Matthew(i)
2 thou shalt appoynte .iij. cytyes in the lande whyche the Lorde thy God geueth the to possesse it:
3 thou shalt prepare the way and deuyde the costes of thy land whych the Lord thy God geueth the to enheret, into .iij. partes that whosoeuer commytteth murther may flee thither.
4 And thys is the cause of the slayer that shal flee thither and be saued:
5 If he smyte his neyghboure ignorantly & hated him not in tyme passed: As when a man goeth vnto the wood wyth hys neyghbour to hewe wood, & as his hand fetcheth a stroke wt the axe, the head slippeth from the helue & smyteth his neyghboure that he dyeth: the same shal flee vnto one of the same cities & be saued.
6 Lest the executer of bloude folowe after the slayer while is hert is whote and ouertake him, because the way is longe, and slee hym, & yet there is no cause worthy of death in hym, in as moche as he hated not hys neyghbour in tyme passed.
7 Wherfore I commaunde the saying se that thou apoynte out .iij. cytyes.
8 And If the Lord thy God enlarge thy costes as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers and geue all the lande which he sayd he wold geue vnto thi fathers
9 (so that thou kepe al these commaundementes to do them, which I commaunde the this day, that thou loue the lord thy God and walke in his wayes euer) them thou shalt adde .iij. cities mo vnto those .iij.
10 that innocent bloud be not shed in thy land which the Lorde thy God geueth the to enheret, & so bloud come vpon the.
11 But and yf there be any man that hateth hys neyghboure and layeth awayte for him & riseth agaynst hym & smyteth him that he dye, & fleeth vnto any of these cytyes.
12 Then let the elders of his citye sende & fetche him thence & deliuer hym into the handes of the iustice of bloude, & he shall dye,
13 Let thyne eye haue no pitie on hym, & so thou shalt put awaye innocent bloude from Israel, & happye arte thou.