and to enter their Camp whiles it was dark which they did and slew very many of the best of the Grecians about 4000. preparing neverthelesse for the Field against the morrow where also the Israelites did beat down many of the Greeks In that Battel was slain Eleazar son of Mattathias the Kings brother For when he espied one with a golden sword upon the Elephant he thought him to be King Opiter who had 20. Elephants in his Army therefore he took heart to him and beat down the souldiers of the Greeks on both sides were they never so strong till he came to the Elephant And because the Elephant was so high that he could not reach them that sate upon him he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast to overthrow the King whereat the Elephant shrunk together and fell upon Eleazar that he died there for whose sake all Israel mourned and made great lamentation But Opiter hearing this straightway made suite to King Iudas for peace and a League to be made between them which after Iudas had consented unto he returned home into Greece again and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slew him After him succeeded Demetrius his enemy who was the cause of his death There were at that time certain evil disposed persons of the Jews that served the King of the Grecians in his Wars namely one Alkimus who went to the King of the Greeks at that time lying at Antiochia and stirred him to move War upon Israel and King Iudas By whose suggestion Demetrius sent against Iudas a Captain called Nicanor with a strong Army Hâ—… now coming to Jerusalem let Iudas understand thaâ—… he bare him good will and was desirous to make peace and to enter into a League with him Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sons of Chasmoname Nicanor met him in the way imbraced him and kissed him after that led him to his pavillion and set him upon his pavillion and set him upon his seat of Honour King Iudas aâ—…so after he returned from the Camp made unto Nâ—…canor a great feast calling him and his Noble men with him into Jerusalem where they eat and drank at the Kings Table King Iudas was yet unmarried wherefore Nâ—…canor moved him to take a Wife that he might have issue and not loose his succession whose counsel Iudas allowed This done the â—…ewd pick thank Alkimus declared to King Demetrius the League that Nicanor had made with King Iudas whereat Dâ—…metrius being wroth writ unto Nicanor that he had intel igence of his traiterous practises Nicanor was in Jerusalem when this Letter was delivered him When Iudas heard of the contents of the Letter he fled out of Jerusalem into Samaria where he sounded a Trumpet and gathered Israel together Nicanor upon these letters entred the House of the Lord to seek Judas but he found him not Then he examined the Priests who sware they knew not what was become of him After he had now sought him in every corner throughout Jerusalem aud could not find him in a fume he sware he would beat down the Temple and gathering together all his Host He made speed against Judas When he heard of Nicanors coming he issued out of Samaria to met him and after they had joyned battel Judas slew of the Greeks to the number of eighteen thousand Horsemen took Nicanor alive and was intended to kill him But Nicanor besought pardon of him alledging that the King knew well enough that he began not this battel with his good will but left he should transgresse the Commandment of the King his Master Wherefore saith he I humbly beseech your Majesty not to kill me and I will sweare unto you that I will never bear Arms against you nor annoy you any more Upon this the King made a League with him and dismissed him So he returned to the King his Master with shame enough After this Demetrius died and Lysia his son raigned in his stead yet the wicked men ceased not but moved against King Lysia to make a voyage in his own person with a puissant Army against Judas but having the overthrow of King Judas he fled unto Asdotum till he had strongly repaired again his Army Then came he the second time upon Judas in which conflict the Israelites were put to flight King Judas notwithstanding fled neither one way nor other but called to his men and exhorted them to return and stick to him yet they would not obey him So he abod alone with his drawn sword in his hand unto whom none of his enemies durst approach nigh but with chariots and horsemen they environed him and Archers shot at him wounding him sore till he fell down dead upon the ground and they that were about him were taken alive The time that he reigned over Israel was six years Many of the Greeks Captains were slain also in that battel and the King himself so wounded that he was fain to get him into his Country to be cured of his wounds After he had recovered his health he returned again came to Jerusalem and to all the Cities of Israel with the power of the Greeks wherewith he so afflicted them at that time for the space of four moneths after the death of Judas that the like tribulation was never seen in Israel In the mean season the Israelits resorted to Ionathas the son of Mattathias and made him King in Iuda's stead and were sworn unto him This Ionathas fought dâ—…vers great battels against the Greeks having the aid of one Samnus of the kindred of Alexander the first who had made a League with Ionathas and took his part against Grecia wasted and spoiled it sore till at length the King of the Grecians slew Ionathas by a train His reign over Israel was six years Then was Simeon his brother King in his stead against him came Antiochus the second King of the Grecians came to war but Simeon met him and laid first and an ambush to entrap the Greeks and then ordered his battel in array against Antiochus After that he with his whole Host made a face faining as they fled and retired till they perceived Antiochus who pursued them to be within their danger then the ambush brake forth upon the Greeks made a very great slaughter After this Simeon returned to Jerusalem with great joy Then sent Ptolomee King of Egypt an Embassage to Simeon King of Israel offering him his daughter in marriage To this request when King Simeon had consented Ptolomee came to Jerusalem where was made him a great Feast and they were allyed together Whereupon Antiochus King of the Grecians writ to Ptolomee King of Egypt privily to murther Simeon King of Israel Whom Ptolomee durst not but obey for at that time the King of Egypt was in subjection to the Greeks Therefore when Simeon came into Egypt to see his father in law Ptolomee he was received with great feasting but in the same
time he had poison given that he died thereof Besides this also his son which came with him Ptolomee cast in prison These things justly chanced unto Simeon for that he had transgressed the word of the Lord that forbad all alliance with the Gentiles The time that he reignover Israel was eighteen years Then John his son reigned in his stead who was called Hircanus in the Greek Tongue The same-Ptolomy king of Egypt invaded Israel with all the power that he could make But John the son of Simeon met him and the Lord overthrew Ptolomy with his whole Host that they were slain of the Israelites and pursued to the City Dagon about which time the Israelites made trenches and besieged it Now within the Town they had the mother of king Hircanus whom Ptolomy caused to be set upon the walls and to be scourged with whips in the sight of her son When Hircanus saw the great affliction of his mother he would have raised his siege and departed from Ptolomy But his mother called unto him and said My dear son John regard not my trouble for all chastenings come from God Proceed manfully with thy siege against this City for it is in great distresse and revenge me thy father and brother murthered by Ptolomy The king followed her advise and manfully raised a Mount from the which he battered the walls with Engines of Iron like Chariots till they began to shake Wherefore many of the souldiers of the Town fled and their companies began to shatter Ptolomy seeing this commanded to afflict his mother yet more and to increase her scourgings until the entrails of Hircanus was moved that he could not abide longer to see his mother so cruelly handled but leave the siege and let Ptolomy escape who neverthelesse killed his mother and fled into Egypt In the fourth year of king Hircanus reign Pius king of Greece came and besieged Jerusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to meet and encounter withal in the field but suffered himself to be closed up in the City The king of the Grecians therefore raised great towers against the City apart from the wall digged a trench and cast up a mount Then planted they their Engins named Pâ—…ams against the gates so that the City was hard besieged for they beat down one of the Turrets that stood upon the wall whereat all Israel was afraid and agreed together to issue out and skirmish with them whatsoever should come thereon life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet they did so and slew many of their enemies and put them also to flight that they were constrained to encamp themselves further off from Jerusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Greeks had builded and razed them to the ground Thus they issued out daily skirmishing with Pius until the Feast of the Tabernacles Then sent Hircanus to Pius desiring him that he would grant them Truce and let them be at peace while the Feast lasted His request Pius granted and sent a fat Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel covering his horns with beaten gold and dressing him with fillets of christal other precious stones clad also in a garment of Purple and divers other precious cloaths He sent moreover plate both of silver and gold full of divers kinds of spices all to be offered unto the Lord. When Hircanus saw this he went out unto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chief men of War a great Feast and gave him a Present of Iâ—…I C. pound weight of Gold He went also with Pius to aid him against the King of Persia that at that time rebelled against him But he tarried there not long because the time of Pentecost was at hand Wherefore Hircanus and the Host of Israel returned but Pius and his Army of the Grecians proceeded Whom the king of the Persians met in the field slew Pius himself and vanquished the residue that almost none remained VVhereof when tydings came to Hircanus he was very glad and returned to Jerusalem with peace and joy After this Hircanus made many great Battels with the Nations about him and had ever victory He also came to the Mount of Corizim where he won a fort of the Sectaries and Samaritans and razed the Temple that the Sectaries had there as their house of Sanctuary which they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Greeks He that built it was Manasse the Priest brother to Simeon the just But Hircanus the high Priest pulled it down two hundred years after that it was builded From thence he went to the Gity of Samaria and besieged it This was the mâ—…ther City of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to such distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were fain to eat the carcases of Dogs The feast of Propitiation then at hand Hircanus made speed to Jerusalem to execute his office at that feast for he was high Priest appointed for Generals of his Army Aristobulus his eldest son and his second Antigonus In the mean season they within the Town writ to the king of Greece to come to succour them which he did with a great power But these two young men the kings sons went to meet them with the strength of the Israelites and gave them the overthrow killing them up almost every one to the number of twenty one thousand fighting men and the rest fled That done the young men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceived they should have the Grecians of the one side of them and the Samaritans and Sectaries of the other but he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chanced the ninth day of Tisre or September His heart therefore was careful for his sons and for Israel notwithstanding he proceeded in his office according as the feast required as he entred into the house of Sanctum Sanctorum or the Most Holiest to offer incense and to call for mercy for his children and for his Army he heard a voice speaking unto him Never trouble thy mind with thy children and with the Host of Israel for yesterday the Lord of mercy heard them and according to the greatnesse of his goodness for thy Fathers sakes Let thy heart therefore be right and thy hands pure So the King going out of the Sanctuary declared it to the people Whereupon the next day he sent post to Samaria and was assure dry certified again that this was true VVherefore King Hircanus was magnified greatly of all Israel for they knew that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiring him with the holy Ghost and increasing his kingdom and Priesthood After this he took journey to Samaria besieged it a whole year and at length wan it slew all also that bare life within He razed the walls the palace and
