loÌ„de of egypte Ioseph was .xxx. yere olde whan he stode in the fauour grace of pharao And he weÌ„te round aboute all the regyone of egypte The pleÌ„teuosnes fertylyte of the vij yere caÌ„ And sheues shockes of corn were brought in to the barnes Alle the habuÌ„daunce of fruytes was leyde in euery toun Ther was so grete pleÌ„te of whete that it myght be compared to the grauel of the see the pleÌ„te therof excedeth mesure Ioseph had ij sones by hys wyf er the famyne huÌ„gre cam whiche assenech the prestes doughter brought forth of whom he callid the name of the first Manasses sayeng god hath made me to forgete alle my labours the hous of my fader hath forgoteÌ„ me he callid the name of the secoÌ„d sone Effraim sayeng god hath made me to growe in the londe of my pouerte TheÌ„ne passyd the vij yeris of pleÌ„te fertylyte that were in egypte And the vij yeris of scarcete hungre began to come which Ioseph had spoken of tofore and huÌ„gre began to wexe growe in the vnyuersal world also in alle the londe of Egipt was hungre scarcete when the peple hungred they cryed to pharao axyng mete to whom he answerd goo ye to Ioseph what soÌ„euer he saye to you doo ye dayly grewe encresyd the huÌ„gre in all the londe theÌ„ne Ioseph openyd the barnes garners sold corn to thegipcieÌ„s For the huÌ„gre oppressid theÌ„ sore all prouynces caÌ„ in to egypte for to bye mete to theÌ„ teschewe the hungre Iacob fader vnto Ioseph herde telle that corn and vytayllis were sold in egypte saide to his sones why be ye necglygeÌ„t I haue herd saye that corn is sold in egypte Goo ye theder â— bye for vs that is necessarye behoefful that we may lyue consume not for nede TheÌ„ne the x brethern of Ioseph desceÌ„ded in to egypte for to bye whete beniamyn was left at home with the fader by cause what someuer happed to the brethern in her Iourney theÌ„ne they entrid in to the londe of egypte with other for to bye corn Ther was grete famyne in the loÌ„de of Canaan Ioseph was prynce in the loÌ„de of egypte also by his comandemÌ„t whete was solde vnto the peple TheÌ„ne whan his brethern were comeÌ„ had adoured worshiped hym he anon knewe theÌ„ spack to them as to strangers harde wordes demaÌ„dyng them sayeng whens be ye whiche answerd of the loÌ„de of Canaan come hether to bye that is necessarye for vs though he knewe his brethern yet was he vnknowen of theÌ„ he remeÌ„bryd the dremes that he somtyme had seen told them saide ye be spyes be comeÌ„ hether for tespye the weykest places of this loÌ„de whiche said to hym it is not soo lorde but we thy seruauÌ„tes ben comen for to bye vytaylles we ben alle sones to one maÌ„ we come pesybly ne we thy seruauÌ„tes thynke ne ymagyne none euyll to whoÌ„ he answerd it is alle other wyse ye be comeÌ„ for to espye considere the secretest places of this Royame TheÌ„ne they saide we were xij brethern thy seruants sones of one maÌ„ in the londe of Canaan the yongest is at home with our fader that other is deed That is said he that I saide ye be spyes Now I haue of you thexperyence I swere to yow by thelthe of pharao ye shal not departe tyl that your yongest brother come Sende ye one of you for hym for to brynge hym hether ye shal abyde in fethers in pryson tyl the trouthe be prouyd wether tho thyngis that ye haue said be trewe or false Els by thelthe of pharao ye be spyes ¶ And delyueryd them to be kepte thre dayes The third day they were brought out of pryson to whom he sayde I drede god yf ye be pesible as ye saye doo as ye haue said and ye shal lyue late one brother be bouÌ„den in pryson goo ye your waye lede home the whete that ye haue bought in to your houses brynge to me with you your yongest broder than I may preue your wordes that ye deye not They dyde as he saide spacken to gydre we ben worthy and haue wel descruyd to suffre this For we haue synned in our broder Seeyng his anguyssh whan he prayd vs we herd hym not Therfor this trybulation is fallen on vs Of whom Ruben saide Sayde not I to you In no wyse synne not ye in the child ye wold not here me Now his blood is wroken They knewe not that Ioseph vnderstode them for as moche as he spack alway to theÌ„ by an interpretour Thenne Ioseph torned hym a lytyl wepte After he retorned to heÌ„ toke symeoÌ„ in their presence bonde hym sente hym to pryson And coÌ„manded to his mynystris to fil their sackis with whete and to put eche mans money in their sackis and aboue that to gyue theÌ„ mete to spende in their whiche dyde soo And they toke theyr whete leyde it on theyr asses departed on theyr way After one of them on the way opened his sack for to gyue his beest mete fonde his money in the mouth of his sack