and hertly hette
þis message is of god allmighty.”
On the morn full drye was all the strett,
and þe flese wett, þat was ferly.
þen þe contrary
he ordand at euyn latte:
At þe morne the flese was dry
and all the ways full waytte.

286

Gedion þen trowed with trew entent
þat þies tokyns was trew and ryȝt.
he told þe folke goddes commawndment
how he suld þem dyffend in fyȝt.
he samed sone by on assent
IX milia to beyre armys bryȝt.
And god hym wysched, or euer he went,
forto a say þem in his syȝt.
he sayd, “wende to the flome
with all þi folke in fere
And make þem all and sum
to drynke of þat water clere.”

287

“All þoo þat on þer fette vp standes
and fenys not for scheld ne spere
Bot takes þe watur vp with þer handes
to drynke, þo sall do enmys dere.
And þo þat lyges low on the sandes
to drynke os a mule or a mere
ledde þem no ferther to oþer landes;
þei ar not worth to wend in were.”
When þei com to þe flude,
ylkon heldyd down his hede.
Of þo þat euyn vp stude
ware bot thre hunderth leued.

288

When gedion saw þat y[t] was so,
his hert be gan to houer and hone:
he wyst pa[n]yms wer mony moe,
for of his folke wer left bot fone.
Bot god bad he suld boldly go
and mell with þem both morn and none.
“ffor sone”, he sayd, “þou sall þem slo”,
and als he demed, so was yt done.
Oreb and ȝebe þei two
þe hethyn folke con lede,
ȝebee and salmana,
þo IIII dyed at þat dede.

100

289

All ware þei dede and dyscumfeyt,
þe hethyn [folke] fully in fere.
Bot all þis was not done so tytt;
þat batell was full strang to stere.
Gedion to rewle þem had respeyt
in rest and pese full XL ȝere.
he leued lyfand with owtyn lyte
sexty fayr suns of wemen sere.
The eldyst, abymalech,
putt his brethyr to pyn;
he wrogh a wofull cheke,
þat slogh fyfty and neyne.

290

When he had so his brethyr sloyn,
of sychym was he soueran syre.
Bot god hath vengiance on hym tane
þat sone he past fro þat empyre:
hys armys was strekyn of with a stone;
he serued to haue no bettur hyre.
Then ware þe Ebrews left alon;
ylkon myȝt do þer awn desyre.
Of god þei had non aw
for gold and grett maystry.
þerfor þei left his law
and lyued in mawmentry.

291

þei mad þem goddes of gold and brasse
and sayd þo same þer seyle had sent.
þen god full gretly greued was
þat þei so wrang a gayns hym went.
Enmys he putt on þem to passe
þat þem slow and þer cetes brynt
To tym þei kneled and cryd alas
and turned to god with gud entent.
When þei þer trespasse knew,
god send þem sone socour,
On [G]epte, a gentyll Jew,
to be þer gouernowre.

101

292

[G]epte was a knyght in armys clere;
fro bayle, he sayd, he suld þem bryng.
A fayre lady he hade to fere,
and both þei lyuyd to goddes louyng.
he had a doyȝtur þat was hym dere
and no mo chyldder, old ne ȝyng.
To hyr be fell, os men may heyre,
full gret myschefe, A meruel thyng.
he send to Cetys and town,
[to] all þat [myȝt] armys beyre
And bad þei suld be bown
to wend with hym in were.

293

þen vnto god hert[l]y he hett
and mad a vowe with all his mayne:
þat yf he myȝt the maystry geytt,
als sone os he com home agayn,
The fyrst qwyke catell þat he mett
of his for goddes sake suld be slayn,
In sacrafyce so forto sett.
þus sayd he suld be done certayn.
To batell þen þei went
with owtyn more respyte.
þer enmys sone was schent,
both slayn and dyscumfeytt.

294

þen past þei home with mekyll pride
be cawse þei wan the vyctory.
his doyȝghtur herd, is not to hyde,
hyr fader suld come [home] in hy.
Be lyfe scho went, and wold not [b]yd,
agayns hym with gud mynstralsy.
When he hyr [saw], “alas”, he cryed,
“my doyȝghtur dere, now sall þou dy!”
To his hors fette he fell;
in sadyll he myȝt [not] sytte.
No tong in erth may tell
what kare his hert had hytt.

102

295

So when he myȝt hym selfe stere,
he toyȝt in hert how he had heyȝt:
To slo þe fyrst þat suld apeyre
and sacrafyce yt in goddes syȝt.
“Alas”, he sayd, “my doyȝghtur dere,
for my doyng þi dede is dyȝt.”
Scho prayd hyr fader to mend his chere
and mad hym myrth all þat scho myȝt.
þe more þat scho mad glee
to comforth hym with all,
þe more sore hert had he,
for he wyst how yt suld fall.

296

“A, doyȝtur”, he sayd, “I made a vowe
to god when I to batell wentt:
yf I of panyms myȝt haue prow,
what so com fyrst in my present,
þat suld be slone; þat same ys þou.
alas for my sake now bees þou schent.”
“ffader”, scho sayd, “I beseke yow
be trew and tornes not your entent.
ffor bettur is þat I dye,
þat may no thyng a vayle,
þen so fayr cumpany
os ȝe broyȝt from batelle.”

297

“Sen ȝe heyȝt sacrafyce to make
to god þat gouerans gud and yll,
leues it not, [fader], for my sake
bot all your forward fast fulfyll.
Bot graunteys me grace two wekes to wake,
to speke with lades lowd and styll
And of maydyns leue to take,
and þen do with me what ȝe wyll.”
he gafe hyre leue to gang
with grefe and gretyng sore.
All þat scho come amang
ay menyd hyr more and more.

103

298

So went scho furth to mony a frend,
þat for hyre Syghyng sayd alas.
All weped for wo os scho can wend
when þei wyst how þat it was.
And when þe tyme drogh nere þe end
þat hyr [fader] assygned has,
Scho went agayn with wordes hend
and proferd hyr with payn to pas.
þerfor hyr fader noyȝt leued;
his sword in hand he hent
And swythly swopped of hyr hede
and bad scho suld be brent.

299

grett sorow yt was þis syȝt to se;
all weped þat wyst of hyr wo.
Bot most sorow in hert had he
þat heddyd hyr and had no mo.
Swylke folys suld men [be] fayn to flee
and be abayst or þei vow so.
ff[o]yle [v]ow is bettur to broken be
þen man or woman sak[l]es slo.
Sex ȝere gouernd Gepte Ebrews
and saued þem from all angers yll
of phylysteyns and cananews,
and þen he dyed os was goddes wyll.

300

Next aftur gepte regned abessan,
os clerkes knawn þat con þeron.
grett wrschep in his tym he wan,
and aftur hym regned Achyron.
Ten ȝere and XX aftur þan
gufernd a gud man, hyȝt Abdon.
And sythyn þei hade no mayster man,
þat mad þem fowly to fone:
þei forsoke goddes seruyce
and to Mawmentes þam ment.
þerfor with sere enmys
sone ware þei schamed and schent.

104

301

To god þei fast con call and crye
and dyd grett penance for þer plyght.
And he ordand þen helpe [in] hye.
An nobyll man, þat Many hyȝt,
was haldyn chefe of chewalry
and had to wyfe a worth[y] wyȝt.
Bot chylder bare scho non hym by;
þerfor scho drowped day and nyȝt.
Grett mornyng made þat myld
and prayd in town and feld
þat god suld send sum chyld
þat myȝt þer welthes weld.

302

So ose scho prayd with hert and hend,
hyr selfe alone in her selere,
An Angell saw scho by hyr lend
in forme of man with face full clere.
“woman”, he sayd, “þi mornyng mend;
god takes entent to þi prayer.
A sone he sall to þe send,
þat sall gouerne þo folke in fere.
Of myȝt sall none be more
on mold amang man kynd.
I warne þe þus be fore,
as þou sall forther fynd.”

303

“The Ebrews þat in bayle ar brast
sall he dyffend with forse in fyȝt.
Cutt not hys hare [of] for no hast,
for þer in sall be most his myȝt.
Ne lycour loke he non tast
to make hym dronkyn day or nyȝt,
ffor þer with may his wyttes be wast
to werke wrang, all yf he be wyȝt.”
When he had told þis tale,
no ferther of hym scho fand.
Scho toyȝt hyr hert was hale
for ioy of þis tythand.

105

304

vnto hyr lord sone can scho tell
of all this case, os scho can kayre:
how scho was werned with goddes angell
to beyr a chyld to be þer ayre,
And how he suld be ferse and fell
and his forse in his fax suld fayre.
The gud man sayd, “no more þou mell;
of swylke dedes I am in dyspayre.”
he trowde yt bot a trayn,
and to hym self he sayd,
“Sum foyle to make hyr fayn
hath broyȝt hyr in þis brayde.”

305

þan all þof scho be fore was glade
throgh bodword of þe angell bryȝt,
Sone was scho sore and sume dele rade
by cause hyr lord sett yt so lyȝt.
Scho prayd to god with semland sade
to send sume tokyn to his syȝt
So þat he myȝt haue, als scho hade,
gud hertyng from heuyn on hyȝt.
hym selfe made sacrafyce
and prayd god of his grace
fforto wytt on what wyse
þis process com in place.

306

Sone aftur þis þen fell yt so,
as þei prayd both with stabyll steuyn,
God send his angell to þem two,
and þat same note he can þem neuyn.
Manne þen toke tent þerto
and loued þe lord of lyȝt and leuyn.
ffor when þe angell ferd þem fro,
þei saw how he was hent to heuyn.
The wyfe sone wex with chyld
and bare with owtyn blame
A barne to be þer byld.
Sampson þei cald his name.

106

307

Phylysteyns had þen maystry,
And Ebrews was with owtyn beld.
This chyld was tent full tenderly;
all wold his hele þat hym be held.
To batell bede he his body,
as sone ose hee myȝt wepyns weld.
On mold was no man so myȝty.
þe phylystyens his felnes feld
Ay whyls he leued goddes law
and keped his commawndment.
All men of hym had aw
in werld, wher euer he wentt.

308

his moder herd þe angell say
how þat hys hore suld not be schorne.
þerfor scho dyde yt wex all way;
so wex his myȝt mydday and morne.
Phylesteyns oft can he flay
þat was full fers and fell be forne,
Tyll ay at the last he lufed þer lay
and went with þem þat wold hym scorne
To þer Cyte þat heyȝt
tanna with thourys clene.
þor saw he sone a syȝt,
þat sythyn turned hym to tene.

309

Euyn os he enturd þat Cete,
a semly madyn sone he mett,
Of fygur fayre and face full free;
with full grett gladschepe scho hym grett.
hym toyȝt her semly on to se;
hys hert at all on hyr was sett,
And to hyr kynradyn carped he
þat hyr to wed wold he not lett.
þen was the phylesteyns fayn
to gare hym luf [þer lay],
ffor þei trowde by sum trayn
sum tyme hym to be tray.

107

310

he playd hym þor lang os hym lyst
with mekyll myrth be twen þem twa.
his kynrede of þis werke noyȝt wyst,
for þat Cety was farre þem fro.
his moyder morned, fro scho hym myst.
þen toke he his leue in Tanna
And turned agayn vnto his trest,
his frendes þat soiornde in Sarra.
he told þem tales to þe end
of his dedes day and nyȝt
And of þat maydyn hende,
how [he] hys hert hade heyȝt.

311

his moyder mornyd and mony moe
qwen þei herd tell of þis tythyng.
Bot no of þem durst say hym so
to wreth hym, all yf he was [k]yng.
his fader sayd be twen þem two,
“sun, yt is no semly thyng
with philysteyns vs forto go;
þei hatte vs Ebrews, old and ȝynge.
And moyses in his law
amonyst, als vs menys,
þat we suld euer vs withdraw
fro fals phylysteyns.”

312

“vs ow to lufe god allmighty,
as our forme faders dyd be forne.
Phylesteyns makes þem mawmentry
and honers þem both euyn and morn.
þerfor, dere sone, sett not þerby.
we haue þe sayued sen þou was borne;
Sayue now þi selfe fro socerry,
els may þou lyȝtly be for lorne.”
his moyder weped all way
and sayd he suld be schent.
Bot all þat þei cowde say
myȝt not turne his entent.

108

313

And when þei saw yt myȝt [not] spede
more forto lerne hym lowd ne styll,
Sum dele for luf, sum dele for drede,
þei grawntt hym to haue his wyll.
Sone afturward all same þei ȝode
þis foly forward to fulfyll,
And with fayr wordes þo folke to fede,
throw spech yf þei myȝt yt spyll.
So soyȝt þei fro Sarra
by wuddes and wastes wyld
And toke þe way to Tanna
with Sampson, þer semly chyld.

314

þen of sum torfurs men may tell,
qwylke in þat tyme to hym be tyde.
ffor os þei wentt, swylke ferles fell,
his herdenes may not be hyde.
Be hynd his frendes os he con dwell,
vnder a wud syde what so he dyde,
A lyon come hym fort[o] qwell,
for he saw none with hym abyde.
And the lyon þer he slogh
euyn his twa handes be twen
And tyll a dyke hym drogh,
for he suld not be sene.

315

when he had doyn þis doyghty dede,
þat non wyst of bot only hee,
Aftur his frendes full fast he ȝede,
os þei raked to þat rych Cete.
þor fand þei folke full fayre to fede,
of phylysteyns full grett plente.
Bot þat þei hethyn lyue can lede,
more plesand pepyll myȝt non be.
To Manne and his fere
full grett myrth can þei make
And gaf þem drewres dere
for Sampson þer sun sake.

109

316

To loke his lufe he wold nott lett
for no thyng þat myȝt be tyde.
Be for hyr frendes furth was scho sett
with mynstralcy and mekyll pryde.
Qwen Manne and þat meneȝe mett
and cause of þer comyng dyscryde,
A certan seson sone was sett
and sewrty layd for ayder syde
þat Sampson suld hyre wede
be swylke a certayn day.
his frendes was sore adrede,
bot þei durst not say nay.

317

When all was sett so in certayn,
þei soiournd þor bot schort seson.
ffull fast þei hyed þem home agayn
to sarra, a Cety of renown.
Sampson was of þis fayre full fayn;
to batell fast he made hym bown.
he kyd þat he was mekyll of mayn;
phylesteyns oft fast dang he down.
þai þat ware all abufe
and leued ay so to last,
he putt þem to reproue
in all place wher he past.

318

All Ebrews folke he can dyffend
and made fre þat be fore was thrall.
And when þe tym come nere þe ende
þat was ordand amang þem all,
hys kynradyn holl þat he kend
bade he to be at his brydall.
And os þei ydderward can wend,
A farly fare ȝett can fall:
þat place persayued he
wher he þe lyon slogh,
And the bayns forto se
to the dyke he hym drogh.

110

319

Euyn to þat corse hys cowrse he kest,
and sone he fand the bones dry.
Bees in þe mowth had mad þer nest;
a hony came he fand in hy.
he brake yt owt, so toyȝt hym best,
and menyd to make some bourd þer by.
Then raked he furth withowtyn rest
tyll he come to his cumpany.
with the fayrest hony he fede
his fader and moyder also,
And sythyn he brake and beyd
to oþer frendes moo.

320

And sum dele held he styll in store
forto part with his paramowre,
ffor of all wemen þat þen [wore]
of fayrnes myȝt scho beyre þe floure.
And hastely when þei come þore,
þei ware resayued with grett honowur.
And [to] fulfyll forward be fore,
assygned þei certan day and howre.
Sampson wede þat free
with both þer frendes assent
with all solempnite
and myrth þat myȝt be ment.

321

þor was solace of seruyce sere;
þei had sene non swylke bot þe same.
Both beyrys and bullys and baran dere,
þer wanted none, wyld ne tame.
Of turnamentes þer men myȝt lere;
who wold not hurle, hald hym at hame.
Bot to Sampson durst non apeyre:
All dowt his hand þat herd his name.
Be cawse he was so strang,
the phylysteyns for þi
Ordand þem amang
of trefty men thrytty,

111

322

Qwylke þei well wyst was wyse and wyȝt
and stalworthest in stede and stall,
fforto be nere hym day and nyȝt
for ferd of fare þat myȝt be fall.
And when Sampson persayued þat syȝt
and all þer gawdes, grett and small,
A reson he deuysyd and dyȝt
forto asay þer wyttes with all.
Of the lyon þat he slogh
and of þe came with hony
he made game gud enoght
forto abavst þem by.

323

“sers”, he sayd, “I sall yow tell
a taylle þat sall our bowrdyng be,
And yf ȝe thrytty yow amell
what [it] suld sygnyfye can see,
Thrytty cloghes of sylke to sell
sall I gyfe ȝow in gud degre,
And yf ȝe fayle how yt be fell,
so mony sall ȝe gyf to me.
Avyse yow in your mode;
the question þis es:
Owt of the herd come fode,
and of the swalowand swettenes.”

324

To þem þis reson he arayd
and bad þei suld þat case dyscrye.
Of þe purpas þei ware not payd,
bot his wyll durst þei not denye.
Of VII days respeyt þei hym prayd,
to be a vysed þerfor fully.
“I grawntt your askyng, sers,” he sayd,
and with þo wordes þei went [in hy].
þei dyde þer besenes
þis ylke lesson to lere.
Bot what þe menyng was
cowd þei not all cum nere.

112

325

when þei had soyȝt IIII days or V
by consell or þer clergy cle[n]e
And oft reherssed þis lesson ryue,
þei cowde not say what yt suld mene.
þen ware þei stede to strutt and stryue.
so sayd on þat had mekyll sene,
“we wytt yt neuer bot yf his wyfe
may geytt yt told þem two be twen.
Sen scho ys of our kyn,
assay hyr sone we sall.
So may we wrschep wyn.”
to þis assentt þei all.

326

Two wysest of þem to hyre wentt
and sayd, “syster, þi folke to sayue
wytt of þi maystur what it ment,
þe mater þat he wold vs craue.
ffor and þou tell vs his entent,
grett helpyng of vs sall þou haue.
And yf þou suffer vs to be schent,
þe ware os gud be grathed in graue.
Sore vengance sall we take
on þe and all þin.”
Scho sayd, “sers, for yowr sake
I sall assay hym syne.”

327

Sone afturward, when scho myȝt wyn
alon with hyr lorde to dele,
Scho kyssed hym kyndly cheke and chyn
and lett ose hyr luf was full lele.
“A ser”, scho sayd, “ȝe sall haue syne,
your hert fro me yf ȝe oght hele.
I wyll forsake both kyth and kyn
and wend with yow in wo and wele;
My hert ware comforth clene,
wole ȝe kyndly me kene
What þat mater may meyne
ȝe told to the thryty mene.”

113

328

“gud leue,” he sayd, “lett be þi fayre
to tyme þat þei haue done þer dede.
þat mater wyll I not declare
forto be neuynd for nokyns nede.”
þen sone scho sobed and syghyd sare
and feyned hyr febyll by falshede.
Scho rent hyr cloghes and ruged hyr hare,
os scho wold dye with owtyn drede.
When Sampson con hyre see
so mowrne and make swylke chere,
he sayd, “lemman, lett be;
þe lesson sall þou lere.”

329

he lered hyr fyrst of þis lyon,
how þat he slogh hym with his hand,
And aftur when þat þei come to town
by the same way os he can wend,
how he in a dyke þer down
fand the bones clene þat he kend,
And how bees þen had made þem bown
in the lyon mowth to loge and lend.
“The mowth”, he sayd, “þat ette,
and the bownes war hard and drye,
And the hony was swett;
this case þei suld dyscrye.”

330

“Bot wyfe”, he sayd, “þis þat is wroyȝt
lett no man wytt be way ne strette.”
“A ser”, scho sayd, “þat wold [I not],
for all þis werld heyre I yow hette.”
Bot in all hast þat euer scho myȝt
scho made hyre with þo men to mette.
A blyth bodword to þem scho broyȝt
of all þis fare [fro] hed to fette.
Scho sayd, “þis [is] certayn
and soth, so sall ȝe say.”
þen ware þei ferly fayn
and bold to byde þat day.

114

331

Be þis was VI days comyn and gone,
þe seuynt day was þer seson sett.
To Sampson wentt þei ylkon
and sayd, “we come to do our dett.
what ys more hard þen is the bone
amang all fude þat furth is fett,
And swettur thyng þen hony is none
in mowth, when yt is melled and mett.”
when Sampson herd þem say
so euyn vnto his merke,
he wyst full well allway
his wyfe had wroyȝt þat werke.

332

And þen persaued he properly
qwy scho so stretly can hym enquere
The question forto com by,
hyr lynage for scho wold yt lere.
þen carped he to þat cumpany
and told be fore þo folke in fere,
“I knaw all your confyderacy,
And I answer in þis manere:
what may bettur begyle
A lele man, lowd or styll,
þen weked woman wyle,
wher yt is turned vnto yll.”

333

he wyst well how thrytty wore
ordand for ȝape men hym to ȝeme.
ffor þi, all [i]f his myȝt was more,
þat [tyme] wold he not be breme.
þer falshed schewed he þem be fore
þat þe woman wysched þem well to deme.
þan langer hym lyst not soiorne þore:
he wyst þei ware [fayn] hym to fleme.
he toke his men ylkon,
all þat myȝt armes beyre,
And went to Askalone,
A Cety walled fore were.

115

334

The Cety fell, so has he fun,
to Ebrews, his helders of old,
And þen in bondeyg ware þei bown.
swylke tales to sampson sone þei told:
Phylysteyns had þe gaudes be gun;
sone ware þei feld os fee in fold.
þat Cety sone so he wun
Ebrews to weld yt, as þei wold.
þen fayrd he furth þem fro,
And so his way he wendes
To soiorne in Sarra
with his fader and his frendes.

335

þer wuned he with þem mony a weke,
for of his fayre þei war full fayn.
Of sersyns syde none he for soke;
who wold hym ware, sone ware þei slayn
Tyll at the last talent hym toke
to Tanna forto turne agayn
hys wyfe, þat he lufyd, forto loke,
for whor he lufed he cowd not layn.
All yf scho fawted be fore,
ȝett wold he frayst hyr ferr.
And so when he come þore,
he fand hyr werkand werre.

336

Sampson was for geyttyn þan,
os vnkouth man þat is vnknawn,
And scho wede with an oþer man,
þat vsed hyr euynly os his awn.
þen sampson bytturly can bane
and sayd scho suld be hanged and drawn.
And bettur consell none he cane
bot stroye þe sede þat þei haue sawn.
he was so mased and moued,
full mony he dang to dede,
And cautels he controuyd
to harme all þer kynred.

116

337

In þat same tym men suld be gyn
þer cornes into þer howse to kest.
he sembyld be a sutell gyn
thre hunderth wulfes from est and west,
And fyre brandes þat well wold byrne
full fast vnto þer taylis he fest;
þat made þem rasydly forto ryne
to all was brent; so toyȝt hym best.
Cornes and wynes he dystroyd
þat suld susteyn þer lyue.
Of swylke maner he noyed
phylysteyns for his wyfe.

338

yf he was wroth, none myȝt hym wytt;
he went and wund wher he was born.
Phylysteyns had full grett dyspytt,
for he had so dystroyd þer corne.
þei sayd þei suld yt qwykly qwytt,
and þerto haue þei othes sworne.
ffull grett ost geydderd þei full tyte
and sayd all Ebrews suld be lorne
On lese þen þei wold send
Sampson þem vntyll,
Bonden both his hende,
to werke with hym þer wyll.

339

When þat þis soynd to þem was send,
þe Ebrews made full mekyll mone.
þei had no fors þem to dyffend;
þerfor þei ware full wyll of wone.
No consell in þat case þei kend,
bot to sampson þei wentt ylkon
And told hym all þer tale to end,
and helpe bot hym how þei had none.
he bad þei suld hym bynd
be lyue, no langer sese,
Both hys handes hym be hynd
so forto make þem pese.

117

340

þen ware þei bold when he þem bade:
þei band his hend with cordes new.
Vnto þe lord[es] þei haue hym lede,
and in þat tyme þei toke a trew.
when he with his enmyse was stede,
þei wer full bown his bale to brew.
Bot of þem was [he] not a dred;
he toyȝt þei suld [þat ryot] rew.
So were Ebrews certayn
þat pese suld stably stand,
And phylysteyns was fayn,
for þei had hym in hand.

341

hys frendes wer ȝett full wyll of rede,
for þei wyst not what wold be tyde.
his enmys bed no bettur b[e]de
þen vmsett hym on ylka syde.
he herd þem deme he suld be dede,
and when þei war most in þer pride,
he stert vp sternly in þat stede.
to breke his bandes he wold not byd,
Sone ware þe[i] sonder ylkon.
þ[ei] myȝt dere hym no dele,
Bot wepyns had he ryȝt none,
and þei war armed well.

342

Non armowrs ne no helpe he hath,
bot [well he] treste in goddes grace.
And als god wold, ryȝt so yt was:
sone had he comforth in þat case.
he fand a cheke bone of an asse
full sodanly in þat same place.
þerwith of pa[n]yms gart he passe
A thowssand lyues in lytyll space;
All þat hym batell bede
ware skomfett sone and slayn.
þei ware full fayn þat flede,
and he leued alon.

118

343

he musterd þat he was myghty
amang [þem] þat ware maysters mast.
þen thanked he god full inwardly
þat hym hade helped so in hast.
ffor feghyng was his flesch so drye
þat bown he was to gyfe þe gast.
And watur myght he non come by;
in byttur bale so was he brast.
þen prayd he god in hy,
als he at his awn lyst
had send hym vyctorye,
vochsaue to sleke his threyst.

344

god was ay bown his bale to bete
and vnto beld hym forto bryng.
þe Asse bown lay at his fette,
wher with he can his enmys dyng.
þerof com watur cold and sweytt,
os yt ware of [a] well spryng.
þat slekyd hys threyst and slaked his hette.
he thankyd god euer of all thyng:
ffyrst for the lyon
he gafe hym grace to slo
And sythyn in þis seson
hath sayued his lyfe also.

345

þen wex he wygh, os he was are,
by wonder werke þat þer was wroyȝt.
vnto his frendes fast can he fare,
þat for hym had full mekyll toyȝt.
All þat for hym be fore had kare,
he made þem myrth all þat he moyght,
And all þo þat þer enmys ware,
vnder þer bondowm hath he broyȝt.
whyls he wund in Sarraa,
all folke he fand his frend,
Bot sythyn to gasa
toke hym talent to wend.

119

346

This gasa was a grett Cety;
to fals phylesteyns yt fell.
Of panyms wonned þer grett plente
þat made grett maysterys þem a mell.
ydder wentt sampson oft to see
a damsell þat þer can dwell.
None durst hym warne wher he wold be
for talys þat þei of hym herd tell.
he fand defawtes be fore
phylysteyns forto treyst.
Bot sythyn he mett with more
þat made hym more abayst.

347

hys lufe he wold not hele ne hyde,
for no man sayng sett he by.
And so betyd yt on a tyde
to gasa past he preuely.
Bot sone phylesteyns hym aspyd,
how he come with no cumpany,
And how he buskyd hym forto abyd
and all nyȝt with his leman ly.
By þer consell þei kest
how þat he suld be tone
And raysed owt of his rest
and so sodanly slone.

348

þei wyll not fayle what so be fall;
þerfor þer ȝattes speyre þei fast
And sett gud wache apon þe wall
with wepyns þat full well wold last.
þei say no syluer sayue hym sall;
his pompe and pryd suld sone be past.
Bot Sampson hath persayued all
how þei his ded devysed and cast.
when he hopyd no man herd,
at mydnyȝt furth he meued
And fand þe ȝattes all sperred;
þat gart hym be yll greuede.

120

349

þen wyst he well he was in wath;
to god he prayd with steuyn full styll
Att helpe hym forto scape fro scath
sen all hys wele was in [his] wyll.
þor schewed he sone þat he was wrath:
both ȝattes and post[es] he puld hym tyll,
And on hys bake he bayre þem bath
to Tabor, þat was A heygh hyll.
Phylysteyns þ[at] hym hattes
þan fand a fowle affray
when þei saw þer ȝattes
both brokyn and borne a way.

350

ffull mekyll mone þei made þat morne,
and carfull was þat cumpany;
þat he ascaped þem toyȝt yt scorne,
for wo þei wyst wold fall þerby.
wher he was sum dele frend be forne,
þen was he foo and full enmy;
wher he þem fand, none was for borne
þat in phylysteyns wold affy.
þem forto schame and schend
with hand hade [he] none aw,
And Ebrews he mayntend
and gouarnd in goddes law.

351

with wemen wold he wun and wend;
he ne royȝt whedder yt ware well or wrang.
All [y]f phylysteyns ware noyȝt his frend,
of þem þe fayrest wold he fang.
In soreth can a lady lend
þat lemans lyfe had leued full lang.
hys [hert all] hale [to] hare he mend;
full mekyll myrth was þem amang.
ffor scho wold hym be gyle
with fayre chere scho hym fede.
Bot he wyst of no wyle
and was no thyng a drede.

121

352

Scho was full fayre of hyd and hew,
bot of hyr luf scho was full lyȝt.
Of hyr condicions noyȝt he knew;
Dalyda þat damsell heyȝt.
Phylysteyns was euer vntrew.
when [þei] of Sampson saw þis syȝt,
ffull preuely þei can persew
to marre his maystry yf þei myȝt.
þei wyst þat woman cowde
dyssauyue hym by sum gyn.
þerfor þei melled with mouyth
to gayre þat bourd be gyne.

353

þei sayd þus, “Dalida, doyȝtur dere,
phylysteyns in þi fayth affy.
Sampson, þi felow and þi fere,
þou wott he is our werst enmy.
wold þou qwayntly of hym enquere
wher in his wyghtnes most may ly
And warne vs, for we sall be nere.
grett wrschep may þou wyn þerby.
So may þou stynt all stryue,
and gyftes we sall þe gyfe
To lede a ladys lyue,
os lang os þou may lyfe.”

354

“Syrs”, scho sayd, “I sall asay
and fand sum of his fors to fell.”
Sone aftur os he by hyr lay,
full grett myrth made scho þem a mell.
Scho sayd, “gud paramowre, I þe pray
A lytyll tale me forto tell,
Sen þou so mekyll of myghis may,
wher in þi strengh is dyȝt to dwell.
So may I fully fele
how þi luf to me lys.”
he dowted hyr sum dele
and answerd on þis wyse,

122

355

“yf I ware bown both hend and fette
with cordes þat wald ryȝt well last,
So myght ylk man to be [me] mette,
for þen ware all my power past.”
þat scho hym lufed full well scho lett
tyll he on slepe was faln full fast.
Scho band hym full herd, I yow hette,
and þen A grett cry vp scho cast,
ffor þei þat can aspy
suld wyn hym in þer weld.
he stert vp stalworthyly;
of hyr fayre noyȝt he feled.

356

he wyst nothyng how scho had wrogh,
for he persaued no perell ȝett.
And þat hyr warke was wast, hyr toyȝt;
þerfor scho frest a noþer fytt.
Scho sayd, “ser, and þou luf me oght,
þou wold not se me soroand sytt
And namly for a thyng of noyȝt,
qwylke by þi word þat I wold wytt:
Wher in thy strengh is hyde.
I kepe noyȝt elles to craue.
Sythyn als þi self wold byde,
I wyll se yt to saue.”

357

he sayd, “dame, who so wold me bynd
with twanges schorn owt of a hyde,
Both my handes fast me be hynd,
þen hastely war past my pryd.”
when he on slepe ware wardly blynd,
to bynd hym wold scho not abyd.
And for phylesteyns suld hym fynd
or he was lawse, on lowd scho cryde.
he waked, os he noght wyst;
þe bandes in sonder brayde.
ffor scho hyr purpase myst,
scho was no thyng well payd.

123

358

Bot furth ȝett, for scho wold not fayle,
scho sayd, “sen I no ferther found,
yll may me lyke my long trauele
to be beswyked.” with þat scho swound.
he sayd, “who so wold take a nale
A[nd] fest yt fast in to the grownd,
yf enmys wold me þen asayle,
I suld haue no strengh in þat stownd.”
Scho broyȝt both nale and band
and fest yt when he sleped
And drof yt with hyr hand
down into þe erth full depe.

359

Scho wakyn hym þen with a cry,
for his enmyse suld here in hast.
And when he start vp stallworthyly,
þen wyst scho þat hyr werke was wast.
ffull mekyll moyne scho made for þi
and sayd, “in bayle euer I am brayst,
Sen I se grayth incheson why
þei lufe not me þat I luf mast.”
Scho sayd in yre and angere,
“sen I werke so in vayne,
I sall lufe þem no langer
þat lyst not luf a gayne.”

360

Sone has scho chosyn an oþer chare:
scho weped and wrang both he[d] and hand.
I deme hyr a dewle os I dare;
scho mad hyr als scho myȝt not stand.
Now nedes Sampson forto be ware,
les he [be] wrethed with his awn wand.
Bot for he saw hyr sogaytes fare,
he wex a foyle, and þat he fand.
he sayd, “leman, be styll,
no lenger lyst me layn.
þou sall wytt all þi wyll;
I say þe in certayn,”

124

361

“My myȝt is haly in my hare
so þat yf yt were cutt of clene,
þen suld I be of myȝt no mare
þen oþer men be fore hath bene.
Bot leman, loke þou layn þis lare;
tell yt neuer bot vs two betwene!”
“A luf,” scho sayd, “well leuer me ware
forto be kylled with cayres kene.
Derly I sall yt dyght
both [by] nyȝt and day
fforto maynten þi myȝt
in all þat euer I may.”

362

So sall sampson be putt to p[y]n,
þat maysteres mad full mony a myle.
A woman with hyr weked ingyne
has lorne þat led, alas þat whyle!
Of hyr falshed scho wold not f[y]n;
full freke scho was hym forto fyle.
Scho dyd hym drynke of dyuerse wyn
with grett gladnes hym to be gyle.
So yll wemen wyll glose
þem þat þei wold haue schent,
ffor men sall not suppose
in þem none yll entent.

363

hyre solace was to hys vn sele,
be cawse scho kest hym to be tray.
when he of wyn was dronkyn wele,
þen was hys wytt all wast away.
he fell on slepe and myȝt not fele
what folke to hym wold do or say.
hys hare scho cutt of ylka dele,
wher in his strengh and lykyng lay.
þis was a de[l]full dede
of all þat euer was told,
ffor trest of mekyll mede
made hyr to be so bold.

125

364

when þis was done, scho mad a schowtt,
for enmys suld here, þat was hyd.
he wakynd and went with owtyn dowt
forto haue done, os he are dyde.
Bot fals phylysteyns flokked abowt;
to bynd hym sore non thurt þem byd.
And both his eyn sone putt þei owt,
be cause no kyndnes suld be kyd.
To ga[ȝa] þei gart hym [ga]
both blynd and bun in bandes.
And þe dewle Dalyda
was made lady of landes.

365

he þat myȝt fell all folke be forn,
now is he fast with feturs fest.
Phylysteyns fast can hym scorne,
for he had bene a greuus geyst.
At qwernes þei gart hym grynd þer corn,
and fylth oft in his face þei kest,
And grett byrdyns þat suld be borne
to gayr hym beyre so toyȝt þem best
þo fellows folke ware fayn
to se hym fowle fare.
Ebrews ware put to payn;
his kynradyn had gre[t] kare.

366

In byttur bayle þus can he byde,
ay bon to beyre what þei wold byde.
All way with hym þei flott and chyde,
bot in þe meyn tyd þus be tyde:
his hare was waxin sum dele syde,
wher in his strengh was holy hyd.
þerfor to venge hym he aspyd
on dedes þat dalyda hym dy[d].
Thrugh hi[r] gyltry was he
full yll turment and tened,
And venged wold he be,
yf he hym self suld schend.

126

367

ylke ȝere þei vsed to make a fest,
qwylk may not fayle, bot yf þei fon,
And sacrafyce full mony a best
vnto þer god þat heyȝt Dagon.
And now þei mad yt more honest,
for þei had maystry of sampson.
ydder þei semled, most and lest,
and broyȝt hym to be wonderd on.
As a best þat was blynd
he balturd furth þem by;
Both be fore and be hynd
þei bunsched hym bytterly.

368

In a palays þei hath purvayd
þer mangery with mekyll pride.
ffull ryally it was arayd
with wyndows and with wardes wyd.
Bot all on heyght þe halles was grayd
and selers be neth in to abyd,
And on a pyller war þei brayd
þat bare vp all on ylka syde.
Sampson be for had seen
þe purpase of þat place;
he toyȝt at turne to tene
þer sang and þer solace.

369

he prayd a boy þat lufed hym best
vnto þe pyler hym forto lede
þat he þer by his bake myȝt rest,
for of swylk helpe had he grett nede.
Dame dalyda on deese was drest
with mony a wyȝt in worthy wede.
The pyler gart he bow and brest
þat all þe halle in sonder ȝede.
yt bare down man and barne
and slew þem all at ons
Bot þe boy, þat he can warne
to wend owt of the wons.

127

370

Ten milia phylysteyns and mo
gart he be lorne in lytyll whyle,
All for he wold þat woman slo
þat with hyr gaudes can hym be gyll.
Sampson hym selfe was ded also;
he mogh not passe from þat perell.
So wakynd weyre and mekyll wo
all throw a wekyd woman wyle.
The Ebrews all and sum
gouernd [he] XX ȝere.
Thus endes Iudicum,
bot more ȝett men may lere.

Ruth.

371

God þat weldes both wyld and tame
in all our spekyng be our spede
fforto be gyn withowtyn blame
þis boke and make yt for our mede.
A woman, þat heygh ruth be name,
now forto neuyn of yt is nede.
And this boke is named of the same,
þe boke of rewth so we yt rede.
Scho was playn pupplyst
of kynred fayr and gud.
Of hyr kynred com cryst
and of þe jewes gentyll blud.

372

Aftur sampson dede, þat was dughty,
of whom we told in tym be forn,
Of Ebrews reygned on Ely
þat mayntend þem both euyn and morn.
And in bedlem, a burgh þer by,
on Emalec was bred and born.
he had a wyfe, heyȝt Neomy,
[and in þer tyme] fell defawt of corn.
Semly suns had þei two:
þe on was named chelon,
And þat oþer of þoo,
he was named Maalon.

128

373

hungur was in þat reme so ryfe,
all Ebrews mad full yll chere.
Emalec toke chylder and wyfe,
and went þer way þei fawre in fere,
To paynyms land to lenght þer lyfe,
wher corn enogh was and not dere.
And þor þei wund with owtyn stryfe
with moabyse more þen tene ȝere.
A wyfe þor wed chelon,
orafayn, a woman wyse.
Ruth mared with maalon,
a paynyn of grett price.

374

Of Ebrews born both ware þe men,
of Iacob kynd and jews cald;
Phylysteyns ware þo fayre wemen,
and paynyns law holy þei held.
On þis wyse ware þei wede þen
agayns þer law, bot so god wold,
ffor crist suld com, os clerkes ken,
of both þe braunches I are told.
Emalec and his suns
in þat land le[ft] þer lyues,
And sythyn all same þor wonnes,
þe moþer and two suns wyfes.

375

Bot þen þe moþer Neomy
langed in to hyr land agayn:
hyr lyked not paynyms cumpany,
for of hyre fare ware þei not fayn.
hyr suns wyfes was full wylly
to wend with hyr, þis is certayn.
Scho tuke ruth furth to be hyr by,
and in þat land scho leued orfayn.
Of on enogh hyr toyȝt
to led þe landes throgh.
So ruth with hyr scho broyȝt
Euyn vnto bethlem burgh.

129

376

ydder þei wan withowtyn stryfe.
hyr frendes be for full fayr scho fand,
And sone þei asked hyr resons ryfe
both of hyr suns and hir husband.
Scho told how þei had leued þer lyf,
and how þei past in paynyms land,
And how ruth was hyr on sun wyfe
and wold werke euyn os þei ordand.
[She wold leve paynyms law
and lere with all hir mayne]
The god of jews to knaw.
þerfor þei ware of hyr fayn.

377

Ruth was ryȝt fayr [of hew and hyd,]
and scho lyued lely os a iew.
To geydder so furth can þei byde;
all folke hyr lufed fro þei hyr knew.
So yt be tyd in heruest tyde
when men suld schere þat þei ar sew,
Ruth sayd scho wold wend þer be syd
and glene þem corn [as for hyr dew].
“Doyȝghtur,” sayd Neomy,
“go furth in my blessyng;
Thy dyner dyȝt sall I
a gayns þi home comyng.”

378

So went scho furth on þe morne
to glene and byrdyns forto beyre.
A Boȝe, þat was in bethlem born,
A dughty man in dedes of were,
he geydderd his folke hym be forne
into þe feld his corne to schere
And fand þis woman gedderyng corn
in Doles wher scho myȝt do no dere.
he asked of þem ylkon
whethyn was þat woman fayre.
The sayd, “þe wyf of maalon;
to Emalec next hayre.”

130

379

“Scho soiourns in þis same Cety
with Neomy, þy Neuow grett.”
vnto þat semly þen sayd he,
“wend with my men to drynke and ette
And werke with þem in stede of me;
all sa[l] be þin þat þou may gette.”
Scho thanked hym with wordes fre
þat [so] vowchsaue hyr to rehete.
All day with þem scho wroyȝt;
þat dede dyd hyr no dere,
ffor at euyn hom scho broyȝt
als mekyll os scho myȝt beyre.

380

Scho told hyr dame how scho had done,
for þat scho lengyd so lang a stage,
And how boȝe bed hyr swylk a bone
and werke and take hyr werke to wage
þat Neomy toyȝt hyr allon
Amang þem forto make maryage.
Scho wyst of boȝe: wyf had he none,
and he was lord of hegh lynage.
Scho sayd, “my doyȝtur dere,
vnto my tale take tent!
To morn loke þou be nere
ay in his awn present.”

381

“And when þou hath bene all þe day
with hym and his folke in fel[l]es,
wayt at euyn well, yf þou may
lige in þe loge þat he in dwelles;
And when þou sekes, yf he ogh say,
say þat þou sekes hym and noyȝt elles
þe forto wys þe redy way
to sum maryag þat he of mellys.
loke þou be homly hyd
to mette with hym at morne.”
Euyn os scho demed, scho dyd.
Boȝe fand hyr hym be forne.

131

382

when boȝe hyr herd, he hade pety
how scho hyre mane vnto hym ment.
he sayd, “here wuns in this Cety
a ȝong man with ryue elders rent.
hym sall I make to mary þe,
or elles þe same sall I assent;
þe herytage þen weld sall we.”
þus told he hyr all hys entent.
Scho was full fayn for þi,
and als sone as scho mogh,
Scho told to Neomy
on what wyse scho had wroyȝt.

383

þen Neomy was farly fayn:
on grownd was no thyng þat hyr greued.
ffor well scho wyst hyr selfe certayn
þat ruth full sone suld be releued.
Sone Boȝe gart summond ilke [cyteseyn]
and sayd þem how þis mater meued.
And to þe ȝong man told he playn
how þat þe woman was myschewed,
And þat he suld assent
to be husband and hede,
Or els refuse þe rent
þat com of hyr kynred.

384

þe ȝong man answerd curtasly
and sayd þus in þar aller syȝt,
“I luf an oþer to lyg me by;
hyr wyll I hold, os I haue heyȝt.”
þen answerd Boȝe, “ruth wed wyll I
and haue hir rent os [yt is ryȝt].”
To þis acordes this cumpany,
so wedded he þat worthy wyȝt.
The rent he con restore
vnto hym and hys wyfe.
Os elders dyd be fore,
he vsed yt in þer lyfe.

132

385

In the spowsall ware þei copyld clene;
os god wold, so was done in dede.
he was Ebrew and scho panym,
bot by goddes law þer lyfe þei lede.
A sone þei hade sone þem be twen,
qwylke obeth heyȝt who wyll take hed.
And of hym withowtyn wene
Iesse [was rutt. of hym], we rede,
how sythyn com Dauyd kyng,
þat was chefe Iuge of Iewys.
þus iesus crist wold spryng
of paynyms and Ebrews.

386

And on what wyse he sprang and spred
mone aftur com in carpyng clene.
þen ware no ledes þat lyf led
bot only Ebrew and paynym.
The boke of Ruth þus haue we rede
of faders þat be fore haue bene.
In lytyll spech we haue yt sped,
þat mony mater may be mene.
And next now aftur þis
begyns þe boke of kynges.
he bryng vs to his blyse,
þat lord ys of all thynges.

Primus liber Regum.

387

God þat gouerans all thynges
and myȝt fully made more and lese,
In whom our helpe all holy hynges,
he graunt vs grace of his gudnese
fforto be gyne þe boke of kynges
and further yt furth in fayr processe,
Als holy chyrch heyre says and synges,
and as þe bybyll proves expresse
how prophet[es] fyrst be gane
goddes priuate furth to beyre,
how kynges wrschepe wane
be dyuerse dedes of were.

133

388

Ther wuned A man in ramatha,
A gentyll Cety of þe Iury,
And his name was cald Elcana;
amang all oþer most myȝty.
he had two wyfes: on heyȝt Anna;
scho was barand of hyr body.
hys secund wyfe heyȝt fenenna,
bot scho had barns hyr husband by.
The costome þen was þore,
þat sythyn hath bene vn toyght:
No wemen wrschept wore
bot þoo þat frutt furth broyȝt.

389

helcana, þat was full wyse,
lufed Anna well, for scho was fayre.
Bot all way was scho lesse in prese,
by cawse scho broyȝt hym furth non ayre.
þei vsed þen ylke ȝere ons or twyse
vnto the tempyll all folke to care
And þer forto make sacrafyce
to god, þat gouerans erth and ayre.
And fell þat helcana
with wyfe[s] and chyld[er] wentt
þar sacrafyce to make
to god with gud entent.

390

[þei] broyȝt with þem both bred and wyne,
aftur þer folke ware fele or fone.
and þor þei sett þem down at dyne
when þei þer sacrafyce had done.
he parted þen Anna to pyne,
for vnto hyr he gaf bot one,
And to fenenna fele and fyne,
for scho had chylder and þat oþer none.
when scho saw ffenenna
for hyre chylder well fayre,
Scho weped and was full wo,
for scho no barns bare.

134

391

Scho rose and went withowtyn rest
to þe tempyll wher þe arke of god stud.
And þor scho fell in prayers prest
and prayd to god, þat gyfes all gud,
hys grace in hyre forto fest
and send a sun to mend hyr mode.
So carefull cowntenance furth scho cast
þat Ely wened scho had bene wode.
And vnto hyr sayd he,
“dame, þou takes no kepe
All [y]f þou dronkyn be.
greue not god, go slepe!”

392

“A mercy, ser”, scho sayd, “do way,
my sorow sall þou vnderstand.
To god is þat I cry and pray
to haue a sun with my husband.
And sertes, ser, yf I so may,
to god here sall [he] be seruand.”
When hely herd hyr so say,
he prayd for hyr with hert and hand.
þen sone toke helcana
his chylder and wyfes two
And went in to Ramatha,
þat town þat þei come fro.

393

Sone aftur þis so yt be fell:
Anna consaued, os god vowche sayue,
And bare A sun, heyȝt samuell,
as scho full oft cane aftur craue.
grett myrth was made þen þem amell
for comforth of þat lytyll knaue.
In þe tempyll was he dyȝt to dwell,
ose sone os he hym self can saue.
hys moyder made offerand
of hym, os scho had heyȝt,
fforto be goddes seruand
dewly both day and nyȝt.

135

394

In goddes seruyce so con he lend,
a full fayre chyld of hyd and hew.
And by XII ȝeres was past tyll end,
he cowth enogh of nurtur new:
[t]he gast of god in hym dyscend,
wher by he cowth tell talys trew.
how thynges suld both be gyn and end,
be prophecy full well he knew.
So aftur ȝeres XII
Ely, þe prophett wyse,
held Samuel nex his self
in all sufferand seruyce.

395

Two suns with his wyfe had Ely,
for samyn wuned bot[h] scho and hee:
On fynyes, þat oþer Ofny,
two semly chylder forto se.
Bot both þei lyued in lechery
and dred not god in no degre.
þer fader þem fauerd, and for þi
to fowll endyng þei fell all thre.
þe sacrafyce þei stall
to fynd þer barns brede;
þerfor þem self had bayle
and oþer of þer kynred.

396

ffor þi ys goyd e þei tent to skyll
þat haluyd thyng has forto ȝeme,
B[e] þer defawt þat no thyng spyll;
ne in beyryng be not to breme,
Ne take no thyng þem self vntyll
þat vnto goddes seruyce suld seme;
And be euer ware with werkes yll
for dow[t] of hym þat all sall deme.
And chastys þer chylder well
all way when þei do o mysse
þat þei no fawtes fele,
as Ely feled for hys.

136

397

Now wyll we rede and reherse [ryȝt]
how god to Samuell can apeyre.
As he lay slepand on a nyȝt
in þe tempyll, hys mayster nere,
he herd a voyce call hym on heyȝt,
“Samuell, Samuell!” [sithes] s[er].
he rayse hym vp and wentt full wygh
vnto his mayster with myre chere
And sayd, “ser, wyll ȝe oght,
I com yow forto kepe;
ȝe cald me als me toyȝt.”
he sayd, “nay sun, go slepe!”

398

he wentt and layd hym down agayn,
and hastely on slepe he fell.
And sone he herd þe same steuyn [certayn]
cald on hym and sayd, “samuell!”
he royse and wentt with pase full playn,
and to his maystur so can he tell.
þen Ely wyst and was full fayn
þat god apered þore þem a mell,
“go slepe my son so dere,
and yf on speke þe tyll,
Say þus, ‘lord, I am here;
tell me what is þi wyll’.”

399

he sleped in his howse at hame,
and sone when he to bed was broyȝt,
A voyce come and cald hym by name;
and [he] sayd, “lord, þi seruant vn soyȝt
wyll werke þi wyll of wyld and tame.”
þen answerd god, as hym gud toyȝt,
“All Jacob suns sall suffer schame
for wekyd dedes þat þei haue wroyȝt.
Ely þat þou wyt wunes
sall sone dye sodanly,
ffor he suffers hys suns
vse theft and lechery.”

137

400

þus sayd god vnto samuel
of fell defawtes þat folke suld fele.
vnto his maystur con he tell
how god had demed ylka dele.
And when Ely had herd his spell,
þat god was greued þen wyst he wele,
And in prayers full fast he fell
to saue hys suns fro þe vnsele.
Bot no poyntt myȝt be feld
þat samuel sayd suld sew.
ffrom þen furth folke hym held
for prophett, trest and trew.

401

Sone aftur fell þat phylysteyns
mad grett semblyng on ylka syde
Of pepyll þat were all paynyms,
for both þo names þei bare þat tyde.
On Jacob suns, þat heyght Ebrews,
come þei to were with mekyll pride
And says þei sall, what so yt meuys,
be bet or bun all þat wyll abyd.
Cetyes and towns þei breynt
ouer all in ebrews land.
Both cornys and wyns þei schent
and stroyd all þat suld stand.

402

Sone Ebrews herd and saw þis syȝt
þat forto byde þei had no beld;
Trowgh owt þer reme þei raysed ryȝt
all wyght men þat myȝt wepyns weld.
Agayns phylysteyns for to fyȝt
þei sped þem fast with spere and scheld.
Bot smertly ware þei putt to flygh,
and fals phylysteyns had þe feld.
þat day was dede and takyn
ten thowssand, says þe boke.
So god had þem forsakyn,
for þei his law for soke.

138

403

The Ebrews toyȝt both scath and scorne
þat þei suld fro phylysteyns flee.
þei sembled folk fast on þe morne
and sayd þei suld þer solace see.
The arke of god furth haue þei borne;
þer with þei wene to wyne degre.
Bot for þei had þer laws lorne,
god wold no werke ne with þem be.
Of Ebrews sone was slayne
moe þen thrytty thowssand;
þe Arke of god was tone
and led to hethyn land.

404

þus Ebrews þat was putt in prese
war all vm cast with cares cold.
ffelesteyns þer can full fast encresse,
for þei had godes arke in wold.
Bot both Ofny and fynyes,
Ely suns þat I ayre of told,
þor leued þer lyues with owtyn lesse.
and þer fader, [f]or he was old,
when he herd tythynges tell
þat his two suns was slayn,
Down fro his sege he fell
bakward and brast his brayn.

405

þus Ely and his suns was sloyn,
and Ebrews all was schent for syn.
þe arke of god from þem was gone
with fellows folk fylystyen.
þei sett yt be þer god Dagon,
for þei to hym wold wrschepe wyne.
Bot vengance sone on þem was tone:
he fell and brake both bone and skyne.
And more harme sone at hand
fell ouer all þat Cetye:
grett myse groyved owt of sand,
an vgly syȝt to se.

139

406

þei ette þo folke, both flesch and blod;
þei had no fors þem to dyffend.
þer bowels royted wher þei stod;
þer was no medcyn þem to mend.
Mony thowssand for woo were wod.
this vengiance god apon þem send,
ffor þe arke of god, þat was so gud,
was haldyn þen in hethyn hend.
þei toke consell þat tyde
and send yt fro Assoton
To a cyte þer be syde,
þat named was askalon.

407

Bot als sone ose þei toke entent
to mayntein yt þor þem amell,
All þe same harme sone had hent:
þei royted and ranked flesch and fell.
To V Cetys so was yt sent,
and in ylka place os yt can dwell,
Sone all the folke ware schamly schent,
so grett nowmer þat non myȝt tell.
þen þei toyȝt and sayd,
when þei sufferd so sore,
þat god was noyȝt well payd
his Arke was holdyn þore.

408

ffor yt gart all þat greuance groyue
of sorows þat ware to þem soyȝt.
And ȝett þei toyȝt þat poynt to proue
whedder yt was þerfor or noyȝt.
A sotell case þei can controue:
A ryall chare sone haue þei wroyȝt
And couerd yt clene[ly] aboue;
þe arke of god þore in þei broyȝt.
ffyfe myse þen gart þei make
and V rynges of gold fyne
ffor the fyfe Cytes sake,
wher folke ware putt to pyne.

140

409

Two oxin þat myȝt yt well weld
sone haue þei schosyn þat chare to draw
And led þem fere furth in to þe feld,
þe wyll of god for þei wold knaw.
þei lete þem be with owtyn beld,
none forto lede þem, heygh ne law.
þei stode of ferrom and beheld,
and þus þen sayd þei in þer saw,
“yf þe bestes bryng yt nere,
þen wyll god with vs lend;
And yf þe flytt yt ferre,
he ys not fully our frend.”

410

þoo oxin went with pace full playn
And led þe arke to Ebrews land.
phylysteyns, for þei past fro payn,
was glad þat yt was ferre from hand.
Bot bethsamys was ferly fayn
when þei þe arke in þer feld fand.
procession went þei þore agayn
and gafe to yt full grett offerand:
The oxin and the chare þei bryntt
be fore þe tabernakyll.
To þe jew[ell]s toke þei tent
in mynd of þis merakyll.

411

þen wrschept yt was worthyly.
bot for þat þei vn worthy were,
Moyses ordand in all þe jewry
þat non suld negh goddes arke so nere
Bot only þe lynage of leuy,
pristes or dekyns knawn for clere;
Thies folke was not so, and for þi
þer boldnes sone þei boyȝt full dere:
vengiance com sone vnsoyght
apon sexty thowssand.
Sythyn leuy barn yt broyȝt
and sett yt where yt suld stand.

141

412

Amynadab, a nobyll jew,
when þat he saw þies folke mysfayre,
he ordand offycers all new,
swylke os he wyst worthy ware,
Of þe most cunnand þat he knew;
and his awn sun Eleaȝare
ordand he byschop forto be trew
and tech þe folke for all swylke chare.
þen lyfed Ebrews at es
and forsoke synfull dede.
Ay whyls þei wold god plese,
of no thyng had þei nede.

413

Samuel was sufferan cald
and leyrer of þer laws full lang.
Two suns he had, wyght men and bold,
þat melled þem of þe law amang.
Bot þer Iugementes oft sythys þei sold
and turned þe ryȝt oft vnto þe wrang.
And þer fader, for he was old,
myȝt noyȝt þem mare of myse to gang.
ffor pure men held þei fode
and [f]old þem mony fold,
And rych men for þer gud
myȝt werke what euer þei wold.

414

All gude men had full grett dedyne
þat ryȝt suld be so mysarayd.
And Comyn pepyll can þem pleyn
to Samuell, and þus þei sayd,
“Syr, þe semys sone to passe hene,
for eld þi face is all afrayd.
To forther vs þou suld not feyne,
our gouernance of mysse is grayd.
þerfor, ser, of þis thyng
we pray þe euere ylkon:
Ordand ouer vs a kyng
to gyd vs when þou art gone.”

142

415

“Euer ylka nacion bot we
hath kynges chosyn at þer awn chose.
And, ser, þi suns, soth we see,
þei wyll not leue our laws to losse.
þerfor A kyng in þis cuntre
grawnt vs to haue with owtyn glose.”
he wyst full well god wold not be
plessed nor payd of þis purpasse,
ffor prophettes, pristes and clerkes
gouernd all way be fore,
And god ordand þer werkes.
for þi þus sayd he þore,

416

“Syrs, ȝe wott what god hath wroyȝt
for yow and all your ofspryng:
your elders owt of bondeyg he broyȝt
fro pharo, þat cursed kyng.
he send þem fode enogh of noyȝt
in wyldernes, þat was a wonder thyng.
And to your selfe he sendes vnsoyȝt
to lyfe heyre at your awn lykyng.
he sayues yow lyth and lym.
þerfor now forto haue
Oyder thyng þen hym,
I consell noyȝt ȝe craue.”

417

“I sall yow say encheson why,
and ose I say, so fynd ȝe sall.
ȝe haue now non bot god allmighty,
[that wele may govern both grete and small.
ffro a kyng have of you maistry,]
now are ȝe fre, þen ware ȝe thrale.
your corne, your catell, ox and kye
bus redy come vnto his call.
As hym thynke yt wyll seme,
so bus yow ryde and gang
And do os he wyll deme,
wheder yt be ryȝt or wrang.”

143

418

þus preched he þem by processe playn
qwat care suld come in all swylke case.
Bot all his wordes was in vayn:
þei answerd spytfully in þat [sp]ace,
“ser, we wyll haue a kyng certayn,
as þe pepyll hath in oþer place,
To mayntein vs with myȝt and mayn
Agayns phylysteyns, [our] face.”
he heyght þem forto haue
a kyng in tyme comyng.
þei keped noyȝt els to craue;
þe[n] hom went old and ȝyng.

419

In masphat soyournd samuel
and mad gret mornyng for þer mysse.
And in þat same Cyte can dwell
A nobyll man, was named Cys.
he had a sun, Saul to tell,
a cumly chyld to clype and kyse.
And in þat same tym so be fell
þat asses was with rachyd of hys.
he bad with wordes meke
saul, his sun certayn,
wend furth his bestes to seke
and bryng þem home agayn.

420

Saul was both meke and myld
to fyll his fader commawndment.
he toke with hym an oþer chyld
for feleschepe, and furth þei went.
þei soyȝt be ways and wastes wyld
þe assys þat þei to seke ware sent.
þei fand none þat cowde be þer byld
to tell in what land þei ware lent.
Saul Sayd, “we wyll gang
vnto my fader agayn;
hym thynke we dwell full lang,
and our gatt ys in vayne.”

144

421

hys seruand sayd, “nay, ser, lett vs byde
sum bettur bodword home to bryng.
Samuel wunes heyr be syde,
a wyse prophett þat wott all thyng.
he sall vs tell in full schort tyde
of our bestes sum trew tythyng.
Sen we haue wasted ways wyde,
our help now in his hand may hyng.”
Saul full sone assent;
þis way he wold not lett.
To þe Cyte þei wentt,
and samuel sone þei mett.

422

þei prayd hym wysch þem, yf he myȝt,
to þer assys þat went ware wrang.
he sayd, “suns, dwels with me all nyȝt;
þen sall ȝe wytt, or ȝe gang.”
he saw saul semly to syȝt
and of fayr stature to be strang,
And werned he was from heuyn on heyȝt
þat he suld be kyng Ebrews amang.
ffolke dyde seruyce þat day,
full grett ose custom kend,
And to god can þei pray
sum gud kyng þem to send.

423

And when þat wrschepe was all done
and tyme was for þe folke to twen,
The prophett at þe howre of noyne
toke þoo two chylder to his yne,
And wheder folke ware felle or fone,
he dyde saule þe deyse be gyne
And made hym to be serued sone,
als he ware comyn of kynges kyne.
Ebrews had all ferly
why þat þis werke was wroyȝt.
Samuel wold not say why;
he wyst þat þei wyst noyȝt.

145

424

þat he suld be kyng well he kend;
þerfor he rewled in swylke aray.
In his awn loge þat nyȝt þei lend,
and on þe morn when yt was day,
with þem he ordand hym to wende
and toke saul be syd þe way
And sayd, “þus god hath me send
all his entent to þe at say.
To I haue told my toyȝt,
byd þi felow furth goo,
ffor what god wyll [b]e wroyȝt
sall non wytt bot we two.”

425

he dyde hys seruant hym withdraw,
and þen he sayd, “saul, take hede!
god hath so ordand þat þe aw
his folke in land to lere and lede.
And for þer kyng þei sall þe knaw
and sewt and seruyce to þe bede.
Ay whyls þou lufes god and his law,
he wyll be nere in all þi nede.
And yf þou wyll ga wrang
and werke agayns his wyll,
þi lordschep lastes not lang.
þerfor take tent þer tyll!”

426

he toke oyle, os god had hym kend,
þat blessed was of god be fore,
And an oynt hym both hed and hend
and cald hymkyng and kyssed hym þore.
And sythyn to god he hym be kend
and told hym wher his assys wore
And þe ryȝt way how he suld wend,
and ȝett þat tym he told hym more.
“ffull semly chylder III,
sun”, he sayd, “sall þou mette.
Thre loyuys sall þei gyf þe
with wordes wyse and swete”

146

427

“And forthermer þen þe avyse:
in gabatha þor sall be seyne
prophettes þat ar prouyd in price
and cunnand clerkes in clergy clene.
þou sall speke with þem profecye[s]
and tell what maters may be mene.
þei sall wounder on þer wyse
and say þus, ‘wher hath saul bene?’
Sun, yf þou se in certayn
þis fulfyll in all thyng,
Trow þen with owtyn trayn
þat god wyll haue þe kyng.”

428

“Grete well þi fader as faythfull frend,
þi moyder and oþer meneȝe mo.
And when þe terme is comyn to end,
þat we haue tane be twyx vs two,
To Masphat sall we same wend.”
so ylkon cayred wher þei come fro.
þe maters þat þe prophet mened,
euyn in þer fayre þei fand þem so.
Saul sone told full euyn
his fader of all his fare,
Bot no thyng wold he neuyn
of kyndom forto declare.

429

when þe seson come þat þei had sett,
to masphat geydderd full gret wone.
þer Samuel and saul mete
with myȝt[y] Ebrews mony one,
ffor in þat place he had þem hett
to haue a kyng whore þei had none.
And lottes þei layd with outyn lett
of what kynred kyng suld be tone.
ffor so assent þei all,
and sone when þei be g[y]ne,
The lott con lyȝt and fall
on þe lyne of Beniamyn.

147

430

þen sone þei layd þer lottes agayn
[to wit which man shuld amend theire mys,
And soone it light, is noght at layne,]
apon saul, þe sun of Cys.
þen samuel sayd, “sers, certayn
be cowrse of kynd your kyng he ys.”
þe Ebrews answerd and ware fayn.
kyng myȝt he be with mekyll blyse.
he was cumly to ken,
of breyd and heyghnes als,
A bowe all oþer men
both be þe hede and þe hals.

431

þei rayssed hym vp into a stall
on heyght þat all men myȝt hym see.
þei kneled on knesse and kyng hym cal[l],
as costom was in þat cuntre.
þe[n] Samuel sayd vnto þem all,
“sers, all your ȝernyng now haue ȝe.
what fayre to yow ferther fall,
sett no defawt to god ne me.
Sen ȝe haue god forsakyn
and his doyng ylka dele
And to a kyng yow takyn,
loke þat ȝe luf hym wele.”

432

“And kepe þe lawes þat moyses kend,
leese þat ȝe ȝeld your self to spyll.”
þen lyst þem þore no langer lend,
bot ylk man went at þer awn wyll.
wyse Ebrews with þer kyng con wend
redy hys bedyng to fulfyll.
Sum oþer foyles can yt dyffend
and sayd þei assent not þer tyll.
Bot sythyn when þei saw
his gudly gouernance,
þen to hym can þei draw
for dowt of aftur chaunce.

148

433

Saul was ordand on þis wyse
kyng of þe Ebrews, all and sum.
he sett his reme in gud assyce
and wroyȝt by Samuel wysdum.
Sythyn Naas, kyng of amanys,
þ[a]t wund full ferre be ȝond þe flome,
Ordand hym redely forto ryse
with cuntreys þat to hym wold come.
Ebrews he con dystroy,
euer als he myȝt þem geyte,
And none myȝt to hym noye,
so was hys power grete.

434

he byrns þer towns and þer Cetyes
and stroys þer catell, corn and wyne.
þe febyll folke þat hym not flees
to fell [al]so he wyll not fyne.
All þat he sees sone sall chese
on of þo twa to take or tyne:
Auder the ryght Eye forto lese,
or suffer ded with dew[l]full pyne.
þus mekyll folke was slayn,
þat wold þem fend with fyȝt,
And mony was put to payn
thrugh losyng of þer syȝt.

435

So wendes he furth and neuer fynys,
bot euer his cumpany encresse
vnto he come to galadyns
in a cyte, þat heyt Iab[e]se.
þer settes he gybcrokes and engyns;
of þat sawt he wyll not sese
Tyll all with in be put to pyns.
and at the last þer cheftans chese
At ȝeld þem to Naas,
þer Cyte so to [h]aue
And wel[d] all þat þor was,
þer lyfes alone to [s]aue.

149

436

when Naas herd þer resons ryfe,
he sayd þei suld chese on of two:
he þat wyll ȝeld hym sall haue lyfe,
bot hys ryȝt Eye sall he forgo;
“And all þo þat wyll stand with stryfe
we sall not sese, or we þem slo.”
þen weped sore both man and wyfe.
þei cowd not wele þe werse of [þ]o,
Bot of pece þei hym prayd
[t]o seuyn days ware past,
“ffor sertes, ser,” þei sayd,
“no langer may we last.”

437

[þe] kyng kest hym noyȝt to remoue
bot styll to abyd in þat [same] stede.
And comforth to þem non he knew
bot þe seuynt day to suffer dede.
þerfor þat tyme hee grawntt trew,
and þei sent furth full fast on hede
To saul þat was kyng [of] new
and told how þei ware wyll of rede.
“Our carfull end we kene
bot þou vs sone releue.
Sen we ar made þi men,
helpe to mend our myschefe!”

438

when saul herd tell þis trayn,
amang his men he made grett mone
And sayd he wold dyffend þam fayn;
so sayd his ebrews ylk one.
he bad þe messyngers wend agayn
and hald þe trew þat þei had tone.
ffor socour sall þei haue certayn
or thre days next be comyn and gone.
þei wentt, as he þem bad,
full tyte vnto Iabes.
þen Gabonyse was glad
when þei happyn to haue pese.

