University of Virginia Library

Kinge Pharao.
Behold the children now of Israel are much encreased,
& growne exceedinge stronge, & haue our land of Ægypt filled:
so that they mightier are then we, wherefore come, let vs wysely
oppresse them by some meanes or other, lest perhaps yf they multiply,
& there aryse agaynst vs warres, they take our enemyes part,
& when they haue vs ouerthrowne, out of our Land depart

Coath
You know my Liege wee buildinge are in th'extreames of this Land,
two citties phithom & Ramesses, that by a forcible hand
we hinder may their flight, & keepe them still wt h in this country
opprest wt h worke, that they shall not be able for to multiply:
And lest that any loyter should, sett ouer them a maister
to see ech one performe his taske, & that in exact maner

Kinge pharao
All this (Lord Coath) ys done, but yet for any thinge I can see,
the more that we do them oppresse, so much the more they multiply.
wherefore we'l take some other course: & yt is we'l commande
th'Hebrew midwyues to kill all ye male children in this land
that t'Hebrew women shall bringe forth in tyme of their deliuery,
& the femals only reserue. & here the midwyues bee,
as fitly as I could desyre. Midwyues come you both hither.
Phua & Sephora I command you all the males to murther,
that t'Hebrew women shall bringe forth & ye femals reserue,
so shall you at our hands a princely recompence deserue.

Sephora
Will your grace then defend vs from the dannger of ye law,
whose penalty for murder's death as your highnes doth know

King Pharao
for yt midwyues take you no care, for you shall haue our pardon
only see yt you put this our command in execution.
wc h is the meanes them to suppresse, & so midwyues adew

Phua
What to our office doth belonge assure your grace we'l do
but their male children for to kill belongs not vnto midwyfes
but rather to preserue, so farre forth as they can, their lyues
for yt's agaynst the law of god murder for to committ.
where fore we are resolu'd for all his biddinge not to do yt

Sephora
Your resolution's good, & therefore though wt h our owne dannger
let's do our best to saue their lyues, & not one of them murder.
Happ after as hap may, & let's excuse yt as wee can,
for yt's more daunger to offend Almighty god then man.
for man can only hurt our bodyes yf that we do not well,
But god's of power to bringe both soule & body vnto hell.

phua.
Yt's true, & therefore let's not care what man can to vs do
but chearefully as we are wonte about our busines go

God
Midwyues you haue done well in sparinge of the Hebrews children.
& howses I haue built for you, syth you did to me harken.
& for this your compassion I haue you hither to protected
& by your meanes the Hebrues are much in this land encreased.

Sephora
Good lord we thanke the for thy grace, wc h made vs thus to do
& thanke thee also that thou doest to vs such mercy show

phua
But here kinge pharao comes, who lookes as though he were offended

Kinge Pharao.
Midwyues what did you meane that you haue the men children saued?

Sephora
The Hebrue children are not as th'Ægiptian children bee:
for they can play the midwyues, & ere we come gett deliuery

Kinge pharao
yf yt be so, I will command my people euery one
the Hebrewe females to preserue, & all their males borne drowne.
wherefore Lord Coath let vs begone, & that wt h out delay.

phua.
Let's follow them, & listen what he'l to the people say.

mater moysis
By Amram one of Leui's stocke I haue conceiu'd a sonne
& three whole monthes I haue hym hidd because he ys a goody one.
But now I can no longer hym conceale, because kinge pharao
his people bade into a riuer all our male children throw.
wherefore in this same Basket that ys of bullrushes made
wt h pitch & Bitume closly daub'd my litle Infant's lay'd
& in a sedgy place not farre of from the ryuer brynke
the basket I'l go sett: & as I hope yt will not synke
because no water can gett in: & a farre of his sister
shall stand for to expect what will become of hym here after.
fare well myne owne sweete child: God graunt good fortune do befall thee
Deare daughter stand thou there, & to the basket haue an eye.

Egla.
Mother I will. But who comes here? christa kinge pharaos daughter?
yt's shee in deede: shee goes belyke to wash her in the Riuer.

Lady Christa.
Belina come let's walke alonge here by the ryuer brymme.

Belina
I come forsooth: Madam what should this be that here doth swyme?

Lady christa.
A Basket yf I take my ayme aright: go fetch yt hither.

Belina
Madam yt's here, & some thinge's in, yt's shutt so close together.

Lady christa
I musen much what yt should bee. forth wt h the basket open.

Belina
yt ys a pritty Boy: belyke one of the Hebrewes children.

Lady christa
Alas pore child, art thou so yonge, & doest thy mother want?

Egla.
Madam shall I an Hebrew woman call to nurse the Infant?

Lady christa
Yea out of hand, for yt ys almost staru'd wt h could & hunger.

Egla.
Madam I will. This falles out well: now I'l fetch yt owne mother.

Lady christa.
Good woman nurse this boy & thou shalt well be payed

mater moysis
I'l looke to hym as myne owne child (Madam) be not afrayed

Lady christa.
So do good Nurse: sweete childe adew: Moyses shall be thy name.
the reason whereof ys, because thou from the water came.
Belina now let vs be gone: some business I remember,
wc h calls me hence, where on I thought not when I did come hither.

chorus
You must Imagin now, that many yeares are past & gone,
synce moyses byrth, & that he vnto mans estate ys growne.
& by his mother was deluer'd agayne to pharaos daughter.
who made hym her adopted sonne, & was to hym a mother.
And when that he to ripe yeares came he to his Brethren went
t'Hebrews & their affliction saw to his great discontent.
yf more you do desyre to know of hym, attentyue bee
& in processe of tyme your owne eares & eyes will you satisfy.

Elon.
Good fellow stand.

Thola.
what ys ye matter?

Elon.
what country man art thou?

Thola.
My frend why do you aske? The truth to say, I am an Hebrue

Elon
Thou art a base companion then, as all thy fellowes are.
& I will haue a bout wt h thee yf draw thy blade thou dare.

Thola.
I dare, & will defend my self agaynst the stout'st Ægyptian
among'st you all, though I had rather lyue quietly yf I can.
wherefore I pray you be content, & no waye I'l you wronge

Elon
If that thou dares not vse thy hands, Thou shalt not vse thy tongue.
& for thy prateinge take thee that, & mende the as thou can

Moyses
I'l see my countryman abus'd no longer by th'Ægiptian:
but first I'l looke about me whether any body present bee
I see not one. My frend why offer you that man such iniury?

Elon
wilt thou his quarell vndertake that thou askes such a question?

Moyses
Yea that I will, for this abuse concerns me & my nation.

Elon.
Oh I am slayne.

Moys[es].
Then thanke thy self, the cause of thyne owne ouerthrow
Now I'l go hyde his carkas lest any man should there of know.

Molartes
phorbus thou hast abus'd me much, wherefore thy weapon draw

phorbus
Molartes do the worst thou can: I weigh the not a straw:
but yet syth we are Hebrews both I would not wt h thee brable

Molartes
But I will haue a bout wt h thee for all thy pritle pratle.

Moyses
Molartes why strykes thou thy neighbour, who's to peace inclined?

Molartes
Moyses who ouer vs hath the a prince & iudge apoynted?
wilt thou kill me as yesterday thou did th'Ægiptian kill?

Moyses
How's this thinge knowne? To pharaos eares come at ye length yt will:
wherefore I'l hence begone for to preuent his indignation.

phorbus.
And I to end this quarell.

Molart[es].
& I syth that they both are gone.

Molas.
Alas still we pore Israelits wt h worke are ouer charged
of digginge clay, & makeinge breeke, & can not be releued.
but the more that we do, the more's exacted at our hand
& yf yt be not done, we whipped are while we can stand
by th'ouerseers of the worke, wherefore to god Almighty
our refuge only ys, whom we beseech our case to pitty.

God
Your cryes ascended vp to me, & I your groaninge heare
that from your paynfull worke proceeds, & still in mynde I beare
the couenant wc h wt h Abraham, Isaac, & Iacob I
did make, & will on Israels children looke, & heare their cry,
yf they will put their trust in me as their forefathers did

Molas
Thanks lord, & there vpon the greatst afflictions we'l abide.

Moyses
I heare kinge pharao ys inform'd that I th'Ægiptian killed,
& hath commandment gyuen that I shall be apprehended
& put to death: wc h when I hear'd away from hym I ran
for safgard of my lyfe directly to this land of madian,
where Sephora I maryed haue a priest of madians daughter,
Iethro to name, whose flocks of sheepe I am to keepe here after
in th'iner part of this same desert nigh vnto Horeb hill,
where lo I see a Bush vnburnt, & yet yt flameth still.
I will go & see this great vision, why the Bush ys not burned.

God
Moyses, Moyses.

Moys[es].
I am here.

God.
Let thy shoes off thy feete be loosed.
for the ground where thou stands ys holy, & therefore come not hither
but stay there a-loofe off, for I am the god of thy father,
the god of Abraham, of Isaac, & the god of Iacob.

Moyses.
I'l hyde my face, for I dare not agaynst the looke o god.

God
I haue th'affliction of my people seene in Ægipt land,
& th'ouerseers cruelty I also vnderstand.
& heareinge their complaynts, I am descended to deliuer
them from th'Ægiptians hands, & bringe them to a land that's better,
a land that's large, & flows wt h milke & honie, where as the chananites
dwell & the Hethiets, Amorrheits, phereseits, Heueits, & the Iebuseits.
Now are they dead that sought thy lyfe & wished thy destruction,
& others in their places come by order of succession:
Wherefore come now & I will send the to pharao the kinge,
that the children of Israel thou may out of Ægypt bringe.

Moyses
Who am I that I shall to pharao go, children of Israell
for to conduct out of the land of Ægipt where they dwell?

God
I'l be wt h thee: and for a signe this shall be that I sent thee,
when thou hast brought them out, on this mount sacrifice vnto mee.

Moyses
Lo to the Israelits I'l go, & say in thys same maner
to them: I am vnto you sent by the god of your father:
Yf they reply to me agayne, & say: what ys his name?
What answeare shall I vnto them returne?

God.
I am wc h am.
Thus shall thou to them say, that He wc h ys hath to you sent mee
These thinges to the children of Israell thou shalt say, that I
the Lord god of your fathers, & the god of Abraham,
Isaac & Iacob sent me to you: This ys for ay my name,
& to generation & generation this ys my memoriall:
Go & all the Auncients of Israell to gether call,
& say: The Lord god of your fathers hath to me appeared,
The god of Abraham, Isaac & Iacob hath you visited,
& all thinges seene that vnto you in Ægypt hath bene done,
& his word also geuen to bringe you out of the affliction
wc h you in Ægipt do indure, to the land of the chananeite,
& of the Hetheit, Amorrheite, pherezeite, Heueite, & the Iebuseite:
into a Land that flows wt h mylke & hony, & they shall heare
thy voyce: & thou & th'Auncients shall in to kinge pharao enter,
& say to hym: The Lord god of the Hebrews hath vs called:
We'l three days iourney go into the Desert, as he commanded
to sacrifice to our Lord god. Yet thus much vnderstand,
That the kinge will not lett you go but in a mighty hand:
for I'l my hand stretch forth, & in my meruels wc h I'l do
amongst them I will Ægipt stryke, after wc h he'l dismisse you.
And in th'Ægiptians sight grace to this people I'l impart:
And when you shall go forth, you shal not empty hand depart
But euery woman shall aske of her Neighbour, & of her
that's wt h her in the house vessels compos'd of gold & syluer
& rayment, & vpon your sonnes & Daughters shall yt lay
& Ægypt spoyle by caryinge of these things wt h you away.

Moyses
Good lord they will not heare my voyce, nor credit geue vnto mee
but will reply, & say: Our Lord hath not appeared to thee.

God
What's that thou houlded in thy hand?

Moys[es].
a rod.

God.
Hurl't on ye ground

Moyses
Oh Lord, I am afeard, for yt's vnto a serpent turn'd.