and saide to his brethern me money is gyueÌ„ to my agayn lo I haue fouÌ„de it in my sack all they were astonyed what is this that god hath don to vs TheÌ„ne they cam hom to their fader in to the londe of Canaan told to hym all thynges that was falleÌ„ to theÌ„ sayeng The lord of the contre hath spoken harde to vs had supposed that we had ben spyes of that prouynce To whoÌ„ we answerd that we were pesible peple ne were no suche espyes and that we were xij sones goteÌ„ of one fader One is deed the yongest is with our fader in the londe of canaan which theÌ„ne saide to vs Now shal I preue whether ye be pesible or no ye shal leue here one broder with me lede home that is necessarye for you goo your waye and see that ye brynge with yow your yongest broder that I may knowe that ye be none espyes and that ye maye Rsseyue this brother that I hold in pryson and theÌ„ne forthon what that ye wil bye ye shal haue lycence And this said eche of them poured oute the whete euery man fonde his money bounden in the mouth of euery sack TheÌ„ne saide Iacob their fader ye haue made me without chyldren Ioseph is goon lost SymeoÌ„ is bouÌ„den in pryson and Beniamyn ye wil take away fro me In me comen all thyse euillis To whom Ruben answerd Sâ—ee my two sones yf I brynge hym not agayn to the delyuer hym to me in my hande I shal restore hym agayn to the the fader saide my sone shal not goo with you his brother is deed he is lefte now allone yf ony aduersyte shold happe to
byleuyd them not And they tolde to hym al the ordre of the mater Whan he sawe the caryage and alle that he had sente his spyrite reuyued and saide It suffyseth to me yf Ioseph my sone yet lyue I shal goo and see hym er I dye Thenne Israhel wente forth with alle that he had and cam to the pytte where to fore he had sworn to god and slewe there beestis to make sacrefises to the god of ysaac his fader he herde god by a vysion that same nyght sayeng to hym Iacob Iacob To whom he answerd I am here al redy God said to hym I am strengest god of thy fader ysaac drede the not but descende doun in to egypte I shal make the to growe there in to grete peple I shal descende with the theder and I shal brynge the agayn whan thou retornest Ioseph sothly shal putte his handes vpon thyn eyen Iacob thenne aroos on the morn erly And his sones toke hym with their children and wyues sette them on the caryages that pharao had sente to brynge hym and alle that he had in in the londe of Canaan And so cam in to egypte with all his progenye sones and children cÌ„ Thyse ben the names of the sones of Israhel that entrid with hym in to egypt The first begoten Ruben with his children foure Symeon with his vij sones Leuy wyth his iij sones Iudas and his sones iij Ysachar and his iiij sones Zabulon his sones iij. Thyse were sones of lya that Iacob gate in mesopotamye and dyna his doughter Alle thyse sones and doughtres were xxxiij Gad also entred with his chyldren vij Aser with his children v and of his childis children ij Thise were sones of zelphe in nombre xvj The sones of Rachel were Ioseph and beniamyn Ioseph had two sones in the londe of egipte by his wyf assenech manasses Effraim the sones of Beniamyn were .x. Alle thyse chyldren that cam of Rachel were in nombre xiiij Dan entrid with one sone and Neptalim with iiij sones Thise were the childreÌ„ of Bala they were in nombre vij Alle the Sowles that were yssued of his seed that entrid in to Egipte with hym withoute the wyues of his sones were lxvj The sones of Ioseph that were born in egypte tweyne SuÌ„ma of all the sowles of the hows of Iacob that entrid in to egypte were in all lxx Iacob sente theÌ„ne to fore hym Iudas vnto Ioseph to shewe to hym his comyng And he cam to Ioseph in Iessen And anon Ioseph ascended his chare wente for to mete his fader and whan he sawe hym he enbraced hym mekely and wepte And his fader receyuyd hym Ioyously and enbraced also hym Thenne said the fader to Ioseph Now shal I dye Ioyously by cause I haue seen thy vysage Thenne said Ioseph to his brethern and to alle the hows of his fader I shal goo and ascende to pharao and shal saye to hym that my brethern and the hows of my fader that were in the londe of Canaan be come to me and ben men kepyng sheep and can the maner wel for to kepe the flockes of sheep and that they haue brought with them their beestis alle that euer they had whan he shal calle you and axe you of what occupacion ye be ye shal saye we ben shepe herdes thy seruauÌ„tes from our chyldhode vnto now our faders also This shal ye saye that ye may dwelle in the lond of Iessen For thegipciens haue spyte vnto herdmen of sheep Thenne