had expresse charge to Write for the very last the yeere since the creation of the World 2513. and of his life the 80. yeere and hath continued his Holy Stories euen to the yeere of his Death and of the world 2553. Now since that time GOD hath alwayes so prouided for the aduancement of his Glory and the edification of his Church that the perpetuall History of her and the certaine account of the yeeres of the World hath beene continued and still put in Writing by his Prophets As it is to bee seene in the Holy Bookes that treate and contayne the Gouernment of Ioshua and the Iudges then to Samuel and the Kings of the People vnto the transmigration into Babylon and of other Gouernors which haue succeeded them after their returne from thence And finally the Prophet Daniel hath declared the rest of the time that is The 490. yeeres since the sayd Deliuerance of the Iewes and returne from Babylon by the meanes of Cyrus Daniel 9. King of Persia euen to the Death and Resurrection of Christ the Redeemer promised to the holy Fathers which is our Lord Iesus the eternall Sonne of God true God and true Man who appeared liuing after his Luk 24. 1 Cor. 15. Death and Resurrection to more then fiue hundred faithfull Witnesses at one time besides his other manifestations and mounted visibly into Heauen in the yeere of the World 3961. Now if wee will search all the Histories of all the Nations of the World of whom the Writings are ariued to our Age the most Ancient time of which they make mention shal be of their Antique destruction of Troy by the Greekes The History whereof hath beene written by Dictis of the I le of Creet which is the best Testimony they haue for the present and since by Homer and many others And from this Destruction Diodorus Siculus renowned amongst the Historians began his Bookes now the same according with the common Iudgement and Calculation of knowing men comes onely to be about 358. yeeres before the building of Rome the same time then fallsâ— to bee in the 16. yeere of the Gouernment of Elon Iudge of the People of Iudgeâ— 12 Israel mentioned in the Booke of Iudges And the same was 316 yeeres before the first Olympiade the reckoning of the Annalls of the Greekes So then the sayd Destruction of Troy falls to be onely vnder the yeere of the World 2838. when therefore wee shall giue consent that their Writings the most certaine whose Narrations wee may best giue credit vntoâ— Yet the Prophet Moses shal be found much more Auncient then all the Writers of the World what Nation soeuer though they are in great number and of whom wee see yet the Old Bookes in these last times in their proper Tongues And that hee hath put his hand to the Pen and began to Write his Diuine Reuelations of the Creation and Conduct of the World euen to his time and his sacred History and Prophesies touching the Church of GOD shall at least bee 325 yeeres before all other Writers of whom there is any mention or newes in the World that is to say in the yeere of the World 25â—3 Whereupon wee note euen to this Present against all those prophane mockers that haue disgorged that enormious blasphemy amongst others that the World is eternall and of it selfe which if it were so as they dreame and that it had no such beginning as is written by Moses they might finde then by all and in all Languages many Histories of infinite times and many Chronicles of many Ages and of old times that haue praeceded Moses in the account of yeeres But wee see that there is no such and that the Holy Bible is found euen in the middle amongst all sorts of enemies that strâ—ue to destroy loose abollish burne and extermine from the World the Bookes of it and for all thereto they had so long time yet neuerthelesse they neuer could nor euer shall For wee see the sayd Bible yet in his proper Writing and Language and of all others of what Nation soeuer the most celebrated and renowned And if they could finde any History which had beene written before Moses was borne into the World yet shall it contayne their time and composition with more yeeres and ages as wee can gather from the Holy Scriptures euen to this present yeere 1633. since the Natiuity of Christ The which account of times past from the Creation vnto this present yeere shall come to amount to 5563 yeeres but such Histories neyther can bee found nor euer were But for Moses and his faithfull Writings euen prophane Authors and Histories of the Gentiles themselues haue beene euen as it were â—iuinely constrayned to â—eaâ—e testimony maâ—ger their Calâ—mnies Lyeâ— Dreames and Disguisings through and by the Invincible force of Truth And so they haue serued for Certificates to all Nations of the venerable and well knowne Antiquity of him and his Holy Writs For some of them haue noted and writ thus as a thing notorious of their times to witt That is the East Trogus Iustinus parts and of Syâ—ia it selfe there had beene an Abraham an Israel and euen a Ioseph who say they was a Sonne of the sayd Israel sold by his brethren and led into Aegypt Then how hee was receiued into the Court and held very dearely with the King to whom hee foretold the grieuous and great famine so as without the diuine Counsell by him giuen whereupon the admonished King gathered vp and made reseruation of Corne before the time of the sayd Famiâ—e Aegypt had perished And finally how his Successor Moses and all his People issued out of Aegypt came to Mount Syna how they consecrated the Seuenth day for their Sabbaoth or Resting dayâ— But I wil leaue this Discourse though diuersified from a spark of Truth that these Historians haue mixed with their owne deuices as prophaâ—â—e and in which they were poorely Aduertised and deceiued by the subtilty of Sathan as we may well know by conferring their VVriting with the Holy Bible And bee it that these Scofferâ— of GOD and his Holy Word dare be so bold to say and calumniate that MOSES and his haue suppressed and abolished all praeceâ—ent Histories making their Writings to be before all others thereby to Authorize them the better but wee will leaue those their calumnies to the iudgement of any of sound sense and vnderstanding If that could be or can haue any place or shaddow of beliefe amongst men of sound iudgement or reasonable Discourse for if they wil put into mature consideration the small meanes and contemptible quality in the world of these poore Israelites but Shepheards and breeders of Cattle and which is worse people exposed to the oppressions and hard seruitude vnder their puissant Enemies and euill disposed Neighbours Then who shall make comparison of them with great Kings and people of the Earth Babilonians Aegytians Syrians Romans and other Potentates who with all their Authority
THE Auncient History Of the Septuagint VVritten in Greeke by ARISTEVS 1900. Yeares since Of his Voyage to Hierusalem as Ambassador from PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS vnto ELEAZER then Pontiffe of the IEWES Concerning the First Translation of the HOLY BIBLE by the 72. Interpreters With many other remarkable Circumstances Newly done into ENGLISH By I. DONE Tempora Tempera Tempore LONDON Printed by N. OKES 1633. ⧠TO THE Intelligent Generall READER ALthough TIME and DEATH from our Cradles to our Graues pursue vs swiftly and according to the Almighties Ordinance ouertake and seaze vpon our fraile and Terrestriall parts vpon some sooner vpon others later Yet Excellent Acts like strong Eagles breake from their seazure and soare aboue them in so sublime a pitch as neither Time with all his Power and rusty Powder with which hee blots and rubs out Brasse and Marble can quite obscure or extinguish them neither Death close in his darke-gaping Mouth the Graue their Noblenesse Witnesse this small yet Auncient History which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise to put into an English Habite That the Story is Auncient I may well say for it is 1900. yeeres since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philocrates which Aristeus St. Hierome in his Epistle to the Pentatucke of the Bible Great Esquire sayes was Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt Syria Phâ—nicia and Cilicia and Sonne of Ptolomeus Lagus one of the great Captaines of Alexander Magnus that diuided his Conquests the World amongst