earth ayens Dauid ayens al y ◠seruaūts of kyng Dauid And whan Abissay wuld slea this curssar Dauid bade hym suffer Semei to curs hym and seyde God cōmaundid hym to curs Dauid The kynge sayde to Abissay and to al his seruāts Lo misonne y ◠yede oute of my wom be sechith my lyfe that is to slea me Howe mych more now this son of Gemini Suffer ye him to cursse by cōmaūdemēt of the lord if in case the lorde behold mitormēt yeld good to mefor this curssing to daye Afterward Absalō defoulid openli hys fathers wyfes before al Israel Than Achitofell yafe a fel councel to pursue Dauid in that nyght with xii thousāds of mē and slea hym before y ◠he were ware But this coūsel was distried bi goddis wyl and by a wyse coūsel of Cusy the frend of Dauid Then Absalō gadride y ◠powre of Israel to make opē warayens his father Nethelese Dauid for pitie charitie cōmaūdid thre princis of his ooste to kepe Absalon alyue y ◠he myght repente and be sauid And whan Dauid knewe that Absalon was slaine he made so greate sorowe that almoste he was dead And al the puple was in point to forsake Dauid Thā for this peril Dauid left hys mourning sat opēlie in the yate to comfort al hys oost Afterthis the councell of al Israell came to Dauid y t thei shouldē bring hym into hys rewme worshypfully And Dauid foryafe the opē treason to hem that they hadden do afore and steride swetly mē of Iuda that weren specialli his traitors to come and brynge hyme into hys rewme and foryafe here treason And he foryafe the souereyne treason to Amasa that was of his owne kyn and was prince of the ooste of Absalon to slea Dauid And Dauid swore to make thys Amasa prince next Ioab And foryafe the sin and cursyng and treason to Semei swore that he shuld not dye Yet before Dauid came to Ierusalem a newe debate roos bytwixe the mē of Israel and the men of Iuda for this bringing ayen of y e kyng was not telde fyrste to men of Israel And bi stiring of Siba a mā of Belial y t was of y e kyn of Saul all Israel was d◅partid fro Dauid suid this Siba And in thys tyme Ioab killed bi treson y ◠noble knight Amasa Thā this Siba passed bi al the Images of Israel til into Habela Bethmaka al chosē mē werē gatherid to him And Ioab hys oost bise gidē thes cities wolden distrie the greate citie Habela and a wyse woman of y ◠cite sauid it by her coūsell made Siba to be slayne and al y t puple to be sauid on boeth sides Also vii men of the kyn of Saule weren slaine of Gabonits by sufferyng of Dauid by coūcell of God For Saul kyllid wyckidly the mē of Gabaō And for this sin of Saul hū ger was made thre yere in the daies of Dauid And after this vēgeaunce don on the house of Saul God dyd merci to the lond Thā is set a great ◅onge of Dauid whyche he spake to God whā he had deliuered him frō y ◠hond of al his enimies Thā sueth the noūbre of strong men of Dauid At the last Dauid for pride ayene the law noūbred y e puple of Israel Therfore lxx tho◅sand of mē weren deade by pestylence Than Dauid repented hym sore meked hym to God and seide thus I it am that fynned and did wickedli ◅hat han these men do that ben sheepe that is simple and innocent in cōparison of me I bisech the that thyne hande be turned ayens me ayens the house of my father Than God sent y e prophete Gad to him bade him make an auter offer brent sacrifices and peaeible sacrifices And god did me◅ cie to the lond the vēgeaūce ceassid of Israel Th◅s processe of thys ii boke oughte to ◅yre kyngs lords to mercie and ryghtfulnes and euer to be ware of idelnes that broughte Dauid to auoutri other mischeuis and euer to be meke to God and hys prestis and sore repent here misdeds and make amendes to God men wilfulli foryeue wrōges don to hem and euer be ware of pride extorcions lest God take vēgeaūce on all y e puple as he did on Dauid his puple And euer to be patiēt merciful as Dauid was to get remissiō of sin bifore don to get peace prosperiti and heuenli blysse wythouten ende The. v. Chapiter THe iii. boke of kyngs tellith fyrst howe Adonias sōne of Dauid wolde haue reignid and Dauid in his life ordeined Solomō to be king he reygned bifore y e death of Dauid Than Adonias fled for dred to y e tabirnacle of god held y e corner of y e auter tyl Solomō sayd y ◠if he wer a good mā he shuld not die Else if iuil were foūdē in him he shuld die Thā Dauid in y e time of hys dyinge charged Solomō to kepe well Gods law to quite to the sonnes of Bersellaye the truth and kyndnes of her father and to punishe Ioab for his trecherous manquellyng of Abner and of Amasa in the tyme of peace And to punish wisely Semei for his worst curssing which he did to Dauid After these things Solomō made Adonias to be slayne for he purposed gilefuly to be Kyng And Solomon casted awai Abiathar that he was not the preist of the Lorde and exiled him also For he assentid to Adonias and was traytor to the Kynge And Solomon commaūded Ioab to be flayne in the tabernacle at the auter for he had slayne gylefully two princis in peace wythouten wittynge of Dauid And the King ordeinid Sadoch priest for Abiathar Than the Kinge commaunded Semei that he should not go out of Ierusalē And if he passed the strond of Cedron he should be deade And Semei acceptid this And for he passid these boūdis the Kinge commaundyd him to be slaine And so he was slaine by cōmaūdement of the Kyng After thes thyngis the reume was confirmed in to the hondis of Solomon he weddyde the daughter of Pharao King of Egipt Thā God bad Solomon axe of him what him liked And he axid that God shuld yeue to him wise herte y t he might deme hys puple and make discrecion either departynge bytwix good euyl And thys axynge pleased God ful mych Therefore God yafe to hym a wyse herte and vnderstondyng in so mych that none before him was like hym neyther shall ryse after hyme Also God yafe to him richesse and Glorie that none amonge kyngis was lyke hym in all dayes byfore Than for Solomon yafe a wyse sentence of dome bitwix tweie cōmon womē y ◠passide the wit of cōmon men theye dredden the Kyng and seiden Gods wisdā was in him to make dome Than is tolde the worshipful household and meinie of Solomon
