made such Lamentation for it that his Mother beat him with a Taper of VVax that stood before her and that so sorely that he could never after well endure the sight of a Taper Edmund Ironside and Canute the Danes after many former battels by the Counsel of a Captain put the trial of their quarrel to their own single combat in a little Island called Alney near Glocester where after some trial of their valour they came to an agreement and divided the Kingdom between them p. 401. Duke Edrick after many false and treacherous deeds having contrived Edmund Ironsides death which was effected by thrusting into his body as he retired to a place for natures necessity a sharp Spear and having cut off his Soveraigns head he carried it to Canute with this fawning Salutation All hale thou now sole Monarch of England for here behold the head of thy Copartner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canute though ambitious enough yet grieved at so disloyal a Fact replied and vowed That in reward of that service the bringers own Head should be advanced above all the Peeres of his Kingdom which high Honor while this Wretch expected soon after by the Kings command his Head bad fareâ—el to his Shoulders and was placed on the Highest Gate to overlook London Speeds Hist p. 401. Osbright a Vice-roy of Northumberland forced the Lady of Beorne Bocador a Nobleman related to the King of Denmark who flying to him to revenge his Cause he sent Hungar and Hubba whose Father Lothbroke following his Hawk in a little skiffe was carried into England taken as a Spy carried to King Edmund who preferred him and delighted in him for his skill in Hawking Which the Kings Faulconer Birrick envying at murthered him in a Wood which murder being by Lothbrokes Spaniel discovered Birrick was put in Lothbrokes Boat without Oar or Tackle and driven into Denmark accused King Edmund as the cause of his Murder which enraged Hungar and Hubba to invade England Id. p 398. Canutus established a Law that Women marrying within a year after their Husbands death should lose their Joyntures Id. p. 401. King Canutus gave great Jewels to Winchester Church whereof one is reported to be a Cross worth as much as the whole revenue of England amounted to in a year and unto Coventry he gave the Arm of St. Augustine which he bought at Papia for an hundred Talents of Silver and one of Gold Speeds Hist p. 402. Gormo Father of one Canute slain before Dublin so exceedingly loved him that he swore to kill him that brought him Newes of his Sons death which when Thira his Mother heard of she used this Policy to make it known to him She prepared mourning apparel and laid aside all princely State which the Old man perceiving he concluded his Son dead and with excessive grief ended his own Life p. 403. Hardicanute King of England was a great Epicure caused his Table to be spred with abundance of dainties four times every day which caused in the Common-wealth a riotous looseness Subjects being apt to praise their Soveraigns Vertues but to imitate their Vices Id. p. 406. King Edward the Confessor having married a virtuous and beautiful Lady Egitha Daughter of Earl Godwyn abstained her Bed saying on his own Death-bed That openly she was his Wife but as to secret embracing as his own Sister Which undue neglect of Marriage-right the Simplicity and Superstition of those times Canonized him for p. 411. One Dane made good Stamford-Bridg against all King Harolds Army and with his Axe slew forty of his Men till at last the Danish Souldier was slain with a Dart. Id. p. 415. Tosto and Harold the Sons of Earl Godwyn falling out Tosto secretly hyed himself into the Marches of VVales and near the City Hereford at Portaslith where Harold had a House then in preparing to entertain the King he slew all his Brothers Servants and cutting them peice-meal into Gobbets some of their Limbs he Salted and cast the rest into the Vessels of Meath and Wine sending his Brother word that he had furnished him vvith powdred Meats against the Kings coming thither Speeds Hist p. 413. Pope Alexander the 20. to encourage William the Conqueror to invade England sent him a consecrated Banner an Agnus Dei and one of the Haires of St. Peter and cursed all those that should oppose against him by which he was so encouraged that Landing his men in England to cut off all hope and occasion of return he fired all the Fleet. p. 415. VVilliam the Conqueror at his arrivage from Sea in England his feet chanced to slip so that he fell into the mud and bemired his hands which accident was presently construed as a lucky presage one of his Captains presently saying as Caesar did on the like occasion landing in Africk that now he had taken possession of the Land of which he should shortlâ— become King As accordingly it came to pass after he had slain Harold at Battle Abbey for mangling whose dead body he cashiered a common Souldier out of his wars and wages for ever unto which Abbey erected in memory of his conquest he granted large privileges and amongst others this that Malefactors flying thither should be secured harmless and if the Abbot chanced to come by any place where any Malefactor was to be Executed he might deliver him Speeds Hist 416. 