150

439

The kyng saule in his mynd hath ment
how he myȝt semyll his pepyll sone.
Ane ox he dyd [br]yng in present
and bad he suld to ded be done.
þare of to [sere] Cetys he sent
and sayd, whedder þei had fele or fone,
þar bestes suld haue þe same jugment
bot yf þei hastyd withoutyn hoyne
To wend with hym in ware
þer enmys owt to dryfe.
All þat myȝt armys beyr
was bown to go be lyfe.

440

The kyng gart nowmer þem and tell,
þem þat suld come in company.
þei fand [of] folke of israel
sex C M men myȝty,
And of Juda als fell þer fell,
þe nowmers ar not forto dyscrye.
vnto þem all sayd samuel,
“wendes furth, ȝe sall [haue] þe vyctory.
fforto dyffend your ryȝt
þat enmys hath ou[t]rayd
God wyll enforc your fyȝt.
þerfor be noyȝt afrayd!”

441

kyng saull with his host is wun
to jabes, wher þe phylysteyns dwell.
þe fellows folke sone hath he fone,
þat sorely soiornd in þer sell.
In a mornyng be for þe sun
with all host [on] þem [he] fell
And bett þem doun os bestes bun.
þor was no more tale to tell.
Or þei myȝt wepyns weld
to were þemself fro wo,
ware þei feld in þe feld
þat none myȝt flytt þer fro.

151

442

Naas, þat wold no rawnson take
b[ot] Eyne of all þat he myȝt hent,
now myȝt no man his sorow slake
tyll Eyne and eyrs and all ware schent.
þe Ebrews now may myrthys make,
þat late be for of mornyng ment,
And fals phylysteyns for þer sake
owt of þis werld with wo ar went.
kyng Saul slogh þat day
a hunderth with his handes,
And wan wrschepe for ay
to hym and all his landes.

443

This was fyrst chaunce of cheualry
þat kyng saul fell in þis case.
grett boldnes hath his folke þerby
and grett ferdnes to all his face.
ffolke þat be fore was not frendly,
now ware þei fayn at fall to grace.
And he had myȝt þen and maystry
on all ebrews in ylka place.
þei gat, both grett and small,
þat myȝt full gretly gayn,
And home þei went with all;
þa[n] ware þe folke vn slayn.

444

þei thanked samuel of þis thyng,
for by his wytt þei wroyȝt allway.
And lowd þei kest vp a cryyng,
and to þe kyng þus can þei pray,
“yf any Ebrews, old or ȝyng,
þat ow to lyfe be moyses lay,
And wyll not knaw þe for þer kyng,”
þat þei be done to ded þis day,
All for þei suld be flayd
þat fyrst was turned hym fro.
Bot he answerd and sayd,
“god wold not we dyd so.”

152

445

“Sen god hath [Ȝ]yfyn vs vyctory
and our enmys on kares cast,
he wyll þat [w]e for gyf gladly
all þo þat to vs haue trespast.
All þat wyll mekly aske mercy
sall haue our frendschep full and fast.”
The pepyll prayssed hym fast for þi
and sayd his lordschep lang suld last.
So was all folk his frend,
and none groched hym agayn,
ffor hys wordes fayr and hend
all ware to his bod bayn.

446

Samuel says, “sers, yow avyse
qwat lordschepe god hath yow sent!
loues hym with all your sacrafyce
of all his grace with gud entent!”
So dyd þei ylkon on þer wyse,
and vnto Saul sone þei went
And raysed hym kyng. þen was yt thryse
with þe fyrst tyme þat he toke vntment.
So was he kyng hym selfe
lordschep to haue and hald
Ouer all þe kynredes twelue
þat Iacob suns was cald.

447

Now for þer names so oft tyms news,
to what entent now wyll I tell:
Of abraham ware þei cald Ebrews;
with forme faders so yt be fell.
And of Iuda þei ware cald jews
and with sum chylder of israel.
Of canan ware þei cald cananews.
so in sere cuntres os þei dwell,
Be sere names ware þei kend,
als clerkes well declare,
And god can with þem lend
ay whyls þei luf his lare.

153

448

þen samuel sayd, “sers, I yow pray
þat ȝe wyll tell heyr to your kyng
yf I dyd euer by nyȝt or day
trespase to yow, old or ȝyng,
Or toke your catell, corn or hay,
ox or asse or oþer thyng.”
þei sayd, “ser, forsoth nay!
ȝe greued vs neuer in gouernyng.”
“þen haue ȝe now mystakyn
and serued to suffer pyne,
Sen ȝe hath both forsakyn
goddes gouernance and myne.”

449

“And yf god with yow greued be,
for ȝe haue groched hym a gayn,
pray we hym, both I and ȝe,
þat he send vs sum seyn certayn
Of his greuance in þis degre.”
and soyn he sent a proyfe full playn:
Swylke wedder þat wonder was to se
of thonour, leuynyng, hayle and rayne
And frost, full fell and kene,
þat be fore was full clere.
Swylke wedders was neuer seyne
in þat tyme of þe ȝere.

450

ffor þen þei had þer har[vest] grayd
to geydder home, both wyn and corne.
þen wyst þei well god was not payd,
and þat þei had on myse þem born.
Vnto þe prophett fast þei prayd,
“haue mercy, els we be lorne.”
“I sall pray for yow, sers”, he sayd,
“bot haues mynd mydday and morn
what grace god hath yow sent,
als all your kynredes knaw.
kepes well his commawndment
and lelly lufes hys law.”

154

451

“ffor what tyme ȝe breke his bedyng,
your blyse mun with bale be blend;
And bees curtase vnto your kyng
with all your myȝt his myrth to mend;
And honers [hym] ouer all erthly thyng,
and wendes ylk man wher [h]e wyll [wend].”
And þus þei parted, old and ȝyng,
wher þei ware leuest forto lend.
kyng saul had a sun,
þat named was Ionata,
Qwylk aftur furth was fun
[gentyll] with mony ma.

452

In þis meyn tyme the kyng herd tell
of n[ew] [tythandes] þat was nere at hand:
Phylysteyns þat ware fers and fell
war enturd into Ebrews land.
In gabatha þore con þei dwell
and stroyd all þat þei be fore [þem] fand
And hasted to haue þem omell
all þat [to] armys war ordand.
And smithes smertly þei slogh
and of Iren ylk thyng,
Both fro wayn and ployȝt,
and gart yt to þem bryng.

453

þe Ebrews þen yll angerd er:
a way was born þat þem suld beld.
þei had no wepyns þem with to were,
all myȝt þei [neuer] so well þem weld.
Phylysteyns myȝt þei do no dere,
all yf þei fele say in [þe] feld.
kyng saul wold fayn þem to fere;
he hastyd hym fast with spere and scheld.
he toke thre thowsand men,
to hym self [þa twa],
þat he cowd kenest kene,
and on [to] Ionata.

155

454

And fast þei went furth on þer way
with oþer folke foloand in fere.
Sone when phylysteyns herd say
þat kyng saul suld com so nere,
þei gouernd þe[m] in grett aray
and sembled folke on sydes sere
þat sexty thowsand sone had þei
of knyghtes [kene] in armys clere
And thrytty thowsand [e]ls,
þat well myȝt wepyns beyre,
And mo þat no man tels
on futte full wyȝt in were.

455

yt was full semly syȝt to see
of charyottes and of chyvalry.
had þei lufed god in gud degre,
þen ware yt daynty to dyscrye.
when kyng saul come in cuntre
in space, wher he myȝt þem aspy,
Dred sum dele in his hert had hee
be cawse of so grett cumpany,
And for dedes þei had done
to dyuerse man and wyfe;
And his folke ware bot fone
with swylke a strengh forto stryfe.

456

Bot his kenes full well he kyd
with all hys myȝt þem forto mare.
And when his folke herd how þei dyd,
þen howped þei well forto haue ware.
Sum fled, and sum in hoyles þem hyd;
for ferd þen wold þei found no fare.
þer ware bot few with hym abyd
or þat wold negh þe pepyll nere.
when he saw þei ware gone,
h[is] teyne myȝt no man tell.
he wyst no bettur wone
bot sent vnto Samuel.

156

457

hys moyn be messege can he ma
þat he was ferd and faylyd myȝt,
how [he] and his sun Ionata
ware ordand with þer foys to fyȝt,
And how his folke ware fled hym fra
when þei of enmys had a syȝt;
And prayd hym come to gabatha,
for þore þei suld abyd hym ryȝt.
when samuel herd certayn
how stratly he was sted,
he send sone word agayn
and bad, “be noyȝt a dred!”

458

“ffor with in VII days aftur þis,
says hym self I sall be þore,
And tyll þat tyme, be gud a vyce,
þat [he] gett best[es] a bowt ay whore,
So þat we may make sacrafyce
vnto our god þo folke be fore.”
The kyng hath ordand [on] all wyse,
als he send word and sum dele more.
By cawse þe prophett dwellyd
ouer þe terme þat was sett,
The kyng more furth hym melled
þen he suld do be dett.

459

when þe tym come þat was ordand,
and no man come hys sytte to slake,
And hys men wold not with hym stand,
for wo vnwynly con þei wake,
foleherdenes he toke on hand
hym selfe þore sacrafyce to make.
Then þe prophett come and foyles fand;
he was full ferd for dred of wrake,
ffor he had messege sent
with wordes on þis wyse,
Or he com in present
to make [no] sacrafyce.

157

460

þer[for] he sentt hym sone his wage
and sayd, “had þou not done þis dede,
þi suns suld haue born heritage;
now sall no frutt be of þi sede
By cawse þou hath done þis owtrage,
þat suld not passe bot be presthed.
God hath ordand a lytyll page
aftur þi days þis land to lede.”
þus told he his entent
to þe [kyng] and Ionata,
And wroth his way he went
[agayne to Ramatha.]

461

þen was þe kyng in mekyll dred,
for hertyng of helpe he ne has.
he toke apon hym hegh manhed,
and furth full playnly con he pase.
And thre C þen with hym ȝode
of thre thowsand þat with hym was.
þat was full lytyll folke to lede
to hym and hys sun Ionatas.
Ionatas persayued þat þei
myȝt not eschew þat chaunce
To wyn wrschepe a way
bot be goddes gouernance.

462

The panyms was so grett plente;
on A hegh hyll loged þei lay.
To stroy þer strengh fast stud he
and mare þer myȝt [y]f he may.
he toke on of his awn meneȝe,
qwylke he treyst wold not hym betray,
And sayd, “felow, com furth with me!”
so preuely þei went þer way
þat none wyst bot þei two;
and euyn Abowt mydnyght
To þat hyll con þei go,
and þus þen sayd he ryȝt,

158

463

“what I do loke þou do þe same,
and þis sall be our segne certayn:
yf any of þem neuyn me be name,
þen sall we haue our purpase playn.
And yf [þei] boldly wyll vs blame
and none answer gyf vs agayn,
þen is gud þat we hast vs hame,
or els our traueyll turnes in vayne.”
þor was no way to wend
bot a strayt sty of stone.
Clamerand on knese and hende
by þat gatt ar þei gone.

464

with mekyll [payn so] can þei pase
and come into þat euyn entre.
On of þem wyst well who yt wase,
and to his felow þus sayd he,
“yonder ys comyn þe Iew Ionatas
with mony mo of his meneȝe.”
þei loked on þem, þei cryd alas;
soyne ware þei feld þat myȝt not flee.
þei ware kylled all vn cled;
none myȝt helpe oþer harmes.
Down fro þat hyll þei fled
and brake both leges and armes.

465

kyng saul sadly spyrd and spyed
þer cowntenance forto kene,
And whe[n] he herd how hegh þei cryed,
vnto þe hyll he hasted þen.
hys folke full fast to hym rel[y]ed
þat be fore dared os dere in den,
So þat he had be vnder tyde
mo þen ten thowsand feghyng men.
he saw phylysteyns fled
and full radly remowed,
his folke he fast arayd
and þen pres[t]ely persewed.

159

466

ffayn wold he venge þe velany
þat þei had stroyd both wyn and whett.
on payn of cursyng dyde he crye
þat non þat day suld tent to mette,
And who so dyd, he sayd, suld dy,
and þer to swere he othes full grett,
So þat þei myȝt haue þe vyctory
or euyn, and þen suld all men ete.
Bot hys [sun] Ionatas
with his felow furth went;
he wyst not, þore he was,
of þe kynges commawndment.

467

Agayns his strake myȝt no man stand,
he feld phylysteyns, grett plente.
So be a forest syd he fand
hony camys in a holoo tree.
Sone hent he owt on with his hand,
to hold his hert þerof ete he.
he dyd not ose þe kyng commawnd,
so greued he god in þat degre.
By þe sune was went west,
þei had wun wrschepes grett.
þen bad þe kyng þem rest
and boldly drynke and ete.

468

ffull sewrly þat nyȝt soiournd þei,
for of Enmys had þei no dred.
And on þe morn, when yt was day,
the kyng his folke wold ferther lede.
Vnto A prophett can he pray,
Achyas heyght he, os we rede,
þat he to god suld sumwhat say
and wytt yf þat þei suld well spede.
he prayd, os þe kyng hym bade,
and fraynd how þei suld fare,
Bot non answer he had.
þen was þe kyng in care.

160

469

þen trowd he sum had done trespase.
þerfor he fraynd his folke full fast,
And forto wytt how þat yt was,
lotes he cummand þem to cast.
Sone þe lott fell on Ionatas.
þen was þe kyng gretly a gast
And sayd, “my sun, forfeytt þou has;
þi lyf may now no langer last.”
þen all þo folke in fere,
when þei þe wordes herd,
Mornyd and made yll chere,
and Ionatas answerd.

470

he sayd, “sers, ȝe sall vnderstand
I forfeyt noyȝt, þat is my treyst.
I herd not how þe kyng commawnd,
ne of his wyll no thyng I wyst.
An hony combe for soth I fand
and ete þerof to slake my threyst.
yf I þerfor be law of land
sall lose my lyf, do os yow lyst!”
þei sayd all schortly, “nay,
þat was neuer goddes wyll.
Or þou suld dy þis day,
fele folke suld fare full yll.”

471

vnto þer kyng all are þei gone
and sayd, “for þi sun we wyll vs mell,
Sen he hath sayued vs euer ylkon
fro þe phylysteyns fals and fell.
So sewr a souerand haue we none
sayue þi self, þe soth to tell.
þerfor we say, and he be slayn,
we wyll no lenger with þe dwell.”
þe kyng herd and toke hede
how hertly þei hym crayued.
ffor luf and als for dred
he sayd he suld be saued.

161

472

þen ware þei glad, no wonder was;
full [mekyll] mon for hym was ment.
þei prayd þe prophet achias
þat he and þei be hold assent
Suld pray god forgyfe þat trespase,
and so he grawnted with gud entent.
þen þe kyng and Ionatas
with mekyll gold a gayn ar wentt
vnto þer places playne,
wher þei be fore had bene.
Sexty thowsand ware slayn
of fals phylystyene.

473

when þei had þus phylysteyns feld
and had ouer hand of all þer foys,
The kyng of Ebrews with hym held
of þe most hertyng þat he has.
þen was no man agayn [hym] mel[d]
bo[t] playn pece in ylka place:
þei sett and sew and boyȝt and sold
and lyfed in lykyng full long space.
he lede þem be þer law
and gouernd þem goddes bydyng.
All Ebrews, als þei ow,
honerd hym as þer kyng.

474

kyng saul had suns thre
all dedes to do at hys devyce.
Ionatas þe fyrst was he,
þat in all place wan grett price;
þe secund, semly forto se,
heyȝt Jesus and the thryd melcheys.
All ware þei fayr of face full free
and þer warkes full wayre and wyse.
And he had doyȝturs two,
at home wonnand with wyn.
The ryȝt names [was] of þoo
mycoll and merobyn.

162

475

þus in delyce os he can dwell,
all folke attendand hym vntyll,
God sentt his prophett samuel
at warn hym forto werke his wyll.
On goddes behalf he con hym tell
how þat þer elders war angerd yll
with malachys, a folke full fell,
þat spetuusly þer sped con spyll.
when þei past fyrst þe flome,
þat folke, full of þe feynd,
letted þem forto come
be ways wher þei sull wende.

476

þerfor he bad saul suld passe
and putt þo paynyms all to p[y]n,
wyfe and chyld, all þat þore was,
Cytes, castels, corn and wyn,
And leue on lyue nawder ox ne asse,
cow ne calf, schepe ne swyne.
“Tyll all be lorne þat lyf has,
for nokyns fayntnes loke þou fyne.
Take no parte of þer pelfe
to part þi pepyll o mang!
Ne sayue noyȝt to þi selfe;
wast all [els] dose þ[ou] wrang!”

477

kyng saule to his saws assent,
and þerto hertly hath he heyght
fforto fulfyll goddes commawndment
of malachys with all his myȝt.
hee sembled folke, and furth þei wentt
with sexty thowsand at a syȝt.
þei stroyd Cytes and burghys brentt;
phylysteyns fast þei feld with fyȝt.
ffro þei come in cuntree
þat malachys wund in,
þei feld both folke and fee
and wasted all þat wold bryn.

163

478

Agag was kyng of malachys
and led þe lordschepe of þat land.
Soyne when he wyst on what kyn wyse
kyng saul styrd with strang hand,
hee redyd all his reme to ryse
þer enmys styfly to gayn stand.
Of knyghtes kene and princes of price
full fell phylysteyns furth he fand.
þer way þei wold not lett
bot putt þem furth in prese.
when þei and Ebrews mett,
þor was no poynt of pese.

479

To se yt was a semly syȝt,
who so hegh stud and beheld,
Of penons and of baners bryȝt
with schaftes and mony a schynyng scheld.
kyng saul kyd þat he was wyȝt;
his Ebrews boldly can he beld.
phylysteyns so þe feld with fyȝt
þat sum for ferd forsoke þe feld.
Men myȝt see stedes stray
þat þore allon was leued,
And þer lordes how þei lay
in ways with owtyn heuyd.

480

phylysteyns myȝt no langer last;
all went to bale þat wold abyd.
with Ebrews ware þei all vm cast;
þe fand no socur in no syde.
when þei ware all with payns past
þat in þe feld was fun þat tyde,
Ebrews þen fowled furth full fast
to stroy þer landes, lang and wyde.
þei leued nothyng on lyfe
þat ne to ded war dyȝtt:
Bot[h] man, chyld and wyfe,
bestes and fowls of flyȝt.

164

481

when þei had wasted on þis wyse
ryche and pure, both old and ȝyng,
Saul was sett on couetyce,
and sone forgatt he goddes bedyng.
ffor agag was a prince of price;
he heyȝt hym [help], þat hethyn kyng,
And fayrest bestes for sacrafyce
he bad men suld furth with [þem] bryng.
his folke saw he forfeytt.
and lett so lyȝtly þer by.
þei toke what þei myȝt gett
to beyre with þem boldly.

482

So went þei home and wold not dwell;
of þer werkyng well þem toygt.
And sone þe prophett Samuel
come furth to wytt how þei had wroyȝt.
And when he herd þe bestes bell
and saw kyng agag with þem broyȝt,
he made grett manace þem o mell
and sayd þat dede suld dere be boyȝt
ffor þei toke no reward
to werke agayns goddes wyll,
þat bad none suld be spayrd,
noþer gud ne yll.

483

ffull sore he syght for þer sake
and sayd þus to Saul, þe kyng,
“how durst þou werke þis werke for wrake:
oþer man or best from theyn to bryng?”
he sayd, “ser, sacrafyce to make
and gyfe þem vnto goddes louyng.”
þen samuel sayd, “god wyll not take
offerand of yll gottyn thyng,
bot þo þat lely lyfes
and kepes hys cummawndment,
what gyft so þei to hym gyfe[s],
þer to wyll he take tent.”

165

484

“how suld he take offerand to gre?
all thyng hym self [sayd] suld be lorne.
Both man and best he bad suld be
fordown, wher þ[ou] þem fand be forne.
heyr is þe kyng of þat cuntre,
And best I here yow hath for borne.
I warne þe: god is wrath with þe,
for þou hath wayt hym with þis scorne.
Thy werke þus wyll he ȝeld:
þi lordschep sall not last,
And oþer þi welth sall weld
þat in fayth wyll be fast.”

485

when kyng saul herd samuel
so spytfully speke in þat [sp]ace,
vnto his fette oft sythys he fell
and prayd of god to geyte hym grace
And to amend yt þem o mell,
Als he wold consell in þat case.
Bot for his wordes he wold not dwell;
he saw no plessance in þat place.
Sone fro þat pepyll he past
ryȝt way to ramatha,
Bot þe kyng folowd fast;
in hert he was full wa.

486

ffull [well] he wyst he suld be schentt;
þat made [hym] hertly forto hast.
The prophett by þe mantyll he hentt
so þat [yt] rayue and worthed to wast.
þen sayd þe prophett, “ser, take tent!
þis sall þou trow and trewly trayst:
Ryȝt os þou has þe mantyll rentt,
so sall þi reme fro þe be rast.”
þen had þe kyng grett care,
and oft he askyd mercy.
“And þou þus fro me fare,
my folke wyll haue ferly”

166

487

“And traw þat I haue done sum trayn
and with sum grett thyng greued þe.
and þerfor, gud ser, turn agayn
with glad sembland þat þei may see
And schew to me sum seyn certayn
of lastand luf and of lewte.”
he grawnted, and þen þe kyng was fayn
sen þat myȝt no bettur be.
The prophett come and plessed
and alowd ylka dede.
þen was þe kyng well esed,
bot in hert had he drede.

488

when þei herd tell of þis tythyng,
þe pepyll was payd well enogh.
þe prophett bad þei suld furth bryng
Agag þat euer on dregh hym drogh.
when he was broyȝt at hys bydyng,
he sayd, “þou hath wroyȝt mekyll wogh.
þat sall þou fynd be for our kyng.”
þer with his awn hende he hym slogh.
þen ryȝt to ramatha
þe prophett wentt in hy.
þe kyng to galgala
went with his cumpany.

489

Samuel of soroyng myȝt not sesse,
for kyng saul so wrang had wentt,
By cause when god to kyng hym chese
þen he anoynt hym with an oyntment.
he prayd to god forto relesch
þat grett greuance with gud entent,
Bot he had answer to hald hym pece;
all þat was sayd behoued be sentt.
þei ware fast frendes be fore
and of on consell kend;
his mornyng was the more
when he myȝt not amend.

167

490

god sayd he suld swylk lufyng lett,
for new gam vs bus be gyne.
“Take þou þi boyst with þe oyle benett
and wend to bedlem or þou blyne.
þore sall þou fynd, fayr on his flett,
A jew, jesse, of jacob kyn.
gayre hys suns be for þe sette,
for on of þem sall wrschep wyn.
Enoynt hym to be kyng,
Saul stede to restore,
And haue þe same blessyng
þat saul had be fore.”

491

he wentt and wold no langer stand
or he þe wyll of god hath wroyȝt.
Jesse, þat gentyll jew, he fand
in bethlem Cyte sone vnsoyȝt.
ffyrst he made þem make offerand
and honer god, so hym gud toyȝt.
Sythyn he told hym new tythand
and bad hys suns suld furth be broyȝt.
Sex suns ware sett on raw
be lyue at his bedyng.
þen prayd he god to schaw
qwylke of þem suld be kyng.

492

All ware þei semly vnto syȝt;
full wyght men ware þe eldyst two.
he asked whedder of þem suld be dyȝt.
god answerd and sayd, “non of þo.”
þen vnto jesse wentt he full ryȝt
and asked yf he had any mo.
“ȝa, ser, a ȝong, þat dauid heyght
is in the feld full fere vs fro
Our catell forto geyte.”
þen Samuel with gud chere
Sayd, “sertes, I sall nott ete,
or þat hyrdman be here.”

168

493

Dauid sone was aftur sentt,
and fro he wyst, he wold not byde.
he saw þe prophett in present
and heylsyd hym hendly, noyȝt to hyde.
The prophett hym in armys hentt
and told hym all what suld be tyde.
vnto þer dyner þen þei wentt:
he sett þe chyld hym self be syde,
On þat oþer syde jesse
and sythyn his breyþer all,
ylkon in þer degree,
aftur þer eld suld fall.

494

hee honerd hym on deyse þat day.
his fader merueld what yt mentt.
Sythyn to a preuay place went þei,
and þore he told all his ententt.
“my sun,” he sayd, “I sall þe say,
fro god of heuyn þus am I sentt
To warn þe of his wyll all way,
grett lordschep sal be þe lentt.”
he wyst withowtyn fayle
god assent to þat same
And bad hym kepe consell
and a noynt hym be name.

495

when he hym so anoynt hath
with holy oyle both hed and hende,
þe gud gast, þat in saul was,
in Dauid soyne con descende,
And into þat place soyne con passe
An euyll sprett of curssed kynd,
þat dyd saul oft say alas,
when hys blyse was with bale blend.
Oft sythys hys solace sessed
with syte and sorow sere,
And Dauid euer encressed
in wytt, als we sall here.

169

496

Samuel sayd, “sun, whyle þou is ȝyng,
lok þat þou gyfe þe to gud thewes,
ffor god hath sayd þou sall be kyng
and keper of all hys gud Ebrews.
And þerfor, sun, lufe lele lyfyng
and flee fro feleschep of schrews,
And honere god ouer all thyng,
þat swylke gud grace vnto þe schews.
ffor whyls þou lufes hys lare
and kepes hys cummawndment,
All whyle sall þou well fare
and neuer be schamed ne schent.”

497

when þis was sayd, þen samuel
wentt to lend wher hym leuyst wore.
And dauid styll at home con dwell
in feld with his fader store.
And in þat meyn tym he con hym mell
of m[ynstralc]y ay more and more
Tyll he cowd herpe, os we here tell,
als well as [euer] was kend before.
Now Dauid leue we here
with hys herpe and hys slyng
And tell how sorows sere
come to saul þe kyng.

498

The sprett, þat I spake of are,
þat loged was with hym to lende,
Assayd hym oft with sorows s[a]re
and wroyȝt hym wo when he lest wened.
he sentt for feysyke full wyd whare
and clerkes, þat in swylke craftes [was] kend.
Amang þem all þei cowd no mare,
bot mynstralsy, þei sayd, myȝt mend.
þe harpe when he myȝt here,
þe sprett þat was with in
Suld haue no grett powere
to dere hym for þat dyne.

170

499

þen for þer tythyng in þat tyde
he bad men gang to gette þat glee.
And so sayd on, þat satt be syd,
“In bethlem, ser, wuns on jesse;
lett on go loke, no langer abyd,
for a ȝyng sun at home has hee,
þat herpes well, ys not at hyde,
and at your bydyng wyll he bee.”
Messyngers sone was sentt
to jesse for hys sun.
So ȝyng Dauid is went
with þe kyng in cowrt to wun.

500

And soyne when saul saw þat chyld,
he made grett solace for hys sake,
By cawse he saw hym meke and myld
and mynstralcy þat he cowd make.
ffor when þe fend was woyd and wyld
and with sere turmentes wold hym take,
þen was þe harpe his boyt and byld,
and song myȝt sone his sorow slake.
þerfor was dauid dere
and in wrschep all way.
None was þe kyng so nere,
noþer by nyȝt ne day.

Primus Liber Regum.

501

þus with the kyng wonnand he was,
full well [b]e lufed with owtyn wene.
Of prowes in all poyntes con he passe
ouer all þat on his eld hath beyne.
Bot þe kynges sun, heygh Ionatas,
he lufed hym best of all be deyne.
hys hert all holly to hym he has,
and þat was oft sythis aftur seyne.
None wyst he was a noynt
bot the prophett and hee
Tyll yt come to þe poynt
þat god sayd yt suld bee.

502

Soyne messyngers musters [þem] o mell,
of harms hard þei hard at hand:
how þat phylysteyns, fers and fell,
dystroyd all þat þei be fore fand,
And how þei dyȝt þem forto dwell
tyll þei had wasted all ebrews land.
kyng saul herd þis tythyng tell,
hys ost full sone he had ordand.
The chyld dauid he sentt
to soyiourne forsoth [in] lye.
To bethlem is he went
and keped his faders fye.

503

kyng saul wold not rest to ryde,
ne sesse to he of þem had syȝt
Under a banke, wher þei abyde,
with baners spred, of brad full bryȝt;
kyng saul on þe oþer syde,
þe hyll be twen, was on a grett heght.
So noþer towched oþer þat tyd.
phylysteyns ware þe mo of myȝt.
kyng saul wyst full well
god was not fully his frend.
þerfor he drede sum dele
agayns Enmys to wend.

504

Phylysteyns ware þe feller þen
for a grett freke þat þei furth fand.
On golyas ylk day be gan
vp on þat hegh hyll forto stand;
he bad Ebrews send furth a man
to fyȝt with hym hand for hand,
And wheder of þem so maystry wan
suld haue þe lordschep of þat land.
he was both grettur and grym
þen any man myȝt suppose.
þer durst non dele with hym
for dred þat land to lose.

505

hys armour was passand to prays,
and V hunderth on his hed he has.
hys heyberke held of heuy pas
VI C to wey with brase.
In hys ax hede þat he suld rayse
well sexty C weght þer was;
And all of stele, þe story says,
and brygh glyterand as any glas.
he was a gremly geyst
in feld to fynd be fore.
All way þis cowrse he kest
full XL days and more.

506

In þat seson was Dauid sent
to þe sege at see his breyþer hende.
he asked of men what he be ment
þat on þe hyll alon can lend.
And when þei told hym þer entent
and how none durst fyȝt with þat fend,
he sayd, “all grace fro god is lent;
vnto yond warlaw wyll I wend.”
hys breyþer can hym blame,
and fro care hym to kepe
þei bad he suld hast hame
and fede þer fader schepe.

507

The kyng herd tell of þis tythand,
he gart foche Dauid hym be fore.
Sone he sayd, “to leue þis land
and lose þi lyf full lothe me ware.
þou hath no strengh with hym to stand.”
and þus þe chyld answerd hym þore,
“My helpe ys h[o]ly in goddes hand,
I wot his myȝt is mekyll more.
all yf yond man be strang,
he lyuys not lafully.
In goddes name I sall gang
and fell hym sone for þi.”

508

when kyng saul saw for certayn
þat he wold found þat fend to fere,
he armyd hym at all peyssys playn
and ordand hym scheld and spere.
Bot þe chyld had no myȝt ne mayn
swylke weght on his body to bere.
he sayd, “takes all þis geyre agayn;
I am not wunt swylke wed to were.
My slyng is nemyll enogh
and best dyffence for me.
wyld bestes þer with I slogh,
þat flayd my fader fee.”

509

he toke his slyng and furth can found
þat mawment yf he myȝt to marre.
he geydderd stones apon þe ground,
swylk þat for his craft accordand were.
Golias steyted in þat stound
and cald hym fole when he was fere.
“Boy, hopys þou I be a hound?”
Dauid sayd, “sertes, I hold þe werre.”
Golyas says, “go hom,
þou barn, and leue þi berre!
þo folke þat [þou fro come]
sall by þis dede full dere.”

510

Dauid fast toke furth [his] slyng
and a ston þat þerfor was fytte.
Abowt his hed he can yt bryng,
to tyme he saw wher yt suld sytt.
he wated þe warlaw with a wryng
and made hym wode owt of hys wytt.
ffor Armour or for oþer thyng
into þe harns he has hym hytt.
ffor all þe lakes he ler[d]
þe lyue þor he leued.
Dauid with [his] awn sword
swythly swapped of hys hed.

511

Phylysteyns herd þis note new;
yf þei had noy ys not to hyde.
ffull rasydly þei can remew
and reydyd þem to ryn and ryde.
kyng saul prestly can persew
and foled fast to fell þer pryde.
þat day was joy to mony jew
to here the hethyn how þei cryde.
XXX milia war slayn
of folke þat myȝt not flee.
þei turned þen home agayn
into þer awn cuntre.

512

with kyng saul was Dauid dere,
for he had done þis doyghty[nes].
And all þe folke, both ferre and nere,
gaf hym þe þrice of þ[at] prowesse.
So ose þei com by Cyteys sere,
all welcomd þem, os worthy es,
with mynstralsy and mere chere
of wyfes and maydyns, more and lesse.
þo wyfes sang how saul slogh
A thowssand with his hand;
þe madyns sang and loghe,
“Dauid slogh ten thowssand.”

513

when saul herd, he was sory.
wyfes sayd he sloght A thowsan playn,
And maydyns made þer melody
þat Dauid had ten thowsand slayn.
Of þis be gan full grett enuy
and lasted lang, ys no[t] to layn.
ffor in hys hert he thynkes [holy]
how Samuel prophett sayd [certayn]
[he] suld his lordschepe lose,
for he brake goddes bydyng.
þis sang made hym suppose
þat Dauid suld be kyng.

514

Bot he wold mare hym, [y]f he myȝt,
þat he suld neuer þat fare fulfyll.
he saw, for þis werke he had wroyȝt,
þat all men lufed hym lowd and styll.
Sere sutelteys oft sythys he soyȝt
how he myȝt sped hym forto spyll.
Bot to hym self he wold say noyȝt;
Ne dauid toke no tent þer tyll.
he provyd passand his eld
of gud maners and myȝt.
ffro he cowde wepyns weld,
to were was non so wyght.

515

kyng saul fayg[ed] hym with fayrhede
and wayted euer to werke hym wo.
he wyst well for hys doyghty dede
þat phylysteyns ware hys foo.
he ordand hym his ost to lede
all way when þei to were suld goo.
þat was noþer for lufe ne dred,
bot þat Phylysteyns suld hym slo.
Bot god was euer hys gyde
his werke forto warrand.
wher he suld gang or ryde,
gud hape was [i]n his hand.

516

þen went Dauid with scheld and spere
and styfly stud in mony a stowre.
phylysteyns was he fayn to fere,
in ylka feld he bare þe flour.
All [welthys] þat he wan with were
he sent to saul for socour.
And þat he dyd dauid to dere
god turned yt to his grett honour.
þe kyng ay waytand was
how he myȝt werke hym wo,
Bot þe kynges sun, Ionatas,
fendyd hym ay þer fro.

517

As breþer ware þei fast in fere
aþer to beld os oþer bad.
All folke þem lufed, both fere and nere,
in ylka sted wher þei ware sted.
And mycoll, þe kynges doyghtur dere,
Dauid hyr hert all holy hade.
When he was moued to make yll chere,
no myrth on mold myȝt make hyr glad.
And when þe pepyll hym plessed,
and scho hys conforth kend,
yf oþer had hyr dys[pl]essyd,
þat medcyn moght amend.

518

In luf þus lang was scho led,
scho had [no] lykyng of hi[re] lyfe.
When he in any stoure was sted,
þen wa[s] hyr mynd in mekyll stryfe.
Scho swere þat no wyȝt suld hyr wede,
bot scho [myȝt euer] be his wyfe.
Scho had no beld at bowre ne bed;
hyr care was kene as any knyfe.
Scho changed hyde and hew,
hyr fayrnes fast can fale.
At þe last þe kyng yt knew
and asked of his consaylle

519

[I]f þem toyȝt yt ware well to do
to gyf his doyȝhtur to dauid.
And þei gafe consell all þerto:
“non is so kumly in þis kyth.
A semly copyll is of þem two,
for both ar large of lym and lyth.”
[The kyng assented it shuld be so,
bot this forward he fest therwyth:]
heydes of phylesteyns
two hunderth suld he bryng.
with þis ylk wyle he wenys
Dauid suld make endyng.

520

ffull well he trawd by þis yll trayn
Dauid to lose in lytyll stound,
And or he had two hunderth slayn
forto haue mony a wekyd wound.
Bot Dauid of þa[t] fayr was fayn;
he gatt felows with hym to found,
ffor Mycoll luf hym lyst not layn.
Philysteyns fast he fell to þe ground.
Two hunderth hedes certan
ware neuynd to hym be name,
Bot when he come agayn,
fyfe hunderth broyȝt he hame.

521

þen was he praysed with man and page
with sere solace þat to hym soyȝt.
þei sayd he was well worthy his wage
for þis ylke warke þat he had wroyȝt,
þat so had sterd hym in þat stage.
fyue hunderth hedes with hym he broyȝt.
þe kyng þen made þe mayreg,
bot euyll ay [was] in hys toyȝt:
Sere cawtels oft he cast
Dauid to schame and schend.
All turned to þe best,
for god was euer his frend.

522

Soyne aftur þis so yt fell:
Phylysteyns, full of enuy,
Dyȝt þem and wold no langer dwell
to be venged of þer velany.
when kyng saul herd tythyng tell
þat enmys com In opynly,
he demyd dauid with þem to mell,
and als he [heyȝt], he dyde in hye.
ffelows þat wold not fayle
ar gladly with hym gone.
þai vencusyd þe batele
and gat gud full grett wone.

523

þen with all folk was dauid dred
and hownerd for his dughty dede.
when saul herd he had well sped,
þen in his hert he had more drede.
Down he fell seke in his bede,
for ferd Dauid þat land suld lede.
hys yll sprett soyn hym spred;
no speciall spech myȝt hym spe[d]e.
Dauid was aftur sent
by hym to harpe and syng
And all to euyll entent
in bale hym forto bryng.

524

Dauid hym dyȝt to do his dett:
þe kyng fro wo yf he myȝt were.
As he with harpe to syng was sett
þe fend fers so forto fere,
The kyng hath cast his lake to lett;
withowtyn spech he spens a spere.
To Dauid euyn he toke his mett
thrugh þe body hym to bere.
þen Mycol kest a cry,
and Dauid turned hym soyne.
ffast home he can hym hye.
god wold noyȝth yt were doyne.

525

þe kyng was þen all wode for wo;
þat he so scaped, hym toyȝt scorne.
he bad wyȝt men be lyue suld go
and lyg in wayt vntyll morn,
And þat he suld not scape þem fro,
for forfetur myȝt fall þerforn.
he suld not lett for frend ne foo
no langer tyll his lyf ware lorn.
when mycol hath þis herd
how hyr fader can say,
ffull ferdly furth scho ferd
to marre yt, yf scho may.

526

“Dauid”, scho sayd, “my husband hende,
my fader hath full hertly hyght
he sall no[t] fyne for fo ne frend
to morn or he hath marde þi myȝt.
þi way wyȝthly behoues the wende
and leue me here a wylsom wyȝt.
For bettur is þou lyfe and lende
þen [þat] we both to dede be dyȝt.”
he assented certayn
syghand with sympyll chere.
yf þei perteyd with payn,
no question is to inquere.

527

Swylke wemen were worthy to wed
to helpe þer husbandes in a nede.
ffor hyr ded was scho not adred,
bot ȝit scho dyd an oþer dede.
Scho layd a dry stoke in his bed
and couert yt with worthy wede.
when knyghtes come hym to haue [d]ede,
scho sayd, “sers, sen he fro cowrt ȝede,
he toke so hertly care;
his lyf days ar nere done.”
þei wened well yt so ware;
agayn þei we[nt] full sone.

528

And euyn os þei in syȝt com see,
vnto the kyng so con þei say.
he bad be lyue, “bryng hym to me;
he sall dee with dole þis day!”
þei saw yt myȝt no bettur be;
vnto his hows agayn go þei.
In his bed þe fand a mekyll tree
hyld, and he was went a way.
when þe kyng saw he was hale,
hys hert had sorow enogh.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

529

he sware his doyghtur suld be schent;
full he leued to lose his land.
To ramatha is Dauid went,
wher samuel is soiorand.
he told to hym all his entent,
how [þat] the kyng so fellows fand,
Bot þat he so þe lyfe was lent.
both loued þei god with hert and hand.
he sayd, “sun, for this thyng
in hert haue þou no toyȝt.
god will þat þou be kyng
when all his whylys ar wroyȝt.”

530

Aftur þis ware long to tell
how euer þe [kyng] hys k[i]nd[e]s kyd.
ffor messeg made he mony a mell;
to be his bayne ay can he byd.
when Ionatas herd how þat yt fell,
grett heuenes in hert he hyde.
ffor dowt of dede [þat con hym quell]
[he wold bot wytt] how Dauid dyde.
Ryȝt vnto ramatha
he went þe gaynest gatte.
The trew lufe be twen þem two
myȝt no bale gare abate.

531

when Dauid herd say for certayn
þat Ionatas wold com hym tyll,
fful gladly went he hym agayn
and thanked hym oft of all gud wyll.
Of his frenschepe he was full fayn,
for he lufed lely lowd and styll.
he told hym all þe procese playn
how þe kyng aspyd hym to spyll.
To fotte can Dauid fall
for his god wyll a[ll] way.
Ionatas says he sall
helpe all þat he may.

532

“[To] The kyng, my fader, wyll I fare
and faynd his frenschepe forto geyte.
ffor þe to speke I sall not spare,
all þof he wold me bynd or bete.
At erst þat I her answer
of lastand luf or like to thrett,
þat þou may kepe þi self fro care,
þou sall be wernd, or euer I ette.”
Dauid says, “for mercy,
þou mendes all my myschefe.”
þei kyssed full curtasly,
and so þei toke þer leue.

533

Ionatas went with sympyll chere.
vnto þe cowrt he come in hye
when grett fest was of folke in fere.
vnto his fader he sayd sothly,
“ser, Dauid þat is to yow so dere
and in his Dedes ys ay doghty,
how ys yt so he is not here?
he myȝt menske all þis mangery.
he is your sun by law
and my broþer also.
Be oght þat euer I knaw,
he trespast neuer yow to.

534

he is ay redy in your ryȝt
agayn your rebels forto ryse;
Phylysteyns hath he feld with fyȝt
and owtrayd all our enmyse.
In cowrt is non so cumly knyȝt,
ne non so wyse, yf he vs avyse.”
The kyng þen loked on hym full lyȝt
and sayd, “lossell fowle, þou lyse.
þat sall ȝe both aby[e],
als sone os I hym see.
þou maynteyns with maystry
þe most enmy to me.”

535

Ionatas answerd with word hende:
“ser, yt hath not so bene sene;
ȝe haue fun your faythfull frend;
to your bedyng bown hath he bene.”
þen wex þe kyng full of þe fend;
he wared fast with word kene.
hys sun he schope forto schend,
yf wyght men had not gone be twene.
Ionatas wyst well enogh
þen how þe game wold go.
Of dregh he hym with drogh
and fled his fader fro.

536

To Dauid wyghtly is he went,
wher he was in grett stody sted,
And sayd how he suld haue bene schent
be for his fader, had he not fled,
And how no mercy myȝt be ment,
ne specialty may none be sped.
“þer is no oþer tale to tent
bot wend or wage þi hede in wed.”
To his fette þen Dauid fell
and thanked hym of all thyng.
luf þat was þem o mell
made payn at þer pertyng.

537

Dauid sayd, “ser, yt is so,
for souerayn god þus he be soght!
All yf þi fader wyll be my foo,
be þou my frend and fayle me noyȝt!”
Ionatas sayd, “for well or wo,
what warke in ward with me be wroyȝt,
þe cunnand made be twyx vs two,
þat sall I hald with hert and toyȝt.”
þei durst no langer dwell,
for folke ware not þer frend.
þei kyssed and morned omell,
and so þer way þei wend.

538

Ionatas went with sympyll chere
agayn vnto þat same Cety,
And dauid soyght with sorow sere
vntyll a town, was named Nobbe.
þor wuned a byschope of grett power,
Abymalec at home hegh he.
he welcumd Dauid os his dere
and asked hym aftur his meneȝe.
he sayd, “ser, I am sent
in messege fro þe kyng.
My meneȝe furth ar wentt
for oþer nedfull thyng.

539

Myn armour gart þei me for gete.
yf þou haue any, helpe me!” he says.
“And als yf þou haue oght at ette,
for sene I ette, ar gone thre days.
And ser, I haue meystur of mette,
for I haue to wend wylsom ways.”
The byschope says, “I haue of whette
blessyd bred þat is to prays.
Bot Armour none I bere,
ne wapyns with to fyȝt
Bot a gud sword of were;
þat sall be þin be ryȝt.”

540

he cald hym kyndly, as he can,
with mette and drynke and myrthis more.
Golias sword he gaf hym þe[n]
qwylke hym selfe wan in feld be fore.
In þis meyn tyme com in a man,
Odeth, þat keped þe kynges st[o]re.
he wyst not how Debate be gan,
ne of þe kyng how wroth þei ware;
Bot þat he fore can see,
and talken þem betwen,
In hert well haldes hee,
for so was aftur sene.

541

þen Dauid furth his frendes soght;
he fand bot few in to affy.
In certayn soiorne wold he noyȝt:
þat folke by spech myȝt hym aspy.
ffull mony wonder werke he wroyȝt,
als he com in sere cumpany.
And how all was to endyng broyȝt,
þe bybyll bers wyttenese þerby.
yt ware long tyme to tell
how [he] hys cowrse kest
And what ferlys be fell
or he was broyȝt to rest.

542

Bot poyntes þat falys to our procese,
sum of þis werke we wyll be gyne:
how þat he wund in wyldernese,
in a forest þat heygh sephyn.
þore come men to hym, more and lesse,
of cosyns and of oþer kyn.
And þos þat owtlayd or exyld ys,
þos went to hym, all þat myȝt wyne.
þei bede hym forto be
his men [in all] manere.
So in schort tyme had he
fawre hunderth folke in fere.

543

Now in þis meyn tyme herd þei tell
with folke þat ferd þore to and fray
how the phylysteyns, fers and fell,
in seged a cyte þat heght Ceilay,
And how þei made maystrays o mell
and sayd þat þei suld bryn and slay
Ebrews þat in þat Cete dwell
and all þer thresour to þem ta.
þei brynt and wold not blyn
a bowt both lengh and brede.
þen þei þat ware with in
lyfed in grett dole and drede.

544

Qwen Dauid wyst þei suld be slayn
[he] wrscheped god with wyll and toyȝt.
þen vnto god fast can he frayn
whedder he suld helpe þem and he moght.
And sone he had answer agayn
and sayd, “[g]o furth and drede þe noyȝt!”
To geydder his folke he was full fayn,
and vnt[o] cyala sene þei soyȝt.
þor was no tale of trewse;
phylysteyns fast þei feld.
And þei resaued þe Ebrews
þat in þat Cyte dwelled.

545

þe souerance of þat same Cyte
honerd Dauid with hert and hende
And bed at his bedyng to be
and at his wyll to wun and wende.
In þat Cyte þen soiornde he,
and in grett lykyng þor þei lend
So þat hym self and his meneȝe
with mette and drynke ware mekyll amend.
þore gatt þei gold gud wone,
armurs and oþer wedys.
Sum þat be fore had none
hose now all þat þem nedes.

546

word of þis werke full wyd can spryng
with lernd and lewd in all þat land.
And sone was told to Saull þe kyng
how Dauid was so soiornand.
he was full fayn of þat tythyng,
for þer he hopyd to haue hym at hand
And into a bale hym forto bryng,
for his strengh myȝt no man stand.
he sayd, “sone sall we see
hys bost proued full prest,
when he haldes þat Cete
and leuys þe fayre forest.”

547

he purpassed hym full preuely
Dauid to schame and [to] schend
And ordand with clene cumpany
to Ceila sodanly to wend.
he sent sere men to spyre and spye
how Dauid tytest myȝt be tened.
bot he had hertyng hastely
fro god, þat euer was his frend.
God werned hym fast to flee
with his men, old and ȝyng,
And in þe forest to be
for þe kynges comyng.

548

ffor yf þe kyng þat Cete crafe
or any sawt to yt sett,
The Cyteners þem self to sayue
sall sone delyuer yt ose dew dett.
þen suld Dauid no helpyng haue
bot be tane os a fysch in A nett.
And sone went both knyȝt and knaue
to forest, where none wold þem [l]ett,
And when þe kyng yt knew
þat þei ware past fro playn,
No ferther wold he persew
bot tytt turned hom agayn.

549

þei toke [to] a wod þat heyȝt geden,
bot þore þei soiornd bot lytyll whyle;
[þen] to a forest þat heyȝt Cephyn;
þore hoped he non suld hym begyle.
þor Ionatas fro all his kyn
to see Dauid soyȝt mony a myle.
he was wel [glad] his wrschepe to wy[n],
all yf his fader wold fayn hym fyle.
yt was myrth, when þei mett,
to wytt how all yt was.
þei kyssed and for joy grett,
and sone sayd Ionatas,

550

“Dauid”, he says, “drede þe no dele,
all yf þe kyng þre[pe aga]in the,
For aftur wo all sall be well:
þou sall gouernd [in] grett degree.
I am [þ]in freynd; þat sall þou fele:
þer sall not fawt be fun in me.
To sayue þi self seke þi sele;
yt is the fayrest forto flee.
þou sal be kyng be kynd
and full grett lordschepe lede.
Make me þen in mynd
and thynke on ayre don dede.

551

yt is wysdom, os wysmen says,
at suffer welth forto wyn.
And in no poynt he is to prays
þat can not byde his bale to blyn.
All yf þe kyng þe wayte all ways,
he sall not dere for all his dyn.
þou sall endure aftur his days
and stand in state þat he standes in.”
þus bad he hym to beld
and sayd he suld be kyng.
Dauid curtasly kneled
and thanked hym of all thyng.

552

þen perted þei, yf yt ware payn,
for full trew luf was þem be twen.
And Ionatas went home agayn
so þat non wyst whore he had bene.
And Dauid held his peyse full playn
in wodes, for he suld noyȝt be sene.
And euer he has in vncertayn
whore he myȝt dwell with owtyn tene.
he durst not dwell for Dyn
in town, ne in Cyte.
In the forest of Cephyn
ay toyȝt hym best to be.

553

All in desert so con þei dwell;
of ryall ryches noyȝt þei reke.
þei dranke no wyn bot of þe well,
ne beyre bot of þe reynnand beke.
In þis meyn tym is so to tell
how þe kyng in yre was euer freke
And of falshed þat þen be fell
thrugh Odeth to Abymaleke.
þe kyng for Dauid spyred
forto bryng hym in bale.
Odeth his mayster herd,
stert vp and told þis tale.

554

“Syr kyng,” he sayd, “I meruell me
þat þou for Dauid hath any drede.
I saw hym in þin awn Cete,
wher þi frendes fayre con hym fede.
Abymalec, byschope of Nobbe,
full mekyll beld con to hym be[de].
Golias sword to hym toke he
and kyssed hym kyndly when he ȝede.
I wened noyȝt ȝe ware wroth,
and sertes, ser, had I wyst,
I suld haue bun þem both
and led þem to your lyst.

555

And ser, to proue þis þat I say,
sendes for þat popelard preuely.”
The kyng þer in [made] no Delay;
full herdy men he sentt in hy.
þe byschop broyȝt þei þe same day
with his kynred in cumpany.
The kyng hym asked in rude aray
why he mayntened his most enmy.
Abymalec hym excused
be wytty wordes all ways.
hys resons ware refused,
bot softly þus he says,

556

“Syr kyng, þou may full wynly wake
whyll luf lastes be twyx yow t[wo].
Me toyȝt full well sett for þi sake
all þe eys þat I myȝt to hym do.
he sayd he suld þi messege make,
And for he suld more sewrly go,
Golias sword I cowd hym take,
qwylke hym self wan in feld in [w]o.
he standes in mony a stowre
and ys euer bown to wende
fforto sayue þin honowre.
þerfor, ser, he is þi frend.”

557

þen was þe kyng wode, I warrand,
when he of all þis werkyng wyst.
hys kenyst knyghtes þen he cum[m]and
to kyll hym þat hys enmys kyst.
Bot non on hym wold lay þer hand
be cause he was goddes byschop blyst,
Owtakyn Odeth, þat fawtt fyrst fand;
to werke wo þat was [hys] lyst.
hys sword full swyth he droghe
with oþer of his assent.
The byschope þer he sloygh
with all his clene couent.

558

he wold noyȝt stynt so forto stryfe
with all þat come þat close within,
So þat þei slogh fowr score and fyue
of þe byschop clerkes, or euer þei blyn.
þen bad he þem wend be lyue
þe burgh of Nobbe forto bryn,
And þat þei suld stroye chyld and wyue
to þe ott[er]est end of all his kyn.
þei wasted all þat þore wore
þat non away was wun,
Owtake Abyathar,
Abymalec eldyst sun.

559

yt schope so þat he was not schent;
god ordand hym to flee be fore.
To Dauid wyghyly is he went
and sayd to hym with syghyng sore
how all was tan with turnament,
his fader and his clerkes, IIII score,
And how Noabbe with bale was brent
and non on lyfe left, lesse ne more.
Dauid says oft, “alas
þat folke for me ar dede!”
Abyathar þen byschop was
furth in his fader stede.

560

kyng saul euer by consell cast
how þat he myȝt best do Dauid dere.
And full oft sythyes he fowled fast
with all his fors hym forto fere.
Bot Dauid euer fro perels past,
als was goddes wyll hym forto were.
And so be fell yt at þe last
þat Dauid myȝt haue done hym dere.
And how þat tym be tyd,
we wyll take t[i]me to tell,
Both of dedes þat þei dyd
and what wordes wore þem omell.

561

The kyng full ray[the]ly can ryd
Dauid to wast for werldes wele.
And Dauid durst not well abyd;
so ware þe kynges folke ferly fele.
Vnder A hyll he con hym hyde
in a depe hole to hald his hele
So þat þe kyng suld passe be syd,
and noþer suld with oþer dele.
Bo[t] or þei past þat pase,
euyn bot þem two be twen
Be fell a ferly case,
os þen þe soth was sene.

562

The kyng sone of the hole had a syȝt
þat yt was merke and owt of mynd.
Down of his palfray con he lyȝt
to eyse his womb be way of kynd.
And als he in his ded was dyȝt,
Dauid folke soyn con hym fynd.
þei sayd, “ser, go ryue throwgh hym ryȝt;
oft hath he [þe] persewed and pynd.”
Dauid says, “god forbede!
he is A kyng enoynt.”
Bot or euer þei ȝede,
he playd a perlus poyntt.

563

ffull preuely his space he spyde;
of þe kynges cloyȝt A peyse he kytt.
The kyng þen reded hym to ryde,
and als he was bown furth to flytt,
Dauid curtasly þus cryed,
“ser kyng, to wend þus ys no wytt.
I myȝt haue made þe here to byde.
be hald þi mantyll and yt ys slytt!
When I þis fro þe reued
away, and þou not wyst,
I myȝt haue hade þi hede
als lyghtly, yf me lyst.

564

And þerfor, ser, persew me noyȝt;
I am not glad þe forto greue,
Bot bown in all þat euer I moght
þe and þi reme forto releue.”
þe kyng þen herd and hym be toyȝt
how he was þore in grett myscheue,
And how wysly þore Dauid wroyȝt;
no more in malyce wold he meue.
he trowd be þis tokenyng
with in hym selfe alsone
þat Dauid suld be kyng
when he had his dedes done.

565

he saw Dauid was well Arayd
with feyghyng folke full fayre in fere
And toyȝt, yf he to batell brayde,
who so suld wyn wrschepe wore in were.
þerfor all sothly þus he sayd,
“Dauid, þis ded þou hath done here
And þi grett meknese made me payde;
I grawntt þe peyse be my powere.
Sen þou so sufferand ys,
þi lordschep lang wyll last.
I grawnnt þe forgyfnes
of all poyntes þat ar past,

566

So þat þou faythfully sall fulfyll
þe forward fest be twyx vs two,
And þat þou do gode and non yll
to my folke when I found þem fro.”
Dauid sayd, “ser, with gud wyll,
als þou wyll say, so wyll I do.”
þe kyng þen cald hys folk hym tyll;
to galgala agayn can þei go.
And Dauid wentt [þen hyne]
with his men euer ychon
To þe forest of Cephyn;
he wyst no bettur wone.

567

In þis meyn tyme þat I of tell
Dyuerse farles con befall.
The nobyll prophett samuell
þen dyed, as erthly men bus all.
þen Dauid men meued þem omell,
for fude in forest fand þei small.
And þore be syde Cephyn con dwell
a full ryche man, his name Noball.
he had ryches by raw
of rent and ryalte,
Bot he lyfed not by þe law
of moyses and Iosue.

568

No man cowd rekyn hys ryches ryfe;
he was ryall in his aray.
Bot euer he was with sturt and stryfe
þat no man myȝt hym [d]o his pay.
A gud woman hade he to wyfe,
and hyr name was cald Abygay.
Scho wrschept god in all hyr lyfe
and at hyr myȝt mayntened his lay.
Scho was full trest and trew
and lufed with more and lesse
And fayr of hyd and hew,
Als þe boke beyrs wytnese.

569

his catell was in sesyn sett
als ouer all in þat cuntre.
Dauid oft with hyrdes mett
and mayntend þem als his meneȝe.
Wyld wulfes and lyons oft he lett
to do dysese to Naball fee.
All yf his fod was ferre to fett,
no thyng vnto rewll take wold hee.
So ose þe ȝere con slype,
þe seson fell þerfor
þat men þer schepe suld clype,
and þis was costom þore.

570

And so be tyde yt in þat tyd
þat Naball hath his fest ordand.
[In] All þe cuntre was yt cryd,
os costom was in þat land;
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
ffast vnder þat ylke forest syde
swylke solace suld be so nere hand.
he made wyght men to wende
at muster þer myschefe
And pray Naball to send
sum fude for þer releue.

571

Then of þe wyghest furth ar wentt
to Naball, whore play was plente.
when þei had told all þer entent,
dyspytusly answerd þen hee,
“wh[o] is he þat þus yow hath sent?”
þei sayd, “Dauid, þe sun of Iesse.”
he sayd þei suld be schamed and schent
as felons þat ar fayn to flee.
“he is þe kynges enmy
and hath full wekydly wroyȝt.
all hys fors I dyfye;
here sall he haue ryȝt noyȝt.”

572

þe messyngers agayn þei goo
and told Dauid euere ylk a dele.
When he yt wyst, he was full wo
and sayd yt suld be venged well.
hee sware grett othes þat he suld slo
Naball for all his hertly sele.
And aftur hym all oþer mo
þat to hym fell suld angers fele;
Both man and wyfe and chyld,
he sayd þei suld be lorn.
And bestes, tame and wyld,
no thyng suld be for born,

573

þat þei ne suld passe by sword or knyfe
in what syd so þat þei myȝt be sene.
Sone [aftur] raked þer resons ryfe
amang þe hyrdmen all be dene.
þei went and told to Naball wyfe
þat wytty was with owtyn wene
how þat hyr lord suld lose his lyfe,
for he [had] carped wordes kene
And myssayd Dauid men
þat folke ware fayn to plese.
ffro scho his cawse cowd kene,
hyr hert was not at esse.

574

Scho menys to mend yt, yf scho may,
þat þei suld not be putt to pyne.
In gud garmentes scho made hyr gay
with pe[l]ure and with pyrre fyne.
And grett present[es] sch[o] con puruay
of bred, flesch and nobyll wyne
And wentt to mete hym on þe way
towerd þe forest of Cephyn.
So leued scho forto lett
þe harmes he can þem hette.
And sone when scho hym mett,
scho fell down to his fette.

575

“A, gentyll knyght of Iesse kynd,
þat sal be kyng be reson ryȝt,
gayre not þe pure pepyll be pyned
in dyuerse place for a man plyght.
My lord is maysed and owt of mynd;
anentes hym self hath he no myght.
God for bed þat þe folke suld fynd
þi felnes with a foyle to fyght!
I wyst not þi men wore
to aske vs oght of our gude.
Sertes, ser, had I bene þore,
þei suld haue faled no [f]ud.

576

And þerfor, ser knyȝt, no ferrer kare
bot take of me þis pure present.”
þen Dauid saw scho was full fayre;
grett fauour in hyr face he fand.
he sayd, “Dame, be not in dyspayre.
I graunt þe, he to þi husband.
Non of þi pepyll sall we payre.”
scho thanked hym with hert and hand.
þei toke mett and drynke;
þer of þe folke ware fayn.
he thankes hyr, als hym thynke,
and so he turnys agayn.

577

Abygay told hyr husband hale
what sorows he suld full sone haue sene
And sufferd dede in his awn sale,
had not hyr witt and werkyng bene.
And when he herd hyr tell þis tale,
vnto his hert he toke slyke teyne,
with in ten days he dyed with bale.
few of his meneȝe can hym meyne.
To Dauid sone was sayd
þat Naball endyd so.
þen was he ryȝt well payd
þat he helped not þerto.

578

when Naball þus with wo was went
and dede with outyn darte or knyfe,
ffor Abygay hath Dauid sent
and weded hyr vnto his wyfe.
This woman þus turned euyll entent
and helped to stynt full mekyll stryfe.
And þerfor god slyke grace hath sent
in lykyng forto lede hyr lyfe.
An oþer he wan also
thrugh dughty dedes he dyde.
þore had he wyfys two,
and Micoll was the thryd.

579

þen folke of cephyn had grett enuy,
for Dauid soiornd þor so lang.
To saull sent þei preuely
and bad þat he suld make hym strang,
ffor Dauid þat was his enmy
suld not be mayntened þem a mang.
þei hete he sall haue hym in hy,
for with hym gudly wyll þei gang.
when saul herd þis tale
folke ware not Dauid frendes,
his ost he ordand hale,
and wyghtly ydder he wendes.

580

when Dauid herd muster omell
kyng saul in þat reme can ryde,
he sent his folke by fyrth and fell
whore he wold buske to abyd.
And sone con þei to hym tythynges tell
he soiornde by a cyte syde,
And þat þei dyȝt þem þore to dwell
and telled þer tentes apon þat tyde.
Dauid hymself hath soyght
tyll he of þem had syȝt,
ffor in his hert he toyȝt
to be nere þem þat nyȝt.

581

Two felows þat he trew had fun
chesed he furth for sych a chare:
On Abysay, his systur sun,
and a bold man Abyathar.
þoo three þe[r] gatte so hath be gun,
and any wyght of þem was warre
þat to þe kynges tent ar þei wun,
wher he lay and þe Duke Abnare.
All folke war fast on slepe
aftur þe mydnyȝt tyde.
þor was no cowrs to kepe;
þei ware s[ure] on ylka syd.

582

Dauid þat euer was myld of mode
sees how sadly þei slepand are.
All yf þei aspyde to spyll his blud,
vnto þem wold he do no dere.
bot a grett coupe of gold full gud
and als þe kynges chefe chasyng spere
þei toke, and euyn agayn þei ȝode,
and ouer a burn þei con þem bere.
And [on] þat oþer syd,
whore þ[ei] no harme myȝt take,
Dauid full kenly cryd,
“wake, ser abnere, [w]ake!

583

ȝe werke, os ȝe ware chylder ȝeng,
þat kepes a kyng and slepis so sade
Qwyls men beyre away his thyng.”
þe duke of hym þe he[r]yng hade
And answerd hym os in hethyng,
“why cryes þou so, vnknawn lade,
And makes swylke noyse þus nere þe kyng?”
þen saul wakynd and was rad.
he trowed sum ware vntrew
of þo þat wuned hym wyth,
ffor þe voyce well he knew
þat yt was of Dauid.

584

And to wytt how yt was [begun],
he cryde to hym and cald be name,
“Is þou not Dauid, Iesse sun?”
“ȝis sertes,” he sayd, “I am þe same.
þis ylke nyȝt myȝt [þou me] haue [fun]
In þi tent, wher þou haldes þi hame.
yow both I myȝt haue bett and bun
and went my way with owtyn blame.
I toke þi coupe of gold
and bare þi spere þe fro
And myȝt well, yf I wold,
haue tane þi self also.

585

þerfor, ser, it were fayr to sesse
of swylk dedes os þou vses at do,
And suffer me to passe in pese
þat tryspase noyȝt þe [vn]to.
þou l[e]fes þe less[o]ns þat ar lese
and waytys euer to werke me wo.
Now haue I mett þe twyse at mese;
þou wot þi self [þat] yt is so.”
The kyng sayd, “wele I knaw,
and here þe soth I se.
þou dose all þat þou aw
in meknes vnto me.

586

And also I se well for certayn
þou sal be kyng; þis is no nay.
þerfor I graunt þe perdon playn
neuer forto dere þe aftur þis day.”
þen Dauid of his fare was fayn,
bott ferrer he fled for more affray.
The cowpe and þe spere he sent agayn.
ylkon at wyll þen [went] þer way.
The kyng abatyd his breth
and toyȝt his werke not wyse;
And Dauid went to geth,
vnto [þe] kyng Achyse.

587

þe kyng Achyse þat I of meyne
was wyght enoght and wyse of were,
bott he was full [a] phylysteyn
and his men in þe same manere.
he hard well how Dauid had bene
be fore abowt to do þem dere.
Bot now he wott with outyn we[n]e
kyng saul and he enmys ere.
All yf he ware Ebrew,
sen þ[ei] his Enmys wore,
he trowde he suld be trew
to phylysteyns þerfore.

588

he gaf hym landes a lytill fra
to loge hym and his pepyll in,
A grett Cete, Cissylla,
to hym and to hayrys of his kene.
ydder went he and his wyfes two,
and þer þei wuned with mekyll wyn,
VI hunderth men with outyn [w]o
owt of the forest of Cephyn.
Semly þore soiournde þei,
Dauid and his Ebrews.
he honerd god all way
and fayged þe [cananews].

589

To brew þem bale bown wold he be.
ouer mownt he went to Malachis,
And þore he stroyd vp þat cuntre,
and sythyn he wentt vnto serrys.
þer gatte þei gold full grett plente,
pellour and pyrry of grett pryse.
And grett presandes oft sythyes sent he
vnto þe kyng of geth, Achys.
Achys noyȝt vnderstud
what phylesteyns can fele.
Dauid sayd he gatt þat gud
of Ebrews ylka dele.

590

þen was kyng Achis ferly fayn
þat he and Ebrews enmys ware.
he trowd he wold neuer turne agayn
so frenly als he was be fore.
he sembyld [men] with all his mayn
of all his landes, both lesse and more,
And sayd þe Ebrews suld be slayn,
and on lyfe suld he leue no store.
he prayd Dauid als frend
þat he and his meneȝe
with hym in were wold wend,
and gladly grawnthed he.

591

þen was full grett myrth þem o mell;
þei styrd and wold no langer stand,
Bot furth þei [fare] ouer fyrth and fell
and fullyd all þat þei be fore fand.
when kyng saul herd tythynges tell
þat phylysteyns enturd his land,
he sayd þei suld not so[und]ly dwell.
a full grett ost sone he ordand.
A[nd] with þem all went he
with mekyll prese and pryde
To þe mount of gylboy,
and þore he busked hym to byd.

592

he myȝt se on þat hyll on heyght
in þe low land what lyfe þei led:
Towns of fyre byrnand full bryȝt
and all ouer was with enmys spred.
he saw þem mony and mekyll of myȝt;
sum dele in hert he was a dred
And prayd to god to schew sum syȝt
how þat he suld in þat stowre be sted,
whedder his folke suld be flayd
or ellys þer enmys slayn.
bot how s[o] euer he prayd,
he had no tokyn agayn.

