The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact [email protected]. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact [email protected].
DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States
![Scan of Page [unnumbered]](/cgi/t/text/api/image/cme:AFZ9170.0001.001:00004506/full/!250,250/0/default.jpg)
THIS book of Hester, the qween, makith mynde of the riȝtful Mardochee, and of the wickide man Aman, how he castide the deeth of Mardochee, and also of alle Jewis, for hate that he hadde to Mardochee; wherfor thoruȝ the help of God and of the qween Hester his wickidnesse was retourned in to his owne heed; for God helpith hem that tristen in him, and lyuen iustli in the drede of him.
[verse 1] IN the daies of kyng Assuerus, that regnede fro Ynde `til to [vnto I. to X.] Ethiopie, on [upon I.] an hundrid and seuene and twenti prouynces, [verse 2] whanne he sat in the seete of his rewme, the citee Susa [of Susa CM.] was the bigynnyng of his rewme. [verse 3] Therfor [And I.] in the thridde ȝeer of his empire he made a greet feeste to alle hise princes and [and to alle his I.] children [children or seruauntis I.] , the [to the I.] strongeste men of Persis, and to the noble men of Medeis, and to the prefectis [cheef men I.] of prouynces, [verse 4] bifor him silf, to [for to I.] schewe the richessis of the glorie of his rewme, and the gretnesse, and boost [the boost I.] of his power in [and in I.] myche tyme, that is, an hundrid and `foure scoor [lxxx. BDEHLO. eiȝti CNVW. seuenti M.] daies [daies this feste lastide I.] . [verse 5] And whanne the daies of the feeste weren fillid [endid I.] , he [the emperour I.] clepide to feeste [his feeste I.] al the puple that was foundun in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , fro the moost `til to [vnto I.] the leeste; and he [Om. S.] comaundide the [this I.] feeste to be maad redi bi seuene daies in the porche [porche; that is, aley. Lire here. C.] of the [an I.] orcherd and wode [of a wode I.] , that was set [set aboute I.] with the kyngis ournement and hond [with his hond I.] [hond; that is, werkis. Lire here. C.] . [verse 6] And tentis of `the colour of [Om. S.] the eir, and of gold, and of iacynct, susteyned [weren holden up I.] with coordis of [and X.] bijs, and of purpur [purpel E. purpul LP.] , hangiden [and thei hangiden I.] on ech side, whiche [the whiche tentis I.] weren set in cerclis [the cercles A pr. m.] of yuer [yuorie I.] , and [and thei I.] weren vndur set with pilers of marble; also [and X.] seetis [ther weren ordeyned seetis I.] at the maner of beddis of gold and of siluer `weren disposid [Om. I.] on [upon I.] the pawment arayede with smaragde and dy|uerse [with othere dyuerse I.] stoon [and precious stones I.] ; which [the which I.] pawment peynture made fair bi wondurful dyuersite. [verse 7] So|theli [And I.] thei, that weren clepid to meet, drunkun in goldun cuppis, and metes weren borun in [in to hem I.] with othere [oon I.] `and othere [Om. S.]
vessels; also plenteuouse wiyn, and `the best [ful good I.] was set [set forth bifore hem I.] , as it was worthi to the greet doyng [preisyng I.] of the kyng. [verse 8] And `noon was [ther was no man I.] that constreynede `men not will|ynge to [hem to drynke that wolden not I.] drynke; but so [to alle the bordis I.] the kyng hadde ordeyned, `makynge souereyns [Om. I.] of hise princes [princes to be soueregnes I.] `to alle boordis [Om. I.] , that ech man schulde take that, that he wolde. [verse 9] Also Vasthi, the queen, made a feeste of wym|men in the paleis, where kyng Assuerus was wont [woned I.] to dwelle. [verse 10] Therfor in the se|uenthe dai, whanne the kyng was glad|dere [gladdere than bifore I.] , and was [whanne he was I.] hoot of wiyn aftir ful myche drinkyng, he comaundide [comaundide to I.] Nau|man, and [and to I.] Baracha, and [and to I.] Arbana, and [and to I.] Gabatha, and [and to I.] Zarath, and [and to I.] Abgatha, and [and to I.] Charchas, seuene oneste and chast ser|uauntis, [verse 11] `that mynistriden [the whiche seruyden I.] in his siȝt, that thei schulden brynge in bifor the kyng the queen Vasti, with a diademe set on [upon I.] hir heed, to schewe hir fairnesse to alle the puplis and prynces; for [certis I.] sche was ful fair. [verse 12] And sche forsook, and dispiside to come at the comaundement of the kyng, which [the which comaundement I.] he hadde sent [sent to hir I.] bi the [his I.] oneste and chast seruauntes. Wherfor the kyng was wrooth, and kyndlid [he kyndlid or tend I.] bi [with I.] fulgreet wood|nesse; [verse 13] and he axide the wise men, whiche bi the [Om. I.] `kyngis custom [custom of the kyng I.] weren euere with hym, and he dide alle thingis bi the coun|sel of hem, kunnynge [that knewen I.] the lawis [lawe I.] and ritis [the ritis I.] [verse 14] of grettere [grettist I.] men; forsothe [and I.] the [Om. C.] firste [firste men I.] and the [Om. I.] nexte weren Carsena, and Secha|aba, Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Manucha, seuene duykis of Persis and of Medeis, that [the whiche I.] sien the face of the kyng, and weren wont to sitte [verse 15] the firste aftir hym; `the kyng [and he I.] axide hem, to what sentence the queen Vasthi schulde be suget, that nolde [wolde not I.] do the comaunde|ment of kyng Assuerus, which [the which comaundement I.] he hadde sent [sent to hir I.] bi the [his I.] onest and chast seruauntis.
[verse 16] And Manucha answeride, in audience of the kyng and of the pryncis, The queen Vasthi hath not oneli dispisid the kyng, but [but sche hath dispisid I.] alle the pryncis and puplis, that ben in alle prouynces [the prouynces I.] of kyng Assuerus. [verse 17] For the word of the queen schal go out to alle wymmen, that thei [thei also I.] dispise her hose|bondis, and seie, Kyng Assuerus co|maundide, that the queen Vasthi schulde entre [haue come I.] to hym, and sche nolde [wolde not I.] . [verse 18] And bi this saumple [ensaumple I.] alle the wyues of prynces [the prynces I.] of Persis and of Medeis schulen dis|pise the comaundementis [heestis I.] of hosebondis [her hosebondis I.] ; wherfor the indignacioun of the kyng [kyng aȝens hir I.] is iust [iust therfore I.] . [verse 19] If it plesith [plese I.] to thee, `a comaunde|ment go out fro thi face [go ther out a comaundement fro thi face I.] , and `be writun [Om. I.] bi the lawe of Persis and of Medeis, which [the which lawe I.] it [Om. I.] is vnleueful to be passid [ouer passid or broke I.] , that [be it writen that I.] Vasthi [Vasthi the queen I.] entre [come I.] no more to the kyng, but anothir womman, which is betere than sche, take `the rewme of hir [hir rewme I.] . [verse 20] And be this [this heest I.] puplischid in to al the empire of thi prouynces, which is ful large, that alle wyues, both of gret|tere [the grettere C.] men and of lesse, ȝyue onour to her hosebondis. [verse 21] His [And the I.] counsel [counsel of this duyk I.] pleside [pleside to I.] the kyng and the [to the I.] prynces, and the kyng dide [verse 22] bi the counsel of Manucha; and he sente [sente out I.] pistlis [lettris I.] bi alle the prouyncis of his rewme, as ech folk myȝte here and rede, in dyuerse langagis [langis C.] and lettris, that hosebondis ben prynces and the [Om. I.] grettere [grettere men I.] in her housis; and `he sente [Om. I.] , that this [this thing I.] be pupplischid bi alle puplis.
[verse 1] Therfor whanne these thingis weren doon, aftir that the indignacioun of kyng [the kyng CN.] Assuerus was coold [swagid I.] [was coold; that is, the passioun of ire, and of trobling was passid. Lire here. C.] , he bithouȝte [bithouȝte him I.] of Vasthi, and what thingis sche hadde do, ethir [and I.] what thingis sche suffride [had suffrid I.] . [verse 2] And [And thanne I.] the children and the mynystris of the
kyng seiden to `the kyng [him I.] , Damyselis [Faire damyselis I.] , virgyns [and virgyns I.] `and faire [Om. I.] , be souȝt to the kyng; [verse 3] and `men ben [be ther men I.] sent [sent forth I.] , that [whiche I.] schulen biholde bi alle prouinces damesels faire and vir|gyns; and brynge thei hem to the citee Susa [of Susa I.] , and bitake thei [thei hem I.] in to the hows of wymmen, vndur the hond [kepyng I.] of Egei, the onest seruaunt and chast, which [the which I.] is the souereyn and kepere of the kyngis wym|men; and take the [tho I.] damesels ournement of wymmen, and other thingis nedeful to vsis [her vsis I.] . [verse 4] And which euer damesele among [of C.] alle [alle hem I.] plesith [plesith moost I.] the iȝen of the kyng, regne sche for Vasti. The [And this I.] word pleside the kyng; and he comaundide to be don so, as thei counceliden. [verse 5] Forsothe [And I.] a man, a Jew, was in the citee Susa [of Susa IX sec. m.] , Mardoche bi name, the sone of Jair, sone [the sone IS.] of Semei, sone [the sone IS.] of Cys, of the generacioun of Ge|myny; [verse 6] that was translatid fro Jerusalem in that tyme, wherynne [in whiche I.] Nabugodonosor, kyng of Babiloyne, hadde translatid Je|chonye, [verse 7] kyng of Juda; which [the which IS.] Mardoche was the nurschere of Edissa, the douȝter of his brothir, which [the which I.] douȝtir [Edissa IS.] was clepid Hester bi anothir name, and sche [bi deth sche IS.] hadde [Om. S.] lost [left or forȝede I. forȝede S.] bothe fadir [hir fadir IS.] and modir [hir modir IS.] ; sche [and sche IS.] was ful fair, and semeli of face; and whanne hir fadir and modir weren deed, Mardoche `purchaside hir in to a douȝtir to hym|silf [toke hir to him, and he made hir his douȝter IS.] . [verse 8] And whanne the comaundement of the kyng was ofte pupplischid, and bi his comaundement [heest IS.] many faire virgyns weren brouȝt to Susa, and weren [thei weren I.] bitakun to Egey, the onest seruaunt and chast, also Hester among othere damesels was by|takun to hym, that sche schulde be kept in the noumbre of wymmen [thilke wymmen I. tho wymmen S.] . [verse 9] And sche [Hester IS.] pleside hym [Egey IS.] , and foond [sche foond IS.] grace in his siȝt, that [so that S.] he hastide [hastide to take to hir IS.] the [an I.] ournement of wym|men, and bitook [he bitook IS.] to hir [Hester IS.] her partis [partis of alle thingis nedeful to hir S.] , and
seuene the faireste damesels of the kyngis hows; and [and in most honest maner to plese the king with S.] he [Egey IS.] ournede and araiede bothe hir and damesels [thilke damesels I. tho damyseils S.] suynge hir feet. [verse 10] And `sche nolde [Hester wolde not I. Hester nuld S.] schewe to hym [Egey IS.] hir puple and [neither IS.] hir cuntrei; for Mardoche hadde co|maundid to [Om. IS.] hir, that in al maner sche schulde be stille of this thing. [verse 11] And he [Mardocheus IS.] walkide ech dai bifor the porche of the dore, in which the chosun virgyns weren kept, and he dide the cure of the [Om. A.] helthe of Hester [hir, of ony maner infirmytee I. hir, if ony infirmyte took hir S.] , and wolde [he wolde IS.] wite, what bifelde to hyr. [verse 12] And whanne the tyme of alle [alle the IS.] damesels bi ordre was comun, that thei schulden entre [go yn IS.] to the kyng, whanne [and whanne IS.] alle thingis weren fillid [fulfillid IS.] that [which S.] perteyneden to wymmens atire, the [and the IS.] tweluethe monethe [monethe of the ȝeer I. moneth which tho damysels sholden apere bifore the king S.] was turned [brouȝt aboute I. turned or endid S.] ; so oneli that [Om. S.] thei weren anoyntid with oile [the oile IS.] of `myrte tre [myrre ISb. myrre tree HX. mirre tree K.] bi sixe monethis, and bi othere sixe monethis `thei vsiden summe [summe vsiden S.] pymentis [pymentis, that is, delicious drinkis S.] and swete|smellynge oynementis. [verse 13] And thei entriden to the kyng, and what euer thing per|teynynge to ournement [her ournement IS.] thei axiden, thei token [token it I. token it with hem S.] ; and thei weren araied as it pleside [pleside to IS.] hem, and [and thanne S.] passiden [thei passiden forth IS.] fro the chaum|bre of wymmen to the kyngis bed. [verse 14] And sche that hadde entrid [entrid thidir IS.] in the euentid, ȝede out [forth IS.] in the morwetid; and fro thennus thei weren led forth in to the secounde housis, that [whiche IS.] weren vndur the hond [kepyng IS.] of Sagazi, onest [the onest IS.] seruaunt and chast, that was gouernour of the kyngis concubyns [concubyns; yt is licly that these that entriden to the kyngis bed, weren hise wyues, netheles they weren seid concubyns, for they weren not principal wyues. Lire here. C.] ; and sche [sche that ȝede fro the kyng IS.] hadde not power to go aȝen more to the kyng, no [Om. I.] but the kyng wolde, `and had comaundid hir to come [haue hir to come to him S.] bi name [name to him I.] . [verse 15] Sotheli [And IS.] whanne the tyme was turned aboute bi ordre, the [and the IS.] dai neiȝede, wher|ynne Hester, the douȝter of Abiahel, bro|ther [the brother IS.] of Mardoche, `whom he hadde pur|chasid in to a douȝter to hym silf [[the S] whiche Hester Mardoche had take to him, and made hir his douȝter IS.] , ouȝte
