Biblia the Byble, that is, the holy Scrypture of the Olde and New Testament, faithfully translated in to Englyshe.

The seconde boke Of the Machabees. (Book 2 Maccabees)

What this boke conteyneth.

• Chap. I. The Iewes wryte vnto Aristobolus of the clensynge of the temple, and of the feast of tabernacles. Of the fyre that was hyd in the pyt.
• Chap. II. What Ieremy requyred of the Iew∣es that were in preson, and of their stories.
• Chap. III. The Heithē kynges helde the temple at Ierusalem in honoure. The variaunce be∣twixte Simon and Onias. What Appollonius & Heliodorus dyd at Ierusalem. The punysh¦ment of Heliodorus.
• Chap. IIII. The wickednes of Symon. The faith¦fulnesse of Onias. Iason laboureth to be hye prest. Of his wickednesse, and how he was dry¦uen awaye. The alteracion of the presthode. Andronicus destroyeth Onias, and God stri∣keth him therfore.
• Chap. V. Wonderous thinges done at Ierusa¦lem. Iason falleth vpon the cite, handleth ab∣hominably, and yet is fayne to fleat the last. The kynge of Egipte taketh the cite agayne with greate bloudsheddynge.
• Chap. VI. The kynge procedeth forth in his ty∣ranny, as well in other cities where the lawe of God is kepte, as at Ierusalem. All this sen∣deth God for the wickednes of the people. The stedfastnesse of Eleazar.
• Chap. VII. The death of the vij. brethrē & their mother. How constante they are to suffre, ra∣ther then to obeye the wicked kynge.
• Chap. VIII. The manlynesse of Iudas Machabe¦us, and how Philippe medleth against him Iu¦das conforteth his people, and ouercommeth Nicanor.
• Chap. IX. Of Antiochus and his pryde, & how God punyshed him.
• Chap. X. Machabeus wynneth the holy cite a∣gayne, and clenseth it. Eupator foloweth his father Antiochus. Iudas Machabeus ordreth him self well.
• Chap. XI. What Lysias purposeth. Iudas with stondeth him, God taketh his parte. Lysias & Iudas are at one.
• Chap. XII. Timotheus, Appolonius and other, ymagin treason. Iudas Machabeus punys∣heth them, wynneth Caspin & other cities.
• Chap. XIII. Antiochus & Lysias make thē forth agaynst the Iewes. Iudas gathereth the peo∣ple, & byddeth them call vpon God, goeth on, and besyde Modin striketh a greate batell.
• Chap. XIIII. Of Demetrius the sonne of Seleu∣cus. The trayterous dealinge of Alcimus. Ni¦canor breaketh falsely the bonde made with Iudas Machabeus. Of the mālynes of Razis.
• Chap. XV. Nicanors wicked purpose. Iudas ge¦ueth his people godly consolacion Of his drea¦mes and visions, and how Nicanor perished.

The first Chapter.

THe brethrē of y^e Iewes which [ A] be at Ierusalem & in the londe of Iewry, wish vnto those bre¦thrē of y^e Iewes that are tho∣row out Egipte: good fortune, health and peace.

God the LORDE be gracious vnto you, & thynke vpon his couenaunt y^t he made w^t Abraham, Isaac & Iacob his faithfull ser∣uauntes: and geue you all soch an herte,* 1.1 that ye maye loue and serue him, yee and perfour¦me his wyll with an whole herte and of a wyllinge mynde: He opē youre hertes in his lawe and in his commaundementes, sende you peace: heare youre prayers, be at one with you, and neuer forsake you in tyme of trouble. This is heare oure prayer for you.

What tyme as Demetrius raigned, in the Clxix. yeare, we Iewes wrote vnto you in y^e trouble and violence that came vpon vs. In those yeares after that Iason departed out of the holy londe and kyngdome, they brent vp the portes, and shed innocent blou∣de. Then made we oure prayer vnto y^e LOR¦DE, [ B] and were herde: we offred, and lighted the candels, settinge forth cakes and bred. And now come ye vnto the feast of taberna¦cles in the moneth Casleu.* 1.2

In the Clxxxviij. yeare y^e people y^t was at Ierusalem and in Iewry, the councell and Iudas himself, sent this wholsome saluta∣ciō vnto Aristobolus kynge Ptolomys mas∣ter, which came of the generacion of the anoynted prestes: and to the Iewes that we¦re in Egipte: In so moch as God hath dely∣uered vs from greate parels, we thanke him hylie, In that we resisted so mightie a kyn∣ge. And why? he brought men out of Per∣sis by heapes, to fight agaynst vs and the holy cite. For as he was in Persis (namely, y^e captayne w^t the greate hoost) he perished in the temple of Naneas, beynge disceaued thorow the deuyce of Naneas prestes. For as he was purposed to haue dwelt there, An¦tiochus & his frēdes came thither, to receaue moch moneye for a dowry. So whē Naneas prestes had layed forth y^e moneye, he entred with a small company in to the compasse of the temple, and so they shut the temple.

Now when Antiochus entred by openyn¦ge [ C] the preuy intraunce of the temple, y^e pres¦tes stoned y^e captayne to death, hewed thē in peces that were with him, smote of their heades, and threwe them out. In all thinges God be praysed, which hath delyuered the wicked in to oure hondes.

Where as we now are purposed to kepe the purificacion of the temple vpon y^e xxv. daye of the moneth Casleu, we thought ne∣cessary to certifie you therof: that ye also might kepe the tabernacles feast daye, & the daye of the fyre, which was geuen vs when Nehemias offred, after that he had set vp y^e temple & the aulter. For what tyme as o^r fathers were led awaye vnto Persis, y^e pres∣tes (which then sought the hono^r of God) to¦ke y^e fyre priuely from y^e aulter, & hyd it in a valley, where as was a depe drye pyt: & ther¦in they kepte it, because the place was vn∣knowne to euery man. Now after many yea¦res when it pleased God, y^t Nehemias shul¦de be sent from the kynge of Persia: he sent the childers children of those prestes (which had hyd the fyre) to seke it.* 1.3 And as they tol∣de vs, they founde no fyre, but thicke water.

[ D] Thē cōmaunded he them to drawe it vp, & to brynge it him, & y^e offerynges withall. Now when y^e sacrifices were layed on & or¦dred, the prest Nehemias commaunded to sprenkle them & the wod w^t the water. Whē this was done, & the tyme come y^t the Son¦ne shone, which afore was hyd in the cloude: there was a greate fyre kyndled, In so moch y^t euery man marueled. Now all the prestes prayed, whyle the sacrifice was a makynge. Ionathas prayed first, and y^e other gaue an¦swere.

And Nehemias prayer was after this maner: O LORDE God maker of all thin∣ges, thou fearfull & stronge, thou righteous & mercifull, thou y^t art onely a gracious kyn¦ge, onely lyberall, onely iust, Allmightie and euerlastinge, thou y^t delyuerest Israel from all trouble, thou y^t hast chosen the fathers & halowed them: receaue the offeringe for the whole people of Israel, preserue thine owne porcion, & halowe it. Gather those together, y^t are scatred abrode from vs: delyuer them y^t are vnder the Heithēs bondage, loke vpon them which are despysed & abhorred, y^t the Heithen maie knowe & se, how y^t thou art o^r God: Punyshe them y^t oppresse, and proudly put vs to dishonoure. Set y^e people agayne in thy holy place,* 1.4 like as Moses hath spokē.

[ E] And the prestes songe Psalmes of than∣kesgeuynge, so lōge as the sacrifice endured. Now when the sacrifice was brent, Nehe∣mias commaunded the greate stones to be sprenkled w^t the resydue of the water.* 1.5 Which when it was done, there was kyndled a flam¦me of thē also: but it was consumed thorow the light, y^t shyned from the aulter. So whē this matter was knowne, it was tolde the kynge of Persia, that in the place where the prestes (which were led awaye) had hyd fyre, there apeared water in steade of fyre, & that Nehemias & his company had purified the sacrifices withall. Then the kynge conside∣rynge & ponderynge y^e matter diligently, ma¦de him a temple, to proue the thinge y^t was done. And whē he founde it so in dede, he ga¦ue the prestes many giftes & dyuerse rewar∣des: yee he toke them w^t his owne hōde, & ga¦ue thē. And Nehemias called the same pla∣ce Nephthar, which is as moch to saye as a clensynge: but many men call it Nephi.

The II. Chapter.

IT is founde also in the writinges of [ A] Ieremy the prophet, y^t he commaun∣ded them which were caried awaye, to take fyre, as it is sayde afore.* 1.6 He cōmaun∣ded them also,* 1.7 y^t they shulde not forget the lawe & cōmaundementes of the LORDE, & y^t they shulde not erre in their myndes,* 1.8 whē they se ymages of syluer & golde w^t their or∣namentes. These & soch other thinges com∣maunded he them, & exorted them, that they shulde not lett the lawe of God go out of their hertes.

It is wrytten also, how the prophet (at y^e commaundement of God) charged them, to take the tabernacle & the arke w^t them: & he wente forth vnto the mountaine, where Mo¦ses clymmed vp, & sawe y^e heretage of God.* 1.9 And when Ieremy came there, he founde an open caue, wherin he layed the tabernacle, y^e arke & the aulter of incense, & so stopped the hole. There came certayne men together al∣so folowinge him, to marck the place, but they coude not fynde it. Which when Iere∣my [ B] perceaued, he reproued thē, sayenge: As for that place, it shalbe vnknowne, vntill y^e tyme that God gather his people together againe, & receaue thē vnto mercy. Then shal God shewe them these thinges, & the maies¦ty of the LORDE shall appeare, & the clou∣de also, like as it was shewed vnto Moses:* 1.10 & like as when Salomon desyred y^t the place might be sanctified, & it was shewed him.* 1.11

For he beynge a wyse man, handled hono¦rably & wysely: offerynge vnto God in y^e ha¦lowinge of the temple, when it was fynis∣shed.* 1.12 And like as when Moses prayed vnto the LORDE, the fyre came downe from hea¦uen, & consumed the burnt offeringe: Euen so prayed Salomon also,* 1.13 & the fyre came dow∣ne from heauen, & cōsumed the burnt offerin¦ge. And Moses sayde: because the syn offeryn¦ge was not eaten, therfore it is cōsumed. In like maner Salomon kepte the dedicacion

(or halowynge) eight dayes.

[ C] In y^e Annotacions & wrytynges of * 1.14 Ie∣remy, were these thinges put also: & how he made a lybrary, & how he gathered out of all countrees the bokes of the prophetes, of Dauid, the epistles of the kynges, and of the presentes. Euen so Iudas also, loke what he lerned by experiēce of warre, & soch thinges as hath happened vnto vs, he gathered thē all together, & so we haue them by vs. Yf ye now desyre to haue the same, sende some bo∣dy to fetch them vnto you. Whereas we thē are aboute to celebrate the purificacion, we haue written vnto you. Therfore ye shall do well, yf ye kepe the same dayes. We hope al∣so, that the God (which delyuered his peo∣ple, & gaue them all y^e heretage, kyngdome, presthode & Sanctuary y^t he promised them in the lawe) shal shortly haue mercy vpō vs,* 1.15 & gather vs together from vnder the heauē in to his holy place: for he hath saued vs frō greate parels, & hath clensed the place.

