The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocryphal books,

CAP. II.

[verse 1] Regnynge Cyro, kyng of Peersis, in the fulfillyng of the word of the Lord, in the [verse 2] mouth of Jeremye, the Lord reiside up the spirit of Ciry, kyng of Persis; and he prechide in al his rewme togidre bi scrip|ture, [verse 3] seiynge, Thes thingis seith Cirus, kyng of Persis, The Lord of Israel, the hiȝe Lord, hath ordeyned me kyng to the [verse 4] world of erthis; and he signyfiede to me to bilde to him an hous in Jerusalem, that is in Juda. [verse 5] If ther is ony man of ȝoure kynrede, his Lord stie up with him in to Jerusalem. [verse 6] Therfor hou many euer dwellen in places aboute, helpe thei hem that dwellen in that place, in gold and [verse 7] siluer, in ȝiftis, with hors, and bestis, and with othere thingis, the whiche aftir vowes ben leid up in to the hous of the Lord, that is in Jerusalem. [verse 8] And the stondynge princis of lynages of townes of Jude, of the lynage of Beniamyn, and prestis and dekens, whom the Lord stiride to wende up, and to bilde up the hous of the Lord,

that is in Jerusalem; and thei, that weren in the enuyroun, or in cumpas, of hem, [verse 9] schulden helpe in al siluer and gold of it, and in bestis, and in many vowis; and many othere, of whom the witt is stirid, helpe thei also. [verse 10] And kyng Cirus brouȝte forth the sacrid vessels of the Lord, the whiche Nabugodonosor translatide fro Je|rusalem, and sacride hem in his mawmett. [verse 11] And Cirus, king of Persis, bryngynge hem forth, toke tho to Mitridate, that was upon the tresours of him. [verse 12] Forsothe bi him thei ben taken to Salmanasar, gouernour of Jude. [verse 13] Of thes thinges forsothe this is the noumbre; silueren halewid vessels of licours, two thousynd and foure hundrid; thritti silueren drinkynge vessels; thritty goldene violes; and two thousynd and foure hundrid silueren violes; and a thousynd othere vessels. [verse 14] Forsothe alle the golden and silueren vessels weren foure thousynd and foure hundrid and eiȝt and sixty. [verse 15] And thei ben delyuered out to Salmanasar, to|gidere with hem, that weren comen in to Jerusalem of the caytiftee or thraldom of Babiloyne. [verse 16] Forsothe in the tyme of Ar|taxerses, kyng of Persis, ther wreten to him, of thes that dwelliden in Judee and in Jerusalem, Balsamus, and Mitridatus, and Sabelius, and Ratymus, Baltheneus, and Samelius, the scribe, and othere dwellinge in Samarie, and in othere placis, thei writen this subiect lettre to the kyng Artaxersy. [verse 17] Lord, thi children, Ratymus, and Sabelius, the scribe, and othere domes men of thi court, of thingis that fallen in Coelem Siriem, and Fenycen. [verse 18] And now be it knowen to the lord the kyng, that Jewis, the whiche stieden up fro ȝou to us, comynge in to Jerusalem, a citee of fleers awei, and a ful yuel citee, thei bilden up the ouenes of it, and thei setten the wallis, and reren the temple. [verse 19] That if this citee and wallis weren maad up, thei shul not suffre to ȝelde tributis, but also thei shul aȝenstonde to kyngis. [verse 20] And for cause that that thing is done aboute the temple, to haue it riȝtly we haue demed to not

[verse 21] despise that same thing, but to make knowen to the lord kyng, that if it schal be seen plesyng to the king, be it souȝt in [verse 22] the bookis of thi fadris; and thou schalt fynde in remembrauncis writen of hem, and thou schalt knowe, that thilke citee was aȝen flowun, and kyngis and citees [verse 23] smytinge togidre, and Jewis fleynge aȝen, and makinge bateilis in it alwey; for the whiche cause this citee was forsake. [verse 24] Now therfor we maken knowen to the lord king, that if this citee were bild up, and the wallis of it weren arerid, ther schal be no comyng doun to thee in to Choelem Cyriem and Fenycen. [verse 25] Thanne the kyng wroot aȝen to Ratimym, that wroot tho thingis that bifellen, and to Bellumym, and to Sabellio, the scribe, and to othere ordeyned souereyns, and dwellinge in Cirye and in Fenyce, he wrot to hem thes thingis that ben sett vndir. [verse 26] I haue rad the lettre, that thou sentist to me. Ther|for I comaundide it to be souȝt; and it was founden, that thilke citee was alwey with|stondynge [verse 27] to kyngis, and men aȝen fugi|tijf, and makynge bateilis in it; and moost stronge kingis han ben lordschipinge in Jerusalem, and askinge tributis of Chole Cirie and Fenycem. [verse 28] Now therfore I co|maunde to forfende tho men to bilde up the citee, and to loke, that ony thing be [verse 29] not maad her aftir; but that thei passe not in to ful myche, sith thei ben of malice, so that greuauncis be not brouȝt ther to kinges.