hers, and all that was good he
spared, and whatsomever was foul he destroyed. And this was showed to
Samuel by our Lord, saying: Me forthinketh that I have ordained Saul
king upon Israel, for he hath forsaken me, and not fulfilled my
commandments. Samuel was sorry herefor, and wailed all the night. On the
morn he rose and came to Saul, and Saul offered sacrifice to our Lord of
the pillage that he had taken. And Samuel demanded of Saul what noise
that was he heard of sheep and beasts, and he said that they were of the
beasts that the people had brought from Amalek to offer unto our Lord,
and the residue were slain. They have spared the best and fattest for to
do sacrifice with unto thy Lord God. Then said Samuel to Saul:
Rememberest thou not that whereas thou wert least among the tribes of
Israel thou wert made upperest? And our Lord anointed thee, and made
thee king. And he said to thee: Go and slay the sinners of Amalek and
leave none alive, man ne beast; why hast thou not obeyed the commandment
of our Lord? And hast run to robbery and done evil in the sight of God?
And then said Saul to Samuel: I have taken Agag, king of the Amalekites,
and brought him with me, but I have slain Amalek. The people have taken
of the sheep and beasts of the best for to offer unto our Lord God. And
then said Samuel: Trowest thou that our Lord would rather have sacrifice
and offerings than not to obey his commandments? Better is obedience
than sacrifice, and better it is to take heed to do after thy Lord than
to offer the fat kidneys of the wethers. For it is a sin to withstand
and to repugn against his Lord like the sin of idolatry. And because
thou hast not obeyed our Lord, and cast away his word, our Lord hath
cast thee away that thou shalt not be king. Then said Saul to Samuel: I
have sinned for I have not obeyed the word of God and thy words, but
have dreaded the people and obeyed to their request, but I pray thee to
bear my sin and trespass and return with me that I may worship our
Lord. And Samuel answered, I shall not return with thee. And so Samuel
departed, and yet ere he departed, he did do slay [caused to be slain]
Agag the king. And Samuel saw never Saul after unto his death.

Then our Lord bade Samuel to go and anoint one of the sons of Isai,
otherwise called Jesse, to be king of Israel. And so he came into
Bethlehem unto Jesse and bade him bring his sons tofore him. This Jesse
had eight sons, be brought tofore Samuel seven of