people were mustered in the Citie of Bala In this suruey besides those of the tribe of Iuda there were numbred seuen hundreth thousand men and of the tribe of Iuda in particular there were seuentie thousand Hauing therefore passed Iordan and marched some ten cables length of Nilus which is about some three leagues all the night time before the sunne rise he attained the place whither he intended to conduct them and deuiding his army into three parts he assailed the enemie on euery side that expected no such encountry and fighting valiantly against them he slew diuers and amongst the rest Nahas king of the Ammonites This victorie made Sauls name famous amongst all the Hebrewes so that he was wonderfully praised and honoured for his valour so that if before that time any one had contemned him at that time they chaunged their opinions and honoured him and accounted him the worthiest of them all For he was not satisfied to redeeme and deliuer those of Iabes but he entred the countrey of the Ammonites also and forraged the same with his army and vtterly ouerthrew them and after he had obtained a great bootie and pray both he and his victoriously magnifically returnd to their dwelling places The people highly pleased with this noble action atchieued by Saul reioyced because they had chosen them so noble a King and exclaimed against those that said that it would be discommodious and vnprofitable for their common-weale saying where are now these murmurers let them be put to death with other such like words that a people besorted with some good successe is wont to speake and inforce against them that set light by the authors inducers of the same Saul receiued great content and comfort thorow this good liking and allowance of the people yet notwithstanding he swore that no one of their tribe should be put to death that day because it would not seeme conuenient nor agreeable that the victorie which was giuen them by God should be mixed with the bloud of their brethren but rather that it was more decent and comely that the time should be spent in feast and iollitie Hereupon Samuel told them that it behooued them to confirme the kingdome to Saul by a second election and to that end they assembled together in the Citie of Galgal according as he had commanded them and there in the sight of all the people Samuel annointed Saul the second time with the consecrated oyle and proclaimed him king ar◅ew Thus was the Aristocracie and gouernment of the better sort amongst the Hebrewes turned into a Monarchie For vnder Moses and his disciple Iesus who gouerned the Empyre and armie at that time the nobilitie and elected worthie men ruled the state After whose death for the space of 18. whole yeares the people was without gouernment the common-weale not long after reassumed her pristine pollicie and the gouernment was giuen vnto him which was esteemed the most valiant in warre and the most vpright in doing of Iustice. All which time for this cause hath beene called the time of the Iudges After this the Prophet Samuel assembled the people and spake vnto them after this manner I coniure you by that great God that hath giuen life to those two brothers I meane Moses and Aaron and that hath deliuered your forefathers from the Egyptians and their tyranny that without any affection either of feare or shame or instigation of any other passion you truly testifie whether I haue committed any sinister or wicked act either for profit sake or for auarice or fauor Reproue me if I haue taken away any mans calfe or sheepe or any other thing-whatsoeuer but that which I might lawfully take for my reliefe and sustenance and at such hands as willingly offered me the same or if I haue drawen any mans beasts to my vse or vsed his cattell to my profit and his hinderance in these and such like if I haue offended any man let him now accuse me in the presence of the king All of them cried out with one voice that no such default had beene committed by him but that he had gouerned their nation in holines and iustice After that the people had thus publikely testified in the behalfe of Samuel he said vnto them Since you haue liberally freely protested that you haue no cause of wrong to vrge or inforce against me heare I pray you that wherewith I can iustly accuse you of You haue grieuously offended against the maiestie of God in that you haue required a king at his hands you should haue rather remembred that your old father Iacob accompanied onely with his 70. sons came into Egypt constrained thereunto by famine and that in that countrey diuers thousands of persons issued from his loynes whom the Egyptians kept in captiuitie offering them extreme outrages And whenas your fathers called vpon God how he wonderfully deliuered thē from the necessities wherin they were without giuing them any king contenting themselues with two brothers Moses and Aaron who brought and conducted you into this countrey which you possesse at this present And although you participated these benefits by the hands of God yet notwithstanding you haue not forborne both to forget religion and neglect pietie This notwithstanding at such time as you haue beene conquered by your enemies he hath set you free gracing you first of all with the ouerthrow of the Assyrians their forces secondly giuing you victorie ouer the Ammonites and Moabites and finally ouer the Philistines Now these great exploits were performed by you not vnder the conduct of a king but by the direction of Ieptha and Gedeon what folly therefore hath bewirched you to make you flie from God and to seeke to liue vnder the subiection of a king But I haue named such a one vnto you whom God hath chosen to be your gouernour Notwithstāding to the intent that I may giue you a manifest testimony that Gods wrath is whetted against you because you haue desired to haue a king I will striue to expresse it vnto you by visible signes done by God himselfe I will therefore require of God that he wil make you see in this place and in the hart of sommer such a storme that there is not any one of you that hath euer seene the like thereof Scarce had he spoken the words but that so dainly there fell great store of lightning thunder and haile in approbation of that which the Prophet had said so that amased and transported with feare all of them confessed that they had offended They notwithstanding professed that their errour was of ignorance not of obstinacie and besought the Prophet that with a good and fatherly affection he would beseech God to appease his wrath towards them and forgiue them their offences at that present which to their other grieuous negligences they had annexed and whereby they had transgressed his holy will All which Samuel promised them to
a certaine friend of his called Ionathan the sonne of Absalom with an army to Ioppe commanding him to expulse the inhabitants of that citie from thence for that he feared least they should submit themselues to Tryphon As for himselfe he remained in Ierusalem to secure the same Tryphon departing from Ptolemais with a great army came into Iudaea leading his prisoner Ionathan with him Whereupon Simon with his army went out against him as farre as Addida a Citie scituate vpon a mountaine at the foote whereof beginneth the champion countrey of Iudaea Tryphon knowing that Simon was made gouernour of the Iewes sent messengers vnto him intending to circumuent him by treason and pollicie giuing him to vnderstand that if he were des◅ous of his brothers enlargement he should send him one hundreth talents of siluer and two of Ionathans children for hostages to assure him that being set at liberty he should not withdraw Iudaea from the obedience of the king For till that present he was held and kept prisoner by reason of the money which he ought the king Simon was no waies ignorant of this cunning intent of Tryphons but knew well enough that he should both lose his money if he should deliuer the same and that his brother should not be enlarged no though his children were deliuered for hostages on the other side he feared least the people should conceiue sinisterly of him as if he had been the cause of his brothers death both by not deliuering the money neither yet the children Hauing therefore assembled the army he declared vnto them what Tryphon demanded telling them that the whole scope of his actions were nought els but traiterous stratagemes and subtilties yet notwithstanding he told them that he had rather send both the mony and the children to Tryphon then by refusing his conditions and demands to be accused to haue neglected the life of his brother Simon therefore sent both the money and children of Ionathan but Tryphon hauing receiued both kept not his promise but detained Ionathan and leading his army thorow the countrey intended to passe by Idumaea to repaire to Ierusalem He came therfore to Dora a Citie in Idumaea and thitherward marched Simon to encounter with him encamping alwaies right ouer against him They that were in the Castle of Ierusalem hearing newes hereof sent Tryphon word that he should hasten and come vnto them and send them munition whereupon he addressed his horsemen pretending that very night to ride vnto Ierusalem but the snow about that time fell in such abundance that it couered the way in such sort and was so thicke as the horses could not trauell which hindred his repaire to Ierusalem For which cause he departed from thence and came into Coelesyria and speedily inuading the countrey of Galaad he put Ionathan to death in that place and after he had buried him there he returned to Antioch But Simon sent vnto Basca and transported his brothers bones and interred them in his countrey Modin in his fathers sepulcher and all the people mourned and lamented for him many daies Simon also builded a great monument of white and polished marble for his father and his brethren and raised it to a great height and garnished it round about with galleries and pillers all of one piece which was an admirable worke to behold Besides that he erected seuen Pyramides for his father mother and brethren for each of them one so great and so faire as they mooued admiration in those that beheld them and are as yet to be seene at this present day So great was Simons care that Ionathan and the rest of his family should be honoured with so magnificent a sepulcher which Ionathan died after he had exercised the place of high priest and possessed the gouernment for foure yeeres Thus much as touching his death As soone as Simon had taken possession of the high priesthood by the election of the people the very first yeere of his gouernment he acquitted the people of the tribute which they were woont to pay to the Macedonians This libertie and exemption from tribute hapned amongst the Iewes one hundreth and seuentie yeeres since the time that Seleucus surnamed Nicanor obtained the kingdome of Syria And in so great honour was Simon amongst the people that in their priuate contracts and publike letters the date began from the first yeere of Simon the benefactor and gouernour of the Iewish nation For they prospered greatly vnder his gouernment and had the victorie of all their neighbouring enemies round about them For he destroied the Cities of Gaza Ioppe and Iamnia he raced also the cittadel of Ierusalem and leuelled it with the ground to the intent the enemies might be neuer seazed thereof any more nor retreat themselues thither to endomage the city as before time they had done Which when he had brought to passe he thought it not amisse but very profitable to leuell the hill whereon the Castle stood to the intent the temple might be the eminentest place All this perswaded he the people to doe in a common assembly laying before their eies how many euils they had suffered by the meanes of the garrisons and how much they were like to suffer hereafter if a stranger should once more be master of the kingdome and build a cittadel in that place By these exhortations he perswaded the people to finish these workes and all of them began to trauell without intermission both day and night so that in the space of three yeers they plained the mountaine and wrought it downe and from that time forward there was nothing but the temple that commanded the Citie See here what Simon performed hitherto CHAP. XII Simon besiegeth Tryphon within Dora and contracteth alliance with Antiochus surnamed the Deuout NOt long after the captiuity of Demetrius Tryphon slew Alexander the sonne of Antiochus surnamed God notwithstanding he had the care and charge of his education for foure yeeres during which time he raigned and spreading abroad a certaine noise and rumour that the yong king in exercising himselfe fortuned to die he sent his friends and familiars vnto the men of warre promising them that if they would elect and choose him king he would giue them a huge summe of money giuing them to vnderstand that Demetrius was prisoner among the Parthians and that if Antiochus his brother should obtaine the kingdome he would punish them diuers waies and reuenge their reuolt and rebellion which they had committed by forsaking him The army hoping that if they bestowed the kingdome on Tryphon it would redound highly to their profit they proclaimed him king But after he had attained the fulnesse of his desites he shewed how malicious and wicked his nature was For at such time as he was a priuate man he flattered the people and made shew of moderation and by such allurements he drew thē to do what him listed but after he had taken possession of
touching Euphrates and Tygris they flow into the redde sea Euphrates is called Phora that is to say dispersion or flower Tygris is called Diglat which signifieth streight and swift Gehon runneth by the countrey of Aegypt and signifieth as much as comming from the East the Greekes call it Nilus Now God commanded Adam and his wife to eate of the fruites of all other plantes and that they should abstaine from that of science telling them that at what time soeuer they should taste of the same they should die the death Whereas then at that time all liuing creatures were at accord one with another the Serpent conuersing with Adam and his wife was inflamed with enuie for that he sawe they should be happy if they continued in the obseruation of Gods commandements and that contrariwise they should cast themselues headlong into ruine and destruction if they should disobey the same He therefore maliciously perswaded the woman to taste the fruit of the tree of intelligence giuing her to vnderstand that the knowledge of good and euill was in the same and that as soone as they had tasted thereof they should lead a life no lesse happy then Gods and by this meanes he caused the woman to fall which tooke no regard of the ordinance of God For hauing her selfe tasted of this fruit and finding it pleasant and delicious in taste she perswaded her husband also to taste the same at which time they vnderstood that they were naked and sought meanes to couer themselues for this fruit had in it selfe the vertue to giue vnderstanding and to quicken the thought Then couered they themselues with fig leaues which they put before their priuities esteeming themselues more happy then they were before in that they had found out that which they wanted But when as God came into the garden Adam who before times was accustomed familiarly to talke with him finding himselfe guiltie of sinne hid himselfe from his presence but God wondring hereat asked him for what cause he fled and shunned him at that time whereas before time he had taken pleasure to talke familiarly with him Adam knowing that he had transgressed the ordinances and commandements of God answered him not a word but God spake vnto him after this manner I had prouided for you the meanes whereby you might haue led your life without sufferance of any euill or sense of any miserie so that all whatsoeuer was requisite for necessitie or pleasure might happen of it selfe vnto you by my onely prouidence without any trauell or care on your parts which if you had well vsed age had not so soone ouertaken you but that you might haue liued many yeares but thou hast scorned this mine ordinance and broken my commandement For in that thou art silent at this time it proceedeth not of vertue but of euill of which thou findest thy selfe culpable wherefore both old age shall quicklier come vpon thee and the daies of thy life shall be shortened Adam excused his sinne and required at Gods hands that he would not be incensed against him laying the fault of that which had happened on his wife alleadging that he had offended by reason he was suborned by her and the woman accused the Serpent But at that time God punished him because he had suffered himselfe to be ouercome by the counsaile of a woman that the earth thence forward neuer more of her owne accord should bring foorth fruit but that when they had trauailed and almost deuoured themselues in labour it should sometimes giue them foode and at other times refuse to sustaine them And as touching Eue he chastised her with child-bearing and throwes in trauell for that being her selfe deceiued by the Serpent she had drawne her husband by the same meanes into extreame miserie He tooke also from the Serpent his voice and was displeased against him * by reason of the malice he had conceiued against Adam and he put venome on his tongue declaring him an enemie both to man and woman whom he commanded to bruise the head of the Serpent as well for that the euill which chanced vnto men consisted in the head as also â—…at being assaulted in that part he is most easily done to death Moreouer hauing depriued him of his feete he condemned him to slide and traile himselfe along the earth And after that God had ordained them to suffer those punishments he translated Adam and Eue out of the garden into another place CHAP. III. Of the Posteritie of Adam and of the ten ages euen vnto the Deluge BVt Adam and Eue had two male children the first whereof was called Cain which signifieth acquisition and the second was called Abel which is as much to say as mourning they had also daughters These brothers addicted themselues each one of them to their particular exercises Abel the younger honoured iustice and supposing that God was present in all his actions he alwaies and wholy fixed his thoughts on vertue and his exercise was keeping of sheepe But Cain being the wickedest man amongst men and addicted to vnsatiable desire of profit was he that first found out the vse of the Plough and who killed his brother for the cause which ensueth Hauing concluded among themselues to sacrifice vnto God Cain offered the fruites of his labour and planting Abell presented milke and the firstlings of his folde which sacrifice of his was more acceptable to God in that it rather consisted of things produced of themselues by the order of nature then that which a couetous man had forcibly in a manner extorted from nature Hereupon Cain being wroth because his brother Abell was more honoured by God then himselfe slewe his brother and hauing hidden his bodie out of sight he thought that such a murther should be concealed But God knowing well this fact appeared to Cain and questioned with him as concerning his brother what might become of him for that many daies since he had not seene him when as heretofore he had alwaies seene him conuersant before him Cain being troubled and ignorant what aunswere he should make vnto God said first that he wondered what was the cause his brother was so long time absent and finally aggreeued in that God continued the quest and did more exactly seeke after him he said he was â—…ot his brothers keeper or bound to take care of his affaires Then God reproued and conuicted Cain of murthering his brother and spake vnto him after this manner saying that he wondered he should denie the knowledge of his brothers death whereas he himselfe had slaine him notwithstanding he acquited him of the punishment deserued for this murther by reason that Cain had done sacrifice and made request vnto God that it might please him to remit somewhat of the seueritie of his iustice against him yet did God curse him and threaten to punish his successors to the seuenth generation Then did he driue him his wife out of
but he perceiuing well that enuie had altered him and that Abimelech began to be changed he retyred himselfe not farre from Gerar into a place called the Sâ—…aights and as he there digged to find out a watering Abimelechs sheepheards came and set vpon him hindered him in such sort as he could not finish his purpose and for that he purposely retyred from them they verely supposed they had gotten the victorie Anon after when he began to digge in an other place other sheepheards of Abimelech outraged him anew as at the first for which cause he left this fountaine imperfect also exspecting with ripe iudgement a more conuenient oportunitie which was afterwards offered him by reason that the king gaue him leaue to digge whereupon he laboured out a fountaine and called it by the name of Rooboth which signifieth large And as touching the other two he called the first of them Esâ—…on which is as much to say as strife and the other Sienna which signifieth hostilitie Thus increased he daily more and more both in power and riches But Abimelech supposing that his affluence would be many waies hurtfull vnto him and remembring himselfe that he had not faithfully entertained friendship with him but in some sort giuen occasion of suspition by meanes of some hard measure fearing least hereafter the iniuries fresh in memory should more distract him then their old and auncient plighted friendship and misdoubting his reuenge he repaired vnto him and contracted a new league of amitie with him leading with him one of his chiefest captaines as an arbiter betweene them by whose meanes he obtained whatsoeuer he required so courteous was Isaac and so readie in memorie of his fathers olde couenant to forgiue new iniuries And so Abimelech hauing obtained his purpose returned to his house Esau one of the two sonnes of Isaac whom the father especially beloued aboue all the rest hauing attained the age of fortie yeares tooke to wiues Ada the daughter of Edom and Alibama the daughter of Esebeon two princes of the Chanaanites and that of his owne â—…uthoritie without his fathers aduise or priuitie who would not haue consented had the matter beene remitted vnto him because he held it inconuenient to mix and ioine him or his in affinitie with any dwellers or inhabitants of the countrey This notwithstanding he would not displease his sonne by commanding him to giue ouer his wiues but determined with himselfe to conceale and keepe the matter silent When Isaac was waxen olde and wholy depriued of his sight he called for Esau his sonne and said vnto him That although he had not any default or blindnes in him yet his age would hinder him to denie that seruice which he both ought and wished to doe and therefore he willed him to go on hunting and that he should make readie some meate for him that he might eate and after his repast he might pray vnto God that it would please him to be assistant vnto him all his life time and be a comforter and aide vnto him protesting moreouer that siâ—…ce he was vncertaine of the houre of his death he thought good to blesse him and by his prayers to procure Gods mercie towards him before he slept with the dead Hereupon Esau went on hunting but 〈◊〉 in the meane time desirous that Isaacs blessing should light vpon her sonne Iacob contrarie to her husbands intent and mind commanded him to go and kill two kiddes and prepare a repast for his father Iacob being obsequious and obedient to his mother in all things fulfilled her command and as soone as the meate was readie he wrapped his armes and couered his hands with the Goates skins hoping by the hairinesse thereof to make his father beleeue that he was Esau. For being his brother at one and the same birth he resembled him in all things except in this thing onely but fearing least he should be surprised in his subtiltie before his father Isaac had finished his prayers and in steed of his blessings he might be loaden with his curses he presented the meat vnto his father But Isaac perceiuing some alteration in his voice calleth his sonne who stretching out his hands vnto him couered with the kids skinnes Thou art saith he more like vnto Iacob in thy voice but by thy hairinesse thou seemest vnto me to be Esau. Thus suspecting no deceit and hauing alreadie eaten he addressed himselfe to pray and called vpon God saying O Lord of all ages and maker of all creatures thou hast promised great blessings vnto my father and hast giuen me many and present felicities and hast vowed that thou wouldest be mercifull vnto my posteritie and plentifully powre vpon them more and more ample benefits let this thy fauour I beseech thee be continued towards me neither despise thou me by reason of this my present weaknesse which is the cause that I haue more need of thy helpe Saue and keepe this my sonne by thy clemencie warrantize him from all euill giue him a happy life and possession of all blessings and benefits which are in thy power to bestow vpon him make him fearfull to his enemies and gracious to his friends Thus prayed he vnto God thinking he had blessed Esau. Scarce had he finished his prayers but Esau returned from hunting which though Isaac perceiued he was no waies moued with displeasure but held himselfe silent Esau besought him that he might obtaine as much as he had vouchsafed his brother but Isaac denied him in that he haâ—… bestowed all his blessings vpon Iacob for which cause Esau lamented and wept His father aâ—…ted and moued by his teares foretold him that he should excell in hunting in force of body in armes and other such exercises whereby he should purchase immortall glorie both to himselfe and his posteritie yet notwithstanding that he should be his brothers vassall But for that Iacob feared least his brother should seeke to be reuenged of him for robbing him of his fathers blessing he was by his mothers means deliuered from this perill For she perswaded her husband to take Iacob a wife neere allied vnto her out of Mesopotamia Esau at that time had married an other wife called Bassemath the daughter of Ismaell for neither Isaac nor his were well affectioned towards the Chanaanites but were offended by reason of his former espousals For which cause Esau to giue them contentment married Bassemath whom afterward he loued more intirely then all the rest CHAP. XIX How Iacob fled into Mesopotamia for feare of his brother BVt Iacob being sent into Mesopotamia by his mother vnder hope to marrie the daughter of Laban her brother whereunto Isaac consented through the counsaile of his wife passed through the countrey of Chanaan And for that there was a conceiued and open hatred betwixt Isaacs people and the inhabitants of Chanaan he would not take vp his lodging amongst any of them but lay abroad in the fields resting his head vpon
stones which hee had heaped togither in steed of a pill◅v and during the time of his rest this vision following was presented vnto him It seemed vn◅ him that he saw a ladder that extending it selfe from the earth reached vp vnto heauen along the steps whereof there descended certaine resemblances more excellent to looke on then the ordinarie port of humane nature could impart and on the top thereof God manifestly appeared and calling him by his name spake vnto him after this manner Iacob sure thou art the sonne of a good father and descended from a grandfather renowned and famous for his great vertue thou must not be daunted or appauled by thy present trauels but rather be confirmed in hope of future good hap For by mine assistance thou shalt be blessed a◅d endowed with many benefites For I am he that brought Abraham hither from the countrey of Mesopotamia at such time as he was pursued by his kinsmen I haue also made thy father happy and will be no lesse gracious and fauourable vnto thy selfe Be confident therefore and prosecute thy iourney vnder mine assistance The mariage which thou pursuest shall haue a happy issue and thou shalt haue good children who in number shall grow infinite and shall likewise leaue after them a plentifull and famous posterity and I wil giue them the soueraigntie ouer this countrey both to them and their successors and they shall people and replenish both the earth and the sea as farre as the sunne enlighteneth the world Let not therefore any danger dismay thee nor trauaile discomfort thee for besides all this whatsoeuer thou shalt vndertake I will not cease to assist thee These things did God foretell vnto Iacob who verie highly reioycing at that which he had seene and that which had been denounced vnto him annointed the stones on which the promises of so many blessings had beene made and vowed to offer sacrifice vnto God on the same if at such time as he had attained the good hee sought he should grant him the grace to returne in health and safetie into his countrey which as soone as he returned backe he performed offering vnto God the tenth of all that which he had giuen him And as touching the place where this vision appeared vnto him he hallowed it and called it by the name of Bethel which in the Greeke tongue signifieth the house of God Continuing thus his iourney into Mesopotamia he trauelled so long till at last he arriued at Charran and hauing met in the suburbes of the Citie with certaine shepheards and yong men accōpanied with yong maidens sitting neere to a certaine fountaine he drewe neere vnto them desiring them to giue him drinke and falling in discourse with them he asked them whether they knew one that was called Laban and whether he were yet aliue All of them answered that they knew him well and that he was a man of that reputation that his name could not be concealed that his daughter was accustomed to feede her flocke with them and that they wondred that she was not as yet ariued of whom said they thou maist perfectly vnderstand all that which thou desirest to know Whilest thus they past the time in talke the Damsell drewe neere accompanied with her shepheards whom one of the companie informed that Iacob was inquisitiue after her father who reioycing after the manner of young maidens asked him what he was and whence he came and what necessitie had driuen him thither wishing she had the meanes to supply whatsoeuer his necessities required Iacob being ouercome not by the force of affinitie or by her good behauiour and curtesie but with the loue of the maiden was inflamed seeing her so faire and matchlesse in beautie said vnto her If thou art the daughter of Laban there is a greater and more ancient coniunction betwixt both thy father thy selfe and me then eyther thy yeares or my birth can attaine vnto For Abraham Aran and Nachor were Thare◅ sonnes Bathuel thy grandfather was Nachors sonne Isaac my father was the sonne of Abraham and Sara daughter of Aran there is yet a neerer and deerer bond of friendship wherewith we are linked one vnto another For Rebecca my mother is sister vnto Laban thy father borne of one father and mother so that you and I are cosens and therefore now am I come at this present to salute you and renewe that auncient loue which our alliance requireth at our hands But she remembring her of all those things which her father was wont to report and discourse of Rebecca and knowing that her parents were desirous to heare some newes from her she wept for ioy remembring her of the loue of her father hung about his necke and embraced the young man and after she had saluted him she said vnto him Thou bringest a most desired great pleasure to my father al his family who neuer forgetteth thy mother but often times maketh mention of her would esteeme it a great felicitie to heare tidings from her Then desired she him presently to follow her to her father least any longer he might be depriued of so desired a pleasure This said she brought him vnto Laban where being acknowledged by his vncle he both by that means liused securely amongst his friends as also brought him great contentment by his vnexpected accesse vnto them Some few daies after this Laban told him that he tooke so much contentment in his presence that he could not expresse it in words yet required he him to manifest the cause that had induced him to leaue his father and mother in their extreame age at such time as they had most neede of him to find him out moreouer he promised him all assistance and fauour in whatsoeuer cause he had to make vse of him Whereupon Iacob discoursed vnto him the whole matter that Isaac had two sonnes himselfe and Esau that his brother in that by his mothers deuise and counsell he had defrauded him of his fathers blessing sought and desired to kill him as he that was the rauisher of that principalitie from him that was destinated vnto him by God and the surpriser of all his fathers other intended vowes that this as also his mothers commaund was the cause why he came thither by reason they are all brothers and by reason that in especiall his mother was their neerest a kinne telling him that next after God he hoped to finde his greatest assistance and helpe by the meanes of his vncle Whereupon Laban promising vnto him whatsoeuer humanitie he could imagine as well in respect of their common auncestors as for the loue he bare vnto his mother towards whom although she were absent he would expresse his good affection in shewing himselfe well affected towards him that was there present he told him then that he would giue him the charge of his flocke and make him master ouer all his shepheards and that when he should thinke good to
further increased and incensed his appetite he required them at his hands that he might eate them But he taking the oportunitie and occasion of his brother Esaues hunger constrained him to forsake his birth-right and to sell him the same on condition he should giue him what to eate Esau then transported with famine surrendred vnto him his birth-right and confirmed it with a solemne oath And thereupon his equals in age in way of mockerie called him Edom by reason of this redde meate for Edom in Hebrew signifieth Red. His countrey likewise was called Edom but the Greekes to the ende they might make the name more currant called it Idumea He became the father of fiue children of whom he had three by his wife Alibamma whose names were Iaus Iolamus and Choraeus as touching the other two Aliphaces was the sonne of Aza and Raguel of Mosametha these children had Esan Aliphaces had fiue legitimate children Theman Omar Ophus Iotham Ocauaxes for Amelech was illegitimate borne by one of his concubines whose name was Themana The◅e dwelled in that part of Idumaea which is called Gobolitus and in that part which by reason of Amelech is called Amelechitis For Idumaea being in times past a land of great extent continued the name of Idumaea thorough the whole countrey and the particular p◅ouinces of the same kept the names of those that first inhabited the same CHAP. II. Ioseph the yongest of Iacobs children is enuied by his brothers BVt Iacob attained to that felicitie that scarcely any other hath been so happy for he surpassed all the inhabitants of that countrey in riches and by reason of the vertues of his children he was both enuied and regarded For they were accomplished in all perfections animated and endowed with stout hearts prepared to execute any worke of the hand and to indure all sorts of trauell finally all of them were furnished with knowledge and prouidence But God had such care of him and so diligently procured and furthered his good fortunes that that which seemed vnto him to be griefefull and contrarie hee brought to an issue prosperous for him and increasefull for his riches and brought to passe that both he and his children were the first motiue to our auncestors to forsake the land of Egypt for that cause which here insueth Iacob hauing begotten Ioseph of Rachel loued him intirely both in respect of the beautie of his body as also of the ornaments and vertues of his spirit and besides both these his prudence wherein he outstripped all his other brothers This cordiall affection of his father moued enuie and hatred amongst his brothers towards him And besides these the dreames which he had seene and told both to his father and brethren which foreprophecied vnto him a singular felicitie For it is the common custome of men to be iealous of their prosperitie with whom they are familiar Now the visions which Ioseph saw in his dreame were these Being sent by his father in the companie of his brothers to reape come in the time of haruest he saw a vision farre different from those which accustomably happen in sleepe which as soone as he awoake he told vnto his brethren to the end they should interpret it He told them therefore that him thought in his dreame the night past that his sheafe of corne was setled in a place where he had fixed it and that theirs ranne towards his and worshipped the same Which vision of his seemed to foretell him of his ample fortune and how he should obtaine the Lordship ouer all of them But they concealed all these things from Ioseph making shew that they could in no sort interpret the dreame but being by themselues apart they breathed foorth contrarie imprecations wishing that nothing of that which they interpreted as touching his dreame might take effect but perseuering more and more in enuie and hatred towardes him But God opposing his power against their enuie sent Ioseph a second and more strange vision For he dreamed that the sunne the moone and eleuen of the starres descended downe to the earth and humbled themselues before him Which vision he reuealed to his father in the presence of his brethren without suspition of any hatred in them towards him and besought him to interpret vnto him the meaning thereof Now as touching Iacob he greatly reioiced at this dreame by reason he conceiued in his mind the interpretation thereof and in comparing and alluding his coniectures not rashly but with prudence he reioiced at those great matters which were signified by that dreame which foretold that his sonne Ioseph should be highly fortunate and happy and that the time should come in which his father mother and brethren should honor him and worship before him For he compared the moone which ripeneth and encreaseth al things that grow to his mother and the sunne which giueth forme and force to his father And as touching his brothers who were eleuen in number he compared them to the eleuen starres which receiued their force both from the sunne and moone Neither did Iacob without iudgement and consideration so interpret this vision But Iosephs brothers were highly aggrieued at this presage conceiuing as hainously and hatefully thereof as if this felicitie had been portended to a stranger and not to their brother with whom they might equally partake his good fortunes whatsoeuer being as well allied in felicitie vnto him as in consanguinitie Whereupon they resolued on his death and destruction and hauing complotted these counsailes amongst themselues and gathered in their haruest they retired themselues with their flockes towards Sichem which was a part of that countrey verie fit to nourish and feede their cattell where they kept their flockes without giuing any notice of their departure to their father But he perceiuing that no man came from the herd that might tell him any tydings being sorrowfull and carefull of his sonnes he sent Ioseph to the flocks to vnderstand how they did and how their affaires prospered CHAP. III. How Ioseph was solde into Egypt by his brethren and grew in great credit in that countrey and how his brethren at length were vnder his subiection BVt as soone as they saw their brother comming towards them they reioiced not as at the arriuall of one of their houshold friends sent vnto thē by their father but as if their enemie had encountred them who by the will of God was deliuered into their hands They therefore mutually agreed to put him to death and not to let slip the present oportunitie But Ruben the eldest amongst them seeing their disposition and conspiracie to kill him endeuoured to disswade them setting before their eies how hainous and wicked the enterprise was and what hatred they might incurre thereby For said he if before God and before men it be a wicked and detestable thing to lay hands on and to murther a stranger how much more haynous a crime will it
