1   After three yeres, was Iudas infourmed how that Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus was come vp with a great power and shippes, through the hauen of Tripolis,

2   To take certaine commodious places and countreys, against Antiochus and his captaine Lysias.

3   Nowe Alcimus whiche had ben hie priest, and wylfully defiled him selfe in the time of the mixting, seeing that by no meanes he could be helped, nor haue any more entraunce to the aulter,

4   He came to king Demetrius in the hundred fiftie and one yere, presenting vnto him a crowne of golde, a paulme, and an oliue tree, which as men thought belonged to the temple: and that day held his tongue.

5   But when he had gotten oportunitie for his madnesse, Demetrius called him to counsel, and asked him what thinges or counsels the Iewes leaned vnto?

6   He aunswered: The Iewes that be called Assidei (whose captaine is Iudas Machabeus) maintayne warres, make insurections, and wyl not let the realme be in peace. B   

7   For I being depriued of my fathers honour (I meane the hie priesthood) am come hyther:

8   Partly because I was faithfull vnto the king, and partly because I sought the profite of myne owne citezins: And why? all our people, through the wickednesse of them, are not a litle troubled.

9   Wherefore I beseche thee O king, consider all these thinges diligently, and then make some prouision for the lande and the people, according to the kindnes that thou hast offered vnto them.

10   For as long as Iudas liueth, it is not possible that men can lyue in peace.

11   When he had spoken these wordes, other friendes also hauing euill wyll at Iudas, set the king Demetrius on fire [against him.]

12    ^noteWhich immediatly sent Nicanor ruler of the Elephantes, a captaine, into Iurie, C   

13   Commaunding him to slay Iudas, ∧ to scatter them that were with him, and to make Alcimus hie priest of the great temple.

14   Then the heathen, which fled out of Iurie from Iudas, came to Nicanor by flockes, thinking the harme and decay of the Iewes to be their welfare.

15   Now when the Iewes heard of Nicanors comming, and the gathering together of the heathen, they sprinckled them selues with earth, ^note and besought him which made them his people, and euer defended his owne portion with euident tokens, that he woulde preserue them still.

16   So at the c&obar;maundem&ebar;t of the captaine they remoued straight wayes from thence, ∧ came to a towne called Dessau.

17   And Simon, Iudas brother, fell in hand with Nicanor: but through the sodaine ^note comming of the enemies he was afraide.

18   Neuerthelesse, Nicanor hearing the manlinesse of them that were with Iudas, and the bolde stomakes that they had to fight for their natural countrey, durst not prooue the matter with bloodshedding.

19   Wherfore he sent Possidonius, ^note Theodorus, and Mathathias before, to geue and to take peace. D   

20   So when they had taken long aduisement thereupon, and the captaine shewed it vnto the multitude, they were agreed in one minde to haue peace.

21   And they appoynted a day to sit vpon these matters quietly among them selues, and for euery one stooles also were brought and set foorth.

22   Neuerthelesse, Iudas commaunded certaine men of armes to wayt in conuenient places, lest there should sodenly aryse any euill through the enemies: and so they communed reasonably together.

23   Nicanor while he abode at Hierusalem, ordered him selfe not vnreasonably, but sent away the people that were gathered together.

24   He loued Iudas euer with his heart, and fauoured him. E   

25   He prayed him also to take a wyfe, and to bring foorth children. So he maryed, liued in rest, and they led a common life.

26   But Alcimus perceauing the loue that was betwixt them, and how they were agreed together, came to Demetrius, and tolde him that Nicanor had taken straunge matters in hande, and ordayned Iudas, an enemie of the realme, to be the kinges successour.

27   Then the king was sore displeased, and through the wicked accusations which Alcimus made of Nicanor, he was so prouoked, that he wrote vnto Nicanor, saying: that he was very angry for the frendship and agreement which he had made with Machabeus, Neuerthelesse, he c&obar;maunded him in al the haste that he should take Machabeus prisoner, and sent him to Antioch.

28   Which [letters] when Nicanor had sene, he was at his wittes ende and sore greeued, that he shoulde breake the thinges wherein they had agreed, specially seeing Machabeus was that man that neuer did him harme.

29   But because he might not withstand the king, he sought oportunitie to fulfill his commaundement.

30   Notwithstanding when Machabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlishe vnto him, ∧ that he entreated him more roughly then he was wont, he perceaued that such vnkindnesse came not of good, and therefore he gathered a fewe of his men, and withdrewe him selfe from Nicanor. F   

31   Which when he knew that Machabeus had manfully preu&ebar;ted him, he came into the great and most holy temple, and commaunded the priestes which were doing their vsuall offeringes, to deliuer him the man.

32   And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought, ^note

33   He stretched out his right hande toward the temple, and made an oth, saying: If ye wyll not deliuer me Iudas captiue, I shall remoue this temple of God into the plaine fielde, I shal breake downe the aulter, and consecrate this temple vnto Bacchus.

34   After these wordes he departed. Then the priestes lyft vp their handes toward heauen, and besought him that was euer the defender of their people saying:

35   Thou O Lord of all, which hast nede of nothing, wouldest that the temple of thy habitation should be among vs: ^note

36   Therefore nowe O most holy Lorde, kepe this house euer vndefiled, which lately was cleansed, and stop all the mouthes of the vnrighteous.

37   Now was there accused vnto Nicanor one Razis an alderman of Hierusalem, a louer of the whole citie, ∧ a man of good reporte, which for the kinde heart that he bare vnto the people, was called a father of the Iewes.

38   This man oft times when the Iewes were minded to kepe them selues vndefiled, defended and deliuered them, being content stedfastly to spend his body and his lyfe for his people. G   

39   So Nicanor wylling to declare the hate that he bare to the Iewes, sent fiue hundred men of warre to take him:

40   For he thought if he gat him he should bring the Iewes in great decay.

41   Now when the people began to rushe in at his house, to breake the doores, and to set fire on it, he being now taken, ^note fel vpon his sword,

42   Choosing rather to dye manfully, then to yeelde him selfe to those wicked doers: ∧ because of his noble stocke, he had rather haue ben put to extreme crueltie.

43   Notwithstanding, what time as he missed of his stroke for haste, and the multitude rushed in violently betwixt the doores, he ranne boldly to the wall, and cast him selfe downe manfully among the heape of them:

44   Which gaue soone place to his fall, so that he fell vpon his belly.

45   Neuerthelesse, while there was yet breath within him, he was kindled in his minde, ∧ while his blood gushed out exceedingly (for he was very sore wounded) he ranne through the middest of the people, and gat him to the top of a rocke.

46   So when his blood was nowe gone, he toke out his owne bowels with both his handes, ∧ threw them vpon the people, calling vpon the Lorde of lyfe ∧ spirite to rewarde him this againe: and so he dyed.

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