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And it is don, after that Alisaundre of Philip, kyng of Macedo, which regnede first in Grece, smote, he gon out of the lond of Sethym, smote Darius, kyng of Persis and Medis, and ordeynyde many bateilis, and gate strengthes of alle; and he slewȝe kyngus of erthe, and passide forth vnto eendis of erthe, and toke spuylis of multitude of folkis; and the erthe was stille in the siȝt of hym. And he gadride vertu, and ful stronge oost, and the herte of hym is enhaunsid and lift up. And he gate cuntrees of folkis, and tyrauntis, or stronge men; and thei ben maad to hym in to tribut. And after these thingus he felle in to bed, and knewe that he shulde die. And he clepide his noble childre, that weren nurishid with hym fro her ȝouthe, and departide to hem his kyngdam, whanne ȝit he leuede. And Alisaundre regnyde twelue ȝeer, and is dead. And his children weldiden the rewme, eche in his place, and alle puttiden to hem dyademes after his deth, and sonys of hem after hem, many ȝeeris; and yuelis ben multipled in erthe. And there wente out of hem a root of synne, Antiochus the noble, the sone of Antiochi kyng, that was at Rome in seegyng, or plegge, and regnede in the hundrid and seuen and thretti ȝeer of the rewme of Greekis. In tho days wickid sonys of Yrael wenten out, and counseiliden many, sayinge, Go we, and ordeyne we a testament with heithen men, that ben aboute us; for sithen we departiden fro hem, many yuels founden us. And the word is seen good in the eeȝen of hem. And summe of the peple senten, and wenten awey to the kyng; and he ȝaue power to hem for to do riȝtwisnesse of heithen men. And thei beeldiden a scole in Jerusalem, vp the lawis of naciouns; and thei maden to hem prepucyes, or hethen customes, and wenten awey fro the holy testament, and weren ioyned to naciouns, and weren solde for to do yuel. And the rewme hadde prosperite in the siȝt of Antiochus, and he byganne for to regne in the lond of Egypt, for to regne on two rewmes. And he entride into Egipt in a greuous multitude, in chaaris, and olifauntis, and horsmen, and a plenteuous multitude of schippis, and he ordeynede bateil aȝens Tholome, kyng of Egipt; and Ptholome dredde of his face, and fleiȝ; and manye woundid fellen doun. And he toke the stronge citees in the lond of Egypt, and he toke prayes of the lond of Egypt. And Antiochus turnede, after that he smote Egypt, in the hundrid and three and fourtithe ȝeer, and styede vp to Yrael. And he stiede vp to Jerusalem in a greuouse multitude, and entride in to the halewyng with pride; and he toke the golden auter, and the candilstike of liȝt, and alle vessels therof, and the bord of proposicioun, and vessels of fleetynge sacrifices, and cruetis, and golden morters, and veil, and crownys, and golden ournement that was in face of the temple; and he brake alle. And he toke gold and syluer, and alle desireable vessels, and he toke the priuy tresours, whiche he fonde; and alle taken up, he wente in to his lond. And he made slawȝter of men, and spake in grete pride. And grete weiling is maad in Yrael, and in eche place of hem; and princis sorewiden inwardly, and elder men, and meydenys, and ȝung men, ben maad seeke, and fairnesse of wymen is chaungid. Eche husbond toke weilyng, and thei that saten in the husbondis bed, mourneden. And the lond is moued to gidre on men dwellynge therynne, and al the hous of Jacob clothide confusioun. And after two ȝeeris of days, the kyng sente a prince of tributis in to the citees of Juda, and he cam to Jerusalem with grete cumpaignye. And he spake to hem pesible wordis in gyle, and thei bileeuyden to hym. And sodenly he felle yn on the citee, and smote it with grete wounde, and lost miche peple of Yrael. And he toke prayes of the citee, and brente it with fijr, and distruyede housis therof, and wallis therof in cumpas. And thei ledden wymmen caityf, and children, and weldiden beestis. And thei beeldiden the cytee of Dauid with grete wall and sad, and sad toures; and it is maad to hem in to strengthe. And thei puttiden there a folk of synners, wickid men, and thei weren stronge in it; and thei puttiden armers, and metis, and gadirden prays of Jerusalem; and puttiden vp there, and ben maad into a grete gnare. And this thing is maad to aspyingus in yuel of halewyng, and in to yuel gyle in Yrael euermore. And thei shedden out innocent blood, bi cumpas of the halewyng, and defouliden the halewyng. And dwellers of Jerusalem fledden for hem, and is maad habitacioun of straungers, and is maad strange, or alien, to his seed, and the sonnys therof forsoken it. The halewyng therof is desolat as wildrenesse; the feestdays therof ben turned in to mournyng, the sabothis therof in to shenship, the honouris therof into nouȝt. Vp the glorie therof the yuel fame therof is multiplied, and heiȝnesse therof is tourned into mournyng. And kyng Antiochus wrot to al his reume, that al the peple weren oon. And thei forsoken eche man his lawe; and alle folkis consentiden vp the word of kyng Antiochus, and manye of Yrael consentiden to hym, and sacrifieden to ydolis, and defouliden saboth. And kyng Antiochus sente bokis bi the hond of messangers in to Jerusalem, and in to alle citees of Judee, that thei shulden sue the lawis of folkis of erthe, and thei shulden forbede burnt sacrifices, and sacrifices, and plesyngis for to be don in the temple of God, and shulden forbede the saboth for to be halewid, and solempne days, and holy thingus for to be defoulid, and the holy peple of Yrael. And he comaundide auters for to be beeldid, and templis, and ydolis; and swyne fleshe for to be sacrifisid, and commoun, or unclene, beestus; and for to leue her sonys vncircumcidid, and the soulis of hem for to be defoulid in alle vnclennessis and abominaciouns, so that thei shulden forȝete the lawe, and shulden chaunge alle the iustifiyngis of God. And who euer diden not the word of Antiochus, shulden dye. After alle these wordis he wrote to al his rewme, and bifore sette princis to the peple, whiche shulden constreyne these thingis for to be don. And thei comaundiden to citees of Juda for to sacrifice. And many of the peple ben gadrid to hem, whiche forsoken lawe of the Lord, and diden yuels on erthe; and dryuen out the peple of Yrael of priue places, and in hid places of fugityues, or fleeynge men. In the fyftenthe day of the moneth Casleu, in the hundrid and fyue and fourtithe ȝeere, kyng Antiochus beeldide the abominable ydol of desolacioun, or discomfort, on the auter of God; and bi alle the citees of Jude thei beeldiden auters. And bifore ȝatis of housis and in streetis thei brenten encensis, and sacrifieden; and brenten by fijr bokis of the lawe of God, keruynge hem. And anentis whom euer bokis of the testament of the Lord weren founden, and who euer kepte the lawe of the Lord, vp maundement of the kyng thei slewen hym. In her vertu, or power, thei diden these thingus to the peple of Yrael, that was founden in eche moneth in citees. And in the fyue and twentithe day of the moneth, thei sacrifisiden on the auter, that was aȝeinus the auter. And wymmen, that circumcididen her sonys, weren strangled, vp comaundement of kyng Antiochus; and thei hangiden children of the haterels, or hyndre part of the nek, by alle housis of hem, and strangliden that circumcididen hem. And many of the peple of Yrael determyden, or fully demyden, anentis hem, that thei shulden not ete vnclene thingis, and chesiden more for to dye, than for to be defoulid with vnclene metis. And thei wolden not breke the holy lawe of God, and thei weren slayn; and grete wrath is maad on the peple ful myche.
In tho days Mathatias roose, the sone of Joon, sone of Symeon, he a prest of the sones of Joazin, of Jerusalem, and sate in the hil Modyn. And he hadde fyue sones; Joon, that was named Gaddis; and Symount, that was namyd Thasi; and Judas, that was clepid Machabeus; and Eleazarus, that was namyd Abaron; and Jonathas, that was named Apphus. These sawen the yuelis that weren don in the peple of Juda and Jerusalem. And Mathatias saide, Woo to me! wherto am I born, for to se contricioun, or distruying, of my peple, and contricioun of the holy citee, and for to sitte there, whan it is ȝouen in hondis of enmyes? Holy thingus ben maad in the hond of strangers; the temple therof as a man vnnoble; vessels of glorie therof ben ladde awey caytif. Olde men therof ben slayn in streetis therof, and ȝunge men therof fellen doun in swerd of enmyes. What folk enheritide not the kyngdam therof, and weeldede not prayes therof? Al makyng to gidre, or ournyng, therof is born awey; she that was free, is maad hond mayden. And loo! oure holy, and oure fairnesse, and oure cleerte, is desolate, and heithen men defouliden it. What therfore ȝit to vs for to lyue? And Mathatias kitte, and his sonys, her clothis, and hilliden hem with hayris, and weiliden gretely. And thei that weren sente of kyng Antiochus, camen thidre, for to constreyne hem that fledden to gydre in to the citee Modyn, for to offre and brenne encensis, and for to departe fro the lawe of God. And many of the peple of Yrael consentynge camen to hem; bot Mathatias and his sonys stoden stidfastly. And thei answeryng, that weren sente of Antiochus, saiden to Mathatias, Thou art prince, and most cleer, and grete in this citee, and ourned with sonys and bretheren. Therfore go to former, and do the maundement of the kyng, as alle folkis han don, and men of Juda, and thei that laften in Jerusalem. And thou shalt be, and thy sonnys, among freendis of the kyng, and made large in siluer and gold, and in many ȝiftis. And Mathatias answeride, and saide with grete voice, And if alle folkis obeien to the kyng Antiochus, that thei go awey eche man fro seruice of the lawe of his fadris, and consente to his maundementis, Y, and my sonnys, and my bretheren shuln obeie to the lawe of oure fadris. God be helpful to us; it is not prophitable to us for to forsake the lawe and riȝtwisnessis of God. We schulen not heeren the wordis of kyng Antiochus, nether shuln sacrifice, brekynge the maundementis of oure lawe, that we go another way. And as he ceeside for to speke these wordis, sum Jew wente to in eeȝen of alle men, for to sacrifice to ydolis on the auter, in the cytee Modyn, vp comaundement of the kyng. And Mathatias sauȝ, and sorewide, and his reyns trembliden togidre, and his wodnesse is kyndled after dom of the lawe; and he lippynge ynne, slewȝ hym on the auter. Bot and he slewȝ in that tyme the man whom kyng Antiochus sente, whiche compellide for to be offrid, and distruyide the auter. And he louede feruently the lawe, as Fynees dide to Zambri, sone of Salomy. And Mathatias criede in grete voice in the cytee, sayinge, Eche man that hath feruent loue of the lawe, ordeynynge testament, go out after me. And he fleiȝ, and his sonnys, in to mounteyns, and leften what euer thingus thei hadden in the citee. Thanne manye wente doun, seekynge domes and riȝtwisnesse, in to desert, that thei saten there, thei, and sonys of hem, and wymmen of hem, and beestis of hem, for yuels weren hard on hem. And it is tolde aȝein to men of the kyng, and to the oost, that weren in Jerusalem, in the cytee of Dauid, for sum men wente awey, that distruyeden maundement of the kyng, in to priuy placis of desert; and many hadden gon after hem. And anoon thei wenten to hem, and ordeyniden aȝeins hem bateile, in the day of sabothis; and saiden to hem, Aȝeinstonde ȝe and now ȝit? go ȝe out, and do ȝe vp the word of kyng Antiochus, and ȝe shuln lyue. And thei saiden, We shuln not go out, nethir we shuln do the word of the kyng, that we defoule the day of sabothis. And thei steriden bateile aȝeinus hem. And thei answerden not to hem, nether sente stoon to hem, nether stoppiden preuy places, sayinge, Dye we alle in oure symplenesse, and heuen and erthe shuln be witnessis on vs, that vniustly ȝe leesen us. And thei baren yn to hem bateil in sabothis, and thei ben deade, and the wyues of hem, and sonnys of hem, and beestis of hem, vnto a thousand soules of men. And Mathatias knewe, and his freendis; and thei hadden mournyng on hem gretely. And a man saide to his neiȝbore, Ȝif we alle shuln do as oure bretheren diden, and shuln not fiȝte aȝeinus heithen men, for oure soulis, and oure iustifiyngis, sunner thei shuln distruye vs of erthe. And thei thouȝten in that day, sayinge, Eche man who euer shal cum to vs in bateile, in day of sabothis, fiȝte we aȝeinus hym, and dye we not alle, as oure bretheren ben dead in priuy places. Than the synagoge of Jewis, stronge in miȝtis of Yrael, is gadrid to hem, euery wilful man in lawe; and alle that fledden fro yuels, ben addid, or put, to hem. And thei ben maad to hem to stedfastnesse, and gedryden an oost, and smyten synners in her wrath, and wickid men in her indignacioun; and the tother fledden to naciouns, for to ascape. And Mathatias enuyrounede, and his freendis, and distruyeden auters, and circumcididen children vncircumcidid, hou manye euer thei founden in coostis of Yrael, in strengthe. And thei pursueden sonys of pride, and the werk hadde prosperite in her hondis. And thei weeldiden the lawe of hondis of heithen men, and of hondis of kyngus, and ȝauen not horn, or strengthe, to the synner. And the days of Mathatias of dying neiȝeden, and he saide to his sonys, Now pride is counfortid, and chastisyng, and tyme of distruccioun, and the wrath of indignacioun. Now therfore, sonys, be ȝe suers, or louers, of the lawe, and ȝeue ȝe ȝoure lyues for the testament of fadris. And bithenke ȝe of the werkis of fadris, that thei diden in her generaciouns, and ȝe shuln resceyue grete glorie, and euerlastynge name. Wher Abraham in temptation was not founden feithful, and it is rettid to hym to riȝtwisnesse? Joseph in tyme of his anguyshe kepte the comaundement, and was maad lord of Egypt. Fynees, oure fadir, feruently louynge the feruent loue of God, toke testament of euerlastynge presthode. Jhesus, or Josue, whijle he fulfilled the word, is maad duyk in Yrael. Caleph, whijl he witnessith in the chirche, toke heritage. Dauid in his mercy gate the seete of kyngdam, in to worldis. Helye, whijl he feruently loueth the feruent loue of the lawe, is resceyued in to heuen. Ananias, Azarias, Mysael, by leeuynge ben delyuered of flawme. Danyel in his symplenesse is delyuerd of mouth of lyouns. And thus bithenke ȝe bi generacioun and generacioun, for alle that hopen in to hym ben not maad vnstedfast. And of wordis of the synner ȝe shuln not drede, for the glorie of hym is torde and worme; to day he is enhaunsid, and to morrew he shal not be founden, for he is turned in to his erthe, and his thouȝte shal perishe. Therfore, sonys, be ȝe confortid, and do ȝe manly in the lawe; for whan ȝe shuln do whiche thingus ben bedun to ȝou in the lawe of the Lord ȝour God, in it ȝe shuln be glorious. And loo! Symount, ȝour brothere; I wote, for he is a man of counseile, heere ȝe hym euermore, and he shal be fadir to ȝou. And Judas Machabeus, stronge in miȝtis fro his ȝouth, be he to ȝou a prince of kniȝthode, and he shal do bateil of the peple. And ȝe shuln brynge to ȝou alle doars of the lawe, and venge ȝe the veniaunce of ȝoure peple. Ȝelde ȝe ȝeeldynge to heithen men, and take ȝe tent in to the heest of lawe. And he blesside hem, and is putt to his faders. And he is dead in the hundrid and sixe and fourtie ȝeere, and is biryed of his sonnys in to the sepulcre of his fadris in Modyn; and alle Yrael weiliden hym with greet weylyng.
