[Sidenote: God forbids us to defile any vessels used in His service.] For þat þat ones watȝ his schulde efte be vn-clene, 1144 Þaȝ hit be bot a bassy{n}, a bolle, oþ{er} a scole, A dysche oþ{er} a dobler þ{a}t dryȝtyn oneȝ serued, To defowle hit eu{er} vpon folde fast he for-bedes, So is he scoym{us} of scaþe þat scylful is eu{er}. 1148 [Sidenote: In Belshazzar’s time, the defiling of God’s vessels brought wrath upon the king.] & þat watȝ bared i{n} babyloyn i{n} Baltaȝar tyme, Hov harde vnhap þer hy{m} hent & hastyly sone, For he þe vesselles avyled þat vayled i{n} þe temple I{n} seruyse of þe sou{er}ayn su{m} tyme byfore. 1152 [Sidenote: [Fol. 73a.]] Ȝif ȝe wolde tyȝt me a tom telle hit I wolde, Hov charged more watȝ his chau{n}ce þat he{m} cherych nolde Þen his fader forloyne þat feched he{m} wyth strenþe, & robbed þe relygiou{n} of relykes alle. 1156 [Sidenote 47: þi{n}geȝ.] [Sidenote 48: _broþer_ is written over in a later hand.] [Sidenote 49: _Sweyed_ (?).] [Sidenote 50: _alkatran_ (?).] [Sidenote 51: _augre_ = _aigre_ (?).] [Sidenote 52: _spinnande_ (?).] [Sidenote 53: _festres_ (?).] [Sidenote 54: MS. wy{n}dowande.] [Sidenote 55: _abof_ (?).] [Sidenote 56: _cut_ (?).] [Sidenote 57: MS. _sovly_.] [Sidenote 58: _þeues_. (?).] XII. [Sidenote: Daniel in his prophecies tells of the destruction of the Jews.] Danyel i{n} his dialokeȝ de-vysed su{m} tyme, As ȝet is proued ex-presse i{n} his p{ro}fecies, Hov þe gentryse of Iuise & Ih{e}r{usa}l{e}m þe ryche Watȝ disstryed wyth distres, & drawen to þe erþe, 1160 [Sidenote: For their unfaithfulness in following other gods, God allowed the heathen to destroy them, in the reign of Zedekiah, who practised idolatry.] For þat folke i{n} her fayth watȝ fou{n}den vntrwe, Þat haden hyȝt þe hyȝe god to halde of hy{m} eu{er}; & he hem halȝed for his & help at her nede In mukel meschefes mony, þat meruayl [is] to here; 1164 & þay forloyne her fayth & folȝed oþ{er} goddes, & þat wakned his wrath & wrast hit so hyȝe, Þat he fylsened þe faythful i{n} þe falce lawe To for-fare þe falce i{n} þe faythe trwe; 1168 Hit watȝ sen i{n} þat syþe þat ȝedechyas[59] re{n}gned, I{n} Iuda, þat iustised þe iuyne ky{n}ges. He sete on Salamones solie, on solemne wyse, Bot of leaute he watȝ lat to his lorde hende; 1172 He vsed abominaciones of idolatrye, & lette lyȝt bi þe lawe þat he watȝ lege tylle; For-þi oure fader vpon folde a foman hy{m} wakned, [Headnote: NEBUCHADNEZZAR BESIEGES JERUSALEM.]