1   That day king Assuerus gaue vnto Esther the queene the house of Aman the Iewes aduersarie, and Mardocheus went in before the kings presence. For Esther confessed to him that he was her vncle.

2   And the king tooke the ring, which he had commanded to be taken agayne from Aman, and deliuered it to Mardochens. And Esther appointed Mardocheus also ouer her house.

3   Neither content with these things, she ^note fel downe at the kings feete, and she

wept and speaking to him prayed him, that he would command that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked deuises, which he had inuented agaynst the Iewes, should be of none effect.

4   But he after the maner put forth the golden scepter with his hand, by the which the signe of clemencie was shewed: and she rysing vp stood before him,

5   and said: If it please the king, and if I haue found grace in his eies, and my request seme not contrarie to him, I besech thee, that the old letters of Aman the traytour and enemie of the Iewes, wherein he commanded that in al the kings prouinces they should perish, may by new letters be corrected.

6   For how can I abide the murder and slaughter of my people?

7   And king Assuerus answered Esther the queene, and Mardocheus the Iewe: Amans house I haue geuen to Esther, and him self I haue commanded to be hanged on the gallowes, because he durst lay handes on the Iewes.

8   Write ye therfore to the Iewes, as pleaseth you, in the kings name, signing the letters with my ring. For this was the custome, that no man durst speake against the lettes, which were sent in the kings name, and were signed with his ring.

9   And the kings scribes and secretaries being cald for (and it was the time of the third moneth, which is called Siban) the three and twenteth day therof letters were written, as Mardocheus would, to the Iewes, and to the princes, and the lieuftenantes and iudges, which were rulers ouer the hundred and seuen and twentie prouinces, from India euen to Æthiopia: to prouince and prouince, to people and people, according to their languages and characters, and to the Iewes, according as they could read, and heare.

10   And the said letters, which were sent in the kings name, were signed with his ring, and sent by ryding postes: which running through al the prouinces, should preuent the old letters with the new messages.

11   To whom the king gaue commandment, that they should speake to the Iewes in euerie citie, and should command them to be gathered together in one, that they might stand for their liues, and might kil and destroy al their enemies with their wiues and children and al their houses, and to take the spoyle of them.

12   And there was appointed through al the prouinces one day of reuenge, that is, the thirtenth of the twelfth moneth Adar.

13   And this was the content of the letter, that in al landes and peoples, which were subiect to

the empire of king Assuerus, it should be notified, the Iewes to be readie to be reuenged of their enemies.

14   And there went forth swift postes cariyng the massages, and the kinges edict hong in Susan.

15   But Mardocheus going forth out of the palace, and from the kinges presence, shining in royal garmentes, to wit, hyathinthine and skie colour, bearing a golden crowne on his head, and clothed with a silke and purple cloke. And the citie reioysed, and was glad.

16   But to the Iewes there semed a new light to rise, ioye, honour, and dauncing.

17   With al peoples, cities, and prouinces, whither soeuer the kinges commandmentes came, meruelous reioysing, feastes and banketes, and holie day: in so much that manie of the other nation and sect, were ioyned to their religion and ceremonies. For great terrour of the name of the Iewes had inuaded them al. ^note

Previous section

Next section