be helde for vs to be conuicted to be the murtherers of our brother whose death will heape sorrow on our fathers head and draw our mother into great griefe and desolation thorough the losse of her sonne robbed and bereft from her beyond the ordinarie course of men For which cause he praied them to be aduised in these things that they would consider in their mindes what thing might happen if this child who was faire vertuous and yoong should be done to death praying them to giue ouer this vnnaturall resolution and to feare God who was both the iudge and witnesse of their deliberation intended against their brother and that if they would desist from this haynous act God would take pleasure in their repentance and reconcilement but if they proceeded in their enterprise he assured them that he would punish them like fratricides since nothing is hidden from his prouidence whether it be committed in the desart or attempted in the Citie For wheresoeuer men are there is it alwaies to be thought that God likewise is Further that when they should haue perpetrated this fact that they should alwaies haue their consciences as an armed aduersarie against them which neuer would forsake them whether they were good or whether such as theirs would be if they should fortune to murther their brother Furthermore he alleadged that it was an impious fact to kill a mans owne brother although he had done him iniurie and much more meritorious to forgiue a mans friend that had offended against him Moreouer he said that Ioseph had done them no wrong whose tender yeares rather required care and compassion at their handes then hate and tyrannie Besides that the cause of his slaughter would aggrauate their offence if it should be knowen that for enuie of his future felicitie they should take away his life all which good happe they likewise might participate by reason of consanguinitie and that it was their dutie to thinke that whatsoeuer blessing God imparted to Ioseph was theirs that for that cause they were to imagine that God would be more displeased against them if they should endeuour to depriue him of his life whom he had esteemed and adiudged worthy of prosperitie to come Ruben alledging these and many other things besought them and laboured to diuert them from shedding their brothers bloud but seeing that all these his motiues could in no sort mollifie them but that they hastened the rather to commit and perpetrate the murther he counselled them that at least wise they should allot him some milder kinde of death Telling them that he endeuoured all what in him lay at the first to disswade them but since it was throughly resolued among them that he should not liue that lesse mischiefe should follow of it if they would be ruled by his counsell for by that meanes their will should haue effect yet a more milde and lesse hurtfull in comparison of murther that it were better for them to temper their hands and keepe them immaculate by casting him into the next pit and there leauing him in the hands of death to this counsell all of them agreed So Ruben tooke Ioseph and bound him with cords and let him downe easily into a pit which was drie which done he departed to seeke out a more conuenient place for pasture But when Ruben was gone Iuda one of Iacobs sonnes espying certaine merchants of Arabia of the countrey of the Ismaelites who from the countrey of Galadena caried Spicerie and Syrian merchandise into Egypt he counselled his brothers to draw vp Ioseph out of the well and to sell him to those Arabians assuring them that by that meanes it would come to passe that Ioseph should die the farther off from them amongst straungers and as touching themselues they should be exempt from that pollution which counsell of his being commended by them all they drew Ioseph out of the pit and sold him to the Arabians for the summe of twentie siluerlings at such time as he was seuenteene yeares of age Now had Ruben resolued in himselfe to saue Ioseph without his brothers priuitie for which cause comming by night vnto the pit he called him with a loud voice seeing that he gaue him no answer he began to coniecture with himselfe that his brethren had done him to death he reproued them therefore verie bitterly but after they had told him what was become of him he gaue ouer his mourning After these things were thus brought to passe the brethren consulted amongst themselues in what sort they might cleere themselues from their fathers suspition and conclude among themselues to teare the coat wherewith Ioseph was attired at such time as he came vnto them and which they had taken from him when they cast him into the well to the end that hauing defiled it in the bloud of a Goate they might afterwards beare it vnto their father and shew it him to the ende he might suppose that Ioseph was slaine by wild beastes which done they came vnto the olde man not altogether ignorant of his sonnes misfortunes and told him that they had not seene their brother Ioseph neither could they assure him what mishappe had befallen him but that notwithstanding they had found his Ierkin altogether bebloudied and torne which made them suspect that he was slaine by some wilde beastes if so be he were sent vnto them attired in that coate But Iacob that hitherto expected and hoped for more succesfull tidings in that he supposed and hoped that Ioseph had onely beene captiue gaue ouer this opinion and tooke the coate for a most assured testimonie of his sonnes death for he knew that he was apparelled therewith at such time as he sent him to his brothers for which cause he lamented Ioseph from that time forward as being dead and as if he had not any more sonnes And such was the griefe of his heart that he conceiued no consolation in the rest but suffered himselfe to be perswaded by the brothers that Ioseph had beene slaine by sauage beastes he therefore sat him downe being clothed in sackcloth and charged with sorrow and neither could his sonnes by their counsels mittigate his moanes nor he himselfe remit the rigor of his Iamentation Now Ioseph was sold by the merchants and bought by Putiphar an Aegyptian Lord and a steward of King Pharaos houshold who held him in high estimation and trained him vp in all liberall sciences suffering him to liue not after a seruile but liberall manner and committing vnto his charge the care of all his houshold all which fauours he made vse of Yet was he no waies diuerted by these his priuiledges and promotions from his innated vertue testifying hereby that prudence doth not submit to aduerse fortune if a man vse the same orderly and not at that time onely when fortune fauneth and flattereth It fortuned not long after that his masters wife was enamoured with him both in
steward they carefully excused saying that they found the money among their wheat at such time as they emptied their sacks which now in discharge of their truth they had brought backe againe but he denying that he euer missed their money they being deliuered from this feare began to be more secure so that Simeon was sodainly set at liberty to conuerse among his brethren Now when Ioseph was returned from the seruice of the King they offer him presents and requiring of them how their father did they answered that he was in health then perceiuing that Beniamin was yet aliue whom he saw among them he asked whether that were their younger brother and hearing that it was he he onely vttered these words that God had the prouidence of all things and departed from them being vnwilling that any of them should see him shed teares which he could not any longer containe Inuiting them afterwards vnto a banquet he commaunded them to sit downe in order according as they were wont to do when they were with their father and whereas he kindly intertained all of them he honoured Beniamin with a double share After the banquet at such time as they were all laid downe to rest he commaunded the Steward to measure out the wheat which euery one should beare away with him and to hide the price thereof againe in their sacks but in Beniamins sacke he commaunded him to shut his cup wherein he most delighted which he therefore did with intent to make triall of their loues towards Beniamin and whether they would sticke vnto him being accused of theft or leauing him behind as a malefactor returne vnto their father as if the matter no waies touched them Which being done according as he had commaunded it earely in the morning all Iacobs sonnes arose and taking with them Simeon departed onwards of their iourney reioycing as well at his restitution as Beniamins returne whom they both promised and protested to bring backe againe to their father when behold sodainly a troupe of horsemen roundly beset them amongst whom was that seruant who had hid the cup in the sacke Now they being troubled by this sodaine incursion and asking them why they set vpon them whom they so lately had both inuited intertained so honourably the Aegyptians answered and exclaimed against them calling them wicked men who forgetting their late benefits receiued and Iosephs gentlenes and humanitie were so wicked as to returne him iniuries for his courtesies threatning them that they should be punished for their theft and telling them that although for a time they had deceiued the minister of the table yet could they not deceiue God and againe asking them whether they were well in their wits in supposing that for this offence they should not be incontinently punished In these or such like speeches the seruant insulted ouer them But they who nothing at all suspected this subtilie accused him saying that they wondred at the mans intemperancy who durst so rashly accuse them of theft who did not keepe backe no not the price of their corne which they found in their sacks whereas none but themselues knew ought of that money so farre were they from purposely offring any wrong yet in that they thought this inquisition would better satisfie them then deniall they bid them search their sacks offering themselues each of them to suffer punishment if any one of them were found guiltie of the theft This search which they offered the Aegyptians accepted yet referred they the punishment to be inflicted onely on him who had done the iniury Afterwards beginning to search and orderly looking into each mans sacke at last they came vnto Beniamins not for that they were ignorant that the cup lay hid in his sacke but that they might seeme to discharge their duty more cunningly now all the rest being secured in themselues they onely as yet were carefull of their brother Beniamin they hoped also that he would not be found guilty of falshood for which cause they more freely vpbraided their persecuters obiecting vnto them how thorow their importunitie they had beene hindered the better part of their iourney Now as they searched Beniamins sacke they found the cup whereupon all the brothers began to mourne and lament both bewayling their brothers fortune who was like presently to suffer death for the theft and their owne mishap who hauing plighted their faiths vnto their father for Beniamins safe returne were compelled to falsifie the same thorow this present accident And that which further increased their griefe was that when as they most of all hoped to be free from dangers they were by fortunes enuy thrust into so great calamitie confessing themselues to be the authors both of their fathers and this their brothers misfortune who neuer ceased to importune and compell their father although he were vnwilling and resisted to send the child with them Now the ho◅semen hauing la◅d hands on Beniamin led him vnto Ioseph whom his brothers presently followed Who beholding his brother thrust into prison and the rest bemoaning them round about him in mourning habits Haue you said he o most wicked men either so contemned my humanity or Gods prouidence as that you durst attempt offer such an hainous iniurie against him who enterta◅ned you with hospitalitie and dismissed you with benefits To whom they answered that they were ready to suffer punishment for Beniamin calling againe to their remembrance Iosephs iniu◅ies saying that he was happy who deliuered by death from life was exempt from all calamities and that if he liued God inflicted that plague on them for his sake They said also that they were the plague and great misfortune of their father because that to his former sorrow which he had conceiued euen vntil that time of Iosephs death they had also annexed this new miserie neither did Ruben desist to reprehend them in bitter manner of that wickednesse which they had committed But Ioseph told them that he dismissed them all saying that their innocencie was approued vnto him and that he onely would be contented with the lads punishment For said he neither is it reasonable that he should be deliuered for the loue of those who had not offended neither that they should be punished for him who had done the theft He commanded them therefore to depart and promised them safe conduct on their way Whilest al of thē were grieuously wounded with these words so that scarcely one of thē could speake for sorrow Iuda who had perswaded his father to send Beniamin with them and who amongst the rest was a man of confidence purposed to expose himselfe to all danger vnder resolution to deliuer his brother from perill whereupon he addressed himselfe to Ioseph and spake thus Dread Lord quoth he we confesse that we are all ready to suffer punishment although we haue not all of vs committed the offence but only the yongest amongst vs and although we suppose his life
to a Pomgranate cut in the middest to which there is annexed and groweth a round couer as if turned and framed on purpose hauing those eminent clefts as I said like to the midst of a Pomgranate resembling the pointed and sharp thornes and pricking blades Now it contayneth a certaine fruit vnder the couer and in the whole cup is like to the seed of the herbe Sideritis his flower is not much vnlike that which springeth from the poppey Such was this crowne about the necke and the two Temples for these cups came not neere the front or brow For on the same there was as it were a bend of gold on which the name of God was engrauen Such were the ornaments of the high priest I cannot therfore but greatly wonder at the strange and causelesse malice which other nations haue conceiued against vs as if we were iniurious against the diuine maiestie which they say they so much honour For if a man marke the composition of the Tabernacle and examine the habit of the high priest and consider all the necessaries which we vse in celebrating the diuine seruice they shall find that our lawmaker was a man of a diuine spirit and that we without any desert are iniuried by other nations For if without partialitie a man will duely examine it he shall find that all things haue beene done to represent and figure the world For the Tabernacle is of thirtie cubits diuided into three parts whereof two are left for the sacrificers as a place prophaned and common signifying the land and sea wherein all sorts of creatures are conuersant But the third part is sequestred and reserued for God alone in like sort as the heauen is vnaccessible by men The table on which the twelue loaues were placed signifieth the yeare diuided into twelue moneths The candlestick made of seuentie pieces signifieth the twelue signes thorow which euery one of the seuen planets passe the seuen lampes that were therein represented the seuen planets The vailes made of foure seuerall kinds of stuffes resembled the foure Elements For the linnen seemed to represent the earth from whence it was drawen and deriued The purple resembled the sea because the purple colour is made of the bloud of a shell fish called Murex The Hyacinth signifieth the ayre and as touching the Scarlet it signifieth the fire The tunicle likewise of the high priest demonstrateth the earth for it is made of linnen The Hyacinth sheweth the pole the Pomgranates resembled the lightning as the bels the noyse of the thunder The sircot sheweth that the whole world is compassed of foure Elements resembled in his foure colours to which gold is annexed as I interprete it for that light is annexed to all things Essen also is planted in the middle thereof in such sort as the earth obtaineth the middle place of the world Likewise the girdle wherewith he is girt resembleth the sea which enfoldeth and begirteth all things The two Sardonix stones set as buttons or loops in the high Priests garment signifie the Sunne and Moone the number of the gems are alluded to the number of the moneths or the twelue houses or the equall number of the parts of that circle which the Graecians call the Zodiacke he shall not much erre that followeth eyther the one or the other of these opinions The cap likewise hath an allusion to heauen by reason of his azure or Hyacinthine colour for otherwise the name of God might not be placed therein For it was beautified with a crowne of gold to signifie the light wherein God highly delighteth Let this suffice for the present for that which we shall discourse hereafter will furnish vs with sufficient and ample matter to shew and set out the vertue of our lawmaker CHAP. IX Of Aarons priesthood and the lawes which appertaine to the feastes and sacrifices AFter these things abouesaid were finished and left as yet vnconsecrated God appeared vnto Moses commaunding him to establish Aaron his brother in the priesthood who in respect of his vertue deserued that title of honour aboue all the rest For which cause Moses assembling the congregation discoursed vnto them his vertues and discouered his good affection and reckoned vp vnto them how many daungers he had suffered in their behalfe whereof each of them gaue ample testimonie declaring the forward zeale and loue they alwaies bare vnto him whereupon he spake vnto them after this manner The worke is now brought to such an end as it hath pleased God and hath beene possible for vs and for that you know we are to receiue him into this Tabernacle we ought aboue all things to haue an especiall care in the election of such a one who shall make sacrifice and supplication for vs. Touching my selfe if the matter depended on my priuate choise I should esteeme no man more worthy then my selfe to execute this function both for that naturally men loue themselues and for that I am well assured how many trauels I haue supported for your safetie sake But God himselfe hath iudged Aaron worthy of this honour and hath chosen him for his high priest and sacrificer in that he excelleth all other of vs in equitie and iustice commaunding that he should be inuested with the robe consecrated to God and that he should take charge of the altars and sacrifices He shall make prayers for you vnto God who will heare them willingly by reason that he hath care of your race and will receiue them proceeding from a personage whom he himselfe had elected These words of his were gratefull vnto the people and they all of them approued the election which God had made For Aaron was more capable of that honour then any other both by reason of his race as also in regard of the prophecing spirit and vertue of his brother he had at that time foure sonnes Nadab Abihu Eleasar and Ithamar But whatsoeuer remained of those things which were gathered for the building of the Tabernacle was employed to make vailes to couer the Tabernacle Candlesticke Altar and the other instruments to the end that in their trauaile they should not be soiled eyther by raine or dust And hauing once more assembled the people together he commaunded them to offer euerie one of them halfe a sicle now the sicle is a kind of Hebrew coyne that is as much in value as foure Athenian drammes whereunto they obeyed willingly so that the number of them that offered was sixe times one hundreth thousand fiue hundreth and fiftie and they that brought this money were such as were of a free condition and betwixt the yeares of twentie and fiftie and that which was receiued was imployed in the necessaries of the Temple Then did he purifie the Tabernacle and the priests in manner and forme following He tooke the waight of fiue hundreth sicles of chosen Mirrhe and the like quantitie of Ireos of Cinnamon and of Calamus which is a
pressed with great wants should be enforced continually to depend vpon his counsels Whereupon they embattailed themselues against the Chanaanites presuming with themselues that God would succour them not onely in regard of Moses but also for that he had a general care of their natiō euer since the time of their forefathers whom he had alwaies held vnder his protection and by reason of whose vertues he had alreadie granted them libertie They said likewise that if they would take the paines at that time and endeuour themselues that God would alwaies fight with them protesting that they were able to ouerrunne the nations although they were but themselues yea although Moses would endeuour to estraunge God from them In a word that it was behoouefull that all of them should be Lords of themselues and that being recomforted and redeemed from the seruitude of Egypt they ought not to suffer Moses to tyrannize ouer them or to conforme their liues to his will vnder this vaine beliefe that God had onely discouered to Moses that which was behoouefull for them by reason of the affection which he bare him As if all of them were not deriued from the loynes of Abraham and that he onely were the motiue of all in foreknowing the things that should happen vnto them by particular instruction from God That euen then they should seeme to be wise if condemning his pride and fixing their trust vpon God they would take possession of the countrey which he had promised them in spight of Moses contradiction who for this cause hindred them setting the name of God before them that therefore putting before their eies their necessitie and the desart which daily more and more aggrauated their miserie they should endeuour themselues couragiously to sally out against the enemie the Chanaanites alledging that God would be their guide so as they had no reason to expect the assistance of their lawmaker At last when this sentence was approued by a generall allowance they flocke out in multitudes against their enemies who neither affrighted by their fierce assault neither terrified with their infinite multitude valiantly resisted them who desperately charged them so that the better part of the Hebrewes being slaine they pursued the rest enforced shamefully to turne their backes euen vnto their campe This ouerthrow hapning beside all mens opinion wonderously deiected the minds of the multitude that they grew desperate of all future good fortune concluding that God had sent and inflicted that plague vpon them because without his counsell and fauour they had enterprised the battell But when Moses perceiued that both his owne countrimen were dismaid with the ouerthrow which they had and the enemie was waxen proud with their late victorie fearing likewise least not content with their present successe they should attempt further he determined to retire his forces backe againe into the desart And whereas the people promised thereafter to be obedient to him being taught by their owne miserie that nothing would fall out prosperously vnto them without the counsell and conduct of their guide they disincamping themselues retired into the desart vnder this resolution that they would no more attempt the battell against the Chanaanites before they receiued a signe of their good successe from heauen But euen as in a great army it accustomably falleth out especially in time of trouble that the common multitude wax headstrong and disobedient to their gouernours so did the like also happen amongst the Iewes for whereas they were in number sixe hundreth thousand and euen in their better fortunes seemed disobedient to their gouernours so much the more were they exasperated by their wants and misfortunes both amongst themselues as against their gouernour For which cause there arose so great a sedition as neither amongst the Greeks or Barbarians the like was euer heard of which things without doubt had ouerthrowne them being brought into so desperate an estate except Moses forgetting the iniurie he had receiued which was no lesse then a pretence to stone him to death had succoured and relieued their distressed fortunes Neither did God vtterly abandon the care of them but although they were contumelious against their law-maker and transgressed also against the lawes which hee had deliuered them by Moses yet deliuered he them out of that dangerous sedition of which without his especiall prouidence there could be expected no other but a lamentable issue This sedition as also how Moses gouerned the estate when the troubles were ended we will now declare hauing first expressed the cause thereof CHAP. II. The sedition raised by Chore against Moses and his brother for the Priesthood CHores a man noble in birth and famous for his wealth amongst the Hebrewes and endowed with a certaine kind of popular eloquence seeing Moses placed in the highest estate of dignitie was sore troubled and oppressed with enuie For although he were of the same Tribe and kinred yet thought he it to be a great indignitie in himselfe to be held his inferiour beeing both more enabled in riches and nothing inferiour in parentage For which cause he began to mutine and murmure amongst the Leuites which were of the same Tribe with him and his kinsmen telling them in vehement discourse that it was not to bee suffered nor permitted that Moses vnder a pretext of certaine diuinitie should by ambitious policie to other mens preiudice onely studie his owne glorie shewing them how of late without all law and right he had giuen the Priesthood to his brother Aaron and distributed other dignities at his owne pleasure like a king without the allowance and approbation of the people That this iniurie done by him was not to be endured by reason that so couertly he had insinuated himselfe into the gouernement that before he might be espied the people should be brought vnder seruitude For he that knoweth himselfe to be worthy of a gouernement striueth to obtaine the same by kind perswasions and consent of the people and not by force and violence but they that despaire by good meanes to attaine thereunto doe notwithstanding abstaine from force least they should lose the opinion of their goodnesse and honestie yet endeuour they by malicious subtilties to attaine thereunto That it concerned the common-weale to extinguish and roote out the subtill insinuations of such men least of priuate they should at last grow publike enemies For what reason said he can Moses yeeld why he hath bestowed the Priesthood on Aaron and his sonnes For if that God had decreed that this honour should be bestowed on one of the tribe of Leui there were more reason that I should haue it who am of the same kinred with Moses and who surpasse him both in riches age And if this honor appertained to the most ancient of the Tribes that those of Rubens loynes ought by right to enioy it namely Dathan and Abiram and Phalal who are the most ancient of that Tribe and the most powerfull in riches
euerie occurrent Moses also sent his seruants to Abiram and Dathan to summon them to appeare according to the couenants and accord to attend the issue of the sacrifice But their answere was that they would not obey him neither that they would any longer permit that Moses by his subtill and sinister deuices should signiorize ouer the people Which when Moses vnderstood he tooke diuers of the Elders amongst the people with him and being no wayes moued with Dathan and his contumacie he came vnto him being willingly attended by those who were drawne to accompanie him Now when Dathan and his friends vnderstood that Moses with the Nobles came vnto them both they their wiues and children assembled themselues before the Tabernacle expecting that which would ensue They came likewise guarded with their seruants who were armed to oppose themselues against Moses if so be he should offer them any violence But no sooner drew he neere vnto them but that lifting vp his hands vnto heauen he cried out with a loud voice in the hearing of the whole multitude and prayed after this maner O God said he thou Lord ouerall that which either heauen earth or sea containeth thou art a sufficient witnesse with me of all mine actions for that I haue managed all things by thy will and thou art he who hast giuen me power to execute my purposes thou that alwayes in commiseration of the Hebrewes hast beene my perpetuall helpe and assistance heare this my prayer For nothing that is either done or thought is hidden from thee for which cause I hope thou wilt not disdaine to testifie and iustifie my truth and manifest the ingratitude of these men Thou doest exactly know the antiquitie of my race not for that thou hast heard it but for that thou hast seene and assisted it in effect now also testifie the truth for me in those things which these men although they know they contrarie are not ashamed to impute vnto me At such time as I led a peaceable life and that by my vertue and thy counsell and my father in law Raguels fauour I had sufficient to liue vpon I forsooke the possession of my goods and the fruit on of my peace to ingage my selfe in these miseries which I haue suffered for these men and first of all for their libertie and now likewise for their safetie I haue most readily vndertaken grieuous trauels Now therefore since I am growne into suspition amongst those men who by my care and prouidence haue escaped so manie mischiefes and miseries thou that appearedst vnto me in that fire on the mountaine of Sinai and vouchsafedst both to speake vnto me and to confirme me by the sight of miracles that in thy name sentst me a messenger into Aegypt that hast abated the great fortunes of the Aegyptians and hast giuen me meanes to escape from their seruitude and hast made Pharaoes power and armie inferiour to my fortunes that when we were ignorant of our way gauedst vs a passage through the sea in whose bottom and wombe afterward the Aegyptians were drowned that gauedst vs armes when we were vnweaponed that madest the bitter water sauoury and fit to be drunke of and in our scarcitie of water enforcedst drinke for vs out of the bowels of the hard rocke when we found no meat on the land didst send it vs from the sea moreouer as a thing neuer before heard of affoordedst vs meat from heauen and hast established our estate with lawes and customes Be thou ô Lord my Iudge in all things and my vnpartiall witnesse that neither I haue beene corrupted by any bribe of any particular Hebrew to fauour iniustice neither that I haue suffered a poore man in his iust cause to lose his right against a rich aduersarie And now hauing administred the common weale with all synceritie I am called in question for a crime whereof I am altogether guiltlesse as if I had bestowed thy Priesthood on my brother for priuate affection and not for thy command sake make it knowne that all things are dispensed by thy prouidence and that nothing is brought to effect by casualty but by thy especiall ordinance And to expresse that thou hast care of the Hebrewes testifie the same by thy iust punishment inflicted on Dathan and Abiram who accuse thee to be insensible and boast that thou art circumuented by my subtilties But thou shalt make thy reuenge more notorious against the vnbrideled detractors of thy glorie if they perish after no common maner least any man should suspect that they suffer nothing inhumane but let the earth which they vnworthily tread vpon open it selfe and swallow them vp both with their families and faculties By this means both thy power will manifestly appeare vnto all men and thou shalt leaue an example to posteritie that no man hereafter shal dare to thinke otherwise of thy maiesty then becommeth him my ministerie shall be approued to proceed from thy direction But if those crimes be truly vrged which are inforced against me then let the curses returne and light on mine owne head and let those whom I haue cursed liue in safetie And thus exacting a punishment from those that disturbe thy people keep the rest of the multitude in peace concord and obseruation of thy commandements secure and void of that punishment which is due vnto wicked men for that it is contrarie to thy iustice that the innocent multitude of the Israelites should answere their misdeeds and suffer their punishments Whilest he spake these words and intermixed them with teares the earth instantly trembled and shaking began to remoue after such a manner as when by the violence of the wind a great billow of the sea floateth and waltereth Hereat were all the people amased But after that a horrible and shattering noyse was made about their tents the earth opened and swallowed vp both them and all that which they esteemed deere which was after a maner so exterminate as nothing remained of theirs to be beheld Whereupon in a moment the earth closed againe and the vast gaping was fast shut so as there appeared not any signe of that which had hapned Thus perished they all leauing behind them an example of Gods power and iudgements And this accident was the more miserable in that there were no one no not of their kinsfolke or allies that had compassion of them so that all the people whatsoeuer forgetting those things which were past did allow Gods iustice with ioyful acclamations esteeming them vnworthie to be bemoned but to be held as the plague peruerters of the people After that Dathan with his family was extinguished Moses assembled all those that contended for the Priesthood together cōmitting again the election of the priesthood vnto God concluding that the estate should bee ratified to him whose sacrifice was most acceptable in Gods sight For which cause the two hundred and fiftie men assembled themselues who were both honoured for the vertue of
he called vnto him one of his officers who certifying him of the truth he arose and washed himselfe and put on a white garment and presented himselfe before the tabernacle of God and commanded his dinner to be made ready Whereat his friends and seruants were verie sore amazed and wondred why he hauing done none of these things during the childes sicknesse should now after his death doe all these things at once they besought him therefore that it might be lawfull for them to demaund the cause of these his proceedings To whom he answered that he would teach and discouer that vnto them of which they were ignorant Vnderstand you not said he that while the childe was aliue and I had hope of his recouerie I omitted no means whereby I might moue God vnto mercie but now after that he is dead it were in vaine for me to spend my selfe with vnnecessarie griefe Which when they heard they praised the wisedome and consideration of the king After this he knew Bethsabe his wife who became with childe and was brought a bed of a sonne who by Nathans direction was called Salomon Meanewhile Ioab pressed the Ammonites with a sore siege and cut off their water and other commodities and things necessarie so that they were welny famished for want of victuall and prouision for they drew their water from a little spring in such sort that they feared least if they should vse it to their owne contentment it would be sodainly dried He therefore wrote vnto the king and certified him of the estate of the Citie and exhorted him to come in person and be present at the surprisall thereof to the intent that the victorie might be famed by his name The king vnderstanding that which Ioab had written allowed of his readines good-will and faith and taking with him all the forces which he had he came to the taking in of Rabatha which being by him forcibly surprised and giuen in pillage vnto his souldiers he retained for himselfe the crowne of the king of the Ammonites waighing a talent of gold in the midst vvherof was enchased a Sardonyx of great valew which Dauid wore vpon his head He found likewise in that citie diuers spoyles of great price but as touching the inhabitants he put them to the sword and did the like in all the Cities of the Ammonites which he tooke by force But after that the king was returned vnto Ierusalem there fell a grieuous accident in his family vpon this occasion He had a daughter at that time which was a virgin faire and beautifull and surpassed all other vvomen in admirable perfections whose name was Thamar borne by the same mother that Absalon was Of her Amnon the eldest sonne of Dauid became enamoured and for that he could not enioy her at his pleasure by reason of her virginitie and the hand that was had of her he grew so melancholy that his body dried vp and his colour changed thorow the verie griefe that consumed him A certaine cousin and friend of his called Ionathan a man of great reach and quick vnderstanding perceiuing this his passion and noting euerie day howe Amnons beauty and strength decaied and wasted he came vnto him and asked him the cause thereof alleadging that that indisposition of his seemed to proceede from some amorous affection Which when Amnon confessed and how he was growne passionate thorow the loue he bare vnto his sister by the fathers side Ionathan suggested him both the meanes and inuention to compasse his desires for he perswaded him to counterfeit himselfe to be sicke and that if his father came to visit him hee should desire him to send his sister to minister vnto him by which meanes he should easily and speedily be deliuered of his sicknesse This counsell of his was plausible in Amnons eares who presently counterfaited sicknesse and laid him downe on his bed according as Ionathan had aduised him and when Dauid was come to visit him he required him to send his sister vnto him which he did She being arriued he praied her with her owne hands that she would temper and frie some fritters for him because they would the more content him if they were of her owne making for which cause she in her brothers presence tempered the flower and made certaine cakes and fried them in the frying pan and presented them vnto him but he tasted them not but commanded all his seruants to retire themselues out of his lodging because he intended to take his rest without noise or trouble As soone as this commaundement of his was performed hee prayed his sister to bring the meate into his most retired and priuie chamber whereunto the damsell condescended whereupon he sodainly surprised her began to perswade her to grant him her company But the virgin exclaiming said vnto him Forbeare my brother forbeare to offer me violence for it is a hainous sinne to perpetrate so foule a fact Giue ouer this thy most hatefull concupiscence which will breed nought els but disgrace and infamy to our whole family or if thou hast not the power to resist the same require me at my fathers hands and extort not mine honour from me by force But hee enraged with loue neglected all these sayings and wholy poisoned with the sting of disordinate passion rauished and violated her notwithstanding all her resist And as soone as he had aslaked his lustfull desire a certaine hatred entred into his heart which extorted from his mouth many iniurious words against Thamar so that he commanded her to arise and depart She answered that this second outrage was more hainous then the former for that hauing violated her he would not suffer her to remaine there vntill night time but thrust her out incontinently by day time and during the light to the end she might meet with such as might testifie her dishonour Notwithstanding all these iust reasons of hers he commanded his seruant to driue her out of the doores She strangely agrieued at the outrage and violence that had been offered her tore her garment which was such as the noble and princely virgins were wont to weare and strewed ashes on her head running thorow the Citie with cries and lamentations wherein she expressed what wrong had beene done vnto her With her thus distracted her brother Absalon met enquiring of her what euill hap had befallen her To whom she reported all the iniurie which her brother Amnon had done her whereupon he exhorted her to pacifie her selfe and to suffer moderately whatsoeuer had befallen her and not to suppose her selfe to be indignified by any act of their brother Whereunto she condescended forbearing her exclaimes and surceasing to publish the iniuries she had receiued in the eares of the people And thus remained she a long time with her brother Absalon in the qualitie of a widow Dauid hauing intelligence of that which had hapned was sore displeased notwithstanding he loued Amnon
sound of instruments wherein they who converse in Kings Courtes doe most vsually take such delight To this Dauid replied since said hee thou doest so instantly request me to giue thee leaue to depart from me I dismisse thee but leaue thou thy sonne Achimaas with me who shall be master of my many fauours Hereupon Berzillai left his sonne with him and taking leaue of the king with praier that God would grant him the fulnes of all his desires he returned to his owne house But Dauid went vnto Galgal hauing alreadie the halfe part of the people with him and the whole tribe of Iuda Thither resorted then vnto him the chiefe gouernours of that countrey attended by a great multitude of people complaining vpon the tribe of Iuda for that vnwitting to the rest they had resorted to him when as by a mutual consent they should all of them haue met him together But the Princes of the tribe of Iuda requested them in no sort to misconstrue their preuention of them For that by reason of alliance they had done this office whereby being tied vnto him they were bound with more feruent studie to doe him seruice for neither in respect of that diligence of theirs receiued they any rewards whereby they that came after should thinke themselues preiudizde in profit This answere of theirs the Princes of the tribes tooke not in good part but thus they spake vnto their brethren We wonder said they that you onely challenge the king to be your kinsman as if he were not to be accounted an allie vnto vs all whom God hath equally placed to be gouernour ouer vs all whenas therefore the whole people consisteth of eleuen parts you onely are but one besides we are your elders so that you haue not delt vprightly in that you haue secretly and couertly sought out the King Whilest the gouernors in this sort debated the matter with them a certaine wicked and seditious person called Siba the sonne of Bochri of the tribe of Beniamin standing vp in the midst of the people began to crie out with a loud voyce and to exclaime after this manner We haue no part with Dauid nor inheritance with the sonne of Iesse This said he sounded a trumpet and proclaimed warre against the king so that all men followed him and forsooke Dauid Onely the tribe of Iuda remained with him and established him in the royall throne in Ierusalem where remouing his concubines which his son Absalon had knowen out of his pallace he neuer after that time had any company with them After this he declared Amasa generall of the armie and placed him in the same degree which Ioab had neere vnto the person of the King commanding him that he should assemble the greatest forces that he might out of the tribe of Iuda that within three daies he should return vnto him to the end that hauing deliuered him both the armie the place of generall he might send him to make warre vpon the son of Bochri After that Amasa was departed and employed his time in gathering vp his army the king seeing that he failed to returne vpon the third day told Ioab that it was not good to permit Siba to gather a greater head by delay thereby breede vs more trouble and molestation then Absalon had done For which cause said he stay thou not but take vnto thee those forces which thou hast in a readines and my sixe hundreth men with thy brother Abisai and pursue thou the enemie and in what place soeuer thou meetest him by all meanes indeuour thy selfe to giue him the battell Hast thee therefore and ouertake him for feare least he seaze some of our strongest Cities and thereby procure vs much trauell and labour Ioab with all expedition obeyed his commaundement and tooke with him the aforesaid sixe hundreth with his brother Abisai and commaunded all the forces that were in Ierusalem to follow after him and in this array issued he after Siba Now when he came vnto Gabaon a burrow some fortie furlongs distant from Ierusalem Amasa came met with him brought with him great forces Ioab hauing his sword girt by his side and his curets on his backe whilest Amasa came onward to salute him subtilly and of set purpose let his sword slip out of his sheath and taking it vp from the ground with one hand he drew neere vnto Amasa vnder pretence to kisse him on the chin and sodainly thrust the sword that was in his other hand into his belly and slew him Which action of his was both hainous and detestable proceeding from a iealousie he had conceiued against a good young man his cousen who had in no sort offended him and onely by reason of the estate of generall which the king had giuen him and because Dauid had equalled him in honour with him for which very cause before that he had slaine Abner Notwithstanding this act of his seemed in some sort pardonable by reason of the pretext which he pretended of the wrong done vnto his brother Azael yet was not this a sufficient colour to excuse the murther of Amasa When this was done he pursued Siba and left a certaine man to wait vpon the bodie of Amasa who had commaundement giuen him to proclaime with a loud voice thorow the whole armie that he was iustly and deseruedly slaine commaunding those that bare any fauour to the kings title to follow their generall Ioab and his brother Abisai Now whilest his body lay thus in the way al the multitude as it is vsual in such like accidēts flocked round about it he that had the charge of the bodie took it vp bare it into a certain place farre out of the way couered it with a garment which done all the people followed Ioab Now whilest he pursued Siba thorow all the region of the Israelites a certaine man told him that he had retired himself into a certaine strong citie called Abelmacha where he no sooner arriued but that he begirt the Citie and entrenched it round about commanding his souldiers to vndermine and ouerthrow the walles for he was sore displeased because they had shut the gates against him But a certaine honest and prudent woman seeing her countrey in extreme perill ascended the walles and called Ioab and his souldiers to a parlee who comming forth to conferre with him she spake after this manner God saith she ordained kings and generals of armies to the end they might destroy the enemies of the Hebrewes and plant amongst them an vniuersall and perpetuall peace but you inforce your selues to destroy one of the mother Cities of Israell that hath in no sort offended you Ioab praied God to be fauourable vnto them and said that for his owne part it was not his meaning that any one of the Citie should die neither his pretence to race and deface so famous a Citie his intent was only that if Siba the sonne of Bochri