yede not a weye fro the synnys of Ieroboam neyther forsoke goldâ—…n calues that wereÌ„ in Bethel and DaÌ„ â–ª But for Hieu dyde thys vengeaunce ayens the house of Achab God saide that hys sonnes to the. iiii generacyon shulen syt on y â— tron of Israel Than Athalia the mother of Ocosias whan hir sonne was deade kylede al the blude of the kyng reygned vi yere But Ioas the sun of Ocosias kynge was kept preuili vi yere in y â— teÌ„ple of god in y â— vii yere he was made king by help of Ioiada y e greate priest Athalia was slaine Therfore Ioiada made a boÌ„de of peace betwix God the kynge the puple that it shulde be the puple of God And the puple distried the auters of Baal and altobrake his Imagis kylliden Mathan the prieste of Baall bifore the auter This Ioas began to reygne whan he was vii yere olde and he reignyd xl yere in Ierusalem and dyd rightfulnes bifore God in al the dayes in whych Ioiada the prieste taught hym And Ioas bade priestis take all the money that was offered for price of soulis and by free wyll to make reparatioÌ„ of the temple And for priestis weren necligent in thys reparation Ioas the Kyng bade priestis yelde this money to reparation take it no more And the chauÌ„celler of the Kyng the Bishop Ioiada heeldideÌ„ out of y â— arcke monei yaueÌ„ it into y e hoÌ„d of mastirs workmeÌ„ thei speÌ„dideÌ„ it wel in this office necessari reparatioÌ„ maden no rekeÌ„ing to souereins but tretideÌ„ this monei in feith either good coÌ„sci eÌ„ce For as myche as Asaell Kynge of Sirie came wyth hys ooste to warre ayens IerusaleÌ„ Ioas kynge of Iuda toke all thyngis whych fathers haddeÌ„ hale wed and which he had offred al the siluer that might be foundeÌ„ in the treasouris of the teÌ„ple of God and in the paleise of the Kyng sent al to Asael kyng of Sirie and he yede a wei fro Ierusalem The seruauÌ„tes of Ioas sworen togidir kylliden hym and Amasias hys sonne reignid for hym Ioachas the sonne of Hieu reignid on Israel and dyd iuill as Ieroboam dyd Therfore god bitoke Israel into the hoÌ„dis of Asael kyng of Sirie and of Benadab his son al daies that there were not lefte to Ioachas of all the puple of Israell no but fiue hundrid horsmeÌ„ and teâ—… charis and. x. M. of fotemen Than Ioachas bisought God and he yafe a sanioure to Isra ell and Israel was deliuerid fro the honde of the kyng of Sirie ThaÌ„ Elise felde into great siknes by which he was deade And whaÌ„ Ioas kyng of Israell came to hym and wepte Elise bade hym bryng a bowe and arrowis and bade him set his hond on the bowe And Elise set his hondis on the kyngis hoÌ„dis bade him shote oute at the easte window openid And Elise seyd Thys is the arrow of Gods helpe ayens Sirie in Apheth til thou waste it Efte Elise bade Ioas smyte the earth wyth a dart And whaÌ„ he had sinytteÌ„ thries and styntid Elise was wroth ayens hym and seyd If thou haddist smitten v. sythis or vi sythis or vii sithis y u shuldist haue smitteÌ„ Siri tilto the endynge But no we thou shalt sinyte it thryes Elise dyed and was biried And whan a dead body was byryed in the sepulchre of Elise the man liued ayen and stod on hys fete Amasias kyng of Iuda reignid ix yere and dyd ryghtfulnes in partie but not as Dauid He killyd ten M. men of Edom and for pryde therof he terrid the kyng of Israel to war And Amasias was ouercommen in this batteile and the kyng of Israel toke him prisoner brake the walle of Ierusalem by iiii C. cubitis And the kyng of Israel toke aweye al the gold siluer all the vesseles that weren founden in gods house and in the tresouris of the king and toke pledgis and turnyd ayene into Samarie At the laste the men of Amasias conspiriden ayens hym and he fled into Lachis and they senten thydur and kylliden hym there and biriden him in Ierusalem with his fathers And Asarie his son reignyd for hym in Ierusalem L. yere He dyd ryghtfulnes in partie as Amasias hys fathir dyd and God smote hym wyth lepre tyll into the daye of hys death And Ioathas hys sonne gouernid the paleis and demid the Puple of the Londe And euer the Kyngis of Israell dyden iuyll and yeden in the synnis of Ieroboam And in the dayes of Manaheu kyng of Israell Phull the Kyng of Assiriens toke greate try bute of hym to make Manaheu stroÌ„g in the rewm And in the dayes of Phace Kyng of Israell that dyd iuill in Gods sight came Teglathfalasar Kynge of Assur toke many placis in the londe of Israell And he toke Galaad and Galile and al the lond of Neptalim and translatid hem into Assiriens Aftir that Achaz reignyd on Iuda xvi yere in Ierusalem and yede in the weyes of Kyngis of Israel and dyd foule Idolatrie And after these thyngis Osee the Kynge of Israell reygned ix yere and did iuill but not as the kingis of Israell that weren bifore hym And thys Osee was made tributarye to Salmanasar Kynge of Assyryens And whanne thys Osee woulde be Rebell and paye not tribute to Salmanasar he bisegiâ—… Osee and prisoned hym and bysegid Samarie thre yere