18 33. Lewes King of France having procured the death of William Longspee Duke of Normandy was intercepted by the Normans and detained Prisoner till he had agreed to these Articles viz. That young Richard should succeed his Father in that Dukedom and that thenceforth when the King and Duke should confer together the Duke should be girt with a Sword and the King disabled either of Sword or Knife To which King Lewes bound himself by Oath Speeds Hist p. 423. Robert Duke of Normandy Father to William the Conqueror going to Hierusalem on pilgrimage and falling sick by the way was born in a litter on the Saracens shoulders when he desired a Christian Pilgrim whom he met to report what he saw which was That he was born to heaven on the Divels back p. 423. VVilliam the Conqueror at first held a hard hand on the Englishmen He instituted the ringing of the curfue Bell at eight of the Clock at night when he commanded all the English to put out the fire as a means to keep them in greater subjection Yea the Natives themselves became as strangers shaving their beards and rounding their hair and in garments behaviour and diet fashioned themselves to imitate the Normans It being a shame in those days even amongst Englishmen to be an English man Id. p. 427. William the Conqueror demanding how it came to pass that he should conquer England in one day when the Danes were so many years about it Fretherick Abbot of St. Albans answered That long peace had converted the riches of the land which should have maintained Soldiers
the Monastery of Pontiniacâ— and there excommunicates his suffâ—agan Bishops thence the King by threatning otherwise to expel all the Monks of that Order out of hi Kingdom gets him banish'd and sends all his kindred and well-willers out of England Becket had got the French â—ing and the Pope to back him but Lucius the Anti-Pope dying and Barborossa the Emperor being no friend to the Pope the King and Emperor treated to deal with the Cardinals to choose another Pope which the Pope fearing first made the Kings of England and France friends and then used the mediation of the French King to make up the difference between the King and Becket which after two or three attempts in vain Becket still adding in his submissions to the King Salvo Honore Dei which the King justly disliked because whatever displeased him he would affirm was against Gods Honour yet at last were made friends and the Arh-Bishop sent home but not fully restored till he behaved himself quietly a while at Canterbury which he promised but contrarily he immediately excommunicates the Arch-Bishop of York the Bishops of London and Salisbury and all that had any hand in the young Kings Coronation they complain to the King who was exceedingly troubled and cursed the time that he made him Arch-â—ishop or sent for him home and withal added that it was his chance ever to do for unthankful men otherwise some or other would have made this proud Priâ—st an example to all such troublesome pâ—rturbers of his Kingdom and State four Knights hearing these word resolve to kill him come to Canterbury on Innocents day and after â—hey had treated with him to be pliable to the Kings pleasure but to no purpose at evening they enter the Church and on the steps going up to the Quire they kill'd him The Monks immediately bury his body which was afterwards taken up and layd in a most sumptuous shrine in the East end of the Church at Canterbury The Pope hearing of this Massacre excommunicates the authors and consenters The King was fain to purge himself by Oath yet could not be absolved before he had done this strange Penance First he should pray devoutly at the shrine of this new Martyr Secondly that he should be whipt in the Chapter House receiving of every Monk one lash Thirdly that he should maintain two hundred Soldiers for the space of one year at Jerusalem and lastly revoke the declaration publisht at Clarendon that originally gave the occasion of this murther All this such were those times the King was fain to perform Bp. Godw. lives of the Bps. p. 95. Giraldas Cambrensis speaking concerning Baldwin the fourtâ— Archbishop of Canterbury gives him this Character that he was a better Monk than Abbot Bishop or Arch-bishop for which cause the â—ope in a certain letter greeted him thus Urban the Servant of the Servants of God to the most fervent Monk the zealous Abbot the Lukewarm Bishop and careless Arch-bishop greeting This Bishop would needs attend King Richard the first into the Holy Land and died at the Siege of Acon and gave all his goods to be divided amongst the Soldiers Id. p. 1â—0 King Richard the first being taken Prisoner by Leopald Arch-duke of Austria at what time the Sea of Canterbury was void effectually by his letters endeavoured and prevailed that Hubert Walter who had waited on him in his Warrs in the Holy land and was then Bishop of Salisbury might