Gold and Silver as chaffe and stones he kept Israel in peace from all his enemies he buiâ—…ded also a fairer Temple than King Solomon but he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israel more heavy and gave open ear to evâ—…l tongues He was a cruel blood-shedder of poor and innocent persons and Archelaus his son reigned in his room He willed before his death that they should bury him in the City of Erodion two dayes journey and a half from Jerusalem So they put him in a Coffin covered with Gold set here and there with precious stones The Bed under him was wrought with Gold and full of precious stones likewise upon his head was a cloth of Rayes powdred with precious stones and upon that a Royal Crown made fast to the left side of the Coffin and on the right side was a Regal Scepter upon the Bier was also a cloth of Rayes very thick powdred with precious stones Crystal Amethysts and very many â—…aphirs Then all the chief men of War went about him in their coats of fence and drawn swords in their hands with helmets on their heads as in the time of war After them came Archelaus his son that was made King then followed him all the people There were fifty of his servants that went about the Bier every one having a chaffindish of Gold in his hand wherein they burnt sweet woods and perfumes continually as many as went about him casting upon the Hearse pure Myrrhe He was born by certain great Lords and Noblemen of Israel upon their shouldders going leisurely and with a majesty till they came to Erodion where they buried him with great honour the like was never done to any King These things done there resorted together such as hated Herod and were weary of their own lives whiles he lived rejoycing that they had escaped his hands saying We have looked till our eyes bleared waiting for the death of Herod that Tyrant and bloodshedder that oppressed us with such heavy yokes that left us nothing to live on for the tributes and taxes that he laid upon us yet now Archelaus his son is worse than he Wherefore they consulted together and cast their minds and good will toward Antipater the son of Salumith the Kings Sister one of the blood of Chasmonany and went with him to Octavian Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he would not grant them their suite yea he rather confirmed and assured the kingdom to Archelaus who wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord for he married his brother Alexanders Wife that had children by Alexander and committed many great offences The ninth year of Archelaus's raign it chanced upon a night he dreamed a dream He thought he saw nine eares of corn very good and full grown upon one stalk then came a great Oxe and did eate them up all at one bit by and by he awaked and perceived it was a dream therefore calling one of the Sages of Israel unto him he shewed him his dream The wise man said this is the interpretation of it The 9. eares fresh and full be the 9 years which thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great King Octavian Augustus This year thou shaâ—…t be removed from thy kingdom because thou hast neglected the word of God and hast married thy brothers wife to this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within five dayes after Octavian came towards Jerusalem and when Archelaus wenâ—… to meet him he put him in prison deposed him from the kingdom of Israel and made Antipas his brother King in his stead he turned his name also and called him Herod that done he returned to Rome Whiles Antipater was King died the Emperour Octavian Augustus the 56. year of his raign and Tiberius Caesar succeeded him This Antipas also wrought wickedness and sundry abominations more than any that was before him for he took his brother Philips Wife from him which had already children by Philip for this shameful deed Rabbi John Baptist the high Priest rebuked him wherefore Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Jesus a wise man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a worker of wonderfull works and a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth and had many Disciples both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles This man was Christ. who after he was accused of the chief Rulers of our Nation and condemned by Pilate to be crucified was nevertheless much beloved by them who loved him even from the beginning To these he appeared the third day alive according as the Prophets by Divine inspiration had told before aswell of this as also of many other things which should be done by him And even to this day the Christian sect which took their name of him continueth Against this man Antipas before named came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whom when Antipas repaired he apprehended him laâ—…d him in irons and sent him into Spain where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius raign Then Tiberius made Agrippa the son of Aristobulus whom Herod put to death Antipas brother King in his stead The time that Antipas raigned over Israel was 11. years In Agrippas time died Tiberius Caesar and Caius succeeded him This Caius called himself a God and would suffer no man to worship any thing in his Empire but himselfe he continued not long in this dignity but decayed and died After him succeeded Claudius Claudius being dead Nero Caesar was Emperor Agrippa raigned over Israel 23 years In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presidents over them which left them nothing to live upon and besides that he punished them with divers torments until at length they were constrained to rebel against the Roman Empire and Nero Cesar to rid themselves from under his subjection And above all other one Florus president and Captain of the Roman Army most grievously oppressed the Jews and had done many things very wickedly For not onely he shed innocent blood ravishing at his pleasure wives and deflouring maids in the Cities of Juda but also robbed with great cruelty every man of his goods he polluted the Temple and upon the beams thereof he hung those that he took displeasure at It chanced that Beronice King Agrippa's sister came at that time to Jerusalem out of devotion to vifit the holy place She seeing Florus violently oppress the people and for payment of exactions and tallage to slay many of them even at the entrance of the Temple she came forth weeping unto Florus beseeching him to spare the people for she pitied them very greatly Yet Florus relented nothing but when she was departed from him he flouted and mockt her though she were the Kings sister and that in the Temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valiant young man Eleasar the son of Anani the high Priest
in a strange Land Certain evil disposed persons of the Roman souldiers went to Vespasian and said Sir you shall do well to command this man to be slain without mercy that hath been the destruction of so many of the people of the Romans This is the very same that shot the arrow and stuck you in the leg Put him to death and then shall ye be sure he shall never move war more amongst you If ye do not ye shall see him one day again raise an Army against us and destroy us But Joseph did find friendship at Titus Vespasian son's hands which came of the Lord. Therefore when he heard those wicked mens words that desired Vespasian to put Joseph to death he disapproved their advice and partly in mockage he taunted them saying Will you tell my Father what he hath to do will you give him so wicked counsel to kill that man that yieldeth himself to us upon the trust of our league and band of friendship which you now go about to break and frustrate Did not Captain Nicanor in my fathers name and Caesars with all the Roman host make a Covenant with him Take heed what you say Is it reason to break the Caesarean fidelity Moreover who can tell whether it may so happen that some of us be taken by the Jews like as Joseph is prisoner herc with us VVhen Vespasian heard his sons words it pleased him and he spared Joseph not suffering him to be slain but committed him to a certain Captain of his and carried him about with him through the Cities together with King Agrippa After this Vespasian removed his Camp to Thalmida which also is called Acho and from thence he went to Caesarea a great City When they of the City saw Joseph they cryed unto Vespasian Kill him kill him or else he will one day be an occasion to stir great wars against thee But Vespasian gave no ear to them Whiles he was at Caesarea tidings came to him that the Citizens of Papho invaded and spoiled the Isles that were subject under his Dominions with a Navy Vespasian hearing thereof commanded to lay wait for them that they might be met withal So there was an ambush laid witâ—…out the Town and it came to passe that when the Pyrates were gone out a roving Vespasian entred the Town and took it without great resistance because their souldiers were absent When the Rovers therefore returned with their Navy and saw the Romans in the City they laboured to set a land but suddenly a huge tempest and a mighty storm drove all their ships against the rocks that were in the sea shore for there was no haven for ships and there they were lost many of them and those that swam to land the Romans slew they that were drowned in the Sea and slain by the Romans were in number four thousand good men of War besides them that were slain in the Town 40000. all Jews This done Vespasian set forth Valericus and Taribus two Roman Colonels with his son Titus who went besieged and wan the Towns of defence that were in Galilee And thus did Titus use them They that yielded unto him he saved their lives and whosoever withstood him he slew Moreover all the Cities that belonged to Agrippa in Galilee he restored them unto him again only Tiarva excepted which he utterly rased and slew all the Males especially such as were apt to the Wars sold also their wives and children And this was the only City in all Galilee that Titus shewed such a rigour and extremity unto CHAP. VII VEspasian departing thence took his journey to Gamala which is a Citie upon the top of a Mountain the name thereof is called Gamala of an Hebrew word Gamal that signifieth to Requite or to do a good turn because it is the best City that belongeth to Agrippa and the inhabitants thereof were all very rich The City also called Seleucia was not far distant from it a Countrey replenished with good Towns Gardens Brookes and all kinde of fruitfull Trees Agrippa besought Vespasian that he would not destroy this City Let me go first saith he and offer them peace peradventure they will take it that they may save their lives