them This Ptolomeus Philadelphus then a most accomplish'd young Gentleman vertuously disposed and so great a louer of Learning as hee had accumulated into his Library according to some Authors 1800000. Volumes Printing Argument of the HISTORY not then risen in our Hemispheare was by the sayd Aristeus a most Noble Person and a great friend of the then captiued Iewes as an Instrument of God for the liberty and freedome of them then his people practised with Demetrius Phalerius to tell the King that his so aboundant Library was but poore because it wanted the Booke of Bookes the sacred Volume of GOD which we call the Holy Bible The King vertuously couetous thereof demanded how hee should best acquire it Aristeus wayting this desiered occasion proportioned his aduice that he should first set all the Captiued Iewes not onely in Aegypt but also in Syria c. at free liberty send Ambassadours and Presents to Eleazer their High Priest and Pontiffe The King willingly accordes thereto as to the Musick of his desires and prepares most rich presents as a Table of Massie Gold embellish't with Precious Stones Cups of Gold and Siluer likewise adorned sets at freedome the Captiued by publicke Edict Embasies with these gifts and diuers Talents of Gold and Siluer Aristeus and Andrea Prince and great Captaine of the Guard of his Person They goe deliuer his Letters of Request and Commends haue gracious entertainment returne with the 72. Interpreters Iewes Letters and also Eleazers Presents to the King and in especiall with the Sacred Volume and Word of God The good King adores the Bookes feasts the Bringers who after fall to the Businesse and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greeke the common learned Language of those Times made famous by the Sword of Alexander And this in briefe is the effect of this Venerable History which is by mee thus made yours And though I seeme to Anticipate thus to you yet it is as nothing for in it selfe as you may further see it is Elabourately and Eloquently Written by the sayd Aristeus and let no man wonder too much thereat as thinking our Times excels theirs in Eloquence no For who euer exceeded Demostenes the Greeke or Cicero the Latine therein Lastly to speake the Praise of History Libri sunt vasa memoriae and worthy Historicall Bookes haue in them a kinde of Diuine Permanency and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble actions so ought they to cherish the Registers as their Honourers For hath not Plutarcke made those Gyant Heroes as Theseus Romulus Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest yet liue and himselfe more praysefully longer then them all So as an ignorant swaggering Fellow threatned his Aduersary to kill him if he had as many liues as Plutarcke Did not Alexander sigh for an other Homer Lastly if I haue in honour of the History like one holding a lighted Taper to the cleare noone-shining Sunne made an Appendix shewing the Antiquitie and Dignity of the Bookes by the said SEPTVAGINT Translated and the Excellency of their inspired Writer Moses and haue therein beene too prolixious pardon mee because of the Profoundity and Worthinesse of the matter So I referre you to that and the rest and so rest Yours Iohn Done The Elenchus or Contence of the Following Booke CHaracters of the Persons that were herein ayders imploying and imployed p. 1. Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates p. 11. The Discourse that Aristeus helde with King Ptolomy for the deliuerance of the Iewes p. 20 The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomy p. 30. Tenour of the Letter of King Ptolomy to Eleazer great Pontife of Ierusalem p. 33. Eleazer Pontiffe to King Ptolomy our most Illustrious friend p. 38. The names of those which were chosen of all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes to goe into Aegypt for the Translation of the LAVV of MOSES p. 41. Of the Presents sent to Eleazer Pontiffe of the Iewes by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 45 Of the Vessels Cups and Viols of Gold p. 55. Of the City of Hierusalem and Region there-abouts as it was 260. yeeres before the Birth of our Sauiour p. 61. Of the Sacrificators p. 65. Of the Great Pontiffe Eleazer p. 67 Of the Fortresse or Castle of Hierusalem p. 69. Yet â—ore of the Towne p. 71. Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Country-people or Pesants p. 72. What manner of men the Translators of the LAVV were p. 79. Of the Answere made by Eleazer vpon certaine points of the LAVV of MOSES p. 91. Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors Iewes and how the King adored the Holy Law seuen times with teares in his eyes p. 109 Answers of the Doctors Iewes to Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 118. The meanes held by the 72. Doctors in their interpreting the Law p. 171. A Discourse in way of Apology concerning the truth of this Story Also diuers Opinions of both Auncient and Moderne Authorities and Fathers concerning the manner of the Translation p. 181 Lastly an Appendix in my honour of this Auncient and Famous History discoursing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books and the excellency of their inspired Writer Moses p. 198. CERTAINE Praecognita or Characters of the chiefe Persons mentioned in the insuing HISTORY 1. Of PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS PTOLOMEVS second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres sonne of the first Ptolomeus sonne of a One
of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
succeeding in his Fathers place as being vnder age This Eleazer therefore receiued the Honour that in his Time the Holy Translation of the Law was made by the Seuenty two Doctors that hee sent to Ptolomeus second of that Name King of Egypt as Aristeus hath left by writing 4. Of DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS was an Athenian Orator and Philosopher as Cicero notes in the first Booke of his Offices calling him a subtill and sharpe Disputant and in the rest an Orator little vehement Hee had beene Disciple of Theophrastus hee was a man of such Knowledge excellent Carriage that forraigne Kings had him in admiration and drew him to their Seruice euen Cassander King of Macedon And for this Reputation the Athenians gaue him the Principality of the City and Common-weale in which hee was Ten yeeres in great prosperity But some of the Citizens hauing conceaued malice against him chased and threw him out of his estate and then he was honorably receiued of King Ptolomy of whom we speake where hee was Maister of the Lybrary Royall the Athenians hauing formerly raysed to him 360. Statues of Marble in despight cast them to the earth and iudged him to death as a Traytor of which Demetrius being aduertised sayd a At virtutem non euerterunt Diog. Laert in vit Demet. The Athenians haue throwne downe my Statues * but they cannot ouer-turne my Vertue for which they first erected those Statues He was wont to say that b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diog. Laert ibid. Eloquence was as necessary in a Common-weale as a Sword in the Warres Hee dyed by the byting of an Aspick and was buried in the Region of Busina neere to Diospolis NOW FOLLOWETH the History of ARISTEVS Ambassador of King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS concerning his Voyage vnto Ierusalem and the first Translation of the Holy Bible by the seauenty two Elders Written in Greeke 1900. yeares since ARISTEVS to his brother PHILOCRATES WEll knowing your Naturall and good inclination Philocrates to haue alwayes had in great esteeme the knowledge of all things and that you haue beene desirous nay couetous to vnderstand the occurrences and passages of good achiuements I haue deliberated to frame vnto you by Writing a thing not onely excellent but well deseruing to be knowne which vnto vs is hapned being sent Excellence of this History of late vnto Eleazer great Pontiffe of the Iewes But because these things shal bee more facile vnto you I will first declare you the Causes by the which we were sent and then I will come to the Progresse of the Matter so as I will fashion my Discourse to Your vnderstanding and that the most truely I possible can aswell for the dignity of the Subiect as to delight