The History of Jacob and his Twelve Sons

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¶Th'ystory of Iacoby and his twelue sones.

ALl yonge and olde that lyste for to here

Of dedes done in the olde tyme

By the holy patryarkes that there were

Whiche descended of olde Adams lyne

Often the sonne of grace on them dyde shyne

For to rede this story it wyll do you moche good

Of Abrahams sone that was syth Noes flood

Unto one Rebecca this Ysaac was maryed

Of aege the byble sayth he was .xl. yere

In-dede his maydenhede so longe with hym taryed

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And yet in longe tyme his wyfe no chylde bere

Than to our lorde god he made his prayere

For to sende hym fruyte this worlde to multeply

And than his wyfe conceyued as scrypture dooth specyfy

Two chyldren in-dede had Rebecca in her body

And whan they were quycke oftentymes they fought

This good woman than meruayled gretely

What it myght be and toke grete thought

Than mekely our lorde god she besought

To haue some knowlege what it myght sygnefye

She toke so grete sorowe that the teres fell fro her eye

Our lorde that all knoweth sawe how she fared

With sobbynge and syghynge euermore cryenge

Of his grete goodnes vnto her he appered

And sayd woman cease thy grete wepynge

Two maner of people ben in thy body spryngynge

That shall be delyuered fro thy wombe shortly

Of the whiche the feble shall ouercome the myghty

At the laste her tyme neyghed very nere

The throwes sore thrylled her thrugh with payne

All her body was faynt apalled was her chere

So delyuered she was of fayre chyldren twayne

The fyrst that yssued was rough Esau called by name

Than folowed Iacob his brothers fote holdynge

Fast in his hande this was a meruaylous thynge

Whan that they drewe to aege these two brether

Esau was a plowman a tyller of londe

And for pleasure ofte wolde be a hunter

To walke erly and late with bowe in his honde

Iacob was so symple at home wolde he stonde

Alwaye with his moder for she loued hym better

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Than euer she dyde Esau a thousande tymes swetter

Esau was best beloued yet with the fader

Bycause he ete ofte of the venyso[n] that he toke

And Iacob was in fauour with Rebecca his moder

Thus may ye it fynde yf that ye wyll loke

Esau wente a_huntynge thus sayth the boke

All a_daye togyder without mete or brede

That whan he came home for hunger he was nye deed

Whan he came to the hall he sawe Iacob stande

There to his dyner than was Esau fayne

Holdynge a dysshe of potage in his hande

Alacke sayd Esau for hunger now do I complayne

In all this worlde is no greter payne

I praye the brother of thy potage let me ete with the

Nay ywys quod Iacob thou getest none of me

But yf thou wylte sayd Iacob sell me thyn herytage

Ifayth of these thou getest neuer-a_dele

And yf thou wylte do so holde here this potage

For fayntnes than Esau to the grounde fell

And sayd rather than dye my patrymony wyll I sell

No-thynge wolde it profyte me yf I dyed for honger

For my bely weneth my throte is cut asonder

I am content sayd Esau that thou it take for thy potage

Well than quod Iacob yf thou wylte resyne

I wyll haue the swere that as for thyn herytage

Thou shalte neuer clayme and here lye hande in myne

Poore Esau thought it longe or that he myght dyne

And sayd vnto Iacob now take it for euer

Thy potage in my hande haue had I leuer

This bargayne was knytte bothe partyes were gladde

Esau ete the potage therof he was fayne

And I trowe Iacob had no cause to be sadde

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His broders herytage there dyde he clayme

These promyses made bytwene them twayne

And than Iacob thought to lyue full meryly

With the londe that Esau dyde set full lytell by

At the last theyr fader wexed blynde and myght not se

And on a daye he called Esau his sone

Ysaac sayd chylde Esau come hyther to me

For my lyue-dayes be nere-hande done

Therfore go forth and fette me some venysone

And as soone as thou doost it home brynge

Come to me and thou shalte haue my blessynge

Esau dyde on his harneys for drede of beestes wylde

By his gyrdell arowes and in his hande a bowe

And than by his owne moder Esau was begylde

For as soone as Rebecca dyde it knowe

Forth she called Iacob and to hym dyde showe

All-togyder and sayd sone yf thou wylte do after me

Esau shall lese his faders blessynge for he shal gyue it the

Go thou to the flocke and fette me kyddes twayne

The best that amonge them may be founde

Than Iacob of this counseyle was full fayne

To the felde hasted hym swyftly in that stounde

And chase the best that were goynge in that grounde

Than home to his moder he them brought

So poore Esau was begyled that no falshede thought

Than of the kyddes flesshe Rebecca sodde grete plente

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And made Ysaac ete in-stede of venyson

Loo the blynde often drynketh many a flye

Than the moder made Iacob to take the kyddes skyn

To wrappe his handes his face and his necke therin

Well sayd Rebecca yf thy fader fele the rough of here

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He wyll byleue none other but that thou Esau were

