Approbatio. Nos infrascripti, in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacræ Theologiæ Doctores & Professores, hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem, quam tres diuersi eius nationis eruditissimi Theologi, non solum fidelem, sed propter diuersa quæ ei sunt adiuncta, valde vtilem fidei Catholicæ propagandæ ac tuendæ, & bonis moribus promouendis, sunt testati: quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus; cuius item Translationis, & Annotationum auctores nobis de fidei integritate, & eruditionis præstantia probè sunt noti: his rebus adducti & nixi, fructuose euulgari posse censuimus. Duaci. 8. Nouembris. 1609. Gvilielmvs Estivs Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor, & in Academia Duacensi Professor. Bartholomævs Petrvs Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor, & in Vniuersitate Duacensi Professor. Georgivs Colvenerivs S. Theologiæ Doctor, & eiusdem in Academia Duacena Professor.

TO THE RIGHT VVELBELOVED ENGLISH READER GRACE AND GLORIEin Iesvs Christ everlasting. ^note

At last through Gods goodnes (most dearly beloued) we send you here the greater part of the Old Testament: as long since you receiued the New; faithfully translated into English. The residue is in h&abar;d to be finished: and your desire therof shal not now (God prospering our intention) be long frustrate. ^note As for the impediments, which hitherto haue hindered this vvorke, they al proceded (as manie do know) of one general cause, our poore estate in banishment. VVherin expecting better meanes, greatter difficulties rather ensued. Neuertheles you wil hereby the more perceiue our feruent good wil, euer to serue you, in that we haue brought forth this Tome, in these hardest times, of aboue fourtie yeares, since this College was most happely begune. VVherfore we nothing doubt, but you our dearest, for whom we haue dedicated our liues, wil both pardon the long delay, which we could not wel preuent, and accept now this fruict of our laboures, with like good affection, as we acknowlege them due, and offer the same vnto you.

If anie demand, why it is now allowed to haue the holie Scriptures in vulgar tongues, which generally is not permitted, but in the three sacred only: for further declaration of this, & other like pointes we remite you to the Preface, before the New Testament. ^note Only here, as by an Epitome,

we shal repete the summe of al, that is there more largely discussed. To this first question therfore we answer, that both iust reason, & highest authoritie of the Church, iudge it not absolutly necessarie, nor alwayes conuenient, that holie Scriptures should be in vulgar tongues. ^note For being as they are, hard to be vnderstood, euen by the lerned, reason doth dictate to reasonable men, that they were not written, nor ordayned to be read indifferently of al men. Experi&ebar;ce also teacheth, that through ignorance, ioyned often with pride and presumption, manie reading Scriptures haue erred grosly, by misunderstanding Gods word. ^note VVhich though it be most pure in it self, yet the sense being adulterated is as perilous (saith Tertullian) as the stile corrupted. S. Ambrose obserueth: that vvhere the text is true, the Arrians interpretation hath errors. S. Augustin also teacheth, that heresies and peruerse doctrines entangling soules, and throvving them dovvne headlong into the depth, do not othervvise spring vp, but vvhen good (or true) Scriptures are not vvel (and truly) vnderstood, and vvhen that vvhich in them is not vvel vnderstood, is also rashly & boldly auouched. For the same cause, S. Ierom vtterly disallowed, that al sortes of men & wemen, old & yong, presumed to read & talke of the Scriptures: wheras no articene, no tradsman dare presume to teach anie facultie, vvhich he hath not first lerned. Seing therfore that dangers, & hurtes happen in manie, the careful chief Pastores in Gods Church, haue alwaies moderated the reading of holie Scriptures, according to persons, times, and other circumstances; prohibiting some, and permitting some, to haue and read them, in their mother tongue. ^note So S. Crysostom tr&abar;slated the Psalmes & some other partes of holie Scriptures for the Armenians, when he was there in banishment. ^note The Slauonians and Gothes say they haue the Bible in their languages. It was translated into Italian by an Archbyshop of Genua. Into French in the time of king Charles the fift: especially because the waldensian heretikes had corruptly translated

it, to maintaine their errors. VVe had some partes in English translated by Venerable Bede: as Malmesburie witnesseth. And Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canturburie in a Councel holden at Oxford, straictly ordayned, that no heretical translation set forth by wicliffe, and his complices, nor anie other vulgar Edition should be suffered, til it were approued by the Ordinarie of the Diocese: alleaging S. Ieroms iudgement of the difficultie & danger in translating holie Scriptures out of one tongue into an other. And therfore it must nedes be much more dangerous, when ignorant people read also corrupted translations. Now since Luther, and his folowers haue pretended, that the Catholique Romane faith and doctrine, should be contrarie to Gods written word, & that the Scriptures were not suffered in vulgar languages, lest the people should see the truth, & vvithal these new maisters corruptly turning the Scriptures into diuers tongues, as might best serue their owne opinions: against this false suggestion, and practise, Catholique Pastores haue, for one especial remedie, set forth true and sincere Translations in most languages of the Latin Church. ^note But so, that people must read them with licence of their spiritual superior, as in former times they were in like sort limited. Such also of the Laitie, yea & of the meaner lerned Clergie, as were permitted to read holie Scriptures, did not presume to interprete hard places, nor high Mysteries, much lesse to dispute and contend, but leauing the discussion therof to the more lerned, searched rather, and noted the godlie and imitable examples of good life, and so lerned more humilitie, obedience, hatred of sinne, feare of God, zele of Religion, and other vertues. ^note And thus holie Scriptures may be rightly vsed in anie tongue, to teach, to argue, to correct, to instruct in iustice, that the man of God may be perfect, and (as S. Paul addeth) instructed to euerie good vvorke, when men laboure rather to be doers of Gods wil & vvord, then readers or hearers only, deceiuing themselues.

But here an other question may be proposed: VVhy we translate the Latin text, rather then the Hebrew, or Greke, which Protestantes preferre, as the fountaine tongues, wherin holie Scriptures were first written? ^note To this we answer, that if in dede those first pure Editions were now extant, or if such as be extant, were more pure then the Latin, we would also preferre such fountaines before the riuers, in whatsoeuer they should be found to disagree. ^note But the ancient best lerned Fathers, & Doctors of the Church, do much complaine, and testifie to vs, that both the Hebrew and Greke Editions are fouly corrupted by Iewes, and Heretikes, since the Latin was truly translated out of them, whiles they were more pure. And that the same Latin hath bene farre better conserued from corruptions. So that the old Vulgate Latin Edition hath bene preferred, and vsed for most authentical aboue a thousand and three hundered yeares. For by this verie terme S. Ierom calleth that Version the vulgate or common, which he conferred with the Hebrew of the old Testament, and with the Greke of the New; which he also purged from faultes committed by writers, rather amending then translating it. Though in regard of this amending, S. Gregorie calleth it the nevv versi&obar; of S. Ierom: who neuertheles in an other place calleth the self same, the old Latin Edition, iudging it most worthy to be folowed. ^note S. Augustin calleth it the Italian. S. Isidorus witnesseth that S. Ieroms version was receiued and approued by al Christian Churches. Sophronius also a most lerned man, seing S. Ieroms Edition so much estemed, not only of the Latines, but also of the Grecians, turned the Psalter & Prophetes, out of the same Latin into Greke. ^note Of latter times what shal we nede to recite other most lerned men? S. Bede S. Anselme, S. Bernard, S. Thomas, S. Bonauenture, & the rest? VVho al vniformly allege this only text as authentical. In so much that al other Latin Editions, which S. Ierom saith were in his time almost innumerable, are as it were

fallen out of al Diuines handes, and growne out of credite and vse. ^note If moreouer we consider S. Ieroms lerning, pietie, diligence, and sinceritie, together with the commodities he had of best copies, in al languages then extant, and of other lerned men, with whom he conferred: and if we so c&obar;pare the same with the best meanes that hath bene since, surely no man of indifferent iudgement, wil match anie other Edition with S. Ieroms: but easely acknowlege with the whole Church Gods particular prouid&ebar;ce in this great Doctor, as wel for expounding, as most especialy for the true text and Edition of Holie Scriptures. ^note Neither do we flee vnto this old Latin text, for more aduantage. For besides that it is free from partialitie, as being most ancient of al Latin copies, and long before the particular Controuersies of these dayes beganne; the Hebrew also & the Greke when they are truly translated, yea and Erasmus his Latin, in sundrie places, proue more plainly the Catholique Romaine doctrine, then this which we relie vpon. ^note So that Beza & his folowers take also exception against the Greke, when Catholiques allege it against them. Yea the same Beza preferreth the old Latin Version before al others, & freely testifieth, that the old Interpreter translated religiously. VVhat then do our countriemen, that refuse this Latin, but depriue themselues of the best, and yet al this while, haue set forth none, that is allowed by al Protestantes, for good or sufficient. ^note

How wel this is donne the lerned may iudge, when by mature conference, they shal haue made trial therof. And if anie thing be mistaken, we wil (as stil we promise) gladly correct it. ^note Those that tr&abar;slated it about thirtie yeares since, were wel knowen to the world, to haue bene excellent in the tongues, sincere men, and great Diuines. ^note Only one thing we haue donne touching the text, wherof we are especially to geue notice. That whereas heretofore in the best Latin Editions, there remained manie place differing

in wordes, some also in sense, as in long processe of time, the writers erred in their copies; now lately by the care & diligence of the Church, those diuers readings were maturely, and iuditiously examined, and conferred with sundrie the best written and printed bookes, & so resolued vpon, that al which before were leift in the margent, are either restored into the text, or els omitted; so that now none such remaine in the margent. For which cause, we haue againe conferred this English translation, and conformed it to the most perfect Latin Edition. ^note VVhere yet by the way we must geue the vulgar reader to vnderstand, that very few or none of the former varieties, touched Controuersies of this time. So that this Recognition is no way suspicious of partialtie, but is merely donne for the more secure conseruation of the true text; and more ease, and satisfaction of such, as otherwise should haue remained more doubtful.

Now for the strictnes obserued in translating some wordes, or rather the not translating of some, which is in more danger to be disliked, we doubt not but the discrete lerned reader, deepely weighing and considering the importance of sacred wordes, and how easely the translatour may misse the sense of the Holie Ghost, wil hold that which is here donne for reasonable and necessarie. ^note VVe haue also the example of the Latin, and Greke, where some wordes are not translated, but left in Hebrew, as they were first spoken & written; which seeing they could not, or were not conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greke, how much lesse could they, or was it reason to turne them into English? ^note S. Augustin also yeldeth à reason, exemplifying in the wordes Amen and Alleluia, for the more sacred authoritie therof. which doubtles is the cause why some names of solemne Feastes, Sacrifices, & other holie thinges are reserued in sacred tongues, Hebrew, Greke, or Latin. ^note Againe for necessitie, English not hauing à name, or sufficient terme, we either

kepe the word, as we find it, or only turne it to our English termination, because it would otherwise require manie wordes in English, to signifie one word of an other tongue. ^note In which cases, we commonly put the explication in the margent. Briefly our Apologie is easie against English Protestantes; because they also reserue some wordes in the original tongues, not translated into English: as Sabbath, Ephod, Pentecost, Proselyte, and some others. ^note The sense wherof is in dede as soone lerned, as if they were turned so nere as is possible into English. And why then may we not say Prepuce, Phase or Pasch, Azimes, Breades of Proposition, Holocaust, and the like? rather then as Protestantes translate them: Foreskinne, Passeouer, The feast of svvete breades, Shevv breades, Burnt offerings: &c. By which termes, whether they be truly translated into English or no, we wil passe ouer. Sure it is an English man is stil to seke, what they meane, as if they remained in Hebrew, or Greke. It more importeth, that nothing be wittingly and falsly translated, for aduantage of doctrine in matter of faith. VVherein as we dare boldly auouch the sinceritie of this Translation, and that nothing is here either vntruly, or obscurely donne of purpose, in fauour of Catholique Romane Religion: so we can not but complaine, and chalenge English Protestantes, for corrupting the text, c&obar;trarie to the Hebrew, & Greke, which they professe to translate, for the more shew, and mainteyning of their peculiar opinions against Catholiques. ^note As is proued in the Discouerie of manifold corrupti&obar;s. For example we shal put the reader in memorie of one or two. Gen. 4. v. 7. whereas (God speaking to Cain) the Hebrew wordes in Grammatical construction may be translated either thus: Vnto thee also perteyneth the lust therof, & thou shalt haue dominion ouer it: or thus; Also vnto thee his desire shal be subiect, & thou shalt rule ouer him: though the coher&ebar;ce of the text requireth the former, & in the Bibles printed 1552. and. 1577. ^note Protestantes did so translate it: yet in

the yeare 1579. and 1603. they translate it the other way, rather saying, that Abel was subiect to Cain, and that Cain by Gods ordinance, had dominion ouer his brother Abel, then that concupiscence or lust of sinne is subiect to mans wil, or that man hath powre of free wil, to resist (by Gods grace) tentation of sinne. ^note But as we heare in a new Edition (which we haue not yet sene) they tr&abar;slate it almost as in the first. ^note In like sorte Gen. 14. v. 18. The Hebrew particle Vav, which S. Ierom, and al Antiquitie translated Enim (For) Protestants wil by no meanes admitte it, because (besides other argumentes) we proue therby Melchisedechs Sacrifice. And yet themselues translate the same, as S. Ierom doth, Gen. 20. v. 3. saying: For she is a mans vvife. &c. ^note Againe Gen. 31. v. 19. the English Bibles. 1552. and 1577. translate Theraphim, Images. VVhich the Edition of 1603, correcting, translateth Idoles. And the marginal Annotation wel proueth, that it ought to be so translated.

VVith this then we wil conclude most deare (we speake to you al, that vnderstand our tongue, whether you be of contrarie opinions in faith, or of mundane feare participate with an other Congregation; or professe with vs the same Catholique Religion) to you al we present this worke: dayly beseching God Almightie, the Diuine VVisedom, Eternal Goodnes, to create, illuminate, and replenish your spirites, with his Grace, that you may attaine eternal Glorie. ^note Euerie one in his measure, in those manie Mansions, prepared and promised by our Sauiour in his Fathers house. Not only to those which first receiued, & folowed his Diuine doctrine, but to al that should afterwardes beleue in him, & kepe the same preceptes. For there is one God, one also Mediatour of God and men: Man Christ Iesus. VVho gaue himself a Redemption for al. VVherby appeareth his wil, that al should be saued. ^note VVhy then are not al saued? The Apostle addeth: that they must first come to the knowlege of the truth. Because without faith it is impossible to please

God. ^note This ground worke therfore of our creation in Christ by true faith, S. Paul labored most seriously by word and writing, to establish in the hartes of al men. In this he confirmed the Romanes by his Epistle, c&obar;mending their faith, as already receiued, and renowmed in the whole world. He preached the same faith to manie Nations. Amongst others to the lerned Athenians. VVhere it semed to some, as absurde, as strange; in so much that they scornfully called him a vvord-sovver, and Preacher of new gods. But S. Augustin alloweth the terme for good, which was reprochfully spoken of the ignorant. And so distinguishing betwen Reapers, and Sovvers in Gods Church, he teacheth, that wheras the other Apostles reaped in the Iewes, that which their Patriarches and Prophetes had sowne; S. Paul sowed the seede of Christian Religion in the Gentiles. ^note And so in respect of the Israelites, to whom they were first sent, calleth the other Apostles Messores, Reapers, and S. Paul, being specially sent to the Gentiles, Seminatorem a Sovver, or Seminarie Apostle. VVhich two sortes of Gods workmen are stil in the Church, with distinct offices of Pastoral cures, and Apostolical missions; the one for perpetual gouernment of Catholique countries: the other for conuersion of such, as either haue not receiued Christian Religion, or are relapsed. ^note As at this time in our country, for the diuers sortes of pretended religions, these diuers spiritual workes are necessary, to teach and feede al Britan people. Because some in error of opinions preach an other Gospel, wheras in veritie there is no other Gospel. ^note They preach in dede new doctrines, which can not saue. Others folow them beleuing falshood. But vvhen the blinde lead the blinde (not the one only, but) both fal into the ditch. ^note Others conforme themselues, in external shew, fearing them that can punish, and kil the bodie. But our Lord vvil bring such as decline into (vniust) obligations, vvith them that vvorke iniquitie. The Reliques and smal flock of Catholiques in our country, haue

great sadnes, and sorow of hart; not so much for our owne affliction, for that is comfortable, but for you our brethren, and kinsemen in flesh and bloud. VVishing with our owne temporal damage whatsoeuer, your saluation. ^note Now is the acceptable time, now are the dayes of saluation, the time of Grace by Christ, whose dayes manie Kinges & Prophetes desired to see: they saw them (in spirite) and reioyced. But we are made partakers of Christ, and his Mysteries; so that our selues neglect not his heauenly riches: if we receiue & kepe the beginning of his substance, firme vnto the end; that is, the true Catholique faith; building theron good workes by his grace; without which we can not thinke a good thought, by which we can do al thinges necessarie to saluation. But if we hold not fast this ground, al the building fayleth. Or if confessing to know God in wordes, we denie him in deedes, committing workes of darknes; or omitting workes of mercie, when we may doe them to our distressed neighbours; brifly if we haue not charitie, the forme and perfection of al vertues, al is lost, and nothing worth. ^note But if we builde vpon firme grounde, gold, siluer, and precious stones, such building shal abide, and make our vocation sure by good workes. as S. Peter speaketh. These (saith S. Paul) are the heyres of God, coheyres of Christ. ^note Neither is the number of Christs blessed children co&ubar;ted, as of the Iewes, an hundred fourtie foure thousand, of euerie tribe of Israel twelue thousand signed; but a most great multitude of Catholique Christians, which no man can number, of al nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne of the lambe, clothed in white robes, and palmes (of triumph) in their handes: hauing ouercome tentations in the vertuous race of good life. Much more those which also indure persecution for the truthes sake, shal receiue most copious great rewardes in heauen. ^note For albeit the passions of this time (in themselues) are not ^note condigne, to the glorie to come, that shal be reueled

in vs: yet our tribulation, which presently is momentanie, and light, worketh (through grace) aboue measure excedingly an eternal weight of glorie. VVhat shal we therfore meditate of the especial prerogatiue of English Catholiques at this time? For to you it is geuen for Christ, not only that you beleue in him, but also that you suffer for him. ^note A litle now, if you must be made pensiue in diuers tentations, that the probation of your faith, much more precious then gold, which is proued by the fire, may be found vnto praise, and glorie, and honour, in the reuelation of Iesus Christ. Manie of you haue susteyned the spoile of your goodes with ioy, knowing that you haue a better and a permanent substance. Others haue benne depriued of your children, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and nerest frendes, in readie resolution also, some with sentence of death, to lose your owne liues. Others haue had trial of reproches, mockeries, and stripes. Others of bandes, prisons, and banishmentes. The innumerable renowmed late English Martyres, & Confessors, whose happie soules for confessing true faith before men, are now most glorious in heauen, we passe here with silence; because their due praise, requiring longer discourse, yea rather Angels, then English tongues, farre surpasseth the reach of our conceiptes. ^note And so we leaue it to your deuout meditation. They now secure for themselues, and solicitous for vs their dearest clientes, incessantly (we are wel assured) intercede before Christs Diuine Maiestie, for our happie consummation, with the conuersion of our whole countrie. To you therfore (dearest frendes mortal) we direct this speach: admonishing ourselues & you, in the Apostles wordes, that for so much as we haue not yet resisted tentations to (last) bloud (and death itself) patience is stil necessarie for vs, that doing the wil of God, we may receiue the promise. ^note So we repine not in tribulation, but euer loue them that hate vs, pittying their case, and reioycing in our owne. For

neither can we see during this life, how much good they do vs; nor know how manie of them shal be (as we hartely desire they al may be) saued: our Lord and Sauiour hauing paide the same price by his death, for them and for vs. ^note Loue al therfore, pray for al. Do not lose your confidence, which hath a great remuneration. For yet a litle, and a very litle while, he that is to come, wil come, and he wil not slacke. Now the iust liueth by faith, beleeuing with hart to iustice, and confessing with mouth to saluation. ^note But he that withdraweth himself shal not please Christs soule. Attend to your saluation, dearest countriemen. You that are farre of, draw nere, put on Christ. And you that are within Christs fold, kepe your standing, perseuere in him to the end. His grace dwel and remaine in you, that glorious crownes may be geuen you. Amen. From the English College in Doway, the Octaues of al Sainctes. 1609. The God of patience and comfort geue you to be of one mind, one tovvards an other in Iesvs Christ; that of one mind, vvith one mouth you may glorifie God.

With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes. ^note

By the vniforme consent of al learned Diuines, the holie Bible, or written word of God, conteyneth expressed or implied, al thinges that man is to beleue, to obserue, & to auoid, for obtayning of æternal saluation. ^note That is, al matters of faith & maners, by which we may know and serue God, and so be spiritually ioyned with him, in this life, & in eternitie. For both the old & new Testament propose and testifie vnto vs, one and the same God, the same Christ, the same Church, and other Mysteries of our beleefe, not differing in substance, but in maner of vttering; the Old more obscurely in figures and prophecies foretelling those thinges, which the New declareth (in great part) as donne and performed. VVherupon saith S. Augustin: In the Old Testament the New lieth hidden: & in the New the Old lieth open. And touching their names, wherein appareth difference, the one (saith the same Doctor) is called the old Testament, either because it proposeth promises of temporal thinges (VVherwith our old corruptnes is allured) Or in respect of the New, by which it is fulfilled, and in some part abolished. The other is called the New, because by it man is renewed, and hath promise of eternal life: VVhich shal neuer waxe old nor decay. Likewise S. Gregorie the great testifieth this conformitie, and correspondence betwen the Old and New Testament, affirming that the same is signified by the Prophet Esechiels vision of a wheele, which had foure faces, or apparence of foure whiles, the shape whereof was, as it were, a wheele in the middes of a wheele. What is this saith he, nisi quod in Testamenti veteris litera Testamentum nouum latuit per Allegoriam? but that in the letter of the old Testament, the New lay hidden by an Allegorie? ^note

And as the same is the summe and subiect of both Testaments: so both are diuided (for the more principal partes therof) into foure sortes of Bookes: Legal, Historical, Sapiential, & Prophetical. The Legal bookes of the old Testament are the fiue Bookes of Moises; Genesis, Exodus, Leuiticus,

Numeri, & Deuteronomie; whereto answer in the new Testament, the foure Gospels of S. Matthew, S. Marke, S. Luke, & S. Iohn. ^note Historical bookes of the old Testament, are the Bookes of Iosue, Iudges, Ruth, foure bookes of Kinges, two of Paralipomenon, Esdras with Nehemias, Tobias, Iudith, Hester, Iob, & two of the Machabees; vnto which, in the new Testament, answer the Actes of the Apostles. ^note Sapiential, of the old Testament, are the Prouerbes, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Booke of wisdome, & Ecclesiasticus; and of like sorte are in the new Testament, the Epistles of S. Paul & of other Apostles. ^note Prophetical bookes are, Dauids Psalter (which is also Sapiential, yea likewise Legal and Historical) the Bookes of Isaias, Ieremias with Baruch, Ezechiel, Daniel, the twelue lesse Prophetes, Osea, Ioel, Amos, Abdias, Ionas, Michaeas, Nahum, Abacuc, Sophonias, Aggæus, Zacharias, Malachias. ^note And in the new Testament, the Apocalips of S. Iohn the Apostle.

Al these Bookes are vndoubtedly Canonical, as the Authores cited in the inner margent testifie. ^note And consequently al, and al the partes therof; are of infallible truth. For otherwise as S. Augustin teacheth, if anie part were false, or doubtful, al were vncertaine. once admitting falsehood (saith he, Epist, 8. ad Ieroni) in such soueraigne authoritie, no parcel of these bookes should remaine, which anie way should seme hard to maners, or incredible to beleue, but it might by this most pernicious rule be turned to an officious fiction of the author. That is: If anie error could be committed by the authores of Scriptures, either through ignorance, obliuion, or anie other humane frailtie, whatsoeuer were produced, exception might be taken, and question made, whether the author had erred, or no? True it is, that some of these bookes (as we shal particularly discusse in their places) were sometimes doubted of by some Catholiques, and called Apochrypal, in that sense, as the word properly signifieth hidden, or not apparent. ^note So S. Ierom (in his Prologue before the Latin Bible) calleth diuers bookes Apochryphal, being not so euident, whether they were Diuine Scripture, because they were not in the Iewes Canon, nor at first in the Churches Canon, but were neuer reiected, as false or erronious. In which sense the Prayer of Manasses, the third booke of Esdras, and third of Machabees are yet called Apochryphal. As for the fourth of Esdras, and fourth of Machabees there is more doubt. But diuers others, as the booke ascribed to Enoch, the Gospels of S. Andrew, S. Thomas, S. Bartholmew, and the like recited by S. Gelasius (Decreto de libris Ecclesiasticis dist. 15. Can. Sancta Romana) S. Innocentius the first (Epist. 3.) S. Ierom, Ep. ad Lætam, S. Augustin li. 15. cap. 23. de ciuit. Dei. Origen homis. 2. in Cantica. are in a worse sense called Apochryphal, & are reiected as

conteyning manifest errors, or fained by Heretikes. Neither can a Christian Catholique he otherwise a&esset;ured, which Bookes are Diuine and Canonical Scriptures, but by declaration of the Catholique Church, which without interruption succedeth the Apostles, to whom our Sauiour promised, and sent the Holie Ghost, to teach al truth. ^note For if in anie thing more then others, assuredly one chief and most necessarie point is, to know and declare, which Bookes are Gods holie word: being of most singular importance.

THE SVMME OF THE OLD TESTAment, as it is distinguished from the new. ^note

Notwithstanding the subiect, & general argument of both Testaments is one & the same in substance, as is already said, yet they differ in time, in maner of vttering of Mysteries, in varietie of precepts, & promises, also in meanes to obserue the thinges exacted, & to attayne to the end proposed. ^note In regard wherof S. Ierome saith: Lex Moysi & omne vetus instrumentum elementa mundi intelliguntur, quibus quasi elementis, & Religionis exordijs Deum discimus. The law of Moyses and al the old Testament are vnderstood the elements of the world, by which, as by first rudiments & beginnings, we lerne to know God. For that in it we haue first the Law of nature: and afterwards a law written, with promises of temporal rewardes; as long life, land flowing with milke & honie, & the like; but it brought nothing to perfection, as S. Paul saith, when giftes & hostes were offered, which could not according to conscience, make the obseruer perfect. For the helpes of that time, were but infirma & egena elem&ebar;ta: Weake & poore elements. ^note Likewise in general, touching the punishments that sometimes happened to the people of the old Testament, when they transgressed, the same Apostle affirmeth, that al the same chanced to them in figure, & are written for our correption, vpon whom the ends of the world are come. So that the old Testament, or Law was but our pedagogue in Christ. Yet it setteth forth to vs the whole course of Gods Church, for the space of foure thousand yeares, that is, from the beginning of the world vntil Christ our Redemer. which Diuines diuide into six ages, wherin was varietie & change of her state, three vnder the Law of nature, and three others vnder the written Law. The seueth & last age being this time of grace (wherin we now are) from Christ, to the day of general Iudgement: as the world was made in six dayes, and in the seuenth God is said to haue rested, and therfore sanctified it, in other sort, then the former six. The eight wil be after the Resurrection, during for al eternitie.

VVhich six ages of the ancient Church, & old Testament, are thus distributed. The first from the Creation to Noes floud, conteyning the space of 1656.

yeares. The second from the floud to the going of Abraham out of his countrie, 368. or counting Cainan (Gen. 11. iuxta 72. & Luc. 3.) 398. yeares. ^note The third from Abraham his going forth of his countrie, to the parting of the children of Israel out of Ægypt. VVhich some count to haue continued 720. yeares, others (whom we folow) but 430. And thus farre in the law of nature before the written law. ^note The fourth age dured, 480. yeares, from the deliuerie of the children of Israel forth of Ægypt, to the fundation of the Temple in Ierusalem. The fifth age was from the fundation of the Temple, to the captiuitie & transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon, about 430. yeares. ^note And the sixth age dured about 640. yeares, from the Captiuitie of Babylon to Christ. In al which times God was acknowledged and rightly serued, by a continual visible Church, with true Religion, the same & no other, which now that Church holdeth, that is called and knowen by she name of Catholique. As we intend, by Gods a&esset;istance, to shew by briefe Annotations, concerning diuers particular points now in Controuersie, as the holie Text geueth occasion. And especially by way of Recapitulation after euerie one of the six ages, when we come to those passages in the Historie, where the same are ended.

The fiue first bookes

Introductory matter OF MOYSES THE AVTHOR OF THE fiue first bookes. ^note Moyses (so called because he was taken from the water, as the name signifieth) was borne in Ægypt, the sonne of Amram, the sonne of Caath, the sonne of Leui the Patriarch, and so of Iacob, Isaac, and Abraham. ^note His maruelous deliuerie from drowning, his education, excellent forme, singular wisdome, heroical vertue, rare dexteritie in al affayres, & whole life most admirable, are gathered out of holie Scriptures, by S. Gregorie Bishop of Nissen, into a briefe summe, most worthie to be read, but to large for this place. ^note He was borne about the yeare of the world two thousand foure hundred, long before al prophane writers, yea before manie of the Painimes false goddes, as S. Augustin declareth in diuers places of his most excellent booke intituled of the Citie of God. He liued in this world 120. yeares. Of which 40. were in Pharaos court, as the adopted sonne of Pharaos daughter: fourtie in banishment from Ægypt in Madian: and fourtie more he gouerned the people of Israel. His singular prayses are also briefly touched in the last chapter of Deuteromie, added by Iosue. and in the booke of Ecclesiasticus. ^note He died in the desert, and was buried in the vaile of Moab, so secretly that no mortal man knew his sepulchre, lest the Iewes, who were very prone to Idolatrie, should haue adored his bodie with diuine honour, for the greatnes and multitude of his miracles, and for the singular estimation, they had of him for the same.

