her Ther fore she sayd yf it shulde go so to passe what helpeth it that I am with chylde Wherfore she went to aske the Lorde And the Lorde sayde vnto her there are two maner of people in thy wombe and two nacyons shall be deuyded out of thy bowels and the one nacyon shal be myghtyer then the other and the elder shal be seruant vnto the yonger Therfore when her tyme was come to be delyuerd behold there were two twynnes in her wombe And he that came out fyrste was reed and he was all ouer as it were a rough garmente they called his name Esau. And after hym came his brother out his hande holdynge Esau by the hele And his name was called Iacob And Isaac was ix yeare olde when they were borne and the boyes grewe and Esau became a cunnyng hunter and tylman But Iacob was a perfyte man and dwelled in the tentes Isaac loued Esau bycause he dyd eate of his venyson but Rebecca loued Iacob Iacob sod potage and Esau came from the felde and was fayntye and Esau sayd to Iacob fede me I praye the with that reed potage for I am fayntye And therfore was his name called Edom. And Iacob sayde sel me this day thy byrthryght Esau sayde Loo I am at the poynte to dye what profyte shall this byrthryght do me Iacob answered swere to me then this daye And he sware to hym and solde his byrthryght vnto Iacob Then Iacob gaue Esau bread and potage of ryse And he dyd eate and drynke and rose vp and went his way And Esau re garded not his byrthryght ¶ Isaac is rebuked of Abimâ—lech for callynge Rebecca his syâ—â—ex Chryst is promysed The chydynge of the 〈◊〉 for the welles Isaac is conforted The aâ—onement bytwene Abimâ—lech and Isaac The bigamie of Esau. CAPI XXVI ANd there came a derth in the lande pas synge the fyrste derth that was in the dayes of Abraham And Isaac went vn to Abimelech kynge of the Philistians vnto Gerat And the Lorde appeared vnto hym and sayde Goo not downe into Egypte but byde in the lande whiche I shall shewe vnto the soiourne in this land and I wyll be with the and wyll blesse the for vnto the and vnto thy seed I wyl gyue all these contreyes And I wyl performe the othe which I swore vnto Abraham thy father and wyll multyplye thy seed as the sterres of heuen and wyl gyue vnto thy seed al these countries And in thy seed shall all the nacyons of the earth be blessed bycause that Abraham harkened vn to my voyce and kepte myne ordinaunces my coÌ„maundementes my statutes and my lawes And Isaac dwelled in Gerar. And the men of the place asked hym of his wyfe and he sayd she is my syster for he feared to say She is my wyfe Leest the men of the place shulde haue kylled hym bycause of Rebecca whiche was bewtyfull to the eye And it happened after he had ben there longe tyme that Abimelech kynge of the Philistians loked out at a wyndowe and sawe Isaac sportyng with Rebecca his wyfe And Abimelech called Isaac and sayde she is of a suertye thy wyfe why saydest thou She is my syster To whome Isaac answered I thought that I myght peraduenture haue dyed for her sake Abimelech sayde why haste thou done this vnto vs one of the people myght lyghtly haue lyne by thy wyfe so shuldest thou haue brought synne vpon vs. And so Abime lech charged all his people sayenge he that toucheth this man or his wyfe shall dye the death Isaac sowed in that lande and found in that same yeare an C. busshels and the Lorde blessed him and the man waxed mygh tye and went forth and grewe tyll he was excedynge great for he had possessyoÌ„ of shepe of oxen and a myghtye housholde and therfore the Philistians had enuy at hym for the Philistines stopped and fylled vp with erth all the welles whiche his father seruauntes dygged in his father Abrahams tyme. And Abimelech sayd vnto Isaac get the from vs for thou arte myghtier theÌ„ we a great deale Therfore Isaac departed thence and abode in the valley of Gâ—â—ar and dwelt there And Isaac returnynge dygged agayne the well of water whiche they dygged in the dayes of Abraham his father whiche the Philistyans had stopped after the death of AbrahaÌ„ and gaue them the same names which his father gaue them Isaacs seruantes dygged in the valley and founde a well of lyuynge water And the heerdmen of Gerar dyd stryue with Isaacs herdmen sayeng the water is oures Then called he the well Eseck bycause they stroue with hym And they dygged another well stroue for that also And he called the name of it Sitena And then he departed thence and digged another wel for the which they stxoue not therfore called he it Rehoboth sayeng The Lorde hath nowe made vs rowme that we maye increase vpon the earth And he went vp thence to Beer Seba. And the