king and thus vnto him say My lord O king didst thou not make an oth to me for aye That Salomon my sonne should sit vpon thy kingly seate And now thy sonne Adonia thereof doth him defeate And while thou talkest with the king about thy sonne alone I will come after and confirme thy sayings eury one So Bethsabe to Dauid went into his chamber bolde Where Abisag was ministring because the king was olde She bowing downe with reuerence and great humilitie He then demaunded what the cause of her repayre should be My lord quod she thou didst loÌ„g since vnto thine haÌ„dmaid sweare That Salomon should after thée as king the scepter beare And now beholde Adonia he is proclaymed king And thou my lord vnto this houre not priuy to the thing His Oxen are all offred vp his shéepe and cattell fat And hath both Ioab and his priest Abiathar thereat And all thy sonnes be there with him saue Salomon alone With many other mightie men that vnto him are gone And now my lorde the eyes of all the people Israel WhoÌ„ thou wilt haue succéede do looke that thou thy self should tel For els when that my lord doth rest both Salomon and I We shall trausgressours counted be as worthy so to dye And while she thus stoode with the king debating to and fro The Prophet Nathan commeth in his pleasure for to know And when he had with reuerence obeisance duely made He told his tale and with the king gan wisely to perswade My lord O king hast thou commaunde or so ordeined it That after thée Adonia vpon thy seate shall sit For he hath made his kingly feast and thereto hath he bid Thy sonnes Capteins of the hoast which thing to thée is hid Abiathar with many mo in bankets cheerefully God saue our king Adonia God saue our king they cry But me and Sadoch that good priest nor Salomon thy sonne Nor yet Banaia they cald to this they haue begonne Is this the kings good pleasure now and made to me so dim That of my lord I may not know who shall reigne after him Then Dauid called Bethsabe and thus vnto her sware As God doth liue who hath me rid from trouble and from care Assure thy selfe that Salomon thy sonne shall after me Sit on the seate of Israel and thereof king shall be The Quéene then yéelding harty thanks bowing him before To God she prayde that he might reigne and liue for euermore The king did call Banaia and Sadoch to him than And Nathan to and then his minde to breake he thus began Go forth and take with you my men and set vp Salomon Upon the mule whereon I rid and leade him to Gihon And there let Sadoch him annoint with truÌ„pets blowing braue And then with trumpets do you cry king Salomon God saue Then come you all and follow him and set him on my throne For I haue sworne and do appoynt he shall be king alone Amen then said Banaia the liuing Lorde permit That on thy seate a happy king he many dayes may sit And as the Lord hath bene with thée so let him giue his streÌ„gth Unto the seate of Salomon and stretch it more in length So they departed from the king and set vp Salomon vpon the Mule as they were bid and brought him to Gihon Where Sadoch then anoynted him and vp the trumpets blow God saue our lord king Salomon the peoples voyce doth go And comming after him with pipes they ioyfully do sing Whose sound of voyce instrumeÌ„ts made all the earth to ring The voyce was such that it did come to Adonias place And made his gests to turne chaunge the colour in their face But Ioab gan to stirre said what meanes this passing noyse Of trumpet blowing in the towne and sound of men boyes He had no sooner spoke the word but in came Ionathan Who in the presence of them all to tell him newes began Our lord and king assuredly vpon some weightie thing Hath caused Salomon his sonne to be proclaymed king They haue him brought on Dauids Mule to Gihon regally Where Sadoch hath annoynted him our king and lord to be Wher at the people shoute for ioy that he shall ore them reigne Which is the noyse sounde ye heare of him and all his trayne And furthermore the people hath giuen thanks to Dauid great And pray to God the sonne may passe the father in his seate The king likewise hath praysed God whose mercy brought to pas That in his seate before he dyed his sonne inuested was Then all the gestes Adonia had feasted that same day Were sore afrayde and made great haste to rise and get away And he him selfe as one that feard the sight of Salomon Did flée and catch the Aulters hornes to saue him selfe thereon Then one comes vnto Salomon and humbly doth begin To tell the daunger and the feare Adonia is in Add makes request that he would sweare promise by his word That he would not his seruaunt put that day vnto the sword If that he may quod Salomon to me be faythfull founde No haire that is vpon his head shall fall vnto the grounde But if I finde vntruth in him or wickednes espye He may make his account thereof that he shall surely dye So béeing brought to Salomon he did him selfe submit And home was sent vnto his house there quietly to sit Now came the time that Dauid should passe froÌ„ this world away Wherfore he called Salomon and thus gan to him say My time drawes on for me to dye and passe an other way Shew thou thy selfe a man therfore and on the Lord thée stay Kéepe thou his watch with careful eye walke in al his waies That thou in all thy good attempts mayst prosper all thy daies So shall the Lord make good his worde promise firmely laide Unto his seruaunt long ago when thus to me he saide If that thy children take good héede and guyde their steps aright And walke before me in the truth with all their heart might Then shalt thou neuer want a man to sit vpon thy throne To rule and gouerne Israel when thou art dead and gone And furthermore thou knowest right well how Ioab serued me And with a couple how he dealt farre better men then he How Amasa and Abner to he falsly did betray And shed their blood most cruelly and