to the my lord all that he hath spoken good of the hath constytued the duke vpon Israhel late this not be in thy thought ne scropule in thy herte that thou sholdest shede blood not gylty ne be thou not now auengid And whan our lord god hath don wel to the my lord haue thou ramembrauÌ„ce on me thy handmayde doo wel to me And dauid said to abygayl Blessid be god of Israhel that sente the this day to mete me And blessyd be thy speche And blessid be thou that hast withdraweÌ„ me fro blood shedyng that I auengyd me not on myn enemye with my hande Elles by the lyuyng lord god of Israhel yf thou haddest not comen vnto me ther shold not haue blyuen vnto nabal to morn in the mornyng one pyssyng ayenst a walle Thenne dauid receyuyd alle that she brouht and said to her Goo pesibly in to thy hous Loo I haue herde thy voys I haue honoured thy visage and so abygail cam vnto nabal dauid retorned in to the place he caÌ„ fro Nabal made a grete feste in his hows lyke the feste of a kynge And the herte of Nabal was Iocunde he was dronken And Abygail his wyf told to hym no worde tyl on the morn lytyl ne moche On the morn whan Nabal had dygestid the wyn his wyf told hym alle thyse wordes And his herte was mortefyed wythin hym and he was deed lyke a stone For the tenthe day after our lord smote hym and he deyde And whan Dauid herde that he was deed he said Blessyd be the good lord that hath Iuged the cause of myn obprobrye fro the hand of Nabal and hath kepte me his seruaunt from harme And our lord hath yolden the malyce of Nabal on his owen heed Thenne Dauid sente to Abygayl for to haue her to his wyf And she humbled her self and said she his handmayde was redy to wasshe the feet of his seruauntes And she aroos and toke with her fyue maydens whiche wente a foote by her and she rood vpon an asse and folowed the messagers and was made wyf to dauid and Dauid also toke another wyf called Achynoem of Iesrahel And bothe two were hys wyues After this Saul alway sought Dauid for to slee hym And the peple called Zyphei told to Saul that Dauid was hyd in the hille of Achylle whiche was on the after part of the wyldernes ¶ And Saul toke with hym thre thousand chosen men and folowed and sought Dauid Dauid whan he herde of the comyng of Saul wente in to the place where as Saul was And whan he was a slepe he toke one with hym and wente in to the tente where Saul slepte and Abner with hym and alle his peple ¶ Thenne said Abysay to Dauid God hath put thyn enemye this day in thy handes Now I shal goo and smyte hym thurgh with my spere and thenne after that we shal haue no nede to drede hym And Dauid said to Abysay Slee hym not who may extende his hande in to the enoynted kyng of god and be InnoceÌ„t dauid said yet more by the lyuyng god but yf god smyte hym or the dayes come that he shal deye or perisshe in batayl god be mercyful to me as I shal not leye my hond on hym that is enoynted of our lord Now take the spere that stondeth at his heed and the cuppe of watir and late vs goo ¶ Dauid toke the spere and the cuppe and departed thens and ther was not one that sawe them ne awaked For they slepte alle Thenne whan Dauid was on the hylle fer from hem Dauid cryed to the peple and to abner saieng Abner shal not thou answere And abner answerd who art thou that cryest and wakest the kynge And Dauid said to abner Art not thou a man and ther is none lyke the in Israhel why hast not thou therfor kepte thy lord the kynge Ther is one of the peple goon in to slee the kynge thy lord by the lyuyng lord it is not good that ye doo but ye be worthy to dye by cause ye haue not kepte your lord enoynted of our lord Now loke see where the kynges spere is and the cuppe of water that stodâ— at his heed Saul knewe the voys of Dauid and said Is not this thy voys my sone Dauid and Dauid said it is my voys my lord kynge For what cause doost thou my lord pursyewe me thy seruaunt what thyng haue I don and what euyl haue I coÌ„mysed with my hand Thou seest wel I myght haue slayn the yf I wold god Iuge bytwene the and me And Saul saide I haue synned Retorne my sone I shalle neuer herafter doo the harme ne euyl For thy soule is precious in my sight this day hit apâ—perith Now that I haue don folily and am IgnourauÌ„t in many thynges thenne said dauid lo here is the spere of the kynge late a chyld come fetche it Our lord shal reward to euery man after his Iustice and faith Our lord hath this day brought the in to my handes And yet I wold not leye myn honde on hym that is enoynted of our lord And lyke as thy sowle is magnyfyed this day in my syght So be my sowle magnefyed in the sight of god and delyuer me from all anguysse Saul said thenne to dauid Blessyd be thou my sone dauid dauid wente thenne his waye and Saul retorned home agayn dauid said in his herte SoÌ„tyme it myght happe me to falle come in to the haÌ„des of saul it is better I flee fro hym and saue me in the londe of the phylysteis And wente thens with vjC men and cam to Achis kynge of geth and dwellyd there ¶ And whan Saul vnderstode that he was with Achis he cessed to seche hym And Achis delyueryd to dauid a toun to dwelle in named Sychelech ¶ After this the philisteis gadred and assembled moche peple ayenst Israhel And Saul assemblid alle Israhel and cam vnto gelboe And whan Saul sawe alle thoost of the phylysteis his herte dredde and faynted sore he cryed for to haue couÌ„seylle of our lord And our lord answerd hym not ne by sweuenes ne by preestis ne by prophetes Thenne said Saul to his seruantes Fetche to me a woman hauyng a phiton other wyse callyd a phytonesse or witche And they said that ther was suche a woman in end or Saul thenne changed his habyte and clothyng and dyde on other clothyng and wente and two men with hem and cam to the woman by nyght and made her by her crafte to reyse Samuel And Samuel said to Saul why hast thou put me fro my reste for to aryse And Saul said I am coarted therto For the phylysteis fighte ayenst me and god is goon fro me and wyl not here me neyther by prophetes ne by sweuenes And Samuel said what axest thou of me whan god is gon fro the and goon vnto dauid God shal doo to the as he hath said
