Additions to Esther 16
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1THe great King Artaxerxes, which reigneth from India vnto Ethiopia, ouer an hundreth and seuen and twentie prouinces, sendeth vnto the princes and rulers that haue the charge of our affaires, Salutation. 2There be many that through the goodnes of Princes and honour giuen vnto them, become very proude, 3And indeuoure not onelye to hurt our subiects, but not content to liue in wealth, do also imagine destruction against those that do them good, 4And take not onely all thankefulnes away from men, but in pride & presumption, as they that be vnmindeful of benefites, thei thinke to escape the vengeance of God, that seeth all things, & is contrarie to euil. 5And oft times manie, which be set in office, and vnto whome their friends causes are committed, by vaine intisements do wrappe them in calamities, that can not be remedied: for thei make them partakers of innocent blood, 6And disceitfully abuse the simplicitie, & gentlenes of princes with lying tales. 7This may be proued not onely by olde histories, but also by those things that are before our eyes, and are wickedly committed of suche pestilences as are not worthie to beare rule. 8Therefore we must take hede hereafter, that we may make the kingdome peaceable for all men, what change so euer shal come, 9And discerne the things that are before our eyes, to withstand them with gentlenes. 10For Aman, a Macedonian, the sonne of Amadathus, being in dede a stranger from the Persians blood, and farre from our goodnes, was receiued of vs, 11And hathe proued the friendship that we beare towarde all nations, so that he was called our father, and was honored of euerie man, as the next persone vnto the King. 12But he colde not vse him self soberly in this great dignitie, but went about to depriue vs of the kingdome, & of our life. 13With manifolde disceite also hathe he desired to destroye Mardocheus our preseruer, which hath done vs good in all things, and innocent Esther the partaker of our kingdome, with all her nation. 14For his minde was (when he had taken them out of the way) to lay waite for vs, and by this meanes to translate the kingdome of the Persians vnto them of Macedonia. 15But we finde that the Iewes (which were accused of this moste wicked man that thei might be destroyed) are no euil doers, but vse moste iust Lawes, 16And that they be the children of the moste high and almightie and euer liuing God, by whome the kingdome hathe bene preserued vnto vs, and our progenitours in verie good ordre. 17Wherefore ye shal do wel, if ye do not put in execution those letters, that Aman the sonne of Amadathus did write vnto you. 18For he that inuented them, hangeth at Susis before the gates with all his familie, & God (which hathe all things in his power) hathe spedely rewarded him after his deseruing. 19Therefore ye shal publishe the copie of this letter in all places, that the Iewes may frely liue after their owne Lawes. 20And ye shal aide them, that vpon the thirtenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar thei may be aduenged of them, which in the time of their trouble wolde haue oppressed them. 21For almightie God hathe turned to ioye the day, wherein the chosen people shulde haue perished. 22Moreouer, among other solemne daies ye shal kepe this day with all gladnes, 23That bothe now & in time to come this day may be a remembrance of deliuerance for vs and all suche as loue the prosperitie of the Persians, but a remembrance of destruction to those that be sedicious vnto vs. 24Therefore all cities and countreis that do not this, shal horribly be destroyed with sworde and fyre, and shal not onely not be inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of the wilde beastes and foules for euer.