THE BOOKE OF GENESIS

Introductory matter THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF GENESIS. ^note

This first Booke of holie Scripture, called Genesis, which signifieth birth or beginning, was written by Moyses, when he was designed by God, to instruct & rule the children of Israel. ^note As also the other foure bookes folowing. The Author and authoritie of al which fiue bookes, were euer acknowledged by the faithful, both of the old and new Testament: and so accounted and estemed by tradition, til Christ and his Apostles: who also confirmed them by their testimonies, and allegations of the same, as of holie Scriptures. From the creation vntil Moyses writ (which was aboue two thousand and foure hundred yeares) the Church exercised Religion by Reuelations made to certaine Patriarches, and by Traditions from man to man, without anie Scriptures or Law written. But the peculiar people of God being more visibly separated from other nations, & manie errors abunding in the world, God would for correction & confutation therof, haue his wil made further knowen to his children, and so remaine amongst them in written record, by his faithful seruant and Prophet Moyses. ^note VVho therfore declareth the Author and beginning of al thinges, that is, How al creatures were made by God, and of him haue their being, and by him only are conserued. He teacheth expresly that there is one onlie God, against those that imagined and brought into the phantasies of men manie goddes. That the whole or vniuersal substance of heauen and earth, with their ornaments and accidents, were made in time; against those that thought the first fundation therof had euer benne. That God doth gouerne the same; against those that say, al is ruled by destenie or by the starres, and not by the continual prouidence of God. That God is a rewarder of the good, and a punisher of euil; which sinners seme either not to know, or grosly to forgete. And that God created al for mans vse and benefite, which should make vs grateful. VVherfore holie Moyses more particularly describeth the beginning of man; what he was at first; how he fel; how al mankind is come of one man: deducing the Genealogie of Adam, especially to Noe. ^note Then how men being more and more defiled vpon the earth, with wicked, especially carnal sinnes, were by Gods iust wrath drowned with an vniuersal floud.

Againe how a few reserued persons multiplied the world anew. But this ofspring also falling into manie sinnes, especially Idolatrie and spiritual fornication, as those of the first age did to carnal offences, God stil conserued some faithful & true seruants. ^note Of which Moyses specially pursueth the line of Noe by Sem his first begotten sonne. Then describeth the particular vocations, liues, maners, notable sayings, and noble factes, with sincere religion of Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph, & other holie Patriarches: who liued before the written lavv. Likevvise vpon vvhat occasion, & in vvhat

maner, Iacob otherwise called Israel, with al his progenie, descended from the Land of Canaan into Ægypt, and were there entertayned. So this booke contayneth the historie of two thousand three hundred & odde yeares. ^noteAnd it may be diuided into eight partes. The first contayneth the Creation of Heauen and Earth, & other Creatures, and lastly of Man chap. 1. & 2. The second part is of the trangression & fal of man, & his casting out of Paradise, of multiplication of men, and of sinne, though stil some were iust, of the general floud, that drowned al except eight persons, & few other liuing creatures of the earth. from the third chap. to the 8. The third part is of the new increase, & multiplication of the same. from the 8. chap. to the 11. The fourth, of the confusion of tongues, & the diuision of nations. in the 11. chap. The fift relateth Abrahams going forth of his countrie, Gods promise, that in his seede al Nations should be blessed, & the commandment of Circumcision, from the 12. chap. to the 21. The sixth part recounteth the progenie, and other ble&esset;ings, especially the great vertues of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. from the 21. chap. to the 37. The seuenth part reporteth the selling of Ioseph into Ægypt, and his aduancement there. from the 37. chap. to the 46. The eight and last part is of Iacob, and his progenies going into Ægypt, their intertainment there, and of Iacobs, and finally of Iosephs death, in the fiue last cahpters.

The signification of the markes here vsed, for direction of the reader.

The numbers in the argumentes of chapters point to the verse, where the matter mentioned beginneth.

This forme of crosse [†] in the text, sheweth the beginning of euerie verse.

The numbers in the inner margent ouer against the crosse, shew the number of verses in the same chapter.

This marke ” signifieth that there foloweth an Annotation after the chapter, vpon the word, or wordes, wherto it is adioyned. The number also of the same verse is prefixed to the Annotation.

These foure prickes :: shew that there is an Annotation in the margent, vpon that place. And when manie occurre, the first answereth to the first marcke, the second to the second, and so forth. In like maner the citations of places in the inner margent, are applied to the authores alleaged.

But when there be more such marginal annotations, then may easely be applied, we vse the letters of the Alphabete for direction.

This forme of a starre [*] in the text or annotations, pointeth to the explication of some word or wordes, in the margent.

Sometimes we put the Concordance of other Scriptures in the inner margent of the text.

VVe haue also noted in the margent, when the Bookes of holie Scripture (or partes thereof) are read in the Churches Seruice. For their sakes, that desire to read the same, in order of the Ecclesiastical Office.

Creation. THE BOOKE OF GENESIS, IN HEBREW BERESITH. Chap. I. ^note God createth heauen and earth, and al things therin; distinguishing and bevvtyfying the same; ^note 26. last of al the sixth day he createth man: to vvhom he subiecteth al corporal things of this inferior vvorld.

1   In09Q0001 the beginning God created heauen and earth.09Q0002 ^note

2   And the earth was voide & vacant, and darkenes was vpon the face of the deapth: and09Q0003 the Spirite of God moued ouer the waters.

3   And God said: Be light made. And light was made.

4   And God saw the light that it was good: & he diuided the light from the darkenes.

5   And he called the light, Day, and the darkenes, Night: and there was euening & morning, that made one day.

6   God also said: Be ^note a firmament made amidst the waters: and let it diuide betwene waters & waters.

7   And God made a firmament, and diuided the waters, that were vnder the firmament, from those, that were aboue the firmament. And it was so done.

8   And God called the firmament, ^note Heauen: and there was euening & morning that made the second day.

9   God also said: Let the waters that are vnder the heauen, be gathered together into one place: and let the drie land appeare. And it was so done.

10   And God called the drie land, Earth: and the gathering of waters together, he called Seas. And God sawe that it was good.

11   And said: Let the earth shootforth grene herbes, and such as may seede, & fruite trees yelding fruit after his kinde, such as may haue seede in it selfe vpon the earth. And it was so done.

12   And the earth brought forth

Creation. grene herbe, such as seedeth according to his kinde, & tree that beareth fruite, hauing seede eche one according to his kinde. And God saw that it was good.

13   And there was euening & morning that made the third day.

14   Againe God said: Be there lightes made in the firmament of heauen, to diuide the day & the night, and let them be ^note for signes & seasons, and dayes and yeares:

15   to shine in the firmament of heauen, & to giue light vpon the earth. And it was so done.

16   And God made09Q0004 two ^note great lights: a greater light, to gouerne the day: and a lesser light to gouerne the night: and starres.

17   And he set them in the firmament of heauen, to shine vpon the earth.

18   and to gouerne the day & the night, and to diuide the light & the darkenes. And God sawe that it was good.

19   And there was euening and morning that made the fourth day.

20   God also said: Let the waters bring forth creeping creature hauing life, and flying foule, ouer the earth vnder the firmament of heauen.

21   And God created huge Whales, and al liuing & mouing creature, that the waters brought forth, according to eche sorte, & al foule according to their kinde. And God sawe that it was good.

22   And he blessed them saying: Increase and multiplie, and replenish the waters of the sea: and let the birds be multiplied vpon the earth.

23   And there was euening & morning that made the fifth day.

24   God said moreouer: Let the earth bring forth liuing creature, in his kind, cattle, & such as creepe, & beastes of the earth according to their kindes: and it was so done.

25   And God made the beastes of the earth according to their kindes, and cattle, & al that crepeth on the earth in his kind.

25   And God saw that it was good,

26   and he said09Q0005 Let vs make Man to our image, & likenes: and let him haue dominion ouer the fishes of the sea, and the foules of the ayre, and the beastes, and the whole earth, and al creeping creature, that moueth vpon the earth.

27   And God created man, to his owne image: to the image of God he created him, male & female he created them.

28   And God blessed them, and saith: 09Q0006 Increase and multiplie, & replenish the earth, and subdew it, and rule ouer the fishes of the sea, and foules of the ayre, & al liuing creatures, that moue vpon the earth.

29   And God said: Behold I haue giuen you al maner of hearbe that seedeth vpon the earth, and al trees that haue in them selues

Creation. seede of their owne kinde, to be your meate:

30   and to al beastes of the earth, and to euerie foule of the ayre, & to al that moue vpon the earth, and wherein there is life, that they may haue to feede vpon. And it was so done.

31   And God sawe al things that he had made, and ^note they were very good. And there was euening & morning that made the sixt day. ^{note note note}

^{note note}

^{note note}

Chap. II. ^note The worke of six dayes being finished, God rested the seu&ebar;th day & blessed it. 8. Then placing man in paradise (planted with bewtiful & swete trees, & watered with foure riuers) 16. c&obar;mandeth him not to eate of the tree of knowledge of good & euil. 18. & formed a woman of a ribbe of Adam.

1   The heauens therfore & the earth were fully finished, and al the furniture of them.

2   And the seuenth day God ended his woorke which he had made: & ^note rested09Q0007 the seuenth day, from al woorke that he had done.

3   And he blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it: because in it he had ceased from al his woorke which God created to make.

4   These are the generations of heauen & earth, when they were created in the day, when our Lord God made the heauen, and the earth.

5   And euery plant of the filde, before it shot vp in the earth. And euerie herbe of the ground before it sprang: for our Lord God had not rayned vpon the earth: and man was not to til the earth:

6   But a spring rose out of the earth, watering al the ouermost part of the earth.

7   Our Lord God therfore formed man of the slyme of the earth: and ^note breathed into his face the breath of life, & man became a liuing soule.

8   And our Lord God had ^note planted a Paradise of pleasure from the beginning: wherin he placed man whom he had formed.

9   And our Lord God brought forth of the ground al maner of trees, fayre to behold: and pleasant to eate of: the tree of life also in the middle of Paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good & euil.

10   And a riuer issued out of the place of pleasure to water Paradise, which from thence is diuided into four heades.

11   The name of the one is Phison: that is it which compasseth al the land of Heuilath, where gold groweth.

12   And the gold of that land is very good:

Adam. there is found bdelium, & the stone onyx.

13   And the name of the second riuer is Gehon: that is it which compasseth al the land of Ethiopia.

14   And the name of the third riuer is Tygris: that same passeth along by the Assirians. And the fourth riuer, the same is Euphrates.

15   Our Lord God therfore tooke man, & put him in the Paradise of pleasure, to woorke, & keepe it.

16   And he commanded him saying: Of euerie tree of Paradise eate thou:

17   But09Q0008 of the tree of knowledge of good &09Q0009 euil eate thou not. For in what day soeuer thou shalt eate of it,09Q0010 thou shalt dye the death.

18   Our Lord God also said: It is not good for man to be alone: let vs make him a helpe like vnto him selfe.

19   Our Lord God therfore hauing formed of clay al beastes of the earth, and foules of the ayre, brought them to Adam that he might see what to cal them: for al that Adam called any liuing creature, the same is his name.

20   And Adam called al beastes by their names, and al foules of the ayre, and al cattel of the filde: but vnto Adam there was not found an helper like him selfe.

21   Our Lord God therfore cast a dead sleepe vpon Adam: and when he was fast a sleepe, he tooke one of his ribbes, & filled vp flesh for it.

22   And our Lord God ^note built the ribbe which he tooke of Adam into a woman: and brought her to Adam.

23   And Adam said: This now, is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shal be called woman, because she was taken out of man.

24   Wherfore man shal leaue his father & mother, & shal cleaue to his wife, & they shal be ^note two in one flesh.

25   And they were both naked; to wit Adam & his wife: and were not ashamed. ^{note note}

^note

^{note note} Chap. III. ^note By the craft of the Diuel speaking in a serpent, our first parents transgressed Gods commandment. ^note 7. who being ashamed vvould hide them selues. 9 but are reproued by God. 14. and besides other particular punishements (yet with promise of a Redemer) are cast out of Paradise.

1   Bvt ^note the serpent also was more subtile then al the beasts of the earth, which our Lord God had made. Which said to the woman:09Q0011 Why hath God commanded you, that

Adam. you should not eate of euerie tree of Paradise?

2   To whom the woman answered: Of the fruite of the trees that are in paradise, we doe eate:

3   but of the fruite of the tree which is in the middes of paradise, God hath commanded vs that we should not eate: and that we should not touch it, lest perhapes we die.

4   And the serpent said to the woman: No you shal not dye the death.

5   For God doth know that in what day soeuer you shal eate therof, your eyes shal be opened: and you shal be as gods, knowing good & euil.

6   The woman therfore sawe that the tree was good to eate, and fayre to the eyes, and delectable to behold: and she tooke of the fruite therof, and did eate, and gaue to her husband, who did eate.

7   And the eyes of them both were opened: and when they ^note perceiued themselues to be naked, they sowed togeather leaues of a figge tree, and made themselues aprons.

8   And hearing the voice of our Lord God walking in paradise at the after none ayre: Adam hid himselfe and so did his wife from the face of our Lord God, amidst the trees of paradise.

9   And our Lord God called Adam, and said to him: Where art thou?

10   Who said: I heard thy voice in paradise: and I feared, because I was naked, and I hid me.

11   To whom he said: And who hath told thee that thou wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eate?

12   And Adam said: The woman, which thou gauest me to be my felow companion, gaue me of the tree, and I did eate.

13   And our Lord God said to the woman: Why hast thou done this? who answered: The serpent deceiued me, & I did eate.

14   And our Lord God said to the serpent: Because thou hast done this thing, ^note accursed art thou among al catle, & beasts of the earth: vpon thy brest shalt thou goe, & ^note earth shalt thou eate al the dayes of thy life.

15   I wil put enmyties betwen thee & the woman, and thy seed and the seed of her:09Q0012 she shal bruise thy head in peeces, & thou shalt lye in waite ^note of her heele.

16   To the woman also he said: I wil multiplie thy trauailes, and thy child bearinges: in trauaile shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be vnder thy husbands power, and he shal haue dominion ouer thee.

17   And to Adam he said: Because thou hast heard the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I c&obar;manded

Adam. thee, that thou shouldest not eate, cursed is the earth in thy woorke: with ^note much toyling shalt thou eate thereof al the dayes of thy life.

18   Thornes and thystles shal it bring forth to thee, & thou shalt eate the herbes of the earth.

19   In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate bread, til thou returne to earth, of which thou wast taken: because 09Q0013 dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt returne.

20   And Adam called the name of his wife, Eue: for because ^noteshe was mother of al the liuing.

21   Our Lord God also made for Adam and his wife garments of skynnes, and clothed them.

22   And said: Loe Adam is become as it were one of vs, knowing good & euil: now therfore09Q0014 lest perhapes he reach forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, & eate, and liue for euer.

23   And our Lord God sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to worke the earth of which he was taken.

24   And he cast out Adam: and09Q0015 placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubins, & a flaming, and a turning sworde, for to keepe the way of the tree of life. ^{note note}

^{note note note}

^note Chap. IIII. ^note VVicked Cain killeth holie Abel. 9. vvhose bloud cryeth for reuenge. 11. Cain a cursed vacabond, 17. hath much issue. 25. Adam also hath Seth, and Seth Enos.

1   And Adam knewe Eue his wife: who conceiued and brought forth Cain, saying: I haue gotten a man through God.

2   And againe she brought forth his brother Abel. And Abel was a shepehard, & Cain a husbandman.

3   And it befel after manie dayes that Cain09Q0016 offred of the fruites of the earth giftes to our Lord.

4   Abel also ^note offred of the first begotten of his flocke, and of their fat: and our Lord09Q0017 had respect to Abel, & to his giftes.

5   But to Cain, and to his giftes he had not respect: & Cain was exceeding angrie, and his countenance abated.

6   And our Lord said to him: Why art thou angrie? and why is thy countinance fallen?

7   If thou doe wel,09Q0018 shalt thou not receiue againe: but if thou doest il, shal not thy sinne forthwith be present at the dore? but the lust therof shal be09Q0019 vnder thee, and thou shalt haue dominion ouer it.

8   And Caine said to Abel his brother: Let vs goe forth abroad. And when they were in the filde, Caine rose vp against his brother Abel, and slewe him.

9   And our Lord said to Cain: Where is Abel thy brother? Who answered: I know not: am I my brothers keper?

10   And he said to him: What hast thou done? ^note the voice of thy brothers bloud crieth to me out of the earth.

11   Now therfore cursed shalt thou be vpon the earth, which hath opened her mouth, & receiued the bloud of thy brother at thy hand.

12   When thou shalt til

Adam. it, it shal not yeld to thee her fruite: a roag and vagabound shalt thou be vpon the earth.

13   And Cain said to our Lord: Myne iniquitie is greater, then that I may deserue pardon.

14   Loe thou doest cast me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face shal I be hid, and I shal be a vagabound & fugitiue on the earth: euerie one therfore that findeth me, shal kil me.

15   And our Lord said to him: No, it shal not so be: but whosoeuer shal kil Cain, shalbe punished seauen fould. And our Lord put a marke on Cain, that whosoeuer found him should not kil him.

16   And09Q0020 Cain went forth from the face of our Lord, and dwelt as a fugitiue on the earth at the east side of Eden.

17   And Cain knewe his wife, who conceiued, and brought forth Enoch: And ^note he built a citie, & called the name therof by the name of his sonne, Enoch.

18   Moreouer Enoch begat Irad, and Irad begat Mauiael, and Mauiael begat Mathusael, and Mathusael begat Lamech.

19   Who tooke ^note two wiues, the name of the one was Ada, and the name of the other Sella.

20   And Ada brought forth Iabel, who was the father of them that dwel in tents, and of heardsmen.

21   And his brothers name was Iubal: he was the father of them that sing on harpe & organes.

22   Sella also brought forth Tubalcain, who was a hammerer & worker in al worke of brasse & iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Noema.

23   And Lamech said to his wiues Ada and Sella: Heare my voice ye wiues of Lamech, harken to my talke: for09Q0021 I haue slaine a m&abar; to the wounding of my selfe, and a stripeling to mine owne drie blowe brewsing.

24   Seuenfould vengeance shal be taken of Cain: but of Lamech seuentie times seuen fould.

25   Adam also knewe his wife again: and she brought forth a sonne, and called his name Seth, saying: God hath giuen me other seede for Abel, whom Cain slewe.

26   But to Seth also was borne a sonne, whom he called Enos, this man09Q0022 began to inuocate the name of our Lord. ^{note note}

^{note note note}

^{note note}

^note Chap. V. ^note The progenie of Adam, & number of their yeares (vvith the death of the rest, & translation of Enoch) in the line of Seth, to Noe & his three sonnes.

1   This is the booke of the generation of Adam. In the day, when God created man, to the likenes of God made he him.

2   Male and female created he them; and blessed them: and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3   And Adam liued a hundred and thirtie yeares; and begat to his owne image and likenes, and called his name Seth.

4   And the dayes of Adam, after he begat Seth, came to eight hundred yeares: and he09Q0023 begat sonnes

Seth. and daughters.

5   And al the time that Adam liued, came to nine hundred and thirtie yeares,09Q0024 and he died.

6   Seth also liued a hundred fiue yeares, and begat Enos.

7   And Seth liued after he begat Enos, eight hundred and seuen yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

8   And al the dayes of Seth came to nine hundred & twelue yeares, and he died.

9   And Enos liued nintie yeares, and begat Cainan.

10   After whose birth he liued eight hundred & fiftene yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

11   And al the dayes of Enos came to nine hundred and fiue yeares, and he died.

12   Cainan also liued seuentie yeares, & begat Malaleel.

13   And Cainan liued after he begat Malaleel, eight hundred & fourtie yeares, and begat sonnes & daughters.

14   And al the dayes of Cainan came to nine hundred and ten yeares, and he died.

15   And Malaleel liued sixtie fiue yeares, and begat Iared.

16   And Malaleel liued after he begat Iared, eight hundred and thirtie yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

17   And al the dayes of Malaleel came to eight hundred nyntie fiue yeares, & he died.

18   And Iared liued a hundred sixtie two yeares, and begat Enoch.

19   And Iared liued after he begat Enoch eight hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

20   And al the dayes of Iared came to nine hundred sixtie two yeares, & he died.

21   Moreouer Enoch liued sixtie fiue yeares, & begat Mathusala.

22   And Enoch ^note walked with God: & liued after he begat Mathusala, three hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

23   And al the dayes of Enoch came to three hundred sixtie fiue yeares.

24   And he walked with God, and 09Q0025 was seene no more: because God ^note tooke him.

25   Mathusala also liued a hundred eightie seuen yeares, & begat Lamech.

26   And Mathusala liued, after he begat Lamech, seuen hundred eightie two yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

27   And al the dayes of Mathusala came to ^note nyne hundred sixtie nine yeares, & he died.

28   And Lamech liued a hundred eightie two yeares, and begat a sonne:

29   and he called his name Noe, saying: This sonne shal comfort vs from the workes & labours of our handes on the earth, which our Lord cursed.

30   And Lamech liued, after he begat Noe, fiue hundred nintie fiue yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

31   And al the dayes of Lamech came to seuen hundred seuentie seuen yeares, and he died. And ^note Noe when he was fiue hundred yeares olde, begat Sem, Cham, and Iaphat.

Seth. ^{note note note note}

Chap. VI. ^note Mans sinnes cause of the deluge. 4. Giants vvere then vpon the earth. 8. Noe being iust vvas commanded to build the Arke, 18. vvherin he vvith seuen persons more, and the seede of other liuing things vvere saued.

1   And after that men began to be multiplied vpon the earth, & had procreation of daughters:

2   The09Q0027 ^note sonnes of God seing the daughters of men, that they were faire, tooke to them selues wiues out of al, which they had chosen

3   And God said: My spirit shal not remaine in man for euer,

Noe. because he is flesh: & his dayes shal be09Q0028 an h&ubar;dred & twentie yeares.

4   And09Q0029 Giants were vpon the earth in those dayes. For after the sonnes of God did companie with the daughters of men, and they brought forth children, these be the mightie of the olde world, famous men.

5   And God seing the malice of men was much on the earth: and that09Q0030 al the cogitation of their hart was bent to euil at al times,

6   it ^noterepented him that he had made man on the earth. And touched inwardly with sorrowe of hart,

7   I wil, saith he: cleane take away man, whom I haue created, from the face of the earth; from man euen to beastes, from that which creepeth euen vnto the foules of the ayre. for it repenteth me that I haue made them.

8   But Noe found grace before our Lord:

9   These are the generations of Noe:09Q0031 Noe was a iust and perfect man in ^notehis generations, he did walke with God.

10   And he begat three sonnes, Sem, Cham, & Iapheth.

11   And the earth was corrupted before God, and was replenished with iniquitie.

12   And when God had perceiued that the earth was corrupted (for al flesh had corrupted his way vpon the earth)

13   he said to Noe: The end of al flesh is come before me, the earth is replenished with iniquitie from the face of them, & I wil destroy them with the earth.

14   Make thee an arke of timber planke: cabinets shalt thou make in the arke, and shalt pitch it within, and without with bitume.

15   And thus shalt thou make it. The length of the Arke shal be09Q0032 three hundred cubitts: fiftie cubitts the breadth, and thirtie cubitts the height of it.

16   Thou shalt make a windowe in the arke, and in a cubit finish the toppe of it: and the dore of the arke thou shalt set at the side belowe, middle chambers, and third loftes shalt thou make in it.

17   Behold I wil bring the waters of a great floud vpon the earth, that I may destroy al flesh, wherin there is breath of life vnder heauen. Al thinges that are in the earth, shal be consumed:

18   and I wil establish my couenant with thee: and thou shalt enter into the arke, thou and thy sonnes, and thy wife, and the wiues of thy sonnes with thee.

19   And of al liuing creatures of al flesh, thou shalt bring payres into the arke, that they may liue with thee, of the male sexe, and the female.

20   Of foules according to their kind, and of beastes in their kind, & of al that creepeth on the earth according to their kind:

Noe. payres of al sortes shal enter in with thee, that they may liue.

21   Thou shalt take therfore with thee of al meates, that may be eaten, and thou shalt lay them vp with thee: and they shal be meate for thee and them.

22   Noe therfore ^note did
al thinges, which God commanded him. ^{note note note note}

^note

^note

^note

Chap. VII. ^note Noe vvith his familie, and paires of al kindes of beastes and foules, being entred into the arke, 12. it raineth fourtie daies and fourtie nights. 21. Al men and other liuing creatures on the earth, without the arke, are destroyed.

1   And our Lord said to him: Get thee in, thou and al thy house into the arke: for I haue sene thee iust ^note in my sight in this generation.

2   Of al beasts that are ^note cleane, thou shalt take seauen, and seauen, male & female:

3   but of the beasts that are vncleane two and two, male & female. Yea and of the foules also of the ayre seauen & seauen, male and female: that seede may be saued vpon the face of the whole earth.

4   For yet a while, and after seauen dayes, I wil rayne vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights: and I wil cleane destroy al substance, that I haue made, from the face of the earth.

5   Noe therfore did al thinges, which our Lord had commanded him.

6   And he was six hundred yeares old, when the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth.

7   And Noe entred and his sonnes, his wife and the wiues of of his sonnes with him into the arke, because of the waters of the floud.

8   Of beasts also the cleane and the vncleane, & of foules, and of al that moueth vpon the earth,

9   two & two went to Noe into the arke, male and female, as our Lord had commanded Noe.

10   And after the seauen dayes were passed, the waters of the floud flowed ouer the earth.

11   In the six hundred yeare of the life of Noe, in the second moneth, in the seauententh day of the moneth, al the fountaines of the ^note greate deapth were broken vp, and ^note the floud gates of heauen were opened:

12   and the raine fel vpon the earth fourtie dayes and fourtie nights.

13   In the verie point of that day entred Noe, and Sem, and Cham, & Iapheth his sonnes: and his wife, and the three wiues of his sonnes with them into the arke:

14   they and euerie beast according to

Noe. their kind, and al cattle in their kinde, and al that moueth vpon the earth according to their kind, and al foule according to their kind, al birds, and al that fly

15   went to Noe into the arke, two and two of al flesh, wherin there was breath of life.

16   And such as entred in, male and female of al flesh did enter in, as God had commanded him: and our Lord09Q0034 shut him in on the out side.

17   And the floud grew fourtie daies vpon the earth: and the waters increased, and lifted vp the arke on high from the earth.

18   For they ouerflowed excedingly: and filled al on the face of the earth: moreouer the arke fleeted vpon the waters.

19   And the waters preuailed out of measure vpon the earth: and al the hiegh mountaines vnder the whole heauen were couered.

20   Fiftene cubites higher was the water aboue the mountaines, which it couered.

21   And al flesh was consumed that moued vpon the earth, of foule, of cattle, of beasts, and of al creepers, that creepe vpon the earth: al men,

22   and al things, wherin there is breath of life on the earth, died.

23   And he cleane destroied al substance, that was vpon the earth, from man euen to beast, as wel it that creepeth, as the foules of the ayre: and they were destroied from of the earth:09Q0035 but onlie Noe remained, and they that were with him in the arke.

24   And the waters held on aboue the earth an hundred fiftie dayes. ^{note note note}

The end of the first age.

^note

Here according to our purpose mentioned before, we wil briefly recite certaine principal points of Religion, taught and obserued in the first age. In which the foundations of the true maner of seruing God (that should be continued to the end of the world) were laid, and prospered in some, as appeareth in these seuen first chapters of Genesis. But first of al, we shal in two words repete (as it is clerly geathered in the same holie Scripture) the state of man before, and immediatly after his fall, being the subiect to whom al this pertayneth.

After therfore that God had created other things, both in heauen and earth, last of al he made Man, to his owne image and likenes, with vnderstanding and freewil, therin like to Angels, and superior to al other creatures, and so made him Lord and maister of al earthlie things. ^note Neither were these the greatest benefits which God bestowed on man: for his diuine goodnes indued also this his reasonable creature, with innocencie & original iustice, whereby al things were most rightly ordered within him, and about him. His mind, wil, and reason were obedient to God; his senses & inferior part of his soule were subiect to reason; his flesh and bodie obeyed the spirite; and al earthlie creatures obeyed him. ^note God also adorned man with excellent knowledge, both natural and supernatural. And albeit his bodie was of corruptible substance, yet the same, and al his posteritie, if they had not sinned, should haue benne conserued, and without dying, haue benne translated to euerlasting life. ^note Thus man was placed in Paradise, and Eue there made of a ribbe of his side, to be his mate and vnseparable companion, as man and wife ioyned in Mariage, with Gods ble&esset;ing, for increase and multiplication. As appeareth in the two first chapters of this booke.

But God hauing made man right, he intangled him selfe (as holie Scripture speaketh) with infinite questions. ^note For the diuel enuying mans felicitie inuegled our mother Eue with questions and lies, and then by her, first seduced and deceiued, allured also Adam to the transgre&esset;ion of Gods commandment. And so they lost original iustice, which Adam had receiued for him selfe and al mankind: and al proceeding from them by natural propagation

are borne the children of wrath, in original sinne contracted from Adam, slaues of the diuel, not only subiect to temporal death, but also are excluded for euer from heauenly bli&esset;e and glorie: except by Christs redemption particularly applied, they be restored to grace & iustice in this life. ^note

And touching Adam and Eue, whose sinne was not original but actual, directly committed by them selues, Gods mercie so reclamed them by new grace, that they despared not (as Cain, and some orhers did afterwards) but with hope of remi&esset;ion were sorie and penitent, and accordingly receiued penance, and redemption. ^note For God brought Adam from his sinne (as holie writte testifieth) and the same is collected of Eue, God shewing the like signes of his prouident mercie towards them both, of which we shal by and by note some for example.