cast them both away Deale thou therfore with Ioab as thy wisdome shall increase And let not his hore head be brought downe to the graue in peace But let the sonnes of Berzella be at thy table fed For they came to me when away from Absalon I fled Thou hast with thée one Semei a man of Bahurim Who curst me all the way I went vnto Mahanaim But yet at my returne he came and brought me home agayne Wheras I made an othe to him that he should not be slayne Yet shalt thou not him giltlesse count but by thy wisdome good Sée that his hore head downe be brought vnto the graue with blood Thus now wheÌ„ Dauid in his reigne had runne out al his race His soule departed vnto God and left his sonne in place FINIS Cap. 17. Isai sent Dauid to releue his brethreÌ„ but God sent him for the deliuerance of Israel Cap. 18. The vnmoueable loue of Ionathas and Dauid Cap. 19. The firste profe of Ionathas fidelitie to Dauid The faithfâ—nnesse of Michol to her husband Dauid â—he secondeâ—â—ofe of Ioâ—â—thas ' fideâ—â—tie Cap. 21. Now Dauid feigned him selfe to be madde The Priests of Nob are slayne Cap. 23. Dauid saued the towne of Keilah The thirde profe of Ionathas fidelitie Cap. 24. The great gentlenes of Dauid compelled Saul his enemy to yéelde Cap. 25. Of the churlish parte of Nabal Cap. 26. Of Dauids faythfulnes to Saul Cap. 28. Cap. 29. 2. Regum Cap. 1. Here Saul is slayne Cap. 2. Cap. 3. Cap. 4. Here Isboseth is slaine trayterously Cap. 5. Dauid is annoynted king Cap. 6. Michol despiseth Dauid for dauncing before the Arke Cap. 7. Dauids prayer Cap. 8. The victorie that God gaue to Dauid ouer the Philistines and other straunge nations Cap. 9. The restoring of Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathas Micah was Miphiboseths sonne Cap. 10. Cap. 11. Dauid committeth adultery and homicide Cap. 12. Dauid is reproued for his adultery and homicide A rare example in a Capteine The ingratitude of the Ammonites punished Cap. 13. Ammon rauisheth his sister Thamar Ionadab was the sonne of Simeah Dauids brother Ammon is slayne Thalmai was the king of Gesur father to Maacha Absolons mother Cap. 14. Cap. 15. Absalon aspireth to the kingdome Dauid flieth froÌ„ his sonne Absalon The fidelitie of Ithai the sonne of Achis king of Geth as some do write Sadoch foloweth after Dauid with the Arke is sent backe agayne Chusai commeth to Dauid who sendeth him to Absalon Cap. 16. Ziba coÌ„meth to Dauid to deceiue Miphiboseth his master Semei curseth Dauid Achitophels counsell agaynst Dauid Chusai ouerthroweth the counsell of Achitophel Ahimaas Ionathan are hid in a well Cap. 18. Achitophel hangeth him selfe Dauid mouâ—â—neth for his sonne Absalon Cap. 19. The wilines of Semei Miphiboseth meeteth the king in Ierusalem Berselai méeteth king Dauid A strife betwéene the men of Israel and the men of Iuda for king Dauid Cap. 20. Seba maketh an insurrectioÌ„ against Dauid Dauid shutteth vp his Concubines Ioab slue Amasa some think he did it for that Amasa tooke parte with Absalon and that Dauid had made him captein generall in his stead Cap. 21. The dearth that fell in Dauids time Cap. 22. Dauid for his victories prayseth God. Cap. 23. Here Dauid numbreth his people Dauid is plagued for numbring his people 3. Regum Cap. 1. Adonia aspireth to the kingdome Salomon is proclaymed king Cap. 2.
vexed him full often times and did him so molest That for the time of all his wittes he was quite dispossest Which gréeued sore his men to sée wherefore they gan to say Behold how this most wicked wight doth hauÌ„t thée day by day Let there be sought a cunning man of good and perfect skill On harpe or other instrument some comfort bring it will. Prouide me then of such a one go search both â—arre and nere Where that the best is to be had and bring him to me here Then one did say that Isai had a sonne that did excell In musike and vpon the harpe he played passing well A strong and valiaunt man of warre well made of bone lim Excéeding wise in his affayres and hath the Lorde with him Then sent the king and made request that Isai would him send His yongest sonne that on his shéepe and shepefold did attend Who at the kings commaundement prepared therewithall A simple present with his sonne and sent him vnto Saul So Dauid serued now the king and in the Court remaynd Where he was well accept of Saul and gently entertaynd His harnesse bearer he became The king sent once agayne To Isai that Dauid should with him a while remayne Then Dauid great atendance gaue vpon his master Saul To be at hande if that the sprite should chaunce on him to fall As now and then it came to passe then Dauid gan to play Upon his harpe so pleasauntly that soone it went away Now after this the Philistines came with a mightie hoast To warre agaynst the Israelites pitcht in Dammims coast Then Saul the king of Israel them to resist he goes And camped in the vale of Oke in sight of all his foes The Philistines stoodâ— on an hill the Israelites were séene To stand vpon an other hill a valley them betweene And while the hoast stoode at a stay a Philistine came downe Into the bottome of the vale a strong and mighty clowne His name it hight Goly of Gath so bigge and huge a man As was in length from top to toe six cubites and a span An helmet on his head he had of hard and massy brasse A coate of male vpon his backe of passing weight it was A shield bootes of brasse likewise which he was woÌ„t to weare And scarsly could a weauers beame well couÌ„terpeise his speare Now hauing one to beare his shield and waite vpon the same Agaynst the hoast of Israel with voyce he gan proclame Why come ye out in battayle ray behold I am but one Send out a man that dare assay to fight with me alone If he do beate me in this place then we will all be yours If I preuayle with force and might then you shall all be ours This day the hoast of Israel I do it all defye Send