be advanced to the Arch-bishoprick While his Pall was fetching from Rome he went to Merton and professed himself a Monk He prevailed for a quarter part of the Revenues both of Clergy and Laity for one year which with the Plate and Ornaments of the Church then sold were to pay the Kings ransome being 150000 Marks The King at his return made him Lord Chancellor and Chief Justice of England and Governour of all his dominions who being before Arch-bishop and the Popes Legate wanted no Authority that was possible to be laid upon him In two years after his preferment he gatâ—ered to the Kings use 1100000 Marks devized the â—ssize of Bread Weights and Measures for Wine Oyl and Corn was a great House-keeper buâ—lt a Monastery at Derham in Northfolk where he was born Walled and Moated so as the Water encompassed the Tower of London encreased the Revenues of his Sea and procured divers privileges to it built a Chappel at Lambeth by the Monks of Canterburies consent hardly obtained and that not without this express condition that no Bishops should there be Consecrated nor Abbot admitted nor Order administred He lived twelve years Arch-bishop both beloved of Prince and people blamed for nothing but ambition in holding so many places of power Which temporal Offices on the Popes command he laid down divers years before his death which happened July 15th 1205. Id. p. 105. King John and the Monks of Canterbury rejoyced at Huberts death of whom it seems they stood in some Awe the King when he first heard of it used this expression Methinks quoth he I am now indeed King of England But the Event declared they had no great cause of Joy for upon a difference amongst the Monks who had made two Elections the Pope voiding both imposed upon the See of Canterbury one Stephen Langton a man of great worth had he orderly entred The King forbad him entrance into England the Pope hereon interdicts the whole realm during the time of which all divine service ceaâ—ed except baptism auricular Confession and administration of the Lords supper to such as lay at point of death and at last particularly excommunicates the King himself which he little regarded till he perceived the French King ready to Invade him and his own Subjects to desert him Whereupon he was necessitated to comply with the Pope to resign his â—rown and take it from him paying a yearly pension of a thousand Marks and at last was poysoned by a Monk Having first admitted the Arch-bishop into his Land and restored him his revenues the Arch bishop calls a Convocation at Osnias whither came a young man shewing the marks of wounds in his hands feet and side professing himself to be Jesus Christ and was accompanied by two Women whereof one professed herself the Virgin Mary the other Mary Magdalen But this Counterfeit Christ was for his pains really crucified Presently after he translates the bones of Becket with so great expense at the solemnity that neither he nor four of his successors were able to recover the debt it cast his See and Church into He first divided the Bible into Chapters in such sort as we now account them and died July the ninth 1228. Bp. Godw. p. 108. In the Raign of Henry the third many Italians had possessed themselves of the best benefices in England which being much spitted at certain mad fellows took upon them by force to thresh out their Corn every where and gave it away to the poor as also to rob and spoil them of
Flux saw that he should die he caused his Armor to be put upon him and so Armed and sitting in a Chair said Thus it becometh a Knight or man of honor to die and not lying in his bed as another mean man Grafton p. 181. Edward the Confessor was the first King of England that used by his touch to cure the Kings evil William the Conqueror had three Horses killed under him at Battel Abbey Field Id. p. 191. An Hide of Land containeth five yards and every yard containeth four Acres An Acre containeth forty perches in length and four in breadth And a Knights fee con aineth eight Hides which amount to one hundred and sixty Acres and is accompted a Plough Land Grafton 2. Vol. p. 16. Leofricus Duke of Mercia in the time of Edward the Confessor adorned the Church of Coventry with great riches of Gold Silver and Jewels insomuch that Robert William the Conquerors Chaplain being made Bishop thereof took from one beam in his Church the value of five hundred Marks A Tempest in the year one thousand and ninety in the raign of William Rufus blew down six hundred houses in London p. 23. William Rufus warring in Normandy when by his command an Army of twenty thousand men were gathered together at Hastings in Sussex ready to be transported he sent then word that every man paying ten shillings might return home as meaning to corrupt therewith Philip the French King to desert his brother Robert which accordingly was done and thereon Robert was fain to sue for Terms of Peace Id. p. 25. In the time of Rufus Bishopricks were bought and sold in England as other Merchandises also Priests used bushed and braided-heads and blazing