Now let vs see the more principal points of faith and Religion professed and obserued by the Church of God before Noes floud. First they beleued in one Eternal and Omnipotent God, who made the whole world and al things therin of nothing. which is easely confessed of al that are not plaine Atheists, and may be proued against them by reason. ^note And therfore Adam and other Patriarches could not erre in this Article, nor others be ignorant therof, except they were very wicked.

The Mysterie also of the Blessed Trinitie, three Diuine Persons in one God, though farre aboue the reach of mans reason, yet was beleued more expresly by some, more implied by others, and conserued from age to age by tradition, at least amongst the chiefe heades and leaders. wherupon Moyses afterwardes insinuated the same great Mysterie, by diuers wordes and phrases, writing of God and his workes. ^note The two wordes God created if they be rightly considered importe so much. For the word Elohim, God, in the plural number, signifyeth pluralitie of Persons (for manie Gods it can not signifie, seeing there is but one God) and the verbe bara, created, in the singular number signifyeth one God in nature and substance, albeit three Persons. For whatsoeuer God doth in creatures, is the worke of the whole Trinitie: though holie Scriptures do oftentimes appropriate some worke to one Diuine Person, some to an other. which also proueth distinction of Persons in God. ^note So the wordes God created heauen and earth signifie the Father, to whom powre is attributed. In the beginning, signifie the Sonne, to whom wisdome is appropriated, and the words, The Sprite of God moued ouer the waters, signifie the Holie Ghost, by whose bountiful goodnes, the waters were made fruictful. Likewise Gods owne wordes: Let vs make man signifie the pluralitie of Persons, and Image and likenes in the singular number, signifie one God.

Men also knew by faith manie things perteyning to them selues. As that eht bodie was made of the slime of the earth: the soule not produced of anie

thing formerly existing, but created immediatly of nothing and naturally immortal: that the soule of Adam was indued with grace and iustice: that he fel from that happie state, by yelding to tentation, and breaking Gods commandment of abstinence: that for the same sinne Adam and Eue were cast forth of Paradise, and al mankind subiect to death, and other calamities. ^note

For remedie against sinne, & restauration to grace, they beleeued in Christ promised to be borne of the womans seede, who by his death should conquer the wicked serpent, deliuer man from captiuitie, and restore him to spiritual life. ^note And this is the cause of the perpetual enmitie betwen the woman (especially the most blessed Virgin Mother, of whom Christ tooke flesh) and the serpent, and betwen her seede, the spiritual children of Christ, and the serpents seede, the whole companie of the wicked. Of this battle and conquest Targhum Hierosolimitanum thus speaketh. There shal be remedie and health to the children of wemen, but to thee, o serpent, there shal be no medicine, yea they shal tread thee vnder their feete, in the latter dayes, by the powre of Christ their King. ^note Likewise Gods familiar conuersation with diuers men in mans shape (Gen. 2. 3. 4. 6. and 7. was a signe of Christs incarnation And The Sacrifices immolated did prefigurate his death, in respect wherof it is said in the Apocalips, The Lambe was slaine from the beginniing of the world. But more expresly S. Paul testifieth, that Abel, Enoch, and Noe beleeued in Christ, naming them for example of the first age, and others of other times, and in the end concludeth, that manie more being approued by the same faith, receiued not the promise (to wit in their life time) God prouiding that they without others (of the new Law) should not be consummate, that is, not admitted into heauenlie ioyes & fruition of God, vntil the way of eternal glorie were opened by our Lords Pa&esset;ion and Ascension. ^note

Neither did the true seruants of God, in those first dayes, only beleeue in hart, but they also profe&esset;ed their faith, & Religion by external Rites, namely in offering of Sacrifice (the most special homage & seruice to God) which is clerly testified, cha. 4. as wel bloudie in figure of Christs Pa&esset;ion, as vnbloudie in figure of the holie Eucharist. ^note Also the accepting of the one rightly offered by Abel, & reiecting the other not donne sincerly by Cain, was declared by external signes, which Cain disdayning and enuying his brothers good worke, knowing his owne to be naught, of mere malice killed his brother.

Besides Sacrifice they had also other Rites in publique Assemblies, praying and inuocating the name of our Lord, in more solemne maner, from Enos time and so forvvard, according to that is recorded of him, in the end of the fourth chapter. for douteles Adam, Abel, and Seth did also pray and call vpon God, and therfore it was some addition or increase of solemnitie in the seruice of God, which is referred to Enos, ^note

They had moreouer other ceremonies: of the seuenth day particularly blessed and sanctified by God, kept holie by Adam and other Patriarches, as Abben Ezra witnesseth in his commentaries vpon the tenne commandements. ^note Of abstayning from meates, for it semeth the more godlie sorte did eate no flesh, before the floud, which was after permitted. ^note Obseruation of cleane and vncleane beastes for Sacrifice. ^note Of peculiar places dedicated to religious vses where people mette together to pray. ^note Likwise diuers other things in the first age were figures of Christs Sacraments: the Spirite of God geuing powre to the waters, (as Tertullian S. Hierom and others expound it) and the floud of Noe, by S. Peters testimonie, were figures of Baptisme. ^note Mariage instituted in Paradise, is the very paterne of holie Matrimonie, a Sacrament in the Church of Christ, where one man and one wife are onlie lawful, and not more at once in anie wise, Christ reforming that which in Moyses law was tolerated (for hardnes of mens hartes, and for auoyding murther, to put away one wife, and take an other) to this first institution as it was in the beginning, two in one flesh, not three nor more. ^note The repentance of Adam and Eue was a perfect and examplare figure of the Sacrament of Penance. ^note First they were ashamed, couering their nakednes, and hiding them selues, which shewed their griefe and sorow for the sinne committed. ^note Secondly they confe&esset;ed their fault, and by what meanes it happened. ^note For God examining Adam, he answered truly and simply saing: The woman which thou gauest me, to be my companion, gaue me of the tree and I did eate. Likwise Eue confe&esset;ed sincerly, saying: The serpent deceiued me, and I did eate. Thirdly God gaue them penance (besides death before threatned and other penalties annexed) that Eue should in paine and trauel bring forth her children; and Adam should eate his bread, in the sweate of his face. ^note And withal cast them forth of Paradise. But not forth of his fauoure, as appeared by his making them garments of skinnes, granting them and their posteritie, the rest of the earth to liue and labour in, especially to serue him, and do penance, with admonition to remember, that of dust man was made, and into dust he shal returne. ^note Al which were signes of loue, and that finally he would bring them, and manie more to eternal saluation.

The first borne and heades of families were Priests al the time of the law of nature, vntil the law being changed, God tooke Priests only of the stock of Aaron, and the rest of the Leuites to a&esset;ist them in that function, Aaron & his sonnes thou shalt appoint, saith our Lord, ouer the seruice of Priesthood, for I haue taken the Leuites of the children of Israël for euerie first borne. ^{note note} And S. Paul teacheth, that changing of Priesthood and changing of the law goe alwayes together, shewing euidently that euerie lawful communitie or commonwealth vnder God, hath external Priesthood. So that if there had benne no distinct order of external Priesthood in the law

of nature, or now were none in the law of grace (as Protestantes say there is not) there were no law at al. See more of this point in the Annotations, chap. 7. ad Hebre. Here we only obserue that Abel, Seth, Enos, and other Patriarches were Priestes, and exercised priestlie functions: yea Cain also was a Priest (though a bad one) and offered Sacrifice.

But external offices or ministerie, without a wel disposed mind, and sincere vertues producing Good workes, did neuer iustifie anie man. ^note And therfore Cains Sacrifice, offered with a peruerse mind, was not respected by God, as Abels was: wherupon he becoming worse, and more malicious, God sharply reproued his anger and enuie, conceiued without iust cause, saying: If thou doest wel, shalt thou not receiue againe: but if thou doest il, shal not thy sinne forwith be present at the dore? clerly shewing that euerie one shal receiue according to his workes.

This place also euidently sheweth Freewil, yea in a wicked man. ^note For this expostulation had neuer benne vttered, by our most reasonable Lord, and Maister, if Cain had benne depriued of freewil. For he might haue excused himselfe, and must needes haue benne holden excused, if he had benne forced to do as he did. But God charged him as inexcusable, and as one that knew, or ought to know, that he had freewil. And doth further inculcate, that he had, and should haue powre, and freewil ouer his concupiscence, to correct the same, if he would, saying: The lust therof shal be vnder thee, and thou shalt haue domion ouer it. So that no sinner, be he neuer so wicked, much lesse a iust man, lacketh freewil. yet Luther abhorreth the very word, and Caluin wisheth it out of the world.

Temporal punishment is proued to be due for sinne remitted, by that both death, and other penalties are inflicted, by Gods iustice vpon men, after iustification, and by the particular punishments laid vpon Adam and Eue, confe&esset;ing their faultes. ^note

Purgatorie is also proued by the same iustice of God. ^note For when anie dieth penitent, and yet haue not made ful satisfaction, they must suffer for that remaineth after death, and be purged, before they can enter into rest. which remnant of debt our B. Sauiour calleth The last farthing, and saith, it must be payed. The Iewes also at this day hold the doctrin of Purgatorie by tradition. And consequently they Pray for soules departed, not only to God, but also to the ancient Patriarches (which likewise sheweth Inuocation of Saincts) in these wordes: Yee fathers which sleepe in Hebron, open to him the gates of Eden. that is of Paradise, which was planted in Eden. ^note And Hebron is the place where Adam was buried, and his sepulcher religiously conserued in the time of Iosue, aboue 1500 yeares after his death. ^note The same is the place which Abraham bought, and there buried Sara: where also him selfe, and Isaac, and Iacob were buried: and to which finally

the bodies of the twelue sonnes of Iacob were translated from Sichem. As Iosephus writeth. And Sichem also was specially honored, because such persons had benne buried there, as S. Hierom witne&esset;eth, of his owne knowledge in his time.

Againe by religious care of burying the dead in this first age, Enoch was more certainly knowen to be Translated aliue, and not to be dead. ^note For the seuentie interpreters, and S. Paul say He was not found, which importeth that they sought diligently for him, and that his bodie could not be found, for God translated him.

By al which we see mutual offices, and communion of good workes amongst good men aliue and dead, which is called C&obar;munion of Saincts. ^note And herein Angels lacked not their offices. For God set Cherubins to kepe the gate of Paradise, that neither man should enter, being iustly expelled for sinne, nor diuels, as S. Augustin noteth, lest they should take fruite of the tree of life, and geuing it to men, allure them to more sinne. ^note And now Saincts being exalted to Angels glorie, haue like honorable offices towards other men, as Angels haue. ^note Yea the bloud of Abel vniustly shed by Cain, and iustly to be reuenged by God, sheweth the peculiar honour, which God bestoweth vpon his Saints, for their vertues and merites in this life, & especially in their death For Precious in the sight of our Lord, is the death of his Saincts.

Hence also is proued, that seeing in this life the good are afflicted, and the bad oftentimes prosper temporally, there must nedes be an other Court of exact Iustice, and an other Reaconing day, wherin euerie one shal receiue, according as they haue donne good or euil. which was sufficiently intimated by Gods discu&esset;ing, and manifesting Abels and Cains deserts, which were hidden before, and in part rewarding them accordingly, yet reseruing the ful reward of the one, and punishment of the other to the next world. ^{note note} Of the Iudge and his sentence Enoch (alleadged by S. Iude the Apostle) proficied clerly, saying: Behold our Lord cometh in his holie thousands, to doe iudgement aganst al, and to reproue al the impious, of al the workes of their impietie, wherby they haue donne impiously, and of al the hard things which impious sinners haue spoken against him. Thus holie Enoch preached touching the wicked, which thought there was no Iudgement to come, nor Iudge to be feared.

At this Iudgement al shal appeare in bodie and soule returning to life. ^note For that Al men shal rise from death is proued, by the immortalitie of mans soule, which God did not make nor produce of corruptible matter, but immediatly Breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a liuing soule. so the soule being immortal, and hauing a natural

inclination to the bodie, mans natural perfection requireth the coniunction of bodie and soule. for neither soule nor bodie separated is a man, but both ioyned in one subsistence are a man, in so much that mankind should perish, except the bodies shal rise againe, and liue with the soules. And then shal the bodies be qualified according to the state of the soules, happie or miserable for euer.

Of Eternal life the translation of Enoch is a figure. ^note For seeing God preserueth his corruptible bodie so long, from death and infirmitie, it is a token and manifest signe, that by the same powre of God, the bodies of men shal at last day, after that al men are once dead, rise againe, and remaine with the soules for euer. ^note The good in Eternal ioy: the wicked in Eternal paine. ^note Both signified by the custodie of the gate of Paradise by Angels; who for euer kepe out those, that are stil defiled with sinne, and so they depart into fire euerlasting, and admit the innocent and iust into the kingdome of heauen, which is euerlasting ioy and perfect felicitie.

Thus we see the face and briefe summe of Religion, in the beginning of the world, til the floud: and the state of the Church, which was alwayes Visible, consisting of men good and bad, with a continual Succession of Rulers, as wel spiritual as temporal. ^note For the first borne were both Priestes and Princes in euerie familie. And amongst the same one euer chief of al. ^note From which ranke Cain was excluded, or rather excluded him selfe, by Going forth from the face of our Lord. wherupon holie Moyses reciteth this Monarchical succe&esset;ion of one chiefe, and Supreme Head, from Adam by the line of Seth, Enos, Cainan, Malaleel, Iared, Enoch, Mathusala, Lamech, and Noe. Neuertheles he setteth downe also the progenie of Cain, the first beginner of a worldlie, schismatical, and heretical conuenticle, opposite to the Citie of God. ^note He denied Gods prouidence (as Thargum Hierosolomitanum testifieth) protesting to Abel, That there was no Iustice nor Iudge, nor other world then this, no reward for vertue, nor punishment for sinne, and so desperatly he killed Abel. of these negatiue principles proceeded other like detestable opinions, and most wicked life, sauage and barbarous crueltie, and al kind of impietie. ^note And in proce&esset;e of time albeit manie remained in true faith, and vnitie of the Church, yet by conuersation with such miscreantes, especially by occasion of Mariages betwen the faithful and infidels, almost the whole world was corrupted in maners. But Noe was iust and perfect. In punishment therefore of so great and enormious sinnes, God sent the general floud, wherby al Cains progenie, and al other infidels were wholly destroyed and extinguished, and the true Church notably purged; onlie iust Noe and his familie reserued ^note By whom the same true Church was continued, and the world againe replenished with men. ^note

Noe. Chap. VIII. The waters diminishing by litle and litle, 6. Noe sendeth forth a crow, 8. after him a doue, thrise: ^note 18. lastly goeth forth with al that were with him in the arke. 20. erecteth an Altar, and offereth Sacrifice.

1   And God remembred Noe, and al the beasts, and al the cattle, which were with him in the arke, and brought a winde vpon the earth, and the waters decreased. ^note

2   And the fountaines of the depth, and the floud gates of heauen, were shut vp: and the rayne from heauen was stayd.

3   And the waters returned from the earth going & comming: and they begane to decrease after a hundred fiftie dayes.

4   And the arke rested the seauenth moneth, the seauen & twentith day of the moneth vpon the mountaines of Armenia.

5   But the waters for al that were going and decreasing vntil the tenth moneth: for in the tenth moneth, the first day of the moneth, the topps of the mountaines appeared.

6   And after that fourtie dayes were passed, Noe opening the windowe of the arke, which he had made, let forth a crowe:

7   which went forth, and did ^note not returne, til the waters were dried vpon the earth.

8   He sent forth also a doue after him, to see if the waters were ceased yet vpon the face of the earth.

9   Which finding not where her foote might rest, returned to him into the arke: for the waters were vpon the whole earth: and he stretched forth his hand, and caught her and brought her into the arke.

10   And hauing expected yet seauen moe dayes, againe he let forth a doue out of the arke.

11   But she came to him at euentide, carrying a bough of an oliue tree, that had greene leaues in her mouth. Noe therfore vnderstood that the waters were ceased vpon the earth.

12   And he expected yet neuertheles other seauen dayes: and he sent forth a doue, which returned not any more vnto him.

13   Therfore in the sixt hundred and one yeare, the first moneth, the first day of the moneth the waters were cleane diminished vpon the earth: and Noe opening the roofe of the arke, looked, and sawe that the face of the earth was dried.

14   In ^note the second moneth, the seuen & twentyth day of the moneth the earth was dried.

15   And God spake to Noe, saying:

Noe.

16   Goe forth of the arke, thou & thy wife, thy sonnes and the wiues of thy sonnes with thee.

17   Al cattle, that are with thee of al flesh, as wel in foules, as in beastes, & al creepers, that creepe vpon the earth, bring out with thee, & goe yee vpon the earth: increase and multiplie vpon it.

18   Noe therfore went forth, and his sonnes: his wife, and the wiues of his sonnes with him.

19   Yea and al cattle, beastes, and creepers that crepe vpon the earth, according to their kinde, went forth out of the arke.

20   And Noe09Q0036 built an Altar to our Lord: and taking of al cattle and foules, that were cleane, offered Holocausts vpon the Altar.

21   And our Lord smelled a sweete sauour, and said: I wil no more curse the earth for men: for the sense and cogitation of mans hart are prone to euil from their youth: I wil no more therfore strike euerie liuing soule as I haue done.

22   Al the dayes of the earth, ^note seedtime and haruest, cold and heate, sommer and winter, night and day shal not rest. ^{note note}

Noe. Chap. IX. ^note God reneweth the ble&esset;ing of multiplication, 3 alloweth the eating of flesh, but not of bloud 8. promiseth neuer againe to destroy the world by water 22. Cham saw, and reported his fathers nakednes, which Sem and Iapheth couered. 24. For which he his cursed, and they are blessed.

1   And God blessed Noe and his sonnes. And he said to them: ^note Increase, & multiplie, and replenish the earth.

2   And your terror and dread be it vpon al the beasts of the earth, and vpon al the foules of the ayre, with al that moue vpon the earth: al the fishes of the sea are deliuered to your hand.

3   And09Q0037 al that moueth, and liueth shal be yours for meat: euen as the grene herbes haue I deliuered al to you.

4   Sauing that09Q0038 flesh with bloud you shal not eate.

5   For I wil require the bloud of your soules at the hands of al beasts: and at the hand of man, at the hand of eech man, and of his brother, wil I require the soule of man.

6   Who soeuer shal sheed mans bloud, his bloud shal be shed: for to the image of God man was made.

7   But increase you and multiplie, and goe vpon the earth, and fil it.

8   Thus also said God to Noe, and to his sonnes with him:

9   Behold I wil establish my couenant with you, and with your seede after you:

10   and with euerie liuing soule, that is with you, as wel in al foules as in cattle & beasts of the earth that are come forth out of the arke, and in al beasts of the earth.

11   I wil establish my couenant with you, and al flesh shal be no more destroyed with the waters of a floud, neither shal there be from henceforth a floud to wast the earth.

12   And God said: This is the signe of the couenant which I geue betwen me and you, and betwen euerie liuing soule, that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13    ^notemy bowe wil I set in the clouds, and it shal be the signe of a couenant betwen me and betwen the earth.

14   And when I shal couer the element with cloudes, my bowe shal appeare in the cloudes:

15   and I shal remember my couenant with you, and with euerie liuing soule that beareth flesh: and there shal no more be waters of a floud, to distroy al flesh.

16   And my bowe shal be in the cloudes, and I shal see it, and I shal remember the euerlasting couenant, that was made betwen

Noe. God and euerie liuing soule of al flesh which is vpon the earth.

17   And God said to Noe: This shal be the signe of the couenant, which I established, betwen me & al flesh of the earth.

18   The sonnes therfore of Noe, that came out of the arke, were Sem, Cham, and Iaphet: and Cham he is the father of Chanaan.

19   These three are the sonnes of Noe: and ^noteof these was al mankind spred ouer the whole earth.

20   And Noe a husbandman began to til the grounde, and planted a vineyard.

21   And drinking of the wine was made 09Q0039 drunke, and naked in his tabernacle.

22   Which when Cham the father of Chanaan, had seene, to wit that his fathers priuities were bare, he told it to his two bretheren abroad.

23   But in dede Sem and Iapheth put a cloake vpon their shoulders, and going backward, couered the priuities of their father: and their faces were turned away, and they sawe not their fathers priuities.

24   And Noe awaking from the wine, when he had learned what his younger sonne had done to him,

25   he said:09Q0040 Cursed be Chanaan, a seruant of seruantes shal he be vnto his bretheren.

26   And he said: Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, Chanaan be his seruant.

27   09Q0041God enlarge Iapheth, and dwel he in the tabernacles of Sem, and Chanaan be his seruant.

28   And Noe liued after the floud three hundred fiftie yeares.

29   And al his dayes were in the whole nyne hundred fiftie yeares: and he died. ^{note note note}

^{note note note}

Sem. Chap. X. The genealogie of Noes children, by whom the world was increased againe, after the floud.

1   These are the generations of the sonnes of Noe, Sem, Cham, and Iapheth: and children were borne to them after the floud.

2   The children of Iapheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Iauan, and Thubal, and Mosoch, and Thiras.

3   Moreouer the children of Gomer: Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma.

4   And the sonnes of Iauan: Elisa and Tharsis, the Cetims and the Dodanims.

5   Of these were diuided the Iles of Nations in their countries, ech one according to his tongue and their families in their nations.

6   And the sonnes of Cham: Chus, and Mesraim, and Phut, and Chanaan.

7   And the sonnes of Chus: Saba, and Heuila, & Sabatha, and Regma, & Sabathaca. The sonnes of Regma: Saba, and Dadan.

8   Moreouer Chus begat09Q0042 Nemrod: he began to be mightie in the earth,

9   and he was a valiaunt hunter ^notebefore our Lord. Therof rose a prouerbe: As it were Nemrod the valiaunt hunter before our Lord.

10   And the beginning of his kingdome was Babylon, and Arach, and Achad, and Chalanne in the land of Sennaar.

11   Out of that land came forth09Q0043 Assur, and builded Niniue, and the streets of the citie, and Chale.

12   Resen also betwen Niniue and Chale: this is the great citie.

13   But Mesraim also begat the Ludims, & the Anamims, & the Laabims, the Nephthuims,

14   and the Phetrusims, and the Casluims: of whom came forth the Philistims & the Caphtorims.

15   And Canaan begat Sidon his first begotten, Hethæus,

16   and Iebusæus, and Amorrhæus, and Gergesæus,

17   Heuæus and Aracæus: Sinæus,

18   and Aradius, Samaræus, and Hamathæus: and afterwardes were spred the people of the Chananits.

19   And the limitts of Chanaan were from Sidon as we come to Gerara euen to Gaza, vntil thou enter to Sodoma & Gomorrha, and Adama, & Seboim euen to Lesa.

20   These are the children of Cham in their kinreds, and tongues, and generations & lands, and nations.

21   Of Sem also ^note father of al the children of Herber, the elder brother of Iapheth were borne.

22   The children of Sem: Ælam and Assur, and

Sem. Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.

23   The children of Aram: Vs, and Hul, and Gether, and Mes.

24   And Arphaxad also begat Sale, of whom was borne Heber.

25   And to Heber were borne two sonnes: the name of the one was Phaleg, ^notebecause that in his dayes was the earth diuided: and his brothers name was Iectan.

26   The which Iectan begat Elmodad, and Saleph, and Asarmoth, Iare,

27   and Aduram, and Vzal, and Decla,

28   and Ebal, and Abimael, Saba,

29   and Ophir, and Heuila, and Iobab. al these were the children of Iectan.

30   And their dwelling was from Messa as we goe on as far as Sephar a mountaine in the east.

31   These are the children of Sem according to their kinred and tongues, and countries in their nations.

32   These are the families of Noe, according to their peoples & nations. Of these were 09Q0044 the nations diuided on the earth after the floud. ^{note note note}

Sem. ^note Chap. XI. God hindereth the vaine purpose of building a hiegh towre, ^note 7. by confounding mens tongues. 9. wherof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogie of Sem to Abram.

1   And the earth was of one tongue, and al one speach.

2   And when they remoued from the east, they found a plaine in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.

3   And eech one said to his neighboure: Come, let vs make bricke, and bake them with fire. And they had bricke in steed of stone, and bitume in steed of morter:

4   and they said: Come,09Q0045 let vs make vs a citie and a towre, the toppe wherof may reach to heauen: and let vs renowne our name before we be dispersed into al lands.

5   And our Lord descended to see the citie and the towre, which the children of Adam builded,

6   and he said: Behold, it is one people, and one tongue is to al: and

Sem. they haue begunne to doe this, neyther wil they leaue of from their determinations, til they accomplish them indede.

7   Come ye therfore,09Q0046 let vs goe downe, and there confound their tongue, that none may heare is neighbours voice.

8   And so our Lord dispersed them from that place into al lands, and they ceased to build the citie.

9   And therfore the name therof was called Babel, ^note because there the tongue of the whole earth was confounded: and from thence our Lord dispersed them vpon the face of al countries.

10   These are ^note the generations of Sem: Sem was an hundred yeares old when he begat Arphaxad, two yeares after the floud.

11   And Sem liued after he begat Arphaxad, fiue hundred yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

12   Moreouer Arphaxad liued thirtie fiue yeares, and09Q0047 begat Sale.

13   And Arphaxad liued after he begat Sale, three hundred three yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

14   Sale also liued thirtie yeares, and begat Heber.

15   And Sale liued after he begat Heber, foure hundred three yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

16   And Heber liued thirtie foure yeares, and begat Phaleg.

17   And Heber liued after he begat Phaleg, foure hundred thirtie yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

18   Phaleg also liued thirtie yeares, and begat Reu.

19   And Phaleg liued after he begat Reu, two hundred nine yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.

20   And Reu liued thirtie two yeares, and begat Sarug.

21   Reu liued also after he begat Sarug, two hundred seauen yeares: and begat sonnes & daughters.

22   And Sarug liued thirtie yeares, and begat Nachor.

23   And Sarug liued after he begat Nachor, two hundred yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

24   And Nachor liued nine and twentie yeares, and begat Thare.

25   And Nachor liued after he begot Thare, an hundred and nintene yeares: and begat sonnes and daughters.

26   And Thare liued seauentie yeares, and begat Abram and Nachor, and Aran.

27   And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begat Abram, Nachor, & Aran. Moreouer Aran begat Lot.

28   And Aran died before Thare his father, in the land of his natiuitie in ^note Vr of the Chaldees.

29   And Abram & Nachor maried wiues: the name of Abram his wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor his Wife, Melcha the daughter of Aran the father of Melcha, and the father of Iescha.

30   And Sarai was barren, neither had she

Sem. children.

31   Thare therfore ^note tooke Abram his sonne, and Lot the sonne of Aran, his sonnes sonne, & Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his sonne, and brought them out of Vr of the Chaldees, for to goe into the land of Chanaan: and they came as farre as Haran, and dwelled there.

32   And the dayes of Thare came to two hundred fiue yeares, and died in Haran. ^{note note note}

^note The end of the second age.

From Noes floud to Abrahams going forth of his countrie. The space of 368. yeares. ^note

No man can wel doubt nor wil denie, that the same Church continued al the second age which was in the first, considering that Noe liued aboue 50. yeares after the birth of Abraham, and Sem 150. more: and that these three, and some others of that time are renowmed in holie Scripture, for sincere profe&esset;ors of true Religion. ^note But for more manifestation of their faith, and that the Church was then very conspicuous, we shal repete certaine principal pointes of Religion profe&esset;ed and practised al that time, by a continual knowne visible companie vnited in one mystical bodie: though in the meane while, the wicked sprong and grew in number and worldlie force, much oppre&esset;ing et neuer suppre&esset;ing the good. ^note

First iust Noe coming forth of the arke with his familie, professed his religious mind to One God almightie, supreme Lord of al, by Offering external voluntarie, speedie, pure, solemne, and bountiful Sacrifice of Holocaustes, as a Priest vpon an Altar. ^note After which most gratful office, God making a couenant with him and his seede, neuer againe to destroy the world by water, confirmed the same by the signe of the rainbow, which represented the second Person of the B. Trinitie, the Sonne of God, Christ our Lord to be borne The S&obar;ne of man, & extended vpon the Crosse: in whom Noe beleeuing was instituted heyre of the iustice, which is by faith in our Redemer. ^note

VVe haue here againe Gods operatiue blessing, with the effect of increase and multiplication, the issue of Noe by his three sonnes, in short time making manie Nations. ^note By the way also we haue an example of Fathers solemne Blessing and Cursing their children. The effectes wherof succeded afterwardes accordingly. Likwise in this age was geuen a particular precept Not to eate bloud. ^note And Noe obserued distinction of Cleane beastes, offering Sacrifice in them only, as before the floud, he was commanded to take moe of them into the arke, then of the Vncleane. ^note

In that so ample mention is made of sinne and wickednes, there is no doubt, but Noe, the preacher of iustice, admonished and exhorted sinners to Repentance: yea he Punished Cham & Chanaan, by his curse in their posteritie. ^note And God him selfe Threatned to exacte the bloud of man vniustly shed. In the meane time Inflicted also some punishment vpon the builders of Babel, by confounding their tongues. ^note And that by the Ministerie of Angels.

Which punishment in part, and threates of more importe a General

Resurrection, and Iudgement, where al things shal be exactly discussed and Iudged. ^note And then wil folow Eternal life to the good: and Euerlasting paine to the damned. ^note

Al these points of Religion (and others mentioned in the former age, and no doubt taught by Noe & his sonnes) shew clerly a Visible Church, consisting of good and bad. ^{note note} Noe remaning the same man as before the floud; Sem and Iapheth are commended and ble&esset;ed for wel doing; Cham blamed, & cursed in his posteritie: yet neither he nor anie of his sonnes or daughters fel into heresie, or other infidelitie, for anie thing that appeareth in Scripture, or other authentical testimonie. Heber also and his familie are particularly commended by Moyses, as the right folowers, and the spiritual children of Sem (who had innumerable other carnal children) as those that were innocent touching the presumptuous building of others, who for the same fault lost their old tongue, which the familie of Heber kept. As S. Chrisostom and S. Augustin do proue. ^note Againe, diuers of this familie falling afterwards by litle and litle to other nations, the Familie of Thare, saith the same S. Augustin (li. 16. c. 12.) albeit not al, or not alwayes, yet euer some of them, and Abraham continually, with Sem, Heber, Phaleg, & manie others, not mentioned by Moyses in his briefe description (as S. Gregorie doubteth not to suppose) were iust, and kept the true faith, and vndefiled Religion.