your Spirit desirous of all good Knowledges assuring my selfe that man hath in him nothing more excellent and praysable then incessantly to desire Learning eyther by the meanes of Histories or by the Obiects of things or by experience of Affaires themselues For the Spirit of Man though Rude and Childish is greatly adorned and embellished when from the beginning it Delighteth to Taste and Rellish those most nectarine faire worthy and excellent things that may conduct him by an infallible course to follow Piety and Reason WE therefore searching with great curiosity the Knowledge of Diuine things and could not attayne them not vnderstanding the Diuine Law without being interpreted and rendred into our knowing tongue we vndertooke to goe Ambassador vnto one onely Person who amongst his Cittizens and others by debonarity and great glory was the most Honorable and who not onely did great Honor and Profit to the Citizens with whom He conuersed but also to all the other Iewes of what other place or wheresoeuer WE beeing then well informed that they had the DIVINE LAVV written in Hebrew Characters in â—kins of Parchment we were ioyfull to accept this charge giuen vs by the King as also that the Colonies heere of the Captiue Iewes desired the same aboue all things of the World who had beene hither ledâ— by the Kings Father who had puâ— into his Obedience the City of Ierusalem and all the Countrey adjacent BVT since we are falne to makâ— mention of that businesse it shaâ— not be impertinent to giue you to vnderstand the whole Discourse thaâ— thereby you may haue better intelligence knowing well that it shalbâ— much better more carefully to informe you how to fashion you to thâ— seruice of GOD Reuerently theâ— to trauayle your selfe in the search oâ— mens Lawes or Actions although they may be iust Which affectioâ— you haue sufficiently manifested since from an â—le so far Remote you are come into this Countrey to see in Person those things which may serue you to the adornment of your Spirit without hauing Respect to place whatsoeuer I haue here therefore Reduced by Writing First what hath seemed to me worthy of Memory touching the Nation of the Iewes as I haue something vnderstood by the Learned and Wise Priests of Aegypt to the end that by this meanes I may ayde and encrease by some meanes Your knowledge For one ought to haue in Remembrance the good they haue receiued from persons and especially to those to shewe all gratitude who appertayne vnto vs And principally You that haue knowledge of Vertue drawing from your Brother not onely Resemblance Proximity of blood and Linage which may thrust on with the same impetuosity of Courage to attayne the Honour Glory and Beauty of Vertue assuring my selfe that neyther the admiration of Gold or Riches neither the appearance of things more precious serue to nothing but vayne-glory neyther will yeeld you such fruit as we may gather from Knowledge Institution and consideration of all good Disciplines For the rest to the ende that it may not seeme that we exercise ostentation in being prolix in this Preface I will reduce me to that which from my purpose hath extrauagated DEmetrius Phalerius master of the Kings Library giuing order with the greatest care hee could to buy Bookes from all parts of the World And to that end imploying great numbers of Persons as Factors spread abroad in many places who had charge to buy and Transcript them they so doing and that diligently the designe of the King was accomplished and executed at leastwise in the best manner for him possible For wee being present the King asking him how many thousand Volumes he had gotten together in his Bibliotheicke He answered that for the present hee had no more then two hundred thousand and that he ☞ hoped erelong to haue to the number of 500000. But Sir sayd hee I haue vnderstood that the Lawes of the Iewes deserues also to bee Copied and Translated and to be put in your Library And what hinders it answered the King that they be not haue you not all things to serue you commodiously to this purpose Demetrius Answerd that it was needefull that those Lawes were Translated and Interpreted because that the Iewes
that all the Iewes that eyther before or since haue beene taken and led away in what fashion or manner soeuer shall be sent francke and free For the ransome wee haue ordayned that is to say twenty drachmes for euery head the which summe the men of Warre shall take vpon the distribution of the staple and munition of Victuals and the rest shall goe vpon the reuenew of the Table to the King or reserued For we are duely informed that those Iewes were constituted and brought away prisoners agaynst the Counsell of our deceased Father and agaynst all right and reason And that by the boldnesse and insolence of the Men of Warre they were Conducted into Aegypt and their Countrey wasted and desolated when it was sufficient to haue the men of Warre of the said Countrey at their deuotion and all the Prouince reduced into obedience Intending then to doe and render right to euery one Vniuersally and especially to those who receiue iniury vnder the iniust domination of another Moreouer to search diligently and particularly all things concerning right and equity and to preferre Piety and Religion aboue all things Our will and pleasure is that all Iewes whatsoeuer beeing bond and Slaues in this Realme in what part soeuer they be found be it in the Colonies or else where or be it in what soeuer manner they were brought into our Kingdome shall be deliuered enfranchised and set at Liberty for we are pleased it shal bee so done And to the ende that no person shall be interessed or receiue dammage wee commaund that three dayes after the publication of this present Edict euery one whom it doth concerne shall bring before vs their requests contayning the number of heads that euery one hath set at liberty For so it pleaseth vs to haue it for the profit of Vs and our Kingdome Declaring further that the goods of those who are not obedient to this our Edict that their shall be forfeit and Consiscate And we giue liberty to whosoeuer will to accuse and bring in their contumacy or contempt of our will and pleasure THIS Edict being written perfited and brought to the King to know if his pleasure were it should be Published in this manner or that hee would Correct and acknowledge it When hee perceiued that these Words viz. And those that before and since had bin led Prisoners were wanting hee inserted of his liberality and magnificence He then made presently the money to be doubled in the summe to his Treasurer and Officers of his Finances The which distribution was dispatched in the space of seauen dayes And there was defrayed well neere sixe hundred sixty thousand Talents for there were found a great multitude of Children with their mothers which were all set at liberty and for euery head of those was payed by the Commaundment of the King twenty Drachmes Which was accomplished by the King to his great liking and contentment And after all was done he commanded Demetrius by course of estate to deliuer him the denomberment of the Hebrew Volumes For these Kings haue in Custome to comprehend all things by Edicts and to do nothing be it neuer so small a businesse without Writing aswell because of their Royall highnesse as also that beleefe may more certainly bee giuen thereto Therefore to the end you may as it were see all before your eyes I will here inserte the Tenour and Copy of the request made to the King by Demetrius and the Epistles which were sent for those that were franchis'd so as one may see the multitude and in what habite they were and in what Artes and Professions they were different and how they were Registred and inroled The Exemplary of Demetrius his request to the King was this The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to the King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS GReat Sir Since it hath pleased you to giue me Commaundment to search in all places for all manner of Bookes to fill serue and Decorate your Library I haue thought it good and necessary wee obtayne and get the Bookes of the Iewes Lawes and some other we are yet short and vnfurnisht of and because the sayd Bookes of the Iewes are Written in Hebrew Characters