and made them a feast like a king’s feast.  At which feast he did do slay his brother Amnon; and anon it was told to the King David that Absalom had slain all the king’s sons.  Wherefore the king was in great heaviness and sorrow, but anon after it was told him that there was no more slain but Amnon, and the other sons came home.  And Absalom fled into Geshur, and was there three years, and durst not come home.  And after by the moyen of Joab he was sent for, and came into Jerusalem, but yet he might not come in his father the king’s presence, and dwelled there two years, and might not see the King his father.  This Absalom was the fairest man that ever was, for from the sole of his foot unto his head there was not a spot; he had so much hair on his head that it grieved him to bear, wherefore it was shorn off once a year, it weighed two hundred shekels of good weight.  Then when he abode so long that he might not come to his father’s presence he sent for Joab to come speak with him, and he would not come.  He sent again for him and he came not.  Then Absalom said to his servants:  Know ye Joab’s field that lieth by my field?  They said yea.  Go ye, said he, and set fire in the barley that is therein, and burn it.  And Joab’s servants came and told to Joab that Absalom had set fire on his corn.  Then Joab came to Absalom and said:  Why hast thou set fire on my corn!  And he said, I have sent twice to thee, praying thee to come to me that I might send thee to the king, and that thou shouldst say to him why I came from Geshur; it had been better for me for to have abiden there.  I pray thee that I may come to his presence and see his visage, and if he remember my wickedness let him slay me.  Joab went in to the King and told to him all these words.  Then was Absalom called, and entered in to the king, and he fell down and worshipped the king, and the king kissed him.  After this Absalom did do make for himself chariots and horsemen and fifty men for to go before him, and walked among the tribes of Israel; and greeted and saluted them, taking them by the hand, and kissed them, by which he gat to him the hearts of the people; and said to his father that he had avowed to make sacrifice to God in Hebron, and his father gave him leave.  And when he was there he gathered people to him, and made himself king, and did do cry that all men should obey and wait on him as king of Israel.  When David heard this he was sore abashed and was fain to flee out of Jerusalem.  And Absalom came with his people and entered into Jerusalem into his father’s house, and after pursued his father to depose him.  And David ordained his people and battle against him, and sent Joab, prince of his host, against Absalom, and divided his host into three parts, and would have gone with them, but Joab counselled that he should not go to the battle whatsomever happed, and then David bade them to save his son Absalom.