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
thorow the intestine warres of his family Dauid was expulsed out of his kingdome by his son 9 Absolon marching out with his army against his father is ouerthrowne 10 The happy estate of Dauid restored againe into his kingdome 11 Dauid in his life time annointeth and createth his sonne Salomon king 12 The death of Dauid and how much he left his sonne towards the building of the temple CHAP. I. Dauid is created King of one Tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraigntie THIs battell was fought on the same day that Dauid returned conquerour to Siceleg after he had subdued the Amalechites But some three daies after his returne he that slew Saul and had escaped from the battell hauing his garment rent and ashes cast vpon his head came and cast himselfe prostrate before Dauid and being demaunded from whence he came he answered from the battell of the Israelites and certified Dauid of the vnhappy issue thereof telling him how diuers thousands of the Hebrewes were slaine and how Saul himselfe and his sonnes were done to death in the conflict He likewise gaue him to vnderstand how hee himselfe retreated amongst the Hebrewes and was present at the flight of the king confessing likewise that he was the author of his death vnder purpose to redeeme him from the hands of his enemies For said he Saul hauing cast himselfe vpon the point of his sword was so weake by reason of the agonie of his wounds that he could not dispatch himselfe Furthermore he produced the testimonies of his death the gold about his armes and the royall crowne which he tooke and brought from him being dead Dauid perceiuing no cause wherby he should suspect his death whereof he had most euident and infallible testimonies rent his garments and spent the day in weeping and lamenting with his companions And the more was he ouerpressed with sorrow by reason of the losse of his most deere friend Ionathan whom he acknowledged to be the authour and conseruer of his life And so vertuous and affectionate shewed he himselfe towards Saul that although he had oftentimes been in danger to haue been slaine by him yet was he sore agrieued at his death and not that alone but he likewise executed him that slew him telling him that he himselfe had accused himselfe for slaying the king declaring thereby that he was the sonne of an Amalechite and commanded that he should be put to death He composed likewise lamentations and Epitaphs in praise of Saul and Ionathan which are as yet extant at this present time where in I liue After that he had thus honouted the king and performed his lamentation and obsequies he asked counsaile of God by the meanes of the Prophet what Citie of the tribe of Iuda he would giue him to inhabite in who answered him that he would giue him Hebron For which cause he forsooke Siceleg and came and dwelt in Hebron and brought thither his wife and souldiers All the people of the aforesaid tribe resorted thither vnto him and proclaimed him king where vnderstanding how the Iabesins had buried Saul and his sonnes he sent embassadours vnto them both to praise and approue their actions promising them that both he allowed their act and would remunerate their deuoire which they had extended toward the dead giuing them likewise to vnderstand that the tribe of Iuda had chosen him for their king But Abner the son of Ner General of Sauls army a man of execution and of a noble disposition vnderstanding that Saul and Ionathan and his two other brothers were dead came into the campe and bringing with him the onely sonne of Saul that was left whose name was Isboseth he passed on the other side of Iordan and proclaimed him king of all the people except the tribe of Iuda He appointed likewise for his royall seate and place of residence a certaine countrie called in Hebrew Machare that is to say the campe From thence went he with an elected band of souldiers with a resolution to fight against those of the tribe of Iuda in that he was displeased with them because they had made choise of Dauid for their king Against him marched out Ioab the sonne of Suri and of Saruia Dauids sister generall of his army to encounter him accompanied with his brothers Abisai and Azael and all Dauids souldiers and arriuing neere a certaine fountaine of Gabaa he arranged his army in that place to enter battell And when as Abner said vnto him that he desired to make triall whether part had the better souldiers it was accorded betweene them that twelue for either side should be chosen out to determine the challenge who marching out into a certaine place betwixt both the hosts and hauing darted their Iauelins the one against the other came at last to the sword where mutually assailing hewing and butchering one another both in their heads sides and bowels they all of them at last fell down dead as if the plot had bin determined between them Which done the two armies ioyned in like sort and after a cruel battell Abner with his followers were discomfited who speedily flying were incessantly pursued by Ioab who in his owne person insisted and exhorted his other soldiers to pursue them hastily without suffering any of them to escape But amongst the rest Ioabs brothers were hot vpon the chase and the yoongest of them called Azael gaue especiall restimonie of his forwardnesse thorow that swiftnesse in running wherwith he was endowed for he ranne not onely more swifte then other men but outstripped horses also in their race Whilest thus he pursued Abner with great vehemencie and headlong course without turning either on the one side or on the other Abner turned back vpon him and intending to dignifie him for his forces he first couenanted with him for one souldiers armour and another time seeing that he could not be perswaded to stay he prayed him to arest himselfe and pursue him no further for feare least being inforced to kill him he should be depriued of the courage to behold his brother Ioab But perceiuing that he made no account of his words but that Azael instantly insisted to pursue him Abner flying and turning himselfe backe stroke him with a Iauelin which he had in his hand in such sort as he presently died But they that pursued Abner likewise arriuing in the place where Azaels body vnaduenturously fell dead staied round about him and surceased to pursue the enemy any further But Ioab and his brother Abisai outstripping the body with swift running and conceiuing a more mortall hatred against Abner for that he had in this sort slaine their brother they pursued him vntill sun-set with admirable swiftnesse and incredible alacritie vnto a place called Dumaton There mounting vppon a hillocke hee sawe Abner with the tribe of Beniamin flying from him who beganne to crie out vnto him and say that men of the same tribe should not be so whetted
affectionate friend for such as enterprise any wicked action do often and subtilly dissemble and make shew of honestie to the end to expell out of the innocents mind all iealousie or euill suspition where singling him from his other company and making a shew to informe him of certaine secrets and hauing drawne him into a by-way besides the wall accompanied only with his brother Abisai he drew his rapier and thrust it into his short ribbes Of which wound Abner died surprised by the treason of Ioab who pretended and coloured that act of his with the reuenge and death of his brother Azael whom Abner had slaine vpon the chase in the first warre at Hebron but in truth it was but the suspition of his greatnesse and honour fearing least he should be depriued and Abner inseated by obtaining the next degree of honour vnto Dauid Hereby may a man conceiue how many and how mightie things men attempt and hazard for their auarice and ambition sake and to the end they may not be inferiour vnto any others in those matters For when as they desire to attaine riches and honours they atchieue it by ten thousand mischiefes and at such time as they feare to be dispossest they striue to continue their estates by meanes more pernicious because they thinke it to be the lesse sinne and that the calamitie is lesse actiue rather not to haue obtained to any greatnesse and power then after the possession thereof to fall into disgrace Thence it commeth that all of them intend and practise many hazards and difficult encountries thorow the feare they haue to lose their degree But it sufficeth to haue briefly touched this point Dauid hauing notice of the murther of Abner conceiued a great griefe in his heart and called all his assistants to witnesse lifting vp his hands vnto God and protesting that he was no partaker of the murther and that Abner had beene slaine without his commandement or will He likewise vttered most grieuous curses against the murtherer his house and accomplices by which he wished them to be subiect to the fatal penalty of murther for he greatly suspected least he should be held in suspition to be a party in that which had hapned vnto Abner contrarie to his faith oth and promise which he had past vnto him Moreouer he commanded that all the people should weep and lament for him and that the funerals of his bodie should be honored according to the accustomed fashion in renting of garments and putting on sackcloth and that the same should be done the coffin being carried before which both he and the chiefest gouernours of the Israelites followed beating on their breasts and shedding teares and testifying the loue which they bare vnto him during his life and their displeasure to see him dead who had bin murthered contrary to their wil and intention He was entombed in Hebron with great magnificence and Epitaphs composed in his praise by Dauid himselfe who setting himselfe on the tombe first of all lamented and gaue others cause of lamentation And so much was hee confused at the death of this Abner that he swore to forbeare all kind of meat vntill the sunne-set notwithstanding all the instances of his friends who vrged him to take refection which act of his purchased him much good will and loue amongst the people For they that loued Abner were verie glad to be witnesses of that honour which he did him in his death and that faith which he maintained in honouring him euerie way according to the custome as if he had been his kinsman or friend and not embasing him with a vilde and contemptible tombe as if he had beene his enemie And in generall all of them were so glad of the curtesie sweetnesse and royall nature of king Dauid that they esteemed in the like case that he would haue the like estimate of them as they saw him haue of deceased Abner And by this means Dauid happely maintained his credit and increased the peoples good opinion of him escaping thereby the suspition and conceit that he might in some sort haue bin accessarie to his death He protested also vnto the people that he conceiued no small griefe at the losse of so good a man declaring thereby that it was no small staine vnto the state of the Hebrewes to be depriued of him who had the meanes to maintaine their peace by his good aduise and to ratifie the same by his executions and warlike valour But God said he who hath care of all things shall not suffer him to die vnreuenged And he it is that shall beare me witnesse that it lieth not in my power to punish Ioab and Abisai who haue greater credit in the armie then my selfe yet shall they not escape Gods iustice for this fault Thus ended the life of Abner CHAP. II. Isboseth is slaine thorow the treason of his friends and followers the whole kingdome descendeth to Dauid WHen Isboseth Sauls sonne had notice of Abners death he was sore displeased not onely for that he perceiuing himselfe to be depriued of his neere kinsman but also of so great a personage as had setled the crowne on his head Neither did he himselfe long time remaine aliue after him but by the sonnes of Ieremon Banaoth and Thannus he was traiterously done to death These two being Beniamites and of the chiefest nobilitie amongst them made their reckoning that they would make away Isboseth and thereby obtaine great recompence at Dauids hands supposing that such an act of theirs would get them the chiefest place and dignitie in the army or some other credit For which cause finding Isboseth alone in his house about mid-day laide on his bed and asleepe and vnassisted by any of his guard and perciuing likewise that the porter was fast who thorow his trauaile and other businesse by reason of the extreme heate was laid downe to rest they entred into his lodging whereas Isboseth was a sleepe and slew him and hauing cut off his head they trauelled all the night and day long as if they fled from those whom they had offended and sought their rescues from them who would succour and assure them from perill and when they came to Hebron they presented Dauid with Isboseths head offering themselues as his most dutifull liegemen to doe him seruice who had deliuered him of an enemy and made away an aduersarie against his royaltie But Dauid allowed not their act in such sort as they hoped but spake thus vnto them O cursed men said he on whom I intend presently to execute iustice haue you not heard how I punished him that murthered Saul and brought his royall crowne vnto me Yea although he slew him vpon his owne instant request and to the intent the enemy should not surprise him aliue Were you of that opinion that I was changed and that I am not the same that I was but that I take delight to be partakers with you in your mischiefes
any publike office sparing none of them in particular or in generall but made them all grone vnder the burthen of his furie Now they knew well one another that all of them were displeased to see the common weale in that estate but the apprehension of the danger suffered them not to manifest the hatred that each one of them bare to Caius although that their secret conceit engendred amongst them a certaine amitie For before that time as oftentimes as they met togither they were accustomed to esteem Minucianus for the most honourable man of the companie as in truth among all the Citizens of Rome he was the most famous valiant and best esteemed among them being therefore assembled at that time he was first of all requested to speake his opinion For which cause he asked Chaereas what the watchword was he had receiued that day for all the citie knew verie well what mockerie Caius vsually vsed in giuing Chaereas the watchword Chaereas notwithstanding this disgrace failed not to answere him relying on the wisedome of Minucianus and said vnto him But giue you me for the watchword Libertie meane while I giue you thanks for that you haue awakened me more speedily then of my selfe I haue accustomed to be You neede not now any further inforce your selfe to incite me by your words since both you and I haue vndertaken the same resolution Before we were assembled in this place our thoughts were vnited Beholde here my sword that is girt vnto my side this shall suffice for vs both And if you please you shall be my captaine and I will march vnder your commaund and will follow you vnder assurance of your assistance and wisedome They who haue valiant harts neuer want armes for it is a confident courage that makes the weapon walke That which enkindleth me thus to this action is not the consideration of my particular interest For I haue not the leisure to thinke on those dangers that threaten me thorow the griefe that I conceiue to see the libertie of my countrey changed into seruitude and the force of the lawes wholy abolished and all sorts of men assigned to death by the crueltie of Caius It is I that deserue to be trusted in this execution and I make you my iudge since you haue the like intention as I haue Minucianus perceiuing with what affection Chaereas spake embraced him with all loue and after he had praised him he exhorted him to continue his constancie then departed they the one from the other with prayers and wishes and at that time there hapned a presage that confirmed them the more For as Chaereas entred into the Senate some one among the people cast out a word that redoubled his courage Dispatch said he that which thou hast to do for God will assist thee Chaereas was somewhat affraid least some one of his associates had betraied him But at last he thought that it was some one of those who being priuie to his resolution gaue him a watchword to animate him the more or that it was God who gouerning and obseruing humane affaires pushed him forward After he had imparted this his deliberation to diuers sundry Senators Knights and men of war being aduertised hereof were in armes For there was not any one that supposed not that Caius death was the greatest good hap the common weale could expect For which cause all of them enforced themselues as much as was to them possible to assist that execution with couragious and vertuous resolution and as forward were they in affection as in power in words as in effect desiring each of them to be partakers in the dispatch of a tyrant For Calisthus also who was Caius free-man and raised by him to great authoritie yea such as he almost equalled him adioyned himselfe vnto them for the feare he apprehended of all men and for those great riches which he had gathered togither for that he was a man of a corrupt conscience and easily woon by bribes and presents doing wrong vnto all men and abusing the power that he had against whomsoeuer he pleased contrarie to all right and reason Besides for that he knew the vnbridled nature of Caius who hauing once conceiued an ill opinion of any man could neuer afterwards be disswaded or reconciled Amongst diuers other dangers that he had to apprehend the greatnesse of the danger of his riches was not the least which was the cause that made him serue Claudius and secretly to follow him vnder hope that after Caius death he should be his successor in the Empire and that at that time he should by him be maintained in the same estate which he inioyed and by this means thought he to obtaine his amitie and good liking by giuing him to vnderstand how Caius had commaunded him to poison him and how he had inuented infinite delaies to defer this execution As for mine owne part I thinke that Calisthus forged this matter For if Caius had pretended to kill Claudius he had not been disswaded by Calisthus allegations who had incontinently receiued his reward if he had deferred to execute his Masters command with all expedition in a matter so acceptable to him So it is that the prouidence of God would not permit Caius to execute that rage against Claudius and Calisthus was thereby thanked for a benefite which he no waies deserued Those that were about Chaereas day by day followed the action verie slowly notwithstanding that he willingly delayed not but thought all occasions fit to finish his purpose in for that hee might assaile him at such time as he ascended vp into the Capitol or euen then when he solemnized those ceremonies which he had instituted in honour of his daughter or at such time as hee stood in the pallace to scatter gold and siluer money among the people by casting him from the toppe of the pallace into the market place or at such time as he celebrated those mysteries that were introduced by him For no man suspected Chaereas so discreetly had he behaued himselfe in al things and he perswaded himselfe that no man would haue thought that he should lay violent hands on Caius And although he had done nothing to any effect yet so it is that the power of the gods was sufficient to giue him force and to kill him without drawing weapon Chaereas was sore displeased against his companions in respect that he feared that they would let slippe their occasions and although they perfectly knew that he trauailed for the maintenance of the lawes and for the good of them all yet did they request him to delay a little for feare least in the execution he should in some sort miscarrie and for that cause the citie might be brought in trouble by the informations that would be made of that act and that finally when Caius should be so much the better defenced against them they should not know how to shew their vertue when the time required that they
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
pleased to accept of his sacrifice and in his mercy vouchsafe that he would hereafter conceiue no more any so hainous hate and displeasure against the earth to the ende that men might by their labours till it and building them Cities might possesse the same in pcace wanting none of those commodâ—…ties which they enioyed before the Deluge but that they might equall their forefathers in olde yeares and length of life Noe hauing in this sort finished his requestes God who loued him for the vprightnes of his heart granted him his request denying himselfe to be the author of their deaths who were drowned but that they themselues by their owne malice had procured those pnuishments due vnto them For had he desired that they should be extinguished he would not haue brought them into the world For better is â—…ot to grant life then to destroy those to whom thou hast giuen it But saith God thorow 〈◊〉 â—…ntempt of my seruice and graces they haue inforced me to humble â—…hem vnder the rigorâ—… vengeance hereafter I will not so exactly pursue and examine their iniquities to the ende to chastice them in my displeasure especially for thy sake And if hereafter at any time I shall send any tempest feare not how huge and hideous soeuer the stormes be for there shall be no more Deluge of water vpon the earth In the meane time I commaund you to keepe your hands innocent from murthers and all manslaughter and to punish those that commit wickednes I leaue the vse of all other liuing creatures to your sustenance or seruice in as much as I haue made you Lord ouer all as well those that breath vpon the face of the earth as those that swimme in the waters and such as inhabite and flye amidst the ayre but you shall not eate any bloud in as much as therein consisteth the soule and life of liuing creatures And I declare vnto you that I will desist to draw the shafts of my displeasure against men And I will giue you the rainebow for a signe for this bowe in their opinion is the bow of God And after that God had pronounced these words and made these promises he departed Noe liued after the Deluge three hundreth and fiftie yeares and hauing spent all this time of his life in happines he died after he had liued in the world nine hundreth and fiâ—…ie yeares Neither is there cause why any man comparing this our present age and the shortnesse of the yeares thereof with the long life of the auncients should thinke that false which I haue said neither followeth it consequently that because our present life extendeth not to such a terme and continuance of yeares that therefore they of the former world attained not the age and long life which we publish of them For they being beloued of God and newly created by him vsing also a kinde of nutriment agreeing with their natures and proper to multiply their years it is no absurd thing to suppose that their yeares were of that continuance Considering that God gaue them long life to the ende they should teach vertue and should conueniently practise those things which they had inuented in Astronomie and by Geometry the demonstrations whereof they neuer had attainde except they had liued at the least sixe hundreth yeares For the great yeare is accomplished by that number of yeares whereof all they beare me witnesse who either Greekes or Barbarians haue written auncient histories For both Manethon who hath written the historie of Aegypt and Berosus who hath registred the acts and affaires of the Chaldeans together with Mochus Hestiaeus Hierome of Aegypt who historified the state of the Phaenicians with others accord with me in that which I haue said Hesiâ—…dus also Hecataeus Hellanicus and Acusilaus Ephorus and Nicolaus doe declare that they of the first world liued one thousand yeares Notwithstanding let euery man iudge of these things as best liketh him CHAP. V. Of the tower of Babylon and the câ—…unge of tongues NOe had three sonnes Sem Iaphet and Cham borne one hundreth yeares before the Deluge These first descended from the mountaines into the plaines and there made they their habitation which when other men perceiued who for feare of the Deluge had fled the plaines and for that cause were loth to forsake the mountaines they gathered courage and perswaded themselues to doe the like and the plaine where they all dwelt was called Senaar And whereas they were commaunded by God that by reason of the increase and multitude of men they should send certaine distinct Colonies to inhabite diuers countries of the world to the ende that no seditions might grow betwixt the one and the other but contrariwise in labouring and tilling a great quantitie of ground they might gather great store of fruite they were so ignorant that they disobeyed God and falling into great calamities suffered the punishment of their offences For whereas they florished in increase by reason of the great number of their youth God counselled them againe that they should deuide themselues into colonies But they thinking that the goods which they possessed proceeded not from him or his bountie but presuming that their force was the onely cause of their aboundance did not obey him but rather suspected that God sought to betray them to the ende that being thus deuided he might the better subdue them Nemrod incited them in this sort to mocke and contemne God He was the nephew of Cham the sonne of Noe a man valianâ—… and apt for armes he put them in the head that they should not beleeue that their good hap proceeded from God but that they ought to attribute it to their own vertue which furnished them with so much riches so that in a little space he reduced the estate to a tyrannie supposing by this only meanes that he might make men reuolt against God if he might perswade them to submit theÌ„selues to his gouernment giuing them to vnderstand that if God should once more send a deluge he would take reuenge on him in mens behalfe and that he would build a tower to whose top the water should not attempt and reuenge the death of his predecessors The common sort was ready to follow these ordinances of Nemrod supposing it to be pusillanimitie in themselues if they should obey God For which cause they began to build the tower with their vttermost industrie neither was there any one idle in all that worke yea so great a number of labourers were there that the worke was raised to a height beyond all expectation The thicknesse thereof was so great that it obscured the height thereof and it was builded of burnt bricke cimented and ioined with a bituminous morter to the ende it should not receiue any cleft in the same But God seeing their madnesse condemned them not to a generall extermination by reason that they had made no profit by their example who perished in the
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
to be almost desperate yet our only hope as yet resteth in your goodnes and clemencie For which cause we beseech you that you will not only haue compassion of vs but of your owne nature and that in this cause you would be pleased to take counsaile not of your iust indignation but your natiue goodnesse gouerning your wrath with a great mind to which vulgar men both in great and small occurrences are wont to submit Consider I pray you whether it stand with your dignitie to kill those who present themselues to be punished desire in no sort to liue except it be by the benefit of your mercie Suffer not your selfe to be depriued of this honour that after you haue deliuered vs from famine and liberally furnished vs with come so of your mercie likewise you haue permitted vs to returne vnto our family being trauelled by the same perill and to bring them home sustonance For one and the same bounty is it to continue them in life who are trauelled with famine and to forgiue them death who haue merited it by their offences to whom their wickednes hath enuied that bounty which you haue heroically extended towards them It is one and the same grace imparted by you in diuers manners For thou shalt saue those whom thou hast fed and that life which thou wouldest not suffer to faile by force of famine thou shalt redeliuer and giue againe whereby thy clemencie may be more commendable whilest both thou giuest life and those things likewise whereby life is maintained Moreouer I thinke that God himselfe hath giuen thee this meanes to expresse thy vertue that it may appeare that thou settest lighter by the iniuries offered vnto thee then by thy will to doe good and that thou art not liberall to them only who are poore and innocent For although it bee a great praise to yeeld succour in aduersities yet is a prince no lesse honoured by his clemencie especially in a cause that concerneth his particular interest For if they that remit small offences are followed by deserued praise what is it to restraine a mans ire in a capitall crime doth it not most neerely approximate the diuine clemencie And hadde I not good experience by Iosephs death how grieuously my father digesteth the want of his children I would not so earnestly intreat for his safety but so farre forth and no otherwise but as it might redound to the praise of thy clemencie and were there not some to whom our death would bring both griefe and discontent we were willing all of vs to suffer punishment But now whereas we haue not so much commiseration of our selues although as yet we be but yong and haue not much tasted the pleasures and fruit of this life as of our wretched parents being drowned in yeares and cares we offer vp vnto thee these our prayers in his name also and beseech thee to graunt vs life though at this day wee are vnder thy iustice for our offences Assuredly hee is a good man and begate vs that we should be like vnto him worthy is he neuer to taste or to be tried by any such calamitie who now thorow our absence is discruciate with care and sorrow Now if so be he should receiue any tydings either of our death or the cause thereof he will not indure any more to liue the infamy of our deaths will shorten his daies and make his death by this meanes more vnhappy who rather then he should heare the rumors of our shame would hasten his death in supposing them All these wel considered although thou art iustly moued by this offence remit the reuenge vnto our father and rather let thy pity towards him then our iniquity towards thee preuaile with thee Impart this honor to his old age which if it be depriued of our presence neither wil nor can desire to liue yeeld this respect to thy fathers memory yea ascribe it to the very name of a father wherewith thou art honoured so God the father of all men will blesse thee in that name and fortunate thee in thy increase whom also thou shalt honour if in respect of that common name thou take compassion of our father in considering the sorrow that he shall endure if perhaps he shall be depriued of his children It now lieth in your power to giue vs that which you may depriue vs of by that power which God hath giuen you and in doing vs this fauour you shall imitate the nature of God and in this respect become like vnto him For since it lieth in your power to doe both the one and the other it were better thou didst good then euill and contenting thy selfe with thy power not to remember or vrge thy reuenge but onely to thinke that thy power was giuen thee to keepe and conserue men and that the more mercie thou extendest towards many the more honour thou redoublest on thy head now it lieth in thy power by for giuing our brothers errour to giue vs all life For neither can we be safe except he be saued neâ—…ther may we returne home vnto our father except he returne but here must we suffer whatsoeuer our brother suffereth Neither doe we craue any other mercy at thy hand dread prince if we be repulsed in this but that thou wilt inflict one and the same punishment on vs in no other manner then as if we had been partakers of the felony for this were more better for vs then that we our selues thorow sorrow should offer violence to our owne soules I will not alleadge or vrge his youth or iudgement as yet vnripened neither will I inferre that pardon is vsually granted vnto such but here will I make an end that whether we be condemned in that I haue not sufficiently pleaded his cause or whether we be absolued we may wholy ascribe this grace to your fauour and clemencie to the bounds of whose praise this likewise shall be added that not onely thou hast saued vs but also in pardoning vs of the punishment which we haue iustly deserued hast had more care of vs then we our selues If therefore it be thy pleasure to adiudge him to die suffer me to suffer for him and send him backe vnto our father or if it please thee to retaine him for thy slaue I am more fit then he to doe all sorts of seruices as you may perceiue and am ready to suffer all that which may be inflicted on me When Iuda had spoken thus he humbled himselfe at Iosephs feete indeuouring as much as in him lay to mollifie and appease his ire in like sort also all the other brothers prostrated themselues offering themselues to die for Beniamin But Ioseph conquered with pitie and vnable any longer to personate a displeased man sent away all those that were present and being alone with them discouered himâ—…elfe vnto his brothers and in this sort to them onely he disclosed himselfe and said I cannot but commend the
drinesse and barennesse of that countrey for they were not watered by the fountaines whereof there were twelue in that place neither did any one of them yeeld any moisture to giue them sustenance so that indeuouring themselues to dig vp the sand they could light on no veines of water and if perhaps any little deale appeared it was so troubled by their digging as it became vnfit to be tasted neither did the trees beare any store of fruit by reason of the want of water For which cause the whole multitude began to murmure against their guide ascribing all the cause of their calamities and miseries vnto him For hauing marched for the space of thirtie dayes they had consumed all that which they brought with them and conceiuing in their imagination that there was no remedy they were wholy surprised with despaire Bethinking them therefore onely oâ—… that euill which was before their eyes and forgetting the marueiles which God by the ministerie and prudence of Moses had made them both see and partake they conceiued hatred against him and were readie to stone him to death as if he had beene the authour of that calamitie which oppressed them But he perceiuing the multitude so inraged and incensed against him strengthened himselfe in God and warranted by the testimonie of a good conscience and the vprightnesse of his actions â—…hee came out into the middest of them who reuiled him and had gathered stones to cast at him And for that he was adorned with a singular grace and alluring countenance and endued with pleasing eloquence and fit to pacifie the popularitie he began to appease their wrath exhorting them not onely to forget their present difficulties but also to remember their forepassed blessings â—…ot permitting that the trauell which they endured at that time should driue out of their remembrance the graces and great good turnes which they had receiued at Gods hands He willed them likewise diligently to expect their deliuerance from that extremitie by the prouidence of God who as it was very likely made triall of their vertue to see what perseuerance they had or whether they kept in their remembrance those things which had hapned vnto them or whether forgetting their forepassed pleasures they would suffer themselues to be swallowed with their present miserie he willed them therefore to take heed least through their impatiencie and ingratitude they should be found vnworthie of Gods fauour who both neglected his will by whose direction they were brought out of Egypt and sore threatened and hated him which was Gods minister especially since hitherto they might no wayes complaine of him in any thing which hee had vndertaken to execute by the commandement of God Then reckoned he vp particularly vnto them how the Egyptians were ouerthrowne and afflicted whilest contrarie to Gods will they endeuoured to detaine them how the same riuer which to them was bloudie and vnprofitable to drinke of to themselues became both sweet and poâ—…able likewise how the sea retired it selfe and furthered both their flight and passage wherein they saw themselues secure and free from danger And contrariwise their enemies destroyed ouerthrowne and drowned and how euen vntill that day being disarmed they were by Gods prouidence both furnished and fortified aboundantly Againe howe often God had deliuered them from apparant death and daunger besides all mens opinion who being all and alwayes omnipotent gaue them at that time no not the least suspition of his assistance For which cause they were to suffer all things patiently and to imagine with themselues that the succour although it were deferred was neuer too late which was receiued before such time as the danger had preuailed and so to thinke that God contemned not their perils but that he made triall of their fortitude and free loue to see whether they were able and willing to abide the want of meate and drinke or rather whether after the maner of bruite beasts they had leifer be trained in seruile trauell to the end they might be glutted like them and made the better able to endure their labor To conclude that hee nothing feared his life because that being vniustly slaine no euill could happen vnto him but that he was fearefull of their safetie least lifting vp their handes to stone him they should bee thought to oppose themselues against Gods ordinance Thus pacified he them and mollified the furie they had conceiued to endanger his life and so much preuailed hee that they repented them of that enterprise whereby they sought to indanger him And for that he knew that they had some reason to be thus moued he addressed himself to prayer and supplication and ascending a certaine rocke he required Gods helpe to relieue their infirmities wants and afflictions in whose hands only the saâ—…ation of the people consisted beseeching him in mercy to forgiue the people being exasperated with extreme miseries and by reason thereof distracted withdrawn from their duetie whereupon God promised him to haue care of the people assuring him to send them a speedie present deliuerance Which when Moses vnderstood he came down vnto the multitude who perceiuing him altogether refreshed with ioy by reason of those promises which he had receiued at Gods hands exchaunged their dulsome lamentations into a habit of delight He therefore standing vp in the midst of them told them that he brought vnto them a most speedie remedie for their present necessitie and not long after a number of Quailes which about the gulfe of Arabia multiply and increase more then any other sorts of birds flew and crossed the seas and being wearied in their flight and accustomably accosting and flying neere to the ground came and fell amidst the campe of the Hebrewes who caught them as a prouision prepared for them by God and ordained to extinguish their famine Whereupon Moses once more addressed himselfe to call vpon God yeelding him thankes for the present and the future good he had promised him Who being after this manner fed and refreshed were presently supplied with a newe kind of food for at such tâ—…e as Moses stretched out his hande and prayed vâ—…o God a dewe descended from heauen that thickned betwixt his handes which for that he supposed it to be an otlier kind of sustenance sent them by God he tasted the same and taking pleasure for that the peopâ—… knew not what it was but thought it to be snowe which fell in that place according to the season of the yeare he taught them that it was no dew falling from heauen as they supposed but that God had sent them that grace â—…e conseruation and nouriture of their bodies and hauing eaten thereof he gaue them of it 〈◊〉 the end he might strengthen their beliefe who tasting the same in like manner as their chieftaine had done were greatly refreshed with the sustenance For in sweetnes and pleasure it equalled the honie in odor Bdellium and in forme and greatnes the graine
the Tabernacle was remoued this manner was obserued Assoone as the first charge was sounded they that were encamped towards the East first of all dislodged at the second charge they to the southward disincamped then was the Tabernacle vnpitched and caried in the midst sixe of the tribes marching before and sixe of them after the Leuites were all about the Tabernacle And when they sounded the third time the quarter towards the Westward remoued and the fourth was that to the Northward They made vse also of these Cornets in the diuine seruice with which they ordered the sacrifices on the Sabboth and other daies Then also was the first Passeouer celebrated with solemne offerings after their departure out of Aegypt they being in the desart CHAP. XII Sedition against Moses through the scarcitie of victuals and the punishment of the Rebellious NOt long after this they remoued their campe from the mountaine of Sinai and after certaine encampings of which we will speake they came to a place which is called Iseremoth where the people once more began to ruminate and reuiue their seditions and lay the fault of their laborious pilgrimage vpon Moses obiecting that by his perswasion they had left a fertile countrey and now not onely that they were destitute of the plentie thereof but also in stead of hoped felicitie forced to wander here and there in extreame miserie and trauelled with want of water and that if Manna likewise should in any sort faile them they were like all of them without question to perish for want of sustenance Hereunto annexed they diuers contumelies which were euery where inflicted against him being a man of so great desert and consequence Meane while there arose one amongst the people who admonishing them of the forepassed benefits receiued by the hands of Moses counselled them to be of good courage assuring them that at that time they should not be frustrate either of that hope or helpe which they expected at Gods hands But the people were the rather incēsed against him by these words and more more whetted their spleanes against the prophet who seeing them so desperate willed them to be of a good courage promising them that although by iniurious speeches he had vndeseruedly beene offenced by them yet that he would giue them store of flesh not for one day onely but also for many But they being incredulous and some one amongst them demaunding how he could make prouision for so many thousand men God saith he and I although we be euill spoken of by you yet will we neuer desist to be carefull for you and that shall you shortly perceiue Scarce had he spoken this but that all the campe was filled with quailes which they hunted for by heapes Yet God not long after that punished the insolencie and slaunder of the Hebrewes by the death of no small number for at this day the place retayneth his name which for that cause vvas imposed thereon and it is called Cabrothaba as if you should say the monuments of concupiscence CHAP. XIII Of the spies that were sent to search the land of Chanaan and how returning to the Israelites they amated them with feare BVt after that Moses had led them out of that place and had brought them into a countrey not so apt for habitation not farre from the borders of the Chanaanites which is called the Iawes he called the people to a councell and standing vp in the midst of them he spake after this manner God saith he hauing decreed to grant you two great benefits namely the libertie and possession of a happie countrey hath granted you alreadie the possession of the one and will shortly make you partakers of the other For we are vpon the borders of Chanaan from whence both the Cities and Kings are so farre from driuing vs as the vvhole nation being vnited together is not of power to expell vs. Let vs therefore addresse our selues verie confidently to attempt the matter for neither vvithout fight will they resigne the title of their countrey vnto vs neither vvithout great conflicts may we obtaine the palme of victorie Let vs therefore send out certaine spies to search into the secrets of the countrey and such as may coniecture how great their power is but aboue all things let vs be at vnitie one with another and let vs honour God who assisteth vs in all daungers and fighteth for vs. After that Moses had spoken after this manner the people applauding his counsels chose twelue out of the most noblest families of the tribes to go and search the countrey out of euery tribe one vvho beginning from the parts extending towards Egypt visited all the countrey of the Chanaanites vntill they came to the Citie of Amathe the mountaine of Libanus and hauing searched out both the land and the nature of the inhabitants they returned home againe hauing consumed fortie daies in those affaires Moreouer they brought with thē such fruits as the coūtrey yeelded by the beautie thereof by the quantity of those riches which they reported to be in that countrey they incouraged the harts of the people to fight valiantly but on the other side they dismaid thē with the difficultie of the conquest saying that there were certaine riuers impossible to be ouerpassed both for their greatnes depth that there were therin also inaccessible moūtalnes and Cities fortified both with wals and bulwarks moreouer they told them that in Hebron they found a race of Giants And thus these spies when as they had found all things farre greater amongst the Chanaanites then to that day they had seene since their departure out of Egypt they of set purpose by their feare brought the rest of the multitude into a dangerous suspition and perplexitie Who coniecturing by their discourse that it was impossible to conquer the land dissoluing the assembly returned each one to their houses lamenting with their wiues and children saying that God had onely in words promised many things but that in effect he gaue them no assistance moreouer they blamed Moses reuiled both him and his brother Aaron the high priest And thus spent they all the night in disquiet vrging their discontents both against the one and the other but on the morrow they reassembled their councell vnder this pretence that stoning Moses and his brother they might returne backe againe to Egypt from whence they came Which euent when two of the spies greatly suspected namely Iesus the sonne of Naue of the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb of the tribe of Iuda they went into the middest of them and appeased the multitude praying them to be of good hope and not to challenge Almightie God of deceit by yeelding certaine slight beliefe to some who by spreading vaine rumors of the affaires of Chanaan had terrified the credulous multitude but rather that they should follow them who both would be the actors and conductors also of
Zambrias had beene sodainly cut off by such a meanes as ensueth Phinees both in respect of other things as also the dignitie of his father the chiefest among the youths and the sonne of Eleazar the high Priest whose great vncle Moses was was grieuously discontented with Zambrias contumacy and least by his impunitie the law might grow into contempt he resolued to be reuenged vpon the transgressors being well assured how ◅uch the example of great men preuaileth on both parts and whereas he was of so much strength of mind and of bodie as that he would not attempt any thing rashly which he would not bring to issue he repayred to Zambrias tent and at one stroke slew both him and Chosbi his wife By whose example the rest of the youth being exasperated by this his worthie act enforced thēselues to do iustice on those that had committed the like offence so that they slew a great part of them by the sword and the rest by the pestilence which was inflicted by Gods iudgement on them were vtterly rooted out Neither spared he those who though by reason of consanguinity theyought to haue restrained disswaded their kinsmen from lewdnes yet had rather either dissemble or kindle their lust in them then counsaile them neyther intermitted he from punishing those men till fourteene thousand of them were done to death by sicknes For which cause Moses being incensed against the Madianites sent out an army to destroy that nation of which expeditiō we wil presently discourse after that we haue annexed that which was omitted in this historie For reason would that we should not pretermit to praise the deseigne of our law maker in this behalfe For in regard of Balaam sought out by the Madianites vnder the intent to curse the Hebrewes although he could not do it being hindred therefro by the prouidence of God who notwithstanding gaue that counsell to the enemie by meanes whereof within a little space a great multitude of the Hebrewes were corrupted in their course of life and diuers haue been grieuously plagued with sicknes in regard I say of this Balaam he hath greatly honoured him in chronicling his predictions in his writings And although it had beene easie for him to haue depriued him of the glory and to haue appropriated it to himselfe by reason that there was not any witnesse that might contradict him yet neglected he not to giue testimonie of him and to make mention of him in his writings Yet let euerie one thinke of this according as it shall seeme good vnto him But Moses as I began to say sent an army of twelue thousand men against the Madianites chosing out of euerie tribe one thousand soldiers and appointed Phinees captaine ouer these forces by whose industrie as a little before I haue declared both the lawes were satisfied and Zambri that brake the same was punished CHAP. VII The Hebrewes fight against the Madianites and ouercome them BVt the Madianites hauing intelligence that their enemies drew neere vnto them and that they were not farre o◅f from their borders gathered their forces together and beset all those passages of their countrey by which they thought their enemie might breake in addressing themselues to repulse them with force and valour but no sooner did Phinees with his forces charge them and set vpon them but that vpon the first encounter so great a multitude of the Madianites was slaine that the number of the carcasses might not be accounted neyther were their kings in like sort saued from the sword These were Og Sures Robeas Vbes the fift Recemus from whom the chiefest Citie of the Arabians deriueth his name and at this day retayneth the same and is called Receme which the Graecians had rather call Petra The Hebrewes hauing thus put their enemies to flight foraged the whole Region and caried and droue away with them a great pray and killing all the inhabitants threof both men women they only spared the virgins for this commaund had Phinees receiued from Moses hand◅ who returning home with his armie in safetie brought with him a memorable and mightie pray of Oxen fiftie and two thousand sixtie and seuen of Asses sixtie thousand of golden and siluer vessels a great number which those of that countrey were wont to vse in their domesticall affaires For by reason of their great riches they liued verie delicately there were also led captiue from thence about thirtie thousand virgins But Moses diuiding the pray gaue the fiftith part thereof to Eleazar and the Priests and to the Leuites another fiftie as for the remainder he distributed it amongst the people Whence i◅ came to passe that euer afterwards they liued in great security hauing gotten riches by their ver◅ue and peace also to enioy the same Now for that Moses was well stricken in yeares he appoynted Iesus who if need were might succeed him in the offices both of a Prophet and a Prince and gouernour for God had so commaunded that he should make choyse of him to be his successor in the principalitie For he was most expert in all diuine and humane knowledge being therein instructed by his master Moses About that time the two tribes of ◅d and Ruben with the halfe tribe of Manasses being abundantly stored with cattell and all other manner of riches by common consent besought Moses that he would giue and assigne to them in particular the countrey of the Amorites which not long since they had conquered by the sword for that it was full of rich pastures But he suspecting least surprised with feare they did detract and withdraw themselues from the battell of the Chanaanites and that vnder pretext of the care of their cattell they couered their sloth highly taunted and controuled them saying that they were fearefull dissemblers He accused them likewise that their desire was to possesse that land which was conquered by the common valour of the people to the end they might lead their liues in idlenes and pleasure and that bearing armes with the rest of the host they would not helpe to possesse the land beyond Iordane which God had promised them by ouercomming those nations which he commaunded them to account for their enemies Who perceiuing that hee was displeased least he should seeme to be deseruedly incensed against them aunswered that neyther thorow feare they fled daunger neyther by reason of sloth esteemed labour but onely shot at this that leauing their pray in commodious places they might be more fit to enter conflict saying that they were readie if so be they might receiue Cities for the defence and receit of their wiues children and substance to follow the rest of the armie whither soeuer they were conducted and to aduenture their liues with them for the common successe Whereupon Moses allowing their forwardnes and assembling Eleazar the high Priest and Iesus with the rest of the Magistrates granted them the land