from the siege as we haue declared in an other place And againe a long time after this Herod also opened an other Cabinet from whence he tooke out a great summe And as touching the tombes of Princes no man defaced them because they were most magnificently builded for feare least they should be esteemed destroyers of monuments But for the present it sufficeth that I haue certified thus much THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 8. booke 1 How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expelled his enemies 2 Of the riches prudence and wisedome of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem 3 How Salomon being dead the people reuolted from Roboam his sonne and made Hieroboam king of the ten tribes 4 How Susac king of the Aegyptians sacking Ierusalem caried away the riches of that Citie into Aegypt 5 The warre of Hieroboam against Abiam Roboams sonne and the slaughter of his armie and how Basanes the rooter out of Hieroboams posteritie occupied the kingdome 6 The irruption of the Aethipians into the land of the Hebrewes vnder Asa and the ouerthrow of their armie 7 Basans stocke being wholy rooted out amongst the Israelites Zamri ruled in Israel with his sonne Achab. 8 Adad king of Damasco and Syria encamping and fighting two seuerall times against Achab is ouerthrowne 9 Of Iosaphat king of Ierusalem 10 Achab being prouoked to warre by the Sryans is ouercome and slaine in the battell CHAP. I. How Salomon obtaining the kingdome expulsed his enemies WE haue declared in the former Booke what Dauid was how great his vertue hath beene what profits and benefits those of his nation receiued by him what warres and battels he worthily exployted and how happily at last through extremitie of age he departed out of this life But after that Salomon his sonne being at that time verie young had obtained the kingdome and was placed in his fathers throne according as Dauid had determined and the diuine power had decreed the whole people according to the common course in the election of newe Princes with happie acclamations wished him perpetuall felicitie in all his affaires and after his well gouerned estate and royaltie long many prosperous yeares But Adonias who during his fathers life time thought to possesse and seaze himselfe of the royall estate came vnto the kings mother and with all humilitie reuerence saluted her To whom Bethsabe said that if there were anything wherin she might sted him he should manifest it vnto her and that she would grant it him willingly Whereupon he began to say that it was a thing verie well knowen that the kingdome appertained vnto him both in regard of his age as also in respect of the fauour and good liking of the people but since that it had beene transferred vnto Salomon hir sonne by the will of God he was content therewith and would be his seruant being verie glad of the fortunate successe of his affaires He therefore besought her that she would solicite Salomon in his behalfe and perswade him to giue him Abisace to wife who had slept with Dauid for that he had not had any carnall company with her by reason of his age and that as yet she was fully possessed of her virginitie Bethsabe promised him to further his suit to the vtmost of hir power and willingly to employ her selfe toward the accomplishing of the marriage both for that the king was willing to gratifie her in whatsoeuer she should desire as also for that she would instantly intreat him so that he departed from her with assured hope of good successe in respect of his marriage Hereupon presently did Bethsabe addresse her selfe to the king intending to certifie him both what Adonias had requested and what she had granted When tidings came to Salomon that his mother came to visit him he went out to meete her and embraced her afterwards conducting her into the place where the royall treasure was he sate him downe and commaunded his seruants to place a seat on his right hand for his mother who setled by him spake vnto him after this manner My sonne vouchsafe me one fauour that I shall request at thy hands and send me not hence discontended and confused thorow thy refusall Salomon answered her that she should commaund him by reason that dutie tied him to the satisfaction and fauour of his mothers suites reprouing her for that insinuation she had vsed by reason that thereby she euidently expressed that she was not thorowly assured to obtaine her demaund but that she feared the refusall and repulse in the same she therefore required him to giue the Damsell Abisace for wife to Adonias his brother The King displeased at this her suit dismissed his mother alledging that Adonias hammered hie thoughts in his head that he wōdred that in requiring Abisace to wife he had not requested Salomō likewise to giue him place in the kingdome for Adonias was elder than he and had more mightie friends then he had namely the generall Ioab and the high Priest Abiathar For which cause he incontinently sent Banaia captaine of his guard to kill Adonias his brother Then calling vnto him the high Priest Abiathar The paines said he that thou hast endured by accompanying my father Dauid and attending and bearing the Arke with him make thee escape from death yet notwithstanding for that thou hast beene an assistant to Adonias and followed his faction I condemne thee to depart from my presence charging thee not to see my face any more but to retire thy selfe to thine owne house and there to liue in thy countrey vntill thou hast ended thy daies for hauing in this sort neglected me it is not conuenient that thou shouldest be in honour with me For this cause was the house of Ithamar depriued of the priestly dignitie according as God had foreprophecied to Eli one of the auncestors of Abiathar and translated to the race of Phinees and established in Sadoc Those of the race of Phinees who led a priuate life all that time that the Priesthood remained in the familie of Ithamar wherof Eli was the first were these Boccias the sonne of Ioseph Ioatham the sonne of Boccias Maraeoth the sonne of Ioatham Aropha the sonne of Maraeoth Achitob the sonne of Aropha Sadoc the sonne Achitob who was the first high Priest vnder king Dauid Ioab hauing tidings of the death of Adonias was seazed with sodaine and extreme feare for he loued him more than king Salomon and by reason of that friendship which he bare vnto him he iustly and vpon good grounds apprehended his owne danger and in this respect he fled vnto the altar hoping in that place to be secured in regard of that reuerēce which the king bare vnto God But when Ioabs resolution was made knowne vnto the king he sent Banaia vnto him with commission to bring him from the
the world keepe and solemnize this day for a festiuall and send presents the one vnto the other Mardocheus also wrote vnto the Iewes who liued vnder the Empire of Artaxerxes commanding them to obserue those daies and to solemnize them willing them to charge their successours to doe the like to the ende that this feast might continue for euer and out-liue all obliuion For since on that day they should haue been made away by Aman they should doe well if after they had escaped that danger and taken reuenge on their enemies the very same day they should obserue the same to giue thanks vnto God For this cause the Iewes keepe a solemne feast on these daies and call it Purim as who should say Lottes But Mardocheus was great and mightie with the king administring the kingdome with him he had also a part of the greatnesse of the Queene and for this cause the affaires of the Iewes had better successe then was hoped for See here how matters passed during the raigne of Artaxerxes CHAP. VII Bagoses Generall of Artaxerxes the youngers armie offereth many outrages to the Iewes AFter the death of Eliasib the high Priest Iudas his sonne succeeded in the office And after his death Iohn his sonne obtained the place in whose time Bagoses generall of Artaxerxes army polluted the temple and made the Iewes tributaries so that before they could offer their ordinarie and daily sacrifices they were compelled to pay for euery lambe fiftie drachmes which hapned vpon this occasion Iohn had a brother called Iesus whom Bagoses fauoured and promised to giue him the high priesthood Iesus woon by these perswasions quarrelled with his brother Iohn who was so much prouoked against him that he slew his brother Iesus in his choler It was a thing verie straunge that Iohn being a priest should commit such an impietie against his brother and yet farre more straunge in that so cruell an act and an offence so impious hath neither hapned amongst Greekes nor Barbariās God also left it not vnpunished but for the same sinne the people were reduced vnder captiuitie and the temple was polluted by the Persians When Bagoses had intelligence that Iohn the high Priest among the Iewes had slaine his brother Iesus in the temple he resorted thither in al haste and began to vtter and breake forth into bitter threats against the Iewes Haue you said he beene so bold as to commit murther in your temple And when he thought to haue entred into the same they hindred him Whereupon he replied Am I therefore more polluted then the bodie that leth dead in the temple and hauing spoken thus he entred thereinto and for the space of seuen yeares Bagoses being thus animated against the Iewes punished them for murthering Iesus After that Iohn was deceased Iaddus his sonne was made high Priest who had a brother called Manasses Sanaballath sent by the later King Darius to gouerne Samaria for he also was of the race of the Chutaeans from whom issued the Samaritanes knowing that Ierusalem was a famous Citie and that the Kings thereof wrought much trouble vnto the inhabitants of Assyria and Coelesyria he willingly married his daughter Nicazo to this Manasses with an intent that this marriage should be as a pledge of his good will to all the nation of the Iewes CHAP. VIII What benefits Alexander King of Macedon bestowed vpon the Iewes ABout that time Philip king of Macedō died in the citie of Aegaeas being traiterousle slain by Pausanias the sonne of Cerastes of the race of Orestes and his sonne Alexander succeeded him in the kingdome who passing ouer Hellespont gaue battell vnto the huge army of Darius neere the riuer Granic and there obtained a famous victorie And hereupon he also inuading the countrey of Lydia after he had conquered Ionia and ouerrunne Caria finally set vpon the quarters of Pamphilia as it is declared in an other place But the elders of Ierusalem were sore displeased for that Iaddus brother who was at that time high Priest and had married a forraine woman should be companion and associate with him in the priesthood so as they mutined against him For they supposed that that marriage would be but a means to animate those who had a mind to prophane marriages proue an inducement to other to cōmunicate in marriage with straungers remembring them that the cause of their euils and first captiuitie was because some of them had fallen and offended by coupling themselues with women of forraine nations They therefore commanded Manasses either to forsake his wife or else neuer more to approch the Altar The high Priest likewise being incensed against his brother as well as the people droue him in like manner from the sacrifice For which cause Manasses addressing himselfe to his father in law Sanaballath told him that although he loued his daughter Nicazo very intirely yet would he notwithstanding condescend for her sake to be depriued of the priesthood which was the greatest dignity that could be among their nation and which had euer continued in his race Whereupon Sanaballath answered and promised him that he would not onely continue him in the priesthood but also would giue him the power and dignitie of the high priesthood and make him gouernour of all places where he commaunded prouided the marriage solemnized betwixt his daughter and him were continued He furthermore assured him that he would build a temple resembling that in Ierusalem vpon the mountaine of Garizim which was the highest among the rest permitting him to do the same with Darius consent Manasses puffed vp by these promises remained with Sanaballath and grew in hope that he should obtain the priesthood by Darius meanes for Sanaballath was verie olde Whereas therefore diuers other both Priests and common people among the Israelites were intangled in such like marriages there arose no small commotion in Ierusalem For all they of this condition retired themselues to Manasses whom Sanaballath furnished with money and lands to till and houses to inhabite in all sorts to fauour the intent of his sonne in law At the same time Darius vnderstanding that Alexander hauing passed the Hellespont had ouercome those gouernours whom he had established neere vnto the floud Granicus and that he passed further spoyling of his countrey he gathered together both his horsemen and footmen resoluing to make head against the Macedonians before they should gaine all Asia he therefore passed Euphrates mount Taurus in Cilicia to encoūter fight with his enemies in the country Sanaballath ioyful of Darius descent incontinently told Manasses that he would fulfil his promises as soone as Darius should returne from the conquest of his enemies For not onely he but also all the Asians perswaded themselues most assuredly that the Macedonians would not abide the battell against the Persians by reason of their great multitude but it fell out altogether contrarie to their expectation For the
haue likewise discouered the great and grieuous conflicts which Iudas their captaine performed and in which he finally died in the behalfe of their libertie how likewise after the death of Iudas all the wicked Apostate Iewes who had reuolted from their religion tooke courage molesting and doing many iniuries to the rest of their countrimen Finally how besides their malice the famine inuaded the countrey so that diuers being vnable to sustaine these two mortall scourges of famine and warre were constrained to submit themselues vnto the Macedonians In the meane while Bacchides gathering togither the false Apostataes who were fallen from the religion of the Iewes with an intent to liue after the prophane manner of the Paganes committed the gouernment of the countrey vnto them who laying hold on Iudas friends and partakers betraied and deliuered them to Bacchides who first of all tormented and beat them at his pleasure and afterwards put them to death This so grieuous affliction then which the Iewes had neuer endured a worse since their returne from Babylon was the cause that those of Iudas faction who were yet aliue fearing the totall and cruell ruine of their nation addressed themselues to Ionathan his brother exhorting him to imitate his brother Iudas vertues to haue no lesse care of his countrimeÌ„ then the other had who fought for their libertie vntill his latest breath requiring him not to abandon the gouernment of his nation especially in that 〈◊〉 miserable estate wherin they were pluÌ„ged Ionathan answered them that he was ready to die for them and being in all things esteemed no lesse valiant and politique then his brother Iudas he was proclaimed generall and chiefetaine of the Iewes Bacchides hauing notice hereof feared least Ionathan should be no lesse infestuous to the king and Macedonians then his brother Iudas before him had been for which cause he sought the meanes to make him away by treason But both Ionathan and his brother Simon gat intelligence hereof and hauing discouered his practise they tooke all their families with them and fled into the desart that confined the Citie Ierusalem and retiring themselues neere vnto a water called the lake of Asphar they remained in that place When Bacchides perceiued that they mistrusted him and were drawne thither he went out against them with all his forces and being encamped on the other side of Iordan he gathered his army togither Ionathan knowing well that Bacchides came out to seeke him sent his brother Iohn surnamed Gaddis vnto the Arabians Nabatheans to commit the trust of their goods vnto their hand vntill the end of the warre betwixt him and Bacchides for the Arabians were his friends Whilest therefore Iohn marched towards the Nabatheans the sonnes of Amaraeus laid an ambuscado for him who were of the citie of Medaba and after they had furiously set vpon him on the way laid hold on whatsoeuer he brought with him they at length slew him and all his company for which fact of theirs they were shortly after punished by his brethren as we will make manifest in that which afterward followeth When Bacchides knew that Ionathan was incaÌ„ped in the marshes of Iordan he made choise of the Sabboth day to set vpon him hoping that he would not defend himselfe on that day because of the prohibition of the law But he contrary to his expectation incouraged his companions declared vnto them how it concerned their liues to be valiant for that it was impossible for them to escape because they were shut vp in the midst betwixt the floud and the enemy for they had the enemy before them and the floud on their backes As soone therefore as he had made his praier vnto God that it might please him to grant him the victorie he set vpon the enemy with a stout courage and slew a great number of them and perceiuing Bacchides how with great fiercenesse he set forward against him he stretched out his right hand to strike him but he preuenting the stroke by stepping aside Ionathan and his companions lept into the riuer and so saued themselues by swimming ouer to the other side of Iordan because the enemies durst not passe the water to pursue them Whereupon Bacchides returned incontinently to the Castle of Ierusalem after he had lost about some two thousand of his men After this he fortified diuers Cities which were before tâ—…ne ruinated namely Ierico Emaus Betheron Bethella Thamnata Pharathon Techoa and Gazara and builded in euery one of them certaine towers and great and strong walles and afterwards he planted garrisons therein to sally out vpon the Iewes and vex them but in especiall he fortified the cittadel of Ierusalem in which hee kept for hostages the children of the principallest men of Iudaea About that time there came a certaine man to Ionathan and his brother Simon bringing them newes that the sonnes of Amaraeus would solemnize their nuptials and were to leade the bride from the Citie of Gabatha which was daughter to one of the noblest amongst the Arabians for which cause she should be conducted with great magnificence and sumptuous pompe Ionathan and his brother supposing that a fit oportunitie was offered them to reuenge their brothers death and to punish the Medabanes for the wrongs they had done vnto their brother they tooke with them the greatest forces that they could and marched towards Medaba where they lay in ambush vnder the couert of a mountaine But when they saw them that led the bride and accompanied the bridegroome and a great troupe of their friends likewise according to the accustomed manner of marriages they brake out of their couert and put them all to the sword and after they had seazed their Iewels and all other bootie of that company that followed them they retired backe againe ioyfully hauing obtained their purpose and thus reuenged they the death of their brother Iohn vpon the sonnes of Amaraeus For not onely these alone but their friends that accompanied them with their wiues and children were all of them slaine to the number of foure hundreth And in this manner Simon and Ionathan returned into the marshes aforesaid and aboade there But Bacchides hauing fortified all the garrisons of Iudaea returned backe vnto the king And at that time the estate of the Iewes was in peace for the space of welny two yeeres But the wicked and such as were reuolted from the religion of the Iewes seeing that Ionathan and his followers conuersed in the countrey in great assurance by reason of the peace they sent certaine Embassadours vnto king Demetrius requiring him to send them Bacchides who might apprehend Ionathan declaring that it might easily be done and that in one night breaking in vpon them he might murther them all before they were aware When Bacchides by the kings commaundement came into Iury he wrote vnto all his friends both Iewes also his other allies requiring them to lay hold on Ionathan but
when by no pollicy nor prowes of theirs they were able to apprehēd him for that Ionathā hauing notice of their ambushes stood vpō his gard Bacchides the Macedonian was displeased with the Apostataes or fugitiues obiecting against thē that they had deceiued both the king and him and laying hold on fiftie of the principallest of them he put them to death But Ionathan and his brother with those of their company retired themselues vnto Bethalaga a certaine village in the desart for feare of Bacchides in which place he builded towers and walles to keepe his garrison in more securitie Bacchides vnderstanding hereof tooke the army that he had with him and those Iewes that were his confederates and marched forward against Ionathan where battering those fortifications that were made by him he besieged him for many daies But Ionathan for all his busie siege and violence was not awhit terrified but resisted him valiantly leauing his brother Simon in the citie to make head against Bacchides he secretly stole out and gathered a great number of soldiers that fauoured his proceedings and in the night time with valiant courage brake into Bacchides camp and after he had there slaine a number of them he gaue his brother Simon notice of his comming who assoone as he heard the noise in the enemies campe hastily issued forth with his soldiers and burnt all the Macedonians engines and for his part also made a great slaughter of them Bacchides seeing that he was circumuented by his enemies and that both before and behind he was pressed by them being astonished at this so hard sodaine and vnexpected encounter was almost out of his wits so sore was he confused at the issue of his siege that fell out altogither contrary to his expectation for which cause he discharged all his choler vpon those Apostataes supposing he was abused by them who had sent vnto the king and had caused him to be sent thither and full gladly would he haue returned home could he but make an end of the siege without his dishonour CHAP. II. Ionathan constraineth Bacchides to make peace with the Iewes and to depart out of the countrey BVt Ionathan knowing his deliberation sent an Embassadour vnto him to conclude a peace and amitie betwixt them with this condition that they should each of them deliuer vp those prisoners that were taken on either side Bacchides supposing that his request would be to his great honour and that a fit occasion was now offered him whereupon he might raise his siege without any disgrace promised Ionathan his friendship so that both of them swore from that time forward neuer to make warre the one against the other and each of them both receiued and restored their prisoners Thus returned Bacchides into Antioch vnto his King and after that retreat he neuer made warre againe vpon Iudaea But Ionathan hauing obtained this securitie went and dwelt in the towne of Machmas where administring and gouerning the commonweale he executed such seuere iustice on those that were reuolted from the religion of their countrey that he clensed the nation of all such kind of men CHAP. III. Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh warre against Demetrius IN the hundreth and sixtie yeare Alexander the sonne of Antiochus the Famous came into Syria and seazed the Citie of Ptolemais by the treason of those soldiers that were therein who were ill affected towards Demetrius by reason of his arrogancy which was such that he granted no man accesse vnto him for being locked vp in a royall fort defenced with foure towers which himselfe had builded neere vnto Antioch he suffered no man to approch his presence but was carelesse and wholy negligent in his affaires liuing in pleasure and idlenes whereby he grew into great hatred amongst his subiects as we haue alreadie declared in another place Now when Demetrius knew that Alexander had seazed Ptolemais he gathered all his forces and marched forth against him CHAP. IIII. Demetrius couenanteth a peace with Ionathan MOreouer he sent Embassadors vnto Ionathan that might confirme an alliance and ratifie a friendship betwixt them for he determined with himselfe to preuent Alexander for feare least he capitulating with him first of all should obtaine his assistance And this did he especially for the feare he had of Ionathan least remembring those iniuries he had before time receiued at his hands he should oppose himselfe against him He therefore sent vnto him requiring him to assemble his forces to make preparation for the warre cōmanding likewise that those Iewes should be deliuered into his possession whom Bacchides had shut vp for hostages in the fortresse of Ierusalem After that Demetrius had demeaned himselfe in this sort Ionathan resorted to Ierusalem and in the presence of all the people and of the garrison that was in the fortresse he red the kings letters and after the reading thereof the cursed and reuolted Iewes that were in the fortresse were sore afraid seeing that the king permitted Ionathan to leuy an army and to receiue the hostages But he receiuing them into his hands restored each of them to their fathers and mothers and by this meanes remained Ionathan in Ierusalem where he made diuers reparations and buildings according as him pleased For he builded the Citie walles of hewen stone to make them more forcible against the assaults of warre Which when they perceiued who were in the garrisons thorow out al Iudaea they forsooke them all and retired backe into Antioch except they that were in the Citie of Bethsura and those in the fortresse of Ierusalem for they consisted for the most part of those Iewes that had abandoned their religion who for that occasion feared to forsake their garrisons CHAP. V. Alexander draweth Ionathan to his partie BVt Alexander knowing what promises Demetrius had made vnto Ionathan and being well assured how valiant he was and how he behaued himselfe against the Macedonians moreouer how he was vexed by Demetrius and his Lieutenant Bacchides Hee told his friends and familiars that it was impossible for him to meete with a better allie at that time then Ionathan who had approoued himselfe a valiant man against his enemies and for particular causes bare hatred against Demetrius from whom he had receiued many iniuries and on whom he had wrought sundry reuenges for which cause if they thought it good to draw him vnto their side against Demetrius the time was veriefit to entertaine and confirme a mutuall peace betweene them which aduise of his being approoued by his fauorites he sent a letter vnto Ionathan to this effect King Alexander to Ionathan his brother Health We haue long sithence vnderstood of your valour and fidelitie which hath caused vs to send our Embassadours vnto you to intreat with you of alliance and amitie betwixt vs and from this day forward we elect and ordain you high Priest of the Iewes receiue you into the number of our chiefest
the solemnizing of this marriage Alexander by letters inuited the high Priest Ionathan commanding him to repaire vnto him to Prolemais Where after he was arriued and had both presented his seruice with other magnificent presents to both the kings he was highly honoured by both insomuch as Alexander constrained him to put off his ordinarie garments and to put on a purple to be and after that to sit vpon a royall throne commanding his captaines to march before him thorow the Citie and to commaund by publike edict that no man should dare to speake any thing against him neither offer him any cause of discontent in what sort soeuer All which the captaines performed so that they who purposely and maliciously repaired thither to accuse him seeing the honour that was done vnto him by this publication fled away hastily for feare least some mishap should befal the. This king Alexander loued Ionathan so intirely that he affoorded him the chiefest place amongst the number of his deerest friends CHAP. VIII Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius ouer commeth Alexander obtaineth the kingdome and contracteth friendship with Ionathan IN the hundreth sixtie and fifth yeere of the raigne of the Greekes Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius accompanied with diuers hired soldiers whom Lasthenes Candiot furnished him with departed out of Candia and came into Cilicia Which newes as soone as Alexander heard he was grieuously vexed troubled for which cause he instantly posted from Phaenicia to Antioch with intent to assure the affaires of his kingdome in that place before the arriual of Demetrius He left behind him for his gouernor in Coelesyria Apollonius Dauus who comming vnto Iamnia with a great army sent a messenger vnto the high Priest IonathaÌ„ signifying vnto him that it was not conuenient that he onely should liue in assurance at his owne ease and in authoritie without submitting himselfe vnto a King and that it was a great indignitie for him in all mens eies for that he had not inforced himselfe to stoupe vnder the obedience of a King For which cause said he deceiue not thy selfe neither hope thou by skulking in the mountaines or depending on thy forces to continue thy greatnes but if thou trustest to thy power come down into the field encounter with me my army in the plaine to the end that the issue of the victory may shew which of vs is most valiant Be not thou so ignorant that the noblest of euerie Citie beare armes vnder one who haue alwaies ouercome thy predecessors For which cause I challenge thee to meet me in that place where we may vse our swords and no stones and where the vanquished shall haue no aduantage by his flight Ionathan whetted by this bitter message chose out ten thousand of his best soldiers and departed from Ierusalem accompanied with his brother Simon and came vnto Ioppe and encamped without the Citie because the Citizens had shut the gates against him for they had a garrison planted in that place by Apollonius But as soone as he addressed himselfe to batter the Citie the inhabitants were afraid for feare least he should surprise the same by force and for that cause they opened him the gates Apollonius vnderstanding that Ioppe was taken by Ionathan he tooke three thousand horsemen and eight thousand footmen with him and came into Azot whence he departed leading out his army with a sober march foot by foot arriuing at Ioppe he retired back to draw Ionathan into the field assuring himselfe vpon his horsemen and grounding his hope of victorie vpon them But Ionathan issuing out boldly pursued Apollonius as farre as Azot who finding himselfe in the champion field tumed backe vpon him and charged him Ionathan was in no sort abashed to see the thousand horsmen that Apollonius had laid in ambush neere vnto a certaine streame to the end they might charge the Iewes behind but disposed his army in such sort that his soldiers on euery side turned their faces vpon the enemy commaunding his mento defend themselues on both sides fighting with those that assailed them eyther in the vantgard or the rereward This battell continued vntill euening and Ionathan had giuen his brother Simon a part of his forces charging him to set vpon the enemies battell as for himselfe he drew himselfe and his soldiers into a forme of a battalion resembling a Tortuse to the end that being couered with their bucklers ioyned the oâ—…e with the other they might beare off the horsmens arrowes to which all of them shewed themselues obedient The enemies horsemen shooting all their arrowes against them did them no harme for they pierced not as farre as the flesh but lighting vpon the bucklers enclosed and fastned the one within the other they were easily beaten backe borne off and fell downe being shot all in vaine But when as the enemies were wearied with shooting from betimes in the morning vntill euening and that Simon perceiued they could charge no further he set vpon them with his soldiers so couragiously that he put them all to flight The horsmen of Apollonius perceiuing that the footemen were disarâ—…aid grew heartles likewise and wearied also for that they had fought vntill the euening and hauing lost the hope that they had in the footmen they took their flight in great disorder and confusion so that they brake their rankes of themselues and were scattered thorow all the plaine Ionathan also pursued them as farre as Azot and taking the Citie by assault he slue diuers of them constraining the rest that were in despaire to flie into the temple of Dagon which is in Azot and taking the Citie by assault he burned it with the villages round about and spared not the temple of Dagon but burned it and al 〈◊〉 that were therein The number as well of those that were slaine in the battell as of those that were consumed by fire in the temple was eight thousand men Hauing therefore in this sort discomfited this army he departed from Azot and marched towards Ascalon and as he was encamped without the Citie the Ascalonites came out vnto him and both presented and honoured him He willingly entertaining their good affection departed from thence and iournied towards Ierusalem charged with great spoiles which after his victory against his enemy he droue before him after he had spoiled the countrey As soone as Alexander heard that Apollonius the generall of his army was discomfited and forced to flie he made a shew that he was glad thereof pretending that it was against his will that Ionathan had beene molested by warre who was both his friend and ally Whereupon be sent an Embassadour vnto him to signifie vnto him how much he reioyced at his victory offering him presents and honours with a chaine of gold such as the kings were accustomed to giue to those of their kinred he likewise gaue him Accaron and the countrey thereunto belonging to him and his heires for euer
was a man of mightier substance and greater minde and withall more moderate in his demand whereas Hircanus was poore and couetous and notwithstanding he demaunded greater things then his brother did yet was his promise of lesse assurance For it was a harder matter to subdue a Citie that was so defenced and strong then to repulse a troupe of runnagate Nabatheans and they scarcely well animated to prosecute that warre For these causes therefore he receiuing his money leuied the siege commanding Aretas to returne which if he refused he declared him an enemy to Rome This done Scaurus returned to Damasco and Aristobulus led foorth his army against Aretas and Hircanus and fighting with them in a place called Papyron he obtained the victorie and slew about some seuen thousand of his enemies amongst the number of which was Cephalius Antipaters brother CHAP. V. How Aristobulus and Hircanus debate their titles in the presence of Pompey NOt long time after this Pompey came vnto Damasco and as he trauailed thorow Coelesyria diuers Embassadours resorted vnto him from all parts of Syria Aegypt and Iudaea For Aristobulus sent him a present of great valew namely a golden vine of fiue hundreth talents price Hereof Strabo the Cappadocian maketh mention in these words There came an Embassadour out of Aegypt bearing a crowne of foure thousand pieces of gold and an other from Iewry with a vine or garden and the workmanship was called Terpole that is to say recreation And this vine haue we beheld at this day in the Citie of Rome in the temple of Iupiter Capitoline hauing the inscription of Alexander king of the Iewes and it was esteemed and valewed at fiue hundreth talents It is said that Aristobulus prince of the Iewes sent the same Straight after this there came other fresh Embassadors vnto him Antipater from Hircanus and Nicodemus frō Aristobulus who accused those that had taken mony namely Gabinius for that he first of all had receiued three hundreth talents beside other presents and secondly Scaurus who had receiued foure hundreth alleadging that by that meanes they had incensed them against him He therefore gaue direction that they should repaire vnto him about the spring each of them to iustifie and maintaine their seuerall rights as for himselfe he drew his forces from their wintring places and marched towards Damasco destroying in his way a certaine fortresse which Antiochus the Cyzicenian had fortified in Apamea He visited also the countrey of Ptolomey Mennaeus who was a peruerse and wicked man and no waies differed from Dionysius Tripolitane who was punished with the losse of his head and was vnited also with him in friendship and affinitie yet acquitted of the death he deserued by the meanes of a thousand talents raunsome which Ptolomey distributed amongst his souldiers for their pay He raced likewise the Castle of Lysias wherein a Iewe called Silas tyrannized and passing by the Cities of Heliopolis and Chal◅is and hauing likewise ascended the mountaine which is betweene them he came to Coelesyria and from Pella repaired to Damasco In which place he gaue audience to the Iews and their princes Hircanus and Aristobulus who were at oddes the one against the other as touching their particular interests as all the whole nation against them both alleadging that they would not be gouerned by kings because their custome was to obey Gods Priests whom they honored affirming that these two brethren who were descended of the race of priests sought to draw their nation vnder a different forme of gouernmēt to the intent to reduce ◅m vnder seruitude Hircanus complained for that being the elder borne he had bin depriued of his inheritance by Aristobulus and had onely but a small portion of the countrey allotted him because Aristobulus had seazed the rest by force He complained likewise of those incursions that both by land and sea Aristobulus followers had endomaged the frontires with For the people had not reuolted if he had not been a violent and turbulent man To this accusation of his a thousand of the principallest of the Iewes drawne on by Antipaters perswasion subscribed who auerred and iustified the same But Aristobulus answered that Hircanus was dispossessed of the kingdome by reason of his incapacitie and naturall defects alleadging for himselfe that the gouernment was enforced on him by a necessitie for feare it should be transported to others in effect he protested that he challenged no other title then that which his father Alexander had had Hee brought in also for his witnesses certaine arrogant young men who were hated for their pompe purple robes their curiositie in painting and curling their haire and bard horse and other braueries which they presented not like men that intended to expect iudgement but as if their pretence had been to make shew of their pompe After that Pompey had heard them he condemned Aristobulus violence but for that time he dismissed them after some fauourable and gracious conference promising them that he would come into their countrie and determine their differents after he had seene the region of the Nabatheans commanding them in the meane while to liue in peace He vsed Aristobulus likewise very kindly fearing least he should incense the people and shut vp his passage which notwithstanding came to passe For Aristobulus came into the Citie of Delion and from thence went into Iudaea without respect of that which Pompey had commaunded him CHAP. VI. Pompey maketh himselfe Lord of the Castles by a warlike stratageme POmpey hearing this was sore displeased therewith and taking with him his army which he had prepared against the Nabatheans with the supplies he had in Damalco and the rest of Syria besides the other Roman companies that he had he marched forth against Aristobulus when as therefore he had left Pella and Scythopolis behind him he came to Core as which is the entrance into Iudaea drawing toward the heart of the countrey There found he a goodly Castle scituate vpon the top of a mountaine called Alexandrion whither Aristobulus was retired For which cause he sent Embassadours to inuite him to come and parlee with him who perswaded by the counsaile of many of his inward friends in no sort to commence warre against the Romanes came downe vnto him and after he had debated his title with his brother as touching the kingdome Pompey permitted him to returne againe into his Castle And this did he two or three times alwaies flattering Pompey thorow the hope he had of the kingdome and making a shew that he would be obedient vnto him in whatsoeuer he would command him Meane while he retired himselfe and fortified the place and made preparation for the warre for feare least Pompey should transferre the kingdome to Hircanus But when as Pompey commaunded him that he should deliuer vp the fortresses that he held and had written with his owne hand to the captaines of the garrisons who otherwise would not