Lorde appeared vnto hym the same nyght and sayd I am the God of Abraham thy father feare not for I am with the and wyll blesse the and multiylye thy seed for my seruaunt Abrahams sake And he buylded an aulter there and called vpon the name of the Lorde and pytched his tente And there Isaacs seruantes dygged a well Then came Abimelech vnto hym from Gerar and Ahusath his frende and Phicell cheyf captaynâ— of his worke And Isaac sayde vnto them Wherfore come ye to me seynge ye hate me and haue put me awaye from you Whiche answered In seynge we sawe that the Lorde was with the we sayd let there be now an othe bytwyxte vs eueÌ„ bytwyxt vs and the and let vs make a bonde with the that thou shuldest do vs no hurte as we haue not touched the and as we haue done vnto the nothynge but good and sent the awaye in peace for thou arte nowe the blessed of the Lorde And he made them a feast and they dyd cate and drynke And they rose vp by tymes in the mornynge and sware one to another And Isaac sent them awaye And they departed from hym in peace And that same day it happened that Isaacs seruauntes came and tolde hym of a wel whiche they had dygged and sayd vnto him we haue found water And he called it Seba And the name of the citye is called Beer Seba vnto this day Esau was xl yeare olde and he toke a wyfe called Iudith the doughter of Bery an Hethyte and Basmath the doughter of Elon an Hethyte also whiche were disobedient vnto Isaac and Rebecca ¶ Iacob stealeth the blyssynge from Esau by his mothers counsell Isaac is sad Esau is comforted The hatred of Esau towardâ— Iacob CAPI XXVII ANd it came to passe that when Isaac waxed olde and his eyes were dym soo that he coulde not se. He called Esau his eldest sonne and sayde vnto hym my son Whiche sayde to
a doar of the worke the same shal be happye in his dede If any maÌ„ among you seme to be denoute refrayneth not his tonge but deceaueth his owne herte this mannes deuocion is in vayne Pure deuocyon vndefyled before God the father ys this to vysyt the fatherlesse widdowes in their aduersyte and to kepe hym selfe vnspotted of the worlde ⊢ ¶ He for byddeth to haue any respect of persones and not to boast of fayth where no dedes are CAPI II. MY brethren esteme not the fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Lorde of glory with respecte of persons For if ther come into youre company a man wearinge a golden rynge clothed in goodly aparell and ther come in also a poore maÌ„ in vyle raymeÌ„t and ye haue a respecte to him that weareth the gaye clothyng saye vnto hym Syt y u here in a good place saye vnto the poore stande thou there or syt here vnder my â—ote stole are ye not parcyal in youre selues and haue iudged after euyll thoughtes Harken my deare beloued brethren Hath not God chosen y â— poore of this worlde such as are ryche in sayth heyres of the kyngdome which he promysed to them that loue hyme But ye haue despysed the poore Do not ryche men execute â—â—rannye vpon you drawe you before the iudgemeÌ„t seates Do not they speake euell of y â— good name which is called vpon ouer you If ye fulfyll the royall lawe accordyng to the scripture Thou shalt loue thyne neyghboure as thy selfe ye do well But yt ye regarde one person more then another ye commyt synne are rebuked of the lawe as transgressours Whosoeuer shall kepe the whole lawe yet fayle in one poynte he is gyltie of al. For he that sayd Thou shalt not câ—myt adulterye sayde also thou shalt not kyll Though thou do none adulterye yet yf thou kyll y u art become a transgressor of the lawe So speake ye and so do as they that shal be iudged by the lawe of lybertye For he shall haue iudgement without mercy that sheweth no mercy mercy reioyseth agaynste iudgement ⊢ What auayleth it my brethren though a maÌ„ saye he hath â—ayth yf he hathe no dedes Can sayth saue him If a brother or a syster be naked destitute of dayly â—ode one of you saye vnto theÌ„ depart in peace â–ª God sede you warmnes fode notwithstandynge ye geue theÌ„ not those thynges whiche are nedfull to the body what shal it helpe Euen so fayth yf it haue no dedes is deed in it selfe But some maÌ„ wyll saye y u hast fayth I haue dedes shewe me thy fayth by thy dedes I wyl shewe y â— my fayth by my dedes Beleuest y u that ther is one god Thou doest well The deuyls also beleue and tremble But wylt thou vnderstande O thou vayne maÌ„ that fayth without dedes is deed Was not Abraham oure father iustifyed thorow workes when he had offred Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter Thou seest howe that fayth wrought with hys dedes and thorugh the dedes was the fayth