# Bible (Early Wycliffe)/II. Machabeorum

Here bigynneþ þe ſecounde boke of Machabeorum.

## Capitulum I.

To breþeren, þat ben by Egipt, Jewis, helþe ſayen breþeren, þat ben in Jeruſalem, Jewis, and þat ben in þe cuntree of Judee, and good pees. God do wel to ȝou, and haue mynd of his teſtament, þat he ſpake to Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob, his trewe ſeruauntis; and ȝeue herte to ȝou alle, þat ȝe wirſhipe hym, and do þe wille of hym wiþ 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, neþer forſake ȝou in yuel tyme. And nowe we ben here preyinge for ȝou. Regnynge Demetrie in þe hundrid ȝeer and ſixti and nynþe, we Jewis han writen to ȝou in tribulacioun and ferſneſſe, þat came aboue to vs in þeſe ȝeeris, ſiþen Jaſon wente oute of þe holy lond and rewme. Þei brenten þe ȝate, and ſhedden out innocent blood; and we preyeden to þe Lord, and we ben graciouſly herd, and we han offrid ſacrifice, and cleene flour, and han tendid lanterns, and han putte forþ looues. And nowe vſe ȝe þe days of Senephegie, of þe moneþ Caſleu. In þe hundred ȝeer and eiȝte and eiȝtiþe, þe peple þat is in Jeruſalem and in Judee, and þe ſenate, and Judas, to Ariſtoble, maiſter of Tholome, kyng, þat is of þe kyn of oyntyd preſtis, and to hem þat ben in Egypt, Jewis, helþe of ſoule, and helþe of body. We delyuerd of God fro grete perilis, don þankyngis to hym hugely, as we þat han fouȝten aȝeinus ſiche a kyng. Forſoþe he made to buyle out of Perſis hem þat fouȝten aȝeinus vs and þe holy citee. For whi whan in Perſe was þe duyke hym ſelf, and wiþ hym al þe ooſt, he felle in þe temple of Nauee, diſceyuyd bi þe counſeil of þe preſt of Nauee. Forſoþe as to dwellyng wiþ hym Antiochus came to þe place, and his freendis, and for to take myche moneys by name of dower. And whan preſtis of Nauee hadden putte hem forþ, and he wiþ fewe entride wiþ ynne cumpas of þe temple, þei cloſiden þe temple, whanne Antiochus had entride. And þe priuy entree of þe temple opnyd, þei ſendinge ſtoons ſmyten þe duyk, and hem þat weren wiþ hym, and departiden lym mele; and þe hedis gird off, caſten forþ out. Bi alle þingis bleſſid God, þat bitoke vnpitous men. Þerfore we to makynge puryfiyng, or clenſynge, of þe temple, in þe fyue and twentiþe day of þe moneþ Caſleu, ledden needful for to ſignyfie to ȝou, þat and ȝe do þe day of Senephegie, and þe day of fijr, þat is ȝouen, whan Neemye offride ſacrifices, and þe temple and þe auter bildid. For whi whan oure fadris weren ledde in to Perſis, preſtis þat þanne weren wirſhipers of God, hidden priuyly fijr taken of þe auter, in a valey, wher was a deep pitt, and drye; and þerynne þei kepten it, ſo þat þe place was vnknowen to alle men. Forſoþe whanne many ȝeeris hadden paſſid, and it pleſide to God þat Neemye was ſente fro þe kyng of Perſis, he ſente þe ſonys ſonys of preſtis þat hidden, for to ſeeke fijre; and as þei teelden to vs, þei foonden not fijre, bot fatt water. And he comaundide hem for to drawe, and brynge to hym. And Neemye, preſt, comaundide þe ſacrifices, þat weren put vpon, for to be ſpreynt wiþ þis water, and þe trees, and þo þat weren putte aboue. And as þis was don, and þe tyme came to, in whiche þe ſunne ſhoon aȝein, þat byfore was in cloude, a grete fijr is kyndlid, ſo þat alle men wondriden. Forſoþe alle þe preſtis maden preyer, whijl þe ſacrifice was eendid; Jonaþas bygynnynge, oþer forſoþe anſwerynge. And þe preyer of Neemye was hauynge þis manere. Lord God, of alle þingis maker of nouȝt, dreedful and ſtronge, iuſt and mercyful, whiche aloon art a good kyng, aloon ȝeuynge, aloone iuſt, and almiȝti, and wiþ out bigynnyng and eend, whiche delyueriſt Yrael fro al yuel, whiche madiſt choſen faders, and halewidiſt hem; take þou ſacrifice for al þy peple Yrael, and keepe þi part, and halewe. Gadre oure ſcateryng, delyuere hem þat ſeruen to heiþen men, and biholde þou diſpiſid men, and maad abomynable, þat heiþen men wite, þat þou art oure God. Tourment þou men oppreſſynge vs, and doynge diſpite in pride. Ordeyn þi peple in þin holy place, as Moyſes ſaide. Forſoþe preſtis ſungen ympnys, tyl þe ſacrifice was eendid. Forſoþe whan þe ſacrifice was eendid, Neemye comaundide þe more ſtoons for to be ſhed on of þe reſidue water; whiche þing as was don, flawme is kyndlid of hem, bot it is waaſtid of þe liȝt, þat aȝein ſhynyde of þe auter. Forſoþe as þe þing is knowen, it is tolde to þe kyng of Peris, þat in þe place in whiche þo preſtis þat weren tranſlatid, hadden hidde fijr, water apperide, of whiche Neemye and þei þat weren wiþ hym, clenſiden ſacrifices. Forſoþe þe kyng byholdynge and diligently examyninge þe þing, made a temple to hym, for to proue þat þing þat was don. And whanne he hadde proued, he ȝaue many goodis to preſtis, and oþer wiþ outen noumbre; and takynge wiþ his hond, he ȝaue to hem. Forſoþe Neemye clepide þis place Nepþar, þat is interpretid clenſyng; forſoþe anentis many it is clepid Nephi.

## Capitulum II

Forſoþe it is founden in dyſcryuyngis, or wrytyngis, of Jeremye, þe prophete, þat he comaundide hem þat 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 þe lawe, leſt þei forȝaten þe heeſtis of þe Lord; and þat þei ſhulden not erre in ſoulis, or vndirſtondingis, ſeeynge golden and ſylueren ſymulacris, and ournementis of hem. And he ſayinge oþer ſiche þingus moneſtide, þat þei ſhulden not remoue þe lawe fro her herte. Soþely it was in þat wrytyng, hou þe prophete badde þe tabernacle, and þe hucche, or ark, for to folowe wiþ hem, Goddis anſwer maad to hym, til he wente out in to þe hill in whiche Moyſes aſcendide, and ſeeȝ þe eritage of God. And Jeremye cummynge foonde þere a place of a den, and brouȝte yn þidir þe tabernacle, and þe hucche, and þe auter of encenſe, and ſtoppide þe dore. And ſume men camen to gidre þat folewiden, for to marke þe place to hem, and þei miȝten not fynde. Forſoþe as Jeremye knewe, he blamynge hem ſaide, þat þe place ſhal be vnknowen, til God gadre þe congregacioun togidre of peple, and be maad mercyful. And þanne þe Lord ſhal ſhewe þeſe þingus, and maieſte of þe Lord ſhal appere; and a cloude ſhal be, as and to Moyſes was ſchewid, and as whan Salomon axide, þat þe place ſhulde be halewid to grete God. Forſoþ greetli he tretid wyſdom, and as hauynge wyſdom he offride ſacrifice of halewyng, and of parfourmyng of þe temple. As and Moyſes preyide to þe Lord, and fijr came doun fro heuen, and waſtide þe brent ſacrifice; as and Salomon preyide, and fijr came doun fro heuen, and waſtide þe brent ſacrifices. And Moyſes ſaide, For þat it is not clenſid, þat was for ſynne, and it is waaſtid. Alſo and Salomon in eiȝte days wirſhipide þe halewyng. Forſoþe and þeſe ſame þingis weren born in diſcripciouns, and þe 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 ſoþely and Judas gadride alle þo þingus whiche he lernyde by bateil, þat bifelle to vs, and þei ben anentus vs. Þerfore ȝif ȝe deſiren þeſe, ſende ȝe whiche ſhuln bere to ȝou. And ſo we to doynge purifyyng, han write to ȝou; þerfore ȝe ſhuln do wel, ȝif ȝe ſhuln do þeſe days. Forſoþe God þat delyuerde his peple, and ȝeeldide his eritage to alle, and rewme, and preſþod, and halewyng, as he byheiȝte in þe lawe, we hopen þat ſoone he ſhal haue mercy of vs, and ſhal gadre fro vnder heuen in to þe holy place; forſoþe he delyuerde vs fro grete perelis, and purgide þe place. Soþely of Judas Machabeus, and his breþeren, and of purifying of þe grete temple, and of halewyng of þe auter; bot and of þe bateilis, þat perteynen to noble Antioch, and to his ſone Eupator; and of liȝtnyngus þat ben maad of heuen, to hem þat ſtrongly diden for Jewis, ſo þat whan þei weren fewe, þei vengeden al þe cuntree, and dryuen an heiþen multitude, and rekyuerden þe moſt famous temple in al þe world; and þei delyuerden þe citee, þat and lawis þat weren don awey weren reſtorid; þe Lord maad helpful to hem, wiþ al peſibletee. And ſo we temptiden, or aſſayeden, for to abregge in to oo boke, þingus comprehendid of Jaſon of Cyrenen in fyue bookis. Forſoþe we byholdynge þe multitude of bookis, and hardneſſe, to men willynge for to aſſaile, or bygynne, þe tellyngis of ſtories, for multitude of þingus, ſoþely we curiden, or hadden byſyneſſe, þat it were delectacioun, or lykyng, of ynwitt to men willynge for to reede; forſoþe þe ſtudyouſe, þat þei miȝten liȝtlyer bytake to mynde; forſoþe to alle men reedyng profit be ȝouen. And ſoþely we token to oure ſelf þat reſceyueden þis werk, bi cauſe of abreggyng, not liȝt traueil, bot ſoþely a needefull of wakyngis and of ſwote. As þeſe þat maken redy a feeſt, and ſeekyn for to pleſe to þe wille of oþer men, for grace of many men, we ſuſteynen wilfully traueile; forſoþe grauntynge þe trewþe of alle autours, bot we oure ſelf ſtudyinge to ſhortneſſe, after þe fourme ȝouen. Forſoþe as it is for to cure, or biſie, to þe wriȝt of þe new hous, of al þe beeldyng; to hym ſoþely þat biſieþ for to peynte, þo þingus ben to be ſouȝt out, þat ben couenable to ournyng; ſo it is to be geſſid and in vs. Forſoþe for to gedir vndirſtondyng, and ordeyne word, and ful biſili for to enquere alle partis of þe ſtorie, eche bi hem ſelf, acordiþ to an auctour; forſoþe for to ſue ſhortneſſe of ſayinge, and for to eſchewe out ſuyngus of þingus, is to be grauntid to þe bregger. Fro hennus þerfore we ſhuln bygynne þe tellyng; be it ynewȝ for to haue ſaid ſo myche of prefacioun, or byfore ſpekyng; forſoþe it is foly for to flete out, or be longe, bifore þe ſtorye, bot in þat ſtorie for to be maad ſhort.

