16

16

The conquest of Syria; the battle of Josaphat,

Tyre resists
stoutly,
and he has
to set a
boom
across the
liaven.

* Leafs.

Alexander
sends for
help to Ja-
dus, Bishop
of the Jews,
and also
demands
tribute.

The Bishop
pleads the
oath of
fealty
sworn to
Darius.

Alexander
swears to
wreak ven-
geance on
the Jews.

He sends
Meleager
with 500
men to
Josaphat
to forage.
They de-
feat the
Lord of the
country
and slay
him.

But the

Lord of the
city sends
help and

his Oste suffred" many dysesses. For that Cite was so strange
in it-selfe by-cause of the ground", that it was sett apon, and
by-cause of grete towres & many that ware abowte it, and also
bicause it was so enclosed" wit the see that it myghte noghte 4
lightly * be wonnen by nane assawte. Alexander than umbi-
thoghte hym, one what wyse he myghte best com to for to
destruy this citee, and he gerte make a grete bastell of tree, and
sett it apon schippes in the see euen forgaynes the cete, so that 8
thare myghte no shippes come nere the hauen for to vetaylls
the Citee or suppoell it wit men by-cause of the bastelle. In
the mene tyme Alexander Oste hade grete defawte of vetaylls,
and than he sent lettres unto ladus, that at that tyme was 12
bischoppe & gouernoure of the Iewes, and prayede hym for to
suppoell hym wit som men, and also that he walde send" sum
vetails for hym & his Oste, and he scholde pay for tham wit
a glade chere, and that he scholde also send" hym the tribute 16
that he scholde gyffe Darius the emperour of Perse. For hym
ware better, he said", hafe his frenchippe than the frenchipe of
Darius. The Bischope than of the Iewes ansuerd" the messangers
that broghte hym pe lettres & said', ' I hafe,' quoth he, 'made 20
athe to Dariws, that, whils he leffes, I schatt neuer bere armes
agaynes hym, and tharefore I ne may nogte do agaynes myn
Athe.' The Messagers than went till Alexander & talde hym
the bischopes ansuere, and he was greued' & said', ' I make myn 24
avowe,' quoth he, ' vntitt oure goddes, that I schatt take swilke
vengeance on the Iewes that I satt make tham to knawe, whethir
it es better to than to be obeisant vn-to [my ?] commandement,
or vn-to the kynges of Perse.' And he callede a duke, that highte 28
Melagere, and wit vc men of armes, and badd' tham gaa in to the
vale of Iosaphat, the whilke was full of bestes & brynge of thase
bestes to the Oste for to vetaille tham wit. And ane Sampson,
that knewe the cuntre wele was thaire gyde. Thay went in to the 32
vale, and gadird' to gedir catell wit-owte nombir & be-gan for
to dryfe on tham. And he that was lorde of the cuntre, Theosellas
bi name, raysed' a grete multitude of folke and mett tham &
faughte wit tham & slewe many of tham). Bot Melagere & his 36
felaws at that tym had the better. And ane that highte Caulus
went baldly to Theosellas, & smate of his heued! AH this was
done bot a littill fra the citee of Gadir. And than Bertyne,

16

The conquest of Syria; the battle of Josaphat,

Tyre resists
stoutly,
and he has
to set a
boom
across the
liaven.

* Leafs.

Alexander
sends for
help to Ja-
dus, Bishop
of the Jews,
and also
demands
tribute.

The Bishop
pleads the
oath of
fealty
sworn to
Darius.

Alexander
swears to
wreak ven-
geance on
the Jews.

He sends
Meleager
with 500
men to
Josaphat
to forage.
They de-
feat the
Lord of the
country
and slay
him.

But the

Lord of the
city sends
help and

his Oste suffred" many dysesses. For that Cite was so strange
in it-selfe by-cause of the ground", that it was sett apon, and
by-cause of grete towres & many that ware abowte it, and also
bicause it was so enclosed" wit the see that it myghte noghte 4
lightly * be wonnen by nane assawte. Alexander than vmbi-
thoghte hym, one what wyse he myghte best com to for to
destruy this citee, and he gerte make a grete bastell of tree, and
sett it apon schippes in the see euen forgaynes the cete, so that 8
pare myghte no shipper come nere the haueiD for to vetaille
pe Citee or suppoelt it wit mefD by-cause of pe bastette. In
pe mene tyme Alexander Oste hade grete defawte of vetayHs,
and ]?an) he sent lettres vnto ladus, J^at at that tyme was 12
bischoppe & gouernoure of pe lewes, and prayede hym for to
suppoelt hym wit som) men), and also ]?at he walde send" sum)
vetails for hym & his Oste, and he scholde pay for ]?am) wit
a glade chere, and pat he scholde also send" hym the tribute 16
pat he scholde gyffe Dari-ws pe emperour of Perse. For hym
ware better, he said", hafe his frenchippe f»afD pe frenchipe of
DsiYius. The Bischope J^an) of pe lewes ansuerd" pe messangers
pat broghte hym pe le^^res & said', ' I hafe,' quop he, * made 20
athe to Dariws, pat, whils he leffe3, I schatt neuer here amies
agaynes hym), and pare^ore I ne may no^te do agaynes myn)
Athe.' The Messagers J)afi) went till Alexander & talde hym
J^e bischopes ansuere, and he was greued" & said", * I make myn) 24
avowe,' quop he, ' vntitt oure goddes, J^at I schati take swilke
vengeance on pe lewes })at I salt make J>am) to knawe, whethir
it es better to p&m) to be obeisant vn-to [my ?] commandemewt,
or vn-to pe kynges of Perse.' And he callede a duke, pat highte 28
Melagere, and wit vc men) of armes, and badd" J^am) gaa in to pe
vale of losaphat, pe whilke was futt of bestej & brynge of thase
beste5 to pe Oste for to vetaitte J^am) wit. And ane Sampson,
Jjat knewe pe cuntre wele was ]:»aire gyde. pay went in to J>e 32
vale, and gadird" to gedir catell w^t-owte nombir & be-gan) for
to dryfe on) ]:»aiTii. And he pat was lorde of j^e cuntre, Theosellas
bi name, raysed" a grete multitude of folke and mett ]?am) &
faughte wit J^am) & slewe many of ]?am). Bot Melagere & his 36
felaws at pat tyffi) had pe better. And ane pat highte Cauli^s
went baldly to Theosellas, & smate of his heued! AH this was
done bot a littilt fra pe citee of Gadir. And fan) Bertyne,