ought not to have expected any admonition thereunto nor to have made any L delay to do it The ancient customes which have endured ever since men had reason the divine doctrine of our Nation which hath continually been confirmed by the deeds of our predecessours do instruct us that it is miserable to live and not to die For Death dismisseth our Souls from prison to their most pure and proper place where never after they shall be touched with calamity A Soul tied in a mortal body But whilst they are bound in a mortal body and participate of his miseries they may in a manner be affirmed to be dead The power of the Soul For there is no proportion between two things one whereof is Divine and the other Mortal True it is that our Souls can do much being joyned to our bodies which they use as their instruments secretly producing in them motion and many other actions passing the Nature of Mortal things But when the Soul is loosed from that heavy burthen which weighs it down to the Earth and hath recovered its proper M habitation then it injoyeth free and perfect felicity and remaineth invisible to mortal Eyes as God himself is as likewise it is in our bodies For it cometh secretly into them and so departeth from them again that no man can perceive it being of a nature incorruptible and yet causing great changes in our bodies For whatsoever the Soul toucheth that presently liveth and flourisheth and what is forsaketh that incontinently withereth and dyeth Sleep the Argument of the immortality of the Soul so much doth it participate of immortality Sleep may be an evident argument to you of this which I speak in which the Soul not being distracted taketh a most pleasant and sweet repose and communicating with God it foreseeth many future events Wherefore then should we fear death who love the rest that we have in sleep were he not a mad man that for a short life would hinder himself of that which is enternal It is necessary that we who are instructed N in the Law of our Nation The professors of wisdom among the Indians burn themselves should give example to others to despise and contemn Death But if we seek confirmation hereof from strangers let us see the examples of the wiser sort of Indians for they being just men tolerate this life as a necessary office of nature for a certain time though against their wills yet do they even in perfect health hasten to unloose the Soul bound in this Mortal Body though not urged thereunto by any calamity or necessity but only for desire of immortality and solemnly take leave of their Friends neither doth any one seek to hinder them but esteeming them most fortunate they send by them commendations and other messages to their Friends departed so firm is their belief that the Souls of the dead have Communion and conversation together And thus having all instruction what to say to the Souls departed they with great applause leap into the fire that thereby their Souls may O be purified and separated from their Bodies And their Friends go more joyfully with them A when they go to their death than any doth that bringeth his Friend on the way when he is to go a great journey and they bewail only themselves and not those who are dead and have attained immortality Shall not we then be ashamed not to believe so firmly as the Indians do despising through our own sloth our Country-laws which are to be reverenc'd of all men Nay supposing that by our law we had been instructed contrariwise to wit that to live in this life is bliss and to die is calamity yet notwithstanding this present necessity this present time had been a sufficient motive to cause us to embrace death rather than life seeing that the will of God and necessity oblige us thereunto For who can doubt that God to punish us for having made ill use of life ha's long since resolv'd to deprive us of it and that it is not to our own forces or the clemency of the Romans that we are beholding for not being all slain in this B War An exhortation to contemn death drawn from the time and place But a more potent cause hereof there was which made them conquerours Were they the Romans that slew the Jews that inhabited at Caesarea whom the Inhabitants thereof upon the Sabboth-day they being assembled in one place together with their Wives and Children massacred notwithstanding that they had no intent to revolt from them nor ever lifted up their hand in their own defence nothing fearing the Romans who only accounted those of our Nation their Enemies that revolted from them But some may object the Jews at Caesarea and the Inhabitants thereof were always at variance and that now they revenged their old quarrel having gotten opportunity What then shall we say of the Scythopolitans who bare Arms with the Grecians against us and denied to assist their own kindred against the Romans Example taken from the Jews that were slain in Caesarea What profit did they receive by this their good will and fidelity for they were C altogether with their whole Families cruelly slain and this was the reward they had for their labour for having withstood us from doing the like to them It were too long to recount particularly all things to this effect For as ye know there is no City in all Syria that hath not massacred the Jews inhabiting in it and that is not more an Enemy than the Romans were They of Damascus although they could not devise any probable cause for it yet massacred all the Jews living among them The calamity of the Jews in Scythopolis amounting to the number of eighteen thousand beside their Wives and Children And is it not for certain reported that the number of the Jews slain by the Egyptians were above 60000 18000 Jews slain in Syria and 60000 in Egypt It may be that finding no assistance in a strange Country they were martyred by their enemies but they that in their own Country fought against the Romans wanted nothing that might have caused perfect hope of a full victory over the Romans D they had Weapons Armour Walls and strong holds inexpugnable and resolution to shun no danger for the sake of liberty in a word nothing that might put us into a condition to resist But for how long time did this suffice For our fortresses all were taken and subdued by the Enemies as though they had been built to make their victory more Famous and not to do us service And we may justly deem those happy who were slain in the War for they died in liberty Yet who doth not pity the multitude of those that fell into the Romans hands or who would not hasten to die rather than endure the like misery that they suffered Some of them were tortured with stripes