God
Stretch out thy hand, & catch the Tayle there of.

Moys[es].
Yt's now a rodd

God
This is to make them to beleiue that I the lord the God
of their fathers appear'd to thee, The God of Abraham
the god of Isaac, & the god of Iacob. Now agayne
Into thy Bosome put thy hand.

Moys[es].
O lord yt's full of Leprosie
lyke snow.

God.
putt back agayne into thy bosome lett yt bee

Moyses
Now yt's lyke to the other flesh.

God.
yf they will not beleiue thee
for the first signe, yet for the latter thou shalt beleiued bee.
But yf they neyther will beleeue, take water of the ryuer
& powre yt out vpon the land that's drye, & what so euer
out of the ryuer thou shalt draw, shall into blood be turned

Moyses
Eloquent I neuer was: But since thou wt h thy seruant talked,
greatter impediment & more slownes of my tongue I fynde

God
Who made mans mouth, framed the Dumme & deafe, seeinge & ye blynd?
Was yt not I? Go on therefore, & in thy mouth I'l bee.
& will teach thee what thou shalt speake. Let yt therefore not trouble thee

Moyses
I thee beseech Lord for to send hym whom thou wilt haue sentt

God
Behold thy Brother Aaron the Leuit, (who I do know ys eloquent)
comes to meete thee, & seeinge thee shall be glad at the heart.
Put my words in his mouth, wc h vnto thee I do impart,
& I'l in thy mouth & his be, & shew you what's to do
& he shall speake vnto the people, what vnto thee I show,
& he shall be thy mouth: But in things that pertayne to god
thou shalt vnto hym be. In thy hand also take this rod
where wt h thou shalt the mervells worke, & vnto Ægipt go
& all these wonders wc h I put in thy hand, shew to pharao:
who doth the former kynge succeed, that sought before thy lyfe

Moyses
Lord I'l be gone, & wt h me take my children & my wyfe.

Chorus.
You must suppose that moyses ys this while gone vnto Iethro
his father in law, & hath gott his consent that he may go
to Ægipt wt h his wyfe & children, & beinge on his way
our Lord did meete hym in an Inne, & threatned hym to slay
because his sonne Eleasar he had not circumcised
& had hym slayne but that his wyfe the wrath of god appeased
by circumcision of her sonne: for wt h a sharp stone shee
hym circumcis'd: & moyses then went forward on his iourney
& to hym Aaron in the Desert came as god commanded:
vnto whom Moyses all that god had sayd, to hym related.
And now they are both towards Ægipt gone alonge to gether:
where what successe they haue, expect, & you shall see here after

Moyses
Brother Aaron here th'Auncients are of Israell assembled
declare to them, want vnto thee from gold I haue related

Aaron
Brethren we are vnto you sent by the god of your father,
(who your affliction sees) from th'Ægiptians to deliuer:
& bringe you to a land, that's large, & flowes wt h milke & hony.

Soar
Declare to vs his name.

Moys[es].
He wc h ys hath vnto you sentt mee:
The Lord god of your father, & the god of Abraham
of Isaac & of Iacob sent me to you, for euer that's his name.

Hesron.
We will not you beleeue that god vnto you did appeare,
syth reason none as yet we see wherefore we should you heare
for you meere strangers are to vs, whose bare word's not sufficient
vs throughly to persuade that god hath you vnto vs sentt,
vnlesse you your commission shew, wc h yet we haue not seene.

Moyses
You say but well. Now to confirme that god hath wt h vs beene
& on this message sent vs hither, Aaron this rod here take
& hurle yt on the ground, & yt shall be turnd to a snake.

Soar, Hesron et ceteri.
Oh saue vs from this serpent lest of hym we be deuoured.

Moyses
Aaron catch't by the tayle, & to a rod yt shall be turned.

Semi
Brethren behold yt ys agayne conuerted to a rod.

Aaron
This ys to make you to beleeue, & know that the lord god
of your fathers appear'd to vs, the god of Abraham
the god of Isaac, & the god of Iacob.

Moys[es].
Now agayne
into thy Bosome put thy hand.

Soar.
Lo yt's infec't wt h Leprosie.
lyke snow.

Moys[es].
put back agayne into thy bosome let yt bee.

Hesron.
Now yt's lyke to his other flesh.

Aaron.
Yf you will not beleeue mee
for the first signe, yet for the second, you may persuaded bee.

Moyses.
But yf they neyther credit will: Take water of the riuer
& power yt out agayne on the dry land, & what so euer
out of the riuer they shall draw, shall into bloode be changed.

Semi
yf that be so sufficiently your mission ys confirmed.
wherefore let's triall make. Yt's true in deede as you dyd say,
& shews that you are sent from god, & we will you obay.

Moyses
Well then content your selues, & at gods patience to not mutter,
who your affliction sees, & will from bondage you deliuer,
when his good pleasure ys, the whyle wt h you backe we will go,
& intercession make for your release vnto kinge pharao.
Kinge pharao thus sayth the Lord god of Israell: Dismisse
my people that they vnto me may in the desert sacrifice.

Kinge pharao
Who's the Lord that I should his voyce heare, & lett Israel go?
The Lord I do not know, & Israell shall not part mee fro

Aaron
We three days iourney bidden are to go by t'Hebrewes god
wt h in the wildernes to sacrifice vnto the Lord
lest that perhaps there should to vs chaunce eyther sword or pestilence

Kinge pharao
Moyses & Aaron wherefore do you draw the people hence
from their worke? To your Burdens go. The people of this land
ys much: The multitude you see's encreased vnder hand
yf we lett them rest from their worke, they will encrease much more
Wherefore see that neyther straw nor breeke you geue them as before,
But let them gather straw them selues, & yet their tasks performe
as they before haue done, when straw by you was to them borne.
& not one iott abate there of, but rather yt increase
for idleness makes them to say, th[e]y'l go into the wildernesse
& sacrifice to their Lord god. Lett them oppressed bee
wt h workes to hinder them from hearkeninge vnto men that lye.
you that are ouerseers of my workes see that you do
strictly performe ech thinge that now in charge I here haue geuen you.

Horma, pistor.
My Liege we ready are for to accomplish your commandment

Kinge pharao.
About your busines then yf our displeasure you'l preuent
Now are th'Exactors gone more worke on th'Israelits to lay
to hinder their increase, & idle thoughts to take away
& what th'effect here of will bee, I'l go my self & see
for better will the seruants doe, when that their maister's by.

Horma.
You ouerseers are of th'Israelits, who haue not made
their tasks of breeke, as they were wonte, wherefore you shall be pay'd
wt h this same whipp as you deserue in steede of other pay

Soar.
Good maister hould your hands, for we haue done all that we may
to gett our taskes of breeke made vp, but wt h seekinge for straw,
wc h was wont to be brought to vs, we hindred were you know.

pistor
That excuse shall not serue your turnes, but you shall whipped bee
& all the rest, to lett you feele of slouthfulnes the penalty

Hesron.
Oh wo ys vs what shall we do? but here the king's at hand.
Semi of our hard vsage streight go let hym vnderstand.

Semi.
Why mighty kinge do you permitt your seruants to be vsed
so cruelly? Straw's not geuen vs, & yet we are compelled
wt h stripes for to performe the tasks on vs impos'd before
when straw was to vs brought, & yf we fayle are beaten sore

Kinge Pharao.
You idle are, & therefore say: Lett's to our Lord go sacrifice,
but for to stop your mouthes, & hinder these your vsuall out cryes
your selues shall gather straw, & yet your taske shall be performed
as when you had yt brought, & one breeke shall not be abated
wherefore about your worke be gone, & see that yt be done
or ells at the exactors hands you shall looke for no pardon

Soar
Your grace doth hardly deale wt h vs, but yet we will haue patience

Kinge pharao
yt's your best so to do for feare of stripes, but now lets hence

Soar
Moyses & Aaron our Lord see, & iudge betwixt vs bee,
because that you haue made our sauour stincke abhominably
before pharaos seruantes & hym, & haue geuen hym a sworde
vs for to kill.

Moys[es].
Contented be, & I'l go to our lord.
In the meane while go you vnto the worke you haue in hand
& yt apply vntill gods will by me you vnderstand.
Lord why afflictest thou thy people, & where fore sent thou mee?
synce in thy name I spake to pharao they more afflicted bee

God.
Thou shalt see what I'l do to pharao: for in a mighty hande
& stronge he shall dismisse them, & cast them out of this land
I am the lord god that appeared vnto Abraham
to Isaac & to Iacob, god almighty, & my name
Adonai I did not shew to them: & I a couenant made
to geue them the land of chanaan, where they as pilgrymes had
lyud, & haue heard theyr groaninge, & see how they are oppressed
by the Ægiptians, & my couenant I haue remembred
wherefore tell them, I the Lord will from bondage them deliuer
& will them for my people take, & be their god for euer.
& I'l bringe them vnto the land whereof I promise made
to Abraham, Isaac, & Iacob as I before haue sayd

Moyses
Lord I'l thy message do, though I do feare they will not heare mee
syth they haue bene opprest more synce I spake to pharao from thee.
The Lord doth send you word from bondage that he'l you deliuer
& will you for his people take, & be your god for euer
& bringe you to the land, whereof he often promise made
to Abraham, Isaac & Iacob, wherefore be not dismayde.

Soar
Wee list not heare the talke, wt h worke we are so sore oppressed
but home warde we'l agayne returne to get our taskes dispatched
for when that the Exactors come, yf that they be not done
starke nakt we must be stript, & whipped till the blood runne downe.

God
To pharao kinge of Ægypt go, & byd hym them dismisse.

Moyses
Children of Israel heare me not, & then vnlyke yt ys
that pharao will respect my words, especially syth I
am of vncircumcised lipps, & do speake nothinge perfectly

God
Behold I haue appoynted thee to be the god of pharao
& thy Brother Aaron shall thy prophet bee, & wt h thee go:
Wherefore to pharao all thinges speake as I haue thee commanded:
& byd hym let the Israelits bee out of his land dismissed.
But his hart will indurat be & I my signes will multiply
& wonders in the land of Ægipt, & yet he will not heare thee.
When pharao shall vnto you say: Some wonders to vs show
thou shalt bid Aaron take the rod, & cast yt before pharao.
& to a serpent yt shall be conuerted by & by.

Moyses
At thy commandment Lord to pharao I will go directly.
Kinge pharao thus sayth the lord god of th'Israelits: dismisse
my people, that they vnto me may in the desert sacrifice.

Kinge phara[o]
Who's the lord that I should his voyce heare, & let Israel go
I will not them dismisse, vnlesse you can some wonder show

Moyses
That will we do wt h out delay. Aaron this rod here take,
& hurle yt on the grou[n]d, & yt shall be turn'd to a snake.

Kinge Pharao.
All this can my enchaunters do, as you shall forthwt h see
Mogul & Begor let your rods to serpents turned bee.

Mogul
We will my Liege: Lo here they be in presentes of your honour.

Aaron
In shewe they are, & by gods sufferance, but myne shall them deuour

Kinge pharao
Yet will I not dismisse the Israelits: So fare you well.