[ D] As concernynge Iudas Machabeus & his brethren, the purificacion of the greate temple, the dedicacion of the aulter, yee & of the warres y^t cōcerne noble Antiochus and Eupator his sonne,* 1.16 of the shyninges y^t ca∣me downe from heauen vpon those, which manfully defended the Iewes. (For though they were but fewe, yet defended they the whole londe, droue awaye y^e enemies hoost, recouered agayne the temple, y^t was spoken of thorow out all the worlde, delyuered the cite, doynge their best y^t the lawe of the LOR¦DE which was put downe, might w^t all tran¦quilite be restored agayne vnto the LORDE, y^t was so mercifull vnto thē.) As touchinge Iason also of Cyren, we haue vnder takē cō¦pendiously to brynge in to one boke, the thin¦ges y^t were cōprehended of him in fyue. For we cōsideringe the multitude of the bokes, and how harde it shulde be for them y^t wol∣de medle with stories and actes (and that be¦cause of so dyuerse matters) haue vnder ta∣ken so to comprehende the stories: that soch as are disposed to reade, might haue pleasu∣re and pastyme therin: and that they which are diligent in soch thinges, might the bet∣ter thinke vpon them: yee and that who so euer red them, might haue profit therby.

[ E] Neuerthelesse we oure selues that haue medled with this matter for the shortenyn∣ge of it, haue taken no small laboure, but greate diligence, watchynges and trauay∣le. Like as they that make a feast, wolde fay¦ne do other men pleasure: Euen so we also (for many mens sakes) are very wel content to take the laboure, where as we maye short¦ly comprehēde, the thynges that other men haue truly wrytten▪

For he y^t buyldeth an house a new, must prouyde for many thynges to y^e whole buyl¦dinge: but he that paynteth it afterwar∣de, seketh but only what is comly, mete and conuenient to garnysh it withall. Euen so do we also in like maner. And why? He that begynneth to wryte a story for the first, must with his vnderstondinge gather the matter together, set his wordes in ordre, and diligently seke out euery parte: But he that afterwarde wyll shorten it, vseth few wor∣des, and toucheth not the matter at the lar∣giest. Let this be sufficient for a prologe, now wyll we begynne to shewe the matter: for it is but a foolish thinge to make a longe pro∣loge, and to be shorte in the story it self.

The III. Chapter. [ A]

WHat tyme as the holy cite was in∣habited in all peace and wealth, & when the lawes were yet very well kepte. (For so was it ordened by Onias the hye prest and other godly men, that were ene¦mies to wickednesse:) It came therto, that euen the kynges and prynces thē selues dyd the place greate worshipe,* 1.17 and garnyshed y^e temple with greate giftes: Inso moch that Seleucus kynge of Asia of his owne rentes bare all the costes belonginge to the seruy∣ce of the offerynges.* 1.18 Then Symon of the trybe of Ben Iamin, a ruler of the temple, laboured to worke some myschefe in the cite: but the hye prest resisted him.

Neuerthelesse when he might not ouer∣come Onias,* 1.19 he gat him to Appolonius the sonne of Thersa (which thē was chefe lorde in Celosyria and Phenices) and tolde him, y^t the treasury in Ierusalem was full of innu∣merable money, and how that the comons goodes (which belonged not vnto the offe∣ringes) were exceadinge greate also: yee and how it were possible, that all these might co∣me vnder the kynges power. [ B]

Now when Appollonius had shewed the kynge of the moneye, as it was tolde him: y^e kinge called for Heliodorus his stewar¦de, and sent him with a commaundement, to brynge him the sayde money. Immediat∣ly Heliodorus toke his iourney, but vnder a coloure, as though he wolde go thorow Ce∣losyria and Phenices to vyset the cities, but his purpose was to fulfill the kynges pleasu¦re. So when he came to Ierusalem, and was louyngly receaued of the hye prest in to the cite: he tolde what was determed concer∣nynge

the moneye, and shewed the cause of his commynge: he axed also, yf it were so in dede. Then the hye prest tolde him, that the¦re was soch money layed vp for the vphol∣dinge of weddowes and fatherlesse childrē, and how that a certayne of it belonged vn∣to Hyrcanus Tobias a noble man: and that of all the moneye (which that wicked Sy∣mon had bewrayed) there were iiij. hundreth talentes of syluer, and ij. hundreth of golde: yee & that it were vnpossible for those mens meaninge to be disceaued, that had layed vp their moneye in the place and temple (which is had in worshipe thorow the whole worl∣de) for the mayntenaunce and honoure of y^e same. Whervnto Heliodorus answered, y^t the kynge had commaunded him in eny wy¦se, to brynge him the moneye.

[ C] So at the daye appoynted, Heliodorus entred into the temple to ordre this matter. But there was no small feare thorow out the whole cite. The prestes fell downe befo∣re the aulter in their vestimentes, and called vnto heauen vpon him, which had made a lawe concernynge stuffe geuen to kepe,* 1.20 that they shulde be safely preserued, for soch as cō¦mitte them vnto kepynge. Then who so had loked the hye prest in the face, it wolde haue greued his herte: For his countenaunce and the chaunginge of his coloure, declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde. The mā was all in heuynesse, and his body in feare: wher¦by they that loked vpon him, might percea¦ue the grefe of his herte. The other people also came out of their houses by heapes vn∣to the comon prayer, because the place was like to come in to confucion. The women ca∣me together thorow the stretes, with hayrie clothes aboute their brestes.

[ D] The virgins also that were kepte in, ran∣ne to Onias, some to the walles, other some loked out at the wyndowes: yee they all hel∣de vp their hondes towarde heauē, & prayed. A miserable thinge was it, to loke vpon the comon people, & the hye prest beynge in soch trouble. But they besought Almightie God, that the goodes which were committed vn∣to thē, might be kepte whole, for those that had deliuered them vnto their kepynge. Ne¦uertheles the thinge that Heliodorus was determed to do, that perfourmed he in the sa¦me place, he him self personally beynge abou¦te the treasury with his men of warre. But the sprete of Allmightie God shewed him self openly, so that all they which presumed to obeye Heliodorus, fell thorow y^e power of God in to a greate fearfulnesse & drede. For there apeared vnto them an horse,* 1.21 with a ter¦rible man syttinge vpon him, deckte in good∣ly araye, and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his fore fete. Now he that sat vpon y^e horse, had harnesse of golde vpon him.

Morouer there apeared ij. fayre and beu∣tifull yonge men in goodly araye, which sto∣de by him, scourged him of both the sydes, & gaue him many stripes without ceassinge. With that, fell Heliodorus sodenly vnto the grounde.* 1.22 So they toke him vp (beynge com∣pased aboute with greate darcknesse) and ba¦re him out vpō a beare. Thus he that came [ E] with so many runners and men of warre in to y^e sayde treasury, was borne out, where as no man might helpe him: and so the power of God was manifest and knowne. He laye still domme also by the power of God, desti∣tute of all hope and life. And they praysed the LORDE, that he had shewed his power vpon his place and temple, which a litle afo¦re was full of feare & trouble: and that tho∣row the reuelacion of the Allmightie LOR∣DE it was fylled with ioye and gladnesse.

Thē certaine of Heliodorus frēdes praied Onias, that in all haist he wolde call vpon God, to graunte him his life, which was ge∣uynge vp the goost. So the hye prest consi∣dered the matter, and lest the kynge shulde suspecte that the Iewes had done Heliodo∣rus some euell: he offred an health offerynge for him. Now whē y^e hye prest had opteyned his peticion, the same yonge mē in the same clothinge apeared, & stode besyde Heliodo∣rus, sayenge: Thanke Onias y^e hye prest, for for his sake hath y^e LORDE graunted the yⁱ li¦fe: therfore seynge y^t God hath scourged y^e,* 1.23 [ F] geue him prayse & thankes, and shewe euery man his might & power. And whē they had spoken these wordes, they apeared nomore.

So Heliodorus offred vnto God, made greate vowes vnto him which had graūted him his life, thāked Onias, toke his hoost, & wēte againe to y^e kinge. Thē testified he vn∣to euery mā, of y^e greate workes of God, y^t he had sene w^t his eyes. And whē the kynge axed Heliodorus who were mete to be sent yet once agayne to Ierusalem, he sayde: Yf thou hast eny enemy or aduersary vnto thy realme, sende him thither, & thou shalt haue him punished, yf he escape w^t his life: for in y^t place (no doute) there is a speciall power & workinge of God. For he y^t dwelleth in hea∣uē, vysiteth & defendeth y^t place: & all y^t co∣me to do it harme, he punysheth & plageth thē. This is now y^e matter cōcerninge Helio¦dorus, & y^e kepinge of y^e treasury at Ierusalē.

The IIII. Chapter.

[ A] THis Symon now (of whom we spake afore) beynge a bewrayer of the mo∣ney and of his owne naturall coun∣tre,* 1.24 reported the worst of Onias: as though he had moued Heliodorus vnto this, and as though he had bene a brynger vp of euell. Thus was he not ashamed to call him an enemie of y^e realme, that was so faithfull an ouerseer & defender of the cite & of his peo∣ple: yee & so feruent in the lawe of God. But when the malice of Symon increased so far¦re, y^t thorow his frendes there were certayne manslaughters cōmitted: Onias considered the parell y^t might come thorow this strife, and how that Appollonius (namely the che¦fe lorde in Celosyria and Phenices) was all set vpon tyranny, and Symons malice in∣creased the same: He gat him to the kynge, not as an accuser of the citesyns, but as one that by him self intended the comon wealth of the whole multitude. For he sawe it was not possible to lyue in peace, nether Symon to leaue of from his foolishnesse, excepte the kynge dyd loke therto.

[ B] But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus (which is called the noble) toke y^e kyngdome: Iason the brother of Onias la∣boured to be hye prest: For he came vnto the kynge, and promised him thre hundreth & lx. talentes of syluer, & of the other rētes lxxx. talentes. Besydes this he promised him yet an C. & L, yf he might haue y^e scole of y^e chil¦dren, and that he might call them of Ierusa¦lem Antiochians. Which when the kynge had graunted, & he had gotten the superio∣rite: he begāne immediatly to drawe his kins¦men to the custome of the Heithen, put dow¦ne the thinges, that the Iewes had set vp of loue, by Ihon the father of Eupolemius (which was sent embassitoure vnto Rome, for to make the bonde of frendshipe and lo¦ue.) He put downe all the Iawes & Lyber∣ties of the Iewes, and set vp wicked statu∣tes. He durst make a fightinge scole vnder y^e castell, and set fayre yonge men to lerne the maners of whores and brodels.