was requisite for necessity or pleasure 12. Adam asketh pardon might have hapned of it self unto you by my only providence without any travel or care on your parts which if you had well used your life would have been very lovely and very happy Adam's punishment but you have scorned this mine Ordinance and broken my Commandments 13. Eves punishment For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth N not of respect but of evil of which thou findest thy self culpable Adam excuseth his sin as well as he could 17 18. The Seed of the Woman that is Christ shall bruise the Serpent's head and prayed God not to be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had hapned upon his Wife alledging that he had offended by reason he was deceived by her and the Woman accused the Serpent But God for his punishment because he had suffer'd himself to be overcome by the counsel of a Woman declared that the earth thenceforward never more of its own accord should bring forth fruit but only when they till'd it with the sweat of their countenance Gen. 3. 14 15. nor should it always yield all that was expected from it The Serpent's punishment And as touching Eve he chastised her with Child-bearing and throes in Travel for that being her self deceived by the Serpent she had drawn her Husband by the same means into extreme misery He took also from the Serpent his speech and O was displeased with him * Joseph's ignorance in understanding this place of Scripture by reason of the malice he had conceived against Adam and he put venom on his tongue declaring him an enemy both to Man and Woman whom A he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that all the evil which chanced unto Men 14. proceeded from his head as also in that being assaulted in that part he is most easily put to death The year of the World 1. before Christ's Nativity 3963. Moreover having deprived him of his feet he condemned him to slide and trail himself along the earth After God had ordained them to suffer these punishments he drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of delights into nanother place CHAP. II. Cain kills his Brother Abel God banishes him for it His Posterity is as wicked as himself The virtues of Seth the other Son of Adam B BUt Adam and Eve had two male-children Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. the first whereof was called Cain which signifies acquisition and the second was called Abel which signifies mourning they had also three Daughters Gen. 4. v 1 2. These Brothers were of very different inclinations Of Cain and Abel Brethren Abel the younger honoured justice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he always and wholy fixed his thoughts on virtue and his exercise was keeping of sheep But Cain being a wicked Man 2. The year of the World 70. before Christ's Nativity 894. and addicted to unsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the use of the Plough He killed his Brother for the cause which ensueth Having concluded among themselves to sacrifice unto God Cain offered the fruits of his labour and planting Abel presented milk and the firstlings of his fold which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselves by the order of nature 3. The sacrifice of Cain and Abel than that which Cains covetousness C had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being enrag'd because his Brother Abel was more honoured by God than himself slew his Brother and having hidden his body out of sight 4. Weak reason in Josephus he thought the murder would be concealed But God well knowing the fact appeared to Cain and questioned him concerning his Brother what was become of him 5 6 7. Cain slew his Brother Abel for that for some days he had not seen him whereas before they had been always together Cain being troubled and ignorant what answer to make unto God said at first that he wondred what was the cause his Brother was so long absent 8. The talk betwixt God and Cain but afterwards being troubled that God continued the question and more closely press'd him he said he was not his Brothers keeper nor bound to take care of his affairs 9. 10 11 12. Then God reproved and convicted Cain of murthering his Brother D and ask'd him how he dar'd deny the knowledge of his brothers death where as he himself had slain him Notwithstanding God forbare to inflict upon him the punishment deserved for this murther by reason that Cain offer'd sacrifice and made request unto God that it would please him to remit somewhat of the severity of his justice against him Yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his Posterity to the seventh Generation Cain's banishment Then did he drive him and his Wife out of that Countrey whereat Cain being affrighted for fear of being encountred and devour'd by some Savage Beasts God commanded him to suspect no dangerous event for that cause 14. assuring him that he might safely travel thorow all Regions 15. without being either assaulted or seized by Savage Beasts and having set his mark upon him by which he E might be known he commanded him to depart the Countrey After that Cain accompanied with his Wife had travelled thorow divers Regions he made his abode at Nais 16. Cain is not bettered by Gods chastisements and in that place had several Children But he made not use of this chastisement for his better amendment but rather became worse and worse for he abandoned himself to all sensual pleasures making it his sport to outrage those with whom he conversed filling his house with riches gotten by rapine and violence and gathering together other wicked and debauch'd Men he taught them to commit all sorts of crimes and impieties he destroy'd that simplicity which Men before that time had used in their mutual societies Measures and Waights found out by Cain by the inventions of Measures and Weights the ignorance whereof was the cause that the life of Man was estranged from deceit but instead F and place of free and plain sincerity Enos the first City he introduced fraud and deceit He it was that first bounded the fields and built the first City and made a Wall and a rampire enforcing his Followers to dwell therein This City he named Enos by the name of Enos his first begotten Son Jared was the Son of Enos of Jared issued Malaleel whose Son was Methusala 1â— 18 20. who begot Lamech who had 77 Children by his two Wives Sella and Ada amongst whom Jobel the Son of Ada was the first that made Tents and took delight to lead a pastoral life contenting himself with the same Jubal his
was fatal to the Philistines And whereas he was allured and besotted by a woman 't is an effect of the infirmity of humane nature which is prone to such faults in all other things we cannot too much admire his vertue His Kindred took his body and buried it in Sarasa his Countrey in the Sepulchre of his Ancestors CHAP. XI How the sons of Eli the High Priest were slain in battel by the Philistines L AFter the decease of Samson Ruth 1. v. 1 ad 6. Eli the High Priest took upon him the Government of the Israelites Hedio Ruffinus Chap. 14. During his time there was a great Famine and Elimelech unable to endure the misery thereof came from Bethlehem a City of the Tribe of Juda to inhabit in the Countrey of Moab A famine in the days of Eli. bringing with him Naomi his Wife and Chilon and Maalon his Sons whom he had by her Now when his affairs had fallen out with as fortunate success as could be desired he married his Sons to certain Daughters of the Moabites Chilon to Orpha and Maalon to Ruth After ten years Elimelech and his Sons died By which affliction Naomi being cast into great sorrow and destitute of their company whose dear familiarity she had preferred before the love of her Countrey chang'd M her resolution according to those occurrences that had happened to her and determined to return to her Friends by reason she had received intelligence that her Countrey at that time was in better estate than when she left it Her Daughters in-law would not endure to be separated from her but would needs accommpany her but she wishing them a more happy marriage than that which they enjoyed with her Sons and prosperity in all