entre [to entre IS.] to the kyng; and sche axide not wymmenus ournement, but what euer thingis Egei, the onest seruaunt and chast, kepere [and kepere IS.] of virgyns [the virgyns I. the kings virgyns S.] , wolde, he ȝaf these thingis to hir [Hester IS.] to ournement [hir ournement IS.] ; for [certis IS.] sche was ful schapli, and of fairnesse that may not liȝtli be bileuyd, and sche semyde [was seen IS.] graciouse and amyable to the iȝen of alle men. [verse 16] Therfor sche was lad to [in to S.] the bed of kyng Assuerus, in the tenthe monethe, which [that I.] is clepid Cebeth [Feuerȝeer A marg. Tebeth, that is, Janyuer ISX marg.] , in the seuenthe ȝeer of his rewme. [verse 17] And the kyng fer|uentli [Om. I.] louyde hir [Hester IS.] more [more feruently I.] than alle wym|men, and sche hadde grace and mercy bifor hym ouer alle wymmen [othere wymmen I.] ; and he [she L.] settide [sette upon hir heed IS.] the [a I.] diademe [diademe or crowne I. diademe, that is, coroun S.] of rewme [the rewme CEKL. his rewme IS.] `on hir heed [Om. IS.] , and he [Om. IS.] made hir to regne in the stide of Vasthi. [verse 18] And he comaundide a ful worschipful feeste to be maad redi to alle hise princes and seruauntis, for the ioynyng [couplyng IS.] togidere and the weddyngis of Hester; and he ȝaf rest [reste; that is, releessing of tribut. Lire here. C.] to alle prouynces, and ȝaf [he ȝaf CIK sec. m. S.] ȝiftis aftir the worschipful doyng of a prynce. [verse 19] And whanne virgyns weren souȝt also the secounde tyme [tyme to the kyng IS.] , and weren gaderid togidere, Mardochee dwellide [dwellide thanne IS.] at the ȝate of the kyng [kyng, a porter I. king, and was a porter S.] . [verse 20] Hester [And Hester IS.] hadde not ȝit schewid hir cuntrei and puple [hir puple IS.] , bi co|maundement [the heest IS.] of hym [Mardoche IS.] ; for whi [Om. I.] what euer thing he comaundide [comaundide hir IS.] , Hester [sche IS.] kepte [kepte it IS.] , and sche dide so [so thanne IS.] alle thingis, as sche was wont [woned I.] in that tyme, in which he nurschide hir a litil child. [verse 21] Therfor [Thanne S.] in that tyme, wherynne [in whiche IS.] Mardochee dwellide [dwellide porter IS.] at the `ȝate of the king [kyngis gate IS.] , Bagathan and Thares, twei seruauntis of the kyng, weren wrothe [wrothe aȝens the kyng IS.] , `that weren porteris [Om. I. thei weren his porteris S.] [porteris; for al this sen|tence, porteris til thidir, of the paleys, in Ebrew it is, keperis of pur|tenaunce of houshold, and this acordith more to the lettre suynge. The cause of this dyuersite is this, that the Ebrew word here signefieth bothe threis|fold, and pur|tenaunce of houshold, and oure transla|cioun sueth the firste signy|fycacioun, and Ebreys suen the secunde. Lire here. C.] , and [and thei IS.] saten in the first threisfold [threisfold as cheef porters I. threshfoold, or vpon the cheef porters seet S.] of the paleis; and thei wolden rise [haue risen IS.] aȝens the kyng,
and sle [haue sleyn IS.] hym. [verse 22] Which [The which I.] thing was not hid fro Mardochee, and anoon he [Mardoche IS.] telde [telde this I. toold this tresoun S.] to the queen Hester, and sche [sche tolde it IS.] to the kyng, bi [in IS.] the name of Mardochee, that hadde teld the [that IS.] thing to hir. [verse 23] It [And it IS.] was souȝt, and it was foundun [foundun sooth IS.] , and ech [either IS.] of hem was hangid in a iebat; and `it was sent to [this was comaundid to be writen in I. his tresoun was set to be writyn in S.] storyes, and was [it was I.] bitakun [bitakyn bifore the king S.] to bookis [the bookis IS.] of ȝeeris, `bifor the [Om. S.] kyng [kyng, to be entrid I. to be entrid in hem, to haue in mynde this tresoun; and to dreed the king S.] .
[verse 1] Aftir these thingis kyng Assuerus en|haunside Aaman, the sone of Amadathi, that was of the kynrede of Agag, and [and the kyng IS.] settide [sette IS.] his trone aboue alle the princes whiche [that I.] he hadde. [verse 2] And alle the ser|uauntis of the kyng, that lyuyden [seruyden I.] in the ȝatis of the paleis, kneliden, and worschip|iden Aaman; for [for so I.] the emperour hadde comaundid so [Om. I.] to hem; Mardochee [but Mardochee IS.] aloone bowide not the [his IS.] knees [knees to him I. knees to Aaman S.] [bowide not the knees; for Aaman bi his pride wolde take to him silf Goddis onour, and make him silf to be wor|schipid as God, as the Ebrew glos seith here; nethelis it is leueful to Cristen men to knele, ȝhe, on bothe knees to a cristen man, for in III. book of Kingis, XXV. Co. Abigail knel|ide thus to Dauyth; and in IIII. book of Kingis, iii. Co. Abdie, the pro|fete, knelide thus to Elie, the profete; and hooly chirche suffrith witingly this custom among Cristen men, and prechith not aȝenus it; netheles, as Austin seith, in X. book of Goddis citee, iiij. Co. sacrifice is reserued onely to God. Also Judith, in X. Co. knelide thus to Holo|fernes, and in xxij. Co. of Apoc. Joon Euangelist, that dide no dedly synne after the send|ing of the Hooly Goost, knelide thus to the aungel; but the aungel forbeed him to knele thus, to schewe the excelence that mankinde hadde gete bi Goddis Sone maad man, as Greg. ex|pownyth in the v. Omely on the Gospels. Lire here. C.] , nethir worschip|ide hym. [verse 3] `To whom [And IS.] the children [seruauntis IS.] of the kyng seiden [Om. IS.] , that [which S.] saten bifore [aboue I. Om. X.] at the ȝatis of the paleis [paleis, seiden to Mardochie IS.] , Whi kepist `thou not [not thou, sith thou art a Jew S.] the comaundementis [heestis IS.] of the kyng, othere wise [wise, that is, more dilygently S.] than othere men [men don IS.] ? [verse 4] And whanne thei seiden ful ofte [ofte to him IS.] these thingis, and he nolde [wolde nat I.] here [here hem I.] , thei tolden [tolden thes thingis thanne I.] to Aaman, `and wolden [for thei coueitiden to IS.] wite, whether he contynuede [wolde contynue K sec. m. wa.] in sentence [the sentence schewid to hem I. the sentence that he had shewed to hem S. the sentence X sec. m.] ; for he hadde seid to hem, that he was a Jew. [verse 5] And whanne Aaman hadde herd this thing, and hadde [whanne he hadde I. Om. S.] preued `bi ex|perience [the soth bi knowyng of the treuthe theroff IS.] , that Mardochee bowide not the [his IS.] kne to hym, nethir worschipide hym, he [verse 6] was ful wrooth, and he [Aaman IS.] ledde [arettide it I. rettid S.] for nouȝt [nouȝt, or for no veniaunce S.] to sette hise hondis on [upon IS.] Mardochee aloone [aloone, to sle him I. aloone, to kille him S.] ; for he [Aaman IS.] hadde herd, that Mardochee was of the folc of Jewis, and more [the more rathir I. more herfor S.] he wolde
leese [fordo I.] al the nacioun of Jewis, that [the whiche I. whiche S.] weren in the rewme of Assuerus. [verse 7] In [Thanne in IS.] the firste monethe, whos nam is [was S.] Nysan [Nysan, that is, Aprel IS.] , in the tweluethe ȝeer of the rewme of Assuerus, lot was sent [caste IS.] in to a vessel, which [the which I.] lot is seid in Ebrew phur [phur; is no word of Ebrew, but of Persis, and therfor in Ebreu it is seid phur, go|ral, so that goral is an Ebreu word, and signefieth lot. Lire here. C.] , `bifor Aaman [bifore him, to wite I. this lot Aaman, which bileued in wichche craft, did caste bifore him to wite S.] , in what dai and in what monethe the folk of Jewis ouȝte to be slayn; and [and bi the lott IS.] the tweluethe monethe ȝede out, which [that I.] is clepid Adar [March A. marg. Adar, that is, Marche IS.] . [verse 8] And [And thanne IS.] Aaman seide to the [Om. IS.] king Assuerus, A puple is scaterid bi alle the [Om. S.] prouynces of thi rewme, and is [it is IS.] de|partid fro it [thi S.] silf togidere [Om. I.] , and [and as a peple without propre or certeyn abydinge S.] vsith [this peple vsith I. this peple vsen S.] newe lawis and cerymonyes, and ferther|more [ferthermore also I.] it [Om. S.] dispisith also [Om. S.] the comaunde|mentis [hestis IS.] of the kyng; and thou knowest best, that it spedith not to thi rewme, `that it encreesse in malice [to be infect bi vnwisdom of proude folk and yuele manered IS.] bi licence [thi licence I. licence of thee S.] . [verse 9] If it plesith [pleese S.] thee [to thee I.] , `deme thou [deeme and comaunde S.] that it [this peple IS.] pe|risch, and Y schal paie ten thousynde of [Om. CIS.] talentis [talentis of siluer I.] to the keperis of thi tresour. [verse 10] Therfor [Thanne therfor I. Therfor than S.] the kyng took `fro his hond the ryng [his ryng fro his fyngir S.] which he vside [vside for a sygnet S.] , and ȝaf [he ȝaf IS.] it to Aaman, the sone of Amadathi, of the kynrede of Agag, to [Om. I.] the enemy of Jewis. [verse 11] And the kyng seide to hym [Aaman IS.] , The siluer, which [that IS.] thou bihiȝtist [hast bihiȝt I. hast bihiȝt to me S.] , be [be it IS.] thin [thin owne IS.] ; do [and do IS.] thou of the [that S.] puple that [that thing IS.] , that plesith [plesith to IS.] thee. [verse 12] And [And thanne IS.] the [bi the heeste of Aaman, the S.] scryuens [writers I.] of the kyng weren clepid in the firste monethe Nysan [of Nysan, that is, Aprel IS.] , in the threttenthe dai of the same monethe; and it was writun, as Aaman hadde comaundid, to alle prynces [the prynces IS.] of the kyng, and to domes|men of prouynces [dyuerse prouynces IS.] and of dyuerse [Om. IS.] folkis, that [that for dyuers [of S] langage IS.] ech folk myȝte rede [rede hem I. rede thise lettris S.] and here [here hem IS.] , `for dyuersite of langagis [Om. IS.] , bi [in I. to be sent in S.] the name of kyng Assuerus. And [And thus IS.] lettris aseelid [enselid I.] with [verse 13] the ring of the kyng weren sent bi the
corouris of the kyng to alle hise pro|uynces, that thei schulden sle, and `do awei [fordo I.] alle Jewis [the Jewis I.] , fro a [Om. CI.] child to [vnto I.] an eld man, litle [and litle I.] children and wymmen, in o dai, that is, in the thrittenthe dai of the tweluethe monethe, which [that I.] is clepid Adar [March A. marg. Adar or Marche I.] ; and [and thei weren also comaundid I.] that thei schulden take awei the goodis of Jewis [the Jewis IS.] . [verse 14] Forsothe [And I.] the sentence `in schort [Om. I.] of the [Om. C.] pistlis [epistolis EHLPRa. lettris I.] was this [this, writen in a fewe wordis I.] , that alle prouyncis schulden wite, and make hem redi to the forseid dai. And the co|roures, that weren sent [sent forth I.] , hastiden [hastiden hem self I.] to fille [fulfille I.] the comaundement [heest I.] of the kyng; and anoon the comaundement [heest of the kyng I. comaundement of the king S.] hangide [was hangid up I.] in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , `while the kyng [Om. I.] and Aaman maden [made a I.] feeste, and `the while [Om. EI.] that [Om. plures.] alle Jewis [the Jewis IS.] wepten, that weren in the [that I.] citee.