clothes shining and Golden Girdles and gilt Spurs and many other enormities uncontrouled Grafton 2. Vol. p. 28. In the year one thousand one hundred and sixty were seen in England two Moons on Maunday Thursday the one in the East the other in the West and in the year one thousand one hundred and fifty six were seen two Suns and in the Moon a Red Cross about which time in Italy appeared three Suns by the space of three hours in the West and in the year following three Moons whereof the middle had a Red Cross overthwart noted as a token of the schisme among the Cardinals about the election of Alexander the third that endured twenty years As also in December in the year one thousand and two hundred in the raign of King John were seen in the Element about ten at night within the Province of York five Moons One in the East another in the West a third in the South another in the North and a fifth in the middle Hail fell as big as Hens Eggs and Spirits were seen flying in the Air like Birds with fire in their bills setting houses on fire as they flew And the last of October one thousand three hundred twenty and one the Sun for six hours together appeared as red as blood And in the year one thousand two hundred sixty and one in the raign of Henry the third the Thames was frozen so hard that men rode over on horse-back Grafton 2. Vol. p. 36. 51. 92. 98 138. 201. All Becket's Kinred both men and women were banished for his offence by Henry the second p. 68. Becket on Christmas day did excommunicate Robert de Brocke for cutting off the tail of one of his Horses the day before p. 71. When Pope Alexander trod upon the Emperor Fredericks neck the Quire blasphemously sung this verse Thou shalt walk upon the adder and the Basilisk and shall tread down the Lion and the Dragon p. 79. IMMANUEL Historical Collections Century X. HEnry the second King of England never laid any Tax or tribute on his Subjects in all his raign and yet when he died left nine hundred thousand pounds in his Treasury Grafton Vol. 2. p 81. Robin Hood and little John who is reported to be fourteen foot high two Famous Thieves lived in the time of King Richard the first p. 85. Four hundred Jews at York in the time of Richard the first cut their Master veines and bled themselves to death p. 87. In the year one thousand two hundred twenty one the men of Cathness in Scotland burnt their Bishop because he cursed them for not paying Tithes for which cause the King of Scots hanged four hundred of the chief doers gelded their children and disinherited the Earl of that Country Id. p. 119. A Jew falling into a Privy at Tewksbury on Saturday for reverence of the day which is their Sabbath would not be taken forth The Earl of Glocester hearing of it commanded that he should not be taken out on the Lords day for reverence of the Christian Sabbath and on Munday morning he was found dead Grafton Vol. 2. p. 119. When Isabel Edward the seconds Wife was returning with an Army into England had they not been driven by a Tempest to a contrary Harbour they had all miscarried their Enemies waiting at the Port they intended to land at p. 20. Edward the third tempted the Chastity of the beautiful Countess of Salisbury and had an honorable repulse p. 214. King Edward the third having streightned Calice by a Twelve-months siege proffered mercy to all except six which should come forth with Halters about their necks and be left wholly to his dispose they coming he commanded them to be beheaded but upon the earnest intercession of his Queen and Nobles he forgave them who had all voluntarily proffered themselves to that danger to save their people p. 286. King Edward the third took Sir Eustace of Richmond Prisoner with his own hand and for his valiant behaviour in the encounter he set him at liberty and gave him a rich Chapelet of Pearls to were in remembrance of him Grafton Vol. 2. p. 291. Sir James Audely having behaved himself valiantly at the battel of Poytiers the Black Prince gave him five hundred Marks a year which he presently gave his four Esquires the Prince hearing of it confirmed his gift and gave him six hundred Marks more for himself p. 299. John King of France and Edw. the 3d King of England being together at Mass when the Pax was profered to be kissed both refused to kiss first and so instead of kissing the Pax they kissed each other p. 316. In the year one thousand four hundred and eleven the Thames flowed three times in one day of which Grafton gives the reason to be great Winds Rains and Frost p. 441. At the Council of Constance was assembled of Bishops Abbots and Doctors three hundred forty six of Noble men five hundred sixty four of Knights and Esq sixteen thousand besides Servants which not accounting the Townsmen were reckoned forty five thousand persons Id. 444. In the raign of Henry the fiftâ— there was a Bill put up in the Parliament at Leicester against the Temporalties of the Clergy That that which was devoutly given and disordinately spent might