and toke it in the nynth yere of Osee translatyd Israell into Assiriens Than the scripture rehersyth many great synnis of the puple of Israel for whych they weren conquerid and driuen oute of here londe Than the kyng of Assiriens brought puple fro BabiloÌ„ and fro many other heathen coÌ„treis and settid hem in the cities of Samarie for the chyldren of Israell And for thys puple dred not God he sent into hem Lions that kylliden hem Therfore the kyng of Assiriens sent thydir oo prieste of Israell to teach hem the lawe of God of Israell and so they worshypyden Godde of Israel and here heatheÌ„ Gods â–ª togidyr â–ª ¶ The. vii chapiter EZethie Kyng of Iuda reignid xxix yere and did good byfore God by all thyngis whyche hys father Dauid had do He dystroyede hygh placis and alto brake I magis and hewed down wodis and brake the serpent of bras For the chyldren of Israell brenten incence to it And he hopid in God Therefore of all the kyngis of Iuda was none like hym after hym but neither among thes kingis that weren byfore hym And in the. xiiii yere of Ezechie Senacherib kynge of Assiriens stied to al wallyd cities of Iuda and toke tho ThaÌ„ Ezechie yaf to him al the siluer that was fouÌ„ den in goddis house and in the treasouris of the kâ—…ng for he should go awey distrinot IerusaleÌ„ neither Iudee And for y â— Senacherib kept not couenaÌ„t Ezechie rebelled ayens him in trist of gods
was slayne The priestis and greate men of the puple broughten out of godis ho◅se the sonne of the Kynge settiden a crowne on his head and yauen in his hand the lawe to be kepte and maden hym kyng And Ioiada made couenaunt bitwix hym and al the puple and the Kynge that theye shullen be the puple of God that is forsake Idolatri kepe trulye goddis law Therfore al the puple yede into the house of Baal and distriedē it and braken the auteris and simulacris eyther Imagys of him And they kylliden byfore the auter Mathan the priest of Baal This Ioas dyd wel in the tyme of Ioiada and reparelyd the temple of Ierusalem that was dystryede by Athalia the quene and hyr sonnys But after the death of Ioiada he was flatteryde by the princis of Iuda and thei felden to Idolatrie and forsoken the tēple of God And y ◠wrath of God was made ayens Iuda Ierusalē for his synne And he sent prophetys to hem that they shulden turne ayene to God and they nolden heare those prophetis And Zacharie the prieste and sōne of Ioiada repriuid hem for thys synne they stonyden hem to deathe in the purseynte of goddys house by cōmaūdemēt of the ◅yng And whan the yere was endyd the ◅oste of Sirie stied ayens hym and came into Iuda and Ierusalē and kylliden al the princis of the puple senten al the preye into Damaske to the Kinge And certes whan full little nūbre of mē of Sirie ▪ was cōmē God bitoke in here hōdis a multitud wythouten end For thei hadden forsake the Lorde God of her fathers And they vsiden shamfull domys in Ioas yeden forth and leften hym in greate sorows And his seruaūts risen ayens hym for vengeaūce of y e blude of y e sonne of Ioiada the prist and kylliden hym in hys bedde And Ioas was deade and Amasie hys sonne reigned for hym The. ix chapiter AMasie did good in partie but not in a perfecte herte And he killid hem that had den slayne the kynge his father but he killid not there sonnes as God bade in t◅e lawe This Amasie found in al Iuda Beniamin fro xx yere aboue xxx M. of yong men that yeden oute to batteyl and helden speare and sheeld And he hi◅ide of Israel an hundryd thousand of full stronge men for an hundride talentis of syluer to fight ayens the sonnes of Edom. And a mā of God seyde to Amase A thou Kynge the ooste of Israel go not out wyth the. For the lorde is not wyth Issraell and with al the sonnes of Effraim That if thou gessest y ◠bateylis stonden in the strēgh of oost the lord shal make the to be ouercomen of thyne enimies For it is propre to God for to helpe and for to turne into ◅ygh Therfore Amasie departyd awaye the ooste of Israel and trystyly ledde forth his puple to batteil and he had the victorie and kylled xl thousande of hys enimies in this bateyl And after this victori Amasie worshipid y e gods of Edō brent inces to hē Wherfore God was wroth ayens Amasie and sente to hym a prophet that shoulde seye to hym Whye hast thou worshipid goddis y ◠deliueridē not here puple fro thine hond Whā the prophet spake these thyngys to hym he answeryd to the prophet ▪ Where y u art a coūsellour of y e king Ceasse thou lest peraduēture I slea the. Therfore y e prophet yede awaye and seyde I wot y t the lord thought to slea the for thou hast do this euil and ferthermore thou assentist not to my councell And so it byfelde in dede For by prid he terrid the kyng of Israel to warre and nolde ceasse for helthfull counsel of the Kynge of Israel Therfore the King of Israel ouercame the puple of Iuda toke Amasie and distryed the wal of Ierusalem by iiii hundrid cubites and toke away al the treasoure vesselis whych he founde in goddis house in the kyngis house After thys doynge Amasie fled oute of Ierusalem into Lachis for treason done to him of hys men And they senten and kylliddē hym in Lachis And Olias his sonne reygnid for him lii yere in Ierusalē and sought God in the dayes of Zacharie vnderstondynge and seynge God And whan he soughte God he louide hyme in al thyngis God helpyd hym ayens philisteys and Arabeis ayens Amonitis And Amonites paidē yiftis to Osias and his name was publyshede tylto the entre of Egipt for ofte victories He byldyde many tourys in