God
You see that pharaos heart ys hardned as I dyd fore tell.
Wherefore vnto hym in the morninge go, & by the ryuer
you shall hym fynde, & in thy hand thy rod take wt h thee thither
wc h was into a serpent turn'd, & thus say to hym from mee:
The lord god of the Hebrews hath me sent agayne vnto thee,
to byd thee in his name children of Israell to dismisse
that they may to the desert go, & there vnto me sacrifice
& till this present tyme thou neuer would geue eare vnto mee.
In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold Now I
wt h the rod in my hand will stryke the water of the Riuer
& vnto blood yt shall be turn'd, & all the fish what s'euer
wt h in the same's shall dye, & the water yt self shall putrify:
& the Ægiptions that drinke there of shall afflicted bee.
To Aaron also say: Thy rod take & stretch out thy hand
vpon the pooles & lakes, & all the water in the land
as well in stone as woodden vessels shall into blood be turned

Moyses
Lord we'l be gone, & say & doe all that thou hast commanded

Kinge pharao.
Behold Moyses & Aaron are come now agayne vnto mee

Aaron
The Lord god of the Hebrews hath me sent agayne vnto thee
to byd thee in his name children of Israell to dismisse
that they may to the desert go, & there vnto me sacrifice
& till this present tyme thou neuer would geue eare vnto mee.
In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord. Behold now I
wt h this rod in my hand will stryke the water in the ryuer
& vnto bloud yt shal be turnd: & all the fish what s'euer
ys in the same shall dy: & the water. yt self shall putrify,
and both in stone as wooden vessels shall into bloud be turned.

Molach
Dread soueraigne lord your ryuers are all bloud & putrifyed.
& the fish there in's dead: & all the pooles & lakes of water
are also chang'd to bloud all the whole land of Ægypt ouer:
so that for want of drynke both man & beast will shortly dye
except your highnes can fynd out some way the same to remedy

Kinge pharao.
I doubt not but the blood will be agayne to water turned
shortly, for by Moyses & Aaron they are but enchaunted
In hope I would the Israelits haue suffred to be gone

Molach
Yt may well be, for your magicians (my Liege) the lyke haue done

Kinge pharao
Then yt seemes not so strange a thinge to be as they pretend
wherefore the Israelits away from Ægypt Il not send
but lay vpon them greatter taskes: & yf they be not done
soundly wt h whips they shall be beat, & so let's hence be gone

God
Moyses thou see'st that pharaos heart ys no whit yet relented
where fore vnto hym go, & say: the lord hath the commanded
all th'Israelits out of the land of Ægipt to dismisse
that they may to the desert go, & there vnto mee sacrifice
But yf thou wilt all thy coasts wt h frogs shall filled bee
& wt h frogs shall the Riuer buble, wc h shall come vp to thee
into thy house, to thy bedchamber, & vpon thy bedd
& to thy seruants, houses, people, ouens, where as thy bread
ys backt, & into the remaynes of thy meate, for I will
stretch out my hand vpon the riuers, & frogs shall the land fill
of Ægipt euery where, & no place shall from them be free

Moyses
Lord I'l be gone, & to hym say euen as thou hast commanded mee.

Aaron
Pharao the god of th'Hebrews sayth: The Israelits dismisse
that they may to the desert go, & there vnto me sacrifice
or els all the coasts of thy land wt h frogs shall filled bee
& wt h frogs shall the riuers buble, wc h shall come vp to thee
into thy house, to thy bedchamber, & vpon thy bedd
& to thy seruants houses, people, ouens, where as their bread
ys backt, & into the remaynes of thy meate, for I will
stretch out my hand vpon the ryuers, & thy land wt h frogs fill

Kinge pharao.
Your words are vayne for I will not the Israelits dismisse
nor let them to the desert go to their god for to sacrifice

Moyses
Then Aaron go, & on the pooles & riuers stretch forth thy hand
& bringe forth frogs that they may fill all the Ægiptian land

Molach
Renouned kinge Aaron hath wt h his rod the riuers stricken
& Ægipt's full of frogs, & they will not away be gotten
for all that your wyse men can do: who by their skill did make
frogs lyke to them. but by no art away can these same take.
So that your howses swarme there wt h: & your bedchamber's full:
& they leape on your bedds, & bread out of your ouens pull
So that vnless they be destroy'd, neyther your royall maiesty
nor any else shall able bee to lyue in all your country.

Kinge pharao.
Bid moyses them & Aaron come to me wt h out delay
to see, yf they that brought these frogs can take them hence away
Moyses & Aaron pray vnto the lord that he would free
me & my people from these frogs, & I will graunt free liberty
to th'Israelits for to depart, and sacrifice to offer
vnto the lord their god, & will detayne them here no longer

Moyses.
Appoynt the tyme when I shall for thee & thy people pray
that the frogs may from thee & them be dryuen quit away
& remayne no where in thy land, but only in the riuer

Kinge pharao.
To morrow.

Moys[es].
pharao) yt shall be done that thou may know here after
that there's none lyke vnto the lord our god for to be found
for to morrow shall the frogs be in the riuer, none on the ground:
& there vpon we will be gone vnto our Lord to pray

Kinge phara[o].
fare you well both. Now they are gone I'l here no longer stay

Moyses
Now are the frogs in euery house, village, & field all dead
& layd vpon huge heapes: & the ground where they lye ys putrifyed
but pharao seeinge rest ys giuen, his heart agayne hath hardned
& will not vnto vs geue eare, as god before commanded.

God
Moyses to Aaron therefore say: Go and stretch forth thy hand
& the dust of the earth stryke wt h thy rod, & all the land
of Ægipt shall wt h Sciniphes (wc h are smale beastes that flye
& do, especially mens eyes molest) infected bee
for all the dust of th'earth shall into sciniphes be turned

Moyses
Lord I'l go & to Aaron say euen as thou hast commanded

Kinge pharao.
Mogul & Begor you do see how that both man & beast
molested are wt h sciniphes, & for them can not rest
can you no kynd of way deuise to cause them hence depart

Mogul
No nor lyke make (though we haue tryed) by all our skill & art
Doubtles gods finger was therein, we can yt not deny

King pharao.
Yet for all that the Israelits shall not dismissed bee
but I'l detayne them still, & see them more & more oppressed
wt h worke, & now I will begone to see the same effected.

God
Moyses the heart of pharao hardned ys, & he'l not heare
my voyce, but doth a harder hand ouer my people beare,
wherefore early aryse, & stand in presentes of kinge pharao
who forth vnto the water ys determyn'd for to go,
& to hym say: thus sayth our lord; The Israelits dismisse
& let them to the desert go vnto me there to sacrifice
& if thou wilt not I will send all kynd of flyes vpon thee
& on thy seruants, people, houses, & Ægipt fil'd shall bee
wt h flees of dyuers kynds: & Gessen where my people ys
I'l mervels make in that same day, for there shall be no flees:
& playnly thou shalt know that I the lord am in the midle
of th'earth, & will diuision make betweene thee & my people
And this signe shall to morrow bee, where fore go tell hym presently

Moyses
Lord I am ready to performe all that thou hast inioyn'd mee

Kinge pharao
Mogull & Begor I perceiue that sundry flies are come
into all the parts of this land, wc h to vs all are noysome
lyke vnto wc h you can not make, nor yet vs from them free

Mogul
Yt's true my Liege, wherefore you must seeke out some other remedy

Kinge pharao.
I must in deede, where fore go call Moyses & Aaron hither

Begor
I will my liege: Behould they are both cominge here to gether

Kinge pharao
I am content you in this land shall go & sacrifice
vnto your god as you desire.

Moys[es].
Nay that will not suffice:
for yf we shall the abominations of the Ægiptians offer
to our Lord god, & kill those thinges wc h they haue worshipt euer
they'l beate vs downe wt h stones, wherefore will go three days iourney
into the desert, & sacrifice, as we commanded bee

Kinge pharao.
Go in the desert sacrifice to your lord god, but see
that you in any case do no further go, & pray for mee

Moyses
when I am from thee gone vnto our lord I'l truly pray
& longer then to morrow shall the flies not wt h thee stay
But no more then deceiue me thus, but th'Israelits dismisse
that they may to the desert go there to our god to sacrifice

Molach
This morninge mighty pharao as Moyses & Aaron sayd
thy land was purg'd of all the flies, when to their god they prayd
& not so much as one ys left to our exceedinge ioy

Kinge pharao.
The people then I'l not dismisse, but labour to destroy
them by all meanes I can deuise for feare lest they should grow
stronger then wee: wc h to effect, I'l hence vnto them go

God
Moyses pharao hath thee deceiud, & his heart hardned ys,
& he'l not lett my people go accordinge to his promisse.
wherefore to hym returne, & say: The lord god of the Hebrewes
bids the let th'Israelits go sacrifice, yf thou refuse
behould my hand shall be vpon thy field, & on thy horses
& also on thy camells, oxen, sheepe, & thy asses:
That's a great pestilence or murren shall be amongst thy cattell
yf for to go & sacrifice thou'l not permitt my people
for the lord will a difference make twixt Israell & th'Ægiptians
for nothinge perish shall that to the Israelits pertaynes
where as all that vnto th'Ægiptians doth belonge shall dye:
& all this in thy land to morrow shall be done vnto thee
Now moyses wt h this message go, & that wt h out delay

Moyses
Lord I'l begone, & to hym as thou me commandest, say

Molach
Dread soueraigne lord a pestilence ys light vpon our horses
& also on our camells, oxen, sheepe, & on our Asses
so that not one ys left alyue in all th'Agiptian land
& none dead in the land of Gessen as we vnderstand

Kinge pharao.
Yt's strange yf none in Gessen dye, where th'Israelits do dwell
& not one here escape: But here comes one that truth can tell
Batzo doth there in Gessen dye any cattle of the murren?

Batzo
One beast my liege there ys not dead in all the land of Gessen
that to the Israelits belongd, as by fame ys reported

Kinge pharao
Yet for all that Israel shall Not from Ægipt be dismissed
but more & more I'l them oppresse wt h worke to keepe them vnder
& now I'l go t'impose that charge on hym that's ouer seer

God
Moyses & Aaron pharaos heart for all this yet ys hardened
& he'l not let my people go, as I before commanded.
wherefore go & out of they chymney take handsfull of ashes
& before pharao let them be sprinkled in th'ayre by moyses
& there shall be in men & beasts great boyles & swellinge bledders
through out Ægipt, & none shall them escape, kinge nor Enchaunters.
See that all things wc h I haue sayd wt h out delay be done

Moyses
Lord we'l thy voyce obey, & towards pharao now begone.
pharao our Lord god bade me in the ayre these ashes sprinkle
& full of boyles & swellinge bledders thou shalt be & the people
for god hath thee preseru'd a lyue, that in thee may be shewed
his might because thou hast thy heart through thine owne malice hardoned
& wilfully refusest still his people to dismisse
that to the desert they might go, & there vnto hym sacrifice

Kinge pharao.
Alas there ryses on my face great boyles & swellinge bledders
& all my bodyes also infec't there wt h: help me Enchaunters

Mogul
Alas my Liege we can not styrre eyther head, or foote, or hand
nor able are for boyles & bledders before moyses to stand

Molach
I bringe you heauy newes my Liege, for through out all your country
there's neyther man nor beast from boyles & swellinge bledders free
& as yt seemes your maiesty there wt h also infected
& your Enchaunters to, & wee our selues are sore perplexed

Kinge pharao
But for all this yet will I not the Israelits dismisse
nor let them to the desert go, vnto their lord to sacrifice

Moyses.
Gods people yet wilt thou hould backe, & not suffer them to go?
The terrible'st hayle that euer was in Ægipt shall to morrow
fall this very houre, lyke vnto wc h since that the land was founded
vntill this day there neuer fell: wherefore be well aduised
& together all thy cattell gather, lest that they be destroyed
for nothinge that ys found abroad in the fieldes shall be spared.
but euery kynd of thinge where on the hayle doth lyght shall dye
Say not but thou fore warned art pharao, & so I leaue thee.

Kinge pharao.
Yt's strange that you Enchaunters can not do as they haue done
Nor cure our sores that they haue made. But come let vs be gone

God
Moyses now th'assign'd houre ys come, wherefore stretch out thy hand
towardes Heauen that there may fall hayle through out all Ægipt land
& thunder claps mixed therewt h, & lightninge in ech place
so terrible that lyke hath not bene since first that Nation was
heard of, or seene, & let yt kill or strike vnto the ground
both man & beast, & all thinges els, that in the fieldes be found
through out all Ægypt land, but in the land of Gessen shall
where as my people dwells, none of these thinges be seene at all.
And such of pharaos seruants as of my threats stand in feare
in howses will their beasts & seruants keepe to saue them there.
but such as do neglect my threats, their beastes & seruants will
permitt in the fields to remayne, where the hayle shall them kill.