593

his prophett[es] also for hym pray[s];
of h[elpe] vnto hym herd þei noyȝt.
þen wyst he well þat god not pay[s]
sum werkyng þat he has wroght.
he bad his men go dyuerse ways
þat sum wyche sone to [hym] ware soyght,
þat by hyr craft cowd ded men rays
þat sum body be lyue ware broyȝt
To tell how he suld chefe,
awder lyfe or ellys be sloyne.
One sayd, “lord, with your lefe
In Endor dwels swylke one.

594

Scho con by craft of socery
tell all þat euer in erthe sal be.”
The kyng went to hyr prevely
and bed hyr gold, full grett plente,
To rayse hym vp sum ded body,
to say whedder he suld fyght or fle.
Scho aske[d] in whom he wold affy.
“In samuel, forsoth”, says hee.
Sone thrugh hyr soceris
and thrugh þe fendes rede
Samuel scho gart vp ryse,
þat lang whyle had bene dede.

595

Als samuel stud þem be forne,
þe kyng sayd, “tell vs, or we twyn,
whedder syd sal be vp born
in þis batell þat we be gyne,
And who sall haue þer lyuys lorn!”
þen answerd he with dedly dyne,
“þou and þi suns sall wun to morn
in þe same wyse þat I wun In.”
þen was he hent in hy
a way, þei wyst not whore.
kyng saul þen was sory;
hym rewed þat he come þore.

596

he teldyd hym with in his tent
on gylboy batell for to abyde.
Now leue we hym wher he is lent
and tell how Dauid con be tyde.
kyng aches boldly borows brent
and stroyd Cytes on ylka syde.
Dauid ay wy[ght]ly with hym went;
no[n] was so well arayd þat tyde.
þe phylysteyns ware not payd
þat he suld with þem wun.
ylke on tyll oþer sayd,
“ys noyȝt þis gesse sun?

597

with kyng saul he ys at hame
and of his howshold hath bene lang.”
Sum oþer says, “þis is the same
þat maydyns made of in þer sang.”
“Syr kyng,” þei say, “we ar to blame,
and he with vs to batell gang.
his awn kyng wyll he kepe from schame
and turn to mell hym vs amang.
The more þat he [us] shendes,
þe more thanke sall he haue.
So sall þei bee full frendes.
þerfor se vs to saue!”

598

kyng aches saw his folke afrayd;
Of Dauid fare þei ware not fayn.
þerfor þus to hym he sayd,
“I thanke þe, ser, with all my mayn
þat þou þus prestly is purved,
bot now I pray þe turn agayn
And see my reme be ryȝt arayd.
I grawnnt þe heyre my power playn.”
þen Dauid home can fare,
all ware yt not his wyll.
Bot lang or he com þore,
new tythynges com hym tyll.

599

Amalachys we ment of ayre,
þat Dauid angerd oft be fore,
þei wyst full well how þat þei ware
went to were, both lesse and mare.
þerfor full fersly con þei fayre
to Cesilla, whore his wyfes ware.
þor forto sp[oyle] wold þei not spare;
þei brent and stroyde vp all þer store.
þei toke his wyfes two
and home with þem þei lede.
And of his meneȝe moo
wore þor full stratly sted.

600

Dauid was neuer ayre so wo;
no wounder yf he wex nere wode
when þat he wyst his wyfes two
war led away with all þer gud.
hys meneȝe made mornyng also,
be cawse þer wyfes with þem ȝode.
þei sayd þei suld neuer ha[m]werd go
or þei had schamly sched þer blode.
Dauid prayd god to send
sum comforth in þat case.
he had wernyng to wend
and well ouercom his fayse.

601

To fell þem down full fast þei thrett,
and furth þei cayred to þat cuntre.
On of þo Malachys þei mett
þat [for mete] myȝt no ferreur flee.
To haue his hele Dauid hym hett
to tell hym how þe best myȝt bee.
he sayd, “ser, I sall þe sett
whor þou þe malachys may see.”
hee wysched þem redy way
tyll þei had knawyng clere
whore all þer enmys lay,
makand full mery chere.

602

þei made þen myrth with all þer mayn
and trowed þat n[o] man myȝt þem marre.
þen Dauid and his folke was fayn
and toyȝt þat þei suld fownd no ferre.
þei pressed to þem in þat playn
and so with skelppis þei con þem scarre
þat sodanly þore ware þei slayn.
full ioyfull all þe ebrews arre.
þer wyfes þen þei ta
and gold full grett plente.
And went to Cecilla;
þat was þer awn Cyte.

603

Now at þer lyst we leue þem so
with Dauid þat of were was wyse,
And telle we of þe hostes two
on Gylboy, whore kyng saul lyse.
ffull gretly þei to geydder go
to se what syde suld wyn þe price.
þe phylysteyns ware mony moo
þat wer comyn with kyng Achys.
ffull boldly þei abyde
and bett on with brandes bryȝt.
And ebrews on þer syde
full fersly fandyd to fyȝt.

604

To tell how all þat werkyng was,
lyne be lyne, full lang yt were.
þe Ebrews all þe ouerhand hays
fro morn to mydday and more;
bot at þe last þei sayd alas
for lordes þat leued þer lyfes þore
And most for gentyll Ionatas,
þat Dauid fand his frend be fore.
he had stroyd in þat sted
phylysteyns full gud woyne,
And sythyn he was ded
and his breyþer ylkon.

605

when saul saw þat his sun was gone
and chefe of all his cheualry,
And how he þore was leued alon
and had no beld to byde hym by,
well leuer he had forto haue bene sloyn
þen lyfe in lawles cumpany.
þerfor of his men bad he on
putt hym to ded þor preuely
So þat he past no ferre
with folke of fals lyuyng.
þat man wold noyȝt hym marre
by cause he was his kyng.

606

with his awn sword he con be gyn
to styke hym self in þat stound.
So com A knaue of kaym kyn;
þe kyng sayd, “felow, or þou found,
Beyr me thrugh, for no thyng blyn,
and take my crown and my be rownde!”
þe knaue was glad þat gold to wyn
and gaf þe kyng his dedes wounde.
þus ended þe fyrst kyng
þat euer was of Ebrew,
ffor he brake goddes bedyng
and was not to hym trew.

607

Swylke cayre behoued cum hym tyll
for marterdoms þat he dyd make—
Byschopes and prestes both he gart spyll
and dekyns als for Dauid sake—
And for he wroyȝt not goddes wyll
þat cumaund hym he suld take wrake
Of kyng agag, þat greued hym yll,
and to trews he con hym take.
þat day ware Ebrews slayn,
als samuel sayd be fore.
Phylysteyns ware full fayn;
mawmentes þei wrschept þe more.

608

Sone on þe morn þei sessyd not ȝett
or dede bodes spoled bee.
kyng saul hed þei haue of cutt
and þe same of his suns all thre.
on þer Cete þei haue sett yt
þat folke on ylka syd suld see,
And for þei wold all þe werld suld wyt
of þer Iornay in gylboy.
To sere Cytes þei sentt
qwerters of lordes be l[a]de
To mak yt be on ment
þe maystrys þat þei þore made.

609

By cawse kyng saul þus was slayn,
phylysteyns made grett sacrafyce.
his armurs offerd þei ylkon
to Astrott, þer god of price.
Sythyn Ebrews with grett hand ar gone
to þo Cytes be certan spyse.
Both hed[es] and bodes haue þei ton
and bered þem in þer best wyse,
with grett wrschep all ways,
for þei so worthy wore,
And made sorowyng seuyn days,
als costom þen was þore.

610

When kyng saul [was] went his way,
XX ȝeres þen regnyd [had] hee.
And whyls he lufed god and his lay,
he had lykyng by land and see.
þer lyfed non ayre aftur his day;
þe prophett sayd yt suld so be.
The fyrst boke endes in this aray
þat tels how kyng[es] come in cuntree.
ffor[t]her who lykes to loke
how was with dauid done,
Seke in the secund boke;
þer þei sall see full soyne.

Liber Secundus Regum.

611

In the fyrst boke of kynges herd haue we
how saul was fyrst crowned kyng,
And how he dyed on gylboy
with his ost outrayd, old and ȝyng.
Now in the secund sall we see
of Dauid and of his doyng.
In Cesilla þen soiornd he,
and of þat werke wyst he no thyng
Tyll aftur on the thryd day
þen come a messynger,
And swylke saws con he say
þat chaunged all his chere.

612

“Ser”, he sayd, “be mery I rede,
for gud thynges sall I tell þe.
kyng saul þin enmy is dede;
I saw hym sloyn and his suns thre.”
þe[n] Dauid hert wex heuy as lede.
he sayd, “how wott þou yt suld so be?”
he sayd, “[from] Iews in the same sted;
þe certan seygns þat sall þou see.
hym self he wold haue slayn;
so was he stede in nede.
And for he had no mayn,
he prayd me do þat dede.

613

I wyst yt was his awn desyre;
to beyre hym thrugh I was full bownne
And haue here þat I haue to hyre,
hys bees of gold and his gud crownne.
I wott þou sal be lord and syre
And rewle þe reme, both [towre and town].”
þen dauid loked on hym with yre
and sayd, “þou sall haue waryson.
he was enoynted kyng,
þat þou dyde swylke dyspytte.”
withowt more doyng
hys hede he dyde of smytt.

614

ffull oft he syghtyd and sayd alas
þat euer kyng saul suld ende so,
Bot more for gentyll Ionatas.
when he yt wyst, þen was he woe,
ffor trewer luf in werld ne was
þen euer was be twyx þem two.
þerfor slyke care in hert he has;
ne he wyst in werld what he myȝt do.
he swouned, als he wold swelt,
and weped and wrang his h[e]nd.
lang with swylke doyles he delt;
no man myȝt hym amend.

615

Tyll at the last a Duke hym dyȝt
to bryng his bale in bettur g[u]yse.
he says, “yt is no semly syȝt
men forto werke on swylke a wyse.
yt is well fayrrer forto fyght
and venge vs on our yll enmyse.
So suld acord to ylka knyȝt;
with wepyng sall neuer wrschepe ryse.
yt falys wemen of eld
to wepe, when þei haue wrang,
And knyghtes to fyght in feld
þe[r] foys with fors to fang.”

616

þen sayd þei so on ylka syde
and cachyd myrth so þem a mell.
he trowed þer tayles in þat tyde
and prayd to god þat he wold þem tell
where hym ware best to beld and byd.
And goddes prophett bad hym go dwell
In Ebron, a Cety long and wyd,
with chosyn chylder of israhel.
The kynred of Iuda
þor chose hym forto þer kyng
All way well or wo
to lyfe at his ledyng.

617

Now wex Dauid A man of myȝt
when he was kyng by comyn crye.
The pure and rych he rewled ryȝt,
aftur þer werkyng was worthy.
hys cosyn Ioab, a gentyll knyt,
made he chefe of his cheualry
And next hym his two breþer, þat heyȝt
Aȝaell and abaȝai.
Ay þe eldyst of Ebrew
held he of þe most counsell,
Qwyll all he trest for trew
and wold not fayntly fayle.

618

We told be fore and not full ferre
how kyng saul was feld [in] feyld.
At home was left Duke Abnarre
his land and his welth to weld
so þat none suld with maystry marre
ysboset, saul sun vn weld.
he and þat Duke yll angerd arre
þat Dauid so was broyȝt to beld.
þei hard how he was kyng
of þe kynred of Iuda;
þat toyȝt þem herd hethyng
and kest be twen þem twa

619

how þei myȝt turne all þat entent,
and þus þei ordand þem omell:
þei sembled all to þer assent
þat with saul ware wunt to dwell.
þat ysbosett þen haue þei hent
and made hym [kyng] of israhel;
And forto marre so haue þei ment
kyng Dauid and his force to fell.
When Ioab herd of þo
and of þer purpase playn,
he and his breyþer two
grathed þem þor a gayn.

620

Duke Ioab hath for Dauid heyght
to feyȝht in feld and not to flee.
Duke Abnarre says for ysbotsett
in batell sall he byde and bee.
Bot both þer men, when þei ware mett,
ware ebrews and of on cuntree.
þerfor to were wyll þei not lett
tyll þat þei wytt who sall wyn degre.
fful fersly þen þei fyȝt.
bot to [t]ell at þe last:
Abnare was put to flyght,
and Ioab fowled fast.

621

And als þei persewede þore,
ware mony dede with owtyn drede.
Bot Aȝaell was ay be fore,
for þore hade he so wyght a stede.
when Abnare saw he sewed so sore
and to his hele wold take no hede,
he prayd hym to persew no more,
and he suld gyf hym gold to mede.
þerfor he wold not lett,
ne for his spekyng spare.
And Abnare on hym sett
and thrugh his brest hym bare.

622

when Ioab saw þat sory syȝt:
his broþer lyg dede on þe land,
þen dyde he all his mayn and myȝt
to venge his ded with hert and hand.
And by þat was yt nere þe nyȝt,
and no tyme to be traueland.
Duke Abanare toke a hyll on hyght
and gatt a strengh in forto stand.
And þen for peyce he prayd
to Ioab and his men.
“we werke all wrang”, he sayd,
“þat sall ȝe derly kene.”

623

“Ioab”, he sayd, “full well I knaw
a feller knyȝt may no man fynde.
with phylysteyns to fyght þe aw
and with paynyms þat þei ben pynd.
Bot we þat lyf all by a law
and all are Ebrews of on kynd
ylkon to bryng oþer a Daw,
we suld haue god more in our mynd.
Both Cosyns and kynred
are sembled on ayder syde.
þe mo þat þus ar dede,
þe more tene sall vs be tyde.

624

I prayd þi broþer of peyce
when he persewed me with enuy.
Bot for my saws he wold not sesse
and fell so thrugh his awn foly.
So myȝt fall þe same messe
þi self to suffur or perchaunce I.
þerfor yt is fayrest forto sese,
and ylk man kepe his cumpany.”
qwen Ioab saw certayn
he sayd reson and ryȝt,
hee turned his men agayn
and rested þore þat nyȝt.

625

Bot on þe morn þei morwnd omell
for folke þat þei fand fallyn in feld.
þei beyred þe body of aȝaell
with all þe wrschep þat þei myȝt weld.
when kyng Dauid herd how yt fell
þat aȝael was schent on feld,
his tene in hert no tong myȝt tell,
for he was [all way] hym to beld.
kyng Dauid had in Ebron
VI wyfes with hym to go,
And sere suns: Absolon,
Adony and oþer moo.

626

Sone aftur þis þen fell Debate
be twyx ysboset and abnare,
ffor he had takyn A leman latt
þat with saul be fore con [fare].
he sayd yt fell not for his astate
to vse wemen þat with kynges ware.
Abnare in hert þen con hym hatt,
þat chalenged hym for swylk a chare.
he says, “euyn als I broyȝt
þe folke to wun hym wyth,
So sall I sett þer toyȝt
and turne þem to Dauid.”

627

And sone vnto þe same entent
letturs dyde he to wrytyng.
And messyngers sone hath he sent
vnto Dauid, of Iuda kyng.
he told hym holy how he ment
vnder his b[un]dom forto bryng
All þe Ebrews þat with saul went,
fro ysbosett, both old and ȝyng.
Kyng Dauid was full glade
when þei told þis tythyng,
And sayd with sembland sade,
“he sall haue his askyng.”

628

And forto proue be reson ryfe
yf he þis purpasse wold persew,
he sayd, “send Mycoll, my fayrest wyfe,
þat homly is of hyd and hew.
I luf hyr lely as my lyfe
sen fyrst þat I þat cumly knew.
yf he do þis to stynt all stryfe,
þen wyll I trest þat all be trew.”
þe messyngers ar wentt
to abnare euyn agayn,
And Mycoll sone was sent,
and Dauid þen was fayn.

629

Abnare þis forward wold fulfyll.
full sone he gart to geydder call
lordes of þe land, both lowd and styll,
þat oght myȝt gouern grett or small.
he sayd, “sers, tentes vnto my skyll;
þe certan soth say yow I sall.
I wott well yt is goddes wyll
þat Dauid be kyng of ebrews all.
þe prophett samuel
sayd yt suld so be,
And with hym wyll I dwell.”
þei say, “ser, so wyll we.

630

with hym to pase ware [w]e prest,
had we not bene at þi bydyng.”
þen twenty barons of þe best
be for kyng Dauid con he bryng.
A fyrm sewrty þore þei fest
and made hym homage, old and ȝyng.
so were all þe XII kynredes kest
with hym to hold and [h]e þer kyng.
Grett fest þan mad he þore
by cause of kynredes twelfe,
Bot Abnare ay be fore
was honerd next hym selfe.

631

when all was wele, þei went þer ways,
ylkon to þer awn cuntre.
Ioab, þe Duke, was all þer days
for errandes fare fro þat Cety.
when he come and herd how men says
of fest and grett solempnite,
þat purpas no thyng to hym pays:
þat Abnare suld so neghtbur be.
he hoped he suld be nare
vnto the kyng all way.
þat mater wyll he marre
in all þat euer he may.

632

ffyrst he told vnto the kyng,
“þat Abanare dose [is] all enuy.
he feynys frenschepe for no thyng
bot for he wyll þis land aspye
how he may best hys ost In bryng
so to persew þe preuely.
And þou wyll trest to his tellyng,
þis land may so be lost þerby.”
þe kyng wyst þis was wrang;
þe case full well he knew.
And sayd, “wher euer he gang,
I trow Abnare be trew.”

633

When Ioab wyst þis wold not be,
sone hath he soyȝt A sotell gyne.
ffayr letturs sent he forto se
with þe best knyghtes of all his kyn
And prayd Abnare þat hast suld he
to þe kyng be lyue, for no thyng [bl]yn,
And speke with hym in specialte
for bourdes þat þei suld be gyn.
Abnare full sone assent
to werke þe kynges wyll.
Wyghtly with þem he went,
þat wold sped hym to spyll.

634

þen Ioab con full grathly spye
and wentt to feld hym forto kepe.
he and his broþer abyȝai
welcumd hym with grett wrschepe.
In consell þei cald hym in hy,
ryȝt als þei for his wo wold wepe.
Ioab þen spake full specialli
and þer with wroyȝt hym wowndes depe.
þis was a[n] [evyll] corde
and wroyȝt with weked trayn.
Alas þat swylke a lord
falsly suld be slayn!

635

So preuely his sword he drogh;
þe Duke was dede þore sodanly.
kyng Dauid hath full mekyll woght
when he herd tell þis trechery.
Duke Ioab made his tale full togh
and sayd he had encheson why:
“My broþer Ayȝel he slogh,
and þen I myȝt no wyn hym by.”
Bot als men may suppose,
he dyd yt more for drede
þe lordschep forto lose
þat he had forto lede.

636

The kyng is so with mornyng mett;
hym gaynes nowder game ne glee.
Vnto þe Duke he dyd his dett:
Interyd hym in þat same cyte.
þen of þis lesson wyll we let
sen of þis bale no bott may be,
And say how fell of ysbosett,
te kyng of israhel cuntre.
when he herd how men sayd
þat Duke Abnare was dede
And trayturly be trayd,
he was full wyll of rede.

637

ffull grett mornyng he mad amang;
so dyd all þat þen wore þore.
bot his lyfe lasted not aftur lang;
swylke falshed was formeld þ[erf]ore.
To hym was wroyȝt als mekyll wrang
as to Abnare or ellys more,
be two tyrandes and trayturs strang;
of byniamyns both born þei wore,
Rocab and baana,
as beyrs wyttenese þe boke.
þies ware þe trayturs two
þat treson vnder toke.

638

ffor none may bettur a man betray
þen he in whom his hert [is trist].
so preuey with þe kyng war þei
to com [in] and owt at þer lyst.
Als he lay slepand on a day
in place whore non bot þei yt wyst,
his hed þei toke and bare a way
full mony myls or þei ware myst.
þei wend full well haue done
qwen [þei] þis falshed fand.
To kyng Dauid full sone
þei offerd þat presand.

639

with full grett gladnese þei hym grett
and sone rehersed hym þer resown:
“ser, here þe hede of kyng ysbosett
þat was þi foo in feld and town.
Now lyfes þe[re] non [þe] forto lett.”
he sayd, “trayturs, full of tresown,
haue ȝe no mynd how I hym mett
þat proferd me kynges saul crown?
his hed I gart of schaue,
for he dyd þat dyspyte.
þe same hyre sall ȝe haue.”
þer hedes he gart of smytt.

640

Vnto kyng Dauid þan þei draw,
lordes of ylka cuntre cleyne.
And for þer kyng all þei hym kn[a]w
and makes hym homage all be dene.
so was he lord of hegh and law
þat langed to þe XII kynredes kene.
þen loues he god, als he well aw,
þat so hath sett hym to be sene.
And full grett sacrafyce
to god þore con he make,
And ylke man on þer wyse
dyde þe same for his sake.

641

Sen þat his enmys þen ware ded
þat lyfand wold haue done hym dere,
And all ware sembled in þat same stede,
þe kyng wyll wytt what folke þe are.
he gart cownt of ylk kynred
all þat ware abyll armys to bere,
And þat hade force to fend þar hede
and fals phylysteyns forto fere.
The kynred of Iuda:
VI thowsand and IIII score,
þis was nowmer of þa
þat ware ay sett be fore.

642

Of þe lyne of leuy, lygh als leuyn,
IIII thowsand VII hunderth told.
Of beniamyn IIII thowsand euyn,
and þen of effraym elders old
were XX thowsand styrd be steuyn,
and VIII hunderth of berns bold.
Of ysacar II C to neuyn
and XX thowsand, wytt who wold.
VII thowsand of symeon
and I hunderth at hand.
And sythyn of ȝabulon
ware L thowsand.

643

Of neptalim was so grett plente,
to nowmer þem myȝt no man co[m].
Of Aser XL thowsand free,
of Dan XX and VII thowsand sum.
Of ruben, gad, and manasse,
þat ware wunnand be ȝond the flum,
Sex C thowsand had þo thre.
of all þer was a thryfty thrum.
And þer ald and ȝeyng
with wrschyp on þer wyse
Raysed dauid to be kyng.
þen was he ordand thryse.

644

The fyrst tym [was] be twyx þem two,
þe prophett samuel and he,
when god bad hym to bedlem go,
and Dauid keped his fader fee.
þe secund was in cecilla
whore he wonned with his wyfes three.
þore come þe kynred of Iuda
and made hym kyng of þat cuntre.
The thryd was now hym selfe
In Ebron was made kyng
Of all the kynredes twelfe
þat lyfyd to goddes lykyng,

645

qwylke comynly ware cald cananews
for canan þat þe dwelled In.
And for Abraham þei ware Ebrews
namyd with men, both more and myn.
In ierusalem þen wonned ȝebesews,
þe fellest folke of phylysteyn.
And for þei ware so mekyll sch[re]ws,
on þem to were he wyll be gyn.
þe men þat þus ware mett
and geydderd in grett rowte
To þat Cyte ware sett
and segyd yt all abowte.

646

þe folke with In, of felows fame,
saw þei had no force to fyȝt.
þei toyȝt to gare þem schon for schame;
þis sotelty sone haue þei dyȝt:
All þe lepurs and all þe lame
and all þe blynd þat wantyd syȝt
A pon þe walles þei sett þo same
and bad þem crye holy on hyght,
“Dauid, þat kyng is cald,
for all þi brag and bost,
þis Cety sall we hald
fro þe and all þin ost.”

647

The kyng hard how the crepyls cryde
and wyst yt was done in dyspytt.
þerfor he wold no langer byde
bot qwykly fand yt forto qwytt.
þei seged yt full sadly on ylka syde
so þat þat cyte toke þei full tytte.
both man and page for all þer prid
þer heddes full smartly þei of smytte.
The kyng þus and his ost
dystroyd both bred and lengh.
þo þat wore maysturs most
had takyn a towr for strengh.

648

when þei had þus þat Cety wun
and broyȝt yt all vnder þer bale,
Vnto þe towre þei haue be gun
to sett and sadly yt asale.
kyng Dauid sayd what moder sun
þat enturs fyrst withoutyn fale,
Als most frendly he sal be fun
and most cheue of þe kynges consale.
When Duke Ioab con here
þe kyng gaf þis decre,
he wold non were so nere
of his consell os he.

649

þerfor he dyd his myȝt and mayn
þat wrschep to hym self at wyn.
he cast no perels ne no payn
tyll he þat towr was enturd In.
And hastely he hath þem slayn;
þat boldnes gart his gamys be gyn.
ffor so he was sett a[s] souerayn
of all þe kynges men, more and myn,
And most chefe of conselys,
whore so þei gang or ryde,
And ordenare of batellys
to buske or ellys to abyde.

650

Sen þat place was þer best socour,
to byd þore ware þei not to blame.
þe folke þen namyd yt Dauid towre,
and to þis day yt beyrs þat name.
so was the kyng sett in honour
and ouer all namyd of nobyll fame.
Phylesteyns þat war styfe in stowre,
in þis tyme þei war mad full tame
And flemed fro þat Cyte,
and Ebrews þor ordand.
þe kyng bad yt suld be
chefe Cyte of þat land.

651

þos lordes þen þer leuys hath tane
when he was sett as soueran syre.
ffor hym to noye þen was þer none
bot fals phylysteyns, fell ose fyre.
Amang all oþer was þer on,
Aram, þat was kyng of tyre;
Of sy[d]er wod had he gud wone.
and þat was kyng Dauid desyre
forto make howse in hast
his Ebrews in to abyd,
ffor þat Cyte was wast
sere tyms be for þat tyde.

652

when Aram, kyng of tyre, herd tell
kyng Dauid in so grett degre,
And þat he dyȝt hym forto dwell
in ierusalem, þat grett Cete,
grett syder treyse fast gart he fell,
and bad þat wryghtes bown suld be
And þe best masons þe[m] omel
at wend to canan cuntre.
“Sekys to þe kyng”, he sayd,
“and werkes what he wyll bede.”
kyng Dauid was well payd,
for of swylke had he nede.

653

þen made he walles full mekyll of myȝt
with nobyll towrs and turettes by
And barrys b[u]ne with yrn [and] dyȝt
forto eschew all yll enmy.
þen mad he halles and [howses] on heyȝt
for lordes and lades in to ly
with selers semly vnto syȝt
pauyd and paynted with ymagry.
Of wyfes he had gud wone,
þat with hym wonnand ware.
[A wyfe bare Absolon
and his suster Thamar.]

654

Now hath kyng Dauid power playn
of Ebrews in ylk cuntree.
Bot phylysteyns ware no thyng fayn
þat he suld gouera[n]d swylke degre.
þei sembled men with all þer mayn
to sege ierusalem Cyte.
bot os god wold, sone was sum slayn,
and sum also ware fayn to flee.
þat toyȝt þem grett dyspyte;
þerfor þei wold not blyne.
þei gatt mo folke full tytt
and new were con be gyne.

655

þei geydderd full grett cumpany
þat Cyte oft sythys to assayle.
kyng Dauid wold not feygh for þi
or he of god had sum consayle
wheþer he suld haue þe vyctory
and bettur byd in þat batell.
God warnd hym þen full wyttly
by a sygne þat he suld not fayle.
God bad he suld take tent
and on þe euynyng tyd
lay his men in buschement
vnder A forest syde.

656

“On þe morn þen sall ȝe fynd
þis tokyn trew þat I yow tell.
when þe wod wages with outyn wynd,
wend þou þen be lyue; no langer dwell.
your enmys sall ȝe bette and bynd
and make þem flee ouer fyrth and fell.
þei sal be lorn þat leuys be hynd,
and maystry leue þi men omell.”
Os god demed, Dauid dyde.
his men sone he arayde.
And all to hym be tyd,
als god hym self had sayd.

657

when þei to batell bremly breyst,
Phylysteyns ware full fayn to flee.
þe kyng with his folke foled fast
and putt þem down, full grett plente.
with þer pursewyt so ar þei past
to gessore, þat was þer Cyte.
þat þei conquerd and down yt cast
and gat gret gud of gold and fee.
þei wan þor welth enogh,
þat wold to tresour tent.
hamward þen þei drogh
and stroyd euer as þei wentt.

658

The godes of gold þat þei gat þore,
þat ware made for þer mawmentry,
kyng Dauid toke þem to tresour
and forto menske god allmighty.
So fals phylysteyns wasted wore
þat þei myȝt make no more maystry.
kyng Dauid wex ay more and more
with wrschep, als he was worthy.
god wroyȝt for hym all way
and made hym mekyll in price.
And he honerd god ay
with suyt and sacrafyce.

659

þen toke he purpase for to ta
in to ierusalem Cyte
þe arke of gold fra Gabatha
and sett yt vp in grett degre.
XXX milia gart he ga
with sang and grett solempnite
with outyn prestes and dekyns ma
þat a bowt yt agh to be.
All maner of mynstralsy
was ordand for þis thyng,
And full fayre cumpany
went be fore with þe kyng.

660

All loued þei god both loud and styll
þat his arke suld lend in þer land.
þe arke, als þei went down a hyll,
for als yt suld be falland.
On Osay went with full gud wyll
to hald yt vp layd on his hand.
Sone sodan ded was sent hym tyll,
for he þerfor was not ordand.
þis lesson wyll vs lere:
non suld neght howled thyng,
bot þei þat haue power
grauntyd of goddes gyfyng.

661

To ierusalem þat arke is broyȝt
with prelettes and with prophettes of price.
A tabernakyll þer to was wroyȝt,
als well os werkemen cowd a vyse.
On ylka syde þerto þei soyȝt
with sense and solempne sacrafyce.
Als þei had god hym self þei toyȝt;
so fayn was ylkon on þer wyse.
Kyng Dauid was full glad
þat hym was sent swylke seyle;
Gud hope in hert he hade
þat god dyd euer ylk dele.

662

And be cause he swylke wrschep wan
and gat to gouern swylke degre,
To honer god, yf þat he can,
in all his myȝt ymagyns hee.
he told to þe prophett nathan
þat he wold make of ston and tree
A chyrch þat was cald tempyls þen
whore in þe arke of god myȝt be,
þat folke may call and knell
to be assoiled of þer syn.
þo prophett prayssed hym well
swylke gud werke to be gyn.

663

bot aftur, o[s] I vnderst[ode],
god cald vnto hym on A nyȝt,
“Dauid, my seruand myld of mode,
A howse to me sall þou non dyȝt,
By cause þi handes ar full of blod
of þos þat þou hath feld in fyȝt.
I thanke þe þat þi wyll is gud,
and þerfor sall þou reyng be ryȝt.
And aftur þe þin hayre,
þat sal be salamon,
he sall make well and fayre
my howse of tree and ston.”

664

The prophett sayd þe kyng certayn,
als god had told hym vnder teld.
þen was kyng Dauid ferly fayn
þat his heyre suld his welthis weld.
he honerd god with all his mayn
þat hym had broyȝt vnto swylke beld
And mad hym kyng with power playn
fro hyrd þat keped fee in feld.
he gouernd al[d] and ȝyng
all way by consell clere;
so lyfyd he in lykyng
in myrth full mony a ȝere.

665

Kyng Dauid both be nyght and days
full dewly demys of ylka dede.
ffor on poynt was he worthy to prayse:
þat he wold herkyn and take hede
In ryȝt and reuerence þem to arase
þat helped hym when he had nede.
ffor Ionatas waytt he all ways
yf any sewtt ware of his sede,
ffor whyls he lyfed in land,
his luf myȝt no thyng lett.
A sun of his þei fand
þat heygh Mifibosett.

666

This mifeboȝett was of age,
bot mayned and halt was he.
kyng Dauid putt hym into perage
of bacheler, [os] aght to be.
In ierusalem a certayn stage
was made for hym and his meneȝe.
he held wyght men for þer wage
to serue hym in sere degre.
his steward con he make
Cyba, þat souerin was;
All for his fader sake,
gentyll Ionatas.

667

when þis was done sone aftur þis
[A] Duke, þat Dauid trysted a pon,
heyȝt Naas, kyng of amonys,
and had an heyre, þat heyȝt Anon.
þe fader was wytty and wyse,
bot sythyn þe sun was fon a fown.
kyng Dauid held hym mekyll of price
euyn as his awn son absolon.
Sone when he herd of þis
þat kyng Naas was dede,
he sent wysmen of his
the chyld to wysch and rede.

668

he bad þem tell hym how he wold
mayntein hym with all his myȝt
And þe same frendchep with hym hold
þat he had to his fader hyȝt.
þe messyngers, herdy and bold,
to wend þis way þei war full wyȝt.
And to þe ȝyng kyng haue þei told
þer resons all; þei rehershed ryȝt
how kyng Dauid had sayd
his frenschepe suld not faylle.
þe princes ware not payd
and cald þe kyng in consayle.

669

þei say, “ser, be ware and wytty;
þis is the falshed of þi foo.
þies lordans comys þi land to spy
and wayte how þei may werke þe wo.
þerfor ser, sett no thyng þer by,
bot sen þou sees þat yt is so,
lett vs waytt þem sum velany
and send þem furth wher þei com fro.”
þe kyng was ȝyng of eld,
þat was sone aftur sene.
he lost his bygest beld,
and so yt turned to tene.

670

be þis consell þe kynges meneȝe
þis messyngers both bett and band
And cutt þer cloghes vp at the the,
als foles wer serue[d] in þat land;
Sythyn mad þer berdes half chauyn be
and þe oþer half styll to stand
And send þem so to þer cuntre
and bad þei suld go tell thythand.
yf kyng David for þis
be wroth, no wonnder yt ys,
To see so mekyll of mys
agayns his grett gudnes.

671

he bad þem venge þis velany
þat vnder hym had his power.
Ioab, his steward stalworthy,
sayd yt suld be boyȝt full dere.
And his broþer abbysay
sembled folk from sydes sere
Anon, þe kyng of amonys,
and his cuntre forto conquere.
when kyng anon herd say
of Ioab entent þat tyd,
his folke he gart aray
in batell hym to abyd.

672

Duke Ioab furth his folke he led
vnto þei come in amonys cuntre.
he stroyd and brent all þat was bred
and nawder spared folke ne fee.
And als sone os þei batell bed
to loke who suld þe bettur bee,
Phylysteyns full fast þei fled
and toke [to] Rabatt, þare ryche Cyte.
þat Cyte was so strong
with guns and oþer geyre.
ffro þei þat force myȝt fang,
þei dowtt no dedes of were.

673

Duke Ioab dyȝt hym forto dwell
and wyn þat Cyte, yf he myȝt.
And in þis meyn tyme þat I tell,
kyn[g] Dauid rewled hym all vnryȝt.
In awowtry fowle he fell
with vry wyf, þat [was] his knyȝt.
Swylke medyturs was mad o mell
þat with hym was scho all nyȝt.
Dame barsabe scho hatt,
þat was tane vnder teld.
ser vrre at Rabat
lay fort[o] fyȝt in feld.

674

Sone on þe morn Dame barsabe
supposed to be with chyld in hy.
And costom was in þat cuntre:
who so was tan in avowtry
Suld be stoned in þe same Cyte.
þerfor scho past full preuely
And prayd þe kyng hertly þat he
suld ordan þerfor remedy.
þe kyng sayd, “dred þe noyȝt.
þor sall no folke þe fyle.”
Sone þen he hym be toyȝt
of a full wekyd wyle.

675

he thynkes in his awn entent
how he suld fell all fowle defame.
Aftur ser vrre hath he sent
and bad þat he suld hast hym hame.
And in þis message hath he ment
so forto scheld þe wyfe fro schame.
ffro he with hyr alon ware lent,
of þat barne suld he bere þe blame.
Syr vrre hast hym sone
and com þe kyng vntyll.
he wyst not what was [done]
and askyd what was his wyll.

676

þe kyng says, “full fayn wold I fele
how frendes faryn sen þei ferd vs fro,
And for þin awn sake, ser, sum dele
þat þou may rest a day or two.
þi wyfe thynkes lang, I wott full well;
þerfor to hyr I red þou go
And make hyr solace for your sele.
yt is semly þat þou do so.”
Syr vrry sayd not nay,
bot furth he wendys his ways.
And all þat nyȝt he lay
within the kynges palys.

677

sone on þe morn þe kyng be held
he was not gone his wyfe to glose,
And askyd hym why he wold not ȝeld
chere to his wyfe sen he had chose.
þe knyȝt sayd he suld byde no beld,
ne be vncled of cotte ne hose,
whyls all his felows lay in feld
to wyn wrschep or lyfes lose.
þe kyng saw his for toyȝt
myȝt no thyng stand in stede.
A lettur be lyue he wroyȝt,
qwylke sayd he suld be dede.

678

þat lettur he toke þe knyȝt vntyll
And sayd, “ser, sen þou wyll not [rest],
Vnto Duke Ioab bere þis byll,
as man on lyue þat I lufe best,
And byd hym faythfully yt fulfyll.”
þe knyȝt knew not his ded was kest,
bot furth he ȝode with full gud wyll;
to plese Ioab was he full prest.
þat boke to hym he bede
and bad hym serue yt sone.
when Ioab had yt rede,
he saw what suld be done.

679

And on þe morn maystrys he mays
als he phylysteyns wold fere.
Syr vrre sett he in swylke place
whore he wyst þei suld do hym dere.
And sone a way fro hym he gays.
þen þei with in were wyse of were
And sees þat he no help hays;
thrugh þe body þei con hym bere.
þus was he saklese slayn,
þat shaply vnder scheld.
þe kyng þerfor was fayn
his wyf þat he myȝt weld.

680

he wedyd hyr with mekyll wyn
and mad hyr to be crowned qwene
All fort[o] couer þat cursyd syn
þat þei had done þem two be twen,
ffor þe grett state god sett hym in
mad hym kyng with crown clene.
To greyue hym þus he con be gyne,
and þat was on hym selfe sene.
God toke not sone vengiance,
bot fyrst he wyll assay
yf he with repentance
wyll mend whyls he may.

681

The prophett natan sone he sent
to ierusalem, þat ryche Cyte.
Als god wold, wyghly he wentt
both to kyng Dauid and barsabe.
“ser kyng”, he says, “sen god hath lentt
þat þou sall deme in ylke degre,
A thyng þat falys to þi jugment
am I comyn forto aske of þe.
Als þe pertys hath prayd,
so sall I say þe sone.
And ser, when I haue sayd,
os þou demys, sal be done.

682

A myghty man and mekyll drede
wuned heyr be syd down in a dale.
his catell was so wyd spred
þat of þem cowth he not tale.
A pure man was be syd hym sted
þat had no catell, grett ne small,
Owt takyn A schep þat he had fed
vp on a lamb with corne and cale.
þis rych man mad a fest
at home in his awn hall
And sloght þe pur[e] mans best
to glad his gestes with all.

683

This question þat I [of þe] craue
how þis rych man is worthy mede.”
þe kyng sayd, “ser, so god me saue,
þis thynke me ryȝt to rede:
I deme þus þat þe pure man haue
fowr for on for his nede;
And þe rych man þat so wold raue
to suffer ded for þat same dede.”
þe prophett sayd, “certan,
to be so best yt semyd.
þis dome ys noyȝt in vayn;
þin awn ded hath þou demed,

684

by cawse þou gart kyll þi knyȝt
—so semly er full seldom sawyn—
And haldes his wyf agayns þe ryȝt
be cause your syns suld not be knawn,
And hath enow both day and nyȝt
lades and lemmans of þin awn.
A sodan deth suld on þe lyȝt,
bot god has bedyn yt be with drawn.
And þus þerfor sall fall,
os I sall say on one,
On of þin awn suns sall
defowle þis wyfes ylk on.

685

And þat same sun sal be slyke,
thrugh helpe and myȝt of oþer mo,
To cache þe owt of þi kyng ryke
and make þe fayn to fle þer fro.
And þat ylke chyld þat now is like
to be broyȝt furth be twyx yow two
Dede with his strengh sall sone yt stryke
þat gain þerof þou sall for go.
þis harme hath god þe hyght
forto be sent vn soyght,
ffor þou dyssaued þi knyȝt
þat to þe trespast noyȝt.

686

And oþer baylys abyd þe bus
bot þou to god fast cry and call.”
when þe kyng herd yt bus be þus,
down on þe grownd flatt con he fall
And made Miserere mei deus
with oþer psalmys, sum grett sum small,
qwylke ar now euydence to vs
at say to god þat gouerans all
ffor gyfnes forto geyte,
yf we in care be cast,
Als Dauid dyd pennance grett
and prayd to god full fast.

687

Sone aftur þen by cowrse of kynd,
when barsabe delyuer[ed] was,
A fayrer fode myȝt no man fynd
of hyd ne hew þen scho now has.
kyng Dauid was þen mery in mynd,
bot aftur sone he sayd alas,
when þat he saw þe chyld was pynd
with payns of dede and myȝt not pase.
bot in his hert he toyȝt
þat he to god wold pray
And mowrn all þat he moght
to mend yt, yf he may.

688

he dyde away his garmentes gud,
and in a seke he sett hym down.
he weped als he wold be wod
and kest powder apon his crown.
be sex days wold he fang no fode
ffor spech of bacheler ne barown.
þer myȝt no [myrth] amend his mode
to tyme þe barne to bere was bown.
On þe VII [day], als swyth
as þe chyld lyf was ende,
he bad all men be blyth
sen mowrnyng made no mende.

689

[Of Dauid sonnes before sayd we.
the first of all that hight Amon,
A semely man in sight to se,
and the secund hight Absalon.
Now gate he an othre of Barsabee,
and he was named Salamon,
As wyse a man in his degree
as euer god layd life vpon.
As Absalon was fair,
so was Salamon wyse
And after his fadir hair
and kyng pereles of price.]

690

In all þis tyme Duke Ioab lay
þe Cyte of rabaat forto wyn.
ffor fawt of fode þei fell down fay,
Phylysteyns þat ware with in.
When Duke Ioab saw certayn day
þat [þei] þare fro suld nedly twyn,
hee sent [to] kyng Dauid forto say
[þat himself] suld com and be gyn.
heyrof well payd was he,
and ydder he wendes on one.
þei wan sun þat Cyte
and gatt þer welth grett wone.

691

Anon, þe kyng of amonys,
was þore owtrad and al to shent.
his crown þat was of grett price
kyng Dauid has on his hed hen[t].
The lordschepes þat abowt hym lyse
and burghes brode be lyue ware brent.
And when all was wrogh on þis wyse,
to ierusalem with ioy þei wentt.
þe kyng made all men glade
with grett gyftes or þei gang.
grett ioy in hert he had,
bot yt last not lang.

692

he had A doyghtur his hert was on,
heygh Thamar, o[s] I told be for[n]e.
Scho was systur to Absolon;
þei both ware of a moyder born.
hyr eldest broþer þat heygh Amon,
he mad mornyng myday and morn.
And fowle he be gan to fon
to haue hyr lufe, or els be lorn.
hyre on so con he thynke,
and for he durst not say,
he myȝt not ette ne drynke
bot [peryst] and wast a way.

693

A seruant þat was to hym nere
and most of all [his] counsels knew,
he saw his maystur make yll chere
and oft sythys chaunged his hyd and hew.
he sayd, “ser, tell vnto me heyre
what thyng þe noys now of new.
ffull gud legians I sall þe lere,
or ellys trest neuer that I be trew.”
he sayd, “þus euyll I fare,
and bot I sped, I spyll,
My systur, fayr Thamar,
bot I hyr weld at wyll.”

694

“A ser”, he sayd, “take myrth o mell
and for þis ded be not a dred.
ffeyn yow seke ose so be fell,
and say þou may not pase þi bed.
The kyng, þi fader, when he heyrys tell,
wyll come to se how þou ert sted.
Pray hym Thomar may with þe dwell,
for of hyr lyst þe best be fed.
ffull sone he wyll þe graunt
or þou þi myrthes myst,
And so þou sall hyr hawnt
and luf euyn os þou lyst.”

695

Thys purpase was well to his pay,
and sone all þis was was done in ded.
[So] Thamar was comyn on a day
hyr broþer frendly [for] to fede.
þen wysed he all his men away
and bad þem spere all as þei ȝede.
And to his systur con he say,
“My ded ys dyȝt with outyn dred.
No bettur boyt may be,
bot þou þis grace wyll gyfe:
To werke my wyll with þe.
I may no langer lyfe.

696

we ar heyr in our howse at hame,
and non sall wytt þis, I warrand.”
when Thamar hard, hyr hert was tame,
and for ferd tremled fotte and hand.
Scho sayd, “broþer, lett be for schame
and for wreth of god all weldand.
Well leuer me ware of lyfe be lame
and lordschep lose and lefe þis land.
No more þis mote þou neuyn,
þat sory and synfull ys,
Bot heyue þi hert to heuyn
and aske god for gyfnes.

697

And haue in mynd, dere broþer [am]one,
how men wold maruell, both more and myn,
To here þou suld so fowly fon
þi systur forto seke with syn.
grett vengians wold be tan þeron
both with [þe] kyng and our kyn.
ffor wyst my broþer absolon,
full mekyll wo yt wold be gyn.”
Amon wyst all was sperd;
hyr sawys he sett not by.
ffowle with hyr he ferd
and forst hy[r] felously.

698

The maydyn was full maysed and mate,
bot of hyr bale no butt may be.
Son os A hownd he con hyr hatte
and sayd he wold not on hyr see.
þat scho suld go wyghtly hyr gate
owt of his hows þen commawnd he.
Scho prayd of leue tyll yt ware latte
þat scho myȝt pase in preuete.
ffor spech he wold not spare,
no lenger suffer hyr lend.
hyr hed [scho] hyde and hare;
sore wepand con scho wend.

699

So went scho furth with mekyll wo
tyll Absolon hyr broþer hall.
And when he saw hyr gretand [g]o,
he had ferly what suld be fall.
“Systur”, he sayd, “how ys it so?
who hath þe greued, grett or small?”—
“My broþer Amon and no mo.”
þen how be tyde scho told hym all.
No meruell was to mene
yf he in mynd ware meuyd.
bot sembland non was sene
in hert how he was greued.

700

Thamar þus tuke he hym tyll
and made hyr myrth with all his mayn.
he leytte Amon haue all his wyll
os he had noyȝt wyst of þe trayn.
So all þis stryfe was haldyn styll
vnto two ȝeres was past playn.
And þen als end comys of all yll,
be fell in þe seson certayn
þat men suld clype þer schepe,
and whore þer catell lendes
Suld ylk man take kepe
þer for to fest þer frendes.

701

ffell absolon for þis same thyng
ordand a grett mangery.
he bad þerto his fader þe kyng,
bot he excused hym skylfully.
he bad hym take both old and ȝyng
of his breyþer to be hym by
And frendes, als fallys for swylke doyng,
and als he demed, he dyd in hy.
he bad his broþer Amon
to se how frendes suld fare.
þe Ded ay thynkes he on
þat was done to Thamar.

702

The fest was ordand fayr and fyne
and purvayd in ylk poynt perfyt.
Sone Absolon sayd vnto his hyne
how Amon had done hym dyspytt,
“When ȝe se hym well dronkyn of wyne,
his hed þen smertly ȝe of smytt.
ffor he mysded to me and myne,
now sall I fand yt forto qwytt.”
þei dyd als he commawnd,
and sone was Amon slayn.
so for fowle luf in land
ar men oft put to payn.

703

his breþer, when þei saw þis syȝt,
and all his frendes ware fowle afrayd.
To ierusalem þei went full wyȝt
and told how Amon was be trayd.
kyng Dauid, qwen þis D[ol]e was dyȝt,
“al[a]s, both ware my suns”, he sayd,
“bot Absolon by reson ryȝt
sall dere aby þis byttur brayd.”
he mornyd and mad grett mone
for both þoo breþer sake.
so dyd his frendes ylkon
and wered weked wr[a]ke.

704

þen Absolon was fayn to fle
and soiornnd for certan tyde
In Iessor with þe kyng of Cirre,
his syb man on his moyder syde.
And þore he bod by ȝeres thre
his fader frenschep to abyd.
þen Ioab toyȝt asay wold he
to make acord all harmys to hyd.
he soyght A sotell gyn
and ordand of þis thyng:
A woman suld be gyn
forto carpe with þe kyng.

705

he gart A lady go and grette
and ryue hyr hare full rewfully.
scho fell before þe kynges fette,
and mercy lord lowd con scho cry.
he sayd, “my help heyr I þe hette,
tell vnto me þi harmys in hy.”—
“A mercy lord, my bale þou bete,
for dred of þi law lorn am I.
I had two suns certayn;
both ware full fayr of face.
On hath þat oþer slayn
as þei playd in a place.

706

My sun þat dyd yt con hym with draw
to wyldernese, full [wyll] of wone,
ffor men says þat he sall by law
be turment, and he may be tone,
And suffer Ded; þis is þar saw
þat makes me morne and make þis mone.
þat ware to me a weked thraw,
þer I had two, forto haue none.
þerfor þis grace me gyfe
sen þou all sydes may saue.
Say þat my sun sall lyfe,
I kepe noyȝt els to craue.”

707

The kyng in hert þen had pety.
he comforth hyr þat men myȝt here.
“Dame, þi sun sall lyf,” says he,
“þerfor of mornyng mend þi chere.”
þen yt was solace to see.
scho sayd, “ser kyng, with crown clere,
Sen þou hath grawnt mercy to me,
graunt þi sun on þe same manere.
Sen myn sall mercy haue
and grace on ground to gang,
þin awn sun bot þou saue,
men wyll deme þou dose wrang.”

708

kyng Dauid to þis tale toke hede.
he wyst well what þis woman ment,
And þat yt was Duke Ioab dede,
and þerfor aftur hym sone he sent.
he bad þat he suld go gud sped
and tell to absolon his entent
fforto com home and haue no dred.
þe messeg wyghtly is he went.
þen ware þei frendes fast,
þe kyng and absolon.
So was þo plenyng past
for þe ded of Amon.

709

Of Absolon is ferly fare
to fynd how fayr he was to [s]yȝt,
And of his makyng mekyll mare;
he past all oþer men in myȝt.
Of XX libri wegh was his hare
þat he had on his hed on heyght.
And als clerkes con yt declare,
like to gold wyre so was it bryght.
To no maystrys he meued
whyls men dyd his desyre.
bot and he ware oght greued,
þen was he fell o[s] fyre.

710

he hath geydderd of gold and fee
for hym and mony oþer moo,
And þerof gafe he grett plente
and mad þem frendes þat ware his foo,
þat souerance of þat same Cyte
and oþer Cetys sere also.
And þe most of þe kynges meneȝe
ware wylly with hym forto go.
So be IIII ȝeres ware past,
he had so wysly wroght:
All folke ware with hym fast
and to his socour soght.

711

So when he wyst both old and ȝyng
wold holly a[t] his ledyng lende,
he asked leue at his lord þe kyng
vnto Ebron forto wende
his sacrafyce þor forto bryng,
als he had heyȝt with hert and hende.
The kyng sayd, “sun in my blessyng.”
bot of his cast no thyng he kend.
Of charys and chyualry
grett plente war purvayde,
And furth he wendes in hy
tyll Ebron, als he sayd.

712

Cytes and towns, when þei herd tell
þat absolon so was assent,
At home þem lyst no langer dwell,
bot with hym holy ar þei went.
And meruell had þei þem omell
what thyng he had in his entent.
bot his cheue counsell, archyttofell,
þer wyst no mo men what he ment.
when he come in Ebron,
whor hym lyked best to be,
he gart þo men ylkon
to hym self make sewrte.

713

þei ware full bown to his bedyng,
both knyȝt, swyer, [knaue] and page.
þei honerd hym ouer all thyng
and sett hym vp in certan stage.
þen all þe cuntre, old and ȝyng,
com to hym and made homage
And heyȝt to hald hym for þer kyng
and werke his wyll with outyn wage.
When all ware same assent
and mad seurty certayn,
þen told he his entent
and all his purpase playn.

714

“sers”, he sayd, “sene ȝe deme
me to be kyng and were þe crown,
your land and yow well sall I ȝeme
and maynten yow in all reson.
my fader ys fayrest forto fleme,
or yf he byde, to bryng hym down.”
þei say, “ser, sertes so wyll yt seme;
to make þis bargan ar we bown.”
þis was a curssed cum[m]and
his fader so to spyll.
And ȝett feyll foyles he fand
þat falshed to fulfyll.

715

þen kyng Dauid herd tythyng tell
þat his awn sun with sytt hym soght,
And how þat fals archytofell,
his counsellar, was [with] hym broyȝt.
he ordand sone his men o mell
to remeue in all þat þei moght.
he sayd, “we be ded and we dwell;
I knaw so wele þer wekyd toyȝt.
And yf þei here vs t[o]ke
or sege[d] þis Cete,
þen war ouer latte to loke
to qwylke syd we suld flee.”

716

he bad þe byschop abyathar
and his wyfes with drere mode
And oþer clerkes þat with þem ware
in þer sere state als þei stude
To dwell þer styll for any care,
to kepe þe arke of god full gud,
And send hym word ay how þei fare
vnto þe flome or be yond þe flode.
Ten wyfes with oþer frendes
þor leues he soiorand so.
And furth þen with hym wendes
sex hunderth and no moo.

717

Als he went apon A heght hyll,
he saw þe Cyte and burghis by,
qwylke he was wunt at weld at wyll
and was dyssauyd fro sodanly.
þen loued he god with steuyn full styll
and sayd, “þis wo am I worthy.”
So come A man mornand hym tyll,
þat Cosyn was and heyght Cusy.
kyng Dauid sayd, “I trest
to þe þat þou be trew.
ffull fayn I wold þou frayst
yf þat þou may remewe

718

Archytofell, þat fals is ay,
oute of þe counsell of my sun.
he is abowt both nyȝt and day
to werke þat we in bale ware bun.”
þen Cusy says, “I sall asay,
for all þis falshed hath he fun.”
And [with] þis word he went his way
to þe Cete ward, as he was wun.
This mater sal be ment
more furth, als yt be fell;
bot how Kyng Dauid went,
is fyrst now forto tell.

719

Sone on þe morn with Dauid mett
fro þe same Cyte on Cyba,
was stewerd to Mifbosett,
þat was the sun of Ionatha.
both bred and wyn furth has he fett,
a presand to þat pepyll [and] ma.
Dauid asked sone, when þei ware sett,
“how farys our frend þat þou com fra?”
he says, “ser, sen þou went,
he is a bowt to bryng
sere folke to his assent
And says he wyll be kyng.”

720

Kyng Dauid says, “sertes, þat ware schame;
þou wott well he may do no dede.
ffor he is lytyll, and he is lame
and no thyng lyke a land to lede.
Me thynke þat boy is forto blame;
þerfor sone sall I spyll his spede.
Syba, þou sall haue þat same
þat I gaf hym when he had nede.”
þen Syba went agayn;
in hert he was full glade
And toke all power playn
þat Myfbosett hade.

721

Kyng Dauid cowd no comforth ken
bot cayred furth with his cumpany.
A grett mysdoer mett hym þen,
kyng saul cosyn Se[m]ey.
he werred Dauid and all his men
and spytt on hym dyspytfully
And stones kest and fowle[s] [f]ene
and oft sythys sayd apon hym fy.
Knyȝtes com fast hym to kyll,
bot Dauid bad þem blyn,
“I wott yt is goddes wyll;
I suffer yt for my syn.

722

what meruel ys yt of þis dede
A hethyn hownd me forto hatte
Sen myn awn sun wyll haue no dred
me forto brew all þis debate.”
bot aftur sone, os men may rede,
þis grome þat greued hym in þe gate
be Dauid dome he had his mede
and lost his lyf, yf yt ware late.
In þis tym absolon,
as kyng with playn power,
Was comyn owt of Ebron
to ierusalem ryȝt nere.

723

When þei ware in þat Cyte sett,
Archytofell, þat curssed knyȝt,
he sayd, “ser, and þou do þi dett,
to Dauid sall þou doles dyȝt;
gar all his wyfes furth fast be fette
hym to reproue by reson ryȝt,
And lyg by þem—for no thyng lett—
playnly in þe pepyll syȝt.
And þerby sall þ[ei] wytt
and be exempyll se
þat luf sall neuer be knytt
be twyx þi fader and þe.

724

yf any gabbers wold hym glose
to say þat he suld come agayn,
by þis syȝt sall þei well suppose
þat he sall neuer haue myrth ne mayn.
So sall he all his lordschep lose
and forto flee farre be full fayn.
þen of þe chefe sall þou haue chose
þat now ar to his bedyng bayn.”
ffull wo þe wemen wore
when he so wekydly wroght.
þat Natan told be fore
bud vnto end be broght.

725

Cusy com, kyng Dauid frend,
to absolon, os I sayd ayre.
he haylsed hym with wordes hend
and loued god fast for his wele fare.
Absolon asked what he mende
and sayd, “swylke spekyng suld þou spare.
with Dauid was þou wunt to wende,
chefe of his counsell to declare.”
he sayd, “ser, so I was
whyls he stud in degre;
Now lyst me lett hym pase
and lede my lyf with þe.

726

I wott well yt is god[es] wyll
þat þou be kyng with crown clere,
And at all pepyll come þe [vntyll]
to serue þe in seruyce sere.
þat for ward wyll I fayn fulfyll
with hert and hand, I hett þe here.”
Absolon trowed of non yll
and toke hym of his counsell nere.
Cusy in cowrt sall dwell;
ys non so grett to geysse
All for archytofell
to make his lordschep lesse.

727

þat wekyd man þen went full wyght
to Absolon and says his toyȝt,
“ser, þou sall haue no rest ne [r]yȝt
tyll Dauid vnto ded be broyȝt.
Take me ten thowsand men of myȝt;
we sall not sesse or he be soyȝt.
we sall [be] nere þis ylk nyȝt,
and bot I take hym, trow me noyȝt.”
Absolon says, “sawyns fayle,
a fayr profer þou mase.”
bot fyrst he asked counsell
of Cusy in þis case.

728

Cusy hath mynd both morn and noyne
to helpe Dauid in his nede,
And wele he wyst, yf þis ware done,
he suld be dede with outyn drede.
To absolon þus says he sone,
“ser, þis spekyng may not spede;
Ten thowsand folke wold be full fone
into A fere land forto lede.
þi fader is wunt to fyȝt,
and his folke er full fell.
Ordand þou haue [more] myȝt
or þou [of] swylke maters mell.

729

Send aftur [all] þi knyȝtes kene
and aftur keyn men of þi kyn,
And wend þi self þore to be sene;
lett non oþer þat wrschep wyn.”
Archytofell herd how þat þei men[e]
þat Cusy consell was cald in.
In hert he had so mekyll teyne
þat langer he wold not byd ne blyn.
Bot herd he con hym hy
vntyll his howse at hame.
In anger and in enuy
he hanged hym self with schame.

730

On þis wyse was þe lordan lorn;
we hope he hasted sone to hell.
And Cusy wentt sone on þe morn
to þe tempyll tythynges forto tell.
Abyathar he fand hym be forn
with mony mo mowrnand o mell.
he told all how he had hym born,
þat hanged was archytofell.
And [he was] of consell
to byde [at] bed and borde.
þ[i]s tale fro tope to tale
he told þem ylka word.

731

“werkes now,” he sayd, “by your wysdom
þat kyng Dauid may here in hy
how I haue ordand all and sum
—I wott he wyl be fayn for þi—
And byde hym flee be yond þe flum
for beldyng of his awn body.
ffor Absolon his sun sall come
agayns hym with grett cumpany.”
letturs be lyue þei sent;
þis sand was for þer sele.
wyse men so warly went;
kyng Dauid wot ylk dele.

732

when Dauid had þe letturs rede,
well comforth in his hert was he.
ffurth ouer þe flum his folke he led
to manahym, a grett Cyte.
þe folke þat in þat sted ware sted
welcumd hym with mekyll glee.
And all þer beld to hym þei bed
to byd whore so hym self wold be.
þat Cyte was walled so wele,
þer myȝt no man yt myne.
Ne þei dowt no dele
for gune ne grett ingyne.

733

kyng Dauid þore with blyse con byde
and had at wyll what so he wald.
IIII barons wuned þer be syde
þat send hym vytell all vnsald.
þer helpe fro hym þei wold not hyde,
bot hertly hetes with hym to hold,
so þat he had to tell þat tyde
IIII thowsand, þat ware knytes cald.
In þis tyme Absolon
had geydderd grett plente
Of knyghtes þat cough þeron
his fader bayn to be.

734

þei rested nawder day ne nyȝt
to þei þe flum ware passed playn.
when þe had of þat Cyte a syȝt,
whore Dauid wuned, þen ware þei fayn.
bot he wyst wele þei had no myȝt
to towch hym, bot yf it wer with trayn.
þerfor his men arays he ryȝt
þem forto mare with all his mayn.
A perte to hym self toke he
and vnto Ioab an oþer,
And the thryd he bad suld be
to abysay, Ioab broþer.

735

ffull fayn he wold with þem haue went,
bot sone þei sayd hym þis myschefe,
“yf þou ware in þer handes hent,
þen had þ[e]i gam vs all to greue.
And ser, yf sum of vs be shent,
þe remland þen may þou releue.
þerfor yt is not our assent
þat þou owt of þis Cyte meue.”
he thanked þem oft sythis
þat shewed þer luf so large.
bot he sayd, “lordynges, lythes!
of A thyng I yow charge.

736

yf grace fall, when ȝe haue be gun,
þat ȝe þe vyctory may geyte,
loke ȝe saue Absolon my sun
þat he be nawder bun ne bette.”
þei say, “and he in feld be fun,
we sall full dewly do our dette.
he sal be in no bandes bun.”
I hope þei held all þat þei hette.
Ioab with cumpany
os principall furth past.
his broþer Abysay
folod on full fast.

737

Absolon on þat oþer syd
come with his folke, fell os þe fend.
And with þem was arayd to ryde
Cusy, þat was kynges Dauid frend.
þen was no bote to [byd a]byde,
bot ylkon shope oþer to shend.
Of all þer tolyng in þat tyd
ware lang to tell bot loke þe ende.
when Dauid men had slayn
XX milia and moo,
The remland ware full fayn
with lyfes þer way to go.

738

Absolon, when he saw þat syȝt
how þat his folke ware fayn to flee,
Into a wod he rydes ryȝt;
þor trowd he best bel[d]yd to be.
þe wynd heyued vp his hare on hyȝt
so þat yt cached in to a tre.
his sted went furth his way full wyȝt,
and by the hare so hang he.
ffolke fowled hym to f[e]re
and fand hym in þe fyrth.
bot non durst do hym no dere
for dred of kyng Dauid.

739

when Ioab herd tell þis tythyng
how Absolon hang by þe hare,
he bede a boy fyfty schylyng
to sla hym, or he farre fare.
bot no man durst do swylke a thyng
for Dauid dred, als I sayd ayre.
þen Ioab toyȝt yt hard hethyng
and thrugh þe body þer hym bare.
þus had þis man myschaunce
and for non oþer thyng
bot for myse gouernance
and vnlefull lyfyng.

740

Sone Ioab herkynd and beheld
all his enmys away wore gone.
To geydder his men agayn to beld
bugyls gart he blaw gud wone.
Vnto his hand all con þei held.
þat body down þen haue þei toyn
And beyred yt fayre in the feld
and mad a hyll of mony a ston.
þus ended Absolon;
so dyd archytofell,
And hedyd was Amon
for Thamar, so we tell.

741

when þis batell was done ylk dele,
Ioab sent sone a messynger:
Cusy, þat lufed Kyng Dauid well,
was full mery to mend his chere.
he told [hym] all fro hed to hele
how þat þies folke ware hal[e] in fere.
þe kyng sayd, “say me for my sele,
ys my sun hole? þat wold I here.”
he sayd, “ser, I wald byd
þine enmys be tyd ylkon,
Als þi sun is be tyd.”
þen wyst he þat he was sloyn.

742

he syghyd sore and sayd, “alas,
In werld is none so wyll of rede.
þe wurthest wyȝt þat euer was
þis day with dole is done to ded.
wold god þat I with payn myȝt pase
and to be styked þor in his stede.
who so my sun dyssayued hath
sall dere aby [that doylefull d]ede.”
he drowped day and nyȝt
with sorow sore and sad.
No myrth amend [hym] myȝt;
so wex he mased and made.

743

Duke Ioab and abysay,
when god to þem þis grace had sent,
went home with ryall cumpany,
and wele þei trawed in þer entent
fforto be welcumd worthyly
sen þei for þe kynges wrschep went.
bot euer he drowped and was drery,
and for þei wyst not what he ment,
þei ware full euyll apayd;
and be cawse of þis tythyng
ylkon tyll oþer sayd,
“he sall not be our kyng.”

744

when Ioab wyst, he was full wo;
be lyfe wentt whore þe kyng lendes.
“ser kyng”, he says, “why dose þou so?
þi self full shamely þou shendes.
had þou leuer þe lyf of þi foo
þen þe frenschep of all þi frendes?
Bot yf þou gladly to þem go,
all þis folk fast fro þe wendes.
lett þi kyndnese be kyd
and make mery chere.”
Att his cownsell he dyde;
so ware all fayn in fere.

745

þe gud byschop abythiar
and sadoch, þat wytty prest be name,
þei ordand clerkes þat [with] þem ware
þe arke of god to kepe fro blame
And also wysmen, non wold þem mare,
to kepe þer kyng when he comys hame.
þe kyn[red] of Iuda furth con fare;
þei war þe fyrst soght to þat same.
ff[or] þei fyrst made hym kyng
at home in þer cuntre,
þei went [fyrst] furth to bryng
hym to his awn [cite].

746

Vnto the flom haue þei soyȝt,
þ[ou]sandes mo þen neyn or ten.
A bryg full wysly haue þei wroyt
for Kyng Dauid and all his men.
ffurth ouer þe flode þei haue hym broyȝt,
and for þer kyng all þei hym kene.
þei þat be fore fauerd hym noyȝt
ware all full fayn to folow hym þen.
þe kynred of Iuda
ware next in cumpany.
þerfor full mony ma
ware greued with grett enuy.

747

Dukes, erlys and knythys kene,
þat went with Absolon, his sun,
when þat þei wyst withoutyn wene
kyng Dauid suld in we[l]this wun,
Vnto hym þen þei come clene
and bed in bandes to be bun
And mendes make, als he wold meyne,
for greuans þat þei had be gun.
he for gaf all þer gylt,
when þat þei mercy craued.
he wold þat non ware spylt
þat wold þem self be sayued.

748

So als þei ryde rychly arayd,
sodanly þat man þei mett,
Semey, þat had hym myssayd
and stoned with stonys in þe strette.
he knelyd on knese and mercy prayd,
and his frendes fell be fore þer fette.
Ioab wold full fayn haue hym aflayd,
bot þe kyng sayd, “hele I hym hete.
Sen god forgyfes vs tyll
and rychly vs releues,
So sall we with gud wyll
for gyf þem þat vs greues.”

749

ffurth in þer pase, als þei con passe,
sone Mifbosett hath þei mett.
he was þe sun of Ionatas,
þat Dauid lufed deuly be dett.
In febyll wede arayd he was
and all his face with hare vmsett.
þe kyng sone hym resond has
yf any lede his lykyng lett:
“þou hath catell and corne
vnto þi bedyng broyȝt.”
he sayd, “lord, all ys lorn
and me ys leued ryȝt noyȝt.