Ierusalē also in wildernes for he had mamy beastes vines vynetiliers For he was a man yeuen to earthtilth He had in hys oost ii M. vi C. princis of strōg men iii. C thousande and. v. hundryd that weren able to batell foughten for the King ayens aduersaris his name yede out fer for God helpid him and made him strong But whā he was made strong his hert was reisid into hys death And he dyspysyd hys Lord God For he yede into the temple of God and wolde brene incens on the auter of incēs ayeng the law And whā the Bishope maninoble Priestis ayenstodē hym and told◅n the lawe y t was ayens him he was wrath and helde the censer manacide hem And anon lepre rose in his forhead byfore the priestis in gods house Than the prieste puttid hym oute And he hastyd to go oute for dread and for he felid anon the vengeaunce of God Therfore the Kyng Iosias was leprouse tylto the daye of his death and dwellid in an house departid And Ioathan his sōne gouernid the kyngs house and demid the puple of the londe And Ioathan reignid xvi yere in Ierusalē dyd rightfulnes bifore god bial things which Osias his father had do outtaken thys that he entryde not into the temple of God and yet the puple trespassed He bylded many thyngis faught ayens y e King of the sonnis of Amon ▪ ouircame him And the sonnes of Amon yauen to hyme an hundryd talentis of siluer x thousande chorus of barly and as mani of whete And Corus conteynethe xxx bushels And Ioathan was made stronge for he had dressid hys wayes byfore hys Lorde God and he was deade And Achaz his sonne reigned for him xvi yere in Ierusalē This Achaz dyd not ryghtfulnes in goddis sight but yed in the weies of the Kyngis of Israell and made Imagis to Baal dyd manyfolde Idolatrie and God bitoke him into the hond of y e Kynge of Sirie which Kyng smore Achaz and toke a great preye of his rewme into Damaske And Achaz was bitake into y e hōdis of the Kynge of Israel was smitē wyth a greate wound And Phacee the sonne of Romelie kyllid of Iuda vi score thousande in oo daye all the warriours for they hadden forsake the Lord God of her fathirs And
moneth at euentide And Iosue seeth an Angel of the lord which angel was prince of goddis oost Also the strōg wallis of Iericho feldene downe at goddis ordenaunce whane priestis braiden wyth seuen trumpis and al the puple cried anhigh in the. vii dai of cumpasyng of the citie And the puple of Israel dystroyed and brent the cittie and al things therein outaken Raab and tho that werene in hir house and outaken golde and syluer and vessel of brasse and Irun whych they haloweden in to the tresorye of the lorde Also for Achior did ayens goddis bydding and toke to him silf a thynge reserued to goddis vse he was stonid brent al hys goods weren brent wyth hym And al this punysheyng was done on hyme for afor this the puple of Israel might not stonde but was ouercūe of here enimyes After thys punyshynge of Achior Iosue toke the citie of Haie and kylled the kynge and all the puple and distryed and brent the citie and honged the kyng thereof in a iebat Than Iosue bilded an auter to God in the hyll of He ball offered theron brent sacrifices and peacible sacrifices wrot the Deutronomie of Moses lawe on stonis And fyrst he blessid the puple of Israel And after thes things he reade the wordes of blissynge and curssing and all thyngs y ◠weren written in the boke of the lawe He lefte nothinge vn touched of these thyngs whych Moses had cōmaunded but he declarede all thynges before all the multytude of Israel to women and to lyttle chyldren and to com◅ings that dwelliden amonge hem Also men of Eabaon feynid◅n hem to be offer cuntre and by thys fraude they gaten of Iosue peace and lyfe of Iosue other prin cis And for this fraude thei and al here successours weren made bond to bryng wodde water to the seruice of the auter of al the multitud of Israel for euer Also Iosue by gods helpe ouercam v. greate Kingis in oo daye made hys Princis treade on the neckis of these Kingis And thā he hōgid these Kingis on v. Iebatis And he ouercame al tho Kyngis here puples ▪ y ◠dwellydē in the londe of bihest that weren xxxi Kyngis departed the londe of biheste to xii linagis of Israell by lot and cities of refuite and cities to Priestes dekenis to dwell in as God commaunded Thys processe of Iosue shulde styr christen men to haue greate triste in God dread no man neither puple as loung as they seruiden tre◅ly almyghty God The vii boke cleped Iudicum tel lith that y ◠puple of Israell was rulid wyth Iudgis either domesemen aftir the death of Iosue somtyme by a womanne Delbora Whan the puple fell to great synnes specialli to Idolatrie God sente aduersaries on hem that turmētiden the Iewes ful sore and kyllidē mani thousandis of hem helden other vnder tribute and great thraldam And whan the puple repentid verely cried to God with al here hert he sent helpe to hē and reisid a iudg that ouercame here enemies reulyd hem well in peace and in goddis lawe This processe of Iudicum shuld stryre christen menne for to flee sinne and loue God that doethe so greate mercie to hem that repenten verely This boke cōprehendith y ◠storie of Ruthe that was an heathen woman and lefte hirnacion Idolatri and beleuid in God kept hys law Therefore she was wedid to a noble man of the Iewes and is set in the Genalogie eyther kynrid of oure sauioure Thys stori shulde styr al mē to forsake here synne and serue God truly in all here lyfe for rewarde of heuenlye blysse The fyrst boke of kynges telleth howe the preste Elie and his sonnes