Moyses
Lord toward heauen I'l hould vp my rod as thou commandest
Lightninge I see, & thunder heare, & hayle wc h downe yu sendest.
Oh what a terrible storme ys this of hayle, lightninge, & thunder
yf this do not make pharaos heart relent, yt ys a wonder
But now I will be gone & see th'effect that yt doth take
whether his heart there wt h hardned bee, or humbler yt hym make

Molach
My liege by this tempestuous storme ech thinge destroyed ys
that was wt h out the dores from man to beast wt h herbs & trees
through out all Ægipt, but in Gessen where the Israelits dwell
no thunder claps were heard, nor lightninge seene, nor hayle stone fell.
& your Enchaunters can neither do the lyke, nor make this cease

Kinge pharao.
Then forth wt h go, & to me hither bringe Aaron & Moyses
Moyses & Aaron I haue sinn'd, & the Lord's iust & righteous
& I confesse I & my people are vniust & Impious
wherefore pray to the Lord to ceasse both the hayle & the thunder
that I may you dismisse, & in Ægipt stay you no longer.

Moyses
When I am gone out of the citty I will stretch out my hand
to our Lord & the hayle & thunder shall cease through the land
that thou may know the Earth's our Lords. But certaynly I know
neyther thou nor thy seruants of the lord god stand in owe.
yet not wt h standinge I'l be gone & to god for the pray.

Kinge pharao.
I hope from this plague now we shall be free'd wt h out delay.
Already as yt seemes the Lightninge & the thunder ceaseth
& the hayle storme ys past & gone, & the mynd also falleth
wherefore I am resolu'd the Israelits not to dismisse
nor let them to the desert go vnto their god to sacrifice

God
Moyses the heart of pharao & his seruants hardned bee
& he'l not let my people go to sacrifice vnto mee.
& this ys done that I may worke my sygnes in hym, & thou
tell in thy sonnes & Nephewes eares what I haue done, & you
may know that I the lord god am, wherefore returne to pharao
& say I t'Hebrewes god do bid hym lett my people go
vnto me for to sacrifice, or else in to their coastes
I will Locusts to morow sende, wc h are litle flyinge beastes
haueinge longe hinder legges, & grasse, & fruites & grayne anoy
wc h all the face of th'earth shall couer, & all there on destroy
that the hayle hath not spoyld before, & they shall be such numbers
as shall th'Ægiptian houses fill: & as none of their fathers
nor their granndfathers euer saw vntill this present day

Moyses
Lord I'l be gone & vnto pharao shewe, what thou doest say.

Molach
Your grace did heare that moyses say our land should be infested
wt h Locusts vnlesse that children of Israel you dismissed
to go & sacrifice to their lord god, as he them bade
& he's about now to performe all that he to you sayd.
How longe shall we indure these plagues? The Israelits dismisse
into the desert for to go to their god there to sacrifice.
your grace to your great sorrow sees that all Ægipt's vndone

Kinge pharao
Yt's true, wherefore fetch back agayne to mee Moyses & Aaron
go sacrifice to your Lord god. whom will you haue to go?

Moyses
We'l go both wt h our yonge & old, & sonnes & daughters also
& sheepe & heards, for our lord gods solemnity yt ys

Kinge pharao
So be the lord wt h you, as you & litle ones I dismisse.
who doubts but you intend some thinge that's nought? Yt shal not be so
but the men as your selues at first desird shall only go
& sacrifice vnto the lord. packe hence out of my sight
yf you will your owne caruers bee, I must looke better to yt:
& so I will, for wt h more worke they shall oppressed bee:
& now I'l go, & see yt done, then they'l not be so lusty.

Molach
Now moyses hath strecht out his rod vpon the land of Ægipt
& hath brought in a burninge wynde wc h blew both day & night
& in the morninge Locusts rays'd, wc h through out Ægipt swarme
& to all kynd of fruite & grasse, & grayne haue done much harme.
for they haue gnawne & eaten vp, what t'hayle had not destroyed
& there wt h are your highnes & your seruants howses filled.
yea & they are so infinit that all the earth they couer
the lyke before this tyme was neuer seene, nor shall here after.
And your Enchaunters can not make the lyke, nor dryue away
these from your land, wc h moyses thither brought, for so they say.

Kinge pharao.
Then once more go & bid moyses & Aaron come ynto mee
that I may triall make yf they my land from them can free.
Moyses & Aaron) I agaynst the lord your god haue synned
& agaynst you: But now let this my synne once more be pardoned
& to your god pray that he'l from me take this death away.

Moyses
pharao this tyme we'l also go, & to our lord god pray.

Molach
At moyses prayer a vehement wynde out of the west did blow
(my liege) & all the locusts did into the redd sea throw
so that so much as one's not lefte wt h in all your dominion

Kinge pharao.
I'l not then th'Israelits dismisse: & so let's hence be gone.

God
Moyses kinge pharaos heart's hardned agayne as thou may see
& he'l not let my people yet go sacrifice vnto mee
wherefore go & towards heauen lifte thy rod that's in thy hand
& palpable darknes there shall bee through out all Ægipt land
for the space of three dayes, & no man shall his Brother see
nor moue them selues at all out of the places where they bee
But where so euer th'Israelits do make their habitation
there shall be light, wc h shall in Ægipt cause great admiration.

Moyses
All that thou lord commanded hast I'l do wt h out delay
for thou art able by thy power to do what thou do'st say.

Kinge pharao.
This ys the lightest day me thinkes that came this seauen yeare
& totoe hoate, where fore I'l sett me downe, & rest me here
Let's see yf that the Hebrews god to darknes can conuert
so thicke that yt shall palpable be, this light that ys so great.
as moyses threatneth for to do vnlesse I will dismisse
the Israelits, & let them go vnto their god to sacrifice.
Oh wo ys me I can not see yt is so darke allready
Enchaunters by your skill lett light agayne restored bee.

Mogul
Dread soueraigne lord that's not wt h in the compasse of our skill.

Kinge pharao
Come then & leade me hence, for here no longer stay I will.

Mogul.
I would my Liege yt that I could remoue out of the place
where in I stande, but th'ayre's so thicke yt will not let me passe

Begor
And I am in as bad a case, for I can nothinge see
so that I can not help my self, nor come vnto your maiesty

Kinge pharao.
Then must we be inforc't here in this darknes to remayne
till meanes we can find out to send for moyses backe agayne
& yf myne eares deceiue me not I heare one fitly cominge
whence art thou frende that passes by, or whither art thou goinge?

Phorbus
from Gessen I am come, & goinge for to speake wt h Moyses

Kinge pharao.
I musen how thou sees thy way obscured wt h such darknes

phorbus
Darknes in Gessen there ys none, for they the vsuall light
enioy of the sunne in the day, & of the moone by night
& all the way the benefit of them both I haue enioyed
& no where but in Ægipt land of light they are depryued

Kinge pharao.
That's strange: I pray thee go, & fetch moyses & Aaron hither

phorbus
I'l go my liege, & vnto them your message streight deliuer

Kinge pharao.
Who's there? Moses & Aaron?

Moys[es].
Yes.

phar[ao].
Go & your litle ones take
wt h you, & in the desert a sacrifice to the lord make.
Let your sheepe & your heards remayne still wt h vs here

moyses
No: Hosts & holocausts we will haue to our lord god to offer
& not one hoofe of all our flockes behynde vs there shall tary
that for the seruice of ye lord our god shall be thought necessary
the rather because that we do not know what must be offered
till we come to the very place that ys by god appoynted

Kinge pharao.
Yf yt be so, packe hence: & looke no more my face thou see.
for in what s'euer day thou comes in my sight thou shalt dye

moyses
So shall yt bee as thou hast sayd: I'l no more see thy face

Kinge pharao
They are both gone, & some what lighter now yt's then yt was
where fore let's hence depart, that on them I may be reuenged

Mogul & Begor.
we'l on your grace attend, hopinge to see them sharply punished

God
Moyses once more I'l pharao plague, then shall he you dismisse
& to the desert let you go, there vnto me to sacrifice
Where fore vnto my people go, & command euery man
of his frende for to aske, & of her neighbour euery woman
vessels of syluer & of gold, & in th'Ægiptians sight
the lord will geue grace to his people through his great power & might
So that th'Ægiptians shall vnto them lend what they demaund

Moyses
Lord I'l begone, & to them say, as thou doe'st me commaund
You that subiects & seruants are to pharao listen to mee.
Thus sayth our lord: At midnight I'l to Ægipt come vndoubtedly
& dye shall euery first begotten in the land of Ægipt
euen from pharao his first begotten who in his throne doth sitt
vnto the first begotten of the hand mayd at the mill
& all the first begott of beastes, for I will them all kill
& there shall be through all the land of Ægipt such a cry
as neyther hath bene here tofore, nor shall here after bee.
But from man euen vnto beast not a Dogg mutter shall
nor any where be heard to barke amongst children of Israell
that you may know by what a miracle th'Ægiptions are diuided
from Israell, & by you cominge to me I shall be adored
& you shall say: Go thou forth, & all the people that ys vnder thee:
& after this we shall go forth. But wt h you I am angry
& wt h your kinge because hys promisse wt h me ys not performed.
And syth yt will no better bee, expect for to be punished
as by my mouth god hath declar'd: & so I will be gone.

Horma, pistor et ceteri
And so will wee vnto the kinge here of to make relation

God.
Moyses & Aaron yet the heart of pharao hardned ys
& he, for all these wonders will my people not dismisse
where fore go & bid th'Israelits a paschall lamb prepare
& hym at euen sacrifice, when all assembled are
to gether: The bloud there of by them shall sprinckled bee
on th'vpper dore post of their houses in euery seuerall family
where they the same shall eate: But the flesh there of shall be eaten
wt h girded loynes shoes on your feete, & staues in your hands holden:
& you shall eate yt speedely because yt ys the phase
(that ys the passage) of the lord. And that night I will passe
through all the land of Ægipt, & will stryke ech first begotten
that shall there in be found, & not spare eyther beasts or men.
And when I see the bloud on your dore posts I will passe ouer
your howses, & from this destroyinge plague you all deliuer
But see that none amongst you go out of his house till morninge.
And when your children shall aske you in tyme here after followinge
what this Religion ys? vnto them you shall make this answeare:
Yt's the victime of our Lords passage, when that he passed ouer
the Howses of the Israelits, when that Ægipt was plagued
wt h the death of the first begotten, who euery one were killed
because they & their kinge the god of Israell did wt h stand

Moyses
Lord we'l begone, & all things do that thou dost vs commaund
Brethren the tyme ys now at hand where in god sayd he would
the first begot of Ægipt kill, as I before you tould.
Listen & you may heare how pitifully th'Ægiptians crie

Horma
Oh wo ys vs! all our first borne are slayne througthout our country
euen from pharao his first begotten, who did sit in his throne
vnto the first borne of the captyue woman that was in prison
& euery first begot of beasts! Alas what shall wee do?
There's not a house but hath one in yt dead vnder kinge pharao

pistor
My lord yt's true & I do feare vnlese yt be preuented
we shall all dye: where fore let's go as pharao vs commaunded
vnto moyses & Aaron whom I standinge here espye
& bid them wt h the Israelits be gone out of the country

Horma
Of force my Lord we must, wherefore let's go wt h out delay
my Lord the kinge (Moyses & Aaron) bids you go your way.
out of this land, & wt h you take all the children of Is[rael]
to sacrifice vnto the Lord. take also all your catle
as you demaunded, & at your departure blesse kinge Pharao.
Why linger you? yt's his & our wills that you quickly go

Soar
We in no case my lords from hence mey empty handed go
wherefore some of your gold & syluer plate on vs bestow

Horma
That will we do wt h all our hearts Bomar go to my cupbord
& bringe the best cupp thou findes there.