[ C] This was now the begynnynge of the Heithenish & straunge cōuersacion, brought in thorow the vngracious and vnherde wic¦kednesse of Iason (which shulde not be cal∣led a prest, but an vngodly personne.) In so moch, that the prestes were now nomore oc∣cupide aboute the seruyce of the aulter, but despysed the temple, regarded not the offryn¦ges: yee gaue their diligēce to lerne to fight, to wristle, to leape, to daunce, & to put at y^e stone: not settynge by y^e hono^r of y^e fathers, but liked y^e glory of the Grekes best of all▪ for the which they strous perlously, and we¦re gredy to folowe their statutes, yee their lust was in all thinges to be like thē, which afore were their enemies & destroyers. How¦beit to do wickedly agaynst y^e lawe of God, shal not escape vnpunyshed: but of this we shal speake here after.

What tyme as the * 1.25 Olympiades sportes [ D] were played at Tyrus (the kynge him selfe beinge presente) this vngracious Iason sent wicked men, bearinge from them of Ierusa¦lem (which now were called Antiochians) iij.C. drachmas of syluer for an offerynge to Hercules. These had they that caried them, desyred vnder soch a fashiō, as though they shulde not haue bene offred, but bestowed to other vses. Neuertheles he that sent them, sent them to the intent that they shulde be offred vnto Hercules. But because of those that were present, they were geuen as to the makynge of shippes. And Appollonius the sonne of Nesteus was sent in to Egipte, be¦cause of the noble men of kynge Ptolomy Philometor. Now when Antiochus percea¦ued y^t he was put out from medlinge in the realme, he sought his owne profit, departed from thence, came to Ioppa, & then to Ieru¦salem: where he was honorably receaued of Iason & the cite, & was brought in w^t torche light and with greate prayse: and so he tur∣ned his hoost vnto Phenices.

After iij. yeare Iason sent Menelaus (the fore sayde Symons brother) to beare the mo¦ney vnto y^e kynge,* 1.26 & to bringe him answere of other necessary matters. But he (when he was praysed of y^e kynge for magnifienge of his power) turned y^e hye presthode vnto him self, layenge vp iij.C. talētes of syluer for Ia¦son. So whē he had gotten cōmaundemētes from y^e kynge, he came, hauinge nothinge y^t becōmeth a prest, but bearinge y^e stomack of a cruell tyraunte, & the wrath of a wylde bru¦te beest.* 1.27 Then Iason (which had disceaued his owne brother) seynge y^t he him self was begyled also, was fayne to fle in to y^e lōde of y^e Ammonites, & Menelaus gat y^e dominiō. But as for y^e moneye y^t he had promised vn¦to the kynge, he dyd nothinge therin, when Sostratus the ruler of y^e castell requyred it of him. (For Sostratus was the man, y^t ga¦thered y^e customes) wherfore they were both called before the kynge. Thus was Mene∣laus put out of y^e presthode, & Lysimachus his brother came in his steade. Sostratus al¦so was made lorde of the Cyprians.

[ F] It happened in y^e meane season, y^t y^e Thar¦sians & Mallocians made insurreciō, becau¦se they were geuen for a present vnto kynge Antiochus concubyne. Then came y^e kinge in all y^e haist, to still them agayne and to pa¦cifie the matter, leauynge Andronicus there to be his debyte, as one mete therfore. Now Menelaus supposinge that he had gotten a right convenient tyme, stole certayne ves∣sels of golde out of the temple, and gaue thē to Andronicus for a present: and some he solde at Tyrus and in the cities therby.

Which when Onias knewe of a suer∣tye, he reproued him: but he kepte him in a santuary besyde Daphnis, that lyeth by Antioche. Wherfore Menelaus gat him to Andronicus, and prayed him that he wol¦de slaye Onias. So when he came to Onias, he counceled him craftely to come out of the santuary, geuynge him his honde with an ooth (how be it he suspecte him) and thē he slewe Onias, without eny regarde of rightuousnesse. For the which cause not on∣ly the Iewes, but other nacions also toke in¦dignacion, and were displeased for the vn∣rightuous death of so godly a man.

[ G] And when the kynge was come agayne from Cilicia, the Iewes and certaine of the Grekes wente vnto him, complayninge for the vnrightuous death of Onias. Yee An∣tiochus himself also was sory in his mynde for Onias, so y^t it pitied him, and he wepte, remembringe his sobernesse and manerly be hauoure. Wherfore he was so kyndled in his mynde, y^t he cōmaunded Andronicus to be striped out of his purple clothinge, & so to be led thorow out all the cite, yee and y^e vngra∣cious man to be slayne in y^e same place, whe∣re he committed his wickednes vpon Onias Thus y^e LORDE rewarded him his punysh∣ment, as he had deserued. Now when Lysi∣machus had done many wycked dedes in y^e temple thorow the councell of Menelaus, and the voyce came abrode: the multitude gathered thē together agaynst Lisimachus, for he had caried out now moch golde.

So when the people arose and were full of displeasure, Lisimachus armed iij.M. vn∣thriftes to defende him: a certayne tyraunte beynge their captayne, which was growen both in age & woodnesse. But when the peo∣ple vnderstode the purpose of Lysimachus, some gat stones, some good stronge clubbes, & some cast aszshes vpon Lisimachus. Thus there were many of thē wounded, some beyn¦ge slayne, & all the other chaced awaye. But as for y^t wicked churchrobber himself, they kylled him besyde the treasury. Of these mat¦ters therfore there was kepte a courte a∣gaynst Menelaus.

Now when y^e kinge came to Tyrus, they made a cōplaynte vnto him of Menelaus, [ H] concerninge this busynesse, & y^e embassitours were thre. But Menelaus wente & promised Ptolomy to geue him moch money, yf he wol¦de persuade the kynge. So Ptolomy wēte to the kinge in to a courte (where as he was set to coole him) & brughte him out of y^t mynde In so moch y^t he discharged Menelaus frō y^e accusacions, y^t not withstondinge was cause of all myschefe: and those poore men (which yf they had tolde their cause, yee before the Scythians, they shulde haue be iudged inno¦cēt) thē he cōdēned to death. Thus were they so one punyshed, which folowed vpō y^e mat∣ter for y^e cite, for y^e people, & for y^e holy vessell. Wherfore they of Tyrus toke indignacion, & buried thē honorably. And so thorow y^e co∣vetousnesse of them that were in power, Me¦nelaus remayned still in authorite, increasin¦ge in malyce, to the hurte of the citesyns.

The V. Chapter.

AT y^e same tyme Antiochus made him [ A] ready to go againe in to Egipte. Thē were there sene at Ierusalem (xl. dayes lōge) horsmē runninge to and fro in the ayre, which had rayment of golde, & speares. The¦re were sene also whole hoostes of mē weape¦ned, & horses runnynge in an ordre, how they came together, how they helde forth their shildes, how y^e harnessed men drew out their sweardes, & shot their dartes. The shyne of y^e goldē weapēs was sene, & of all maner of armure. Wherfore euerymā prayed, y^t those tokens might turne to good. Now whē the¦re was gone forth a false rumo, as though Antiochus had bene deed: Iason toke a M. mē, & came sodēly vpō y^e cite. The citesyns rā¦ne vnto y^e walles, at y^e last was y^e cite taken, and Menelaus fled in to the castell.

As for Iason, he spared not his owne ci∣tesyns [ B] in the slaughter, nether considered he what greate euell it were, to destroye y^e pros∣perite of his owne kynsmen: but dyd as one that had gotten the victory of his enemies, and not of his frendes. For all this gatt he not the superiorite, but at the last recea∣ued confucion for his malice, and fled agay∣ne like a vagabunde in to the londe of the Ammonites.* 1.28 Fynally (for a rewarde of his wickednesse) he was accused before Aretha the kynge of the Arabians: In so moch that he was fayne to fle from cite to cite, beynge despysed of euery man as a forsaker of the

lawes, and an abhominable personne. And at y^e last (as an open enemy of his owne na¦turall countre and of the citesyns,) he was dryuen in to Egipte.

Thus he y^t afore put many out of their owne natyue londe, peryshed from home him self. He wente to Lacedemon, thinkinge there to haue gotten sucoure by reason of kynrede. And he that afore had casten ma∣ny one out vnburied, was throwen out him self, no man mournynge for him, ner puttinge him in his graue: so that he nether enioyed y^e buriall of a straunger, nether was he par¦taker of his fathers sepulcre.

[illustration]

[ C] Now when this was done the kinge sus∣pecte, y^t the Iewes wolde haue fallen from him: wherfore he came in a greate displeasu¦re out of Egipte, & toke the cite by violence. He cōmaunded his men of warre also,* 1.29 that they shulde kyll & not spare, but slaye dow∣ne soch as w^t stode them, or clymmed vp vpō y^e houses. Thus was there a greate slaugh∣ter of yonge men, olde men, women, children and virgins. In iij. dayes were there slayne lxxx. M, fourty thousande put in preson, & no lesse solde. Yet was he not cōtent w^t this, but durst go in to the most holy temple (Mene∣laus that traytoure to y^e lawes & to his ow¦ne naturall countre, beynge his gyde) & with his wicked hondes toke y^e holy vessell, which other kynges & cities had geuen thither for y^e garnishinge & hono of y^e place: thē toke he in his hōdes vnworthely, & defyled them.

[ D] So madd was Antiochus, that he con∣sidered not, how that God was a litle wroth for the synnes of them that dwelt in the ci∣te, for the which soch confucion came vpon that place.* 1.30 And why? yf it had not happe∣ned them to haue bene lapped in many syn∣nes, this Antiochus (as soone as he had co∣me) had sodenly bene punished, and shot out for his presumpciō:* 1.31 like as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the kynge sente to robbe y^e treasury. Neuertheles God hath not chosen the people for the places sake, but the place for the peoples sake: and therfore is the pla¦ce become partaker of the peoples trouble, but afterwarde shall it enioye the wealth of them. And like as it is now forsaken in the wrath of allmighty God, so when the grea∣te God is reconcyled, it shal be set vp in hye worshipe agayne.

So when Antiochus had taken a M. and [ E] viij. C. talentes out of the temple, he gat him to Antioche in all the haist, thinkinge in his pryde, that he might make mē sale vpon the drye londe, and to go vpon y^e see, soch an hye mynde had he. He lefte debites there to vexe the people: At Ierusalem left he Philippe a Phrigian, in maners more cruell thē himself y^t set him there: At Garisim he left Androni∣cus & Menelaus, which were more greuous to the citisyns then other. Now as he was thus set in malyce agaynst y^e Iewes, he sent Appollonius an hated prynce, w^t xxij.M. cō¦maundinge him to slaye all those y^t were of perfecte age, and to sell the womē, maydes & children. When he came now to Ierusalem, he fained peace, & kepte him still vntill y^e Sab¦bath daye. And then he cōmaunded his men to take them to their weapens (for y^e Iewes kepte holy daye) and so he slewe all them y^t were gone forth to the open playe, runninge here and there thorow the cite with his men wapened, and murthured a greate nombre. But Iudas Machabeus which was the tenth, fled into the wyldernesse,* 1.32 led his life there with his company amonge the wylde beestes and vpon the mountaynes: dwellin∣ge there and eatinge grasse, lest they shulde be partakers of the fylthynesse.