weren repreuyd and slayne for they gouerniden euile goddis puple And for here synne necligence the puple dyd myche synne and was ouircomen of heathen men the Arke of God was taken of heathen men and they kylliden many thowsandes of y ◠Iews And how the treue child Samuel was a feithful prophet of the lorde and gouernid wel the puple in goddis seruise ryghtfulnes and did none extorciō nether toke yeftes of anie mā neyther couetid any mās good but did al things in his office iustli bifore God man And whan Samuel was elde he settid hys sonnes Iudgis on Israel And for they bowden after auarice and token yeftes peruertedē dome the puple axeden And Dauid reigned vii yeres in Ebron gate vi sonnes Also Dauid made ◅ych sorowe for the death of Abner whan Ioab had kylled hym bitreason Also Dauid killid Banaa and Rechab that kylliden by treasō Isboseth his enemie Than al Israell came in to Ebrou and anoyntyd Dauid into kynge on Israell And Dauid reygned on Iuda in Ebron bii yers and an halfe And he reigned in Ierusalē xxxiii yere on al Israell and Iuda and was xxx yere elde when he biganne to reygne and reined xl yere After this the noble king Dauid had tweye victoryes of philisteis Than Dauid toke xxx thousaunde mē chosen of Israel to bring to his place the arke of God For reuerence and deuocion Dauid made greate minstrelsie mekid hymsilfe bifore y ◠Arke suffred rebuking of Michole y ◠daughter of Saul therfor Dauid thought to build ā house to y ◠arke of god Thā God telde to Dauid y ◠his son shuld bild his hous the trōe of Dauid shalbe stable w t outē ende and this is filed in Christ. Than Dauid had victorie of many lōdes made tho tributari to Israel And god kept Dauid in al things to which he yedeforth And Dauid did dome rightfulnes to al his puple And he did merci curteci to Miphi boseth son of Ionathas After these things Dauid dwelid at home whā Ioab the ost wēt to batteil dyd aduoutri w t Bersabe y e wife of Uri procured y ◠deth of Urie by treasō Thā God sent Nathā the Prophet to repreue Dauid of his sin he toke mekeli his repreuing knowlechid y ◠he sined ayens God god foryafe y ◠sin but swerde persequutiō went neuer a waie fro his house For God killed y e sōne of Bersabe do sōne of Dauid killed an other And Absalō his sonne roos ayens him and draue hym out of Ierusalem and sought wyth stronge oost to s◅ea him Than dauid yede out of Ierusalem on his feete and stied wyth bare feete into the hyghnes of y ◠hyl of Dliuete and wepte And al hys puple wepte bitterly and dauid mekyd him to God and seide If God seye to me thou pleasest not me I am redie do he y ◠is good bifore hym silfe Than Semei that was of the kyn of Sa◅ dispisid Dauid and clepid hym a manquelar a mā of Belial and a rauenoure of the rewme And he cursside Dauid and castid stones and
for help and by spiryte of prophecie he bade hem make dichis and they sighen neither wynde neyther rayne and the boune of dyches was filled of waters And he before seyde that God should betake Moab into the hondis of these Kyngis they shulden distrie cities and fyeldes and trees and thus it was done in dede Also Elise multiplyed a lyttle oyle and made a pore wydowe to fyl many vessels therof and bade hyr paye hyr dettes wyth some therof and y t she and hir sonns shuldeÌ„ liue by y e residue therof After ward Elise beforseid to a good woman y â— her berwed him frely largly that she shoulde conceiue a sonne And whan Elise knewe y â— this sonne was deade he sent his seruaunt Gihezi wyth hys stafe to reise hym and neyther voyce nor sense was in the childe Than Elise entred into a closet where the chyld laie deade preied to God and laye on the chyld and leyde hys mouthe to the mouthe of the child his hondis on the chylds hondes And the chyld yoxyd seueâ—… siethis and opened his ien and 〈◊〉 bit oke y â— chyld quicke to his mothir And Elise whaÌ„ huÌ„geâ—… was in Galgal a healed the pot of noyful meate by sendinge in of mele that no more byt ternes was in the meate Than Elise made a little breade to suffyce to an hundride men and theye leften reliefes â—…han the Kynge of Sirie sente letâ—…ers to the Kynge of Israell that he shoulde cure Naaman of his lepre the Kynge of Israell torent his clothes for sorow Elise bade y t Naaman should be waisshen vii sithis in the water of Iordan and so he shulde be cured And thus it was don in dede Than Naaman knowlechyd that none other God is in all earth no but onli the God of Israel And Elise toke no yeft yea freli pro ferrid and preased of NaamaÌ„ ThaÌ„ Gihezie ran after Naaman vnwitting either not coÌ„seÌ„ting his master and made a leesinge that Elise sent â—…o hym that he shoulde yeue a talent of siluer double chauÌ„gyng clothes to tweie young men of the sonnes of prophetis And Naaman coÌ„straynid hyme to take the duble that he axed and ordeinid twey chyldren to beare it before hym But hereof Elise seyd that the Lepre of Naaman shoulde cleue to Gihezi and to his sede withouten ende And Gihezi yede out fro Elise and was a mesel as snowe Whan the sonnes of prophets yedeÌ„ to the wode to hew downe wode to bylde places for hem to dwell in y â— Irun of an axe fel douÌ„e into y e watir And Elise castid downe y e tre either helue and the IruÌ„ houide and was taken vp therbi Whan the Kyng of Sirie set bushme â–ª â—…ts priuily ayens the Kyng of Israell Elise warned the King of Israel therof And whaÌ„ it was certified to y e King of Sirie that Elise tolde his priuyties to the Kyng of Israel the Kynge of Sirie sent a grete multitud of his ooste to take Elise