[verse 1] And whanne Mardochee hadde herd these thingis, he to-rente hise clothis, and he was clothid in a sak, and spreynt [he spreynt I.] aische on [upon I.] the [his I.] heed, and he criede with greet vois in the street of the myddis of the citee, and schewide [he schewide I.] the bitternesse of [verse 2] his soule, and he ȝede with this ȝellyng `til to [vnto I. to X.] the ȝatis of the paleis; for [sothely I.] it was not leueful a man clothid with a sak to entre in to the halle of the kyng. [verse 3] Also in alle prouynces, citees [in citees I.] , and places [in places I.] , to which the cruel sentence of the king was comun, was [ther was I.] greet weilyng, fastyng, ȝellyng [Om. I.] , and wepyng [wepyng and ȝellyng I.] anentis the Jewis, and many Jewis vsiden sak [a sak I.] and aische for bed [her bed I.] . [verse 4] Sotheli [And I.] the dameselis and onest [the onest I.] ser|uauntis and chast of Hester entriden [entriden yn I.] , and telden [telden this thing I.] to hir [Hester I.] ; which thing sche herde, and was [sche was I.] astonyed; and sche sente a cloth to Mardochee, that whanne the sak was [were I.] takun a wei, he schulde clothe hym therynne; which [the which I.] cloth he nolde [wolde not I.]
take. [verse 5] And aftir that [this thing, was clepid I.] Athac, the [an I.] onest seruaunt and chast [a chast I.] , `was clepid [Om. I.] , whom the kyng hadde ȝoue a mynystre [seruaunt I.] to hir [Hester I.] , sche [and sche I.] comaundide, that he schulde go to Mardochee, and lerne of hym, whi he dide this thing. [verse 6] And Athac ȝede out [forth I.] , and ȝede [he came I.] to Mardochee stondynge in the street of the [verse 7] citee, bifor the dore [ȝate I.] of the paleis; which [and he I.] schewide to Athac alle thingis that bi|felden [hadden bifalle I.] , hou Aaman hadde bihiȝt to bryng siluer in to tresours [the tresours I.] of the kyng for the [Om. I.] deeth of Jewis [the Jewis I.] . [verse 8] Also he [Mardochee I.] ȝaf to Athac the copie of the comaundement [kingis heest I.] , that hangide in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , to [for to I.] schewe to the queen, and to moneste [moue I.] hir for to entre [entre yn I.] to the kyng, and to biseche hym for hir puple. [verse 9] And Athac ȝede aȝen, and telde to Hester alle thingis, whiche [that I.] Mardochee hadde seid [seid to him I.] . [verse 10] And sche answeryde to hym [Athac I.] , and seide, that he schulde seie [seie this thing I.] to Mardochee, [verse 11] Alle [that alle I.] the seruauntis of the kyng, and alle prouyncis [the prouyncis I.] that [whiche I.] ben vndur his lordschip, knowen, that whether a [Om. I.] man ether a [Om. I.] womman not clepid [clepid of the kyng I.] entrith in to the ynnere halle of the kyng, he schal be slayn anoon with outen ony tariyng, no [Om. I.] but [but if I.] in hap the kyng holdith [holde I.] forth [forth to him I.] the goldun ȝerde `to hym [Om. I.] for `the signe [a token I.] of merci, and [and that I.] he mai lyue so; therfor hou mai Y entre to the kyng, which [that I.] am not clepid to hym now bi thritti daies? [verse 12] And whanne Mardochee hadde herd `this thing [thes thingis I.] , [verse 13] he sente efte to Hester, and seide, Gesse thou not, that thou schalt delyuer oonli thi lijf, for [for thi that I.] thou art in the hows of the [verse 14] kyng, bifor alle Jewis [the Jewis I.] ; for if thou art stille now, Jewis [the Jewis I.] schulen be delyuered bi another occasioun [wey I.] [bi another occasioun; for God hath many maneris to de|lyuere hise ser|uauntis. Lire here. C.] , and thou and the hows of thi fadir schulen perische [schule pe|rische; bi Goddis riȝtful|nesse, for thou hast dispisid thi puple. Lire here. C.] ; and who knowith, whether herfor thou camist to the rewme, that thou schuldist be maad
redi in sich a [Om. O.] tyme [tyme to helpe I.] ? [verse 15] And eft Hester sente [verse 16] these wordis to Mardochee [Mardochee, seiynge I.] , Go thou, and gadere togidere alle Jewis [the Jewis IX sec. m.] , whiche thou fyndist in Susa, and preie ȝe for me; ete ȝe not [ete ȝe not; that is, faste ȝe, and ete onys onely in the day, for it were vndiscreet ab|stynence to ete no thing ne|ther to drynke in thre dayes, and thre nyȝtis. Lire here. C.] , nether drynke ȝe in thre daies and thre nyȝtis, and Y with myn handmaydis [handmaidens I.] schal fast in lijk maner; and thanne Y not clepid schal entre [entre yn I.] to the kyng, and Y schal do aȝens the lawe, and Y [Om. plures.] schal [verse 17] bitake me to deth and to perel. Therfor Mardochee ȝede [ȝede forth I.] , and dide alle thingis, whiche [that I.] Hester hadde comaundid to hym.
[verse 1] Forsothe [Certis I.] in the thridde dai Hester was clothid in `the kyngis [real I.] clothis, and stood [sche stood I.] in the porche of the kyngis hows, that was `the ynnere aȝens [withynneforth forn aȝens I.] the kyngis halle; and he [the kyng I.] sat on [upon I.] his trone, in the consistorie of the [his I.] paleis, aȝens the dore of the hows. [verse 2] And whanne he hadde seyn Hester, the queen, stondynge [stondynge there I.] , sche pleside [pleside to I.] hise iȝen, and he helde forth aȝens hir the goldun ȝerde, which [that I.] he helde in the [his I.] hond; and sche [Hester I.] neiȝide [neiȝide niȝ I.] , and kisside [sche kisside I.] the hiȝnesse [ende I.] of his ȝerde. [verse 3] And the king seide to hir, Hester, the queen, what `wolt thou [woltow B. seist thou EL. wilt thou IP.] ? what is thin axyng? Ȝhe, thouȝ [ȝif EL. Om. P.] thou axist [axe CDI.] the half part of my rewme, it schal be ȝouun to thee. [verse 4] And sche answeride, If it plesith [plesith to I.] the kyng, Y biseche, that thou come to me to dai, and Aaman with thee, to the feeste, which [that I.] Y haue maad redi. [verse 5] And anoon the king seide, Clepe ȝe [ȝe anoon I.] Aaman soone [Om. I.] , that he obeie to the wille of Hester. Therfor [And thanne I.] the kyng and Aaman camen to the feeste, which the queen hadde maad redi to hem. [verse 6] And the king seide to hir [Hester I.] , aftir that he hadde drunk [drunken I.] wiyn [Om. I.] plen|teuousli, What [What thing IS.] axist thou [thou of me S.] , that it be ȝouun to thee, and for what thing axist thou [thou now S.] ? Ȝhe, thouȝ thou axist [axe I. axedist S.] the half
part of my rewme, thou schalt [sholdest S.] gete [gete it IS.] . [verse 7] To whom Hester answeride [seyde S.] , My axyng and preieris ben these. [verse 8] If Y haue founde grace in the siȝt of the kyng, and if it plesith the kyng, that he ȝyue to me that [that thing IS.] , that Y axe, and that he fille [fulfille IS.] myn axyng, the kyng and Aaman come [come thei to morewe IS.] to [aȝeyn to S.] the feeste, which [that I.] Y haue maad redi to hem; and to morewe Y schal opene my wille to the kyng. [verse 9] Therfor [Thanne I.] Aaman [Aaman that dai I.] ȝede out [forth thens I. thens S.] glad and swift `in that dai [Om. I.] . And whanne he hadde seyn Mardochee sittynge bifor the ȝatis of the paleys, and not oneli to haue not [Om. S.] rise [risen up IS.] to hym, but sotheli nether moued [he moued him IS.] fro [ones fro S.] the place of his sittyng, he [Aaaman IS.] [verse 10] was [herfore was.] ful wrooth; and `whanne the ire was dissymelid, he [Aaman feynyde him as not wrooth herfore, and IS.] turnede aȝen in to his hows, and he clepide togidire `to him [Om. S.] silf [Om. IS.] [verse 11] frendis [hise frendis CIS.] , and Zares, his wijf; and he de|claride [tolde IS.] to hem the greetnesse of his rich|essis, and the cumpeny of children [his children IS.] , and with hou greet glorie the kyng hadde enhaunsid hym aboue alle hise princis and seruauntis. [verse 12] And he seide after these thinges [thingis to hem IS.] , Also the queen Hester clepide noon other man with the kyng to the [hir IS.] feeste, outakun me, anentis `which queen [whom IS.] Y schal ete also to morewe with the kyng. [verse 13] And whanne [thouȝ IS.] Y haue alle these thingis, Y gesse that Y haue no thing, as long as Y se Mardochee, Jew [the Jew IS.] , sittynge bifor the `kyngis ȝatis [ȝatis of the kyng IS.] . [verse 14] And Zares, his wijf, and othere [his S.] frendis answeriden to hym, Co|maunde thou an hiȝ beem [beem or a galewe tre S.] to be maad redi, hauynge fifti cubitis of heiȝthe; and seie [speke IS.] thou eerly [to morew eerly S.] to the kyng [kyng, preiynge him I. kyng, and axe of him S.] , that Mar|dochee be hangid theronne [ther upon I.] ; and so thou schalt go glad with the kyng to the feeste [queens feeste S.] . [verse 15] And the counsel [counsel of hem I. counceil of these S.] plesyde him, and he co|maundide an hiȝ cros [cros, that is, a jebet S.] to be maad redi.