Ioseph entred to fore pharao and said to hym my fader my brethern their sheep and beestis ben comen fro the londe of Canaan and be in the londe of Iessen And he brouht fyue of his brethern to fore the kynge whom he demaÌ„ded of what occupacion they were of they answerd we ben kepers of sheep thy seruantes we and our faders we be come to duelle in thy lande For ther is no grasse for the flockes of sheep of vs thy seruantis the famyne is so grete in the londe of Canaan we beseche the that thou comande vs thy seruantes to dwelle in the lande of Iessen Thenne said the kyng of Ioseph Thy fader and thy brethern ben comen to the The lande of egipt is at thy coÌ„mandement make thou them to duelle in the beste place and delyuer to them the londe of Iessen And yf thou knowe them for connyng ordeyne them to be maistres of my beestis After this Ioseph brought his fader in And made hym stande to fore the kynge whiche blessid hym and was demanded of the kynge how old he was he answerd The dayes of the pylgremage of my lif ben an C.xxx yere smale and euyll And yet I am not comen vnto the dayes of my faders that they haue lyuyd and he blessyd the kynge and wente out Thenne Ioseph gaf to his fader and brethern possession in egipte in the best soyle of Ramesses lyke as pharao had commanded and there fedde them gyuyng to eche of them vytaylle In 〈◊〉 the world was scarcete of brede And huÌ„gre and famyne oppressyd specyally and most the land of egypte and the londe of Canaan Of whiche londes Ioseph gate all the money for sellyng of whete and brought it in to the kynges tresorye whan alle peple lacked money all egypte cam to Ioseph sayeng gyue vs breâ—e why deye we to the lackyng money To whom he answerd brynge to me your beestis and I shal gyue you for them vitailles yf ye haue no money whiche whan they brought he gaf to them vitailles and food for horses sheep oxen and asses and susteyned them one yere for chaungyng of theyr beestis Thenne cam they agayn the second yere and sayd we hyde not fro the our lorde that our money is faylled and also our beestis ben goon And ther is nothyng lefte but our bodyes and our londe why thenne shal we deye in thy syght And we our self and also our lande shal be thyne Bye vs in to bondship and seruytude of the kynge gyue vs seed to sowe leste the erthe torne in to wildernes Thenne Ioseph bought all the lond of egypte euery man sellyng his possessions for the vehement hungre that they hadde he subdued all vnto pharao and all his peple fro the laste termes of egipte vnto the vtterist endes of the same exepte the lande laÌ„gyng to the preestes which was gyuen to them by the kynge to whom were gyuen vitaillis openly out of alle the barnes and garners And therfore they were not compellid to selle their possessions ¶ Thenne said Ioseph to all the peples Lo now ye se and know that pharao oweth and is in possessioÌ„ of you and of your lande take to you seed and sowe ye the feldes that ye may haue fruyte the fyfte part therof ye shal gyue to the kynge and four partes I promyse to you to sowe and for mete to your seruauntes and to your
hym in the way that ye goo vnto ye shal lede my olde heres with sorowe to helle In the mene while famyne hungre oppressid alle the londe gretly And whan the corn that they brought fro egypte was cōsumed Iacob said to his sones Retorne ye in to egypte bye for vs som mete that we may lyue Iudas answerde That man said to vs vnder sweryng of grete othes That ye shal not see my face ne come to my presence but yf ye brynge your yongest brother with you Therfor yf thou wil sende hym with vs we shal goo to gyder and shal bye for vs that shal be necessarye yf thou wilt not we shal not goo The man saide as we ofte haue said to the that yf we brynge hym not we shal not see his visage Israhel said to them This haue ye don in to my myserye that ye tolde to hym that ye had another brother And they answerde The man demanded of vs by ordre our progenye yf our fader lyued and yf we had ony brother And we answerde hym consequently after that he demanded we wiste not what he wold saye ne that he saide brynge your broder With you Sende the child with vs that we may goo forth and lyue and that we ne our chyldrē deye not for hungre I shal resseyue thy sone And requyre hym of my hande yf I lede hym not thedre brynge hym agayn I shal be gylty to the of the synne euer after yf ther had ben no delaye of this we had ben there and comen agayn by this tyme Thēne Israhel their fader sayde to thē yf it be so necessarie as ye saye doo ye as ye wyll take with you of the best fruytes of this londe in your vessellis and gyue ye presente to that