other things and protesting unto them that she had no ability to do them good she desired them to stay in that place and not by following their wretched Mother-in-law in an uncertain event C. v. 7 ad 14 lose the certain pleasure and peaceable fruition of their Countrey These her persuasions took effect with Orpha but Ruth resolved in no sort to forsake her attended on her Mother-in-law as future companion of whatsoever fortune N should befall her v. 15 ad 19. Now when both of them arrived in Bethlehem Namo◠after the decease of her Husband and Sons departeth with Ruth into her own Countrey where as we shall see afterwards Boos Abimelechs Kinsman entertained them in his house the Citizens called her by the name of Naomi but she said that they should rather call her Mara for Naomi in the Hebrew tongue signifies felicities and Mara bitterness When it was Harvest time Ruth by the permission of her Mother went out into the fields to glean Corn for their sustenance Ruth goeth into Bethlehem and it fortuned that she met in the field with Boos who came thither likewise not long after and who beholding her inquired of the chief Reaper touching this young woman Ruth 2. v. 1 ad 8. He having a little before understood her condition 〈◊〉 friend to Naomi and Ruth declared it to his Master Boos commending her for the good affection which she bare her mother-in-law and for the memory she had of her deceased Son whom O Ruth had married wished her all good fortune and not suffering her to glean he permitted her to reap and to gather all that which she might commanded the Master-reaper A that he should not hinder her from taking whatsover she pleased The year of the World 2811. before Christ's Nativity 1153. and that when the reapers took their refection they should give her both meat and drink What Corn Ruth gathered she reserved for her Mother-in-law and came home at night and brought her the sheaves In like manner Naomi reserved a portion of certain victuals for her which in way of kindness her neighbours had sent her At her return Ruth reported to her all the words that Boos had said unto her and Naomi gave her to understand that Boos was her kinsman and so good a man that it might be hoped he would take some care of her So Ruth went again with Boos handmaids to gather her gleanings and certain dayes after about the time that they threshed Barley Boos came to his Farm Ruth 3. v. 14 and slept on the floor which when Naomi understood she thought it B might be for the advantage of the young woman to lye and sleep at his feet and accordingly she advised her to endevour it Ruth by her mother-in-laws perswasino lieth at Boos Feet Ruth that made a conscience to contradict her mother-in-law in whatsoever she commanded her went very gently and lay at his feet and upon her first arrival Boos perceived nothing because he was fast a sleep but when he awaked about midnight and felt some body lying at his feet he demanded who it 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 He enquired no further but let her sleep but early in the morning before the Servants began their work he commanded her to arise and to take as much Barley with her as she could bear to the end she might return to her mother-in-law before that any man perceived that she had slept C in that place because it is wisdome to avoid occasions of talk especially in a thing of this importance Touching the rest said he the matter standeth thus Thou hast a kinsman said he that is neerer thee in blood than I am thou must enquire of him if it be his pleasure to take thee to Wife Ruth 4. v. 1◠ad 7. if he saith that he liketh thee thou must then necessarily submit unto him but if he refuse thee I will take thee for my Wife according as the Law obligeth me Now when she had reported these news unto her mother-in-law she took courage and conceived hope that Boos would not abandon them Boos came to the City about noon and called a Council of the Elders and sent for Ruth and his kinsman to whom he spake thus Doest thou not possess the heretage of Abimelech Yes answered he I am seized thereof by the right of proximity according to D Law Boos replied Thou must not saith he only observe the Laws in part but thou must precisely execute them all Behold here a young woman Abimelech's Widow whom it behoveth thee to marry according to the Law Boos exhorteth his kinsman to marry Ruth if thou wilt inherit possessions But the man surrendred to Boos not only the possessions but also the woman by reason that Boos was allied also to those that were dead and especially for that the said kinsman had already both Wife and Children Boos therefore having first taken the Magistrates to witness called for the woman and willed her to draw near her kinsman and to unloose his shoe
calamities also were transported for which cause it was likewise sent from this place to another where it remained but a little while for the Inhabitants of the place being afflicted with the same Maladies which the other endured sent it to the Neighbor Cities and after this sort the Ark was conveyed to five Cities of the Philistines exacting as it were by those Plagues a Tribute of every one in punishment of the Sacriledge which they committed by retaining a thing consecrated to God At last wearied with so many evils and made examples unto others not to entertain the Ark which so grievously recompensed those that received the same 1 Sam. 5. 2 aâ— finem they conceiv'd there was no other way left O but to find out some good means to rid themselves of it When therefore the Princes of the five Cities of Geth Accaron Ascalon Gaza and Azot were assembled they consulted A amongst themselves what was best to be done and first of all it was propos'd to send back the Ark to those to whom it appertain'd since God scourg'd with so many Plagues those that receiv'd it into their Cities to testifie his indignation for the taking of it and to execute his vengeance of the Crime But some said that this resolution was unfit to be executed Consultation about the Ark. denying that those evils were to be imputed to the Captivity of the Ark whose power if it were so great as they imagin'd or if God had any care of the same he would never have permitted it to have fallen into the hands of Men of a contrary Religion and persuading them to bear these Misfortunes with an equrl mind and to account all these Calamities as effects of Nature which at certain periods of times is wont to produce in Mens Bodies in the Earth and in Plants and in other things B subject to her power such kind of alterations and changes Others more prudent and intelligent propos'd a third way which was neither to send away the Ark nor yet to retain it but to offer to God in the name of the five Cities five golden Statues in testimony of their gratitude because they had been preserved by his favor from that Plague from which by humane remedies it was impossible to escape and to offer also as many golden Mice like those that had spoiled their Countrey All these to be locked in a Chest and laid upon the Ark and the Ark to be plac't upon a new Cart made purposely to which they should yoke and tye two Kine that had new Calved locking up their Calves from them lest they should be an impediment to their Dams and to the intent that through the desire to see their young they might hasten the faster That done that C driving the Chariot to a place that had three wayes they should suffer them to draw that way that they listed and if they took the way of the Hebrews and travel'd towards their Countrey then they should assure themselves that the Ark was the cause of their evils The conclusion of the counsel as touching the sacred Ark. but if they drew another way let them said they be driven back again being most assured that the Ark hath no such virtue in it This counsel was approved by every one of the Assembly and presently executed having prepared all things they brought the Chariot into a high way that lookt three ways and leaving it there returned back again CHAP. II. D The Victory of the Hebrews under the Conduct of Samuel NOW when the Kine took the way which led to the Israelites 1 Sam. 6. 