1B1.8.4.4

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2Incipit Libellus de ueteri testamento et nouo. þis
3gewrit wæs to anum men gediht ac hit mæg swa
4ðeah manegum fremian.
5    ÆLFRIC ABBOD GRET FREONDLICE SIGWERD æt Eastheolon.
6Ic secge þe to soðan þæt se bið swiþe wis, se þe mid
7weorcum spricð, & se hæfð forþgang for Gode &
8for worulde, se ðe mid godum weorcum hine sylfne geglengð, &
9þæt is swiðe geswutelod on halgum
10gesetnissum þæt þa halgan weras þe gode weorc beeodon,
11þæt hi wurðfulle wæron on þissere worulde, & nu
12halige sindon on heofenan rices mirhþe, & heora gemynd
13þurhwunað nu a to worulde for heora
14anrædnisse & heora

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15trywðe wið God.
16ða gimeleasan men, þe heora lif adrugon on ealre idelnisse,
17& swa geendodon, heora gemynd is
18forgiten on halgum gewritum, buton þæt secgað þa ealdan
19gesetnissa heora yfelan dæda & þæt þæt hig
20fordemde sindon.
21ðu bæde me for oft Engliscra gewritena, & ic þe ne
22getiðode ealles swa timlice, ær ðam þe þu mid
23weorcum þæs gewilnodest æt me, þa ða þu me bæde for
24Godes lufon georne þæt ic þe æt ham æt þinum huse
25gespræce, & þu ða swiðe mændest, þa þa ic mid þe
26wæs, þæt þu mine gewrita begitan ne mihtest.
27Nu wille ic þæt þu hæbbe huru þis litle, nu ðe wisdom
28gelicað & þu hine habban wilt, þæt þu ealles
29ne beo minra boca bedæled.
30God lufað þa godan weorc, & he wyle hig habban æt us, & hit
31ys awriten witodlice be him þæt he sylf
32blissað on his agenum weorcum, swa swa se sealmwirhta þus
33sang be him: Sit gloria Domini in
34seculum seculi; letabitur Dominus in operibus suis , ðæt
35ys on Engliscre spræce: Si ures Drihtenes
36wuldor on worulda woruldum; ure Drihten blissað on his agenum
37weorcum.
38þus cwæþ se witega.
39Se ælmihtiga Scippend geswutelode hine sylfne þurh þa
40micclan weorc ðe he geworhte æt fruman, &
41wolde þæt ða gesceafta gesawon his mærða & on wuldre mid
42him wunodon on ecnisse on his

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43underþeodnisse
44him æfre gehirsume, for ðam þe hit ys swiðe wolic þæt
45ða geworhtan gesceafta þam ne beon gehirsume
46þe hi gesceop & geworhte.
47Næs þeos woruld æt fruman, ac hi geworhte God silf, se þe
48æfre þurhwunode buton ælcum anginne on
49his miclan wuldre & on his mægenþrimnisse eall swa mihtig swa
50he nu ys & eall swa micel on his
51leohte, for ðan ðe he ys soð leoht & lif & soðfæstnisse,
52& se ræd wæs æfre on his rædfæstum geþance, þæt
53he wircan wolde þa wundorlican gesceafta, be þan ðe he
54wolde þurh his micclan wisdom þa gesceafta
55gescippan & þurh his soðan lufe hig liffæstan on þam life,
56þe hig habbað.
57Her is seo halige þrinnis on þisum þrim mannum: se
58ælmihtiga Fæder of nanum oðrum gecumen, & se
59micla Wisdom of þam wisan Fæder æfre of him anum butan
60anginne acenned, se þe us alisde of urum þeowte
61syððan mid þære menniscnisse, þe he of Marian genam; nu
62is heora begra lufu him bam æfre gemæne,
63þæt is se Halga Gast, þe ealle þing geliffæst, swa micel &
64swa mihtig, þæt he mid his gife ealle þa
65englas onliht, þe eardiað on heofenum, & ealra manna
66heortan, þe on middanearde libbað, þa þe
67rihtlice gelifað on þone lifiendan God, & ealra manna synna
68soðlice forgifð, þam þe heora synna
69silfwilles behreowsiað, & nis nan forgifenis buton þurh his
70gife;

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71and he spræc þurh witegan, þe witegodon
72ymbe Crist, for þan þe he ys se willa & witodlice lufu þæs
73Fæder & þæs Suna, swa swa we sædon ær.
74Seofonfealde gifa he gifð mancynne git, be þam ic awrat ær
75on sumum oðrum gewrite on Engliscre
76spræce, swa swa Isaias se witega hit on bec sette on his
77witegunge.     
78Se ælmihtiga Scippend, ða ða he englas gesceop, þa
79geworhte he þurh his wisdom tyn engla werod on
80þam forman dæge on micelre fægernisse, fela þusenda on ðam
81frumsceafte, þæt hi on his wuldre hine
82wurðedon ealle lichamlease, leohte & strange, buton eallum
83synnum on gesælþe libbende, swa wlitiges
84gecindes, swa we secgan ne magon, & nan yfel ðing næs on ðam
85englum þa git, ne nan yfel ne com ðurh
86Godes gesceapennisse, for ðan ðe he sylf ys eall god & ælc
87god cimð of him; & ða englas þa wunodon
88on þam wuldre mid Gode.
89Hwæt,

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90þa binnan six dagum, þe se soða God þa gesceafta
91gesceop, þe he gescippan wolde, gesceawode
92se an engel þe þær ænlicost wæs, hu fæger he silf wæs &
93hu scinende on wuldre, & cunnode his mihte,
94þæt he mihtig wæs gesceapen, & him wel gelicode his
95wurðfulniss þa: se hatte Lucifer, þæt ys
96Leohtberend, for ðære miclan beorhtnisse his mæran hiwes.
97ða þuhte him to huxlic, þæt he hiran sceolde ænigum
98hlaforde, þa he swa ænlic wæs, & nolde wurðian
99þone, þe hine geworhte, & him þancian æfre ðæs þe he
100him forgeaf & beon him underðeodd þæs ðe
101swiþor geornlice for þære micclan mærðe þe he hine
102gemæðegode.
103He nolde þa habban his Scippend him to hlaforde, ne he nolde
104þurhwunian on ðære soþfæstnisse ðæs
105soðfæstan Godes sunu, þe hine gesceop fægerne,

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106ac wolde mid riccetere him rice gewinnan & þurh
107modignisse hine macian to Gode, & nam him gegadan ongean Godes
108willan to his unræde on eornost gefæstnod.
109ða næfde he nan setl, hwær he sittan mihte, for ðan ðe
110nan heofon nolde hine aberan, ne nan rice
111næs, þe his mihte beon ongean Godes willan, þe geworhte
112ealle ðinc.
113ða afunde se modiga, hwilce his mihta wæron, þa þa his fet
114ne mihton furðon ahwar standan, ac he
115feoll ða adun to deofle awend, & ealle his gegadan of ðam
116Godes hirede in to helle wite be heora
117gewirhtum.
118ða on ðam sixtan dæge, siþþan ðis gedon wæs, gesceop se
119ælmihtiga God mannan of eorðan ADAM mid his
120handum & him sawle forgeaf, & EVAN eft siþþan of Adames
121ribbe, þæt hi sceoldon habban, & heora
122ofspring mid him, þa fægeran wununge þe se feond forleas,
123gif hi gehirsumedon heora Scippende on riht.
124ða beswac se

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125deofol siððan eft þa men, þæt hi Godes
126bebod tobræcon forraþe & wurdon þa deadlice, &
127adræfde butu of ðære myrhþe to þisum middanearde,
128& on sorhge leofodon & on geswincum
129siþþan, & eall heora ofsprinc þe him of com siððan, oþ
130þæt ure hælend Crist ure yfel gebette, swa swa
131þeos racu æfter us segð.
132We nymað of þam bocum þas endebyrdnysse, þe Moises awrat,
133se mæra heretoga, swa swa him God silf
134dihte on heora sunderspræce, þa þa he mid Gode wunode on
135þam munte Sinai feowertig daga on an, &
136underfeng his lare, & he ætes ne gimde on eallum þam fyrste
137for ðære miclan bisnunge þæra boca lare.     
138Fif bec he awrat mid wundorlicum dihte.
139Seo forme ys Genesis, þe befehð þas racu ærest fram
140frumsceafte, & be Adames synne & hu he leofode
141nigan hund geara on þære forman ylde þissere worulde,

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142& bearn gestrinde be his gebeddan Euan, & he
143siððan gewat mid sorge to helle.
144Cain wæs his sunu, se acwealde his broðor, Abel gehaten,
145unscildigne mannan for his agenum andan,
146þe he hæfde to him, & Caines ofspring, þe him of com,
147siððan eall wearð adrenced on þam deopan
148flode, þe on Noes dagum adydde eall mancinn buton þam eahta
149mannum, ðe binnan þam arce wæron, & of þam
150yfelan teame ne com nan ðing siþþan.
151Ac Adam gestrinde æfter Abeles slege oðerne sunu, se wæs
152Seth gehaten, of ðam strenge com þæt þæt
153cucu belaf, Noe & his wif & heora þri suna, Sem, Cham & Iafeth
154mid heora þrim wifum.
155We secgað nu mid ofste þas endebirdnisse, for þan ðe we
156oft habbað ymbe þis awriten mid maran
157andgite, þa þu miht sceawian, & eac ða getacnunga, þæt
158Adam getacnude, þe on ðam sixtan dæge gesceapen
159wæs þurh God, urne

