Bible (Early Wycliffe)/I. Kyngis

Capitulum I.
There was a man of Ramaþaym of Sophym, of þe hil of Effraym, and þe name of hym Elchana, þe ſone of Jeroboam, ſone of Elyuþ, ſone of Thau, ſone of Suph, Eufrate. And he hadde two wyues; name to þe toon Anna, and name to þe ſecounde Phenenna; and þere weren of Phenenne ſonys; forſoþe of Anne þere weren noon free children. And þat man ſtiede fro his cytee vp þe ordeynd days, for to honour and ſacrifie to þe Lord of ooſtis in Sylo. Forſoþe þere weren þe two ſonys of Hely, Ophny and Phynees, preeſtis of þe Lord. Þe day þanne cam, and Elchana offerde, and ȝaf to Phenenne his wijf, and to alle his children and douȝtren parties; forſoþe to Anne he ȝaf o party drerye, for he louede Anne; forſoþe þe Lord hadde cloſid hir wombe. Forſoþe hir enemye tourmentide hir, and hugely angwiſhide, in ſo mych þat ſhe putte to reproue, þat þe Lord hadde cloſid hir wombe. And ſo ſhe dyde bi ech ȝeer, whanne, turnynge aȝen þe tyme, þei ſtyeden vp into þe hows of þe Lord; and ſhe ſo terryde hyr. Forſoþe ſhe wepte, and took no meete. Þanne ſeide to hyr Helchana, hir man, Anna, whi wepiſt þow, and whi etiſt þow nouȝt, and for what cauſe is tourmentid þin herte? Wheþer am Y not betere to þee þan ten ſones? Forſoþe Anna roos, after þat ſhe hadde eetyn in Silo and dronken. And Hely þe preeſt ſittynge vpon a litil ſeete, before þe poſtis of þe hows of þe Lord, whanne Anna was in bitter inwit, ſhe preiede þe Lord, wepynge largeli; and a vowe ſhe vowide, ſeiynge, Lord God of ooſtis, if biholdynge þow ſee þe tourmentynge of þi ſeruaunt, and were recordid of me, ne forȝetiſt þin hoondmaydyn, and ȝyueſt to þi ſeruaunt maal kynde, I ſhal ȝyue hym to þe Lord alle þe days of his lijf, and raſour ſhal not ſtie vpon his heed. Forſoþe it is doon, þat whanne ſhe multipliede preiers before þe Lord, þat Heli weytide hir mouþ. Forſoþe Anna ſpak in hir herte, and oonli þe lippis of hir weren meued, and þe vois of hire was not fulli herd. Heli þerfor eymyde hir dronken, and ſeide to hyr, Howe long ſhalt þou be dronken? Defye a litil wiȝt þe wyn, bi þe which þou art dronken. Anna anſwerynge, Nay, ſhe ſeiþ, my lord, for a womman wel mych wretcheful Y am; for wyn and al þat may make dronken Y dranke not, but I haue held out my ſoule in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; ne hoold þou þin handwomman as oon of þe douȝtres of Belial, for of þe multitude of ſorwe and of my mournynge Y haue ſpokun vnto nowe. Þanne Heli ſeiþ to hir, Go in pees, and God of Yrael ȝeue to þee þe aſkynge þat þou haſt preied hym. And ſhe ſeide, Wolde God þin handwoman fynde grace in þin eyen. And þe womman ȝede into hir weye, and eete; and þe cheeris of hir ben not more ouere into dyuerſe þingis chaungid. And þei aryſen eerly, and anowreden before þe Lord; and ben turned aȝen, and camen into her hows in Ramaþa. Forſoþe Helchana knewe Anne his wijf; and þe Lord is recordid of hir. And doon it is after þe cercle of dais, Anna conceyuede, and beer a child, and clepide his name Samuel; forþi þat ſhe hadde aſkid hym of þe Lord. Forſoþe hir man Helchana ſtiede vp, and al his hows, for to offre to þe Lord a ſolempne ooſt, and his vowe. And Anna aſſendide not; forſoþe ſhe ſeide to hir man, Y ſhal not goo, to þe tyme þat þe child be wened, and I brynge hym, and he apere before þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and dwelle þere contynuely. And Helchana, hir man, ſeiþ to hir, Do þat is ſeen to þee good, and dwel to þe tyme þat þow wene hym; and I preye, þat þe Lord fulfille his word. Þanne þe woman abood, and ȝaf hir ſone mylk, to þe tyme þat he ſhulde meue hym awey fro þe mylk. And ſhe brouȝte hym wiþ hir, after þat ſhe hadde wened hym, wiþ þre calues, and þre buſhelis of meele, and a veſſel of wyn; and ſhe brouȝte him to þe hows of þe Lord in Sylo. Forſoþe þe child ȝit was a lytil faunt. And þei ſlewen a calf, and offreden þe child to Hely. And Anna ſeiþ, I biſeche, my lord, þi ſoule lyueþ; Y am þat womman, þat ſtood before þee here, preyinge to þe Lord; for þis child I preyede, and þe Lord haþ ȝeuen to me þe aſkynge þat I aſkyde hym; þerfor and I haue lent hym to þe Lord alle þe dais, in þe whiche he were lent to þe Lord. And þere þei honourden þe Lord.

Capitulum II.
And Anna honourde, and ſeiþ, Gladid out is myn herte in þe Lord, and areryd is myn horn in my God; maad large is my mouþ vpon myn enemyes, for Y am glade in þin ȝyuer of heelþ. Þere is noon holy as is þe Lord; forſoþe ne þere is oþer wiþ out þee, and þere is not ſtrong as our God. Wole ȝe not multiplie to ſpeke heiȝe þingis, gloriynge; go þere a wey oold þingis fro ȝoure mouþe; for þe God of ſciencis Lord is, and to hym ben before maad redi þouȝtis. Þe boowe of ſtronge men is ouercomen, and feble ben gird wiþ ſtrengþ. Þe fillid before for looues han leyd hem ſelf, and þe hungri ben fulfillid; to þe tyme þat þe bareyn bere wel many, and ſhe þat many ſones hadde, is feblid. Þe Lord mortifieþ, and quykeneþ; bryngiþ doun to hellis, and aȝen bryngiþ. Þe Lord makiþ pore, and richeþ; and mekiþ, and vndurreriþ. He bryngiþ vp fro powdre þe nedye, and fro dryt he heueþ vp þe pore, þat he ſitte wiþ princis, and þe ſeet of glorie he holde; of þe Lord forſoþe ben þe vttermooſt parties of þe erþe, and he haþ put vpon hem þe world. Þe feet of his halowis he ſhal kepe, and vnpyteuous men in derkneſſis ſhulen waxe ſtille; for in his owne ſtrengþ ſhal not be ſtrengþid a man. Þe Lord ſhulen drede þe aduerſaries of hym, and vpon hem in heuenes he ſhal þondre; þe Lord ſhal deme þe eendis of erþe, and he ſhal ȝyue empyre to his kyng, and he ſhal hieȝ þe horn of his Criſt. And Helchana wente in Ramaþa, into his hows; forſoþe þe child was ſeruaunt in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord before þe face of Hely þe preeſt. Forſoþe þe ſones of Hely þe ſones of Belial, not knowynge þe Lord, ne þe office of preeſtis to þe puple; but who ſo euere hadde offerd þe ſlayn ſacrifyce, þe child of þe preeſt cam, while þe fleſh were ſoþen, and hadde a fleſh hook þre toþid in his hoond; and he putte it into þe leede, or into þe cawdroun, or into þe pot, or into þe greet panne; and al þat þe fleſhook reryde, þe preeſt took to hym ſelf; ſo þei diden to al Irael of men comynge in Silo. Alſo or þat þei brenten þe fat, þe child of þe preeſt cam, and ſeide to þe offrere, Ȝif to me fleſh, þat I ſeeþe to þe preeſt; I ſhal not take forſoþe ſoþen fleſh, but rawe. And þe offrere ſeide to hym, Be brent firſt after þe maner to day þe talwȝ, and tak to þee as mych as þi ſoule deſireþ. Þe which anſwerynge ſeide to hym, Nay, forſoþe nowe þow ſhalt ȝyue; ellis I ſhal tak bi forſe. Þerfor þe ſynne of þe children was greet wel mych before þe Lord; for þei drowen a wey men fro þe ſacrifice of þe Lord. Forſoþe Samuel ſeruede before þe face of þe Lord, a child gird wiþ a ſurpleſſe. And a litil coote his moder made to hym, þe which ſhe brouȝt þe ordeyned days, ſtiynge vp wiþ hir man for to offre a ſolempne ooſt, and hir vowe. And Hely bleſſide to Elchana and to his wijf; and he ſeide to hym, Þe Lord ȝeelde to þee ſeed of þis womman, for þe encrees þat þou haſt lent to þe Lord. And þei wenten into her place. Þanne þe Lord viſitide Anne, and ſhe conſeyuede, and bare þre ſones and two douȝtren. And þe child Samuel is magnyfied anentis þe Lord. Forſoþe Hely was wel oold, and he herde alle þingis þat his ſones diden in al Yrael, and what maner wiſe þei ſlepten wiþ wymmen, þe whiche weyteden at þe dore of þe tabernacle. And he ſeide to hem, Whi doon ȝe ſiche maner þingis, þe which I here werſt þingis of al þe puple? Wole ȝe not, my ſones; it is not good loos þat Y here, þat ȝe maken to treſpas þe puple of þe Lord. If a man ſynneþ in a man, God may be pleſid to him; forſoþe if in to þe Lord a man ſynneþ, who ſhal preye for hym? And þei herden not þe voyce of her fader, for God wold ſleen hem. Forſoþe Samuel þe child profitide, and wexe; and he pleſide boþ to God and to men. Forſoþe þere cam a man of God to Heli, and ſeiþ to hym, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord, Wheþer not apertly Y am ſhewid to þe hows of þi fader, whanne þei weren in Egipt, in þe hows of Pharao? And I cheeſe him of alle þe lynagis of Yrael to me in to preeſt, þat he ſhulde ſtie vp to myn auter, and brenne to me encenſe, and beer before me ephot; and I haue ȝouen to þe hows of þi fader alle þingis of þe ſacrifices of þe ſones of Yrael. Whi wiþ þe heele ȝe han þrowen awey my ſlayn ſacrifice, and my ȝiftis, þat I haue comaundid to be offred in þe temple; and more þou haſt honourede þi ſones þan me, þat ȝe myȝten eete þe cheefe þingis of al þe ſacrifice of Yrael, my puple? Þerfor ſeiþ þe Lord God of Yrael, Spekynge I haue ſpoken, þat þin hows and þe hows of þi fader ſerue in my ſiȝt into wiþ out ende; forſoþe nowe ſeiþ þe Lord, Awey be þat fro me; but who ſo euere honouriþ me, Y ſhal glorifie hym; forſoþe who diſpiſen me, ſhulen be vnnoble. Loo! þe dais comen, and I ſhal kut of þin arme, and þe arme of þe hows of þi fadre, þat þere be not an oold man in þin hows. And þou ſhalt ſee þin enemye in þe temple, in alle þe welſum þingis of Yrael; and þere ſhal not be an oold man in þin hous alle dais. Neuerþelater I ſhal not doo awey fulli fro þee a man fro myn auter, but þat þin eyen faylen, and þi lijf fayle; and a greet parti of þin hows ſhal die, whanne to mannus age it ſhal come. Forſoþe þis ſhal be þe tokne, þat is to come to þi two ſonys, Ophny and Phynees, in o day þei ſhulen die boþe. And I ſhal rere to me a trewe preeſt, þat after myn herte and ſoule ſhal doo; and I ſhal bilde to hym a trewe hows, and he ſhal goo before my Criſt alle days. Forſoþe it is to come, þat who ſo euere abidiþ ſtil in þin hows, he come þat it be preyed for hym, and he offre a ſilueren peny, and a round kaak of breed, and ſeye, Lete me, Y biſeche, to o preeſte paarte, þat I eete a morſel of breed.

Capitulum III.
Child forſoþe Samuel mynyſtrede to þe Lord before Hely, and þe ſermoun of þe Lord was precious; in þo dais was noon opyn viſioun. It was maad þann on a day, Heli leye in his place, and his eyen daſwiden, and he myȝte not ſee þe lanterne of God, before it were quenchid. Forſoþ Samuel ſlepte in þe temple of þe Lord, where was þe arke of God. And þe Lord clepide Samuel; þe which anſwerynge ſeiþ, Loo! I. And he ranne to Hely, and ſeide to hym, Loo! Y; þou haſt clepid forſoþe me. Þe which ſeide, I haue not clepid þee; turn aȝen and ſleep. And he ȝede and ſlept. And þe Lord eft leyde to to clepe Samuel; and Samuel ryſynge ȝede to Heli, and ſeide, Loo! Y; for þou haſt clepid me. Þe which anſweryde, Y haue not clepid þee, ſone myn; turn aȝen and ſleep. Forſoþe Samuel ȝit not knewe þe Lord, ne þe ſermoun of þe Lord was openyd to hym. And þe Lord leide to, and ȝit clepide Samuel þe þridde tyme; þe which ryſynge ȝede to Hely, and ſeiþ, Loo! Y; for þou haſt clepid me. Þanne Hely vndurſtood, þat þe Lord clepide þe child; and he ſeiþ to Samuel, Go and ſleep; and if herafter he clepe þee, þou ſhalt ſeye, Spek, Lord, for þi ſeruaunt heriþ. Þanne Samuel wente and ſlept in his place. And þe Lord cam, and ſtood, and clepide as he clepide þe ſecounde tyme, Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel ſeiþ, Spek, Lord, for þi ſeruaunt heriþ. And þe Lord ſeide to Samuel, Loo! Y doo a word in Yrael, þe which who ſo euere heriþ, boþe his eeris ſhulen tynclen. In þat day I ſhal arere aȝens Hely alle þingis, þe whiche I haue ſpokun vpon þe hows of hym; Y ſhal bigynne, and fulfille. Forſoþe I ſeide before to hym, þat I was to deme his hows wiþout ende for wickidnes; for þi þat he knewe his ſonys vnworþili to doon, and vndurnam hem not. Þerfore Y ſwore to þe hows of Hely, þat þe wickidnes of hys hows ſhal not be doon a ſeeþ before wiþ ſlayn ſacrifices and ȝiftis vnto wiþ out ende. Forſoþe Samuel ſlept vnto þe morwe, and he openyde þe dorys of þe hows of þe Lord; and Samuel dredde to ſhewe þe viſyoun to Hely. Þanne Hely clepide Samuel, and ſeide, Samuel, my ſone. Þe which anſwerynge ſeiþ, Y am redy. And he aſkide hym, What is þe word þat þe Lord haþ ſpoken to þee? Y preye þee, ne hele þou fro me; þes þingis do to þee God, and þes þingis adde, if þou hidiſt fro me a word of alle þe wordis þat ben ſeyd to þee. And Samuel ſhewide to hym alle þe wordis, and hidde not fro hym. And he anſwerde, A Lord he is; þat good is in his eyen, do he. Forſoþe Samuel wexe, and þe Lord was wiþ hym, and þere felle not into þe erþe of alle þe wordis of hym. And alle Yrael knewȝ fro Dan vnto Berſabee, þat Samuel was þe feiþful prophet of þe Lord. And þe Lord addide þat he ſhulde apere in Sylo, for þe Lord was ſhewid to Samuel in Sylo after þe word of þe Lord; and þe word of Samuel felle into al Yrael.

Capitulum IIII.
And it is doon in þo days Philiſtien camen togidre into fiȝt; forſoþe and Yrael wente out into batayl to meet Phyliſtien, and he ſette tentis biſyde þe ſtoon of help. Forſoþe Philiſtien camen into Aphet, and maden ſhiltroun aȝens Yrael. Forſoþe, þe ſtrijf bigun, Yrael turnede backis to þe Philiſtiens; and þere ben ſlayn in þat ſtrijf paſmele bi feeldis as foure þowſandys of men; and þe puple is turnede aȝen to þe tentis. And þe more þurȝ birþ of Yrael ſeyden, Whi haþ þe Lord ſmyten vs to day before Philiſtien? Brynge we forþ to vs fro Sylo þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord, and come it in þe myddil of vs, þat it ſaue vs fro þe hoond of oure enemyes. Þanne þe puple ſenten into Sylo, and token þens þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord of ooſtis, ſittynge vpon cherubym. And þe two ſones of Hely, Ophny and Phynees, weren wiþ þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord. And whanne þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord was comen into þe tentis, al Yrael cryede out wiþ a greet crye, and þe erþ þurȝ ſownede. And Philiſtien herden þe voys of þe crye, and ſeiden, Forſoþe what is þis vois of greet crye in þe tentis of Ebrewis? And þei knewen, þat þe arke of þe boond of pees of þe Lord was comen into þe tentis. And Philiſtien dredden, ſeiynge, God is comen into þe tentis; and inwardly þei weiliden, ſeiynge, Woo to vs! forſoþe þere was not ſo mych gladynge ȝiſterday, ne before ȝiſtirday; woo to vs! who ſhal kepe vs fro þe hoondis of þes heiȝe goddis? þes ben þe goddis þat ſmyten Egipt bi al veniaunce in deſeert. Takiþ coumfort, and be ȝe men of Philiſtien, ne ſerue ȝe to Ebrewis, as þei ſerueden to vs; takiþ coumfort, and fiȝtiþ. Þanne Philyſtien fouȝten, and Yrael is hewen down, and echon fleeȝ into his tabernacle; and þere is doon a wel greet veniaunce, and þere fellen of Yrael þretti þowſandis of foot men. And þe arke of God is taken, and þe two ſones of Hely ben deed, Ophny and Phynees. Forſoþe rennynge a man of Beniamyn fro þe ſheltroun cam into Sylo in þat day, rent þe clooþ, and ſpreynt wiþ powdre þe heed; and whan he was comen, Hely ſat vpon þe litil ſeet aȝens þe weye abidynge; forſoþe his herte was dredynge for þe arke of þe Lord. Forſoþe þat man after þat he is goon yn, toolde to þe cytee, and al þe cytee ȝellide. And Hely herde þe ſown of þe crye, and ſeide, What is þis ſown of þis noyſe? And he hiede, and cam, and toold to Hely. Forſoþe Hely was of nynty and eiȝt ȝeer, and his eyen daſweden, and he myȝt not ſe. And he ſeyde to Hely, Y am þat am comen fro þe batayl, and Y þat haue flowen fro þe ſhiltroun to day. To whom he ſeiþ, What is doon, ſone myn? Anſwerynge forſoþe he þat toold, ſeiþ, Yrael haþ flowen before þe Philiſtiens, and a greet fallynge is doo in þe puple; alſo and þi two ſones been deed, Ophny and Phynees, and þe arke of God is takun. And whanne he hadde nemnyd þe arke, he felle fro þe litil ſeet backward biſide þe dore, and þe ſcullis brokun, he is deed. Forſoþe an oold man he was, and of greet age; and he demyde Yrael fourti ȝeer. His douȝtre in lawe forſoþe, þe wijf of Phynees, was wiþ child, and nyȝ to þe berynge; and þe meſſager herde þat þe arke of God was takun, and hir fader in lawe deed, and hir man, ſhe bowide hir ſelf, and bare child; forſoþe þere fellen in hir ſodeyn ſorwis. Forſoþe in þat moment of her deeþ ſeiden to hir, þat ſtoden about hir, Ne drede þow, for a ſone þow haſt born. Þe which anſwerde not to hem, forſoþe ne took hede. And ſhe clepide þe child Hicaboþ, ſeiynge, Tranſlatid is þe glorye of þe Lord fro Irael, for takun is þe ark of God; and for hir fader in lawe and for hir man ſhe ſeiþ, Tranſlatid is þe glorie of God fro Yrael; forþi þat þe arke of God was takun.