man yeftes a lytyl Reysyns hony Storax scacten therebinthe dates bere with you double money also the same money that ye fonde in your sackes lest ther by ony errour therfore and take with you beniamin your brother My god that is almyghty make hym plaisan̄t vnto you And that ye may retorne in saefte with this your brother and hym also that he holdeth in pryson I shal be as a man barayen ther whiles wythout chyldren Thēne the brethern toke the yeftes double money beniamyn And wente forth in to egypte cam stode to fore Ioseph whom whan he had seen beniamyn he cōmanded to the steward of his hows that he shold do slee sheep calues make a feste For thyse brethern shal dyne wyth me this day he dyde as he was cōmanded brought the mē in to his lordes hous Thēne were they all aferd said softly to gydre by cause of the money that we had in our sackis we be brought in that he take vs with the defaulte and shal by violence brynge vs our asses in to seruytude wherfor they said to the steward of the hous in the yate of the hows er they entrid sayeng we praye the to here vs the laste tyme that we cā to bye vitaille whiche whan we had bought departed were on our way for to gyue our beestis mete we openyd our sackes we fonde in the mouth of our sackis our money that we had payd whiche we now brynge agayn of the same weight we haue more other for to bye to vs that shal be necessarye it is not in oure conscience to haue it we wete neuer who put it in our sackis he āswerd to hym pees be emōge you Fere ye nothyng the god of your fader hath gyue to you the tresour that ye fōde in your sackes for the money that ye paid to me I haue it redy thēne he brought in symeon to them brought them in to the hous wesshe their feet gaf mete to their asses they made redy ordeyned theyr yeftes presentes agayn the comyng of Ioseph Tey herd saye that they shold dyne ete there Thēne Ioseph ētrid in to the hows they offred to hym the yeftes holdyng thē in their handes worshiped hym fallyng doun to the groūde And he debonairly salewed them demanded thē sayeng Is your fader in good helth of whom ye told me lyueth he yet They answerd thy seruaūt our fader is in good helth lyueth yet kneled doū worshipid hym Thēne he castyng his eyen on his brother beniamyn that was of one moder said Is this your yonge brother of whom ye told me also said god be mercyful to the my sone he hyed hym fro them ward for he was meuyd in all his spirites wept on his broder wēte in to his bedde chābre After this he wesshe his vysage cā out makyng good contynaūce comāded to set brede on the borde after that he set his brothern in ordre eche after their age ete to gydre Ioseph sat ete with thegipciens For it was not lauful to thegipciens to ete with thebrewis eche of thē were wel seruyd but beniamyn had the beste part they ete dranke so moche that they were dronken Thēne Ioseph comāded the styward of his hous to fille their sackes with whete as moche as they myght receyue the money of the whete put it in to euery mannes sack take my cuppe of siluer the money of the yongest put that in his sack all this was doon on the morn by tymes they were suffred to departe with their asses And whan they were goon out of the toun a lytyl on their way thēne Ioseph said to his steward make the redy ride after saye to thē why haue ye don euyl for good the cuppe that my lord is acustmed to drynke in ye haue stolen ye myght not doo a werse thyng he dide as Ioseph had comāded ouertoke thē said to them all by ordre like as he had charge which answerde why saith your lord so doth to vs his seruaūts suche lettyng the money that we fonde in our sackes we brought agayn to the fro the londe of Canaan And how may it folowe that we shold stele ony gold or siluer fro the hous of thy lorde loke at whom it be foūde of vs alle thy seruants late hym deye whiche saide to them be it after your sentence At whom that it euer be founden he shal be my seruaunt the other shal goo free and be not gylty Thenne he hyed and sette doun all their sackes begynnyng at tholdest vnto the yongest and at last fonde the cuppe in the mouth of the sack of Beniamin Thēne they alle for sorowe cutte and rented their clothes and laded their asses agayn and retorned alle in to the toun agayn Thenne Iudas entrid first with his brethern vnto Ioseph And alle they to gydre fille doun platte to the grounde To whom Ioseph saide why haue ye doo thus knowe not ye