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160Hælend Crist , þe com to þissere
161worulde, & us geedniwode to his gelicnisse.
162Eua getacnode, þe of Adames sida.
163God silf geworhte, Godes gelaðunge, þe of Cristes sidan
164siþþan wearð acenned.
165Abeles slege soðlice getacnode ures Hælendes slege, þe ða
166Iudeiscan ofslogon, yfele gebroðra swa
167swa Cain wæs.
168Seth, Adames sunu THE FOLLOWING FOUR WORDS INSERTED ABOVE THE
169LINE IN A DIFFERENT HAND & eac se þridda ys gesæd ærist,
170& he getacnode untwilice Crist, se þe of deaðe
171aras on ðam þriddan dæge.
172Enoh wæs geciged se seofoða man fram Adame; he worhte Godes
173willan & God hine ða genam mid ansundum
174lichaman of þisum life upp, & he ys cucu git, swa swa
175Helias, se æðela witega, þe wæs eal swa
176genumen to þam oðrum life, & hi cumað begen togeanes
177Antecriste, þæt hig his leasunga alecgon þurh God,
178& beoð þonne ofslegen þurh ðone sylfan feond, & hi eft

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179arisað, swa swa ealle men doð.
180Noe, þe on ðam arce wæs on ðam miclum flode, þe ealle
181woruld adrencte buton þam eahta mannum, ys
182gereht requies , þæt is rest on Englisc; & he getacnode
183Crist, þe for ðy com to us, þæt he us of
184yðum þissere worulde to reste gebrohte & to blisse mid him.
185And swa forð oð ende, ælc halig fæder mid wordum oþþe
186mid weorcum cyddon urne Hælend & his fær
187witodlice.
188Her wæs seo forme yld þissere worulde, & seo oðer yld wæs
189þissere worulde oð Abrahames timan, þæs
190ealdan heahfæderes.
191Nu segð us seo boc be Noes ofspringe, þæt his suna
192gestrindon twa & hundseofontig suna; þa begunnon
193to wircenne þa wundorlican burh & þone heagan stipel, þe
194sceolde astigan upp to heofenum, be heora
195unræde; ac God silf com þærto & sceawode

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196heora weorc & sealde heora ælcum synderlice spræce, þæt
197heora ælcum wæs uncuð hwæt oþer sæde, & hi swa geswicon
198sona þære getimbrunge, & hi ða toferdon to
199fyrlenum lande on swa manegum gereordum swa þæra manna wæs.
200On þære ylcan ylde man arærde hæðengild wide geond þas
201woruld, swa swa we awriton æror on oðrum
202larspellum to geleafan trimminge, & on þissere ylde þa yfelan
203leoda, fif burhscira ðæs fulan mennisces
204Sodomitisces eardes, mid sweflenum fyre færlice wurdon ealle
205forbærnde, & heora burga samod, buton
206Loþe anum, þe God alædde þanon mid his ðrim hiwum for
207his rihtwisnisse.
208Of Noes yldstan sunu, þe wæs Sem gehaten, com þæt Ebreisce
209folc, þe on God gelifde, Abrahames
210forðfæderas, & his fæder wæs Tare, se eardode ærest on
211Chaldea rice, oð þæt

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212Abraham ferde be Godes hæse
213to Chananeiscan earde, þær his cynn siððan wunode.
214Abraham, se heahfæder, hæfde twegen suna, Ismael & Isaac, &
215he wurþode God mid ealre his heortan, &
216se heofonlica God him gelome to spræc for his micclan
217geleafan, for þan þe he wolde offrian his
218agenne sunu Gode, Isaac þone leofran, to lace on his weofode
219on þa ealdan wisan, gif hit God swa wolde.
220God þa hine gebletsode & his bearn wæs gesund, & God silf
221him behet, þæt þurh his cyn sceolde eall
222mannkynn beon gebletsod for his micclan geleafan & for his
223gehirsumnisse, þe he hæfde to Gode.
224Abraham, þe wolde Isaac geoffrian be Godes hæse, hæfde
225getacnunge þæs heofonlican Fæder, þe his
226Sunu asende to cwale for us, & Isaac getacnode þone Hælend
227Crist, ðe acweald wæs for us.     
228Seo þridde yld wæs ða

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229wuniende oð Dauid, þone mæran
230cyning Abrahames cynnes; of ðam com Crist
231siððan, þe eall mancynn alysde.
232Of Cham, Noes suna, com þæt Chananeisce folc, & of Iaphet,
233þam ginstan, þe wæs gebletsod þurh Noe,
234com þæt norðerne mennisc be þære Norðsæ, for þan þe
235ðri dælas sind gedælede þurh hig, Asia on
236eastrice þam yldstan suna, Affrica on suðdæle þæs Chames
237cynne, & Europa on norðdæle Iapheþes ofspringe.
238& se ælmihtiga God æfter Noes flode eallum mancinne forgeaf
239him gemænlice fisccinn & fugolcinn & þa
240fiðerfetan deor & þa clænan nytena for his micclan ciste;
241ac he forbead swa þeah blod to þicgenne.
242Isaac þa gestrynde Esau & Iacob, twegen getwisan on micelre
243getacnunge.
244Ac se gingra broðor, þe Iacob wæs gehaten, wæs Gode leofre
245for his godum þeawum, & for his

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246bilewitnisse he wearð gebletsod.
247Se gestrynde twelf suna; þa syndon heahfæderas, namcuðe
248weras.
249& wearð þa micel hunger seofon gear on an, & hig siþodon
250ealle to Egipta lande, þær hi bigleofan
251fundon.
252His ginsta sunu buton anum, wæs Ioseph gehaten, wearð
253ðær hlaford on Egipta lande under þam
254cininge, him swiðe gecweme, & he heold his fæder on fullum
255wurðscipe þær mid eallum his broðrum & heora
256bearnum samod; & se Ioseph leofode on þam lande mærlice
257hundteontig geara & tin to eacan, & seo boc
258Genesis geendað þus her.     
259Seo oþer boc ys Exodus gehaten, þe Moyses awrat be þam
260miclum tacnum & be þam tyn witum, þe wurdon
261þa gefremode ofer Pharao þone cining & ofer his folce þurh
262ðone ælmihtigan God on Moises timan.
263Se wearð acenned, swa swa us kyð þeos boc, & his broðer
264Aaron, Amrames

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265sunu, on Pharaones dæge,
266Gode swiþe dyre, swiðe mihtige menn on manegum wundrum.
267ða wolde God habban þæt folc of ðam lande Abrahames cynnes
268eft to heora earde.
269Ac se Pharao nolde þæt folc fram him lætan, ær þan þe
270God him sende swiðlice ogan tyn cinna wita
271for his teonræddenne.
272& Moises þa siððan þæt manncinn gelædde of Pharaones
273ðeowte æfter feowerhund gearum, siþþan Iacob
274þider com mid þam Ebreiscan kinne.
275On þære fyrde wæron, þe ferdon fram Egipte, sixhund
276þusend manna butan wifum & cildum, & butan þære
277mægðe Leui, þe næs genamod þærto.
278Moyses hig lædde þa þurh Godes mihte ealle ofer ða Readan
279Sæ, swa swa we rædað on bocum: & Pharao
280se kyning ferde him æthindan on git mid maran fyrde, wolde
281þæt folc habban ongean to his lande to his

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282laðum þeowte.
283þa geopenode seo sæ togeanes Moysen & þæt wæter him stod
284swilce stanweallas bufan heora heafdum, &
285hi eodon be þam grundum, oð þæt hi up comon ealle gesunde,
286heriende mid sange þone heofenlican God.
287Moyses þa sloh þa sæ mid his girde & þæt wæter þa feoll
288ofer Pharaones fyrde ofer his menifealdum
289crætum & his mærlicum riddum & adrencte hi ealle, þæt þær
290an mann ne belaf.
291Nu segð us seo boc, þæt God siððan afedde ealne þone
292here mid heofonlicum mete, & him ælce dæg com
293edniwe of heofenum feowertig wintra fyrst on þam westene
294farende, & of heardum stane him com
295yrnende wæter, & God him sette æ, þæt ys open lagu, þam
296folce to steore on þam fif bocum, þe Moyses
297awrat, swa swa him gewissode God.
298ða twa bec we

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299nemnodon; Leuiticus is seo þridde, Numerus
300feorðe; seo fifte ys gehaten
301Deuteronomium , þæt ys oþer lagu.
302ðas ðreo bec us secgað hu hig siþþan ferdon ofer þæt
303widgille westen þær þær nan mann ne wunode ær,
304& be þam miclum wundrum, þe God worhte on him binnan þam
305feowertigum gearum on ealre þare racu; &
306we habbað awend witodlice on Englisc.
307On þam mann mæg gehiran, hu se heofonlica God spræc mid
308weorcum & mid wundrum him to; & he eac þa
309weorc on gewritum afæstnode mannum to gemynde on miclum
310getacnungum.
311& Moises se mæra, mid þam þe he wæs on ylde hundtwentig
312wintra, ða gewat he of life, & God silf
313hine bebirigde & gesette Iosue on Moyses stede þam mannum to
314heretogan , & Moyses hæfde hine ær
315gebletsod, & God

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316silf him behet þæt he wolde mid him beon,
317swa swa he mid Moyse wæs, on miclum wundrum.     
318Seo boc þe he gesette, Liber Iosue , segð hu he
319ferde mid Israhela folce to Abrahames earde, & hu he
320þone eard gewann, & hu seo sunne ætstod, oð þæt he sige
321hæfde, & hu he þone eard ealne todælde.
322ðis ic awende eac on Englisc hwilon æþelwerde ealdormen; on
323þam man mæg sceawian Godes micclan
324wundra mid weorcum gefremode.
325His fæder hatte Nun, & he leofode hund geara & tyn gear to
326eacan, & he siþþan gewat æfter his
327micclan sige, & þæt mennisc ðær siþþan þone eard bogodan
328under Moises lage.
329Iosue hæfde ðæs Hælendes getacnunge, mid þam þe he
330gelædde to þam lande þæt folc, þe him behaten
331wæs, swa swa se Hælend

