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
said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thée therfore they would not awarde him to die Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to answer So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse The next day at the commaundement of the king proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil shuld suffer death This was Ihon the hie priest whiche had the priesthode xl yeares and in th end became a Saducie Notwithstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages The king him selfe and all his seruantes folowed the traditions of the Saducies making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to deathe as many as he coulde get knowledge of By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere and then he died After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus for he had .iii. sonnes Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence He went therfore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthode but set light by it wherfore he wold not execute the office therof but toke the kingdome vppon him and set the crowne vppon his heade and was called the great king Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother and wold not suffer them to dwell in Ierusalem But he loued his brother Antigonus and made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in hād and returned safe to Ierusalem Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king which at that time was greuously sicke and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God his goodnesse and mercye towardes him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the warres inquyred ▪ of thy health when it was told him thou wast sicke he saide I will go to him to day rid him out of the world When the kinge heard this he was wrothe towarde the sages commaunded his brother to be apprehēded and caried to the palaice of Starton there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed he cried mainly out and wepte smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande that he sowned and muche blud issued out of his mouth He reigned ouer Israel .ii. yere After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called king Ianai being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him and made king of Israel He was a mighty man and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies preuailing against thē He had warres with the Philistines namelye Azam and Ascalon whom he put to the worsse and ouercame them This man refused not the priesthode but was his priest It chaunced on a time when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare crying geue me my sword Then the Sages kneled down before him and sware they did it not of anye contempt but rather say thei that we thus sporting before the Lord would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again saiynge Althoughe ye play and reioyie yet it is not the maner of the country to vse any such dispitful custome with the king The cōtencion waxed hot amongste them til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit wherby her seede was steined The king was sore moued at that in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine Therefore wher so euer they founde them in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusalem they killed them forthwith Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatiō some fel vpon the sworde some fled awaye and some taried at home with dishonor and shame After these matters the king made an expedicion into Arabia entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes against Hartam kinge of Arabia and subdued his lande After that he warred vpon Medaba and the hole lande of Moab vanquishing them and bringing them vnder tribute and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem When he had after this wel bethought him of his doings it repēted him of his euil waies wherfore he altered his minde and began to make much of the Sages submitted him to their ordinaunce and estemed their tradicions There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called * These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before Phariseis of whom such as had escaped the kinge sente to call them home again and when they wer come into his presence he spake vnto them comfortable wordes saying My brethern ye shal vnderstand that that is once done and past must nedes be termed as it is and can not be reuoked And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed Notwithstanding I confesse my faulte vnto you and haue chaunged my indignation to loue praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes reioysyng in your reconciliation and atonement with me be of good cheare But they made him answere We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie for thou speakest but disceitfully we speake that is truthe Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and elders neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie but also Hircanus thy father who began such mischiefe thou hast holden on and cōtinued it Wherfore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge tyll thou dye and God take vengeaunce vpon thee for our sakes then shal wee reioice when we see vengeaunce So they departed from his presence neither did the kinge
informed him of Neroes minde shewed him his preseÌ„t placing it afore him The present was this a bull for a burnt offring with a great crown of gold vpoÌ„ his head his hornes also were couered with gold vpoÌ„ him was a cloth of purple poudred with precious stones there weÌ„t certain afore him the caried .x. talentes of gold behind folowed verye many shepe for peace offringes WheÌ„ Eleasar Ananies sonne heard therof he came cast out of he temple of the Lord Nero Caesars presentes saiyng we will not suspend vnhallow the sanctuary of our Lord with the offerings of straungers For oure Lorde God will â–ª accept nother their burnt offeringes nor their peace offerynges When he had so fayd he sounded a trompet set hys men in araye againste the hoste of the Romaines that kepte watche warde in the citie of Hierusalem and flewe manye of them that daie with one of their capitaines also and another they toke aliue He beyng a valiaunt man and seyng the routes of the Iewes to vrge him greuously sayde vnto them saue my life and I will yelde me Vnto whome Eleasar the rebell sware that he would not slea him but spare him for his manhede for he has slayne verye many of the Iewes afore whereupon he yelded him selfe Then Eleasar sayde vnto him like as thi sword hath made many women childles so shall thy mother be made childles of thee aboue all other and therewith contrarye to his othe he commaunded his seruaunt to kyll hym and so he died Kyng Agrippas seing this was wonderfull sorye therfore as he stoode in one of the stretes he cried O thou rebell Eleasar I praye God that this mischief whereof thou art cause and thy actes may light â—poÌ„ thee and thy fathers house which when it comes to passe we shall neuer bewayle nor be dismaied at It appeareth they shall haue sumwhat to dooe that study to make peace and tranquil litie in thy daies for they are sure to be destroied with thee Howe longe wilte thou coÌ„tinue to bring vs into the breares thou enemie hater of the Lorde Why doest thou destroy waste the vinyard of the Lord God of hostes Eleasar answered him what takest thou vpon thee the name of a king for if thou be a king why coÌ„maundest thou not vs to be punished Where be thy valeaÌ„t soudiours let see come thou they together chasten me that it may be tried whether thou be a king in dede or no. Thou staÌ„dest a loofe of and wheÌ„ thou speakest thy fete are readye to run away like as though a dogge should set him selfe againste an armed man and barke at him bleatinge out his tonge With this he wincked vppon the rebels his complices to run vpon Agrippas and take him whiles he helde him in talke But that was perceiued of one of Agrippas seruaunies whome he had appointed for the same purpose to stand ouer against him as nie as he might to marke and espy if the rebels should make any stour towardes him and to let him haue knowledge He thâ—rfore laying his hand vpon his hed gaue a signe to the king to â—lie saying Away away for if thou tary neuer so litle the sedicious will slea the and vs together Which Agrippas perceiuing he gate him thence with all the spede he might and the rebels pursued him but in vaine â—â—r they coulde not euertake him So he gate to Iapho a town vnder the Romaines where he was in sauegard FroÌ„ thence he fled to Rome and declared to themperoure Nero the mischiefe that befel at Ierusalem and al that seditious Eleasar had done to his offring also how his commaundement toke no place Wherefore Nero ioyned vnto him againe Castius with a huge army wherwith they both entred Iudea and wanne manye walled townes amongst which they raced Iapho For the Romaines perceiuinge the power of the Rebels to encrease were afraid least they should get it into their handes wherby it might be anoyaunce in time to come to the Romaines chiefly seinge it was a notable hauen for their shippes to arriue at in Iudea After this bothe Agrippas and Castius led their army towardes Ierusalem to warre vpon the Rebels and vtterly to destroy them Eleasar and other priests with much people hearing this they issued out against them and found them encamped in the waye betwene Ierusalem and Iapho but after they had ioyned their battail many of the Iewes were slain bi the Romains the residue Castius and Agrippas put to flight pursued the chase vnto the gates of Ierusalem besieged also the city for the space of thre daies The fourth day the priestes and the people issued oute sodenlye vnwares to the Romaines set vpon their campe