Olde Ysaac the blynde began to wexe hongry

And called Rebecca and sayd that he wolde ete

Suche as she had prayed her swyftly

Hote or elles colde hym for to gete

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Rebecca answered and sayd ye shall haue mete

For Esau hath brought plentye of venysone

Why quod Iacob is he come home so soone

Ye sayd Rebecca he is come ywys

Flesshe hath he brought I sawe neuer none better

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In all my lyfe neuer fatter than it is

Syth ye were borne neuer ete ye swetter

I am gladde sayd Ysaac I loue hym the better

Than Rebecca fette therof Ysaac for to please

He was hongry and ete fast and made hym well at ease

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Than Iacob spake to his fader for his blessynge

And on the grounde he kneled on his kne

Fader he sayd this venyson home dyde I brynge

Now I haue fulfylled that whiche ye badde me

Why sayd Ysaac arte thou Esau / and he sayd ye

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To fele thy skynne quod ysaac I haue grete lust

And yf thou be Esau I shall the knowe I trust

Than Iacob rose and wente to his fadere

And sayd to hym wyll ye fele my hande

Than Ysaac felte it rough all of here

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He wende it had ben Esau that by hym dyde stande

But alas he wandred ouer the lande

Amonge busshes and brambles he dyde ron

And no knowlege had he of this grete treason

I knowe well sayd Ysaac that thou arte Esau

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And by speche I wolde take the for Iacob

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Now blessyd be this daye that euer I it knewe

For thou shalte be mayster of many a lande brode

And haue the blessynge of the heuenly lorde

Therfore come hyther let me kysse thy mouth

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All men shall obey to the bothe by north and south

Where-euer thou become thou shalte haue plente

All the trybes shall euer worshyp thy name

With the peas wyll dwell and all prosperyte

They that the curseth shall be cursed agayne

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The for to please men wyll be full fayne

And the sones of theyr moders shall bowe to the

Batayles many thou shalte wynne bothe by londe and see

Than Iacob rose and wente his waye

With that came Esa[u] that moche venyson brought

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And bare it to his fader and thus dyde he saye

Fader this flesshe full ferre haue I sought

So sodeynly Ysaac was smyten with a thought

And sayd what arte thou fro whens doost thou come

Forsothe I am Esau your fyrst-begoten sone

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Ysaac meruayled more than may be thought credybyll

And longe or he myght speke in a traunce laye

As the mayster of the story sayth so dyde he lye styll

Lyke as the soule from the body had ben awaye

Whan he dyde speke / o good lorde dyde he saye

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Thy wyll is that Iacob sholde haue my blessynge

Yet loued I Esau aboue all erthly thynge

Who was that sayd Ysaac that brought me the venysone

Euen now that I had therwith dyde I dyne

I wende it had ben Esau myn owne sone

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Alas sayd Esau fader that blessynge sholde be myne

Iacob hath me begyled now the seconde tyme

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Longe agone also for a mese of potage

He had my patrymony that was myn herytage

Alas sayd Esau my herte is very woo

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And sayd fader haue ye not one blessynge for me

I truste that all from me be not agoo

Ysaac sayd sone there is no remedye

I haue ordeyned hym to be thy lorde ouer the

Thou shalte obey thy broder and lyue by thy swerde

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All that beholdeth thy face shall be aferde

Rebecca wende that Esau Iacob wolde haue slayne

And badde hym hye and go out of his daungere

Unto thyn owne vncle that dwelleth in arayne

For and thou taryest thy lyfe standeth in fere

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Esau wyll the kyll I herde hym so swere

Therfore in all the haste Iacob be gone

And whan his angre is past agayne come home

Than Iacob departed from Barsabe

And wente full faste towarde arayne

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Ysaac and Rebecca wepte full pyteously

So Iacob hyed ouer hethe and playne

The sonne drewe downe / his rest he wolde haue fayne

And as he slepte hym thought that he dyde se

A longe ladder stretchynge to the skye

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Aungelles goynge vpwarde he sawe also

And in the myddes almyghty god dyde stonde

That sayd to hym I wyll blysse the where-euer thou go

And to thy sede I wyll gyue this londe

That thou doost on slepe it shall be in thy honde

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For I am the god of Abraham that thou doost se

And I caused Ysaac his blyssynge to gyue the

Than Iacob rose on the mornynge erly

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And sayd that there was the gate of heuen

Of all the erth that place was moost holy

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And thanked god for that whiche he had sene

And vnder his heed a stone that was full clene

He rered vp and set it on the ende

There prayed he god good fortune hym to sende

Than Iacob wente forth in-to the eest

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Tyll he came to a grete pyt of water