to the by me and shal cutte thy regne fro thyn hande and shal gyue it to thy neyghbour dauid For thou hast not obeyed his voys ne hast not don his comādement in Amalech Therfor thou shalt lose the batayll and Israhel shal be ouerthrowen To morow thou and thy chyldren shal be with me ¶ And our lord shal suffre the chyldreen of Israhel falle in the handes of the phylysteis ¶ Anon thenne Saul fylle doun to the erthe the wor des of Samuel made hym aferde and ther was no strenght in hym for he had eten no brede of all that day he was gretly trobled Thenne the phytonesse desired hym to ete and she slewe a paske lambe that she had and dighted and sette it to fore hym and breed and whan he had eten he walked with his seruauntes alle that nyght And on the morn the philisteis assailled Saul and them of Israhel and fought a grete bataylle and the men of Israhel fledde fro the face of the philisteis And many of them were slayn in the moūte of Gelboe The philysteis smote in agaynst Saul and his sones and slewe Ionathas amynadab and melechesue sones of Saul And alle the burthen of the bataylle was torned on Saul And the Archers folowed hym and wounded hym sore Thenne said Saul to his squyer plucke out thy swerd and slee me that thyse men incircumcised come not and scornyng slee me And his squyer wold not for he was gretly aferd Thenne Saul toke his swerd and slewe hym self whiche thyng whan his squyer sawe that is that Saul was deed he toke his swerd and fylle on hit and was deed with hym Thus was Saul deed and his thre sones and his squyer and all his men that day to gydre Thēne the chyldren of Israhel that were ther aboutes and on that other syde of Iordan seeyng that the men of Israhel fledde ¶ And that Saul and his thre sones were deed lefte theyr cytees and fledde The philisteis cam and duellyd there And the next daye the philisteis wente for to ryfle pylle them that were deed and they fonde Saul and his thre sones lyeng in the hylle of Gelboe And they cut of the heed of Saul And Robbed hym of hys armours and sente it in to the londe of phylistym all aboute that it myght be shewd in the temple of their ydollis and vnto the peple And sette vp his armes in the temple of Astaroth and henge his body on the walle of bethsan And whan the men that dwellyd in Iabes sawe what the phylisteis had doon vnto Saul alle the strongest men of them aroos and wente alle that nyght and toke doun the bodyes of Saul and of his sones fro the walle of bethsan and brente them and toke the bones and buryed them in the wood of Iabes And fasted seuen dayes Thus endeth the lyf of Saul whiche was first kynge vpon Israhel and for disobedyence of godes comandement was slayn and his heyres neuer regned long after Here foloweth how Dauid regned after Saul gouerned Israhel shortly taken out of the bible the most historyal maters and but litil towched AFter the deth of Saul Dauid retorned fro the Iorney that he had ayenst Amalech For whiles Dauid had ben out with Achis the kyng they of Amalech had ben in Sychelech and takē all that was therin prysoners and robbed and caryed away with hem the two wyues of Dauid and had sette fyre and brente the toun And whan Dauid cā agayn home and sawe the toun brente he put syewed after and by the conueyeng of one of them of amalech that was lefte by the waye seke for to haue hys lyf he brought Dauid vpon the hoost of Amalech where as they satte and ete dronke and Dauid smote on them with his meyne and slewe doun alle that he fonde and rescowed his wyues and all the good that they had taken and toke moche more of them And whan he was come to Secelech the thirde day after ther cam one frō the hoost of Saul told to dauid how that Israhel had loste the batayll and how they were fledde and how Saul the kyng and Ionathas his sone were slayn Dauid said to the yong man that brought thyse tidynges how knowest thou that Saul Ionathas ben deed and he answerd it was so by aduenture that I cam vpon the moūte of Gelboe And saul rested vpon his spere And the horsmen chares of the phylisteis approched to hym ward And he looked byhynde hym and sawe me and callyd me and said to me who art thou And I said I am Amalechytes and than he said stonde vpon me and slee me For I am ful of anguysshes and yet my sowle is in me And I thenne stondyng on hym slewe hym knowyng wel that he myght not lyue after the ruyne And I toke the dyademe from his heed and the armylle fro hys arme whiche I haue brought hether to the my lord Dauid toke and rente his vestement and alle the men that were with hym waylled and sorowed moche the deth of Saul Ionathas and of all the men of Israhel and fasted that day tyl euen And Dauid said to the yongmā Of whens art thou And he said I am the sone of amalechites And Dauid said to hym why dreddest not thou to put thy hand forth to slee hym that is enoynted of god Dauid called one of his men and bad hym to sle hym and he smote hym and slewe hym 〈…〉 saide thy blood be on thy heed Thyn owen mouth hath spoken ayenst the sayeng I haue slayn Saul which was kyng enoynted of our lord Dauid sorowed bewaylled moche the deth of Saul and of Ionathas After this Dauid counceylled with our lord and demaunded yf he shold goo in to one of the cytees of Iuda And our lord bad hym goo And he asked whyder And our lord said in to ebron Thenne dauid toke his two wyues and all the men that were with hym euerich with his houshold and dwellyd in the townes of hebron and theder cam the men of Iuda enoynted Dauid kynge to regne vpon the trybe of Iuda And Abner prynce of thoost of Saul and other seruantes of Saul toke hisboseth the sone of Saul and ladde hym aboute and made hym kynge ouer Israhel exept the tribe of iuda hisboseth was xl yere whan he began to regne ¶ And he regned two yere The hows of Iuda only folowed dauid After this it happed that Abner prynce of the hoost of hisboseth with certayn men went out of the castellis And Ioab with certayn men of Dauid wente also out and ran by the piscene of gabaon One partye was on that one side And that other on that other And abner said to Ioab late our yong men pleye scarmusshe to gydre Ioab agreed ther roose xij of beniamyn of the party of hysboseth xij of the chyldren of dauid whan they mette to gydre eche
toke other by the heed and roof their swerdes in to eche other sydes and were alle ther slayn And ther aroose a grete batayll And Abner and his felawship were put to flight by the men of dauid And emōge all other ther was Asahel one of the brothern of Ioab was the swiftest rennar that myght be and pursiewed abner and abner loked behynde hym And bad hym declyne on the right side or on the lyft side and take one of the yong men his harnoys and come not at me Asahel wold not leue hym yet abner said to hym Goo fro me and folowe not me lest I be cōpellyd to slee the and thenne I may not make my pees with Ioab thy brother whiche wold not here Abner but despysed hym And Abner thenne torned and slewe hym in the same place And anon the sonne wente doun and they withdrewe ther were slayn of the chyldren of Dauid xix men of thē of beniamyn iijClx were slayn And thus ther was longe stryf and contenciō bytwene the hows of dauid and the hous of Isboseth After this Abner toke a concubyne of Saul and helde her wherfor hisboseth repreuyd hym of it And abner was wroth gretly therof and cā to dauid and made frendship with hym Ioab was not there whan abner made his pees with dauid but whan he knewe it he cam to abner with a fayr semblaunt and spack fayr to hym by dissimylacion and slew hym for to auenge the deth of asahel his brother and whan dauid herde how Ioab had slayn abner he cursed hym and bewaylled gretly the deth of abner and dyde do burye hym honourably and dauid folowid the bere hym self And whan hisboseth the sone of Saul herde that