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To bretheren, that ben by Egipt, Jewis, helthe sayen bretheren, that ben in Jerusalem, Jewis, and that ben in the cuntree of Judee, and good pees. God do wel to ȝou, and haue mynd of his testament, that he spake to Abraham, Ysaac, and Jacob, his trewe seruauntis; and ȝeue herte to ȝou alle, that ȝe wirshipe hym, and do the wille of hym with grete herte and wilful ynwytt. Opene he ȝour herte in his lawe, and his heestis, and make he pees; heere he graciously ȝour preyers, and be recounseilid to ȝou, nether forsake ȝou in yuel tyme. And nowe we ben here preyinge for ȝou. Regnynge Demetrie in the hundrid ȝeer and sixti and nynthe, we Jewis han writen to ȝou in tribulacioun and fersnesse, that came aboue to vs in these ȝeeris, sithen Jason wente oute of the holy lond and rewme. Thei brenten the ȝate, and shedden out innocent blood; and we preyeden to the Lord, and we ben graciously herd, and we han offrid sacrifice, and cleene flour, and han tendid lanterns, and han putte forth looues. And nowe vse ȝe the days of Senephegie, of the moneth Casleu. In the hundred ȝeer and eiȝte and eiȝtithe, the peple that is in Jerusalem and in Judee, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristoble, maister of Tholome, kyng, that is of the kyn of oyntyd prestis, and to hem that ben in Egypt, Jewis, helthe of soule, and helthe of body. We delyuerd of God fro grete perilis, don thankyngis to hym hugely, as we that han fouȝten aȝeinus siche a kyng. Forsothe he made to buyle out of Persis hem that fouȝten aȝeinus vs and the holy citee. For whi whan in Perse was the duyke hym self, and with hym al the oost, he felle in the temple of Nauee, disceyuyd bi the counseil of the prest of Nauee. Forsothe as to dwellyng with hym Antiochus came to the place, and his freendis, and for to take myche moneys by name of dower. And whan prestis of Nauee hadden putte hem forth, and he with fewe entride with ynne cumpas of the temple, thei closiden the temple, whanne Antiochus had entride. And the priuy entree of the temple opnyd, thei sendinge stoons smyten the duyk, and hem that weren with hym, and departiden lym mele; and the hedis gird off, casten forth out. Bi alle thingis blessid God, that bitoke vnpitous men. Therfore we to makynge puryfiyng, or clensynge, of the temple, in the fyue and twentithe day of the moneth Casleu, ledden needful for to signyfie to ȝou, that and ȝe do the day of Senephegie, and the day of fijr, that is ȝouen, whan Neemye offride sacrifices, and the temple and the auter bildid. For whi whan oure fadris weren ledde in to Persis, prestis that thanne weren wirshipers of God, hidden priuyly fijr taken of the auter, in a valey, wher was a deep pitt, and drye; and therynne thei kepten it, so that the place was vnknowen to alle men. Forsothe whanne many ȝeeris hadden passid, and it pleside to God that Neemye was sente fro the kyng of Persis, he sente the sonys sonys of prestis that hidden, for to seeke fijre; and as thei teelden to vs, thei foonden not fijre, bot fatt water. And he comaundide hem for to drawe, and brynge to hym. And Neemye, prest, comaundide the sacrifices, that weren put vpon, for to be spreynt with this water, and the trees, and tho that weren putte aboue. And as this was don, and the tyme came to, in whiche the sunne shoon aȝein, that byfore was in cloude, a grete fijr is kyndlid, so that alle men wondriden. Forsothe alle the prestis maden preyer, whijl the sacrifice was eendid; Jonathas bygynnynge, other forsothe answerynge. And the preyer of Neemye was hauynge this manere. Lord God, of alle thingis maker of nouȝt, dreedful and stronge, iust and mercyful, whiche aloon art a good kyng, aloon ȝeuynge, aloone iust, and almiȝti, and with out bigynnyng and eend, whiche delyuerist Yrael fro al yuel, whiche madist chosen faders, and halewidist hem; take thou sacrifice for al thy peple Yrael, and keepe thi part, and halewe. Gadre oure scateryng, delyuere hem that seruen to heithen men, and biholde thou dispisid men, and maad abomynable, that heithen men wite, that thou art oure God. Tourment thou men oppressynge vs, and doynge dispite in pride. Ordeyn thi peple in thin holy place, as Moyses saide. Forsothe prestis sungen ympnys, tyl the sacrifice was eendid. Forsothe whan the sacrifice was eendid, Neemye comaundide the more stoons for to be shed on of the residue water; whiche thing as was don, flawme is kyndlid of hem, bot it is waastid of the liȝt, that aȝein shynyde of the auter. Forsothe as the thing is knowen, it is tolde to the kyng of Peris, that in the place in whiche tho prestis that weren translatid, hadden hidde fijr, water apperide, of whiche Neemye and thei that weren with hym, clensiden sacrifices. Forsothe the kyng byholdynge and diligently examyninge the thing, made a temple to hym, for to proue that thing that was don. And whanne he hadde proued, he ȝaue many goodis to prestis, and other with outen noumbre; and takynge with his hond, he ȝaue to hem. Forsothe Neemye clepide this place Nepthar, that is interpretid clensyng; forsothe anentis many it is clepid Nephi.
Forsothe it is founden in dyscryuyngis, or wrytyngis, of Jeremye, the prophete, that he comaundide hem that passiden ouer, for to take fijr, as it is signyfied, and as he bade to men passynge ouer, or caitif. And he ȝaue to hem the lawe, lest thei forȝaten the heestis of the Lord; and that thei shulden not erre in soulis, or vndirstondingis, seeynge golden and sylueren symulacris, and ournementis of hem. And he sayinge other siche thingus monestide, that thei shulden not remoue the lawe fro her herte. Sothely it was in that wrytyng, hou the prophete badde the tabernacle, and the hucche, or ark, for to folowe with hem, Goddis answer maad to hym, til he wente out in to the hill in whiche Moyses ascendide, and seeȝ the eritage of God. And Jeremye cummynge foonde there a place of a den, and brouȝte yn thidir the tabernacle, and the hucche, and the auter of encense, and stoppide the dore. And sume men camen to gidre that folewiden, for to marke the place to hem, and thei miȝten not fynde. Forsothe as Jeremye knewe, he blamynge hem saide, that the place shal be vnknowen, til God gadre the congregacioun togidre of peple, and be maad mercyful. And thanne the Lord shal shewe these thingus, and maieste of the Lord shal appere; and a cloude shal be, as and to Moyses was schewid, and as whan Salomon axide, that the place shulde be halewid to grete God. Forsoth greetli he tretid wysdom, and as hauynge wysdom he offride sacrifice of halewyng, and of parfourmyng of the temple. As and Moyses preyide to the Lord, and fijr came doun fro heuen, and wastide the brent sacrifice; as and Salomon preyide, and fijr came doun fro heuen, and wastide the brent sacrifices. And Moyses saide, For that it is not clensid, that was for synne, and it is waastid. Also and Salomon in eiȝte days wirshipide the halewyng. Forsothe and these same thingis weren born in discripciouns, and the almeries of Neemye; and he makynge a litil bible, gadride of cuntrees bokis, and of prophetis, and of Dauid, and epistlis of kyngus, and of ȝiftis. Also sothely and Judas gadride alle tho thingus whiche he lernyde by bateil, that bifelle to vs, and thei ben anentus vs. Therfore ȝif ȝe desiren these, sende ȝe whiche shuln bere to ȝou. And so we to doynge purifyyng, han write to ȝou; therfore ȝe shuln do wel, ȝif ȝe shuln do these days. Forsothe God that delyuerde his peple, and ȝeeldide his eritage to alle, and rewme, and presthod, and halewyng, as he byheiȝte in the lawe, we hopen that soone he shal haue mercy of vs, and shal gadre fro vnder heuen in to the holy place; forsothe he delyuerde vs fro grete perelis, and purgide the place. Sothely of Judas Machabeus, and his bretheren, and of purifying of the grete temple, and of halewyng of the auter; bot and of the bateilis, that perteynen to noble Antioch, and to his sone Eupator; and of liȝtnyngus that ben maad of heuen, to hem that strongly diden for Jewis, so that whan thei weren fewe, thei vengeden al the cuntree, and dryuen an heithen multitude, and rekyuerden the most famous temple in al the world; and thei delyuerden the citee, that and lawis that weren don awey weren restorid; the Lord maad helpful to hem, with al pesibletee. And so we temptiden, or assayeden, for to abregge in to oo boke, thingus comprehendid of Jason of Cyrenen in fyue bookis. Forsothe we byholdynge the multitude of bookis, and hardnesse, to men willynge for to assaile, or bygynne, the tellyngis of stories, for multitude of thingus, sothely we curiden, or hadden bysynesse, that it were delectacioun, or lykyng, of ynwitt to men willynge for to reede; forsothe the studyouse, that thei miȝten liȝtlyer bytake to mynde; forsothe to alle men reedyng profit be ȝouen. And sothely we token to oure self that resceyueden this werk, bi cause of abreggyng, not liȝt traueil, bot sothely a needefull of wakyngis and of swote. As these that maken redy a feest, and seekyn for to plese to the wille of other men, for grace of many men, we susteynen wilfully traueile; forsothe grauntynge the trewthe of alle autours, bot we oure self studyinge to shortnesse, after the fourme ȝouen. Forsothe as it is for to cure, or bisie, to the wriȝt of the new hous, of al the beeldyng; to hym sothely that bisieth for to peynte, tho thingus ben to be souȝt out, that ben couenable to ournyng; so it is to be gessid and in vs. Forsothe for to gedir vndirstondyng, and ordeyne word, and ful bisili for to enquere alle partis of the storie, eche bi hem self, acordith to an auctour; forsothe for to sue shortnesse of sayinge, and for to eschewe out suyngus of thingus, is to be grauntid to the bregger. Fro hennus therfore we shuln bygynne the tellyng; be it ynewȝ for to haue said so myche of prefacioun, or byfore spekyng; forsothe it is foly for to flete out, or be longe, bifore the storye, bot in that storie for to be maad short.