from destruction Vespasian was entreated saying unto him Go and do as thou wilt for thine honour's sake I will do so much for thee So Agrippa went to them and spake friendlily and peaceably unto them and they received him in like manner but they meant deceit saying Thou art our Lord and King to whom therefore doth all that is of any price or to be desired in all Israel belong but unto thee Therefore come near unto us and debate the matter with thy Servants Agrippa crediting these Words came close up to the City and as he listned to them that talked with him one cast a great stone from the Wall which lighted just between his shoulders with such a violence that it struck him prostrate to the ground and brake his back with one of his arms also But his Servants stept to him took him up and carried him to Vespasian who seeing him so sore hurt sware he would never go from thence till he had taken the City and ordered them in like manner as he did at Tiarva to leave not a man therein The Roman Physicians did bestow such diligence about Agrippa that they cured him Vespasian in his rage against the Seleucians because they had wounded their King besieged and assaulted them The Jews within the Town encouraged one another saying Let us stick to it now and play the men for we have no other hope to save our lives seeing we have thus used the King Certain stout men of them therefore issued out and encountring with the Romans made a great slaughter amongst them After that the Romans made ready their Engins planted their battering Rams playing with them against the Walls and by that time night came beat so great a part thereof down to the earth that Vespasian and much people with him might enter at their pleasure But Vespasian gave commandment to his Army that they should not enter that night into the Town but stand and compasse the walls until the morrow that they might the better see how to win it Notwithstanding they would not be ruled by him but entred Then the Jews came upon them drew the chains crosse their streets and closing the wayes of the City intrapped them in such sort that they could go neither one way nor other After that settâ—…ng upon them beat them down even there so that they were all slain save ten men that fled with Vespasian and a Captain named Butius one of the best men of War in all the Roman Army yet him the Jews pursued and slew But Vespasian and his fled to the Mountains that he might be there in safegard and from thence he sent to Titus his son that was in Syria for the Roman Army that he had sent with him to Persia which
with the people in Mount Sinai There is also the Rod of Aaron that flourished and brought forth leaves All these were in the Temple whiles it was yet standing Over against the Sanctuarie were fourteen stairs or steps upon the which appeared the miracle to King Ceskiahu And thou Jerusalem at that time wa st stronger than other Cities Lady of Provinces for great Kings and Princes builded thee King Herod much exalted thee raising thy walls high and besides that also defended thee with other walls that he named Antochia of Antochias a Roman who gave liberally much monie toward the repairing of the ruines and decayes that were in thee How cometh it to passe therefore that thou art brought thus low and the Gentiles have the rule over thee now and besiege thee rasing thee and casting thee down yea they are now in the midst of thee Wo be to us for our sins for the heavinesse of thy strength is dashed thy Sanctuarie is troden under foot and made a sink of the blood of slain persons Drink now off thy cup O Jerusalem with thy Daughter Sion drink I say the cup of vexation and grief together with her for yet the time shall come that visions shall be revealed and redemption also it self that thy Children shall return to their Coasts with the health of their Redeemer Then shall be the time of friendship and then shalt thou drink the cup of health and consolation After that Titus went to view what way he might best assault the City and as he devised with himself he espied a plain on that side where the Sepulcâ—…er of Jehochanan the high Priest was Where he stayed a while and sent one of his Captains that were there with him called Nicanor to parly with the Jews that were upon the walls to move them to peace willing him to say thus unto them Friends my Lord Titus is desirous to spare you and to make a League with you that you might be at quiet and out of this danger of destruction and if you be so disposed to confent thereunto Titus shall make a League with you before it be yet night Nicanor went and spake with the people in such wise as Titus had willed him The Jews gave him no word of answer but held their peace wherefore Nicanor spake to them again and as he was talking to them one from the walls shot him with an arrow and killed him Whereat Titus was exceeding wroth that they should shoot at his Captain offering them peace and his death grieved him marvellously Wherefore he commanded Ladders Brakes Slings battering-Rams and other Engins of War to be brought to assault the Town So the souldiers brought a battering Râ—…n to batter the walls and planted it upon a Mount accordingly The Jâ—…ws seeing thaâ—… were sore afraid wherefore the three Seditious Captains joyned themselves in friendshâ—… and forthwith opening the gates issued out and beat the Romans from their Pieces and Engins that were now ready addressed setting fire on the Ram slings and all the other engins a few excepted which Titus and his men saved from the fire In this conflict the men of Alexandria that served Titus behaved themselves like tall fellows in the rescuing of the slings from the Jews yet the Jews prevailed and got the upper hand of them till Titus came with a strong power of choise men to succour the Alexanderians where twelve of the stoutest Jews were slain In the same skirmish Jehochanan a Captain of the Edomites that came to aid the Jews was slain by an Arabian that came behinde him and shot him with an arrow whiles he was talking with the Romans that intreated him to come to them For whom the Edomites mourned and lamented sore for he was a good man of war The next night certain of the Seditious chiefly of Jehochanans and Schimeons company issued out and came to the three woodden Towers that Titus had erected before the walls to view out of them the Town and to see what the Jews did within which were placed and without also a strong party of able souldiers for their defence Upon those without fell the Jews and slew many the other fled to Titus Camp The Romans that were in the Towers knowing nothing of the matter and trusting to them that were set about the Towers for their safe-gard slept all the night After the Jews had thus slain the Romans watch and put them to flight they came to the Towers with saws and cut the feet asunder so that they fell suddenly together with them that were within which were very many and slue them every one Titus hearing the alarum and the crashing of the falling of the Towers was sore afraid and all the whole Army and not knowing what the matter was they durst not stir toward it so the Jews returned safe into the Town On the morrow Titus brought his whole power to the walls and while the Jews were at contention in the Town he addressed another Ram wherewith he suddenly struck the outer wall and battered it through whereupon the people that warded that wall were forc'd to withdraw themselves within the safe-gard of the second wall Then Titus commanded his souldiers to raze to the ground that wall that he had pierced and to carry away the stones thereof that there should be no let nor hinderance to his men This was the most substantiall and strongest wall of all thicker than both the other and was builded by Herod The Romans labouring earnestly in the defacing of the outer wall were slain in great number by the Jews from the middle wall before they could finish their purpose The chief of the Jews perceiving that Titus had not only taken but also quite pulled down the utter wall and how there was now but two walls left about the Town it went to their hearts and made them look about them Therefore the Seditious began now earnestly to think of unity and concord among themselves so that they divided the Town amongst them into three wards Jehochanan was appointed to that ward that is on the North part of the Temple beside the Antochia that part of the Town that was toward the Tomb of Jehochanan the high Priest was assigned to Schimeon to Eleazar was committed the keeping of the wall These exhorting one another to play the men did valiantly resist the Romans so that the conflicts then began to be sore and hard The Romans for their renown and fame laid on stoutly and the Jews again stuck stiffely to their defence seeing their end at hand if they were slack Titus now and then exhorting his souldiers to play the men promising them that would valiantly make any enterprise upon the Jews abundance of gold and silver and much honour withall Then stept forth one of his souldiers named Longinus and put himself amongst the routs of the Jews that were issued out of the Town where he slew a couple of the chief of them and presently recovered himself again within
Titus Vespatianus Emperour of Rome Conquerour of Ierusalem Surnamed the delight of mankind w.s. sc. THE WONDERFUL AND MOST Deplorable HISTORY OF THE LATTER TIMES OF THE JEWS With the Destruction of the City of Jerusalem Which History begins where the Holy Scriptures do end By JOSEPHVS BEN GORION Whereunto is added a Brief of the ten Captivities with the Pourtrait of the Roman Rams and Engines of Battery c. As also of Jerusalem with the fearful and presaging Apparitions that were seen in the air before her Ruines Moreover there is a Parallel of the late Times and Crimes in London with those in Jerusalem London Printed for John Sims at the Sign of the Kings Head at Sweethings Alley end in Cornhil next the Royal Exchange 1671. To the Honorable Sir JOHN ROBINSON Knight and Baronet Lievtenant of the TOWER and Alderman of the CITY of LONDON Honorable Sir THIS rare and remarkable Piece of History as it was Dedicated before to the City of London in generall because of the quality of the Subject Treating of the ruine of one of the most famous Cities upon Earth So upon this Review and new Edition I take the boldness of Dedicating it to You alone who are one of the Eminent Members and Ornament thereof as also being Governor of that Place wherein lies her chiefest security It was formerly Dedicated to this City in the highest brunt of the late civill Confusions And the Noble Author of the following Epistle thought it very seasonable to do so out of an express design to awaken and warn Her of her desperate condition at that Time And it produced so happy effects that it made such impressions upon the spirits of many of the best Citizens that they began to recollect themselves and see their Error The said Author representing unto them that the same Crimes and Crying sins which raigned in Jerusalem before her last and utter destruction were very rife then in London which were the spirit of Sedition instable and stubborn Rebellious hearts their murmurings at Government and an itch after Innovations As also the defiling of their Temple the Irreverence and comtempt of the Priests the violation of the Tombs of the dead with other acts of Prophaness and Sacriledge But principally the Crucifying of the Lord of Life The City of London was guilty at that time of all these ugly and enormous Crimes and may be said to be lead all along by a true Jewish spirit And concerning the last viz. the Crucifixion of our Saviour though no Comparison may be made without a high prophaness yet the manner of murthering CHARLES the first may be humbly said to bear a kind of analogy and resemblance with it Nay the Jews whereof there are swarms now in this City will not stick to say that