## Capitulum III

Therfore whanne þe 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 þingus, it was maad, þat and þei kyngis and princis ledden þe place worþi heeiſt honour, and liȝteneden þe temple wiþ grettiſt ȝiftis; ſo þat Seleucus, kyng of Aſie, ȝaue of his rentis alle ſpenſis perteynynge to þe ſeruice of ſacrifices. Forſoþe Symont, of þe lynage of Beniamyn, ordeynyd prepoſt of þe temple, þe prince of preſtis aȝeinſtondynge hym, ſtrofe for to caſte ſum wickid þing in þe cytee. Bot whan he miȝte not ouercume Onye, he came to Appollonye, ſone of Tharſie, þat in þat tyme was duyk of Celeſſirie and Fenyce; and tolde to hym þe treſorie in Jeruſalem for to be ful wiþ moneys vnnoumbreable; and commoun plentees, or richeſſis, for to be grete, whiche perteynen not to reſoun of ſacrifices; forſoþe for to be poſſible, alle þingus for to falle vndir power of þe kyng. And whanne Appollonye hadde tolde to þe kyng of moneys þat weren born ynne, he ſente Heleodore clepid, þat was on his needis, wiþ maundementus for to bere out þe forſaid money. And anoon Heleodore takynge þe waye, ſoþely by fourme as he were to paſſynge by Celeſcirie and Fenyce cytees, ſoþely in trewe þing, to parfourmynge þe kyngus purpoſe. Bot when he came to Jeruſalem, and benyngly of þe heeȝiſt preſt in þe cite was reſceyued, he tolde of dom ȝouen of moneys, and opnyde for grace, or cauſe, of what þing he came; forſoþe he axide ȝif verrely þeſe þingus weren ſo. Þanne þe heeȝiſt preſt ſhewide, þeſe þingus for to be kept to þe lyuelodis of widues, and faderleſſe and moderleſſe children; ſum ſoþely for to be of Hircam Tobye, man ful noble in þeſe þingus, þat vnpitous Symont hadde teelde; forſoþe alle þe talentis of ſyluer for to be foure hundrid, and of gold two hundrid; forſoþe for to be inpoſſible on al manere, hem for to be diſceyued, þat bileuyden, or bitoken, to þe place and temple, þat bi al þe world is honourid for his wirſhipyng, and holyneſſe. And for þeſe þingus þat he hadde in maundementis of þe kyng, he ſaide, in al kynde hem for to be born to þe kyng. Forſoþe in þe day ordeynyde Heleodore entride, to ordeynynge of þeſe þingis; forſoþe þere was not a lytil tremblyng by al þe citee. Forſoþe preſtis caſtiden hem ſelf byfore þe auter, wiþ preſtis ſtolys, and ynclepiden fro heuen hym þat ȝaue lawe of þingus put in keepyng, þat he ſhulde keepe hem ſaaf to þeſe þat hadden putte hem in keepyng. Nowe forſoþe he þat ſeeȝ þe chier of þe heeȝiſt preſt, was woundid in ſowle; forſoþe þe face and colour inchaungid, declaride þe ynward ſorewe of ſoule, or ynwitt. Forſoþe ſum ſorewfulneſſe was ſhed about to þe man, and hydouſneſſe of body, by whiche þe ſorewe of herte was maad knowen to men byholdynge. Alſo oþer men by gadring to gidre camen out of houſis, byſechynge wiþ open byſechyng, for þat þat þe place was to cummynge in to diſpit. And wymmen gyrd þe breſt wiþ heyris, flowiden togidre by ſtreetis; bot and virgynes, þat weren cloſid togidre, runnen fully to Onye; oþer forſoþe to þe wallis, ſumme ſoþely byheelden by wyndowis. Forſoþe alle holdynge forþ hondis in to heuen biſouȝten; ſoþely þere was a wretchid abyding of þe multitude meynt, and of þe heeȝiſt preſt ordeyned in ſtrijf, or anguyſhe. And þeſe ſoþely inclepide almiȝti God, þat þingus taken in keepyng weren kept in al hoolneſſe, to þeſe þat hadden putte hem in keepynge. Forſoþe Heleodore parfourmyde þat þing, þat he hadde demyde, he preſente wiþ his knyȝtis in þe ſame place aboute þe treſorie. Bot þe ſpirit of almiȝty God made grete euydence of his ſhewyng, ſo þat alle þat weren hardye for to obeye to hym, fallyng doun by þe vertu of God, weren togidre turnyd in to vnbyndynge, or vnſtrengþe, and inward dreed. Forſoþe ſum hors apeeride to hem, hauynge a dreedful ſitter, ournyd wiþ beſt hillyngus; and he wiþ feerſneſſe, or bire, ruſhide þe former feet to Heleodore; forſoþe he þat ſate on hym, was ſeen for to haue golden armers. Alſo oþer two ȝunge apperiden, faire in vertu, beſt in glorie, and fair in cloþinge, þat ſtoden aboute hym, and on eche ſijd ſcourgiden hym wiþ outen ceeſyng, wiþ many woundis betynge. Sodeynly forſoþe Heleodore felle in to erþe, and þei rauyſhiden hym ſhed about wiþ myche derkneſſe, and caſtiden hym out, put in a ſadil of beere. And þis þat wiþ many rynners and kniȝtis entride in to þe forſaide treſorie, was born, no man berynge help to hym, þe opyn vertu of God knowen; and forſoþe by Goddis vertu he lay doumbe, and pryued of al hope and helþe. Forſoþe þeſe bleſſiden þe Lord, for he magnyfied his place; and þe temple, þat a lytil byfore was ful of dreed and noyſe, þe Lord almiȝty appeerynge, is fulfillid wiþ ioye and gladneſſe. Þanne forſoþe ſume of Heliodoris frendis preyeden anoon Onye, for to inclepe þe Heeȝiſt, and for to ȝeue lyf to hym, for he was ſette in þe laſt ſpirit. Soþely þe heeȝiſt preſt biholdinge, leſt par auenture þe kyng ſuppoſide eny malice of Jewis fully done aȝeinus Helyodore, he offride for helþe of þe man an helþful ſacrifice. And whan þe heeiſt preſt preyede, þe ſame ȝunglyngus, cloþid in þe ſame cloþis, ſtondynge niȝ to Heliodore, ſaiden, Do þou þankyngys to Onye, þe preſt; for whi for hym þe Lord haþ ȝouen lyf to þee; þou ſoþely, ſcourgid of God, telle to alle men þe greete doyngus of God, and power. And þeſe þingis ſaid, þei apperiden not. Helyodore ſoþely, a ſacrifice offrid to God, and grete auowis bihiȝte to hym, þat grauntide to hym for to lyue, and doynge þankyngis to Onye, his ooſt reſceyued, wente aȝein to þe king. Soþely he witneſſide to alle men þe werkis of grete God, whiche he ſeeȝ vnder his eeȝen. Forſoþe whan þe kyng axide Helyodore, who was able ȝit oonys for to be ſente to Jeruſalem, he ſaiþ, Ȝif þou haſt eny enmye, or aſpier, or traitour, of þi rewme, ſende þider, and þou ſhalt reſceyue hym betun, ȝif neþeles he ſchal ſcape; for þat in þe place is verrely ſum vertu of God. For whi he þat in heuens haþ dwellyng, is viſiter and helper of þat place; and he ſmyteþ and leeſiþ men cummynge to myſdo. Þerfore of Heliodore, and kepyng of þe treſorie, þus þe þyng haþ hym.

## Capitulum IIII

Symont forſoþe byfore ſaide, accuſer of moneys, and of þe cuntree, ſpake yuel of Onye, as he hadde ſtiride Helyodore to þeſe þingis, and he hadde be ſtirer of yuels; and he durſt ſaye þe purueyoure of þe citee, and defender of his folc, and louer of þe lawe of God, enmye, or traitour, of þe rewme. Bot whan enmytees in ſo myche camen forþ, þat by ſumme neceſſaries, or niȝ freendis, of Symount man ſleayngus weren don, Onye, byholdynge þe perel of ſtrijf, and Appolonye for to be wood, as duyk of Celeſcerie and Fenyce, for to encreſce þe malice of Symont, ȝaue hym ſelf to þe kyng; not as acuſer of citeeſeins, bot biholdynge anentis hym ſelf þe comoun profit of al þe multitude. Forſoþe he ſeeȝ, for to be inpoſſible pees for to be ȝouen to þingus wiþout þe kyngus puruyaunce, neþer Symont mowe ceeſe of his foly. Bot after þe paſſing of Seleucus lijf, whan Antiochus, þat was cleepid noble, hadde taken rewme, Jaſon, broþer of Onye, coueytide þe heeȝiſt preſþod, þe kyng gon to, byhetynge hym þree hundred talentis and ſixty of ſyluer, and of oþer rentis foure ſcore; vpon þeſe þingus he bihiȝte and oþer 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 þat weren in Jeruſalem Antiochenys, or men of Antioche. Whiche þing whan þe kyng had grauntide, and he weeldide þe princehod, anoon he bygan for to transferre to heiþen cuſtum men of his lynage. And þeſe þingus 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 þe cyteeſeyns, made ſhrewid ordinauncis; and ſoþely he was hardy for to ordeyne a ſcole vnder þat heeȝ rocke, and for to putte al þe beſte of ȝunge in bordel hous. Forſoþe þis was not bygynnyng, bot ſum encreſyng and profit of heiþen and alien lijf, for þe vnleeful and vnherd grete treſpas of vnpytous, and not preſt Jaſon; ſo þat preſtis not nowe weren ȝouen aboute offices of þe auter, bot þe temple diſpiſid, and ſacrifices left, þei haſtiden for to be maad felawis of wraſtlyng, and of vniuſt ȝeuynge þerof, and of ooſt, or cumpanye, of diſhe, or pleyinge wiþ ledun diſhe. And þei hauynge honours of fadris at nouȝt, demyden Greek glories beſt. For grace of whiche perilous contencioun hadde hem, and her ordinauncis þei folewiden, or louyden; and by alle þingus þei coueitiden for to be lijk to hem, whom þei hadden enmyes and diſtruyers. Forſoþe for to do vnpitouſly aȝeinus Goddis lawis falliþ not wiþ outen peyn, bot and þe tyme ſuynge declaride þeſe þingus. Soþely whan fyue ȝeer ſtryf, or fiȝt, was wirſhipid in Tyre, and þe kyng was preſent, Jaſon ful of grete treſpaſſis ſente fro Jeruſalem men ſynners, berynge þree hundrid dragmes of ſyluer in to ſacrifice of Ercules; whiche þeſe men þat baren out axiden, þat þei weren not ȝouen in ſacrifices, for it needide not, bot in to oþer ſpenſis hem for to be ordeynyd. Bot þeſe ſoþely ben offrid of hym þat ſente in to ſacrifice of Ercules; ſoþely for men preſent þei ben ȝouen in to makynge of grete ſhippis. Forſoþe Appollonye, ſone of Neſteye, ſente in to Egipt for primatis of Tholome Philometoris, kyng; forſoþe whanne Antiochus knewe hym maad alien fro needis of þe rewme, he conſeilynge to his owne profitis, gon þennus, cam to Joppen, and fro þennus to Jeruſalem. And he, reſceiued of Jaſon and of þe citee wirſhipfully, wiþ liȝtis of broondis, and preyſyngus, wente yn, and fro þennus turnyd þe ooſt in to cooſt of Fenyce. And after þe tyme of þree ȝeer Jaſon ſente Menelaus, broþer of Symont aboue ſaid, berynge moneys to þe kyng, and of neceſſarie cauſis to beryng anſweris. And he comendid to þe kyng, whan he magnyfiede þe face of his power, turnyde in to hym ſelf þe heeȝiſt preſþode, aboue puttynge to Jaſon þree hundrid talentes of ſyluer. And maundementis taken of þe kyng, he came, ſoþely hauynge no þing worþi to preſþod; ſoþely inwitt of cruel tyraunt, and beryng wraþ of wijld beeſt. And ſoþely Jaſon, þat toke his own broþer caitif, he diſceyued is putt out outlawid in to þe cuntree of Amanyþen. Bot Menelaus forſoþe weeldide þe princehod, bot of moneys bihiȝt to þe kyng he hadde no þing, whan Soſtratus, þat was prepooſt to þe heeȝ rocke, made exactioun, or vniuſt axing, for whi exactioun of tributis perteynede to hym; for whiche cauſe boþe ben clepid to þe kyng. And Menelaus remoued fro preſþod, ſuccedyng, or next cummynge after, Lyſymacus, his broþer; ſoþely Soſtratus is maad ſouereyn to men of Sypre. And whan þeſe þingus weren don, it byfelle Tharſenſis and Mallotis for to moue debate, for þat þei weren ȝouen in ȝift to þe concubyne of kyng Antiochus. And ſo þe kyng haſtily came, for to ſwage hem, left oon of his erlis ſuffectus Andronyk. Forſoþe Menelaus demynge hym for to haue taken couenable tyme, ſtelinge ſume golden veſſels of þe temple, ȝaue to Andronyk, and oþer he ſolde to Tyre, and by niȝ citees. Whiche þing 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 þat he ſlewȝ Onye. Whiche whan he came to Onye, and riȝt hondis ȝouen wiþ ooþ, þouȝ he was ſuſpect to hym, counſeilide hym for to go forþ of aſile, anoon ſlewȝ hym, not dreedynge riȝtwiſneſſe. For whiche cauſe not oonly Jewis, bot and oþer naciouns, weren wroþe, and baren heuyly of þe vniuſt deþ of ſo grete a man. Bot Jewis at Antioche, and Greekis, togydre pleynynge of þe vniuſt deþ of Onye, wenten to þe kyng, turnyd aȝein of þe places of Cilicia. And ſo þe kyng Antiochus ſory in inwit for Onye, and he, bowid to mercy, ſhedde teeris, recordynge þe ſobreneſſe and myldneſſe of þe dead man. And þe ynwitt kyndlid, he comaundiþ Andronyke, vncloþid purpre, for to be led about by al þe citee, and, in þat place in whiche he hadde don vnpitee in to Onye, þe curſid man for to be priued of lijf; þe Lord ȝeuynge to hym euen worþ peyne. Forſoþe many ſacrilegis don in þe temple of Lyſymacus, by counceil of Menelaus, and fame pupliſhid, a multitude is gadrid aȝeinus Lyſymacus, myche gold now born out. Forſoþe þe cumpanyes aȝein ryſynge, and þe inwittus fulfillid wiþ wraþ, Lyſymacus almeſt þree þouſand aarmyd wickid hondis bygan for to vſe, ſum tyraunt duyk, olde in age and alſo woodneſſe. Bot as þei vndirſtoden þe enforſyng of Lyſymacus, oþer tooken ſtoonys, oþer ſtrong ſtafs, ſum haſten for to kaſten aſkis in to Lyſymacus. And many ſoþely woundid, ſum forſoþe caſt doun, alle forſoþe ben to gidre turnyd in to fliȝt; alſo þei ſlewen hym ſacrileger, or þeef of holy þingis, byſidis þe treſorie. Þerfore of þeſe þingis dom bygan for to be moued aȝein Menelaus. And whan þe kyng came to Tyre, þree men, ſente of þe eldre men, brouȝten þe cauſe to hym. And whanne Menelaus was ouercummen, he bihiȝte for to ȝeue many moneys to Tholome, for to counſeile þe kyng. And ſo Tholome wente to þe 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 þe malice. Forſoþe he dampnyde by deeþ þeſe wrecches, whiche ſhulden be demyd innocentis, ȝea, ȝif þei hadden ledde cauſe anentis Siþis. Þerfore ſoone þei ȝauen vniuſt peyn to hem, þat purſueden cauſe for þe citee, and for þe peple, and holy veſſels. Wherfore and men of Tyre wrooþe, weren moſt liberal aȝeinis þe birying of hem. Forſoþe for coueitiſe of hem þat weren in power, Menelaus dwelte in power, wexinge in malice, and to diſceytis of citeſeyns.