12 ad 18. and Travelled therein no otherwise than if some Men had led them the Governors of the Philistines follow'd them The sacred Ark cometh to Bethsama desirous to understand whither they went and in what place they would rest There is a Borough in the Tribe of Juda called Bethsama towards which they drew And although they had a very fair Plain before them yet would they not Travel any further The gratulation of the Bethsamites upon the arrival of the Ark. but rested the Chariot in that place The Inhabitants came to the spectacle and greatly rejoyced thereat for although it was Summer-time wherein every one was busied in gathering the fruits of the field yet when they perceived the Ark E they were so transported with joy that they laid aside the work which they had in hand and run presently to the Chariot Then taking down the Ark and the Coffer wherein the Statues of Gold and golden Rats were they laid them upon a stone in the field and after they had solemnly sacrificed and feasted together they offer'd up both the Chariot and Kine for a Burnt-offering unto God Which when the Philistines saw they returned back into their own Countrey to carry the News But Gods indignation and displeasure was kindled against the Bethsamites Ver. 16. so that 70 of them were slain because they had dar'd to touch the Ark Ruffinus writeth that God strook 70 of the greatest and 50000 of the common sort as it is 1 Sam. 6. 21. and with prophane hands not being Priests attempted to sustain it The Inhabitants lamented their loss and mourned for that their Countreymen were extinguished by no common death but by a punishment and plague sent F from God And acknowledging that they were unworthy that the Ark should remain with them they sent Messengers to the Governors and the rest of the Hebrews to let them understand that they had recovered the Ark out of the hands of the Philistines Whereupon order was given to place the same in Cariathiarim The Ark is transferred into Cariathiarim a City bordering upon the Bethsamites In that place there dwelt a Man of the Race of the Levites called Aminadab who had the honour and reputation of a good Man to his House the Ark was sent as to a place agreeable to God because there dwelt in the same a Man of so much virtue Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. His Sons had the charge of the Ark and continued in that service for the space of 20 years The punishment of the Israelites during which time it remained in Cariathiarim after it had remained only four months with the Philistines Whilst the Ark was in the City of Cariathiarim the G Israelites liv'd very Religiously and offer'd to God Prayers and Sacrifices shewing great devotion and forwardness in his service 1 Sam. 7. 3 ad 6. The Prophet Samuel perceiving this their good demeanor and supposing it a fit occasion to exhort them to liberty and the benefits which attend the same The year of the World 2851. before Christ's Nativity 1113. he accommodated his Speech to their Sentiments and spake to them H to this effect Ye men of Israel since at this present the Philistines cease not to molest you and God beginneth to shew himself merciful and
which at the first he gave no credit to both for that the friendship which he bare unto him made him not regard the same as also for that he imagined he was enviously slandered It came to pass that Antigonus returning upon a certain time from the Army with great magnificence about the time of E the feast of Tabernacles chanced to repair thither at that very time wherein Aristobulus hapned to fall sick Antigonus intending to celebrate the Solemnity ascended the Temple in great state attended by some of his Army to pray for his brothers health Whereupon certain malicious Wretches desirous to break the concord that was between them made use of this occasion and of Antigonus magnificent pomp and good fortune and came unto the King Antigonus's death complotted amplifying unto him in malicious words what pomp and majesty he had shewed in that solemnity telling him That in his actions he demeaned himself no wayes like a private man Aristobulus is incensed against his brother Antigonus but that all his actions were levelled at royalty finally that his intent was to enter the Kingdom by force and to kill him for he made account that since he might be King alone it was a great simplicity for him to have a companion But Aristobulus although F he would very hardly be induced to believe these reports yet notwithstanding being desirous both to extinguish the suspition and to provide for his own security he disposed certain of his Guard in a dark and privy place under ground and lodged himself in a certain Tower called Antonia commanding that no man should offer violence except to those who entred armed giving a further charge to his Guard that if Antigonus entred armed he should be slain Which done he sent for his brother desiring him to repair unto him without Weapons Aristobulus's Queen contriveth Antigonus's death Which when the Queen and they that complotted the murther of Antigonus understood they persuaded the Messenger to tell him the contrary namely That his brother expected in regard he prepared for War that in that state and pomp he should come and visit him to the end he might be an eye-witness of his brave furniture G and preparation But Antigonus suspecting no harm and relying on the good will of his brother marched all armed on foot toward Aristobulus to shew himself in that bravery and when he came right over against the Tower that is called Straton where the passage was very dark The year of the World 3862. before Christ's Nativity 102. the Kings Guard killed him By this accident a man may easily H conjecture That there is scarcely any power greater than that of Envy and Slander and that there is not any thing that may sooner break off the good will and amity amongst brethren than these two passions And above all there is an occasion offer'd us of great wonder The force of slander in respect of one that was called Judas of the Sect of Esseans who in all those things that he prophesied varied in no sort from the Truth He seeing Antigonus come up into the Temple Judas the Essean a Prophet cryed out among his Disciples who frequented him to be instructed by him in the method of Prophecy That he was weary of his life because Antigonus 's security argued the vanity of his Prophecy by which he had foretold that that very day he should be slain at Stratons Tower whereas the place where he should be murthered was 600 furlongs off and the better part of the day was already spent so that it could not be I imagined