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332deð, þe læt to heofenan rice þa ðe
333on hine gelyfað, gif hi mid godum weorcum
334hine gegladiað.     
335æfter þisum wæron witodlice deman on þam ylcan earde on
336Israhela þeode, þe þam folce wissodon, swa
337swa hit awriten ys on Liber Iudicum , þæt ys demena boc.
338Seo boc us segð swutollice be þam folce, þæt hi on sibbe
339wunedon swa lange swa hi wurðodon þone
340heofonlican God on his bigengum georne, & swa oft swa hi
341forleton þone lifiendan God, þonne wurdon hi
342gehergode & to hospe gedonne fram hæðenum leodum, þe him
343abutan eardodon.
344Eft þonne hi clipodon on eornost to Gode mid soþre dædbote,
345þonne sende he him fultum þurh sumne
346deman, þe wiðsette heora feondum & hi alisde of heora yrmðe;
347& hi lange swa on þam lande eardodon.
348ðis man mæg rædan, se þe his recð to gehirenne, on þære
349Engliscan

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350bec, þe ic awende be þisum.
351Ic þohte þæt ge woldon þurh ða wundorlican race eower mod
352awendan to Godes willan on eornost; ac
353beo þeos boc her þus geendod.
354An wimman hatte Ruth þe wæs æfter þisum Moabiscre þeode,
355ac heo wearð geæwnod Iessan ealdan fæder &
356se Iesse wæs DAVIDES fæder.
357Seo boc þe þis segð hatte Liber Ruth , & heo is
358geendebyrd on ure bibliothecan.
359æfter þisum demum þæt Israhela folc gecuron him ciningas,
360swa swa us cyð seo racu, on Samueles
361timan, þæs soðfæstan witegan.     
362Be þam sind awritene witodlice feower bec, þa sind
363gehatenne Liber Regum on Leden, þæt ys cininga
364boc gecweden swa on an, & Verba Dierum lið þærto
365geiced ; seo ys seo fifte boc, for fela gewissungum
366þe seo an boc hæfð toforan þam oðrum, & þas bec awriton
367Samuel & Malachim.
368On þisum bocum us segð þæt Saul wæs gecoren ærest to
369cyninge on Israhela þeode, for þan þe hig
370woldon sumne weriend habban, þe hi geheolde wið þæt
371hæþene folc, & cyddon heora willan þam witegan
372Samuele, þæt hig heora cynne cining habban woldon, swa swa
373oðre leodscipas on eallum lande hæfdon.
374Hwæt þa Samuel sæde þæt Gode, & God him geþafode þæt
375hig setton him to kininge

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376Saul, Cises sunu, &
377he siððan rixode feowertig geara fæc, & þæt folc bewerode
378wið þa hæþenan leoda heardlice mid
379wæmnum, þeah þe he misferde on manegum oðrum þingum.
380David, Iessan sunu, se deorwurða sealmwirhta of þam
381firmestan kynne, þe wæs gecweden Iudan, wearð
382þurh God gecoren to cininge siþþan on Israhela þeode hig to
383bewerienne, & he stranglice rixode, &
384bewerode þæt folc wið þa hæðenan leoda ðe him on
385wunnon , & he hæfde æfre sige & ofsloh þa hæðenan on
386ælcum gefeohte, for þan þe he wurðode þonne
387ælmihtigan God mid ealre heortan, & mid godum weorcum
388he geglende his kynedom & þæs kynedomes geweold feowertig
389geara on an, & his hlysa is fulcuð on
390geleafullum bocum.
391And seo feorðe yld þissere worulde stod fram Dauide oð
392Daniele þam witegan.
393Dauid is gecweden fortis manum ; on andgitte þæt ys
394stranghynde on Englisc, for þan þe he gewylde
395þone wildan beran & his ceaflas totær buton ælcum wæmne, &
396þa wildan leo he gewylde eal swa; tobræc
397hire ceaflas mid his barum handum.
398& he eode to anwige ongean þone ent, Goliam gehaten, þa þa
399he cniht wæs, & mid his liðeran ofwearp
400þone geleafleasan ent, þæt he læg geswogen & sloh

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401him of þæt heafod & on fleame gebrohte þa
402Philisteos ealle, þe fuhton wið Saul, & he sige þa hæfde.
403He hæfde getacnunge þæs Hælendes Cristes, þe ys
404stranghynde, þe þone hetolan deofol eaðelice
405gewilde, & him of gewann ealle þa geleafullan on his
406gelaðunge, swa swa Dauid gelæhte þæt scep of þam
407deorum.
408He ys halig witega, & he witegode fela ymbe urne Hælend
409Crist, swa swa us kyþað þa sealmas, þe he
410þurh Godes gast Gode to lofe gesang, & se Saltere ys an boc,
411þe he gesette þurh God betwux oðrum
412bocum on þære bibliothecan.     
413He gesette on his ylde his sunu to cininge, þone snoteran
414Salomon, & he siþþan rixode feowertig
415wintra on fulre sibbe æfre, & for his micclum wisdome hyne
416wurðodon ciningas, & man his wisdom sohte
417of fyrlenum eardum, & of gehwilcum landum him comon lac to
418wurðscipe, & he his folc geheold butan
419ælcum gefeohte.
420He arærde Gode þæt ænlice tempel binnan Hierusalem on
421wunderlicum cræfte swa fægere getimbrod & swa
422fæste getrymmed & swa widgille hus oferworht mid golde & mid
423hwitum seolfre, swa we secgan ne magon.
424He gesette þreo bec þurh his snoternisse.
425An ys Parabole , þæt ys bigspellboc, na swilce ge
426secgað, ac wisdomes bigspell & warnung wið disig,
427& hu man selost mæg synna

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428forbugan, & þone weg gefaran þe gewissað to Gode.
429Oþer ys gecweden Ecclesiastices , þæt ys on Englisc
430ealra þeoda ræd & deaflic to gehirenne on healicum gemote.
431Seo þridde ys gecweden Cantica Canticorum , þæt segð on
432Englisc ealra sanga fyrmest þone he sang be
433Criste & be Cristes circean, þæt ys eall seo laþung þe
434gelyfð on Crist; & þas bec standað nu on
435þære bibliotheca.
436Salomon ys gecweden gesibsum on Englisc, & he getacnode urne
437Hælend Crist, þe us sibbe brohte, & ys
438þære sibbe ealdor, se þe us geðeodde to engla werodum, &
439us circean arærde, ðe is his gelaðung.     
440Nu standað manega cyningas on þæra Cininga Bocum, be þam
441ic gesette eac sume boc on Englisc.
442Sume hig wæron rihtwise & wurþodon a God, swa swa Ezechias
443wæs & siþþan Iosias, & eac sume oþre, þe
444sigefæste wæron & heora kynedom heolden kenlice þurh Gode,
445þe hig wurðodon, & hi wunodon on friðe.
446Sume wæron arlease & swiðe yfele ferdon, þonne hi Godes ne
447gimdon, ne God him ne fylste; & amyrdon
448heora folc þurh heora mandæda & on bysmore leofdon þurh
449geleafleaste, & yfele geendodon on heora
450unhlisan, swa swa Sedechias, se

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451ungesæliga kining, þe mann
452gelædde on bendum to Babilonian birig, &
453man ofsloh his twegen suna ætforan his gesihþe & hine ablende
454siððan & gesette hine on cweartern &
455þam eardum becom oðer wracu siððan.     
456Nabochodonosor, se namcuða cining on Chaldeiscum earde, com
457to Hierusalem mid micelre fyrde, & þæt
458manncyn ofsloh, & þa burh towende, & þæt tempel towearp
459æfter feowerhund gearum þæs þe hit gesett
460wæs, for ðæra kininga geleafleaste, þe forleton heora
461Drihten, & þæs folces gimeleaste, þe ne gimde
462Godes; & gelædde þone kining to Chaldea mid him, Achim
463gehaten, swiðe huxlice, þæt he mihte
464oncnawan his manfullan dæda huru on þam hæftnede wið þone
465heofenlican God.
466Se Chaldea cininc com þa to his earde mid þære huðe &
467þære herelafe, on ðære wæs Daniel, se
468deorwyrða witega, & þa þry cnihtas, þe synt gehatenne þus,
469SIDRAC, MISAAC ET ABDENAGO, & on oþre wisan hi
470wæron gehatene Annanias, Azarias, Misael.
471ðas þri cnihtas het se cyning awurpan in to byrnendum ofne;
472ac heora bendas sona wurdon forswælede,
473& hig gesunde eodon, heriende mid sange þone heofenlican
474God, þe hi swa geheold on þam hatan ofne,

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475þæt heora fex næs furðon forswæled.
476& se kining hi het þa gan of þam ofne.     
477Her ongan seo fifte yld þissere worulde; seo stod swa
478astreht oð þæt Crist sylf com on þære sixtan
479ylde to þissere worulde on menniscum gecynde of Marian
480innoðe, se þe æfre wæs God mid his
481ælmihtigan Fæder.
482Seo herelaf ða wunode þæs gehergodan folces on
483Chaldeiscum earde under þam kininge, gecnæwe heora
484synna wið þone ælmihtigan God.
485Hundseofontig geara hi wunodon þær on þeowte, oð þæt
486Cirus cyning hi asende eft ongean to Iudea
487lande, þanon þe hi alædde wæron, and het hig eft aræran
488þæt ænlice tempel, swa swa se ælmihtiga God on
489his mod asende, þæt he his folce mildsode æfter swa
490micelre yrmðe; & hi þær siþþan wunedon, oð þæt
491Crist sylf wearð geboren.     
492Nu sindon twa mære bec gesette on endebyrdnysse to
493Salomones bocum, swilce he hig

