temple had on a garmente of .iiii. coloures Skarlet Violet Bisse and Purple Skarlet in respecte of the heanens that be aboue the firmamente Violet and Bisse coloures whiche be made of flaxe because of the earthe of which they come finally purple in respect of the sea where purple is gotten Therfore when as the priest came into the temple to minister apparailed in these .iiii. colours he saide before the almighty God I come to presente my self here in thy sighte O Lorde of the world in .iiii. kindes of coloures that do represent the partes of thy worlde and in suche wise do I appeare before theâ— as though I shoulde bring all the hole world into thy sight Moreouer the foresaid apparail was garnished with pure gold and precious stones after the likenesse of the tribes of the sonnes of Iacob who was called Israell that in that garment he might haue the souerainty before the angels that be aboue and by them preuail to bringe the vertue of the holy ghost by the which they should obteine wisdome that dwell in thee and prospere in their study and faith that they mighte haue wisdome and vnderstandinge together Hys loines also were girded with linnen sloppes wherewith he couered his secrete partes for it becommeth priestes most of al other persons to be shamfast and bashful specâ—ally when he should minister in the two sanctuaries For there are .ii. sanctuaries the vtter and thinnar which is the sanctum sactoruÌ„ or the holiest of all In the vtter the priestes minister as the hie priest commauÌ„deth theÌ„ but into the inner that is the sanctuÌ„ sanctoruÌ„ entreth no maÌ„ saue the bie priest only that but once a yeare For in it was the arcke of the couenaunt of the Lord in the which were laid vp the .ii. tables of thecouenaunt the God made with the people of Israell in the mount Sinai There is also the rod of Aaron that florished broughte forth leaues All these were in the first temple whiles it was yet standing Ouer against that saÌ„ctuary were .xiiii. stairs or steppes vpon the which apeared the miracle to kinge Chiskiahu And thou Ierusalem at that time was stronger then other cities Lady of al prouinces for greate kinges and princes builded thee Kinge Herode much exalted thee raising thy walles on height besides that also defenced thee with an other wall Antochia that he named Antochia of Antiochas a Romain who liberally gaue much mony toward the repairinge of the ruines decaies that were in thée How commeth it to passe therfore that thou art broughte thus lowe the gentils haue the rule ouer thee now and besiege thee racing thee casting thee down yea they are now in the midst of thee Wo be to vs for our sinnes for the hautines of thy strength is dashed thy sanctuary is troden vnder the fote and made a sinck of the bloud of slain persons Drinke now of thy cup O Ierusalem with thy daughter Sion drinke I say the cup of veration and grief together with her for yet the time shall come that visions shall be reueiled and redemption also it selfe that thy children shal retourne to their coastes with the healthe of their redeamer Then shal be the time of frendshippe and then shalt thou drincke the cuppe of health and consolation After this Titus wente to vewe what waye he might best assault the citye and as he deuised with him self he espied a plain on that side where the sepulchre of Iochanan the hie priest was whereas he staied a while and sent one of his captaines that were there with him called Nikanor to common with the Iewes that were vppon the walles to moue them to peace willing him to say thus vnto them Frendes my Lord Titus is desirous to spare you and to make a league with you that ye mighte be at quiet and oute of this daunger of desiruction And if you be so disposed to consent thereunto Titus shall make a league with you yet before night Nikanor wente and spake with the people in such wise as Titus hadde willed him The Iewes gaue him no word to answer but held their peace wherfore Nikanor spake vnto them againe and as he was talkynge vnto them one froÌ„ the walles stroke him with an arrowe and killed him Wherat Titus was exceadyng wrathe that they should shout at his captaine offerynge theim peace and his death grened him marueilously Wherfore he commaunded ladders brakes slynges yron rammes and other engins of warre to be brought to assaulte the towne So the souldiours brought an yron Ramme to batter the walle and planted it vppon a mounte accordynglye The Iewes seinge that were soore afrayed wherfore the three capitaynes of the sedicious sell at one and openynge the gates issued out and beat the Romaynes from their pieces and engyns that were nowe ready addressed settynge fire on them and burnyng them the ram slings al thother engines a few excepted which Titus his men saued from the fire In this coÌ„flicte the men of Alexandria that serued Titus behaued them selues like tall fellowes in the rescuinge of the slinges from the Iewes yet the Iewes preuailed and gate the vpper hand of them till Titus came with a stronge power of picked men to succoure the Alexandrians whereas twelue of the stoutest Iewes were slaine In the same skirmishe Iehochanan a captain of the Edomites that came to aide the Iewes was slain by an Arabian that came behinde him and stroke him with an arrowe whiles he was talkinge with the Romains that had entreated him to come vnto them For whome the Edomites mourned and lamented sore for he was a good man of warre The nexte nighte certaine of the seditious chieflye of Iehochanan and Schimeons companye issued oute and came to the three wodden towers that Titus hadde crected before the Walles and sette a greate Garrison of valiaunt Souldiours aboute theim to defende theim and to viewe also the toune oute of them to see what the Iewes dyd And whosoeuer were nye the touâ—es those the Iewes slew the other fled to Titus campe But the Romayns that were within the towers wiste nothing of the matter trustinge to them that were set about the toures for theyr sauegarde and therfore slept all the night The Iewes after they had slayne the Romayne watche and put them to flyght they came to the toures wyth sawes and cut the feyt a sonder so that they fell sodenly together wyth them that were wythin them whyche were very manye and slewe them euery one Titus hearynge the alarme and the crasshing of the fallynge of the towres was sore afrayed and all hys hole armye and not knowing what the matter was they durst not sturre toward it so the Iewes returned clere into the toune On the morowe Titus brought his hole power to the walles and whyles the Iewes were at their coÌ„tenciones in the toune he addressed an other Iron Ramme wherwith he sodenlye strake the vtter wall and battered it through whervppon