made parfecte and the scripture was fulfylled which sayth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghtewesnes and he was called the frende of God ✚ Ye se then howe that of dedes a man is iustifyed and not of fayth onely Lyke wyse also was not Raab the harlot iustifyed thorowe workes when she had receaued that messengers and had sent theÌ„ out another waye For as the body without the spirit is deed euen so fayth without workes is deed also ⊢ ¶ What good and euell commeth thorowe the tonge The dutye of suâ—he as belerned The difference betwyxte the wysdome of the Gospell and the wysdome of the worlde CAPI III. MY brethren be not euery maÌ„ a master knowynge howe that we shal receaue the greater damnacion for in many thinges we synne all If a man synne not in worce the same is a perfecte man and able also to tame all the body beholde we put byttes in to the horses mouthes y â— they may obeye vs and we turne about all the body of the. Beholde also the shyppes which thought they be so greate are dryuen of fearce wyndes yet are they turned about with a very smal helme whyther soeuer the violeÌ„ce of the gouerner wyll Euen so the tonge is a syctel member also and boasteth great thynges Beholde howe great a thynge a lyttell fyre kyndleth and the tonge is fyre euen a worlde of wyckednes So is the tonge set amonge oure membres that it defyleth the whole body setteth a fyre all y â— we haue of nature and is it selfe set a fyre euen of hell All the natures of beastes and of byrdes and of serpentes and thynges of the see are meked tamed of the nature of maÌ„ But the tonge can no man tame It is an vnruely euyll full of deedly poyson Therwith blesse we God the father therwith curse we me whiche are made after the âšœ ymage and symilitude of God Out of one mouth proceadeth blessinge and cursyng My brethreÌ„ these thynges ought nat so to be Dothe a fountayn sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also Can the fygge tree my brethren beare olyue bertes eyther a vyne beare fygges So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water fresshe also If any man be wyse endued with knowledge amonge you let hym shewe his workes out of good conuersacyon with mekenes of wysdome But yf ye haue bytter enuyeng and stryfe in your herte reioyce not nether be lyars agaynst the trueth For such wysdome dissendeth not froÌ„ aboue but is earthy natural dyuelysshe For wher enuyenge stryfe is there is vnstablenes and all maner of euyl workes But the wysdome y â— is froÌ„ aboue is fyrst pure then peasable gentle easy to be entreated full of mercy good frutes with out iudgynge without simulacyon yee and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace of them that mayntayne peace CAPI IIII. ¶ Warre and fyghtynge coÌ„meth of voluptcousnesse The frendshype of the worlde is enimyte before God â–ª 〈◊〉 orâ—acyon to 〈◊〉 sclaunder and the vanyâ—e of thys lyke FROM whence coÌ„meth warre fyghtynge amonge you come they not here hence eueÌ„ of your lustes that fyght in your meÌ„bres Ye lust haue not Ye enuye haue indignacyon cannot obtayne Ye fyght warre Ye haue not because ye aske not Ye aske receaue not because ye aske a mysâ—e euen to consume it vpon your iustes Ye aduouterars wemeÌ„ that breke matrimonye knowe ye not howe y â— the freÌ„dshype of the worlde is enemyte w t God whosoeuer therfore wylbe a freÌ„de of y t worlde is made the enemy of God Ether do ye thinke y e y e scripture saith in vayne The spirit y t dwelleth in vs lusteth euen coÌ„trary to enuy our geueth more grace wherfore he sayth God resisteth the proude
the kynê palace ouer agaynst the gate of the house And when the kynge sawe Esther the quene standynge in the courte she founde grace in his syght And the kyng helde out the golden scepter that was in his hand toward Esther So Esther stepte forth and touched the top of the scepter Then sayde the kynge vnto her What wylte thou quene Esther and what requirest thou aske euen the halfe of the empyre and it shall be gyuen the. And Esther answered Yf it please the kynge let the kynge and Haman come this daye vnto the banket that I haue prepared for hym And the kyng sayd cause Haman to make hast that he maye do as Esther hath sayd So the kynge HamaÌ„ came to the banket that Esther had prepared and the kynge sayde vnto Esther at the banket of wyne what is thy peticyon that it may be gyuen the. And what requirest thou Yf it be euen the halfe of the empyre it shall be done Then answered Esther and sayde my peticyon and desyre is yf I haue founde grace in the syght of the kynge and yf it please the kynge to gyue me my peticyon