proper and best knowne to the Iewes onely and therfore not yet falne into your Royall hands Neuerthelesse that they may be gayned and ranked amongst your other Volumes partly for the Wisedome contayned in them partly for their Sublimity and Diuine hight of matter they contayne Of which Poets and Historians make often mention as very profitable to instruct to good mannets to institute and addresse the Republicke into the fairest shape of Gouernment by reason of the excellency of men therein mentioned to the Reuerence of matters therein intreated as a Scripsit librum de Iudaeis teste Suida Hecateus Abderita plainely testifieth These things seriously considered Great King it would doe properly well if it would please you to write to Ierusalem and to the great Pontiffe therein that he would send you sixe men of euery Tribe or Line and that they be such as are of good parts and Condition of venerable age best knowing and Vers'd in their owne Law that being all able Translators they may with iudgement choycely elect and choose that course of expression may be consonant and Harmoniously agreeing amongst themselues And this done great Sir I shall hope you will accomplish a course worthy of so excellent an intention and at last wel agreeing with your desires The King hauing read this request ordayned Letters should bee drawne and sent to Eleazer the High Priest about this businesse In the which was signified vnto him the deliuerāce of the Iewes from their Captiuity With the Letter he ordayned also to be made ready Cups Vessels and a Table of pure Gold with fifty Talents of Gold and seauenty of siluer for oblations there to be offered with many precious Iewels and stones of very great price Commanding the Gold-workers with all speede to finish these things and the money in Talents for the oblations to be raysed incontinently And because you shal at full vnderstand the Kings viuacity in this businesse I send you here the Coppy of the Letter the King Writ whereof the Tenour is as followeth King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS to ELEAZER Chiefe Pontiffe of the Iewes COnsidering the great Multitude of Iewes inhabiting within our Territories of whom some had beene led from Hierusalem in the times that the Persians had the Domination the others following our deceased most Honourable Lord and Father being adioyned with him whereof many were receiued into his pay and ranke as his Souldiers and men of Warre whereof the most faythfull and trusty were established in the most strong Forts as Garrisons by that meanes to bridle the insolences of the Aegyptians Wee since being come to the Crowne and hauing singular affection to exercise Liberality and Munificence towards all persons and in speciall vnto the Cittizens we haue franchised and set at Liberty more then a hundreth Thousand
the custome of the Countrey is that when any Ambassadours arriue for any businesse they are sent about it is not permitted that they be presented to the King if they are not Ambassadours from Kings or or of Signiories and excellent Common-weales without great difficulty to haue Audience vntill thirty dayes after their Arriuall and sometime longer according as the King shall haue respect to the dâ—gnity and grâ—atnesse of those which sent them But the King â—aâ—â—ng made auoydance of those he esteemed not necessary to this Entertayment remayned in the Hall there walking vntill the Doctors were preseâ—ted vnto him to do him their Reuerence Who being introduced did their duties in deliuering the Presents sent to the King from ELEAZER â— Likewise they Presented him with diuers skins of Parchment exceeding fine smooth and delicate bound to one so the other by a binding that was fareâ— and excellent In these Skins was the DIVINE LAVV of MOSES in Letters of The deliuery of the Hâ—ly LAVV or Sacred Bookes of MOSES in Hebrevv characters to King PTOLOMY Gold and in the HEBREVV Language a thing truely admirable to looke vpon As they presented them to the King sitting in his Estate The King presently turned towards them regarding them All the one after the other and then demaunded of them the Bookes of the LAVV Then they displayed the Roules involued in these skins of Parchment or Vellame afore-sayd Which the King seriously beholding remayned as one â—auish'd a pritty space Then after adored the HOLY LAVV by seauen times saying these Words We giue you thankes my Maisters and much more him that hath sent them hither and the High GOD aboue all of whom these are the Sacred Words Then the sayde Doctors and all those who were assistant with the King shewed great tokens of ioy with plaudities and there fell teares of Ioy from the Kings eyes as wee see many times that excessiue contentments will draw teares from the Eyes especially in excellencies that are of spirituall condition and inclination Then the King commanded that the Skins and Bookes of the LAVV should be returned into their placeâ— Which done hee saluted them saying Reason will graue Sirs that first I do you Honour and Reuerence because I haue made you to come hither of which I giue you my hand to the ende I assure you that this very day shal be to me the Day that all the dayes of my life I will hold great and memorable and shal bee Celebrated euery yeare with feasting because you not only come to see me but in like sort it hapned I obtayned a Sea-fight agaynst Antigonus Wherefore wee will that this very day you reioyce your selues in Feasting with vs. Incontinently hee commanded the Princes should be inuited Amongst whom he did me the Honor to make me sit Moreouer he caused to be put foorth in full shew all the rich mooueables wherewith the Pallace Royaâ—l was in great Feasts vsed to be decked â— In like sort hee commaunded â— they should make ready Lodgings very neare to the Castle in the most sumptuousâ— manner they could And in like sort the King ordayned that the Feasts should bee readied in most Opulent and Magnificent manner could be possible And then the King commaunded Niâ—anor his Chiefe Physitian to bid Dorothea Controuler of the House as from the Will and Commaund of his Maiesty that he should and that with all dilligence deliuer all things necessary for euery one of the Doctors as well for their vse as for the adornment of their Lodgings and that without fayling as from the ordinance and commaund of the King which incontinently was accomplished with great celerity by many hands As wee see is conformable in great Citties when they prepare to make great Feasts and publicke Banqueting when there is chosen CoÌ„missaries which are ordayned to furnish euery one of that is in his charge and office The establishments of the King who assisted in care euen himselfe and his people in Truth were Nature of good Officers and Subiects not troublesome people grumlers at their paynes taking or vnwilling to their Commaunders for they furnished with all freenesse and Ioyfulnesse and with Honour all they saw requisite and necessary executing the commaunds of the King with pleasant and ioyfull countenances so was the King fully serued and freely Obayed in this and diuers other Respects For Dorothea was very liberall and Magnificent and very carefull in his charge and Office which was chiefly to haue in regard the Furnish for these graue and Reuerent persons not vsing things formerly adopted to such vses but choyse and fresh stuffes sparing nothing was in his power He assigned to euery one of them his Couch of Ease besides his Bed with fayre Ornaments as the King had Commaunded Moreouer the King would that the halfe of them should be so placed and seated at the Table that they might bee face to face agaynst him and the others here and there from his Seate Royall Forgetting nothing might any wayes do them honour or might serue and accommodate their very thoughts After the seats of the Table were well and magnificently placed and prepared for euery one the Kings commaund to Dorotheae was that all those that came from Iudeae should haue Victuals distributed and such as they desired according to the fashion of their Countrey and ordinance of their Law Neuerthelesse that they should be furnished therein abundantly as also for their Oblations Vowes and Sacrifices according to the custome of their Nation After all these Ceremonies