The VI. Chapter.

NOt longe after this, sent the kynge a [ A] messaunger of Antioche,* 1.33 for to com∣pell y^e Iewes to altre y^e ordinaunces of y^e fathers & the lawe of God, to defyle the temple y^t was at Ierusalem, & to call it the tē¦ple of Iupiter Olimpius: & y^t they shulde be in Gazarim, as those which dwell at y^e place of Iupiter the harberous. This wicked sedi¦ciō of y^e vngodly was heuy vpon all y^e peo∣ple: For y^e temple was full of voluptuousnes bebbinge & bollinge of y^e Heithē, of ribaudes & harlottes together. The womē wente in to y^e holy place, & bare in that was not laufull. The aulter also was full of vnlaufull thin∣ges, which y^e lawe forbyddeth to laye vpō it. The Sabbathes were not kepte, the other so¦lempne feastes of y^e londe were not regarded To be plaine, there durst no mā be a knowne that he was a Iewe.

In the daye of the kynges byeth they we¦re compelled perforce to offre: & when y^e feast of Bachus was kepte, they were cōstrayned to weere garlandes of yven, and so to go a∣boute for the honoure of Bachus.

[ B] Morouer thorow the councell of Ptolo∣my, there wente out a commaundement in y^e nexte cities of the Heithen, y^t they shulde in¦treate the Iewes in like maner: namely, to cō¦pell thē for to do sacrifice after y^e lawes of y^e Gentiles: and who so wolde not, to put them to death. A piteous thinge was it to se. The¦re were ij. women accused to haue circumci∣ded their sonnes,* 1.34 whom when they had led rounde aboute the cite (the babes hanginge at their brestes) they cast them downe head∣linges ouer the walles. Some y^t were crepte in to dennes and had kepte the Sabbath, we¦re accused vnto Philippe, and brent in the fyre: because that for the feare of God they kepte the commaūdement so stiffly, and wol∣de not defende them selues.

Now I beseke all those which reade this boke, that they refuse it not for these falles of aduersite: & iudge the thinges (y^t are happe∣ned) for no destruccion, but for a chastenyn∣ge of o people. And why? Whē God suffreth not synners longe to folowe their owne myn¦de,* 1.35 but shortly punysheth them, it is a tokē [ C] of his greate louynge kyndnes. For this gra¦ce haue we of God more then other people, y^t he suffreth not vs longe to synne vnpuny¦shed like other nacions, that when the daye of iudgment commeth, he maye punysh thē in the fulnes of their synnes. Yf we synne, he correcketh vs, but he neuer withdraweth his mercy frō vs: & though he punysh w^t aduer∣site, yeth doth he neuer forsake his people. But let this that we haue spokē now w^t few wordes, be for a warninge & exortaciō of y^e Heithē. Now wil we come to the declaringe of the matter. Eleazar one of y^e principall scribes, an aged mā & of a welfauored coūte∣naūce, was cōstrained to gape w^t opē mouth & to eate swynes flesh.* 1.36 But he desyringe ra∣ther to dye gloriously thē to liue w^t shame, of¦fred himself willīgly to y^e martirdome. Now whē he sawe y^t he must nedes go to it; he toke it paciētly: for he was at a poynte w^t himself, y^t he wolde consente to no vnlaufull thynge for eny pleasure of life. They y^t stode by beyn¦ge moued w^t pyte (but not a right) for y^e olde [ D] frendshipe of the man, toke him asyde priue¦ly, and prayed him y^t he wolde let soch flesh be brought him as were laufull to eate, & thē to make a coūtenaūce as though he had ea¦ten of y^e flesh of y^e sacrifice like as the kynge commaunded, for so he might be delyuered from death: & so for the olde frendshipe of y^e man, they shewed him this kindnes. But he beganne to considre his discrete and hono∣rable age, his noble and worshipfull stocke, and how y^t frō his youth vp he had bene of an honest and good conuersacion, yee & how constantly he had kepte y^e ordinaunces and lawes commaūded by God, wherfore he ga∣ue them this answere, and sayde:

Yet had I rather first be layed in my gra¦ue.* 1.37 For it becommeth not myne age (sayde he) in eny wyse to dyssemble, wherby many yonge personnes might thinke, that Eleazar beinge lxxx. yeare olde and ten, were now go¦ne to a straunge life: and so thorow myne y∣pocrisy (for a litle tyme of a transitory life) they might be disceaued: by this meanes al∣so shulde I defyle myne age, & make it abho∣minable. For though I were now delyuered from the tormentes of men, yet shulde I not escape the honde of allmightie God,* 1.38 nether alyue ner deed. Wherfore I will dye manful¦ly, [ E] & do as it becommeth myne age: Wherby I maie peraduenture leaue an exāple of sted¦fastnesse for soch as be yonge, yf I w^t a ready mynde & manfully dye an honest death, for the most worthy and holy lawes.

When he had sayde these wordes, imme∣diatly he was drawen to the tormēte. Now they that led him and were mylde a litle a∣fore, beganne to take displeasure, because of the wordes y^t he sayde: for they thought he had spokē them of an hye mynde. But whē he was in his martirdome, he mourned and sayde: Thou (O LORDE) which hast the holy knowlege, knowest openly: that where as I might be delyuered frō death, I suffre these sore paynes of my body: but in my mynde I am wel contente to suffre them, because I feare the. Thus this man dyed, leauynge y^e memoriall of his death for an example, not only vnto yonge men, but vnto all y^e people, to be stedfast and manly.

The VII. Chapter.

IT happened also that there were vij [ A] brethren (with their mother) taken,* 1.39 & compelled by the kynge agaynst the lawe, to eate swynes flesh: namely w^t scour∣ges and lethren whippes. And one of them which was y^e chefe, sayde: What sekest thou, and what requyrest thou of vs? As for vs, we are ready rather to suffre death, then to offende the lawes of God and the fa∣thers. Then was the kynge angrie, and bad heare cauldrons and brasen pottes. Which when they were made hote, immediatly

he commaunded y^e tonge of him that spa∣ke first, to be cut out, to pull the skynne ouer his heade, to payre of the edges of his han¦des and fete: yee and that in the sight of his mother and the other of his brethren. Now when he was cleane marred, he commaun∣ded a fyre to be made, & so (whyle there was eny breath in him) to be fryed in the caudron, In the which when he had bene longe pay∣ned, the other brethren with their mother ex∣orted him to dye manfully, sayēge: The LOR¦DE God shal regarde the treuth, and comfor¦te vs, like as Moses testifieth and declareth in his songe,* 1.40 sayenge: and he wyl haue com∣passion on his seruauntes.

[ B] So whē the first was deed after this ma¦ner, they brought the seconde to haue him in derision, pulled the skynne with the hayre ouer his heade, and axed him, yf he wolde ea¦te swynes flesh, or he were payned in y^e other membres also thorow out his body. But he answered boldly, and sayde: I will not do it. And so was he tormented like as y^e first. And whē he was euē at y^e geuinge vp of y^e goost, he sayde: Thou most vngracious personne puttest vs now to death, but the kynge of y^e worlde shall rayse vs vp (which dye for his lawes) in y^e resurreccion of euerlastinge life.

After him, was the thirde had in deri∣sion: and when he was requyred, he putt out his tonge, and that right soone, holdinge forth his hondes manfully, and spake with a stedfast faith: These haue I of heauē, but now for the lawe of God I despyse them: for my trust is, that I shall receaue them of him agayne. In so moch that the kynge and they which were with him, marueled at the yonge mans boldnesse, that he nothinge re∣garded the paynes.

[ C] Now when he was deed also, they vexed the fourth with tormentes in like maner. So when he was now at his death, he sayde: It is better that we beynge put to death of mē, haue oure hope and trust in God, for he shal rayse vs vp agayne.* 1.41 As for the, thou shalt haue no resurreccion to life.

And when they had spoken to the fifth, they tormēted him. Then loked he vnto y^e kinge, & sayde: Thou hast power amōge mē (for thou art a mortall man also yⁱ self) to do what thou wilt, but thinke not, y^t God hath forsaken o^r generacion. Abyde the, tary styll a whyle, & thou shalt se the greate power of God, how he wil punysh the & thy sede.

After him they brought the sixte, which beynge at the poynte of death, sayde: Be not disceaued (o kynge) for this we suffre for oure owne sakes, because we haue offended oure God, & therfore marvelous thinges are she∣wed vpon vs. But thinke not thou (which takest in honde to stryue agaynst God) that thou shalt escape vnpunyshed.

This excellent mother (worthy to be well [ D] reported of, and had in remembraunce) sawe hir seuen sonnes dye in one daye, and suffred it paciētly, because of the hope that she had in God: Yee she exorted euery one of them in especiall, and that boldly and stedfastly, w^t parfite wyszdome, wakynge vp hir wyuysh thought with a manly stomacke, and sayde vnto them: I can not tell how ye came in my wombe, for I nether gaue you breth ner sou∣le, no ner life. It is not I y^t ioyned y^t mēbres of yo bodies together, but y^e maker of y^e worl¦de, which fashioned y^e byrth of mā, & begāne all thinges. Euen he also of his owne mercy shall geue you breath and life agayne, like as ye now regarde not youre owne selues for his lawes sake.

Now thought Antiochus that she had despysed him, therfore he let her go with hir reproues, and beganne to exorte the yongest sonne (which yet was left) not only w^t wordes but swore vnto him w^t an ooth, y^t he shulde make him a rich & welthy man (yf he wolde forsake y^e lawes of his fathers) yee and y^t he shulde geue him, what so euer were necessary for him. But whē the yonge man wolde not [ E] be moued, for all these thinges, he called his mother, & counceled her to saue hir sonnes li¦fe. And when he had exorted her with many wordes, she promised him, that she shulde speake vnto hir sonne. So she turned her vn∣to him (laughinge y^e cruell tyraunte to scor∣ne) & spake w^t a boylde voyce: O my sonne, ha¦ue pite vpon me, y^t bare y^e ix. monethes in my wombe, that gaue the sucke, norished the and brought the vp vnto this age. I beseke the (my sonne) loke vpon heauen and earth and all that is therin, and considre, that God ma¦de them and mans generacion of naught: so shalt thou not feare this hangman, but suffre death stedfastly, like as thy brethren haue done: that I maye receaue the agayne in the same mercy with thy brethren.