750

lord, my stewerd, ser Cyba,
þou toke to me, [as man] most wyse;
My lordschep hath he tane me fra,
ay redy agayns me to ryse.”
þe kyng sayd, “sen I see yt sa
þat he hath wun lordschep with lyy[s]e,
yt sal be perted be twyx yow two
to tyme þat we may vs a vyse.”
On knese þen con he fall
and sayd, “so wyll not [h]e.
gud lord, lett hym haue all,
I wyll wende with þe.”

751

So went þei furth withoutyn more,
all þat ware to his bydyng bown,
To ierusalem, and when þei come þore,
þei raysed hym vp with grett renown.
In his astate con þei hym restore
to reyn os ryall kyng with crown.
ffolke of Iuda ware euer be fore
to forther hym in feld and town.
his wo was waryschyd þen
and end mad of all,
As þe prophett Natan
sayd þat yt suld be fall.

752

Vnto þe tempyll þen con he fare;
grett sacrafyce þei haue be gun.
Prestes and clerkes, þat þen ware þore,
þei ware full fayn þat he was fun.
his ten wyfes, þat I told of ayre,
ordand he wrschypfully to wun.
Bot with þem wold he mell no mare
by cause of Absolon his sun.
þus was he gettyn agayn
and sesyd in his kyngdom.
his frendes ware ferly fayn,
bot enmys had he sum.

753

Syr Cyba, þat I of ayre sayd,
was lord of Mysbosett land.
ffull ryally he hym arayd
and full grett felnes fu[r]th he fand.
A grett geydderyng sone hath he grayd
of ebrews, þat he had at hand.
And felous poyntes hath he purvayd
þat Dauid in strengh suld not stand.
“was he not gesse sun
and of bedlem bredyng?
whore has his fader fun
þat he suld be kyng?

754

Sat he not als a sympyll page
on feld to fede his fader fee?
And aftur when he come of age
cayred abowt in sere cuntree?
And sythyn in were for his wage
wrogh mekyll [woo], þis wele wott we,
yf yt suld go by herytage,
þen am I neghbour nere þen hee.
þerfor I wold we wentt
his forsce sone fort[o] shend.”
þei sayd all, “[we] assent
euyn as þou wyll to wende.”

755

Kyng Dauid herd tell tythyng þen
how Cyba soght to do hym dere,
And all on what wyse he be gan
to gedder folke hym forto fere.
he cald his cosyn Amasan,
A Duke þat was full wyse of were.
“Wende furth,” he sayd, “full wele þou can,
to þe folke þat our frendes ere,
þe kynred of Iuda,
þat euer wyll vs releue,
And say þem how Cyba
ys ordand vs to greue.

756

Bot loke þou be by thre days end
with all þi men at me agayn
þat þou þen with my men may wende
to mare þat traytur of his trayn.”
Amasan wold no lenger [l]end;
he soyȝt on ylk syd certayn
folke þat he wyst was Dauid frend;
to fech þem furth he was full fayn.
In all þat euer he moght
þat space he sped and spend,
bot Agayn com he noght
when thre days was ende.

757

The kyng toygh he dweltt full lang
and dowt Cyba suld þem schame.
he bad Ioab, his stewerd strang,
take þe knyghtes he had at hame
Agayn Cyba fast forto gang:
“Duke amasan, he dose þe same.
when ȝe ar mett your men amang,
gos both to geydder in goddes name!”
Duke Ioab sone was dyȝt
in all þat he myȝt hy,
And furth he rydes full ryȝt
with full clene cumpany.

758

So in his way, as he was sett,
Duke Amasan sone can he see
with full fayr folke þat he had fett
and samned owt of sere cuntre.
he toyȝt, “bot I þis lordschep lett
þe kyng sall prays hym more þen me.”
þerfor he menys, when þei ar mett,
with sum debate his bane to be.
Duke amasan lyght down
to com his [cosyn] vntyll.
Duke Ioab mad hym bown
his falshed to fulfyll.

759

In A fayr medew con þei mete.
Ioab fard all with faygyng fare.
his sword owt of his sheth he lete,
ryȝt os [yt] noyȝt his wytyng ware.
To Amasan spake he wordes swete,
and com als he suld kyse hym þare.
he toke þe sword vp at his fette,
and throgh þe body so he hym bare.
Two dughty Dukes of dede
so had he murtherd þan,
And all for erthly mede,
Abnar and [A]masan.

760

when folke fand þis felous thyng,
þei weped and had full mekyll wo.
Duke Ioab fenyd a fals lesyng
and bad þei suld not sorow so:
“he was traytur vnto þe kyng;
[and] I was sent hym forto sloo.
To beryall lett [his] men hym bryng,
and hast we fast to fell our foo.”
he gart a man of his
hyde þe cors owt of þe way,
So þat men suld hym myse
and make no more Daray.

761

So went þei furth to seke Cyba
and with þer forse to fell his pryd.
þei soght in towns to and fra
and in Cytys on ylka syde.
In A Cyte, þat heygh Abelay,
þore had he beld hym to abyd.
ffor yt was wardyd and wallyd swa,
þei dred no tene þat myȝt be tyde.
Ioab and his meneȝe
to wyn yt ware in no dowt.
þei seged þat Cete
with bold men all abowt.

762

þei sett a sawtt with gunys gud,
with bowes and with Alablawsters blend.
þe fo[l]k within sone faled fode
and had no forse þem to dyffend.
A lady þat was myld of mode
þore in þat same Cyte con lend.
Apon þe walles ȝeply scho ȝode
and carped to Ioab, þat scho kend:
“S[er], þou suld with reson
the kynges folke fend fro noe,
And here þou makes þe bown
with strengh þem to dystroye.

763

ffor to dere þies here [þou] dwelles
þat suld maynteyn [þeym] mor[n]e and [no]ne.”
Ioab takes tent how scho hym tellys,
and to hyr þus says he sone,
“Ma Dame, to mare yow no man mellys.
þis is our wyll with wordes foyne:
fforto noy Cyba and non ellys.
deliuer hym vs, þen haue we done.”
þat lady wysly wroyȝt;
scho saw qwat suld be fall.
weyle lese perell hyr toyȝt
[to lose oon] þen all.

764

A Commyn consell cald scho tyte
and told þem holy as scho ment,
And how Cyba was worthy to wyte
of all the harme þei had þore [hent].
Smertly þei gart his hed of smytt,
and [vn]to Ioab þei yt sent.
hee remeued þen with owt respytt,
and to ierusalem sone he went.
þe kynred of Iuda,
þat were ay frend[es] of old,
went whore þei com fro
and wrogh what euer þei wold.

765

Now is kyng Dauid broyȝt to rest
and rewlys his reme with ryalte.
he ordand all thyng at þe best,
os gud consell bad yt suld be.
ffor hym and his court he kest
gud seruytours semly to see
And [for] his land by est and west
gud gouerners in sere degree.
All folke ware fayn to plese
and heyld vnto his hand.
Bot sone [fell sodan] dysese
ouer all in his land.

766

Brede and wyn both wex so dere
þat sympyll men myȝt no socur gete.
þe pure perysched fare and nere
both for defawt of drynke and mete.
þe kyng of god oft con inquere
þe cause of all þat hungur grete.
Natan þe prophett con apere
and sayd for for faders forfett,
“þe gud Duke Iosue
heyght and ensured þer on
þat peyse suld holdyn be
with þe folke of Gabaon.

100

767

ffor he ensured þem on swylke wyse,
all ware þei folke phylisteyn.
he fended þem from þer enmys,
euyn als þei Ebrews had beyne.
he sayd no man suld þem surpryse
agayns þe trews tan þem be twen.
Kyng saul sauyd not þat assyse;
þerfor now comys þe hungur keyne.
And ser, it sall not sesse
bot rayke abowt be ryȝt
Tyll þei be sett in pese
and mendes þerfor be dyȝt.”

768

Kyng Dauid, when [he] herd of þis,
sent fast for þe folke of Gabaon
And sayd, “sers, I wyll mend all myse
þat ȝe wyll rekyn by reson.”—
“Syr Iosue heyght for hym and his
to send vs pese in all seson,
And kyng saul, þe sun of Cys,
with his batels he bare vs down.
þat was noyȝt lafull thyng;
þerfor vengance we craue.
þerto answers þe kyng,
“what vengance wold ȝe haue?”

769

þei say, “vs nedes noyȝt of þi gud,
ne of þi catell kepe we none.
Bot þat ar born of saul blod,
delyuer vs þem ylkon.”
when kyng Dauid þis vnderstud,
þei soyght and sone gate gud wone.
þe folke, þat were in wyll full wode,
sessy[d] noyȝt tyll þei were sloyn.
þer cause þen þei relessed
and hyed þem home agayn.
And so þe hungur sessyd,
and þen þe folke ware fayn.

101

770

þen in þe bybyll may men see
þe kyng was oft in careys kest.
And sythyn when he had playn pawste
and all his perels war ouer past,
D[i]ligam te, domine,
þis salme he sett and sayd yt fast.
þat menes: lord, I sall luf þe
lelly whyls my lyf may last.
with swylke prayers of price
he honerde god euer more
And with sere sacrafyce,
os costom was þen þore.

771

Bot afturward he dyd a dede
þat was full grett for goddes aw:
To nowmber, when he had [no] nede,
þe folke of god agayns his law.
ffor moyses told, yf he toke hede,
þat no man suld þe nowmber knaw
Of goddes folke for dowt and drede
þat god suld vengance schaw.
ffor þat law lett he noyȝt
bot gart seke on ylka syd.
Ioab þe nowmber broyȝt
and told to hym þat tyde.

772

he told hym of þe kynred ten,
þat so many were sett in þat syght:
Aght C milia feyghyng men
þat ware in armys wyse and wyght.
Of þe kynd of Iuda myȝt he ken
fyfty milia rekynd ryȝt;
Of leuy ware non rekynd þen,
for þei ware no folke forto fyght.
ffor orderd all ware þei
vnto the tempyll at tent
And for þe pepyll at pray
þat þei no harme suld hent.

102

773

when þis was done, þe kyng sone knew
þat god was [greued] in þis degree;
þat rekynyng suld hym full sore rew,
and mercy oft sythys asked hee.
bot gad, þat was goddes prophett trew,
he sayd hym sone how yt suld bee,
ffor he had nowmberd so on [n]ew.
god bad he suld chese on of thre:
Enmys on sydes sere
VII ȝere to were all ways,
or haue hungur thre ȝere,
or pestalence thre days.

774

kyng Dauid toyȝt here full herd chose,
for all þei grathed folke vnto graue.
full loth he was his land to lose,
and f[ro] hungur hym self myȝt he saue.
And ded, [he] wyst wele, wold not glose,
ne take reward to knyȝt ne knaue.
And in god con he grace suppose;
þerfor ded asked he forto haue.
Sone on þe morn was told
a mang þe kynredes twelfe:
þe folke dyed so thyke fold
þat non myȝt oþer delue.

775

kyng Dauid in his towre con stand,
and sone he saw a selcowth syȝt:
An Angell in þe ayre fleand,
þat feld þe folk with owtyn fyȝt.
he hasted hym with hert and hand
to saue þe Cyte at all his myȝt.
ffull low he kneled down on þat land,
wher on he saw þat angell lyȝt.
he prayd to god of heuyn
to byd þat vengance blyne,
And sayd, with sympyll steuyn,
“lord, I dyd all þis syne.

103

776

þe pepyll vnto þe trespast noyȝt
þat suffers ded þus sodanly.
bot I am he þat wrang hath wroyȝt,
and all þis wo I am worthy.
let all þe bale on me be broyȝt
and spare þem þat ar not gylty.”
þen god of heuyn, os hym gud toyȝt,
gaf þem grace and graunt mercy.
he sent his prophett gad
to say what he suld do,
And euyn os god hym bad,
he told kyng Dauid to.

777

he sayd, “þi myse forto amend
god wyll þat þou werke on þis wyse:
In þe feld, wher þe Angell dyscend,
þore sall þi ryghtwysnese vp ryse.
þou sall do make þore with þi hend
An auter for prayers of price.”
In þe same place, ose clerkes haue kend,
made Abraham fyrst his sacrafyce.
And sythyn in þat same stede,
as boke wytnese þerby,
was iesus done to dede
and cald þe Mownt of caluery.

778

And in þat same place fyrst was fun
A tempyll folke in forto pray,
ffor þe qwylke kyng Dauid hath be gun
in ylka poynt forto purvay
And sythyn Kyng Salamon his sun
raysed yt vp in ryȝt aray
And was cald tempyll of Salomon
And ȝett is so, os we here say.
fforther who likes to loke
how all þat werke was wroyȝt,
Go to þe bybyll boke;
þor may þei see vn soght.

104

779

And for kyng Dauid had warnyng
by sere exempyls forto see
þat Salamon his sun suld be kyng,
on mony wyse hym warned hee
To honer god ouer all thyng
and to his bydyng bowsom be
And forto gouernd old and ȝyng
ylkon dewly in þer degree,
And sayd his lordes ylkon,
fro tyme þat he ware dede,
To socour salamon
at stand furth in his sted.

780

Kyng [Dauid] wex þen all vnweld,
no wounder was with owtyn wene,
ffor he was gone in full grett eld
and bressed in batels þer he had bene.
Of kynd was his compleccion keled,
and cold come on hym wonder kene
þat in bed myȝt he haue no beld
for no kepyng with cloghes clene.
Physissiens com hym t[e]ll
be all þe wytt þei wote
þat A ȝong Damsell
ware best to hald hym hote.

781

And sone vnto þat same entent
to hym was soyȝt A madyn swete.
On nyghtes he hyr in armis hent,
and vnto hym scho held gud hette.
In þat maner no myse þei ment,
ffor vnto myrth was he not mete.
Bot lenger lyf was to hym lent
and fuller forse fro face to fete.
þat byrd was not to blame,
for fawt myȝt no folke fynd.
Abysag was hyr name
and comyn of gentyll kynd.

105

782

he had a sun, heygh Adonay,
þat fast be gane a fowle debate.
To his broþer he had enuy
þat he suld come to kynges astate.
he chese to hym grett cheualry,
qwylke he hoped wold his broþer hate,
And sayd to þem, “next hayr am I,
for I am elder, all men wele wate.”
Of his assent [þen war]
duke Ioab, þat gentyll jew,
And þe byschop Abyathar
þat Dauid trest for trew.

783

Sadoc neuer to þem assent,
ne Natan, ne Neomi and oþer ma,
Bot with kyng Dauid ay þei went;
so dyd þe kynred of Iuda.
Adonay to fulfyll his entent
[made] a grett fest not fare þer fra,
And all þat of þat mater ment
war fayn vnto þat fest to ga.
And þore assented þei
all holy to this thyng,
In all þat euer þei may,
þat Adonay suld be kyng.

784

when Natan herd þer werkes wyld,
he went belyue to barsabe
And sayd, “þi sun sal be begylyd
bot þou hym helpe by red of me.
Go tell þe kyng with wordes myld
how Adonay ordance kyng to be
And how he heyght vnto þi chyld
þat non suld haue þe crown bot he.”
Scho went and asked þis bowne
as woman full affrayd,
And he come aftur sone
vnto þe kyng and sayd.

106

785

he sayd, “ser, [is þis] with þi wyll
þat Adonay be kyng on dese?
All yf þou wold þat fare fulfyll,
þou wot þat god an oþer chese.”
þe kyng lyked his lesson yll
and sayd, “Go sone, no lenger sesse.
Tak Salamon my sun yow tyll
with all my knyȝtes hym to encrese.
Rydes throwgh þis Cyte
and says with solempne crye
þat salamon sal be
kyng of all þe jury!

786

Anoynt hym to þat same entent
at þe well þat is named Wyon.
þen Adonay and his conuent
sall fynd how þat þei fowly fon.”
when Natan herd how þat he ment,
he mad no poyntyng þer apon,
Bot aftur sadok sone he sent
forto anoynt kyng salamon.
Barons and knyghtes kene
þat of þat cowrt ware kende
And burgeys all be dene
full sone war aftur send.

787

Thurgh [oute] þat Cety solemply
þei went with cumpany full clene.
At ylke corner gart þei cry
þat salamon suld kyng be sene.
when þo þat ete with Adonay
herd nakers, trompes and clarions keyne,
þei sent fast forto spyre and spy
what all þat melody myȝt be meyne.
when Salamon was led
and sett in þe kynges stede,
þat feleschep fast fled
for dred forto be dede.

107

788

Duke Ioab þen þat fest for soke
and wyst wele þat þei rudly raue.
Abhyathar, byschope with boke,
was þen set os a sympyll knaue.
And Adonay þe tempyll toke
for sewrty so hym selfe to saue.
he held hym be þe Auter noke,
for þor he hoped his hele to haue.
Salamon þen he knew
for his kyng and his lord
And send fast to persew
for frenschep and acorde.

789

he sayd he wold amendes make
for þat wrang þat he had wroght.
þen salamon for goddes sake
sayd no vengance suld be soyght;
bot vnto trews he con hym take
be þis assent þat he suld noyȝt
wayte hym with more wrangwyse wrake,
ne do hym dere in ded ne toyȝt.
So salamon was sett
in cowrse, os kyng suld be,
And all ware frendes [mett],
both his breþer and he.

790

Kyng Dauid þen full clerly kend
how þat he chaunged hew and hyd.
his messyngers full sone he send
to Cetys sere on ylka syd.
þe lordes þat in his land can lend,
he bad þei suld not blyn ne byd
bot hast to hym be for his end
to here hym tell what suld be tyd.
þe messyngers ar gone
þis for ward to fulfyll.
And sone þei come ylkon
And þus he told þem tyll.

108

791

“sers”, he sayd, “þe suthe ȝe see:
Day of my ded be gynys to draw.
I haue yow gouernyd in degree
lely to lyf after your law,
And ȝe haue bene gud men to me
and dewly done in dede and saw.
Now wyll [I] consell here þat ȝe
luf ylkon oþer os ȝe aw.
yf ȝe be fast in fere,
foyce sall ȝe fynd bot foyn.
And yf ȝe sonder sere,
sone sall ȝe be for done.

792

with bandes of ded so am I bun
þat both me fayles flesch and bone.
ȝe sall haue salamon, my sun,
to gouern yow when I am gone.
And as I haue yow frendly fun,
so, sers, beseke I yow ylkon
þat ȝe wyll with hym wend and wun
so þat he wax not wyll of wone.
God hath ordand hym kyng,
þerfor I pray yow all
To bow to his bedyng
and com vnto his call.

793

he sal be wyse in werld all ways
dewly to deme of euer ylk dede,
And peyse sall be in all his days;
þerfor to helpe hym, sers, take hede
The tempyll of God ryȝt forto raise,
als I haue layd þe lenght and brede.
I haue ordand what so men says
þat of no thyng sall he haue nede.
Of metall, tre and stone
is puruayd grett plente
And werke men full gud wone
to sett in sere degree.

109

794

he sall fynd all ordand at onys
so þat no more nedes to be boyȝt:
Gold enogh ryȝt for þe noyns,
and syluer sall he haue vn soght.
Besandes, pyrry and prescius stonys
ar plente to þat bygyng broyȝt;
Swylke welth os sal be in þat wonys
ayre in þis werld was neuer wroyȝt.
Both wryghys and masons [fyne]
þerto haue tane þer merkes
And taylurs of engyne
and Ioners gentyll of werkes.”

795

when he had warned þem on þis wyse
and ordand all in gud degree,
To god þei mad gret sacrafyce
of bestes and gyftes full grett plente.
And salamon, þat prince of price,
þen sett þei in his fader see,
And mad to hym sewt and seruyce
and homage, als yt aght to be.
Kyng salamon mad þat day
grett fest to folke in fere,
And þen þei went þer way
and perted to placeys sere.

796

þen Dauid in his bed con ly;
he had no forse to flytt þer fro.
he cald his sun to byde hym by
and sayd to hym be twyx þem two,
“Sun, I sall wend heyn in hy
þe gate þat all our elders go,
whor we sall haue, both þei and I,
als we ar worthy, wele or wo.
þe law þat god hath lent
loke þou neuer yt for sake,
And trewly, sun, take tent
his hows fayr forto make.

110

797

Sen god wold noyȝt gyf leue to me
at make his howse and haue my med,
bot sayd þou suld þe maker be
a[nd] lely lyf his laws to lede,
And I haue ordand in all degre
þat specially þe werke may spede,
layt no defawt be fun in þe
forto make endyng of þat dede.
And fand forto socour
þi men with all þi myȝt.
þen wyll þei þe honowr
and reuerence in all ryȝt.”

798

Also he sayd, “my sun, be ware
for Ioab þat with fals enuy
Slogh Amasan and Duke abnar,
þe gentylest of all jury;
þe fals byschope Abathyar,
þat for soke me for Adonay.
Take vengance, dere sun, when þou dare,
of þem and als of Symei
þat agayns me con com
and dyd me grett dyspyte
be fore I past þe flome.
fand þou yt forto qwyte!

799

And, sun, loke þou þat þi fayth be fyne
to [oon] þat I þen fand my frend.
þat was þe baron bersylyne.
when I in þis land durst not lende,
he maynteyn[ed] þen both me and myne
agayns my sun þat wold me shend.
And, sun, yf þat he be ded sythyn,
to þe ayrs of hym loke þou be hend.
when I was fled and flemed
and all þis myrth con myse,
No socur to me semed
bot only of hym and his.

111

800

And hertly, sun, þat þou þe hast
to helpe all þat of helpe has nede,
So þat þies wordes be not in wast
þat I haue spokyn here for þi sped.”
In bandes of ded þen was he brast
þat vnto hele he toke no hede.
So vnto go[d] he gaf þe gast
furt at his lykyng forto lede.
ffor he of mercy ment
and end in trawth trewly,
we trow his sawle went
vnto clene cumpany.

801

þen þe lordes and lades dere
and all his meneȝe grett mornyng makes.
ffor he was prince with outyn peyre
wher so he past in ylka place.
god was ay hend hym forto here,
for yf he spend of myse his space,
he syghyd euer with sympyll chere
tyll he had graunt[yng] of [sum] grace.
whyls he in lyf can lend,
he ordan ylk thyng,
Begynnyng, myddes, and ende,
alon to goddes louyng.

802

A feller knyght was neuer be fore,
ne þat fro yre so sone wold slake,
Ne neuer man gat [so] grett thressour
as he geydderd for goddes sake.
Now of hym wyll we make no more;
on mold he was with outyn make.
Of salamon [werkes] how þei wore,
sum sall we tell who so tent wyll take.
And heyre our story twynes
with þe secund boke of kynges,
And the thryd boke heyre be gynnys.
god graunt vs gud endyngys!

III

Liber Tertius Regum.

803

In þe secund boke be fore is told
how Dauid, sun of Iesse,
In barnhed he be gan to be bold
whyls þat he keped his fader fee,
And sythyn how he had welth in wold
and honerd god in gud degree,
And afturward how he was old
and went whor god wold hym to be.
This thryd boke is begun
when kyng Dauid was dede,
how salamon, his sun,
was sett in þat same stede.

804

In þis same boke be fore is rede
how Adhony toyȝt full gret hethyng
þat salamon suld so be sted
of Ebrews folke [f]o[r] to be kyng.
with all his forse fast he hym sped
and sett hym selfe to þat same thyng.
Bot sythyn he and his felows fled
be cawse þei fayled of þer fowlyng.
ffor he was elder broþer,
well knawn in ylke cuntre,
hym toyȝt þer suld non oþer
be kyng bot only he.

805

þerfor to seke sum sutell gyn
he besys hym erly and late.
Abysag was comyn of gentyll kyn,
þat maydyn þat held his fader hate.
he toyȝt myght he hyre to wyfe win,
so suld he gouernd grett astate.
And þen he toyȝt forto begyn
agayns his broþer sum grett debate.
To make þis barga[n] be
he pursewed fast þer on
Vnto þe qwene barsabe,
þe moyder of Salamon.

806

when he come þor, on knese he kneled
full softly os a sympyll knaue.
“I pray your sun to be my beld,
My dame,” he sayd, “and ȝe vouch saue.
I am his broþer elder of eld,
all þof he all þis kyngdom haue.
Bot Abysag to wyfe at weld
I kepe not ellys at hym to craue.
And ȝe wyll aske þis bone,
full mekyll yt mend me may.”
Scho sayd, “þis sal be done,”
and sone scho went hyr way.

807

Vnto þe kyng scho come in hy
and haylssed hym be steuyn full styll.
he welcumd hyr full curtasly
and sayd, “moyder, what is your wyll?”
Scho sayd, “sun, grett erand haue I,
qwylke I wyll pray þe to fulfyll,
Towchand þi broþer Adony,
and to helpe hym I hald yt skyll.
þat woman wold he wed
to wyf yf þat þou wold,
þat warmed þi fader bed
and hym when he was cold.

808

ffor þis, sun, hath he me be sogh,
and I beseke þe for þe same.”
þe kyng wyst full well his toyȝt
þat all was forto schape hym schame.
“Moyder,” he sayd, “meynys yow noyȝt,
when we ware with my fader at hame,
how Ioab and he wunders wroyȝt
to make hym kyng and call be name.
And þe same se I now
he purpase more and more.
To god I make my vowe:
he sal be dede þerfore.”

809

he cald a knyght heyght Banay,
and bad he suld tyte vengance take
Of Duke Ioab and Adony
for fals maystry þat þei con make,
And sythyn also of Symey
þat with stonys at his fader strake.
Tho thre so had þer hyre in hy,
aftur þer werkes ware worthy wrake.
Abyathar was demed
a[s] byschop aght to be.
ffor falshed was he flemed
and degrade of his degre.

810

And sadoke was made soueran hed
als byschope stably forto stand.
And when Duke Ioab þus was dede,
Duke Banay was þore ordand
fforto be stewerd in his sted,
and all þe folke heldyd to his hand,
And he þem forto rewle and rede
agayn þer enmys in ylka land.
Þen to kyng salamon
was all folke fayn to plese.
And in þe werld was non
þat durst do hym dysesse.

811

kyng salamon gouernd hym so
þat ylk land had of hym aw.
he toke a wyfe wonder fayr hym to
and þat lyfed by an oþer law.
Scho was þe doyghtur of pharo,
of Egyp kyng, cumly to knaw.
Bot euyn als salamon wold do,
Assented scho in dede and saw.
he lyfed with outyn lese
aftur þe law lely
þat god gaf vnto moyses
on the mownt of Synay.

812

kyng salamon þen and his men
Vnto Ebron þer gattes hath grayd
with sacrafyce þer god to ken,
and of þer purpase was god payd.
þei offerd mo þe[n] hunderthes ten
of [calves] and lambs on auters layd.
And on þe nyght nex foloand þen
god spake to salamon and sayd,
“Aske of me what þou wyll,
and wheder þ[ou] wynke or wake,
I graunt yt to fulfyll
for þi gud faders sake.”

813

þen salamon aspyse gud sped
what hym ware best of god to craue:
“To aske ryches, þat is no ned,
I haue enogh [on] all sydes to saue.
And power nedes me non for dred,
all dowtes me boyth knyght and knaue.
Bot wytt þi folke by law to led
and wyll to werke wele wold I haue.”
god answerd þen and sayd,
“þou askys all skylfull thyng.
þis purpas ma[s] me payd.
I graunt þe þin askyng.

814

More wyse and wytty sall þou be
þen Iew or panym þat euer er past.
And ose þou trewly trestes in me,
fro þi kyngdom sall non þe kast,
Ne þin ayres þat cumys aftur þe
as lang os þ[ei] in law wyll last.”
Of þis forward full fayn was he
and thanked god fully and fast.
þen wentt þei fro Ebron
to ierusalem agayn.
So was kyng salamon
sett in his power playn.

815

In þis meyn tyme þat I of tell
[a torfer] in þe town betyde:
Two wemen in a hows con dwell,
and both þei ware for comyn kyd.
A myschef was meuyd þem o mell
þat myȝt noȝt þen be hyld ne hyd.
be for þe kyng on knese þei fell
forto gyf dome, and so he dyd.
Vnto hym told þe on
þe cause of þer comyng ydder:
“My lord, we two alon
dwelled in a hows to geyddyr.

816

And we ware both be seson ryȝt
as grett with chyld os we myȝt go.
I was delyuer thrugh goddes myȝt
of a fayr son; so ware we two.
And þis woman of þe thryd nyȝt
was delyuer of A sun also.
Scho ouer lay yt with owtyn lyȝt,
And when scho wakyd, þen was scho wo.
Bot a fals wyle scho wroyȝt,
lord, os I slepand lay:
hyr ded barn scho me broyȝt
and toke myn qwyk a way.

817

And when I wakynd of my slepe
and fand a ded chyld me be forne,
No wunder was yf I wold wepe,
for þat I lufed I had for lorn.
By clere lyȝt þen toke I kepe
þat yt was neuer of my body born.
My sun I saw by syd hyr crepe;
þus has scho turment me þis morn.”
þat oþer answerd agayn,
“my lord, scho beyrs þe wrang.
hyr awn sun has scho slayn;
myn lyfes and may lyfe lang.”

818

The fyrst vnto þe kyng [þen] cryse,
hyr hert was heuy os leþer or lede,
“ser, I say yow þe sothe assyse
as euer I styre owt of þis stede.”
þat oþer cryd [full lowde], “þou leys,
bo[t] my sun lyfes, and þin ys dede.”
what was to werke now in þis wyse,
þe kyng asked all his consell rede.
þei sayd þei had not lered
swylke case forto declare.
þen bad he bryng a sword
be lyue be for hym þare.

819

“And þe qwyke chyld þat þei fore chyd
depart sonder here in þis place
And gyf to ayder of þem a syd!”
þe pepyll þen grett murmur mase.
þei say, “yt wele [is] sene þis tyd
of a new kyng A new comyn case.”
bot þe moyder kneled and lowd scho cryde,
“A mercy, lord, graunt me þis grace:
Gyfe my chyld leue to lyfe,
I make no more debate.
All hole to hyr yt gyfe
and lett me go my gate!”

820

þat oþer sayd, “so sall noyȝt be,
bot to be departed euyn yt aw.
And take þat on half vnto þe;
þat oþer [is] myn, now well I knaw.”
And when þe kyng þis syȝt con se,
syttand in Dowm, he sayd þis saw,
“þe moyder of þe chyld hath pete.
Delyuer yt hyr; þis lore ys law.”
þen wex þe folke full fayn
for ioye of þis jugment.
And þat he was wyse certan,
þe word full wyd whore went.

821

Kyng salamon þen con assay
to sett goddes seruyce euer in syȝt
And sythyn his reme forto aray
and rewle his men by reson ryȝt.
In certan placeys he con puruay
princes to purge þe pepyll plyȝt,
And Dukes full dere be dyuerse Day
Dewly þer dome to dele and dyȝt.
Of folke þat to hym fell
myȝt no man tell þe teynd.
Of all wytt was he well
in werld, wher he suld wende.

822

And by his wytt and his wysdom
vs menes that he made bokes thre.
Ane cantica canticorum,
þat is A boke of grett bonite.
Ecclesiastecen kennes sum
þe secund boke name[d] sal be.
Proverbes and psalmes þen, as þei com
forto be sayd in sere degree.
Who lykes of wytt to lere
or of counsell to craue,
In þis boke may þei [h]ere
what so þer hert wold haue.

823

þen nyȝt and day was his desyre
þe tempyll of god to dyȝt and dr[e]se,
Als Kyng Dauid, his souerayn syre.
had laft þer to enogh ryches.
Iram, þat was Kyng of Tyre,
sent word by letturs, more and lesse,
þat he suld haue with outyn hyre
tymber of syder and of cypresse.
So had he all þat nedes
enogh, and wanted none.
And to do dyuerse dedes
werke men had he gud woyne.

824

Kyng Dauid, whyls he was on lyue,
full gradly all þat ground be gan.
Agayns his [strykes] wold no man stryue,
bot held his mesurs ylka man.
þan ware past to make rekenyng ryue,
as cunnand clerkes declare yt can,
ffawr thowssand ȝeres fyfty and fyue
fro þis werld was be gun to þan.
In VII ȝeres was yt sett,
þe substance, tre and stone;
bot afturward was ȝett
ymage[s] of gold gud woyne.

825

þer was neuer beste þat man myȝt neuyn,
ne fulle þat was formed to flygh,
þat ne yt was þer ordand full euyn
of fyne gold and besandes bryȝt.
þe suteltes of science seuyn
þor ware to red on raw full ryȝt.
yt myȝt be lykynd vnto heuyn,
for yt was euer lemand and lyȝt.
þen was wunder to tell,
or to declare by skyll
Of gold what grett vessell
þat ware ordand þer tyll.

826

All ryches sere þer was to sett
may no man say ne syng in sang.
Of syluer myȝt þei go and gete
als men may now for marber gang.
And gold was no more to be mett
þen oþer metall ys vs amang.
To tell þe lele with outyn lett
sum suld suppose my wordes ware wrang.
wher for who lykes to loke
how all þat werke was wroyȝt,
go to þe bybyll boke!
þore sall þei se vnsoght.

827

when all was done þus daynthyly
þat to þat tempyll suld pertene,
To halo yt þei hasted in hy
þat goddes seruyce myȝt þore be sene.
þar congregacion of clergy
cald þei fro all cuntre clene.
þor was all maner of melody
þat men be museke myȝt of mene.
Sothyn Salamon þe wyse
of bestes, wyld and tame,
Made solempne sacrafyce;
all oþer dyd þe same.

828

To heuyn held he up þen his hend
and prayd to god þus with gud wyll,
“Gud lord þat ylk myse may mend,
I loue þi loue both lowd and styll
þat vnto me þis grace hath send
my faders forward forto fulfyll
And of þis hows forto make end,
als þou þat tym told hym vntyll.
And als my fader prayd,
I pray with wyll and toyȝt
þat þou be plessed and payde
of þis werke þat is wroyȝt.

829

And all þat enturs in þis place
aftur þi helpe to cry and call,
lord, of þi gudnese graunt þem grace
of all þer greuance, grett or small!”
And als he spake so in þat [s]pace,
god sent a sygne amang þem all:
A flawm of fyre be fore þer face
euyn on þer sacrafyce con fall
And hent yt vp to heuyn
with mynstralsy and sang.
þe myrth myȝt no man neuyn
þat was made þem amang.

830

þen held þei with solempnite
a fest full fyftene days be dene.
þe fest was [named] Synophogy,
whylke jews maynteyns ȝett þem be twen.
þe arke of god in grett degree
þor sett þei vp forto be sene.
þei went ylkon to þer cuntre
to abyd before whore þei had bene.
Kyng salamon con byd
in his [city] at hame.
In all þe werldes wyde
of his wytt went þe fame.

831

An oþer hows þen ordand he
all only for his awn wonyng.
And þat wa[s] mad in ȝeres thre,
all of ryches and ryall thyng.
And þen [þe thryd] in forto be
whe[n] he suld deme of old and ȝyng.
Swylke a hows was neuer sett forto se
in erth to Emperour, ne kyng.
The fawrt þen for his qwene
qwer scho with blyse myȝt byde,
And for lades be dene
serely on ylka syde.

832

þat hows was paynted with peramour,
with resons ryall forto rede,
And fowls [full fayre] of fauour,
with sang and spekyng full gud spede,
And flours in þer kyndly colour,
os þei in feld ar folke to fede,
And ylkon in the same sauour
as yt suld in þe burgeon bred.
All myrth þat men may tell
was mad with outyn myse.
who in þat hows myȝt dwell
thurt abyd no bettur blyse.

833

Kyng salamon ys now certan
þat all the werld with hym wyll held,
ffor all the Phylysteyns ar full fayn
to forther hym in fyrth and feld.
þer was neuer man so mekyll of main,
ne that so grett wyt had to weld.
Ȝett at þe last yt is not to layn:
with lust was all lost in his eld.
wemen þat he con take
with lust to lyg þem by,
gart hym his god for sake
and turnd to mawmentry.

834

ffyrst of his state to vnderstand
how he be gan on [m]ys to go,
he wed A wyf of paynyms land,
was kynges doyȝthur Pharo.
ffor hyr þis hows was new ordand
and for oþer of hyr meneȝe mo.
þei mad hym fond, and þat he fand,
for his best frend be com his foo.
Whyls he his god cowd knaw,
All welthes he had gud woyne.
And when he left his law,
god leued hym þen allon.

835

Of qwennes þen had he hunderthes VII
to weld at wyll ay when he wold,
And thre hunderth of oþer euyn,
doyghturs of Dukes and barons bold,
Ay forto stand vnto his steuyn,
and all þei vsed crowns of gold.
Swylke howshald was noyȝt vnder heuyn,
bot for þis myse yt myȝt not hold.
Of Ebrews had he qwennes
þat full wyse wemen wore,
bot most part was paynyms
þat plessed hym mekyll more.

836

þei fed hym fere in foly
þat all his forse fouly he fyled.
he made tempyls to mawmentry
and to fals goddes þat hym be gyld.
So he forgate god allmighty
þat euer had bene his bote or beld,
And lyfed in lust and lechery
aftur þe wylles of wemen wyld.
So Adam and sampson,
our forfaders, ware flayd,
Dauid and salamon
with wemen ware be trayde.

837

he þat so wyse and wytty was
þat vnder heuyn he had no make,
þat [he] for lust suld be lorn, alas,
and wast his wytt for wemens sake!
God was greued with his grett trespase,
for he to fals goddes con hym take,
And sent þe prophet Achyas
to warn hym how he wold take wrake.
þe prophett sone was grayd,
and to þat courte come he.
“kyng salamon,” he sayd,
“take tent what I tell þe!

838

þou wott wele how god gafe þe law
to moyses in þe hyll on heyght,
Qwylke wele þou wott all Ebrews aw
to maynteyn euer with all þer myȝt.
And now þou wenes he con not knaw
how þou refusys yt all vnryȝt.
he hath me sent to say þis [saw]:
þi synes ar fowle be fore his syȝt.
hard vengance wold he take
so þat þou suld be lorne,
bot for þi faders sake
sum dele sal be for borne.

839

hee honerd god erly and late.
þerfor god heyght, qwen he was past,
þat þou suld stand with his astate
in lordschep whyls þi lyf myȝt last.
All yf here þou wyll hym hate,
þat forward sal be full and fast.
bot þou sall [haue] bale and debate
and with þin enmys oft [be] vmcast.
And whore þou and no mo
ys kyng of kynred twelfe,
þi sun sall haue bot two
assygned to hym selfe.

840

And so mony suld he noyȝt haue
bot for Dauid, þi fader dere,
And als þe heritage forto saue
þat all sall noyȝt be sunderd sere.
Ieroboam to þe is bot a knaue,
sal be kyng of ten kynredes clere.
And so for þou wold rudly raue,
þ[i] sun sall part fro his power,
qwylke he suld haue haly
had noyȝt þi boldnese bene.”
þen salamon was sory,
no wunder was to wene.

841

þen gretand vnto god he prayd,
bot for all þat note was neuer þe nerre.
All behoued be os the prophett sayd.
ylk day wex with hym werre and werre.
So owt of Egyp land was grayd
A cumly knyȝt, was cald Ader.
A ryall ost sone he arayd
kyng salamon of his myȝt to marre.
Duke Ioab slow his syre;
þen myȝt he yt not aqwyte,
Bot now he had desyre
to do Ebrews dyspytte.

842

when Ader herd Dauid was ded
and Ioab, that his fader had slayn,
And Salamon als soueran hed
sett in all his power playn,
þen wold he byd no bettur b[e]d
bot went to werre Ebrews agayn.
he brent and stroyd in mony a styd,
and þerfor ware Phylysteyns fayn.
And on þat oþer syde
Ieroboam of Ioseph kyn,
he redyd hym to ryde
[the Reaume to weld and wyn].

843

wele hernest men with hym he has.
ierusalem he hasted hym vntyll.
þore come þe prophett Achias
and warned hym what was goddes wyll.
þe pepyll lete he playnly pase,
and in a sted he stud hym styll.
A n[ew] mantyll abowt hym was;
þat sped he hym fast forto spyll.
On þe ground þer he yt spredes,
and his sword owt he brayd
And schare yt in twelf shredes,
and on þis wyse he sayd,

844

“Ieroboam, þou sall vnderstand,
os þou seys me þis mantyll twyn,
so sall þe lordschep of þis land
be departed in sonder all for syne.
Ten kynredes sall held to þi hand,
and þou sall were þem wele with wyn.
And two are to þe hayre ordand,
þat ar of Iuda and of byniamyn.
And ierusalem Cyte
sall he haue in his wald,
And þi selfe sall kyng be
of ten. þus hath god told.

845

And als lang os þou lufes his law,
sall grett lordschep to þe be lent.
And yf þou kest not hym to knaw,
þi welth wyll sone fro þe be went.”
Ieroboam sone aftur þis saw
gret heghnes in his hert he hent.
þe lordes he con fast to hym draw
and made þem sone of his assent,
so þat full sone had he
mo lordes at his ledyng
And wele mo commynte
þen had salamon þe kyng.

846

kyng salamon þen fand and feld
þat god was not fully his frend.
qwat for grett dewle, qwat for eld
in lyf he myȝt no langer lend.
þen myȝt no boldnes be his beld,
[bot fro his welth] behoued hym wende.
All wysdom þat he had to weld
was turned to foly be for his end.
Ryches rewled vnryȝt
is no thyng forto neuyn;
Ne wytt may haue no myȝt
with owtyn helpe from heuyn.

847

Ne pro[w]yse ys no thyng in prise
with outyn grace of god allmighty,
bot he þat ys the hegh Iustyce
may mend all myse thrught his mercy.
So endyd salamon the wyse;
I wott not what he was worthy.
þei layd hym whore his fader lyse
in þat same Cyte solemply.
IIII score ȝeres ware past our
whyls he had kynges power.
And IX score ȝere and IIII
was all his wonnyng here.

848

when salamon þus had mad end
and [g]yfyn his gast to goddes grace,
þe lordes þat in þat land con lend
þei toke þer counsell in þat case
who suld haue force þem to dyffend
agayns þe phylysteyns, þer fase.
And roboam, his sun, þei kend
for myghty [man] and most ryȝt has.
þei sembled in sych[em],
a cyte of grett renown,
Nere to ierusalem,
A kyng þer forto crown.

849

when þei ware geydderd grett and small,
vnto þer werke sone þei went.
An Alderman spake for þem all
and told to Roboam þer entent
And sayd, “ser Roboam, þou sall
be our sufferan, so haue we ment.
And we sall com vnto þi call
so þat þou tyll our sawes assent.
we ware [fayne] forto plese
þi fader, ose for our kyng.
And he dyd vs dysesse
and wrang in sum werkyng.

850

þou wot full wele Ebrews ar we
to lyf be þe maners of moyses.
þi fader greued vs in degre;
of our assyse he made vs sesse
And to be thrall, whore we ware free,
agayns the law; þis ys no lese.
Of all swylke poyntes aske we þe
all holy forto haue releyse.
And yf þou graunt this thyng,
þen wyll we graunt agayne
þat þou be crowned kyng
And we þi pepyll playn.”

851

whe[n] Roboam herd how he says,
he thynkes þe pepyll rudly raue.
þat purpase no thyng to hym pays
forto graunt þem so þat þei craue.
he sayd, “ser, respeytt of thre days,
and þen your answer sall ȝe haue.”
þem toyȝt he suld make no delays,
bot neuer the lese þei vouch saue.
And in þies thre days [þ]en,
whyls þei þis conuent held,
he asked red at old men
þat with his fader dweld.

852

þei sayd, “ser, we assent þer tyll
þat þei be als þere elders wore
And haue þer fredoms to fulfyll,
als þer faders had be fore.
yf þou wyll graunt þem with gud wyll,
þen wyll þei lely luf þi lore.
And [yf] þou part from þem with yll,
of counsell þen can we no more.
Syr, yt is wysdom,
and wys men hath bene lefe
To suffer A lese yll com
and lett [a] more myschefe.”

853

when Roboam þies wordes her[s],
þis purpase was not to his pay.
he cald to hym ȝyng bachelers
þat he was wonnt with forto play.
he says, “o[m]ys þis m[e]n me lerys
to make my lordschep les for ay.
wyll ȝe assent to swylke maners?”
þei answerd and sayd [s]chortly, “Nay!
Bot os þei boun haue bene
to þi fader be fore,
þe same sall þou maynteyn
and make þem sugettes more.

854

And tell þem þis to vnderstand:
þou hath more strenght maystrys to make
In þe lest fynger of þi hand
þen was in all þi fader bake.
And whore he bett þem with A wand
to hold þem law with outyn lake,
bett þou with scorpions, we warand.”
all þus dyspytfully þei spake.
þen Roboam was well payd;
hym lyked to frayn no ferre,
bot to þe pepyll he sayd
he suld do so or warre.

855

þies wys men red refused he has,
and aftur ȝong men ways he went.
þerfor þe pepyll fast fro hym pas;
Non bot two lyneg with hym [l]ent.
So was þe wordes of achyas
fullfylled þat told þus his entent:
Ryȝt ose his mantyll reuyn was,
so suld þe reme be raysed and rent.
þe same was s[en] þat day;
god wold þat yt ware so.
Ten kynredes turned a way
and with hym left bot two.

856

A redlese man was Roboam
when þe pepyll went þer ways.
he sent a prince heyght Adoram,
and to þe pepyll full fayr he prays.
And lordes ylkon he neuynd by name.
“comys agayn, gud sers!” he says.
“My lord says ȝe sall haue þe same
þat ȝe had in your fader days
Or bettur, yf þat he myȝt;
I vndertake to yow.”
þat spekyng was for noyȝt;
his tayles þei wold noyȝt trow.

857

þem lyst not bow, ose he þem bade,
bot with dyspytt hym to dyspyse.
his messynger þei stoned to ded
and send hym word on þis kyn wyse:
þei wold neuer hald hym for þer hede
þat made þem fayle of þer fraunchese.
þen Roboam was full wyll of rede;
he went whore no releuyng lyse.
So folke may frenschepe fayle
and oft sythys harmes hent
be cause of yll counsell,
yf þei sone wyll assent.

858

he saw þe pepyll ware past hym fro
And Adoram his cosyn slayn.
ffro sychem þen fast con he go
vnto ierusalem euyn agayn.
And with hym went þe kynredes two
þat ware euer to his bedyng bayn.
Of all the twelfe he had no moo;
so ware þei sonderd for certayn.
þo kynredes mad hym kyng
of þem and þer cuntre
And oblyst, old and ȝyng,
at his bedyng to be.

859

þen is yt tym furth forto tell
what be tyd of þe oþer ten.
I[e]roboam was ferse and fell
and þe most cumly þat þei ken.
þei mad hym kyng of israhel,
and holy þei be come his men.
þore was no more þer kynges o mell
bot Roboam and Ieroboam þen.
both byschopes, prestes and clerkes
with all þer barn teme
þat gaf þem to goddes werkes
wuned all in ierusalem.

860

Now ware þer [two] kynges in a cuntre,
and so þe folke ware sunderd sere.
Ieroboam now lett we be
þat hath to hym ten kynredes clere.
Of Roboam furth speke wyll we
more of his lyfyng forto lere.
he soiorns in his awn Cyte
and full fayr folke with hym in fere.
VIII milia knyghtes kene
had he of his assent
And oþer folke full [cl]ene
þat to hym wold take tent.

861

he made in þe cuntre of Iuda
A Dossan Cytes [stif] of stone.
To byniamyns he made wele ma,
for gold ne werkmen want he none.
And wele he ordand in all þa
of whett and oyle and wyn gud woyne
And armours both to frend and fa
to haue new when old ware gone.
XVIII qwenes with hym ware
and of oþer thryty and one;
bot þe chefe ȝett was Thamar,
þe [doyghtur] of Absolon.

862

he spake with hyr most specially,
for scho was of his kyn most nere.
his ayre was born of hyr body,
heyȝt Abyam, ose men may here.
he had of qwenes and oþer by
XX and VIII sons all sere,
And sexty doyghturs, I dar not ly.
the feleschep was fayr in fere.
No man on mold myȝt knaw
of his tresour þe tend.
Ay whyls he lufed goddes law,
all folke ware fulli his frend.

863

bot oft sythyes haue we sene the same:
grett ryches makes men myse to spede.
so ferd yt with kyng roboam,
als wyttenes boyth his word and dede.
he was so ryche in hows at ham
þat vnto heuyn toke he no hede.
he loued noyȝt [n]euyn god by his name,
for of his helpe he had no nede.
he forgatte god allmighty
þat all his sele had sent.
In prid and lychery
was all his lykyng lent.

864

So lyfed lordes of his land be dene,
and aftur all þe pepyll playn.
by yll exempyls oft tyms is sene
ffull mony sawlys with syns slayn.
Also we se sum men wyll wene
þei be noy[ȝ]t sure with þer sufferayn
bot yf þei of his maners mene
and maynten þem with all þer mayn.
ffoule syn of sodomyte
vsed þei euer ylk man.
God was noyȝt worthy to wyte
yf he toke vengance þen.

865

Kyng sysoc come to þat cuntre;
fro egyp broyȝt he his baytell.
A mille charyottes had he,
all full of armours and vytall,
And knyghtes full semly forto se
sexty milia trew to trayvall,
And folke on fote full fayre plente
faurty milia þat w[y]ll [noyȝt] fayle.
þei wasted all þat was wroyȝt
in burghes abowt sychem.
And so sadly þei soyȝt
ryȝt to ierusalem.

866

The Cyte thynke þei sun to wen
and conquere yt be clene maystry.
Kyng Roboam þat was with in
to see þat syght was full sary.
þen for to [grete] he con be gyn
and vnto god fast call and cry.
he sayd, “þis sorow is for my syn,
and all þis wo am I worthy.”
To þe tempyll went þei all
þat in þat Cyte ware,
And þore on knese þei fall,
[gretand] to god full sore.

867

god sent word with his prophett playn
when þei so þer defawtes feld,
And sayd þat þei suld noȝt be slayn,
bot þat þei suld þat cyte ȝeld
To sysoc als þer soyuerayn,
and þat he suld þer wrschep weld
And þat þei suld serue hym for certayn.
of god þei gate no bettur beld.
he sayd, “so sall ȝe see
wheder yt be more honoure
Sisoc seruandes to be
or goddes, your cryature.”

868

þen had kyng roboam mekyll kare,
for þis forward bus hym fulfyll.
þe cyte he delyuerd þare,
b[ot] þis co[nn]and he toke þer tyll
so þat þei suld þe pepyll spare
and do no greue to gud ne yll.
Kyng sysoc and all þat with hym ware
enterd þen at þer awn wyll.
þore fand þei grett ryches
þat salamon sett to saue.
how so þer connand [i]s,
þat thynke þei forto haue.

869

þor thurt no man þer traueyll tyne,
for thresour þei fand full gud woyne
All vesels mad for mete and wyn
ware pyght with mony a prescius stone,
And all of gold full fayr and fyne
and well enamyld ylkone.
P[o]tes, pans and caldrons in kechyn,
wars þen of syluer was þer none.
with in þe kynges palyse,
of all þat þei þer fand,
þei left noyȝt forto prays
to valow of a besand.

870

þen to þe tempyll past þei playn
and spoled yt full dyspytfully.
þer gate þei gold þat wele myȝt gayne
grett cytes forto byg and by.
þe folke was of þat fare full fayn,
Als þei had grett encheson why.
[Kyng sysoc went so home agayn,
grete mirth mad all that cumpany.]
ffor was neuer folke be for,
als ferre os men may thynke,
[That wan so grete tresour
and with so litle swink.]

871

[Kyng Roboam then in kare was cast;]
no comforth in þis case he kend.
In XVIII ȝeres his lordschep last,
god lyst no langer to lett hym lend.
when fyfty ȝeres ware fully past
fro his begynnyng vntyll his ende,
þen seknes fell on hym [so] fast
þat no fysyke myȝt hym dyffend.
bot sone enturd he was
wher his elders lay,
And his sun Abias
was kyng aftur his day.

872

Now of Abyas lett we be
forto be [ȝemyd] whyls he be ȝyng,
And of I[e]roboam speke we
þat of ten kynredes þen was kyng.
he had slyke prid for his pauste
þat he sett by none erthly thyng;
Ne vnto god no hede toke he
þat gaf hym all þat gouer[n]yng.
þe law þat god had lent,
þat lykes hym noyȝt to lere,
bot brake his commawndment,
and how sone sall we here.

873

The jews vsed forto make a fest
at þe tempyll ylke ȝere onys or twyse.
And ydder suld come both most and lest
and make þore solempne sacrafyce,
Sum with fowle and sum with best
to offer ylkon on þer wyse.
Ieroboam was so with prid encrest
he wold not seke to þat assyse.
Sone in his hert he cast
a wylle with wekyd wyll,
And hasted hym full fast
þat falshed to fulfyll.

874

“To ierusalem yf I suld ga
and all my frendes with me in fere,
þe byniamyns and of Iuda
suld make my men so mery chere,
And þei suld [þere] be charest swa
with seruyce and with solace sere
þat full fell folke suld turne me fra.
þer for A new law wyll I lere.”
In Bethel so he spake,
A Cyte of grett pryse,
A calf of gold to make
euyn at his awn Deuyse.

875

he cyted to þat same Cyte
all þat come of kynredes ten,
And vnto þem þan þus sayd he,
“sers, our costom wele ȝe ken:
how our hye fest sall halowd be
euer ylk ȝer, ȝe wot wele when.
And als ȝe wott, we are [as] fre
as byniamyns or iudeys men.
And ierusalem is farre
als febyll folke suld fele.
I haue ordand vus nerre
to hald our fest full wele.

876

ffor wele we wott, els wene we wrang,
god hath power in ylka place.
ȝe sall haue here a god full strang
to gouerne you and graunt yow grace.
we sall ordand our self amang
prestes and dekyns in dyuerse space.
And I my self be for sall gang
forto gyf sense be for your face.”
þis poynt þe pepyll plese.
þei say, “assent wyll we;
So sall we [haue] more ese
þen kayre to farre cuntre.”

877

þen with all craftes he cowth controue
a tempyll sone he hath ordand
And made an Auter noyȝt to moue
bot stably in þat sted to stand.
þe calf of gold he sett above,
and all þe folke þen he commawnd
Ryȝt os þer lord yt forto loue
þat led þem owt of egyp land.
he says, “þis same is he
þat our formfaders led
Safe throwgh owt þe se
when þei fro pharo flede.”

878

ffals prophettes wund in þat toun
þat of þis fare was ferly fayn
And sayd þei suld be ryȝt resoun
maynteyn all þat purpase playn.
þei went and dyd deuocion
to þat mawment with myȝt and mayn.
þe kyng arayd þei redy boun
forto gyfe sense als þer soyuerayn.
Als þei with werke and wyll
þor mad þe[r] mawmentry,
A prophett com þem tyll,
was sent from god allmighty.

879

To greue þem þus he [c]a[n] be g[y]n
þat all þe folke myȝt here on hyght,
“Th[ou] Auter þat [is] sollyed with syn,
I warne þe here and ylka wyȝt.
þer sall spryng owt of Dauid kyn
A kyng, Ioas his name full ryȝt.
he sall dystroye both more and myn
þat mayntenys þe with any myȝt.
both prophettes, prestes and clerkes
þat now are mad on new,
he sall wast all þer werkes.
and þat þis tale be trew

880

A sygne here sal be redy grayd:
All þis fals fare sall fall as fast.
þou and all þat on þe is layd
sodanly sall doun be cast.”
And als sone as þis word was sayd,
All syd fro syd in sunder brast.
þen ware þo folke full yll affrayd
and Ieroboam gretly agast.
he turned hym in grett tene,
for þe prophett harme suld haue.
bot vengance sone was sene;
god wold his seruand saue.

881

Euyn os he ryched owt his ryȝt hand
and presed þe prophett forto sloo,
Starke ase a stafe his arme con stand
and wold not bow his body to.
So all his falshed sone he fand,
and fayn he was to flee þer fro.
he cryd mercy to god weldand
And prayd þe prophett he suld do so.
þe prophett for hym prayd,
als all þe pepyll hym prays.
And sone by he had sayd,
his arme was all at eys.

882

þen had þe kyng comforth full grett
and prayd to þe prophett specially
þat he wold dwell with þem to mete.
þerto þe prophett sayd in hy,
“god bad I suld noyȝt drynke ne ette
with none of all þis cumpany.
his bedyng wyll I not forfeytt;
þerfor my way fast wend wyll I.”
he left þat folke in fere,
and furth he wentt þem fro.
þen was þe kyng in were
what hym was best to do.

883

A fals prophett þor wonnand was
þat had rewled all þat yll aray.
when he wyst how þe prophett pas,
he thynkes to marre hym and he may.
ffast aftur hym hasted he has
and ouer toke hym by tym of day.
And hertly cause of hym he as
why þat he went so sone away,
And sayd, “ser, certes, I wend
þat þou wold dyne with me.”
he sayd, “god me dyffend
to dyne in þis cuntre.”

884

The fals prophett sayd, “ser, certayn
I am in message sent hym fro.
he bydes þat þou sall turn agay[n]
and dyne with me, now or þou go.”
so sayd þat traytour for þis trayn
to gare hym breke goddes bedyng so
þat þei myȝt haue þer purpase playn.
to bethell þen turned þei two.
þat fals prophett hym plese
and mad grett myrth o mell,
bot sone amang þer meses
he had messag more fell.

885

god sayd hym in þat same sesoun,
“for þou so sone was of assent
Att turn agayn vnto þis toun
and dyne agayns my commawndment,
þou sal be slayn with a lyon,
and to þi cors he sall take tent.”
All þis he fand full redy boun
or he ferre fro þat cyte went.
A lyon hym deuored,
and oþer bestes to lett
Styll be þe cors he cowred
tyll folke com yt to fett.

886

by men þat kayred þore in cuntre
sone ware þer tydynges told þat tyd.
þe fals prophett þen hasted he
aftur þat cors to ryn and ryd.
And belyue in þat same Cyte
to byre yt he wold not abyd,
And bad his barns þat he suld be
[beryd] þat same body be syd.
ffor wele he wyst þat noe
suld fall aftur þerfor,
when Ioas suld dystroy
þat lynag, lese and more.

887

bott ȝett his lyes he wold not layn;
full wyghtly with þe kyng he mette
And sayd, “ser, a lyon hath slayn
þat lurdan þat our seruyce lett.
All þat he told was bot [a trayn];
þerfor he hath his dome by dett.
Belyue gete vp our geyre agayn
And lett vs hald þat we haue hett.
Our Auter was full strang;
ouer grett charge gart yt fall.
And ser, þou sensed ouer lang
and noyed þin arme with all.

888

ser, þou suld leue þi frendes of old
bettur þen [A boy] for swylke [a brayd].”
þe kyng þen trowd all þat he told
and sone assent euyn ase he sayd.
þe Auter vp fast con þei fold;
gayly agayn sone was yt grayd
And honerd þore þe calf of gold.
þus ware þos folke foly be trayd.
þe kyng ay more and more
kest hym goddes men to mare.
yf he dyd yll be fore,
þen wold he werke wele werre.

889

A holy prophett þat heght achy
sent hym word with his awn qwene
þat his falshed and his foly
with sorows suld on þem self be sene,
And þat his ayrs suld haue for þi
aftur his tyme full mekyll tene.
Ieroboam sett noyȝt þer by
bot wex wers þen he ayr had bene.
þe folke full fast can fayle
als þei þer soyuerayn saw.
þei made goddes of metall
and left all moyses law.

890

he had no [mynd] of goddes myȝt;
so fell he fowly in dyspare.
And by goddes law he sett full lyȝt;
þerfor he fell fowle and noy[ȝ]t fayre.
he sembled men full wyld and wyȝt;
to Ierusalem he cast to kayre
Abiam forto fell with fyȝt
þat of þat reme was ryghest ayre.
bot sone when þe ȝyng kyng
herd tell of þat tythand,
he had at his ledyng
fayr folke fawrty thowssand.

891

To Ieroboam sone he remewes,
and both þei mett a pon a playn.
he carped to hym and told in trewes,
“ser, þou wott þi self certayn
we [are] one men and all ebrews;
þerfor yf auder syd be slayn,
þat oþer syde full sore yt rewes.
þerfor is gud to turn a gayn.
And als þou hath no ryȝt
by no cause þou con fynd
Agayns me forto fyȝt,
for I am ayre of kynd.

892

Kyng roboam by yll counsell
he for [f]ett yt; bot noyȝt for þi
he was my fader, þis is no fayle,
and þou his seruand sothly.
And my god may me mekyll avayle
and make me haue þe vyctory.
And þi goddes ar made of metayle;
þou may not be beld þem by.
All yf þ[i] folke be fell,
our god þer forse may fele.
fforto hald all in hele
I rede no more we mell.”

893

Ieroboam soyght A sutell gyn
in [h]is carpyng with kynredes ten.
Preuely he parted his pepyll in twyn
so þat non suld þer cowntenance ken,
And bad þem warly þei suld wyn
behynd Abyam and his men.
bot god þat all his treyst was in
wold noyȝt suffer hym be dyssayued þen.
þar falshed he aspyed
how þei hym vmbe cast.
“as armes!” be lyue he cryde
and fowled þem doun full fast.

894

þor was talkyng of no trews,
full styfly st[r]a[k]e þei in þat stoure.
Ieroboam had mony jews,
bot god was noyȝt þer gouernoure.
þerfor þat semble sone he rews,
and sadly sekes he to socoure.
kyng Abiam prestly persewes
and wan þer gold with grett honoure.
Ieroboam folke þei fynd
in fel[d] V thowssand sloyn.
þo leued he hym be hynd,
And Abiam noyȝt on.

895

when kyng Abiam had his wyll,
to ierusalem he turned agayn.
In þat Cyte he soiornes styll
with mekyll solace for certayn
Thre ȝeres his tym forto fulfyll
and honerd god with all his mayn.
And þen he dyed with angers yll,
als ylka man bus pase with payn.
And sone when he was dede,
his eldest sone Asa
was crowned in his sted
and cald kyng of Iuda.

896

þis ȝyng kyng Asa lett we dwell
styll in strengh, os he is stad.
Ieroboam, kyng of israel,
dyed aftur sone with sorows sade.
And þen was crowned in bethell
his eldest sun, þat heght nabad.
Thre ȝere was all his tym to tell;
in lyfe no langer hele he had.
On baasa hym be trayd
þat he was done to dede,
And hym self he arayd
to stand kyng in his stede.

897

Baasa be gan to styre swylke stryue,
for he wold gofern grett degre.
And for Ieroboam sede suld noyȝt thryue,
Na[b]a[d] his sun dyssayued he.
Sythyn stroyd he vp man, chyld and wyue
of his kynred in þat cuntre.
Of þat lyne leved he none o lyue.
þe prophett said yt suld so be.
þas þat in towns war dede
howndes laped þer blode.
þat dyed in oþer sted
ware leued to foyles fode.

898

þei ware dystroyd both ȝyng and old,
and all þat sorow was sen for syne.
kyng baasa þen was brym and bold;
bale forto brew wold he not blyne.
he was rych of gud and gold.
to mak hym goddes he con be gyn
And sayd þei suld werke ase he wold,
and so he suld all wrschep wyne.
he forgatt god of heuyn,
þat hath all hele in hand,
And his condicions euyn
held þe lordes of his land.

899

he lyfed in lust and lechery,
in hatred and in hertly pryde.
To gud men had he grett enuy
þat serued god on any syde.
And for he wroyȝt so wekydly,
god wold not lett hym lang abyd.
A prophett Iew he sent in hy
to tell hym all what suld be tyd.
he sayd by cause he dyd
like to Ieroboam,
Euyn als h[im] betyd,
so suld he haue þe same,

900

he and his kynred euer ay whore
[b]e dystroyd, in what eld so þei ere.
þen wex his malyce mekyll more;
þat mater meynys he forto mere.
þe prophett gart he slay ryȝt þore,
for þis tale suld be told no fere.
And yf he had done yll be fore,
þen kest he forto werke mekyll werre.
he honerd goddes of metall,
þat mys [trewth] hym be trayd,
for all behoued be fall
als goddes prophett had sayd.

901

bot fyrst he wroyȝt full mekyll wa
be were and be wyked wyle
And most vnto þe kyng asa,
þat honerd god in all þat whyle.
he had a Cyte heyght Ramatha,
from ierusalem full fawrty myle
And langed to þe lynage of Iuda.
þat Cyte gatt he sone with a gyle.
þore thynkes he forto dwell
and do kyng asa skathe.
þe land of israel
so myȝt he were fra wathe.

902

he meneys to [make] þat Cyte strang
for hym and [for] his frendes ylkone.
wyght men on ylka syd gart he gang
and broyȝt ydder both tre and stone.
kyng Asa toyȝt þat layke full lang,
and power to hym had he none.
þer for to wreke hym of þat wrang
A purpase playnly hath he tone.
he sentt sone for socour[s]
wher þe hethyn holdyn þer hame,
To þe kyng of matenours,
[Bene]dab by name.

903

by cause he was his fader frend,
in hym full fast he con affy.
þat kyng baasa suld not hym shend,
of helpe he prayd hym specially.
kyng [Bene]dab with wordes hend
sayd he suld haue helpe in hy
And wyghtly ordand hym to wend
to israel with grett cumpany.
Cytes and burghes þei bryntt
and slow men lese and more.
Cornys and wynys þei shent,
all þat þei fand be fore.

904

when tythynges com to kyng baasa
of þe phylesteyns ferse and fell,
þen bud hym refuse Ramatha
and wend to rescow israel.
Els wold þe enmys byrn and sla
and dystroye þe burgh of bethell.
lo, how god comforth kyng asa,
and he meued hym no thyng omell.
To Rama he con repayre
and toke yt into his hand.
he byged yt wele and fayre
with store þat he þore fand.

905

kyng [Bene]dab grett welth had wun,
and home he wentt warly and wele.
kyng baasa sone in bale was bun
and dyed with dole and dred sum dele.
And aftur regnyd helam, his sun,
and mad maystryce and mekyll vnsele;
ffor yf þe fader fell was fun,
þe sun was feller be fere to fele.
þerfor he last not lang:
with in two ȝeres sesoun
An aȝary heyȝt hym wrang,
slo[gh] hym and toke þe crown.

906

þis new kyng þen, Aȝary,
wuned in a town was named tharsa.
he stroyd all þe progeny
þat ware comyn of þe kyng baasa.
þen had þe folke to hym enuy
þat ware wonnand in gabatha.
þei mad þem a kyng heyȝt Ambry;
then had israel kynges twa.
kyng Ambry mad hym boun
þat oþer new kyng to noye.
he beseged tharsa toun
kyng aȝary to dystroy.

907

kyng aȝary knew þem full of yre,
and he had no forse hym to fend.
his awn palyse he sett on fyre,
for bettur comforth none he kend.
he brent hym self both bone and lyre;
on þis wyse was his wreched ende.
þen had kyng Ambry his desyre,
and furth in lordschep con he lend.
XII ȝeres and no ferre
lasted his lordschep þore,
Als yll of werkes or warre
as any was hym be fore.

908

when XII ȝeres ware done be dene,
he dyed with wo, þat I warrand.
Acab, his sun, was sythyn sene
kyng and lord of israel land.
And yf his elders yll had bene,
he was þe warst of hert and hand.
þat aftur turned hym selfe to tene,
bot fele folk fyrst his fawtes fand.
þus ferd yt of fyue kynges
in schort tyme forto tell.
ffor þei brake goddes bydynges;
þei haue þer hame in hell.