But Nemrod Chams nephew, and sonne of Chus described for a valiant hunter, a violent giant, and tyrant, was an Archheretike, a deuiser and teacher of false doctrin, against God and true faith. ^note By sutletie and tyrannie he induced manie of liking or of feare to folow him, and so in schisme he maintained heresie, That men were not beholding to God, but to them selues, for temporal prosperitie. ^note

VVherof begane a new & cruel confederacie, against the Citie of God, & the second great Sect of Infidels. ^note For Barbarisme being the first, begun by Cain and ended by the floud: The second mother of al Sectes beginning after the floud (as S. Epiphanius writeth) was Scythisme: so called of the Scythians a most cruel people. who according to Nemrods heresie (not thincking themselues beholding to God for temporal happines, but to their owne forces) tyrannized ouer the weaker, and manie wicked banning together extremly oppre&esset;ed the more peacable, especially the Church and true seruants of God. ^note And this was one special cause of building Babylon, besides their ambicious desire of perpetual fame, and their bearing the simple in hand of a defence against a new floud, to make it in dede, a strong hold for tyrants to offend others, and to defend themselues. wherfore God (who before destroyed al Infidels by the floud) confounded these builders by diuiding their tongues, and so forced them to breake, and part into manie countries.

Thus mankind being diuided vpon the earth, opinions also were multiplied concerning Religion. ^note For shortly the perswation of mens trusting in themselues, and in other mortal men appeared absurde, euen the strongest feeling aduersities, or fayling sometimes of their purposes, saw there was neede of supernal helpe, and that earthlie things depended much vpon diuine wil and powre. But hauing forsaken God Almightie, the onlie maker and conseruer of al, they begane to imagine and serue false goddes, both famous dead men, which had prospered in this world, and diuers other things, by which they receiued commoditie, or feared damage.

Hence therfore rose the third principal Sect called Grecisme, beginning also in this second age, as the same S Epiphanius writeth. ^note For Ninus the first king of the A&esset;irian great Monarchie, brought to passe that his father Belus Iupiter was estemed and worshipped for the onlie great God by the A&esset;irians. ^note To him the Babylonians erected first Temples Altares and Statuas. Nemrod also by the name of Saturnus, as the progenitor of Belus, and first great King or Tyrant of Babylon, was accounted a god, and the father of goddes. ^note About this time likwise begane the Dinastæ among the Ægyptians, and not sowner, as they vainly brag to haue benne before the floud: yea much longer then in deede the world hath benne. Moreouer the Chaldees worshipped the fire. Others the sunne, the moone, and innumerable other feaned goddes. Against al which (and likwise against al heresies) are two special arguments. First that they were not from the beginning, as the true God, and al truthes are knowne and receiued by continual Tradition, but brought in afterwards by men, and comonly by il men. ^note Secondly they are not accepted and esteemed for goddes, or truthes, in al places, but with great diuersitie and di&esset;ention, one sort allowing that others despice, as holie Athanasius notably writeth in his oration against Idols in these wordes. Quot sunt gentes totidem deorum genera confinguntur &c. How manie nations (saith he) so manie kindes of goddes are feaned. Also the same countrie, the same citie dissenteth within it selfe in superstition of Idols. “The Phenicians certes acknowledge not the Egiptians goddes, neither doe the Egiptians adore the same Idols with the Phenicians: Nor the Scithians receiue the goddes of the Persians, nor the Persians of the Scithians: The Pelasgies refuse the Thrasian goddes, the Thrasians know not the Thebians. The Indians are against the Arabians, the Arabians against the Æthiophians: and in like sorte the Æthiopians differ in their religious affaires from the Arabians. The Syrians worship not the goddes of the Cilicians, and the nations of Capadocia besides al these haue goddes of other names. The Bithinians also feaned diuers goddes, the Armenians againe diuers from them what nede we manie wordes? Those that are in the continent honour other goddes from the Iland people. In briefe ech citie and eech village not knowing the goddes of their neighboures,

setteth forth their owne, & estemeth them only in place of goddes.” Thus farre S. Athanasius. Name we like countries, prouinces, cities, and townes in these partes of Europe, where Luthers scholars haue set their feete, consider the forme of Religion, and opinions which they hold, and we shal see as vnorderlie beginnings, and as horrible dissentions in heresies (which S. Hierom calleth the Idols of the New Testament) as the ancient fathers haue discryed in Paganisme. ^note For Lutherans or Protestants hauing no lawful generation, but proceding of bastards race, vpstartes of vnknowne progenie, are no le&esset;e at discordes among them selues, only al agreing against Catholiques, like syncretisantes against their c&obar;mon enimies, or Herod, Pilate, & the Iewes against Christ. And in England alone are diuers Sectes without po&esset;ible meanes to agree in one. ^note For albeit the ciuil state endeuoreth prudently and seriously to bring al to vniformitie, at least in publique shew, yet they are but like manie faces vnder one hood, euerie sorte keping their owne opinions; yea almost euerie preacher and meane scholar (to say nothing of artificers and common ministers) arrogating to be his owne Iudge, contemneth to stand to Luther or Caluin, to Geneua or Parlament, to Conuocation or Synod of their owne, but to his owne only vnderstanding, and interpretation of holie Scripture. ^note Nor yet to that alwayes; for when he is pressed with that he once said, he wil forgete it, or eate his owne word, if he haue not written it, or that you haue readie witnes against him, so hard it is to make a deceiued Protestant or Puritan confe&esset;e that he is conuinced, except by very pregnant meanes you can first cast out of him, or bind fast the spirite of presumption, di&esset;ention and contention: wheras the simpliest Catholique in the world hath the selfe same faith in al points, with the whole Church, in which he remaineth, and vpon whose iudgement he dependeth. ^note

To returne therfore, from whence we are not vnnece&esset;arily digre&esset;ed, we conclude with S. Augustin; VVhen Moyses had shewed the beginning and progresse of Nemrods earthlie citie, leauing it in Babylon, that is confusion, as needles to prosecute it futher, he returneth to declare the pertual succession of the Citie of God, the Church, as before the floud from Adam to Noe, by the line of Seth, so after the floud from the same Noe, by the line of Sem, Arphaxad, Sale, Heber, Phaleg, Reu, Sarug, Nachor, Thare, and Abraham. ^note The rest of Sems children, and al the progenies of Iapheth and Cham, as not pertaining to this purpose, omitted, so connecting those in order of generations, by whom the succe&esset;ion is directly brought to Abraham, Prince of the elected people, a most special Patriarch, to whom new and great promi&esset;es are made of multiplication of his seede, and po&esset;e&esset;ion of the land of Chanaan, but especially of Christ our Redemer, and the same manie waies confirmed, as wil appeare in the next age. ^note

Abram. Chap. XII. ^note Abram commanded by God to leaue his countrie, with promise to be blessed in his Seede, ^note 5. taking his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot, 6. wandreth in the land of Chanaan, 7. erecteth an Altar in Sichem, 8. an other in Bethel. 10. Thence by occasion of famine pa&esset;eth into Ægipt. ^note 14. where his wife (called his sister) is taken into the kings house, 19. but vntouched is restored to him.

1   And our Lord said to Abram: Goe forth of thy countrie, and out of thy kinred, and out of thy fathers house, and come into a land, which I wil shew thee.

2   And I wil make thee into a great nation, and I wil blesse thee, and magnifie thy name, and thou shalt be blessed.

3   I wil blesse them and blesse thee,09Q0048 and cursse them that cursse thee, and ^note In thee shal al the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

4   Abram therfore went out as our Lord had commanded him, and with him went Lot: seauentie fiue yeares old was Abram when he went forth out of Haran.

5   And he tooke Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers sonne, and al the substance which they had possessed, and the soules which they had gotten in Haran: and went forth to goe into the land of Chanaan. And when they were come into it,

6   Abram passed through the countrie vnto the place Sichem, as farre as the noble vale: and the Cananite was at that time in the countrie.

7   And our Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him: To thy seed wil I giue this land. Who builded there ^note an altar to our Lord, that had appeared to him.

8   And marching on from thence to a mountaine, that was on the east side of Bethel, there he pitched his tent, hauing Bethel on the west, and Hay on the east: he builded there also an altar to our Lord, and called vpon his name.

9   And Abram went forward going, and proceding on to the south.

10   And there came a famine in the countrie: and Abram descended into Ægypt, to be as a pilgrime there: for the famine was very sore in the land.

11   And when he was nere to enter into Ægypt, he said to Sarai his wife: I know that thou art a fayre woman:

12   and that when the Ægyptians shal see thee, they wil say: She is his wife: and they wil til me, and reserue

Abram. thee.

13   09Q0049Say therfore, I pray thee, that thou art my sister: that I may be wel vsed for thee, and that my soule may liue for thy sake.

14   When Abram therfore was entred into Ægypt, the Ægiptians sawe the woman that she was passing beautiful.

15   And the princes told Pharao, and praised her to him: and the woman was taken into the house of Pharao.

16   And they vsed Abram wel for her sake. And he had sheepe and oxen and he asses, and men seruants, and maid seruants, and shee asses, and Cammels.

17   But our Lord ^note scourged Pharao with very sore plagues, and his house for Sarai Abrams wife.

18   And Pharao called Abram, and said to him: What is this that thou hast done to me? Why didst thou not tel me that she was thy wife?

19   For what cause didst thou say, she was thy sister, that I might take her to my wife? Now therfore there is thy wife, take her, and goe thy ways.

20   And Pharao gaue certaine men commandment in the behalfe of Abram: and they conducted him, and his wife, and al that he had. ^{note note} Chap. XIII. Abram & Lot returne from Ægypt into Chanaan, 6. and being rich separate themselues, 10, Lot choosing the countrie about Iordain, Abram dwelleth in Chanaan. 14. where againe God promiseth him that land, and multiplication of his seede. 18. And he erected an other Altar to God.

1   Abram therfore ascended out of Ægypt, he and his wife, and al that he had, and Lot with him to the south

Abram. coast.

2   And he was very rich in possession of gold and siluer.

3   And he returned by the way, that he came, from the south vnto Bethel, euen to the place where before he had pitched a tabernacle betwen Bethel and Hay:

4   in the place of the altar which he had made before, and there he called vpon the name of our Lord.

5   But Lot also that was with Abram, had flocks of sheepe, and heards of beasts, and tents.

6   Neyther was the land able to receiue them, for to dwel togeather: for their substance was much, and they could not dwel togeather.

7   Wherupon also there arose strife amongst the heardsmen of Abram and of Lot. And that time the Chananite and the Pherisite dwelled in that countrie.

8   Abram therfore said to Lot: Let there be no brawle I beseech thee betwen me and thee, and betwen my heardsmen, and thy heardsmen: for we be ^note brethren.

9   Behold the whole land is before thee: goe aparte from me, I pray thee: if thou wilt goe to the left hand, I wil take the right: if thou choose the right hand, I wil passe to the left.

10   Lot therfore lifting vp his eyes, sawe al the countrie about Iordaine, which was watered through out before that our Lord subuerted Sodome and Gomorre, as the paradise of our Lord, and like as Ægypt as men come vnto Segor.

11   And Lot chose vnto him the countrie about Iordaine, and he departed from the East: and they were seperated either brother from the other.

12   Abram dwelt in the land of Chanaan: and Lot abode in the townes, that were about Iordaine, and dwelt in Sodome.

13   And the men of Sodome were verie wicked, and sinners before the face of our Lord out of measure.

14   And our Lord said to Abram, after that Lot was seperated from him: Lyft vp thyn eyes, and looke from the place, wherin thou now art, to the north and south, to the east and west.

15   Al the land, which thou seest, wil I geue to thee, & to thy seed for euer.

16   And I wil make ^note thy seede as the dust of the earth: if any man be able to number the dust of the earth, thy seede also shal he be able to number.

17   Arise and walke through the land in the length, and in the breath therof: for I wil geue it to thee.

18   Abram therfore remouing his tent, came, and dwelt beside the vale of Mambre, which is in Hebron: and he builded there an altar to our Lord.

Abram. Chap. XIIII. The king of Sodom with other foure kings are ouercome in battle, by foure others: 12. where Lot is taken 14. but Abram with 318. persons prosecuting and ouercoming the victorers, 16. rescued Lot, with al the captiues and pray. 18. Melchisedech King and Priest ble&esset;ed Abram, 20. Abram payed tithes to him. 21. and rendered the spoile to the king of Sodom.

1   And it came to passe in that time, that Amraphel the king of Sennaar, and Arioch the king of Pontus, and Chodorlahomor king of the Elamyts, and Thadal the king of nacions

2   made warre against Barra the king of Sodome, and against Bersa the king of Gomorra, and against Sennaab the king of Adama, and against Semebar the king of Seboim, and against the king of Bala, the same is Segor.

3   Al these came together into the Woodland vale, which now is the salt sea.

4   For they had serued Chodorlamor twelue yeares, and the thirtenth yeare they reuolted from him.

5   Therfore in the fourtenth yeare came Chodorlahomor, and the king that were with him: and they stroke Raphaim in Astarothcarnaim, and Susim with them, and Emim in Sauee of Cariathaim,

6   and the Corrheans in the mountains of Seir, euen to the Champion countrie of Pharan, which is in the wildernes.

7   And they returned, and came as farre as the fountaine of Misphat, the same is Cades: and they stroke al the countrie of the Ameleichites, and of the Amorheans, that dwel in Assasonthamar.

8   And they went forth the king of Sodome, and the king of Gomorra, and the king of Adama, and the king of Seboim, moreouer also the king of Bala, which is Segor: and they set themselues against them in battaile aray in the Woodland vale:

9   to wit against Chodorlahomor king of the Elamites, and Chadal king of nacions, and Amraphel king of Sennaar, and Arioch king of Pontus: foure kings against fiue.

10   But the Woodland vale had many pitts of bitume. Therfore the king of Sodome, and of Gomorra turned their backes, and were ouerthrowne there: and they that remained fled to the mountaine.

11   And they tooke al the substance of the Sodomites, and Gomorrheans, and tooke al kind of victuales, and went their way:

12   and Lot also and his substance, the sonne of Abrams brother, who

Abram. dwelled in Sodom.

13   And behold one, that had escaped, told Abram the Hebrew, that dwelt in the vale of Mambre, the Amorrean brother of Eschol, and the brother of Aner: for these had made a league with Abram.

14   Which when Abram had heard, to witt, that his brother Lot was taken, he numbred of the seruantes borne in his house, wel appointed three hundred and eightene: and pursued them vnto Dan.

15   And diuiding his companie, he ranne vpon them in the night: and stroke them, and pursued them vnto Hoba, which is on the left hand of Damascus.

16   And he brought backe al the substance, and Lot his brother with his substance, the wemen also and the people.

17   And the king of Sodom went forth to meete them, after he returned from the slaughter of Chodorlahomor, and of the kinges that were with him in the vale Sauee, which is the kings vale.

18   But09Q0050 Melchesidech the king of Salem,09Q0051 bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the Priest of God most highe,

19   09Q0052blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram to God the highest, which created heauen and earth:

20   and blessed be God the highest, by whose protection, the enemyes are in thy hands. And09Q0053 he gaue him the tythes of al.

21   And the king of Sodom said to Abram: Geue me the soules, and the rest take to thee.

22   Who answered him: I lift vp my hand to my Lord God most hiegh possessor of heauen and earth,

23   that from the very woofe-thread vnto the shoe latchet, I wil not take of al that are thine: ^note lest thou say: I haue enriched Abram:

24   except such thinges, as the young men haue eaten, and the shares of the men, that came with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mambre: these shal take their shares. ^{note note}

^note

^{note note} Chap. XV. ^note Abram doubting and lamenting that he should haue no childe, God promiseth him much i&esset;ue, 6. who beleuing is iustified, 9. offereth Sacrifice prescribed by God, 13. and is forwarned that his seede shal be in strange land 400. yeares. 14. shal be deliuered from seruitude 18. and po&esset;e&esset;e Chanaan.

1   VVhen these things therfore were done, the word of our Lord was made to Abram by a vision saying: Feare not Abram, I am thy protector, & thy reward exceding great.

2   And Abram said: Lord God, what wilt thou geue me? I shal goe without children: and the sonne of the stuard of my house is this Damascus Eliezer.

3   And Abram added: But to me thou hast not geuen seede: and loe my seruant borne in my house, shal be myn heire.

4   And immediatly the word of our Lord came to him saying: He shal not be thy heyre: but he that shal come out of thy wombe, him shalt thou haue thin heire.

5   And he brought him forth abroad, and said to him: Looke vp to heauen, and number the starres, if thou canst. And he said to him: So shal thy seed be.

Abram

6   Abram09Q0055 beleued God, and it was reputed to him vnto iustice.

7   And he said to him: I am the Lord that brought thee out from Vr of the Chaldees for to giue thee this land, and that thou mightest possesse it.

8   But he said: Lord God, how may I know that I shal possesse it?

9   And our Lord answered, and said: ^note Take me a cowe of three yeares old, and a shee goat of three yeares, and a ramme of three yeares, a turtle also, and a pigeon.

10   Who taking al these, diuided them by the mydes, and laid ech two peeces arowe one against the other: but the birdes he diuided not.

11   And the foules lighted vpon the carcasses, and Abram droue them away.

12   And when the sunne was setting, a deepe sleepe fel vpon Abram, and a great and darkesome horrour inuaded him.

13   And it was said vnto him: Know and foreknow that a pilgrime shal thy seede be in a land not their owne (and they shal bring them vnder bondage, and afflict them) ^note foure hundred yeares.

14   But the nation, whom they shal serue, I wil iudge: and after this they shal goe forth with great substance.

15   And thou shalt goe to thy fathers in peace, buried in a good old age.

16   But in the fourth generation they shal returne hither: for ^note as yet the iniquities of the Amorrheanes are not at the ful vntil this present time.

17   Therfore when the sunne was set, there arose a darke mist, and there appeared a fornace smoking, and a flake of fire passing betwene those diuisions.

18   That day God made a couenant with Abram, saying: To thy seede wil I geue this land from the riuer of Ægypt euen to the great riuer Euphrates,

19   the Cineans, & Cenezites, the Cedmonites,

20   and the Hethits, and the Pherezits, the Raphaims also,

21   and the Amorreans & the Cananites, and the Gargasites, and the Iebusites. ^note

Chap. XVI. Sarai geueth her handmaid Agar as a wife to Abram. 4. who conceiuing despiseth her mystresse, is therfore afflicted, & flyeth away. 7. But is warned by an Angel to returne and humble herselfe, 15. which she doth and beareth Ismael.

1   Sarai therfore, the wife of Abram, had brought forth no children: but hauing an handmaid an Ægyptian named Agar,

2   she said to her husband: Behold, our Lord hath closed me, that I might not beare: Goe in vnto my handmaid, if happely of her at the least I may haue children. And when he agreed to her in this request,

3   she toke Agar the Ægyptian her handmaid tenne yeares after that they first dwelled in the land of Chanaan: and gaue her vnto her husband09Q0056 to wife.

4   Who did companie with her, but she ^noteperceauing that she was with childe, despised her mistresse.

5   And Sarai said to Abram: Thou doest vniustly against me: I gaue my handmaid into thy bosome, who perceauing herself to be with child, despiseth me. Our Lord iudge betwen me and thee.

6   To whom Abram making answere: Behold, saith he, thy h&abar;dmaid is in thine owne hand, vse her as it pleaseth thee. When Sarai therfore did afflict her, she ranne away.

7   And an angel of our Lord hauing found her, beside a fountaine of water in the wildernesse, which is in the way to Sur in the desert,

8   he said to her: Agar, the handmaid of Sarai, whence comest thou? and whither goest thou? who answered: From the face of Sarai my mistresse doe I flye.

9   And the angel of our Lord said to her: Returne

Abram. to thy mistresse, and humble thy selfe vnder her hand.

10   And again: Multiplying, sayth he, wil I multiplie thy seed, and it shal not be numbred for the multitude therof.

11   And againe after that: Behold, saith he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a sonne: and thou shalt cal his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thin affliction.

12   He shal be a wild man: his hand shal be against al men, and al mens hands against him: and ouer against al his bretheren shal he pitch his tents.

13   And she called the name of our Lord that spake vnto her: Thou the God which hast sene me. For she said: verily here haue I sene the backe partes of him that hath sene me.

14   Therfore she called that wel, the Wel of him that liueth and seeth me. The same is betwen Cadesse, and Barad.

15   And Agar brought forth a sonne to Abram: who called his name Ismael.

16   Eightie and sixe yeares old was Abram when Agar brought him forth Ismael. ^{note note}

Chap. XVII. God renewing his promises to Abram, 5. changeth his name, 10. and commandeth Circuncision. 15. changeth also his wiues name, promiseth a sonne of her. 20. Likewise that Ismael shal prosper. 23. and the same day Abraham circuncised him selfe, and Ismael, and al the men of his house.

1   And after he beganne to be nyntie and nyne yeares old, our Lord appeared vnto him: and said vnto him: I am the God almightie: walke before me, and be ^note perfect.

2   And I wil make my couenant betwen me and thee: and I wil multiplie thee exceadingly.

3   Abram fel flat on his face.

4   And God said to him: I am, and my couenant is with thee, & thou shalt be a father of manie nations.

5   Neyther shal thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because a father of09Q0057 many nations I haue made thee.

6   And I wil make thee encrease excedingly, and I wil make thee into nations, and kinges shal come forth of thee.

7   And I wil establish my couenant betwen me and thee, and betwen thy seede after thee in their generations by a perpetual couenant: to be thy God, and thy sedes after thee.

8   And I wil geue to thee, and to thy seed the land of thy peregrination, al the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I wil be their God.

9   Againe God said to Abraham: And thou therfore shalt keepe my couenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

10   This is my couenant which you shal obserue betwen me and you,

Abraham and thy seede after thee: Al the malekind of you09Q0058 shal be circumcised:

11   and you shal circumcise the flesh of your prepuce, that it may be for a signe of the couenant betwen me and you.

12   An infant of ^note eight daies shalbe circumcised among you, al malekind in your generations: aswel the homebred shal be circumcised, as the bought seruant of whosoeuer he is, not of your stocke:

13   and my couenant shal be in your flesh for a perpetual couenant.

14   The male, whose flesh of his prepuce shal not be circumcised, that soule 09Q0059 shalbe destroied out of his people: because he hath broken my couenant.

15   God said also to Abraham: Sarai thy wife thou shalt not cal Sarai, but Sara.

16   And I wil blesse her, and of her I wil giue thee a sonne, whom I wil blesse, and he shalbe into nations, and kings of peoples shal spring of him.

17   Abraham fel vpon his face, & ^note laughed, saying in his hart: Shal trowest thou to him that is an hundred yeare old a sonne be borne? and Sara that is nyntie yeares old shal she beare?

18   And he said to God: I would that Ismael may liue before thee.

19   And God said to Abraham: Sara thy wife shal beare thee a sonne, and thou shalt cal his name Isaac, and I wil establish my couenant to him for a perpetual couenant, and to his seed after him.

20   Concerning Ismael also I haue heard thee. behold, I wil blesse him, and encrease, and multiplie him exceadingly: twelue dukes shal he beget, and I wil make him into a great nation.

21   But my couenant I wil establish with ^note Isaac, whom Sara shal bring forth to thee at this time an other yeare.

22   And when he had leaft of speaking with him, God ascended from Abraham.

23   And Abraham tooke Ismael his sonne, and al the homebred of his house: and al whom he had bought, al the males of al the men of his house: and he circumcised the flesh of their prepuce forthwith the very same day, as God had commanded him.

24   Abraham was nyntie and nyne yeares old, when he circumcised the flesh of his prepuce.

25   And Ismael his sonne was ful thirtene yeares old at the time of his circumcision.

26   The selfsame day was Abraham circumcised and Ismael his sonne.

27   And ^note al the men of his house, as wel the homebred, as the bought seruantes and strangers were circumcised togeather.

Abraham. ^{note note note note}

Chap. XVIII. ^note Angels intertained as ghests by Abraham 10. tel when Sara shal beare a sonne, wherat she laughing, they c&obar;firme that they had said. 16. They also fortel the destruction of Sodom. 22. for which Abraham prayed six times.

1   And God appeared to him in the vale of mambre as he sat in the dore of his tent, in the verie heat of the day.

2   And when he had lifted vp his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing nere vnto him: whom after he had sene,

Abraham. he ranne to meete them from the dore of his tent, and adored to the ground.

3   And He said ^note Lord, if I haue found grace in thy sight, goe not past thy seruant:

4   but I wil fetch a little water, and wash ye your feete, and rest ye vnder the tree.

5   And I wil fet a morsel of bread, and strengthen your hart, afterward you shal passe: for therfore are you come aside to your seru&abar;t. Who said: Do as thou hast spoken.

6   Abraham made hast into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make hast, temper togeather three measures of floure, and make harth cakes.

7   But him selfe ranne to the heard, and tooke from thence a calfe verie tender and verie good, and gaue it to a young man: who made hast and boiled it.

8   He tooke also butter and mylke, and the calfe which he had boyled, and set before them: but him selfe did stand beside them vnder the tree.

9   And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Loe she is in the tent.

10   To whom he said: Returning I wil come to thee at this time, life accompaning, and Sara thy wife shal haue a sonne. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the dore of the tent.

11   And they were both aged, and farre entred in yeares, and it ceased to be with Sara after the maner of wemen.

12   Who laughed secreatly saying: After I am waxen old, & my Lord is an old one, shal I geue my selfe to pleasure?

13   And our Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shal I an old woman beare a child in deed?

14   Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I wil returne to thee this verie selfe same time, life accompaynig, and Sara shal haue a sonne.

15   Sara denied, saying: I laughed not: being much afraid. But our Lord: ^note It is not so, saith he: but thou didst laugh.

16   When the men therfore were risen vp from thence, they turned their eyes against Sodome: and Abraham did goe with them, bringing them on the way.

17   And our Lord said: Can I conceale from Abraham the things which I wil doe:

18   wheras he shal be into a nation great, and verie strong, and in him are to be blessed al the nations of the earth?

19   For I know that he wil commande his children, and his house after him that they kepe the way of the Lord, and doe iudgement and iustice: that for Abrahams sake the Lord may bring to effect al the things that he hath spoken vnto him.

19   Therfore said our Lord.

20   The crye of Sodome, and

Abraham. Gomorre is multiplied, and their sinne is aggrauated excedingly.

21   I wil descend, and see whether they haue in acte accomplished the crye that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know.

22   And they turned them selues from thence, and went their way to Sodome: but Abraham as yet stood before our Lord.

23   And approching he said: what! wilt thou destroy the iust with the wicked?

24    ^noteIf there shalbe fiftie iust persons in the citie, shal they perish withal? and wilt thou spare that place for fiftie iust, if they be therin?

25   Be it farre from thee, that thou doe this thing, and that thou kil the iust with the wicked, and that the iust be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: which iudgest al the earth, no thou wilt not do this iudgement.

26   And our Lord said to him: If I shal find in Sodome fiftie iust persons within the citie, I wil spare the whole place for their sake.

27   And Abraham answered, and said: Because I haue once begunne, I wil speake to my Lord, wheras I am dust and ashes.

28   What if there shal be fiue lesse then fiftie iust persons? wilt thou for fortie fiue destroy the whole citie? And he said: I wil not destroy it, if I shal finde fiue and fourtie.

29   And againe he said vnto him: But if fourtie shalbe found there, what wilt thou doe? He said: I wil not strike it for fourties sake.

30   Lord, saith he, be not angrie I besech thee, if I speake: what if thirtie shal be founde there? He answered: I wil not doe it, if I shal find thirtie there.

31   Because, saith he, I haue once begunne, I wil speake to my Lord: What if twentie shalbe founde there? He said: I wil not destroy it for twenties sake.

32   I beseech thee, saith he, be not angrie Lord, if I speake yet once more: What if tenne shalbe found there? And he said: I wil not destroy it for tennes sake.

33   And our Lord departed after that he ceased to speake vnto Abraham: and Abraham returned into his place. Chap. XIX. Lot receiuing Angels in his house, is abused by the Sodomites. 12. He with his wife (26. who for looking back is turned into a statua of salt) and his two daughters are deliuered. 24. Sodome and Gomorre are burned. 31. Lot lieth vnwitting with both his daughters, begat of them Moab and Ammon, of whom came the Moabites and Ammonites.

Abraham.

1   And the two angels came to Sodome at euen, and Lot sitting in the gates of the citie. Who when he had sene them, rose vp and went to meete them: and adored prostrate vnto the ground, ^note

2   and said: I besech you, my Lords, turne into the house of your seruant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the morning you shal go forth on your way. Who said: No, but we wil abide in the streat.

3   He compelled them earnestly to turne in vnto him: and when they were entred into his house, he made them a banquet, and baked vnleauened bread, and they did eate.

4   And before they went to bed, the men of the citie beset the house from young to old, al the people togeather.

5   And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men that came in to thee at night? bring them forth hither that we may know them.

6   Lot going forth to them, and shutting the dore after him, said:

7   Doe not so, I besech you, my brethren, doe not commit this euil.

8   I haue two daughters, which as yet haue not knowen man: I wil bring them forth to you, and abuse you them as it shal please you, so that you do no euil to these men, because they are entred vnder the shadowe of my roofe.

