it downe euen vnto the earth which hangeth vpon it and hath receiued his proper habitation then it enioyeth free perfect 〈◊〉 and remaineth inuisible to our mortall eies as God himselfe is neither is it visible in our bodies For it commeth secretly into them and so departeth from them againe that no man can perceiue it hauing onely a nature incorrupt and causing a change in our bodies For whatsoeuer the soule toucheth that presently liueth and flourisheth and what it forsaketh that incontinently withereth and dieth so much doth it participate of immortalitie The sleepe may be an euident argument vnto you of this which I speake where the soule not distracted taketh a most pleasant and sweete repose and â—…ommunicating with God it is with him present in euene place by reason of affinitie and foretelleth many future euents Wherefore should we then feare death who loue the rest that we take in sleepe were not he a mad man that for a short life would hinder himselfe of eternall life It were necessarie that we who are instructed in the law of our nation should giue example to other to despise and contemne death But if we seeke confirmation hereof from strangers let vs see the example amongst the wiser sort of the Indians for they being iust men doe tolerate this life as a necessarie office of nature for a certaine time though against their wils yet do they hasten to vnloose the soule bound in this mortall body though not vrged thereunto by any calamitie or necessitie but onely for desire of immortalitie telling others that they will depart out of this life neither doth any one seeke to hinder them but all men esteeming them most fortunate send by them commendations and other messages vnto their friends departed so firme is their beliefe that the soules of them that are dead haue communion and conuersation togither And so they hauing all instruction what to say to the soules departed doe with great applause leape into the fire that thereby their soules may be purified from their bodies And their friends go more ioyfully with them when they go to their deaths then any doth that bringeth his friend on the way when he is to go a great iourney and they bewaile themselues not those who are dead and haue attained immortalitie Shall not we then be ashamed not to beleeue so firmly as the Indians do despising through our own sloath our countrey lawes which are to be emulated of all men Nay supposing that by our law we had bin instructed contrariwise to wit that to liue in this life is blisse and to die is calamitie yet notwithstanding this present necessitie this present time had been a sufficient motiue to cause vs to embrace death rather then life seeing that by Gods appointment and of necessitie we must now die In times past it appeateth God so prouided that he shortned their daies of our owne nation that would not vse their life as they ought to haue done I dare not ascribe it vnto the Romans nor report of our selues that their warres consumed vs all For this did not happen through their forces but a more potent cause hereof there was which made them conquerours Which of the Romans slew the Iewes that inhabited at Caesarea whom the inhabitants thereof vpon the Sabaoth day they being assembled in one place togither with their wiues and children did massacre notwithstanding that they had no intent to reuolt from them nor neuer lifting vp their hands in their owne defence nothing fearing the Romans who onely accounted them of our nation their enemies that reuolted from them But some may obiect the Iewes at Caesarea and the inhabitants thereof were alwaies aâ—… variance and that now they reuenged their olde quarrel hauing gotten opportunitie What then shall we say of the Scythopolitans who bare armes with the Graecians against vs and denied to assist their owne kinred against the Romans What profit did they receiue by this their goodwill and fidelitie for they were altogither with their whole families cruelly slaine and this was the reward they had for their labour for hauing with stood vs to haue done the like vnto them it were too long to recount all things seuerally to this effect For as ye know there is no Citie in all Syria that hath not massacred the Iewes their inhabiting being more our enemies then the Romans were where they of Damascus although they could not deuise any probable cause for it yet did they massacre all the Iewes liuing amongst them who amounted to the number of eighteene thousand beside their wiues and families And as we haue heard it reported the number of the Iewes slaine by the Aegyptians were aboue three score thousand It may be that finding no aduersitie in a strange countrey they were put to death by their enemies But they that in their owne countrey fought against the Romans wanted nothing that might haue caused a perfect hope of a full victorie ouer the Romans they had weapons armour wals and strong holds inexpugnable their valorous courage in fighting for libertie shunned no danger and encouraged men to reuolt which all hauing a while serued their turnes at last was a cause of their greater miserie For all were taken and subdued by the enemies as though they had been built and made to make their enemies victorie more famous and not to doe them seruice And we may iustly deeme them happy who were slaine in the warre for they died in libertie Yet who doth not pitie the multitude of them that fell into the Romans hands or who would not hasten to die rather then endure the like miserie that they suffered Some of them being tortured and some with fire and stripes perished and others halfe eaten of wilde beasts were reserued aliue for their second foode and they are most miserable of all that are yet aliue who often wish for death and cannot finde it Where is now that gorgeous Citie where is it that was once the mother Citie of all the nation of the Iewes so strengthened with such strong wals so fortified with towers and castles to defend the wals scarcely able to containe the prouision made for warre hauing in it so huge a multitude of men to fight for it what is it now become wherein God himselfe was thought to dwell It is now razed downe euen vnto the verie foundations and no other memorie or reliques thereof is left standing their campe is destroied onely a few olde men and vnhappy suruiue who sate amongst the ashes of the temple and a few women whom their enemies reserued to satisfie their filthie lust And will any amongst vs considering all these things desire to behold the light of the sunne although he could liue without molestation Who is such an enemy to his natiue soile who is so effeminate or desirous of his life that doth not grieue to haue liued till this time Would God we had all been
Christs birth 69. The Romanes retire without obtaining their purpose Vespasian erecteth higher platformes and towers The Citizens of Iotapata valiantly sustaine the siege The taking in of Iapha by Traiane The Iewes shut vp by the Romans between two wals are slaine Twelue thousand Iewes slaine Titus with his forces commeth to Iapha A sharpe skirmish within the towne betweene the Galileans and the Romans The yeare of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. The assembly of the Samaritans on the mountaine Garizin Want of water in the mountaine Garizin Eleuen Thousand and sixe hundreth Samaritās slain◅ A fugitiue certifieth the weake estate of the citizen◅ of Iotapata how few they were The Romans enter the citie whilst the Iew◅ are a sleepe The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. The Romans are touched with no mercy nor compassiō The fight of the Iewes with the Romans in the tower Antonius slain by a Iewe thorow treason Fortie thousād Iewes perish during the siege and in the former battels Ioseph lept into a deepe trench and lyeth hidden in a caue Vespasian by Tribunes sendeth Ioseph assurance Nicanor the tribune known to Ioseph Iosephs dream of the slaughter of the Iewes Ioseph filled with the spirit of God secretly praieth Ioseph consenteth to Nicanor The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs Natiuitie 69. The Iewes violence and expostulation against Ioseph Iosephs oration to his countrey men It is a goodly matter to die for libertie but yet to die fighting The similitude of a sayler It is against the commō course of nature for a man to kill himselfe yea and a hanoue sinne against God The soule is immortall and aportiō of God placed in our bodies God reuenge◅ him on the autors of iniuries The custome