## Capitulum V

In þe ſame tyme Antiochus made redy þe ſecounde goynge in to Egipt. Forſoþe it byfelle, by eche citee of men of Jeruſalem, for to be ſeen fourty days horſmen rennyng aboute by þe 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, wiþ ſtreyned ſwerdis, and caſtyng of dartys, and ſhynyng of golden armers, and of al kynde of hauberiouns. Wherfore alle men preyeden, þe monſtris, or wondres, tokne of þingus to cummyng, for to be togidre turned in to good. Bot when fals rumour, or tiþing, wente out, as Antiochus hadde gon out of lijf, Jaſon ſodeynly aſſailide þe citee, a þouſand men taken to, not leſſe; and þe citeſeyns togidre fleeȝinge to þe wall, at þe laſt þe citee taken, Menelaus fleiȝ in to þe heeȝ rocke. Forſoþe Jaſon ſparide not in ſleaynge to his citeſeyns, neþer he þouȝte proſperite aȝens coſyns; demynge moſt yuel, for to be hym to takynge victories of enmyes, and not of citeſeyns. And ſoþely he weldide not princehod, bot toke confuſioun eend of his aſpies, or diſſeitis; and he, fleeȝinge eft, wente in to Ammaniþen. At þe 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 þe cuntree and citeeſeyns, is caſt out in to Egipt. And he þat hadde putt out many of her cuntree, periſhide in pilgrimage, goynge to Lacedomonas, as for coſynage to hauynge þere refuyt. And he þat caſtide awey many vnbiried, he and vnweilid and vnbiried is caſt out of byryyng, neþer vſynge ſtraunge ſepulcre, neþir takynge part of fadris ſepulcre. And ſo þeſe þingus don, þe kyng ſuppoſide Jewis to forſakyng felawſhip; and for þis he gon out of Egipt wiþ wood inwittis, toke þe citee ſoþely wiþ armes. Forſoþe he comaundide to þe kniȝtis, for to ſlea, neþer to ſpare to men rennynge aȝeinus, and by houſis ſtyinge vp for to ſtrangle. Þefore þer weren maad ſleayngis of ȝunge and eldre, of wymmen and children diſtruyingus, and deþis of meydens and litil children. Forſoþe in alle þree days foure ſcore þouſand weren ſlayn, and fourty þouſand bounden, forſoþe not leſſe ſeeld; bot neþer þeſe þingus ſuffiſen. Alſo he was hardy for to entre in to þe temple holier þan al þe lond, Menelaus þe leeder, þat was traitour of lawis and cuntree. And he touchide vnworþili, and defoulide, takyng in curſid hondis þe holy veſſels, þat weren putt of oþer kyngis and citees, to ournyng and glorie of þe place. Antiochus ſo aliened fro mind, or vndirſtondyng, biheelde not, þat, for ſynnys of men enhabitynge, þe Lord was wroþ a litil to þe citee; for whiche þing and diſpiſyng bifelle aboute þe place. Ellis ȝif it hadde not bifallen hem for to be wlappid in many ſynnys, as Heleodore, þat was ſent fro kyng Seleucus for to robbe þe treſorie, alſo þis anoon cummynge to ſhulde be beten, and forſoþe put abac of hardineſſe. Bot þe Lord cheeſe not for þe place þe folc, bot for þe folc þe place. And þerfor and þat place is maad parcener of yuels of þe peple; afterward forſoþe it ſhal be maad felawe and of goodis, and it, þat is forſaken in wraþ of almiȝty God, efteſoone in grete recounſeilyng of þe Lord ſhal be enhaunſid wiþ grete glorie. Þerfore Antiochus, taken awey a þouſand and eiȝte hundrid talentis of þe temple, ſwiftly turnyde aȝein to Antioche, demynge hym for pryde to leedynge þe lond to ſayle, þe ſe forſoþe for to make iourney, for pride of þouȝt of ſoule. Forſoþe he left prepoſtis, to tourment þe folc, in Jeruſalem ſoþely Philip, of þe kyn of Friges, in maners crueler þan hym ſelf, of whom he is ordeynyd; forſoþe in Garyſym, Andronyk and Menelaus, whiche more greuouſly þan oþer layen to citeſeyns. And whanne he was ſette aȝeinus Jewis, he ſente an odious prince, Appollonye, wiþ an ooſt two and twenti þouſandis, 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 þe holy day of ſaboþ. And þanne, þe Jewis holdynge holy day, he comaundynge his for to take armers, and he ſtranglide togidre alle þat camen forþ to þe ſpectacle, or biholdyng; and he rennynge aboute þe citee wiþ armyd men, ſlewȝ a grete multitude. Forſoþe Judas Machabeus, þat was þe tenþe, wente in to deſert place, and þere he ledde lijf wiþ his, among wijld beeſtis in hillis; and þei dwelten etinge mete of hay, leſt þei weren parceners of defoulyng.

## Capitulum VI

Bot not after myche tyme þe kyng ſente ſum olde Antiochene, whiche ſhulde conſtreyne Jewis, þat þei ſhulde transferre hem fro þe lawis of faders and of God; alſo he ſhulde defoule þe temple, þat was in Jeruſalem, and ſhulde clepe it of Jouis Olympij, and in Garyſym, as þei weren, þat enhabitiden þe place, of Jouis hoſpitale. Forſoþe þe aȝein rennyng of yuels was warſt and greuous to alle; for whi þe temple was ful of lecherie and glotonye, and of men doynge lechery wiþ horis, and wymmen baren yn hem ſelf to halewid houſis, at her own will, berynge wiþ ynne þo þingis whiche it was not leefull. Alſo þe auter was ful of vnleeful þingus, whiche weren forbeden bi lawis. Soþely neþer ſaboþis weren kept, neþer ſolemne days of faders, or cuntree, weren kept, neþer ſymply, or pleynly, eny man knowlachide hym a Jew. Forſoþe þei weren ledde wiþ bitter neede in day of þe kyngus birþe to ſacrifices. And whanne holy þingus of a free chijld weren halewid, or wirſhipid, þei, crownyd wiþ edera, weren conſtreyned for to go about wiþ þe free chijld. Soþely þe dome wente out in to þe next citees of heiþen men, Tholomeys procurynge, þat liche manere þei ſhulden do aȝeinus Jewis, for to ſacrifice; ſoþely þat þei ſhulden ſlea hem, þat wolden not paſſe to þe ordenauncis of heiþen men. Þerfore it was wretchidneſſe for to ſee þeſe þingus. Forſoþe two wymmen weren accuſid, for to haue circumcidid her children; whom whan þei hadden ledde about opynly by þe citee, þe infauntis hangid at breſtis, þei caſtiden hem doun by þe wallis. Forſoþe oþer goynge to gidir to þe next denns, and priuely wirſhipynge þe day of ſaboþ, whan þei weren ſhewid to Philip, þei weren brente in flawmes, for þi þat þei dredden, or ſhamyden, for religioun and obſeruaunce, for to bere help to hem ſelf wiþ hond. Forſoþe Y biſeche hem, þat ben to redynge þis boke, þat þei dreden not, or haue not hydous, for contrarie caſis; bot rette þei þo þingus þat bifellen not to periſhing, bot for to be to amendynge of oure kynde. Forſoþe 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. Soþely, not as in oþer naciouns, þe Lord abidiþ paciently, þat whan þe day of dome ſhal cume, he punyſhe hem in plente of ſynnys, ſo and in vs he ordeyneþ, þat oure ſynnys turned aboute in to þe eende, ſo at þe laſt he venge in vs. For whiche þing ſoþely he neuer remoueþ his mercy fro vs; forſoþe he chaſtiſynge his peple, in aduerſitees forſaakiþ not. Bot þeſe ben ſaid to ȝou in fewe to moneſtynge of men redynge; now forſoþe it is to cume to þe tellynge. Þerfore Eleaſarus, oon of þe former of ſcribis, or men of lawe, a man woxen in age, and fair in cheer, ȝanynge wiþ open mouþ, was compellid for to ete ſwynys fleſh. And he biclippynge, or deſijrynge, more gloriouſe deþ, þan hateful lijf, wilfully wente byfore to tourment. Forſoþe he byholdynge hou it bihoft for to go to, paciently ſuſteynynge, ordeynyde for to not do vnleeful þingus for loue of lijf. Soþely þeſe þat ſtoden niȝ, moued to gydre by wickid mercy, for olde frenſhip of þe man, takynge hym preuyly, preyden for to be brouȝt to fleſhis, whiche it was leeful hym for to ete, þat it were feyned for to haue eten, as þe kyng comaundide, of þe fleſhe of ſacrifice; þat þis þing feyned, he were delyuered fro deþ; and for olde frenſhip of þe man, þei diden þis humanite, or curtaſie, in hym. And he bigan for to þenke þe worþi excellence of age, and his eelde, and þe free born hooreneſſe, or nobley, and fro childhode of beſte lyuynge; and after þe ordinauncis of holy lawe, and maad of God, he anſwerde ſoon, ſaiynge, hym for to wille to be ſent bifore in to helle. Soþely he ſaiþ, It is not worþi to oure age for to feyne, þat many ȝunge men, demynge Eleazarus of foureſcore ȝeer and ten, for to haue paſſid to lyif of aliens, and þei be diſceyued for my feynyng, and for litil tyme of corruptible lijf, and by þis Y gete ſpott and execracioun, or curſidneſſe, to myn eelde. For whi and ȝif in þis tyme Y be delyuerd fro tourmentis of men, bot neþer quyck neþer dead Y ſhal aſcape þe hond of Almiȝti. Wherfore in paſſyng þe lijf ſtrongly, ſoþely Y ſhal appere worþi of age; forſoþe Y ſhal leue ſtronge enſaumple to ȝunge men, ȝif Y be perfitly ſett in oneſt deþ wiþ redy inwitt, and ſtrongly for þe worþieſt and holyeſt lawis. Þeſe þingis ſaid, anoon he was drawen to tourment. Forſoþe þeſe þat ledden him, and a litil byfore weren mylder, ben turned in to wraþ, for þeſe wordis ſaid of hym, whom þei demyden brouȝt forþ by pride of herte. Bot whan he ſhulde be ſlayn wiþ woundis, he inwardly ſorewide, and ſaide, Lord, þat haſt holy kunnyng, opynly þou woſt, for whan Y myȝt be delyuerd fro deþ, Y ſuſteyn hard ſorewis of body; forſoþe after ſoule wilfully Y ſuffre þeſe þingus, for þi dreed. And ſoþely þis man in þis maner departide fro lijf; not oonly leeuynge þe mynde of his deþ to ȝunge men, bot and to alle þe folc, to enſaumple of vertu and ſtrengþe.