Thre flocke of shepe with many an-other beest

He sawe how they laye all in that corner

Than he thought they wolde drynke of that water

[A] custome men had to roll awaye the stone A] And 1510, A 1522-23

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The beestes sholde go in and drynke euerychone

Iacob sawe shepeherdes fro hym not very for

And asked of whens they were / and they sayd of Arayne

Knowe you Laban quod Iacob sone of Nachor

They all answered ye we knowe hym for certayne

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Loo syr yonder co[m]eth Rachell we tell you playne

That is Labans doughter with his flocke of shepe

God saue that kynrede sayd Iacob and fro care them kepe

Than Iacob wente and kyssed Rachell full swetely

And tolde her that Rebecca was his moder

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Rachell was gladde of that tydynge truly

Eche of them made grete Ioye of other

Of curtesy Iacob coude do none other

With strength pulled the stone fro the pyttes brynke

That Rachelles shepe therof myght drynke

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Than Rachell bare tydynges to her fader

That Iacob Rebeccas sone was come Rebeccas] Rebeccaes 1510, 1522-23

Laban was gladde that tydynge to here

And for to mete hym hastely he dyde ronne

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The foules were neuer gladder of the lyght of the sonne

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Than were they twayne for eche salewed other

For Laban was Iacobs vncle Rebeccas owne brother

There Iacob dyde them playnly to vnderstonde

That he had wonne his faders blessynge

The gladder was Laban to haue hym in that londe

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He thought that plente sholde growe of euery-thynge

Bothe corne and grasse grete plente wolde sprynge

Laban prayed Iacob there to lede his lyfe

And he wolde gete hym Rachell to be his wyfe

There Iacob promysed to serue them .vii. yere

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With hym to abyde and be bothe true and playne

And for to haue Rachell to be his fere

Eyther of that bargayne was full fayne

All his yeres he serued bothe in colde and ra[yne] 1510 defective; 1522-23 reads "rayne".

And on a day Laban maryed Iacob to Rachel his childe

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But as they were in bedde brought Iacob was begylde

The elder doughter that was called Lea

They brought to Iacobs bedde vnknowynge

To hym and all nyght by his syde laye

But whan he sawe her in the mornynge

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He sayd there was vnkynde delynge

To brynge hym Lea for fayre Rachell

Iacob sayd to Laban this dede lyketh me not well

Fayre syr sayd Laban it is the lawe of this lande

That the elder doughter fyrst maryed sholde be

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Bothe Lea and Rachell thou shalte haue in thy hande

But other seuen yere thou must dwell with me

Therto I graunt quod Iacob these yeres wyll I serue the

And the nexte weke agayne wyll I be maryed

Unto fayre Rachell for her longe haue I taryed

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To bothe was he maryed Rachell bode longe barayne

But Lea conceyued and bare her chylde Rubyne

For Iacob loued Rachell in euery vayne

Better than euer he dyde Lea for all her chyldren

For she was somwhat blere-eyed and had sore eyen

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Yet she bare hym .x. sones the boke sayth playne

Where-as Rachell brought hym forth but twayne

Iacob thought in that countre he had longe taryed

With labour he bode out full .xiiij. yere

Than whan his hole terme he had out-serued

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He sayd to Rachell I wyll tary no lenger here

Now to Barsabe wyll I go I nede not to fere

As for Esau my broder I trust wyll be my frende

What-euer me betyde to my countre wyll I wende

Iacob sayd to Laban that to barsabe he wolde

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Laban badde hym byde with hym that yere

And what-euer he asked haue it he sholde

I desyre quod he the lambes of dyuers coler

And yf thou wylte graunt me that to my hyer

With all other beestes that blacke-spotted be

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And for all this twelue monethes I wyll byde with the

Bothe beestes and lambes I gyue the sayd Laban

All that euer blacke-spotted be

Clayme them for thyn whan they come fro the dame

Than sayd Iacob for this hyre I wyll abyde with the

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In fayth sayd Laban it shall not be broken for me

So Iacob pylled roddes where the shepe sholde gone

Bestes and lambes were spotted that yere nye euery-chone

The next yere after Laban sayd he wolde

Haue all the spotted and Iacob than the whyte

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To his parte in-dede he haue sholde

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Our lorde for Iacob shewed his myght

That all the beestes or lambes that fell daye or nyght

They were clene whyte the moost parte ywys

Than was he wrath that his flocke was bygger than his

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Iacob spyed that Laban frowned of chere

And tolde pryuely his wyfe Rachell

That he wolde be gone for he Laban dyde fere

Than he conuayed all his herdmen softely and styll

And bad them hye with theyr beestes to galard that hye hyll

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Bothe with asses and camelles thyder make hyenge

And my wyues with my .xij. sones after wyll I brynge

So forth wente Iacob bothe with good and catell

And sent worde that he was comynge to Esau his broder

Laban myssed Iacob and had grete meruell

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He knewe that he was gone and se it wolde be none other