upon them and slew four hundred took two hundred but no man knew what became of the Aegyptian And afterwards Festus slew many that were seduced to follow an inchanter into the Wilderness Joseph p. 522 23. Between Festus death and Albinus that succeeded him Ananus the high Priest who was a Rast and Head strong man and a Sadducee supposing he had a liberty to do what liked him He therefore sate down upon the Tribunal and caused James the brother of Jesus who was called Christ to appear before him with certain others and accusing them for transgressing the Law and blaspheming against God and caused them to be put to death They who were men of upright Conscience were displeased and sent secretly to the King beseeching him to prohibit Ananus that hereafter he should not commit the like offence For which cause Albinus threatned to punish him and King Agrippa dispossest him of the Priest-hood Joseph p. 524. Men and Satan intending us mischief many times do us good as Jason the Thessalian who being assaulted by his Enemy who intended to kill him had an Imposthumation opened that saved his life Joseph Warrs of the Jews Ep. One Judas an Essaean having prophesied that Antigonus should be killed at Straton the day being come in which his prophecy should be accomplished seeing him at two of the Clock in the afternoon at Jerusalem which was six thousand furlongs from Caesaria crieth out Oh happy were it for me to be dead since the truth dieth before me which having spoken he sate down pensive untill such time that it was told him that Antigonus was slain by Aristobulus appointment in a place under ground which was called the Tower of Straton Id. p. 562. Antipater Herods Father being accused by Aristobulus before Caesar casting away his veâ—ure shewed the number of wounds he had received said it was not needful to use words to â—rove what affection he had born to Caesar for â—is very body would shew it though he held his peace which so prevailed with Caesar that â—e made him governor of Judaea Joseph p. 571. Antigonus having got Hircanus the high Priest into his power with his teeth bit off his Ears â—o the end that if hereafter he should chance â—o get loose he might be no more high Priest for none might offer Sacrifice that wanted any member of his body Id. p. 576. A certain young man feigning himself to be Alexander Herods Son by Mariamne whom Herod had put to death deceived many where ever he came but especially at Rome is discovered by Caesar who condemned him to the Gallies and put to death him that counselled him Id. p. 614. Two Miles from Ptolemais there is a little River called Beleus having adjoyning to it a place of the compass of an hundred Cubits being a round valley covered with Sand like Salt which when many Ships coming together take away for balast so that they empty the place of it that place is presently after covered with the like Sand again for there are winds which as it were upon purpose carry this Sand from the higher places round about thither and whatsoever is within the Hollow is presently changed into Crystal or Glass And if any of this be cast again into the brink of the place it is again turned into ordinary Sand. Id. 618. One Simon a Chief among the Seditious seeing himself encompassed so by the Scythopolitans that there was no possibility of escaping that his Enemies might not insult over him beholding his family with compassion mixt with rage kill'd his Father Mother Wife and Children and at last thrust his Sword up into his own body up to the Hilt Id. 695. Josephus when Iotapata was taken leapt into a Cave where there was forty principal men who being proffered life by Vespasian refused it and could not be perswaded by Joseph from killing themselves but casting lots who should be killed first the Lot falling last upon Joseph and his fellow when the rest had dispatched one another Joseph perswaded and prevailed with his Surviving fellow and so they both were preserved and yielded themselves Joseph is carried to Vespasian and foretels him of his being Emperor Joseph p. 660. Six furlongs from Hebron there is an exceeding great Turpentine Tree which is aâ—rmed to have endured ever since the Creation of the World Id. p. 691. A Jew having fled out of Jerusalem to the Romans being discovered to rake after Gold in his excrements having swallowed some to escape the Seditious was the occasion that two thousand Jews were immediately slain for the hope of finding Gold which they were supposed to have swallowed Id. p. 729. Titus exhorting his Soldiers to assault Jerusalem used this Expression Tâ—at the Soul of him that dieth in War is presently received into the pure aiery Element and from thence placed amongst the Stars in Heaven and the good and valiant Ghosts do always assist their posterities but all that die in peace by diseases their Souls are kept in the bowels of the earth notwithstanding they are just and pure and are forgotten and their memory extinguished Id. p. 727. One Artorius a Roman Soldier being on the East porch of the Temple that was on fire called to one Lucius that stood below and told him that if he would