the re-change of Guarders and they dare let no person in for the Captaine of the place there vseth such watchfull diligence whâ—n he issueth and amongst them makes such watch and diligent search that hee cannot bee circumuented by any Spy as it fell to vs for wee could but two enter and that without Arms by great intreaties and that onely to see the Sacrifices for hee told vs and that with an oath that all those which are of this Garrisâ—n which are in number 500. haue sworne to admit within but at most fiue eâ—sâ—ns at a time Because the conseruation and preseruation of the Temple consists in the keeâ—ing of this Fort which if it should bee taken and held the Temple had no other defence Yet of the Towne THe greatnesse of the Towne by that we could iudge stretcheth in circute some forty Stades A Citty certainly worthy to be regarded both for the beauty of the Wals and disposition of the Towers She is comparted in faire straight great streets and those well Paued where there is many little Lanes and Chanels in opportune and conuenient places So as this Citty that is seated in a Mountayne with great ease one may mount and descend Also the entries of the streetes there are cut out steppes in forme of Scaffolds which one mounts by stayres as it were open Galleries where the most eminent Persons walke more high then others which haue also meanes to Walke by places which are a little low and these banked wayes as it were are in the most pâ—â—cipall streetes to the end that those who beare the holy things should not bee contaminated with fouâ—enesse and durt By which one may judge their Ancestors haue wisely anâ— with good reason chosen such a Place for the seate of the Towne measuring and ordayning such commodious choises in all things whatsoeuer Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Pesants or Country People THis Region is spacious and faire stretching from one side towards Samaria and the Neighbouring Idumea which is a playne Countrey On the other side the Coasts are faire and fertile And it is no meruaiâ—e if this Region is so abounding and fertile of it selfe and therefore plentifull in all good fruites being â—lso that it is cultiuated by the induâ—try and great care of the Countrey People And it is not heere as it is commonly seene about good and great Citties placed in good and fertile Lands where the Pesants are idle â—arelesse and for the abounding pleaâ—ures and voluptuousnesse of Citties despise their Labours And as we see Youth is taken with delights and idleâ—nesse and so become effeminate and â—tender Which truely befell to Alexandria a Citty Rich Opulent and Abounding in all good things Where the Youth of the Countrey that vsed to follow Country workes staying and amusing their rough condition with these pleasures and voluptibilities forgat their Countrey businesseâ— labour and become idle sloathfuâ—l And for these causes doubtlesse their Iewish Kings ordayned that these Pesants should make no abode in the Citty and that no Creature of them should dwell but in his rusticke house longer then twenty dayes and that vnlesse for great vrgent and important reasons because they should not loose their time Wherefore by Statute it was ordayned that all Processe and Controuersies oâ— Law suites should be determined iâ— fiue dayes and no delay to stretcâ— further then to the fifth day And foâ— this was Published and promulgateâ— a Law and the reason thereof deleâ—gated to the Iudges and Ministers oâ— euery Region that the Pesants should not sojourne or make abode in the Townes as is sayde because of the Demurres of their Suites negleâ—ting their Country businesse which mighâ— cause damage and losse to the Reuenues of their Prince amoyndring diminishing his Tributes and Dueâ— arising from these Labourers I speake all this at large because we were aduertised hereof in Discoursing with Elâ—azer The Peasants therefore are very carefull and diligenâ— in their Labours and Menagery by reason whereof in such a multitude of People the Region is all planted with fruite Trees abundant in Corne and all sorts of Grayne in all parts The Vineyards cloathed with Vines and it is not possible to â—ell the number of Palme-Trees Oâ—iue-Trees Figge-Trees and besides pasturage for the raysing of Cattle which they innumerably breed vp so as they haue not onely a place as it were of choyse to this purpose so commodious but also an vnderstanding care still to condition it so for the maintaynance entertaynement of so great a multitude of peopâ—e and they haue not better appointed this course for the Villages but also that thereby they might fully furnish and beautifie their Townes Besides there comes abundance of Aromaticke drugges of Golde and precious stones to them from Arabia For this Prouince is exposed as it were a Faire or generall Market to all about them for Trafficke and Commerce The Citty is full of Trades-men hauing no want of any thing may be transported by Sea for it is sucâ—coured furnished by the neerenessâ— of the ports of Ascalon of Iaffet oâ— Gaza and of Acra Citties foundedâ— by their Kings for this purposâ— of furnishment and those Citties wâ— haue named are to all conueniencâ— for this Towne not to be too nearâ— off or too farre from one the otherâ— so as it is very easie to haue all thingâ— necessary in a short time with assuâ—rance of the wayes to the goers anâ— Commers The Region is watered throughlâ— by the Riuer Iordan in whom Waâ—ter neuer fayles This flood