for to see and consider the goodness
thereof, and that of every tribe he should send some. Moses did as our
Lord had commanded, which went in and brought of the fruits with them,
and they brought a branch with one cluster of grapes as much as two men
might bear between them upon a colestaff. When they had seen the country
and considered by the space of forty days they returned and told the
commodities of the land, but some said that the people were strong, and
many kings and giants, in such wise that they said it was impregnable
and that the people were much stronger than they were. Wherefore the
people anon were afeard, and murmured against Moses and would return
again into Egypt. Then Joshua and Caleb, which were two of them that had
considered the land, said to the people: Why grudge ye and wherefore be
ye afraid? We have well seen the country, and it is good to win. The
country floweth full of milk and honey, be not rebel against God, he
shall give it us, be ye not afeard. Then all the people cried against
them, and when they would have taken stones and stoned them, our Lord in
his glory appeared in a cloud upon the covering of the tabernacle, and
said to Moses: This people believeth not the signs and wonders that I
have showed and done to them. I shall destroy them all by pestilence,
and I shall make thee a prince upon people greater and stronger than
this is. Then prayed Moses to our Lord for the people, that he would
have pity on them and not destroy them, but to have mercy on them after
the magnitude of his mercy. And our Lord at his request forgave them.
Nevertheless our Lord said that all the men that had seen his majesty,
and the signs and marvels that he did in Egypt, and in desert, and have
tempted him ten times, and not obeyed unto his voice, shall not see ne
come into the country and land that I have promised to their fathers,
but Joshua and Caleb, my servants, shall enter into the land, and their
seed shall possess it. Moses told all this unto the children and they
wailed and sorrowed greatly therefore.

After this the people removed from thence and came into the desert of
Sin; and then Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, died, and was buried in
the same place. Then the people lacked water and came and grudged
against Moses, and yet wished they had abided in Egypt. Then Moses and
Aaron entered into the Tabernacle and fell down to the ground low, and
prayed unto our Lord, saying: Lord God, hear the clamor