Historical Table of the Bible, Book
The thyrde boke of the Machabees not founde in the Hebrew canons but tranſlated out of the Greke in to Latyn, and taken in the ſteede of one of the bookes of holy Scripture, worthy to be reade of all godly men, neuer before this ſet forth in the Engleſhe tounge.
The content of this boke.
HEre in is declared the fearfull punyſhemente of the Blaſphemous tyranny of Ptolomeus. Item what myſchefe he dyd afterwardes enterpryſe againſte the Iewes, whiche God neuertheles dyd gracyouſly wythſtand and brought it to a good ende, therby ſygnyfyeng vntounto vsus, that the hartes of Kinges and Princes and of all men are in hys hande. Prouerb. xxi.a. iiij. Regum. i.c.d. ij. Heſter. vi.b. And that noman ſhallbe confounded that putteth hys thruſt and confidence in hym. Eſaye. xlix.e. xxviij.c. lvii.b. Pſal. xxv.a. xxxi.a. xxxvij c. lxxi.a. Roman. ix.d. v.a. &c.
chapter 1 Zurich part A Dan. xi b.WHen Philopater had vnderſtande by thoos that were comen agayne that Antiochus had taken frō hym ſuche holdes as he had, he rayſed all hys army aſwell fote men as horſemen, and taking with him his ſiſter Arſinoe, he ranne out euen affare as the countries of Raphia, that were borderynge vponupon hym, where Antiochus hoſt camped. And one Theodotus, thynkynge to brynge the matter to paſſe by craftye traines, when he hadde taken the ſtrongeſt men of armys, that were put vntounto hym by Ptolomeus, in the night he gat him to Ptolomeus tent to kyll hym vnwares, and ſo make an end of the battel. But Doſitheus called the ſonne of Drimilius a Iewe borne, and afterwardes forſakyng the Lawe, and tourned from hys fathers ordinaū ces, whiche was hired for the purpoſe, put in hys ſteede in the tente an other poore man, which chaunſed to be ſlayn for him. And as they fought fearcely together. But Antiochus moare. Arſinoe went diligently about her men, wering pitifully, her heare about her ſhuldars, and deſyred them, that they would healpe her valiauntly, promiſinge to gy… vntounto eueryevery of there wiues and children, yf the had the vyctory two poundes of golde. Thys is chaunſed that there enemies were ouer thrownen, and many taken. Then whan he hadde thus dyſapointed there traines, he went about ye cities that were next, and thought to cō fort them wyth wordes, whiche when he had done, he gaue *3. Macha. h.gyftes vntounto ther churches, and conforted the ſubiectes hartes. part B And when the Iewes had ſent the elders of there counſailours to Philopater to ſalute hym, berynge gyftes and to ſhewe there, for the thyngs that he hadde done, it fortuned that he hadd a greater deſyre to go to theym aſſone as might be. So he came to Ieruſalem and dyd ſacrifice to the moſte myghtye God, and whē he had done, he dyd to ye place as was conuenient. *Mathe. xxiiij.a. Luk. xxi a. Mar. xii a.And after when he was come in, he wondred to ſee the coſtly worcke, and meruelynge at the fine buyldynge of the temple, he deſyred to go alſo into the innar tabernacle that was holieſt of all. But when they denyed hym ſayenge it was not leafull, no not to eny that were borne there, to go in, not ſo much as for ye prieſtes them ſelues ſaue only for the cheaffe byſhop*Exo. xxx b. Leui. xvi g. Heb. ix.a, & that but onſe in the yere onlye, yet woulde he not betourned one wyth. And when they reade vntounto him ye law, yet would he not ceaſe, but ſaid he mult nedes go in. And al though this honor was denied vntounto thē, yet ye it ought not to be ſo vntounto him, & axed thē, why no mā yet ſtopped him frō going in to eny tēples. And whē one had made anſwere vnaduiſedlye, yt they did well becauſe they did not, but this quoth he, ſhall be done & let the cauſe what ſo eny the lyſt, he would in whither they would or not. part C Zurich part B *ij. Mach iij.c.And when the pryeſtes hadde fallen wt there faces vpō the ground and were in all there veſtimentes, and prayed vntounto the higheſt god, to helpe them in there moſte nede, and that he woulde put awaye his ſtrenght that threatened to hurt them, & had filled the temple with cryeng and weapinge, the reſt that were in the cytye beyng greatly amaſed, & not knowyng what hadde happened, came out as faſt as they could. Virgens that were in the chaumbers, & women in child bed ran forth, caſting duſt vponupon there heddes and filling the ſtreat with morning and lamentacion. And the banners that they had a lytle before prepared to go meat hym, forgettynge the maner that be came them, they bare them about the cytye and forſakynge ye young infantes, bothe mothers & merſes ran wanderinge about the ſtreates, ſome one