of ancient Iewes and how they delt with those that slue themselues Iosephs peroration The yeere of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Ioseph is in great daunger to be slaine Another pollicy of Ioseph Iosephs fellowes die by lots and Ioseph and another are reserued Ioseph resorteth to Vespasian with Nicanor An example of Titus grace and mercy towards Ioseph Ioseph hath priuate consetēce with Vespasian Ioseph foretelleth Vespasian of his future honours Iosephs truth in all things The yeere of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Ioseph is kept bound yet rewarded by Vespasian Cesarca a great Citie by the Sea side inhabited for the most part by Greekes Scythopolis Ioppe the retreate of the seditious and theeues Of Andromeda read 4. Ouid Metamorph A huge tempest drowneth those of Ioppe in the Sea Foure thousand and two hundreth bodies cast out Vespasian taketh Ioppe and encampeth in the Castle Fame it selfe declareth the destruction of Iotapata The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Ioseph is said to be slaine in Ierusalem The hatred malice wrath in Ierusalem against Ioseph Vespasian com meth vnto Agrippas kingdome and recreateth himselfe there and feasteth twentie dayes Valerianus peaceably speaketh to the townes-men The seditious sally out and put the Romans to flight The Citizens of Tyberias prostrate them selues before Vespasian and obtaine pardon The yeare of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. The Tiberians entertain Vespasian with acclamations Vespasian besiegeth Tarichea The Romans driue the Iews to their ships Titus Oration to his terrified souldiers Iewes are not to be feared Victorie consisteth not in the multitude but in the courage of a few that fight valiantly The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. The Romans haue greater cause of warre then the Iewes It becommeth souldiers to obey their captaine Vespasian sendeth new supplies to Titus The Iewes flie into the Citie A bitter dissension and sedition in the citie Titus Oration to the Roman souldiers Iesus with his followers flieth into the fields Titus certifieth his father of his exploits and victorie The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth c 9. The fountaine of Iordan The description of Genezar The fertilitie of Genezar The length and breadth of Genezar A fight by sea against the Taricheans The yeere of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Vespasians victorie in the lake of Genezar against the Taricheās The end of the battell by sea in which there died sixe thousand and fiue hundreth men Vespasian con◅ulteth with his chieftains about the Iewes The destruction and sale of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4031. af◅er Christs Na◅iuitie 69. The victorie of the Romans against the Iewes Semechonitis a lake The fountaine of Iordan The situation of Gamala The Citie of Gamala inexpugnable and strong Vespasian besieged Gamala One with a sling woundeth Agrippa The Romans besiege Gamala and assault the same The yeere of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. The Romans fal downe with the ruines of the Iewes houses Many Romans slaine spoyled Vespasians fortitude and war like valour Vespasians fight with the Iewes Gallus with ten souldiers lieth hid in a certaine house Vespasian comforteth his souldiers The inconstancie and mutabilitie of fortune The yeare of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. The Roman souldiers do all things with discretion The Romans once more attempt the assault of Gamala The height of the mountaine Itaburium Fraud paide with fraud Placidus victorie The Romans vndermine a certain tower and it falleth with a great noise The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Titus with two hūdreth horse besides chosen footmen entreth Gamala The top of the Castle of Gamala stonie hard to be climed The Romans victorie by Gods prouidence Nine thousand Iewes slaine in Gamala and only two women escape The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Iohn a poisoner and a deceitfull man inforceth the Citizens of Giscala to rebell Vespasian foreseeth his no small trouble in the siege of Ierusalem Titus his compassiō towards those of Giscala The yeare of the world 4032. af◅ter Christs Na◅iuitie 70. Titus his merciful oration to those of Giscala Iohns answere to Titus exhortation Iohn reserued by Gods prouidence to be at the siege of Ierusalem The feare of those Iewes that fled with Iohn The citizens of Giscala entertaine Titus with all obedience The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Titus mercy to his enemies It is better to leaue an enemie in susp◅nce thorow feare then with the guiltie to confound the innocent The courage of Iohn and those that fled with him stirreth vp the Iewes to make warre against the Romans Intestine discord in Iurie The Iewes turn their weapons against themselues The theeues trouping togither in Ierusalem spoile the countrey The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Rapines and spoyles committed by day time The nobilitie of the Citie are taken and slaine by the theeues The theeues at their pleasure make a high Priest A high Priest chosen by thē contrarie to the ancient custome Phanes a countrie clowne made a high Priest The best
THE FAMOVS AND MEMORABLE WORKES OF IOSEPHVS A MAN OF MVCH HONOVR AND LEARNING AMONG THE IEWES Faithfully translated out of the Latin and French by Tho. Lodge Doctor in Physicke Bernardus Epistola ad Suggerium Tune recentia incundius bona clarescunt cum fuerint malis comparata prioribus Printed at the charges of G. Bishop S. Waterson P. Short and Tho. Adams 1602. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE FATHER OF ARTS AND ARMES CHARLES LORD HOVVâ—…RD BARON OF EFFINGHAM EARLE of Nottingham High Constable of the Castle and Forrest of Windsore Lord chiefe Iustice in Eyre of England Gouernour and Captaine generall of all her Maiesties maritime Forts and Castles High Admirall of England and Ireland Lieutenant of Sussex and Surrey Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie councell RIght Honourable there is a saying in Zenophon most worthie the citing and insight that matters of worth and consequence are both to be committed and commended to their trust and protection who know the waight and value thereof and both can and will defend the same by authoritie and reason For this cause and vpon this ground I haue chosen your Honour out for a most noble patron of this most famous and accomplished Historie of the Iewes which for dignitie and antiquitie of the subiect the elegancie and puritie of the stile the choice proprietie and copie of words the grauitie and varietie of sentences the alterations and memorable euents and lastly for the birth and dignitie of the Author requireth a spirit of no lesse wisedome courage and nobilitie then your selfe who haue power to defend and knowledge to discerne the worth thereof Uouchsafe therefore to leuell the eie of your esteeme vpon the Center of this happy Historie and as Themistocles was animated to noble actions by beholding Miltiades Trophies and Alexander in seeing Achilles tombe did grieuously sigh with an honourable emulation so let the zeale magnanimitie and admirable constancie which euerie where affronteth you in this booke and rauisheth the best mindes from the boundlesse troubles of this world and draweth them into the contemplation of true perfection so settle your honourable loue and affection to emulate the same that as for glorie in armes so for preseruing and protecting artes you may outstrip your competitors and amaisse to curious expectation And in mine opinion the time challengeth no lesse at your hands for as your transcendent dignitie and courage hath returned vs a happy haruest in our expected and long possessed peace as by your second care and diligence next vnder her sacred Maiestie we all reape the fruit and felicitie of blessea abundance so by your example in reading and respecting both learning and the learned you shall pull downe that Babel which confused ignorance hath raised to ouerreach industrie yea you shall strengthen the weakned abilitie of learning which alas the while is now adaies like acommoditie without request scarce saileable by the hands of a cunning broker nothing is more worth money and lesse in request onely the worlds blinde creatures as S. Ierom tearmeth them the vnlettered take delight in their errors whose writings as Plutarch