arisinâ— from that siude of the Sunne rising enâ—uirons not lesse then sixty thousandâ— paces In the best and most fertilâ— Regions bordring this flood heretoâ—fore inhabited and Conquered thosâ— Valiant troupes of Iewes which iâ— their times Conquered the Countrey and passed this Riuer being in number more then sixe hundred thousand This Iordaâ— swells and increaseth â—n the Summer and ouer-flowes the â—Neighbouring fieldes like the Nyle â—ouering a great part of the ground â—nd then fals into another Riuer by â— Acra disgorging themselues togeâ—her into the Sea There are many oâ—her Torrents which haue their Oriâ—inall and course towards Gaza and â— Azota which haue their serpentine â—ourses through all the whole Proâ—ince The force strength and assurance of this Region consists in places of â—ard accesse and euill to come to and â—re so naturally strong for all the Country is inuironed with Mounâ—aines Rockes and Precipices cut â—straight downe as it were by the â—plomet In other parts it is incloâ—ed wiih Riuers Concurrents whereof the Vallies and the Plaines is forâ—tified with great Ditches and Trenâ—ches On the otherside the wayes are so narrow and troublesome by turnings and windings too and agayne that with great difficulty those that Trauayle by Land come to the great Citty They say also they weâ— wont in former times to draweâ— mettals from the Mountaines of tâ— bordering Arabia But since the tiâ— that the Persians had
tying of all the Members a thing truely worthy of admiration But it wil be more admirable if thou takest regard to the composition of the sense which is giuen to euery member If thou weighest the actions of the Vnderstanding if thou considerest the Inuisible moouings and how in euery of them there shines a vigour and acuity of Spirit from whence is proceeded the inuention of Artes euen almost innumerable Wherefore not without cause Moses commaundeth vs to haue in continuall consideration that all things haue beene established and related exemplary by the DIVINE Power and Prouidence for so hath he finished and contermined euery thing according with its time and place Recalling alwayes into the memory the consideration of GOD the Lord Ruler and Creator of the whole Vniuerse And if wee will begin with that which concernes Eating and Drinking hath hee not well and prudently commaunded that we should giue prayses and thankes to GOD when we sit at Table In which hee hath not permitted vs to deuise or Discourse of any thing in the world that should make vs forget or deface in our memories the power and prouidence of GOD. Wherefore hee hath ordayned we draw vpon the Doores and Ports of our houses such Inscriptions as shall mooue vs to actions of thankes still to renewe our memories GOD and his goodnesse in our thoughts shewing by a most euident signe that all our Study ought alwayes to bring to the memory Equity and Sincerity and that the thought ought alwayes to represent GOD before our eyes Also hee hath ordayned that not onely when wee sit to the Table but Order of meates when wee rise that wee prayse the Workes and Deeds of GOD not onely with words but also with a sober and reuerent countenance redâ—cing into the memory the perpetuall mouing of the Heauens and that this alternatiue and successiue Nature is not onely Diuine but also incomprehensible to Man Thus to you is expounded the reason of the diuision the remembrance thereof by Reminiscence concerning the cleft of the hoofe and in Beasts their chewing of the Cudde which you haue propounded assuring you that there is nothing ordayned which is superfluous or improper for the vnderstanding ofâ— the Spirit but by this figuratiue manner and vse hee hath accommodated all things according to Verity Also the sayd Law-giuer by a like figure hath admonished vs from falling into Iniustice and sinne by the hearing or too much relying vpon our Eloquence Prattle and leastingâ— which wee may learne in the consideration of vilde Beasts for the Weasels are of a filthy complexion as also Rats and such like Creatures which he hath forbidden vs to handle or touch For Rats they make all things foule infectious and hurtfullâ— and are not onely pernicious to eate but wholy vnprofitable to man in all things And Weasels are a kinde of vermine which are yet more foule more infectious and the most filthy and vncleane of all those we can speak of For they conceiue by the eares and bring forth their little ones by the throat which is a thing abhominable in Men when they heare any thing receiuing by the hearing any accursed folly to vtter augment the same by their tongue and report and to exagerate the same by words odious and bitter Whereof there comes many times cause of great inconuenience and that which of it selfe is foule and filthy they fill and multiply with more great wickednesse and deprauation by all the meanes they may Wherefore your King as we haue heard say instly makes the race of such men to be punished with Death I thinke sayd I then that by such Calumniators â—alse reporters or Spies Some Copies call them Emphanists you meane the Emphanists â— for the King punisheth those without cease or mercy by Proces by Torments and sufferings euen to infamous death They are the same said Eleazer for their idlenesse and negligence brings nothing to Men but perdition and most dangerous ruine and destruction And likewise our Law commands to doe no wrong or damage to any person eyther by deed or word See then how I aduertize you