1   Bvt Simon the foresayde betrayer of the money, and of his countrie, ^note spake il of Onias, as though he had stirred vp Heliodorus to these thinges, and had bene the mouer of the euils:

2   and the prouider for the citie, and defender of his nation, and the emulatour of the law of God, he presumed to cal a secret betrayer of the kingdom.

3   But when the emnities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by certaine of Simons familiars:

4   Onias considering the peril of the contention, and that Appollonius being gouernour of Cælesyria, and Phænicia, was outragious, which encreased the malice of Simon, ^note went to the king,

5   not as an accuser of the citizens, but considering with himself the common profite of the whole multitude.

6   For he saw that without the kings prouidence it was vnpossible that peace should be made in those matters, & that Simon would not cease from his follie. ^note

7   But after Seleucus departure out of life, when Antiochus that was called the Noble, had taken the kingdom vpon him,

Iason the brother of Onias ambiciously sought the high priesthood: ^note

8   going to the king, promising him three hundred three score talents of siluer, and of other reuenewes foure score talents,

9   aboue this he promised also an hundred fiftie more, if leaue might be granted him to make a schole, and a place for youth, and to intitle them, that were at Ierusalem, Antiochians.

10   Which when the king had granted, and he had obteyned the princedom, forthwith he began to transport his countrie men to the heathen rite.

11   And these thinges being taken away, which of fauoure had bene decreed by kinges vnto the Iewes, and through Iohn the father of the Eupolemus, who was embassadour with the Romans concerning amitie and societie, he disanulling the lawful rites of the citizens, made wicked ordinances.

12   For he presumed vnder the verie castle to set vp a schoole, and to put al the goodliest youthes in brothel houses.

13   And this was not the beginning, but a certaine increase, and going forward of the heathen and strange conuersation, through the abhominable neuer heard before, of Iason the impious and not a priest.

14   So that the priestes were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but ^note the temple being contemned, & the sacrifices neglected, they hastened to be pertakers of the gamme of wrastling, and of the vniust maintenance therof, and in the exercise of the coyte.

15   And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Greeke glories for the best:

16   by reason wherof they had dangerous contention, and they had emulation toward their ordinances, and in al thinges they coueted to be like to them, whom they had enemies and murderers.

17   For to doe impiously against the lawes of God escapeth not vnpunished, but this the time folowing wil declare.

18   And when the gamme vsed euerie fifth yeare was kept at Tyre, and the king was present,

19   the wicked Iason sent from Ierusalem sinful men, carying three hundred didrachmaes of siluer for the sacrifice of Hercules, which they that caryed it, requested that it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it ought not, but that it might be deputed for other charges.

20   And these were offered in dede by him that sent them, vnto the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that were present they were geuen to the making of gallees. ^note

21   And Apollonius the sonne of Mnestheus being sent into Ægypt because of the nobles of Ptolomee Philometor the

king, ^note when Antiochus vnderstood that himself was made an alien from the affaires of the kingdom, prouiding for his owne commodities, departing thence he came to Ioppe, and from, thence to Ierusalem. ^note

22   And being magnifically receiued of Iason, and the citie, entered in with torch lights, and with prayses: and from thence he turned his armie into Phænicia.

23   And after the time of three yeares Iason sent Menelaus brother of the foresaide Simon, carying money to the king, and to bring answers of necessarie affayres.

24   But he being commended to the king; when he had magnified the presence of his power, wrested the high priesthood vpon him self, ouer bidding Iason three hundred talents of siluer.

25   And hauing receiued commission from the king, he came, hauing in deede nothing worthie of the priesthood: but bearing the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the wrath of a wilde beast.

26   And Iason indeede who had circumuented his owne brother, being himself deceiued was driuen out a fugitiue into the countrie of the Ammanites.

27   And ^note Menelaus obteyned the princedom: but concerning the money promised to the king he did nothing, wheras Softratus that was gouernour of the castel exacted it.

28   For to him perteyned the exacting of the tributes: for which cause they were both called out to the king.

29   And Menelaus was remoued from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made gouernour of the Cyprians.

30   And when these things were a doing, it chanced the Tharsians, and the Mallotians to moue sedition, because they were geuen for a gift to king Antiochus concubine.

31   The king therfore came in hast to pacifie them, one of his companions Adronicus being lefte substitute.

32   But Menelaus supposing that he had taken a conuenient time, stealing certaine vessels of gold out of the temple, gaue them to Adronicus, and others he had sould at Tyre, & in their neere cities:

33   Which thing when Onias vnderstood most certainly, he rebuked him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioche beside Daphne.

34   Wherupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kil Onias. Who when he was come to Onias, and right handes being geuen with an oath (although he was suspected of him) had perswaded him to come out of the sanctuarie, immediatly he slew him, not reuerencing iustice.

35   For which cause not only the Iewes, but also other nations likewise were offended, and tooke it greuously for the vniust

murder of so great a man.

36   But when the king was returned out of the places of Cilicia, the Iewes went vnto him at Antioch, and also ^note the Greekes: complayning of the vniust murder of Onias.

37   Antiochus therefore was sorie in his minde for Onias, and being inclined to pitie, he shed teares, remembring the sobrietie and modestie of the deceased.

38   And his hart being incensed, he commanded Andronicus being spoiled of the purple, to be led about al the citie: and that in the same place, wherin he had committed the impiety vpon Onias, the sacrilegious person should be depriued of his life, our Lord repaying him worthie punishment.

39   And manie sacrilegies being committed of Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour being bruited abrode, the multitude gathered together against Lysimachus, much gold being now caryed out.

40   But the multitudes making insurrection, and their mindes replenished with anger, Lysimachus arming almost three thousand began to vse vniust handes, a certaine tyrant being captaine farre growne in age, and also in madnes.

41   But as they vnderstood the endeuour of Lysimachus, some tooke stones, some strong clubbles: and certaine threw ashes.

42   And manie in deede were wounded, & certaine also throwne to the ground, but al were put to flight: the sacrilegious person also himself they slew beside the treasurie.

43   Concerning these thinges therefore iudgement began to be commenced against Menelaus.

44   And when the king was come to Tyre, three men sent from the ancients, put vp the matter vnto him.

45   And when Menelaus was ouercome, he promised Ptolomee. to geue much money to perswade the king.

46   Ptolomee therfore went to the king being in a certaine courte, as it were to coole himself, and brought him from his purpose:

47   and Menelaus certes being guiltie of al the euil was quitted of the crimes: and the poore wretches, who if they had pleaded the cause euen before Scythians should be iudged innocent, them he commanded to death.

48   Quickly then did they vniustly suffer, which prosecuted the cause for the citie, & the people, and the sacred vessels.

49   For the which thing the Tyrians also being offended, were very liberal towards the burial of them.

50   But Menelaus because of their auarice that were in power, continewed in authoritie, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.

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