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
him in his owne chamber where he lay and hauing at that time a iauelin in his hand he commanded him to play on his harp to sing hymnes Now whilest Dauid executed that his commandement Saul stretching out his arme threw his dart at him but Dauid foreseeing it auoided the stroke and fled into his owne house where he soiourned all the day long Now when the night was come the king sent out certaine of his seruants to watch his house for feare least he should escape to the end that the next day being drawen and appearing in iudgement he might be condemned and put to death But Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter hauing intelligence of her fathers intention ran vnto her husband telling him in how great peril both he and she were who without his presence neither could nor would liue any longer Beware said she least the sunne finde thee in this place for he shall no more behold thee here hereafter Flie therefore whilest the present night offereth thee opportunitie which God doth lengthen for thy safetie-sake for be assured that if thou beest surprised in this place my father will make thee die a miserable death This said she let him downe by a window and so saued him and incontinently after she prepared his bed and trimmed it as if he laye sicke therein and vnder the couering thereof she laid the liuer of a new slanghtered Kid and when her father had sent the next morning to apprehend Dauid she answered that he had beene sicke all the night long then discouering the bed that was couered she gaue them to vnderstand that Dauid was laid therein making them touch the couerlet vnder which the liuer stirred and made them beleeue that the liuer that lay there was Dauid who panted breathed verie hardly Which being signified vnto Saul he commaunded that he should be brought vnto him in that estate wherein he was because he was resolued to put him to death But when Sauls messengers were arriued and returned thither and had discouered the bed they perceiued Michols subtiltie and went and certified the king thereof who reproued her verie grieuously for that she had saued his aduersarie and deceiued her father But she defended her selfe with words full of good apparance saying that Dauid had threatned to kill hir and how for that cause and by the impulsion of feare she was drawen and induced to aide and saue him For which cause she ought to be pardoned since by constraint and not of set purpose she had furthered his escape For said she I thinke that you seeke not so greedily after the death of your enemie as you preferre the same before the safetie and securitie of your daughter On these perswasions Saul pardoned his daughter Dauid deliuered from this perill came vnto the Prophet Samuel to Ramatha and told him what ambushes the king had laid for him how hardly he had escaped death by the stroke of his Iauelin whereas in all things that concerned Saul he had alwaies shewed himselfe obedient againe how he had neuer ceased to warre vpon his enemies and had by Gods assistance beene fortunate in all things which was the cause that Saul was so displeased with him The Prophet informed of Sauls iniustice forsooke the Citie of Ramath and led Dauid to a certaine place called Galbaath where he remained with him But as soone as Saul was informed that Dauid was retired and accompanied with the Prophet he sent out certaine soldiers to lay hands on him and bring him vnto him who repairing to Samuel and finding the congregation of the Prophets were seased with the spirit of God and began to prophecie Which when Saul vnderstood he sent out others who had the like incounter with the first For which cause he sent out others and seeing the third companie prophecie likewise he was in the end so much despited that he came thither in his owne person And when he drew neere the place before that Samuel saw him he made him prophecie so that Saul comming towards him was seased by aboundance of the spirit so that he was rauished out of himselfe and hauing despoyled himselfe of his raiment he lay prostrate all the day and the night long in the presence both of Samuel and Dauid Dauid departed from thence and went vnto Ionathan to whom he complained of those ambushes which his father had laid to intrap him in telling him that notwithstanding he had neuer committed either iniurie or fault against his father yet did he earnestly pursue him to put him to death Ionathan perswaded him that he should neither rashly suspect these things nor be ouer-credulous in those reports which perhaps might be brought vnto him but that he should trust him onely who was assured that his father intended no euill against him For if he had he would haue told him who is neuer wont to act any thing without his counsell But Dauid sware vnto him that it was so and besought him that he would beleeue his vnfained assertiōs wherby he might the more easily procure his securitie least contemning his words and supposing them to be fained and friuolous he should by his death be ascertained of the sight and truth thereof For he assured him that his father for that cause did not communicate his counsailes with him because he was assured of the loue and friendship that was betweene them Ionathan sore aggrieued that Dauid was so perswaded and Sauls intention was such asked him what he desired at his hands or wherein he might shew him friendship Dauid said vnto him I know that thou wilt further me in what thou maist and refuse me in nothing Now to morrow is the first day of the moneth in which I was accustomed to dine at the kings table and if thou thinkest good I will depart out of the Citie into the field where I will lie hidden if he aske for me thou shalt say I am gone into the countrey of Bethleem where my tribe solemnizeth a feast thou shalt certifie him also that thou hast giuen me leaue And if he say God speed him which is an ordinary wish that friends vse to such as go a iorney know that he hath no hiddē rancor nor secret malice conceiued against me but if he answer otherwise it shall be an assured testimonie that he complotteth some mischiefe against me and this shalt thou ascertaine me of as both becommeth my present calamitie and our mutual friendship which by vowed oth thou being my Lord hast plighted with me who am thy seruant And if thou thinke me vnworthie of this fauour and iniurious towards thy father without expecting the sentence of his iustice kill me now at this present with thine owne sword These his last words so grieuously stroke Ionathan to the heart that he promised him to accomplish his request assuring him to certifie him if he any waies could perceiue that his father was ill affected towards him
answere his hart more more failed him in that he manifestly perceiued what sinister successe would betide him if God should not assist him in the conflict He therfore commāded that they should search him out some Pythonissa or cunning enchantresse who inuocated and raised the spirits of the dead to the end that by her meanes he might know if his warres should haue that successe which he pretended for the diuiners which giue answere by the belly which the Greekes call Engastrimythes declare their aduentures to those that aske them And when as by the report of a certaine familiar friend of his he was aduertised that there was such a one at Endor vnwitting to his whole arme and laying aside his royall habites and attended onely by two whom he esteemed for his most faithfull seruants he repaired to Endor to this woman requiring her to diuine and raise vp the spirit of him whom he should name The woman denied and said that she ought not contradict the kings edict who had driuen out of his realme all such sort of soothsaiers telling him that he did not well that hauing receiued no wrong at her hands he should thus sound her and seeke to bring her in lapse of the kings lawes cause her to be punished But Saul swore vnto her that no man should knowe thereof and that he would not discouer her diuination to others briefely that shee should incurre no daunger thereby After then that by his othes and protestations he had perswaded her that she should haue no cause to feare he commanded her to raise the spirit of Samuel She not knowing what Samuel was called him from hell and he sodainly appeared But when she perceiued that it was an honourable man and of diuine semblance she was sore troubled and being wholy discomforted with this vision she turned and said vnto the king art not thou Saul for Samuel had certified her no lesse Saul confessed that it was he and asked her for what cause she seemed to be so much troubled she answered that she saw a man ascend that resembled God Saul commanded her to declare vnto him his shape habite and age and she gaue him to vnderstand that he was a reuerend olde man attired in the vestment of a high priest By these markes Saul knew that it was Samuel whereupon prostrating himselfe on the earth he adored and saluted him The spirit of Samuel asked him for what cause he had troubled and raised him To whom he complained and lamented that he was inforced thereunto by necessitie for that a grieuous host of his enemies were at hand and that void of counsaile he was forsaken by God hauing from him no prediction either by prophecie or dreame for which cause said he I made my recourse vnto thee who hast alwaies had care both of me and my fortunes But Samuel foreseeing that the kings death was hard at hand answered him that it was in vaine for him to question with him as touching those things that should happen since thou knowest that thou art forsaken by God Know therfore said he that Dauid shall possesse the kingdome and that it is he that shall establish the estate by armes but as concerning thy selfe thou shalt lose both thy kingdome and thy life because thou hast disobeyed God in thy warre against the Amalechites and hast not obserued his commandements according as I foretold thee at such time as I was aliue Know therefore that thy people and host shall be discomfited by the enemy and that both thou and thy sons shall be to morrow slaine in the battell and be with me When Saul vnderstood these things he became speechlesse thorow the sorrow wherewith he was seased and fell downe on the pauement either for that his forces failed him thorow sodaine griefe or for his want of meat because that neither that night nor the day before he had vouchsafed his body any refection or sustenance At length hardly recouering himselfe out of his swoun the woman importuned him to receiue some sustenance beseeching him to doe her that fauour in recompence of her vnexpected diuination which though interdicted she had aduentured to performe for his sake before she were ascertained that it was he that had forbidden them in consideration wherof she prayed him that sitting downe at the table he would refresh himselfe with some sustenance to the end he might be the more able to returne vnto his army And although he resisted and vtterly refused to eat in that he had no appetite and was vtterly desperate yet so effectually importuned she that finally she perswaded him to receiue some little nourishment And whereas shee had but one calfe which she bred vp in her house with some particular care for she was but a poore woman and had no other riches yet spared she not to kill it and dresse the flesh for Saul his seruants Thus refected Saul returned backe againe into his campe The curtesie of this woman deserueth to be praised for although she knew that the king had prohibited her art whereby both she and her family sufficiently maintained themselues and although before that time she had neuer seene Saul yet so it is that without remembring her that it was he by whom her art had bin condemned she entertained him not as a stranger or like the man she had neuer seene before but had compassion of him and comforted him exhorting him to eate although he refused it and presented him willingly and hartily with that little which she had in her pouertie All which she did not vnder hope of recompence or expected preferment knowing well that Saul should shortly lose his life nor according to the ordinarie course of men that naturally honour those that haue bestowed some dignitie vpon them and become seruiceable to those from whom they pretend to draw some profit hereafter She therefore ought to be imitated and in her appeareth an excellent example of bountie approuing that there is nothing more worthie praise then to relieue those that are in necessitie neither any thing more becomming men or whereby we may obtaine Gods fauour and graces better then by it Thus much sufficeth at this present in respect of this woman But now methinketh I shall do vvell if I insert in this place and in these my vvritings another eaxmple both profitable to people and nations and in especiall an incitation to noble men and such as are borne vnto glory to follow vertue vvhich also shall expresse vvhat honour is and exemplifie how a man may eternize his memorie vvhich ought to engender in the hearts of kings of nations and of gouerners of commonweales a singular desire and affection to addict themselues to noble actions and to encourage them to entertaine dangers yea death it selfe and teach them to endure all difficulties vvhatsoeuer for their countries cause To vvhich intent the historie of Saul the king of the Hebrewes yeeldeth me matter
most incident to this purpose For although he knew that vvhich should befall him and that his death vvas at hand according as it had beene foretold him yet resolued he not to auoid the same neither so loued he his life that for the conseruation thereof he vvould deliuer vp his people into the hands of their enimies nor dishonour his royall dignitie but himselfe vvith his children and all his household exposed themselues to daunger thinking it more honourable to die vvith them in fighting for his subiects and farre more expedient that his children should die like valiant men then to leaue them aliue in incertitude of estate whereinto they might fall supposing that hee should haue sufficient successours of his race if he left behind him a perpetuall memorie and praise both of him and his For which cause in my opinion he was both iust strong and prudent and if anie one either is or hath beene like vnto him I suppose that it becommeth all men to giue testimony of such a mans vertue For I thinke that the Historians and ancient Writers haue not worthily entituled them with the stile of valiant men who attaining some worthie actions attempted warre vnder assured hope of victorie and safetie but they only that imitate Saul may deseruedly be called iust praise-worthie couragious hardie and contemners of all dangers For what great thing is there in vndertaking the common hazard of warre and tossing twixt hope and feare to vse fortunes fauour if she fawne vpon vs but contrariwise I count it an assured signe of a valiant man when as without conceit of hope of any goodnes and knowing his death at hand and assured in his conflict is not affraid nor dismaid with such apprehensions but seeketh out with an inuincible courage his most assured hazard This is the praise of our Saul who is an example to all true louers of glory that if they haue regard to leaue an honest memory to their posterity they should vpon the like opportunitie propose the same resolution to themselues but in especiall kings who by reason of the excellencie of their degree ought not onely forbeare to be euill but also striue to be excellently vertuous I could likewise say more of this generous argument of Sauls valour but least I should seeme too affectionate I will returne to our former purpose After that the Philistines were thus encamped according as hath beene afore-spoken and had numbred their forces according to their nations kingdomes and gouernments king Achis issued in the rereward with his particular companie whom Dauid followed accompanied with his sixe hundreth soldiers whom when the chieftaines of the Philistines beheld they asked the king whence those Hebrewes came and what their leaders name was Who answered thē that it was Dauid who fled from Saul his master and how he had entertained him being fled from him againe how Dauid in recompence of the good he had receiued at his hand and to reuenge him on Saul was readie to fight for them against him But the chieftaines blamed him because he had chosen an enemie for his associate counselling him to dismisse him for feare least he should secretly performe some straunge stratageme against his confederates because said they he hath a fit opportunitie to reconcile himselfe to his master They therefore willed him to send Dauid backe vvith his sixe hundreth souldiers vnto the place vvhich he had giuen him to inhabite because it was the same Dauid of whom the damsels made songs singing in praise of him that he had slain many thousand Philistines When the king of Geth vnderstood these things he thought their counsell to be laudable for which cause calling Dauid vnto himhe said vnto him I protest vnto thee said he that I beare a most singular affection and good liking towards thee and for that cause I haue called thee out to assist vs in this battel but our captaines allow not of my resolution for which cause retire thy selfe to the place which I haue giuen thee without conceiuing any euil suspitiō of me There shalt thou be in garrison to forestal the enemie from foraging our country and in so doing thou shalt partly assist vs in the warre Herupon Dauid departed vnto Siceleg according as the king had commaunded him But during the time that Dauid was in campe and attended on the Philistines warre the Amalechites arose and tooke Siceleg by force and burned the Citie and after they had gathered a great bootie both in that place and in other villages of the Philistines countrey they retired backe againe Now when Dauid arriued at Siceleg and found it wholy ruined and spoiled and seeing likewise that his two wiues and the wiues of his companions were prisoners togither with their children he presently rent his rayment and began to weepe and lament with his companions yea so much was he afflicted that he had scarce any teares left him to bemone himselfe beside this his companions amated with the captiuitie of their wiues and children were readie to stone him to death accusing him that he was the cause of all that which had hapned But when as his griefe was after a manner aslaked and he somwhat returned to himself he lifted vp his heart vnto God and commaunded the high Priest Abiathar to put on the Ephod and aske counsaile of God and that done to declare vnto him whether by his assistance he might ouertake the Amalechites if so be he should pursue them and whether he should recouer his wiues and children that they had led away and reuenge him of his enemies As soone as the high Priest had certified him that he might pursue them he sallied out with sixe hundreth soldiers and pursued the enemie and drawing neere vnto the riuer he found a certaine stragler an Egyptian by nation wholy discomforted and feeble thorow want and famine wherewith he was pressed hauing for three daies space wandred in the desart without any sustenance whom after he had refreshed with meate and drinke and recomforted he asked him to whom he belonged and what he was The Egyptian told him his nation and how he had beene left in that place by his master because that thorow his weaknes it was impossible for him to follow them He consessed likewise that his master was one of the number of those that had burned and sacked not onely other quarters of Iudea but Siceleg also Dauid taking this man for his guide ouertooke them finding some of them lying on the earth others banquetting and following drunkennesse and almost sencelesse by ouerdrinking so recouering both his booty and pillage and sodainly setting vpon them he made a great slaughter For they being naked and suspecting no such inconuenient and wholy addicted to frolicke drinking and feasting were all of them easily defeated diuers likewise amongst them were slaine as they sate at their meat others likewise were slaughtered whilest they carroused the one vnto the other and some
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
verie intirely who was his eldest sonne and would not disquiet him but Absalon hated him extremely expecting without any word speaking for some fit opportunitie wherein he might reuenge himselfe on the rauisher Now when as two yeares were expired since his sister was both derided and deflowred it chaunced that Absalon intending a sheep-shearing in Belsephon a Citie of the tribe of Ephraim inuited his father and brethren to come and banquet with him But when the king refused to go for feare least he might be chargeable vnto him Absalon insisted perswaded him to send his brothers thither which he granted Hereupon Absalon commanded his seruants that when they should see Amnon charged with wine and sleepe they should sodainly vpon a signe giuen by him vnto them kill him without feare or regard of any person CHAP. VIII How thorow the domesticall discord of his family Dauid was banished by his sonne out of his kingdome AFter that Absolons seruants had thus executed his commandement a trouble and feare seased all the rest of his brethren in so much as they suspected their owne persons for which cause mounting themselues on horsebacke they posted in all â—…te towards their father But a certaine man outstripping them in the way reported vnto Dauid that Absalon had slaine all his sonnes Who surprised with a bitter and mortall feare in supposing that such a number of his children should be slaine and that by their owne brother neither inquired the cause or any thing els which might be sifted out in so grieuous an inconuenient that had hapned but gaue himselfe ouer to extreame and strange discomforts and renting his garments laid him downe on the earth bewailing all his children both those that were slaine 〈◊〉 him also than had slaine them But Ionathan the sonne of Sama his brother exhorted him to moderate and bridle his passion telling him that he could not be perswaded that the rest of his children were slaine in that hee could conceiue no probable cause of coniecture But as touching Amnon there needed no question for that it was verie like that Absalon by reason of the iniurie which was offered vnto his sister Thamar would hazard himselfe to kill him Meane while a great trample of horses and a confused troupe of men brake off their discourse These were the kings sonnes who returned in post from the banquet Against these the father issued out accompanying their dolefull teares with a heauie and sorrowfull countenance and seeing beyond all hope how they whom a little before he supposed to be lost returned in safetie they were all of them on euerie side giuen ouer to teares and lamentations the brothers bewailed their mangled brother the king his murthered sonne But Absalon fled vnto Gessur vnto his grandfather on the mothers side and lord of that place and soiourned with him three whole yeers at the end whereof Dauid determined to send for his sonne Absalon not to the intent to punish him but to retire him vnto him by reason that the indignation he had conceiued against him was at that time aslaked Ioab also furthered this his resolution by all meanes that were to him possible For he caused a certaine olde woman attired in mourning habit to present her selfe before Dauid who said vnto him that betwixt her two sonnes that liued in the countrey there hapned such a different that falling to handy-strokes they were so whet the one against the other that not induring to be parted the one of them in such sort wounded the other that he died and for that the kinsmen were fore moued against the murtherer and sought without mercie to depriue him of life she humbly besought the king that he would giue her her sonnes life and not depriue her of that hope that remained her to sustaine her olde yeers with which he should bring to passe if so be he prohibited those that would kill her son from executing their intents for that except it were for feare which they had of him they would by no meanes be withdrawne from their fatall and bloudy resolution Now when as the king had granted her request the woman began once more to breake into these speeches I most humbly thanke your maiestie said she who haue had compassion of mine age and doe so prouidently foresee that I be not depriued of my sonne but to the intent I may be the better assured of thy humanity I beseech thee O King first of all pacifie thy displeasure conceiued against thy sonne and be no more incensed against him For how can I perswade my selfe that you will doe me this grace if you your selfe euen vntill this day continue your displeasure conceiued vpon the like occasion against your sonne For it is contrarie to the rules of wisedome to adde to the remedilesse losse of one sonne the haplesse death of a fathers liuing hope Vpon these words the king began presently to suspect that Ioab had suborned this woman and vnderstanding no lesse by the olde womans report he sent for Ioab and told him that he granted him that which he desired commanding him to send for Absalon assuring him that his displeasure was pacified and choler asswaged Ioab cast himselfe downe prostrate before the king and reuerently receiuing his word of reconciliation went-vnto Gessur and set Absalon from thence with him and brought him to Ierusalem The king vnderstanding that his sonne drew neere sent out a messenger to meet him commanding that as yet he should not presume to presse into his presence because he was not disposed to behold him so sodainly Who vnderstanding the will of his father forbore to shew himselfe vnto him and went and dwelt amongst his own familiars and houshold seruants Neither was his beautie any waies interessed by the sorrow he had conceiued nor for that his entertainment was farre different from the bringing vp and nourishing of a princes sonne but he rather excelled and grew more famous thereby so that for beautie and goodlinesse of personage he exceeded all those that liued more deliciously and daintily his glibband or haire was so thicke that it could scarcely be powled in eight daies and waied two hundreth sicles which amount to fiue pound He liued also two yeares in Ierusalem and was the father of three sonnes and one faire daughter which Roboam the sonne of Salomon afterwards tooke to wife of whom he begat a sonne called Abia. In processe of time he sent messengers vnto Ioab that now at length hee would pacifice his father and beseech him to admit him to his presence that he might both see and submit himselfe vnto him But because Ioab made small reckoning of these his motions he sent of his seruants and commanded them to burne and spoile Ioabs possessions that abutted vpon his who hearing of that which had hapned vnto him resorted vnto Absalon accusing him and questioning with him for what cause he had done him this iniurie To whom Absalon
their messengers to euerie corporation aduertising them how many benefits they had receiued at Dauids hands and how after many and grieuous warres he had brought them to a secure libertie and how iniustly expelling him they had committed the kingdome vnto another For which cause it behooued them that since he was dead whom they had chosen to make their supplication and submission vnto Dauid that dismissing his wrath he would receiue the people into his fauour and according as before time so now also he would vouchsafe them his pardon and protection Of these things sundry intelligences came vnto the kings eares so that by expresse letters he commanded Sadoc and Abiathar the chiefe priests that they should certifie the princes of the tribe of Iuda that it should be a great indignitie for them that other tribes should preferre Dauid to the kingdome before them especially since he was both of their tribe and their kinsman also In like manner he commanded them to speake with Amasa the generall and expostulate with him why hee who was his Nephew by the sisters side did not perswade the army to recommend the kingdome to his hands willing them to assure him that he was not only to hope for pardon for that which had hapned but also for the gouernment of the whole army according as Absalon had granted him Hereupon the high priests not only conferred with the princes aforesaid but also informing Amasa what the king had promised in his behalfe wherby they drew him to their faction And first of all those of his owne tribe reuoked Dauid very instantly into the kingdome the rest of the Israelites by their example and Amasas authoritie did the like also and these embassadors flocked vnto him to receiue him into Ierusalem But wonderfull and praiseworthy was the diligence of the tribe of Iuda who went out as far as the banke of Iordan to meete with him with these came Simei the sonne of Gera with a thousand men which he had brought with him of the tribe of Beniamin Siba likewise Sauls freeman came thither with his fifteene sonnes and twentie seruants who made a bridge ouer Iordan that the king might the more easily passe ouer both himselfe and his armie As soone as he came vnto Iordan he was saluted by the tribe of Iuda and Simei marching onward on the bridge prostrating himselfe at the kings feete asked pardon of his offences and besought him to remit his displeasure and that in recouering his authoritie he would not first of all doe iustice on him but that he should remember this also that he being induced by the repentance of his errour did with the formost march out to meet him vpon his returne Whilest thus he besought and lamented Abisai Ioabs brother spake after this manner Why should he not die that hath thus villanously outraged the King whom God hath established But Dauid turned backe vnto him and said yee sons of Seruia will you neuer cease to hatch new troubles and to adde newe diuisions to your former commotions Know you not that this is the first day of my raigne for which cause I sweare an oth that I will pardon all them that haue committed any impietie against me and that no one man shall depart from me in my disfauour For which cause be of good cheere Simei feare thou not that I wil seeke thy bloud Whereupon he adored the King marched onward before him After this Mephiboseth Sauls nephew came out to meete him cloathed in a desolate sorie rayment hauing his haires hanging down in a neglected and sorrowful manner For since the time that Dauid fled fosooke the citie he had in such sort beene distressed that he neither had trimmed his haire nor changed or cleansed his garment supposing this calamity deposition to touch him as neerly as it did the king and further in that by Siba his steward he had beene vniustly detracted accused to the king After he had prostrated himselfe and adored the king Dauid asked him for what cause he forsooke him in his troubles and offered not himselfe to accompanie him in his flight Who answered that it was the wickednes of Siba who was the cause thereof for he said he being commaunded to prepare my necessaries for that iourney neglected the execution thereof contemning both me and it as if I had beene some abiect slaue Otherwise had I had the vse of my feete and the meanes to haue waited on thee in thy iourney I had neuer endured to haue forsaken thee Neither was he contented my liege to hinder my deuout seruice towards thee but furthermore he hath maliciously incensed your maiestie against me yet know I well that your wisedome will not admit or giue credence to his detractions both for that you are iust as also for that God and truth which you onely aspire to are onely beloued by you For whereas during my grandfathers daies you were alwaies conuersant amongst the most difficult dangers and followed and attempted by him and whereas all our posteritie by that meanes deserued to be vtterly extinguished yet haue you vsed both moderation and meeknes especially in forgetting those indignities at such time as the memorie thereof affoorded you meanes to punish them And notwithstanding all these things you haue entertained me like your friend feasted me at your dailie table and dignified me with no lesse honours then if I had beene one of your neerest and deerest kinsmen When Dauid had heard these things he neither thought good to punish Mephiboseth neither to examine whether Siba had wrongfully accused him but after he had certified him that he had giuen Siba all his goods yet did he pardon him and promise him the restitution of halfe his possessions Whereunto Mephiboseth replied Let Siba saith he possesse the whole it onely sufficeth me that I see your maiestie restored againe into your kingdome After this Dauid inuited Berzillai the Galaadite a vertuous man and of great authoritie and by whose bountie during the time of his warre he was assisted and who had attended him as farre as Iordan to accompanie him vnto Ierusalem promising him to make no lesse account of him then of his father and assuring him liberally to allow him in all things that concerned his honour and age But he being desirous to liue in priuate besought his maiestie to dismisse him from the court because as he said his age was so extreme as it made him vnapt for courtly pleasures considering that he had attained to the age of fourescore yeares alledging that it better became him to thinke of death and the departure out of this world For which cause he besought Dauid to fauour him so much as that he might gouerne himselfe according to his own desire because that by reason of his age he neither knew howe to sauour meate nor drinke besides for that his hearing was lost so that he could not distinguish nor discerne the
law at such time as he made the similitudes of beasts of brasse to vnderprop the vessell called the great sea and those of Lyons which he caused to be set vnto his throne For that action of his ill beseemed him who had a most excellent and domesticall example of vertue in the person of his father besides the glorie that he had left him by being a faithfull seruant of God whence it came to passe that by neglecting to followe his steppes notwithstanding that God had exhorted him thereunto by appearing vnto him at two seuerall times he died most ignominiously There came therefore vnto him a prophet sent from God telling him that his sinnes were manifest and notorious in Gods sight threatning him that ere long he should repent the wickednesse he had committed Yet notwithstanding the realme should not be taken from him during his life because God had promised Dauid that he should be his successor in the same but after his decease his sonne should beare the penalty of the same not so as all the people should reuolt but that he would giue ten tribes vnto his seruant and leaue two vnto the grandchild of Dauid because he had loued God and by reason of the Citie of Ierusalem where it pleased him to make his habitation When Salomon heard these things he sorrowed and was sore troubled in that all his felicitie for which he toforetime was admired began to decline Neither passed there long time after this denunciation of the Prophet but that God so pleasing there rose vp an enemie against him who was called Ader by nation an Idumaean and of the princely stocke who vpon this occasion grounded his rebellion and insurrection For at such time as Ioab generall of Dauids army had conquered Idumaea and in the space of sixe moneths defeated all the youth and those that were capable to beare armes he fled vnto Pharao king of Aegypt who entertained him verie courteouly and gaue him an house and lands for his maintenance and loued him deerely when he came to mans estate so that he maried him with Taphines his wiues sister on whom he begat a sonne who was brought vp with the kings children who hauing intelligence in Aegypt of Dauid and Ioabs death addressed himselfe vnto Pharao and besought him to giue him leaue to repaire into his owne countrey The King asked him what he wanted or what the cause was that moued him to be so hastie to forsake him Notwithstanding therefore that he importuned and requested him diuers times yet preuailed he nothing with him for that time But when Salomons fortunes began to decline by reason of his iniquities aboue mentioned and the wrath of God prouoked against him Ader by Gods permission came into Idumea after he was licēsed by Pharao to depart But being vnable to moue the people to reuolt from Salomon by reason of the strong garrisons he held and knowing that without hazard of his owne person he could moue no alterations or innouation in that place he departed from thence went into Syria where cōfederating himself with a certaine man called Raas who was fled from his master Adarezar king of Sophene and liued like an outlaw in that Region he contracted friendship with him and a great sort of outlawes and theeues that were his followers and went into Syria and taking seazure of that countrey proclaimed himselfe king thereof From whence making excursions into the lands of the Israelites he spoyled and pillaged the same during Salomons life time Thus were the Hebrewes enforced to sustaine these outrages at Aders hands Moreouer a certaine man called Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat by nation a Iewe rebelled against Salomon and raised his hopes aboue his estate perswaded thereunto by a prophecie that concerned him and incited him vnto the action For being left verie young by his father and carefully instructed by his mother as soone as Salomon perceiued him to be of a noble and couragious spirit he made him commissarie ouer the building of the wals at such time as he immured and fortified Ierusalem In this office he behaued himselfe so well that the king thought very well thereof and in way of recompence gaue him the estate of Generall ouer the tribe of Ioseph Towards which whilest he trauelled from Ierusalem a certaine Prophet met him vpon the way who was of the Citie of Silo called Achias who approching neere vnto him and saluting him drew him out of the way into a place where none but thēselues were present there renting the garment which he wore vpon his backe into twelue peeces he commaunded Ieroboam to take ten telling him that God had so decreed and how he would rent the gouernment from Salomon and reserue only one tribe vnto his sonne with that other which was annexed vnto it by reason of the promise made vnto Dauid and to thee said he he giueth the other tenne because Salomon hath offended God and addicted himselfe to the loue of straunge women and the seruice of forraine gods Now since thou knowest the cause wherefore God hath alienated the kingdome from Salomon be thou iust and obserue thou the lawes for if thou behauest thy selfe in such sort as thou knowest Dauid did a great reward of thy pietie and recompence of thy obseruance attendeth thee so that thou shalt become as mightie as Dauid hath beene before thee Ieroboam confirmed in great hopes by these words of the Prophet being by nature haughtie in yeares young and besides that desirous of authoritie he tooke no rest but being possessed of the place of generall and remembring himselfe of that which had beene told him by Achias he presently beganne to perswade the people to reuolt from Salomon and to choose him for their king Salomon hearing newes of this his deliberation and enterprise sought the meanes to lay hands on him and to put him to death but Ieroboam preuenting him fled vnto Susac king of Egypt with whom hee remained vntill the death of Salomon And thus for that time escaped he punishment and thus was hee reserued to the fortune of a kingdome CHAP. III. After the death of Salomon the people reuolte from Roboam his sonne and proclaime Hieroboam king of the tenne tribes BVt when Salomon was very olde he died after he had raigned fourescore yeares and liued nintie foure and was buried in Ierusalem of all kings the most happy rich and prudent except that sinne wherunto he was drawen by women in his olde age of whom and those calamities that presently after befell the Hebrewes we haue sufficiently spoken After the death of Salomon as soone as his sonne Roboam whom he begat vpon an Ammonitish woman called Nooma succeeded him in the kingdome the gouernours of the people sent certaine messengers into Aegypt to recall Ieroboam who arriuing in the Citie of Sichem Roboam came thither also resoluing himself in that assembly of the Israelites to take the
kingdom vpō him by the peoples consent To him therfore the Princes of the people resorted with Ierobod beseeching him that he would remit somewhat of their feruitude and shew himselfe more merciful then his father had beene for that vnder his gouernment they had beene sorely oppressed assuring him that by that meanes his kingdome should be the more assured if so be he had rather be beloued then feared He some three daies after promised them to returne an answere to their demaunds and by that meanes drew them into suspition that vpon the motion he misliked of the offers they had proposed for they thought that it became his yeares to be affable and readie to deserue well yet remained there some hope in them that they had not presently suffered the repulse Meane while he calling about him his fathers friends consulted vpon the matter what answere he should giue the people who for that they wished his welfare and knew the nature of the people very wel perswaded him to speake familiarly vnto the people and remitting a little of his kingly austeritie to apply himselfe to the fauour good liking of the multitude for that by this his affabilitie he might the more easily draw their hearts vnto him because that by a naturall inclination subiects take delight in those kings that are courteous who with a certaine decent familiaritie entertaine themselues amongst them But Roboam reiected this counsell of theirs which was both good and profitable in all occasions but especially at such time when it is vpon the point to be inseated in a kingdome and that not without Gods prouidence since contrarie to all reason he neglected the right course and followed the peruerse so that calling vnto him certaine youngmen of his owne humour and disposition he certified them what the Elders had counselled him and willed them to discouer their opinion in that matter but neither their age nor Gods permission suffered them to know that which was expedient For which cause they counseled him to answere the people that his little finger was more great then the loynes of his father and that if they had experimented endured grieuances vnder him that he would be far more rigorous and that if his father had chastised them with the stroke of the whip that they should expect to be punished by him with rude torments The king delighted herewith supposed the answere to be answerable to the dignitie of his Empire Whenas therefore the people were assembled on the third day to heare his resolution and all of them were in suspence expecting and desirous to heare him speake from whom they hoped nought else but sweetnes Roboam contemning the counsell of his friends proposed vnto himselfe that of the young men All which hapned by the will of God to the end that that which Achias had prophecied might be fulfilled They touched by these his answers no lesse then if they had beene wounded with the sword conceiued a most heartie griefe and were displeased with him and no lesse moued then if they had alreadie felt the mischiefe that was threatned so that they began all of them to crie with a loud voice That from that time forward they had nothing to doe with Dauids alliance neither with his succession telling him that they would onely leaue the temple his father had builded vnto his charge and threatning him to abandon him Furthermore they were so hainously and grieuously incensed that Roboam hauing sent vnto them Aduram the superintendent of the tribes to pacifie their wrath and to perswade them to pardon his youth if he had spoken any thing lightly and vnrespectiuelie vnto them they could not endtire to heare him speake but slewe and welny ouerwhelmed him with stones Which when Roboam perceiued supposing that it was himselfe who in the person of his officer was put to death and stoned by the people he feared least in effect his life and the fortune of his kingdome should fall into the like desaster For which cause he sodainly ascended his c◅iot and fled to Ierusalem where the tribe of Iuda and that of Beniamin by their common suffrages made him King But as touching the rest of the people from that day forward they reuolted from the successors of Dauid proclaimed Ieroboam King of their estates Roboam the sonne of Salomon being sore displeased herewith assembled the two tribes of his obeisance with an intent to muster one hundreth and fourscore thousand chosen men to make warre on Ieroboam and his people and to enforce them by warre to acknowledge him for their Soueraigne But God restrained him by the meanes of a prophet who forbad him to make warre saying that it was ill besitting that war should be waged betwixt two parties of one nation and the rather for that this their reuolt had hapned by the will of God by which means and perswasion he dismissed his army But first of all I will rehearse that which Ieroboam king of Israel did and afterwards subsequently I will declare the acts of Roboam King of the two Tribes thus shal the course of the historie continue in due order euery waies After that Ieroboam had planted his royall court in the Citie of Sichem he made his ordinarie aboad in that place except that sometimes he soiourned in the Citie of Phanuel Not long after this the feast of Tabernacles being at hand Ieroboam supposing that if he permitted the people to go vp and worship God in Ierusalem and solemnize the feast in that place they might either repent themselues of their reuolt or being retained and withdrawne by the temple seruice that was celebrated therein they might be perswaded to forsake him and submit themselues to their first King and by that meanes he might be drawne into danger of his life he practised and plotted this inuention He caused two golden calues to be cast and builded two seuerall temples the one in Bethel and the other in Dan which is scituate neere vnto the source of little Iordan In each of the chappels of these two townes he placed one of these calues and afterwards assembling the ten tribes that were vnder his subiection he spake vnto them in manner following My friends and countrey-men I know that you are not ignorant how God is in all places and that there cannot be any place wherein he assisteth not nor time wherein hee heareth and beholdeth them not that serue him with true affection For which cause I thinke it not conuenient that you go vp vnto Ierusalem at this time which is a Citie enemy vnto vs neither that you make so long a iourney in way of deuotion for it was a man that builded that temple euen as I haue consecrated two golden calues the one in Bethel and the other in Dan to the end that euery one of you that inhabite neere vnto these Cities transporting your selues to the same may adore God Neither shall you want
thorow the waightinesse of the charge Consequently hee declared vnto him the death of him that had fortolde these signes that were to come and how he had been slaine by a Lyon For which cause he perswaded him to thinke that he in no sort was a Prophet neither any waies partaking with the truth of prophecie By such like allegations he made the King beleeue that which he said and hauing wholy distracted his thoughts from God and good workes and obseruation of Gods lawes hee drew him to all wickednesse and impietie by which act of his he outraged God and offended his lawes and sought daily after no other thing then to inuent some new and cursed wickednesse that was farre more hainous then all that which before time he had attempted This is all that at this time we haue to write as concerning Ieroboam As touching Roboam Salomons sonne who was King of the two Tribes as we haue before this declared he builded these great and strong Cities Bethleem Itama Thecos Bethsur Socoth Odolam Epan Maresa Zipha Adoraim Lachis Zicha Saraim Elon and Hebron which being within the confines of Iuda he builded first He builded also other great Cities in the countrey of the Beniamites which he walled and placed garrisons and gouernours in euery one of them and great store of corne wine and oyle and generally in euery Citie hee made a great storehouse with all sorts of prouision and victuals with an infinit number of targets and launces To him the Priests and Leuites annexed themselues who were dispersed thorow Israel who came and dwelt in Ierusalem For they tooke no pleasure to adore by compulsion those calues that Ieroboam had erected and during the terme of three yeeres they increased the kingdome of Roboam who being married to one of his owne line had three children and was afterwards married also with Maacha the daughter of Thamar daughter to Absalon who was of his parentage likewise of whom he begat his sonne called Abiah He had also diuers other children by other women but aboue all the rest he loued Maacha most intirely He had eighteene legitimate wiues married vnto him according to the law and thirtie concubines he had eight and twenty sons and threescore daughters and declared for his successor in the kingdome Abiah 〈◊〉 son of Maacha and committed all his treasures and strong sorts vnto his hands But mortall men most vsually are corrupted by the vntoward flatteries of wauering fortune as appeareth by this King For Roboam seeing his kingdome thus increased he bent himselfe to all vniust and impious actions and contemned the seruice of God the people also conformed themselues to his impieties For the life of the subiect is oftentimes peruerted by reason of the corrupt and dissolute life of their princes and those that are inferiours beholding the ryot of their superiours will easily be withdrawne from all modestie and follow those vices they professe as if they had beene their professed vertues for should they doe the contrarie they should seeme to disanull and mislike the actions of their Princes As it hapned vnder the gouernment of Roboam wherein the subiects addicted themselues to impietie and all errors for they would not make profession of honestie for feare least they should seeme to study the meanes to be offensiue vnto the king CHAP. IIII. Susac king of Aegypt after the spoile of Ierusalem transporteth the riches of that Citie into Aegypt BVt God sent Susac king of Aegypt to take vengeance for that excesse which was committed against his maiestie by Roboam whose actions Herodotus wrongfully ascribeth to Sesostris For this Susac in the fifth yeere of Roboams raigne assembled a huge army of diuers thousands of men and brought them out against Roboam wherein it is reported that hee had twelue hundreth chariots threescore thousand horsemen foure hundreth thousand footmen The greater part of these were Libyans and Aethiopians breaking in therefore into the Hebrewes countrey with this power without stroke-striking he seazed the strongest places of the kingdome of Roboam and fortified them and at last came and incamped before Ierusalem But Roboam and his associates seeing themselues begirt with a strong siege on euerie side by Susacs army at last had his recourse vnto praiers yet could he not moue God to incline and fauour him with the victorie For the prophet Samaeas threatned and told him that God would abandon both him and his in like sort as they had forsaken him and his seruice Which when they heard they sodainly lost their hearts and seeing no meanes to escape they all of them began to confesse that God had iustly forsaken them because they had shewed their impietie against him and had peruerted all his lawes But God seeing them thus disposed and making confession of their sinnes said vnto the prophet that he would not vtterly destroy them yet notwithstanding that he would deliuer them into the hands of the Aegyptians to the end that they might learne whether it were more difficult to serue God or men When as therefore king Susac had without bloudshed or resist taken and surprised the Citie and was receiued into the same by discomforted Roboam hee kept not those conuentions that were made betwixt them but spoiled the temple and tooke away with him those treasures that were dedicated vnto God and the seruice of the King rauishing from thence innumerable thousands of golde and of siluer not leauing any thing behind him He carried away also those targets and bucklers of gold which were made by King Salomon neither left he behind him the quiuer of gold which was offered by Dauid and receiued by him of the king of Sophena Which done he retired back againe into his own countrey Of this expedition Herodotus of Halicarnassus maketh mention who differeth only in the name of the King and saith that he assailed diuers nations and subdued Palestina and Syria and tooke many men prisoners without any resist wherby it is manifest that he meaneth no lesse then that our nation hath beene ouercome by the Aegyptian For he saith that in their gates who yeelded themselues vp vnto him without inforcement he erected pillars which were figured with the secret parts of a woman But our king Roboam yeelded vp the Citie into his hands without contradiction It is said that the Aethiopians haue learnt of the Aegyptians the vse of circumscissiō of the prepuce For the Phenicians and Syrians that are in Palestine confesse that they haue learnt it of the Aegyptians But it is a matter verie manifest that no other are circumcised in Palestine of Syria but our selues But let each one speake of these things according as him list After the retreat of Sisac king Roboam made shieldes and bucklers of brasse in steed of those of gold and gaue the like number vnto his guard and in steed of liuing in a braue army in a royall and princely estate he raigned after