in briefe and shew you that all our actions by the Law are addressed to Iustice and Equity and that our holy Scriptures aduoucheth not any thing that is euill beseeming nor to bee done impertinently and with choller But wee are commanded that in all our liues wee beare our selues towards all persons both in all our operations and negotiations iustly and graciously neuer putting out of our memories GOD the great Dominator Now to whom could it seeme otherwise but that Eleazer had well and pertinently spoken of those beastly Vermine Reptiles and such filth and of other Creatures also shewing thereby very properly that all the Letter of the Law tended to no other end then to iustice and to forme and well addresse the manners and wils of Men. Further he declared concerning the oblations of Calues â— of Sheepe and of Goares making thereof a faire discourse shewing that it was their custome to chuse such Beasts from the Folds and from Heards of houshold and tame breed to make with them their Offerings to GOD neuer offering Sacrifice with wild or harmfull beasts because those which made such oblations and them offered should not conceiue any height of heart or bee puffed vp with pride of minde but instructed by the gentle and sufferable nature of the Victimes and that they should make their profit from such examples to become humble and gentle and to alwayes haue in their sacrificing their spirits stretched to GOD the Creator of all things Hitheâ—to Philocrates I haue framed vnto you by Writing these memorable things considering the desire you haue to learne and to know the which I haue done to the end that by this little you may vnderstand the Maiesty of the Law the Causes and naturall considerations that in it are contayned and now I will come againe from what wee are digressed Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors of the â—ewes and how the King adored the Holy LAVV seauen times with teares in his eyes ELEAZER then after the Sacrifices were accomplished as was vsuall Hâ—uing chosen the Personâ— as is before specified to send vnto the King hee seâ—t him also many fayre Presents which indeede were very Magnificent When therefore wee had taken leâ—ue and parted from him very amiable with his salutation of Peace and were returned into Alexandria our arriuall was incontinently shewed to the King And soone after Andrea and my Selâ—e entred into the Kingâ— Hall wee making most humble Reuerence and presented to his Maiâ—sty the Letters of Eleazer Then the King as very ioyous that the successe of this Voyage had succeeded so well to him hauing obtained the personages â—e so much wisht for made the troupe of those were there about their petitions and suites to auoyde and commaunded that the Doctors Iewes should bee incontinently cald sooner then they expected so to be For
debt or forfeit But to you great King you shall haue easily that which you demaund in doing well as you do to all the World for GOD will giue you a good share in all your good affaires and actions To the other What one ought to doe to liue agreeingly with his Wife ALthough that some race of Women are deficile and troublesome and that opinion of themselues grow obstinate in their affections Moreouer frayle by reason of the imbecillity of the Sexe and subiect to commit some faultes yet neuerthelesse it behooueth to temporize with them and to vse them for our health and commodity contesting not with them nor contradicting them with the Spirit of frowardnesse for it is necessary to addresse ones life to a certayne Butt or End as the Gouernours and Pylots of Ships doe by obseruing Land-markes all which things are conducted by the order and Prouidence of our great GOD. To the other What meanes he should not to be deceiued IF you do all things by reason you will not suffer your selfe to be perswaded by the reports of detractors but as you are indowed with a very good spirit put a difference betwixt the deedes and sayings of euery one By the meanes whereof you shall so doing that you shal bee out of the danger of being circumuented accomplishing your desires in your designes the which you shall proiect by assured iudgement neuerthelesse you must resolue and thinke that the intelligence of such businesse and the effect and execution of them is the worke of the Diuine puissance To the other What he should do not to be Cholericke at all GReat King if you consider that Hee of whom Dependeth the Life of many is the cause of the Death of abundance of folkes when he executeth his Will with fury and choller and it is a thing accursed to extinguish the life of many by ambition of dominationâ— But when the subiects conforme themselues to the will of the Prince humbly yeelding and obaying What reason hath hee then to vexe himselfe and to enter into Choller Moreouer hee must thinke that GOD who guideth and Gouerneth the Vniuersall world is not any way subiect vnto Wrath nor heated with Choller of whom a Prince ought to follow the benigne and sweete goodnesse To the other What thing is that which may well be fore-seene by good Counsell THat is to Administer well all things by the Rule and Discourse of Reason and to conduct them to a certayne end and designe pretended and to reiect all that which is Vnprofitable and contrary to right and reason in such manner that discouering the Spirit by euery thing wee come to the head of our affayres by good Counsell But GOD by his Vertue makes all counsell assured and firme and yours principally