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494gedihte; for þære
495gelicnisse his gelogodan spræce & for þære getingnysse
496hig man getitelode him; ac Iesus hi
497gesette, Siraces sunu: an ys Liber Sapientiae ,
498þæt ys, wisdomes boc, seo oðer ys gecweden.
499Ecclesiasticus , swiðe micele bec, & man hig ræt on
500circan to micclum wisdome swiðe gewunelice.     
501We nymað þa witegan nu þe witegodon embe Crist þurh
502þone Halgan Gast be þæs Hælendes tokime to
503þisum middanearde on soðre menniscnisse, swa swa we wyllað
504awritan heræfter.     
505Isaias wæs gehaten sum halig witega on ðæra kininga
506timan, swa swa us kyð seo boc.
507Se witegode be Criste swiðe gewislice, swilce he godspellere
508wære, swiðe gewyrdelice, & cwæð on his
509gesetnysse swa swa we secgað her: Ecce uirgo concipiet &
510pariet filium & uocabitur nomen eius
511Emmanuel, & reliqua .
512Efne mæden sceal geeacnian

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513& oncennan sunu & his nama bið geciged God sylf ys mid us.
514Eft se ylca witega awrat on his gesetnysse: Puer natus est
515nobis & filius datus est nobis, &
516reliqua : Vs ys cild acenned: & us ys sunu forgifen & his
517ealdordom ys on eaxle, & his nama bið gehaten
518wundorlic, rædbora, witodlice strang God & fæder towerdre
519worulde, soðlice sibbe ealdor, & his
520kynedom bið menigfeald, & ne bið nan ende his ecan sibbe.
521His boc ys swiðe micel & menigfeald be Criste & be Godes
522mærðe, be eallum mancinne on gastlicum
523andgitte on Godes gelaþunge.
524He bodode geleafan on Iudea lande & unriht forbead, oð þæt
525se reða kyning, Mannases gehaten,
526Ezechian sunu, hine tocleaf on twa & hine acwealde swa.     
527Hieremias se witega wæs on þam lande swiðe halig witega

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528fram his cildhade; be þam cwæð God sylf to
529him: Ic þe gecuðe soðlice ær þan þe ic þe gesceope on
530þinre modor innoðe, & ic þe gehalgode ær þan
531þe þu acenned wurde, & ic þe gesette þeodum to witegan.
532He wunode on clænnysse, & he awrat ane boc þurh þone Halgan
533Gast on his witegunge, micele &
534menigfealde, þam mannum to lare, of gastlicum andgitte eac be
535þam Hælende.
536He wearð oft gebend & gebroht on cweartern for his halgan
537lare, & he heofode micclum þæs folces
538synna, swa swa his boc us segð, & he wearð oftorfod mid
539stanum æt nextan on Egipta lande for his geleafan.
540Plato se uðwita & se wisosta mann on hæðenum folce hæfde
541hine gesprecen, & se witega þa hine
542gewissode, þæt he cuðe gelyfan on þone lifiendan God, swa
543swa Agustinus hit on bocum gesette; & Ieremias
544ys ure witega synderlice.

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545Ezechiel se witega wearð gehergod mid þam folce, þa þa se
546Chaldeisca kining acwealde ða Iudeiscan &
547ða herelafe to his lande adraf, þa þa Daniel se witega
548wearð eac gelæht.
549& Ezechiel ða on þeowte þær wunode & witegode þær, &
550awrat ane boc micele on gesetnisse be þam
551mancynne & be urum Drihtene, swiðe deop on andgite, oð þæt
552se heafodman þæs gehergodan folces hine
553acwealde, swa swa us kyð sum lareow.     
554Daniel se witega wunude on Chaldea, wurðfull þam
555ciningum, & awrat ane boc on his witegunge, þe him
556God sylf onwreah, & he swutelice sæde on his gesetnisse be
557Cristes acennednisse, swa swa he com to
558mannum feowerhund geara & hundnigontig geara fram Darie ðam
559cininge, oð þæt ure Drihten com on
560soðre menniscnisse

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561of Marian innoþe.
562His boc is swiðe micel on manegum getacnungum, langsum her to
563secgende be hire gesetnyssum & hu he
564wæs aworpen þam wildum leonum, be þam we awriton on Englisc
565on sumum spelle hwilon.
566He næs na ofslagen, ac he him sylf gewat, þa þa he hund
567geara wæs & tyn gear on ylde, & he wæs
568bebirged on Babilonia.     
569Twelf witega syndon to eacan þisum git, ðe twelf bec
570awriton on heora witegunge be sumum dæle
571læssan on gesetnysse, micele on andgitte be Cristes
572menniscnysse & be Godes folce, swa swa God him onwreah.
573ðæra naman we willað awritan on þisum cwyde: OSEE, IOHEL,
574AMOS, ABDIAS, IONAS se þe ðreo niht wæs
575wiðinnan þam hwale, & se hwæl hine abær to Niniuea birig, &
576seo dæd getacnode ures

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577Drihtenes deað,
578þe læg on birgine swa langum fæce, ac he aras of deaðe
579þurh his drihtenlican mihte MICHEAS, NAVM,
580ABBACVC, se namnode þone Hælend be his naman þus: Ego
581autem in Domino gaudebo & exultabo in Deo Iesu
582meo , ðæt ys on Englisc; Ic blissie on Drihtene & ic
583fægnie on Gode minum Hælende.
584Iesus wæs gehaten ure Hælend on life, & swa sæde þes
585witega, ær ðan þe he wurde acenned, & swa swa
586se heahengel hit sæde on þam godspelle.
587He ys gehaten eac Crist; be þam cwæð sum witega for fela
588hund gearum, ær þan þe he acenned wurde:
589Adstiterunt reges terre & principes conuenerunt in unum
590aduersus Dominum & aduersus Christum eius ,
591Eorðlice ciningas & ealdormenn arison ongean urne
592Drihten & þone Hælend Crist; þæt wæs Herodes
593cining & Pilatus

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594ealdormann, swa swa ða apostolas be þam
595understodon; Sophonias, AGGEUS, Zacharias, Malachias.     
596Wæron eac oðre witegan, þe ne writon nane bec, swa swa
597wæs Helias & Heliseus, ac heora wundra
598syndon awritene swa ðeah on þæra Cininga Bocum on fulcuðum
599gemynde.
600Tyn mædena wæron on mislicre tide on hæþenum leodum, þa
601man het Sibillas , þæt synd witegestran, &
602hi witegodon ealle be þam Hælende Criste, & heora bec setton
603swiðe swutelice ðurh þone soþan God be
604ealre his fare mid fullum geleafan, for ðan þe God wolde him
605gewitan habban of hæðenum leodum & of
606geleafullum; ac heora bec ne synd na on ure gesetnissum on
607þære biblioþecan swa swa þas oðre beoð.     
608Esdras se writere awrat ane boc, hu þæt folc com ongean
609fram Chaldea lande to Iudea lande & hi
610Hierusalem þa burh eft arærdon,

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611& þæt tempel þærbinnan, swa
612swa Cirus kining him sealde leafe æfter
613hundseofontigon gearum, þæt hi heora eard bogodon, & seo boc
614ys geendebyrd on þissere gesetnysse mid
615deopum andgitte on diglum getacnungum.     
616Iob wæs gehaten sum heah Godes þegen on þam lande Chus,
617swiðe geleafull wer, welig on æhtum; se
618wearð afandod þurh þone swicolan deofol, swa swa his boc us
619segð, þe he sylf gesette siþþan he afandod
620wæs, be þam ic awende on Englisc sumne cwide iu, & hit ys
621eac witegung witodlice be Criste & be
622his gelaþunge, swa swa lareowas secgað, & seo boc ys
623geendebyrd on þissere gesetnysse.     
624Sum Iudeisc man wearð eac afandod, Tobias gehaten, swiðe
625ælmesgeorn & swiþe gelyfed on þone
626lyfiendan God.
627Se wæs eac gehergod to Sirian lande, ac he heold swa þeah
628his geleafan þær

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629mid godum weorcum & God
630his afandode, swa þæt he blind wearð and swa wunode tyn
631gear; ac God hine gehælde eft þurh his
632heahengel, Raphael gehaten, swa swa seo racu us segð on his
633agenre bec, þe he sylf awrat, & seo boc ys
634geteald to þisum getele, for ðan þe þæron ys eac swilce
635getacnung.     
636Hester seo cwen, þe hire kynn ahredde, hæfð eac ane boc
637on þisum getele, for ðan þe Godes lof ys
638gelogod þæron; ða ic awende on Englisc on ure wisan
639sceortlice.     
640Iudith seo wuduwe, þe oferwann Holofernem þone Siriscan
641ealdormann, hæfð hire agenne boc betwux
642þisum bocum be hire agenum sige; seo ys eac on Englisc on ure
643wisan gesett eow mannum to bysne, þæt ge
644eowerne eard mid wæmnum bewerian wið onwinnendne here.

