A   The great k&ibar;g Artaxerses which raigneth fr&obar; India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an h&ubar;dred and seu&ebar; and twentye l&abar;des, sendeth his fr&ebar;dly salutacion vnto all þe; Pr&ibar;ces and debytes of the countrees, which be subiecte vnto his dominyon. Wh&ebar; I was made lorde ouer many people, and had subdued the whole earthe vnto my domynyon, my mynde was not with crueltye and wronge to exalte my selfe by þe; reason of my power: but purposed with equyte alwaye and gentylnes, to gouerne those that be vnder my iurisdiccyon, and wholy to set them &ibar; a peaceable lyfe, and therby to brynge my kyngdome vnto tranquillite, that m&ebar; myght safely go thorow on euery syde, and to renue peace agayne, which all men desyre. B   Now wh&ebar; I asked my co&ubar;celers how these thynges myght be brought to a good ende, there was one by vs, excellent in wysdome, whose good will, trueth, ∧ faythfulnes hath oft bene shewed and proued (which was also þe; pryncipall and next vnto the kynge). Am&abar; by name: which certyfyed vs, how that &ibar; all l&abar;des there was scatred abrode a rebellyo&us; folke, that made statutes ∧ lawes agaynst all other people, &abar;d haue allwaye despysed the proclamed commaundementes of Kynges: &abar;d how that for thys cause it were not to be suffred, that soch rule shulde contynue by you and not to be put downe. Seynge: now we perceaue the same, that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man, vsinge straunge and other maner of lawes, ∧ withstande oure statutes and doynges, C   &abar;d go aboute to stablish shrewed matters, that our kingdome shuld neuer come to good estate, and stedfastnes: Therfore haue we c&obar;maunded, that all they þt; are appoynted in wrytyng and shewed vnto you by Am&abar; (which is ordeyned and sett ouer all oure landes) and the most pryncypall next vnto the kynge, and in maner as a father (shall with theyr wyues and chyldren be destroyed and roted oute wyth the swerde of theyr enemyes

and aduersaries: and that there shalbe no mercy shewed, and no man spared. And thys shalbe done the .xiii. daye of þe; moneth (called Adar) of this yeare, that they which of olde (and now also) haue euer bene rebellious, maye in one daye wyth vyolence be thrust downe into the hel, to þe; int&ebar;t that after this maner, oure empire maye haue peace and tranquilite.

D   But Mardocheus thought vpon all the worckes and noble actes of the Lorde, and made his prayer vnto him, saying: O Lord Lorde, thou valeaunt and almyghtie kyng (for all th&ibar;ges are &ibar; thy power,) and yf thou wilt helpe ∧ deliuer Israell, there is no man that can withstande ner lett þe;: for thou hast made heauen and earth, and what wonderous thinge so euer is vnder the heau&ebar;: thou art Lord of all thinges, and there is no man that can resist thy maiestie (O Lord) Thou knowest all thynges, thon wotest Lorde, þt; it was nether of malice, ner presumpci&obar;, ner for eny desyre of glory, þt; I wolde not bowe downe my selfe ner worshyp yonder proud presumpteous Am&abar; (for I wolde haue bene content, ∧ that with good will, yf it myght haue done Israel eny good, to haue kyst eu&ebar; his fotesteppes) but that I dyd it, because I wolde not sett the honoure of a man in the steade of the glorye of God, and because I wolde worshyp none but onely þe; my Lorde. And thys haue I done in no pryde ner presumpcyon.

E   And therfore O Lorde thou God ∧ kyng, haue mercy vp&obar; thy people for they ymagin how they maye brynge vs to naught, yee theyr minde and desire is to destroye and to ouerthrowe thy people, that hath euer bene thine enherita&ubar;ce of olde. O despyse not thy porci&obar;, which thou hast deliuered ∧ brought oute of Egypte for thyne awne selfe. Heare my prayer, and be mercyfull vnto thy people, whom þu; hast chosen for an heretage vnto thy selfe. Turne oure complaynte and sorowe into ioye, þt; we maye lyue O Lord, and prayse thy name. O Lord, suffre not þe; mouthes of th&ebar; that prayse the, to be destroyed.

All the people of Israell in lyke maner cryed as earnestly as they coulde vnto the Lorde, for theyr death and destruccion stode before theyr eyes.

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