And whan the oste compassid y e Citie Doatim wherin Elise was God made thys oost blynde at the praier of Elise And so he ledde hem into the myddys of Samarie And wheÌ„ the Kyng of Israel would siea hem Elise seide naye But make redie a feaste to hem and let hem go in peace to hir Lorde And whan ful stronge hunger was in Samarie y t women eaten her owne children oo womaÌ„ axid dome of the king ayens an other womman that would not by couenaunt bringe forth hir childe to be eaten whan they hadden eaten the chyld of the fyrst woÌ„man Than the kynge that weride the heyre next hys bodye to rente hys clothys for sorowe and swore stronglie that in that daye he would gird of the head of Elise Eâ—…ise bifore knew the coming of this messenger todo this dede bade men close y â— dore suffer not him to enter for his lord coÌ„eth anoÌ„e after hyme to reuoke hys oothe and sentence Than Elise seide in goddis name that tomorow in thys tyme a bushel of wheat floure shalbe for oo statere that is a lyttle quantetie of money as it were a peny and two bushels of barlie for oo statere in the yate of Samarie And Elise seide to a greate duike that bileuid not this word thou shalt se it wyth thine ien and shalte not eate therof And thus it was in dede For whan the oost of Sirie fled by nyght for dreade that God made amonge hem they leften al here goodis and fledden nakyd couetideÌ„ onli to saue here liues And whan a bushell of whete flour was solde on the morowe for oo statere the kyng made that noble Duike kepar at the yate and tâ—…e coÌ„pani trade hym to death as Elise before seide Also Elise spake to y e woman â–ª whos sonne he made to lyue and bade hyr and hir house go a pylgrimag either strange lond where euer she founde couenable For God shal bring stroÌ„g hunger on the londe seuen yere And at the. vii yeres ende the kyng restorid to hir al hir things al the reÌ„tes of hir fields in the time of hir abseÌ„ce Benadab kynge of Sirie sent Asael to Elise to enquire where this king myght recouer of hys sycknes And God shewed to Elise y t Benadab should die And Elise wepte ful sore whaÌ„ he sigh Asael for God shewed to him that Asael shulde be kynge of Sirie do mani euilles to the chyldren of Israell Brâ—…n of her stronge cites and slea by swerde the younge men of hem and hurle the little children on hem and kerue womeÌ„ with chylde Ioram y â— sonne of Iosaphat dyd euel in goddis syght as y e house of Achab did for the daughter of Achab was hys wife But God nolde distrie Iuda for Dauid his seruant as he bihyght to hym to yeue a lanterne to hym and to hys sonnes in al daies After these thingis Elise bad one of y â— sonnes of prophets anoynt Hieu into Kyng of Israell and seye to hym Thou shalt distrie the house of Achab and God shall make it as the house of IeroboaÌ„ And doggis shulen eâ—…te Iesabell in the fyelde of Israel and none shal birye hir And Hieu kylled Ioram Kyng of Israel Ocosias king of Iuda Iesabell the curssed quen And dogs eateÌ„ the flesh of Iesabel hir flesh was a tord on the face of the earthe Than Hieu made lxx sones of Achab to be slain of her Kepers and noryshers and he kylled xlii men brithern of Ocosias And after this doynge Hieu feyned him to worship Baall more then Achab did And bi this feining he gadrid togider al prophetis priestis seruaÌ„ts of Baal in y â— teÌ„ple of Bal killed heÌ„ al And casted out of y e teÌ„ple of Baal his Image brent it drofe yt into duste And dystryed the house of Baal made gongis for it And so Hieu dyd aweye Baal fro Israell Nethelesse Hieu
sainte Paule seyth that our bodies ben the temple of the holy gost And efte he seyeth that glottons maken her belies here God And God seith by Iob that the deuill is king ouer all the chyldren of pryde And Iesus Chryst seith that the deuel is Prince of thys worlde that is as AusteÌ„ seith of false men y t dwelleÌ„ in this worlde Then they that setten pride either couetise either glotonie either raueine in here herte setten Idols of Baal either of the deuell in the temple of God Specially lordes sitten Idolis in Goddes house wheÌ„ they maken vnworthy prelates either curates in the chirch For why such vnable prelatis either curatis ben Idolis as God seith in the. xi Chapyter of Zacharie to an vnable prelate Athou shepperd and Idole for saking the flocke Wherefore Archedekene in his Rosarie whiche is one of the famousest doctours of the Popis lawe wrytteth thus An euil prelate is seyde a â—…orynge Lyon and a wolfe raueshyng praye And in the xxxiiii Chapter of Ezechiell he is seyde to fede hym selfe and not the shepe Also he is seyd to seke his oweÌ„ profite temporall Therfore he is not of goddis chyldren as Austyne seith viii question and fyrste Chapter Sunt quidam And for this thinge powre shalbe taken awaye fro hym as God seyth in the xxxiiii Chapter of Ezechiell Also an euell prelate is seyd a wolfe as the lawe witnesseth in y â— lxxxiii distinction Capite Nihil Also for defaute of gouernall he is seyde an vnchaste dogge as Austen witnesseth in y e second cause y e seueÌ„th question Capiter Que nec Also he is seyde a Crowe either a Rauene for the blackenes of sinnis as y e law wytnesseth ther in capite Non omnis Also he is seyde founid salt not profytable to anye thinge as the lawe witnesseth ther in Capite Non omnis Also he is seyde an Hogge as the lawe witnesseth in the. lxiii distinctioÌ„ Chapter In mandatis Also he is seyd a cherle of a cherlesched of euell lyfe as the lawe wytnesseth in the. xivii destinctioÌ„ in the beginnyng Also he is seyd a