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645Twa bec synd gesette æfter cyrclicum þeawum betwux þisum
646bocum, þe gebiriað to Godes lofe,
647Machabeorum gehatene, for heora micclum gewinne, for ðan þe
648hig wunnon mid wæmnum þa swiðe wið þone hæðenan
649here, þe him on wann swiðe, wolde hig adilegian & adyddan
650of þam earde, þe him God forgeaf, & Godes lof alecgan.
651Hwæt, þa Mathathias, se mæra Godes þegen, mid his fif
652sunum, feaht wið þone here miccle gelomlicor
653ðonne þu gelyfan wylle, & hig sige hæfdon þurh þone
654soðan God, þe hig on gelyfdon æfter Moyses æ.
655Hig noldon na feohtan mid fægerum wordum anum, swa þæt hi
656wel spræcon, & awendon þæt eft, þe læs ðe
657him become se hefigtima cwyde, þe se witega gecwæð be
658sumum leodscipe þus: Et iratus est furore
659Dominus in

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660populo suo & abhominatus hereditatem suam, &
661cetera : Drihten wearð yrre mid graman his
662folce, & he onscunode his yrfewerdnisse, & he betæhte hig on
663hæþenra handum, & heora fynd soðlice
664hæfdon heora geweald, & hig swiðe gedrehton þa
665deriendlica fynd & hig wurdon geeadmette under heora
666handum.
667Nolde Machabeus, se mæra Godes cempa, habban þisne dom
668ðurh his Drihtenes yrre, ac him wæs leofre,
669þæt he mid geleafan clipode on his eornost to Gode þisne
670oðerne cwyde: Da nobis, Domine, auxilium
671de tribulatione, quia uana salus hominis, & cetera : Syle
672us, leof Drihten, þinne soðan fultum on
673ure gedrefednisse & gedo us strengran, for þan þe mannes
674fultum ys unmihtig & idel.
675Ac uton wyrcean mihte on þone mihtigan God, & he to nahte
676gedeð urne deriendlican

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677fynd.
678Machabeus þa gefylde ðas foresædan word mid stranglicum
679weorcum, & oferwann his fynd, & sint for ði
680gesette his sigefæstan dæda on þam twam bocum on
681bibliothecan Gode to wurðmynte, & ic awende hig
682on Englisc & rædon gif ge wyllað eow sylfum to ræde.
683Explicit de Veteri Testamento. INCIPIT DE NOVO TESTAMENTO
684    IC SECGE ÞE NU, SIWERD, ÐÆT ic her
685gesett hæbbe þas feawa bysna of ðan ealdan bocum on þære
686ealdan gecyðnysse under Moyses æ, & hu, THE FOLLOWING
687THREE WORDS SUPPLIED IN THE TEXT IN A DIFFERENT HAND gif þu
688wiltest ealne ðone wisdom þe on þam bocum stynt, þonne
689woldest þu gelyfan þæt ic na ne wæge on
690þisum gewrite.     
691Ic wille nu secgan eft sceortlice þe be þære niwan
692gecyðnisse æfter Cristes tocyme, þæt þu mid
693ealle ne beo þæs andgites bedæled, þeah

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694þe ðu be fullan
695underfon ne mage ealle þa gesetnissa þæs soþan
696gewrites: bist swa ðeah gebet þurh þas litlan bysne.     
697Lex & prophete usque ad Iohannem, sicut legitur in
698Euangelio : Moyses æ wæs & witegan soþlice oð
699Iohannes wearð acenned, þe Crist gefullode.
700He ys ende þære ealdan æ & æt him ongann seo
701godspellbodung, & he wæs acenned on Cristes tocime.
702Swa swa dægsteorra on dægred upp gæð ætforan þære
703sunnan, swa scean Iohannes on haligre bodunge
704ætforan þam Hælende, & he wæs his bydel on his bodunge, &
705mid his fulluhte kydde Cristes fulluht toweard.
706Crist sylf cwæð be him, þæt ne come nateshwon betwux wifa
707bearnum nan mærra man ðonne he wæs; ac
708Crist næs na geteald to þissere wiðmetenysse, se þe acenned
709wæs of ðam clænan mædene.
710Ne awrat Iohannes nane boc synderlice, ac his dæda sind
711awritene on Drihtenes godspelle, þone he
712gefullode & his forerynel wæs on life ge on deaðe, & his
713hlisa nu stynt swa hwær swa cristendom bið &
714þa Cristes bec cumað.     
715Feower Cristes bec sindon be Criste sylfum awriten.
716An ðæra awrat Matheus, þe mid þam Hælende wæs, his agen
717leorningcniht

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718on þisum life farende.
719& he his wundra geseah & awrat hi on þære bec, þe him to
720gemynde þa mihton becuman, on Ebreiscum
721gereorde æfter Cristes þrowunge on Iudea lande, þam þe
722gelyfdon on God; & he ys se forma godspellere
723on ðære gesetnisse.
724Marcus se godspellere, þe wæs mid Petre on lare, his agen
725godsunu on Godes lare geþogen, wrat þa
726oðre boc be Petres bodunge be ðam þe he geleornode of his
727larspellum on Romana byrig, swa swa he
728gebeden wæs þurh ða geleafullan, þe gelyfdon on God of
729þare burhware þurh Petres bodunge.
730Lucas se godspellere awrat ða þriddan boc, se ðe fram
731cildhade folgode þam apostolum & mid Paule
732siþþan siðode on his fare, & æt him leornode ða
733godspellican lare on clænisse lybbende, & awrat þa
734Cristes boc on Achaian lande mid Greciscum gereorde, swa he of
735Paules lare & þæra apostola lare
736leornode.
737Iohannes se apostol on Asian lande, swa swa þa biscopas
738bædon, began þa feorðan boc be Cristes
739godcundnysse MS: godgundnysse , on Greciscum gereorde,
740& be ðære deopnysse, þe him Drihten awreah þa þa he
741hlinode on his luflicum breoste, on þam ðe wæs behydd se
742heofonlica goldhord.     
743Ðas synd þa feower ean of anum wyllspringe, þe gað of
744Paradisum

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745ofer Godes folc wide: & þas feower
746godspelleras wæron gefyrn getacnode, swa Ezechiel hi geseah,
747Matheus on mannes hiwe, Marcus on
748leon, Lucas on cealfes, Iohannes on earnes, for ðære
749getacnunge þe hig getacnodon.
750Matheus awrat be Cristes menniscnisse, & Marcus, swa swa leo
751hludswege, clipode on þam wildan
752mancynne swilce on westene, & Lucas be þam sacerde Zacharias
753ongann, þe cealf geoffrode on Godes
754onsægednisse, and Iohannes, swa swa earn, þa upplican
755digolnisse mid his scearpum eagum sceawode georne &
756be Cristes godcundnysse MS: godgundnysse his godspell
757gesette.     
758Ðas feower bec kyþað hu Crist com to mannum of Marian
759ðam mædene, middaneardes alysend on þære
760sixtan ylde þissere worulde, be þan ðe þa witegan hit
761gewriton on bocum, on Bethleem birig binnan Iudea
762on Augustes dagum, þæs æðelan caseres, & englas þa
763kyddon his acennednysse mid heofonlicum sange
764fela þusenda.
765ða comon þri ciningas to Criste mid lacum of eastrice
766feorran, & Herodes acwealde ealle þa litlan
767cild, þe on ðam lande wæron, þæt he Crist acwealde, ac he
768ne com him to na, for ðan ðe he mid
769swicdome hine swa sohte; & se yfela cining on yrmþum acweal.
770ða bec us secgað

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771swutelice be Criste, hu he wundra worhte &
772hu he wæs gefullod & hu he apostolas
773geceas, þæt sind ærendracan, twelf on anginne þa þa he
774ærest bodode.
775þa sint gehatene þisum naman on bocum Petrus & Andreas,
776Iacobus & Iohannes Thomas, Matthæus & se
777oðer Iacob, Philippus & Bartholomeus, Tatheus, Simon Cananæus
778& Paulus: ac Paulus wæs gecoren æfter
779Cristes upstige, & Mathias eac mann geceas for Iudan, þe
780Crist belæwde & þa forloren wæs.
781æfter þisum he geceas twa & hundseofonti to his lareowdome
782him to leorningcnihtum, þa he tosende
783geond eall to ælcere birig þider þe he towerd wæs, þæt
784mann wiste his cyme; ac we ne afundon na
785awritene heora naman on bocum.
786He wunode þa mid mannum on þisum middanearde þreo &
787þrittig geara & sumne eacan þærto, & cristendom
788arærde & kydde mid wundrum, swa swa his godspell secgað,
789þæt he Godes sunu ys, þa þa he þa deadan
790menn þurh his mihte arærde, & ælce untrumnysse eaðelice
791gehælde, & he wæter awende to winlicum
792drence, & ofer sæ eode eall drium fotum, & windas gestilde mid
793his wordes hæse, & deofla adræfde of
794gedrehtum wodum, & forgeaf gewitt æfter wodnysse.
795Eft siþþan he þrowode sylfwilles

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796deað on rode ahangen for
797ure alysednysse, & of deaðe aras on þam
798ðriddan dæge, & astah to heofenum to his heofenlican fæder
799gewunnenum sige, & gewylt ealle þing, &
800cymð to demende eallum mancynne on þam micclan dæge, ælcum
801be his dædum.
802Ic secge þis sceortlice, for ðan þe ic gesett hæbbe of
803þisum feower bocum wel feowertig larspella
804on Engliscum gereorde & sumne eacan ðærto, þa þu miht
805rædan be þissere race on maran andgite, ðonne
806ic her secge.     
807ða apostoli gesetton eac swilce larspell to þam leodscipum
808þe to geleafan bugon, þæt hi þurh ða
809mynegunge heora mod getrymdon on Cristes geleafan on þam
810cristendome, ðe þa niwan asprang on þære
811micclan niwan gecyðnysse.
812Petrvs se apostol awrat twegen pistolas, ac hig synd maran
813þonne man æt mæssan ræt, & habbað langne
814tige to geleafan trimminge, & hig synd to bocum getealde on
815þære bibliothecan.
816Iacob se rihtwisa awrat anne pistol micelne on lare mannum to
817understandenne, þam þe æniges
818cristendomes cepað on heora life.
819Iohannes se godspellere, Gode to wurðmynte, gesette ðri
820pistolas, þæt syndon þreo bec mid lufe
821afyllede folce to lare.
822Iudas se apostol awrat anne pistol, na se forlorena Iudas þe
823ðone Hælend belæwde, ac se halga Iudas
824þe him æfre folgode.
825And her sind nu seofon bec on þissere gesetnisse.