send out two scouts vpon horsebacke to search euerie quarter betwixt that and Iordan to the end that if they should be taken and slaine by the enemies ambushment their fall might be a president to the whole army to stand vpon their guard for feare least they should be surprised in like manner vrging this for a conclusion that the losse of two horsemen should not be very great since perhaps they might otherwaies haue been cut off by famine This aduise of his was allowed by the king and ratified by his assistance so that presently there were two spies sent out who rode along without encountring any enemy but they met with great quantitie of victuals and armes cast away and abandoned by the Syrians to the intent they might flie away the more lightly Which when the king vnderstood he suffered the people to issue out and spoile the campe who recouered things of no small valew therein but much gold and siluer and troupes of all sorts of cattell and besides that they found so great a quantitie of wheate and barley that had they dreamed thereof they could not hope or imagine the like Thus were they deliuered from all their precedent afflictions for there was so great quantitie of corne that two measures of barley were sold but for one sicle and a measure of wheate flower for a sicle according as Elizeus had prophecied Now the measure which we call Sat containeth an Italian bushell and the halfe But the captaine of the third part of the army was he only that enioyed no part of this benefit for being appointed by the king to haue the keeping of the gate and to restrain the multitude from headlong pressing out for feare least thrusting one an other some of them should be troden vnder foot and slaine he himselfe was trode vpon and slaine according as the Prophet had foretold for that he only amongst the rest would not giue credit to that which he had said as touching the great aboundance of victuals that should happen When Adad king of the Syrians was safely returned to Damasco and knew that God had suffered such a confusion and feare to fall both on him and his army and that it had not hapned by reason that the enemy sallied out vpon him he was sore discouraged to see that God was so displeased with him and through anguish and agonie of minde fell sicke And for that at that verie time Elizeus was come into Damasco Adad vnderstanding thereof sent Azael who was one of his most trustie seruants vnto him to present him and to consult with him vpon his sicknes whether he should recouer or no. Hereupon Azael loaded fortie camels with the most fairest and most honourablest presents that either Damasco or the princes royall court affoorded and repairing to Elizeus saluted him verie courteously telling him that he was â—…nt vnto him by king Adad first of all to present him and afterwards to aske counsaile of him 〈◊〉 touching his malady whether he might easily be healed The Prophet commanding the messenger to carrie no euill tydings vnto the king did notwithstanding tell him that he should die Aâ—…ael hearing thereof was sore grieued and Elizeus himselfe began to weepe so that the teares fell from his eies aboundantly in that he foresaw how many euils the people should suffer after the decease of Adad And when as Azael demanded him the cause wherefore he was so discomforted I weepe said he for the compassion that I haue of the people of Israel by reason of those calamities which they shall endure by thy meanes For thoushalt kill the better sort of them and shalt burne their strongest Cities thou shalt murther their infants and dash them against the stones and shalt open the womens wombes that are with child Azael answered what force is there in me to execute these things Elizeus said vnto him that God had certified him that he should be king of Syria When Azael was returned backe vnto Adad he signified nothing vnto him but glad tidings as touching his sicknes but the next day he cast a wet net vpon him strangled him and seazed the kingdome into his owne hands This Prince was a man of execution and well beloued amongst the Syrians and common people of Damasco who euen vntill this day honour Adad and Azael his successour as gods by reason of their benefits and those temples which were builded by them which adorne the Citie of Damasco For euery day do they celebrate feasts in memorie of these kings and honour them by reason of their antiquitie not knowing that they were moderne and such as raigned not past eleuen hundreth yeers since But Ioram king of Israel hearing of the death of Adad began to giue ouer his feare and cast off that suspition which he had conceiued of him reioycing that yet at last he might haue libertie to liue in peace The other Ioram king of Ierusalem for he likewise was so called as we haue heretofore declared by murthering of his brethren and his fathers friends who were gouernours obtained the kingdome and became so wicked and impious as he differed in nothing from the kings of Israel who transgressed the first lawes and ordinances of the Hebrewes and peruerted the seruice of God For Athalia Achabs daughter his wife taught him to execute diuers mischiefes and amongst the rest to adore strange gods This notwithstanding God would not altogither abolish his race by reason of his promise made vnto Dauid yet intermitted he not daily to introduce new impieties and soile the ancient lawes of his forefathers with new corruptions Meane while it came to passe that the Idumaeans reuolted and slue their king who had beene before time subiect vnto Iosaphat Iorams father and in his place established an other to their owne liking For which cause Ioram inuaded Idumaea by night with his horses and chariots and spoyled the countrey round about his kingdome without passing any farther yet profited he nothing in so doing for all of them reuolted from him and amongst the rest the inhabitants of the countrey of Labina But so great was the fury of this man that he constrained the people to ascend the high mountaines and adore straunge gods Yet whilest he behaued himselfe in this manner and vtterly rooted out of his thought the lawes of his forefathers there was a letter brought vnto him from the Prophet Elias which â—…ertified him that God would doe great iustice vpon him because hee had forsaken the waies of his forefathers and followed the impieties of the kings of Israel constraining the Tribe of Iuda and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to forsake the pure seruice of their God to serue Idols 〈◊〉 Achab had constrained the Israelites to doe Furthermore because hee had murthered his brethren and slaine vpright and vertuous men The Prophet likewise certified him by letters what punishment he should endure namely the ruine
words moued the King vnto displeasure so that he commanded the prophet to silence threatning him to punish him if he intermedled with his affaires any more Who answered him that he would no further vrge him yet withall he foreprophecied vnto him that God would not suffer this his innouatiō to rest vnpunished Anon after Amasias not able to keep a moderation amidst his affluence and prosperitie but waxing more insolent against almightie God by whom he possessed the blessings he enioyed in height of his pride wrote to Ioas king of Israel commanding him and his to yeeld him homage according as in times past the Israelites were subiect to Dauid and Salomon threatning him that if he refused to doe him voluntarie seruice he would enforce him to decide the different by armes to whom the Israelite replied thus King Ioas to King Amasias There was in the mountaine of Libanus a cypres tree of great height to whom a little thistle wrote demanding of him his daughter in mariage for his son But during this interparlee betwixt them there came a certaine wilde beast that troad downe the thistle Let this example admonish and dissuade thee from attempting of too mighty matters nether growing proud of thy last victorie against the Amalechites least thorow thy presumption thou expose both thy life and fortune to the incertaine hazard of warre When Amasias had perused this answere of his he was the more whetted vnto warre God also as it seemed pricked him forward to the intent to chastise those iniquities that were committed by him When as therefore he had drawne his army into the field and both the armies were vpon the point to wage the battell a sodaine feare and discouragement seased him such as God in his displeasure is accustomed to inflict which made Amasias army turne their backes so that by the apprehension they had conceiued they were scattered before they came to handy strokes and Amasias being left alone was taken prisoner Him did Ioas threaten that except he perswaded the inhabitants of Ierusalem to open their gates and to receiue both him and his army into the Citie he would put him to death For which cause Amasias constrained by necessitie and feare of death wrought so much as his enemies were receiued into Ierusalem who made a breach of three hundreth cubits in their wall and there-thorow Amasias was led captiue into Ierusalem In this manner was Ioas made master of the Citie who afterwards carried away the treasures of the temple and tooke away the gold and siluer that Amasias had in his pallace and hauing in this sort raunsomed him from captiuitie he returned backe againe into Samaria This hapned in the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of Amasias who afterwards fled into the Citie of Lachis to auoide the conspiracie of his domesticall friends by whom notwithstanding he was surprised and slaine by them that were sent to doe the deede his body was brought and royally entombed in Ierusalem Thus died Amasias for introducing innouations in contempt of God he liued fiftie foure yeeres and raigned twentie and nine his sonne Ozias succeeded him in the kingdome CHAP. XI How Ozias ouercame his neighbour nations BVt in the fifteenth yeere of the raigne of Amasias Ieroboam Ioas sonne began to raigne ouer the Israelites in Samaria and enioyed the kingdome for the space of fortie yeeres This King dishonoured God and offended him grieuously in obseruance of Idols and diuers absurd and strange actions by which he heaped ten thousand mischiefes and miseries on the Israelites heads To him came there a certaine prophet called Ionas who prophecied vnto him that he should make warre against the Syrians and that he should ouercome them and enlarge his kingdome to the northward as farre as the Citie of Amatha and to the southward as far as the lake Asphaltites for these in times past were the limits of the countrey of Chanaan according as the generall Iosuah had confined them Ieroboam encouraged by this prophecie led forth his army against the Syrians and spoiled all their countrey according to the prophecie of Ionas And for that I haue promised to yeeld an exact historie in writing of all those things that hapned in our nation me thinks it shall not be amisse to declare that which I haue found written of this prophet in our Hebrew Chronicles This man being commaunded by God to repaire vnto the kingdome of Ninus to proclaime that which should happen to the Citie of Niniue namely that the gouernment thereof should be abolished thorow feare which he conceiued repaired not thither but fled from Gods presence into a Citie called Ioppa where finding a ship he entred the same and sailed towards Tharsis in Cilicia But there arose so vehement a tempest vpon the sea that the vessell was readie to be drowned and both the mariners master and owners of the ship made their vow of thankesgiuing vnto God if they might escape from this tempest but Ionas hid himselfe and couered his face performing no such matter as the rest had done Whereas therefore the turbulent waues incensed by violent windes increased more and more the mariners passengers began to imagine amongst themselues that some one of them in that barke had caused that tempest whereupon they agreed amongst themselues to cast lots to know which of them were the occasion of their danger Which done the lot fell vpon Ionas who being demanded whence he was and for what businesse he trauelled answered them that he was an Hebrew by nation and a Prophet of the most high God and counselled them that if they would be warranted from that danger they should cast him into the sea because it was hee onely that was the cause of that tempest Notwithstanding this confession of his they durst not performe that which he desired supposing that it would be an act of great impietie in that sort to thrust a stranger into that manifest perdition whose life had been committed to their trust But for that the storme more and more increased and grew so vehement that they wanted verie little of imminent shipwracke and being besides that incited by Ionas himselfe and whetted on likewise by the feare they conceiued to lose their liues they cast him into the sea whereupon sodainly the storme ceased It is likewise-said that being swallowed vp by a great fish for the space of three daies and three nights he was at the last vomited out and cast by the same fish vpon the shore of the Euxine sea aliue and without any maime in any of his members There besought he God that he would pardon him the sinne which he had committed and afterwards he resorted to the Citie of Niniue where ascending a place from whence he might be heard hee published with a loud voice vnto them that they should lose the Empire of Asia which after he had pronounced he returned backe againe This recitall haue I made according as
them bound vnto him The number of them was ten thousand eight hundreth thirtie and two persons besides Ioachin his mother and his neere allies whom they tooke prisoners CHAP. IX Sedechias is made King ouer Ierusalem by the Babylonian IN steed of Ioachin he appointed Sedechias his vncle king of Ierusalem whom hee bound by an oth that he should gouerne the countrey without any innouation or partiall fauour towards the Aegyptians This Sedechias was one and twentie yeeres olde at such time as he came vnto the kingdome and was Ioachims brother by the mothers side he was a contemner of all lawes and a peruerter of ordinances For the yoong men that were about him were without the feare of God and all the people vnder his dominions committed whatsoeuer outrages were best liking vnto them For this cause the Prophet Ieremy came vnto him protesting oftentimes against him and denouncing that if he renounced not all those impieties and iniquities he vsed and addicted not himselfe to that which was iust but gaue eare vnto his gouernours amongst which there were many wicked men and to those false Prophets that misled him trusting that the Babylonians should not make warre against his Citie but that the Aegyptians should leuie an army and ouercome them that then he should incurre much miserie for said he they haue no truth in their sayings and those things also which they pronounce are not to be spoken Whilest Sedechias gaue eare to these discourses of the Prophet he was perswaded and acknowledged al that to be true which he had spoken very profitable both for him his people but anon after his friends corrupted him diuerted him according to their own opinions Ezechiel also at the same time had prophecied in Babylon all those calamities which were to fall vpon the tēple sent notice to Ierusalem of that which he had receiued frō God Notwithstanding Sedechias gaue no credit to his prophecies by reason that all the Prophets were accustomed to accord in all things the one with the other as touching the surprisal of the city and the imprisonment of Sedechias but Ezechiel differed in this that he said that Sedechias should not see Babylon notwithstanding that Ieremy had prophecied that the king of Babylon should lead him away prisoner in bonds because therefore these two accorded not in their sayings he concluded that the matter wherein they agreed was of no consequence Notwithstanding all things hapned vnto him according as the Prophets had pronounced as we will declare in a conuenient place After that he had continued his alliance and friendship with the king of Babylon for the space of eight yeers he brake the league that was between them and confederated with the Aegyptians vnder hope that they should ouercome the Babylonians Which when the king of Babylon vnderstood he led forth his army against him and destroied his countrey to the vttermost so that after he had taken his Cities of defence he finally planted his army and besieged Ierusalem The Aegyptian perceiuing the estate wherein his allie Sedechias was leuied a huge army and came into Iudaea with an intent to raise the siege Whereupon the Babylonian withdrew his army from Ierusalem to encounter with the Aegyptian and fought with him and ouercame him in battell and pursued him with such alacritie that he put him to flight and droue him altogither out of Syria As soone as the Babylonian was dislodged from Ierusalem the false prophets deceiued Sedechias telling him that the Babylonian should neuer more returne to make warre either against him or his nation and that he should neuer any more depart from his house in Babylon and that they who had beene led away captiues should returne home againe loaden with those vessels of the temple which the king of Babylon had taken from them But the Prophet Ieremie presenting himselfe before the king prophecied the contrary to these impostures assuring both him and the people that no profit could befall them by meanes of the Aegyptians for that the Babylonians should ouercome them and should returne and encampe before Ierusalem and besiege the same and destroy the people by famine and lead them away prisoners that were remaining and carry away all their substance that after they were seazed of the riches of their temple they should finally burne the same As for the Citie they should race it and said he they shall keepe vs captiue for the space of seuentie yeares And from this seruitude the Persians and Medes shall deliuer vs at such time as they haue gotten the Empyre out of the hands of the Babylonians then shall they send vs backe againe into our countrey and we shall build our temple anew and establish the Citie of Ierusalem Diuers men gaue credit to these words of Ieremie but the gouernours and contemners of God intreated him verie cruelly as if he had beene a man transported out of his sense And whereas he had an intent to visit his natiue countrey Anathoth some twentie stounds off of Ierusalem one of the magistrates encountring him in his iourney laying hold on him retained him loading him with this slander that he went stole away to submit himself to the Babylonians But Ieremy answered that he was falsely accused that he repaired only to the place where he was borne This Prince giuing him no credit arrested him and brought him before the iudgement seat where he sustained all sorts of outrages torments and was shut vp in prison to be punished remained there for a time suffering the extremitie of wrong and iniurie The ninth yeare of the raigne of Zedechias and on the tenth day of the ninth moneth the King of Babylon came and encamped the second time before Ierusalem and entrenched himselfe round about the same for the space of eighteene moneths and laid batterie and siege thereto with as great spleene as might be possible And they that were besieged therein were encountred with two most hainous afflictions famine and most grieuous pestilence At this time the Prophet Ieremy being in prison held not his peace but cried with a loud voice and preached and exhorted the people willing them to entertaine the Babylonians and to open their gates vnto them because that in so doing they might warrantize themselues with all their families whereas otherwaies they were assured of destruction He foretold them also that if any one remained in the Citie he should most assuredly either perish by famine or the enemies furie but if so be they submitted themselues to the enemies mercy they should escape from death But those gouernours that heard him speake after this sort gaue him no credit in that they were not as yet pressed with the danger for which cause they came vnto the king and after a despitefull manner told him all that which had beene spoken accusing Ieremy and reprouing him for a mad man vrging this that he had abated their courage and by
his wofull predictions had weakned the hearts of the people which were otherwaies readie to fight for him and their countrey by reason that he flying vnto the enemie menaced them with the surprisal and vtter ruine of their Citie But the king in regard of the naturall humanitie and iustice that was in him was not any waies whetted in respect of his owne interest yet to the intent he might not seeme to be vtterly opposed to the gouernours by contradicting them he deliuered the Prophet into their hands to deale with him howsoeuer they pleased Who hauing obtained this libertie from the king entred the prison on the sodaine and laying hold on Ieremy they let him downe into a pit full of mud to the intent he might die in that place and be strangled by the ordure in effect he was set therein vp to the necke But one of the kings seruants an Aethiopian by nation certified the king of the Prophets affliction assuring him that his friends and gouernours did not iustly so to thrust and burie the Prophet in the mud and cursedly to conspire against him tyring him with bonds and tortours worse then death For which cause the king hearing this newes was sorie that he had deliuered the Prophet to the gouernours and commaunded the Aethiopian to take thirtie men of his court with him with cords and such other things necessary as might concerne the safetie of the Prophet charging him with all expedition to deliuer him from that captiuitie Hereupon the Aethiopian furnished with men and necessarie meanes drew the Prophet out of the mud and dismissed him without any gard That done the king sent for him in secret demaunding of him if he had any message to deliuer him from God praying him to let him vnderstand what soeuer he knew as touching the successe of the siege The Prophets answere was that although he should tel him yet it would not be beleeued that if he should exhort him he would not giue eare or listen vnto him But said he O king thy friends haue condemned me to death as if I had beene a most wretched malefactor But where are they now at this present that haue deceiued thee and bore thee in hand saying that the Babylonian would not come and besiege thee Now will I take heed how I tell thee the truth for feare least thou condemne me to death Hereupon the king swore vnto him that he should not die neither that he would deliuer him into the hands of the gouernours for which cause Ieremie grounding himselfe vpon the faith which he had plighted vnto him counselled the king to yeeld vp the Citie to the Babylonian because that God had willed him to signifie vnto the king that if he would saue his life and auoid the imminent daunger and saue his Citie from vtter ruine and preserue the temple from burning he should submit or otherwise that none but he should be the cause of all these euils that should happen vnto the Citie and Citizens and of that calamitie that should confound both him and all his familie When the king heard this he told him that he would doe according as he had counselled him and performe whatsoeuer he thought necessarie to be done but that he feared his friends who were alreadie of the Babylonian faction least being accused by them he should be deliuered by their meanes and the kings displeasure vnto death But the prophet encouraged him telling him that his feare was in vaine assuring him that he should suffer no euill if so be he yeelded vp the Citie and that neither his wife nor children nor the sacred temple should either endure desaster death or ouerthrow Vpon these words the king dismissed Ieremy charging him to communicate the counsell that was held betweene them to no one of the Citizens no not to the princes if so be they should light on any inckling of their conference or aske of him whether the king had sent for him aduising him to answere if so be they were inquisitiue that he resorted to the king to request him that he might be no more imprisoned all which the Prophet performed for they instanced him verie much to know for what cause the king had sent for him CHAP. X. Ierusalem is taken and the people carried into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor MEane while the Babylonian continued his violent siege against the Citie of Ierusalem and hauing raised towers vpon certaine bulwarks he droue away by this meanes all those that approched neere vnto the walles he raised also round about the circuit of the Citie diuers platformes that equalled the walles in height Meane while the Citie was as valiantly and couragiously defended by the inhabitants for neither pestilence nor famine plucked down their spirits And although that within the Citie they were tormented with these scourges yet were not their resolutions distracted by the warre neither did the enemies inuentions astonish them nor their engines affright them but that they inuented new countermines so that all the battel betwixt the Babylonians and Iewes seemed to be a trial both of valour art whilest these by the one doe assuredly hope to surprise the Citie and the other thought their safetie consisted herein if they ceased not by new inuentions to frustrate their enemies endeuours And in this estate continued they both for the space of eighteene moneths vntill they were consumed by famine and by the darts that were shot against them by those that shot from the towers At length the Citie was taken by the princes of Babylon in the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of Zedecias the ninth day of the fourth moneth who were put in trust by Nabuchodonosor to performe the siege For touching his owne person he made his aboad in the Citie of Reblata Now if any man be desirous to know the names of them that had commaundement at such time as Ierusalem was surprised these they be Nergelear Aremantus Emegar Nabosar and Echarampsar The Citie being taken about midnight the princes of the enemies armie entered into the temple which when Zedecias vnderstood he tooke his wiues and his children with the princes and his friends and fled thorow a great valley by the desart which when the Babylonians vnderstood by certaine Iewes that were reuolted and had submitted themselues vnto them they arose earely in the morning to pursue them and ouertooke and surpised them neere vnto Iericho Whereupon those princes and friends of Zedecias that had taken their flight with him seeing the enemies neere vnto them forsooke him scattering themselues heere and there concluded each of thē to saue himselfe When as therefore the enemies had apprehended him who was attended by a few followers only and accompanied by his children wiues they brought him vnto the kings presence who no sooner beheld him but he called him wicked and perfidious and vpbraided him with breach of his promise and contempt of his maiestie to whom he had
in the fift yeere after the destruction of Ierusalem which was the three and twentith yeere of the raigne of Nabuchodonosor Nabuchodonosor in his owne person led his army into Coelosyria and hauing conquered the same he made warre vpon the Ammonites and Moabites And after he had brought these nations vnder his obeisance he went and sought against the king of Aegypt and ouercame him and after he had slaine their king that gouerned at that time and planted an other in his place he afterwards tooke the Iewes that he found in that countrey and carried them prisoners into Babylon By this means we haue learned that the state of the Hebrewes being brought to this point hath bin translated twise to the other side of Euphrates For the people of the two tribes were captiued by the Assyrians during the raigne of Oseas and consequently that of the two tribes vnder Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians and Chaldees vpon the taking in of Ierusalem True it is that Salmanazar after he had displaced the Israelites planted the Chutheans in their place who beforetime inhabited the innermost of the countries of Persia and Media and were called Samaritanes according to the name of the place which they inhabited but the Babylonian hauing led the two tribes prisoners hath not planted any other people in their places For this cause Iudaea Ierusalem and the temple remained desert for the space of seuentie yeeres and all the time that passed betweene the captiuitie of the Israelites vntill the destruction of the two tribes was a hundreth and thirtie yeeres six moneths and ten daies But Nabuchodonosor chose the most noblest yoong men amongst the Iewes and such as were allied to king Sedecias and esteemed likewise for the good disposition and faire proportion of their bodies and faces and committed them to masters to be instructed commaunding that euery one of them should be gelded according as they were accustomed to deale with yoong children of other nations whom he subdued by force He allowed them victuall from his owne table and they were taught and instructed in the disciplines of the countrey and in the Chaldeetoong These were verie apte to learne wisedome and for that cause he commanded that they should be trained vp in the exercise thereof Of these there were foure of Zedechias kindred faire in body and vertuous in nature who were called Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias whose names the Babylonian changed and willed them to be called by other names distinct and different from their own Daniel was called Balthasar Ananias Sidrach Misael Misach and Azarias Abdenago These did the king esteeme very highly for their excellent nature and for the great affection that they had to attaine vnto learning and wisedome wherein they profited greatly and were for that cause highly reckoned of by him And whereas Daniel and his kinsemen thought good to liue austerely and to abstaine from those meates that came from the kings table and in generall from all things that had life they went vnto Askenas the Eunuch who had the care and charge ouer them beseeching him to conuert those meates to his owne vse which were sent them from the kings table and to allow them herbes and dates and such things as had no life because they intended to hold that course of life and to forsake all other Askenas told them that he was ready to condescend vnto their demaunds but that he feared least being called for by the king they should be found to be leane in body and discoloured in face for without doubt in following that diet they must needly lose their colours and be lesse dispost in comparison of others which might be the cause to bring him into hazard of his head They perceiuing that Askenas intended nought els but his securitie perswaded him to allow them but ten daies of approbation vnder condition that if by that regiment of diet their habitude of body should not be any waies altered they might continue in that fashion of life and diet which they had intended from that day forwards but if they should be found leane and weake and lesse proportionable then they that sed vpon the kings allowance that then they should returne to their accustomed diet Now it so fell out that not onely their bodies were better in growth but they seemed rather better fed and of a taller statute then the rest so that they that liued vpon the kings ordinarie seemed leane and wearish where as Daniel and his companions made shew as if they had beene nourished with dainties and brought vp in aboundance From that time forward Askenas tooke all that which was allowed the foure yoong men from the kings table and boldly kept it to himselfe giuing them in steed thereof the diet that they chose and delighted in They hauing their spirits more pure and subtill to comprehend their masters instructions and their bodies more strong to endure labour for their spirits were not charged with diuersitie of meates nor their bodies effeminated for the same cause attained the more readily to all that doctrine that was taught them by the Hebrewes and Chaldees Daniel especially hauing profited in wisedome studied the interpretation of dreames and God appeared vnto him Two yeeres after the surprisall of Aegypt king Nabuchodonosor dreamed a wonderfull dreame the issue whereof God made him see in a dreame but he forgat the same when he arose out of his bed And for that cause sent he for his Chaldees and diuines telling them that he had dreampt a dreame but that he had forgot the same commanding them to declare vnto him what the dreame was and the signification thereof also Whereunto they answered that it was impossible for men to sound out the secret thereof notwithstanding they promised him that if he would declare his vision vnto them they would cause him to vnderstand the signification thereof Hereupon Nabuchodonosor threatned them with death except they represented his dreame vnto him and they protesting that they could not fulfill his request he commanded them all to be slaine But Daniel hearing how the King had condemned all the sages to death and knowing that both he and his companions had part in that danger addressed himselfe to Ariochus the captaine of the Kings guard requiring him to informe him for what cause the king had adiudged the Chaldees and sages to be put to death And hauing intelligence what had hapned as touching the dream how the king by forgetting the same had charged them to informe him therin how they had answered that it was impossible for them to performe the same and how thereby they had prouoked the king to displeasure he besought Ariochus to go vnto the king and to procure one nights repriue in the behalfe of the Aegyptians and Chaldees in that he hoped during that night time to beseech God and intreat from him both the dreame and the signification thereof Hereupon Ariochus told the king what Daniel had requested
sacrificed vpon the altar of thy God and to make whatsoeuer vessels of gold or siluer which either thou or thy brethren shall thinke meete Those sacred vessels also which are giuen thee thou shalt dedicate vnto thy God and if there be ought els requisite in this behalfe that according to thy wisedome shalt thou prouide and the charges shalt thou receiue out of my treasurie I haue also commended thee to the treasurers of Syria and Phoenicia and haue written to them that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of God shall require they shall presently deliuer it him And to the end that God may be fauourable to me and my children my will is that a hundreth measures of wheat be giuen vnto God according to the law I commaund you also that are magistrates that you exact nothing neither impose any taxations on the Priests Leuites sacred singing men porters or holy officers But thou Esdras according to the wisedome giuen thee from aboue shalt appoint Iudges who shall in Syria and Phoenicia execute iustice vnto the people according to the science of the law Teach thou likewise freely all such as are ignorant so that whosoeuer violateth either Gods or the kings law he may be fined or els condemned to death as not sinning thorow ignorance but of contumacie Farewell When Esdras had receiued this letter he was wonderfully contented and began to adore God confessing openly that it was he who was the author of that fauour he had receiued at the kings hands for which cause he said that the onely thankesgiuing appertained to him And after he had read this letter vnto the Iewes that were at that time residentin Babylon he kept the originall but sent the copy to all those of his nation being in the countrey of the Medes who vnderstanding of the kings affection towards God and his fauour towards Esdras were very ioyful and diuers amongst them tooke their goods and came vnto Babylon desiring to returne to Ierusalem but all the rest of the Israelites would not abandon or leaue their quiet dwelling there For which cause it came to passe that two tribes were vnder the obedience of the Romans in Asia and Europe but the ten tribes were on the other side of Euphrates euen vntill this day being many infinites of thousands whose number may not be comprehended With Esdras there departed a great number of Priests Leuites porters singing men and seruants of the temple Now after that he had assembled those of the captiuitie that inhabited on this side Euphrates and soiourned there three daies he commanded them to solemnize a fast and to pray vnto God for his preseruation and that no euill might happen vnto him and that neither their enemies nor any other might doe them any violence For Esdras had foretold the king that God would be their protector and that therefore he required no conuoy of horsemen at his hand for his securitie After that they had recommended themselues vnto God they set forward on their way the twelfth day of the first moneth of the seuenth yeere of the raigne of Zerxes and arriued in Ierusalem in the fift moneth of the same yeere Whereupon he incontinently presented vnto the treasurers who were of the race of the Priests the siluer that was consecrated namely six hundreth and fiftie talents and siluer vessell a hundreth talents of vessell of golde twenty talents of brasen vessell more precious then gold waying twelue talents These were the presents of the king and his friends and of the Israelites that dwelt in Babylon When Esdras had deliuered these abouenamed presents vnto the hands of the priests he offered burnt offrings vnto God according to the law namely twelue bulles for the publike conseruation of the people 72. rammes and lambes twelue goates for the expiation of sinne And after them he deliuered the kings letters to his princes and gouernors in Coelosyria and Phoenicia who being constrained to execute that which was enioyned them by the king honoured the nation of the Iewes and supplied them euerie waies in their necessities This counsaile had Esdras himselfe giuen of their departure But in my opinion God hauing regard of his wisedome and integritie did happely aduance his deliberation Not long after this there came certaine men vnto him complaining that some of the people Priests and Leuites had transgressed against the pollicie and broken the lawes of the countrey for that they had espoused certaine strange women and confounded the race of the Priests requiring him that he would haue an inward regard to Gods ordinances for feare least he conceiuing a generall hatred against them all should send them anew some grieuous calamities For which cause Esdras deuoured with sorrowe incontinently rent his clothes and tore his haire and pulled his beard and cast himselfe vpon the ground because the principals amongst the people had part in that offence And for that he feared least if he should commaund them to forsake their wiues and those children they had begotten by them he should not be obeyed he persisted in griefe and lay continually couched vpon the ground Whereupon all those resorted vnto him who were not guiltie and wept and lamented with him for that which had hapned Whereupon Esdras raising himselfe from the earth and lifting vp his hands to heauen said that he was ashamed to looke thereupon because the offences of the people were so hainous who had forgotten the inconuenients that had befallen their forefathers for their impieties beseeching God that he would reserue some remainder and seede of the aduersitie and captiuitie which at that time hapned vnto thē that he would once more establish thē again in Ierusalem their natiue countrey that he would take compassion of them and grant them pardon for those sins which at that present were cōmitted by them for which though they deserued death yet hoped they in the mercies of God for their deliuerance Whilest thus both he and those that came vnto him lamented round about him with their wiues and children a certaine man called Achonius one of the principall men of Ierusalem repaired vnto him and said that they had sinned because they had espoused straunge women and perswaded Esdras to adiure them all to banish both them and the children begotten by them wishing that they who obeied not the law might be punished Esdras perswaded by these words made all the Princes of the Priests Leuites and tribes of Israel sweare that they would dismisse their wiues and children according to the counsaile of Achonius And as soone as he had receiued their othes he departed from the temple vnto Iohns house the sonne of Eliasib and there spent he all the day without tasting any meat by reason of the griefe which so inwardly he had conceiued Whenas therefore it was published by edict that all they that were returned from the captiuitie should repaire within two or three daies to Ierusalem vnder the penalty
he commaunded him to honour Nehemias and to furnish him with all things necessarie for that building which he intended As soone as he came to Babylon he tooke diuers of his countrimen with him who willingly followed him went with him vnto Ierusalem in the fiue and twentith yeare of the raigne of Xerxes and after he had presented his letters before God he deliuered them to Sadeas and the other gouernours Afterwards assembling the people in Ierusalem he stood vp in the midst of them and spake vnto the whole congregation to this effect You men of Iury there is none of you but knoweth that God hath our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob in perpetuall memorie and that in regard of their iustice he hath neuer failed to haue care of vs by his mercy likewise I haue receiued the fauour from the king to repaire your wals and finish the rest of the temple I therefore pray you who are assuredly perswaded of the enuie and hatred the neighbouring nations beare vnto you who hearing that we are intent and busie in our building will ouerpresse vs and labour by all meanes possible to hinder vs first to assure your selues in Gods prouidence who will oppose himselfe against the hatred which they beare vs and afterwards to intermit neither day nor night in prosecution of the building but with all care continue the worke in that the oportunitie of the time doth challeng our diligence therein After he had spoken to this effect he gaue order that the gouernours should take the measure of the wall and distribute the taske amongst the people according to the burroughs and townes and according to euerie mans abilitie and after he had promised to imploy both himselfe and all his family therein he dismissed the assembly Hereupon the Iewes incited by his authoritie addressed themselues to the worke which name of Iewes was first imposed both on them and their religion by reason of the tribe of Iuda who first of all came into these places The Ammonites Moabites Samaritanes and all the inhabitants of Coelesyria vnderstanding the walles were raised with such haste and diligence were sore agrieued and resolued with themselues to lie in ambush and to hinder them in their deliberations so that they slew diuers Iewes and sought the meanes likewise to murther Nehemias himselfe and hauing hired certaine strangers with money to commit the fact they layd in waite for him They bred also a feare and trouble amongst them by spreading certaine rumors that diuers nations intended to make war against them by which reports being too much distracted they desisted somewhat in the prosecution of their building Yet none of these things could weaken Nehemias diligence or resolution but that keeping a court of guard round about him he instantly prosecuted his purpose setting light by all occurrents so great was his affection to accomplish his intent And for that cause did he carefully and intentiuely stand vpon his guard not for that he feared death but for that he beleeued that after his departure the Iewes would not finish the building of the walles He commanded afterwards that the workemen in their trauell should haue their furnitures fast by them so that both Masons and labourers carried their swords Moreouer he gaue order that they should haue their targets by them and he placed certaine trumpeters some fiue hundreth foote distant the one from the other charging them that as soone as they discouered the enemy from any part they should incontinently sound the allarum and giue notice vnto the people to arme themselues and prepare for the fight for feare they should be surprised and found naked He himselfe also walked the round about the citie by night time with an indefatigable courage and without either eating or sleeping at his pleasure but onely for necessitie sake and this labour endured he for the space of two yeeres and three moneths For the wall of Ierusalem was builded againe in that time in the eight and twentith yeere of the raigne of Xerxes and in the ninth moneth After the Citie was fortified Nehemias and the people offered sacrifices vnto God and spent eight daies in feasting When the rumor was spred abroad that this building was finished the inhabitants of Syria were sore displeased But Nehemjas perceiuing that the Citie was weakely manned besought the Priests and Leuites to forsake their dwellings without the Citie and to come and dwell within and to that intent he builded them houses vpon his owne charge He ordained likewise that they that intended their husbandry should bring the tenths of their fruits vnto Ierusalem to the intent that the Priests and Leuits by enioying their continnall maintenance might intermit no time in the seruice of God wherein he was willingly obeied By this meanes the Citie of Ierusalem was very well peopled After that Nehemias had honourably executed diuers other worthy actions deseruing praise he died at such time as he was loaden with age He was a man of a good nature iust and highly affectionated towards his countrey he left the Citie of Ierusalem incompassed with a wall for a perpetuall memorie of his loue vnto his countrey All these things hapned during the raigne of Xerxes CHAP. VI. How during the raigne of Artaxerxes the whole nation of the Iewes were in danger to bee extinguished by Amans trecherie AFter the death of Xerxes the kingdome fell to Cyrus his sonne who by the Graecians was called Artaxerxes Vnder his gouernment all the race of the Iewes both men women and children were in danger to be vtterly exterminated the cause whereof I will hereafter declare But first of all it behooueth me to speake somewhat of the king and to declare how it came to passe that he married an Hebrew woman of the bloud royall by whose meanes as it is said our nation was preserued After that Artaxerxes had taken the kingdome vpon him and established gouernours ouer one hundreth and seuen and twentie prouinces from India as farre as Aethiopia in the third yeere of his raigne he entertained and feasted all his friends with great magnificence the nations of Persia likewise with their gouernours according as it became a king so opulent who was prepared for one hundreth and eightie daies to make shew of his wealth and bounty He feasted after this for the space of 7. daies the Embassadors of all nations in his Citie of Susa and the setting foorth of the banquet was such as ensueth He sate in a tent whose pillers were of golde and siluer couered with linnen and scarlet vailes which were of that greatnes that diuers thousands of men might take their refection therin All the acates were serued in in vessels of gold inriched with precious stones very glorious to behold The king likewise commanded his seruants that attended the feast that they should enforce no man to drinke by filling continually according to the manner of the Persians but to permit
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
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
he especially mooued by a certaine prophecie of Esay who more then six hundreth yeeres before had foretold that a temple should be assuredly builded in Aegypt in honour of the almightie God by a Iew. Being therefore incited by this Oracle he wrote a letter to Ptolomey and Cleopatra to this effect During the time that I was emploied in your warres and by Gods fauourable assistance haue done you many seruices I haue visited Coelesvria and Phoenicia and haue been in the Citie of Leontopolis which is in the territories of Heliopolis I haue also visited diuers other places wherein the Iewes haue temples against all right and honestie which is the cause that they agree not among themselues as also the like hath hapned amongst the Aegyptians thorow the multitude of temples and the great diuersitie of religions And hauing found out a very conuenient place neere a Castle called Bubastis in the Plaine where there is store of all sorts of stuffe for building cattell fit for sacrifice I beseech you that it may be lawfull for me to purifie the temple that is leuelled in that place with the ground and dedicated to no sacred power and that in the place thereof it may be lawfull for me to erect and build a temple in honour of the highest God according to the patterne and the same dimensions of that temple which is in Ierusalem for the preseruation and prosperitie both of you your Queene and children and to the intent that those Iewes that dwell in Aegypt may assemble and serue God therein for that by how much the more there is vnitie and concord among themselues by so much the more may they be disposed to your seruice For to this effect is the prophecie of Esay which saith thus There shall be saith he a temple for our Lord God in Aegypt many other things also hath he foretold as touching this place This is the effect of that which Onias wrote vnto K. Ptolomey And by his answere which he made hereunto a man may easily coniecture what pietie was both in him and Cleopatra his sister and wife For they haue returned the sinne and transgression of the law which through this meanes fell vpon Onias head by this answere that ensueth King Ptolomey and Queene Cleopatra to Onias the high Priest Health We haue perused your letters by which you require vs to giue you licence to clense the temple that is defaced at Leontopolis in the seigniorie of Heliopolis in the place called Bubastis in the plaine We maruell very much that a temple builded in a place so vncleane and full of execrable beasts should be agreeable vnto God but since that you informe vs that the prophet Esay did long time sithence prophecie the same we giue you licence if it may be done according to the law and with this condition that we commit not any sin against God Vpon this answere Onias taking possession of the place builded therein a temple and erected an altar vnto God according to the model of the temple of Ierusalem but farre lesse and Iesse rich Yet thinke I it no waies requisite to declare the dimensions thereof neither the vessels in the same because I describe them particularly in my seuenth booke of the warres and captiuitie of the Iewes neither wanted there some Leuites and priests who being answerable to Onias in deuotion and zeale frequented the diuine seruice in that place and renued the ceremonies But let this suffice for the present as touching this temple But it came to passe that the Iewes of Alexandria and the Samaritanes that brought in the seruice and worship of the temple vpon the mount Garizim vnder Alexander the great fell at oddes and debated their differents before Ptolomey For the Iewes said that the temple in Ierusalem builded according to Moses lawes and ordinances was the lawfull temple but the Samaritanes maintained that that which was builded on mount Garizim was the true temple They therefore besought the king that it would please him to sit in iudgement with the assistance of his friends to heare their allegations in this behalfe and to condemne the party vnto death who should be found faultie in his processe Now the aduocates which pleaded for the Samaritanes were Sabbaeus and Theodosius and Andronicus the sonne of Messalam defended the cause of those of Ierusalem and the other Iewes And both of them swore both by God and by the King that they would bring their prooues according to the law beseeching Ptolomey to adiudge him to death whom he should find to haue falsified his oath The king therefore sate downe with his friends both to heare the cause and determine vpon their differents But the Iewes of Alexandria were sore mooued and displeased against them that had drawne the preheminence of the temple in Ierusalem into question and were highly discontent that a temple so auncient and famous and so esteemed and honoured thorow the whole world should in such sort be dilgraced When as therefore the day of audience was come Sabbaeus and Theodosius suffered Andronicus to declaime first who began to approoue the lawfulnesse holinesse and religion of the temple in Ierusalem out of the law and by the successiue gouernment of the high priests who from father to sonne and from hand to hand had receiued this honour therein alleadging that all the kings of Asia had honoured the maiestie of that place with presents and rich oblations whereas neither in record of men nor course of antiquitie the temple of Garizim hath been in any estimation By these and such like words Andronicus perswaded the king that the temple of Ieruusalem was builded according to the ordinance of Moses inuiting him to adiudge Sabbaeus and Theodosius to death This may suffice as touching the differents of the Iewes of Alexandria and such things as befell them during Ptolomey Philometors time CHAP. VII Alexander after Demetrius death honoureth Ionathan greatly AFter that Demetrius was slaine in fight according as we haue heretofore declared Alexander was king of Syria who wrote to Ptolomey Philometor requiring his daughter in marriage telling him that it was a matter answerable to his dignitie to contract affinitie with him first since he had obtained his fathers empire by the fauour of God and next for that he had ouercome Demetrius Ptolomey yeelding a willing eare to these his demaunds and entertaining them with great pleasure wrote backe that he was very glad that he had recouered his fathers kingdome promising him to giue him his daughter in marriage giuing him to vnderstand that he would meete him at Ptolemais and bring his daughter vnto him to that place and there celebrate the nuptials After he had written these letters Ptolomey made his speedy repaire to Ptolemais and led with him his daughter Cleopatra where meeting with Alexander according to their appointment he deliuered him his daughter with such a dowry of gold and siluer as well beseemed his kingly magnificence Vnto