[verse 1] The kyng ledde [wakide IS.] that nyȝt with out sleep, and he comaundide the stories and the bookis of ȝeeris `of formere tymes [bifore passid I. passid bifore hoond S.] to be brouȝt to hym. And whanne tho [tho bokis IS.] [verse 2] weren red in his presense, me cam to the [that B sup. ras. C sec. m. V.] place, where it was writun, hou Mar|dochee hadde teld the tresouns of Gaba|than and Thares [of Thares I.] , oneste [priuey IS.] seruauntis [seruauntis of the king IS.] , couetynge to strangle [haue stranglid IS.] kyng Assuerus. [verse 3] And whanne the kyng hadde herd this [this story red S.] , he seide, What onour and meede gat Mar|dochee for this feithfulnesse? And hise seruauntis and mynystris [his mynistris IS.] seiden [more and lesse seiden S.] to hym [the kyng IS.] , Outirli he took [took of the herfore S.] no meede. [verse 4] And anoon the kyng seide, Who is in the halle? Sotheli [Certis IS.] Aaman hadde entrid in to the ynnere halle of the kyngis hows, to make suggestioun to the kyng, that he [the kyng IS.] schulde comaunde Mardochee to be hangid on [upon IS.] the [a IS.] iebat, which [that I.] was [is M.] maad redi [redi of Aaman IS.] to him. [verse 5] And the children [children of the kyng IS.] answeriden [answeriden to him I. seyden to him S.] , Aaman stondith in the halle. [verse 6] And the kyng seide, Entre he [he yn I. he inne to me S.] . And whanne he [Aaman IS.] was comun yn, the kyng seide to hym, What owith to be don to the man, whom the kyng desirith onoure [to onoure A sec. m. S.] ? Aaman [And Aaman S.] thouȝte in his herte, and gesside [he gesside IS.] , that the kyng wolde onoure noon othere man no [Om. IS.] but [verse 7] hym silf [silf Aaman IS.] ; and [and therfore S.] he answeride [answeride thus S.] , The man, [verse 8] whom the kyng couetith to onoure, owith to be clothid with [in S.] the kyngis clothis [kyngis clothis; that is, whiche it is not leueful to ony man to vse, no but to the kyng. C.] , and [and him owith IS.] to be set on [upon IS.] the hors [on the hors, etc.; that is, whom no man rood, no but the kyng. C.] which [the which I.] is of the kyngis sadel, and to take the kyngis [verse 9] diademe [diademe, that is, his coroun S.] [the kyngis diademe, etc.; of whiche thingis it is opyn ynow, that Aaman aspiride to the rewme. Lire here. C.] on [upon IS.] his heed; and the firste [cheef I. firste or cheef S.] of the [Om. S.] princes and stronge [of the stronge IS.] men of the kyng holde [he holde IS.] his hors [hors, ledinge him I. hors, ledinge his bridil S.] , and go [go he I. go this cheef prince S.] bi the stretis of the citee, and crie [crie he IS.] , and seie, Thus he schal be onourid, whom euer [Om. IS.] the kyng wole
onoure. [verse 10] Therfor [And thanne IS.] the kyng seide to hym [Aaman IS.] , Haste thou [thou thee IS.] , and whanne `a stoole [the kyngis clothing IS.] [a stoole; that is, the kyngis cloth, and the kyngis hors; he spek|ith not of the diademe, for it was not semely that another man than the king schulde bere it. Lire here. C.] and hors [his hors IS.] is takun [take to thee IS.] , do thou, as thou hast spoke, to Mardochee the Jew, that sittith bifor the ȝatis of the paleis; be [and be IS.] thou war, that thou leeue not out [oute vndon S.] ony thing of these [these vndon I.] , whiche thou hast spoke [now spoke IS.] . [verse 11] Ther|for [And thanne IS.] Aaman took `a stoole and hors [the kyngis cloth and his palfrey IS.] , and ȝede [he ȝede forth IS.] , and criede bifor Mardochee clothid [clothid in the kyngis clothinge S.] in the strete [cheef strete IS.] of the citee, and set on [upon IS.] `the hors [his palfrey IS.] , He is worthi this onour, whom euer the kyng wole onoure. [verse 12] And [And aftir this IS.] Mardochee turnede aȝen to the ȝate of the paleis, and Aaman hastide to go in to his hows, morenynge, and with the [his IS.] heed hilid. [verse 13] And he teld to Zares, his wijf, and to frendis [his frendis IS.] alle thingis that hadden bifelde [bifalle IMS.] to hym. To whom the wise men [wise men; an Ebreu glos seith here, that these wise men hadden seyn the bokis of Moyses lawe, for summe Jewis, takun prisoneris, hadden trans|latid thanne the bokis in to language of Persis; and there they had|den seyn, that Ebreys ben comparisond ether licned to the steris of heuene, and to the dust of erthe, as it is had in xiii. co. and xxxv. co. of Genesis; and therfor they seiden, whanne Ebreys bigyn|nen to falle, they ben brouȝt to nouȝt as dust, and whanne they bigynnen to haue the mais|try, thei stien as the steris of heuene, and therfor thou maist not aȝen|stonde hem. Lire here. C.] , whiche [the whiche I.] he hadde [hadde towardis him S.] in counsel [his counsel I.] , and his wijf, answer|iden, If Mardochee, bifor whom thou hast [hast now S.] bigunne to falle, is of the seed of Jewis, thou [doynge thi seruyse to him, thou I. doinge to him this hiȝ seruise, thou S.] schalt not [not thanne IS.] mowe [Om. IS.] aȝenstonde hym, but thou schalt falle [falle schamefully I. falle shamly S.] in his siȝt. [verse 14] Ȝit while thei spaken [spaken thes thingis IS.] , the oneste seruauntis and chast of the kyng camen [camen aftir Aaman IS.] , and compelliden [thei compelliden IS.] hym to go soone [anoon IS.] to the feeste, which the queen hadde maad redi.
[verse 1] Therfor [And thanne IS.] the kyng and Aaman entriden [entriden yn I.] to the feeste, to [and to IS.] drynke with the queen. [verse 2] And the kyng seide [seide also I.] to hir [Hester IS.] , ȝhe [Om. IS.] , in the secounde dai, aftir that he was hoot [hoot or chaufed S.] of the [Om. CIS.] wiyn [wyn drinkinge S.] , Hester, what is thin axyng [axyng of me IS.] , that it be ȝouun to thee, and what wolt [wilt I.] thou be doon? Ȝhe, thouȝ thou axist [axe IS.] the half part of my rewme, thou schalt gete [haue it IS.] . [verse 3] To whom sche answeride, A [O! I.] ! king [my lord kyng S.] , if Y haue founde grace in thin iȝen, and if it plesith [plesith to IS.] thee, ȝyue thou my lijf to me, for
which [the which thing I.] Y preie [preie thee now IS.] , and my [also the lijf of my I. also, lord, I biseche thee hertly to ȝeue to me the lijf of my S.] puple, for which [the which I. Om. S.] Y [Om. S.] biseche [biseche thee I. Om. S.] . [verse 4] For [Certis IS.] Y and my puple ben ȝouun [demed I.] , that we be defoulid, and stranglid, and that we perische; `and Y wolde, that we weren seeld [O! whi ne had we rather be sold I. O lord! whi ne hadde we bi thin heste ben sold S.] in to seruauntis and ser|uauntessis, `and the [for that IS.] yuel `were suffrable [myȝte haue be suffrid IS.] , and Y `were stille weilynge [weilynge schulde haue be stille I. now wepinge shulde haue be stille, and suffrid mekly my thraldom S.] ; but now oure enemy is [is present IS.] , whos cruelte turneth `in to [aȝens IS.] the kyng [in to the kyng; for whanne we ben slayn, he schal sette tre|soun to the kingis liyf, as it is seid in xvi. co. Lire here. C.] . [verse 5] And kyng [the kyng I.] Assuerus an|sweride, and seide, Who is this [this enemy S.] , and of what power, that he be hardi to do these [siche IS.] thingis? [verse 6] And Hester seide, Oure worste aduersarie and enemy is this Aaman. Which [The which I.] thing he [whanne he I.] herde [hadde herd S.] , and [he IS.] was aston|yde anoon, and `suffride not [he was nat sufficient IS.] to bere the semelaunt [semblaunt I. semblaunt or the indignacioun S.] of the kyng and of the queen. [verse 7] Forsothe [And IS.] the kyng roos [roos up IS.] wrooth, and fro the place of the feeste he entride in to a gardyn biset [biset aboute IS.] with trees. And Aaman roos [roos up IS.] for to preie Hester, the queen, for his lijf; for he vndurstood yuel maad [to be maad IS.] redi of the kyng to hym. [verse 8] And whanne the kyng turnede aȝen fro the gardyn `biset with wode [Om. IS.] , and hadde entrid in to the place of feeste [the feeste CEIL. feeste holding I. hoolding of the feste S.] he foond that Aaman felde [had falle IS.] doun on [upon IS.] the bed, wherynne Hester lai. And the king seide, `Also he wole [Aaman wole also IS.] oppresse the [Hester the S.] queen, while Y am present, in myn hows. The [And the IS.] word was not ȝit [Om. C.] goon out [out fulli S.] of the kyngis mouth, and anoon thei [men IS.] hiliden his [the IS.] face [face of Aaman IS.] . [verse 9] And Arbona seide [Om. IS.] , oon of the onest seruauntis and chast, that stoden in the [Om. I.] seruyce of the kyng [kyng, seide IS.] , Lo! the [a IS.] tre hauynge fifti cubitis of heiȝthe stondith in the hows of Aaman, which [the which I.] tre [Om. IS.] he hadde maad redi to Mardochee, that spak for the kyng [king, and made knowe his traytours S.] . To whom the kyng seide, Hange ȝe [ȝe up IS.] Aaman in that tre [gebett IS.] .
[verse 10] Therfor [And so IS.] Aaman was hangid in the iebat [same iebat I.] , which he hadde maad redi to Mardochee, and [and thanne I. and so thanne S.] the ire [wraththe IS.] of the kyng restide [restide aȝens the Jewis IS.] .