page 57

    
826Paulus se apostol awrat manega pistolas, for þan þe Crist
827hine gesette eallum þeodum to lareowe, &
828on soþre eufæstnysse he gesette ða þeawas, ðe þa
829geleafullan folc on heora life healdað, þa þe hig
830sylfe gelogiað & heora lif for Gode.
831Fiftyne pistolas awrat se an apostol to þam leodscipum, þe
832he to geleafan gebigde; þa syndon micele
833bec on þære bibliothecan & þa fremiað us to ure rihtinge,
834gif we þæs leoda lareowes lare folgiað.
835He awrat to þam Romaniscum anne, to Corinthios ii, eac to
836Galathas anne, to Ephesios anne, to
837Philipenses anne, to Thesalonicenses twegen, to Colosenses
838anne, eac to Ebreos anne, & to his agenum
839discipulum Timotheum twegen, & Titum anne, to Philemonem anne,
840to Laodicenses anne; ealles fiftyne,
841swa hlude swa ðunor, geleafullum folcum.     
842Be þam ic wille secgan sume feawa word; ærest be ðam
843Hælende, hu he us lærde on his halgan
844godspelle, þa þe hine lufiað: Si diligitis me, mandata mea
845seruate, & cetera : Gif ge lufiað me, healdað
846mine beboda.
847Se þe me lufað, he healt mine spræce & min Fæder hine
848lufað & wit cumað to him & mid him wuniað
849witodlice syððan; se þe me ne lufað, ne healt he na mine
850spræce.
851Her we magon gehiran, þæt se Hælend lufað swiðor þa
852dæde þonne þa

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853smeðan word: þa word gewitað & þa weorc standað.
854Be þam cwæð Iacob, se rihtwisa apostol: Estote factores
855uerbi & non auditores tantum fallentes
856uosmet ipsos : Beoð þæs wordes wircendras witodlice mid
857dædum & eow sylfe ne bepæcað, swa þæt ge
858hlyston þa word ana butan þam weorcum.
859Eall swa Iohannes us lærde þisum wordum: Filioli mei, non
860diligamus uerbo neque lingua, sed opere
861& ueritate : Mine leofan bearn, ne lufige we, ic bidde, mid
862worde & mid tungan, ac mid weorce &
863soðfæstnysse.
864Paulus se apostol be ðam ylcan cwæð: Qui dicunt se nosse
865Dominum, factis autem negant : Hi secgað,
866þæt hig cunnon þone soðan God, ac hig mid heora weorcum
867hine wiðsacað.
868Se man, þe behet geswicennysse yfeles & his wedd to þam
869sylð & awend þæt eft, hu mæg he ðonne
870habban þæs Hælendes fultum, se þe gesihð and gesceawað
871his heortan, þæt he wylle awendan his word eft wið hine?
872Ac man mot on eornost motian wið his Drihten, se þe wyle
873þæt we sprecon mid weorcum wið hine; for
874þan se ðe wel spricð & þa word na gelæst, he ne deð nan
875þingc buton fordemð hine sylfne.     
876Lucas se godspellere, se ðe wæs læce on life, gesette twa
877bec urum

page 59

878saulum to hæle: an ys seo
879Cristes boc; oþer ys gecweden þus, Actus Apostolorum ,
880þæt ys on Engliscre spræce, þæra apostola dæda,
881þe hi dydon ætgædere, & hu hi siððan toferdon to fyrlenum
882eardum, swa swa se Hælend bebead on his
883halgum godspelle, þæt hig ealle leoda læran sceoldon &
884gebigan to geleafan mid heora bodunge.
885Petrus bodode on Antiochian byrig, & þær wæron ærest
886gecwedene cristene men þurh hine, & he ferde
887siððan swiþe fus to Rome, & þær bodode þære burhwure
888geleafan fif and twentig wintra mid wundrum &
889tacnum, oð þæt se casere Nero hine acwealde on rode.
890Paulus ferde wide geond þas woruld bodiende manegum
891leodscipum, oð þæt he on last becom in to Rome
892byrig & þær eac bodode.
893& Nero het þa hine beheafdian on þam ylcan dæge, þe he
894aheng Petrum.
895Andreas bodode on Achaian lande & on Scithian, & he syððan
896wearð on rode ahangen for þæs Hælendes
897naman.
898Iacob se gingra, þe wæs Iohannes broþor, bodode þam
899Iudeiscum þe wæron tostengte, þam twelf mægðum,
900tacna wircende, oð þæt Herodes cyning hine beheafdode.
901Iohannes his broðor bodode on Asia, on easteweardan worulde,
902& he ne

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903wearð na ofslagen, ac æfter
904manegum wundrum he gewat to Criste, þa þa he on ylde wæs
905nygan & hundnygontig wintra.
906Philippus bodode þam hæðenum folce wið þære sæ sylfre,
907& he siððan gewat to Hærapolim & wearð þa
908geendod.
909Thomas bodode on Parthon & Medon & on Yrcaniam , oð þæt
910he com to Indian & þær wearð ofslagen for
911þone soðan geleafan.
912Bartholomeus bodode on Indian, on þære fyrran Indian, &
913þær wearð ofslagen.
914Matheus bodode on Ethiopian lande, þæt synd þa Silhearwan,
915& se kining hine ofsloh, na se gelyfeda,
916ac se ungeleaffulla.
917Iacob se rihtwisa wunode on þam lande binnan Hierusalem
918bodiende geleafan oð þæt þa Iudeiscan hine
919acwealdon.
920Simon & Iudas samod wæron gemartyrode on Persida lande for
921Cristes geleafan, on ðam þe hi bodedon &
922biscopas gehadedon on heora twelf scirum, oð þæt man hig
923ofsloh.
924Mathias bodode on Iudea lande, se þe wæs gecoren on Iudan
925stede, þæt þæra apostola getel wurde
926gefylled.
927Ealra þissera apostola geendunge ic hæbbe awriten buton
928Mathian anes, þe ic ofacsian ne mihte: ða
929ge mihton rædan & eow aræman on þam, gif ge holde wæron
930eowrum agenum sawlum.

page 61

    
931Iohannes leofode on þisum life heora lengst, & he awrat þa
932boc on his wræcsiðe Apocalipsis
933gehaten, þæt ys onwrigennyss, þe him Crist geswutelode on
934his gastlican gesihþe be þam Hælende sylfum &
935his gelaðunge & be domes dæge & be þam deoflican Antecriste
936& be þam æriste to þam ecan life; & þeos
937boc ys æftemyst on ðære bibliothecan.     
938Ic mæg þe secgan git sum þing be Iohanne, þæt þu wylt
939gelyfan, þæt he mid weorcum spræc to sumum
940cnihte, swa swa us kyð seo racu, ðone he lufode, & him eac
941swa gelæste.
942Hieronimus se wurþfulla & se wisa bocere, þe ure
943bibliothecan gebrohte to Ledene of Greciscum bocum
944& of Ebreiscum, he awrat be Iohanne þam halgan godspellere,
945Cristes modrian sunu, on þære
946circlican bec Ecclesiastica Hystoria , þus cweðende be
947him: Audi fabulam, non fabulam sed rem gestam de
948Iohanne apostolo, & cetera .
949Gehyr ðu þas race, na swilce lease sagu, ac geworden þing
950be Iohanne ðam apostole & swiþe
951gemyndelic eallum geleaffullum þe on ealdum dagum be him
952gedon wæs.
953Domicianus hatte se deoflica casere, þe æfter Nerone þa
954reðan ehtnyssa besette on þam cristenum, &
955hi acwealde mid witum.
956Se het genyman þone halgan apostol & on weallendum ele he het
957hine baðian, for ðan þe se hata ele
958gæð in to ðam bane; & him wæs eaðgete ele to

page 62

959þam baðe.
960Hig gebrohton þa Iohannem binnan þære cyfe on þam
961weallendan ele; ac he wearð gescild þurh Godes
962mihte & mid halum lichaman of þam baðe eode, swa swa he
963unwemme wæs fram flæsclicum lustum & fulre
964galnysse.
965æfter þisum gehet se hetola casere, for ðan ðe Iohannes
966nolde his bodunge geswican, þæt man hine
967gebrohte binnan anum igoðe feor on wræcsiðe, Pathmos
968gehaten, & he þær wunode, oð þæt þæs caseres
969witan heora hlaford ofslogon, swa swa him eallum gewearð, for
970his wælhreownysse & his gewittleaste, &
971þa witan þa demdon þæt eall wurde aidlod, & mid ealle
972awend, swa hwæt swa he wolde mid his yfelan
973ræde ær þam gefremman.
974Wearð þa eft gelangod se geleaffulla apostol of þam iglande
975ham to Ephesan byrig, þær þær he
976wununge hæfde, Godes wundra wyrcende & þæt folc lærende to
977geleafan simble.
978ða æfter sumum fyrste ferde se apostol, swa swa he gelaðod
979wæs þurh þa geleaffullan, to gehendum
980burgum bodigende geleafan & þæt he circean arærde on
981gehwilcum scirum, þær þær ær ðam næron, & he eac
982þa gesette mid gehadodum preostum, be þam þe se Halga Gast
983him simble gewissode, swa swa us segð
984seo racu.
985He becom þa to anre birig, swa swa he gebeden wæs, gehende
986Ephesan, & þær bisceop gehadode, & þa
987circlican þeawas him

page 63

988sylf þær getæhte þam gehadodum
989preostum, ðe he þær gelogode, & mid micelre mærþe
990þæt mennisc þær lærde to Godes geleafan mid glædre
991heortan.     
992ða geseah Iohannes sumne cniht on þam folce iunglicre
993ylde & ænlices hiwes, stranglic on wæstme &
994wenlic on nebbe, swiðe glæd on mode & on anginne caf, &
995begann to lufienne on his liðum þeawum þone
996iungan cniht þæt he hine Criste gestrynde.
997ða beseah Iohannes swa upp to þam bisceope, þe ða niwan
998wæs gehadod, & him þus to cwæð: Wite þu la
999bisceop, þæt ic wille þæt þu hæbbe þisne iungan man mid
1000þe on þinre lare æt ham, & ic hine þe
1001befæste mid healicre gecneordnisse on Cristes gewitnysse &
1002þissere gelaðunge.
1003Hwæt, þa se bisceop bliðelice underfeng þone foresædan
1004cniht, & sæde þæt he wolde his gimene habban
1005mid geornfulnysse, swa he him bebead, on his wununge mid him.
1006Iohannes þa eft geedleahte his word & gelome bebead þam
1007bisceope mid hæsum, þæt he þone iungan
1008cniht gewissian sceolde to ðam halgan geleafan, & he ham þa
1009gewende eft to Efesan birig to his
1010bisceopstole.
1011Se bisceop þa underfeng, swa swa him beboden wæs, þone
1012iungan cniht, & him Cristes lare dæghwamlice
1013tæhte & hine deorwurðlice heold, oð þæt he hine
1014gefullode mid fullum truwan þæt he geleafful wære,
1015& he wunode