waye, ſome another into the hyghe temple, and beynge gathered together, ſtriued diuerſly agaynſte thoſe thynges whyche he wyckedly wente aboute. part D Beſides this the cityzens moued wyth bouldnes, woulde not ſuffer hym to ruſhe in, and accompleſh hys purpoſe but toke them to there weapons, and wyth great cryes redy to ſuffer death, they ſtyrred vp a great buſynes in that place, but yet remoued back by the prieſtes and ſeniores, they came agayne to page missing earth, part B *ij Par vi a. &. vij.chaſt choſē this city, and haſt halowed thys place to honor the in all though that thou haſt nede of nothing, and haſte made it goodly to be ſene to thyne owne prayſe & glory of thy great and riall name. For the louelove alſo of the houſe of Iſraell thou haſte promyſed that when we hauehave arred, wherby troubles ſhoulde come vponupon vsus yf we come in to thys place to praie that thou wilt heare our praiers. And verely thou art faythfull and full of trouth. And by cauſe thou haſt often holpen our forfathers, *Read Iudicum ye whole boke ouerwhē they hauehave byne oppreſſed wyth trouble. And haſt delyuered them out of great perels, & now alſo beholde (O holy kinge) that we for our many & great ſinnes be preſſed and in our enemies ſubiectiō, faule doune in or miſery for lack of ſtrenght, and that thys ſtouberne and vnclene perſon goeth aboute to defyle thy holy place, whych is dedicat here in the earth to thy holy name (for other wyſe thy houſe is in heauen a place yt nomā can come vntounto) I ſaye bethou cauſe of thyne awne good wyll yt haſt gyuen thys glory to thy people in dedicatynge thys place vntounto the, laye not to our charg ye vnclenlineſſe of thees men nor correct vsus for the vnhalowing of yt thees wicked perſons may not boſt in there mindes and a vaunce with there tounges that they hauehave deſtroied our holy tēple, as they do treade vnderunder foot all other temples that thou hateſt, put out our ſinnes & ſtrypke awaie our fawtes and nowe ſhewe thy mercye. Lett vsus hauehave thy mercye ſhortelye and make the monthes of them that be fallen and broken prayſe the and geue vsus peace. Then he that ſeeth all thynges, and God of al the moſt holieſt, hearing there lawful prayer driuynge hym hether and thether, whyche was puffed vp by vyolence and great ſtoubernes, euen as the wynd doth the read, dyd ſo ſcourge hym, that now he laie vponupon the ground meate for nothynge loſed in all the partes of the body and iuſtly wrapped in punyſhemente was not able to ſpeake one worde. Wherfore hys frendes and gard that kept hys body, beholdynge hys ſodeyn punyſhemente, where wyth he was oppreſſed fearynge alſo leaſt he woulde dye. Sryken wyth great feare, they droue hym out. And after when he was come again to him ſelfe, al though he was punyſhed, yet repented he nothinge, but went hys wayes, and treatened them ſore, ſo when he was comē agayne in to Egypt, as we! by hys owne encreaſe in myſchefe, as by his other fealowes, *iij. Mach a.yt holpe hym whyche were paſt all goodnes, not only he gaue hym ſelfe to innumerable luſtes, but waxed ſo made to ſpeake yuell eueryevery where, & many of hys frendes, knowyng the kinges mynde, part D folowed hys wyll alſo, and whan the kynge hadde determyned to put to open ſhame the nacion of the Iewes, he cauſed to be ingrauen wyth letters in a towre, that he hadde in hys palace, that noman whyche would not do ſacrifice, ſhoulde entre in to the temples of the Egyptyans, and that all the Iewes there goodes beyng ſeaſed, ſhould be brought to ſlauerye, to the whyche thyng, yf eny agayne ſayde that they ſhould dye, and yf eny woulde be come ſeruauntes, that they ſhould be brēte in the bodyes wyth the marck of an yuy leaf, for yt was Bacchus bage. And ſuch as would do ſo, he woulde they ſhould in ioye thys lawe, and not dye. But by cauſe he woulde ſeme not to be angry with all he wrot vnderunder nethe yt yf eny among them, that were in ſolomen holy orders, hadde rather to dwell amonge them, that then they ſhoulde be takē for cytyzens, as well as the Alexandrians. Zurich part F So ſome in the cyte, whiche hated the degrees of the Relygyon in the cytye, yelded them ſelfes, as thoughe they ſhould gett great glorye, by accompanynge wyth the kynge. But many that were of ualyant courage would not go from there godlynes. But redemynge there lyues for mony, went boldly to delyuer them ſelfes becauſe, they woulde not be come ſeruauntes hauynge good hope to hauehave helpe and thoos that fell from them, then abhorred them, and toke them for enemyes of there nacyon and ſhot them for hauynge eny thing to do wyth them.