and to fulfyl my request then let the kynge and Haman come to the banket that I shall prepare for them so wyll I do tomorowe as the kyng hath sayde Then went Haman forth the same daye ioyfull and merye in his mynde And when the same Haman sawe Mardocheus in the kynges gate that he stode not vp and kneled before hym he was full of in dygnacyon at Mardocheus Neuerthelesse Haman refrayned hym selfe and when he came home he sent called for his frendes and Zares his wyfe and Haman tolde them of the glory of his ryches and the multytude of his Chyldren and all togyther howe the kynge had promoted hym so greatly howe that he had set hym aboue the Prynces and seruauntes of the kynge Haman sayde moreouer Yea and Esther the quene dyd let no man come in with the kynge vnto the banket that she had prepared excepte me and tomorowe am I bydden vnto her also with the kynge But in all this am I not satysfyed as longe as I se Mardocheus the Iue syttyng at the kynges gate Then sayde Zares his wyfe and all his frendes vnto hym Let them make a galous of fyftye cubytes hygh and tomorowe speake thou vnto the kyng that Mardocheus may be hanged theron go thou in meryly with the kyng vnto the banket And Haman was well content withall and caused the galous to be made ¶ The kynge turneth ouer the Cronicles and fyndeth the fidelite of Mardocheus and then to the confusion of Haman coÌ„maundeth Mardocheus to be had in honoure CAPI VI. THe same nyght coulde not the Kynge slepe and he coÌ„maunded to brynge the cronicles and storyes which when they were red before the kynge they happened on the place where it was wrytten howe Mardocheus had tolde that Bigthana There 's the kynges two chamberlaynes which kept the thressholdes sought to laye handes on kynge Ahasuerus And the kyng sayd what worshyppe and good haue we done to Mardocheus therfore Then sayde the kynges seruauntes that minystred vnto hym There is nothyng at all done for him And the kyng sayde Who is in the courte For Haman was gone in to the courte without before the kynges house that he myght speake vnto the kynge to hange Mardocheus on the tre that he had prepared for hym And the kynges seruauntes sayde vnto hym behold Haman standeth without in the courte And the kynge sayd let hym come in And when Haman came in the kynge sayde vnto hym what shall be done vnto the man whome the kynge wolde fayne brynge vnto worshyp Haman thought in his hert whom desyreth the kynge to brynge vnto worshyp more then me And Haman answered the kynge Let the man whome the kynge pleaseth to brynge vnto worshyppe be brought hyther that he may be arayed with the royal garmentes which the kynge vseth to weare and the horse that the kyng rydeth vpon and that the crowne royall maye be set vpon his heade And let this rayment and horse be delyuered vnder the hande of one of the gyngê prynces that they maye aray the man withal whome the kynge is disposed to brynge to honoure and cary hym vpon the horse thorowe the strete of the citye and proclame before hym thus shall it be done to the man whome the kynge pleaseth to brynge to honoure And the kynge sayde make hast and take as thou hast sayde the rayment and the horse and do euen so vnto Mardocheus the Iue that sytteth before the kynges gate and let nothynge fayle of all that thou haste spoken Then toke Haman the rayment and the horse and arayed Mordocheus and brought hym on horsebacke thorowe the strete of the citye and proclamed before hym Euen thus shal it be done vnto the man whom the kyng is dysposed to honour And Mardocheus came agayne to the kynges gate but Haman gat him home in al the hast mournynge bare headed and tolde Zares his wyfe and al his frendes euery thyng that had happened hym Then sayd his wyse men and Zares his wyfe vnto hym Yf it be Mardocheus of the sede of the Iues before whom thou hast begon to fall thou shalt not preuayle agaynst hym but shalte surely fall before him And whyle they were yet talkyng with hym came the kynges chamberlaynes and caused Haman to make hast to come vn to the banket that Esther had prepared ¶ The quene byddeâ—â— the kynge and Haman agayne and prayeth for her selfe and for her people She accuseth Haman and he is hanged on the galous whiche he had prepared for Mardocheus CAPI VII ANd the kynge and Haman came in to the banket that quene Esther had prepared and the kynge sayd vnto Esther on the seconde daye at the banket of wyne what is thy peticyon quene Esther that it may be gyuen the And what requirest thou yea aske euen halfe of the empyre and it shal be done And Esther the quene answered and sayde If I haue founde grace