out a man that we may fight and here the matter trye When Saul and all the Israelites had heard and séene his spite They were with feare astonished and out of courage quite Here now to Dauid Isais sonne our talke returnd shal bée An Euphratite of Bethleem a man of good degrée This Isai had vnto his sonnes in number eight in all And he himselfe well stept in yeres now in the dayes of Saul With whom thrée of his eldest sonnes into the warres did go Both Samma and Abinadab and Eliab also But Dauid went not out with Saul for he was gone before To féede his fathers shéepe agayne and came to Saul no more His father nowe an aged man and of the warres afrayd Bethought him of his sonnes with Saul and thus to Dauid said Come forth my sonne I le send thée now into the hoast of Saul To sée thy brethren how they fare and what thing iâ— befall Go carie them this parched corne these ten loaues of bread For in their hunger it perhaps may stand them in some stead And to their capteine vnder whom their lotte is for to serue Present these chéeses in my name that he may them deserue If néede haue forsoe thy brethren so that â—â—ey haue gages layde Redéeme their pledge and sée that all their creditors be payde Then Dauid early gat him vp committing all his shéepe Unto an other skilfull man to tende them and to kéepe So going forth he came vnto the hoast that lay about Where as he heard the noyse of warre people make a shout For both the hoasts were in aray and stood in others sight Ech one with weapon in his hand as ready for to fight TheÌ„ leauing al his gere with one that mo things had in charge He ran and found his brethren out saluting them at large And as he stood in talk comes forth great Goly with his vauÌ„ts Prouoking still the Israelites with spitefull bitter tauntes Whose vgly shape and mighty corps did so the people fray That they durst not abide his looke but ranne from him away Ech one to other saying thus saw you this fiend of hell His comming vp is to revile the hoast of Israel Who so can him depriue of life and master in the field To him the king his daughter deare great rewards wil yéeld And furthermore he will also his fathers house to bée In all the land of Israel from tax and payments frée Now Dauid hearing all the brags the Philistine had made His heart was moued so within that he brast out and sayde What shal be done vnto the man what honour to his name That beateth yonder Philistine to saue the land from shame For what is this vncircumcisd what power is in his rod That he should thus reuile the hoast of the true liuing God The people sayd to him agayne as they had sayd before That so it should be done to him with prayse for euermore Which thing his brother Eliab tooke in such spite and hate That he offended with his talke began him all to rate What hast thou here to do quod he go home tend thy shéepe Which thou hast left in wildernes without a guyde to kéepe I know the malice of thy heart which so in thée hath wrought That it pride hath brought thée down to sée the battel fought Then Dauid saide what haue I done there is some cause certaine And so departing farther of he spake the same againe To whom the people as before assured him of all But some that noted well his words rehearsed them to Saul Who caused him for to be fet that he might sée the man And being brought immediatly to speake he thus began Let not the king dismayed be let no mans heart him fayle For yonder bragging Philistine I shall God will assayle Thou art not able quod the king to cope with him in hand So farre aboue thy power he is thou mayst him not withstand Thou art but yet a boy in age and he a man of might Brought vp traded from his youth in warre warlike fight Then Dauid to encourage Saul in Gods great
power and ayde Gan to declare what he of late had done by him and sayde Thy seruant kept his fathers shéepe that they should not astray Among the which a Lion came to féede vpon his pray I ranne caught him by the beard shooke him by the iawes So that I rid him of his life for all his ramping pawes A Beare likewise with gréedy paunch came to deuour his pray Whom I by strength did onely kill before I went away And as thy seruant now hath done to these two beasts in déede I doubt not but this Philistine shall haue no better spéede I mind God willing to remoue the infamy and shame And to reuenge this wicked talke agaynst Gods holy name And as the Lord defended me from Lion and from Beare So from this bosting Philistine he will I do not feare The king well pleased with his talke gaue leaue bad him go Beséeching God to be his guyde and shield him from his fo And gaue a charge to put vpon the armour of the king His sword his head peece and his shield and euery other thing Then Dauid did assay himselfe how well that he could do For he had neuer proued them ne wonted him thereto Wherfore he turned to Saul and sayd I can not go with these So out of all he stripped him to haue his armes at ease With staffe in hand he gat him forth vnto a litle brooke Out of the which fiue pibble stones into his bagge he tooke And so from thence he made his way apace vnto the man No other weapon but a sting he had to fight with than The Philistine then drue him neare to view him that was sent A page before him bare his shield as he to Dauid went. Now when he saw so yong a man so nakedly arayed Disdaynefully on him he cast his eye and to him sayd Am I a dogge that with a staffe thou commest me to beate So cursing him by all his goddes he gan to fume and freate Come on my childe quod he I will dispatch thée in this houre And giue thy flesh vnto the beasts and birds for to deuoure Then Dauid not afrayd of him nor any thing he saw Did vse suche talke as he might sée he wayed him not a straw Thou cōmest to me with speare shield wherin is all thy trust But in the name of God I come to thée in quarrell iust The Lord