appeare how our nation reward entertaine such men as are vertuous and to the intent that the honour we impart vnto him may prouoke others to be the better affected towards vs. It is likewise decreed that amongst all the Athenians there be certaine Embassadours chosen who shall beare this Decree vnto him and exhort him to doe whatsoeuer is profitable for our common good seeing himselfe so much honoured by vs. Let this suffice to expresse the honors bestowed on Hircanus by the people of Rome and the Citizens of Athens After that Caesar had giuen order for the affaires of Syria he returned backe by sea And as soone as Antipater had brought Caesar out of Syria he returned into Iudaea and sodainly builded vp the walles which were before time defaced by Pompey and in riding circuit about the countrey he pacified the troubles not onely by menaces but by counsailes also which he gaue euery one to liue in peace certifying them that if they submitted themselues to Hircanus their prince they should liue happily and enioy their possessions without any trouble and that if they hoped to aduance themselues by any new commotion supposing by that meanes to profit themselues some way they should feele that in steed of a gouernor they had a master and in steed of a king they should find Hircanus a tyrant and in steed of the Romans and Caesar to be their gouernors they should feele and find them to be their most hatefull enemies for that they would not suffer that any thing should be altered that they had established By these and such like admonitions he kept and continued all the countrey in peace CHAP. XVII Antipater committeth the gouernment of Galilee to his sonne Herode and that of Ierusalem to Phasaelus his other sonne and how Sextus Caesar aduanceth Herode to great honors and dignities ANtipater perceiuing that Hircanus was slow and idle he declared and appointed Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour ouer Ierusalem and the countrey thereabout As for Herode who was verie young for he was not at that time aboue fifteene yeeres olde he committed Galilee vnto his charge who although he were young in yeeres yet did not his tender age any waies preiudice him because he was of a noble spirit and found out this sodaine occasion to expresse that vertue that was in him For hauing apprehended Exechias who was the prince of those theeues who ranged ouer all Syria a long time with a great troupe of outlawes he put him to death with diuers of his complices Which act of his got him no little estimation and credit among the Syrians for by that meanes he rid their countrey of all those robbers according as they desired He was therefore praised thorow the villages and Cities for this act as he that had giuen them peace and assured possession of their estates For this cause he was made knowne to Sextus Caesar who was vncle to Caesar the great Furthermore his brother Ph◅saelus was incited to follow his noble actions and inforced himselfe to obtaine no lesse reputation then he had for which cause he stroue to get the good will of the common people in Ierusalem gouerned the citie with such discretion that he acted all things to each mans content and abused not his power to any priuat mans iniurie which was the cause that Antipater was honoured by the whole nation with no lesse respect then if he had been their only Lord and soueraigne Yet did not this eminencie of estate so farre distract him that he forgot the loue and duetie he ought to Hircanus as in such like occasions it oftentimes falleth out notwithstanding diuers of the greatest amongst the Iewes seeing Antipater and his sonnes so highly aduanced both by the publike fauour of the whole nation as also by the reuenues that they drew both out of Iewry as also by the emploiment of Hircanus money were grieuously incensed against them For Antipater had made friendship with the Emperours of Rome and hauing perswaded Hircanus to send them money he had appropriated the same vnto himselfe sending it not in Hircanus name but in his owne which though Hircanus knew yet was he not mooued therewith but rather well contented But that which most of all terrified the princes of the Iewes was to behold the violent and audacious nature of Herode who gouerned after a royall and tyrannical manner For this cause they addressed themselues to Hircanus and accused Antipater openly How long said they will you dissemble and winke at those things that are daily practized see you not that Antipater and his sons possesse in effect the royall power and authoritie of the kingdome and that you haue onely the name Assure your selfe that you are not out of danger in contemning thus both your selfe and your kingdome For Antipater and his sonnes are not now your substitutes neither intend they your profit or your countries good whatsoeuer your opinion is of them but they openly are known for lords and Commanders For Herode Antipaters son hath already put Ezechias and his complices to death and thereby transgressed our lawes which forbid to take away any mans life how wicked soeuer he be except he be first of all condemned to death by the councell and notwithstanding this he hath been so bold as to doe iustice without your authoritie When Hircanus heard this he grew wroth for their mothers whom Herode had slain had incensed him by their continuall exclamations in the temple exhorting the king and people to call Herode to account before the councell of that which he had done So that Hircanus mooued by these womē called Herode to answere vnto those accusations which were obiected against him Who made his appearance forewarned by his father not to present himselfe after the maner of a priuate person but wel attended and accompanied to withstand all inconuenients After therefore he had taken order for the affaires in Galilee according as he thought meet in his owne discretion and that he himselfe was sufficiently accompanied to make his voiage with such a guard as neither might terrifie Hircanus with number nor leaue himselfe vnsecured in danger he resorted to Ierusalem Furthermore Sextus Caesar gouernour of Syria wrote vnto Hircanus to absolue him adding threats to his perswasions if so be he should performe the contrarie which gaue Hircanus occasion to deliuer Herode in despite of the councell and their intent the rather also for that he loued him as intirely as his sonne When as therefore Herode presented himselfe before the councell with his retinue all of them were astonished and none of those that accused him in his absence durst open their mouthes to speake one word but all of them kept silence not knowing what to doe Now whilest they stood vpon these tearmes a certaine man called Sameas who was of vpright conuersation and for this cause was not distracted with feare arose and spake to this effect Dread
and Anthony and Caesar the younger Wherupon Malichus mightily fearing Antipaters power determined to make him away and hauing corrupted Hircanus butler with money with whom both of them celebrated a feast hee made him away by poyson and afterwards assembling many men of warre about him he made himselfe master of the Citie When Herode and Phasaelus vnderstood of the traiterous conspiracie attempted against their father they were grieuously incensed against Malichus But hee denied all and in especiall abiured the intent or practise of the murther Thus died Antipater a iust and vertuous man and such a one as deerely loued his countrey But Herode who was his younger sonne incontinently resolued to reuenge his fathers death and came forth with an army against Malichus But Phasaelus who was the elder determined to circumuent him by policie for feare least he should raise a ciuill warre He therefore accepted of Malichus iustifications and made a shew that he supposed that he had in no such sort sought Antipaters death and only intended his fathers monument and funerals Meane while Herode resorting to Samaria and finding it in desperate estate restored the same and pacified the dissensions that were amongst the inhabitants Not long after by reason of a feast he came to Ierusalem with his men of warre Wherupon Malichus being affraid of this his accesse perswaded Hircanus that he should not permit him to enter into the Citie whereunto Hircanus condescended alleadging for pretext of his defence that amongst the holy people it was not lawfull to intermixt a troupe of polluted men But Herode made small reckoning of them that brought him this newes and notwithstanding this commaund entred the Citie by night whereat Malichus was much amazed Whereupon according to his wonted dissimulations he openly wept and bewailed the death of Antipater as his especiall friend but vnder hand he prepared a guard for his owne safetie Notwithstanding it was thought meet by Herodes friends to take no notice of this his dissimulation but to make a shew for their parts that they were wel affected towards Malichus CHAP. XX. Herode at the commaund of Cassius killeth Malichus by policie HEreupon Herode certified Cassius of Antipater his fathers death who knowing very well of what conuersation Malichus was wrote backe vnto Herode that he should reuenge the death of his father besides he sent secret letters to the captaines that were in Tyre commanding them to aide and assist Herode in that so iust execution which he intended After therefore that Cassius had taken Laodicea and the inhabitants of the countrey came togither bringing with them crownes and siluer to present him Herode expected that Malichus in that place should receiue his punishment but he entring into suspition of some like practise at such time as they drewe neere vnto Tyre in Phoenicia attempted farre greater things For whereas his sonne was an hostage in Tyre he entred the Citie with an intent to draw him thence and afterwards to returne into Iudaea After this vsurping vpon that oportunitie which he had by reason of Cassius troubles who hastily marched forward to meet with Anthony he determined to draw the people to an insurrection and to make himselfe Lord of the countrey but God disappointed his vniust purposes For Herode being a man of ripe iudgement incontinently discouered his pretence and sent one of his seruants before as if vnder purpose to prepare a banquet because he had told him before time that he would entertaine all his followers but in effect he sent him to the captaines to command them to issue out with their daggers and to meet Malichus who marching forth and meeting him neere vnto the shore of the Citie vpon the sea coast stabbed him in that place with their daggers Which act did so much astonish Hircanus that thorow amaze he waxed speechlesse and finally being much mooued he demaunded of Herodes men what accident had happened and who it was that had slaine Malichus Whereof when they certified him and how nothing was done without Cassius commaund he answered that all things were well done for that Malichus was a wretched man and a traitour to his countrey See here how Malichus was iustly punished for the wickednesse he committed against Antipater When Cassius was departed out of Syria there arose a new tumult in Iudaea for Faelix who was left in Ierusalem with an army marched forth against Phasaelus and all the people were in armes For which cause Herode speedily repaired to Fabius gouernour of Damasco and intending to succour his brother was preuented by a sicknesse so that Phasaelus obtaining the victory by his owne forces against Faelix enclosed him vp in a tower whence afterwards he dismissed him vnder composition Whereupon he presently and grieuously rebuked Hircanus for that being forgetfull of diuers benefits which he had receiued by him he had giuen aide vnto his enemies For Malichus brother being at that time reuolted planted garrisons in diuers fortresses and namely in Masada which was the strongest of them all As soone as Herode therefore had recouered his health he drew forth his forces against him and dispossessed him of diuers places that he held and after suffered him to depart with his life and goods CHAP. XXI Herode discomfiteth Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus and driueth him out of Iudaea seeking to recouer his fathers kingdome by the aide of the prince of Tyre PTolomey Mennaeus drew vnto him by force of his money Aristobulus sonne the young Antigonus who had gathered a power and hired Fabius and was likewise drawne by Ptolomey vnder titles of consanguinitie and adoption With him ioyned Marion whom Cassius had made Gouernour in Tyre For this man hauing occupied Syria by tyrannie kept garrison therein Marion also inuaded Galilee which confined his countrey and hauing seazed three strong fortresses therein he kept garrisons in the same Herode also marching forth against him dispossessed him of them al and gratiously dismissed those Tyrians that had the keeping thereof bestowing benefits on some of them for the loue he bare vnto their citie And that done he came and encountred with Antigonus and fought with him and ouercame him before he had scarcely entred on the marches of Iudaea and droue him from thence When hee was come to Ierusalem Hircanus and all the people honoured him with crownes for already was he inserted into Hircanus family for that by promise hee was his sonne in lawe by which meanes he had more willingly vndertaken his defence for that he was to marrie Alexanders the sonne of Aristobulus daughter who was Hircanus neece on whom he begat three sonnes and two daughters Before her also had he married a wife of his owne nation who was called Doris on whom he begat Antipater his eldest sonne CHAP. XXII Herod meeting with Antonius in Bithynia giueth him a great summe of money to the ende he should not giue â—…are to those that would accuse him ANtonius and
as soone as they came into Galilee the gouernours of the Cities in that countrey came forth armed to meete them Barzapharnes also at the first gaue them friendly entertainment and honoured them with presents but anon after he began to practise treacherie For Phasaelus and his attendants were conducted to a lodging that adioyned the sea where hearing tidings that Antigonus had promised one thousand talents and fiue hundreth virgins to the Parthians he began already to suspect the Barbarians For a certaine friend of his had giuen him an inckling that there were treasons intended against him that verie night and that his lodging was priuily beset with a guard And surely they had been surprised had they not expected that the Parthians who were round about Ierusalem should be seazed of Herode fearing least he hauing an inckling of their desaster should betake himselfe to flight And that this was true they incontinently gathered by the guard that was set about them For which cause there were certaine of Phasaelus friends who counsailed him that without any more delay he should betake him to his horse and flie from thence and amongst the rest Ofilius was most earnest who had wrought out of Saramalla a rich Syrian who offered them his ships that road hard by to further their flight all that which they pretended But Phasaelus would neither forsake Hircanus nor leaue his brother Herode in danger but repairing to Barzapharnes he told him that he did him wrong to vse these sinister practises against them For that if he had neede of money he was more likely to receiue it at his hands then from Antigonus and howsoeuer he wrought it was an intolerable iniurie to put Embassadours to death who came vnto him vnder pledge of his honour and had no waies offended him But the Barbarian hearing these things protested by an oth that no one point of that which he had suspected was true but that he was onely troubled with false surmises wherupon he presently departed to Pacorus CHAP. XXV The Parthians lead away Hircanus and Phasaelus into captiuitie AS soone as he was departed certaine of the Parthians tooke Hircanus and Phasaelus prisoners who mightily detested their periuries But the Eunuch that was sent vnto Herode had commandement giuen him to entice and traine him without the Citie walles and afterwards to apprehend him But Herode was forewarned of this treacherie by certaine messengers who were sent by Phasaelus to giue him notice thereof who being intercepted by the enemy in the way and Herode getting notice thereof he addressed himselfe to Pacorus and those in greatest authoritie among the Parthians as to them that were the masters who subtilly dissembled notwithstanding they knew how all things went telling him that he should doe well to repaire with them without the wall to go and meete those messengers who brought him letters who had not as yet been seazed by their aduersaries but came to certifie him of Phasaelus good estate But Herode gaue them no credit because he was already other waies aduertized of his brothers surprisall and had also â—…rre greater suspicion of the Parthians by the solicitation of Hircanus daughter whom he had married And although the rest made no account of her aduertisements yet Herode gaue credit vnto her for that she was a most wise woman Now whilest the Parthians were in deliberation what were best to be done in that it was held no policie to make open assault vpon such a man they deferred the whole matter vntill the next morning Whilest thus they were debating of their differents Herode came vnto them who rather giuing credit to that which he had heard as concerning his brother and touching the treasons intended against him by the Parthians then to his aduersaries as soone as it was night concluded to make vse of the time and to make away without staying any longer amongst those vncertaine dangers which his enemies intended against him For which cause he fiâ—… with those men of warre which hee had with him and mounting his mother his sister and his betrothed whom he was to marry who was Alexanders daughter the neece of Aristobulus and her mother who was Hircanus daughter and her younger brother with all their family and traine he departed into Idumaea without espiall or suspicion of the enemy Amongst whom there was not one so hard orâ—…yron-hearted who seeing such a pitifull spectacle could not be mooued to compassion beholding the mothers drag away their little children and abandon their countrey with tears and complaints and that which was worse to leaue their friends in bondage without any hope of comfort or redresse But Herode mastered these misfortunes by his inuincible courage and for that he was a constant man in all fortunes he exhorted euery one of them whom he met in the way to be of good courage and not to abandon themselues to immeasurable sorrow for that by such meanes they might hinder his retreat on which their sole and securest conseruation depended whereupon they for their parts indeuoured themselues to digest their griefes according to Herodes exhortation Meane while he hardly refrained from laying violent hands on himselfe by reason of the chariot wherein his mother roade which ouerturned and had almost slaine her yea so much did this casualtie terrifie him for feare least the enemy in pursuit should surprise him during these delaies as that he drew and prepared his sword to kill himselfe had not some assistants and followers stept in to him and staied the stroke beseeching him instantly not to forsake them leaue them subiect to the enemies violence assuring him that it was not the part of a valiant man to respect his owne priuate interest and neglect his friends perill By these perswasions he was induced to hold his hands both by reason of the apprehension of these words which were spoken vnto him as also for that he was ouerruled by the multitude of those who would not permit his hand to execute his will so that taking vp his mother and doing her all the seruice that the time permitted he followed on his way and with the speediest and neerest meanes he could he retired toward the Castle of Massada where in the way he oftentimes fought against the Parthians that charged and pursued him and returned alwaies with victorie from them The Iewes also were not in peace with him during this his flight for scarcely had he trauailed sixtie stounds out of the Citie but that they assailed him in the high way but he put them to flight and obtained the victorie not like a desperate man enforced thereunto thorow necessitie but like a discreet well furnished and valiant souldier So that in the very place where he obtained that victorie against the Iewes after such time as he was made king he builded a most sumptuous pallace and neere vnto the same a citie which he called Herodium Whilest he remained at Ressa a
had afterwards endured many paines and miseries Furthermore that his friends were in great daunger and left besieged for which cause hee had sailed by winter and despised all daungers onely to seeke for assistance at his hands on whom depended his hope and last refuge CHAP. XXVI Herode is made king of Iury by the Romane Senate ANtonius hearing all those alterations that had befallen Herode had compassion of his misery bethinking himselfe of the estate and condition of great men who are likewise subiect to no lesse casualties and the rather was he induced to doe him good both in remembrance of the friendship he had with Antipater his father as also by reason of Herodes promises of certaine summes of money if so be he were made king by his meanes as he had beene before time declared Tetrarch But that which most moued him hereunto was the hatred which he bare vnto Antigonus whom he accounted to be a mutinons man and an enemy to the Romans fortune On the other side Caesar was wel inclined to succour him both in regard of those armies which Antipater had brought into Aegyptin his fathers seruice as also because of the good hospitality and kindnes that he had shewed him in all things as in especiall to gratifie Antonius who was well affected towards Herode Whereupon the Senate being assembled Messala and Atratinus brought forth Herode and after they had praised him and recited the benefits which the Romans had receiued by his father and the great affection and good will which he bare to the people of Rome they accused declared Antigonus for the Romanes enemy not onely for his ancient crimes but also for that in contempt of the Romans he had receiued the kingdome from the Parthians Whilest the Senate was sore displeased at the report of these things Antonius arose and declared openly before thē all that in furtherance of the Parthian warre it were not amisse that Herode should be made king which opinion of his was generally allowed and finally ratified The principall demonstration of the loue and affection which Antonius bare vnto Herode was that he not onely obtained him the kingdome beyond all hope for neuer thought he that the Romans would grant that dignity vnto him who were wont to reserue that honour to those of the kings bloud and therefore he intended to haue demaunded it for his wiues brother Alexander and nephew to Aristobulus by the fathers side and to Hircanus by the mother which Alexander Herode afterwards put to death as it shall be declared in place conuenient but also for that within the terme of seuen daies he sent him out of Italy with the vnexpected titles of his felicitie As soone as the Senate weas risen Antonius and Caesar issued forth leading Herode betweene them and being accompanied by the Consuls and other magistrates went vp into the capitol to do sacrifice and to place there this decree the Senate had made as touching this matter The first day of Herodes raigne Antonius feasted him and after this sort was he established king in the hundreth eightie and fourth Olympiade in the yeere wherein C. Domitius Caluinus twice Consul and Caius Asinius Pollio were Consuls Meane while Antigonus besieged those that were in the castle of Massada who were plentifully furnished with all things necessary except it were water for which cause Ioseph Herodes brother that was within and two hundreth of his friends had concluded to flie vnto the Arabians for that they vnderstood that Malchus had repented himselfe of the fault he had committed against Herode But whilest they stoode vpon these termes God powred downe a huge raine on a certaine night that in short time filled their cestemes in such sort as that they had no more necessitie to flie and from that time forward they waxed confident and for that this abundance of water befel them by Gods prouidence they made a sallie vpon their enemies in which they charged Antigonus soldiers after such a maner somtime in open field sometime by couert assault that they slue a great number of them At that time Ventidius a Romane captaine was sent into Syria to driue the Parthians from thence after their departure he arriued in Iury making shew that he would assist Ioseph but in effect all his pretence was to draw money form Antigonus Being therefore encamped neer vnto Ierusalem and hauing drawn sufficient money from Antigonus he retired himselfe with the greater part of his forces and to the intent his deceitfull dealing might not be discouered he left Silo with a company of his soldiers who likewise was honoured by Antigonus for feare least he should be cause of some newe trouble before such time as the Parthians whose comming he expected should yeelde him aide CHAP. XXVII Herode returneth from Rome by sea and fighteth against Antigonus AFter that Herode was come from Italy by sea to Ptolemais and that he had assembled no small number of soldiers both straungers and his owne countrimen he marched forward against Antigonus and passed thorow Galilee Silo and Ventidius also gaue him assistance in this action hauing receiued direction by Gellius from Antonius that they should assist Herode to recouer his countrey But Ventidius was employed in appeasing the troubles that were raised in the cities by the Parthians and as touching Silo he kept in Iudaea hauing beene corrupted by Antigonus But the further that Herode daily marched into the countrey the more and more increased his forces and all Galilee except a very few submitted themselues vnto him Whilest therefore hee marched forward toward Massada being vrged thereunto in that he was to relieue his parents that were besieged therein the citie of Ioppe would not grant him passage for the citizens thereof were his enemies so that it behooued him first of all to ruinate the same to the end he might leaue no retreat or place of rescous for his enemy on his backe if so be he made towards Ierusalem Vpon which occasion Silo laying hold dislodged his army made thitherward whom when the Iewes did pursue Herode sallied out with a small company and put them to flight and saued Silo notwithstanding he fought very coldly and cowardly Afterwards being seazed of Ioppe he hasted onwards to deliuer his friends that were besieged in Massada but part of the inhabitants submitted themselues vnto him for the friendship they had borne vnto his father an other sort of them for the honour that they bare vnto him the rest admitted his goue◅ment in acknowledgement of those benefits they had receiued from them both But the greatest part was thereunto moued by the hope they had conceiued of their new elected king and the confirmation of his gouernment Thus by these meanes was his army mightily increased Whilest thus he marched forward Antigonus seazed those places that were fittest to lay ambushes in or to fight at aduantages by the way
not seeme troublesome vnto him Which matter when Herode vnderstood he thought it no waies incident to his securitie to send Aristobulus who was a faire young man and little more at that time then sixteene yeeres olde so nobly borne considering that Antonius was at that present in such authoritie that no one in Rome was in greater credit then he and who besides that was verie much addicted to his pleasures which he openly hunted after without feare of punishment in regard of his greatnes and power He therefore wrote him this answere that if the young man should but onely depart out of the countrey all the land would incontinently be filled with warre and troubles for that the Iewes pretended alteration in gouernment and sought to innouate by preferring a new king When as therefore he had in this sort excused himselfe vnto Antonius he resolued to entertaine both the younger Aristobulus and his mother Alexandra with more respect Moreouer his wife Mariamme did continually importune him to giue the priesthood to her brother alledging that by that honour he might preuent the occasion of his trauell For which cause assembling his friends togither in counsell he grieuously accused Alexandra before them protesting that she secretly conspired against the kingdome and that by the mediation of Cleopatra she laboured to dispossesse him of the soueraigntie to the intent that her sonnes by Antonius meanes might gouerne in his steed Which practise of hirs was so much the more vniust because she depriued her owne daughter of that honour wherein she was inseated raised vp troubles likewise in that kingdome which he had conquered with great trauel and extreme daunger Yet notwithstanding that he willingly forgat that which was past and forgaue those wrongs she had vrged against him and vvas readie notwithstanding to shew all kindnes and courtesie both to her and hers Furthermore he gaue the high priesthood to young Aristobulus alledging that heretofore he had established Ananel in that place for no other respect then for that Aristobulus was vnder yeeres After that he had thus seriously and considerately discoursed in the presence of the Ladies and the consistorie of his friends Alexandra almost beside her selfe not only thorow the ioy she had conceiued by this vnexpected good fortune but also for the feare she had to be suspected began to defend her selfe with teares protestations saying that al whatsoeuer she had either practised or done was to prefer her son vnto the Priesthood whō she saw dishonoured but as touching the kingdome that she had neuer pretēded neither would if so be she should be presented therwith receiue the same thinking her selfe for the present sufficiently honoured both for that she saw Aristobulus in that estate as for the assurance that all her progeny should receiue in that he was lifted vp in dignitie aboue the rest Being therefore ouercome by those merits she accepted willingly the honour for her sonne and shewed her selfe obedient in all things requesting him that if she had committed any thing rashy and thorow inconsideration of passion either in respect of her children or in vnbridled cariage of her tongue hee would be pleased to pardon her After these debates and interchangeable discourses on either side they shooke hands the one with the other in token of a more fixed and vnfained friendship then was before burying as they then pretended all euill suspition or cause of vnkindnes CHAP. III. Herode preferreth Aristobulus his wife Mariammes brother to the Priesthood and afterwards pu◅eth him to death HEreupon Herode tooke away the Priesthood instantly from Ananel who was not that countriman borne as we haue heretofore declared but was borne amongst those Iewes that inhabite and were planted beyond Euphrates by the Assirians For diuers thousand Iewes inhabite the countrey of Babylon and from thence tooke he his originall also being otherwise of the race of the Priests and intirely affected toward Herode for a long time before with whom he had familiar acquaintance He had preferred him to this honour at such time as he was made king and degraded him likewise to appease the troubles of his family demeasning himselfe herein contrarie to the law of the countrey For whereas any one hath once beene installed in that degree he is neuer to be displaced The first that transgressed this ordinance was Antiochus Epiphanes who dispossessed Iosuah and preferred his brother Onias to his place The second was Aristobulus who tooke it away from his brother Hircanus and vsurped it himselfe Herode was the third who gaue the Priesthood to Aristobulus establishing him in Ananels place before he was dead and by this meanes supposing that he had found out a remedie to appease the discords of his family he notwithstanding all this liued not without suspition what euent would follow after this reconciliation For he feared Alexandra least demeasning her selfe in such sort as before time she had done she should seeke occasion hereafter to raise new troubles He commaunded her therefore to containe her selfe within the roial pallace and to doe nothing of her owne authoritie Besides that he had appointed certaine intelligencers who should diligently obserue that nothing should be done without his knowledge no not concerning her particular expences and table All which things exasperated her hate and increased the same against Herode for being full of feminine pride she disdained to see her selfe thus wrongfully suspected desiring rather to suffer any thing then to be depriued of the liberty of free speech and vnder colour to be honoured to liue continually in seruitude and feare Whereupon she sent certaine of her trustie friends to Cleopatra to complaine and lament vnto her the importable miseries of her present estate requiring her according to her power to giue readie and speedie reliefe Whereupon Cleopatra sent her word that both she and her sonne should resort vnto her into Aegypt with as great secrecie as might be possible Vpon which aduice and the allowance thereof she practised this policy She caused two coffins to be made such as men were wont to burie the dead in in which she hid both her selfe and her sonne commaunding those seruants of hers that were priuie to her deliberation to carie them out in the night time and to bend their course directly towards the sea where there was a barke in readinesse prepared to shape their course and conuey them into Aegypt But Esop one of her household seruants declared this enterprise of hers to Sabbion one of Alexandras friends supposing that he had beene made priuie thereunto who had no sooner inkling thereof but for that before times he was Herodes enemy by reason he was suspected to haue beene one of those that sought to poison Antipater he determined by discouery of this secret flight to conuert Herodes hate into assured friendship and presently discouered Alexandras secret enterprise to the king Who dissembling the matter vntill it
the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their familie but rather that he should stand vpon his owne guard and reserue himselfe to his better hoped fortunes She furthermore gaue him counsell to write vnto Malchus who had the gouernment of Arabia requesting him to graunt him both protection and entertainment For that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtlesse the kingdome would returne vnto him both in regard of his nobility as also of the peoples fauour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being ouercome by the importunitie of the woman who ceased not day and night to sing the same song of future hope and of Herods treasons he gaue certaine letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certaine horsmen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite lake which lieth distant from the confines of Ierusalem some three hundred furlongs And therefore especially committed hee these letters to Dositheus trust both for that he fauoured Hircanus and his daughter and seemed likely for diuers causes to hate Herod for he was Iosephs kinsman who was slaine by Herod and not long before certaine of his brothers were slaine amongst others at Tire by Anthonies command yet for none of these occasions continued he faithfull to Hircanus For he setting more by the present fauour of the king that then raigned then the rest discouered the letter vnto the king who first of all giuing him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding vp the letter and sealing it he should conueigh and deliuer the same to Malchus and returne his answer for that it merely concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently perfourmed the Arabian returned this answer that he was readie to entertaine both himselfe and his whole family and all those Iewes likewise which were of his faction promising to send him a band of souldiours who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soone as Herod was seazed of these letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus who denied the same But Herod protesting and bringing forth his letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters registred in Herodes commentaries for by some are they deliuered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some treasons against the king For they write to this effect that Herod at a certaine banquet dissembling his suspition demaunded of Hircanus whether he had receiued anie letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had receiued letters but such as conteined nothing els but officious salutations Further that another asked him whether he had receiued anie present therewithall and when he had answered that he had receiued nothing but foure coursers for his saddle the king wrested this to a capitall offence of corruption and treason and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltlesse they alleage this for a most approued argument namely his gentle disposition who euen in his youthfull yeares neuer gaue signe or appearance of rashnesse or pride or signification of audaciousnesse no not euen then when he had the royall gouernment in his hands but in that freedome of authoritie disposed the most things by Antipaters aduise But at that time he was more then fourscore yeares old and knew that Herods estate was secured and passing Euphrates also and liuing on the other side of the riuer he left such as held him in great honour and returned home into his owne countrie to the end he might liue vnder Herodes gouernment Whereby it is lesse likelie that he would attempt any alteration so farre different from his nature so that all these things seeme to be fained by Herode Thus ended Hircanus his life after his variable and aduerse fortune wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For at such time as his mother Alexandra liued he was created high priest of the Iewes and obtained that honour for the space of nine yeeres and after his mothers death he had scarcely gouerned the kingdome for the space of three moneths but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus and afterwards restored by Pompeies assistance and receiuing all his former honours he liued in full possession of them for the space of fortie yeeres After this he was once more distated by Antigonus and being maimed in his bodie liued certaine yeeres in captiuitie among the Parthians from whence not long after he returned home and though he had many things promised him by Herode yet after so many alterations of fortune he obtained nothing at his hands and that which amongst all the rest is most of all to be lamented as we haue said he was vniustly put to death an innocent and in his olde age For he was a louer of iustice and an obseruer of perpetuall modestie and gouerned his kingdome for the most part by other mens direction being onely guiltie in himselfe of ignorance and the loue of idlenesse Truly Antipater and Herode by this mans goodnesse obtained their so great riches for which deserts of his against all lawe and right hee was cruelly put to death But Herode after Hircanus death addressed himselfe to performe his iourny towards Caesar and hauing little hope of any good fortune in regard of his friendship with Antonius he grew desperately iealous of Alexandra for feare least she taking oportunitie of the time should incite the people to rebell and fill the kingdome with domesticall sedition for which cause committing the gouernment of the estate to his brother Pheroras he left his mother Cypros his sister and all his kinred in the castle of Masada and commaunded his brother that if any misfortune should befall him he should retaine the kingdome in his owne hands and maintaine it As for his wife Mariamme for that by reason of certaine dislikes betwixt her his mother and sister they might not liue togither he left her with her mother Alexandra in the castle of Alexandrian and committed them to the custodie of his treasurour Ioseph and Sohemus the Iturian and with her the keeping of his castles both which had alwaies beene his faithfull friends and to whom in way of honour he committed the custodie of these princely Ladies But he gaue them also this commandement that if they should be certified that any sinister mishap had befallen him they should presently kill them both and to the vtmost of their power continue the kingdome in his children and his brother Pheroras CHAP. X. How Herode obtained the kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands AFter he had in this sort giuen order for all his affairs he withdrew himselfe vnto Rhodes intending