and slue .v. thousand fote men and one thousand horâ—men Castius seinge that nether be nor his coulde wel escape he chose oute .xl. thousand of his best souldioures placed them betwixte his campe and the priestes commaunding them to stande al the night soundinge their trompets and making of fires that he Agrippas might escape and that they should not remoue oute of their place till the morowe The Iewes harkeninge to the sound of the trompets and musing what it should meane pursued not the Romaines but perceiuing in the morninge that they were departed toward Cesaria thre daies iourney of Eleasar with the people folowed and in the waye founde their baggage strawed that the Romaines had cast from them to runne the lightlier and escape the easilier whiche they let lie and pursued them to the gates of Cesaria But Castius and Agrippas gate safe within the towne and from thence went both together to Rome where they declared vnto Nero the Emperoure howe they sped at Ierusalem And as they were makinge relation of this vnto the Emperoure There came also a poste oute of Perfia with tidinges that the kinge of Persia was reuelted from the Romaines Empire these thinges troubled the Emperoure sore to se almoste all fall from him that heretofore hadde obeyed the Empire of the Romaines AT the same time retourned Vaspasianus captaine of the hoste that Nero had sente into the West partes as Germauie Britaine and Spaine whiche landes he hadde subdued and broughte vnder the subiection of Nero To him Nero declared what mischief the priestes had wrought to the Romaine hoste in Iudea how they had slaine the Romaines and so for the all the tale that Agrippa and Castius had told him which displeased Vaspasian very greatly After this Nero set Vaspasian captaine and his sonne Titus to reueng the Romaines vpon the Persians and Iewes geuing in commauÌ„dement to race their walled townes to beate downe what so euer they founde without sparing any body either men or wemen children or infants sucking babes or olde folkes but to slea all So Vaspasianus and Titus set forwarde with a chosen and picked armye of the Romains passed the seas and came to Antiochia The Iewes hauing intelligence of this chused out of
al their captaines thre principal most expert warriours of whome I Ioseph prieste that writ this history was one who by the deuine fauour am valeant in battaile and Anani the hie prieste and Eleasar his sonne To these thre they committed the hole land of Iudea deuidinge it to them by lot and gaue them all furniture of warre One third part therfore which was hole Galile from the land af Napththaly and beyond fel to Ioseph the prieste sonne of Gorion to his honoure and glorye whome for his worthinesse they named also Iosiphon because he was then annointed apointed consecrated to the warres The second lot came forth by the whiche fell vnto Anani the hie prieste the citie of Hierusalem and the countrey aboute it with a charge to repaire the walles of the citie to sustaine the brunt of Vaspasian if he should come so farre The thirde lot fell to Eleasar the sonne of Anani the priest to whom was ioyned captaine Iehoscua and other Iewish captaines By the vertue of this lot fell to them the whole lande of Edom from Elath vnto the redde sea The rest of the land from Iericho to Euphrates with that also that is beyond the riuer and all the lande of Mesopotamia fell to captaine Menasches lotte To other Princes also of Iudea and to the worthiest priestes they committed the fensed cities from the frontiers and boundes of Hierusalem vnto Egipt Vaspasian taking his iourney with his hoste froÌ„ Antiochia came pitched his teÌ„tes in Aram Zofa For he had deuised and determined thus with his counsel first to inuade Galile and after to try what they could do in Ivdea Ioseph the soÌ„ne of Gorion hauing intelligence of thys his purpose departed from Ierusalem to Galile built vp the townes that were destroied repaired their wals gates barres palaces Ordeined captaines ouer the people to lead gouern them some of thousandes some of hundreds tribunes and Decurians He instructed the people also in feates of warres what the soundes of trompettes signified what sound serued to fal in aray what to gather the souldioures together and what to deuide them and after he had instructed them the disciplâ—â— and feates of warre he spake vnto theÌ„ in this wife Ye shal vnderstand deare lites that ye go to fight at this present againstyour enemies Wherfore let no effeminate feare ouercome your harts nor dismaye your selues at the sight of your ennemies but play the men and take a good courage vnto you to fight for your cities for your countrye and for your selues Be not afraid of death but rather be stoute in the defence of your countrye that ye be not led away from it and to fighte for the sanctuary of the Lorde that it be not steined and polluted with thunclennesse of the gentiles Consider that it is better to die in battaile then to liue in captiuitye and bondage Therefore when as ye shall come to ioyne with your ennemies and shall see anye of theym beaten downe and attempte to rise againe who soeuer of you is by and seeth him remember the zeale of your GOD wherewith it becommeth you to reuenge his quarell and beinge moned therewith strike him that he neuer rise agaiene But if you shal se any of your selowes downe being enkindled with the zeale of your God rescue him from the handes of the enemies and if he be not yet slaine cure him If he be dead ye shall do what ye can to burie him in the Israelites burial And so if we shal chuse rather to die then to liue we shall prospere in our warres we shal die for the couenaunt of our God and deliuer our soules bringinge them to the light of life in heauen After he had said this he chose out of the Iewes .ix. thousand fotemen and but fewe horsemen And out of these he chose .vi. hundred of the beste suche as one of them woulde not shrinke from ten ten from an hundred a hundred from a thousande a thousaÌ„d from ten thousand With them Ioseph went to the cities of Agrippas that were in Iehudea to winne them For Agrippas stucke to the Romaines were it right or wronge with al the power he could make He went firste to Tiarua a greate citie that belonged to Agrippa where as both his treasure and municion of warre was WheÌ„ he came theâ— ther he spake to the people vppon the walles and offered them peace on condicion that they should open the gates and deliuer vnto him all the treasure of Agrippas and all his iewels Thus if they would do he then would spare them and flea none of them Were it not better for you saith he to take part with them that defende the sanctuary of God his inheritance then to ioyne your ayde with Agrippas which is coÌ„federate with our enemies and assayleth vs augmenting the power of theÌ„ that hats vs so that he refuseth not to fight against the sanctuary of the lord and the people of his inheritaunce The men of the toune condescending to Ioseph openeth the gates and he â—niring the toune made peace with them and they deliuered him al the kinges treasures for they liked Iosephs woordes consented to take such part as he toke At that time came newes vnto Ioseph that troubled him sore namely that Tiberias had rebelled were reuolted from the people that dwelt at Hierusalem and were chaunged from his lot to become Vaspasianus subiectes who had set a Romaine captaine ouer theÌ„ For reformation wherof he left his armie at Tiarua and toke those six hundreth yong men with him to Tiberias commyng vpon it sodeinly and at vnwares And as he stode vpoÌ„ the bankes of Genosar he espied the nauy of the Romaines that laye there at road to aide Vaspasian whiche Ioseph coÌ„maunded to be brooken in peaces and to be scattered abrode in the sea laake The meÌ„ of Tiberias therefore seinge the shypbordes dispersed in that fashion they conieciured it was done by some of Iosephs hoste wherfore the bandes of the Romaines fled to the towne gate in shytte the gates Ioseph notwithstanding came to one gate of the citie and â—â—tes that the people myght heare saiyng What meaneth this coÌ„spiracie of yours against me yea not against me but rather againste the Lorde God whose couenaunt ye haue transgressed and brooken the bonde that we made with hym ye haue also violated your othe that ye sware by the GOD of Israell that we shoulde altogether fyght againste oure enemies to abate their pryde The people aunswered from the walles wee beseche thee oure Lorde heare thy seruauntes speake God forbidde we shoulde aide the Romaines and not rather the people of the Lorde God of Israell and his sanctuary with the people of his enheritaunce Howbe it there be amongest vs certain proude meÌ„ vngodly persoÌ„es that haue made a league with Vaspasiane and haue broughte into the towne one of his chieftaynes Wherefore and it please thee our Lorde to enter the cytie with