[verse 1] In that dai kyng Assuerus ȝaf to Hester, the queen, the hows [hows; that is, alle his castels. Lire here.] of Aaman, aduer|sarie [enmye IS.] of Jewis [the Jewis CS.] . And Mardochee entride [entride yn IS.] bifor the face of the kyng; for [certis IS.] Hester knoulechide to [Om. IS.] hym, that he was `hir fadris brother [the brother of hir fadir IS.] . [verse 2] Therfor the kyng took the ryng, which he hadde comaundid to be resseyued fro [of IS.] Aaman, and ȝaf [he ȝaf it IS.] to Mardochee. Forsothe [And IS.] Hester ordeynede Mardochee ouer [to be ouer I. to be souerein ouer S.] hir hows [meynee I. meynees S.] . [verse 3] And Hester was not appaied with these thingis [thingis whiche Aaman had conspirid [aȝens the Jewis S] IS.] , and felde [and therfor felle I. and therfore Hester felle S.] doun to the feet of the kyng, and wepte [sche wepte IS.] , and spak to hym [the kyng IS.] , and preiede [preiede him IS.] , that he schulde [wolde I.] comaunde [comaunde to be maad void IS.] the malice of Aaman of Agag [the lynage of Agag IS.] , and hise worste castis, whiche he hadde thouȝte out aȝens Jewis [the Jewis IS.] , `to be maad voide [Om. IS.] . [verse 4] And the kyng bi custom helde forth the goldun ȝerde of the kyng with his hond, bi which the signe [token IS.] of merci [his merci S.] was [is S.] schewid. `Therfor [verse 5] sche [And thanne Hester IS.] roos vp, and stood bifor hym [the kyng IS.] , and seide, If it plesith [plesith to IS.] the kyng, and if Y haue founde grace bifor hise iȝen, and if my preier is not seyn `to be [Om. S.] contrarie to hym, Y biseche [biseche the, lord S.] , that the elde lettris of Aaman, traitour [the traitour IS.] and enemy of Jewis, by whiche [the whiche lettres I. which lettris S.] he hadde comaundid hem to pe|rische in alle the prouynces of the kyng, [verse 6] be amendid bi newe pistlis [lettres IS.] ; for hou schal Y mowe suffre the deth, and the sleyng of my puple? [verse 7] And kyng Assuerus an|sweride to Hester, the queen, and to Mar|dochee, Jew [the Jew IS.] , Y [and seide, I S.] grauntide [haue grauntid IS.] the hows of Aaman to Hester, the queen, and Y co|maundide hym to be hangid `on the [upon a I. on a S.] cros,
for [for thi that I. for thi S.] he was hardi to sette hond aȝens the Jewis. [verse 8] Therfor [Therfor in the name of the king IS.] write ȝe to Jewis [the Jewis IS.] , as it plesith to ȝou, `bi the [Om. A.] name of the kyng [Om. IS.] , and aseele ȝe the lettris with my ring. For this was the [a S.] custom, that no man durste aȝenseie the pistlis [lettres IS.] , that [which S.] weren sente in the kyngis name, and weren aseelid [seelid I.] with his ryng. [verse 9] And whanne the dyteris [araiers of the kyngis lettris I. endyters S.] and `writeris of the kyng [his writeris I.] weren clepid; `sotheli it was [it was thanne I.] the tyme of the thridde monethe, which [that I.] is clepid Siban [May, A marg. Siban, that is, June I.] , in the thre and twentithe dai of that [the I.] monethe; pistlis [lettres I. epistlis S.] weren writun, as Mar|dochee wolde, to Jewis, and to princes, and to procuratouris, and to iugis, that weren souereyns of [ouer M.] an hundrid and se|uene and twenti prouynces, fro Iynde `til to [vnto I.] Ethiope, to [thei weren writen to that I.] prouynce and to pro|uynce [that I.] , to puple [that puple I.] and to puple [that I.] , bi her langagis and lettris [bi her lettris I.] , and to Jewis [the Jewis I.] , that thei myȝten rede and here [here hem I.] . [verse 10] And tho [thilke I.] pistlis [lettres I. epistelis S.] , that weren sent `bi the kyngis name [in the name of the kyng I.] , weren aseelid with his ryng, and sent [weren sent forth I.] bi messangeris [his messangeris I.] , whiche [the whiche I.] runnen aboute bi alle prouynces, and camen [thei camen I.] with newe messagis bifor [bifor that I.] the elde lettris [lettris weren exsecutid I.] . [verse 11] To whiche [whom I.] the kyng comaundide, that thei schulden clepe togidere the Jewis [Jewis, and comaunde hem to be gaderid togidre I.] bi alle citees, `and comaunde to be gaderid togi|dere [Om. I.] , that [and that I.] thei schulden stonde [stonde togidere I.] for her lyues; and schulden [that thei schulden I.] sle, and do awei alle her enemyes, with her wyues and chil|dren [with her children I.] , and alle [with alle I.] howsis [her housholdis I.] . [verse 12] And o dai of veniaunce, that is, in [Om. I.] the thrittenthe dai of the tweluethe monethe Adar [March, A marg. Adar, that is, Marche I. of Adar X sec. m.] , was or|deined bi alle prouynces. [verse 13] And the schort sentence of the pistle [epistle S.] was this [Om. I.] , that it were maad knowun in alle londis and puplis, that weren suget to the empire of kyng Assuerus, that the Jewis ben redi [redi that day I.] to take veniaunce of her enemyes. [verse 14] And
the [Om. I.] messangeris ȝeden out [forth I.] , bifor berynge swift messages; and the [this same I.] comaundement [heest I.] of the kyng hangide in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] . [verse 15] Sotheli [And I.] Mardochee ȝede out of the paleis [kyngis paleis I.] and [Om. CN.] of the kyngis siȝt, and schynede [he schynede I.] in the kyngis clothis, that is [is to sey I.] , of [in I.] iacynct [iacynct clothis I.] and of [in clothis hauynge I.] colour of the eir, and he [Mar|dochie I.] bar a goldun coroun in [on GHIX.] his heed, and was [he was I.] clothid [hilid I.] with a mentil of selk [siluer S.] and of purpur [purpul S.] ; and al the citee fulli ioiede [out ioiede I.] , and was glad. [verse 16] For|sothe [Certis thanne I.] a newe liȝt semede to rise [rise up I.] to the [verse 17] Jewis, ioie [and ioie I.] , onour [and onour I.] , and daunsyng, at [was at I.] alle puplis, citees [and citees I.] , and alle [at alle I.] prouynces, whidur euere the comaundementis [heestis I.] of the kyng camen, a [among hem was a I.] wondurful ioie, metis [and metis I.] , and feestis, and an hooli dai, in so myche, that many [many men I.] of an [Om. I.] other folk and sect [of an oother sect I.] weren ioyned to the religioun and cerymonyes [to the cerymonyes I.] of hem [Jewis I.] ; for [sothely I.] the [Om. I.] greet drede of the name of Jewis `hadde asaylid [assailide I.] alle hem [men plures.] .
[verse 1] Therfor in the thrittenthe dai of the tweluethe monethe, which [the which I.] we seiden now bifore to be clepid Adar, whanne sleyng was maad redi to alle Jewis [the Jewis bi Aaman I.] , and her enemyes settiden tresoun to blood [her blood I.] , aȝen|ward Jewes [the Jewis I.] bigunnen [now bigunnen I.] to be the hiȝere [hiȝere part I.] , and to venge hem of aduersaries [her aduersaries CI.] . [verse 2] And thei [the Jewis I.] weren gaderid togidere bi alle citees, castels, and places, to stretche forth hond [her honde I.] aȝens her enemyes and pursueris [her pursueris I.] ; and no man was hardi to aȝenstonde [aȝenstonde hem I.] , for the drede of her gretnesse hadde persid [peerschid I.] alle puplis. [verse 3] For whi bothe the [Om. I.] iugis, duykis, and procuratouris of prouynces, and ech dignyte, that weren souereyns of alle places and werkis [of werkis I.] , enhaunsiden Jewis [the Jewis I.] , for the [Om. I.] [verse 4] drede of Mardochee, whom thei knewen [knowen O.] to be prince of the paleis [kingis paleis I.] , and to mow do ful myche; and the fame of his name en|creeside
ech dai, and flei [it passide I.] bi the mouthis of alle men. [verse 5] Therfor the Jewis smytiden [smeten EILP. smetin S.] her enemyes with greet veniaunce, and killiden hem, and ȝeldiden to tho [her I. the N.] enemyes that, that [Om. AS.] thei hadden maad redi to do to [verse 6] `the Jewis [hem I.] , in so myche, that also in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] thei [the Jewis I.] killiden fyue hundrid men, with out the ten sones of Aaman of Agag [the kynrede of Agag I.] , the enemye of Jewis, of whiche [the whiche sones I.] these ben [verse 7] the names; Phasandatha, Delphon, and [Om. I.] [verse 8] Esphata, and [Om. I.] Phorata, and [Om. I.] Adalia, and [Om. I.] [verse 9] Aridatha, and [Om. I.] Ephermesta, and [Om. I.] Arisai, and [Om. I.] Aridai, and Vaizatha. [verse 10] And whanne the Jewis hadden slayn hem [the sones of Aaman I.] , thei nolden [wolden not I.] take [do BCDEFGHLMNOPQRSUVWXab. touche K sec. m.] preies [the preies K sec. m.] of the catels [substaunce I. castels GORXa. catel LPS. batailes N.] of hem. [verse 11] And anoon the noumbre of hem, that weren slayn in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , was teld to the kyng. [verse 12] Which [And he I.] seide to the queen, Jewis [the Jewis I.] han slayn fyue hundrid men in the citee of Susa, and othere [the I.] ten sones of Aaman; hou grete sleyng gessist thou, that thei haunten in alle prouynces? what axist thou more? and what wolt [wilt I.] thou, that Y comaunde to be doon? [verse 13] To whom sche [Hester I.] answeride, If it plesith [plesith to I.] the kyng, power be ȝouun to the Jewis, that as thei han do to dai in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , so do thei also to morewe, and that the ten sones of Aaman be hangid vp in iebatis. [verse 14] And the kyng comaundide, that it schulde be doon so; and anoon the comaundement [heest of the kyng I.] hangide in Susa, and the ten sones of Aaman weren hangid. [verse 15] Ther|for [And I.] whanne the Jewis weren gaderid togi|dere, in the fourtenthe dai of the monethe Adar [of Marche I.] , thre hundrid men weren slayn [slayn that day I.] in Susa [the citee of Susa I.] , and the Jewis token not awei the catel of tho [thilke sleyin I.] men. [verse 16] But also bi alle the prouynces, that weren suget to the lord|schip of the kyng, Jewis [the Jewis I.] stoden for her lyues, whanne her enemyes and pursueris [her pursueris I.] weren slayn, in [and in I.] so myche, that [that thei fulfilliden the noumbre of I.] fyue and seuenti thousynde of slayn men `weren