burrough of Idumaea Ioseph his brother came forth to meete him and to consult with him as touching their whole estate and to know of him what should become of that great multitude that followed them considering that they had no souldiers in pay and the Castle of Massada whither he pretended to flie was too little to hold all the people for which cause he sent away many to the number of nine thousand willing them to disperse themselues here and there in the countrey of Idumaea and for the better dispatch of their iourney he furnished them with victuals As for himselfe he tooke with him his most able souldiers and inward friends and repaired to the Castle of Massada in which place he left the women and their traine to the number of eight hundreth or thereabouts and furnishing the place with corne water and other prouisions necessarie he went vnto Petra the chiefest Citie of Arabia As soone as it was day the Parthians sacked all that which appertained to the Citizens of Ierusalem and amongst other things they spoiled the palace notwithstanding they medled not with Hircanus money which amounted to some three hundreth talents They left diuers other things behind them also that appertained to Herode and especially that which had been transported into Idumaea by his mature prouidence Neither were the Parthians content with the spoile of the Citie but they forraged all the countrey round about and raced Marissa a verie rich Citie Thus Antigonus brought backe into his countrey by the king of the Parthians receiued Hirtanus and Phasaelus that were prisoners yet was he vehemently displeased because the women had escaped whom according to his promise he intended to haue deliuered with the money and fearing least Hircanus thorow the fauour of the people should be reestablished in his kingdome who was then prisoner in the custody of the Parthians he cut off both his eares depriuing him by that meanes from enioying the priesthood any more by reason of that maime because the law commaundeth that they who are in that dignitie should be sound in all their members But Phasaelus is to be admired for his great courage at this time for vnderstanding that hee must needly die he was no waies dismaied with death but that which he held most miserable and dishonourable was that he must needs die by the hands of his enemy Seeing therefore that he could not dispatch himselfe by other meanes because he was bound and chaiâ—…ed he knockt out his owne braines against a stone and so ended his life with as great honour as may be imagined in such a desperate estate depriuing his enemy of that power which he intended to practise in tyrannizing ouer him at his pleasure It is said that the wound being very deepe Antigonus sent priuily surgeons to cure him and that vnder colour of healing him they should put poison into the same wherethrough he might die But before Phasaelus gaue vp the ghost he vnderstood by a certaine woman that his brother Herode had escaped from his enemies for which cause he endured his death with far greater cheerfulnesse and constancie seeing that he left behind him such a man as would reuenge his death and punish his enemies But Herode was no waies discomforted with the greatnesse of those aduersities which enuironed him round about but was the more whetted on to find out new inuentions and to aduenture dangerous attempts For he went vnto Malchus king of the Arabians to whom before time he had shewed much curtesie hoping to receiue the like of him in this time of his great necessitie and to draw some money from him either by loane or gift according as he had often and verie bountifully pleasured him For being ignorant of his brothers death he endeuoured himselfe to raunsome him speedily from his enemies by paying his raunsome which amounted to three hundreth talents and for that cause he led with him the sonne of Phasaelus who was onely seuen yeeres olde to leaue him in pledge amongst the Arabians for the summe that was demaunded But certaine messengers came vnto him from Malchus who charged him in the kings behalfe to retire backe againe for that the Parthians had enioyned him that he should neither receiue nor retaine Herode And this colourable pretence vsed he because he would not pay his debts and hereunto was he perswaded by the aduice of the greatest in authoritie among the Arabians who pretended thereby to make themselues masters of that treasure that Antipater had committed to their custody Herode answered them that he repaired not into their countrey to giue them cause of any trouble but onely to consult with him about certaine matters of great importance touching his owne estate and that afterwards he was resolued to depart and withdraw himselfe into Aegypt as secretly as might be possible He returned therefore to a certaine temple where he had left diuers of his followers and the next day hee came to Rhinocura in which place he heard tidings of his brothers death But afterwards Malchus repented himselfe of his in gratitude and speedily sent after Herode but he could not ouertake him for he had gotten farre onward of his way and was already arriued in post neere to Pelusium where being denied his passage to Alexandria in those ships that were there he addressed himselfe to the magistrates of the place who highly respected and honoured him and sent him to the Citie where Cleopatra was who entertained him kindly yet notwithstanding could she not perswade him to remaine with her Whereupon he repaired towards Rome notwithstanding the winter and those grieuous troubles that at the verie same time afflicted Italie as it was reported Embarking himselfe therefore to saile into Pamphilia he was tossed with a most cruell storme so that with great danger at last he arriued in Rhodes hauing been inforced in the tempest to cast into the sea a good part of his substance There met he with Sappinas and Ptolomey two of his indeered friends He found also that the Citie of Rhodes had suffered much miserie by Cassius warres and although his meanes were very scant yet profited he them in what he might and caused their walles to be repaired notwithstanding that by so doing he greatly hindred himselfe After that he caused a little frigote to be built and embarked himselfe with his friends to repaire into Italy and arriued at Brundusium and from thence went to Rome The first to whom he discouered his misfortunes was Marcus Antonius to whom he reported all the occurrences in Iudaea and how his brother Phasaelus was taken by the Parthians and slaine and how Hircanus was imprisoned with him The manner also how they had established Antigonus king vnder promise to giue them one thousand talentes and fiue hundreth of the fairest women whom hee intended to choose out of his owne race Lastly how he stole away by night and rescued them and escaping his enemies hands
nation of the Iewes were ready to innouate and rebell and continued their good affection toward Antigonus in regard of the hatred they conceiued against Herod he concluded with himselfe to take his head from him at Antioch For the Iewes could scarcely containe themselues Strabo of Cappadocia testifieth no lesse in these words Anthony hauing brought Antigonus the Iew to Antioch caused his head to be cut off and was the first among the Romans that hath caused a king to be beheaded in this manner supposing that the Iewes might neuer otherwaies be induced to change their opinions and receiue Herodeâ—… yet this opinion of his was not answerable to equitie For notwithstanding whatsoeuer impulsion he might deuise yet could they not be induced to call him king in so high estimate and account held they their former king But Anthony supposed that that infamie would obscure his renown and lessen the generall hate that they bare to Herode See here what Strabo writeth As soone as the high priest Hircanus who was prisoner among the Parthians heard that Herode had taken possession of the kingdome he returned backe vnto him being deliuered after this manner following Barzapharnes and Pacorus princes of the Parthians had taken Hircanus who was first high priest and afterwards king and with him Phasaelus Herodes brother and led them away prisoners with them into their own countrey Phasaelus not able to endure the dishonour of imprisonment and preferring an honorable death before a reprochful and ignominious life murthered himselfe as I haue heretofore declared CHAP. II. How Hircanus dismissed by the Parthians returned vnto Herode PHraates king of Parthia vnderstanding how nobly Hircanus was descended who was brought prisoner vnto him entertained him gratiously and for this cause drew him out of prison permitting him to conuerse in Babylon in which place there were a great number of Iewes who honoured Hircanus verie much and no lesse then their high priest and king The like also did all they of that nation inhabiting as farre as Euphrates which did not a little content Hircanus But after that he was aduertised that Herode was possessed of the kingdome he transferred his hopes another waie being of his owne nature tenderly affected toward his friends expecting that one day Herode would requite him for that he had deliuered him from death whereunto he was condemned and in danger likewise of the penalty and punishment He began therefore to consult with the Iewes as touching his iourney who in way of duetie and loue came to visit him and who besought him and importuned him to abide with them offering him all seruice and honour assuring him that he should in no lesse manner be respected among them then their high priest and king yea in farre higher regard then he might any waies be in his owne countrey by reason of the maime he had in his bodie thorow Antigonus tyranny alleadging that kings doe not ordinarily call to their remembrance those pleasures that they haue receiued in their infant fortunes because that with their estates they change both their manners and inclinations But notwithstanding all these or such like allegations yet could not Hircanus be withdrawne from the desire he had to repaire homeward Herode also wrote vnto him that he should require Phraates and the Iewes that inhabited his kingdome in no sort to enuie his felicitie in that he should partake with him both in dignitie and royaltie alleadging that the time was now come wherein he might acknowledge the benefits he had receiued by being heretofore nourished and preserued by him With these letters he sent Samaralla likewise on an embassage to Phraates furnished with great rich presents endeuouring by that meanes to winne him that he in no sort should hinder his gratulation and good intent towards one that had so highly deserued at his hands yet were not his protestations answerable to his pretence For insomuch as he gouerned not with that vprightnes which became a iust king he feared least some alteration might befall him according to his demerites for which cause he sought to get Hircanus vnder his power or at leastwise to dispatch him out of his life which he afterwards performed When as therefore Herode had perswaded the Parthian to dismisse Hircanus and the Iewes to furnish him with money sufficient to beare his expence in his iourney he receiued him with all honour In common assemblies he gaue him alwaies the highest place and in the time of festiuals he made him alwaies sit downe before him and the more closely to deceiue him he called him brother endeuouring himselfe by all means wholy to extinguish in him all colour and cause of suspicion of treacherie neitherintermitted he any other stratagems whereby in his opinion he might any waies further or promote his cause and yet by these meanes occasioned he no small sedition in his owne familie For carefully prouiding least any one among the nobilitie should be established high Priest he sent to Babylon for a certaine man of bace condition called Ananel and gaue him the Priesthood For which cause Alexandra grew sodainly displeased not being able to endure that outrage This woman was Hircanus daughter and Alexanders wife who was king Aristobulus sonne who had two children by her husband the one wondrous beautifull who also was called Aristobulus the other was Mariamme who was likewise faire and maried to Herode She was sore moued and highly displeased to see her sonne so much indignified for that during his life another was called to the honour of high Priesthood for which cause she wrote vnto Cleopatra by the meanes of a certaine Musition beseeching her to beg the high Priesthood at Antonius hands for hir sonne But for that Antonius made little reckoning of those suites a certaine friend of his called Gellius who was come into Iury about certain of his affaires and who had seene Aristobulus fell in loue with him by reason of his beautie and being abashed likewise at his great and goodly stature and allured by Mariammes admirable beautie he openly protested that he accounted Alexandra a happie mother in her children and deuising to this effect with her he perswaded her to send the pictures of her two children to Antonius for that if hee should but behold them he would refuse him in nothing wherein he should request his friendship Alexandra perswaded by these words sent their pictures vnto Antonius Gellius also made the matter more wonderfull telling him that the children seemed rather to be engendred of no mortall straine but by some diuine power labouring as much as in him lay that Antonius might be allured to affection them Who supposing it to be a matter ill be seeming him to send for Mariamme who was married to Herode and desirous likewise to auoid Clopatras suspicions wrote vnto Herode that vnder some honest pretext he should send Alexandras sonne vnto him with this addition if it might
are we ouermuch afflicted neither as some thinke hath this miserie befallen vs thorow Gods displeasure but these are the casualties of fortune And if by the will of God these things are come to passe it is maruell if by the same will our calamitie cease not and that our punishment should not satisfie his displeasure But that this present war is approued by him for iust he himselfe hath euidently declared For whereas diuers thorow the whole region haue been oppressed by the earthquake none of you that bare armes haue incurred any mischiefe but all of you haue beene preserued which is a manifest token of the will of God and if your children and wiues had generally followed the warres as you doe none of you should haue beene wanting When as therfore you shall haue bethought your selues of these things and moreouer in regard that God hath at all times an especiall care ouer you faile not to pursue this iniurious nation with a iust warre that neither respecteth the lawes of friendshippe nor keepeth the league of couenant valiunt in murthering sacred Embassadours and abiect and villanous where things are to be attempted by valour These perswasions of his did not a little encourage the Iewes to the battell and made them more forward then before As for Herode after he had offered sacrifice according to the custome he drewe his army foorth and led them with great confidence against the Arabians and passing Iordan he encamped neere vnto the enemy with an intent to surprise a fort scituate betweene them both making his account that it would further him much either if vpon the present he should be drawne forth to fight or if it concerned him to march onward for that this place would serue him to encampe in with more securitie The same resolution also had the Arabians for which cause they fell to skirmish in that place wherein the first on both sides that gaue the charge and afterwards some other followers were slaine so that those of the Arabians side being ouercome betooke them to retreat This successe of theirs bred no little hope in the Iewes who seeing the enemies army addressed to attempt any thing rather then to fight waxed the more hardie to assaile the Arabian in his trenches and beate him from his campe They being forced by these assaults drew forward to their defence in great disorder bringing neither courage nor hope of victorie with them yet notwithstanding they defended themselues both in regard of their great number as also in respect of that necessitie whereunto they were inforced by the Iewes The skirmish on both sides was hot and diuers on either party were put to the sword but in the end the Arabians being put to the worst turned their backes The slaughter was so great that they not onely perished by their enemies swords but they themselues also murthered one another in the prease and disorderly flight in which they were troaden vnder foote and lay slaughtered in a manner by their owne weapons So that in that discomfiture there died some fiue thousand the rest hastily fled on the other side of the rampire But being ouerpressed with want of victuals and in especiall with lacke of water they had not any ground or assurance to escape After them posted the Iewes and being vnable to recouer the fortresse with them they begirt the campe with a siege and shut vp all the passages that no succour could come vnto them and tooke from them all opportunitie to escape although they should affect flight When as therefore they saw themselues reduced into such extremitie they sent Embassadours vnto Herode first of all to demaund a truce and afterwards for that they were oppressed with thirst to craue some remedy for their present necessities But he neither respected the Embassadours neither the profered raunsome for the captiues nor any other whatsoeuer reasonable demaund desiring earnestly to reuenge himselfe of those iniurious treacheries they had practised against his Embassadours Being therfore inforced by thirst which amongst other plagues most grieuously afflicted them many of them forsooke their trenches and offered themselues to bonds and to be led away captiues so that within fiue daies space foure thousand of them yeelded themselues prisoners On the sixt day all the rest determined to sally out and assaile the enemy rather making choise of assured death then thus lingeringly and ignominiously to pine away When as therefore they had all concluded hereupon they incontinently brake out of their trenches but like vnapt souldiers for a skirmish decaied not onely in body but in minde reputing their death for an aduantage to escape thereby their extreme misfortunes For which cause vpon the first onset about some seuen thousand of them were slaine and thus the fiercenesse of this nation being alaied by this ouerthrow they submitted themselues to Herode whom to their owne sorrow they had approoued to be a valiant souldier CHAP. IX Herode constrained to repaire vnto Augustus Caesar putteth Hircanus to death HErode puffed vp with his succesfull good fortune returned backe into his owne country hauing obtained great estimation and reputation by his valour and vertue But at such time as he supposed his state to be most assured he grew in danger both to lose his dignitie and life by reason of that victorie that Caesar obtained against Anthony in the Actian war For at that time he not onely supposed himselfe to be vtterly ouerthrowne but both his friends and enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was vnlikely that he should escape vnpunished who had beene so inwardly vnited in friendship with Anthonie Whereby it came to passe that his friends in no sort concealed their despaire and his enemies vnder their colourable and dissembled griefs couered their ioy promising themselues thereafter a better and more pleasing administration of the common weale Hereupon Herod perceiuing that except Hircanus there was not any one of the bloud royall aliue determined to cut him off resoluing with himselfe that if he hapned to escape the danger that a man who at that time was more worthier the kingdome then himselfe should not entermeddle amongst his affaires and if anie misfortune should be fall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossesse Hircanus of the kingdome in regard of the enuy which he bare him for that he was the onlie man who deserued to be aduanced to that dignitie Whilest thus he was tormented and trauelled in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus owne followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a mild and gentle nature during all his life time forbare to entermeddle with state affaires committing all things to fortune and contenting himselfe with whatsoeuer condition it pleased her to alot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and vnable to conceale with modestie the hope she conceiued of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure
there to meete with Caesar. And as soone as he arriued in that citie he tooke the Diademe from his head and laid it apart but as for his other princely ornaments he chaunged them in no sort and being admitted to Caesars presence he at that time gaue a more ample testimony of the greatnes of his magnanimitie and courage for neither addressed he his speech to intreat his fauour according to the custome of suppliants neither presented he any request as if he had in any sort offended him but gaue account of al that which he had done without concealing or mistrusting any thing For he freely confessed before Caesar that he had intirely loued Antonius and that to the vtmost of his power he had done him seruice to the end that he might obtaine the soueraigntie and monarchie not by annexing his forces vnto his in that he was otherwaies imployed in the Arabian warre but in furnishing him both with wheat and money and that this was the lest office which it behooued him to performe towards Antonius for that being once his professed friend it behooued him not onely to imploy his best endeuours on his so princely benefactor but also to hazard both his head and happines to deliuer him from perils All which said he I haue not performed according as I ought to haue done yet notwithstanding I know that at such time as he was ouercome in the Actian battell I did not alter my affection with his fortune neither did I restraine my selfe for although I befriended not Antonius with my presence and assistance in his Actian warre yet at leastwise I assisted him with my counsaile certifying him that he had but one onely meanes left him for his securitie and preuention of his vtter ruine which was to put Cleopatra to death for that by cutting her off hee might enioy her estate and might more easily obtaine his peace and pacifie thy displeasure against him And for that he gaue but slender regard for these mine admonitions by his owne sottishnesse and indiscretion he hath hurt himselfe and profited you because as I said he did not follow my counsaile Now therefore O Caesar in regard of the hate which you beare vnto Anthony you condemne my friendship also I will not denie that which I haue done neither am I affraid freely and publikely to protest how much I haue loued him but if without regard of persons you consider how kindly I am affected towards my benefactors and how resolute and constant a friend I am and how mindefull of kindnesse the effect of that which I haue done may make me knowne vnto thee For if the name be onely changed the friendship notwithstanding may remaine and deserue a due praise By these words which were manifest testimonies of his resolute and noble courage he so inwardly indeered himselfe vnto Caesar who was a magnificent and worthy monarcke that hee conuerted this his accusation into an occasion to winne and worke him to be his friend for which cause Caesar in setting the diademe vpon his head exhorted him that he should no lesse respect his friendship then he had in former time Anthonies and withall did him much honour certifying him moreouer that Capidius had written vnto him how much Herode had assisted him in his warres that he had with the monarches of Syria Herode seeing that he was thus entertained and that contrarie to his expectation the kingdome was more surely confirmed vnto him then before time both by Caesars bountie as also by the decree of the Senate which he had practized to obtaine for his greater assurance accompanied Caesar as farre as Aegypt presenting both himselfe and his friends with many rich gifts beyond the proportion of his estate endeuouring by these means both to win their fauors and to shew also the greatnes of his courage requiring moreouer at Caesars hands that Alexander who was one of Anthonies deerest friends might not be sought out to be punished yet notwithstanding he could not obtaine the same by reason of an oath that Caesar had past before he sollicited him That done he returned backe againe into Iewry with more greater honour and assurance then before whereby he stroke them with wonderfull amazement who expected his contrarie successe as if by Gods especiall prouidence he alwaies ouerwent his dangers to his greater honour Incontinently therefore hee prepared himselfe to entertain Caesar who returned out of Syria to take his iourney into Aegypt and receiued him at Ptolemais with all royall honour and gaue his army presents with all abundance of munition so that he was accounted for one of Caesars most affectionate friends and rode about with him at such time as he tooke the view of his army he entertained him also and his friends with one hundreth and fiftie men adorned with most rich and sumptuous apparell And for that they were to passe thorow a countrey wherein there was great scarcitie of water he furnished them both with water and wine so that they needed neither of them He gaue Caesar also eight hundreth talents and so royally satisfied he all men that they confessed themselues to haue had farre greater entertainment then the reuenues and profits of his kingdome could affoord them By which meanes he gaue the more ample testimonie of his forward friendship and free affection to deserue well and making vse of the opportunitie of the time he obtained the reputation of a prince of an heroicke and noble spirite so that hee was helde inferiour vnto no man for the good entertainment that he gaue to the chiefest Romans in their returne out of Aegypt CHAP. XI Herode being incensed by false accusations putteth his wife Mariamme to death BVt as soone as he returned into his kingdome he found all his houshold troubled and both his wife Mariamme and her mother Alexandra grieuously displeased with him For they supposing and not without cause that they were not shut vppe in that Castle for their securities sake but as it were in a prison so that in as much as they neither might make vse of other mens nor enioy their own goods they were highly discontented Mariamme also supposed that her husband did but dissemble his loue rather for his owne profit and commoditie then for any intire affection he bare towards her But nothing more grieued her but that she had not any hope to liue after him if so be he should happen to die especially for the order he had left as concerning her neither could she euer forget what commandement before that time he had left with Ioseph so that by all meanes possible she laboured to winne the affections of those that had the charge of her and especially Sohemus knowing verie well that her safetie depended wholy on his hands Who in the beginning behaued himselfe verie wisely and faithfully containing himselfe verie circumspectly within the bounds of his commission but after these Ladies had with prettie presents and feminine
and delight At the foote of this hill there are two houses worthie the sight for diuers their singularities namely by reason of those conduits of water which although they spring or in that place yet notwithstanding are they brought from farre with great cost and expence The plaine that adioyneth vpon it is all full of buildings after the manner of a citie and the top of the castle commaundeth all the plaine As soone as therefore he had disposed all his affaires according to his hearts desire he possessed his kingdome in great quietnes for that he made his subiects obediēt vnto him both by feare in shewing himselfe inexorable when it concerned him to punish and by liberality whereby he prouided for their publike necessities he therefore tooke an especiall care of himselfe as if the life and safetie of his person had beene the securitie of his people He behaued himselfe officiously and fauourably towards all forraine cities he entertained the princes by presents which according to his occasions he sent vnto them to insinuate himselfe into their fauours being in his owne nature magnificent and fit to gouerne so that all his fortunes increased and all things fell out happily according to his hearts desire True it is that the care which he imployed in honouring Caesar and other mightie magistrates of Rome caused him to outstrip his customes and to falsifie diuers ordinances of his countrey in building cities and erecting temples in honour of them although he builded them not in the land of Iury for the Iewes would not haue endured it because we are forbidden to honour Images and figures formed according to the likenes of a man as the Greekes are accustomed to do but he did this in the countrey and forraine cities and excused himselfe to the Iewes saying that he did it not of his owne head but performed that according to the charge and commaundement which he had from others who were greater then himselfe and in the meane while gratified Caesar and the Romanes in that he respected their honour more then he did the ordinances of his countrey although in all things he had a respect to his particular aduantage and determined with himselfe to leaue behind him after his death large and ample testimonies of his power and greatnes which was the cause that he builded cities with great charge and expence CHAP. XIII The building of the Citie of Caesarea WHen as therefore he had found out a fit and conuenient place vpon the sea coast to build a citie on which of long time had beene called the tower of Straton he both magnificently designed and set downe the modell and forme thereof and made many sumptuous buildings both of royall pallaces and of other priuate lodgings not builded after a sleight manner or of weake and fading matter but of marble stone But the greatest and busiest worke of all was the hauen which he made exempt and free from stormes and tempests that in greatnes resembled that of Piraeus and was so spacious that it was able to receiue many great ships into the road and had diuers roumes and warehouses to lay vp the merchandize therein And the more admirable was this pile because the stuffe that was fit to finish this so great work was not gathered or gotten in that place but must needly be brought from another place vpon great charge and expence This citie is seated in Phoenicia vpon the coast in the way to Aegypt betweene Ioppe and Dora certaine villages scituate vpon the sea coasts vnfit either for landing or harbour by reason of the Affricke wind that driuing the sand of the sea vpon the shore giueth not any quiet road vnto the ships but that the marchants are enforced for a long time to ride at ancor To correct this incommoditie of the place he made the circuit round about the port so spacious that it was able to receiue a great fleet and he cast downe to the bottome thereof which was about some twentie fathoms deepe certaine huge stones that for the most part were fifty foot long eight foot broad and nine foot high some more and some lesse The pile that was erected vpon this to affront the sea was a pane of two hundreth foot the halfe whereof was opposed against the waues to breake the fury of the streame and for this cause was called in the Greeke tongue Procymation that is to say Before floud The other halfe serued as a foundation to beare vp a wall of stone fortified with diuers towers the chiefest whereof was a faire pile or building which was called Drusus in memorie of Drusus Caesars sonne in law who died very young it had also diuers retreats or hostries in the same into which the mariners were receiued and lodged The descent being hard by encompassed all the portlike a round platforme that serued for a pleasant walking place for whom soeuer listed The entrance and mouth of the hauen was toward the north which is a wind that of all other most purifieth and cleanseth The supporter and strength of all the circuit on the left hand vpon the entrance to the port was an ample and huge tower to fasten it the more strongly and on the right hand were two huge pillars of stone more higher then the tower that stood opposite against them erected and fastned togither All round about the hauen there were certaine buildings abutting one vpon another of pollished marble and in the midst there was a little hillocke on which there was a certaine monument placed in honor of Caesar which presented it selfe to their sight who sayled to the port in which there were the figares of the Citie of Rome and of Caesar. This citie also was called Caesarea as much to be wondred at for the matter whereof it was built as for the arte whereby it was erected and no lesse cunning was there shewed in the vaults and conduits vnder ground then in those buildings that were aboue them some of them were conuaied toward the port and discharged themselues into the sea by certaine compassed spaces but there was one that went athwarts that comprehended all the rest to the end that there by the raine-water and the clensings of the Citie might be conuaied into the sea and that when the sea should flow it might wash and cleanse all the citie He erected also a Theater of stone and behinde the same to the Southward an Amphitheater that was able to receiue a great number of men and so pleasantly and fitly scituated that stom the same a man might discouer the sea This Citie was finished at the end of twelue yeers during which time the king was neither wearied by intending the worke nor negligent in furnishing the necessarie charges After this perceiuing that the Citie of Sebaste was already inhabited also hee resolued to send his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome to present them vnto the Emperour Caesar who no sooner
mischiefe was againse set on foote for Pheroras the kings brother meeting Alexander who as we haue said was Glaphyra her husband who was daughter to Archelaus he told him that he heard by Salome that Herod was far in loue with Glaphyra so that he could not shake off this affection The young man hearing this became iealous and was in a great rage and now what honour soeuer or gifts Herod for the loue of his sonne gaue her Alexander did interpret it in the worst sense being now made iealous by that which he had heard of Pheroras not able to put vp such iniuries as he thought he went vnto his father and with teares recounted vnto him what Pheroras had told him But Herod was hereat the more enflamed not enduring himselfe falsly to be accused of so shamefull a fact inueighin against the great malice of his friends who for his great good turâ—…s he did them so rewarded him And presently sending for Pheroras very sharpely he began toâ—… hide him saying O most impious that liueth amongst men art thou become so vngratefull either to speake or thinke such a matter of vs Thinkest thou that I do not perceiue thy drift that thou speakest not these words vnto thy sonne to discredite me but also to the intent by this meanes thou mightest worke some treason against me cause me to be poisoned For who but a good sonne as this is would suffer his father suspected for such a matter to liue and not be reuenged of him for such offence Whether doest thou thinke that thou didst put these speeches into his mind or by them a sword into his hand to kill his father withall or what was thy intent seeing thou hatest both him and his brother and only counter faiting good will towards me to belie me and to report that of me that without impietie could not be thought get thee hence thou wretched impe seeing thou hast thus abused thy brother who hath well deserued at thy hands and do as thou wilt all thy life time my selfe will endeuour to be better vnto my children then I haue been and neither will I punish them as they deserue but I wil honour them aboue their merits The king hauing discharged his choler against his brother Pheroras and he being taken in a manifest fault answered that that report was first deuised by Salome of whom he heard it which she being then present hearing began to exclaime saying it was not her deuise and that they all laboured to make the king hate her and to put her to death being one who did especially wish him well and what in her lay seeking his safetie and that now he was in daunger of more treason then euer before for said she I was the onely cause that you did put away the woman whom you so doated after perswading you to marrie the kings daughter and this is the cause that you hate me With these speeches tearing her haire and striking her breast she made a shew of innocency but this her gesture was a colour to hide her bad entent So Pheroras was left in great pexplexitie not knowing what to say or do and finding no pretence to excuse his fact for on the one side he confessed that he told it vnto Alexander and on the other that he could not make Herode beleeue that he heard it of Salome This contention endured a good while at last the king being wearied sent away his brother and his sister and greatly commending his sonnes moderate mind and that he had giuen him intelligence of those speeches verie late in the night he went to supper After this contention Salome was hardly thought of because she was iudged to be the authour of this ill report and the kings wiues wished euill vnto her because they knew her to be of strange qualities and hard to please and so variable that according to the time one while she would professe friendship and presently after hatred Wherefore they still had some thing to enforme Herode of against her taking occasion hapning by chaunce which was this There was a king of the Arabians named Obodas a slouthfull man and one giuen to idlenes and there was one Syllaeus that did gouerne all his affairs this man was a craftie fellow in the prime of his youth and very beautifull This Syllaeus comming vnto Herode about some busines and viewing Salome who then sate at supper with him began to set his mind vpon her and finding she was a widow he entred into talke with her and she finding her brother now not so friendly vnto her as before he had beene and also entangled with the beautie of this young man did not greatly denie to marie him many feasts being made at that time they shewed euident signes of their mutuall consent and loue one vnto another The kings wiues told the king of this in scoffing sort Herode herewith not contented demanded of Pheroras how the matter stood willed him at supper time to note if he could espie any tokens of familiaritie betwixt them And Pheroras told him that by signes mutuall viewing one another they sufficiently shewed their intents After this the Arabian being suspected departed into his owne countrey But two or three moneths after he came againe into Iudaea only for this purpose talked with Herod concerning this matter requesting him to let Salome be his wife affirming that that affinity would be profitable vnto him for the traficke between his people the Arabians whose prince he was to be did alreadie enioy a great part of the dominion Herod told al this vnto his sister asked her if she would marie him she answered she would Then they requested that Syllaus should become a Iew in religion or else it was not lawful for him to mary her He would not condescend hereunto affirming that he should be stoned to death by his people if he did it and so he departed without obtaining his purpose From that time forth Pheroras and especially the kings wiues accused Salome of intemperancy affirming that she had had the companie of the Arabian Now Herode determined to marry his daughter vnto Salomes sonne whom Pheroras refused for the loue of his maide which sonne of Salomes was her eldest that she had by Costabarus and that to shew his good will toward Salome his sister But he was disswaded by Pheroras who told him that the young man would neuer loue such a father in law because of his fathers death perswading him rather to marie her to his eldest sonne who was to succeed him in his Tetrarchie which he easily perswaded the king vnto and so obtained pardon for his former offence Wherefore the spousals being changed the maide was maried vnto the youg man who had an hundred talents in dowrie with her more then otherwise should haue beene giuen with her But all this while the dissension of Herodes house did not cease
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
his letters vnto him as touching Antipater sending certaine appointed messengers who by word of mouth might certifie him of his cursed treasons At the verie same time there was a letter intercepted sent by Antiphilus to Antipater which Antiphilus remained in Aegypt which letter being opened by the king was written to this effect I haue sent you Armes letter hazarding thereby mine owne life for you know that I am in danger of the displeasure of two mightie families if I should be discouered As for your selfe bethinke you well of your affaires in this respect Such were the contents of this letter The king made diligent search for others also but he could finde none for Antiphilus seruant who had brought that which was read denied that he had any other But whilest the king was in this doubt one of his seruants and friends perceiued that the inside of the messengers vnder-coat was newly sowed for he had two garments the one vpon the other and coniecturing that the letters might be hidden in the sould thereof as indeed they were he ripped the same and found them The tēnour thereof was this Acme to Antipater Health I haue written the letters to your father according as you gaue me instructions and haue counterfaited the copy of my letter as if it had been sent by Salome my mistris I assure my selfe that when he hath read the same he wil punish Salome as one that hath practised treason against him But that letter that was supposed to haue been written by Salome to Acme was of Antipaters inuention and written in Salomes name according to his inuention and in Acmes stile The contents were these Acme to king Herode Health Whereas I haue an especiall care that nothing be concealed from thee that concerneth thy securitie hauing found a letter of Salomes written against thee vnto my Ladie I haue not without danger taken the copy therof and sent it vnto you in which she required that she might haue licence to marrie Syllaeus Teare this copy least thorow the knowledge of the same I grow in danger of my life Now in that which she had written to Antipater she had discouered that she had written these words to Herode according to that commandement he had giuen her as if Salome had conspired to worke some treason against him She sent also the copy of those counterfaite letters in the name of Salome and sent them vnto her mistris to worke treason This Acme was a Iew borne and chambermaid to Iulia Caesars wife and did that which is aboue written for the loue which she bare to Antipater whom he had hired by great summes of money to the end that she should assist him to execute the mischiefe which he practised against his father and against his Aunt Herode made almost desperate by the great mischiefes of Antipater was stirred vp on the sodaine to shorten his daies for that he was the only meanes that stirred vp these great tempests of sedition in his kingdome and who not only practised against his father and his Aunt but against his sister also and had in like sort corrupted Caesars familie Salome also incensed him the more beating her breasts and offering her selfe to all deaths if any such like matter might be duely prooued against her For which cause Herod sent for Antipater commanding him to speake freely all that which he had to say without feare But he hauing not one word to answere for his defence Herode said vnto him Since that on all sides thou art conuicted and surprised in thy wickednesse delay not but discouer those that are of thy confederacie Whereupon he laid all the fault vpon Antiphilus and named none other At that time Herode being wounded by extreme griefe would haue sent Antipater to Rome vnto Caesar that he might receiue his iudgement from him but afterwards he feared least by the interest of his friends he should escape the danger for which cause he kept him bound and fettered in prison as he had done before And in the meane while sent certaine messengers with letters to Caesar to accuse his sonne and to declare wherein Acme had been his confederate producing the copy of the letters These embassadors therefore resorted to Rome instructed in those things they were to answere to those interrogatories that should be offered them and with them he sent his letters CHAP. VIII Herodes sicknesse and the sedition amongst the Iewes MEane while Herode fell sicke and made his will and appointed his youngest sonne to succeede him in the kingdome for that through Antipaters instigations he had conceiued a hatred against Archelaus and Philip. He sent also one thousand talents vnto Caesar and fiue hundreth to his wife and to his children friends and freemen He bestowed also money rents and lands vpon his own children he gaue his sister Salome an ample possession for that she had alwaies perseuered in louing him and had neuer offended him And hauing lost all hope of recouerie for that he was about seuentie yeeres olde he became verie tutchie and froward in whatsoeuer his affaires The cause hereof was that opinion he had conceiued that he waxed contemptible and that the whole nation tooke pleasure in those mishaps which befortuned him which some of those who were fauoured by the people made him the rather beleeue vpon this occasion which ensueth Amongst those that were most learned among the Iewes Iudas the son of Saripheus and Matthias the sonne of Margalothus the most excellent interpreters of the lawes and ordinances of the countrey and for this cause were in greatest estimation among the people by reason that they instructed and trained vp the youth For all those that desired to obtaine vertue spent all their time with them who vnderstanding that the kings sicknesse was dangerous they incensed the younger sort counsailing them to ouerthrow all those workes that the king had caused to be made contrarie to the law and custome of the countrey to the ende that they fighting for pietie might obtaine the reward that attendeth the same For in that the king had enterprised and done many things contrarie to the law diuers vnaccustomed miseries had befallen him and namely that sicknes wherewith he was detained For Herod had done diuers things contrarie to the auncient lawe against which Iudas and Matthias exclaimed openly For he had erected ouer the portall of the great temple an Aegle of gold of great valew Now the law prohibiteth that they who pretend to liue according to the same should not in any sort erect any image nor represent any figures of liuing creatures whatsoeuer For this cause these doctors counsailed them to pull down that Aegle telling that that although the matter seemed to want no peril yet ought they rather to prefer an honest death before a pleasant life if so be it be imploied for the defence of their countrey lawes and religion For in so doing they should