laboured in the erecting of this engine were .xv. hundred To remoâ—e it from one place to another or from one Citâ—e to another were appointed an hundred and fiftie yoke of oxen or els 300. couple of borses and mules WheÌ„ as thei should assault any fortes or cities that stode vpoÌ„ hilles then must thei deuide it in parts and bringe it vp to the siege by piece-meele and there set it together againe Now when the Romains had battred the walles of Iorpata and Ioseph perceiued the wall to shake he toke greatâ— sackes filled them full of Chaffe and hanged them downe by the Walles that the hornes of the Ramme coulde not come nie the stones of the wall but light vpon the sacks which by the reasoÌ„ of their softnes of the chasse damned the stroke that the wal was lesse hurt For such is the nature of soft things to geuâ— back to the hard to weakeÌ„ their force But Vaspasian seinge the subtiltie of Ioseph vsed also policie for policie for he sent into the towne secretely Iewes spies which when the batteries should he might cut asunder the coardes that the sackes were tied to and with them slipt downe the walles where the Romains were ready to receiue them that they did not hurt them in the fall and immediatly they stroke the wall with the ramme There was at that present in the citie a certaine valeant man named Eleasar of the house of Anani the hie prieste that then dwelt at Hierusalem This Eleasar perceiuyng the Romains to go about to batter downe the walles as â—hey did before plucked out of the wall a mightye stone so that hee made a great hole or gappe wherat he â—idde downe the wall and light stridelinge vppon the engine made fast an fron cheine to the hornes thereof and gate vp againe quickelye and nimlye from the beame into the towne wyth the cheyne in his hande for the walle was not verye hye aboue his heade as he stode vpon the Ramme Then other tall fellowes tooke holde vppon the cheyne and fastened it to Pillers and Walles in the Towne that the Romaynes myghte rather hee constrayned to breake their Ramme then take it awaye from thence The Prieste Eleasar yet once agayne boldlye wente downe and sate vppon the beame slue fiftie menne that laboured aboute the Ramme and the rest he put to flighte then returned into the Towne beinge drawen vp againe from the beame by theim that were wythin the Towne greatlye reioyâ—ynge in his manhode After that went he vp vpoÌ„ a hie tower from whence he tuÌ„bled downe with a mighty force a great stone and a harde vppon the heade of the Ramme brake it that bothe a great parte of the heade and the bornes fell vpon the grounde For the yron that it was couered with all was olde and rustye so that it was muche wasted and eaten therwyth the ropes also were olde After that Eleasar went downe agayne toke parte of the bead that was broken and hurled it into the toune the Romains that remaiâ—ed either he flue or put to flyght The archers shotte at him wounded him with fiue arrows wherfore by the helpe of his felowes vpon the walles he climed vp otherwise he had not ben able for the griefe of his wounds The people then gaue a shout for ioye of the dictory of the worthi priest Eleasar that had slaine the Romaines and broken their Ramme wherein they put their confidence brought part of it into the toune fastned it with an iron cheine that the Romains could not pull it backe again to them nor haue thuse of it after warde Wherfore diuers of the valiantest citizens of Iorpata armed them selfes the day being stirred with the great courage that they had sene in Eleasar and went down hewed the beame into pieces brought the poyses with the ringes and two mastes with them into the towne and the same daye died Eleasar with great renowne as one that had sought for the sanctuary of the lord and for his people and countrye of Israel like a faithful seruant and souldier of the Lorde whome all the people mourned for buriyng him in the town and honoring him for his deathe worthinesse and faithfulnesse appointinge him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battail with the ennemies of the Lorde The yonge menne of the Iewes seing this and specially two of them the one called Nitra thother Polipus men of wisdome and vnderstanding therwith expert in the warres being moued with zeale for the god of Israel opened the gates issued out against the Romaines skirmished with them slue mani of theÌ„ But at length thei were slain them selues in the skir mishe for the sanctuarie of their God for Israell and their countrey When Ioseph saw the wars to encrease more and more he issued oute and made a great slaughter in the Romains tents burnt the mounte engines of warre that the Romaines had left by which meanes the warres wared yet hoater and hoater in so muche that Iosephus repulsed the Romaines for when they saw the Iewes so desperatelys geue their liues for their God and land they woulde not abide their force When Vaspasian sawe his menne shrinke he stode vp then and put them in hearte exhorting them with faire wordes and promises aswell golde and siluer as meate and drinke wherewith the Romaines allured foughte with Iosephe that day vnto the Sunne setting and as the battaile waxed hote the Iewes wouÌ„ded Vaspasian with an arrowe in his right legge which fore dismaies the Romaines when they saw the bloude run down his legge and that day was a fore fighte betwene the Iewes and the Romaines Titus seinge his father wounded fore abashed ranne to him to helpe him to whome his father saide how it is my sonne that thou art thus astonied take harte to thee and with a courage reuenge thy father of these Iewes that haue now the better hand of vs. So they fought both Titus and Vaspasian withal their hole host the day a very sore fight and many were slain of both partes yea very few were lefte on Iosephes part with whoÌ„ he returnd into the towne The nexte day the Râ—maines raised a newe mounte in stede of that that Ioseph had brent and plaÌ„ted an other iron Ram therupon betwene two postes accordingly for Vaspasian had brought .iiii. of this sortwith him froÌ„ Rome but other battering peces vpoÌ„ wheles had he with him thirti what more what lesse the bigger sort were of .xxx. cubites longe the leaste ten He broughte also ten engines to hurâ—e greate and weighty stenes with al which he placed abâ—ute the walles The Romaines therefore renued the warres assaults against the town as thei were woÌ„t afore But the town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were al slain in the fightes Albeit Ioseph remained a fewe with him who went euery one the women also to defend the wals for there was almost no men lefte
comditions of peace whether whē he was come he sente his embassadours to the citizens to intreate the peace with thē Whereunto the Cityzens accorded and were readye to enter in league with Titus When as this wicked Iehochanan perceiued the auncient men of the towne and the heades wolde receiue peace he commaunded his companions to kepe the walles to let them from speaking with the Romaines and that they woulde geue the Romaines their answer So therfore seditious Iehochanā made answer to the embassadoure of Titus saying to morow haue we a solempne feast to the Lord God tell thy master Titus therfore that he graunte vs truce for two daies and the thirde day we wil geue him answer Wherwith Titus was contente and lefte the assaulte for two daies These thinges were done vpon Whitson euen which was called the feaste of weakes and haruest The night afore the third day appointed was come Iehochanan and his complices gate them oute of the towne and fled toward Ierusalem ere Titus knew therof On the morow he sent his embassadour to demaūd their answer what they would do They answered we desire to entre in a league with you for we are yours to do you what pleasure your hart desireth vpon this condicion that none of the Romaines hurt ether our bodies or goodes Titus vpon this made peace with them confirminge it by writinge sealed for the better assuraunce therof So they opened the gates and Titus came into the town with his hole armi the Iewes receiued him with great ioy honoring him very much Then Titus inquired for Iehochanan and his confederates the citizens declared vnto him how he fled by night withal his towards Ierusalem Titus hearing that sent after to pursue him yet they found him not he had made such spede Notwithstanding many of the people that wēt out of the town with him that they might escape the daunger both men wemen children old and impotent persōs they enertoke slue them euery one and returned with a great spoyle After this Titus wan all the cities in Galile and set rulers in them Then Vaspasian dislodged from thence and came to the mount Tabor which hath snow vpon it continually the height therof is .xxx. furlonges and vpon the top is a plaine of .xxiii. furlong◠broade Thither sent Vaspasian one of his Captaines called Palgorus whiche tooke the mountaine and the towne that stode thereon But here I will leaue of the historie of the rest of the battails that were fought in other places in the lande of Israel and Galile and speake no more of them in this boke for they be almoste innumerable and we haue made mencion of them in the historie of the Romains ⧠The Historye of the siege of Hierusalem NOwe wyll wee discribe the battails of Hierusalem howe the city was besieged by the Romains wherin we will declare all thinges truelye as our maner is faithfullye accordynge to the veritie of that was done It came to passe therfore as Iehochanan the Galilean was fled to Hierusalem he found there men mete for his purpose iniurious persons wicked menne murtherers disceiuers bloudsheaders an infinite number for out of all countreys within the land of Iuda there repared thither all men of warre to defende the sanctuarie of our God and Anani the hie priest receiued al that came These seinge Iehochanan and his valeantnesse fell from Anani the hie priest and claue vnto him deuising with him of al their affaires So Iehochanan conspired with those cutthrotes to laye handes vppon the rich men of the city and to spoile them of their goodes and this was their maner when they espied any notable rich man of the city they woulde after this sort quarrel with him Art not thou he that hast sent letters to the Romains and to Vaspasian to betraye the citye vnto them Thus woulde thei examin him before the people and when he woulde answer God forbid I shoulde so do then woulde they bringe in lims of the Deuil of their owne companye to beare false witnesse againste him that he might be condempned to death by the law for a rebel Thus dealt thei with Antipas and Lohia bothe noble men and of the chiefe of the citye and their goodes withal their iewels the seditious ceased for them selues They quarels also to the hie priestes thruste them