## Capitulum VII

Forſoþe it bifelle, ſeuen breþeren taken to gidre wiþ þe modir, for to be conſtreyned of þe kyng for to touche aȝeinus leeue ſwynys fleſche; hem tourmentid wiþ ſcourgyngis, and tourment maad of bole leþer. Forſoþe oon of hem, þat was þe firſt, ſaiþ þus, What ſeekiſt þou? and what wolt þou lerne of vs? we ben redy for to dye, more þan to breke þe fadre lawis, or cuntree lawis, of God. And ſo þe kyng wroþe comaundide pannes of braſſe, and braſen pottis for to be tendid. Whiche anoon tendid, he comaundide þe tunge for to be kitt off to hym þat former ſpack, and ſkyn of þe hed to be drawen awey, and þe heeȝiſt hondis and feet of hym for to be kitt byfore, þe oþer breþeren of hym and þe moder biholdynge. And whan he was maad nowe vnprofitable bi alle þingis, he comaundide fijr for to be moued to hym, and ȝit vndirbreþinge to be brent, or turned, in þe braſen panne; in whiche whan he was longe tourmentid, þe oþir breþeren togidre wiþ þe modir, moneſtiden, or counfortiden, hem to gidre for to dye ſtrongly, ſayinge, Þe Lord God ſhal biholde trewþe, 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 þe firſt dead on þis maner, þei ledden forþ þe ſuynge to be ſcornyd; and, þe ſkyn of his hed drawen off, þei axiden, ȝif he ſhulde eet, byfore þat he were punyſhid in al þe body, by alle membris by hem ſelf. And he anſwerynge in cuntree voice, ſaide, Y ſhal not. For whiche þing, and þis in ſuynge place of þe firſt, reſceyuede tourmentis. And he ordeynyd in þe laſt ſpirit, ſaiþ þus, Soþely þou moſt wickid, or curſid, leeſiſt vs in þis lijf, bot þe kyng of þe world ſhal reyſe, in aȝein ryſyng of euerlaſtynge lijf, vs dead for his lawis. After þis þe þrid was ſcorned; and he axid, anoon broȝt forþ þe tunge, and ſtedfaſtly helde forþ þe hondis, and wiþ triſt ſaiþ, Of heuen Y weelde þeſe þingus, bot for þe lawis of God nowe Y diſpiſe þeſe ſame; for Y hope me to reſceyuynge hem of hym. So þat þe kyng, and þo þat weren wiþ hym, wondriden þe inwitt of þe ȝunge man, þat he ledde þe tourmentis as nouȝt. And þis þus dead, þei traueiliden þe fourþe, alſo tourmentynge. And whan he was nowe at deþ, he ſaiþ þus, Raþer it is, men ȝouen to deþ of men, for to abijd hoope of God, beinge to be reyſid aȝein eft of hym; forſoþe aȝein rijſyng to lijf ſhal not be to þee. And whan þei hadden ſtirid to þe fifþe, þei traueiliden hym. And he biholdynge in to hym, ſaide, Þou hauynge power amonge men, whan þou art corruptible, doſt what þou wolt; forſoþe nyl þou geſſe, oure kynn for to be forſaken of God. Soþely ſuſteyne þou patiently, and þou ſhalt ſee þe grete power of hym, hou he ſhal tourmente þee, and þi ſeed. After þis þei ledden to and þe ſixt; and þis bygynnynge for to dye, ſaiþ þus, Nyl þou erre ydely; forſoþe we ſuffren þeſe þingus for oure ſelf, ſynnynge in to oure God, and þingus worþi of wondryng ben maad in vs; forſoþe deme þou not, to beynge wiþ outen peyn to þee, þat þou haſt temptid for to fiȝte aȝeinus God. Forſoþe þe moder wonderful aboue maner, and worþi þe mynde of good men, whiche biholdynge ſeuen ſonys periſhynge vnder tyme of oo day, ſuffride in good inwitt, for hoope þat ſhe hadde in to God; ſhe moneſtide eche of hem by voice of cuntree, ſtrongly fulfillid wiþ wijſdam, and ynſettinge mans ynwitt to wommans þouȝt, ſaide to hem, Sonys, Y wote not how ȝe apperiden in my wombe; forſoþe neþer Y haue ȝouen to ȝou ſpirit, and ſoule, and lijf, and Y my ſelf ioynyde not to gidre þe membris of eche; bot ſoþely þe maker of nouȝt of þe world, þat fourmyde þe birþe of man, and foonde bygynnynge of alle, ſhal ȝeelde eft to ȝou ſpirit, and lijf, wiþ mercye, as now ȝe diſpiſen ȝour ſelf for þe lawis of hym. Forſoþe Antiochus demynge hym for to be diſpiſid, and alſo diſpiſid by voice of þe repreuynge, whan ȝit þe ȝunger was alyue, not oonly he moneſtide by woordis, bot and wiþ ooþ he affermyde, to makynge hym rijche and bleſſid, and to hauynge freend, tranſlatid fro cuntre lawis, and to ȝeuynge needful þingus. Bot whan þe ȝunge man was not bowid to þeſe þingis, þe kyng clepide þe modir, and ſoftly counſeilide her, þat ſhe ſhulde be maad to þe ȝunge man in to helþe. Forſoþe whan he moneſtide hir by many wordis, ſhe bihiȝte hir to counſeilinge hir ſone. And ſo ſhe bowyde doun to hym, ſcornynge þe cruel tyraunt, ſaiþ in cuntree voice, Sone, haue mercy on me, þat bare þee in wombe nyne moneþis, and ȝaue mylk by þree ȝeere, and nuriſhide, and in to þis age fully brouȝte. Y axe, chijld, þat þou biholde to heuen and erþe, and alle þingus þat ben in hem, and vndirſtonde, for God made hem of nouȝt, and kynde of men. So it ſhal be maad, þat þou dreede not þis tourmentour, bot þou maad worþi to þi breþeren, reſceyue deeþ, þat in þat mercy doynge Y reſceyue þee wiþ þi breþeren. Whan ſhe ȝit ſaid þeſe þingus, þe ȝunge man ſaiþ, Whom ſuſteyne ȝe? Y obeye not to biddyng of þe kyng, bot to precept of þe lawe, þat is ȝouen to vs by Moyſes. Forſoþe þou, þat art maad fynder of al malice in to Ebrues, ſhalt not ſcape þe hond of God. We ſoþely ſuffren þeſe þingus for oure ſynnys; and ȝif oure Lord be a litil wroþe to vs for blamynge and chaſtiſynge, bot eft he ſhal be recounſeild to his ſeruauntis. Forſoþe þou curſid, and of alle men moſt flagiciouſe, or fulliſt of yuel doyngus, and ſtiryngus, nyl þou veynly be enhaunſid, by veyn fourmys enflawmed in to his ſeruauntis; ſoþely þou haſt not ſcapid ȝit þe dom of almiȝty God, and biholdynge alle þingus. For whi my breþeren now a litil ſorew ſuffriden, and ben maad vndir þe teſtament of euerlaſtynge lijf; þou ſoþely by dome of God ſhalt paye iuſt paynes of pride. Soþely Y, and as my breþeren, bitake my ſoule and body for þe lawis of faders, or of cuntree; ynclepynge God, more rijply for to be maad helpful to oure folc, and þee wiþ tourmentis and betyngus for to knowleche, for he is God aloone. For in me and in my breþeren þe wraþ of Almiȝty ſhal faile, whiche is iuſtly brouȝt yn vpon alle our kyn. Þan þe kyng kyndlid wiþ wraþ, was feers in to hym more cruely aboue alle, berynge vnworþily hym ſelf ſcornyd. And he þis ſoþely cleene dyede, by alle þingus triſtynge in þe Lord. Forſoþe at þe laſt þe modir is waaſtid, or dead, after þe ſonys. Þerfor of ſacrifices, and ouer grete crueltees, is ynow ſaid.