And Judas roose, that was cleepid Machabeus, his sone, for him. And alle his bretheren helpiden hym, and alle that ioyneden hem to his fadir, and thei fouȝten the bateil of Yrael with gladnesse. And he alargide glorie to his peple, and clothide hym a hawberioun as a ieaunt, and girde hym his armeres of bateile in bateilis, and defendide castellis with his swerde. He is maad lijc to a lyoun in his werkis, and as whelp of lyoun rorynge in his huntyng. And he pursuede wickid men, seekynge hem; and he brente hem in flawmes, that to gydre distourbliden his peple. And his enmyes ben putt aȝein for dreed of hym, and alle wirchers of wickidnesse ben trublid to gidre; and helthe is dressid in his hond. And he wraththide many kyngus, and gladide Yrael in his werkis, and in to world his mynde in blessyng. And he wente thoru the citees of Juda, and lost vnpitous men of hem, and turnyde awey wrath fro Yrael. And he is named vn to the vttermost of erthe, and he gadride the perishynge. And Appolonius gadride folkis, and fro Samarie miche vertue, and grete, for to fiȝt aȝeinus Yrael. And Judas knewe, and wente out aȝeinus hym, and smote, and slewȝ hym. And many woundid fellen doun, and the other fledden; and he toke prayes of hem. And Judas toke awey the swerd of Appolonie, and was fiȝtyng therynne in alle days. And Seron, prince of the oost of Syrie, herde, that Judas gadride a gaderyng, and the chirche of feithful men with hym. And he saith, Y shal make to me a name, and Y shal be glorified in rewme, and Y shal ouercumme Judas, and hem that ben with hym, whiche dispisiden the kyngus word. And he made hym redy; and the castels of vnpitous men, strong helpers, stieden vp with hym, for to do veniaunce in to the sonys of Yrael. And thei neiȝiden vn to Betheron; and Judas wente out aȝeinus hem, with fewe men. Forsothe as thei sawen the oost cummynge to hem in meetyng, thei saiden to Judas, How mown we fewe fiȝte aȝeinus so grete multitude, so stronge; and we ben maad wery by fastyng this day? And Judas saith, It is liȝt, or eisy, many for to be closid to gydre in hond of fewe; and difference is not in the siȝt of God of heuen, for to delyuere in many or in fewe; for not in multitude of oost the victorie of bateil, bot of heuen is strengthe. Thei cummen to us in rebelle multitude, and prid, for to distruye vs, and oure wyues, and oure sonys, and for to robbe us. Forsothe we shuln fiȝte for oure soulis, and oure lawis, and he the Lord shal breke hem to gydre byfore oure face; forsothe dreede ȝe not hem. Sothely as he ceeside for to speke, he hurlide in in to hem soodeynly; and Seron is broken to gidre, and his oost, in siȝt of hym. And he pursuede hym in the goyng doun of Betheron, til in to the feeld; and eiȝte hundrid men of hem fellen doun, the other forsothe fledden in to the lond of Philistyim. And dreed of Judas, and of his bretheren, and inward ferdnesse, felle on alle heithen men in cumpas of hem; and the name of hym came to the kyng, and of the batels of Judas alle folkis telden. Sothely as kyng Antiochus herde these wordis, he was wrothe in inwitt; and he sente, and gadride the oost of al his rewme, ful stronge castels. And he opnyde his tresorie, and ȝaue soudis to the oost, in to oo ȝeer, and comaundide hem, that thei weren redy to alle thingus. And he sawȝ, that monee failide of his tresours, and tributis of the cuntre litil, for discencioun and veniaunce that he dide in to the lond, for to do awey the lawful thingis that weren of the first days. And he dredde, that he shulde not haue and oonys and twies in to costis and ȝiftis, whiche he hadde ȝouen byfore with large hond; and he aboundide ouer kyngus that weren bifore hym. And he was astonyed in ynwitt gretly, and thouȝte for to go in to Persis, and to take tributis of cuntrees, and for to gadre myche syluer. And he laft Lysias, a noble man of the kyngis kynne, on the kyngus needis, fro the flood Eufrates vn to the flood of Egipt; and that he shulde nuriche Antiochus, his sone, til he cam aȝein. And he toke to hym the mydil oost, and olifauntis, and comaundide to hym of alle thingus that he wolde, and of men enhabitynge Jude and Jerusalem; and that he shulde sende to hem an oost, for to breke to gidre, and to distruye vtterly the vertue of Yrael, and relikis of Jerusalem, and for to do awey the mynde of hem of place; and for to ordeyne aliens sonys dwellers in alle the coostis of hem, and bi lot for to departe the lond of hem. And the kyng toke to a part of the residue oost, and wente out of Antioche, the citee of his rewme, in the hundrid and seuen and fourtye ȝeer; and passide ouer the flood Eufrates, and wente thoru the heeȝer cuntrees. And Lisias chese Ptholome, sone of Dorim, and Nychanore, and Gorgie, miȝty men of the kyngus freendus. And he sente with hem fourti thousand of men, and seuen thousand of horsmen, or knyȝtis; and that thei shulden cum in to the lond of Juda, and distruy it, vp word of the kyng. And thei wenten forth, for to go with al her vertue; and thei camen, and applieden, or fellen to, at Ammaum, in the feeldy lond. And marchauntis of cuntrees herden the name of hem, and token syluer and gold ful myche, and children, and camen in to castels, for to take the sonys of Yrael in to seruauntis; and the oostis of Sirie ben added to hem, and londis of aliens. And Judas seeȝ, and his bretheren, for yuels ben multiplied, and the oost appliede, or londide, at the coostis of hem; and thei knewen wordus of the kyng, whiche he comaundide the peple for to do, in to perishyng and eendyng. And thei saiden, eche man to his neiȝbore, Reise we the casting doun of oure peple, and fiȝte we for oure peple, and oure holy thingus. And cummyng to gidre of oost is gadrid, for to be redy in to bateile, and for to preye, and axe mercy, and mercy doyngus. And Jerusalem was not enhabitid, bot was as desert; ther was not that entride and wente oute, of the children therof; and the holy thing was defoulid, and sonys of aliens weren in the heeȝ rocke, or toure, there was the dwellyng of heithen men; and volupte, or lust, of Jacob is don awey, and pipe and harpe failide there. And thei weren gadrid, and came in to Masphath aȝeinus Jerusalem; for place of preyer was in Masphath, bifore than in Jerusalem. And thei fastiden in that day, and clothiden hem with heiris, and puttiden ashe in her hed, and renten her clothis. And thei spradden abrood bokis of the lawe, of whiche heithen men souȝten liknesse of her symulacris; and thei brouȝten to ournementis of prestis, and premyssis, and tithis; and thei reisiden Nazareis, that hadden fulfilliden days. And thei crieden with grete voice in to heuen, sayinge, What shuln we do to these, and whidir shuln we leede hem? And thin holy thingus ben to-troden, and defoulid, and thi prestis ben maad in to mournyng, and in to meekenesse, or dispite. And lo! naciouns camen togidre aȝeinus vs, for to distruye vs; thou woost what thingus thei thenken in to vs. Hou shuln we mown with stonde byfore the face of hem, no bot thou, God, help us? And thei crieden in trumpis, with grete voice. And after these thingus Judas ordeynyde duykis of the peple, tribunys, that oon ledde a thousand, and centoriouns, or ledinge an hundrid, and pentacontarkes, leders of fyfty, and decuriouns, leders of ten. And he saide to these that bildiden housis, and weddiden wyues, and plantiden vyne ȝerdis, and to dreedful men, that thei turnyden aȝein, eche man in to his hous, vp the lawe. And thei moueden castels, or oostis of armed men, and thei settiden to gidre at the south of Ammaum. And Judas saith, Be ȝe gird, and be ȝe miȝti sonys, and be ȝe redy in the morewyng, and that ȝe fiȝte aȝeinus these naciouns, that camen to gidre for to distruye vs, and oure holy thingus. For better is vs for to dye in bateile, than for to see yuel of oure folk and holy thingus. Forsothe as wille shal be in heuen, so be it don.
And Gorgias toke to fyue thousand of men, and a thousand chosen horsmen; and thei moueden tentis by nyȝt, for to applie to the tentis of Jewis, and for to smyte hem sodeynly; and the sonys that weren on the heeȝ rocke, weren leeders to hem. And Judas herde, and he roose, and miȝty men, for to smyte the vertue of oostis of the kyng, that was in Ammaum; ȝit sothely the oost was scaterid fro tentis. And Gorgias came in to the tentis of Judas bi niȝt, and fonde no man; and thei souȝten hem in hillis, for he saide, These fleen fro vs. And whan day was maad, Judas apperide in the feelde with three thousandis of men oonly, whiche hadden not hilingis and swerdis. And thei sawen the tentis of heithen men stronge, and men hauberiounyd, and ridingis in cumpas of hem, and these tauȝt to bateile. And Judas saith to men, that sueden, Dreede ȝe not the multitude of hem, and dreede ȝe not inwardli the feersnesse of hem. And bythenke ȝe, hou oure fadris ben maad saaf in the Rede Se, whan Pharao suede hem with miche oost. And nowe crie we in to heuen, and the Lord shal haue mercy of vs, and shal be myndeful of the testament of oure fadris, and shal breke to gidre this oost bifore oure face to day. And alle folkis shuln wite, for God is, that shal aȝein bye, and delyuere Yrael. And aliens reisiden her eeȝen, and sawen hem cummynge of the contrarie part, or euen aȝein, and wenten out of tentis in to bateile. And thei that weren with Judas, songen in trumpe. And thei wenten to gidre, and heithen men ben broken to gidre, and fledden in to the feelde; forsothe the last fellen doun in swerd. And thei pursueden hem vn to Gaseron, and til in to the feeldis of Ydume, and Aȝotus, and Jamny; and ther fellen doun of hem vn to three thousandus of men. And Judas turnyde aȝein, and his oost suynge hym. And he saide to the peple, Coueyte ȝe not prayes, for bateil is aȝeinus vs, and Gorgias and his oost in the hil niȝ vs; bot stonde ȝe nowe aȝeinus ȝoure enmyes, and ouercumme ȝe hem, and after these thingus ȝe sikir shuln take prayes. And ȝit Judas spekynge these thingus, loo! sum part apperide, biholdynge forth of the hill. And Gorgias sawȝ, that his ben to gidre turnyd in to fliȝt, and tentis ben brent; forsothe the smoke that was seen, declaride that that was don. Whiche thingus biholden, thei dredden greteli, biholdinge to gidre and Judas and the oost in the feeld, redi to bateile. And thei fledden alle in the feeld of aliens, and Judas turnyde aȝein to preyes of the tentis; and thei token myche gold, and syluer, and iacintt, and purpre of the se, and grete ritchessis. And thei conuertid sungen an ympne, or herying, and blessiden God in to heuen; for he is good, for in to the world the mercy of hym. And grete helthe is maad in Yrael in that day. Forsothe who euer of aliens fledden, camen, and teelden to Lisias alle thingus that bifellen. Whiche herd, he, astonyed in ynwitt, failide; for not what maner thingus he wolde, siche bifellen in Yrael, and what manere thingus the kyng comaundide. And the ȝeer suynge, Lisias gadride of chosen men sixti thousandis, and of horsmen fyue thousand, for to ouercumme hem. And thei camen in to Judee, and setten tentis in Betheron; and Judas ran to hem with ten thousand of men. And thei sawen a stronge oost, and he preyede, and seide, Blessid art thou, saueour of Yrael, that hast broken to gidre the firsnesse of the miȝti in the hond of thi seruaunt Dauid, and bitokist the castels, or tentis, of aliens in to the hondis of Jonathas, sone of Saul, and of his squyer. Close thou to gydre and this oost in the hond of thi peple Yrael, and be thei confoundid in her oost, and horsmen. Ȝeue thou to hem inward dreed, and make the hardinesse of her vertue to faile, and be thei moued to gidre in her brekyng to gidre. Caste hem doun in the swerd of men louynge thee, and to gidre preyse thee alle that knewen thi name, in ympnys. And thei sente, or ioyneden, to gidere bateile, and fyue thousand of men fellen doun of the oost of Lisias. Lisias forsothe seeynge the fliȝt of hyse, and the hardynesse of Jewis, and that thei ben redy ether for to lyue, ether for to dye strongly, wente to Antioche, and cheese kniȝtis, that thei multiplied eftsone shulden cume in to Judee. Forsothe Judas saide, and his bretheren, Loo! oure enmyes ben broken togidre; stye we nowe, for to clense holy thingis, and renewle, or make newe. And al the oost is gadrid, and styeden in to the hill of Syon. And thei sawen the halewyng desert, and the auter vnhalewid, and the ȝatis brent, and in the porchis tendre trees sprungen, as in wijlde wode or mounteyns, and the litil cellis distruyed. And thei renten her clothingus, and weiliden with grete weilynge; and puttiden ashe on her hede, and fellen in to face on the erthe, and crieden in trumpis of signys, and crieden in to heuen. Thanne Judas ordeynyde, for to fiȝte aȝeinus hem that weren in the heeȝ rocke, til thei clensiden holi thingus. And he chese prestis with outen wemme, hauynge wille in the lawe of God; and thei clensiden holy thingus, and token awey stoons of defoulyng in to an vnclene place. And he thouȝte of the auter of brent sacrifices, that was vnhalewid, what he shulde do therof. And a good counseile felle yn to hym, for to distruye it, lest it were to hem in to shenship, for heithen men defouliden it. And thei destruyeden it, and puttiden aȝein, or kepten, stoons in the hill of the hous, in couenable place, til that a prophete came, and answerde of hem. And thei token hool stoons, after the lawe, and beeldiden a newe auter, vp that that was byfore. And thei beeldiden holy thingus, and tho thingus that weren withynne the hous withynnforth; and thei halewiden the hous and the porchis. And thei maden newe holy vessels, and brouȝten yn a candilstike, and the auter of encensis, and a bord in to the temple. And thei puttiden encense on the auter, and tenden lanternys, that weren on the candilstike, and ȝauen liȝt in the temple. And thei puttiden looues on the borde, and hangiden veyles, and eendiden al the werkis that thei maden. And bifore morewtid thei risen, in the fifthe and twenti day of the nynth monethe, this is the moneth Casleu, of the hundrid and eiȝte and fourtithe ȝeer. And thei offeriden sacrifice after the lawe, on the newe auter of brent sacrifices, whiche thei maden after tyme. And after the day in whiche heithen men defouliden it, in that it was renulid, in songis, and harpis, and cynaris, that ben instrumentis of musike, and cymbalis. And alle the peple felle in to the face, and wirshipiden, and blessiden in to heuen hym that dide prosperite in hem. And thei maden halewing of the auter in eiȝte days, and offreden brent sacrifices with gladnesse, and helpful thingis of heryingis. And thei ourneden the face of the temple with golden crownys, and smale sheeldis; and halewiden the ȝatis, and porchis, or smale cellis, and puttiden to hem ȝatis. And ful grete gladnesse is maad in the peple, and the shenship of heithen men is turned awey. And Judas ordeynide, and his bretheren, and al the chirche of Yrael, that the day of halewyng of the auter be don in his tymes, fro ȝeer in to ȝeer, bi eiȝte days, fro the fifthe and twenty day of the moneth of Casleu, with gladnesse and ioye. And thei beeldiden in that tyme the hill of Syon, and bi cumpas heeȝ wallis, and sadde toures, lest eny tyme heithen men camen, and defouliden it, as thei diden byfore. And he sette there a cumpanye, for to keepe it; and he wardide it, for to kepe Bethsura, that the peple shulde haue wardyng, or strengtheing, aȝein the face of Ydume.