whose name with wicked mouth thou hast blasphemed so This day will vse me as a meane to be thine ouerthrow And minds your very carkasses to scatter so on ground That to the foules rauening beasts a pray you may be found That al the world both farre and neare may know it very wel How that there is a mighty Lord and God in Israel And eke the whole assembly here shall perfect notice haue That neither sword nor speare it is wherwith the lord doth saue For sure the battell is the Lords that ruleth in all lands He will this day confound you all and put you in our hands With that he stepped forth and came with weapon in his fist The other gan to buckle him his malice to resist A stone he had already set and folded in his sling Which at his head he hurled out as hard as he could fling Which through the Lord light full vpon the forepart of his head And sanke so déepe into his brayne that downe he fell as dead Then Dauid ran the groueling corps there lying to bestride And from the body with his sword his head he did deuide A sight no doubt that pleased much the Israelites that day But so dismayed the Philistines that they did runne away Then all the hoast of Israel they shouted at that sight Pursuing them with bloudy swords slue them in the flight And chasing them to Ekron gates they gaue them such a foyle That they returned ioyfully and brought away the spoyle Now whē as Dauid had in God this mighty cōquest wrought He was by Abner vnto Saul before his presence brought And standing with the bloudy head of Goly in his hande The king gan say whose sonne art thou giue me to vnderstād My soueraigne lord I am quod he the yongest sonne of all Of Isai the Bethleemite most faythfull vnto Saul This sayd the soule of Ionathas to Dauid did apply And firmly sought to knit with his by secret sympathy Whom tenderly he did so loue with inward fancy then That greater loue could not be wisht amōg the sonnes of men The king also for this his act did cause him to remayne And in no wise would suffer him to make returne agayne With Dauid and with Ionathas a faythfull bond was made That ech of them while life did last should be ech others ayde At which time Ionathas did giue vnto his friend so deare Both cote and cloke his bow his sword girdle he did weare Now Dauid so behaued him that all men gaue him prayse So faythfull and so circumspect he was in all his wayes The king so well estemd of him that he put him in trust To rule and guyde his men of warre and leade them as he lust His name was praysed eury where his honour to enhaunce The women also set him forth with timbrell in their daunce As they the king met at returne from slaughter of his foes They sung this song of victorie in méeter as it goes King Saul to his great laude and prayse his thousande men hath slaine But Dauid hath ten thousand times so many kild againe With this the king was very wroth and eke displeased sore That vnto him they gaue so much and to the king no more For they quod he haue set him vp ten times aboue my one And what can he haue more except the kingdome all alone From that time forth he cast an eye on Dauid somwhat straūge Rewarding all that he had done with hatred for exchaunge It so befell the morow next the king to be torment With that ill sprite which oftentimes the Lord had to him sent Then Dauid as his custome was to be before his grace Stood playing on his pleasant harpe to ease him in that case The king beheld him earnestly and to him selfe did say I mind this iauelin here of mine shall rid him cleane away So in his rage and madding moode at Dauid forthwithall He hurld the Iauelin in his hand to nayle him to the wall But Dauid to auoyde the stroke as one that was full wise Conueyed him selfe and did escape his daunger once or twise The king no doubt was much afraide to sée his purpose fayle And Dauid such defence to haue that nothing could preuayle Wherfore he sought all meanes he could his honour to abase Withdrew his charge and him remoud into a meaner place This notwithstanding prudently he walkt in all his wayes As one that had the Lord with him for to prolong his dayes The king perceiuing how that he in fauour dayly grew
them where they light gather theÌ„ as fast The boy made hast and Ionathas shot out a shaft or two Beyond the place were Dauid lay as he did thinke to do And when the boy was at the marke where Ionathas had shot He called vnto him and sayd with heauy heart God wot Are not the shafts beyond thée now make hast stand not still The boy with spede them brought to him according to his will. Then with his bow and furniture away the boy was sent Not knowing ought of that was done or what his master meÌ„t The boy no sooner home returnd with his artillery But Dauid came and to the ground fell thrise vpon his knée With wéeping eyes ech other kist their harts did melt bléede They wept so long together both that Dauid did excéede Then Ionathas to Dauid said depart and go in peace And let the bond betwene vs two stand fast and neuer cease So Dauid to Abimelech Nobs priest his iorney tooke Whose soden sight appald him much so that for feare he shooke And for to know the cause therof demaunded by and by What is the matter thou art come and hast so few with thée The king quod he hath secret things committed to my charge That none may know wherfore I haue left all my meÌ„ at large If thou hast any bread or meate or ought vnder thy hande I pray thée giue it vnto me for here I may not stande Then he for lacke of common bread did with himselfe deuise To giue him of the holy loaues his hunger to suffise Well yet sayd Dauid one thing more I shall of thée require My harnesse haue I left behinde my weapons be not here If thou haue any better store I pray thée lend me one The king did send me in such hast that I prouided none Here is quod he great Golies sword shewd him where it lay If that may haply