Yet wolde I kysse my doughters for I am theyr fadre

It was tolde hym by a man of that countrey

That Iacob was at mountgalard / of .vij. dayes Iourney

Than Laban rode after thus sayth the boke

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On a good camell bothe nyght and daye

Yet at the laste he Iacob ouertoke

He asked of hym whether he wolde that waye

Unto my countre sayd Iacob who wyll saye naye

Not I sayd Laban but my chyldren kysse I wolde

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And thy twelue sones also I loue better than golde

There of all his kynrede Laban toke his leue

And asked Iacob why he wente so hastely

You were wrothe quod Iacob and that dyde I preue

Yet twenty yere I haue serued the besyly

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In colde and in rayne attende to thy husbandry

And to go from the sodeynly I was full fayne

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Lest thou by some treason me sholde haue slayne

Nay nay sayd Laban I wolde not do so

But for all the treasour in Egypte

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I am sory that thou wylte from vs go

With thy asses camelles and thy shepe

I praye the Iacob my doughters well to kepe

And I trust than our lorde god wyll blysse the

That thy graundfader worshypped (one) in-stede of thre

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So Iacob and Laban toke leue eche of other

And departed there with full heuy chere

Laban prayed Iacob to recommaunde hym to his brother

So forth they wente / and whan Esau dyde here

That towarde that countree Iacob drewe nere

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Esau mette hym with foure hondred of men

So sore afrayde was neuer Iacob as he was then

He wende that Esau wolde hym haue slayne

And with his chyldren fell to his brothers fete

Aryse sayd Esau of your comynge I am fayne

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Whose be these women these chyldren and these shepe

With asses and camelles all th[is] herde of gete this] these 1510, this 1522-23

They be myn sayd Iacob I gyue them to you

Kepe them thyselfe sayd Esau for I haue ynow

Than was Iacob and his wyues glad

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That his brother Esau was so good and kynde

In that countree mete and drynke they had

For as god hym promysed so dyde he fynde

Ysaac his fader was deed that he lefte there behynde

Whan that he to the countree of aaron fledde

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Rebecca his moder also was dede

Than Iacob in that countre lyued at his ease

With bothe his wyues Rachell and Lea

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Yonge and olde fayne were hym to please

So they contynued in Ioye many a longe daye

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At the laste Iacobs sone in a bedde laye

Whiche was broder to Beniamy

Bothe were Rachelles sones she had no more truly

This Ioseph in his slepe dyde dreme

That the sone and the mone bothe bowed to his fete

360

And fayre bryght sterres to the nombre of a_leuen

Bowed to hym all this dyde he mete

Also he sawe a wonder that many sheues of whete

Folowed hym thrugh-out the londe

And his fader and moder at his fete dyde stonde

365

Yonge Ioseph meruayled what that myght be

And on a daye he asked Iacob his fader

What that the dreme dyde sygnefye

And tolde his fader all as is rehersed before

Blessyd be the tyme sone sayd Iacob that thou were bore

370

For whyle that I lyue that daye shall we se

That I with thy .xi. bretherne for nede must seke the

The sonne and the mone betokeneth me and thy moder

And the aleuen sterres be thy bretherne all

We shall haue nede of the I can se none other

375

By my lyue-dayes this ventur[e] shall befall venture] ventura 1510, aduenture 1522-23

All his sones than Iacob dyde forth call

And whan they this knewe at Ioseph they had enuye

Than they comprysed his deth and sayd that he sholde dye

Not longe after as I vnderstande

380

The .xi. bretherne kepte theyr faders shepe

With many other beestes in theyr owne lande

As asses camelles and also gete

Aboute tyde of the daye Iacob sente them mete

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Therwith to dyne by Ioseph theyr owne broder

