1    ^noteThe great King Artaxerxes, which reigneth from India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundreth & seuen and twentie prouinces, sendeth vnto the princes and rulers that haue þe; charge of our affaires, Salutation.

2   There be many that through the goodnesse of Princes and honour giuen vnto them, become very proud,

3   And indeuour not onely to hurt our subiects, but not content to liue in wealth, doe also imagine destruction against those that doe them good,

4   And take not onely all thankefulnesse away from men, but in pride and presumption, as they that be vnmindefull of benefites, they thinke to escape the vengeance of God, that seeth all thinges, and is contrary to euill.

5   And oft times many, which bee set in office, and vnto whome their friendes causes are committed, by vaine intisements doe wrappe them in calamities, that cannot be remedied: for they make them partakers of innocent blood,

6   And deceitfully abuse the simplicitie, and gentlenesse of Princes with lying tales.

7   This may be proued not onely by olde histories, but also by those things that are before our eyes, and are wickedly committed of such pestilences as are not worthy to beare rule.

8   Therefore we must take heede hereafter that we may make the kingdome peaceable for all men, what chance soeuer shall come,

9   And discerne the thinges that are before our eyes, to withstand them with gentlenesse.

10   For Aman, a Macedonian, the sonne of Amadathus,

being in deede a stranger from the Persians blood, & far from our goodnes, was receiued of vs,

11   And hath proued the friendship that we beare toward all nations, so that he was called our father, and was honoured of euery man, as the next person vnto the King.

12   But he could not vse himselfe soberly in this great dignitie, but went about to depriue vs of the kingdome, and of our life.

13   With manifolde deceite also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our preseruer, which hath done vs good in all things, and innocent Esther the partaker of our kingdome, with all her nation.

14   For his minde was (when he had taken them out of the way) to lay waite for vs, and by this meanes to translate the kingdome of the Persians vnto them of Macedonia.

15   But we finde that þe; Iewes (which were accused of this most wicked man that they might be destroyed) are no euill doers, but vse most iust lawes,

16   And that they be the children of the most High and Almightie & euerliuing God, by whome the kingdome hath bene preserued vnto vs, and our progenitours in very good order.

17   Wherefore ye shall doe well, if ye doe not put in execution those letters, that Aman the sonne of Amadathus did write vnto you.

18   For he that inuented them, hangeth at Susis before the gates with all his familie, and God (which hath all things in his power) hath speedely rewarded him after his deseruing.

19   Therefore ye shall publish the copy of this letter in all places, that the Iewes may freely liue after their owne Lawes.

20   And ye shall ayde them, that vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar they may be auenged of them, which in the time of their trouble would haue oppressed them.

21   For almightie God hath turned to ioy þe; day wherein the chosen people should haue perished.

22   Moreouer, among other solemne dayes ye shall keepe this day with all gladnes,

23   That both nowe and in time to come this day may be a remembrance of deliuerance for vs and all such as loue the prosperitie of the Persians, but a remembrance of destruction to those that be seditious vnto vs.

24   Therefore all cities and countreys that doe not this, shall horribly be destroyed with sworde and fire, and shall not onely not be inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of the wilde beasts and foules for euer.

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