it was a Murther beyond theirs for what they did they did it out of blindness and ignorance for they neither knew nor acknowledged Him to be King of the Jew But the English did accuse and arraign they did condemn and murther King CHARLES by the name of their own King the King of England God Almighty avert those further judgments which hang over us as prayeth Honorable Sir Your most humble servant and Fellow-Citizen J. S. TO Englands Imperial Chamber THE Renowned City of LONDON To the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor the Right worshipfull the Sheriffs Mr. Recorder with the Court of Aldermen and Common Councel c. AS among men so there is a resemblance and a kind of affinity among Cities which are the Mansions of men and a reverence due to some more then to others Carthagena in Spain doth acknowledge old Carthage in Africk to be her Mother Leyden in Holland doth glory that she is allyed to Lions in France both of them bearing the name of Lugdunum Saragosa in Aragon confesseth her self daughter to Syracusa in Sicily and London by some Antiquaries is called Troynovant as having been first founded by the Trojans But of all the Cities upon the earthly Globe Jerusalem deserves most reverence in regard our Salvation was wrought and consummated in Her In regard that grand Prepitiatory Sacrifice for humâ—…ne souls was offered in her Therefore under favour I held it not improper to Dedicat the History of this once so famous Metropolis to the flourishing City of London In the holy Bible the most authentick Patent of saving Faith there is a Text which reflected upon the â—…ncient Nation of the Jews and aymed only at their Câ—…ntry viz. In Jury God is known c. Psal. 76. He was known indeed in that Land by the multitude of his Mercies but afterwards by the severity oâ—… his Judgments That race of people partly because they were not co-labourers at the building of that Mount of humane pride the Tower of Babel were for many ages the objects of his favour till they made themselves afterwards the subjects of his fury And as the Philosopher tels us Corrupâ—…o optimi est pessima or as we find that the sweetest wines become the tartest vineger so those heavenly indulgences turn'd to heavy indignations those silver showers of extraordinary benedictions became black stoâ—…ms of vengeance It is the method of divine Justice to correct first wâ—…th rods then with scourges and if that will not do with â—…corpions The Jews felt all the three degrees and never was any people upon earth made greater examples of wrath thâ—… his own chosen Inheritance a peculiar people that migâ—… have â—…m'd the right hand of primogeniture among the reâ—… of mankind Now whosoâ—…ver desires to make reserches into the grounds of these sad dysasters will find it was their sediâ—…ious proud spirits their instable and stubborn rebellious hearts which did them more mischief then the Roman Râ—… or any other destructive Engines the defiling â—…f their Temple the violation of the Tombs of the dead with other acts of profaneness and sacriledg but principally the rejecting and crucifying of the Lord of life For never any thing did thrive with them afterwards insomuch that if there were no other motive for the Jews convâ—…sion the length of these beavy judgments under which they groan to this day were â—…nough to do it And t is observed the length of these judgments doth often puzzle their intellectuals and put them at a stend Fâ—…r some of their Rabbies will stare and shrink-in their shoulders at it and sometimes break out into a kind of confession that their judgments could not last so long but for crucifying one that was more then a man Besides the punctuall accomplishment of our Saviours predictions were sufficient to convâ—…nce any rationall creature For not long after their Land became a stage of blood and all kind of barbarisms Their so renowned City their Temple and Sanctum Sanctorum so fam'd all the earth over was made level to the ground And observable it is that these judgments fell upon their Temple at the highest time of holiness at their Passover or Jubilee so that one might
them under tribute and so returned with honor to Jerusalem When he had after this well bethought him of his doings it repented him of his evil waies wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the Sages submitting him to their ordinance and esteemed their traditions There was at that time a kind of Sect that were called Pharisees of whom such as had escaped the King sent to call them home again and when they came into his presence he spake unto them words of comfort saying My brethren ye shall understand that the thing which is once done must needs be tearmed as it is and cannot be revoked And truth it is you cannot excuse the reproach that ye did me nor I cannot call again the blood that I have shed Notwithstanding I confess my fault unto you and have changed my indignation to love praying you to put out of your heart all rancor and malice lay away all your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds rejoycing in your reconciliation and atonement with me and be of good cheer But they made him answer we will not lay away our hatred and enmity for thou speakest but deceitfully and we speak that is truth Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and Elders neither hast thou only done us this injury but as Hircanus thy father began this mischief so thou hast holden on and continued it Wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root neither can we leave our lamentation till thou dye and God take vengeance on thee for our sakes Then shall we rejoyce when we see vengeance So they departed from his presence neither did the King give them any answer at all But when they saw the King to be incensed against them and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm after consultation had they went to the King of Greece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his son had don to the Pharisees and all the Israelites that bare them good will and followed their traditions and how they also hated Alexander for the mischief that he had wrought them so that if any man will come and revenge the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aid him Demetrius followed their advice and assembling together all his people to the number of 400000. horsemen and footmen without number he took his journey and encamped against Sichem The King Alexander raised six thousand horsemen to aid him But the King of the Grecians writ privily to the Antients of the Sectaries that they should not aid Alexander to the souldiers also that Alexander had hired he sent rewards gold and silver that they returned home to their country and aided not Alexander whereupon he was not able to withstand Demetrius Therefore hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toward Jerusalem intending to take him in the City he fled by night with a few of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the men of Israel that were in Judea heard that the King was fled out of Jerusalem and that the City was in fear to come into the hands of the Grecians they gathered themselves together and stood for their lives as though all had been one man to the number of ten thousand and sâ—… upon Demetrius Camp killed all his best men of war and spoiled all his Host that he fled from them and came home into his Country with great dishonor This done the King took heart to him and returned to his Kingdom but the Pharisees fled to Bethshemes fortifying themselves against the King who having intelligence thereof gathered aâ—… Army and went against them won the City and took 800 of the chiefest Pharisees bound them in chains and brought them to Jerusalem Then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his Pallace in a high place where his learned Peers did eat and drink till they were drunk And in his merry mood he commanded those eight hundred Pharisees prisoners to be fetcht forth and to be hanged every man of them upon gallowses before him at which sight he drunk and laughed heartily After this he fell sick in the four and twentieth year of his Reign of a grievous disease a Quartain Ague that held him three years and for all this he shrunk not nor letted to go to the war to encounter and fight with his enemies what nation soever they were round about him as though he had been a whole man In the 27. year of his Reign which was the third of his sickness he made an expedition into the Land of Moab against a certain City called Rabaga to get it by force At which time he was very sick and weak wherefore his wife Alexandra the Queen went with him fearing least he should dye by the way And as he encamped himself â—…gainst the City and urged it sore with assaults his fickness increased upon him more and more Wherefore his wife perceiving that he was like to dye wept bitterly for him and said to whom shall I be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead seeing thou hast wrought such mischief against the Pharisees whom all the Land favoureth and following their traditions obey their instructions if they shall be disposed to revenge themselves upon me and thy young children they shall have aid of all that dwell in the Land The King answered Weep not nor shew any resemblance of pensiveness I will tell thee what thou shalt do and if thou wilt follow my counsell thou shalt prosper and Raign thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire put case I dye there is no man in the world need know thereof tell thou every man therefore that ask for me that I am sick and will not that any man shall come at me In the mean while anoint and season me with balms fight with courage against this City till thou win it and then return to Jerusalem with joy and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell nor weep but bring me unto Jerusalem and lay me on a bed like a sick man and after call together the chief of the Pharisees bring them where I am and speak unto them gently in this sort Alexander hath been ever your enemy I know it very well wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogs or bury him it shall be at your choise I know well they are pitifâ—…ll men and so full of mercy that they will bury me honorably and appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be King The Queen did therefore as she was instructed of the King And when she had won Rabaga she joyfully returned to Jerusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisees and spake to them as the King had advised her The Pharisees hearing that the King was dead and that his body was in their hands to do withall what they list they answered the Queen God forbid we should do