abner was deed he was alle abasshed and alle Israhel sore trobled ther were two pryncee of theues with hisboseth named Banaa and Rechab whiche cam on a day in to hisboseth where he laye and slepte and ther they slewe hym and toke pryuely his heed and brought it to dauid in to hebron and said lo here is the heed of thyn enemye Isboseth that sought to sle the this day god hath gyuen to the my lord vengeaunce of Saul and of his seed dauid answerd to them By the lyuyng god that hath delyuerd me fro all anguysshe hym that told me that he had slayn Saul and had thought to haue had a reward of me I dyde doo slee how moche more ye that be so wicked to slee hym that is not gylty in his hows vpon his bedde shal I not aske his blood of your hondes and throwe you out of this world yes certaynly and Dauid comaunded to his seruantes to slee them and so they were slayn and cutte of their handes and feet henge them on the pyscene in ebron and toke the heed of hysboseth and buryed it in the sepulcre of abner and thenne cam all the tribus of Israhel to dauid in ebron sayeng we ben thy mouth thy flesshe whan Saul lyued and was kynge on vs and regned thou were comyng and goynge and by cause god hath said thou shalt regne vpon my peple and be theyr gouernour therfore we shal obeye the And alle the senyors of Israhel cam and dyde homage to dauid in hebron enoytend hym kynge ouer them Dauid was xxx yere old whan he began to regne ¶ And he regned xl yere He regned in hebron vpon Iuda vij yer and vj monethis And in Iherusalem he regned xxxiij yere vpon all Israhel Iuda Dauid thenne made hym a dwellyng place in the hylle of syon in Iherusalem And after this the philisteis made warre agayn hym but he ofte ouerthrewe hem and slewe many of them and made them trybutarye to hym And after brought the arke of god in Iherusalem and sette it in his hows After this yet the phylisteis made warre agayn vnto hym and other kynges were aydyng and helpyng them ayenst Dauid whom dauid ouercome and slewe and put vnder and on a tyme whan Ioab was out with his men of warre lyeng at a syege to fore a cyte dauid was at home and walkid in his chambre and as he looked out at a wyndow he sawe a fair woman wasshe her bayne her in her chambre whiche stode ayenst his hows and demanded of his seruantes who she was and they said she was vries wyf he sente for her and laye by her and gate her with chylde and whan Dauid vnderstode that she was with chyld he sente lettres to Ioab and bad hym to sende home to hym vrye and Ioab sente vrye to Dauid and dauid demaunded how the hoost was rewlid and after bad hym goo home to his hows wasshe his feet and vrye wente thens and the kynge sente to hym his disshe with mete vrye wold not goo home but laye to fore the yate of the kynges hous with other seruauntes of the kynges and hit was told to the kynge that vryas wente not home and thenne dauid said to vrye thou comest fro a farre waye why goste not home and vrye said to dauid the arke of god and Israhel and Iuda ben in the pauylions my lord Ioab and the seruauntes of the my lord lye on the ground and wold ye that I shold goo to my hous and ete and drynke and slepe with my wyf By thy helthe and by the helthe of my sowle I shal not doo soo thenne Dauid said to vrye abyde here thenne this nyght and to morow I shal delyure the vrye abode there that day and the next and dauid made hym ete to fore hym made hym dronke yet for alle that he wold not goo home but laye wyth the seruauntes of dauid Thenne on the morn dauid wrote a lettre to Ioab that he shold sette vrye in the weykest place of the batayl and where most Ieopardye was and that he shold be lefte there that he myght be slayn and vrye bare this lettre to Ioab and it was so don as Dauid had wreton and vrye was so slayn in the batayll And Ioab sente worde to dauid how they had foughten and how vrye was slayn deed whan vryes wyf herd that her husbond was deed she morned waylled hym and after the mornyng Dauid sente for her and wedded her And she bare hym a sone and this that Dauid had commysed in vrye displeysyd gretly our lord Thenne our lord sente Nathan the prophete vnto Dauid whiche whan he cam said to hym Ther were two men dwellyng in a cyte that one Ryche the other poure The Ryche man hadde sheep oxen right many the poure mā hadde but one lytyl sheep whiche he bought nourisshid grewe with his chyldren etyng of hye brede and drynkyng of his cuppe and slepte in his bosom She was to hym as a doughter and on a tyme whan a certayn pylgryme cam to the riche man he sparyng his owen sheep and oxen to make a feste to the pylgrym that was comen to hym
toke the only sheep of the poure man and made mete therof to his gheest dauid was wroth said to nathan by the lâ—uyng god the maÌ„ that hath so doo is the childe of deth the man that hath so doo shal yelde therfore iiij double Thenne said NathaÌ„ to Dauid thou art the same maÌ„ that hath don this thynge This said the lord god of Israhel I haue enoynted the kynge vpon Israhel and I haue kept the fro the hande of Saul and I haue gyuen to the an hows to kepe in thy houshold and wyues in thy bosom I haue gyuen to the the hous of Israhel and the hous of Iuda And yf thyse be smale thynges I shal adde and gyue to the moche more and gretter why hast thou therfor despysed the word of god and hast don euyl in the sight of our lord Thou hast slayn vrye with a swerd And his wyf hast thou taken vnto thy wif And thou hast slayn hym with the swerd of the sones of Ammon Therfor the swerd shal not goo fro thy hows world withoute ende For as moche as thou hast despysed and hast taken vryes wyf vnto thy wyf This said our lord I shal reyse euyl ayenst the And shal take thy wyues in thy sight and gyue them to thy neyghbour and shal lye wyth thy wyuys to fore thyn eyen Thou hast don it pryuely but I shal make this to be don and open in the sight of alle Israhel And thenne said dauid to Nathan peccaui I haue synned ayenst our lord Nathan said Our lord hath taken away thy synne thou shalt not dye but for as moche as thou hast made the enemyes to blaspheme the name of god Therfor the sone that is born to the shal dye by deth And nathan retorned home to his hous And for this synne dauid made this psalme Miserere mei deus whiche is a psalme of mercy For Dauid dide grete penauÌ„ce for thyse synnes of aduoultrye and also of homycyde For as I ones was by yonde the see Rydyng in the companye of a noble knyght named Syr IohÌ„n Capons and was also doctour in bothe lawes was born in malyorke and had ben viceroye and gouernour of Aragon and Catelone that tyme CouÌ„ceyllour vnto the duc of bourgonye Charloys It happend we comened of the hystorye of Dauid and this said noble man told me that he had redde that dauid dyde this penauÌ„ce folowyng for thyse said synnes that he dalf hym in the ground standyng nakyd vnto the heed so longe that the wormes began to crepe in his flesshe and made a verse of this psalme Miserere and theÌ„ne cam out and whan