Capitulum V.
Philiſtien forſoþe token þe arke of God, and beren it fro þe ſtoon of help into Azoþ. And Philiſtien token þe arke of God, and brouȝten it into þe temple of Dagon, and ſetten it beſide Dagon. And whanne Azoþis weren ryſen eerli þe toþer day, loo! Dagon lay redi in þe eerþ before þe ark of þe Lord. And þei token Dagon, and ſetten it aȝen in his place. And eft, eerly þe toþer day ryſynge, þei fonden Dagon liynge vpon his face in þe erþe before þe arke of þe Lord. Forſoþe þe heed of Dagon, and þe two palmys of his hoondis weren kut awey vpon þe þreſſhwold; forſoþe þe ſtok of Dagon aloone lafte in his place. For þis cauſe þe preeſtis of Dagon, and alle þat goon into his temple, treden not vpon þe þreſſhwold of Dagon in Azoþ vnto þe day þat is nowe. Forſoþe þe hoond of þe Lord is greggid vpon þe Azoþis, and he waſtide hem, and he ſmoot Azoþe and his cooſtis in þe more priue party of þe arſis; and þe towns and feeldis booyleden out in þe mydil of þat regioun, and myis ben born; and þere is doon a greet confuſioun of deeþ in þe cytee. Men forſoþe of Azoþ ſeynge ſiche a maner veniaunce ſeiden, Dwel not þe arke of God of Yrael anentis vs; for hard is his hoond vpon vs, and vpon Dagon oure god. And ſeendynge þei gedreden to hem ſelf alle þe mayſtris of Philiſtiens, and ſeiden, What ſhulen we doo of þe arke of God of Yrael? And Geþey anſwerden, Þe arke of God of Yrael be turned about; and þei turneden about þe arke of God of Yrael. Forſoþe hem turnynge it about, þe hoond of þe Lord of a greet ſlauȝter wel mych was doon vpon alle þe cytees; and he ſmoot þe men of ech cytee fro litil vnto more, and þe arſroppis of hem goynge out ſtonken; and Geþey wenten into counſeil, and maden to hem leþeren ſeetis. Þanne þei ſenten þe arke of þe Lord into Acharon. And whanne þe arke of þe Lord was comen into Acharon, Acharonytis cryeden out, ſeiynge, Þei han brouȝt to vs þe arke of God of Yrael, þat he ſle vs and oure puple. Þei ſenten þanne, and gedriden togidre alle þe mayſtrys of Philiſtiens; þe which ſeiden, Leeue ȝe þe arke of God of Yrael, and be it turned aȝen into his place, and ſle it not vs wiþ oure puple. Forſoþe dreed of deþ was maad in alle þe cytees, and mooſt greuous was greetli þe hoond of þe Lord. Forſoþe þe men, þat weren not deed, weren ſmyten in þe priuyer party of þe arſis, and þe ȝellynge of ech cytee ſtiede vp into heuene.

Capitulum VI.
Was þanne þe arke of þe Lord in þe regioun of þe Philiſtiens ſeuen moneþes; and after þes þingis Philiſtiens clepiden þe preeſtis and dyuynours, ſeiynge, What ſhal we doon wiþ þe arke of God? Shewe ȝe vs, what maner wyſe we ſhulen ſende it aȝen in to his place. Þe whiche ſeiden, If ȝe ſenden aȝen þe arke of God of Yrael, wole ȝe not leeue it voyde, but þat ȝe owen, ȝeldeþ to hym for þe ſynne; and þanne ȝe ſhulen be heelid, and ȝe ſhulen knowe, whi þat his hoond goþ not a wey fro ȝow. Þe whiche ſeiden, What is þat for þe treſpaſſe we owen to ȝeeld to it? And þei anſwerden, After noumbre of prouyncis of Philiſtiens fyue golden arſis ȝe ſhulen make, and fyue golden myis; for o plage was to ȝow alle and to ȝoure maiſtris. And ȝe ſhulen make a licneſſe of ȝoure arſis, and a licneſſe of þe myis þat han waſtid þe loond; and ȝe ſhulen ȝyue to þe God of Yrael glorye, if perauenture he releue his hoond fro ȝou, and fro ȝoure goddis, and fro ȝoure loond. Whi agreggen ȝe ȝoure hertis, as Egipt agreggide, and Pharao his hert? Wheþer not after he is ſmyten, þanne he lafte hem, and þei ȝeden a wey? Nowe þanne takiþ, and makiþ a newe weyn, and ioyneþ two kyen þat han calued late, in þe weyn, to whom is not put on ȝok; and recloſiþ her calues at home. And ȝe ſhulen take þe arke of þe Lord, and putte in þe weyn; and þe goldun veſſels þat ȝe han payed out to it for þe treſpas, ȝe ſhulen put in a litle cofre at þe ſide of it; and leeue ȝe it, þat it goo. And ȝe ſhulen biholden, forſoþe and if bi þe weye of her cooſtis it ſtie vp aȝen Beþſames, it haþ doo to ȝou þis greet yuel; forſoþe if not, we ſhulen wyte þat þe hoond of it haþ not towchid vs, but by hap it haþ fallun. Þanne þei diden þis wiſe; and takynge two kyen þat ȝauen calues ſowke, þei ioyneden to þe wayn; forſoþe þe calues of hem þei cloſiden at home. And þei putten þe arke of God vpon þe wayn, and þe litle coofre þat hadde þe golden myis, and þe licnes of arſis. Forſoþe þe kyen ȝeden euen ryȝt bi þe weye þat lediþ to Beþſames; and in o weye þei wenten goynge and loowynge, and þei boweden not aſyde ne to þe ryȝt ne to þe left; but and þe mayſtris of Philiſtyens folweden vnto þe teermys of Beþſames. Forſoþe Beþſamytis repiden whete in þe valey, and rerynge vp þe eyen þei ſeen þe arke, and þei ioyeden, whanne þei hadden ſeen. And þe wayn cam into þe feeld of Joſue Beþſamyte, and ſtood þere. Forſoþe a greet ſtoon was þere; and þei heweden þe trees of þe wayn, and þe kien þei putten vpon, þe brent ſacrifice to þe Lord. Forſoþe Leuytis putten down þe arke of God, and þe litil coofre þat was biſide it, in þe which weren þe golden veſſels; and þei putten vpon þe greet ſtoon. Forſoþe Beþſamytis men offreden brent ſacrifice, and ſlewen ſacrifices in þat day to þe Lord. And þe fyue mayſtris of Philiſtiens ſeen, and ben turned aȝen into Acharon in þat day. Forſoþe þes ben þe golden arſis, þe whiche Philiſtiens for þe treſpas ȝolden to þe Lord; Aȝot oon, Gaza oon, Aſhalon oon, Geþ oon, Acharon oon; and goldun myis after þe noumbre of Philiſtiens cytees, of þe fyue prouyncis, fro wallid cytee vnto toun þat was wiþ outen wal, and vnto greet Abel, vpon þe which he putte þe ark of þe Lord, þat was vnto þat day in þe feeld of Joſue Beþſamyte. Forſoþe he ſmoot of þe men of Beþſamyte, for þat þei hadden ſeen þe arke of þe Lord, and he ſmoot of þe puple ſeuenti men, and fifti þowſandis of þe raſkeyl. And þe puple weyliden, whanne þe Lord hadde ſmyten wiþ a greet veniaunce þe comoun puple. And þe men of Beþſamyte ſeiden, Who ſhal mowe ſtoond in þe ſiȝt of þis holy Lord God, and to whom ſhal he ſtye vp fro vs? And þei ſenten meſſagerys to þe dwellers of Caryaþyarym, ſeiynge, Philiſtiens han brouȝt aȝen þe arke of þe Lord; comeþ doun, and bryngeþ it aȝen to ȝow.

Capitulum VII.
Thanne þe men of Caryaþyarym camen, and brouȝten aȝen þe arke of þe Lord, and beren it into þe hows of Amynadab in Gabaa. And þei halweden Eleazer his ſone, for he ſhulde kepe þe arke of þe Lord. And it is doon, fro what day þe arke of þe Lord dwellide in Caryaþiarym, multiplied ben þe days; forſoþe nowe was þe twentiþe ȝeer; and al þe hows of Yrael reſtide after þe Lord. Forſoþe Samuel ſeiþ to al þe hows of Yrael, ſeiynge, If in al ȝoure herte ȝe turnen to þe Lord, doþ awey alien goddis fro þe mydil of ȝow, Baalym and Aſtaroþ; and makiþ redi ȝoure hertis to þe Lord, and ſerueþ to hym alone; and he ſhal delyuere ȝow fro þe hond of Philiſtyens. Þanne þe ſones of Yrael token awey Baalym and Aſtaroþ, and ſerueden to þe Lord alone. Forſoþe Samuel ſeide, Gederiþ al Yrael in to Maſphat, þat Y preye þe Lord for ȝou. And þei camen togidre in Maſphat, and þei drewen water, and heelden out in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; and þei faſtiden in þat day, and ſeiden, To þee we han ſynned, Lord. And Samuel demyde þe ſones of Yrael in Maſphat. And Philiſtiens herden þat þe ſones of Yrael weren gedryd in Maſphat; and þe ſatrapis of Philiſtiens ſtieden vp to Yrael. Þe which þing whanne þe ſones of Yrael hadden herd, þei dredden fro þe face of Philiſtiens. And þei ſeiden to Samuel, Ne ceeſe þow for vs to crye to þe Lord oure God, þat he ſaue vs fro þe hond of Philiſtyens. Forſoþe Samuel took o ſowkynge loomb, and offrede it into hool brent ſacrifice to þe Lord. And Samuel criede to þe Lord for Yrael; and þe Lord herde hym. Forſoþe it is doon, whanne Samuel offrede brent ſacryfice, Philiſtiens to-goon into batayl aȝens Yrael. Forſoþe þe Lord þundryde wiþ greet crakkynge in þat day vpon þe Philiſtiens, and he feeride hem; and þei ben ſlayn fro þe face of Yrael. And þe ſones of Yrael goon out fro Maſphat, purſueden Philiſtiens, and ſmyten hem vnto þe place þat was vndur Beþaar. Forſoþe Samuel took a ſtoon, and putte it betwix Maſphat and betwix Sen; and he clepide þe name of þat place Þe ſtoon of help. And he ſeide, Hidir to þe Lord haþ holpen to vs. And Philiſtiens ben mekid, and no more ouer þei leiden to þat þei camen into þe teermys of Yrael. And ſo is doon þe hoond of þe Lord vpon Philiſtyens alle þe days of Samuel. And þe cytees þat þe Philiſtiens token fro Yrael, ben ȝolden aȝen to Yrael, fro Accharon vnto Geþ and his teermys; and he delyueride Yrael fro þe hoond of Philiſtyens; and pees was bitwix Yrael and Ammorre. Forſoþe Samuel demyde Yrael alle þe days of his lijf; and wente bi eche ȝeer enuyrounynge Beþel, and Galgal, and Maſphat, and he demyde Yrael in þe forſeid placis; and turned aȝen in to Ramaþa, forſoþe þere was his hows; and þere he demyde Yrael, and he bildide vp þere alſo an auter to þe Lord.

Capitulum VIII.
Forſoþe it is doon whanne Samuel wexe oold, he putte his ſones domeſmen of Yrael. And þe name of his firſt geten ſone was Joel, þe name of þe ſecounde Abya, domyſmen in Berſabe. And þe ſones of hym wenten not in his weyes, but boweden aſide after aueryce, and þei token ȝiftis, and þei peruertiden doom. Þann alle þe more þurȝ birþ of Yrael gedrid, camen to Samuel in Ramaþa. And þei ſeiden to hym, Loo! þou art waxen oold, and þi ſones goon not in þi weyes; ordeyn to vs a kyng, þat he deme vs, and as alle nacyouns han. And þe word diſpleſide in þe eyen of Samuel, forþi þat þei hadden ſeid, Ȝif to vs a kyng, þat he deme vs. And Samuel preide to þe Lord. Forſoþe þe Lord ſeide to Samuel, Here þe voys of þe puple in alle þingis þat þei ſpeken to þee; forſoþe þei han not þrowun a wey þee, but me, leſt Y regne vpon hem. Aftir alle her werkis þat þei han doo, fro þe day þat Y ladde hem out of Egipt vnto þis day, as þei forſoken me, and ſerueden to alien goddis, ſo þei doon alſo to þee. Nowe þanne here þe voyce of hem; neuerþelater take hem togidre to witneſſe; and ſey before to hem þe riȝt of a kyng, þe which is to regne vpon hem. And ſo Samuel ſeide alle þe wordis of þe Lord to þe puple, þat aſkiden of him a kyng; and ſeiþ, Þis ſhal be þe riȝt of a kyng, þat is to comaunde to ȝou; ȝoure ſonys he ſhal take, and putte in his charys; and he ſhal make to hym ryders, and before renners of his long cartis; and he ſhal ordeyn to hym rewlers of þowſandis, and rewlers of hundridis, and ereres of his feeldis, and repers of cornys, and ſmyþis of aarmys, and of his charis. Forſoþe ȝoure douȝtres he ſhal make to him oynement makers, and fier makers, and cloþmakers. Forſoþe ȝoure feeldis and vynes and olyues, þe beſt he ſhal take, and ȝyue to his ſeruauntis. But and ȝoure cornys, and þe rentis of vynes he ſhal tiþe, þat he ȝyue to geldyngis and to his ſeruauntis. Forſoþe ȝoure ſeruauntis and hoondwymmen, and þe beſt ȝonge men and aſſis he ſhal take awey, and putte in his werk. Forſoþe ȝoure flockis he ſhal tiþe, and ȝe ſhulen be to him ſeruauntis. And ȝe ſhulen crye in þat day fro þe face of ȝoure kyng, whom ȝe han choſun to ȝow; and þe Lord ſhal not here ȝou in þat day, for ȝe han aſkid to ȝou a kyng. Forſoþe þe puple wolden not here þe vois of Samuel, but ſeiden, Nay, forſoþe a kyng ſhal be vpon vs; and we forſoþe ſhulen be as oþer folk of kynde, and oure kyng ſhal deme vs, and he ſhal go out before vs, and he ſhal fiȝt oure batayl for vs. And Samuel herde alle þe wordis of þe puple, and ſpak hem in þe eeris of þe Lord. Forſoþe þe Lord ſeide to Samuel, Here þow þe voys of hem, and ſet vpon hem a kyng. And Samuel ſeiþ to þe men of Yrael, Goo ech man into his cytee.

Capitulum IX.
And þere was a man of Beniamyn, Cys bi name, þe ſone of Abyel, ſone of Seor, ſone of Beþor, ſone of Aphya, ſone of þe man of Gemyny, ſtronge bi ſtrengþ. And þer was to hym a ſone, Saul bi name, choſyn and good; and þere was not a man of þe ſones of Iſrael betere þan he; fro þe ſhuldre and aboue he peeryde aboue al þe puple. Forſoþe þe ſhee aſſys of Cys, fadre of Saul, weren loſt. And Cys ſeide to Saul his ſone, Tak wiþ þee oon of þe children, and ryſynge go, and ſeche þe ſhe aſſis. Þe which whanne þei hadden paſſid bi þe mount of Effraym, and bi þe loond of Saliza, and þei hadden not foundun, þei paſſiden alſo bi þe loond of Salym, and þere was noon; bot and by þe loond of Gemyny, and þei founden not. Forſoþe whanne þei weren comen into þe loond of Suph, and hadden not foundun, Saul ſeide to his chijld þat was wiþ hym, Come, and turne we aȝen; leſt perauenture my fadre leeue þe ſhe aſſis, and be byſie for vs. Þe which ſeiþ to hym, Loo! þe man of God is in þis cytee, a noble man; al þat he ſpekiþ, wiþ out dout it comeþ. Now þanne goo we þidre, if perauenture he ſhewe to vs of oure weye, for þe which we ben comen. And Saul ſeyde to his child, Loo! we ſhulen go; what ſhulen we brynge to þe man of God? Breed fayliþ in oure ſackis, and a lepe we han not, þat we ȝyuen to þe man of God, ne eny oþer þing. Eft þe child anſwerde to Saul, and ſeiþ, Loo! þere is founden in myn hoond þe feerþ part of a ſicle of ſiluer; and ȝyue we to þe man of God, þat he ſhewe to vs oure weye. Sumtyme in Yrael þus ſpak echon goynge to counſeyle God, Comeþ, and goo we to þe ſeer; forſoþe he, þat to day is ſeid a prophet, ſumtyme was clepid ſeer. And Saul ſeide to his child, Alþerbeſt is þi word; com, go we. And þei wenten into þe cyte, in þe which was þe man of God. And whanne þei ſtieden vp þe hil of þe citee, þei founden children wymmen goynge out to drawe watir, and þei ſeiden to hem, Wheþer here is þe ſeer? Þe which anſwerynge ſeiden to hem, Here he is, loo! before þee; hye nowe, forſoþe to day he cam into þe cytee; for to day is ſacrifice of þe puple in þe heiȝe. Goynge into þe cyte anoon ȝe ſhulen fynde hym, or he ſtie vp into þe hiȝe for to eete; forſoþe ne þe puple is to eete to þe tyme þat he come, for he ſhal bleſſe to þe ooſt, and þere after ſhulen eete þat ben clepid. Nowe þanne ſtieþ vp, for to day ȝe ſhulen fynde hym. And þei ſtieden vp into þe cytee. And whanne þei wenten in þe mydil of þe cyte, Samuel aperyde goynge out metynge to hem, þat he ſtye vp into þe heiȝ. Forſoþe þe Lord hadde toold þe litil eer of Samuel before o day, þat Saul cam, ſeiynge, Þis ſame our þat nowe is to morwe, Y ſhal ſeende to þee a man of þe loond of Beniamyn, and þow ſhalt anoynt hym duyk vpon my puple Yrael, and he ſhal ſaue my puple fro þe hoond of Philiſtyens; for I haue biholden my puple, forſoþe þe crye of hem is comen to me. And whanne Samuel hadde beholden Saul, þe Lord ſeide to hym, Loo! þe man þat I ſeide to þee; þis ſhal lordſhip to my puple. Forſoþe Saul neiȝede to Samuel in þe mydil of þe ȝate, and ſeiþ, Shewe to me, Y preye, where is þe hows of þe ſeer? And Samuel anſwerde to Saul, ſeiynge, Y am þe ſeer; ſty vp before me into þe heiȝ, þat þou eete wiþ me to day, and Y ſhal leeue þee þe morwetide, and alle þingis þat ben in þin herte Y ſhal ſhewe to þee. And of þe aſſis þe which þre days hens þou loſtiſt, ne be þow byſy, for þei ben foundun; and of whom ſhulen be alle þe beſt þingis of Yrael, wheþer not to þee, and to al þe hows of þi fader? Forſoþe Saul anſwerynge ſeiþ, Wheþer not þe ſone of Gemyny Y am, of þe leeſt lynage of Yrael, and my kynrede þe laſt among alle þe meynees of þe lynage of Beniamyn? Whi þanne haſt þou ſpoken to me þes wordis? And ſo Samuel takynge Saul, and hys child, brouȝte hem into þe hows of þre benchis, and he ȝaf to hem a place in þe cheefe of hem þat weren boden to meet; forſoþe þere weren as þretti men. And Samuel ſeide to þe cook, Ȝif þow þe part þat I ȝaf to þee, and comaundide, þat þow ſhulde lay aſide anentis þee. And þe cook reryde þe ſhuldre, and putte before Saul. And Samuel ſeide, Loo! þat is laft, put before þee, and ete; for of purpos it is kept to þee, whanne Y clepide þe puple. And Saul eet wiþ Samuel in þat day. And þei wenten down fro þe heiȝ into þe burȝ town; and he ſpak wiþ Saul in þe ſolere, and he beddide Saul in þe ſolere, and he ſlepte. And whanne eerly þei weren ryſen, and nowe þe day wexe liȝt, Samuel clepide Saul into þe ſolere, ſeyynge, Ryſe, þat Y leeue þee. And Saul roos, and boþe þei wenten oute, he, þat is, and Samuel. And whanne þei weren goo down in þe vttermoſt parti of þe cytee, Samuel ſeide to Saul, Sey to þe child, þat he goo before vs, and paſſe forþ; forſoþe þow ſtoond ſtil a litil, while þat Y ſhewe to þee þe word of þe Lord.