but that he should be in danger to have made a false Prediction Whil'st he declared his doubts after this manner and was wholly overcome with choler news was brought That Antigonus was slain in a certain place under ground which was called the Tower of Straton of the same name with that other that standeth near the Sea which was afterwards called Caesarea The punishment of Aristobulus for the murther of his brother which ambiguity troubled the Diviner Incontinently after this accident Aristobulus repented himself in that he had put his brother to death and this repentance of his was seconded by a most grievous sickness proceeding from the affliction of his spirit and detestation of that cruel murther so that with grievous agony and torment he vomited blood as if all his entrals had been torn in sunder This blood so vomited by him it fortuned in my opinion by the Divine Providence of God K that a certain servant of his bearing it from his presence by some trip of his foot hapned to stumble and shed the same in that very place which had been soiled with the blood of the slaughtered Antigonus The touch of Conscience By which means they that beheld the same raised a great cry exclaiming that the Page had shed the blood in a convenient place Aristobulus hearing this outcry demanded the cause thereof and for that no man addressed himself to satisfie him he was the more earnest to know it according to the nature of men who are alwayes more suspicious and desirous to know those things which are most concealed At last from words he fell to Threatnings and no body durst tell him the Truth Whereupon he altogether afrighted in his Conscience shedding abundance of Tears and breathing out grievous sighs began to cry out in this manner How then My L impious and detestable act is not hidden from God but the sudden punishment of my brothers murther pursueth me wherefore O thou shameless body of mine how long wilt thou detain my soul which is due and appertaineth to the ghosts of my mother and brother Why dost thou not take it all at once such as it is without expecting that I should sacrifice my blood poured out so many times to those whom I have so treacherously kill'd While he pronounced these words he dyed after he had reigned one year He was called Philelles that is to say a Lover of the Greeks Thus after he had profited his Countrey many wayes and subdued the Itureans and joined the greater part of the Countrey to Judea and had constrained them likewise who should remain in that Countrey to be circumcised and to live according to the Laws of the Jews Aristobulus compelleth the Itureans to be circumcised and to observe the laws of the Jews he died thus miserably He was by nature courteous and shame M fac't as Strabo testifieth speaking after this manner by the authority of Timagines This was the courteous man and profitable to his Countreymen the Jews in many things for he enlarged their Countrey and conquered the part of the Nations of the Itureans whom he tied unto him by the bond of Circumcision CHAP. XX. Salomey otherwise called Alexandra King Aristobulus Relict taketh Jannaeus called Alexander Aristobulus's brother out of Prison and made him King who caused him to kill one of his
beauty one of them was his Butler the other his Cook and the third his Chamberlain whom also he was wont to employ in serious affairs of his Kingdom Some one or other informed the King that these three Eunuchs were corrupted by his Son Alexander The Sons hatred towards their Father is bewrayed with great summs of money and being upon Tortures examined if they had accompanied with him they confessed all yet they affirmed that they knew no practice of his attempted against his Father But their torments being encreased by Antipater's Favourites they were forced to confess that Alexander secretly hated his Father and he exhorted them to forsake Herod who was now good for nothing who dissembled his age by painting G his face to make himself seem younger than he was and colouring his head and beard black which were already grown very white through age But rather set their minds upon him who would in despight of his Father enjoy his Kingdom due unto him and that then he would advance them to the highest honours of the Kingdom For he H had not only title unto it by his birth but also was now prepared likewise to invade it and that he had many of the Captains of the souldiers and many of the King's friends on his side who were prepared to do or endure any thing for his sake Herod hearing this fear and anger did seize on him by reason that his Son's words seemed both insolent and threatning and being for both these causes in a rage he feared some greater matter to be put in practice against him which he could not suddenly having so little warning avoid And not daring to make open enquiry he set secret spies a work to tell him how all matters stood himself now mistrusting all men and accounting it his security to mistrust all even them that deserved it not and not moderating his suspicious mind now whosoever was the nearest to him was the I more suspected Herod crediteth all tales and so putteth many to death unjustly as of most power to injure him As for others that were but only named by his spies he presently esteemed it his safety to put them to death Then they of his houshold every one being careful to save himself were one turned against another every one esteeming it his own safety to prevent others by accusing them unto Herod which done presently they incited other men's envy against him and every one of them to desire such measure as they had measured unto others and thus they also revenged their private Quarrels and presently after they themselves were taken and did by other mens means suffer the like being entrapped in the same trap they set for their enemies For the King did quickly repent for having put very many to death who were not convicted yet for all that he was K not hereby admonished to beware of the like hereafter but on his repentance for their death raged so far as to cause him to inflict the same punishment upon the accusers which he had done upon them Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. The Court was in such a lamentable condition that he commanded many of his dearest friends and them especially whose fidelity he had formerly experienced Herod denieth to be familiar with Andromachus and Gemellus not to come in his sight nor within his Court-gates For he did now shake off the friendship between Andromachus and Gemellus and himself who were his ancient friends and oftentimes had gone Ambassadours for him and always been of his counsel and had been tutors unto his Children in whom he had always reposed more trust than in any others the one of them for that his Son Demetrius was familiar with Alexander and Gemellus for that he knew him to L be a friend to Alexander for he was one of them that had brought him up and had travelled with him to Rome And no doubt but he had censured them with some more heavy sentence had it not been that they were so eminent persons Wherefore at that time he was contented to have banished them and deprived them of all their authority to the end that having disgraced these good men he might the more freely play the Tyrant Antipater the cause of all mischief Antipater was the cause of all this mischief who from the first time that he