A copy of king Artaxerxes' letters, which he sent for the safety of the Jews, 10. declaring the insolence of Aman and dutiful service of Mardocheus and Esther, 20. commanding all his princes to assist the Jews, and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from sorrow to joy.A copie of king Artaxerxes letters, which he sent for the saftie of the Iewes, 10. declaring the insolencie of Aman and dutiful seruice of Mardocheus and Esther, 20. commanding al his princes to assist the Iewes, and with them to celebrate the day which is changed from sorow to ioy.✦
The great king Artaxerxes, from India to Ethiopia to the dukes and princes of an hundred twenty seven provinces, which obey our commandment, sendeth greeting.THe great king Artaxerxes, from India to Æthiopia to the dukes and princes of an hundred twentie seuen prouinces, which obey our commandment, sendeth greeting.Rex magnus Artaxerxes ab India usque Æthiopiam, centum viginti septem provinciarum ducibus ac principibus qui nostræ jussioni obediunt, salutem dicit.
2Many have abused unto pride the goodness of princes, and the honour, that hath been bestowed upon them:Manie haue abused vnto pride the goodnes of princes, and the honour, that hath beene bestowed vpon them:Multi bonitate principum et honore, qui in eos collatus est, abusi sunt in superbiam :
3and they do not only endeavour to oppress the king's subjects, but not bearing the glory that is given them, they work treason against them that gave it.and they do not only endeuour to oppresse the kings subiectes, but not bearing the glorie that is geuen them, they worke treason against them that gaue it.et non solum subjectos regibus nituntur opprimere, sed datam sibi gloriam non ferentes, in ipsos qui dederunt, moliuntur insidias.
4Neither are they content not to give thanks for the benefits, and to violate in themselves the laws of humanitas: the kindness owed between persons, but they think they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth all things.Neither are they content not to geue thankes for the benefittes, and to violate in them selues the lawes of humanitie, but they thincke they can escape the sentence of God also who seeth al things.Nec contenti sunt gratias non agere beneficiis, et humanitatis in se jura violare, sed Dei quoque cuncta cernentis arbitrantur se posse fugere sententiam.
5And they have burst forth into so great madness, that such as observe diligently the offices committed unto them, and do all things so that they are worthy of all men's praise, them they endeavour to overthrow by subtle means of lies,And they haue burst forth into so great madnes, that such as obserue diligently the offices committed vnto them, and do al thinges so that they are worthie of al mens prayse, them they endeuour to ouerthrow by subtil meanes of lies,Et in tantum vesaniæ proruperunt, ut eos qui credita sibi officia diligenter observant, et ita cuncta agunt ut omnium laude digni sint, mendaciorum cuniculis conentur subvertere,
6whiles with crafty fraud they deceive the simple ears of princes, and esteeming others by their own nature.whiles with craftie fraude they deceiue the simple eares of princes, and esteming others by their owne nature.✦dum aures principum simplices, et ex sua natura alios æstimantes, callida fraude decipiunt.
7Which thing is proved both out of old histories, and by these things, which are done daily, how the enterprises of kings are depravare: corrupted, perverted by the evil suggestions of certain menWhich thing is proued both out of old histories, and by these thinges, which are done daily, how the enterprises of kinges are depraued by the euil suggestions of certaine menQuæ res et ex veteribus probatur historiis, et ex his quæ geruntur quotidie, quomodo malis quorumdam suggestionibus regum studia depraventur.
8Wherefore we must provide for the peace of all provinces.Wherfore we must prouide for the peace of al prouinces.Unde providendum est paci omnium provinciarum.
9Neither must you think, if we command divers things, that it cometh of the lightness of our mind, but that we give sentence according to the quality and necessity of times, as the profit of the common wealth requirethNeither must you thincke, if we command diuers things, that it cometh of the lightnesse of our mind, but that we geue sentence according to the qualitie & necessitie of times, as the profite of the common wealth requireth✦Nec putare debetis, si diversa jubeamus, ex animi nostri venire levitate, sed pro qualitate et necessitate temporum, ut reipublicæ poscit utilitas, ferre sententiam.
10And that you may more plainly understand, that which we say, Aman the son of Amadathi, both in mind and country a Macedonian, and an alien from the Persians' blood, and with his cruelty staining our piety, was received of us a stranger:And that you may more plainly vnderstand, that which we say, Aman the sonne of Amadathi, both in mind and countrie a Macedonian, and an aliene from the Persians bloud, and with his crueltie stayning our pietie, was receiued of vs a stranger:✦Et ut manifestius quod dicimus intelligatis, Aman filius Amadathi, et animo et gente Macedo, alienusque a Persarum sanguine, et pietatem nostram sua crudelitate commaculans, peregrinus a nobis susceptus est :
11and found our humanity so great towards him, that he was called our father, and was adored of all second after the king:and found our humanitie so great towardes him, that he was called our father, and was adored of al second after the king:et tantam in se expertus humanitatem, ut pater noster vocaretur, et adoraretur ab omnibus post regem secundus :
12who was puffed up with so great swelling of arrogancy, that he went about to deprive us of kingdom and life.who was puft vp with so great swelling of arrogancie, that he went about to depriue vs of kingdom and life.✦qui in tantum arrogantiæ tumorem sublatus est, ut regno privare nos niteretur et spiritu.
