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
not seeme troublesome vnto him Which matter when Herode vnderstood he thought it no waies incident to his securitie to send Aristobulus who was a faire young man and little more at that time then sixteene yeeres olde so nobly borne considering that Antonius was at that present in such authoritie that no one in Rome was in greater credit then he and who besides that was verie much addicted to his pleasures which he openly hunted after without feare of punishment in regard of his greatnes and power He therefore wrote him this answere that if the young man should but onely depart out of the countrey all the land would incontinently be filled with warre and troubles for that the Iewes pretended alteration in gouernment and sought to innouate by preferring a new king When as therefore he had in this sort excused himselfe vnto Antonius he resolued to entertaine both the younger Aristobulus and his mother Alexandra with more respect Moreouer his wife Mariamme did continually importune him to giue the priesthood to her brother alledging that by that honour he might preuent the occasion of his trauell For which cause assembling his friends togither in counsell he grieuously accused Alexandra before them protesting that she secretly conspired against the kingdome and that by the mediation of Cleopatra she laboured to dispossesse him of the soueraigntie to the intent that her sonnes by Antonius meanes might gouerne in his steed Which practise of hirs was so much the more vniust because she depriued her owne daughter of that honour wherein she was inseated raised vp troubles likewise in that kingdome which he had conquered with great trauel and extreme daunger Yet notwithstanding that he willingly forgat that which was past and forgaue those wrongs she had vrged against him and vvas readie notwithstanding to shew all kindnes and courtesie both to her and hers Furthermore he gaue the high priesthood to young Aristobulus alledging that heretofore he had established Ananel in that place for no other respect then for that Aristobulus was vnder yeeres After that he had thus seriously and considerately discoursed in the presence of the Ladies and the consistorie of his friends Alexandra almost beside her selfe not only thorow the ioy she had conceiued by this vnexpected good fortune but also for the feare she had to be suspected began to defend her selfe with teares protestations saying that al whatsoeuer she had either practised or done was to prefer her son vnto the Priesthood whō she saw dishonoured but as touching the kingdome that she had neuer pretēded neither would if so be she should be presented therwith receiue the same thinking her selfe for the present sufficiently honoured both for that she saw Aristobulus in that estate as for the assurance that all her progeny should receiue in that he was lifted vp in dignitie aboue the rest Being therefore ouercome by those merits she accepted willingly the honour for her sonne and shewed her selfe obedient in all things requesting him that if she had committed any thing rashy and thorow inconsideration of passion either in respect of her children or in vnbridled cariage of her tongue hee would be pleased to pardon her After these debates and interchangeable discourses on either side they shooke hands the one with the other in token of a more fixed and vnfained friendship then was before burying as they then pretended all euill suspition or cause of vnkindnes CHAP. III. Herode preferreth Aristobulus his wife Mariammes brother to the Priesthood and afterwards pu◅eth him to death HEreupon Herode tooke away the Priesthood instantly from Ananel who was not that countriman borne as we haue heretofore declared but was borne amongst those Iewes that inhabite and were planted beyond Euphrates by the Assirians For diuers thousand Iewes inhabite the countrey of Babylon and from thence tooke he his originall also being otherwise of the race of the Priests and intirely affected toward Herode for a long time before with whom he had familiar acquaintance He had preferred him to this honour at such time as he was made king and degraded him likewise to appease the troubles of his family demeasning himselfe herein contrarie to the law of the countrey For whereas any one hath once beene installed in that degree he is neuer to be displaced The first that transgressed this ordinance was Antiochus Epiphanes who dispossessed Iosuah and preferred his brother Onias to his place The second was Aristobulus who tooke it away from his brother Hircanus and vsurped it himselfe Herode was the third who gaue the Priesthood to Aristobulus establishing him in Ananels place before he was dead and by this meanes supposing that he had found out a remedie to appease the discords of his family he notwithstanding all this liued not without suspition what euent would follow after this reconciliation For he feared Alexandra least demeasning her selfe in such sort as before time she had done she should seeke occasion hereafter to raise new troubles He commaunded her therefore to containe her selfe within the roial pallace and to doe nothing of her owne authoritie Besides that he had appointed certaine intelligencers who should diligently obserue that nothing should be done without his knowledge no not concerning her particular expences and table All which things exasperated her hate and increased the same against Herode for being full of feminine pride she disdained to see her selfe thus wrongfully suspected desiring rather to suffer any thing then to be depriued of the liberty of free speech and vnder colour to be honoured to liue continually in seruitude and feare Whereupon she sent certaine of her trustie friends to Cleopatra to complaine and lament vnto her the importable miseries of her present estate requiring her according to her power to giue readie and speedie reliefe Whereupon Cleopatra sent her word that both she and her sonne should resort vnto her into Aegypt with as great secrecie as might be possible Vpon which aduice and the allowance thereof she practised this policy She caused two coffins to be made such as men were wont to burie the dead in in which she hid both her selfe and her sonne commaunding those seruants of hers that were priuie to her deliberation to carie them out in the night time and to bend their course directly towards the sea where there was a barke in readinesse prepared to shape their course and conuey them into Aegypt But Esop one of her household seruants declared this enterprise of hers to Sabbion one of Alexandras friends supposing that he had beene made priuie thereunto who had no sooner inkling thereof but for that before times he was Herodes enemy by reason he was suspected to haue beene one of those that sought to poison Antipater he determined by discouery of this secret flight to conuert Herodes hate into assured friendship and presently discouered Alexandras secret enterprise to the king Who dissembling the matter vntill it
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
obedient to his omnipotent will and for that cause that honor and thanksgiuing should wholy be ascribed to him For which causes and counsailes of his seeing the Chaldeans and Mesapotamians began to mutiny against him he thought it expedient to forsake that countrey and following the will and fauour of God he went and dwelt at Chanaan where beâ—…ng seated he builded an aultar and sacrificed vnto God Berosus amongst other things maketh mention of our father Abraham although he nameth him not when he speaketh after this manner After the Deluge and during the tenth generation there dwelt among the Chaldeans a most iust excellent and vpright man and exercised in the knowledge of the celestiall bodies But Hecataeus made more then a mention of him for he hath left a volume which he hath written of him And as touching Nicholaus Damascenus heare what he saith of him in the fourth booke of his Histories Abraham raigned in Damasco where he was a stranger whether he arriued with his army from a countrey scituate aboue Babylon called Chaldaea who a little while after departing out of that region went and dwelt with his people in a countrey at that time called Chanaan and at this day Iudea and his posteritie multiplied therein In an other treatise I will recite that which is reported of him The name of Abraham euen at this day is honourable in the countrey of Damasco aâ—…d there is a village to be seene which beareth his name and is called Abrahams house CHAP. IX Abraham oppressed by famine departeth into Egypt where staying a while at last he returned backe againe AFter this when famine had inuaded the land of Chanaan Abraham had intelligence that the Egyptians abounded in all plentie and decreed with himselfe to retire himselfe towards them as well to conferre with their priest and discourse with them of diuine things and their knowledge as touching God as also to follow them if they were more grounded in vnderstanding or reconcile them if his iudgement were more assured then theirs he led with him his wife Sara and vnderstanding that the Egyptians were much addicted vnto women to the end the King should not put him to death of purpose that he might enioy his wife Sara who was very beautiful he deuised this excuse to say that she was his sister charging her that if the matter came in question she should not faile but confirme the like But no sooner came he into Aegypt but the like fortune encountred tâ—…m as Abraham had before time suspected for the beawtie of his wife was sodainly published in euery place For which cause Pharao the King of that Nation desirous to see that with his eies 〈◊〉 which he had heard with his eares he sought for sent and lusted after her but God withstood this his vnbridled lust by afflicting the Kings subiects with a plague and his affaires by sedition Whereupon taking counsell of the Priests what remedie might be vsed and meanes might be sought to appease the diuine maiesty they answered him that this was the cause of their afflictions for that he thought to haue done violence to the straungers wife whereat being much affrighted the King first questioneth with the woman what she was and who her companion should be and at last resolued of the trueth he satisfied Abraham saving he supposed her to be his sister not his wife and that his purpose was not to offer iniury but seeke alliance so giuing him a great summe of money hegaue him leaue to conferre with the most excellentest learnedest Priests among the Egyptians Whence it came to passe that he grew into great estimation in regard of his vertues for whereas that Nation was deuided into different sects and opinions thorow mutuall contempt diuision were incensed the one against the other he declared that their opinions different and confuted by themselues in respect of religion were most vaine and deuoide of all trueth For these his disputations he was held in great regard amongst them and esteemed for a man most wise and a personage most exccellent not onely in well conceiuing but also in expressing and perswading that which he vndertooke to teach to these most gratiously imparted he the science of Arithmetike and the obseruation of the celestiall bodies For before that Abraham came into Aegypt the Aegyptians vvere altogether ignorant of those sciences but he transported them from Chaldaea into Aegypt and from thence are they deriued to the Greekes As soone as he returned into Chanaan he deuided the countrey with Lot and for that there grew a contention betwixt their shepheards as touching the bounding of those pastures where they fed their cattel he gaue Lot the choise and election of the countrey vvhich best pleased him reâ—…aining vnto himselfe that which was left Thus pitching his tents neere the mountain in a Citie called Hebron which is by seuen yeares more auncient then Tanis in Aegypt he dwelled there But Lot chose the plaine neere to the floud of Iordane not farre from Sodome vvhich in those daies vvas a goodlie Citie but at this present by the diuine iustice and vvrath of God is vtterly defaced so that no memorie remayneth thereof The causes of which iudgemenâ—… shall bee expressed hereafter CHAP. X. The ouerthrow of the Sodomites by the Syrians AT that time when the Assyrians were Lords ouer all Asia the estate of Sodome flourished in all affluence increased in great riches and mulâ—…itude of gallant youthes and the countrey was gouerned by fiue Kings these were Ballas Bareas Senabarus Symoborus and Balin each one particularly seased of his prouince and kingdome Against these the Assyrians incamped themselues and hauing deuided their armie into foure parts vnder the conduct of foure gouernours they waged battell with them in which the Assyrians attayning the day they imposed a tribute on the Kings of Sodome who after they had for twelue yeares space performed their duety and paid their tribute in the thirteenth yeare reuolted from them Whereby it came to passe that the Assyrians leuied a new armie against them vnder the conduct and commaund of Marphad Arioch Chodollogomor Thargal who sacked all Syria and extinguished the posteritie of the Giants And drawing neere to Sodome they encamped neere to the bituminous pits for at that time there were pits in that place but as soone as Sodome was destroyed there arose a lake in that place which by reason of the bituminous matter that flowed in the same was called Asphalâ—…ites that is to say bituminous of this lake hereafter we wil speake somewhat But the Sodomites encountering with the Assyrians there was a dangerous skirmish fought wherein many perished on both sides and the most were eyther staine or taken amongst whom was Lot led away captiue who came thither to assist the Sodomites CHAP. XI Abraham pursueth the Assyrians and returneth victorious ABraham hearing of these things and moued both