Therfore whanne the holy citee was enhabited in al pees, lawis also ȝit weren best kept, for ordynaunce and pite of Onye, prest, and for soulis hauynge in hate yuel thingus, it was maad, that and thei kyngis and princis ledden the place worthi heeist honour, and liȝteneden the temple with grettist ȝiftis; so that Seleucus, kyng of Asie, ȝaue of his rentis alle spensis perteynynge to the seruice of sacrifices. Forsothe Symont, of the lynage of Beniamyn, ordeynyd prepost of the temple, the prince of prestis aȝeinstondynge hym, strofe for to caste sum wickid thing in the cytee. Bot whan he miȝte not ouercume Onye, he came to Appollonye, sone of Tharsie, that in that tyme was duyk of Celessirie and Fenyce; and tolde to hym the tresorie in Jerusalem for to be ful with moneys vnnoumbreable; and commoun plentees, or richessis, for to be grete, whiche perteynen not to resoun of sacrifices; forsothe for to be possible, alle thingus for to falle vndir power of the kyng. And whanne Appollonye hadde tolde to the kyng of moneys that weren born ynne, he sente Heleodore clepid, that was on his needis, with maundementus for to bere out the forsaid money. And anoon Heleodore takynge the waye, sothely by fourme as he were to passynge by Celescirie and Fenyce cytees, sothely in trewe thing, to parfourmynge the kyngus purpose. Bot when he came to Jerusalem, and benyngly of the heeȝist prest in the cite was resceyued, he tolde of dom ȝouen of moneys, and opnyde for grace, or cause, of what thing he came; forsothe he axide ȝif verrely these thingus weren so. Thanne the heeȝist prest shewide, these thingus for to be kept to the lyuelodis of widues, and faderlesse and moderlesse children; sum sothely for to be of Hircam Tobye, man ful noble in these thingus, that vnpitous Symont hadde teelde; forsothe alle the talentis of syluer for to be foure hundrid, and of gold two hundrid; forsothe for to be inpossible on al manere, hem for to be disceyued, that bileuyden, or bitoken, to the place and temple, that bi al the world is honourid for his wirshipyng, and holynesse. And for these thingus that he hadde in maundementis of the kyng, he saide, in al kynde hem for to be born to the kyng. Forsothe in the day ordeynyde Heleodore entride, to ordeynynge of these thingis; forsothe there was not a lytil tremblyng by al the citee. Forsothe prestis castiden hem self byfore the auter, with prestis stolys, and ynclepiden fro heuen hym that ȝaue lawe of thingus put in keepyng, that he shulde keepe hem saaf to these that hadden putte hem in keepyng. Nowe forsothe he that seeȝ the chier of the heeȝist prest, was woundid in sowle; forsothe the face and colour inchaungid, declaride the ynward sorewe of soule, or ynwitt. Forsothe sum sorewfulnesse was shed about to the man, and hydousnesse of body, by whiche the sorewe of herte was maad knowen to men byholdynge. Also other men by gadring to gidre camen out of housis, bysechynge with open bysechyng, for that that the place was to cummynge in to dispit. And wymmen gyrd the brest with heyris, flowiden togidre by streetis; bot and virgynes, that weren closid togidre, runnen fully to Onye; other forsothe to the wallis, summe sothely byheelden by wyndowis. Forsothe alle holdynge forth hondis in to heuen bisouȝten; sothely there was a wretchid abyding of the multitude meynt, and of the heeȝist prest ordeyned in strijf, or anguyshe. And these sothely inclepide almiȝti God, that thingus taken in keepyng weren kept in al hoolnesse, to these that hadden putte hem in keepynge. Forsothe Heleodore parfourmyde that thing, that he hadde demyde, he presente with his knyȝtis in the same place aboute the tresorie. Bot the spirit of almiȝty God made grete euydence of his shewyng, so that alle that weren hardye for to obeye to hym, fallyng doun by the vertu of God, weren togidre turnyd in to vnbyndynge, or vnstrengthe, and inward dreed. Forsothe sum hors apeeride to hem, hauynge a dreedful sitter, ournyd with best hillyngus; and he with feersnesse, or bire, rushide the former feet to Heleodore; forsothe he that sate on hym, was seen for to haue golden armers. Also other two ȝunge apperiden, faire in vertu, best in glorie, and fair in clothinge, that stoden aboute hym, and on eche sijd scourgiden hym with outen ceesyng, with many woundis betynge. Sodeynly forsothe Heleodore felle in to erthe, and thei rauyshiden hym shed about with myche derknesse, and castiden hym out, put in a sadil of beere. And this that with many rynners and kniȝtis entride in to the forsaide tresorie, was born, no man berynge help to hym, the opyn vertu of God knowen; and forsothe by Goddis vertu he lay doumbe, and pryued of al hope and helthe. Forsothe these blessiden the Lord, for he magnyfied his place; and the temple, that a lytil byfore was ful of dreed and noyse, the Lord almiȝty appeerynge, is fulfillid with ioye and gladnesse. Thanne forsothe sume of Heliodoris frendis preyeden anoon Onye, for to inclepe the Heeȝist, and for to ȝeue lyf to hym, for he was sette in the last spirit. Sothely the heeȝist prest biholdinge, lest par auenture the kyng supposide eny malice of Jewis fully done aȝeinus Helyodore, he offride for helthe of the man an helthful sacrifice. And whan the heeist prest preyede, the same ȝunglyngus, clothid in the same clothis, stondynge niȝ to Heliodore, saiden, Do thou thankyngys to Onye, the prest; for whi for hym the Lord hath ȝouen lyf to thee; thou sothely, scourgid of God, telle to alle men the greete doyngus of God, and power. And these thingis said, thei apperiden not. Helyodore sothely, a sacrifice offrid to God, and grete auowis bihiȝte to hym, that grauntide to hym for to lyue, and doynge thankyngis to Onye, his oost resceyued, wente aȝein to the king. Sothely he witnesside to alle men the werkis of grete God, whiche he seeȝ vnder his eeȝen. Forsothe whan the kyng axide Helyodore, who was able ȝit oonys for to be sente to Jerusalem, he saith, Ȝif thou hast eny enmye, or aspier, or traitour, of thi rewme, sende thider, and thou shalt resceyue hym betun, ȝif netheles he schal scape; for that in the place is verrely sum vertu of God. For whi he that in heuens hath dwellyng, is visiter and helper of that place; and he smyteth and leesith men cummynge to mysdo. Therfore of Heliodore, and kepyng of the tresorie, thus the thyng hath hym.
Symont forsothe byfore saide, accuser of moneys, and of the cuntree, spake yuel of Onye, as he hadde stiride Helyodore to these thingis, and he hadde be stirer of yuels; and he durst saye the purueyoure of the citee, and defender of his folc, and louer of the lawe of God, enmye, or traitour, of the rewme. Bot whan enmytees in so myche camen forth, that by summe necessaries, or niȝ freendis, of Symount man sleayngus weren don, Onye, byholdynge the perel of strijf, and Appolonye for to be wood, as duyk of Celescerie and Fenyce, for to encresce the malice of Symont, ȝaue hym self to the kyng; not as acuser of citeeseins, bot biholdynge anentis hym self the comoun profit of al the multitude. Forsothe he seeȝ, for to be inpossible pees for to be ȝouen to thingus without the kyngus puruyaunce, nether Symont mowe ceese of his foly. Bot after the passing of Seleucus lijf, whan Antiochus, that was cleepid noble, hadde taken rewme, Jason, brother of Onye, coueytide the heeȝist presthod, the kyng gon to, byhetynge hym three hundred talentis and sixty of syluer, and of other rentis foure score; vpon these thingus he bihiȝte and other an hundrid and fyfty, ȝif it were grauntid to his power, for to ordeyne a scole, and a gadryng of ȝunge men to hym; and for to wryte hem that weren in Jerusalem Antiochenys, or men of Antioche. Whiche thing whan the kyng had grauntide, and he weeldide the princehod, anoon he bygan for to transferre to heithen custum men of his lynage. And these thingus don awey, whiche bi cause of humanytee, or curtasie, to Jewis weren ordeynyd of kyngus by Joon, fader of Eupolemy, whiche anentus Romayns is ordeyned in laweful message of frendship and felawship, he, distruyinge riȝtis, or lawis, of the cyteeseyns, made shrewid ordinauncis; and sothely he was hardy for to ordeyne a scole vnder that heeȝ rocke, and for to putte al the beste of ȝunge in bordel hous. Forsothe this was not bygynnyng, bot sum encresyng and profit of heithen and alien lijf, for the vnleeful and vnherd grete trespas of vnpytous, and not prest Jason; so that prestis not nowe weren ȝouen aboute offices of the auter, bot the temple dispisid, and sacrifices left, thei hastiden for to be maad felawis of wrastlyng, and of vniust ȝeuynge therof, and of oost, or cumpanye, of dishe, or pleyinge with ledun dishe. And thei hauynge honours of fadris at nouȝt, demyden Greek glories best. For grace of whiche perilous contencioun hadde hem, and her ordinauncis thei folewiden, or louyden; and by alle thingus thei coueitiden for to be lijk to hem, whom thei hadden enmyes and distruyers. Forsothe for to do vnpitously aȝeinus Goddis lawis fallith not with outen peyn, bot and the tyme suynge declaride these thingus. Sothely whan fyue ȝeer stryf, or fiȝt, was wirshipid in Tyre, and the kyng was present, Jason ful of grete trespassis sente fro Jerusalem men synners, berynge three hundrid dragmes of syluer in to sacrifice of Ercules; whiche these men that baren out axiden, that thei weren not ȝouen in sacrifices, for it needide not, bot in to other spensis hem for to be ordeynyd. Bot these sothely ben offrid of hym that sente in to sacrifice of Ercules; sothely for men present thei ben ȝouen in to makynge of grete shippis. Forsothe Appollonye, sone of Nesteye, sente in to Egipt for primatis of Tholome Philometoris, kyng; forsothe whanne Antiochus knewe hym maad alien fro needis of the rewme, he conseilynge to his owne profitis, gon thennus, cam to Joppen, and fro thennus to Jerusalem. And he, resceiued of Jason and of the citee wirshipfully, with liȝtis of broondis, and preysyngus, wente yn, and fro thennus turnyd the oost in to coost of Fenyce. And after the tyme of three ȝeer Jason sente Menelaus, brother of Symont aboue said, berynge moneys to the kyng, and of necessarie causis to beryng answeris. And he comendid to the kyng, whan he magnyfiede the face of his power, turnyde in to hym self the heeȝist presthode, aboue puttynge to Jason three hundrid talentes of syluer. And maundementis taken of the kyng, he came, sothely hauynge no thing worthi to presthod; sothely inwitt of cruel tyraunt, and beryng wrath of wijld beest. And sothely Jason, that toke his own brother caitif, he disceyued is putt out outlawid in to the cuntree of Amanythen. Bot Menelaus forsothe weeldide the princehod, bot of moneys bihiȝt to the kyng he hadde no thing, whan Sostratus, that was prepoost to the heeȝ rocke, made exactioun, or vniust axing, for whi exactioun of tributis perteynede to hym; for whiche cause bothe ben clepid to the kyng. And Menelaus remoued fro presthod, succedyng, or next cummynge after, Lysymacus, his brother; sothely Sostratus is maad souereyn to men of Sypre. And whan these thingus weren don, it byfelle Tharsensis and Mallotis for to moue debate, for that thei weren ȝouen in ȝift to the concubyne of kyng Antiochus. And so the kyng hastily came, for to swage hem, left oon of his erlis suffectus Andronyk. Forsothe Menelaus demynge hym for to haue taken couenable tyme, stelinge sume golden vessels of the temple, ȝaue to Andronyk, and other he solde to Tyre, and by niȝ citees. Whiche thing whan Onye hadde knowen most certeynly, he repreuede hym, he holdynge hym self in a syker place at Antioche, bisidis Daphnen. Wherof Menelaus goynge to Andronyk, preyede that he slewȝ Onye. Whiche whan he came to Onye, and riȝt hondis ȝouen with ooth, thouȝ he was suspect to hym, counseilide hym for to go forth of asile, anoon slewȝ hym, not dreedynge riȝtwisnesse. For whiche cause not oonly Jewis, bot and other naciouns, weren wrothe, and baren heuyly of the vniust deth of so grete a man. Bot Jewis at Antioche, and Greekis, togydre pleynynge of the vniust deth of Onye, wenten to the kyng, turnyd aȝein of the places of Cilicia. And so the kyng Antiochus sory in inwit for Onye, and he, bowid to mercy, shedde teeris, recordynge the sobrenesse and myldnesse of the dead man. And the ynwitt kyndlid, he comaundith Andronyke, vnclothid purpre, for to be led about by al the citee, and, in that place in whiche he hadde don vnpitee in to Onye, the cursid man for to be priued of lijf; the Lord ȝeuynge to hym euen worth peyne. Forsothe many sacrilegis don in the temple of Lysymacus, by counceil of Menelaus, and fame puplishid, a multitude is gadrid aȝeinus Lysymacus, myche gold now born out. Forsothe the cumpanyes aȝein rysynge, and the inwittus fulfillid with wrath, Lysymacus almest three thousand aarmyd wickid hondis bygan for to vse, sum tyraunt duyk, olde in age and also woodnesse. Bot as thei vndirstoden the enforsyng of Lysymacus, other tooken stoonys, other strong stafs, sum hasten for to kasten askis in to Lysymacus. And many sothely woundid, sum forsothe cast doun, alle forsothe ben to gidre turnyd in to fliȝt; also thei slewen hym sacrileger, or theef of holy thingis, bysidis the tresorie. Therfore of these thingis dom bygan for to be moued aȝein Menelaus. And whan the kyng came to Tyre, three men, sente of the eldre men, brouȝten the cause to hym. And whanne Menelaus was ouercummen, he bihiȝte for to ȝeue many moneys to Tholome, for to counseile the kyng. And so Tholome wente to the kyng, sett in sum porche, as for grace of refreytyng, or colyng, and ledd awey fro sentence. And he assoilide Menelaus, gylty trewly of crymes, of al the malice. Forsothe he dampnyde by deeth these wrecches, whiche shulden be demyd innocentis, ȝea, ȝif thei hadden ledde cause anentis Sithis. Therfore soone thei ȝauen vniust peyn to hem, that pursueden cause for the citee, and for the peple, and holy vessels. Wherfore and men of Tyre wroothe, weren most liberal aȝeinis the birying of hem. Forsothe for coueitise of hem that weren in power, Menelaus dwelte in power, wexinge in malice, and to disceytis of citeseyns.