serue your turne then spare it not I pray 〈…〉 etter sure quod he then that and therefore made no stay But tooke it vp and to the king of Geth he went his way Whose court did know him by and by and therefore gaue it out That this was Dauid who was king of Iuda round about Whose prayse the women did set forth aboue all other men Ascribing vnto Saul but one and vnto Dauid ten Which saying Dauid noted well and put them in his brest But yet as one that stoode in feare least he should be opprest Wherfore his speach he counterfeit played such madding fits That all that saw him did beléeue that he had lost his wits From mouth to beard with lothsome sight his filthy spettle ran And scrauld about from dore to dore much like a Bedlem man. Then Achis sayd vnto his men ye sée it is of troth This man to be beside him selfe and wots not what he doth Wherfore theÌ„ haue ye brought him me as though great nede I had Of frantike felowes in my sight so foolish so mad Away with him and get him hence and trouble me no more My pleasure is such frantike men come not within my dore When Dauid had escapde the king by this deuised guyle Within Odollams hollow caues he did him selfe a while Who was no sooner there and knowen but thither did resort His brethren with his fathers house him onely to support And those that were intangled then with det or els with law And such as were disquieted all such to him did draw And those that so had flockt to him foure hundred were in all And he as capteyne ruled them they ready at his call And from that place with all his men he gat him to Mizpa A place among the Moabites where he with fauour lay And made request vnto the king his good will to obteine That vnder his protection his parents might remayne A while with him for their solace till he did sée and know What God would do for him and his in theyr distresse and wo. The king was well content and glad that Dauid was so bold And kept them all the while he lay within the fence and hold Where he was warned of the Lorde euen by the Prophet Gad That into Iuda he should go with all the men he had TheÌ„ marching forth came to the wood of Hareth where he â—â—eâ—d At whose approching Saul began as one somewhat dismaid Some meanes to séeke as he might best his state honour saue And leaning to his speare forthwith began such talke to haue O heare ye sonnes of Iemini what haue ye take in hande Thinke you the sonne of Isai will giue you house and lande Will he in office you promote great Capteins for to be That ye haue thus with him conspirde none doth tell it me And where as Ionathas my sonne with him hath made a bonde Yet none of you will mourne with me nor let me vnderstonde Then Doeg start him vp and sayd Abimelech the priest Had holpen Dauid in his néede agaynst the king most hiest Wherfore the king put him to death with all the priests ech one Saue only that Abiathar to Dauid fled alone Declaring how that wicked Saul his fathers blood had shed For that he had sustayned him and in his hunger fed I thought no lesse quod Dauid then but such a thing would fall That Doeg would in time accuse thy father vnto Saul I am the cause of all this death and great destruction Thy fathers house by me are brought to their confusion Abide by me and feare thée not where euer that I go For he that séeketh for my life shall séeke for thine also It so befell the Philistines their force and might had bent Agaynst the towne of Keilah whose vtter spoyle they ment Which thing when Dauid knew he sought the Lords good wil to know Who wild him with good corage fight giue the ouerthrow Then sayd his men be we not all afrayde in Iuda héere How much the more shall we to sée the Philistines appéere He asked then the Lord agayne who did him vnderstand He should go downe for he would giue them all into his hand So Dauid with his crue of men made hast vnto the towne And fought agaynst the Philistines till he had bet them downe And spoyled them of all their goods and eury thing they had And saued the inhabitants and made the people glad Of this the king was certified and farther to him tolde How Dauid with his bond of men tooke Keilah for his holde Whereat the king did much reioyce and made his reckning so That God had now deliuerd vp to him his mortall fo For that he was within a towne that was of such a strength To hold him fast so that he might dispatch him at the length And so prepared him an hoast of warlike men and stoute To take his way to Keilah the towne to siege about Now Dauid béeing ware of all the mischiefe Saul had wrought Began to
that Nabals wife Abigael by name With wisdome and discretion had well appeasd the same In whom he blessed God that day that her to him had sent To kepe him from his owne reuenge from the thing he ment Which woman was of such a grace and of so pure a life That Dauid after Nabals death did take her to his wife And tooke an other of the stocke of Israel also For Saul vpon one Psaltiel his Michol did vestow When Dauid had bene after this among the Ziphits spid They went to Saul and made report where he and his were hid And thervpon he tooke to him thrée thousand of his men And went vnto the wildernes to séeke for Dauid then And pitched vp his tents vpon the hill of Achila Which lieth ouer Iesimon hard by the common way Then Dauid sent about his spies to know the certayntie If that the king were come or no with such a companie The thing now being vnto him affirmed to be true He made him selfe a priuy spye and went the hoast to viewe Beholding well his Lord and king and Abner how they lay With all the people round about so gat him soone away And asked both Abimelech and eke Abisai Who would into the hoast of Saul go with him priuily Abisai offred him selfe and preased forth in sight So went they forth as secretly as they could go by night Into the hoast when they had put them selues in hazarde déepe