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 the whole world, not lifted vp with preſumption of my authoritie, but carying my ſelfe away with equitie and mildneſſe, I purpoſed to ſettle my ſubiects continually in a quiet life, and making my kingdome ‖ peaceable, and open for paſſage to the vtmoſt coaſtes, to renue peace which is deſired of all men.

Now when I aſked my counſellers how this might bee brought to paſſe, Aman that excelled in wiſedome among vs, and was approoued for his conſtant good will, and ſtedfaſt fidelitie, and had the honour of the ſecond place in the kingdome,

Declared vnto vs, that in all nations throughout the world, there was ſcattered a certaine malitious people, that had Lawes contrary to all nations, and continually deſpiſed the commandements of Kings, ſo as the vniting of our kingdomes honourably intended by vs, cannot ‖ goe forward.

Seeing then we vnderſtand that this people alone is continually in oppoſition vnto all men, differing in the ſtrange maner of their Lawes, and euill affected to our ſtate, working all the miſchiefe they can, that our kingdome may not be firmely ſtabliſhed:

Therefore haue we commanded that al they that are ſignified in writing vnto you by Aman (who is ordained ouer the affaires, and is ‖ next vnto vs) ſhall all with their wiues and children, bee vtterly deſtroyed, by the ſword of their enemies, without all mercie and pitie, the fourteenth day of the twelfth moneth Adar of this preſent yeere:

That they, who of old, and now alſo are malitious, may in one day with violence goe into the graue, and ſo euer hereafter, cauſe our affaires to be well ſettled, and without trouble.

Then Mardocheus thought vpon all the works of the Lord, and made his prayer vnto him,

Saying, O Lord, Lord, the king Almightie: for the whole world is in thy power; and if thou haſt appointed to ſaue Iſrael, there is no man that can gaineſay thee.

For thou haſt made heauen and earth, and all the wonderous things vnder the heauen.

Thou art Lord of all things, and there is no man that can reſiſt thee, which art the Lord.

Thou knoweſt all things, and thou knoweſt Lord, that it was neither in contempt nor pride, nor for any deſire of glory, that I did not bow downe to proud Aman.

For I could haue bene content with good will for the ſaluation of Iſrael, to kiſſe the ſoles of his feet.

But I did this, that I might not preferre the glory of man aboue the glory of God: neither will I worſhip any but thee, O God, neither wil I doe it in pride.

And now, O Lord God, and King, ſpare thy people: for their eyes are vpon vs, to bring vs to nought, yea they deſire to deſtroy the inheritance that hath beene thine from the beginning.

Deſpiſe not the portion which thou haſt deliuered out of Egypt for thine owne ſelfe:

Heare my prayer, and be mercifull vnto thine inheritance: turne our ſorrow into ioy, that wee may liue, O Lord, and praiſe thy Name: and ‖ deſtroy not the mouthes of them that praiſe thee, O Lord.

All Iſrael in like maner cried moſt † earneſtly vnto the Lord, becauſe their death was before their eyes.

Ueene Eſther also being in feare of death, reſorted vnto the Lord,

and layd away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments of anguiſh, ⁊ mourning: and in ſtead of pretious oyntments, ſhe couered her head with aſhes, ⁊ doung, and ſhe humbled her body greatly, and all the places of her ioy ſhe filled with her torne haire.

And ſhee prayed vnto the Lord God of Iſrael, ſaying, O my Lord, thou onely art our king: helpe me deſolate woman, which haue no helper but thee:


 * For my danger is in mine hand.

From my youth vp I haue heard in the tribe of my family, that thou, O Lord, tookeſt Iſrael from among all people, and our fathers from all their predeceſſours, for a perpetuall inheritance, and thou haſt performed whatſoeuer thou didſt promiſe them. And