In the same tyme Antiochus made redy the secounde goynge in to Egipt. Forsothe it byfelle, by eche citee of men of Jerusalem, for to be seen fourty days horsmen rennyng aboute by the eyre, hauynge golden stoolis, and shaftis, as cumpanyes of kniȝtis armed; and coursis of horsis wijsly set bi ordris, and assailyngis, or fiȝtyngus to gidre, for to be maad niȝ, and mouyng of sheeldis, and multitude of helmyd men, with streyned swerdis, and castyng of dartys, and shynyng of golden armers, and of al kynde of hauberiouns. Wherfore alle men preyeden, the monstris, or wondres, tokne of thingus to cummyng, for to be togidre turned in to good. Bot when fals rumour, or tithing, wente out, as Antiochus hadde gon out of lijf, Jason sodeynly assailide the citee, a thousand men taken to, not lesse; and the citeseyns togidre fleeȝinge to the wall, at the last the citee taken, Menelaus fleiȝ in to the heeȝ rocke. Forsothe Jason sparide not in sleaynge to his citeseyns, nether he thouȝte prosperite aȝens cosyns; demynge most yuel, for to be hym to takynge victories of enmyes, and not of citeseyns. And sothely he weldide not princehod, bot toke confusioun eend of his aspies, or disseitis; and he, fleeȝinge eft, wente in to Ammanithen. At the last vndoynge of hym, closid togidre of Areta, tyraunt of Arabum, fleeȝinge fro citee in to citee, odiouse to alle men, as apostata, or forsaker of lawis, and abominable, as enmye of the cuntree and citeeseyns, is cast out in to Egipt. And he that hadde putt out many of her cuntree, perishide in pilgrimage, goynge to Lacedomonas, as for cosynage to hauynge there refuyt. And he that castide awey many vnbiried, he and vnweilid and vnbiried is cast out of byryyng, nether vsynge straunge sepulcre, nethir takynge part of fadris sepulcre. And so these thingus don, the kyng supposide Jewis to forsakyng felawship; and for this he gon out of Egipt with wood inwittis, toke the citee sothely with armes. Forsothe he comaundide to the kniȝtis, for to slea, nether to spare to men rennynge aȝeinus, and by housis styinge vp for to strangle. Thefore ther weren maad sleayngis of ȝunge and eldre, of wymmen and children distruyingus, and dethis of meydens and litil children. Forsothe in alle three days foure score thousand weren slayn, and fourty thousand bounden, forsothe not lesse seeld; bot nether these thingus suffisen. Also he was hardy for to entre in to the temple holier than al the lond, Menelaus the leeder, that was traitour of lawis and cuntree. And he touchide vnworthili, and defoulide, takyng in cursid hondis the holy vessels, that weren putt of other kyngis and citees, to ournyng and glorie of the place. Antiochus so aliened fro mind, or vndirstondyng, biheelde not, that, for synnys of men enhabitynge, the Lord was wroth a litil to the citee; for whiche thing and dispisyng bifelle aboute the place. Ellis ȝif it hadde not bifallen hem for to be wlappid in many synnys, as Heleodore, that was sent fro kyng Seleucus for to robbe the tresorie, also this anoon cummynge to shulde be beten, and forsothe put abac of hardinesse. Bot the Lord cheese not for the place the folc, bot for the folc the place. And therfor and that place is maad parcener of yuels of the peple; afterward forsothe it shal be maad felawe and of goodis, and it, that is forsaken in wrath of almiȝty God, eftesoone in grete recounseilyng of the Lord shal be enhaunsid with grete glorie. Therfore Antiochus, taken awey a thousand and eiȝte hundrid talentis of the temple, swiftly turnyde aȝein to Antioche, demynge hym for pryde to leedynge the lond to sayle, the se forsothe for to make iourney, for pride of thouȝt of soule. Forsothe he left prepostis, to tourment the folc, in Jerusalem sothely Philip, of the kyn of Friges, in maners crueler than hym self, of whom he is ordeynyd; forsothe in Garysym, Andronyk and Menelaus, whiche more greuously than other layen to citeseyns. And whanne he was sette aȝeinus Jewis, he sente an odious prince, Appollonye, with an oost two and twenti thousandis, comaundynge to hym for to slea alle of perfit age, wymmen and ȝunglyngis for to selle. Whiche whan he came to Jerusalem, feynynge pees, restide vn to the holy day of saboth. And thanne, the Jewis holdynge holy day, he comaundynge his for to take armers, and he stranglide togidre alle that camen forth to the spectacle, or biholdyng; and he rennynge aboute the citee with armyd men, slewȝ a grete multitude. Forsothe Judas Machabeus, that was the tenthe, wente in to desert place, and there he ledde lijf with his, among wijld beestis in hillis; and thei dwelten etinge mete of hay, lest thei weren parceners of defoulyng.
Bot not after myche tyme the kyng sente sum olde Antiochene, whiche shulde constreyne Jewis, that thei shulde transferre hem fro the lawis of faders and of God; also he shulde defoule the temple, that was in Jerusalem, and shulde clepe it of Jouis Olympij, and in Garysym, as thei weren, that enhabitiden the place, of Jouis hospitale. Forsothe the aȝein rennyng of yuels was warst and greuous to alle; for whi the temple was ful of lecherie and glotonye, and of men doynge lechery with horis, and wymmen baren yn hem self to halewid housis, at her own will, berynge with ynne tho thingis whiche it was not leefull. Also the auter was ful of vnleeful thingus, whiche weren forbeden bi lawis. Sothely nether sabothis weren kept, nether solemne days of faders, or cuntree, weren kept, nether symply, or pleynly, eny man knowlachide hym a Jew. Forsothe thei weren ledde with bitter neede in day of the kyngus birthe to sacrifices. And whanne holy thingus of a free chijld weren halewid, or wirshipid, thei, crownyd with edera, weren constreyned for to go about with the free chijld. Sothely the dome wente out in to the next citees of heithen men, Tholomeys procurynge, that liche manere thei shulden do aȝeinus Jewis, for to sacrifice; sothely that thei shulden slea hem, that wolden not passe to the ordenauncis of heithen men. Therfore it was wretchidnesse for to see these thingus. Forsothe two wymmen weren accusid, for to haue circumcidid her children; whom whan thei hadden ledde about opynly by the citee, the infauntis hangid at brestis, thei castiden hem doun by the wallis. Forsothe other goynge to gidir to the next denns, and priuely wirshipynge the day of saboth, whan thei weren shewid to Philip, thei weren brente in flawmes, for thi that thei dredden, or shamyden, for religioun and obseruaunce, for to bere help to hem self with hond. Forsothe Y biseche hem, that ben to redynge this boke, that thei dreden not, or haue not hydous, for contrarie casis; bot rette thei tho thingus that bifellen not to perishing, bot for to be to amendynge of oure kynde. Forsothe for to not suffre by myche tyme synners for to do of sentence, or dome, bot anoon for to ȝeue veniaunces, is shewyng of grete benyfice. Sothely, not as in other naciouns, the Lord abidith paciently, that whan the day of dome shal cume, he punyshe hem in plente of synnys, so and in vs he ordeyneth, that oure synnys turned aboute in to the eende, so at the last he venge in vs. For whiche thing sothely he neuer remoueth his mercy fro vs; forsothe he chastisynge his peple, in aduersitees forsaakith not. Bot these ben said to ȝou in fewe to monestynge of men redynge; now forsothe it is to cume to the tellynge. Therfore Eleasarus, oon of the former of scribis, or men of lawe, a man woxen in age, and fair in cheer, ȝanynge with open mouth, was compellid for to ete swynys flesh. And he biclippynge, or desijrynge, more gloriouse deth, than hateful lijf, wilfully wente byfore to tourment. Forsothe he byholdynge hou it bihoft for to go to, paciently susteynynge, ordeynyde for to not do vnleeful thingus for loue of lijf. Sothely these that stoden niȝ, moued to gydre by wickid mercy, for olde frenship of the man, takynge hym preuyly, preyden for to be brouȝt to fleshis, whiche it was leeful hym for to ete, that it were feyned for to haue eten, as the kyng comaundide, of the fleshe of sacrifice; that this thing feyned, he were delyuered fro deth; and for olde frenship of the man, thei diden this humanite, or curtasie, in hym. And he bigan for to thenke the worthi excellence of age, and his eelde, and the free born hoorenesse, or nobley, and fro childhode of beste lyuynge; and after the ordinauncis of holy lawe, and maad of God, he answerde soon, saiynge, hym for to wille to be sent bifore in to helle. Sothely he saith, It is not worthi to oure age for to feyne, that many ȝunge men, demynge Eleazarus of fourescore ȝeer and ten, for to haue passid to lyif of aliens, and thei be disceyued for my feynyng, and for litil tyme of corruptible lijf, and by this Y gete spott and execracioun, or cursidnesse, to myn eelde. For whi and ȝif in this tyme Y be delyuerd fro tourmentis of men, bot nether quyck nether dead Y shal ascape the hond of Almiȝti. Wherfore in passyng the lijf strongly, sothely Y shal appere worthi of age; forsothe Y shal leue stronge ensaumple to ȝunge men, ȝif Y be perfitly sett in onest deth with redy inwitt, and strongly for the worthiest and holyest lawis. These thingis said, anoon he was drawen to tourment. Forsothe these that ledden him, and a litil byfore weren mylder, ben turned in to wrath, for these wordis said of hym, whom thei demyden brouȝt forth by pride of herte. Bot whan he shulde be slayn with woundis, he inwardly sorewide, and saide, Lord, that hast holy kunnyng, opynly thou wost, for whan Y myȝt be delyuerd fro deth, Y susteyn hard sorewis of body; forsothe after soule wilfully Y suffre these thingus, for thi dreed. And sothely this man in this maner departide fro lijf; not oonly leeuynge the mynde of his deth to ȝunge men, bot and to alle the folc, to ensaumple of vertu and strengthe.