from their charges that thei could not execute their seruice Moreouer thei cast lottes who should haue the priests office and who should be no priest For they helde the priesthode and seruice of God for ioyes gaudes and trifles So the lotte fel vpon one that was called Pani the sōne of Peniel a carterly husbandman ignorant what belonged to the priestes office so that he was vtter lie vnworthy of the priesthode yet thei made him hye priest for all the so light a matter made they of the priest hode The good Godlye men of Hierusalē seing the power of these Ruffians and wicked persons beare suche swinge they stack together and determined to with stande them by force The people therfore earnestlye moued with anger set vpon them and encountred with them in suche sort that the fight was greate on bothe sides in the streates in the market place in the temple and in the entraunce of the Temple till all the citye was filled full of dead bodies and slaine men For there was not so much as one streate but there was some skirmishes in it The people at length gat the vpper hand of the Ruffiās for thei were eigerly set earnestly bēt against thē The sedicious therfore seing thē selues not able to make their party good with the people fled euerie man into the temple of the Lorde shutte it after them and there remained But Anani the hie Prieste seinge the wicked to be fledde to the temple willed the people to cease their fightynge vpon theim in the holie temple of the Lorde least they shoulde pollute it with the bloude and dead carcases of these wicked persons The people therefore left of the fight Then Anani beset the temple rounde about with a vs thousande of the beste and pickedst men of the people wel armed all of them wyth iackes and Sallettes and as well weapened with euerye manne a sworde a Target and a Speare or Pyke to keepe the Temple that they shoulde not come foorthe Moreouer Anani caste in his minde that besides the settynge vppon theim in the Temple whiche were in no wise semelye it shoulde also bee as greate a dammage if the people of the Lorde shoulde one riue and sticke an other in the verye Temple For these causes he sente Embassadours to Iehochanan the Galilean chiefe Capitaine of the the sedicious and thieues offerynge hym peace but Iehochanan refused it For the Sedicious had sente for the Edomites to come and ayde them These Edomites hadde bene euer from their firste beginnynge verie hardye and Valiaunte menne and warrelyke yet were they subiecte to the Iewes For Hircanus kynge
of Iuda hadde conquered them and caused them to be circumcised bindynge suche of theim as were the best warriours amongest theim to stande in armes and kepe watche warde vpon the walles of Hierusalem day night the rest of theÌ„ to pai tribute to the Iewes Vpon a certaine night came .xxii. thousande of these Edomites all good men of warre againste Hierusalem When Anani the hie Prieste and the People that were wyth him hearde the noyse of the Edumites armie he went vpon the wais and demaunded of theÌ„ what thei were from whence they come and whither they woulde They aunswered Wee are Edomites and came out of Edomea to visite the Lord God and his teÌ„ple to see in what case his people staÌ„deth for this we come according to our accustomed maner as euer here tofore Anani aunswered You are disseÌ„blers not as your wordes do show neither come ye to seke God his sanctuarie nor yet to aide his people but rather to the succours of Iehochanan graunde captaine of thieues Were it not better for you to assist the sanctuarie of God then these sinfull sedicious persons that couet nothing els then to laye waste the house of God and to distroy his people They in the most holye citie of God do shede the bloude of iuste Godlye and innocent men thorow whose wickednesse the Romayns haue the vpper hande vppon vs because wee haue Ciuil warres at home wyth the Sedicious and externall wyth the Romaynes Yea the wickednesse of the sedicious is growen so farre that the moste parte of vs hadde rather be slaine of the Romaynes then of oure brethren the Iewes If so be it ye be come to ayde them ye shal vnderstande that ye offende our LORD God greuouslye to healpe synners and murtherers that treade the People of GOD vnder their fete like as menne treade Grapes in a wyne presse and make the temple of the Lorde a dwellynge place of maÌ„quellers and wicked persons Ye saye ye come to seeke the Lord how is it theÌ„ that ye are thus in armes after the manner of Warre Ye shall vnderstande wee shutte not the Gates of the Towne because of you least you shuld come in after your accustomed manner but because of your Armoure and Weapons that you haue wyth you whiche are instrumentes of destruction a verye vnmete fashion to come and visite the Lorde wyth Ye shoulde rather haue come wyth offeringes sacrifices confession and praise Notwithstandynge if ye wyll enter into the towne for deuotion sake ye are welcome but ye must laye awaye youre Weapons and so enter in peaceablye The Edomites aunswered Wee maruayle not a little at thee whiche arte the hie Prieste our Lorde and mediatoure and at the rest of the priestes of the Lorde wyth the Elders and Iudges of the people that be presente wyth thee and your woordes seeme straunge in our eares For wee vnderstande you take vs for your ennemies and thereupon you stoppe vs of our entraunce into the citye to visite the Lorde God after oure accustomed manner In that wee be armed as ye obiecte vnto vs do ye not knowe that Vaspasian draweth nye to come to thys holy Citye This we hearinge of was the cause that wee tooke our Weapons with vs to come to aid you and kepe the town as we haue bene wonte these manye yeares But howe shoulde ye gather this that wee come to succoure the wycked and sedicious that bee wyth you when as from the firste daye that euer wee and oure fathers were circumcised wee neuer swarued from the Lawe and commaundementes of the Lorde Tell vs if there bee anye commaundement in the Lawe that biddeth a manne to strenthen and mayntayne the power of the wicked to the whyche wee are bounde to hearken and to ayde these God forbidde wee shoulde dooe this for wee all bothe that be here and the other Edomites also bee seruauntes of the Lord and his people to mayntaine and defende the lawe the people and the house of the Lorde Whiles they were thus talkyng together there rose vp a greate cloude and lightenynges were sene wyth fire darckenesse with mightye thunder claps and showers of hail that all that saw it were wonderfully afraied Wherfore the people fled wholy left the walles forts bi Anani of God al good men of warre besides innumerable other that they killed of the common people In the morninge they laid handes on the rich men drue them before iudges and the ixx elders which otherwise be called Sanhedrine whoÌ„ they called together there wicked Iehochanan the Galilean spake vnto theÌ„ in this wise Whi condemn ye not these rich cobbes that haue made a coÌ„spiracy with the Romains determine to betray this holy city into their hands namely one Sechariahu a iust maÌ„ perfit godly and vertuous one that feared the lord oued both god maÌ„ but for his richesse onlye whiche were verye great this Iehochanan captain of the sedicious appreheÌ„ded him willing thelders to condemn him to death for that he had ioyned with their ennemies as he said to betray the city to theÌ„ The priests elders and iudges hearing his wordes perceiuing that both he and the rest of his bloudi haÌ„d desired nothing els then to make this man awaye although they knew him to be moste innocent they wept sighed greatly Iehochanan seing them wepe for Sechariahu and that they would not condemn him respecting his iustice integritie What saith he do ye begin to mourne before there be anye corse presente I would I should neuer come wher God hathe to do but if ye order vs thus in your iudgementes ye shal be the firste that we wil lay hold of and we wil sit in iudgement our selues to discern the matters of the people of god according as we thincke good Then layinge apart al shame with an obstinat minde the wicked sorte hoysed vp Sechariahu caried him oute of the place of iudgement and broughte him vp to the top of a verye hie toure at the Easte ende of the towne from whence they thruste him downe headelonge and he died there at the walles side in the vale of Iehoschaphat The priestes therefore were sore afraide of their own partes and the iudges also with the elders because of wicked Iehochanan and the reaste of the seditious For Iehochanan had geuen them warning and saied except ye geue senteÌ„ce vpon euerye man that we shal bringe vnto you according to oure mindes be ye assured ye shal al of you go the same waye that Sechariahu is gone before you After that they apprehended a iust man and a rich that was beloued of al the towne whose name was Gorinion surnamed valeanut and he was a valeant man in deâ—e moste experte in the warres therto wise and witty and a man of a pure and perfite life One that was euer the formâ—st in battaile When so euer they had any conflict against the gentils that besieged Ierusalem and this was his accustomed