obtaine immortall praise for the present and a memorable and eternall glorie in time to come neither that they should protract the execution therof for feare of danger since death was a thing that might not be auoided so that since by the generall course of nature they must needly die it should become them brauely to forsake their liues with praise and honour in embracing vertue For to die in the execution of some noble exploit which cannot be atchieued without hazard or danger their children should be richly rewarded with the fruits thereof their other parents that should ou◅liue them of what sex soeuer should reape the fruits of that glorie which was honourably atchieued by them In these or such like words encouraged they the young men About that time there was a rumour spred that the king was dead which gaue verie great furtherance to the doctors resolution For at high noone they went vp into the temple they pulled and hewed downe the Aegle with their axes in the sight and assembly of a great number of people that were in the temple Now when the tidings hereof came vnto the eares of the kings captaine he fearing least some further and more fatall tumult might be raised drew out a strong companie of souldiers with him to repulse those that were assembled to hew downe the Aegle and charging the rude disarmed multitude who were gathered togither he easily flew and dispersed the most as for those 40. young men that valiantly addressed thēselues to resist he apprehended them and with them the authors of this sedition Iudas Matthias who thought scorne to submit thēselues and led them to the king who demanding of them how they durst deface the sacred image they answered that long before that time they had resolued it and that now according as they had resolued they had like valiant men performed the same For we said they maintaine the honour of God and the doctrine of our lawe whereof we are disciples neither ought you to admire that with contempt of your ordinances we haue preferred the lawes of our forefathers which Moses hath left vs in writing according as he was suggested and taught them by God neither doe we refuse any death or punishment which thou shalt inflict vpon vs being assured in our consciences that we suffer not for our impietie but pietie sake Thus spake they all of them continuing the like constant boldnesse in their answeres as they had shewed in their actions being also ready constantly to endure any punishment for that which they had attēpted Hereupon the king commanded them to be bound and sent them to Iericho then calling before him those principall Iewes who had the gouernment vnder him being brought into their assembly vpon his pallat by reason of his weaknesse he recited vnto them the numberlesse trauels he had endured for their sakes in like manner how vpon his great charges he had repaired and reedified the temple whereas the Asmoneans for the space of 125. yeeres wherein they raigned could not performe such a building in the honour of God Moreouer he signified vnto them how he had adorned the same with precious gifts for which he hoped that after his death his memorie and glorie should suruiue After this he expostulated with them for what cause they abstained not from offering him that outrage during his life time And why at noon daies and in the sight of all the people they had laid hands on those presents which he had dedicated vnto God and had taken those things away violently which though in words they appertained to him yet in effect if the act were well examined they had taken from God The gouernors suspecting his crueltie and fearing least his vnbridled passion should vrge him further by which meanes they might be assured of some seuere punishment answered him that those things were not done by their consents and that in their opinion the iniurie ought not to be let slip without punishment At that time Herod shewed himselfe more fauourable towards the rest but he caused Matthias to be depriued of the priesthood as one in part who had been the cause of that which had hapned and in his place substituted Iozar one of his wiues brethren During the priesthood of this Matthias it hapned also that an other high priest was elected that verie day wherein the Iewes did vsually celebrate their fast For Matthias the night before the day of the fast seemed in his dream to haue had the company of his wife and whereas for this cause he was vnfit to offer the deuine sacrifice he had Ioseph the sonne of Ellemus appointed him to be his assister and substitute by reason of his alliance Herode therefore deposed Matthias and as touching the other Matthias who had mooued this trouble both he and his companions were by his commandement consumed with fire This verie night the moone was ecclipsed Herods sicknesse grew more vehement For God punished those sins which he had committed For he was inflamed with a lent or slow fire which to the outward sense seemed not so vehement but Inwardly searched and afflicted all his entrails he had also a rauenous and an vnnaturall appetite to his meat which might no waies be satisfied Besides that he had an vlcer in his bowels with a strange and furious colicke His feet were swolne with moist and shining f◅egme and his stomacke was no lesse affected also His members rotted were full of crawling wormes with a filthie and no lesse troublesome Priapisme accompanied with an intollerable stench besides all this he had a strong con◅ulsion of his nerues and shortnesse of breath For which cause it was a generall opinion amongst holy men and such as had the knowledge of prophecie that the king was thus punished for his infinite impieties and sinnes committed against the maiestie of God And although he was tormented with an vnsupportable sicknes yet had he hope to escape and for that cause he sent for phisitions from all places and refused none of those remedies which they thought behoouefull for him He therefore past ouer Iordan and went into the hot bathes of Calliroes the waters whereof are potable besides other vertues they haue against all other kind of sicknes this water dischargeth it selfe into the lake called Asphaltite Being there it was thought good by his phisitions that he should refresh himselfe in those waters There being set by them into a bathing tub be filled with oyle he waxed so sicke that they held him for dead Whereupon all his household seruants wept and grieuously lamented and all his familiar friends crying out and bewailing him with their great noise caused him to come to himselfe and seeing himselfe wholy out of hope to escape he gaue order that there should a distribution be made to euery soldier the summe of fiftie drachmes and he offered great presents to their captaines his friends Afterwards
king by the Romans a man without respect cruell and seuere towards all men slaue to his wrath Lord of the lawes yet so fauoured by fortune as no man more for from a priuate man he became a king and being inuironed with many perils he alwaies happily escaped them and he liued also a verie long time And as touching his family and children in this also in his owne opinion was he happie in that he ouercame his enemies and aduersaries but in my opinion he was most vnfortunate But before the kings death was thorowly knowen Salome and Alexas discharged those that were locked vp in the Hippodrome and sent euerie one of them home vnto his owne house telling them that the king commaunded them to depart and follow their household affaires and till their land wherein they performed a most noble action and benefited the whole nation with an especiâ—…ll good turne After that the kings death was bruited abroad Salome and Alexas caused all the men of warre to be assembled in the Amphitheater in Iericho and first of all they caused Herods letters to be read after which were addressed to the soldiers in which he gaue them thanks for the fidelitie and good will which they had expressed towards him praying them to continue the same to Archelaus his sonne whom he had appointed to be their king after him That done Ptolomey to whom the king had committed the custodie of his seale recited his testament which was to take no effect except that Caesar approoued the same Thereupon all of them began to applaud and honour Archelaus for their king The men of war flocked about him in troupes accompanied with their captaines promising him to serue him with no lesse will and affection then they had done his father praying God to yeeld him his assistance At that time also the kings herse was prepared and Archelaus gaue order that his obsequies should be most royallie performed and bestowed all the furniture that was requisite for that funerall and princely enterment He was carried out in a gilded litter distinguished with diuers precious stones the couer thereof was of azure colour The dead body was apparelled in a purple raiment hauing a diademe vpon his head ouer which there was set a crowne of gold and a scepter was couched in his right hand About this litter marched a great number of his children and kinsfolke and after them followed the men of warre disposed in bands and troupes according to the manners of euerie nation The first of these were the Archers of his guard after them went the Thracians and lastly marched the Germans and Galathians all of them in their warlike abiliments and discipline After them followed all the army marching in order in like manner as when they were addressed to battell each one vnder his corporall and captaine Next these followed fiue hundreth of his houshold seruants bearing perfumes and all these in this equipage marched to the Castle Herodion distant some eight stades or furlongs off For there was he entombed according to the tenor of his testament Thus died Herode Archelaus continued his mourning for seuen daies space in honour of his father For the law of the country ordaineth no lesse And after he had feasted the people and laid aside his mourning apparell he ascended vp into the temple All the way as he went all the people with shouts and acclamations cried God saue the king and with praiers and praises honoured him to their vttermost and he being conducted vp to a high station and state which was made for the purpose and placed in a throne that was embelished with gold entertained the people verie gratiously taking pleasure in their acclamations and congratulations that they bestowed vpon him He gaue them thankes also for that they had blotted out of their remembrance the iniuries that his father had done vnto them protesting in his owne behalfe that he would enforce himselfe to requite their kindnes with an intire affection He likewise tolde them that for the present he accepted not the stile of a king because the honour was bequeathed vnto him with this condition that Caesar should ratifie his fathers testament For this cause although the souldiers that were in Iericho enforced themselues to set the diademe vpon his head yet would he not accept that vncertaine honour because it was not as resolued whether Caesar who was the principall partie in the gift would grant him the gouernment or no. He alleadged likewise that if his affaires succeeded according to his desire he would not according as his honour commaunded him forget their loue or leaue their good affection vnrequited And that in the meane while he would enforce himselfe by all meanes to further those things that concerned them and entertaine them with more kindnesse then his father had done But they according as it is the custome of the common people thinking that those that enter into such dignities declare and open their mindes at the first day the more Archelaus spake kindely and curteously vnto them the more they applauded him and presented him with diuers petitions for certaine grants and donations from him Some of them cried out vnto him that he should cut off some part of their taxes and tallages which they paied annually Othersome cried vpon him to deliuer those prisoners that were committed by Herode of whom diuers had pined a long time in prison Others instantly vrged him to cut off those tributes which had been imposed by him vpon bargaines and sales which was to pay the halfe of the bargaine Whereunto Archelaus did not in any sort contradict striuing to the vttermost of his power to please the people for that he knew full well that their good affection would be no small aduantage toward him in the confirmation of his kingdome That done he sacrificed vnto God and afterward fell to banquetting and entertainment of his friends CHAP. XI The people mutinie against Archelaus MEane while certaine men among the Iewes that were desirous of innouation in their priuate conuenticles bewailed Matthias and his confederates whom Herode had put to death and condemned for racing and defacing the golden Aegle for that incontinently after their decease they had neither been publikely honoured nor lamented for by reason of the feare that the people had conceiued of Herode For which cause at that time they required with lamentations and great cries that their obsequies might be solemnized and as if the dead bodies had receiued some contentation by their teares and tempest of exclaimes they vttered many hainous and disgracefull speeches against Herode and assembling themselues togither they required Archelaus to doe them iustice against those that during Herodes life were in authoritie and especially they demaunded that the high priest who was aduanced by his father should be deposed and that an other more lawfull and vpright might be placed in his steed to offer and exercise the high
from whence he no sooner returned and performed that for which he went his wife who had some priuie notice of the conuentions which were made betwixt him and Herodias before he suspected that she knew thereof required him to send her to the castle of Macheron which was the frontire towne betwixt Herodes and Aretas countries without certifying him any waies of her intent Herode without suspect easily condiscended vnto her request thinking she was ignorant of his drift but she long before that time had taken order with the gouernour of Macheron which at that time was vnder her fathers gouernment to prepare all things for her iourney where being arriued she speedily posted into Arabia vnder the conuoy of those gouernours who receiued conducted her the one after the other As soone as she arriued in her fathers court she incontinently certified him of Herodes resolution whence arose the beginning of this discord betwixt them As soone as therefore they had both of them assembled their armies vpon the confines of the countrey of Gamalite they fought togither vnder the conduct of the two generals to whom they had committed their armies In this battell Herodes army was wholy discomfited thorow the treason that was complotted against him by certaine banished men of Philips Tetrarchy which were in pay with Herode Tiberius was certified of all this by those letters which Herode had written vnto him and being sore displeased with Aretas for his proud attempt he commaunded Vitellius to make warre against him willing him that if he could take him aliue he should send him bound vnto him but if dead he should send him his head Such was the commission that Tiberius sent to the gouernour of Syria Diuers Iewes wereof the opinion that Herodes army was ouerthrowne by the iust vengeance of God who punished him most iustly because of the execution which he caused to be done on IOHN surnamed BAPTISTE For he had done this man to death who was replenished with all vertue and who exhorted the Iewes to addict themselues thereto and to execute iustice towards men and pietie towards God exhorting thâ—…m to be baptized and telling them that baptisme should at that time be agreeable vnto God if they should renounce not onely their sinnes but if to the puritie of their bodies they should annex the cleannesse of their soules repurified by iustice And whereas it came to passe that diuers flocked and followed him to heare his doctrine Herode feared least his subiects allured by his doctrine and perswasions should be drawne to reuolt For it seemed that they would subscribe in all things to his aduice he therfore thought it better to preuent a mischiefe by putting him to death then to expect some sodaine commotion which he might afterwards repent Vpon this suspition Herode caused him to be bound and sent to the Castle of Macheron whereof we haue spoken heretofore and there was he put to death The Iewes were of opinion that in reuenge of this so grieuous a sinne Herodes army against whom God was displeased had been subiected to their vtter ruine and ouerthrow But Vitellius being addressed to make warre against Aretas gathered togither two legions and all those horse or foote that he could assemble amongst those kings who were the Romans allies and marching towards Petra he staied at Ptolemais because he pretended to passe by Iudaea Which when the principall nobles amongst the Iewes had notice of they went out to meet him beseeching him that he would not passe thorow their country because it was a custome amongst them not to see any images borne such as he had of diuers colours in his army Whereunto he condiscended and hauing changed his purpose he caused his army to march thorow the great plaine as for himselfe he came to Ierusalem accompanied with Herode the Tetrarch and his friends to offer sacrifice vnto God vpon the next festiual day where he was most magnificently receiued by all the people of the Iewes There soiorned he for the space of 3. daies during which time he deposed Ionathan from the high priesthood and inuested Theophilus his brother The fourth day letters came vnto him that aduertized him of Tiberius death for which cause he commaunded the oath of fidelitie should be ministred to the people in the new Emperour Caius behalfe He called his army backe also and sent them to their wintering garrisons because it was not lawfull for him to prosecute the warre by reason the soueraigne estate was fallen vnto Caius It is said that Aretas hearing newes of Vitellius expedition or voiage and after he had taken counsell of the Augurs said that the army should not finde engines to pierce as farre as Petra because the chiefetaines thereof or he that had the commaund of the expedition or he that obaied his ordinance in conducting the same or he against whom the army was conducted should die Vitellius therefore retired himselfe to Antioch A yeere before the death of Tiberius Agrippa Aristobulus sonne came to Rome to intreate with the Emperour about certaine affaires according to the power which he should obtaine at his hands But before I speake any thing hereof I will relate Herodes progenie both for that it is pertinent to this present narration as also that the greatnesse of Gods prouidence may appeare to the ende that a man may know that neither the number of children nor any other humane force whatsoeuer it be can be auaileable without the feare of God considering that within the space of one hundreth or somewhat lesse it so fell out that all Herodes line which was verie populous and fruitfull was extinguished a verie few excepted Whereby we are giuen to vnderstand what the miserie of mankinde is and learne to moderate our owne selues It is also expedient to speake something of Agrippa who amongst all others deserueth admiration in that being a man wholy drowned in obscuritie and base in birth he was exalted to such greatnes as no one of those that knew him would euer haue thought his fortune should haue such successe and mightinesse And although heretofore I haue spoken somewhat of this matter yet is it requisite that I speake something more expressely thereof in this place Herode the great had two daughters borne by Mariamme Hircanus daughter The one of them which was called Salampso who was married by Herode to Phasaelus the sonne of Phasaelus who was Herodes brother The other called Cypros was espoused to Antipater her Cousin who was Salomes sonne who was Herodes sister Phasaelus had fiue children by Salampso Three sonnes Antipater Herode and Alexander and two daughters Alexandra and Cypros whom Agrippa the son of Aristobulus married and Alexandra was married to Timaeus of Cyprus who was a man of great dignitie and with whom she died without issue Cypros had by Agrippa her husband two sonnes and three daughters Bernice Mariamme and Drusilla their two sons were
and promise he would lend him some money But he alleadging that Agrippa before that time ought him money extorted from Marsyas a bill of his hand for twentie thousand attique drachmes deducting out of that summe two thousand and fiue hundreth which Marsyas tooke for himselfe which hee might the more easily doe for that Agrippa could not otherwise chuse Hauing therfore receiued this money he went to Anthedon where getting shipping he prepared himselfe for the iourney But when Herennius Capito who was treasurer of Iamnia vnderstood of his being there he sent his souldiers vnto him to exact three hundreth thousand siluer drachmes at his hands for which he stood indebted to Caesars treasurer during his being at Rome by which meanes he was inforced to stay Whereupon he made a shew that he would obey their demaund but as soone as it was night he caused the cables of his shippe to be cut and cast off and sailed to Alexandria there requested he Alexander Alabarcha to lend him two hundreth thousand drachmes in siluer But he protested that he would trust him with nothing But admiting Cypros his wiues constant loue towards her husband and her many other vertues he vpon her promise accorded to doe him kindnesse whereupon in present money he paied him fine talents in Alexandria and promised to deliuer him the rest of the money at Puteol fearing Agrippas vnthriftinesse Thus Cypros hauing furnished her husband for his iourney into Italie returned her selfe and her childred into Iudaea by land But Agrippa as soone as he arriued at Puteol wrote vnto Tiberius Caesar who liued at Capreas signifying vnto him that he came to doe his duetie beseeching him that he would grant him free and fauourable accesse Tiberius with all expedition returned him a verie kinde answere certifying him that he would be verie glad to see him safely arriued in Capreas In a word as soone as he was arriued Caesar expressed and made it knowne that his affection was answerable to his letters and both embraced him and lodged him The next day Caesar receiued letters from Herennius Capito who aduertized him that Agrippa ought three hundreth thousand drachmes of siluer which he borrowed and paied not at the time prefixed and that at such time as the appointed time of paiment was come he was fled out of the countrey and place of his procuration and by this occasion had depriued him of the meanes to constraine him to make satisfaction When Caesar had read the letters he was sore displeased and commaunded those of his chamber that they should not admit Agrippa to his presence vntill such time as he had discharged that debt But he nothing dismaied at Caesars displeasure required Antonia Germanicus and Claudius mother who was afterwards Emperour to lend him the summe of three hundreth thousand drachmes to the end he might not lose Caesars friendship Who remembring her Berenice Agrippas mother and with what familiaritie they had conuersed togither and how Agrippa likewise had been brought vp with Claudius her sonne lent him that money Whereupon he paying the debt without any contradiction enioyed the princes fauour and was so reconciled to Caesar that he committed his nephew to Agrippas charge commanding him to attend him alwaies whither soeuer he went Being by this benefit bound and tied to Antonia he began to reuerence her nephew Caius who was gratious in all mens eies and honoured in memorie of his parents At that time by chance there was one Allius a Samaritane Caesars free-man of whom he borrowed ten hundreth thousand drachmes of siluer paid Antonia her due and kept the rest the more honourablie to attend and wait on Caius By whom being intertained with most inward familiaritie it hapned one day that riding in the same Coach with him Agrippa wisht for they two were alone that Tiberius might shortly surrender the kingdome and empire vnto Caius who was each way more worthy then he These words of his were ouerheard by the Coachman called Eutychus who was Agrippas freeman who for that time spake not a word thereof But being afterwards accused for stealing Agrippas garment as he indeed had done and brought backe againe after he had fled away to Piso who was the prefect of the citie he asked him why he fled who answered that he had certaine secrets which he desired to reueale vnto Caesar that appertained to his profit and safetie for which cause he was sent by him in bonds to Capreas Tiberius according to his dilatorie maner wherein no King or tyrant euer equalled him held him prisoner For neither did he presently admit any Embassadors neither sent he successours to those who were gouernours and prefects of his prouinces when the former were dead and no lesse negligent was hee in yeelding audience to his prisoners But when his friends at any time questioned with him why he vsed these accustomed delayes he answered them that he deferred the embassadours after that sort for feare least if he should speedily dispatch them they should instantly returne with newe whereby it should come to passe that he should be continually troubled in entertaining and dismissing them And as touching his offices he left thē in their hands to whom he had cōmitted thē in regard of his subiects welfare For naturally all magistracy is subiect to auarice but in especiall strangers induce those who exercise the same to gather and ingrosse the more instantly when as the time of their authoritie is short and of small assurance whereas if they should continue in the same for a long time in regard of the gaine they had made and the much profits they had raised they would be afterward lesse greedie to extort further Now if hee should send others to succeede them on a sodaine it were impossible for him to content them notwithstanding their manie bribes whereas in giuing them time to fill their purses when they had gotten well they would abate the furious desire of lucre which they affected before And to this purpose he told them an example of a poore man that was a Lazar to whose wounds a great number of flies assembled themselues and couered the same at sight whereof some by fortune ari◅ing there and hauing compassion of his miserie and supposing that the cause why they assisted him not proceeded from their disability approched neere to helpe him but hee required them to let him alone Whereupon they demaunding the cause wherefore he that was hurt refused to be deliuered from so irkesome an euil he answered them for that they should do him more wrong if those flies were driuen away for that being alreadie full of bloud they pricke me not said he neither sucke me so earnestly but giue me some ease whereas if new should alight on my wound which were hungry should seaze my flesh in that desperate estate that I am they would procure my death For these causes he said that seeing his subiects alreadie consumed
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
deliberation could not be brought to effect as for that his sonne Tiberius was distated of the Roman Empire and besides that was in danger of his life For he made reckoning that they who were more stronger then he would not suffer him to conuerse among them and that alliance could not assure him his life for sometimes for feare and other whiles for hatred some one would accuse him that he went about and busily sought to seaze the Empire or that he had complotted some stratageme least he should lose the Empire with his life In a word Tiberius was verie much addicted to Astrologicall predictions and natiuities so that the greater part of those things which he executed in all his life time was ordered thereby He seeing Galba one day comming towards him spake this of him to certain of his familiars Behold the man that shal be one day honored with the Roman Empire And amongst al the Emperors he gaue greatest credit to diuination for that in certaine things he had found the coniectures correspondent to truth But at that time he was so grieuously disquieted by reason of the misfortune that had hapned yea he was in such sort grieued as if his grandchild had bin already lost he blamed himselfe for that he had sought these presages for that he might haue died without falling into that desaster in being ignorant of that which was to come whereas now he should die in the knowledge of their mishaps whom he loued most intirely Being thus troubled to see that the soueraigntie of the Empire should contrarie to his intention fall into their hands who by his will should not enioy the same although it were with hearts griefe and contrarie to his will yet spake he to Caius after this manner which ensueth My sonne although that Tiberius be more neerly allied vnto me then you are yet notwithstanding both by mine owne aduice as also by the wil of the immortall Gods I cōmit vnto your hands the Empire of the Romans I require you therefore that when you shall enioy the same you forget not the good will I haue borne towards you who haue established you in so high and worthe a dignitie and charge you likewise that you forget not your Cousin Tiberius but knowing that by the will of the Gods I am he who after them am the author of so many goods which haue befallen you you returne me the like good will and affection and that likewise you take care of Tiberius by reason of your mutuall alliance for you ought to know that Tiberius serueth you for a bulwarke to maintaine your Empire and your owne life and if he die it will be the beginning of your mishap For it is a perilous matter for those who are raised to high dignities to be sole and without allies Furthermore the Gods doe neuer leaue them vnpunished who attempt or act any thing against the lawes of consanguinitie These were the last words which Tiberius spake to Caius who promised him to performe all that which he required notwithstanding he meant nothing lesse For incontinently after he was installed in the Empire he caused Tiberius to be made away bethinking him of those diuinations as also the same Caius died anon after by a conspiracie that was practized against him When that Tiberius had declared Caius his successor in the Empire he liued not many daies after and died after he had gouerned twentie two yeeres fiue moneths and three daies Thus Caius was the fourth Emperour The Romans hauing intelligence of Tiberius death greatly reioyced at the good newes yet durst they not assure themselues and though of long time they would haue willingly redeemed the truth of thése reports with a good summe of money yet feared they least the newes should be false and least if they shewed themselues too deligent in expressing their signes of ioy they should afterwards be accused for it and lose their liues thereby For onely Tiberius had done much mischiefe to the noble families in Rome being of himselfe a man cholericke implacable towards all men without any occasion hauing a naturall inclination so cruell that the easiest pain whereunto he adiudged those whom he condemned was death notwithstanding therefore that each man tooke pleasure to heare the newes yet did each one conceale it vntill such time as they might be more fully assured thorow the feare of those miseries they foresawe if the matter should fall out otherwaies But Marsyas Agrippas free-man hauing certaine notice of Tiberius death ranne speedily to comfort his Master Agrippa with these good newes and meeting with him as he came out of the Bath he made a signe vnto him and tolde him in the Hebrew toung the Lyon was dead Agrippa conceiuing that which he meant was rauished with ioy and said vnto him I will requite thee for all those benefits I haue receiued at thy hands and especially for this good newes prouided that it prooue true The Centurion who had the keeping of Agrippa considering what expedition Marsyas had vsed in running and the pleasure that Agrippa had conceiued in his report he began to suspect some alteration and asked them what had hapned and whereas they delaied to giue him an answere he importuned him the more Whereupon Agrippa tolde him plainly what he had heard in that he had growne alreadie into inward familiaritie with him The Centurion reioiced at this newes as well as Agrippa hoping to speede the better thereby and made Agrippa good cheere but whilest they were in the midst of their banquetting and drunke freely there came one vnto them who tolde them that Tiberius was aliue and that within fewe daies he would come to Rome The Centurion troubled with this newes for that he had committed a Capitall crime in eating in the companie of a prisoner vpon the newes of Caesars death and by reioycing with him he droue Agrippa out of the place where he sate and reprochfully saide vnto him Thinkest thou said he that I know not how falsely thou spreadest the rumor of Caesars death yes be assured thou shalt answere thy lie with the losse of thy head This said he caused Agrippa to be bound whom before time he had suffered to go at libertie and shut him vp in more close prison then he had been before so that Agrippa was all that night long in this extreame miserie The next day the rumour was spread thorow the whole Citie that confirmed Tiberius death and at that time euerie one boldly protested it There were some also who offered sacrifices for this cause and there came letters also from Caius which were addressed to the Senate by which he certified them that Tiberius was dead and how the Empire was committed to his hands He wrote an other also to Piso who had the guard of the Citie containing the like report and besides that commanding him to transferre Agrippa from the company of those souldiers by whom
not in that which exceedeth thy power to shew thy vertuous affection towards me For which cause I thinke that it should be a great shame for me if I should suffer my selfe to be ouercome by thee in kindnesse without some answerable correspondence I will therfore put that in practise which I haue heretofore omitted For all those things that hitherto I haue bestowed on thee are of no reckoning My will is that thy readines and vertue should at this present be requited by such means as might for euer make thee happy Now he spake after this manner hoping that Agrippa would begge some great prouince at his hands or the reuenues of some Cities But although he had already prepared his demaund yet did he not discouer his intent but gaue Caius this ready answere that whereas he had serued him to the dislike of Tiberius it was not for the gaine he expected heretofore and for the present also he did nothing vnder hope to be rich contenting himselfe that he was in the Emperours good fauour That the benefites he had receiued by him were great yea exceeding all that which he durst euer haue hoped For said he although they be but small in comparison of your greatnesse yet in respect of my selfe who haue receiued them and in my conceit and qualitie they are verie great Caius being amazed at this his courage insisted the rather to perswade him that he would grant him all that he would require at his hands Whereupon Agrippa said Dread prince since it is your good pleasure to thinke me worthy to be honoured by your presents I will not request any thing at your hands that may tend to inrich me for that by those goods you haue already giuen me I am greatly honoured but I beseech and request one thing at your hands which will purchase you the reputation of pietie and will procure God to be propitious vnto you in all your actions and which also will breed me much glorie among those who shall heare that I haue not been refused in my demaund which concerneth me more then the necessities of this life I therefore beseech you that it will please you to giue commandement that that statue which you haue charged Petronius to erect in the temple of the Iewes may neuer be aduanced there This was Agrippas request which to his great hazard he presented the Emperour with knowing verie well how perilous a matter it was and as much as concerned his life to demaund any such thing at Caius hands that was not answerable to his humour Caius on the one side mooued with the seruice Agrippa had done him and on the other side seeing how great an indignitie it should be for him if before such an assembly of witnesses he should deny that which he had so instantly pressed Agrippa to request as if he sodainly had repented himselfe and admiring Agrippas vertue who hauing meanes within a little time to augment his particular estate either by reuenues or other commodities had preferred the common cause the lawes of his countrey and pietie before all these he granted him his supplication wrote to Petronius praising him for that he had vsed such diligence in assembling his army as also for al that wherof he had certified him annexing these words If said he you haue alreadie planted the statue as I commanded you let it remaine in the place but if it be not done be thou no more troublesome to the Iewes but dismisse thine army and repaire thou in person to that place whither I haue sent thee For I vrge no more the erection of that statue for the desire that I haue to gratifie Agrippa whom I intirely honour and in such sort as it is impossible for me to contradict any thing whatsoeuer that either he hath neede of or shall require These were the contents of those letters which Caius wrote to Petronius before he vnderstood that the Iewes bethought them of reuolt for they made it known that rather then they would endure that statue they would hazard a warre against the Romans which when Caius vnderstood he was extremely sorrowfull and being a man addicted to all villanie and estranged from all honestie and who gaue place to no good counsel incontinently after he had conceiued a displeasure against any man who likewise thought it a great good hap for him to accomplish all that whatsoeuer he pleased hee wrote againe to Petronius to this effect Since the presents which the Iewes haue giuen thee haue preuailed more with thee then my commaundements haue done so as to please them thou hast despised that which I haue enioyned thee I make thy selfe the iudge how much thou hast deserued to incurre my displeasure to the end that thou maist serue for an example to all those who shall come after thee that an Emperours commandement ought not in any sort to be neglected Although this Epistle was both written and sent yet did not Petronius receiue the same during Caius life time for that they that carried the same were staied by crosse windes so that Petronius receiued those letters that certified him of Caius death before he receiued the other For God would not forget Petronius who exposed himselfe to great dangers for the loue of the Iewes and for the honour of God And Caius being taken out of the world by Gods wrath being kindled against him by reason that he affected diuine honors receiued his reward and Petronius obtained fauour both at Rome and thorow all his whole gouernment and especially among the principall Senators against whom Caius was accustomed to vomit his cholericke disgraces He died a little after he had written the letter to Petronius by which he threatned and denounced him death Hereafter will I declare the cause why he was taken out of this world and the maner how treason was complotted and wrought against him The letter that brought tydings of Caius death was deliuered to Petronius first and incontinently after hee receiued that wherein he enioyned him to kill himselfe He highly reioiced at this his good hap and Caius death and admired Gods prouidence who speedily and happily had rewarded him both for the honour that he bare vnto his Temple as also for the assistance he vsed towards the Iewes Behold how Petronius escaped from death by an vnexpected meanes CHAP. XII That which hapned to the Iewes tâ—…t were at Babylon and of the two brethren Asinaeus and Anilaeus IN those daies there hapned a grieuous commotion amongst those Iewes that inhabited Mesopotamia and Babylon and such slaughters and calamities as neuer the like hath bin declared in our former narrations which in that I intend to report both particularly and seriously I will rippe vp the whole cause thereof from his first originall There was a Citie called Nearda belonging to Babylon stored with inhabitants and enriched with many fruitfull possessions sufficiently to sustaine so great a multitude Moreouer it was such as might
testimonie of assurance That done Artabanus sent backe Anilaeus to perswade his brother Asinaeus to come to the court Artabanus did this supposing that this his amitie with the two brothers would be a bridle for the Iewes who otherwaies might encroach vpon his gouernments For he feared least if any rebellion should happen and he should be troubled in that warre Asinaeus and they of Babylon should grow more strong both by the voluntarie submission of the Iewes as by force and thereby should do him the more mischiefe Vpon this deliberation he sent Anilaeus who easily perswaded his brother giuing him to vnderstand among other things what goodwill the king bare him and the oath that he had sworne so that both of them resorted to Artabanus who receiued them verie gratiously admiring Asinaeus vertue who had so great a courage to exercise his enterprises considering especially that hee was a man of a lowe stature and who to looke on seemed to be contemptible And hee told his friends that without comparison he had a greater heart then his bodie And whē as in banqueting he had named Asinaeus shewed him to Abdagasis the general of his army signifying vnto him with what valour these brethrē were endowed in feats of arms Abdagasis required that it might be lawful for him to kil Asinaeus to the end that he might punish the wrōgs he had done to the estate of the Parthiās Neuer said the king wil I giue my consent to betray a man who hath committed himselfe to my protection and hath giuen me his hand and who buildeth vpon the oath I haue past vnto him in the name of the Gods But if thou art a valiant man in feats of armes thou hast no need to make me foresweare my selfe to the end I might do iustice on him for his outrages committed against the Parthians but at such time as he and his brother shall depart from hence assaile him and ouercome him by thy valour prouided that I be not priuie to thy attempt And afterwards calling Asinaeus to him in the morning It is time said he that thou returne homeward for feare thou prouokest diuers of the captains of my court which contrary to my will vvill endeuour themselues to kill thee I commit the countrey of Babylon to thy protection and guard which by thy care and vigilancy shal remaine exempt from all robberies and other such calamities Reason it is that I procure thy good because I haue engaged mine honour faith irreuocably vnto thee not vpon any light matter but for things that importune thee as neerly as thy life This said he gaue him certaine presents and incontinently disinissed him Now as soone as he returned home to his owne fortress he fortified the places both those which before time he had thorowly defenced as the other which as yet no man had attempted to strengthen and in short time he grewe to that greatnes as no one man of so obscure fortune beginning attained before him Neither contented with the honours of the Babylonians he was also held in great account by the captaines of the Parthians who were sent to gouern in the neighbouring prouinces yea so much increased his authority with his power that all Mesapotamia was at his commaund In this felicitie and increasing glory of his he continued for the space of fifteene yeeres which neuer began to waine vntill such time as neglecting the auncient studie of vertue and contemning the lawes of his forefathers both he and his factious followers being deuoured in pleasure yeelded themselues captiue to forraine lusts It fortuned that a certaine gouernour of those Parthians came into that countrey accompanied with his wife not onely enriched and endowed with other perfections but also admired for her incomparable comlines and beauty Whom without euer seeing her only by report of her beautie Anilaeus Asinaeus brother loued intirely and when as by no one of his allurements he could obtaine her fauour neither had any other hope to enioy the Lady he could not bridle his vnruly lust but he made warre against her husband and killing the Parthian in their first conflict his wife became his both in subiection and bed-seruice which thing was the originall of many mightie calamities both to himselfe and towards his brother For when as hauing lost her former husband she was led away captiue she carried with her the images of the gods of her country which she highly esteemed according as it was the custome of those that inhabited that place to haue their gods whom they adored in their houses whom at such time as they trauell into a forraine country they carrie about with them She therfore brought them with her and vsed them according to the fashion of her countrey at the first secretly but after she was knowne for Anilaeus wife then adored she them according to the custome and with the same seruice which she vsed during her first husbands daies sacrificing to her gods Their chiefest friends seeing this first of all reprooued them for that Anilaeus committed such things as were no waies vsed amongst the Hebrewes and altogither repugnant to their lawes for that he had married a woman of a forraine nation that contradicted and violated their accustomed religion for which cause they aduised them to beware least in submitting themselues too much to their vnbridled pleasures they should lose the honor and power they had receiued from God euen vntill that present But seeing their perswasions profited nothing and that Anilaeus likewise had villanously slaine one of his deerest friends who had somewhat too freely reproued him who at such time as he lay a dying being touched with the zeale of the lawes of his auncestors with griefe against his murtherer wished that Asinaeus and Anilaeus and all their associates might die the like death they for that they were transgressors of the lawe the other for that they succoured not themselues in that oppression which they suffered for the maintenance of their lawes They were sore displeased yet notwithstanding they contained themselues calling to their remembrance that their felicity proceeded from no other cause but from the valour of those brethren But when they vnderstood that the Parthian gods were adored by this woman they bethought them that it behooued them not any more to beare with Anilaeus in contempt of their lawes for which cause addressing themselues to Asinaeus in great assemblies they exclaimed against Anilaeus saying that he ought although at first he had no power to dispose of himselfe yet now at last to correct this error before it should redound to their publike plague for that both his mariage was disallowed in all mens eies as altogither contrarie to their countrey lawes and that the superstitious obseruance of the gods which the woman presumed to vse was an apparant iniurie offered to the true God But he although he knew that his brothers fault would breed some great inconuenience both to
him to disobey him therein and whilest he was in danger of death for this his delay the sodaine and successefull death of Caius warranted him from the same Yea so farre stretched his vnbridled fury that hauing a daughter newly borne he caused her to be caried into the Capitol and laid at the feete of the Image of Iupiter saying that that child was common betwixt him and Iupiter leauing the iudgement to all men which of the two parents were the greatest And notwithstanding all these his misdemeanours yet did men tolerate him He gaue liberty to slaues also to accuse their masters of whatsoeuer crimes they would which was so much the more hateful because all things were done by Caesars authoritie to his good liking so that Pollux who was Claudius bondman durst accuse him and Caius the Emperour was contented among the Iudges to heare his vncle brought in question for his life hoping although it fell out otherwise to picke out an occasion to put him to death For hauing filled all the countries of his Empire with false accusations and all sorts of mischiefes and giuing slaues a prerogatiue aboue their masters their Lords deuised many conspiracies against him some for spight and with an intent to reuenge them of those iniuries they had receiued other some pretending by his death to preuent those inconueniences that threatned them In a vvord his death concerned the securitie of the lawes and the safetie of all men and had he not beene speedily cut off on t nation almost had beene vtterly exterminated For which cause I thought good to make an exact and ample declaration of euerie occurrent namely for that the knowledge there of maketh very much towards the manifestation of Gods power and will which bring consolation vnto those who are in aduersitie and keepe them within the bounds of modestie who suppose that their prosperitie should continue alwaies firme and that although they neglect vertue thinke that no euill may befall them Three plots of conspiracie were intended against him and purposed to his vtter mine each of which was attempted by men of great reckoning For Aemilius Regulus who was borne in Corduba in Spaine was fully resolued to kil him himselfe or to make him away by the meanes of his confederates Chaereas Cassius colonel ouer a thousand men was the chieftain of an other band and Annius Minucianus was in no lesse readines to doe his vttermost herein The cause that moued thē to accord thus altogither in hatred against Caius was that in resp◅ct of Regulus he was by nature a detester of all iniquitie for he was a man endowed with great magnanimitie and beautified with a liberall spirit so as he dissembled not any of his counsails but communicated them with many who either were his friends or valiant men fit for execution And as touching Minucianus he was induced to seeke his reuenge thorow the desire he had to doe iustice on him in Lepidus behalfe who had beene one of his especial friends one of the rarest men that were euer found among the Roman citizens whom Caius had put to death thorow the feare he had conceiued of him knowing well that all they against whom Caius was incensed could not escape with lesser indignitie then losse of life As for the third man Chaereas he could not endure the shame reproch of cowardise that Caius had obiected against him but feared besides that his friendship inward familiarity with Caius would draw him into manifest dangers for which cause his owne securitie and honours sake he thought good to make him away Generally all of them were resolued to ridde the world of Caius bring an end to his pride and tyrannical power for their hope was that their attempt should haue good successe which if it happily fel out their coūtrey and cōmonweale should reape the fruits therof for whose securitie safetie it became them to hazard thēselues though it were with the losse of their heads But aboue all the rest Chaereas was egged on with a desire he had to grow famous and thorow the facilitie conuenient means he had to finish the same because his colonels roome gaue him most secure accesse vnto him About that time the Circensian games were solemnized which is a kind of pastime which the Romanes very willingly behold and to this intent they resort to the place of these exercises and the common people is wont to demaund somewhat at their Emperours hands which they desire to obtaine and they after they haue examined their requestes doe neuer refuse them Now they required with instant and importunate supplications that Caius would discharge them of their taxations and moderate the excessiue tributes which they paied but he would giue no eare vnto them and caused those to be apprehended who called vpon the matter most earnestly sending of his guard some of them one way some of them another to put them to the sword After he had giuen this commaundement and they who receiued the charge had fully executed it there were a great number of men slaine The people seeing this ceased to exclaime any more setting light by their goods and seeing before their eies that their refusall would be the cause of their deaths These considerations incited Chaereas the more to execute his enterprise to the end he might finish his furious and lawlesse life whose pleasure was all mens iniury preiudice And very oftentimes was he determined to set vpon him whilest he banqueted yet deferred he to do the same not for that he failed or fainted in his resolution but because he expected some fit oportunitie to hit him home and speede him to the death He liued captaine of Caius guard a long time yet tooke hee small pleasure in conuersing with him But after that Caius had appointed him to gather in his tributes and that money which was confiscate he seemed to haue lesse occasion then before for at that time he had doubled their paiments in the execution whereof he followed his owne nature rather then Caesars commaund and spared those of whom he ought to haue compassion for their pouertie sake Caius was sore displeased herewith and obiected it against him that the cause why he delayed the bringing in of his money was his cowardise and negligence And amongst other outrages that he offered him as oft as he gaue him the watchword as he vsually went to setch it once a day vpon his watch day he gaue him the names of women and other that were full of ignominie notwithstanding that he himselfe was not exempt from note of no lesse daintines For in certaine ceremonies which he himselfe had established he attired himselfe like a woman and was disguised with certaine vailes whereby he might the better counterfait that sexe and yet notwithstanding durst he obiect this dishonour to Chaereas As oftentimes as Chaereas receiued the watchword so often times grew he in choler which