## Capitulum VIII

Forſoþe Judas Machabeus, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, entriden priuely in to caſtels; and þei, cleepynge to gidre coſyns, and frendis, and takynge to hem þat dwelten in Jurye, ledden out to ſixe þouſand men. And þei inclepiden þe Lord, for to biholde in to þe peple, þat was defoulid of alle men; for to haue mercye of þe temple, þat was defoulid of vnpitous men; and for to haue mercy of diſtruyinge of þe citee, þat was anoon to be maad pleyn to gidre; and for to heere þe voice of blood cryinge to him, and for to haue mynde of þe wickidiſt deþis of lytil children innocentis, and of blasfemyes ȝouen to his name; and for to haue indignacioun on þeſe þingus. And Machabeus, þe multitude gadrid, was maad vnſuffreable to heiþen men; forſoþe þe wraþ of þe 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. Soþely in niȝtis he was moſt born to ſyche out rennyngis; and fame of his vertu was ſhed out euery wher. Forſoþe Philip ſeeynge þe man bi litil and litil for to cume to profit, or encreſe, and ful ofte þingus bifalle to hym eeſili, or in proſperite, wrote to Tholome, duyk of Celeſcirie and Fenyce, þat he ſhulde bere help to þe kyngis needis. And he ſwiftly ſente Nychanore of Patrode, frend of þe former, or worþier, ȝouen to hym not leſſe þan twenti þouſandis of armyd folkis meynt to gidre, for to do awey al þe kynde; and ioyned to hym Gorgie, a kniȝtly man, and in þingus of bateil moſt expert. Forſoþe Nychanore ordeynede to þe kyng, þat he ſhulde fulfille þe tribute þat was to be ȝouen to Romayns, two þouſand of talentis, of þe caitifte of Jewis. And anoon he ſente to cytees of þe 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 þat was to folewynge hym of þe Almiȝty. Forſoþe wher Judas foonde, he ſhewide to þeſe Jewis þat weren wiþ hym, þe cummynge of Nychanore. Of whom ſume inwardly dreedynge, and not byleeuynge to riȝtwiſneſſe of God, weren turnyd in to fliȝt; oþer ſoþely, ȝif eny leften of hem, camen, and to gidre biſouȝten þe Lord, for to delyuere hem of wickid Nychanore, whiche hadde ſolde hem bifore þat he came niȝ; and þouȝ not for hem, for þe teſtament þat was to þe fadris of hem, and for þe yncleepyng of his holy name and grete on hem. Forſoþe Machabeus, clepid to gidre ſeuen þouſandis þat weren wiþ hym, preyide, þat þei ſhulden not be reconſeilid, neþer ſhulden dreed þe multitude of enmyes wickidly cummynge aȝeinus hem, bot ſtrongly ſhulden ſtryue, or fiȝte; hauynge byfore þe eeȝen þe diſpite þat was in brouȝt in þe holy place vniuſtly of hem, and alſo þe wronge of citee, had in ſcornynge; ȝit alſo þe ordynaunces of olde men diſtruyed to gidre. For whi he ſaiþ, Þei ſoþely triſten in armers to gidre and hardyneſſe; forſoþe we triſten in þe Lord almiȝty, þat may do awey wiþ oo lookyng, wille, or ſigne, and men cummynge aȝeinus vs, and al þe world. Forſoþe he moneſtide hem and of helpis of God, þat ben don aȝeinus faders; and þat vndir Senacheryb an hundrid foure ſcore and fyue þouſand perſhiden; and of þe batel þat was to hem aȝeinus Galaþas, in Babyloyn; wher ȝif it come to þing, or trewþe, felowis Macedoyns doutynge, þei alle ſix þouſandis alone ſlewen an hundrid and twenty þouſandis, for help ȝouen to hem fro heuen; and for þeſe þingus þei hadden ful many benyfices. By þeſe wordis þei ben maad ſtedfaſt, and redy for to dye for þe lawis and cuntree. Soþely he ordeynyde his breþeren duykis, or leeders, to eche ordre, Symont, and Joſephus, and Jonaþas, to eche a þouſand and fyue hundrid ſugettid. Alſo to þis þing, þe holy boke red to hem Eſdra, and a tokne ȝouen of Goddis help, in þe firſt ſheltrun he duyk, ioynyde wiþ Nychanore. And þe Almiȝty maad help to hym, þei ſlewen ouer nyne þouſande of men; forſoþe þei conſtreyneden þe more part of Nychanoris ooſt, maad feble by woundis, for to flee. Forſoþe þe moneys of hem þat camen to þe bying of hem taken vp, on eche ſyde þei purſueden hem; bot þei turnyden aȝein cloſid to gidre bi an houre; for whi it was bifore þe ſaboþ, for whiche cauſe þei laſtiden not purſuynge. Forſoþe þei gadringe þe armers of hem, and ſpuylis, diden ſaboþ, bleſſinge þe Lord, þat delyuerde hem in þis day, droppynge in to hem bygynnynge of mercye. Forſoþe after þe ſaboþ þei departiden ſpuylis to þe feble, and fadirleſſe, and modirleſſe, and widewis; and þei wiþ hern hadden þe reſidues. Þeſe þingus þus don, and commounly of alle men biſechynge maad, þei axiden þe mercyful Lord, for to be recounſeilid in to þe eend to his ſeruauntis. And of þeſe þat weren wiþ Tymoþe and Bachides, ſtryuynge aȝeinus hem, þei ſlewen ouer twenty þouſandis, and þei weeldiden heeȝ ſtrengþis; and þei departiden mo preyes, euen porcioun to feble, faderleſſe, and moderleſſe, and widues, bot and to eldre men makynge. And whan þei hadden gadrid þe armers of hem, diligently þei maden to gydre, or kepten, alle þingus in couenable places; forſoþe þei baren to Jeruſalem þe reſidue ſpuylis. And þei ſlewen Philarces, þat was wiþ Tymoþe, a man ful of grete treſpaſſis, þat had tourmentide Jewis in many þingus. And whan feeſtis for victorie weren don in Jeruſalem, þei brenten hem þat hadden brente holy ȝatis, þat is to ſay, Caleſtenes, whan he hadde flowen in to ſume hous; worþi meed ȝoolden to hem for her vnpitouſneſſe. Forſoþe wickidiſt Nychanore, þat brouȝte a þouſand marchauntis to bying of Jewis, meekid, or maad lowe, bi help of þe Lord, of hem whiche he geſſid noon; þe cloþe of glorie putte doun, by mydil erþe fleeinge aloone, cam to Antioche, hauynge heiȝiſt infelicitee, or moſt wretchidneſſe, of þe deeþ of his ooſt. And he þat bihiȝte hym for to reſtore tribute to Romayns, of þe caitiftee of men of Jeruſalem, prechide Jewis for to haue oo defender God, and for hym to be vnable for to be woundid, for þei ſueden lawis maad of hym.

## Capitulum IX

In þe ſame tyme Antiochus turnyde aȝein vnoneſtly fro Perſe. Soþely he hadde entrid in to þat citee, þat is ſaid Perſibolis, and he temptide for to robbe þe templis, and oppreſſe þe citee; bot, þe multitude rennynge togidre to armers, he is turned in to fliȝt; and ſo it bifelle, þat Antiochus after þe fliȝt loodly turnyde aȝein. And whan he came aboute Ebaþana, he knewe what þingus ben don aȝeinus Nychanore and Tymoþe. Forſoþe he wroþ demede in wraþ, hym for to mow turne in to Jewis þe wronge of hem, þat dryuen him. And þerefore he bad þe chaar for to be led, wiþ out ceeſyng doynge iourney; heuenly dom dryuynge, for þat he ſpac ſo proudly, hym to cummyng to Jeruſalem, and to makynge it þe gadrynge of ſepulcre of Jewis. Bot þe Lord God of Yrael, þat byholdiþ alle þingus, ſmote hym wiþ a wound incurable and inuiſible; forſoþe as he eendid þis ſame word, an hard ſorewe of entraylis toke hym, and bittir tourmentis of ynward þingis. And ſoþely iuſtly ynowȝ, forſoþe he þat hadde tourmentid þe entrailis of oþer men, wiþ many and newe tourmentis, þouȝ he in no manere ceeſſide of his malice. Forſoþe ouer þis he fulfillid wiþ pride, breþinge fijr in ynwitt in to Jewis, and he comaundynge þe neede for to be haaſtid, it byfelle, hym goynge in ferſneſſe for to falle of þe chaar, and þe membris for to be traueilid wiþ þe greuous hurtlyng to gidre of body. And he þat was ſeen to hym ſeelf for to comaunde alſo to þe wawis of þe ſee, ouer mans maner fulfillid wiþ pride, and for to weye in balauncis þe heiȝtis of hillis, nowe meekid to erþe, was born in a beere, witneſſynge in hym ſelf þe opyn vertu of God; ſo þat wormes buyliden out of þe body of þe vnpyteuous man, and þe quyck fleſhis of hym wiþ ſorewis fleetiden out. Alſo wiþ ſauour of hym, and ſtynkyng, þe ooſt was greeued; and he þat a lytil byfore demyde hym to touche þe ſterris of heuen, no man miȝte beere hym, for vnſuffryng of ſtynke. Þerfore 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, þus he ſaiþ, It is iuſt for to be ſuget to God, and a deadly not for to feele euen þingus to God. Forſoþe þe curſid man preyede þe Lord þeſe þingis, of whom he was not to getynge mercy. And þe citee, to whom he haſtynge came, for to leede it doun to erþe, and for to make a ſepulcre of þingus born togidre, nowe he deſijreþ for to ȝeelde free. And þe Jewis, whom he ſaid hym ſelf to hauynge neþer ſoþely worþi of ſepulture, bot to betakeinge to foulis and wijld beeſtis, for to be to-drawen, and to diſtruyng wiþ litil children, now he bihetiþ to makyng euen to Atynyens, or men of Atenys; alſo to ournynge wiþ beſt ȝiftis þe holy temple, whom he robbide bifore, and to multipliynge holy veſſels, and to ȝeeuynge of his rentis coſtis perteynynge to ſacrifices; ouer þeſe þingis and hym to beynge a Jewe, and to walkyng by eche place of þe lond, and to prechynge þe power of God. Bot ſorewis not ceeſynge, forſoþe þe iuſt dome of God had aboue come in to hym, he diſpeyrynge wrote to Jewis, in to maner of biſeechynge, epiſtlis, conteynynge þeſe þingis. To þe beſt citeſeyns, Jewis, moſt helþe, and wele for to fare, and to be ryche, or in proſperite, þe kyng and prince Antiochus. Ȝif ȝe faren wele, and ȝoure ſonys, of ſentence alle þingus ben to ȝou, we don moſt þankyngus. And Y in ſekeneſſe ordeyned, ſoþely myndeful of ȝou benygnly, turnynge aȝein fro places of Perſis, and cauȝte wiþ greuouſe enfirmytee, led needful for to haue cure for comyn profit; not diſpeirynge my ſelf, bot hauynge myche hope of ſcapyng þe enfirmyte. Forſoþe Y biholdynge þat and my fadir, in what tymes he ledde ooſt in heeȝer placis, ſhewide, who after hym ſhulde reſceyue princehod; þat ȝif eny contrarie þing bifelle, or hard þing were told, þeeſe þat weren in cuntrees, witynge to whom þe ſumme, or charge, of alle þingus was left, ſhulden not be trublid. To þeſe þingus 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 þingus ben ſuget. And ſo Y preye ȝou, and axe, myndeful of benefices openly for to vſe and priuyli, þat eche of ȝou kepe feiþ to me, and to my ſone. Forſoþe Y triſt, hym to do myldly, and manly, or curteyſly, and ſuynge my purpoſe for to be comoun to ȝou. Þerfore þe man queller and blasfeme ſmyten warſt, and as he had tretide oþer, in pilgrimage in mounteyns, in wretchidful deþ is ſett fro lijf. Forſoþe Philip, his euen ſouker, transferride þe body; whiche, dreedynge þe ſone of Antiochus, wente to Tholome Philometore, in to Egypt.

## Capitulum X

Forſoþe Machabeus, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, þe Lord defendynge hem, reſceyuyde ſoþely þe temple, and citee. Forſoþe he diſtruyide þe auters, þat aliens maden bi ſtreetis, and þe templis of waſhyng. And þe temple purgid, þei maden an oþer auter, and of ſtoon fijrid, or flyntys, fijre conceyued, þei offriden ſacrifices aftir two ȝeer, and encenſe, and lanternys, and puttiden looues of propoſicioun. Whiche þingus don, þei, caſt doun in to erþe, preyeden þe Lord, leſt þei fellen more in to ſiche yuels, bot and ȝif eny tyme þei hadden ſynnyd, þat þei ſhulden be chaſtiſid of hym more eyſili, and ſhulden not be taken to barbaris, or heiþen, and blasfeme men. Forſoþe in what day þe temple was defoulid of aliens, it bifelle þe ſame day clenſyng for to be maad, in þe fyue and twentiþe of þe moneþe, þat was Caſleu. And wiþ gladneſſe in eiȝte days þei diden in to maner of tabernaclis, biþenkynge þat bifore a litil of tyme þei hadden don þe ſolempne day of tabernaclis in hillis and dennys, in cuſtum of beeſtis. For whiche þing þei baren bifore cerclis, and greene braunchis, and palmes, to hym þat ȝaue proſperitee for to clenſe his place. And þei demyden wiþ commoun heeſt, and wiþ dom, to alle þe folc of Jewis, in alle ȝeers for to do þeſe feeſt days. And þe paſſyng, or eendyng, of lijf of Antiochus, þat was clepid noble, had it þus. Now forſoþe we ſhulen telle of Eupator, þe ſone of vnpitouſe Antiochus, what þingis ben don, breggynge þe euyls þat ben don in bateilis. Þis ſoþely, þe rewme reſceyuyd, ordeynyde on needis of þe rewme ſumman Liſias, prince of kniȝþod, of Fenyce and Sirie. For whi Tholome, þat was ſaid Macer, ordeynyde for to beholdynge of iuſt aȝeinus Jewis, and moſt for wickidneſſe þat was don in to hem, and peſibly for to do wiþ hem. Bot for þis þing he, accuſid of freendis anentis Eupator, whan oft þe traitour herde, for þat he hadde forſaken Cypre, bitaken to hym of Philometore, and tranſlatide to Antiochus noble, alſo hadde gon awey fro hym, wiþ venym eendide þe lijf. Forſoþe Gorgias, whan he was duyk of places, cumlingus taken to, oft ouercam Jewis in bateil. Forſoþe Jewis þat helden couenable ſtrengþis, reſceyueden men dryuen fro Jeruſalem, and temptiden for to fiȝte. Þeſe forſoþe þat weren wiþ Machabee, by preyers preyinge þe Lord, þat he were helper to hem, maden feerſneſſe, or ſaut, in to ſtrengþis of Ydumeys. And þei by myche ſtrengþe aȝein ſtoondynge, weeldiden places, ſlewen men rennynge aȝein, and ſtrangliden alle to gidre, not leſſe þan fyue and twenty þouſandis. Forſoþe ſume whan þei 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 þat weren wiþ hem, many ynowȝ, he is turned aȝein to þoo bateils þat conſtreynyden more. Soþely þeſe þat weren wiþ Symont, led by coueitiſe, of ſumme þat weren in þe toures ben conſeilid by money; and ſeuente þouſand double dragmes taken, þei leften ſumme to flee out. Forſoþe whan þat þing þat was don, was tolde to Machabeus, þe princis of þe peple gadrid, he acuſide, þat þei hadden ſoulde breþeren for money, þe aduerſaries of hym diſmittid, or delyuered. Þerfore he ſlewȝ þeſe maad traitours, and anoon he ocupide þe two toures. Forſoþe in armers and hondis doynge alle þingis welſumly, he ſlewȝ in þe two ſtrengþis more þan twenti þouſandis. And Tymoþe, þat byfore was ouercummen of Jewis, an ooſt of ſtraunge multitude gadrid togidre, and þe ridyng, or horſmen, of Aſie gadrid, came to as wiþ armers, to takynge Judee. Forſoþe Machabeus, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, hym neiȝinge, biſouȝten God, ſpringinge þe hed wiþ erþe, and byfore gird þe leendis wiþ heiris, þei fooldid doun at heeȝneſſe of þe auter, þat he helpful to hem, forſoþe were enmye to þe enmyes of hem, and to þe aduerſaries were aduerſarie, as þe lawe ſaiþ. And ſo after preyer, armers taken, þei goynge forþ fer fro þe citee, and, maad next to enmyes, ſaten aȝein. Forſoþe in þe firſte ryſynge of þe ſunne, boþe ioyneden; þeſe ſoþely hauynge þe Lord biheeter of victorie and proſperitee; þei forſoþe hadden her owne inwitt, or wille, duyk of bateil. Bot whan grete fiȝt was, fyue faire men, in horſis wiþ golden bridels, appeeriden to þe aduerſaries fro heuen, ȝeeuynge leedyng to Jewis; of whom two hauynge Machabeus in þe mydil, ſett about wiþ her armers, kepten ſound. Forſoþe þei caſtiden dartis and leytis in to aduerſaries; of whiche þing and þei confuſid in blyndneſſe, and fulfillid wiþ perturbacioun, fellen doun. Forſoþe þere ben ſlayn of fote men twenty þouſand and fyue hundrid, and horſmen ſixe hundrid. Soþely Tymoþe fledde in to a ſtronge hold of Gaſara, to whom Cereas was ſouerayne, or keeper. Forſoþe Machabeus, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, gladynge, biſeegiden þe hold foure days. And þei þat weren wiþ ynne, triſtinge in ſikerneſſe of þe place, aboue maner curſiden, and caſtiden curſid woordis. Bot whan þe fifþe day ſhynyde, twenty ȝunge men of þeſe þat weren wiþ Machabeus, kyndlid in inwittis for þe blasfeme, manly wenten to þe wall, and wiþ feerſe inwitt goynge, þei ſtieden vp; bot and oþer alſo ſtyinge vp, aſſailiden for to brenne þe toures and ȝatis, and to gidre brenne þe curſers quyck. Forſoþe by contynuel two days þei waaſtynge þe hold ſlewen Tymoþe, hydynge hym ſelf, founden in ſume place; and þei ſlewen his broþer Sereas, and Appollofanes. Whiche þingis don, þei bleſſiden þe Lord in ympnys and confeſſiouns, whiche dide gret þingus in Iſrael, and ȝaue to hem victorie.