was hard harted and wolde not be intreated for it was Gods will that Amittai shuld be punished bycause he was the bringer of Schimeon into Ierusalem therfore fel he into his handes which for good rewarded him with euill Schimeon commaunded a sorte of murtherers to place Amittai vpon the walles in the syght of the Romaynes and sayde vnto hym seest thou Amittai why doo not the Romaynes delyuer and rescue the oute of my handes the I say whyche woldest haue fled away vnto them Amittai answered nothing to thys but still besought hym that before hys death he might kisse hys sonnes bid them fare wel but Schimeon vtterly denied hym Wherfore Amittai wept a loude sayng to hys sonnes I brought deare chyldren I brought thys thiefe into thys toun wherefore I am counted nowe for a thiefe my selfe all thys mischyefe whyche is comed vpon me and you it is myne own doynge bycaufe I brought this seditious villain into this holy City I thought then perauenture he wil be a helpe to the toune but it is nowe proued contrarye for he hathe bene a moste cruell enemy of the same It was not enough for vs to kepe one seditious person Iehochanan I mean whyche tooke vnto hym Eleasar the fyrste begynner of sedition but I muste bringe in also thys wycked Schimeon whyche is ioyned to oure fooes to destroye vs. In deed I neuer brought him in for any loue that I bare vnto hym but all the Priestes and the hoole multitude of the people sent me to fetche hym notwithstanding I am worthy of this iuste iudgement of God bycause I tooke vpon me suche an ambasage What shoulde I speake of thee thou moste wycked Schimeon for whyther so euer thou turnest thee thou bringst all thinges out of frame In deed thou dealest iustly with me bicause I haue sinned vnto God to his people and his citye in that I haue brought the in to be a plage to it Wherefore I were worthy to be stooned notwithstanding it had bene thy parte thou wycked murtherer to deliuer me and my sonnes frome the haÌ„des of the other seditions for I haue wrought them displeasure but to thee haue I done good Howbeit our God will not altar nor chaunge his iudgmentes whyche is that I shuld fall into the sword of thy hand for that I made thee to enter into this city wher in I offended God greuously If euer I had purposed to flee vnto the Romaynes could I not haue done it before euer I brought in thee for at that tyme barest thou no rule ouer vs. And before we called in thee Iehochanan with his sedition was an offence vnto this city wherfore wee perswaded all the anuncient of the toun that thou shuldest be an ayde vnto vs to dryue out our foes but thou in whom we put our trust arte become our enemye yea thou haste been worse then they for the other put men to death pryuily thou doest it openly Who is he that hath strengthened the power of the Romains art not thou he which hast killed the souldiers of God in the middest of thys citye Ierusalem for fewe haue bene slayn wythoute Titus woulde haue made peace with vs taking pitie vpon vs but that same didest thou let and hinder euery daye mouing new warres and stiring new battailes Titus gaue charge to hys souldiâ—rs to laye no handes vpon the temple but thou hast polluted and defyled the temple of the Lorde sheding bloud without measure in the middes thereof Titus went back from vs vpon the holy daye of the Lorde and ceased from fighting saying go and obserue your holy feastes in peace but thou vnhalowedst the feast of the Lord and leshedst out the continuall fyre wyth innocent bloud Al these euilles which thou hast committed thou murtherer at imputed vnto me bicause I brought the into the toune Now therfore this bengeaunce is appointed to mine age of the lord God and by thy haÌ„des shall I goo to my graue with sorow bicause I by my foolishnes was a doar in this mischief that is wrought by thee Albeit now thou wicked Schimeon in this that thou killest me before mine eyes may see the burnynge of the temple it pleaseth me very well but whanedeth thee thou murtherer to put my sonnes to death before my face whye doest thou not spare mine age Would God that like as I shall not se the burning of the temple so also I might not see the bloud of my children shed before my face But what shal I dooe when God hath deliuered me into the hands of a most wicked man Wee that were the auncients of Hierusalem abhorreâ— Iehochanan because he murthered olde men without al reuerence but he slew no yonge men thou destroyest â—ld and yonge greate and small without anye pitte or mercye Iehochanan mâ—uâ—ned for the dead and buried them also thou playest vpon instrumentes at their burials singest to the Lute and seundest the trumpet Then spake he to Schimeons seruaunte who was ready with a swerde in his hande and an are to kyll hym and to cutte of his heade saiynge Goe to nowe and execute Schimeons thy masters commaundement be head Sonnes in sighte of their father and let mee heare the voyce of cruelrye in my sonnes whyche notwithstandynge I forgeue thee For as I shall see and heare that againste my wyll so I dare saye thou killest them not willynglye Woulde God that Schimeon woulde suffer mee to kysse my Sonnes and whyles I am aliue to embrace theim or they dye But thou gentle minister in one thinge shewe thy pitie towards me that when thou hast put my soÌ„nes and mee to execution seperate not our bodies nether ley in sunder their corses from mine but so that my bodye mayâ— lye vppermost and couer theirs to defende them from the foules of the ayre lest they deuour my sonnes bodyes for it maye fortune they maie be buried I beseche thee also that my mouth and tongue when I am deade may â—ouche my sonnes faces that so I maye both embrace and kysse theim But what do I delay or tarye any lenger seynge the enemy denyes me this to kisse theÌ„ whyles we are yet aliue See thou therefore that our bodies be not seuered and if Schimeon will not permit this that our bodies may be ioyned in this world yet can he not let our souls to be ioyned for after I shal be once dead I doubt not but I shall see the lyght of the Lord. His sonnes hearing their fathers wordes began to wepe very sore with theyr father who sayd vnto them Alas my sonnes why wepe ye what auayleth teares why doo ye not rather go before me and I wil folow as I maye for what should I do now seyng God hath geuen me into the handes of a moste cruel tirant who spareth nether mine age nor youre youthe But I truste we shall lyue together in the light of the lord and although I can not be suffred now to see you enough yet when we shall come