CapoÌ„ for he hath y e maner of an Hen. For as a CapoÌ„ croweth not so an euel prelate croweth not in preaching Also an euel prelat geÌ„dreth not bi preching of gods word neither he fighteth for his sogettes Also as a Capon clepyth not heÌ„nes so an euill prelate clepith not poore men to meate Also as a Capon maketh fat him selfe so an euill prelate maketh fat him selfe Therfore sitheÌ„ he sechyth plentuousenes of meates and rechessis he shall be put into fyre of hell as Ierome wytnessith on Michee in y â— xxxv DistinctioÌ„ Capi. â—…cclesie Principes Atchdeken writith all thys in the. xliii Distinction in Cap. Sit Rector On this word â—…uti Also adombe Prelate is an Idole and not a veri prelare A dombe pre late is not a verie prelate sith he vseth not the office of a prelate but he hath only the lykenes of a prelate As an Idoll that vseth not the office of a man is onely lyke a man but is no man Therfore such dom be prelates moune rightfulli be saide simulacris either Idolis of which it is seyde in the. vi Chap. of Baruckâ—… The trees of hem ben made fayre of a carpeÌ„ter and the ben a raied w t gold syluer and â—…oun not speak And thei y e maken suche prelatis bene lyke hem whiche makeris shuleÌ„ be damned w t suche prelatis by that word of Dauid They y t maken tho bene made lyke tho But marcke well that heathen men hadden simulacris of vi kyndis That is of cleye of Tree of Brasse of Stone of Syluer and of Gold We moune fynd these vi kyndis in euill prelatis for why simulacris of cley bene fleshly prelates of whiche God seyth in the Psalter I shal do hem awaye as the cley of the stretis Simulacris of tree bene vnwise prelatis and boistuous with oute wyt Of whiche it is sayd in holy scripture a tree is wlappid in syluer And these bene seyde to be mad and nought into prelatis These ben beastis clepid chymeris that han aparte of eche beaste And suche bene not no but only in opinionne either speche not in dede nether in kynde Simulacris of Brasse ben they that han only wordly eloqueÌ„ce For why brasse yeueth greate sowne In Epistle to Corthinthies xiii Chapt. If I speake in y e langagis of meÌ„ of Aungellis and I haue not Charitie I am made as bras sowneing Simulacris of stone bene they y â— bene broken fro rightfulnes and vertue for temporall strength These prelatis be not the stone whiche is set into the heade of the corner but these ben the stone of hurtyng and of sclander Simulacris of Syluer bene they y â— bene made by money either riches whiche prelates seyne What wolen ye yeue to vs and we shulen bitraye Chryste to you Golden simulacris bene tho that bene made onlye for worldly nobly For why golde signifieth nobley And therfore y â— heade of the Image of Nabugodonosore was of golde in the. ii Chapter of Daniell Archedeken telleth all this in the. xliii destinction Capiter Siâ—… rector On this worde â—…utus Though this doctour of the Popis lawe be pleyue and sharpe he seythe trueth sesonable For the chirch now accordith wyth holy write and reasoÌ„ and commoÌ„ Doctours of holy scripture For in the. xi Chapter of zacharie God clepith an euill prelate an Idole And in Ezechfell and other Prophetis he lykeneth Tirantis and raueinoures to Lions woluis bearis and other vnsaciable beastis to dispyse here synne Here Lordis and other prelatis moune se in partie how perilouse it is to ordeyne euell prelatis either euratis in the churche For as Saynte Gregorye seyth in the fyrste parte of Pastorallis ii Chapter No man harmeth more in the â—…hirch then he y â— doeth weywardly holdith the name of order either holynes And y e law seith De electionibus capite Niâ—…hil That nothing harmith more in the chyrch of God than that vnworthi men be takeÌ„ to the gouernall of soulis And Grosted seyth in his sermoÌ„ Premonitê° a venerabili paâ—…re That to make vnable prelats either curats in y â— chirch of God is to haue come to the hyghiste degree of treaspasses Also in hys sermoÌ„ Dominus noster Iesus Christus he wrytith thus to the pope He y â— bitakith y â— cure of soulis to a man vnmighty vnkuÌ„ing eyther not wylfull to helpe duly the soulys is gyltye of all the soulys though ani ascape either is sauid by Goddis grace And he that bitakith the cure of soulis to him that is opeÌ„ly vnable therto techith to set more â—…rice by vnreasonable beastis than by men and forto loue more earthly thyngis y â— passen shortly than euerlastinge thyngis more than y â— death and bloude of goddis sonne And he
the bokes of Gods lawe and defoulid the temple of Ierusalem and compellyd men for dreade of death to do Idolatrie and forsake God and his Lawe And he toke vesseles and tresourys in the temple and bare into hys lo◅de And he brente the Citye of Ierusalem and dystried the housis therof and the wals therof in cōpasse And he toke the hygh toure of Dauid and set men of armis therin to lette men come to Ierusalem and they dydden mych harme to the puple of Israell ▪ And who euer helde the boke of Goddis testamente and kepte hys Lawe was slayne by cōmaundement of Antioke the Kyng And women that circū◅ididen here chyldren weren slayne by cōmaūdement of Antioke the Kyng And thei hangiden chyldren by the neckis by all the houses of men of Israell and kyllyden hem that circūcididen chyldrē Than arose Matathias y ◠pryst and fled fro Ierusalem into Modin and byweilede greatly thys distryynge of the puple of the temple and citie and of al the lond And he ayene stode the Kynge and hys ministers and kyllid the Kingis ministres that cōpelliden men to do Idolatry