Bomar.
Yt shall be done my Lord

pistor.
Doylus go to my wyfe, & bid her my best Iewels send
for willingly the best I haue I will vnto them lende

Rubal
And the best garments my house will aford I will bestow
on them vpon condition that they will away hence go

Horma
Here Soar take this siluer bole: & you my frend this goblet
of gold most fynely wrought. And here's for you a siluer posnet

pistor
And at my hands receiue this plagon, This Basen & this Ewer

Ruball
And of me this gold cheyne, & Robes of beaten gold & syluer
& these same peareles & pretious stones. And as we do to you
so we'l vnto the rest of th'Israelits our neighbours doe.

Moyses
Go wt h vs then & that performe, & we'l no longer stay

Horma
We come, & what we sayd we'l do, & that wt h out delay

chorus
Now by the Israelits th'Ægiptians are of their goods spoyled:
& there wt h out of Ægipt are the Israelits departed
haueinge almost six hundred thousand foote men in their company.
besyds litle ones, & the common sort, wc h infinit also bee
& they take wt h them sheepe & beastes of sundry kynds abundance
& in Ægipt foure hundred thirty yeares was their continuance
& our Lord leades them not by the way of ye philistims country
lest perhaps yt should them repent, yf warres they dyd espye
agaynst them ryse, & for feare make them back to Ægipt go
but he doth lead them through the desert, wc h lyeth nigh vnto
the red sea: & the bones of Ioseph moyses wt h hym carryeth
as Ioseph did the Israelits adiure. & our lord goeth
in a piller of a cloud before them when that yt ys day,
& by night in a piller of fyre, for to shew them the way.
yet not wt h standinge pharaos heart indurate ys, & hee
them wt h an army will pursue: & what th'euent will bee
tyme will declare vnto your, & the worlds great admiration
where fore attentyue bee a while, & so I will be gone.

Horma
My soueraigne lord the Israelits away from hence are fledd
& all their wyues, children, & catle alonge wt h them haue caryed.

Kinge pharao.
Why did we them dismisse, & let them go out of our seruyce?
An Army rayse wt h out delay, for my intention ys
them to pursue six hundred chosen charets streight ready make
& all that are besydes through out the land of Ægipt take
wt h men & horses them to furnish, for we shall out of hande
vndoubtedly them apprehend, beinge straytned in the lande
for before them the red sea ys, where in they will be drowned
yf they go on, yf backe they come, by vs they shall be killed
where fore no longer lingringe make but let vs hence away
be gone, ready all things to make, for daunger's in delay

Soar
Alas th'Ægiptians follow vs! o Lord what shall we do!

Hesron
Moyses we are dead men. At heeles th'Ægiptians vs pursue

Semi
Perhaps no graues in Ægipt were, & therefore thou hast taken
vs thence, that in the wildernes we might dye & our children.

Soar
Why did thou thus? was yt not this that wee to thee did say
in Ægipt? Go from vs: yt's better we serue & obay
th'Ægiptians, & preserue our lyues, then in the desert dye

Moyses.
Be not afrayd good people, but go on alonge wt h me
& you shall forth wt h see the wonderous workes of our lord god
that this day he will do, when I stretch out my hand & rodd
for the Ægyptians whom you haue espyed now comminge after
vpon my word & credit you no more shall see for euer
for our lord god will for you fight, & you shall hold your peace.
Good lord) I thee beseech thy people help in their distresse

God
Moyses why cryest thou to mee? Bid th'Israelits go forward
& towardes the sea stretch but thy hand out, & thy rod lifte vpward
& the sea shall deuided bee, that th'Israelits may go
vpon the dry ground through the midle thereof, but when king Pharao
wt h all his army them pursues (for his heart will be hardned
that in his coaches, horses, host, & hym I may be gloryfyed
& they all know I am the lord) they shall be drown'd ech one
& my Angell that before the campe of Israell went
shall wt h the piller of the cloud remoue yt self incontinent
& follow yt, & go betwene the Armies them to seuere
so that the camps of all night longe shall not come th'one to th'other

Moyses
Lord I will do as thou me bids: Come Breethren & go wt h mee
& put your trust in god, & he will your protector bee

Kinge pharao.
forward braue souldiers for we shall our enemies eyther slea
wt h our owne hands, or make them runne headlonge into the sea

chorus
Now vnderstand that moyses (as by god he was appoynted
the sea strucke wt h his rodd, & as a wall yt stoode diuided
on the right & lefte hand, & th'Israelits did through yt passe
all safly on dry land: Where as pharao who did them chase
wt h all his men, horses & chariots there in were ouer whelmed
for yt into yt naturall course, where erst yt ranne returned
When they were in the midst there of, so soone as moyses had
stretch't out his hand & rodd vpon the sea, as god hym bade
& not so much as one of pharaos host alyue escaped.
wc h when gods people saw, our Lord & Moyses they beleeued
& greatly were of them a feard, & for this their great victory
they sange a songe of prayse to god: & then went on their iorney
through the desert of Sur, where ys great scarcity of water
but what them there befalls lysten, & you see here after

Moyses
Now are we into Mara come, where as the water's bitter
& there fore Mara shall be cald accordinge to the nature
of the place where yt ys, for that's conuenient as I thinke

Soar
Moyses why haue you brought vs hither? What haue we here to drynk?

Moyses
Good lord I thee beseech this water make fitt to be drunken

God
That peece of woode in to yt cast, & yt shall the same sweten

Moyses
Now yt ys sweete: come drynke your fill, & for yt gods name prayse

Soar et ceteri
Now are we all refreshed well.

Moys[es].
Then let vs go our wayes.

[Soar et ceteri]
Moyses & Aaron why brought you vs to this desert Syn?
where no foode ys for to be got? would god that we had byn
by the hand of our Lord wt h in the land of Ægipt dead
when we sate ouer the flesh pots, & eate our fill of bread.
you meane belyke the multitude to famish for want of meate

God
Moyses from heauen I'l rayne bread, that they may haue to eate.
forth let the people go, & gather for ech day sufficient
that I may triall make whether they'l keepe or breake my commaundment

Moyses.
Brethren yt ys not vs, but god, agaynst whom you do mutter:
But be content, & you shall haue vittayles to slake your hunger
to morow, for god hath your murmuringe heard, & he will sende
you meate: wherefore Aaron bid them before our Lord attende

Aaron
Good people go alonge wt h vs, & you shall vnderstand
that yt ys our Lord god who brought you out of Ægipt land
& in the desert will you feede, as he before hath done
yf that you will his precepts keepe. & so let vs be gone.

chorus.
God hath the peoples murmurringe heard, & store of flesh in th'eueninge
sent to them, & their fill of bread did geue them in the morninge
for quayles aryse, & all the campe did couer, & a dew round
about the campe lye lyke hoare frost, & couered all the ground
wc h when the people saw, they sayd one to an other, Man-hu
wc h signifies, what's this? quoth moyses bread wc h god doth geue you
& euery one there of did gather, one lesse, an other more
but yet their portions equall were beinge measur'd by a gomor:
for he had but a gomor full that more there of had gathered
And he a gomor full lyke wyse had, that had lesse prouided
And they yt Manna cal'd beinge white lyke to coriander seede
In tayst resemblinge flower wt h hony, where on they all did feede,
both then & euer since, & fourty yeares are now expyred
(as you imagin must) since yt by Aaron was reserued
wt h in the Tabernacle, where a gomer full was layd
at first, & kept before our lord, as he appoynted had.
Through strength where of the Israelits this fourty yeares haue liued
& in the Borders of chanaan land are now arryued,
where as smale store of water ys, wc h will geue them occation
perhaps (as erst they did) to mutter agaynst moyses & Aaron
for they a stiffe neckt people are. But what th'euent will bee
expect a while (for I'l begone) & you shall playnly see.

Soar.
Moyses no water's here for vs to drinke: what did thou meane
vs out of Ægipt for to bringe? to kill vs & our children
& all our beastes wt h thyrst? Geue vs some water else we dye

Moyses
Wherefore tempt you our lord? & why do you chyde thus agaynst mee?
what shall I do lord to this people? shortly they will me stone

God
Thy rod take in thy hand, & wt h the Israelits begone
to the rocke Horeb, & vpon the Rocke I'l stand before thee
& thou shalt stryke the rocke, & yt shall yield out water presently.

Moyses
Good people be content, & you shall haue your fill of water
to quench your thirst out of this rocke here by. come let's go thither.
Lo water gusheth out: come drynke your fill, & prayse gods name
who hither to hath seene your griefes, & hath redrest the same

Iosue
Moyses Amalec prepared hath a huge & mighty army
vs to inuade, & as they say, will here be wt h vs presently

Moyses
Then Iosue choose out men, & go forth & wt h Amelec fight
& I in the top of the hill to morrow will stand in sight
wt h the rod of god in my hand, & there for you will pray
that you the victory may gett: & so let's hence away.
Aaron & Hur) come go wt h me to the top of the hill
where for the preseruation of our army pray I will.
Lord now thy enemies are at hand: Lett them be ouerthrowne
that thy name may be prays'd, & power through all the world made knowne.

Aaron
Lo Hur whyle moyses houlds his hands vp Israell ouer cometh
But when for wearynes they do fall downe Amelec preuayleth.
wherefore in the seate vnder hym let vs this same stone lay
& stand on eyther syde of hym, his hands vp for to stay.

Hur
So now the sunne ys sett, & Amelec ys put to flight
& many of his people lye here slayne wt h in our sight
& his hands are not weary yet, but still he them vp houldeth

Moyses
for this great victory our Lord be prays'd, who for vs fighteth
& vnto hym I will go buyld an Altar by & by
& there on offer sacrifice to hym for this great victory

Chorus
Since Amelec vanquish was, Iethro moyses his father in law
did vnto moyses wt h sophora his wyfe & children go
who of his cominge glad, the workes of god to hym related
wc h when he hear'd, he praysed god, & his sonne in Law aduised
subordinat officers to appoynt to iudge things that were lesser
& to reserue vnto hym self such cases as are harder.
wc h done Iethro returned backe agayne to his owne country
& moyses wt h the Israelits are gone towards mount Sinay
there to receiue the law of god, as after shall appeare
yf, when that I am gone, you will but geue attentyue eare.

God
moyses vnto the house of Israell say: my workes they saw
wc h I in Ægipt did, wherefore yf they will keepe my law
they shall be my peculier people, & a priestly kingdome
& holy nation, & I'l them protect in tyme to come

Moyses
What thou commaunds lord shall be done, for here the Auncients are
Of Israel, to whom forth wt h this message I'l declare
Brethren what wonders god hath done in Ægipt land yow saw
ere that he brought you thence, wherefore yf you will keepe his law
you shall be his peculier people, & a priestly kingdome
& holy nation, & he'l you protect in tyme to come

Soar. Hesron, Semi et ceteri.
We'l do all that our lord commands, & his precepts obay

Moyses
I'l forth wt h to our lord returne, & tell hym what you say
Lord they haue faythfull promise made thy lawes for to fullfill

God
To day then & to morrow sanctify them: for I will
in the third day descend in sight of all the people on
mount Sinai: & to them thou certayne limits shalt set downe
in circuit, beyond wc h they shall not go towards the mountayne
for he that doth these limits passe shall certaynly be slayne.
And when the thunder claps you shall heare, & the lightninge see
& the trumpet begins to sound in fyre descend will I
And from the mount there shall aryse a smooke as from a furnace

Moyses
Lord I'l begone, & to the people tell all that thou sayes
Brethren god you commaunds agaynst the third day to be ready
here at the foote of this same mount for to attend his maiesty
who will descend then in your sight. The whyle do not presume
to touch your wyues, nor at that tyme vp the mount for to come
for he that shall the Limitts passe that shall prescribed bee
& vp ascend, whether yt be man or beast, dyinge shall dye.
And when you shall the Thunder crackes heare, & the Lightninge see
& the Trumpet begins to sound, god will descend in maiesty.
To morrow therefore & to day I will you sanctify:
as god hath me inioynd, where fore vnto the campe go wt h mee.
This ys the day by god assign'd that you should hither come
Beyond these meeres wc h here I'l make to go let none presume
neyther of the priestes nor common people, lest perhaps they be slayne
But here wt h out the bondaries of this same mount remayne.
and I'l ascend vp to the mount, as god hath me appoynted

Soar, Hesron, Semi et ceteri.
So do, & we'l stay here below, as thou hast vs commanded
O what a Thunde clap ys this? Lyke I did neuer heare
nor such flashes of lightinge euer to any did appeare.
& now the trumpet doth begin to sound, & the mount smooketh

Hesron
O what a terrible thinge ys! In fyre god downe descendeth
what shall we do? whither shall go? where shall we our selues saue?