speaketh of Aristophanes poems are written for no moderate mans pleasure Let therefore your vpright estimation of this worke most noble Earle awaken the dead deuotion of such as contemne Artes and let no such corrupt drones as make sale of sinfull thoughts for good merchandise buz about the hiue of true science But as Emperors Kings and Princes haue euer in their Greeke Italian and French with a respectiue acceptance and bountifull hand entertained this Historie so let this translation of Iosephus which courteth you now in English be accepted at your hands and countenanced by your honour for whose vnconfined felicitie both I and other of my name haue euer praied and will neuer cease to study Your Honors vnfainedly deuoted THOMAS LODGE TO THE COVRTEOVS READER As touching the vse and abuse of Historie IF Historie were as easily conceited and made vse of as according to Baldus it hath true proportion and documents for the gouernment of mans life I should hold it no sinne so precisely to prescribe a limitation and bound to such as should enter the List and consult with example For what more pleasing to our selues or profitable for societies could euer befall vs then in this theatre of mans life wherein Historie affordeth all sorts of actors to sit and learne preuention by other mens perils and to grow amplie wise by forraine wreckes al which being traduced to our priuate vses we may either as partners in what we haue past or obseruers of future casualties by presedent euents tie ages to our memories and preuent our escapes by suruew of other mens repentance briefly beget experience by sight or foresight of worldly casualties and forme a mirror of forepassed errors to foreiudge our future calamities But for that it behoueth vs to enter this worldly Academie the more prepared the more that Historie is fraught and fulfilled with plentiful fruite and whereas the difficultie and difference is a like to yeeld an vpright verdict both of a mans owne and other mens life neither may any man rightly examine another how wise so euer he be except in equall ballance he weigh his own imperfections it must necessarily follow on both sides that with the more wisedome and the greater obseruation wee ought to entertaine Historie least our mind like the wind should wander vncertainely and our deuotion should preuent our resolution our esteeme our knowledge For as in an ample and well furnished and affluent banquet although some things and they to few men seeme pleasant othersome to other are without taste and seeme tart and euerie one iudgeth his meate not by proofe but by the pallate yet notwithstanding there is a certaine mean which either natures ordinarie or the defined kind of nutriment being simple and incorrupt hath fashioned and fixed for most aptest for the body from which whosoeuer varieth or either beyond measure or without iudgment followeth his foolish appetite and glutting himselfe beyond discretion reapeth more in commoditie then pleasure by these pleasures So in the diuersitie of mans life although a thousand formes a thousand similitudes bee offered and that euerie man fashioneth other mens manners to his mind yet is their but one true path that vertue walketh in which whosoeuer tracketh with iudgement doth truly know the vse of life whereas they that sit in a plentifull banquet in affecting all things can make vse of nothing Now how many are there I pray you that in respect either of their owne or other mens acts words according to the rule of vertue can be more choise in iudging minds as meats and that in this matter seemeth not sufficiently instructed wherein I wonder that men espie not their errors whereas they imagine that Historie is the instructor of such as read the same whereas it onely yeeldeth matter of instruction euen as
touching Euphrates and Tygris they flow into the redde sea Euphrates is called Phora that is to say dispersion or flower Tygris is called Diglat which signifieth streight and swift Gehon runneth by the countrey of Aegypt and signifieth as much as comming from the East the Greekes call it Nilus Now God commanded Adam and his wife to eate of the fruites of all other plantes and that they should abstaine from that of science telling them that at what time soeuer they should taste of the same they should die the death Whereas then at that time all liuing creatures were at accord one with another the Serpent conuersing with Adam and his wife was inflamed with enuie for that he sawe they should be happy if they continued in the obseruation of Gods commandements and that contrariwise they should cast themselues headlong into ruine and destruction if they should disobey the same He therefore maliciously perswaded the woman to taste the fruit of the tree of intelligence giuing her to vnderstand that the knowledge of good and euill was in the same and that as soone as they had tasted thereof they should lead a life no lesse happy then Gods and by this meanes he caused the woman to fall which tooke no regard of the ordinance of God For hauing her selfe tasted of this fruit and finding it pleasant and delicious in taste she perswaded her husband also to taste the same at which time they vnderstood that they were naked and sought meanes to couer themselues for this fruit had in it selfe the vertue to giue vnderstanding and to quicken the thought Then couered they themselues with fig leaues which they put before their priuities esteeming themselues more happy then they were before in that they had found out that which they wanted But when as God came into the garden Adam who before times was accustomed familiarly to talke with him finding himselfe guiltie of sinne hid himselfe from his presence but God wondring hereat asked him for what cause he fled and shunned him at that time whereas before time he had taken pleasure to talke familiarly with him Adam knowing that he had transgressed the ordinances and commandements of God answered him not a word but God spake vnto him after this manner I had prouided for you the meanes whereby you might haue led your life without sufferance of any euill or sense of any miserie so that all whatsoeuer was requisite for necessitie or pleasure might happen of it selfe vnto you by my onely prouidence without any trauell or care on your parts which if you had well vsed age had not so soone ouertaken you but that you might haue liued many yeares but thou hast scorned this mine ordinance and broken my commandement For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth not of vertue but of euill of which thou findest thy selfe culpable wherefore both old age shall quicklier come vpon thee and the daies of thy life shall be shortened Adam excused his sinne and required at Gods hands that he would not be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had happened on his wife alleadging that he had offended by reason he was suborned by her and the woman accused the Serpent But at that time God punished him because he had suffered himselfe to be ouercome by the counsaile of a woman that the earth thence forward neuer more of her owne accord should bring foorth fruit but that when they had trauailed and almost deuoured themselues in labour it should sometimes giue them foode and at other times refuse to sustaine them And as touching Eue he chastised her with child-bearing and throwes in trauell for that being her selfe deceiued by the Serpent she had drawne her husband by the same meanes into extreame miserie He tooke also from the Serpent his voice and was displeased against him * by reason of the malice he had conceiued against Adam and he put venome on his tongue declaring him an enemie both to man and woman whom he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that the euill which chanced vnto men consisted in the head as also â—…at being assaulted in that part he is most easily done to death Moreouer hauing depriued him of his feete he condemned him to slide and traile himselfe along the earth And after that God had ordained them to suffer those punishments he translated Adam and Eue out of the garden into another place CHAP. III. Of the Posteritie of Adam and of the ten ages euen vnto the Deluge BVt Adam and Eue had two male children the first whereof was called Cain which signifieth acquisition and the second was called Abel which is as much to say as mourning they had also daughters These brothers addicted themselues each one of them to their particular exercises Abel the younger honoured