909

Bot kyng aasa of Iuda land,
he lyfed in luf and charete.
full fawrty ȝeres was he renand
and rewled his reme in gud degre.
he honerd god with hert and hand
so þat no man myȝt say ne see
wherfor god suld be oght grochand,
bot yf yt ware for thynges thre.
And on was for he send
[vn]to a paynym kyng
ffro his fase hym to fend,
and asked not goddes helpyng.

910

An oþer was when a trew prophet
fro god of heuyn to hym was grayd
And told hym how he had forfett
and owt of reson myse arayd.
In stokkes full sore he gartt hym sett,
for he þe sothe vnto hym sayd
[Of evill lyvyng hym forto let,
and of that warke god was not payde].
þe thryd: of seknes sore
forto haue help in hy
In lechys he trest more
þen in god allmighty.

911

kyng asa dyed in gud degre,
for in all his werkes was he trew.
he had A sun semly to see,
heyȝt Iosaphat, A gentyll jew.
Aftur his fader regned he
in ierusalem os gud Ebrew.
he was the best of all b[oun]te
aftur kyng Dauid þat men knew.
vnto goddes law he tentes
both by nyȝt and day
And kepes his commawndmentes
in all þat euer he may.

912

he was full buxum and full bayn
to beld all þat in bales ware bend,
And forto put þe pure fro payn
wold he hym hast with hert and hend.
þe fals phylysteyns ware full fayn
þer seruyce both to say and send,
So þat all folke of hym ware fayn
with all þer myȝt his my[s] to mend.
þe prophettes, prestes and clerkes
þat mayntened goddes seruyce
Both with wordes and werkes
he wrschept in all wyse.

913

The tempyll of god he can restore
with reuerence and with rych aray,
qwylk fals phylesteyns lang be fore
had brokyn doun and born a way.
Euer ylk thyng he ordand þore
þat he hoped myȝt plese god to pay,
And so increyst ay more and more
in gud maters all þat he may.
Now Iosaphatt lett we dwell
lyfand to goddes lovyng,
And of yll Acab tell
þat was of israel kyng.

914

we told how fyue be fore had bene
þat yll be gan and als yll end.
þis was þe werst with outyn wene,
for of more malyce euer he mend.
he toyȝt no myrth was more to mene
þen goddes folke scham and shend.
And lyke to hym he toke a qwene
of phylysteyns, full of þe fend.
hyr name was I[e]sabell,
þe kynges doyghtur of tyre.
malyce to meue and mell
þat was hyr most desyre.

915

kyng acab mad goddes of metall
and gaf to þem wele gud woyne.
bot scho mad hym more fouly fall
þen forto wrschepe tre or stone.
he made a tempyll to beall,
was g[o]d of t[y]re and sydone.
On knese to hym þei cry and call
and says he ys þer lord alon.
Scho ordand for þo werkes,
als woman wardly wyse,
ffals prophettes, prestes and clerkes
euyn at hyr awn deuyse.

916

And trew prophettes of god allmighty,
prestes and clerkes and byschopes bathe,
þem gart scho spyll dyspytfully;
þer none myȝ skape with owtyn skathe.
kyng Acab fauerd hyr for þi
in all hyr werke, yf yt ware wath.
þerfor god send his sand in hy
to make hym wytt how he was wrath.
Ely þe prophet trew
fro god to hym was grayd.
he told hym tythyng new,
and on þis wyse he sayd,

917

“God sendes þe word by me certayn,
for þou mayntenys on yll maner
þi wyf þat [has] h[is] seruandes sl[a]yn
and makes þe goddes of fendes vnfere.
with in þi reme sall fall no rayn,
ne dew sall now fro heuyn A[pe]yre
To tyme þat I com here agayn,
and þat bees noyȝt of all þis ȝere.”
The kyng þen toke gud tent
and hopes he be be gyld.
And þe prophett so went
his ways vnto þe woddes wyld.

918

he logeed hym in a forest fayr
whore erbs ware grouand full grene,
And þor he fand low in a layre
A spryng with watur fresch and clene.
god sent hym breyd owt of þe Ayre
þore whore none be fore had bene
with ray[u]yns þat cowd to hym kayre.
so selcoth syȝt was seldome sene.
Alon so lyfed he þore,
to none his nedes to neuyn,
well VII mo[nth]es and more
with helpe of god of heuyn.

919

In þe meyn tyme be tyd yt swa
þat all þe erth was dry be dett.
And his fresch watur fayled [hym] fro;
þen was his lyst of lyfyng lett.
þen bad god hym þat he suld ga
for þat defawt his fode to gete
Into A Cyte heyght sarepta,
in þe syd of sydone was sett:
“To a wedow þer I spake,
qwylk to my bedyng is bayne,
To fede þe for my sake.
þus sall þou fynd certayn.”

920

þen was ely in stallworth state
when he þe bote of god con here.
To Sarepta he toke þe gate,
als his lord con vnto hym lere.
þe wedow was with outyn þe ȝate
and geydderd wod with sympyll chere.
he prayd hyr hys threyst [to] abate
to helpe hym with sum watur clere.
Scho sayd, “styll here abyd!
I sall sone do þi rede.”
bot aftur hyr sone he cryde
and bad hyr bryng hym bred.

921

þe wedow was þen more a[ffrayd]
And scho had meruell how he wold mene.
“Syr, god of heuyn he wott,” scho sayd,
“I am bredles and lang hath bene.
slyke drynes ouer þis land is layd
ffor hungur dye þe folke be dene.
And for þat poynt I haue purvayd,
þe same sall on my self be sene.
I haue with in my bowre,
I wyll þou wytt all wele,
bot A handfull of floure
and a lytyll oyle in a skele.

922

I geydder wod, os þou may see,
for aftur goddes wyll wold I yt wore.
I sall make to my sun and me
a lytyll cake of all our stoure.
þat sall we ete, and it sall be
our last fode; so wyll fall þerfore.
þen bus vs dye bot[h] I and he,
for to our mete haue we no more.”
he sayd, “I pray þe, dame,
sen þat þe soth is so,
make me fyrst of þat same
and sythyn make to yow two.

923

And þou wyll tent to my consell
and traw yt to þe vtterest end,
I say þi flour it sall not fayle,
bot fro defawt yt sall þe fend.
And als þin oyle sall þe avayle
to tym þat god sum socour send.”
Scho [wold] noyȝt [fyne] þen forto trayvell
bot kyndly dyd os he hyr kend.
hyr flour þen fayled noyȝt,
ne hyr oyle wex not to wast
Tyll god, ose hym gud toyȝt,
heyȝt þem his helpe in hast.

924

Aftur þis tyme be tyd yt so:
þe wedow sun was ded with payn.
þen was þat wedow wonder wo
and mad grett sorow for certayn.
To Ely [gretand] con scho go
and sayd, “yf þou be prophet playn,
Schew now þi myȝt to me and mo
and gayre me haue my sun agayn!
þen wyll I trewly trow
þat þou be þe prophett strang.
And els I say þat þou
hath slayn my sun with wrang.”

925

when hely saw h[yr] sorow sere,
he sayd, “dame, sese! all sal be wele.”
he raysed hym þat was bun to bere
fayr in forse fully to fele.
þen made þe moþer mery chere
and sayd, “þi god may send all sele.
now wot I wele with owtyn were:
þou ert his prophett trew as stele.”
ffull holy þen scho hym held,
as þor was schewed to syȝt.
And ay whyls he þor dweld,
scho esed hym at hyr myȝt.

926

god be gan þe[n] to haue pete,
for pepyll peryscht in mony a place.
To þe prophet Ely commawnd he
þem forto comforth in þis case
[And say they shal have rayne plente
and be releeved in litle space].
Ely was glad yt suld so be.
to betell ward be lyue he gase.
he had bene þore be fore;
full well knew he þe strette.
bot fyrst, or he com þore,
sum meruels con he mete.

927

with kyng Acab [þen] wonnand was
a prowd prince with armys clene,
þat named was [Obedyas].
he serued god and þat was sene
when prophettes and prestes to payn con pase
through Iesabell, þat fellows qwene.
Sum of þem helped he has
þat þe same day ded suld haue bene.
In h[id place] he þem sett
and sayued þem fro þe chaunce
And broyȝt hym self in dett
to fynd þem sustinance.

928

kyng Acab bad hym wend in hy
to seke yf he myȝt fynd herbe or grese
þat þer bestes myȝt lyfe þer by
þat dyes for defawt, more and lese;
Or yf he myȝt awr spyre or spy
whore þat warlow wonnand es
þat proued þem by his prophecy
þat þei suld dwell in swylke drynes.
“To tyme he come agayn
and yf þou may hym bryng,
Als sone he sal be slayn,
for he told swylk [tokynyng].”

929

Obedyas wold no langer lett;
he was full boun all bale to bete,
ffor herbys or gryse, yf he myȝt gete,
bot he fand nawder sawre ne swete.
bot in the way, as he was sett,
with þe prophett Ely con he mete.
when he hym saw, for ioy he grette
and fell doun flatt be fore his fete.
he fraynd als man afrayd,
“es þis my lord Ely?”
he answerd sone and sayd,
“goddes seruand here am I.”

930

“ser,” he sayd, “þus I am sent
þe forto seke, os þou may see.
kyng Acab hath yfyn his jugment
þat for þis dry ded sall þou be,
And bot I bryng þe, I be shent.
þerfor sum consell ken þou me.”
he says to hym, “I wold þou went
and tell hym os I tell þe:
styll here I sall abyd
and no fote ferther flee.
And say for all his pryd
god sall my belder be.

931

And I sall warrand þe full wele
and fro his felnes þe dyffend.”
Obedias went and told ylk dele
vnto Acab as Ely hym kend.
he sayd, “ser, seke we for our sele
and pray hym sum socur to send!”
And for þe folke swylke fawtes fele,
vnto hym both wyghly þei wend.
þen sayd þe kyng for scorn,
“ys þou not he, þat same
þat gayrs my land be lorn
and wastes both wyld and tame?”

932

þen sayd Ely, “ser, I þe tell:
þis sorow is sent all for þi syne.
Bryng same the best of israel,
yf þat þou wyll þis baret blyne,
And þe fals prophettes of Ieȝabell
and prestes and dekyns, more and myn,
And comys all to þe mownt carmell!
þer sall I tell þem, or I twyne,
þe cause of all þis kare
and what may most amend.”
fforto fulfyll þis fare
þe kyng full sone hath send.

933

vnto þe lordes of his land
and most clene of þe comonalite,
prophettes þat Ieȝabell ordand,
prestes and dekyn[s] in þer degre,
vnto þem all [he] [þus] commawnd,
“comys to þe mount of carmell with me!
þore sall ȝe se þe prophett stand
þat mad vs in þis bale to be.”
Sone on a hyll on heyȝt
þis pepyll was purvayde.
þen Ely stud vp ryȝt
amang þem all and sayd,

934

“lordynges, your lyfes þus worthys to lake
þat leuys þe law þat moyses lent.
grett god þat to your faders spake,
hym suld ȝe trow with trew entent.
god of abraham and of ysac,
vnto his saws ȝe suld assent,
And leue Beall þat euer is blake,
or els in bale ȝe mon be brent.
yf ȝe may proue by skyll
þat he may helpe yow oght,
tell yt [þis] pepyll vntyll!”
to þis þei answer noght.

935

“Now sers,” he says, “asay we sall
whedder of our goddes hath more power.
Rayse vp an Auter amang yow all,
and I sall rayse an oþer nere.
Takes þen an ox owt of a stall
and part yt in sunder in peysese sere.
And on your auter lettes yt fall,
and I sall do þe same ryȝt here.
To god þen sall we pray,
and qwylk so fyrst is brent,
hald hym for god verray.”
to þis þei all assent.

936

ffals prestes, clerkes of Ieȝabell,
and prophettes, iiij [C] and mo,
Raysed vp an Auter þem omell,
for so þei wene to wast þer wo.
þei leide þeron full fayr fuell,
and þen a gret ox con þei slo
And layde furth both flesch and fell;
and Ely dyd an oþer also.
þen prestes and prophettes kneled,
ylkon aftur þer state,
And prayd beall forto beld,
bot his comforth com late.

937

ffull rudly þen þei rope and rare
on þer mawment to mend þer mode.
bot þer offerand moued neuer þe mare,
bot in a state full styll it stod.
þei rent þer face and raue þer hare
and weped for wo, ose þei ware wode.
Ely stud styll on þem to stare,
hym toyȝt þat game was wounder gud.
he says, “your god is on slepe
or els went ferre fro hame.
To yow he takes no [k]e[p]e,
crys on hym fast for schame!”

938

so dyd þei holly half a day,
to cry and rare þei wold not rest.
þer offerand on þe Auter lay,
and no kyns fyre wold in yt fest.
þen Ely bad þem wend a way,
god was not to þer prayer prest,
And sayd, “for soth, I shall assay
yf my god wyll be bettur gest.”
his Auter and ylk dele
in goddes name was agrayd.
his flesch was weschen wele
and on þe Auter layd.

939

On both his knese þen knelse he doun
and prayd to god with stabyll steuyn
To send sum segn in þat seson
þat his name myȝt be new to neuyn.
Or he had endyd his oryson,
a fyre dyscended doun fro heuyn.
yt brent all vp that he mad boun
and went vp into þe ayre full euyn.
þen ware þo folke full fayn,
and lowd þei cast A Crye:
“þer is no god may gayn
bot þe god of Ely!

940

we wot beall ys bot a fend,
and fals prophettes, foull mot þem fall!”
Ely bad þat þei suld shend
prophettes and prestes þat [on hym] call.
of all þe meneȝe mad þ[ei] end
þat gouernd hym, both gret and small.
þen Ely heygh with wordes hende,
“sum socur yow god send sall.”
þe Ebrews went at wyll
and toyȝt þer werkyng wele.
And Ely loged hym styll
apon þe mount of carmele.

941

To god fast con he call and crye
of his pepyll forto haue pyte
And bad his seruand spyre and spye
yf any clowd com fro þe see.
At last he sayd, “ser, certanly
þe Ayre be gynys all brown to bee.”
god send helpe þen sone in hy:
Rayn fell ouer all þat cuntre.
þen loue þei god all ways
with wyll, word and dede.
And þe prophett þei prays
þat so spake for þer sped.

942

bot Ieȝabell, þat cursed qwene,
when scho herd tell of þis tythyng,
how all þat had with beall bene
ware ded and thrugh Ely demyng,
þen in hert scho had grett tene
and sayd þer suld non erthly thyng
Saue hym, and he myȝt be sene,
þat he ne suld haue þe same endyng.
Ely herd hyr swere swa;
þerfor fast con he flee
Tyll a Cyte of Iuda,
þat named was barsabe.

943

lang soiornyng þer saw he none,
for he was ferre from ylka frend.
To wyldernese he went alone,
and in a loge þer con he lend.
To myȝty god he mad his mone
and prayd hym þat he myȝt make end,
“Als myn elders ar ded ylkon,
lord, suffer me þat way to wend!
Sene þem no lyffe ys lent
þat wore more of wrschepe,
lett me wend os þei went!”
with thys he fell on slepe.

944

he was wery and myȝt not wake,
for he had wentt be ways sere.
An Angell [come and] to hym sp[a]ke
and sayd he was goddes messyngere.
Mete and drynke he bad hym take
so forto hold hym hoyle and fere.
þen at his hed he fand a cake
and a vessell with watur clere.
And for hym fayled fode,
of þat fayre was he fayn.
he ete and dyd hym gud,
and sone he sleped agayn.

945

The secund [tyme] þe Angell sayd,
“wake, wake, Ely, and no more þou wynke!
Swylke ose ys in þis place purvayd
god byddes þat þou sall ete and drynke.
A grett way is be fore þe grayd
þat þe behoues both swett and swynke.”
he rayse and rathly hym arayd.
his lymys ware þen full lyȝt, hym thynke.
by the myȝt of þat same mete
he trayueld fawrty days
þe hyll of god to gett,
heyght Oreb þe story says.

946

god spake to hym in þat space
and sayd, “what sterd þe into þis stede?”
he sayd, “lord, for ferd of my fase.
for and I byd, I ete neuer bred.
þi prophettes in euere ylk place
by Ieȝabell ar putt to ded,
And þe same to me heyght scho has.
þat dose me flee fro hyr hatred.”
god sayd, “go ydder agayn
and do message of myne!
I sall þe sayue certayn
fro hyr and all hyr hyne.

947

Take tent to tales þat I þe tell
and trewly trest þat þei are trew!
Ordan for kyng of israel
aftur Acab on þat named ys Iew!
And kyng of Syre make aȝaell
þat euer has bene A gud Ebrew!
And when þou may no langer dwell,
for þi self þen set Elysew!
he sall be prophett playn,
wysest when þou ert wentt
And man full mekyll of mayn
to mustur myn entent.

948

þei sall me venge with hert and hand
of þem þat hath forsakyn me.”
so went he furth and sone he fand
Elysew in feld kepand his fee.
he told vnto hym new tythand,
all how god bad þat he suld bee.
þen Elysew left lord and land
and went with Ely o[s] menyhe.
So same we lett þem dwell,
two gud seruandes to go[d],
And of kyng Acab tell
and of his neghtbour, nabod.

949

kyng Acab wuned in [Ieȝe]rael,
A Cyte þat was long and wyd.
And also his qwenne Ieȝabell
was wonnand þore with mekyll pryd.
And þis Nabod þat I of tell
soiornd als A neghtbour nere be syd.
he had a feld þat to hym fell
whore wynes full mekyll multyplyd.
þe kyng oft yt beheld,
for yt was large and lang.
he thynkes to haue þat feld
awder by ryȝt or wrang.

950

And to fullfyll þis purpase playn
to Nabod sent he message þore.
To by hys feld he wold be bayn
And to gyf gud fully þerfore.
bot Nabod sent hym word agayn
þat yt fell to his ayrys euer more.
he wold noyȝt sell yt for certayn.
þen was þe kyng greued full sore.
so grett dyspytt hym thynke,
his hert he myȝt not meke.
he myȝt nawder ete ne drynke
bo[t] layd hym doun sore seke.

951

no sang, ne solace myȝt hym saue,
ne no helpyng to hym a vayld.
Qwene Ieȝabell þe cause con craue
and asked hym hertly what hym ayled.
he sayd, “for nabod feld I craue,
and þer of haue I fowly fayled.”
Scho says, “þat hette I þe to haue,
all be yt neuer so trewly tayled.”
Scho gart hyr rebels ryse
þat tyll hyr bode was bayn,
And charged þem on all wyse
þat nabod sone ware slayn.

952

Scho bad þat þei suld bere hym on hand
þat he had sclaunderd god of heuyn,
And lett hym so no langer stand.
And at hyr wyll þei went full euyn.
þei wold noyȝt fyne or þei hym fand,
and þen þei wold not here his steuyn,
bot slow þat lele man for his land.
þis was a cursed note to neuyn.
when þis yll ded was done,
þe kyng was hole, hym toyȝt.
Bot god sent message sone
þat sayd yt suld [sore be] boyȝt.

953

Gud ely to þe kyng con tell,
“for þou hath wroyȝt þies werkes wode,
In þat same feld þat Nabod fell
sall þou be slayn for all þi gud.
wyld bestes sall with þi body mell,
and þi flesch sal be fowles fud.
And say to þi wyfe Ieȝabell
in þis Cyte sall houndes lape hyr blud.
Als kyng Ieroboam kyn
dyed all with outt bereyng,
So þi frendes for þi syn
sall fall to fole endyng.”

954

kyng Acab þen was cast in care.
to god fast con he call and crye
And heyght þat he suld neuer mare
werke to wrath hym wylfully,
so þat he wold of vengance spare
and of his synys þen haue mercy.
And when god saw his sorows sare,
a gayn to hym he sent [ely].
he says his kynred sall
be saued whyls he has myȝt,
bot all ellys suld be fall
as he be fore had heyȝt.

955

þe prophett þen his way is went
whore god wold gouerne hym to gang.
þe kyng þen toke full gud tent
what tales ware þore þem amang.
And Ieȝabell, þat lady gent,
was euer in wyll to werke wrang.
In grett lykyng now ar þei lent;
we sall leue þat yt lastes not lang.
The kyng of Syre, benedab,
with kynges thryty and two
soyght vnto kyng Acab
with were to werke hym wo.

956

when kyng Acab persaued in hy
how enmys enturd in tyll his land,
And wyst with swylke a cumpany
to fyȝt in feld no folke he fand,
he clossed hym self in samary;
was full wele walled hym to warrand.
bot benedab sett not þer by;
þer myȝt no strengh agayns hym stand.
þat Cyte large and wyd,
þat semly was to see,
Seged he on ylka syd
with paynyms grett plente.

957

Vnto kyng Acab word he send,
“yf þat þou wyll take me vntyll
both wyues and chylder in to myn hend,
at my lyst forto spare or spyll,
And all þat is for thresour kend
with in þe Cyte, lowd and styll,
To haue with me, þen wyll I wend.”
kyng Acab answerd to þat skyll,
“Of myn all [þat] men kens
wyll I lefe forto lyfe.
bot gudes of oþer mens
haue I no ryȝt to gyfe.”

958

kyng benedab þen was not payd;
þerfor he answerd wordes fell.
“I haue here sembled men,” he sayd,
“so mony þat yf I þem omell
ylkon a handfull had puruayd
of erthe to lay here whore we dwell,
Of þat same [erthe] suld be grayd
A hyll os hegh os a castell.
And fare þei sall not fare
or all þis burgh be brent.”
þen kyng Acab had care,
bot socour sone was sent.

959

god to his helpyng has tane hede
and send his prophett hastely.
he sayd, “kyng Acab, haue no dred!
god says þou sall haue vyctory.”
þe kyng askys, “who sall do þat ded?”
he says, “chylder and [no] chyualry.”
þen gart [þe] kyng geydder full gud sped
of chylder a full fayre cumpany,
Swylke os myȝt wepyns weld
IIII C furth he fand.
þei wentt be fore to þe feld.
he sued with VII thowssand.

960

þei musterd þem with myȝt and mayn;
god mayntend all þat meneȝe.
þe paynyms sone ware put to payn,
all ware þai neuer so grett plente.
V M sone of þem ware slayn,
and all þe remnand fayn to flee.
bot sone þei sembled mo agayn
and sayd þat þei suld venged bee.
kyng benedab asked consell
what thyng þat most myȝt noye,
And what myȝt most avayle
þe Ebrews forto dystroye.

961

þei answerd sone vnto his saw
and sayd, “for þis fare þat þou frayns
Condicion of þer god we knaw.
his helpe is all in hegh mountayns.
þerfor to dales I red we draw,
for þer our god most to vs gayns.
And þer god wyll not lyght so low,
so sall þei sone be put to payns.”
þis consell toke he tyll
and held yt gud and hale.
Euyn vnder Iaphet hyll
he loged hym in a dale.

962

kyng Acab herd tell how þer hales
was sett to soiornd i[n] certayn space.
bot for he suld [noyȝt] trow þer tales,
fro god full gud warnyng he has.
A prophett bad go bede þem bales,
for god wold schew of his gud grace
þat he myȝt ese als wele in dales
as in hylles or in hy places.
kyng Acab assay[l]d þem sone,
as god gaf hym to red,
And als god demed, was done:
paynyms ware don[e] to ded.

963

A hunderth thowssand and wele mo
of hethyn folke ware feld in feld
þat come with thrytty kynges and two.
þer scaped non þat suld wepyns weld.
kyng benedab he wan with wo
to A Cyte hym self to beld.
he wyst not what was best to do:
to byd or his body to ȝeld,
ffor wele he wyst certayn
kyng Acab wold not fayle
Or he ware soght and slayn.
bot þus spake his counsell,

964

“Ser,” þei say, “suffer sall we
A lese harme forto lett a more.
Ebrews ar men of mercy free;
wend we vnto þem fast þerfore
And pray þer kyng to haue pyte
for his goddes sake with syghyng sore,
And profer vs his bond men to be
and also þat we sall restore
All þat our elders wan
fro his elders and fro hym.
so sall he graunt vus þan
forto haue lyf and lym.”

965

vnto þis counsayle haue þei tone,
and sone þer gatte þei haue be gun.
Barfote, in þer serkes alon,
with cordes abowt þer halse bun,
To kyng Acab þei kneled ylkon
and fell doun flatt whe[n] he was [f]un.
when he saw þem wyll of woyne,
grett rewth to his hert is run.
he forgaf all his grefe
and graunt þem pardon playn.
he mad hym self myschefe
and þe hethyn folke full fayn.

966

kyng benadab by þe hand he hent
and kyssed hym and become his frend,
So þai þat hoped to be shent
now in þis [tyme] no more we[re] tend.
kyng Acab with his Ebrews went
to Samary fayr forto lend,
bot message sone to hym was sent
þat god was yll payd of þer end.
A prophett, machias,
þor lendyd in þat land.
To samary con he pase
with his staf in his hand.

967

To þat Cyte so as he ȝode,
Ebrews mett hym in the way.
To on of þem he spake gud sped,
“haue here my stafe, I þe pray,
And breke my hed and gare yt bled!”
þe Ebrew answerd and sayd, “nay!
why suld I do to þe þat dede
þat greued [me] neuer be nyȝt ne day?”
þe prophett sayd, “for þi
þat þou dose noyȝt my wyll,
þou sall dye sodanly,
and bestes þi sped sall spyll.”

968

A lyon come with byttur brayd
and wowred hym amang þem þore.
þe prophett to an oþer sayd,
“haue here my staf and smyt me sore!”
þat oþer saw his felow flayd,
þat made hym buxum mekyll more.
his awn stafe on his [hed] he layd
þat blud fell ouer þe face be fore.
A cloght a bowt he band
to be owt of knawyng.
his stafe he toke in hand
and come so to þe kyng.

969

“A lord,” he says, “þis herm I hent
in þe batell, for I wold not fle.
þe stewerd toke me forto tent
A man þat had mysdone to þe.
To kepe hym safly I assent.
he ys [a]way; full wo is me,
ffor I be tane to grett turment
bot yf þou my beldyng be.”
þe kyng sayd, “s[i]ne he was
worthy forto be ded
þat þou has lettyn pase
and standes in þat same sted,

970

ffor bettur beld the thar not byde
bot ded for ded, þa[t] is þ[e] law.”
þe prophett sone his hed vnhyd,
by cause þe kyng þen suld hym knaw.
“ser kyng,” he says, “þis same þou dyd
and þis same dowm to haue þou aw.
ffor benadab þat euer is kyd
enmy to god in dede and saw,
god gaf hym in þi hend
forto venge ylk dele.
And þou has lettyn hym wend;
þerfor I warn þe wele.

971

ffor þou wold not putt hym to pyne
when he was putt in þi pawste,
And wyst yt was goddes wyll and myn
of hym and his venged to be,
ffor his lyfe þou sall lose þin
and all þi kyn in þis cuntre.
ffor socur of god now sall þou tyne.
þus sall yt wurth, þus warne y the.”
þen was kyng Acab kene.
in preson he dyd hym cast
And sayd he suld be sene
A lyer at þe last.

972

In preson now lett we hym dwell
and Acab in his yll lyfyng.
Of Iosaphat furth wyll we tell
þat of ierusalem was kyng.
he musterd mercy euer omell
and honerd god ouer all thyng.
þerfor all frendschepe to hym fell
and beldyng both of old and ȝyng.
Both by est and west
he mayntened moyses law,
And paynyms ware full prest
to wrschepe hym all way.

973

kyng Iosaphat had with his quene
mony suns, semly to syȝt.
The eldyst of þem all be dene
heyȝt Ioran, a full gentyll knyȝt.
he toke a wyfe with outyn wene,
kyng Acab doyghtur, godely scho hyȝt.
Scho had of kynd forto be kene
by Ieȝabell, hyr moyder, ryȝt.
To wayte be est and west
so worthy was no moo.
þat marage mad grett rest
be twyx þe kynges two.

974

Befell aftur þe thre ȝeres end:
kyng Iosaphat went to Samary
To kyng acab, his fader and frend,
to co[n]fer[m] co[u]rs of cumpany.
þei welcumd hym with wordes hend
and wrschep, os he was worthy,
And als lang os hym lyked to lend,
for hym was mad grett mangery.
kyng Acab towched hym tyll
what hast he had on h[e]nd,
And sayd, “ser, and þou wyll,
þou may me mekyll amend.

975

Benedab, þe kyng of Syre,
hath angerd me and all my kyn.
my Cetys hath he sett on fyre
and bene full boun in burghes to bryn.
And Ramatha, price of my empyre,
þat has he wun and dwels þer in.
þerfor is now my most desyre
to wast hym and þat Cyte to wyn.
with both our power playn
sone sall we dyng hym doun.”
Iosaphat says, “certayn,
I sal be redy boun.

976

bot fyrst I wold now or we went
we pray sum prophett vs to tell
whedder we in werys sall harm hent
or els our foyse in feld to fell.”
IIII C sone ware aftur sent,
and all cord þei þem omell
And says þer enmys sall be shent
and vyctory with þem sall dwell.
kyng Iosaphat trowd all þo
fageed þe kyng for dowte.
he asked yf any moo
ware wonnand þer abowt.

977

kyng Acab says, “ȝa, þer is one
in my preson, a prophett strang.
gud word of me spake he neuer none;
he noyȝt sall, lyf he neuer so lang.”
Machyas was fro preson tone,
and þus he sayd þem all amang,
“Acab hym self he sal be sloyn.
All oþer sall sauely come and gang.”
þen sayd kyng Acab, “loe,
this told I yow be forn,
he sall neuer say ne do
bot yll both euyn and morn.”

978

kyng Iosaphatt says, “for soth vs aw
to trow all þat he says sall be.
Swylke case be fore may he not knaw
bot only of goddes preuate.”
vp stert A lordan of þer law,
heyȝt sedechy, and þis sayd hee,
“sers, sett not by þis segger saw;
he says noyȝt sothe, þat sall ȝe see.
I sall [hym stryke] in þe face
to gare hym staker and stand.
And yf I pase þe place
with outyn harme of my hand,

979

þen sall ȝe trest þat I am trew,
And þat his tales es bot a trayn.
And yf my hand fayle hyd or hew
or stand noyȝt in yt power playn,
Supose ȝe þen þat all sall sew
as he has sayd yow for certayn!”
þe kyng[es] assented, no soth þei knew,
and he stroke hym with all his mayn.
his hand was neuer þe warre,
and þat was for þis skyll:
ffor no m[i]rak[l]e suld marre
[þe] prophett spech to spyll.

980

ware hurtyng on his hand to schew,
þen wold þe kyng not pase þat sted,
[and] so suld not þe prophett saw
be soth þat sayd he suld be ded.
þen says þe kyng, “now may we knaw
not for trew þis rybald red.
gose putt hym in my preson low
And gyf [hym] noyȝt bot watur and bred!”
So for trew entent,
through þe sawys of sedechy,
To were so ar þei went
with full clene cumpany.

981

when þei come whore þer enmys ere,
kyng Acab þen þis poynt purvayde,
ffor he hym selfe fro wa wold were.
“Iosaphat, my sun, take hed,” he sayd,
“myn armys in batell sall þou bere
and all my ryches ryȝt arayd.
þin armes and þi wede sall I were;
so sall our enmys be betrayd.”
On þat oþer syde kyng benedab
warned his men, lese and mare,
To kyll þe kyng Acab
and all oþer forto spare.

982

þei [r]ewled þem trewly in þat tyd
[fro] erly at morn tyll euyn sang.
kyng Iosaphat con boldly byd,
he presed full fast paynyms amang.
þei knew hym wele by hew and hyd;
þerfor at lyst þei lete hym gang.
kyng Acab soght þei on ylka syde
and full throly to hym þei thrang.
A paynym spened a spere
and stert to hym þat stownd.
Thurght þe body he con hym bere
and gaf hym dedes wound.

983

when kyng Acab doun was cast,
his men ware bayn hym forto beld
And hamward hyed þem [with] hym full fast
whyls he myȝt any wyttes weld.
with mekyll payn so are þe past
to þei come euyn in Nabod feld.
þen myȝt his lyf no langer last,
bot þer þe gast behoued hym ȝeld.
Als mychias prophesyd,
in þe batell he was turgh born
And in Nabod feld [he] d[y]ed,
os Ely sayd be forn.

984

In þat same feld doun he fell
þat he be fore had wun falsly
be counsayle of quene Ieȝabell,
þat mad Nabod þerfor to dy.
hondes laped his blud, whor þei dwell,
als yt was [sayd] be prophecy.
þei bered þe body þem omell
in his aw[n] Cyte of samary.
Be cause he was A kyng,
his body honerd ys,
bot for his yll lyfyng
men mened hym mekyll þe lese.

985

when þat kyng Acab þus was slayn,
as prophettes sayd þat yt suld be,
And occoȝi, his sun certayn,
was crowned kyng of þat cuntre,
kyng benedab went home agayn
with his paynyms full grett plente.
kyng Iosaphat, he passed playn
to ierusalem, his awn Cyte,
And all his folke in fere
ware scaped with outyn scathe.
god sent h[is] messyngere
to warn hym from all wathe.

986

A prophett com and to hym sayd,
“[Ser], for þou went in cumpany
Of kyng [Acab] þat ys owtrayd,
and wyst that he was goddes enmy,
I warn þe wele god was not payd,
and vengance [suld] be sent for þi
[bot þat] þi dedes ware gudly grayd.
bot ȝett he bydes: be ware þer by
þat þou trespase no more
in swylke maner of thyng,
ffor dred yt happyn to sore
to þe or þin ofspryng.”

987

þen loued he god with hert and hand
and honerd hym in all [kyn] wyse.
And sone was told to hym new tythand
of greuance þat be gan to ryse:
how þer enturd into his land
mystrowand men þat heyȝt moabyse,
And full grett ost þei had ordand
with mony oþer of amonyse.
þei say non sall þem tene
ne wrath owt of þer wyll
To stroye ierusalem
and all þat langes þer tyll.

988

kyng Iosaphat full sone hath he sent
for prophettes, prestes and dekyns dere,
ffor dukes and erles; all þei went
to þe tempyll to make þer prayer.
þei prayd to god with gud entent
þat he wold helpe þat stoure to stere
So þat his men no harmes hent
with hethyn folke þat fowled nere.
And as þe pepyll [prayd]
with word, wyll and toyȝt,
A prophett come and sayd,
“Kyng Iosaphat, dred þe noyȝt!”

989

þen was kyng Iosaphat full fayn
when he had swylke hertyng fro heuyn.
he sembled men with all his mayn
and comforth þem wele with his steuyn.
[out] of þe Cyte past þei playn
and busked vnto þe enmys euyn.
bot þe paynyms com prowdly þem agayn
with nowmmer mo þen men can neuyn.
bot god swylk socour sent
os none of þem oþer knew,
bot ylk pay[n]y[m] wend
his felow had bene an Ebrew.

990

And so ylkon ouer oþer dang
as þei had with þer enmys bene.
þei wold not sese bot thryst and thrang
tyll þei ware dongyn to ded be dene.
þer had non hele home forto gang
to say what syȝt he þore had sene.
So con god ordan murth amang
to men þat on his myȝt wyll mene.
kyng Iosaphat come þen
with his men to þat place.
grett wardly welth þei wan
with spolyng in þat space.

991

þore was ryches and ryalte,
wyn and oyle and all [k]in store.
þe Ebrews gatt þor [g]old and fee
to mend þer myrth for euer more.
þen went þei to þer awn cuntre.
kyng Iosaphat, when þei come þore,
bad þat all men suld buxum be
to wrschep god as worthy wore
þat euer in ded and saw
to his pepyll tentes
þat lelly lufes his law
and kepes his commawndment[es].

992

kyng Iosaphat now lett we ly
in ierusalem with ioy to dwell.
So þe thryd boke of þis story
is broyȝt to end, euyn os yt fell.
The fawrt be gynys of occoȝi,
þat [þen] was kyng of israel,
how he soiornd in samary
with his moyder, qwene Iesabell.
god graunt vs to begyn
our dedes in gud degre
And end þem owt of syn!
Ame[n], so mott it be!

Liber Quartus Regum.

993

In this faurt boke of kynges to ken
wher lykyng and wher luf lyse,
vs nedes to neuyn the names of men,
of kynges, of dukes, of prinsese of price,
And of þer werkyng wher and qwen
by dyuerse dedes forto deuyse.
Insampels sere sall we se þen
how grett relefe þer of may ryse;
ffor as lerned men may loke,
sant Paule telles old and ȝyng:
All þat is wryttyn in boke
is lefed for our lernyng.

994

kyng occoȝi was acab sun
and had his welthis all in his weld.
And yf þe fader a foyle war fun,
þe sun was more fole, and þat he feld.
To make hym god[es] he has begun,
os paynyms vsed in ȝowth and eld.
To gud god wold he not be bun,
bot belsabub he made his beld,
was god of acaron,
A nacion not to neuyn.
hys hope was all hym on.
he toke no hed to heuyn.

995

So lang in lust his lyfe he lede
hym lyst to lere no lefull layre.
þe dome of god no thyng he dred,
bot euer he dyd myse more and more.
ffro a hegh sted—þor was he sted—
he fell and hurt hym self full sore
so þat he lay seke in his bed,
and fast þus ordand he þerfore:
his messyngers he send
to belsabub at wytt
whedder his seknes suld mend,
or he suld dy on yt.

996

And als þei went, be for fand þei
þe prophett Ely in a playn.
he asked wheder þei ware on way,
and þei sayd hym þe soth certayn
All how þer lord in langur lay.
he bad þem boldly turn agayn:
“And to your lord salfly ȝe say:
of þis seknes he sall be slayn,
by cause he hopes his hele
of belsabub forto haue
And leue[s] hym þat is lele
and all seknes may saue.”

997

þe messyngers agayn con wend
þis bodword boldly forto bere.
þei told hym all þat tale tyll end
as þei with Ely warned were.
þen was kyng occoȝi yll tend;
full grett othes þen con he swere
Old Ely with shame forto shend
so þat [his] demyng suld noyȝt dere.
He cald his steward strang
þis forward to fulfyll
And bad hym wyghtly gang
and bryng Ely hym tyll.

998

“he sall be pyned in my palas
and lernyd swylke lesynges forto tell.”
þe steward hastely sembled has
fyfty folke, both ferse and fell.
To Ely playnly con he pase
and moued þis mater þem o mell
how þat þe kyng yll angr[e]d was,
and þat he myȝt not byd ne dwell
[bot] wy[gh]tly wend hym to
and fand to ese his hert.
“And yf þou wyll not so do,
with greue þou sall be gert.”

999

þe prophett answerd sone and sayd,
“þi manase may not marre to me,
ffor all þi fayre I am not flayd;
þerfor A fote I wyll not flee.
And þat god is with me wele payd,
ensampyll here sone sall þou see.
þou sall be brent for all þi brayd
and all þis cowrt þat come with þe.”
By þis word was end,
god wold do hys desyre.
A fyre from heuyn dyscend
and brent þem bone and lyre.

1000

vnto þe kyng com non of þo
to tell hym how þis werke was wroyȝt.
bot when he wyst, he was full wo
and sayd yt suld be full dere boyȝt.
he ordand men ose mony moo
and bad þe prophett suld be broyȝt.
bot þei ware ryȝt sone serued so
as þe fyrst fyfty þat hym soyȝt.
þei ware brent ylkon
with fyre þat on þem fest.
þen was þe kyng wyll of woyne;
he wyst not what was best.

1001

þore in þat Cyte wonned a man
þat moyses law wold neuer lett.
The kyng to hym commawnd þen
þe prophett with fayrnes to fett.
he went and warly to hym wan
with in his sell whore he was sett.
As curtasly ose euer he can
and with grett gladnes he hym grett
And sayd, “ser, haue mercy
on me and my meneȝe!”
þen to hym sayd Ely,
“what is þi wyll with me?”

1002

“A, ser,” he says, “full wele I knaw
god gouerence þe in word and dede.
we ar charged with full grett aw
vnto þe kyng þe forto lede.
And þou wyll se tyll our saw,
so may þou make vs mekyll mede;
And yf þou wyll not ydder draw,
[we] mun be ded with outyn drede.
[w]e sall noyȝt do ne say
in þis gate þe to greue.
Bot gud ser, and þou may,
haue mynd of our myscheue!”

1003

þe prophett saw þei sorewd so
and herd þem carpe so curtasly.
he graunt hym with þem to go.
so wentt þei same to samary.
þen went Ely with oþer mo
to carpe with þe kyng occoȝi.
he fraynd yf he suld flyt þer fro
or els of þat same sekenes to dy.
he sayd, “sen þou takes rede
of belsabub, þe fend,
Als sone þou sall be ded
and with þat warlow wend.”

1004

So sodanly he mad endyng
aftur his werkys wele worthy wore.
he had non Ayre, old ne ȝyng,
his state ne his sted to restore.
his broþer Ioran was crowned kyng
and lord of israel, lese and more.
he was wele wars in all thyng
þen any had bene hym be fore.
he melled with mawmentry
and lyfed in lust of flesch.
Acab ne occoȝi
was neuer to fylth so fresch.

1005

In þis mene tyme þat I of tell
was gud Ely, goddes prophett trew,
Rayuesched vp in flesch and fell
in a chare byrnand, bryȝt of hew,
And in paradyse dyȝt to dwell
with Eunoke þat our elders knew.
with Antecryst sall þe mete and mell.
and aftur hym leued Elysew,
A prophett proued of price,
to neuyn in ylk nede,
in word and werke full wyse,
als we sall aftur rede.

1006

Kyng Ioram was a gentyll knyȝt,
all yf he lyfed vnlafully,
Aftur his fader, þat acab heygh,
and aftur his broþer, kyng occoȝi.
he geydderd folke, for he wold fyȝt
agayns þe kyng of moaby
Of hym forto recouer his ryȝt,
and þis was his encheson why:
þe moabyse ware bun
to gyf kyng Acab clere,
ffor þei in pese suld wun,
II C shepe be ȝere.

1007

And now þei say, what so yt ment,
þat þei wyll pay swylk payn no more.
The kyng thynkes loth to lose his rent,
wher his fader was fest be fore.
vnto ierusalem has he sent
to Iosaphat, þat was kyng þore,
And prayd hym forto take entent
and help his ryȝt forto restore.
Iosaphat says, “I sall
helpe all þat euer I may.”
And same so went þei all
in full ryall aray.

1008

Bot qwen þe gayre was gudly grayd
[and] þei all redy forto ryde,
kyng Ioram þen þe prophett prayd
forto tell þem what suld be tyde.
Elysew answerd hym and sayd,
“I am not sent to saue þi syde.
[With Iosaphat is god wele paid;
his helpe fro hym he wolle not hyde.]
I say yow sothfastly
þat for his luf alone
ȝe sall haue þe vyctory
of your enmys ylkone.”

1009

þen went þei furth with [mekyll] glee.
syȝt of þer enmys sone þei haue.
Als þe prophett sayd þat yt suld be,
sone ware þe skomfett, knyȝt and knaue.
þei conquerd sone all þat cuntre
and mad þer rebels to ryn and raue.
þe kyng for ferd was fayn to fle
tyll a cyte hym selfe to saue.
And þer he wund with wo,
for Ebrews all abowt
besegede þat Cyte so
þat he suld neuer wyn owtt.

1010

And when he saw he suld be shent,
A sotelte full sone he dyȝt.
vnto þe walles wyghly he went
wher Ebrews of hym myȝt haue syȝt.
his eldest sun in hand he hent
and heued his sword hegh apon hyght.
he bretynd hym forto be brynt
als sacrafyce to god almyght.
Ebrews con on hym loke;
in hert þei had pyte.
þat sege sone þei forsoke
and went to þer cuntre.

1011

kyng Iosaphat agayn ys gone
to ierusalem þe redy way.
Sone aftur seknes has hym tone
so þat he dyed þat aghtdane day.
ffor hym was mad full mekyll mone,
for lely lufed he godes lay.
Ioram, hy[s] sun, full sone on one
resaued his reme by ryȝt aray.
now be we ware for wathe
to tell þire kynges twa,
ffor Ioram heygh þei bathe,
of israel and of Iuda.

1012

Bot þis Ioram þat I now of tell
had wedded a wyf heyght godole,
Doyȝhtur of kyng Acab and Ieȝabell
and systur vnto kyng occoȝe.
And Ioram, þe kyng of israel,
broþer vnto hyr was he;
þerfor was frendschep þem omell
with beld os breþer aght to be.
Now leue we þer two kynges
þat gouernd all Ebrew,
And tell furth ferly thynges
of þe prophett Elysew.

1013

he soiornd [þen] in Samary,
and mony of seknes con he saue
And be poyntes of prophecy
what any man wold aftur craue.
A woman come with carfull crye
þat hoped of hym helpe to haue.
Scho sayd, “ser, haue of me mercy!
bot þou me red, els may I raue.”
“Dame,” he sayd, “be styll
and putt wepyng away!
Say me what is þi wyll,
I sall helpe and I may.”

1014

“A, ser”, scho says, “full wele þou kn[e]w
my husband þat heyght Obedias,
þat in his tyme to god was trew.
now is he ded, my lord, [allas]!
when Ieȝabell goddes prophetes slew
þat in þis land þen wonnand was,
I C held he hale of hew
whyls all perels con ouer pase.
he sold vp all his gud
and broyȝt hym in grett dett
ffor to fynd þem þer fode
and [fro] greue þem to gete.

1015

In A seler he dyd þem [s]ytt
whore þat non sargandes suld þem see.
Now is he ded and þe dett vn qwyte,
and ylka man askes his dett of me.
And wele wars tythandes tell þei ȝett:
my sun þat is full fayr and free,
þei say þei sall haue hym forfett.
þen are we lorn, both I and he.
And, ser, sen all þis dede
was done for our goddes sake,
Vnto my harme take hede
and help my [s]ytt to slake!”

1016

“Dame,” he sayd, “I sall þe tell
thrugh myȝt of god to mend þi mode.
what has þou in þi howse at sell?”
“sertes, ser,” scho sayd, “non erthly gud
bot A lytell oyle in a vessell
to fynd me and my chyld oure fud,
Als lang os we sall same dwell.”
he says, “I wold þou vnderstod.
go home and fand to gete
into þin howse þis day
Of vessell small and grett
ose mony as euer þou may.

1017

Borow of þi neghtbours nere and ferre
all þat ar tume, both tub and tune.
wend in to þi hows, þi dore þou spare
and be with in, þou and þi sun.
when þat þi vessell ordand are,
lett sum oyle into ylkon run,
And sone [þ]o[u] sall þi mornyng marre,
for goddes fuson sall þore be fun.”
Scho wroyȝt, and als god wyld
hyr kare full kyndly couer,
All þo vessels ware fyld
so full þat oyle went ouer.

1018

þen was þe woman ferly fayn,
And to þe prophett fast scho rane.
Scho sayd hym all þe soth certayn,
and to hyr he commawnd þane,
“wend home vnto þi howse agayn,
sell oyle and pay euer ylk man.
And lyf þou and þi lytyll swayn
furth of þe remnand as ȝe cane.”
þus was hyr oyle encrest
þat all hyr dett was payd,
And so hyr sorow sest
als Elysew had sayd.

1019

A man wunned with his wyf to weld
be syd þat Cyte of Samary
whor Elysew oft toke his beld;
and his wyf drowped oft drerely
by cawse scho was gone in gret eld
and had no barn hyr husband by.
when Elysew to hyr beheld,
he sent his seruant Gyeȝi
And bad bryng [hyr] hym tyll
hyr sorowyng forto say,
ffor he wold with gud wyll
amend yt yf he may.

1020

Scho come to hym os he hyr bad,
and told hym all hyr purpase playn:
“chyld with my husband neuer I had,
þerfor my hert hath mekyll payn.”
“Dame,” he sayd, “be blyth and glad,
and here I hete þe for certayn
þat with a sun þou sal be sted
or tyme [I] com eft here agayn.”
Scho sayd, “for grett goddes sake,
gud ser, dyse[v]e me noght!”
he says, “I vndertake
god wyll þat þis be wroyȝt.”

1021

Gud hope in hyr hert scho hang
þat all his saws suld suth be fun,
And with hyr husband or oght lang
consayued scho and bare A sun.
þen mad þei grett myrth þem amang
and kepyt yt warly whor þei [wun]
To tyme þat it couth speke and gang,
and þen new greuance is begun.
The chyld toke euyll and dyed
III ȝeres fro yt was born.
þe moþer wept and cryd,
“Alas, now am I lorn!”

1022

Scho went furth als a wod woman
for þe prophett by fyrth and fell,
And at þe last to hym scho wan
whore he wund on þe mount carmele.
“A, ser,” scho sayd, “no red I con;
my mysche[f] now may no man tell.
Alas, the whyle þat I began
to aske a chyld with me to dwell!
I wened when I yt bare
to make me myrth euer more.
Now is my mornyng mare
þen euer yt was be fore.

1023

Ser, for a chyld I con þe pray,
noyȝt forto gab me ne begyle.
þen wold I þou had sayd me nay
leuer þen to lyf so schort a whyle.
And yf þou be prophett verray,
as schews þi meruelys mony a myle,
geyte me my sun; els wyll I say
þat yt was wroyȝt with wekyd wyle.”
þe prophett had pyte,
swylk mone þat woman ment.
To his seruant sayd he,
“gyeȝi, þou take entent!

1024

haue here my stafe and wend þi way
with þis woman fast on þi f[e]te.
A pon hyr sun doun þou yt lay
and fand yf þou fele any hete.
yf he ryse noyȝt by þis aray,
com þou agayn me forto mete;
And þen sall I my self assay
on goddes be half hyr bale to bete.”
he wentt with pase full playn,
and aftur his word he wroyȝt;
bot sone he come agayn
and sayd he rose noyȝt.

1025

þen Elyse þis pase þus puruayd.
he voyde all pepyll owt of þat place.
The chyld vnto his body he layd,
hand to hand and face to face,
And vnto god hertly he prayd.
þe chyld has lyf in lytyll space.
“haue here þi sun, dame, now,” he sayd,
“and loue god gudly of grace!”
þen was hyre hert full lyȝt,
to loue hym was hyr lyst.
So con god schew his myȝt
to þem þat in hym tryst.

1026

Aftur þis tym be gan to be
grett hungur ouer all þat land
And pestilence in sere cuntre
for fawt of fode þat no man fand.
And Elysew þat tym was he
in wyldernese all way wonnand.
To hym soyȝt pepyll grett plente;
fro heuyn helpe was in his hand.
with erbys and oþer gud
god ordand for þat spence,
so þat non fayle fode
in þat prophet[tt] presence.

1027

A man þat wonned þat forest by
puruayd þe prophett to rehete.
To his fode ordand he for þi
A lytell seke full of fayr qwete,
And ten louys bare he hym in hy
of þe same flour for his awn mete
And XX oþer of barly.
we may wele wytt þei ware not grette.
“vowchesaue, gud ser,” he sayd,
“to take þis gyft of me.”
þe prophett was wele payd,
and þus þen ordand he.

1028

his seruant to hym con he call
and bad hym gare þe folke go [s]ytt
And part þis bred amang þem all
so þat ylkon haue sum of yt.
þe seruant sayd, “ser, so I sall,
bot in þat werk wyll be not wytt.
To swylk a pepyll yt is full small
yf ylkon suld haue bot a bytt.
me thynke, ser, yt ware nede
to take sum oþer red,
ffor here is folke to fede
a C þat fayles bred.”

1029

þe prophett sayd, “[g]o herdely,
for yf þei hungur neuer so yll,
god is of myȝt to multyplye
to ylk man his mete at wyll.”
Als he commawnd, dyd Gyeȝi;
he serued þem full fayr and styll.
when all war fed, þer leued by
als mony folk mo forto fyll.
þus sendes god socur sone
to þem þat his laws wyll lere.
bot mekyll more was done,
als men may aftur here.

1030

In syry landes of sarsyn[e]s
wund a kyng, benedab his name,
And a prince proued of grett prow[e]s,
Naman neuynd, of nobyll fame.
he was renownd of grett ryches
and non so hend haldyn at hame.
bot defawt felyd he in his flesch,
with lepur was he lath and lame.
þat was grett harm to here,
for his lord lufed hym wele
And folk both ferre and nere
grett helpe on hym con fele.

1031

his wyfe was fayre of flesch and fell
and of gud maners mekyll more,
And with hyr wund a damsell
þat fro Ebrews was stolyn be fore.
Scho sayd, “þor wuns in israel
A prophett þat may sayfe all sore.”
þis tale oft tyms con scho tell
and sayd, “wold god mylord ware þore!
ffor certes he suld be hale
or he past þ[at] provynce.”
þe lady told þis tale
vntyll hyr lord þe prince,

1032

On qwat maner þe maydyn ȝyng
sayd how þat his bote suld be.
when he herd tell of þis tythyng,
full mekyll myrth in hert had he.
he went and told [vn]to þe kyng
and sayd, “lord, yf þi lykyng be
To gyf, me leue a lytyll thyng
þat myȝt be medcyn vnto [m]e!”
[þ]e kyng sayd, “tell vs tyll
what consell þat þou hath kend!
I sall help with gud wyll
þi myrth forto amend.”

1033

he says, “ser, with my wyf at hame
dwellys a lytyll damsell,
And scho hath told vnto hyr dame
A prophett is in israel
þat be neuynyng of his goddes name
hath myȝt of maystres forto mell
And forto lech ylk lame,
whedder yt be maynd or mesell.”
kyng benedab says, “I am kend
with Ioram, kyng of jews.
vnto hym [sall] I send
to traw þi tales in trews.”

1034

he mad A lettur to be lele
in þies wordes wrschypfully:
“I, kyng of Syry, vnder my seall
sendes worschep, os wele is worthy,
To Ioram, þe kyng of israel,
as frend þat I fast in affy
At helpe my seruand to haue hele,
Naman, chefe of my chyualry.
Of his lepur leche hym so
faythfully with outyn fayle
As þou wyll euer I do
thyng þat may þe avayle.”

1035

Naman ordand full rych aray:
somers with cloghes, sylke and satayn,
Ten payr of garmentes gud and gay
with pyrry and with pure Ermyn,
Talentes of syluer of assay,
VI milia besantes of gold fyne,
The prophett forto plese and pay.
he hoped to haue his medcyn.
with full clene cumpany
þat he had euer at hand
he soyght to Samary
ferre owt in Ebrews land.

1036

[So] with þis letters is he went
full wrschypfully, þis may we wene.
kyng Ioram told he his entent
and toke hym letturs þem be twene,
And sone in hand he has þem hent.
and when he all þe suth had sene,
his ryche robes he rofe and rent
and sayd, “alas! what may þis mene?
wenes þe kyng of syry
þat I haue god at wyll
To do all my desyre
men forto spare and spyll?

1037

Occasions sekes he now, I se,
how he may make my lordschep lese,
And þus he says be a sotelte
so for to dryfe me to dystres.”
when Elysew herd how þat he
had ryfyn his wedes so in wodnese,
he sayd, “send Naman vnto me,
þen sall þei se þat suthnes.
In israel [er] prophettes lele
mo þen is ned to neuyn
That his seknes sall he[le]
thrugh þe helpe of god of heuyn.”

1038

kyng Ioram þat be fore was rad
now wex he lyxsom of his late,
And þe prince Naman was full glad
þat þe prophett heyȝt to amend his state.
with all þe harnays þat he þore had
to hym he toke þe gayneste gatte.
þen Elysew to his seruand bad
go speke with hym with outyn þe ȝatte.
“And when þou sees hym com,
say I tell hym þis tale:
To wasche hym in þe flom
seuyn sythys, he sal be hale.”

1039

þen com þis nobyll prince Naman
full playnly to þe prophett place.
bot gyeȝi sone vnto hym wan
and sayd, “my maystur þis message mase:
go wesch þe in þe flom iordan
seuyn sythys in certayn [sp]ace,
And so he says þou sal be þan
salued of seknes þat þou hase.”
þen was þe prynce not payd,
he cald his men to geydder,
And to þem þus he sayd,
“wherto ar we comyn hydder?

1040

Ar not at hame in our land
als clene waturs þat we com fra,
In damaske and in syrry rynnand,
both farfar flud and abbana?
I wened þe prophett with his hand
suld haue [h]elyd me be twyx vs twa.
his warke ys noyȝt, now I warrand,
þerfor agayn fast wole we ga.
ffolke sayd, or we come here,
þat he cowth b[e]te all bales.
þus may men lyghtly lere
forto trow wemens tales.”

1041

he remoued sone all his aray,
for in hert was he angerd yll.
Sum of his men can to hym say,
“ser, yf þat yt ware þi wyll,
Of þis poynt we wole þe pray:
þe prophettes consell to fulfyll.
ffor thrugh his myȝt mend yf it may,
harme may non towch þe vntyll.
yf he had [g]yfyn grett thyng
to do for þi releue,
þou suld noyȝt make grochyng
for dred his god to greue.

1042

And þis thyng þat he now of ment
is lytyll and may be for þe best.”
vnto þer sawes þen he assent,
and to þe flom þe course þei kest.
he wesch hym þer with gud entent
seuyn sythes or euer he rest,
And hertly hele sone has he hent
þat no fowle fylth on his flesch was fest.
bot euyn os a ȝyng chyld
ys soft and semly sene,
So was his flesch vn fyled
of all þat corupcion clene.

1043

þus when he was be sythes seuyn
weschyn clene both flesch and fell,
So mekyll ioy myȝt no man neuyn
os þer was mad þem omell.
he cryd and sayd with stabyll steuyn,
“now wyll I say wher so I dwell:
þer is no god in erth ne heuyn
bot only god of israel,
Ne non þat myȝt ma[y] schew
to saue men of sekenes
bot only Elysew;
A prophet proued he es.”

1044

þan counsayld all þat cumpany,
be cause þat þei so comforth ere,
At wend agayn to samary
þe prophett presand forto bere.
þe prince proferd hym in hy
syluer and gold and oþer gere.
þe prophett sayd, “gramercy,
bot swylke welthes aw vs non to were.
sen god heled þe þus,
thanke hym of his gud dede!
yt falys noyȝt vntyll vs
þerfor forto take mede.

1045

And, ser, I say þe for certayn:
þe werkes þat god here wyll haue wroyȝt
by his myȝt and his power playn,
aw nawder to be sold ne boyȝt.
Sen þou ys hale, wend hom agane,
and thanke hym hertly in þi toyȝt!”
þe prince says, “certes, so wyll I fayn;
all oþer goddes to neuyn ar noyȝt.
his trewth I take me tyll
als lang os I may lyfe;
And, ser, for þat same skyll
I pray þe me to gyfe

1046

Two horssus lade of erth of þis land
in priuay place yt forto lay,
þat I þer on may stably stand
my cryatur when I sall pray.
ffor I wott he is all weldand
and þat his lordschep sall last ay
þat me hath heled both hede and hand.
þer ar no mo þat men mend may.
bot when þe kyng of Syry
sees þis werke on þis wyse,
I wott he wyll desyre
forto make sacrafyce

1047

To beall þat is blake and blo,
in whom he hopes to haue releue.
And bot I gladly with hym go,
A gayns me wyll he malyce meue.
þen yf I wend with oþer mo
forto eschew a more myschefe,
pray þou þi god be twyx yow two
so þat he take yt not to greue.
ffore my hert sall be hale
to hym þat salues all sare.”
þe prophett says, “I sall
pray fast for þi wele fare.”

1048

þe prince so turnes hym home in hy;
full mery ware his men ylkon.
Elysew convayd hym curtasly,
bot ryches wold he resaue none.
þerfor his seruant geeȝi
toyȝt yt was vn graydly gone.
ffull fast he ordand hym for þi
At haue sum to his self Alon.
Aftur þem radly he ran;
hym had bettur bene styll.
þe prince persayued hym þan
and sayd, “what is [thy] wyll?”

1049

“A, ser,” he sayd, “sen ȝe con wend,
ar new men with my maystur lyȝt,
Two of his kyn of lang tym kend,
and both þei byde with hym all nyȝt.
And for he wold þer myrth amend,
he bad me ryn aftur yow ryȝt,
And prays yow þat ȝe wold hym send
two cloghes and two besandes bryȝt
His frendes with forto plese.
þis may hym gretly gayn.”
To do þat hym myȝt ese
þe prince was farly fayn.

1050

Two somers charge be lyue he [b]ad
with dyuerse drewres forto dele.
“bot I[hym] mensk, els am I mad,
and th[a]nke hym hertly [of myn] hele.”
þen gyeȝi was wunder glad
for wynyng of þis werldly wele.
vnto his awn howse he yt had
so fro his maystur yt forto fele.
ffor priuely he yt keped
and wend all had bene wele.
bot bettur hym ware ha[ue] slepyd,
his maystur wyst ylk dele.

1051

And sone his [knaue] to hym he cald:
“gyeȝi, whore has þou bene?”
“Maystur,” he sayd, “here I me hald
to wayte your wyll, wele may ȝe wene.”
“Bewsir,” he sayd, “þou ert to bald
and says not soth, þat sal be sene.
I herd þe tales all þat þou told
vnto þe prince yow two betwene.
I saw ferre in þe feld
when þou toke gold and fee.
bot þou sall neuer yt weld
with wyn, I warn yt þe.

1052

þou wyst I wold no welthys wyn
when he swylke bewtes to me con bede.
þou herd me say how yt was syn
for godes werke to take mede.
þe same seknes þat he was in,
for þou hath done swylk dede,
Sall come to þe and all þi kyn
euer more persewand in þi sede.”
ffull sone was gyeȝi
þen aftur his maystur dome
Maynhed with mesell[ri]
and all þat of hym come.

1053

we haue herd how þat prince Naman
was saued of all seknes sere,
And gyeȝi was mad messell þan
and aftur hym all his kyn clere.
So se we how god wyll and con
ordand well for his frendes dere,
Als he with Elysew be gan.
bot mekyll mor ȝett men may here.
And sen sere ferles fell,
yt is gud to saye sum.
Of on wyll we tell,
was sene be syd þe flum.

1054

Sant Elysew, goddes prophet gud,
and oþer þat wold with hym byde,
Toyȝt fayre forto be nere þe flud
to soyiorn in þat somer tyd.
he ordand wryghes and ydder ȝode
and chese þer place by the flome syde
And hewed down trese swylk os þor stod
to make a howse þem forto hyde,
whore þei myȝt wynly wun
fro wynd and wedders wete
And also fro þe sun,
þat þor gafe full grete hete.

1055

A tree þer on þe bank con stand
þat to a balke was bow[a]nd best.
A wryght when he þat faceon fand,
to hew yt down wold he haue no rest.
his ax, þat he þer had ordand,
fayled and was noyȝt fully fest.
þerfor þe hed owt of his hand
fell whore þe watur was depest.
þen was he wyll of wytt,
so all his felews wore.
bot he had borowd yt,
his mornyng was þe more.

1056

vnto þe prophett fast he hym ment,
at fall to fete he wold not fyne.
“Maystur, mercy, I mun be shent
bot yf I haue goddes helpe and þin.
Myn ax hed in þe watur is went,
þerfor my tym now mun I tyne,
And like more harme forto hent
be caw[s] I wot yt was not myne.
I borowd yt at my frend,
and bot he may it haue,
he wyll hold me vnhend.
gud ser, helpe me to saue!”

1057

þe prophett sayd, “con þou me tell
[about] þe place be twyx vs two?”
“ȝay, ser, for soth,” he says, “yt fell
in þe myddes of þe flud o ferre me fro.”
þei went and wold no lengur dwell,
þe prophett prayd euer os þei go.
þe watur boyld vp os a well;
þe heuy yrne com vp also
Euyn vnto þe prophett hand.
þen was þe wryȝt full glade.
þe word went all þat land
how he his axhed hade.

1058

Sone aftur þis þe kyng of syry,
ser benedab, þat we of tell,
was moued in Anger and in yre
agayns þe kyng of israel.
he cald phylysteyns fell ose fyre
and moued his malyce þem omell.
To stroy [Ioram] was his desyre,
bot with quaynty[se] he wold hym quell.
he wyst A priuay strayt
wher [Ioram] oft con gang.
þer bad he þem go wayte
and murther hym þem amang.

1059

fforto fulfyll þis fals entent
his [kenest] knyghtes he cald by name.
vnto þat way wyghtly þei wentt,
Als he had sayd to do þat same.
Sant Elysew wyst how þei ment.
kyng Ioram fort[o] sheld fro shame
his message sone to hym he sent
and bad he suld hold hym at hame
And pase noyȝt owt of toun
fro dred of more myschefe.
ffor his enmys ware bown
with hatred hym to grefe.

1060

when kyng Ioram wyst of þis wrang,
þat he [was] warned, he was full fayn.
þe knyghtes when þei had lygen lang
in wayte, þen went þei hame a gayn.
kyng benedab of sorow sang
when he wyst his warke was in vayn,
And sayd his men þem self amang
his priuay consell couth noyȝt layn.
he sware who yt ascryd
þat his wyll was vn wroyȝt,
ffro yt myȝt be aspyd
with bale yt suld be boyȝt.

1061

þe knyghtes þem self sakles knew
and herd hym make slyke manasyng,
Sayd, “ser, we sal be fown trew
and no consell to bere ne bryng.
þor is a prophett Elysew
þat at his wyll may wytt all thyng.
And þei both are of Ebrew,
we wott well he hath warned þe kyng.
he dwels in Dota[ym],
A Cyte here nere besyde.
bot yf yt ware by hym,
þi spech myȝt neuer be spyde.”

1062

þen bad þe kyng [go] grett plente
and þat þis fatur fast ware feld.
“Sett A sege to þat same Cyte
whore in þei sayd þe prophett dweld,
And bryng þat mawment vnto me
þat of swylke maystres has hym meld.
he sall be hanged heygh on a tre
by cause he has our consell teld.”
To Data[ym] þen þei soyȝt,
and seged yt sone þei haue.
bot all þer werke was noyȝt,
god wold his sond[e]r[m]an saue.

1063

ffell on a morn þe prophett man
luked furth, and [in] þe feld he fand
wele mo men þen we nowmer can,
harnest full wele both [heuyd] and hand.
vnto his maystur fast he ran,
“al[a]s, [alas]!” f[ul]l lowd cryand,
“þat we ware born, now may we ban
bot we belyue may lefe þis land.
ffor certes sone [we be] ded,
our enmyse are so nere.”
The prophett says, “I red
þat þou mend þi chere.

1064

hopes þou not þat I may haue
os mony men and more of myȝt
ffro all sarsyns me forto saue
and forto maynten me in my ryȝt?”
þen forto loke he led his knaue
on þat oþer syd A selcowth syȝt.
he saw no sted to styre his [staue]
for baners and for basnettes bryȝt.
þen sayd þe prophett, “loo!
þies men are at my wyll
what so I byd þem do
with forse yt to fulfyll.”

1065

his seruant sayd, “þe kyng [of] syre
myȝt neuer rayse so rych aray.”
þe prophett says, “wele mo þen þire
may I haue redy ylka day
To do what euer I wyll desyre.”
þen vnto god þus con he pray
þyr hethyn folk, fulfylled of yre,
[sone] of þer syȝt be tane away.
hastely he had his bowne,
god so his sand has sent.
þei fayled syȝt as sone
and wyst not whore þei went.