because you are giuen to the exercise of Piety To the other What is it to Philosophize THat is Well and Wisely to argue and consult of all things which present themselues and come vppon one and not to suffer ones selfe to â—lide along in his Appetites to desâ—se all follies and vanities proceeding from Couetousnesse and Lusts and to bee alwayes ready to the accomplishment of good Workes by good and iust measure which to attayne vnto wee ought to implore the ayde of GOD incessantly To the other What is the Soueraigne grace of Hospitality IT is to shewe oneâ— selfe not to be ingratfull but mensurable and equitable to all the World redoubling with bounty the pleasure you haue receiued from another in such sort as you may beare the prize of Courtesie For GOD exalteth the humble greatly bearing great fauour and loue to those abate themselues to exalt and shewe Vertue to others To the other What are the workes of most Durability A Person is esteemed to do a du 〈…〉 Worke when he hath brought to passe a weighty businesse and worthy of Reuerence and when it is such as the Beholders durst not put their hands to it for the difficulty and excellency of the businesse and that he neuerthelesse suffers not any body that hath trauelled therein to be vnrecompensed Likewise forgetting not to prouide for those that hee hath constrayned to busie themselues therein of all things to them necessary For GOD regarding all things in this world gratifieth men with Infinity of gifts enlarging to some health of Body and of Vnderstanding and many such goods Wherefore Great King you in the imitation of GOD ought to giue comfort to the afflicted and to change their calamities into solace and rest being assured that what is done by iustice and equity is of longest lasting euen perpetuall To the other What is the fruite of Wisedome THe fruite of Wisedome is when wee haue committed nothing whereof our conscience doth not remember vs knowingly and when we haue passed the course of our liues in â—â—rity For of such things Excelâ—ent King there is ingendred in our spirits a very great contentment and an infinite ioy with a pleasant voluptabitity For you Great King you can neuer want hope in GOD conducting your Raigne in Piety and Religion These Answers heard all the assistants made signes of great Iouisance with an applauding approbation Then the King prouoked them graciously to drinke The morrow when all the company returned to the Table the King asked the others in this manner What meanes hee should hold neuer to be lifted vp with Pride YOu shall neuer bee blowne vp or lifted with Pride if you keepe equally in your selfe that is to say if in all things you haue this Maxiâ—e imprinted in your spirit that you which haue commandement vpon Men consider you are a Man alsoâ— thinking also with your selfe that God extermineth the proud and high minded and that he lifteth vp those who What Counsellours he ought to haue neere his Person THose shall bee your Counsellours Great King which haue beeneâ— long exercised and versed in your affayres and such as you know beare you great fidelity and loue those which know to conforme and accommedate themselues to your conditions the light of GOD will discouer those which are worthy of such a function To the other What is the thing is most necessary to a King THe loue of his Subiects for by that meanes he will make a bond of indissoluable good willâ— To the rest GOD accomplisheth that which one chuseth for the best To the other What is the end of a Speech or Oration in one pleading IT is after he hath proposed your intention perswading your cause to be good confuting the Obiections of your aduerse party and shewing them to be inept worthlesse and ☞ impertinent But the mayne end is to march rightly in the businesse in all affayres and not to stray with ambages for the true perswasion is a thing addressed from GOD. To the other How hee should accommodate himselfe to diuers People in one Kingdome DOing and administring Iustice to euery one equally and by the same you shall Gouerne and Rule them as you list for the
all things neoessary for the Life carefully prouided and prepared with great conuenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselues to the Interpretation of the Law in which they began to trauell disputing and conferring together of euery thing vntill they came all to one generall accord and consent to resolue in a true sence aduisedly The which done they set downe in Writing that which was so by them composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the aduice and counsell of all they put it apart that the same after might bee put into the hands of Demetrius Their Colloquiums and Conferences lasted from the Morning vntill nine of the Clocke and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Ayre for their health after all things were sumptuously administred vnto them For Dâ—rothea who had the same in charge was therein so carefull that there was nothing made ready for the Kings Person but euery day they had as much of the same to euery single person and hee would once the day come to visit them with courtship in his owne proper Person and they sometimes to salute with reuerence the King and so returne to priuacy Euery Morning it was custome to make their prayers to GOD after they had washt their hands in the Sea as the Iewes accustomably vse Lauations so after to their readings and interpretations I was so bold to aske them why they so washed