you my friend at which time for the reuerence sake that he bare vnto Caesar he sate him downe againe but the feare that he had grew so forcible that he arose againe so that Caius could not detaine him supposing that he departed thence to dispatch some important busines At that time did Asprenas counsalle Caesar to repaire to the bath telling him that after his refection he might returne thither againe all which he did being desirous that the resolution might take effect They that were with Chaereas were alreadie disposed to take aduantage of the time and were agreed each of them to stand prepared and in a readines in a place appointed to the intent to act the tragedie and the delay was verie grieuous vnto them for that it vvas alreadie three a clocke after noone So that Chaereas seeing that Caius lingred so long intended to go in vnto him and assaile him in his seat but he conceiued that he could not bring that to passe-vvithout great losse and murther of Senators and Knights that were there present Now although he had this apprehension yet addressed he himselfe to the execution thereof supposing that the losse that might happen by the death of some one would be wel recompenced by the securitie and libertie that would redound vnto all men When as therefore they were in a readines to enter the Theater newes was brought them that Caius vvas risen to come forth by meanes whereof there arose some noice For which cause the confederates returned backe into the Theater and appeased the people telling them that they displeased and anoyed the Emperor but the effect was to draw him aside from all those who might yeeld him any assistance and so to set vpon him Before Caius marched Claudius his vncle and M. Minutianus his sisters husband and Valerius who at that time was Proconsul who might not any waies be drawen from their place although they had the will by reason of the place and dignitie which they held Caius followed after them accompanied with Paulus Aruntius Now when he was entred into the pallace he left the readie way where his officers were and Claudius vvith his associates held he turned aside by an vnfrequented way to the bathes vpon purpose to see certaine young boyes who vvere come out of Asia and were sent him out of that countrey partly to sing in those ceremonies that were instituted by him and partly to daunce in armes about the Theater and in that place Chaereas came and incountred him asking him the vvatchword which Caius gaue him verie reprochfully according to his custome For which cause vvithout any further delay Chaereas assailing him both in word and act drewe his sword and gaue him a great wound which notwithstanding vvas not mortall some say that Chaereas purposely vvounded him after that sort because he would not kill him at once but to his further torment encrease the number of his wounds but I cannot beleeue the same for that in such executions a man hath no leasure to determine how to strike And if Chaereas had such an intention I account him the veriest foole that might be for that he rather took his pleasure to content his despight then readily to deliuer both himselfe and others who by his delay in being of his confederacy might be drawen into hazard For if Caius had not beene sodainly slaine he could not haue wanted meanes of rescous and it should seeme that Chaereas had not pretended to doe so much mischiefe to Caius as to himselfe and his fellow confederates And being in this incertaintie whether his enterprise should haue fallen out happily or no he had without reason both vndone himselfe lost the occasion whereas hauing happily hit home he might without a word speaking warrantize himselfe against those who would offend him But let each man thinke what best pleaseth him Caius feeling the griefe of the wound for he was strooken betwixt the shoulder and the necke and his sword could not pierce further by reason that it hit vpon the first bone of the breast he cried not in any sort neither called for any of his friends whether it were that he distrusted them all or that he had some other thought and in lamenting himselfe he past onward But he was met by Cornelius Sabinus who was alreadie prepared to encounter him who thrust him downe vpon his knees whereupon all of them enuironed him round about and with mutuall exhortations encouraged one another to doe their vttermost in murthering him At length in all mens opinion they agreed on this that it was Aquila that gaue him the deadly wound that seuered his soule from his bodie But this act ought to be attributed to Chaereas For although diuers set to their hands in the action yet was he the first who had bethought him of the action hauing long time before any of them premeditated the same after what sort it should be attempted and he also was the first that durst boldly impatt it vnto others and who after they had allowed of his resolution assembled them and vvhen as euerie one was to speake his opinion hee concluded the same verie discreetly and had alwaies done farre more then the rest so that by his earnest and honourable perswasions hee encouraged those that were faint-hearted since at such time as the opportunitie presented it selfe to set hand to the execution hee vvas the first that attempted it and who valiantly strooke and made an easie vvay for the rest vvho found Caius calme inough in that hee vvas a man almost thorowly slaine For vvhich cause it is necessarie that all that vvhich others haue done should bee ascribed to Chaereas aduice vertue and diligence Thus died Caius being slaughtered with many mortall wounds now when Chaereas and his companions had dispatched him they perceiued well that it would be impossible for them to saue themselues if so be they should returne by the way that they came so much were they rauished with that which they had done For they drew themselues into no small daunger by murthering an Emperour who was cherished and beloued thorow the folly of the common people and whose death the men of warre vvould not leaue vnpunished Now in that the vvaies were narrow where the murther was done and they themselues also were hindered by reason of the great number of people and officers and souldiers that gaue their attendance that day in garding the Emperor they tooke another vvay and retired themselues into Germanicus lodging who vvas Caius father whom they had lately slaughtered This house adioyned vpon the pallace For although the pallace vvas but one yet consisted it of diuers lodgings vvhich were builded by seuerall Emperours vvhose names whether they had begunne or finished the workes were imposed on the same buildings When as therefore they were escaped from the prease they were in safetie as long as the inconuenient that had befallen the Emperor was as yet hidden The first
report of his death came to the Germans who were of his guard being a company chosen out of that nation named the Celtique band for the preseruation of the Emperours person These men are verie prone vnto wrath and amongst all other Barbarians it is a rare thing in them to examine the causes of their execution otherwise they are men strong in body and who in the warres alwaies giue the first onset yeelding great aduantage to those on whose side they fight They hauing notice of Caius murther were vehemently aggrieued therat for that it is their manner to censure all things not according to right but as they are answerable to their owne profits Caius in especiall was deerely beloued by them in that he had obtained their fauour by bestowing much money vpon them Their captaine was one called Sabinus who was not aduanced to that estate either for his vertue or the nobilitie of his auncestors for he was but a fencer but for his mightie strength and huge body They therefore ran about with their naked swords searching for Caesars murtherers from house to house and meeting with Asprenas at first whose gowne as we haue said was bebloudied with the bloud of the slaughtered sacrifice which was a presage that aboaded him but little good fortune they hewed him in pieces The second was Norbanus who for his nobilitie and auncestors might deriue his titles from the noblest Citizens amongst whom were diuers generals of armies who seeing they made no reckoning of his dignitie and being of himselfe endowed with great force and strength he tooke a sword from one of them which first assailed him with whom he grapled and made them know that he intended that they should buy his bloud verie deerely and in deed so had he done but that being inuironed by diuers who assailed him at once he was beaten downe and slaughtered with many deadly wounds The third was Anteius one of the number of the Senators who with some others met not with these men by chance as the two other had done but to shew the hatred that hee bare vnto Caius and the pleasure that he tooke to see him lie dead was come out of his house being egged on with enuie to feede his eies with that spectacle For Caius had banished Anteius father whose name likewise was Anteius and not content therwith he had sent his soldiers to kill him He therefore with great pleasure beheld the slaughtered carkasse of this tyrant but hearing the vprore that was raised in euerie part of the house he thought good to hide himselfe yet might he not auoid the narrow search of the Germans who were so displeased that they slew all those whom they met with whether they were guiltie or guiltlesse of the fact Thus were these three made away But after the rumour of Caius death was heard in the Theater euerie one vvas amased and could scarcely beleeue it For although diuers of them vvere verie glad that he was taken out of the vvorld perswading themselues that it vvould highly profit them yet did their feare hinder their beliefe On the other side there vvere some who desiring not that any such mishap should befall Caesar and conceiuing in their thoughts that it was impossible to be done for that there vvas no man so hardie as to enterprise the same they supposed the report to be vtterly vntrue Of this minde vvere certaine vvomen and children slaues and souldiers These by reason they receiued wages at his hand and tyrannized vvith him being his ministers in all those outrages that he offered to many good Citizens in partaking the bootie and other aduantages that Caius drew vnto him As for the women and children they vvere of that opinion by reason that such kinde of people take delight in plaies iusts donations of flesh and other such pastimes vvhich Caius in word pretended to do to gratifie the common people but in effect it was to haue means to satisfie his rage and crueltie He was also gratious among the seruants slaues for that by him they had the libertie to accuse and contemne their Masters and vvere therein countenanced by Caius For vvhen they falsely accused their Masters they vvere easily beleeued and vvhen they discouered their Masters treasures in recompence of their discouerie they vvere not onely made free by him but also sent home with rich and ample rewards For the reward that vvas assigned them vvas the eight part of those goods that were confiscated As for certaine of the nobilitie although the matter seemed true to some of them for that before time they vvere priuie to that vvhich the rest intended and notwithstanding they desired that the enterprise should be effected yet kept they all things close and gaue no signe of ioy nor made any shew that they heard that which was reported For some of them feared least if they should be frustrated of their hope they should bring themselues in danger of punishment for that they had discouered their intent sooner then they should haue done They likewise vvho knew the enterprise and vvere confederates vvith the actors yet did they more closely conceale it the one from the other fearing least if they should discouer the matter to any one of those vvho drew any commoditie from Caius tyrannie they might bewray them vvhereby if Caius should be yet aliue they might incurre the danger of punishment For the voice was that he had been vvounded in certaine places yet that he vvas not slaine but as yet aliue and among his Physitians hands vvho dresied his vvounds No man therefore durst liberally discouer the secrets of his heart to his neighbour for they that spred those reports vvere either friends and for that cause vvere suspected as fauourers of his tyrannie or enemies and by that meanes in that they vvere but sinisterly affected towards Caius there vvas no certaintie to be gathered of that vvhich they said There arose also another report vvhich abashed and beat downe the hearts and hopes of the nobilitie namely that Caius setting light by the danger vvherein he was and as little also by the vvounds he had receiued was come into the market place all bloudy as he vvas and after that manner declaimed before the people See here how they that spred these rumours preferred their coniectures vvhich were voide of all reason vvhich distracted those vncertainly that heard the same according as they were affectioned This notwithstanding no man remooued from his place for feare least they should be sodainly accused knowing well that they should be censured not according to their thoughts and affections but according to the disposition of their iudges and accusers But after that the troupe of Germans had inuironed the Theater with their naked swords all the assistance expected nothing but death and as soone as any man entred they vvere seazed vvith such an amazement as if they had alreadie felt the strokes so that they knew not vvhat to
was her daughter slaine which was very young This did Lupus certifie Chaereas of with all expedition This was Caius end after he had liued 4. yeers wanting 4. moneths Before such time as he obtained the Empire he was an intemperate and wicked man addicted to his pleasure a fauourer of tale-bearers exceedingly fearefull and for that cause when he got the vpper hand of any man he was ready to kil him He esteemed this the only fruit of his power when he abused the same against innocents and gathered or heaped vp great spoiles and booties by wicked and vniust murthers rapines and oppressions lifting himselfe aboue all humane authoritie and affecting to be esteemed as a God suffering himselfe to be trāsported by the peoples praises Furthermore all that which the lawe condemned and punished as a thing most detestable that made he vse of to punish vertue with He neuer remembred any friendship that had been done him how great soeuer it either was or had been at such time as he was in his choler and was apt to inflict punishments in his rage on iust and vpright men All that which was answerable to vertue was odious in his eies In all things that him listed he had so violent appetites that it was impossible to contradict him so that he was not ashamed to vse the vnlawfull companie of his owne sister whereby it came to passe that the Citizens of Rome began to hate him extremely for that the like matter had not been seene nor heard of of a long time men could not beleeue the same yet notwithstanding they sufficiently expressed the hatred they bare against the fact he had committed It cannot be said of him that he builded any worke beseeming his royall magnificence worthy the mentioning or profitable either to the present or future world except some ports that he made neere to Rhegium and Sicilia for harbour of such ships as came and went into Aegypt for corne which doubtlesse is a goodly and mightie worke and verie profitable for such as trauell by sea True it is that it was not brought to perfection but onely halfe finished because the workemen trauailed leisurely But the chiefe cause thereof was that he spent his study in vnprofitable matters and loued rather to consume his substance to feede his owne priuate lustes wherein he tooke great delight then to erect and build any goodly or famous worke which might haue redounded to the profit of the common weale Otherwise he was a man well spoken and verie expert in the Greek and vulgar Roman tongues apprehending presently that which others said and although they had spent long time in discouering their mindes yet answered he them vpon the instant and in affaires of consequence he had such a moouing perswasion and power as no man could exceede him both in regard of his quicke spirit and easie apprehension as of the exercise and paine he had taken For being Tiberius brothers sonne whole successour also he was he was enforced to be studious seeing that Tiberius who was of the same veers was in like manner excellently learned Caius therefore inforced himselfe to imitate the Emperor Tiberius whose neere kinsman he was surpassed all those that were in Rome at that time yet notwithstanding all these great aduantages which his good instruction had bred in him could not hinder the misfortune that befell him by the abuse of his authoritie So rare a thing it is to see them who haue libertie to doe what they list without punishment to gouerne themselues with modestie In the beginning he tooke delight in the friendship of verie honest men to get credit and reputation thinking to outstrip the most excellent but after he was giuen ouer to licentiousnes the affection that he bare them was changed and in steede thereof he grew in hatred of them from day to day whereby they were inforced to conspire against him and seeke his ruine Now as I haue heretofore declared Claudius vnderstanding of that which had befallen Caius his Nephew and seeing all his house wholy troubled for this occasion was in such distrust that he knew not what to doe to saue himselfe but went and hid himselfe in a certaine corner where he was surprised hauing no other cause to apprehend his danger except his nobilitie For during the time that he liued a priuate man he behaued himselfe modestly kindly and fauourably vnto all men being well seene in the sciences and principally in the Greek tongue shunning as much as in him lay all tumult and traine that might breed trouble When as therefore the people at that time were wholy amazed at the trouble and the pallace was replenished with souldierlike furie and feare and nothing raigned more in generall then confusion and disorder the souldiers of the guard who were the most experienced and hardy amongst the men of warre consulted amongst themselues what course they were to take Neither were they much discontented with Caius death in that they supposed that vpon iust occasion he was done to death for which cause they rather bethought themselues on that which concerned their estates and how they might assure themselues in those dangers seeing the Germans were wholy bent against those who had slaughtered Caius rather incited thereunto of their owne cruell natures then of any good affection they had towards the welfare of the common weale All which things troubled Claudi◅s and put him in feare of his life the rather for that he sawe Asprenas head and the rest of the nobilitie that were massacred carried about to be seene for this cause he kept himselfe in a certaine place which was onely accessible by certaine steps or staires and hid himselfe therein because it was obscure In that place one of the souldiers of the pallace called Gratus being vnable to discerne who he was in regard of the obscuritie of the place and supposing him to be some one that desired to be concealed he drew neere vnto him to the intent he might the better know him And when as Claudius besought him that he would depart and leaue him he passed the more onwards and laying hold of him and drawing him into the light knew him crying out to those that followed him This is Germanicus let vs take holde of him and create him Emperor Claudius perceiuing that he was ready to be attached and fearing least they should put him to death in the like manner as they had done Caius besought them that they would pardon him protesting vnto them his innocencie and how he had in no sort bin either accessarie or agent in that which had been done Whereupon Gratus beginning to smile tooke him by the hand saying that he had no cause in that sort to suspect his life For said he it behooueth thee to pull vp thy spirits and to bethinke thee how to gouerne an Empire of which the gods who haue the care of the whole world haue despoiled Caius to reward thy
surprised hearing that they asked for a monarch promised that he would giue thē one if they would bring him a token from Eutychus who was the wagoner to the greene band whom Caius had loued extremely in somuch as he employed his souldiers in seruile labours as to build him stables for his horses reproched thē with diuers such like matters telling thē that he would bring them Claudius head shewing them that it was a matter ill beseeming them if after a mad man they should commend the Empire to a foole Yet none of these words could diuert them from their purpose but all of them drew their swords and with displaied ensignes marched towards Claudius to vnite themselues with those who had alreadie bound themselues by an oath to serue him faithfully So that the Senat was abādoned destitute of all defence so as there was no difference betwixt priuate men Consuls All of them were astonished confused not knowing what to do because they had thus prouoked Claudius displeasure against them And now fell they to reuiling one another in testimonie of the repentance they conceiued for these their proceedings Wherupon Sabinus one of those who had murthered Caius arose protested that he would sooner cut his own throat then consent to the establishment of Claudius or behold with his eies the misery thraldome of his country he likewise encouraged Chaereas telling him that he had deserued verie little by cutting off of Caius if he thought to liue without the liberty of his country To which he answered that he made no account of his life yet that he intended to sound Claudius mind and with this resolution they concluded Meane while certaine of the Senators sought on euery side to breake thorow the midst thickest of the souldiers to go and do reuerence and homage to Claudius amongst whom was Q. Pompeius one of the Consuls whom the men of war accused to be one of the principal actors to incite the Senat to recouer their liberty and they drew their naked swords against him And if Claudius had not restrained them they had surely dispatched him but he made him sit downe by him and by that meanes deliuered him from the daunger The other Senators who accompanied him were not entertained thus honourably but some of them were wounded euen then when they pressed forth to salute Claudias Aponius retired himselfe sore wounded and the rest were in great daunger to lose their liues But King Agrippa drawing neere vnto Claudius desired him to vse as much lenitie as was possible in him towards the Senators for that if any mischiefe should betide them he should haue no other persons to commaund To the which counsell of his Claudius gaue place and assembled the Senat in the Pallace causing himselfe to be caried thorow the citie in the company of his souldiers who marched before him doing much mischiefe to the common people But amongst those that slewe Caius Chaereas Sabinus were come out into the streets notwithstanding they were forbidden by Pollio whom not long before Claudius had made captaine of his guard And as soone as Claudius came into the pallace whither he assembled his friends hee pronounced sentence against Chaercas For although his action was accounted both generous and noble yet vvas he condemned for this because he vvas perfidious vvhereupon he vvas adiudged to die to giue example to others to the end that Princes and Emperours may hereafter liue in safetie He was therefore led to his death with Lupus and diuers other Romanes It is said of Chaereas that he endured this accident vvith a great courage vvhich he expressed not onely in that he chaunged not his countenance but also by the reproches vvhich he gaue Lupus vvho wept For vvhen as Lupus was putting off of his cloathes complained of the colde that he felt he taunted him thus alluding to his name which was Lupus That neuer any colde did harme to a woolfe Furthermore when he came to the place of execution where a great number of people were gathered togither to behold the spectacle he asked the souldier that was appointed to behead him if he were a cunning hea◅man and whether he had a new sword wishing him to vse that wherewith he murthered Caius His death was happy for he receiued but one stroke whereas Lupus was faintharted and receiued diuers because he stretched not out his necke freely Some few daies after at such time as the Romans solemnized their expiations and that euerie one honoured the memorie of his dead friend they gaue Chaereas a part of that honour and cast his portion into the fire saying that was to deface and purge their ingratitude whereof they were guiltie towards him Thus ended Chaereas his life But for Sabinus although Claudius had not only absolued him but also suffered him to exercise his office as before time he had done yet thought he that he should doe amisse and against iustice if he falsified his faith to his associates and confederates for which cause he shortned his owne daies thrusting his sword thorow his body to the verie hilts CHAP. IIII. Claudius confirmeth Agrippa in his fathers kingdome INcontinently after this Claudius cashierd all those of his souldiers whom he suspected and published an edict by which he confirmed the kingdome to Agrippa that Caius had giuen him accompanying his bountie with many praises annexing moreouer vnto his gouernment all that which Herode his grandfather had possessed to wit Iudaea and Samaria which in that they were as one lawfull inheritance appertained vnto him He gaue him also out of his owne dominions Abela and all the countrey about the mount Libanus that in times past appertained to Lysanias And he caused the alliance that was past betwixt them twaine to be engrauen and registred in an open place of the Citie of Rome He tooke from Antiochus the kingdome that he had and gaue him in exchange a portion of Cilicia and Comagena He set Alexander Lysimachus Alabarcha at libertie who had beene his olde friend and sometimes gouernour in Arabia and otherwhiles his mother Antonias steward who had been committed prisoner thorow Caius displeasure and married Bernice Agrippas daughter with his sonne Marcus which after the death of Marcus who died before he was espoused was afterwards married with her father Agrippas allowance to Herode his brother for whom Agrippa begd of Claudius the kingdome of Chalcis At that verie time the Iewes that were in the Citie of Alexandria mutined against the Greekes For after Caius death the nation of the Iewes which had been oppressed during his raigne and iniuriously dealt withall by the Alexandrines recouered their former courage and instantly fell to armes For which cause Claudius gaue commission to the gouernor of Aegypt to pacifie and appease that vprore He sent also his letters patents into Alexandria and Syria at the request of the two kings Agrippa and
to high and great matters by telling him that Agrippa should be put to death by the Romans in regard of those faults which the Iewes had committed and that Varus who was royally descended should possesse his gouernment For without question Varus was held to be of the bloud royall for that he deriued his petigree from the Tetrarch Sohëmus that gouerned the countrey that abutted on Lybanus For these causes Varus grew proud and retained Philips letters by him hoping by these meanes that the king should haue no knowledge thereof and he set watch in euerie passage for feare least any man should flie and certifie the king of that which had hapned and to giue the Syrians the better content who dwelt in Caesarea he put diuers of those Iewes that dwelt among them to death He intended also to vndertake a warre against the Iewes of Bathanaea who were called Babylonian Iewes by confedâ—…â—…ing himselfe with the Trachonites of Bathanaea For which cause sending for twelue of thâ—… Iewes who were of most estimation among the inhabitants of Caesarea he enioyned them to repaire to Ecbatane to signifie vnto those of their nation that dwelt there that Varus vnderstanding that they pretended to take armes against their king and scarcely beleeuing it had sent them vnto them to perswade them to lay by their armes And that this should be a certaine signe by which they might perfectly expresse that he had no reason to giue credite to their reports who had inforced and obiected so much against them Furthermore he commanded them that seuentie of the chiefest of them should be chosen out to answere to those accusations wherewith they should be charged These twelue arriuing in Ecbatane and entertained by those of their nation found that they neither imagined nor intended any commotion for which cause they perswaded them to send their seuentie men which they did little suspecting that which would happen As soone therefore as these with the other twelue Embassadours came to Caesarea Varus hauing inckling of their comming met them on the way with the kiÌ„ngs forces and slew them altogither with the foresaid Embassadours and tooke his way towards the Iewes of Ecbatane But one of the seuentie who had escaped resorted thither with all expedition preuenting Varus and certified the rest of that which had hapned Wherupon they incontinently fel to armes and with their wiues children retired themselues to the fort of Gamala abandoning their villages which were stored with all kind of goods and many thousand cattell When Philip had tidings hereof he repaired himselfe also to the fort of Gamala where he no sooner arriued but the people cried out with a lowd voice exhorting him to take the soueraigntie and to make warre against Varus and the Syrians of Caesarea For they had intelligence that the king was dead But Philip moderated their fury recounting vnto them what benefits the king had bestowed on them and of what power the Romans were against whom it was but a folly for them to take armes and in the end he perswaded them to peace The king vnderstanding that Varus was determined to kill and murther all the Iewes that were in Caesarea with their wiues children all in one day who were many in number he sent vnto him Equus Modius to supply his place as it hath been by vs declared in an other place Meane while Philip kept the fort of Gamala and the countrey thereabouts perseuering in their fidelitie and loyaltie to the Romans As soone as I arriued in Galilee and had perceiued and learnt all occurrences that had hapned by those who reported the same vnto me I presently signified the whole estate by my letters to the councel at Ierusalem to know what their pleasure was I should doe Who gaue me this answere that I should remaine where I was and retaine those Embassadours that I had with me if they thought good to take charge of Galilee But they being verie wealthy by meanes of those tenths and titâ—…es that were giuen them and verie willing because they were due to gather them vp in right of their priesthood resolued with themselues to returne to their owne houses But for that I intreated them to remaine with me vntill such time as we had setled the affaires they willingly consented vnto me I therefore departed with them to the Citie of Sephora and came into a burrough called Bethmans distant from Tiberias some foure furlongs and from thence I sent a messenger to the councell of Tiberias exhorting the chiefest among the people to come and speake with me who comming foorth to visit me accompanied with Iustus also I tolde them that I was sent Embassadour vnto them with those other by the communaltie of Ierusalem to perswade them to deface that building that was erected by Herod the Tetrarch wherin diuers figures of liuing creatures were painted for that our lawe forbad them to allow or doe such things and I exhorted them to suffer vs to doe that execution as soone as they might Capella and those of his partie did for a long time refuse to consent thereunto but in the end we inforced them so much that they condescended Now whilest we debated vpon this conclusion Iesus the sonne of Saphias of whom we haue spoken heretofore declaring how he was the chieftaine and conductor of the faction of sailers and poore men tooke with him certaine Galileans and set fire on all the pallace vnder hope to get great riches thereby for that there were certaine roofes of the house couered with gold who spoiled many things against our consent For after we had conferred with Capella and the chiefest Tiberians we retired our selues from Bethmaus into the higher Galilee In the meane time Iesus men slew all the Greekes that remained there and who before the warre had been their enemies Which when I was certified of I was grieuously displeased and came down to Tiberias and disposed of the kings moueables for â—…re least they should be carried away by the robbers and hauing recouered a candlesticke of â—…rinthian worke princely tables and no smal quantity of massiue siluer I resolued with my selfe â—…eserue it to the kings vse Calling therefore ten of the chiefest Senators and Capella Antyllus sonne vnto me I deliuered the vessels into their hands charging them to deliuer the same to no man except it were to my selfe From thence with mine associates I went vnto Iohn at Gischala toknow what his mind and resolution was and I presently smelt out by him that he affected innouation and tyrannie For he besought me to grant him libertie to transport Caesars wheat that was stored vp in the villages of higher Galilee telling me that he would bestow the same in reedifying and repairing the wals of his countrey But I smelling out both his drift and counsels denied him that libertie For I thought that that wheat would either serue the Romans or my selfe for that already I had the care
an office of kindnes from a friend For by giuing we bewray our well wishing and by receiuing we proportion and continue frendship vpon this ground I praie you build the good entertainment of my present and nourish this good custome in me which was vsuall both amongst Grecians and Latins I meane my translation which if it please you I haue my wish As for my maligners I expect no worse from them then Iason the Thassalian who being assailed and wounded by an enemie who had an intent to kill him had an impostumation opened that saued his life their stabbe and stroke of disgrace shall cure and heale the hidden and neglected infirmities of my minde and notwithstanding I shall both Genio ingenio liue to loue you and lament their want of char◅ie Thus heartelie commending me I hastilie take my leaue being tied prentize of late to other mens importunities Your louing Friend Tho. Lodge THE FIRST OF THOSE SEVEN BOOKES WHICH WERE WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS AS TOVCHING THE WARRE AND DESTRVCTION OF THE IEWES THE PRAEFACE In which the Author taxeth diuers Historiographers of vntruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principall points of this Historie FOr as much as the warre which was enterprised betwixt the Iewes and Romans hath amongst all other beene the greatest that either hath beene attempted in our age or heard of in any other either between citie or citie or nation against nation there haue beene some who rather building their discourse on the vaine and improbable report of others then their owne iudgements haue according to the manner of orators made a historie of their hearsay and haue filled their discourses not only with vanitie but also with cōtradiction Others there were who for that they were eie witnesses or actors of the same haue according to their own fancies preferred many lies either to flatter the Romanes or exercise their hatred against the Iewes forging somewhiles accusations otherwhiles breaking out into praises without any obseruation of historicall veri◅e For this cause I Ioseph the sonne of Matthias by birth an Hebrew and a citizen and priest of Ierusalem who in the beginning of these wars bare armes against the Romanes and afterwards being therunto forced by necessitie was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those warres haue thought good to discourse in the Greeke tongue in fauour of all those who acknowledge the soueraigntie of the Romane Empire all that which heretofore in my owne language I haue imparted to those Barbarians that inhabit the East For at such time as I haue alreadie spoken as these most bitter and busie warres tooke their beginning the Romans were at ciuill warres among themselues and as touching the Iewes who were in yeeres valiant and in wits turbulent they being both strong in power and rich in money did so insolently abuse the time that being animated by the greatnes of those seditions and troubles haue somewhiles swamme in hope sometimes sweltered in feare of possessing or losing certaine soueraignties in the East For the Iewes hope was that all those of their nation euen they who inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates would haue both followed them in their rebellion and seconded their follies with their forces Moreouer at that time the Frenchmen who bordered vpon the Romans suffered them not to liue in peace and the Germanes also began to take armes Finally after the death of Nero seditions raigned euery where so that by reason of the oportunitie of these times many men went about to make themselues kings and the souldiers whetted on with the couetous desire of gaine desired nothing more then trouble and alteration For which cause I thinke it a matter both worthy reproofe and ill beseeming my reputation if in so waightie affaires I should suffer the truth to be smothered in incertainties and should permit the Parthians Babylonians and the furthest distant Arabians and those of our nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates togither with the Adiabenites to obtain the true knowledge of those euents by mine industrie whilest the Grecians diuers of those who haue not born armes with the Romans being distracted with factions deceiued by adulation should be ignorant hereof Yet some of these there be who notwithstanding their false informations stick not to write histories not only void of all truth but also no waies answerable to their subiect which they vndertake For whilest they labour to dignifie and extoll the Romans they altogither suppresse the fame and fortunes of the Iewes yet cannot I coniecture by what meanes they maie be held great who triumph in the conquest of men so obscure and abiect Nay whilest they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Iewes they nothing at all respect the continuance of the wars nor the multitude of the Roman souldiers nor the honour of their captaines whose titles are much embased if they hauing laboured so much to conquer Ierusalem should haue any thing derogated from the honour and prosperitie of their attempts For mine owne part I am not resolued to contradict those who shall enhance the glorie and noble actions of the Romans neiher to extol and dignifie the deserts of mine owne nation but my resolution is in all truth and sinceritie to set downe each occurrent without respect or partialitie towards either part In performance whereof I will fashion my discourse according to the matter I entreat of and as my griefe and sorrow shall inuite me to lament the miseries of my countrey For the ciuill dissension that dismembred the same was the cause that brought it to confusion and those tyrants that raigned amongst vs were such who forcibly drew the Romans with sword and sire to seeke the desolation of our holy temple The truth whereof Titus Caesar himselfe can iustifie who destroied the same and who during all those warres still pitied the people for that they as he well perceiued were kept in awe by ◅he seditious And who oftentimes of his owne accord deferred the surprisall of the Citie purposely protracting the siege to the intent that in the meane time the authors of the sedition and bloudie wars might haue leasure to repent and submit themselues Now if any man thinke that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the tyrants and their the eueries or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost countrey I accuse their villanies and thereby transgresse the limits of a historie let it be imputed to my griefe and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that were euer gouerned by the Romans our Citie onely attained to the top of felicitie which now alas is brought into extreame miserie captiuitie and desolation Nay if all the misfortunes calamities which the world from the beginning hath seene be compared with the infelicitie and fall of the Iewes they are slight and of no moment And to increase our sorrow no forrainers but our owne familiar friends and
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
person was to be brought into iudgement there to answere the matter and shew the king a reason and satisfie the lawes of his countrey which permitted no man to be put to death before by law he was conuicted By these perswasions Hyrcanus grew angrie so that not concealing his wrath he caused Herode to be sent for to answere the matter who both for that his father aduertised him thereto and because he trusted to the equity of his cause first leauing a garrison in Galilee he repaired vnto the king came accompanied with a strong guard least either he should seeme to derogate from Hyrcanus dignitie if he should lead forth many or that for want of defence he should expose himselfe to the enuie of his aduersaries Sextus Caesar also fearing the young man least any euill should betide him amongst his enemies sent vnto Hyrcanus manifestly warning him to free Herode from the crime of murther For which cause Hyrcanus who loued Herode and was willing so to do of his owne accord did acquite him Whereupon he supposing that he had escaped against the kings will went to Damascus vnto Sextus purposing not to obey if hereafter he were sent for Naithelesse Hyrcanus was once againe incited by bad people against Herode who certified him that he was gone away in a rage and that he would enterprise something against him which Hyrcanus beleeuing knew not what to doe seeing his enemie more potent then himselfe Shortly after Sextus Caesar proclaimed him Generall of the army both in Syria and Samaria so that now he was greatly to be feared not onely for that he was highly in fauour with the comminaltie but also for the forces which he commanded So that hereupon Hyrcanus fell into an extreme feare verily perswading himselfe that Herod with his whole army would presently come against him Neither was his suspition in vaine for Herod angrie at the pretended crime wherof he was accused came with a great army to Ierusalem intending to depose Hyrcanus which he had effected had not his father and his brother gone forth to meet him and pacified him entreating that he would account that terror wherein he had put his enemies and his owne indignation for a sufficient reuenge and that he should spare the king by whose fauour he came to be so potent adding moreouer that he should not thinke it a disdaine that he was called to answere his accusations but seeing that he was acquited of them he should shewe himselfe gratefull to the king Neither ought he so to reuenge the discontent he had taken that he should shew himselfe vnthankfull to him who had saued his life Moreouer he was to consider the fortune of warres togither with the cause thereof and thinke that the warres he now pretended were very vniust bidding him not to be too confident of the victorie being to fight against his owne king who had alwaies been gratious vnto him and neuer cruell only being as it were vrged thereunto by some of his councell who being meerely enuious rather to satisfie their owne mislikes then in regard of his disgraces framed a shadow of an accusation Herode pacified herewith supposing it to be sufficient for him to obtaine the thing he hoped for to haue shewed his forces vnto his nation At this time began Ciuill warre among the Romans neere vnto Apamia for Caecilius Bassus for the loue he bare to Sextus Pompey slew Sextus Caesar at vnawares and made himselfe gouernour of his army and other captaines of Caesars to reuenge his death made after Bassus with all their forces vnto whom Antipater by his two sonnes sent aide both for Caesars sake that was slain as for Caesars sake that was yet aliue for he was an entire friend welwiller vnto them both and these warres continuing long Marcus came out of Italy to succeed Sextus CHAP. IX Of the dissension amongst the Romans after Caesars death and of the treacherie of Malichus AT this time arose great and bloudy ciuill warres amongst the Romans at such time as Caesar was traiterously slaine by the treason of Cassius and Brutus after he had ruled the Empire 3. yeers and seuen moneths By reason of which murther their troubles daily increased and the nobilitie being at variance amongst themselues euerie one followed that course that they thought most expedient for themselues Whereupon Cassius presently marched into Syria to take possession of the gouernment of the army which was about Apamia where hee made Marcus and the legions that were at variance and Bassus friends and raised the siege from Apamia and leading the army in his owne person he forced euerie citie to be tributarie so that he grew to exact without measure Whereas therefore he commanded the Iewes to contribute seuen hundreth talents Antipater who feared his displeasure appointed his sons and other of his friends presently to gather the money and especially among the rest he gaue this charge to one Malichus a friend of his being by necessitie inforced thereunto But Herode first of all got Cassius his fauour who brought a hundreth talents which he had collected out of Galilee which was his part or prouince for this cause Cassius accounted him as a deare friend As for the rest he accused them of negligence and was angrie at the other Cities So that for that cause he destroied Gophna and Ammauntes and other two of the basest cities marching onward as if he intended to kill Malichus for that he had been so carelesse and negligent in gathering the tribute mony But Antipater presently disbursing vnto Cassius a hundreth talents saued both him and all the rest of the Cities Yet Malichus after Cassius was departed did no more remember how beneficiall Antipater had been vnto him but oftentimes did treacherously lie in waite for to murther Antipater who hindred and withstood his villanous pretence notwithstanding that himselfe had often confessed that Antipater had saued his life Antipater fearing both his power and subtiltie passed ouer the riuer Iordan to gather an army that he might reuenge those treacheries But Malichus being discouered by his impudencie ouercame Antipaters sons for through many oths and excuses he woon Phasaelus chiefe of the garrison in Ierusalem and Herod also who was master of the armorie that they should be a meanes to reconcile him to Antipater Whereupon Antipater entreating Marcus who was Generall of the army in Syria and had determined to kill him he was saued The reason that Marcus would haue put him to death was because Malichus sought to make an alteration Now Caesar being young and Antonius warring against Cassius and Brutus Marcus and Cassius hauing gathered an army in Syria in consideration that Herode had stood them in steed where need required they made him Procurator of all Syria giuing him a band of horsemen and footmen Moreouer Cassius promised him that if the warres had a happy end he would make him king of
out by flocks of their own accord they offered theÌ„selues to the Iewes so that in this sort there came â—…orth foure thousand 〈◊〉 daies the sixt day the whole multitude despairing of their liues came out to fight with whom Herod conflicting slew about seuen thousand Hauing in this sort weakned the Arabians that he had now extinguished all thâ—… strong men the countreymen admired him and were so much daunted at his puissance that they wished him for their ruler CHAP. XV. How Herode was exalted vnto the kingdome INcontinent after this his prosperous successe there did betide vnto him a sea of cares and griefes in respect of the loue which he bare vnto Antoâ—…s whom Caesar had now lately ouerthrown at the battel which was fought at Actium yet was he more aâ—…aid then hurt by this his suspition for Caesar accounted not Antonius fully conquered so long as Herode and he kept togither For which cause the king timely foreseeing those dangers that might ensue went to Rhodes where at that time Caesar abode in which place in the habit of a priâ—…te man and without a crown but with a kingly courage he presented himselfe before him and with vnfained constancy spake vnto him in such maner as followeth I was O Caesar made king of Iudaea by Antonius his means and I must confesse that I haue beene a king who what in mee lay haue serued his turne and sought his profit yea I must not denie but that had nor the Arabians hindred me I had with all the power I could haue made seconded and assisted Antony against thee yea although personally I could not go yet did I what I could to helpe him and sent him many thousand measures of corne Nay though he had the ouerthrow at Acâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sake him who had deserued wel at my hands although I was not able to assist him with 〈◊〉 of armes yet I confirmed him by my coâ—… the best I could inâ—…cating often times vnto him that there was one onely way to redresse his adueâ—…itie to wit by the death of Clâ—…ra whom if he killed I promised him to assist him with money strong holds and an army yea and with mine owne person against thee but the loue of Cleopatra and God who had already designed the victorie vnto thee stopped his eares For which cause O Caesar I am conquered with Antonius and haue forsaken my crowne and dignitie with his fortunes and am come vnto thee hoping that at thy hands I may obtaine pardon To this Caesar answered Liue in safetie and raigne now with greater securitie then before for thou deseruest to rule others who with such constancie didst defend and maintaine thy friendship At this time endeuour thy selfe to continue faithfull toward them that are more fortunate then Antonius was for for my part I haue conceiued a great hope and expectation of thy valour and prowesse yet did Antonius well in that he rather obeied Cleopatra then thee for by his follies haue we now purchased thy friendship That thou hast begun to doe well it thereby appeareth because Ventidius hath signified vnto me that thou hast sent him succours against his enemies For which cause by this my present decree be thou established in thy kingdome and I will shortly let thee know that I will be beneficiall vnto thee so as thou shalt haue no cause to bewaile the losse of Antonius By this speech he exhorted the king not to misdoubt of his friendship and withall put a crowne vpon his head and made a decree and sealed it testifying how he had remitted all things done by Herod and confirmed him in his kingdome and rehearsed many things therein greatly tending to Herodes praise Herode hauing first pacified Caesar with many gifts requested him to pardon Alexander one of Antonius his friends who earnestly and in humble manner desired the same but Caesar being verie angrie answered that he for whom he entreated had greatly and many times offended and so repeld Herod with this answere Afterward Caesar trauailing into Aegypt through Syria was entertained by Herode with all royall pompe possible and that was the first time that he shewed himselfe to take part with Caesar when neere vnto Ptolemais he tooke a view of the soldiers with Caesar made a banquet for him and all his friends feasted the whole army likewise And inasmuch as they trauailed to PelusiuÌ„ through drie grounds when they returned againe he prouided water for them and furnished the army with all necessaries so that both Caesar and the souldiers thought the kingdome a small recompence for his deserts For which cause after he came into Aegypt and that Antonius Cleopatra were now dead he did not only increase his honor but also restored vnto him that portion of his countrey which was taken away and giuen to Cleopatra and beside that Gadara and Hippon and Samaria and other cities about the sea coast to wit Gaza and Anthedon and loppe and Stratons tower and moreouer gaue him foure hundreth Galathians which before were Cleopatra her guard and there was nothing that so much mooued Caesars liberalitie as the couragious minde of him vnto whom he was so liberall after the first Actian solemnitie he added vnto Herodes dominion Trachon and Batanaea and Auranitis bordering vpon it For this cause Zenodorus who for mony hired Lysanias his house continually sent theeues out of Trachon to rob the people of Damascus who in humble manner went to Varus who was at that time gouernour of Syria entreating him to informe Caesar of their calamitie Caesar vnderstanding therof writ backe againe commanding him to extinguish all the theeues whereupon Varus with an army went to those places which were most suspected and ridde the countrey of the theeues and tooke the territorie from Zenodorus and Caesar least it should againe be a refuge for theeues to spoile Damascus gaue it to Herode and made him ruler ouer all Syria And ten yeeres after returning to his owne countrey he commanded the gouernours to doe nothing without Herodes counsell and after Zenodorus his death he gaue him all the countrey betweene Trachon and Galilee But that which Herod esteemed aboue all the rest was that Caesar loued him best of al next vnto Agrippa and Agrippa loued him most of all men next vnto Caesar. Thus nowe he touched the verie toppe of felicitie and so encreasing in high minde he employed himselfe chiefly to pietie CHAP. XVI Of the Cities and buildings reedified and built by Herod and of his liberalitie towards strangers and of his felicitie IN the fifteenth yeere of his raigne he repaired the temple and enclosed twise so much ground as was before about the temple with a strong wall whereon he bestowed great costs and charges to beautifie it as the great porches will testifie which he built about the temple and a Castle on the north part thereunto adioyning which he builded euen from the foundation
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