in thy syght O kynge and yf it please the kynge then graunt me my lyfe at my desyre and my people for my peticyons sake for we are solde I and my people to be destroyed to be sleyne and to peryshe And wolde God we were solde to be bondmen and bondwomen then wolde I holde my tongue For the enemye pondreth not the kynges harme The kynge Ahasuerus answered and sayde vnto quene Esther who is he And where is he that dare presume in his mynde to do after that maner And Esther sayde the enemye and aduersary is this wycked HamaÌ„ Haman was excedyngly afrayed before the kynge and the quene And the kynge arose from the banket and from the wyne in his displeasure and wente in to the palace garden And HamaÌ„ stode vp and besought quene Esther for his lyfe for he saw that there was a myscheyfe prepared for hym of the kynge alredy And
to remembraunce howe oure fathers also in tymes past were tempted that they myght be proued yf they worshypped theyr God a ryght They ought to remembre howe our father Abraham beynge tempted and tryed thorowe many trybulacyons was founde a louer and frende of God So was Isaac so was Iacob so was Moises and al they that pleased God beyng tryed thorowe many troubles were founde stedfast in fayth Agayne they that receyued not theyr teÌ„ptacyons with the feare of God but put them selues forth with vnpaciency and murmurynge agaynste God peryshed of the destroyer and were slayne of serpentes And therfore shuld not we vndertake to be auenged for the thyng that is done vnto vs but to consydre that all these punyshementes are farre lesse then our synnes and mysdedes Beleuinge also that this correccyon commeth vnto vs as to the seruauntes of God for amendemente and not for our destruccion Then sayde Osias the elders vnto Iudith All that thou speakest is true and no man can reproue thy wordes Pray thou for vs now therfore vnto God for thou arte an holy woman and fearest God And Iudith sayde vnto them Seyng ye knowe that my wordes are of God then proue my councell and deuyse yf it be of God beseche God y â— he wyll brynge my councel to good ende Thus haue I deuised Ye shal stande this nyght before the porte and I wyll go forthe w t Abra my mayden Praye ye therfore vnto God that he wyl graciously remeÌ„bre his people of Israel wtin fiue dayes as ye haue said As for the thynge that I go in hande wtal aske ye no questions of it tyl I open it vnto you my selfe do ye nothiÌ„g els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda sayd vnto her Go thy way i peace the Lorde be w t the that we may be aueÌ„ged of oure ennemyes And so they wente from her agayne ¶ The prayer of Iudith for the vyctory CAPI IX NOwe when they were gone theyr way Iudyth wente into her closet put on an hearrye smocke strawed asshes vpon her heade fell downe before the Lord and cryed vnto hym sayinge O Lorde God of my father Symeon which gauest hym a swerde for a defence agaynst the enemyes that vsed vyolence and wylfulnes and that rauisshed the vyrgin and put her to dyshonesty Thou that gauest theyr wyues into a pray theyr daughters into captiuite and al theyr praye for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes whyche bare a zele vnto the helpe me wyddowe O Lorde my God I beseche the. For thou hast done all thynges from the begynnynge and loke what thou hast taken in hande and deuised it came euer to passe For all thy wayes are prepared and thy iudgementes are done in thy euerlastyng for knoweledge O loke nowe vpon the armies of the Assyrians lyke as it was thy pleasure somtime to loke vpon the host of y â— EgipciaÌ„s when they being weapened ê‘secute thy seruauÌ„tê put theyr trust in their charettes horsmeÌ„ in the multitude of their men of warre But y u lokedst vpon their host castyng a thycke darkenes before them when they came into the depe the waters ouerwhelmed them Euen so Lorde let it go with these that truste in the power multitude of their men of warre in theyr charettes arowes speares and knowe not that thou onely art our God whiche destroyest warres from the begynnyng and that thou art the Lord. O lift vp thyne arme nowe lyke as euer troÌ„ the begynning in thy power brynge their power to naught cause theyr myght to fall in thy wrathe They make theyr boste that they wyll vnhalowe and defyle thy Sanctuary and to wayst the tabernacle of thy name to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with theyr swerde Bryng to passe O Lorde that the pryde of the enemye maye be cut downe with his owne swearde that he maye be takeÌ„ w t the snare of his eyes in me and that thou mayest smyte hi with the lyppes of my loue O geue