Capitulum X.
Samuel forſoþe took a litil brytil veſſel of oyle, and heelde out on his heed, and he kiſſide hym, and ſeiþ, Loo! þe Lord haþ anoyntide þee vp on his erytage into a prince; and þow ſhalt delyuer his puple fro þe hoondis of her enemyes, þe which ben in enuyroun of it. And þis to þee a tokne, for þe Lord haþ anoyntide þee into a prince; whanne þow goſt to dai fro me, þow ſhalt fynde two men byſide þe ſepulcre of Rachel, in þe cooſtis of Beniamyn, in þe mydday, feermynge greet dichis; and þei ſhulen ſeye to þee, Þe ſhe aſſis ben foundun, to þe whiche to be ſouȝt þou wentiſt; and þi fader, þe meen while þe aſſis laft, is biſy for ȝow, and ſeiþ, What ſhal Y do of my ſone? And whanne þou goſt þens, and ferþer paſſiſt, and comeſt to þe ook of Thabor, þre men ſhulen fynde þee þere, ſtiynge vp to God into Beþel, oon berynge þre kyddis, and anoþer berynge þre kakis of breed, and anoþer berynge a galoun of wyn. And whanne þei ſaluten þee, þei ſhulen ȝyue to þee two looues, and þow ſhalt take of þe hoond of hem. After þes þingis þou ſhalt come into þe hil of þe Lord, where is þe ſtacioun of Phyliſtynes; and whanne þow were goon into þe cytee, þere þow ſhalt haue metynge a floc of prophetis comynge doun fro þe heeȝ, and before hem a ſawtrye, and a tymbre, and a trompe, and an harp, and hem propheciynge. And þe Spyrit of þe Lord ſhal leep into þee, and þow ſhalt prophecye wiþ hem, and þow ſhalt be chaungid into anoþer man. Whanne þanne alle þes toknes comen to þee, do what euere þingis fyndiþ þin hoond, for þe Lord is wiþ þee. And þow ſhalt goo doun before me in Galgala; forſoþe Y ſhal come down to þee, þat þow offre an offrynge, and offre peſible ſlayn ſacrificis; ſeuen days þow ſhalt abide, to þe tyme þat Y come to þee, and ſhewe to þee what þow doo. And ſo whanne he hadde turned his ſhuldre, þat he ȝede fro Samuel, God wiþ ynne chaungide to hym anoþer herte, and alle þes toknes camen in þat day. And þei camen to þe forſeyd hil, and loo! a companye of prophetis metynge to hym; and þe Spyryt of þe Lord leepe yn vpon hym, and he propheciede in þe mydil of hem. Forſoþe ſeynge alle, þat knewen hym ȝiſtyrday and þe þridde day hens, þat he was wiþ prophetis, and prophecide, ſeiden togidre, What nowe þing falliþ to þe ſone of Cys? Wheþer and Saul among þe prophetis? And anoþer anſwerde to þe toþir, ſeiynge, And who is þe fadre of hym? Þerfor it is turnyd into a prouerbe, Wheþer and Saul among þe prophetis? Forſoþe he ceſide to prophecie, and cam to þe heiȝ. And þe broþer of þe fader of Saul ſaide to hym, and to his child, Whidre wenten ȝe? Þe whiche anſwerde, To ſeche þe ſhe aſſis; þe whiche whanne we hadden not founde, we camen to Samuel. And his fader broþer ſeide to him, Shewe to me what Samuel ſeide to þee. And Saul ſeiþ to his fader broþir, He ſhewide to vs, for þe ſhe aſſis weren founden. Forſoþe of þe word of þe kyngdam he ſhewide not to hym, þe which Samuel ſpak to hym. And Samuel clepide togidre þe puple to þe Lord in Maſphat; and ſeiþ to þe ſones of Yrael, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God of Yrael, Y haue ladde out Yrael fro Egipt, and Y haue delyuerde ȝow fro þe hoond of Egipciens, and fro þe hoond of alle kyngis þat tourmentiden ȝow. Forſoþe ȝe to day han þrowun a wey ȝoure God, þe which alone ſaueþ ȝow fro alle yuels, and ȝoure tribulaciouns; and ȝe han ſeiden, Nay, but a kyng ordeyn vpon vs. Nowe þanne ſtondiþ before þe Lord bi ȝoure lynagis, and by meynees. And Samuel appliede alle þe lynagis of Yrael, and þe lot felle vpon þe lynage of Beniamyn. And he apliede þe lynage of Beniamyn, and þe kynredis of hym; and lot felle vpon þe kynrede of Metry, and cam vnto Saul, þe ſone of Cys. Þanne þei ſouȝten hym, and he is not founden þere. And þei counſeilden after þes þingis þe Lord, forſoþe wheþer he were to come þidre. And þe Lord anſwerde, Loo! he is hidde at home. And ſo þei runnen, and token hym þens; and he ſtood in þe mydil of þe puple, and he was heiȝer þan al þe puple fro þe ſhuldres and aboue. And Samuel ſeiþ to al þe puple, Certis ȝe ſeen whom þe Lord haþ choſun; for þere is noon lijk to hym in al þe puple. And al þe puple criede, and ſeiþ, Lyue þe kyng! Forſoþe Samuel ſpak to þe puple þe lawe of þe rewme, and wroot in þe book, and leyde vp before þe Lord. And Samuel laft al þe puple, eche into her hows; but and Saul wente into his hows in Gabaaþ; and wente wiþ hym a paart of þe ooſt, of whom God hadde towchid þe hertis. Forſoþe þe ſones of Belial ſeiden, Wheþer þis ſhal mowe ſaue vs? And þei diſpyſiden hym, and brouȝten not to hym ȝiftis; forſoþe he feynde, as þouȝ he herde not.

Capitulum XI.
And it is doon as after a moneþ, Naas Amonite ſtiede vp, and bigan to fiȝt aȝens Jabes Galaaþ. And alle þe men of Jabes ſeiden to Naas, Haue þow vs boundun in pees, and we ſhulen ſerue to þee. And Naas Amonyte anſwerde to hem, In þis I ſhal ſmyte wiþ ȝou boond of pees, þat I drawe out þe ryȝt eyen of ȝow alle, and Y put ȝou reproue in al Yrael. And þe eldres of Jabes ſeiden to hym, Graunt to vs ſeuen days, þat we ſenden meſſagers to alle þe teermes of Yrael; and if þere weren not þe which defende vs, we ſhulen goon out to þee. Þanne meſſagers camen into Gabaaþ of Saul, and ſpeken þe wordis, herynge þe puple; and al þe puple reryde her voys, and wepte. And, loo! Saul cam, folowynge þe oxen fro þe feeld; and ſeiþ, What haþ þe puple, þat he wepiþ? And þei toolden to hym þe wordis of þe men of Jabes. And þe Spyrit of þe Lord leepe into Saul, whanne he hadde herd þes wordis, and þe woodneſſe of hym wraþþid wel mych. And takynge to eiþer oxe he hewȝ into gobetis, and ſente into alle þe teermys of Yrael, bi þe hoond of þe meſſageers, ſeiynge, Who ſo euere goþ not out, and haþ not folwid Saul and Samuel, þus ſhal be doo to þe oxen of hym. Þanne þe dreed of þe Lord cauȝte þe puple, and þei wenten out as o man. And he noumbrede hem in Beſeþ; and of þe ſones of Yrael weren þre hundrid þowſandis; of þe men forſoþe of Juda þretti þowſandis. And þei ſeiden to þe meſſagers þat camen, So ȝe ſhulen ſeie to þe men þat ben in Jabes of Galaaþ, To morwe ſhal be to ȝow helþ, whanne þe ſunne hetiþ. Þanne þe meſſagerys camen, and toolden to þe men of Jabes; þe whiche weren glad, and ſeiden, To morwe we ſhulen goo out to ȝow, and ȝe ſhulen doo to vs al þat ſhal pleſe to ȝow. And it is doon, whanne þe morwe was comen, Saul ſette þe puple in þre parties; and he wente into þe mydil tentis in þe morwetide watche, and he ſmoot Amon vnto þe tyme þat þe day hetide; forſoþe þe toþer ben ſcatrid, ſo þat þere weren not laft in hem tweyn togidre. And þe puple ſeiþ to Samuel, Who is he þis, þat ſeide, Saul ſhal not regne vpon vs? Ȝif ȝe þe men, and we ſhulen ſlee hem. And Saul ſeiþ, Þere ſhal not be ſlayn eny man in þis day, for to day þe Lord haþ doon helþ in Yrael. Forſoþe Samuel ſeide to þe puple, Comeþ, and goo we into Galgala, and renewe we þere þe rewme. And al þe puple ȝede to Galgala, and þei maden þere Saul a kyng before þe Lord in Galgala; and þei offreden peſyble ſlayn ſacrifice to þe Lord. And Saul gladdide þere, and alle þe men of Yrael wel mych.

Capitulum XII.
Forſoþe Samuel ſeide to alle Yrael, Loo! I haue herd ȝoure voys aftir alle þingis þat ȝe han ſpokun to me, and I haue ordeynd vpon ȝou a kyng; and nowe þe kyng goþ before ȝow. Forſoþe Y haue eeldid, and waxen hoor; forſoþe my ſones ben wiþ ȝow; alſo conuerſaunt before ȝou fro my ȝongþ vnto þis day. Loo! Y am redi; ſpek ȝe to me before þe Lord, and before þe criſt of hym; wheþer oxe of eny man Y took, or aſſe; if eny man Y chalengide; if Y oppreſſide eny man; if of þe hoond of eny man Y took ȝift; and Y ſhal diſpiſe it to day, and reſtore to ȝow. And þei ſeiden, Þow haſt not chalengid vs, ne oppreſſid, ne takyn eny þing of þe hoond of eny man. And he ſeide to hem, Witneſſe is þe Lord aȝens ȝow, and witneſſe þe criſt of hym in þis day; for ȝe han not founden in myn hoond eny þing. And þei ſeiden, Witneſſe. And Samuel ſeiþ to þe puple, Þe Lord, þat made Moyſen and Aaron, and ladde ȝoure fadres fro þe loond of Egipt, is nyȝ; now þanne ſtondiþ, þat in doom I ſtryue aȝens ȝow before þe Lord, of alle þe mercyes of þe Lord, þat he haþ done wiþ ȝow, and wiþ ȝoure fadres. What maner wiſe Jacob wente into Egipt, and ȝoure fadres crieden to þe Lord; and þe Lord ſente Moyſes and Aaron, and ladde ȝoure fadres out of Egipt, and ſette hem in þis place. Þe whiche forȝeten of þe Lord, her God; and he took hem in þe hoond of Cyſar, mayſter of þe knyȝþod of Aſor, and in þe hoond of Philiſtiens, and in þe hond of þe king of Moab; and þei fouȝten aȝens hem. Forſoþe aftyrward þei cryeden to þe Lord, and ſeiden, We han ſynned, for we han forſakun þe Lord, and ſerueden to Baalym and Aſtaroþ; nowe þanne delyuer vs fro þe hoond of oure enemyes, and we ſhulen ſerue to þee. And þe Lord ſente Jeroboal, and Bedan, and Barach, and Jepte, and Samuel; and he delyuerde ȝow fro þe hoond of ȝoure enemyes bi enuyroun; and ȝe han dwellid truſtily. Forſoþe ſeynge þat Naas, þe kyng of þe ſones of Amon, was comen aȝens ȝow, ȝe ſeiden to me, Nay, but þe kyng ſhal comaunde to vs; whanne þe Lord ȝour God ſhulde regne in ȝow. Nowe þanne ȝoure kyng is redi, whom ȝe han choſen and aſkid; loo! þe Lord haþ ȝeuen to ȝow a kyng. If ȝe dreden þe Lord, and ſerueþ to hym, and heriþ þe voys of hym, and whettiþ not þe mouþ of þe Lord; and ȝe ſhulen ben, and þe kyng þat comaundiþ to ȝow, folowynge þe Lord ȝoure God. Forſoþe if ȝe heren not þe voys of þe Lord, but whettiþ out þe word of hym, þe hoond of þe Lord ſhal be vpon ȝow, and vpon ȝoure fadres. But nowe ſtondiþ, and ſeeþ þis greet þing þat þe Lord is to doo in ȝoure ſiȝt. Wheþer not repynge tyme of whete is to day? Y ſhal inwardly clepe þe Lord, and he ſhal ȝyue voicis, and reynes; and ȝe ſhulen wite, and ſeen, for greet yuel ȝe han doo to ȝow in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, aſkynge vpon ȝow a kyng. And Samuel criede to þe Lord, and þe Lord ȝaf voicis and reynes in þat day. And al þe puple dredde wel mych þe Lord and Samuel; and al þe puple ſeide to Samuel, Prey for þi ſeruauntis to þe Lord þi God, þat we dyen not; forſoþe we han addid to alle oure ſynnes yuel, þat we aſken to vs a kyng. Forſoþe Samuel ſeide to þe puple, Wole ȝe not drede; ȝe han doon alle þis yuel; neuerþelater wole ȝe not goo awey fro þe bak of þe Lord, but ſerueþ to þe Lord in al ȝoure herte; and wole ȝe not bowe aſide after veyn þingis, þat ſhulen not profyt ȝou, ne ſhulen delyuer ȝou; for veyn þingis þei ben. And þe Lord ſhal not forſake his puple for his greet name; for þe Lord haþ ſworn to make ȝow to hym a puple. Forſoþe God ſheelde þe ſynne fro me in þe Lord, þat I ceeſe to prey for ȝow; and I ſhal teche ȝow a riȝt weye and good. Þerfor drediþ þe Lord, and ſerueþ to hym in treuþ, and of al ȝoure herte; forſoþe ȝe han ſeen þe greet dedis, þe whiche he haþ doon in ȝow; and if ȝe ben ſtedfaſt in malice, and ȝe and ȝoure kyng to gidre ſhulen periſhe.

Capitulum XIII.
A ſone of o ȝeer was Saul whanne he began to regne; forſoþe two ȝeer he regnede vpon Irael. And Saul chees to hym þre þowſandis of Yrael, and þere weren in Machynas wiþ Saul two þowſandis, in þe hil of Beþel; forſoþe a þowſand wiþ Jonaþa in Gabaa Beniamyn; forſoþe þe toþer puple he ſente aȝen echon into her tabernaclis. And Jonaþas ſmoot þe ſtacioun of Philiſtiens, þat was in Gabaa. Þe which þing whanne Philiſtyens hadden herd, Saul criede wiþ a trompe in al þe loond, ſeiynge, Heren þe Ebrewis. And al Yrael herde ſiche a maner loos, Saul haþ ſmyten þe ſtacioun of Philiſtiens; and Yrael areride him aȝens þe Philiſtiens; þanne þe puple criede after Saul in Galgala. And Philiſtiens ben gedrid to fiȝt aȝens Yrael; þretti þouſandis of charys, and ſexe þouſandis of horſmen, and þe toþer comoun, as mych grauel þat is in brenk of þe ſee; and þei ſtiynge vp ſetten tentis in Machynas, at þe eſte of Beþauen. Þe which þing whanne þe men of Yrael hadden ſeen, hem ſeluen in ſtreit ſet, forſoþe þe puple was tourmentid, and þei hidden hem ſelf in dennys, and in hidils, in ſtonys forſoþe, and in dichis, and in cyſternes. Forſoþe Hebrewis paſſiden Jordan, þe loond of Gad, and of Galaad. And whanne ȝit Saul was in Galgala, al þe puple is feerd þat folwide hym. And he abood Samuel ſeuen days after þe couenaunt, and Samuel cam not in Galgala; and þe puple is ſlyden fro hym. Þanne ſeiþ Saul, Bryngiþ to me brent ſacrifice and peſible; and he offrede brent ſacrifice. And whanne offrynge he hadde fulfillid þe brent ſacrifice, loo! Samuel cam; and Saul wente out to mete hym, for to ſalute hym. And Samuel ſpak to hym, What haſt þou doon? Saul anſwerde, For I ſawȝ þat þe puple ſhulde ſlyde awey fro me, and þou cam not after þe couenauntid dais; forſoþe þe Philiſtyens weren gedryd into Machynas; Y ſeide, Nowe Philiſtiens ſhulen come to me in Galgala, and þe face of þe Lord I haue not pleſid; þurȝ nede conſtreined Y haue offrid brent ſacryfice to þe Lord. And Samuel ſeide to Saul, Folily þow haſt doon, ne þou haſt kept þe heeſtis of þe Lord þi God, þe whiche he haþ comaundid to þee; þe which þing if þou haddiſt not doon, riȝt nowe þe Lord hadde maad redi þi kyngdom vpon Yrael into wiþouten ende; but þi kyngdom ſhal no more ryſe togidre. Þanne þe Lord ſouȝte a man after his herte; and þe Lord haþ comaundid to hym, þat he were a duyk vpon his puple, forþi þat þou haſt not kept þe þingis þat þe Lord comaundide. Forſoþe Samuel roos, and ſtiede vp fro Galgalis in Gabaa of Beniamyn; and þe toþer puple ſtieden vp after Saul, metynge to þe puple þat ouercamen hem; comynge fro Galgala in Gabaa, in þe hil of Beniamyn. And Saul noumbrede þe puple, þat weren foundun wiþ hym as ſixe hundryd men. And Saul, and Jonaþas his ſone, and þe puple þat was foundun wiþ hem, was in Gabaa of Beniamyn; forſoþe Philiſtiens ſeeten togidre into aſpijs, for to fiȝten. And þere wenten out for to fiȝte fro þe tentys of Philiſtiens þre cumpanyes; o cumpanye wente aȝens þe weye of Effraym to þe loond of Saul; forſoþe anoþer wente bi þe weye of Beþeron; forſoþe þe þridde turnede hem to þe weye of þe teerme in þe loond of Saba, ſtondynge nyȝ to þe valey of Seboym aȝens þe deſeert. Forſoþe þere was not an yren ſmiþ foundun in al þe loond of Yrael; forſoþe Philiſtiens ſhunneden, leſt perauenture þe Hebrews maden ſwerd or ſpeer. Þanne al Yrael deſcendide to Philiſtiym, þat echon ſharpe his ſhaar, and diggyng yren, and axe, and purgyng hook; for eggys of þe ſharis, and of diggynge yrens, and of forkis, and of þe axis weren blunt, vnto a prik to menden. And whanne þe day of þe batayl was comen, þere is not founden ſwerd and ſpeer in hoond of þe puple þat was wiþ Saul and Jonaþa, out takun Saul, and Jonaþa hys ſone. Forſoþe þe ſtacioun of Philiſtym wente out, for to ſtye ouer into aſpijs to fiȝt.