chapter 3 part A VWhen he vnderſtod thees thinges, that wicked mā was ſo angry that not onlye he ſhewed hys angre at Alexandrya, but waxed a greauous enemye to all them that dwelt in other partes of the countrye, and commaunded all to be gathered to gether aſſone as myghte be, and to be kylled. Whyle thees thynges were a doynge agaynſte the Iewes there went a great fame that now thoſe mē, which entended to do hurt, hadde occacion giuen them, they woulde ſo do, to let the lawes that they myghte not be kepte amongeſt them. Zurich part G But the Iewes kept ſtyl there fidelytye, and louelove towarde the kyng, but by cauſe the wourſhiped god and liued after his lawes, they ſhut out ſome from amongeſt them and ſent thē awaye, wherfore they apperyd to ſome to be enemyes, when they lyuynge wel and iuſtly, they were worthy to be commended of all men. As for the good dedes that were ſpoken of in euerye place of that naciō, ye ſtraungers ſet naughte bye. But in the communicacyons they reproued the diſſenſion in their maners and wourſhippinges, ſayeng, that they and nether the kynge, nor the powres, but that they were enemyes and clene agaynſte the common profettes. And it were no ſmall thynges, that thees mē founde fawt at. But the grecyans that were in the cytye wronged in nothyng perceyuynge this ſoden tumult againſt thees men, and that people came haſtely runnynge to gether, ſeyng they were not able to helpe becauſe all was ruled by tyranny, were greatly angry and cō forted them and loked for a chaunge, & that thys haſty factyon could not indure. part B Theyr neyghbours alſo and frendes and ſuch as bargeyned wyth them, callynge ſome men pryuelie, promyſed thē there helpe, and all that they could make. But he waxen prowde by this proſperyty, and not conſyderyng the power of the greateſt God, but thynckynge ye he ſhoulde hauehave al wayes hys purpoſe, wrott this epyſtel agaynſt the Iewes. Kynge Ptolomens Philopater to the capitaine and ſodiers in Egypt whereſoeuer the be ſendith health and greting As forme I am in good health, and my maters are wel and in good ſtate. Zurich part H *iij. Mach a.After we hadde taken oure iourney into Aſya as you know, and that we hadde redy ſouccours gyuen vntounto vsus of the godes & thorough our ſtrenghte, we had finyſhed our ioyrney euen al, we would deſyre, we thought not by vyolence of armyes, but to entyſe by gentelnes and much humanyt ye, the people that dwel in Celoſyrya and Phenicya and to provoke them wyth our benefytes, and after we had ſene many cities and churches, we were moued to go vp to Ieruſalem to honor the temple of thoſe miſcheuous perſons, part C whyche wyll euer be made. And they in wordes ſhewed thē ſelfes glad of our comming, but in dede were falſly minded, when we deſyred to go in to ther holyeſt place & to adourne it with excellēt & goodly gyftes, then moued after the old pryde, would not let vsus come in, not knowinge our pour, and the humanyty, that we ſhewe vntounto all men. And ſheweynge there hatfull harte vntounto vsus, as though ther were none but they, they woulde admytte no Lawfull offer, for the ſtubbornes that they bare agaynſte kynges, and glory in the benefactors, we moued with the madenes, and that after our victory we were come agayne into Egypte, vſyng gentelnes towarde all nacyons, dyd as it became vsus, and by proclamacion declarynge to forget in thys matter all ye iniuries of ther kindred, as wel for ther fealoſhyp, as for that in the beginning thorow ſimplicitye, we committed to ye infinite buſines, we enterpriſed to chaū ge there eſtate, and made them cityzens of Alexandrya, *iij Mach c.and receiued thē to be partakers of the perpetual pryeſthode, Yet they taking the thynge otherwyſe, and refuſynge thys our goodnes, euen of a certayne natural euyll hart, alwayes redy to euyll, dyd not onlye ſhaumfully refuſe and deſpyſe our citie, but al ſo in wordes and dedes, fewe of them beare vsus good wyll, truſtynge alwayes that ſhortly we ſhal come to a ſhamfull death. part D Zurich part I Wherfore coniecturynge ſuerely, that they are, all the means the can yuell mindyd toward vsus, and forſeyng that they ſhould not ſodenly rayſe a tumulte, and that we ſhould hauehave at our backes thees wicked traitours and cruell enemyes, we thought goode to gyue you in commaundemente, that as ſone as the epyſtell ſhall be delyuered vntounto you, that euen the ſame daye, thoſe that be in wryttynge, with there wyues and chyldren, faſt bounde in yron chaynes wyth much vexacyon be ſent vntounto vsus, to theyre great calamitye, and ſhamful ſlaughter, and as it is meate for enemyes. For as ſone as we ſhall hauehave puniſhed thees, we thinke one matters ſhal afterwardes ſtand ſure and in good condycyon. And yf eny man from the hygheſt to the loweſt, defēd eny Iewe yea and if it be but a ſucking chylde, let him with al his houſehold be mooſt ſhaumfully tormented, and he that wyll bring eny of theyr names beſydes that he ſhal hauehave all the goodes of the condempned perſon, he ſhal hauehave alſo of the kynges gyfte two thouſande grootes of ſyluer, and a garland of libertye. And in what place ſo euer a Iewe ſhal be found to be receyued, let it be roaſted with fier, and for euer be made vnmete for eny man to dwell in, and thys was the copye of hys epyſtell.