God
I am the Lord thy god: No other gods but me thou shalt haue.
Thou shalt not take the name of thy lord god in vayne. Remember
thou sanctify the sabboth day. Honour thy father & mother.
No murder thou shalt do. Neyther shalt thou commit aduoutry.
Thou shalt not steale. Agaynst thy neighbour thou shalt beare no false Testimony.
Thou shalt not couet thy Neighbours wyfe; nor Neighbours goods desyre.

Semi
O what a terrible voyce ys this proceedinge from the fyre!
Moyses speake thou to vs: And wt h attentyue eare we'l heare thee.
Let not our Lord vnto vs speake, lest that perhaps we dye.

Moyses
feare not because gods cominge hath for your probation byn
to breede in you a terrour, lest agaynst hym you should synne.

God
Moyses come vp to me in to the mount, & be there wt h mee
& two stone tables, & the law & commaundments I'l geue thee
writ wt h my finger that the people thou mayst gyue instruction

Moyses
Iosue & I'l ascend, expect my returne, here Hur & Aaron
I'l leaue wt h you. Yf any question ryse, you shall referre
yt vnto them, who will be ready still the same to answeare.

God
Moyses my people shall prepare & make for me a Sanctuary
& in the midst of them I'l dwell. & thus made yt shall bee.
first frame an Arke of Setim woode, where in the Testification
wc h I will geue thee shall be putt, & sett a plate there on
of purest gold, & that both on the insyde & wt h out:
& ouer yt a golden crowne you sall make round about:
& at ech corner of the Arke a gold ringe shall be placed.
& barres of Setim woode put through, all ouer wt h gold couered.
And thou shalt also make of pure gold a propitiatory:
& two cherubims both of beaten gold & let them bee
the one on th'one syde of the oracle sett, th'other on the other,
wt h their winges the propitiatory & th'oracle they shall couer.
from midst of the two cherubims, wc h shall be on th'Arke of testimony,
All thinges I'l speake wc h I command children of Israell by thee.
A table also make of Setim wood in breadth a cubit
& two in length, & wt h pure gold all ouer thou shalt plate yt:
& there on Loaues of proposition in my sight always sett
the wc h for none but only priests yt's lawfull for to eate.
Moyses) these two stone tables wt h my finger writ, of testimonie
to th'ende thou may the people teach, I will bestow vpon thee

Soar
Yt's strange that moyses makes such tariance, & 's not yet returned
downe from the mount, for fourty dayes yt's since he hence departed.
Aaron aryse & make vs gods that may before vs go
for what to moyses chaunced hath none of vs all do know

Aaron
The golden earlets from your wyues, & sonnes, & daughters take
wc h at their eares are, & there of a moulten calfe I'l make

Soar.
That will we do wt h out delay. Lo Aaron here they bee

Aaron
Let me them see, & you shall haue a calfe there of cast presently.
Behould by founders worke the calf's all ready made, here take yt

Soar, Hesron, Semi et ceteri.
Israell these are thy gods that brought the from the land of Ægipt

Aaron
Cryer make proclamation.

Crier.
To morrow ys the lords solemnity

Soar et ceteri.
Come we'l sitt downe to eate & drinke. Now let's ryse & play merely
Hey day: these are thy gods Israell that brought thee out of Ægipt
No other gods but this wee haue, & prostrate we'l adore yt.

God
Moyses get downe, The people that from Ægipt thou hast brought
hath sin'd, & sone revoulted from the way wc h thou them taught.
They haue made to them selues a moulten calfe, & haue ador'd yt
& sayd: Israel these are thy gods that brought the out of Ægipt.
I see this people ys stiffe neck't. Let my fury be angry
agaynst them, & into a mighty nation I will make thee

Moyses
why ys thy fury Lord agaynst this thy owne people wroth
whom in a mighty power, & a stronge hand thou hast brought forth
of Ægipt land? Let not th'Ægiptians say, I do besech thee
that he hath brought them forth to kill them in the mountaynes craftely
Lord lett thyne anger cease, & wickednes of thy people suffer:
Thy seruants, Abraham, Isaac & Israell remember
to whom by thyne owne self thou sware that thou wouldst multiply
their seede euen as the starres of heauen, & geue vnto them freely
& to their seede the land wc h vnto them thou ofte hast promised
& that for euer more the same by them should be possessed

God
Agaynst my people I'l not do the yll I did intend

Moyses
Thankes (Lord) now from the mount wt h these two tables I'l descend

Soar et ceteri.
Israell these are thy gods that brought the from the land of Ægipt
come once more let vs prostrat fall vpon th'earth & adore yt

Iosue.
My Lord a litle stay. what tumult's this amongst the people?
me thinks I heare wt h in the campe the noyse & sound of batle

Moyses
yt neyther ys the shout of men incourageinge to fight
nor yet the cry & noyse of men compellinge vnto flight
But I the voyce of singers heare. come forward let vs go
They dauncinge are, & worshipinge a calfe: Alas for wo
I can not hould but hurle these tables downe for very anger
& them in peeces breake: I will go beate their calfe to powder
& yt in water put: & geue yt vnto them to drynke
Aaron what hath this people done to thee, that thou dost wynke
at least, or geue consent vnto this their so heynous synne?

Aaron
Let not my lord offended bee, for they haue always byn
a stubborne people as thou knowest, & euer prone to wickednes
& caus'd me make them gods to go before them: for of moyses
(sayd they) we know not what's become, nor what's vnto hym chanced
& vnto me their earlets brought, were of this calf I framed

Moyses
Yf any man be our lords let hym come hither & ioyne vnte mee.
Thus the lord god of Israell sayth to you the sonnes of leui
Put euery man his sword vpon his thigh wt h out delay
& go from gate to gate through out the campe, & ech man slay
his brother frende & neighbour for our lord hath so commanded

Leuits
we ready are to execute all that we are inioyned
Moyses about thre thousand men by vs this day are slayne

Moyses
You consecrated haue your hands vnto our lord ech man
in his sonne & his brother that a blessinge you may gett
But brethren you a synne haue synned that ys very great.
I'l vp vnto our lord ascend, to see yf any way
I can hym moue this sinfull act to your charge not to lay.
This people (lord) a heynous synne agaynst thee haue committed
for they haue made vnto them selues gods yt of gold were framed.
Eyther this trespasse them forgeue, or let my name be strycken
yf thou forgeue them not, out of the booke wc h thou hast written

God
Hym will I stryke out of my booke that synned hath agaynst mee.
But go thou & this people lead whither as before I told thee.
Myne Angell shall conduct thee, & in the reuengeinge day
for this their great & heinous synne I'l them seuerely pay.
Yet ere thou go two tables cutt of stone lyke to the former
& on them I'l the same words write, that I writ on the other,
when they are made, vp to this mount ascend & bringe them wt h thee

Moyses
Thankes gratious lord: I will so do. Come you all alonge wt h mee
Dominator lord god mercifull, who much compassion takest,
patient, clement, & true, who mercy vnto thousands shewest
& tak'st away our wicked facts, our synnes, & our iniquitie
& no man of hym self there ys that's innocent found before thee.
Yf I haue found grace in thy sight, a longe still wt h vs go
& (though stiffe neck't thys people be) thy mercy to them show

God
Obserue what I shall thee command, & I'l cast forth the Amorrheit
before thy face, & t'Heueit, chananeit, Hetheit, phereseit, Iebuseit.
Beware thou ioyne not amity wt h th'Inhabitance of that region
but their Altars destroy, their statues breake, & groues cutt downe.
Do no strange gods adore, for the Lord's ielious of his honour.
Trafficke not wt h them lest they do make thee a fornicatour
by sacrificeinge to their gods, or eatinge of thinges immoluted
vnto their Idols, when they haue them selues the same adored.
Take not wyues of their daughters for your sonnes lest to Idolatry
by their allurements & example intic'd they also bee
yt ys full fourty dayes & fourty nights since thou came hither
duringe wc h tyme thou neyther hast eate bread nor drunken water
The words now of the couenant write wt h thee made & wt h Israell
& then thou shalt descend agayne for to instruct my people.

Aaron
What meaneth this? See moyses face seemes horned for to bee

Soar et ceteri.
We are afray'd yt to behold, or for to come hym Nigh

Moyses
Brethren let's go vnto the campe, & there shall be related
by me to you all that god in the mountayne hath commanded

Mary
Moyses yt's no iust cause that thou from thy wyues bedd be seperated
by reason of thy conference wt h god: for hath god talked
only wt h the? hath he not also talkt wt h vs in lyke maner?

Aaron
Yes often tymes, wherefore moyses doth wronge to his wyfe offer.

God
Moyses, Aaron, & Mary go you three vnto the Tabernacle
alone, where I will speake wt h you apart from all the people.
Aaron & Mary heare my wordes, yf there among'st you bee
a prophet of the lord: to hym in vision appeare will I,
or to hym speake in sleepe. But moyses ys not such a one
for he's the faythfulst seruant in my house wt h out comparison
wt h whom I more familier haue bene then wt h any other
for wt h hym mouth to mouth I speake, & playnly do conferre
& not in ridles nor in figures the Lord god doth he see
why therefore from my seruant to detract feared not yee

Aaron.
Alas my sister mary ys wt h Leprosy infected
behold shee ys as white as Snow, & wholly therewt h couered.
Moyses I thee besech my Lord lay not on vs this synne
wc h foolishly by vs agaynst thee hath committed byn.
Let not this woman bee as yt were dead, & as abortyue
that's cast forth of the mothers wombe, but suffer her to lyue,
all though she haue offended much. Lo now I do see playnly
the one half of her flesh deuoured for to be wt h Leprosy

Moyses
Good lord I the beseech to make her whole & sound agayne

God
Yf in her face her father spitt, ought not she to remayne
seauen dayes ashamed at the least? let her therefore be seperated
seauen dayes wt h out the campe, then back agayne she shall be called

Moyses
Sister be gone, & till seauen dayes be past come not agayne

God
Moyses send men to take a view of the land of chanaan
wc h to the Israelits I'l geue. of euery tribe send one

Moyses
What thou hast geuen me in charge shall forth wt h (lord) be done.
Samua, Saphat, Caleb, Igal, Iosue, Phalti Geddiel
Gaddi, Ammiel, Sthur, Nahabi, Guel, children of Israell
to the Land of chanaan go there of to take a viewe
& when you shall vnto the mountayns come, then would I haue you
for to marke well what the land ys, whether good, or bad, & whether
th'Inhabitants be stronge or weake, & few or many in number.
what maner of citties, walled, or wt h out walls? what the ground ys
whether yt be fatt or barren, whether full of wood, or wt h out trees.
Good courage haue, & some of the fruits of the land bringe hyther

Iosue
we will, & now we'l take our leaue, & go directly thither

Moyses
God speede you well: The whyle we will stay in the Desert pharan
& there expect your safe returne from the land of chanaan

chorus.
Imagin now the princes to chanaan that are gone
are safly there aryu'd, & come already vnto Hebron
where as the sonnes of Enac dwell, Achman, Sisol, & Tholmai
from whence to the Torrent of Cluster they did make their iournay
& their returne of the whole campe wt h longinge ys expected
to learne what newes they bringe for most part of them are afear'd
lest that those people be to stronge by them for to be conquer'd
So litle confidence they haue in god, though they haue seene
his power before; wc h euer more wt h them hither to hath beene
but what the certaynty of their news will be shall appeare
when they come backe, & still they looke of their returne to heare
for fourty days expyred are synce they went to that country
& be assur'd longer then they must needes they'l not there tary.
if no misfortune them befall, as I hope there will none
for they are not knowne to be spyes. But now I will begone.