And it is don, as heithen men herden in cumpas, for the auter is beeldid, and the sayntuarie as bifore, thei weren wroth greteli. And thei thouȝten for to do awey the kynrede of Jacob, that was among hem; and thei bygunne for to slea of the peple, and pursue. And Judas ouercam the sonys of Esau in Ydume, and hem that weren in Arabathane, for thei saten aboute men of Yrael; and he smote hem with a grete wound. And he thouȝte of the malice of sonis of Bean, that weren to the peple in to gnare, and in to sclaundre, aspyinge it in the waye. And thei ben closid to gidre fro hym in toures; and he appliede to hem, and curside hem, and brente with fijr the toures of hem, with alle men that weren in hem. And he passide to the sonys of Amon, and fonde stronge hond, and plenteuouse peple, and Tymothe, the duyk of hem. And he smote many batels with hem, and thei ben broken to gidre in siȝt of hem. And he smote hem, and he toke the cite Jazar, and the sonys therof; and he turnyde aȝein in to Judee. And hethen men that ben in Galaad, ben gadrid aȝeinus Israelitis, that weren in the costis of hem, for to do hem awey; and thei fledden into Dathinan strengthinge. And thei senten lettris to Judas, and his bretheren, sayinge, Heithen men ben gadrid aȝeinus vs bi cumpas, that thei do vs awei; and thei maken redi for to cumme, and occupie the strengthing, in to whom we fledden; and Tymothe is duyk of the oost of hem. Now therfore cum thou, and delyuere vs fro her hondis, for the multitude of vs felle doun; and alle oure bretheren that weren in the placis of Tubyn, euery wher ben slayne; and thei ledden caityf the wyues of hem, and children, and token spuylis, and killiden there almest a thousand men. And ȝit pistles weren rad, and nowe other messangers camen of Galilee, with cootis torent, tellynge after these wordus, sayinge, for to haue cummen to gidre aȝeins hem fro Ptholomaida, and Tyre, and Sydon, and al Galilee is fulfillid with aliens, for to distruye vs. Sotheli as Judas herde, and the peple, these wordis, a grete chirche came to gidre, for to thenke what thei shulden do to her bretheren, that weren in tribulacioun, and weren ouercummen of hem. And Judas saide to Symount, his brother, Chese to thee men, and go, and deliuere thi bretheren in Galilee; I forsothe and my brother Jonathas shuln go in to Galatithym. And he lafte Josephus, sone of Zacharie, and Azarie, duykis of the peple, with the residue oost in Jude to keepynge. And he comaundide hem, sayinge, Bifore be ȝe to this peple, and nyl ȝe smyte bateil aȝeinus heithen men, til we turnen aȝein. And three thousand men ben ȝouen to Symont, for to go in to Galilee; to Judas sothely eȝte thousand, in to Galadithym. And Symont wente in to Galilee, and ioynyde many bateils with heithen men. And hethen men ben broken to gydre fro his face, and he pursuede hem vn to the ȝate of Ptholomaida. And there fellen doun of hethen men almest three thousand of men; and he toke the spuilys of hem. And he toke to hem that weren in Galilee, and in Arbathis, with wyues, and children, and alle thingus that weren to hem; and he ledde to in to Jude with grete gladnesse. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathas, and his bretheren passiden Jordan, and wenten forth the waye of three days in to desert. And Nabutheis camen aȝeinus hem, and resceyueden hem pesibely, and teelden alle thingus that bifellen to her bretheren in Galadithym; and for many of hem ben cauȝt in Barasa, and Bozor, and Malymys, and Casphor, and Mathet, and Carnaym; alle these stronge citees and greete. Bot and in other citees of Galadithis thei ben holden cauȝt. And on the morewe thei ordeyneden for to moue the oost to tho citees, and for to cacche, and take hem awey in oo day. And Judas turnyde, and his oost, the waye in to desert of Bozor soodeynly. And he occupiede the citee, and slewȝ eche male in mouth of swerd, and toke alle the spuylis therof, and brente it with fijr. And thei rijsen thennus in niȝt, and wenten vn to the strengthinge. And it is maad in spryng of the day, whanne thei reysiden her eeȝen, and loo! myche peple, of whom was no noumbre, beryng laddris and engynes, for to take the strengthyng, and ouer cumme hem. And Judas seeȝ, for bateil byganne, and crye of bateile styede in to heuen, as a trumpe, and grete cry of a citee. And he saide to his oost, Fiȝte ȝe to day for ȝour bretheren. And he cam in three ordris after hem, and thei crieden with trumpis, and crieden in preyer. And the tentis of Tymothe knewen, for it is Machabeus, and fledden fro his face. And thei han smyten hem with grete wounde; and there fellen doun of hem in that day almest eiȝt thousand of men. And Judas turnyde awey in to Masphath; and he ouercame and toke it, and slewȝ eche male therof, and toke spuylis of it, and brente it in fijr. Fro thennus he wente, and toke Casbon, and Mageth, and Bozor, and other citees of Galadithe. Sotheli after these wordis Thymothe gadride an other oost, and puttide tentis aȝeinus Raphon, ouer the strem of rayn. And Judas sente for to biholde the oost, and thei tolden aȝein to hym, sayinge, For alle heithen men that ben in oure cumpas camen to gidre to hym, and a ful myche oost. And thei hijriden Arabians in to help to hym, and thei han sette tentis ouer the streme of reyn, redy for to cume to thee in to bateile. And Judas wente aȝeinus hem. And Tymothee saide to princis of his oost, Whanne Judas shal neiȝ, and his oost, to the streme of reyn water, ȝif he shal passe former to vs, we shuln not mowen susteynen hym, for he miȝti shal mowe aȝeinus vs. Sothely ȝif he shal dreede for to passe, and shal sette tentis bisidis, or with ynne, the flood, passe we ouer to hem, and we shuln mown aȝeinus hym. Forsothe as Judas neiȝide to the streme of watir, he ordeynide scribis of the peple by sidis the streme, and comaundide to hem, sayinge, Leue ȝe noon of men, bot cumme ȝe alle in to bateile. And he the former passide ouer to hem, and alle the peple after hym. And alle these heithen men ben broken to gidre fro the face of hem, and thei castiden awey her armours; and thei fledden to the temple, that was at Carnaym. And he occupiede thilk citee, and brente the temple with fijr, with alle that weren in it; and Carnaym is oppresid, and miȝte not susteyn aȝeinus the face of Judas. And Judas gadride alle Ysraelitis that weren in Galadithes, fro the leste vn to the most, and the wijues of hem, and children, and a ful grete oost, that thei shulden cume in to the lond of Judee. And thei camen til to Ephron, and this grete citee putt ful stronge in the entree; and ther was not for to bowe awei fro it, in the riȝt half or left, bot by the mydil the waye was. And thei that weren in the citee closiden hem yn, and stoppiden the ȝatis with stoonys. And Judas sente to hem with pesible wordis, sayinge, Passe we by ȝoure lond, for to go into oure lond, and no man schal anoye ȝou, oonly on feet we schulen go. And thei wolde not opne to hem. And Judas comaundide for to preche in tentis, or oost, that eche man shulde applie, in what place he was. And men of vertu applieden hem, and he fauȝte aȝeinus that citee al day and al niȝt, and the citee is bitaken in his hond. And thei slewen eche male in mouth of swerd, and drewȝ it vp by the rootis, and toke the spuylis therof, and passide by al the citee on the slayn men. And thei passiden ouer Jordan, in the grete feeld aȝeinus the face of Bethsan. And Judas was gadrynge the last, and monestide the peple bi alle the waye, til thei camen in to the lond of Juda. And thei styeden in to the hill of Syon with gladnesse and ioye, and offriden brent sacrifices, that no man of hem felle doun, or was dead, til thei turnyden aȝein in pese. And in the days in whiche Judas was, and Jonathas, in the lond of Galaad, and Symont, his brother, in Galilee, aȝeinus the face of Ptholomaida, Josephus, sone of Zacharie, herde, and Azarias, prince of vertu, the thingis wel done, and bateilis that ben maad. And he saide, Make and we oure self a name to vs, and go we for to fiȝte aȝeinus heithen men, that ben in oure cumpas. And he comaundide to these that weren in his oost, and thei wenten forth nowe the waye. And Gorgias wente out of the citee, and his men, aȝeinus hem, in to fiȝt. And Josephus and Azarias ben dryuen til into the eendis of Judee; and ther felle doun in that day of the peple of Yrael, men two thousandis. And a grete wound is maad in the peple; for thei herden not Judas and his bretheren, gessynge hem to doynge strongly. Forsothe thei weren not of the seed of tho men, by whiche helthe is maad in Yrael. And men of Juda ben magnyfied greteli in siȝt of al Yrael, and of alle heithen men, wher the name of hem was herd. And thei cammen to gidre, cryinge to hem prosperite, or blessid thingus. And Judas wente oute, and his bretheren, and ouer camen the sonnys of Esau, in the lond that is at the south; and he smote Chebron, and the douȝters therof, and wallis therof, and the touris therof brente in fijr in cumpas. And he mouede tentis, for to go in to lond of aliens; and he wente thoru Samarie. In that day prestis fellen doun in bateile, whijl thei wolen do strongly, whijl with outen counseil thei wenten out in to bateil. And Judas bowide aweye in to Azotus, in the lond of aliens, and distruyide the auters of hem, and spuylis of her goddis brente in fijr, and toke prayes of citees; and turnyde aȝein in to the lond of Juda.
And kyng Antiochus walkide thoru the heeȝer cuntrees, and he herde a citee for to be, Elymaides, in Persis, the noblist and plenteuous in syluer and gold; and a temple in it ful riche, and there golden veylis, and hauberiouns, and sheeldis, whiche Alisaundre of Philip, kyng of Macedo, left, that regnyde first in Grece. And he came, and souȝte for to take the citee, and robbe it; and he miȝte not, for the word was knowen to hem that weren in the citee. And thei risen vp in to bateil, and he fleiȝ thennus, and wente awey with grete heuynesse, and turnyde aȝein to Babiloyne. And ther came, that teelde to hym in Persis, for the oostis that weren in the lond of Juda ben dryuen, and for Lisias wente with stronge vertu in the first, or best men, and he is dryuen fro the face of Jewis, and thei wexiden stronge in armers, and strengthis, and many prayes, whiche thei token of tentis, or oostis, whiche thei slewen; and for thei distruyeden the abominacioun, whiche he beeldide on the auter that was in Jerusalem, and thei enuyrounyden with heeȝ wallis the halewyng, as byfore, bot and Bethsura, his citee. And it is don, as the kyng herde these wordis, he dredde, and was mouyd to gidre gretely, and felle doun in to a bed, and felle in to a langour for heuynesse, for it is not don as he thouȝte. And he was there many dais, for grete heuynesse is renulid in hym, and he deemyde hym self for to dye. And he clepide alle his freendis, and saide to hem, Sleep passide awey fro myn eeȝen, and Y departide, and felle doun in herte for bysynesse; and saide in my herte, In to hou grete tribulacioun came Y, and in to what wawis of heuynesse in whiche Y am nowe, that was myri, and biloued in my power? Now forsothe Y bithenke of the yuelis that Y dide to Jerusalem, fro whennus and Y toke alle golden spuylis, and sylueren, that weren theryne; and Y sente with outen cause, men dwellynge in Judee for to be don awey. Therfore Y knewe for these yuelis han founden me; therfore and loo! I perishe bi grete heuynesse in an alien lond. And he clepide Philip, oon of his freendis, and bifore puttide hym on al his rewme; and he ȝaue to hym the dyademe, and his stoole, and ringe, for to leede to Antiochus, his sone, and to nuryshe hym, and for to regne. And kyng Antiochus dyede there, in the hundrid and nyne and fourty ȝeer. And Lisias knewe, for the kyng is dead, and he ordeynyde Antiochus, the sone of hym, for to regne, whom he nurishide ȝunge; and he clepide his name Eupator. And thei that weren in the heeȝ rocke, closiden to gydre Yrael in cumpas of holy thingis, and souȝten to hem yuels euer more, to strengthing of hethen men. And Judas thouȝte for to distruye hem, and he clepide togidre alle the peple, for to biseege hem. And thei camen to gidre, and biseegiden hem, in the hundrid and fiftythe ȝeer; and thei maden balistis, an instrument for to cast shaftis and stoonys, and engynes. And summe of hem that weren biseegid, wenten out; and sum of the vnpitous men of Yrael ioyneden hem to hem, and wenten to the kyng, and saiden, Hou long dost thou not dom, and vengest oure bretheren? And wee deemyden for to serue thi fadir, and for to walke in his heestis, and obeishe to his comaundementis. And the sonys of oure peple for this thing alieneden hem fro vs; and whiche euer were founden of vs, weren slayn, and oure eritagis weren rauyshid awei. And not oonly to vs thei strecchiden out the hond, bot and in to alle oure coostis. And loo! thei applieden to day to the heeȝ rocke in Jerusalem, for to occupie it, and thei strengthide a strengthing in Bethsura. And ȝif thou shalt not byfore cume hem more swyftly, thei shuln do gretter thingus than these, and thou shalt not mowe weelde hem. And the kyng was wrothe, as he herde this thing, and cleepide to gidre alle his freendis, and princis of his oost, and hem that weren on horsmen; bot and of other rewmys, and ylis, and of the see coostis camen to hym an hijrid oost. And the noumbre of his oost was an hundred thousand of fote men, and twenti thousand of horsmen, and two and thritty olyfauntis tauȝte to bateile. And thei camen by Ydume, and thei applieden to Bethsura, and fouȝten many days; and thei maden engynys, and thei wenten out, and brenten hem in fijre, and fouȝten manly. And Judas wente fro the heeȝ rocke, and mouede tentis to Bethsacharam, aȝeinus tentis of the kyng. And the kyng roose bifore the liȝt, and stiride the oost in to feersnesse, aȝeinus the waye of Bethsacharam; and the oostis maden hem to gidre redy in to bateile, and sungen in trumpis. And to olifantis thei shewiden blood of grape, and morus, or mulberie trees, for to whette hem in to bateil. And thei departiden the beestis bi legiouns; and to eche olifaunt a thousand men stoden niȝ in mailid to gidre hauberiownes, and brasen helmys in her hedis, and fyue hundred chosen horsmen weren ordeynyd to eche beest. These bifore the tyme, wher euer the beest was, weren there; and whider euer it wente, thei wenten, and departiden not therfro. Bot and sad toures of tree on hem, defendynge by alle the beestis, and on hem engynes, and on eche bi hem self men of vertu two and thritti, whiche fouȝten fro aboue, and with ynne the maister of the beest. And he ordeynide the residue rijdynge on this half and that half, in to two parties, for to moue to gidre the oost with trumpis, and for to constreyne the armyd men in his legiouns. And as the sunne shynyde aȝein in to golden sheeldis, and brasen, the hillis shynyden aȝein of hem, as laumpis of fyre. And a part of the kyngus oost is departid bi heeȝ hillis, and other by lowe places; and thei wenten warly, and ordynatly. And alle men dwellynge in the lond weren moued to gidre of the voice of multitude of hem, and in goinge of the compaignye, and hurtlyng of armeris; forsothe the oost was ful grete and stronge. And Judas and his oost neiȝiden yn to bateil; and there fellen doun of the kyngus oost sixe hundrid men. And Eleasar, sone of Saura, seeȝ oon of the beestus hauberiownyd with hawberiouns of the kyng, and it was heeȝ stondynge ouere other beestis. And it is seen to hym, that the kyng was in it; and he ȝaue hym self for to delyuere hys peple, and for to gete to hym a name euerlastynge. And he ran therto hardili, in to mydil of the legioun, sleaynge on riȝthalf and left; and thei fellen doun fro hym hidir and thidir. And he wente vndir the feet of the olyfaunt, and vndirputtide hym self therto, and slewȝ hym; and it felle doun in to the erthe on hym, and he is dead there. And thei seeynge the vertue of the kyng, and fersnesse of his oost, turnyden awey hem self fro hem. Forsothe tentis of the kyng styede vp aȝeinus hem, in to Jerusalem; and tentis of the kyng applieden to Judee, and to the hill of Syon; and he made pees with these that weren in Bethsura. And thei wenten out of the citee, for foodis weren not to hem closid to gidre there, for sabothis of the erthe weren. And the kyng toke Bethsura, and ordeinyde there keepyng, for to keepe it. And he turnyde the tentis to the place of halewyng many days; and ordeynyde there balistis, and engynes, and dartis, or castyngis, of fijr, and tourmentis for to cast stoons and dartis, and scorpiouns for to sende arowis, and slyngis. Forsothe and thei maden engynes aȝeinus the engynes of hem, and thei fouȝten many days. Forsothe metis weren not in the citee, for that it was the seuenthe ȝeer; and thei that leften of heithen men in Judee, hadden wastid the relikis of hem that weren kept. And fewe men leften in holy thingus, for hungre hadde taken hem; and thei ben scaterid, eche man in to his place. And Lisias herde, that Philipp, whom kyng Antiochus ordeynyde, whan ȝit he leuyde, that he shulde nuriche Antiochus, his son, that he regnide, turnyde aȝein fro Perse and Mede, and the oost that wenten with hym; and for he seekith for to take the causis of the rewme, he hastide for to go, and saye to the kyng, and to duykis of the oost, We failen eche day, and litil mete is to vs, and the place whom we biseegen, is stronge, and it fallith to vs for to ordeyne of the rewme. And so nowe ȝeue we riȝthondis to these men, and make we pees with hem, and with alle the folk of hem; and ordeyne we to hem, that thei go in lawful thingis as byfore; sothely for the lawful thingus of hem thei ben wrothe, and han don alle these thingus. And the word pleside in siȝt of the kyng, and princis; and he sente to hem for to make pees, and thei resceyuyden it. And the kyng swore to hem, and princis; and thei wenten out of the strengthing. And the kyng entride the mount Syon, and he seeȝ the strengthyng of the place; and he brake fulsone the ooth that he swore, and comaundide for to distruye that wall in cumpas. And he departide awey hastili, and turnyde aȝein to Antioche, and fonde Philip lordshipynge to the citee; and he fauȝte aȝeinus hym, and occupiede the citee bi strengthe.