friends according to their deserts And all the kings kinred by the kings appointment and consent bestowed rich gifts vpon Archelaus and both he and all his nobilitie accompanied him to Antiochia Not long after there came one into Iudaea far more subtil then Archelaus who both disanulled the reconciliation made for Alexander and caused his death also This man was a Lacedemonian borne named Eurycles who by money sought to haue obtained the kingdome This man brought vnto Herode rich gifts as it were for a bait of that he intended he had so behaued himselfe in Greece that it could no longer tolerate his excesse and Herode againe rewarded him with farre greater gifts then those were that he gaue him but he esteemed his liberality as nothing except he bought it with the bloud of Princes For which cause he circumuented the king partly by flattering him partly by praising him fainedly and especially by his owne craft and subtiltie and quickly perceiuing his inclination he both in word and deed sought to please him 〈◊〉 so that the king accounted him amongst his chiefest friends For both the king and all the nobilitie honoured him the more for his country sake in that he was a Lacedemonian But he very easily perceiuing the feeble stay of Herodes house and the hatred betweene the brethren and how the king was affected towards euery one of them he first of all entertained himselfe at Antipaters house making a shew in the meane while of good will towards Alexander pretending protesting that in times past he had beene Archelaus companion by this means he quickly crept into fauor with him as an approued friend which was the cause that he was sodainly entertained for a faithful man He presently likewise brought him into friendship with Aristobulus hauing sounded euery mans disposition he accommodated himselfe vnto all humours and to begin withal he became Antipaters pensioner and a traitor to Alexander And he often vsed hot words to Antipater as it were childing him that he being eldest of the brethren so slenderly looked after them who pretended to put him besides the crown which was his right He many times likewise vsed the like words to Alexander admiring him who was borne of a Queen husband to a Queene yet would permit such a one who was descēded of a priuat woman to succeed in the kingdom especially seeing he had such occasion opportunitie to effect the contrary for he might assure himself of Archelaus his helpe in any thing Alexander supposed he had spoken as he thought because he counterfaited friendship with Archelaus so that he misdoubting nothing disclosed vnto him all his mind concerning Antipater saying that it was no wonder though Herode disinherited them of the kingdome since before time he had slaine their mother Eurycles counterfaiting himselfe both to pitie them and to be sorrowfull for their mischance entised Aristobulus to speake the like and hauing animated them both to complaine in this sort against their father he presently went to Antipater and disclosed to him all their secrets forging also the trechery which those two brethren intended against him which was to dispatch him with their swords For this cause Antipater gaue him a great summe of money and commended him to his father and being hired to effect the death of Alexander and Aristobulus he himselfe became their accuser Whereupon he came vnto Herode and told him how in regard of those benefits which he had receiued at his hand he would now bestow his life vpon him and the light of this world for recompence of his hospitalitie affirming that Alexander had lately stretched forth his hand with his sword drawne to kill him and he onely was the cause that he performed it not by staying his hand and promising him to assist him in the matter adding that Alexander vsed these speeches That Herod was not contented to enioy a kingdome which was another mans right nor yet as it were to dismember his kingdome after Mariammes death but he would also leaue the kingdome belonging vnto their ancestors vnto a pernicious bastard Antipater and for that cause hee would reuenge Hyrcanus and Mariammes death And that it was not conuenient to receiue the kingdome from such a father without bloud and euery day he had occasion giuen him so to doe for he could speake nothing without calumniation For if any mention were made at any time of any ones nobilitie presently he was vpbraided without cause for his father would presently say there is none noble but Alexander whose fathers base birth is a shame and discredit vnto him And that going a hunting if he held his peace his father was offended if he praised then it was said he mocked so that in euerie thing he found his fathers affection turned from him that he was only fauourable to Antipater so that he would die with all his heart if he failed of his purpose if he killed him his father in law Archelaus would worke his safetie to whom he might easily flie And after he would go to Caesar who as yet knew not Herods manners for he would not stand before him then as he did before being terrified because his father was present neither would he only speake of his own wrongs but of the wrongs of the whole nation who were oppressed by exactions euen vnto death And then he would lay open in what pleasure and after what sort the money gotten with bloud was consumed and who and what kind of men they were that were thereby enriched and what was the cause of the affliction of the citie and that there he would bewaile the death of his vncle and his mother and vnfold all Herodes wickednes which being once made manifest vnto the world no man would account him a murtherer of his father Eurycles hauing falsely reported this of Alexander fell presently to praise and extoll Antipater affirming that he onely loued his father and hindered such practises The king yet not throughly appeased for that which had past grew into an exceeding agony and Antipater once againe suborned other false witnesses against them who affirmed that they were wont to haue secret talke with Iucundus and Tyrannius who sometime were generals of the kings horsemen who were then displaced for some offence they had committed Whereupon Herod being verie angrie presently tortured them and they affirmed that they were ignorant of all that which was laid to their charge But there was found and brought vnto the king a letter as though it had beene written by Alexander vnto the Gouernour of the Castle of Alexandriam requesting him that he would receiue him and his brother Aristobulus into the Castle when he had killed his father and to assist them both with weapons and other necessaries Alexander affirmed that this letter was counterfeited by Diophantus the Kings Secretarie who was both bold and could counterfeit anie ones hand and hauing counterfeited manie was at
at Rome and hee for money got others to write that these two young men vsed in taunting wise to raile against their father and openly to complaine of the death of Alexander and Aristobulus and that they tooke it in bad part that they were sent for home for their father sent word that they should come away and thereat Antipater was mâ—…st troubled For he before his departure from Iudaea to Rome procured such like letters to be forged against them at Rome and so deliuering them to his father that he might auoid all suspicion seemed to excuse his brethren affirming some things that were written to bee lies other things to be offences whereunto yong men were prone At which time he gaue great summes of money to them in whose names he had counterfeited the letters against his brethren hereby as it were hiring them to be secret He gaue them also rich apparell and Tapistrie of curious workeâ—… also siluer and golden cups with many things more to the end that by the precious gifts and rewards which he bestowed he might haue all things kept close so that at his returne hee made his father account that he had spent two hundred talents the greatest portion whereof was consumed in following the law against Syllaeus Antipaters small faults were all hid by a greater for all they that had beene tortured gaue euidence against him how that hee practised his fathers death and the letters witnessed how againe he went about to make away other two of his brethren and yet for all this none of those who came out of Iudaea to Rome bare him so mâ—…ch good will as to giue 〈◊〉 intelligence what troubles were in the court at home although it was seuen moneths after 〈◊〉 was conuicted before he came to Iudaea from Rome Peraduenture they who were minded to tell him all were forced to hold their peace by the ghosts of them who were put to death At last he sent letters from Rome to his father that now he would shortly returne home and that Caesar had dismissed him very honorably The king desired greatly that the Traitor were in his power and fearing that if he had an inckling of any matter that hee would looke to himselfe fained great kindnesse towards him and sent backe againe vnto him verie louing and familiar letters willing him to hasten his returne for if he made hast it might be he should obtaine pardon for his mothers offence for Antipater vnderstood that she was banished About this time he receiued a letter at Tarentum wherby he vnderstood the death of Pheroras and greatly lamented it which diuers thought well of Yet as farre as one may coniecture the cause of his griefe was that his treason went not forward as hee wished and hee did lament Pheroras so much as though he had lost one to effect his treacherie Moreouer he feared least that which had passed should come to light and least the poison should be found yet when he came to Cilicia and there receiued his fathers letters which before we mentioned he then made great hast homeward yet when he came to Celenderis hee began earnestly to thinke vpon his mothers mishap his mind as it were presaging some sinister fortune And the wiser sort of his friends about him counselled him not to go to his father till such time as hee were certaine for what cause his mother was banished and diuorced For it was to be feared that he should be accused also of the same that was laid to his mothers charge But the vnwiser sort being more desirous to see their countrey then to bethinke themselues what was expedient for Antipater admonished him to make hast least that his long delay should breed any suspition in his father and least thereby he should giue occasion vnto malignant people to raise vp slanders For said they if any thing hath passed against you it was in your absence were you in presence no man durst do nor speake against you and it were a verie vnwise part for vncertaine suspitions to depriue himselfe of certaine felicitie and not to returne speedily vnto his father and receiue the kingdome at his hands who had him in whom onely his hope was This counsell for fortune would haue it so Antipater followed so arriued in the hauen of Cesarea passing Sebaste where contrarie to his expectation he fell into a great sorrow and admiration for all men eschewed his companie and no man durst come neere him For although that he was alwayes hated of them yet then they had libertie to shew their hatred Manie abstained from comming to him for feare of the king and now the rumour of those things which Antipater had done was knowne in euerie Citie and to euerie man only Antipater himselfe was ignorant thereof For there was neuer any man brought thither with more maiestie then he when hee was to saile to Rome nor neuer any man more basely entertained at his returne And now vnderstanding of the massacre at home he craftily made himselfe ignorant thereof and notwithstanding that he was almost dead for feare yet in his countenance he counterfeited confidence For hee could not now possibly make anie escape nor rid himselfe out of those present daungers and yet he heard no certaine newes of matters at home nor there for the king by an edict had forbidden all men to giue him notice thereof So that manie times he comforted himselfe thus that either all matters concerning him were yet secret or if any thing was come to light that he by policie and impudencie could acquite himselfe thereof for these two were his refuge and hope Being thus determined he went into the kings pallace alone without anie of his friendes and followers which at the verie first gate were most contumeliously repulsed And by chaunce Varus the ruler of Syria was there within then he boldly going in to his father came neere vnto him as though hee would haue saluted him But Herode stretching forth his hand and shaking his head cried out O thou that hast attempted to murther thy father darest thou yet presume to offer to embrace me who art guiltie of so manie treacheries God confound thee wicked wretch and come not neere me till thou hast cleared thy selfe of all that which is laid against thee for thou shalt haue iustice and Varus shall be thy iudge who is by good fortune now here Go and premeditate how to acquite thee against to morrow for I will giue thy subtill and craftie braine some time to do it Hereat Antipater was astonished with feare that he was not able to reply anie thing but so went his way Presently his mother and his wife came vnto him and told him all the proofes of treasons against him Then he calling his wits together be thought himselfe how to answere euerie point The next day the king caused an assemblie of his friends and kinsfolks and to them admitted Antipaters friends and he and
many good things and eternall blisse The king hereat greatly moued with anger ouercame his disease and vvent forth and made a speech to the people vvherein he inueighed against them as Church-robbers and that vnder pretence and colour of their country lawes and religion they attempted great matters and adiudged them as impious people worthie of death The people fearing that he would torture many to learne who fauoure that act requested him that first the authors of that crime then those that were found guilty therein should receiue punishment that he would remit the offence to all the people besides The king with much ado entreated caused the yong men that let themselues down in cords and the Sophisters to be burned the rest which were taken in that act to be beheaded After this the kings sicknesse spred ouer his whole bodie and he vvas afflicted with most grieuous paine for he had a vehement ague and an itch ouer all his whole bodie which was intolerable and a daily colicke and his feete were swollen as though he had the dropsie his belly was swollen and priuie members putrified so that vvormes bred in the putrified places He was also short winded and he vvas grieuously tormented with difficultie of breath and a conuulsion of the whole body so that some said that this was a punishment laid vpon him for the death of the two Sophisters Herod notwithstanding he was afflicted with so many grieuous sicknesses yet was he desirous to liue and sought remedie whereby he hoped for health At last he passed ouer Iordan where he vsed the vvarme vvaters of Calliroe which runne into the lake of Asphaltites and are so sweet that men vse to drinke of them There the Physitions caused his bodie to be bathed in hot oyle and it was therewith so dissolued that his sight failed and he was as though he were dead whereaâ—… those that were about him being troubled with their cries caused him to looke vp now despairing of life he willed fiftie Drachmes to be distributed vnto euery souldier and great summes of money to the captains and his friends As he returned when he came to Iericho he was in verie great likelihood to die of melancholie and there he deuised a wicked fact for he caused the chiefe men of euerie towne and village in all Iudaea to be assembled together and then he shut them vp in a place called the Hippodrome and calling vnto him Salome his sister and Alexas her husband I know quoth he that the Iewes will make feasts for ioy of my death yet if you will do my command I shall be mourned for and I shal haue a princely funeral Therefore so soone as I haue giuen vp the ghost cause souldiours to compasse these men whom I haue here in hold and kill them all for so all Iudaea and euerie houshold thereof shall against their will bewaile my death As thus he commanded this to be done the Legates came which he had sent to Rome bringing him letters wherein was shewed how Acmes Iulia her maid was by Caesars command put to death and Antipater condemned to die yet Caesar writ that if his father had rather banish him he would condiscend thereunto also Herod with this newes was something refleshed yet presently with paine he was ouercome for he both was troubled with a vehement cough and almost pined with fasting to that he thought to hasten his owne death and taking no apple in his hand he called for a knife for hee was accustomed to cut the meat which he did eare and then looking about him least any standing by might hinder him he lifted vp his arme to strike himselfe But Achiabus his cousin raâ—… hastily vnto him and stayed his hand and presently there was made great lamentation throughout the kings pallace as though the king had beene dead Antipater hauing speedy newes hereof was glad and tooke courage and promised the keepers a peece of money to let him go But the chiefest of them did not only denie to do it but also went presently to the king and told him all what Antipater requested Herod hearing this lifted vp his voice with more strength then was meete for a sicke man and commaunded his guard to go and kill Antipater and burie him in the Castle called Hyrcanium And then againe he altered his testament and writ Archelaus his eldest sonne who was brother to Antipas for king and appointed Antipas for Tetrarch Fiue dayes after the death of his sonne Antipater Herod died â—…hauing reigned thirtie and foure yeares after he slew Antigonus and thirtie seuen yeares after that the Romans had declared him king And in all other things he was as fortunate as any man for he being but a priuate person got the crowne and kept it and left it vnto his posteritie but in his houshold affaires hee was most infortunate Salome before it was knowne that the king was dead went forth with her husband and released all those that were in hold whom the king commanded to be slaine saying that the kings mind was now altered and therefore he gaue them all licence to depart and after their departure the kings death was made known to the souldiers who together with the other multitude were assembled in the Amphitheater at Iericho Where Ptolemaeus keeper of the kings seale made a speech vnto them and began to say that Herod was now happie and comforted the multitude and so he read vnto them a letter which the king left wherein he earnestly requested the souldiers to fauour and loue his successour After the Epistle read he recited the kings testament wherein Philip was appointed heire of Trachon the places therunto adioyning Antipas designed Tetrarch and Archelaus king Him also he commanded to beare his ring vnto Caesar and withall notice and intelligence of the estate of the kingdome whereof he had beene gouernor fast sealed in writing for he appointed Caesar to be ouerseer of all his ordinances vnto whose pleasure he left the performance of his testament This was no sooner reade but presently the skies were filled with the voyces and cries of the people who did congratulate Archelaus and the souldiers and the people came in companies vnto him promising their fauor and furtherance and desired God alwayes to assist him This done euerie one was busied about the kings funerals where Archelaus spared no cost but buried the King with all royall pompe possible The Beere wheron he was carried was adorned with gold and precious stones vpon it lay a bed wrought with purple whereupon was laid the dead corps of the King couered also with purple with a crowne on his head and a diademe of pure gold and a scepter in his right hand About the Beere were his sonnes and kinsfolke and the guard bands of Thracians Germans and Gauls all went before in order as though they had gone to warres The rest of the
periurie for they esteeme him condemned for a lyer who is not beleeued without he call God to witnesse They studie diligently ancient Writers chiefly gathering out of their writings what is most conuenient for the soule and the body Out of them they learne remedies for diseases and medicinable hearbes and what is the proper effect of euerie stone Those who are desirous to be of their order do not straightway conuerse with them but for a yeare before they liue out of their Colledge and haue the same diet giuing them also a little hatchet and such a girdle as is before spoken of and a white garment But at the yeares end if they perceiue him to be continent then they take him into their refectorie and he is made partaker of purer waters to the end he may continue chast yet is hee not admitted in common amongst them for two yeares after this his triall they obserue his life and manners and at last when he is thought worthy then is he admitted to their common company And before he be receiued to the common table first he protesteth with great and solemne oaths that he will worship God and obserue iustice fidelitie towards all men and neither willingly hurt any man nor iniure any one for another mans command but that he wil alwaies hate the wicked and assist the good and euer keepe his faith to all but especially to his superiours For no man can obtaine the power of principality without the will and good pleasure of God and that if he be put in authoritie ouer others he neuer will abuse it to the preiudice of those that are vnder him and neither exceed the rest in apparrell nor in any other ambitious pompe that he will alwaies loue the truth and euer endeuour to confute liers and that he will keepe his hands from stealing and his soule pure from all vniust gaine and that he will not conceale any mysteries or secrets from his companions nor reueale them to any straungers although he should be thereto compelled by death Adding moreouer that they will neuer deliuer any doctrine saue that which they haue receiued and that they will auoide theft and diligently keepe the bookes of their doctrine and the names of Angels And with these oaths they trie and as it were arme those who enter into their order Those of their congregation who shall be condemned they thrust out of their companie and whosoeuer is so punished for the most part dieth a miserable death for hauing once taken this oath it is not lawfull for him to take meat of any straunger so that feeding on grasse like beasts at last he perisheth through famine For which cause oftentimes they moued with compassion receiue many into their order againe euen readie by famine to yeeld vp the ghost iudging them to haue endured penance inough for their offences who with famine were almost brought vnto deaths doore They are verie seuere and iust in their iudgement and to decide any matter there is neuer fewer of them then a hundreth and that which by them is agreed vpon is an irreuocable sentence Next after God they reuerence the lawmaker insomuch as if any one reuile him they forthwith condemne him to death They greatly reuerence olde men and a multitude so that if ten of them sit togither no man of them must speake without he be licenced thereto by nine of the companie They also must not spit in the midst of the assembly nor on the right hand And they are more seuere then anie other Iewes in obseruing the Sabboths And they do not onely abstaine from dressing meat vpon that day but also they may not remoue anie vessell out of his place nor go to the priuie Vpon other daies they dig a pit a foot deepe into the ground with the hatchet which as we before said euerie one at his entrance into their order hath giuen him and then couering themselues diligently with their garment least they should doe iniurie to the light of heauen in that pit they ease themselues and thē couer their ordure with the earth they took out of the pit this they do in most secret places And although this purging of their bodies be naturall yet do they by washing purifie themselues after it as after great vncleannes Furthermore they amongst themselues are deuided into foure orders according to the times which they haue taken to follow this exercise of life and they who are iuniors are so farre different from the seniors that if they do but touch one of them they presently purifie themselues as though they had beene prophaned by a straunger They are long liued so that most of them liue a hundreth yeeres which I iudge is by reason of their well ordered diet and their temperancie They contemne aduersitie and by counsell and discretion ouercome torments They preferre an honourable death before life And the warres which the Iewes made against the Romans shewed what courage and hardines they haue in all things For being then compelled by breaking of the members of their bodies and firie torments all kind of tortures which were laid vpon them to reuile the lawmaker and to eate any meate forbidden yet could they not be forced to any of these neither wold they entreat the torturers nor shew any sorrow amidst their torments Nay in the verie midst of their griefes and paines they scoffed at their tormenters and laughing ioyfully yeelded vp their soules as though they hoped to receiue them againe For it is an opinion amongst them that the bodie is corruptible and that the matter thereof is not perpetual but yet the soule remaines for euer immortall who passing out of a most pure and subtile ayre wrap themselues in bodies as in prisons being as it were drawen thereunto by a naturall inclination And when they are deliuered cut of these carnall bonds then presently as freed from a long bondage they ioyfully mount aloft And of the good soules they say as did the Grecians that they liue beyond the Ocean seas in a place of pleasure where they are neuer molested with raine nor snow nor heat but haue alwaies a sweet and pleasant ayre comming out of the Ocean But the wicked soules as they say go into a place very tempestuous where there is alwaies as it were winter weather alwaies ful of lamentations of those who for euer are to be punished But I iudge that the Greekes are of this opinion when they say there is an Isle for the vertuous whom they call Heroes and halfe-gods and that the soules of the wicked go to a place in hell where as it is fained some to be tormented as Sysiphus Tantalus Ixion Tytius Which they did first inuent for this purpose because those who are of good disposition are made better in this life by hope of some reward in the life to come and the wicked are as they thought hereby restrained for feare of eternall
agreed in this to wit to put the iust men to death who best deserued to liue Day and night nothing could be heard saue only the noise of them that sought one against another yet the lamentable cries of them that liued in a perpetual feare was farre more miserable who euerie day had new causes and occasions of sorrow giuen them yet durst they not publikely lament for feare and so not daring to shew their griefe they secretly sorrowed now ◅o man obserued any reuerence to them that were aliue amongst them nor tooke any care to burie the dead The cause of both which was that euerie man despaired of himselfe For whosoeuer were not ioyned with the seditious grew to be carelesse of all things as making account presently to die a thousand deaths But the seditious gathering the dead bodies vpon heapes continued their fighting and troad vpon them and as it were encouraging themselues by the dead vnder their feete they became more cruell still deuising one pernicious practise or other and presently executing whatsoeuer they deuised without any commi◅eration omitting no way to murther and leauing no tyrannie vnattempted so that Iohn abused the holy things o◅ the temple to make engines of warre For before time when the priests and people had determined to vnderprop the temple and build it twentie cubits higher king Agrippa with great cost and charges brought them very goodly timber sufficient for their purpose from mount Libanus And this worke being preuented by warres Iohn tooke them and seeing them fit for his purpose he erected a tower to fight against those that assaulted him frō off the temples which he bullt along the wall ouer against the chapterhouse that standeth on the West side of the temple for he could builde it in no other place by reason that all other places were filled with staires And hauing thus impiously prouided engines he hoped hereby to destroy his enemies But God shewed his labour to be in vaine and before he could preuaile against them he brought the Romans against the Citie For after that Titus had now gathered togither part of his army and by writing appointed the rest to meete him at Ierusalem he departed from Caesarea hauing three legions that lately vnder the conduct of his father Vespasian had wasted all Iudaea and the twelfth legion that sometime vnder Cestius were ouercome and put to flight by the Iewes who though they were otherwise valiant enough yet they desired to fight against the Iewes to reuenge themselues for that disgrace Titus commanded the fist legion to meete him at Ierusalem and go by Emmaus and that the tenth legion should march by lericho the rest he tooke with himselfe accompanied with the kings forces that came to helpe him hauing now more helpe then before and many also out of Syria Titus also brought men with him to supply the number that was wanting being sent by Vespasian with Mutianus into Italy For he brought two thousand chosen men from the legions at Alexandria and three thousand followed him from Euphrates togither with Tiberius Alexander his chiefest friend and one next him in most authoritie who before was gouernour of Aegypt and as then thought a fit man worthy to be gouernour of the army for that he was the first that did entertaine the Emperour being new elected who faithfully ioyned with Vespasian though yet he knew not what successe he should haue and he was present with him in all his affaires as his chiefest counseller renowmed both for his wisedome and experience CHAP. II. How Titus went to Ierusalem to see their strength and how he was in great danger TItus being now to go into the countrey of the enemy caused all those that came to help him to march in the formost place after whom followed they that were to mende the waies and to pitch the tents and after them they which carried the baggage of the rulers and gouernours of his ◅my and with them the armed souldiers Next after these came Titus himselfe accompanied with chosen men and with him many that bare his colours next the horsemen going immediately before the engines And the Prefects and Tribunes with certaine chosen men and their companies followed After them the Eagle with many other ensignes and the trumpets went before them And after them followed the army marching six in a rancke then the multitude of seruants that followed euerie legion did driue their baggage before them lastly came the hirelings and those that were appointed to guard them Marching in such comly warlike manner as the Romans are wont he came by Samaria into Gophna which place was already conquered by his father and then also was vnder the custody of the Roman garrisons And staying there one night he departed from thence the next day and after a daies iourney he pitched his tents in a place which in the Iews language is called Acanthonaulona that is the valley of thorns neere vnto a village named Gabath Saul which signifieth the valley of Saul which is almost thirtie furlongs from Ierusalem From thence accompanied with six hundreth chosen horsemen he went to Ierusalem to view how strong it was of what courage the Iewes were to see if peraduenture at sight of him they would yeeld without any further war for feare For Titus vnderstood and it was true that the people desired peace but they were oppressed by the seditious and so durst not attempt any thing being not able to encounter or resist the rebels Titus riding along the high way that went straight to the wals saw no man all the way but turning aside towards the tower Psephinos with his horsemen an infinite number presently issued out by the towers of women at a gate opposite to Helens toombe and brake his rancke of horsemen into two parts and opposed themselues hindring those horsemen that were yet in the high way to come and ioine with the rest that had crost the way and so did single out Titus accompanied only with a few men So he could go no further for the ditch of the town wall on one side for the garden pales on the other side and there was no hope for him to returne vnto his souldiers the enemies being betweene him and home And many of his souldiers not knowing their Generall to be in any danger but supposing him to haue been amongst them still fled away Titus seeing that he had onely his owne valour to trust vnto turned his horse against his enemies and with a lowd voice exhorted his followers to doe the like and so he brake violently into the midst of them hastning to get vnto his companie It was euident at that time that God giueth the victorie and hath a particular care of kings and princes and Emperours For notwithstanding that an infinite number of darts and arrowes were shot at Titus and he had no armour at all for as we haue already said he
prohibited the Aegyptians from hauing the priuiledges of any Citie and so this gallant gentleman being himselfe incapable of dignitie endeuoreth likewise to hinder them from it who haue true right vnto it For Alexander labouring with all diligence to build that Citie did not make choice of vs for want of people to furnish the same withall but for that he bestowed the libertie thereof vpon vs as a reward and testimonie of our vertue and fidelitie endeuouring indeed to honour and credit our nation thereby for Hecataeus reporteth that Alexander for the Iewes good seruice and fidelitie bestowed vpon them the countrey of Samaria and freed them from paying tribute for it The same good affection towards the Iewes of Alexandria Ptolomaeus Lagus continued after him for he deliuered into their hands the strong holds of Aegypt for that he iudged that their valour and fidelitie would keepe them and intending to make himselfe Lord of Cyren and other places in Lybia he sent certaine Iewes to inhabite the same After him Ptolomaeus Philadelphus did not onely release and set free all captiues of our nation in his countrey but also did many times remit their paiments of money and which was the principall point of all he desired to be instructed in our lawes and holy scriptures for this cause sent vnto vs requesting that we would send him some learned men to interpret them vnto him and that this might be performed with more diligence he committed the care hereof not to any but Demetrius Phalerius Andreas Aristeus Demetrius being the onely mirror of learning in his age the other two being Esquires of his own body neither would he haue euer desired to haue bin instructed in our lawes and customes if he had despised vs had not rather admired vs. But Apion know that almost all the Macedonian kings his successors in order did peculiarly affect our nation For Ptolomaeus the third which was also called Euergetes cōquering Syria by force did no sacrifice vnto the gods of Egypt for his victory but came to Ierusalē there after our maner sacrificed many hosts vnto our God to him dedicated gifts worthy of such a victory Ptolomaeus also surnamed Philometor his wife Cleopatra cōmitted the rule of his whole kingdom vnto the Iews Onias Dositheus both Iews were generals of his army whose credit Apion detractes wheras he rather ought to haue admired them haue thanked them for deliuering Alexandria whereof he maketh himselfe a citizen For when there was a rebellion in Cleopatras kingdome and all was in perill to be destroyed these two men deliuered Alexandria from ciuill warres But Apion saith that after this Onias came and brought a little armie into the citie at such time as Thermus the Roman Embassadour was there present True it is and that fact of his was most iust For Ptolomaeus Physcon after the death of his father Ptolomaeus Philometor comming out of Cyrene endeuored to expell the Queene Cleopatra and the kings sonnes to the ende that he contrary to all iustice might possesse the kingdome and this was the cause why Onias tooke armes against him in Cleopatras behalfe not forsaking his fidelitie vnto kinges in the time of necessitie yet God himselfe did manifestly witnesse his iustice in this actiom For when Ptolomaeus Physcon presumed to fight against Onias his armie and tooke all the Iewes their wiues and childrenthat were in the Citie and bound them and stripping them naked cast them before Elephants to be destroyed and to the intent that the Elephants might the rather treade vpon them made the said beasts dronken all things fell out contrarie to his expectation for the Elephants forsaking the Iewes which were cast before them did fall vpon Ptolomaeus his friends that stood by and slew many of them which done there appeared vnto Ptolomaeus a most horrible vision forbidding him to harme the Iewes and his chiefest best beloued concubine also whom some cal Ithaca other Herene came vnto him besought him to abstaine from such impietie wherrupon he being sorie did penance for that he had alreadie committed and that which he thought to commit so that the Iewes of Alexandria celebrate this day in remembrance that vpon it God did manifestly deliuer them yet Apion who speaketh well of no man accuseth the lewes of impietie for bearing armes against Physcon whereas indeed he ought rather to haue commended them for it But Apion extolleth Cleopatra the last Queene of Alexandria onely for that she was vniust and ingratefull vnto vs when he rather ought to haue reproued her in whom all impietie and wickednes raigned both concerning her owne kinred and her husbands who loued her and also generally against all the Romans and the Emperours his bene factors who killed her owne sister Arsinoe in the temple who had not any wife offended her shealso trecherously slew her owne brother and destroyed her auncestors Gods and sepulchers and receiuing the kingdome from the first Caesars gift she ingratefully rebelled against his son and successor and infecting Antonie with her poisoned drinks and amorous enchauntments she made him rebell against his countrey and to be vnconstant to his own friends depriuing some of kingly dignitie and compelling others to be instruments of her impietie And what else shall we say of her who in the battaile by sea sorced Antonius her owne husband who also had many children by her to yeeld himselfe the Empire and armie vnto her and become one of her followers Lastly when Alexandria was taken by Caesar she was so cruelly minded that not remembring her owne estate she accounted this her safetie if with her owne hand she might kill the Iewes that she might be cruell and trothlesse to euery bodie Is it not a glorie thinke you to vs that as Apion reporteth in the time of dearth and famine wheat was so plentiful in Iury that it was not solde by measure But Cleopatra was punished as she deserued And we call great Caesar himselfe to witnesse of our fidelitie and the seruice we did him against the Aegyptians the Senate also and their decrees and the writings of Augustus Caesar wherein our deserts are testified These letters Apion ought to haue read and to haue examined all testimonies of vs which were left first by Alexander and then by all the Ptolomees and what the Senate of Rome decreed and the mightie Emperours And if so be Germanicus could not get corne to suffice all the inhabitants of Alexandria that was a token of scarcitie and dearth and not the Iewes fault For what all Emperours thought of the Alexandrian Iewes it is manifest enough for the Iewes want of corne was not onely left vnsupplied but also the want of other Alexandrians But they haue alwaies kept that wherewith the auncient Princes did put them in trust to wit the keeping of the riuer and whole countey as not being thought vnfit for their
that our funerals should neither bee pompeous nor our sepulchres gorgious commaunding euerie houshold to performe all necessaries touching the buriall of their dead permitting all men at any ones death to assemble themselues together and bewaile the dead It also commaundeth euerie one yea euen the dead mans owne family to purifie themselues after the buriall and to goe a farreoff as seeming to bee vncleane It also appointeth punishment for them that haue committed murder either wilfully or against their will It bindeth euerie man to obey his parents next after God and commaundeth that those children that doe not shewe themselues gratefull vnto them or in any thing doe grieue them that they should be stoned to death It also commandeth all yong men to reuerence olde men because God is elder to vs all It permitteth not friends to councell any impietie for God is not their friend who doth not disclose them and if friends fall out that doe know one anothers secrets yet they are commaunded not to bewray them If any Iudge take a bribe he is to be punished with death for omitting iustice and assisting the guiltie No man must take any thing away that he himselfe placed not and no man must take that which is not his owne No man for lending must take vsurie and many such like things our law commaundeth concerning cause of communion betweene vs and others It is also not amisse to recount how our law maker prouided for the entertaining of strangers amongst vs For he seemeth so to haue prouided that to our knowledge wee neither corrupt our owne lawes nor denie to impart them to others but hee entertaineth all liberally that will come and liue vnder our lawes iudging the communitie of mans life not so much to consist in the nation whereof we come as in the vnitie of our minds and conuersation He forbiddeth others that are strangers and come not with that intent to be admitted to our solemnities yet he commanded vs to exhibite vnto them all other things necessarie and that wee should giue vnto all men fire water meate and burie them being dead He hath also most mildly determined how we ought to deale with our enemies that wee neither destroy their Countrie with fire nor out downe their fruit trees Wee are also forbidden to rob and spoyle those that are slaine in fight and deale iniuriously with our captiues and especially if they be women yea hee so endeuoured to teach vs humanitie mildnes that he prouided that we vse euen vnreasonable beasts courteously only imploy them to serue our lawfull need and no further for he forbiddeth vs to kill any tame thing bred in our houses and that we should not kill the olde beasts and their young together and although many wilde beasts enemies to mankind doe assist vs in our labours yet he commaunded to spare them also And that in euerie point hee established humanitie and mildnesse amongst vs vsing as is before said lawes to direct vs therein enacting also other how they who infringe the foresaid laws may be with al seueritie punished for the punishment allotted to the violaters hereof is for the most part death as if any man commit adulterie rauish a virgine vse the sinne against nature with another or suffer himselfe to bee so abused We also haue lawes concerning our seruants our measures and weights and vnlawfull bargaines and sales or deceite if either one take any thing that is an other mans or which is not his owne all these are to be punished not as other nations punish them but much more grieuously But whosoeuer either iniurieth his parents or committeth impietie against God he shall presently bee destroyed but they that obserue this law are rewarded not with gold or siluer nor with a crowne beset with precious stone but euerie one hauing his conscience to witnesse doth greatly profit and gaine eternitie as both our law-maker prophecieth and God himselfe doth most assuredly promise to them that obserue them And if it chance that we bee forced to suffer death for them yet doe we ioyfully goe to execution nothing doubting but that we shall so exchange this life for a better I should bee loth to report this if our deedes did not make it manifest for many of our forefathers onely for that they refused to speake against our lawes or otherwise then our lawes permitted haue most manfully and constantly indured all torments and death it selfe If our nation were vnknowne to all the world and that this our voluntarie obseruation of our lawes were not manifest to all people if any man should report vnto the Greekes that either hee had read this which I haue declared or else that hee had found people in a straunge land such as we bee hauing so pius and honest opinions concerning God and who had for many ages perseuered therein I doubt not but they would all admire and wonder hereat considering the great mutabilitie amongst themselues To bee short their are some who sticke not to deride them who haue lately written of the gouernement of Commonwealthes and lawes as though they had written thinges fabulous and altogether impossible And that I speake nothing of other Philosophers that haue written of this argument That diuine Plato amongst the Greekes a man who in honest life vertuous speech and sound Philosophie excelled all others This man is almost continually scoffed at by them who in their owne conceit are skilfull in ciuill affaires and brought in as a vice in a comedy Whereas whosoeuer considereth his writings with diligence shall often and easily finde matter agreeable with most mens manners yea this Plato himselfe confesseth that he dare not by reason of the common peoples ignorance set downe the true opinion of God But many thinke Platoes words full of varietie and licentiousnesse and admire Lycurgus and euerie one commendeth the Citie of Sparta for that it so long time perseuered in his lawes It is therefore an euident demonstration of vertue to remaine in their lawes But if those who so admire the Lacedemonians doe compare them with vs and the time during the which their lawes were in force with the time of our common wealth they shall finde that ours hath continued more then two thousand weeres They shall also finde that the Lacedemonians did onely perfectly obserue their lawes during such time as they were in prosperitie and libertie and that when their fortune chaunged that then they became vnmindefull of their lawes But we who haue felt many thousand mishaps by reason of the often chaunge of princes in Asia haue not in these our last miseries and euils forsaken our lawe Neither can any man say that libertie and licentious life is the cause why we so diligently obserue them seeing that who so please may see sufficient proofe that they tie vs to more strict life and laborious then those of the Lacedemonians did them For they neither tilled the
to make a league with them ibid. h i. appointed to publike ministeries ibid i k. Gabinius ouercommeth Alexander 356. l. 569. c d. repaireth Cities in Iurie ibid. taketh Aristobulus c. 357. ouercommeth the Nabathaeans ibid. f. 569. e. Gad the sonne of Iacob 24. k. what it signifies ibid. k his children 40. g. Gadara besieged and taken 650. i. Gadareans accuse Herode 407 a. entertaine Vespasian 686. h. Gaal assisted the Sichemites to gather their fruits 118. h i. banished out of Sichem ibid. k. Galaad a pillar 25. f. Galaadites besieged by Naas 134. g h. succoured by Saul ibid. i k l. Galba foretold to be emperour 477. c slaine 691. c. a Galilean slaine 221. c. his death cause of a tumult ibid. c. Galilaeans murthered 519. f. reuenge themselues 520 g. theirfaith and loue toward Ioseph 534. k. desire to inuade Tiberias 535. b. entreat Ioseph to stay 541. e. their testimonie of Ioseph 544. flocke to Ioseph 642. k. Galilee described 646. k. the length and breadth thereof ibid. l. Galley built by Herode 577. c. Gamala faithfull to Rome 532. g. 533. a. how situated 667. c. inexpugnable ibid. c d. taken 670. g h. Games Circensian 490. i. Ganges called also Phison 4. h. Gardens c. about Iericho 688. h. Garden of pleasure 4. d. Adam placed thâ—…in ibid. g. Garment of Ioseph 32. h. Garment of linnen and woollen 91. b. Garment of the Priests 197 c. Garment of the high Priest 707. e f. Garrison of the Philistines wonne 136. h. Garrison placed in Syria 167. d. in Idumaea ibid. c. Gedeon called and encouraged 116. h i k. his men and meanes ibid. k l m. obtaineth the victorie and how 117. a. killeth Oreb and Zeb and pacifieth Ephraim ibid. b c. Gehon a riuer of Paradice 4. h. called also Nilus ibid. h. Germans Caesars guard 496. g. resort to the Theatre 497. c. their furie pacified ibid. Germanicus poisoned 466. h. Genealogie of Noah 6. m. of Abraham 11. e. of Eli 127. a of Sadoc 191. d e. of Alexander and Aristobulus 620. l. Generals of armies 100. k. 147. c 160. h. 191. f 245 c. 255. b. 283. f. Genezar the lake described 665. c. the length and breadth therof ibid. d e. Gerson Moses sonne 46. m. Ghost of Samuel 155. b. certifieth Saul of his end ibid. c. Giants ingendred 6. k. horrible to looke on 109. c. Giants extinguished 13. e. Gifts of the princes of the Tribes 67. f. of the kings to Salomon 199. f. Gifts of Herode 588. i k. 594. m. of Antipater 597. e. f. 601. d e. Gimona Prophet 213. a. foretelleth the miseries of Basa and his race ibid. b. Gischala burned 531. f. Gladnes of Anna 125. e. Glaphyra wife of Alexander 424. k. Archelaus daughter ibid. increaseth suspition 592. h. examined 431. f. sent backe to her father 437. c d. 597. e. her dreame 461. c. Gleanings to be left for the poore 92. m. Gluttonie of Vitellius 696. i. God created the world 3. c. resteth the seuenth day ibid. 〈◊〉 speaketh to Adam 4. k. punisheth him Euah and the Serpent 4. l. m. sendeth the Deluge 6. k. 8. h i. willeth the Earth to be inhabited g h. appeareth to Iacob 39. d. his prouidence in sauing Moses 42. l. m. 43. a b appeared to Moses 46. a. feedeth the Israelites c. 55. a. comforteth Samuel 131. a. certifieth him whom to create king 132. i. sendeth him to Bethlem 140. m. appeareth twice to Salomon 198. h. 199. c. speaketh to Elias 226. l. Gods fauour to the Romans 630. h. 714. k. knoweth when to reuenge 716. i. k. Godlines of Ancestors remembred 42. g. Gods of Laban digged vp 27. b. Gods of other countries 91. b. Godolias Captaine of the fugitiues 256. g. slaine 256. k. Gold in great quantitie 57. b. 87. e f. 102. m. 103. f. 106. sold for halfe the price 734. d. Golden statue erected 259. c. Golden Eagle 447. f. Golden chaine 507. e. Goliah the Philistine 142. h. chalengeth a single combat ibid. h i. encountred and slaine 143. c d. Gomar Iaphets sonne 10. h. his progenie ibid. h. i. Gonorrhaea a running of the raines 70. k. Good deserts not to be forgotten 145. c. Goodlines of personage not respected 141. a. b. Goods that are found 95. f. Goods of mind bodie and fortune 199. a b 200 g h. 589. a. Goods of Archelaus confiscate 614. h. i. common 614. m. of Aman 282. g. Goâ—…ons death c. 683. c. Gouernment of the Romans how farre c. 649. a b. Gouernment of the tribe of Iuda 109. a. of Gouernments the best kind 92. h. Gouernments of the Hebrewes distinct 135. b. Gouernment of the Iewes chaunged 569. a b. what Gouernours to be chosen 58. h. 91. d. the Gouernour Moses commended 99. e. f. Gouernours of Salomon 193. d e. Gouernour of both Galilees who 639. c. Grapes not to be forbidden the gatherers 93. a. Grashoppers one of the plagues of Egypt 48. m. Gratuitie of Salomon 201. a. Gratulation of the Iewes scorned 625. a. Gratulation of the Bethsamites 128. m. of Herode 586. i. of the people 451. c. Gratus conflict 456. l. see fight Graues of concupiscence 73. c. Griefe causeth or hindreth passion 801. a. Ground about Iericho fruitfull 688. i. H Habit or forme of Elias 224. l. Habitations of Isaacs sons 28. g. Haile one of the plagues of Egppt 48. m. Hall for assemblies 290. i. Hand of Moses 46. k. Hand of Ieroboam withered 207. e. restored ibid. f. Handmaids of Iacobs wiues 24. h i. m. Harbours 405. d. ill Haruest of the Egyptians destroyed 49. a. Hatred of Iosephs brethren 28. l. of the Egyptians to the Hebrewes 41. b. of Saul against Dauid 143. 〈◊〉 of Absalon against Amnon 172. m. of the souldiers against Demetrius 326. l. of sonnes to the father 425. f. Hauen of Caius 501. c. Hauen described 517. d. Heauen created 3. c d. and how placed ibid. Hebrew slaue when to be freed 95. e. Hebrewes Originall 11. 〈◊〉 of whom so called ibid. e. their insupportable seruitude 41. c. 46. g. l. 47. e. chiefest of them meet Moses 47. a. perswaded to obey ibid. a b. celebrated their Passeouer 49. c d. departed out of Egypt ibid. d. 50. g. go thorow the red sea 51. d. sing songs of praise 52 g. h. fight with the Chanaanites 76. a i k. ouerthrow the Amorites 8â—… l. m. possesse their land 83. b. reuok from the lawes of their fathers 86. g. ouercome the Madianites 87. b. bound by oth to keepe the law 98. k. ouerthrow the Canaanites 105. b. bring the Arke into battell 126. i. feed on bloudie flesh 138. g. see Israelites Hebron a place of buriall 19. a. 20 l. 27. d. 28. g. 40. m. Hebron the citie taken 109. c. Dauids royall fear 164. i. Hecataeus 12. k. writ a volume of Abraham ibid. k. Height of the mountaine Itaburium 669. c d. Heires of Dauid 166. i. Helena Queene of Adiabena 513. f.