iustice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he alwaies and wholy fixed his thoughts on vertue and his exercise was keeping of sheepe But Cain being the wickedest man amongst men and addicted to vnsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the vse of the Plough and who killed his brother for the cause which ensueth Hauing concluded among themselues to sacrifice vnto God Cain offered the fruites of his labour and planting Abell presented milke and the firstlings of his folde which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselues by the order of nature then that which a couetous man had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being wroth because his brother Abell was more honoured by God then himselfe slewe his brother and hauing hidden his bodie out of sight he thought that such a murther should be concealed But God knowing well this fact appeared to Cain and questioned with him as concerning his brother what might become of him for that many daies since he had not seene him when as heretofore he had alwaies seene him conuersant before him Cain being troubled and ignorant what aunswere he should make vnto God said first that he wondered what was the cause his brother was so long time absent and finally aggreeued in that God continued the quest and did more exactly seeke after him he said he was â—…ot his brothers keeper or bound to take care of his affaires Then God reproued and conuicted Cain of murthering his brother and spake vnto him after this manner saying that he wondered he should denie the knowledge of his brothers death whereas he himselfe had slaine him notwithstanding he acquited him of the punishment deserued for this murther by reason that Cain had done sacrifice and made request vnto God that it might please him to remit somewhat of the seueritie of his iustice against him yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his successors to the seuenth generation Then did he driue him his wife out of
force shal endure and augment as long as these lockes shall endure and grow Which when she vnderstood she shaued off his haire and betraied him to his enemies whose forces at that time he was too feeble to resist who plucked out his eies and led him away bound But in space of time his haire grew againe and at such time as the Philistines celebrated a publike feast wherein the princes and peeres banquetted and entertained one another in one place which was a house the couer whereof was sustained with two pillars Sampson was sent for and brought to the feast to the end they might mocke at him in the midst of their feasts and drunkennesse But he taking it more grieuously then all other the euils which he indured that he might not reuenge himselfe on those that thus iniuriously did iniure him he wrought so much with the boy that led him that he approched and tooke hold of the foresaid pillars telling him that he had great need to repose himselfe considering the trauaile that he had sustained As soone as therfore he got hold on them he shooke them in such a sort as they were ouerturned the house fell vpon those that were therein who died to the number of three thousand men with these also died Sampson who finished his daies in this sort after he had commanded ouer Israell for the space of twenty yeares He was a man of great vertue force and magnanimitie and especially in that which concerneth his end he meriteth to be admired at because that euen vnto his latter houre he was animated against the Philistines And whereas he was allured and besotted by a woman it ought to be attributed to humane nature which is so weake that it cannot resist sinne otherwise in all other things we ought to yeeld testimony of his vertue His kinsfolke tooke his body and buried it in Sarasa his countrey by his parents CHAP. XI How the sonnes of Eli the high Priest were slaine in battell by the Palestines AFter the decease of Sampson Eli the high Priest tooke vpon him the gouernment ouer the Israelites During his time there was a great famine and Elimelech vnable to endure the miserie thereof came from Bethleem a Citie of the tribe of Iuda to inhabite in the countrey of Moab bringing with him Naomi his wife and Chelion and Maalon his sons whom he had by her Now when as his affaires had fallen out with as fortunate successe as might be desired he married his sonnes to certaine daughters of the Moabites Chelion vnto Orpha and Maalon to Ruth Some ten yeares after Elimelech and his sonnes died the one after the other By which mishappe Naomi being cast into great sorrowe and destitute of their companie whose deare familiaritie she had preferred before the loue of her countrey changing her resolution according to those occurrences that had happened her she determined to returne vnto her friends by reason she had receiued intelligence that her countrey at that time was in good estate But her daughter in lawes could no waies endure to be separated from her and will shee nill shee they would needs accompany her but she wishing them a more happy marriage then that which they enioyed with her sonnes and in all other things prosperitie and protesting vnto them that there was no abilitie in her to doe them good she besought them that they would stay in that place and not desiring to follow their wretched mother in law in an vncertaine euent to lose the certaine pleasure and peaceable fruition of their countrey These her perswasions tooke effect with Orpha but Ruth resolued in no sort to forsake her attended on her mother in law as an assured and future companion of whatsoeuer fortune should fal vpon her Now when as both of them were arriued in Bethleem Boos Abimelechs kinsman entertained them in his house and whereas the Citizens called her by the name of Naamis she said vnto them that it was more seemely for them to call her Mara for Naomi in the Hebrew toong signifieth good hap and Mara is as much to say as bitternesse Whereas then it was haruest time Ruth by the permission of her mother went out into the fields to glean and gather corne for her sustenance and it fortuned that she met by good hap in the fields with Boos who came thither likewise not long after who beholding her enquired and questioned with the chiefe reaper as touching the woman Now had he a little before that time vnderstood by her her whole estate which hee declared vnto his master who gaue her thankes for the good affection which she bare vnto her mother in law and of the care she had of her deceased sonne whom Ruth had married wishing her in effect all good fortune and not suffering her to gleane he permitted her to reape and to gather all that which she might commanding his master-reaper that he should no waies let her from taking whatsoeuer she pleased giuing order likewise that when the reapers should take their refection they should giue her both meate and drinke Now when as Ruth had receiued graine at their hands she reserued it for her mother in lawe and came home at night and brought her the sheaues In like manner Naomi had reserued a portion of certaine victuals for her which in way of honour her neighbours had sent her Vpon her returne Ruth reported vnto her all those words that Boos had said vnto her and Naomi gaue her to vnderstand that Boos was of her kin that it might be that he was moued by deuotion towards God to haue care of her Some other daies after Ruth issued againe with Boos handmaides to gather her gleanings And certaine daies after and about that time that they threshed barley Boos came and slept on the floore which when Naomi vnderstood she bethought her selfe of some subtill practise whereby shee might make Ruth lie with him presuming that it would be a verie good fortune for the yoong woman if they might grow in acquaintance togither for which cause she sent her to sleepe at his feeto Ruth that made it a conscience to contradict hir mother in lawe in whatsoeuer she commaunded her repaired thither and vpon her first arriuall Boos perceiued nothing because he was fast asleepe but when he awaked about midnight and felt that there was some body that lay fast by him he demaunded what she was whereupon she told him her name requesting him as her master that he would permit her to repose in that place for that time But early in the morning before the seruants began to fall to their worke he commanded her to arise and to take as much barley with her as she could beare to the end she might returne vnto her mother in lawe before that any man might perceiue that she had slept in that place because it is wisedome to auoide slaunder especially at such time when there is