all suche as remained aliue to see this daye Al these thinges when I Ioseph heard worde of I tare my bearde with my handes and cast ashes vpon my head sittynge in greate sorow vpon the ground be wailing theÌ„ miserie and calamitie of Hierusalem ANd this lamentation made Ioseph vpon Hierusalem saiyng Howe is the holy city layd wast that was wont to be more happy and more renowmed then all the prouinces vpon the earth How is the Citie that was heretofore in suche highnesse and dignitie nowe brought vnder the foote throughe the sinnes of the citizins thereof whereas sometime was the dwellynge place of the faiethfull nowe beare rule there such men as prouoke and stirre Gods wrathe agaynst it and turne it awaye from their God wastyng it as thieues In the whiche sometime remained the brightnes of the Godheade it is nowe become a by woorde and a mockynge stocke to the enemies replenished with bloud of wounded and slaine men In stede of mirthe gladnesse reioysynge harpes and psalteries is sorow sighhyng heart breakes mournynge and pensifenes commen in place Euen as heretofore the priestes executed the seruice of the Lorde in offering sacrifices so likewise now sedicious persoâ—s murther Godly and faithfull men Where was wonte to be the dwellynge place of mooste wyse and prudente menne nowe is it made a common hostrye of wicked murtherers and thieues O Lord God of Israell haue not aungels in tyme paste come downe from heauen to earthe to fyghte thy battayles haue not the floudes of the seas persecuted them that persecuted thee hath not the earth swalowed vp them that dispysed thee and the wyndes scattred a sunder that made insurrectyons agaynst thee and thunder from heauen destroyed thyne enymyes and starres haue fought agynste thy fooes What meanes thys therfore and how commeth it to passe that thou hyddeste thy â—ace from vs to whom haste thou betaken the shepe of thy pasture Loke vpon vs oure GOD and behoulde thy people and enherâ—taunce that thou broughtest oute of Egipt with a mightie power and a stronge hande with wonders and signes leadinge them vntill this daye in thy faithe take pitye vpon them in thy mercye and extende not thy wrathe against thy seruauntes Where arte thou Moyses the sonne of Amram stande vp and se thy people and flocke of shepe which thou feddest all thy life with thy wisdome see howe Wolues and Lions teare them see howe the Israelites are become foes of their owne liues soules Yea wasters and destroiers are sprong vp of their owne selues Beholde the people of God for whose sake thou liftedste vp thy staffe ouer the sea wherewith thou struckest and deuidedst it that it was made drye ground so that the Israelites passed throughe and escaped their enemies Remember thy praier when as in time of famin and lacke of soode thou obteinedst for them meate from heauen at the same time when thei were wery of their liues for thirst thou broughteâ—t water out of the moste hard rocke Come forth Aaron mooste holye prieste of God that didst put thy self betwene the liuing and the deade to tourne awaye the plague from Israel and strokest the destroyer that he should not come nie the liuinge Arise oute of thy graue thou Phinees that moued with suche feruencye didste reuenge the glory and maiesti of the lord God of Israel Come and run through these seditious in thy fury which murther the people of God his priestes Awake thou Iosua that didst throwe down the walles of Iericho with the sound and shout of thy trompets that the holy priestes helde in their handes Come now and se thi people that thou madest to enherit manye nations to conquere most puissant kinges howe they kil one an other how they furder helpforwarde the Idolater to rule haue the dominioÌ„ of thy holy laÌ„d that thou gauest thy people Israel to enherite Whye sleapest thou kinge David awake and come with the sound of thy Psalterie and harpe to singe the holy Psalmes Aske account of thy swete wordes that are ceased from the mouthes of this people and oute of all mennes mouthes because of the maliciousnesse thereof See howe their princes be transâ—oâ—meâ— into ennemyes and destroiers and do not as thou didst good kinge Dauid that diddest geue thine owne life for theirs saiynge Let thy hande O Lord be tourned against me and against the house of my father and do not fall vpon thy people to destroye them Where arte thou Eliseus come and see what thou canste do if thou canste reseue the remnaunte of Israel and finde them anye gap to scape at Didst not thou by thy praier bring the power of the Sirians to a towne of defence and preuailedste againste them withoute dinte of sworde or battaile and broughtest them downe smitinge them with blindnesse that they turned their enmity toward Israel into loue In deede thou waste he that vanquishedst the Sirians by thy praier that they fled for feare of the same Nowâ— therfore ye herdmeÌ„ of Israell assemble together listen with your eares and heare my wordes that I wil speake in your eares this day Tel me what is become of your praier the ye haue made for the people of Israel to desende and turne away from theÌ„ al wrath indignation tribulation fury immissions of euil spirits Howe is it the now ye see not the saÌ„ctuary turned into a vile sincke of blud for the dead bodies of priestes lie in the midst of it The holy citye IerusaleÌ„ is become a straung citi as though the name of the Lorde had neuer bene in it and the sanctuary of the Lorde is in that case at this present as thought the deuine Godhead had neuer dwelte therin for the temple is tourned into a den of theues a lodginge of sedicious persones a tabernacle of cruell murtherers And who so flieth thither for refuge there they be slaine as the sedicious haue murthered in the middest thereof Anani the hie prieste and Iosua a prieste also that were Princes and chiefe priestes the most reuerent emongest the people of God whom ere this kinges and nacions had besought and desyred theyr fauoure but neuer cast their slain bodies in the middest of the temple The nobilitie also of Hierusalem the elders of Iuda and sages of Israell whose frendshippe kinges and nacions haue sought and desiered to make peace with they iye now slain here and there in the middest of Hierusalem are meate vnto the foules of the ayre and beastes of the field to dogges and Rauens because there is no man to burie them These died not for their offences but because they found faulte with the Israelites when they sinned Howe are they slaine in thee O Ierusalem thou holie citie renowmed thorow out the whole earth all iust meÌ„ all holie menne whom the sedicious haue gote the vpper hande of those helhouÌ„des and bloudsuckers that haue brought all these mischiefes vppon â—hee Howe are are the priestes of the Lorde and his