Capitulum XIIII.
And it felle on a day, þat Jonaþas, þe ſone of Saul, ſeide to þe ȝong man his ſquyer, Com, and goo we to þe ſtacioun of Philiſtyens, þat is biȝonde þat place; to his fader forſoþe þat ſame þing he ſhewide not. Forſoþe Saul dwellide in þe vttermooſt parti of Gabaa, vndur a poomgarnet tree, þat was in þe feeld of Gabaa; and þere was a puple wiþ hym as of ſexe hundred men. And Achias, þe ſone of Achitob, þe broþer of Ychabod, þe ſone of Phynees, þat was comen of Hely, þe preeſt of þe Lord in Silo, beere þe preſtis coope; but and þe puple knewe not whider Jonaþas was goon. Forſoþe þere weren bytwixe þe ſtiyngis vp, bi þe whiche Jonaþas enforſide to goo to þe ſtacyouns of Philiſtiens, heiȝe ſtonys on eiþer ſide, and as in maner of teeþ litle rochis hens and þens before brokun; name to þe oon Booſez, and to þe toþer þe name Sene; o litil roche ful heeȝ at þe norþ aȝens Machynas to fiȝten, and anoþer at þe ſouþ aȝens Gabaa. Jonaþas forſoþe ſeide to þe ȝong man his ſquyer, Come, and paſſe we to þe ſtacioun of þes vncercumcidide, if perauenture þe Lord do for vs; for it is not to þe Lord hard to ſaue, or in many or in fewe. And his ſquyer ſeide to hym, Do alle þingis þat pleſen to þin inwit; go whider þow coueytiſt, I ſhal be wiþ þee where euere þou wolt. And Jonaþan ſeiþ, Loo! we goon to þes men; and whanne we aperen to hem, if þis maner þei ſpeken to vs, Dwel ȝe, to þe tyme þat we comen to ȝou; ſtonde we in oure place, ne ſtye we vp to hem. Forſoþe if þei ſeyn, Stye ȝe vp to vs; ſtye we vp, for þe Lord haþ takun hem in oure hoondis; þis ſhal be to vs a tokne. And ſo eiþer aperide to þe ſtacioun of Philiſtiens; and Philiſtiens ſeiden, Loo! þe Hebrewis goon out fro þe caues, in þe whiche þei weren hid. And þe men ſpeken fro þe ſtacioun to Jonaþan and to his ſquyer, and ſeiden, Stieþ vp to vs, and we ſhulen ſhewe ȝou a þing. And Jonaþas ſeiþ to his ſquier, Stie we, folwe me; forſoþe þe Lord haþ taken hem into þe hoondis of Yrael. Forſoþe Jonaþas ſtyede crepynge wiþ hoondis and feet, and his ſquyer after hym; and whanne þei hadden ſeen þe face of Jonaþan, oþer fellen before Jonaþan, oþer his ſquyer ſlowȝ, folowynge hym. And þe firſt veniaunce is doon, þe which ſmoot Jonaþas and þe ſquyer of hym as of twenti þouſand men, in þe half party of an akir þat a peyre of oxen in a day is wont to ere. And a myracle is doon in þe tentis, bi þe feeldys, but and al þe puple of þe ſtacioun of hem þat weren at robbynge, wexe aſtonyed, and þe tentis ben diſturblid; and it felle as a myracle fro God. And þe weyters of Saul, þat weren in Gabaa of Beniamyn, bihelden, and, loo! a multitude þrowun doun, and hidir and þider down fleynge. And Saul ſeiþ to þe puple þat weren wiþ hym, Enſerchiþ, and lokiþ, who ȝede awey fro vs. And whanne þei hadden ſouȝt, it is founden not to be neeȝ Jonaþas and his ſquyer. And Saul ſeiþ to Achyam, Applye þe arke of þe Lord; forſoþe þe arke of God was þere in þat day wiþ þe ſonys of Iſrael. And whanne Saul ſpak to þe preeſt, greet noyſe is out ſprongen in þe tentis of Philiſtyen; and it wexe litilmele, and cleerliker it ſownyde. And Saul ſeiþ to þe preeſt, Wiþdrawe þin hoond. Þanne Saul and þe puple þat was wiþ hym criede togidre; and þei camen to þe place of þe ſtrijf, and, loo! þe ſwerd of echon was turned to his neiȝbour, and a greet ſlauȝter wel mych. But and þe Hebrewis þat weren wiþ Philiſtiens ȝiſtirday and bifore ȝiſterdai, and ſtieden vp wiþ hem in þe tentis, ben turned for to ben wiþ Yrael, þat weren wiþ Saul and Jonaþa. Forſoþe alle þe Iraelitis, þe whiche hadden hid hem ſilf in þe hil of Effraym, herynge þat Philiſtiens weren flowen, felawſhipten hem ſeluen wiþ hern in þe batayl, and weren wiþ Saul as twenti þouſandis of men. And þe Lord ſauyde Irael in þat day. Forſoþe þe fiȝt camen vnto Beþauen. And men of Yrael ben felawſhipt to hem ſeluen in þat day; forſoþe Saul ſwore to þe puple, ſeyynge, Curſid be þe man þat etiþ breed vnto euen, to þe tyme þat I be vengid of myn enemyes. And al þe puple eete no breed. And alle þe comouns of þe loond camen into a waſt wody place, in þe which was hony on þe face of þe feeld. And ſo al þe puple wente into þe place of heiȝe trees, and þere apperide flowyng hony; and no man appliede þe hond to his mouþ; forſoþe þe puple dredde þe ooþ. Forſoþe Jonaþas herde not, whanne his fadre ſwore to þe puple; and he ſtrauȝt out þe cop of þe ȝeerde, þat he hadde in þe hoond, and he wette into þe hony combe; and he turnede his hoond to his mouþ, and þe eyen of hym ben liȝtned. And anſwerynge oon of þe puple ſeiþ, Þi fader haþ conſtreynyd þe puple wiþ ooþ, ſeiynge, Curſid be þe man þat etiþ breed to day. Forſoþe þe puple faylide. And Jonaþas ſeide, My faþer haþ diſturblid þe loond; ȝoure ſelf han ſeen, for myn eyen ben liȝtned, forþi þat Y taaſtide a litil of þis hony; myche more if þe puple hadde eeten of þe preiȝe of her enemyes, þat þei foonden; wheþer not more veniaunce hadde be doo in Philiſtees? Þanne þei ſmyten in þat day þe Philiſtees fro þe place of engynes vnto Hailon. Doun weried is þe puple wel miche; and turned to þe praye, took ſheep, and oxen, and calues, and ſlewen in þe lond; and þe puple eete wiþ blood. And þei toolden to Saul, ſeiynge, þat þe puple hadde ſynned to þe Lord, etynge wiþ blood. Þe which ſeiþ, Ȝe han treſpaſſide; turneþ to me ryȝt nowe a greet ſtoon. And Saul ſeide, Beþ ȝe ſcatered into þe comouns, and ſeye ȝe to hem, þat echon brynge to me his oxe and weþer; and ſleeþ vpon it, and etiþ, and ȝe ſhulen not ſynne to þe Lord, etynge wiþ blood. And ſo al þe puple brouȝte echon an oxe in his hoond vnto nyȝt, and þei ſlowen þere. And Saul bildide vp an auter to þe Lord; and þanne firſt he bigan to bilde an auter to þe Lord. And Saul ſeide, Falle we vpon þe Philiſtyens bi nyȝt, and waſte we hem vnto þe morwetide liȝt; ne leeue we of hem a man. And þe puple ſeide, Al þat good is ſeen to þee in þin eyen, do. And þe preeſt ſeiþ, Neiȝ we hider to God. And Saul counſeylide þe Lord, ſeiynge, Wheþer ſhal Y purſue Philiſtiym, if þou taake hem into þe hoondis of Yrael? And he anſwerde not to hym in þat day. And Saul ſeide, Aplieþ hidir alle þe corners of þe puple, and witiþ, and ſeeþ, bi whom falliþ þis ſynne to day. Þe Lord þe ſaueour of Yrael lyueþ; for if bi Jonaþan my ſone it is doon, wiþ out aȝen drawynge he ſhal die. To þe which no man aȝen ſeide to hym of al þe puple. And he ſeide to al Yrael, Be ȝe ſeuerd into o parti, and Y wiþ Jonaþan my ſone ſhal be in o parti. And þe puple anſwerde to Saul, Þat good is ſeen in þin eyen, do. And Saul ſeide to þe Lord God of Irael, Lord God of Yrael, ȝyue dom, what is, þat þou anſwerſt not to þi ſeruaunt to day? If in me, or in Jonaþan my ſone, is þis wickidnes, ȝyf ſhewynge; and if þis wickidnes is in þi puple, ȝif holynes. And Jonaþas and Saul ben taken; forſoþe þe puple ȝede out. And Saul ſeiþ, Leyeþ lot betwix me and Jonaþan my ſone. And Jonaþas is taken. Forſoþe Saul ſeide to Jonaþan, Shewe to me what þow haſt doon. And Jonaþas ſhewide to hym, and ſeiþ, Taaſtynge Y taſtide in þe cop of þe ȝeerd þat was in myn hoond a litil of hony, and loo! Y dye. And Saul ſeiþ, Þes þingis do to me God, and þes þingis adde, for bi deeþ þou ſhalt dye, Jonaþas. And þe puple ſeide to Saul, Þanne wheþer Jonaþas ſhulde dye, þat haþ doo þis greet helþ in Yrael? þat is felony; þe Lord lyueþ, oon heer of þe heed of hym ſhal not fal into þe erþe, for wiþ God he haþ wrouȝt to day. Þanne þe puple delyuerd Jonaþan, þat he diede not. And Saul wente a wey, and purſuede not Philiſtiym; forſoþe Philiſteis wenten a wey into her placis. And, þe rewme ſtablid vpon Yrael, Saul fauȝt bi enuyroun aȝens alle his enemyes, aȝens Moab, and þe ſones of Amon, and Edom, and þe kyngis of Saba, and þe Philiſteis; and whidir euer he turnede hym ſilf, he venkuſede. And, þe ooſt gedrid, he ſmoot Amalech, and he delyuerde Yrael fro þe hoond of his waſtours. Þer weren forſoþe þe ſones of Saul, Jonaþas, and Jeſuy, and Melchiſona; names of his two douȝters, name of þe firſt goten Merob, and name of þe laſſe Mycol. And name of þe wijf of Saul Achynoem, þe douȝter of Achymaas; and þe name of þe prince of his chiualrye Abner, þe ſone of Ner, coſyn germeyn of Saul. Forſoþe Cys was þe fader of Saul, and Ner, þe fader of Abner, þe ſone of Abyel. Forſoþe þere was ſtrong batail aȝens Philiſties alle þe days of Saul; wherfor whom euere Saul ſawȝ a ſtrong man and able to bateil, he felawſhipide him to him ſilf.

Capitulum XV.
And Samuel ſeide to Saul, Þe Lord ſente me, þat I anoynte þee into kyng vpon his puple Yrael; nowe þanne here þe voys of þe Lord. Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord of ooſtis, I haue remembrid alle þingis þat Amalech dide to Yrael; what maner wyſe he wiþſtood to hym in þe weye, whanne he ſhulde ſtye vp fro Egipt. Nowe þanne go, and ſmyte Amalech, and deſtruy alle þe þingis of hym; ne ſpare þou to hym, ne coueyt þou eny þing of his þingis; but ſle fro man vnto womman, and litil child, and ſoukynge, oxe, and ſheep, and camel, and aſſe. And ſo Saul comaundide to þe puple, and noumbrede hem as loombs two hundrid þouſandis of foot men, and ten þowſandis of þe men of Juda. And whanne Saul was comen vnto þe cyte of Amalech, he leyde out aſpies in þe ſtreem. And Saul ſeide to Cynee, Goþ hens, goþ a wey, and departiþ fro Amalech, leſt perauenture I enwrappe þee wiþ hem; forſoþe þou didiſt mercy wiþ alle þe ſones of Yrael, whanne þei ſtieden vp fro Egipt. And Cynee wente a wey fro þe mydil of Amalech. And Saul ſmoot Amalech fro Euila, to þe tyme þat he cam to Sur, þat is fro þe regioun of Egipt. And he took Agage, þe kyng of Amalech, on lyue; forſoþe al þe comoun he ſlewȝ in þe mouþ of ſwerd. And Saul ſparide, and þe puple, to Agag, and to þe beſt flockis of ſheep, and of drouys, and to cloþis, and to weþeris, and to alle þingis þat weren fayre; ne þei wolden ſcatere hem; forſoþe what þing was foul and reprouable þat þei deſtruyden. Forſoþe þe word of þe Lord is doon to Samuel, ſeiynge, It oþinkiþ me, þat I haue ordeyned Saul a kyng; for he haþ forſokyn me, and my wordis he haþ not fulfillid in dede. And Samuel is ſory, and cryede to þe Lord al nyȝt. And whanne fro niȝt Samuel was ryſen þat he go to Saul eerli, it is toold to Samuel, for Saul was comen into Carmeel, and hadde arerid to hym an out ſhynynge tokne of victory in maner of a bow, and turned was paſſid, and goon doun into Galgala. Þanne Samuel cam to Saul, and Saul offred brent ſacrifice to þe Lord of þe cheef of þe preiys, þat he brouȝte fro Amalech. And while Samuel was comen to Saul, Saul ſeide to hym, Þou bleſſid of þe Lord, Y haue fulfillid þe word of þe Lord. And Samuel ſeide, And what is þis voys of flockis þat rengiþ in myn eeris, and of droues þat I here? And Saul ſeiþ, Fro Amalech men han brouȝt þes þingis, forſoþe þe puple ſparede to þe betre ſheep and drouys, for þei ſhulden be offrid to þe Lord þi God; þe toþer forſoþe we ſlewen. And Samuel ſeide to Saul, Suffre me, and I ſhal ſhewe to þee what þingis þe Lord haþ ſpoken to me to nyȝt. And he ſeid to hym, Spek. And Samuel ſeiþ, Wheþer not, whanne þou were a litil child in þin owne eyen, and þou art maad heed in þe lynage of Yrael, and þe Lord anoyntide þee into kyng vpon Yrael; and þe Lord ſente þee into þe weye, and ſeiþ, Go, and ſle þe ſynful men of Amalech, and þou ſhalt fiȝt aȝens hem vnto þe ſlauȝter of hem. Whi þanne haſt þow not herd þe voys of þe Lord, but turnediſt to þe preye, and didiſt yuel in þe eyen of þe Lord? And Saul ſeiþ to Samuel, If I haue herd þe voys of þe Lord, and haue goon in þe weye bi þe which þe Lord ſente me, and haue brouȝt Agag, þe kyng of Amalech, and Amalech Y ſlewe. Forſoþe þe puple took of þe praye, ſheep and oxen, þe cheef of hem þat ben ſlayn, þat þei offren to þe Lord her God in Galgalis. And Samuel ſeiþ, Wheþer wole þe Lord brent ſacrifices or ſlayn offryngis, and not more þat it be obeiſhid to þe voice of þe Lord? Forſoþe betre is obeiſhaunce þan ſlayn ſacrificis, and to take heed more þan to offre þe fatnes of weþeris; for as ſynne of denyynge bi deuelis is to repugne, and as hidows treſpas of mawmetrye to wiln not aſſent. Forþi þanne þat þow haſt þrowen aweye þe word of þe Lord, þe Lord haþ þrowen awey þee, þat þow be not kyng. And Saul ſeide to Samuel, Y haue ſynned, for I haue broken þe word of þe Lord, and þi wordis, dredynge þe puple and obeiſhynge to þe voyce of hem; but nowe, Y biſeche, bere my ſynne, and turne aȝen wiþ me, þat I honoure þe Lord. And Samuel ſeiþ to Saul, Y ſhal not turne aȝen wiþ þee, for þow haſt þrowen a wey þe word of þe Lord, and þe Lord haþ þrowen a wey þee, þat þow be not kyng vpon Irael. And Samuel turnede forto goo awey; forſoþe he cauȝte þe cop of þe mantil of hym, þe which alſo is rent. And Samuel ſeide to hym, Þe Lord haþ kyt þe kyngdam of Yrael fro þee to day, and haþ takyn it to þi neiȝbore beter þan þow; forſoþe to þe ouercomer in Yrael he ſhal not ſpare, and þurȝ a þenkynge he ſhal not be bowid; forſoþe ne a man he is þat he do oþenkynge. And he ſeiþ, Y haue ſynned; bot nowe honour me before þe eldren of my puple, and before Yrael; turne aȝen wiþ me, þat I honour þe Lord þi God. Þanne Samuel, turned aȝen, folwide Saul, and Saul honourede þe Lord. And Samuel ſeide, Bringiþ to me Agag, þe king of Amalech. And offrid is to him Agag alþerfatteſt tremblynge. And Agag ſeide, So wheþer not ſeuereþ bitter deþ? And Samuel ſeiþ, As þi ſwerd haþ maad wymmen wiþouten free children, ſo þi moder ſhal be wiþ out free children among wymmen. And Samuel hewide hym into gobbetis before þe Lord in Galgalis. Forſoþe Samuel ȝede into Ramaþa; forſoþe Saul ſtiede vp into his hows in Gabaa. And Saul ſawȝ no more Samuel vnto þe day of his deþ; neuerþelater Samuel weilide Saul, for it oþouȝt þe Lord, þat he hadde ordeynyd Saul kyng vpon Irael.

Capitulum XVI.
And þe Lord ſeide to Samuel, How long þow weiliſt Saul, whanne Y haue þrowun hym a ferre, þat he regne not vpon Irael; fil þin horn wiþ oyle, and come, þat Y ſende þee to Yſaye Beþlamyte; forſoþe Y haue purueyd in þe ſonys of hym a kyng to me. And Samuel ſeiþ, Howe ſhal Y goo? forſoþe Saul ſhal here, and he ſhal ſlee me. And þe Lord ſeiþ, A calf of þe droue þow ſhalt take in þin hoond, and ſey, To offre to þe Lord Y am comen. And þou ſhalt clepe Yſaye to þe ſlayn ſacrifice, and I ſhal ſhewe to þee what þou doo; and þou ſhalt anoynt whom euer Y ſhal ſhewe to þee. Þanne Samuel dide, as þe Lord ſpak to hym; and he cam into Beþleem, and þe eldrys of þe cytee aȝen comynge to hym wondriden, and ſeiden, Wheþer peſible is þin yncomynge? And he ſeiþ, Peſible; to offre to þe Lord Y am comen; be ȝe halowid, and comeþ wiþ me, þat I offre. Þanne he halowid Yſaye, and hys ſones, and clepide hem to þe ſacrifice. And whanne þei weren comen yn, he ſawȝ Elyab, and ſeiþ, Nowe before þe Lord is þe criſt of hym. And þe Lord ſeide to Samuel, Ne behold þou þe cheere of hym, ne þe heiȝte of his ſtature; for Y haue þrowun hym aweye, ne aftir þe lokynge of men Y deme; forſoþe a man ſeeþ þo þingis þat ben opyn, forſoþe þe Lord lokiþ þe herte. And Yſaye clepide Amynadab, and brouȝte hym before Samuel; þe which ſeide, Ne þis þe Lord haþ choſun. Forſoþe Yſaye brouȝte forþ Sama; of whom he ſeiþ, Alſo þis þe Lord haþ not choſun. And ſo Yſaye brouȝte forþ his ſeuen ſones before Samuel; and Samuel ſeiþ to Yſaye, Þe Lord haþ not choſen of þes. And Samuel ſeide to Yſaye, Wheþer nowe fulfillid ben þe ſones? Þe which anſwerde, Ȝit anoþer þere is, a litil child, and fediþ ſheep. And Samuel ſeiþ to Yſaye, Send, and bryng forþ hym; forſoþe ne we ſhulen ſitte, before þat he come hidir. Þanne he ſente, and brouȝte hym forþ; forſoþe he was rodi, and fayr in ſiȝt, and ſembli in face. And þe Lord ſeiþ, Riſe, and anoynt hym; forſoþe he it is. Þanne Samuel took an horn of oyle, and anoyntide hym in þe myddis of þe briþeren of hym; and þe Spirit of þe Lord is ful ſent into Dauyd fro þat day and þerafter. And Samuel ryſynge wente into Ramaþa. And ſo þe Spyrit of þe Lord wente awey fro Saul, and þe ſhrewid ſpyrit fro þe Lord ſhook hym. And þe ſeruauntis of Saul ſeiden to hym, Loo! þe yuel ſpiryt of þe Lord ſhakiþ þee; comaunde þe lord oure kyng, and þi ſeruauntis þat before þee ben, ſechen a man kunnynge to pleye wiþ harpe, þat whanne þe yuel ſpyrit of þe Lord takiþ þee, he pleye wiþ his hoond, and liȝter þou bere. And Saul ſeiþ to his ſeruauntis, Purueieþ to me ſum man wel harpynge, and bryngiþ hym to me. And anſwerynge oon of þe children ſeiþ, Loo! I ſawȝ þe ſone of Yſaye Beþlemyte, kunnynge to harpe, and mooſt myȝti bi ſtrengþ, a man curaiows in batayl, and wyſe in wordis, and a fayre man; and þe Lord is wiþ hym. Þanne Saul ſente meſſagers to Yſaye, ſeiynge, Send to me Dauiþ þi ſone, þe which is in þe leſewis. And ſo Yſay took an aſſe ful of loouys, and a galoun of wyn, and o kyd of þe ſhe geet; and he ſente bi þe hoond of Dauid his ſone to Saul. And Dauid cam to Saul, and ſtood before hym; and he louyde hym ful mych, and is made a ſquyer of hym. And Saul ſente to Yſaye, ſeiynge, Stoond Dauyd in my ſiȝt, forſoþe he haþ foundun grace in myn eyen. Þanne whanne euere þe yuel ſpyrit of þe Lord cauȝte Saul, Dauid took an harp, and ſmoot wiþ hys hoond, and Saul was refourmyd, and liȝter he hadde; forſoþe þe yuel ſpiryt wente a wey fro hym.

