Bishops(i)
1 So the kinges & princes of al the cities & landes sent their embassadours, namely they of Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia, which came to Holophernes, and sayde:
2 Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs: It is better for vs to serue the great king Nabuchodonosor with our liues, and to be subiect vnto thee, then that we should dye, and with our slaughter suffer the euyls of our bondage.
3 All our cities and possessions, al mountaynes and hilles, all fieldes, great and smal cattel, sheepe, goates, horses, and camels, all our goodes and housholdes be in thy power.
4 Under thy subiection be al that we haue.
5 We our selues and also our children wilbe thy seruauntes.
6 Come vnto vs peaceable lorde, and vse our seruice at thy pleasure.
7 Then came Holophernes downe from the mountaynes with horsemen & great power, and conquered all strong fensed cities, and all that dwelt in the lande.
8 And out of all cities he toke strong men and such as were meete for the warre [to helpe hym.]
9 And there came such a feare vpon those countreys, that the indwellers of al the cities, the princes and rulers, and the people together, went foorth to meete hym as he came:
10 And receaued him [honorably] with garlandes and torches, with daunces, taprettes, and pipes.
11 Neuerthelesse though they dyd this, yet might they not swage his rigorous stomacke.
12 But he destroyed their cities, and hewed downe their wooddes.
13 For Nabuchodonosor the king had commaunded him that he should roote out all the gods of the lande, to the intent that he only might be called [and taken] for god of the nations, which Holophernes with his power might bring vnder him.
14 So went he through Syria Sobal, and through all Appamea, and all Mesopotamia, and came to the Idumeans in the lande of Gabaa,
15 And toke their cities, and remayned there thirtie dayes, in whiche space he caused all the whole multitude of his hoast to be gathered together.