conquering Egypt they generally wasted the same and hauing tasted of the sweetnesse of pillage without anie temper or moderation in their victorie they were incensed to attempt greater matters And whereas they perceiued that hauing wasted all their neighbour regions no man durst sally out to encounter them in armes they marched forward toward Memphis euen vnto the sea arriuing neere no Citie that either had the heart or durst make head against them By which calamities the Egyptians being ouersore oppressed they send one to take counsell of the Oracle in what manner they might preuent their miseries and when as an answer was giuen them that they should choose an Hebrew to assist them in the warres the king commanded his daughter to giue them Moses who together with the Empire might gouerne the whole armie She taking an oath of the king that no iniurie or violence should be offered him deliuered him into his hands esteeming it to be a great good fortune for Moses that he was called to the succours of her countrey and contrariwise she blamed the Sacrificers who were not ashamed to demaund his aid and assistance whom they had foreiudged and adiudged to be slaine as their common enemie But Moses exhorted by Thermuthis and the king willingly tooke the charge vpon him Whereat the Priests of both nations were verie ioyfull for the Egyptians hoped that when by his vertue and valouâ—… he had ouercome their enemies they afterwards might more easily dispatch murther him by some treason and sinister meanes and the Hebrewes conceiued a hope that they might depart out of Egypt by reason that Moses was the Generall of the armie Moses therefore making haste before such time as the enemies had any notice that he was dislodged he leuied his army and conducted them not along the bankes of the riuer but through the maine land wherein he made manifest his most admirable prudence For the iourney by land being very dangerous by reason of the multitude of serpents for the countrey thereabouts breedeth vp al sorts of theÌ„ and some of that kind as the like thereof are not seene in anie place els all different in proprietie malignitie and horrible forme and amongst these likewise there are some winged and apt to fly who not only offend those that they encounter on the earth very priuily but also tower verie high in the aire who houer about to hurt those that are not aware of them he for the securitie of his armie and to the end he might march without anie inconuenience inuented this marueilous and admirable stratageme For he caused two paniers of sedge to be made in forme of cofers and filled them with certaine birds which were called Ibes who are mortall enemies to serpents and before whom the serpents flee and sometimes in flying from them like Harts they are laid hold of and swallowed by them Otherwise these birds are managed and made tame and are not harmefull to any but to serpents of whom I will now cease to write anie further because the Greekes do already know what kind of bird it is When as therefore he arriued in the countrie of serpents he let flie his Ibes against the venemous beasts and made vse of them to encounter the other and when he had marched in this sort he attained and surprised the Ethiopians before they suspected him and sodainly câ—…arging them he ouercame them in battell spoyling them of the hope they had to conquer Egypt and entring the townes of Ethiopia he rased them and made a great slaughter of the inhabitants The Egyptian armie hauing tasted the happie successe that happened vnto them vnder the conduct of Moses intermitted not their occasion especially for that they saw that the Ethiopians were welnigh conquered or rather wholy destroyed and in the end hauing driuen them euen vnto Saba the chiefe citie of Ethiopia which Cambyses called Meroë for the loue which he bore vnto his sister who was so called they besieged them The Citie was strong and verie hard to be assailed by reason of the riuer Nilus which enuironed it round about on the other side the riuers of Astapus and Astaborra did flow in so freshly as they could neither breake the course of the water nor wade ouer the streame for the citie is builded in an Island inuironed with a strong wall round about hauing great rampiers betwixt the riuers and the walles built to resist the inundations of the waters which are the cause that the Citie may be very hardly taken although the opposite armie had found meanes to passe the water Now when Moses was verie sore grieued that his armie profited nothing by reason that the enemies durst not encounter them in open field behold what a chaunce happened Tharbis the daughter of the king of Ethiopia beholding Moses at such time as he approched with his armie neere vnto the walles of the Citie and seeing how valiantly he fought and behaued himselfe and wondering at the exploits and enterprises which he made which was the cause that the Egyptians almost despairing of their estates and libertie were growne so forward and how the Ethiopians not long before esteemed the conquereâ—…s and happie in their warlike exploits and fortunate executions were in the greatest extremitie of daunger she was surprised with his loue and for that this passion augmented more and more in her she sent vnto him seuen of heâ—… most faithfull and houshold seruants to offer him her loue and intreat with him of mariage The which he accepted vnder that condition that she should deliuer the Citie into his hands promising her vnder a solemne oath that at such time as he were master thereof he would take her to wife without falsifying or breach of his promise The matter was no sooner motioned but the effect followed so that hauing surprised conquered the Ethiopians and after he had giâ—…en thankes vnto God Moses accomplished the mariage and sent the Egyptians backe againe into their countrey Who conceiued an occasion of hatred against Moses because he had beene the cause of their safetie and began seriously to consult and deuise amongst themselues how they might betray him sâ—…pecting least he by reason of the happie successe he had had should beginne to quicken and reuiue some alterations in Egypt they accused him therefore of murther before the King who alreadie of himselfe had him in suspicion as well in respect of this hatred he bare him for his noble cariage and courage during such time as he was generall as also for the feare he had conceiued of the destruction of Egypt foretold by his priestes who incessantly incited him against Moses so that the King was vpon the point to lay hands on him and mâ—…rther him But he hauing intelligence of those his practises escaped and fled secretly flying from his presence thorow the desart by which the enemies least suspected that he should haue fled and although at no
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
and sorrow in her first husband Let not free men match themselues with such as are seruants no not although they be thereunto moued by loue For it is a thing worthie and besitting honour to surmount a mans affections Let no man meddle with an Harlot whose sacrifice God refuseth by reason of the filthinesse of her bodie For the children shall be of a free heart and addressed in vertue not if they be engendred in villanous and vnlawfull concupiscence but if they be begotten and borne by a free father and mother If anie one that is married for a virgin bee afterwards found to the contrarie let her be brought before the Iudge and let him produce all the signes that hee can and let the new married wiues cause be defended by her father or brother or by them who next vnto them shall seeme to be her next in bloud and if the Damosell be found to haue committed no crime let her returne dwell with him that hath accused her who cannot any more refuse her except she giue him great occasions whereunto she cannot contradict But hee that without cause and rashly shall accuse and slaunder his wife he shall be punished with thirtie nine stripes and in way of amends shall pay fiftie sicles to her father But if it be proued that she hath beene defloured and hath beene common then shall she be stoned to death for that she hath not chastlie conserued her virginitie till the time of her lawfull marriage and if she be of the race of the Priests she shall be burned aliue If any man haue two wiues the one of which he holdeth in great honour and amitie either for loue or by reason of her beautie and that the other be not in the like condition and estimate if the sonne of her that is better beloued demaundeth to haue the prerogatiue of the elder which is two portions of that which commeth to all the rest by his fathers patrimonie for so much import our ordinances and challengeth the same by reason that his father more dearely loueth his mother then the other let it not be granted him For it is an act against iustice that the eldest should be depriued of that which appertaineth vnto him because his mothers condition is inferiour to that of the others by reason of his fathers affection Whosoeuer shall violate a maiden being betrothed to another man if by perswasion she hath consented to lie with him let her die with him For they are both of them equally guiltie of sinne the man because he hath perswaded the maiden to suffer an insufferable dishonour and to preferre her lust before an honest mariage and the maid for suffering her selfe to be ouercome and abandoning her bodie to villany either for lust or lucres sake But if meeting her alone he inforce her and she haue none to succour her hard by let him die alone He that shall defloure the virgin that is vnmarried he shall take her to wife but if he condescend not to the father to entertaine her in wedlocke he shall pay fiftie sicles for amends of the iniurie If any man pretend to separate himselfe from his wife for certaine causes such as ordinarily happen amongst married couples let him confirme it in writing that he will neuer more entertaine her againe and so may she marrie againe vnto another and refuse the former husband And if it hapned that she were euill intreated by the second or that he being dead the first would take her againe in marriage it is not lawfull for the wife to returne vnto him If the brother of him that is deceased without issue take to wife her whom his deceased brother had married and that the sonne which was borne by this second wedlocke beareth his name let him be brought vp as the successor of his inheritāce which thing is granted for publike profit sake to the end that families should not come to ruine and that the goods should remaine to those of the same kinred Furthermore it is allowed for the comfort of afflicted women that they may be ioyned in marriage with the next akin of their first husbands but if the brother will not take her to wife she shall repaire vnto the Senate and make this protestation that the brother of her deceased husband will not intertaine her although she had desired to remaine in that line and bring forth infants vnto him protesting that by him onely the memorie of her deceased husband was dishonoured And when the Senate shall haue examined the cause why he estrangeth himselfe from this marriage his excuse shall be allowed of how great or sleight consequence soeuer it be and then shall the widow vnloose his shoe and spit in his face and tell him that he hath deseruedly suffered these things in that he hath iniured the memorie of his dead brother and thus shall he depart out of the court being defamed for his whole life time and the woman may marry whomsoeuer she list If any man take a virgin prisoner or such a one as hath beene alreadie married and bee desirous to take her to his wife it is not lawfull for him to touch or approch her before such time as she hath beene shauen and hauing put on her mourning apparrell hath bewailed her parents or friends slaine in battell but after she hath in this sort asswaged her sorrow she may afterwards addict her selfe to mirth and marriage For it is a matter both honest and iust that he that entertaineth her to haue issue by her should condescend vnto her wil in all that wherein he might gratifie her and that he should not onely addict himselfe to the pursuit of his pleasure when as then the thirtie daies of mourning shall be expired for that time is sufficient for the wife to bewaile her friends in then may she harken after marriage and if after he hath had his pleasure with her it fortune that he mislike her and will not accept her for his wife he can no more make her his slaue but she may goe whither soeuer she pleaseth for that she beareth with her her liberite All those young men that shall make no reckoning of their fathers and mothers and that shall not doe them that honour which belongeth vnto them whether the same proceed of shame or spring from folly by which meanes they grow to neglect their dutie these first of all shall be admonished by discreete counsel of their parents who are by nature appointed sufficient iudges in that behalfe who shall signifie vnto them that they were matched together in matrimonie not for their pleasures sake neither that by vniting their possessions they might become the more richer but to the end they might beget children who might nourish them in their age and minister vnto them in their necessities That they had receiued them at Gods hands with great thanksgiuing and infinite ioy and brought them
of the assembly gaue this answere in defence of the common cause Men and brethren neither will we neglect our kinred neither innouate any thing in that religion of which we make a reuerend account we know that there is one God cōmon vnto all the nation of the Hebrewes and acknowledge also his brasen Altar which is before the Tabernacle and no other but that shal receiue our sacrifices As for that which we haue now erected and that breedeth in you at this present a cause of suspition we built it not to the intent to pacific God by sacrifices but that it might remaine as a perpetuall argument of our friendship and might admonish vs of our countrey religion not to the end you should suspect it were an induction toward the violating of religion And that this was the onely cause which allured and induced vs to build the same we onely challenge God for our faithfull witnesse for which cause hereafter conceiue a better opinion of vs and God forbid you should suppose vs to be so besotted in that sinne of which whosoeuer of Abrahams posteritie is guiltie and whosoeuer shall degenerate from the maners and customes of his forefathers may not expiate that crime without a capitall punishment As soone as Phinees had heard these things and praised their constancie he returned vnto Iesus and declared all those things vnto the people who reioycing in that they had no occasion to leuie men nor cause of ciuill warre or bloudshed offered vnto God their sacrifices of thankgiuing and presently dissoluing the assembly each man returned vnto his owne home but Iesus chose his habitation in Sichama Twentie yeares after Iosuah being extremely old calling vnto him the most honourable of euery Citie and both the Elders and Magistrates and as many of the people as might commodiously be assistant spake vnto them after this maner First he called vnto their remembrance the diuers benefites which God had bestowed vpon them by meanes whereof from their poore and afflicted estates they had attained to so great riches and glorie then exhorted he them that they should endeuour themselues hereafter in such sort as God might hold and continue his mercifull hand ouer them since they knew that his beneuolence could be allied vnto them by no other meanes but by their good indeuours he further alledged that it was his dutie before he departed out of this life to admonish them of their duty last of all he required them that they should accept of that his good admonition and should be perpetually mindfull of the same After this his oration he paid the due of nature and died in the hundreth and tenth yeere of his life whereof he spent fortie as minister vnder Moses their magistrate and after his death gouerned the common-weale twentie fiue yeares a man of incomparable both prudence and eloquence Moreouer strong and expedite in matter of gouernement and both good and profitable in affaires of peace finally most exact in all sorts of vertue he was buried in a Citie called Thamna belonging to the Tribe of the Ephraimites About the same time likewise died Eleazar the high Priest leauing the inheritance of the Priesthood to Phinees the monument laid on his sepulcher is extant in the Citie Gabatha After their deaths Phinees being demaunded by the people what Gods pleasure was and to whose charge the affaires and warres against the Chanaanites should be committed answered them that God commaunded them to giue the gouernment to the tribe of Iuda which by election chosing Simeon and his they for their associates vndertook the warre vnder this condition that when they had vtterly rooted out the remnant of the Chanaanites out of their owne dition they should likewise employ themselues to extinguish all the reliques of that race amongst the other tribes CHAP. II. How the Israelites after the death of their Emperour forgetting the religion of their forefathers fell into extreme calamities and how thorow a ciuill warre raised amongst them therewere onely 600. of the tribe of Beniamin left aliue BVt the Chanaanites whose estate at that time was in sufficient securitie expected them with a great host about the Citie of Bezeca hauing their army conducted by the king of that place called Adoni-Bezec which name signifieth Lord of the Bezecenites for Adoni in the Hebrewe tongue is as much to say as Lord now these men promised vnto themselues the vpper hand by reason that Iosuah was deceased Against these of whom I haue forespoken the two tribes sought verie valiantly and slaying ten thousand of them whilest they pursued the rest they tooke Adoni-Bezec captiue who hauing his hands and feete cut off acknowledged the diuine iustice for he confessed that he had vsed seuentie and two kings before times after the same maner In this plight they conducted him neere vnto Ierusalem where departing out of this life they buried him Then ouerranne they the countrey sacking and taking the Cities and after they had diuers of them in their possession they besieged Ierusalem and entring the lower Citie thereof they put all the inhabitants to the sword But the higher towne was verie hard to be assaulted by reason of the fortresses and strength of the walles and the naturall and strong scituation of the place which was the cause that they leuied their campe to goe and besiege Hebron which they tooke slew all those that were therin In that time there were some remainder of the race of Giants who in that they were greater in stature vnlike vnto other mē were horrible to behold and terrible to be heard Their bones are to be seene as yet at this day which for their highnes surpasse all credulitie or conceit This Citie was giuen in way of honour to the Leuites with two thousand cubits of land or there abouts and as touching the rest of the countrey it was freely giuen to Caleb according as Moses had commaunded it this was one of those spies which Moses sent to ouerlooke the land of Chanaan They gaue lands and possessions likewise to Iethro the Madianites posteritie who was father in law to Moses for that they had forsaken their owne territories and annexed themselues to the Israelites and had beene with them in the desart The tribe of Iuda and Simeon tooke those Cities of the mountainous countrey of Chanaan and those that were in the plaine neere vnto the sea coast namely Ascalon and Azoth But as touching Gaza and Accaron they escaped for these Cities being in the plaine and defenced with a great number of chariots repulsed those that assaulted the same to their disaduantage So these two tribes hauing had good successe in warres retired themselues into their Cities and laid aside their weapons As touching the Beniamites to whom Ierusalem appertained they receiued the inhabitants thereof as their tributaries so that all of them being in peace and the one ceasing from slaughter and the other