battailes on euerye side They within the towne when they sawe their felowes once at the mounte Oliuet they opened the gates issued withall their power that was left in the towne and encountred with Titus where he had set his men in arraye ouer againste the gate where thei made a great slaughter of the Romaines whiche striuing to auenge the shame gotteÌ„ the dai before fled not but stucke to it hard The Iewes also toke hart vnto them fought manfully bet downe the Romaines that at lengthe they toke theÌ„ to flighte toward the mouÌ„t Oliuet and in their flight many of theÌ„ were slaine of the Iewes that pursued the chase Vpon this diuers of Titus souldioures seinge them selues beset both before and behind couÌ„seled Titus to flee with them vnto the mountains to saue his life least he should be slain by the Iewes and they all together with him For thou saye they arte a greate Lord of many kingdomes and God shal one day bring thee to the imperial crowne of our Lorde thy father Nowe therefore if thou shouldest be slaine of the Iewes we are al but dead and what good should thy deathe do other to thy selfe or to other to be slaine like one of vs Yet Titus would not be ruled by them nor receiue their counsel but kept his ground boldly without once turninge his face sayinge I vvill chuse rather to die vvith honoure then to liue vvith shame And with that he rushed vpon the Iewes that were nye him and drue them to recule When the Iewes that had enuironned the Romaine campe sawe that they lefte the Romaines and came flocking about Titus by routes assailinge him on euerye side endeuouringe also withal their might to ouercharg him wherthrough in that place was a sore and vehement fight and muche people slaine on both parties yea Titus scapt narowly from being slain in that fight and he had dyed in deede if certaine of his valeant souldiours had not returned vnto him and rescued him ouâ—e of the Iewes handes That day were the chiefe of Titus souldiours slaine Then the Iewes retyred to their place at the walles side Thei also that went to the mount Oliuet returned homeward by the broke Cedron The Romaynes seinge that pursued them wherupon the Iewes tourned againe vppon the Romayns who fled by and by Thus the Iewes put the Romayns to flight thrise vpon one day IT came to passe theÌ„ that the external warres paused and internall ciuill warres reuiued most terribly amongst the sedicious at Hierusalem For vpon the firste daye of the hye solemne feast of Passeouer captaine Iehochanan and his menne came into the temple of the Lorde where he was honourablye receiued of the priestes and Elders with the rest of the comminaltie And when thei were within they cast of their vpper garmentes vnder which thei were armed with coats of fence swords tied to their thighs After that they beset the dores laid hold of the priests slue theÌ„ the people also their hearts was so cruelly bent against their brethren nether regarding the reuerent countenaunces of olde men nor enclining to the praiers of them that besought theÌ„ without sparing ether wemen or children no not the suckinge babes This done Iehochanan stode vp opeÌ„ly protested that nether Schimeon nor Eleasar nor any of the reast of the captains of the seditious nor any manne elsse shoulde haue the soueraintie in that citye but he The other hearinge that Iehochanan had wrought such displeasure to the people of God in the temple risse together and slue very many of Iehochanans part but in the meane season what of th one parte and what of the other the Israelites wente to wracke and were slain in great nomber Tidinges came to Titus how the Iewes conspired against them selues and slue one an other daily wherat he reioysed greatly came with his hole hoste to the town where he found certain Iewes withoute that had fled because of the rage of the ciuill warres WheÌ„ they saw Titus they came besought him to enter the town and deliuer them from the crueltye of the sedicious they wold be his seruantes for these warres had made theÌ„ almost wearye of their liues Yet Titus gaue litle credit to their tale although they made manye wordes to perswade him that it was true For he remembred howe within three daies afore he sawe the Iewes fighte againste him egarlye al with one accorde so earnestlye one rescuing and defending an other that no discorde appeared to be amongst them Wherfore he wold not beleue their wordes in that they required succour and offred to yeld And as they wer thus debatinge the matter sodeÌ„ly they heard an vprore in the town and wonderful hurliburly some cryinge Open the gates and let Titus come in other cried shut the gates let not the Romayns come in Then certaine vppon the walles called vnto the Romayns to make spede and come vnto the towne they would open them the gates that they might enter in and deliuer theim from the tyrannye of the sedicious least they should be all slayne by the handes of those rauinous and cruel sedicious persons The Romains therfore ranne to the gates and when they approched nye the Walles and were come within daunger the Iewes hurled stones from the walles shotte arrowes at them fleaynge very many of the Romayns The other Iewes also that were without the towne and had besought Titus to deliuer them froÌ„ the hands of the sedicious began to assayle the Romaynes that wer gon to the walles with suche force that many of them they slew the residue they put to flyght the Iewes folowed the chase almoste to Aiclona Then the Iewes mockâ— flouted the Romaynes calling them freshe water souldiers men of no experience and innocent fooles that neuer sawe the traynes of warre before clappyng also theyr targetes and shakyng theyr swordes agaynste the Romaynes in mockage The Romayne captaines seing these thinges thei toke greate disdayne at the matter and in a great yre would haue turned back vpoÌ„ the Iewes again had not Titus caused the retreate to be blowen Vpon this Titus asseÌ„bled al his counsailours captains and souldiours together and said vnto them in this wise I haue a sufficient trial and vnderstand wel mough your valiantnes courage most worthy men deare souldiers whych farre passeth the streÌ„gth maÌ„hode of al other nacions not onely in this most excelleÌ„t vertue do ye excel but also in know ledge and sleightes of war in wisdome forecast ye haue ben chief of al other Now therfore brethre frends I marueil not so greatly at the Iewes subtiltie craft in their swearing to you for the persuading of a thing after kepe not their oth but this semeth wonderful to me that ye suffer your selues styl to be disceiued of them to be slaine by their wiles For al the wit ye haue could not deliuer you out of their snares but now yet again