385

And all they entended that yonge chylde to murder

Poore Ioseph toke theyr dyner and wente to the felde

His bretherne to seke the nexte waye dyde he go

He loked on euery syde and behelde

Them he coude not fynde he wepte than for wo

390

The teres ran from his eyen / and not ferre hym fro

He sawe a man that asked what he had brought

My brethernes dyner for them haue I sought

Thy bretherne sayd the man be on dotayne

There they all syt on the hye hyll

395

Beware thou ladde I tell the playne

If thou be Ioseph they wyll the kyll

Therfore tourne home agayne and let them be styll

Without thou be wery of thy lyfe

One sayd for thy dreme thou sholdest dye on a knyfe

400

Syr I trust my bretherne better than so

Yet vnto dotayne theyr dyner he bere

Loo yonder cometh Ioseph they all sayd tho

Whiche by nyght is so ryall a dremere

All they sayd his herte ought to be in fere

405

For his fader shall he neuer se ne none of his kyn

Yet now do after my counseyle than sayd Rubyn

Rubyne sayd bretherne he is of our owne blode

Let vs not kyll hym with swerde nor knyfe

But bynde we his handes and laye hym on the flode

410

Soone the streme wyll bereue hym of his lyfe

So toke they Ioseph that thought on no stryfe

And wrapped his sherte aboute his face

And layde hym on the fome there was no grace

But as god wolde it was ebbynge water

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415

Soone wente they to dyner and after to theyr playe

And as they loked from them a_ferre

They sawe poore Ioseph sprawlynge where he laye

All arayed in foule ose and claye

Let vs go they sayd and kyll hym out-ryght

420

We nede not than to fere that he dremed the last nyght

Thyder they wente and toke vp that yonglynge

Haue mercy on me bretherne Ioseph gan saye

With that they sawe a chapman come rydynge

Had many hors lode and to Egypte toke the waye

425

They asked the chapman yf he wolde bye Ioseph or nay

And he sayd ye and ye wyll hym sell

To you .xxx. pens for hym gyue I wyll

Let vs se money sayd they all than

And as for the boye shall go with the

430

With all my herte sayd the chapman

He layde the pens in theyr handes shortly

And thought that he had made a good dayes Iourney

So toke his leue and wente his waye

But Ioseph weped and wayled euery daye

435

Now god helpe poore Ioseph for yonge was he solde

All his bretherne therof were gladde in theyr mode

Nyght drewe on fast homewarde they wolde

Theyr mete-cloth they besprange all with gotes blode

Iacob theyr fader in his dore stode

440

Why come ye home so soone he to them dyde saye

They answered that they ete nor dranke to_daye

Iacob sayd I sente Ioseph to you longe before none

With mete brede and drynke good plente

They sayd fader homewarde as we dyde come

445

This mete-cloth here we founde all blody

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A pot there lyeth broken also in peces thre

Alas alas sayd Iacob I trowe Ioseph be deed

And yf it be so with sorowe I shall ete my breed

Rachell tare her heere and fell downe to the grounde

450

And tare her clothes in peces small

Iacob also ofte-sythes he swownde

And sayd Ioseph is gone my chefe Ioye of all

But Rachell often wepynge wolde she fall

And bete her brest agayne the herte with a colde stone

455

Pyte it was to here her crye and grone

Now leue we of and speke we of the chapman

That past ouer the see in-to Egypte londe

But truly or he thyder came

The wynde styfly agayne them dyde stonde

460

And yet at the laste an hauen they fonde

The chapman ledde Ioseph with a rope in the strete

Hym for to bye came many a lorde grete

Knyghtes and ladyes came ferre that chylde to se

With many grete men of pharaos londe

465

It was talked abrode that he was so goodly

And whan that pharaos stewarde that dyde vnderstonde

He asked the chylde that to the chapman was bo[n]de

If he wolde be his man and dwell with hym

Than Ioseph answered I wyll be at your byddynge

470

The stewarde to the chapman an .C. pounde payd

Of lytell Ioseph that of face was bryght

I haue lost no money than the marchaunt sayd

Yet for his beaute he is worth of golde his wyght

And euery-body that of Ioseph had a syght

475

They thought he had ben an aungell of pleasaunce

He was so fayre and louely of countenaunce

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Ladyes and maydens they loued Ioseph all

And men dyde blysse hym whan they dyde se

So goodly a chylde carued in the hall

480

And meruayled of what countre he myght be

The stewarde had a syster beyonde the see

She sente hym a serket and a mantell of golde

The rychenesse therof may not be tolde

Couched with perles and stones precyous

485

With saphers rubyes and other stones of y[n]de

Of many dyuerse colour[s] set full curyous colour] colour 1510, colours 1522-23

Costly broudred with arres as I fynde

Chaungeable of colour before and behynde

These ryche clothes this lady sente to her brother

490

In all the worlde there was not suche an-other

The stewarde behelde this costly werke

And on his body ware it but one daye

By a large fote for hym it was to shorte

If it wolde serue Ioseph he thought he wolde assaye

495

And cladde the chylde in that costly araye

And it was as well made for hym

As euer was vesture to the emperours kyn

On a daye the stewarde wolde on huntynge ryde

Than the quene called Ioseph in-to her boure

500

And made hym to syt downe by her syde

She wolde haue kyssed hym and behelde his colour

And sayd that she loued hym as her paramour

And besought hym of her to take his pleaser

Nay god forbede quod he to dye were me leuer

505

She profred hym fayre bothe castelles and toures

And all the pryce of egypte he sholde haue

This sayd she to hym with halles and boures

sig: [B3v]