and whenas they came verie oftentimes thither and alwaies found him prostrate and adoring before the Arke a great feare and perturbation inuaded the whole people At length a grieuous plague not onely raunged in the Citie of Azot but also seased on all the inhabitants of the countrey For the people being sodainly taken with the flixe died in great torment and some of them vomited vp their bowels being corrupted and corroded with the disease Besides this the whole land swarmed with mice who destroying all things neither spared the corne nor any other fruit The Azotians being thus ouerpressed with these calamities and vnable any longer to indure the same vnderstood that the Arke was the the cause thereof and that neither the victorie neither the surprisall of the same had any waies procured either their good or profit They therefore sent vnto the Ascalonites requiring them that they would receiue the Arke into their Citie who willingly condescending to their embassage and demaund receiued the Arke and were presently plagued with the same sicknesses and mishappes which the Azotians had suffered For together with the Arke the calamities also were translated for which cause it was likewise sent from this place into an other with whom it remained but a little while for the inhabitants of that place being afflicted by the same grieuāces which the other indured sent it to their neighbour Cities so that after this sort the Arke was conuaied to fiue Cities of the Palestines exacting as it were by those plagues a tribute in euerie one of them of violated religion who wearied with so many euils and made examples vnto others not to entertaine the Arke which so grieuously recompenced those that receiued the same perceiued that there was no other waies left them but to finde out some good meanes to rid themselues of the same Whenas therefore the Princes of the fiue Cities of Geth Accaron Ascalon Gaza and Azot were assembled they consulted amongst themselues what were best to be done and first of all they resolued to send backe the Arke vnto those to whom it appertained whose captiuitie God did reuenge in that with it many plagues entred into the same Region ceased not to wast both their men and their countrey There were some that said that this resolution was vnseemely to be executed denying that these things should be imputed to the captiuitie of the Arke whose power if it were so great as they intended or if God had any waies care of the same he would neuer haue permitted it to haue fallen into the hands of men of a contrarie religion perswading them to digest these misfortunes with an equall mind and so to thinke that all these things were nothing else but the effects of nature which in certaine periods of times is wont to ingenerate in mens bodies in the earth and in plants and in other things subiect to her power these kinds of alterations and mutations But the counsell of those men that had approued their vnderstanding and wisedome in times past was preferred before their opinion For the assistance supposed that in this deliberation as also their opinion and counsell was most conuenient They therefore aduised that the Arke should be sent backe and not retained and that the fiue Cities should dedicate fiue golden statuaes in testimonie of their gratuitie because they had beene preserued by his fauour from that plague from which by humane remedies it was impossible to escape they annexed also so many golden mice vnto them like vnto those that spoiled their countrey all these locked in a chest and laid vpon the Arke they commaunded that a new Cart should be built and that they should yoake and tie to the same certaine kine that had new calued locking vp their calues from them least they should be an impediment to their dammes and to the intent that thorow the desire to see their young they should haste the faster That done that driuing the chariot and them they should leaue them in a place that had three waies and suffer them to draw that way that them listed and if they tooke the way of the Hebrewes and should trauell towards their countrey they then should assure themselues that it was the Arke which was the cause of their euils but if they drewe another way let them said they be driuen backe againe being most assured that the Arke hath no such vertue in it This counsell was approued by euery one of the assembly and presently effected so hauing prepared all those things whereof we haue spoken they brought the chariot into a high way that extended three waies and leauing it in that place they returned backe againe CHAP. II. The victorie of the Hebrewes vnder the conduct of Samuel NOw when the kine entred and kept the right beaten way and trauailed therein no otherwaies then if some men had led them the gouernours of the Philistines followed after them desirous to vnderstand whither they would trauel in what place they would rest both themselues and the chariot There is a borough in the tribe of Iuda called Bethsama towards which they drewe and although they had a verie faire plaine before them yet would they not trauell any further but rested the chariot in that place The inhabitants came vnto this spectacle and greatly reioyced thereat for although it was sommer time wherein euery one busied himself in gathering in the fruits of the field yet so it was that when they perceiued the Arke they were so transported with the pleasure that they had that they laid aside the worke which they had in hand and ran presently vnto the chariot Then taking downe the Arke and the Cofer wherein the statuaes of golde and golden rats were they laid them vpon a certaine rocke in the field and after they had solemnly sacrificed and royally feasted togither they offered vp both the chariot and kine for a burnt offring vnto God Which when the Princes of the Palestines perceiued they returned backe againe into their owne countrey But Gods indignation and displeasure was whetted against the Bethsamites so that seuentie of them were slaine by reason they had touched the Arke and with prophane hands not being Priests attempted to sustaine it For which cause the inhabitants thereabouts lamented their losse and mourned for that their countrimen were extinguished by no fatall death but by a punishment and plague sent from God lamenting in particular euerie one of their alliance And supposing that they were vnworthy that the Arke should remaine with them they sent messengers to the gouernours and the rest of the Hebrewes to let them vnderstand that they had recouered the Arke out of the hands of the Philistines who being made priuie to euerie accident placed the same in Cariathiarim a Citie bordering vpon the Bethsamites In that place there dwelt a man of the race of the Leuites called Aminadab who had the honour and reputation of a good man
but rather encreased he hauing a shamefull beginning and comming to a sorrowfull end Herod had three Eunuches whom he greatly esteemed for their beauty one of them was his butler the other his cooke and the third his chamberlaine whom also he was wont to employ in serious affaires of his kingdome Some one or other enformed the king that these three Eunuches were corrupted by his sonne Alexander with great summes of money and being vpon tortures examined if they had accompanied with him they confessed all yet they affirmed that they knew no practise of his attempted against his father But their torments being encreased by Antipaters fauorites they were forced to confesse that Alexander secretly hated his father and he exhorted them to forsake Herode who was now good for nothing who dissembled his age by painting his face to make himselfe seeme younger then he was and colouring his head and beard blacke which were alreadie growne verie white through age but rather fer their mindes vpon him who would in despite of his father enioy his kingdome due vnto him and that then he would aduance them to the highest honors of the kingdome for he had not onely title vnto it by his birth but also was now prepared likewise to inuade it and that he had many of the captaines of the souldiers and many of the kings friends on his side who were prepared to doe or endure any thing for his sake Herode hearing this feare and anger did inuade him by reason that his sonnes words seemed both contumelious and threatning and being for both these causes in a rage