Whyle she was yet speakynge these wor∣des, the yonge man sayde: Whom loke ye for▪ Wherfore do ye tary? I wil not obeye the kynges commaundement, but the lawe that God gaue vs by Moses.* 1.42 As for the that ymaginest all myschefe agaynst the Iewes, thou shalt not escape the honde of God: for we suffre these thinges, because of oure synnes.

[ F] And though God be angrie with vs a li∣tle whyle (for o^r chasteninge & reformacion,) yet shal he be at one agayne w^t his seruaun∣tes. But thou. (O shamefull & most abhomi¦nable personne.) Pryde not thy self thorow vayne hope, in beynge so malicious vpon y^e seruauntes of God: for thou hast not yet es∣caped the iudgmēt of the God, which is all mighty, & seyth all thinges. My brethren y^t haue suffred a litle payne, are now vnder the couenaunt of euerlastinge life: but thorow the iudgment of God, thou shalt be punys∣hed righteously for thy pryde.

As for me (like as my brethrē haue done) I offre my soule & my body for y^e lawes of o fa¦thers, callinge vpon God, y^t he will soone be mercifull vnto o people: yee & w^t payne & pu∣nyshment to make the graunte,* 1.43 y^t he only is God. In me now & in my brethrē y^e wrath of allmighty God is at an ende, which righte∣ously is fallē vpon all o people. Then y^e kyn¦ge beynge kyndled in anger, was more cruell vpon him then vpon all y^e other, & toke indig¦naciō, y^t he was so lighty regarded. So this yonge mā dyed vndefiled, & put his trust stil in y^e LORDE. Last of all after y^e sonnes, was y^e mother put to death also. Let this now be ynough spoken, concernynge y^e offringes, & extreme cruelnesse.

The VIII. Chapter.

[ A] THen Iudas Machabeus and they y^t were w^t him, wēte pryuely in to y^e townes, called their kinsfolkes & fren¦des together, toke vnto them all soch as con¦tynued yet in the faith & lawe of y^e Iewes, and brought forth vj.M. men. So they cal∣led vpon the LORDE, y^t he wolde haue an eye vnto his people, which was troddē downe of euery mā: to be gracious vnto y^e tēple, y^t was defyled of the vngodly: to haue cōpas∣sion vpon y^e destruccion of the cite, (which was shortly like to be laied waist) to heare y^e voyce of y^e bloude y^t cried vnto him: to remē¦bre y^e most vnrighteous deathes of yonge innocent children, the blasphemies also done vnto his name, & to punysh thē. Now whē Machabeus had gathered this multitude together,* 1.44 he was to mightie for the Heithen (for y^e wrath of y^e LORDE was turned in to mercy) he fell vpon the townes & cities vna¦warres, brent them, toke the most cōmodious places, & slewe many of the enemies. But spe¦cially he made soch chases by night, in so moch that his manlynesse was spoken of e∣uery were.

[ B] So when Philippe sawe that the man in∣creased by litle and litle, and that the matter prospered with him for the most parte: he wrote vnto Ptolomy (which was a captay¦ne in Celosiria & Phenices) helpe him in y^e kin¦ges busynes. Thē sent he Nicanor Patrocli (a speciall frende of his) in all y^e haist,* 1.45 & gaue him of y^e comon sorte of the Heithen no lesse then xx. M. harnessed men, to rote out y^e who¦le generacion of the Iewes, hauinge to helpe him one Gorgias a man of warre, which in matters concernynge battayls had greate experience. Nicanor ordened also the tribute (which the Romaynes shulde haue had) to be geuen vnto the kynge, out of the captiuy∣te of the Iewes, namely ij.M. talentes. And immediatly he sent to y^e cities of y^e see coost, requyringe thē for to bye Iewes to be their seruauntes & bonde men, promisynge to sell them lxxx. and ten for one talente: but he con¦sidered not the wrath of allmighty God, y^t was to come vpon him.

When Iudas knewe of this, he tolde the [ C] Iewes y^t were w^t him, of Nicanors cōmyn∣ge. Now were there some of them fearfull, not trustinge vnto the rightuousnes of God and fled their waye. But the other y^t remay∣ned, came together & besought the LORDE, to delyuer thē frō y^t wicked Nicanor, which had solde thē or euer he came nye them: and though he wolde not do it for their sakes, yet for the couenaunt that he made w^t their fa∣thers, & because they called vpon his holy & glorious name.* 1.46 And so Machabeus called his men together, namely aboute vi.M. exor¦tinge them not to agree vnto their enemies, nether to be afrayed for y^e multitude of their aduersaries cōmynge agaynst them vnrigh∣teously: but to fight manly,* 1.47 consideringe y^e reprofe that they had done to the holy place without cause, how they had despysed and oppressed the cite, yee and destroyed y^e lawes of the fathers. For they (sayde he) trust in their weapens and boldnesse,* 1.48 but oure con∣fidence is in the allmighty LORDE, which in the twincklinge of an eye maye both des∣troye them that come agaynst vs, and all the worlde.

He exorted them also to call to remēbraū¦ce [ D] the helpe, that God shewed vnto their fa¦thers:* 1.49 as whē there perished an C. & lxxxvM of Sennacheribs people: And of y^e battaill y^t they had in Babilō agaynst y^e Galacians: how y^t all the Macedoniās y^t came to helpe thē, stode in feare: & how they beynge but on¦ly vj.M. slewe an C. & xx.M. thorow y^e hel∣pe y^t was geuen them from heauen, wherby they also had receaued many benefites.

Thorow these wordes y^e mē toke good her¦tes vnto thē, ready to dye for the lawe & the

coūtre. So he set vpon euery cōpany a cap∣tayne, one of his owne brethren: Simon, Io¦seph and Ionathas: geuynge ech one xv.C. men. He caused Eszdras also to reade the ho¦ly boke vnto them, and to geue them a token of the helpe of God.

[illustration]

Then he himself beinge captaine in y^e fore front of the battayll,* 1.50 buckled with Nicanor And God was there helpe, in so moch that they slewe aboue ix.M. mē & compelled y^e mo¦re parte of Nicanors hoost to fle, they were [ E] so wounded and feable. Thus they toke the money from those that came to bye thē, and folowed vpon them on euery syde. But whē the tyme came vpon them, they returned, for it was the Sabbath, and therfore they folowed nomore vpon them. So they toke their weapens and spoyles & kepte the Sab¦bath, geuynge thankes vnto the LORDE, which had delyuered them that daye, and shewed them his mercy. After the Sabbath they distributed the spoyles to the sicke, to y^e fatherlesse,* 1.51 and to wyddowes, and the resi∣due had they them selues with theirs. Whē this was done, and they all had made a ge∣nerall prayer: they besought the mercifull LORDE to be at one with his seruauntes.

Of those also that were with Timotheus and Bachides, which fought agaynst them, they slewe xx.M. wanne hye and stronge hol¦des, and deuided moo spoyles: euer geuynge an equall porcion vnto y^e sicke, to y^e fatherles to wyddowes & to aged persons. And when [ F] they had diligently gathered their weapēs together, they layed them all in convenient places, & the remnaunt of y^e spoyles brought they to Ierusalem. They slewe Philarches that wicked personne, which was with Ti∣motheus, and had vexed many Iewes. And when they helde the thankesgeuyng▪ at Ie¦rusalem for the victory, they brent those that had set fyre on the portes of the temple: na∣mely Calisthenes, which was fled in to an house: and so they gat a worthy rewarde for their wickednesse. As for that most vngra∣cious Nicanor, which had brought a thou∣sande marchaūtes, to bye the Iewes, he was thorow y^e helpe of the LORDE brought dow¦ne, euen of them whom he regarded not: in so moch that he put of his glorious raymēt, fled by see, and came alone to Antioche w^t greate shame & dishono^r, which he gat tho∣row the destruccion of his hoost. Thus he y^t promysed the Romaynes to paye thē their tribute, when he toke Ierusalem: beganne now to saye planely, that God was y^e defen∣der of the Iewes, & therfore not possible to wounde them, because they folowed y^e lawes which God had made.

The IX. Chapter.

AT the same tyme came Antiochus a∣gayne [ A] with dishonoure out of Persis.* 1.52 For when he came to Persepolis, and vndertoke to robbe the temple and to subdue the cite, the people ranne together and de∣fended them selues, in so moch y^t he and his were fayne to fle with shame. And so after that flight, it happened, that Antiochus ca¦me agayne with dishonoure. But when he came to Egbathana, he gat knowlege what was happened vnto Nicanor & Timotheus. Now as he was auauncinge himself in his wrath, he thought he was able to avenge the iniury that was done to them, vpon the Iewes: and therfore commaunded to ma∣ke ready his charet, haistinge on his iourney without ceassinge: the iudgmēt of God pro¦uokynge him, because he had spokē so proud¦ly, that he wolde come to Ierusalem, and ma¦ke it a graue of the Iewes. But the LORDE God of Israel, that seith all thinges,* 1.53 smote him with an invisible plage, which no man coude heale.

For as soone as he had spoken these wor∣des, [ B] there came vpon him an horrible payne of his bowels, & a sore grefe of the tharmes. And y^t was but right: for he had martired other mens bowels with dyuerse and straū∣ge tormentes, how be it he wolde in no wyse ceasse from his malice. Yee he was yet the prouder, and more malicious agaynst the Iewes: But whyle he was commaundinge to make haist in the matter, it happened y^t he fell downe violently from the charet, so y^t it brussed his body, & dyd him greate payne.

And so he that thought he might com∣maunde y^e floudes of the see (so proude was he beyonde the condiciō of man) and to weye the hye mountaynes in a payre of scoales, was now brought downe to the grounde, & caried vpon an horszlytter, knowlegynge y^e

manyfest power of God vpon him: so that y^t wicked body of his was full of wormes,* 1.54 which in his payne fell quyck out of his flesh: In so moch y^t his hoost was greued with the smell and styncke of him. Thus he that a litle afore thought he might reach to the starres of heauen, him might no man now abyde ner beare, for the vehemence of styncke.

[ C] Therfore he beynge brought from his greate pryde, begāne for to come to y^e know¦lege of him self: for the punyshment of God warned him, & his payne increased euer mo∣re & more. And when he him self might not abyde his owne styncke, he sayde these wor∣des: It is reason to be obedient vnto God, & that a man desyre not to be like vnto him. This wicked personne prayed also vnto the LORDE, of whom he shulde haue optained no mercy. And as for the cite that he came vnto so haistely, to brynge it downe to the grounde, & to make it a graue for deed men: now he desyreth to delyuer it fre. And as tou¦chinge y^e Iewes, whom he had iudged not worthy to be buried, but wolde haue cast thē out for to be deuoured of the foules and wyl¦de beastes, sayenge, that he wolde haue des∣troyed both olde and yonge: Now he promi¦seth, to make thē like y^e citesyns of Athens. And where as he had spoyled the holy tem¦ple afore, now he maketh promyse to gar∣nish it with greate giftes, to increase the ho¦ly ornamētes, and of his owne rentes to bea¦re the costes and charges belonginge to the offerynges: yee and that he wolde also beco∣me a Iewe him self, to go thorow euery pla¦ce of the worlde, and to preach the power of God.