he was hole therof he wente in agayn and stode so agayn as longe as afore is said and made the second verse and so as many tymes he was doluen in the erth as ben verse in the said psalme of Miserere mei deus and euery tyme was abydyng therin tyl he felte the wormes crepe in his flesshe This was a grete penaunce and a token of grete repentaunce For ther ben in the psalme xx verses And xx tymes he was dolueÌ„ Thus thys noble man told me rydyng bytwene the toun of Gaunt in Flaundres and the toun of Bruxellis in Braband Therfor god toke away this synne and forgaue it hym but the sone that she brought forth deyed and after this bersabee that had ben vryes wyf conceyuyd and brought forth another sone named SalomoÌ„ whiche was welbyloued of god and after Dauid Salomon was kynge After this Dauid had moche warre and trouble and angre in so moche that on a tyme Ammon oldest sone of Dauid louyd thamar his suster This thamar was Absalons suster by the moder syde and Ammon forced and laye by her and whan he had don his pleasir he hated her and threwe her out of his chambre and she complayned her vnto Absalon Dauid knewe herof and was right sory for it but he wold not rebuke his sone Ammon for it For he louyd hym by cause he was his first begoten sone Absalon hated Ammon euer after And whan Absalon on a tyme dyde do shere his sheep he prayd alle his brethern to come ete with hym And made hem a feste lyke a kynges feste At whiche feste he dyde do slee his brother Ammon And anon it was told to the kynge dauid that Absalon had slayn all the kynges sones wherfor the kynge was in grete heuynes and sorowe But anon after it was told hym that ther was nomo slayn but Ammon And the other sones cam home And Absalon fledd in to gessur and was there thre yere durst not come home And after by the moyen of Ioab he was sente for and cam in to Iherusalem but yet he myght not come in his fader the kynges presence and dwellyd there two yere myght not see the kynge his fader This Absalon was the fayrest man that euer was For fro the sole of his foot vnto his heed ther was not a spotte he had so moche heere on his heed that it greuyd hym to bere wherfore hit was shorn of ones a yere it weyed two hondred cycles of good weight Thenne whan he abode so longe that he myght not come to his faders presence he sente for Ioab to come speke with hym and he wold not come he sente agayn for hym and he cam not Thenne Absalon said to his seruauÌ„tes knowe ye Ioabs felde that lyeth by my felde They said ye Goo ye sayde he And sette fyre in the barle that is ther in and brenne it And Ioabs seruauÌ„tes cam and told to Ioab that AbsaloÌ„ had sette fyre on his corn Thenne Ioab cam to Absalon said why hast thou sette fyre on my corn And he said I haue sente tweys to the prayeng the to come to me that I myght sente the to the kyng and that thou sholdest saye to hym why I cam fro gessur It had be better to me for to haue abyden there I praye the that I may come to his presence and see hys vysage And yf he remembre my wickednes late hym slee me Ioab wente in to the kynge and told to hym all thyse wordes Thenne was Absalon callyd and entred in to the kynge he fylle doun and worshipped the kynge And the kyng kyssyd hym Aftir this absalon dyde doo make for hym self Chares and horsmen and fyfty men to goo byfore hym And walked emong the tribus of Israhel and grette and salued them takyng them by the hond and kyssed hem by whiche he gate to hym the hertes of the peple and said to hys fader that he had auowed to make sacrefise to god in hebron and hys fader gaf hym leue And whan he was there he gadred peple to hym and made hym self kynge And dyde doo crye that all men shold obeye wayte on hym as kynge of Israhel whan Dauid herd this he was sore abasshed and was fayn to flee out of Iherusalem And Absalon cam wyth hys
saye Nunc viderunt oculi mei saluta re tuuÌ„ I haue now seen with myn eyen thyn helth whiche bryngeth and hath made it redy to fore the face of all thy peple After come one whiche semed to be an heremyte And whan we demaunded hym what he was he answerd that he was IohÌ„n that baptysed Cryst and he that am goon to fore hym for to maâ—â— redy his waye And shewde hym with my fyngre whan I saide Ecce agnus dei and am descended for to shewe to you that he cometh sone to visyte you Thenne said seth whan I cam to the gate of paradis for to praye our lord to sende me hys angelle And that he wold gyue to me of the oylle of mercy for tenoynte the body of adam my fader which was seke The angel mychel appered to me and said laboure not in prayeng by wepyng for the oylle of the tre of mercy For by no waye thou mayst gete it tyl that v thousand and v. C. yeres ben accomplisshed And whan the patriarkes and the prophetes herd this they enioyed and demened grete feste Thenne Sathan prynce and demener of deth said to helle make you redy to receyue Ihesu whiche gloryfyeth hym self to saye I am the sone of god and he is man that dred the deth for he said my soule is sorouful vnto the deth And many that I haue made lame and croked he thath heled and made them goo right Thenne answerd helle and saide yf thou art myghty and so grete as thou saist who is this man Ihesus that thou dredest not and is aduersarye to thy puissaunce yf he saith that he dredde the deth he wyll take the And woo shal be to the perpetuelly as longe as the world shal dure Sathan answerd I haue tempted and haue moeued the people ayenst hym I haue made redy the spere I haue medled the vynaygre and the galle to gydre and haue made redy the tree of the crosse and anone he shal dye to th ende that I may brynge hym hyther Thenne helle answerd is not this he that reysed lazare whom I reteyned And Sathan said that same is he trewly And helle said to Sathan I coniure the by my vertue and by thyne that thou brynge hym not hyther whan I herde the myght of his word his commandement I trembled for fere I myght not kepe lazare but he escaped fro me And lyke an angele he sprange on hye and departed fro vs And thus as they spaken ther cam a voys lyke a thondre whiche sayde Attollite cÌ„ Take away your gates ye prynces And lyfte ye vp the yates perdurable and the kynge of glorye shal entre in At this voys the deuyllis ran thyder and shytte fast the gates with barres of yron And then said dauid haue not I prophecyed this that I see whan I said Confiteantur domino quia contriuit portas ereas cÌ„ is not this he that hath broken the yates of helle of strong mater and hath broken the barres theÌ„ne after cam a grete voys whiche said agayn Attollite cÌ„ And whan helle sawe that he had cryed twyes thus and knewe hym not thenne he saide who is this kynge of glorye to whom dauid answerd this is our lord stronge and myghty in bataylle whiche is kynge of glorye Thenne cam in the kyng of glorye And enlumyned the derknes and put forth his right hand and toke the right honde of Adam and said peas to the And to all thy sonnes that ben Iuste and thenne our lord