maner that whan the ennemies marched to ioyn battail the Iewes he wold run vpon them with such force make slaughter of them that spite of their hartes he woulde driue them to retire and by that meanes his body was full of skarres of wounds and his face and his head wonderfullye mangled with the woundes that he had reâ—eiued in battails that he had ben in for the people of the Lord. Yet now because he wold not folow the most cruel villaines minde Iehochanan and take his parte Iehochanan commaunded him to be apprehended and broughte before him and when he was come said thus vnto him Make thy wil set thy house in a stay confesse thy self vnto the Lord for ther is no way with the but deathe and so they led him out of the town to kil him there least there shoulde be anye businesse about his death if they had put him to death within the towne for all the citizens of Ierusalem loued him he likewise loued them When they wer come to the place of execution Gorinion fel downe afore theÌ„ besoughte them with teares in this wise Seing ye haue so determined the ye wil nedes slea me when as notwithstandinge I haue committed no crime nor anye thinge offended and that ye will in no wise spare me although I be innocent as you know wel inough your selues yet I beseche you let me obteine this one thing at your haÌ„ds that you wold do so much at the least wise at mi request as to bury my body other fauour I desire not They made him answer If the hadst not spokeÌ„ vnto vs therof we had thought to haue done it for so we were determined with our selues But now seing thou art so bolde as to demaunde this of vs we wil flea thee but buriall gettest thou none thy body shal be cast forth vnto the beasts of th earth fouls of thair Gorion yet besoughte them to the contrary vntil the most cruel Iehochanan stroke him siue him and after threwe out his bodye to the beastes of the field this done they retourned into the city VAspasian in the meane season drue nâ—e IerusaleÌ„ for he had pitched his tentes at Cesaria where he vitailed his army and paide his souldioures greate wages wherefore they taried in that city manye daies for when Vaspasian vnderstode of the ciuill warres in Ierusalem he said vnto his people let vs make no haste to besege Ierusalem til suche time as they haue slaine one an other amongste them selues and so at length their pride will be pulled down when as they see them selues waste awaye with ciuil warres hunger and thurst For Vaspasian was a wonderful wise man in all affaires of warres and his wisdome neuer tourned him to more commoditye then in this denise onlye So he soiourned at Cesaria with his men many daies The people of Ierusalem made warre vpon Iehochanan and his complices vntill innumerable of them were destroied some of them were slain with swordes some the seditious stickte with shorte daggers For certaine of the sedicious caried short daggers secretly vnder their garmentes wher with they wold come sodenly vpon an honest and iust man thrust him to the hart that he shold faldown dead in the place without know ledge who stroke him So by thys meanes what with swordes in open fraies what with daggers secretlye very manye of the people were flaine and far mo that way then by the Romaines in so much that now very few citizens were lefte aliue Thus whan Iehochanan had gotten the vpper haÌ„d of the city he made an army out of Ierusalem to go and take the cities that had made peace with Vaspasian whiche they sacked and raced to the grouÌ„d and who so euer they founde in them Romaines or Iewes they flue them Yea Iehochanan went with them him self to aid the spoiling and cariyng away al the richesse that they founde in them They toke also the city Gerara that stode beyonde Iordane where as they remained Then the inhabitants of Ierusalem both priestes elders and the reast of the people seÌ„t embassaders to Vaspasian to desire peace with hym and succoures againste Iehochanan his wicked rabble which dailye in the towne flue very many of the people of God The citizens also of Gerara sente embassadours vnto Vaspasian saiyng If thou wilt be Lord ouer the lande of Iudea and the citye of Ierusalem and desierest to assure the rule thereof and establishe it vnto thee theÌ„ harken vnto our counsaile and come vnto vs without delaye to deliuer vs from the handes of Iehochanan and the wicked sedicious persones that with all their might endeuour to spoile al our goods and to get the dominion ouer vs oure wiues and children to none other purpose then by that meanes to distroy vs vtterly that no remnaunt of vs should be left If so be it thou wilte come and valiauntlye withstande them with thy power wee will also fight agaynste them within the towne till they be all flaine and then thou shalt be our Lord. And that done thou maiest go to Hierusalem without anye impediment or hinderaunce of any man for they also of that citie desire the same and would gladlye become Subiectes to the Romains When as therfore Vaspasian hearde the peticions of the Citizins of Gerara he tooke his iourney thither to succour them and deferred to go to Ierusalem But Iehochanan heard of his That done he retourned to Cesaria to take muster of his hole army and prepare to go to besiege Ierusalem But in the meane season came purseuants from Rome and brought him worde the Nero the Emperoure was deade and how that as he was a huntinge in the country the fire of the lord came down from heauen and fel vpon him that he died of it After whome reigned Galba not one half yeare for afore it was fully ended he was slaine by the noble meÌ„ of Rome and Vitellius created in his stede a fole yet a sore cruel man much geuen to drunkennesse so that he was in all points vnworthy of the Romain empire The noble men of Rome that were with Vaspasian hearinge this greatly disdained at the matter said Was there neuer a noble maÌ„ of Rome left to be placed in the Empire but ye muste chuse a dronken wine souffer Why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince Vaspasian that is here with vs a sage and wise man therto also moste valeaÌ„t one that coÌ„quered many cities and vanquished many nations those moste fearce What puissante kinges hathe he subdued vnder the Romaine empire howe farre and wide hathe he enlarged the dominioÌ„s of the Romains And now wheÌ„ as the empire ought to haue bene bestowed vppon Vaspasian or some one like vnto him and none such could be founde amongst you ye bestowed it vpoÌ„ a fole and a blowbole dronkard wherein ye haue done verye vndiscretely Well thempire of Rome shall haue a better emperour one day and God saye Amen
Wheruppon the princes that wer there cast their heads together and decreed to proclaim Vaspasian Emperour Therfore with one consent they wente vnto Vaspasian said vnto him Thou shalt be our head for the Empire belongeth vnto suche a one and thou shalt haue the dominion ouer vs. But Vaspasian refused to take it vpon him and would in no wise consent vnto them Notwithstanding thei compelled him and placed him vpon a throne of maiesty settinge an imperiall and far mo that way then by the Romaines in so much that now very few citizens were lefte aliue Thus whan Iehochanan had gotten the vpper hād of the city he made an army out of Ierusalem to go and take the cities that had made peace with Vaspasian whiche they sacked and raced to the groūd and who so euer they founde in them Romaines or Iewes they slue them Yea Iehochanan went with them him self to aid th◠spoiling and cariyng away al the richesse that they founde in them They toke also the city Gerara that stode beyonde Iordane where as they remained Then the inhabitants of Ierusalem both priestes elders and the reast of the people sēt embassaders to Vaspasian to desire peace with hym and succoures againste Iehochanan his wicked rabble which dailye in the towne flue very many of the people of God The citizens also of Gerara sente embassadours vnto Vaspasian saiyng If thou wilt be Lord ouer the lande of Iudea and the citye of Ierusalem and desierest to assure the rule thereof and establishe it vnto thee thē harken vnto our counsaile and come vnto vs without delaye to deliuer vs from the handes of Iehochanan and the wicked sedicious persones that with all their might endeuour to spoile al our goods and to get the dominion ouer vs oure wiues and children to none other purpose then by that meanes to distroy vs vtterly that no remnaunt of vs should be left If so be it thou wilte come and daliauntlye withstande them with thy power wee will also fight agaynste theim within the towne till they be all slaine and then thou shalt be our Lord. And that done thou maiest go to Hierusalem without anye impediment or hinderaunce of any man for they also of that citie desire the same and would gladlye become Subiectes to the Romains When as therfore Vaspasian hearde the peticions of the Citizins of Gerara he tooke his iourney thither to succour them and deferred to go to Ierusalem But Iehochanan heard of his comminge wherefore he slue the chiefe gouernoure of Gerara gate him oute of the town with his companions and toke them to their fete determining to fle into a certaine wode Vaspasian hauinge knowledge thereof made oute after them sending one Pologarus who ouertoke them made a great slaughter of them And in his return toward Gerara vpon Iordane side he light vpon muche people going to Ierusalem that they mighte escape together with the Sedicious Them Poligorus droue backe vnto the riuer where he slewe .xiii. thousand of them the reaste leaped into Iordane and were drowned to the number of lxxxxii thousand men wemen and childrē with much cattel that were all drowned together in the riuer in so much that the chanell of Iordane so stuffed and stopt with dead bodies the waters rise and ran ouer the banckes here and there into the fieldes and plaines yet at the length the waters encreased and bare the carcases downe the riuer as farre as the sea of Sedom which is the sea of pitch other wise called the salt sea al the bankes of Iordane lay ful of dead bodies After this Vaspasian toke his iourney from thence went into the land of Edom where he wan two stronge cities the one called Lagarith the other Cephar Toch and slue a ten thousande of the people therof leading the reaste away into bandage From thence he disloged and came to a towne called Chamath Gedi whiche he subdewed In this citye were wel springes of heat waters from whence the hoate bathes of Tiberiah haue their originall The naturall Philosophers and Astronomers of that countri hold an opinion