company which he would not unlesse the King gave him leave wherefore he asked the king leave but he denied him at the first yet at length the young man intreated him so instantly that the king bad him do what he would He went therefore with the other young men to swim The king presently took his horse and returned to Jericho with all his train leaving the young men behind which continued swimming till Sun setting and as it began to be dark they drowned the Priest Aristobulus among them Wherof when tidings came to the king and it was known that he was dead the people wept and made great lamentation considering his Virtue Nobility and Beauty every man was full of sorrow that he should have so short a life and they bewailed so much that it was heard afar off But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the young mans Mother could no wise be comforted Yea the king also wept made great mone for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act yet all the people knew well enough that the thing was procured by the king insomuch that Alexandra his Mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face that he was the murtherer of her husband and of her father and now last of all of her son to whom the King answered neither good nor bad From that day forwards there was continuall hatred between Alexandra and Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herod and Salumith his Sister that came of base and servile blood For Marimi cast in their teeth to their faces that they were not of the seed of Israel but prophane unholy and of base birth Notwithstanding Herod loved Marimi as his life wherefore he would never displease her as long as she lived nor say so much to her as why saist thou so These things done Marcus Antonius a Noble man of Rome next unto Octavian Augustus King of Kings being sent by Augustus to war upon the Kings of the West Countries reigned in Egypt and by the provocation of his wife rebelled against Octavian Augustus made war with him both by the Sea and Land And forasmuch as Egypt is near adjoyning to the Land of Israel Herod joyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sort that no King durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Whereupon when Marcus conspired against his Prince and master Herod aideth him with an Army with horsemen and with ships also against Octavian In which wars Octavian got the victory slew Antony and all his people coming by ship to the I le of Rhodes and so into the Land of Egypt Herod hearing that Marcus Antonius was slain and that Octavian Augustus was come into Egypt he fainted for fear of the displeasure of Octavian Yet at length he took heart unto him prepared a royall present to be carried before him and followed after himself to Octavian Augustus And setting forwards he called Joseph the husband of Salumith his sister whom he made chief of his houshold commanded him that if Octavian put him to death he should poyson Marimi his wife saying It should not be seemly for Kings that any mean man should marry with a Kings widdow and sleep with her upon the Kings bed So then he took his journey towards Octavian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he understood Octavian to be displeased with him for that he had ayded Marcus Antonius Therefore as soon as Herod came to Octavian Augustus presence having his crown upon his head he took it of and fell down prostrate upon the ground at Octavians feet saying Most Noble Emperour I confess my trespass against your Majesty that I loved Marcus Antonius my companion in league who was my neighbour and ayded me and is true that your Majesty since the time you made me King have heard of mine affairs that hapned unto me but never succoured me This Marcus Antonius did not so I confess therefore that in his wars against your Majesty I ayded him with an Army with Horse-men and ships Neither went I out with him for any wars upon mine own borders but whensoever I went with him I helped him to the uttermost of my power When he was falling I bolstered him up and whâ—…n he stumbled I raised him again Amâ—…gst all these I protest also that I would not be counted of your Majesty a breaker of league but now Marcus Antonius is dead Wherefore whether that it shall please your Majesty to restore me my former estate or no forasmuch as I have kept touch with Marcus Antonius against your Majesty amongst others if you put me to death you will do me no wrong but justice because by the Law of arms I have deserved death When Octavian Augustus heard him speak so he said unto him Arise thou King of Israel in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nigh yea next unto my person I know that Marcus Antonius was inticed by his wife and would not follow thy counsel for if he had I dare say he would never have conspired against me So he commanded the Crown to be set again upon Herods head and made a league with him Then they went both together toward Egypt to be revenged upon Cleopatra But that wicked woman when she saw her City to be overcome put on her most precious apparrel and sitting upon the throne of her Kingdom commanded a Viper to be brought unto her which as soon as she had â—…uffered to sting her brest she died As Octavian Augustus came to the Pallace and saw her sit there he rejoyced that he might be revenged of her and commanded to thrust her from her Throne but when they came to her and found her dead it grieved Octavian very sore In this while Joseph Salumiths husband disclosed unto Marimi that the King had commanded if it so happened to him to be put to death by Augustus that he should poyson her Whereupon Marimi conceived yet a greater hatred toward the King insomuch that when the King was returned in safety and sound and with honor also from Octavian and that all his men and whole houshold rejoyced greatly Marimi shewed no countenance of gladness no not when the King himself told her how greatly he was magnified and honored of Octavian Augustus but alwaies she was very sad Salumith the Kings Sister perceiving that Marimi so vexed the King she told him how Joseph her husband had lien with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus But Herod say what she could gave no credit to her words knowing that she envyed Marimi until at length he asked the cause of Marimi why she rejoyced not as others did when he returned in safety from Augustus but was very sad which shewed her to have rancor and malice in her heart towards him She answered Thou hast said heretofore that thou lovedst me above all thy other wives and concubines yet thou didst will Joseph
done to you which displeaseth me out of measure wherefore I assure unto you a faithful league by the consent and counsel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall never any Roman Captain stir hand or foot against you but rather your Chieftains Rulers and Judges shall be all Jews and of Jerusalem Yea Agrippa your King shall be Lord of all your Rulers and what he commandeth you shall do it the Romans shall only be called your Lords and have no more to do with you So when these Legates came to Jerusalem they went and spake with Anani the Priest informing him of Nero's mind and shewed him his Present placing it afore him The Present was this A Bull for a burnt-offering with a Crown of Gold upon his head his hornes also were covered with Gold upon him was a cloth of purple powdred with precious stones there went certain before him that carried ten talents of Gold behind followed very many Sheep for peace-offerings When Eleazar Ananies Son heard thereof he came and cast out of the Temple of the Lord Nero Caesars Presents saying We will not profane and unhallaw the Sanctuary of our Lord with the offerings of strangers for God will accept neither their burnt offerings nor their peace-offerings When he had so said he sounded a Trumpet set his men in array against the Host of the Romans that kept watch and ward in the City of Jerusalem and slew many of them that day with one of their Captains also and another they took alive He being a valiant man and seeing the routs of the Jews to urge him grievously said unto them Save my life and I will yield unto whom Eleazar the Rebell sware that he would not slay him but spare him for his manhood for he had slain very many of the Jews before whereupon he yielded himself Then Eleazar said unto him Like as thy sword hath made many Women childless so shall thy mother be made childlesse of thee above all other and therewith contrary to his oath he commanded his servants to kill him King Agrippa seeing this was wonderfully sorry Therefore as he stood in one of the streets he cryed O thou Rebel Eleazar I pray God that this mischief whereof thou art cause and thy acts may light upon thee and thy fathers Houseâ—… which when it cometh to passe we shall never be dismayed at It appeareth they shall have somewhat to do that study to make peace and tranquility in thy dayes for they are sure to be destroyed with thee How long wilt thou continue to bring us into the Bryars Thou enemy and hater of the Lord Why doest thou destroy and waste the Vineyard of the Lord GOD of Hosts Eleazar answered him What takest thou upon thee the name of a King if thou be a King why commandest thou not us to be punished Where be thy valiant souldiers Let 's see Come thou and they together and chasten me that it may be tried whether thou be a King indeed or no Thou slandest aloof off and when thou speakest thy feet are ready to run away as though a dog should set himself against an armed man and bark at him bleating out his tongue With this he winked upon the Rebels his complices to run upon Agrippa and take him whiles he held him in talk but that was perceived of one of Agrippa's servants whom he had appointed for the same purpose to stand over against him as nigh as he might to mark and spy if the Rebels could make any stir toward him and to let him have knowledge He therefore laying his hand upon his head gave a sign to the king to flee saying Away away for if thou tarry any longer the seditious will slay thee and us together Agrippa perceiving that he gat from thence with all speed and the Rebels pursued him but in vain for they could not overtake him So he got to Japho a Town under the Romans where he was in safeguard From thence he fled to Rome and declared to the Emperour Nero the mischief that besel at Jerusalem and all that seditious Eleazar had done to his offering also how his commandment took no place Wherefore Nero joyned unto him again Castius with a huge Army wherewith they both entred Judea and wan many walled Towns amongst which they razed Japho For the Romans perceiving the power of the Rebels to encrease were afraid lest they should get it into their hands whereby it might be an anoyance in time to come to the Romans chiefely seeing it was a notable Haven for their ships to arive in Judea After this both Agrippa and Castius led their Army towards Jerusalem to war upon the Rebels and utterly to destroy them Eleazar and other Priests with much people hearing that they issued out against them and found them encamped in the way between Jerusalem and Japho But after they had joyned battel many of the Jews were slain by the Romans the residue Castius and Agrippa put to flight and pursued the chase unto the gates of Jerusalem besieged also the City for the space of three dayes The fourth day the Priests and the people issued out suddenly unawares upon the Romans set upon their Camp and slew five thousand Footmen and one thousand Horsemen Castius seeing that he nor his could escape he chose out forty thousand of his best souldiers and placed them betwixt his Camp and the Priests commanding them to stand all the night sounding their Trumpets and making of fire that he and Agrippa might escape and that they should not remove out of their place till the morrow The Jews hearkning to the sound of the Trumpets and musing what they should mean pursued not the Romans but perceiving in the morning they were gone toward Caesarea three dayes journey off Eleazar with the people followed and in the way found their baggage strayed that the Romans had caft from them to run the lighter and escape easilier which they let alone and pursued them to the gates of Caesarea But Castius and Agrippa got fast within the town and from thence went both together to Rome where they declared unto Nero the Emperor how they sped at Jerusalem and as they were making relation of this unto the Emperor there came also a Post out of Persia with tidings that the king of Persia was revolted from the Roman Empire These things troubled the Emperour â—…ore to see almost all fall from him that heretofore had obeyed the Empire of the Romans At the same time returned Vespasianus Captain of the Host whom Nero had sent into the West parts of the World as Germany Brittain and Spain which lands he had brought under the subjection of Nero. To him Nero declared what mischief the Priests had wrought to the Roman Host in Judea how they had slain the Romans and so forth as he had heard of Agrippa and Castius which displeased Vespasian greatly After this Nero sent Vespasian and his son Titus to revenge the