me a stedfast minde that I maye despyse him and his strength that I may destroye hym Thys shall brynge thy name an euerlastynge remembraunce yf the hande of a woman ouer throwe hym For thy power O Lord staÌ„deth not in y â— power of men neyther hast y u any pleasure in the strength of horses There was neuer proude persone y t pleased the but in the prayer of y â— humble and meke hath thy pleasure bene euermore O thou God of the heauens thou maker of the waters and Lorde of all creatures heare me poore woman callynge vpon the puttynge my truste in thy mercy Remembre thy couenaunt O Lorde and mynister wordes in my mouth and stablysh this deuice in my hert that thy house maye contynue styll in holynes and that all the Heythen maye knowe that thou art God and that there is none other but thou ¶ Iudish decketh her selfe â—o go to Holofernes The blessynge that the Elders gaue Iudith Holofernes is in loue with Iudith CAPI X. ANd wheÌ„ she had left of cryeng vnto the Lord she rose vp from the place where she had lyen flat before the Lord called her mayden wente downe into her house layed the hearrye clothe freÌ„ her put of the garmneâ—es of her wyddowhode wasshed her body anoynted her selfe with precyous thynges â–ª of swete sauoure broyded and platted her hearre set an hooue vpon her head and put on suche apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse slyppers vpon her fete armellettê spaÌ„ges earynges fynger rynges and deckt her selfe w t all her best aray The Lorde gaue her also a specyall beautye and fayrenes for all this deckyng of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse and pleasure of the fleshe but of a ryght discrecyon and vertue therfore dyd the Lorde increase her bewtye so that she was exceadyng amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes She gaue hyr mayde also a botell of wyne a pot with oyle pottage cake bread chese and went her way Nowe whan she came to the porte of the cytie she founde Osias and the elders of the cytie waytyng there Whiche whaÌ„ they sawe her they were astonnyed marueled greatly at her vewty Neuerthelesse they asked no questioÌ„ at her but let her go saying The god of our fathers geue the his grace with hys power perfourme al the deuyse of thy herte y â— IerusaleÌ„ maye reioyce ouer the that thy name may be in the noÌ„bre of the holy ryghtuous And al they y â— were there sayde w t one voyce so be it so be it Iudith made her prayer vnto the Lord went out at the porte she and her mayde And as she was going downe the mountayne it happened that aboute y â— sprynge of the day the spyes of the AssyriaÌ„s met w t her toke her saying whence coÌ„mest y u Or whither goest y u She answered I am a
mountaynes in the naro we place and kepte the waye day and nyght But whyle Holofernes was goynge aboute he founde the water sprynge whiche from the South syde was conueyed into y e cytie by a coÌ„dite this coÌ„maunded he to be directe another waye to cut their coÌ„dite in sunder There were welles also not farre from the walles whiche they vsed secretely more for pleasure then for necessyte Then wente the Ammonites y â— Moabytes vnto Holofernes sayd The chyldreÌ„ of Israell trust neyther in speare nor arowe but kepe and defende the mountaynes and hylles That thou mayest ouercome theÌ„ therfore without y â— strykynge of any batayle set men to kepe the welles that they drawe no water out of them so shalt thou destroy them without swearde or at the least they shall be so feble that they must be fayne to geue ouer the cytye Whiche they thynke not able to be wonne for so muche as it lyeth in the mountaynes These wordes pleased Holofernes well all his meÌ„ of warre and he set an hundreth at euery well rounde aboute And when this watch had endured twentye dayes the Cisternes all that had water fayled them that dwelt in the cyte of Bethulia so that in the whole cyte they had not dryncke ynough for one daye for the people had water geuen them daylye in a measure Then came the men and wemen yonge personnes and chyldren all vnto Osias sayde all with one voyce God beâ—udge betwyxte vs and the for thou hast dealt euyl with vs thou woldest not speake peaceably with the Kynge of the Assyrians therfore hathe God solde vs in theyr handes and there is no maÌ„ to helpe vs where as we are brought downe before theyr eyes in thirst and great destruccyon Therfore gather nowe together al the people that be in the cytie that we maye all yelde our selues wyllyngely vnto the people of Holofernes for better it is that we be captyue and prayse the Lorde with oure lyues then to be slayne and peryshe and