Courtiers to sound and seeke out Dauids resolution and how he was affectioned towardes marriage who began to deuize with him telling him that the king bare him a most intire fauour and that the people admired him and how they would procure him the mariage of the kings daughter Whereunto Dauid replied Thinke you it to be a small matter to be son in law vnto the king for my selfe I esteeme otherwise considering in especial mine own base condition who haue neither reputation nor any honorable qualitie When Sauls seruants had related vnto him what answere Dauid had made them Tell him said he that I neither want goods nor presents for that were to expose my daughter to sale and not to match her with a husband I seeke for a sonne in law that hath valour and that is adorned with all vertue such as is manifest and apparant in thee and my desire is that for the dower of my daughter thou giue me neither gold nor siluer nor any other valuable wealth out of thy fathers house but the punishment of the Philistines and six hundreth of their heads which shall be the most desired and accepted dower thou canst present me with My daughter also requesteth aboue all the dowers that may accrew vnto her by order of law to be married to such a man that is so enobled and famous by the ouerthrow of his enemies When these words were reported vnto Dauid he was verie ioyfull thinking that Saul spake sincerely of this affinitie and without delay or taking counsaile or deliberation whether the thing were easie or impossible for him to execute hee incontinently departed with his company to go and finde out the enemy and execute the condition vnder which the marriage was promised him For it was God that made all things easie and possible to Dauid for after he had slaine diuers of them and cut off six hundreth of their heads he returned and presented them to the king and in consideration thereof required the performance of his marriage CHAP. XII Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter to wife BVt Saul that could not flie from his promise for feare least it should be a great dishonour for him to be found a lier or to haue promised Dauid his daughter vnder colour either to murther him or to draw him to the execution of things that were impossible deliuered his daughter Michol vnto him But his intention was not to continue long in that mind For perceiuing that Dauid was gracious in Gods sight and in good reputation amongst the people he was affraid of him and being vnable to conceale his feare he had conceiued to be depriued of two things of such consequence as were his kingdome and life he resolued to kill Dauid giuing commission to his sonne Ionathan and diuers other of his seruants to execute the same But Ionathan amased to see this change in his father in steed of the singular good liking he had of Dauid in times past sought to hurt Dauid not in any slight sort but by indangering his life and on the other side being singularly affected towards him and respecting of his vertue he communicated the secret and deliberation of his father with him counselling him to haue care of himselfe and to flie vpon the next morrow and that in the meane time he would go and salute his father and as soone as the occasion presented it selfe hee would speake and conferre with him to know the cause of his conceiued displeasure against him to the intent he might pacifie the same supposing it to bee a matter vnreasonable that he should be depriued of life to whom the people were so much indebted and who in particular was his esteemed and vowed friend yea in respect of his former merits although he were found guiltie of many hainous offences yet ought he to obtaine a deserued pardon I will tell thee afterward said he what my fathers resolution is Dauid gaue credit to his holesome counsaile and retired himselfe from the presence of the king CHAP. XIII How the King practised to murther Dauid THe next day after Ionathan came vnto Saul and finding him merrie and well disposed he began to speake vnto him to this effect as concerning Dauid In what fault O Father either great or small haue you found Dauid guiltie that you haue ordained commanded him to be done to death who is such a man as for the conseruation of your own person hath been very profitable and besides that hath preiudiced the estate of the Philistines and inhaunced the honour of the people of the Hebrewes and hath deliuered them from that disgrace and mockerie wherewith they haue been curbed for the space of fortie yeares so that he onely hath dared and opposed himselfe against the proud defies of the enemy and since that time hath brought so many of the Philistines heads as was commanded him in recompence whereof he hath had my sister to wife so that his death should be a great displeasure vnto vs not onely by reason of the vertue wherwith he is endowed but also thorow occasion of his alliance with vs in bloud and consanguinitie For by his death your daughter shall partake part of the iniurie by reason that she shall suffer the incommoditie of widowhood before she hath tasted the fruites and commodities of marriage Way these things and pacifie your displeasure and do no wrong vnto such a man who first of all hath beene the author of your so good and great fortunes as is the conseruation of your person at such time as you were possessed and tormented with euil spirits and hath brought to passe that your furies are alayed and secondly hath reuenged you of your enemies For it is a thing vnworthy either your maiestie or the name of a man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore vnto his sonne that he would not iniure Dauid for his iust perswasions and arguments were more stronger then the choler and feare of the king Ionathan sent to seeke out Dauid and told him these good and happy tidings from his father and brought him vnto him where he liued and remained in sort as he did before time CHAP. XIIII How hardly Dauid escaped the ambushes that were often layd for him by the king yet hauing him twice at aduantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time whilest the Philistines led forth their army anew against the Hebrewes Saul sent out Dauid against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them returned vnto the king with a great victorie But Saul entertained him not both as he deserued and the happy exploit atchieued by him did merit but despited and enuied his good actions honorable deserts as if Dauids happy successe had bin Sauls disaduantage and preiudice But at such time as the euill spirit returned anew and both seased and vexed him he lodged
Nabal for such was his name was a rude and currish person leading his life in hunting Yet had he a wife that was good wise and faire To this Nabal did Dauid send tenne of his seruants about the time of his sheepe-shearing both to salute him as also to wish him all good and to beseech God that for diuers yeares hee would grant him grace to doe the like Meane while he requested him that he would impart vnto him somewhat of that which was in his power when as his shepheards could informe him that hauing long time remained in the desart we haue said they beene so farre off from doing your flockes any harme as we haue rather seemed to be their shepheards and keepers they promised him likewise that whatsoeuer courtesie he should shew vnto Dauid he should bestowe it on a mindfull and thankfull personage Thus spake the messengers vnto Nabal but he answered them verie discourteously and rudely demaunding of them what that Dauid was and being informed that he was the sonne of Iesse Now said he these fugitiues and slaues forsaking their masters liue proudly and insolently Dauid hearing of this report was grieuously displeased and commanded fower hundreth of his men to take vp their weapons and follow him commanding two hundreth to keepe the baggage for at that time he had sixe hundreth and in this equipage marched he forward against Nabal swearing that that verie night he would vtterly exterminate roote out all his race and ransacke all his riches Neither was he onely displeased for that Nabal was ingratefull towards them without respect of that humanitie which they had shewed towards him and his but also for that without any cause or iniurie offered he had iniured outraged him in words In the meane while certaine shepheards that attended Nabals cattell told their mistresse their maisters wife that Dauid hauing sent vnto her husband to require some small courtesie had not onely obtained nothing but also receiued insupportable iniuries whereas till that day he had suffered his flocks to be vntouched telling her that that insolencie of their Lord might breede them all much woe and miserie Which when Abigal heard for so was the woman called she loded diuers Asses with all sorts of presents without making any motion to her husband who was so drunke that he was insensible and went towards Dauid As therefore she descended the streights of the mountaine Dauid encountred her marching towards Nabal accompanied with foure hundreth men As soone as Abigal perceiued him she leaped from her Steed and falling vpon her face she prostrated her selfe before him beseeching him to forget Nabals words knowing that Nabals nature was answerable to his name For in the Hebrew tongue Nabal signifieth folly she excused her selfe likewise saying that she saw none of them that were sent vnto her husband For which cause she said I beseech thee grant me pardon and giue God thankes that by my meanes he hath hindred you from polluting your hands in innocent bloud for if thou remaine pure and innocent from bloudshed he shall exact a punishment at their hands that haue hurt thee For those misfortunes that attend on Nabal shall fall on the heads of thine enemies onely be thou fauourable vnto me in accepting these my humble presents and for my sake remit that wrath which thou hast iustly conceiued against my husband for clemencie and humanitie becommeth him whom the fates haue destinated a kingdome Dauid accepting her presents gaue her an answere after this manner Women said he God of his goodnes hath this day brought thee hither otherwise thou haddest not liued or seene the next morning For I haue sworne that this night I would ouerthrow thy house and leaue none aliue of that vngratefull mans familie who hath so contumeliously abused both me and mine but now God hath put thee in mind wisely to preuent and pacifie my wrath As touching Nabal although at this present he be exempted by thy meanes from punishment yet shall he not escape but he shall lose his life for his manners vpon an other occasion shall be the cause of his ruine This said he dismissed Abigal who returning to her house and finding her husband amidst his other companions loaden and ouerwhelmed in wine told him nothing at that time of that which had hapned but the next day when he was sober certifying him thereof he lost all his forces and his body became mortified thorow the griefe he conceiued at her words so that some ten daies after and no more he departed out of this life Which when Dauid vnderstood he said that he was deseruedly punished by God because that his owne wickednesse was the cause of his punishment and that he was afflicted and yet his hands who receiued the iniurie were vndistained with bloud and by this example he learnt that no wicked man can escape Gods iudgement and that all humane affaires are not rashly disposed as if neglected by God but that the good are rewarded with goodnesse and the wicked punished according to their wickednesse He afterwards sent messengers to his wife and caused her to come vnto him to the intent he might marrie her and take her to his wife She answered the messengers that she thought her selfe vnworthy to lie at his feete notwithstanding she repaired vnto him with all her furniture and meanes whatsoeuer and was married to Dauid hauing obtained that degree of honour both in that she was modest and iust as also for that she was beautifull Now Dauid had a wife before her whom he had married out of the Citie of Abesar As touching Michol the daughter of Saul and other-whiles his wife Saul gaue her to wife at Lissa to the sonne of Phalti of the Citie of Gethla After this certaine Ziphians comming vnto Saul told him that Dauid was returned againe into their countrey and that if it pleased him to assist them they might easily apprehend him Whereupon Saul issued with three thousand armed men and being surprised by night he encamped in a certaine place called Sicelleg When Dauid was certified that Saul was issued forth against him he sent out certaine spies whom he gaue in charge to bring him intelligence into what place at that time Saul was retired who ascertaining him that he was at Sicelleg he watched all that night without the knowledge of any of his followers and went into Sauls campe attended onely by Abisai his sister Saruias sonne and Achimelech the Chittite Now whilest Saul was a sleepe and both his generall Abner with all his souldiers wholy deuoured in drowsinesse Dauid entred into the kings campe and although he knew the kings pauilion by reason of his Iauelin that stood at the dore thereof yet slew he him not neither permitted he Abisai who was both willing and addressed to execute the slaughter to performe it But this he said that although the king were euill yet notwithstanding it were a strange and vndecent