Behold the king with all the rest lay hard and fast asléepe Then sayd to him Abisai God hath deliuerd now Thine enemie into thy hands in forme as thou séest how Giue leaue therefore that I may giue but one stroke with my speare And he shall neuer after this put thée in any feare No God forbid sayd Dauid then for who can more or lesse Lay hand vpon the Lords anoynt and be therein giltlesse As truely as the Lord doth liue the Lord shall doo his will In battell or by other meanes before I doo him kill The Lord me kéepe both now and ay my hand I neuer moue Against the Lords annoynted king whom I am bound to loue Then Dauid fayre and softly went till he came vnto Saul And tooke his speare and water cruse and went away withall No man then saw ne marked it ne tooke thereof no kéepe For God had cast vpon them all a dead and heauy sléepe Then Dauid gat him to an hill where he aloude did call Unto the people in the hoast and Abner most of all O Abner Abner hearst thou not howe I do call to thée Whos 's that quod he that so doth cry vnto the king and me O Abner art not thou a man most chiefe in gouerning Why hast thou then no better kept this night thy lorde king For one there was that entred in this night thy lorde to slay Whose enterprise by weapon strong thou didst not séeke to stay In this ye haue offended all and worthy are to dye In that ye haue not kept your Lorde with more securitie Beholde sée your masters speare which at his head did stande And eke the cruse of water both they are now in my hande My son quod Saul is this thy voyce that cōmeth to mine eare It is thy seruauntes voyce said he that liueth in great feare Why doth my lorde thus persecute his seruaunt so at large In whom there can no fault be found him iustly for to charge If that the Lorde hath stirred thée to worke me all this smart Then let him smell a sacrifice out of a patient hart But if from wicked men do come the cause of this discorde Then they and their deuises be accurst before the Lorde For they haue wronged me and séeke to dispossesse in fine Of that which in my Lorde my God is due to me and mine Séeke not therfore to suck my blood thou séekest but a flye As he that séekes the séely birde to murder cruelly Then Saul confessed his offence and wrong that he had done Desiring Dauid to returne and called him his sonne And said he would him hurt no more nor vse extremities Because his life that night had bene so pretious in his eyes And that with griefe he felt remorse of folly did him touch And played the foole and in his wayes had erred very much But Dauid knowing Saul to haue his promise broke before Would not returne his sugred words to credite any more But bad the king behold his speare which he helde vp full trim And wild him send and it should be deliuered vnto him The Lord my God reward ech man and eury man preserue As his vpright and honest déedes and fayth shall best deserue For though the Lord deliuered thée into my hands this day Yet on the Lords annoynted king my hand I would not lay As I haue alwayes pitied thée and neuer bene thy foe Euen so the Lord be mercifull to me in all my woe Then he departing to him selfe complayned inwardly And said no doubt the day will come that he will murther me And I no better way can finde this mischiefe to withstande Then flye vnto the Philistines for succour in their lande So he from Ziph to Geth that time his iourney did addresse To make his suite to Achis king for helpe in this distresse Where Dauid with his company and his two comely wiues Did place thē selues minded there to passe spend their liues But yet misliking to remayne in Geth that Citie great Some countrey place for to possesse he did the king intreate At whose request he gaue to him the towne of Zikleg then Whereto he went and dwelled there both he and all his men Which towne had euermore the name and counted to perteine Unto the kings that wonted were in Iuda for to reigne He and his men had there remaynd not fully halfe a yere When he played rex and ouerranne the countrey eury where The Gersurites Amalekites the Gersites did he driue Out of the lande and slue the rest not leauing one aliue And kept them so they could not passe to Geth no maner way To tell the king how that he did them vse from day to day And often béeing lade with spoyles to Geth he would thē bring And make presentmēt of the same in presence of the king Who musing much frō whence such store of spoyles prayes he brought Would aske what country he had roud for the same had sought Among the Iewes and such quod he as Southwardly are set I haue bestowd my selfe the spoyles and booties for to get Thus making Achiz to beléeue he hated Israel Became his man and was retaynd with him for aye to dwell It so befell the Philistines to battell did addresse Them selues against the Israelites and sought them to oppresse Then Achis vnto Dauid sayd thou shalt go forth with me Unto the battell thou and all the men that are with thée If thou sayd he vnto the king be pleased I shall go