And more rychesse yf he wolde it craue

Fro sekenes she sayd his body wolde she saue

510

And asked therof yf he graunte wolde

He answered shortly that no-thynge do he sholde

He sayd madame I wyll be true to my lorde

Traytour wyll I neuer be to my souerayne

Therfore byleue me at a worde

515

Rather than do so had I leuer be slayne

With that loude dyde she crye and brake her lace in twayne

And smote her nose that it gusshed all on blode

And rente downe her serket that was of sylke full good

She tolde the knyghtes that Ioseph wolde by her layne

520

And that he tare her robes all asonder

And helpe had not come this thefe had me slayne

Than all the courte therof dyde wonder

That he durste pull her lace asonder

God wote it came neuer in his thought

525

But full grete treason by women hath be wrought

At nyght it was shewed to the kynge

How suche a trespasse to the quene was done

He commaunded Ioseph in pryson than to brynge

I charge you sayd Pharao that traytour fette soone

530

Than downe to the towne Ioseph was gone

They toke and put hym in a dongeon grete

Comfortles there he laye without drynke or mete

Than the baker and the butler that had be seruauntes longe

Wrathed Pharao that was theyr lorde and kynge

535

Also they were brought to that pryson stronge

Where Ioseph gyltles alone laye therin

Grete hongre he suffred with wepynge and waylynge

At the last bothe butler and baker bare hym company

sig: [B4]

For in the same pryson by hym dyde they lye

540

Than these two men that in-to the dongeon were brought

They had meruaylous dremes there on a nyght

The butler in a vyneyarde a cup of wyne he thought

He had in his hande all in Pharaos syght

Lordes and ladyes dranke therof bothe squyer and knyght

545

And euer he had thre grapes in his cup holdynge

All the people dranke and [neuer the les] was the wyne neuer the les] neuertheles 1510, 1522-23

The baker thought that he had holde on his sholder

A lepe full of brede that was newe bake

Than came there wylde foules that fro hym dyde it bere

550

And euen with that bothe sodeynly gan wake

So vnto Ioseph these wordes than they spake

Of theyr dremes and all the trouth tolde

They prayed hym to shewe what it sygnefye sholde

Ioseph sayd baker thou shalte be hanged hye

555

And byrdes shall bere thy flesshe awaye

Deth must thou suffre there is no remedye

And the butler nede not to fraye

For his olde offyce euen as I saye

He shall haue and for euer kepe it styll

560

And of kynge Pharao to haue all his wyll

Butler quod Ioseph yet remembre me

Whan that thou comest to thyn offyce agayne

Where thou shalte of euery-thynge haue plente

Forgete not poore Ioseph that lyeth here in payne

565

And yf thou here ony man on me do playne

In chambre or hall at bedde or borde

I praye the gentyll butler gyue me thy good worde

The baker and the butler kynge Pharao se wolde

On the morowe he sente for them bothe

sig: [B4v]

570

Than founde they true all that Ioseph tolde

The butler to his offyce that daye he gothe

But the poore baker to tell you the sothe

On a gybet he made his ende

And the butler in pharaos courte than had many a frende

575

So on a nyght kynge Pharao in his bedde laye

He thought in his slepe that myghty beestes seuen

Fayrer nor fatter sawe he neuer before that daye

They ete corne and grasse of them dyde he dreme

And euer he thought that they came fro a streme

580

That was in the west and than downe by a stone

These fayre beestes layde them to rest euerychone

Than out of the streme comynge he sawe as many m[o] letter broken

That came and ete vp all theyr corne clene

So feble than they were that they myght not go

585

For all that they had corne yet were they lene

Than sodeynly Pharao waked of his dreme

And called to his men this dreme to expounde

They wyst not what it ment all that were in that grounde

My lorde quod the butler there is one in your prysone

590

That ye do hate / your dreme can he tell

If it be Ioseph sayd Pharao go fette hym soone

And of this mater yf he can shewe me well

I wyll forgyue hym my malyce euery-dell

Than was lytell Ioseph to the kynge brought

595

He wende he sholde dye therfore he toke grete thought

Than Pharao to Ioseph all his dreme tolde

And sayd canst thou tell me what it dooth mene

And thou shalte haue plente sayd Pharao of golde

Syr sayd Ioseph I wyll shewe the of thy dreme

600

What dyde sygnefye the fayre fatte beestes seuen

sig: [B5]

Thou shalte haue seuen plenty[full] yeres of whete plentyfull] plenty 1510, plentyfull 1522-23