that he had depriued him of his kingdome by the meanes of his owne sonne and in punishment of those crimes which he had committed against his owne master This his so cruel and vnbridled libertie moued all Dauids followers to displeasure so that all of them were prepared to reuenge them on Simei and amongst the rest Abisai would haue slaine him but Dauid pacified his displeasure willing him to forbeare for feare said hee least to our present miseries we annexe a further and new occasion For in as much as concerneth my selfe I set light by this mad dogge referre the matter vnto God who is the cause that he is thus desperatly bent against vs Neither is it to be wondred at that I suffer these outrages by him since mine owne sonne is so wicked as he taketh a felicitie to disdaine me but it may be that God wil haue compassion on vs if he please we shal haue the vpper hand ouer our enimies He therfore walked onward on his way not caring what Simei said who ranne on the other side of the mountaine rayling reuiling at him When Dauid was arriued on the banke of Iordan he mustred and refreshed his army who were fore wearied meane while Absalon entring Ierusalem with Achitophel his counsellor was saluted and applauded by the whole concourse of the people amongst the rest Dauids friend came vnto them who prostrating himself before Absalons feete wished him both prosperitie and perpetuitie in his kingdome Him did Absalon aske how it came to passe that he who was reputed to be one of Dauids most indeered friends and esteemed alwaies to be most loyall and faithfull vnto him should at that time when most occasion was profered him to expresse his loyaltie abandon him and submit himselfe to his enemie To him Chusai answered both readily and wisely that it became him to follow God and the good will of the people Since therefore said he my soueraigne that both these are for you it concerneth me to follow you because you haue receiued the kingdome from God If therefore you esteeme me to be your faithfull friend I will approue vnto you my loyaltie and true affection in like manner as in your knowledge I haue testified in effect vnto your father who ought not to be displeased at that which had hapned since the kingdome is not transported into an other house but remaineth in his owne family because he who was his sonne receiued the same By such like words he reconciled himselfe to Absalon whereas before that time he was inwardly suspected Hereupon Achitophel was sent for to consult with him about their affaires in hand who gaue him counsell to abuse all his fathers concubines and make them his owne For said he from that time forward the people will beleeue that you and he will neuer be reconciled and will be more readie to beare armes and inuade your father for your sake For hitherto said he they haue vnwillingly professed themselues to be his enemies suspecting least a peace should ◅e concluded betwixt the father and the sonne Absalon beleeuing this aduise of his caused a Tent or royall Pauilion to be pitched in the sight of all the people whereinto he entred and had the company of his fathers concubines All which fell out according as the Prophet Nathan had foretold at such time as he certified Dauid that his owne sonne should make warre against him CHAP. IX Absalons warre against his father his death and the discomfiture of his armie WHen Absalon had done that which Achitophel had instructed him in he requested him once more to counsaile him concerning that warre which he had enterprised against his father who required ten thousand chosen men at his hand promising him to kill Dauid and to bring all the rest that were in his conduct vnder his subiection assuring him that Absalons kingdome would be then established when Dauids head were cut off from his shoulders When this aduise of his had highly contēted him he sent for Chusai who was the chiefest amongst Dauids friends for so Dauid himselfe had termed him to whom he discouered the aduice which Achitophel had giuen him required him to giue his opinion what he thought therof who knowing verie well that if Achitophels counsaile were followed Dauid should be in daunger to be apprehended and slaine enforced all his arguments and counsails to the contrarie For said he my Liege you are sufficiently informed both what your fathers valour is and their vertue that accompanie him who hath fought many battels and hath had the vpper hand ouer all his enemies It is to be feared also least he at this present be encamped in the field For he is well exercised in leading armies and to preuent any stratagemes whereby the enemy may inuade him and about the euening he hath perhappes left his men hidden in some streight or in ambush behinde some rock and if our men shall assaile him his soldiers will by little and little retire and afterward recouering courage by reason that the King shall be neere vnto them they will charge vs afresh and during their medly your father will sodainly breake out of his ambush and encourage his owne men and discomfort yours wisely therfore examine mine aduice and if you find that it be good neglect that which Achitophel hath giuen you Send me thorow al the countrey of the Hebrewes commanding euery one to take armes march out against your father and when you haue gathered togither these forces be you your selfe in person the generall of the army and commit it not to an other mans charge and assuredly expect to haue an easie victory ouer him if you assaile him in the open field for that he is accompanied with a verie few men and your selfe are attended by many thousands who at least wise if they loue you and will shew a good affection towards you may easily rid you of that enemy And if so be your father shut himselfe vp in any Citie we will and may subuert the same by mines and engines This aduise of his seemed to be better then that of Achitophels so that Absalon preferred the same For it was God that put this thought into his heart to neglect Achitophels and respect Chusais counsell Now when Chusai had thus preuailed he presently repaired to the high Priests Sadoc and Abiathar certifying them what Achitophel had complotted and how he had contradicted him finally how his opinion had taken place giuing them in charge to send priuate intelligence vnto Dauid thereof and to enforme him of his sonnes resolution wishing him with all speede to passe ouer the riuer of Iordan for feare least Absalon being informed of his aboad in that place should make haste and pursue him and ouertake him before he might recouer a place of securitie Now had the high Priests before hand prouided that their sonnes should lie hid without the Citie of set purpose to the end
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
and fraudulent man who during the siege of the Citie had retired himselfe to Bathal king of the Ammonites and had soiourned with him during all the troubles Who being in this sort assembled before him Godolias counselled to remaine in that countrey without any feare of the Babylonians promising that in manuring their land they should incurre no inconuenience All which he confirmed vnto them by an oth adding further that if any disturbance were offered to any man he would readily assist him He gaue each one this aduise likewise to inhabite any Citie that best liked them promising them to send them thither with such things as appertained to them to build them houses and furnish their habitations promising them that when time serued hee would make their prouision of corne wine and oyle for their maintenance during the winter time which when he had proposed these conditions vnto them he gaue them leaue to depart and inhabite the countrey wheresoeuer they best liked Now when the rumour ran amongst the people of Iudaea that Godolias had thus curreously entertained those that were fugitiues and how he had permitted them to inhabite and till the countrey prouided that they paid their tribute to the Babylonian diuers of them repaired incontinently to him and inhabited the countrey And Iohn and the other gouernours being with him and assured both of his clemencie and courtesie begā intirely to loue him For which cause they told him that Bathal king of the Ammonites had sent Ismael to murther him by some treacherie that by that meanes he might haue the dominion ouer the Israelites that remained in that he was of the bloud royal Assuring him that the means of his deliuerance from that treason was if so be he would commaund them to kill Ismael in secret assuring him on the contrarie side that they feared that if Ismael should happen to kill him their whole nation that remained was like to fall to vtter ruine But Godolias tolde them plainly that these stratagems they intended were practized against a man that had receiued pleasure at his hands and that it was not likely that he whom he had succoured during the time of his necessitie would be so wicked or impious against his benefactor as to attempt to murther him whom in any occasion or necessitie he could not but to his great shame and indignitie either flie or forsake Yea said he although those things are true which you informe me of yet had I rather die then oppresse a man that hath committed his life to my trust For which cause Ihon and the rest seeing their perswasions were in vaine departed from him Some thirtie daies after Ismael accompanied with ten men came to Masphath to Godolias who receiued them with presents and magnificent entertainment so that to expresse to Ismael and his companions how hartily they were welcome Godolias drunke so hard that he was somwhat ouerseene with wine Now when Ismael perceiued him to be in that key and ouerloaden with drinke and sleepe he stept vnto him with his ten associates cut both his throat and theirs who kept him company at the banquet after which murther he issued out by night and slew all the Iewes that were left in the citie those Babylonian soldiers also that were left in garrison in that place The next day there came fourescore men of the countrey to Godolias with presents being vtterly ignorant of that which had hapned Ismael knowing them called them vnto him as if he intended to bring them to Godolias and as soone as they were entred he locked the court and slew them and afterwards cast their bodies into a deepe ditch to the intent they might not be discouered Of this number there were some that escaped who besought him that they might not be put to death before they had deliuered certaine moueables garments and corne that they had hidden in the field which when Ismael vnderstood he spared them But he kept them prisoners that were in Masphath with their wiues and children in the number of whom were the daughters of Sedecias whom Nabuzardan had left with Godolias This done he retired backe againe to the king of the Ammonites Iohn and the gouernours of his company vnderstanding of the actes committed by Ismael in Masphath and aboue all of the murther of Godolias they were wonderfully displeased so that each of them assembling his priuate force issued forth to pursue and persecute Ismael whom they ouertooke neere vnto a fountaine in Hebron The prisoners that were with Ismael seeing Iohn his confederates tooke courage supposing that it was some succours that came to helpe them and forsooke him that led them and began to ioyne with Iohns followers and thus fledde Ismael with his eight men to the king of the Ammonites Iohn gathering togither all those whom he had rescued from Ismaels hands both Eunuches women and children retired into a certaine place called Mandra where he soiourned all that day resoluing from thence to depart into Aegypt fearing least the Babylonians should put him to death if they should remaine in Iudaea for that they would be displeased with the death of Godolias whom they had planted in the gouernment Being thus plunged and perplexed with these deliberations they addressed themselues to the Prophet Ieremy beseeching him to enquire of God and to certifie them what it behooued them to do in this their doubtfull estate binding themselues by an oth to doe that which Ieremy should commaund them Hereupon the Prophet promised that he would aske counsell of God for them and some ten daies after God appeared vnto him and willed him to certifie Iohn the gouernours and the rest of the people that if they inhabited Iudaea he would assist them and haue care of them and keepe them so as the Babylonians whom they feared should doe them no harme but if they departed into Aegypt he would abandon them and would be so incensed against them that he would thrall them in the like miserie as their brethren had indured in times past Whilest the Prophet thus warned them from God they would not beleeue him in that he commanded them to remaine in that place by Gods prescript ordinance but they imagined that vnder a false pretext of Gods commaund he had counselled them thereto but that in effect he spake in fauour of his disciple Baruch perswading them to stay there to the end they might be consumed by the Babylonians contemning therefore the counsell which God gaue them by the Prophet both Iohn and the rest of the multitude went into Aegypt and led with them both Baruch and Ieremy Whither they were no sooner come but God told the prophet that the Babylonian should lead his army into Aegypt for which cause he willed him to foretel the people that Aegypt should be destroyed and that they should partly be slaine in that place and partly led captiue to Babylon Which came in like manner to passe for
mounts Carmel and Itabyr and herewith Scythopolis Gadara Gaulanitis Seleucia Gabala and of Moab Essebon Medaba Lemba Orona Telithon and Zara Antona of Cilicia and Pella This last Citie was raced by them because the inhabitants would not promise to conuert themselues to the religion of the Iewes with diuers other of the principall Cities of Syria also which were conquered by them After this king Alexander fell sicke by the meanes of his surfeit and drunkennesse and for the space of three yeeres he was trauailed with a quartane ague This notwithstanding he was alwaies in the campe vntill such time as being wearied with trauels he died in the marches of the countrey of the Gerasens at such time as he besieged Ragaba which is a Castle scituate on the other side of Iordan The Queene perceiuing that he was at deaths dore and that there remained neither hope of life nor recouerie she began to weepe and lament and to beate her breasts because both she and her children were likely now to be left desolate and in these words she bemoaned her selfe vnto him To whom wilt thou leaue both me and thy children in the estate wherein we be or why should we suruiue or liue one after another considering that thou assuredly knowest that the hearts of thy people are estranged from vs Hereupon the king comforted her gaue her this counsaile that if she would assure the kingdome both vnto her and her children she should behaue her selfe according to his direction which was first to conceale his death and not to suffer his men of warre to haue notice thereof vntill such time as she had taken this Castle Which done he aduised her to repaire to Ierusalem in pompe and triumph and that being there she should bestow some authoritie vpon the Pharisees who should recount her praises and obtaine her fauour amongst the people For said he these kind of men are in great estimation and credit with the people and can doe much hurt vnto those they hate and further them 〈◊〉 like sort very mightily towards whom they are well affected For the people easily beleeueth them when they vrge ought against any man notwithstanding it be of enuy and that he himselfe also had incurd the displeasure of the people for their sakes in that hee had offended them When as therefore said he thou shalt arriue in Ierusalem send thou for the chiefest amongst them and pray them to come vnto thee and after you haue shewed them my dead body vse the most plausible speech that you can and giue them permission to dispose of my body how they list whether it be their pleasure to interdict and deny me funerall in that they haue receiued many indignities by me or whether in aâ—…ngment of their displeasure they will offer any ignominy to my body and promise you them that you will doe nothing in the administration or gouernment of the kingdome but by their aduise If in this sort you shape both your manners and discourse towards them it will come to passe that I shall be buried by them with great magnificence which otherwise I could not be by any other meanes because they will offer no outrage to my bodie no although you should permit them and besides that you shall raigne in more assurance and quiet After he had giuen his wife these aduertisements he gaue vppe the ghost after hee had raigned seuen and twentie yeeres and liued for tie and nine CHAP. XXIIII After Alexanders death his wife Alexandra gouerneth the kingdome AFter that Alexandra had taken the Castle of Ragaba she conferred with the Pharisees according to her husbands counsaile