that these are the heades of all the hoate well springes in that hole countrye Departinge from thence he came to Samaria and wanne it Then repaired he againe all the townes that he had subdued and made vppe their walles placinge garisons therein to aide him what time he should besiege Ierusalē That done he retourned to Cesaria to take muster of his hole army and prepare to go to besiege Ierusalem But in the meane season came purseuants from Rome and brought him worde the Nero the Emperoure was deade and how that as he was a huntinge in the country the fire of the lord came down from heauen and fel vpon him that he died of it After whome reigned Galba not one half yeare for afore it was fully ended he was slaine by the noble mē of Rome and Vitellius created in his stede a fole yet a sore cruel man much geuen to drunkennesse so that he was in all points vnworthy of the Romain empire The noble men of Rome that were with Vaspasian hearinge this greatly disdained at the matter said Was there neuer a noble mā of Rome left to be placed in the Empire but ye muste chuse a dronken wine souffer Why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince Vaspasian that is here with vs a sage and wise man therto also moste valeāt one that cōquered many cities and vanquished many nations those moste fearce What puissante kinges hathe he subdued vnder the Romaine empire howe farre and wide hathe he enlarged the dominiōs of the Romains And now whē as the empire ought to haue bene bestowed vppon Vaspasian or some one like vnto him and none such could be founde amongst you ye bestowed it vpō a fole and a blowbole dronkard wherein ye haue done verye vndiscretely Well thempire of Rome shall haue a better emperour one day and God saye Amen Wheruppon the princes that wer there cast their heads together and decreed to proclaim Vaspasian Emperour Therfore with one consent they wente vnto Vaspasian said vnto him Thou shalt be our head for the Empire belongeth vnto suche a one and thou shalt haue the dominion ouer vs. But Vaspasian refused to take it vpon him and would in no wise consent vnto them Notwithstanding thei compelled him and placed him vpon a throne of maiesty settinge an imperiall crowne vppon hys heade whiche he woulde haue put alwaye and pulled of wyth his hande because hee woulde not be Emperoure Wherefore the Romayne capitaynes drewe out their swordes and saide Thou shalte be Emperour and raigne ouer vs therefore refuse it not if thou dooe thou shalte dye vppon our swordes Vaspasian therefore seinge hym selfe constrained beynge afrayed of hys lyfe he was contente to suffer hym selfe to be proclaymed Emperour Then all the Armye was sworne vnto hym and he sate vpon the royal seat as emperour and king of kinges THE Ciuill
Warres at Hierusalem encreased yet styll and muche bloude was shedde thorowe the wyckednesse of Iehochanan Capitayne of Thieues a lymme of the Deuyll and throughe the cut-throate murtherers that were wyth hym who had all euen sworn the vtter destruction of the citye of the Lorde and the deathes of hys people There was also an other cutthroate a noble manne of Iudea at Hierusalem aboute the same tyme called Schimeon who begā also to follow Iehochanans manners in sleainge innocentes and robbynge and reauing in Hierusalem for asmuche as Anani the hye Prieste hadde once appointed him Prince and chiefe Capitaine of Hierusalem and afterwardes findynge hym an ennemye banished hym the Citye Wherefore Schimeon wente and gate hym a route of Vnthriftes murtherers and thieues castynge in hys minde and saiynge Excepte I ioyne my selfe vnto suche good felowes I shall neuer bee able to be reuenged of Anani and his assistauntes that haue thus bannished mee oute of Hierusalem into exyle wrongfullye vnto my greate dishonoure Shall I that haue bene in suche estate now be caste out of my dignitie and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished manne He wente therfore throughe all the cities of Iudea and Galile causinge to be proclaimed in the stretes and market places and sente his letters where he coulde not come him selfe in this manner and fourme Who so euer listeth to be ridde from the bondage of his master or hathe had anye iniurye in his countrye or what seruaunte so euer desireth to be sette at libertye or who so can not abide the rule of his father or his master all that be in debte and stande in feare of their creditours or feare the iudges for sheadinge any innocente bloude and therfore lurketh solitarilye in woodes or mountaines if there be anye man that is accused of anye notorious crime and in any daunger therefore to be shorte who so euer is disposed to robbe and reaue to do iniurye and wronge to haunt hores to steale to murther to eat and drinke at other mennes coste withoute laboure of his handes let him resorte to me and I will deliuer him from the yoake and daunger of the lawes I will finde him his fill of booties and spoiles There assembled vnto hym aboute twentye thousande men al murtherers theues rebelles lawlesse persones wicked and sedicious menne Then began Schimeon also to vexe the Israelites to tourne all vppe side downe where so euer he came When the citizens of Ierusalem the priestes elders and Anani the hie priest hearde tidinges of Schimeons dispitefull wickednesse howe he helde on still oppressinge the people of God they were verye pensiue and saide nowe will this felowe more trouble vs than Iehochanan be he neuer so cruel They consulted therefore and agreed secretelye to sende a power against him that might sodenlye fall vpon him and ouerrunne him perauenture saye they they may flea him or take him aliue before his wickednesse grow to further inconuenience and ioyne him selfe with oure foes then shall they assaile vs bothe within the towne and without They made oute therefore agaynste hym a greate armye of Israelites and Iewes with Charettes and horsemenne and footemenne in greate number whiche came where his campe laye and found him in the corne fieldes distroiynge of the graine pullinge downe of barnes and burninge all bothe corne and Oliue trees Then the Ierosolimites deuided their armie and set vppon Schimeons tentes sodainelye smote downe his tentes and made a greate slanghter vppon the sedicious But shortelye after Schimeon gate the vpper hand of the people of GOD for he came vpon them in the nighte season and made a soore slaughter amongest them Then they that remained tooke theim selues to flighte towardes Hierusalem and Schimeon pursued them killinge them vnto the harde gates of Hierusalem so that mauye of them were slaine in the waye and verye fewe escaped After this Schimeon went and moued warre vpon the Edomites to subdue them vnto him selfe whiche before were vnder the dominion of the Hierosolimites And first the came to the Citye Asa otherwise called Gaza for it was the firste Citye wythin the borders of Edome as menne come from Hierusalem But the Edomites met hym in the fielde in greate noumber and ioyned wyth hym but nether part hadde the vyctorye wherefore at lengthe they retired bothe Then was Schimeon in so greate a rage when as he coulde not ouercome these Edomites that he wishte him selfe out of his lyfe So he ceassed fightynge a whyle and encamped hym selfe in the borders of the Lande of Edome ryght agaynste it and there abode thynkynge to sette vppon theim at an other tyme. And as hee was deuisynge howe to order all thynges there came vnth hym an Edomite called Iacob one of the chiefest menne amongste them and a warrioure He hearinge of Schimeons proclamation was moned to come and enter in league wyth him therupon sayd vnto hym Neuer let it discomfort thee that thou couldest not ouercome the Edomites at the firste battail If thou wilte be rulled by my counsell thou shalt winne all the cities in the whole lande and I will deliuer thē into thy handes Schimeon desired to knowe how therfore sayde he let vs here thy counsell and shewe vs how it may be brought about and when it is come to passe then wil we honour thee and rewarde thee accordinglye Iacob said geue me the one halfe of thine armie which I will lead with me into an ambushe then shalte thou in the mornyng betimes set thy men in araye againste the Edomites for a stale and when thou shalte perceiue them come againste thee then make as thoughe thou fledst vntill thou hast staled them out of the towne into the feldes to pursue thee Then will I with my menne come out of our ambushe and make spede to the gates where wee shal kill the Warders and fodainely enter the towne likewise kill all that wee finde there and set vp a flagge vpon a tower of the town Then ▪ when the Edomites shal see that their heartes wil be done and deade for sorowe then maiest thou turne again vpon them and beat them downe at thy pleasure Or if thou like not this deuise heare yet another way I haue bene a captaine amongst theim a longe while therefore I will returne in the night season into the towne if the watche examine mee from whence I come I will tell theim I come from Schimeons campe whither I went as a spie Then will I go to the elders of the towne and will thē to let me haue a companie of the best souldiours and I wil bringe Schimeon into their handes if he sette vppon vs againe For I haue vewed his campe and his power and vnderstande that hee entendes to morow to entermeddle with vs which thou shalt doe in dede And when thou seest me to issue against thee thou shalt set thy staffe in the reste and come towardes me then will I take me to flight and caste a feare
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
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