chapter 4 part A AND wheter ſo euer thys proclamacion was brought the people made common feaſtes wyth great ioy and gladnes, the old maleyce yt was hardened in there myndes, now when they hadde lycenſe, ſhewing it ſelfe forth. But the Iewes were in great mournyng, and lamentably cō plained gronynge in ther hartes and bewaylynge that ſentence of death was thys ſodenly gyuen agaynſte thē, what offyce or citie, or what place inhabited, what hye wayes was not full of ther waylynge and mournyng, for they wer ſent awaye by ſo bitter and cruell a ſē tence of the cheyfe offycers in the citye, that for the ſtraunge kynde of punyſhmentes, ſōme of there enemyes, ſettinge before ther eyes the myſeryes that may happen to all men and remembryng in theyr mynde the incertayne chaunge of thys lyffe, they dyd bewayle theyr pytyfull ſendynge awaye. Zurich part K For there were led a great ſort of olde men with graye heddes, and there legges croked for age, whyche were threatened and rebuked & made go faſt whether they would or no. part B And the maydens that were lately maryed, in ſteade of pleaſure hadde mournynge, and there heare that was embawmed, was now all doſtyed, and the ſang mournyng ſonges in ſteade of Ioyfull ballades, and all to vexed with ſtraunge women, they were bound and pocked to gether euen tyll the came to ſhyppynge. There huſbandes alſo hauynge halters about there neckes in ſteade of garlantes, being in there yong and floryſhynge yeares, in the ſtede of myrth and quyetnes paſted the reſte of there maryage dayes in mornyng, and ſawe death before there feete. And they were caryed awaye lyke wylde beaſtes, and drawen wyth chaynes, ſome were bounde to toppes of ſhippes by the neck and other were fetered ſo that they coulde not be vndone, and tables ſet ouer there heddes by cauſe they ſhoulde not ſee, all the whyle the ſayled. part C When they hadde thus ledde them to ſhyppe, whē the iorney was done as the kinge commaunded, he hadde he ſhoulde be ſet in the tentes, in ye great roume wher horſes that is before the cytye do runne, for an example of punyſhemente to all men that came in to the cytye, and that go out in to the countrye, nether wyllynge them to be among the men in hys armye, nor yet with in the compaſſe of hys walles. Zurich part L When this was done and that he heard ſaye that certeyne of ther nacyon was gone pryuelye out of the cytye, and dyd often bewayle thys ſhamfull myſery of there bretheren, beynge angrye, he commaunded them alſo to be handled after the ſame maner that the other were, there punyſhement nothynge to be diminyſhed, and that al there kyndred by name ſhoulde be attaynted. For he ſayde that he woulde not take any of them in to paynful ſeruyce, but that in one day he would ſlay them al with ſuch punyſhment as hath not bene dyuyſed. So they were proclamid traytours moſt bytterlye, and the ſeſſyons was kept continewally from the ryſynge of the ſonne to the goinge downe and yet was it not xl. daies. part D *iij. Macha. v.In the meane tyme the kyng full of greate and continewal ioy, kept feaſtes before all the Images, hys mynde farre from the trouth and wyth a wycked mouth prayſyng dōme thynges whych coulde nether ſpeake nor helpe, and agaynſt al reaſon blaſpheming the God of night, and after that, when the ſcrybes hadde ſhewed the kinge, that they were able to punyſhe the Iewes no lengar for the great multytude of them, for many of them was ſcatered abrode in the contrey, ſome yet at whome and ſome in other places ſo that it was a thynge impoſſyble to do for all the offycers in Egypte, the kynge threatened them ſore, as though they had binne hyred to help them for gyftes. Yet ſo it fortuned that they perſuaded hym ſhewyng euydently that they lacked both paper and pennes to ſerue thē, And thys was the plaine worcke of hys prouydence, whych did ſende helpe to the Iewes from heauen.