all quarters for to ayds the Romaynes by whose healpe they preuayled agaynste the Iewes at suche tymes as they issued oute of the Towne and constrayned them to wythorawe them selues within the walles Yet Titus pitiynge the miserable state of the Citye Temple and people of the Lorde at that tyme commaunded hys people to wythdrawe theim selues from the walles and to leaue of the assaulte for a whyle that he myghte offer peace vnto the Iewes to see if they woulde nowe be contente to submitte theim selues vnto the Romayns to haue quiet and rest wythout daunger of distruction Wherfore he gaue them truce for fiue dayes And vpon the fift daye he came to the gate of the citie whereas he straightway espied Schimeon and Iehochanan together preparing fire to distroye the Romains engyns of warre for all the Iewes had agreed together with one accorde and one minde still to withstande the Romayns Wherfore Titus perceiuynge the Iewes to be so desperatlye set that they hadde euen vowed their lyues to deathe he began to offer and propose vnto them cōdicions of peace sharply to reproue and blame their obstinate stubburnnes saiyng I haue now won two of your wals and ye haue but one left Therfore if you will continue stil in this selfe willed frowardnes what wyl ye dooe most miserable creatures when as I shall atchiue also the thirde wall and quite distroy your citye pullynge downe your Temple and all Why dooe ye not rather fauoure and spare your own liues your wiues and children But the Iewes set vppon a solemne obstinacie would in no wyse heare Titus speake Therefore Titus sent Iosephe to declare his minde vnto them in Hebrue that they might safely credite his promises and the peace that was offered Iosephe therefore went and stode ouer agaynst the gate képynge hym selfe alofe of for he was afrayed to come nie the wall knowyng that the people hated hym bicause he had yelded him self to the Romains He called therefore vnto theim aloude Hearken all ye Hebrues and Iewes I will declare vnto you that that shal be to your profite Then the People gaue eare vnto Ioseph who spake vnto them in this wise An oration of Iosephus to the Citisins of Hierusalem YOu shoulde ere this good people of Ierusalem haue fought so earnestlye whiles your Cities were yet standynge and your Lande repienished with people ere euer this mischefe had lighted vpon you Now after that with murders and slaughters amongst your selues you haue distroyed one another and poluted the temple of the sanctuarye with the bloude of the murthered neither haue spared your owne liues You are become fewe in noumber a small sorte of you is lefte what hope haue you then to preuayle Agayn you haue stirred here and prouoked a valiant Nacion whiche is ruler ouer all people and hath subdued all other landes whiche also hath those nacions in subiection vnder them which somtime raigned ouer you Besides this you wage battail with the Romains without all wit or wysdome without any remors of this moste famous Citye without any reuth of the sanctuary of the Lord without any pitye of your owne liues Nether yet do you sorsake your purpose for I perceyue you to cōtinue in this same self will to withstand the Romaines stil which is nothing else then to sprede abroad this calamity further both vpon the people of God vpon his holy tēple Al bett I am not afraied only for this holy tēple moste renoumed City leest it shulde be raced and distroied but for the sacrifices burntoffringes leest they shuld cease as the dayly facrifice is ceassed And why For we haue sinned against our Lord God wherfore his shadowe is departed frome vs bycause that in this same tēple we haue kept warres whyche hath ben an habytacion of wicked a tabcrnacle of seditious persones yea euen the ministers and holy men of God haue ye murthered within the walles of the tēple haue ye shed innocēt bloud without measure See now deare brethren marke what ordinaunce what engins what instrumentes of destruction are addressed to beate downe the Temple the fire is alreadye kindeled to set a fire the sanctuarye And loe euen your verye enemies are sorie for your temple that thei woulde not haue it defaced But you deare brethren and frendes why are you led with no remorse of your selues that your enemies maye once remoue from you these engines of warres What haue you nowe left to trust vnto when as two of your walles are alreadye battered downe and one onelye remayneth You will saye peraduenture we put not our trust in our wals but in our God Are ye not aware that your God hath longe agone geuen you ouer and hath turned him to your enemies because they haue with greater honour and reuerence worshipped his name then we which rebelliously are fallen awaye from him Wherefore God assisteth not vs but our enemies in so muche that except it be in suche countreys whereas either for extreme colde of the one side or exceadyng heat on the other no man is able to abyde all landes all nacions are vnder their dominion Tell me I pray you what expectation haue you seinge GOD hath made them a terrour vnto all nacions vpō the earth who serueth theim Why wil not you obey them that you may liue and not perishe Doe you not consider it is come to their turn to rule ouer all that God hath committed dominion vnto theim and ayded theim with his assistāce Remember you not how God in times past ayded the Egiptians in so much that thei obteined the dominion ouer all the hole worlde but afterwarde departed from theim and assisted you to get the soueraintye ouer other nacions After that forsoke you againe and gaue the empire vnto the Chaldeis Assirians and Persians whyche raigned farre and wyde ouer manye countreys Nowe also hathe geuen theim ouer and helpeth the Romaynes these manye yeares so that they beare rule ouer all If you wyll obiect and say To what entent should God geue the dominion vnto the Romaynes or other Nacions ouer the worlde and ouer his enheritaunce and people also whiche is an holy temple a peculier and speciall Nacion of all the earth Shoulde you not be ashamed to saie this with what discretion can you wonder at this knowing that all mākynde one and other are the handy-worke of God who exalteth whom he list whom he list he thrusteth doune Ye say ye be the children of God his proper possessiō and ye aspire to the soueraintie therfore it can not be the God should determine any thing vpon you by chaunce fortune or sodaine anger displeasure I graunt but wot ye what The shadow or protection of the Lorde hath forsakē you bicause of your sinnes and transgressions againste the tēple his holy ministers Howe then can you staye vpon his helpe when as he hath withdrawen his louynge countenance from you and your synnes haue made a deuorce betwene