## Capitulum XI

Bot a litil tyme after, Liſias, procuratour of þe kyng, and niȝ, and prepoſt of needis, beerynge greuouſly of þeſe þingis þat bifellen, gadrid foure ſcore þouſandis, and al rydynge, or horſmen, came aȝeinus Jewis, demynge hym ſelf to makynge þe citee ſoþely taken a dwellyng to heiþen men, forſoþe to hauynge þe temple in to wynnynge of money, as oþer templis of heiþen men, and by eche ȝeeris preſtehode vendible, or able to be ſoold; not byþenkynge þe power of God, bot in mynde maad wiþ outen bridil, triſtide in multitude of fote men, and in þouſandis of horſmen, and in foure ſcore olyfauntis. Soþely he gon in to Judee, and cummynge niȝ to Beþſura, þat was in a ſtreit place, fro Jeruſalem in ſpace of fyue furlongis, fauȝte aȝeinus þat ſtrengþe. Soþely as Machabeus, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, knewe ſtrengþis for to be aȝeinus fouȝte, wiþ weepyng and teeris preyeden þe Lord, and al þe cumpany to gidre, for to ſende a good aungel to help of Yrael. And he þe firſt Machabeus, armers taken, moneſtide oþer for to take togidre perel wiþ hym, and bere help to her breþeren. And whan þei wenten forþ togidre wiþ redy inwitt fro Jeruſalem, an horſman apeeride goynge byfore hem in whijt cloþe, and golden armers, floriſhynge a ſhaft. Þanne alle to gidre bleſſiden þe mercyful Lord, and woxen ſtronge in ynwittis, and redy for to perſe not oonly men, bot and moſt feers beeſtis, and yrun wallis. Þerfore þei wenten redy, hauynge of heuen an helper, and þe Lord hauynge mercy on hem. Soþely by cuſtume of lyouns, in feerſneſſe þei hurlynge in to enmyes, caſtiden doun of hem elleuen þouſand of fotemen, and of horſmen a þouſand and ſixe hundrid. Soþely þei turnyden alle in to fliȝt; forſoþe many of hem woundid, aſcapiden nakid, bot and he Liſias fouly fleeynge aſcapide. And for he was not witleſſe, he rettynge wiþ hym ſelf þe makyng leſſe don aȝeinus hym, and vndirſtoondynge þe Ebrues for to be vnouercumen, enforſinge, or triſtynge, to help of almiȝty God, he ſente to hem, and bihiȝte hym to conſentyng to alle þingus þat ben iuſt, and to compellynge þe kyng for to be maad freend. Forſoþe Machabeus grauntide to þe preyers of Liſias, in alle þingis counſeilynge to profit; and what euer þingis Machabeus wrote to Liſias of Jewis, þe kyng grauntide hem. For whi epiſtlis weren wryten to Jewis fro Liſias, ſoþely conteynynge þis maner. Liſias to þe peple of Jewis, helþe. Joon and Abeſalon, þat ben ſente fro ȝou, bitakynge writtis, axiden, þat Y fulfulle þoo þingis þat weren ſignyfied by hem. Þerfore what euer þingis miȝten be brouȝte forþ to þe kyng, Y expounyde, and whiche þe kyng ſuffride, Y grauntyde. Þerfore ȝif in needis ȝe ſhuln kepe feiþ, alſo hennus forþ Y ſhal tempte for to be cauſe of good þingis to ȝou. Of oþer þingis ſoþely Y commaundide bi alle wordis, and to þeſe and to hem þat ben ſente of me, for to ſpeke to gidre wiþ ȝou. Fare ȝe wel. In þe hundrid ȝeer and eiȝte and fourtiþe, þe foure and twentiþe day of þe moneþ Dyoſcorus. Forſoþe þe piſtle of þe kyng conteynyde þeſe þingis. Kyng Antyochus to Liſias, broþer, helþe. Oure fadris tranſlatid amonge goddis, we willynge hem þat ben in oure rewme for to do wiþ oute noyſe, and for to ȝeue diligence to her þingis, han herd Jewis not to haue aſſentid to þe fadre, for to be tranſlatid to þe cuſtum of Greekis, bot wille for to holde her ordynaunce, and þerfore for to axe of vs, her lawful þingus for to be grauntid to hem. Þerefore we willynge and þis folc for to be quyet, ordeynynge han demyd, þe temple for to be reſtorid to hem, þat þei ſhulden do after þe cuſtom of her gretter men. Þerfore þou ſhalt do wel, ȝif þou ſhalt ſende to hem, and ſhalt ȝeue þe riȝþond; þat, oure wille knowen, þei be in good inwitt, and ſerue to her owne profitis. Soþely to þe Jewis þe kyngis piſtle was ſiche. Kyng Antiochus to þe ſenate of Jewis, and to oþer Jewis, helþe. 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, þat ben anentis ȝou. To þeſe þerfore þat dwellen to gidre, til þe þrittiþ day of þe moneþ Sandici we ȝeuen riȝþondis of ſykyrneſſe, þat Jewis vſe metis, and her lawis, as and byfore; and no man of hem eny more ſuffre diſeſe of þeſe þingus, þat ben don by ignoraunce. Soþely we ſenten and Menelaus, þat ſhal ſpeke to ȝou. Fare ȝe wel. In þe hundrid ȝeer and eiȝte and fourtiþe, þe fiftenþe of þe moneþ Sandici, alſo Romayns ſenten an epiſtle, hauynge it þus. Quintus Menius and Titus Manylius, legatis of Romayns, to þe peple of Jewis, helþe. Of þeſe þingis þat Liſias, coſyn of þe kyng, grauntide to ȝou, and we grauntiden. Forſoþe of whiche þingus he demyde to be tolde aȝein to þe kyng, anoon ſende ȝe ſume man, diligentlyer ſpekyng amonge ȝou, þat we deme as it acordiþ to ȝou. Forſoþe we gon to Antiochie, and þerfore haſte ȝe for to aȝein write, þat and we wite of what wille ȝe ben. Fare ȝe wel. In þe hundrid ȝeer and foure and fourtiþe, þe fiftenþe day of þe moneþ Sandici.