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1016swa mid him on arwurðnysse, oð þæt se bisceop
1017hine let faran be his wille, wende þæt
1018he sceolde on Godes gife þurhwunian on gastlicum þeawum.
1019He geseah þa sona þæt he his sylfes geweold on ungeripedum
1020freodome & unstaððigum þeawum, & begann
1021þa to lufienne leahtras to swiðe & fela unðeawas mid his
1022efenealdum cnihtum, þe unrædlice ferdon on
1023heora idelum lustum on gewemmednyssum & wolicum gebærum.
1024He & his geferan þa begunnon to lufienne þa micclan
1025druncennisse on nihtlicum gedwylde, & hig þa
1026hine on gebrohton þæt he begann to stelenne on heora gewunan,
1027& he gewenede swa hine sylfne simble to
1028heora synlicum þeawum & to marum morðdædum mid þam
1029manfullum flocce.
1030He genam þa heardlice þurh heora lare on his orþance þa
1031egeslican dæda, & swa swa modig hors þe
1032ungemidlod byð & nele gehirsumian þam ðe him on uppan sitt,
1033swa ferde se cniht on his fracedum dædum,
1034& on morðdædum micclum gestrangod on orwennysse his agenre
1035hæle, swa þæt he ortruwode on his
1036drihtnys mildheortnysse, & his mildheortnysse, & his fulluhtes
1037ne rohte, þe he underfangen hæfde.
1038Him þuhte þa to waclic þæt he wolde gefremman þa
1039læssan leahtras, ac he leornode æfre maran &
1040maran on his manfulnysse & ne let

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1041nanne his gelican on yfele.
1042He ne geþafode þa, þæt he underþeod wære yfelum gegadum,
1043þe hine ær forlærdon, ac wolde beon yldest
1044on þam yfelan flocce & geworhte his geferan to wealdgengum
1045ealle on widgillum dunum on ealre
1046hreownysse.
1047Eft þa æfter fyrste ferde se apostol to þære foresædan
1048byrig, ðe se bisceop on wunode, þe þone
1049cniht hæfde on his gimene æror, swa swa Iohannes het, & he
1050hine befæste & he swiðe bliðe wæs æt þam
1051bisceopstole, syððan he gedon hæfde his Drihtenes þenunga
1052& þa ðing gefyllede, þe he fore gelaþod wæs.
1053He cwæð þa anrædlice: Eala þu la bisceop, gebring me nu
1054ætforan þæt þæt ic ðe befæste on mines
1055Drihtnes truwan, & on þære gewitnysse, þe ðu wissian
1056scealt on þissere gelaðunge.
1057He wearð þa ablicged & wende þæt he bæde sumes oþres
1058sceattes oððe sumes feos, þæs þe he ne
1059underfeng fram þam apostole; ac he eft beðohte, þæt se
1060eadiga Iohannes him leogan nolde, ne hine þæs
1061biddan þæt he ær ne befæste, & he forhtmod wafode.
1062Iohannes þa geseah þæt he sæt ablicged, & cwæð him eft
1063þus to: Ic bidde æt þe nu þæs iungan
1064cnihtes, þe ic þe befæste, and þæs broþor sawle þe me
1065besorh ys.
1066ða begann se ealda incuðlice siccettan & mid wope wearð

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1067witodlice ofergoten, & cwæð to Iohanne: He,
1068leof, ys nu dead.
1069ða befran Iohannes færlice, & cwæð: Hu ys he la dead
1070oððe hwilcum deaðe?
1071He cwæð him eft þus to andsware: He is Gode dead, for þan
1072þe he leahterfull & geleafleas ætbærst, &
1073he ys geworden nu to wealdgengan & þæra sceaðena ealdor,
1074þe he him sylf gegaderode, & wunað on
1075anre dune mid manegum sceaþum, þam þe he nu ys ealdor &
1076heretoga.
1077Hwæt, þa Iohannes mid ormætre geomerunge cwehte his heafod,
1078& cwæð to þam bisceope: Godne hyrde let
1079ic þe, þæt þu þæs broðor sawle heolde; ac beo me nu
1080gegearcod an gerædod hors & latteow þæs weges
1081þe lið to þam sceaðum.
1082& man him sona funde, þæs þe he frimdig wæs, & he fram
1083þære ciricean sona swiðe efste, oð þæt he
1084geseah þæra sceaþena fær, & to þam weardmannum witodlice
1085becom.
1086ða gelæhton þa weardmen his wealdleðer fæste, þæt he
1087mid fleame huru ne ætburste; ac he nolde him
1088ætfleon ne nanes fleames cepan, ac he clypode ofer eall: Ic
1089com me sylf to eow; alædað me nu to
1090butan late eowerne ealdor.
1091Hig clipodon þa mid þam þone cniht him raðe to, þe hira
1092heafodman wæs, & he com þa gewæmnod, & he
1093mid sceame wearð sona ofergoten, þa þa he oncneow þone

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1094Cristes apostol, & began to fleonne fram his
1095andweardnysse.
1096Iohannes ða heow þæt hors mid þam spuran & wearð him
1097æfterweard & his ylde ne gimde, clypode þa
1098hlude & cwæð to þam fleondum: Eala þu min sunu, hwi flihst
1099þu þinne fæder?
1100Hwi flihst ðu þisne ealdan & ungewæpnodan ?
1101Ne ondræd þe la earming; git þu hæfst lifes hiht.
1102Ic wille agildan gescead for þinre sawle Criste & ic lustlice
1103wille min lif for þe syllan, swa swa
1104se Hælend sealde hine sylfne for us, & mine sawle ic sille
1105for þinre.
1106ætstand huru nu, & gehyr þas word, & gelyf þæt se Hælend
1107me asende to þe.
1108þa ætstod se wealdgenga, syþþan he þas word gehirde, &
1109aleat to eorðan mid eallum lichama, &
1110awearp his wæmna & weop swiðe biterlice, & he bifiende feoll
1111to Iohannes fotum mid geomerunge &
1112þoterunge mid tearum ofergoten, biddende miltsunge be þam
1113ðe he mihte, & behydde his swiðran hand ofsceamod
1114forðearle for þære morðdæde þe he gedon hæfde, & for
1115þam manslihte þe he sloh mid þære handa.
1116Ða swor se apostol, þæt he soðlice wolde him mildsunge
1117begitan æt þam mildheortan Hælende, & eac he
1118sylf aleat to him, & gelæhte his swiþran, for ðære þe he
1119ofdrædd wæs for his morðdædum, & alædde
1120hine aweg wepende to

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1121circean, & for hine gebæd mid
1122broðorlicre lufe, swa swa he him behet, to þam
1123Hælende gelome, & eac mid fæste fela daga on an, oð þæt
1124he him mildsunge beget æt þam mildheortan Criste.
1125He hine frefrode eac mid his fægera lare & his afyrhte mod
1126swiþe fægerlice mid his frofre
1127geliðewæhte, þæt he ne wurde ormod, & he nateshwon ne
1128geswac, ær þan þe his sawul wæs wiðinnan gegladod
1129þurh þone Halgan Gast & he mildsunge hæfde ealra his
1130misdæda.
1131He hine hadode eac to þæs Hælendes þeowdome; ac us ne
1132segð na seo racu to hwam he hine sette, buton
1133þæt he sealde soðe gebysnunge eallum dædbetendum, þe to
1134Drihtene gecyrrað, þæt hig magon arisan ,
1135gif hig rædfæste beoð, fram heora sawle deaþe & fram heora
1136synna bendum, & heora Scippend gladian
1137mid soðre dædbote, & habban þæt ece lif mid þam leofan
1138Hælende se þe a rixað on ecnysse.
1139Amen.     
1140We habbað nu gesæd be ðam circlicum bocum on þære
1141ealdan æ & eac on þære CRAWFORD: þare niwan: ða
1142synd þa twa gecyðnyssa be Cristes menniscnysse & be þære
1143halgan þrinnysse on soðre annysse, swa Isaias geseah on
1144his gastlican gesihðe, hu God sylf gesæt & him sungon abutan
1145duo seraphin , þæt sind twa engla werod:
1146Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus,