departed fro helle and all the sayntes foloweth hym And our lord holdyng the hoÌ„de of Adam delyuerd hym to Mychel tharchangele and he brought them in to paradis Thenne cam two honourable men and auncient and they demaunded them and saide who be ye that wyth vs haue not be yet dede and in body and in sowle ye be sette in paradys One of them spack and answerd I am Enoch whiche am hyther translated And this is helye whiche by the will of god is comen hether in a chariot enflamed of fyre yet haue we not tasted the deth But we be kept vnto the comyng of Antecryst for to fyght with hym of hym we shal be slayn And after thre dayes and an half we shal be receyued in the clowdes in thayer And thus as they spak ther was another that bare vpon his sholdres the tree of the crosse the whiche whan he was demauÌ„ded what he was he saide I am a theef and was crucyfied with Ihesu and I beleued on hym that he was the creatour of the world And I prayed hym sayeng lord haue mynde on me whan thou shalt come in to thy Royame And he said to me this day thou shalt be with me in paradys and gaf to me this signe of the crosse and said to me bere this and goo forth to paradys And yf the angele that is kepar of paradys will not suffre the to entre shewe to hym this signe of the crosse and saye that Ihesu cryst whiche is crucyfyed sente the thyder And anon as I had said that he bad me saye The angele opened the gate to me and sette me in the right sid of paradys And whan Carinus lencius had recounted thies thynges here Anon they were transfygured and were nomore seen And heerof speketh gregory Niceus And saynt Austyn lyke as is founden in somme bookes Anon as Ihesu cryst desceÌ„ded in to helle the nyght began to wexe clere And anon the por ter black and horrible emong them in sylence began to murmure sayeng who is he that is so terrible and of clerenes so shynyng Our maistre receyued neuer none suche in to helle ne the world caste neuer none suche in to our cauerne This is an assayller and not dettour a brekar and destroyer And no synner but a despoyller we se hym a Iuge but no bysecher he come for to fyght not to be ouercomen A caster out and not here dwellar Thus endeth the Resurrection ¶ Here begynne the letanyes the more and the lasse THe letanyes ben don twyes in the yere The first be don on saynt markes day and that is called the more letanye And the second be don on the thre dayes byfore thascencion day and is called the lasse letanye and letanye is as moche to saye as supplicacioÌ„ or prayer The first letanye is named in thre maners First it is called the more letanye Secondly the procession of vij ordres Thirdly the black crosse Thenne this letanye is said the more for thre reasons The first reason is for hym that Institued it that was saynt gregorye the pope and that was at Rome whiche is lady and heed of the world by cause that the body of the prynce of thappostles is there and the holy see And also for the reson of the cause wher fore it was Institued and that was for a right grete and greuous maladye For as the Romayns had in the lenton lyued
he dyde crye xl dayes long saul the childreÌ„ of Israhel were sore aferd dauid was at this tyme in bethleem with his fader kept sheep iij of his brethern were in the hoost with saul To whom ysay said dauid take this potage x loues of breed x cheses goo renne vnto the hoost to thy brethern see how they doo lerne how they ben arayed dauid delyueryd his sheep to one to kepe them bare thise thynges vnto the hoost and whaÌ„ he cam thether he herde a grete crye And he demaunded after his brethern And that same tyme cam forth that geaunt Golyas and said as he had doon to fore And dauid herde hym speke Alle they of Israhel fledde for fere of hym And dauid demaunded what he was And it was told hym that he was comen to destroye Israhel and also that what man that myght slee hym the kyng shold enriche hym with grete Rychessis And shal gyue to hym his doughter And shal make the hous of hys fader withoute trybute And dauid said what is this incircumcised that hath despysed the hoost of the god of Israhel And what reward shal he haue that shal slee hym and the peple said as afore is said And whan his oldest brother herde hym speke to the peple he was wroth with hym said wherfor art thou comen hether hast lefte the fewe sheep in deserte I knowe wel thy pryde thou art comeÌ„ for to see the bataille dauid said what haue I doo is it not as the peple haue said I dar fight wel with this geaunt And declyned fro hys brother to other of the peple And all this was shewd to saul and dauid was brouht to hym said to saul I thy seruauÌ„t shal fight ayenst this geauÌ„t yf thou wylt And saul said to hym Thou maist not withstonde this phyliste ne fight ayenst hym for thou art but a chyld This geauÌ„t hath ben a fightar fro his chyldehod Dauid said to saul I thy seruauÌ„t kept my faders sheep ther cam a lyon a bere token away a weder fro the myddle of my flocke I pursiewed after toke it agayn fro their mouthes and they aroose wold haue deuouryd me And I caught them by the Iawes slewe them I thy seruaunt slewe the lyon and the bere Therfor this phyliste incircumcised shal be as one of them I shal now goo and delyure Israhel fro this oprobrye and shame how is this phyliste incircumcised so hardy to curse the hoost of the lyuyng god And yet said dauid ¶ The lord that kept me fro the myght of the lyon fro the strengthe of the bere he shal wel delyure me fro the power of this pilistee Saul said thenne to dauid Goo and our lord be with the saul dyde do arme hym with his armour and gyrd his swerd about hym And whaÌ„ he was armed dauid said I may not ne can not fight thus for I am not acustomed ne vsid vnarmed hym and toke his staff that he had in his hond chase to hym v good rouÌ„d stones fro the brook put theÌ„ in his bagge toke a slyng in his honde and wente forth ayenst the geauÌ„t and whan Golye sawe hym come he despised hym said wenest thou thut I am a houÌ„de that comest with thy staf to me and he cursid dauid by his goddes said to dauid Come hether I shal gyue thy flessh to the fowles of heueÌ„ to the beestis of therthe Dauid said vnto golye ¶ Thou comest to me with thy swerd glayue I come to the in the name of the lord god of thoost of Israhel which thou hast this day despised And that lord shal gyue the in my hâ—â—de I shal slee the smyte of thy heed And I shal gyue this daye the bodyes of the men of warre of the philisteis to the fowles of heueÌ„ to the beestis of therthe Thenne Golye roos hyed toward dauid dauid on that other syde hyed toke a stone leyde it in his sâ—ynge threwe it at the geaunt smote hym in the forhede in suche wyse that the stone was fyxed ther in that he fyl doun on his vysage thus preuaylled dauid ayenst the phylistee with his slynge stone smote hym and slewe hym And he had no swerd but he weÌ„te toke golyes owen swerd therwith smote of his heed and theÌ„ne the phylisteis seeyng this geauÌ„t thus slayn fledde thysrahelytes