In the hundrid ȝeer and oon and fifty Demetrie, sone of Seleuci, wente out fro Rome citee, and stiede with fewe men in to a citee niȝ the see, and regnyde there. And it is don, as he entride in to hous of the rewme of his fadris, the oost cauȝte Antiochus, and Lisias, for to brenge hem to hym. And the thyng was knowen to hym, and he saith, Nyl ȝe shewe to me the face of hem. And the oost slewȝ hem. And Demetrie sate vpon the sete of his rewme; and wickid men and vnpitous of Yrael camen to hym, and Alchymus, duyke of hem, that wolde be maad prest. And thei accusiden the peple anentus the kyng, sayinge, Judas and his bretheren han loste thi freendus, and scateride vs fro oure lond. Now therfore sende thou a man, to whom thou byleeuyst, that he go, and see all the distruying that he hath don to vs, and to cuntrees of the kyng; and he punyshith alle his frendis, and the helpers of hem. And the kyng chese of his freendis Bachides, that was lord ouer the grete flood in the rewme, and trewe to the kyng, and he sente hym, for to see the distruying that Judas dide; and he ordeynyde vnpytous Alchymus in to presthode, and badde hym do veniaunce in to the sonys of Yrael. And thei rysen, and camen with greete oost in to the lond of Juda; and thei senten messangers, and spaken to Judas and his bretheren, with pesible wordis in gyle. And thei ȝauen not tente to her wordis; sothely thei sawen, for thei camen with greet oost. And the congregacioun of scribes camen to gydre to Alchymus and Bachides, for to axe what thingus be iust; and the first Assideys, that weren in the sonys of Yrael, and thei axiden of hem pees. Sothely thei saiden, A man, prest of the seed of Aaron, cummeth, he shal not disceyue vs. And he spac with hem pesible wordis, and swore to hem, sayinge, We shuln not ȝeue to ȝou yuels, nether to ȝoure frendus. And thei bileeuyden to hym. And he cauȝte of hem sixti men, and slewȝ hem in oo day, after the word that is wryten, Thei shedden out fleshis of thi sayntis, and blood of hem in cumpas of Jerusalem, and there was not that biryede. And dreed and tremblyng lay, or felle, in to al the peple, for thei saiden, Ther is not trewthe and dom to hym; sothely thei han broken the statute, and the ooth that thei sworen. And Bachides mouede tentis fro Jerusalem, and appliede in to Bethsecha; and sente, and cauȝte many of hem that fledden fro hym; and he killide sum of the peple, and castide in to a grete pitt. And he bitoke the regioun to Alchimus, and left with hym help, in to helpyng of hym. And Bachides wente to the kyng, and Alchymus dide ynewȝ, for the princehod of his presthod. And alle camen to gidre to hym, whiche distourbliden her peple, and weldiden the lond of Juda; and thei diden grete veniaunce in Yrael. And Judas seeȝ alle the yuels, that Alchymus dide, and thei that weren with hym, to the sonnys of Yrael, myche more than heithen men. And he wente out in to alle coostis of Judee in cumpas, and dide veniaunce in to men forsakers, and thei cesiden for to go out ferther in to the cuntree. Forsothe Alchymus seeȝ, for Judas hadde victorie, and thei that weren with hym; and he knewȝ for he may not susteyne hem, and he wente aȝein to the kyng, and accuside hem in many synnys. And the kyng sent Nychanor, oon of his nobler princis, that was hauntynge enmytees aȝeinus Yrael; and he comaundide him for to distruye the peple. And Nychanor came in to Jerusalem, with grete oost, and he sente to Judas and his bretheren with gyle, by pesible wordis, sayinge, Fiȝt be not bitwixe me and ȝou; I shal cume with fewe men, for to see ȝoure faces with pees. And he cam to Judas, and thei gretten hem to gidre pesibli; and enmyes weren redy for to rauyshe Judas. And the word was knowen to Judas, for with gyle he came to hym; and he is broken togidre of hym, and he wolde namore see his face. And Nychanor knewe, that his conceile is knowen, and he wente out aȝeinus Judas in to fiȝt, bisidis Capharsalma. And there fellen doun of Nychanoris oost almest fyue thousand men, and thei fledden in to the citee of Dauyd. And after these wordis Nychanore stiede in to the hille of Syon, and there wenten out of prestis of the peple, for to greete hym in pees, and for to shewe to hym brent sacrifices, that thei offriden for the kyng. And he scornynge dispiside hem, and defoulide, and spake proudly, and swore with wrath, sayinge, Ȝif Judas shal not be taken, and his oost, in myn hoondis, anoon whanne Y shal turne aȝein in pees, Y shal brenne this hous. And he wente out with grete wrath. And the prestis entriden, and stoden bifore face of the autir and of the temple, and weepynge saiden, Thou, Lord, hast chosen this hous, for to inclepe thi name in it, that it were an hous of preyer and bisechyng to thi peple; do venieaunce in this man, and his oost, and falle thei in swerd; haue mynde of the blasfemyes of hem, and ȝeue not hem that thei abide. And Nychanor wente out fro Jerusalem, and appliede tentis to Betheron; and the oost of Syrie cam to hym. And Judas appliede in Adarsa, with three thousand men. And Judas preyide, and saide, Lord, an aungel wente out, and smote an hundrid fourescore and fyue thousandis of hem, that weren sent fro kyng Senacherib, for thei blasfemyden thee; so breke thou togidre this oost in oure siȝt to day, and wite other men, for yuel he spak on thin holy thingus, and deme thou hym vp the malice of hym. And the oostis ioynyden bateil, in the thrittenthe day of the moneth Adar; and the tentis of Nychanor ben broken to gidre, and he felle doun the first in bateil. Sothely as his oost seeȝ, for Nychanor felle doun, thei castiden awey her armers, and fledden. And thei pursueden hem the way of oo day, fro Adasor vnto me come in to Gazera; and thei sungen in trumpis after hem with signyfiyngus. And thei wenten out of alle the castellis of Judee in cumpas, and wynnewiden hem with hornys, and eftsoone weren conuertid to hem; and thei fellen alle in swerd, and ther is not left of hem nether oon. And thei token the spuylis of hem in to pray; and thei kittiden of the hed of Nychanor, and his riȝthond whiche he strechide proudly, and thei brouȝten to, and hangiden aȝeinis Jerusalem. And the peple gladide gretely, and diden that day in grete gladnesse; and ordeynyde this day for to be don in alle ȝeeris, in the thrittynth day of the moneth Adar. And the lond of Juda was stille a fewe dayes.
And Judas herde the name of Romeynys, for thei ben miȝty in strengthis, and acorden to alle thingis that ben axid of hem; and who euer wente to hem, thei ordeynyden with hem frendshipus; and for thei ben miȝty in strengthis. And thei herden bateyls of hem, and good vertues, that thei don in Galacie, for thei weldiden hem, and ledden vndir tribute; and hou many thingus thei diden in the cuntree of Spayne, and that in to power thei dryuen metalis of syluer and gold that ben there; and weldiden eche place with her conseile, and pacient places that weren ful fer fro hem; and kyngus that camen aboue to hem fro the vttemest places of erthe, thei braken to gydre, and smyten hem with grete plage; forsothe other ȝyuen to hem tribute alle ȝeeris. And thei braken to gidre in bateil Philip, and Persen, kyng of Cetheis, and other that baren armers aȝeinus hem, and thei weldiden hem; and Antiochus, the grete kyng of Asye, that ȝaue bateil to hem, hauynge an hundred and twenti olifauntis, and rydyng, and charys, and ful greet oost, broken togidre of hem; and for thei token hym quyk, and ordeynyden to hym, that he shulde ȝeue grete tribute, and thei that regnyden after hym; and shulden ȝeue pleggis and ordenaunce, and the cuntree of Yndis, and men of Mede, and of Lidde, of the best cuntrees of hem, and thei ȝauen hem taken of hem to kyng Eumenij; and for thei that weren anentis Elada, wolden go, and take hem; and the word was knowen to these, and thei senten to hem oo duyk, and thei fouȝten aȝeinus hem; and many of hem fellen, and thei ledden her wijues caitifs, and sonys, and robbiden hem; and weldiden the lond of hem, and distruyeden the wallis of hem, and dryuen hem in to seruage, til in to this day. And thei distruyeden other rewmys and ylis, that sumtyme aȝein stoden hem, and dryuen hem in to power. Forsothe with her freendis, and that hadden rest in hem, thei kepten frenship, and thei weldiden rewmys that weren next, and that weren fer; for who euer herden the name of hem, dredden hem. For thei regnyden, to whom thei wolden be in help for to regne; and whom thei wolden, fro rewme thei distourbliden; and thei ben gretely enhaunsid. And in alle these no man bare diademe, nether was clothid in purpre, for to be magnyfied therynne. And for thei maden to hem a courte, and eche day thei counseiliden three hundrid and twenti, doynge counseile euermore of multitude, that thei do what thingus ben worthi. And thei bitakun to oo man her maistrie, or cheef gouernaunce, bi eche ȝeeris, for to be lord to al her lond; and alle obeishen to oon, and enuye is not, nether wrath among hem. And Judas chese Eupolemus, sone of Joon, sone of Jacob, and Jason, sone of Eleazarus, and he sente hem to Rome, for to ordeyne with hem frendship and felawship; and that thei shulde take awey fro hem the ȝoc of Greekis, for thei sawen that thei oppresiden the rewme of Yrael in to seruage. And thei wenten to Rome, a ful grete way, and thei entriden the courte, and saiden, Judas Machabeus, and his bretheren, and the peple of Jewis senten vs to ȝou, for to ordeyne with ȝou felawship and pees, and for togidre write vs ȝoure felawis and freendis. And the word pleside in siȝt of hem. And this aȝein wrytyng is, whiche thei aȝein wryten in brasen tablis, and senten in to Jerusalem, that it were there a memorial, or a thing of mynde, of pees and felawship. Be it wel to Romayns, and to folk of Jewis, in see and lond, in to with outen eende; and swerd and enmye be fer fro hem. That ȝif bateil shal aȝein stonde Romayns former, or to alle felowis of hem in al the lordship of hem, the folc of Jewis shal bere help, as tyme shal axe, with ful herte; and thei shuln not ȝeue, nether priuyli mynystre to the fiȝtyng, whete, armers, monee, shippus, as it pleside to Romayns; and thei shuln keepe the maundementis of hem, no thing takynge of hem. Also forsothe and ȝif bateil shal falle bifore to the folk of Jewis, Romayns shuln helpe of ynwitt, or good herte, as tyme shal suffre hem; and to hem helpynge whete shal not be ȝouen, armers, money, shippus, as it pleside to Romayns; and thei shuln keep the maundementis of hem with outen gyle. After these wordis Romaynes ordeynyden to the peple of Jewis, That ȝif after these wordis, these or thei shuln woln for to putte eny thing to, or do awey, thei shuln do of her purposyng; and what euere thingus thei shuln putte to, or do awey, thei shuln be stedfast. Bot and of yuels whiche kyng Demetrie hath don in to hem, we han writen to hym, sayinge, Whi hast thou greeuyd thi ȝock vpon oure freendis and felawis, the Jewis? Therfore ȝif eft soone thei shuln cumme to vs aȝeinus thee, we shuln do dom to hem, and we shuln fiȝte with thee by lond and see.