And as many moo there shall be none to gete

The last beestes that thou sawe on whiche thou doost wonder

That ete vp all the corne and yet were they lene

605

It betokeneth that there is comynge .vij. yeres of honger

And all the other plente they shall ete vp clene

As I tell the this it dooth mene

Well sayd kynge Pharao this dreme is well expounde

Therfore wyll I make the stewarde of my grounde

610

Lo than was Ioseph stewarde of Egypte londe

He gadereth in the corne bothe daye and nyght

All men hym pleased bothe free and bonde

Unto Ioseph dyde bowe bothe squyer and knyght

Yet fayne wolde he haue knowlege and he myght

615

Whether his fader and his moder were on_lyue

He threwe moche chaffe on the water that was lyght

That in-to Israell the wynde myght it dryue

In Israell than was there honger grete

Iacob that was Iosephs fader with his sones all

620

Coude not gete in theyr countre brede nor mete

So grete scarsenes amonge them was fall

As for corne had they none and mete but s[m]all small] shall 1510, small 1522-23

At the last the .xi. bretherne by the see-syde gan gone

They sawe where the chaffe came fletynge on the fome

625

Than home to theyr fader these bretherne dyde ronne

And of the chaffe shewed hym that they dyde fynde

Out of what countree sayd Iacob sholde it come

Can ye tell / and whiche waye cometh the wynde

It came out of Egypte they answered by theyr mynde

630

In fayth sayd his chyldren that by hym dyde stande

Now wolde to god sayd Iacob that we were in that lande

My sones all thyder I wyll you sende

sig: [B5v]

For you ryght soone I shall ordeyne a galye

Also ye shall haue golde ynough for to spende

635

Haste ye thyder and come agayne lyghtly

If ye tary longe for hongre I shall dye

Than they toke theyr shyppe and sayled forth in-dede

I praye god sayd Iacob to be your good spede

The shyppe was swyfte that they in rode

640

God dyde them sende also a fayre wynde

And soone they passed ouer the see brode

So acras hauen forsothe gan they fynde

They kest an ancre soone to the londe they gan wynde

The fyrst man they mette was a harper

645

That knewe Israell for he trauayled fer

This mynstrell shewed them the custome of the countree

Bycause they wolde to the courte he gaue them a rynge

And badde them bere it to the porter my broder is he

The more fauour ye may haue there at your comynge

650

And to the stewarde for my sake he wyll you brynge

So they toke theyr leue eche at other

Farewell sayd the mynstrell recommaunde me to my broder

At the last these bretherne with the stewarde dyde mete

And prayed hym to haue some whete for theyr golde

655

Lowe on theyr knees all they gan sytte

The stewarde lyked theyr fauour and them gan beholde

And sayd out of this lande no whete shall be solde

Ye yonge men quod Ioseph of what countree are ye

Of Israell londe one Iacobs sones be we

660

For Ioye than the teres fell fro his eye

And sodeynly loked asyde

Bycause his bretherne sholde hym not spye

So forth togyder they all dyde ryde

sig: [B6]

And sayd that in Israell grete hongre dyde byde

665

Ioseph asked yf they had ony moo bretheryn

And they sayd ye his name is Beniamyn

Than he gaue them whete theyr sackes euen full

And they payed for it to hym all theyr golde

Ioseph sayd ye shall haue as moche as ye wull

670

These bretherne thanked hym many-folde

At the last came Rubyne his sacke vp to holde

Than Ioseph let fall a cuppe amonge the whete

So knytted vp that bagge and badde them go to mete

So they toke theyr leue they wolde no lenger byde

675

And whan they were gone thus a dayes Iourney

Ioseph badde men after them to ryde

And sayd brynge them agayne or they go to theyr galey

For they haue borne the kynges cuppe awaye

The men after-rode at the last them ouertoke

680

And made them so aferde that pyteously they loke loke] dyde loke 1522-23

Abyde ye theues the men to them sayd

Ye haue stolen a cuppe that longeth to the kynge

Fro theyr backes theyr bagges downe they layde

All they on other stode heuyly lokynge

685

Good syrs we haue none sayd chylde Rubyne

Than they sought the sackes as they stode on the grounde

And in Rubynes bagge the cuppe they founde

God wote / than that they all were wo

And loked as pale as the asshes dede

690

To gete helpe or comforte they wyst not how to do

Lo ye theues the men to them sayde

In pryson shall ye and there to ete your brede

And bounde theyr handes and ledde them to theyr brother

Wenynge for to dye they knewe all none other

sig: [B6v]

695

Than Ioseph sayd syrs how is this befall

That this cuppe of golde is amonge you found

Forsothe sayd they we kn[o]we it not at all knowe] knewe 1510, knowe 1522-23

And than fell on theyr knees to the grounde

Hens ye go not yet sayd Ioseph for a .M. pounde

700

But yf ye wyll brynge me Beniamyn

That is your brother fayne I wolde se hym

Tyll ye haue hym brought sayd Ioseph tho

One of you to pledge here shall abyde

How saye ye are ye agreed therto

705

And they answered hym ye in that tyde

Than go whan ye wyll sayd Ioseph god be your gyde

So they toke theyr shyppe and sayled ouer the stronde

On a daye lytell Beniamyn that was lefte at home

To his fader for brede he dyde praye

710

Iwys sone sayd Iacob I haue none

And therfore I may saye well-awaye

For now I lacke my fode and none gete I may

Alas sayd the chylde agayne fader I wolde haue breed

My bely is sore for hunger alas I wolde be deed

715

Iacob wept so dyde Rachell also

To se theyr chylde for his brede crye

Alas they sayd now were we neuer so wo

Our whete is all gone and none can we bye

A good god sayd Iacob for faute now I dye

720

My sones from egypte I wolde were come full fayne

For all the worlde hongre is the gretest payne

And as soone as they these worde spoken [had] corner of leaf torn away here and in the next two lines; text completed from 1522-23