the King prayed one of them named Eleazer the most aged of all those came with vs to make the Prayers Who as he was very Venerable being then risen from his Seate began in this manner GOD Almighty fill thee O King with all goodnesse and giue grace to thy Wife and to thy Children and that thy plenty may bee Permanâ—nâ— without alteration or change all the course of thy Life and theirs Hardly had he ended this Prayer but there rose a bruite and exclamation of ioy with a pleasant murmur and plaudite that lasted a pritty while Thus all things being disposed and prepared to jouisance all the Company betooke themselues to make great cheare and those who attended vppon the Table were very ready and dilligent to their Offices as the Controler had ordayned them Amongst those who serued at the Table were the Children of the King Custom of agypt vvas so and all the most greatest Peeres and Lords Answers of the Doctor Iewes to the Questions propounded by King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS WHen the time came and occasion presented it selfe for Discourse the King by certaine pauses began to aske them by order and as they were plac'd at the Table according to the age of euery one to him therefore that was set most highest hee made to him this Question How he should maintaine his Kingdome whole and safe vnto the end AFter the Doctor had a little studied he answered you shall great
rest GOD inspireth men with power to discerne the right of Kings To the other In what things are we constrayned to be sorrowfull IN the Calamities and Aduersities of our friends and most when we see that such calamities are of long indurance and inevitable and when they are therewith so attached as to make them dye For in such griefes there is no meanes how we can take off our sorrow there were there is no possible hope of remedy nor any profitable to be found against such accidents with which all humane kind so are grieued For to auoyde wholly all mischances is a businesse rather for a DIVINE power then a Mortall To the other In what thing a man depriues himselfe of Glory and Honour VVHen a man becomes vntractable and inaccessible by fiercenesse and pride for then vituperation comes vpon him and priuation of honour followes him for GOD who is the Dominator of Glory giues and takes it away as seemeth good to him To the other What kind of men he ought most to trust TO those who beare you such loue that neyther Feare nor Auarice nor Ambition nor Couetousnesse ☜ nor hope of Lucre cannot at all haue any power to diuert them Neuerthelesse the index of this Loue is not easily to be discerned and in the same it is needfull to haue Obseruation by long space of time for those which being neere to a King aspires to make themselues rich and spareth no meanes to plucke by his fauour great hauings and are naturally traytorâ— But GOD conduct Great King your Councell that they may sufficiently shew you who are those that perfitly loue you To the other What is that which conserueth a Kingdome THat is that the King take dilligent care and giue order that those who are in Office and haue charge commit no vndue things agaynst the profit of the people The which you know very well to do for as it seemeth GOD hath giuen you a spirit very excellent To the other By what meanes hee might keepe Grace and Honour BY Vertue For she is the accomplishment of all fayre Workes and trips vp the feete of Vice as you it appeares know very well how to doe by your excellent Bounty towards all persons Which in you is a signe of the gift of GOD. To the ther. How in Time of Warre he might keep himselfe still in Tranquillity of Spirit IF you propose in your vnderstanding to giue order that your Lieutenants and Captaynes commit nothing that is Euill but that they contend by Vertue one with another for the prooffe of their vertue and further that they haue in you a perfect confidence that you will haue their Domesticke affayres in a singuler recommendation if it happen that they loose their Liues for and in your Seruice By this meanes you shall haue no Occasion to grieue you selfe disposing all prudently by DIVINE Clemency which will inspire you to vnderstand all that is good King PTOLOMIE receiuing this Answere with great Congratulation and Ioy with a cheerefull Countenance entreated them all to Drinke shewing extreame contentment The seauenth Day the Feast was prepared more great and more sumptuous then it had hetherto beene because that many Ambassadours from Cittiâ—s were hither Arriued Then all being set in their Order the King fâ—nding occasion to deuise asked the first of those that had not yet savde their aduise in this same manner How hee might bee resolued throughly by reason and by Arguments IF you Weigh well the pâ—opositions which you shall hold and the persons which speake and the Subiect whereof they Treate and that you often informe your selfe and that in diuers manners and by long interualls of time of the estate of the aboue-sayd Affayres For the Bounty of the Spirit is an illustrate gift of GOD by the which one may easily know and discerne all things To the other Wherefore is it that many cannot Approach vnto Vertue BEcause Nature hath Created all Humanes subiect to incontinence and prompt to voluptuousnesse from whence iniustice and inequity is ingendred and Auariciousnesse grows a gathere But the estate of Vertue which is fastned to a sublimed place casts farre away those that by their Voluptuousnesse are from her most distancedâ— For shee commaunds before all things that Iustice and Magnanimity shal be Obserued the which GOD giues and is thereof the chiefe To the other What is that which Kings ought to follow aboue all things THat is the Lawes To the ende that they ruling the liues of Subiects by iust and equitable Acts as wee haue heard you doe Great King you shall gayne by this meanes immortall memory in following the pâ—eâ—epts and Commaundments of GOD. To the other Who are those that one ought to elect for Offices and Magistracies THey are those that haue in hatred things vniust and that are imitators of your affections and that being drawne with the sweetnesse of prayse goe incessantly after good operations to come to glory and honour to which certainely O Worthy King still following Vertue you will attaine For GOD is hee that crowneth with honour and glory glorious Iustice To the other What persons ought one to choose for Captaines THose who are the most excellent in Iustice and Magnanimity and that haue more respect to the liues of men then to a bloody Victory For GOD is hee from whom Humanes receiue infinite goodnesse the which you shall follow in still following the doing of so much goodnesse to your Subiects To the other Who is the man worthy of admiration THat is hee who is exuberant and abundant in glory and greatnesse opulent in Riches and sublime in Puissance and neuerthelesse yeelds himselfe iust and equitable to euery one as we haue heard Great King you doe and the same shall make your selfe admirable to euery one For so GOD will engraue this Solicitude in your heart To the other What behoueth that hee exercise himselfe in when he is at leasure thereby not to be drown'd in Sloth IT is necessary to put into consideration and that with great diligence the discourse which presenteth it selfe to the vnderstanding touching the forme and image how to liue which one ought to haue incessantly before the eyes Likewise to reduce into the memory to what end property and vertue were all things ordained because in the sayd discourse there is faire and honest pastime conioyned with Science For amongst little and vild things one finds many times something that one is well pleased to choose and take for the rest Great King it seemes well to vs GOD hath so fauoured you with perfect bounty that you will still be eâ—ecting all vertuous behauiour and elegance by the honour you beare to the study of Wisedome To the other In what things ought Kings most to employ their time IN the knowledge of Histories and in reading Bookes which entreate of affaires that most often present themselues to him in whom it is needfull that hee imploy much time It be houeth