perceived his Father to be fearful and suspicious still after that joyned with him as Counseller and as it were encreased his rage and cruelty and then he gallantly played his part Many were tortured and examined for Alexander's cause endeavouring that whosoever would resist him should be made away Wherefore Andromachus and the rest of his friends being now banished the M Court the King presently tortured all that he imagined any way to favour Alexander to see if they were guilty or if they knew of any treason to be practised against him but they knowing nothing to inform him of died amidst their torments Where he so much the more tortured others for that contrary to his opinion he found not so much as an evil thought against him Antipater craftily interpreting it that they had rather in torments conceal the truth than to shew themselves not trusty to their masters and friends wherefore many being taken he caused them to be tortured to get something out of some of them At last one amongst the rest not able to endure those torments imposed upon him said that he had often heard Alexander say when any one commended his tall stature or skilful shooting and the rest of his vertues that nature had N bestowed upon him these qualities to his prejudice for his Father through envy hereat was offended so that when he talked with him he did on purpose draw his body together lest his Father should perceive the tallness of his stature and that when he went a hunting with him he on purpose did miss the mark he could have hit because he knew his Father could not endure that he should be commended And whilst these words were considered and pondred and his torments intermitted he accused Alexander again to have conspired with his Brother Aristobulus to kill his Father when he was hunting and then to fly with speed unto Rome and beg the Kingdom of Caesar There were also found some of Aristobulus his Letters written unto his Brother complaining of the injurious dealing of his Father who had given O certain Possessions to Antipater the yearly revenues whereof amounted to two hundred Talents Then Herod thinking himself to have probability enough his former A suspicion was now confirmed and so he took Alexander and cast him in prison and again he began to doubt because he did scarcely believe the informations against him neither could he devise any cause wherefore they should seek to commit Treason against him And those complaints seemed childish neither was it probable that having openly killed his Father Alexander
rest are armed with Bucklers and Pikes Moreover they carry a Saw a Basket a Fardle a Hatchet a Cord a Sythe a Chain and Victuals for three days so that the Footmen are as much loaden as the Cattel The furniture of the Romans Horsmen The Horsmen carry at their D right side a long Sword in the left hand a Dart and a long Shield hanging against the horse side and a Quiver with three Darts with broad edges which are as big as a Spear they have also Helmets and Breast-plates like the Footmen The Generals Horsemen that guard his body nothing differ from the rest That company always leadeth that the lot falleth unto And these are the fashions of the Romans concerning their warlike discipline The Romans attempt nothing unadvisedly or rashly They never do any thing unadvisedly in Battle but manage all things according to counsel so that they either do not err or if they do their fault is easily amended For they think that bad success after deliberation is better then good fortune without it and they think that therein fortune did but flatter them to work them some despight by reason they did not deliberate but that which is premeditated E although it have ill success yet it maketh them wary against another time And none of them account that good success which comes by chance and every one is comforted in their misfortune if then they took good advice By their military exercises they do not only make the Bodies of their Souldiers strong The Romans grow more diligent by fear but their minds also more couragious and their diligence is the greater by their fear of punishment For their Laws are capital not only for them that forsake their order but also for them that commit the least negligences and their Generals are more severe then their Laws Yet their Rewards of merit are so great that they seem not cruel in punishing the faulty Moreover they are so obedient to their Rulers The obedience of the Roman Souldier is no small occasion of his victory that in Peace they honour them and in War the whole Army seemeth one body united together they keep such good order and are so ready F to turn here or there and so attentive to any command so diligent to note signs made unto them and so quick to labour with their hands that they are always apt to execute any thing and patient to suffer labour Insomuch that no number of Enemies no Rivers Mountains Forests or difficult place can hinder them from Victory no not even the crossness of Fortune for they think themselves unworthy the name of Romans if they triumph not over her too Therefore seeing their deeds are ruled by Advice and Counsel and their Commandments so well executed by the Army what marvel is it if their Empire in the East reach to Euphrates How far the Roman Government extendeth in the West to the Ocean in the South to Africk in the North to Rhine and Danubius seeing that one may justly affirm the possession less than the possessors This I have spoken G not so much to praise the Romans but to comfort the conquered and to terrifie those that desire alteration and perhaps it may instruct them who want good Discipline and are ignorant of the Manners and Customs of the Romans in their Military H affairs CHAP. IV. How Placidus assaulted Jotapata and was repell'd by the Jews IN the mean time Vespatian being at Ptolemais with his Son Titus prepared all things necessary for his Army Placidus draweth his forces against Jotapata and being repulsed flyes But Placidus was already entred into Galilee and run through it where he slew almost all he had found who were of the weaker sort of people incapable of resisting And seeing that those of courage always fled into the Cities I that Joseph had fortified he turned his forces against Jotapata which was the strongest of them thinking it might easily be taken by a sudden assault and that he thereby should get great glory and advantage because the people seeing the strongest Cities surprized would not fly to any again But it fell not out as he expected for the people of Jotapata understanding his coming met him near the Town and suddenly encountering the Romans being a great multitude and well disposed to fight as those that bare Arms for the general safety of the Country and the lives of their Wives and Children they put the Romans to flight and wounded many though only seven were slain because the Romans in flying kept their ranks and were well armed but the Jews being unarmed rather trusted to their Darts and Arrows than come to handy K blows There were three Jews slain and a few wounded And so Placidus when he saw himself repulsed from the Town abandon'd the Enterprize CHAP. V. How Vespatian invaded Galilee and how at the very sight of him the Seditious fled VEspasian desirous to master Galilee himself departed from Ptolemais making such journies as the Romans are wont to And he commanded his Auxiliary