serpentes But the Rodde of Aaron deuoured their Roddes yet was the herte of pharao hard and so endurat that he wold not doo as god bad Thenne said our lord to Moyses The herte of pharao is greuyd and wil not delyuer my peple Goo to hym to morn in the mornyng And he shal come out And thou shal stande whan he cometh on the banke of the Ryuer and take in thy hande the Rodde that was torned in to the serpent saye to hym The lord god of thebrews sendeth me to the sayeng Delyure my peple that they may offre and make sacrefise to me in deserte yet thou hast no wille to here me Therfor our lord said In this shalt thou knowe that I am the lord Loo I shal smyte with the rodde that is in my hand the water of the flood and it shal torne in to blood the fysshes that ben in the water shal deye thegipciēs shall be put to affliction drynkyng of it Thenne said our lord to moyses saye thou to Aaron take this rodde stratche thyn hand vpon all the waters of egypt vpon the floodes Ryuers pondes and vpon all the lakes where ony water is in that they torne in to blood that it may be a vengeaunce in all the land of egypte as well in treen vessels as in vessels of erth stone Moyses aaron dyde as god had comāded them and smote the flood with the rodde to fore pharao his seruaūts which torned in to blood the fisshes that were in the Ryuer deyde the water was corrupt And thegypciēs myght not drynke the water all the water of egipte was torned in to blood And in lyke wyse dyde thenchantours with theyr witchecraft and the herte of pharao was so indurat that he wold not lete the peple departe as our lord had comanded but he retorned home for this tyme Thegypciens wente and doluen pittes for water all aboute by the ryuer and they fonde no water to drynke but alle was blood And this plaghe endured vij dayes and what someuer water the chyldren of Israhel toke in this whyle was fair good water This was the first plaghe and vengeance The secōde was that god sente frosshes so many that all the londe was ful the Ryuers the howses chambres beddes that they were woo begoon And thyse frosshes entrid in to their mete so many that they couerd all the londe of egypte Thēne pharao prayd moyses aaron that god wold take awaye these frosshes that he wold goo suffre the peple to doo sacrefise and thēne moyses axid whā he wold delyure them yf the frosshes were voided pharao said on the morn And thēne moyses prayde they uoyded alle whan pharao sawe that he was quyt of thē he kepte not his promyse wold not lete them departe The thirde vengeāge that god sente to them was a grete multitude of hongry horse-flyes as many as thuste of therthe which were on men bote thē beestis and thēchantours said thēne to pharao this is the fyngre of god yet wold not pharao lete thē departe The fourth vengeance was that god sente alle maner kynde of flyes lyse in suche wyse the vnyuersal londe of egypte was ful of all maner flyes lyse but in the lāde of Iessen were none yet was he so indurate that he wold not lete them goo but wold that they shold make their sacrefyse to god in that londe But moyses wold not so but good iij dayes Iourney in deserte sacrefyse to god there Pharao said I wil wel that ye goo in to deserte but goo not fer come sone agayn praye ye for me and moyses prayd for hym to our lord and the flyes voyded that ther was not one lefte whā they were goon Pharao wold not kepe his promyse Thēne the fyfthe plaghe was that god shewd his honde vpon the feldes vpō the horses asses Camels sheep oxen and was a grete pestelence on alle the beestis And god shewd a wonder myracle bytwene the possessyons of the egypcyens the possessions of his peple of Israhel for of the beestis of the chyldrē of Israhel ther was not one that perisshid yet was pharao so hard herted that he wold not suffre the peple to departe ¶ The sixt plaghe was that Moyses toke asshes out of the chymney casted on the londe And anon alle the peple of egypte as wel men as beestis were ful of botchis beelis blaynes woundes and swellyng in their bladders in suche wise that thēchantours coude ne myght not stōde for payne to for pharao yet wold not pharao here thē ne doo as god had comāded ¶ The seuenth plaghe was an haylle so grete that ther was neuer none like to fore thōdre fire that it destroied all the gras herbes of egipte And smote doun alle that was in the feld men and beestis but in the londe of Iessen was none herd ne harm doon yet wold not Pharao delyure them ¶ The eyght our lord sente to them locustes whiche is a maner grete flye callyd in som̄e place an adder bolte whiche bote them ete vp all the corn herbes that was left in suche wyse that the peple cā to pharao desyred hym to delyure sayeng that the lond perysshyd ¶ Thenne pharao gaf to the men lycence to goo make their sacrefyse leue theyr wyues chyldren there stylle tyl they come agayn but moyses