13For by certain new devices and not heard of before he hath sought to kill Mardocheus, by whose fidelity and benefits we live, and Esther the consors: partner, consort of our kingdom with all their nation:For by certaine new deuises and not heard of before he hath sought to kil Mardocheus, by whose fidelitie and benefittes we liue, and Esther the felow of our kingdom with al their nation:Nam Mardochæum, cujus fide et beneficiis vivimus, et consortem regni nostri Esther cum omni gente sua, novis quibusdam atque inauditis machinis expetivit in mortem :
14thinking this that they being slain, he might work treason to our solitudo: our being left solitary and unprotected, and might transfer the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedoniansthincking this that they being slayne, he might worke treason to our solitarines, and might transferre the kingdom of the Persians to the Macedonians✦hoc cogitans ut illis interfectis, insidiaretur nostræ solitudini, et regnum Persarum transferret in Macedonas.
15But we have found the Jews, which were by that most wicked of men appointed to be slain, in no fault at all, but contrariwise using just laws,But we haue found the Iewes, which were by that most wicked of men oppoynted to be slayne, in no fault at al, but contrariwise vsing iust lawes,Nos autem a pessimo mortalium Judæos neci destinatos, in nulla penitus culpa reperimus, sed e contrario justis utentes legibus,
16and the children of the highest and the greatest, and always loving God, by whose benefit the kingdom was given both to our fathers and to us, and is kept unto this day.and the children of the highest and the greatest, and alwayes louing God, by whose benefite the kingdom was geuen both to our fathers and to vs, and is kept vnto this day.✦et filios altissimi et maximi semperque viventis Dei, cujus beneficio et patribus nostris et nobis regnum est traditum, et usque hodie custoditur.
17Wherefore know ye those letters, which he directed in our name, to be of none effect.Wherfore know ye those letters, which he directed in our name, to be of none effect.Unde eas litteras, quas sub nomine nostro ille direxerat, sciatis esse irritas.
18For the which heinous scelus: deed, crime, before the gates of this city, that is, of Susan, both himself that devised it, and all his kindred hang on gibbets: not we, but God repaying him that which he hath deserved.For the which heinous fact, before the gates of this citie, that is, of Susan, both him self that deuised it, and al his kinred hang on gibbettes: not we, but God repaying him that which he hath deserued.✦Pro quo scelere ante portas hujus urbis, id est, Susan, et ipse qui machinatus est, et omnis cognatio ejus pendet in patibulis : non nobis, sed Deo reddente ei quod meruit.
19But this edict, which we now send, let it be set forth in all cities, that it be lawful for the Jews to use their own laws.But this edict, which we now send, let it be set forth in al cities, that it be lawful for the Iewes to vse their owne lawes.Hoc autem edictum, quod nunc mittimus, in cunctis urbibus proponatur, ut liceat Judæis uti legibus suis.
20Whom you must help, that those, which had prepared themselves to their slaughter, they may kill the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar.Whom you must helpe, that those, which had prepared them selues to their slaughter, they may kil the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth, which is called Adar.Quibus debetis esse adminiculo, ut eos qui se ad necem eorum paraverant, possint interficere tertiadecima die mensis duodecimi, qui vocatur Adar.
21For God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadness and mourning into joy to them.For God omnipotent hath turned this day of sadnes and mourning into ioy to them.Hanc enim diem, Deus omnipotens, mœroris et luctus, eis vertit in gaudium.
22Wherefore count you also this day among other festival days, and celebrate it with all joy, that hereafter also it may be known,Wherfore count you also this day among other festiual daies, and celebrate it with al ioy, that hereafter also it may be knowne,✦Unde et vos inter ceteros festos dies, hanc habetote diem, et celebrate eam cum omni lætitia, ut et in posterum cognoscatur,
23that all, which faithfully obey the Persians, receive worthy reward for their fidelity: and they that lie in wait against their kingdom, perish for their wicked fact.that al, which faythfully obey the Persians, receiue worthie reward for their fidelitie: and they that lie in wayte against their kingdom, perish for their wicked fact.omnes qui fideliter Persis obediunt, dignam pro fide recipere mercedem ; qui autem insidiantur regno eorum, perire pro scelere.
24And every province and city, that will not be partaker of this solemnity, let it perish by sword and fire, and let it so be destroyed, that not only men, but also beasts have no access thereto for ever, for an example of contempt, and disobedience.And euerie prouince and citie, that wil not be partaker of this solemnitie, let it perish by sword and fyre, and let it so be destroyed, that not onlie men, but also beastes haue no accesse therto for euer, for an example of contempt, and disobedience. *✦Omnis autem provincia et civitas quæ noluerit solemnitatis hujus esse particeps, gladio et igne pereat, et sic deleatur, ut non solum hominibus, sed etiam bestiis invia sit in sempiternum, pro exemplo contemptus et inobedientiæ.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.