he feared some greater matter to be put in practise against him which he could not sodainly and hauing so little warning auoide and not daring to make open enquirie he set secret spies a worke to tell him how all matters stood himselfe now mistrusting all men and accounting it his securitie to mistrust all euen them that deserued it not and not moderating his suspicious minde now whosoeuer was the nearest vnto him was the more suspected as of most power to iniure him As for others that were but onely named by his spies he presently esteemed it his safetie to put them to death Then they of his household euerie one being carefull to saue himselfe were one turned against another euerie one deeming it his owne safetie to preuent others by accusing them vnto Herode which done presently they incited other mens enuie against them and euerie one of them to desire such measure as they had measured vnto others and thus they also reuenged their priuate quarrels and presently after they themselues were taken and did by other mens meanes suffer the like being intrapped in the same trappe they set for their enemies For the king did quickly repent himselfe because he had put verie many to death who were not conuicted yet for all that he was not hereby admonished to beware of the like hereafter but on his repentance for their death raged so farre as to cause him to inflict the same punishment vpon their accusers which he had done vpon them So great trouble and feare then fell vpon all the whole court He then commaunded many of his dearest friends and them especially whose fidelitie he had before times experienced not to come in his sight nor within his court gates For he did now shake off the friendship between Andromachus and Gemellus and himselfe who were his auncient friends and oftentimes had gone Embassadors for him and alwaies been of his counsell and had been tutors vnto his children in whom he had alwaies reposed more trust then in any others the one of them for that his sonne Demetrius was familiar with Alexander and Gemellus for that he knew him to wish well vnto Alexander for he was one of them who had brought him vp and had aboad with him at his being at Rome And no doubt but he had censured them with some more heauie sentence had it not been that they were so eminent persons Wherfore at that time he was contented to haue banished them and depriued them of all their authoritie to the end that hauing now disgraced these good men he might the more freely play the tyrant Antipater was the cause of all this mischiefe who from the first time that he perceiued his father to be fearefull and suspicious still after that ioined with him as a counsellor and as it were increased his rage and crueltie and then he gallantly plaied his part endeuouring that whosoeuer would resist him should be made away Wherfore Andromachus the rest of his friends being now banished the court the king presently tortured all that he imagined any way to fauor Alexander to see if they were guilty or if they knew of any treason to be practised against him but they knowing nothing to informe him of died amidst their torments Where he so much more tortured others for that contrarie to his opinion he found not so much as an euill thought against him Antipater craftily interpreting it that they had rather in torments conceale the truth then to shew themselues not trustie to their masters and friends wherefore many being taken he caused them to be tortured to get some thing out of some of them At last one amongst the rest not able to endure those torments imposed vpon him said that he had often heard Alexander say so often as any one commended his goodly stature or skilfull shooting the rest of his vertues that these qualities nature bestowed vpon him rather then other benefits for his father for enuy hereat was offended so that when he talked with him he did vpon purpose draw his body togither least his father should perceiue the talnes of his stature and that when he went a hunting with him he vpon purpose did misse the mark he could haue hit because he knew his father could not endure that he should be cōmended And whilest these his words were considered pondred and his torments intermitted he again accused Alexander to haue conspired with his brother Aristobulus to kill his father when he was hunting then to flie with speed vnto Rome and begge the kingdome of Caesar. There were also found some of this young mans letters written vnto his brother complaining of the iniurious dealing of his father who had giuen certaine grounds vnto Antipater the yeerely reuenues whereof amounted vnto two hundreth talents Then Herode thinking himselfe to haue probabilitie enough his former suspition was now confirmed and so he tooke Alexander and cast him in prison and againe he began to rage notwithstanding that himselfe did scarcely beleeue the informations against him neither could he himselfe deuise any cause wherefore they should seeke to worke treason against him And those complaints seemed childish neither was it probable that hauing openly killed his father he would afterwards haue gone to Rome Wherfore endeuouring to finde some stronger argument of his sonnes impietie
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
the fashions of the Romanes concerning their warlike discipline They neuer do any thing vnaduisedly in battaile but manage all things according to counsell so that they either do not erre or if they doe their fault is easily amended For they thinke that bad successe after deliberation is better then good fortune without it and they thinke that therein fortune did but flatter them to worke them some great despight by reason they haue not deliberated but that which is premeditated although it haue euill successe yet it maketh them warie against another time And none of them accounteth that good successe which cōmeth by chance and yet euerie one is comforted in their misfortune for that they take good aduise By the militarie exercises they do not only make the bodies of their soldiers strong but their minds also more hardie and their diligence is the greater by their feare For their lawes are capital not only for thē that forsake their order but also for them that commit the least enormitie or negligence and their generals are more seuere then their lawes who only by rewarding the good purchase fauour least they seeme cruell in punishing the wicked Moreouer they are so obedient vnto their rulers that in peace they honour them and in warre the whole armie seemeth one bodie vnited together they so keepe order and are so readie to turne heere or there and so attenti◅ to anie command and so diligent to note signes made vnto them and so quicke to labour with their hands that they are alwayes apt to do anie thing but slow to endure In so much that they know no place where they haue beene ouercome either by number or by courage or counsell or by the difficultie of the place nor by fortune it selfe For they thinke victorie more certaine then Fortune Therefore seeing that their deeds are ruled by aduise and counsel and their commandements so well fulfilled by the Armie what maruell is it if their Empire in the East reach vnto Euphrates in the West vnto the Ocean in the South vnto Affrick in the North vnto Rhine and Danubius seeing that one may iustly affirme the possession lesse then the possessors Thus I haue spoken not to praise the Romans but to comfort the conquered and to terrifie those that desire alteration and perhaps it may teach them who want good discipline are ignorant of the maners and customes of the Romans in their militarie affaires But I returne to my purpose CHAP. IIII. How Placidus assaulted Iotapata IN the meane time Vespasian liuing at Ptolemais with his sonne Titus prepared his armie But Placidus was already entered into Galilee and run through it where he slew almost all he found who were of the weaker sort of people and cowards And seeing that those of courage alwayes fled into these Cities that Ioseph had fortified he turned his forces against Iotapata which was the strongest of them thinking it might easily be taken by a suddaine assault and that he thereby should get great glorie and that by taking it great profit might ensue in that the people seeing the strongest Citie surprised they would not flie to any againe But it fell not out as he expected for the people of Iotapata vnderstanding of his comming met him neere the town and sodainely encountred the Romans