chapter 5 part A Zurich part M THen after he had ſent for Hermon maſter of hys Elephantes beyng full of great and vnpleaſable anger *i. Mach vi.d. Ioſephus againſte Appyon in hys ſecoūd boke.ſo commaunded yt the next daye there ſhoulde be gyuen to hys elephantes great quantytye of fragrant ſcence with much wine to drinck that when the hadde myghtely drounken they myghte be broughte in ſtarcke madde to kyll the Iewes. And when he had commaunded thees thynges, callynge together hys frends and ye cheife of hys armye which were cruelly minded agaynſte the Iewes, he gat hym to hys feaſt. But Hermā the maſter of his elephantes did his commaundementes handſomly, and his ſeruauntes came about euenyng and bounde the ſely ſoules handes, and dyd all thynges that was to be done amongeſt them, thynckynge aboute twilyghte to kyll all the whole nacyon. Nowe the Iewes ſemed to the Gentiles to be deſtytude of ſouccoure bycauſe they were ſo hard bound wyth banndes, but all they wyth one voyce wyth teares called vponupon the omnipotent Lord, and there mercifull God and father which was aboue al powre. Deſyryng hym to tourne awaye thys wycked deuyſe taken againſt them, and that by hys royall commyng, he would take there fete out of thys deſteuye. part B And thus they prayed toward heauen continewallye. But Hermon whyche hadde filled thoos cruel elephātes with drincke ynough & frankenſcenſe, came early in the mornynge to the court to tell ye king of it. Zurich part N But that goodly worckmanſhyp of day and nyght, made from the begynyng of the worlde, and whych is ſent of him, that gyueth lardgly vntounto al that he wyll, was partly ſent vntounto the kyng, for *i. Regū. xxvi.b.he was faſt in ſlepe & was much deceaued of hys cruell purpoſe, & fruſtrat of his angry iudgment. So the Iewes when they had paſſed the tyme, that was appoynted, they prayſed there holy God, and prayed vntounto him agayn that he woulde ſhewe vntounto the prowde Gentyles, the ſtrengt of hys myghtye hand. Now whē it was halfe an howre almoſt paſt tenne of the clocke, hys ſeruaunt ſeing that many ware come that he had ſent for, he came and waked the kynge, and thold hym, the ſlepe yet ſcāt out of hys eyes, that dynner tyme paſſed awaye, and thold hym of the men yt were cōme. And the kyng remembring, he went where they were and commaū ded thē yt were come to dynner to ſytt ryght agaynſt him, and ſo doing, he exhorted them to eate and to make mery al the diner while. And as they fell in long talkynge, the kynge ſent for Hermon, and axed ſhortly, why the Iewes wer ſuffered a lyue that day. And when he had ſhewed that he had done hys cōmaundement that night, and his frendes had borne wytnes to the ſame, more cruell then Phalaris, well quoth he, let them thynck that I ſlepe ſo longe to daye, but thow wythout tarieng, prepare men & the elephantes agaynſte to morowe euen after the ſame facyon to kyll thees Iewes cruelly. When all they yt were there were glad had praiſed thys commaundemente of the kynges euerye man wente whome to hys owne houſe, where they beſtowed the night, not ſo much in ſlepe, but to deuiſe as it was thought, al maner of meanes howe to mock thees ſelye ſoules. Zurich part O So as ſoune as ye cock cruw erly in ye morning Hermō begā to dryue thees armed beaſtes in a great walking place, & al ye people thorow out of ye city, came to ſee this pitifull ſight loking euer when it ſhould be daye. But the Iewes all that whyle almoſt deade, wyth weapinge prayers and wofull ſounges holding vp there handes to heauen, prayed allmyghtye God, that he would helpe them ſhortly agayne. And or euer it was daye, when the kynge receyued hys frendes, Hermon ſtode and called them out, and declared vntounto them that it was the kynges minde, which thing when the kyng heard, marueling at this cruel ſight, as a man that hadde forget all, axed what was the cauſe, why he did ſuch thinges ſo dylygently. part D But thys was the mighty worcke of God that ruleth all, *Deute. …xviij.c. Iob xij c Mic iij b Rom. i cwhyche made hym forget all thynges thought vponupon before. And when Hermon ſayde. Bothe all thy frendes, beaſtes, and men of armys, O kyng, are redye after thy pleaſure, the king was for thees ſayenges, very ſore angrye, that he hadde loſte the remembraunce of all thees thynges, *Iob. v.bthorough the prouydence of God, loking ſhortly and with great threateninges, ſaide. As many as be here that hath chyldren, or that bee borne of free parentes, that hauehave giuen vntounto this cruel beaſtes this much meat let them be ſerued as the innocente Iewes ſhould hauehave byne, whiche hauehave excellently declared theyr ſure & perfecte faythfullnes both to me and myne auncytours all though noman for fauor, that they hauehave byne broughte vp wyth vsus and done ſeruyce, was euer depcyued of hys lyffe for them. Zurich part P Thus Hermon had ſore checkes vnloked for, and was maruelouſly abbaſhed and affraied, and eueryevery one of hys frendes went there waye wyth heauy cheire, and ſent away thoos that were cōme, eueryevery man to