9   But they said: Get thee backe thither. And againe: Thou camest in, said they, as a stranger, what to be a iudge? Thy selfe therfore we wil afflict more then these. And they did violence to Lot exceadingly: and it was euen nowe at the point that they would break the dores.

10   And behold the men put forth their hand, and drew in Lot vnto them, and shut the dore:

11   and them, that were without, they stroke with blyndnes from the least to the greatest, so that they could not find the dore.

12   And they said to Lot: Hast thou here anie of thine? sonne in law, or sonnes, or daughters, al that are thine, bring them out of this citie:

13   for we wil destroy this place, for that ^note their crye is waxen lowde before our Lord, who hath sent vs to destroy them.

14   Therfore Lot went forth, and spake to his sonnes in lawe that were to take his daughters, and said: Arise: get you forth out of this place, because our Lord wil destroy this citie. And he semed vnto them to speake as it were in iest.

15   And when it was morning, the angels vrged him, saying: Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou hast: least thou also perish withal in the wickednes of the citie.

16   He lingring, they tooke his hand, and the hand of his wife, and of his two

Abraham daughters, because our Lord spared him.

17   And they led him forth, and set him without the citie: and there they spake to him, saying: Saue thy life: looke not backe, neither stay thou in al the countrie about: but saue thy selfe in the mountaine, lest thou also perish withal.

18   And Lot said to them: I beseech thee my Lord,

19   because thy seruant hath fonnd grace before thee, and thou hast magnified thy mercie, which thou hast wrought with me, in that thou wouldest saue my life, and safe I can not be in the mountaine, lest perhaps the euil catch me, and I dye.

20   There is this citie hereby at hand, wherunto I may flee, a little one, and I shalbe safe in it: is it not a little one, and my life shalbe saued?

21   And he said to him: Behold also in this point I haue heard thy prayers, not to ouerthrow the citie for which thou hast spoken.

22   Make hast, and be saued there: because I can not doe any thing til thou enter in thither. Therfore the name of that citie was called ^note Segor.

23   The sunne was risen vpon the earth, & Lot entred into Segor.

24   Therfore our Lord rained vpon Sodome and Gomorre brimstone & fire from our Lord out of heauen:

25   and he subuerted these cities, and al the countrie about, al the inhabitants of the cities, and al things that spring of the earth.

26   And his wife ^note looking behind her, was turned into a statua of salt.

27   And Abraham getting vp early in the morning, there where before he had stood with our Lord,

28   beheld Sodome & Gomorre, and the whole land of that countrie: and he saw the cinders rise vp from the earth as it were the smoke of a fornace.

29   For when God subuerted the citties of that countrie, he ^note remenbring Abraham, deliuered Lot out of the subuersion of the cities wherein he had dwelt.

30   And Lot ascended out of Segor, and abode in the mountaine, his two daughters also with him (for he was afraid to abide in Segor) and he abode in a caue him selfe, and his two daughters with him.

31   And the elder said to the younger: Our father is old, and there is no man left on the earth, that may companie with vs after the maner of the whole earth.

32   Come, let vs make him drunke with wine, and let vs lie with him, that we may preserue seed of our father.

33   They therfore made their father to drinke wine that night: and the elder went in, and lay with her father: but he perceaued not, neyther when his daughter lay downe, nor when she rose vp.

34   The next day also the elder

Abraham. said to the younger: Behold I lay yesternight with my father, let vs make him drinke wine also this night, and thou shalt lye with him, that we may saue seed of our father.

35   They made their father drinke wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in, and lay with him: and neyther then truly did he perceaue when she lay downe, or when she rose vp.

36   The two daughters therfore of Lot were with child by their father.

37   And the elder bare a sonne and she called his name Moab: he is, the ^note father of the Moabites euen to this present day.

38   The younger also bare a sonne, and she called his name Ammon, that is the sonne of my people: he is the father of the Ammonites euen to this day. Chap. XX. Abraham seiorning in Geraris, his wife is taken into King Abimelechs house, but by Gods commandement is restored vntouched, 14. with great giftes, 17. and Abraham praying Abimelechs house is cured.

1   Abraham remoued from thence into the south countrie, and dwelt betwene Cades, and Sur: and he liued as a pilgrime in Gerara.

2   And he said of Sara his wife: She is ^note my sister. Abimelech therfore the king of Gerara sent, and tooke her.

3   And God came to Abimelech in a dreame by night, and said to him: Loe thou shalt dye for the woman that thou hast taken: for she hath a husband.

4   But Abimelech had not touched her, and he said: Lord wilt thou kil a nation that is ignorant and iust?

5   Did not he say to me: She is my sister: and she say, He is my brother? in simplicitie of my hart, and cleanenes of my hands haue I done this.

6   And God said to him: And I do know that thou didest it with a sincere hart: and therfore I kept thee that thou shouldest not sinne against me, and I permitted not that thou shouldest touch her.

7   Now therfore restore the wife to her husband, because he is a prophet: and he shal pray for thee, and thou shalt liue: but if thou wilt not restore her, know thou that dying thou shalt dye, thou and al things that are thine.

8   And Abimelech forthwith rising vp in the night, called al his seruantes: and he spake al these words to their eares, and al the men were sore afraid.

9   And Abimelech

Abraham. called also for Abraham, and said to him: What hast thou done to vs? what haue we offended against thee, that thou hast brought vpon me and vpon my kingdom a great sinne? that which thou oughtest not to doe, thou hast done to vs.

10   And again expostulating, he said: What sawest thou, that thou didest this?

11   Abraham answered: I thought with my selfe, saying: Perhaps there is not the feare of God in this place: and they wil kil me for my wife:

12   howbeit otherwise also in verie deed she is my sister, ^note the daughter of my father, and not the daughter of my mother, and I tooke her to wife.

13   And after that God brought me out of my fathers house, I said to her: This mercie thou shalt doe with me: In euerie place, which we shal come vnto, thou shalt say that I am thy brother.

14   Therfore Abimelech ^note tooke shepe & oxen, and seruants, and handmayds, and gaue to Abraham: and restored to him Sara his wife,

15   and said: The land is before you, dwel whersoeuer it shal please thee.

16   And to Sara he said: Behold I haue geuen thy brother a thousand peeces of siluer, this shal serue thee for a veile of thine eyes to al that are with thee, and whither soeuer thou shalt goe, remenber also thou wast taken.

17   And Abraham praying, God healed Abimelech and his wife, and his handmaids, and they bare children: for our Lord had closed vp euerie matrice of the house of Abimelech for Sara Abrahams wife. Chap. XXI. ^note Isaac is borne. 4. circumcised, 8. and weaned. 9. Agar and Ismael are put forth of Abrahams house, ^note 15. but after desolation are nourished, and prosper in the desert. 22. King Abimelech and Abraham make a league confirming it with oath. ^note

1   And our Lord visited Sara, as he had promised: and fulfilled the things which he spake.

2   And she conceaued and bare a sonne in her old age, at the time that God had foretold her.

3   And Abraham called the name of his sonne, which Sara bare him, ^note Isaac:

4   and he circumcised him the eight day, as God had commanded him,

5   when he was an hundred yeares old: for at this age of his father, was Isaac borne.

6   And Sara said: Laughter God hath

Abraham. made to me: whosoeuer shal heare of it, wil laugh with me.

7   And again she said: Who that shal heare of it would beleue Abraham, that Sara gaue sucke to a sonne, which she bare him now being an old man?

8   The child therfore grewe, and was weined: and Abraham made a great feast in the day of his weining.

9   And when Sara had senne the sonne of Agar the Ægyptian playing with Isaac her sonne, she said to Abraham:

10   Cast out this handmaid, and her sonne: for the sonne of the handmaid shal not be heire with my sonne Isaac.

11   Abraham tooke this greuously for his sonne.

12   To whom God said:09Q0060 Let it not seme greuous to thee for the boy, and for thy handmaid: al things that Sara shal say to thee, heare her voice: because ^note in Isaac shal seed de called to thee.

13   But the sonne also of the handmaid I wil make into a great nation, because he is thy seede.

14   Abraham therfore rose vp in the morning, and taking bread and a bottle of water, put it vpon her shoulder, and deliuered the boy and dismist her. Who went away, and wandred in the wildernesse of Bersabee.

15   And when the water in the bottle was spent, she cast the boy vnder one of the trees, that were there.

16   And she went her way, and sate ouer against a great way of as farre as a bowe can cast. for she said: I wil no see the child dying: and sitting ouer against, she lifted vp her voice and wept.

17   And God heard the voice of the boy: and an angel of God called Agar from heauen, saying: What doest thou Agar? feare not: for God hath heard the voice of the boy, from the place wherin he is.

18   Arise, take vp the boy, and hold his hand: for into a great nation wil I make him.

19   And God opened her eyes: who seing a wel of water, went, and filled the bottle, and gaue the boy to drinke.

20   And God was with him: who grew, and abode in the wildernes, and became a young man archer.

21   And he dwelt in the wildernes of Pharan, and his mother tooke a wife for him out of the land of Ægypt.

22   The same time said Abimelech, and Phicol the general of his armie to Abraham: God is with thee in al things which thou doest.

23   Sweare therfore by God, not to hurt me, and my posteritie, and my stocke: but according to the mercie, that I haue done thee, thou shalt doe to me, and to the land wherin thou hast liued a stranger.

24   And Abraham said: I wil sweare.

25   And he rebuked Abimelech for the

Abraham wel of water, which his seruants had taken away by force.

16   And Abimelech answered: I knew not who did this thing: yea and thy selfe didest not tel me, and I heard not of it but to day.

27   Abraham therfore tooke sheepe and oxen, and gaue to Abimelech: and both of them made a league.

28   And Abraham set seuen ewe lambes of the flocke apart.

29   To whom Abimelech said: What meane these seuen ewe lambes, which thou hast made to stand apart?

30   But he said: Seuen ewe lambes shalt thou take at my hand: that they may be a testimonie for me, that I digged this wel.

31   Therfor was that place called ^note Bersabee: because there both did sweare.

32   And they made a league for the wel of oath.

33   And Abimelech arose, and Phicol the general of his armie, and they returned to the land of the Palestines. But Abraham planted a groue in Bersabee, and called therupon the name of our Lord God eternal.

34   And he was a seiorner in the land of the Palestines manie dayes. ^{note note}

Abraham. Chap. XXII. ^note The faith and obedience of Abraham is proued in his redines to sacrifice his sonne Isaac. 11. He is stayed from the act by an Angel. 16. Former promises are renewed to him. 20. And his brother Nachor hath also much issue.

1   VVhich things being done, God09Q0061 tempted Abraham, and said to him; Abraham, Abraham. ^note But he answered: Here I am.

2   He said to him: ^note Take thy only begotten sonne, whom thou louest, Isaac, and goe into the Land of vision: and there thou shalt offer him for an holocaust vpon one of the mountaines which I wil shew thee.

3   Therfore Abraham rising vp in the night, sadled his asse: taking with him two young men, and Isaac his sonne: and when he had cut wood for the holocaust, he went his way to the place which God had commanded him.

4   And the third day, lifting vp his eyes, he sawe the place afarre of:

5   and he said to his young men: Tarie you here with the asse: I and the boy going with spede as farre as yonder, after we haue adored, wil returne to you.

6   He tooke also the wood of the holocaust, and laid it vpon Isaac his sonne: and him selfe caried in his hands fire and a sword. And as they went on together,

7   Isaac said to his father: My father. And he answered: What wilt thou sonne? Behold, saith he, fire and wood: where is the victime of the holocaust?

8   And Abraham said: God wil prouide vnto him selfe the victime of the holocaust, my sonne. They went on therfore together:

9   and they came to the place which God had shewed him, wherin he builed an altar, and laid the wood in order vpon it: and when he had bound Isaac his sonne, he laid him on the altar vpon the pile of wood.

10   And he stretched forth his hand, and caught the sword, for to sacrifice his sonne.

11   And behold an angel of our Lord from heauen cried, saying: Abraham, Abraham. Who answered: Here I am.

12   And he said to him: Stretch not forth thy hand vpon the boy, neither doe thou any thing to him: now haue I knowen that thou fearest God, and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake.

13   Abraham lifted vp his eyes, and saw behind his backe a ramme amongst the briers

Abraham. sticking fast by the hornes, which he tooke and offered an holocaust in stede of his sonne.

14   And he called the name of that place, ^note Our Lord seeth. Wherupon euen to this day it is said, In the mountaine our Lord wil see.

15   And the angel of our Lord called Abraham the second time from heauen, saying:

16   By my owne selfe haue I sworne, saith the Lord: because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thine onlie begotten sonne for my sake:

17   I wil blesse thee, and I wil multiplie thy sede as the starres of heauen, and as the sand that is by the sea shore: thy sede shal possesse the gates of his enemies,

18   and in thy sede shal be blessed al the nations of the earth, because thou hast obeyed my voice.

19   Abraham returned to his young men, and they went to Bersabee together, and he dwelt there.

20   These things so being done, it was ^note told Abraham that Melca also had borne children to Nachor his brother,

21   Hus the firstbegotten, & Buz his brother, and Camuel the father of the Sirians,

22   and Cased, and Azau. Pheldas also & Iedlaph,

23   and Bathuel, of whom was borne Rebecca: these eight did Melcha beare, to Nachor Abrahams brother.

24   And his concubine, named Roma, bare Tabee, and Gaham, and Tahas, and Maacha. ^{note note} Chap. XXIII. Sara dying Abraham solemnizeth her funeral. 4. byeth a field with a duble caue of Ephron, 15. for four hundreth sicles. 19. and there burieth her.

1   And Sara liued an hundred twentie seuen yeares.

2   And she died in the citie of Arbee which is

Abraham. Hebron, in the land of Chanaan: And Abraham came to mourne, and weepe for her.

3   And after that he was risen vp from ^note the funeral obsequies, he spake to the children of Heth, saying:

4   I am a stranger and pilgrime among you: geue me the right of a sepulchre with you, that I may burie my dead.

5   The children of Heth answered, saying:

6   My lord heare vs, thou art a prince of God among vs: in our principal sepulchres burie thou thy dead: and no man can let thee but that in his owne monument thou mayest burie thy dead.

7   Abraham rose vp, and ^note adored the people of the land, to wit the children of Heth:

8   and he said to them: If it please your soule that I burie my dead, heare me, and be intercessors for me to Ephron the sonne of Seor:

9   that he geue me the duble caue, which he hath in the vttermost part of his field: for money to the worth therof let him deliuer it to me before you for possession of a sepulchre.

10   And Ephron dwelt in the middest of the children of Heth. And Ephron made answer to Abraham in the hearing of al that went in at the gate of the citie, saying:

11   No, it shal not be so, my lord, but thou rather harken to that which I doe say: The field I deliuer to thee, and the caue that is therin, in the presence of the children of my people, burie thy dead.

12   Abraham adored before the people of the land.

13   And he spoke to Ephron, his people standing round about: I beseech thee to heare me: I wil geue money for the field: take it, and so I wil burie my dead in it.

14   And Ephron answered:

15   My lord, heare me. The ground which thou desirest, is worth foure hundred sicles of siluer: this is the price betwen me and thee: but how much is this? burie thy dead.

16   Which when Abraham had heard, he weyed the money, that Ephron had asked, in the hearing of the children of Heth, foure hundred sicles of siluer of common currant money.

17   And the field that before time was Ephrons, wherin was the duble caue, looking towards Mambre, aswel it, as the caue, and al the trees therof in al the lymits therof round about:

18   was made sure to Abraham for a possession, in the sight of the children of Heth, and of al that went in at the gate of his citie.

19   And so Abraham buried Sara his wife in the duble caue of the field, that looked towards Mambre, this is Hebron in the land of Chanaan.

Abraham.

20   And the field was made sure to Abraham, and the caue, that was in it, for a possession to burie, in of the Children of Heth. Chap. XXIIII Abrahams seruant adiured and sent by him into Mesopotamia, to seke a wife for Isaac, 12. prayeth to God for a signe, findeth Rebecca, 34. and demanding her for this purpose, 50. with her parents, 58. and her owne consent, she goeth with him, 67. is maried to Isaac: who therby is comforted for the death of his mother.

1   And Abraham was old, and of manie dayes: and our Lord had blessed him in al things.

2   And he said to the elder seruant of his house, which was ruler ouer al that he had: Put thy hand vnder my thighe,

3   that I may adiure thee by our Lord, God of heauen and earth, that thou ^note take not a wife for my sonne, of the daughters of the Cananites, among whom I dwel:

4   but that thou goe vnto myne owne countrie and kindred, and thence take a wife for my sonne Isaac.

5   The seruant answered: If the woman wil not come with me into this land, whether must I bring thy sonne backe againe to the place, from whence thou didest come forth?

6   And Abraham said: Beware thou neuer bring my sonne backe againe thither.

7   Our Lord God of heauen, which tooke me out of my fathers house, and out of my natiue countrie, which spake to me, and sware to me, saying: To thy sede wil I geue this land: he shal send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take from thence a wife for my sonne:

8   but if the woman wil not folow thee, thou shalt not be bound by the oath: only bring not my sonne thither againe.

9   The seruant therfore put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his lord, and sware to him vpon this worde.

10   And he tooke tenne camels of his lords heard, and departed, of al his goods carying something with him, and setting forward went on into Mesopotamia to the citie of Nachor.

11   And when he had made the camels lye downe without the towne beside a wel of water at euen, at the time when wemen are wont to come forth to drawe water, he said:

12   O Lord God of my lord Abraham, mete me to day,

Abraham. I beseech thee, and doe mercifully with my maister Abraham.

13   Behold I stand nigh to the fountaine of water, and the daughters of the inhabiters of this citie, wil come forth to drawe water.

14   Therfore09Q0062 the maid, to whom I shal say: Bowe downe thy tankard that I may drinke: and she shal answere, Drinke, yea to thy camels also wil I geue drinke: she it is, whom thou hast prouided for thy seruant Isaac: and by this I shal vnderstand, that thou hast delt mercifully with my maister.

15   Neyther had he yet ended these wordes within him selfe, & behold Rebecca came forth, the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Melcha wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, hauing a tankard on her shoulder:

16   a passing comely maide, & most beautiful virgin, & not knowen to man: and she was gone downe to the fountaine, and had filled her tankard, and came backe.

17   And the seruant ranne to mete her, and said: Geue me a little water to drinke of thy tankard.

18   Who answered: Drinke my lord. And quickly she let downe the tankard vpon her arme, and gaue him drinke.

19   And when he had druncke, she added: but for thy camels also I wil drawe water, til al doe drinke.

20   And powring out the tankard into the troughes, she ranne backe to the wel to drawe water: and being drawen gaue it to al the camels.

21   But he musing beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether our Lord had made his iourney prosperous, or not.

22   And after that the camels had drunck, the man plucked forth golden earelettes, weying two sicles: and as manie braceletts of tenne sicles weight.

23   And he said to her: whose daughter art thou? shew me: is there anie place in thy fathers house to lodge?

24   Who answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Melcha, whom she bare to Nachor.

25   And she added, saying: Of strawe also and hay we haue good store, and a large place to lodge in.

26   The man bowed him selfe, and adored our Lord,

27   saying: Blessed be the Lord God of my lord Abraham, that hath not taken away his mercie & truth from my lord, and hath brought me the streight way into the house of my lords brother.

28   The maide therfore ranne, and reported into ^note her mothers house al things that she had heard.

29   And Rebecca had a brother named Laban, who in al haist went forth to the man, where the fountaine was.

30   And when he had seene the eareletts and braceletts in his sisters

Abraham. hands, and had heard al her words reporting: These words spake the man vnto me: he came to the man which stoode beside the camels, and nighe to the fountaine of water:

31   and said to him: Come in, thou blessed of our Lord: Why standest thou without? I haue prepared the house, and a place for the camels.

32   And he brought him in into his lodging: and he vnharnessed the camels, and gaue strawe and hay, and water to wash his feet, and of the men that were come with him.

33   And bread was set before him. Who said: I wil not eate, til I speake my message. He answered him: Speake.

34   And he said: I am the seruant of Abraham:

35   and our Lord hath blessed my lord wonderfully, and he is magnified: and he hath geuen him sheepe, and oxen, siluer and gold, men seruants and wemen seruants, camels, and asses.

36   And Sara my lordes wife hath borne my lord a sonne in her old age, and he hath geuen him al things that he had.

37   And my lord adiured me saying: Thou shalt not take a wife for my sonne of the Chananites, in whose land I dwel:

38   but thou shalt goe to my fathers house, and of mine owne kinred shalt thou take a wife for my sonne:

39   but I answered my Lord: What if the woman wil not come with me?

40   Our Lord, saith he, in whose sight I walke, wil send his angel with thee, and wil direct thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my sonne of myne owne kinred, and of my fathers house.

41   Thou shalt be innocent from my curse, when thou shalt come to my kinne, and they wil not geue her thee.

42   I came therfore to day to the wel of water, and said: O Lord God of my lord Abraham, if thou hast directed my way, wherin I now walke,

43   behold I stand besides the wel of water, and the virgin, that shal come forth to drawe water, when she shal heare me say: Geue me a litle water to drinke of thy tankard:

44   and she shal say to me: Drinke both thou and for thy camels I wil drawe also: that is the woman, which our Lord hath prepared for my maisters sonne.

45   And whilest I pondered these things secretly with my selfe, Rebecca appeared comming with a tankard, which she caried vpon her shoulder: and she went downe to the fountaine, & drew water. And I said to her: Geue me a litle to drinke.

46   Who spedelie let downe the tankard from her shoulder, and said to me: Drinke both thou, and to thy camels I wil geue drinke.

Abraham. I dranke, and she watered the cammels.

47   And I asked her, and said: Whose daughter art thou? who answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the sonne of Nachor, whom Melcha bare him. I hoong therfore earelettes to adorne her face, and I put braceletts vpon her hands.

48   And prostrate I adored our Lord, blessing the Lord God of my lord Abraham, who hath brought me the straight way to take the daughter of my lords brother for his sonne.

49   Wherfore if you doe according to mercie and truth with my lord, shew me: but if it please you otherwise, that also tel me, that I may goe to the right hand, or to the left.

50   And Laban and Bathuel answered: From our Lord the word hath proceded: we can not speake any other thing with thee besides his pleasure.

51   Behold Rebecca is before thee, take her and goe thy waies, and let her be the wife of thy lords sonne, as our Lord hath spoken.

52   Which when Abrahams seruant heard, falling downe he adored our Lord to the grounde.

53   And taking forth vessel of siluer, and gold, and garments, gaue them to Rebecca for a present. To her brothers also, and to her mother he offred giftes.

54   A banket was made, and eating and drinking togeather they lodged there. And in the morning, the seruant arose, and said: Dismisse me, that I may goe to my lord.

55   And her brother, and mother answered: Let the maide tarie at the least tenne days with vs, and after she shal depart.

56   Stay me not, said he, because our Lord hath directed my way: dismisse me that I may goe on to my lord.

57   And they said: Let vs cal the maid, and ^note aske her wil.

58   And being called, when she was come, they asked: Wilt thou goe with this man? who said: I wil goe.

59   They dismissed her therfore, and her nurce, and Abrahams seruant, and his companie,

60   wishing prosperitie to their sister, and saying: Thou art our sister, encrease thou into thousand thousands, and thy seed possesse the gates of their enemies

61   Therfore Rebecca, and her maides being set vpon camels, folowed the man: who with speed returned vnto his lord; and

62   the same time Isaac walked along the way, that leadeth to the wel of the Liuing and the seing, so called: for he dwelt in the south countrie;

63   and he was gone forth to ^note meditate in the field, the day nowe being wel spent: and when he had cast vp his eyes, he saw camels coming a farre of.

64   Rebecca

Abraham. also, when she saw Isaac, lighted of the camel,

65   and said to the seruant: Who is that man which cometh towards vs along the field? And he said to her. The same is my lord. But she quickly taking her cloake, couered her selfe.

66   And the seruant told Isaac al things that he hed done.

67   Who brought her into the tent of Sara his mother, and tooke her to wife: and he loued her so much, that it did moderate the sorrowe, which was chanced of his mothers death. ^{note note} Chap. XXV. Abraham hauing manie children by his wife Cetura, died at the age of 175. yeares: 12. Ismael also hauing twelue sonnes dukes, died. 19. Isaac praying for his barren wife, she hath Esau and Iacob twinnes. 30. Esau selleth his first birth right to Iacob for a messe of potage.

Abraham.

1   And Abraham maried an other wife named Cethura:

2   which bare him Zamran, and Iecsan, and Madan, and Madian, and Iesboc, and Sue.

3   Iecsan also begat Saba and Dadan. The Children of Dadan were Assurim, and Latusim, and Loomim.

4   But also of Madian was borne Epha, and Opher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaa: al these were the children of Cetura.

5   And Abraham gaue al his possessions to Isaac:

6   and09Q0063 to the children of his concubines he gaue gifts, and separated them from Isaac his sonne, whilest himselfe yet liued, to the east countrie.

7   And the days of Abrahams life were a hundred seuentie and fiue yeares.

8   And decaying dyed in ^note a good old age, and hauing liued a great time, and being ful of days: and was gethered to his people.

9   And there buried him Isaac and Ismael his sonnes in the duble caue, which was situated in the field of Ephron the sonne of Seor the Hethite, ouer against Mambre,

10   which he had bought of the children of Heth: there was he buried, and Sara his wife.

11   And after his death God blessed Isaac his sonne, who dwelled beside the wel of the Liuing and seing so named.

12   These are the generations of Ismael the sonne of Abraham, whom Agar the Ægyptian bare him, Saraes seruant: and

13   these are the names of his children according to their calling and generations. The first begotten of Ismael Nabaioth, then Cedar, and Adbeel, and Mabsam,

14   Masma also, and Duma, and Massa,

15   Hadar, and Thema, and Iethur, and Naphis, and Cedma.

16   These are the sonnes of Ismael: and these are their names by their castles and townes, twelue princes of their tribes.

17   And the yeares of Ismaels life came to an hundred thirtie seauen, and decaying died, and was put vnto his people.

18   And he dwelt from Heuila euen to Sur, which looketh towards Ægypt, as they enter to the Assirians, before the face of al his bretheren died he.

19   These also are the generations of Isaac the sonne of Abraham: Abraham begat Isaac:

20   who when he was fortie yeares old, tooke to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bathuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, sister to Laban.

21   And Isaac besought our Lord for his wife, because she was barren: who 09Q0064 heard him, and made Rebecca to conceaue.

22   But the little ones strugled in her wombe; who said: If it should be so with me, what nede was there to conceaue? And she

Isaac. ^notewent to consult our Lord.

23   Who answering said: Two nations are in thy wombe, and two peoples shal be diuided out of thy wombe, and one people shal ouercome the other, and09Q0065 the elder shal serue the younger.

24   Now her time was come to be deliuered, and behold twinnes were found in her wombe.

25   He that came forth first, was read, and al hearie in manner of a skinne: and his name was called Esau. Immediatly the other coming forth, held his brothers plant in his hand: and therfore he called him Iacob.

26   Threescore yeares old was Isaac, when the litle ones were borne vnto him.

27   Who being growne vp, Esau became a man cunning in hunting, and a husband man: but Iacob ^note a plaine man dwelled in tents.

28   Isaac loued Esau, because he did eate of his hunting: and Rebecca loued Iacob.

29   And Iacob boyled broth: to whom Esau being come faynt out of the field,

30   said: Geue me of this read broth, because I am exceding faint. For which cause his name was called Edom.

31   To whom Iacob said:09Q0066 Sel me thy first-birth-right.

32   He answered, Loe I dye, what wil the first birth right auaile me?

33   Iacob said: Sweare therfore to me. Esau sware to him, and sould his first-birth-right.

34   And so taking bread and the rice broth, did eate, and drinke, and went his way; little esteeming that he had sold his first birth right. ^{note note note}

^{note note} Chap. XXVI. Isaac by reason of famine goeth into Gerara, 3. where God reneweth to him the promises made to Abraham. 9. King Abimelech blameth him for calling his wife his sister. 15. the people enuying his wealth, quareleth for his welles 26. At last Abimelech maketh league with Isaac.

1   And when a famine was risen in the land, after that sterilitie, that had chanced in the dayes of Abraham, Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Palestines into Gerara.

2   And our Lord appeared to him, and said: ^note Goe not downe into Egypt, but rest in the land which I shal tel thee.

3   And seiourne in it, and I wil be with thee, and wil blesse thee: for to thee and to thy seed, I wil geue al these countries, accomplishing the oath which I sware to Abraham thy father.

Isaac.

4   And I wil multiplie thy seed as the starres of heauen: and I wil geue to thy posteritie al these countries: and in thy seed Shal be blessed al the nations of the earth,

5   for because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my preceptes and commandements, and obserued09Q0067 my ceremonies & lawes.

6   Therfore Isaac abode in Gerara.

7   Who when he was asked by the men of that place, concerning his wife, answered: She is ^note my sister. for he was afraid to confesse that she was married to him, thinking lest peraduenture they would kil him because of her beautie.

8   And when verie manie days were passed, and he abode there, Abimelech the king of the Palestines looking forth through a windowe, sawe him sporting with Rebecca his wife.

9   And calling for him, he said: It is euident that she is thy wife: why didest thou faine her to be thy sister? He answered: I feared lest I should die for her.

10   And Abimelech said: Why hast thou deceaued vs? some man of the people might haue lyen with thy wife, & thou haddest brought vpon vs ^note a great sinne. And he commanded al the people, saying:

11   He that shal touch this mans wife, dying shal dye.

12   And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found that same yeare09Q0068 an hundred fold: and our Lord blessed him.

13   And the man was made rich, and he went prospering and encreasing, til he was made exceeding great:

14   and he had also possessions of sheep and of heards, and a verie great familie. For this the Palestines enuying him,

15   stopped at that time al the welles, that the seruants of his father Abraham had digged, filling them vp with water:

16   in so much that Abimelech himselfe said to Isaac: Depart from vs, because thou art become mightier then we a great deale.