Cities that stood on hills then they did divide it in parts and bring it up to the siege by piece-meal and there it was set together again Now when the Romans had battered the walls of Jorpata and Joseph perceived them to shake he took great sacks filled them full of chaff and hanged them down by the walls that the horns of the Ram could not come nigh the stones of the wall but light upon the sacks which by reason of the softnesse of the chaff hindred and brake the stroke that the walls were lesse hurt For the nature of soft things is to give back to the hard and to weaken their force But Vespasian seeing the subtilty of Joseph used also policy for policy for he sent into the Town secretly Jews spies which when the batteries should be might cut asunder the cords that the sacks were tyed to and with them slip down the walls where the Romans were ready to receive them that they should not hurt them in the fall and immediately they struck the wall with the Ram. There was at that present in the City a certain valiant man named Eleazer of the house of Anani the high Priest that then dwelt at Jerusalem This Eleazer perceiving the Romans to go about to batter down the wall as they did before plucked out of the wall a mighty stone so that he made a great hole or gap whereat he slid down the wall and stradling did light on the Engine made fast an iron chain to the horns thereof and got again up nimbly and quickly from the beam into the Town with the chain in his hand for the wall was not very high above his head as he stood upon the Ram then the other tall fellows took hold upon the chain fastened it to the pillars and walls in the Town that the Romans might rather be constrained to break their Ram than take it away from thence The Priest Eleazer yet once again boldly went down and sat upon the beam slew fifty men that laboured about the Ram and the rest he put to flight then returned into the Town being drawn up again from the beam to them that were within the Town greatly rejoycing in his manhood After that he went up upon a high Tower from whence he tumbled down with a mighty force a great stone and a hard on the head of the Ram and brake it that both a great part of the head and the hornes fell on the ground For the iron that it was covered withal was old and rusty so that it was much wasted and eaten therewith the ropes were also old After that Eleazar went down again took part of the head that was broken and hurled it into the Town the Romans that remained either he slew or put to flight The Archers shot at him and wounded him with five Arrows wherefore by the help of his fellows upon the wals he climbed up otherwise he had not been able for the grief of his wouuds The people then gave a shout for joy of the victory of the worthy Priest Eleazar that had slain the Romans and broke their Ram wherein they put their confidence and brought part of it into the Town and fastened it with an iron chain that the Romans could not pull it back again to them nor have the use of it afterward wherefore divers of the best Cities of Jorpata armed themselves that day being stir'd with the great courage that they had seen in Eleazar and went down hewed the beam to pieces brought the poyses with the Rings and two masts with them into the town and the same day died Eleazar with great renown as one that had fought for the Sanctuary of the Lord and for his people and Country of Israel like a faithful servant and souldier of the Lord whom all the people mourned for burying him in the Town honouring him for his death worthiness and faithfulnesse appointing him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battel with the enemies of the Lord. The young men of the Jews seeing this and especially two of them the one called Nitra the other Polipas men of great wisdom and understanding and therewith expert in the Wars being moved with zeal of the God of Israel opened the gates and issued against the Romans skirmished with them and slew many of them But at length they were slain themselves in the skirmish for the Sanctuary of their God for Israel their country When Joseph saw the Wars to encrease more and more he issued out and made a great slaughter in the Roman tents burnt the mount and Engines of War that the Romans had left by which means the Wars waxed yet hotter insomuch that Joseph repulsed the Romans For when they saw the Jews so desperately give their lives for their God and Land they would not abide their force Vespasian seeing his men shrink he stood up and encouraged them exhorting them with fair words and promises as well Gold and Silver as meat and drink wherewith the Romans allured fought with Joseph that day unto the Sun-setting and as the battel waxed hot the Jews wounded Vespasian with an arrow in his right leg which sore dismayed the Romans when they saw the blood run down his leg and that day was a sore fight betwen the Jews and the Romans Titus seeing his father wounded being sore abashed ran to him to help him to whom his father said How is it my son that thou art thus astonied Take heart to thee and with a courage revenge thy father of these Jews that have now the better hand of us So both Titus and Vespasian with all their whole host fought that day a sore fight and many were slain on both parts yea very few were left on Josephs part with whom he returned into the Town The next day the Romans raised a new mount instead of that which Joseph burned and planted another iron-Ram thereupon between two posts accordingly for Vespasian had brought four of this sort with him from Rome but other battering pieces upon wheels had he with him thirty what more what lesse the bigger sort were 30. cubits long the lesser ten He brought also ten Engines to hurle great stones withal which he had placed about the walls The Romans therefore renewed the assaults against the Town as they were wont before But the Town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were all slain in the fights Albeit Joseph remained and a few with him who went every one and the women also to defend the walls for there was almost no men left fit for the War Then the Romans flung with the Engines that stood on the mount stones into the Town on every side It chanced that a great stone hit a woman with child with such violence that it passed through her body and carried the child with it by the space of half a mile They cast up and raised yet other Mounts also from whence they flung
stones And another like chance hapned A stone came and hit one of Josephs men of war a valiant man in such sort that it divided his head from his body and made it fly a large mile off At the same time one of the Roman souldiers devised with himself how to hit Joseph with a venomed arrow and gat him under a wall where Joseph was to accomplish his purpose but Joseph espied him and cryed to him Hold thy hand thou wicked fellow and do not kill me With that the fellow started somewhat aside being afraid at Josephs voice and suddenly the Jews out of the Town poured hot Oyl upon him from the wall and his skin was scalded off and he ran away naked howling and yelling to the Romans Camp where he died Vespasian and his son Titus were fully determined to continue the assault until the 47. day notwithstanding the walls were so high that they could not win the Town Yet at length the men were so spent within the Town that they that remained alive were so wearied with toyling that they were not able any longer to furnish theirwatch upon the wall This upon a certain night Vespasian and Titus understanding scaled the walls at a quarter where watchmen were lacking and after them many more of the Roman souldiers followed which went down on the inside and brake open the great gate of the Town whereat entred the whole Army of the Romans And being within the Town sounded their Trumpets and shouted to battel The Jews with the alarum tumult and hurly burly of the Romans awaked out of their sleep and were sore afraid Notwithstanding every man took him to his weapon and drew to the Market-place as fast as they might They had made the Market-place of the Town so large of purpose that if any businesse should happen there might come together the whole City if they would and as they looked about them they saw the Roman Army entring in at the Town by the way that came from the great gate Then fought they with the Romans and divided even in the Market-place where they stood exhorting one another and saying Let us die here fighting and never suffer our selves to be taken alive But Joseph and forty men with him worthy men all fled away into a wood where they found a â—…ain Cave and hid themselves therein All the 〈◊〉 of the Citizens were slain in that conflict for they would not yield nor commit themselves to the Romans they trusted them so little For on a time a certain Jew besought a Roman souldier to save his life and the Roman sware unto him saying God deal thus and thus with me if I slay thee therefore yield and come hither to me The Jew required him to give his right hand that he might trust him and the Roman reached him his left hand The Jew being dismayed in that great fear mark't not that it was his left hand But when the Roman had once hold of him he kept him fast with that hand and with his right took his sword slew the Jew that then was naked having cast away his weapon upon trust of the Roman When the Jews saw how the Roman regarded not his oath but slew the Jew that upon the trust of his promise and oath had yielded himself unto him they determined to die altogether and never to trust the Romans Whereupon they resolved with themselves utterly to die for the holinesse of the Lord God of Israel but in so doing they slew much people of the Romans and far more than they had done in any other battel yet at length the City was taken When Vespasian had knowledge where Joseph and his company was he sent Nicanor Pilerinus and Callicanus with him to Joseph to will him to come forth and he should have his life and not be slain upon that Joseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the Den requiring their advice For my part saith he if ye will follow my counsel I think it best we go unto them but upon this condition That they will make us a formal assurance of our lives effectually as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vespasian when we come unto him will extend his favour towards us When these men perceived Joseph to be inclined to yield unto the Romans they said We marvel at thee O Prince Joseph at thee we say that wast chosen out of thousands of people and promoted to the Priesthood and Kingdom to sanctifie and hallow the Lord God of Israel who wast also appointed Captain General of so great an host and hast seen with thine eyes the shameful reproach of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy Sheep that thou hast yet any desire to live in this dishonour What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to live Should'st thou not rather desire death than life Peradventure thou perswadest thy self that they call unto thee to save thy life or for thy commodity but without doubt this were a vain perswasion For they call thee for none other intent than to take thee alive and to brag how they took Joseph that was consecrated and addicted to the Wars and make it an argument that their power prospereth Now therefore our dear Brother and our Prince consider that this they will do yea if they save thy life But put the case they put thee to death Were it not better for thee to die on thine own sword than on theirs yea if it were for nothing but this it is better for thee to die than live lest thou should'st hear their reproaches their upbraidings and their quarrellings and if they preserve thee alive never think they do it for thy good but rather for thy ignominy and shame which is far more grievous than death it self Wherefore our dear Brother and our Prince What comes in thy mind that thou purposest to live after that thou hast lost thy people and thy brethren And to what purpose serveth thy life after they be 〈◊〉 one Mark diligently what Moses of worthy memory our Master did how he spake before God touching the people of Israel O pardon their sins saith he or else blot me quite out of thy book whiâ—…h thou hast written He would not live after the destruction of his people although the Almighty said unto him Let me alone that I may wreak mine anger upon them and consume them Why dost thou not call unto thy remembrance Aaron his brother that went betwixt life and death in withstanding the Angel that plagued the people and offered himself to die for his people that the plague might cease from Israel Where is King Saul and his son Jonathan that foughtfor the people of God and died in the field Could not Saul have saved his life and his sons both if he had been so disposed But he when he saw Israel had the overthrow in the battel he had no desire to live longer but chose to die rather than to