Forsothe it bifelle, seuen bretheren taken to gidre with the modir, for to be constreyned of the kyng for to touche aȝeinus leeue swynys flesche; hem tourmentid with scourgyngis, and tourment maad of bole lether. Forsothe oon of hem, that was the first, saith thus, What seekist thou? and what wolt thou lerne of vs? we ben redy for to dye, more than to breke the fadre lawis, or cuntree lawis, of God. And so the kyng wrothe comaundide pannes of brasse, and brasen pottis for to be tendid. Whiche anoon tendid, he comaundide the tunge for to be kitt off to hym that former spack, and skyn of the hed to be drawen awey, and the heeȝist hondis and feet of hym for to be kitt byfore, the other bretheren of hym and the moder biholdynge. And whan he was maad nowe vnprofitable bi alle thingis, he comaundide fijr for to be moued to hym, and ȝit vndirbrethinge to be brent, or turned, in the brasen panne; in whiche whan he was longe tourmentid, the othir bretheren togidre with the modir, monestiden, or counfortiden, hem to gidre for to dye strongly, sayinge, The Lord God shal biholde trewthe, and he shal counforte, or ȝeue solace, in vs, as Moyses declaride in byfore witnessynge of songe, and in his seruauntis he shal counforte. And so hym the first dead on this maner, thei ledden forth the suynge to be scornyd; and, the skyn of his hed drawen off, thei axiden, ȝif he shulde eet, byfore that he were punyshid in al the body, by alle membris by hem self. And he answerynge in cuntree voice, saide, Y shal not. For whiche thing, and this in suynge place of the first, resceyuede tourmentis. And he ordeynyd in the last spirit, saith thus, Sothely thou most wickid, or cursid, leesist vs in this lijf, bot the kyng of the world shal reyse, in aȝein rysyng of euerlastynge lijf, vs dead for his lawis. After this the thrid was scorned; and he axid, anoon broȝt forth the tunge, and stedfastly helde forth the hondis, and with trist saith, Of heuen Y weelde these thingus, bot for the lawis of God nowe Y dispise these same; for Y hope me to resceyuynge hem of hym. So that the kyng, and tho that weren with hym, wondriden the inwitt of the ȝunge man, that he ledde the tourmentis as nouȝt. And this thus dead, thei traueiliden the fourthe, also tourmentynge. And whan he was nowe at deth, he saith thus, Rather it is, men ȝouen to deth of men, for to abijd hoope of God, beinge to be reysid aȝein eft of hym; forsothe aȝein rijsyng to lijf shal not be to thee. And whan thei hadden stirid to the fifthe, thei traueiliden hym. And he biholdynge in to hym, saide, Thou hauynge power amonge men, whan thou art corruptible, dost what thou wolt; forsothe nyl thou gesse, oure kynn for to be forsaken of God. Sothely susteyne thou patiently, and thou shalt see the grete power of hym, hou he shal tourmente thee, and thi seed. After this thei ledden to and the sixt; and this bygynnynge for to dye, saith thus, Nyl thou erre ydely; forsothe we suffren these thingus for oure self, synnynge in to oure God, and thingus worthi of wondryng ben maad in vs; forsothe deme thou not, to beynge with outen peyn to thee, that thou hast temptid for to fiȝte aȝeinus God. Forsothe the moder wonderful aboue maner, and worthi the mynde of good men, whiche biholdynge seuen sonys perishynge vnder tyme of oo day, suffride in good inwitt, for hoope that she hadde in to God; she monestide eche of hem by voice of cuntree, strongly fulfillid with wijsdam, and ynsettinge mans ynwitt to wommans thouȝt, saide to hem, Sonys, Y wote not how ȝe apperiden in my wombe; forsothe nether Y haue ȝouen to ȝou spirit, and soule, and lijf, and Y my self ioynyde not to gidre the membris of eche; bot sothely the maker of nouȝt of the world, that fourmyde the birthe of man, and foonde bygynnynge of alle, shal ȝeelde eft to ȝou spirit, and lijf, with mercye, as now ȝe dispisen ȝour self for the lawis of hym. Forsothe Antiochus demynge hym for to be dispisid, and also dispisid by voice of the repreuynge, whan ȝit the ȝunger was alyue, not oonly he monestide by woordis, bot and with ooth he affermyde, to makynge hym rijche and blessid, and to hauynge freend, translatid fro cuntre lawis, and to ȝeuynge needful thingus. Bot whan the ȝunge man was not bowid to these thingis, the kyng clepide the modir, and softly counseilide her, that she shulde be maad to the ȝunge man in to helthe. Forsothe whan he monestide hir by many wordis, she bihiȝte hir to counseilinge hir sone. And so she bowyde doun to hym, scornynge the cruel tyraunt, saith in cuntree voice, Sone, haue mercy on me, that bare thee in wombe nyne monethis, and ȝaue mylk by three ȝeere, and nurishide, and in to this age fully brouȝte. Y axe, chijld, that thou biholde to heuen and erthe, and alle thingus that ben in hem, and vndirstonde, for God made hem of nouȝt, and kynde of men. So it shal be maad, that thou dreede not this tourmentour, bot thou maad worthi to thi bretheren, resceyue deeth, that in that mercy doynge Y resceyue thee with thi bretheren. Whan she ȝit said these thingus, the ȝunge man saith, Whom susteyne ȝe? Y obeye not to biddyng of the kyng, bot to precept of the lawe, that is ȝouen to vs by Moyses. Forsothe thou, that art maad fynder of al malice in to Ebrues, shalt not scape the hond of God. We sothely suffren these thingus for oure synnys; and ȝif oure Lord be a litil wrothe to vs for blamynge and chastisynge, bot eft he shal be recounseild to his seruauntis. Forsothe thou cursid, and of alle men most flagiciouse, or fullist of yuel doyngus, and stiryngus, nyl thou veynly be enhaunsid, by veyn fourmys enflawmed in to his seruauntis; sothely thou hast not scapid ȝit the dom of almiȝty God, and biholdynge alle thingus. For whi my bretheren now a litil sorew suffriden, and ben maad vndir the testament of euerlastynge lijf; thou sothely by dome of God shalt paye iust paynes of pride. Sothely Y, and as my bretheren, bitake my soule and body for the lawis of faders, or of cuntree; ynclepynge God, more rijply for to be maad helpful to oure folc, and thee with tourmentis and betyngus for to knowleche, for he is God aloone. For in me and in my bretheren the wrath of Almiȝty shal faile, whiche is iustly brouȝt yn vpon alle our kyn. Than the kyng kyndlid with wrath, was feers in to hym more cruely aboue alle, berynge vnworthily hym self scornyd. And he this sothely cleene dyede, by alle thingus tristynge in the Lord. Forsothe at the last the modir is waastid, or dead, after the sonys. Therfor of sacrifices, and ouer grete crueltees, is ynow said.
Forsothe Judas Machabeus, and thei that weren with hym, entriden priuely in to castels; and thei, cleepynge to gidre cosyns, and frendis, and takynge to hem that dwelten in Jurye, ledden out to sixe thousand men. And thei inclepiden the Lord, for to biholde in to the peple, that was defoulid of alle men; for to haue mercye of the temple, that was defoulid of vnpitous men; and for to haue mercy of distruyinge of the citee, that was anoon to be maad pleyn to gidre; and for to heere the voice of blood cryinge to him, and for to haue mynde of the wickidist dethis of lytil children innocentis, and of blasfemyes ȝouen to his name; and for to haue indignacioun on these thingus. And Machabeus, the multitude gadrid, was maad vnsuffreable to heithen men; forsothe the wrath of the Lord is conuertid in to mercye. And he aboue cummynge to castels and cytees, vnwarnyd, brente hem; ocupyinge couenable places, ȝaue not fewe sleayngis of enmys. Sothely in niȝtis he was most born to syche out rennyngis; and fame of his vertu was shed out euery wher. Forsothe Philip seeynge the man bi litil and litil for to cume to profit, or encrese, and ful ofte thingus bifalle to hym eesili, or in prosperite, wrote to Tholome, duyk of Celescirie and Fenyce, that he shulde bere help to the kyngis needis. And he swiftly sente Nychanore of Patrode, frend of the former, or worthier, ȝouen to hym not lesse than twenti thousandis of armyd folkis meynt to gidre, for to do awey al the kynde; and ioyned to hym Gorgie, a kniȝtly man, and in thingus of bateil most expert. Forsothe Nychanore ordeynede to the kyng, that he shulde fulfille the tribute that was to be ȝouen to Romayns, two thousand of talentis, of the caitifte of Jewis. And anoon he sente to cytees of the se coost, clepynge togidre to euyn byinge of boonde men of Jewis; byhetynge hym to sellynge nynty boond men for oo talent, not byholdynge to veniaunce that was to folewynge hym of the Almiȝty. Forsothe wher Judas foonde, he shewide to these Jewis that weren with hym, the cummynge of Nychanore. Of whom sume inwardly dreedynge, and not byleeuynge to riȝtwisnesse of God, weren turnyd in to fliȝt; other sothely, ȝif eny leften of hem, camen, and to gidre bisouȝten the Lord, for to delyuere hem of wickid Nychanore, whiche hadde solde hem bifore that he came niȝ; and thouȝ not for hem, for the testament that was to the fadris of hem, and for the yncleepyng of his holy name and grete on hem. Forsothe Machabeus, clepid to gidre seuen thousandis that weren with hym, preyide, that thei shulden not be reconseilid, nether shulden dreed the multitude of enmyes wickidly cummynge aȝeinus hem, bot strongly shulden stryue, or fiȝte; hauynge byfore the eeȝen the dispite that was in brouȝt in the holy place vniustly of hem, and also the wronge of citee, had in scornynge; ȝit also the ordynaunces of olde men distruyed to gidre. For whi he saith, Thei sothely tristen in armers to gidre and hardynesse; forsothe we tristen in the Lord almiȝty, that may do awey with oo lookyng, wille, or signe, and men cummynge aȝeinus vs, and al the world. Forsothe he monestide hem and of helpis of God, that ben don aȝeinus faders; and that vndir Senacheryb an hundrid foure score and fyue thousand pershiden; and of the batel that was to hem aȝeinus Galathas, in Babyloyn; wher ȝif it come to thing, or trewthe, felowis Macedoyns doutynge, thei alle six thousandis alone slewen an hundrid and twenty thousandis, for help ȝouen to hem fro heuen; and for these thingus thei hadden ful many benyfices. By these wordis thei ben maad stedfast, and redy for to dye for the lawis and cuntree. Sothely he ordeynyde his bretheren duykis, or leeders, to eche ordre, Symont, and Josephus, and Jonathas, to eche a thousand and fyue hundrid sugettid. Also to this thing, the holy boke red to hem Esdra, and a tokne ȝouen of Goddis help, in the first sheltrun he duyk, ioynyde with Nychanore. And the Almiȝty maad help to hym, thei slewen ouer nyne thousande of men; forsothe thei constreyneden the more part of Nychanoris oost, maad feble by woundis, for to flee. Forsothe the moneys of hem that camen to the bying of hem taken vp, on eche syde thei pursueden hem; bot thei turnyden aȝein closid to gidre bi an houre; for whi it was bifore the saboth, for whiche cause thei lastiden not pursuynge. Forsothe thei gadringe the armers of hem, and spuylis, diden saboth, blessinge the Lord, that delyuerde hem in this day, droppynge in to hem bygynnynge of mercye. Forsothe after the saboth thei departiden spuylis to the feble, and fadirlesse, and modirlesse, and widewis; and thei with hern hadden the residues. These thingus thus don, and commounly of alle men bisechynge maad, thei axiden the mercyful Lord, for to be recounseilid in to the eend to his seruauntis. And of these that weren with Tymothe and Bachides, stryuynge aȝeinus hem, thei slewen ouer twenty thousandis, and thei weeldiden heeȝ strengthis; and thei departiden mo preyes, euen porcioun to feble, faderlesse, and moderlesse, and widues, bot and to eldre men makynge. And whan thei hadden gadrid the armers of hem, diligently thei maden to gydre, or kepten, alle thingus in couenable places; forsothe thei baren to Jerusalem the residue spuylis. And thei slewen Philarces, that was with Tymothe, a man ful of grete trespassis, that had tourmentide Jewis in many thingus. And whan feestis for victorie weren don in Jerusalem, thei brenten hem that hadden brente holy ȝatis, that is to say, Calestenes, whan he hadde flowen in to sume hous; worthi meed ȝoolden to hem for her vnpitousnesse. Forsothe wickidist Nychanore, that brouȝte a thousand marchauntis to bying of Jewis, meekid, or maad lowe, bi help of the Lord, of hem whiche he gessid noon; the clothe of glorie putte doun, by mydil erthe fleeinge aloone, cam to Antioche, hauynge heiȝist infelicitee, or most wretchidnesse, of the deeth of his oost. And he that bihiȝte hym for to restore tribute to Romayns, of the caitiftee of men of Jerusalem, prechide Jewis for to haue oo defender God, and for hym to be vnable for to be woundid, for thei sueden lawis maad of hym.