sincere seruice vnto god wil I set vpon theÌ„ Eleasar therfore chose an hundred valiant souldiours with them he issued oute of the towne before day The same night the Romains hadde made fires about their engines where thei watched bicause of the cold The artificers souldiours that kept watch and warde about the Ramms were in number a hundreth and fifty The daye was the. 27. of the moneth of Kislef NoueÌ„ver which was the ninth moneth that Titus had besieged Ierusalem Eleasar his companye thus beinge issued out came found some of the Romains snorting about the fires other watching in their wardes killed theÌ„ all that not one remained Then some of Eleasars coÌ„pany set fire vpon the Rams burnt the standinge postes roapes cheynes other instruments of warre The artificers that were there they catched aliue and burnte them so that no man escaped When it was daye Titus was aware of the Smooke of the fire mountyng vp very foule and stinking of the woode men together he drew towardes the place therfore with his hoast to see what the matter was Eleasar in the meane season and hys company toke as they might get euerye man a piece of the engines oute of the fyre or some of theyr heades that they hadde killed and retourned with great ioy flouting the Romaines and laughing them to skorn by the waye til they came to the gates of IerusaleÌ„ wher they were receiued of Schimeon and Iehochanan with great honor SOne after this came many soldiors great bandes of meÌ„ out of all nations that were subiect to the Empyre of the Romains to ayd Titus to whome Titus declared what had hapened him in the siedg the stoutnes of the Iewes how they had anoyed many waies the Romain army adding moar ouer and asking them dyd ye euer see four men withstaÌ„d ten thousand fyue hunderd so that they al together could nether ouer throw theÌ„ nor take theÌ„ prisoners but the four slew the other lyke as it had ben tops of cucumers smiteÌ„ of with most sharp swordes when they hard this they woÌ„derd all very much Then Titus spake vnto his hoste to theÌ„ which wer newly repaired vnto him to shew their aduise best couÌ„sell what was to be don least we shuld be shamed saith he before al theÌ„ the shall herafter heer of our wars The grauist most auncieÌ„t of the nations that were newly come to his ayde answered If it plese your maiestie let the Romains breath a while take theyr rest which are now weried with the sundry batayls of the Iewes we who are not so brokeÌ„ with labor but freshe and lusty shall try what the Iewes caÌ„ do we caÌ„ not think that they arable to withstaÌ„d so great a multitude But the princes of the Romains desired Titus that he wold not permit them this lest he shuld encrese theyr oune sorowes if peradueÌ„ture they shuld be discoÌ„fited say they of the Iewes the matter redound vnto our shame For if we which are acquainted with theÌ„ know their maner of fight can not susteyne their violence how shal they do it the neuer had profe of the strength force of the Iewes They shal be to theÌ„ like Isop which groweth vpoÌ„ the walles in coÌ„parison of the ceder trees of Libanus Thother said nay thei shuld do wel enough with theÌ„ they vrged Titus so instaÌ„tly dishonor retourned vnto Titus who reprehended them bycause they would not beleue the Romaines The nexie day folowing the Iewes brought forth the thre thousand nobles and gentlemen that thei had taken prisoners and plucked out of euery one of them an eye and cut of of euery man the toon hand after sent them back with shame reproche to Titus camp Then Titus consulted with all hys princes what were best to doo with the Israelites when euery man had sayd his mind he liked neuer a mans couÌ„sel but said vnto them Well I haue deuised thys with my selfe whyche I will folow and no man shall bring me frome my purpose we will kepe the siedge withoute any assaulte or skermishe for theyr victuales fayled them long agoo and so they shal be famished Besides thys when they shall see vs cease to fyght wyth them they wyll fall at variaunce emongst them selues and kyll one an other Thys counsell was thought good of all Titus Prynâ—es wherfore they beseged the toune as Titus commaunded and closed vp all the wayes of the Cytye rounde aboute leaste the Iewes shuld as they had done before come vpon them at vnwares They appoynted more ouer watche daye and nyght to take heed that no man shoulde come out of the towne to gather herbes for theyr sustenance Then encreased the hungar in Ierusalem whych if it had not bene so greuous the Citye had neuer bene wonne for the souldiors of the toune were lyghter then Egles and fearcer then Lyones There dyed therefore of the famin wonderfull manye of the Ierosolomites so that the Iewes coulde not fynde place to burye them in they were so manye in euery place of the toune Many caste theyr dead folkes into theyr welles and tumbled in them selues after and dyed many also made them selues graues went into them alyue where they taried day and nyght and dyed vnmourned for For all mourning and customed lamentacion for the dead was lefte of bycause of the vnmesurable famin which was so great that it can not be tolde and I can not reherse the thousand parte of the mischief that folowed of the hungar Titus seyng the innumerable carcasses of the dead that were cast into the broke Kidron lyke dong was wonderfully amased with feare and stretched out his handes toward heauen saing lord God of heauen and earth whome the Israelites beleue in clense me from this sinne whyche surely I am not the cause of for I required peace of them but they refused it and they theÌ„ selues are longe of thys mischeif they haue sinned againste their owne soules and lyues I besech thee reken it not to me for a sinne that the Iewes dye on this fashion AT that tyme certain wicked persones of Ierusalem slaundered Amittai the priest falsly saing to captain Schimeon behold Amittai the hye priest which did let thee into the citye goeth aboute to flee to the tenâ—es of the Romaines Thou haste experience of hys great wit and craft how he also knoweth al the secret wayes vnto the toun temple and sanctuary and who can tell whyther he wil bring the Romaines some night at midnight into the city Therfore Schimeon sent certayn to fetch Amittai and his foure sonnes vnto him They thou were sent brought Amittai but three of his sonnes for one was fled to the Romaines came to Ioseph Amittai with the other when he came to Schimeons presence he besought hym not to lyue but that he might be put to death by by least he shulde lyue to see the death of hys childreÌ„ But Schimeon