Moyses
Right glad I am you are return'd all saffly backe agayne
good newes I hope you do vs bringe from the land of chanaan

caleb.
The land in deede most fruitfull ys, & flows wt h mylke & hony
as by this fruit may well appeare wc h here we thence do cary.
Let's go & yt possesse, for wt h ease we may yt obtayne

Samua
No th'ayre vnholsome ys, & deuours all that there remayne
& all the people that we saw are toto stronge & tall
The stocke of Enac we saw there, & they are gyants all.
And Amelec dwelleth in the south. In the mountaynes the Hetheite
The Iebuseite, & the Amorrheit, & by the seasyde chananeite.
Their citties are great, & wall'd about: & when we were compared
to Enacs monstrous sonnes of gyants kynd, Locusts we seemed.

Saphat
would god we had in Ægipt dyed: & would god we might dye
in this vast wildernes, & that our lord would not vs cary
into that land, lest by the sword we fall, & haue our wyues
& children slayne before our eyes, or else away lead captyues

Igal
ys yt not better into Egipt to returne agayne

Phalti
Much better sure, let's go & choose vs out an other captayne.

Moyses
Alas what do these people meane thus wilfull for to bee?

Aaron
Their peruerse dealinge greiues me to the heart: for wo I dye

Iosue
The land wc h we haue circuted ys very good & fertile
Yf that propitious our lord be, as I do hope he'l bee
he'l to our hands a land deliuer flowinge wt h mylke and hony.

Caleb
Agaynst our lord be not rebellious, nor this same people feare
for as bread we shall them deuour, syth all theyr ayd I heare
ys from them gone, & our lord ys wt h vs, & will be still

Geddiel et ceteri.
Who can indure their words? come, come, stone them to death we will

God
How longe will this same people me detract, & not beleeue mee
in all the signes that I haue wrought before their eyes continually?
for this their stubbernes I'l them consume, & stryke wt h pestilence
but ouer a farre stronger nation I'l make thee a prince.

Moyses
Lord lest th'Ægiptians (from the midst where of thou brought this people)
should heare that thou hast them destroy'd, & say thou art not able
to bringe them to the land of promise, as thou to them hast sworne
but kild them in the wildernes, & at the mocke & scorne,
let the strength of our Lord (as thou did sweare) be magnifyed
agaynst thyne enemyes, & mercy vnto thy people shewed
by pardoninge of their synnes, though greiuously they haue offended

God
Accordinge to thy worde I their offenses haue remitted,
lyue I, & the whole earth shall filled be wt h the lords glory:
But yet all the men that haue wt h their eyes beheld my maiesty
& seene the signes wc h I wt h in the desert, & Ægipt did,
& haue ten tymes now tempted me, & my voyce disobeyd
shall not the land see, for the wc h I to their fathers sware.
Only caleb & Iosue, who obedient seruants are
to me, will I bringe to thys land, & theyr seede shall possesse yt
All the rest in this wildernes shall dye, that came from Ægipt
And their children shall in the desert wander fourty yeares:
for vpon them I visit will th'offences of their fathers.
who fourty days the land did view. A yeare shall be reputed
euen as a day. But when their fathers bodyes shall be consumed
Their litle ones, (of whom they sayd that they a pray should bee
vnto their enemyes) that same land, wc h they mislyke, shall see.
for I will bringe them thither, & by me they shall be protected.

Samua, Saphat et ceteri.
We ready are to go vnto that land, for we haue synned

Moyses
Why do you our lords word transgresse? yf that you go, you shall
(syth our Lord's not wt h you) in the midst of your enemies fall

Samua et ceteri.
There of wee'l triall make, for to go thither wee mynded are.

Moyses
So will not wee, but to the campe, where gods Arcke ys repayre.

Chorus.
The princes that did view the land & haue from god detracted,
agaynst th'Amalecite, & the chananeite vp the mount are ascended
wt h other of the Israelits, who agaynst moyses had
vs'd spitefull wordes, when in good will that voyage he them for bade.
Knowinge that god affirmed had that they should neuer see
that land: & yet they haue aduentur'd for to go presumptously.
when as before god bade them go they desperatly refused.
wc h opposition lykly ys wt h death to be rewarded
for god (though patient for a tyme) will punish in the ende
& that wt h great seuerity the parties that offende.
& what th'euent here of will bee, (yf you but shew attention)
shall manifestly appeare before your eyes: so I'l be gone.
Now haue you sene what the reward of disobedience ys
by th'Israelits, who easely destroy'd were by their enemyes
when god had them forsaken & his helpinge hand wt h drew
where as before they euer more their enemyes ouerthrew
& so might now haue also done yf god they had obeyed
& wt h Iosue & caleb haue into chanaan entred
here after wt h security in tyme by god appoynted,
& haue their enemyes ouerthrowne beinge by god protected.
Yet would the rest not warninge take by this their seuere punishment
for chore fell wt h his complices to schisme, & that incontinent
agaynst moyses & Aaron: for the wc h they & their wyues
& children in the sight of all the people lost their lyues
for they wt h all their substance & their Tabernacles fell
into the earth openinge her mouth, & suncke downe into hell.
Other two hundred & fifty princes also for incense offeringe
wt h fourteene thousand & seauen hundred of the commons murmuringe
in the behalf of the seditions wt h fyre from heauen were
consumed all. at sight where of the rest trembled for feare
& forward went into the desert Sin, where's lack of water
where how they will behaue them selues, your selues shall see hereafter

Soar.
wee wish wt h all our hearts that we before our lord had perished
Why out of Ægipt brought you vs to haue vs here destroyed

Hesron
This desert Sin so barren ys that yt ys good for nothinge
for neyther vynes, pomegranets, figgs, nor corne yt will forth bringe
& besydes that there ys no water at all for vs to drynke
so that we & our cattell shall be starued all we thinke.

Moyses
Lord god the cry of this thy people heare, & geue them water
to drynke, that beinge satisfyed there wt h they may not mutter.

God
Moyses speake to this rocke, & yt shall water yield forth plenty
that all the multitude may drynke, & theyr lyues saued bee.

Moyses
Heare yee Rebellious & Incredulous people, can we forth bringe
water of this hard & dry rock?

Aar[on].
Yt's not a lykly thinge.

Moys[es].
Yet wt h my rod I'l strike the rocke as god hath me comanded
Lo water gusheth out. now drinke there of till you be satisfyed.

God.
Moyses & Aaron syth you me belieue not, vnder stand
that you shall not my people bringe into chanaan land
wherefore take Aaron & his sonne Eleazar, & go
vnto the mountayne Hor, where thou shalt thus vnto them do
Aaron of his vesture vnvest: & when thou hast so done
there wt h thou shalt reuest agayne Eleazar his sonne
for Aaron shall be gather'd to his people there, & dye

Moyses
Lord Il be gone, & all thinges do euen as thou doest command mee

chorus.
Now mary moyses sister's dead, & so's Aaron his Brother
for whose deaths all the people mourn'd full thirty dayes together
since wc h tyme th'Israelits haue wt h the chanits incountred
& at first got the worse: But afterward, when they had vowed
to kill the chananeit kinge of Arad, & all his citties spoyle
yf that the victory they gott, they put them to the foyle,
& forward went: but by the way agayne the people muttered
for wc h wt h fyrye serpents sent by god, many were deuoured.
wc h them inforced to confesse their synne, & to desyre
moyses to pray for them to god for to auert his yre
from them. wc h he did, & god bade hym make a brasen serpent
& set yt for a signe, that they that bitten were incontinent
might looke there on, & so be cur'd, as many of them were
& then they forward went agayne from Arad all together
& camp't them selues in Arnon wc h borders vpon the Amorrheit
where god almighty for them fought, euen as he dyd in Ægipt
for as pharao & all his Army were in the redd sea drowned
so th'Amorrheits by the rocks that fell on them were oppressed
& Sehon their kinge slayne in battayle, & all his citties taken
where th'Israelits setled them selues, when they the land had gotten
& went from thence agaynst the kinge of Basan for to fight
& vanquis't hym as before he vanquish't had the Amorrheit
& did possesse his land, wc h made the moabits sore afeard
the more for that they of their marchinge toward their country heard.
& Balac kinge of Moab did send for Balaam a southsayer
to curse the Israelits because he thought them to be stronger
then he was able to wt h stand, yf by any meanes he might
dryue them out of his land, for he loath wt h them to fight
for he conceiued in his mynde, & fully was persuaded
that they whom he blest should be blest, & cursed whom he cursed
But while he wt h his false gods did consult, god their mouthes shutt
& th'answeare he should to the messengers make, in his mouth putt
forbiddinge hym to go, Or to curse them whom he had blessed
& so wt h out his company the messengers back returned.
wc h when kinge Balac heard, mo & more noble men he sent
to Balaam for to bid hym come alonge wt h them incontinent
& curse the Israelits, & well he should rewarded bee.
But Balaam's answeare was, yf Balac would bestowe vpon mee
his house full of syluer & gold, I can not gods word alter
yet yf you'l stay I'l once more see what god will to me answeare
where to the messengers did assent, & god vnto hym sayd
in the night tyme: aryse & go wt h them, as they the bade
yet so, that thou shalt nothinge do, but as I shall commande thee
& there vpon Balaam sadlinge his asse went in their company
at whom god angry was, & made his Angel for to stay
agaynst hym wt h a drawne sword, wc h made th'Asse g'out of ye way
whom when Balaam had beat, & made for to returne agayne
into the beaten way, Th'Angell before hym did remayne,
& stoode in the strayts of two walls, whom th'asse espyinge ioyned
her selfe close to the wall, & the foote of the ryder brused.
& he her beat agayne: yet neuer the lesse the Angel standinge
in a narrow place, where on the right or left hand was no passinge
the asse espyed hym, & vnder the ryders feete shee fell
who there wt h angred beat her syds more fiercely wt h his cudgell.
And our lord openned th'asses mouth, who spake, & sayd what haue I
vnto thee done? what makes the now the third tyme for to strike mee?
where vnto Balaam answeare made: because thou me abused.
I would I had a sword, for by me then thou should be killed.
Am not I (quoth the asse) thy beast where on thou always vsed
to ryde vntill this day? & euer thus haue I the serued?
Neuer sayd he. & forth wt h our lord opened Balaams eyes
& he th'Angell in the way wt h a drawne sword standinge spyes.
& hym flatt to the ground adord. To whom th'Angell dyd say:
why thrice hast thou beaten thy asse? I came because thy way
peruerse & wicked ys. & but that thy asse away turned
& vnto me gaue place, I had slayne thee, & shee had lyued.
I haue (quoth Balaam syn'd not knowinge that thou stoode agaynst mee
& I will backe returne yf that my goinge do displease thee.
No wt h these men go th'Angell sayd, & see thou nothinge vtter
but what by the way of command I shall to the deliuer.
Then Balaam wt h the Messengers went, wc h when king Balac heard
He ask't hym wherefore he hys iourney had so long differd.
sayinge was yt because I could not recompence thy cominge?
To whom Balaam replyed: Lo here I am can I say any thinge
but what the lord put's in my mouth? Then they together went
& when Balac had seauen Altars buylt, Balaam incontinent
layd holocausts there on, & sayd as our Lord hym instructed
at that same tyme: How shall I curse hym whom god hath not cursed?
The dust of Iacob who ys able to number or to tell
& truly come to know the number of the stock of Israell?
My soule the death dy of the iust: & my last ende be made
lyke vnto them. What ys this that thou doe'st then Balac sayd:
I sent for thee to curse them, but yt seemes thou hast them blessed.
Can I sayd Balaam speake ought else, but what the lord commannded?
Then twice more Balac vrged hym agayne to curse the people.
wc h he refused for to do: & sayd he was not able.
because he was by god forbidden: & playnly then he prophecied
of Christ, & that by th'Israelits those lands should be destroyed.
wc h Balac so offended that he bade hym get hym thence
& neyther would hym honour, nor make hym any other recompence
Soone after this the Israelits wt h Moabs daughters fornicated
for wc h on gibbets agaynst the sunne god bade they should be hanged
& foure & twenty thousand did their lyues loose for that wickednes
& two beinge openly naught together were stabbed through by phinees
Eleazars sonne: for wc h our lord sayd phinees had auerted
from th'Israelits his wrath, because he was wt h his zeale moued,
& now th'offenders blood ys shed, & euery one ys dead
wt h in the desert wc h before by moyses had bene numbred
as god hym self foresayd they should. But what will now ensew
here after shall appeare, when I am gone: & so adew