departed out of it and mooued with religion to make satisfaction he builded a most sumptuous monument of white marble at the entrances into the Sepulchre of which building Nicholaus also a writer of that time maketh mention but he speaketh not how they went into the Sepulchre of Dauid thinking that therein he should not keepe decorum if he should make mention thereof Wherein he followed his accustomed order for his writings were to come to the eares of the king yet liuing wherein he did onely curry fauour mentioning onely that that might redound vnto the kings credit so that many of his open and wicked prankes he doth either colour vnder some other pretence or else alwaies possible he endeuoured to hide them For he doth as it were tell a tale of Herodes crueltie against Mariamme and his sonnes as though he did thereby deserue credit and praise accusing her of adulterie and them as traitors vnto their father and this he doth cleane thorow his workes too much extolling the kings good deedes and too diligently excusing his bad deedes and iniquities But as I haue said we must pardon him who did not so much write to leaue a memorie of things done vnto after ages as to gratifie and please his king But I who come of the linage of the Asamonian kings and execute the office of a Priest account it a shame to lie and doe intend truely to recount the historie of all things that were acted and done yet with a reuerence of the posteritie of that king who doe also now beare sway and rule yet with their pardon and leaue hauing a greater care to the veritie of our historie then to them After the Sepulchre was thus violated Herods house began to decay whether reuenge lighting vpon that part which was alreadie scarse sound or whether by meere chance such calamitie at that time befell him as might iustly be thought the reward of impietie For there was a discord in the court not vnlike vnto ciuill warres euerie one striuing against other with hatred and forged accusations but especially Antipaters politicke practise against his brethren was to be noted who entangling them by other mens forged accusations himselfe oftentimes seemed to take vpon him their defence that making a shew of good will vnto them he might secretly oppresse them the sooner and he did so craftily circumuent his father that his father deemed him to bee his onely conseruer Wherefore the king commended Ptolomeus his procurator vnto Antipater his sonne and did communicate all his secrets vnto his mother so that all things were done according as they pleased and they made him displeased ◅gainst those whom they knew the kings displeasure might redoud vnto their profit But Mariammes children did euerie day stomacke the matter more and more disdaining to giue place vnto their inferiour and for their nobiltie not enduring to be remoued from their places and not to keepe their dignitie also their wiues did the like and Alexanders wife Glaphyra who was the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia did greatly enuy and disdaine Salome and she also her againe both for the loue that she bare vnto her husband and for that she disdained as women are wont that her daughter married vnto Aristobulus should be in equall honour with her Pheroras also the kings brother had a hand in this other contention about a priuate cause of suspition and hatred For he fell so farre in loue with one of his maides that he refused the kings daughter offered vnto him rather making choise of his maide Herode tooke this in verie euill part seeing his brother who had receiued so many benefits at his hands and was almost his fellow in his kingdome by his meanes not to shew the like brotherly affection to him againe as he then ought and himselfe to be an vnhappie brother And seeing he could not disswade him from that madnesse he maried his daughter vnto Phasaelus his sonne and afterward thinking that now his brothers mind towards his maide was satisfied he complaining of his iniurious dealing in repulsing his daughter offered vnto him to wife he now offered him another of his daughters named Cypros Then Ptolomeus aduised Pheroras not still to contemne his brothers offer and persist in such folly telling him it was his meere folly therefore to incurre the kings displeasure and hatred and losse of tranquilitie Pheroras vnderstanding this counsell profitable for him hauing beene once before iniuriously accused and obtained pardon at the kings hands sent away his maid by whom he now had a son and promised the king to mary this his other daughter appointed the thirtith day after to celebrate his mariage making a solemne oth vnto the king neuer after that time to vse the company of that womā whom he had put away The time appointed being expired he fell so farre in loue with the former woman that he would not stand to his promise but againe companied with his maid Then Herode not able any longer to conteine himselfe vsed many speeches whereby he euidētly shewed his mind to be alienated from his brother And there were many who taking hereat opportunitie did by forged calumniations encrease his alienation so that now there was no day nor hower past wherein he did not still heare some new alterations and stirs amongst his deerest friends whom nature willed to combine themselues to maintaine concord and amitie For Salome being now offended at Mariammes children did not permit her daughter maried vnto Aristobulus one of the young men to enioy mutuall loue and comfort of her husband enticing her to bewraie her husbands secret talke and if she heard any small occasions of offence as often it falleth out she should the more aggrauate them with suspicions whereby she also learned all their secrets and made the young woman hate her husband And she to please her mother recounted how that often when her husband and Alexander were alone that then they were wont to talke of Mariamme their mother and vse reprochfull words against their father and threatning that if they euer did obtaine the kingdome they would make the sonnes of the king whom he had by other wiues notaries and towne-clerkes and so they might reape profit of their learning which they now studied for and whensoeuer they saw any of the kings wiues weare any of Mariammes apparell that then they vowed in steed of that attire to cloath them with sackcloth and shut them vp where they should neuer see the Sunne Salome presently told all this to the king who though he were much grieued hereat yet he chose rather to seeke to amend it then to punish thē for he was greatly incited against them by suspition euery day waxing worse worse at last he beleeued all the reports of anie whomsoeuer But hee then contented only sharpely to chide his sonnes and pacified with their excuses and answers he for that time was quiet But presently the
and ripped vp the outrage that was done vnto his daughters as it hath beene declared ascribing the same to the pride of this woman obiecting it for a crime against her for thereby she had iniued his honour Besides this he accused her that she had of set purpose stirred vp mutinies and by all meanes possible both in word and in effect contrarie to all law of nature shee stirred vp debate betwixt him and his brother and that the fine that he had imposed vpon his aduersaries was satisfied at her charge so that no ◅ot of that conspiracy was contriued without her priuitie and consent For which causes said he brother Pheroras it shall not be amisse for you of your owne accord to driue such a wretched woman from you before you be requested and the sentence be prouounced against her otherwise she will be the cause to kindle a warre betwixt you and me For if at this present you will continue the friendship and brotherhood betwixt you and me separate your selfe from her in so doing I will account you for my brother and you shall lose nothing by the affection which I beare vnto you For the bond of brotherly loue cannot continue safe and vnuiolate vnlesse you put her away Now although Pheroras was moued with the importance and waight of this discourse yet said he that for the loue he bare vnto his wife he would forget nothing of that dutie which consanguinitie required at his hands in regard of his brother but that he had rather die then to liue without her company whom he loued more deerely then his life Herode although he tooke this answere of his brothers for a most gricuous iniurie yet forbare he to discouer his displeasure towards him he onely forbad Antipater and his mother and in like manner Pheroras to frequent the one with the other any more He commaunded the women likewise that they should giue ouer their familiar entertainments the one with the other which all of them promised to performe Yet this notwithstanding vpon fit opportunities and occasions they visited one another and Antipater and Pheroras feasted one another by night The report also went that Antipater had the company of Pheroras wife and that his mother was the meanes and minister of their priuie meetings CHAP. IIII. Herode sendeth Antipater vnto Caesar. ANtipater suspecting his fathers dislikes and fearing least his hatred should by increase bring him into hazard he wrote vnto his friends in Rome requiring them to write their letters vnto Herod requesting him to send Antipater vnto Caesar with al expedition as was possible Which being brought to passe Herode sent him thither with diuers royall presents and gaue him his testament and will with him wherein he had bequeathed the kingdome to Antipater And if it should happē that Antipater should die before him then bequeathed he the same to his son Herod whom he had by the high Priests daughter About the same time Syllaeus the Arabian repaired to Rome notwithstanding he had neglected those things that Caesar had giuen him in charge Him did Antipater accuse before Caesar for the same defaults wherewith he was charged by Nicholaus Syllaeus also was accused by Aretas for murthering diuers of the best account in the citie of Petra contrarie to his mind amongst the which was Sohemus a man of much vertue and honour and Phabatus Caesars seruant of which crimes Syllaeus was accused vpon that occasion which ensueth There was a certaine man of Corinthus who was one of the kings gard and such a one as he putvery great trust in him did Syllaeus perswade by store of money and bribes to kill Herode which he promised to performe Phabatus made priuie to Syllaeus mind he presently told it to the king who caused him to be apprehended and tortured who confessed the whole matter He laid hands also on two Arabians perswaded by this Corinthians confession one of which was a man of commaund in his countrey and the other was Syllaeus chiefest friend They being examined confessed that they came thither to solicite and egge forward with many exhortations the Corinthian to execute the murther and to assist him if he stood in need of them Which being fully approued by Herode before Saturnine he sent them to Rome there more amply to be proceeded against and so to be punished CHAP. V. Pheroras death HErode perceiuing that his brother Pheroras did constantly continue his affection towards his wife he commaunded him to retire himselfe into his owne dominion whereupon he willingly departed to his Terrarchy protesting by many solemne othes that he would neuer more returne into the citie vnlesse he were assured that Herode was dead Not long after it hapned that the king falling sicke he was sent for to receiue certaine secret instructions as from the mouth of a dying man but Pheroras would not obey him in regard of his oth This notwithstanding Herode dealt more kindly with him and continued his loue and affection towards him for he came vnto Pheroras as soone as he heard of his first sicknes and being vnsent for also and after he was deceased he sent his bodie to Ierusalem and honourably entombed him in that place and grieously lamented his death This was the beginning of all Antipaters mishaps who at that time was departed to Rome For it was Gods pleasure that at last he should be punished for the murther of his brethren This matter will I discourse of at large that it may serue for an example vnto many kings how they ought to practise and follow vertue in all their actions CHAP. VI. Pheroras wife is accused and Herode is aduertised of Antipaters conspiracies AFter Pheroras death two of his freemen who were Taphnites by birth and such as Pheroras in his life time both inlie trusted and dearely loued came vnto Herode requiring him not to suffer his brothers death to passe vnpunished but to make diligent enquirie of that vnfortunate and vnexpected misaduenture Herode lent a willing care vnto their suite perceiuing that the matters they importuned him in were likely and verie credible Whereupon they told him that Pheroras the day before his vnexpected sicknesse had supt with his wife and that hauing receiued an vnaccustomed poison with his meate he was dead That this poison had been brought thither by a woman of Arabia who in her speech protested that it was some potion to increase loue but in effect it was to bring Pheroras to his end For the women of Arabia amongst all others are skilfull in poisons and are great sorcerers and she that was charged with this fact was esteemed a great freind and sauourer of Syllaeus best beloued That Pheroras mother and his wifes sister went into those quarters vpon purpose to buy that poyson and returned backe and brought this woman with them the day before the supper The king mooued by these words of theirs tortured both those
maidseruants of theirs who were their bondwomen as also certaine other of their free seruants Now when the fact would not be extorted by reason that none of them confessed the same at length shee that was last of all put to her triall ouercome by the paines shee endured said nought else but that shee praied God that Antipaters mother might feele the like torments since shee was the cause of all those mischiefes which they endured These words of hers made Herode the more eager and inquisitiue so that by force of tortures he wrought out all the secrets of these women their banquets their secret assemblies and those verie words that Herode had spoken apart betwixt his sonne and himselfe which had beene reported vnto the women that Pheroras entertained namely that he would giue him one hundreth talents prouided he would vse no conference with Pheroras Moreouer they reckoned vp the hatred that Antipater bare vnto his father the complaints that he made vnto his mother of the too long life and continuance of his father for that in regard of himselfe he was already waxen olde so that although the kingdome should fall into his hands presently yet could he receiue but verie little contentment thereby Moreouer hee alleadged that diuers brothers and brothers children were brought vp togither with him so that he might not securely hope for any thing for that already if he should fortune to die the kingdome was to descend not to his sonne but to his brother besides this he was accustomed to accuse the king of diuers cruelties committed by him and of that murther which he executed vpon the persons of his children That for feare least he should practise his tyrannie against those that remained Antipater had found out the deuise to be summoned to Rome and Pheroras withdrew himselfe into his Tetrarchy These words which as he knew had reference vnto that which his sister had often informed him of were not by him held incredible so that being pressed with the malice of Antipater he sequestred Doris his mother from his presence spoiling her before her departure of all her iewels which were valued at many talents and from that time forward he shewed himselfe more fauourable towards those women of Pheroras household But nothing did more whet Herods displeasure against Antipater then did a certaine Samaritane who was also called Antipater who had the ordering of the affaires of Antipater the kings sonne For he being brought in question and tortured declared amongst other things that Antipater had mixed a mortall poison and deliuered the same to Pheroras his vncle commanding him to practise the kings death in his absence and by that meanes least suspected That this poison was brought out of Aegypt by one called Antiphilus Antipaters friend That it was sent to Pheroras by one called Theudion Antipaters mothers brother That this poison was kept by Pheroras wife and was committed by her husband to her custodie She being examined by the king hereupon confessed no lesse hastning forth as if she intended to fetch the same she cast her selfe downe headlond from the toppe of the house yet did she not murther her selfe because she fell vpon her feet Now after she was recouered out of her swoune and the king had promised all securitie both to her selfe and her family if so be she would discouer the truth and contrariwise threatned her with extreme torments if she obstinately continued in concealing these treasons she sware that she would discouer all things according as they were acted and as many men thought at that time she tolde nothing but the truth That poison said she was brought by Antiphilus out of Aegypt and bought there by the meanes of a brother of his who was a physition After this Theudion brought it to our house and I hauing receiued it from Pheroras hands kept the same but bought by your sonne Antipater to poison you that are his father Now therefore after that my husband fell sicke and you in kindnesse came to visit and comfort him he being mooued with compassion and conquered by your brotherly kindenesse by your good affection and louing care in giuing order for his health called me vnto him and said O Wife Antipater hath circumuented me whilest by his pestilent counsailes and poisoning practises he desireth to cut off his father and depriue me of a kinde brother Now therfore since as I perceiue there is no part of my brothers louing and naturall affection diminished towards me wherewith he was wont to entertaine me and that my latest houre of life approcheth God forbid that being ready to sleepe with my forefathers I should present them with a ghost soiled and sweltred in my brothers bloud Dispatch therefore and burne this poison before mine eies Hereupon said she I presently brought it forth according as my husband commaunded me and burnt the greatest part of the poison and the rest I reserued that if after my husbands death your grace should vse me vnkindly it might serue me to escape those extremities that would betide me After she had spoken thus she brought forth before them all the poison and the box wherein it was kept After her another of Antiphilus brothers and the mother to them both confessed no lesse being constrained thereunto by force and violence of torture and acknowledged the box The kings wife also who was the daughter of the high priest was accused for confederacie and concealement of all these treasons For which cause Herode put her away from him and raced his sonnes name out of his testament wherein he had bequeathed him the kingdome after his decease He displaced also his father in law Simon the sonne of Boëthus from the priesthood and placed Matthias the sonne of Theophilus who was borne in Ierusalem in his steed In the meane space Bathillus Antipaters freeman returned from Rome who being tortured confessed that he brought a poison with him to deliuer it to Antipaters mother and Pheroras to the ende that if the first poison were not effectuall enough to dispatch the king they might make vse of this other to cut him off speedily There came letters also to Herods hands from his friends in Rome written and deuised by Antipaters meanes to accuse Archelaus and Philip for that verie often they had refreshed the memorie of Alexander and Aristobulus death contriued by their father and for that they lamented the miserable fate of them who were innocently betraied and that now also they themselues were called backe into their countrey for no other cause but vpon their arriuall to be made partakers of their brothers miserable destinie These things did Antipaters friends certifie Herod of in that by many and mightie presents he wrought them thereunto He himselfe also wrote vnto his father colourably after a maner excusing the young men and imputing their words to their indiscretion young yeers Meane while he busied himselfe in accusing Syllaeus and coutted the chiefest Romans buying
priests place Now although Archelaus was sore displeased at these their violent proceedings yet notwithstanding he conformed himselfe to their good likings in that he was with all expedition to repaire vnto Rome to vnderstand and attend Caesars pleasure He therfore called for the general of his army willing him to perswade them not to seeke a reuenge for those men who were dead notwithstanding they were their friends because whatsoeuer was done was done according to lawe and that no enquirie might be made thereof except to the great preiudice of his reputation and hazard of his state in regard of the incertaintie of the time that it was more expedient for him to studie for the maintenance of peace vntil such time that being established in the kingdome by Caesars consent he should returne backe againe vnto them and that then he would consult with them for the common profit according to their iust demaunds wishing them for the present to containe themselues and to take heede least they stirred vppe sedition When he had thus instructed his Generall he sent him vnto them But they cried out with a lowd voice and would not suffer him to speake but for feare of danger and death they put him to silence And if any other were so forward as to speake vnto them and perswade them to some moderation and to alter their sinister resolutions he was also in danger for that they had this perswasion that all things ought rather to be ordered according to their pleasures then by the authoritie of their superiours supposing that although during Herodes life time they had been depriued of their deerest friends it should be now a matter vnworthy their courages after his death to be cut off from the priuiledge to demaund their reuenge For they were transported with their owne opinions and held all that for lawfull and vpright which was in any sort conformable to their pleasures without foreseeing the danger that might happen thereby so much were they pleased to be reuenged on those whom they reputed to be their enemies Now wheras diuers were sent by Archelaus to consult with them and diuers came vnto them not as messengers from him but as friends and louers of peace of their owne motion with an intent to pacifie them they would not permit any of them to speake and thorow their rage there arose a great tumult which had growne to a further extremitie if a greater number of people had ioyned themselues with them At that time fell the feast of vnleauened bread which is called Pascha which is a memoriall of their deliuerance out of Aegypt at which time all mâ—… doe most willingly present their sacrifices and a greater number of beasts are slaine at that feast then at any other time To this solemnitie also an infinite number of people assembled from all parts to honour God whereby the seditious supposing that they had gotten a fit opportunity lamented Iudas and Matthias who were the expositors of the law and kept themselues within the temple whither they had gathered good store of victuals which they were not ashamed impudently to begge for But Archelaus fearing least their rage should produce some more grieuous effect of mischiefe sent out a band of armed men with a captaine and a regiment of a thousand men to represse their headlong furie before the rest of the people were infected with their follies and to bring them likewise vnto him whom they found to be the forwardest in that commotion Against those thâ—… seditious cried out with great clamors and incensed the people against them so that al of them rushed in vpon the men of war and slew diuers of them The rest of them escaped with their captaine yet not without diuers wounds That done they which were within the temple returned againe to their diuine seruice Now Archelaus supposing that his whole fortune was endangered except he repressed the rage of the multitude he sent out all his footmen with a certaine number of horsemen to preuent least they that were without should yeeld assistance to those who had taken vp their lodging in the temple and to put those to the sword who hauing escaped the violence of the footmen supposed themselues to be in securitie These horsemen slew about three thousand men the rest retired themselues into the mountaines that were neere adioyning Hereupon Archelaus made proclamation that each one should repaire vnto his owne house For which cause they departed and abandoned the feast for feare of greater mischiefe notwithstanding they had spleen enough as it is the ordinarie custome of the ignorant multitude After this Archelaus accompanied with his mother betooke himselfe to sea and led with him Nicholas and Ptolomey with diuers other his friends committing the gouernment of all his houshold and kingdome to his brother Philip with him also departed Salome Herodes sister leading with her her children There went also diuers other of his kinred who said that they would all of them labour for Archelaus that he might obtaine the kingdome but in effect it was to contradict him with all their power and in especiall to vrge that against him with great vehemencie that was done in the temple Sabinus Caesars Viceroy in Syria posting into Iewrie to take charge of Herodes money met with Archelaus in Caesarea But Varus arriuing in the meane while detained him from finishing that voiage for Archelaus had sent for him to come thither by Ptolomey and Sabinus willing to doe Varus a pleasure would not seaze the fortresses of Iewrie neither sealed vp Herodes treasuries but left them in Archelaus possession vntill such time as Caesar had giuen order for the estate and after he had made this promise he staied in Caesarea After Archelaus had set saile towards Rome and Varus was departed for Antioch Sabinus went to Ierusalem where he seazed the kings pallace and calling before him the kings agents and the captaines of his gatrisons he required them to deliuer vp their Castles into his hands But they according as Archelaus had commanded them continued the possession in their accustomed manner according to the kings direction pretending to keep the same in Caesars behalfe At the same time Antipas Herods sonne trauailed to Rome likewise vnder the hope to be elected king in regard of Salomes promises and for that he better deserued the same then Archelaus considering that in the first testament which should be of more force then the latter he had been appointed king He led his mother also with him and Ptolomey the brother of Nicholas who had been one of Herodes most esteemed friends and was well affected to further and set forward his title But especially he was stirred vp to seeke the kingdome by Ireneus a man very eloquent and to whose charge in regard of his sufficiencie the affaires of the kingdome had been committed For which cause although he were perswaded to giue ouer the kingdome vnto his elder brother
And hauing found these vestments in that place he retained them with him assuring himselfe that the people would attempt nothing against him Archelaus his sonne and successour in the kingdome kept the same course that Herode had done But after that the Romanes had obtayned the souraignty thereof they kept the high Priests ornaments in their hands and reserued them in a place builded for the purpose vnder the seale of the Priests and the prefect of those that kept the sacred treasure lighted the lampe euery day in that place This euery seuenth day before the feast doth the prefect deliuer into the high priests hands and after it was purified he put it on to do diuine seruice and the next day after the feast he returneth it againe to the same place where it was kept before which custome was obserued thrice euery yeere in the time of a fast But Vitellius returned those ornaments into the hands of the Priests according to the auncient orders leauing them to be vsed at such time as need required commaunding the prefect to trouble himselfe no more about the place where they should be kept After hee had done this fauour to the nation of the Iewes hee dispossessed the high Priest Ioseph surnamed Caiaphas and aduanced Ionathan the sonne of Ananus to that dignitie and afterwards returned to Antioch At that time he receiued letters from Tiberius by which he commaunded him to capitulate and conclude a friendshippe with Artabanus the king of the Parthians whose hatred he suspected and feared least being seazed of Armenia he should worke further displeasure to the state of Rome willing him to assure the league by hostages and namely with Artabanus sonne After Tiberius had written these letters aboue mentioned vnto Vitellius he perswaded the kings of Iberia and Alania by great store of money that with all expedition they should make warre against Artabanus But the Iberians would not be drawen thereunto yet suffered they the Alaines to march thorow their countrey and opened them their gates of the mount Caspius to giue them passage to inuade Artabanus Thus once more was Armenia conquered and the countrey of the Parthians was filled with warre whereby the chiefest among them were slaine and all their estate was spoyled and disordered The kings sonne also was slaine in those conflicts with diuers thousands of his men of warre Moreouer Vitellius hauing sent money to a certaine kinsman and friend of Artabanus pretended to corrupt him to make Artabanus away But Artabanus perceiuing the plot that was intended against him and seeing that he could not escape because it was attempted by a great number of the best accompted nobles within his court ceased to passe any further and seeing himselfe most apparantly inuironed and thinking that vnder colour of friendship he was fraudulently betraied he thought it better to retire himselfe into the prouinces of the higher countrey and there to saue himselfe rather then to put himselfe in hazard and resort vnto them who had alreadie betraied and forsaken him Arriuing in in that place hee assembled a great number of soldiers of the countries of Danes and Swethians and hauing fought against them who opposed themselues against him he recouered his estate When Tiberius had tidings hereof he wrought the meanes to draw Artabanus into friendship with him which when Artabanus had notice of he willingly admitted so that Artabanus and Vitellius met togither neere Euphrates and by the means of a bridge that was builded vpon the riuer they debated the matter togither being each of them attended by their guardes After that they had concluded the peace Herode the Tetrarch feasted them in a verie magnificent Pauillion erected in the midst of the floud not without his great cost And not long after Vitellius sent Darius Artabanus sonne in hostage to Rome with diuers presents amongst which there was a man seuen cubits high a Iew borne who was named Eleazar who was called a Giant by reason of his greatnes That done Vitellius returned to Antioch and Artabanus to Babylon But Herode desirous to be the first who should aduertise Caesar of the receit of these hostages sent expresse messengers with letters by which he fully satisfied him of all that which had hapned omitting nothing for the Consul to certifie so that after Vitellius letters were brought vnto him and that Caesar had alreadie certified him of the true information that Herode had giuen him Vitellius was sore troubled and suspecting least he had receiued a greater iniurie then the matter made shewe for hee conceiued in his heart a secrete despight which continued vntill such time as Tiberius was dead and Caius obtayned the Empyre At that time also died Philip Herodes brother in the twentith yeere of Tiberius raigne after hee had raigned himselfe for the space of seuen and thirtie yeeres in Trachonitis Gaulonitis and Bathanaea During all the time of his gouernment hee behaued himselfe verie peaceably and farre from busines For he made his ordinarie abode within his owne dominion He walked being accompanied with a small number of his chosen seruants and had that seate caried after him wherein he was accustomed to sit and doe Iustice and therein sate hee to the end that if any one presented himselfe and required his assistance hee might without delay doe him right For vpon the first motion the seate was placed in that part where the plantiffe met him and being seated therein he examined the cause punishing those that were guiltie and absoluing the innocent Hee died in Iuliade and was buried in the sepulcher vvhich hee himselfe had caused to be built and his obsequies were performed with great solemnitie and maiestie And for that hee left no heires males behind him Tiberius seazed his estate which hee annexed to the gouernment of Syria ordeining that the tributes that were gathered in his Tetrarchy should be kept within the bounds of the same region CHAP. VII The warre of Herode the Tetrarch against king Aretas and his ouerthrow MEane while Aretas king of Arabia Petrae and Herode fell at strife the one with the other for this cause that ensueth Herode the Tetrarch had maried Aretas daughter with whom he had liued maried a verie long time Afterwards taking his iourney towards Rome he lodged with Herode his halfe brother by the fathers side for Herode was the sonne of Simons daughter which Simon was the high Priest and there being surprised with the loue of Herodias his brothers wife which was the daughter of Aristobulus their brother and sister to the great Agrippa he was so bold as to offer her some speech of mariage which when she had accepted the accords were made betweene them that at such time as he should returne from Rome he should displace her and lead her away with him with conditions that he should banish Aretas daughter farre from him After he had ratified those couenants he made his voyage to Rome
called Agrippa and Drusus Drusus died verie young but Agrippa was brought vp by his grandfather amongst his other brethren Herode Aristobulus and Bernice These were Herodes children sonne vnto him who was surnamed the Great Bernice was Costobarus daughter begotten on Salome Herodes sister Aristobulus died leauing his children vnder age vnder his fathers charge with Alexander his brother as we haue alreadie recounted These attaining their full age were in this sorte married Herode brother to Agrippa was matched with Mariamme Olympias daughter who was Herodes the Great his daughter and of Ioseph Herodes brother By her he had his sonne Aristobulus Aristobulus Agrippas third brother married Iotape the daughter of Sampsigeram king of the Emesenians They had a daughter which in like sort was called Iotape which was deafe These were the children begotten by Herodes three sonnes But Herodias their sister married Herode the sonne of Herode the Great whom he begot on Mariamme the daughter of Simon the high priest by whom Salome was begotten After her birth Herodias in contempt of the lawes of the countrey married her selfe with Herode her husbands brother begotten of the same father being separate from him during his life time who was Tetrarch of Galilee His daughter Salome was married to Philip the Tetrarch of Trachonitis Herodes sonne who dying without children Aristobulus married her who was Herodes sonne and Agrippas brother They had three sonnes Herode Agrippa and Aristobulus See here the posteritie of Phasaelus and Salampson Antipater by Cypros had a daughter that in like sort was called Cypros which was married to Alexas Selcius the sonne of Alexas of whom he begate a daughter called likewise Cypros As for Herode and Alexander who as I said were Antipaters brothers they died without issue Alexander Herodes sonne who was slaine by his father begate Alexander and Tigranes on the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Tigranes being king of Armenia died without issue after he had been accused at Rome Alexander had a sonne called Tigranes after his brothers name who was sent by Nero to raigne in Armenia who had a sonne called Alexander who married Iotape the daughter of Antiochus king of Comagena This Alexander by Vespasian was elected king in Lesis a Citie of Cilicia As soone as Alexanders posteritie began to multiply they fell from their countrey religion to follow the customes of the Greekes All the rest of king Herodes daughters died without issue Hauing after this manner reckoned vp Herods posteritie which continued vntill such time as Agrippa the great began to raigne it remaineth at this time to declare what aduentures befell this Agrippa and how he escaping his dangers obtained at last so great power and dignitie CHAP. VIII Agrippas voyage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison and is deliuered after Tiberius death by Caius his successor SOme little time before the death of king Herode Agrippa conuersing at Rome grew into great familiaritie and acquaintance with Drusus Tiberius the Emperours sonne and was beloued by Antonia the wife of Drusus the elder by y e means of his mother Berenice whom Antonia held in great estimation and to whom she had recommended her sonne And whereas by nature he was of a liberall and high spirit as long as his mother liued he would not discouer his intent least he should prouoke her displeasure against him But incontinently after Berenice was dead and he became Lord of himselfe partly by his daily and bountifull entertainment and liuing partly by his immoderate liberalities but especially by his lauish prodigalitie towards Caesars freemen whose fauour he hunted after he was brought into extreame pouertie and could no more liue at Rome the rather for that Tiberius hauing lost his sonne forbad his friends to come into his sight for feare least their presence should refresh and encrease the sorrow he conceiued for the losse of his sonne For these causes he returned backe into Iudaea hauing but badly ordered his estate spent his money and left himselfe no meanes to satisfie his importunate and many creditors For which cause incertaine how to dispose himselfe and ashamed of his present estate he withdrewe himselfe into a Castle called Malatha in Idumaea bethinking himselfe after some sort to cut off his miserable daies Which purpose of his when Cypros his wife apperceiued she endeuoured by all meanes to preuent his resolution she wrote also to his sister Herodias who was married to Herode the Tetrarch certifying her both what Agrippa had decreed as also by what necessitie he was inforced thereunto and she exhorted her that in regard of affinitie she should assist him and imitate her in this who as much as in her lay relieued his miserie although her fortunes were farre weaker then hers Being therfore sent for by his sister and wife he was commaunded to dwell in Tiberias and had a certaine summe of money assigned him for his maintenance and for his greater honor was appointed Magistrate of that Citie Yet did not Herode continue long time in that minde although by the meanes he had giuen him he had not satisfied his kinsmans necessities For being in the Citie of Tyre in a certaine company where he dronke immoderately Agrippa esteemed it for an extreame iniurie that Herode had vpbraided him with his pouertie and hit him in the teeth that he maintained him at his charge For which cause he withdrew himselfe to Flaccus who had sometimes been Consul at Rome and for the present was president of Syria with whom at Rome he had fallen into familiaritie who entertained by him liued with him who long before that time had entertained Aristobulus who though Agrippas brother yet was he his enemy yet notwithstanding this dissension betweene them Flaccus entertained them both with equall fauour But Aristobulus remitted nothing of his hatred he bare his brother neither euer rested he before he had drawne Flaccus into dislike with his brother vpon this occasion The inhabitants of Damasco contending with the Sidonians about their demaines and being to debate their cause before Flaccus knowing what interest Agrippa had in him they besought him that he would further their cause promising him a great summe of money whereupon he addressed himselfe in what he could to further those of Damasco But Aristobulus who had an inkling of this conclusion and promise accused his brother to Flaccus and after inquisition was made and he found guiltie of the fact Agrippa grew out of the presidents fauour and falling againe into extreame pouertie he came to Ptolemais and for that he had no meanes of maintenance he determined to saile into Italie And for that he wanted money he commanded Marsyas his free-man that by all meanes whatsoeuer he should seeke to take vp money vpon interest He spake vnto Protus who was Agrippas mothers free-man who by the testament of his deceased Mistris was left vnto Antonias protection that vpon his Masters bill