In the mene tyme, wher Demetrie herde that Nychanor felle, and his oost, in bateil, he puttide to eftsoone for to sende Bachides and Alchymus in to Judee, and the riȝt horn with hem. And thei wenten the weye that ledith in to Galgala, and thei settiden tentis in Masoloth, that is in Arbellis; and thei occupieden it, and slewen manye lyues of men. In the first moneth of an hundrid and two and fifti ȝeer, thei applieden the oost to Jerusalem. And twenti thousand of men, and two thousand of horsmen, han risen, and wente in to Berea. And Judas sette tentys in Laysa, and three thousand chosen men with hym. And thei sawen the multitude of oost, for thei ben many, and thei dredden gretely; and manye withdrewen hem fro tentis, and there leften not of hem no bot eiȝte hundrid men. And Judas sawȝ for his oost flette awey, and bateil constreynyde hym, he is broken to gydre in herte, for he hadde not tyme of gadryng hem, and he is dissoluyd, or discounfortid. And he saide to these that weren residue, Ryse we, and go we to oure aduersaries, ȝif we shuln mowe fiȝt aȝeinus hem. And thei turnyden hem awey, sayinge, We shuln not mown, bot delyuere we nowe oure lyues, and turne we aȝein to oure bretheren, and thanne we shuln fiȝte aȝeins hem; forsothe we ben fewe. And Judas seith, Fer be it for to do this thing, that we flee fro hem; and ȝif oure tyme hath neiȝid, dye we in vertu of oure bretheren, and ȝeue we not cryme to oure glorie. And the oost moued of tentis, and thei stoden aȝeinus hem. And horsmen ben departid in two parties, and slyngers and archers wenten bifore the oost, and the first of the bateil al the miȝty. Forsothe Bachides was in the riȝt horn, or cornere. And the legioun of two partis came niȝ, and crieden with trumpis. Forsothe and these that weren of the part of Judas, crieden also thei, and the erthe is moued to gidre of the voice of oostis, and bateil is ioyned fro morewe vn to euen. And Judas seeȝ, that the part of Bachides oost is sadder in the riȝt half, and alle stedfast in herte camen to gidre with hym. And the riȝt part is broken togydre of hem; and he pursuede hem vn to the hill of Azotus. And thei that weren in the left horn, sawen, that the riȝt horn is broken to gidre, and thei sueden after Judas, and hem that weren with hym at the bac. And the bateil is maad greuouse, and there fellen manye woundid of these and of hem. And Judas felle, and the other fledden. And Jonathas and Symont token her brother Judas, and birieden hym in the sepulcre of his fadris, in the citee Modyn. And al Yrael wepten hym with grete weylyng, and thei mourneden manye days, and saiden, Hou felle the miȝty, that maad Yrael saaf? And other wordis of bateilis of Judas, and of vertues that he dide, and his gretenessis, ben not writen; forsothe thei weren ful manye. And it is don, after the deth of Judas, alle wickid men in alle coostis of Yrael rysen out, and alle that wrouȝten wickidnesse ben born out sprungen. In tho days ful grete hungre is maad, and all the cuntre of hem bitoke hem self to Bachides with hem. And Bachides chese vnpytous men, and ordeynyde hem lordis of the cuntree. And thei axiden out, and souȝten the freendis of Judas, and brouȝten hem to Bachides; and he vengide in to hem, and scornyde. And grete tribulacioun is maad in Yrael, what manere was not fro the day in whiche a prophete is not seen in Yrael. And alle the frendis of Judas ben gadrid, and saiden to Jonathas, Sithen thi brother Judas is dead, ther is no man lijc to hym, that shal go out aȝeinus enmyes, Bachides and hem that ben enmyes of oure folc. And so now we chese thee to day for to be prince to vs and duyk for hym, for to fiȝte oure bateil. And Jonathas resceyuyde in that tyme the princehod, and rose in the place of Judas, his brother. And Bachides knewe, and souȝte for to slea hym. And Jonathas knewe, and Symont, his brother, and alle that weren with hym, and thei fledden in to desert Techue, and saten to gidre at the water of the lake Aphar. And Bachides knewe, and in day of sabothis he came, and alle his oost, ouer Jordan. And he sente his brother duyk of the peple, and preyede Nabutheis, his frendis, that he shulde bitake to hem his appareil, that was plenteuous. And the sonys of Sambri wenten out of Madaba, and cauȝten Joon, and alle thingus that he hadde, and wenten awey, hauynge hem. After these wordis it is tolde aȝein to Jonathas, and Symont, his brother, for the sonys of Sambry maken grete weddingus, and wedden a wijf of Madaba, the douȝtre of oon of the grete princis of Canaan, with grete pride. And thei bithouȝten of the blood of Joon, his brother, and stieden vp, and hidden hem self vndir keueryng of the hill. And thei reisiden her eeȝen, and sawen, and loo! noys, and grete appareyl; and a spouse, or husbond, cam forth, and his frendis, and his bretheren aȝeinus hem, with tympans, and musykis, and many armers. And thei risen to hem of aspies, and slewen hem, and many woundid fellen doun, and the residues fledden in to the hill, and thei token alle the spuylis of hem; and the weddingus ben conuertid in to mournyng, and the voice of her musikis in to weyling. And thei vengiden the veniaunce of her brothers blood, and thei turnyden aȝein to the ryuer of Jordan. And Bachides herde, and came in the day of sabothis vn to the vttermost part of Jordan, in grete vertu. And Jonathas saide to hise, Ryse we, and fiȝte aȝeinus oure enmyes; forsothe it is not to day as ȝisterday and the thrid day gon. Loo! sotheli bateil euen aȝeinus; sotheli water of Jordan on this half and on that half, and ryuers, and mareys, and wijld woodis, and there is not place of turnyng awey. Now therfore crie ȝe in to heuen, that ȝe be delyuered fro hond of ȝour enmyes. And bateil is ioyned. And Jonathas strauȝte out his hond, for to smyte Bachides, and he turnyde awey fro hym byhynde. And Jonathas lippide out, and thei that weren with hym, in to Jordan, and swame ouer Jordan to hem. And there fellen of Bachides part in that day a thousand men, and thei turnyden aȝein in to Jerusalem. And thei beeldiden stronge citees in Judee, the strengthe that was in Jerico, and in Ammaum, and in Betheron, and Bethel, and Thamathan, and Phara, and Copho, with heeȝ wallis, and ȝatis, and lockis. And he sette keepynge in hem, that thei shulden haunte ennemitees in Irael; and he strengthide the citee Bethsura, and Gazaram, and the heeȝ rocke; and he puttide in hem helpis, and appareil of metis. And he toke sonys of princis of the cuntree in ostage, or plegis, and he putte hem in the heeȝ rocke in Jerusalem, in keepyng. And in the hundreth ȝeere and three and fiftithe, in the secounde moneth, Alchymus comaundide the wallis of the holy ynner hous for to be distruyed, and the werkis of prophetus for to be distruyed, and he byganne for to distruye. In that tyme Alchymus is smyten, and the werkis of hym ben lettid. And his mouth is closid, and he is dissolued by palasie, nether he miȝte spek ouere a word, and comaunde of his hous. And Alchymus is dead in that tyme, with grete tourment. And Bachides seeȝ that Alchymus is dead, and he turnyde aȝein to the kyng, and the lond was stille two ȝeer. And alle wickid men thouȝten, saiynge, Loo! Jonathas, and thei that ben with hym, dwellen in silence, tristyng; now therfore brenge we Bachides, and he shal cacche hem al in oo niȝt. And thei wenten forth, and ȝauen counseil to hym. And he rose, for to cume with miche oost. And he sente epistilis priuely to his felawis, that weren in Judee, that thei shulden cacche Jonathas, and hem that weren with hym; bot thei miȝten not, for her counseil was knowen to hem. And he cauȝte of men of the cuntree, that weren princis of kniȝthode, fifty men, and slewȝ hem. And Jonathas and Symont wente, and thei that weren with hym, in to Bethbesse, that is in desert, and beeldiden the distruyed thingus therof, and maden it stronge. And Bachides knewe, and gadride al his multitude, and denounside to hem that weren of Judee. And he came, and sette tentis aboue Bethbesse, and fauȝte aȝeinus it manye days, and made engynes. And Jonathas lafte Symont, his brother, in the citee, and wente oute in to cuntree, and came with noumbre; and smote Odaren, and his bretheren, and the sonys of Phaseron, in the tabernaclis of hem, and he bigan for to smyte, and waxe in vertues. Simont sothely, and they that weren with hym, wenten oute of the citee, and brenten engynes. And thei fouȝten aȝeinus Bachides, and he is to gidre broken of hem; and thei tourmentiden hym gretely for his counseil, and his goyng to togidre was void. And he wrothe aȝeinus the wickid men, that ȝauen counseile to hym for to cumme in to her cuntree, slewȝ many of hem; forsothe he thouȝte with other for to go in to his cuntree. And Jonathas knewe, and he sente legatis to hym, for to make pees with hym, and ȝeelde to hym caitiftee. And wilfully he toke, and dide after his wordis, and swore hym to doyng to hym no thing of yuel alle days of his lyf. And he ȝeeldide to hym caitiftee, whiche he toke by praye bifore of the lond of Juda. And he turnyd aȝein wente into his lond, and puttide namore for to cume in to his coostis. And swerd ceeside of Yrael. And Jonathas dwellide in Machinas, and there Jonathas bigane for to deme the peple, and distruye vnpitous men of Yrael.
And in the hundrid and sixtithe ȝeer Alisaundre, sone of Antiochus, that is named noble, stiede vp, and occupiede Ptholomaida; and thei resceyuyden hym, and he regnyde there. And kyng Demetrie herde, and gadride an oost ful copiouse, and wente out aȝeinus hym in to bateil. And Demetrie sente an epistle to Jonathas with pesible wordis, for to magnyfye hym. Sothely he saide, Bifore take we for to make pees with hym, bifore that he make with Alisaundre aȝeinus vs; sothely he shal haue mynde of alle yuels, that we han don into him, and in to his brother, and in to his folc. And he ȝaue hym power of gadryng oost, and for to make armeris, and hym for to be his felawe. And he comaundide oostagis, that were in the heeȝ rocke, for to be ȝouen to hym. And Jonathas came in to Jerusalem, and radde the pistlis, in heerynge of al the peple, and of hem that weren in the heeȝ rocke. And thei dredden with grete dreed, for thei herden, that the kyng ȝaue to hym power of gadryng an oost. And the oostagis ben bitaken to Jonathas; and he ȝeeldide hem to her fadris and moders. And Jonathas dwellide in Jerusalem, and bygan for to beelde and to renule the citee. And he saide to men doynge werkis, that thei shulden make vp the wallis, and the hill of Syon in cumpas, with square stoones to strengthing; and so thei diden. And aliens fledden, that weren in the strengthus, whom Bachides hadde bildide; and eche man lafte his place, and wente in to his lond. Oonly in Bethsura dwelten summe of hem, that forsoken the lawe and the heestis of God; sotheli this was to hem to refute. And kyng Alisaundre herde the biheestis, that kyng Demetrie bihiȝte to Jonathas, and thei teelden to him bateilis and vertues whiche he dide, and his bretheren, and the traueils whiche thei traueiliden; and saith, Wher we shuln fynde eny siche man? Also nowe make we hym frend, and oure felawe. And he wrote an epistle, and sente vp these wordis, sayinge, Kyng Alisaundre to Jonathas, brother, helthe. We han herde of thee, that thou art a miȝti man in strengthis, and art able that thou be oure freend. And nowe ordeyne we thee to day heeȝist prest of thi folk, and that thou be clepid freend of the kyng. And he sente to hym purpre, and a golden crowne, that thou feele with vs what thingus oure ben, and kepe frenshipis to vs. And Jonathas clothide hym with the holy stoole, in the seuenthe monethe, in the hundrid and sixtithe ȝere, in the solempne day of Senophegie. And he gadride an oost, and made copiouse armers. And Demetrie herde these wordis, and is maad ful sorewful, and saith, What han we do this thing, that Alisaundre bifore ocupiede vs, for to cacche the frenshipe of Jewis to his strengthing? And Y shal wryte to hym preying wordis, and of dignitee, and ȝiftis, that he be with me in help. And he wrote to hym in these wordis, Kyng Demetrie to the folk of Jewis, helthe. For ȝe kepten to vs couenaunt, and dwelten in oure frenship, and wenten not to oure enmyes, we herden, and ioyeden. And nowe laste ȝe ȝit for to kepe to vs feith; and we shuln quyte to ȝou good thingus, for these thingus that ȝe diden with vs, and we shuln forȝeue to ȝou many ȝeuyngus of rentis, and we shuln ȝeue ȝiftis to ȝou. And nowe Y assoile ȝou, and alle Jewis, of tributis, and I forȝeue to ȝou the pricis of salt, and forȝeue crownys, and the thriddis of seed; and the half part of fruyt of tree, that is of my porcioun, I leue to ȝou fro this day, and with ynne forth, that it be not taken of the lond of Juda, and of three citees that ben addid therto, of Samarie and Galile, fro this day in to al tyme. And Jerusalem be holy, and free, with his coostis; and tithis and tributis be of it. Also Y forȝeue the power of the heeȝ rocke, that is in Jerusalem; and Y ȝeue it to the heeist prest, that he ordeyne therynne men, whom euere he shal cheese, that shuln kepe it. And eche soule of Jewis, that is caitif of the lond of Juda, in al my rewme, Y leue wilfully with out money; that alle be soiled of her tributis, ȝea, of her beestus. And alle solempne days, and sabothis, and neomenyes, and alle days ordeyned, and three days before the solempne day, and three dais after the solempne day, be alle dais of ynmunite, or fraunchise, and of remissioun, to alle Jewis that ben in my rewme. And no man shal haue power for to do eny thing, and moue needis, or causis, aȝeinus eny of hem in al cause. And that there be writen to of Jewis in the kyngus oost, to thritti thousandis of men; and plentees shuln be ȝouen to hem, as it byhoueth to alle oostis of the kyng. And of hem shuln be ordeynyde, that ben in the grete strengthis of the kyng; of hem shuln be ordeyned ouer needis of the rewme, that ben don of feith, and princis be of hem; and walke thei in her lawis, as the kyng comaundide in the lond of Juda. And three citees, that ben addid to Judee of the cuntre of Samarie, be rettid, or demyd, with Judee; that thei be vnder oon, and obeye not to other power, no bot to the heeȝest prest; Ptholomayda, and coostis therof, whiche Y haue ȝouen a ȝift to the holy that ben in Jerusalem, to needful costis of sayntis. And I shal ȝeue in eche ȝeris fiftene thousandis of siclis of syluer, of the kyngis reysons, that perteynen to me; and al that shal be residue, whiche thei that weren ouer needis ȝeelden not in former ȝeeris, fro this tyme thei shuln ȝeue in to werkis of the hous. And ouer this fyue thousand siclis of syluer, whiche thei token of resoun of holy thingus by eche ȝeeris; and these thingus shuln perteyne to prestis, that ben sett in ministerie. And who euer shuln flee to the temple that is in Jerusalem, and in alle coostus therof, gylty to the kyng, in eche cause be dismittid, or relesid; and alle thingis that ben to hem in my rewme, be hadde free. And to bilde, or restore, werkis of holy thingus, expensis shuln be ȝouen of the kyngus resoun, and for to bilde out the wallis of Jerusalem; and for to make stronge in cumpas, spensis shuln be ȝouen of the kyngus resoun, for to make out wallis in Judee. As Jonathas and the peple herde these wordis, thei bileeuyden not to hem, nether resceyuyden; for thei hadden mynde of the grete malice that he hadde don in Yrael, and trubliden hem gretely. And it pleside to gidre to hem in to Alysaundre, for he was to hem prince of wordis of pees, and to hym