[ D] But when his paynes wolde not ceasse, (for the righteous iudgmet of God was co¦me vpon him) out of a very despayre he wro¦te vnto the Iewes a lettre of intercession, cō¦teyninge these wordes: The kynge and pryn¦ce Antiochus wysheth vnto the vertuous ci¦tesyns of the Iewes, moch health and good prosperite.

Yf ye and youre children fare well, and yf all thinges go after youre mynde: we ge¦ue greate thankes. In my sicknesse also do I remembre you louyngly: for as I came out of Persia, and was taken with sore disea¦se: I thought it necessary to care for the co∣mon wealth. Nether despare I in my self, but haue a good hope to escape this sicknes.

But considerynge that my father led an hoost some tyme in y^e hyer places, & shewed who shulde raigne after him, that (yf there happened eny cōtrouersy, or eny harde thin∣ge were declared,) they in the londe might knowe their chefe lorde, y^t there shulde be no insurreccion: Agayne, when I pondre by my [ E] self, how that all y^e mightie men and negh∣bours rounde aboute, are layēge waite, and loke but for oportunyte to do harme: I haue ordened that my sonne Antiochus shall raig¦ne after me, whom I oft commended to ma∣ny of you, when I was in the hyer kyngdo∣mes, and haue wrytten vnto him as it fo∣loweth herafter. Therfore I praye you and requyre you, to remembre the benefites that I haue done vnto you generally and in espe¦ciall. For I hope that he shall be of sober & louynge behauoure, and yf he folowe my de¦uyce, he shal be indifferent vnto you.

Thus that murthurer and blasphemer of God was sore smyttē:* 1.55 and like as he had in∣treated other men, so he dyed a myserable death in a straunge countre vpon a moun∣tayne. And his body dyd Philippe (that wē¦te with him) cary awaye: which fearynge the sonne of Antiochus, wente in to Egipte to Ptolomy Philometor.

The X. Chapter.

MAchabeus now & his company (tho¦row [ A] the helpe of the LORDE) wan¦ne the temple and the cite agayne,* 1.56 destroyed the aulters and chapels that the Heithē had buylded thorow the stretes:* 1.57 clen¦sed the temple, made another aulter of bric∣ke stone, and after ij. yeares they offered sa∣crifices, set forth the incense, the lightes and shewe bred. When that was done, they fell downe flat vpon the grounde, and besought the LORDE, that they might come nomore in to soch trouble: but yf they synned eny mo¦re agaynst him, he him self to chasten them with mercy, and not to come in the hondes of those aleauntes and blasphemous men.

Now vpon the same daye that y^e straun¦gers poluted the temple, it happened that on the very same daye it was clensed agay∣ne namely,* 1.58 the xxij. daye of the moneth cal∣led Casleu. They kepte viij. dayes in glad∣nesse, [ B] like as in the feast of the tabernacles: remembrynge that not longe afore, they hel¦de the feast of y^e tabernacles vpon the moun¦taynes and in dennes like beastes. And to y^e same token they bare grene bowes, braun∣ches and palmes before him that had geuen them good fortune to clense his place. They agreed also together, and made a statute, y^t euery yeare those dayes shulde be solemply kepte of all the people of the Iewes.

How Antiochus then (that was called the noble) dyed, it is sufficiently tolde. Now wil we speake of Nicanor the sonne of that wicked Antiochus, how it happened with him: and so with few wordes to comprehen∣de the aduersite that chaunsed in y^e warres. When he had taken in the kyngdome, he made one Lysias (which had bene captay∣ne of the hoost in Phenices and Syria) ru∣ler ouer the matters of the realme. For Pto∣lomy that was called Macron, beynge a ru∣ler for the Iewes (and specially, to syt in iud∣gment for soch wronge as was done vnto them) vndertoke to deale peaceably with them. For the which cause he was accused [ C] of the frendes before Eupator: and when he was suspecte to be a traytoure (because he had left Cypers, that Philometor had com∣mitted vnto him: and because he departed from noble Antiochus, that he was come vn¦to) he poysoned himself, and dyed.

[illustration]

Now when Gorgias was gouernoure of the same places, he toke straungers and vn∣dertoke oft tymes to warre with y^e Iewes. Morouer the Idumeans that helde the strō¦ge holdes, receaued those that were dryuen from Ierusalem, and toke in honde to warre also. But they that were with Machabeus, besought and prayed vnto the LORDE,* 1.59 that he wolde be their helper: and so they fell in to the stronge holdes of the Idume∣ans, & wanne many places by strength: Soch as came agaynst them they slew, and kyl∣led no lesse (of all together) then twentye thousande. Neuerthelesse some (no lesse then nyn•• thousande) were fled in to two stron∣ge towres, hauynge all maner of ordinaunce to withstonde them.

[ D] Then Machabeus leauynge Symon, Io¦sephus, Zachaus and those that were with them, (which were very many) wente to be∣sege thē, and to fight where most nede was, Now they that were with Symon beyn∣ge led with couetousnesse, were intreated for money, thorow certayne of those that

[illustration]

laye in the towers: toke lxx.M. drachmas, & let some of them escape. But when it was tolde Machabeus what had happened, he called y^e captaynes of the people together, accusynge those personnes, that they had sol¦de the brethren for money, and let their ene∣mies go. So he slewe those traytours, & im∣mediatly wente in honde with the ij. towers. And when they had ordred them selues man¦ly with their weapens & hondes, they slewe in y^e two castels moo thē twētie thousande.

Now Timotheus whom the Iewes had ouercome afore,* 1.60 gathered a multitude of straunge people, brought an hoost also of horsmen of the Asians, to wynne Iewry by strength. But when he drewe nye, Macha∣beus [ E] and they that were w^t him fell to their prayer, sprencled aszshes vpon their heades,* 1.61 beynge gyrded w^t hayrie cloth aboute their loines, fel downe before y^e aulter, & besought the LORDE that he wolde be mercifull to them, but an enemie vnto their enemies, and to take parte agaynst their aduersaries, acor¦dinge as it is promised in the lawe. So after the prayer,* 1.62 they wente on further from the cite: and when they came nye the enemies, they prepared them selues agaynst them.

[illustration]

And by tymes in the mornynge at y^e brea¦ke of the daye, both the hoostes buckled to∣gether. The one parte had the LORDE for their refuge,* 1.63 which is the geuer of prosperi∣te, strēgth and victory. The other had a mā¦ly

stomack, which is a captayne of warre.

The battayll now beynge greate, there apeared vnto the enemies from heauen v. men,* 1.64 vpon horszback with brydels of golde, ledinge the Iewes, and two of them hauyn¦ge Machabeus betwixte them, y^t kepte him safe on euery syde w^t their weapēs, but shot dartes and lighteninges vpon the enemies. where thorow they were confounded with blyndnesse and so sore afrayed, that they fell downe. There were slayne of fote men twen¦ty thousande and fyue hundreth, and sixe hū¦dreth [ F] horsmen. As for Timotheus him self, he fled vnto Gazar a very strōge holde, whe¦rin Cereas was captayne. But Machabeus and his company layed sege to it cherfully iiij. dayes. Now they that were within, trus¦tinge to the strength of the place, cursed & banned exceadingly, and made greate cra∣kynge with wicked wordes. Neuerthelesse vpon the fifth daye in the mornynge, xx. yon¦gemen of Machabeus cōpany, beynge set on fyre in their myndes because of the blas∣phemy: came manfully vnto the wall, and with bolde stomackes they and their other companyons clymmed vp vpon the towres, vndertakynge to set fyre vpon the portes, & to burne those blasphemous personnes quyc¦ke. Two dayes were they destroyenge the castell, which when they founde Timotheus (that was crepte in to a corner) they kylled him, and slewe Cereas his brother in like ma¦ner with Appollophanes. When this was done, they sunge Psalmes, with prayses and thankesgeuynges vnto the LORDE, which had done so greate thinges for Israel, & ge∣uen them the victory.

The XI. Chapter.

[ A] NOt longe after this, Lysias the kyn∣ges stewarde and a kynsman of his, (which had the gouernaunce of his matters,) toke sore displeasure for the thin∣ges that had happened: and when he had gathered lxxx.M. men of fote with all the hoost of the horsmen, he came agaynst the Iewes, thinkynge to wynne the cite, to ma∣ke it an habitacion for the Heithen, and the temple wolde he haue to be an house of lu∣cre,* 1.65 like as the other goddes houses of the Heithē are, & to sell y^e prestes office euery yea¦re: Not consideringe the power of God, but was wylde in his mynde, trustinge in y^e mul¦titude of fote mē,* 1.66 in thousandes of horsmē, and in his lxxx. Elephantes.

[ B] So he came in to Iewry & then to Beth¦sura (a castell of defence lyenge in a narow place, v. furlonges from Ierusalē) and wan∣ne it. Now when Machabeus and his com¦pany knew that the stronge holdes were ta∣ken,* 1.67 they fell to their prayers with wepynge and teares before the LORDE: and all the people in like maner besought him, that he wolde sende a good angell to delyuer Israel. Machabeus him self was the first that ma∣de him ready to the battayll, exortynge the other that were with him, to ioperde them selues and to helpe their brethrē. And when they were goyenge forth of Ierusalem toge¦ther with a ready and wyllynge mynde,* 1.68 the¦re apeared before thē vpon horszbacke a mā in whyte clothinge with harnesse of gol∣de, shakinge his speare. Then they praysed y^e LORDE all together, which had shewed them mercy, and were conforted in their myn¦des: in so moch that they were ready, not on∣ly to fight with men, but with y^e most cruell beestes, yee and to runne thorow walles of yron.

[illustration]

Thus they wente on wyllingly hauynge [ C] an helper from heauē, and the LORDE mer¦cifull vnto them. They fell mightely vpon their enemies like lyons, brought downe xj.M. fote men, xvj.C. horsmen, put all y^e other to flight, many of them beynge wounded, and some gat awaye naked. Yee Lysias him self was fayne to fle shamefully, and so to escape. Neuerthelesse the man was not with out vnderstondinge, but considered by him self that his power was mynished, and pon¦dred how y^e Iewes beynge defended by the helpe of Allmighty God, were not able to be ouercome: wherfore he sent them worde, and promised, that he wolde consente to all thinges which were reasonable, and to ma∣ke the kynge their frēde. To the which pray¦er of Lysias Machabeus agreed, sekynge in all thinges the comon wealth: and what so euer Machabeus wrote vnto Lysias cōcer∣nynge the Iewes, the kynge graunted it. For there were lettres writtē vnto y^e Iewes from Lysias conteynynge these wordes:

[ D] Lysias sendeth gretinge to the people of the Iewes. Ihon and Absalon which were sent from you, delyuered me wrytinges, and requyred me to fulfill the thinges concernyn¦ge their earande. Therfore loke what might be graunted, I certified y^e kynge therof: and what so euer was conuenient, I agreed ther¦to. Yf ye now wyll be faithfull in the mat∣ters, I shal endeuer my self herafter also to do you good. As concernynge other thin∣ges by euery article therof: I haue commit∣ted them to youre messaungers, and to those whom I sent vnto you, to comon with you of the same, fare ye well, In the hūdreth and xlviij. yeare, the xxiiij. daye of the moneth Dioscorinthius.