all his houshold ibid. m. sendeth out a Crowe and a Doue 7. d 〈◊〉 the tenth from Adam 6. m. sacrificeth to God 7. c. praieth to God 8. g is heard ibid. h. Gods couenant with him ibid. i k. his age 7. c. his three sonnes 9. a. his kinde of life 11. c. was druâ—…ken and derided ibid. c. Nob a Citie of the priests burnt 149. c d. Nobilitie slaine by the theeues 673. a. 12000. slaine 682. i. Nobilitie of the Iewes flie to the Romans 730. i. Nobles repaire to Dauid 163. d. Nobles shut vp by Herod 449. c. 605. c f. released 450. m. 606. h. Nothing attempted by the Romans rashly 648. l m. 669. a. Number of the children of Israel 49. f. from twentie to fiftie yeeres of age 66. b. of Dauids souldiers 163. c f. of workmen 195. b c. of Iewes that returned from captiuitie 266. g. 269. d. of high priests 526. g. 527. a. of the captiues and slaine in Ierusalem 744. i k c. Nuptiall feast 24. g. O Obed Edoms felicitie 165. c. Obed begat Iesse 125. a. Obeda king of Arabia 344. k. discomsits Alexander ibid. Obediah hideth the prophets 215. d. Obedience of Abraham 17. c. Obedience to magistrates 89. d c. Obedience of the Roman souldier 648. i k. 649. a b. Obimes Ieroboams sonne 210. i. falleth sicke and dieth ibid. i k. Obodas king of Arabia 425. c. giuen to idlenesse ibid. c. 428. m. Obsequies of Herod 451. a. Obseruers of Gods lawes rewarded 2. i k. Occasion of the Iewes warres 625. a. Occasion of victorie what 649. a b. Occasion of violences 674. g. Occurrences of kingdomes and common weales 2. g. 85. a. Occurrences of Ieremy 250. k. Ochozias king of Israel reprooued and why 224. k l. his souldiers consumed ibid. m. 225. a. his death foretolde ibid. b. Ochozias king of Iuda 231. a. visiteth Ioram 232. g. slaine ibid. i. Ode of praise 52. g. Office of Iudges 91. d e. of an Historiographer 390. h i. of the priests 693. a. Ofspring of Noah Abraham c. looke progenie Og king of Galadine 83. b. is slaine with his arâ—…y ibid. c. his high stature and great strength ibid. c. Oile in the pot multiplied 214. l m. 226. l m. scalding Oile throwne on the Romans 655. c f. Olda the prophetesse 249. b. Olde man killeth his wife c. 377. c. Olde and weake Iewes slaine 744. g. h. One sacred Citie one temple and one Altar 90. l. Onias high priest 286. m. Onias high priest 297. paid not his tribute ibid. Onias high priests sonne 313. c. wins the fauour of Ptolomey 322. m. buildeth a temple in Aegypt ib. l m. 559. a. Onias stoned to death 351. f. 352. g. Ophni sonne of Eli 125. b. his impietie and wickednesse ib. b. is slaine 126. k. Opinion of the Esseans and Grecians of the soule 616. l m. Opinion of the Pharisees and Sadduces 617. b c. Opinion of the wisest Greekes c. 791. c. Oppression of the Israelites 113. d. 114. g. ibid. m. 115. e f. 119. c d. 120. l. of the Iewes 623. e f. 624. g h. c. 625. a b. c. Oracle of God to Iosuah 103. c d. Oracles of the Prophets to be râ—…uerenced 222 i. Oration of Abraham 18. h. of Ruben 34. m. 35. a. of Iuda 37. c. c. and 38. g h. of Ioseph 37. a b. of Mâ—… to the people 59. b. to the seditious 77. f. 78. g. c. of Zambrias 86. k. of Moses before his death 89. a. c. of the Gabeonites 104. h. of Iosuah c. 106. m. of Phinces 107. c. of Samuel 129. c. 133. b. of Saul 148. l m. of Abias 211. c. of Herod 391. c. 392. g c. 584 i. 585. c. of Nicholaus 414. i. 415. 444. k. 590. m. of Agrippa 627. c. of Ioseph 641. c. 659. b. c. of Titus 663. d. 671. a. of Ananus 674. g. c. of Iesus 677. c. of Caesar c. 703. d. of Ioseph to the Iewes 714. i. 715. a. c. 716. g. of Titus to the Ieweâ—… 740. g c. of Eleazar 758. h. Orchards 688. h. Order of the Romans 648. h. Order of superiour bodies 6. h. Order of the Army c. 72. l m. Order of Carpenters Masons c. 195. b c. Order of the Cities of Galilee 640. i k. Order of Titus army 699. c e f. Ordinance of Artaxerxes 278. g. 280. g h. Ordinances of the fathers transgressed 86. h. Oreb slaine 117. b. Original of the Hebrewes 11. c. Original of the Troglodytes 19. b. Original of the Israelites mischiefes 243. f. Original of the Grecian lawes 791. c d. Original of the Iewes lawes 798. k l. Ornaments of the high priest 63. f. 64. g h c. Ornaments of Salomons pallace 200. k. Oronna or Orphona a Iebusite spared 164. k l. giueth Dauid his floore 185. a b. Oseas king of Israel ouercome 24â—… h. made tributarie ibid. i. taken prisoner 243. c. his subiects transported and why ibid. e f. Oth how in time past taken 19. d. o th taken to obserue the law 98. k. 249. d. Oth when and how to be kept 112. k. Oth of Ionathan to Dauid 147 a b. Oth of Senacherib falsified 245. b. o th obserued 440. l Otho Emperour 691. f. slaine ibid. Ouerthrow of the Sodomites 13. d e. of the Amorites 82. m l. of the Hebrewes 76. g k. 157. f. of Antonie 393. f. Outrages of Elies sonnes 125. b. of Naas offered the Israelites 133. e f. of Azael 235. b. 236. g h i. of Florus souldiers 625. c. Outward court of the temple c. 707. c. Oxen seuen what doe signifie 33. f. how many taken at once 87. c. not to be muzled 93. a. oxe that striketh 96. i. Oza sodainly stroken dead 165. d. and why ibid. Ozias king of Iudaes warlike exploits 239. b c. acts and studies ibid. c d. striken with a leprosie and why 239. e f. enioyned to depart the Citie ibid. 240. g. his death and buriall 240. g. P Pacorus sendeth horsemen to Antigonus 370. l. 575. a. his perswasion to Phasaelus 371. his treason and subtiltie ibid. b c d. 575. d. Pageants built 751. a. Painters cause multitude of gods 796. k. Palestine whence tooke his name 11. a. Palestines ouercome the Israelites 120. l. 126. h. inuade the Israelites 136. i. are ouercome 137. d e. 143. d e. 16â—… b c Pallace in Tiberias burned 533. c. Pallace built in Ierusalem 404. k. 〈◊〉 Pallace of Salomon 200. h. Pallace of the king 705. c. burned ibid. c. Palme trees 687. f. 688. h. Pamphilian sea deuided it selfe 52. h. Pappus beheaded 582. g. Paradice 4. g. where scituate ibid. g. h. adorned with all sortes of plants ibid. g. Parents compelled to murther their children 41. 〈◊〉 Paricid a publike iniurie 445. l. Parricides 246. k. Parthians restore Antigonus 379. l. 576. complot trecherie against Phasaelus 371. c. surprise him and Hyrâ—…anus ibid. f. lay a
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
sithence the beginning of the world being compared with those the Iewes suffered are of no moment The Grecian Historiographers ouerpasse the wars of the Iewes with silence Who may rightly be called a Historiographer Antiochus Epiphanes the first author fountaine of the warres of the Iewes The Epiromâ—… of the warreâ—… of the Iewes The signes and changes after Neroes death Titus besiegeth Ierusalem The manners and sacrifices of the Iewes The humanity of thâ—… Romans towards the Iewes The burning of the temple and the ouerthrow of the citie The Romans triumph ouer the Iewes The cause why he wrote this historie The yeare of the world 3802 before Christs birth 162. Ant. li. 12. ca. 6. Antiochus being stirred vp by 〈◊〉 soâ—… inuadeth Iudaea and surpriseth Ierusalem Ant lib. 15. cap. 4. The yeare of thâ—… world 3802. before the birth of Christ. 162. The high priest Onâ—… flieth to Ptolomey Ant. lib. 1â—… cap. 7. Antiochus altereth the customes of the Iewes Bacchides crâ—…eltie towards the Iewes Ant. lib. 1. cap. 7. 8. Matthias confederated with others maketh warre againâ—… Antiochus Antiochus dieth and leaueth the kingdome to his sonne Antiochus who gathereth a huge power and inuadeth Iurie Ant. lib. 12. cap. 14. 15. Eleazar dieth being slaine bâ—… an Elephant Eleazar preferred honour before life The yeare of the world 3802. before Christs birth 162. Antiochus departing from Ierusalem leaueth sufficient garrison there Ant. lib. 12. cap. 18. ludas fighteth with Atiochuâ—… captains and is slaine Ant. li. 13. c2 1. The yeare of the world 3805. befoer Christs Natiuitie 159. Ionath as taken by Tryphons subtilue is slain Ant. lib. 15. cap. 9. The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs birth 141. Simon encouÌ„treth with Cendebeus ouercommeth him Ant. lib. 13. cap. 14. Simon by the treachery of his son in law Ptolemaeus is taken slaine Iohn otherwise called Hircanus the son of Simon The yeare of the world 3831. before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 133. Hircanus obtaineth the honour of the hie priesthood which his father had Ptolemaeus cruelty against Hircanus mother brethreÌ„ The yeare of thâ—… world 3831. before Christs birth 133. Ptolemaeus murthereth Hircanus mother and brethren The yeâ—… of the world 3839. before Christs birth 125. Antiochus vpon â—…e paimeÌ„t of three hundreth talents raiseth his siege Ant. lib. 13. cap 15. Aristobulus Antigonus besiege Sebaste Sebaste ouerthrowen and spoiled The seditios ouercome in warre Iohn after he had happily gouerned the countrey for 30. yeeres space dieth The yeare of the world 3861. before Christs birth 103. Ant. lib. 13. cap. 19. Aristobulus saÌ„misheth his mother Aristobulus loued Antigonus very deerly The yeare of the world 3861. afâ—… Christs birth 103. Antigonus in honour of his brother ascended vp into the temple Antigonus falsely accused to his brother Aristobulus commandeth his guard that if Antigonus came armed they should kil him The Queenes cunning Stratageme against Antigonus Antigonus suspecteth not his brother Iudas the prophet foretelleth Antigoâ—… death Aristobulus thorow the griefe he conceiued at his brothers death falleth sicke A seruant spilleth bloud in the same place where Antigoâ—…us was slaine The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before the birth of Christ. 102. The eie of God discouereth euery sinne Aristobulus dieth milerably Ant lib. 13. cap 9. Alexander aduanced to the kingdome vâ—…eth much cruelty Alexander is ouerthrowne by Theodore The sedition of the Iewes against Alexander vpon a festiuall day Alexander assaileth the castle of Amathunt and raseth iâ—… Demetrius commeth to helpe y e Iewes Ant. lib. 13. cap. 20. The warre betwixt Demetrius and Alexander wherein Demetrius is conquerer The yeâ—…e of the world 3â—…62 before Christs birth 10â—… The Iewes reuolt from Deâ—…trius Aleâ—…aÌ„ders immoderate wrath who crucified eight hundreth captiues Alexander ceaseth from warre Alexander feareth Antiochus Demetriâ—…s brother The king of the Arabianâ—… inuadeâ—… Antiochus souldieâ—… vnawares The king of Arabia putteth Antiochus forces to flight and killeth a great number of them They of Damasco and Aâ—…ctas against Alexander Alexander sick of a quartane feuâ—…r Ant. lib. 13. cap. 2â—… Alexandra Alexanders wife thorow the opinion of vertue obtaineth the kingdome The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before Christs Natiuitie 102. Hyrcanus first made high priest and afterwards king The Pharisees getting in fauour with the Queene are made her chief gouernours and enjoy all honours Alexandra willingly obeieth the Pharisees The Pharisees by their enuies and acculatioÌ„s are the death of many good men Aristobulus expostulâ—…teth with his mother Aristobulus proclaimeth himselfe king Alexandra imprisoneth Aâ—…stobulus wife and children The yeare of the world 3873 before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 95. Alexandra dieth and Hyrcanus succeedeth her in the kingdome Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1. The brethren contending for the kingdome are accorded vpon certaine conditions Ant. lib. 14. ca. 2. 3. 4 Antipater perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie to Aretas king of Arabia and to craue his assistance to recouer his kingdome The yeare of the world 3873 before Christs birth 95. Antipater with Hyrcanus flie from Ierusalem by night to Aretas king of Arabia Aretas furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000 souldiers Scaurus captaine of the Romans The yeare of the world 3899. before Christs birth 65. Scaurus receibeth 300. talents from Atistobulus and commandeth the Arabians and Hyrcanus to depart out of the countrey Antipater and Hyreanus seek for Pompeies helpe Ant. lib. 14. cap. 6. 7. Pompey furnished both with the Syrians and Romane army setteth forth against Aristobulus Pompey commaundeth Aristobulus to descend Aristobulus resorteth to Pompey Aristobulus intendeth to fight with Pompey Hedio * Idumaea The yeare of the world 3903. before Christs birth 61. Pompey besiegeth Ierusalem Aristobulus humbly presenteth himselfe to Pompey Ant. lib. 14. cap. 7. 8. Pompey vieweth the citie which way it might most easily be battered Sedition within the citie betwixt Hircanus and Aristobulus friends Pompey his enter the citie and search the kings house Aristobulus with his frieÌ„ds flie to the temple Pompey filleth vp the trench and obserueth the seuenth day Pompey buildeth towers vpon his platformes The Iewes intermit not sacrifice in the midst and heat of the siege Twelue thousand Iewes slaine in the temple Pompey his followers enter the sanctuary Pompeies continencie Hyrcanus made hic priest The yeare of the world 3903 before Christs birth 61. Pompey causeth the chiefest conspirators to be beheaded Pompey deliuereth many goodly cities from the subiection of the Iewes Aristobulus his family caried to Rome Ant. lib. 14. cap 9. The Arabian is reconciled to Scaurus Ant. lib. 14. cap. 10. Alexander Aristobulus son gathereth a great power gainst Hyrcacanus The yeare of the world 3904 before the Natiuitie of Christs 60. Alexander gathereth 10000 footmen and 1500. horsmen Antipater with his forces goeth out to meet Alexanâ—…nder Alexander fighteth with his enemies and loseth sixe thousand men Marcus Antonius a captain What cities the Iewes receiued to inhabite The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs Natiuitie 60.
Citizens exhort the people to reuenge The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Zelous the most wretched occasiō of these violences Ananus sharpe inuectiue against the Zelous Ananus twitteth the Iews with their feare The crueltie of the theeues The Temple the strongest fortres of the Citie Warres are intended for libertie The comparison of the Romans and Iews and their properties The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. An answere to their contrarie opinion who obiect the number and boldnesse of the enemy The Epilogue of Ananus Oration to the people Ananus disposeth his souldiers against the Zelous The fight of the Citizens and Zelous in the temple The yeare of the world 4032 after Christs birth 70. Iohnful of deceit and a betraier of the citizens Iohn sweareth to be faithfull to the people Iohn contrarie to his oath reuealeth their secrets to the Zelous Iohn stirreth vp the Zelous against the Citizens Eleazar one of the Zelous causeth the Idumaeans to besent for The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Zealous require helpe from the Idumaeans The nature and manners of the Idumaeans Twentie thousand Idumaeās come to Ierusalem Iesus oration and exhortation to the Idumaeans The disproofe of the Zealous fiction who intended the ouerthrow of the citie and obiected the betraying thereof The yeare of the world 403◅ after Christs birth 70. Peace is better then death Iesus exhorteth the Idumaeans that since they are come they should oppose themselues against the Zealous Iesus requireth the Idumaeans to iudge the differents betweene the Zealous and them The end of Iesus oration to the Idumaeans The yeare of the world 4032. aftter Christs Naiuitie 70. Simons answer to Iesus oration The Idumaeans are displeased because the Citie gates were lockt against them The reproches the Idumeans obiect against the high priests and Citizens The Idumaeans pitch their tabernacles neer the wals A huge storme The Zelous consult to breake open the gates to assaile the watch and let in the Idumaeans The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The watchmen are oppressed with sleepe The Idumaeans by the meanes of the Zelous enter by night The Idumaeans ioyne themselues with the Zelous in the Temple The immanitie of the Idumaeans and Zelous against the Citizens of Ierusalem Ananus and Iesus the high Priests executed Ananus death the first cause of the destruction of the Citie The praise of Ananus the hie priest The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The crueltie of the Idumaeans the Zelous Twelue thousand of the nobilitie executed Zacharie condemned to death by the Zelous Seuentie iudges absolue and acquite Zacharie Zacharie slaine in the midst of the temple One of the Zelous discouereth their crueltie and barbarous dealing to the Idumaeans The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs Natiuitie 70. The Idumaeans depart out of Ierusalem Gorions death and Niger Peraita Nigers praiers tooke effect as the end testified The souldiers incite Vespasian to resort to Ierusalem The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70 Vespasian expecteth victory by the ciuill dissension of his enemies Many citizens to flie the Zealous resorted to Vespasian The Zealous tytannize both ouer the liuing and the dead The yeere of th◅ world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Iohns pride and ambition The greater part of the con trarie faction fall from Iohn The tempest of three miseries assailed Ierusalem at once Of those desperate rebels that kept the Castle of Massada Slaughter and desolation thorow Iurie A Similitude The sugitiue◅ beseech Vespasian to assist the Citie and reserue ◅he rest of the people The ye◅re of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Gadarensian◅ entertain Vespasian with ioy and acclamations Placidus con◅ct with the fugitiues Placidus taketh and burneth Bethenabris Placidus victorie ouer the fugitiues The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. Placidus maketh vse o◅ his good fortune against the Iewes Troubles in France Vespasian visiteth all Iudaea Vespasian commeth to Iericho The grea◅ field Two lakes Asphaltite and y e Tiberian lake A large fountaine neere Iericho The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. A miracle wrought by Helizaeu◅ Fruitfull and pleasant gardens about Iericho The cause why the ground about Iericho is fruitfull The ayre temperate and warme An admirable propertie of the Asphaltite lake The land of Sodom is neer vnto the lake Asphaltite The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Ter◅ul in Apologet cap. 39. L. Annius taketh Gerasa Vespasian hath tidings of Neroes death Galba Otho Vitell◅ Vespasian de◅erreth his siege at Ierusalem Galba is slaine and Otho gouerneth The ye◅re of the ◅ld 4033. after Christs birth 71. Simon of Gerasa resorteth to the theeues Simon assemble◅ all robbers in the mountainous places The fight betweene Simon the Zealous Eleazar Simōs fellow casteth himselfe headlong into the trench and presently dieth Iames of Idumaea the betraier of his countrey The yeare of th◅ world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Simon beyond all expectation entreth Idumaea without bloudshed Hebron an ancient Citie where Abrahams house was A Turpentine tree that hath continued since the creation of the world Simon spoyled all Idumaea The Zelous take Simons wife Simons immanitie cruelty The Zelous ◅nd backe Simons wife Sedition thorow the whole Romane Empi◅e Vespasian onc◅ more inuadet◅ Iudaea The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Capharis submits to Cerealis Cerealis burneth the ancient Citie of Hebron The Zelous fill the whole Citie with iniquitie The way of flight was quite cut off The discord betweene the Zelous and the Idumaeans The fight of the Zealous with the Idumaeans in the Temple Simon entreth the Citie with a great army The yeare of the world 4033. after the birth of Christ. 71. Simon assaulteth the temple wherin the Zelous kept The office of the priests to sig◅e the beginning of the seuenth day by the sound of a ◅umpet Vitellius incampeth his army in Rome Vespasiā knew both how to gouerne and how to obey The captaines consult with the souldiers openly of a change Vespasians shame◅astnesse and modestie The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. The causes that mooued the people to elect Vespasian Emperour The souldiers elect Vespasian Emperour The bounds of Aegypt The length and breadth of Aegypt A most high tower in the Island Pharos giuing light to those that faile three hundreth stounds off Tiberius Alexander gouerneth Alexandria Aegypt The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Vespasian by common voice is created Emperour and crowned Vespasian consulteth with his captains about Iosephs liberty Ioseph discharged out of bonds and rewarded Vespasian bethinketh himselfe to returne to Rome Caecinna perswadeth the souldiers to forsake Vitellius and honour Vespasian The yeere of the world 4033.
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
Moses Moses was not a leper Moses tooke his name of Moy which in the Egyptian tongue signifieth water Against Chaeremon the historiographer Messenes son of Amenophis Manethons historie and Chaeremons compared together The difference betweene Manethons and Chaeremons historie Lysimachus is reproued for lying According to Lysimachus yeâ—…abbed and leprous Iewes were to be conueied into the wildernes and cast into the sea When the Iews got Iudaea and built Ierusalem Lysimus his opinion confuted Nothing is to be said against an impudent liâ—… Apion wrote something verie coldly Apion concerning Moses and the Iewes Apions fiction concerning the temple and Moses is 〈◊〉 The computatioÌ„ of the time is different among the Historiographerâ—… The friendship betweene Hiram and Salomon whereof we made mention in the first booke against Apion in the beginning The Egyptians doe call a disease about the priuie parts Sabatosis Apions fiction of the six daies iourney is confuted Apion denieth his countrey and origen Apion raileth against the Iewes as therby rewarding the Alexandrians The sea coast of Alexandria The liberties and priuiledges granted vnto the Iewes Alexander 1 Ptolomaeus Lagus 2 Ptolomaeus Philadelphus The seuentie interpreters 3. Ptolomaeus Euergetes 4. Ptolomaeus Philometor 5. Ptolomaeus Physcon ceased to to persecute the Iewes Of Cleopatra the last queene of Alexandria Anthonie the husband of Cleopatra The Iewes haue beene alwaies trustie to their princes The Egyptians do worship beasts not agreeable to mans nature The discord of the Iewes and the Alexandrians in religion The cause of discord betweene the Iewes and Alexandrians Apions fiction touching the Iewes being authors oâ—… sedition at Alexandria is confuted The Romans magnanimitie towards the Iewes The Iewes may haue no Images How Emperours and magistrates ought to be honored The lye of Possidonius and Apollonius concerning the Iewesis confuted An answere to the objection of the Asses head Who are accounted Asses amongst the Iewes and other wisemen Certaine Histo riographers endeuour to couer and hide Antiochus hiâ—… periutie and sacriledge That the Iewes ought once a yeare to sacrifice a Grecian The description of the Temple porches What was in the temple Foure Tribes of Priests and of euerie tribe more then fiue thousand men Another fable deuised by Apion of Zabidus Dora is a Citie of Phaenicia and not of Idumaea The gates of the temple Apions lie concerning the oath is confuted Apion vpbraided the Iewes with captiuitie Dauids and Salomons power Apion praiseth himselfe Why the Iewes doe sacrifice coÌ„mon beasts and do not eat swines flesh The Egyptian priests circumcised and eate no swines flesh Apions death The defence of Moses against Apolonius and Lysimachus Wherein Apolonius accuseth the Iewes The louers of order common lawes are excellent in meeknesse and vertue Moses more ancient then all other law-makers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This word law is not in Homer The life of Moses Moses maketh God his guide and counceller The Origen of lawes amongst the Greeks The opinion of the wisest Greeks coÌ„cerning God Moses compared with other lawmakers Two methods of moralitie and discipline Moses commaunded all the Iewes to come heare the law The concord of the Iewes in religion What sort of people are to be made priests Of God and of the diuine prouidence The workes of God The sacrifices of the old testament Purifications vsed in sacrifice Of marriage The punishment for him that doth rauish a virgine The purification for the bodie Of the funerals of the dead The honour due to parents Against these and vsurie How we ought to vse our enemies A repetition of the precepts of the law The reward of such as keepe the law The continuance of the lawes amongst the Iewes Plato admired amongst the Greekes Lycurgus the law-maker amongst the Lacedemonians The Iewes compared with the Lacedemonians The streit laws of the lewes Moses forbiddeth to deride and blaspheme false gods only for the name of God impured vnto them The number of Gods amongst the gentle infinit The fable of Iupiter and Pallas Iupiter What is the cause of such error concerning God Poets and pain ters cause the multitude of gods Plato decreed that no poet should be permitted in a comon wealth The Lacedemonians did expell al strangers The AtheniaÌ„s manners Socrates a citizen of Athens Anaxagoras A talent is 600 crownes The Scithians The Persians manners The Iewes coÌ„stancy in their lawes Against the lawmakers of the Gentiles The iniustice of lawmakers The Iewes strict obseruation of the law The Iewes lawes are of great antiquitie The lawes of the Gentiles The Epilogue of this booke The cause why Ioseph writ these bookes against Apion A briefe rehearsall of all that is aboue said The intention of the Iewes lawes The origen of the Iewes lawes Reason hath dominion ouer our passions The death of the seuen brethren and their mother The description of reason and wisedome Griefe and paine cause or hinder passion Reason resembleth a skilfull gardener An instance of Iosephs chastitie An instance of Dauids chirst Samuel 2. 28. Dauid in his thirst refused to drinke the water he so desired Seleucus and Nicanor Simon a traitor to his countrey Appolonius captaine of Syria came with an army to Ierusalem Angels vpon horses shining with fierie brightnesse Onias by prayers obtained Appolonius his life Antiochus his rage against the Iewes Eleazar is brought vnto Antiochus 〈◊〉 Macch. 6. Antiochus his exhortation to Eleazar Eleazars answere to Antiochus Eleazar constancie Eleazar cruelly whipped Eleazars last words in the fire Reasons victorie A similitude taken from the rocke Eleazars praise Antiochus caused seueÌ„ noble young men of the Hebrews and their mother to bee brought to Antioch 2. Macch. 7. The kings exhortation to the seuen brethren The young mens constancie The seuen brethren reply vnto Antiochus Antiochus coÌ„manded Macchabeus to bee racked The death of the elder brother The second brother bought Machir the third brother is brought Iudas the fourth brother is brought The death of the fourth brother Achas The fifth brother presecnted himselfe to torments before he was called The valour of the sixt brother The sixt brother sharpely reproueth Antiochus Iacob the seuenth brother brought to torments All men are borne and must die alike The death of the youngest brother Reason mistres of our affection A similitude of the waues The seuen brethren exhort one another to suffer death manfully True brotherhood A pledge and signe of brotherly amitie The mothers griefe The mother suffered seuen torments before she was tormented A similitude from the Deluge The mothers speech exhorting her seuen sons to suffer A golden saying of the mother of her seuen children The mother followed her sonnes in torments The light of the iust 1. Cor. 15. Antiochus leuied an armie of footemen from amongst the Hebrewes Antiochus dyed stinking exceedingly 2. Mach. 9. An Epitome of the life of the seuen sonnes and their mother The ioy of the blessed in euerlasting life
priests or Leuites for I will elect some such among you to the intent you haue no more need of the Tribe of Leui or the sonnes of Aaron Whosoeuer therfore amongst you would be a priest let him offer calues and muttons vnto God which as it is reported Aaron the first priest did By such like speeches seduced he the people and caused them to fall from their forefathers religion and transgresse the ordinances of their countrey and this was the beginning of all those mischiefes that afterwards fell vpon the Hebrewes by which meanes being ouercome in war they fell into captiuitie and subiection of strangers whereof we wil intreat further in place conuenient Now when the feast of Tabernacles which hapned in the seuenth moneth was at hand he himselfe intended to celebrate in Bethel after the same maner as the two other tribes had feasted in Ierusalem and erected an altar before the calfe and was himselfe the high priest ascending vp to the altar being assisted by the priests Now at such time as he was about to sacrifice and to offer vp burnt offrings in the sight of the people there came a Prophet and stood by him called Iadon sent from Ierusalem by the commandement of God who standing vp in the midst of the people and in the hearing of the king turned himselfe towards the altar and spake after this maner Thou Altar Thou Altar thus saith the Lord there shall a man rise of the Tribe of Dauid called Iosias he shall kill vpon thee the false prophets of his time and shall burne the bones of the deceiuers and seducers vpon thee And to the intent that each man may beleeue that this prophecie is true it shall be confirmed by a prodigie This Altar shall sodainly breake and the far of the sacrifices that are laid thereon shall be powred on the ground Ieroboam displeased with these words of the Prophet stretched out his hand commanding them to lay hold on him But the hand that he stretched out became instantly withered so that he could no more draw it backe againe to himselfe but held it hanging downe astonished and mortified On the other side the altar cleft in twain and all that was thereon fell downe according as the Prophet had foretold The King perceiuing that the man had a true and diuine spirit of Prophecie besought him to pray vnto God that his hand might be restored him againe in his full strength and vigor which he performed so that his hand recouered againe his naturall abilitie wherewith Ieroboam was verie much contented and inuited the Prophet to dine with him But Iadon answered him and said that he neither might enter into his house nor taste any bread or water within the Citie because God had prohibited him furthermore he told him that it was not lawfull for him to returne the same way that he came But the King admiring at the continencie of the man began the more seriously to suspect his estate and coniecturing by those things which he had both seene and heard he diuined the assured disaster of his estate and fortunes There dwelt in that Citie a certaine false prophet whom Ieroboam held in great honour in that hee soothed him vp in whatsoeuer was best pleasing to his eares This man at that time lay sicke vpon his bedde being faint thorow age and when he was enformed by his sonne that there was a prophet come from Ierusalem and what wonders he had wrought and how Ieroboam by his prayers recouered againe his withered hand he fearing least the King should make more account of this stranger then of himselfe commanded his sonnes presently to saddle his Asse and to haue him in a readinesse against his departure Which when they had hastily performed hee mounted thereon and went after the prophet whom hee ouertooke where he rested himselfe vnder a thicke and shadowy Oake and vpon the first incountry saluted him and afterwards expostulated with him for that he had not visited him neither accepted of that hospitalitie which he willingly would haue affoorded him Iadon answered him that God had interdicted and charged him not to taste any kinde of sustenance in any mans house that dwelt within that Citie Truely said the other with me thou mightest eate for I also am a prophet and honour the same God that thou doest and now also come I vnto thee by his commandement to conduct thee back again into my house to entertaine thee with a friendly dinner These words of the false prophet made Iadon credulous so that he returned backe againe with him But as they sate at their banquet and were making merie togither God appeared vnto Iadon and said vnto him that since he had broken his commandement he should suffer punishment for the same and withall expressed vnto him the manner which was that in his returne homewards he should be torne in pieces by a Lyon and that he should not be buried in the monument of his fathers This thing hapned in my opinion by the will of God to the intent that Ieroboam should not respect Iadons words who had been found a liar As therefore Iadon returned backe to Ierusalem a Lyon met him on the way and tore him in pieces from his Asse and slew him yet offered he no violence to the Asse that bare him which he preserued with the body of the prophet standing fast by the same vntill such time as certaine passengers beholding the spectacle brought newes thereof into the towne vnto the false Prophet who sent his sonnes to bring backe the body which by their assistance he honourably buried charging them that after his death they should burie his body by him assuring them that all that which he had prophecied against that Citie against the altar the priests and false prophets was verie true And as touching himselfe he commaunded that after his decease they should burie him by him because that being buried with him there might no difference be made betwixt their bones and his tombe might bee more honoured When as therefore he had interred the prophet and giuen his sonne these things in charge being other waies a most wicked and impious man he addressed himselfe vnto Ieroboam and said vnto him Why art thou troubled at the words of this mad man The King told him all that which had hapned about the Altar and his hand and assured him that he accounted him a true and diuine prophet and one sent by God But the false prophet began most maliciously to ouerthrow his opinion disguise the truth of that which had hapned by his perswasiue words For he inforced himselfe to inferre that his hand was astonished thorow the trauel he had taken in bearing the sacrifices and that after he had a little rested that it came into his own naturall estate againe that the altar being freshly built and diuers great sacrifices loaded thereupon it cleft in twain fel down