L Troops Vespatian directeth the Romans march because they were lighter armed to go before and repress the enemies incursions and search the Woods and Forrests fit for Ambushes whereby they were to pass After them followed part of the Romans Foot and Horse and ten commanded out of every Company with their Arms and all things necessary to make a Camp After them followed the Pioneers whose office it was to mend the Ways where they were bad and to cut down the Woods that were in the way lest by bad way the Army should be retarded After them he sent his baggage and the baggage of the Officers under him with Horsemen to guard it And after them he himself followed leading an Army of choice Foot and Horse And accompanied with his own Guard of Horse For he had out of every Legion six score men for his guard Next followed those M that carried the Engines to batter the Walls of Cities and other Instruments with the Prefects and Tribunes Guarded with Choice Souldiers After them the Emperial Eagle which the Romans have chosen for their Standard because it is the King of all Birds The Eagle by the Romans is held the Ensign of the Empire and a sign of Victory and is most valiant and strong wherefore they think it a sign of Dominion and Victory over all them against whom they bear it After these sacred Ensigns followed the Trumpets sounding in warlike manner and after them the Body of the Army marching six in a rank and as the custom is with Centurions by them to keep order The Servants of each Legion accompanied the baggage The last Company were Victuallers Handicrafts-men and other mercenary people guarded by Foot and Horse in great number Thus Vespatian with his whole Army N came to the borders of Galilee and there pitched his Camp He might have passed on but
their Enemies should we not think it good likewise to spare our selves Truly it is meer folly to do that to our selves to avoid which we fight against them I confess it is a commendable thing to die for liberty but that is to die in fight and by their hands only who took away that liberty But now neither do they war against us nor kill us It is a goodly matter to die for liberty but yet to die fighting He is not only to be judg'd a Coward who refuseth to die when need requireth but he also who will die when no need urgeth Moreover what with-holdeth us from offering our selves to the Romans Truly fear of death Shall we therefore make that certain our selves which we fear at the Romans hands But some will say if L they spare us we are made Captives I pray consider what liberty we have now If it be said that it is a paâ—â— of courage to kill ones self I maintain on the contrary it is the part of a very Coward The similitude of a Sailer For I think him to be a very timerous Sea-man who perceiving a Tempest coming It is against the common course of Nature for a man to kill himself yea and a heinous sin against God sinketh the Ship wherein he is before it comes Moreover it is against the Law of Nature and the Sentiments of all Creatures to kill our selves and thereby we also commit a heinous crime against God There is no living creature that of his own seeking would willingly dye For every one feeleth in himself the strong and forceable Law of Nature whereby they desire to live and for this cause we judge them our Enemies that seek to take life from us and punish them that take it indeed And do you not think it a great contempt for a man to despise life which is Gods gift For we of him receive our first being and from M him let us expect our ending The Body is mortal framed of corruptible matter but our Souls are immortal The soul is immortal and a portion of God placed in our bodieâ— and in some sort partake of the Nature of God If any one abuse that which another putteth him in trust with we think him a perfidious and wicked man and shall we think that if we remove out of our Bodies that which God hath placed in the same that he shall not know of it whom we have so abused We hold those slaves worthy to be punished that run away from bad Masters and shall not we then be held for impious who flee from so good a Master as God is Do ye not know that they who according to the Law of Nature depart out of this Life and render that to God which they received of him when he who gave it requires it shall leave behind them a perpetual Name to their Posterity and Family And that unto those souls who are obedient to their Creator when he calls them he gives a holy N and sacred mansion in Heaven from whence after a revolution of the Heavens they are again remanded to animate Bodies pure as themselves God revengeth him on the author of injuries And that on the contrary they who cause their own death go into dark hell and that God punisheth this their offence upon all their posterity The custom of the antient Jews and how they dealt with those that slew themselves Hence it is that our wise Law-maker forbiddeth it who knew how God abhorreth this crime For if any amongst us kill themselves it is decreed that till the Sun go down they shall be unburied though we hold it lawful to bury before those that have been killed in War Other Nations cause their right-hand to be cut off who have killed themselves judging that as the soul thereby was separated from the body so the hand deserves to be separated from it Joseph Perâ—â—ation Wherefore O Companions think on that which is reasonable and add not to your misery O impiety against God who created us If we desire to be saved let us save our selves for A it is no disgrace to receive our lives at their hands who are witnesses of so many valiant deeds of ours If we desire to die let us die by their hands who have overcome us I will not go into my Enemies Camp to be a Traytor against my self For I bear not their mind who forsake their own company to fly to their Enemies for they fly to them to save their lives but I go to them to cause mine own death And I would to God that the Romans would break promise with me for if they kill me after they have promised to save my life I shall willingly die and with great courage seeing their breach of promise and perjury as a blemish to their late victory Joseph spoke more to this effect Joseph is in great danger to be slain to disswade his Companions from killing themselves But they stopping their ears with desperation wherewith they had armed themselves to die came furiously towards him with their swords drawn upbraiding him that B he was a Coward and every one was ready to strike him Then Joseph calling one by his Name and looking upon another with a countenance like a Governour holding anothers hand and intreating the rest distracted in such danger by this means diverted the blows they intended him for still as one came near to strike him he turned his face upon him like some wild beast encompassed with the hunters Some of them who remembred he had been their Captain in their extremity with reverence of his personage trembled so that their swords fell out of their hands and many lifting up their arms to strike him of their own accord let their weapons fall Joseph notwithstanding his desperate estate Another policy of Joseph yet was not void of judgement but trusting in Gods assistance he hazarded his life and spake unto them as followeth Seeing ye are all determined to C die let us cast lots who shall kill one another and he to whom the lot falleth shall be killed by him who shall next follow and so the lot shall be cast upon every one of us and none of us shall be forced to kill our selves For it were injustice that when some of us are slain the rest should repent themselves Joseph fellows dye by lots and Joseph and another are reserved and so escape They all liked well of this and always he upon whom the lot fell was slain by him that followed for death was more acceptabe because they thought Joseph should die with them Now it hapned by the providence of God that Joseph remained alive only with one other and he perswaded him who was left alive to live and not to seek death lest either the lot should fall upon himself and so he be slain or upon the other and so he should be polluted with the