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1147Dominus Deus Sabaoth , þæt ys
1148on Englisc: Halig, halig, halig, Drihten
1149weroda God.
1150Mid his wuldre ys afylled eall eorðan bradnisse.
1151ða twa seraphin soðlice getacnodon þa ealdan
1152gekyðnysse & eac þa niwan, þe heriað mid wordum & mid
1153weorcum æfre þone ælmihtigan God, se þe ana rixað on anre
1154godcundnysse MS: godgundnysse butan anginne & ende.
1155ða lareowas, þe nellað heora lare nyman of þisum halgum
1156bocum, ne heora gebysnunga, þa beoð swilce
1157lareowas, swa swa Crist sylf sæde: Cecus si ceco ducatum
1158prestet, ambo in foueam cadent .
1159Gif se blinda man byð þæs blindan latteow, þonne
1160befeallað hi begen on sumne blindne seað.
1161ða lareowas þe willað heora lare nyman of þisum halgum
1162bocum & heora gebysnunga ge of þære ealdan
1163gekiðnisse ge of þære niwan, þa beoð swilce lareowas, swa
1164swa Crist eft sylf cwæð: Omnis scriba
1165doctus in regno celorum similis est homini patrifamilias, qui
1166profert de thesauro suo noua & uetera :
1167ælc gelæred bocere on Godes gelaðunge ys gelic þam
1168hlaforde, þe forlæt simble of his agenum
1169goldhorde ealde þing & niwe.     
1170Twa & hundseofontig boca sind on bibliothecan, for þan þe
1171hig

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1172sume sind tosette on twa for heora
1173langnysse on geleafulre ciricean: þæt mæg sceawian þe ða
1174gesetnisse cann.
1175& swa fela þeoda wurdon todælede æt þære wundorlican
1176byrig, þe þa entas woldon wircean mid gebeote
1177æfter Noes flode, ær þan ðe hi toferdon.
1178And swa fela leorningcnihta asende ure Hælend mancinne to
1179bodienne þæra boca lare mid þam
1180cristendome, þe þa com on þas woruld þurh ðone Hælend
1181sylfne & þurh his bydelas.
1182Syndon swa þeah gesette oðre bec ðurh halige lareowas, þe
1183man hæfð wide gehwær on cristendome
1184Criste to lofe.     
1185& seo sixte yld þissere worulde stynt fram Criste astreht
1186oþ domes dæg eallum mannum ungewiss, ac
1187hit wat se Hælend.
1188Seo seofoðe yld ys þe yrnð mid þisum sixum fram Abele þam
1189rihtwisan oð þissere worulde ende, na on
1190lybbendum mannum, ac on forðfarenum sawlum on þam oðrum
1191life, þær þær hig blissiað andbidiende git
1192þæs ecan lifes þonne hig arisað, swa swa we ealle sceolon,
1193of deaðe gesunde urum Drihtene togeanes.
1194Seo eahteoðe yld ys se an eca dæg æfter urum æriste,
1195þonne we rixiað mid Gode on sawle & on
1196lichaman on ecere sælþe, & ne biþ nan ende þæs anes
1197dæges, þonne þa halgan scinað swa swa seo sunne deð nu.

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1198Hu mæg se man wel faran, ðe his mod awent fram eallum
1199þisum bocum & bið him swa anwille, þæt him
1200leofre bið, þæt he lybbe æfre be his agenum dihte ascired
1201fram þisum, swilce he ne cunne Cristes
1202gesetnyssa?
1203Moyses us lærde, se mæra witega, on his gesetnissum þus
1204secgende eallum: Interroga patrem tuum &
1205adnuntiabit tibi, maiores tuos, & dicent tibi, & cetera ;
1206þæt ys on Englisc: Acsa þinne fæder embe
1207ðone soþan God & he þe kyð be him; befrin þine yldran &
1208hig þe secgað.
1209Gif þu nelt witan & beon gewissod her, þu scealt leornian
1210ðær þe laþre bið on egeslicum witum, ðæt
1211þu wite þonne hwæne þu forsawe & hwæs gesetnysse.
1212Witan sceoldon smeagan mid wislicum geþeahte, þonne on
1213mancinne to micel yfel bið, hwilc þæra
1214stelenna þæs cinestoles wære tobrocen, & betan þone sona.
1215Se cinestol stynt on þisum þrim stelum: laboratores,
1216bellatores, oratores .
1217Laboratores sind þe us bigleofan tiliað, yrðlingas &
1218æhte men to þam anum betæhte.
1219Oratores syndon þe us þingiað to Gode & cristendom
1220fyrðriað on cristenum folcum on Godes þeowdome
1221to ðam gastlican gewinne, to þam anum betæhte us eallum to
1222þearfe.

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1223Bellatores sindon þe ure burga healdað & eac urne eard,
1224wið þone sigendne here feohtende mid
1225wæmnum, swa swa Paulus sæde, se þeoda lareow, on his
1226lareowdome: Non sine causa portat miles gladium,
1227& cetera , Ne byrð na se cniht butan intingan his swurd.
1228He ys Godes þen þe sylfum to þearfe on ðam yfelum
1229wyrcendum to wræce gesett.
1230On þisum þrim stelum stynt se cynestol, & gif an bið forud,
1231he fylð adun sona þam oðrum stelum to
1232unþearfe gewiss.
1233Ac hwæt gebyrað us embe þis to smeagenne?
1234þis sceolon smeagan þe þæs giman sceolon.     
1235Se rihtwisa God lufað rihte domas; ac medsceattas awendað
1236wolice to oft þa rihtan domas ongean
1237Drihtenes willan, & seo yfelnyss becymð ofer eallum folce,
1238þær ðær se unþeaw orsorhlice rixað.
1239Se þe Godes þegen bið, sceolde deman rihtlice butan ælcum
1240medsceatte mid soðfæstnysse; þonne
1241wurðode he God mid þam godan þeawe & his med wære micel
1242for Gode, se ðe leofað & rixað a to worulde.
1243Amen.     
1244Ic wolde secgan be þam ungesæligum folce, be þam
1245Iudeiscum, þe urne Drihten ahengon, ac ic wolde
1246ærest secgan þæt þæt ic gesæd hæbbe.
1247Manega ðær gelyfdon of þam mancinne on Crist, ac se

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1248mæsta dæl þæs mancinnes nolde on hine gelyfan
1249and losodon for ði.
1250Him becomon fela yrmða æfter Cristes þrowunge on eallum
1251ungelimpum, & ofslagenne wurdon fela þæs
1252folces mid færlicum onræsum.
1253& hi acwealdon Cristes apostolas þone gingran Iacob & þone
1254rihtwisan Iacob, & Stephanum oftorfedon
1255mid heardum stanum, & heora yfel geeacnodon him sylfum to
1256unþearfe & noldon besargian þæs Hælendes
1257slege ne mid nanre dædbote his mildse biddan.
1258ða sende he him to sillice tacna & siððan hergunge þurh
1259þa Romaniscan.
1260Vespassianus wæs casere on þam timan; se asende him to his
1261sunu Titum mid micelre fyrde þæs
1262Romaniscan folces & besæt heora burh, oð þæt hi swulton
1263hungre & mann awearp þa lic for þan laþlican
1264stence ut ofer ðone weall, & ne mihton nateshwon for heora
1265mægenleaste þa meniu bewerian.
1266Hi cuwon heora girdlas & gærs æton georne, & ælc læhte of
1267oðrum, gif he hwæt litles hæfde, & ðone
1268mete of þam muðe swiþe unmægðlice, & reaferas urnon geond
1269ealle þa burh & smealice sohton mid
1270swiþlicum ðreate þone behiddan mete on heora hordcleofan,
1271& beoton ælcne man þe ænig þing hæfde, gif he
1272heora wodnisse wolde wiðcweðan.
1273Nys us na to secgenne þone sceamlica

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1274morð þe þær gedon wæs, ac hi wurdon adydde mid þam hatan
1275hungre, fela hund manna þæs ærman mennisces, ma þonne we
1276secgan willað, & þa reaferas siþþan ofsloh ælc
1277oðerne, & seo burh wearð gewyld & toworpen grundlunga, swa
1278se Hælend sæde ær his þrowunge.
1279Of þam iungum cnihtum, þe comon of ðam hungre, on eallum
1280þam lande hi alæddon aweg to wircenne
1281godeweb, swa swa hi wæron getogenne , & of þam cnapum ys
1282þæt kynn git gehwær, & þis wæs þæt edlean heora
1283yfelan dæda & eac hellewite, þæt þæt him hefegore ys.     
1284Nu miht þu wel witan, þæt weorc sprecað swiþor þonne
1285þa nacodan word, þe nabbað nane fremminge.
1286Is swa þeah god weorc on þam godan wordum, þonne man
1287oðerne lærð & to geleafan getrimð mid þære
1288soþan lare, & þonne mann wisdom sprecð manegum to þearfe &
1289to rihtinge, þæt God si geherod, se þe a rixað.
1290Amen.     
1291Ðu woldest me laðian, þa þa ic wæs mid þe, þæt ic
1292swiðor drunce swilce for blisse ofer minum
1293gewunan: ac wite þu, leof man, þæt se þe oðerne neadað
1294ofer his mihte to drincenne, þæt se mot aberan heora begra
1295gilt , gif him ænig hearm of þam drence becymð.

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1296Vre Hælend Crist on his halgan godspelle forbead þone
1297oferdrenc eallum gelyfedum mannum: healde se
1298ðe wille his gesetnysse.
1299& þa halgan lareowas æfter þam Hælende aledon þone unðeaw
1300þurh heora lareowdom & tæhton þæt man
1301drince swa swa him ne derede, for ðan þe se oferdrenc fordeð
1302untwilice þæs mannes sawle & his
1303gesundfullnysse, & unhæl becymð of þam drence.     
1304Locahwa þas boc awrite, write hig be þære bysne, & for
1305Godes lufon hi gerihte, þæt heo to leas ne
1306beo þam writere to plihte & me to tale.