after folowed slewe many of them retorned agayn cam in to the tentes pauilloÌ„s lodgynges of the phylistees toke all the pyllage dauid toke the heed of Golye and brought it in to IherusaleÌ„ And his armes he brought in to his tabernacle And Abner brought dauid hauyng the heed of golye in hys hand to fore Saul And Saul demanded of hym of what kynred that he was and he said that he was sone of ysay of bethleem And forthwith that same tyme Ionathas the sone of Saul louyd dauid as his owen sowle Saul thenne wold not gyue hym licence to retorne to his fader And Ionathas he were confederid and swore eche of theÌ„ to be true to other For Ionathas gaf hys cote that he was cladd with all and alle his other garmentis vnto his swerd spere vnto dauid And dauid dyde alle that euer Saul bad hym doo wysely and prudently And whan he retorned fro the bataylle and Golye was slayn The wymen camen out fro euery toun syngyng wyth choris tympanes ayenst the comyng of Saul with grete Ioye gladnesse sayeng Saul hath slayn a thousand And dauid hath slayn ten thousand And this sayeng dysplesyd moche to Saul whiche said They haue gyuen to dauid ten thousand and to me one thousand What may he more haue sauf the Royame and to be kynge For this cause Saul neuer louyd dauid after that day ne neuer lokyd on hym frendly but euer sought menes afterward to destroye dauid For he dredde that dauid shold be lord with hym put hym from hym And dauid was wise kente hym wel 〈◊〉 hym And after this he wedded 〈…〉 doughter of saul Ionathas made â—â—â—tymes peas bytwene saul dauid yet saul kepte no promyse but euer laye in awayte to slee dauid and Ionathas warned dauid therof dauid gate hym a coÌ„panye of men of warre to the nombre of iiijC kept hym in the montaynes ¶ And on a tyme dauid was at home with his wif mychol Saul sente theder meÌ„ of warre to slee hym in his hous in the mornyng and whan mychol herd herof she said to dauid but yf thou saue thy self this nyght to moâ—ne thou shalt dye and she lete hym out by a wyndowe by which he escaped saued hym self Mychol toke an ymage leyd in his bedde a Rowhe skynne of a ghoot on the heed of the ymage couerd it with
clothis And on the morn Saul sente spyes for dauid And it was answerd to them that he laye seke in his bedde thenne after this sente saul messagers for to see dauid said to them brynge hym to me in his bedde that he may be slayn whaÌ„ the messagers cam they fonde a symylacre or an ymage in his bedde and ghotes skynnes on the heed Thenne said Saul to mychol his doughter Why hast thou mocked me so and hast suffrid myn enemy to flee And mychol answerd to Saul and said He said to me late me goo or I shal slee the Dauid wente to samuel in Ramatha and told hym all that Saul had don to hym And it was told to saul that Dauid was with Samuel and he sente theder messagers to take hym And whan they cam they fonde hem with the companye of prophetes and they satte prophecied with them and he sente moo And they dyde also so And the thyrde tyme he sente mo messagers and they also prophecyed And thenne Saul beyng wroth askyd where Samuel and dauid were and wente to them and he prophecyed whan he cam also and toke of his clothis and was naked alle that day and nyght byfore Samuel Dauid thenne fledde from thens and cam to Ionathas and complayned to hym sayeng what haue I offended that thy fader secheth to slee me Ionathas was sory therfore For he louyd wel Dauid After this Saul euer sought for to slee dauid And on a tyme Saul wente in to a Caue for to ease hym And dauid was within the caue to whom his sauyer said ¶ Now hath god brought thyn enemye in to thyn hand now go and slee hym And dauid said god forbede that I shold leye ony honde on hym he is enoynted I shal neuer hurte ne greue hym late god doo his playsyr ¶ And he wente to Saul and cutte of a gobet of his mantel and kepte it And whan Saul was goon out Sone after yssued dauid out and cryed to Saul sayeng loo Saul god hath brought the in my handes I myght haue slayn the yf I had wolde but god forbede that I shold leye honde on the my lord enoynted of god And what haue I offended that thou sechest to slee me who art thou said Saul Arte not thou Dauid my sone Yes said dauid I am thy seruaunt And kneled doun and worshiped hym ¶ Thenne said Saul I haue synned and wepte and also saide Thou arte rightfuller than I am Thou hast don to me good And I haue don to the euylle And thou hast wel shewde me this day that god had brought me in to thyn hande and hast not slayn me God rewarde the for this that thou hast don to me Nowe I knowe wel that thou shalt regne in Israhel I praye the to be frendly to my seed and destroye not my hows and swere and promyse me that thou take not away my name fro the hows of my fader ¶ And Dauid sware and promysed to Saul And thenne Saul departed and wente home ¶ And Dauid and his peple wente in to surer places Anon after this Samuel deyde and was buryed in hys hows in Ramatha And alle Israhel bewaylled hym gretly ¶ Thenne ther was a riche man in the mounte of Carmel that on a tyme he share clypped his sheep to whom dauid sente certayn meÌ„ bad them saye that dauid grette hym wel where as afortymes his shepherdes kepte his sheep in deserte he neuer was greuoê° to theÌ„ ne they lost not as moch as a sheep as loÌ„ge as they were wyth vs that he myght aske his seruantes for they coude telle and that I wold now in their nede sende them what it pleased hym Nabal answerd to the children of Dauid Who is that Dauid ¶ Trowe ye that I shal sende the mete that I haue made redy for theÌ„ that shere my sheep and sende it to men that I knowe not The men retorned told to dauid alle that he had sayd Thenne said dauid to his men late euery man take his swerd and gyrde hym wyth alle And Dauid toke his swerd and gyrde hym And Dauid wente and iiijC men folowed hym and he â—â—fte ijC behynde hym One of the seruauÌ„tes of Nabal told to abygayl Nabals wyf how that dauid had sente messagers fro the deserte vnto his lord and how wroth and weyward he was also he said that tho men were good ynough to hem whan they were in deserte ne neuer perisshed beest of our as longe as they were there They were a wal a shelde for vs both day nyht all the tyme that we kepte our flockes there wherfor coÌ„sydere what is to be don they purpose to do harme to hym to his hous For he is the sone of belial in suche wise that noman may speke with hym TheÌ„ne abygail hyed her toke ijC loues of breed ij botellee of wyn v weders sothen and v mesures of potage C bondes of grapes dreyde ijC masses of cariacares and leyde all this vpon asses said to her seruauÌ„tes goo ye to fore I shal folowe after She told herof nothyng to her husbond nabal theÌ„ne she toke an asse rode after whaÌ„ she cam to the foot of the hille dauid his meÌ„ desceÌ„ded to whoÌ„ she ran dauid said I haue for nought sauyd alle the beestis of this nabal in deserte ther perisshed nothyng of his that perteyned to hym hath yelded euyl for good