do hys owne buſynes. And when the Iewes knewe what the king had ſayd, the prayſed the myghtye Lorde, *Dan. xij a.king of kynges, of whome they hadde gott thys healpe. i. Timot vi.c. Apo. xvij c. &. xix.cAnd when the kinge after his old couſtome had prepared a feaſte and exhorted them to be mery, callyng Hermon vntounto hym wyth greate threates, he ſayde. Thou wretche how ofte ſhall I commande the to do any thyng, Let me ſe yf now at the laſt thou canſte prepare the elephantes to kyll the Iewes. Then his kynſfolkes that ſat with hym meruelyng at the inconſtantnes of his mynde, ſayd, thees wordes. O king how long wylt thou tēpt vsus, as though we were mad, whyche now commaundeſt them to be ſlayne the thyrde tyme, and chaunged again in doing the thing, breakeſt that ye yu haſt apponted. Verely the cytye for thys cauſe is in a greate romublyng, and many come to gether, threatenynge that they wyll go awaye. Wherfor the king full of madnes, euen in all poyntes lycke an other Phalaris, not regardinge the chaungynge of his minde toward the ſauing of the Iewis, ſware ſtyfly, that he woulde kyll them with out deleye, and that they ſhoulde be all to troden with the fete and knees of the beaſtes. And that after he would go in to Iewry and there wyth ſwerde and fyre waſt it all, and the holy place alſo of the Iewys, *iij. Mac a.that he might not come into, and burne al them that there dyd offer ſacrifice. Then hys frendes and kinſfolke, when they were gone appoynted for the armye the moſt conueniēt places of the citie to be ſurely kept. Zurich part Q And the maſter of the elephauntes, had broughte hys beaſtes euen almoſte to madnes wyth ſwete drynckes tempered wyth franckenſence, and decked fearefully to loke to. And now aboute the mornynge the cytye beynge repleniſhed with innumerable people, about the place where horſes be courſed, one went vntounto the kinge, mouynge hym to come to thys ſyght. Then he wyth an angry and cruell minde, came out with al his mighty elephantes with a fearce mynd deſyrynge to ſee the lamentable deſtruction of the aforſayd ſelie ſoules. And when the Iewes ſawe aboute the gate the duſt that the elephantes made in there commynge oute and the hooſte that folowed in harnes, and of the duſt of the peoples fete, and heard the horrible noyſe, thynckynge it to be the laſte moment of there lyffe, and the ende of ☞there myſery that they loked for, tourning them ſelues to mournynge, eche embraced & ayſſed an other, and toke there kynſfolke about there neckes the father the ſonnes, and the mothers the daughters, and ſome put the infantes to there breſtes to ſuck there laſt. And remembrynge of the help that they had before from heauen, wyth one conſent, they fell flatt to the grounde, takynge there children from there pappies, And wythe one voyce cryed alowde, making there prayers to almyghtye God, that he woulde come and helpe them that were nowe comme to deathes doore.
chapter 6 part A ☞ANd one Eleazarus a noble man, one of the Prieſtes of that countrey a very aged man, & vertuous all his lyfe with other ſadde men about hym, callynge vponupon the holy God prayed thus. O myghtie kyng, and moſt hyeſt almyghtye God, which mercyfully gouerneſt all thynges that thou haſt made locke vponupon the ſeade of Abraham, and the chyldren of thy holy Iacob. The choſen people conſecrated vntounto the beyng ſtraungers in an other lande and that ſhall be ſlayne vniuſtely *Exo. xiiij f. Pſalm. lxxxiij Cv. Cvi Eſa. xi c. Sap. x.dO father. Thou deſtroyeſt Pharao hauing many chariottes, ſometyme the kyng of the Egiptians, puffed vp with cruell ſtubbernes & boſtinges of tongue thou drowneſt hym & his proude hooſte in the ſea, and with thy lyght of mercy dydeſt ſhyne vpō the Iſraellites Zurich part R *Eſaye. xxxvij.f. iiii. Reg. xix.g. Tob. i.d ii. Mach xv.d.Thou O Lord ouer truweſt Senacherib kinge of the Aſſirians being proude for his innumerable ſorte of men, whiche had ſubdewed vntounto his powere all the whole lande, and was lift vp againſt the holy citie, ſpeakyng cruell and proude wordes, ſhewyng openly vntounto the gentiles the power. part B *Dan. iij dThou ſaueſt thoſe thy trie frendes in Babylon, whiche with good there gaue there liues to the fyre, becauſe they woulde not worſhip vayne thinges, and dideſt caſt downe vntounto the burning forne is, & ſaueſt them vnhurt euen the very heares of their heddes, turning the flāme vpō all their enemies. *Dani. vi d.Thou broughteſt Daniel falſe into lyght out of the denne, whiche by falſe accuſaciōs thorow enuy was caſt vnderunder the earth to the Lions to be deuoured of wylde beaſtes. *Ionas. ij.a.And dideſt bryng agayne Ionas ſafe vntounto his frendes, when he had bene ſore troubled in the wales belly, that was brede in the ſea, o father. Now alſo O mercifull beholder of all thynges tary not, but ſhewe thy ſelfe vntounto the people of Iſraell as ſhortely as may be, that it is vniuſtly and cruelly hande led of the vngracious and wicked gentils. And if our liuyng bewaxen naught by dwellyng in a ſtraunge contrey, take vsus