17   And departing, to come to the Torrent of Gerara, and to dwel there:

18   againe he digged other welles, which the seruants of his father Abraham had digged, and which, after his death, the Philistines had stopped vp of old: and he called them by the same names, which his father before had called them.

19   And they digged in the ^note Torrent, and found liuing water:

20   but there also the pastors of Gerara made a brawle against the pastors of Isaac, saying: It is our water. for which cause he called the name of the wel, by occasion of that which had hapned, ^note Calumne.

21   And they digged also an other: & for that they brawled likewise, and he called the name of it, Enmitie.

22   Going

Isaac. foreward from thence he digged an other wel, for which they contended not: therfore he called the name therof, Latitude, saying: Now hath our Lord dilated vs, and made vs to encrease vpon the earth.

23   And he went vp from that place vnto Bersabee,

24   where our Lord appeared to him that same night, saying: I am the God of Abraham thy father, do not feare, because I am with thee: I wil blesse thee, and multiplie thy seed for my seruant Abrahams sake.

25   Therfore he builded there an altar: and hauing called vpon the name of our Lord, he pitched his tent: and commanded his seruants that they should digge a wel.

26   To the which place when there were come from Gerara Abimelech, and Ocozath his freind, and Phicol chieffe captaine of his souldiers,

27   Isaac spake to them: Why are ye come to me a man whom you hated, and haue thrust our from you?

28   Who answered: We saw that the Lord is with thee, and therfore we said: Let there be an oath betwen vs, and ^note let vs make a league,

29   that thou do vs no harme, as we also haue touched nothing of thine, neither haue we done that which might hurt thee: but with peace haue we dismist thee encreased with the blessing of the Lord.

30   Therfore he made them a feast, and after they had eaten and drunken

31   arising in the morning, they sware one to an other: and Isaac dismissed them peaceably into their place.

32   And behold the same day came the seruants of Isaac telling him of a wel, which they had digged, and saying: We haue found water.

33   Wherupon he called it Abundance: and the name of the citie was geuen Bersabee, euen vnto this present day.

34   But Esau being fourtie yeares old married wiues, Iudith the daughter of Beeri the Hethite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon of the same place:

35   both which had ^note offended the mind of Isaac and Rebecca. ^note

Isaac. ^note Chap. XXVII. Iacob by his mothers counsail getteth his fathers ble&esset;ing in place of Esau, 42. And by her is aduised (for auoiding Esaus wrath, who threatned to kil him) to flie to his vncle Laban, in Haran of Mesopotamia.

1   And Isaac was old, and his eyes were dimme, and he could not see: and he called Esau his elder sonne, and said to him: my sonne? Who answered Here I am.

2   To whom his father: Thou seest, quoth he, that I am old, and know not the day of my death.

3   Take thy instruments, thy quiuer, and bowe, and goe abrode: and when thou hast taken any thing by hunting,

4   make me broth therof, as thou knowest I like, and bring that I may eate: and my soule may blesse thee before I dye.

5   Which when Rebecca had heard, and he was gone into the field to fulfil his fathers commandement,

6   she said to her sonne Iacob: I heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying to him: ^note

7   Bring me of thy hunting, and make me meates that I may eate, and blesse thee in the sight of our Lord before I dye.

8   Now therfore my sonne, assent to my counsel:

9   and go thy way to the flocke, bring me two kiddes of the best, that I may make of them meat for thy father, such as he gladly eateth:

10   which when thou hast brought in, and he hath eaten, he may blesse thee before he dye.

11   To whom he answered: Thou knowest that Esau my brother is an hearie man, and I am smooth:

12   if my father shal feele me, and perceaue it, ^note I feare lest he wil thinke I would

Isaac. haue deluded him, and I shal bring vpon me a curse for a blessing.

13   To whom his mother said: This curse, my sonne, light vpon me: only heare thou my voice, and go, fetch me the things which I haue said.

14   He went, and brought, and gaue them to his mother. She dressed meats, euen as she knew his father liked.

15   And she did on him the garments of Esau verie good, which she had at home with her:

16   and the litle skinnes of the kidds she put about his hands, and couered the bare of his necke.

17   And she gaue him the broth, and deliuered him bread that she had baked.

18   Which when he had caried in, he said: My father? But he answered: I heare. Who art thou my sonne?

19   And Iacob said:09Q0069 I am thy first begotten Esau: I haue done as thou didest command me: arise, sit, and eate of my hunting, that thy soule may blesse me.

20   And againe Isaac to his sonne: How couldest thou, said he, find it so quickly, my sonne? Who answered: ^note It was the wil of God that that which I would came quickly in my way:

21   And Isaac said: Come hither, that I may feele thee my sonne, and may proue whether thou be my sonne Esau, or no.

22   He came nere to his father, and when he had felt him, Isaac said: The voice verely, is the voice of Iacob: but the hands, are the hands of Esau.

23   And he09Q0070 knew him not, because his hearie hands had made him like vnto the elder. Blessing him therfore,

24   he said: Art thou my sonne Esau? He answered: I am.

25   But he said: Bring me the meats of thy hunting, my sonne, that my soule may blesse thee. Which when they were brought and he had eaten, he offred him wine also, which after he had drunke,

26   he said to him: Come nere me, and geue me a kisse, my sonne.

27   He came nere, and kissed him. And immediatly as he felt the fragrant sauoure of his garments, blessing him, he said: Behold the sauoure of my sonne is as the sauoure of a plentiful field, which our Lord hath blessed.

28   God geue thee of the deaw of heauen, and of the fatnes of the earth abundance of corne and wine.

29   And let peoples serue thee, and tribes adore thee: be thou lord of thy brethren, and thy mothers children bowe they before thee. He that shal curse thee, be he cursed: and he that shal blesse thee, be he replenished with blessings.

30   Isaac had scarce ended his wordes, and Iacob now gone forth abroad, but Esau came,

31   and brought in to his father meates made

Isaac. of his hunting, saying: Arise my father, and eate of thy sonnes hunting: that thy soule may blesse me.

32   And Isaac said to him: Why! who arth thou? Who answered: I am thy first begotten sonne Esau.

33   Isaac was amazed and astonied exceadingly: and marueling more then a man can beleue, said: Who is he then that euen now brought me venison that he had taken, and I did eate of al thinges before thou camest? and I haue blessed him, ^note and he shal be blessed.

34   Esau hauing heard his fathers wordes, roared out with a great crye: and being dismaied, said: Blesse me also, my father.

35   Who said: Thy brother came deceiptfully and tooke thy blessing.

36   But he said again: Rightly is his name called Iacob: for he hath supplanted me loe the second time: my first-birth-right he tooke before, and now the second time he hath stollen my blessing. And againe to his father he said: Hast thou not reserued me also a blessing?

37   Isaac answered: I haue appointed him thy Lord, and al his brethren I haue made subiect to his seruice: with corne and wine I haue established him, and for thee, my sonne, what shal I doe more after this?

38   To whom Esau said: Hast thou one only blessing, father? I besech thee blesse me also. And when he wept that he howled againe,

39   Isaac being moued, said to him: In ^note the fat of the earth, and in the deaw of heauen from aboue

40   shal thy blessing be. Thou shalt liue by the sworde, and shalt serue thy brother: and ^note the time shal come, when thou shalt shake of, and loose his yoake from thy necke.

41   Esau therfore alwaies hated Iacob for the blessing wherwith his father had blessed him: and he said in his hart: The daies wil come of the mourning of my father, and I wil kil Iacob my brother.

42   These things were told to Rebecca: who sending & calling Iacob her sonne, said to him: Behold Esau thy brother threatneth to kil thee.

43   Now therfore, my sonne, heare my voice, and get thee vp and flye to Laban my brother into Haran:

44   and thou shalt dwel with him a few daies, til the furie of thy brother be asswaged,

45   and his indignation cease, and he forget those things, which thou hast done to him: afterward I wil send, and bring thee from thence hither. Why shal I be depriued of both sonnes in one day?

46   And Rebecca said to Isaac: I am wearie of my life for the daughters of Heth: if Iacob take a wife of the stocke of this land, I list not liue.

Isaac. ^{note note}

^note Chap. XXVIII. ^note Iacob with his fathers ble&esset;ing, and admonition not to take a wife of Chanaan, but of the daughters of his vncle Laban, goeth into Mesopotamia: (6. Esau in the meane time marieth a third wife, his vncle Ismaels daughter) 11. Iacob seeth in slepe a ladder reaching to heauen, Angels ascending and descending, and our Lord leyning theron renewed the promises made to Abraham and Isaac. 16. And he awayking maketh a vow.

1   Isaac therfore called Iacob, and blessed him, and commanded him saying: Take not a wife of the stocke of Chanaan:

2   but goe, and make a iourney into Mesopotamia of Syria, to the house of Bathuel thy mothers father, and take thee a wife thence of the daughters of Laban thin vncle.

3   And God almightie blesse thee, and make thee

Isaac. encrease, and multiplie thee: that thou maiest be into multitudes of peoples.

4   And ^note geue he thee the blessings of Abraham, and to thy seed after thee: that thou mayest possesse the land of thy perigrination, which he promised to thy grandfather.

5   And when Isaac had dismist him, taking his iourney he came to Mesopotamia of Syria to Laban the sonne of Bathuel the Syrian, brother to Rebecca his mother.

6   And Esau seing that his father had blessed Iacob, and had sent him into Mesopotamia of Syria, to marry a wife thence; and that after the blessing he had commanded him, saying: Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Chanaan:

7   and that Iacob obeying his parents was gone into Syria:

8   hauing tryal also that his father did not willingly see the daughters of Canaan:

9   he went to Ismael, and tooke to wife besides them, which he had before, Maheleth the daughter of Ismael Abrahams sonne, sister to Nabaioth.

10   Therfore Iacob being departed from Bersabee, went on to Haran. ^note

11   And when he was come to a certaine place, and would rest in it after sunne set, he09Q0071 tooke one of the stones that lay there, and putting it vnder his head, slept in the same place.

12   And he saw in his sleepe09Q0072 a ladder standing vpon the earth, and the top therof tooching heauen: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it,

13   and our Lord leyning vpon the ladder saying to him: I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the Land, wherin thou sleepest, I wil geue to thee and to thy seed.

14   And thy seed shal be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt be dilated to the West, and to the East, & to the North, and to the South: and in thee and thy seed al the tribes of the earth shal be blessed.

15   And I wil be thy keeper whither so euer thou goest, and wil bring thee backe into this land: neither wil I leaue thee, til I shal haue accomplished al things which I haue said.

16   And when Iacob was awaked out of sleepe, he said: In dede our Lord is in this place, and I wist not.

17   And trembling he said: How terrible is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and the gate of heauen.

18   And Iacob arising in the morning, tooke the stone, which he had laid vnder his head, and09Q0073 erected it for a title, powring oyle vpon the toppe.

19   And he called the name of the citie ^note Bethel, which before was called Luza.

20   And he09Q0074 vowed a vowe, saying: If God

Isaac. shal be with me, and shal keepe me in the way, by the which I walke, and shal geue me ^note bread to eate, and rayment to put on,

21   and I shal be returned prosperously to my fathers house, the Lord shal be my God,

22   and this stone, which I haue erected for a title, shal be called the House of God: and of al things that thou shalt geue to me, I wil offer tithes to thee. ^{note note note note}

^note Chap. XXIX. Iacob intertained by Laban, 15. serueth him seuen yeares for Rachel, 23. but first receiuing Lia, 27. seuen dayes after receiueth also Rachel, and serueth for her seuen yeares more. 31. She remaining barren, Lia beareth foure sonnes.

1   Iacob therfore going on his iourney, came into the East countrie.

2   And he sawe a wel in the field, and three flockes of sheepe lying beside it: for of it the beasts were watered, and the mouth therof was closed with a great stone.

3   And the maner was when al the sheepe were geathered togeather they did rowle of the stone, and after the sheepe were refreshed they put it on the mouth of the wel againe.

4   And he said to the sheperds: Brethren, Whence are you? Who answered: Of Haran.

5   And he asked them, saying: Know you Laban the sonne of Nachor? They said: We do knowe him.

6   Is he in health? quoth he: He is in health, say they: And behold Rachel his daughter cometh

Iacob. with his flocke.

7   And Iacob said: There is yet much day remaining, neither is it time to bring the flockes into the foulds againe: first geue the sheep drinke, and so bring them backe to feede.

8   Who answered: We can not, til al the cattel be gethered together: and we remoue the stone from the wels mouth, that we may water the flocks.

9   They were yet speaking, and behold Rachel came with her fathers sheepe: for she fed the flocke.

10   whom when Iacob had seene, and knew her to be his cosen germaine, and that they were the sheepe of Laban his vncle: he remoued the stone, wherwith the wel was closed.

11   And hauing watered the flocke, he ^note kissed her: and lifting vp his voice wept,

12   and he told her that he was her fathers brother, and the sonne of Rebecca: but she in hast went and told her father.

13   Who when he heard that Iacob his sisters sonne was come, he ranne forth to mete him: and embracing him, and hartely kissing him, brought him into his house. And when he had heard the causes of his iourney,

14   he answered: Thou art my bone and my flesh. And after the dayes of one moneth were expired,

15   he said to him: because thou art my brother, shalt thou serue me ^note gratis? Tel me what wages wilt thou take.

16   He had in dede two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel.

17   But Lia was bleare eyed: Rachel wel fauored, and of a bewtiful countenance.

18   Whom Iacob louing, said: I wil serue thee for Rachel thy younger daughter, seauen yeares.

19   Laban answered: It is better that I geue her to thee then to an other man, tary with me.

20   Iacob therfore serued for Rachel seuen yeares: and they semed a few dayes because of the greatnes of his loue.

21   And he said to Laban: geue me my wife: because now the time is complete, that I may companie with her.

22   Who hauing bid a great number of his freinds to the feast, made the mariage.

23   And at night ^note he brought in Lia his daughter to him,

24   geuing his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. With whom when Iacob had compained after the maner, when morning was come he saw Lia:

25   and he said to his father in lawe: What is it that thou didest meane to doe? did not I serue thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceiued me?

26   Laban answered: It is not the custome in this place, that we bestowe the younger in mariage first.

27   Make vp the ^note weeke of dayes

Iacob. of this match: and I wil geue the this same also, for the worke that thou shalt serue me other seauen yeares.

28   He yelded to his pleasure: and after the weeke was past, he maried Rachel to wife:

29   to whom her father had deliuered Bala for to be her seruant.

30   And hauing at length obteined the mariage that he wished, he preferred the loue of the later before the former, seruing with him other seauen yeares.

31   And our Lord seing that he despised Lia, opned her wombe, her sister remaining barren.

32   Who conceaued and bare a sonne, and called his name Ruben, saying: Our Lord saw mine affliction: now my husband wil loue me.

33   And againe she conceaued and bare a sonne, and said: For because our Lord heard that I was contemned, he hath geuen this also to me: and she called his name Simeon.

34   And she conceaued the third time, and bare an other sonne: and said: Now also my husband wil be ioyned to me, for because I haue borne him three sonnes: and therfore she called his name, Leui.

35   The fourth time she conceaued and bare a sonne, and said: Now wil I conffesse to our Lord. And for this she called him Iuda: And she left bearing. Chap. XXX. Rachel yet barren, deliuereth her handmaide to Iacob, who beareth two sonnes. 9. Lia ceasing to beare geueth her handmaid also, and she beareth two more. 17. Then Lia beareth other two sonnes and one daughter. 22. Rachel beareth Ioseph. 25. Iacob desirous to returne home, is hyred to stay for a certaine part of the stockes increase. 43. Wherby he becometh exceeding rich.

1   And Rachel seing she was vnfruitful, ^note enuied her sister, and said to her husband: Geue me children, otherwise I shal dye.

2   With whom Iacob being angrie answered: Am I as God, who hath depriued thee of the fruite of thy wombe?

3   But she said: I haue here my seruant Bala: Companie with her, that she may beare vpon my knees, and I may haue children of her.

4   And she gaue him Bala vnto ^notemariage: who,

5   when her husband had compained with her, conceaued and bare a sonne.

6   And Rachel said: Our Lord hath iudged for me, and hath heard my voice, geuing

Iacob. me a sonne. and therfore she called his name, Dan.

7   And againe Bala conceauing bare an other,

8   for whom Rachel said: God hath compared me with my sister, and I haue preuailed: and she called him Nepthali.

9   Lia perceauing that she had left bearing, deliuered Zelpha her handmaid to her husband.

10   Who conceauing and bringing forth a sonne,

11   she said: Happely. And therfore called his name Gad.

12   Zelpha also bare an other.

13   And Lia said: This is for my blessednes: for wemen wil cal me blessed. Therfore she called him, Aser.

14   And Ruben going forth in the time of wheat haruest into the field, found mandragores: which he brought to his mother Lia. And Rachel said: Geue me part of thy sonnes ^note mandragores.

15   She answered: Doest thou thinke it a smal matter, that thou hast taken my husband from me, vnlesse thou take also my sonnes mandragores? Rachel said: For thy sonnes mandragores let him sleepe with thee this night.

16   And when Iacob returned at euen from the field, Lia went out to meete him, and said: Companie with me, because with wages I haue hired thee for my sonnes mandragores. And he slept with her that night.

17   And God heard her prayers: and she conceaued and bare the fifth sonne,

18   and said: God hath geuen me a reward, because I gaue my handmaid to my husband. And she called his name Issachar.

19   Againe Lia conceauing, bare the sixt sonne,

20   and said: God hath endowed me with a good dowrie: this turne also my husband wil be with me, for because I haue borne him six sonnes, and therfore she called his name, Zabulon.

21   After whom she bare a daughter, named Dina.

22   Our Lord also remembring Rachel, heard her, and opened her wombe.

23   Who conceaued, and bare a sonne, saying: God hath taken away my reproch.

24   And she called his name, Ioseph, saying: Our Lord adde to me an other sonne.

25   And when Ioseph was borne, Iacob said to his father in lawe: Dismisse me that I may returne into my countrie, and to my land.

26   Geue me my wiues, and my children, for whom I haue serued thee, that I may depart: thou knowest the seruice that I haue serued thee.

27   Laban said to him: Let me finde grace in thy sight: I haue learned by experience, that God hath blessed me for thy sake:

28   appoint thee wages which I shal geue thee.

29   But he answered: Thou knowest how I

Iacob. haue serued thee, and how great thy possession hath benne in my hands.

30   Thou hadest a smal thing before I came to thee, and now thou art made rich: and our Lord hath blessed thee at my comming in. It is reason therfore that once I prouide also for mine owne house.

31   And Laban said: What shal I geue thee? But he said: I wil nothing: but if thou wilt doe that which I demande, I wil fede, and kepe thy sheepe again.

32   Goe round about al thy flockes, and separate al the shepe of diuers colours, of speckled flyse: and what soeuer shal be russet and spotted, and of diuers colours, aswel in the shepe, as in the goates, shal be my wages.

33   And my iustice shal answer for me to morowe, before thee when the time of the bargaine shal come: and al that shal not be of diuers colours, and spotted, and russet, aswel in the shepe as in the goates, shal accuse me of theft.

34   And Laban said: I like wel that thou demandest.

35   And he separated the same day the shee goates, and the shepe, and the he goates, and the rammes of diuers colours, and spotted: and al the flocke of one coloure, that is of white and blacke flyse, he deliuered in the hand of his sonnes.

36   And he put a space of three dayes iourney betwixt him and his sonne in lawe, who fed the rest of his flocke.

37   Iacob therfore ^note taking grene roddes of the poplare, and of the almond, and of the plaine trees, in part pilled them: and when the barkes were taken of, in the parts that were pilled, there appeared whitnes: but the parts that were whole, remayned grene: and by this meanes the colour was made diuers.

38   And he put them in the troughes, where the water was poured out: that when the flockes should come to drinke, they might haue the roddes before their eyes, and in the sight of them conceaue.

39   And it came to passe that in the verie heate of the ramming, the shepe beheld the roddes, and brought forth spotted, and of diuers colours, and speckled.

40   And Iacob diuided the flocke, and put the roddes in the troughes before the eyes of the rammes: and al the white and the blacke were Labans: and the rest, Iacobs, when the flockes were separated one from the other.

41   Therfore when the ewes went to ramme, in the prime time, Iacob put the roddes in the troughes of water before the eyes of the rammes, and of the ewes, that in looking vpon them they might conceaue:

42   but when the

Iacob. later comming was, and the last conceauing, he did not put them. And those that were late warde, became Labans: and they of the prime time, Iacobs.

43   And the man was enriched beyond measure, and he had manie flockes, wemen seruantes and men seruants, camels and asses. Chap. XXXI. Iacob by Gods commandment parteth secretly with al he hath towards his father. 21. Laban pursueth him. 26. expostulating why he went in secrete maner. 30. especially chargeth him with stelling his goddes. 31. Iacob excuseth himselfe, not knowing that Rachel had taken away the Idols. 34. and she deludeth his diligent searching for them. 36. Then Iacob expostulateth with Laban for this vnkindnes. 43. Finally they make a league and depart ech to his owne countrie.

1   After he heard the wordes of Labans sonnes saying: Iacob hath taken al that was our fathers, and being enriched of his substance, is become great:

2   and perceauing also Labans countenance, that it was not towards him as yesterday and the other day,

3   especially our Lord saying to him: Returne into the land of thy fathers, and to thy kinred, and I wil be with thee.

4   He sent, and called Rachel and Lia into the field, where he fed the flockes,

5   and said to them: I see your fathers countenance that it is not towards me as yesterday and the other day: and the God of my father hath bene with me.

6   And your selues knowe that I haue serued your father to the vttermost of my power.

7   Yea your father also hath circumuented me, and hath changed my wages tenne times: and yet God hath not suffred him to hurt me.

8   If at any time he said: They of diuers colours shal be thy wages: al the sheepe brought forth young of diuers colours, but when he said contrarie: Thou shalt take al the white ones for thy wages: al the flockes brought forth white ones.

9   And God hath taken your fathers substance, and geuen it to me.

10   For after the time came of the ewes conceauing, I lifted vp mine eyes, and sawe in my sleepe the males ascending vpon the females of diuers colours, and the spotted, and the speckled.

11   And the angel of God said to me in sleepe:

Iacob. Iacob? And I answered: Here I am.

12   Who said: Lyft vp thine eyes, and see al the males ascending vpon the females, them of diuers colours, the spotted and the speckled. For I haue seene al things that Laban hath done to thee.

13   I am the God of Bathel, where thou didest ^note annointe the stone, and didest vowe the vowe vnto me. Now therfore arise, and goe out of this land, returning into the land of thy natiuitie.

14   And Rachel and Lia answered: Haue we any thing left in the goods, and heritage of our fathers house?

15   Hath he not reputed vs as strangers, and sould vs, and eaten vp the price of vs?

16   But God hath taken our fathers riches, and deliuered them to vs, and to our children: wherfore do al things, that God hath commanded thee.

17   Iacob therfore rose vp, and setting his children, and wiues vpon camels, went his way.

18   And he tooke al his substance, and flockes, and whatsoeuer he had gotten in Mesopotamia, and went forward to Isaac his father into the land of Chanaan.

19   At that time Laban was gone to sheare his sheepe, and Rachel stole the09Q0075 idols of her father. ^note

20   And Iacob would not confesse to his father in lawe that he fled.

21   And when he was gone aswel him selfe as al things that were his right, and hauing passed the riuer was marching on to Mount Galaad,

22   it was told Laban the third day that Iacob fled.

23   Who, taking his brethren vnto him, pursued him seuen dayes: and he ouertoke him in the Mount Galaad.

24   And he saw in his sleepe God saying vnto him: Take hede thou speake not roughly anie thing against Iacob.

25   And Iacob had now pitched his tent in the mountaine: and when he with his brethren had ouertaken him, he pitched his tent in the same Mount Galaad.

26   And he said to Iacob: Why didest thou so, that vnwitting to me thou wouldest carie away my daughters as captiues with the sword?

27   Why wouldest thou flee without my knowledge, and not tel me, that I might haue brought thee on the way with ioy, and songues, and timbrels, and cithernes?

28   Thou hast not suffred me to kisse my sonnes and daughters: thou hast donne foolishly: now also in dede,

29   my hand is able to requite thee euil: but the God of your father said vnto me yesterday: Take hede thou speake not any thing against Iacob roughly.

30   Suppose, thou diddest desire to goe to thy freinds, and hadest a longing to thy fathers house: why didest thou steale

Iacob. my godds?

31   Iacob answered: In that I departed vnwitting to thee, I feared lest thou wouldest take away thy daughters by force.

32   But wheras thou chargest me with theft: with whom soeuer thou shalt find thy goddes, let him be slaine before our brethen. search, what soeuer of thy things thou shalt finde with me, and take away. Saying this, he knew not that Rachel had stollen the idols.

33   Laban therfore hauing gone into the tent of Iacob, and of Lia, and of both the hand-maides, found them not. And when he was entred into Rachels tent,

34   she in hast hid the idols vnder the camels litter, and satte therupon: and when he had sought al the tent, and found nothing,

35   she said: Let not my lord be angrie that I can not rise vp before thee, because according to the custome of wemen it is now chanced to me. so his carefulnes in seeking was deluded.

36   And Iacob being ^note angrie said in chiding maner: For what fault of myne, and for what offence of my part hast thou so chaffed after me,

37   and searched al my houshould stuffe? What hast thou found of al the sabstance of thy house? lay it here before my brethren, and thy brethren, and let them iudge betwen me & thee.

38   Haue I therfore bene with thee twentie yeares? thy ewes and goates were not barren, the wethers of thy flocke I did not eate:

39   neyther that which the beast had caught did I shew to thee, I made good al the damage: whatsoeuer perished by theft, thou didest exact it of me:

40   day and night was I parched with heate, and with frost, and sleepe did flye from myne eyes.

41   And in this sorte haue I serued thee in thy house twentie yeares, fourtene for thy daughters, and six for thy flockes: thou hast changed also my wages tenne times.

42   Vnles the God of my father Abraham, and the feare of Isaac had holpe me, peraduenture now thou haddest sent me away naked: God beheld my affliction and the laboure of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday.

43   Laban answered him: The daughters are mine and the children, and thy flockes, and al things that thou seest are mine: what can I do to my daughters, and nephews?

44   Come therfore, let vs enter in league: that it may be for a testimonie betwen me and thee.

45   Iacob therfore tooke a stone, and erected it for a title:

46   and he said to his brethren: Bring hither stones. Who gethering them together made a heape, and they did eate vpon it:

47   Which

Iacob. Laban called The witnesse heape: and Iacob called The hillock of testimonie, either of them according to the proprietie of his language.

48   And Laban said: This heape shal be a witnes betwen me and thee this day, and therfore the name therof was called Galaad, that is, The witnes heape.

49   Our Lord behold and iudge betwen vs when we shal be departed one from the other,

50   if thou shalt afflict my daughters, and if thou bring in other wiues ouer them: none is witnes of our talke but God, who is present and beholdeth.

51   And he said againe to Iacob: Behold this heape, and the stone which I haue erected betwen me and thee,

52   shal be a witnes: this heape, I say, and the stone be they for a testimonie, if either I shal passe beyond it going towards thee, or thou shalt passe beyond it, thinking harme to me.

53   The God of Abraham, and the God of Nachor iudge betwen vs, the God of their father. Iacob therfore sware by the feare of his father Isaac:

54   and after he had offred victimes in the mountaine, he called his brethren to eate bread. Who when they had eaten, lodged there:

55   but Laban arising in the night, kissed his sonnes, and daughters, and blessed them: and returned vnto his place. ^{note note}

Chap. XXXII. Angels mete Iacob by the way. 3. He sendeth messengers and giftes to pacifie his brother Esau. 24. wrestling with an Angel is not ouercome, in fine the Angel benummeth his thiegh, blesseth him, and fortelleth that he shal be called Israel.

1   Iacob also went on his iourney that he had begunne: and the Angels of God met him.

2   Whom when he had seene, he said: These are the Campes of God, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim, that is, Campes.

3   And he sent also messengers before him to Esau his brother into the land of Seir, into the countrie of Edom:

4   and he commanded them, saying: Thus speake ye vnto my lord Esau: This saith thy brother Iacob: I haue soiourned, and haue bene with Laban vntil this present day.

5   I haue oxen, and asses, and sheepe, and men seruants, and wemen seruants: and now I send a leagacie to my lord, that I may finde grace in thy sight.

6   And the messengers returned to Iacob, saying: We came to Esau thy brother, and behold he cometh with spede to mete thee with foure hundred men.

7   Iacob 09Q0076 feared exceedingly: & being sore affraid diuided the people that was with him, the flockes also and the shepe and the oxen, and the camels, into two troupes,

8   saying: If Esau come to one troupe, and strike it, the other troupe that remaineth, shal be saued.

9   And Iacob said: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac: O Lord that didest say to me: Returne into thy land, and into the place of thy natiuitie, and I wil doe thee good.

10   I am inferiour to al thy mercies, and thy truth that thou hast fulfilled to thy seruant. With my staffe I passed ouer this Iordain: and now with two troupes I doe returne.

11   Deliuer me from the hand of my brother Esau, because I am sore affraid of him: lest perhaps he come, and strike the mother with the children.

12   Thou didest say that thou wouldest do good to me,

Iacob. and dilate my seed as the sand of the sea, which for multitude can not be numbred.

13   And when he had slept there that night, he separated of those things which he had, giftes to his brother Esau,

14   she goates two hundred, he goates twentie, ewes two hundred, and rammes twentie,

15   thirtie milch camels with their coltes, fourtie kine, and twentie bulles, twentie she asses, and their foles ten.

16   And he sent by the handes of his seruants, euerie flocke by it selfe, and he said to his seruants: Goe before me, and let there be a space betwen flocke and flocke.

17   And he commanded the former, saying: If thou mete my brother Esau, and he aske thee, whose art thou? or whither goest thou? or whose are these that thou doest folowe?