being a great multitude and well disposed to fight as those that bare armes for the generall safetie of the Countrie and for the liues of their wiues and children they out the Romans to flight wounding many onely seuen being slaine for the Romans in flying kept their ranckes and being armed round about they were not daungerously wounded but the Iewes being vnarmed rather trusted to their darts arrowes then to handie blowes There were three Iewes slaine and a few wounded and so Placidus when hee saw himselfe repulsed from the towne he fled CHAP. V. How Vespasian inuaded Galilee and how at the verie sight of him the seditious fled VEspasian desirous to take Galilee himselfe departed from Ptolemais making such iournies as souldiers ought to keepe which the Romans are wont to follow And hee commaunded those that came to helpe him and the bowmen because they were lighter armed to goe before and represse the enemies incursions and search the wood and forrest fit for ambushes where by they were to passe after them followed part of the Romane footemen and horsemen and after them there marched ten by ten out of euerie hundreth bearing with them their armour and the measures of their camp After them followed men whose office it was to mend the wayes where they were bad and cut downe the woods that were in the way least with bad way the armie were tyred After them hee sent his baggage and the baggage of the rulers vnder him and withall horsemen to gard it And after them hee himselfe followed leading an armie of chosen footemen and horsemen accompanied with his owne gard of horsemen and hee had out of euerie legion sixescore men for his owne gard After followed they that carried the engines to batter the wals of Cities and other instruments and with them the Prefects and Tribunes garded with their chosen soldiers After them other ensignes and the Eagle the which the Romans hold for chiefe of all because it is the King of all birds and is most valiant and strong wherefore they thinke it a signe of dominion and victorie ouer all them against whom they beare it After these sacred ensignes followed the trumpets sounding in warlike maner and after them the armie marching sixe in a rank and as the custome is a centurion went by them to keepe order the seruants were all with the fooremen and baggage After the last companie who were hired followed armed footemen and horsemen in great number And thus Vespasian with his whole armie came vnto the borders of Galilee and there pitched his Tents he stayed the souldiers who were verie eager to fight as it were boasting and shewing his armie to terrifie his aduersaries and giuing them time to repent if any one would alter his mind before the warre began yet did he prepare to besiege the wals and fortresses The onely sight of him made many rebels flie and daunted the most of them For Iosephs souldiers who had pitched his Tents a little from Sephoris when they knew that warre grew on and that they were presently to fight with the Romans they did not onely flie before they fought but also before they saw their enemies Ioseph being left with a very few knowing he was not able to abide the enemies and that the Iewes were discomfited and that if he put any trust in them they would for the most part reuolt vnto the enemies for that time abstained from all warre and thought to get himselfe out of daunger and so accompanied with them that remained with him he went to Tyberias CHAP. VI. How Gadara was besieged and taken VEspasian went
and presently leauing the citie they went vnto Simon of whom we will speake hereafter and so they departed home Their departure was against the expectation of both parts for the people not knowing that the Idumaeans were penitent for that they had done reioiced as now deliuered from their enemies and the Zelous grew more insolent and proud as though they neuer had needed helpe but now were deliuered from them in reuerence of whom they abstained from villanie So now they vsed no delaie to effect their impietie for they spent not much time in taking aduise but whatsoeuer seemed best vnto them presently without any delay they put it in practise But chiefly they murthered those men that were strong and valiant for they enuied the nobilitie for their vertue And they thought it a principall point first to be effected not to leaue any one man of account aliue Wherefore they slew amongst the rest Gorion a noble man of great birth and dignitie one who loued the people and was verie bountifull and a louer of libertie so that there was none amongst the Iewes like him who for desire of libertie and his other vertues was put to death But neither could Niger Peraita escape their hands a man who in the warres against the Romans had shewed himselfe â—…aliant who although he often cried out and shewed the scars of his wounds receiued in defence of his country yet they ceased not for all this most shamefully to drag him through the citie and being led out of the citie despairing of life he entreated that he might be buried But the barbarous people denying his request slew him Who at his death besought God that the Romans might come and reuenge it vpon them and that plague and famine and ciuill discord might light vpon their citie Whose praiers God heard sending all vpon them which he did iustly require and first of all they were plagued with ciuill warres amongst themselues Niger being thus slaine they were freed from the feare that they had of him how that he would resist their wickednes There was no part of the common people who were not by some forged tale or other put to death For some were slaine for that long since they had borne armes against their owne citizens and they who were innocent in all points were put to death for some occasion deuised in the time of peace and they who did not conuerse with them were murthered as such that contemned them and they that did freely and friendly conuerse with them were slaine as men that sought to betraie them and the greatest offenders and the least offenders were all punished alike to wit with death for no man escaped except he was either poore or of verie base condition CHAP. II. The ciuill discord amongst the Iewes IN the meane while the Romans addressed all their courage against the citie of Ierusalem and seeing them at great variance amongst themselues thought this to be for their great aduantage Vpon this they incited Vespasian their generall affirming that it was Gods prouidence who fought for them that the Iewes should be at ciuill wars amongst themselues and that therefore he should not ouerslip so good an opportunitie for the Iewes would quickly be friends againe one with another either by the wearines of ciuill wars or else repenting themselues of that which they had done To whom Vespasian answered that they were ignorant what was to be done being rather desirous as it were in a theater to shew their forces strength then with him to consider what was profitable and expedient For said he if we presently assault them our comming will make concord amongst our enemies and so we shall bring vpon our selues their forces yet firme and strong but by expecting alittle while they should haue lesse adoe to conquer them their chiefest forces being destroied by their owne ciuill wars And that God was more their friend then they were aware of who without their labour and paine deliuered the Iewes into their hands and will giue vs the victorie without indaungering of our armie And that therefore it was rather their parts to be as it were beholders of that tragedie then to fight against men desirous of death and troubled with the greatest euill that possiâ—…le could be to wit domesticall sedition and ciuill wars And if anie thinke that the victorie is not famous being gotten without fight let him know and consider the vncertaine euent of wars and that it is better if it be possible to get a victorie without bloudshed then therewith to hazard the victory For they who by counsell and aduice do any worthie act deserue no lesse praise then they who by force of armes atchieue a victorie Moreouer in the meane time that the enemie one destroied another his souldiers might take rest and so be stronger and better able to fight when need should require Beside that it seemed not that there was so much haste required to get the victorie for the lewes neither prepared armes or engines of warre nor leuied any forecs nor sought for aide and so by delaie no domage could insue but that they would