and committed vnto their discretion not onely that which concerned her husbands obsequies but also the gouernment of the kingdome whereby she not only appeased the displeasure which before time they had conceiued against Alexander but also obtained their good will and amitie They therefore came and declaimed amongst the people making an oration of the acts and gests of Alexander complaining euery where that they had lost a good king and by the inforced praises that they vsed they incited the people to great griefe and lamentation so that they buried him with more magnificence then any king that raigned before him This Alexander left two sons behinde him the one called Hircanus the other Aristobulus and by his testament committed the gouernment of the kingdome to Alexandra his wife For Hircanus was incapable to manage affaires and rather delighted in peace and quiet and Aristobulus who was the younger was both actiue and fit for gouernment The people were well affected towards Alexandra because she had manifestly expressed how greatly she misliked her husbands misgouernment She appointed Hircanus high priest both in regard of his age as also for that by nature he was composed to peace and quiet and committed all things to the disposition of the Pharisees commanding the people to obey and obserue them She also renued and confirmed that which Hircanus had disanulled and the Pharisees according to the customes of their forefathers had introduced so that she bare the name and the Pharisees the authoritie roiall For they restored such as were banished to their estates and deliuered prisoners and in all things they demeaned themselues like great Lords Alexandra also for her part vndertooke the care of the common weale and kept a great number of souldiers in pay and increased her power in such sort that the tyrants round about her feared her and deliuered her hostages and pledges of peace All the countrey was in quiet onely the Pharisees troubled the Queene perswading her to put those to death who had counsailed king Alexander to put those eight hundreth to death of whom we haue forespoken and they themselues afterwards slew one that was called Diogenes and after him diuers others one by one vntil such time as those in authoritie came vnto the royall pallace accompanied with Aristobulus who seemed to be displeased with that which had hapned and who if the occasion were offered made shew that he would not permit his mother to gouern after that manner and told her that which had hapned and in what dangers they had been to expresse their duety and loyaltie which they ought to their deceased master and how for that cause they had been greatly honoured by him requiring her that she would not vtterly frustrate them of their hopes which they expected in lieu of their seruice that now they that had escaped froÌ„ the danger of their forrain enemies were in their houses murthered like beasts by their priuate maligners without any reliefe or succours from any one They furthermore vrged that if their aduersaries would content themselues with those they had slaine they would endure their misfortunes patiently by reason of the sincere affection they bare vnto their lords but if they must needly as yet suffer the like they required that they might haue licence to depart For that they
was vpon the point of execution surprised her at such time as she thought to flye and yet notwithstanding he pardoned her that fault in that he durst not decree any punishmēt against hir though he could haue found in his heart to haue vsed seueritie for that Cleopatra vvould not haue contained her selfe had she but had such an occasiō offered her to expresse her hatred against Herod For which cause vnder the colour of a high and magnanimous spirit he made shewe to pardon her of his meere clemencie yet inwardly resolued hee to make young Aristobulus away yet not rashly and vpon the instant least the act should growe apparant and palpable Now the feast of Tabernacles was at hand which was one of those that was ceremoniously and solemnly celebrated among vs for which cause he concealed his intents during the festiuall daies intending both in himselfe and in the presence and companie of the people to follow all kinde of pleasure and delight yet did his enny incite him to hasten the execution of his will Aristobulus was at that time some seuenteene yeere olde who at such time as he approched the altar to offer sacrifices according to the lawe apparelled in the high priests ornaments to performe the ceremonies he who for amiable countenance and goodly stature surpassed the young and tendernesse of his yeeres expressing in his countenance the dignitie and nobilitie of his race drew the eies and good affection of all the people vnto him so that they openly called to remembrance the noble actions of Aristobulus his grandfather All the people therfore being surmounted by those their affections and at that present time being all of them troubled with the ioy they conceiued they brake out by little and little into happy acclamations mixed with wishes and praiers so that the good will the people bare to Aristobulus discouered it selfe openly and they manifestly although too hastily in such a kingdome declared what euils they generally endured For all which causes Herode concluded to execute that which he had heretofore complotted and conceited against Aristobulus As soone therefore as the feast was ouerpassed he soiourned in Iericho where Alexandra entertained him In that place he vsed Aristobulus with all kindnesse to the end to draw him into some place where he feared nothing playing also with him and counterfaiting to sport after the fashion of the young men to gratifie him Now for that the place where they disported themselues was by nature too hoat they quickly wearied left their sport and went out togither to take the fresh aire and recouering a pleasant shade vnder certaine arbors and neere certaine fishpooles which were largely spread round about they beheld certain of their seruants and friends that swomme therein with whom not long after Aristobulus began to swim being perswaded thereunto by Herode Whereupon Herodes confederates who were deputed to execute the murther laid hands of him and thrust him vnder the water pretending to duck him in sport and neuer gaue him ouer vntill such time as they had stifled him in the water This hapned about the euening and after this manner died Aristobulus after he had liued in all for the space of eighteene yeeres and administred the priesthood one whole yeere and after this Ananel presently recouered his former dignitie Now when this accident was reported to the women all of them were sodainly deuoured in teares and transported with strange lamentations which they spent ouer the dead body All the Citie also was marueilously amated neither was there any priuate family that thought not it selfe touched by this inconuenient but imagined the losse in particular to concerne himselfe and no other But aboue all when Alexandra had notice of this wicked deede she was more passionate and perplexed then any other being so much the more discomforted for that she knew how all things had hapned But the feare of a farre greater mischiefe constrained her to represse her passion in such sort that diuers times she was ready to bereaue her of her owne life and dispatch her selfe out of miserie with her owne hands But she contained her selfe to the end that suruiuing and liuing after her sonne who was so traiterously and fraudulently slaine and prolonging her owne life without giuing any suspition or shadow that she supposed her sonne to be thus cursedly murthered she might with more opportunitie expect the occasion to reuenge her selfe For which cause she dissembled all things gouerned her griefe and made shew that she knew nothing of that which was either intended or had hapned As for Herode he laboured by all means to perswade the strangers that this death had befallen Aristobulus without his knowledge and did not onely prepare that which was requisite for the funerall but vext himselfe likewise made shew of a man truely deuoured in his sorrow and it may be that in remembrance of Aristobulus beauty and flourishing young yeeres he was truely touched with compassion notwithstanding that he imagined that this death of his should be a means of his intire securitie demeasning himselfe in all things very circumspectly with intent to purge himselfe of that crime But especially he shewed his great magnificence in the interring of his body both in the furnishing and preparation of the herse as in the perfumes and other things thereunto belonging in such sort as the griefe which the Ladies had conceiued was pacified after this manner of consolation CHAP. IIII. Cleopatra thirsting after the kingdomes of Arabia and Iewry laboureth to beg a part of them at Anthonies hands BVt none of all these things could either mooue or mollifie Alexandra but that daily more and more she increased her sorrow and in the heart of her teares kindled her wrath and heate with a desire of reuenge She therefore certified Cleopatra by her priuate letters of Herodes treasons and her sonnes most miserable and vntimely death Cleopatra long before that time desirous to assist her and hauing compassion of her miserie vndertooke the matter and ceased not to incite Anthony to reuenge Aristobulus death telling him that it was an vnpardonable errour that Herode being created king in such a state whereunto he had no right should be suffered to practise such conspiracies against the true and lawfull kings Anthony perswaded by these her words as soone as he came vnto Laodicea sent for Herode to the end that making his appearance he might answere that which might be obiected against him as touching Aristobulus death for he disliked the act notvvithstanding that Herode himselfe had attempted it But although Herode vvas affraid of this accusation and did not a little suspect Cleopatraes displeasure for that she ceased not continually to prouoke Anthony against him yet obeyed he this commandement and transported himselfe thither the rather for that he durst not otherwise do notwithstanding he left his vncle Ioseph behind him committing the gouernment both of the kingdome his priuate
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
letters did now without any hesitation beleeue that in deede some treacherous practise was plotted against him by his sonnes But Alexander affirmed that Diophantus the scribe had counterfeited his hand and that that letter was Antipaters deuise For Diophantus was accounted cunning in such matters and afterward being taken with the like he was therefore put to death And the king produced them that had been tortured at Iericho before the people to accuse his sonnes where they were stoned to death and the people hereat moued would also haue killed Alexander and Aristobulus with the same death But Herode by the meanes of Ptolomeus and Pheroras did restraine them and commanded the young men to be cast into prison and there to be kept so streight that no man was admitted vnto them but manie spies were set who should narrowly marke all their actions and words and now they were acconnted as condemned men both by other mens opinions and also by their owne One of them to wit Aristobulus for griefe enuiting his Aunt and mother in law to compassionate his present calamitie and to hate him that was the author hereof affirming that she also was in great danger being accused in hope to marry with Syllaeus to haue signified vnto him by letters all that past in Herods court Which words the woman presently came and recounted vnto her brother Herod The king no longer able to bridle his furie commanded them both to be bound and kept in seueral places one from another and each of them to write what they had plotted against their father being thus commanded they wrote that they neither prepared treason nor yet thought of any treason against him onely they purposed to flie because they perceiued that they could no longer liue here because they were so suspected in continual care At that time a prince of Cappadocia came Embassadour from Archelaus named Mela who was one of the greatest lords of the country and Herod willing to shew his sons malice he sent for Alexander out of prison commanding him to recount how and after what order or whither they meant to flie he answered vnto Archelaus who had also promised them to send them to Rome but that they had no further intent or purpose to effect any vnlawfull practise against their father and that all other accusations were false And that he requested that Tyrannus and the rest might haue been better examined but Antipater preuented that who by his owne forged tumours spread amongst the people did cause them to hasten their deaths Which being said Herode commanded both him and Mela to be lead vnto Glaphyra that she might be asked whether she were any way priule vnto the conspiracie against Herod and comming vnto her the woman seeing her husband bound presently tore her haire and being amazed with great compassion cried out amaine The young â—…ans cheekes were also bedewed with teares so that a long time after those that were present amazed and mooued to compassion at this miserable sight could neither speake or doe the kings commaund At last Ptolomeus to whose charge Alexander was committed willing him to speak whether his wife was priuie to his intent he answered how could it be otherwise who is dearer vnto me then my owne life being mother of her and my children Then she answered crying out alowd that she was priuie to nothing that was any harme yet quoth she if it will auaile you any thing or helpe to saue your life I am ready to tell any lie whatsoeuer seeing I must die and will denie nothing you would haue me to say Alexander answered neither did I purpose any impietie against my father as some suppose who ought not to thinke so neither doest thou know of any one this thou knowest that thou and I purposed to flie vnto Archelaus thy father and that he promised to conuay vs to Rome which she also affirmed Herode now thinking that Archelaus was conuicted of euill will towards him deliuered letters vnto Olympus and Volumnius commanding them in the way as they went to passe by Eleusa a towne of Cilicia and deliuer certaine letters vnto Archelaus himselfe to the same effect and that from thence they should go to Rome and if so be when they came there they found that Caesar had been reconciled vnto him by Nicholaus his meanes that then they should also deliuer certain letters vnto him declaring all that was past betweene him and his sonnes and the proofes alleaged to conuince the young men Archelaus writ againe vnto Herod that indeede he would haue entertained the young men for feare that any greater mischance should befall them or their father by reason of the suspition against them yet was he not minded to send them to Caesar nor to haue confirmed them in any malicious course The messengers comming to Rome found Caesar reconciled vnto Herode and deliuered the letters vnto him For Nicholaus his embassage was to this effect So soone as he came vnto Rome and had entred the pallace beside the charge he had giuen him he did also vndertake to accuse Syllaeus For he perceiued the Arabians at variance amongst themselues and that some of them had declared all Syllaeus his bad practises and that by his means and procurement many of Obodas kinsmen were murthered as his aduersaries manifestly prooued by certaine of his letters which they intercepted Now Nicholaus desirous to reconcile Herode vnto Caesar omitted not this occasion by chance offered him for he well knew that if he began with the kings defence he should then find a hard and heauie iudge against him but if he began to accuse Syllaeus he should finde also fit occasion to pleade his kings cause Wherefore Nicholaus taking vpon him to prooue the accusation against him at the day appointed he accompanied with the king Aretas Embasladours accused Syllaeus as a murtherer of his Lord and king and many other Arabians and that he had borrowed much money to trouble the peace of the common wealth and that he had corrupted many women and honest matrons both at Rome and in Arabia He added hereunto a most grieuous crime to wit that he by his lies and false reports had deceiued Caesar whom in all things he had misinformed concerning that which Herode had done Which when he once mentioned Caesar commaunded him to omit the rest and onely to recount the matter concerning Herod whether Herod did not enter into Arabia with an army and did slay two thousand and fiue hundreth men and carrie away captiues and robbe and spoile the countrey Nicholaus answered that to these demannds himselfe was able to answere that Herode did none of all these or at least verie little hereof which he did recount and that he did not deserue any displeasure Caesar contrarie to his expectation hearing this began to giue diligent eare to what Nicholaus said and hereupon Nicholaus recounted vnto Caesar howe Herode had lent