In the same tyme Antiochus turnyde aȝein vnonestly fro Perse. Sothely he hadde entrid in to that citee, that is said Persibolis, and he temptide for to robbe the templis, and oppresse the citee; bot, the multitude rennynge togidre to armers, he is turned in to fliȝt; and so it bifelle, that Antiochus after the fliȝt loodly turnyde aȝein. And whan he came aboute Ebathana, he knewe what thingus ben don aȝeinus Nychanore and Tymothe. Forsothe he wroth demede in wrath, hym for to mow turne in to Jewis the wronge of hem, that dryuen him. And therefore he bad the chaar for to be led, with out ceesyng doynge iourney; heuenly dom dryuynge, for that he spac so proudly, hym to cummyng to Jerusalem, and to makynge it the gadrynge of sepulcre of Jewis. Bot the Lord God of Yrael, that byholdith alle thingus, smote hym with a wound incurable and inuisible; forsothe as he eendid this same word, an hard sorewe of entraylis toke hym, and bittir tourmentis of ynward thingis. And sothely iustly ynowȝ, forsothe he that hadde tourmentid the entrailis of other men, with many and newe tourmentis, thouȝ he in no manere ceesside of his malice. Forsothe ouer this he fulfillid with pride, brethinge fijr in ynwitt in to Jewis, and he comaundynge the neede for to be haastid, it byfelle, hym goynge in fersnesse for to falle of the chaar, and the membris for to be traueilid with the greuous hurtlyng to gidre of body. And he that was seen to hym seelf for to comaunde also to the wawis of the see, ouer mans maner fulfillid with pride, and for to weye in balauncis the heiȝtis of hillis, nowe meekid to erthe, was born in a beere, witnessynge in hym self the opyn vertu of God; so that wormes buyliden out of the body of the vnpyteuous man, and the quyck fleshis of hym with sorewis fleetiden out. Also with sauour of hym, and stynkyng, the oost was greeued; and he that a lytil byfore demyde hym to touche the sterris of heuen, no man miȝte beere hym, for vnsuffryng of stynke. Therfore here of he ledde doun of greuouse pride, bygan for to cum to knowynge of hym self, warnyd by Goddis plage, or vengeaunce, by alle momentis his sorewis takynge encresis. And whan he miȝte not nowe suffre his stynke, thus he saith, It is iust for to be suget to God, and a deadly not for to feele euen thingus to God. Forsothe the cursid man preyede the Lord these thingis, of whom he was not to getynge mercy. And the citee, to whom he hastynge came, for to leede it doun to erthe, and for to make a sepulcre of thingus born togidre, nowe he desijreth for to ȝeelde free. And the Jewis, whom he said hym self to hauynge nether sothely worthi of sepulture, bot to betakeinge to foulis and wijld beestis, for to be to-drawen, and to distruyng with litil children, now he bihetith to makyng euen to Atynyens, or men of Atenys; also to ournynge with best ȝiftis the holy temple, whom he robbide bifore, and to multipliynge holy vessels, and to ȝeeuynge of his rentis costis perteynynge to sacrifices; ouer these thingis and hym to beynge a Jewe, and to walkyng by eche place of the lond, and to prechynge the power of God. Bot sorewis not ceesynge, forsothe the iust dome of God had aboue come in to hym, he dispeyrynge wrote to Jewis, in to maner of biseechynge, epistlis, conteynynge these thingis. To the best citeseyns, Jewis, most helthe, and wele for to fare, and to be ryche, or in prosperite, the kyng and prince Antiochus. Ȝif ȝe faren wele, and ȝoure sonys, of sentence alle thingus ben to ȝou, we don most thankyngus. And Y in sekenesse ordeyned, sothely myndeful of ȝou benygnly, turnynge aȝein fro places of Persis, and cauȝte with greuouse enfirmytee, led needful for to haue cure for comyn profit; not dispeirynge my self, bot hauynge myche hope of scapyng the enfirmyte. Forsothe Y biholdynge that and my fadir, in what tymes he ledde oost in heeȝer placis, shewide, who after hym shulde resceyue princehod; that ȝif eny contrarie thing bifelle, or hard thing were told, theese that weren in cuntrees, witynge to whom the summe, or charge, of alle thingus was left, shulden not be trublid. To these thingus Y biholdynge of next, alle miȝty men and neiȝboris aspyinge tymes, and abijdynge cummynge, haue ordeyned my sone Antiochus kyng, whom Y, rennynge aȝein oft in to heeȝer rewmys, commendide, or toke in to keepyng, to many of ȝou, and Y wrote to hym what thingus ben suget. And so Y preye ȝou, and axe, myndeful of benefices openly for to vse and priuyli, that eche of ȝou kepe feith to me, and to my sone. Forsothe Y trist, hym to do myldly, and manly, or curteysly, and suynge my purpose for to be comoun to ȝou. Therfore the man queller and blasfeme smyten warst, and as he had tretide other, in pilgrimage in mounteyns, in wretchidful deth is sett fro lijf. Forsothe Philip, his euen souker, transferride the body; whiche, dreedynge the sone of Antiochus, wente to Tholome Philometore, in to Egypt.
Forsothe Machabeus, and thei that weren with hym, the Lord defendynge hem, resceyuyde sothely the temple, and citee. Forsothe he distruyide the auters, that aliens maden bi streetis, and the templis of washyng. And the temple purgid, thei maden an other auter, and of stoon fijrid, or flyntys, fijre conceyued, thei offriden sacrifices aftir two ȝeer, and encense, and lanternys, and puttiden looues of proposicioun. Whiche thingus don, thei, cast doun in to erthe, preyeden the Lord, lest thei fellen more in to siche yuels, bot and ȝif eny tyme thei hadden synnyd, that thei shulden be chastisid of hym more eysili, and shulden not be taken to barbaris, or heithen, and blasfeme men. Forsothe in what day the temple was defoulid of aliens, it bifelle the same day clensyng for to be maad, in the fyue and twentithe of the monethe, that was Casleu. And with gladnesse in eiȝte days thei diden in to maner of tabernaclis, bithenkynge that bifore a litil of tyme thei hadden don the solempne day of tabernaclis in hillis and dennys, in custum of beestis. For whiche thing thei baren bifore cerclis, and greene braunchis, and palmes, to hym that ȝaue prosperitee for to clense his place. And thei demyden with commoun heest, and with dom, to alle the folc of Jewis, in alle ȝeers for to do these feest days. And the passyng, or eendyng, of lijf of Antiochus, that was clepid noble, had it thus. Now forsothe we shulen telle of Eupator, the sone of vnpitouse Antiochus, what thingis ben don, breggynge the euyls that ben don in bateilis. This sothely, the rewme resceyuyd, ordeynyde on needis of the rewme summan Lisias, prince of kniȝthod, of Fenyce and Sirie. For whi Tholome, that was said Macer, ordeynyde for to beholdynge of iust aȝeinus Jewis, and most for wickidnesse that was don in to hem, and pesibly for to do with hem. Bot for this thing he, accusid of freendis anentis Eupator, whan oft the traitour herde, for that he hadde forsaken Cypre, bitaken to hym of Philometore, and translatide to Antiochus noble, also hadde gon awey fro hym, with venym eendide the lijf. Forsothe Gorgias, whan he was duyk of places, cumlingus taken to, oft ouercam Jewis in bateil. Forsothe Jewis that helden couenable strengthis, resceyueden men dryuen fro Jerusalem, and temptiden for to fiȝte. These forsothe that weren with Machabee, by preyers preyinge the Lord, that he were helper to hem, maden feersnesse, or saut, in to strengthis of Ydumeys. And thei by myche strengthe aȝein stoondynge, weeldiden places, slewen men rennynge aȝein, and strangliden alle to gidre, not lesse than fyue and twenty thousandis. Forsothe sume whan thei fledden to gidre in to two toures ful stronge, hauynge al apparel to aȝein fiȝte, Machabeus to ouer cummynge of hem Symont left, and Josephus, and eft Zachee, and hem that weren with hem, many ynowȝ, he is turned aȝein to thoo bateils that constreynyden more. Sothely these that weren with Symont, led by coueitise, of summe that weren in the toures ben conseilid by money; and seuente thousand double dragmes taken, thei leften summe to flee out. Forsothe whan that thing that was don, was tolde to Machabeus, the princis of the peple gadrid, he acuside, that thei hadden soulde bretheren for money, the aduersaries of hym dismittid, or delyuered. Therfore he slewȝ these maad traitours, and anoon he ocupide the two toures. Forsothe in armers and hondis doynge alle thingis welsumly, he slewȝ in the two strengthis more than twenti thousandis. And Tymothe, that byfore was ouercummen of Jewis, an oost of straunge multitude gadrid togidre, and the ridyng, or horsmen, of Asie gadrid, came to as with armers, to takynge Judee. Forsothe Machabeus, and thei that weren with hym, hym neiȝinge, bisouȝten God, springinge the hed with erthe, and byfore gird the leendis with heiris, thei fooldid doun at heeȝnesse of the auter, that he helpful to hem, forsothe were enmye to the enmyes of hem, and to the aduersaries were aduersarie, as the lawe saith. And so after preyer, armers taken, thei goynge forth fer fro the citee, and, maad next to enmyes, saten aȝein. Forsothe in the firste rysynge of the sunne, bothe ioyneden; these sothely hauynge the Lord biheeter of victorie and prosperitee; thei forsothe hadden her owne inwitt, or wille, duyk of bateil. Bot whan grete fiȝt was, fyue faire men, in horsis with golden bridels, appeeriden to the aduersaries fro heuen, ȝeeuynge leedyng to Jewis; of whom two hauynge Machabeus in the mydil, sett about with her armers, kepten sound. Forsothe thei castiden dartis and leytis in to aduersaries; of whiche thing and thei confusid in blyndnesse, and fulfillid with perturbacioun, fellen doun. Forsothe there ben slayn of fote men twenty thousand and fyue hundrid, and horsmen sixe hundrid. Sothely Tymothe fledde in to a stronge hold of Gasara, to whom Cereas was souerayne, or keeper. Forsothe Machabeus, and thei that weren with hym, gladynge, biseegiden the hold foure days. And thei that weren with ynne, tristinge in sikernesse of the place, aboue maner cursiden, and castiden cursid woordis. Bot whan the fifthe day shynyde, twenty ȝunge men of these that weren with Machabeus, kyndlid in inwittis for the blasfeme, manly wenten to the wall, and with feerse inwitt goynge, thei stieden vp; bot and other also styinge vp, assailiden for to brenne the toures and ȝatis, and to gidre brenne the cursers quyck. Forsothe by contynuel two days thei waastynge the hold slewen Tymothe, hydynge hym self, founden in sume place; and thei slewen his brother Sereas, and Appollofanes. Whiche thingis don, thei blessiden the Lord in ympnys and confessiouns, whiche dide gret thingus in Israel, and ȝaue to hem victorie.