by so many exactions he thought it a good pollicy in him and a better prouision for them not to send them new gouernours continually who might after the manner of flies sucke them to the quicke especially if to their innated couetousnes he should annex the feare of their sodaine displacing Now to approue that to be true which I haue declared of Tiberius disposition this action of his may suffice to iustifie me For hauing beene Emperour for the space of twentie and two yeeres all those gouernours which he sent into Iury were two namely Gratus and Pilate his successour neither demeasned hee himselfe otherwise towards the rest of his subiects of the empire And as touching his prisoners the reason why he delaied so much to giue them audience was to the end that they who had beene condemned to death should not speedily be deliuered from those torments wherewith he threatned them and which they had deserued by their wickednes For whilest he kept them in that paine their mishappe increased the more For this cause Eutychus could not obtaine audience at his hands but was long time detained prisoner Afterwards in processe of time Tiberius transported himselfe from Capreas to Tusculanum which was distant from Rome some hundreth furlongs There did Agrippa sollicite Antonia to cause Eutychus to be called to his answere as touching the accusation which he pretended against him Now Antonia was in great fauour with Tiberius both in regard of the affinitie that was betweene them in that she was Drusus wife who was Tiberius brother as in respect of her modestie For she being young continued in her widowhood and would not marie with any other notwithstanding Augustus importuned her to wed but liued alwaies in honour without blame Besides that she had done Tiberius a great pleasure for at such time as Seianus his friend and a man in great account in those daies by reason he had the gouernment of the army practised a conspiracie against him whereunto diuers of the Senate and of his freemen and his men of warre likewise were accessarie yet brought she all their intents to nothing This attempt had taken a great head and Seianus had finished his purpose had not Antonia vsed more aduised courage then Seianus did in executing his treason For hauing discouered the daunger that threatned Tiberius she wrote and sent her expresse letters by Pallas one of her trustie seruants vnto him to Capreas certifying him in particular the whole processe of the conspiracy Caesar hauing true vnderstanding thereof caused Seianus and his consederates to be executed Although therefore that before that time he honoured Antonia greatly yet did he afterwards honour her farre more in such sort as he trusted her in all things When as therefore she intreated him to giue Eutychus audience Tiberius answered if said he Eutychus hath falsely obiected any thing against Agrippa it sufficeth that he endure that punishment which I haue enioyned him But being in the torture he maintaine that which he hath spoken to be true it is to be feared least Agrippa intending to punish his free man do rather heape the punishment vpon his owne head When Antonia had reported this answere of his to Agrippa he did the more instantly solicit her requiring her that the matter might be brought to tryall And for that Agrippa ceased not to importune her Antonia took the occasion which was this Tiberius being after dinner time catied in his litter hauing Caius and Agrippa before him she walking foot by foot by the litter besought him to call Eutychus to his tryall whereunto he replied The Gods said he know that that which I doe I doe it not of mine owne will but for the necessitie I am presied with vpon your request and hauing spoken thus he cōmanded Macron Seianus successor to bring Eutychus before him which was performed with all expedition Whereupon Tiberius asked him what he had to say against him vvho had enfranchised him My soueraign said he Caius that is heere present Agrippa rode one day togither in the same Coach I sate at their feet After diuers discourses held betweene them Agrippa began to speake after this manner vnto Caius O said he would God the day were come wherein the olde man departing out of this world would make you gouernour thereof For his sonne Tiberius would be no hindrance vnto you for him might you make away Then should the world be happy and I likewise haue my share in the felicitie Tiberius esteeming this his accusation to be true and hauing of long time conceiued a grudge against Agrippa for that notwithstanding he had commaunded him to honour Tiberius who was his nephew and Drusus sonne Agrippa had giuen small regard to his commaundement and had not honoured him but was wholy addicted vnto Caius For vvhich cause said he to Macron bind me this fellow He scarcely vnderstanding that vvhich he spake and no vvaies suspecting that he should giue that commandement in respect of Agrippa deferred the performance vntill such time as he might more exactly vnderstand his mind vvhen as therefore Caesar turned into the Hippodrome and by chance met with Agrippa in the teeth This is he said he Macron vvhom I haue commaunded to be bound and demāding of him once more by vvhom he spake It is Agrippa said he Then had Agrippa recourse to submissiue and humble praiers refreshing the memory of his sonne vvith vvhom he had bin brought vp and alledging the education he had vsed towards his nephew Tiberius But he preuailed nothing but vvas led away bound in those purple ornaments vvhich he then wore At that time it was verie hot weather and being in distresse of wine he was extremely thirsty and distressed yea more then became one of his qualitie Whereupon espying Thaumastus one of Caius seruants who caried water in a pitcher he required him to giue him drinke which when he had willingly bestowed on him he dranke and afterwards said vnto him This seruice thou hast done me in giuing me drinke shall do thee good one day For as soone as I shall escape out of these bonds it shall not be long before I obtaine thy liberty at Caius hands for that thou hast not neglected to do me seruice in this my imprisonment as thou hast before time done me whilest I was in my prosperitie and dignitie Neither deceiued he the mans expectation of his promise but rewarded gratified him For afterwards whē he had obtained the kingdom he begged Thaumastus liberty at Caius hands made him superintendēt of his affairs after his decease he gaue order that he should serue in the same place with his son Agrippa his daughter Bernice so that he died very olde and much honoured But this hapned afterwards But at that time Agrippa stood before the pallace bound with other companions who were likewise in bonds and thorow the griefe he cōceiued he leaned against a certain tree on
he was kept to the same place where he was lodged before so that from that time forwards he waxed confident For although he was as yet a prisoner yet liued he at his owne discretion Caius arriuing in Rome brought with him Tiberius body which he burned most magnificently according to the custome of the countrey And although he were verie willing to deliuer Agrippa the same day yet was he disswaded from the same by Antonia not for any ill will she bare the prisoner but in regard of Caius honour least thereby he should shew himselfe to be glad of Tiberius death in setting him at libertie so speedily whom he had committed to prison When as therefore some few daies were ouerpast he sent for him to his house and caused him to be powld and his garments changed and that done he set a diademe vpon his head and made him king of Philips Tetrarchy to which he annexed Lysanias Tetrarchy and changed his chaine of yron into a chaine of gold of the same waight sent Maruslus into Iudaea to gouerne there The second yeere of Caius raigne Agrippa asked licence to repaire into Iudaea to the intent he might dispose of his kingdome purposing to returne againe at such time as he had dispatched those affaires Which when the Emperour had granted him he came into Iudaea and was seene and saluted for a king beyond all mens expectation serning thereby for a most notable example vnto men to expresse vnto them how great the power of destinie is in humane affaires considering the poore estate wherein he had been before and the happinesse which he enioyed at that time Some termed him happy in that he resolutely followed his hopes othersome could scarcely beleeue that he was in this sort aduanced CHAP. IX Herode the Tetrarch is banished HErodias Agrippas sister was married to Herode the Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea She enuied her brother to see him raised to so great authoritie and to farre greater dignitie then her husband enioyed For which cause she was displeased that her brother who fled out of his countrey in that he wanted meanes to pay his debts was returned in great honor and with greater substance This charge endured she with great hearts griefe especially at such time as she saw him apparelled like a king enuironed with a great multitude of people and impossible was it for her to hide the bitternes of her griefe for which cause she incited her husband perswaded him to make a voiage to Rome to purchase as much as he possessed For said she I cannot endure to liue if Agrippa Aristobulus son condēned to death by the sentence of his owne father so poore and indigent that to redresse his necessities wherewith he was daily pressed by his creditors he was constrained at last to flie to Rome should returne with such titles of a king and that her husband who was a kings son was called to the kingdome by his father should liue obscure passe his life like a priuy man Husbād said she if heretofore it hath bin no preiudice vnto thee to liue in lesse dignitie then erst thy father hath done now at leastwise desire that due honor which belongeth to thy family neither thinke it to be sufferable to subscribe to him in estimation who in times past hath beene maintained by thy bountie Neither suffer it to be thought thorow thine owne slouth that he in his necessitie had better meanes and industrie to obtaine an ample fortune then you amidst your mightie aboundance as if it redounded not to thy shame to be thought inferiour to him at this time who not long since except by thy mercy had no meanes to liue Let vs therefore hastily repaire vnto Rome and neither spare gold siluer or any other expence for that it auaileth vs not so much to keepe the same and to employ the same in the purchase of a kingdome But Herode disswaded her as much as he might for that he contented himselfe to liue in quiet suspected the confusion that was at Rome which he endeuoured as much as in him lay to lay open to Herodias But the more negligent she saw him the more instantly incited she him to seeke out the kingdome and neuer gaue she him ouer vntil she had conformed him to her desire Whereunto he the rather listned in that she might not be drawne from her resolution Heuing therefore furnished himselfe after the most magnificent manner and spared no cost he repaired to Rome and led Herodias his wife with him Agrippa smelling their intentand the preparation they made made his prouision likewise And hauing notice that they were put to sea he sent Fortunatus one of his freemen to Rome with presents to the Emperour and certaine letters against Herode with commission to certifie Caius of euery particular according as the occasion should serue He embarking himselfe after Herode had a happy passage and was onely preuented by him but for the space that Herode presented himselfe to Caius for he incontinently followed him and deliuered his letters For they arriued at one time at Puteol and found Caius at Baia a village of Campania distant from Puteol some fiue stades inriched with most royal and sumptuous pallace for that euery Emperour enforced himselfe to exceed the honour of his predecessor by reason of the hot bathes that naturally issued out of the earth seruing both for the health of the bodie and recreation of the spirits Whilest Caius talked with Herode in that hee visited him first he receiued Agrippas letters containing Herodes accusations for they accused him of a conspiracy made and complotted betwixt him and Seianus since the beginning of Tiberius Empire And how for the present he fauoured Artabanus king of the Parthians to the preiudice of the Emperour Caius of this the preparations Herode had stored vp in his Arsenals gaue euident testimony which were sufficient to arme seuentie thousand men of warre Caius was sore moued with these informations and asked Herode if that which was informed him as touching his warlike preparation was true He vnable to contradict the same in any thing for feare he should be conuicted of falshood auowed no lesse Whereupon Caius supposing the accusation of his reuolt to be sufficiently approued depriued him of his Tetrarchy and annexed it to Agrippas kingdome bes◅owing Herods substance also vpon him He banished him likewise for euer and confined him in the citie of Lions in France and vnderstanding that Herodias was Agrippas sister he gaue her all that which in right appertained vnto her And supposing that she would not willingly accōpany her husband in that his calamity he told her that her brother should be her warrant But she gatio him this reply Mightie Emperour you speake magnificently and as it well beseemeth so great a maiesty but there is a cause that hindreth me from partaking the benefit of that bounty which you intend towards
time Helena Queene of Adiabena and her sonne Izates conformed themselues to the religion of the Iewes vpon this occasion that ensueth Monobazus king of Adiabena who was also called Bazeos being surprised with the loue of his sister Helena espoused her and got her with child Vpon a time it hapned that sleeping with her he laid his hand on her belly whilest she lay asleepe him thought that he heard a voice that commanded him to take away his hand from off her belly least he should crush the fruit that was therein which by Gods prouidence should haue a happie beginning and no lesse fortunate ending Monobazus was sore moued at this voice and as soone as he awoke he told it to his wife and afterwards when the child was borne he called him Izates Besides he had another elder sonne by the same wife who was called Monobazus according to his owne name And he had also other sonnes by his other wiues yet notwithstanding Izates was most manifestly his best beloued and so cherished by him as if he had beene his only begotten sonne For which cause his other brothers enuied him which increased their hatred for that all the rest of them were aggrieued because Monobazus made most account of Izates The father manifestly perceiued all this yet did he pardon them knowing that they did it not for malice but for the desire that euerie one of them had to be best esteemed by his father Notwithstanding being affraid least some mishap should betide Izates by reason of the hatred his brethren bare vnto him he gaue him many great gifts and sent him to Abemerigus who raigned at that time in a fort called Spasinus committing his sons life into his hand Abemerigus also intertained him with kind affection and loued him in such sort that in processe of time he gaue him Samacha his daughter to wife and for her dowry hee gaue him a countrey of great reuenew Monobazus being olde and seeing he had no long time to liue desired before his death that his sonne might come and visit him he therefore sent for him and receiued him very louingly giuing him a countrey which he called Caeron which bringeth forth great aboundance of excellent Amomum In this place was the remainder of the Arcke in which Noe was saued during the Deluge which remnants are to be seene at this day if any man haue a desire to behold the same Izates remained in that place vntill his fathers decease But on the very day of his death Helena sent for all the Lords and Gouernours of the kingdome and captaines of all the Army and vpon their assembly she spake vnto them after this manner I suppose said she that you are not ignorant of my husbands mind who hath desired that Izates might be king in his steed and hath esteemed him most worthy of such an honour yet expect I your iudgement in this point For he that receiueth the soueraigntie not from one mans hand but from many and hath the same confirmed vnto him by their consent is happie She vsed this discourse vnto them to trie what their intent was who were there assembled They vnderstanding her mind prostrated themselues first of all vpon the earth before the Queene according to the custome of their countrey and afterwards aunswered her that they approued the kings election and tooke pleasure to obey Izates whom his father deseruedly and to all their contents and the desire of the common people had preferred aboue the rest of his brethren alledging moreouer that they would put his brethren and kinsmen to death before his comming to the end that he might enioy the kingdom with all securitie for by their deaths all the feare that might grow by their hatred and enuie might be extinguished Hereunto the Queene answered that she gaue them thanks for the fauour they bare vnto her and her sonne Izates notwithstanding she required them to suspend their iudgements as touching the death of his brethren vntil such time as Izates himselfe should giue his consent thereunto They seeing they might not obtaine the libertie to put them to death gaue counsaile that they should be kept prisoners vntill his comming to the end at leastwise for their owne parts that they might be out of daunger and that moreouer vntill his comming there might one be appointed to gouerne the estate whom she should esteeme most trustie and faithfull vnto him Whereunto Helena condescended and made his elder brother Monobazus king and set the Diademe on his head and gaue him his fathers seale ring with that robe which they call Sampsera exhorting him to gouerne the kingdome vntill his brothers arriuall Izates hauing certaine notice of his fathers death resorted thither speedily and receiuing his brother Monobazus willing surrender tooke vpon him the gouernment of the kingdome During such time as Izates soiourned in the fortresse of Spasinus a certaine merchant who was a Iew called Ananias hauing accesse to the kings wiues taught them the maner how to serue God according to the religion of the Iewes and Ananias by their meanes growing acquainted with Izates taught him the like and accompained him into Adiabena being drawen thereunto by his earnest intreaties at such time as Izates resorted thither vpon his fathers sending for It chanced also in like sort that Helena was in like manner instructed by another Iew and retained the rites and religion of the Iewes After that Izates came into his kingdome and knew that his brethren and kinsfolke were imprisoned he was much grieued Conceiuing therefore with himselfe that it would be a great impietie in him to suffer them to be slaine or kept bound in prison and that on the other side it were a daungerous matter for him if being at liberty they should remember the euil they had indured for which cause he sent some of them to Rome for hostages with their children vnto the Emperour Claudius and the rest vnto Artabanus king of Parthia Afterwards when he was thorowly assured that his mother was wholy addicted to the religion of the Iewes he endeuoured himselfe the more to shew himselfe zealous therein and supposing that he could not be a perfect Iew except he were circumcised he prepared himselfe to be circumcised Which when his mother vnderstood she laboured to her vttermost to hinder his resolution certifying him that in so doing he should bring himselfe in great daunger for that in being king he would draw himselfe into the dislike of his subiects if they should haue notice that he was addicted to a new religion and to straunge ceremonies and that they would not endure that in being a Iew he should be their king so she for a while by her disswasion restrained him from his desire But the king required counsell of Ananias who according with Helena in the course of her dislike threatned Izates that if he would not obey his mother he would forsake him and depart from him
honourable minded man knowing that their intent was such wrote himselfe vnto Artabanus who had nourished and brought him vp exhorting him to returne vpon his faith and to receiue againe his owne kingdome Artabanus vpon this motion gaue credit to his words and returned backe againe Whereupon Cinnamus came foorth and met him and prostrating himselfe before his feete called him king and afterwards taking the diademe from off his own head he set it vpon Artabanus head who by this means was restored to his former estate by Izates mediation after he had been driuen out of his kingdome by his chiefest nobilitie And hee did not forget the fauours which he had receiued at Izates hands but did him all the honour that possibly he could imagine For he permitted him to weare the straight Tiara and to sleepe vpon a guilded bed which is a priuiledge that belongeth only to the kings of Parthia He gaue him also a goodly and great countrey which he had taken from the king of Armenia This countrey was called Nisibis where in times past the Macedons had builded the Citie of Antioch by them called Mygdonia Presently after Izates was in this sort honoured Artabanus died leauing his kingdome to his sonne Vardanes who repaired to Izates praying him to ioyne with him in that warre which he intended to wage against the Romans but he preuailed not with him For Izates knowing the Romans force and good hap imagined that he vndertooke a matter beyond his power Furthermore he had sent fiue of his young sonnes to Ierusalem to learne our tongue and discipline and his mother likewise to adore in the temple for which cause he the rather held backe and disswaded Vardanes from enterprizing against the Romans whose power and puissant conquests he ordinarily reckoned vp vnto him to the end he might dismay him and by these his allegations cause him to giue ouer his purposed intent of war against them But the Parthian was displeased with this his perswasion and for that cause denounced a present warre against Izates But this his enterprize had but a fruitlesse issue for God cut off all his hopes For the Parthians vnderstanding what Vardanes intent was and how he was resolued to vndertake a war against the Romans slew him and gaue the kingdome to his brother Gotarza whom not long after this his brother Vologesus flew by treason restoring to his two brothers by the mother side these prouinces that is to say the kingdome of Media to Pacorus who was the eldest and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus king Izates brother and the rest of his kinsfolke saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates and how in respect of his pietie towards God he was honoured and reuerenced by all men they also resolued themselues to forsake their religion and to serue God after the manner of the Iewes But this intent of theirs was discouered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet did they not manifest their despite but kept it hidden in their hearts seeking some fit occasion to reuenge themselues as soone as they might They wrote also to Abias king of Arabia and promised him great summes of money if he would take armes against their king promising him that vpon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be reuenged on him who was growne in hatred of their religion Hauing therefore confirmed their promise with an oath they incited him to make haste The king of Arabia performed that which they required and marched foorth against Izates with a great power And when as the first charge was ready to be giuen and before they came to handy-strokes all Izates souldiers forsooke him and turning their backes to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panique feare yet was Izates no waies dismaied but hauing discouered that it was the treason and conspiracie of his greatest peeres he retired himselfe also into his campe where he inquired of the cause that they pretended After he knew that they had complotted with the Arabian he caused the conspiratours to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and slew a great number of his enemies and constrained the rest to betake them to flight He pursued their king also into a fort called Arsam which he battered and assaulted with such spirit and diligence that he tooke the same with a great quantitie of bootie that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he tooke not Abias aliue for hee himselfe had preuented his captiuitie with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselues frustrated of their former hopes in that by Gods hand they were deliuered into the hands of their king could not containe their displeasure but practized further mischiefe for they wrote their letters to Vologesus king of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow an other king vpon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their king who had abolished their religion and had embraced a strange lawe The Parthian vnderstanding hereof prepared himselfe for the warre and hauing no iust colour or pretext to inforce the same he sent a messenger vnto him to redemaund those honours which his father had giuen him which if he refused he denounced warre against him Izates was not a little troubled in his minde when he vnderstood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should offer himselfe great preiudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for feare knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recouer that which he redemaunded yet would he not be in quiet he therfore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building vpon this that the greatest good he might haue was to haue God to helpe he shut his wiues and children in a strong Castle and his corne in his strongest towers and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and hauing after this manner prouided for all things he expected the approch of his enemie The Parthian came onward sooner then he was expected with a great power of horsmen and footmen For he marched forward in all haste and encamped neere vnto the floud that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not farre from thence hauing with him about six thousand horsemen To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to giue him to vnderstand how great his power was which extended from the riuer of Euphrates as farre as Bactria recounting vnto him what kings he had vnder his subiection threatning him to punish him very seuerely in that he behaued himselfe so vngratefully towards his benefactors yea in such sort as the god whom he adored might not deliuer him out of the kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian farre exceeded him in power but that he was farre better assured that Gods power extended
and continuance of these eighteene was foure hundreth sixtie six yeeres six moneths and ten daies so long as the Iewes haue had the royall gouernment After the surprisall of Ierusalem by the Babylonians vntill such time as Cyrus king of Persia dismissed the Iewes and gaue them leaue to returne from Babylon into their owne countrey with permission to reedifie their temple there are 70. yeeres and at that time the captiues beeing returned Iesus the sonne of Iosedech tooke vpon him the high priesthood who with those of his posteritie to the number of fifteene haue gouerned in a Democratie or popular estate vntill the time of Antiochus surnamed Eupator for the space of foure hundreth and fourteene yeeres This Antiochus was the first who with his generall Lysia displaced Onias surnamed Menelaus of his priesthood commanding him to be slaine at Beryth and after he had driuen his sonne out of the succession he established Iacim high priest who notwithstanding was of Aarons race but not of his family For this cause Onias the sonne of Onias and nephew to the deceased Onias retired himselfe into Aegypt where growing familiar with Ptolomey Philometor and Cleopatra his wife he perswaded them to build a temple in the confines of Heliopolis not vnlike to that of Ierusalem and to create a high priest in the same of which temple in Aegypt we haue made verie oftentimes mention After that Iacim had held the priesthood for the space of three yeeres he died without successor For the Citie remained seuen yerees without a high priest Againe the Asmoneans recouered the gouernment of their nation and after they had warred against the Macedons they established Ionathan hie priest who exercised the office seuen yeeres but afterwards he was slaine by an ambush and treason conspired against him by Tryphon as we haue declared elsewhere After him Simon his brother vndertooke the priesthood who was not long after slaine treacherously by his sonne in lawe at a banquet After him succeeded his sonne Hyrcanus who enioying this dignitie for the space of thirtie one yeeres died when he was verie olde leauing behinde him Iudas surnamed Aristobulus who dying by sicknesse left his brother Alexander his heire both of the kingdome and high priesthood After that Aristobulus had obtained the royal gouernment he enioyed both dignities one whole yeere For this Iudas surnamed Aristobulus was the first that set the diademe on his head causing himselfe to be called a king The which Alexander did continue for he also ioyned the kingdome with the high priesthood and raigned 27. yeers and feeling himselfe draw neere to his death he left it in Alexandras his wiues hands to dispose of the priesthood as she pleased She therefore bestowed it on Hyrcanus and as touching the kingdome she kept it in her own hands nine yeers afterwards died Her son Hyrcanus was high priest for so long time for after Alexandras death his brother Aristobulus made warre against him and hauing ouercome him he tooke the kingdome from him and not onely seazed the crowne but the priesthood After he had raigned three yeeres and as many moneths Pompey repaired to Ierusalem and tooke it perforce and laying hold of Aristobulus sent him bound vnto Rome with his children After which he restored the priesthood once more to Hyrcanus committing the gouernment of the nation vnto his hands forbidding him in the meane space to weare the diademe Besides the first nine yeeres Hyrcanus gouerned twentie and foure but Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians passed Euphrates and made warre against Hyrcanus and tooke him aliue prisoner and made Antigonus Aristobulus sonne king But after he had gouerned three yeeres and three moneths Sosius and Herode tooke him aliue perforce and Antonius sent him to Antioch where he was put to death After that Herode was created king by the Romans there was neuer any hie priest created of the posterity of the Asmoneans for he gaue the hie priesthood to certaine men of obscure base condition who were of the order of the priests Aristobulus onely excepted This Aristobulus was Hyrcanus nephew who was prisoner among the Parthians and hauing giuen him the priesthood he married himselfe with Mariamme his sister to the intent to continue himselfe in the good liking of the people in remembrance of Hyrcanus but afterwards fearing least all of them should turne to Aristobulus side he caused him to be slaine by finding out a meanes to cause him to be stifled at such time as he bathed himselfe in a fishpond neere to Iericho as we haue declared before this After him he bestowed the priesthood no more on any of the line of the Asmoneans Archelaus his sonne followed his fathers steps in respect of the priesthood and from that time forward the Romans haue enioied the soueraigntie ouer Iewry All they then that haue exercised the priesthood from Herodes time vntill the day that Titus tooke the Citie and the temple haue been in all twentie and eight All the continuance of their gouernment was one hundreth and seuen yeeres Certaine of these gouerned during Herodes life and in the daies of Archelaus his sonne but after these two were dead the gouernment was Aristocraticall or of the nobilitie wherein the priests had the gouernment ouer the whole nation Thus much haue we thought meet to speake at this time as touching the high priests CHAP. IX How Florus Albinus successor offered many iniuries to the Iewes which constrained them to take armes GEssius Florus being sent by Nero to succeed Albinus filled all Iudaea with many mischiefs and miseries He was a Clazomenian borne and was married to a certaine woman called Cleopatra no lesse mischieuous then himselfe who being beloued by Poppea Neros wife obtained this dignitie for him He behaued himselfe so outragiously and violently in all his gouernment that thorow the great iniustice he committed the Iewes praised Albinus as if hee had been their benefactor For he concealed his mischiefe taking care least it should wholy be conceited or discouered but Gessius Florus behaued himselfe in such sort as if he had been sent to make open shew and sale of his villanies publishing his iniustice in the eares of our nation without omitting either rapine or iniustice in execution and inflicting punishment on the innocent For he was pitilesse and couetous and made no difference betwixt noble and ignoble and was not ashamed to be partaker with theeues of whom there were diuers that made it their profession to steale without any feare in that they were assured of their safetie because he was partaker with them And in a word there was no moderation in him in sort as the poore Iewes being vnable to endure the insolent rapines and spoilings of their goods that they receiued by these theeues were constrained to abandon their owne houses and to flie their countrey and remaine in some more commodious place of securitie yea though it were among strangers What neede I
but also prouided victuals for his army Whereupon the citizens of Memphis would not fight but yeelded of their own accord vnto Mithridates so that passing through Delta he fought with the other Aegyptians in a place called the tents of the Iewes being with all his cōpany in danger he was rescued by Antipater who marching along the riuer side set vpon discomfited the left wing of the enemies battel rushing vpon them that pressed vpon Mithridates he slue many pursued the rest that fled till he got their tents and al with the losse of fourescore men But Mithridates flying lost eight hundreth men being against all hope preserued out of those wars was without all enuie a true witnes before Caesar of al that vvhich Antipater had both done deserued Wherupon Caesar redoubled his courage vvith praise and promises vnto him and made him forward to hazard himselfe for him In a word he proued shewed himselfe a stout vvarrior hauing many vvounds in euery part of his bodie he bare a badge testimonie of his valour and vertue Afterward when the state of Aegypt was quiet he returned into Syria where he made him a citizen of Rome and granted him the immunities thereof and did so honour him in other things and vse him so friendly that he made him a patterne for all to imitate and for his sake he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high Priesthood CHAP. VIII How Antipater was accused before Caesar of the Priesthood of Hyrcanus and how Herode made warre AT the same time Antigonus the sonne of Aristobalus repairing to Caesar against his will was a cause of Antipaters greater felicity for comming to complain of his fathers death who was as it was thought through Pompeies enuie poisoned and to accuse Scipio of crueltie which was vsed against his brother whereas he should haue abandoned all passion which moued him to mingle hatred with his miseries contrariwise he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater as though they had vniustly driuen him and his brethren out of their natiue soile and grieuously iniured the people to obtaine their intent Alleadging that they had sent aide into Aegypt to Caesars forces not for good will but for feare of auncient enmitie and that hereby they might acquite themselues of the good will they bare to Pompey At these words Antipater casting away his vesture shewed the number of his wounds saying it was not needfull to vse words to proue what affection he had borne to Caesar for his verie body would shew it although hee himselfe held his peace adding that he admired the impudent boldnesse of Antigonus who being sonne to an enemie of the Romans and a fugitiue from the Romans and still continued his fathers purpose of noueltie and sedition should dare to accuse others before the Roman Emperour demaunding of him how he durst hope to obtaine any good thing who ought to be contented with his life onely alleadging that hee craued not maintenance for that he wanted but that he might raise a rebellion amongst the Iewes and against them who should bestow any thing vpon him Which when Caesar heard he said that Hyreanus was most worthy to be high priest and bid Antipater wish what dignitie he would haue who leauing that to the pleasure of the giuer he was made gouernour of all Iudaea And moreouer he obtained to reedifie the rased wals of his countrey and Caesar commanded that those honours should be engraued in the Capitoll that it might be a token in time to come of Antipaters Iustice and vertue Antipater hauing attended Caesar out of Syria first of all repaired the ruined walles of his countrey which Pompey had raced and going thorowout all the countrey he threatned the obstinate and perswaded the seditious to obedience admonishing them that if they obeied Hyrcanus they might liue in wealth and peace and enioy happinesse and an vniuersall selicitie but if they suffered themselues to be led with the vaine hopes of those who for their priuate commodities sought for alteration that then they should find him in steed of a Procurator the Lord of all and Hyrcanus in steed of a king a tyrant and the Romans and Caesar in steed of friends deadly enemies for that they would not suffer his power to be ouerthrowne whom they themselues had established for king But notwithstanding he spake these words yet because he saw Hyrcanus more dull and not of so seruent a spirit as the care of a kingdome required he himselfe setled the estate of the countrey and made Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour of the army and the Lord of Ierusalem and of his owne liuing and sent Herode his youngest son to gouerne Galilee although he was very young who being by nature of a valiant courage found out a present occasion to shew his braue minde for he tooke Ezechias which was captain of theeues who as he vnderstood was woont to pray vpon the confines of Syria with a great multitude and put him to death with many other theeues which thing was so gratefull vnto the Syrians that in all townes and villages they made songs of Herod as though he had restored them to peace and to their possessions At length the glorie of this fact came to the eares of Sextus Caesar who was Caesar the Emperours kinsman who then ruled Syria Phasaelus also did striue to ouercome the towardnesse and good reputation of his brother by daily increasing and winning to himselfe the good wils of the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that during the time he gouerned the Citie he did nothing insolently through might or power for which cause the people honoured Antipater as their king and reuerenced him as Lord of all yet was his fidelitie and good will neuerthelesse towards Hyrcanus But it is impossible that any man that liueth in prosperitie should not be enuied For Hyrcanus although before time he were mooued something at the glorie of these young men and especially with the prosperous successe of Herod being often annoied with frequent messengers who spred his praise for euerie thing he did yet in particular he was stirred vp by many enuious persons who are woont to haunt the courts of Princes who were grieued that Antipater and his sonnes ruled without offence These men tolde Hyrcanus that he onely enioyed the bare name of a king and that Antipater and his sonnes ruled all and that he so long would permit winke at them til that at last they would make themselues kings for they now did no more so much as pretend themselues to be procurators But leauing that title they took vpon them the dignities of Lords and maisters without any regard or reuerence toward him for Herod had put to death a great multitude of Iewes against the law whereas neither by word of mouth nor by writing the king had giuen him any such authoritie and that Herode if he were not a king but a priuate
he was instructed But Herod who was alwaies woont to mistrust the perfidious practises of barbarous nations being certaine that those letters which discouered the treasons were fallen into the enemies hands would not go foorth though Pacorus pretended a iust cause inciting him to ride out and meete them that brought the letters wherein was contained neither the taking of Phasaelus nor the treasons but onely what Phasaelus had done But long before this Herod by others vnderstood that his brother Phasaelus was taken and Mariamme a very wise woman Hyrcanus daughter with many entreaties perswaded Herod not to go forth but that he should beware how he trusted himselfe to the mercie of that barbarous people who did now as it were openly assault him Whilest Pacorus was consulting with his accomplices how he might priuily effect his treasons seeing it was not possible openly to circumuent a man of so great wisdome Herod in the night time whilest his enemies neither knew nor suspected his intent tooke his neerest kinsfolke and fled into Idumaea which being once knowne the Parthians followed him For which cause he made his mother his brethren and the young maiden despoused and her mother and youngest brother to keepe on their iourney and he with his seruants warily assaulted the Parthians and hauing in euerie assault killed a great number of them he hasted towards the Castle of Massada and in his retreat sustained more harme by the Iewes then by the Parthians who as they had been alwaies troublesome so now some threescore furlongs from the towne set vpon him where Herod obtaining the victorie killed a great many of them and in remembrance of that valiant act he builded vpon that place a most rich pallace for the king and erected there a most strong tower which by his owne name he called Herodium And when he fled many ioyned vvith him but vvhen he came to Thresa a towne of Idumaea his brother Ioseph met him and perswaded him to lessen the number of his followers for Massada vvould not receiue such a multitude for the number of the multitude vvas aboue nine thousand for vvhich cause Herode according to his counsell dismissed those that were vnfit for his turne and sent them into Idumaea giuing them necessaries for their iourney As for those that were chosen men and fit for his purpose he retained them with him and so was he receiued into the Castle vvhere leauing eight hundreth souldiers to defend the women and prouision sufficient for those that were within he himselfe vvent vnto Petra a Citie of Arabia Now the Parthians at Ierusalem began to sacke the houses of them that were fled and the kings pallace they onely abstained from Hyrcanus money which did amount to more then three hundreth talents as for other mens goods they found not so much as they expected for Herod long before that time suspecting the infidelitie of the Parthians had carried all his riches and iewels into Idumaea and euerie one of his followers did the like When the Parthians had taken the spoile they were so impious that they left no place of the whole countrey free from their tyrannous warre They destroied the Citie Marsa also and bound Phasaelus and Hyrcanus and deliuered them to Antigonus to be scourged who presently with his teeth bit off Hyrcanus eares to the end that if by some alteration he chanced hereafter to get loose he might be no more high priest for none might offer sacrifice that wanted any member of his body But Phasaelus his fortitude preuented the cruelty of Antigonus who hauing neither weapon nor his hands at libertie beat out his owne braines against a stone and died demonstrating himselfe by that act to be the true brother of Herode and that Hyrcanus had degenerated he died manfully by a woorthy death and answerable to so famous a life Yet some reported that he recouered after that hurt and that Antigonus sent a Chirurgion vnder pretence to cure the wound who filled the lame with venemous medicines and so killed him Well be it as it was it was in him a gallant resolution It is reported likewise that vnderstanding before his death by the meanes of a certaine woman that Herode was escaped he spake these words Now I shal die with a courage who leaue behinde me one that will take vengeance of my enemies and so he died Although the Parthians had not yet receiued the women which was the chiefe thing they looked for yet leauing them they established Antigonus in Ierusalem and lead Hyrcanus prisoner into Parthia But Herode with all speede hasted into Arabia as if his brother had beene yet aliue to the intent he might borrow money of the king of Arabia wherewith onely he hoped that the crueltie of those barbarous Parthians might be mitigated towards Phasaelus for his opinion was that although the Arabians had now forgotten his fathers friendship and were hard harted yet at least he would lend him money seeing it was to redeeme his brother whose sonne he meant to leaue in pawne for it For Herode tooke with him a sonne of his brothers into Arabia that was seuen yeeres olde and purposed to haue giuen three hundreth talents for his raunsome and had made the Tyrians intercessors for him to the Parthians but fortune preuented his endeuours so that his loue and care for his brother preuailed nothing He found also that the Arabians had now cast away the league of amitie for Malichus their king sent to him as he was yet in the way charging him with all speede to depart out of his dominions framing an excuse that the Parthians had sent Embassadours vnto him to request him to driue him out of his countrey but indeede the cause was that he would not repay that which Antipater had deserued nor recompence his sonnes now comfortlesse for those good turnes that he had receiued at their fathers hands and those who counselled him to this were such as offered to forsweare those summes which Antipater had put them in trust with who were the chiefest men about him For which cause Herod perceiuing the Arabians to be his foes for that which he thought would haue procured him friendship answered the messenger according as griefe mooued him and tooke his iourney towards Aegypt and the first night he lodged in a countrey temple to the intent that those of his companie that were behinde him might ouertake him The next day comming to Rhinocolura his brothers death was tolde him where after he had there mourned his fill he went forward Now the king of Arabia though too late repented himselfe of that which he had done to Herod and sent speedy messengers after him to will him to returne repenting himselfe that hee had so iniuriously entreated him When Herod was come to Pelusium the watchmen of the Citie would not permit him to passe for which cause he himselfe in person went to the gouernors who reuerencing the fame