fillid [Om. I.] , and no man [Jewe I.] touchide ony thing of the catelis [goodis I.] of hem. [verse 17] Forsothe [Certis I.] the thrit|tenthe dai of the monethe Adar [of Marche I.] was o [the I.] dai of sleyng at [anentis I.] alle Jewis [hem I.] , and in the fourtenthe dai thei ceessiden to sle; which [and that dai I.] thei ordeyneden to be solempne [solempne at hem I.] , that [so that I.] therynne in ech tyme aftirward thei schulden [schulden thanne I.] ȝyue tent to metis, to ioye, and to feestis. [verse 18] And thei [tho Jewis I.] , that hauntiden [vsiden the I.] sleyng in the citee of Susa, `lyueden in [contynueden her I.] sleyng in the thrittenthe and [and in I. dai and a.] fourtenthe [the fourtenthe CDFGHIKMNOPQSUVab.] dai of the same monethe. But in the fif|tenthe dai thei ceessiden to sle; and [Om. A.] therfor thei ordeyneden the same dai so|lempne [to be solempne I.] of feestis and of gladnesse. [verse 19] For|sothe [And I.] these Jewis, that dwelliden in borow townes not wallid and vilagis [in vilagis I.] , demeden the fourtenthe dai of the monethe Adar of [to be solempne of I.] feestis, and of ioie, so that thei [alle the Jewis I.] be ioiful therynne, and sende ech to other partis of feestis [her feestis I.] and of metis [her metis I.] . [verse 20] Therfor [And I.] Mardochee wroot alle these thingis, and sente [he sente alle I.] these thingis comprehendid [writen I.] bi let|tris to the Jewis, that dwelliden in alle prouynces [the prouyncis IX sec. m.] of the kyng, as wel to Jewis [verse 21] set [dwellinge I.] nyȝ as fer, that thei schulden res|seyue [resseyue and holde for here feeste daies I.] the fourtenthe and the [Om. A.] fiftenthe dai of the monethe Adar `for feestis [Om. I.] , and euer whanne the ȝeer turneth aȝen, `thei schulden [to I.] halowe [halowe thes daies I.] with solempne onour; [verse 22] for in tho daies the Jewis vengiden hem silf of her enemyes, and morenyng [thanne her morenyng I.] and sorewe [her sorewe I.] weren turned in to gladnesse and ioie; and [and therfor I.] these daies schulden be daies of feestis, and of gladnesse, and `that thei [the Jewis I.] schulden sende ech to other partis of metis [her metis I.] , and `ȝyue litle ȝiftis [that thei departe of her godis I.] to pore men. [verse 23] Forsothe [And I. For the sothe S.] the Jewis resseyueden in to solempne [the solempne co pr. m. a solempne I.] custom alle thingis [tho thingis I.] , whiche thei bigunnen to do in that tyme, and whiche thingis Mardochee hadde co|maundid
bi lettris to be doon. [verse 24] Sotheli [For I.] Aaman, the sone of Amadathi, of the kynrede of Agag, the enemy and aduer|sarie of Jewis, thouȝte yuel aȝens hem, to sle hem and to do [do hem I.] awei, and he sente [caste I.] phur, which [that I.] is interpretid [to sey I.] in [on N.] oure lan|gage [langagis D. lange PS.] `in to [Om. I.] lot [lot to do it I.] . [verse 25] And afterward [aftir this I.] Hester entride [entride yn I.] to the kyng, and bisouȝte [sche bisouȝte the kyng I.] , that `hise enforsyngis [the enforsyngis of Aaman I.] schulden be maad voide bi the lettris of the kyng, and that the yuel, which [that I.] he hadde thouȝt aȝenus the Jewis, schulde turne aȝen in to his heed. `Forsothe thei [and so the Jewis I.] hangiden [hangiden Aaman I.] on [upon I.] the [a I.] cros `bothe hym [Om. I.] and hise sones [sones also I.] . [verse 26] And fro that tyme [tyme forth I.] these daies weren clepid `Phu|rym, that is, of lottis [the daies of lott I.] , for `phur, that is [Om. I.] , lot, was sent [cast I.] in to a vessel; and the Jewis resseyueden on [upon I.] hem silf, and on [upon I.] her seed, and on [upon I.] alle men that wolden be couplid to her religioun, alle thingis that weren doon [doon bi Hester and Mardochie I.] , and ben [alle thingis that ben I.] conteyned in the volym [book I.] of the pistle [epistle S.] , `that is, of this [verse 27] book [Om. I.] , and whiche [the whiche I.] thingis thei [the Jewis I.] suffriden, and whiche [the whiche I.] thingis weren chaungid aftir|ward, that [so that I.] it be not leueful to ony man to passe [passe thes two daies I.] with out solempnyte these [Om. I.] `daies, which [which daies I.] the scripture witnessith, and cer|teyn tymes axen, while the [that I.] ȝeeris comen contynuely oon aftir an other. [verse 28] These ben the daies, whiche neuer ony forȝet|yng schal do awei, and [but I.] bi alle genera|ciouns alle prouynces [the prouynces I.] , that ben in al the world, schulen halewe [halowe hem I.] ; nether `ony citee is [ther is ony citee I.] , in which the daies of Phurym [Phur I.] , that is, of lottis [lott I.] , schulen not be kept of Jewis, and of the generacioun of hem, which is bounden to these cerymonyes. [verse 29] And Hes|ter, the queen, the douȝter of Abiahel, and Mardochee, the Jew, writiden [wreten I. writin S.] also the secounde pistle [epistle S.] , that this solempne dai schulde be halewid aftirward with al
bisynesse. [verse 30] And [And also I.] thei senten to tho [thilke I.] Jewis, that dwelliden in an hundrid and seuene and twenti prouynces of kyng Assuerus, that thei schulden haue pees [haue pees; that is, dwelle pesibly among hethen men, and be not wantoun as tristinge of the power of Hes|ter and of Mar|doche. Lire here. C.] , and res|seyue [verse 31] the trewthe [and resseyue the treuthe, of this book among hooly bokis. Lire here. C.] , and kepe [that thei schulden kepe I.] the daies of lottis [lott I.] , and halewe [halewe hem I.] with ioie in her tyme, as Mardochee and Hester hadden ordeyned; and thei [the Jewis I.] resseiueden the fastyngis, and the cries [solempne cries I.] , and the daies of lottis [lott I.] , to be kept of [verse 32] hem silf and of her seed, and `that thei schulden resseyue among hooli bookis [thei resceyueden I.] alle thingis that ben conteyned in the sto|rie of this book, which [that I.] is clepid Hester.
[verse 1] Forsothe kyng Assuerus made tribu|tarye ech lond, and alle the ilis of the [verse 2] see; whos strengthe and empire and [his dignyte I.] dig|nyte and hiȝnesse, by which he enhaunside Mardochee, ben writun in the bookis of [verse 3] Medeis and of Persis; and how [how that I.] Mar|dochee of [the whiche was of I.] the kyn of Jewis was the secounde [secounde man I.] fro king Assuerus, and [and Mardochie I.] was greet anentis Jewis [the Jewis I.] , and acceptable [he was acceptable I.] to the puple of hise britheren, and he souȝte goodis [gode thingis I.] to his puple, and spak [he spak I.] tho thingis, that [whiche I.] perteyneden to the pees of his seed. Here endith the text of Ebrew [Ebrew, and this is a rubrich B text C marg.] . I haue set opynli with ful feith tho thingis, that ben had in Ebrew; but Y foond these thingis, that suen, writun [Om. B.] in the comyn translacioun, that ben conteyned in the langage [langagis W.] and lettris of Grekis; and in the meene tyme this chapitre was seid after the ende of the book, `which chapitre we bi oure custom han bifor markid [Om. B.] `with a [Om. BI.] spite [dispite D. spite, ether a spere EGLNPQRX. spite, either a finger M. spite, ether a sterr O. spite, ether a sui a. Om. IB.] . [verse 4] And Mardochee seide, These thingis ben doon of God. [verse 5] Y haue mynde on [of I.] the [a I.] dreem, which [the which I.] `Y siȝ, signifiynge [schewide I.] these same thingis [thingis that now appeeren I.] , and no thing of tho was voide. [verse 6] A [I siȝ a I.] litil welle, that [the whiche I.] wexide
in to a flood, and was [it was I.] turned in to the [Om. BEIL.] liȝt and [of EL.] sunne [in to the sunne I.] , and turnede [it turnede I.] aȝen in to ful many watris, is [this welle is I.] Hester, whom the kyng took in to wijf, and wolde [he wolde I.] that sche were his queen. [verse 7] Sotheli [And I.] twei [the two I.] dra|gouns, [verse 8] Y am and Aaman; folkis [and many folkis I.] that camen togidere, ben these, that enforsiden [enforsiden hem I.] to do a wei the name of Jewis. [verse 9] Sotheli [But I.] my folk Israel it is, that criede to the Lord; and the Lord made saaf his puple, and delyueride [he hath delyuered I.] vs fro alle yuels, and dide [he hath do I.] grete signes [tokenes I.] and wondris among hethene [verse 10] men; and he comaundide [hath comaundid I.] twei [two I.] lottis to be, oon of Goddis puple, and the tother [oother I.] of alle hethene men. [verse 11] And [And thanne I.] euer either lot cam in to `determynd dai thanne [a dai ordeyned I.] fro that tyme bifor God and alle folkis. [verse 12] And the Lord hadde mynde on [of I.] his puple, and hadde [he hadde I.] merci on [of I.] his eritage. [verse 13] And these daies [solempne daies I.] schulen be kept in the monethe Adar [of Marche I.] , in the fourtenthe `and the [Om. IX.] fif|tenthe [Om. S.] dai of the same monethe, with al bisynesse and ioie of the puple gaderid in to o cumpenye, in to alle generaciouns [the generaciouns I.] of the puple of Israel aftirward.
[verse 1] In the fourthe ȝeer, whanne Ptolome and Cleopatra regneden, Dositheus, that seide hym silf to be a prest and of the kyn of Leuy, and Ptolome, his sone, brouȝten this pistle [epistle S.] of lottis [lott I.] in to Je|rusalem, which [the which I.] pistle [epistle S.] thei seiden, that Lysimachus, the sone of Ptolome, trans|latide. Also [This is a rubrich; for B.] this bigynnyng was in the comyn translacioun, which [the which a.] bigynnyng is not teld in Ebreu, nethir at ony of the [tho W.] translatouris. [verse 2] In the secounde ȝeer, whanne Artaxerses the moost [myȝtiest king I.] regnyde, Mardochee, the sone of Jairy, sone [the sone I.] of Semei, sone [the sone I.] of Cys, of the lynage of Ben|iamyn, siȝ a dreem in the firste dai of the
[verse 3] monethe Nysan [Nysan, that is, June I.] ; and Mardochee was a man Jew [a Jew BCDEFGHKLMNOPQRSUVWXab.] , that dwellide in the citee of Susa, a [and he was a I.] grete man, and [Om. I.] amonge the firste [cheef I.] men of the kyngis halle. [verse 4] Sotheli [And I.] he was of that noumbre of prisoneris, which Nabugodonosor, the [Om. I.] kyng of Babi|loyn, hadde translatid fro Jerusalem with Jeconye, kyng of Judee. [verse 5] And this was `his dreem [the dreem of Mardochie I.] . Voices [He siȝ that voices I.] and noises and thun|dris and erthemouyngis and troblyng [greet troblyng I.] apperiden on [upon I.] the erthe. [verse 6] And [Om. C.] lo! twei grete dragouns, and maad [thei weren maad I.] redi aȝens hem [verse 7] silf in to batel; at the [whos I.] cry `of which [Om. I.] alle naciouns weren stirid togidere, to fiȝte aȝens the folc of iust men. [verse 8] And that was a day of derknessis, and of perel, of tribu|lacioun, and of angwisch, and grete drede was on [thanne upon I.] erthe. [verse 9] And the folc of iust men dredynge `her yuels [the yuel of her enmyes I.] was [weren I.] disturblid, and maad redi to deeth. [verse 10] And thei crieden to God; and whanne thei crieden, a [I sawȝe a I.] litil welle encreesside in to a ful greet flood, and turnede [it turnede I.] aȝen in to ful many watris. [verse 11] The [And thanne the I.] liȝt and [of CN.] the sunne roos [roos up I.] ; and meke men weren enhaunsid, and deuouriden [thei deuouriden and ouercamen I.] noble men. [verse 12] And whanne Mardochee [Mardochee in his sleep I.] hadde seyn this thing, and hadde rise fro the [his I.] bed, he thouȝte, what God wolde do, and he hadde fast set in soule [his soule this visioun I.] , and couet|ide [he coueitide I.] to wite, what the dreem signyfiede [bitokenyde I.] .