Bot a litil tyme after, Lisias, procuratour of the kyng, and niȝ, and prepost of needis, beerynge greuously of these thingis that bifellen, gadrid foure score thousandis, and al rydynge, or horsmen, came aȝeinus Jewis, demynge hym self to makynge the citee sothely taken a dwellyng to heithen men, forsothe to hauynge the temple in to wynnynge of money, as other templis of heithen men, and by eche ȝeeris prestehode vendible, or able to be soold; not bythenkynge the power of God, bot in mynde maad with outen bridil, tristide in multitude of fote men, and in thousandis of horsmen, and in foure score olyfauntis. Sothely he gon in to Judee, and cummynge niȝ to Bethsura, that was in a streit place, fro Jerusalem in space of fyue furlongis, fauȝte aȝeinus that strengthe. Sothely as Machabeus, and thei that weren with hym, knewe strengthis for to be aȝeinus fouȝte, with weepyng and teeris preyeden the Lord, and al the cumpany to gidre, for to sende a good aungel to help of Yrael. And he the first Machabeus, armers taken, monestide other for to take togidre perel with hym, and bere help to her bretheren. And whan thei wenten forth togidre with redy inwitt fro Jerusalem, an horsman apeeride goynge byfore hem in whijt clothe, and golden armers, florishynge a shaft. Thanne alle to gidre blessiden the mercyful Lord, and woxen stronge in ynwittis, and redy for to perse not oonly men, bot and most feers beestis, and yrun wallis. Therfore thei wenten redy, hauynge of heuen an helper, and the Lord hauynge mercy on hem. Sothely by custume of lyouns, in feersnesse thei hurlynge in to enmyes, castiden doun of hem elleuen thousand of fotemen, and of horsmen a thousand and sixe hundrid. Sothely thei turnyden alle in to fliȝt; forsothe many of hem woundid, ascapiden nakid, bot and he Lisias fouly fleeynge ascapide. And for he was not witlesse, he rettynge with hym self the makyng lesse don aȝeinus hym, and vndirstoondynge the Ebrues for to be vnouercumen, enforsinge, or tristynge, to help of almiȝty God, he sente to hem, and bihiȝte hym to consentyng to alle thingus that ben iust, and to compellynge the kyng for to be maad freend. Forsothe Machabeus grauntide to the preyers of Lisias, in alle thingis counseilynge to profit; and what euer thingis Machabeus wrote to Lisias of Jewis, the kyng grauntide hem. For whi epistlis weren wryten to Jewis fro Lisias, sothely conteynynge this maner. Lisias to the peple of Jewis, helthe. Joon and Abesalon, that ben sente fro ȝou, bitakynge writtis, axiden, that Y fulfulle thoo thingis that weren signyfied by hem. Therfore what euer thingis miȝten be brouȝte forth to the kyng, Y expounyde, and whiche the kyng suffride, Y grauntyde. Therfore ȝif in needis ȝe shuln kepe feith, also hennus forth Y shal tempte for to be cause of good thingis to ȝou. Of other thingis sothely Y commaundide bi alle wordis, and to these and to hem that ben sente of me, for to speke to gidre with ȝou. Fare ȝe wel. In the hundrid ȝeer and eiȝte and fourtithe, the foure and twentithe day of the moneth Dyoscorus. Forsothe the pistle of the kyng conteynyde these thingis. Kyng Antyochus to Lisias, brother, helthe. Oure fadris translatid amonge goddis, we willynge hem that ben in oure rewme for to do with oute noyse, and for to ȝeue diligence to her thingis, han herd Jewis not to haue assentid to the fadre, for to be translatid to the custum of Greekis, bot wille for to holde her ordynaunce, and therfore for to axe of vs, her lawful thingus for to be grauntid to hem. Therefore we willynge and this folc for to be quyet, ordeynynge han demyd, the temple for to be restorid to hem, that thei shulden do after the custom of her gretter men. Therfore thou shalt do wel, ȝif thou shalt sende to hem, and shalt ȝeue the riȝthond; that, oure wille knowen, thei be in good inwitt, and serue to her owne profitis. Sothely to the Jewis the kyngis pistle was siche. Kyng Antiochus to the senate of Jewis, and to other Jewis, helthe. Ȝif ȝee faren welle, so it as we wolen, bot and we self faren wel. Menelaus came to vs, sayinge, ȝou for to wilne for to go doun to ȝoure, that ben anentis ȝou. To these therfore that dwellen to gidre, til the thrittith day of the moneth Sandici we ȝeuen riȝthondis of sykyrnesse, that Jewis vse metis, and her lawis, as and byfore; and no man of hem eny more suffre disese of these thingus, that ben don by ignoraunce. Sothely we senten and Menelaus, that shal speke to ȝou. Fare ȝe wel. In the hundrid ȝeer and eiȝte and fourtithe, the fiftenthe of the moneth Sandici, also Romayns senten an epistle, hauynge it thus. Quintus Menius and Titus Manylius, legatis of Romayns, to the peple of Jewis, helthe. Of these thingis that Lisias, cosyn of the kyng, grauntide to ȝou, and we grauntiden. Forsothe of whiche thingus he demyde to be tolde aȝein to the kyng, anoon sende ȝe sume man, diligentlyer spekyng amonge ȝou, that we deme as it acordith to ȝou. Forsothe we gon to Antiochie, and therfore haste ȝe for to aȝein write, that and we wite of what wille ȝe ben. Fare ȝe wel. In the hundrid ȝeer and foure and fourtithe, the fiftenthe day of the moneth Sandici.