dignitie of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner resorted but Cleopatra receiued him verie honorably intending to make him the generall of her army which she was preparing at that present But he neither regarding the offers and request of the Queene nor yet discouraged by the hard winter season nor the dangers of the seas tooke his iourney towards Rome and being in great danger of shipwrack neere vnto Pamphilia both hee the rest of the passengers were inforced to cast away the most part of their loading with much adoe he arriued safe at Rhodes vvhich had been sore molested by Cassius vvarres there was he entertained by certaine of his friends Ptolomaeus and Saphinius and although his money grew scant yet there he builded a great galley vvith three rankes of oares and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went presently to Rome Where first of all in regard of familiaritie betweene his father and him he went to Antonius declaring vnto him both his owne calamitie and the miserable desolation of his vvhole countrey and howe leauing his dearest friends besieged in a Castle himselfe in humble manner through the stormie vvinter seas was come vnto him humbly crauing succor at his hands VVherupon Antonius compassionating his calamitie and remembring his familiaritie with Antipater and contemplating the vertue of Herod vvho stood before him determined vpon the present to make him king of the Iewes vvhom before he himselfe had made Tetrarch for he loued not Herode so vvell but he hated Antigonus as much for he held him both for a seditious person and for an enemie to the Romans Now to the accomplishing of this he found Caesar farre more ready then himselfe who called to minde the seruice that Antipater did in Aegypt vnder his father and his entertainment and friendship in all things and beside all these he vvas wrought and vvoon by Herods courage and valour For vvhich cause he procured the Senate to be assembled at vvhich time Messala and after him Aratinus in the presence of Herod recounted his fathers deserts and fidelitie towards the Romans declaring Antigonus to be an enemy not onely because that not long before he had reuolted but for that now lastly in despite of the Romans he had by the assistance of the Parthians vsurped the kingdome Vpon vvhich considerations the Senate being mooued and Antonius affirming it to be expedient for the Roman vvarres that Herod should be created king the vvhole Senate condescendéd and after the Senate vvas dismissed Antonius and Caesar went forth with Herod betweene them and the Consuls went before accompanied with other Magistrates to offer sacrifice and to register the decree of the Senate in the Capitoll And Antonius feasted Herod the first day of his raigne CHAP. XII Of Herods warre after he returned from Rome to recouer Ierusalem and against the theeues AT this time Antigonus besieged those that vvere left in the Castle of Massada vvho had great store of victuals and wanted nothing but vvater For vvhich cause Iesophus Herods brother purposed to flie vnto the Arabians with two hundreth of his dearest friends for that he had intelligence that Malichus repented him that he had giuen Herod no better entertainment Yea he had forsaken the Castle had not great store of raine fallen that verie night wherein he intended to flie for the vvels and cesternes being now filled vvith water there vvas no cause to flie so that voluntarily issuing out of the Castle he assaulted Antigonus souldiers and killed verie many of them sometime in open war and sometime by pollicie yet fought they not alwaies vvith fortunate successe but returned sometimes vvith losse In the meane time Ventidius vvho was Generall of that Roman army vvhich was sent to expulse the Parthians out of Syria after he had repulsed them resorted into Iudaea vnder pretence to succour Ioseph and the rest that vvere besieged but in effect to get Antigonus money When as therefore he drew neere vnto Ierusalem and had receiued the money he looked for he departed vvith the greatest part of his army leauing Silo behinde him vvith a few to colour his pretence and Antigonus hoping for a second supply from the Parthians feed Silo not to molest him for the present seeing he vvas in great possibilitie By this time Herode hauing sailed from Italy to Ptolemais and gathered a great army of strangers and his owne countrimen togither came into Galilee against Antigonus being assisted vvith the forces of Ventidius and Silo vvhom Delius vvho was sent from Antonius perswaded to establish Herod in his kingdome But Ventidius vvas busie in appeasing the broiles that the Parthians had made in the Cities and Silo vvas corrupted by Antigonus yet did not Herod vvant aide for euerie day the further he marched into the countrey the more his army encreased for all Galilee a verie few excepted yeelded vnto him Wherupon he purposed first of al to go to Massada to deliuer his friends that vvere there besieged but Ioppe hindred his purpose vvhich for that it vvas an enemy towne he thought it best to take it before he vvent further least that vvhilest he was going to Ierusalem his enemies should haue a place behinde him to flie vnto Now Silo ioyned armies vvith Herod reioycing that he had found occasion to resist because he vvas persecuted by the Iewes vvhom Herod with a loose wing of his army and a small companie of men terrified and presently put to flight and saued Silo also vvho had much adoe to make resistance against them This done and Ioppe taken he hasted to Massada and the people of the countrey some of them for his fathers sake othersome for his owne and many for both ioyned themselues vnto him many also came vnto him for hope because he vvas now king so that nowe he had a verie puissant army but Antigonus hindred his iourney by planting certaine ambushes in places conuenient vvhere Herode was to passe and yet for all this he little harmed him Herod hauing easily taken Massada and rescued his friends from thence he vvent to Ierusalem vvhere both Siloes souldiers and many of the Citie came and followed him being nowe terrified vvith the greatnesse of his forces there pitching their tents at the west side of the town they that guarded that part assaulted them with dartes and arrowes and others issuing by troupes foorth of the Citie assaulted the forefront of the army Whereupon Herode caused one to go about the wals of the Citie and to proclaime how that he was come for the good of the vvhole Citie and that he would not take reuenge of any though he were his open enemy and that he would pardon euen them that had been most seditious But when Antigonus his followers with lowd exclamations hindred the criers voices from being heard least any man should alter his minde Herod presently commaunded
a mountaine neere Arabia hauing on one side a strong place of defence and this Castle he called Herodium after his owne name By the same name also he called a tomb which he builded sixtie stounds from Ierusalem artificially made in maner of a womans dug which he richly adorned for within compasse of the top of it he caused round turrets to be placed and round about it he builded princely houses gallantly adorned both within and without He also brought water from a great way off with great cost and charges and made a paire of staires of pure white marble to go vp which had two hundreth steps For the whole hill was made by arte and it was of an exceeding height at the foote thereof likewise he builded another pallace and houses to receiue his friends and their carriage so that this castle for the abundance of all necessarie places seemed a citie and yet was it all the kings pallace Hauing erected thus many buildings he shewed his braue minde in strange Cities likewise for at Tripolis and Damascus and Ptolemais he builded publike bathes which are called exercises He builded the wall of Biblus and seates porches temples and markets at Berytus and Tyre at Sidon and Damascus he builded a Theater and a water conduit at Laodicea a sea towne At Ascalon he builded fountaines or lakes very sumptuous and baths with pillers that for greatnes and gallant worke were miraculous To other places he gaue woods and ports and vnto many cities he added fields as though they had been fellow cities of his kingdome Also toward the maintenance of the bathes he gaue a yeerely annuitie for euer as namely to those at Cous to the intent he might be an eternall benefactor Moreouer he gaue all poore people corne and he often and in sundry places gaue the Rhodians money to built a nauy of ships At his owne proper cost he repaired Pythium which was burnt with fire What should I say of his liberalitie which he extended vnto them of Lycia and Samia or the magnificent gifts which he vsed toward all the people of Ionia yea all things which their hearts could desire whereby he relieued all their necessities Nay both the Athenians and Lacedemonians and Nicopolites and the Citizens of Pergamus in Mysia receiued very many benefits at his hands He paued also a large streete in Antiochia of Syria which was in length twentie stounds and that with faire marble This streete before that time was so full of durt that no man could goe thorow it and all along it he builded galleries that people might go drie thorow it in rainy weather Some one may say that these benefits that he thus bestowed were done for the proper vse of those people on whom he bestowed them but no man can denie but that which he did for the citizens of Elis was not onely common to those of Achaia but vnto all the world where the games called Olympica Certamina were solemnized For Herode seeing them decay onely for want of maintenance and that this was the only remainder of all the ancient monuments of Greece he not only in his own person at that time became one of the proposers of rewards in that Olympiade which he assisted when he went to Rome but also gaue a yeerely stipend to maintaine the same least for want it should be left off It is not to be told what debts and tributes he remitted for he deliuered the Phasaelites and Balaneotes and other townes of Cilicia from the paiment of a yeerly tribute yet was he not so liberall vnto them as he would haue been fearing least the enuy of some might accuse him of some further meaning if he should be more bountifull vnto the cities then those that were the owners thereof He exercised his body likewise in exercises fit for so valiant a minde for he was a verie skilfull hunter wherein he had alwaies his purpose by reason of his skil in riding so that in one day he killed fortie wilde beasts That countrey hath many bores but it hath most store of Harts and wilde Asses He was such a warriour as no man was able to encounter withall so that many were astonished to see him exercise himselfe who admired him for casting a dart and shooting an arrow Beside the vertue both of his mind and bodie he had also good fortune for very seldome the euent of warre was otherwise then he expected which if it sometime chanced it was not through his fault but through the rashnes of his souldiers or else through treason CHAP. XVII Of the disagreement betweene Herode and his sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus BVt his priuate and domesticall sorrowes seemed to enuie him his publike felicitie and most aduerse fortune befell him through the meanes of a woman whom he loued as himselfe For being now made king he put away his wife which he first maried which was a Ladie borne in Ierusalem whose name was Doris and maried Mariamme the daughter of Alexander who was Aristobulus sonne which caused troubles in his house both before but especially after he returned from Rome For he banished his eldest sonne Antipater whom he had by Doris out of the citie onely for his childrens sake that he had by Mariamme licensing him onely at festiuall times to come vnto the citie in regard of some suspicion of treason intended against him And afterward he slew Hyrcanus his wiues vncle notwithstanding that he returned out of Parthia vnto him because after he suspected that he intended some treason against him whom Barzapharnes after he had taken all Syria tooke away prisoner with him But his own countrimen that dwelt beyond Euphrates in commiseration redeemed him from thraldome had he beene counselled by them and not come vnto Herode he had not beene killed but the mariage of his neece caused his death for for that cause and especially for the loue of his natiue soyle he came thither That which moued Herode to kill him was not for that he sought the kingdome but because he had right vnto the kingdome Herode had fiue children by Mariamme two daughters and three sons The yongest was sent to Rome to studie where he died The other two he brought vp like Princes both for their mothers nobilitie sake for that they were borne after he was king But that which aboue al other was most forcible was the loue he bare to Mariamme which from day to day tormented him more violently in such sort that he felt not any part of those griefes which this his best beloued enforced against him For Mariamme hated him as much as he loued her and hauing a iust cause and colour of discontent moreouer being emboldened by the loue which he bare her she euerie day vpbraided him with that which he had done vnto Hyrcanus her vncle and vnto her brother Aristobulus For Herode spared him not although he was a child
but after he had made him high Priest in the seuenteenth yeere of his age he presently put him to death after he had so honoured him who when he came to the Altar clothed in sacred attire vpon a festiuall day all the people wept and the same night was he sent to Iericho and drowned in a lake by the Galatheans who had receiued commission to performe the murther These things did Mariamme daily cast in Herodes teeth and vpbraided both his mother and sister with verie sharpe and reprochfull words yet he so loued her that notwithstanding all this he held his peace But the women were set on fire and that they might the rather moue Herode against her they accused her of adulterie and of many other things which bare a shew of truth obiecting against her that she had sent her portraicture into Aegypt vnto Antonius and that through immoderate lust she did what she could to make her selfe knowen vnto him who doted vpon womens loue and was of sufficient power to do what wrong he pleased Hereat Herode was sore moued especially for that he was iealous of her whom he loued bethinking himselfe vpon the crueltie of Cleopatra for vvhose sake king Lysanias and Malichus king of Arabia were put to death and now he measured not the daunger by the losse of his wife but by his owne death which he feared For which cause being drawen by his affaires into the countrey he gaue secret commaundement vnto Ioseph his sister Salomes husband whom he knew to be trustie and one who for affinitie was his well-willer to kill his wife Mariamme if so be Antonius should haue killed him But Ioseph not maliciously but simply to shew her how greatly the king loued her disclosed that secret vnto her and she when Herode was returned and amongst other talke with many oaths sware that he neuer loued woman but her indeed quoth she it may well be knowne how greatly you loue me by the commaundement you gaue to Ioseph whom you charged to kill me Herode hearing this which he thought to be secret was like a mad man and presently perswaded himselfe that Ioseph would neuer haue disclosed that commaundement of his except he had abused her so that hereupon he became furious and leaping out of his bed he walked vp and downe the pallace vvhereupon his sister Salome hauing fit opportunitie confirmed his suspition of Ioseph For which cause Herode growing now raging mad with Iealousie commanded both of them to be killed Which done his wrath was seconded by repentance and after his anger ceased the affection of loue was presently renewed yea so great was the power of his affection that he would not beleeue she was dead but spake vnto her as though she were aliue vntill in processe of time being assertained of her funerall he equalled the affection he bare her during her life by the vehemencie of his passion for her death Mariammes sonnes succeeded their mother in her wrath and recogitating what an impious act it was they accounted their father as a mortall enemie both before and after they went to studie at Rome and especially after they came againe into Iudaea For as they encreased in yeeres so did the violence of their mind encrease And they being now mariageable one of them maried the daughter of their aunt Salome who accused their mother the other maried the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia And now to their hatred was there ioyned a libertie to speake more freely against them and by this occasion of their boldnes many were animated to calumniate them so that some did openly tell the king that both his sonnes sought to worke treason against him and that the one of them prepared an army to helpe the other to reuenge the death of their mother and that the other to wit he that was sonne in law to Archelaus purposed to flie and accuse Herode before Caesar. Herode giuing eare vnto those calumniations sent for Antipater whom he had by Doris to the end he might defend him against his two sons and sought to aduance him aboue them But they thought this alteration intolerable seeing one whose mother was but a priuate woman so preferred and they moued with their owne noblenes of birth could not containe their indignation but vpon euerie occasion shewed themselues offended yet were they euery day lesse accounted of As for Antipater he wrought himselfe into fauour for he knew how to flatter his father and raised many slaunders vpon his two brethren partly inuented by himselfe partly diuulgated by some of his fauorites whom he set a worke about that matter till that at last he put his brethren out of all hope of hauing the kingdome For he was now by the kings Will and Testament declared king so that he was sent as a King vnto Caesar in a kingly habit and pompe only he wore no Crowne and in time he so preuailed that he wrought his mother into Mariammes steed and with flatteries and calumniation so moued the king that he began to deliberate about the putting to death of his sonnes For which cause he conducted his sonne Alexander with him to Rome and accused him before Caesar that he had giuen him poyson But he with much adoe hauing obtained libertie to plead his owne cause and that before an vnskilfull Iudge yet more wise then Herode or Antipater he modestly held his peace in all things that his father had offended in and first of all he purged his brother from daunger of that crime and taking the vvhole matter vpon himself he in verie good sort acquited himselfe therof And afterwards he inueighed against Antipaters subtiltie complained of those iniuries which had been offered him hauing besides the equitie of his cause sufficient eloquence to acquit himselfe for he was a vehement orator and knew wel how to perswade Last of al he obiected that his father hauing a desire to put both him and his brother to death had laid an accusation vpon him where at the whole audience wept and Caesar was so moued that not regarding the accusations that were laid vnto them he presently made Herode and them friends vpon these conditions that they in all things should be obedient vnto their father and that their father should leaue the kingdome to whom he pleased Hereupon Herode returned from Rome and though he seemed to haue forgiuen his sonnes yet laid he not his iealousie and suspition aside For Antipater stil vrged his argument to make Herod hate his other two sonnes though for feare of him that reconciled them he durst not openly shew himselfe an enemie vnto them Afterward Herode sailed by Cilicia and arriued at Elaeusa where Archelaus receiued him verie courteously thanking him for the safetie of his sonne in law and verie ioyfull for that they were made friends for he wrote vnto his friends at Rome with all speede possible that they should be
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
thâ—…se matters Behold here I am vvho notwithstanding a murtherer of my father yet did I neuer suffer any misfortune by sea nor land is not this O father a sufficient argument of my innocencie For I know father that before God and thee I am condemned and being condemned I beseech thee giue not credit to reports extracted by torments let me be bumed inflict all torments vpon me spare not my wicked bodieâ—… For if I be a murtherer of my father I must not die without torments crying out aloud after this manner and vveeping he moued all that vvere present and Varus also to compassion but Herode onely abstained from teares for his anger gaue attention to the truth And presently Nicholaus at the kings commaundement making a long speech of Antipaters craft and subtiltie tooke away all hope of mercy and began a verie bitter accusation ascribing all mischiefe vvhich had befallen that kingdome vnto him and especially the death of the two brethren who through his calumniations vvere made away affirming also that he vsed trecherous practises against those vvho vvere yet aliue fearing least they should seek to succeed in the kingdome for he vvho had prepared poyson for his father would much lesse spare his brethren And then comming to the proofe of his pretence to poyson his father he declared in order all euidence thereof aggrauating his offence by Pheroras as though Antipater also were the cause why he purposed to murther his brother and how he had corrupted the kings deerest friends and so filled the wholecourt with wickednes And when he had accused him of many other things and brought proofe thereof he ended his speech Then Varus when he had commaunded Antipater to make aunswere vnto those things and that he said nothing more then God is a witnesse of my innocencie he called for the poyson and gaue it to one that was condemned to die who hauing drunke thereof presently died Then Varus talked secretly with Herod and what was done there in that councell he wrote vnto Caesar. Yet notwithstanding when Herod had sent Antipater to prison he sent messengers vnto Caesar to shew him his hard fortune and calamitie After this it was proued that Antipater wrought treason against Salome For one of Antiphilâ—…s seruants came from Rome and brought letters in the name of Acmes who was one of Iulia her maides which she writ vnto the king telling him that she found a letter of Salomes amongst Iulias letters and so for good will she had sent it him â—…the letter which she affirmed to be Salomes contained many bitter inuectiues against Herod and many accusations But these letters were written and fained by Antipater who for money had perswaded Acmes so to do as we haue said for the letter which she writ to Antipater euidently shewed it to be so for she wrote as followeth I haue written vnto thy father as you requested me and sent also other letters and I assure my selfe he will not spare his sister if he doe but read the letters and you may do wel seeing I haue performed all your requests that now you would be mindful of your promise This letter against Salome and others being found to be counterfaited the king began to doubt that Alexander was made away by such counterfaited letters and he was verie angry that he had almost put his sister to death through Antipaters deuise Wherefore he no longer delaied to punish him for all yet he was hindred by a great sicknesse from accomplishing his purpose He also sent letters vnto Caesar concerning Acme the maid and Salomes false accusation and changed his testament and blotted out the name of Antipater and in his roome vvrote Antipas leauing out Archelaus and Philippus who were the elder brethren because Antipater had accused them And he bequeathed vnto Caesar a thousand talents beside many other rich gifts and to his wife and children and kinred and libertines about fiue hundreth and gaue euery one a great gift either in ground or money and honoured his sister Salome with most rich gifts And thus he corrected his will CHAP. XXI Of the golden Eagle and of Antipaters and Herodes death HErods disease encreased partly through age and especially for his gâ—…ese and sorrow for he was now three score and ten yeeres olde and his mind was so troubled by the death of his children that though he were in health yet he tooke no pleasure in any thing and his sicknes was so much the more grieuous vnto him because that Antipater was yet aliue for he purposed to put him to death when he was recouered of his sicknes To encrease his calamitie there arose a tumult amongst the people For there were in the citie two sophisters who made a shew as though they were very skilful in their country lawes for that were renowmed all ouer the countrey One of them was named Iudas who was sonne vnto Sepphoraeus the other was called Matthias sonne vnto Margalus These two were followed by a great many yong men so that when they expounded the law they had an assembly like a great armie all young men These two hearing that the King partly by griefe and partly by his disease was verie like to die spake vnto their acquaintance saying that it was now a fit time vvherein God might be reuenged and those things which were made against their countrey lawes taken away for it was a great offence to God to permit the Images or shapes or likenesse of any liuing thing to be in the temple This they said because the king had set a golden Eagle vpon the chiefest porch of the temple which the Sopâ—…sters now willed the yong men to take away saying that it was meritorious although danger might ensue thereon yea euen to die for their countrey lawes For they that died for such a cause should haue their soules immortall and enioy euerlasting blisse and that many vnwise men ignorant of that doctrine so loued their liues that they chose rather to die by sicknesse then to spend their liues in a vertuous quarrell Whilest they said thus there was a rumour spred that the king was now at the last cast whereat the young men being incouraged about noone when many were walking in the temple they let themselues downe from the top of the temple with great ropes and so with hatchets cut downe the Eagle Whereof the captaine of the souldiers being aduertised accompanied with a great many soldiers went speedily to the temple and tooke almost fortie of the young men and caried them to the King Who first of all asked them if they were so bold as to cut down the golden Eagle and they confessed they had done it then he demaunded by vvhose commaundement they answered by the commaundement of their country lawes After this it was asked them why they who were presently to die were so ioyfull they answered for that after death they hoped to enioy
earth nor vsed any handy craft but ceasing from all labours and paines taking liued in their Citie far and faire-liking hauing both their meate and all other necessaries prouided and prepared for them by others and esteemed that onely their felicitie to doe or endure any thing so that they might preuaile against those against whom they enterprised warres and that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not onely one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole companies of them forgetting their owne lawes yeelded themselues to their enemies And can anie one tell of I say not so many but of one or two of vs that euer was treacherous to his own lawes or that feared to die for them I meane not a common death such as souldiers are subiect vnto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be deuised Which I think those that preuailed against vs imposed vpon vs not for hatred but that they desired to see so admirable a matter and to see if we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impietie possible to doe it could be compelled by them to speake or doe any thing contrarie to our lawes Yet it is no wonder that we for our law doe die with such constancie rather then any other nation for other nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a triflle to wit labour and simple fare and that no man eate whatsoeuer or what he desireth or lie with them whom he ought not or be idle except he be of noble birth or go gallantly attired and we are alwaies carefull that when we fight against our enemy we obserue our lawes concerning our meats And thus we take pleasure to obserue and keepe our lawes and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus passe and such as they be wicked lying writers and Sophisters deceiuers of young men and detracters of our owne nation as though we were the wickedest people liuing As for me I will not examine the lawes of other nations for it is our custome to keepe and obserue our owne not to detract others yea and our law-maker openly prohibited vs from blaspheming such as other nations hold for gods onely for the name of God attributed vnto them yet may we not leaue the obiections of our accusers vnanswered seeing that which wee are to speake against them is not our owne deuice but many before vs haue spoken it Who then of all the wise Greekes will not condemne the most famous Poets and especially the law-makers who at first brought and setled such vaine opinions of the gods amongst the cōmon people affirming the number of them to be so many as they thought good and to be borne at diuers times one of another allotting to euerie one his proper place as vnto other liuing creatures some to be vnder the earth others in the sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in heauen in words they do terme him a father but in deeds they shew him to be a tyrant and for this cause they report that his wife his brother and his daughter whom they affirme to haue been borne of his braine conspired against him to binde him and hang him as they report him also to haue dealt by his father Against these vanities all excellent and wise men doe worthily inueigh who beside this already rehearsed too in derision adde how some of the gods are young and some olde and some infants others are gods of artes and sciences and one is a Smith another a Weauer another a Pilgrime and is at variance with mortall men others delight in musicke others in shooting moreouer that they are at variance one with another amongst themselues and that they fall our one with another in mens behalfe and that not onely one of them laieth violent hands vpon the other but that also they are wounded by mortall men and sorrow feele griefe for the wounds and that which is most abominable of all do vse carnall copulation with mankind and that most vndecently that their vnbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chiefe God of all whom they call father contemned and drowned certaine women whom he himselfe had deceiued and gotten with childe and that he could not deliuer the children borne of these women from calamitie for that destinie had obliged him not see their deaths without teares This is all good stuffe as also is that which followeth to wit adulteries committed in heauen so openly and impudently amongst the gods that some professe themselues to enuie their fellow gods and goddesses tied togither in such filthinesse And what should the rest of them doe when as their king and the most auncientest amongst them could not refraine his lustfull licentiosnesse from the company of women Moreouer some of them became seruants vnto men and some built houses for money and others became shepheards others like malefactors were chained in hell What man then that euer was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprooue the inuentors thereof and the foolish beleeuers also Others presumed to feigne both terror and feare and madnes and such simplicitie as that they might be deceiued and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods haue perswaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexitie thinking that some of the gods are the giuers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seeke to please them with gifts as they would doe wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall sustaine great domage by their meanes except they doe daily pacifie their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shamefull ignorance and erronious iniquitie concerning God Truely I am perswaded for that their first law-makers were themselues herein to seeke and ignorant of the nature of God and that they did not faithfully deliuer vnto their common wealth so much as themselues knew concerning this point but as thought it had bin a thing of least moment did wilfully let it passe giuing licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the common wealths affaires and tell what them liked of strange gods Moreouer the painters and image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in making of gods it being lawfull for them euerie one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of earth others in colours and the chiefest godmakers amongst them vse iuorie and gold to make their gods of a true argument of their mutable noueltie And then the auncient gods whom they first so honoured and reuerenced as they could possibly deuise being now withered with age are out of credit and other youngsters possesse their places and honours their
wife of Elcana praied to God for a sonne 125. d. bare Samuel and consecrated him to God ibid. d e. Annius taketh Gerasa 689. b. Answere of Simon to Iesus oration 679. a. Answere of Isaac 18. i. of Balaam to Balac 83. m. of God to Iosuah 103. c. of Achab to the Syrians 218. k. of Caesar to Herode 586. g of Antipater to Herode 603. d e. of Iohn 671. b c. of Eleazar to Antiochus 803. b. of Alexander 286. g. Antaeus against whom Hercules made warre 19. c. Antigonus copartner in the kingdome 339. d. his death complotted ibid. e. effected 340. g. 562. h i. Antigonus accuseth Hyrcanus and Antipater 360 i. 571. a. promiseth the Parthians money and why 370. l. restored to the kingdome 373. a. cutteth off Hyrcanus eares ibid. a. 570. l. declared an enemie to the Romans 374. i. k. 577. e. vpbraideth Herode 375. e. getteth Massada 578. g. repulseth Herods power ibid. f. surpriseth Herods victualers 376. h i. cruelly handleth Iosephs careas 580. m. submitteth himselfe to Sosius 381. a. put to death 382. d. 383. a. Antiochus the great vexeth the Iewes 296. g h. recouereth cities of Caelesyria ibid. i. his Epistle to Ptolomey 296. his Edict in honour of the Temple 297. b. his Epistle to Zeuxis ibid. c h. Antiochus Epiphanes departeth Egypt 303. c. spoileth the temple of Ierusalem ibid. d. 558. m. abrogateth Gods lawes 304. g. 559. a. inforceth the Iewes to Idolatrie ibid. g. h. tortureth Eleazar 803. d e. â—…slayeth him 804. h. forbiddeth the Iewes to vse their lawes 304. m. 305. a c. inuadeth Iudaea againe 507. a. departeth into Persia ibid. b. besiegeth Elymais 311. a. falleth sicke and dieth ibid. b. 559. c. Antiochus Eupator created king 311. e. marcheth into Iudaea 312. g. 559. e. fighteth with Iudas Machabees 312. i. marcheth against Philip ibid. l. entreth a league with Iudas 313. a. slaieth Philip ib. c. displaceth Onias 526. i. is slaine ibid. d. Antiochus sonne of Alexander 327. a. crowned king ibid f. discomfiteth Demetrius 328. g. fauoureth Ionathan ibid. Antiochus marrieth Cleopatra 333. d. putteth Tryphon to flight ibid. e. warreth against Hyrcanus 335. a b. c. permitteth a truce ibid. slaine 336. g. Antiochus Gryphus ouercommeth Alexander 337. b. his war against his brother ibid. b. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Cyzicenus warreth against his brother 337. b. 341. d. put to flight 337. e. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Eusebius putteth Seleucus to flight 344. h. slaieth Seleucus brother ibid dieth ibid. l. m. Antiochus Seleucus slaieth his vncle 344. g. burned ibid. Antiochus Dionysius king 345. e. thrust out of his kingdome ibid. slaine 346. g. Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens 747. c d. e. Antiochus king of Comegena accused 754. his choise c. ibid. k. l. reconciled to Caesar. 755. a b. Antipas Herods sonne 449. d. claimeth the kingdome 608. m. accuseth Archelaus 609. a b. hath part of the kingd with Archelaus 459. d. Antipater the Idumean 350. m. incenseth the princes against Aristobulus 351. a. relieueth Gabinius 357. d. his wife and children 359. a c. gathereth souldiers for Caesars seruice ibid. d. made a Citizen of Rome and Gouernour ouer Iudaea 360. h i k l. 570. l. maketh his sons gouernours 361. f. perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie 565. f. 666. a. his exploits 570. k. poisoned 367. a. 577. c. Antipater banished 589. b. aduaneed 416. l. enciteth his father against his brothers 417. a d. his congratulation 419. f. plotteth against his brethren 423. e. 591. e d. cause of mischiefe 426. k. gouerneth the kingdome c. 436. l. practiseth his fathers death ibid. m. 601. e. could not deceiue his Aunt 437. b. hateth his brothers children 437. c. his treasons 601. d. accuseth Syllaeus 601. e. 440. i. studieth to winne fauour 547. e f. conspireth against his father 597. e. accused by Herod 443. e. c. 602. m. answereth his fathers obiections 444. g. hated of all 602. h. 446. g. hath libertie to iustifie himselfe ibid. h. 603. d. put to death 450. g h. 606. h. Antipater accuseth Antipater 441. e. Antipater accuseth Archelaus 453. e. 609. b. c. Antipatris built 420. m. burned 637. a b. Antiphilus letter to Antipater 446. l. blamed 447. c. Antiquitie of the Iewes prooued 768. l. m. 769. a. c. see Arguments Antiquities when written 528. h. Antonia described 708. h i. not vnlike a Citie ibid. i. Antonius writeth to Hyrcanus 368. l. m. writeth in the Iewes behalfe 369. c. maketh Tetrarchs 370. h. loueth Herod 374. maketh Herod king ibid. k. requireth Aristobulus 384. i. giueth Cleopatra a portion of Iudaea and Arabia 389. b. conquereth Armenia ibid. e. Aphrica once called Lybia â—…9 b c. Apollonius accuseth the Iewes 790. l. Apollonius sent to rob the temple 802. h. acknowledged his offence ibid. i. Generall of Antiochus army 306. k. discomfited and slaine ibid. k. Apollonius Darius put to flight 324. h. i. Apologie of Achimelech 149. b. of Aristobulus 353. d. Apostasie of the priests 284. l. Apostates from the Iewish religion 303. a b. Apparell 615. c. Appion wrote coldly 782. i. of Moses and the Iewes ibid. his fiction refuted 783. a. b. c. denieth his countrey 784. g. raileth against the Iewes ibid h. his obiection of the Asses head answered 786. m. vpbraideth the Iewes 789. c. praiseth himselfe ibid. accuseth the Iewes 480. g. Apples of Mandragora 24. 〈◊〉 Apprehension of Iohn and Simon 744. m. Apsan gouerned Israel 120. i. his children ibid. i. Arabians Ismaels posteritie 17. a. c. slay Herods souldiers 390. m. kill the Iewes embassadours 391. c. ouercome 393. b. receiue theeues 429. a. brake the league made 577. a. defeate Herods army 584. g. are ouercome 585. c. an Arbiter betwixt the Senate and Claudius 619. f. Archelaus accused 442. i k. promiseth his subiects fauour 608. g. appointed k. 451. a b. 606. k. c. lamenteth 607. f. suppresseth the sedition 452. l. m. 453. a. repaires to Rome ib b. approoued c. 455. a. accused 458. k. excused 459. b. accused and banished 461. a. c. 614. h. his dreame ibid. i. Archelaus k. of Cappadocia 427. c. his ingenious speech 593. e. f. conferreth with Herod 594. g. reconcileth Alexander to his father 428. g. made Herod and Pheroras friends 428 h. 594. h. i. excuseth himselfe 432. h. Aretas king of Arabia 342. e. ouerthroweth Alexander 346. g. putteth Aristobulus to flight 351. e. furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000. souldiers 556. g. Aretas accuseth Syllaeus 440. f. discomfiteth Herods army 470. k. l. Arguments for the Iewes Antiquitie 768. l m. 769. a. c. 770. g. c. 771. a. c. 772. g. c. 773. a. c. 774. g. c. 775. a. Arioch a captaine of the Assyrians 13. c. Aristaeus obtaineth the Iewes libertie 289. b c. Aristobulus first king c. 339. c. imprisoneth his brethren famisheth his mother ib. 561. f. his punishment 340. i k. 562. m. compelleth the Ituraeans to be circumcised ibid. l.