man as was any amongst al the coÌ„pany of Kuttiim he seing the Iewes to preuaile and to haue thupperhande of the Romaines which now had left of fighting fled the Iewes pursuing theÌ„ in a rage he ran against them and met them at the newe wal that Herode builded called Antochia driue them backe and made them take thentri of the temple again wheras pressing into the routes of the Iewes he was sore wounded of a certain Iew. And when he perceiued him selfe wounded he woulde haue lepte backe but stombled at a stone in the pauement of the courte of the temple sel downe where he â—oughte yet stil tâ—â— a certaine Iewe killed him outrighte He foughte in deede verye boldly and valeauntlye but vnwarily for he considered not his grounde wherin he had to do with the Iewes Titus waitinge for Golinus returne and hearinge him to be slain would haue gon him self to rescue the reaste of his whiche were with him But hys men woulde not suffer him fearinge leafte he him selfe shoulde be slaine The Iewes therfore gate the vpper hande that day and slue wonderful manye Romaines in that bat taile spoilinge them also whyche were killed of their armoure Thesâ— were the names of the Iewes the made that skirmishe Of the company of captain Iehochanan Elasa and Iphtach of Schimeons companye Malchiah and Iaikob a Prince of the Edomites And Arsimon and Iehudah of the company of Eleasar the sonne of Anam These with their companions made thys flaughter of the Romaines in the entranâ—â— of the temple and droue them back to the Antochia where they kept â—hem vp that they coulde not get oute Wherfore when Titus perceiued that the Antochia was in the Romaines waye and hindred them he caused it to be 〈◊〉 pulled down to the ground These thinges were done vpon the .v. day of Siuan Maye â–ª the third moneth vpâ— the euen of the solemâ—ne festiuall daye of weekes which otherwise is called Pentecost and that 〈◊〉 the .xiiii. moneth from the beginninge of Titus siegâ— against this citye SHortly after vpon the third dai of the feast of weekes theÌ„ Iewes as maâ—â—e as were at Ierusalem kept holy 〈◊〉 and celebrated the waste Titus takingâ— with him Ioseph the sonne of Gorion â–ª weÌ„t vnto the house of the saÌ„ctuarâ— where the seditious souldiours of the Iewes were gathered together and called vnto Iehochanan the rest of the captains of the seditious to whome he 〈…〉 the meanâ—s of Ioseph beinge his interpreter in this wise What hath this teÌ„ple offeÌ„ded thee thou seditious Iehochanan why hast thou brought vpoÌ„ it thiâ— great euil and mischief If so be it thou truste so muche to thy 〈…〉 forthe to vs with thy menne into the fieldes and we shall fight with thee thy fill Is not this your solempne festiuall daye Whye then will ye fighte in that place where ye should offer your sacrifices Ye pollute and defile the sanctuary of your God and his name we spare it knowinge it is the house of God And thonlye cause whye we make war vppon you is your stubburne stifneckednesse that you will not submit your selues to vs whome God hathe geuen the dominion vnto whose will ye lahoure in vayne to disappoynt Eyther therefore if ye wyl fighte no more humble your selues vnder oure subiection that ye maye saue your liues or else if ye be determined still desperatelye to fighte wyth vs then get ye forthe from hence and let vs goe into the fieldes there to set oure battailes in aray for why wil ye defile your sanctuary hinder the worshipping of your God Muche more besides this spake Titus partlye blaming their stubburnnes in that thei had defiled their temple and yet ceased not to pollute it more and more partly with fayre words and gentlenes exhorting them to yelde admonishing them not to resist so mighty an army when as they could not do it withoute daunger of vtter destruction These many other thinges Ioseph expressed in Hebrue to the people as Titus willed him but the Iewes answered neuer a word for Iehochanan had geuen a charge that no man should speake Then captainâ— Iehochanan answered Titus him self sayinge We can offer no kinde of sacrifices more acceptable to God then to vowe ieoparde and habandon oure owne bodies and bloud for his names sake Wherefore we wil dye free in this oure towne and wyl neuer come in bondage to serue you Titus made him answer by Ioseph sayinge This your city I graunt is a holy cityâ— and your temple is moâ—â—e holye whyche no man dothe deny But ye haue greuouslye sinned in that ye haue polluâ—ed the temple of the Lorde your God by sheadinge in it the innocente bloÌ„ude of sainâ—es and priestes of God wyth other mooste godlye and holye menne By what reason canne ye then saye that you shal be accepted for sacrifices and offerynges before God Yea rather God abhorreth and detesteth you vtterly when as he requireth in his sacrifices that thei should haue no defaut nor spot but ye are all to be spotted so that no sounde place is in you For tell me I praye you if there be anye more abhominable spot in man then synne when as he traunsgresseth the lawe of God as ye haue done Neither is there anye wisedome or intelligence in you For wise men wold wisely beare with the calamities of times and know the courses of thinges How then are ye so â—olishe to saie that ye are an acceptable and well pleasynge sacrifice vnto god when as ye resist the wyll of GOD so proudelye But thou Iehochanan and the rest of the sedicious capitaines that are with thee tell me art not thou a mortall man subiecte vnto the griefes and vexacions of this life and wormes meat as we be Shold he not displease thee that should take awaye a table or such like thing prepared to the honour of thee wouldest thou take it in good parte holde him excused that should do so vnto thee Why then haste thou taken awaye the sacrifices of thy God out of his Temple and haste stuffed it with innumerable deade bodies Who can see or heare this and abstain from wepinge when he shall knowe so manie Israelites to haue suffered death by thee and Schimeon and Eleasar thy felowes Nether canst thou yet apply thy minde to cease and leaue of thy malice and yet neuertheles perswadest thi self the whyle that God is wyth thee and that thou with thy felowes arte an acceptable and well pleasynge Sacrifice vnto GOD nothynge perceiuynge that your synnes seperateth you and kepeth you a sunder more strongelye then ante Brasen walle It is true I confesse that it becommeth euerye valeant man to stande stoutelye in the defence of his people citye and countrey For it is better to dye valiantlye then to com into the subiectioÌ„ of his enmy that goeth about to plucke him from his religion and driue him out of his couÌ„trey But I came not hither for