moreouer that he enquireth for those Writings that teacheth to conserue Kingdomes and to correct the manners of men which to accomplish with such diligence as you doe GOD will giue prosperity to your designes in which hee will grant you an excellent glory farre aboue other Kings To the other What Persons ought one to inuite to Banquets ONe ought to call those which are couetous â—o learne and those who often thinke how the affaires of a Kingdome ought to passe and that know how to recount the liues of Princes for there is nothing more pleasant nor more delectable then such Company For they are those that are well instituted and instructed in the beauty of Know ledge and haue GOD in high reuererâ—ce The which thing it seemes you doe accomplish well Great King as one may perceiue by that wherein GOD hath sent you prosperity and happinesse in all your affaires To the other Which is most profitable for the People eyther to choose ouer them a King from a priuate person or to obay a King that was Sonne to a King THe most profitable to the People is that which is most according with Nature For although that some Kings Sonnes bee sometimes rude to the People neuerthelesse those which from priuate persons come to bee lifted into such Sublimity and Greatnesse because they haue experienced Pouerty and endured calamities and laborious trauailes of priuate persons they are more curell then bloody Tyrants and command their Subiects by force and intollerable violence Wherefore the Ordinance receiued and accustomed and the common fashion of doing is much more sure and much better for Regiment that it come from the King by succession from Father to Sonne as it is with you Worthy and Great King for your Greatnesse and Excellency consisteth not so much in honours glory and great Domination as in Clemency and Benignity The which by a gift from God draweth and attracteth the hearts of all persons to loue you The King accepted this Answer with praise and turned himselfe towards the last saying What is most profitable to a Kingdome THat is to hold and contayne the People in peace and to giue order that Suites and Processes of Law should be incontinently and without delay adiudged definitiuely for such things are executed when the Prince hateth the wicked and sheweth fauour and loue to good and honest men and such as bee vertuous and that hee esteemes it a great thing to haue saued the Life of one of his Subiects as wee haue beene informed you doe Great King that haue in horrour Murderers disposing and tempering all by Iustice In which you adorne to eternity the greatnesse of your deeds God hauing inspired you with a Soule deliuered from all fowlnesse of Vice and illustrated the same with great Vertue AFter these Answers there arose a great noyse of Congratulations and Applauses with an excessiue ioyfull acclamation and the whole Hall was full of ioyfull rumour The King then commanding silence and taking his Cup inuited them all to drinke then addressing his Speech to the sayd Doctors pronounced these words in the presence of all the Assistants I repute this day my Maisters to be to mee very happy by your presences for your Answers haue brought to mee a most great profit and instruction for the Gouerâ—ment of my selfe and my Kingdome This purpose ended hee ordayned that to euery one of the Doctors should bee deliuered 3. Talents of Siluer and by and by gaue to euery one of them a Page to waite vpon them at their Table So with great contentment to euery one the Feast tooke end with great praise to the Kings Liberality who aboue all shewedâ— a countenance of receiuing the greatest satisfaction and most ioyfull content I Haue beene hitherto Philocrates thus prolixe in the recitall of the businesses which I haue done for the admiration I haue had of such men and of their Wisedome maruelling at the promptitude of their Answers and so pertinently answering to that which was proposed to them vppon the sudden shewing such Elegance in their Speech as if these Questions had beene long time in premeditaâ—ion and that hee who had proposed them had thought of them long time before hee demaunded them and yet their Answers were to him found so accordant as if they had about them long before consulted together Wherefore it is no maruaile that they seeme admirable not to me only but to the Phylosophers also that were there present in the Company and to all them were present assuring you that such things are more harder to beleeue then one would imagine in which I will not wonder if the faith of the Readers be vanquished For my part what occasion haue I to adde dreames or falcities seeing that all which I haue Written is to be found in the Registers of the King where it is held the greatest crime of the World to finde falcenesse in the least thing of the World I assure you then that this Recitation is most veritable contayning the Discourse of all the things as they haue passed in veritie without mixture of any errour for to this ende that I might best know the truth I haue vsed this dilligence to take out the Registers publicke where wee may see recited the Bankets and feasts together with the interrogats also of the King and the Answers which were giuen him and all euen Word It was a Custome to Register what was propounded Answered in the Kings of Egypts presence for Word from whence I haue borrowed that I haue here Written For you know it is the custome to Register and Inroule all that is done and sayd euery day since the houre that the King began to giue Audience vnto the time the King went to bed without omitting any thing that hee did or was sayd to his Maiesty A thing and coursetruely very profitable and well instituted For-byâ— that meanes the Acts inregistred beeing read of the day preceedant if the King hath sayd or done any thing that there is want eyther in his saying or doing there is occasion and meanes of amendment Therefore after I had dilligently searched the day Booke of the King I haue Collected the same to you here by Writing as afore-sayd Knowing the great and good desire you haue to know all worthy and extraordinary occurrences The meanes holden by the 72. Doctors in their Interpreting or Translating the LAW THree dayes after these Feasts and Disputes Demetrius conducted all these Doctors towards the Sea into an Ile and entring vpon a Banke passed a Bridge which drew towards the North where was the place designed for this Assembly and where they should make their Conference for their Interpretation of the LAVV. It was a House of pleasant Scituation and in a Triumphant manner vpon the Bankes of the Sea very stately and minionly deoked and trimmed where aboue all commodities there was great silence for the tranquillity of the Spirit and repose of the vnderstanding Moreouer there was
all things neoessary for the Life carefully prouided and prepared with great conuenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselues to the Interpretation of the Law in which they began to trauell disputing and conferring together of euery thing vntill they came all to one generall accord and consent to resolue in a true sence aduisedly The which done they set downe in Writing that which was so by them composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the aduice and counsell of all they put it apart that the same after might bee put into the hands of Demetrius Their Colloquiums and Conferences lasted from the Morning vntill nine of the Clocke and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Ayre for their health after all things were sumptuously administred vnto them For Dâ—rothea who had the same in charge was therein so carefull that there was nothing made ready for the Kings Person but euery day they had as much of the same to euery single person and hee would once the day come to visit them with courtship in his owne proper Person and they sometimes to salute with reuerence the King and so returne to priuacy Euery Morning it was custome to make their prayers to GOD after they had washt their hands in the Sea as the Iewes accustomably vse Lauations so after to their readings and interpretations I was so bold to aske them why they so washed their hands before they made their prayers to which demâ—â—nd they made this Answere that this washing of the hands did admonish them to doe nothing wickedly but to accomplish all things of their actions to Piety and Sanctity because