Capitulum XVII.
Forſoþe Philiſteis gedrynge her cumpanyes into batayl camen to gidre in Socoþ of Judee, and þei ſetten tentis betwix Socoþ and Azecha, in þe cooſtis of Domyn. Forſoþe Saul and þe men of Yrael gedrid camen in þe valey of Therebynt, and dreſſiden ſheltroun to fiȝt aȝens þe Phyliſteis. And Philiſteis ſtoden vpon þe hil on þis partye, and Irael ſtood vpon an hil, and on þe toþer perty a valey þat was bitwix hem. And a baſtard man wente out fro þe tentis of Philiſtiens, Goliaþ of Geþ bi name, in heiȝte of ſexe cubitis and a ſpan; and a ſtelyn helm vpon his heed; and he was cloþid wiþ a maylid hawberioun; forſoþe þe weiȝt of his hawberioun was of fyue þouſand ſiclys of ſteel; and ſtelyn legharneis he hadde in þe hipis, and a ſtelyn ſheeld couerde þe ſhuldris of hym. Þe ſhaft of his ſpeer was as þe beem of webſters; forſoþe þat yren of his ſpeer hadde ſexe hundrid ſiclis of yren; and his ſquyer wente before him. And ſtondinge he criede aȝens þe cumpanyes of Iſrael, and he ſeide to hem, Whi ben ȝe comyn redi to batail? Wheþer Y am not a Philiſtee, and ȝe þe ſeruauntis of Saul? Cheſiþ of ȝou a man, and come he doun to a ſynguler ſtrijf; if he may fiȝt wiþ me, and ſmytiþ me, we ſhulen be to ȝou ſeruauntis; forſoþe if Y ſhal haue þe mayſtrye, and ſmyte hym, ȝe ſhulen be ſeruauntis, and ſerue to vs. And þe Philiſtee ſeide, I haue ȝeue reproof to þe cumpanyes of Yrael to day; ȝyueþ to me a man, and go he yn wiþ me a ſynguler ſtrijf. Forſoþe Saul herynge and alle þe Yraelitis þe wordis of þis maner Philiſtee, þei weren ſtonyed, and dradden ful mych. Forſoþe Dauyd was þe ſone of an Effratee man, of þe which it is aboue ſeid, of Beþlem Juda, to whom þe name was Yſaye, þe which hadde eiȝt ſonys; and he was a man in þe days of Saul olde, and of greet age amonge men. Forſoþe þe þre more ſonys of hym wenten after Saul into batayl; and þe names of þe þre ſonys of hym, þat wenten to batayl, Heliab, þe firſt goten, and þe ſecounde, Amynadab, forſoþe þe þridde, Samma. Forſoþe Dauyd was þe leeſt. Þanne þe þre more folwynge Saul, Dauyd wente, and turnede aȝen fro Saul, for to fede þe flok of his fadre in Beþleem. Forſoþe þe Philiſtee cam forþ eerli, and at euen ſtondynge repreuyde þe children of Yrael fourti days. Forſoþe Yſaye ſeide to Dauyd his ſone, Tak to þi breþeren powned corn, of þe meſure of ephi, and þes ten loouys, and renne into þe tentis to þi briþeren; and ten cheſis þes þou ſhalt bere to þe tribune; and þi briþeren þou ſhalt viſite, if þei ryȝt doon, and wiþ whom þei ben ordeynyd, lern. Forſoþe Saul, and þei, and alle þe ſonys of Yrael in þe valey of Therebynt fouȝten aȝens Philiſteis. And ſo Dauid roos eerli, and commendide þe flok to þe keper, and chargyd ȝeed, as Yſay comaundide to hym; and cam to þe place of Magala, and to þe ooſt, þat, goon out to fiȝt, criede out in þe ſtrijf. Forſoþe Irael hadde dreſſid ſheltroun; but and aȝens hem Philiſteis weren redy. Þanne Dauid leuynge þe veſſels, þe whiche he brouȝte, vndre þe hoond of a keper at þe fardels, he ran to þe place of þe ſtrijf, and he aſkide, if alle þingis riȝt weren doon anentys his briþeren. And whanne ȝit he ſpak to hem, aperyde þat baſtard man, Goliaþ bi name, Philiſtee of Geþ, ſtiynge fro þe tentis of Philiſteis; and hym ſpekynge þes ſame wordis, Dauyd herde. Forſoþe alle þe Yſraelitis whanne þei hadden ſeen þe man, þei flowen fro his face, dredynge hym greetli. And echon of Irael ſeide to oþer, Wheþer þou haſt ſeen þis man þat ſtyeþ vp? forſoþe to ȝyue reprofe to Yrael he ſtieþ vp; þerfor þe man þat ſmytiþ hym, þe kyng ſhal make riche wiþ greet riccheſſis; and his douȝter he ſhal ȝyue to hym, and þe hows of his fadre he ſhal make wiþ out tribute in Yrael. And Dauid ſeide to þe men þat ſtoden wiþ hym, ſeiynge, What ſhal it be ȝouun to þe man þat ſmytiþ þis Philiſtee, and bereþ awey reprofe fro Irael? forſoþe who is he þis Philiſtee vncircumcidid, þe which reproueþ þe ſhiltrouns of þe God lyuynge? Forſoþe þe puple toolde to hym þe ſame word, ſeiynge, Þes þingis ſhulen be ȝeue to þe man þat ſmitiþ hym. Þe which þing whanne Heliab, his more broþer, hadde herd, hym ſpekynge wiþ oþer, is wrooþ aȝens Dauid, and ſeiþ, Whi art þou comen, and whi haſt þow forſaken þes fewe ſheep in deſeert? I haue knowen þi pride, and þe ſhrewidneſſe of þin herte; for þat þou myȝtiſt ſe þe bateil, þou art comen doun. And Dauid ſeiþ, What haue I doon? Wheþer is it not a word? And he bowide a ſyde a litil fro hym to an oþer; and he ſeide þe ſame word, and þe puple anſwerde to hym word as bifore. Forſoþe þe wordis þat Dauid ſpak, ben herd, and toold in þe ſiȝt of Saul. To whom whanne he was brouȝt, he ſpak to hym, Ne falle not doun þe herte of eny man in hym, and þi ſeruaunt ſhal goo, and fiȝt aȝen þe Philiſtee. And Saul ſeiþ to Dauid, Þou mayſt not wiþſtoond to þis Philiſtee, ne fiȝte aȝens hym, for a child þou art; forſoþe þis man is a fiȝter fro his ȝongþ. And Dauid ſeide to Saul, Þi ſeruaunt fedde þe flok of his fader, and þere cam a lioun or a beere, and took a weþer fro þe mydil of þe flok; I purſuede hem, and ſmoot, and delyuerde fro þe mouþ of hem; and þei ryſen aȝens me, and I cauȝte þe chaul of hem, and ſtraunglide, and ſlowȝ hem. Forſoþe and a lioun and a beere ſlewe Y þi ſeruaunt; þerfore ſhal be and þis Philiſtee vncircumcidid as oon of þes. Now Y ſhal goo, and take a wey þe ſhenſhip of þe puple; for who is þis Philiſtee vncircumcidid, þat is hardy to myſſey to þe ooſt of þe lyuynge God? And Dauid ſeiþ, Þe Lord þat haþ delyuerd me fro þe mouþ of þe lioun, and fro þe hoond of þe beere, he ſhal delyuer me fro þe hoond of þis Philiſtee. Forſoþe Saul ſeide to Dauid, Go, and þe Lord be wiþ þee. And Saul cloþide Dauid wiþ his cloþis, and putte on a ſtelen helm vpon his heed, and cloþide hym wiþ an hawberioun. Þanne Dauid gyrd wiþ his ſwerd vpon his cloþinge, began to aſaye if armyd he myȝte goo; forſoþe he hadde not þe cuſtome. And Dauid ſeide to Saul, I may not þus goo, for and vſe I haue not. And he putte doun þo þingis, and he took his ſtaf, þat euermore he hadde in hondis. And he cheeſe to hym fyue mooſt cleer ſtonus of þe ſtreem; and he putte hem into þe ſheepherdis ſcrip þat he hadde wiþ hym; and he took a ſlynge in hoond, and ȝeed forþ aȝens þe Philyſtee. Forſoþe þe Philiſtee ȝeed, comynge and neiȝynge aȝens Dauyd; and his ſquyer before hym. And whanne þe Philiſtee hadde inwardly beholden hym, and ſeen Dauyd, he deſpiſide hym; forſoþe he was a ȝong man, rodi, and fayre in ſiȝt. And þe Philiſtee ſeide to Dauyd, Wheþir I am a dog, þat þou comeſt to me wiþ a ſtaf? And þe Philiſtee curſide Dauid in his goddis; and ſeide to Dauyd, Com to me, and Y ſhal ȝeue þi fleſh to þe fowlis of heuene, and to þe beeſtis of þe erþe. Forſoþe Dauid ſeide to þe Philiſtee, Þou comeſt to me wiþ ſwerd, ſpeer, and ſheeld; forſoþe Y come to þee in þe name of þe Lord God of ooſtis, God of þe cumpanyes of Irael, to whom þou haſt reprouyd to day. And þe Lord ſhal ȝeue þee in myn hoond, and I ſhal ſmyte þee, and take awey þin heed fro þee; and I ſhal ȝyue þe careyns of þe tentis of Philiſteis to day to þe fowlis of heuene, and to þe beeſtis of þe erþe; þat al þe erþe wyte, for þe Lord God is in Yrael, and al þis chirche knewe, for not in ſwerd ne in ſpeer ſaueþ þe Lord; forſoþe of hym is þe batayl, and he ſhal take ȝou in to oure hoondis. Þanne whanne þe Philiſtee was ryſen, and cam, and neiȝede aȝens Dauid, Dauid hyede, and aȝen cam to þe fiȝt forn aȝens of þe Philiſtee. And he putte his hoond into þe ſcrip, and took a ſtoon, and leyde in þe ſlynge, and, berynge it about, he ſmoot hym in þe foreheed; and þe ſtoon is piȝt in þe forhed of hym, and he felle into his face vpon þe erþe. And Dauid hadde þe mayſtrie aȝens þe Philiſtee in ſlynge and ſtoon, and þe ſmyten Philiſtee he ſlewȝ. And whanne Dauid hadde no ſwerd in þe hoond, he ran, and ſtood vpon þe Philiſtee, and took his ſwerd, and drewȝ it out of his ſheeþ; and he ſlewȝ hym, and girde of his heed. Forſoþe ſeynge þe Philiſteis þat þe ſtrengeſt of hem was deed, þei flowen. And ryſynge þe men of Yrael, and of Juda criden out, and purſueden þe Philiſteis, for to þe while þat þei camen into þe valey, and vnto þe ȝate of Acharon. And þere fellen woundid of þe Philiſteis, in þe weye of Sarym, and vnto Geþ, and vnto Acharon. And þe ſonis of Yrael turnynge aȝen, after þat þei hadden purſued þe Philiſteis, þei aſſeilden þe tentis of hem. Forſoþe Dauyd takynge þe heed of þe Philiſtee, brouȝte it into Jeruſalem; forſoþe þe armys of hym he putte in his tabernacle. Forſoþe þat tyme þat Saul ſawȝ Dauyd goynge out aȝens þe Philiſtee, he ſeiþ to Abner, þe prynce of his chyualrie, Abner, of what ſtok deſcendide þis ȝong man? And Abner ſeide, Lyueþ þi ſoule, kyng, I knewȝ not. And þe kyng ſeiþ, Aſk þou, whos ſone is þis child. And whanne Dauyd was comen aȝen, þe Philiſtee ſmyten, Abner took hym, and brouȝte hym yn before Saul, hauynge in þe hoond þe heed of þe Philiſtee. And Saul ſeiþ to hym, Of what progenye art þou, O þou ȝong man? And Dauid ſeide, Þe ſone of þi ſeruaunt, Yſaye Beþlemyte, Y am.

Capitulum XVIII.
And it is doon, whanne he hadde endid to ſpeke to Saul, þe ſoule of Jonaþas is glewid to gidre to þe ſoul of Dauid, and Jonaþas louyde hym as his owne lijf. And Saul took hym in þat day, and grauntide not to hym, þat he turne aȝen into þe hows of his fadre. Forſoþe Jonaþas and Dauid wenten into þe couenaunt of pees; forſoþe he louyde hym as his lijf; forwhi Jonaþas ſpuylide hym ſelf þe coote, þat he was cloþid, and ȝaf it to Dauid, and his oþer cloþis, vnto his bowe and ſwerd, and vnto þe knyȝtis girdil. Forſoþe Dauyd wente out to alle þingis, what euere Saul ſente him, and wiſeli he gouernde hym ſelf; and Saul putte hym vpon men of batayl, and he was acceptid in þe eyen of al þe puple, and mooſt in þe ſiȝt of þe ſeruauntis of Saul. Forſoþe whanne Dauid turnede aȝen, þe Philiſtee ſmyten, and beer þe heed of hym into Jeruſalem, þe wymmen wenten out fro alle þe cytees of Yrael, ſyngynge, and dauncis ledynge, into aȝencomynge of Saul þe kyng, in tymbers of gladnes, and in trumpis. And þe wymmen ſongen before, pleiynge, and ſeyynge, Saul haþ ſmyten a þouſand, and Dauyd ten þowſandis. And Saul is wrooþ ful mych, and þis word diſpleſide in þe eyen of hym; and ſeide, Þei han ȝouun to Dauid ten þouſandis, and to me a þouſand þei han ȝouun; what to hym is more ouere but oneli þe rewme? Þanne not wiþ riȝt eyen Saul bihelde Dauid, fro þat day and þerafter. Forſoþe after þe toþer day þe yuel ſpiryt of God aſeilide Saul, and he ſtraungeli ſpak in þe myddis of his hows. Forſoþe Dauid harpide wiþ his hoond, as bi eche days; and Saul heelde a ſpeer, and keſt it, wenynge þat he myȝt pitche to gidre Dauid wiþ þe wal; and Dauyd bowide a ſide fro þe face of hym þe ſecounde tyme. And Saul dredde Dauid, forþi þat þe Lord was wiþ hym, and fro hym goon awey. Þanne Saul moued hym a wey fro hym, and made hym a leder vpon a þouſand men; and he wente out and cam yn in þe ſiȝt of þe puple. Forſoþe in alle his weyes Dauid wiſeli dide, and þe Lord was wiþ hym; and ſo Saul ſawȝ þat he was wel mych wiys, and began to ſhunne hym. Forſoþe al Yrael and Juda louyde Dauyd; forſoþe he ȝede yn and ȝede out before hem. And Saul ſeide to Dauid, Loo! my more douȝter Merob, hir Y ſhal ȝeue to þee a wijf; oneli be a ſtrong man, and fiȝt þe bateils of þe Lord. Forſoþe Saul trowide, ſeiynge, Be not myn hoond in hym, but be vpon hym þe hoond of Philiſteis. Forſoþe Dauyd ſeide to Saul, Who am Y, or what is my lijf, or þe kynrede of my fadre in Irael, þat Y be maad þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng? It is doon forſoþe þe tyme whanne Merob, þe douȝter of Saul, ſhulde be ȝeuen to Dauid, ȝeuen is Hadriel Molatite wijf. Forſoþe Dauyd louyd Mychol, þe toþer douȝter of Saul; and it is toold to Saul, and it pleſide to hym. And Saul ſeide, Y ſhal ȝyue hir to hym, þat it be maad to hym into ſclaundre, and be vpon hym þe hoond of Philiſteis. Þanne ſeide Saul to Dauyd, In two þingis þow ſhalt be my ſone in lawe to day. And Saul comaundide to his ſeruauntis, Spek ȝe to Dauiþ pryuely fro me, ſeiynge, Loo! þou pleſiſt to þe kyng, and alle þe ſeruauntis of hym louen þee; now þanne be þow þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng. And þe ſeruauntis of Saul ſpeken in þe eeris of Dauid alle þes wordis. And Dauid ſeiþ, Wheþer litil it ſeme to ȝow to be þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng? Forſoþe Y am a pore man, and a þinne. And þe ſeruauntis of Saul toolden aȝen, ſeiynge, Sich maner wordis ſpak Dauid. Forſoþe Saul ſeide, Þus ſpekiþ to Dauid, Þe kyng nediþ no ſpoſeilis, but oonli an hundrid terſis of Philiſteis, þat veniaunce be doon of þe enemyes of þe kyng. Forſoþe Saul þouȝte to betray Dauid into þe hoondis of Philiſteis. And whanne his ſeruauntis hadden aȝen toold to Dauid þe wordis þat Saul hadde ſeid, þe word pleſide in þe eyen of Dauyd, þat he were maad þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng. And after a fewe days Dauyd ryſynge wente into Acharon, wiþ þe men þat wiþ hym weren, and ſmoot of þe Philiſteis two hundrid men; and brouȝte þe ȝerdis of hem, and noumbride hem to þe kyng, þat he were þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng. And ſo Saul ȝaf to hym Mychol, his douȝter, wijf. And Saul ſawȝ, and vndurſtood, þat þe Lord was wiþ Dauid. Forſoþe Mychol, þe douȝter of Saul, louid hym, and Saul began more to drede Dauyd; and Saul is maad þe enemye of Dauyd alle days. And þe princis of Philiſteis wenten out; forſoþe fro þe bigynnynge of þe goynge out of hem Dauyd wiſelyer beer hym ſelf þan alle þe men of Saul; and ſolempne is maad þe name of hym ful myche.

Capitulum XIX.
Saul ſpak to Jonaþan, his ſone, and to alle his ſeruauntis, þat þei ſhulden ſlee Dauid; forſoþe Jonaþas, þe ſone of Saul, louid Dauyd mych. Jonaþas ſhewide to Dauid, ſeiynge, Saul, my fader, ſechiþ to ſlee þee, wherfor keep þe wel; Y biſeche, dwel; and þou ſhalt dwel priueli, and be hyd. Forſoþe Y goynge out ſhal ſtoond biſide my fadre in þe feeld, where euer he were; and I ſhal ſpek of þee to my fadre, and what euere þing Y ſhal ſee, Y ſhal telle to þee. Þanne Jonaþas ſpak good þingis of Dauid to Saul, his fader, and ſeide to hym, Ne ſynne þou, kyng, into þi ſeruaunt Dauid, for he haþ not ſynned to þee, and þe werkis of hym ben goode to þee mych; and he haþ put his lijf in þin hoond, and ſmooþ þe Philiſtee. And þe Lord haþ doo greet helþ to al Yrael; þou haſt ſeen and gladidiſt; whi þanne ſynneſt þou in þe giltles blood, ſleynge Dauyd, þat is wiþ out blame? Þe which þing whanne Saul hadde herd, pleſide bi þe voys of Jonaþe, ſwore, Þe Lord lyueþ, for he ſhal not be ſlayn. And ſo Jonaþas clepide Dauid, and ſhewide to hym alle þes wordis. And Jonaþas brouȝte yn Dauid to Saul, and he was before hym, as he was ȝiſtirday and þe þridde day before. Forſoþe eft is moued batayl; and Dauyd goon out fauȝt aȝens Philiſteis, and he ſmoot hem bi a greet veniaunce, and þei flowen fro þe face of hym. And þe yuel ſpirit of þe Lord is doon in Saul; forſoþe he ſat in his hows, and helde a ſpere; forſoþe Dauid harpid in his hoond. And Saul enforſide to fitche to gidre wiþ a ſpere Dauid in þe wal; and Dauid bowide a ſide fro þe face of Saul; forſoþe þe ſpeer, þe wound pryued, is born into þe wal; and Dauid fleȝe, and is ſaued þat nyȝt. Þanne Saul ſente his cruel ſeruauntis þe nyȝt into þe hows of Dauid, þat þei myȝten kepe hym, and ſleen in þe morwe. Þe which þing whanne Mychol, his wijf, hadde toold to Dauide, ſeiynge, But if þou ſaue þee þis nyȝt, to morwe þou ſhalt die; ſhe putte hym down bi þe wyndowe. Forſoþe he ȝede a wey, and fleiȝe, and is ſauid. Forſoþe Michol took an ymage, and putte it vpon þe bed, and an heery ſkyn of þe ſhe geet ſhe putte vpon þe heed of it, and couerde it wiþ cloþis. Forſoþe Saul ſente ſeruauntis þat ſhulden taak Dauyd, and it is anſwerd, þat he was ſike. And eft Saul ſente meſſagers, þat þei ſeen Dauid, ſeiynge, Brynge ȝe hym to me in þe bed, þat he be ſlayn. And whanne þe meſſagers weren comen, it is foundun a ſimulacre vpon þe bed, and ſkynnys of ſhe geet at þe heed of it. And Saul ſeide to Mychol, Whi haſt þou þus bigilid me, and haſt laft myn enemye, þat he flee? And Mychol anſwerde to Saul, For he ſpak to me, ſeiynge, Let me goon, ellis Y ſhal ſlee þee. Forſoþe Dauid fleynge is ſauyd; and he cam to Samuel in Ramaþa, and he toolde to hym alle þingis þat Saul dide to hym; and he and Samuel wenten a wey, and dwelten in Naioþ. Forſoþe it is toold to Saul of ſeieres, Loo! Dauyd in Naioþ in Ramaþa. Þanne Saul ſente catchepollis forto take Dauid; þe whiche whanne þei hadden ſeen þe companye of prophetis propheciynge, and Samuel ſtondynge vpon hem, þe Spirit of þe Lord is doon in hem, and alſo þei bigunnen to prophecien. Þe whiche whanne was toold to Saul, he ſente and oþer meſſagers; alſo þei propheciden. And eft Saul ſente þe þridde meſſageris, þe whiche and þei propheciden. And Saul, wrooþ wiþ wraþfulnes, he ȝede alſo into Ramaþa; and he cam vnto þe greet ciſtern þat is in Sochoþ, and aſkide, and ſeide, In what place ben Samuel and Dauid? And it is ſeyd to hym, Loo! in Naioþ þei ben in Ramaþa. And he ȝede into Naioþ in Ramaþa; and is doon alſo vpon hym þe Spirit of þe Lord; and goynge yn he wente, and propheciede, for to he cam in Naioþ in Ramaþa. And alſo he ſpuylide hym ſelf his cloþis, and propheciede wiþ oþer before Samuel, and he propheciede nakid al þat day and nyȝt. Wherof ȝede out a prouerbe, Wheþer and Saul among þe prophetis?