[verse 1] Forsothe [Certis I.] Mardochee dwellide that tyme in the halle of the kyng, with Bagatha and Thara, oneste [the oneste I.] seruauntis [seruauntis and chaast I.] of the kyng, that weren porteris of the paleis [kyngis paleis I.] . [verse 2] And whanne he hadde vndurstonde the thouȝtis of hem [these men I.] , and hadde [he hadde I.] bifor seyn ful dili|gentli the [her I.] bisynessis, he lurnyde that thei enforsiden [enforsiden hem I.] to set hond [her hond I.] on [upon I.] kyng [the kyng I.] Artaxerses, and he telde of that thing to
the kyng. [verse 3] And whanne enqueryng was had of euer eithir [either of hem I.] , the kyng comaundide hem, `that knoulechiden [knowlechinge her tresoun I.] , to be led to deth [the deth I.] . [verse 4] Forsothe [And I.] the kyng wroot in bookis that [that thing I.] , that was doon, but [and I.] also Mardochee bitook [toke I.] the [Om. I.] mynde of the [this I.] thing to lettris [be writen in lettris I.] . [verse 5] And the kyng comaundide hym [Mardochie I.] , that he schulde dwelle in the halle of the paleis, and ȝaf [he ȝaf I.] to hym ȝiftis for the tellynge. [verse 6] Forsothe [And I.] Aaman, the sone of Amadathi, a bugei, was [was thanne I.] moost glorius bifor the kyng, and he wolde anoye [haue anoied I.] Mardochee, and his puple, for the `tweyne oneste [two priuey I.] seruauntis of the king `that weren slayn [whiche Aaman louyde myche I.] . Hidur to is the prohemye; tho thingis, that suen, weren set [writun X.] in that place, where it was [is I.] writun in the book, And thei token awey the goodis, ether the catels of hem; whiche thingis we founden in the comyn trans|lacioun. Sotheli this was the saumpler of the pistle [epistle EHLV.] .
[verse 1] The gretteste kyng Artaxerses, fro Iynde `til to [vnto I.] Ethiope, seith helthe to the princes and duykys of an hundrid and seuene and twenti prouynces, whiche [the whiche I.] princes and duykis ben suget [sugettis I.] to his em|pire. [verse 2] Whanne Y was lord [lord, he seide, I.] of ful many folkis, and [and whanne I.] Y hadde maad suget al the world to my lordschip, Y wolde not mys|use the greetnesse of power, but gouerne sugetis [my sugetis I.] bi merci and softnesse, that thei, ledynge lijf [her lijf I.] in silence with outen ony drede, schulden vse pees couetid of alle deedli men. [verse 3] Sotheli [And I.] whanne Y axide of my counselours, hou this [this gouernaile I.] myȝte be fillid [best fulfillid I.] , oon [oo prince I.] , Aaman bi name, that passide othere men in wisdom and `feithfulnesse, and [in feithful|nesse, the whiche I.] was [verse 4] the secounde aftir the kyng, schewide to me, that a puple was scaterid in al the roundnesse of londis, which [the which I.] puple vside newe lawis, and dide [that this peple dide I.] aȝens the custom of
alle folkis, and dispiside [it dispiside I.] the comaunde|mentis [heestis I.] of kyngis, and defoulide [it defoulide I.] bi his discencioun the acordyng of alle naciouns. [verse 5] And whanne we hadden lerned this thing, and sien, that o [ther was a I.] folk rebel aȝens al the kynde of men vside [and that it vside I.] weiward lawis, and [that it was I.] was contrarie to oure comaundementis [heestis I.] , and disturblide [that it disturblide I.] the pees and acording [verse 6] of prouynces suget to vs, `we comaund|iden, that whiche euere [thanne sith I.] Aaman `schewide, which [Om. I.] is souereyn of alle prouynces, and is [he is I.] the secounde fro [persoone aftir I.] the kyng, and [Om. I.] whom we onouren in `the place [stede I.] of fadir [a fadir I.] , thei [therfor we comaunden that whiche euer that Aaman hath schewid, be thei I.] with her wiues and children [her children I.] be [Om. I.] doon awei of her enemyes, and noon [no man I.] haue merci on [upon I.] hem, in [be this veniaunce don I.] the fourtenthe dai of the twelfithe monethe Adar [of Marche I.] , of present [this present I.] [verse 7] ȝeer; that cursid men go doun to hellis [helle I.] in o dai, and ȝelde [ȝelde thei so I.] pees to oure empire, which thei hadden troblid. Hidur [A rubrich. Hidur BC.] to is the saumpler [ensaumpler ELP.] of the pistle [epistle EHL.] ; these thingis, that suen, Y foond writun aftir that place, where it is red [seid K.] , And Mardochee ȝede, and dide alle thingis, whiche Hester hadde co|maundide to hym; netheles tho thingis ben not hadde in Ebrew, and [Om. K.] outirli tho ben not seid at ony of the translatours. [verse 8] Forsothe [Certis I.] Mardochee bisouȝte the Lord, and was [he was I.] myndeful of alle `hise werkys [the werkys of the Lord I.] , [verse 9] and seide [he seide I.] , Lord God, kyng almyȝti, alle thingis ben set in thi lordschip, `ethir power [Om. I.] , and `noon is [ther is noon I.] , that may aȝen|stonde thi wille; if thou demest for to saue Israel, we schulen be delyuered anoon. [verse 10] Thou madist heuene and erthe, and what euer thing is conteyned in the cumpas of heuene. [verse 11] Thou art Lord of alle thingis, and `noon is [ther is noon I.] that aȝenstondith thi maieste. [verse 12] Thou knowist alle thingis, and woost, that not for pride and dispit and [neither for I.] ony coueytise of glorie [veyn glorie I.] Y dide this [ony R.] thing, that [and that A.] Y wor|schipide [worschip D.] [verse 13] not Aaman moost [the moost I.] proud [proud man I.] ; for [forsothe I.]
Y was redi `wilfuli to kisse [to haue kissid wilfuli I.] , ȝhe, the steppis of hise feet for the helthe of Israel, [verse 14] but Y dredde, lest Y schulde bere ouere to a [Om. I.] man the onour of my God, and lest Y schulde worschipe ony man outakun my God. [verse 15] And now, Lord kyng, God of Abra|ham, haue thou merci on thi puple, for oure enemyes wolen leese vs, and do awei [verse 16] thin eritage; dispise not thi part, which [the which part I.] thou aȝenbouȝtist fro Egipt. [verse 17] Here thou my preier, and be thou merciful to the lot, and the [to the IX.] part of thin eritage; and turne thou oure morenyng in to ioie, that we lyuynge herie thi name, Lord; and close thou [Om. S.] not the mouthis of men heriynge thee. [verse 18] And al Israel with lijk [sich maner I.] mynde and bisechyng criede to the Lord, for [for cause that I.] certeyn deeth neiȝede to hem.
[verse 1] Also the [Om. I.] queen Hester fledde to the Lord [Lord God I.] , and dredde [sche dredde .] the perel, that neiȝede. [verse 2] And whanne sche hadde put awei the kyngis clothis [clothis that perteyneden to the queen I.] , sche took [took thanne I.] clothis couen|able to wepyngis and morenyng [to morenyng I.] ; and for dyuerse oynementis [oynementis that sche had vsid bifore I.] sche `fillide the [fulfillide hir I.] heed with aische and dust [drit plures. vile poudre or dust I.] , and `made meke [sche mekide I.] hir bodi with fastyngys; and with to [Om. I.] |breidyng awei of heeris [hir heer I.] , sche fillide [fulfillide I.] alle places [the places of hir heed I.] , in which [which placis I.] sche was wont to be [verse 3] glad; and bisouȝte [sche bisouȝte I.] the Lord God of Israel, and seide, My Lord, which [that I.] aloone art oure kyng, helpe me a womman left aloone, and of whom noon othere helpere [verse 4] is outakun thee; my perel is in my hondis. [verse 5] Y haue herd of my fadir, that thou, Lord, tokist [hast take I.] awei Israel fro alle folkis, and [and thou hast taken or chosen I.] oure fadris fro alle her grettere men bi|fore, that thou schuldist welde euerlast|ynge [an euerlastynge I.] eritage; and thou hast do to hem, as thou hast spoke [spoke or hiȝt I.] . [verse 6] We synneden [haue synned I.] in thi siȝt, and therfor thou hast bitake vs [verse 7] in to the hondis of oure enemyes; for [forsothe I.]
we worschipiden [haue wirschipid I.] the goddis of hem. [verse 8] Lord [And S.] , thou art iust; and now it suffisith not to hem [oure enmyes I.] , that thei oppressen vs with hardeste [ful hard I.] seruage, but thei aretten the strengthe of her hondis to the power of [verse 9] idols, and [and therfor thei I.] wolen chaunge thi biheestis, and do [thei woln do I.] awei thin eritage, and close the mouthis of men heriynge thee, and quenche [thei woln quenche I.] [verse 10] the glorie of thi [the plures.] temple and auter [of the auter I.] , that [and I.] thei opene [woln opene I.] the mouthis of hethene men, and preise [thei woln preise I.] the strengthe of ydols, and preche a fleischli [fleischi ACHNOU. fleischli man to the I.] kyng with outen ende. [verse 11] Lord, ȝyue thou not thi kyngis ȝerde [ȝerde or gouernaile I.] to hem, that ben noȝt [not plures. not of thi sort I.] , lest [that I.] thei leiȝen [leiȝe not I.] at oure fallyng; but turne thou the councel of hem on [upon I.] hem [hemself I.] , and distrie thou hym, that bigan to be cruel aȝens vs. [verse 12] Lord, haue thou mynde, and schewe thee to vs in the tyme of tribulacioun; and, Lord, kyng of goddis and [and kyng I.] of al power, ȝyue [verse 13] thou trist to me; ȝyue thou a word wel dressid in my mouth in the [Om. I.] siȝt of the lioun [lioun Assuerus I.] , and turne [turne thou I.] ouer his herte in to the hatrede of oure enemy, that bothe he perische, and othere men that consenten [consentiden I.] to hym. [verse 14] But [But, Lord I.] delyuere vs in thin hond, and helpe me, hauynge noon othere help no [Om. I.] but thee, Lord, that hast the kunnyng [verse 15] of alle thingis; and knowist [Lord, thou knowist I.] that Y hate the glorie of wickid men, and that Y wlate the bed of vncircumcidid men, and of ech alien. [verse 16] Thou [And, Lord, thou I.] knowist my freelte and nede [my nede I.] , that Y holde abhomynable the signe [signe or schewyng I.] of my pride and glorie [of my glorie I.] , which is on myn heed in the daies [day I.] of my schewyng, and that Y wlate it `as the cloth of a womman hauynge vncleene blood [Om. I sec. m. as the blodi skin of wommans infirmytee S.] , and Y bere not [not, or vse it I. not, that is, I vse not swich pride S.] [verse 17] in the daies of my stillenesse [stilnesse, oute of the kingis presence S.] , and that [thou wost, Lord, that S.] Y eet not in the boord of Aaman, nether the feeste of the kyng pleside me, and Y
drank not the wiyn of moiste sacrifices, [verse 18] and [and thou woost I. and Lord, thou wost S.] that thin [I thin IS.] handmayde `was neuere glad [Om. IS.] , sithen [sith I.] Y was translatid hidur til in to present [this present IS.] dai [dai was neuer glad IS.] , no [Om. I.] but in thee [the ARU.] , Lord God of Abraham. [verse 19] `God stronge [A! stronge God I. That art a stronge God S.] aboue alle [alle other S.] , here thou [thou, Lord S.] the vois of hem, that han noon othere hope [hope than thee I. hope than in thee S.] , and delyuere thou vs fro the hond of wickid men, and delyuere thou me fro my drede. Also Y foond `these wordis [these thingis addid B. these addid plures. this addid C pr. m. this thingis addid C sec. m.] in the comyn translacioun.