on vpon his other gere So all the house of Israel brought forth the Arke with shoute And trompet blowing as they went the noyse rang all about But when as Michol Dauids wife saw him so daunce spring She grew in great disdayne therat and did mislike the thing Yet notwithstanding when the Arke was setled in his place He made his offrings to the Lord of mercy peace and grace Which béeing done and finished the people he did blesse And to them all of banquet meate dealt something more or lesse Then he dismissing all the folke assembled in that place Returned home vnto his house to blesse it in like case Wher Michol méeting him could not forbeare but thus did say Good God how glorious was the king of Israel this day Which séemed in thy maidens eyes vncouered like a sot Wherby of them and other mo great hatred thou hast got It was before the Lord quod he that I did daunce and sing Who ouerthrew thy father Saul and chose me to be king And made me ruler ouer all the people Israel Reiecting Saul and all his house as thou thy selfe canst tell And yet if my humilitie be grieuous in thy sight I will be méeke in mine owne eyes before the Lord of might And of the mayden seruauntes here which thou hast spoken of I shall be had in honour great when they at thée shall skoffe When God had setled Dauids raigne and him his had blest And with all Princes rounde about had giuen him peace rest Gods glory to aduaunce he sought and bended all his heart And to the Prophet Nathan then his minde he did impart Behold quod he how that my house is buylt with Cedre trées And yet the Arke hath nothing els but curteins as thou sées The Prophet sayd do what thou hast determined to do For God which hath respect to thée will set his hande thereto Thus Nathan spake before he knew what Gods good pleasure was And did receiue a coūtermaund before the night did passe That wild him go vnto the king and do him vnderstand That Salomon should buyld Gods house he not ta kt in hand When Dauid béeing certified what God him selfe did say He sat him downe before the Arke and thus began to pray O Lord my God what great account of me and mine hast thou That to such Royall dignitie hast me exalted now And yet O Lord I know thou art of such a power and might That greater things to bring to passe is nothing in thy sight Thou spakest of thy seruaunts house a great long while ago Which vnto men doth not perteine but vnto thée I know To kéepe thy word promise sure and make it to be knowne Not for thy seruaunt Dauids sake O Lord but for thine owne Thou art O Lord the onely God that euermore hast bene None comparable to thy selfe was euer heard or séene And what one people in the earth or nation who can tell Is better and beloued more of thée then Israel Thou wentest and redéemedst them out of captiuitie That they might magnisie thy name and make it great to bée With mightie signes tokens out of Egypt thou hast brought Thy people from the nations and from their Gods of nought Thou hast elect and chosen them to be thy people ay Aud art become their onely God to serue thée and obay And now O Lord the word thou hast of me thy seruant spoke And of his house make thou it good let not the same be broke So shall thy name be magnified and eury man shall say The Lord of hoastes he is the God of Israel for ay For thou Lord God of Israel hast thus reueald to me And said I will now buyld thy house and make it sure to be And therfore hath thy seruaunt found now in his heart to pray this simple prayer vnto thée to be my helpe alway Let all thy words therefore be true that thou thy seruaunt told And kéepe thy promise vnto him which thou hast made of old And let it please thée for to blesse thy seruants house with grace That it for euer may abide and stande before thy face For thou my God hast spoken it let it be done therfore That thou thy seruaunt Dauids house do blesse for euermore Now after this the Philistines he vanquished by strength And thereby rid all Israel from bondage at the length He smote also the Moabites and meate them with a line And cast them flat vpon the ground and made the rest incline And being thus subdued to him to him they tribute payed In token that they were his men his Maiestie to ayde He fought with Hadarezers hoast and made a number fall As well of horsemen as on foote beside his Charrets all The Syrians which ayded him and came his parte to take Of two and twenty thousande men a slaughter did he make Thus Dauid by the might of God did conquer all the lande So mercifull was God to him in all he tooke in hande Now after these great victories the king of Hamath sent His sonne to Dauid with great gifts therwith him to present For that he had Hadarezer his enemie subdued Who oftentimes with him and his had open warre renued As for the spoyles that he did get of siluer golde or brasse He gaue it to the house of God what euer thing it was Thus Dauid hauing got a name through honor he had wonne Sat in his seate and iudged right to eury mothers sonne And calling now to memory the bond that he did make With Ionathas the sonne of Saul thus openly he spake Doth any yet remayne quod he of all the house of Saul That I for Ionathas his sake may him to honour call One Ziba then his seruaunt old was brought vnto the king That he by talke might sée what he could say to eury thing Of whom the king demaunded then if Ziba were his name Yea sir quod he thy seruant is the selfe and very same Is there quod he yet any left of Saul his line or blood To whom I may shew mercy too or do him any good Yea Ionathas quod he hath yet a sonne aliue I know But he is lame vpon his féete so that he can not go And where is he quod Dauid then hide not if thou canst tell He is quod he in Machirs house the sonne of Amiel Now then whē that Miphiboseth was brought to Dauids sight He fell to ground and so did make such reuerence as he might Then Dauid said Miphiboseth be not afrayde of me For I will for thy fathers sake be mercifull to thée Thou shalt enioy thy fathers lands that did to Saul perteine And at my boord thy foode to eate I will thée enterteine Miphiboseth fell downe and said what is thy seruaunt Lorde That thou wilt looke on such a dogge and set him at thy borde Then Dauid said to Ziba thus the lands and rents of Saul Unto thy
