1   Bvt a litle after ^note Lysias the kings procuratour, and cosin, and chiefe ouer the assayers, being greatly offended with these thinges, that had hapened,

2   hauing gathered foure score thousand, and al the horsemen, came against the Iewes, thincking that taking the citie, he should make it an habitation for the Gentiles:

3   and he should haue the temple to make gayne of money, as the rest of the temples of the Gentiles, and euerie yeare the priesthood to be sold:

4   neuer recounting the powre of God, but furious in minde, he trusted in the multitude of foote men, and thousandes of horsemen, and in foure score elephants.

5   And he entred into Iurie, and approching to Bethsura, which was in a narrow place from Ierusalem the space of fiue furlongs, he expugned that hold.

6   But as Machabeus, and they that were with him, vnderstood that the holdes were ex pugned, they besought our Lord with weeping and teares, and al the multitude together, ^note that he would send a good Angel to the sauing of Israel.

7   And Machabeus him self first taking weapons, exhorted the rest together with him, to aduenture, and to geue ayde to their bretheren.

8   And when they went forth together with prompt corege, at Ierusalem there appeared going before them an horseman in white clothing, with armour of gold, shaking a speare.

9   Then al they together blessed our merciful Lord, and tooke great corege: being readie to penetrate not only men, but also most fierce beastes, and walles of yron.

10   They went therfore promptly,

hauing an helper from heauen, and our Lord hauing pitie vpon them.

11   And like lyons running violently vpon the enimies, they ouerthrew of them eleuen thousand footmen, and of horsemen a thousand six hundred:

12   and they put to flight al, & very many of them being wounded scaped a way naked. Yea and Lysias him selfe shamefully fleeing escaped.

13   And because he was not senselesse recounting with him selfe, the diminution made on his side, and vnderstanding the Hebrewes to be inuincible, because they rested vpon the helpe of the almightie God, he sent vnto them:

14   and promised that he would consent to al thinges, that are iust, and that he would force the king to be their freind.

15   And Machabeus granted to Lysias requestes, in al things hauing respect to the commonwealth and whatsoeuer Machabeus wrote to Lysias, concerning the Iewes, the king granted it.

16   For there were epistles written to the Iewes from Lysias, conteyning this tenure: Lysias to the people of the Iewes health.

17   Iohn and Absalom that were sent from you, deliuering the wrytings, requested that I would accomplishe those thinges which by them were signified.

18   Therfore whatsoeuer might be brought to the king I declared vnto him: and that which the matters permitted I granted.

19   If therfore you kepe fideletie in the affayres & henceforward, also wil endeuour to be a cause of doing you good.

20   And concerning the rest, word for word I haue geuen commandement both to theise, and to them that are sent of me, to commune with you.

21   Fare ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight, of the moneth Dioscorus the foure & twenteth day.

22   But the kings epistle conteyned these thinges: King Antiochus to Lysias ^note his brother, health.

23   Our father being translated amongst the goddes, we being willing that they that are in our kingdome should liue without truble, and employ diligence to their owne matters,

24   we haue heard that the Iewes consented not to my father to turne to the rite of the Greekes, but that they would keepe their owne institution, and therfore that they request vs their rites to be granted them.

25   Being therfore desirouse that this nation also be quiet, oradyning we haue decreed, that the temple be restored vnto them, that they might doe according to the custome of their ancestours.

26   Thou shalt do wel therfore if thou send to them, & geue the right hand, that our pleasure being knowen they may be of good cheere, & looke to their owne commodities.

27   But to the Iewes the kings epistle was in this manner:

27   King Antiochus to the senate of the Iewes, and to the rest of the Iewes health.

28   If you fare wel, you are so as we would: yea our selues also fare wel.

29   Menelaus came to vs, saying that you would come downe to your countrie men, that are with vs.

30   To them therfore that come and goe, vntil the thirtith day of the month Xanthicus, we geue the right handes of securitie,

31   that the Iewes may vse their owne meates, and their owne lawes, as also before: and that none of them by any meanes suffer molestation for these thinges, which haue bene done by ignorance.

32   And we haue sent also Menelaus to speake to you.

33   Fare ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fortie eight, of the moneth Xanthicus the fiftenth day.

34   And the Romans also sent an epistle, which is thus: Qvintvs Memmius, and Titus Manilius legats of the Romans, to the people of the Iewes health.

35   Concerning these thinges which Lysias the kings cosin hath granted you, we also haue granted.

36   But touching the thinges which he thought good to be referred to the king, send ye forthwith some bodie, conferring diligently among your selues, that we may decree as is conuenient for you: for we goe to Antioch.

37   And therfore make hast to write agayne, that we also may know of what minde you are.

38   Fate ye wel. In the yeare an hundred fourtie eight the fiftenth day of the moneth Xanthicus.

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