by the lyuyng god I shal not leue as moche of his alyue as shal pisse ayenst a walle as sone as abigail sawe dauid she desceÌ„ded fro her asse fill doun to fore dauid vpon her visage worshipped hym on therthe fylle douÌ„ to his feet said In me said she my lord be this wickednes I beseche that I thyn handmayde may speke to thyn eeris that thou wilt here the wordes of me thy seruaunte I praye requyre the my lord late not thy herte be sette ayeÌ„st this wicked man nabal For acordyng to his name he is a fool And folye is with hym I thyn handmayde sawe not thy chyldren that thou sendest Now therfor my lord for the loue of god of thy soule suffre not thy hond to shede no blood I beseche god that thyn enemyes may be lyke nabal they that wold the harme and I beseche the to resseyue this blessyng presente whiche I thyn handmayde haue brought to the my lord gyue it to thy men that folowe the my lord Take away the wyckednes fro me thy seruaunt And I beseche god to make to the my lord a hous of trouthe For thou my lord shal fight the bataillis of our lord god And late no malyce be fouÌ„de in the neuer in alle the dayes of thy lyf yf euer ony man aryse ayenst the or wold pursiewe or wold hurte the I beseche god to kepe the And whan our lord god hath accoÌ„plisshid
peple and entrid in to Iherusalem in to his faders hows and laye by his fadres concubynes And after pursyewid his fader to depose hym and dauid ordeyned his peple and batayll ayenst hym and sente Ioab prynce of his hoost ayenst Absalon and deuyded hys hoost in to thre partyes and wold haue gooÌ„ with them but Ioab counceyllid that he shold not goo to the batayll what someuer happid And thenne dauid badde them to saue his sone Absalon And they wente forth and fought And AbsaloÌ„ with his hoost was ouer throwen and put to flyght And as Absalon fledde vpon his mule he cam vnder an Ooke and his heere flewe aboute a bowhe of the tre and helde so fast that absalon henge by his heer and the mule ran forth ther cam one to Ioab and told hym how that Absalon henge by his heer on a bowhe of an oke And Ioab said why hast thou not slayn hym The man said god forbede that I shold sette hoÌ„de on the kynges sone I herde the kynge saye kepe my sone Absalon a lyue and slee hym not Thenne Ioab wente and toke thre speres and fyxed them in the herte of absalon as he heÌ„ge on the tree by his heer And yet after this x yong men squyes of Ioab ranne and slewe hym theÌ„ne Ioab tromped and blewe the retrayt And reteyned the peple that they shold not pursyewe the peple fleyng And they toke the body of absalon and caste it in a grete pytte And leyde on hym a grete stone And whan dauid knewe that his sone was slayn he made grete sorow said O my sone absalon my sone Absalon who shal graunte to me that I may dye for the my sone absalon Absalon my sone It was told to Ioab that the kynge wepte sorowed the deth of his sone Absalon and all their vyctorye was torned in to sorowe and wayllyng in so moche that the peple eschewed to entre in to the cyte thenne Ioab entrid to the kynge said thou hast this day discoraged the chere of alle thy seruauntes by cause they haue sauyd thy lyf and the lyues of thy sones and doughtres of thy wyues and of thy cancubynes thou louest them that hate the And hatest them that loue the And shewyst wel thys day that thou settyst lityl by thy dukes and seruauntes and truly I knowe now wel that yf Absalon had lyuâ—d and alle we thy seruauntes had ben slayn thou haddest ben plesyd Therfor aryse now and come forth and satisfye the peple or ellis I swere to the by the good lord that ther shal not one of thy seruauntes abyde with the tyl to morow And that shal be worse to the than all the harmes and euylles that euer yet fylle to the Thenne dauid the kynge aroos and satte in the yate And anoÌ„ it was shewd to all the peple that the kyng satte in the yate And thenne all the peple cam in to fore the kyng And they of Israhel that had ben with Absalon fledde in to their tabernacles And after cam agayn vnto dauid whaÌ„ they knewe that Absalon was deed And after one Siba a cursid man rebellyd and gadred peple ayenst dauid Ayenst whom Ioab with the hoost of Dauid pursyewed and drof hym vnto a cyte whiche he byseged and by the meane of a woman of the same cyte Sibas heed was smeton of and delyured to Ioab ouer the walle And so the cyte was saued and Ioab plesid After this dauid callid Ioab bad hym nombre the peple of Israhel And so Ioab walked thurgh alle the tribus of Israhel fro dan to bersabee And ouer Iordan and all the contre And ther were founden in Israhel viijCM strong men that were able to fight and to drawe swerd And of the tribe of Iuda fyfty thousand fyghtyng men And after that the peple was nombred the herte of dauid was smeton by our lord and was heuy said I haue synned gretly in this dede but I praye the lord to take away the wickednes of thy seruauÌ„t for I haue don folyly Dauid was on the morn erly and the word of our lord cam to Gad the prophete sayeng that he shold goo to Dauid and bidde hym 〈◊〉 one of thre thyngis that he shold 〈◊〉 to hym Whan god cam to dauid â—e said that he shold câ—se whether he wold haue vij yere hungre in his londe or thre monthes he shold flee his aduersaryes enemyes or to haue thre dayes pestylence Of this thre god biddeth the chese whiche thou wylt Now auyse the and conclude what I shal answere to our lord Dauid said to Gad I am constrayned to a grete thyng but it is better for me to put me in the haÌ„des of our lord for his mercy is moche more than in men And so he chees pestylence Thenne our lord sente pestylence the tyme constytute And ther deyed of the peple fro dan to bersabee lxxM men And whan the angele extended his hond vpon Iherusalem for to destroye it Our lord was mercyful vpon thaffliction and said to the Angele so smytyng It suffiseth nowe withdrawe thyn hand Dauid said to our lord whan he sawe thangele smytyng the peple I am he that haue synned and don wickedly what haue thyse sheep don I beseche the that thy hand torne vpon me and vpon the hows of my fader Thenne cam god to dauid and bad hym make an awter in the same place where he sawe thaungel and bought the place and made the aulter And offred sacrefises vnto our lord And our lord was mercyful and the plaghe cessed in Israhel Dauid was old and feble and sawe that his deth approched and ordeyned that his sone Salomon shold regne and be kynge after hym how be it that Adonyas hys sone toke on hym to be kynge duryng dauids lyf For whiche cause bersabee and Nathan cam to dauid and to fore them he said that Salomon shold be kynge and ordeyned that he shold be sette on his mule by hys prophetes Nathan Sadoch the preest and Banayas and brought in to Syon And ther sadoch the preest and Nathan the prophete enoynted hym in kynge vpon Israhel blewe in a trompe and saide lyue the kynge Salomon And fro thens they brought hym in to Iherusalem and sette hym vpon his faders sete in his fadres trone And dauid worshipped hym in his bedde and said Blessid be the lord god of Israhel that hath suffred me to see my sone in my trone sete And theÌ„ne Adonyas and all they that were with hym were aferd and dredyng Salomon ran away and so cessed Adonyas The dayes of dauid approched faste that he shold deye and dyde do calle Salomon to fore hym ther he comanded hym to kepe the comaÌ„dementis of our lord walke in his wayes to obserue his cerymonyes his preceptes and his Iugementis as it is wreton in the lawe of Moyses And said our lord conferme the in thy Regne And sende to the wysedom to