Aaron said that they must goo all wherfor he wold not lete them departe ¶ The ix plage vengeance was that god sente so gret derknes vpon all the londe of egypte that the derknesse was so grete horryble that they were palpable and it endured iij dayes and iij nyghtes whersomeuer the chyldren of Israhel wente it was lyght ¶ Thēne pharao callid Moyses Aaron said to them Goo ye make your sacrefyse vnto your lord god late your sheep beestis only abyde To whom moyses saide we shal take with vs suche hostyes sacrefyses as we shal offre to our lord god All our flockes beestis shal goo with vs ther shal not remayne as moche as an naylle that shal be necessarye in the honour of our lord god For we knowe not what we shal offre tyl we come to the place pharao was so indurate hard herted that he wold not lete them goo And bad moyses that he shold nomore come in his sight For whan thou comest thou shalt deye Moyses answerd be it as thou hast said I shal nomore come to thy presence And thēne our lord said to moyses there resteth now but one plage vengeange ¶ And after that he shal lete you goo But first saye to all the peple that euery man borowe of his frende womā of her neyghbour vessell of gold of syluer clothes our lord shal gyue to his peple grace fauour to borowe of
thegypciens thenne gaf to them a comandement how they shold departe and our lord said to moyses at mydnyght I shal entre in to Egypte And the first begoten chyld heyr of alle egypte shal deye fro the first begoten sone of pharao that sytteth in his trone vnto the first begoten sone of the handmayd that sytteth atte mylle all the first begoten of the beestis Ther shal be a grete crye clamour in alle the londe of egypte in suche wyse that ther was neuer none lyke ne neuer shal be after emoÌ„g all the chyldren ther shal not an hound be hurt ne noman ne beest wherby ye shal knowe by what myracle god deuydeth thegypcyens Israhel Moyses Aaron shewd alle thyse sygnes plaghes to fore pharao and his herte was so indurate that he wold not late theÌ„ departe Thenne whan moyses had said to the chyldren how they shold dooer they departed ete theyr pask lambe all other cerymonyes as ben expressyd in the byble for a lawe tendure euer emoÌ„g theÌ„ whiche the chyldren of Israhel obeyed accoÌ„plysshyd it was so that at mydnyght our lord smote slew euery fyrst begoten sone thurgh out all the londe of egypte begynnyng at the first sone heyr of pharao vnto the sone of the caytyf that laye in pryson also the first begoten of the beestis Pharao arâ—os in the nyght all his seruauÌ„tes all egypte ther was a grete clamour sorouful noyse crye For ther was not an hows in all egyptebut ther laye therin one that was deed TheÌ„ne pharao dyde do calle Moyses Aaron in the nyght said Aryse ye goo your waye fro my peple ye the chyldren of Israhel as ye saye ye wyll Take your sheep beestis with you lyke as ye desyred at your departyng blesse ye me Thegypcyens constrayned the chyldren to departe goo theyr waye hastely sayeng we all shalle deye The chyldreÌ„ of Israhel toke thenne mele and put it on their sholdres as they were comanded borowed vessels of syluer of gold moche clothyng our lord gaf to them suche fauour to fore thegypcyens that thegipcyeÌ„s lente to theÌ„ all that they desyred spoylled Robbed egypte Aed so the children of Israhel departed nyhe the noÌ„bre of vj honderd thousand foot men besyde wymen chyldren whiche were Innumerable And an huge grete multytude of beestis of dyuerse kynde The tyme that the chyldren of Israhel had dwellyd in Egypte was four honderd yere And so they departed out of Egypte and wente not the ryght way by the philisteis but our lord lad them by the way of deserte whiche is by the reed see And the chyldren desceÌ„ded out of egipt armed Moyses toke with hym the bones of Ioseph for he charged theÌ„ so to doo whaÌ„ he deyde They wente in thextreme endes of the wyldernes and our lord wento to fore theÌ„ by daye in a columpne of a clowde by nyght in a coluÌ„pne of fyre was theyr leder ducthe pyler of the clowde faylled neuer by daye ne the pyler of fyre by nyght to fore the peple Our lord said to moyses I shal make his herte so hard that he shal folowe pursyewe you and I shal be gloryfyed in pharao in all his hoost ThegipcieÌ„s shal knowe that I am lord anon it was told to pharao that the chyldren of Israhel fledde and anoÌ„ his herte was chauÌ„ged also the hertes of his seruauÌ„tes said what shal we doo shal we suffre the chyldren to deê‘rte nomore to serue vs forthwith he toke his chare alle his peple with hym he toke with hym vjC chosen chares all the chares waynes of egipte the dukes of