catch him in his Armes he would make him heir of all his Inheritance Lucius willingly endeavoured to do it Artorius cast himself down upon him and escaped with life but Lucius on whom he fell was bruised upon the pavement and so died Id. p. 733. A Noble woman in the Siege of Jerusalem compelled by famine killed her own Son and eat him Id. p. 739. The Temple was burnt against Titus Will on the tenth of August in the year of Christ seventy two the same day it was formerly burnt by the King of Babylon being one thousand one hundred and thirty seven years seven months and fifteen daies after it was first built by Solomon and after the rebuilding in the time of Haggai six hundred thirty nine years and forty five daies Joseph p. 736. The Prodigies forerunning the destruction of the Citie and Temple were 1. A Comet like a Sword hanging over the City 2. A light shining about the Temple and Altar all night 3. A Cow brought forth a Lamb in the midst of the Temple 4. The Brazen Gate in the Temple opened of it self 5. Chariots and an Army in battel array encompassing the City 6. A Voice heard in the Temple that said Let us depart hence 7. A plain Country-man called Jesus for seven years and six months crying Woe against the City and last crying Woe to himself was â—ill'd with an Engine p. 739. A Roman Horseman being taken by the Seditious and delivered to a Captain to be slain was brought by him where the Romans might behold him and a Veil before his Eyes where he meant to behead him but whilst he drew his Sword the Horse-man fled to the Romans Titus would not put him
seria p. 75. The Pope that he might congratulate Charles Cardinal of Lorrain for his great zeal against the Lutherans sent him his letters of thanks and withall the picture of the Virgin with Christ in her Arms being Michael Angelo's most curious Master-piece The Messenger in his journey fell sick and lighting upon a Merchant of Lucca who pretended himself a retainer to the Cardinal though he was for injuries received a most bitter Enemy to him delivers the Popes letter and present to him to present to the Cardinal who undertakes it and being arrived at Paris gets a â—imner that bore ill will to the Cardinal to draw a Picture of equal bigness in which instead of the Virgin Mary were pourtrayed the Cardinal the Queen his Niece the Queen Mother and the Duke of Guise his wife all stark naked their Armes about his neck and their Legs twisted in his this being put in the case of the other with the Popes lâ—tters were delivered to one of the Cardinals Secretaries while he was with the King in Council But returning having read the letter he reserved the opening the case till the next day where having invited those Ladies and many Nobles and Cardinals they found themselves miserably deceived and disappointed and exceedingly ashamed Id. p. 39. IMMANUEL Historical Collections Century XIII THE posterity of Seth invented the science of the Celestial Bodies and to the end that their inventions should not be defaced by the general destruction by fire and water which Adam had foretold they made two pillars the one of Brick the other of Stone and ingraved in them both the things they had invented that the Brick might outstand the fire and the Stone the water That of Brick is in the Country of Lycia to this day Josephus Jewish Antiq p. 6. The demonstrations in Astronomy had never been attained by the Antediluvian Patriarchs had they not lived at least six hundred years For the great year is accomplisht in tâ—at number Id. p. 8. The Jews who descended from Isaac are Circumcised the eighth day But the Arabians who are descended from Ismael the thirteenth year as he was Id. p. 17. We may not marvel that the Israelites passed through the Red Sea since not long time ago God thinking it good the Sea of Pamphilia divided it self to give way to Alexander King of Macedon's Souldiers having no other way to destroy the Empire of Persia Josephus p. 52. Jephtae Sacrificed his Daughter for a Burnt-offering which oblation of his was not conformable to the aw nor acceptable to God Id. p. 120. The Samaritans who were transplanted from Persia into the Land of Israel as often as they find the Jews in prosperity call them their Cousins but if they perceive their fortunes to be on the declining hand they abjure their consanguinity and renounce any lawful parentage or amity and say they were planted in the Country and drawn thither from a forreign Nation Id. 244. and 304. Alexander meeting Jaddus the high Priest fell prostrate on his face and adored not him but God who in that likeness had formerly appeared to him and encouraged him to the Conquest of Persia and received the Jews with much favour when all his Souldiers intended and supposed he did so to their destruction Id. p. 286. When the Law was translated by the seventy Interpreters Ptolemy took great pleasure in the reading of it and askt of Demetrius how it came to pass that neither Poet nor Historiographer had made mention of it notwithstanding that in it self it was so admirable To whom