Titus led into Jury Shortly after Vespasian gathered souldiers and repairing his Army joyned with Agrippa's company and returning to Seleucia wan it and slew every man leaving none alive and afterward going again to the Cities of Galilee took them serving them in like sort After that he came to the City called Nascela which was a walled Town and of all the Towns of defence throughout all Galilee none left but it This he besieged because thither resorted many cut-throats and wicked persons without the fear of God such as were robbers and rovers of the Land of Judea Amongst whom was a certain man named Jehochanan learned wise and prudent especially to do mischief a witty Counsellour and of such eloquence that he could perswade cunningly and disswade men from that they had purposed Besides this he was a murtherer ready to shed blood and to do any mischief a great robber and one that ever gaped for other mens goods by which means he was become very rich wherefore there resorted unto him all vain persons man-slayers rebells and ruffians like himself giving them large rewards that they might be of his fraternity his brethren and adherents and he to be their head Titus was sent to this City by his Father to offer them conditions of peace whither when he was come he sent his Embaâ—…adours to the Citizens to treate of peace with them whereunto the Citizens accorded were ready to enâ—…er into league with Titus When as this wicked Jehochanan perceived that the ancient men of the Town and the heads would accepâ—… of peace he commanded his companions to guard the wals to hinder them from speaking with the Romans saying that they themselves would return them an Answer So therefore seditious Jehochanan made answer to the Embassadors of Titus saying To morrow have we a solemn feast to the Lord God tell thy master Titus therefore that he grant us truce for 2 dais and the third day we wil give him answer wherwith Titus was content and deferred the assault for two dayes These things were done on Whit-sun-even which was called the Feast of weeks and harvest The night afore the third day appointed was come Jehochanan and his complices gat out of the Town and fled toward Jerusalem ere Titus knew thereof On the morrow he sent his Embassadors to demand their answer what they would do They answered we desire to enter into a league with you for we are yours and submit our selves to your pleasure upon the condition that none of the Romans hurt us either in our bodies or goods Titus upon this made peace with them confirming it by Writing sealed for the better assurance thereof So they opened the gates and Titus came into the Town with his whole Army and the Jews received him with great joy honouring him very much Then Titus enquired for Jehochanan and his confederates The Citizens declared unto him how he fled by night with all his unto Jerusalem Titus hearing that sent after to pursue him yet they found him not he had made such speed Notwithstanding many of the people that went out of the Town with him that they might escape the danger both men women and children old and impotent persons they overtook slew them every one and returned with a great spoil After this Titus won all the Cities in Galilee and set Rulers in them Then Vespasian dislodged from hence and came to the Mount Tabor which hath snow on it continually the height thereof is thirty furlongs and upon the top is a plain twenty three furlongs long Thither sent Vespasian one of his Captains called Palgorus which took the Mountain and the Town that stood thereon But here I will leave off the History of the other battels that were fought in other places in the Land of Israel and Galilee and speak no more of them in this Book for they be almost innumerable and we have made mention of them in the History of the Romans THE SECOND BOOK Containing The History of the siege of Jerusalem NOw will we describe the Batells of Jerusalem and how the City was besieged by the Romans wherein we will declare all things truly as our manner is and faithfully according to the verity of that that was done It came to passe therefore as Jehochanan the Galilean was fled to Jerusalem he found there men meet for his purpose injurious persons wicked men murderers deceivers blood-shedders an infinite number For out of all Countries within the Land of Judea there repaired thither all men of War to defend the Sanctuary of our God and Anani the high Priest received all that came These seeing Jehochanan anâ—… his valiantnesse revolted from Anani the high Priest and clave to him consulting with him concerning all their affairs So he conspired with these cut-throats to lay hands upon the riâ—… men of the City and to spoil them of their goods and this was their manner When they espyed any notable rich man of the City they would after this sort quarrel with him Art not thou he that hast sent letters to the Romans and to Vespasian to betray the City unto them Thus would they examine him before the people and when he would answer God forbid I shoulâ—… do so then would they bring in godless persons limbs of tâ—…e devil of their own company to bear false witness against him that he might be condemned to death by the law for a rebell Thus dealt they with Antipas and Lohia both Noble men and of the chief of the City and their goods with all their jewels the seditious seized for themselves They pick'd quarrels also with the â—…igh 〈◊〉 thrust them from their chairs that they could not execute their service Moreover they cast lots who should have the Priests office and who should be no Priest For they held the Priesthood and service of God for toyes gaudes and trifles So the lot fell upon one that was called Pani the son of Peniel a carterly husbandman ignorant of what belonged to the Priests office so that he was utterly unworthy of the Priesthood so light a matter made they of the Priesthood The good and the godly men of Jerusalem seeing the power of these ruffians and wicked persons bear such swinge they stuck together and determined to withstand them by force The people therefore earnestly moved with anâ—…ger set upon them and encouutred with them in such sort that the fight was great on both sides in the Streets in the Market-place in the Temple and in the entrance of the Temple till all the City was filled full of dead bodies and slain men For there was not so much as one street but there was some skirmishes in it The people at length got the upper-hand of the ruffians for they were eagerly set earnestly bent against them The seditious therefore seeing themselves not able to make their party good with the people fled every man into the Temple of the Lord shut it after them and there remained But
into the City who being once come in wandred here and there for that night devising how they might set upon the Citizens of the Town and utterly destroy them They call'd out first their confederates that remained in the Temple brought them thence and joyned together with the Edomites swearing one to another that they should be one people and one Army And forthwith being so confedâ—…ate together they slew the same night 8500. of the people of God all good men of God all good men of War besides innumerable other that they killed of the common people In the morning they laid hands on the rich men haled them before the Judges and lxx Elders which otherwise is called Sanhedrim whom they called together And there wicked Jehochanan the Galilean spake unto them in this wise Why condemn ye not these rich Cobs that have made a conspiracy with the Romans and determine to betray this holy City i to their hands namely one Sechariahu a just man a perfect godly and vertuous one that feared the Lord and loved both God and man but for his riches only which were great this Jehochanan Captain of the Seditious apprehended him willing the Elders to condemn him to death for that he had joyned with their enemies as he said to betray the City to them The Priests Elders and Judges hearing his words and perceiving that both he and the rest of his bloody band desired nothing else than to make this man away although they knew him to be most innocent they wept and fighed greatly Jehochanan seeing them weep for Sechariahu and that they would not condemn him respecting his justice and integrity What quoth he do you begin to mourn before there be any corpse present I would I should never come where God hath to do but if ye order it thus in your judgments ye shall be the first that we will lay hold of and we will sit in judgment our selves to discern the matter for the people of God according as we shall think good Then laying apart all shame with an obstinate mind tâ—…e wicked sort hoysed away Sechariahu carried him out of the place of judgment and brought him up to the top of a high Tower at the East end of the Town from whence they cast him down headlong and he died at the walls side in the vale of Jehoschaphat The Priests therefore were sore afraid fâ—…r their own parts and the Judges also with the Elders seeing the wickedness of Jehochanan and the rest of the Seditious For Jehochanan had given them warning and said Except ye give sentence on every man that we shall bring unto you accoâ—…ding to our minds be ye assured all ye shall go the same way that Sechariahu is gone before you After that they 〈◊〉 a just man and a rich that was beloved of all the â—…own whose name was Gorâ—…nian surnamed 〈◊〉 and he was a valiant man indeed most expert in wars thereto wise and wâ—…y and a man of a pure and perfâ—…ct life one that was ever the formost in bâ—…ell whensoever they had any conflict against the Gentiles that beâ—…ged Jerusalem And this was his accustomed manner when the enemies maâ—…ched to joyn battel witâ—… the Jews he would run upon them with all his might and make such â—…laughter of them that in spighâ—… of their hearts he would force them to retire and by that means his body was full of skars his face and head wonderfully mangled with the wounds that he had received in the battels that he had been in for the people of the Lord yet now because he would not follow the villanous mind of Jehochanan and take his part Jehochanan commanded him to be apprehended and brought before him and when he was come said thus unto him Make thy Will and set thy house in order and confess thy self unto the Lord for there is no way with thee but death And so they led him out of the Town to kill him there lest there should be any business about his death if he had been put to death within the Town for all the Citizens of Jerusalem loved him and he likewise loved them When they were come to the place of execution Gorinian fell down before them and besought them with tears in this wise Seeing ye have so determined that ye will needs slay me when as