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

CAP. III.

[verse 1] Therfor whanne the hooli citee was enhabited in al pees, lawis also ȝit weren best kept, for the feithfulnesse [feithfulnesse; that is, dili|gence in Goddis worschiping. U. this word, dis|posicioun, ei|ther ordy|naunce, is not of the tixt, neither is in bokis amendid. Lire here. U.] of Onyas, bischop, and for soulis hatynge [in hatyng R.] yuele [verse 2] thingis, it was maad, that bothe thei kyngis and prynces ledden the place worthi hiȝeste onour, and liȝtiden the [verse 3] temple with gretteste ȝiftis; so that Se|leucus, kyng of Asie, ȝaf of his rentis alle spensis perteynynge to the seruices [seruyce R.] of sacrifices. [verse 4] Forsothe Symount, of the ly|nage of Beniamyn, that was ordeyned souereyn [souereyn, as to outtermore thingis, for he was no prest. Lire here. IKU.] of the temple, whanne the prince of prestis aȝenstood hym, stroof for to caste sum wickid thing in the citee. [verse 5] But whanne he miȝte not ouercome Onyas, he cam to Appollonye, sone of Tharsee, that in that tyme was duyk of Celescirie [verse 6] and Fenyce; and telde to hym, that the treserie in Jerusalem was ful with rich|essis vnnoumbrable; and that comyn rich|essis ben grete, whiche perteynen not to the [Om. I.] resoun of sacrifices; forsothe that it was [be R.] possible, that alle thingis falle vndur power of the kyng. [verse 7] And whanne Appolonye hadde telde to the kyng of richessis that weren borun in, he sente Heliodore clepid, that was on his nedis, with maundementis for to bere out the forseid monei. [verse 8] And anoon Heliodore took the weie, sotheli bi forme as if [Om. R.] he were to passynge bi Celessirie and Fenyce citees, but in trewe thing to parformynge the kyngis purpos. [verse 9] But whanne he cam to Jerusalem, and was resseyued benygneli of the hiȝeste prest in the citee, he telde of doom ȝouun of the richessis, and openyde for cause of what thing he cam; forsothe

he axide, if verili these thingis weren so. [verse 10] Thanne the hiȝeste prest schewide, that these thingis weren kept to the lijflodis of widewis, and of fadirles ether modirles [verse 11] children; that summe sotheli weren of Ircan Tobie, a man ful noble in these thingis, that vnpitouse Symount hadde teld; forsothe that [Om. R.] alle [alle the R.] talentis of siluer weren foure hundrid, and of gold two hun|drid; [verse 12] for [forsothe R.] that it was impossible on al maner, that thei be disseyued, that bitoken her thingis to be kept to the place and temple, that bi al the world was onourid for his worschipyng, and holynesse. [verse 13] And he seide, for these thingis that he hadde in maundementis of the kyng, that in al kynde tho schulden be borun to the kyng. [verse 14] Forsothe in the dai ordeyned Heliodore entride, to ordeyne of these thingis; for|sothe there was not a litil tremblyng thorouȝ al the citee. [verse 15] Forsothe prestis castiden hem silf bifore the auter, with prestis stoolis, and clepiden to help fro heuene hym that ȝaf lawe of thingis put in kepyng, that he schulde kepe tho thingis saf to hem that hadden put tho in kepyng. [verse 16] Now forsothe he that siȝ the cheer of the hiȝeste prest [Om. R.] , was woundid in soule; for the face and colour was chaungid, and declaride the inward sorewe of soule. [verse 17] For sum soreufulnesse was sched aboute to the man, and hidousnesse of bodi, bi whiche the sorewe of herte was maad knowun to men biholdynge. [verse 18] Also othere men `weren gaderid [gaderiden I.] togidere flocmeel, and camen out of housis, bisechynge with opyn bisech|yng, for that that the place was to com|ynge in to dispit. [verse 19] And wymmen weren gird on the brest with heiris, and flowiden togidere bi stretis; but and virgyns, that weren closid togidere, runnen to Onyas; othere forsothe to the wallis, summe sotheli bihelden bi wyndowis. [verse 20] Forsothe alle helden forth hondis in to heuene, and [verse 21] bisouȝten; for ther was a wretchid abid|yng of multitude meynt, and of the hiȝeste