Now the kynges lettre conteyned these wordes: Kynge Antiochus sendeth gretin∣ge vnto his brother Lysias.* 1.69 For so moch as oure father is now deed, oure wyll is, that they which are in oure realme, lyue without eny insurreccion, and euery man to be dili∣gent in his owne matters. We vnderstonde also, that the Iewes wolde not consent to oure father, for to be brought vnto the custo∣me of the Gentiles, but stiffly to kepe their owne statutes: for the which cause they re∣quyre of vs also, to let them remayne still by their owne lawes.

[ E] Wherfore oure minde is, that this people shalbe in rest: we haue concluded and deter∣med also, to restore them their temple agay∣ne: that they maye lyue acordinge to the vse & custome of their forefathers. Thou shalt do vs a pleasure therfore, yf thou sende vn∣to them & agre with them: that when they are certified of oure mynde, they maye be of good chere, and loke to their owne wealth.

And this was the lettre, that the kynge wrote vnto the Iewes: Kynge Antiochus sendeth gretinge vnto the councell and the other people of the Iewes. Yf ye fare well, we haue oure desyre: as for vs, we are in good health. Menelaus came and tolde vs, how y^t youre desyre was to come downe to you∣re people, which are with vs.

Wherfore those that wyll come, we geue them fre lyberte, vnto the xxx. daye of the [ F] moneth of Aprill, that they maye vse y^e mea¦tes of the Iewes and their owne lawes, li∣ke as afore: and none of them by eny maner of wayes to haue harme, for thinges done in ignoraunce. Menelaus whom we haue sent vnto you, shal comon with you at large, fare ye well. In the Cxlviij. yeare, the xv. daye of the moneth of Aprill.

The Romaynes also sent a lettre, contey∣nynge these wordes: Quintus Mennius & Titus Mamlius embassatours of the Ro∣maynes, sende gretinge vnto the people of the Iewes. Loke what Lysias the kynges kynsman hath graunted you, we graunte you the same also. But as concernynge the thinges which he referred vnto the kynge, sende hither some with spede: and pōdre the mat••er diligētly amonge youre selues, that we maye cast y^e best to youre profite, for we must departe now vnto Antioche. And ther¦fore wryte shortly agayne, that we maye knowe youre mynde. Fare well. In the hun¦dreth xlviij. yeare, y^e xv. daye of the moneth of Aprill.

The XII. Chapter.

WHen these couenauntes were made, [ A] Lysias wente vnto the kynge, and y^e Iewes tylled their grounde. But Timotheus, Appollonius the sonne of Ge∣mei, Ierome and Demophon y^e proude, Ni¦canor y^e captayne of Cypers, and they that laye in those places: wolde not let them lyue in rest and peace. They of Ioppa also dyd euen soch a shamefull dede: They prayed y^e Iewes that dwelt amōge them, to go with their wyues and children in to the shippes which they had prepared, & dyd with them, as though they had ought them no euell wyll. For so moch then as there was gone forth a generall proclamaciō thorow y^e cite because of peace, they consented therto, and suspecte nothinge: but when they were go∣ne forth in to the depe, they drowned no lesse then ij.C. of them.

Whē Iudas knew of this cruelte shewed vnto his people, he commaunded those that were with him to make them ready, exortin∣ge them to call vpon God the righteous iudge: wēte forth agaynst those murthurers of his brethrē, set fyre in y^e hauen by night, brent vp y^e shippes, and those that escaped from the fyre, he slewe with the swearde. And when he had done this, he departed as though he wolde come agayne, and rote out all them of Ioppa. But when he had gottē worde that the Iamnites were mynded to do in like maner vnto y^e Iewes which dwelt amonge them, he came vpon the Iamnites by night, and set fyre in the hauen with the shippes: so that the light of the fyre was se∣ne at Ierusalem, vpon a ii.C. & xl. furlonges.

Now when they were gone from thence ix. furlonges, in their iourney towarde Ti∣motheus: v. thousande men of fote and v. hundreth horsmen of the Arabians fought

[illustration]

with him. So when the batell was earnest, and prospered with Iudas thorow the hel∣pe of God: y^e residue of the Arabians beyn¦ge ouercome, besought Iudas to be at one with them, and promised to geue him certay¦ne pastures, & to do him good in other thin∣ges. Iudas thynkynge that they shulde in¦dede be profitable concernynge many thyn∣ges, promised them peace: whervpon they shoke hondes, and so they departed to their tentes. Iudas wente also vnto a cite, which was very fast kepte w^t brydges, fensed roun¦de aboute with walles, & dyuerse kyndes of people dwellinge therin, called Caspin.

[illustration]

[ C] They that were within it, put soch trust in the strength of the walles, & in their stoa¦re of vytales: that they were the slacker in their doynges, cursinge and reuylinge Iu∣das with blasphemies, and speakynge soch wordes as it becommeth not. But Macha∣beus callynge vpon the greate prynce of y^e worlde (which without eny battayll ram∣mes or ordinaunce of warre, dyd cast dow∣ne the walles of Iericho,* 1.70 in the tyme of Io∣sue) fell manfully vpon the walles, toke the ci¦te, and (thorow the helpe of the LORDE) ma¦de an exceadinge greate slaughter: In so moch that a lake of ij. furlōges brode which laye therby, semed to flowe with the bloude of the slayne.

Then departed they from thence vij.C. and L. furlonges, and came to Taraca vnto y^e Iewes that are called Tubianei. But as for Timotheus, they coude not get him the∣re: for (not one matter dispatched,) he was de¦parted from thence, and had lefte certayne men in a very stronge holde. But Dositheus and Sosipater which were captaynes with Machabeus, slewe those y^t Timotheus had lefte in the house of defence, euen x.M. men. And Machabeus prepared him with y^e vj.M. men y^t were aboute him, set them in or∣dre by companies, and wente forth agaynst Timotheus, which had with him an C. and xx.M. men of fote, ij.M. and v.C. horsmē.

When Timotheus had knowlege of Iu¦das [ D] commynge, he sent the women, children and the other baggage vnto a castell called Carnion. (For it coude not be wonne, & was harde to come vnto, the wayes of the same places were so narow) and when Iudas cō∣pany came first in sight, the enemies were smytten with feare, thorow the presence of God, which seyth all thinges: In so moch y^t they fleynge one here, another there, were rather discomfited of their owne people,* 1.71 & woūded w^t the strokes of their owne swear¦des. Iudas also was very earnest in folowin¦ge vpon them and punyshinge those vngod¦ly, and slewe xxx.M. men of them. Timo∣theus also himself fell in to the hondes of Dositheus & Sosipater, whom he besought with many prayers, to let him go with his li¦fe: because he had many of the Iewes fa∣thers and brethren in preson, which (yf they put him to death) might be disapoynted. So when he had promised faithfully to delyuer them agayne acordinge to the condicion ma¦de, they let him go without harme. for the health of y^e brethren. And when Iudas had slayne xxv.M, he wente from Carnion.

Now after y^t he had chased awaye and [ E] slayne his enemies, he remoued the hoost towarde Ephron a strōge cite,* 1.72 wherin dwelt many dyuerse people of the Heithen, and y^e stronge yonge men kepte the walles, defen∣dinge thē mightely. In this cite was moch ordinaunce, and prouysion of dartes.* 1.73 But when Iudas and his company had called vpon Allmighty God, (which w^t his power breaketh the strength of the enemies) they wanne the cite, and slew xxv.M. of them y^t were within. From thence wente they to the cite of the Scythians, which lieth vj.C. fur¦longes from Ierusalem. But when y^e Iewes which were in the cite testified, that the cite syns dealte louyngly with them, yee and in∣treated them kyndly in y^e tyme of their ad∣uersite, Iudas and his company gaue them

him (which made them his people, and euer defended his owne porcion with euydent to¦kens) that he wolde preserue them still. So at the commaundement of the captayne, they remoued from thence, and came to a towne called Dessasan. And Symon Iu∣das brother fell in honde with Nicanor, but thorow the sodane commynge of the ene∣mies, he was afrayed.

Neuertheles Nicanor hearinge the man∣lynes of them that were with Iudas, and y^e bolde stomackes that they had to fight for their naturall countre, durst not proue the matter with bloudsheddinge. Wherfore he sent Possidonius, Theodocius & Mathias before, to geue and to take peace. So when they had taken longe advysement there v∣pon, and the captayne shewed it vnto the multitude: they were agreed in one mynde, to haue peace. And they appoynted a daye to syt vpon these matters quyetly amonge them selues, y^e stoles also were brought and set forth. Neuerthelesse Iudas cōmaunded certaine men of armes to waite in conueniēt places, lest there shulde sodenly aryse eny e∣uell thorow the enemies. And so they com∣moned reasonably together.

[ D] Nicanor, whyle he abode at Ierusalem, ordred himself not vnreasonably, but sent awaye the people that were gathered to∣gether. He loued Iudas euer with his hert, and fauoured him. He prayed him also to take a wyfe, and to brynge forth children. So he maried, lyued in rest, and they led a comon life. But Alcimus perceauynge the loue that was betwixte them, and how they were agreed together, came to Deme∣trius, and tolde him that Nicanor had ta∣ken straunge matters in honde, and orde∣ned Iudas (an enemy of the realme) to be the kynges successoure. Then the kinge was sore displeased, and thorow the wicked ac∣cusations which Alcimus made of Nica∣nor, he was so prouoked, that he wrote vn∣to Nicanor, sayenge: that he was very an∣grie for the frendshipe and agrement, which he had made with Machabeus. Neuer∣theles he commaunded him in all the haist, that he shulde take Machabeus presoner, and sende him to Antioche.

Which lettres when Nicanor had se∣ne, [ E] he was at his wittes ende, and sore gre∣ued, that he shulde breake the thinges, whe¦rin they had agreed: specially, seynge Ma∣chabeus was the man, that neuer dyd him harme. But because he might not withston¦de the kynge, he sought oportunite to ful∣fil his commaundement. Notwithstondin∣ge when Machabeus sawe that Nicanor beganne to be churlish vnto him, and that he intreated him more rughly then he was wonte, he perceaued that soch vnkyndnes ca¦me not of good, and therfore he gathered a few of his men, and withdrewe himself frō Nicanor. Which when he knewe that Ma∣chabeus had manfully preuented him, he ca¦me in to the greate and most holy temple: and commaunded the prestes (which were doynge their vsuall offeringes) to delyuer him the man. And when they sware that they coude not tell, where the mā was whō he sought, he stretched out his honde, and made an ooth, sayenge: Yf ye wyll not de∣lyuer me Iudas captyue,* 1.74 I shall remoue this temple of God in to the playne felde, I shal breake downe the aulter, and consecra∣te this tēple vnto Bachus. After these wor∣des he departed.