## Capitulum XII

Theſe couenauntis maad, Liſias wente to þe kyng; forſoþe Jewis ȝauen werk to erþe tiliyng. Bot þeſe þat dwelten, or wern reſident, Tymoþe, 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. Forſoþe men of Joppyn han don ſiche a felony; þei preyeden Jewis, wiþ whiche þei dwelten, for to ſtye vp ſmale bootis, whiche þei hadden maad redy, wiþ wyues, and ſones, as noon enmytees amonge hem vndirliggynge. Forſoþe after þe commoun dom of þe citee, and hem acordynge, and for cauſe of pees, and hauynge no þing ſuſpect, whan þei camen in to deep, þei drenchiden two hundrid, not leſſe. Whiche cruelte as Judas knewȝ don in to men of his folc, he comaundide to men þat weren wiþ hym; and, inclepid þe iuſt domeſman God, he came aȝein ſlears of breþeren; and ſoþely by niȝt brente þe hauen, he brente þe bootis, forſoþe he ſlewȝ by ſwerd hem þat fledden fro fijre. Whan he hadde don þus þeſe þingus, he wente awey, as eft to turnyng aȝein, and vtterly to diſtruye alle men of Joppe. Bot whan he knewȝ, and hem þat weren at Jamnie to wilne for to do liche manere to Jewis dwellynge wiþ hem, and to Jamnites he aboue came by niȝt, and brente þe hauen, wiþ ſhippis; ſo þat þe liȝt apperide to Jeruſalem fro two hundrid furlongis and fourty. Whan now þey hadden gon þennus by nyne furlongis, and maden iourney to Tymoþe, men of Arabye ioynyden wiþ hym, fyue þouſand men, and horſmen fyue hundrid. And whan ſtronge fiȝte was maad, and by help of God wente, or byfelle, eſily, or by proſperitee, þe reſidue of men of Arabye axiden of Judas þe riȝþondis for to be ȝouen to hem; byheetynge hem ſelf to ȝeuynge leſewis, and oþer þingis to profityng. Forſoþe Judas demynge verrely hem profitable in many þingis, bihiȝte pees; and, þe riȝþondis taken, þei departiden to her tabernaclis. Forſoþe he aſſailide and ſume ſad citee by bryggis, and about ſett by wallis, whiche was enhabitid of cumpanyes of heiþen men meynd, boþe men and wymmen, to whom þe name Caſphym. Forſoþe þeſe þat weren wiþ ynne, triſtinge in ſtableneſſe of wallis, and in aparel of fodis, diden ſlowlicher, to terynge, or terrynge, Judas wiþ curſyngis; and blasfemynge, and ſpekynge whiche þingus is not leeful. Soþely Machabeus, ynclepide þe grete prince of þe world, whiche wiþ outen weþeris, þat ben engynes lijk to weþeris, and wiþ outen engynes, in tymes of Jheſu, or Joſue, caſtide doun Jerico, he hurlide feerſly to þe wallis; and þe citee taken by wille of þe Lord, he dide vnnoumbreable ſleayngis; ſo þat þe pool of ſtondynge water of two furlongis of breede infect, or meynd, wiþ blood was ſeen to flowe. Fro þennus þei wenten ſeuen hundreþ and fifty furlongis, and camen in to Caracha, to þe Jewis þat ben clepid Tubianey. And ſoþely þei cauȝten not Tymoþe in þo places; and no need fully don, he turnyde aȝein, moſt ſad ſtrengþe left in ſume place. Forſoþe Doſiþeus and Soſipater, þat weren duykis wiþ Machabeus, ſlewen ten þouſand men left of Tymoþe in þe ſtrengþe. And Machabeus ſixe þouſand ordeynyd aboute hym, and ordeynd by cumpanyes, wenten forþ aȝeinus Tymoþe, hauynge an hundrid and fyue and twenty þouſand of foot men, and of horſmen two þouſand and fyue hundrid. Forſoþe þe cummyng of Judas knowen, Tymoþe bifore ſente wymmen, and ſonys, and oþer aparel in to a ſtrengþe þat is ſaid Carmon; forſoþe it was vnable to be ouercummen, and hard in goynge to, for ſtreytneſſe of places. And whan þe firſt cumpaignye of Judas appeeride, dreed is ynſmyten to þe enmyes of þe preſence of God, þat biholdiþ alle þingis; and þei ben turnyd in to fliȝt, an oþer fro an oþer, ſo þat þey weren caſt doun of her own more, and wiþ ſtrookis of her ſwerdis þei weren feblid. Judas ſoþely aȝeinſtode gretely, punyſhynge vnholy men, and he keſte doun of hem þritty þouſand men. Thymoþe ſoþely felle in to þe partis of Doſiþeus and Soſipatris; and he axide by many preyers, þat he were delyuerd quyck; for þat he hadde fadris, and moderis, and breþeren, manye of Jewis, whom it ſhulde byfalle for to be diſceyued by his deþ. And whan he hadde ȝouen feiþ, hym to reſtorynge hem after þing ordeynd, þei diſmittiden hym vnhurt, for helþe of breþeren. Forſoþe Judas turnyde aȝein fro Carmon, ſlayn fyue and twenti þouſandis. After þe fliȝt of þeſe and deeþ, he mouede þe ooſt to Effron, a ſtronge citee, in whom þe multitude of diuerſe folc dwelte; and ſtronge ȝunge men, ſtondynge togidre for wallis, ſtrongly fouȝten aȝeinus; forſoþe in þis weren manye engynys, and appareils of dartis. Bot whan þei hadden inclepid þe Almiȝty, þat by his power brekiþ togidre þe miȝtis of enmyes, þei token þe citee, and caſtiden doun of hem þat weren wiþ ynne fyue and twenty þouſand. Fro þennus þei wenten to þe citee of Scitis, whiche was fer fro Jeruſalem ſixe hundrid furlongis. Forſoþe witneſſinge þeſe Jewis þat weren anentis Scitopoliſtis, þat þei weren had of hem benignly, ȝhe, in tymys of aduerſite, and þat þei diden myldly wiþ hem, þei doynge þankyngis to hem, and alſo ſtirynge fro hennus forþ for to be benigne aȝeinus her kyne, camen to Jeruſalem, þe ſolempne day of weekis neiȝinge. And after Pentecoſt, þei wenten aȝeins Gorgias, prepooſt of Ydume. Soþely he wente out wiþ þre þouſand fote men, and foure hundrid horſmen; whiche gon to gidre, it befelle a fewe of Jewis for to falle. Forſoþe Doſiþeus, 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 þat weren wiþ Heſdrym lengre fiȝtynge, and maad wery, Judas inclepide þe Lord, helper, and duyk of bateil, for to be maad benigne, wiþ cuntree voice, and wiþ ympnys reiſynge crye, ſmote fliȝt to kniȝtis of Gorgias. Forſoþe Judas, þe ooſt gadrid, came in to þe citee Odollam; and whan þe ſeuenþe day aboue came, þei after cuſtom clenſid, in þe place diden ſaboþ. And in þe ſuynge day Judas came wiþ his, for to take awey þe bodies of men caſt doun, and for to putte wiþ fadris, and modris, in ſepulcris of fadris. Forſoþe þei founden vndir cootis of ſlayn men, of þe ȝiftis of ydolis þat weren at Jamniam, fro whom þe lawe forbediþ Jewis; þerfore it is maad knowen to alle men, for þis cauſe hem for to haue fallen. And ſo alle bleſſiden þe iuſt dom of þe Lord, whiche maad priuy þingus knowen. And ſo þei conuertid to preyers, preyeden, þat þilk treſpas þat was don, were bitaken to forȝetyng. And ſoþely þe ſtrengiſt Judas moneſtide þe peple, for to keepe hem wiþ out ſynne, vnder eeȝen ſeeynge, what þingus ben don for ſynnys of hem þat ben caſt doun. And collacioun, or ſpekinge to gidre maad, he ſente twelue þouſand dragmes of ſyluer to Jeruſalem, for to be offrid ſacrifice for ſynnes of dead men, wele and religiouſly byþenkynge of aȝein ryſyng; ſoþely ȝif he hopide not, hem þat fellen to ryſynge aȝein, it was ſeen ſuperflue and veyne for to preye for dead men; and for he biheelde, þat þei þat token ſlepynge, or deþ, wiþ pitee, hadden beſt grace kept. Þerfore holy and helþful þenkynge is, for to preye for dead men, þat þei be vnbounden fro ſynnus.

## Capitulum XIII

In þe hundrid and nyne and fourtiþe ȝeer Judas knewȝ, Antiochus Eupator for to cume wiþ multitude aȝeinus Judee; and wiþ hym Liſias, procuratoure and prepooſt of needis, wiþ hym hauynge an hundrid and ten þouſand of foot men, and of horſmen fyue þouſand, and olyfauntis two and twenti, chaaris wiþ ſykelis þree hundrid. Forſoþe and Menelaus ioynyde hym to hem, and wiþ grete diſceit biſouȝte Antiochus, not for helþe of þe cuntree, bot hopynge hym for to be ordeynd in to princehod. Bot þe kyng of kyngis reiſide þe ynwittis of Antiochus in to þe 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 þe ſame place. Soþely in þe ſame place was a toure of fifty cubitis, hauynge of eche ſyde an gadryng of aſhe; þis hadde biholdynge in to dounward. Fro þennus he comaundide þe ſacrileger, or curſid man, for to be caſt doun in to þe aſhe, alle men puttynge hym forþ to þe deþ. And bi ſiche lawe it bifelle þe breker of lawe for to dye, neþer Menelaus for to be ȝouen to erþe. And forſoþe iuſtly ynowȝ; for whi for he dide many treſpaſſis aȝeinus þe auter of God, whos fijr and aſhe was holy, he is dampnyd in deþ of aſhe. Bot þe kyng wiþ out brydil in mynde, came to ſhewynge hym wars to Jewis, þan his fadir. Whiche þingis knowen, Judas comaundide þe peple niȝt and day for to ynclepe þe Lord; þat as euermore, and nowe he ſhulde helpe hem; whiche ſoþely dredden for to be priued of lawe, and cuntree, and of þe holy temple; and þat he ſuffride not þe peple, þat a whijl goon, hadde a litil quycknyd aȝein, for to be ſuget eftſoonys to blasfeme naciouns. And ſo alle men doynge togidere þat þing, and axinge mercy of þe Lord wiþ weepyng, in faſtyngis by alle þree days caſt doun, Judas moneſtide hem for to make hem redy. Forſoþe he wiþ eldre men þouȝte, bifore þat þe kyng mouede ooſt to Judee, and gate þe citee, for to go out, and bitake to dom of þe Lord þe out goynge, or eende, of þe þyng. And ſo ȝeuynge power of alle þingis to God, maker of nouȝt of þe world, and moneſtynge hiſe for to fiȝte ſtrongly, and vn to deþ, for lawes, temple, citee, cuntree, and citeſeyns for to ſtonde, ordeynyde þe ooſt aboute Modyn. And tokyn ȝouen to his of victorie of God, þe ſtrongiſt ȝunge men choſen, bi nyȝt aſſaylinge þe kyngis halle in tentis, he ſlewȝ fourtene þouſand men, and þe moſt of olyfauntis, wiþ þeſe þat weren putt aboue. And wiþ heeȝiſt dreed and diſtourblyng þei fulfillynge þe tentis of enmyes, and þingus eiſily, or welſumly, don, wenten awey. Forſoþe þis is don þe day liȝtynge, þe proteccioun of þe Lord helpynge hym. Bot þe kyng, taken taſt of hardyneſſe by craft of Jewis, temptide hardyneſſis of placis; and he mouede þe tentis to Beþſura, þat was a ſtronge hold of Jewis; bot he was dryuen hurtlid and menuſhid. Forſoþe to þeſe þat weren wiþynne, Judas ſente needful þingus. Forſoþe Rodochus, ſumman of þe ooſt of Jewis, telde out to enmyes priuytees; whiche ſouȝt is taken, and ſhitt to gidre. Eftſone þe kyng hadde word to hem þat weren in Beþſura, ȝaue þe riȝt hond, reſceyuede, wente awey. Ioynyde wiþ Judas is ouercummen. Forſoþe 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, ſweriþ of alle þingis, of whiche it is ſeen iuſt; and recounſeilinge offride ſacrefice, wirſhipide þe temple, and puttide ȝiftis. He byclippide Machabeus, and made hym duyk and prince fro Tholomaida vnto Gerreyns. Soþely as he came to Tholomaida, men of Tholomaida baren greuouſly þe accordyng of frendſhip, hauynge indignacioun, leſt perauenture þei braken pees. Þan Liſias ſtyede vp þe dom place, and expounyde reſoun, and ceeſide þe peple, and turnyde aȝein to Antioche; and þis maner þe kyngis goynge out and turnynge aȝein wente forþ.