prest ordeyned in strijf [strif, ether [or EPY] angwisch C et plures.] . [verse 22] And these so|theli clepiden almiȝti God to help, that thingis takun in kepyng schulden be kept in al holynesse, to hem that hadden put tho in kepyng. [verse 23] Forsothe Heliodore per|formyde that thing, that he hadde demyd, and he was present with his knyȝtis in the same place aboute the treserie. [verse 24] But the spirit of almyȝti God made greet euy|dence of his schewyng, so that alle that weren hardi for to obeie to hym, fellen doun bi vertu of God, and weren conuertid in to feblenesse, and inward drede. [verse 25] For an [sum C et ceteri.] hors apperide to hem, and hadde a dredeful sittere, ourned with beste hilyn|gis; and he with fersnesse [fersnesse, either bire FGHIKMNQSUXe.] ruyschide the formere feet to Heliodore; forsothe he that sat on hym, semyde for to haue goldun armeris. [verse 26] Also twei othere ȝonge men apperiden, faire in vertu, beste in glorie, and faire in clothing, that stoden aboute hym, and on ech side scourgiden hym with out ceessyng, and beeten with many woundis. [verse 27] Sodenli forsothe Helio|dore felle doun to [in to e.] erthe [the erthe C pr. m. R.] , and thei ra|uyschiden hym sched aboute with myche derknesse, and castiden out hym, putte in a pakke sadil, `ether hors litir [or horsliter EPSY. Om. R.] . [verse 28] And he that entride with many renneris and knyȝtis in to the forseid tresorie, was borun, whanne no man helpide hym, for [verse 29] the opyn vertu of God was knowun; and forsothe bi Goddis vertu he lay doumb, and priued of al hope and heelthe. [verse 30] For|sothe these Jewis blessiden the Lord, for he magnyfiede his place; and the temple, that a litil bifore was ful of drede and noyse, is fillid with ioye and gladnesse, for the Lord almyȝti apperide. [verse 31] Thanne forsothe summe of Eliodoris frendis prei|eden anoon Onyas, for to clepe to help the Hiȝeste, and for to ȝyue lijf to hym, that was set in the laste spirit. [verse 32] Sotheli the hiȝeste prest bihelde, lest perauenture the kyng wolde suppose ony malice fulli don

aboute [of R.] Jewis aboute Heliodore, and of|fride for helthe of the man an heelful sacrifice. [verse 33] And whanne the hiȝeste prest preiede, the same ȝonglyngis, clothid in the same clothis, stooden niȝ Heliodore, and seiden, Do thou thankyngis to Onyas, the prest; for whi for hym the Lord hath [verse 34] ȝouun lijf to thee; thou sotheli, that art scourgid of God, telle to alle men the grete doyngis and power of God. And whanne these thingis weren seid, thei apperiden not. [verse 35] Heliodore sotheli, whanne a sacrifice was offrid to God, and grete avowis weren bihiȝt to hym, that graunt|ide hym [to hym A pr. m. C et plures.] for to lyue, and dide thank|yngis [thankis I.] to Onyas; and whanne his oost was resseyued, he wente aȝen to the kyng. [verse 36] Sotheli he witnesside to alle men the werkis of greet God, whiche he siȝ vndur hise iȝen. [verse 37] Forsothe whanne the kyng axide Heliodore, who was able for [Om. R.] to be [verse 38] sent ȝit onys to Jerusalem, he seide, If thou hast ony enemye, ether traitour of thi rewme, sende thidur, and thou schalt resseyue hym betun, if netheles he schal scape; for sum vertu of God is verili [Om. R.] in the [that I.] place. [verse 39] For whi he that hath dwell|yng in heuenys, is visitere and helpere of that place; and he smytith and lesith hem, that comen to mysdo. Therfor of Helio|dore, and kepyng of the treserie, thus the thing hath it silf.