Capitulum XX.
Forſoþe Dauid fleiȝ fro Naioþ, þat is in Ramaþa, and comynge ſpak before Jonaþa, What haue I doon, what haue I doon? what is my wickidnes, and what my ſynne into þi fader, for he ſechiþ my lijf? Þe which ſeide to hym, A wey be it fro þee, þou ſhalt not die, forſoþe ne my fader ſhal do eny þing greet or litil, but before he ſhewe to me; þanne þis word oonli my fader haþ heelid fro me, forſoþe þis ſhal not be. And eft he ſwore to Dauid. And he ſeiþ, Soþeli þi fadre woot, þat I haue foundun grace in þin eyen, and he ſhal ſeye, Jonaþas wite not þis, leſt perauenture he be ſory; but alſo þe Lord lyueþ, and lyueþ þi ſoule, for in o degree oonli, þat I ſo ſeye, Y and deeþ ben dyuydid. And Jonaþas ſeiþ to Dauid, What euere þing þi ſoule ſeiþ to me, I ſhal doo to þee. And Dauid ſeide to Jonaþan, Loo! kalendis ben to morwe, and I of maner am wont to ſitte biſide þe kyng to eete; leete me þanne, þat I be hid in þe feeld vnto þe euen of þe þridde day. And if biholdynge þi fader aſke me, þou ſhalt anſwere to hym, Dauid preide me for to goo ſwiftly into Beþlem, his citee, for ſolempne ſlayn ſacrifices ben þere to alle þe men of his lynage. And if he ſeye, Wel, pees ſhal be to þi ſeruaunt; forſoþe if he were wrooþ, wite þou, þat fulfillid is þe malice of hym. Do þanne mercy vnto þi ſeruaunt, for þow haſt maad me þi ſeruaunt to goo in couenaunt of pees of þe Lord wiþ þee; forſoþe if in me is eny wickidnes, þou ſle me, and ne lede þou me into þi fader. And Jonaþas ſeiþ, God ſheelde þis fro me, forſoþe ne it may be doon, þat if certeynli I knowe to be fulfillid þe malice of my fadre aȝens þee, Y telle not to þee. And Dauid anſwerde to Jonaþas, Who ſhal telle aȝen to me, if eny þing perauenture þi fader ſhal anſwere to þee hard of me? And Jonaþas ſeide to Dauid, Come, and goo we out into þe feelde. And whanne boþe weren goon into þe feelde, Jonaþas ſeiþ to Dauid, Lord God of Yrael, if I ſerche þe ſentence of my fader to morwe, or oþer morwe, and eny þing of good were vpon Dauid, and anoon ſende not to þee, and make knowun to þee, þis God doo to Jonaþa, and þes þingis adde. Forſoþe if þe malice of my fader dwelle ſtedfaſtly aȝens þee, Y ſhal telle þin eer, and leete þee, þat þou go in pees; and þe Lord be wiþ þee, as he was wiþ my fader. And if Y ſhal lyue, þou do to me þe mercies of þe Lord; forſoþe if I ſhal dye, þou ſhalt not do awey þi mercy fro myn hows vnto wiþ outen eende; oþere if I ſhal not doo, whanne þe Lord ſhal drawe out bi þe rotis þe enemyes of Dauid, echon fro þe erþe, do he awey Jonaþan fro his hows, and ſeche þe Lord fro þe hoond of þe enemyes of Dauid. Þanne Jonaþas couenauntide a couenaunt of pees wiþ þe hows of Dauid, and þe Lord ſouȝte fro þe hoond of þe enemyes of Dauid. And Jonaþas addide to myche bynde Dauid bi ooþ, forþi þat he louide hym; forſoþe as his lijf, ſo he louyde hym. And Jonaþas ſeide to hym, To morwe ben kalendis, and þou ſhalt ben aſkid after; forſoþe þi ſyttynge ſchal be aſkid after vnto after to morwe. Þanne þou ſhalt come doun haſtily, and come into þe place, where þou art to be hid in þe day, whanne it is leueful to worche; and þou ſhalt ſitte biſide þe ſtoon, to whom name is Ezel. And Y ſhal ſende þre arowis biſide it, and ſhal þrowe as hauntynge me to a prik. Forſoþe and Y ſhal ſende a child, ſeiynge to hym, Go, and bryng to me þe arowis. If I ſeye to þe child, Loo! þe arowis ben wiþ ynne þee, tak hem; com þou to me, for pees is to þee, and no þing is of yuel, lyueþ þe Lord. Forſoþe if þus Y ſhal ſpeke to þe child, Loo! þe arowis ben beȝonde þee; goo in pees, for þe Lord haþ laft þee. Of þe word forſoþe þat we han ſpokun, Y and þou, þe Lord be bitwix me and þee vnto wiþ outen eende. Þanne Dauid is hid in þe feelde; and þe kalendis camen, and þe kyng ſat to eete breed. And whanne þe kyng hadde ſitten vpon his chayer after þe conſuetude, þat was beſide þe wal, Jonaþas roos, and ſat, and Abner on þe ſide of Saul, and voyde aperyde þe place of Dauid. And Saul ſpak not eny þing in þat day; forſoþe he þouȝte, þat perauenture was comen to hym, þat he was not cleen ne purified. And whanne þe ſecounde day after þe kalendis hadde liȝtid, eft aperide void þe place of Dauid. And Saul ſeide to Jonaþas his ſone, Why comeþ not þe ſone of Yſaye, ne ȝiſterday, ne to day for to eete? And Jonaþas anſwerde to Saul, He preide me enteerly, þat he myȝte goo into Beþleem; and ſeiþ, Lete me, for ſolempne ſacrifice is yn my citee; oon of my briþeren haþ clepid me; nowe þanne if Y haue foundun grace in þin eyen, Y ſhal goo ſoone, and ſe my briþeren; for þis cauſe he cam not to þe bord of þe kyng. Forſoþe Saul, wrooþ aȝens Jonaþan, ſeide to hym, Þou ſone of a womman wilfuli catchinge a man, wheþer I knowe not, þat þou loueſt þe ſone of Yſay into þi confuſioun, and into þe confuſyoun of þi ſhenful moder? Forſoþe alle þe days in whiche þe ſone of Yſay ſhal lyue vpon þe erþe, ſhal not be ſtable þou ne þi rewme; and ſo nowe ſend, and bryng hym to me, for þe ſone of deeþ he is. Forſoþe Jonaþas anſwerynge to Saul his fader ſeiþ, Whi ſhal he dye? what haþ he doon? And Saul cauȝte a ſpeer forto ſmyte hym, and Jonaþas vndurſtood, þat it was fulli termyned of his fader, þat Dauyd ſhulde be ſlayn. Þanne Jonaþas roos fro þe bord in wraþþe of woodnes, and eete not breed in þe ſecounde day of kalendis; forſoþe he ſorowide vpon Dauid, forþi þat his fader hadde ſhent hym. And whanne þe morwetide hadde liȝtid, Jonaþas cam into þe feeld, after þe couenaunt of Dauid, and a litil child wiþ him. And he ſeiþ to his child, Go, and bryng to me þe arowis þat I þrewe. And whanne þe child hadde runnen, he þrewe an oþer arowe ouer þe child. And ſo þe child cam to þe place of þe dartis þat Jonaþas ſente; and Jonaþas criede bihynde þe bak of þe child, and ſeiþ, Loo! þere is not þe arowe, but biȝonde þee. And Jonaþas criede eft bihynde þe bak of þe child, ſeiynge, Hiȝe ſwiftli, ne ſtoond þou. Þanne þe child of Jonaþas gedride þe arowis, and brouȝte to his lord, and what ſhulde be doo vtterly he knewe not; forſoþe oonli Jonaþas and Dauyd knewen þe þing. Þanne Jonaþas ȝaf his aarmis to þe child, and ſeyde to hym, Go, and bere into þe cytee. And whanne þe child was goon, Dauid roos fro þe place þat bowiþ to þe ſouþ; and fallynge redi into þe erþe, honourde þe þridde tyme, and kiſſynge hem ſeluen eiþer oþir, þei wepten togidre; forſoþe Dauid more largeli. Þanne Jonaþas ſeide to Dauid, Go in pees; what euer þing we han ſworn boþe in þe name of þe Lord, ſeiynge, Þe Lord be bitwix me and þee, and bitwix my ſeed and þi ſeed vnto wiþ outen eende. And Dauid roos, and wente a wey, but and Jonaþas wente into þe cytee.

Capitulum XXI.
Dauid forſoþe cam into Nobe to Achymalech þe preeſt; and Achymalech was aſtonyed, forþi þat Dauid was comen; and he roos aȝens hym, and ſeide to hym, Whi þou alone, and no man is wiþ þee? And Dauid ſeiþ to Achymalech þe preeſt, Þe kyng comaundide to me a word, and ſeide, No man knowe þe þing, for þe whych þou art ſent fro me, and what maner heeſtis I haue ȝouen to þee; for and to þe children I haue ordeynd alſo into þat and þat place; nowe þanne if eny þing þou haſt at hoond, or fyue looues, ȝif to me, or what euer þou fyndiſt. And anſwerynge þe preeſt to Dauid ſeiþ to hym, I haue not leeuyd loouys at hoond, but oonli hooli breed; if cleen be þe children, mooſt fro wymmen, eete þei. And Dauyd anſwerde to þe preeſt, and ſeide to hym, Forſoþe and if of wymmen it is aſkid, we han conteyned vs fro ȝiſterday and before ȝiſterday, whanne we wenten out, and þe veſſels of þe children weren holy; forſoþe þis weye is polute, but and it to day ſhal be halowid in þe veſſels. Þanne þe preeſt ȝaf to hym halwid breed, forſoþe ne þere was breed, but oonly loouys of propoſicioun, þe whiche weren born a wey fro þe face of þe Lord, þat þere ben ſet hoot loouys. Forſoþe þere was þer a maner man of þe ſeruauntis of Saul in þat day wiþ ynne in þe tabernacle of þe Lord; þis fedde þe mulis of Saul; and þe name of hym Doech Ydume, mooſt myȝti of þe ſheepherdis of Saul. Forſoþe Dauyd ſeide to Achymalech, If þou haſt here at hoond ſpeer, or ſwerd, ȝif to me; for my ſwerd and myn aarmys Y took not wiþ me; forſoþe þe word of þe kyng conſtreynede me. And þe preeſt ſeyde, Loo! heere þe ſwerd of Goliaþ Philiſtee, whom þou ſmoot in þe valey of Therebynt, it is wrappid wiþ a pal after þe preeſtis coope; if þis þou wolt take, tak; forſoþe ne here is oþere wiþ outen it. And Dauid ſeiþ, Þere is not anoþer lijk to þis, ȝif to me it. And ſo Dauid roos, and fleiȝ in þat day fro þe face of Saul, and cam to Achis, þe kyng of Geþ. And þe ſeruauntis of Achis ſeiden to hym, whanne þei ſeen Dauid, Wheþer not þis is Dauid, kyng of þe loond? Wheþer not to þis ſungen bi dauncys ſeiynge, Saul ſmoot o þouſand, and Dauid ten þouſandis? Forſoþe Dauid putte þes wordis in his herte, and dredde ful mych fro þe face of Achis, þe kyng of Geþ. And he chaungyde hys mouþ before Achis, and he hurlide hidir and þider bitwix þe hoondis of hem, and he aȝen put into þe doris of þe ȝate, and his ſpotils floweden doun into þe beerd. And Achis ſeiþ to his ſeruauntis, Han ȝe ſeen a woode man? whi han ȝe brouȝt hym to me? Wheþer faylen to ȝou woode men? whi han ȝe brouȝt hym yn, þat he wexe woode, me preſent? Letiþ hym goon hens, leſt he goo into myn hows.

Capitulum XXII.
Dauid þanne ȝeed þens, and fleiȝ into þe ſpelunk of Odallam; þe which þing whanne þe briþeren of hym hadden herd, and al þe hows of his fadre, þei camen doun to hym þidir. And camen to gidre to hym alle þat weren in angwiſh ſet, and oppreſſid for oþer mennus monee, and for bitter inwit; and he is maad þe prince of hem, and þere weren wiþ hym as foure hundrid men. And Dauid wente þens into Maſphat, þat is of Moab; and ſeide to þe kyng of Moab, Dwelle, Y preye, my fader and my moder wiþ ȝow, to þe tyme þat Y wite what God doo to me. And he laft hem before þe face of þe kyng of Moab; and þei dwelten anentis hym alle days, in þe whiche Dauid was in ſtrong ſocour. And Gad, þe prophet, ſeide to Dauid, Wole þow not dwelle in þe place of ſtrong ſocour; weend forþ, and goo into þe loond of Juda. And Dauid wente, and cam into þe wijlde wode of Areþ. And Saul herde, þat Dauyd apperyde, and men þat wiþ hym weren. Forſoþe Saul whanne he dwelt in Gabaa, and was in þe wode þat is in Rama, a ſpeer in hoond holdynge, and alle his ſeruauntis ſtoden about hym, he ſeiþ to his ſeruauntis þat ſtoden nyȝ to hym, Heriþ me nowe, þe ſones of Gemyny; wheþir to alle ȝou þe ſone of Yſay ſhal ȝyue feeldis and vynes, and alle ȝou ſhal make lederys of þouſandis and leders of hundredis? For ȝe alle han ſworn togidre aȝens me, and þere is not þat aȝen telle to me; mooſt whanne and my ſone haþ ioyned couenaunt of pees wiþ þe ſone of Yſay; þere is not þat ſorwiþ my while of ȝou, ne þat telle to me, forþi þat my ſone haþ reride my ſeruaunt aȝens me, weytynge to me vnto to day. Forſoþe anſwerynge Doech Ydume, þat ſtood nyȝ, and was þe fyrſt amonge þe ſeruauntis of Saul, I ſawȝ, he ſeiþ, þe ſone of Yſay in Nobe, at Achimalech, þe ſone of Achitob, þe preeſt; þe which counſeilede þe Lord for hym, and ȝaf meetis to hym, but and þe ſwerd of Goliaþ Philiſtee he ȝaf to hym. Þanne þe kyng ſente to cleepe Achymalech, þe ſone of Achitob, þe preeſt, and al þe hows of his fader, of þe preſtys þat waren in Nobe; þe whiche alle to þe kyng ben comen. And Saul ſeiþ to Achymalech, Here, þou ſone of Achitob. Þe which anſwerde, I am preſt, lord. And Saul ſeide to hym, Whi han ȝe ſworn togidre aȝens me, þou, and þe ſone of Yſay, and þou haſt ȝeuen to hym loouys and a ſwerd, and þou haſt counſeild for hym þe Lord, þat he ryſe aȝens me, dwellynge a ſpye vnto to day? And Achymalech anſwerynge to þe kyng ſeiþ, And who in alle þi ſeruauntis trewe as Dauid, and þe ſone in lawe of þe kyng, and goynge at þin heeſt, and gloryous in þin hows? Wheþer to day I haue begun for hym to counſeil þe Lord? A wey be þat fro me, ne trowe þe kyng aȝens his ſeruaunt ſich a maner þing in al þe hows of my fader; forſoþe þi ſeruaunt wiſte not eny þing vpon þis nede, oþere litil or greet. And þe kyng ſeide, Bi deþ ſhal dye, Achymalech, þou, and al þe hows of þi fader. And þe kyng ſeiþ to þe outgoers in his nedis, þat ſtooden about hym, Turneþ, and ſleeþ þe preeſtis of þe Lord, for þe hoond of hem is wiþ Dauid; wytynge þat he was flowen, and þei ſheweden not to me. Forſoþe þe ſeruauntis of þe kyng wolden not ſtrecche out her hoond into þe preeſtis of þe Lord. And þe kyng ſeiþ to Doech, Turn þou, and fal into þe preeſtis of þe Lord. And Doech Ydume turnede, felle into þe preeſtis, and hewȝ doun fyue and eiȝtiþ men in þat day, cloþid wiþ ſurplees. Alſo he ſmoot Nobee, þe citee of preeſtis, in mouþ of ſwerd, men and wymmen, litil children and ſowkynge, and oxe, and aſſe, and ſheep, in mouþ of ſwerd. Forſoþe oon aſcapynge, ſone of Achymalech, þe ſone of Achitob, whos name was Abiaþar, fleeȝ to Dauid, and toolde to hym, þat Saul hadde ſlayn þe preſtis of þe Lord. And Dauid ſeiþ to Abiaþar, Forſoþe I wiſt in þat day, þat whanne þere was Doech Ydume, wiþ out dout he wold telle to Saul; I am gilti of alle þe ſoulis of þi fader. Dwel wiþ me, ne drede þou; if eny man ſechiþ my lijf, ſhal ſeche and þi lijf, and wiþ me þou ſhalt be kept.