Then the prestes lift vp their hondes to∣warde [ F] heauen, and besought him that was euer the defender of their people, sayenge: Thou o LORDE of all, which hast nede of nothinge, woldest that the temple of thy ha¦bitacion shulde be amonge vs. Therfore now (o most holy LORDE) kepe this hou∣se euer vndefyled, which lately was clensed.* 1.75 Now was there accused vnto Nicanor, one Razis an Alderman of Ierusalem, a louer of the whole cite, and a man of good reporte: which for the kynde hert that he bare vnto the people, was called a father of y^e Iewes. This man oft tymes (when the Iewes were mynded to kepe them selues vndefyled) de∣fended and delyuered them, beynge content stedfastly to spende his body and his life for his people.

So Nicanor wyllinge to declare the ha∣te, [ G] that he bare to the Iewes, sent fyue hun∣dreth men to take him: for he thought, yf he gat him, he shulde brynge the Iewes in grea¦te decaye. Now when the people beganne to ruszshe in at his house, to breake the dores, and to set fyre on it: he beynge now taken, wolde haue defended himself with his swear¦de: chosinge rather to dye manfully, then to yelde himselfe to those wicked doers: and be∣cause of his noble stocke, he had rather haue bene put to extreme cruelte.

Notwithstondynge what tyme as he myssed of his stroke for haist, and the multi∣tude fell in violently betwixte the dores: he rāne boldly to y^e wall, & cast himself downe

manfully amonge the heape of them, which gaue soone place to his fall, so that he fell vpon his bely. Neuerthelesse whyle there was yet breath within him, he was kynd∣led in his mynde: and whyle his bloude gusz¦shed out exceadingly (for he was very sore wounded) he ranne thorow the myddest of y^e people, and gat him to the toppe of a rocke. So when his bloude was now gone, he to∣ke out his owne bowels with both his hon¦des, and threw them vpon the people: callin¦ge vpon the LORDE of life and sprete, to re¦warde him this agayne, and so he dyed.

The XV. Chapter.

[ A] NOw when Nicanor knewe that Iu∣das was in the countre of Sama∣ria,* 1.76 he thought with all his power to strike a felde with him vpon a Sabbath daye. Neuerthelesse the Iewes that were compelled to go with him, sayed: O do not so cruelly and vnkyndly, but halowe y^t Sab¦bath daye, and worshipe him that seyth all thinges. For all this, yet sayed the vngra∣cious personne:* 1.77 Is there a mightie one in hea¦uen, that commaunded the Sabbath daye to be kepte? And when they sayde: yee the ly¦uynge God, the mightie LORDE in heauen commaunded the seuenth daye to be kepte,* 1.78 he sayde: And I am mightie vpon earth, to commaunde them for to arme them sel∣ues, and to perfourme the kynges busynesse. Notwithstondinge he might not haue his purpose.

[ B] Nicanor had deuysed with greate pryde to ouercome Iudas, and to brynge awaye y^e victory. But Machabeus had euer a fast confidēce and a parfecte hope in God that he wolde helpe him, and exorted his people, not to be afrayed at the commynge of the Heithen: but allwaye to remembre the helpe that had bene shewed vnto them from hea∣uen, yee and to be sure now also, y^t Allmigh∣tie God wolde geue them the victory. He spa¦ke vnto them out of the lawe and prophe∣tes, puttinge them in remembraunce of the battayls, that they had striken afore, & ma∣de them to be of a good corage.

So when their hartes were plucte vp, he shewed them also the disceatfulnesse of the Heithen, and how they wolde kepe no coue¦naunt ner ooth. Thus he weapened thē not with the armoure of shylde and speare, but with wholsome wordes and exortacions. He shewed them a dreame also, wherthorow he made them all glad, which was this: He thought that he sawe Onias (which had be∣ne hye prest, a vertuous & louynge man, sad, and of honest conuersacion, well spoken, and nee that had bene exercised in godlynes frō a childe) holdinge vp his hōdes towarde hea¦uen, and prayenge for his people. After this [ C] there apeared vnto him another mā, which was aged, honorable and glorious. And O∣nias sayde: This is a louer of the brethren, and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth moch for the people, and for all the holy cite: Ieremy the prophet of God. He thought also y^t Ieremy helde out his right hōde, and gaue him (namely vnto Iudas) a swearde of golde, sayenge: Take this holy swearde, a gifte from God, wherwith thou shalt smyte downe the enemies of the peo∣ple of Israel.

And so they were wel conforted thorow the wordes of Iudas, and toke corage vnto thē, so that the yonge men were determed in their myndes to fight, & to byde styfly at it: In so moch that in the thinges which they toke in honde, their boldnesse shewed the sa∣me, because the holy cite and the temple we∣re in parell: for the which they toke more ca∣re, then for their wyues, children, brethrē and kynsfolkes. Agayne, they that were in the ci¦te, were most carefull for those which were to fight. Now when they were all in a hope that the iudgment of the matter was at hō¦de, and the enemies drew nye, the hoost beyn¦ge set in araye, the Elephantes and horsmē euery one stondinge in his place: Macha∣beus considered the commynge of the mul∣titude, the ordinaunce of dyuerse weapens, [ D] the cruelnesse of the beestes, and helde vp his hondes towarde heauen, callinge vpon the LORDE that doth wonders, which ge∣ueth not the victory after the multitude of weapens and power of the hoost (but ••o them that please him) acordinge to his owne will.* 1.79 Therfore in his prayer he sayde these wordes:

O LORDE,* 1.80 thou that diddest sende thine angell in the tyme of Ezechias kynge of Iu¦da, and in the hoost of Sennacherib slewest an hundreth and fyue and foure score thou∣sande: sende now also thy good angell befo∣re vs (o LORDE of heauens) in the fearful∣nesse and drede of thy mightie arme, that they which come agaynst thy holy people to blaspheme them, maye be afrayed. And so he made an ende of his wordes. Then Nicanor and they that were with him, drew nye with shawmes and songes: but Iudas and his company with prayer and callin∣ge vpon God.

[illustration]

With their hondes they smote, but with their hertes they prayed vnto the LORDE, and slewe no lesse then xxxv.M. mē: For tho∣row the present helpe of God they were glo¦riously conforted.

[ E] Now when they left of, and were turnin¦ge agayne with ioye, they vnderstode that Nicanor himself was slayne with the other. Then they gaue a greate shoute and a crie, praysinge the allmighty LORDE with a lou¦de voyce. And Iudas (which was euer rea∣dy to spende his body and life for his cite∣syns) commaunded to smyte of Nicanors heade, with his arme and honde, and to be brought to Ierusalem. When he came the∣re, he called all the people, and the prestes at the aulter with those that were in y^e cas∣tell, and shewed them Nicanors heade, and his wicked honde, which he had presumptu¦ously holden vp agaynst the temple of God. He caused y^e tonge also of that vngodly Ni¦canor to be cut in litle peces, and to be cast to the foules, and the cruell mans honde to be hanged vp before the temple.

So euery man gaue thankes vnto y^e LOR¦DE, saienge: blessed be he, that hath kepte his place vndefyled.

[illustration]

As fo: Nicanors heade, he hanged it vp vpō the hye castell, for an euydent and play¦ne token of the helpe of God. And so they agreed all together, to kepe that daye holy: namely y^e xiij. daye of y^e moneth Adar, which in y^e Syriās lāguage is called y^e nexte daye before Mardocheus daye. Thus was Nicanor slayne, and from that tyme forth the Iewes had the cite in possession: And here wil I now ma∣ke an ende.

The end•• of the seconde boke of the Machabees.

Notes

• * 1.1

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• * 1.2

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• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 6. a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 16. c
• * 1.4

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• * 1.5

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• * 1.6

  2. Mac. 1.
• * 1.7

  Iere 29. b
• * 1.8

  Baruc. 6.
• * 1.9

  Deu. ••4.
• * 1.10

  Exo. 13. d
• * 1.11

  3. Re. 8. b
• * 1.12

  Leui. 9. d
• * 1.13

  2. Par. 7. a
• * 1.14

  Some reade: * Nehe¦mias.
• * 1.15

  ••eut. 30. a
• * 1.16

  Mac. 6. a
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• * 1.20

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 22. b
• * 1.21

  2 Ma. 10. •• and 11. b
• * 1.22

  2. Mac. 5.••
• * 1.23

  Act. 27. c
• * 1.24

  ••. Ma. ••. a
• * 1.25

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.26

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• * 1.28

  2. Ma. 4.
• * 1.29

  Mac. 1. c
• * 1.30

  ••dit. 5. d
• * 1.31

  Ma. ••. d
• * 1.32

  1. Mac. ••••
• * 1.33

  1. Mac. ••••
• * 1.34

  ••. Mac. 1. f
• * 1.35

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. b
• * 1.36

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• * 1.37

  1. Tess. 5. c
• * 1.38

  Amos. 1. a
• * 1.39

  Leuit. 11. ••
• * 1.40

  Deut. 18. ••
• * 1.41

  Ioh. 5. c
• * 1.42

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• * 1.43

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• * 1.44

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• * 1.45

  1. Mac. 3.••
• * 1.46

  1. Mac. 5. b
• * 1.47

  Deut. ••0. •• 2. Pa. ••0. c
• * 1.48

  Iere. 17. b Psal. 19. b
• * 1.49

  4. Re. 19 g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. ••
• * 1.50

  1. Ma. 4. b
• * 1.51

  Num. 31. d 1. Re. 30. e Deu. 20. b
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• * 1.55

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• * 1.56

  1. Mac. 4.
• * 1.57

  Exo. 20.
• * 1.58

  1. Mac. 4. ••
• * 1.59

  •• Mac. 5. a
• * 1.60

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• * 1.61

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• * 1.64

  ••eg. 6 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1••. b
• * 1.65

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• * 1.66

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• * 1.67

  2. Ma. 10. e
• * 1.68

  2. Mac. 3. d
• * 1.69

  2. Ma. 9. b
• * 1.70

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.71

  Iudit. 7. f 1. Re. 14. •• 2. Pa. 20. ••
• * 1.72

  1. Mac. 5. ••
• * 1.73

  2. Ma. 10. ••
• * 1.74

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• * 1.77

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••0. c
• * 1.78

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• * 1.79

  2. Pa. 14. Iudic. 7.
• * 1.80

  4. Reg. 19. g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. 2. Ma. ••.