18   thou shalt answere: Iacobes thy seruant, he hath sent them for gifts to my lord Esau: himselfe also cometh after vs.

19   In like maner he gaue commandements to the second, and the third, and to al that folowed the flocks, saying: With the selfe same words speake ye to Esau, when you shal finde him.

20   And ye shal adde: Iacob also thy seruant himselfe foloweth on after vs; for he said: I wil pacifie him with the gifts that goe before, and afterward I wil see him, perhaps he wil be gracious vnto me.

21   The giftes therfore went before him, but himselfe lodged that night in the campe.

22   And when he was risen early he tooke his two wiues, and his handmaides as manie, with his eleuen sonnes, and passed ouer the ford Iaboc.

23   And when he had set ouer al things that appertained to him,

24   he taried alone: and behold09Q0077 a man wrasteled with him til morning.

25   Who when he saw that he could not ouercome him, he touched the sinowe of his thighe, and forthwith it shranke.

26   And he said to him: Let me goe for it is breake of day. He answered: I wil not let thee goe, vnlesse thou blesse me.

27   He therfore said: What is thy name? He answered: Iacob.

28   But he, no, thy name, quoth he, ^note shal not be called Iacob, but Israel: for if thou hast bene strong against God, how much more shalt thou preuaile against men?

29   Iacob asked him: Tel me by what name art thou called? He answered: Why doest thou aske my name? and blessed him in the same place.

30   And Iacob called the name of the place Phanuel, saying: I haue sene God face to face, and my soule was made safe.

31   And immediatly the sunne rose to him, after that he was past Phanuel; but he

Iacob. halted on his foote.

32   For which cause the children of Israel eate not the sinowe, that shrunke in Iacobes thighe, vnto his present day: because he touched the sinowe of his thighe, and it shrunke. ^{note note note}

Iacob. Chap. XXXIII. Iacob seing Eau09Q0078 come with a great troupe of men, feareth harme, but is most curteously entertained by him. 10. He hardly perswadeth Esau to take giftes, 13. and to returne home. 17. So Iacob coming by Socoth to Salem, there byeth a field, pitcheth his tents, and erecteth an Altar.

1   And Iacob lifting vp his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him foure hundred men: and he diuided the children of Lia and of Rachel, and of the two handmaides:

2   and he put both the handmaids & their children foremost: and Lia, and her children in the second place: and Rachel, and Ioseph last.

3   And himselfe going foreward adored prostrate to the grownd seuen times, vntil his brother came nere.

4   Esau therfore running to mete his brother, embraced him: and clasping him fast about the necke, and kissing him wept.

5   And casting vp his eyes, he saw the wemen and their litle ones, and said: What meane these? And do they perteyne to thee? He answered: They are the litle ones which God hath geuen to me thy seruant.

6   And the handmaides and their children coming nere, bowed themselues.

7   Lia also with her children came nere: and when they had adored in like maner, last Ioseph and Rachel adored.

8   And Esau said: What are the troupes that I did mete? He answered: That I might find grace before my lord.

9   But he said: I haue plentie, my brother, be thy things to thy selfe.

10   And Iacob said: Do not so I besech thee, but if I haue found grace in thin eyes, take a litle present at my hands: for so haue I seene thy face, as if I should haue seene ^notethe countenance of God: be gracious to me,

11   and take the blessing, which I haue brought thee, and which God hath geuen me, who geueth al thinges. Scarse at his brothers great instance, taking it,

12   he said: Let vs march on together; and I wil accompanie thee in thy iourney.

13   And Iacob said: My lord thou knowest that I haue with me litle ones, and sheepe, and kine with young: which if I cause to ouerlaboure themselues in going, in one day al the flockes wil die.

14   It may please my lord to goe before his seruant: and I wil folow softly after him, as I shal see my litle ones

Iacob. to be able, vntil I come to my lord in Seir.

15   Esau answered: I besech thee, that of my people at the leastwise, which is with me, there may remaine some to accompanie thee in the way. It is not needful, said he, this only I haue nede of, that I may finde grace (my lord) in thy sight.

16   Esau therfore returned that day the same way, that he came into Seir.

17   And Iacob cometh into Socoth: where hauing built a house, and pitched his tents, he called the name of that place Socoth, that is, Tabernacles.

18   And he passed into Salem a citie of the Sichimites, which is in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Siria: and he dwelt beside the towne.

19   And he bought that part of the field, wherin he had pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father fo Sichem for an hundred lambes.

20   And erecting an altar there, on it he called vpon the most mightie God of Israel. Chap. XXXIIII. For rauishing Dina, the Sichimetes (being first circumcised) are slaine by Simeon and Leui her brothers. 27. The rest of Iacobs sonnes spoile the citie. 30. Iacob blameth them, fearing harme may come by this fact.

1   And Dina the daughter of Lia went forth ^note to see the wemen of that countrie.

2   Whom when Sichem had seene the sonne of Hemor the Heuite, the prince of that land, he was in loue with her: and he tooke her away, and lay with her, by force rauishing the virgin.

3   And his soule was fast kint vnto her, and wheras she was sad, he comforted her with sweete wordes.

4   And going to Hemor his father, he said: Take me this wench to be my wife.

5   Which when Iacob had heard, his sonnes being absent, and occupied in feeding of the cattle, he held his peace til they returned.

6   And when Hemor Sichems father was come forth to speake vnto Iacob,

7   behold his sonnes came out of the field: and hearing what had passed, they were passing wrath, because he had done a foule thing in Israel, and committed an vnlawful fact, in rauishing Iacobs daughter

8   Hemor therfore spake to them: The soule of my sonne Sichem is fastned to your daughter: Geue her vnto him to

Iacob. wife:

9   and let vs contract mariages one with an other: geue vs your daughters, and take you our daughters.

10   And dwel with vs: the land is at your commandement, tille, occupie, and possesse it.

11   Yea and Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me finde grace in your sight: and what soeuer you shal appointe I wil geue:

12   raise the dowrie, and require giftes, and I shal gladly geue, what you shal demande: only geue me this wench to wife.

13   Iacobs sonnes answered Sichem & his father ^note in guile, being wrath for the deflouring of their sister:

14   We can not doe that which you demande, nor geue our sister to an vncircumcised person: which with vs is an vnlawful & abhominable thing.

15   But in this order we may be confederate, if you wil be like to vs, and al the man sex among you be circumcised:

16   then wil we geue and take mutually your daughters, and ours: and we wil dwel with you, and wil be one people:

17   but if you wil not be circumcised, we wil take our daughter, and depart.

18   The offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem his sonne:

19   neither did the young man make delay, but forthwith fulfilled that which was demanded: for he loued the wench exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in al his fathers house.

20   And going into the gate of the citie, they spake to the people:

21   These men are men of peace, and are willing to dwel with vs: let them occupie in the land, and til it, which being large and wide doth lacke men to tille it: their daughters we shal take to wife, and ours we wil geue to them.

22   One thing there is for the which so great a good is differred: If we circumcise our men sexe, folowing the rite of the nation.

23   And their substance, and cattle, and al things that they possesse, shal be ours: only in this let vs condescend, and dwelling togeather, we shal make one people.

24   And they al assented, and circumcised al the man sex.

25   And behold the third day, when the griefe of the woundes is most paineful: Iacobs two sonnes, Simeon and Leui the brothers of Dina, taking their swordes, entred into the citie boldly: and killing al the man sex,

26   murdred withal Hemor and Sichem, taking away Dina their sister out of Sichems house.

27   When they were gone forth, the other sonnes of Iacob ranne in vpon them that were slaine: and spoiled the citie in reuenge of the rape.

28   And wasting al things that were in their houses, and fildes, their sheepe and

Iacob. heardes, and asses,

29   their little ones also, and their wiues they led away captiue.

30   Which things when they had boldly atcheiued, Iacob said to Simeon and Leui: You haue trubled me, and made me odious to the Chananites, and Pherezites the inhabiters of this land, we are few: they being gethered together wil strike me; and I, and my house shal be destroyed.

31   They answered: What should they abuse our sister as a strumpet? Chap. XXXV. ^note Iacob purging his whole familie of idols, goeth by Gods commandment into Bethel, 7. There buildeth an Altar. 8. Debora dieth. 9. God appearing againe to Iacob blesseth him, and changeth his name into Israel. 16. Rachel bearing Beniamin dieth, and is buried in Bethleem, 22. Ruben lyeth with Bala. 23. Israels twelue sonnes are recited. 28. Isaac dieth at the age of 180. yeares. and his sonnes Esau and Iacob burie him.

1   In the meane time God spake to Iacob: Arise, and goe vp to Bethel, and dwel there, and make an altar to God that appeared to thee when thou diddest flie from Esau thy brother.

2   And Iacob hauing called together al his house, said:09Q0079 Cast away the strange goddes that are among you, and be clensed and change your garments.

3   Arise, and let vs goe vp into Bethel, that we may make there an altar vnto God: who heard me in the day of my tribulation, and accompained me in my iourney.

4   They gaue to him therfore al the strange goddes that they had, and the earelets which were in their eares: but he buried them vnder the ^note terebinth, that is behind the citie of Sichem.

5   And when they were departed, ^note the terror of God inuaded al the cities rounde about, and they durst not pursew them going away.

6   And Iacob came to Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, surnamed Bethel: he and al the people that was with him.

7   And he builded there an altar, and called the name of that place, The house of God: for there God appeared to him when he fled from his brother.

8   The same time died Debora the nurse of Rebecca, and was buried at the foote of Bethel vnder an oke: and the name of that place was called, The oke of weeping.

9   And God appeared again

Iacob. to Iacob after he returned from Mesopotamia of Siria, and he blessed him,

10   saying: Thou ^note shalt not be called any more Iacob, but Israel shal be thy name. And he09Q0080 called him Israel,

11   and said to him: I am God almightie, encrease thou and multiplie: Of thee shal be nations and peoples of nations, kinges shal come forth of thy loynes.

12   And the land which I gaue to Abraham and Isaac, I wil geue to thee, and to thy seede after thee.

13   And he departed from him.

14   But he erected a title of stone, in the place where God had spoken vnto him: offering vpon it liquide offeringes, and powring oile on it:

15   and calling the name of that place, Bethel.

16   And being gone forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherin when Rachel was in trauaile,

17   because of difficultie in her trauaile, she beganne to be in danger, and the midwife said vnto her: Feare not, for thou shalt haue also this a sonne.

18   And her soule departing for paine, and death now at hand, she called the name of her sonne Benoni, that is the sonne of my paine: but his father called him Beniamin, that is the sonne of the right hand.

19   Rachel therfore died, and was buried in the hye way that leadeth to Ephrata, this same is Bethleem.

20   And Iacob erected a title ouer her sepulchre: This is the litle of Rachels monument, vntil this present day.

21   Departing thence, he pitched his tent beyond the Flocke tower.

22   And when he dwelt in that countrie: Ruben went, and ^note slept with Bala his fathers concubine: which thing he was not ignorant of. And the sonnes of Iacob were twelue.

23   The sonnes of Lia: Ruben the first begotten, and Simeon, and Leui, and Iudas, and Issachar, and Zabulon.

24   The sonnes of Rachel: Ioseph and Beniamin.

25   The sonnes of Bala Rachels handmaid: Dan and Nepthali.

26   The sonnes of Zelpha Lias handmaid: Gad and Aser: these are the sonnes of Iacob, that were borne to him in Mesopotamia of Siria.

27   He came also to Isaac his father in Mambre, the citie of Arbee, this is Hebron: wherin Abraham and Isaac soiourned.

28   And the dayes of Isaac were complete an hundred eyghtie yeares.

29   And spent With age he died, and was put to his people, being old and ful of dayes: and Esau and Iacob his sonnes buryed him.

Iacob. ^{note note} Chap. XXXVI. Esau with his wiues and children parteth from Iacob. 9. His genealogie is recited, with their habitations.

1   And09Q0081 these are the generations of Esau, the same is Edom.

2   Esau tooke wiues of the daughters of Chanaan: 09Q0082 Ada the daughter of Elon the Hetheite, and Oolibama the daughter of Ana daughter of Sebeon the Heueite:

3   Basemath also the daughter of Ismael sister of Nabaioth.

4   And Ada bare Eliphaz: Basemath bare Rahuel:

Iacob.

5   Oolibama bare Iehus and Ihelon and Coree. these are the sonnes of Esau, that were borne to him in the land of Chanaan.

6   And ^note Esau tooke his wiues and sonnes and daughters, and euerie soule of his house, and his substance, and catle, and al that he could haue in the land of Chanaan: and he went into an other countrie, and09Q0083 departed from his brother Iacob.

7   For they were exceding rich, and could not dwel together: neither was the land of their peregrination able to beare them, for the multitude of flockes.

8   And Esau09Q0084 dwelt in Mount Seir, he is Edom.

9   And these are the generations of Esau the father of Edom in mount Seir,

10   and these are the names of his sonnes: Eliphaz the sonne of Ada the wife of Esau: Rahuel also the sonne of Basemath his wife.

11   And Eliphas had sonnes: Theman, Omar, Sepho, and Gathan, and Cenes.

21   And Thamna was the concubine of Eliphas the sonne of Esau: which bare to him Amalech. these are the sonnes of Ada the wife of Esau.

13   And the sonnes of Rahuel: were Nahath & Zara, Samma and Meza. these were the sonnes of Basemath the wife of Esau.

14   These also were the sonnes of Oolibama, the daughter of Ana, the daughter of Sebeon, the wife of Esau, which she bare to him, Iehus, and Ihelon, and Coree.

15   These were dukes of the sonnes of Esau: the sonnes of Eliphaz the first-begotten of Esau: duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sepho, duke Cenes,

16   duke Coree, duke Gatham, duke Amalech, these are the sonnes of Eliphaz in the land of Edom, and these are the sonnes of Ada.

17   These also were the sonnes of Rahuel, the sonne of Esau: duke Nahath, duke Zara, duke Zamma, duke Meza. and these are be the dukes of Rahuel, in the Land of Edom: these be the sonnes of Basemath the wife of Esau.

18   And these were the sonnes of Oolibama the wife of Esau: duke Iehus, duke Ihelon, euke Coree. these be the dukes of Oolibama, the daughter of Ana, and wife of Esau.

19   These are the sonnes of Esau, and these are the dukes of them: the same is Edom.

20   These are the sonnes of Seir the horreite, the inhabiters of the land: Lotan, and Sobal, and Sebeon, and Ana,

21   and Dison, and Eser, and Disan. These are dukes of the Horreite, the sonnes of Seir in the Land of Edom.

22   And Lotan had sonnes: Hori and Heman: and the sister of Lotan, was Thamna.

23   And these were the

Iacob. sonnes of Sobal: Aluan and Manahat, and Ebal, and Sepho and Onam.

24   And these were the sonnes of Sebeon: Aia and Ana. This is Ana that found the hot waters in the wildernes, when he fed the asses of Sebeon his father:

25   and he had a sonne Dison, and a daughter Oolibama.

26   And these were the sonnes of Dison: Hamdan, and Eseban, and Iethram, and Charan.

27   These also were the sonnes of Eser: Balaan, and Zauan, and Acan.

28   And Disan had sonnes: Hus, and Aram.

29   These were dukes of the Horreites: duke Lotan, duke Sobal, duke Sebeon, duke Ana,

30   duke Dison, duke Eser, duke Disan: these were dukes of the Horreites that ruled in the Land Seir.

31   And the Kinges that ruled in the land of Edom, before that the children of Israel had a king, were these:

32   Bela the sonne of Beor, and the name of his citie Denaba.

33   And Bela died, and ^note Iobab the sonnne of Zara of Bosra reigned in his steed.

34   And when Iobab was dead, Husam of the land of the Themans reigned in his steed.

35   He also being dead, there reigned in his steed Adad the sonne of Badad, that stroke Madian in the countrie of Moab: and the name of his citie was Auith.

36   And when Adad was dead, there reigned for him Semla of Masreca.

37   He also being dead, Saul of the riuer Rohoboth, reigned in his steed.

38   And when he also was dead, Balanan the sonne of Achobor succeeded into the kingdome.

39   This man also being dead Adar reigned in his place, and the name of his citie was Phau: and his wife was called Meetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezaab.

40   These therfore be the names of the dukes of Esau in their kinreds, and places, and callings: duke Thamna, duke Alua, duke Ietheth,

41   duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phinon,.

42   duke Cenez, duke Theman, duke Mabser,

43   duke Magdiel, duke Hiram: these are the dukes of Edom dwelling in the land of their empire, the same is Esau the father of the Idumeians. ^{note note}

^{note note} Chap. XXXVII. Ioseph informing his father of his brethrens faults. ^note 5. and telling his dreames, is by them more hated. 13. being sent to visite them, 18. they first thinke to kil him, 26. but by Iudas co&ubar;sel sel him to the Ismaelites. 29. vnwiting to Ruben. 33. his father lamenteth supposing him to be slaine by some wild beast. 36. He is sold againe to Putiphar in Ægypt.

1   And Iacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherin his father soiourned.

2   And ^note these are his generations: Ioseph when he was sixtene yeares old, fed the flock with

Ioseph. his brethren being yet a boy: and he was with the sonnes of Bala and Zelpha his fathers wiues: and he accused his brethren to his father of ^note a most wicked crime.

3   And Israel loued Ioseph aboue al his sonnes, because he had begotten him09Q0085 in his old age: and he made him a coate of diuers coloures.

4   And his brethren seing that he was loued of his father, more then al his sonnes, they hated him, neither could they speake any thing to him peaceably.

5   It chanced also that he reported to his brethren a dreame, that he had seene: which occasion was the seed of greater hatred.

6   And he said to them: Heare my dreame which I haue seene:

7   I thought we bounde sheaues in the field: and my sheafe arose as it were, and stood, and your sheaues standing about did adore my sheafe. ^note

8   His brethren answered: What shalt thou be our king? or shal we be subiect to thy dominion? This occasion of his dreames and wordes ministred nourishment to the enuie and hatred.

9   He sawe also an other dreame, which telling his brethren, he said: I sawe in a dreame, as it were the sunne, and the moone, and eleuen starres adore me.

10   Which when he had reported to his father, and brethren, his father rebuked him, and said: What meaneth this dreame that thou hast seene? why shal I and thy mother, and thy brethren adore thee vpon the earth?

11   His brethren therfore enuyed him: but ^note his father considered the thing with him selfe.

12   And when his brethren abode in Sichem, feeding their fathers flockes,

13   Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed sheepe in Sichem: come, I wil send thee to them. Who answering,

14   I am readie; he said to him: Goe, and see if al things be wel with thy brethren, and the sheepe: and bring me word againe what they doe. Being sent therfore from the Vale of Hebron, he came to Sichem:

15   and a man found him there wandring in the field, and asked what he sought.

16   But he answered: ^noteI seeke my brethren, shew me where they fede the flockes.

17   And the man said to him: They are departed from this place: for I heard them say: Let vs goe into Dothain. Ioseph therfore went forward after his brethren, and found them in Dothain.

18   Who when they had seene him a farre of, before he came nighe them, they deuised to kil him:

19   and spake among them selues: Behold the dreamer commeth,

20   come, let vs kil him, and cast him into an old

Ioseph. cesterne: and we wil say A naughtie wild beast hath deuoured him: ^note and then it shal appeare what his dreames doe profite him.

21   And Ruben hearing this, endeuored to deliuer him out of their hands, and said:

22   Do not take away his life, neyther sheed ye blood: but cast him into this cesterne, that is in the wildernesse, and keepe your handes harmeles: and he said this, desirous to deliuer him out of their handes, and to restore him to his father.

23   As soone therfore as he came vnto his brethren, forthwith they stripped him out of his side coate, and of diuers colours.

24   And cast him into the old cesterne, that had not water.

25   And sitting to eate bread, they saw Ismaelites wayfaring men c&obar;ming from Galaad, and their camels carying spices, and rosen, and mirrh into Ægypt.

26   Iudas therfore said to his brethren: What auaileth it vs if we kil our brother, and conceale his bloode?

27   It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our handes be not polluted: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren assented to his wordes.

28   And when the Madianite marchants passed by, they drawing him out of the cesterne, sold him to the Ismaelites, for ^note twentie peeces of siluer, who brought him into Ægypt.

29   And Ruben returning to the cesterne, findeth not the boy:

30   and renting his garments went to his brethren, and said: The boy doth not appeare, and whither shal I goe?

31   And they tooke his coate, and dipped it in the blood of a kidde, which they had killed:

32   sending some that should carie it to their father, and should say: This we haue founde: see whether it be thy sonnes coate, or no.

33   Which when the father acknowledged, he said: It is my sonnes coate, a naughtie wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath deuoured Ioseph.

34   And tearing his garments, did on sackcloth, mourning his sonne a great time.

35   And al his children being gethered together to asswage their fathers sorowe, he would not take comforte, but said: I wil descend vnto my sonne09Q0086 into hel, mourning. And whilest he perseuered in weeping,

36   the Madianites sold Ioseph in Ægypt to Phutiphar an Eunuch of Pharoes maister of the souldiars.

Ioseph. ^{note note note}

Ioseph. Chap. XXXVIII. Iudas hauing three sonnes by a Chananite. 6. marieth the first, and after his death, the second to Thamar. 10. Who also dying, he delayeth to match the third with her. 15. But him selfe begetteth of her (taking her for a harlote) two sonnes twinnes, Phares and Zara.

1   The ^note same time Iudas going downe from his brethren, turned in to a man an Odollamite, named Hiras.

2   And he sawe there the daughter of a man of Chanaan, called Sue: and taking her to wife, he did companie with her.

3   Who conceaued, and bare a sonne, and called his name Her.

4   And conceauing a childe againe, she called her sonne after he was borne, Onan.

5   She bare also the third: whom she called Sela, after whose birth, she ceased to beare any more.

6   And Iudas gaue a wife to Her his first begotten, named Thamar.

7   Also Her the first begotten of Iudas, was wicked in the sight of our Lord: and was slaine of him.

8   Iudas therfore said to Onan his sonne: companie with thy brothers wife, and be ioyned to her, that thou mayest 09Q0087 rayse seede to thy brother.

9   He knowing that the children should not be borne to himselfe, companying with his brothers wife, shed his seede vpon the ground, lest children might be borne in his brothers name.

10   And therfore our Lord stroke him, because he did a detestable thing.

11   For the which cause Iudas said to Thamar his daughter in lawe: Be a widowe in thy fathers house, til Sela my sonne growe vp: for he feared lest he also might dye, as his brethren. Who went her way and dwelt in her fathers house.

12   And after many dayes were come and gone: the daughter of Sue the wife of Iudas died: who after his mourning hauing receiued consolation, went vp to the shearers of his sheepe, himselfe and Hiras his shepheard of his flocke, the Odolamite, into Thamnas.

13   And it was told ^note Thamar that her father in law came vp into. Thamnas to sheare his sheepe.

14   Who putting of the garments of her widowhood, tooke a veile: and changing her habite, sate in the crosse way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was growne, and she had not taken him to her husband.

15   Whom when Iudas had

Ioseph. seene, he supposed her to be an harlot: for she had couered her face, lest she should be knowen.

16   And going vnto her, he said: Suffer me to lye with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter in law. Who answering: What wilt thou geue me that thou maiest enioy my companie?

17   He said: I wil send thee a kid out of the flockes. And when she said againe: I wil suffer that thou wilt, if thou geue me a pledge, til thou send that which thou doest promise;

18   Iudas said: What wilt thou to be geuen thee for a pledge? She answered: Thy ring, and bracelet, and staffe which thou holdest in thy hand. The woman therfore by once companying conceaued,

19   and rising she went her way: and putting of the apparel which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.

20   And Iudas sent a kid by his shephard the Odolamite, that he might receiue the pledge againe, which he had geuen to the woman: who when he had not found her,

21   he asked the men of that place: Where is the woman that sate in the crosse way? Al making answere: There was no harlot in this place.

22   He returned to Iudas, and said to him: I haue not found her: yea the men also of that place said vnto me, that there neuer sate harlot there.

23   Iudas said: Let her take it to her, surely she can not charge vs with a lye, I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didest not find her.

24   And behold after three moneths they told Iudas, saying: Thamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot, and her bellie semeth to swel. And Iudas said: Bring her forth ^note that she may be burnt.

25   Who when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in law, saying: By that man, whose these things are, haue I conceaued: looke whose the ring is, and the bracelet, and the staffe.

26   Who acknowledging the giftes, said: She is iuster then I: because I did not geue her to Sela my sonne. But he knew her no more.

27   And when she was readie to be brought to bed, there appeared twinnes in her bellie: and in the verie deliuerie of the infants, one put forth the hand, wherin the midwife tyed a skarlet string, saying:

28   This shal come forth the former.

29   But he drawing backe his hand, the other came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition diuided for thee? and for this cause called his name Phares.

30   Afterward his brother came forth, in whose hand was the skarelet string: whom she called Zara.

Ioseph. ^note Chap. XXXIX. Ioseph being in great credite with his maister, hath the whole charge of his house. 7. Contemning his mystris solicitation to incontinencie, 13. is falsly accused by her to his maister: 20. and cast into prison, 21. Where againe he getteth credite, and hath the charge of al the prisoners.

1   Therfore Ioseph was brought into Ægypt, and Putiphar an Eunuch of Pharao, prince of his armie, a man of Ægypt bought him, at the hand of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.

2   And ^note our Lord was with him, and he was a man, that in al things did prosperously: and he dwelt in his maisters house,

3   who knewe verie wel that our Lord was with him, and that al thinges which he did, were directed by him in his hand.

4   And Ioseph found grace before his maister, and ministred to him: by whom being made ruler ouer al his thinges, he gouerned the house committed to him, and al thinges that were deliuered vnto him:

5   and our Lord blessed the house of the Ægyptian for Iosephes sake, and multiplied as wel in houses, as in landes al his substance.

6   Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he did eate. ^note And Ioseph was of beautiful countenance, and comely fauored to behold.

7   After manie dayes therfore his maistresse cast her eyes on Ioseph, and said: Sleepe with me.

8   Who ^note in no wise assenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my maister hauing deliuered al thinges vnto me, knoweth not what he hath in his owne house:

9   neither is there any thing

Ioseph. which is not in my power, or that he hath not deliuered to me, beside thee, that art his wife: ^note how therfore can I do this wicked thing, and sinne against my God?

10   With these kinde of wordes ^note day by day both the woman was importune vpon the young man: and he refused the aduoutrie.

11   And it chanced on a certaine day, that Ioseph went into the house, and did some businesse without anie man with him:

12   and she catching the skirte of his garment, said: Sleepe with me. who ^note leauing the cloke in her hand, fled, and went forth abroad.

13   And when the woman sawe the garment in her handes, and her selfe to be contemned,

14   she called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See he hath brought in an Hebrew, to delude vs: he came vpon me, for to lie with me: and when I had cried out,

15   and he heard my voice, he left the cloake that I held, and fled forth.

16   For an argument therfore of her credite, she reserued the cloake, and shewed it to her husband returning home,

17   and said: There came vnto me the Hebrew seruant, whom thou didest bring hither, for to delude me:

18   and when he heard me crie, he left the cloke which I held, and fled forth.

19   His maister hearing these thinges, and geuing ouer light credite to his wiues wordes, was very wrath:

20   and deliuered Ioseph into prison, where the kinges prisoners were kept, and he was there shut vp.

21   And ^note our Lord was with Ioseph, and hauing mercie vpon him gaue him grace in the sight of the chiefe of the prison.

22   Who deliuered in his hand al the prisoners that were kept in custodie: and whatsoeuer was done, was vnder him.

23   Neyther did himselfe knowe any thing, hauing committed al things to him: for our Lord was with him, and directed al his workes. Chap. XL. Ioseph interpreteth the dreames of two Eunuches prisoners 12. that the one should be restored to his office, 16. the other be hanged, 20. The third day the euent declareth the interpretations to be true, but Ioseph is forgotten.

1   These thinges being so done, it chanced that two Eunuches, the cupbearer of the king of Ægypt, and his baker, offended against their lord.

2   And Pharao being

Ioseph. wrath against them (for the one was chiefe of the cupbearers, the other chiefe baker)

3   he sent them into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers, in the which Ioseph also was prisoner.

4   But the keeper of the prison deliuered them to Ioseph, who also ministred to them: some litle time was passed, and they were kept in custodie.

5   And they sawe ech of them both a dreame in one night, according to an interpretation agreing to them selues:

6   to whom when Ioseph was entred in the morning, and saw them sad,

7   he asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder to day then it was woont?

8   Who answered: We haue seene a dreame, & there is no bodie to interprete it to vs. And Ioseph said to them: Why09Q0088 doth not interpretation belong to God? Tel me what you haue seene.

9   The chiefe of the cupbearers first told his dreame: I saw before me a vine,

10   wherin were three branches, growing by litle and litle into buddes, and after the blossomes the grapes waxed ripe:

11   and the cup of Pharao in my hand: and I tooke the grapes, and wrong them into the cup which I held, and I gaue the cup to Pharao.

12   Ioseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dreame: The three branches, are yet three dayes:

13   after the which Pharao wil remember thy seruice, and wil restore thee to thy old degree: and thou shalt geue him the cup according to thyne office, as before thou haddest wont to doe.

14   Only remember me, when it shal be wel with thee, and doe me this mercie: to put Pharao in mind that he take me out of this prison:

15   because I was taken away by stealth, out of the land of the hebrewes, and here an innocent was I cast into the lake.

16   The maister of the bakers seing that he had wisely resolued the dreame, he said: And I also saw a dreame, That I had three baskettes of meale vpon my head:

17   and that in one basket that was the higher, I caried al meates that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds did eate out of it.

18   Ioseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dreame: The three basketts, are yet three dayes:

19   after the which Pharao wil take thy head from thee, and hang thee ^note on the crosse, and the soules shal teare thy flesh.

20   The third day after this was the birth day of Pharao: who making a great feast to his seruantes, at the banket he remembred the maister of the cupbearers, and the chiefe of the bakers.