thei baren help in alle days. And kyng Alisaundre gadride a grete oost, and mouyde tentis aȝeinus Demetrie. And the kyngis ioynyde bateil, and the oost of Demetrie fledde; and Alisaundre pursuede hym, and lay vpon hym; and the bateil was ful stronge, til the sunne wente doun, and Demetrie fledde in that day. And Alisaundre sente to Ptholome, kyng of Egypt, legatis after these wordis, sayinge, For Y am gon aȝein in to my rewme, and satte in seete of my faders; and Y haue weldide princehode, and haue broken togidre Demetrie, and haue weldide oure cuntree; and haue ioynyde with hym fiȝt, and he is broken to gidre and his tentis of vs, and we saten in sete of his rewme. And nowe ordeyne we to gidre frenship, and ȝeue to me thi douȝter wijf, and Y shal be thi douȝter hosbond; and Y shal ȝeue to thee ȝiftis, and to hir dignitee. And kyng Ptolome answerde, saiynge, Blessid the day in whiche thou turnedist aȝein to the lond of thi fadris, and hast sitten in sete of the rewme of hem. And nowe Y shal do to thee whiche thingus thou hast writen; bot come thou aȝeinus me to Ptholomayda, that we see vs togidre, and Y biheete thee, as thou saidist. And Ptholome wente out of Egypt, he, and Cleopatra, his douȝter; and he came to Ptholomaida, in the hundrid and two and sixti ȝeer. And kyng Alisaundre came to hym; and he ȝaue to hym Cleopatra, his douȝter, and made his weddyngus at Ptolomaida, as kyngus in grete glorie. And kyng Alisaundre wrote to Jonathas, that he shulde come aȝeinus hym. And he wente with glorie to Ptholomaida, and came there to two kyngis, and ȝaue to hem miche syluer, and gold, and ȝiftis; and he fonde grace in siȝt of hem. And men of Yrael, ful of venym, camen togidre aȝeinus hym, wickid men, axinge aȝeinus hym, and the kyng toke no tente to hem; and comaundide Jonathas for to be maad nakid of his clothis, and hym for to be clothid in purpre; and so thei diden. And the kyng sette hym for to sitte with hym, and saide to his princis, Go ȝe out with hym in to mydil of the citee, and preche, that no man axe aȝeinus hym of eny need, or cause, nether eny man be heuy to hym of eny resoun. And it is don, that thei that axiden, or apeliden hym, sawen his glorie that was prechid, and hym keuerd with purpre, fledden alle. And the kyng magnyfiede hym, and wrote hym amonge the first freendis, and he putte him duyk, and parcener, or felawe, of princehode. And Jonathas turnyde aȝein in to Jerusalem, with pees and gladnesse. In the hundrid ȝeer and fyue and sixtithe, Demetrie, sone of Demetrie, came fro Crete in to the lond of his fadris. And kyng Alisaundre herde, and is maad ful sorewful, and turnide aȝein in to Antioche. And Demetrie ordeynide Appolonye duyk, that was souereyn to Seleserie; and gadride his grete oost, and came to Jamnyam; and he sente to Jonathas, heeȝist prest, sayinge, Thou aloone aȝeinstodist vs? Y am maad in to scoorn and shenship, therfore for thou hauntist power in hillis aȝeinus vs. Nowe therfore ȝif thou tristest in thi vertues, come doun to vs in to the feeld; and there comparysoun we to gidre, for with me is vertu of bateilis. Axe thou, and lerne who Y am, and other that ben in help to me, and whiche sayn, for ȝour fote may not stonde aȝeinus oure face, for thi faders ben conuertid in to fliȝt twyis in to her lond. And now hou shalt thou mowe susteyne rydyng, and so grete oost in the feeld, where is no stoon, ne rocke, nether place of fleeȝynge? Sothely as Jonathas herde the wordis of Appolonye, he was moued in ynwitt; and he chees ten thousand of men, and wente out fro Jerusalem, and Symont, his brother, came to hym in to helpe. And thei applieden tentis in Joppen, and he shitte hym out fro the citee, for Joppen was the keepyng of Appolonye; and he fauȝte aȝeinus it. And thei agast, that weren with ynne the citee, opnyden to hym; and Jonathas weeldide Joppen. And Appolonye herde, and mouede to three thousand of horsmen, and myche oost; and he wente to Azotum, as makynge the waye. And anoon he wente out in to the feelde, for that he had multitude of horsmen, and he tristnyde in hem; and Jonathas suede hym in to Azotum, and thei ioyniden bateil. And Appolonye lefte in the tentis a thousand horsmen after hem priuyly. And Jonatas knewe for aspies ben after hym, and thei enuyrounden his tentis, and castiden dartes in to the peple, fro morew vn to euyn. Forsothe the peple stode, as Jonathas comaundide, and the horsis of hem traueiliden out. And Symount castide out his oost, and ioynide aȝeinus the legioun; forsothe the horsmen weren maad wery, and ben togidre broken of hym, and fledden. And thei ben scaterd in to the feeld, and fledden in to Azotum; and thei entriden in to Bethdagon, her ydol, that ther thei shulden delyuere hem self. And Jonathas brent Azotum, and citees that weren in cumpas therof, and toke the spuylis of hem; and he brente in fijr the temple of Dagon, and hem that fledden in to it. And ther weren that fellen by swerd with hem that ben brent, almest eiȝt thousande of men. And fro thennus Jonathas mouede tentis, and applieden hem to Ascalon; and thei wenten out of the citee aȝeinus hym in grete glorie. And Jonathas turnyde aȝein in to Jerusalem with his, hauynge many spuylis. And it is don, as kyng Alisaundre herde these wordes, he putte to ȝit for to glorifie Jonathas. And he sente to hym a golden lase, or nouche, as custume is for to be ȝouen to cosyns of kyngus; and he ȝaue to hym Accaron, and alle coostis therof in to possessioun.
And the kyng of Egypt gadride an oost, as grauel that is about brynk of the se, and many shippus; and souȝte for to weelde the rewme of Alisaundre in gyle, and adde it to his rewme. And he wente out in to Syrie with pesible wordis, and thei opnyden to hym citees, and camen to hym; for kyng Alisaundre comaundide for to go out aȝeinus hym, for he was fader of the kyngus wijf. Sotheli whan Ptolome entride a citee, he putte keepyngus of kniȝtis in eche citees. And as he neiȝide to Azotus, thei shewiden to hym the temple of Dagon brente in fijre, and Azotus, and other thingus therof distruyed, and bodies cast forth, and the biryels of hem that weren slayn in bateil, whiche thei maden bisidis the wey. And thei teelden to the kyng, for Jonathas dide these thingus, for to make enuye to hym; and the kyng was stille. And Jonathas came to the kyng with glorie in Joppen, and thei gretten hem to gidre; and thei slepten there. And Jonathas wente with the kyng vn to the flood that is clepid Eleutherus, and turnyde aȝein in to Jerusalem. Sotheli kyng Ptholome weeldide the lordship of citees vn to Sileuce, by the see coost, and thouȝte to Alisaundre yuel counseils; and sente legatis to Demetrie, sayinge, Cumme thou, make we bitwix vs couenaunt, and Y shal ȝeue to thee my douȝter, whom Alisaundre hath, and thou shalt regne in rewme of thi fadir. Forsothe it rewith me, for Y ȝaue to hym my douȝter; sotheli he souȝte for to slea me. And he dispiside hym therfore, for he coueitide the rewme of hym. And he toke awey his douȝter, and ȝaue hir to Demetrie, and alienede hym fro Alisaundre; and his enmytees ben maad knowen. And Ptholome entride Antioche, and ynputtide two dyademes to his hed, of Egipt and Asie. Forsothe Alisaundre was in Cilice in tho tymes, for thei rebelliden, that weren in tho placis. And Alisaundre herde, and came to hym in to bateil; and Ptholome, kyng, brouȝt forth the oost, and came to hym in strong hond, and drofe hym. And Alisaundre fleiȝ in to Araby, for to be defendid there; sothely kyng Ptholome is enhaunsid. And Gadiel of Araby toke awey Alisaundre hed, and sente to Ptholome. And kyng Ptholome is dead in the thrid day; and thei that weren in strengthis perishiden, of hem that weren with ynne the castels. And Demetrie regnyde in the hundrid ȝeer and seuen and sixtithe. In tho days Jonathas gadride hem that weren in Judee, for to ouercume the heeȝ rocke, that is in Jerusalem; and thei maden aȝeinus it many engynes. And summe wickid men, that hatiden her folc, wente to kyng Demetrie, and tolden to hym, that Jonathas bisegide the heeȝ rocke. And as he herd, he is wrothe, and anoon he came to Ptholomaida, and wrote to Jonathas, that he bisegide not the heeȝ rocke, but he shulde cume to hym in hast, to speke to gidre. Sotheli as Jonathas herde, he comaundide for to biseege; and he cheese of the elder men of Yrael, and of prestis, and ȝaue hym to perel. And he toke gold, and syluer, and cloth, and many other presentis; and wente to the kyng, to Ptholomaida, and fonde grace in siȝt of hym. And sume wickid men of his folc axiden aȝeinus hym; and the kyng dide to hym, as thei that weren bifore hym, diden to hym; and he enhaunside hym in siȝt of alle his frendis, and ordeynide to hym princehod of presthod, and what euer preciouse thingus he hadde before; and made hym prince of frendis. And Jonathas axide of the kyng, that he make Judee free, and three princehodis of three placis, and Samarie, and niȝ coostis therof; and he bihiȝte to hym thre hundrid talentis. And the kyng consentide, and wrote to Jonathas epistlis of all these thingus, conteynyng this manere. Kyng Demetrie to Jonathas, brother, helthe, and to folk of Jewis. The ensaumple of the epistle whiche we han wryten to Lascheny, oure fadre, of ȝou, we senten to ȝou, that ȝe shulde wite. Kyng Demetrie to Lascheny, fader, helthe. To the peple of Jewis, oure frendis, and kepynge whiche thingus ben iust anentis vs, we demyden for to wele do, for the benignytee of hem that thei han anentus vs. Therfore we ordeynen to hem, alle the coostis of Judee, and three citees, Lidea, and Ramatha, that ben addid to Judee, and Samarie, and alle the niȝ coostis of hem, for to be sequestrid, or departid, to alle doynge sacrifice in Jerusalem, for these thingus that the kyng toke byfore of hem by alle ȝeeris, and for fruytis of erthe, and of applis. And other thingus that perteyneden to vs, of tithis, and tributis, fro this tyme we forȝeuen to hem; and the playn places of salt makyng, and the crownes that weren born to vs, alle thingus we graunten to the peplis; and no thing of these shal be voide, fro this and in to al tyme. Nowe therfore bisie ȝe for to make ensaumple of these thingus, and be it ȝouen to Jonathas, and be putt in the holy mount, and in the holy place. And kyng Demetrie seynge, that the lond was stille in his siȝt, and nothing aȝein stondeth hym, left alle his oost, eche man in to his place, out taken the strange oost, that he drewȝ fro ylis of heithen men; and enmyes to it, al the oost of his fadris. Forsothe sum Trifon was of the partis of Alisaundre bifore, and he seeȝ for al the oost grucchide aȝeinus Demetrie; and he wente to Emacuel Arabyam, that nurishide Antiochus, sone of Alisaundre. And he sate niȝ to hym, that he shulde bitake hym to hym, for to regne in stede of his fadir; and tolde out to hym, hou grete thingus Demetrie hadde don, and enmytees of his oostis aȝeinus hym; and he dwelte there many days. And Jonathas sente to kyng Demetrie, that he shulde caste hem out, that weren in the heeȝ rocke in Jerusalem, and whiche weren in helpis, or strengthis, for thei inpungneden Yrael. And Demetrie sente to Jonathas, sayinge, Not oonli this Y shal do to thee and to thi folc, bot Y shal make thee noble by glorie, and thi folk, whan it shal be couenable. Nowe therfore riȝtly thou shalt do, ȝif thou shalt sende men in to helpe of me, for al myn oost wente awey. And Jonathas sente to hym three thousand of strong men, to Antioche; and thei camen to the kyng, and the kyng delitide in the cummyng of hem. And there camen to gidre that weren of the citee an hundrid and twenti thousand of men, and wolden slea the kyng. And the kyng fledde in to the halle. And thei that weren of the citee ocupieden the wayes of the citee, and bigunne for to fiȝte. And the kyng clepide Jewis in to help, and alle camen togidre to hym; and alle ben scatered by the citee, and slewen in that day an hundrid thousand of men. And thei brenten the citee, and token many spuylis in that day, and delyuerden the kyng. And thei sawen, that weren of the citee, that Jewis hadden taken the citee as thei wolden; and ben maad vnstedefast in her soule, and crieden to the kyng with preyers, sayinge, Ȝeue thou to vs riȝt hondis, and ceese the Jewis for to fiȝte aȝeinus vs and the citee. And thei castiden awey her armers, and maden pees. And Jewis ben glorified in siȝt of the kyng, and in siȝt of alle men that weren in his rewme, and ben named in the rewme. And thei wenten aȝein in to Jerusalem, hauynge many spuylis. And kyng Demetrie sittith in sete of his rewme, and the lond was stille in his siȝt. And he leeȝide alle thingus, what euere he saide, and alyenyde hym fro Jonathas, and he ȝeeldide not to hym vp benyficis, that he hadde ȝouen to hym, and traueilide hym gretely. After these thingus Trifon turnyde aȝein, and Antiochus with hym, a ȝunge chijld; and regnide, and puttide on to hym a diademe. And alle oostis ben gadrid to hym, whiche kyng Demetrie scatride; and thei fouȝten aȝeinus hym, and he fleiȝ, and turnyde backis. And Trifon toke beestis and weeldide Antioche. And Antiochus the ȝunge wrote to Jonathas, sayinge, I ordeyne to thee presthod, and I ordeyne thee on foure citees, that thou be of the kyngis frendis. And he sente to hym golden vessels, in to mynysterie, and ȝaue to hym power of drinkyng in gold, and for to be in to purpre, and for to haue a golden nouche. And he ordeynyde Symont, his brothere, duyke fro termes of Tire vn to the eendis of Egypt. And Jonathas wente out, and walkide ouere the flood bi citees; and al the oost of Syrie is gadrid to hym in to help. And he came to Ascalon, and thei of the citee camen aȝeins hym wirshipfully. And fro thennus he wente to Gaza, and thei that weren at Gaza closiden hem to gidre, and he biseegide it. And he brente what thingis weren in cumpas of the citee, and spuylide it by praye. And men of Gaza preyeden Jonathas, and he ȝaue to hem riȝt hond, or pees. And he toke the sonys of hem pleggis, or in ostage, and he sente hem in to Jerusalem; and he walkide thorou the cuntree vn to Damask. And Jonathas herde, for princis of Demetrie trespassiden in Cades, that is in Galilee, with miche oost, willynge for to remoue hym fro need of the rewme; and he came aȝeinus hem. Forsothe he lefte Symont, his brother, bisidis the prouynce. And Symont appliede to Bethsura, and fauȝte aȝeinus it many days, and closide hem togidre. And thei axiden of hym for to take riȝthondis, and he ȝaue to hem. And he castide hem out fro thennus, and toke the citee, and puttide therinne help, or strengthe. And Jonathas and his tentis, or oost, applieden to the water of Genasar, and bifore the liȝt thei walkiden in the feeld of Asor. And loo! the tentis, or oostis, of alyens camen aȝeinus in the feeld, and benten, or setten, to hym aspies, or disceytis, in the hillis. Sotheli he came aȝeinus of the contrarie part. Sotheli the aspies, or bushementis, risen vp of her places, and ioyneden bateil. And alle that weren of Jonathas part fledden, and no man of hem is left, no bot Mathatias, sone of Absalomy, and Judas, sone of Calphi, prince of the kniȝthod and oost. And Jonathas kittide his clothis, and puttide erthe in his hed, and preyede. And Jonathas turnyde aȝein to hem in to bateil, and to gidre turnyde hem in to fliȝt, and fouȝten. And thei sawen that fledden of his part, and thei turneden aȝein to hym, and pursueden with hym in to Cades, to her tentis, and fully thei camen vn to thider. And there felle doun in that day of aliens three thousand of men, and Jonathas turnyde aȝein in to Jerusalem.