grieue thée not but tary here and bide at home with me Now when as Dauid vnderstoode of Ammons wicked part Which he with Thamar did commit it grieud him to the heart And Absalon bare it in minde although he nothing sayde But thought to haue a iust reuenge when al the wind was layde Now after two yeres runne and past it chaunced Absalon To sheare his shéepe and did inuite his brothers eury one The king with smiling countenaunce he did inuite also That with his sonnes for company might please him for to go Not so my sonne quod he agayne thine offer is too large All may not go least that we should put thée to too much charge Yet Absalon requested sore and lay vpon him still But he would not and yet he gaue him thanks for his good wil. Then Absalon pretending loue to Ammon did intreate That he might go for company more then for any meate So many néedes not said the king thou shalt be but opprest Yet since thou wilt our pleasure is that he go with the rest Now Absalon had giuen a charge vnto his wayting men When Ammons heart was most in mirth to fal vpon him then And so they slue him at the borde the rest were all agast Who rose and gat them to their mules and fled away in haste Then tidings came vnto the king how Absalon had slayne All Dauids sonnes which he aliue should neuer sée agayne Wherat the king his garments tore and to the ground he fell His men amazd and what to do not one of them could tell Then Ionadab sayd to the king let not my lord suppose That they haue slaynè the yong men all the rumor falsly goes But Ammon this my lorde is true thine eldest sonne is dead For that in heart of Absalon was long determined Because his sister he misusde and did such shamefull wrong And therfore thought to haue reuenge though he deferd it long Therfore my lorde I thinke may well assure him selfe of this He shall his sonnes all safe receiue and none but Ammon mis. It was not long as Ionadab had sayd but they came thither And told the newes and did lament the king and they together But Absalon was fled and sought assurance to procure And thrée whole yeres with Thalmai king remained safe sure The heart of Dauid somewhat lay to Absalon his sonne Which Ioab saw and did inuent a way to haue him wonne Which was a certaine witty wench well spoken in her speach Should mourningly come to the king and humbly him beseach To graunt a pardon to her sonne which had his brother kild As they by great misfortune were a fighting in the field In fine the king smelt well inough her talke and her intent And asked her if Ioabs head did not thereto consent She said t was true yet quit her selfe so well before her lorde That by her meanes fayre Absalon was home agayne restord Who falling downe before the king he openly him kist In token that all former things were quite and cleane remist But Absalon soone after this ambitiously began For to prepare him selfe a king with Charrets horse and man Alluring eury where abrode the people as he met With fawning spech so that they gan on him their harts to set When he the hearts of Israel from Dauid had withdrew To him he goes and frames a tale and not a worde was true The summe was this Such time as he in Gesur did remayne He made a vow if euer that he should come home agayne He would serue God accordingly his sute therfore is now He might to Hebron go with leaue and satisfie his vow The king was very well content So he did then depart And wrought such treason as was hid within his hollow hart And being there foreslows no time but sends throughout the land To all the Tribes of Israel by writing of his hande That whē they hard the trūpet blow thē ech mā should accord That Absalon of Hebron soyle should be the king and lord Yet many of a simple heart with Absalon went out Not knowing of his treason wrought nor what he went about But through the feare and counsell of Achitophel thereto They were perswaded for to ioyne and do as others do For he was very popular and bore a mighty sway And by his meanes to Absalon great strength grew eury day Then Dauid being certified how that all Israel Did ioyne them selues with Absalon and eke Achitophel Did will his men for to prepare them selues vnto the flight For other meanes he knew of none for to escape his might Make hast quod he least that they come vpon vs vnawares And smite the Citie with the sword to bring it full of cares They said to him what ere thou shalt thy seruants poynt vnto With all our harts and minds we are most ready prest to do Then went he forth with all his folks saue that he let remayne Ten Concubines to kéepe the house while that he came agayne So going from Ierusalem vnto a certayne place One Ithai with all his men did folow him apace And when the king saw Ithai he said vnto him thus O Ithai my faithfull friend why commest thou with vs Returne vnto Ierusalem and with the king abide For thou art but a straunger here do for thy selfe prouide Thou camst but yesterday my friend should I disquiet thée I am not sure nor know what ill or good may hap to mée Therfore returne both thou and al thy souldiours and be gone The mercy and the truth of God be with you eury one As truely as the Lord doth liue quod Ithai agayne I will not hence nor yet dpart but with my lorde remayne For in what place the king shal be to venture life or death There will thy seruaunt eke appeare so long as he hath breath Come on said Dauid let vs go we will not here abide So went he foorth with Ithai and all his men beside The countrey wept all as they went the people mourned sore To sée the king so passe in feare the brooke of Cedron ore Then Sadoch with the Leuites came out of Ierusalem Unto king Dauid where he was brought the Arke with them Who would it not as then receiue but bad that Sadoch should Go set it in his place agayne let him do what he could For if the Lord do fauour me hée le bring me home agayne And set mine eyes vpon the Arke and Tabernacle playne But if the Lord do playnly say I haue to thée no lust Then let him worke on me his will for he I know is iust In secret sort then Dauid said to Sadoch whom he knew To be a very secret priest and faythfull wise and true Returne thou and Abiathar you and your sonnes also And in the Citie there remayne till we do further know And I will tary in the fields within the wildernes Untill I reape some friendly fruite of