called Agrippa and Drusus Drusus died verie young but Agrippa was brought vp by his grandfather amongst his other brethren Herode Aristobulus and Bernice These were Herodes children sonne vnto him who was surnamed the Great Bernice was Costobarus daughter begotten on Salome Herodes sister Aristobulus died leauing his children vnder age vnder his fathers charge with Alexander his brother as we haue alreadie recounted These attaining their full age were in this sorte married Herode brother to Agrippa was matched with Mariamme Olympias daughter who was Herodes the Great his daughter and of Ioseph Herodes brother By her he had his sonne Aristobulus Aristobulus Agrippas third brother married Iotape the daughter of Sampsigeram king of the Emesenians They had a daughter which in like sort was called Iotape which was deafe These were the children begotten by Herodes three sonnes But Herodias their sister married Herode the sonne of Herode the Great whom he begot on Mariamme the daughter of Simon the high priest by whom Salome was begotten After her birth Herodias in contempt of the lawes of the countrey married her selfe with Herode her husbands brother begotten of the same father being separate from him during his life time who was Tetrarch of Galilee His daughter Salome was married to Philip the Tetrarch of Trachonitis Herodes sonne who dying without children Aristobulus married her who was Herodes sonne and Agrippas brother They had three sonnes Herode Agrippa and Aristobulus See here the posteritie of Phasaelus and Salampson Antipater by Cypros had a daughter that in like sort was called Cypros which was married to Alexas Selcius the sonne of Alexas of whom he begate a daughter called likewise Cypros As for Herode and Alexander who as I said were Antipaters brothers they died without issue Alexander Herodes sonne who was slaine by his father begate Alexander and Tigranes on the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Tigranes being king of Armenia died without issue after he had been accused at Rome Alexander had a sonne called Tigranes after his brothers name who was sent by Nero to raigne in Armenia who had a sonne called Alexander who married Iotape the daughter of Antiochus king of Comagena This Alexander by Vespasian was elected king in Lesis a Citie of Cilicia As soone as Alexanders posteritie began to multiply they fell from their countrey religion to follow the customes of the Greekes All the rest of king Herodes daughters died without issue Hauing after this manner reckoned vp Herods posteritie which continued vntill such time as Agrippa the great began to raigne it remaineth at this time to declare what aduentures befell this Agrippa and how he escaping his dangers obtained at last so great power and dignitie CHAP. VIII Agrippas voyage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison and is deliuered after Tiberius death by Caius his successor SOme little time before the death of king Herode Agrippa conuersing at Rome grew into great familiaritie and acquaintance with Drusus Tiberius the Emperours sonne and was beloued by Antonia the wife of Drusus the elder by y e means of his mother Berenice whom Antonia held in great estimation and to whom she had recommended her sonne And whereas by nature he was of a liberall and high spirit as long as his mother liued he would not discouer his intent least he should prouoke her displeasure against him But incontinently after Berenice was dead and he became Lord of himselfe partly by his daily and bountifull entertainment and liuing partly by his immoderate liberalities but especially by his lauish prodigalitie towards Caesars freemen whose fauour he hunted after he was brought into extreame pouertie and could no more liue at Rome the rather for that Tiberius hauing lost his sonne forbad his friends to come into his sight for feare least their presence should refresh and encrease the sorrow he conceiued for the losse of his sonne For these causes he returned backe into Iudaea hauing but badly ordered his estate spent his money and left himselfe no meanes to satisfie his importunate and many creditors For which cause incertaine how to dispose himselfe and ashamed of his present estate he withdrewe himselfe into a Castle called Malatha in Idumaea bethinking himselfe after some sort to cut off his miserable daies Which purpose of his when Cypros his wife apperceiued she endeuoured by all meanes to preuent his resolution she wrote also to his sister Herodias who was married to Herode the Tetrarch certifying her both what Agrippa had decreed as also by what necessitie he was inforced thereunto and she exhorted her that in regard of affinitie she should assist him and imitate her in this who as much as in her lay relieued his miserie although her fortunes were farre weaker then hers Being therfore sent for by his sister and wife he was commaunded to dwell in Tiberias and had a certaine summe of money assigned him for his maintenance and for his greater honor was appointed Magistrate of that Citie Yet did not Herode continue long time in that minde although by the meanes he had giuen him he had not satisfied his kinsmans necessities For being in the Citie of Tyre in a certaine company where he dronke immoderately Agrippa esteemed it for an extreame iniurie that Herode had vpbraided him with his pouertie and hit him in the teeth that he maintained him at his charge For which cause he withdrew himselfe to Flaccus who had sometimes been Consul at Rome and for the present was president of Syria with whom at Rome he had fallen into familiaritie who entertained by him liued with him who long before that time had entertained Aristobulus who though Agrippas brother yet was he his enemy yet notwithstanding this dissension betweene them Flaccus entertained them both with equall fauour But Aristobulus remitted nothing of his hatred he bare his brother neither euer rested he before he had drawne Flaccus into dislike with his brother vpon this occasion The inhabitants of Damasco contending with the Sidonians about their demaines and being to debate their cause before Flaccus knowing what interest Agrippa had in him they besought him that he would further their cause promising him a great summe of money whereupon he addressed himselfe in what he could to further those of Damasco But Aristobulus who had an inkling of this conclusion and promise accused his brother to Flaccus and after inquisition was made and he found guiltie of the fact Agrippa grew out of the presidents fauour and falling againe into extreame pouertie he came to Ptolemais and for that he had no meanes of maintenance he determined to saile into Italie And for that he wanted money he commanded Marsyas his free-man that by all meanes whatsoeuer he should seeke to take vp money vpon interest He spake vnto Protus who was Agrippas mothers free-man who by the testament of his deceased Mistris was left vnto Antonias protection that vpon his Masters bill
himselfe and his followers yet being ouercome with brotherly affection he easily pardoned his brother ascribing his error to the violence of his vnbridled passion But whereas daily more and more he was tired with exclamations and greater reproofes at length he admonished his brother of the matter chiding him for that which was past and willing him to amend the error hereafter by sending home the woman vnto her kinred Yet did this admonition of his take no effect with him for that the woman perceiuing that the rumour that was raised among the people was for her sake and being affraid least for her loue sake Anilaeus should incurre some danger she poisoned Asinaeus to the end that her loue being in authoritie she might more freely practise her impietie Now when Anilaeus had gotten the gouernment into his owne hands he drew out his forces against certaine villages belonging to Mithridates one of the chiefest among the Parthians and Artabanus sonne in lawe which villages hee spoyled and carried away moueables men sheepe and other riches When Mithridates who at that time was resident in those quarters vnderstood of the spoile of his villages he was sore displeased and the rather for that without any occasion or proffer of iniurie Anilaeus had assailed him in contempt of his estate who was a chiefe peere of the countrey for which cause he incontinently assembled the greatest power of horse and footmen he could gather to set vpon Anilaeus and his associates Leading his forces therefore against one of his villages he kept himselfe in couert to the end he might fight the next day which was the Sabboth day on which the Iewes attempt not any thing Whereof when Anilaeus was aduertised by a certaine Syrian who dwelt in an other village who had exactly tolde him all Mithridates intent and the place where he intended to banquet with his souldiers after he had made his souldiers take their refection he departed by night to the end he might charge the Parthians before they might be aduertised of his comming He therefore rushed in vpon them about the fourth watch of the night and slew those whom he found a sleepe and the rest being astonished hereat were forced to saue themselues by flight he also tooke Mithridates prisoner and caused him to be carried away naked on an Asse which is one of the greatest disgraces which the Parthians imagine may be offered them Hauing after this disgracefull manner carried him into a foâ—…est some of his familiars perswaded him to kill him but Anilaeus tolde them incontinently that they ought to deale with him farre otherwise for that it behooued them not to kill a man who was one of the chiefest among the nobilitie of the Parthians and one vvho vvas most honoured in regard of that affinity and alliance he had with the king that although all that which heretofore had beene offered to Mithridates were insupportable yet if they should be the meanes of the safegard of his life hee would remitte the iniuries and remunerate them for their mercie in sauing his life whereas if they should deale seuerely with him the king would seeke his reuenge and make a horrible slaughter of all those Iewes that inhabited Babylon whom they ought to haue compassion of both for that they are of their bloud as for that if any mischiefe should be fal them they knew not whither to retire themselues whereas they might be assisted with the flower and picked number of the men of their nation Hauing thus discoursed and debated the matter in the eares of his souldiers his opinion was approoued and they were perswaded and so Mithridates was sent backe againe But no sooner returned he home vnto his house but that his wife hit him in the teeth that he liued but by the mercie of his enemies notwithstanding he were the kings sonne in lawe that he had made no reckoning to punish those who had so much iniured him that he likewise contented himselfe to haue his life saued after he had been prisoner to the Iewes For which cause said she recouer thou thy former vertue and honor which thou hast heretofore lost or I sweare by the Gods of the king my father that the bond of marriage which is betwixt thee and me shal be dissolued Mithridates vnable to endure these vsuall reproches and on the other side apprehending his wiues hautie coarage from whom he feared to be separated he assembled the greatest power of men of warre that he could possible notwithstanding it were against his will and led them foorth supposing himselfe to be vnworthy of life if he who was by nation a Parthian should be cowardly put to y e worst by the Iews When Anilaeus vnderstood that Mithridates came forth against him with a great force he thought that it would redound greatly to his indignitie if he should lie lurking amidst his matshes hoping that he should haue no worse fortime against his enemies then he had at the first and building much vpon his souldiers vvho vvere euer wont to get the vvper hand in their encountries he likewise drew forth his army to them also certaine other adioyned themselues who sought noughtels but pillage and hoped that vvith their onely presence they might dismay their enemy But after they had marched about ninetie stades and passed thorow a countrey that vvas scant of vvater and vvere about the heate of the midday trauailed vvith thirst Mithridates army came in sight and charged them euen at that time vvhen they fainted for vvant of drinke and thorow the extremitie of heate so as they could scarcely vveild their vveapons At that time Anilaeus souldiers encountring vvith Mithridates fresh men vvere shamefully put to flight vvhereby it came to passe that a great number of them vvere murthered and many thousand men put to the sword But Anilaeus himselfe and all those of his companie retired themselues in great haste into a forrest leauing Mithridates Lord and Maister of the field vvhereof he vvas verie ioyfull Notwithstanding this desaster an infinite number of lawlesse men resorted to Anilaeus vvho set little by their lines prouided there might no limit be proposed to their vnbridled licentiousnes so that he gathered a greater number of men then those vvhom he had lost yet vvere they faâ—…e different in valour from the former for they vvere men vvholy ignorant of vvarlike discipline notwithstanding he being accompanied vvith these men vvent and set vpon câ—…rtaine burroughs of the Babylonians vvhich vvere vvholy destroyed by his rapine and violence For vvhich cause the Babylonians and his other enemies sent vnto Nearda to the sewes that were there requiring that Anilaeus might be deliuered into their hands vvhereunto condiscending not for although they had a wil to perform their request yet it lay not in their power to deliuer him they required that they might liue in peace And to intreat of the conditions of peace the Babylonians sent certaine men 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
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
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