1066

þe prophett þen be gan to go
to þem þat waytt hym with wrang.
he and his man with outyn mo
went all þer enmys euyn amang.
he sayd to þem, “who seke ȝe so?”
þei sayd, “to take a traytur strang,
On Elysew, hym sall [w]e slo.”
he says, “so may ȝe lygg full lang!
he went fro þis Cyte
sythyn a seuyn nyȝt past.
And ȝe wyll wend with me,
we sall fynd hym at last.

1067

yow forto led I sall not layn
tyll ȝe se hym all opynly.”
þei say, “we sall ye sew certayn,
for þat carll we wold fayn com by.”
he led þem furth with pase full playn
into þe Cyte of Samary.
Of þat fayr was kyng Ioram fayn,
ffor þei had wayte hym with enuy.
þe ȝates full sone [ware] sperd,
þei wend all had bene feld.
Of Ebrews noyce þei hard,
þen was þer comforth keld.

1068

þe prophett þen sant Elysew
prayd god [to] graunt agayn þer syȝt.
sone ylkon of þem oþer knew,
þen ware þei mased all owt of myȝt.
ylkon trowd oþer was vntrew
to lede þem so with outyn lyȝt.
Abowt was mony bold ebrew
to welcom þem, os yt was ryȝt,
with mony vpbraydynges brayd
and skornyng wordes gud wone.
In bale þore þei abade,
and comforth kene þei none.

1069

þei saw how þei ware broyȝt in bale
and clossed euyn in þer enmys hend.
þe [kyng] asked þe prophett counsayle
how þei myȝt best of þem make end.
Sant Elysew [con] say, “[sauns fayle],
þat þei be dede, I dyffend.
þou hath noyȝt wun þem in batell,
ne aftur þem no sand þou send.
Sen god þus hath þem sent
by his myȝt vs amang,
yf þei suld here be shent,
me thynke þen werke we wrang.

1070

And, ser, also þei trespast noyȝt
sen tyme þei com to þis cuntre.
Aftur my self þei say þei soyȝt,
þat mater lyges alon to me.
I red þei be to beldyng broyȝt
for þis nyȝt in þis same Cyte,
And to morn mete vnto þem boyȝt,
and aftur fode lette þem go free.
So sall we wrschep wyn
of all þir men euer more,
And oþer all of þer kyn
to do vs fauour þerfor.”

1071

þe kyng sayd, “ser, I vouchsaue
þat þei be led os þou wyll lere.”
þe prophett gart þem herber haue
and bad no noye suld neght þem nere,
And on þe morn both [knyght] and knaue
had mete and drynke and mere chere,
And nothyng for þer cost to craue,
bot bad þem wend furth all in fere.
To þer cuntre þei come
withoutyn lake of lym.
þe prophett went hym home
agayn to Dotaym.

1072

þei went full fast vnto þei fynd
kyng Benedab with dukes hym by.
þei told hym how þei ware mad blynd
with Elysew, þe prophett myȝty,
And how he þem as presoners pynd
with in þat Cyte of samary.
And sythyn he held þem noyȝt be hynd,
bot convayd þem all curtasly
And so with beld þem broyȝt
owt of þer enmyse hand.
þe kyng grett wounder toyȝt
þat þei slyke frenschep fand.

1073

he sayd, “þe prophett is myghty
þat so wele owt of wo may wyn.
bot kyng Ioram, our yll enmy,
he sall aby or euer we blyn.
yf we persew hym preuely,
þe prophett sall sett debate þer in.
with opyn batell wende wyll I
and dyng hym doun for all his dyn.”
his barons sayd also,
“we sall ye neuer for sake.
ffull gladly wyll we go
þis vyag forto take.”

1074

so sayd his sarsyns all be dene
þat fro þat ded þei wold not dwell.
So grett an ost was seldome sene
os þei sone ordand þem omell
Of erlys, barons, and knyghtes kene,
and commyn folk full ferse and fell.
So went þei furth by cuntres clene
vnto þe land of israel.
And charyottes with vytale
gate þei full grett plente,
ffor þat þei wold noyȝt fayle
of Samary Cyte.

1075

vnto þe Cyte rayked þei ryȝt
and sone enseged yt all about.
kyng Ioram when he saw þat syȝt,
forto be ded he was in dowtt.
his enmyse dered hym day and nyȝt
with full scharpe s[h]etyng [and] with schowt.
vnto þo men he had no myȝt,
ne to no place he myȝt pase owt.
when þer vytels ware gone,
be gan hungur full grett.
þen ware þei wyll of wone,
for no more myȝt þei geytt.

1076

when whette and wyn and oyle con pase,
þen ete þei vp all þer fee.
þei myȝt sell þe hed of an asse
for XVIII pennys of mone.
Of two wemen grett pyte was
þat samyn wund in þat Cyte.
þat on of þem cryd, “alas!”
fell doun be fore þe kynges kne.
þe kyng wened þat hyr wyll
had bene mete forto craue.
he sayd, “woman, be styll!
of me þou may non haue.

1077

yt may not helpe on me to crye,
I haue no mete to mend þi chere.”
“A, lord,” scho sayd, “I aske mercy
and a ryghtwyse dome for dryghten dere.
An oþer woman, lord, and I,
when fode fayled both ferre and nerre,
we made connand of cumpany
to ete our barnys both in fere.
And, lord, my barn is etyn,
And I for hungur spyll.
A way hyrs has scho gettyn
and wyll noyȝt forward fulfyll.”

1078

when kyng Ioram herd hyr þus say,
þat care com to his hert full cold.
he says, “woman, wend hens a way!
my sorow is more by mony fold.
þe prophett þat wyll noyȝt for vs pray
and myȝt amend [vs] and he wold,
he sall be done to dede þis day
for all þe tales þat he has told.”
wyght men he bad furth wend
stryke of his hed at home.
Bot god was euer his frend
and warned hym or þei come.

1079

he told to oþer prophettes mo
þat samyn ware wonnand with wyn,
“þe kyng hath [sent men] me to slo,
bot when þei [come] þis close with in,
Spere our ȝattes, lett þem not go!
þei sall not dere vs with þer dyn.
þe kyng sall sone come aftur so,
and þen sall we make his bale to blyn.”
Euyn als he sayd was done:
þo men ware haldyn styll.
þe kyng com aftur sone
and sayd þe prophett vntyll,

1080

“vs thynke, ser, þou dos noyȝt þi dett,
þat wyll not pray to god for me
And sees how þat I am vm sett
with fellows folke and may not flee.”
And with þo wordes for gref he grett,
þe prophet of hym had pyte.
he sayd, “ser kyng, þi mornyng lett!
to haue helpe hastely I hete þe.
Be for þis tym to morn,
here in þis same Cyte,
Of wyn and oyle and corn
sall all men haue plente.”

100

1081

þe kyng was of þat word full fayn
and his gud Ebrews ȝyng and old,
by cause þei had oft sene certayn
all trew þat he [be] for had told.
Bot on þer was spake þer agayn
and brast owt with þir wordes bold.
he sayd, “bot god fro heuyn yt rayn,
s[l]yke welth may not com in our wold.”
þe prophe[t] says, “þou sall se
þis same þat I of mell.
Bot for þou trows noyȝt me,
þer with þou sall not dele.”

1082

Als þe prophett sayd, sone aftur fell,
for he askyd no thyng god to greue.
be syde þat same Cyte con dwell
IIII messell men in gret myscheue.
ylkon con to oþer tell,
“we wun here owt of all releue.
þe hethyn men is myrth omell,
to þem for mete is best we meue.
ffor yf þei wyll vs slo,
þat suld to vs be leuere
þen þus to wun in wo
and fele defawt for euer.

1083

And yf þei with mete mend our chere,
þen haue we not wast all our way.”
So went þei furth all IIII in fere
agayns þe euyn on þe sam day.
The hethyn oft, or þei com nere,
ylkon con vntyll oþer say,
“þe Ebrews comy[s] in armys clere.
þe feldes ar full of rych aray.”
And sone sum oþer sayd,
als yt semed vnto þer syȝt,
“All Ebrews ar arayd
vs forto fell with fyȝt.”

101

1084

Kyng benedab fast mad hym boun
to lett all be with outyn beld.
he sayd, “I hard neuer swylke a sownd
of folke sen fyrst I was a chyld.
I warrand Egyp is comyn doun
with ar[ab]ys full wod and wyld.
ffast wyll I flee and take sum toun,
for, and we byde, we be begyld.”
he hyed hym fast be fore
and left all his aray.
þem toyȝt þei wysest ware
þat fyrst myȝt wyn a way.

1085

þei ware so mased in þer mode
þat of þer tressour toke þei none.
þei for gatte all þer erthly gud,
þat greued noyȝt when þei ware gone.
þe IIII seke men full softly ȝode,
þei wend haue fon men mony one.
þer lyst was most to lyfes fode,
and þerof fand þei full gud wone.
þei ete and dranke þer fyll,
to warn þem was no wyȝt.
and þore þei held þem styll
and rested all [þat] nyȝt.

1086

þei ware vp erly on þe morn
and tr[u]ssed to geydder gold and fee.
And to þer howse þei haue it born
with oþer gud full grett plente.
þen went þei furth þe ȝattes be forn
and told ȝemers of þat Cyte,
“þe hethyn has þer loges lorn,
and þei ar went, þis warrand we.”
þo kepers told þe kyng
how þe IIII seke men sayd.
he was glad of þat tythyng,
[and] hastely he purvayd.

102

1087

The chef [of] all his cheualry
he bad þen wend in wyll and toyȝt
Aftur [þis spech] forto spyre and spye
whedder þies sawes bene soth or noyȝt.
“þay ma[y] lyg in a buschement [by]
tyll we out of our beld be broyȝt,
And fall on vs so sodanly.
þer for is gud þe soth be soyȝt.”
his knygh went and fand,
als þe seke men con say,
All welthes wele ordand
and þe men went away.

1088

þei fand in chambers and in hall
syluer and gold and garmentes gud
And garners full, both grett and small,
with whette and flour for mannys fode.
Grett vessels in þer cayues we call,
with wyn and oyle full styll þei stod,
And stalworthy stedes in þer stall
with charyottes charged as þei ȝode.
þei fand þer [vit]ay[l]yng
to releue [all] þat land.
vnto Ioram þe kyng
þis was ioyfull tythand.

1089

kyng Ioram wyst by sa[w]es sere
þat his enmys war went away.
No meruell yf he had gud chere
þat lang had fun so fell affray.
Sone gart he crye be clarions clere
and to his Ebrews con he say
þat þei suld pase furth fast [in fere]
and ylkon geyte gud þat he may.
þen both by hors and man
grett ryches haue þei broyȝt.
Euery on had plente þen
þat be for had ryȝt noyȝt.

103

1090

No ferly yf þo folke ware fayn,
and þei thanked god, os was worthy.
And als þei enturd in a gayn
in to þe Cyte of samary,
þe man þat sayd, bot god yt rayn,
þer mete suld neuer so multyply,
Euyn in þe entryng was he slayn.
so was fulfylled þe prophecy
Qwylk Elysew by word wroyȝt,
þat sayd he suld yt se,
bot for he trowd yt noyȝt,
no help þer of had he.

1091

heyre may we fynd by fygur fayre
exsempyll schewd to our syȝt
þat no man suld be in dyspare
of goddes mercy, ne of his myȝt.
for als he made both erth and Ayre
and with his word all wardly wyȝt,
So is his myȝt to [amend] or payre
aftur þer wyll is wrang or ryȝt.
who in dyspare makes end
so fro all fayth to fayle,
þei fayr furth with þe fend
to byde euer in his bayle.

1092

þis case was kend by cursed Iudas,
qwylke sold his lord þat all may saue.
he trowd not trew for þat trespase,
þerfor he wold no mercy craue.
he was so sett with Satanas
þat with a cord þat cursed knaue
hanged hym self, and so he has
his home in hell and euer sall haue.
what syn so we haue done,
yf we to trowth wyll tent,
god wyll forgyf als sone
as we wyll ryȝt repent.

104

1093

Also we may exempyll se
and by swylke case haue knawyng clere:
All yf our self so synfull be
þat god wyll not our prayers here,
Of holy men þen here wyll he
þat for vs profers þer prayer.
þen is yt gud wysdome þat we
send our saynges by sanctes sere
And speke, whyls we haue space,
to þem we wott are wyse,
Of god to gett vs grace
sone of our syns to ryse.

1094

þe fend is qwaynt vs fort[o] qwell
bot yf we lefe his lare lyghtly.
ffor and we in his Donger dwell,
he makes our myse to multyply,
As yt with Iudas fyrst be fell.
for he mystrest in goddes mercy,
he hanged hym self and is in hell
with wo, as his werke was worthy.
God graunt vs spech and space
sone [to for] sake our syne,
And so to gete his grace
þat we to welth may wyne!

1095

Now forþi[r] of þis same to see
our process playnly to declare:
kyng benedab com to his cuntre
and herd tell of þis ferly fare,
how four messell mad hym to flee
and all wyght men þat with hym ware.
Swylk schame þer in his hert had he
no comforth myȝt [hym couer] of care.
ffor he so fayntly fled
and lefed all in þat sted,
he lay seke in his bede
in dowt forto be ded.

105

1096

with no kyns medcyns wold he mell,
so was [h]e Angr[ed] in wardly.
he cald a prince heygh Aȝabell,
and bad hym take tressour and cumpany,
And wend furth fast, for nothyng dwell,
vnto þat Cyte of Samary,
And pray þe prophett hym forto tell
whedder he sall lyfe or dy.
þe prince þe cuntre knew;
he went, and sone he fand
þe prophett Elysew
and proferd hym [his] presand.

1097

“Syr, þe kyng of syry certayn
is seke, and hydder he hath me send
To wytt sum certayn of his payn,
wedder yt sall sesse or sone make end.
he prays þe take þis presand playn.”
þe prophett says, “þat may not me amend.
Bot haue yt home with þe agayn
and say hym als þou sall be kend.
lere hym þat he sall lyfe
and in þat poynt hym plese;
Els may þ[ou] mater gyf
to do hym more dysese.

1098

Bot hardely I to þe hete:
with in few days his ded is nere.”
þe prophett þen be gan to grete
and forto mon and make yll chere.
when Aȝaell saw hym so lete,
þe cause full fast he con enquere.
he sayd, “for þou sall make þe mete
to wayte Ebrews with sorow[s] sere.”
Aȝaell answerd ryȝt,
“þat ded I wyll deny.
I am no man of myȝt
forto make swylke maystry.”

106

1099

The prophett hert was heuy os led.
he sayd, “in þi self [þ]is I se.
þe kyng of syry sall sone be ded,
in lyfe no langer last sall he.
And þou sall stand furth in his sted
as crownd kyng of þat cuntre.
þen sall þou werke by weked red
and stroy þis reme, þat rewys me.
bot I am fayn for why
I sall noyȝt se þat syȝt.
ffor of grett eld am I,
me fayles both mynd and myȝt.”

1100

þe prince agayn his gate has grayd
als glad a man as he may gang.
vnto þe kyng of Syry he sayd,
“ser, þou sall fare well and wax strang.”
Bot yll lechyng for hym he layd
so þat his lyf last not lang,
And with þe paynyms so he purvayd
þat he was mad kyng þem amang.
he [rewled] þem so in rest
and mad þer myrthes more.
þei sayd he was þe best
of all þat [had] bene before.

1101

Now lefe we þis aȝaell
þat kyng of syre hym self con ma,
And Ioram, kyng of israel;
a lytyll [tyme] we lefe þem twa.
of þat oþer Ioram wyll we tell,
kyng of ierusalem and of Iuda.
he wedded þe doyghtur of Ieȝabell
and kyng Acab doyghtur alswa.
hyr name was godole,
als clerkes may clerly knaw.
Thrught hyr ordanyng was he
to lef god and his law.

107

1102

ffor scho was comyn of paynyms kyn,
scho mad [hym] on hyr mawmentes mene.
when he to gouern con be gyn,
he slogh vp all his kynred clene,
ffyrst his broþer, he wold not blyn,
And sythyn his dukes dughty be dene.
hym toyȝt no wrschep more to wyn
þen greue þem þat gud men had bene.
þus may gud womans wyll
to god full gretly plese,
And als whore þei ar yll
gare do full grett dysese.

1103

To tyrantre so con he tent,
no gaine myȝt hym bettur glad.
Sant Elysew vnto hym sent
a byll þat his maystur had made.
Ely, whyls he in land was lent,
mad prophecy in bokes brad,
And of þis mater þen he ment
to bye, all yf yt long abad.
ffor all behoued be done,
poyntes of þer prophecys,
Auder sythyn or sone.
þe wrytt was on þis wyse:—

1104

Ioram, for þou has left þe law
þat moyses in his lyf con lere,
And vnto dewlys þi dedes [doos] draw
and of heuyn has no hast to here,
And for þou has kylled, as we knaw,
þi broþer and þi dukes dere,
her is assygned in þis saw
ho[w] þou sall suffer sorows sere.
Enmys sall on þe fall
and defoule þe before
þi wyfes and wemen all
þat þou wold wrschept wore.

108

1105

þi suns and þi doyghturs sall be slone,
als þou hath kyld oþer of þi kyn,
And sythyn þi self sall be tone
with wo þat þou sall neuer owt wyn.
þi lygham and þi lyms ylk one
sall rankell and þou royte with in,
And medcyn sall þou neuer haue none
bot fall to fylth for þi syn.
And so sall þou make end
with wo, as ys worthy.—
All þis care was contened
with poyntes of prophecy.

1106

And for all suld wurth on swylke wyse
as god by prophettes purvayd has,
with Ethyopes and Arabyse
sone all his wyfes vn wrschept was.
And all his suns with doles dyes
bot one, þe eldest, occoȝias.
hym self royted and myȝt not ryse,
with hydows payn so con he pase.
ffor vnlafull lyfyng
þus was his endyng vyle.
þen Occoȝi was kyng,
bot he le[s]t lytyll whyle.

1107

Now lefe we þe kyng occoȝi.
of oþer Ioram wyll we tell
þat soyiornd kyng in samary
and led þat land of israel.
he geydderd hym grett cumpany
with kyng benedab more forto mell,
By cause he had wun with maystry
Ramatha and þor con he dwell.
Ioram wold wyn a gayn
þat Cyte yf he myȝt;
Bot his werke was in vayn,
þat boldenese dere he boyȝt.

109

1108

To ramatha he con persew
and seged yt on ylka syd.
And sone þer had he note all new,
with a dart a wound full wyde.
he feled yt so [þat] few yt knew,
bot þer he myȝt no langer byde.
he [h]ad A steward þat heyȝgh Iew,
to hym he toke his ost þat tyd.
he went to [Ieȝerael]
softly, for he was sare.
þore wonned qwene Ieȝabell,
his moyder we ment of Are.

1109

with hyr with lechyng þor he lay,
for nerre home he myȝt not pase.
kyng occoȝi, his cosyn, herd say
how þat his Eme yll wounded was.
he ordand hym full rych aray
of hors and harnes þat he has.
To [Ieȝeraell] he toke þe way,
and of his fare full fast he as.
[S]o soiorn þei in fere
with Ieȝabell, þe qwene.
ffull sone þer sall þei here
þat sall turn þem to tene.

1110

The nobyll prophett Elysew,
als god ordand þem two omell,
he sent an oþer prophet trew
and bad hym go and tythynges tell
Vnto þe dughty duke [ser] Iew
in þe ost whore he can dwell,
And þat he suld anoynt hym new
forto be kyng of israel.
“Say god hath ordand so
þat he þat forse sall fell
And venge hym on þem two
Ioram and Ieȝabell.”

110

1111

And bad hym stroy vp all þe kyn
of kyng acab in elka eld,
ffor he to Nabot dyd grett syne
þat slogh hym falsly for his feld.
And Iesabell gart all be gyn,
And sythyn scho gart with spere and [s]cheld
A C prophettes lyfes to twyn
for all þe welth þat þei had in weld.
þe prophett went to Iew
and told hym all þis chaunce,
how þe prophett Elysew
bad hym go take vengance.

1112

And when he had sayd his errand
be twyx þem two full preuely,
þore he anoynt hym with his hand
and cald hym kyng of samary
And of all els in israel land,
and þen he wendes his way in hy.
þe pepyll asked to vnderstand
what þis sendyng suld sygnyfye.
þe duke told þem tythyng
how Ioram suld be ded,
And how he suld be kyng
and stand furth in his sted.

1113

þen was grett myrth to see þem mete,
so wylly to þat warke þei wore.
þei spred þer cloghes be for his fete
and raysed hym kyng, ose fell þerfor,
And holy vnto hym þei hete
to be his men for euer more.
And þen þei gate þe gaynest strett
to Ieȝarell, for Ioram was þore.
when kyng Ioram hard say
hys ost com on swylke a wyse,
he wend full wele þat þei
had ouer comyn his enmyse.

111

1114

And þerfor was he ferly fayn.
all yf his [wound] werkyd hym yll,
he rayse and went duke Iew agayn
to welcom hym with word and wyll.
Tyll Nabod feld he passed playn,
and in þat sted þen stod he styll,
And with A dart þor was he slayn
þe propfecy to fulfyll.
Lyke to his fader be fore,
forto venge Nabod blod
hys body left þei þore
to bestes and foules fod.

1115

kyng occoȝi, his cosyn, saw
how þat his eme to ded was dyȝt.
þerfor on dregh he con hym draw
and ordand hym full fast to flyȝt.
bot als he rayd furth by a raw,
þe dukes me[n] of hym had syȝt,
And to hym t[h]rast þei in a thraw
so þat he lost his lyues lyȝt.
hys men his body bare
to ierusalem Cyte.
þat comyng was grett care
to his moyder godole.

1116

Duke Iew with his clene cumpany
enturd þe cyte of Ie[ȝ]eraell.
“welcom, our kyng!” the folke con crye
and mad hym homeg þem omell.
All þis was care and con[t]rarye
vnto þe fals quene Ieȝabell.
To a hygh tour con scho hy,
and þore scho cast out wordes fell.
Scho cryd to þe duke, “ser Iew,”
and oft scho con record,
“þ[ou] fals traytur vn trew
sakles hath slayn þi lord.”

112

1117

Scho wered hym with wordes kene.
he spyrd who spake þo wordes bold.
þei sayd, “ser, Ieȝabell, þe quene,
kyng acab wyf ȝe knaw of old.”
þen at hyr wordes he was full tene.
he bad [tw]o men þat wyghtly wold,
“Go cast hyr down yow two be twene,
so sall hyr sayng sowr be sold.”
To þat werke ware þei prest
and hasted þem full fast.
Ouer the wall þei hyr kest
þat all hyr bowels brast.

1118

þe duke was sett in Ioram se,
resauyd with alkyns reuerence ryfe.
þei mad grett fest with mekyll gle,
and all þei loue god o[f] his lyfe.
On Ieȝabell ȝett mynd had he,
all yf scho had styrd mekyll stryf.
he bad hyr cors suld bered be
be cause scho was a kynges wyfe.
bot with hundes was scho etyn
or any man com þare.
[T]o bereyng was noyȝt gettyn
bo[t] nayles and banes bare.

1119

kyng Iew þen cald his princese of price
and sayd, “sers, loke ȝe meruell noyȝt
þat I haue wroyȝt now in þis wyse,
both kyng and qwene tyll end broyȝt.
þis is for nokyns couetyse,
þat sall ȝe wyt wele in your toyȝt.
bot god in whom all lordschep lyse,
he wold þat vengance suld be soyȝt
ffor Nabod, þat nobyll man,
þat was slayn for his feld.
ffor sant Elysew sayd þen
bestes suld þer bodes weld.”

113

1120

þen answere all þat folke in fere,
“ser, of þis fare ar we full fayn.
ffor s[e]n god wold þat yt so were,
no gud man suld say þor agayn.”
þen sent he folke [both] fere and nere
to seke on ylka syd certayn
kyng acab kynred to conquere.
þei sessyd not or all ware slayn.
both man and chyld and wyfe
full wyghtly had þer wage.
þei left not on on lyfe
þat langed to þat lynage.

1121

To hym was told þen preuely
þat þer was sexty chylder ȝyng,
Kyng acab suns, in samary
to soyiorn þore in saue kepyng.
And to þat Cyte he sent [for thy]
and bad men suld byd for no thyng
bot stryk of all þer hedes in hy
and vnto hym belyue þem bryng.
To hym þo hedes ware fette,
and s[on]e he wold not blyn
bot on þe walles þem sett
in sygne of Acab syn.

1122

kyng Iew þen wold no langer lend
in Ieȝeraell so styll to stand.
To samary þen wold he wend,
þe chefe Cyte of israel land.
All folke þat were to Acab frend,
he feld þem down wher he þem fand,
And all fals prophettes he schope to shend
þat Iesabell þor had ordand.
And all by a sotell sleght
ordand he yt suld be.
he gart cry all on heght
throught owt all þat cuntre

114

1123

þat he wold make þor sacrafyce
to beall, þat was god of tyre.
And all þat wold werke on þat wyse
he sayd suld haue his helpe to hyre.
þe fals prophettes full fast con ryse,
to do þat ded was þer desyre.
And sone þei soyȝt for þat assysse
to samary, both sun and syre.
þe kyng þis forward fest,
when þei ware samned so,
who so lufed beall best
in to the tempyll at go.

1124

he sayd, “þo þat haue bene a bowt
to wrschep [hym] with word and wyll,
with in þe tempyll sall þei [to] hym lowt
and all þer sacrafyce þor fulfyll.
All oþer folk sall byd [þer owt]
and pray to hym be steuyn full styll.”
All þis was done with outyn dowt.
who lufed hym best sone lyked yll.
þe fals prophettes ylkon
with wyfes and chylder ȝyng
Into þe tempyll ar gone
at bydyng of þe kyng.

1125

when all þe fals prophettes ware past
into þe tempyll of ylk eld,
þe dures and wyndows spered he fast,
and when he þem wele festyd feld,
Att ylka corner gart he cast
Als mekyll wod os men myȝt weld,
And brynt all vp with wyndes blast
þat non myȝt be tyll oþer beld.
yf any with outt ware leued
þat to beall had tone,
he gart strykke of þer hed.
so ware þei stroyd ylkon.

115

1126

þen gart he layte thurgh all þat land
who wold be boun [vn]to beall,
And Mawmentes, þat ware made with hand
of syluer and gold and gud metall,
he stroke all down and lete non stand
with þe belders in bowre and hall,
So þat þe folke no fauour fand
bot in grett god þat gouerns all.
Both be est and west
þei wrschept god all way.
þen regned he in gud rest
and rewled in ryȝt aray.

1127

kyng Acab doyghtur godole
h[e]ld all Iuda in hyr awn power.
yt was grett sorow hyr forto se
hyr sun body broyȝt on bere.
hyr broþer Ioram, ded was he,
and Ieȝabell, h[yr] moyder dere,
And all hyr kyn in þat cuntre.
þis was full herd to hyr at here.
þerfor grett athes scho sware
to venge hyr vilansly
And to stroy les and mare
þe kynred of kyng Dauy.

1128

Scho sayd, “sen þei þus be gyn
kyng Acab kynred forto sla,
þer sall neuer none of dauid kyn
lyf to be kyng of Iuda.”
Scho gart dystroy both more and myn
þat scho wyst ware comyn of þat kyn swa.
bot a ȝyng chyld a way con wyn
by helpe of byschop Ioiada.
he was hyd with his wyf
in a chamber full fast,
And so þei sayued his lyf
vnto sex ȝer was past.

116

1129

þe chyldes name was cald Ioas,
kyng acaȝe sun forsoth was he.
Bot þore wyst no mo how yt was
bot Ioiada and his mene.
he thynkes with all þe helpe he has
to sett hym in kyng Dauid se
Ouer Iuda with power to pase,
qwylke þat tyme gouerns godole.
he sent clerkes þat he knew
thurgh owt all þat cuntre
To prestes and prophettes trew
and dekyns in sere degre.

1130

he bad þei suld com certan day
to Ierusalem at make offerand.
vnto hys sand durst non say nay,
for he was byschop of þat land.
To ierusalem þe toke þe way,
redy to do all his commawnd.
when all ware geydderd in gud aray,
he sayd, “sers, ȝe sall vnderstand:
God heyght to kyng Dauid
and furth to hys barn teme
To be kynges of þis kyth
of Iuda and ierusalem.

1131

And [in] þis tym is so be tyd
als godle hath ordand euyn:
Of Dauid kyn may non be kyd,
bot þei be stroyd aftur [hyr] steuyn.
here is a chyld þat I haue hyd
and noryscht now ȝeres seuyn.
þat he be kyng, þis wold I byd,
for nere þat kyn is non to neuyn.
And so sall god be payd,
for els is all owt gone.”
be all assent þei sayd,
“ser, we ar payd ylkon.”

117

1132

Into þe tempyll þei toke þe gate,
and Ioas for þer kyng þei ken.
þei raysed hym vp in kynges astate,
in Dauid se þei sett hym þen.
þe byschope bad men ȝeme þe ȝate
for godole and for hyr men,
And, yf þei com to make debate,
to slo þem and þei ware slyke ten.
Scho gate hyr men of myȝt
vnto þe tempyll to gang.
To ded þore was scho dyȝt,
sum toyȝt scho lyfed ouer lang.

1133

þe gud byschop þan Ioiada
cast down þe tempyll of Beall
And oþer mawmentes mony ma
þat men had mad of sere metall.
þen all þe kynred of Iuda
gart he sone to geydder call,
And Ioas for þer kyng þei ta
and sett hym in kyng Dauid stall.
He lyfed in pese and rest
and wed a worthy wyfe.
To pay god was he prest
whyls Ioiada l[a]st [in] lyfe.

1134

bot aftur sone so yt be fell
þat in his trewth he wex vn trew,
Als we sall sone here aftur tell,
bot fyrst we wyll neuyn noyes new.
þe kyng of Syre, ser aȝell,
with mony sarsyns con persew
To stroy kyng Iew of israel
by þe prophecies of Elysew.
þei brynt town and Cyte
to samary on ylka syde.
kyng Iew was fayn to flee
and fro þer harm hym to hyd.

118

1135

he regned XXVII ȝer,
full ryall kyng in rych aray,
And þen he dyed with sorows sere,
when all his welth was went away.
And Ioatas, hys sun so dere,
was crowned kyng aftur his day.
Bot he was noyȝt, als men may lere,
lyke to his fader in lefull lay.
kyng Iew sun Ioatas
now leue we renand þore,
And of ȝyng kyng Ioas
now wyll we muster more.

1136

Grett wrschep in his yowth he wan
ay whyls he in god con trow.
Bot Ioiada, þat nobyll man,
dyed aftur þen in lytyll thraw,
And ȝacary, his sun, was þan
ordand byschop of þer law.
Kyng Ioas sone aftur be gane
to yll dedes hym forto draw.
he for soke goddes seruyce
and lyfed in mawmentry.
All wroyȝt on þat same wyse
þat vsed hys cumpany.

1137

þe laws of god hym lyst not lere.
þat was foly, [and] so he fand.
bot for hys werkes to god ware dere
whyls Ioiada had lyf in land,
he warned hym by prophettes sere
his yll lyf to lef of hand.
And ȝacary was byschop nere,
he styrd hym most I vnderstand.
And for he proued hym playn
how he his myse suld mende,
In þe tempyll was he slayn
euyn at þe Auter ende.

119

1138

To serue god as he con stand,
so was he kyld with kyng Ioas.
All þe grett fauour þat he fand
in Ioiada for gettyn [he has.]
[And for he was to god grocheand,
his powere sone gun payre and pas,]
And full hard hape com hym on hand
with grett were, os he worthy was.
þe kyng of Syre, aȝaell,
þat we spake of be fore,
with grett ost on hym fell
and stroyd vp all þat store.

1139

he cast down castels, [townes] and towrs,
þer myȝt no strenght agayn hym stand.
he brynt þer burghes, hales and bowrs
and all þer frutt wher he it fand.
kyng Ioas þan full lowly lowrs,
and leuer he was to lefe of hand
All ryches and erthly honowrs
þen forto lose his lyf in land.
he gafe þem all the thressour
and all þe vessel of price
þat his elders be fore
had sett to godes seruyce.

1140

Phylysteyns þen ware ferly fayn
for goddes þat þei togeydder brast.
kyng Aȝaell went hom agayn
with tressour all with outyn taste.
kyng Ioas lyfed with mekyll payn,
for Ierusalem was roved and rast.
Sythyn with hys awn men was he slayn,
for all þat cyte so had he wast.
Of ȝeres VIII and fawrty
regned he be for his dede.
þen his sun Amaȝi
was crownned in his sted.

120

1141

long aftur [þis] so yt be fell:
an oþer kyng þat heygh Ioas
gouernd þat land of israel
aftur his fader, kyng Iocas.
Sant Elysew þen þor con dwell,
and in þat same tyme seke he was.
kyng Ioas when he herd [so] tell,
to vysett hym grett hast he has.
his seknes so sore he plenyd
and sayd, “ser, and þou dy,
my strenght mon be restrened;
þerfor I am sory.”

1142

þe prophett comforth þan þe kyng
and sayd, “þ[e] s[o]th [we sone sall] knaw
wher þou sall lyf lang in lykyng
and be owt of þi enmys aw.”
A bow he gart vnto hym bryng
and bad þe kyng bend yt and draw
And schote arows at his [desiring]
euyn as hym lyst b[o]th hegh and law.
þ[r]e Arows schott he sone,
þe bow þan down he lay[d],
And when he so had done,
þe prophet was noyȝt payd.

1143

he say[d], “ser, had þou schott all þies,
þou suld haue had lordschep in land
And ouer comyn all þin enmyse,
þe phylysteyns, whore þou þem fand;
And now by cause þou schott bot thryse,
bot thre tyms þou getes þe ouerhand.”
whe[n] [he] had sayd on this wyse,
þe kyng went home full sore wepand.
þen dyed sant Elysew,
and for he lufed his lay,
god sent full grett vertu
for hym aftur his day.

121

1144

when he was dede, his cors þei dyȝt
in A graue stalworthy of stone.
A man was [murdred] on a nyȝt
with thefes þat had his tressour tone.
And for he suld be owt of syȝt
þat [of] þer werkyng wytt suld none,
þat ded cors þei had [hid] full ryȝt
þor Elysew was layd alone.
And when yt neght[ed] nere
to þe cors of Elysew,
yt rayse vp hole and fere
and told þis tale for trew,

1145

How þat he was with enmys slayn
and stylly stokyn vnder þe stones,
And how god gaf hym lyf agayn
by vertu of þo blessed bones.
So may men see yt was certayn
þat he lyfed nobly for þe nones,
when god wold shew swylke power playn
aftur his ded ofter þen ones.
ffor oft tyms seke and sore
þat to þat place persew,
ffull wele waryscht þei wore
and hole of hyd and hew.

1146

þe kyng of syre, ser Aȝaell,
þat named was an nobyll man,
Dyed aftur sone, and so be fell
þat aftur hym regned his sun Adan.
Ioas, þe kyng of israel,
wered on hym and thryse wrschep wan,
Als Elysew be fore con tell
by thre Arows þat ware schott þan.
All þat was lost be fore,
both Cytes, town and toure,
by strengh he con restore
and gate full grett honoure.

122

1147

The kyng of ierusalem amasy,
A herdy man of hert and hand,
Toyght he wold haue þe maystry
of hethyn folke whore he þe[m] fand.
he sembled sone grett cumpany
of harnest men XXX thowssand,
And to kyng Ioas of samary
sent he a full fayr presand
Of syluer and of gold,
A thowsand besandes bryȝt,
And prayd hym þat he wold
help hym with folke to fyȝt.

1148

Kyng Ioas was of þis presand payd.
þerfor be lyue to hym he lent
A M men ryȝt wele arayd
to wend with hym whor so he went.
And when þei ware full redy grad,
god told kyng Amaȝi his entent:
þe folke þat kyng Ioas had purvayd,
he bad þei suld agayn be sent.
ffor and þei with hym ȝode,
he sayd yt suld be warre.
“þer lyfyng is not gud,
þerfore led þem no ferre.”

1149

This commawndment fro he had knawn,
for he wold gare no greuance groue,
þo men he dyd sone be withdrawn;
þat toyȝt þem was grett reproue.
And furth he went þan with his awn,
to Moabyse fast con he moue.
he stroyd all þat was sett or sawn
and gatt gold to his awn behoue
More þen men myȝt tell,
and went home agayn.
þe folk of israel
þerfor ware no thyng fayn.

123

1150

Bot grett dyspyte þem toyȝt þerby
þat he had swylke hape in his hende,
ffor he refused þer cumpany
and wold not lett þem with hym wend.
þen þis prowd kyng amaȝi,
when god had hym swylke socur send,
he lad his lyf in lechery
and in goddes law hym lyst not lend.
And when prophettes hym blamed,
in tene he told þem tyll
þei suld be shent and shamed
bot yf þei held þem styll.

1151

So hegh pride in his hert he has
hym thynke no prince suld be his peyre.
he sent vnto þe kyng Ioas
letturs mad in þis manere
þat he and all þat with hym was
suld serue hym on sydes sere;
Or els with playn ware wold he pas
hym and his kyndome to conquere.
kyng Ioas sent agayn
he was noyȝt ferd þerfore;
yf he ware mekyll of mayn,
he sayd goddes myȝt was more.

1152

To tell of all þer toyle þat tyd
wold take long tym or all ware told.
kyng Amaȝi for his grett pride
was putt to myschef mony fold.
how he had herme, is not to hyde,
when kyng Ioas had hym in hold.
his awn men gatt hym so on syd
þat he was kylled with cares cold.
þei broyȝt hym to bereyng
in ierusalem wrscheply,
And after hym was kyng
his sun þat heyȝt Oȝi.

124

1153

Sone aftur þis þe kyng Ioas
dyed in þe Cyte of samary.
Ieroboam, his sun, þan was
kyng crowned of þat cumpany.
vnto hym come a prophett Ionas
and told to hym by prophecy
Agayns þe kyng of Syre to pase,
for sone he suld haue vyctory.
he ordand hym and ȝode
with baytell ryȝt arayd,
And all was done in dede
euyn als þe prophet sayd.

1154

Now in þis tym is forto tell
how god to men musters his myȝt,
And of grett ferlys þat befell
to þis prophet þat Ionas hyȝt,
And how god vnto hym con tell
of Niniue þat day and nyȝt
vnto his resons ware rebell.
and for he wold rewle þem ryȝt,
he bad Ionas go preche
to þo men euyn and morn
And his law to þem teche
so þat þei ware noyȝt lorn.

1155

Ionas herd tell of Nynyue
and of þe folke so fell þei wore
And yll doers in all degre,
þerfor he dred [hym] to come þore.
he gate hym schypmen ouer þe se
and ordand hym full fast þ[erf]ore
In sum fere cuntre forto be,
þat god and he suld mete no more.
þis was a foull foly
when he so fondly dyd.
god ys euer all myȝty,
from h[ym] may noyȝt be hyd.

125

1156

with maryners full sone he mett
þat sayd þei suld sayle to Cecile.
Gud hyre to haue þore he þem hett
to helpe hym to þat vncouth yle.
bot in þe se when þei ware sett
and fro þe land full mony a myle,
Swylke stormes blew and on þem bett
þei wened to be lorn in lytyll whyle.
þe merchandes þem amang
cast owt þe ryches fele,
Bot þe storme was so strang
þei had no hope of hele.

1157

So when þei ware þus stratly sted
in poynt þat perell neuer to pase,
þei kest lotes als þer counsel red,
and sone þe lote fell on Ionas.
þei layted whore he lay on a bed,
and asked hym what he done has.
he sayd, “fro god þus am I fled,
and all þis wo for me yt was.
I knaw to god my gylt
and all my weked toyȝt.
bettur ys þat I be spylt
þen þo þat trespast noyȝt.”

1158

when þei þis herd, þei had pyte
þat his lyf suld no langer last.
bot for yt myȝt no bettur be,
in to þe se þei haue hym cast.
þen sayled þei fast to þer cuntre,
and fro all perels are þei past.
And with A whalle sone hent was he
þat nawder flesch ne bon brast.
Thre days and III nyghtes
was he with in þat whalle.
So con god schew his myghtes
a pon his frendes to fall.

126

1159

when III days and III nyghtes ware gone,
þat fysch vnto þe banke hym broyȝt
And in þat land leued hym alon
whylke god bad fyrst he suld haue soyȝt.
with mornyng þen he mad his mone
and wyst he had vn wysly wroyȝt.
An oþer tyme god hath hym tone
and told vnto hym eft his toyȝt:
“wende vnto Nynyue
and tell to more and myn:
both þei and þer Cyte
sall synke down for þer syne

1160

In XL days bot yf þei pray
and do swylke penance as to me pays.”
þe[n] Ionas went wyghtly his way,
he durst no langer make d[e]lese.
þat Cyte was, als we here say,
so mekyll and so wyde of ways
þat vnethes any man þat may
a fote pase thrugh yt [in] thre days.
Ionas enturd with in,
als god had hym purvayd.
To preche con he be gyn
and þus to þem he sayd,

1161

“your sauyour þus has me send
to warn yow how his wylles wore:
'bot yf ye wyll your myse amend
and graunt to greue your god no more,
Or XL days ben comyn tyll end,
sall ȝe haue sorows sere and sore.
To hell your Cyte sall dyscend,
als oþer fyfe hath done be fore.
þei vsed vn kyndly syn,
als ȝe werke now all ways.
be lyue bot yf ȝe blyn,
your Cyte synkes,’ he says.”

127

1162

Sone all þo folke of nynyuie,
qwen þei herd of þis carfull cry,
graunt þer gylt with grett pety
and mekly asked of god mercy.
And þe kyng of þat same Cyte,
þe qwene and all þer cumpany
laft all þer ray of ryalte,
and sekes and hayres þei hent in hy.
And so cled sat þei down
full low both more and lese,
And cast powder ouer þer croun
in maner of meknese.

1163

when þei ware þen þus stratly sted,
þe kyng gart be his commawndment
þat all folk [suld in sekkes] be cled
and to mete suld þei take no tent.
ȝyng barns also suld not be fed
bot þat þe lyf [ware] in þem lent,
Nore bestes also suld not be led
to fude or faurty days ware went,
So þat both man and best
suld pray and fast fro mete
Of syns to be releschest
and forgyfnes to gete.

1164

when god saw þem so benly bow
and do his bedyng bowsomly
And holly heyȝt in hym to trow
and for sake all þer mawmentry,
þer lyfyng þen he con a low
and graunt þem grace and gud mercy.
þis schewys to vus all holly how
all sall haue welth þat are worthy.
As þe prophet Ionas
was III days in þe se,
So cryst in erthe here was
bered be days thre.

128

1165

þen stalked he fro þat Cyte styll,
and þe pepyll fast with penance prayd.
he luged hym heyȝt vnder a hyll
to se what suld be aftur grayd.
And ay he loked þat Cyte vntyll
when yt suld synke, os he had sayd.
And for yt stud, hym angerd yll,
bot god was of þer penance payd.
And þayr prayer hym plessed,
þerfor had þei þer boune.
Ionas was yll dysplessed
with hete of þe sun full sone,

1166

Als yt in somer seson is sene.
bot god, þat [sone may] send all seele,
he mad an y[v]yn grofe grene,
þat vmbrayd hym euer ylk dele.
So sat he styll two hyllys be twen;
þat all suld wast, he wend full wele.
And to hym self he sayd in tene,
“þis fayr is fals, fully I fele.”
Bot on þe morn be prime
þen wex his meruell more.
þe son was clere þat tyme,
and þe [y]uyn was noyȝt þore.

1167

þen had he tene for þat þe tre
was so a way went on þat nyȝt.
God sayd to hym, “why greues þou þe
for thyng þat is not in þi myȝt?
Me lykes to sayue now Nyniue
be cause þei ar repentand ryȝt.”
þen sayd he, “lord, haue mynd of me
þat I myȝt sone to ded be dyȝt
And fro þis lyfe be reft!”
þus leue [we] of þer [th]ynges
And tell furth whore we left
to end þe boke of kynges.

129

1168

kyng I[e]roboam [we told of] be fore
of israel and of samary,
he dyed when he myȝt lyf no more,
when faurty ȝeres ware gone fully.
And in his sted was crowned þor
his eldest sun heyȝt ȝacary.
hym wyll we lefe now styll in store
and ca[r]pe furth of kyng Oȝi.
Ierusalem and Iuda
be gane he to gouerne wele.
Bot sythyn he fayled þer fra
with foly, þat con he fele.

1169

Ay whyls he was a nobyll man,
all had daynteth with hym to dele.
he wered on sarsyns and so wan
grett wrschep and grett werdly wele.
To by and byg fast he be gan
borows fayre and cetys fele,
And wele lufed was he þan
ay whyls he was of lyuyng lele.
godes tempyll ryȝt he arayd
and mad gret cost þer on,
Euyn as yt was purvayd
in tyme of salamon.

1170

he was chefe of all cheualry
whore so he come in all cuntre.
On mold was no man so myȝty,
ne none so grett of gold ne fee.
So was he sett in [surquidry]
he held non half so gud os he.
þerfor he fell in fond foly
and past all ouer his awn degre.
þe jews vsed ylk ȝere
to make a fest of price
And hald þat day full dere
with solempne sacrafyce.

130

1171

And so be fell on þat same day
kyng Oȝi wyll no langer byd.
Into þe tempyll he toke þe way,
and to þe Auter he hym hyed.
he reuescht hym in ryche aray,
as byschopes vsed in þat tyd.
“I sall gyf sens,” þus con he say,
so was he sett in pomp and prid.
To þe sensurs he brayd
and gaf sens full gud sped.
þe prestes ware not apayd
and blamed hym for þat ded.

1172

“Syr kyng,” þei say, “to sayue þi grace,
swylk offyce is not vnto þe.
Non aw at entur in to þis place
bot connand clerkes of dygnyte,
As prelates þat þe power has
and prestes and dekyns of degre.”
vnto þer tales no tent he tas;
þat boyȝt he sone, all men myȝt se.
god toke vengance in hye
and sent on hym ryȝt þore
þe euyll of meselry.
so foule was none be fore.

1173

he was so lothly on to loke
þat none had lyst with hym to lend.
Bot frendes and fel[o]ws hym forsoke
þem self fro seknes to dyffend.
þe lordes and knyȝtes þat counsell toke
owt of þe Cyte hym to send.
And þor he wonned with wo and woke
and so in myschef mad his end,
ffor he tent not to
presthed ne to prelate,
And putt hym self to do
þat fell not for his astate.

131

1174

be þis ensampyll may we se,
sen vengance þore so sone was sene,
vs ow to honour ylke degre
of holy kyrke þat kept is clene,
And noyȝt to wene our self þat we
be worthy swylk maters to mene,
Bot als þei deme in dew degre
to dre[s]e our dedes on days be dene.
God graunt vs well to werke
and so to lyfe and end
In trowt[h] of holy chyrche
þat we to welth may wend!

Explicit libri Regum.

Iob

1175

Iob was a full gentyll jew,
of hym is [hel]full forto [h]ere.
ffor whoso his condicions knew
of meknes myȝt fynd maters sere.
Euer in his trewth he was full trew,
os men may in his lyfyng lere.
he lyfed euer als a lele Ebrew,
in þe land of vs he had no pere.
All yf he ware to knaw
full mekyll in erthly myȝt,
In hert he was full law
and dred god day and nyȝt.

1176

he honerd god in all degre
and euer was dredand to do yll.
ffro foyles was he freke to flee
and fayn all frenchep to fulfyll.
he had a wyfe both fayr and free
þat redy was to werke his wyll,
And VII suns semly to se
and doyghturs thre full stabyll and styll.
Of gold god had hym sent
to mend with mony a store,
Rych robys and ryall rent.
myrth myȝt no man haue more.

1177

he had hym self VII M schepe
in flokkes to flytt both to and fro,
Thre thowsand camels forto kepe,
and V C asses also.
he had in hyllys and daylys depe
fyfty yoke of oxyn in ylkon two
And seruantes wele to wake and slepe
in dyuerse werkes with þem to go.
ffor plowes he had plente
his land to dele and dyȝt.
In all þe Est cuntre
was non so mekyll of myȝt.

1178

All yf he regned in rych aray,
of his gud rewle þus men may red:
he lyfed full lelly in his lay
and to grefe god he had grett dred.
his VII suns, als I herd say,
mad ryall festes þer frendes to fede
Euer ylkon sere be dyuerse day,
and þer III systers con þei bede
þer fest so forto fyll
with frendes old and ȝyng.
þer fader com þem tyll
and gafe þem his blessyng.

1179

þe fend þat is our fals enmy
to payr þem putt hym furth in prese.
vnto þem had he grett enuy
and care to se þem so wele encrese.
he come be fore god allmighty
to gette hym leue, þis is no lese,
with tene to turment Iob body
so forto make his solace sese.
All yf our lord wele wyst
of all his purpase playn,
Ner þe lese ȝett als hym lyst
þe fend þus con h[e] frayn:

1180

“whens comys þou, tell me in þis tyd,
and whore abowt now has þou bene?”
he sayd, “ser, I haue walked wyd
ouer all þis werld with outyn wene
So forto seke on ylka syde
for syners, and sum haue I sene.
þor is my bourd to gare þem byd
tyll I may turment þem with tene.”
God says, “takes þou no hede
to Iob, my trew seruand,
how he of god has dred,
non lyke hym in no land?

1181

In mynd he is full meke and law,
both sobour and sothfast for certayn.”
þen sayd þe fend vnto þat saw,
“þat Iob þe dredes ys all in vayn.
þou has so clossed hym, well I knaw,
þat no grefe may go hym a gayn.
bot and þou wold þi hand withdraw
and putt hym in my power playn,
full sone þen sall þou se
how he suld turn full tyte.
he suld not sett be þe
þe mountynance of a myte.

1182

þou makes his catell forto creue
and so þou rewardes hym with ryches
þat he may mene of no myschefe.
what ground is þen of his gudnes?”
þen sayd our lord, “I gyfe þe leue
of all his mobylles more and lese;
bot loke þat þou no malyce meue
his body to do any dystrese.
I graunt þe power playn
of all his erthly gud.”
þen was þe fend full fayn
and fast fro god he ȝode.

1183

So when þo two ware fayre[n] in twene,
þe fend sone putt furth his power.
Iob chylder þen a howse with in
ware bresed to ded and broyȝt on bere.
Sythyn all his bestes he wald not blyn
to slo þem and his seruandes sere.
And how þis batell all con begyn,
berys wyttenese mony a messynger
þat vnto Iob con tell,
syghand with sympyll chere,
how all þis fayre be fell.
who wyll take hede may lere.

1184

ffyrst com in on, wepand with wogh,
to Iob whore he in blys con byd.
“þin oxin went in wayn and plogh,
þin asses pasturd þem be syd.
Com folk fro Saba and þeyn þem drogh
and slogh þin hyne, is not to hyd.
I wan a way with noy enogh
to tell þe tythynges in þis tyd.”
vn ethes had he þus sayd
when an oþer com in
with a full balfull brayd,
and þus he con begyn.

1185

“A, ser,” he sayd, “[to me] take tent,
for I may tell of mekyll tene.
þi sheperds and þi shepe ar shent,
and all þer welth is wastyd clene.
A sodan fyre was on þem sent,
so brym be fore had neuer bene.
To bare bones all ar þei brent,
bot I þat was not nere þem sene,
I com þe forto tell
how all þis tene be tyd.”
þen langer he wold not dwell,
bot sone com in the thryd.

1186

“ser,” he sayd, “our yll enmyse,
þe caldews, þat we euer hath dryd,
þei come with thre grett cumpanys
of men of armys in yrne cled.
þe camels all with outyn price
haue þei tone and furth with þem led,
And sloyn þi seruantes in þe sam wyse
bot me allon, þat fro þem fled.
I was full fayn to fle
and sythyn full fast to go
hyder at tell to þe
of all þis were and wo.”

1187

The ferth com þe[n] with febyll chere,
þe hardest hap in hand had he.
“Alas,” he sayd, “for sorows sere,
þat I suld euer sych [s]yghtys [s]e!
þi seuyn suns and thre doyghturs dere
ar ded, þerfor full wo is me.
I sall þe say on what manere,
for now þer may no mendes be.
þei spake in certayn space
to ete and drynke to geydder
In þe eldest broþer place,
and ylkon come þei ydder.

1188

And als þei ware with in þe wonys,
sett at þer fest full fayr and fast,
A wynd com on þem grett for þe noyns
and all þe howse sone down yt cast.
yt bressed þe barns both flesch and bons
so þat þei myȝt no langer last.
I fled and was full wyll of wons
tyll I was fro þe perels past.
And, ser, sen þus is kend,
I red yow werke als wyse.
grett mornyng may not amend
wher no relefe may ryse.”

1189

when Iob had herd of all þis care
and saw yt myȝt no bettur be,
his sorows ware so sere and sare
þat non for syte may on hym see.
he rafe his cott and rent his hare,
swylke heuenes in hert had he.
ffull well he wyst þo werkkes ware
of þe fend and of his fals meneȝe.
Down on his knese he kneled
full low by hym alon,
And to heuyn he be held,
and þus he made his mone:

1190

“lord god,” he sayd, “mekyll is þi myȝt
amang man kynd here forto knaw,
þat rewls all thyng be reson ryȝt
þi ryalte forto rede by raw.
þou dos noþer be day ne nyȝt
bot dewly euynhede, os þe aw.
þou ponysch men here for þer plyȝt
at lern þem forto luf þin law.
þou kens me curtasly
of my defawtes be fore.
I wott I am worthy
for syn to suffere more.

1191

þou gafe me of þin awn gudnese
all [werldly] welth to we[l]d at wyll,
All ryall rentes with grett ryches,
all folke to be tendand me vntyll.
Now se I welle þi wyll yt es
þat fare [no] ferther to fulfyll.
blessed þou be with more and lese!
I loue þ[i] layn both lowd and styll.”
when all þis werke was wroyȝt,
als men full ryȝt may rede,
þat Iob ȝit trespast noyȝt
noþer in word ne dede.

1192

Bot when þe fend saw for certayn
þat Iob wold not vn bowsom be,
he hyde hym fast to god agayn
to g[r]eue hym in gretter degre.
Bot god þan to reproue hym playn
sayd, “satanas, now may þou se
þat Iob dredes me not all in vayn
bot in lele luf and charite.
All wo þat þou hath wroght
both to hym and hys hyne,
þou may not chaunge his toyȝt
to skyft fro me and myne.”

1193

þen sayd þe fend, “for all þis fare
wyll he [not] waynd in warld to wend.
ffor catell wyll he haue no care,
he trows his frend wyll hym dyffend.
Bot wold þou towch his body bare
and suffer seknes on hym be send,
so suld þou wytt yf þat he ware
lele lastand in þi law to lend.”
god sayd, “I gyfe þe leue
of his body all be dene.
Bot luke þat þou not greue
his sawle bot kepe yt clene.”

1194

þe fend was þen full fayn [forþy]
þat he of Iob had swylk powste.
he mared hym sone with meselry,
fro hed to fote no thyng was fre,
Bot blayns and bledders all his body
and scabbes whor skyn was wonnt to be.
So satt he syghand sorely,
grett sorow yt was þat syght to se.
All folke þen hym forsoke
þat was his frend be fore.
Men lathed on hym to loke
and ylk day more and more.

1195

The fend more care vnto hym cast
to make hym wake and wyll of wone.
Thys blayns and bleders bolnd and brast
and mad þe flesch flytt fro þe bone.
his seruandes, þat be fore ware fast,
ware fayn to fle and leued none.
bo[t] so he was kest at þe last
in a mydyng sett [allone].
he þat no man wold greue
be for for his ryches,
now was muke most his releue
forto inforse his flesch.

1196

he had no howse in forto dwell,
ne cloghes for cold his [cors] to hyde,
bot in þat mydyng muke omell
þor was his toure als for his tyd.
with A pott scarth or with a schell
he scraped þe scabys on ylka syde.
ffor yll Are [and] vnhonest smell
þer wold non buske with hym to byde.
bot in all his myschefe
full trew was his trowyng
þat god suld hym rele[ue]
and ow[t] of bale hym bryng.

1197

So os he rested in yll aray,
his wyf turment hym more to teyne.
“now may men se,” þus con scho say,
“of what condycions þou hath bene.
blyse god and dy and wend þi way,
for oþer welthys is none to wene.
þou has not plessed þi god to pay,
þat is wele by þi sorow sene.”
“Alas,” he sayd, “for dole,
why frays þou me with flytt?
þou spekes euyn als a foyle
þat hath no womans wytt.

1198

þier wordes þou werkes, we may warrand,
þei are not rewled by ryȝt ne skyll.
Sen þat we take here of goddes hand
all werldly welth to weld at wyll,
why suld we not als stably stand
when tenys and turfurs tydes vs tyll,
And loue þat lord on ylka land,
sen he gouerns both gud and yll.
God gyf[es] vs here certayn
to weld both wyld and tame
And takes yt agayn.
blest mot euer be his name!

1199

Of erth I wott I was furth broyȝt
naked, yt nedes not at layn,
And, when my werldly werkes ar wroyȝt,
with teyne þen sall I turn agayn.
To bale or blyse wheder we be broyȝt,
to goddes bedyng we suld be bayn.”
In all þer tales Iob trespast noyȝt,
ne spyd to spend his spech in vayn.
So, als he lothly lendes
alon in low degre,
Thre of his faythfull frendes
soght fere his syte to se.

1200

þei come ylkon fro dyuerse place,
now wyll we here how þat þei heyght:
Elyphath and baladach toke þat trace,
and Sothar soyȝt to se þat syȝt.
ffor ylkon spake in dyuerse space,
so sall we wytt þer resons ryȝt.
Bot when þei come be fore his face,
to mell with mowth had þei no myȝt.
þei saw his syte so sad,
for bale þer hertes myȝt breke.
þei ware so mased and mad,
A word þei myȝt not speke.

1201

Bo[t] on þe erþ þen fell þei down
and bett Apon þer bodes bare.
þei rafe þer robes of rych renown,
and als rude bestes oft þei rare.
þei cast powder on þer crown,
as foran folke febylly þei fare.
And so þei satt in þat sessown,
syghand sex days with sorow sare.
Iob saw þat þei sayd noyȝt,
bot sat so lang alone
with mornyng as he moght.
to god he mad his mone.

1202

“Alas,” he sayd, “lord, with þi leue,
why ledes þou me þus to be lorn?
I haue not gone þe forto grefe,
ne forfeytt so felly here be forne.
why suld I suffer swylke myscheue
of all men to haue scath and skorn?
þi mercy, lord, vnto me þou meue,
els may I ban þat I was born.
And wold god that I had bene
fro bryth broyȝt to my graue.
þen suld non me haue sene
swylke hydows harm to haue.”

1203

Elyp[h]a[t]h herd þen how he ment,
and saw how he in bale was boun
And loued not god þat [it] had [l]ent,
bot more to blame he has be gun.
“Iob,” he says, “þou takes no tent
to wrschep god als þou was wun.
þou makes þi self an Innocent,
as neuer defawt in þe was fun.
þou was wonnt to wysch
how we suld suffer wo.
Now thynke me wele be þis
þi self con noyȝt do so.

1204

To ruse þi self I red þou blyn,
yt dose vs harme swylk wordes to here.
wytt sothly it is for þi syn
[þat] þ[e] is sent þ[i]e[s] sorows sere.
Sen þer wunys none þis werld with In
þat in þer consciens are al[l] clere,
how dare þou so boldly be gyn
to maynten mys on þis manere,
To say þou has noyȝt done
s[l]yke fellows fandynges to fele!
Man, knaw þi selfe ryȝt sone!
els wyll yt not be wele.”

1205

þen answerd Iob with drery toyȝt
and sayd to þem þat sat be syd,
“wold god all yll þat euer I wroyȝt
and þer bales þat I here byd
ware both in a payre of balans broyȝt
forto [be] wowed and well dyscryd.
þen suld ȝe se your self vnsoyȝt,
for all þat ȝe can tell þis tyd,
þat my payns ar wele more
and feller by [sythes] fyue
þen euer I synd be fore
in lengh of all my lyf.

1206

My flesch is noþer of yrn ne styele,
ne my banes ar not mad of brase
Bot of freyle mater ylk dele
þat with full lytyll payn may pase.
And ȝe had fa[ur]th part þat I fele,
sore suld ȝe sygh and say alas.
ffor I fayr werse, I wott full wele,
þen any wrech þat euer was.
And ȝe myȝt wytt my w[o]gh,
þen suld ȝe fynd be fore
þat I haue sorow enogh
yf ȝe make me no more.

1207

ffor so carfull sorows ware neuer sene,
ne so saklese, [and] I durst say,
And your tales tempyse me to tene
more þen doles þat I dre ylk day.
To myghty god I wyll me mene,
þer is no mo þat mend me may.
lord, lege me of þies carys keyn
or wyn me fro þis werld a way.
Sen seruantes, frendes, and wyfe
are glad fro me to gang,
My saule laythes with my lyfe,
þou lattes me lyfe ouer lang.

1208

And certes, lord, with lefe of þe,
In my mynd meruayle haue I
þat þou wyll putt furth þi powste
and muster so þi grett maystry
In swylke a wofull wreche [as] me
þat hath no strengh to stand þer by,
And lettes full fellows folke go free
þat mekyll [mo] wo ware worthy.
þat suld be sene full sone
and penauns ordand wore
Eftur men[s] dedes wore done,
and noþer lese ne more.

1209

A, lord, as þou me mad with myȝt,
so may þou make me to haue mede,
And þou may loyse with labour lyȝt
my lyfe and all þat lyfes in lede.
bot when þe day of dome is dyȝt
men to be demed aftur þer dede,
I sall be fun be for þi syȝt
sothfast enogh for any nede.
ffor I wroght neuer swylke wrang,
ne serued neuer so vn sele
fforto haue half so lang
so fell payn als I fele.”

1210

þe[n] Bal[d]ath myȝt no langer byde,
hym toyȝt þis tale last [t]o lang.
he sayd, “Iob, for þi pomp and prid
is þou put in payns strang.
how dere þou þusgayte with god chyd
and deme þat his werkyng ys wrang!
þi dedes here has þou iustyfyed
als þou had neuer wonned men a mang.
And, sertes, yf þou had bene
ay styll stokyn in a stone,
ȝytt suld þou not be sene
with owtyn syn gud wone.

1211

ffor þou may here wysmen say þus,
als holy wrytt wytnese all way:
Septies in die cadet iustus.
he says þat seuyn sythis on a day
Syns ryghtwys men here a mang vs.
what sall þen wreched syners say
þat euer are yll and vycyus
and non bot god mend vs may.
Sen non may helpe bot he
our myse forto amend,
mekly suffer suld we
what saynd þat he wyll send.

1212

And þou makes proueys here playnly
þat goddes ordynance ys owt of skyll.
when þou þi self wyll justyfye
and deme þat þou hath done none yll,
þore takes þou fro god allmighty
þe fredom þat falys hym vntyll.
ffor dome is his forto dystrye
both word and werke at his awn wyll.
þou demys god is not stabyll
to stand as hee justyce
Or els vnresnabyll,
when þou says on þis wyse

1213

þat þi penaunce is mekyll more
þen oþer folke be fore haue feld,
Or els þi werkes worthy wore
þat þou has wroyȝt in ȝowth or eld.
I red þou sese and rew yt sore
and beseke god to be þi beld,
lese þat þou [fare] no warre þerfor,
for þou no thankyng to hym wyll ȝeld.
yf god ware in gud wyll
þi comforth to encrese,
Swylke spech þi spede may spyll,
and þerfor hald þi pese.”

1214

þen answerd Iob vnto þo thre,
and mekly þus he con hym mene.
“Alas,” he says, “how lang thynke ȝe
to turment me þus yow betwene?
Of my payn suld ȝe haue pety
þat my frendes ay before hath bene.
Vengance of god hath towched me,
þat is with sorow on me sene.
And sen ȝe see my sore
and castes yt not to keyle,
yowr ga[b]byng greues me more
þen all þe fawtes I fele.

1215

ȝe sett my fare bot als a fabyll,
and my wordes tell ȝe wroyght in vayn
And says þat I make god vnstabyll,
for þat I pleyn me of my payn.
I say yt is vn mesurabyll
forto sett for my syn certayn,
bot god þat kast me in þis cabull
may, when hym lyst, lawse yt agayn.
wold god my wordes ware wryttyn,
þat þei ware not tynt,
with [a poyntyll of] steylle
in a hard stone of flynt

1216

So þat þei [myȝt euer more] be ment
and made in mynd all men e mang.
þen suld all wytt whore so þei went
wheder my wordes ware wele or wrang,
And yf I euer to syn assent
to be putt to slyke payn strang.
God knaws my mynd and myn entent
yf ȝe go whore ȝe haue to gang.
And, sertes, yf ȝe me slo,
my fayth sall euer be fast
And neuer depart hym fro,
als lang os my lyf may last.

1217

My wytt is all way in þis wyse,
and so my trowth sall euer more be.
my sayuyour lyfes and neuer more dyse,
and on þe last day deme sall he.
þen fro þe erth sall I vp ryse,
both bone and flesch, in faccion free,
And with myn eyne in þat assyse
my sayuyour þen sall I see.
All yf I byde in bale
and be here bressed and brokyn,
þor sall I ryse all hale
when all your speche is spokyn.

1218

[And there shal ye allso be sene
for all youre savnttering and your saws.]
And þen sall I be fun als clene
as ȝe þat all þis bostes blaws.
ȝe come als men me to mene
and seys me suffur so sore thraws,
Bot more ȝe tempe me vnto tene.
and god þat all our conciance knaws,
he wott I haue not wroyght
so gretly hym agayn
wherfor I suld be broyȝt
to fele slyke perles payn.”

1219

Sophar says þen, “for soth I trow,
Iob, þou iustyfyse þi self ouer lang.
yf þou had neuer done yll or now,
þou seruys to suffer sorows strang.
ffor all þi werkes þ[ou] wyll a vowe
whedder so þei were wele or wrang.
wele bettur ware þe forto bow
and graunt þi gylt now or þou gang.
þou wenes so all be wun
þi dedes to iustyfye.
Bot þat fare sall be fun
full fals ypocrysie.

1220

ffor in þis werld werkes none so wele
þat wott wheder his werke be wroyȝt
Vnto his sorow or to his sele.
for, when þe soth is all vp soyght,
Of gud werke god dose ylk dele.
bot he yt werke, þe werke is noyȝt.
And of þe fend, als folke may fele,
full yll bargans ere furth broyȝt.
Sen non þer werkes may wytt
qwylk is trew forto treyst,
Pray god to ordand yt
and reward als hym lyst.

1221

þou hath gouernd so grett degre
and had þis werld all at þi wyll.
yf þou trespast to two or thre,
þer durst none say þat þou dy[d] yll.
And yf on trespast vnto þe,
all had [he] neuer so opyn skyll,
Auder þou or oþer of þi meneȝe
wold no thyng spare his sped to spyll.
So for þi grett ryches
þat god gaf of his grace,
All men both more and lese
ware fayn to take þi trace.