plot for Herode 372. g. lose Armenia 469. d. Parts of the Temple 196. g. Pascha or passcouer of the Hebrewes 49. c d. celebrated 243. b. 249. f. 272. g. Passage of the Israelites ouer Iordan 102. g. Passages stopped vp from the Hebrewes 50. k. Patience of Ioseph 32. i. Paulina deceiued and defiled 467. a. c. Peace bought 236. g. 240. h. Peace of the Israelites 193. c. of the Iewes 220. k. Peace better then death 678. g. the Peeres gouernment best 92. h. a Penaltie most cruell 41. e. c. Penaltie of a woman maried for a virgine c. 93. f Penaltie published 134. k. what it wrought ibid. Pencioner to Saul Dauid 141. c. Penitent obtaine mercie 716. l. Penurie of water 585. c. see want People of Israel afflicted 41. c d. 42. g h. 46. g h. 47. d e. departed out of Egypt 50. g. exhorted to put their trust in Goâ—… ibid. l. m. and to obey the will of God 89. a b. c. driue away the cattell of the Amalechites 139. c. require mitigation of their burthen 206. h. reuolt from Roboam 206. l. are transported and why 243. e f. flie with their mony 717. a. People enioyned by oath to serue God 234. l. 249. d. People of Iuda blesse God 224. h i. and why ibid. h. Peoples loue to Ioseph 547. b. People permit not Pilate to alter their lawes 617. c. People exclaime against Florus 625. s die for want c. 713. c. Perfection of mind respected 141. b. Periurie of Florus 624. i. Peroration of Herode 585. a. Perplexitie of the Israelites 50. k l. Perswasion of Ieroboam to Idolatrie 207. c. Perswasion of false Prophets dangerous 222. k. Perswasion of Rapsaces 245. d e. Pestilence one of the plagues of Egypt 48. l. Pestilence destroyeth Senacheribs army 24. k. Pestilence a great affliction 253. c. Petra a Citie of Arabia 576. i. Petroâ—…us charge for placing Caius statue 480. k c. executeth it not and why 480. l. 481 a. b. certifieth the Iewes of Caesars threats 619. a c. writeth to Caius ibid. d. 619. c. receiueth letters of Caius death 483. d. 609. d. his letter to the Dorites 508. h Phaceias king of Israel 240. i. his impietie and wickednes ibid. i. slew 120000. Iewes 241. a. tooke Achaz sonne prisoner ibid. c. was slaine 242. h. Pharao enamourd of Sara 13. a. plagued ibid. a b. Pharaoh his dreames 33. b c. deliuereth Ioseph from bonds ibid. d. aduanceth him to great honours 34. h. reioyceth at the arriuall of Iosephs brethren 39. a. inquireth of Iacobs age 40. i. restored the profits of his subiects lands ibid. k. Pharao killeth the male children 41. d e. would haue killed Moses 43. e. 45. b. his death 46. m. Pharao counselled to dismisse the Hebrewes 47. c d. not moued with miracles layeth heauier taskes on them ibid. c d. aduised once more ibid. e f. driueth away Moses 49. b. dismisseth the Israelites ibid. d his host drowned 51 c f. Pharisees a sect 329. e. 617. b. greedie of reuenge 347. d. exempt from swearing 408. h. would not sweare obedience 439. c. 463. d. their opinion 617. b. Pharos a tower 692. l. Phasaelus his gouernment 362. g. vanquisheth Felix 367. m. 574. g. 36â—… a. made Tetrarch 370. h. 574. l. obtaineth the fauour of the people 570. taken prisoner 371. f. dasheth out his braines 373. b. Phasaelus Tower and Citie 588. g. h. Pheroras made Tetrarch 407. d. accuseth Alexander and Aristobulus 416. l. refuseth the kings daughter 423. f. blamed for Alexanders offence 428. h. pardoned ibid. 594. c. deceiued 438. l. refuseth to put away his wife 440. g. banished 599. a. falleth sicke and dieth 440. l. m. 599. c. his wife accused 441. a. she confesseth the poyson 442. g. Philip rebelleth against Antiochus 312. l. is slaine 313. c. Philip king of Syria 344. h. besiegeth Demetrius 345. c. Philip Herodes sonne 458. i. hath part of the kingdome 459. d. repaireth cities 464. k. Philo Iudaeus defence c. 480. h. Philistines ouercame the Israelites 120. exacted tribute of them ibid. l. 126. h put to flight 130. g. muade the Israelites 136. i. are ouercome 137. d. e. 143. d e. discomfir Sauls armie 157. e. f. ouercome by Dauid 166. l. by Ozias 239. b. by Ezechias 243. c. Phinees the sonne of Eleazar 87. a. slaieth Zambrias Chosbi ibid a. ouerthrew the Madianites 87. e. his Oration to the two tribes and halfe 107. e. succeeded Eleazar 108. m. foretold the Israelites their victorie c. 111. f. Phinees Elies sonne 125. b. his wickednes and impietie ibid. b is slaine 126. k. his wife then bare Ichabod ibid. m. Phison a floud of Paradice 4. h. called also Ganges ibid. h. Phora 4. h. Phraates king of Parthia slaine 465. b. Phul king of the Syrians 240. g. for money made a peace ibid. h. Pietie profitable 213. a b. Pietie of Ancestors remembred 42. g. Pietie contemned cause of calamities 113. c. 114. g. m. 126. g. c. 135. e. 242. h i k. Pietie of Asa 212. i. of Iosaphat 220. k. of Iotham 240. k. of Ezechias 242. i. of Iosias 248. k l. 249. a b. c. of Matthias c. 305. a. Pigeons doung sold 227. f. Pilate succeedeth Gratus 464 m. bringeth Caesars statues to Ierusalem 466. g. i. not admitted 617. e. crucifieth Christ 466. l m. putteth Samaritanes to flight 468. i k. accused ibid. sendeth the statues from Ierusalem 617. f. beateth the seditious 618. g. Pillage taken 224. h. Pillars raised 6. i. a Pillar called Galaad 25. f. Pitcher of water 153. d. Pit to be fenced 96. k. Pit of swearing 16. l. Pits bituminous 13. c. Pitie of Ioseph toward his brethren 38. l. Placidus repulsed at Iotapata 649. c. his victorie 669. g 〈◊〉 burneth Bethenabris 686. l m. Placing of the vessels c. in the temple 196. m. 197. a b 198. g h. Plagues of Egypt 48. g h i k l m. 49. a. Plague in Dauids time 184. l. Plague inuadeth Iudaea 399. d. Platformes erected 656. h. Plants sprang at first out of the earth 3. d. Plants not of foure yeeres grouth 92. i. Plato admired 795. a. permitteth not Poets c. 796. k. Pledge to be restored to the poore 95. d. Plentie foresignified 33. c f. 34. g i. Plotting of Antipater 423. c. the Plough found out and by whom 5. b. Poeme of sixe measures 98. a. Poem of Homer 675. b. Poets cause multitude of gods 796. Poison tried c. 446. k l. 604. i. Policie of Rebecca c. for her sonne 21. e f. of Iacob to pacific his brother 26. g h i k. of the Gabeonites 104. h. of Ioseph 538. h. 539. a. 542. i. of Ionathan 545. e f. of Ioseph 643. d. 652. k. 655. b. 690. h. Politianus meets with Agrippa c. 627. enciteth the people to peace ibid. d. Pompey gouernour of Syria 352. m. marcheth against Aristobulus 353. f. 354 g. 566. k.
suspition and he exhorreth the father to be reconciled to his children Herode is reconciled to his children Antipater friendly dotâ—… congratulate his brethreÌ„ returned into his fathers fauour Herode ditâ—… giue Caesar â—…00 taleâ—… The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Caesar gaue Herode halfe his reuennes out of the mines of Cyprus The rebels are conquered The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs natiuitie 7. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. al. 10. Caesrea is finished Oâ—…nale â—…men Caesar and Agrippa commend Herods magnanimity Aâ—…ipartis is built Cypron is built The tower and towne of Phasaelus is built The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Herode built the temple of Pythius The sports of Olympus Why Herode was liberall to strangers and cruell to his owne nation Herod greedie of honour Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. The Iewes of Asia and Cyrenc being afflicted by the inhabitaÌ„ts there send an embassage to Caesar and do obtain of him immunitie The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Agrippa writ vnto the rulers of Ephesus in the Iewes behalfe and to Syllanus and the magistrats of Cyrena Caius Norbanus Flaccus writeth in the Iewes behalfe Iulius Antonius procoÌ„full The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. al. 7. 12. The desire of gold Herode lost two of his men in Dauids sepulchre Nicholaus the histotiographer reproued Ioseph came of the priestly line of the Asamoncens A discord in Herods house Antipaters crafty plotting against his brethren The women ax discord and variance Pheroras refused the kings daughter offered him tâ—… wife The yeere of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Salome entised 〈◊〉 daughter to bewray her husbands seâ—…ts Herode greatly moued against Pheroras for aâ—…firming that he was a in loue with Glaphyra The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birâ—… 7. Salome excuseth her selfe The effect of calumniation Syllaeus the Arabian desiring Salome to wife was denied Herod maried his daughter to Pheroras son The sons hatred towards their father is bewraied The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Herode crediteth all tales and so putteth many to death vniustly Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Herode denieth to be familiar with Andromachus and Gemellus Antipater the cause of all mischiefe Many were tortured and examined for Alexanders cause The yeare of the world 3957. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 7. Alexander being in prison his frieÌ„ds were tortured One accused Alexander to haue sent letters to Rome against his father Alexander confesseth the treason and who had a hand in it Herode was so troubled with the contention in his house that he was wearie of his life Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. al. 13. Archelaus the king of Cappadocia seineth displeasure against Alexander his son in law and so reconciled Herods vnto him The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Archelaus lai cth the fault of Alexanders offence vpon others and especially vpon â—…roas Pheroras confessed himselfe to be author of all mischiefe and obtaineth pardon of his brother Herode accompanied Archelaus vnto Antioch The yeare of the world 3958. before Christs natiuitie 6. The cause of the Arabian warre Caesar gaue Trachonitis to Herode Alias chap. 14. Herodes captaines subdue the rebels in Arabia The theeues taken and punished Alias chap. 15 Herode demaunded the theeues to be deliuered vnto him and the money he had lent to be repared The yeare of the world 3958. before Christs birth 6. Saturninus Volumnius the rulers of Syria do reconcile Herod the ArabiaÌ„s Herode by the permission of Saturninus Volumnius entred into Arabia with an army destroied the castle callep Repra Nacebus with 25. Arabians slaine Herode caried 3000. Idumaeans into Trachon Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. al. 16. Syllaeus accused Herode vnto Caesar. The Arabians and Trachonites vnderstanding that Caesar was offended with Herode resolce thereat The yeare of the world 3960. before Christs Natiuitie 4. Caesar offended with Herode Obodas dying Aeneassucceeded him in the Arabian kingdome Caesar would not giue audience to the Arabian embassadors Herode sent Nicholaus Damascene to Caesar. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. al. 17. Eurycles a Lacedemonian â—…nuateth 〈◊〉 into Herodes familiaritie Eurycles insinuated himselfe into Alexanders friendship Eurycles obseruing all Alexanders words and actions related them to Antipater and Herode Eurycles by craft got mony of Archelaus The yeare of the world 3960. before the Natiuitie of Christ 4â—… Herode doth giue care vnto the accusers of Alexander Aristobulus Iucundus and Tyrannus confesse that Alexander did solicite them to kill Herode as he was a hunting How AlexaÌ„der writ vnto the captaine of AlexandriuÌ„ to receiue him Dyophantus the scribe doth counterfait other mens hands Alexander and Aristobulus arâ—… imprisoned and Aristobulus warneth his mother in law AlexaÌ„der confesseth to Herode that he purposed to fly to Archâ—…laus Mela embassador of Archelauâ—… king of Cappadocia Glaphyra Alexanders wiâ—… is demanded if she knew of any treason against Herode The â—…art of the world 3960. before Christs birth 4â—… Archelaus excuseth himselfe to Herode Caesar and Herode made friends Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. al. 18. Nicholaus accuseth Syllaeus and excuseth Herode A â—…arration of the Arabian wars the boâ—…owed money The theeues of Trachon The yeare of the world 3960. before Christs birth 4. Syllaeus condemned to dy Caesar was purposed to giue the kingdome of Arabia to Herode was altered by Herodes letters The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. Aretas embassadors vnto Caesar. Caesar alloweth Herode to punish malefactors Herode affembleth all that Caesar willed except Archâ—…laus Herode â—…ccuseth his sons The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Naâ—…tie 3. Saturninus doth pronouÌ„ce an indifferent sentence Volumnius other of Herods friends pronounce Herodes sons to be beheaded Herode asked of Nicholaus what his frieÌ„ds at Rome thought of his sonnes Tyro speaketh to Herode and not obseruing modesty he and the captaines were imprisoned The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Tyro is by his son and a barber accused to haue practised treason against the king Tyro with 300 captains are accused before the people and slaine Alexander Aristobulus strangled at Sebaste and buried in Alexandrium The cause of these calamities was destiny and Gods prouidence Wherein Alexander and Aristobulus offended Herod shamefull errour not to be excused The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. Antipater after hee had made away his brothers grew hatefull both to the soldiers and the people Antipater gouerned the kingdom with his father Antipater wish eth his fathers death The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Antipater spared no cost to winne his fathers friends Antipater could not deceiue his aunt Herode compelleth Salome
thorow extreame thirst are inforced to yeeld to thâ—… Iewes Ant. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 7. Herods oration to Augustus Caesar. Herode speaketh freely before Câ—… The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30 Caesars anâ—… to Herod Herods gratulation toward Caesar. Caesar increaseth Herodes Dominion Herode made gouernour of Syria The yeâ—…re of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 10. 12. 13. 14. Herodes buildings The yeare of the world 3947. before the birth of Christ. 17. The fountaine head of Iordan Herod maketh a greater port then that of Piraeum An apt description of a haueÌ„ The yeere of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Caesarea in time past called the tower of Straton Ant. lib. 15. ca. 10. 12. lib. 17. cap. 5. Agrippium Antipatris Cyprus Phasaelus tower Herodium Herodium a castle resembling a citie Herods bountie to all men Herod famous thorow the world The yeare of the world 3954 before Christs birth 10. Herode a great hunter The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Herod besides the vertue of mind and body had the blessings of fortune Ant. lib. 15. cap. 3. 8. lib. 16. cap. 13. Herod expelseth Antipater out of the citie and killeth Hyrcanus his wiues grandmother Herods children by Maririamme Mariamme hatefully vpbraideth Herode with Hyrcanus death Herods mother and sister do falsely accuse Mariamme to him Herod secretly chargeth Ioseph to kill his wife Herodes suspition betwixt Ioseph and his wife The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs birth 10. Herode commandeth both Ioseph and Mariamme to be slaine Mariammes sons inheritor of her displeasure The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Herods debate with those sons he had by Mariamme Ant lib. 16. cap. 4. Antipater by disgracing his brothers is declared his fathers heire Herod accuseth Alexander before Caesar. A reconciliation betweene Herode and his sonnes Archelaus kindly entertaineth Herod and his sonnes Herods worthy oration to the people wherein he distributeth honours to his three sonnes The yeare of the world 3956. before the birth of Christ. 8. Herod giueth not the kingdome to his sons but the honours of the kingdome Herode conuerteth his speech to his sonnes Herod by his words did not vtterly extinguish the hatred betweenâ—… his sonnes Antipaters treason against his brother Alexander By whatmeans Antipater corrupted his brother Alexanders friends Anupater whetâ—…eth Herode and his courtiers against Alexander The yeare of the world 3956 before Christs birth 8. Glaphyra Alexanders wiâ—…e increased his conceiued suspition by her words Aristobulus obiecteth to his wife her base birth Ant. lib. 16. cap. 7. Alexander and Aristobulus often times bewaile their mother and by that meanes prouoke their father The two brothers excuse themselues before their father Herod The yeare of thâ—… world 3956. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Alexander corrupteth his fathers Eunuches and telleth them â—…e 〈◊〉 to succeed in the kingdome Herod seareth his sonne Alexander Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. Hrods cruelty Herode casteth Alexander into prisoâ—… and tortured his friends Alexander during his imprisonment wrote â—…oure bookes against his enemies Archelaus king of Cappadocia The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Archelaus and Herode consulte vpon Alexanders bookes Herode is incensed against his brother Pheroras Pheroras attired in a mourning garment with teares falleth before Herodes 〈◊〉 and craueth pardon Pheroras by Archelaus meanes pacifieth Herode Archelaus compelleth Herode of his owne accord to be intreated for Alexander Herod dismisseth Archelaus and his friends with great presents Ant. lib. 16. cap. 11. Eurycles the Lacedemonian secretly accuseth AlexaÌ„der to his father and is the cause of his death The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Eurycles by fained friendship deceiueth Alexander Another false accusation of Alexander his brother moueth Herod to indignation The yeere of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Diophanrus the kings notary writeth fained letters in Alexanders name Cous Euaratus Ant. lib. 16. cap. 12. Herode by Salomes counsaile imprisoneth his sons The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. lib 16. cap. 13. Herode gathereth a councell against Alexander Aristobulus Herode accuseth his sonnes in open iudgement Herodes sentence against his sonnes The yeare of the world 3961. before the birth of Christ. 3. Tiro an olde souldier exclameth against Herodes crueltie Tyro with his sonne are by the kings command laid hands on Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. Another false accusation against Tyro Herode commaundeth his sonnes to be strangled and to be buried with Alexander their mothers vncle Ant. lib. 17. cap. 21. Anupater striueth by gifts and bribes to creepe into mens fauours The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Herode grieuously bemoned his sons expressing the same by his â—…ation toward their children Herode betrotheth his nephewes Herodes children by his seuen wiues Herode is perswaded by Antipaters flatteries to breake off the mariages Ant. lib. 17. cap. 3. Antipater buildeth vpon the kingdome Adebaâ—… betwixt the Ladies in y t court The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. li. 17. ca. 4. Herode forbiddeth Antipater of his brothers company or to haue conference with his wife Fabatus Caesars gouernor discouereth Syllaeus secrets Herod banisheth his brother Pheroras and and his wife Pheroras died and was buried in Ierusalem Ant. lib. 17. cap. 5. The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. A witch of Arabia The confession oâ—… the women in their tortures Doris Antipaters mother is spoyled of her Iewels and thrust out of the pallace Pheroras wife freely confesseth what was become of the poyson The yeare of the world 396â—… before Christs Natiuitie 3. Gods iustice leaueth nothing vnpunished Antipaters treasons against Archelaus and Philip his brothers Antipater giueth a great summe of money to those that counterfait letters against his brothers Ant. lib. 18. cap. 8. Antipater is solicited By Herode with many kind words to hasten his returne The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Antipater hated in Caesarea Antipaters entertainment at his fathers hands Antipater is iudged before Varus Herods accusation against Antipater The years of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Herodes kindnes towards his children Herode loued Antipater aboue the rest and bestowed many benefits on him Antipaters answer and excuse Antipater calleth Rome and Caesar to witnesse The yeere of the world 3â—…61 before Christs birth 3. Nicholaus by the kings commaund beginneth a most hainous and bitter accusation against Antipater Nicholaus peroration The venome tried vpon a condemned man An other proofe against Antipater Herod intendeth Antipaters punishment therefore blotteth his name out of his Testament Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. The yeare of the world 3963. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Iudas and Matthias perswade the people to pul downe the golden Eagle The yong men that puld downe the Eagle are brought before Herod
there were betweene the first building of the temple vnder king Salomon and the destruction vnder Titus The crie and howling of the murthered Iewes The temple filled with fire and bloud Two noble men cast themselues into the fire The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72 Sixe thousand in the porch consumed by fire False prophets suborned by the seditious The blindnes of the people The first prodigie A comet like vnto a sword The second prodigie was that a bright light shined about the altar and temple by night The third prodigie was of a co◅ y e brought forth a lambe in the midst of the temple The fourth the brasen gate of the temple opened it selfe The fift armed chariots and men seene in the aire The sixt a voice in the inward temple The Seuenth prodigie Iesus a countrey mans crie and death The yeare of the world 4034 af◅r Christs birth 72. Iesus for seuen yeeres space fiue months cried about the Citie A stone shot from an engine killeth Iesus The Iewes interpret the signes to their own good liking are their Countries ruine and the cause of their owne calamity Gold was sold for halfe the price The craft of a boy The Priests ◅raue pardon but Titus commandeth them to be led to execution The seditious summon Titus to a parly The yeare of the ◅ld 4034. after Christs birth 71. Titus Oration to the Iewes by an interpreter The Romans humanitie incited the Iewes against them The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. Titus granteth the Iewes li◅e on condition they should lay aside their weapons and submit themselues The souldiers set the citie on fire Caesar cōstant in his resolution The seditious resorting to the kings house take away the treasure The punishment of a Roman souldier taken by the Iewes The Iewes are arrogant in midst of their calamitie The Iewes refuse to submit themselues to the Romans yet are they vnable to wag◅ warre with them The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. The tyrants vttermost hope was in their vaults Rapine and slaughter in the vaults The Idumaeans consult in their assembly about their submission Fortie thousand of the people saued Iesus a priest the sonne of Thebathus Phineas the treasurer of the temple taken The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. Some of the seditious kept in Acra the rest in the vault of the clue The feare and amazement of the seditious The tyrants do inieble themselues and of their owne accords for sake the towers frō whence by nomeanes but famine they might be driuen The Romans enter the town and obtaine the victory The houses and ◅ilie of best reckoning are left full of dead bodies The yeere of the world ◅034 af◅er Christs birth 72. These munitions of the citie and defence of the tower which the tyrants abandoned for feare impregnable Fortunes monument The olde and weake Iewes are slaine and the strong and Iustie relerued Titus distributeth the Iewes The number of the captiues and such as died during the siege of the citie The Romans searching the graues and vaults finde much treasure Iohn and Simon apprehended in the vaults The yeere of the world 4034. after Chris◅ birth 7◅ Ierusalem being fiue times spoyled was at that time once more sackt The Roma◅ wholy ruinate both the Citie and the temple Titus thanketh his souldier◅ for that they had continued their loue towards him Titus promises recompence to his valiant souldiers The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth◅ 72. Titus larges to his souldiers Titus sacrifice for his victorie The twelfth legion vnder Cestius leading gaue place to the Iewes Vespasians sayling and iournie Shewes at Caesarea Simon getteth downe into the vault and hopeth to escape from thence in saftie Simon i◅ taken by the Roman◅ Sinne cannot shunne Gods iustice A great multitude of the seditious taken in vaults The yeare of the world 4034. after the birth of Christ. 72. In a shew in Caesarea 2500. Iewes die Titus celebrateth Vespasians birthday The nation of the Iewes intermixed among all the people of the world A number of Iewes in Antioch A Iew called Antiochus is the cause of their mightie miscrie in Antioch Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens Antiochus forbiddeth to sanctifie the seuenth day Another calamitie at Anuoch The yeare of the world 4034. after Christs birth 72. A sort of wicked men by meanes they were indebted burne the market place and the publike records The yeare of the world 4035. after Christs natiuite 73. The Citie of Rome entertaineth Vespasian with all willingnesse and pompe The Romans issue out to meet with Vespasian Vespasian celebrateth gratulatory sacrifice for his safe arriuall The causes of the reuolt of the Germans and French from the Romans The yeare of the world 4035. after Christs birth 73. Ciuilis compelleth the Germans to subiection Domitianus Titus brother The Scithians and Sarmates rebellion against the Romans Titus celebrateth many sumptuous pastimes in all the cities of Syria The floud Sabbaticus Titus comming to Antioch The praiers of the citizens against the Iewes The yeere of the world 4036. after Christs bir◅ 74. Titus lamenteth the losse desolation of Ierusalem The Romans find no small part of the riches of Ierualem Iohn and Simon and seuentie other goodly Iewes are reserued by Titus to be sent into Italy The triumphāt attire of Vespasian and Titus Their vowes and dinner before their triumph The magnificence of the triumph The most precious garments The yeare of the world 4036. after Christs birth 74. The building of the Pageants The yeare of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75 A table of gold of the weight of a great talent The last of the spoyles was the law of the Iewes Simon the sonne of Giora is drawne with a halter about his neck through the market place Vespasian buildeth and dedicateth a Temple to peace The yeere of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75. Herode inuironeth Mache rus with a great wall and towers Wonderfull store of arrows and other engines in this tower Rue of admirable greatnes How Baaras is to be gathered Another fashion how to dig the roote Hot bathes The yeare of the world 4037. after the birth of Christ. 75. The Iewes that were for◅ners dwelt in ◅he lower Citie The conflict of the Iewes with the Romans Eleazar a Iew strong in hand and fierce in bold attempts Eleazar is taken and stripped naked and whipt Eleazars calamitie moueth the Iewes to submit themselues One thousand seuen hūdreth Iewes slaine by the Romans Iardes a wood inuironed by the Romans The yeare of the world 4037. after Christs birth 75. Three thousand Iewes slaine A tribute imposed by Caesar on all the Iewes Cesennius Petus president of Syria accuseth Antiochus before Caesar. Antiochus is sodainly inuaded by Cesennius Antiochus chuseth rather to depart out of his country with his wife and children then to fight with the Romans Antiochus
them also who before time had beene in his kingdome or that sithence likewise had beene brought thither and notwithstanding it was told him that the money that would be required for their ransome would amount to more then foure hundreth talents yet ceased he not to confirme that which he had promised But that it may more plainely appeare how great his royal magnificence was I haue thought good to insert in this place the copie of his edict which he sent abroad to this effect Whosoeuer of you that in my fathers seruice by bearing armes vnder him haue made any roades into Syria and Phaenicia and after the conquest of Iudaea haue taken any prisoners and brought them to our Cities and countries with an intent to sell them all they also who haue heretofore detained any or at this present haue any such captiues in their possession they are to set them at libertie that liue vnder their thraldome receiuing for the ransome of euery person six score drachmes namely the men of warre at such time as their wages shall be paid them as for the rest they shall receiue their money out of the kings treasury For I am of that opinion that contrarie to my fathers mind and against all right they haue beene taken prisoners and that their coūtry hath bin in this sort euilly intreated by the insolēcy of the soldiers who haue thought to make their profit and merchandize by them in transferring them into Aegypt Hauing therefore an especiall respect of iustice and intending to shew mercy to those who are wrongfully oppressed I commaund that all those Iewes who are detained in seruitude be discharged and that they who held them captiue receiue the ransome published by vs so as no deceit or fraud be vsed therein And to the end that our ordinance be exactly and fully fulfilled our will is that this edict of ours be publikely proclaimed three daies after it shall come vnto your hands and that those who hold such prisoners in their possession declare how many prisoners they hold For we suppose that in so doing it shall redound to our profit Moreouer it shall be lawfull for any man that will to accuse the contemners of this decree and our pleasure is that such as contradict the same shall haue their goods confiscate to the Kings vses When this edict of the Kings published to this effect was proclaimed abroad and that onely point was omitted that concerned those that before time had beene afterward the second time were led away prisoners in whose behalfe he had giuen no direction he shewed himselfe most bountifull in like manner toward these And gaue order that the number and tallie should be speedily gathered and the money distributed to the cōmittees tresurers appertaining to him Which being speedily performed in the space of seuen daies all the kings ordinance was accomplished and there was laid out for the ransomes of them all to the summe of more then foure hundreth and sixtie talents For the masters exacted sixescore drachmes for the children also grounding themselues vpon the kings edict by which it was ordained that for euerie person they should haue that summe extending the same euen vnto the children These things being thus magnificently exployted according to the kings commaund he gaue Demetrius in charge to make a decree as touching the translation of the bookes of the Iewes For the king did nothing rashly but administred all things with great wisedome and circumspection and for that cause the copie of Demetrius suggestion and the letters sent to this effect are orderly registred and recorded in writing The number likewise of the presents that were sent and by whom they were offered so that who soeuer shall behold the same he shall incontinently iudge by the curious workmanship the high perfection of the workman and by the excellencies of the pieces he shall incontinently know by whom each of them was fashioned The copie of the aduice and suggestion made by Demetrius is this Demetrius to the great king Health Most mightie Prince since you haue committed the trust vnto me to find out those bookes that are deficient in your librarie and to search for such volumes as hitherto haue beene hid from my sight to the end that I might gather them and perfect them and that those which are lost might be restored with all the diligence that thereunto belongeth after that I had vsed herein all the care that in me was possible I giue you to vnderstand that amongst others we want the books of the lawes of the Iewes For in that they are written in Characters and Hebrew words we haue had no notice thereof where through they haue beene more negligently handled then was behoouefull for that vntill this day it hath neuer hapned that any Princes thought hath extended so farre It therefore behooueth thee to haue them exactly interpreted for since that those lawes proceeded frō God himself it is most certaine that of all other lawes in the world they are the wisest and incorruptest For which cause Hecataeus the Abderite saith that neither Poets nor Historians haue made any mention of them neither of those who haue beene policied and gouerned vnder the same because in themselues they are pure and are not to be declared by impure lips May it therefore please your Maiestie to write vnto the high Priest of the Iewes commaunding him to send you sixe Auncients of euerie tribe such as he shall know to be most expert in their law by whom we may cleerely apprehend the sense contained in those bookes to the end that hauing the faithfull interpretation of those things that are contained therein we may collect and gather them together to the full satisfaction of your Maiesties desire When the king had in this sort beene both aduised and suggested he wrote vnto Eleazar the high Priest of the Iewes as touching this matter giuing him likewise to vnderstand of that libertie by him granted vnto the Iewes that were in his kingdome He sent him also fiftie talents of gold to make cups ewers and vessels with an infinite number of precious stones commaunding his coferers who had the charge of his Iewels to suffer the workmen to choose what stones they best liked Furthermore he willed that a hundreth talents should be giuen for the sacrifices and oblations and other vses of the temple But after that I haue declared what was the copie of the letter sent vnto Eleazar the high Priest and the manner howe hee obtained that sacerdotall dignitie I will set downe both the rich presents and their curious workemanshippe After the death of Onias the high Priest his sonne Simon surnamed the Iust succeeded him in his place who for that cause was so called by reason of the piety which he shewed toward God the good affection which he bare vnto his countrimen This Simon dying leauing behind him one onely son of yong tender yeres who was called Onias his
brother which was this Eleazar of whom we speake at this present tooke vpon him the priesthood and to him wrote Ptolomey in such maner as is hereafter expressed King Ptolomey to the high priest Eleazar Health Whereas diuers Iewes dwelt in my kingdome whom my father hath honoured though during the raigne of the Persians they were drawen thither as prisoners some of whom he hath established to be chieftaines in warre vnder honourable wages conditions To other some borne in his time in Aegypt he hath committed his forts and garrisons to the end they might be respected among the Aegyptians After that I haue beene called to the gouernment I haue behaued my selfe graciously towards all men and especially towards those of your nation of whom I haue deliuered more then one hundreth thousand out of captiuitie disbursing their ransome out of mine owne cofers I haue likewise inrouled some of those that were of age in the companies and bands of my men of warre I haue receiued some into my court whom I tooke to be faithfull and loyall and in my opinion well worthy of such preferment supposing that the most acceptable and the deerest present I might offer vp vnto God for his prouidence extended toward mee in aduancing me to the kingdome was to performe the same And being desirous not only to gratifie them but also all those Iewes that are in the whole world I haue determined to cause your law to be translated that after it hath been transcripted out of Hebrew into Greeke I might place it in my librarie You shall therfore doe well if you choose me out six disereet and learned men of euery tribe amongst you who are already stept in yeers and send them vnto me who by reason of their age shall be well instructed in your lawes and sufficiently enabled to expound the same For in so doing I shall accept it at your hands as a great honour For this cause I send vnto you Andrew the principall captaine of my guard and Aristaeus also whom we especially honour to conferre with you by whom I haue sent you one hundreth talents of siluer as the first fruits of those gifts and sacrifices which we intend to offer in the temple You shall doe vs an especiall fauour if you signifie your mind vnto vs by your letters As soone as Eleazar had receiued the kings letters he returned him an answere full of honor and affection according to the tenour which ensueth The high Priest Eleazar to king Ptolomey Health If you your Queene Arsinoe and your children be in health all our affaires likewise haue no lesse fortunate successe We haue receiued your princely letters with no small ioy and haue both read and considered vpon the contents thereof we haue also published them in the presence of all the people and haue declared vnto them your pietie towards God and haue shewed them those viols which you sent vs twenty of gold and thirty of siluer with fiue vessels and a table which in way of present you haue sent vnto vs. We haue likewise shewed them those hundreth talents which Andrew and Aristaeus very vertuous and excellently learned men and honoured by you amongst your deerest friends haue brought vnto vs to be imploied in sacrifices and other necessities of the temple Know therefore that whatsoeuer standeth either with your content or profit we will enforce our owne natures to the ende we may acknowledge the benefits which you haue diuers waies bestowed vpon our nation We haue therefore duly and continually offered sacrifice for you your sister Arsinoe your children and friends the people likewise haue praied that God would send you happy successe in whatsoeuer you desire that your kingdome may be continued in peace and that the translation of our law may be accomplished in such sort as you desire for your owne commodity To that intent we haue chosen fix Elders out of euery tribe whom we send vnto you together with the originall of our law Our request is that according to your accustomed pietie and iustice you returne vs both our lawes and these interpreters in safety as soone as they haue satisfied your expectation Fare you well This is the answere which the high Priest sent vnto him Yet haue I thought it to be a matter meerely vnnecessarie to set downe the names of the seuentie two Elders in particular who were sent by Eleazar togither with the lawe notwithstanding they are set downe in the Epistle Yet thinke I it not amisse to recite the excellencie and fashion of those presents that were sent by the king and offered vp vnto God to the end that all men may know how zealous he was towards the seruice of God For in performance thereof he spared no immeasurable expence but continually assisted the workemen and examined their workmanship to the end that nothing might be carelesly finished or negligently performed I will therefore set downe as neere as in me lieth the excellencie of euery piece although it may bee thought that the course of historie requireth it not but therefore will I discourse the same because my desire is by so doing to expresse vnto the readers how great the liberalitie and generositie of the king hath been And first of all I will begin to describe the table The king desirous to make it great in all dimensions desired to know the greatnesse of that which was at Ierusalem to the intent that he might cause it to be far greater And hauing certain notice how great it was and that there was no let but that he might make his far greater he said that he would haue it fiue times greater then the other but that he feared least being so great it would be vnfit to offer sacrifice thereupon and his intention was that the oblations which he offered should not only serue for shew but that they might also be somewhat proper for the vse and seruice of the temple For this cause concluding that the first was of sufficient and conuenable measure he resolued that his should not exceede the other in greatnesse but that equalling the same in quantity of gold it might exceed the other in varietie and beauty of workmanship For he was ingenious to obserue the nature of diuers things and to inuent new and vnexpected fashion so that by his ripe iudgement he shewed the workemen such inuentions as before time had not been in vse and commanded them to make and finish them hauing alwaies an eie to the model that he had proposed them to worke by He vndertooke therefore to make the table of two cubits and a halfe in length of one in breadth and of one and a halfe in height all of massiue gold about the which there was made a border a hand breadth large enriched with mouing waues on which there was a bend grauen with admirable art appearing on three sides For being triangulary euery angle presented the same engrauing so that when