who intended to have fled to the Romans Yet if any one fee'd the Watch-men with money he escaped away safely and he that did not was counted as a Traitor so that only rich men could escape and the poor were left to the slaughter The multitude of the dead bodies that lay on heaps together was innumerable and through the horror of which sight many of those who had fled to the Romans The Zealots tyrannize both over the living and the dead returned again into the City choosing rather to die there for the hope they had to be buried in their native soil made death there seem more tolerable But the Zealots became so cruel that they neither permitted them who were slain within nor them without the City to be buried But like men that had now determined together with their County-Laws to abolish the Law of Nature yea and by I their impiety to defy God himself let the dead Bodies rot above ground and whosoever attempted to bury any of them that were slain whether Friend or Kinsman he was presently put to death and left unburied and to give Sepulchre to another was crime enough to deserve it To be brief nothing so much increased their indignation as Mercy for the wicked People were herewith provoked to wrath their displeasure and cruelty was extended from the living to the dead and from the dead to the living And such fear fell upon the whole City that those that were left alive deemed them happy that being dead were at rest and free from those miseries and they that were in Prison in respect of the torments they endured thought themselves more unhappy than they who lay unburied K All humane Justice was perverted and they scorned and mocked at all divine and holy things and proudly derided the Oracles of the Prophets esteeming them as Fables and Jests But having now contemned all Laws established by their fore-fathers for the punishment of Vice and increasing of Virtue at last they found that true which was fore-told concerning the Destruction of themselves and their Country For there was an old Prophesie that when Sedition reigned amongst them and their own hands had violated the Temple of God and holy things then their City should be destroyed by War and their holy Places burned with fire according to the manner and custom of War L CHAP. III. How Gadara was yielded and of the Massacre there BUt John who long ago aspired to be Tyrant over all the rest could not endure that others should partake in Authority with him Johns Pride and Ambition wherefore by little and little he divided himself from their union and fellowship after he had drawn to himself such as by their impious life were capable of the greatest crimes so that now every M one perceived in that he always neglected what others commanded and imperiously commanded what himself thought good that he affected Principality Many joyned to him for fear some for favour for he had a smooth tongue able to perswade to what he would many also followed him thinking it better that all the impiety before committed were laid to one mans charge in particular than upon them all Moreover being a valiant man of his hands and one able to give politick counsel he wanted not followers not withstanding that many of the contrary faction left him envying that he who before was their equal should now be their Master and Commander The greater part of the contrary faction fall from John Fear also terrified them from living under the Government of one man for they thought that if he once prevailed he could not easily be overcome and again if he N were deposed that he would pick quarrels against them in the end because that they resisted him in the beginning So every man determined rather to suffer all misery in War then to submit himself and become a Slave Thus the parties were divided and John was chief of one Faction so between them they appointed Guards in every place and if by chance they combated together they did little or no hurt to one another but the chief contention was who should bear most sway amongst the People and who should have the greatest part of the Spoil Thus the City at one time was vexed with three intolerable mischiefs and evils The tempest of of three misaries assailed Jerusalem at once to wit War Tyranny and Sedition and yet the War seemed a less evil than the rest to the Commonalty Wherefore many leaving their native soil fled to strangers for succour and found among the O Romans safety who with their own Nation lived in continual danger There was A also added a fourth evil which wrought the ruine of the whole Nation Not far from the City there was a Castle called Massada built by the ancient Kings of Jerusalem very strong to lay up their treasure and munition for War and to retire themselves thereunto in time of need for the safety of their persons This Castle was taken and kept by that sort of Thieves that were called Sicarii by reason of their smal number durst Rob no more openly These Thieves seeing the Roman Army now idle and the people in Jerusalem at civil War and Sedition among themselves took courage and again fell to their Villanies Of those desperate Rebels that kept â—he Castle of Massada And so on that day which is the Feast of unleavened Bread which the Jews keep holy in memory of their deliverance from the Aegyptian Captivity deceiving the Watchmen they seized upon a Fort called Engaddi B and before the Townsmen could arm and unite themselves together they were by these persons driven out of the Town who also killed them that could not flie to wit Women and Children to the number of more than seven hundred and so sacking the Houses and taking the Fruits that were now ripe they carried all to Massada and so they wasted all the Villages and whole Country round about them many wicked persons daily flocking unto them and joining with them and by their example other Thieves that a while had been quiet now robbed again and spoiled in every part of Judea Slaughter and desolation thorow Jurie And as in a body if the principal member thereof be sick all other parts of it are afflicted so Jerusalem being filled with tumults and discord those that were without the City found licence to rob and spoil and all those that had C their Towns destroyed where they were wont to inhabit went into the Wilderness where assembling and uniting themselves together not so many as an Army yet more than a Company of Thieves A similitude they broke into the Towns and Temples and as in War it cometh to pass the Country people purposed to assault them by whom they had suffered such injury but they were prevented for the Thieves understanding their coming fled with the spoil they had gotten And there was