1222

And now wyll non sett by þi saw
Als wytty os þi wordes wore.
god wyll þat þou of hym haue aw
and sett his honoure euer be fore.
And for þou sall þi self knaw,
he sufferd to dystroy þi store,
And all þi guddes he con with draw
and sent þe sekenes sad and sore
þi pacience so to proue
and þi sadnese assay,
wheder þou wyll last in loue
or fayle for lytyll affray.

1223

þou may wele wytt þat wrang þou went
and þi wordes ware not wyty
To say þi selfe an Innocent,
as he þat ware no wo worthy.
þerfor I rede þou þe repent
and mekly aske of god mercy
And say þis sekenes þat is sent
is for þi mysrewle ryghtwysly.
And lett no rusyng ryse,
ne graunt of þi gud dede.
þi self þou suld dyspyse,
þen wyll god make þi mede.”

1224

Iob þen for bale be gan to qwake,
swylk angers in his hert had he.
“Alas!” he sayd, “when sall ȝe slake
with tene þus forto turment me?
yf god more vengance on me take
to make me turment on a tre,
my ryghtwys[nes] sall I neuer for sake,
þer in I hope my helpe sall be.
when ryghtwyse juge sall sytt
to deme euer ylka dele,
þen all þe werld sall wytt
who dyd wrang and who wele.

1225

Bot, sertes, þer is a comyn case
þat trobyls me in wytt all way:
A man þat spendes his lyf[es] space
in syn þat sorow is forto say,
And to no man a mendes mase
bot dose euer yll all þat he may,
And euer more hape and hele he has
and gud enogh both nyȝt and day;
And he þat rewls hym ryȝt
mydnyȝt, morn, and noyne,
he has dole day and nyȝt.
how ys þis dewly done?”

1226

Elyphath þen answerd agayn
and says, “þen, man, grett ferly haue I
þat þou labours þi wytt in vayn
and fyllys þi toyȝt with fantasy.
þo þat lyfes wele, þei ar certayn
forto haue blyse how so þei dy.
þo þat lyfes yll to þei be slayn
sall wun in wo, as yt is worthy.
And if þei syn for sake
and mend whyls þei haue myȝt,
þei may als wynly wake
als þei þat lyfes full ryȝt.

1227

To þis may men In sampyll tell
and lyghtly lere, yf yt be late,
Of þe ryche man how yt fell,
and of A laȝar þat lay at his ȝate.
þe ryche wold with no mercy mell
bot lyf in lust erly and late.
þerfor he had his hame in hell
with fendes foule and fyre full hate.
with fylth þer was he fed
for all his fare be fore,
And þe laȝar was led
to wun in myrth euer more.

1228

ffor þi I rede þou þe avyse
and þat þou of slyke bostyng blyn,
when þou þi self so iustyfyse
to say þi payn passys þi syn.
ffor who so wyll with rusyng ryse
and wenys so wrschep forto wyn,
þei sall be sett in law assyse
and haldyn down for all þer dyn.
þen is [it] wytt to be warre
for ferd of slyke a fall.
yll or wele yf we fare,
euer more loue god of all.”

1229

Iob þen says, “forsoth I trow
for all þe kavtels þat ȝe can
[þat] yt sall fall by me and yow
als yt fell by þe pepyll þan.
ffor ȝe lend in your lordschepes now
and weldes þe welthys your faders wan,
And yow lyst nawder bend ne bow
ne graunt seruyce to no gud man.
To me ȝe con take tent
and turment yow be twene
A sely Innocent,
þat may no malyce mene.

1230

And yf yt sall be als ȝe say,
þat þo in hell sall haue þer hame
þat lyfes in lust and lykyng ay
and hath all welth of wyld and tame
And none anoye be nyȝt ne day,
þe[n] to your self sall fall þe same.
þerfor I wold ȝe wentt your way
and lett me lyg here law and lame.
And when ȝe part me fro,
I aske of god þis boyne,
þat here come neuer mo
to dere me als ȝe haue done.”

1231

Baldach brast owt with wordes breme
and says, “þou doytes in þis degre,
when þou dare take on þe to deme
what werkyng sall worth of vs thre.
To god allon þat same suld seme,
for demer of all erth is he.
vnto þi yowth þou suld take ȝeme,
and in þi self þen suld þou se
þat þi werkes hath bene warre
forto deme al by dene
And febyler be fare
þen any of ours haue bene.

1232

ffor þou had ȝemyng in þi ȝowthe
and fyndyng of [þi] frendes in fere,
when we trayueld by north and sowth
to seke our sele on sydes sere.
god gaf þe myȝt to mell with mowth
be for all folk both fere and nere,
And sotell carpyng non we cowth
bo[t] comyn course of craftes clere.
þou had of frendes be fore
swylke fee os myȝt not fayle,
And all our erthly store
gatt we with grett trauayle.

1233

þou trespast neuer in no degre
by þer tales þat we here þe tell,
And forto neuyn no more dyd he
þat clerkes says had his hame in hell.
bot for he was of gold and fee
rychest þat in his land con dwell
And of þe pore hade no pyte,
for þat defawt full fowle he fell.
And so sall all þo do
þat has here welth gud woyne
And takes no tent þerto
to helpe þem þat has none.

1234

whyls þou myȝt in þi lordschepe lend,
forto haue wo þou wold not wene.
þat þou was ryche, full wele was kend,
þi catell in all cuntreys clene.
Bot wher þou auder gaf or send
to s[o]lace þe seke, þat was not sene,
Or any man in myschef mend,
þer is non swylke maters to mene.
when þou so lordly foyre,
þen suld þou haue had toyȝt
fforto part with þe pore
and nede þat had noyȝt.

1235

yf þou were meke and myld of mode,
what mend þat to oþer men
Bot so with gawdes to gett þer gud
as he þat cowd no cawtels ken.
So in þi strengh when þat þou stud,
þou suld wysly haue wayted þen
To febyll folke þat wanted fode
and fast ware fest in fylth and fen.
þou suld haue loked to lawse
þo þat ware bun and thrall.
Meknes is lytyll at prays
bot mercy be mengyd with all.

1236

þou rusys þi self of ryghtwysnes;
what fauour suld þou þerfor fang,
when no man durst do þe dystreyse,
wheder þi werkes ware wele or wrang,
Bot ylka man, both more and lese,
ware glad f[ro] þi greuance to gang.
þi pompe and pride wyll proue exprese
þou has bene an yll leu[e]re lang.
þerfor aske god mercy
þat þou has sayd of myse,
And wytt þou is worthy
forto fele warre þen þis.”

1237

Iob says þen with sympyll chere,
“alas, þis lyf lyges yow full lyght,
And wold god þat ȝe thre in fere
suld fele yt both day and nyȝt,
Or þat my domysman wold apere
my dedes dewly to deme and dyȝt.
þen suld ȝe se your selfe all sere
þat your reprouyng is vnryȝt,
[n]e þat þis grete vengaunce
is noght þus on me tone
ffor my mysgouern[aun]se,
ne for my syn alon.

1238

Bo[t] aþer yt is to þis entent
þat god wyll schew his grett maystry
In me, a wofull Innocent,
to make oþer be ware þer by;
Or els for ȝe suld yow repent,
þat wrethes me þus wrangwysly,
Or sorow sere be to yow sent,
so worthy wore als wele os I;
Or els vnto þis end
may seknes oft be sawyn,
ffor falshed of þe fend
amang men suld be knawn.

1239

And yf þe fend þis wo hath wroyȝt
and mad me to haue þis myschefe,
I haue gud mynd his myȝt is noyȝt
ferrer þen god wyll gyf hym lefe.
And when þe soth is all vp soygt,
yf god haue graunt hym me to grefe,
my body he has in balys broyȝt,
bot to my saule he may not mefe.
þerfor I hym defy
and all his felows fare
And als your cumpany
þat encressys all my care.

1240

ffor, sertes, ȝe sall haue syn and shame
to wreke yow so in wordes vayne,
So bytterly me forto blame
for þat I pleyne me of my payn.
And, sertanly, feld ȝe þe same,
to say fowler ȝe suld be fayn.
þerfor I pray yow hast yow hame;
god leyn þat ȝe com neuer agayn!
ffor your vnfrendly fayre
with your carpyng so keyn
has made my myschef mare
þen yt suld els haue bene.”

1241

Sother says, “for soth I fele,
when all þi tale is told tyll end,
þou says þi sorow and þin vnsele
comys aþer of god or of þe fend
And for þin awn dedes neuer a dele.
þis mater is of myse remynd,
ffor and þou wold a vyse þe wele,
I trow þou cowd not tell þe tend
Of werkes þat þou has wroyȝt
a gayns goddes commawndment,
And now wyll graunt ryȝt noyȝt
bot als an Innocent.

1242

An Innocent in erth is none,
ne neuer was, ne neuer sall be,
þat dyd neuer grefe bot god alon
and mary his moyder, a maydyn free.
And þou rekyns þi self for on
and makes þe þore als holy as he.
And we wott wele þou hath mysgone
and greued þi god in sere degre.
Sen we haue sayd þe lang
and þou no myse wyll mend,
ffayr wele! for we wyll gang;
vs lyst no lenger lend.”

1243

þen Elypach with wordes hend
sayd, “Iob, þou spendes þi spech in vayn
To say þi care comys of þe fend,
for of þat fare is he full fayn.
when þi wo at his wyll sall wend,
þat settes hym þore als þi souerayn.
Dyfye hym and make god þi frend
and fand his frenschep forto frayn.
ffor þi care comys of kynd,
yf þou þe wele a vyse,
Als bokes makes in mynd
and wyttenes, ser, on þis wyse:

1244

homo natus de muliere,
he says a man of A woman born,
hic breui viuens tempore,
in lytyll tym his lyf is for lorn,
And fylled with fayndyngs sall he be
and with myschefes mydday and morn,
Ryȝt os A flour is fayr to se
and sone wast als yt was be forn.
So ere we ylkon wroyȝt
to trayuell tray and teyne
And sorows sere vnsoyȝt,
als our elders haue beyne.

1245

And sen þou says þi self is on
þat neuer greued in no degre,
ffayre [wele], we lefe þe here allone,
for oþer ways to wend haue we.”
Iob says, “wold god þat ȝe ware gone
so þat ȝe mett neuer more with me.
þen to god may I make my moyne,
þer is none þat may helpe bot he.
All erthly frendes are faynt
and fals in to affye.
Now wyll I make my playnt
to god god allmighty.

1246

Nunc parce mihi, domine,
lord god þat gyfes gudnes and grace,
lord, in þi myȝt haue mynd of me
and spare me, lord, A lytyll space;
And of my payns, lord, haue pyte
and teche me forto take þi trace,
So þat I myȝt haue mynd of þe
to tell my counsayle in þis case.
lord, þou makes men to encrese
with corn and catell clene
And sodanly to sese,
als by my self is sene.

1247

A, lord, sen þou may at þi lyst
and at þi lykyng lowd and styll
Make me[n] in erth forto be blest
and haue all wardly welth at wyll,
And sythyn in wo, or euer þei wyst,
forto haue euyll and angers yll;
Sen I so lang haue myrthes myst,
lord, spare me now þat I not spyll.
þei haue made me debate
þat ware my frendes be fore.
I am so mased and mate
þat I may now no more.

1248

Memento, queso, domine,
vmthynke þe lord þat last sall ay,
Quod sicut lutum feceris me,
þat þou mad [me] of erth and clay
with bonys and synows semly to se,
with flesch and fell in ryȝt aray
In bale a whyle here forto be
and sythyn as a wed wast away.
Bot my saule forto saue,
þat lygges in þin awn chose,
þat hope I þou wyll haue
and lett no lust yt lose.

1249

lord, laȝar þat lay low os led,
doluen as þe ded suld be dyȝt,
ffull [IV] days stynkand in þat sted
and lokyn fro all erthly lyȝt,
þou raysed hym vp to lyf fro ded
and mad hym man in erthly myght.
So may þou rayse me be þi red
fro dole þat I dre day and nyȝt.
þou wot, and þi wyll wore,
for fro þe is noyȝt hyd,
þat my payns ere wele more
þen yll þat euer I dyd.

1250

And þe thefe þat on þe crose hang,
þat in lust had led all his lyfe
And manys murtheryng mad oft amang
and styrd men vnto mekyll stryfe,
þ[ou] gaf hym grace with þe to gang
in paradyse with ryotes ryfe.
And þou wott I wroght neuer swylke wrang
to murther noþer man ne wyfe,
Ne neuer manys gud I stale
noþer in stall ne in stabyll
why I suld byd þis bale.
þis is vnmesurabyll.

1251

bot, lord, in comforth to encresse
þis wold I wytt, and [þi wyll] wore,
wheder my sorow sall euer sesse
or yt sall last þus euer more.
I wyle not pray for pride ne pese,
ne guddes agayn forto restore,
Bot yf þou wold of þi gudnes
be my frend als þou was be fore.
ffor whyls þou was my frend,
all folke ware þan full fayn
Att my wyll forto wend
and non to gruche agayn.

1252

Whyls I moght gouernd grett degre,
all daynthes dere to me wold draw.
All men and wemen wurschept me
in seruys both in ded and saw,
Both dukes and erlys in ylk cuntre
and lordes, þat led þer landes law.
Os I wold byd, so suld yt be
fro tyme þei couth my consayll knaw.
And now lyfes þer no lad
þat me [wyll] loke ne lufe,
bot all folke are full glad
to put me to reproue.

1253

My catell cayred in mony A clough
with mekyll myrth myd day and morn.
Myn oxyn went to [wayn] or plough
with hyne to herber hay or corn.
Now haue I noyȝt bot noy enogh;
all folke ere fayn me forto scorn.
So all my welth is turned to wogh;
was neuer swylke wrych of woman born.
I had all daynthes dere
þat men myȝt aftur thynke.
Now wyll non negh me nere
for fylth and for fowle stynke.

1254

And þerfor, lord, haue mynd amang
of me, þi man ay whyls I moght.
haue pety of my payns strang
þat sakles ere to me soght.
ffor þou wott wele I wroght neuer wrang
why I suld in swylke bale be broyȝt.
bot at þi lyst, schort or lang,
and at þi wyll all bus be wroyȝt.
In þe I trow and trest
þat þou my sawle sayue.
lord, led me als þou lyst,
I kepe noyȝt els to craue.”

1255

when Iob had þus apertly prayd,
god, þat is euer of mercy free,
Of his prayers was noyȝt well payd
and vnto hym all þus sayd he,
“þi prayers, Iob, of myse er grayd
so forto make þi playnt of me.
I haue herd all how þou hath sayd
þat I haue done grett wrang to þe
To make þi penance more,
als þe thynke in þi toyȝt,
þen þi werkes worthy wore
þat þou in werld hath wroyȝt.

1256

þou rusys þi self of ryȝtwysnes
als þou in werld ware neuer gylty.
So by þi playnt þou proues exprese
þat þou is god als wele os I.
ffor I am he þat ryghwyse is
and ryghtwyse juge to iustyfye
All erthly men, both more and lese,
aftur þer werkyng is worthy.
I gafe þe power playn
[to be] all oþer abufe.
þou gyfes to me agayn
bot plenyng and reprofe.

1257

þou says þi self an Innocent,
als he þat neuer couth do none yll,
And wele þou wott [how] þou has went
in werdly welth euer at wyll.
þou wyst neuer what myslykyng ment,
for non durst trespase þe vntyll.
Now rede I þat þou þe repent
and loue þi lord, both lowd and styll,
þat may putt þe to payn
and sythyn flytt yt þe fro,
And gyfe þe gudes a gayn
yf þou [can serue] hym so.

1258

ffor and þou had neuer done mys
bot greued þi god in þis aray,
þou ware not worthy to be in blyse
bot þou amend yt whyls þou may.
yf þou wyll werke ase I þe wysse,
putt þi wyt in his wyll all way,
þen wyll þi god for gyfe þe þis
and lett þe be in blyse for ay.
Knaw þi selfe for vnclene
and euyll in all degre,
And thynke [what] ayre hath beyne
and what sall aftur be.

1259

And yf þou wyll werke on þis wyse,
graunt to god þat þou is gylty.
þen wyll he graunt þe grace to ryse
and mend þe of þi meselry.
þerfor I rede þou þe avyse
and mekly þat þou aske mercy,
And þen þat þou make sacrafyce
for þi gylt to god allmighty.”
when all þer saws ware sayd,
þen god away was gone,
And Iob als man a mayde
full mekly made his mone:

1260

“I loue þe, lord of ylka lede,
þat me has lerned to lere þi lay.
I wrschep þe in word and dede
in all þe myȝt þat euer I may.
Of nokyns thyng now I haue nede,
for all my wo is went a way.
Bot of þat dome now haue I dred
þat sall be done on þe last day,
how I sall answer þore
of þe dedes in my ȝowthe
þat I haue done be fore,
sen tym I counsell couthe.

1261

what sall I do, wrech wyll of wone,
whore sall I hye me forto hyde
vnto þi dredfull dome be done
and all by jugment iustyfyed?
I haue no gatt bot to god allon
te teld me vnder in þat tyde,
And his gudnes beys neuer gone,
In his beld is me best to byd.
bot god þat all gud is
sall deme þen all be dene
B[y] rewle of ryghtwysnes
and of no mercy mene.

1262

Dimitte ergo me, Domine,
vt ego plangam paululum.
A lytyll whyle, lord, suffer me,
þat lang hath bene both def and dum,
þat I may meyne me vnto þe
and schew my syns all and sum.
And lett my corse here clensed be
so þat my sawle, lord, neuer come
In þe land of dole and dyn,
qwylk I wott ordand is
ffor þem þat endes in syne
and geytes no for gyfnes.

1263

Lord god, þat gouerns hegh and law,
I loue þi [sand] both lowd and styll.
My wekydnese now well I knaw
þat I haue wroyȝt a gayns þi wyll.
ffor I haue oft sayd in my saw
þat I dyd neuer so mekyll of yll,
Ne neuer greued a gayns þi law
lyke to þe payns ware putt me tyll.
I wott I haue done wrang;
þat sayng rewys me sore.
lord, mell mercy a mang,
I wyll trespas no more.

1264

And þat I haue done day or nyȝt
a gayns wrschep or wyll of þe,
I wyll amend yt at my myȝt
whyls any lyfe lastes in me;
So, lord, þat, when þi dome is dyȝt
þat þou sall deme euer ylk degre,
þat I be sene þen in þi syȝt
a mang þem þat sall saued be.
ffor In þat otterest end
helpe forto neuyn is none,
Ne medcyn þat may mend
bot þi mercy allon.”

1265

when Iob had þus made his prayer,
þen was his grefe all gon, I geyse.
his wyfe com þan with woman chere
and askyd hym gudly for gyfnes.
his seruandes come on sydes sere
and asked hym mercy more and lese.
hys neghtbours and his frendes in fere
releued hym with full grett ryches,
So þat in lytyll space
god made hym to be more
Of power in all plays
þen euer he was be fore.

1266

hys ryches and his ryalte,
as robes and rentes and oþer aray,
hys waynys and ploughys and foran fee
were all dobyll by dyuerse day.
And aftur with his wyfe had hee
VII semly suns, þe sothe to say,
And III doyghturs; in þer degre
were none fundon so fayre os þei.
he had all welth at wyll
and hele fro hede to heyll.
he loued god lowd and styll
als worthy was full wele.

1267

when he was sett in þis assyse
and waryscht well of all his wo,
To god þan mad he sacrafyce
als he be fore had bydyn hym do.
he saw his suns full rychly ryse
in grett degre to ryd and go,
And his doyghturs als wemen wyse
to grett wrschep wed also.
he teched þem to take hede
in þer werkyng all way
þer god to luf and dred
both by nyȝt and day.

1268

þen lyfed Iob aftur his grett dystresse
I C wynters and fawrty
And loued god ay of more and lese
þat so his myrth wold multyplye.
þus lykyd god forto proue exprese
his grett meknes with messelry;
And for he fand his fayth ay fresch,
he wuns in welth, als is worthy.
god graunt vs grace to lyfe
in luf and charite,
þat we our gast may gyfe
to myrth. so moyte yt be!

Amen De Iob.

Thobie

1269

of [trew] thoby now tell wyll we,
of whom þe word hath went full wyd,
how he was born in galale,
a cuntre nere þe est see syd,
And noryscht in a ryche Cyte
þat neptalym was named þat tyde;
And of þat same kynred come he,
als connyng clerkes hath clarefyde.
who wyll take tent þer tyll
by þis tale may be kend
To loue god lowd and styll,
what soynd so he wyll send.

1270

Ieroboam we haue herd tell
of þe Ebrews was crowned kyng,
And all þe land of israel
had he to led at his lykyng.
And whyls he wold with god dwell,
he had welth of all werdly thyng;
bot sythyn in fowle folys he fell,
so dyd his pepyll, old and ȝyng.
he made þem calfys of gold
and sayd þo myȝt þem mend,
bot sythyn þat bargan bold
broyȝt hym to haue yll end.

1271

Ieroboam wyll we leue at hame
and neuyn an oþer nere þer by.
Salmanaser was his name,
and he was kyng of all assery.
Als Ieroboam dyd, he vsed þe same,
maynteinyng his men in mawmentry.
þerfor gud folke he shent with schame,
bot god saued his seruant Toby.
Thys ylk kyng salmanaser,
his foylies to fulfyll,
wold wyt yf any were
þat wold not werke his wyll.

1272

he commawnd all men lese and mare
þat hym with sewt o[r] seruyce soght
þat þei suld cum furth hym be fore
and wrschep goddes þat he had wroght.
Bot toby kyn wold not come þore,
þerfor in bondag were þei broyȝt.
And he, all yf he ȝongest wore,
euer wrschept god with wyll and toyȝt.
he fled fro his enmys
to ierusalem in hye
And made þerfor sacrafyce
to god allmightye.

1273

þe kyng of wyll was so otrayge,
all þo þat wold groch hym agayn,
All wore yt man or woman or page,
he commawnd þat þei suld be slayn.
þen toby went with outyn wage,
to bery þem he was full bayn,
And all þat lyfes of his lynag
forto dyffend was he full fayn.
bot sone fro frendes he fled
of ferre for dred of dede,
And þore a wyf he wede
comyn of his awn kynred.

1274

þat wyfe heyght Ana, as I herd say,
þat euer in hyre trewth was trew,
And vnto god so con þei pray.
scho bayre a sun semly of hew.
þe fader, þat lyfyd by moyses lay,
wold make his sun aftur hym to sew
And named hym Toby; þen ware þei
two of an name, both old and new.
þe fader with luf and aw
lernd hym, whyls he was ȝyng,
To lyfe by moyses law
and luf god ouer all thyng.

1275

Sythyn was þe kyng assent certayn,
ryȝt euyn als god wold þat yt were,
þat Toby suld com home a gayn
and haue his sted and all his store.
Of þat fayre was his frendes full fayn,
and toby ordand fast þerfore.
So was he putt in power playn
als mekyll os he euer was be fore.
þe kyng commawnd to loke
þat he had his all hale,
And vnto hym he toke
tresour with outyn tale.

1276

when Thoby þus had gettyn grace
and gold was [g]yfyn hym grett plente,
he went abowt fro place to place
to cumforth folke of his cuntre.
And no spense spared he in þat space
to þo þat ware thrall to make þem free.
þo folk ware fayn to folow his trace,
for all þat sorow had socurd he.
he beryd all þat ware ded
whore he þem fand be fore;
Into þe provynce of mede,
and þus be fell yt þore.

1277

In [þe] rych Cyte of rages
a frend of his be fore he fand
þat lely lyfyd with outyn lese.
þan had he lorn both lyth and land.
Toby hym saw and myȝt no[t] se[se],
bot for his sake he was sorowand
And bed his comforth to encrese
at his power with hert and hand.
Gabell heyȝt þat gud man
þat was so stratly sted.
Tyll Thoby told he þan
how his land was layd in wede.

1278

And he had noyȝt þerfor to pay,
whe[r]for he trowd yt forto tyne.
þen to toby þus con he say,
“ser, saue me and yt sall be þine.”
þor toby toke to hym þat day
ten talentes of gold fayr and fyne.
VII C and XX libras weyd þei
forto be wayred in wax and wyne.
ffor ylke talent of þo,
forto tell by trew payse,
weyd XX libras and two;
Catholicon yt so says.

1279

þis gud toke toby to gabell
by sewrty mad be twyx þem two,
And gabell sett þerto his seall
by wyttenesyng of mony moo.
Both in þer law þei ware full lele,
as afturward was fundun so.
þan wund Thoby with werdly wele
and warescht all þat ware in wo.
And so be tyd þat tyd,
Als god ordand þerfore,
kyng salmanaser dyed
and past with payns sore.

1280

when salmanaser so was deyd
and broyȝt vnto his bereyng bowne,
hys sun Senacheryb on hed
resayued þe kyngdom and þe crowne.
þo þat þe fader with wekyd red
mad to be ponyschyd in presown,
þe sun wold byd no bettur bede,
bot bad þat men suld dyng þem down.
So ware full mony slayn
of Ebrews old and ȝyng,
And toby was full bayn
at bere þem to bereyng.

1281

when þe kyng herd þat he dyd so,
he had no daynteth of þat dede.
he commawnd þat men suld hym slo
and all þat ebrews lyf con lede.
Bot toby was wernd of þat wo
and conseld forto flee for dred.
So was he fayn to flytt þem fro;
his wyfe and his sun with hym ȝede.
And all way was he bowne
to helpe all þat had nede,
And namly his nacion
both forto cloght and fede.

1282

þe kyng persewyd with payns strang
all ebrews kynd, wher he þem kend,
þat to his fals goddes wold not gang
to wrschep þem with hert and hend.
þerfor god wold not suffer hym lang
in wekyd lyf so forto lend.
he mad hym with his warkes wrang
at pase to wo with outyn end:
with his suns was he slayn.
þan be commun acorde
was Thoby gettyn agayn
and of hys guddes restored.

1283

þen was he sted with outyn stryf;
full fayn were all his frendes fre
with his ȝyng sun and with his wyfe
and oþer mo of his awn meneȝe.
he rewled þem by reson ryfe
and gouernd þem in gud degre
Aftur þe law to lede þer lyfe
and to goddes bydyng bowsom to be.
So fell on a dere day
Thoby ordand to make
A fest o[f] gud aray
for his gud frendes sake.

1284

þei had daynthes of drynke and mette,
he mad þem myrth with all his myȝt.
hym selfe wold ocupye no sett,
bot to his sun þus sayd he ryȝt,
“gud sun, go loke yf þou may geyte
any of our lyne to make vs lyȝt,
And bryng þem In with vs to ete.”
þe chyld to werke his wyll was wyȝt.
he went and com agayn
and sayd he fand ryȝt none
Bot on sodanly slayn
and leuyd lygand alon.

1285

“And, ser,” he says, “I herd men tell
þat he of myse no thyng had made,
bot for he was of israel,
with fals phylysteyns was he fade.”
þen Thoby wold no langar dwell,
he left gud men his geystes to glade.
he and his sun, þem two o mell,
toke þe body with outyn bade.
In a howse þei yt hyde
and mad þer geystes gud chere.
At euyn dewly þei dyd
to bery yt in best manere.

1286

All þof Thoby were well ocupyd,
ȝett oþer wayte to werke hym wo,
And all his counsell þei ascryd
and in grett teyn þei told hym to,
“þis ylk þat þou helpes to hyde,
he had his ded for he dyd so;
And þou was fayn be fore þis tyde
þerfor to flee þi frendes fro.
And ȝett þou dose þe same;
and bot þou lefe yt soyne,
þou sall beyr byttur blame
for dedes þat þou has doyne.”

1287

Bot for oght þei cowth to hym say,
to bery þis ded ay toyȝt hym best.
And so fell on a somers day,
when he [of] swylke wer[k]e was werest,
In his howse syd a lytter lay;
þer on he reid hym forto rest.
And þor hym fell a full grett affray:
A bowue hym was a swolws nest.
Als he lyft up his eye lyddes
to loke agayns þe lyȝt,
hate fylth of swolows b[ry]des
fell down and lost his syȝt.

1288

þis werke was wroyȝt with outyn wene,
for god wold so his pacience proue,
wheder he wold turn for any teyne
or to be lastand in hys loue.
Sum of his frendes fast con hym meyne,
and sum to malyce wold hym moue.
þei sayd, “now is þi seruyce sene
þat þou þe d[e]d so gladly groue
And dyde grett almus dede
tyll all folke þat wold frayn.
lett se now in þi nede
who gyfes þe oght ogayn!”

1289

þei say, “we hald þem wers þen wode—
and so þi self sall say certayn—
þat gyfes away his werldly gud
and puttes hym self to pouert playn.”
Bot Thoby euer full stably stud,
of þer faygyng [he] was not fayn.
þer malyce moued no thyng his mode;
he loued ay god with all his mayn.
he sayd, “ȝe do on myse
In vayn your speche to spend.
my lord þat sent me þis
has myȝt me forto mend.

1290

þis wo I wott I am worthy
for weked werkes þat I haue wroyȝt.
I do me hale in his mercy
þat mad me new when I was noght.”
þei left hym þore and lett hym lye.
he thanked god with wyll and toyȝt.
his wyfe and his sun were redy
to mend his myrth all þat þei moght.
þus when men haue dysesse,
both kynred and counsayll
þ[at] in welth wold þem plese
wyll þ[en] full fayntly fayll.

1291

þus was Thoby in langor lent.
he loued ay god both lowd and styll
Of all þe saynd þat he to hym sentt,
and groched neuer [i]n word ne wyll.
þen on þat mone has he ment
þat Gabell borowd of hym by byll.
þerfor he wold þat sum man went
to [f]eche yt and forward to fulfyll.
he cald Thoby hym to,
his sun, and sayd þus suyn,
“I haue errandes to do
qwylke I wold were wele doyne.”

1292

þe sun answerd full curtasly
and sayd, “fader, I am all bown
To werke your wyll, als is worthy,
bothe nere and fere, in feld and towne.”
þe fader was full fayn for þi
and sayd, “sun, in my benesowne
All myn entent tell þe sall I,
take gud reward to my reson.
Sun, Salmanaȝer þe kyng,
or tyme þat þou was born,
he ordand in all thyng
to haue our lynge lorn.

1293

þore saw we mony sakles slayn,
for of sere sydes þei ware out soght.
To bery þem I was full bayn,
bot to þ[e] lordes [þat] lyked noght.
þen forto flee I was full fayn
tyll all þat bale tyll end was broyȝt.
þen gatt I gud enoght agayn;
euyn als god wold, so was yt wroyȝt.
ffull ȝapely þen [I] ȝode
a bowt to Cytes sere
To helpe þem þat had nede
and of our nacion nere.

1294

And sun aftur þi bryth yt be fell
I fand on in [a] fare cuntre,
born of our blod and heyght gabell.
in preson herd haldyn was he.
þore made we menyng vus o mell
how my monay myȝt make hym free.
Ten talentes con I to hym tell
to gyf agayn by gud sewrtye.
he made a lettur lele
of þat payment exprese,
And selyd yt with his seall
be for full gud wyttenese.

1295

þat same lettur with outyn lese
haue I here forto send certayn.
I wott full wele he wyll not sese
þor with to make my payment playn.
ffor I here tell of his encrese,
how he hath gotyn his gud again.
In a ryche Cyte, Rages,
ys his wonnyng with outyn trayn.
þidder wold I þat þou wende
and þou couth ken þat place.
þat monay now myȝt mend
to spend whyls we haue space.”

1296

The sun sayd, “ser, so god me sayue,
I wold full gladly do þis dede.
bot aftur þat cuntre forto craue
I wott not whore my spech suld spede.”
“gud sun,” he sayd, “go seke sum knaue
þat wyll wend with þe for his mede,
þat þou of hym may helpyng haue
into þat land þe forto lede,
And þat con vnderstand
þe way tyll ȝe come þore.”
Thoby went furth and fand
a fare chyld hym be fore.

1297

Iff he ware fare of flesch and fell,
no ferly, for god had hym sent,
his awn archangell, raphell,
tyll ȝong toby [to] take entent,
And mornyng þat was þem omell
forto amend, so has he ment.
he sayd, “I knaw full wele gabell,
for to Rages oft haue I wentt.”
ȝong toby was fayn þan,
and to his fader he sayd,
“ffader, I haue fun a man
to gang all redy grayd.

1298

he says he knaws þat cuntre clere
and þe gud man and þat same Cyte,
And all þe way he wyll me lere.”
toby sayd, “sun, god leyn so be!
bot sen þou says he is so nere,
pray hym come and speke with me,
So þat I may þe sothe enquere
of þis þat he hath told to þe.”
ȝong Thoby [saw] [vn]soght
[þe] Angell hym to byd,
And so in he hym broyȝt
to his fader bed syd.

1299

So als þei stod þat bed be fore,
the Angell þus vnto toby bade,
“Be myrry, man, and mowrne no more,
bot in þi god þou suld be glad.
All yf þou sytt and sofer sore,
sone may he seyse þi sorow sade
And to þi state þe wele restore
to haue more hele þan euer þou had.”
when þe Angell þus had sayd,
yf Thoby febyly ferd,
In hert he was wele payd,
bot all þus he answerd:

1300

“what myrth may vnto me avayle
þat syttes in derknes euyn and morn?
I byde here blynd as best in bale
þat bettur ware haue bene vn born.
All folke I fele now fayntly fayle
þat ware my frendes full fast be forn.
þo þat þen com me to consayle,
now come þei more me forto scorn.
þus am I sett certayn
in dole both nyȝt and day;
þerfor I wold full fayn
be fro þis werld away.”

1301

The Angell sayd, “thoby, take tent,
swylk maters may non mend to moue.
God hath þis seknes to þe sent
þi pacience so forto proue.
yf þou hym loue þat [it] has lent
and be lele lastand in his loue,
I hette þe þan in hast to hent
full gud hele to þi sawle be houe.”
Thoby sayd, “gray mercy!
þis is full frendly red,
bot grett hast now haue I
of thyng I wold wore sped.

1302

my sun says þat þou wyll wend
and teche hym to þe land of mede.
þor dwels gabell, my faythfull frend,
and vnto hym I wold ȝe ȝede.”
þe Angell þen with wordes hend
sayd, “to þat land I sall hym lede.
ffor in Rages þor can [I] lend,
And to gabell þan toke I hede.
I sall bryng þi sun ydder
and sayue hym sownd in qwerte,
To he com agayn hydder.
þis hete I here with hert.”

1303

þan Thoby says, “ser, yf þou may
bryng [me] my sun with outyn blame,
I hete þe trewly forto pay
þi hyre in hand when þou comys hame.
And also, ser, I wold þe pray
þat þou wold tell to me þi name,
þat I may, whyls ȝe dwell away,
thynk on my sun and on þat same.
And þi kyn more and lese
wold I haue in my mynde.
ffor wele I wott þou ys
cumyn of full curtase kynd.”

1304

þe Angell sayd, “ser, for certayn,
now thynke me selcowth of þi saw,
And þi wordes thynke me wroyȝt in vayn
by sere resons to red by raw.
I hette to bryng þi sun agayn
werly and wele with outyn aw.
þe nedes no ferther forto frayn
my kynred, ne my name to knaw.
bot neuer the lese ȝett,
ser, to fulfyll þi fantasy,
I reke not who yt wytt:
my name is aȝary.

1305

my fader in his lyfe was leue
to loue his lord both lowd and styll.”
Toby says, “take yt to no greue,
for sertes I asked yt for non yll.”
he toke þe[m] a boyst with þat brefe
þat þei suld beyre gabell vntyll,
And sayd, “god sayue yow fro myschefe!
wendes now furth when so ȝe wyll.”
ȝong Thoby þan kneled down;
his fader and moyder he prays.
To blese hym were þei bown,
and so þei wend þer ways.

1306

A lytyll hund at hame þei had
þat went Abowt not bun in band.
what ȝong toby vnto hym bad
he wold take hed vnto his hand;
And to wend with [hym] was he glad
by cause þat [he] hym frendly fand.
In ylka a stede wher þei ware sted
þe hound wold stably with hym stand.
Now leue we Raphaell,
þat ȝong Thoby furth lede,
And of old Thoby tell,
þat was full stratly sted.

1307

þe moyder drowped euer ylka day
when scho wyst wele hyr sun was went;
And to Thoby oft con scho say,
“all our sele has þou fro vs sent,
Our sun, þat suld vs wysch all way
when we in any bales war bent.
þou told þer was monay to pay,
bot oþer maters has þou ment.
yt was neuer for moynay
þat þou so sone suld send
hym þat our beld suld be
and fro fawt vs defend.

1308

Alas, þat euer þou lerned þat lore
at send our sun so to gabell!
þat man may say, when he comys þore,
he knaws of þi noyte neuer a dele.”
Thoby sayd þen, “wyfe, mowrne no more,
for sertanly all sall be wele.
he sall fynd gud frendes hym be fore,
so þat he sall no fawtes fele.
I trow with outyn trayn
þat goddes angell sall hym lede
And bryng hym saue agayn
full fayre als þei furth ȝode.”

1309

þus mekly mesyd he hyr mode
and was full fayn hyr forto styll;
And euer he thanked god of all gude
and of all þe saynd he send hym tyll.
þe wyf to wefyng craft scho ȝode
and wroyȝt þat werke with full gud wyll;
And þor with fand scho þayr fode
hyr husband and his folke to fyll.
So in a tyme be tyde,
for monay euyn to marke,
hyr was gyfyn A ȝong kyd
in reward for hyr werke.

1310

þat broyȝt scho home vnto þer mette
in hope to haue gud thanke for þi.
Thoby lay blynd and herd yt blette,
and in his hert had he grett ferly.
“Bese ware,” he sayd, “both small and grett,
of þat best how ȝe com þer by.
yt is not lefull vs to ete
no thyng þat falys to felony.
I warn yow yt is full wath
with stolne fode forto dele.”
þan was þe wyfe full wrath,
and langer hyr lyst not hele.

1311

Bott out scho brast with byttur brayd
and sone be gane barett to brew.
with a sowre sembland scho sayd,
“aftur þi dedes þi saws persew
þat trowes þat we haue þe be trayd,
whom þou has fun full trest and trew.
And god ware of þi pennans payd,
þou wold neuyn non swylke note of new.
bot be þi sawys is seyn,
aftur þis tale is tald,
þat þou be fore has bene
mystrowand ȝong and ald.

1312

þou releued all men lese and more,
now hath þou mornyng to þi mede.
ffor all folke þat þou fed be fore
now fyndes þou few þe forto fede.”
when Thoby þis herd, his hert was sore,
bot softly spake he for his spede,
“Sertes, woman, and þou wytty wore,
þou wold not deme so of my dede.
ffor yf I wroyȝt goddes wyll,
to welth he wyll me wys,
And all þof I dyd yll,
he may amend all myse.

1313

And, lord,” he sayd, “sen þou me wroyȝt
to wander in þis werld so wyde,
Now in myn eld forsake me noyȝt,
bot take entent to me þis tyd.
Sen sorows sere ar to me soyȝt
with sere assawtes o[n] euere syd,
voch saue þat I myȝt sone be broyȝt
out of þis bale þat I in byde.
I wott I am worthy
with more dole to dele,
Bot, lord, in þi mercy
ys all my hope of hele.”

1314

Now in the same tyme so be fell,
als men may rede by resons ryfe:
Sara, þe doyghtur of raguell,
þat aftur was ȝong thoby wyfe,
with hyre þan dwelled a damsell
þat styrd hyr maystryse oft to stryfe
by tenfull tayles þat scho wold tell
of hyr þat lad euer honest lyfe.
ffor VII husbandes all sere
weded þat worthy wyȝght,
And or þei neghed hyr nere,
þei ware ded þe fyrst nyȝt.

1315

And þis was [þe] encheson why
þe fend of þem had swylke pauste:
þei wede for lust of lechery,
and [in] þat sted þ[em] strangeld he.
hyr seruant was full fell for þi.
“þou sall,” [s]he sayd, “no[t] f[a]re with me
Als þou has done [VII husbandes dy],
qwylk I wott wele were wed with þe.”
And clarkes declarys yt þus:
þat fend þat [foles] so fels
ys named asmodyus.
of swylke maters he mels.

1316

Bot sara was full sory þen
þat hyre seruand so to hyr sayd.
In to a preuay place scho wan.
þer preuely to god scho prayd:
“lord god, of whom all gud be gan,
þou bryng me owt of þis vpbrayd,
Als I neuer cofuett erthly man
with me in lust forto be layd.
haue mercy, lord, on me
to sese my greuance grette.”
þus dyd scho days thre
with outyn drynke or mette.

1317

So when thre days tyll end war went,
full sore wepand with outyn weyne
To myghty god hyr mayne scho ment:
“lord, sen þou has ay keped me clene,
lett neuer my sawle to syn assent
bot als þi seruand to be seyne
And to þi laws trewly to tent,
or to take me sone owt of þis teyne.”
þus ware þei sore assayd,
both Sara and trew thoby.
þer for god has purvayd
to mend þem with mercy.

1318

To þem he sent his archangell
als A man semand to þer syȝt.
bot in þer dole we lett þem dwell
to aftur þat we rehers þem ryȝt;
And of ȝong Thoby wyll we tell,
how he went with þe angell bryȝt,
And what ferlys to þem be fell,
whore þei ware loged in þe fyrst nyȝt.
þei had harber full gud
and beld, whyls þei wold abyd,
Euyn fast be syd a flode
þat heyght tygres þat tyde.

1319

þor went Thoby to wesch his fete;
his felow folowd full fast in fere.
A mekyll fysch þore gart hym grette,
þat rose vp owt of þat ryuer.
þat it wold lose þat chyld yt lette.
he cald fast, “aȝari, com nere!
bot yf þou helpe my bale to bette,
þis fysch is lyke to lose me here.”
þe Angell sayd, “be styll!
wherfor is þou dredand?
Take hym boldly by þe gyll
and lay hym vp to þe land.”

1320

Als þe angell bad he dyd ylk dele;
ane oþer craft þan he hym kend:
“vnd[oo] his wome warly and wele
and take hys hert owt in þi hend.
his gall and his maw men may fele,
for medsyns may þei mekyll amend.
Salt þe fysche þan for þi ȝele
furth in our fare forto be spend.”
All þis was done in dede,
and þore þei rest þat nyȝt;
And on þe morn þei ȝede
þe way to Rages ryȝt.

1321

And als þei cayred so in cuntre,
Thoby sayd, “tell me, I þe pray,
þe vertu of þer thynges III
þou bad me ȝeme ȝisterday.”
þe Angell says, “þi self sall see
in what maner þ[e]i medcyn may
Both to þi fader and to þe
And to sara, als I sall say,
And to hyr fader Raguell,
þat wuns here fast be forn;
ffor with hym wyll we dwell
þis nyȝt or els to morn.

1322

þor be we sted with outyn stryfe
and ryȝt welcom, I wot full wele.
ffor he has rent and ryches ryfe
and hape and hele fro hed to heyle.
his doyghtur sall þou take to wyfe
and be his heyre of ylka dele.
And same sall ȝe lede your lyfe
with mekyll myrth at ylka mele.
I vndertake to þe
þis forward sall not fayle,
And, ser, þan sall þou se
qwat medsyns may a vayle.”

1323

Thoby þan hard and thynkes in hye
þis bargan all tyll end is broyȝt.
he says, “my broþer aȝari,
þis is nedlese, neuyn yt noyght.
ffor of þat woman hard haue I
what wo be hyr wedyng was wroyȝt.
I pray þe, gud felow, for þi:
putt all swylk thyng out of þi toyȝt.
yt is not myn entent
forto be weded so sone.
Thynke þat we ware [for] sent,
þat wold I fyrst ware done.

1324

This woman þat I here þe neuyn
at fang to fere wold I be fayn.
Bot scho was wed with husbandes VII,
and sodanly all were þei slayn.
And þou hath heyght with stabyll steuyn
at bryng me to my fader agayn.
Me thynke þou ordance all vn euyn
þat wold I were put to slyke payn.
I knaw not þat man
þat hyr fader suld be.”
þe Angell answerd þan
and full sothly sayd he:

1325

“Thoby”, he sayd, “to me take hed:
þi fader sall no fawtes fele,
ffor safe agayn I sall þe lede
and do his desyre ylka dele.
My spekyng is all for þi spede
and sal be for þ[i] soueran sele.
ffor all þat weddes with luf and dred
withoutyn fayle þei sall fare wele:
with lufe both lowd and styll
to lyf in goddes lay,
And with dred to do yll
both by nyȝt and day.

1326

Of hyr VII husbandes wele wott I
how þei were for done with a fende.
And his ryȝt name is Asmody;
he has power swylke scherw[e]s to shende
þat weddes for lust of lechery
and takes [weddyng] vnto non oþer ende.
ffor þat werke ware þei wele worthy
furth with [þat] warlow forto wende.
Of þos VII was none seyn
in bed with hyr to be.
So god has keped hyr cleyne
to be weded with þe.

1327

þerfor take kepe to my counsayle,
and styth þan sall þou gradly [go].
when þou is broyȝt with in hyr bale
and no[n] to geydder bot ȝe two,
To haue a fyre lok þou not fayle,
and loke þat þou flytt not ferr þerfro.
þor sall my medsyn mekyll a vayle,
and þerfor take gud tent þerto.
Take þe hert and þe maw,
of aþer A remnand ryȝt,
And in þe fyre þem thraw
when yt is byrnand bryȝt.

1328

And þe vertu sall I þe tell,
how yt sall be beld to yow bathe:
þe smoke þer of and als þe smell
with reke þat sall ryse vp full rath,
May dryfe owt all þe dewls of hell,
þat þei do noþer scorne ne scath.
Dewle Asmody þen may not dwell;
so sall ȝe wun with outyn wath.
And what ȝe sall do more,
now sall I tell þe tyll.
And loke, when þou comys þore,
þat ȝe both yt fulfyll.

1329

when þis is done þus als I say,
owt of all bale ȝe both ere broyȝt.
þen sall ȝe go your god to pray
with hertly wyll and stabyll toyȝt
þat he ordand your werke all way
aftur his wyll forto be wroyȝt.
Comforth þat maydyn now wele þou may,
bot loke ȝett at þou neght hyr noyȝt.
Thre nyȝtes ȝe sall lyf chast
and be in prayers prest
Euyll wyghtes a way to wast,
and god sall be your gest.

1330

Sythyn may ȝe do all lefull de[d]e,
as cour[s]e of matrimon hath kend.
whyls ȝe your god wyll lufe and drede,
fro all defawtes he wyll yow fend.
þen sall he multyplye your sede
and in þis erth slyke socour send
To haue enogh and neuer nede
and sythyn þe welth with outyn end.”
when Thoby herd þis tale,
hym lyked yt wounder wele
And sayd, “forsoth I sall
do þis euer ylka dele.”

1331

To Raguell howse þei com in hye
whore þe Angell sayd þei suld be.
he cald þem in full curtasly
and welcomed þem with wordes free.
And als sone as he saw Thoby,
vnto his wyfe sothly sayd he,
“This chyld be face forto dyscrye
is lyke to Thoby of Nyneue,
My cosyn. and he lyf ȝytt,
þan wold I be full fayn,
And, sertes, þe sothe to wytt
his felow sall I frayn.”

1332

he toke þe angell on þe morne
and sayd, “sun, tell me, and þou may,
Of what kynred þis chyld was born,
and als wher he hath wund allway.”
þe Angell sayd, “his frendes be forn,
in Nyneue wunand wer þei.
þor were þei lyke forto be for lorn,
for þei wold maynteyn moyses lay,
his fader be for hym
and oþer of his kynred.
Of þe lyne of Neptalym
ware þei both born and bred.”

1333

Raguell says, “[sen] ȝe þore wun,
knaw ȝe oght on Thoby be his name?”
þe angell says, “þat bus vus kun,
for we dwell in his howse at hame.
þe chyld ȝe se here ys his sun,
and I am seruand to þat same.”
Then Raguell thynkes here [ferleys] fun
and cald his wyf, “com hydder, Dame!
Our cosyn haue we here,
þe sun of Thoby trew.”
þen made þei all gud chere
when þei þer cosyn knew.

1334

Sara was euer of sembland sad
for greuance þat scho had full grette.
Bot of þis gam scho was full glad,
and ylkon hertly con oþer rehete.
þen Raguell to his seruand bad
to sett vp bordes and go to mette.
Bot thoby sayd oþer hast he had
“þat bus be done or euer I ete.”
Raguell says, “tell me!
yt sall be done be lyue.”
he says, “þen aske I þe
þi doyghtur to be my wyfe.”

1335

Raguell vnto hym answerd noyȝt
bot stod styll stodeand in þat sted.
he wold full fayn his doyghtur myght
be maryed in hyr awn kynred.
bot on þat oþer syde he toght
[he wold not] ȝong Thoby were dede.
ffor and þei were to geydder broyȝt,
he trowed to here no bettur bede.
And when þe Angell saw
how þat he stud so styll,
he sayd, “ser, haue non aw,
for yt is goddes wyll

1336

þat þis man sall þi doyghtur wedd
and weld hyr wynly to his wyfe.
ffull blessed frut bees o[f] þem bred,
als men sall red be reson ryfe.
þo VII þat fyrst with hyr ware sted,
no wounder yf þei went with stryfe,
ffor dome of god no thyng þei dred
bot euer in lust to lede þer lyfe.
þat was wele on þem seyn.
god wold þat yt ware so,
And he hath keped hyr cleyn
in maydynhede þis man vnto.

1337

þen were þei full fayn all in fere
þat god wold gare þer grace so groue.
Bot sara mad most mery chere
to be relessyd of hyr reproue.
Raguell bad þem both com nere.
he layd hyr hand in Thoby loue
And sayd, “fully I feyst yow here
to wun same for your sawles be houe.
grett god, þat sum tyme spake
tyll our elders be forn,
To Abraham and to ysaac,
he ȝeme yow euyn and morn

1338

And bynd yow same in his blessyng
lely to lyf aftur his law
And thrugh þis blessed band yow bryng
his commawndment clerly to knaw.”
þen were þei blyth, both old and ȝyng,
and sayd Amen all to þat saw.
when þei had endyd all this thyng,
to mette þan satt þei ryȝt by raw.
with all kyns daynthes dere
full fayre þore were þei fede,
And sone aftur sopere
ylkon busked to bede.

1339

A chambre was wynly wroyȝt
for Thoby and for his wyf in fere.
And when þei were to geydder broyȝt,
he mad [hyr] myrth on [h]is manere,
And sone he told to hyr his toyȝt,
how þat his gud frend con hym lere
The fyrst III nyghtes to do ryȝt noyȝt
bot be in pennance and prayer.
In hert grett Ioy scho hade
when scho herd hym say so.
ffor goddes sake was scho glad
to do þat and swylke two.

1340

he toke þe hert þen in his h[e]nd
and furth also of þe fysch maw.
In myddes þe fyre he lett þem lend,
and to sara he sayd þis saw:
“þis medsyn is made vs to mend
all dewls werke a way to draw.
ffro all þer fare yt wyll vs fend
ay whyls we luf god and his law.”
þat nyȝt þei ware full prest
to do pennance and pray.
In schort tyme toke þei rest
noyȝt fere be for þe day.

1341

Bot als þe fend so fled for schame,
þe Ange[l] werly with hym mette
And asked hym what was hys name
and for what seruyce he was sett.
“Asmod[e]us we hatte a[t] hame,
A multitude when we are mett.
Our offyce is of wyld and tame
þat wedes for lust þer lyfes to lett,
And shamly þem to shende
þat ar noyȝt ferd þerfor.”
þen þe Angell gart hym wende
neuer forto noye man more.

1342

Bot raguell, þat gentyll jew,
and his gud wyfe sore hertes þei haue
ffor ȝyng Thoby, þer cosyn trew,
for þei wyst not what suld hym saue.
And als sone as þe kok crew,
he gart his men go make a graue
To hyd hym als þei costom knew;
non oþer counsayle cowd he craue.
Euyn as he demed was done;
þe costome wele þei knaw.
And aftur þen full sone
þe day be gane to daw.

1343

þe moþer sent þen preuely
vnto þe chambre a fayr seruand
þer countenance þor for[to] spy
and tell to hyr what fare scho fand.
Scho went and com a gayn in hy
and sayd scho saw þem sownd slepand.
þe wyf þen was full glad for þi
and told þat tale to hyr husband.
þen Raguell was full fayn
and bad, whyls yt was derke,
“[G]o fyll þe graue agayn
þat none wytt of our werke.”

1344

þen loued all god with hert and hend
þat fro þe fend had mad þem free.
Then [Thoby] lykyd þor forto lend
and lyf in prayers þo nyghtes three.
he prayd his felow forto wende
vnto Rages, þat ryche Cyte,
And to gabell, þat he wele kend,
to foche home his fader monye.
þe lettur he toke hym tyll
how all þer maters ment.
þe Angell with gud wyll
þat way full wyghtly went.

1345

To gabels howse full herd he hyde,
and to hym sone he bed his boke.
þen gabell wold no langer byde,
bot ten talentes to hym he toke.
þe Angell told to hym þat tyde
how yong Thoby was wed þat woke.
þen radly he rayd hym to ryde
and sayd he suld onys on þem loke.
And so ryȝt furth he rode
euyn with þe Angell ydder.
ffull mekyll myrth þei made
when þei were all to geydder.

1346

And Raguell [made] grett fest for þi
with mette and drynke when þei ware mette,
with all maner of mynstralsy
and oþer game þat þei myȝt gete.
þen to þe Angell sayd Thoby,
“sen we haue done dewly our dette,
my fader wyll haue full grett ferly
and we ouersytt þe tyme þat was sett.
I wold we hasted vs hame
for ferd hym forto greue.”
þe Angell sayd þe same:
“sone sall we take our leue.”

1347

Sone on þe morn þei made þem bown,
no lenger forto lend þei lete.
þen sara softely kneled down
be for hyr [fader] and moyder fete
And mekly asked þer benysown.
þen oþer frendes full fast con grete,
bot Raguell, or þei trusse of town,
ordandes bettur þer bale to bete.
Thresour with outyn tale
he toke þem or þei ȝode,
And muls with mony a male
with þem furth forto lede.

1348

he gaf þem catell, schepe and nawte
[and] all maner of foran fee,
And seruantes graydly þem to gete
and bryng þem safe whor þei suld be.
with all ryches þei þem rehete,
and vnto Thoby all þus says he,
“Sun, all my gudes, both small and grette,
when I am gone I gyf þem þe,
And my blessyng allwas
in w[e]r[l]d myȝt with yow wend.”
“graymercy, ser,” he says,
“and fayrs wele, ylka frend.”

1349

Now here we how þis Angell,
þat Aȝary to his name chese,
Of whom þe ryȝt name is raphaell,
send fro his lord with outyn lese
fforto bryng ȝyng Thoby vnto gabell
[in] þe ryche Cyte þat heyȝt Rages
And forto releue gud Raguell
and sett sara in parfytt pese,
Now sall we here in hy
how he, or euer he sese,
Ordand for old Thoby
his comforth to encrese.

1350

Als þei went furth in þer jornay
with wyf and seruandes and þer store,
þe Angell con to ȝyng Thoby say,
“I rede we two wende home be fore,
ffor yt is sum dele past þe day
qwylke we heyȝt forto haue bene þore.
lett our meneȝe com als þei may,
for þat may ese þem mekyll more.”
þen Thoby was wele payd,
and for he wold sho wyst,
vnto sara he sayd,
“cums aftur als yow lyst.”

1351

þe Angell says, “Thoby, þou sall
tent to my sawys now for þi sele.
Now is tyme to take þe fysch gall,
þi fader of yt sall fauour fele.
Enoynt his eyne wele þer with all,
so by goddes saynd he sall se wele.”
he was full fayn so suld be fall,
and sayd yt suld be done ylk dele.
his lytyll hund toke hede
his herber was nere hand.
be fore full fast he ȝede
and wold no lenger stand.

1352

Old Thoby lay and lyked yll
be cause þat tyme was so ouerpast.
The wyf was wra[s]t outt of hyr wyll
and sayd hyr welth a way was kast.
ylk day sho went to a hegh hylle
to loke als lang os scho moght last.
þer come þe hund euyn hyr vntyll
and fayned hyr with his tayle full fast.
þen gradly sho aspyde
and saw wele how þei come.
To hyr husband sho hyed
and sayd, “our sun cums home.”

1353

þan was þat husband hert full glad
and for gladnes be gane to wepe.
“Do lede me furth belyue,” he bad,
“my blessed sun I wyll go kepe.”
þei mett als þei ware massed and made,
so ylkon wold on oþer crepe.
so sone was all þer sorows sad
turned vnto wele and to wrschepe.
The sun his medsyn layd
vnto his fader eyne in hy.
þan had he syȝt and sayd,
“I loue god allmighty,

1354

þat ay sall be and euer was,
fulfylled of gudnese and of grace.
I haue not lufed þi law, alas,
ne trewly tent to take þi trace.
And þou mekly for my trespase
hath ponyscht me here in þis place,
And now þus hendly heled me has
forto loke in my lyfes space
On my sun þat was sent,
and here his course declared,
And þe man þat with hym wentt
forto be wele reward.”

1355

ffull mekyll myrth þei mad omell.
þen the sun to his fader sayd
Of all þer fare how yt be fell:
fyrst with þe fysch how he was flayd;
And sythyn of þe gud man gabell
how he þer monay full prestly payd;
þen how þei rested with Raguell
and how þer wedyng was a rayd.
“þus all þat myȝt a vayle
was done with outyn dystance
By my felows consayle
and his gud gouernance,

1356

wherfor he is wele worthy his wage.”
þe fader sayd, “els god for bede!”
Sone aftur þen come þer careayge
with þe ȝyng wyf worthy in wede,
with charged mulys and mony a page
þer catell forto fend and fede.
þei ware mendyd by þis message
in grett lykyng þer lyf to lede.
So when þei neghed nere
with all þis ryche[s] ryȝt,
þe fader and all in fere
had ferly of þat syȝt.

1357

Bot sone als he couth sara see,
he welcomd hyr and with hym lede.
grett gladnes in his hert had hee
þat his ȝyng sun so wele had spede.
Scho had seruandes in sere degre
þat wund with hyr or sho was wede,
And with hyr come to þat cuntre
to beld hyr both at burd and bede.
Old Thoby wyfe, Dame An,
þat are lyfyd full heue lyf,
with all comforth sho can
welcomyd sho hyr sun wyfe.

1358

And derly dyȝt sho þem to dyne,
þer trauell toke sho tent vntyll.
Sho broyȝt þem furth both bred and wyne
and oþer fode all folke to fyll.
Old Thoby asked of his sun s[y]ne
who aght þo guddes by ryȝt and skyll.
he sayd, “ser, þei ar goddes and myne
and sall be yours euyn at your wyll.”
þen on his knese he kneled
and loued god of all thyng,
þat so wold be his beld
and owt of bale hym bryng.

1359

And for he wold Sara were seyne
and knawn with all h[is] kynred clere,
he gart make a fest fayr and cleyne
and bad þerto his frendes in fere.
þe Angell ordand all be dene,
both mete and drynke with mere chere.
þor wanted noyȝt, wele may we weyne,
qwer swylke stewer[d] was to stere.
And when þis fest was done
dewly in all degre,
ylkon were ordand sone
whore þem likyd best to be.

1360

þen sayd old Thoby, “my sun, take hede
and tell me now be twyx vs two
what we may gyf þis man to mede
þat went with þe þus to and fro.”
ȝyng Thoby sayd, “for his gud dede
he hath seruyd þer gudes and mo.
Bot þe on halfe we wyll hym bede
and vowche þem safe yf he wyll so,
My wyfe and hyr meneȝe
to haue þe toþer half clere.
þat is enogh for me
to fynd þem fayre in fere.”

1361

þei cald þe angell preuely,
and old Thoby þus to hym sayd,
“we thanke þe hertly, Aȝary,
for all our hele has þou purvayd.
we wott þat þou were worthy
to haue all guddes þat here a[r] grayd,
bot we pray þe, my sun and I,
to take þe half and hald þe payd.
And all þat fallys vs tyll
of mobyls more and lese
Sall euer be at þi wyll,
als full wele worthy ese.”

1362

þe Angell þen with wordes playn
sayd, “all þe soth I sall yow tell,
Me lykes no langer forto layn:
wytt ȝe wele I am an Archangell.
ffro god þus was I send certayn
to mend all myschefes yow omell.
Now is tyme I turn agayn
in blyse of heuyn with hym to dwell.
I sayd yow here at hame
my name was aȝary.
Raphaell is my ryȝt name,
þis sall ȝe trow trewly.

1363

In all aray I haue bene ryȝt
als erthly man of flesch and bonne
To ete and drynke both day and nyȝt,
bot of your mete I ete ryȝt none.
ffor my mete is þe verray syȝt
of þe godhed þat sall neuer be goyne,
And my cloghyng is heuenly lyȝt,
and my werke is louyng allon.
All þat lelly lyfe has led
and endes in goddes seruyce,
þei sall be cled and fed
and werke in þat same wyse.

1364

And for þi werkes were to his pay,
in all wathes was he þi warrand
And sent his saynd þe to assay
yf þou wold fayle or stably stand.
And for þou groched noyȝt nyȝt nor day
when þou sych fell defautes fand,
Now has he wast þi wo a way
and sent þe welth to weld in land.
Do os þou dyd be for[n]e:
gyf almus with gud chere
And þat yt be vp born
with pennance and prayere.

1365

Also, ȝyng Thoby, to me take tent,
sen þou has wyf and welth at wyll.
luf þou þi lord þat yt has lent,
and loue his law both lowd and styll.
And loke þat þou neuer to syn assent
bot euer haue drede forto do yll,
And kyndly [kepe] his commawndment,
els may þou sped þi self to spyll.”
þus lernd he als hym lyst
how þei suld trewly trow,
And þe[n] he was rauyschett
a way, þei wyst not how.

1366

Thoby was se[v]ynty ȝeres of eld
when he be gan blynd to be.
þat same defawt þen furth he felyd
all fully fyfty ȝere and thre.
þen was he broyȝt to bettur beld
in two and XL forto wele see.
So in þis werld he myȝt hym weld
fyfe score and two [in] sere degre.
þen saw he þat he suld dy
and þe tyme to fulfyll.
he cald his sun Thoby,
and þus he told hym tyll.

1367

he sayd, “sun, I sall sone make end,
to bere me loke þou not byd.
þi moyder, sun, sall eftur wende,
and bere hyr þen me fast be syde.
pray þou þen god with hert and hend
þat he fro harme þe hape and hyde;
And kepe his law als I haue kend,
þen sall no torfure þe be tyde.
ffull grett defawttes sall fall
to folke of Neneuye,
And þerfor, sun, þou sall
do als I consayle þe.

1368

þis Cyte sone sall synke certayn
for syn bot þei þer myse amend.
þerfor, when we ere past with payn,
no lenger here loke þat þou lend,
Bot wende vnto Raguell agayn
with all þe gudes þat god has yow send.
All israel folke wyll be ful fayn
[þat] our kynred with þem be kend.”
Old Thoby and his wyfe
þus ferd als folke may fynd.
his tym and his trew lyfe
mun euer be made in mynd.

1369

ȝyng Thoby wold no langer dwell
for tayls his fader told hym to.
he dyd to carry all his catell,
his wyf and þer seruandes also,
And all þat to his fader fell
[were] [þen] his awn, [so] [w]ere þei mo;
And raked ryȝt to Raguell,
his wyfe fader, þat þei went fro.
þor ware þei welcomd fare,
both man, wyfe and page.
þen was Thoby sun and Ayre
of all þer herytage.

1370

ffor raguell be reson ryfe
sone aftur out of þis werld was tone.
þen Thoby and his worthy wyfe
had chylder fayr and welth gud woyne,
And when he had lyfed in his lyfe
I C wyntur all bot one,
he went a way with outyn stryfe.
we trow he had full graythly goyne.
his wyf sone aftur sesyd,
als god wold behoued to be.
his chylder furth encressed
and gouernd grett degree.

1371

ffull blessed barns furth of þem bred,
als sythyn was sene on ylka syde.
And so þer lynag sprang and spred,
als ys wyttenest in werldes wyde.
þis story is rehersed and red
vs forto tech in ylka tyde,
yf we in stourys be stratly sted,
all bowsomly all bale to byde
And loue god of his grace,
what saynd so he wyll send.
god graunt vs spech and space
our myse here to amend!

hester liber

1372

Here may men loke who lykes to lere
of solace and of sorowyng also;
how þat þis werld wuns euer in were
fro wo to wele, fro wele to wo;
Of a rych kyng heyght Assuere,
and of his wyfes, for he had two.
Both were þei qwenys by seson sere.
qwene Vasti heyȝt þat on of þo,
þat oþer hester heyght;
and als lernyd men may loke,
Aftur hyr name full ryȝt
þis ys cald hester boke.

1373

þis mater more to make in mynd,
þis myghty man þat I of meyne,
ffro Ethiope vnto grett Iend
was he kyng of all cuntre cleyne.
he mad a fest, als folke may fynd,
of dukes, erl[e]s, and knytes kene,
And bad þat none suld leue be hynd,
be cause he suld be soueran sene
And knawn for kyng and prince
of castels, towre, and town.
Sex score and VII provynce
were to his bedyng bown.

1374

And all he bad þat þei suld be
ylk man in þer rychest arays
At Susa, in his awn Cyte,
for þor was purvayd his paylays.
And to his kepers commawnd he
þat his fest suld last XL days
with all ryches and ryalte
þat any man covth poynt or prays.
þe chambers dyd þei dyȝt
so þat noyȝt suld be sene
bot of gold burnyscht bryȝt
and pyrry couchyd full clene.

1375

þer bordes ware sett of syluer syne,
and trystes of þe same ordand ere;
þe[r] vessell all of gold full fyne
þat any man to bord suld bere;
And kokes þat were in kechyn
of syluer and gold was all þer geyre.
þer was no wantyng of no wyn,
ne of no welth þat lordes suld were.
All maner of mynstralsy
wore þore þem forto glad.
þer myȝt no man dyscrye
more myrth þen þore was made.

1376

In þis meyne tyme þat I of tell,
qweyne vasty made full grett gedderyng
Of all þe lades þat con dwell
a bow[t] hyre nere, both old and ȝyng.
And on þe aghtyn day be fell
þat Assuer, þis ryall kyng,
wold schew his myȝt þos men omell
and his power of erthly thyng.
And of more myrth to meyne,
be cause sho was semly,
he sentt aftur þe qweyne
to glad þat cumpany.

1377

Seuyn eunokes of his chambre chefe
þat to lades þat tym toke tent
wentt to þe qweyn with wordes brefe
and sayd how þe kyng for hyr sent.
Sho toke yt gretly vnto grefe
þat swylke men on þat errand wentt;
ffor worthy lordes þat were hyr leyfe
suld make sych message, so sho ment.
Scho gart þem wend a gayn
with outyn motyng more
And say þe kyng certayn
þat sho myȝt not come þore.