that intent to draw you from your lawe or to banish you out of your lande or els to destroye it and your Cities but this is the cause of my commynge hither to effer you peace and to make a league with you that you shoulde take vppon you our yoke and be our subiectes as ye were â—â—ore Where did you euer heare of a people in al the worlde that hath shewed them selues so mercifull gentle both towardes other towards you as we haue done Hanniball the captain of the Garthaginianâ— after he had wasted our couÌ„trey at loÌ„gth was taken by vs was he not had in greate honor reputatioÌ„ of vs with such humanity haÌ„dled the we made him king of his people And so delt we with Antiochê° the MacedoniaÌ„ other kings the we toke prisoners â–ª Ye â–ª brag the ye kepe the watch of â—our god Why theÌ„ folow ye not the exaÌ„ple of Iechaniah your kinge who to saue the teÌ„ple of your god froÌ„ destructioÌ„ left your people also shold be led away into bondage or be destroyed with the sworde yelded him selfe and his house into the hands of the king of the Chaldeis Why spare you not your owne liues your citie and sanctuary Nowe therefore hearken vnto me â–ª and I wil make a leage with you before the God of this house who shal be a witnes betwixt me and you by whom I sweare that I will neuer breake this league neither do you anye harme nor spoyle your goodes nor leade you away captiue nor yet set any ruler ouer you but a Iewe of your owne nacion euen Ioseph the priest whiche is with me shall be your prince if you think it good and all the faithfull menne also whiche are with me shall returne to you home againe ye shal inhabite your own land ye shal haue the vse of the fruites therof with peace and quietnesse without any corruption or alteration of the seruice of your God Wherfore credite 〈◊〉 â—o make a leage wyth you and that yâ— may trust me the better ye shall haue pledges Iosephe a noble man of your countrey and other princes and noble men of the Romaynes Come forthe therefore and intreate a peace with vs bowe your shoulders and humble your neckes to serue vs like as all other nacions do as you haue done your selfes in the time of Nero Caesar the ye may liue not be distroied keping your religion safe sound Ioseph the priest hearing the wordes of Titus his clemency in that he was minded to spare the Iewes burste out aloude and wept in the presence of the capitaynes of the sedicious verye bitterlye but they nothinge regarded it Iosephe therfore seinge that Titus coulde do nothinge wyth the sedicious said vnto their princes I maruaile nothing thoughe this citie tende to desolation destruction for I know the ende of it is at hande But this is it that I maruaile moste that ye haue redde the boke of Daniel and vnderstaÌ„d it not which is now fulfilled in al thinges and yet neuer a one of you dothe marke it The continual sacrifice is already ceased a good while agoe the annoynted Prieste is cut awaye and put downe These things although thei be most manifest yet your herts caÌ„ not be leue theÌ„ And mani other words spake Ioseph full of admonition consolatioÌ„ but the Iewes refused to heare him WheÌ„ as he had made an end therfore and the Sedicious hadde so hardened their neckes Titus turned him and departed out of Hierusalem saiynge Let vs get vs hence least their synnes destroye vs. Wherefore he pitched hys tentes without the Citye in the same place where he encamped at the firste For he was afrayed both for him selfe and his armie lest they shoulde be circuÌ„uented and closed in and slaine cruellye in so great a Citye as that was Certaine of the priestes at that tyme of the nobles of the towne with other Godlie men did wisely se to theÌ„ selues â–ª came forth to Titus submittyng theÌ„ selues to his mercye were receiued of him peceably wyth great honor WhoÌ„ Titus coÌ„maunded to be coÌ„ducted into the land of Goschen where in tymes past the Israelites dwelt in the daies of Iacob their father Ioseph Lord of Egypte Thither sent he them gaue it theÌ„ in possession to theim and to their heires for euer commaundynge a companye of the Chaldeis to safe conducte theim til they came to the lande of Goschen Titus directed hys Letters also to the Romayne Presidente whyche was set ouer Egypt to take pitie of the Iewes that he hadde placed in the Lande of Goschen to sustayn and succour them and to see that no Romaine or other shoulde do them harme or anoye them by anye meanes Manye other also of the Iewes coueted to go forthe of Hiâ—rusalem but they were letted of the Sedicious that they coulde not dooe as they intended And who can tell whether they were intangled wyth their owne synnes and destenyed to destruction wyth theyr Sediciousse brethren when as their handes also were polluted wyth the crueltye and iniquitye of the Sedicious Wherfore the Sedicious closed vp all the waies about the temple that none of the Iewes which were in Hierusalem might get out to Titus When Titus knew that many of the Iewes wer desierous to flee vnto him and coulde not because of the sedicious he wente agayne to the place where heâ— was afore and Iosephe with him Whom when the people sawe to be there with Titus they fel a wepynge and said vnto him We acknowledge our synnes and the traunsgression of our fathers wee haue all swarued out of the waye against the lord our God for we know the mercye and gentlenes of Titus the sonne of Caesar and that he taketh pity vpon vs but what can we do when it is not in our power to flee vnto hym bicause of the cruelty of the sedicious The sedicious hearing theim talkyng with Ioseph in presence of Titus that they spake reuerently of him honored hys father callyng him Lorde they ranne vpon them with their drawen swordes to kill them Then cried they vnto Titus deare Lorde and maister rescue vs. The Romayns therfore made spede to deliuer theÌ„ out of the haÌ„des of the sedicious So risse there a fray in the midst of the temple betwene the Romayns and the Iewes The Romains fled into the place called Sanctum sanctorum which was the holiest of all and the Iewes folowed after and slewe theim euen there Titus standinge without cryed vnto Iehochanan and saide vnto hym Hearest thou thou Ichochanan is not thy wickednes yet great inough Wilt thou neuer make an ende of thy mischiefe Where is the honoure of thy God Is it not written in the lawe of your God of the Sanctum sanctorum that no straunger ought to come at it but onelye the hye prieste and that but once a yeare because it is the holiest of al And now how darest thou be so
handes They agreed broughte him to Schimeon who commaunded his seruauntes assone as he was come to flea him But while he that was apointed to this businesse made delay and killed him net by and by he whipt downe of the hill escaped and came to Titus who commaunded him oute of his sighte being wroth with him that he had not sought vnto deathe rather then to be taken quicke But with the Iewes was he wonderfullye displeased that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men wherfore he commaunded to kil all the Iewes as many as could be founde in the streetes of the â—â—ye whome he woulde haue spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughoute all hys campe for theyr safetye Then died many of the Iewes so that euerye place was full of deade bodies The menne of warre of the Edomites whythe were wyth Schimeon perceiuinge howe the matter wente they sente Embassadoures to Titus to desire peace and to saue theyr lyues which when it came to Schimeons ear he wente vnto them and slue the chiefe of them and their noble men the rest of the people of the Edomites fledde vnto Titus From that time forthe Titus commaunded his men to vse no more truelty vpoÌ„ the Iewes Sone after fled Iehochanan and Schimeon and hid theÌ„ selues in certain caues The rest of the chief meÌ„ of the Iewes that were with them seing them nowe to be fled came nowne from the Mounte vnto Titus set downe vpon their face before hym vpon the ground whome Titus receiueâ— gentlelye As for the sedicious that were with Schimeon Iehochanan they fought till they al died together TheÌ„ cam forth vnto Titus one Iosua a priest sonne of Schaftai the hie prieste bringing with him two candelstickes of gold which were in the sanctuary and the tables of gold with other vessels of siluer and gold and also the holye vestures decked with golde and precious stones all those he gaue vnto Titus who made him chiefe priest ouer them that remained nexte vnder Ioseph the priest for Titus gaue Ioseph authority as wel ouer the priestes and Leuites as ouer the whole people of the Iewes Then was Gorion the father of Ioseph that writ this history brought oute of the prison with his wife and children among whoÌ„ was one Bonian Iosephs yonger brother he was a verye wise a godly priest by whome god bestowed many benefites vpoÌ„ the Israelites For Titus lefte him at Ierusalem and tooke him not with him as he did Ioseph Iosephes father liued after the city was taken twenty moneths died They tooke then also one Phmeas a prieste who was keper of the treasure house he bewraied and vttered to the Romains al the treasures of the priestes and their vestements he gaue also vnto Titus a moosse precious oyle wyth swere oâ—ours and perfumes and garmentes also of purple which the kinges of the second temple had geueÌ„ Wherfore both this Phineas and Iosua whoÌ„ we mentioned afore transgressed the couenaunte of the Lord and offended God in that they deliuered his iewels to the ennemies of his people whiche thei ought not to haue done but rather to haue died for the glory of the Lord as the other priestes did whiche caste them selues into the fire Thus was the city of Ierusalem takeÌ„ with al the precious thinges that were therein and Titus went vp to the mount Sion â—â—ke it and raced the walles therof Vpon a three daies after Iehochanan sore vert with hunger leste his place where he lucked and came to Titus fell downe afore him and kissed his feete sayinge saue me O Lord king Titus commauded him 〈◊〉 be fettered with iraÌ„ cheins when he had