Capitulum XXIII.
And men toolden to Dauid, ſeiynge, Loo! Phyliſteis fiȝten aȝens Seyla, and ſtruyen þe floris of cornys. Þanne Dauid counſeilde þe Lord, ſeiynge, Wheþer I ſhal goo, and ſmyte þes Philiſteis? And þe Lord ſeiþ to Dauid, Go, and þou ſhalt ſmyte Philiſteis, and ſaue Seylam. And men ſeiden, þat weren wiþ Dauid, to hym, Loo! we here beynge in Juda dreden; myche more if we goon into Seilam aȝens þe companyes of Philiſteis. Eft þanne Dauid counſeilde þe Lord; þe which anſwerynge ſeiþ to hym, Ryſe, and go into Seilam; forſoþe I ſhal take þe Philiſteis in þin hoond. Þanne wente Dauid and his men into Seilam, and fauȝt aȝens þe Philiſteis; and droue a wey þe beeſtis of hem, and ſmoot hem wiþ a greet veniaunce; and Dauid ſauyde þe dwellers of Seilam. Forſoþe þat tyme, þe which Abiaþar, þe ſone of Achymalech, fleeȝ, he deſcendide to Dauid into Seylam, hauynge wiþ hym þe preeſtis coope. Forſoþe it is toold to Saul, þat Dauid was comen into Seylam; and Saul ſeiþ, Þe Lord haþ taken hym into myn hoondis, and cloſid is goon into þe cytee, in þe which ben ȝatis and lockis. And Saul comaundide to al þe puple, þat to þe fiȝt þei ſhulden deſcende to Seilam, and biſege Dauid and his men. Þe which þing whanne Dauid aȝen knewe, for Saul made redy to hym priueli yuel, he ſeide to Abiaþar, þe preeſt, Cloþe þee þe preeſtis coope. And Dauid ſeiþ, Lord God of Yrael, þi ſeruaunt haþ herd þe fame, þat Saul haþ diſpoſid to come to Seyla, þat he turne vpſedoun for me þe cyte; if þe men of Seyla ſhulen take me into his hoondis, and if Saul ſhal come doun, as þi ſeruaunt haþ herd, Lord God of Yrael, ſhewe to þi ſeruaunt? And þe Lord ſeiþ, He ſhal come doun. And Dauid eft ſeyde, If þe men of Seila ſhulen take me, and þe men þat ben wiþ me, into þe hoondis of Saul? And þe Lord ſeide, Þei ſhulen take. Þanne Dauid roos, and his men, as ſex hundrid; and, goon out fro Seyla, hidir and þider weren vagaunt vncerteyn. And it is toold to Saul, þat Dauid hadde flowen fro Seila, and was ſauid; for what ſkyl he laft to goon out. Forſoþe Dauid dwellide in deſeert, in mooſt defenſable placis, and abood in þe hil of wildirnes of Ziph, in þe derk hil; neuerþelater Saul ſouȝte hym alle days, and þe Lord took hym not into þe hoondis of hym. And Dauid ſawȝ, þat Saul was goon out, for to ſeche his lijf. Forſoþe Dauid was in þe deſeert of Ziph, in a wode. And Jonaþas, þe ſone of Saul, roos, and wente to Dauid into þe wode, and coumfourtide þe hoondis of hym in God. And he ſeide to hym, Ne drede þou; forſoþe ne þe hoond of Saul my fader ſhal fynde þee, and þou ſhalt regne vpon Yrael, and I ſhal be to þee þe ſecounde; but and Saul my fader woot þis. Þanne eiþer ſmoot couenaunt of pees before þe Lord. And Dauid abood in þe wode; forſoþe Jonaþas turnede aȝen into his hows. Forſoþe Zipheis ſtieden vp to Saul in Gabaa, ſeiynge, Loo! wheþer not Dauid lurkiþ anentis vs in mooſt ſiker placys of a wode, in þe hil of Achille, þat is at þe riȝt party of deſeert? Nowe þanne, as þi ſoule haþ deſyrid for to come doun, com doun; forſoþe our ſhal be, þat we taken hym into þe hoondis of þe kyng. And Saul ſeide, Bleſſid be ȝe of þe Lord, for ȝe han ſorewid my while. Goþ þanne, I praye, and more biſily makiþ redy beforn, and ſlelyer doþ, and weitiþ ſwiftly þe place, where be þe foot of hym, or who ſawȝ hym þere, where ȝe han ſeid; forſoþe he aȝen þenkiþ of me, þat I felli aſpye hym. Biholdiþ, and ſeeþ alle þe hidils of hym, in whiche he is hid, and turneþ to me at certeyn þing, þat I goo wiþ ȝou; þat if alſo into þe erþe he hide hym ſelf, I ſhal þurȝ ſerche hym in alle þe þouſandis of Juda. And þei ryſynge wenten into Ziph before Saul. Forſoþe Dauid and his men weren in þe deſeert of Maon, in þe wijld feeldis, at þe riȝt ſide of Jeſymiþ. Þanne Saul wente and his felawis to ſeche hym, and it is toold to Dauid; and anoon he wente doun to a ſtoon, and abood in þe deſeert of Maon; þe whiche þinge whanne Saul had herde, he purſuede Dauiþ in þe deſerte of Maon. And Saul wente and his men at þe ſide of þe hil on þe o partye; forſoþe Dauid and his men weren in þe ſide of þe hil on þe toþer party; wherfor Dauid diſpeyryde hym ſelf to mowe aſkaap fro þe face of Saul. And ſo Saul and his men in maner of a coroun girdiden Dauid and his men, for to take hem. And a meſſager cam to Saul, ſeiynge, Hyȝe, and come, for þe Philiſteis han held hem ſeluen vpon þe loond. Þanne Saul turnede aȝen, ceſynge to purſue Dauid; and he wente into þe aȝen comynge of þe Philiſteis. For þat þei clepen þat place þe Dyuydynge Stoone. Þanne Dauid ſtiede vp þens, and dwelte in mooſt ſiker placis of Engaddi.

Capitulum XXIIII.
And whanne Saul was turned aȝen, after þat he hadde purſued þe Philiſteis, þei toolden to hym, ſeiynge, Loo! Dauid is in þe deſeert of Engaddi. Þanne Saul, takynge to þre þouſandis of choſen men of al Yrael, wente to aſerche Dauid and his men, vpon mooſt heiȝ rochis, þat oneli to wijlde capretis ben þurȝ weyes. And he cam to þe fooldys of ſheep, þe which offrede hemſelf to þe weye goer. And a ſpelunk was þere, þe which Saul wente yn, þat he purge þe wombe; forſoþe Dauid and his men lurkeden in þe innere parti of þe denne. And þe ſeruauntis of Dauyd ſeiden to hym, Loo! þe day of which þe Lord ſpak to þee, I ſhal take to þee þin enemy, þat þou doo to hym as it pleſiþ in þin eyen. Þanne Dauid roos, and kyttide of þe hemme of þe mantil of Saul ſtilly. After þes þingis þe herte of Dauid ſmoot hym, forþi þat he hadde kut a wey þe hemme of þe mantil of Saul. And he ſeide to his men, Merciful be to me þe Lord, þat I doo not þis þing to my lord, þe criſt of þe Lord, þat I putte myn hoond into hym, for þe criſt of þe Lord he is. Þe Lord lyueþ, for but þe Lord ſmyte hym, oþer þe day of hym come, þat he dye, oþer comynge doun into batayl periſh, merciful be to me þe Lord, þat I putte not myn hoond into þe criſt of þe Lord. And Dauid brak togidre his men wiþ þes wordis, and ſuffrede hem not, þat þei ryſen into Saul; forſoþe Saul ryſynge fro þe denne, wente in þe weye begun. Forſoþe Dauid roos after hym, and wente out of þe denne, and criede after þe bak of Saul, ſeiynge, My lord kyng! And Saul beheelde bihynde hym; and Dauyd bowynge hym ſelf redi into þe erþe honourede. And he ſeide to Saul, Whi heriſt þou wordis of men ſpekynge, Dauid ſechiþ yuel aȝens þee? Loo! to dai þin eyen ſeen, þat þe Lord took þee in myn hoond in þe denne, and I þouȝt for to ſlee þee, but myn eye ſparide to þee; forſoþe I ſeide, I ſhal not ſtretche out myn hoond in my lord, for þe criſt of þe Lord he is. But more ouere, fader myn, ſe, and know þe hemme of þi mantil in myn hoond, for whanne I kut þe coope of þi mantil, I wold not ſtretch out myn hoond into þee; inwardly tak hede, and ſe, for þere is not in myn hoond euel ne wickidnes, ne I haue ſynned in þee; forſoþe þou aſpyiſt my lijf, þat þou doo it awey. Þe Lord deme bitwix me and þee, and þe Lord wreke me on þee; forſoþe myn hoond be not in þee, as in þe oold prouerbe it is ſeid, Fro vnpiteuous men goþ out vnpiteuouſneſſe; myn hoond forſoþe be not in þee. Whom purſuyſt þou, kyng of Yrael? whom purſuiſt þou? A deed dog þou purſuiſt, and a quyk flyȝe. Þe Lord be domeſman, and þe Lord deme bitwix me and þee, and ſee, and deme my cauſe, and delyuere me fro þin hoond. Forſoþe whanne Dauid hadde ful eendid ſpekynge ſiche maner wordis to Saul, Saul ſeide, Wheþer þis is þi voys, ſone myn Dauyd? And Saul reryde vp a voys, and wepte. And to Dauid he ſeide, More riȝtwiſe þou art þan Y; forſoþe þou haſt ȝoldun to me gode þingis; forſoþe I haue ȝoldun aȝen to þee yuel þingis. And þow haſt ſhewid to me to day, what goode þingis þou haſt doo to me, what maner wiſe þe Lord took me in þin hoond, and þou ſlewȝ not me. Forſoþe who, whanne he fyndiþ his enemy, leeueþ hym in a good weie? But þe Lord ȝeelde to þee þis while, for þat, þat to day þou haſt wrouȝt in me. And now, for I knowe, þat mooſt certeynli þou art to regne, and to haue in þin hoond þe kyngdom of Yrael, ſwere to me in þe Lord, þat þou do not a wey my ſeed after me, ne doo a wey my name fro þe hows of my fader. And Dauid ſwore to Saul. Þanne Saul wente into his hows, and Dauid and his men ſtieden vp to more ſykyr placis.

Capitulum XXV.
Samuel forſoþe diede; and al Yrael is gaderid, and biweilide hym ful myche, and biryeden hym in his hows in Ramaþa. And Dauid riſynge wente doun into þe deſeert of Pharan. Forſoþe þere was a maner man in þe wilderneſſe of Maon, and þe poſſeſſioun of hym was in Carmele, and þat man ful myche greet, and þere weren to hym ſheep þre þouſandis, and a þouſand goot; and it felle þat his flok ſhulde be clippid in Carmele. Forſoþe þe name of þat man was Naabal, and þe name of his wijf Abigail; and þat womman was mooſt wyis and feyr, forſoþe hir man hard and werſt and malicious; forſoþe he was of þe kynrede of Caleph. Whanne þanne Dauid in deſeert hadde herd, þat Naabal clippide his flok, he ſente ten ȝonge men, and ſeide to hem, Stieþ vp into Carmele, and ȝe ſhulen come to Naabal, and ȝe ſhulen ſalute hym in my name peſibly; and þus ȝe ſhulen ſeye, Pees be to my briþeren and to þee, and pees to þin hows, and to alle, what euere þingis þou haſt, be pees; of many ȝeeris be þou maad ſaaf, þou, and þin hows, and alle þin. I haue herd þat þi ſheepherdis clippiden þi flockis, þat weren wiþ vs in deſeert; neuere to hem we weren heuy, ne eny tyme faylide to hem eny þing of þe flok, al þe tyme þat þei weren wiþ vs in Carmele; aſk þi children, and þei ſhulen ſhewe to þee. Nowe þanne fynden þi children grace in þin eyen; in a good day forſoþe we ben comen to þee; what euere þing þin hoond fyndiþ, ȝif to þi ſeruauntis, and to þi ſone Dauid. And whanne þe children of Dauid weren comen, þei ſpeken to Naabal alle þes wordis in þe name of Dauid, and helden her pees. Forſoþe Naabal, anſwerynge to þe children of Dauid, ſeiþ, Who is Dauid? and who is þe ſone of Yſay? To day han ſprungun yn ſeruauntis þat fleen her lordis. Shal I þanne take my loouys, and my watris, and fleſh of beeſtis, þat I haue ſlayn to my clippers, and ȝife to men, whom I knowe not whennus þei ben? And ſo þe children of Dauid wenten aȝen bi her weye; and aȝen turned þei camen aȝen, and toolden to hym alle þe wordis þat Naabal hadde ſeid. Þanne Dauid ſeiþ to his children, Echon be gyrd wiþ his ſwerd. And echon ben gird wiþ her ſwerdis, and Dauid is gird wiþ his ſwerd; and þere folweden Dauid as foure hundrid men, forſoþe two hundryd abiden ſtil at þe fardels. Forſoþe to Abigail, þe wijf of Naabal, oon of hir children toold, ſeyynge, Loo! Dauid ſente meſſagers fro deſeert, for þei wolden bleſſe to oure lord, and he wiþ ſtoode hem; þeſe men weren good ynow to vs, and not heuy, ne eny þing þat eny tyme periſhid al þe tyme we han dwellid wiþ hem in deſeert; for a wal þei weren to vs, as wel in nyȝt as in day, alle days þe whiche we fedden flockis anentis hem. Wherfor behold, and biþenk, what þou doo; for determyned is þe malice aȝens þi man, and aȝens þin hows; and he is þe ſone of Belial, ſo þat no man may ſpeke to him. Þanne Abigail hiȝede, and took two hundryd loouys, and two botels of wyn, and fyue weþeris ſoþen, and fyue buſſhellis of brayid corn, and an hundrid buſſhellis of dryed grape, and two hundrid peyſe of dryed figis; and ſhe putte vpon þe aſſis, and ſeide to hir children, Gooþ before me; loo! after þe bak Y ſhal folwe ȝou. To Naabal forſoþe hir man ſhe ſhewide it not. Whanne þanne ſhe was goon vpon þe aſſe, and cam doun at þe roote of þe hil, Dauid and his men camen doun into aȝen metynge of hyre; to whom and ſhe aȝen cam. And Dauid ſeiþ, Verreili in veyn I haue kept alle þingis þat of þis man weren in deſeert, and þere periſhid not eny þing of alle þingis þat to hym perteyneden, and he haþ ȝoldun to me yuel for good. Þes þingis do þe Lord to þe enemyes of Dauid, and þes þingis adde, if Y ſhal leeue of alle þingis þat to hym pertenen vnto þe morwe tide a piſſer to þe wal. Forſoþe whanne Abigail hadde ſeen Dauid, ſhe hiȝede, and wente doun of þe aſſe, and felle doun before Dauid vpon hir face, and honourde vpon þe erþe. And ſhe felle at þe feet of hym, and ſeyde, My lord, in me be þis wickidnes; ſpeke, Y biſeche, þin hoondſeruaunt in þin eeris, and here þe wordis of þi ſeruaunt; ne put, Y preye, my lord kyng, his herte vpon þis wickid man Naabal, for after his name he is a fool, and foli is wiþ hym; forſoþe I, þin hoond womman, ſawȝ not þi children, whom, my lord, þou ſentiſt. Now þann, my lord, lyueþ þe Lord and lyueþ þi ſoule, þat haþ defendid þee, þat þou cam not into blood, and haþ ſauyd þin hoond to þee; and now as Naabal þin enemyes ben maad, and þat ſechen to my lord yuel. Wherfor tak þis bleſſynge, þat þin hoond womman haþ brouȝt to þee, my lord, and ȝyue to þe children þat folowen þee, my lord. Do awey þe wickydnes of þi ſeruaunt; forſoþe þe Lord makynge ſhal make to þee, my lord, a trewe hows, for þe batayls of þe Lord, my lord, þou fiȝtiſt; malice þanne be þere not founden in þee alle þe days of þi lijf. Forſoþe if þere ariſe any tyme a man purſuynge þee, and ſechynge þi lijf, þe lijf of my lord ſhal be kept, as in a litil knytche of lyuynge men, anentis þe Lord þi God; forſoþe þe lijf of þin enemyes ſhal be turned about as in þe birre, and þe cercle of a ſlynge. Whanne þanne þe Lord ſhal do to þee, my lord, alle þes gode þingis, þat he haþ ſpokyn of þee, and ſettiþ þee a duyk vpon Yrael, þis ſhal not be to þee, my lord, into ȝoxynge and into ſcripil of herte, þat þou haſt ſhed giltleſſe blood, or þi ſelf þou haſt vengid. And whanne þe Lord ſhal wel doo to þee, my lord, þow ſhalt recorde of þin hoond womman, and þou ſhalt wel doo to hir. And Dauid ſeide to Abigayl, Bliſſid be þe Lord God of Yrael, þat ſente þee to day into myn aȝencomynge, and bleſſid þi ſpeche; and bleſſid þou art, þat haſt defendid me, þat I ȝede not to day to þe blood, and vengide me bi myn hoond; ellis þe Lord God of Yrael lyueþ, þat haþ defendide me, þat Y dide not yuel to þee, but ſoone þow haddiſt comen into aȝencomynge to me, þere ſhulde not han laft to Naabal vnto þe morwetide liȝt a piſſer to þe wal. Þanne Dauid took of þe hoond of hir alle þingis þat ſhe brouȝte to hym; and he ſeide to hir, Go in pees into þin hows; loo! I haue herd þi voys, and honourde þi face. Forſoþe Abigail cam to Naabal; and loo! þere was to hym a feeſt in his hows, as a feeſt of a kyng; and þe herte of Naabal myri, forſoþe he was drunken ful myche; and ſhe ſhewide not to hym word litil or greet vnto þe morwe. Forſoþe eerli, whanne Naabal hadde defied þe wyn, his wijf ſhewide to him þes wordis; and þe herte of hym wiþ yn forþ is deed, and he is maad as a ſtoone. And whanne ten days weren paſſid, þe Lord ſmoot Naabal, and he is deed. Þe which þing whanne Dauid hadde herd, Naabal deed, he ſeiþ, Bliſſid is þe Lord, þat haþ vengid þe cauſe of my reproof fro þe hoond of Naabal, and his ſeruaunt haþ kept fro yuel, and þe malice of Naabal þe Lord haþ ȝolden into his heed. Þan Dauid ſente, and ſpak to Abigail, þat he take hir to hym into wijf. And þe children of Dauid camen to Abigail into Carmele, and ſpeken to hir, ſeiynge, Dauid ſente vs to þee, þat he take þee into wijf to hym. Þe which aryſynge honourde redi into þe erþe, and ſeiþ, Loo! þi ſeruaunt be in to an hond womman, þat ſhe waſſhe þe feet of þe ſeruauntis of my lord. And Abigail hiȝede, and roos, and ſtiede vpon þe aſſe; and fyue childwymmen, hir feet folowers, wenten wiþ hir, and ſhe folowide þe meſſagers of Dauid, and is maad to hym a wijf. But and Dauid took Achynoem fro Jezrael, and eiþer was þe wijf of hym; forſoþe Saul ȝaf Mychol his douȝter, þe wijf of Dauid, to Phalti, þe ſone of Lays, þat was of Gallym.

Capitulum XXVI.
And Ziphei camen to Saul in Gabaa, ſeiynge, Loo! Dauid is hid in þe hil of Achille, þe which is fro aȝens of þe wilderneſſe. And Saul roos, and cam doun into þe deſeert of Ziph, and wiþ hym þre þouſandis of men of þe choſun of Yrael, þat he ſeche Dauid in þe deſeert of Ziph. And Saul ſette tentis in Gabaa of Achille, þat was fro aȝens of þe wilderneſſe in þe weye. Forſoþe Dauid dwellide in deſeert. Forſoþe ſeynge þat Saul was comen after hym into deſeert, he ſente aſpies, and lernyde mooſt certeynli, þat þidre he was comyn. And Dauyd roos pryueli, and cam to þe place where Saul was. And whanne he hadde ſeen þe place, in þe whiche Saul ſlepte, and Abner, þe ſone of Ner, prince of his chiualrye, and Saul ſlepynge in þe tent, and þe toþer comouns bi þe enuyroun of hym, Dauid ſeiþ to Achymalech, Eþee, and to Abiſay, þe ſone of Saruye, þe broþer of Joab, ſeiynge, Who ſhal come doun wiþ me to Saul into þe tentis? And Abiſai ſeide, Y ſhal goo doun wiþ þee. Þanne Dauid and Abiſai camen to þe puple þe nyȝt, and founden Saul liynge, and ſlepynge in þe tent, and a ſpeer piȝt at his heed in þe erþe; forſoþe Abner and þe puple ſlepynge in þe enuyroun of hym. And Abiſai ſeide to Dauid, God haþ cloſid to dai þin enemye into þin hoondis; now þanne I ſhal ſtike hym wiþ a ſpeer in þe erþe oonys, and þe ſecounde ſhal be no nede. And Dauid ſeide to Abiſai, Þou ſhalt not ſle hym, forſoþe who ſhal ſtretche his hoond into þe criſt of þe Lord, and ſhal be innocent? And Dauid ſeide, Þe Lord lyuiþ, for but þe Lord ſmyte hym, oþer þe day of hym come þat he die, oþer into batail comynge doun he periſſhe; merciful be to me þe Lord, þat I ſtretche not out myn hoond into þe criſt of þe Lord; now þanne tak þe ſpeer, þat is at his heed, and þe cup of water, and go wee. Dauid took þe ſpeer, and þe cup of water, þat was at þe heed of Saul, and þei wenten awey, and þere was not eny man þat ſawȝ, and vndurſtood, and awook, but alle þei ſlepten; for þe ſleep of þe Lord felle vpon hem. And whanne Dauid was goon fro aȝens, and ſtood in þe cop of þe hil fro a fer, and þere was a greet myddil valey bitwix hem, Dauid criede to þe puple, and to Abner, þe ſone of Ner, ſeiynge, Wheþer, Abner, þou ſhalt not anſwere? And Abner anſwerynge ſeiþ, Who art þou þat crieſt, and vnreſtiſt þe kyng? And Dauid ſeiþ to Abner, Wheþer ert þou not a man, and who oþer lijk þee in Yrael? whi þanne haſt þou not kept þi lord þe kyng? Forſoþe þere wente yn a man of þe folk, for he wolde ſleye þi lord þe kyng; it is not good, þis þat þou haſt doo; þe Lord lyuiþ, for ſonys of deeþ ȝe ben, for ȝe han not kept ȝoure lord, criſt of þe Lord. Now þanne ſe, where be þe ſpeer of þe kyng, and where be þe cup of water, þat weren at þe heed of hym. Forſoþe Saul knewe þe voys of Dauid, and ſeide, Wheþer is þis þi vois, my ſone Dauid? And Dauid ſeiþ, My vois, my lord kyng. And he ſeiþ, For what cauſe purſueþ my lord his ſeruaunt? What haue I doo, or what yuel is in myn hoond? Nowe þanne here, I preye, my lord kyng, wordis of þi ſeruaunt; if þe Lord ſtiriþ þee aȝens me, ſacrifice be ſmellid; forſoþe if þe ſones of men, curſid be þei in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, þat han þrowun me out to day, þat I dwelle not in þe heritage of þe Lord, ſeiynge, Go, and ſerue to alien goddis. And now be not ſhed out my blood in þe erþe before þe Lord; for þe kyng of Yrael is goon out þat he ſeche a quyk fliȝe, as a partritch is purſued in hillis. And Saul ſeiþ, Y haue ſynned; turne aȝen, my ſone Dauid, namore forſoþe I ſhal myſdoo to þee, forþi þat my lijf was precious in þin eyen to day; forſoþe it ſemeþ þat folili I haue doo, and many þingis to myche I haue vnknowen. And Dauid anſwerynge ſeiþ, Loo! þe ſpeer of þe kyng, go oon of þe children of þe kyng, and take it; forſoþe þe Lord ſhal ȝeeld to ech man after his riȝtwiſnes and feiþ; forſoþe þe Lord haþ takun þee to day into myn hoond, and I wold not ſtretche out myn hoond in þe criſt of þe Lord; and as þi lijf is maad greet to day in myn eyen, ſo my lijf be maad greet in þe eyen of þe Lord, and delyuer he me fro al angwiſh. Þanne Saul ſeiþ to Dauid, Bleſſid þou, ſone myn Dauid; forſoþe and doynge þou ſhalt doo, and myȝti þou ſhalt mowe. Þanne Dauid wente into his weye, and Saul turnede aȝen into his place.