And he killid a man that did Idolatri on the auter dystried the auter wheron Idolatrie was done Than Matathias and hys sonnys fledden into hyllis and leften all thyngis whych they hadden in the Cittie And mani men that soughtē dome ryghtfulnes and woldē kepe Gods Lawe camen to hem into deserte Heathen men made wars on hem in Sabates and manye dieden in here simplenes for thei nolden make battel in Sabatis Than manie Iewis weren gaderyd to hym and maden a greate Ooste and weren redye to fyght in Sabattis and thei kylliden synnars in greate wrath And Matathias and hys fryndes compassiden and dystrieden auters and circumcididen chyldren whych they founden in al the coastis of Israell And they pursuiden the chyldren of pryde and the werke hadde prosperitie in his hondis And they gotten the law fro the honds of heathen men and of kyngs yeauē not strēgth to the sinful mā And whan Matathias was in poynte of Death he comfortyd hys sonnis to put here lyues for the law of God bi ensample of Abrahā and other holy mē byfore goyng And he ordeynid Iudas Machabeus to be Duke of bateyl and ordeynid Simont hys sonne to be Fadyr and priest to hem for he was a man of counsell Than bene tolde manye batteylys of Iudas Machabeus ayens heathen men and of great vyc torie bi Goddis help Than Iudas Machabeus made frendshyp wyth Romaynis for her prudence ryghtfulnes powre And whan Iudas was deade in batteyle the puple ordeined Ionathas hys brother theyr prynce and Duke for to hollde war ayens heathen men Than ben telde many bateils of Ionathas vyctories whyche he had ayens heathen men Than Ionathas after many vyctories sente to renulle frenshy pe wyth Romayns and Sparcyatys that weren of the Kynne of Iewis And Ionathas and hys sonnis weren slayne at the laste bi treasonne of Trifon that was an heathē manne and myghtie Duke Than Simont was made Duke of the Puple and in the styd of Iudas Machabeus of Ionathas and he dyd many bat teylis and strong had great victories ayens heathen men And Iewis hadden much reste vnder hym and he made stronge holdys and cy◅yes in Iuda And he renullyde frendship wyth Romaynis and Sparciatys and hade mych glorye of hys folke and of heathen Kyngys And at the laste Symont and his sonnis werē slayne by treasone and Iohn hys sonne was Prynce of priestys after hys fathe◅ys dayes and dyd manye bateyls ayens heathen men The seconde Boke of Machabeys tellyth mych the same sentence of the fyrste boke and hath a fewe speciall poynts of Eliodorus and of Eliazarus and of the noble Wydo we and hyr seuen sonnis Eliodorus was sente of the Kynge to take awaie the treasuris of the Temple of Ierusalem and bere tho to the Kynge And thoughe the treasourys weren kepte for the lyfelode of Wyddowes and fatherlesse chyldren and some weren another manys goodis Eliodorus wolde algate beare al to the Kynge But God made hym hys felowis sore aferd And Elidorus was beaten almost to death of a ferdful one sytynge on an horsse that hade two younge men aboute him And Elio dorus was cast downe to the groūd and was borne out on a bere and ley doumb◅ And whan the hyghste Prieste offrid sacrifice and preied for y e helth of Eliodorus God grauntyd lyfe to hym And he thankyde God and the hygheste priste and yede to the King and tolde hym howe it stode And he wytnessid to al men the greate werkis of God whych he had sene with hys iyen Than is tolde of the curssyd dedys of Iason the prieste that came in by Simonie and woulde brynge the Iewis to Idolatrie and Sodomitie and to forsake God and hys Lawe Than is tolde of the greate crueltye of Antiochus whych he dyde ayens the Iewes and the holie place of Ie rusalem and God suffrede thys for the synnes of y e puple for why God chees not folke for the place but the place for the folke Than Eleazarus cheese to dye a sharpe Death rather that he woulde breke Goddys lawe in a litle pointe to eatte porke yea to feyne to eate porke After thys it sueth howe the blyssyd wyde we and hyr vii sonnys weren martyryd for they noldenne breake Goddis lawe and howe gloriously the blessede mother comforted hein to take Death with ioye for the law of God Thys story of Machabeys shoulde styr Christen men to holde Goddys law to life to death And if knights shulē vse y e swerd ayens any curssyd men they shouldē vse it ayens lords and pryestis principally that woldē compel men for drede of prisone and death to forsake the trueth and fredome of Christis gospel But God for hys greate mercie yeue verye repētaūce to hem that thus pursuē tru men and graunte patience mekenes and charitie to hem that benne thus pursuyd Amen The. xii Chapiter But it is to wytte that holy scripture hath iiii vnderstōdyngis Literal Moral Aligorike Anagogike The Literal vnderstōdyng teachith the thynge done in dede And litteral vnderstandynge is ground and foūdement of iii. gostli vnderstondingis In so mych as Austē in hys Epistle to Uincent other doctours seyne Only by the lytteral vnderstondyng a mā maie argu ayens an aduersari Aligorike is a gostli vndirstōding that teachyth what thyng men owē to beleue of Chryste eyther of holye Churche Morall is a gostly vnderstandyng that teachyth menne what vertues they owen to sue and what vyces they owne to flee Anagogik is a gostly vnderstandynge that teacheth men what blisse they shullenne haue in heauen And thes iiii vnderstondingys moune be taken in thys worde Ierusalē For why to y ◠literall vnderstondynge it sygnifieth an earthly cytie as London or such an other To Alygorye it syngnyfyeth holy churche in