¶ Kynge Asuerus, whiche is called Artaxerxes ma∣keth a royall feaste, wherunto the quene Vasthi wil not come: for whiche cause she is diuorsed.
CAPI. I.
[ A] IN the tyme of Asuerus which raygned from Inde vn¦to Ethiopia, ouer an hundred and seuen and twenty landes, what tyme as he sate on his seate royal in the castel of Su¦san in the thirde yere of his raygne, he made a feast vnto all his princes and seruauntes, na∣mely vnto the myghty men of Persia and Me¦dia, to the capitaynes and rulers of his coun∣treyes, that he myght shewe the noble ryches of his kyngdome, and the glorious worshippe of his power, many dayes longe, euen an hū¦dred and foure score dayes.
And when these dayes were ended, ye kynge made a feast vnto all the people that were in the castell of Susan, both vnto great & small, seuen dayes longe in the court of the garden [ B] by the kynges palace: where there hanged whyte, red and yelow clothes, fastened with cordes of lynnen and scarlet in siluer rynges, vpon pylers of Marble stone.
The benches were of gold and siluer made vpon a pauement of grene, white, yelow and blacke Marble. And the drinke was caryed in vessels of golde, and there was euer chaunge of vessel. And the kynges wyne was eyceding moche, accordinge to the great power of the kynge. And no man was appoynted what he shulde drinke: for the kynge had commaun∣ded all the officers of his house, that euerye one shoulde do as it lyked him, And the quene Vasthi made a feast also for the wemen in the palace of Asuerus. And on the .vij. daye when the kynge was pleasauntly mety of the wyne he commaunded Mehuman, Bartha, Harbo∣na, [ C] Bagatha, Abagatha, Zathar and Carcas the .vij .chamberlaynes, that dyd seruice in ye presence of kynge Asuerus, to fetche the quene Vasthi with the crowne regal, that he myght shew the people and princes her fairnesse: for she was bewtyfull. But the quene Vasthi wolde not come at the kynges worde by his chamberlaynes. Then was the kynge verye wrothe, and his indignacion kyndled in him, and he spake to the wyse men that had vnder¦standinge in the ordinaunces of the lande, for the kynges matters must be handled before al suche as haue knowledge of the lawe and iu∣gement: and the next vnto him were, Carse∣na, Sethar, Admatha, Tharsis, Mares, Mar¦sana and Mamucan, the seuen princes of the Persians, and Medes, whiche sawe the kyn∣ges face, and were wont to sit first next him, What lawe shulde be execute vpon the quene Vasthi, because she dyd not accordinge to the worde of the kynge by his chamberlaynes. Then sayde Mamucan before the kynge and [ D] the princes: the quene Vasthi hath not onely hurt the kynge, but also all the princes and al the people in all the prouinces of kynge Asue¦rus, for this dede of ye quene shall come abrode vnto all wemen, so yt they shall despyse their husbandes before their eyen, and shall saye: ye kynge Asuerus commaunded Vasthi ye quene to come before him, but she wolde not. And by this example shal all the princes wyues of Persie and Media set at naught the commaū¦dement of their husbandes, when they heare of this dede of the quene, thus shall there a∣ryse despytefulnes and wrath ynoughe. If it please the kynge, let there go forth a Procla∣macion frome him, and let it be written ac∣cordinge to the lawe of the Persians and Me¦dians (and not to be transgressed) that Va∣sthi come no more before kynge Asuerus, and let the kynge gyue the kyngdome vnto an o∣ther that is better then she.
And that this wrytynge of the kynge whi∣che shalbe made, be publysshed thorowe oute all his empyre which is great, that all wyues maye haue their husbandes in honoure, both great & smal. This pleased ye kynge & the prin¦ces, & the kynge dyd according to the word of Mamucan. Then were letters sent forth in∣to all the kynges landes, into euery lande ac∣cordinge to the wrytinge therof, and to entry people after their language, that euerye man shulde be Lorde and chief in his owne house. And this caused he to be diuulged amōges all people.