## Capitulum XIIII

Bot after tyme of þree ȝeere Judas knewȝ, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, Demetrie Seleucus wiþ ſtronge multitude, and ſhippis, by þe hauen of Tripolis for to haue ſtyede to couenable placis, and haue holden cuntrees aȝeinus Antiochus, and his duyk Liſias. Forſoþe ſum Alchymus, þat was heeȝiſt preſt, bot wilfully was defoulid in tyme of mengynge to gidre, biholdinge in no manere helþe for to be to hym, neþer acceſſe, or cummyng to, to þe auter, came to kyng Demetrye, in þe hundrid and fouretiþe ȝeer, offringe to hym a golden crown, and palme, ouer þeſe þingis and offringe veſſels, þat weren ſeen for to be of þe temple; and ſoþely in þat day was ſtille. Forſoþe he getynge a couenable tyme of his woodneſſe, and he clepid of Demetrie to counſeile, and axid wiþ what þingis and conſeilis Jewis enforſiden, anſwerde, Þei þat ben ſaid Aſſideys of Jewis, to whom Judas Machabeus is ſouereyn, nuryſhen bateils, and mouen diſcenciouns, neþer ſuffren þe rewme for to be quyet. For whi and Y defraudid of glorie of fader and modir, ſoþely Y ſaye, of heeȝiſt preſþod, came hidir, firſt ſoþely keepynge feiþ to þe kyngis profitis, þe ſecounde tyme ſoþely counſeilynge to citeſayns, for whi by ſhrewidneſſe of hem alle our kyn is traueilid not beſte. Bot Y preye, þou kyng, alle þeſe þingus knowen, byholde to þe cuntree and kyn, after þi manlyneſſe ſhewid to alle men. For whi as long as Judas is aboue, or alyue, it is impoſſible pees for to be to needis. Forſoþe ſiche þingis ſaid of hym, and oþer 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 ſoþely, for to ſcatere ſoþely hem þat weren wiþ hym, and for to ordeyn Alchymus heeȝiſt preſt of þe moſt temple. Þan heiþen men þat fledden Judas fro Judee, flocmele ioynyden hem to Nychanore, geſſynge þe myſeiſtees and deþis of Jewis proſperitees of her þingus. And ſo þe cummynge of Nychanore herd, and þe cummynge to gidre of naciouns, Jewis ſpreynt wiþ erþe preyeden hym, þat ordeynyde his peple in to wiþ outen eende for to keepe, and whiche keuerde, or defendide, his part wiþ opyn ſignys. Forſoþe þe duyk comaundynge, anoon þei moueden fro þennus, and camen togidre to þe caſtel Deſſau. Symont forſoþe, broþer of Judas, ioynyde wiþ Nychanore, bot he is to gidre broken wiþ ſudeyn cummynge of aduerſaries. Neþeleſe Nychanore heerynge þe vertu of Judas felowis, and greteneſſe of ynwytt, whiche þei hadden for ſtryues of þe cuntree, dredde for to make dom of blood. Wherfore he byfore ſente Poſſydonye, and Theodoce, and Maþie, for to ȝeue riȝþondis, and take. And whan longe counſeil was don of þeſe þingis, and he duyk hadde told to þe multitude, oo ſentence was of alle, for to graunte to frenſhipis. And ſo þei ordeynyden a day, in whiche þei ſhulden do priuyli bitwixe hem ſelf; and to eche ſellis, or ſmale ſetis, ben brouȝt forþ, and putt. Forſoþe Judas comaundide armed men for to be in couenable placis, leſt per auenture of enmyes eny þyng of yuel ſpronge; and þei maden a couenable ſpeche to gidre. Forſoþe Nychanore dwelte in Jeruſalem, and no þing did yuel; and he lefte flockis of cumpanyes, þat weren gadrid. Forſoþe he hadde Judas euermore derworþ of ynwytt, and was bowid to þe 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 forſoþe, ſeeynge þe charite of hem to gidre, and accoordyngus, came to Demetrie, and ſaide, Nychanore for to aſſente to alyen þingis, and to haue ordeynd Judas, traytour of þe rewme, ſucceſſoure to hym. And ſo þe kyng maad ſharp, and wiþ ſiche warſt accuſyngis terrid to wraþ, wrote to Nychanore, ſayinge, hym ſoþely for to bere greeuouſly of acoordyng of frenſhip, neþeleſe for to comaunde for to ſende Machabeus bounden to Antiochie. Whiche þingis knowen, Nychanore was aſtonyed, and greuouſly bare, ȝif he made void þo þingis þat acordiden, he no þing hirt, or harmed, of þe man; bot for he miȝte not aȝeinſtonde þe kyng, he kepte couenabletee, in whiche he ſhulde perfourme þe maundement. And Machabeus ſeeynge Nychanore for to do wiþ hym more ſternly, and feerſlier ȝeuynge cuſtumable cummyng to gidre, vndirſtondynge þis feerſneſſe for to be not of good, a fewe of his gadrid, he hid hym fro Nychanore. Whiche þing as he knewȝ, hym ſtrongly byfore cummen of þe man, he came to þe moſt and holieſt temple, and he comaundide to þe preſtis offrynge wont ooſtis, or ſacrifices, þe man for to be taken to hym. Whiche ſayinge wiþ oþe, for to not wyte, wher he was þat was ſouȝt, he ſtretchynge forþ þe hond to þe temple, ſwore, Ȝif ȝe ſhuln not bitake to me Judas bounden, Y ſhal leede doun þis temple of God in to pleyn, and digge out þe auter, and Y ſhal halewe þis temple to þe free fadir. And þeſe þingis ſaid, he wente awey. Forſoþe þe preſtis holdynge forþ hondis in to heuen, ynclepiden hym þat euer is forfiȝter of þe folc of hem, ſayinge þeſe þingus, Þou, Lord of vnyuerſitee, or of alle creatures, þat of no þing haſt need, woldiſt þe temple of þin habitacioun for to be maad in vs. And nowe, þou holy of al holy, Lord, kepe in to wiþ outen eende þis hous vndefoulid, þat a lytil goon was clenſid. Forſoþe Raſias, ſum of þe eldre men of Jeruſalem, was accuſid to Nychanore, a man, louer of þe citee, and wel heerynge, þat for affeccioun, or loue, was clepid fadre of Jewis. Þis man many tymes helde purpoſe of continence in Jewrie, apaied for to bitake body and ſoule of perſeueraunce, or laſtyng. Forſoþe Nychanore willynge for to ſhewe þe hate, þat he hadde aȝeinis Jewis, ſente fyue hundrid kniȝtis, for to take hym. Forſoþe he geſſide, ȝif he hadde diſceyuyde hym, hymſelf to ȝeuynge moſt deþ to Jewis. Forſoþe cumpanyes coueitynge for to falle in to his hous, and for to breke þe ȝate, and for to moue to fijr, whanne now he was taken, he axide, or aſſailide, hym ſelf wiþ ſwerd; cheeſynge for to dye nobly, raþer þan for to be maad ſuget to ſynners, and aȝeinis his birþis for to be ledd wiþ vnworþi wrongis. Bot whan by haaſtynge wiþ vncerteyn ſtroke he hadde ȝouen wounde, and cumpanyes bitwixe dores braſten ynne, he rennynge aȝein hardily to þe walle, caſtide doun hym ſelf manly in to þe cumpanyes. Whiche ſwiftly ȝeuynge place to his fall, he came by þe mydil hatrel, and ȝit whijl he breþide, he, in ynwitt kyndlid, rooſe. And whan his blood wiþ grete flowynge flowide doun, and wiþ moſt greuos woundis he was woundid, bi rennyng he paſſide þe cumpanye; and ſtoondynge vpon ſum heeȝ ſtoon, and now maad wiþ outen blood, biclippynge his entraylis wiþ boþe hondis, caſtide forþ on þe cumpanyes, he ynclepynge þe lordſhiper of lijf and ſpirit, þat he ſhulde ȝeelde eftſonys þeſe þingis to hym; and þus he is dead fro lijf.

## Capitulum XV

Forſoþe as Nychanore foonde Judas for to be in places of Samarye, he þouȝte in þe day of ſaboþ wiþ al feerſneſſe for to ioyne bateil. Forſoþe Jewis, þat ſueden hym by need, ſayinge, Do þou not ſo feerſly and heiþenly, bot ȝeue honour to þe day of halewyng, and wirſhipe þou hym, þat biholdiþ alle þingus. And he vnbleſſid, axide, Ȝif þere is a miȝti in heuen, þat comaundide þe day of ſaboþis for to be don? And hem anſwerynge, Þere is oo Lord, and he in heuen miȝti, þat comaundide þe ſeuenþe day for to be don. And he ſaiþ, And Y am miȝti vpon erþe, whiche comaunde armers for to be taken, and needis of þe kyng for to be fulfillid. Neþeleſe he gate not, for to perfourme counſeil. And ſoþely Nychanore wiþ ſouereyn pride enhaunſid, þouȝte for to ordeyne a comoun victorie of Judas. Forſoþe Machabeus triſtide euermore wiþ al hope, help to cummynge to hym of þe Lord, and moneſtide hiſe, þat þei ſhulden not inwardly dreede at þe cummynge to of naciouns, bot ſhulden haue in mynde þe helpis don to hem of heuen, and nowe ſhulden hoope of Almiȝty þe victorie to cummyng to hem. And ſpekynge to hem of lawe, and prophetis, and moneſtinge what þingis þei diden bifore, he ordeynyde hem redier. And ſo þe ynwittis of hem reyſid, he ſhewide to gidere þe falſneſſe of heiþen men, and brekyng of ooþis. Forſoþe he armyde eche of hem, not bi ſtrengþing of ſheld and ſhaft, bot wiþ beſt wordis and moneſtyngis, a ſweuen worþi of byleeue expowned, by whiche he gladide alle. Soþely þe viſioun is ſiche. Onye, þat 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 forþ þe hondis for to preye for al þe peple of þe Jewis. After þis þing and an oþer man for to haue apeerid, in age and glorie wondreful, and in hauynge of grete fairneſſe aboute hym. Forſoþe Onye anſwerynge to haue ſaide, Þis is þe louer of breþeren, and of peple of Yrael; þis is he, þat myche preyeþ for þe peple, and for al þe holy cite, Jeremye, þe prophete of God. Forſoþe Jeremye for to haue ſtreiȝte forþ þe riȝþond, and to haue ȝouen a golden ſwerd to Judas, ſayinge, Take þou þe holy ſwerd, a ȝift of God, in whiche þou ſhalt caſt doun þe aduerſaries of my peple Yrael. And ſo þei moneſtid wiþ wordis of Judas ful goode, of whiche feerſneſſe miȝte be enhaunſid, and þe ynnewittis of ȝunge men be confortyd, þei ordeynyden for to fiȝte, and tourmente to gidre ſtrongly, þat vertu ſhulde deme of needis, for þat þe holy citee and temple weren in perel. Soþely for wijues, and ſonys, and alſo for breþeren, and coſyns, was leſſe byſyneſſe, bot moſt and firſt dread was for holyneſſe of þe temple. Bot not leſte byſyneſſe hadde hem þat weren in þe citee, for þeſe þat 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 þe cummyng of multitude, and dyuers apparel of armers, and feerſneſſe of beeſtis, ſtrecchynge out þe hondis in to heuen, ynclepide þe Lord doynge grete wondris, whiche not after power of armers, bot as it pleſiþ to hym, ȝeueþ to worþi men victorie. Forſoþe he ſaide, ynclepinge þis manere, Þou, Lord, þat ſentiſt þin aungel vnder Ezechie, kyng of Juda, and haſt ſlayn of tentis, or ooſtis, of Senacherib, an hundrid foure ſcore and fyue þouſand; and now, lordſhiper of heuens, ſende þou þi good aungel bifore vs, in dreed and tremblyng of greteneſſe of þin arm, þat þei dreede, þat cummen aȝeinus þin holy peple. And bi þeſe þingis þus he perfitly preyede. Forſoþe Nychanore, and þei þat weren wiþ hym, wiþ trumpis and ſongis moueden to. Judas forſoþe, and þei þat weren wiþ him, God ynclepid by preyers of knowlachyng, wenten to gidre. Soþely in hond fiȝtynge, bot in hertis preyinge God, caſtiden doun fyue and þritty þouſand, not leſſe, by þe preſence of God gretely delytynge. And whanne þei hadden ceeſid, and wiþ ioye turnyden aȝein, þei knewen Nychanore for to haue fallen, wiþ his armers. And ſo crie maad, and perturbacioun ſtirid, by cuntree voice þei bleſſiden þe Lord almiȝty. Forſoþe Judas comaundide, þat by alle þingis in body and ynwitt was redy for to dye for citeſeyns, þe hed of Nychanore, and þe hond wiþ þe ſhuldre gird off, for to be brouȝt forþ to Jeruſalem. Whidir whanne he fully came, men of his lynage clepid to gidre, and preſtis to þe auter, he clepide and hem þat weren in þe heeȝ rock. And þe hed of Nychanore ſhewid, and þe curſid hond, whiche he holdynge forþ aȝeinus þe holy hous of almiȝty God gretely gloriede, alſo he comaundide þe tunge of vnpitous Nychanore kitt off, for to be ȝouen to briddis gobetmele; forſoþe þe hond of þe wood man for to be hongid vp aȝeinus þe temple. Þerfore alle bleſſiden þe Lord of heuen, ſayinge, Bleſſid þe Lord, þat kepte his place vndefoulid. Forſoþe he hangide vp Nychanoris hed in þe heeȝiſt rock, þat it were euydent, or knowen, and opyn ſigne of helpe of God. Þerfore alle men by commoun counſeile demyden in no maner þis day for to paſſe wiþoute worſchiping, ſoþli for to haue worſchipyng þe þrittenþe day of þe moneþ Adar, þat is ſaid, by voice of Sirye, þe firſt day of Mardochyus. Þerfore þeſe þingis don aȝeinus Nychanore, and of þe tymes þe citee weeldid of Ebrues, and Y in þeſe þingis ſhal make an eend of word. And ſoþeli ȝif wel and as it acordiþ to þe ſtorye, þis þing and Y wole; ȝif ellis leſſe worþily, it is to be grauntid to me. Soþely as for to drinke euermore wyne, or euermore water, is contrarie, forſoþe for to vſe chaungable, or now oon, now anoþer, is delitable; ſo to men redynge, ȝif þe word be euermore vniuſtly axid, or aȝein ſouȝt, it ſhal not be couenable, or pleſinge; þerfore here it ſhal be eendid.
Here endiþ þe ſtorie of Machabeus, þe whiche is þe laſte book of þe Olde Teſtament. And nowe bigynneþ þe Newe Teſtament; firſt is þe prolog of Maþeu, apoſtle and euangeliſt.