that all the workes they doe with their hands might bee effected according to iustice and truth and cleanenesse as we haue before-sayd To conclude these Personageâ— being in such Serenity of ayre Beauty of dwelling Tranquility of silence and Pleasantnesse of repose and Royall entertainment finished the worke vndertaken and which is a note of maruaile they had so expresly taken order amongst themselues and followed it with such care and diligence that the Interpretation of Law was fully finished in the space of 72. dayes Demetriuâ— then seeing the Translation and Interpretation of the Law was so wel and happily brought to an end made the meanes that the multitude of the Iewes then being in Aegypt were conuccated to the place where the Worke was then perfited to whom hee shewed how all things had beene done beginning with all circumstances of the Enterprize and all in the presence of the Interpreters To the King all the Multitude attributed great praise and gaue infinite thankes for being the mediate cause of so important a good and a benefit of such excellency Lâ—â—ewise they shared a part of the Honour to Demetrius intâ—earing him to shew them that fauour as to haue a Copie for their Princes for to haue their aduice and to deliberate vpon the profit or damage might arise vpon the same In this sort was the Law reuiewed visited and re-knowne in the assistance of the Princes of the Iewes and of the Multitude and of the Ambassadors of Townes vpon the which spoken and proclaimed the 72. Doctors being present that all was well and holily Translated and that all was most very well so prouided that nothing thereof should be changed and that all things should remaine in the same estate without alteration of the least thing or title of the world As the Translation was thus approued of all and the Decree made for the ratification of the same Demetrius â— commanded that according to their custome they should make Imprecations and Maledictions against those which should vndertake or should presume to adde any thing thereto or to transferre it otherwayes by changing efficacing ordering any thing whatsoeuer it were vnto that which was so perfectly now written And when all was perfected and accomplished in this manner hee adjured the Iewes to hold keepeâ— and preserue it inviolably foreuer the which they promised to doe with great Ioy and Acclamation So Demetrius finding himselfe greatly satisfied in himselfe especially because hee had beene a Conductor of the Worke and that hee had giuen to the King such contentment in the happy execution and accomplishment of his charge and of this his felicity made great congratulations to the King Who hauing after with great diligence visited this Interpretation and considered the profundity of the Sence of the Law-maker which hee admired with an astonished regard hee sayd to Demetrius how comes it to passe that none of the Poets or Historians hath not put their hands to this Law being that it is a thing of so high and ☞ perfect Excellency To which Demetrius answered that no body neuer durst touch it as well for the reuerence of the same as also that GOD hath forbidden it so as some hauing presumed to attempt it haue beene chastised with Diuine punishment Whereupon they haue beene constrayned to desiste from their enterprize For as testifieth Theopompuâ— which by a recitall of himselfe saith that presuming to transferre into his History some secrets of the Holy Law hee was afflicted more then 30. dayes following with a perturbation of his vnderstanding But calling vpon GOD in the interuals and cessations of the most vehement fitts of this his Malady it was told him in his sleepe this punishment was sent him from God for hauing presumed to prophane and falcifie things Sacred So by this Vision he was corrected repented and re-came to his good sences againe And sayd Demetrius vpon mine owne knowledge I affirme that Theodorus a Tragickeâ— Poet willing to vsurpe something from this Law therwith to enrich his Poesie lost his sight Neuerthelesse aduising with himselfe and concluding that this his audaciousnesse was the cause of his blindnesse prayed to God for many dayes whereby hee came againe to health The King saying that this was wisely spoken adored the Law making Commandement that the Books of the same should bee preserued the most curiously and carefullest that might be possible and deuising with the Interpreters benignely and graciously prayed them that when they were in Iudea they would often come and see him Finally hee gaue order that they should be honourably returned backâ— and conducted into theirâ— Countrey promising them that how oft soeuer and when they pleased to returne he would entertaine them as his principall friends so honouring them with faire presents according to their merits and commanding that all things should bee made ready for the dispatch of their returne vsing towards them all Royall Magnificence Hee gaue to euery one of them three rich Habilliments and two Jalents of Gold and an excellent Cup of the waight of a Talent Moreouer furniture for the whole furnish of a Chamber ouer and aboue hee sent to Eleazer ten Table-beds or Couches of ease which had the feete of Siluer and ornified with all that was
for his Opinion citeth not onely Iosephus who in the twelfth Booke of his Antiquities and second Chapter speaking of this Story maketh no mention of any such Diuision and Seperation into seuerall Cels but euen this present Worke of Aristeus who in the one and twentieth Chapter of this Booke speaketh plainely that they mette and conferred euery day together till the Ninth houre To reconcile these seuerall Opinions it is to be noted that of all these Fathers some onely as Iustin Martyr Iraenens Clemens Alexandrinus and Epiphanius make expresse mention of the Cels the Rest speake onely of a Miraculous Consent and Agreement of theirs about the same thing as Tertullian Chrisostome and Saint Augustine For it is not necessary that what those Fathers spake of the Miraculous Consent of the Translators should be vnderstood of their separation into seuerall Cels For it is Miraculous enough for so many men assembled together in so short time to agree all in their Opinions without Disputes and Delayes which are ordinary in a Multitude where there is such diuersity of Iudgments So that the third Opinion is not onely S. Hieromes but may bee Tertullians Chrisostomes and Saint Augustines too and the most probable and most receiued questionlesse it is of all the three For Iustin Martyr the first broacher of those Cels it was not improbable for the Iewes to perswade him those Ruines a Apud Alexandriam vestigia Cellularum se vidisse narrat Iustinus in Oratione exhortatoria ad Gentes which hee saw were the Cels wherein the Translators were inclosed because in Religious mindes the Deuotion is commonly stronger then the Iudgement And for Epiphanius it is likely hee tooke vp that of the two and two to a Cell from Report and Relation and not from his owne Reading for none besides himselfe euer made mention of such a businesse Nor is it worth obiecting that At inquiuÌ„t Epiphanius Aristeus legit et â—itat Bell. lib. â— de verbâ— Dei. ch 6. Sess At. Epiphanius that vtters this Opinion cites this Aristeus our Author whereby some would conclude that this Aristeus our Author hath eyther beene corrupted since the time of Epiphanius and that the mention of those Cels haue beene expunged Or that before Epiphanius his time the true Booke of Aristeus was neuer extant but in it it was for if they pitch vpon the first and say that Aristeus Cum Aristeus Eâ—non multo post losephus nihil tute retulerint Hieron in Praeâ—aâ— in Pent. was intire and whole in Epiphanius his time but corrupted since they are refilled out of Iosephus and Eusebius that wrote before Epiphanius that haue many things Verbatim out of Aristeus but not a sillable of those Cels. But I leaue the businesse to the Iudgement of the Reader assuring that St. Hierome esteemed Aristeus worthy of beleefe for hee hath writ these words in the Preface of the Pentateuck of Moses his Booke viz. Et nescio quis primus Author Septâ—uaginta Cellulas c. i. d. I knowâ— not who was the first that by his Dreame hath built in Alexandria 72. Cels the which were seperate and that they