And Jonathas seeȝ for the tyme helpith hym; and he cheese men, and sente hem to Rome, for to ordeyne and renule frenschip with hem. And to Sparciatis, and to other places, he sente epistlis vp the same fourme. And thei wenten to Rome, and entriden in the courte, and saiden, Jonathas, heeȝest prest, and folc of Jewis, senten vs, for to renule frendship and felawship, after the former. And thei ȝauen to hem epistlis to hem by placis, that thei shulden leede hem forth in to the lond of Juda with pees. And this is the ensaumple of epistlis, whiche Jonathas wrote to Sparciatis. Jonathas, the heiȝist prest, and elder men of the folc, and prestis, and other peple of Jewis, to Sparciatis, bretheren, helthe. Nowe bifore the epistlis weren sente to Onye, the heeiȝest prest, fro Darius, that regnide anentis ȝou; for ȝe ben oure bretheren as the rescrite, or writing, conteneth, that is vndirput. And Onye resceyuyde the man with honour, that was sente, and toke the epistels, in whom was signified of felawship and frenship. Whan we hadden no need of these, hauynge in solace, or coumfort, holy bokis, that ben in oure hondis, hadden leuere for to sende to ȝou, for to renule bretherhed and frenship, lest perauenture we ben maad aliens fro ȝou; forsothe many tymes passiden, sithen ȝe senten to vs. We therfore in al tyme with out ceesyng, in solempne days, and other, in whiche it byhoueth, ben myndeful of ȝou in sacrifices that we offren, and in obseruances, as leeful is, and bisemeth, for to haue hadde mynde of bretheren. And so we ben glad of ȝoure glorie. Forsothe many tribulaciouns enuyrounden vs, and many bateils; and kyngis, that ben in oure cumpas, enpugneden, or fouȝten, aȝeinus vs. And therfore we woln not be greuous to ȝou, nether to other felawis, and oure frendis, in these bateilis. Sotheli we hadden help of heuen, and ben delyuerde, and oure enmyes ben maad lowe. And so we han chosen Numenium of Antiochi, and Antipatre, sone of Jasoun, and sente to Romayns, for to renule with hem and frenship and former felawship. And so we comaundiden to hem, that thei cum also to ȝou, and grete ȝou, and ȝeelde to ȝou oure pistlis of renulyng of oure bretherhed. And now ȝe shuln wel do, answeryng to vs of these thingis. And this is the rescrite, or aȝein wrytyng, of the epistlis, that Onye, kyng of Sparciatis, sente. Onye to Jonathas, the grete prest, helthe. It is founden in wrytyng of Sparciatis, and Jewis, for thei ben bretheren, and for thei ben of the kyn of Abraham. And nowe sithen we knewen these thingus, ȝe don wel, wrytynge to vs of oure pees. Bot and we aȝein writen to ȝou. Our beestis and oure possessions ben ȝour, and ȝour oure. And so we comaundiden, for to telle these thingis to ȝou. And Jonathas herde, for the princis of Demetrie wenten out with miche oost, ouer that byfore, for to fiȝte aȝeinus hym. And he wente out fro Jerusalem, and ranne aȝeinus hem in the cuntree of Amathitha; sotheli he ȝaue not space to hem, for to entre in to his cuntree. And he sente aspies in to the tentus of hem, and thei turnyd aȝein tolden, for thei ordeynyden for to cum ouer thidre in niȝt. Whanne the sunne had go doun, Jonathas baad his waake, and be redy in armeres to bateil al niȝt. And he sette keepers bi cumpas of the tentis; and the aduersaries herden, for Jonathas is redy with his in bateil, and thei dredden, and inwardly weren agast in her herte, and tenden fijrs in her tentis. Forsothe Jonathas, and thei that weren with hym, knewen not til morewe; forsothe thei sawen liȝtis brennynge. And Jonathas suede hem, and cauȝte hem not; forsothe thei passiden the flood Eleutherus. And Jonathas turnyde to Arabas, that weren clepid Sabadeis; and he smote hem, and toke spuylis of hem. And he ioynyde, and came to Damask, and walkide bi al that cuntree. Forsothe Symont wente out, and came til Ascalon, and to the next strengthis; and he bowide doun in to Joppen, and occupiede it. Forsothe he herde, that thei wolden ȝeue help to the parties of Demetrie; and he puttide there keepers, for to keepe it. And Jonathas turnyde aȝein, and clepide togidre the eldre men of the peple, and thouȝte with hem for to beelde strengthis in Judee, and for to beelde wallis in Jerusalem, and for to reyse a grete heiȝt, bitwix the mydil of the heeȝ rocke and the citee, for to departe it fro the citee, that it were aloon, and nether thei bye, ne selle. And thei camen to gidre, for to beelde the citee. And the wal felle togidre, that was on the streme of reyne, fro rysinge of the sunne; and he repareilide it, that is clepid Capheteca. And Symont beeldide Adiada in Sephela, and he strengthide it, and puttide on ȝatis and locks. And whanne Tryfon thouȝte for to regne at Asie, and take to a diademe, and strecche out hond in to kyng Antiochus, dredinge lest perauenture Jonathas shulde not suffre hym, bot fiȝte aȝeinus hym, he souȝte for to cacche hym, and slea. And he rysyng vp wente in to Bethsan. And Jonathas wente out aȝeinus, with fourty thousand of chosen men in to bateil, and came to Bethsan. And Trifon seeȝ, for Jonathas came with a myche oost, for to strecche out hondis in to hym. And he dredde, and resceyuede hym with honoure, and comendide him to alle his freendis; and ȝaue to hym ȝiftis, and comaundide to his oostis, for to obeye to hym as to hym self. And he saide to Jonathas, Wherto hast thou traueilide al the peple, whann bateil is not to vs? And nowe sende hem aȝein in to her housis. Sothely chese thou to thee a fewe men, that ben with thee, and cume with me to Ptholomaida, and Y shal ȝeue it to thee, and other strengthis, and oost, and alle prepostis, or souereyns, of neede; and Y conuertid shal go awey. Sothely therfore Y came. And he byleeuyde to hym, and dide as he said, and lefte the oost; and thei wenten awey in to the lond of Juda. Forsothe he withheelde with hym three thousand of men, of whom he sente aȝein in to Galilee two thousand; sotheli a thousand camen with hym. Forsothe as Jonathas entride Ptholomaida, men of Ptholomaida shitten the ȝatis, and cauȝten hym; and alle that entriden with hym thei slewen with swerd. And Trifon sente an oost and horsmen in to Galilee, and in to the greet feeld, for to leese alle the felawis of Jonathas. And thei, whan thei knewen for Jonathas is taken, and perishide, and alle that weren with hym, monestiden hem self, and wenten out redy in to bateile. And thei seeynge, that pursueden, for for soule, or lijf, the thing is to hem, turnyden aȝein. Forsothe thei camen alle with pees in to the lond of Juda. And thei weiliden Jonathas gretely, and alle that weren with hym, and Yrael mournyde with grete mournynge. And alle heithen men that weren in the cumpas of hem, souȝten for to breke hem to gidre; forsothe thei saiden, Thei han no prince and helpyng; now therfore ouer cumme we hem, and take awey of men the mynde of hem.
And as Symont herde, that Trifon gadride a grete oost, for to cum in to the lond of Juda, and for to distruye it, seeynge for the peple is in tremblyng and dreed, he stieȝ vp in to Jerusalem, and gadride the peple; and monestynge saide, Ȝe witen, hou many thingus Y, and my bretheren, and the hous of my fadir, han don, for lawis and for holy thingus, batels, and what maner anguyshis we sawen. For grace, or cause, of these thingus alle my bretheren perishiden for Yrael, and Y aloone am left. And now bifalle it not to me, for to spare my soule, or lijf, in al tyme of tribulacioun; forsothe Y am not better than my bretheren. And so Y shal venge my folc, and holy thingus, and oure children, and wyues; for alle heithen men ben gadrid, for to distruye vs, bi cause of enmytee. And the spirit of the peple is brent togidre, as it herde these wordis. And thei answerden with grete voice, sayinge, Thou art oure duyk in stede of Judas, and Jonathas, thi brother; fiȝte thou oure bateil, and alle thingus what euere thou shalt saye, we shuln do. And he gadryng alle men fiȝters hastide for to eende alle the wallis of Jerusalem, and he strengthide it in cumpas. And he sente Jonathas, the sone of Absolomy, and with hym a newe oost, in to Joppen. And these cast out that weren in it, he dwellide there. And Trifon mouede fro Ptholomaida with myche oost, for to cum in to the lond of Juda, and Jonathas with hym in keepyng. Forsothe Symont appliede in Addus, aȝeinus the face of the feeld. And as Trifon knewe, for Symont rose in stede of his brother Jonathas, and for he was to ioynyng bateil with hym, he sente to hym legatis, sayinge, For syluer, that thi brother Jonathas ouȝte in resun of the kyng, we withhelden hym. And nowe sende thou an hundred talentis of syluer, and his two sonnys pleggis, that he not dismitted flee fro vs, and we shuln aȝein sende hym. And Symont knewȝ, that with gijle he spake with hym. Netheles he comaundide the syluer to be ȝouen, and children, lest he toke grete enmyte to the peple of Yrael, sayinge, For he sente not to hym the syluer and children, therfore he perishide. And he sente the children, and an hundred talentis. And he leeȝide, and dismytted not Jonathas. And after these thingus Tryfon came with ynne the cuntre, for to distruye it. And thei cumpaseden by the waye that ledith to Ador; and Symont and his oost walkiden in to eche place, whider euere thei wenten. Sothely thei that weren in the heeȝ rocke, senten legatis to Trifon, for to haste for to cume by desert, and sende to hem fodis. And Trifon made redy al the rydyng, for to cume in that niȝt; sotheli ther was ful myche snowe, and he cam not in to Galadithym. And whanne he neeȝide to Baschama, he slewȝ Jonathas and his sonys there. And Trifon turnyde, and wente in to his lond. And Symont sente, and toke the bonys of Jonathas, his brother, and byryede hym in Modyn, citee of his fadris. And al Yrael weiliden hym with grete weylyng, and thei mourneden hym many days. And Symont beeldide on the sepulcre of his fadir and bretheren an heeȝe beeldyng, with stoon polishid byhynd and byfore. And he ordeynyde seuen smale bildyngus, broode bynethe and sharp aboue, oon aȝeinus oon, to his fader, and moder, and foure bretheren. And to these he putte aboute grete pilers, and on the pilers armers, to euerlastynge mynd; and bysidis the armers grauein shippis, whiche shulden be seen of men saylynge the see. This is the sepulcre that he made in Modyn, til in to this day. Forsothe whan Trifon maad waye with Antiochus, the ȝunge kyng, in gijle he slewȝ hym, and regnyde in his stede; and he puttide on to hym the diademe of Asie, and made grete veniance in the lond. And Symont bildide the strengthis of Judee, wardynge hem with heeȝ tours, and grete wallis, and ȝatis, and lockis; and he putte fodis in strengthis. And Symont cheese men, and sente to kyng Demetrie, that he shulde do remissioun to the cuntre, for alle the dedis of Trifon weren don by rauyshyng. And to these wordis kyng Demetrie answerde to hym, and wrote siche epistil. Kyng Demetrie to Symont, heeȝist prest, and frend of kyngus, and to elder men, and folc of Jewis, helthe. The golden crown, and baheu, whiche ȝe senten, we resceyueden, and ben redy for to make with ȝou grete pees, and for to write to prepostus of the kyng, for to releese to ȝou what thingus we forȝauen; forsothe what euer thingus we ordeyn to ȝou, ben stable. The strengthis that ȝe bildiden, be to ȝou; and we forȝeue ignoraunces and synnes, til in to this day, and the crown that ȝe ouȝten; and ȝif eny other thing was tributarye, or bounden to tribute, in Jerusalem, nowe be it not tributarie. And ȝif eny of ȝou ben able for to be wryten to gydre amonge oure men, be thei writen togidre, and pees be bitwixe vs. In the hundrid ȝeer and seuentithe, the ȝoc of heithen men is taken away fro Yrael. And the peple bigan for to write in tablis, and opyn, or comun, doyinges, in the first ȝeer vndre Symont, heeist prest, grete duyk, and prince of Jewis. In thoo days Symont appliede to Gasan, and enuyrounyde it with tentis, or men of armes, and made engynes, and appliede to the citee, and smote a toure, and toke it. And thei that braken out, weren bitwixe the engyne and in the citee, and grete stiryng is maad in the citee. And thei steiȝiden vp, that weren in the citee, with her wijues, and sonys, on the walle, with her kotis kitt, and crieden with grete voice, axinge of Symont riȝthondis for to be ȝouen to hem, and saiden, Ȝeelde thou not to vs after oure malices, bot after thi mercyes, and we shuln serue to thee. And Symont bowide, or folden, fauȝte not aȝeinus hem, or ouercame not hem; netheles he castide hem out of the citee, and clenside out the housis in whom weren symulacris, and thanne he entride in to it, with ympnus, blessynge the Lord. And alle vnclennesse cast out therof, he sette therynne men, that shulden do the lawe; and he strengthide it, and made to hym abitacioun. Forsothe thei that weren in the heeȝ rocke of Jerusalem, weren forboden for to go out and go yn, in to the cuntree, and to bye, and selle; and thei hungriden gretely, and many of hem perishiden for hungre. And thei crieden to Symont, for to take riȝthondis, and he ȝaue to hem; and he cast out hem fro thennus, and clenside the heeȝ rocke fro defoulyngus. And thei entriden in to it in the three and twentithe day of the secounde monethe, in the hundred and oon and seuenti ȝeer, with preisyng, and braunchis of palmes, and instrumentis of musik, and cymbalis, and nablis, and ympnis, and songis, for the grete enmye of Yrael is broken to gidre. And he ordeynede, that in alle ȝeeris these days shulden be don with gladdenesse. And he strengthide the hille of the temple, that was bisidis the heeȝ rocke, and dwelte there, he, and thei that weren with hym. And Symont seeȝ Joon, his sone, that he was a man of bateil, and he putte hym duyk of alle vertues, and he dwelte in Gasaris.