Demetrius gave this answer That no man was so hardy to touch that work by reason that it was Divine and every way admirable assuring him also that certain men t at had set their hands thereto had been punished by God for so doing As Theopompus who intended to reduce certain Contents of that Law had been distracted for more than thirty days and that having some intermission he appeased God by prayer conjecturing what was the cause of his malady Moreover he was certified by a Vision that appeared to him in his sleep that this inconvenience befel him because he had too curiously searched into Sacred and Divine matters and had intended to communicate the same with profane men from which enterprise since he had defisted he recovered his right wits again He likewise insinuated further That Theodestes the Tragick Poet intending to make mention in some of his Poems of a History written in the sacred Scriptures was strucken blind and acknowledging the cause thereof to proceed from his audacious presumption he was restored to his sight after he had appeased Gods displeasure Id. 294. Hircanus with other Nobles that wisht him not well being invited by Ptolemy to a Banquet or Feast the other Nobles to put a trick upon him laid all their bones on the Table before Hircanus and suborned Tryphon the Kings Jester to say to the King See whaâ— store of bones are before Hircanus Hereby you may conjecture how his Father hath fleeced Syria as he hath bared these bones of flesh The King laughing asked Hircanus how he came by so many bones before him Not without cause said he O King for Dogs devour the flesh with the bones as these do but men cast away the flesh and eat the bones as I do because I am a man Joseph p. 301. Four thousand Jews on a Sabbath day not resisting the stopping their mouths were buried in a Cave that they might not violate the Sabbaâ—h But Matthias instructed them better and afterwards prevaileâ— with them to make resistance and fight with their Enemies if assaulted on the Sabbath day Id. p. 30â— In the one hundred and sixtieth before Christ the Temple was laid desolate be Antiochus and continued so three years and was then restored to its former use and was solemnly dedicated by Judas Maccabeus the Son of Matthias and a Festival instituted for eight days which our Saviour observed notwithstanding it was instituted without Divine appointment which Feast was called the Feast of Lights because as Josephus conjectures so great felicity began to shine as a light contrary to all hope Joseph p. 309. Polybius writes that Antiochus Epiphanes was taken away by a violent sickness through Gods justice for that he would have spoiled the Temple of Diana in Persia but Josephus chargeth it on the Sacrilege he committed in the Temple at Jerusalem This he did the other he only intended Id. p. 311. Eleazar Judas Brother seeing a huge Elephant armed with Royal Trappings and supposing that the King Antiochus was upon the same he ran against him with a mighty courage and after he â—ad slain divers of them that were about the Elephant and scattered the rest he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast and wounded him to the death so that the Elephant falling upon Eleazar slew him with the weight thereof Joseph Ant. p. 312. Onius the Son of the high Priest seeing that the King
had Herod and Philip the Tetrarchs Herod would have compelled the Pharisees to swear obedience to him who would not but Phaeroras his wife payeth their fine hoping by their means to obtain the Kingdom for her Sons whereupon he cast off his houshold Servants that were of the Pharisees faction and requireth Phaeroras to put away his wife Antipater whom Herod had joyned with him in the government conspires against his Father is accused condemned and cast into Prison who was convinced to have prepared poyson for his Father which being given as a Tryal to a condemned Malefactor presently kill'd him Herod fell sick of a terrible painful burning sickness in his intrails with a Canine appetite an vlcer in his bowels a furious Collick His members rotted and were full of crawling wormes a perpetual Priapisme with an intolerable stench a violent convulsion of his Nerves and shortness of breath Apprehending his death he sent for the Nobles of the Jews upon pain of death to come to him shuâ— them up in the Hippodrome and commanded his Sister Salome and his brother Alenas that at his death the Soldiers should kill them that so he might not die without Lamentation but Salome and Alenas discharged them and sent them home unhurt Six daies before he died he caused his Son Antipater to be slain He raigned after the Romans appointed him King thirty and seven years He died after Christs birth one year and lived sixty and left his Kingdom to Archelaus Joseph Antiq. from p. 370. to 450. When Herod assaulted certain Thieves who had betaken themselves unto their Caves there was an old man amongst them with his wife and seven Sons who being required by them that he would suffer them to go and submit themselves took up the entry of