plague one another more by ciuill wars then his armie would by taking them and their citie And therefore whether they considered it best to abstaine from assaulting them who fought with one another for securitie sake or else for vaine glorie thought the honour of the victorie diminished thereby yet he held it not meet to fight against them who were at ciuill wars amongst themselues for so it would be iustly said the victorie was not to be imputed to vs but to their discord The captaines all consented and thought this aduise of Vespasians best And presently it appeared how profitable his counsell was For euerie daie manieâ—…led vnto him to escape the hands of the Zealons yet it was hard dangerous to â—…ie because all the waies were garded with watchmen And if anie man vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer were taken vpon the waie he was presently killed as one who intended to haue fled vnto the Romans yet he that feed the watchmen with monie escaped awaie safelie and he that did not was counted as a traitor so that onely richmen could escape and the poore were left to the slaughter The multitude of dead bodies that lay on heapes togither was innumerable and manie of them who â—…d fled vnto the Romans returned againe into the citie chusing rather to die there for the hope they had to be buried in their natiue soile made death there seeme more tolerable But they became so cruell that they neither permitted them who were slaine within nor them without the citie to be buried But like men that had now determined togither with their countrey lawes to abolish the law of nature yea and by their impietie to pollute the sacred diuinitie with iniustice let the dead bodies rot aboue the ground and whosoeuer attempted to burie anie one of them that were
preuaile against it but rather made it more stronger then before by ramming the morter together Silua perceiuing this iudged that he might sooner destroy the wall with fire then with his engine and so he commaunded the souldiers to cast vpon it many â—…uming firebrands and the fire did quickly take hold of the wall because it was for the most part built with wood and easily also peâ—…ced through it by reason it was not cleane wrought together and there was a great flame At the verie beginning of the fire the North wind did greatly annoy the Romans for the fire blowing furiously from aboue against them that were Romanes it did driue it extreamely vpon them so that they were in great dispaire fearing their engines would be burnt and presently the wind chaunging and blowing from the South as it were by Gods prouidence it turned the fire againe vpon the wall and now all of it euen vnto the foundation thereof was there most cruelly on fire And the Romanes hauing Gods assistaunce returned againe vnto their Campe ioyfully purposing the next morning betimes to assaile their enemies and that night to place stronger watches least any of the enemies should escape But Eleazer thought not to flie neither would hee permit any one of his companie so to doe And seeing now the wall was fierd and not knowing any way else to helpe himselfe considering likewise what the Romanes would doe vnto their wiues and children if they should take them hee deliberated of all their deaths which he in that extremitie iudged to bee the best way they could take And so hee assembled the most valiaunt of all his companie and exhorted euerie one of them thereunto after this manner Valiant companions we long agoe resolued our selues neither to serue the Romanes nor any other saue onely God for he alone is the true and iust Lord of all men Behold the time is now come that exhorteth you to shew your resolute minds let vs not therefore dishonour our selues and besides our slauerie suffer also intollerable torments if we bee taken aliue by the Romanes For we were the first that reuolted from them and the last that warre against them And I verily thinke that God hath giuen vs this benefit that wee may die well and in our owne libertie which he denied to others who were ouercome contrarie to their expectation We are certaine to bee conquered as soone as it is day light but to die valiantly with our dearest friends is a glorious resolution vnto valiant men and of this our enemies cannot debarre vs who doe labour to take vs aliue and carrie vs away captiues and wee are not able to vanquish them in fight For truely at the first when we who coueted libertie suffered all miserie at the hands of our owne Countriemen and worse at the hands of our enemies we should haue considered that God who was some time fauourable vnto the nation of the Iewes had now condemned them vnto perdition for had he yet beene fauourable vnto vs or had he beene but lightly offended at vs hee would not haue permitted so many men to haue perished and haue deliuered his holy Citie into the hands of the enemies to bee consumed with fire And we onely amongst all our nation hoped to liue in libertie as though wee had no wayes offended the diuine maiestie nor beene guiltie of any offence who indeede taught others iniquitie So you see how we are checked for longing after vaine hope being brought into greater extremitie then we expected Neither hath our Castle by nature in expugnable any thing profited vs to our preseruation but wee hauing store of victuals and armour and all other necessaries haue lost all hope of safetie God himselfe openly taking it from vs. For the fire that once was carried against our enemies did not of it selfe returne against vs and vnto the wall wee built But it was the punishment of our offences who furiously raged against our own nation For the which I request you let vs not be punished by the Romans whose forces are inuincible but by our selues let vs satisfie the ire of God and so it will bee more tollerable for vs euen by that meanes our wiues shall die vndefiled and our children shall not taste of seruile captiuitie After whose deathes wee will one helpe another to die with credite conseruing our libertie which is the best sepulture of all yet let vs first fire our Castle and burne our treasure for it will be no small griefe vnto the Romanes if they neither get our bodies aliue nor can finde any one iot of our riches for recompence of their labour Let vs onely leaue our victuals as sufficient testimonie that famine did not at any time cause vs to be conquered but that we as at the first wee resolued preferred also death before bondage Eleazer hauing thus spoken they that were present did not all accord vnto him for some ioyfully hasted to execute his aduise thinking it so glorious a death But they who mooued with compassion towards their wiues and families were some thing effeminate or else abhorred to kill themselues One looking vpon another with teares did shew his mind to disagree from that which Eleazer perswaded Which when Eleazar perceiued and that his counsell through feare was defeated fearing also that they who couragiously had accorded thereunto should be with drawne by the teares of the others hee did not so end his exhortation but standing vp and with a vehement spirit he began to speake vnto them of the immortalitie of the soule and fixing his eyes vpon them that wept he vsed a vehement exclamation saying How much am I deceiued who thought that valiant men fighting for their libertie would rather chuse to die then liue but yee doe shew your selues nothing to excell any ordinarie men who feare to die notwithstanding that thereby you may escape great miserie and calamitie when in this point you ought not to haue expected any admonition thereunto noâ—… to haue made any delay to doe it The auncient customes which haue endured euer since men had reason the diuine doctrine of our nation which hath continually been confirmed by the deeds of our predecessors doe instruct vs that it is miserie to liue and not to die For death freeth our soules from prison vnto their most pure proper place where neuer after they shall be touched with any calamitie Which whilest they are bound in a mortall body and doe participate of his miseries may probably be affirmed to be dead For it is an vnseemly coniunction for that which is diuine to be coupled and connexed vnto that which is mortall True it is that our soules can do much being ioyned to our bodies for they vse the bodies as their instruments secretly producing in them motion and many other actions passing the nature of mortal things But when the soule is loosed from that heauy burthen which doth weigh