In the hundrid and two and seuentithe ȝeer kyng Demetrie gadride his oost, and wente to Mede, for to drawe togidre helpis to hym, for to ouercume Trifon. And as Arsaces, kyng of Persis and Mede, herde for Demetrie entride his niȝ coostis, he sente oon of his princis, for to take hym quyck, and that he shulde brynge hym to hym self. And he wente, and smote the tentis of Demetrie, and toke hym, and ledde hym to Arsaces, and putt hym in to keepyng. And the lond of Juda was stille, or pesible, alle the days of Symont, and he souȝte good thingus of his folk; and his power pleside to hem, and his glorie, in alle days. And with alle his glorie he toke Joppen in to hauen, and maade entre in the ylis of the see; and he alargide the coostis of his peple, and weeldede the cuntre. And he gadride myche caitiftee, and was lord in Gasara, and Bethsura, and Arcus; and he dide awey the vnclennesse of it, and there was not that aȝein stode hym. And eche man tilied his own lond with pees, and the lond of Juda ȝaue his fruytis, and trees of the feeld her fruyte. Alle elder men saten in stretis, and tretiden of goodis of the lond; and ȝunge men clothiden hem in glorie, and stoolis of bateil. And to the citees he ȝaue foodis, and ordeynyde hem, that thei weren vessels of strengthing, til that name of his glorie was named vnto the last of erthe. He made pees on the lond, and Yrael gladide with grete gladnesse; and eche man sate vnder his vyne, and vnder his fijge tree, nether there was that feride hem. The fiȝtynge man aȝeinus hem feilide on erthe; kyngis ben broken togidre in tho days. And he confermyde alle meke men of his peple, and he souȝte out the lawe, and dide awey al yuel and wickid; and glorifiede holy thingus, and multipliede vessels of holy thingus. And it is herd at Rome, for Jonathas is dead, and til in to Spartialis, and thei ben ful sorewful. Forsothe as thei herden, that Symont, his brother, was maad heeist prest in his stede, and weldide the cuntree, and citees in it, thei wryten to hym in brasen tablis, for to renule frenship, and felawship, that thei maden with Judas and Jonathas, his bretheren; and thei ben rad in siȝt of the chirche in Jerusalem. And this ensaumple of pistlis, that Sparciatis senten. Prince and the citees of Sparciatis to Symound, the grete preest, and to eldre men, and preestis, and to other peple of Jewis, bretheren, helthe. Legatis that ben sente to oure peple, tolden to vs of ȝour glorie, and honoure, and gladnesse, and we ioyeden in the entree of hem. And we han writen what thingus weren saide of hem in counseil of peple, thus. Numenius of Antiochus, and Antipatre, sone of Jason, legatis of Jewis, camen to vs, renulyng with vs the former frendship. And it pleside to the peple, for to resceyue the men gloriously, and to putte ensaumple of her wordis in departid bokis of the peple, that it be to mynde to the peple of Sparciatis; forsothe we han writen ensaumple of these thingus to Symont, the greete prest. Forsothe after these thingus Symont sente Numenye to Rome, hauynge a greete golden sheld, weiȝt of a thousand besauntis, for to ordeyne frenship with hem. Sotheli whan the peple of Rome herde these wordis, thei saiden, What doynge of thankingus shuln we ȝeelde to Symont, and his sonys? Forsothe he restoride his bretheren, and ouer came the enmyes of Yrael fro hem. And thei ordeynyden to him freedam, and wryten in brasen tablis, and puttiden in tytlis, in to the mount of Syon. And this is the ensaumple of writyng. In the eiȝtenthe day of the monethe Ebul, in the hundred and two and seuentithe ȝeer, the thrid ȝeer vnder Symont, the grete prest, in Asaramel, in the grete cummyng togidre of prestis, peple, and princis, and folc, and eldre men of the cuntree, these thingus ben maad knowen; for many tymes bateils ben maad in ȝour cuntree. Forsothe Symont, the sone of Mathatias, of the sonys of Joaryb, and his bretheren, ȝauen hem self to perel, and aȝein stoden aduersaries of her folc, that her holy thingus and lawe shulden stonde; and bi grete glorie thei glorifieden her folc. And Jonathas gadride his folc, and is maad to hem a grete prest, and he is put to his peple. And the enmyes of hem wolden defoule holy thingus, and distruye the cuntre of hem, and strecche forth the hond in to holy thingus of hem. Thanne Symont aȝeinstode, and fauȝte for his peple, and ȝaue myche moneys, and armyd men of vertu of his folc, and he ȝaue to hem sowdis; and strengthide the citees of Juda, and Bethsura, that was in the eendis of Judee, wher bifore weren armers of enmyes, and he puttide there help, or strengthe, men Jewis. And he strengthide Joppe, that was at the see, and Gasara, that was in the coostis of Azotus, in whom enmyes dwelten byfore; and he sette there Jewis, and what euere thingus weren able to the amendyng of hem, he putte in hem. And the peple sawȝ the doyng of Symount, and the glorie that he thouȝte for to do to his folc, and thei puttiden hym her duyke, and prince of prestis, for that he hadde don alle thes thingis and riȝtwisnesse, and feith, that he kepte to his folk; and he souȝte out in al maner for to reyse his peple. And in his days it hadde prosperitee in his hondis, that heithen men weren taken awey fro the cuntree of hem, whiche weren in the citee of Dauid in Jerusalem, in the heeȝ rocke; of whiche thei camen out, and defouliden alle thingus that weren in the cumpas of holy thingus, and ȝauen grete wounde to the citee. And he sette therynne men Jewis, to defendyng of the cuntree and the citee, and he reyside the wallis in Jerusalem. And kyng Demetrie ordeynede to hym the heeȝist presthod; vp this he made hym his frend, and glorifiede hym in grete glorie. Forsothe he herd, that Jewis ben cleepid of Romayns frendis, and felawes, and bretheren, and for thei resceyuyden the legatis of Symont gloriously; and for Jewis and prestis of hem consentiden, hym for to be her duyke, and heeȝist prest, in to withouten eende, til there ryse a feithful prophete; and that he be duyk on hem, and cure were to hym for holy thingus; and that he shulde ordeyne prepostus, or gouernours, on the werkis of hem, and on the cuntree, and on armers, and on strengthus; and cure be to hym of holy thingus; and that he be herd of men, and alle wrytyngis in the cuntree be wryten to gidre vnder name of hym; and that it be not leeful to eny of the peple, and to prestis, for to make eny thing of these voide, and aȝein saye to these thingus that ben said of hym, ether to clepe togidre couent in the cuntree withouten hym; and for to be clothid in purpre, and for to vse a golden lace, or nouche. Sothely he that shal do with out this, or shal make voide eny of these, shal be gylty. And it pleside to gidre to alle the peple, for to ordeyne Symont, and to do after these wordis. And Symont resceyuede, and it pleside, that he were sett in the heeist presthod, and were duyk and prince of the folc of Jewis, and prestis, and were bifore to alle men. And thei saiden hem for to putte this wrytyng in brasen tablis, and to putte hem in the walkyng place of holy thingus, in solempne place; forsothe for to putte ensaumple of these in tresorie, that Symont haue and his sonys.
And the kyng Antiochus, sone of Demetrie, sente epistlis fro ijlys of the see, to Symont, prest, and prince of folc of Jewis, and to al the folc; and thei weren conteynynge this manere. Kyng Antiochus to Symont, the grete prest, and to folc of Jewis, helth. For sothli men berynge pestilence weeldiden the rewme of oure faders, forsothe Y wole venge the rewme, and restore it, as it was byfore; Y made the chosen multitude of oost, and made shippus of werre. Forsothe Y wole go forth by cuntrees, that Y do veniaunce in to hem that distruyede oure cuntree, and that maden many citees desolate in my rewme. Now therfore Y ordeyne to thee alle offringus, that alle kyngus byfore me forȝauen to thee, and what euer other ȝiftis thei forȝauen to thee; and Y suffre thee for to make smytyng, or printe, of thin own money, in thi regyoun; sothely Jerusalem for to be holy and free, and alle armers that ben maad, and strengthis, that thou hast maad out, and that thou holdist, dwelle to thee; and al dett of the kyng, and tho that ben to cummynge of kyngus thingis, fro this in to al tyme ben forȝouen to thee. Sothely whanne we shuln weelde oure rewme, we shuln glorifie thee, and thi folc, and temple, with grete glorie, so that ȝoure glorie be shewid in al erthe. In the hundrid ȝeer and foure and seuentithe Antiochus wente out in to the lond of his fadris, and alle oostis camen to gydre to hym, so that fewe weren left with Trifon. And kyng Antiochus pursuede hym, and he came to Doram, fleeȝinge by the se coost; forsothe he wist, that yuels weren gadrid in to hym, and the oost forsoken hym. And Antiochus appliede on Doram, with an hundrid and twenti thousand of fiȝtyng men, and eiȝte thousand of horsmen; and he cumpaside the citee, and shippus fro the se camen to; and thei traueiliden the cite fro lond and se, and suffreden no man for to entre, or go out. Forsothe Numenyus came, and thei that weren with hym, fro Rome, hauynge epistlis wryten to kyngis and cuntrees, in whiche these thingus weren conteyned. Lucius, consul of Romayns, to kyng Ptholome, helthe. Legatis of Jewis camen to vs, oure freendis, renulynge the former frenship and felawship, sent of Symont, prince of prestis, and of the peple of Jewis. Sotheli thei brouȝten to and a golden sheeld of a thousand besauntis. And so it pleside to vs for to wryte to kyngis and cuntrees, that thei do not yuels to hem, nether enpungne hem, and her cytees, and her cuntrees, and that thei bere not help to men fiȝtynge aȝeinus hem. Forsothe it is seen to vs, for to resceyue of hem the sheeld. Therfore ȝif any men of pestilence shuln flee fro the cuntree of hem to ȝou, bytake ȝe hem to Symont, prince of prestis, that he venge in to hem after his lawe. These same thingus ben wryten to kyng Demetrie, and Attalus, and Araba, and Arsaces, and in to alle cuntrees, and Sampsame, and Spartanyes, and Delo, and Myde, and Synone, and Carie, and Samyum, and Pamphiliam, and Lysiam, and Alacarnasum, and Rodum, and Phaselida, and Reo, and Sydon, and Arado, and Gortynam, and Gnydum, and Cypre, and Cyrenen. Forsothe ensaumple of these thei han wryten to Symont, prince of prestis, and to peple of Jewis. Forsothe Antiochus appliede tentus in Doram the secounde tyme, mouynge to it euermore hondis, and makyng engynes; and he closide to gidre Trifon, lest he wente out. And Symont sente to hym two thousand of chosen men, in to help, and syluer, and gold, and plenteuouse vessels; and he wolde not take. Bot he brake alle thingus that he couenantide with hym byfore, and alyenyde hym self fro hym. And he sente to hym Athenobius, oon of his freendis, for to treete with hym, sayynge, Ȝe holden Joppen and Gazaram, and the heeȝ rocke that is in Jerusalem, cytees of my rewme; the coostis of hem ȝe han waastid, and han don a grete veniaunce in the lond, and ȝe lordshipen by many places in my rewme. Nowe therfore ȝeue ȝe the citees, whom ȝe occupieden, and tributis of places, to whom ȝe lordshipen, out of the eendis of Judee. Or ellis ȝeue ȝe for hem fyfty talentis of syluer, and of distruyyng that ȝe han distruyed, and of tributis of citees, other fifty talentis; or ellis we schuln cumme, and ouercumme ȝou. And Athenobyus, frend of the kyng, came in to Jerusalem, and seeȝ the glorye of Symont, and cleernesse, in gold, and syluer, and plenteuouse apareil, and was astonyed; and he tolde to hym wordis of the kyng. And Symont answerde, and seide to hym, Nether we token alyen londis, nether with holden other mens thingus, bot eritage of oure fadris, that was weeldid sum tyme vniustly of oure enmyes. Sothely we hauynge tyme chalengen the heritage of oure fadris. For why of Joppe and Gazara that thou axist, thei diden grete veniaunce in the peple, and in oure cuntree; of these we ȝeuen an hundrid talentis. And Athenobyus answerde not a word. Sothely he, turned aȝein with wrath to the kyng, tolde aȝein to hym these wordis, and the glorie of Symont, and alle thingus that he seeȝ. And the kyng was wrothe with grete wrath. Forsothe Trifon fleiȝ by ship in to Ortosayda. And the kyng ordeynyde Cendebeus, duyk of the se coost, and ȝaue to hym oost of fotmen and horsmen; and comaundide hym for to moue tentis aȝeinus the face of Judee. And he comaundide hym for to bilde Cedron, and to stoppe ȝatis of the citee, and ouercumme the peple; forsothe the kyng pursuede Trifon. And Cendebeus came to Jamniam, and bigan for to terre the peple to wrath, and for to defoule Judee, and to make the peple caityf, and slea, and to beelde Cedron. And he sette there horsmen and oost, that thei gon out shulden walke by the waye of Judee, as the kyng ordeynyde hym.
And Joon styede fro Gazara, and tolde to Symont, his fadir, what thingus Cendebeus dide in the peple of hem. And Symont clepide his two eldre sonnys, Judas and Joon, and saith to hem, Y, and my bretheren, and the hous of my fadre, han ouercummen the enmyes of Yrael, fro ȝongthe til in to this day; and it hadde prosperite in oure hondis, for to delyuere Yrael sumtymes. Forsothe nowe I haue oldid, bot be ȝe in my stede, and of my brother, and ȝe gon out, fiȝte for oure folc; forsothe help of heuen be with ȝou. And he cheese of the cuntree twenti thousand of fiȝtynge men, and horsmen; and thei wenten out to Cendebeus, and slepten in Modyn. And thei rysen erly, and wenten in to the feeld, and loo! a copyous oost in to metyng to hem, of fotemen and horsmen; and the flood of reyn water was bitwix the myddis of hem. And he mouede to the tentis aȝeinus the face of hem, he and his peple, and he seeȝ the peple tremblynge to passe ouer the streme of reyn, and he passide ouer the first; and men seeȝen hym, and passiden after hym. And he lefte the peple and horsmen in mydil of fotemen; forsothe the rydyng of aduersaries was ful plenteuouse. And thei cryeden an heeȝ with holy trumpis; and Cendebeus is conuertid in to fliȝt, and his oost, and many of hem felle woundid; sothely the residues fledden in to the strengthe. Thanne Judas, the brother of Joon, is woundid; forsothe Joon pursuede hem, til he came to Cedrona, whom he beeldide. And thei fledden vnto toures, that weren in the feeldis of Azotis, and he brente hem with fijr; and there fellen of hem two thousand of men; and he turnyde aȝein in to Judee in pees. And Ptholome, sone of Aboby, was ordeynyd duyk in the feeld of Jerico, and he hadde myche syluer and gold; forsothe he weddide the douȝter of the heeȝist prest. And the hert of hym is reysid, and he wolde weelde the cuntree; and he thouȝte gyle aȝeinus Symont and his sonys, for to do awey hem. Forsothe Symont walkynge by citees that weren in the cuntree of Judee, and berynge the besynesse of hem, came doun in to Jericho, he, and Mathatias, his sone, and Judas, in the hundrid ȝeer and seuen and seuentithe, in the elleuenthe monethe; this is the moneth Sabath. And the sone of Abobi resceyuyde hem in to a litil strengthe, that is clepid Doth, with gijle, whom he beeldide; and he made to hem a grete feest, and hidde men there. And whan Symont was ful of drinke, and his sonys, Ptholome roose with his, and token her armers, and entriden in to the feest, and slewen hym, and his two sonnys, and sume children of hym. And he did a grete disceyte in Yrael, and ȝeeldide yuels for goodis. And Ptholome wrote these thingus, and sente to the kyng, for to sende to hym an oost in to help, and he shulde bitake to hym the cuntre and citees of hem, and tributis. And he sente other in to Gazara, for to do awey Joon; and the tribune sente epistlis, that thei shulden cume to hym, and he shulde ȝeue to hem syluer, and gold, and ȝiftis. And he sente other, for to ocupie Jerusalem, and the mount of the temple. And summan rennynge byfore tolde to Joon in Gazara, for his fader perishide, and his bretheren, and for he hath sente and thee for to be slayn. Forsothe as he herde, he dredde greteli; and he cauȝte the men that came for to leese hym, and slewȝ hem; forsothe he knewe, for thei souȝten for to leese hym. And other thingus of Joons wordis, and of his bateils, and good vertues, in whiche he dide strongly, and of beeldyng of wallis, whom he fully maade, and of thingus don of hym, loo! theese ben writen in the boke of days of his presthod, sithen he was maad prince of prestis aftir his fadir.
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