These couenauntis maad, Lisias wente to the kyng; forsothe Jewis ȝauen werk to erthe tiliyng. Bot these that dwelten, or wern resident, Tymothe, and Appollonye, sone of Genney, bot and Jerom, and Demophon proud, and Nychanore, Cipriarchis, or prince of Cipre, suffriden not hem for to do in silence and quyet. Forsothe men of Joppyn han don siche a felony; thei preyeden Jewis, with whiche thei dwelten, for to stye vp smale bootis, whiche thei hadden maad redy, with wyues, and sones, as noon enmytees amonge hem vndirliggynge. Forsothe after the commoun dom of the citee, and hem acordynge, and for cause of pees, and hauynge no thing suspect, whan thei camen in to deep, thei drenchiden two hundrid, not lesse. Whiche cruelte as Judas knewȝ don in to men of his folc, he comaundide to men that weren with hym; and, inclepid the iust domesman God, he came aȝein slears of bretheren; and sothely by niȝt brente the hauen, he brente the bootis, forsothe he slewȝ by swerd hem that fledden fro fijre. Whan he hadde don thus these thingus, he wente awey, as eft to turnyng aȝein, and vtterly to distruye alle men of Joppe. Bot whan he knewȝ, and hem that weren at Jamnie to wilne for to do liche manere to Jewis dwellynge with hem, and to Jamnites he aboue came by niȝt, and brente the hauen, with shippis; so that the liȝt apperide to Jerusalem fro two hundrid furlongis and fourty. Whan now they hadden gon thennus by nyne furlongis, and maden iourney to Tymothe, men of Arabye ioynyden with hym, fyue thousand men, and horsmen fyue hundrid. And whan stronge fiȝte was maad, and by help of God wente, or byfelle, esily, or by prosperitee, the residue of men of Arabye axiden of Judas the riȝthondis for to be ȝouen to hem; byheetynge hem self to ȝeuynge lesewis, and other thingis to profityng. Forsothe Judas demynge verrely hem profitable in many thingis, bihiȝte pees; and, the riȝthondis taken, thei departiden to her tabernaclis. Forsothe he assailide and sume sad citee by bryggis, and about sett by wallis, whiche was enhabitid of cumpanyes of heithen men meynd, bothe men and wymmen, to whom the name Casphym. Forsothe these that weren with ynne, tristinge in stablenesse of wallis, and in aparel of fodis, diden slowlicher, to terynge, or terrynge, Judas with cursyngis; and blasfemynge, and spekynge whiche thingus is not leeful. Sothely Machabeus, ynclepide the grete prince of the world, whiche with outen wetheris, that ben engynes lijk to wetheris, and with outen engynes, in tymes of Jhesu, or Josue, castide doun Jerico, he hurlide feersly to the wallis; and the citee taken by wille of the Lord, he dide vnnoumbreable sleayngis; so that the pool of stondynge water of two furlongis of breede infect, or meynd, with blood was seen to flowe. Fro thennus thei wenten seuen hundreth and fifty furlongis, and camen in to Caracha, to the Jewis that ben clepid Tubianey. And sothely thei cauȝten not Tymothe in tho places; and no need fully don, he turnyde aȝein, most sad strengthe left in sume place. Forsothe Dositheus and Sosipater, that weren duykis with Machabeus, slewen ten thousand men left of Tymothe in the strengthe. And Machabeus sixe thousand ordeynyd aboute hym, and ordeynd by cumpanyes, wenten forth aȝeinus Tymothe, hauynge an hundrid and fyue and twenty thousand of foot men, and of horsmen two thousand and fyue hundrid. Forsothe the cummyng of Judas knowen, Tymothe bifore sente wymmen, and sonys, and other aparel in to a strengthe that is said Carmon; forsothe it was vnable to be ouercummen, and hard in goynge to, for streytnesse of places. And whan the first cumpaignye of Judas appeeride, dreed is ynsmyten to the enmyes of the presence of God, that biholdith alle thingis; and thei ben turnyd in to fliȝt, an other fro an other, so that they weren cast doun of her own more, and with strookis of her swerdis thei weren feblid. Judas sothely aȝeinstode gretely, punyshynge vnholy men, and he keste doun of hem thritty thousand men. Thymothe sothely felle in to the partis of Dositheus and Sosipatris; and he axide by many preyers, that he were delyuerd quyck; for that he hadde fadris, and moderis, and bretheren, manye of Jewis, whom it shulde byfalle for to be disceyued by his deth. And whan he hadde ȝouen feith, hym to restorynge hem after thing ordeynd, thei dismittiden hym vnhurt, for helthe of bretheren. Forsothe Judas turnyde aȝein fro Carmon, slayn fyue and twenti thousandis. After the fliȝt of these and deeth, he mouede the oost to Effron, a stronge citee, in whom the multitude of diuerse folc dwelte; and stronge ȝunge men, stondynge togidre for wallis, strongly fouȝten aȝeinus; forsothe in this weren manye engynys, and appareils of dartis. Bot whan thei hadden inclepid the Almiȝty, that by his power brekith togidre the miȝtis of enmyes, thei token the citee, and castiden doun of hem that weren with ynne fyue and twenty thousand. Fro thennus thei wenten to the citee of Scitis, whiche was fer fro Jerusalem sixe hundrid furlongis. Forsothe witnessinge these Jewis that weren anentis Scitopolistis, that thei weren had of hem benignly, ȝhe, in tymys of aduersite, and that thei diden myldly with hem, thei doynge thankyngis to hem, and also stirynge fro hennus forth for to be benigne aȝeinus her kyne, camen to Jerusalem, the solempne day of weekis neiȝinge. And after Pentecost, thei wenten aȝeins Gorgias, prepoost of Ydume. Sothely he wente out with thre thousand fote men, and foure hundrid horsmen; whiche gon to gidre, it befelle a fewe of Jewis for to falle. Forsothe Dositheus, sum horsman of Bachenoris, a stronge man, heelde Gorgias; and whan he wolde take hym quyck, sum horsman of Tracis felle vpon hym, and kitte of his shuldre, and so Gorgias fleiȝ in to Maresame. And hem that weren with Hesdrym lengre fiȝtynge, and maad wery, Judas inclepide the Lord, helper, and duyk of bateil, for to be maad benigne, with cuntree voice, and with ympnys reisynge crye, smote fliȝt to kniȝtis of Gorgias. Forsothe Judas, the oost gadrid, came in to the citee Odollam; and whan the seuenthe day aboue came, thei after custom clensid, in the place diden saboth. And in the suynge day Judas came with his, for to take awey the bodies of men cast doun, and for to putte with fadris, and modris, in sepulcris of fadris. Forsothe thei founden vndir cootis of slayn men, of the ȝiftis of ydolis that weren at Jamniam, fro whom the lawe forbedith Jewis; therfore it is maad knowen to alle men, for this cause hem for to haue fallen. And so alle blessiden the iust dom of the Lord, whiche maad priuy thingus knowen. And so thei conuertid to preyers, preyeden, that thilk trespas that was don, were bitaken to forȝetyng. And sothely the strengist Judas monestide the peple, for to keepe hem with out synne, vnder eeȝen seeynge, what thingus ben don for synnys of hem that ben cast doun. And collacioun, or spekinge to gidre maad, he sente twelue thousand dragmes of syluer to Jerusalem, for to be offrid sacrifice for synnes of dead men, wele and religiously bythenkynge of aȝein rysyng; sothely ȝif he hopide not, hem that fellen to rysynge aȝein, it was seen superflue and veyne for to preye for dead men; and for he biheelde, that thei that token slepynge, or deth, with pitee, hadden best grace kept. Therfore holy and helthful thenkynge is, for to preye for dead men, that thei be vnbounden fro synnus.
In the hundrid and nyne and fourtithe ȝeer Judas knewȝ, Antiochus Eupator for to cume with multitude aȝeinus Judee; and with hym Lisias, procuratoure and prepoost of needis, with hym hauynge an hundrid and ten thousand of foot men, and of horsmen fyue thousand, and olyfauntis two and twenti, chaaris with sykelis three hundrid. Forsothe and Menelaus ioynyde hym to hem, and with grete disceit bisouȝte Antiochus, not for helthe of the cuntree, bot hopynge hym for to be ordeynd in to princehod. Bot the kyng of kyngis reiside the ynwittis of Antiochus in to the synner; and Lisias shewynge, or conseilynge at ere, him for to be cause of alle yuels, he comaundide, as custome is to hem, hym taken to, for to be slayn in the same place. Sothely in the same place was a toure of fifty cubitis, hauynge of eche syde an gadryng of ashe; this hadde biholdynge in to dounward. Fro thennus he comaundide the sacrileger, or cursid man, for to be cast doun in to the ashe, alle men puttynge hym forth to the deth. And bi siche lawe it bifelle the breker of lawe for to dye, nether Menelaus for to be ȝouen to erthe. And forsothe iustly ynowȝ; for whi for he dide many trespassis aȝeinus the auter of God, whos fijr and ashe was holy, he is dampnyd in deth of ashe. Bot the kyng with out brydil in mynde, came to shewynge hym wars to Jewis, than his fadir. Whiche thingis knowen, Judas comaundide the peple niȝt and day for to ynclepe the Lord; that as euermore, and nowe he shulde helpe hem; whiche sothely dredden for to be priued of lawe, and cuntree, and of the holy temple; and that he suffride not the peple, that a whijl goon, hadde a litil quycknyd aȝein, for to be suget eftsoonys to blasfeme naciouns. And so alle men doynge togidere that thing, and axinge mercy of the Lord with weepyng, in fastyngis by alle three days cast doun, Judas monestide hem for to make hem redy. Forsothe he with eldre men thouȝte, bifore that the kyng mouede oost to Judee, and gate the citee, for to go out, and bitake to dom of the Lord the out goynge, or eende, of the thyng. And so ȝeuynge power of alle thingis to God, maker of nouȝt of the world, and monestynge hise for to fiȝte strongly, and vn to deth, for lawes, temple, citee, cuntree, and citeseyns for to stonde, ordeynyde the oost aboute Modyn. And tokyn ȝouen to his of victorie of God, the strongist ȝunge men chosen, bi nyȝt assaylinge the kyngis halle in tentis, he slewȝ fourtene thousand men, and the most of olyfauntis, with these that weren putt aboue. And with heeȝist dreed and distourblyng thei fulfillynge the tentis of enmyes, and thingus eisily, or welsumly, don, wenten awey. Forsothe this is don the day liȝtynge, the proteccioun of the Lord helpynge hym. Bot the kyng, taken tast of hardynesse by craft of Jewis, temptide hardynessis of placis; and he mouede the tentis to Bethsura, that was a stronge hold of Jewis; bot he was dryuen hurtlid and menushid. Forsothe to these that weren withynne, Judas sente needful thingus. Forsothe Rodochus, summan of the oost of Jewis, telde out to enmyes priuytees; whiche souȝt is taken, and shitt to gidre. Eftsone the kyng hadde word to hem that weren in Bethsura, ȝaue the riȝt hond, resceyuede, wente awey. Ioynyde with Judas is ouercummen. Forsothe as he knewȝ Philipp for to haue rebellid at Antiochie, whiche was left on needis, he astonyed in mynde, bisowȝte Jewis, and suget to hem, swerith of alle thingis, of whiche it is seen iust; and recounseilinge offride sacrefice, wirshipide the temple, and puttide ȝiftis. He byclippide Machabeus, and made hym duyk and prince fro Tholomaida vnto Gerreyns. Sothely as he came to Tholomaida, men of Tholomaida baren greuously the accordyng of frendship, hauynge indignacioun, lest perauenture thei braken pees. Than Lisias styede vp the dom place, and expounyde resoun, and ceeside the peple, and turnyde aȝein to Antioche; and this maner the kyngis goynge out and turnynge aȝein wente forth.