the Cave and as his Sons advanced themselves to issue out he slew them so that having massacred them all and afterwards his wife and cast their dead bodies down the Rock he reviled Herod to his face refused his proffered pardon and threw himself down head-long after them preferring death before servitude Ioseph Antiq. p. 377. At such time as Caesar and Anthony made Trial of their Titles in the Actian Warr and in the seventh year of the raign of King Herod there happened such an earth quake in the Country of Judaea that divers beasts were slain and many men over-whelm'd with the ruine of their Houses and perished to the number of ten thousand Id. 391. At that time viz. when Pontius Pilate was governour was Jesus a Wise-man if it be lawful to call him a man For he was the performer of divers admirable works and the instructor of those who willingly entertain the truth He drew unto him divers Jews and Greeks to be his followers This was Christ who being accused by the Princes of our nation before Pilate was condemned by him to the Cross yet did not those that followed him forbear to love him notwithstanding the ignominy of his death For he appeared unto them alive the third day after according as the Divine prophets had before testified and divers wonderful things were done by him and from that time the race of the Christians who have derived their name from him have never ceased Id. 466. Decius Mundus a Roman Knight profered six thousand pounds to Paulina a beautiful but chaste Lady for one nights free enjoying her but was refused She afterwards by the contrivance of I le the Priest of Isis who pretended to her that their God Anubis desired familiarity with her was prevailed with to take her lodging in the Temple and there entertained Mundus instead of Anubis which he bragging of to her she informes her husband who complained to the Emperor Tiberius of the abuse who hang'd the Priest destroyed the Temple and threw Anubis Statue into Tiber and banished Mundus Id. p. 468. Four Jews dwelling in Rome and expounding the Law had prevailed with Fulvia a noble Lady and wife to Saturnine to become a Proselyte and to send Purple and Gold to the Temple at Jerusalem which they received and converted to their own use This being discovered and complaint made to Tiberius he commanded all the Jews to depart ouâ— of Rome so that Multitudes suffered for the offence of four Joseph Jews Antiq. p. 4 8. Vitellius shewed the Jews great favour came to Jerusalem restored to them the custody of the Priestly Vestments sent Pontius Pilate to Rome and removed Caiaphas from his Priest-hood and advanced Jonathan the Son of Ananus to that dignity Id. p. 463. Philip the Tetrarch Reigned thirty seven years and behaved himself very peaceably he made his ordinary abode within his own Dominions He walked being accompanied with a small number of his chosen servants and had that seat carried after him wherein he was accustomed to sit and do justice And therein sate he to the end that if any one presented himself and required his assistance he might without delay do him right for on the first motion the seat was placed in that path wherein the Plantiff met him and being seated thereon he examined the cause punished the guilty and absolved the innocent Id. p. 471. Herod the second having put away the Daughter of Aretas King of Arabia his lawful wife and taken Herodias who was his Brother Aristobulus Daughter and his Brother Philip's wife Philip yet living was discomfited by Aretas Souldiers and his Army quite overthrown divers of the Jews were of the opinion that God justly punish'd him for the death of John the Baptist whom Josephus commends for his vertue and ascribes his death to Herods fear lest his Subjects being allured by his Doctrines and perswasions should be drawn to revolt Id. p. 471. Herod's progeny is related by Josephus that we may know that neither the number of Children nor any other humane force can be available without the fear of God considering that within the space of one hundred years all Herods Line which was very numerous was extinguisht a very few excepted Joseph p. 471. Agrippa the Great the Son of Aristobulus who was Herods Son by Mariamne married Cypros the Daughter of Salamso the Daughter of Mariamne by Herod which Salamso was the wife of Phaseolus the Son of Phaseolus Herod's Brother Agrippa had by his wife Cypros three Daughter Bernice Mariamne and Drusilla and two Sons Drasis that died young and Agrippa so that Agrippa the Great and his wife were both the Grandchildren of Herod the Great Id p. 471. Agrippa the Great riding with Cajus Caligula wisht the death of Tiberius his Uncle and Cajus his Succession and was complained of by his Coachman to Tiberius who kept him six months in chains in Prison he was told by a German conjecturing from the sight of an Owl which sat over his head of his future prosperity and death within five days he should again see that Bird. When Cajus came to the Empire he released him from Prison and created him King of Judaea and had the Tetrarchy of