writ iust the same sillables for being that nether Aristeus the great Esquire of Ptolomy nor Iosephus that was long time after make any mention but say the Interpreters were assembled together in a Hall and there conferred together and Prophesied not for it is one thing to bee a Prophet and another to bee an Interpreter For in the one the spirit fore-tels things to come in the other the copious abundance of the tongue and the Knowledge translates that hee vnderstands hitherto Saint Hierome But be this difference as it it will to please Miracle-louers it greatly matters not for ceraine it is that all Graue Testimonies and Authors which haue toueht hereaâ— say there was such a Ptolomeus Philadelphus such a Library For as Philo the Iewe sayth Iesus the Sonne of Sirach one inserted into the Geneology of Christ Prince and Captain of the Children of Israel in the time of Pâ—olomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt came to Alexandria a City of Aegypt where he gathered out of that flourishing Library his Booke of Ecclesiasticus as Bees from diuers Flowers gather sweete Honey And Strabo sayth speaking of the Beauty of the City Alexandria that Ptolomeus Philadelphus was so great a louer of Learning that he erected a Library containing 400000. Books the Fame whereof being published through the World many people of diuers Nations resorted thither to see it And how Eleazer High priest of the Iewes at the request of Pâ—olomeus sent 72. Interpreters to Translâ—te the Bible out of Hebrew into Greeke which was as Iosephus obserueth in An Abstract of the whole History out of oâ—ephus the third yeere of his Raigne before Christ 260. in recompence of which courtesie hee sent to bee dedicated in the Temple of Hierusalem a Table of Gold richly adorned with Carbuncles Smaragdes and other precious Stones Two stately Cups and Thirty Bowles of pure Gold as it appeareth in Iosephus Lib. Antiq. 12. The Academy continued there till after Christs time as you may reade Acts 6 But the Library was consumed 47. yeeres before Christ and the City greatly defaced For Iulius Caesar at that time making Warre vppon Pompey the yonger who continued with his Sister Cleopatra in this City caused the Kings Nauy to bee set on fire and the Library standing neere to it the flame tooke hold of it and burnt it downe to the ground with all that was in it and so was the end of that their Sacred Volume by this Disaster VVhereof this History which I haue done into English for your ease shewes its first passage into that place and consumption But this Story of ARISTEVS hath ouer-dured those flames Which I thus commend to your Christian View desiring pardon in that I haue noâ— done so well as I would but I haue followed my Author as neere as I could A short Discourse of the Antiquity and Dignity of the Sacred Bookes and Excellency of their inspired Writer the Prophet MOSES By the English Translator AS the true GOD is the Ancient of Dayes and Times so it pleased Him that His perpetuall HISTORIE contayned in Holy Scriptures should excell in Antiquity of time all other Histories and Writings of the World that can be found the Writings of the Pagans and Nations being all vnder these and long after and that only of MOSES the subiect of this former History contaynes the account of yeares iustly from the Creation and beginning of the World euen vnto the comming of the promised Redeemer A reckoning I say so iust and certayne that there is no such to be found For to come to the Time wherein the Prophet of GOD MOSES the first Writer of Holy Writ began to Write manifestly vnder the Lord of Heauen and Earth wee may gather and without preiudice of all that then could be done as by a passage amongst many other
their Edicts Forces and Armies yet had neuer power to abollish the Holy Bookes written simply by our poore Shepheards when they could not conserue their Royall Lybraries fauoured of all the World Truely this may well put to the blush these wiselings that shew themselues fooles in so speaking and discoursing without Discourse and will iudge of things without inquiry Now for the Integrity of MOSES for vs Christians wee are sufficiently cleared and satisfied by the Authority Praise of Moses of the Holy Spirit of GOD. Who hath giuen excellent Testimony by all the Scriptures both in the old and New Testament of his Originall and Linage beeing descended from the latter Leuy Nephew of the Holy Patriarch Abraham Also of his miraculous conseruation and Deliuerance from Death and Waters from whence he was drawne foorth and then had that name of MOSES in their language Then his royall education and breeding his Loue to his afflicted people and his Magnanimity to despise humane greatnesse in preferring the iust cause and sufferance of CHRIST the Redeemer then look'd for before all the Regall estate and great Treasure of Aegypt Moreouer his sufferance long and bitter for the defence of right and equity and for the deliuerance of the poore afflicted His Diuine calling to the Charge and Gouernement of his People his Patience Gentlenesse and Perseuerance with such faithfulnesse in the difficult execution of this weighty charge and the singular gift of Prophecy and of his Diuine miracles so strange and supernaturall that they haue beene admired and celebrated of all the whole World But there is one poynt aboue allâ— very remarkeable and which is more then sufficient to ouercome humane Reason and to shewe the Integrity of MOSES which is that if hee had would hee might easily and according to the manner of men occupied the Monarchy and Domination for his Children and their posterity vppon all the people of Israel And with the same the two fertile Kingdomes reduc'd vnder his hand and Conquered beyond Iordane Neuerthelesse he left his Sonne Gersom and Eliezer and their posterity priuate men and of most simple estateâ— amongst the other Leuites And the same Children remayning subiect to the Sacrificers successors of Aâ—ron and to the Magistrate and Gouernors of Israel More that he hath himselfe written and Inregistred his owne proper faults and yet more notable those of his House as of his Brother Sister and Nephews and the redoubtable iudgements of GOD's chastisements and punishments of them all Of which things all his People were witnesses in number more then sixe hundred thousand Persons And if they could haue contraried him for any falsâ—ity eyther for the present or times to come If hee had beene I say such as they could haue found any bracke in his actions or in his Writings or falsenesse in eyther his Person or any of his in his Life and his miracles in his Writings or end But in the contrary all the Hebrewes and Iewes which haue beene since that time and are now neere 3000. yeares since and that are dispersed through all the VVorld who are in so great a number that if they were revnited into a body of People and into a State their multitude should be innumerable and might astonish the most greatest Nation of the whole Vniuerse All those I say haue all receiued from their Auncient Fathers from their Kings and Princes and their Sacrificators and Auncestors from Father to Sonne and from hand to hand and with an admirable consent euen in the middle of so many confusions and dissipations haue kept and yet keepe alwayes in their Bibles the Holy VVritings of MOSES in their proper Letters and Hebrew Tongue as Bookes most True and Veritable Sacred and Diuine And such so Knowne and Acknowledged in all Nations with the excellent Testimony Authority and Holinesse of them that CHRIST himselfe hath spoken of them and the Prophets and Apostles also in their Writings and Allegations I and the most Auncient Pagans and Strangers cannot with sound sense but acknowledge them And so Reader although I haue beene as I formerly sayd something prolixe yet the Excellency of the Subiect forc'd and bound me to be so teadious herein to shew as an illustrious Addition the worthines of the Bookes and Diuine Writings as their Antiquity Dignity as also the Excellency of their Humane VVriter from the Dictate of the Most Highest And being the matter whereof wee haue formerly Entreated I held it not impertinent though I haue dealt too weakely in so worthy a Businesse but referre the rest and it to your charitable Censure FINIS