out of our enemies handes, O lorde, and deſtroye vsus by what death thou wilt leaſt they that thincke vayne thynges, reioyſe vaynely of thoſe mens deſtruction, whom thou haſt loued and ſayde. No not there owne God hath deliuered them, wherefore thou that arte ſtrongeſt and myghteſt O eternall, God, looke vponupon vsus nowe, and hauehave mercy vponupon vsus, which by the myght of wicked men, be taken out of our lyfe as though we were traitours. Make ye gentiles to wonder at thy myghty power, & vſe thy ſtrength to the healthe of the kynred of Iacob. All theſe yong infantes beſech the here of. part C And ther fathers alſo with teares, let it be ſene to all gentils, O Lorde, ye thou helpeſt vsus, & that thou haſt not turned thy face from vsus, *Deuter. xxviij.but that thou haſte not forgotten vsus, no not in our enemies lande, O lorde do euen ſo. Zurich part S When Eleazarus had made an ende of his prayers thus, the kyng & all his great company was come with his beaſtes to ye horſe courſyng place, whiche when the Iewes ſawe, they made a great ſhotte to heauen in ſomuche that all the walles ſounded therof, euen that the people wept ſore. Then ye glorious, omnipotent and trewe God ſhewynge his holy face, opened his *iiij. Reg vi. ij. Mac. iij.d. &. x e. xi.b. Ioſeph agaynſt Appyon ij. boke.heauenly gattes, from whence there came two Aungels terryble to loke vponupon, whome dyd alſo ſaue the Iewes. They let there enemies army and fylled them with feare & trouble, and bounde them with ſuch fetters that they myght not ſtirre. Then trembled the kinges body, and began to forgette his prefull boldenes, *Dan. iij d.the beaſtes alſo tourned againſt the men that were in harnes and trode them vnderunder the fete and kylled them. *Prouer xvi.a.So the kyng turned his anger into pitie, & to bewaile thoſe thinges that he had donne before. For whē he hard the crye, after that ſaw them all troden to death wepyng, and angerly rebuking his frēdes. part D Ye abuſe ye king quod he, & paſſe al tirātes in crueltie, ye go about to take ſpirite & lyfe frō men, which hauehave done for you, deuiſing proude thynges that be not for the profit of my realme. Who hath ſent hether & vnworthely put out of there houſes theſe men, whiche kepte the holdes of oure realme faithfully. Who hath ſo cruelly puniſhed thoſe men, whiche euen from the beginning, hath bene aboue all nacions mooſte louing vntounto vsus. Zurich part T Loſe the boundes that they vniuſtly be bounde with all, I ſaye loſe them, and let them go ſafe for there good dedes that they hauehave done before, let go the chyldren of the omnipotent and lyuyng God which from the time of our auncetours to this daye hath kepte the ſtate of our realme vntroubled. And thoſe wordes ſpake he and they incontinent being loſed when they had eſcaped death, prayſed the holy God their ſauiour. part E Then afterwardes the kyng commyng agayne into the citie, he called vntounto hym his ſtewarde, & commaunded wine and other thynges, that partayne to a feaſte to be geuen vntounto them by the ſpace of ſeuen dayes, and decreed that in the ſame, ye they thought they ſhoulde hauehave ſuffered death, euen there they ſhoulde make mery. Then that whiche before were incoraged and lyke to dye, yea goyng to the death, in ſtede of cruell and bitter death, kepinge an holſome feaſt, being full of gladnes, poynted out with there ſtoles, the place that the were appoynted to be ſlayne in and buried, *…alm. …x.a.And leuyng there ſong of lamentacion, beganne a newe, prayſing there ſauiour and meruelous God, and puttyng awaye all mournyng and weping, daunſed to ſhewe the gladnes. Likewyſe alſo the kyng kepyng a greate feaſte gaue great prayſes to God in heauen, for the health that he had geuen vntounto them vnloked for. part F Zurich part V And they that before appointed them to be kylled and deuoured of byrdes and appointed them to the ſworde, wer ſhamed and for there hot boldnes were kylled with diſhoneſtie. …eph a…nſte …ion …oke.So the Iewes as we hauehave ſayd geuyng them ſelues to daunſyng and feaſtyng, were full of ioy and ſynging, and made a lawe of theſe thynges, to al that came after, of there being in this ſtraū ge contrey and appoynted the foreſayed dayes of there myrtes to be kept, not to bybbe and bowle in for glottony, but for the health that was geuen vntounto them by God, and afterwardes they went vntounto the kyng, and deſyred that they myght go home to there owne houſes. *iij. Mac. l.But there diſcription was kept from the .xxv. daye of Pacho, vntounto the .iiij. daie of Epiph. xl. dayes long, and to deſtroye them they laboured from the firſt daye of Epiph vntounto the .vij. of the ſame, that is thre dayes, in the which the lord of all ſhewyng his mercy wonderfully, ſaued them all without harme, and they kept feaſtes, the kyng geuyng them all thynges there vntounto euen to the .xiiij. daye, in the whiche they went, deſyryng yt they might go home. And whē ye king had prayſed them, he wrote this epiſtell that foloweth, declaryng the greate vehemency of his mynde.