the trees brought forth and feeding on no other kind of meat but that which they willingly yeelded him washing himselfe oftentimes by day and night in cold water to keepe himselfe chast I began to imitate his course of life and after I had liued with him for the space of three yeeres and satisfied my desires at last I returned into the citie At the age of nineteene yeeres I began to intermeddle with publike affaires following the sect of the Pharisees which very neerely resembleth that sect among the Graecians who are called Stoicks After I was sixe and twentie yeeres olde it was my fortune to repaire to Rome vpon this occasion that ensueth During such time as Foelix gouerned Iudaea there were certaine priests my familiars men of much honour more vertue who vpon some slight occasion were bound and sent to Rome by his commaundement to aunswere to that which was obiected against them in Caesars presence Whereupon I being desirous to labour for their liberty hauing especiall intelligence that notwithstanding the torments wherewith they were martyred they buried not in forgetfulnes that pietie which they ought to God but liued on figs and nuts and for this cause I departed for Rome and was encountred with many great and grieuous hazards by sea For the ship wherein I sailed was wrackt in the midst of the Adriatike sea and there were about sixe hundreth of vs that swamme all night long and vpon the day spring by Gods prouidence a Cyrenian ship came in sight and both I and certaine others to the number of fourescore out swimming the rest were taken vp into it and saued After I had in this sort escaped I came to Dicaearchia which the Italians call at this day Puteol and grew acquainted with Aliturus a Iew borne who was a plaier and in good reputation with Nero by whose meanes insinuating my selfe into Poppeas knowledge whovvas Caesars wife I determined to beseech her to procure those Priestes liberties with all expedition which done I by her means recouered their present liberty and being gratified likewise by her with many great gifts I returned into my countrey There found I the commonweale too much addicted to factions and troubles and diuers too prone and readie to rebell and forget their alleageance to the Romanes I enforced my selfe to represse the seditious and exhorted them to chaunge their opinions representing before their eies the qualitie of those against whom they enterprised their warre with whom they neither might compare in experience of warre neither in good fortune for this cause I aduised them not to hazard and ouerthrow their countrey by their rashnesse and rage and with it their posterities and themselues To this effect spake I vnto them instantly intreated them to forsake their vntamed resolution for that I foresaw that the end of this warre would redound to our vtter ruine but I preuailed nothing with them For the furie of desperate dissolute men preuailed aboue reason for which cause fearing least by continuall inforcing of one thing I should grow into hatred and suspition among thē as if I fauored their enemies fearing likewise least if they should lay hold on me they should put me to death seeing that the fort of Antonia was alreadie seazed vpon by the seditious I retired my selfe into the inward part of the tēple In processe of time after Manahem the chiefest among the theeues vvere put to death I came out again from the temple and conuersed with the priests and chiefest Pharisees vvho were surprised with great feare And grieuously vvere vve disma◅ed when we saw the people in armes being vncertaine what to do wanting the meanes to pacifie these mutinies and apparantly perceiuing their manifest daunger both I and the Pharisees told them our opinion vvas answerable to theirs counsailed them to containe themselues in peace and not to prouoke the enemie For our hope was that Gessius vvould with al expedition draw out great forces and chastice those peacebreakers But as soone as he arriued and had fought vvith them he vvas ouercome and a great number of his men vvere slaine whereupon grew the vtter ruine of our vvhole nation For such as desired the vvarre vvere puffed vp vvith that victory and conceiued an assured hope that in the end they should ouercome the Romans Besides that this ensuing occasion presented it selfe The inhabitants of the cities that bordered vpon Syria laid hands on those Iewes that dwelt amongst them and slue both them their wiues and children without any iust cause or crime committed by them For they had not conspired any waies or intended to reuolt from the Romanes or to vse any hostilitie or any secret conspiracie against any of those with vvhom they were conuersant But among all the rest the citizens of Scythopolis exceeded all other in impietie and wickednes For being besieged without by certaine of the Iewes they inforced those Iewes that inhabited amongst them to take armes and to charge those of their owne nation vvhich is both prohibited and vnlawfull by our lawes vvho fighting against them discomfited them but after this ouerthrow they in such ◅ort falsified and forgot their faith that they had giuen to their associates and fellow citizens that they slue euerie mothers sonne of them to the number of many thousands The like misfortune also fell vpon those Iewes that inhabited Damasco But of this we haue more amply spoken in those our bookes vvhich vve haue vvritten of the warres of the Iewes and at this present I make mention hereof intending to signifie and certainly perswade the readers that the warre which vvas vvaged vvith the Romanes proceeded not of a resolute intent and purpose but for the most part of an inforced necessitie After that Gessius vvas ouercome as we haue heretofore declared the chiefest men of Ierusalem perceiuing that the theeues making a partie among the seditious and vvere strongly and plentifully armed and prouided they began to feare least if they should be found disarmed they should sodainly be ouerthrowne by their enemies as in effect it fell out afterwards and hearing that all Galilee was not as yet wholy reuolted from t◅ Romans but that a part thereof as yet entertained the peace they sent me with two other priests Ioazar and Iudas who were both vertuous and honourable men to perswade the mutinons to lay by their armes and to let them know that it was more behoouefull for the good of the nation that such men as were in authoritie and reputation should haue the keeping thereof The resolution that was taken by them was that they had them alwaies ready vpon all occasions but that they expected vntill they were certified what the Romans intended to doe With this commission and such like instructions I repaired into Galilee where I found the Sephorites were in no small hazard in respect of their countrey for that they of Galilee had resolued to forrage the same in
that I was not wholy cleere of that which was obiected against me I besought them to vnderstand to what vse I reserued that pray that was brought vnto my hand after which if they list they might kill me And whilest the multitude commaunded me to speake the armed men returned backe and beholding me rushed in vpon me with an intent to murther me but being restrained by the peoples exclamations they moderated their furie supposing that after my confession of treason and reseruation of the kings money they might haue a better occasion to finish my Tragedy For which cause after silence I began thus Men and brethren said I if in your opinion I deserue death I refuse not to die yet before my death will I certifie you of the whole truth Truly when as I perceiued that this Citie was most commodious and fit to entertaine strangers and that I perceiued that many men forsaking their owne countries were delighted with your conuersations and willing to partake with you in all sorts of fortune I was resolued to build vp your wals with this money for which being thus destinated to doe you good your indignation is prouoked against me Vpon these words the Taricheans and strangers cried out giuing me thankes and willing me to be of a good courage But the Galileans and Tiberians continued in their hatred insomuch as they grew to debate betwixt themselues the one threatning me with punishment the other contrariwise willing me to assure my selfe of securitie But after I had promised the Tiberians that I would reedifie their wals and fortifie other conuenient Cities they giuing credit to my words repaired euerie one of them to their owne houses And I beyond all expectation escaping from so great a perill with certaine of my friends and some twentie souldiers returned to my house But once againe the theeues and authors of sedition fearing least they should be punished for these their offences begirt my lodging with six hundreth armed men intending to consume it with fire Of whose arriuall as soone as I had intelligence imagining with my selfe that it would be much dishonour for me to flie I resolued to vse valour and courage against them for which cause commanding the gates to be shut I required them from the top of the house that they would send in some of them vnto me to receiue that money for which they had been drawn into this mutinie whereby they might haue no further cause to be incensed against me Which done laying hold of one of the most troublesome fellowes that with the rest came in vnto me I caused him to be beaten with many grieuous strokes and his hand to be cut off and hung about his necke and thus handled we thrust him out of doores to returne vnto those who had sent him But they being wondrously affraid herewith and suspecting the like punishment if they should stay there any longer for that they suspected that I had diuers armed souldiers in my house they sodainly all of them fled away and so by this stratageme escaped I the other dangers Yet wanted there not some who incited the people once more against me saying that the kings seruants who were fled vnto me for refuge ought not to liue except they submitted themselues to their lawes and customes from whom they required protection They likewise accused them that they were of the Roman faction and poisoners and presently the people began to mutinie being deceiued by their words who laboured to flatter them Which when I heard of I once more enformed the people that they ought not to persecute those who resorted vnto them for rescous and I iested at their folly who accused them of impoisoning and that the Romans would not vainly nourish so many thousands of souldiers if they pretended to make away their enemies with poison Being by these words somewhat pacified they had scarcely withdrawn themselues awhile but that by certaine outcasts and wicked men they were incited against the nobilitie so that with armed weapons they resorted to the houses of the Taricheans intending to murther them Which when I heard I was sore affraid that if this wickednesse should be committed no man hereafter should dare to trust his life in my hands For which cause being assisted by diuers others I hastily resorted to their lodging and shut vp the gates and cutting a trench betwixt it and the lake I called for a barke and entring into the same with them I crossed ouer into the confines of the Hippenians and furnishing them with money to buy them horses for that they could not transport their owne with them in that flight I dismissed them requiring them to digest their present misfortunes with a constant minde For I my selfe tooke it verie heauily that I was once more inforced to land those men in the enemies countrey who had committed themselues to my trust yet thinking that if it should so fall out that they should fal into the Romans hands they should be safer then if by suffering them to remaine in my countrey I should see them opprest I aduentured them thus Yet were they saued and the king gaue them pardon And this was the end of this tumult But they of Tiberias wrote vnto the king requiring him to send a garrison into their country and promising him to reuolt and follow him Which done as soone as I came vnto them they required me that I would build them those wals which I had promised them for they had alreadie heard that Taricheas was inuironed with wals Whereunto I condescended and gathering stuffe from euerie place I set the workemen to their taske But some three daies after departing from Tiberias towards Taricheas which was thirtie stades distant from thence by chance a troupe of Roman horsemen were discouered not farre from the Citie which made the inhabitants beleeue that they were the kings army Whereupon they presently began to vtter many things in honour of the king and more in my reproch And presently a certaine friend posted vnto me and told me what their minde was and how they intended to reuolt from me Which when I vnderstood I was wondrously troubled For I had sent backe my men of warre from Taricheas to their houses for that the next day was the Sabboth day For I would by no means that the Citizens of Tarichea should be charged or troubled with entertaining souldiers And at all times when I remained in that citie I tooke no care of the guard of mine owne person hauing had often proofe of the loyaltie of the inhabitants towards me Being therefore at that time attended onely with seuen souldiers and a few of my friends I knew not what to do For I thought it not fit to call backe my forces for that the day was welny past and although they should haue beene with me the next morning yet they might not haue taken armes because our lawes forbad the same how
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
of the Iewes THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 3. booke 1 Of the comming of Vespasian generall of the Romans into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes and how the Sephorites yeelded themselues to Vespasian 2 The description of Galilee Samaria and Iudaea 3 Of the helpe sent v◅to them of Sepphoris and of the militarie discipline amongst the Romans 4 How Placidus assaulted Iotapata 5 How Vespasian inuaded Galilaea and at his onely presence how the Galileans fled 6 How Gadara was taken 7 How Iotapata was besieged and of the situation and batterie thereof 8 Of the siege of Iotapata by Vespasian and of Iosephs diligence and of the excursions of the Iewes against the Romans 9 How Vespasian did beate the wals of Iotapata with a Ram and other warlike engines 10 How Iotapata was againe assaulted 11 How Traian and Titus tooke Iapha 12 How Cerealis ouercame the Samaritans 13 How Iotapata was taken 14 How Ioseph being taken saued his owne life 15 How Ioppe was taken againe 16 How Tyberias was yeelded 17 How Tarichea was besieged 18 Of the lake called Genesar and the fountaines of Iordan 19 How Tarichea was deliuered CHAP. I. Of Vespasians comming into Iudaea and of the two massacres of the Iewes AFTER that Nero vnderstood of his euill successe against the Iewes he was seazed with feare and astonishment yet he dissembled it as much as necessitie would permit him In the meane while he set a good face on the matter and made as though he were of more courage saying that that which happened was rather by the fault of his generall then by the valour of their aduersaries thinking that it behooued him who was emperour not to shew himselfe mooued with a little bad newes and the greatnesse of his Empire shewed he had a mind which yeelded to no misfortune Yet it appeared by the vexation of his spirit that he was much moued in great care vnto whom he should cōmit the charge of the East which rebelled who both would conquer the Iewes and chastife the inhabitants about them that bare the same minde as they did At last he found Vespasian whom he thought only meet for that purpose a man who from his infancie had been trained vp in warres euen vntill he was gray headed who had appeased the people of the West helped them being troubled by the Germans and recouered it for the Romans as also he did Britannie which was vnknowne before and for that cause made his father Claudius triumph without taking any paines for it Nero considered all these and his prudence grounded in olde age with his experience who also had sonnes in the flower of their age to be pledges for his fidelitie that represented their fathers wisedome God as it should seeme euen then disposing something of the whole common wealth Nero sent him to gouerne the armies in Syria greatly encouraging him with faire speeches and promises as at that time neede required Thus he departed out of Achaia where he was with Nero and he commanded Titus his son to leade the fift and tenth legions from Alexandria and he himselfe crossing ouer to Hellespont went after by land into Syria where he assembled all the Roman forces and all the helpe of the kings adioyning that were confederates But the Iewes after Cestius vnfortunate successe became proud of their victorie and could not containe themselues but like men tossed at fortunes pleasure they still gaue more occasion of warre and gathering all their warlike forces togither they went to Ascalon which is an olde Citie seuen hundreth and twentie furlongs distant from Ierusalem which the Iewes alwaies hated for which cause also they first assaulted it The Gouernors in this expedition were three men excellent aboue the rest for strength and wisedome to wit Niger of Peraea Silas the Babylonian and Iohn the