their hands before they made their prayers to which demâ—â—nd they made this Answere that this washing of the hands did admonish them to doe nothing wickedly but to accomplish all things of their actions to Piety and Sanctity because that all the workes they doe with their hands might bee effected according to iustice and truth and cleanenesse as we haue before-sayd To conclude these Personageâ— being in such Serenity of ayre Beauty of dwelling Tranquility of silence and Pleasantnesse of repose and Royall entertainment finished the worke vndertaken and which is a note of maruaile they had so expresly taken order amongst themselues and followed it with such care and diligence that the Interpretation of Law was fully finished in the space of 72. dayes Demetriuâ— then seeing the Translation and Interpretation of the Law was so wel and happily brought to an end made the meanes that the multitude of the Iewes then being in Aegypt were conuccated to the place where the Worke was then perfited to whom hee shewed how all things had beene done beginning with all circumstances of the Enterprize and all in the presence of the Interpreters To the King all the Multitude attributed great praise and gaue infinite thankes for being the mediate cause of so important a good and a benefit of such excellency Lâ—â—ewise they shared a part of the Honour to Demetrius intâ—earing him to shew them that fauour as to haue a Copie for their Princes for to haue their aduice and to deliberate vpon the profit or damage might arise vpon the same In this sort was the Law reuiewed visited and re-knowne in the assistance of the Princes of the Iewes and of the Multitude and of the Ambassadors of Townes vpon the which spoken and proclaimed the 72. Doctors being present that all was well and holily Translated and that all was most very well so prouided that nothing thereof should be changed and that all things should remaine in the same estate without alteration of the least thing or title of the world As the Translation was thus approued of all and the Decree made for the ratification of the same Demetrius â— commanded that according to their custome they should make Imprecations and Maledictions against those which should vndertake or should presume to adde any thing thereto or to transferre it otherwayes by changing efficacing ordering any thing whatsoeuer it were vnto that which was so perfectly now written And when all was perfected and accomplished in this manner hee adjured the Iewes to hold keepeâ— and preserue it inviolably foreuer the which they promised to doe with great Ioy and Acclamation So Demetrius finding himselfe greatly satisfied in himselfe especially because hee had beene a Conductor of the Worke and that hee had giuen to the King such contentment in the happy execution and accomplishment of his charge and of this his felicity made great congratulations to the King Who hauing after with great diligence visited this Interpretation and considered the profundity of the Sence of the Law-maker which hee admired with an astonished regard hee sayd to Demetrius how comes it to passe that none of the Poets or Historians hath not put their hands to this Law being that it is a thing of so high and ☞ perfect Excellency To which Demetrius answered that no body neuer durst touch it as well for the reuerence of the same as also that GOD hath forbidden it so as some hauing presumed to attempt it haue beene chastised with Diuine punishment Whereupon they haue beene constrayned to desiste from their enterprize For as testifieth Theopompuâ— which by a recitall of himselfe saith that presuming to transferre into his History some secrets of the Holy Law hee was afflicted more then 30. dayes following with a perturbation of his vnderstanding But calling vpon GOD in the interuals and cessations of the most vehement fitts of this his Malady it was told him in his sleepe this punishment was sent him from God for hauing presumed to prophane and falcifie things Sacred So by this Vision he was corrected repented and re-came to his good sences againe And sayd Demetrius vpon mine owne knowledge I affirme that Theodorus a Tragickeâ— Poet willing to vsurpe something from this Law therwith to enrich his Poesie lost his sight Neuerthelesse aduising with himselfe and concluding that this his audaciousnesse was the cause of his blindnesse prayed to God for many dayes whereby hee came againe to health The King saying that this was wisely spoken adored the Law making Commandement that the Books of the same should bee preserued the most curiously and carefullest that might be possible and deuising with the Interpreters benignely and graciously prayed them that when they were in Iudea they would often come and see him Finally hee gaue order that they should be honourably returned backâ— and conducted into theirâ— Countrey promising them that how oft soeuer and when they pleased to returne he would entertaine them as his principall friends so honouring them with faire presents according to their merits and commanding that all things should bee made ready for the dispatch of their returne vsing towards them all Royall Magnificence Hee gaue to euery one of them three rich Habilliments and two Jalents of Gold and an excellent Cup of the waight of a Talent Moreouer furniture for the whole furnish of a Chamber ouer and aboue hee sent to Eleazer ten Table-beds or Couches of ease which had the feete of Siluer and ornified with all that was