caused him to be carted about the campe so bound to be mocked of al men by the space of .vii. daies he commaunded to hanâ— him so gate he a iuste ende and fit rewarde for his cruelty After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den being driueÌ„ with famin he had out on king ye apparel shewed him self a far of to the Romaine host who seing him were afraide to go to him but he called vnto theÌ„ askt foâ— sâ—me captaine Then one came forth sâ—id vnto Schimeon tel me who the art I wil not kil thee Schimeon answered therefore tolde him I am Schimeon that sedicious Captaine of the Iewes whiche haue made you so muche a not now I beseche thee shew me so muche sauour as to bring me to Titus thi master which he did Titus therfore when he saw Schimeon he coÌ„maunded him to be fast bound and to be â—ed about the whole host that he might be deluded mâ—ckt Afterward he was put to a fore death first his head was striken of theÌ„ he was cut in many peces and cast vnto dogges so he died an abhominable death being punished for his iniquity THe number of the Iewes aswell citizens as other that came vnto the feast to Ierusalem whiche were flaine partly by the Romaines partly by the sedicious duringe the whole tyme of those warâ—es was knowen to be thus many eleuenth hundreth thousand besides them whose noumber was not knowen Onlye they were counted which were slaine buried besides theÌ„ also that after the death of Iehochanan Schimeon died with Eleasar the sonne of Anam the priest whiche were not reckened Thei that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were .xvi. M. men Titus therfore with Ioseph wente to Rome leauing Bonian Iosephs brother at Ierusalem who was appointed the chiefe priest of them that abode there for that did Ioseph request of Titus whiche he perfourmed The sedicious were all slaine in that battaile whiche they toke in hand for the peoples sake and the temple of the Lord â–ª They also that Titus toke prisoners were put to vile deathes For he reserued many to be mocking stocks in euery 〈…〉 whâ—re he passed by in his way is Rome and in euery towne he commaunded some to be brought forthe and caste vnto the Lions til they were al confumed THere was a certain people 〈◊〉 that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat that were called Alamites whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearinge closed them in on euery side This people although they had no knowledge of the vse of yron nor armour yet this was their maner that one of theÌ„ with a great poal burnt a little at the ende would put to flight a hundred good souldiours were they neuer so well appointed and armed Vntill this yeare they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout al their land they sent Embassadours to the People of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that thei would open the straightes of the mountayns that they might come forth with their wiues and children to seke theim fode The Hurkans grauÌ„ted their requests opened them the entrances of the mouÌ„tains So they came forth wanderyng here and there and spoilynge diuerse countreis til at lengthe they toke
to dye And woulde God we had bene dead before the we might not haue seene in thee thy reproch or who would bring to passe the we might lacke eyes that we shuld not be compelled to see these mischeues the are in the mids of thee And behold we liue a most sorowful life for our enemies eueÌ„ now afore we be dead cast lots vpon our sonnes daughters to deuide theÌ„ amoÌ„gst theÌ„ to be their seruaÌ„tes handmaids When Eleasar had ended this lamentacion he spake to the people that was w e him thus NOw therfore brethreÌ„ frends take pitye of your selues your wiues children with old men which he with you let theÌ„ not be led into boÌ„dage with out al merci the they be not coÌ„streined to mourn vnder the haÌ„ds of their enemies for if ye do this ye leese withoute all doubte all places that are prepared for you in the world of rightousnesse neither shall ye haue any part in the light of life But rather with your owne handes kil them thus if ye wil do they shal be couÌ„ted as sacrifices most accdptable vnto God and that done we wil after issue out vpon oure enemies and fight against them till we vse valeaÌ„tly for the glory of the lord for we wil nener suffer them to bind vs with boÌ„des and cheins as bond slaues in the handes of the vncircumcised Nether wil we se our aunciente men to be haled by the berdes before our eyes most miserably nor yet oure maides wifes and doughters to be vnhalowed and defloured nor oure sonnes criynge to vs and we can not helpe them for what shal oure life auaile vs after that our land is desolate our sanctuary pulled downe the Romains rauishe our wiues doughters before our eyes and oppresse oure sonnes with a most greuous and hard yoke Nowe therfore it is better for vs to kil al our wiues and childreÌ„ whose bloud God shal accepte thankfullye as the blud of burnt offerings after â–ª we wil issue out vpon the Romains fight til we be al destroyed die for the glory of the Lord our God These menne therfore wente and gathered together their wiues and doughters embrased 〈◊〉 and kissed them saying is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini shame into the landes of your ennemies and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles These saiynges wheÌ„ the people had beard thei droue forth that night in great sorow and pensifenesse weping and makinge great lamenâ—â—cion but they all confest with one accorde that they had rather chuse to die then liue Therefore assone as it was daye â–ª Eleasars companions killed their wines and children caste their bodies into the â—esterns and welles that were in Mezirah couering and stepving theÌ„ with earth Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his meÌ„ and â—orced a battel vpon the Romains of wheÌ„ the Iewes killed a great forte and fought so long till they al died maÌ„fully for the Lord God BUt Titus left a remnaunt of Israel in the citye Iafnah and the villages thereabout and in the estye Bitter and Aossa their villages in whiche place Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the priest yonger brother to Iosephe the Prieste was put in authority by Titus for Iosephs sake ouer al the Iewes which were at Ierusalem At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to â—â—ath â–ª and Ischmael soÌ„ne of Elischa the 〈◊〉 priest Moreouer Titus was minded to haâ—â— put Rabban Gamaliel father of Raâ—chbag to deathe but Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai made sute for him and obteined to saue his life This Rabban Iochanan was he that came forthe of Ierusalem in the beginning wheÌ„ Vaspasian father of Titus came firste against Ierusalem whoÌ„ Vaspasian honoured greatly in so much as when he returned to Rome he commended this Rabban Iochanan to his sonne Titus comaunding him to honor him for he perceiued he was a verye wise man Titus reigned two yeares after he had taken Ierusalem and died He was a very eloquent man expert in the Latin and Greke tong writ diuers workes in both the tonges He loued moste intirely iustice and equitye for he wasted the city of Ierusalem against his wil being compelled therunto Yea all the mischiefe that came vpon it happened through the malice and noughtinesse of the sedicious as we haue touched before And thus far of the warres of the second house ¶ Thus endeth the destruction of Ierusalem Nn. ii ⧠The ten Captiuities of the Ievves i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captiuitie foure times by the handes of Sanherib and foure times by Nabuchadnezar once by Vaspasian and once bi supersticious Adrian First inuaded them Sanherib â—â—ennache â—â—b and traunsposed the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasse He toke awaye also the golden calfe whiâ—he Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had made He ledde them into Halah Habur to the floud of Gozan and to the cities of the Medes This captiuitie was in the time of Pekah the sonne of Remaha ii The second Captiuitie Hoscha the sonne of Ela remained and slew Pekah the sonne of Remalia Afterwarde he became the seruant and subiect of Sanherib seuen yeares Then came Sanherib the seconde time and caried awaye the tribes of Aâ—ar Isachar Zebulon and Naphtali of whom he let go free onely one of euery eight He tâ—ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel iii. After the death of Ahaz raigned Hiz kiahu his soÌ„ne in his steede four yeres Hezekia the fourth yere of whose rain Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria beseging it .iii. yeares and at lengthe roke it in the vi yeare of the raigne of Hiskijahu So led he awaye the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Manasse This is the .iii. captiuity iiii When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii yeares Sanheriâ— perauenture he made warres againste Ierusalem bringynge wyth hym the Chuteans heretikes out of Babilon E. thiopia Hemates Auim and Sepharuauim and as he warred vpon Iudea he toke in that countrye a. C and. l. cities in the which there were .ii. tribes Iuda and Simeon whome he toke with him caused them forthwith to be led into Halah Habur vntil the king of the Ethiopians rebelled againste him whose kingdoÌ„ was on the hinder parts of Egipt Then taking Iuda Simeon with him he made war with the king of Ethiopia So the holye and blessed God placed them in darke mountains He re was foure captiuities whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib There remained yet of Iuda Cx. thousand and of Beniamin Cxxx. thousand in Ierusalem ouer whoÌ„ raigned Hizkiahu Moreouer Sanherib came out of Ethiopia againste Ierusalem the fifte time leading with him Cx. thousand but the holye Lorde ouerthrewe hym there as it is written And the angell of the