was in the â—â—tie forbade the Citizins to say â—â—â—â—ye thing to him afterward supposing hâ—â— to be besides him self mad Therfore he neuer left criyng for the space of iiii yeâ—â—â—il the waâ—rrs began saâ—yng Wo to Hâ—erusaleÌ„ to the sanctuary therof When the warres were once begâ—â—e and the towne besieged it fortuned as he wandered about vpon the wals â—â—iyng after his maner and at last adding this Woe vnto my felfe a stone came out of an engine from the campe and smitte out his braines At that time â–ª also there was a wrttynge founde 〈…〉 in a stene of olde whiche the Ieâ—â—â— redde the wordes were these VVhâ—â— tyâ—ne the building of the temple shal be brought to soure square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochâ—â— was taken and raced by the Romains and the walles of the temple were also broken the Iewes makinge spede to repaire the ruiâ—es and 〈…〉 without any remeÌ„â—raunce of this scripture thei made the teÌ„plâ—◠〈◊〉 squarâ— Besides this there was a scripture foâ—â—â—â—e in the wall of the Sanctâ—m sanâ—â—â—um on this wise VVhen the vvhole building of the temple shal be foure 〈◊〉 the â—f hall a king raine ouer Israel â–ª and that king and ruler shal raigne ouer all the lande of Israell Some interpâ—â—ted this vpon the king of Israell But the Priestes saide it is the kinge or ruler of the Romains The whole armye of the Romains being now commed into the temple and the Iewes also fled to the mount Syon the Romaines set vp their ydols in the temple of the Lorde and offered Sacrifice vnto theim blaspâ—eminge and raylinge at the Iewes and their god At that tyme there came downe to the Romaynes a little boye of the priestes from the mount Syon whiche wonte to a â—aptaine of the Romayns that was keper of the temple and desieted him to geue him some water to drinke He toke pitye of the boy and bade geue him water The boy takyng the vessel that the water was in first dranke him self then ranne away with the rest The captaine ranne after him hym selfe but he wonâ—â—e not ouertake hym of a purpose because he was delited with the Boyes doinge wherfore he let him go for the nonces so he gate vp to the priostres gaue theÌ„ drinke On a time when the Romains were aâ— theyr sacâ—â—fyes in the presence of Titus theyr Lordeâ— certayâ—e of the priestes came and besought Titus that be waulde not kyâ—l them to whom Tâ—tus made aunswâ—r why do ye wysh to lyue nowe and nâ—â—â—ather to dye with your bretherâ— that haue 〈◊〉 deathe for the Gods sake of thys house Then Tâ—tus commaunded hys menne to 〈◊〉 them and so dyed they After Schimcon and Iehochanan sent embassadoâ—â—â—â— Titus to requyer peace to whom Titus made â—unswer in 〈◊〉 wyse Ye 〈◊〉 thys thyng to late and howe cometh it to passe that ye now intreate for 〈…〉 lyues when that of so great a number of people ye haue left none saue a â—â—â—y sewe When as also ye haue wasted al thynges most cruelly and despeâ—â—â—â— ytâ— Howe after all these your mischiâ—ons actes ye reguire peace which ye would neuer receyue of me althoughe I desâ—red you neuer so ofâ—e For it â—ityed me to see youre people some to hee vered â—yth honger and some to bee caste â—ute of the Citye wythoute anye buriall But ye hardened youre neckes and woulde neuer admit anye Peace tyll all the people were destroyed Therefore Titus reprehended theim with manye other wordes saiyng vnto theim Tell mee you Sedicious you wycked and synnefull persones haue not you slayne the people of the Lorde You set his house on fire you brought vpon this Citye all this mischiefe Howe can you therefore persuade your selues or presume to desire the sauegarde of â—our liues and why will ye liue alone of all the Sages righteous innocente Godlye and holye menne whom ye haue slayne without anye mercye Howe maye I committe this not to be adâ—enged of you that haue done me so much mischiefe Ye desire lyfe and yet perseuer and continue in your malyce still holding your swetdes in your handes and beynge in Armes neuerthelesse ye entrâ—â—â—e â—â—es to saue youre lyues Haue we not nowe taken the Citye and also the temple the Sanctum sanctoruÌ„ haue wee not burnt it with fire What is there left for you to put anye hope in what loke ye for to remaine Wherfore cast away your swords and laie awaye your armoure then come vnto me and entreat me and then shal I knowe what I haue to do peraduenture I shall be gracious vnto you and pardon you your liues The captaynes of the sedicious Schimeon and Iehochanan made answere to Titus We haue sworne by the Lorde our God who is God of heauen earth â—â—at we wil neuer bear thy yoke no 〈◊〉 thee nor make any peace with thâ—â— to be subiect vnto thee Nowe therfore if it be thy pleasure to shewe vs mercye suffer vs to go out of the Citye and we will take our iourney into the wildernesse whiche if thou wilt graunt vs we wil reporte that we haue founde fauour at thy hande if not wee wyll remayne in this place to see what wee shall determyne and what maner of deathe we wyll dye When Titus heard this he was wonderfully wroth and said remaineth the pride of your hartes and the hardnesse of your neckes yet with you still although ye be taken yet ye dare be so bould to say we haue sworne that we wil not beare thy yoke Yea ye haue sworn vnto death for ye haue despised life when as your citye is wonne the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt and no refuge is left you Wher with theÌ„ caÌ„ ye put away your ignomini shame and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉 Then gaue Titus coÌ„maunde 〈…〉 the Romaines that they should not omit any oportunity to set vpoÌ„ the sedicious by one meanes or other to destroys Schimeon Iehochanan There was at time a certain man of the kinges bloud whose name was Serach he accompanied withal his brethren and sonnes that were there with him of the kinges bloude came downe from the Mount Sâ—on to Titus who receiued them honorably getlely ordered them When Iehochanan Schimeon vnderstode that Serach and the rest were gone and had yelded theÌ„ to Titus they wente and set fire vpon all that was in the kinges palaice that the Romains should haue no commodity therby FRom thence they wente to the temple where they founde certaine noble men and captaines whome Titus had put in authoriti about the temple of whome three were chiefe one captaine of the horsmen the seconde of the charrets and the thirde of the foote men him they killed and toke his companioÌ„ aliue This besought them that had taken him that he might be brought to Schimeon their captaine let hym saith he do with me as he lift and in this one thinge let me finde fauour at your