she had in her herte And Salamon taught her in all that euer she purposed to fore hym She coude saye nothyng but that the kyng answerd to her ther was nothyng hyd fro hym The quene of Saba thenne seeyng alle the wysedom of Salamon the hows that he had bylded and the mete and seruyse of hys table the habytacles of hys seruauntes the ordre of the mynystres theyr clothyng and araye hys botellers and offycers And the sacrefyses that he offred in the hows of our lord whan she sawe alle thyse thynges she had no spyrite to answere but she said to kynge Salamon The word is trew that I herde in my lande of thy wordes and thy wysedom And I beleuyd not them that told it to me vnto the tyme that I my self come and haue seen it with myn eyen And I haue now wel seen and prouyd that the half was not told to me Thy sapyence is more and thy werkis also than the tydynges that I herde Blessyd be thy seruantes and blessyd ben thyse that stande alwaye to fore the and here thy sapyence and wysedom And thy lord god be blessyd whom thou hast plesid hath sette the vpon the trone of Israhel for so moche as god of Israhel loueth the hath ordeyned the a kynge for to do rightwysnes Iustyse She gaf theÌ„ne to the kynge an C xx besauÌ„tes of gold many Aromatykes geÌ„mes precious There were neuer seen to fore so many aromatykis ne so swete odours smellyng as the quene of saba gaf to kyng Salamon Kynge Salamon gaf to the quene of Saba alle that euer she desyred and demaunded of hym And after rotorned in to her contre and londe The weight of pure gold that was offred euery yere to Salamon was vj honderd lxvj talentes of gold exept that that the marchantes offred and alle they that solde and alle the kynges of Arabye dukes of that londe Salamon made two C sheldes of the purest gold sette theÌ„ in the hows of lybane he made hym also a trone of yuorye which was grete and was clad with gold whiche had vj grees or stappes whiche was rychely wrought with two lyons of gold holdyng the sete aboue and xij smale lyons standyng vpon the stappes on euerich tweyne here and there Ther was neuer suche a werke in no Royame And all the vessellis that kynge Salomon dronke of were of gold and the Seelyng of the hows of lybane in which his sheldes of gold were in was of the most pure gold Syluer was of no prys in the dayes of kyng Salamon For the nauye of the kynge wyth the nauye of hyram wente in thre yere ones in to tharse brouht thens gold and siluer teeth of Olyphauntes and grete rychesses The kynge Salamon was magnefyed aboue all the kynges of the world in Rychessis and wysedom And all the world desyred to see the chyere vysage of Salamon and to here hys wysedom that god had gyuen to hym Euery man brought to hym yeftes vessellis of gold and syluer clothes Armours for warre Aromatikes horse and mules euery yere Salamon gadred to gydre charis and horsmen he had a thousand 〈◊〉 foure hondred charis and carris and xij thousand horsmen And were lodged in smale cytees and townes abowte Iherusalem by the kyng Ther was as grete habuÌ„dance and plente of gold and syluer in tho dayes in Iherusalem as stones or sichomours that growe in the felde and horses were brought to hym fro egypte and chao what shal I aldaye wryte of the Rychesses glorye and magnyfycence of kynge Salamon it was so grete that it can not be expressyd For ther was neuer none lyke to fore hym ne neuer shal none come after hym lyke vntâ— hym he made the book of the parables conteynyng xxxj chapytres the booke of the canticles the book of ecclesiastes conteynyng xij chapytres and the booke of sapience coÌ„teynyng xix chapytres Thys kynge Salamon louyd ouermoche wymen specially straunge wymen of other sectes as kyng pharaos doughter and many other of the gentyles of whom god had comanded to the chyldren of Israhel that they shold not haue to doo wyth them ne they with theyr doughtres For god said certaynly they shold torne your hertes to serue theyr goddes To suche wymen Salamon was coupled with most brennyng loue he had vijC wyues whyche were as quenes and iijC concubynes and thyse wymen torned hys herte For whan he was olde he so doobted and loued hem that they made hym honoure their strauÌ„ge goddes and worshyppid Astaroth Chamos and Moboch ydollys of Sydone of moabytes and Amonytes And made to them tabernacles for to plese hys wyues and concubynes wherfor god was wroth with hym And said to hym By cause thou hast not obserued my preceptes and my comandementis that I comanded the I shal cutte thy kyngdom and deuyde it and gyue it to thy seruaunt but not in thy dayes I shal not do it for loue that I had to Dauid thy fader but fro the hand of thy sone I shal cutte it but not alle I shal reserue to hym one trybe for Dauids loue and Iherusalem that I haue chosen And after thys dyuerse kynges becam aduersaryes to Salamon and was neuer in pees after It is said but I fynde it not in the byble that Salamon repentyd hym moche of thys synne of ydolatrye and dyde moche penaunce theâ—for For he lete hym be drawe thurgh Iherusalem and bete hym self wyth Roddes and scorgys that the blood folowed in the syght of alle the peple He regned vpon alle Israhel in Iherusalem xlâ— yere and deyde and was buryed with hys fadres in the cyte of Dauid and Roboas hys sene regned after hym Thus endeth the lyf of Salamon Thystorye of Roboas AFter Salomon regned hys sone Roboas He cam to Sychem and theder cam alle the peple for to ordeyne hym kynge Iheroboas and all the multytude of Israhel spack to Roboas and said Thy fader sette on vs an harde yoke grete Imposicions Now thou hast not so moche nede wherfor lasse it and mynuysshe it and ease vs of the grete and hard burthen and we shal serue the Roboas answerd and said goo ye come agayn the thyrde day and ye shal haue an answere whan the peple was departed Roboas made a counseyl of the senyors and old men that had assysted hys fader Salomon whylis he 〈◊〉 and said to them what saye ye and counseylle me that I may answere to the peple whyche said to Roboas Yf thou wylt obeye and agree to this peple and agree to theyr petycion and speke fayr and frendly to them they shal serue the alleway but Roboas forsoke the counseyl of the olde men called the yongmen that were of hys age and axid of them counseyll And the yong men that had ben norisshyd with hym bad hym saye to the peple in thys wyse Is not my fyngre gretter than the backe of my fader