[verse 1] And `he sente to hir [Om. A sec. m. S.] , no doute that ne Mardochee sente to Hester, that sche schulde entre [entre yn IS.] to the kyng, and preie for hir puple, and for hir cuntrei. [verse 2] He [And Mardochie IS.] seide [seide to hir IS.] , Be thou myndeful of the daies of thi mekenesse, hou thou were nurschid in myn hond; for [forsothe IS.] Aaman, ordeyned [which is S.] the se|counde [secounde persone in power S.] fro the kyng, spak [hath spoke IS.] aȝens vs in to [verse 3] deth; and [therfor I. forthi S.] thou inwardli clepe the Lord [Lord God to help S.] , and speke [speke thou IS.] to the kyng for vs, and dely|uere vs fro deeth. And [Om. GQWX.] also Y foond these thingis, that suen, in the comyn translacioun. [verse 4] Forsothe [Certis IS.] in the thridde dai sche [Hester IS.] `puttide of [ordeynede IS.] the [hir S.] clothis of hir ournyng [enournyng X sec. m.] , and was [sche was IS.] cumpassid with hir glorie [glorie in ful riche araie S.] . [verse 5] And whanne sche `schinede in the kyngis clothing, and [Om. IS.] hadde inwardli clepid the Gouernour of alle thingis and the sauyour God [God, and schynyde in the kingis clothing IS.] , sche took [took to hir IS.] twei ser|uauntis [seruauntessis BCEISVX sec. m.] , [verse 6] and sotheli [Om. IS.] sche [Hester IS.] leenyde on [upon IS.] oon [oon of hem IS.] , as not [if sche had not IS.] susteynynge [suffisid IS.] to bere hir [hir owne IS.] body, for delices and ful [for ful IS.] greet tendir|nesse; [verse 7] but the tother [oother I.] `of the seruaunt|essis [seruauntesse IS.] suede the ladi, and bar vp the [hir IS.] clothis fletinge [trailinge A sup. ras. F sup. ras. IS.] doun `in to [upon IS. on a.] the erthe. [verse 8] `Sotheli sche was bisched [And Hester in hir face was colourid IS.] with `colour of roosis [roose colouris S.]
`in the cheer [Om. IS.] , and with pleasaunt [hir plesaunt IS.] and schynynge iȝen sche hilide the [hir IS.] soreuful soule, and [that was IS.] drawun togidere with ful myche drede. [verse 9] Therfor [And I.] sche entride [entride yn IS.] tho|rouȝ [bi S.] alle the doris bi ordre [rewe IS.] , and stood [sche stood IS.] aȝens [euen anentes S.] the kyng, where he sat on [upon IS.] the seete of his rewme, and was [the king was IS.] clothid in the [Om. IS.] kyngis clothis [aray IS.] , and schynyde [he schynyde IS.] in gold and [and in S.] preciouse stoonys, and was [he was IS.] dredeful in siȝt. [verse 10] And whanne he hadde reisid [reisid up IS.] the [his IS.] face, and hadde schewid the woodnesse [austernesse IS.] of herte [his herte IMS.] with brennynge iȝen, the queen felde doun [down bifore him IS.] ; and whanne the [hir IS.] colour was chaungid in to palenesse, sche restide the [hir I. and hir S.] heed slidun [bowid doun IS.] on [upon IS.] the [hir IS.] hand|maide. [verse 11] And God turnede the spirit of the kyng in to myldenesse, and he [the kyng IS.] hast|ide [hasty I. hastinge S.] , and dredde [dredynge IS.] , `and skippyde out [rose up anoon IS.] of the [his IS.] seete; and he [Om. C.] `susteynede hir [helde up the queen IS.] with hise armes, til sche cam aȝen to hir self; [verse 12] and he spak faire [faire to hir IS.] bi these wordis, Hester, what [what greef IS.] hast thou? Y am thi brother; nyle [verse 13] thou drede, thou schalt not die [die for this comyng thus to me I. die for thi cummynge to me withouten clepinge S.] ; for this lawe is not maad for [oonly for S.] thee, but [but it is maad IS.] for alle men [othere, that thei [wymmen S] be buxum to her husbondis IS.] . [verse 14] Therfor neiȝe thou [thou hidere IS.] , and touche the [my IS.] ceptre, `that is, the kyngis ȝerde [or ȝerde I.] . [verse 15] And whanne sche [Hester IS.] was stille [coumfortid IS.] , he [the kyng IS.] took the [his IS.] goldun ȝerde, and `puttide on [touchide therwith IS.] hir necke; and he kisside hir, and seide, Why spekist thou not to me? [verse 16] And sche an|sweride, Lord, Y siȝ thee as an [the C.] aungel of God, and myn herte was troblid for [fro A.] the [Om. S.] [verse 17] drede of thi glorye; for, lord, thou art ful wondurful, and thi face is ful of graces. [verse 18] And whanne sche spak [had thus spoke IS.] , eft sche felde doun [doun in a swown S.] , and was [sche was IS.] almest deed. [verse 19] Sotheli [And IS.] the kyng was troblid [troblid herfore IS.] , and alle hise mynys|tris [seruauntis IS.] coumfortiden hir. The [This swinge is the K. This is the R.] saumpler
of `the lettre of [Om. ABCDIUV. the pistle of F.] the [Om. GKMNOSWa.] kyng Artaxerses, which he sente for [fro oa.] the Jewis to alle the [Om. X.] prouynces of his rewme; and [also F.] the [this K.] same [Om. C.] saumpler [saumpler hereof S.] is not had in the book of Ebreu.
[verse 1] The grete kyng Artaxerses, fro [beynge lord fro I. whos lordship was fro S.] Yinde `til to [to FX. vnto IS.] Ethiopie, seith helthe to the duykis and pryncis of an hundrid and seuene and twenti prouynces, that [the whiche I. which S.] obeien to oure co|maundement. [verse 2] Many men mysusen in to pride the goodnesse and onour [the honour S.] of princes, [verse 3] which [that IS.] is ȝouun [taken IS.] to hem; and not oneli thei [swich men S.] enforsen [enforsen hem IS.] to oppresse sugetis to kyngis, but thei beren not [not dewly I. not ether vsen not duly S.] glorie [the glorie IS.] ȝouun [taken IS.] to hem, and maken [thes maken IS.] redy tresouns aȝens hem, that ȝauen the [her IS.] glorie [glorie to hem IS.] . [verse 4] And thei ben not apaied to do not thankyngis for benefices [goodnessis IS.] , and to defoule in hem silf the lawis of curtesie; but also thei demen, that thei moun fle the sentence of God seynge alle thingis. [verse 5] And thei breken out in to so mych woodnesse, that thei en|forsen [enforsen hem IS.] with the [Om. IS.] roopis of leesyngis to distrie hem, that kepen diligentli offices [the offices IS.] bitakun to hem, and doen so alle thingis, that thei ben worthi the [Om. IS.] preisyng of alle [verse 6] men; while [and while malicious men gessynge othere men bi her owen kynde blameful IS.] bi sutil fraude `false men [thei I. swiche S.] disseyuen the symple [sotel S.] eeris of kyngis [the king S.] , `and gessynge othere men bi her owne kynde [Om. IS.] . [verse 7] Which thing is preuyd bothe bi elde stories, and bi these thingis that ben doen ech dai; hou the studies of kyngis ben maad schrewid [ful contrarious IS.] bi yuele suggestiouns of summen. [verse 8] Wherfor it is to purueye for the pees of alle prouynces. [verse 9] And thouȝ we comaunden dyuerse thingis [thingis, as now we bidden oo thing to be don, and now we forbeden the same S.] , ȝe owen not to gesse, that it [this IS.] cometh of the [Om. BCIKb.] vnstable|nesse of oure [Om. B.] soule [herte IS.] ; but that we ȝyuen sentence [sentence bi oure counseil IS.] for the maner and nede of tymes,
as the profit of the [Om. I.] comyn thing axith. [verse 10] And that ȝe vndurstonde opynliere [more openly IS.] that [that thing I. that that thing S.] , that we seyen; Aaman, the sone of Ama|dathi, a man of Macedoyne bi [bothe bi IS.] soule [kynde IS.] and folk [bi folk IS.] , and an [Om. IS.] alien fro the blood [blood or kynde I. blood of kynrede S.] of Per|sis, and [and he IS.] defoulynge oure pitee with his cruelte, was a pilgrym, ethir [or IS.] a [Om. C.] straun|ger, [verse 11] and was [he was IS.] resseyued of vs [vs moost favourably S.] ; and he feelide in hym silf so grete curtesie of vs, that he was clepid oure fadir, and was [he was IS.] worschipid of alle men the [as the IS.] secounde [secounde persoone IS.] [verse 12] aftir the kyng; which [the which I.] Aaman was reisid in to so greet bolnyng of pride, that he enforside [enforside him IS.] to pryue us of the rewme and spirit [lijf A. sec. m. of oure lijf IS.] . [verse 13] For bi summe newe and vnherd castis he axide in to deeth Mardochee, bi whos feith and benefices we liuen, and [and also I.] the felowe of oure rewme Hester, with al [Om. S.] [verse 14] hir folk [folk he wolde haue distrioied S.] ; and he thouȝte these thingis, that whanne thei [thes IS.] weren slayn, he schulde sette tresoun to [aȝens S.] `oure aloonenesse [oure onlinesse A sec. m. us so maad aloone I. oure aloonesse, that is, to the kyngis persone S.] [to oure aloonenesse; that is, to vs self aloone. C.] , and that he schulde [wolde thanne I.] translate the rewme of Persis in to Macedoynes [the rewme of Macedoynes I. the rewme of Macedonie S.] . [verse 15] Forsothe [And forsothe IS.] we founden not the Jewis in ony gilt outirli, that [the whiche netheles I. which S.] weren ordeyned to deth [the deth I.] by the [him that is I.] worste of deedli men; but aȝenward that [we founden that IS.] [verse 16] thei [the Jewis IS.] vsen iust lawis, and ben the sones of the hiȝeste and moste God [Om. IS.] , and `euere lyuynge [of euerelastynge God IS.] , bi whos benefice [benefices C. goodnesse IS.] the [this IS.] rewme was ȝouun bothe to oure fadris and to vs, and is kept `til to [vn to I. in to S.] dai [this dai I. this dai bi his grace S.] . [verse 17] Wherfor wyte ȝe, that tho lettris ben voide, whiche [the whiche I.] thilke Aaman sente vndur oure name. [verse 18] For which greet trespas bothe he [Aaman S.] that ymagynede [ymagynede it I. ymagynide this yuel S.] , and al his kynrede, hangith in iebatis bifor the ȝatis of this [the S.] citee, `that is [of S.] , Susa; for not we, but God ȝeldide to hym that, that he desseruyde. [verse 19] Forsothe [Therfor I. For thi S.] this comaunde|ment [heest IS.] , which [that IS.] we senden [senden forth IS.] now, be [be it IS.] set forth [up IS.] in alle citees, that it be leueful to
Jewis [the Jewis I.] to vse her lawis. [verse 20] `Whyche Jewis [Whom also I.] ȝe owen [owen also S.] helpe [to helpe IS.] , that thei moun sle hem, that maden hem silf redi [to be redi S.] to the deeth of Jewis, in the thrittenthe dai of the tweluethe monethe, which [that I.] is clepyd A|dar; [Adar, or Marche IS.] [verse 21] for Almyȝti God turneth [hath turned IS.] this dai of weilyng and morenyng [of morenyng IS.] in to ioye to hem [the Jewis IS.] . [verse 22] Wherfor and ȝe [we comaunden that ȝe IS.] han [haue plures.] this dai among othere feeste daies, and halowe [halewe ȝe IS.] it with al [Om. IS.] gladnesse; that it be knowun aftirward, that alle men, that obeien feith|fuli [verse 23] to Persis [the kyngis of Persis IS.] , resseyuen worthi meed for feith [her feith IS.] ; sotheli [and IS.] that thei, that setten [senten W. settiden V.] tre|soun to the rewme of hem, perischen [perishe I.] for the [her IS.] felony. [verse 24] Forsothe [And IS.] ech prouynce and citee, that wole not be parcenere of this solempnytee, perische [perische it I.] bi swerd and fier [bi fier IS.] ; and be it `doon awey [Om. I.] so [so fordon I.] , that not oneli it be with out weie to men but also to beestis with outen ende, for ensaumple [the ensaumple IS.] of dispisyng [her dispisyng IS.] and vnobedience.