All his sones brought whete in-to the ha[ll]

Than Iacob and his wyfe wexed [very glad]

sig: [B7]

725

And lytell Beniamyn well knewe them all

So they shewed theyr fader what dyde them befall

And sayd that they must cary Beniamyn ouer the see

Nay that shall ye not quod Iacob he shall byde with me

We were troubled for a cuppe they all sayd

730

That was founde in Rubyns bagge

And we had wende veryly that we sholde all haue dyed

Grete sorowe and trouble therfore we had

Than Iacob theyr fader was very sadde

And asked for Asser that was theyr brother

735

He is yet in egypte they sayd it wyll be none other

Tyll we brynge Beniamyn there must he byde

He fareth well ynough they sayd and hath his lyberte

Therfore we wyll hye vs thyder this nexte tyde

And brynge home whete grete plente

740

Alas sayd Iacob none other can I se

Now shall I lese Beniamyn after Ioseph

In sorowe shall I lyue all the dayes of my lyfe

So ouer in-to egypte Beniamyn they ladde

And before the stewarde they dyde hym brynge

745

Than was Ioseph I trowe full gladde

Whan he sawe all his bretherne before hym knelynge

So Ioseph prayed them in ebrewe to synge

And euer his eye he cast on lytell Beniamyn

Be ye sure he was gladde for to se hym

750

Than they all songe ebrewe as theyr broder badde

I trowe Ioseph therof was fayne

And than he called them bretherne and bad them be gladde

For I am he sayd that you solde in dottayne

Remembre ye not that ye me wolde haue slayne

755

Alas sayd Rubyne vnto his bretherne tho

sig: [B7v]

For that same dede to deth now shall we go

Not so quod Ioseph I forgyue you all

And than he kyssed them euerychone

In this countree bretherne now ye abyde shall

760

But fyrst agayne ye must go home

And fette all my kynrede of them leue not one

Bothe my fader and my moder brynge hyder to me

And in this lande they shall lyue full meryly

Home they wente in-to Israhell londe

765

And tolde theyr fader good tydynges haue we brought

Ioseph our broder agayne haue we fonde

Whete in Egypte in a good tyme we sougnt

God wote that Iacob was gladde in his thought

And than all the bretherne to theyr fader tolde

770

How for .xxx. pens to a chapman they hym solde

And now fader he prayeth you to come to that lande

With all your kynne vnto the nynth degre

And there shall ye haue all-thynge at your hande

With a good wyll quod Iacob thyder wyll we

775

To shyppe they wente in all the haste that myght be

And shortly landed in Egypte the kyngdome

Ioseph was gladde whan he herde they were come

At the laste they mette Ioseph in pharaos hall

There he welcomed his fader and Rachell his moder

780

So for to wasshe to mete for water he dyde call wasshe] wasshed 1510, wasshe 1522-23

Iacob toke the lauer in one hande and the basen in the other

And Rachell in her hande a fayre towell dyde bere

And so to theyr sone it helde for to wasshe his handes

Nay not so quod Ioseph this not with reason standes

785

Than at the table his fader he dyde set

With his moder Rachell and many other mo

sig: [B8]

Theyr .xij. sones there serued them of mete

On his dreme Ioseph thought tho

How that he out of Israhell dyde go

790

So whan they had eten thus he gan sayne

Now are my dremes true that I had in dotayne

Now dooth the sonne and the mone bowe to my hande

And the .xi. sterres that in my dreme I dyde se

With sheues of whete thrugh-out the lande

795

Now in-dede they do folowe me

And now in egypte our lyfe lede we

So than he prayed his fader to be gladde

God hath so prouyded ye haue no cause to be sadde

Styll there they lyued in that countre

800

In grete rychesse they dyde all habounde

Of shepe and catell they had plente

With gotes asses and camelles full theyr grounde

Theyr kynrede encreased aboute them rounde

Tyll it befell at last that all-thynge shall haue ende

805

God his messenger deth vnto them dyde sende

Now ye that shall this boke se and rede

Do not thynke that it is contryued of ony fable

For it is the very byble in-dede

Wherin our fayth is grounded full stable

810

Now god gyue vs grace that we may be able

By meryte of his passyon to heuen assende

For of this mater here I make an ende

¶Here endeth Iacob and his .xij. sones. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne / by Wynkyn_de_Worde.

sig: [B8v]