Essean Now the Citie of Ascalon had verie strong wals but few men to defend it for it had onely one company of footmen and one band of horsemen whom Antonius gouerned The Iewes made such haste as though they had dwelt hard by Antonius perswading himselfe that they would assault him caused his horsmen to i◅ue foorth of the Citie and neither fearing the multitude nor the malice of his aduersaries he valiantly aboad the first assault of the enemies and beate them backe that attempted to assault the wall So the Iewes who were vnkilfull hauing to doe with them that were expert and they being on foote fighting against horsemen without order against those that were in good order being light◅y armed against their aduersaries who were well prouided were easily repulsed Finally they were more led by rage and wrath then by good counsell and they against whom they fo◅ght were obedient and would doe nothing without the commandement of their leader For their first rankes being broken they were forced by the horsemen to turne their backs and turning themselues to their owne companie who turned toward the wall became as it were enemies to themselues So that euerie one seeking to auoide the horsemen they were all dispersed about the field which was in euerie place for the aduantage of the horsemen This greatly helped the Romans to kill so many Iewes for they that fled were easily ouertaken by the Romans and killed and others compassing diuers of the Iewes about slew them with dartes so that the Iewes were in as great desperation for all their huge multitude as if they had been alone The Iewes indeuouring to ouercome their misfortunes were ashamed to flie and so fled not hastily hoping that fortune would change But the Romans not wearied in that which they did with great dexteritie continued the fight the most part of the day so that there were slaine of the Iewes ten thousand and two of their leaders Iohn and Silas The rest many being wounded followed their Generall Niger who fled into a little towne of Idumaea named Salis many of the Romans also were wounded in that fight But the Iewes were not daunted with this misfortune but the griefe thereof much encreased their courage neither were they dismaied with the former losse of so many men within so short time but rather calling to minde their great victorie they had before were drawne to vndergo yet another mishap Shortly after before the mens wounds were healed they gathered togither all their forces and went againe to Ascalon in greater number and furie but with the same successe and skill in warlike affaires which they had before For Antonius hauing warning which way they meant to come placed an ambush in the waye and the horsemen setting vpon them at vnawares they killed aboue eight thousand of them before they could prepare themselues to fight and all the rest fled and Niger with them shewing as he fled many arguments of a valiant minde and for that the enemies
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
her selfe yea and double the same Doe thou goe forward in that which thou hast in hand to wit in spreading the praise of those Martyrs making that vertuous example more commendable and your Citie more famous Farewell FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS OF THE RVLE OF REASON A MOST ELOQVENT BOOKE CORRECTED BY DESIDERIVS ERASMVS MOST LIVELY SETTING DOWNE THE MARTYRDOME OF THE MACHABEES I Am vpon the instant request of Polybius of Megalopolis to commit to writing the constant suffering of the Machabees worthie all admiration not in a Rhetoricall and pleasing stile but rather after our owne Countrie fashion thereby to exhort our nation patience in their calamities But first of all it is necessary for vs to speake something of reason and assigne vnto it the power vertue to deliberate For he who hath once fully determined to suffer all miserie for Gods sake is in my opinion alreadie a Martyr it is therefore a great merite once to haue so determined and therefore as is aboue said reason beareth the rule of all inferiour passions and then if destinie denie vs opportunitie to suffer yet haue we suffered all because we purposed to suffer all Who so therefore wil renownee the world and aspire onely to celestiall things hee must first exercise sobrietie banish gluttonie with his page lasciuiousnesse and all other such like vices as may possesse and captiue the mind hee must likewise mount-vp vnto the top of vertues towre that after he may from thence warre against the vices of this body feare and griefe the first whereof assaulteth vs when wee begin and the last when we haue begunne There are many examples of the valiant souldiers of God which I would vse but that the ornaments sprung from the wombe of one woman may suffice me which shee brought forth not at one birth but with the same pietie and zeale And first I will speake of Eleazer the cause and example of their passion and then I wil relate what tortures and torments their mother indured yet cannot man but onely God determine who amongst them was first and who last in this noble agonie They therefore being all setled in one opinion resembling one an other more in mind then they did in body duely considered the frailtie of this life and therefore neither delighted in the flatteries of this world nor any alluring inchauntments thereof They shewed themselues not to esteeme of torments fetters nor no other sort of tortures imposed vpon them and to returne to our first saying they premeditated patience to indure whatsoeuer the iudges crueltie could deuise I will there in what I may prayse the fortitude of these brethren or rather I will with all truth rehearse the most worthie agonie of these holy men which deserueth all commendations and setting all adulation a part prosecute with a bare Historicall narration the manner of their martyrdome But before I begin to declare the death of nobilitie I will a little entreate of reason which as I haue affirmed is no smal motiue to martyrdome Reason it is that maketh vs obserue fasts and vse abstinence it is reason that maketh vs despise money and by it wee are taught not to account of dignities and honours which all men generally ayme at yea reasons gift it is that we doe resist the heat of lustfull desires Hence commeth it that hauing once ouercome such things as the flesh delighteth in we find our selues a little able to resist we also learne to despise paines torments and so resolue to suffer all things that shall be imposed vpon vs. Which that it may more plainly appeare let vs search out the cause of this order and we shall finde wisedome to be the cause hereof For no man can determine and distinguish good from euill that is not endued with wisedome this wisedome is alwaies accompanied with iustice and iustice is still ioyned with vertue and vertue and temperance cannot be seperated so that this wisedome consisteth vpon foure parts Besides these there are two things that either do cause or hinder passion to wit paine and pleasure one of the which we doe alwaies refuse and the other we alwaies desire yet where pleasure ariseth and is presently by reasons rule put away the minde is there strengthened and paine compared with glorie is through hope of a greater reward contemned before it come and being come our minde is ashamed not to suffer that which it was before resolued to doe for reason therefore is the guide of all our actions and by it we despise torments and detest vice which like a skilfull â—…usbandman pruneth and cutteth away superfluous branches and killeth the heate of all corrupt and hurtfull humors onely leauing that to remaine in vse which may someway be profitable vnto vs. Thus reason purifieth vs by passion encouraging to suffer and in our suffering and agonie strengthening vs. Who is not desirous to eate of the flesh of wilde beasts and fishes And who lusteth not to eate of feathered soules nay doe not the daintie dishes gotten either in Sea or land inuite vs to eate of them What then causeth vs to abstaine from them that all men desire them yet no man eateth them Euen in this thing the minde is taught to ouercome it selfe in delightfull obiects and so to bridle all pleasure that when occasion of martyrdome is offered the minde setting aside all vanities will not for a little pleasure forget his accustomed vertue For this cause was Ioseph iustly praised in that he was not ouercome by lust which raigneth in a youthfull body this reason so worketh with sound aduise and mature counsell that it againe recouereth lost friendship and getteth new and suffereth no crueltie to be committed Of this we haue also the example of Moses who had he not iust occasion to be angrie against Dathan and Abiram reason no doubt would haue caused him to haue smothered all griefe of minde Did not our father Iacob with great vehemencie reproue his sonnes Simon and Leui that without reason they had vsed such crueltie saying cursed be your anger which anger and wrath of theirs had it been bridled with reason neither had they been cursed nor the other had perished For this cause God the maker of mankinde when he fashioned vs and our manners hauing finished all lineaments of the body he now placed the minde to be in it and to rule it leauing it certaine precepts to obserue and keepe to wit temperance and to embrace and follow that which is good and cleaue vnto iustice and rule and bridle all passions in the body subiect vnto it and obserue the precepts of God But some will aske me wherefore we offer to commit wickednesse seeing that reason ruleth our passion But it is a ridiculous thing to thinke that reason so ruleth for reasons rule cannot hinder the appetite from desire but onely correct desire and so preuaile that it suffer with patience the losse or abstinence from such things as
Exposition of dreames see interpretition Expostulation of Samuel with the people 135. c d. Expostulation against Ioseph 659. 2. Extremitie of the Iewes 75. b. Ezechias king of Iuda praised and why 242. i. his embassadours to the Israelites 242. l. offereth a solemne sacrifice 243. 2 b. reformeth Gods seruice bid subdueth the Philistines 243. c. hath his recourse to God 245. f. praieth and is heard 246. g. h. fell sicke ibid. m. his life prolonged 247. a. entertaineth Balads embassadors ibid. b. his death 247. d. Ezechiel prophecieth of captiuitie 250. k. taken prisoner 251. c. foreprophecieth the destruction of the Temple c. 252. k. F Fable deuised by Apion 788. l m. Fable of Iupiter and Pallace 795. f. Fact of Herode deuised 605. f. Faction in Tiberias 531. b. Faction of Chore 77. e. of the people 214. g. Facultie of perswasion 46. i. Factious flie from Ioh 685. b. Fadus gouernour of Iudaea 512. i. slew Tholomaeus 513. a. killeth Theudas 518. i. Fall of Adam and Eue 4. i. Fall of the wals of Iericho 102. i. Fall of Ochozias 224. k. Fall of a tower 710. l. m. False prophets 252. i. k. 253. a. suborned 758. h. Fame of Salomons vertues 203. c. of Iosaphats 224. i. Fame of Herode 588. i. k. Familie of the priests destroyed 149. c. d. Famine of Canaan 12. m. 21. a. 34 k. 35. e. of Egypt 34. i. encreased and why 40. i. of the Iewes 75. a b. in the daies daies of Eli 123. c. inflicted on the Israelites and why 182. i. of 〈◊〉 227. f. 228 g h. 253. c. in Iudaea 403. c. in Ierusalem 714. l. 717. b. 724. i k. 734. g. Fasting of the Israelites 129. d e. of the Iewes 279. d. Father of Iosephus taken 722. k. Fathers before floud 7. a b c. trained vp their sons in vertue 6. h. 7. a b c. their age before the floud 7. a b. c. their death ibid. why liued longer then we now 8. l. Fathers after the floud 11. e. f. Fauour of God to Isaac 21. b. of the keeper to Ioseph 32. i. of Pharaoh to Ioseph 34. h i. of God to Iacob 39 d. of God to Moses 42. m. to the Israelites 50. m. 51. a. 84. k. to Dauid 141. b c. 144. l. of Xerxes to the Iewes 242. l. of Antiochus to Ionathan 318. g. Feare surprising the Madianites 116. l. 117. a b. 137. d. 224. h. Feare of Saul touching Dauid 144. l. 148. k. Feare of the Iewes 618. k. 743. f. Feare giueth confidence 392. k l. Feast of Pascha instituted and celebrated 49. e c d. 69. 〈◊〉 519. a. Feast of Azymes 49. 〈◊〉 243. b. 608. i. Feast of Tabernacles 69. c. 199. e. Feast of Penticost 69. f. Feast of Dauid to the people 155. m. of Ezechias 243. a. Feast of Lots 283. 〈◊〉 Feature of Dauid 141. 〈◊〉 Felicitie of Salomon 203. 〈◊〉 Felix gouernour of Iudaea 521. a. punisheth theeues c. 522. f. surpriseth Eleazar 622. i. ouerthroweth the Aegyptian ibid. m. accused 503. d e. Fellowes of Ioseph 660. i. cast lots ibid. Fertilitie of Gablee â—…46 l. of Genezar 665. c. d. Festiuall solemnized and why 309. 2. Festus discomfiteth a deceiuer c 523. 〈◊〉 Fiction of the Zealous disprooued 677. e. Fiction of Apion refuted 783. a e. 786. i. Field of God 26. g. the great Field 687. f. Fight by sea 665. f. Fight of the Hebrewes with the Chanaanites 76. a. of the Syrians with the Iewes 623. b. betwixt the Romans and Iewes 652. b. 658. g. of Vespasian with the Iewes 668. i k. of the Citizens with the Zealous 675. 〈◊〉 betweene â—…imon and the Zealous 690. i k. betweene Iohn and Eleazar 698 h. at the feast of vnleuened bread 702. g h c. in the temple 728. l. of the Iewes and Romans 732. h i. Finishing of the Temple 271. f. Fire from heauen kindleth the sacrifice 66. m. consumeth Salomons sacrifice 199. c. and Elias 226. f. also the two Captaines and their souldiâ—…s 224. m. 225. a. First begotten among the Aegyptians slaine 49. d. First fruits 69. f. 93. d. First begotten his right 94. g. Fiue kings of Sodome 12. e. Flaccus disfauoreth Agrippa 473. b. Flight of the Hebrewes 76. k. 157. f. of the Palestines 165. b. of the Syrians 228. m. of the Philistines 130. h. Flockes of Nabal spared 152. g. Florus occasion of the Iewes reuolt 464. h. 624. g h i. k. 625. 〈◊〉 464. h. succeedeth Albinus 525. c. 623. e. worser then Albinus ibid. 〈◊〉 cause of the warres 527. e. 624. l m. imprisoneth 12. of the chiefest Iewes 624. l. his deceit ibid. i. scorneth the Iewes gratulation 625. a. requireth his obtractors to be yeelded ibid. b. his subtiltie and treason 626. taketh the spoile c. 626. l. derided 624. m. Floud see Deluge Flouds of Paradice 4. h. Food of Manna 55. a b c. descended from heauen ibid. a. ceased and when 102. h. Footmen of the Romans 648. l. m. Force of the Romans darts 654. k. Forces of the Romans to the Iewes 628. l. Force of enemie 262. i. of slaunder 340. h. Forces weakned and restored 236. i. Forces against the Madianites 87. b. Forces of Susac 209. d. Forgetting of religion cause of calamitie 109. b. 110. h. 111. a b c. 112. a b. c. 113. d. 114. g. m. Forme of the Iewes commonwealth 272. h. Fortitude of Dauid 144. i k. of Vespasian 660. i. of Iulian 729. a. Fortresse of the Citie 674. k. Fortune fauoreth the Romans 714. k. Foundations of the Temple 195. c. Fountaine of couenant 39. c. Fountaine head of Iordan 587. b. 665. b. 667. b c. Fountaine neere Iericho 687. f. Fountaine of Siloa 704. g. Fountaines flowed to Titus 716. k. Fraud of the false Prophet 208. h. Fraud paid with fraud 669. d e. Freemen not to marrie seruants 93. e. Fained friendship of Eurycles 595. a b. Friendship betweene Isaac and Abimelech 〈◊〉 c d. Friendship betwixt Ionathan and Dauid 146. l. confirmed with an oth 147. a b. of Antiochus with Ptolomy 247. c. of the Romans with Iudas 315. d. of Hiram with Salomon 770 l. 783. c. Frogs a plague of Aegypt 48. i. Fruit forbidden tasted 4. i. k. Fruit of the Aegyptians spoyled 49. 2. Fruits of trees vnder foure yeeres grouth 92. i k. Fruits fall into ashes 689. a. Fruit kept vncorrupt 100. yeeres 757. b. Fugitiue Iewes flie to Antiochus 311. f. a Fugitiue discloseth the state of Iotapata 657. Fugitiues request to Vespasian 685. f. Fuluia Saturninus wife deceiued 468. h. Funerall of Iacob 40. m. of Samuel 151. f. of Abner 162 i k. of Herode 451. a. 606. k. Funerals of the dead 794. g. Furniture of the Roman horsemen 648. l. m. Furie of Florus souldiers 625. f. G Gabaens lust and villanie 110. l. 111. a. would not deliuer the authors therof ibid. c. destroyed and their Citie burnt 112. h. Gabeonites send embassadours to Iosuah 104. g. perswade Iosuah