to be laughed to scorne shamed of euery man when we se our wyues and children dye before our eyes We take heauen and earth this daye to recorde and the God of oure fathers whiche punysshed vs accordynge to the deseruyng of our synnes and gaue you warning that ye geue vp the cyte nowe into the power of Holofernes hoste that our ende maye be shorte with the swearde whiche els shall endure long for want of water and for thyrste When they had spoken out these wordes there was a great wepyng howlyng in the whole coÌ„gregacion and y t of euery man and they cried an whole hour long vnto God w t one voyce saying we haue synned w t our fathers we haue done amyse we haue dealte wyckedly Thou y â— art gracious haue mercy vpon vs punysh our vnryghtuousnes with thyne owne scourge geue not those ouer y â— knowledge the vnto a people which knowe the not least they say amonge the Heythen where is their God And when they were so wery with thys cryenge and wepynge that they helde theyr tonges Osias stode vp with watrye eyes and sayde O take good hertes vnto you deare brethren and be of good cheare and let vs wayte yet these fyue dayes for mercye of the Lorde peraduenture he shal cut away his indignacyon and geue glorye vnto hys name But yf he helpe vs not when these fyue dayes are paste we shall do as ye haue sayde ¶ Of the vertuous woman Iudith whiche reproueth the aunciâ—â—tâ—s because they tempted the Lorde She also moueth them to encorage and herteÌ„ the people and sheweth her councel agaynst the enemyes of the Iewes CAPI VIII AND it happened when these wordes came to the eares of Iudith a wyddow whiche was the daughter of Merari the sonne of Idox the sonne of Ioseph the soÌ„ne of Osia the sonne of Elai the sonne of Iammor the sonne of Iedeon the sonne of Raphoim the sonne of Achitob the soÌ„ne of Melchia the sonne of Euam the sonne of Nathania the sonne of Salathiel the sonne of Simeon the sonne of Ruben And her husband was called Manasses whyche dyed in the dayes of the barlye harueste For whyle he was byndynge the sheues together in the felde the heate came vpon his heade and he dyed at Bethulia his cytye and there was he buryed besyde his fathers Nowe was Iudyth hys desolate wyddowe thre yeares and syxe monethes And in the hygher partes of her house she made her selfe a preuye chambre where she dwelt beyinge closed in with her maydens She ware a smocke of hearre and fasted al the dayes of her lyfe excepte the Sabbathes and newe mones and the solempne daies that the people of Israel kepte She was a very fayre and beautifull persone Her husband also had left her great ryches a plentuous housholde great vnmouable possessioÌ„s and many catell This Iudith was a woman of a very good reporte with euery one for she feared y â— Lorde greatly and there was no body that spake an euel worde of her WheÌ„ this Iudith herde how Osias had promysed the people y t after the fyfte day he wolde giue vp the cyte vnto the AssiriaÌ„s she sent for the elders ChaÌ„bri Charmy when they came to her she sayde what thynge is this wherin Osias hath coÌ„sented that if god helpe not wtin fyue dayes he wyll geue ouer the cytie to the Assirians What are ye y â— ye tempte the Lord This deuice optayneth no mercy of God but prouoketh hi vnto wrath and displeasure Wyll ye set the mercy of the Lorde a tyme and appoyute hym a day after your wyll Neuerthelesse for so muche as the Lord is pacyente let vs rather repent pouryng out teares and beseching him of grace For God threateneth not as a man neyther wyll he be prouoked vnto wrath as the chyldren of men And therfore let vs hertely fall downe before him and serue him with a meke sprete and with wepynge eyes say vnto the Lorde that he deale with vs accordyng to his owne wyll and mercy that lyke as our hert is now vexed and brought lowe thorowe the pryde of them it maye so be conforted thorowe hys grace in so muche as we folowe not the synnes of our fathers which forsoke theyr God and worshypped other Goddes for the whiche synne they peryshed with the swearde were spoyled brought to shame of all theyr ennemyes As for vs we knowe none other God but onely hym for whose comforte let vs tary with mekenesse He shal requyre and make inquysicion for our bloude frome the vexacions of our enemyes he shall brynge downe all the Heythen that ryse vp against vs and put them to dyshonoure euen the Lorde our God Therfore deare brethren seynge ye are the honorable elders in the people of God vnto whom all the people haue respecte and vpon whom the lyfe of the people standeth lyft vp theyr hertes with your exhortacyon that they maye call