God
Moyses into the mountayne Abarim go thence to behold
the land of promise, into the wc h (as I haue thee foretold)
the Israelits thou shalt not bringe, because thou was incredulous
at the water of contradiction, though the signes were as merveylous
wc h thou had seene me worke before. But when thou hast yt seene
thou shalt be gathered to thy people euen as Aaron hath bene

Moyses
Lord then prouide a man ouer this multitude to bee
& bringe them in & out, & go before them when I dye
lest the people of our lord should bee as sheepe wt h out a sheepheard

God
Moyses thy suite allready graunted ys, & prayer hearde
On Iosue, in whom the spirit ys, lay thou thy hande
whyle he before Eleazar, & multitude doth stande:
& in all theyr sights geue hym precepts & part of thy glory
yt the Sinagogue of th'Israelits may subiect to hym bee.
for hym Eleazar the priest (when any thinge's to be done)
shall god consult: & at his word he & the rest ech one
shall both go in & out, as vnder thee they haue bene vsed

Moyses
Lord I'l be gone, & all things do that thou hast me inioyned
A hundred twenty yeares of age Brethren I am this day
& out & in before you now no longer go I may
especially syth our lord sayd I should not passe this Iordan
meaninge I should not exercyse the office of a captayne.
But this same Iosue in my place shall passe ouer before thee
& in your sight these nations shall destroy'd by our lord bee.
& you shall them possesse. wherefore see you neyther feare nor tremble
at sight of them, for god will you assist agaynst thys people.
But yet before I do you leaue, I'l explicate the law
wc h in mount Sinai geuen was as you both heard & saw
& there vnto add diuers thinges, that were not then expressed
& gods especiall benefits recite on you bestowed
& you in mynde put of your murmurings & incredulity
& punishments for the same, that in offendinge you may bee
more wary in the tyme to come. Lastly I will declare
the blessings that god will bestow on them that carefull are
in keepeinge & obseruinge of his precepts & commaundments.
& agaynst them that breake the same his seuere threats & punishments
wherefore obserue my words, wc h our lord by my mouth commands you
when thou vnto the lord thy god hast sworne or made a vow
frustrate make not thy word, nor slackly do the same fulfill
for the same at thy hands require be sure our lord god will.
And yf thou breake thy vow, he'l yt repute to thee as synne.
In not promisinge there's no offence: but yf thy word haue byn
wt h out thy lipps, thou shalt obserue, & do what thou hast promised
& spoken wt h thy proper will, & from thy mouth deliuered.
For vsery thou shalt not lend vnto thy brother money
but thou may put thy money out for gayne vnto thyne enemy.
Deny not the hyer of the pore, but see that the same day
that he hath done his worke, his wages thou vnto hym pay.
before the sunne be sett: for there there wt h his lyfe ys preserued
lest he cry out vnto our lord, & thou for yt be punished
Both iust & true let thy weights be: & haue not in thy purse
a lesser & a greatter: nor two bushells in thy house,
a greater where wt h for to measure the corne wc h thou shalt buy
& lesser for the corne thou sells, but let them equall bee.
Agaynst none shall one witnesse serue for any kynd of wickednes
but euery word shall stand in the mouth of two or three witnesses
Yf that the iudgment thou perceiue doubtfull & hard to bee
twixt bloud & bloud, & cause & cause, & leprosy & leprosy
& thou see that the Iudges words wt h in thy gates do vary
Aryse & go vp to the place chosen by god almighty
& to the priests of the Leuiticall stock go, & vnto
the Iudge that shall be at that tyme, & aske them what to do
who shall shew & declare vnto thee the truth of the iudgments.
And thou shalt do what s'euer they that of the place are presidents
wc h our lord god hath chosen shall vnto thee say & teach thee
accordinge to his law, & thou his sentence shalt obey
& neyther to the right hand nor the lefte thou shalt decline.
And he that shall be proud, & at the priests iudgment repyne
that ministreth then vnto our lord thy god, by the decree
& sentence of the Iudge agaynst hym geuen, that man shall dye
& in so doinge the euill thou shalt take away from Israell
wc h heard, the people will feare, & in pryde none after swell.
When you haue Iordan past, & the land of chanaan entred
see that th'Inhabitants of that land by you be all destroyed.
Their Titles breake, statues in fitters burst, waist their Excelses,
& clense the land, that there in dwell you may, & yt possesse.
But yf you kill them not, The remayne shall be to your eyes
as yt were Nayles, speares in your sydes, & your most deadly enemyes.
Feare not but to remembrance call what god hath done to pharao
& the Ægiptians ere he would permitt you thence to go.
what grievous plagues he layd on them, & how he you protected
& in a stronge hand brought you thence, & his whole army drowned.
Thinke on how god did fourty yeares in wildernesse afflict thee
triall to make yf vnto hym thou would obedient bee
& all that while to thee he manna for to eate did geue
to make thee know that in bread only a man doth not lyue
but lyues in euery word that from the mouth of god proceedeth.
And the rayment wc h thou this fourty yeares hast worne, yet lasteth.
All wc h, & much more god hath done for thee that thou might know
hys loue to thee, & feare hym also yf thou breake hys law.
Wherefore his precepts keepe, & to his voyce attentyue bee,
& higher then all nations on the earth our lord will make thee.
for he will thy protector be, thy buckler, & thy shielde
& blest thou shall be in the citty, & blessed in the fielde.
& blessed in thy cattel, heards, & sheepe thou shalt be found
blest shall the fruit be of thy wombe, & the fruite of thy ground
blest in thy barnes, & thy remaynes, & in thy goinge out
& cominge in, & blest in euery thinge thou goes about.
Our Lord will make thyne enemyes that do ryse vp agaynst thee
to fall downe in thy sight, & make thee go away wt h victory.
One way they shall agaynst thee come, but seauen ways shunne thy face.
These blessings shall vpon the light, yf thou do what god sayes,
& keepe his lawes, & neyther go on the right nor left hand.
But yf thou wilt not heare his voyce, nor be at his command
Curst shall thou be both in the citty, fieldes, & in thy barnes
& in thy cattell, heards, & sheepe, & in all thy remaynes.
The heauen in due seasen shall not to thy hand yield rayne.
And where as thou art head, thou shalt become the tayle agayne
Wt h pouerty thou shalt be pincht, wt h famyne & wt h hunger.
Wt h sicknesses god will the visit, as pestilence & feuer.
Wt h frisinge could, & scorchinge heate thou shalt consumed bee.
A corrupt ayre, & blastinge wynde shall euer more molest thee.
The heauen that ys ouer thee shall be of brasse, The ground
where on thou treadst, of yron. On th'earth for rayne dust shal be found
One way agaynst thy enemyes thou shalt go forth, but flye
seauen wayes before their face vntill that thou dispersed be
throughout all kingdomes of the earth. Thy carkas shal be meate
for foules & beastes, & no man shall prohibit them to eate.
wt h Boyles, & scabs, & Itch thy nether parts shall festered bee
& thy mynd shall possessed be, wt h madnes, blyndnes, fury.
So that thou shalt grope at midday as blind men are accustomed
& thou shalt euer wronge sustayne, & by none be releeued.
wt h the wyfe that thou maryed hast an other man shall lye
& an other shall in thy house dwell, that buylded was by thee.
Thou shalt a vinyard plant, & not the vintage there of take
Thy goods shall in thy sight be taken, & thou no rescue make.
Now brethren I both heauen & earth do call this day for witnesse
that I haue sett before you lyfe & death, blessings & curses
choose therefore lyfe that thou may lyue, & thy seede yt comes after the
& gods commandments keepe, wc h by gods grace thou mayst do easely
& thou the foresayd blessings shall inioy. But yf thou will
not heare the voyce of thy lord god, nor his precepts fulfill
these curses shall vpon thee light that I haue here recited
Wherefore choose wc h of them thou list, cursed to be, or blessed
But yf you will my counsell take do not your lord god anger
but when that good & bade's before you set, the good choose rather
& god will the assist, & euer thy conductor bee.
& Iosue in my place appoynted hath to go before thee.
Iosue a good heart haue, be stronge, & courage to thee take
for god will thee captayne & guyd of this his people make
to bringe them to the land of promise, & thou shalt yt diuide
by lot amongst them: & our lord hym self will be thy guyde.
He will not thee forsake nor leaue, wherefore be not afrayd
but willinge be to vndertake this charge as god thee bade.
And now on the as god charg'd me, I do impose my hand
whyle thou before Eleazar, & multitude dost stande:
& here in all their sights on thee bestow part of my glory
that the whole synagogue of this people may be subiect to thee.
for thee Eleazar the priest, (when any thinges to be done)
shall god consult: & at his word thou & the rest ech one
shall both go in & out, as vnder me they were accustomed.

Iosue
Obediently I'l vndertake all that our lord commanded.

Moyses
Then let's be gone, for I know not when that our lord will take mee
out of this world, but as I thinke myne end will now be shortly

Iosue
Now hath our lord to Moyses shew'd all the land of chanaan
all Nephthali, Iuda & Galiad as farre as Dan
wt h Ephraim & Manasses, & the rest. wc h when he had
playnly seene wt h his eyes, our lord god thus vnto hym sayd
This is the land wc h I to Abraham, & his seede promised
but vnto yt thou shalt not go, as vnto thee I signifyed
at the water of contradiction. Since as God did command
Moyses the seruant of our lord ys dead in Moab land
& agaynst phogor in a valley god dyd his body lay
& none his sepulcher haue knowne vntill this present day:
& in his place I must succede, & to chanaan land
the Israelits conduct: to whom I'l go now out of hand.

Chorus.
Moyses one hundred twenty yeares old was when that he dyed
& neyther were his eyes dyme, nor any of his teeth decayed.
wt h the place of his buriall only th'Angels were acquainted
whose ministery god vs'd there in, lest Iewes should hym haue honoured
as god hym self, yf they had knowne, beinge rone vnto Idolatry.
& the days that the Israelits did mourne for hym, were thirty.
& there arose no more a prophet in Israel lyke te moyses
who had our lord seene face to face, & had so good successe
in all the thinges he tooke in hand, & wrought so many wonders
& signes wt h in the land of Ægipt, & scap't so many daungers,
as Moyses did. & now this charge to Iosue ys committed
where in what successe he shall haue in tyme will be discouered.