1378

Swylke eunockes both north and south
ware wont þen lades forto lede.
fforto kepe þer counsayll wele þei couth
and no thyng speke bot þat myȝt spede.
And þei were ordand in þer yowth
þat þei myȝt do no manly dede,
bot euer more meke and myld of mouth
seruandes als maydyns for þer mede.
þe queyne toyȝt þer seruyce
fell not for hyr degre,
whyls mony princes of price
ware in þat same semle.

1379

The kyng toke [yt] to grett dedyne
þat his wyf wold not werke his wyll;
And to princes he con hym pleyne
and bad þei suld take tent þer tyll
how þat þe qweyne so wold hyr feyne
his commawndment not to fulfyll,
And þat þei suld, or þei went þeyne,
be wele a vysyd of þat same skyll
And ordan þem amang
what were best forto do;
And were yt wele or wrang,
he wold assent þer to.

1380

þos princes, als þe kyng purvayd,
assembled all into a halle,
And þore þer resons þei arayd
for swylke a fare what suld be fall.
And all samyn to þe kyng þei sayd,
“ser, our assent say þe we sall:
vs thynke þis lake is not layd
to þe allon bot to vs all;
ffor swylk maters to moue,
bot boyte be sett þer in,
yt may be grett reproue
to vs and all our kyn.

1381

ffor yf þis noyte were noysed in land,
yt suld make lades be more kene
And noyȝt to be to þer husband
bowsom als þei are hath bene.
þer commawndmentes þei suld gayn stand
and sett exempyll of þe qwene.
And þerfor, ser, we haue ordand
þat swylke maters no more be [sene];
And for þis dede is demyd
so þat þi qwene Vasty
ffor hyr defawt be flemed
fere fro þi cumpany.

1382

And þen do crye in ylk cuntre
and byd all wemen to be bown
To þer husbandes in all degre
to saue his ryȝt and his renown.
And sone do seke in ylke Cyte
fayre maydyns both in feld and town,
And chese on of þem to þe
forto be qweyne and were þe crowne,
qwylke þe thynke best wyll seme
A lades lyf to lede.”
Euyn als þo princes con deme
gart he be doyn in dede.

1383

þei soyȝt in towns to and fro,
and all fayre maydyns þat þei fand
To þe kynges court þei gart þem ga
to se who suld be qweyne ordand.
In þat same Cyte of susa
A gentyll jew þen was dwelland
þat [m]a[n]ly durst no maystrays ma,
for paynyms law vsed all þat land.
þe bybyll tellys to vs
þis man þat I of meyn
was named Mardochius,
þat be fore bold had beyn.

1384

Mardochius was dyȝt to dwell
als neghtbour nere to þe kynges ȝate,
And with hym wund a damsell,
his broþer doyghtur leued o late.
hester scho heyght, os I herd tell;
of a fayrrer woman no man wate.
Mardochyus m[e]neys hym forto mell
yf sho myȝt stepe vnto þe qweynys astate.
Rychly he hyr arayd
þat wrschep forto wyn,
And for hyr parte he purvayd,
so þat sho was takyn in

1385

And ordand to be on of seuyn
þat w[ith] þe kyng suld ryse and rest,
Of whom on suld be ordand euyn
with hym in fayth forto be fest.
when he had purvayd þem state and steuyn
ylkon a bowt to be his gest,
Als god wold send hyr helpe fro heuyn,
hester to luf hym lyked best.
þe oþer wentt home be deyne
bot hyr þat hym was leuere.
hester was crowned qweyne
And vasty voyde for euer.

1386

Mardocheus was full mery in mynd
when he hard how þis fare fell in.
he sent his frendes, als folke may fynd,
to say hyr how sho suld be gyn,
þat sho suld noyȝt carpe of hyr kyned
þat scho was comyn of jewys kyn;
ffor paynyms had leuer had þem pyned
þen wytt þat þei suld to welth wyn.
The kyng made festes thre
with lordes and knyghtes keyne,
And bad all folke suld be
bowand to his new qweyne.

1387

þe qweyne in lykyng leue we þan
in ryall state so styll to stand,
And of þe kyng carpe, yf we can,
A farly fare þat he furth fand.
He had a stewerd, þat heyght Aman,
þat was leder of all his land;
And what þe kyng with wrschep wan,
all had he holly vnder hand.
þe kyng lufed hym so wele
his hert he con hym hete,
And commawnd all men to knele
whore so þei suld hym mete,

1388

And þat men suld hym honour ay
[euyn als] hym self in gud degre.
And [yt] be fell so on a day
Aman went so vnto his meneȝe.
Mardochyus satt euyn in his way
on benke whore he was wonnt to be.
To Aman wold he no word say,
bo[t] styll in sted euyn þer satt he.
Aman for his behoue
be þat same way oft ȝode.
Mardochyus wold not moue
to hym nauder hat ne hode.

1389

So Aman noyes were euer new
for þis same cause when he com þore.
Sum enmyse þat mardochyus knew
sayd he and his kyn jewys þei wore.
when Aman wyst he was a jew,
þen was his malyse mekyll more
And sayd full sone yt suld hym rew,
for he wold not fale hym be fore.
he askyd leue of þe kyng
all for mardochius sake
All jews to draw and hyng
whore so men myȝt þem take.

1390

Aman gart wrytt þis ylke warrand
in all þe hast þat euer he may.
þe kyng yt seled with his awn hand,
and þen Aman went fast his way.
he sent letturs thrugh all þat land
þat all þo þat lyfyd by þe jewys lay
Sall com, als þe kyng hath commawnd,
tyll Susa Cyte a certan day.
he bad both wyf and chyld
[suld] bow to þis bydyng
And þare gudes tame and wyld
be for feyt to þe kyng.

1391

when þis word to þe jewys was went,
to susa soyȝt [man], wyf and knaue.
Mardochyus herd þen how þei ment;
for reuth he remed als he suld raue.
ffor wele he saw he suld be shent
yf Aman so his hele myȝt haue.
Vnto þe qweyne softly he sentt
and prayd hyr help hyr selfe to saue.
he made hyr vnderstand
and all þe soth suppose
how Aman had ordand
all hyr lynage to lose.

1392

So qwen þe qweyne þis consell kend,
scho syghyd sore with sympyll chere.
þis myschefe wold scho were mend,
bot sho wyst not on what manere.
hyr folke sho wold full fayn dyffend
so þat þei myȝt lyf furth in fere,
And hald hyr eme owt of þer hend,
forto be noyd was non so nere.
Sho wyst wele of þis thyng
was no counsayle to craue
bot thrugh helpe of þe kyng,
and þat was hard to haue.

1393

vnto hyr eme sho sent in hy
þat he suld take no greuance grett,
bot trest wele in god allmighty
and thre days fast fro drynke and mette
And pray to god all specially
hym forto helpe owt of þat hette.
“And so sall my maydyns and I,
for so I trow gud grace to gette.”
þus dyd þei þo thre days,
and þan with outyn more
Rychly sho hyr arays
to com þe kyng be fore.

1394

Als he was sett in solace sere
with oþer maysters full mony moo,
In his presens sho con apeyre
full ferdly all of ferrom hym fro.
he made hyr tokyns to come nere,
And whe[n] sho saw þat he dyd so,
Scho menskyd hym with full mere chere;
yt was solace to se þem two.
he sayd, “welcom, my qweyne!
þou comys sum thyng to craue.
Say what þou wyll of meyne,
and, sertes, þou sall yt haue.”

1395

“A, lord,” sho sayd, “and þi wyll be,
my myrth yt myȝt full mekyll amend
And þou wold þis day dyne with me
in lufly loge þat I in lend,
And byd ser Aman com with þe,
þat is chefe of þi counsell kend.”
“My wyfe,” he says, “gladly wyll we,
for Aman sall we aftur send.”
þat fest was gudly grayd
with all gamys þat myȝt glade.
Sho toyȝt more þen scho sayd,
bot mekyll myrth þei made.

1396

þe kyng come namly at þe noyne,
and Aman, þat grett fauour feld.
Sho welcomd þem, yf þei were sone,
with all wrschep þat scho couth weld.
And when þe dyner was all done,
þe kyng vnto his qweyn be held
And bad hyr boldly aske hyr boyne,
for he was bowne [hyr] forto beld.
Sho sayd þen to þe kyng,
“my lord, be leue of þe,
þis day I aske no thyng
bot glad and blyth to be.

1397

And ferrer, lord, now wold I frayn,
sen ȝe to speke hath graunt me space,
þat ȝe to morn wold come a gayn
to dyne with me in þis same place,
And of Aman als I am fayn
þat he playnly swylke power has.
And, ser, þen sall I say certayn
what myȝt me comforth in þis case.”
The kyng grauntes ylk dele
to fulfyll hyr entent.
Sho wenes all sall be wele,
and so þer ways þei went.

1398

Syr Aman wele wytt may we
went home with mekyll pompe and pryd.
he cald his wyfe and his meneȝe
and told vnto þem in þat tyde
how þat þer was none bed bot he
at þe [qweynes] burd with þe kyng to byde,
And on þe morn how he suld be
in þat same place sett þem be syd.
“And sen þat þei do þus,
me thynke no fawte I fele
Bot fals mardochyus
þat to me noyȝt wyll knele.”

1399

his wyfe says, “sertes, yt is grett scorn
þat he wyll not ryse of his sette.
bot, ser, lett ordan fast þerfor[n]:
sett vp [a] tre both long and grette,
And aske leue of þe kyng at morn
þat he be hanged or euer he ete.
So sall his lyf by lyghtly lorn;
þen may þou be mery at þi mete.”
þan gart he grath men gang
and sone sett vp a sperre
Of L cub[b]ettes lang
Merdochius on to marre.

1400

Bot god, þat hym his helpe hath heyȝt,
ordand þat qwayntyse forto qwell.
þe kyng lay wakand [all þe] nyȝt,
and of sere maters so con he mell.
he bad seruantes to sett vp lyȝt
and cald a clerke þat couth hym tell
And forto rede in romans ryȝt
what ferlys in his tym be fell.
þat clerke þen sat redand
full mony poyntes of price,
And in a sted he fand
whore wryttyn was on þis wyse:

1401

“Two men þat wold not byde for bale
þor be þe way onys als þei wentt,
þei counsayld same and sayd, ‘we sall
gare slay þe kyng be our assent.’
And on merdocheus herd þis tale,
all how þei of swylke maters ment.
vnto þe kyng he told yt hale,
and els he had bene shamly shent.”
þe kyng asked what reward
mardocheus had here fore.
þe clerke saw noyȝt declared
be word ne wryttyng þore.

1402

By þis was done, þen was lyght day.
ser Aman hoped to haue his bone,
And In he come þe kyng to pray
þat mardocheus were hanged soyne.
þe kyng hym cald and bad hym say
what dede suld to þat man be doyne
þat þe kyng wold haue wrschept all way:
“þis wold I wytt with wordes foyne.”
Aman thynkes, “þat am I
that the [kyng] wyll wrscheped be.
None is so wele worthy.”
þerfor þus ordand he.

1403

he says, “lord, þis sall be his mede
þat þe kyng wyll reuerence with renown:
he sall be cled in kynges wede
and crowned with a kynges crowne.
he sall sytt [o]n þe kynges awn sted,
and þe best bachelar sall be bown
his brydyll bowsomly to lede
and crye with trumpeyttes thrugh all þe towne:
þus is þe kynges wyll:
whom he wyll wrschepe wele,
þat þus be done hym tyll
and all men vnto hym knele.”

1404

þe kyng was of þis purpase payd
and sayd, “loke þat þou tarry no[t] lang,
bot sone þou loke all þis geyre be grayd,
and take on of our stedes strang,
And make merdocheus be arayd
aftur þi wordes þat noyȝt be wrang.
And als þou hath assygned and sayd,
þi self sall be his brydyll gang.
And when þou has done so,
to mete we sall go soyne.”
þen was Aman full wo,
bot wyghtly was yt done.

1405

Mardocheus had grett meruell þen
what all þier maters myȝt be meyne.
bot wele he toyȝt þe ground be gan
of his cosyn, þe kynges qweyne.
ffull sorely lett ser Aman
be all þer dedes were doyne be deyne.
Vnto his howse wyghtly he wan,
and þor was sorowyng sadly seyne.
Als þei so mornyng made,
on come [hym] to rehete
And sayd þe kyng abade
to he come to his mete.

1406

þen went he furth [with] sygh[yng] sore,
bot he behoued chaunge his sembland soyne.
So when he come þe kyng be fore,
he sayd his wyll was dewly doyne.
þei went to mete with outyn more,
and mery mad þe kyng þat noyne.
The qweyn, for hyr frendes wepand wore,
thynkes eftur mete to aske hyr boyne.
Syr Aman thynkes hym shent,
no mete myȝt make hym glade,
ffor he dowtes hym to hent
more harme þen he ȝett hade.

1407

þe qweyne was fayn þem forto fyll
with alkyn bestes and fowls fyne,
with spycery to spare or spyll;
and when þe kyng was glade with wyne,
þe kyng sayd þen þe qweyn vntyll,
“wyf, aske of me oght þat is myne;
ffor half my kyngdom yf þou wyll,
aske yt and yt sal be þine.”
þen down to knese sho kneled
sum dele with drery mode,
And sayd, “lord, god yow ȝeld!
me nedes none erthly gude.

1408

Bot of þis boyn be seke I þe:
his strengh to stroy and to gayn stand
þat wyll confownd my kyn and me
and stroy our lynag in þis land.”
þe kyng askes, “what herlott is he
þat swylke heghtnes dere take on hand?”
Sho says, “lord, yf þi lykyng be,
[ser] Aman has þis care cum[m]and.”
when þe kyng herd þis word,
[yt] merueld all his mode.
he rayse vp fro þe burd
and in to a garthyn he ȝode.

1409

þore went he hym forto a vyse
what ware to carpe in slyke a kynd.
þe qweyn seke on hyr bed sho lys,
for scho was moued all out of mynd.
ser Aman þen full spedely spyse
how he myȝt any fauour fynd.
be fore þe qweyn he knelys and cryes
to pray hyr þat he be not pynd.
þe kyng com In with þat,
for greued both gull and gr[en]e,
And sees whor Aman satt
at þe bed be syd þe qweyne.

1410

þat moued hym more to tene þat tyd,
bot Aman with drew hym for drede.
Vnto þe kyng an oþer cryde,
“þis day is doyne a dolefull dede:
Aman has sett his howse be syd
A gebett, large of lengh and brede,
Mardocheus þer with rewth to ryde.
þus has he heyȝt, who wyll take hede.”
þe kyng asked oþer mo
yf he swylk maystrys meyue.
þei sayd all he dyd so
mardocheus to myschefe.

1411

þe kyng þen cum[m]and his meneȝe,
“ser Aman tyte I byd yow take
And hang hym self on þat same tre
þat he mad for mardocheus sake.”
þei were full blyth yt suld so be,
and sone þat maystry con þei make.
And jews þat soyȝt [to] þat Cyte,
þen mott þei wende to wynly wake.
And qweyne was glad and blyth
with merdocheus and mo.
þei thanked god oft sythe
þat þem had socurd soo.

1412

þus was his blyse all broyȝt in bale
þat to merdocheus mened full yll.
his wyf and barnes, both grett and smale,
were flemed ferre for þat same skyll.
hys howse and all his howshald hale
was gyfyn to þe qweyne to [w]eyld at wyll,
And his tressour to tell be tale
to jews þat were spoled forto spyll.
þe wryttes þat were enseled
at putt þe jews to payn,
by wrytte þei were repelyd.
þen were þo folke ful fayn.

1413

So was fals Aman hanged at hame,
als he tyll oþer had yll ordand.
Mardocheus was made in hys name
stewerd in his sted to stand.
þus who so wyll þe sakles shame
for any lordschep in þis land,
Apon þem self sall fall þe same
or wers, þis may we wele vnderstand.
God graunt vs grace to end
[in] luf and charite
And all our myse to mend!
Amen. so mott yt be!

Iudyth

1414

Dame Iudyth was a gentyll jew
and woman wyse whore sho suld wende.
Now wyll we neuyn hyr story new,
for to sum men yt myȝt amend
To see how sho in trewth was trew
Als lang als sho in lyf con lend,
And lufed þe law als lele ebrew
þat moyses tyll hyr kynred kend.
þat law forto mayntene
sho ordand in all thyng,
Als Insampyll was seyn
and wyttenest in werkyng.

1415

Bot to mell [with] þis mater more
þis lady now wyll we leue o[f] hand,
And tell of fare þat fell be fore,
als [our] faders be fore vs fand.
A kyng, Nabogodhonosour,
in Bablion he was dwelland.
All oþer kynges and lordes wore
full stably at his steuyn to stand.
All þat lufed paynyms law
and lyfed by mawmentry
Aftur his dedes con draw
and lowted hym fast for þi.

1416

he had þis werld sett at his wyll;
hym toyȝt no noye suld neght hym nere,
ffor all his forwardes to fulfyll
all hethyn folke were full fayn in fere.
With ebrews oft hym angerd yll,
for þem lyst not his lare to lere.
Oft sythys he spyed [þem] to spyll
with engynys and with sawtes sere.
by sere cautels he kest
how he myȝt bryng þem down,
Bot whyls þei lufed god best,
to beld þem ay was he bown.

1417

þis kyng was strang in ylke stoure,
and in all were he wan degre;
And so he gat to grett honowre
and conquered kynges in sere cuntre,
wher for he fell in fowle errowre,
als men may be exempyll see.
he couth not knaw his creatore
bot hoped þer was no god bot he.
O[n] payn of lyf and lyme
he warnd his men ylkon
And bad þei suld hald hym
þer god and oþer none.

1418

So in þis errour con he dwell
als maystur most of more and lese,
wherfore fowle vengance on hym fell
to lyfe als best with grouand grese.
bot here we haue no tym to tell
þe poyntes þat proues all þe procese.
ffurth with our maters wyll we mell
how jewys ware doyne to grett dystrese.
ffor þe[n] þe kyng ordand
his ost with playn powere
To dystroy ylka land
þat his law wyll not lere.

1419

And to fulfyll all þis in dede
to semble folke he wold not sese.
he ordand on his ost to lede,
A dughty duke heyȝt Olyfernes,
And bad all men to hym take hede
and with hym wend in were and pese.
þe fo[l]ke were fayn and with hym ȝede,
and for þer cheftan þei hym chese.
þe kyng bad þem not spare
bot dyng down all be deyne
þat wold noyȝt luf þer lare,
tyll all be conquered cleyne.

1420

þis dughty duke þat I of ment
fro his werke wold no langer abyde.
with full grett ost furth is he went
with mynstralsy and mekyll pride.
Cytes and burghes both þei brent,
þe jewys to harme full fast þei hyed.
Cornes and wynes shamly þei shent,
þor was no trews to take þat tyde.
þe jewys þat were dwelland
In ierusalem Cyte
Myght loke ouer all þat land
and full grett soroyng see.

1421

when þei had so dystroyd and strayd
and fuld þe folke be fyrth and fell,
A sege to þat Cyte þei layd
whore jews was [dyȝt most] forto dwell.
“we sall not sese, for soth,” þei sayd,
“or all þe chylder of israel
with all [þer] godes to ground be grayd.
so sall þei neuer of maystry mell.”
þei loged þem þore to lend
and lyfyd at þer lykyng
ffull fawrty days tyll end
þat burgh in bale to bryng.

1422

Bot folke with in full wysly wake
þer Cyte fast [for] to dyffend
with allablasters and with bows of brake
ay redy bown forto be bend.
with gunys grett styfly þei strake,
with in þer dynt durst no man lend.
And euer to god þer mayn þei make
þer mornyng with his myȝt to mend.
with In þat Cyte ere
prestes to pray plente,
And knyghtes full wyse of were
to gouern þer degre.

1423

Bot þer degre was not to deme
all yf þei were dughty of dede.
þer enmyse were so bold and breme,
to þem þei durst not batell bede.
þer byschope heyȝt elyachym,
and vnto hym holy þei ȝede
And prayd hym say how yt suld seme
þem forto deme [in] swylka drede.
he commawnd þen þat þei
suld both with hert and hend
Mekly vnto god pray
þer myschefe to amend.

1424

“ffor so,” he says, “ȝe sall encrese
and no thyng of ȝour rebels reke.”
he sett ensampyll [of moyses]
and of þe grett abymalech:
“he putt his pepyll fast in prese,
to fell goddes folke þei were full freke.
bot ay whyls moyses prayd for pese,
god sett þer noys in þer enmys neke.
yf we werke on swylke wyse
and faynd our god to plese,
þen sall non yll enmyse
vnto vs do dysesse.”

1425

þei were full redy, os he [þem] red,
forto aray aftur his resown.
ffull bowsomly, os he þem bed,
on þe bare erth þei sett þem down.
In hayrys and sekkes sone were þei cled
and kest powder apon þer crown.
All yf þer enmyse wele were fed,
to fyght þen had þei no fusyown.
ser olyfernes toyȝt
þei lay þer full lang whyle.
Sere soteltes he soyȝt
to wyn þem be sum wyle.

1426

he wyst wele þe wold haue no dawt
whyls þei had welth of waters clere.
þerfor he gart spare ylk spowte
whore any wels of watur were.
he mad þer bekkes to ryn abowt
þat non suld negh þat Cyte nere.
So menes he forto make þem [l]owt
and be full blyth his lay to lere.
þen were þe jews in wo,
when þei saw stopped ylke streme
ffro þe Cyte of Ierico
and fro ierusalem.

1427

þei saw þer wellys wex all dry,
þei fand no tast in town ne feld.
No wounder yf þei were sory,
for wyn was wasted all þat þei weld.
þer price prophett þen heyȝt oȝi,
þat in batell þem best wold beld.
To hym þei come with carfull crye
and bad he suld þer bodes ȝeld.
“Our lyfes so forto saue,
for, sothly, ser,” þei say,
“bettur is our hele to haue
þen dye all on a day.”

1428

when oȝi herd þem sorowyng so
and lyke to lose all þat land,
he weped and wrang his hend for wo,
and vnto þem þus he cum[m]and
vnto þe tempyll all forto go
and pray þer [god all] weldand
“vs forto wyn out of þis wo,
sen all our hele henges in his hand.”
ffull prestly þore þei pray,
neu[e]nand grett god be name,
And þus hym self con say,
for þei suld say þat same:

1429

“lord god þat mad kyrnell and corne
and all may saue be [l]and and see,
þat fed our faders fare be forn
and fro kyng pharo mad þem free!
sene þe lykes noyȝt þat þei be lorn
þat trewly trows and treystes in þe,
haue mercy on vs euyn and morn;
saue þi seruandes and þis Cyte!
we wott full wele vs aw
for syn swylke lyf to lede,
bot þi mercy we knaw
is more þen our mysdede.

1430

we wott wele þou is all weldand
and all may gouern gud and yll.
Agayn þi steuyn may no thyng stand,
all states may þou steme and styll.
chasty vs, lord, with þi hand
þat our enmyse say not þis skyll:
þer god was wunt þem to warrand,
now wyll he not tent þem vntyll.”
þen all þat pepyll prayd
full lowly, lese and more,
And forto make þem payd
to þem þus sayd he þore:

1431

“I rede we fast V days to end
with all wrschep we may weld,
And see yf god wyll socour send
vs forto saue vnder his sheld.
And yf no comforth þen be kend,
þis Cyte sone þen sall I ȝeld
Our enmyse to haue in þer hend,
so þat þei hete to be our beld.”
þei sayd, “we all assent
þis forward to fulfyll.”
And so þer ways þei went
ylkon at þer awn wyll.

1432

Bot þen þis wyse woman Iudyth,
when scho herd of þer tythyng tell,
how ser oȝi had ordand yt
þer Cyte and þer selfe to sell,
And how he made þat mesure fytt
to dome of god V days to dwell,
Sho wold yt wast with womans wytt,
and furth scho went þat fare to fell.
To þe tempyll rayked scho ryȝt
and cald þo folke in fere,
And up sho stud on heyght
so þat þei suld hyr here.

1433

To Oȝi fyrst hyr mone sho mase
als to most maystur þo men Amang.
Sho says, “o myse þou takes þi trace,
and to my wytt þi werke is wrang.
how dere þou sett in certayn space
þe wyll of god to come or gang,
Sene he is Gyfer of all grace
sone forto leue or to last lang!
þis is more lyke to greue
our god, þat most may gayn,
þen [vs] oght to releue
at put vs fro þis payn.

1434

þerfor is gud þat we be gyne
of þis greuance to geyte relese,
And say: þis sorow is sent for syn
þat we haue wroyȝt and wold not sese,
Als was with elders of our kyn,
Abraham, ysaac, and moyses.
þei had wo, for god wold þem wyn
aftur þer payn to endlese pese
And also forto proue
with teyne and with trayueyle
whedder þei wold last in loue
or fro hym fayntly fayle.

1435

And for þei wold not groche agayn
bot schewed ay meknes more and more,
Als Iob and Thoby dyde sertayn
þat were assayd with seknes sore,
To goddes bydyng ay were þei bayn;
þerfor þer guddes he con restore
And put þem into power playn
more fast þen euer þei wore be fore.
þe same þen sall vs fall
and we þis fare fulfyll.”
þen Oȝi and þei all
graunted to werke hyr wyll.

1436

þei prayd hyr forto tell þem to
hyr purpase [both] by nyȝt and day.
“Now, sers,” sho sayd, “sen ȝe wyll so,
all myn entent I sall yow say.
þis nyȝt I wyll wende furth yow fro
in oþer place my god to pray,
And pray ȝe þat god with me go,
and lokes none wayte eftur my way.
I kepe no cumpany
bot my seruand sertayn.
kepes þis Cyte seurly
tyll god send vs agayn.”

1437

Sho sett ȝyng men to ȝeme þe ȝate
and bad þei suld be redy bown
To kepe hyr in þe euyn late,
for þat tyme wold scho wend o town.
þen to hyr howse scho toke þe gate
and gart hyr seruand in þat sesown
with bawme and with bathes hate
clense all hyr cors fro fote to crown.
And sythyn sho hyr arayd
in garmentes gud and gay,
And euer to god sho prayd
to wyse hyr in hyr way.

1438

with sylke and sendell and satayn
and baulkyn bettur non myȝt be,
hyr pe[ll]our all of pure Armyne,
with pyrry plett full grett plente,
with gyrdyll and garland [of] gold fyne
to make hyr semly vnto se.
hyre maydyn bare both bred and wyne
to fynd þem fode for days thre.
god wyst wele þat sho went
to saue his pepyll exprese.
þerfor to hyr he sent
both fauour and fayrnese.

1439

when hyr aray was all redy,
down on hyr knesse sho kneled þen,
And sayd, “my lord [god] allmighty,
þat wyll and toyȝt may clerly kene,
Sen in þe lygges all vyctory,
to me, þi seruand, myȝt þou lene
fforto ouer com our yll enmy
and saue þis Cyte and þi men.”
Scho prayd to god þus gaite
tyll lyȝt of day con sese.
þen wentt scho to þe ȝate
full preuely to prese.

1440

when sho come ydder, redy sho fand
oȝi and oþer to tent þer toure.
Sho bad þat þei suld stably stand
þat Cyte to saue and socoure,
And þat prestes suld pray with hert and hand
þat god suld be hyr gouernoure.
So went sho furth with hyr seruand
to enmys þat were strang in stoure.
Euer to god sho prays
to be hyr helpe and beld.
wach men þat kepes ways
[sone] fand þem in þe feld.

1441

þe merueld of hyr rych aray,
for so semly had þei sene none.
Sum of þem ware prowd of þat pray,
for gay geyre had sho full gud woyne.
þe asked wher scho was o way
and why sho welke so la[t]e allon;
And to þem sothly con scho say,
“sers, fro my frendes þus am I gone.
I com to yow in trewse,
and þat sall ȝe here and see.
I am on of þe ebrews
þat wuns in þis Cyte.

1442

To fle þer fro I am full fayn
and leue both catell, kyth and kyn.
ffor wele I wott my self certayn
þat ȝe and yours sone sall yt wyn.
To your prince is my purpase playn,
and I sall tell hym, or we twyn,
To wyne yt wele with outyn payn
and dystroy all þat [ere þer] in.
Sen þei wyll not þem ȝeld
to men þat may þem saue,
yt is no boyte to beld
þem þat no helpe wyll haue.

1443

Vnto my hele I wyll take hede
and to my seruand þat is here.
And, sers, I pray yow me to lede
vnto your prince þat has no pere.”
þei herd hyr spech was for þer sped,
þerfor þei were full fayn in fere.
To Olyfernes so þei ȝede
and fand hym syttand with solace sere.
þat lady in þei lad
and told þei fand hyr flayd
And fro hyr frenschep fled,
and how sho to þem sayd.

1444

when olyfernes saw þis syght
and herd þer tayles how þei con tell,
In hyr hys hert was rauyscht ryȝt
and demed þat sho suld with hym dwell.
þan forto marre hym more in myȝt
full flatt vnto þe grownd sho fell.
he commawnd men þat wer full wyght
to take hyr tyte vp þem omell.
þen on hyr knese sho kneled
and prayd his helpe to haue.
he sayd he suld hyr beld
in oght þat scho wold craue.

1445

Sho thanked hym frendly, noyȝt at hyde,
and ryȝt glad in his hert was he.
he saw hyr g[e]yre of so heygh prid,
he trowed sho was of grett degre.
he made hyr sytt hym self be syd,
þat was ryȝt semly syȝt to see.
þei fell in talkyng so þat tyde
þat mery [sho] mad als his meneȝe.
yt was solace sertayn
to se þe[m] syt to geydder,
And fyrst he con hyr frayn
cause of hyr comyng ydder.

1446

Sho sayd, “ser, and yow lyke to here,
I am an Ebrew ald and ȝyng.
My menyng is to mend your chere
by gud bod word þat I yow bryng.
I wyll maynteyn in my manere
Nabogodhonosour, your kyng,
And his law wyll me lyke to lere
when we haue endyd oþer thyng.
And, ser, fully I fynd
how þou has in [his] sted
Power to lowse and bynd
als lord of lyfe and ded.

100

1447

And, ser, I se þe soth certayn:
Ebrews, whyls þei may wepyns weld,
wyll hold ȝond Cete þe agayn
and neuer assent yt forto ȝeld.
þerfor to fle I am full fayn
to þe, þat best may be my beld.
ffor wele I wott þei sal be slayn,
for fawt [of fode] f[a]ll fay in feld.
And sen þei wyll not crye
to þe, þat may þem saue,
I hald þem wele worthy
swylk hydows herm to haue.

1448

And þer fore come I to þe here
by certayn sygnes þe to say
how þou sall all þat kynd conquere
lyghtly with outyn lang delay.
þei may not last, þus I þe lere,
be cause þer watur is haldyn away.
I herd þem say with sympyll chere
þat all suld fayle or þe faurt day.
And I saw, or I ȝode,
how þei þer bestes sloght
ffor thryst to drynke þe blod,
bot non had half enogh.

1449

And when I saw þat þei dyd so
and þat yt wold no bettur be,
I hyde me fast to fle þem fro
so to saue my seruand and me.
Sen þei wyll not be ware with wo
to saue þem self and þer Cyte,
yt was goddes wyll þat I suld go
and tell þer tythynges vnto þe.
lo, ser, þis is,” sho sayd,
“þe cause of my comyng.”
þen was þe prince wele payd,
þe wyn he bad þem bryng.

101

1450

he dranke and bed hyr furth by raw.
sho thanked hym with hert and hende:
“ser, me be houys lyfe eftur my law
tyll þis bargan be broyȝt tyll ende.
we haue ordand, als ebrews aw,
fode þer IIII days forto spend.
And, ser, by þat day sall we knaw
how wele our myrth sal be [a]mend.
ffor als lang als I dwell
his law sadly to saue,
þen wyll my god me tell
how we sall helpyng haue.

1451

And, ser, so sall I tell þe tyll
to make a sawt by sotell gyne
To weld þe Cyte at [þy] wyll
and esely forto entur þer in.
And, ser, þan may þou spare or spyll
þe Ebrews ylkon or þou blyn,
And, yf þe lyke, to lend þor styll
or home agayn with wrschep wyn.”
with gawdes þus scho hym glosed
to haue hyr purpase playn.
hyr sawys soth he supposed,
and þus he glosed a gayn:

1452

“I gyfe þe leue to make þi mese
of mete and drynke at þi lykyng,
ffor þou ow wele þi god to plese
þat out of bale wyll þe bryng.
And [when] we sall þe cete sese,
þou sall haue chose of all thyng
And lyfe euer þen at þin awn ese
with Nabogodhonosour, þe kyng.
ffor and I fynd yt fyne
þat þou says in þi saw,
þen sall þi god be myne
and I wyll luf þi law.

102

1453

And all þat to [hym] may [be] [l]eue
byd I þou do both nyȝt and day.
yt is not gud þat þou hym greue,
sen he all soth to þe wyll say.”
Sho sayd, “þen bus þou gyfe me leue
forto haue rowm and redy way
Euer more at myd nyȝt forto meue
to certayn place my god to pray.”
Of hyr wyll noyȝt he wyst;
þerfor he graunt sone
To lyf at hyr awn lyst
tyll all þier dedes be done.

1454

And to his kepers cum[m]and he
o payn to lose both lyf and land
þat þei suld to hyr bowsom be
and holy held vnto hyr hand
And make vschew and entre,
so þat no stekyll agayn hyr stand.
þei graunt ylkon in þer degre
kyndly to do als he þem cum[m]and.
ffull mery was ylk man
and full glad of þer gest.
So depart þei þan
and rede þem all to rest.

1455

þen to [a] chamber þei hyr led
þat was with alkyns wrschepe wroyȝt.
All bewtese both for burd and bed
with mekyll blyse was ydder broyȝt;
And in þat sted so was sho stede
with alkyns solace sere vnsoght.
bot to slepe was sho neuer vn clede,
of oþer thyng was mare hyr toyȝt.
ylke nyȝt scho toke hyr way
ferre down into a dale.
þor menys sho, and sho may,
to hald þe Ebrew[s] hale.

103

1456

In þat ylke dale was dyȝt a well
with Ebrew[s] þat be fore had bene.
þorof þei dranke whore þei con dwell,
and þor in ware þei weschyn clene.
And þore scho and hyr damsell
trayueld so þem two be twene.
þei mad a spryng þat fro yt fell
at þe Cyte syde forto be sene,
So þat þei þat wund [within]
ware warescht wele of thryst.
þus myȝt sho wende with [w]in
and lend at hyr awn lyst.

1457

So trayueld scho be tyms thre
into þat place hyr god to pray.
Scho had fre eschew and entre,
and so be fell on the IIIIt day:
Olyfernes bad his men suld be
ay redy in þer best aray.
ffor on þe fyft day hoped he
þe Ebrews folke to fell for ay;
ffor so had Iudyth sayd.
he gart ordan for þi
A soper gudly grayd
for hyr sake soueranly.

1458

when all was poynted with pomp and pryd,
A knyght þen vnto hyr sent he
fforto com and sytt hym be syde
þar maner of solace forto se.
þe knyght hyr told so in þat tyd.
sho thanked hym with wordes free
And sayd, “I sall not lang abyde,
for at his bydyng wyll I be.”
Rychly sho hyr arayd
to seme fayr in þer syȝt.
þe pepyll were full wele payd,
and þe lord was most lyȝt.

104

1459

Be for hym self hyr sett was wroyȝt
full presciosly forto apere.
hyr ryalnes rayuyschyd his toyȝt;
he bede hyr mete with mere chere.
Sho ete mete þat hyr maydyn broyȝt,
and toke þat coupe with wyn full clere
And made semland and dranke ryȝt noyȝt.
bot Olyfernes for þat fere
Of myghty wyne dranke more,
for myrth þat þei were mett,
þen euer he dranke be fore,
so hym self he ou[e]r sett.

1460

when Iudyth saw þat yt was so,
of þat werke was sho wele payd.
Sho made talkyng be twyx þem two
tyll he wyst noyȝt [wele] what he sayd.
he bad all men to bed suld go
and radly to þer rest arayd,
And þat none suld take tent hym to,
for at his lyst he wold be layd.
he thynkes þat he sall haue
þat lady hym forto plese.
bot god wyll euer more saue
his seruand fro dysese.

1461

vnto his bed fast con he hye
hys foly fare forto fulfyll.
he bad þat lady com lyg hym by,
for all þe doreys ar stokyn styll.
Sho sayd, “ser, I sall be redy
with word and werke to wyrke þi wyll.
Bot to my chamber wend wyll I,
and full sone sall I come þe tyll.”
To hyr chambre scho wentt
and prayd god specially,
Als he knew hyr entent,
to kepe hyr fro velany.

105

1462

vnto god þor sho prayd and [w]epe
forto vouchsaue hyr sorow to slake.
Sone Olyfernes fell on slepe,
for dronkyn man may not wele wake.
Sho warnd hyr seruand to take kepe
þat no kyns noyse suld [sho] make,
And preuely als sho couth crepe
hyr way to his bed con sho take.
þor kneled sho on þe ground
and prayd god with hys wyll
To strengh hyr in þat stownd
hyr forward to fullfyll.

1463

Sho drogh his sword full sone sertayn,
qwylke sho fand standand in þat sted,
And with þat brand sho brest his brayn;
so with þat dynt sone was he ded.
þen cutted sho sunder syn[ow] and vayn,
and fro hys halse hewed of hys hed
And putt yt in a poket playn,
whore þei be for had born þer bred.
Sho bad hyr maydyn yt bere
[whore] als þei were wunt to pray.
þei geydderd sayme þer geyre
and wyghtly went þer way.

1464

To haue þer hele þei hastyd fast
and made no tareyng in þat tyde.
Tyll tyme þei were all perels past,
þei wyst yt was no boyte to byde.
yf yt were late, so at þe last
þei neghted nere to þe Cyte syde.
To þe kepers a crye scho cast
and bad þem opyn þe wekett wyde.
hyr voyce full wele þei knew,
for fayn full fast þei wepe.
ffull mony a bold ebrew
com þore hyr forto kepe.

106

1465

þei lete hyr in with torches lyȝt
and lowtyng low, is not to layn.
þei were full glad to se þat syȝt,
for wele þei wend sho had bene slayn.
Sho stud vp in a sted of hyȝt
þat all men myȝt se hyr certayn.
And þore scho schewed hyr releke ryȝt,
þe hede out of hyr poket playn.
“loues god,” sho sayd sadly,
“þat for you hath ordand
[To] sett your vyctory
in a wake womans hand.”

1466

þen all þe pepyll in þat place
down on þer knese low þei knele.
þei thanked grett god of his grace
þat kyndly so þa[r] care wold kele.
when þei saw olyfernes face,
no wonder yf þei lyked yt wele.
þen Iudyth spake furth in þat space
how þei suld [do] euer ylke dele.
Sho sayd, “in þis same day
belyue loke ȝe be bowne
All in your best aray
to dyng your enmys downe.

1467

Set vp þis hed ouer þe ȝate,
so þat your enmyse may yt se.
ffor fro þei wyt, full wele I wayte,
þat þer prince so perysched be,
his men wyll make no more debate
bo[t] fayn to cayre to þer cuntre.
þen sall ȝe folow on þem fote hate
and fell þem or þei ferre flee.
þei sall lefe welth gud woyne,
bot lokes non tent þer tyll.
when þei ere fled and sloyn,
þen may ȝe fang your fyll.

107

1468

Euyn als sho demed was done in hye:
þe hede was sone sett vp on þe heyght.
þen mad þei myrth and melody
with bemys, als þei were bown to fyȝt.
And when þe hethyn hard þem crye
and saw a sygne sett in þer syght,
þei ware full yll a bayst þer by.
to warne þer prince þei went full wyȝt.
To his chambre þei hyed
and bad his seruandes say
how þe Ebrews þem ascryde
forto haue dede þat day.

1469

þe chamberer durst make no dyne
for ferd yt suld turn hym to teyne.
he wend þe woman were with in,
and þat þei both on slepe had beyne.
bot with hys handes he con be gyn
to wakyn þem be cowntenance cleyne.
And sythyn he come to þe curtyn,
þore was no segne of solace seyne.
þen nere þe bed he ȝode
and fand rewfull aray:
A body laped in blod,
bot þe hed was a way.

1470

ffull lowd he cryd, “alas! alas!
our lyues ere lorn, my lord is ded.”
“how is yt so?” ylkon þei asse.
he sayd, “se here, he has no hede.”
To Iudyth chamber con þei pase
and saw hyr stollyn out of þat sted.
þen wyst þei wele þat werkyng was
by hyr wyles and hyr wekyd red.
þore was no boyte to byde
þere welthes o way to wyn,
bot ylkon to ryn and ryd
and for sake kyth and kyn.

108

1471

þus of þer rest þei were remeued,
þer ryche robes [þei] rafe and rent.
þer restyng þore full sore þem rewed,
with outyn welth away þei went.
þe Ebrews prestly þem persewed,
all lost þer hedes þat þei myȝt hent.
þor þo all þat þis bargan brewed,
full shortly were þei shamed and shent.
þen come ebrews agayn
whore þer enmyse had beyne.
þei fand all safe certayn;
þer was no solpyng seyne

1472

Bot only of Olyfernes blod
þat out of his body was bled.
þor ware garmentes of gold full gud
and gold in bages a bowt þat bed.
þe body þei kest to bestes fud
and fowles þer with forto be fede.
Thresour þei toke and hame þei ȝode,
non oþer welth with þem þei led.
Non oþer thyng þei brogh
bot of gold full gud woyn.
To Iudyth sone þei soyȝt
and thanked hyr euer ylkon.

1473

þei broyȝt hyr gold in bages bun,
and bed þem self at hyr wyll to be.
þei say, “we wott we haue yt wun
with wyll of god and wyt of þe.”
Scho says, “sen god þus has be gun
to saue your selfe and your Cyte,
his tempyll sall þer wyt[h] be fun
and goueren euer in gud degre.”
þei say, “we haue leued þore
of erthly welth to wyn
To make vs me[ry] euer more
and comforth all our kyn.”

109

1474

Sho bad þem wyghtly wend þer ways
to steyr þo folke þat þei not stryfe.
“And partyes þe mobyls, sers,” sho says,
“be mesure both to man and wyfe.”
And so þei dyd by XXX days
or [þei] þat ryches myȝt vp ryfe.
þo þat be fore were pore to prayse
wer þen relyfed for all þer lyfe.
Grett myrth was þem amang;
þei loued god of his grace
with solace and with sange
full specially þat space.

1475

And when þat space was sped and spend
þat XXX days were fully gone,
þen Iudyth bad þem with hyr wend
vnto þer tempyll euer ylkon
And loue god þor with hert and hend,
þat swylke thressour had to þem toyne.
And þei dyd euyn als sho þem kend,
þei offerd gold þer full grett wone.
Sho bad þem loue only
god, þat is all weldand,
þat sett hys vyctory
and þer helpe in hyr hand.

1476

Als sho wold deme, þei dyd in dede,
als worthy was with outyn we[r]e.
þen home to hyr hows scho ȝede,
and pepyll past to þer places sere.
A lades lyfe þen con sho led,
and goddes law lyked hyr euer to lere.
And furth sho weryd hyr wedow wede
bot in souerane sesons of þe ȝere.
þen wold sho be more gay
to syght and more honest
In purpas god to pay
for wrschepe of þat fest.

110

1477

Sho had enogh of rent and land
in ylke sted whore sho was sted
Aftur manasses, hyr husband,
þat lordly lyf be fore had led.
And of all þat sho had in hand
ouer honest spence þat suld be sped,
þer with pore folke sho fed and fand
and beldyd both to bake and bede.
Sho ocupyed so hyr sted
in pennance and in prayer
ffro hyr husband was dede
A C and V ȝere.

1478

hyr seruandes, man, maydyn and knaue,
mad sho to goueren gud degre.
þen dyed scho as god voched saue,
for fro þat fytt may no man flee.
by hyr husband þei can hyr graue
full solemply in þat Cyte,
And by seuyn days sorowyng þei haue,
als costome was in þat cuntre.
þe jews makes hyr in mynd
euer more to be on ment,
ffor scho comforth þer kynd
when þei in bale were bent.

1479

Now be þis werke wele may we wytt
how god wyll pupplysch his power
In wemen forto fall als fytt
als in men on þe same manere.
þus endes þe boke of Iudyth,
als clerkes may knaw by clergy clere.
God graunt hym hele þat hath turned yt
in ynglysch lawd men forto lere!
Insampyll may men here se
to be trew in trowyng.
god graunt vs so to be
and to his blyse to bryng!

111

De matre cum VII filiis

1480

Of farly fare, who so wyll fynd,
in forme faders is fayre to rede.
bot crystyn folke suld carpe be kynd
of crystes laws, os kens our crede,
And gud ma[r]ters to haue in mynd—
for swylk ma[r]ter[s] may make vus mede—
how þat þei were persewed and pynd
and done to ded be dyuerse dede.
be cause þei crist wold knaw,
wore mony sakles slayn;
And sum for moyses law
were ded with dyuerse payn.

1481

And s[o]ne we sall sum ma[r]ters neuyn
þat wroyȝt with moyses wyll all way.
Of VIII þen is yt ordand euyn
in holy chyrch to syng and say,
how þat þe moþer and hyr suns seuyn
were done to ded all on a day,
All for þei stod with stabyll steuyn
in mayntenance of moyses lay.
he bad, for herd or nesch,
þat [h]is folke grett and small
Suld for bere swynyse flesch
for oght þat myȝt [be]fall.

1482

þis woman with hyr chylder ȝyng
wayted full warly, whore þei went,
To kepe and breke noyȝt his bydyng,
þerfor to be in bales bent.
Anthiocus, A cursed kyng,
when he herd tell of þer entent,
To bare he bad men suld þem bryng
and sayd þei suld with sham be shent.
ffor he was paynym prowd,
with mawmentes sere vmsett,
goddes law both styll and lowd
was his lykyng to lett,

112

1483

And all Ebrew[s] þat eftur yt wroyȝt.
þerfor he charged men of myȝt
þat þe wyfe with hyr VII suns were soyȝt
and sembled sone be fore his syȝt.
So vnto barre sone were þei broyȝt
with bedels and with brandes bryȝt;
bot of þat noyte no thyng þei roght,
þer hertes ware hale to heue[n] on hyȝt.
þe moþer be manfull steuyn
both with hert and hand
Comforthys hyr suns all seuyn
and bad þem stably stand:

1484

“ffor þe luf of god to lyf and dy,
suns, in my blyssyng loke bown ȝe [b]e.
I sall yow say encheson why:
none may yow help bot only he.
how ȝe were bred in my body,
þat was no thyng be myȝt of me.
god fosterd yow þore, and not I,
[and] broyȝt yow furth in forme fre.
And, suns, he sall yow saue
yf ȝe ryȝt spend your space,
And all þat ȝe here haue
is [g]yfyn of his grace.

1485

I gaf yow noþer lyfe ne lym,
ne bones ne flesch to fest yow fast.
god gaf yow lyȝt when ȝe were dym,
and your sawles in your corsus he cast.
[yf] erthly payns bene grett and grym,
loues [now] god and bees not agast,
bot thynkes þat ȝe sall haue with hym
þe ioy and lyf þat euer sall last.
Suns, yf ȝe suffer sore,
þat space sall sone be spend,
And ȝe sall haue þer fore
þe hele þat sall haue non ende.”

113

1486

þus comforth sho þat cumpany,
both ald and ȝyng, euer als þei ȝede.
þe kyng spake full dyspytfully
to make þem haue more dowt and dred.
he sayd, “of your he[s]tes herd haue I
who made yow bold forto for bede
þe flesch þat lele men suld lyf by,
þat ordand is the folke to fede.
ȝe say [þ]e flesch of swyne
suld men forsake sertayn.
ȝe sall be putt to pyne
tyll ȝe ete yt full fayn.”

1487

þei answerd ylkon als a man
and sayd, “þat syȝt sall neuer be seyne.
þe lawes our formfaders be gan
euer to maynteyne sall we [m]eyne.”
The terrand toke þe eldyst þan
and trayteyd hym þem two be tweyne,
And thynkes, yf he ouer com hym can,
þen ere þe oþer ouer comyn cleyne.
with fayrnes fyrst he [f]erd
and sythyn with noye new.
þat eldyst euer answerd
with stedfast trewth and trew.

1488

his hert ay vnto heuyn had he,
and þus he carped vnto þe kyng,
“what sekes yow, ser, of vs to se?
what wyll ȝe lere of our lyfyng?
All gods folke ow to be fre
and honor hym ouer all thyng.
his law we wyll not leue for þe,
ne for no bale þat þou may bryng.
To dy is vs wele leuer
þen in þat lay forfeyt
þat our faders vsed euer
and sythyn tyll vs yt seytt.”

114

1489

þen was þe fend full fell of ire
and manast hym with all his mayn.
he sayd, “þou sall haue þi desyre;
with sorow sere þou sall be slayn.”
be lyue he gart go make a fyre
in myddes þe place þor on þe playn
And bryn hym vp both bone and lyre.
bot fyrst he sall fele feller payn,
þat oþer so may be warre
and make hym þer merrowr,
when þei se hym so fare
to for sake þer errowr.

1490

þe fyr was bett at hys bydyng
of bowes and of best byrnand geyre.
A led of brase þen dyd he bryng,
with pyke fulfylled, hym forto fere.
And when yt was wele at wellyng,
his tong he bad þei suld out schere
And als a foyle for hethyng
schaue of his hede both hyde and heyre.
All þis was done in dede,
and wounder was to lythe:
hys brether saw hym blede
and bad he suld be blythe.

1491

And for he suld not chaunge his chere
bot with trew hert þe turmentes take—
ffor god is of so grett power,
of all myse may he mendes make—
þe moþer sayd, “sun, we ere here
redy to suffer for goddes sake;
ffor he wyll foche vs all in fere
with hym to wun and wynly wake.”
when þe terrand herd tell
no thyng myȝt make þem tame,
he was more fers and fell
and toyȝt to shape þem shame.

115

1492

þer myȝt no myrth to [hym be] mete
when þat he saw þer sad semlandes.
he sayd, “we sall sone gayr þem grett.
tyte take þis herlott þor he standes,
And cutt his tase of both his fete
and his fyngurs of both his handes,
And haues hym þen into yond hete,
and [b]ettes hym with your byrnand brandes.
And yf he langer last,
lays hym þer in þe led,
And make fyr vnder fast
to boyle tyll he be ded.”

1493

when all þis dole was done and dyȝt,
his moþer, þat was most hym nere,
And his sex breþer saw þis syȝt,
how he sufferd þos sorows sere.
þei heyued þer handes to heuyn on hyght
and loued god with full gud chere
And sayd [þat] he suld se to ryȝt
and reward all þat worthy were.
he wyll abate all bandes
and b[e]te ylka byttur brayd
And solace his seruandes,
als moyses sum tyme sayd.

1494

þus when þe fyrst had done his dett
[and] sufferd ded be dyuerse payn,
þe secund sone was sesed and sett
to se what he suld say certayn.
þe kyng asked hym yf he wold ete
swylk flesch os his folke were of fayn,
Or to be mesurd with þat same mett
lyke to his broþer and so be slayn.
he answerd sone and sayd,
“I am not ferd þer for.”
þen was þe kyng yll payd,
and sone he marred hym more.

116

1495

Of his hed gart he scrape þe skyn,
and þen to hym þus con he say,
“wyll þou ȝett of þin errour blyn
and mend þi myscheue whyls þou may,
And lere þe law þat we lyf in,
or lose þi lyms and lyf for ay?”
þat oþer bad, “be lyue be gyn,
for, sertes, I dred no thyng þat dray.
þe lawes our faders fand
to hald hertly I hete.”
And þen þe kyng cummand
to cutt hym hand and fete.

1496

“And sett þe fyre on ylka syde,
sen he wyll byd no bettur bede;
And yf he may [þis] bale abyde,
boyle hym þen tyll he be ded.”
þen was he turment in þat tyd,
and als þei stund hym in þat stede,
Vnto þe kyng full lowd he cryd
and sayd, “þou wrech with wekyd red,
Be þi strenght þou dystroys
oure erthly lyf in land.
bot nedleys þou þe noyys;
our lyf sal be lastand.

1497

God þat is kyng of creatours
and demer both of dedes and sawys,
hys seruandes sadly he socours
þat to his dome þer dedes drawys.
yf we now stand þus strang in stours
and lefe þis lyf here for his lawys,
he sall vs rayse with grett honours
to endlese lyf þat þou noyȝt knawys.”
And so he gaf þe gast
to god by cours of kynd.
þe kyng was made all mast
and moued all out of mynd.

117

1498

The thryd full throly þen þei thrett
þat he suld be more stratly sted
Bot he by lyue wold drynke and ete
swylke fode as þe folke ware with fed.
The chyldes hert to heuyn was sett,
for þat dray was he noyȝt a dred.
Or he was auder bun or bett,
his tong full boldly furth he bedd.
his handes so con he schew
to byd þat byttur brayd,
And his fete for to hewe;
and on þis wyse he sayd:

1499

“Of god fro heuyn I had all þies
purtrayd thrugh his power playn.
Now for his law I þem dyspyse
and profers þem to putt in payn.
ffor wele I wott þat I sall ryse
and þat god sall gyfe me a gayn
All new members and more of price.
þerfor to lose þies I am fayn
ffor his sake þat þem sentt
and mad þem mete to me.
yf þei now take turment,
make þem full hale may he.”

1500

Þe kyng þen carped wordes kene,
and to his counsayle fast he cryd.
both he and þei were comberd clene
of tayles þer were told þat tyd.
þei say swylke syȝt was neuer seyne,
þat A ȝong man in his most pride
wyll no more of his manhed mene,
bot be bown byttur bale to byde.
he royȝt noyȝt of þer red,
ne of all þe blyse in erthe.
So was he done to ded,
and furth þei feytt þe faurth.

118

1501

þe faurth was fett furth þem be for[e],
and full fowly with hym þei ferd
And sayd, bot yf he wyser wore,
his [spech] wold sone for hym be sp[er]d.
þei manast hym both lese and more,
and when he all þer hethyng herd,
he had no lyst to lere þer lore,
bot herdly þus he answerd
And to þe kyng he sayd,
“þi self þe soth sall se:
þe payns þou hath purvayd
sall make myrth vnto me.

1502

ffor god, my mayster most of mayn,
wyll meng his mercy euer omell
with his seruandes þat ere here slayn
by terrandes, þat ere fers and fell,
þat þe sall ryse and lyf agayn
and at his lyst in lykyng dwell.
bot of þat fare be þou not fayn:
þou sall neuer ryse, bot rest in hell.
þier harmes we haue by þe
with myrth sall be amend;
þi body and sawle sall be
in wo with outyn end.”

1503

þen toyȝt þe kyng he lyfed to lang;
his lyms he lythyd of fast in fere
And put hym sythyn to payns strang
tyll he was ded with doles sere.
þe moþer melled hyr euer amang;
with murnyng mad sho mery chere
And sayd þat god suld gare þem gang
fro sorows [sore] to solace sere.
who so wyll byd his bone,
þere bale full wele bese bett.
þus was þe faurth for done,
and þe fyft furth was fett.

119

1504

The fyft full felly con þei fere,
and ylkon thrett hym in þer thraw.
þe kyng by all his goddes con swere,
“þer lurdans sall be layd full law.”
his fyngers fast he dyd of shere;
both tong and tothe he bade owt draw
And þen to boylyng fast hym bere.
þe chyld answerd with outyn aw.
Vnto þe kyng he be held
in þies stoures as he stud,
And þus his tayle he teld
with sembland sad and gud:

1505

“þat þou is kyng in erth to kend,
þat shewes þou by þi werke all way.
þou proues þi myȝt in erthly men
with all þe malyce þat þou may.
what so þe lyst and whore and when,
þat bus be done euer ylk day.
bot þou suld wele a vyse þe þan
to rewle þi dede in ryȝt aray.
All yf we þus be takyn
and in þi pawste pynyd,
god hath [vs noyȝt] forsakyn,
ne non ellys of our kynd.

1506

Bot suffer and þi self sall se
in lytyll space full mekyll spede
how god sall be his grett pawste
merke vnto ylk man his mede,
And how sere vengance sent sall be
both on þi self and on þi sede.
Do furth þi maystry now with me,
for of þi dome haue I no dred.”
And so he leued his lyfe
or he his law wold lett.
þus are þei fayryn all fyfe,
and furth þe sext was sett.

120

1507

The sext was fett and sesyd sone
to suffer ded with sorows sore.
he wold abyd no bettur bone
bot als his felows ferd be fore.
when þei had dyȝt and to hym done
swylk merterdome and mekyll more,
he lyft his hede with outyn hone
and to þe kyng þus sayd he þore,
“þou cursed commawndour,
þat vs all has sakl[es] slayn,
Sese ȝytt of þin errour!
þou trayuels all in vayn.

1508

þier payns þat þou hath put vs [in]
aftur þi wyll and wekyd toyȝt,
we suffer þem all for our syn
þat we agayn our lord hath wroyȝt.
To geyte his grace forto begyn
with sorowyng þus our syns bene soyȝt,
And so we sall to welthes wyn
when all þi werke sall worth to noyȝt.
ffor be ȝe neuer so lathe
to lose þis erthly lyfe,
þou sall not scape f[ro] scath
þat agayns god wyll stryfe.”

1509

And so he dyed be dyuerse ded,
he had no lenger wordes at weld.
þer moþer was worth mekyll mede,
sho sayd euer god suld be þer beld.
when þat sho saw hyr VI suns blede,
þe same euer in hyr selfe sho felyd.
bot of þe ȝongest had sho dred
þat he suld turn for tender eld.
Sho sayd euer þei suld ryse
with ryghtwys men by raw
þat here þem self dyspyce
for goddes luf and hys law.

121

1510

þat cursyd kyng Antyocus
for wo in wytt he was nere wode.
his knyghtes sayd, “ser, tent to vs,
we con þe ken consayle full gode.
Sen þer trayturs haue tened þe þus
and no turment may turn þer mode,
Now with ȝond ȝongest boye þe bus
with fayrnes fand to foy[l] þat fode.
ffor men vses chylder ȝyng
with wordes forto tyll,
And foyles with fayre hethyng
forto werke what men wyll.”

1511

þe kyng was of þis purpase payd
and curtasly þen carped he:
“Saue now þi self, my sun,” he sayd,
“for, sertes, þer sall non wytt bot we.
And for I wold not þou were flayd,
þer sall none mell of my meneȝe.
ffull rychly sall þou be arayd
and haue my helpe, þat hete I þe.
þou sall haue toure and town
with forestes fayr and fre,
And all bowand and bown
at þi bedyng to be.

1512

And thresour all with outyn tale
sall þou haue in þi hurd to hyde;
And next my self, sun, sytt þou sall
with solace sere on ylka syde.
þen in þi hele þou sall be hale
and haue maystry and mekyll pryd.
So is bettur þen to be in bale,
als þi breþer haue bene þis tyd.
Sun, yf þou wyll acord
with our fodes to be fede,
þou sall lyf als a lord
and by our lawys be led.”

122

1513

when þe chyld herd all how he ment,
he answerd euyn with outyn aw
And sayd þat he suld neuer assent
to forfett in his fader law.
þen toyȝt þe kyng hym shamly shent
when þe chyld sett no thyng by his saw;
bot to þe woman ȝyt he went
with whyls hyr to his wyll at draw.
Sen oþer sex were slayn
þat wold no mercy craue,
he wend sho wold be fayn
hyr ȝyngest sun to saue.

1514

he carped to hyr full curtasly,
and vnder trayn all þus he told.
“woman,” he sayd, “wonder haue I
how [þat] þi hert may be so bold
To suffer þus þi suns to dy
and has no mo apon þis mold.
To take þe ȝyngest to mercy,
þat were my wyll ȝytt and þou wold.
he is a proper page
And may [g]roue tyll A man.
Now in his tender age
were tym þat he be gan

1515

To lere þe law þat euer sall last
and in myster most mend hym may.
Bestes of gold I sall do cast
to be his goddes full gud and gay.”
þe woman mad hyr forward fast
þat sho suld so hyr sun assay,
And thynkes, when scho is from hym past,
an oþer poynt forto purvay.
To hyde hyr hert entent
sho lowted vnto hym law.
So to hyr sun sho went
and sayd to hym þis saw:

123

1516

“A, sun, see to þi moþer here!
bot þou be wyse, me is full wo.
Thynke, sun, þou lay my hert full nere
IX monethes and nyghtes mo;
And, sun, I sufferd sorow sere
or tym þat we were twynd in two.
I fed þe of my flesch III ȝere
or þou couth speke or graydly go.
ffro barnhed I þe broyȝt
to tyme þat we com hydder.
Dere sun, for sake me noyȝt!
lett vs go all to geydder!

1517

be hald, sun, to þe heuyn on hyght
and to þis werld þat is full wyde,
To bestes and fysch and fowles in flyght,
how erth and Ayre ere ocupyed,
And how god mad all with his myȝt
with out substance o many syde.
And men he made of reson ryȝt
ay in his blyse to beld and byd.
he aschys noyȝt ellys þer for,
nawder in dede ne in saw,
bot þat men sall euer more
luf hym and luf his law.

1518

þi breþer in lytyll space ere sped,
and for god sake wele sufferd þei.
with heuynly fode now ere þei fed
and lendes in lyf þat last ay.
þerfor, dere sun, be not adred
of ȝond fals domysman with his dray,
bot led þi lyf als þers is led,
þat we may wend all a way.
Of blys bede I no more
bot þe barns þat I boyȝt so dere,
Sun, when I sall com þore,
to fynd þem fayr in fere.”

124

1519

he assent to his moþer saw
full wysly all [y]f he were ȝyng.
þen carped he to þem all on raw
þat sat in consayle with þe kyng:
“Of yow[r highnes] haue I non aw,
why tarry ȝe þus of þis thyng?
I oblysche me here to my law
bot noyȝt vnto þe kynges bedyng.”
þei toyȝt þem þen begyled;
þe kyng was wel nere wode
To be chawfyd with a chyld
and myȝt not turn his mode.

1520

Vnto his turmenturs he bad
all þar payns forto purvay:
“lyth of þe lyms of þat lytyll lad
and lere hym so to lake our lay;
And þe moþer, þat has mad þem mad,
marre hyr more all þat ȝe may!”
To go þer to was sho full glad.
so were þei ded all on a day
And vnder a domysman,
þe moþer and hyr suns seuyn.
ffor þei so wyse were þan,
þei haue þer hame in heuyn.

1521

All [myrthes] on þis mold þei myst
þe laws of moyses to maynteyn.
ffor luf of god yt was þer lyst
to leue all erthly comforth clene;
And in þer blud þei were baptyst,
als Innocentes were sythyn seyn;
And holy chyrch hath þem cananyst
als marters euer more forto be meyn.
god graunt vs grace to trow
in hym and in all hys,
And to his bydynges bow
þat we may byd in blyse!

125

De Anthioco

1522

Anthiocus, þat hethyn kyng,
vnto þe jews had euer enuy,
And in hys bowndom þem to bryng
in all his cuntre gart he cry:
yf any ebrew, old or ȝyng,
þat wold [not] menske his mawmentry,
In preson sone men suld þem thryng
with dyuerse doles to gare þem dy,
Bot yf þei wold for geyt
þe lyf þat moyses led,
And als bot þei wold ete
swylke flesch as he forbed.

1523

And als þei went, so were þei ware
a prince þat was of power grett,
An old ebrew, elyaȝar,
þat no for bodyn flesch wold ete.
Sone was he bun and broyȝt to barre,
and full throly þei con hym threytt:
þat he suld with phylysteyns fare
and os on of þem mete to ete.
he sayd þat suld he neuer,
nauder for euyn ne ode;
To dy were hym wele leuer
þen breke þe law of god.

1524

So was he ded with dole and wo,
and furth þei soyȝt on ylka syde;
And sone þe wyst of wemen two
þat þer two suns had circumscised
Or þei couth oþer speke or go;
and so þei hoped þem forto hyd.
Bott full tyte were þei tone þem fro,
and ouer the wals þei gard þem glyd.
And so þis cursyd kyng,
þat of god [had] non aw,
gart stroy both ald and ȝyng
þat lyfed by moyses law.

126

1525

hym thynkes he is swylke lord in land
þat he myȝt conquere ylk cuntre
All creaturs forto cum[m]and,
so þat yf he wold say to þe see
Styll in a state ay forto stand,
als he wold byd, so suld yt be;
And remeue hyls ryȝt with his hand,
swylke hegh prid in his hert had he.
hym thynkes all erthly thyng
suld be bowsom and bayn
At bow to his bydyng
and no thyng þor agayn.

1526

with all swylke maystrys con he mell,
mete vnto hym he neuyns none.
Ierusalem, whore þe jewys con dwell,
wyll he dystroy euer ylke stone,
ffor in þe tempyll herd he tell
was gold and syluer full gud wone.
To foche yt and þe folke to fell
his purpase playnly hath he toyne.
Bot god, þer gouernowre,
wold not yt lynag lose.
he sent þem sone socoure
and pared hys yll purpose.

1527

þei geydder sone grett cumpany
of Allablasters and of oþer geyre,
Of charyottes and chyualry
þat wysest were to wend in were.
hym self was sett full sekerly
up in A chare goddes folke to fere,
bot thrugh grace of god allmighty
his sped was spyl[t] with outyn spere.
ffor all his men omell
and most in his hegh pryde
Out of his chare he fell
and bressed both bake and syde.

127

1528

Slyke seknes sone on hym was sent
þat in a lytter was he l[e]d.
he was so bressed on þat bent;
wyld bestes in his bowels bred,
And qwyke out of his wome þei went.
and in swylke stynke þen was he sted
þat none wold take to hym entent;
his next frendes fast fro hym fled.
when grett party were gon
and he allon was layd,
ffalsly he mad his mone
and sorowand þus he sayd:

1529

“Now [in] my selfe þe sothe se I,
and kare me kaches kyndly to knaw:
All erthly men þat ere dedly,
of dew dett euer more þei aw
To honour a god allmighty
and serue hym euer in dede and saw.
Paynyms lyf wyll I lefe for þi
and lere to lyf by ebrews law.”
þus with gabbyng he glosys;
noyt for his syn he sore rewys,
Bot for he [so] supposys
to geyt frenschep of þe jewys.

1530

ffor all[ways] was he in dyspayre
of any helpe fro heuyn on hyght.
he felyd his fors full fast con pare,
and letters gart he g[r]ay[d]ly dyght
Vnto þe jewys and pray þem fare
forto be frendly day and nyȝt,
Anthiocus, his sun and Ayre,
forto releue hym in his ryȝt.
he hetes, and he may lyf,
all þat he had of þayrs
þe dubyll agayn to gyf
fro hym and fro his ayrs,

128

1531

And to be rewled aftur þer red.
hys werke was wast with outyn were.
he myȝt not þen be styrd of sted,
ne for stynke no man com hym nere.
So lay he bolnand, blo als led,
with outyn beld of bed or bere.
with dyuerse dole so was he dede;
we trow his demyng [to] be dere.
Pray we to god for þi,
with þe moyder and hyr suns seuyn,
þat we may be worthy
to wun with þem in heuyn!

Amen.

University of Virginia Library

[Volumes I, II, III, IV.]

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A Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament [_] (MS. Selden Supra 52.)

[Genesis incepit.]

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