Bot after tyme of three ȝeere Judas knewȝ, and thei that weren with hym, Demetrie Seleucus with stronge multitude, and shippis, by the hauen of Tripolis for to haue styede to couenable placis, and haue holden cuntrees aȝeinus Antiochus, and his duyk Lisias. Forsothe sum Alchymus, that was heeȝist prest, bot wilfully was defoulid in tyme of mengynge to gidre, biholdinge in no manere helthe for to be to hym, nether accesse, or cummyng to, to the auter, came to kyng Demetrye, in the hundrid and fouretithe ȝeer, offringe to hym a golden crown, and palme, ouer these thingis and offringe vessels, that weren seen for to be of the temple; and sothely in that day was stille. Forsothe he getynge a couenable tyme of his woodnesse, and he clepid of Demetrie to counseile, and axid with what thingis and conseilis Jewis enforsiden, answerde, Thei that ben said Assideys of Jewis, to whom Judas Machabeus is souereyn, nuryshen bateils, and mouen discenciouns, nether suffren the rewme for to be quyet. For whi and Y defraudid of glorie of fader and modir, sothely Y saye, of heeȝist presthod, came hidir, first sothely keepynge feith to the kyngis profitis, the secounde tyme sothely counseilynge to citesayns, for whi by shrewidnesse of hem alle our kyn is traueilid not beste. Bot Y preye, thou kyng, alle these thingus knowen, byholde to the cuntree and kyn, after thi manlynesse shewid to alle men. For whi as long as Judas is aboue, or alyue, it is impossible pees for to be to needis. Forsothe siche thingis said of hym, and other frendis, hauynge hem enmyly, enflawmiden Demetrie aȝeinus Judee. Whiche anoon sente Nychanore, prepost of olifauntis, duyk in to Judee, comaundementis ȝouen for to take hym Judas quyck sothely, for to scatere sothely hem that weren with hym, and for to ordeyn Alchymus heeȝist prest of the most temple. Than heithen men that fledden Judas fro Judee, flocmele ioynyden hem to Nychanore, gessynge the myseistees and dethis of Jewis prosperitees of her thingus. And so the cummynge of Nychanore herd, and the cummynge to gidre of naciouns, Jewis spreynt with erthe preyeden hym, that ordeynyde his peple in to with outen eende for to keepe, and whiche keuerde, or defendide, his part with opyn signys. Forsothe the duyk comaundynge, anoon thei moueden fro thennus, and camen togidre to the castel Dessau. Symont forsothe, brother of Judas, ioynyde with Nychanore, bot he is to gidre broken with sudeyn cummynge of aduersaries. Nethelese Nychanore heerynge the vertu of Judas felowis, and gretenesse of ynwytt, whiche thei hadden for stryues of the cuntree, dredde for to make dom of blood. Wherfore he byfore sente Possydonye, and Theodoce, and Mathie, for to ȝeue riȝthondis, and take. And whan longe counseil was don of these thingis, and he duyk hadde told to the multitude, oo sentence was of alle, for to graunte to frenshipis. And so thei ordeynyden a day, in whiche thei shulden do priuyli bitwixe hem self; and to eche sellis, or smale setis, ben brouȝt forth, and putt. Forsothe Judas comaundide armed men for to be in couenable placis, lest per auenture of enmyes eny thyng of yuel spronge; and thei maden a couenable speche to gidre. Forsothe Nychanore dwelte in Jerusalem, and no thing did yuel; and he lefte flockis of cumpanyes, that weren gadrid. Forsothe he hadde Judas euermore derworth of ynwytt, and was bowid to the man; and preyde hym for to wedde a wijf, and to gendre sonys; and he made weddyngis, quyetly dide, and lyueden comounly, or togidre. Alchymus forsothe, seeynge the charite of hem to gidre, and accoordyngus, came to Demetrie, and saide, Nychanore for to assente to alyen thingis, and to haue ordeynd Judas, traytour of the rewme, successoure to hym. And so the kyng maad sharp, and with siche warst accusyngis terrid to wrath, wrote to Nychanore, sayinge, hym sothely for to bere greeuously of acoordyng of frenship, nethelese for to comaunde for to sende Machabeus bounden to Antiochie. Whiche thingis knowen, Nychanore was astonyed, and greuously bare, ȝif he made void tho thingis that acordiden, he no thing hirt, or harmed, of the man; bot for he miȝte not aȝeinstonde the kyng, he kepte couenabletee, in whiche he shulde perfourme the maundement. And Machabeus seeynge Nychanore for to do with hym more sternly, and feerslier ȝeuynge custumable cummyng to gidre, vndirstondynge this feersnesse for to be not of good, a fewe of his gadrid, he hid hym fro Nychanore. Whiche thing as he knewȝ, hym strongly byfore cummen of the man, he came to the most and holiest temple, and he comaundide to the prestis offrynge wont oostis, or sacrifices, the man for to be taken to hym. Whiche sayinge with othe, for to not wyte, wher he was that was souȝt, he stretchynge forth the hond to the temple, swore, Ȝif ȝe shuln not bitake to me Judas bounden, Y shal leede doun this temple of God in to pleyn, and digge out the auter, and Y shal halewe this temple to the free fadir. And these thingis said, he wente awey. Forsothe the prestis holdynge forth hondis in to heuen, ynclepiden hym that euer is forfiȝter of the folc of hem, sayinge these thingus, Thou, Lord of vnyuersitee, or of alle creatures, that of no thing hast need, woldist the temple of thin habitacioun for to be maad in vs. And nowe, thou holy of al holy, Lord, kepe in to with outen eende this hous vndefoulid, that a lytil goon was clensid. Forsothe Rasias, sum of the eldre men of Jerusalem, was accusid to Nychanore, a man, louer of the citee, and wel heerynge, that for affeccioun, or loue, was clepid fadre of Jewis. This man many tymes helde purpose of continence in Jewrie, apaied for to bitake body and soule of perseueraunce, or lastyng. Forsothe Nychanore willynge for to shewe the hate, that he hadde aȝeinis Jewis, sente fyue hundrid kniȝtis, for to take hym. Forsothe he gesside, ȝif he hadde disceyuyde hym, hymself to ȝeuynge most deth to Jewis. Forsothe cumpanyes coueitynge for to falle in to his hous, and for to breke the ȝate, and for to moue to fijr, whanne now he was taken, he axide, or assailide, hym self with swerd; cheesynge for to dye nobly, rather than for to be maad suget to synners, and aȝeinis his birthis for to be ledd with vnworthi wrongis. Bot whan by haastynge with vncerteyn stroke he hadde ȝouen wounde, and cumpanyes bitwixe dores brasten ynne, he rennynge aȝein hardily to the walle, castide doun hym self manly in to the cumpanyes. Whiche swiftly ȝeuynge place to his fall, he came by the mydil hatrel, and ȝit whijl he brethide, he, in ynwitt kyndlid, roose. And whan his blood with grete flowynge flowide doun, and with most greuos woundis he was woundid, bi rennyng he passide the cumpanye; and stoondynge vpon sum heeȝ stoon, and now maad with outen blood, biclippynge his entraylis with bothe hondis, castide forth on the cumpanyes, he ynclepynge the lordshiper of lijf and spirit, that he shulde ȝeelde eftsonys these thingis to hym; and thus he is dead fro lijf.
Forsothe as Nychanore foonde Judas for to be in places of Samarye, he thouȝte in the day of saboth with al feersnesse for to ioyne bateil. Forsothe Jewis, that sueden hym by need, sayinge, Do thou not so feersly and heithenly, bot ȝeue honour to the day of halewyng, and wirshipe thou hym, that biholdith alle thingus. And he vnblessid, axide, Ȝif there is a miȝti in heuen, that comaundide the day of sabothis for to be don? And hem answerynge, There is oo Lord, and he in heuen miȝti, that comaundide the seuenthe day for to be don. And he saith, And Y am miȝti vpon erthe, whiche comaunde armers for to be taken, and needis of the kyng for to be fulfillid. Nethelese he gate not, for to perfourme counseil. And sothely Nychanore with souereyn pride enhaunsid, thouȝte for to ordeyne a comoun victorie of Judas. Forsothe Machabeus tristide euermore with al hope, help to cummynge to hym of the Lord, and monestide hise, that thei shulden not inwardly dreede at the cummynge to of naciouns, bot shulden haue in mynde the helpis don to hem of heuen, and nowe shulden hoope of Almiȝty the victorie to cummyng to hem. And spekynge to hem of lawe, and prophetis, and monestinge what thingis thei diden bifore, he ordeynyde hem redier. And so the ynwittis of hem reysid, he shewide to gidere the falsnesse of heithen men, and brekyng of oothis. Forsothe he armyde eche of hem, not bi strengthing of sheld and shaft, bot with best wordis and monestyngis, a sweuen worthi of byleeue expowned, by whiche he gladide alle. Sothely the visioun is siche. Onye, that was heeȝist prest, a good man and benygne, shamfast in siȝt, and mylde in maners, and fair in speche, and whiche was excersisid, or hauntid, in vertues fro a chijld, holdynge forth the hondis for to preye for al the peple of the Jewis. After this thing and an other man for to haue apeerid, in age and glorie wondreful, and in hauynge of grete fairnesse aboute hym. Forsothe Onye answerynge to haue saide, This is the louer of bretheren, and of peple of Yrael; this is he, that myche preyeth for the peple, and for al the holy cite, Jeremye, the prophete of God. Forsothe Jeremye for to haue streiȝte forth the riȝthond, and to haue ȝouen a golden swerd to Judas, sayinge, Take thou the holy swerd, a ȝift of God, in whiche thou shalt cast doun the aduersaries of my peple Yrael. And so thei monestid with wordis of Judas ful goode, of whiche feersnesse miȝte be enhaunsid, and the ynnewittis of ȝunge men be confortyd, thei ordeynyden for to fiȝte, and tourmente to gidre strongly, that vertu shulde deme of needis, for that the holy citee and temple weren in perel. Sothely for wijues, and sonys, and also for bretheren, and cosyns, was lesse bysynesse, bot most and first dread was for holynesse of the temple. Bot not leste bysynesse hadde hem that weren in the citee, for these that weren to assailynge to gidre. And whanne now alle men hopiden dom to beynge, and enmys camen, and oost was ordeynyd, beestis and horsmen putt to gidre in couenable place, Machabeus biholdynge the cummyng of multitude, and dyuers apparel of armers, and feersnesse of beestis, strecchynge out the hondis in to heuen, ynclepide the Lord doynge grete wondris, whiche not after power of armers, bot as it plesith to hym, ȝeueth to worthi men victorie. Forsothe he saide, ynclepinge this manere, Thou, Lord, that sentist thin aungel vnder Ezechie, kyng of Juda, and hast slayn of tentis, or oostis, of Senacherib, an hundrid foure score and fyue thousand; and now, lordshiper of heuens, sende thou thi good aungel bifore vs, in dreed and tremblyng of gretenesse of thin arm, that thei dreede, that cummen aȝeinus thin holy peple. And bi these thingis thus he perfitly preyede. Forsothe Nychanore, and thei that weren with hym, with trumpis and songis moueden to. Judas forsothe, and thei that weren with him, God ynclepid by preyers of knowlachyng, wenten to gidre. Sothely in hond fiȝtynge, bot in hertis preyinge God, castiden doun fyue and thritty thousand, not lesse, by the presence of God gretely delytynge. And whanne thei hadden ceesid, and with ioye turnyden aȝein, thei knewen Nychanore for to haue fallen, with his armers. And so crie maad, and perturbacioun stirid, by cuntree voice thei blessiden the Lord almiȝty. Forsothe Judas comaundide, that by alle thingis in body and ynwitt was redy for to dye for citeseyns, the hed of Nychanore, and the hond with the shuldre gird off, for to be brouȝt forth to Jerusalem. Whidir whanne he fully came, men of his lynage clepid to gidre, and prestis to the auter, he clepide and hem that weren in the heeȝ rock. And the hed of Nychanore shewid, and the cursid hond, whiche he holdynge forth aȝeinus the holy hous of almiȝty God gretely gloriede, also he comaundide the tunge of vnpitous Nychanore kitt off, for to be ȝouen to briddis gobetmele; forsothe the hond of the wood man for to be hongid vp aȝeinus the temple. Therfore alle blessiden the Lord of heuen, sayinge, Blessid the Lord, that kepte his place vndefoulid. Forsothe he hangide vp Nychanoris hed in the heeȝist rock, that it were euydent, or knowen, and opyn signe of helpe of God. Therfore alle men by commoun counseile demyden in no maner this day for to passe withoute worschiping, sothli for to haue worschipyng the thrittenthe day of the moneth Adar, that is said, by voice of Sirye, the first day of Mardochyus. Therfore these thingis don aȝeinus Nychanore, and of the tymes the citee weeldid of Ebrues, and Y in these thingis shal make an eend of word. And sotheli ȝif wel and as it acordith to the storye, this thing and Y wole; ȝif ellis lesse worthily, it is to be grauntid to me. Sothely as for to drinke euermore wyne, or euermore water, is contrarie, forsothe for to vse chaungable, or now oon, now another, is delitable; so to men redynge, ȝif the word be euermore vniustly axid, or aȝein souȝt, it shal not be couenable, or plesinge; therfore here it shal be eendid.
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