chapter 7 part A Zurich part X THe kynge Ptolomie Philopater, to all hys rulers that be thourough Egipte, and all that beare eny offyce, ſendyth greatynge and health for we and oure children be in health. After that the greate God had ſent vsus good ſpeede euen we our ſelfe would wyſh ſome of our frendes thorow there waywardnes made often inſtant labour vntounto vsus, and perſuaded vsus to call to gether the Iewes that were vnderunder our ſubiection & cruelly to punyſhe them as traytours, for they ſayde we ſhould neuer be in quiet, becauſe of the hate that they bare againſt all men tyll we had ſo done. And after that they had ſore vexed them and brought them hether bounde as ſlaues or rather as theues and murtherers, with out all enquirye oure pledynge of the cauſe, they woulde hauehave kylled them more cruell then the Scythyans. But we rebukyng them ſharply for it, according to our gentylnes toward all men, and after we had much worcke to ſaue them a lyue by oure fauoure, and when we knewe for a ſuretye that the heauenlye God defendid the Iewes, and that in eueryevery poynt he holpe them, as the father hys chyldren, part B and that alſo we dyd conſider the good wil which they bere vntounto vsus, as they hauehave to oure auncitours, we hauehave iuſtly quyte them from all fautes what ſo euer was laide agaynſt them and hauehave commaunded euerye man in euerye place that they ſhoulde be ſuffred to go to there owne, and that no man ſhoulde hurt them, or caſt them in the teath wyth any thynge that they hauehave ſuffered, for ye ſhall vnderſtand, that yf we *iiij Reg xix.d. Iere xxx c. ij a. x d Zac ij.b Mathe. xxv.d. Act. ix.ahauehave done eny hurt, agayeſte them malycyouſlye or by any meanes hauehave made them ſadde, that we ſhall hauehave agaynſte vsus, not a man but the hye God rular of all powre to be reuenged of thees deedes in eueryevery point alwayes and neuer hable tobe auoydyd. Fare ye well. Zurich part Y Yet when they had receyued thys epyſtell, they made not haſt ſtraight waies to go there wayes, but they deſyred this thynge alſo of the kynge, that whoſoeuer of the Iewes nacion had violatet ye holy God or willingly *iij. Ma f.broken hys lawes, that they myghte be punyſhed of them as they hadde deſeruyd, ſayeng, part C ☞that they whyche had tranſgreſſed goddes lawe for there bellye ſake, woulde neuer be faythfull to the kynges commaundement. He thyncking them to ſay trewe, prayſed them and gaue them powre to kyll thorowe all hys kyngdome thoſe that had broke the lawe of God, and that they ſhuolde not ſeke for eny powre of the kynge. Then they as reaſon was, thanckinge the kynge, the prieſtes and all the people wyth them cryeng. Alleluya, went away wyth ioy, and as thei went killed eueryevery one of the nacion that was naught for example to other and in dede that daye, they killed aboue thre hundreth men, and were verie ioyyuos as they kylled them. But thoos that ſtacke to God to death, hauing the ful fruet of there health, they went out of the cytye crowned wyth verye ſwete flowers of all ſortes wyth cryeng and gladnes, giuing praiſe to the holy God of there fathers ye ſauiour of Iſrael. part D Zurich part Z And when they were come to Ptolomeus. Rodophoros, ſo called after the nature of the place where a nauye taryed for them, they kepte a feaſte there by there hole conſentes. vij. dayes, the kyng geuyng vntounto them gladly all thynges neceſſary to there iouruey, tyll they came home. So departyng ſafe with worthy gratulacions, ther alſo they purpoſed to kepe thoſe glad dayes for the tyme of, there being in a ſtrannge lawe, and makyng and dedicating a pillar of prayer in the place where they feaſted, they went their waye ſafe both by lande and by ſea fre and mery. And eueryevery man came home to his houſe by the kynges cō maundement, hauyng greater power againſt the enemies with glory and feare, then euer they had before, nor they were not let from there goodes by any man, for all men receiued there goodes as they were named in the byll of attendure, ſo that whoſoeuer had any thyng of theers, reſtored it agayne, with great feare, the hye God finiſhyng the matters, to all there healthes. Praiſed be God the delyuerer of Iſrael worlde without ende. Amen.