all his hoostes he poursyewyd the chyldren of Israhel folowed them in grete pryde whan he approched that the chyldren of Israhel sawe hym come they were sore aferd cryed to our lord god said to moyses was ther not sepulture ynough for vs in egypt but that we must now deye in wyldernesse Said not we to the Goo fro vs late vs serue thegypcyens it had ben moche better for vs to haue seruyd thegypciens than to dye here in wyldernes And moyses said to the peple Be ye not aferd staÌ„de see ye the grete wondres that our lord shal doo for you this daye ThegypcieÌ„s that ye now see ye shal neuer see theÌ„ after this daye God shal fyght for you be ye stylle Our lord said thenne to moyses what cryest thou to me saye to the chyldren of Israhel that they goo forth take thou reyse the rodde stratche thy hande vpon the see departe it that the chyldren of Israhel may goo drye thurgh the myddle of it I shal so indurate the herte of pharao that he shal folowe you and alle thegypciens and I shal be gloryfyed in pharao and in alle his hoost his cartes and horsmen And thegypciens shal knowe that I am lord whan I shal so be gloryfyed The Angel of god wente to fore the castellis of Israhel and another cam after in the clowde whiche stode bytwene them of egypte and the chyldren of Israhel And the clowde was derke that the hoost of pharao myght not come to them of all the nyght TheÌ„ne Moyses stratched his hond vpon the see ther cam a wynde blowyng in suche wyse that it waxe drye And the chyldren of Israhel wente in thurgh the myddes of the reed see alle drye foot For the waters stode vp as a walle on the ryght syde and on the lyft syde Thegypciens thenne poursyewyng theÌ„ folowed and entryd after them and alle the cartes chares horsmen thurgh the myddle of the see And theÌ„ne our lord behelde that the chyldren of Israhel were passyd ouer and were on the land on that other syde Anon torned the water on them And the wheles on theyr cartes torned vp so doun And drouned all the hoost of pharao and sancke doun in to the depe of the see Thenne said thegypciens late vs flee Israhel the lord fightith for them ayenst vs And our lord said to moyses stratche out thyn hand vpon the see and lete the water retorne vpon thegypcyens vpon theyr carres and horsmen And so Moyses stratched out his hand and the see retorned in to his first place And thenne thegypcyens wold haue fledde but the water cam and ouerflowed them in the myddys of the flood And it couerid the chares and horsmen and all thoost of pharao and ther was not one sauyd of them And the chyldren of Israhel had passyd thurgh the myddel of the drye see and cam a londe Thus delyueryd our lord the chyldren of Israhel fro the hond of thegypcyens and they sawe thegypcyens lyeng dâ—ed vpon the brynkes of the see Alle the peple thenne dred our lord byleuyd in hym and to Moyses his seruauÌ„t TheÌ„ne moyses
by the myracles of saynt marke he demaunded pardon and wente to be nyse to saynt marke with his seruauÌ„te There was a knyght on a tyme soo hurte in batayle that his honde hynge on the arme in suche wise that his frendes and surgyens counceylled hym to cutte it of but he that was acustomed to be hoole was ashamed to be maymed and made hit to be bounde in his place and after he called moche deuoutely to saynt marke and anone hys hande was as hole as it had ben tofore And in the wytnesse of this myracle a sygne of the cuttyng abode stylle Another tyme there was a knyght armed whiche ranne vpan a brydge and his hors and he fyl in a depe water and whan he saw he myght not esâ—â—pe be cryed on saynt marke and anone he raughte hym a spere by whyche he was saued and for this cause he came anone in pylgremage to venyse tolde thys myracle There was a man taken by enuye of them that hated hym and was put in pryson And whan he had been there xl dayes and was moche greuyd he cryed on saynt marke And whan saynt marke had apperyd thryse he supposed that it had be a fantasye atte last he felte his yrons broken as it had ben a roten threde and passyd by the kepars of the pryson openlye by day he seyng them al but none of them sawe hym and after came to the chyrche of saynt marke and thanked god deuoutelye ¶ It happed in poylle was grete famyne the londe was bareyn that no thynge myght growe theron Thenne was hit shewed by reuelacion to an holy man that it was bycause that they halowed not the feste of saint marke And whan they knewe thys anone they halowed the feste of saynt marke And anone began to growe grete plente of goodes thorugh out all the contree It happed at papye in the couente of the freres prechours in the yere of our lord MijCxlj