Capitulum XXVII.
And Dauid ſeiþ in his herte, Sumtyme on a day I ſhal falle in þe hoond of Saul; wheþer is it not beter, þat I flee, and be ſauid in þe lond of Philiſteis, þat Saul diſpeire, and ceeſe to ſeche me in alle þe cooſtis of Yrael; þanne flee we þe hoondis of hym. And Dauid roos, and wente, he and ſexe hundryd men wiþ hym, to Achis, þe ſone of Maoþ, þe kyng of Geþ. And Dauid dwellide wiþ Achis in Geþ, he, and his men, and his hows; Dauid, and his two wyues, Achynoem Jezralite, and Abigail, þe wijf of Naabal Carmele. And it is toold to Saul, þat Dauid was flowen into Geþ; and he addide no more for to ſeche hym. Forſoþe Dauid ſeide to Achis, If I haue founden grace in þin eyen, a place be ȝouun to me in oon of þe citees of þis regioun, þat I dwelle þere; forſoþe whi þi ſeruaunt dwelliþ in þe citee of þe kyng wiþ þee? And ſo Achis ȝaf to hym in þat day Sichelech, for þe which cauſe Sichelech is maad of þe kyngis of Juda vnto þis day. Forſoþe þe noumbre of þe dais, in þe whiche Dauid dwellide in þe regioun of Philiſteis, was of foure moneþis. And Dauid ſtiede vp, and his men, and brouȝten prayes of Geþſury, and of Geþry, and of Amalachitis; forſoþe þes heþen dwelliden in þe loond bi oold tyme citees of Sur, vnto þe loond of Egipt. And Dauid ſmoot al þe loond of hem, and he lafte not a lyuynge man and womman; and takynge ſheep, and oxen, and aſſis, and camelis, and cloþis, he turnede aȝen, and cam to Achis. Forſoþe Achis ſeide to hym, In whom felle þou on to dai? Dauid anſwerde, Aȝens þe ſouþ of Jude, and aȝens þe ſouþ of Yranyel, and aȝens þe ſouþ of Ceny. Man and womman Dauid lafte not on lyue, ne brouȝte into Geþ, ſeiynge, Leſt perauenture þei ſpeken aȝens vs. Þeſe þingis dide Dauid, and þis was þe dom of hym, alle þe dais þe whiche he dwellide in þe regioun of Philiſteis. Þanne Achis leuyde to Dauid, ſeiynge, Forſoþe manye yuels he haþ wrouȝte aȝens his puple Yrael, þerfor a ſeruaunt he ſhal be to me for euere more.

Capitulum XXVIII.
In þo dais forſoþe it is doon, Philiſteis gadreden her companyes, þat þei weren redi before aȝens Yrael at batail. And Achis ſeide to Dauid, Witynge now wite þou, for wiþ me þou ſhalt goon out in þe tentis, þou and þi men. And Dauid ſeide to Achis, Now þou ſhalt knowe what þi ſeruaunt is to doo. And Achis ſeiþ to Dauid, And I ſhal putte þee keper of myn heed alle dais. Forſoþe Samuel is deed, and al Yrael biweilide hym, and biryede hym in Ramaþa, his cytee. And Saul took a wey þe dyuynours and clepers of deuels fro þe loond, and ſlewȝ hem þat hadden chaarmers of deuels in þe wombe. And Philiſteis ben gadrid, and camen, and ſetten tentis in Siccymam; forſoþe and Saul gadrede al Yrael, and cam into Gelboe. And Saul ſawȝ þe tentis of Philiſteis, and dradde, and his herte quauyde ful myche. And he counſeilde þe Lord; and he anſwerde hym not, ne bi preſtis, ne bi ſweuens, ne bi prophetis. And Saul ſeide to his ſeruauntis, Sechiþ to me a womman hauynge a charmynge gooſt; and I ſhal goo to hir, and aſke bi hir. And his ſeruauntis ſeiden to hym, Þere is a womman hauynge a dyuynynge ſpirite in Endore. Þanne he chaungide his abite, and is cloþid wiþ oþere cloþis; and he ȝede, and two men wiþ hym; and þei camen to þe womman bi nyȝt. And he ſeiþ, Dyuyne to me in a chaarmynge ſpyrite, and rere to me whom Y ſhal ſeye to þee. And þe womman ſeiþ to hym, Loo! þou haſt knowen how greet þingis Saul dide, and what maner wyſe he haþ putte out dyuynours, and clepers of deuels fro þe loond; whi þanne weytiſt þou to my lijf, þat I be ſlayn? And Saul ſwore to hyre in þe Lord, ſeiynge, Þe Lord lyuiþ; for þere ſhal not come to þee eny þing of yuel for þis þing. And þe womman ſeide to him, Whom ſhal I rere to þee? Þe which ſeiþ, Rere to me Samuel. Forſoþe whanne þe womman hadde ſeen Samuel, ſhe cryede wiþ a greet voys, and ſeide to Saul, Whi haſt þou putte þis to me? forſoþe þou ert Saul. And þe kyng ſeide to hyr, Wole þou not drede; what haſt þou ſeen? And þe womman ſeiþ to Saul, I ſawȝ goddis ſtiynge vp fro þe erþe. And he ſeiþ to hir, What maner is þe fourm of hym? Þe which ſeiþ, An oold man ſtiede vp, and he is cloþid wiþ a mantil. And Saul vndurſtood þat it was Samuel; and he bowide hym ſelf vpon his face in þe erþe, and honourde. Forſoþe Samuel ſeide to Saul, Whi haſt þou vnreſtid me, þat I be rerid? And Saul ſeiþ, I am artid to myche; forſoþe Philiſteis fiȝten aȝens me, and God is goon a wey fro me, and wol not here me, ne bi þe hoond of prophetis, ne bi ſweuens; þerfor I haue clepid þee, þat þou ſhewe to me what I ſhal doo. And Samuel ſeiþ, What aſkiſt þou me, ſiþ God haþ goon a wey fro þee, and goon to þin enemye? Forſoþe þe Lord ſhal doo to þee as he ſpak in myn hoond, and he ſhal kut þi kyngdam fro þin hoond, and ȝyue it to þi neiȝbor Dauid; for þou haſt not obeiſhid to þe vois of þe Lord, ne þou didiſt þe wraþþe of his woodnes in Amalech. Þerfor þat þat þou ſuffriſt þe Lord haþ doo to þee to day; and þe Lord alſo ſhal ȝeue Irael wiþ þee in þe hoond of Philiſteis. Forſoþe to morwe þou and þi ſones ſhal be wiþ me; but and þe Lord ſhal take þe tentis of Yrael in þe hoond of Philiſteis. And Saul anoon felle ſtraȝt into þe erþe; he dradde forſoþe þe wordis of Samuel, and miȝt was not in hym, for he hadde not eten breed al þat dai and al niȝt. And ſo þat womman wente yn to Saul, and ſaiþ; forſoþe he was diſturblid greetli; and ſhe ſeide to hym, Loo! þin hoond womman haþ obeiſhid to þi vois, and I haue put my lijf in myn hoond, and I haue herd þi wordis, þat þou ſpeek to me. Now þanne here þou þe vois of þin hoond womman, and I ſhal putte before þee a morſel of breed, and etynge þou wexe hool, and mowe goon þe weye. Þe which forſoke, and ſeiþ, I ſhal not ete. Forſoþe his ſeruauntis and þe womman conſtreyneden; and at þe laſt, þe vois of hem herd, he roos fro þe erþe, and ſat vpon þe bedde. Forſoþe þat womman hadde a foddred calf in þe hows, and ſhe hiȝede, and ſlewȝ it; and takynge floure ſhe mengide it, and boke þerf looues; and putte before Saul and his ſeruauntis, þe which whanne þei hadden eten, riſen, and wenten þurȝ out al þat nyȝt.

Capitulum XXIX.
Thanne alle þe companyes of Philiſteis ben gadred in Aphech, but and Irael ſette tentis vpon þe welle þat was in Jezrael. Forſoþe and þe maiſtris of Philiſteis wenten in hundredis and þouſandis; forſoþe Dauid and his men weren in þe laſt companye wiþ Achis. And þe princis of Philiſteis ſeiden to Achis, What to hem ſelf wolen þes Ebrews? And Achis ſeiþ to þe princys of Philiſteis, Wheþer knowe ȝe not Dauid, þat was ſeruaunt to Saul, kyng of Irael? and is anentis me manye days or ȝeeris, and I founde not in hym eny þing, fro þe dai þat he ouer fleiȝ to me vnto þis dai. Forſoþe þe princis of Philiſteis ben wrooþ aȝens hym, and ſeiden to hym, Þe man turne aȝen, and ſitt in his place, in þe which I haue ſett hym, and deſſende he not wiþ vs into batail, leſt he be maad to vs aduerſarye, whanne we bigynnen to fiȝte; forſoþe what maner wiſe oþer wiſe he ſhal mowe pleſe his lord, but in oure heedis? Wheþer is not þis Dauid, to whom þei ſyngen in dauncis, ſeiynge, Saul haþ ſmyten in his þouſandis, and Dauid in his ten þouſandis? Þanne Achis clepide Dauid, and ſeide to hym, Þe Lord lyueþ; for riȝt þou ert, and good in my ſiȝt, and þi goynge out and þin incomynge wiþ me is in þe tentis, and I haue not founden in þee eny þing of yuel, fro þe dai þat þou cam to me vnto þis dai; but to þe maiſtris þou pleſiſt not. Turn þanne aȝen, and go in pees, and offend þou not þe eyen of þe maiſtris of Philiſteis. And Dauid ſeid to Achis, Forſoþe what haue I doo, and what haſt þou founden in me þi ſeruaunt, fro þe dai þat I was in þi ſiȝt vnto þis dai, þat I come not, and fiȝt aȝens þe enemyes of my lord þe kyng? Forſoþe Achis anſwerynge ſpak to Dauid, I woot for þou art good, and in myn eyen as þe aungel of God; but þe princis of Philiſteis ſeiden, He ſhal not ſtie vp wiþ vs into batail. Þerfor riſe eerli, þou, and þi ſeruauntis þat camen wiþ þee; and whanne fro niȝt ȝe ſhulen riſe, and it bigynneþ to liȝte day, gooþ. And ſo Dauid roos fro niȝt, he and his men, þat he miȝt goo forþ eerli to þe loond of Philiſteis, and turne aȝen; forſoþe Philiſteis ſtieden vp into Jezrael.

Capitulum XXX.
Whanne Dauid and his men weren comen into Sichelech þe þridde dai, Amalechites maden a bure fro þe ſouþ partie into Sichelech; and þei ſmyten Sichelech, and þei brenten it wiþ fier. And caitifis þei ladden wymmen fro it, fro þe leeſt vnto þe greet; and þei ſlewen not eny man, but ladden wiþ hem, and wenten her weye. Þanne whanne Dauid was comen, and his men, to þe citee, and þei founden it brent wiþ fier, and her wyues, and her ſonys, and douȝtris to be ladde caitifes, Dauid and þe puple þat was wiþ hym rereden vp her voices, and weiliden, to þe tyme þat teeris faileden in hem. Forſoþe and þe two wyues of Dauid weren ladde caitife, Achynoem Jezraelite, and Abigail, þe wijf of Naabal of Carmele. And Dauid ſorowide greetli; forſoþe al þe puple wold ſtoone hym, for bitter was þe lyif of eche man vpon her ſones and douȝtres. Forſoþe Dauid is coumfortid in þe Lord his God. And he ſeiþ to Abiaþar, þe preeſt, þe ſone of Achimalech, Aplie to me þe preeſtis coope. And Abiaþar apliede to Dauid þe preeſtis coope; and Dauid counſeilde þe Lord, ſeiynge, Shal I purſue, or naye, þeſe þeues, and take hem? And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Purſue; forſoþe out of dout þou ſhalt take hem, and ſhake out þe praye. Þanne Dauid wente, he and ſexe hundred men þat weren wiþ hym, and camen to þe ſtreem of Beſor; and ſumme wery ſtoden ſtille. Forſoþe Dauid purſuede, he and foure hundrid men; for þere ſtoden ſtille two hundred, þat weri myȝten not goon ouere þe ſtreem of Beſor. And þei founden an Egipcien man in þe feeld, and þei brouȝten hym to Dauid; and þei ȝeuen hym breed for to eete, and drynke water; but and þe relif of a weiȝt of dried figis, and two bundels of dried grapis. Þe whiche þingis whanne he hadde eten, þe ſpiryt of hym is turned aȝen, and he is refreſſhid; forſoþe he hadde not eten breed, ne drunken water þre dais and þre niȝtes. And ſo Dauid ſeide to hym, Whos ert þou, or whens and whidir goſt þou? Þe which ſeiþ, An Egipcien child I am, and þe ſeruaunt of an Amalechite man; forſoþe my lord laft me, for I bigan to ſikynyn þe þridde dai hens. Forſoþe we wenten out of þe ſouþ cooſt of Cereþi, and aȝens Judam, and to þe ſouþ of Caleph, and Sichilich we han brent vp wiþ fier. And Dauid ſeide to hym, Maiſt þou lede me to þis cumpanye? Þe which ſeiþ, Sweer to me bi God, þat þou ſhalt not ſlee me, and not take me into þe hoondis of my lord; and I ſhal lede þee to þis companye. And Dauid ſwore to hym. Þe which whanne he hadde ladde hym, loo! þei ſeeten vpon þe face of al þe erþe, etinge and drinkynge, and as halowynge a feeſt dai, for al þe pray and ſpoilis þat þei token fro þe loond of Philiſteis, and fro þe loond of Juda. And Dauid ſmoot hem fro euen unto euen of þe toþer dai, and þere ſcapide not of hem eny man, but foure hundrid ȝonge men, þat ſtieden vp camelis, and flowen. Forſoþe Dauid delyuerde alle þingis þat Amalachitis token, and his two wyues he dilyuerde; ne þere failide eny man fro litil vnto miche, as wel of ſonys as of douȝtris, and of ſpoilys; and what eure þingis þei hadden robbid, alle Dauid brouȝte aȝen; and took all þe flockis and drouys, and droue before his face. And þei ſeiden, Þis is þe praye of Dauid. Forſoþe Dauid cam to þe two hundrid men, þat wery ſtoden ſtille, and myȝten not folowe Dauid; and he hadde comaundid hem to ſitte ſtille biſide þe ſtreem of Beſor; þe whiche wenten out to mete Dauid, and þe puple þat was wiþ hym. Forſoþe Dauyd comynge nyȝ to þe puple, ſalutede hem peſibli. And o man anſwerynge, werſt and wickid of þe men þat weren wiþ Dauid, ſeide, For þei camen not wiþ vs, we ſhulen not ȝyue to hem eny þing of þe praye, þat we han delyuerde, but ſuffice to echon his wijf and ſonis; þe whiche whanne þei han takun, goo þei a weye. Forſoþe Dauid ſeide, Not ſo ȝe ſhulen doo, briþeren myn, of þeſe þingis þat þe Lord haþ taken to vs, and haþ kepte vs, and haþ ȝeuen þe þeuys, þat breken out aȝens vs, into oure hoondis, ne eny man ſhal here vs vpon þis word. Forſoþe euen part ſhal be of þe goynge down to batail, and of þe abidynge ſtille at þe fardels; and lijk maner þei ſhulen departe. And þis is maad fro þat day, and þere aftir a ſtatute, and a decree, and as a lawe in Yrael vnto þis day. Þanne Dauid cam into Sichelech, and ſente ȝiftis of þe praye to þe eldris of Juda, his neiȝbours, ſeiynge, Takiþ bleſſynge of þe praye of þe enemyes of þe Lord; to hem þat weren in Beþel, and þat in Ramoþ, at þe ſouþ, and þat in Geþer, and þat in Aroer, and þat in Sephamoþ, and þat in Eſchama, and þat in Reþala, and þat in þe citees of Hierameli, and þat in þe citees of Ceny, and þat in Arama, and þat in Lautuaſaam, and þat in Aþech, and þat in Ebron, and to oþer, þat weren in þes places, in þe whiche Dauid hadde dwellid and his men.

Capitulum XXXI.
Forſoþe Philiſteis fouȝten aȝens Irael, and þe men of Yrael flowen before þe face of Philiſteis, and þei ſlayn fellen in þe hyl of Gelboe. And Philiſteis fallen into Saul, and into þe ſonys of hym, and þei ſmyten Jonaþan, and Amynadab, and Melchiſue, þe ſonys of Saul. And al þe charge of þe batayl is turned into Saul; and þere folweden hym men ſheters, and he is woundid hydowſly of þe archers. And Saul ſeide to his ſquyer, Drawe out þi ſwerd, and ſmyit me, leſt perauenture þes vncircumcidid men comen, and ſleen me, ſcornynge to me. And his ſquier wolde not; forſoþe he was agaiſt wiþ to mych gaiſtnes; and ſo Saul cauȝte his ſwerd, and felle vpon it. Þe which þing whanne his ſquyer hadde ſeen, þat is, þat Saul was deed, alſo he felle on his ſwerd, and is deed wiþ hym. Þanne Saul is deed, and his þree ſonys, and his ſquyer, and alle his men in þat dai togidir. Forſoþe ſeynge þe ſonys of Yrael, þat weren biȝonde þe valey, and beȝonde Jordan, þat þe men of Yrael hadden flowen, and þat Saul was deed, and his ſones, þei laften her citees, and flowen; and Philiſteis camen, and dwelliden þere. Forſoþe þe toþer dai doon, Philiſteis camen for to ſpoyl out þe ſlayn men, and þei fonden Saul, and his þre ſones, liggynge in þe hil of Gelboe; and þei girden of þe heed of Saul, and þei ſpoileden hym out of þe aarmys. And þei ſenten into þe loond of Philiſteis bi enuyroun, þat it were toold in þe temple of mawmettis, and in puplis. And þei ſetten his aarmys in þe temple of Aſcharoþ; forſoþe þe bodi of hym þei hengen in þe wal of Beþſan. Þe which þing whanne þe dwellers of Jabes Galaad hadden herd, alle þingis þat Philiſteis hadden doo to Saul, alle þe mooſt ſtronge men ryſen, and wenten al nyȝt, and token þe careyns of Saul, and þe careyns of his ſonis fro þe wal of Beþſan; and þe men of Jabes Galaad camen, and brenten hem wiþ fier. And þei token þe boonys of hem, and biryeden in þe wode of Jabes, and faſtiden ſeuen days.

Here endiþ þe firſt book of Kyngis, and now bigynneþ þe ſecounde.