The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20; John 1:19–28)

1In those dayes Ihon the Baptyst came and preached in the wildernes of Iury, 2saynge: Amede youre selues, the kyngdome of heuen is at honde.

3This is he, of whom it is spoke by ye Prophet Esay, which sayeth: The voyce of a cryer in ye wyldernes, prepare the LORDES waye, and make his pathes straight.

4This Ihon had his garment of camels heer, and a lethre gerdell aboute his loynes. Hys meate was locustes and wylde hony. 5Then went out to hym Ierusalem, and all Iury, and all the region rounde aboute Iordan, 6and were baptised of him in Iordan, cofessynge their synnes.

7Now when he sawe many of the Pharises and of ye Saduces come to hys baptim, he sayde vnto them: ye generacio of vipers, who hath certified you, that ye shal escape ye vengeaunce to come? 8Bewarre, brynge forth due frutes of pennaunce. 9Thinke not now, to saye in your selues, we haue Abraham to oure father. For I saye vnto you, that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham. 10Euen now is the axe put vnto ye rote of the trees: therfore euery tre which bringeth not forth good frute, shalbe hewe downe, and cast into the fyre.

11I baptise you with water to repentaunce: but he that cometh after me, is myghtier the I, whose shues I am not worthy to beare. He shall baptise you with ye holy goost & wt fyre: 12which hath also his fan in his hond, and will pourge his floore, and gadre the wheet into his garner, & will burne ye chaffe with vnquencheable fyre.

The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:29–34)

13Then came Iesus from Galile to Iordan, vnto Ihon, to be baptised of hym. 14But Iho forbade hym, saynge: I haue nede to be baptysed of the: and commest thou to me? 15Iesus answered & sayd vnto hym: Let it be so now. For thus it be commeth vs to fulfyll all righteousnes. Then he suffred hym. 16And Iesus assone as he was baptised, came straight out of the water. And lo, heue was ope ouer hym: and Ihon sawe the spirite of God descende lyke a doue, and lyght vpon hym. 17And lo, there came a voyce fro heue sayng: Thys ys that my beloued sonne, in whom is my delyte.