that a frere a moche relygyous man was seke vnto the deth named Iulyanus whiche sente for his pryour for to demaunde hym in what state he was in and he tolde hym that he was in perylle of dethe and that it approched faste And anone his face was al bryght and ioyeful and with gladnes he began to say fayr brethern my sawle shal departe anone Make rome and place for my sowle ioyeth in my body for the good tydynges that I haue herde And lyfte vp his eyen into heuen sayd lord god take aweye my sowle out of thys pryson after he sayd alas who shal delyuer me fro this corrupte and mortal body Emonge thyse wordes he fyl in a syght slepe and sawe saynt marke come to kym and stondyng by his beddes syde and he herde a voys sayeng to hym O marke what makest thou here he answerd that he was come to vysyte this frere bycause he shold deye Thenne he demauÌ„ded hym woherfore he came more thenne another saynt he answerd by cause he had a specyal deuocion to me and bycause he hath ofte deuoutely vysyted my chirche And therfore am I come to vysyte hym in the houre of his deth Thenne entryd in to that place grete plente of people alle whyte to whome saynt marke demaunded wherfore they were comen And they sayd and answerd that they were comen for to presente the sowle of thys broder tofore god and whan the frere was waked he sente for the pryour and tolde to hym aduysedly al this vysyon and after anone in the presence of the pryour he deyed wyth grete ioye And alle thys the pryour recounted to hym that wrote thys book named Legenda aurea ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of Saynt marke theuangelyste Here foloweth of saynt Marcelyn the pope SAynt marcelyn was pope of rome by the space of ix yere and four monethes In his tyme reygned dyoclesyan maxymyan emperours of rome the which commaunded that he shold be taken and broughte in to the temple for to doo sacrefyse to the ydolles and whan he Wold not assente the mynystres of themperours menaced hym that they wold make hym deye by dyuerse tormentes And whan he herde that he had so grete drede that he put in theyr sacrefyse two graynes of enâ—â—nce onely wherof the paynyms had grete ioye And the cristen men had ryght grete sorowe and reprehended hym gretely of that he had suche a thynge doon ageynst the crysten feythe and anone he repented hym put hym self to the Iugement of the bysshoppes But the bysshoppes answerd god forbede that it neuer falle that the pope of the crysten peple whyche is souerayn be Iuged of ony man but be he Iuged of hym self and anone he deposyd hym selfe and after the crysten men chosen hym ageyn to be pope as he Was tofore And whan thys came to the knowlege of themperours thenne they dyd do take hym and bycause that he wold in no wyse do sacrefyse to the ydolles they made to smyte of his heed And thenne the persecucion wodenes was so grete of the paynyms ageynste the crysten people that wythin a moneth after Were put to deth for the name of Ihesu cryste and for to susteyne the crysten faythe wel a xvijM cristen peple Marcelyn in the houre that he shold be beheded sayd tofore all the peple that he was not worthy to be buryed emonge crysten peple and therfore he commaunded vpon payne of cursyng that none shold burye his body and so the body of hym abode aboue the erthe xxxv dayes wythout buryeng After saint Peter thappostle apperid to marcel whiche Was pope after marcellyn and said to hym in thys manere Marcel fayre fader why buryest thou not me And he answerd syr be ye not longe sythe buryed And Saynt Peter sayd I holde me not buryed as longe as I see marcellyn not buryed the pope answerd how syr knowe not ye how he acursyd alle them that burye hym and saynt Peter sayd is it not wreten that he that meketh hym self shal be enhaunced thys sholdest thou haue thoughte Goo thenne and burye hym at my feet And anone the pope dyd his commaundemente and buryed the body of saynt marcellyn hastelye Whiche was marterd the yere of our lord ijC and lxxx yere Thenne praye we to hym that he praye for vs ¶ Thus endeth the lyf of saynt marcellyn the pope Of saynt vytal marter fyrst of thynterpretacyon of his name UYtal is as moche to saye as suche one lyuyng for he lyued wythout forthe lyke as he was in hys herte wythin Or vytal is as moche to saye as lyf Or vytal is to say fleyng Wyth wynges or fleyng hym self with Wynges of vertues he was as one of the bestes that ezechyel sawe hauyng in hym self four wynges the wynge of hope by whiche he flewe in to heuen The wynge of loue by whiche he flewe to god The wynge of drede by whiche he flewe to helle and the wynge of knowlege by whiche he flewe to