21   And he restored the one into

Ioseph. his place, to reach him the cuppe;

22   the other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the interpreter might be approued.

23   And yet notwithstanding the chiefe of the cupbearers, prosperous thinges succeeding, forgat his interpreter. ^{note note} Chap. XLI. Pharao dreaming of fat & leane kine. 5. also of ful and thinne eares of corne, 8. no other being able to interprete, 9. Ioseph is remembred. 25. who interpreting the same. 38. is made ruler ouer al Ægypt. 50. marieth, and hath two sonnes, Mana&esset;es and Ephraim.

1   After two yeares ^note Pharao saw a dreame. He thought he stood vpon the riuer,

2   out of the which came vp seuen kine, faire and fat exceedingly: and they fed in marish places.

3   Other seuen also came vp out of the riuer, foule, and caryan leane: and they fed on the very banke of the riuer, in grene places:

4   and they deuoured them, that had the merueylous beautie and good state of bodies. Pharao after he waked,

5   slept againe, and saw an other dreame:

Ioseph. Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke ful and faire:

6   there sprang also other eares as many, thinne and blasted with adustion,

7   deuouring al the beautie of the former. Pharao awaking vp after his rest,

8   and when morning was come, being frighted with feare, he sent to al the interpreters of Ægypt, and to al the wise men: and they being called for, told them his dreame, neither was there anie that could interprete it.

9   Then at length the maister of the cupbearers remembring himselfe, said: I confesse my sinne:

10   The king being angrie with his seruantes, commanded me and the chiefe of the bakers to be cast into the prison of the captaine of the souldiers:

11   where in one night both of vs saw a dreame portending things to come.

12   There was there a young man an hebrew, seruant to the same captaine of the souldiers: to whom telling our dreames,

13   we heard whatsoeuer afterward the euent of the thing proued to be so. for I was restored to my office: and he was hanged vpon a gibbet.

14   Forthwith at the kinges commandment, Ioseph being brought out of the prison they polled him: and changing his apparel, brought him vnto him.

15   To whom he said: I haue seene dreames, and there is not anie that can expound them: which I haue heard, thou doest most wisely interprete.

16   Ioseph answered: Without me, God shal answere prosperous thinges to Pharao.

17   Pharao therfore told that he had seene: Me thought I stoode vpon the banke of the riuer,

18   and seuen kine came vp out of the banke of the riuer, exceeding faire, and ful of flesh: which grazed on greene places in a marish pasture.

19   And behold, there folowed these, other seuen kine, so passing il fauored and leane, that I neuer saw the like in the land of Ægypt;

20   which hauing deuoured and consumed the former,

21   gaue no token of their fulnes: but with the like leanenes and deformitie, looked heauelie. Awaking, and fallen againe into a deepe sleepe,

22   I sawe a dreame: Seuen eares of corne grew forth vpon one stalke, ful and verie faire.

23   Other seuen also thinne and blasted, with adustion, sprang of the stalke:

24   which deuoured the beautie of the former: I told the dreame to the coniecturers, and there is no man that can declare it.

25   Ioseph answered: The kinges dreame is one: God hath shewed to Pharao ^notethe thinges that he wil doe.

26   The seuen faire kine, and

Ioseph. the seuen ful eares: be seuen yeres of plentifulnes: and both conteine the selfe same meaning of the dreame.

27   Also the seuen leane and thinne kine, that came vp after them, and the seuen thinne eares, and blasted with the burning winde: are seuen yeares of famine to come.

28   Which shal be fulfilled in this order.

29   Behold there shal come seuen yeares of great fertilitie in the whole Land of Ægypt:

30   after which shal folowe other seuen yeares of so great sterilitie, that al the abundance before shal be forgotten: for the famine shal consume al the land,

31   and the greatnes of the scarsitie, shal destroy the greatnes of the plentie.

32   And in that thou didest see the second time a dreame perteining to the same thing: it is a token of the certeintie, for that the worde of God shal come to passe, and be fulfilled spedely.

33   Now therfore let the king prouide a wise man and industrious, and make him ruler ouer the Land of Ægypt:

34   that he may appointe ouerseers ouer al countries: and gether into barnes the fifth part of the fruites, during the seuen yeares of the fertilitie,

35   that now presently shal ensewe: and let al the corne be laid vp, vnder Pharaoes handes, and let it be reserued in the cities.

36   And let it be in a readines, against the famine of seuen yeares to come, which shal oppresse Ægypt, and the land shal not be consumed with scarsitie.

37   The counsel pleased Pharao, and al his seruants:

38   and he spake to them: Can we find such an other man, that is ful of the spirite of God?

39   He said therfore to Ioseph: Because God hath shewed thee al things that thou hast spoken, can I find a wiser and one like vnto thee?

40   Thou shalt be ouer my house, and at the commandment of thy mouth al the people shal obey: only in the throne of the kingdome I wil goe before thee.

41   And againe Pharao said to Ioseph: Behold, I haue appointed thee ouer the whole land of Ægypt.

42   And he tooke his ring from his owne hand, and gaue it into his hand: and he put vpon him a silke roabe, and put a chaine of gold about his necke.

43   And he made him goe vp into his second chariot, the cryer proclayming that al should bowe their knee before him, and that they should know he was09Q0089 made gouernour ouer the whole Land of Ægypt.

44   And the king said to Ioseph: I am Pharao: without thy commandment no man shal moue hand or foote in al the land of Ægypt.

45   And he turned his

Ioseph. name, and called him in the Ægyptian togue09Q0090 the Sauiour of the world. And he gaue him to wife Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar ^note priest of Heliopolis. Ioseph therfore went forth to the land of Ægypt

46   and he was thirtie yeares old when he stood in the sight of king Pharao) and did circuite al the countries of Ægypt.

47   And the fertilitie of the seuen yeares came: and the corne being bound vp into sheaues was gethered togeather into the barnes of Ægypt.

48   Al the abundance also of graine was laid vp in euerie citie.

49   And there was so great abundance of wheat, that it became equal to the sand of the sea, and the plentie exceeded measure.

50   And there were borne vnto Ioseph two sonnes before the famine came: whom Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare him.

51   And he called the name of the first begotten ^note Manasses, saing: God made me to forget al my labours, & my fathers house.

52   The name also of the second he called ^note Ephraim, saing: God hath made me to encrease in the land of my pouertie.

53   Therfore when the seuen yeares of the plentifulnes, that had bene in Ægypt were passed:

54   the seuen yeares of scarsitie beganne to come, which Ioseph foretold: and in the whole world the famine preuailed, but in al the land of Ægypt there was bread.

55   The which being in hunger, the people cried to Pharao, desiring foode. To whom he answered: Goe ye to Ioseph: and whatsoeuer he shal say to you, that doe ye.

56   And the famine dayly encreased in al the land: and Ioseph opened al the barnes, and sold to the Ægyptians: for them also the famine had opressed.

57   And al prouinces came into Ægypt, to buy victuales, and to moderate the miserie of the scarsitie. ^{note note note}

Chap. XLII. Iacob sendeth tenne of his sonnes to bye corne in Ægypt. 7. where Ioseph knowing them, they not knowing him, with hard speaches putteth them in prison. 18. At last Simeon remayning in custodie, til Beniamin be brought, the rest are dismissed, 25. with their money, vnknowen to them, in their sackes.

1   And Iacob hearing, that victuales were sold in Ægypt, he said to his sonnes: Why neglect ye?

2   I haue heard that wheat is sold in Ægypt: Goe ye downe, and bye vs necessaries, that we may liue, and not be consumed with lacke.

3   Therfore the tenne brethren of Ioseph going downe, to bye corne in Ægypt,

4   Beniamin being kept at home by Iacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harme in the iourney:

5   entred into the land of Ægypt with others that went to bye. for the famine was in the land of Chanaan.

6   And Ioseph was prince in the land of Ægypt, and at his pleasure corne was sold to the people. And when his brethren had adored him,

7   and he knewe them, he spake as it were to strangers09Q0091 somewhat roughly, asking them: From whence came you? Who answered: From the Land of chanaan, that we may bye necessaries to liue.

8   And yet himselfe knowing his brethren, was not knowen of them.

9   And remembring the dreames, which some times he had seene, he said to them:09Q0092 You are spies: to view the

Ioseph. weaker parts of the land you are come.

10   Who said: It is not so, my lord, but thy seruantes are come to bye victuals.

11   We are al the sonnes of one man: we are come as men of peace, neither do thy seruantes goe about anie euil.

12   To whom he answered: It is otherwise: you came to consider the vndefensed partes of this land.

13   But they: We thy seruantes, say they, are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the Land of Chanaan: the youngest is with our father, the other is not liuing.

14   This is it, quoth he, that I said: You are spies.

15   Now presently I wil take a trial of you:09Q0093 by the health of Pharao you shal not depart hence, vntil your youngest brother do come.

16   Send you one of you to bring him: and you shal be in prison, til the thinges be proued which you haue said, whether they be true or false: ^noteotherwise by the health of Pharao you are spies.

17   Therfore he put them in prison three dayes.

18   And the third day bringing them out of prison, he said: Doe as I haue said, and you shal liue: for I feare God.

19   If you be men of peace, let one of your brethren be bounde in prison: and goe ye your wayes, and carie the corne that you haue bought, vnto your houses,

20   and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may proue your sayings to be true, and that you die not. They did as he had said,

21   and they talked one to an other: Worthely do we suffer these thinges, because we haue sinned against our brother, seing the distresse of his soule, whilest he besought vs, and we heard not: therfore is this tribulation come vpon vs.

22   Among whom Ruben one of them, said: Why, did not I say to you: Sinne not against the boy: and you heard me not? Loe his blood is required.

23   And they knew not that Ioseph vnderstood: because he spake to them by an interpreter.

24   And he turned away himselfe a litle while, and wept: and returning he spake to them.

25   And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he commanded his seruantes that they should fil vp their sackes with wheat, and put euerie mans money againe in their bagges, geuing them besides for to eate on the way: who did so.

26   But they carying their corne vpon their asses, tooke their iourney.

27   And one of them opening his sacke, to geue his beast prouender in the inne, beholding the money in the sackes mouth,

28   he said to his brethren: My money is geuen me againe, behold it is in the

Ioseph. sacke. And being astonyed, and trubled amongest themselues, they said: What is this, that God hath done vnto vs?

29   And they came to Iacob their father into the land of Chanaan, and they told him al thinges that had chanced vnto them, saying:

30   The lord of the land spake to vs roughly, and thought vs to be spies of the prouince,

31   to whom we answered: We are men of peace, ne&ibar;ther do we attempt any treachery.

32   We are twelue brethren borne of one father: one is not liuing, the youngest is with our father in the Land of Chanaan.

33   Who said to vs: Thus shal I trie that you be men of peace: Leaue one of your brethren with me, and take ye prouision necessarie for your houses, and goe your wayes,

34   and bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receiue this felowe againe, that is kept in prison: and afterwardes may haue licence to bye what thinges you wil.

35   This being said, when they powred out their corne, euerie man found his money tied in the mouth of the sackes: and al being astonyed together,

36   their father Iacob said: You haue made me to be without children, Ioseph is not liuing, Simeon is kept in bondes, and Beniamin you wil take away: al these euils are fallen vpon me.

37   To whom Ruben answered: Kil my two sonnes, if I bring him not againe to thee: deliuer him into my hand, and I wil restore him vnto thee.

38   But he said: My sonne shal not go downe with you: his brother is dead, and he alone is remayning: if any aduersitie shal chance to him in the land to the which you goe, you shal bring downe ^note my hoare heares with sorowe 09Q0094 vnto hel. ^{note note}

^{note note note} Chap. XLIII. The famine pre&esset;ing, the land, Iacob willith his sonnes to goe againe int. Ægypt to bye more corne: 3. who refusing to goe without Beniamin. 11. he is sent with them, and presents and duble money, lest the former were brought back by error. 16. Ioseph seing Beniamin, 23. deliuereth Simeon, and intertaineth them al at dinner.

1   In the meane time the famine did oppresse al the land very sore.

2   And the prouision being spent, which they had bronght out of Ægypt, Iacob said to his sonnes: Goe againe, and by vs a little victual.

3   Iudas answered: That same man denounced vnto vs vnder attestation of an oath, saing: You shal not see my face, vnlesse you bring your

Ioseph. youngest brother with you.

4   If therfore thou wilt send him with vs, we wil goe forward together, and wil bye necessaries for thee:

5   but if thou wilt not, we wil not goe: for the man, as we haue often said, denounced vnto vs saing: You shal not see my face without your youngest brother.

6   Israel said to them: You haue done this to my miserie, in that you told him that you had an other brother also.

7   But they answered: The man asked vs in order our progenie: if our father liued: if we had a brother: and we answered him consequently to that which he demanded: could we know that he would say: Bring hither your brother with you?

8   Iudas also said to his father: Send the boy with me, that we may set forwarde, and may liue: lest we and our litle ones die.

9   I take vpon me the boy: require him of my hand, vnlesse I bring him againe, and restore him to thee, I wil be ^noteguiltie of sinne against thee for euer.

10   If delay had not bene made, we had bene come now the second time.

11   Therfore Israel their father said to them: If it must nedes be so, do that you wil: take of the best fruites of the land in your vessels, and carie to the man for presents, a courtesie of rosen, and of honey, and of incense, of mirhe, of terebinth, and of almondes.

12   Duble money also carie with you: and recarie that you founde in your sackes, lest perhaps it was done by an errour:

13   but take also your brother, and goe to the man.

14   And my God almightie make him fauorable vnto you: and send backe with you your brother, whom he keepeth, and this Beniamin: as for me I shal be desolate without children.

15   The men therfore tooke the presentes, and the duble money, and Beniamin: and went downe inro Ægypt, and stood before Ioseph.

16   Whom when he had seene, and Beniamin withal, he commanded the steward of his house, saing: Bring in the men into the house, and kil victimes, and prepare a feast: because they shal eate with me at noone.

17   He did that which was commanded him, and brought the men into the house.

18   And there being fore afraied, they said one to an other: because of the money, which we caried backe the first time in our sackes, we are brought in: that he may turne vpon vs ^note a false accusation, and forceibly bring both vs, and our asses into bondage.

19   Wherfore in the verie dore stepping to the steward of the house,

20   they spake: Sir we desire thee to

Ioseph. heare vs. Now once before we came downe to bye prouision:

21   which being bought, when we were come to the Inne, we opened our sackes, and found our money in the mouthes of the sackes: which we haue now brought againe in the same weight.

22   But we haue brought other money besides, to bye the thinges that are necessarie for vs: our conscience is not priuie, who put it in our bagges.

23   But he answered: Peace be with you, feare you not: your God, and the God of your father hath geuen you treasures in your sackes. for the money, which you gaue me, I haue for good. And he brought forth Simeon vnto them.

24   And being brought into the house, he fetched water, and they washed their feete, and he gaue prouender to their asses.

25   But they made readie the presentes, til Ioseph should come in at noone: for they had heard that they should eate bread there.

26   Therfore Ioseph came in to his house, and they offered him presentes holding them in their handes, and ^note they adored prostrate to the ground.

27   But he curteously resaluting them, asked them saying: Is the old man your father in health, of whom you told me? Is he yet liuing?

28   Who answered: Thy seruant our father is in health, he is yet liuing. And bowing themselues, they adored him.

29   And Ioseph lifting vp his eyes, sawe Beniamin his brother of the same mother, and said: Is this your young brother, of whom you told me? And againe: God, saith he, be merciful vnto thee my sonne.

30   And he made hast because his hart was moued vpon his brother, and teares brake forth: and entring into his chamber he wept.

31   And when he had washed his face, comming forth againe, he refrained himselfe, and said: Set bread on the table.

32   Which being set downe, to Ioseph apart, and to his brethren apart, to the Ægyptians also that did eate with him apart (for it is vnlawful for the Ægyptians to eate with the Hebrewes, and ^note they thinke such a feast prophane)

33   they sate before him, the first begotten according to his first-birth, and the youngest according to his age. And they maruailed out of measure,

34   taking the portions that they receiued of him: and the greater portion came to Beniamin, so that it exceeded ^note by fiue partes. And they dranke and were09Q0095 in ebriated with him.

Ioseph. ^note Chap. XLIIII. Ioseph causeth their sackes to be filled with corne, and their money to be put againe therin, and in Beniamins sack also a siluer cuppe, 4. and when they were parted, sending after them, chargeth them with theft. 12. And the cuppe being fond in Beniamins sack, they al much afflicted returne to Ioseph. 17. who threatning to kepe Beniamin, 18. Iudas intreateth, 32. and finally offereth himselfe to seruitude for him.

1   And Ioseph commanded the steward of his house, saing: Fil their sackes with corne, as much as they can hold: and put the money of euerie one in the top of his sack.

2   And in the sackes mouth ^note of the younger put my siluer cup, and the price which he gaue for the wheat. And it was so done.

3   And when the morning rose, they were dismist with their asses.

4   And they were now departed out of the citie, and had gone forward a little way: then Ioseph sending for the steward of his house, said: Arise, quoth he, and pursew the men: and ouertaking them say to them: Why haue you rendred euil for good?

5   The cup which you haue stollen, is that wherin my lord doth drinke, and wherin he is wont to diuine: you haue done a verie euil thing.

6   He did as he had commanded. And hauing ouertaken them, he spake to them in the same order.

7   Who answered: Why doth our lord speake so, as though thy seruautes had committed so haynous a fact?

8   The money, that we found in the top of our sackes, we recaried to thee from the land of Chanaan: and how foloweth it, that we haue stollen out of thy lordes house, gold or siluer?

9   With whom soeuer of thy seruantes that shal be found, which thou seekest, let

Ioseph. him die, and we wil be the bondmen of our lord.

10   Who said to them: Be it done according to your sentence: with whom soeuer it shal be found, be he my bondman, and you shal be guiltles.

11   Therfore in haste taking downe their sackes vpon the ground, euerie man opened.

12   Which when he had searched, beginning from the elder euen to the youngest, he found the cup in Beniamins sack.

13   But they ^note renting their garments, and loading their asses againe, returned into the towne.

14   And Iudas foremost with his brethren entred in to Ioseph (for he was not yet gone out of the place) and they fel togeather before him on the ground.

15   To whom he said: Why would you doe soe? know you not that there is not the like to me in the science ^noteof diuining.

16   To whom Iudas said: What shal we answere, my lord? or what shal we speake, or be able iustly to pretend? God hath found the iniquitie of thy seruantes: loe we are al bondmen to my lord, both we, & he, with whom the cup was found.

17   Ioseph answered: God forbid that I should so doe: he that stole the cup, the same be my bondman: and goe you free vnto your father.

18   And Iudas approching nearer, said boldly: I beseech thee my lord, let thy seruant speake a word in thine eares, and be not angrie with thy seruant: for after Pharao thou art,

19   my lord. Thou didest aske thy seruantes the first time: Haue you a father or a brother?

20   and we answered thee my lord: We haue a father an old man, and a little boy, that was borne in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead: and his mother hath him only, and his father loueth him tenderly.

21   And thou saidst to thy seruants: Bring him hither to me, and I wil set myn eyes on him.

22   We suggested to my lord: The boy can not leaue his father: for if he leaue him, he wil die.

23   And thou saidest to thy seruants: Vnlesse your youngest brother come with you, you shal no more see my face.

24   Therfore when we were gone vp to thy seruant our father, we told him al things that my lord did speake.

25   And our father said: Goe againe, and bye vs a litle wheate.

26   To whom we said: We can not goe: if our youngest brother shal goe downe with vs, we wil set forward together: otherwise he being absent, we dare not see the mans face.

27   Wherunto he answered: You know that my wife bare me two.

28   One went forth, and you said: A beast did deuour him: and hitherto he appeareth

Ioseph. not.

29   If you take this also, and ought befal him in the way, you shal bring downe ^note my hoare hayres with sorow vnto hel.

30   Therfore if I shal enter to thy seruant our father, and the boy be wanting (wheras his life dependeth vpon the life of him)

31   and he shal see that he is not with vs, he wil dye, & thy seruants shal bring downe his hoare hayres with sorow vnto hel.

32   Let me be thy proper seruant, that did take him into my protection and promised saying: Vnlesse I bring him againe I wil be guilty of sinne against my father for euer.

33   I therfore thy seruant wil tary in steed of the childe in the seruice of my lord, and let the childe goe vp with his brethren.

34   For I can not returne to my father, the childe being absent; lest I stand by a witnes of the calamitie, that shal oppresse my father. Chap. XLV. Ioseph manifesteth himself to his bretheren. who being much terified he comforteth them, and weeping embraceth euerie one. 16. The bruite wherof coming to Pharao, he congratulating commandeth Ioseph to cal his father with al his familie into Ægypt. 21. So the eleuen brothers are sent away with giftes and prouision for Iacobs iourney. 26. Al which the father vnderstanding is reuiued in spirite.

1   Ioseph could no longer refrayne manie standing by in presence: wherupon he commanded that al should goe forth, and no stranger should be present at their acknowledging one of another.

2   And he lifted vp his voice with weeping, which the Ægyptians heard, and al the house of Pharao.

3   And he said to his Brethren: I am Ioseph: is my father yet liuing? His brethren could not answer him being teribly astonyed out of measure.

4   To whom gently he said: Come hither to me. And when they were come nere him, I am, quoth he, Ioseph, your brother, whom you solde into Ægypt.

5   Be not affraid, neither let it seeme to you a hard case that you did sel me into these countries: for ^note God sent me before you into Ægypt for your preseruation.

6   For it is two yeares since the famin begain to be vpon the earth, and yet fiue yeares remaine, wherin there can be neither caring nor reaping.

7   And God sent me before, that you may be preserued

Ioseph. vpon the earth, and may haue victuals to liue.

8   Not by your counsail, but by the wil of God was I sent hither: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and prince in al the land of Ægypt.

9   Make hast and get ye vp to my father, and you shal say to him: Thy sonne Ioseph willeth thus: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Ægypt: come downe to me, tary not.

10   And thou shalt dwel in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be nere me thou and thy sonnes, and thy sonnes children, thy shepe, and thy heardes. and al things that thou dost possesse.

11   And there I wil fede thee (for yet there are fiue yeares of famine remayning) lest both thou perish, and thy house, & al things that thou dost possesse.

12   Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Beniamin doe see, that it is my mouth that speaketh vnto you.

13   Report to my father my whole glorie and al things that you haue seene in Ægypt: make hast, and bring him to me.

14   And falling vpon the neck of his brother Beniamin, embracing him he wept: he also in like maner weeping vpon his neck.

15   And Ioseph kissed al his brethren, and wept vpon euerie one: after which things they were bold to speake vnto him.

16   And it was heard of, and very famously reported abrode in the kings courte: The brethren of Ioseph are come: and ^note Pharao was glad, and al his familie.

17   And he spake to Ioseph that he should command his brethren, saying: Loading your beasts goe into the Land of Chanaan,

18   and take thence your father and kinne, and come to me: and I wil geue you al the good things of Ægypt, that you may eate the marow of the land.

19   Geue commandment also that they take waynes out of the land of Ægypt, for the carage of their litle ones and wyues: and say: Take vp your father, and make hast to come with al spede.

20   Neither doe you leaue any thing of your houshould stuffe: for al the riches of Ægypt, shal be yours.

21   And the sonnes of Israel did as it was commanded them. To whom Ioseph gaue waynes according to Pharaos commandment: and victuals for the way.

22   He bad also to be brought vp for euery one two robes: but to Beniamin he gaue three hundred peeces of siluer with fiue robes of the best:

23   sending to his father as much money and rayment, adding besides them he asses that should carie of al the riches of Ægypt, and as many shee asses, carying wheat for the iourney and bread.

24   Therfore

Ioseph. he dismissed his brethren, and when they were departing he said to them:09Q0096 Be not angrie in the way.

25   Who going vp out of Ægypt, came into the land of Chanaan to their father Iacob.

26   And they told him saying: Ioseph thy sonne is liuing: and he ruleth in al the Land of Ægypt. Which when Iacob heard, awaking as it were out of a heauie sleepe, notwithstanding did not beleeue them.

27   They on the contrarie side reported the whole order of the thing. And when he sawe the waynes and al things that he had sent, his spirit reuiued,

28   and he said: It sufficeth me if Ioseph my sonne be liuing yet: I wil goe, and see him before I dye. ^note Chap. XLVI. Israel warranted in a vision from God, goeth into Ægypt with al his familie, 8. who are here recited. ^note 28. Ioseph meeting him in Gessen, aduiseth him to tel Pharao, that they are shepheards by their trade of life.

1   And Israel taking his iourney, with al things that he had09Q0097 came to the wel of the oath, and killing there victimes to the God of his father Isaac. ^note

2   He heard him by a vision of the night calling him, and saying vnto him: Iacob, Iacob. To whom he answered: Loe here I am.

3   God said to him: I am the most mightie God of thy father: feare not, goe downe into Ægipt, for into a great nation wil I make thee there.

4   I wil goe downe with thee thither, and thence wil I bring thee returning: Ioseph also shal put his handes vpon thine eyes.

5   And Iacob rose vp from the wel of the oath: and his sonnes tooke him vp, with their little ones and wiues in the waynes, which Pharao had sent to carie the old man,

6   and al that he had possessed

Ioseph. in the Land of Chanaan: and he came into Ægypt with al his sede,

7   his sonnes, and nephewes, daughters, and al his progenie together.

8   And these are the names of the children of Israel, that entred into Ægypt, him selfe with his children. His first-begotten Ruben.

9   The sonnes of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu and Hesron and Charmi.

10   The sonnes of Simeon: Iamuel and Iamin and Ahod, and Iachin and Sohar, and Saul the sonne of Chananitesse.

11   The sonnes of Leui: Gerson and Caath and Merari.

12   The sonnes of Iuda: Her and Onan & Sela and Phares and Zara. And Her and Onan died in the land of Chanaan. And there were sonnes borne to Phares: Hesron and Hamul.

13   The sonnes of Issachar: Thola and Phua and Iob and Semron.

14   The sonnes of Zabulon: Sared & Elon and Iahelel.

15   These are the sonnes of Lia, which she bare ^note in Mesopotamia of Syria with Dina his daughter. Al the soules of his sonnes and daughters, are thirtie three.

16   The sonnes of Gad: Sephion and Haggi and Siuni and Esebon and Heri and Arodi and Areli.

17   The sonnes of Aser: Iamne and Iesua and Iessui and Beria, Sara also their sister. The sonnes of Beria: Heber and Melchiel.

18   these be the sonnes of Zelpha, whom Laban gaue to Lia his daughter. and these she bare to Iacob sixtene soules.

19   The sonnes of Rachel Iacobs wife: Ioseph and Beniamin.

20   And there were sonnes borne to Ioseph, in the Land of Ægypt, which Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar priest of Heliopolis bare to him: Manasses and Ephraim.

21   The sonnes of Beniamin; Bela and Bechor and Asbel and Gera and Naaman and Echi and Ros and Mophim and Ophim and Ared.

22   these be the sonnes of Rachel, which she bare to Iacob: al the soules, fourtene.

23   The sonnes of Dan: Husim.

24   The sonnes of Nepthali: Iaziel and Guni and Ieser and Sallem.

25   These be the sonnes of Bala, whom Laban gaue to Rachel his daughter: and these she bare to Iacob: al the soules, seuen.

26   Al the soules, that entred with Iacob into Ægypt, and that came out of his thighe, besides his sonnes wiues,09Q0098 sixtie six.

27   And the sonnes of Ioseph, that were borne to him in the land of Ægypt, two soules. Al the soules of the house of Iacob, that entred into Ægypt, were09Q0099 seuentie.

28   And he sent Iudas before him to Ioseph, that he should tel him, and he should come into Gessen to

Ioseph. meete him.

29   Whither when he was come, Ioseph addressing his chariot went vp to mete his father, vnto the same place: and seing him fel vpon his neck, and as they embraced he wept.

30   And his father said to Ioseph: Now wil I die with ioy, because I haue seene thy face, and do leaue thee aliue.

31   But he spake to his brethren, and to al his fathers house: I wil goe vp, and wil tel Pharao, and wil say to him: My brethren, and my fathers house, that were in the Land of Chanaan, are come to me:

32   and the men are pastours of sheepe, and their trade is to feede flockes: their cattel, and heardes, and al that they could haue, they haue brought with them.

33   And when he shal cal you, and shal say: What is your trade?

34   You shal answer: We thy sernantes are pastours, from our infancie vntil this present, both we and our fathers. And this you shal say, that you may dwel in the Land of Gessen, because he Ægyptians ^notedetest al pastours of sheepe. ^{note note note}

Chap. XLVII. Iacob with his sonnes being come into Ge&esset;en, Pharao granteth them the same place to dwel in. 13. The famine forceth the Ægyptians to sel al their goods, landes, and posse&esset;ions to the King, 22. except the Priests part, to whom the king aloweth nece&esset;arie foode, without paying for it. 27. After seuentene yeares Iacob adiureth Ioseph, to burie him amongst his ancesters.

1   Ioseph therfore going in told Pharao, saing: My father & brethren, their sheepe and heardes, & al thinges that they possesse, are come out of the Land of Chanaan: & behold they stay in the Land of Gessen.

2   The vtmost also of his brethren fiue persons he presented before the king:

3   whom he asked: What trade haue you? They answered: We thy seruantes are pastours of sheepe, both we, and our fathers.

4   We are come to soiourne in the land, because there is no grasse for thy seruantes flockes, the famine being very sore in the land of Chanaan: and we desire thee to command that we thy seruantes may be in the Land of Gessen.

5   And the King therfore said to Ioseph: Thy father and thy brethren are come to thee.

6   The Land of Ægypt, is in thy sight: make them to dwel in the best place, and deliuer them the Land of Gessen. And if so be thou knowe that there are industrious men among them, appoint them maisters of my cattel.

7   After this Ioseph brought in his father to the King, and set him before him: who blessing him,