notwithstanding I have committed no crime nor any offence and that ye will in no wise spare me although I be innocent as you know well enough your selves yet I beseech you let me obtain this one thing at your hands that you would do so much at least wise at my request as to bury my body other favour I desire not They made him answer If thou hadst not spoken to us thereof we had thought to have done it for so we were determined with our selves but now seeing thou art so bold as to demand this of us we will slay thee but buriall gettest thou none thy body shall be cast forth unto the beasts of the earth and fowls of the ayre Gorinion yet besought them to the contrary untill the most cruell Jehochanan struck him and slew him and after threw out his body to the beasts of the field This done they returned into the City Vespasian in the mean season drew nigh to Jerusalem for he had pitched his tents at Cesarea where he relieved his army and paid his souldiers great wages wherefore they tarried in the City many daies For when Vespasian understood of the wars in Jerusalem he said unto his people Let us make no haste to besiege Jerusalem till such time as they have slain one another among themselves and so at length their pride will be pulled down when as they see themselves waste away with cruell war hunger and thirst For Vespasian was a wonderfull politick man in all feats of war and his wisdom never turned him to more commodity than by this device only So he sojourned at Cesarea with his men many daies In the mean season the people of Jerusalem made war upon Jehochanan and his complices till innumerable of them were destroyed Some of them were slain with swords some the Seditious killed with short daggers For certain of the Seditious carried short daggers secretly under their garments wherewith they would come so suddenly upon an honest and just man and thrust him to the heart that he should fall down dead in the place without knowledge who struck him So by this means what with swords in open fraies and what with daggers secretly many of the people were slain and far more that way than by the Romans insomuch that now very few Citizens were left alive Thus when Jehochanan had gotten the upper hand of the City he sent an Army out of Jerusalem to go and take the Cities that had made peace with Vespasian which they sacked and razed to the ground and whomsoever they found therein Romans or Jews they slew Yea Jehochanan went with them himself spoyling and carrying
morrow Schimeon issued out of his Camp with all his Army and upon that assembled Jacob his men and went out to meet him But when they came to the point ready to joyn and Schimeon with his company had charged their staves against them by and by Jacob left the Field turned his back and fled and the chief souldiers that were about him fled with him The rest of the people seeing their Captain flee they took themselves likewise to flight every man then Schimeon pursuing made a great slaughter of them and won the Town bringing them under his subjection And when he had sacked the houses of them that were slain of the Edomites and spoiled their goods which was very much the rest that he took prisoners and kept alive he made peace withal and joyned them unto his own Camp After that he departed from thence accompanied with 40000. good fighting men part Edomites and part Jews and came to Chebron which he won and destroyed all their grain and corn fields Yet after he repaired their Walls and such of them as were left alive made peace with Schimeon who received them into League with him and they became his men and followed him in all his Wars So he disloged from thence with all his Army which by the accession of the Chebronites was now wonderfully encreased and determined to invade Jerusalem And when he came nigh unto the City he ranged here and there destroying the fruits that were upon the ground and also their corn Captain Jehochanan having intelligence of Schimeons coming to besiege the Town and how he had destroyed the fields thought to have gone out of Jerusalem and to fight with him but he durst not for his Spies had told him that he should not be able to overcome him he had so puissant an Army and so well appointed Yet neverthelesse he issued out and lay in ambush for Schimeon In the mean space by chance Schimeons wife that was fled out of Jerusalem with her men and women servants towards her husband for fear lest she should be slain for her husbands sake if she should have tarried at Jerusalem passed by where he lay in his ambush Her he took and brought again to Jerusalem not a little proud of such a prey thinking Now we shall have Schimeon at our pleasure seeing we have his Wife our prisoner he loveth her so entirely that he will do for her sake whatsoever we will have him This came to Schimeons ear who had taken that time many of Jehochanan's men and cut off their right hands sending them with such shame to Jerusalem to their master He sent moreover Embassadours to Jehochanan willing him to send him his Wife in such sort that she might come to him with all that was hers or if he refused to do it he should be extremely handled for he would take the Town ere it were long and to Jechanan's shame cut off the hands and legs of all them that did inhabite it Jehochanan hearing this was sore afraid and all that were with him and therefore they sent him his Wife whereupon Schimeon kept him within the Town And as Schimeon played the Tyrant without so likewise did Jehochanan within For Jehochanan's souldiers ravished the Israelites Wives and shed innocent blood Shortly after Schimeon left the Town for a space and returned into Idumea for he had word that the men of most power and the richest sort of that Country rebelled Whereupon he sacked and spoiled all the Towns of Idumea and left them nothing insomuch that he was become very rich and then returned to Jerusalem bringing the Edomites wholly with him that were meet for war and many of the Jews resorted to him and with his power he besieged Jerusalem even at the very gates Yet the Tyranny of Jehochanan and his Complices ceased not but increased more and more daily in Jerusalem insomuch that they taught the Citizens of Jerusalem to murder their neighbours and to commit adultery with their wives by which means fornication was rife and common in the City Yea many of the people and youth shaved their beards letting the hair of their heads grow and accompanied themselves with women that they might exercise their adultery safer and not be espied which sin did wonderfully defile the City of Jerusalem and without doubt furthered the desolation thereof The gates also of the Town were closed up that no man might go in nor out And whoso went out fell into the hands of Schimeon and was slain they that tarried within were constrained to see before their faces their shame in every street and corner and if any found fault he was slain straight by Jehochanan that most cruel Captain of the seditious Rebells The Citizens therefore seeing the tyranny of Jehochanan to be without measure they assembled all together and encountred with Jehochanan and were slain a wonderful sort of them in that conflict And except the Edomites that were fled to Jerusalem from the tyranny of Schimeon had succoured the Citizens the whole people of Jerusalem had been utterly destroyed and slain every mothers son by Jehochanan his power was so great Then Anani the high Priest and the other Priests with the ancient faithful and Sages and the rest of the people of Jerusalem seeing the wickednesse of Jehochanan and that they could not suffer it any longer consulted together to deliver the Town to Schimeon and bring him in and make him their King to help them against Jehochanan whom they took to be far worse than Schimeon hoping that it might come to passe that Schimeon should slay Jehochanan at length They sent therefore Amittai the high Priest to Schimeon to bring him into the Town But Schimeon craftily denied it saying What should I come into the Town to you that hate me and of late banished me your Town Yet they ceased not but sent the same Amittai to him again to entreat him in the name of all the people to come into the City And by this means upon a certain night appointed he entred into Jerusalem with his whole Army Notwithstanding he was no sooner within the Town but he brake his promise and league that he had made with the Citizens and whereas he had promised to succour them and aid them now he was altered and became their enemy joyning himself with Jehochanan And those two Rebells reigned in the City of Jerusalem by course one one moneth and another another So where before Schimeons coming they thought much to bear the yoke and oppression of one seditious person now were they constrained to hold down their shoulders and bear the yoke of two Yet within two dayes after there fell a variance and discord between Jehochanan and Schimeon about Eleazar the Priest the son of Anani the high Priest This Eleazar was the beginner and first sower of sedition amongst the Israelites whom Schimeon would now have put to death to be revenged of his father that banished him out of Jerusalem but
appointing of his men some to be spies and some to keep watch and ward about the Temple of the Lord. But Jehochanan who because of the great resort of the people unto him was stronger than Eleazar he took the market place and streets and the lower part of the City Then Schimeon the Jerusolemite took the highest part of the Town wherefore his men annoyed Jehochanans part sore with Slings and Cross-bows Between these three there was also most cru el battel 's in Jerusalem for the space of four daies without ceasing or any breathing and every day were very many slain so that the blood of the Jews that were then slain ran in every place most abundantly through the Market-places and streets yea even to the Temple of the Lord like unto a flood that had come of great showres and unto the thresholds of the gates of the Temple the dead bodies overwhelmed one another by heaps for no man buried them Jehochanan having the middle part of the Town had Schimeon on the one side of him and Eleazar on the other But Schimeon had the best place from whence he might annoy both Jehochanan and Eleazar Eleazar did also what he could to endamage Schimeon And Jehochanan that was in the middest encombered them both notwithstanding to little purpose For Schimeons company flung stones and shot at them sore but when as Jehochanans part flung likewise at them the stones rebounded back upon themselves Thus amongst these three the battel was sore and encreased every day that all men were in great terrour and fear thereof Then assembled to the Temple much people of the Priests and Elders beseeching these Intestine and Domesticall enemies not to pollute and defile the Temple with their slaughters and were almost all slain for their labour The same day was slain the Priest Anani Joshua a Priest both of the chiefest Priests Sechariahu also the most faithfull Prophet of the Lord. Then had the continuall Sacrifice ceased 36. daies for ever until that time was there some good men or other of Jerusalem that offered alway sacrifice to the Lord. But now when they would have continued it and the Priests laid the sacrifice upon the Altar the Seditious would run upon them and kill them so that the Priests bodies and their cattel that they would have sacrificed should fall dead to the ground together They that resorted also out of the Country of Ierusalem for devotions sake the Seditious slew and utterly destroyed them that almost no one of them was left alive Moreover the dead bodies of men lay cast in the Temple and that without number troad under feet yea the dead body of the Priest that was offering sacrifice lay upon the earth together with his offering And when any man would offer any sacrifice straight way one or other of the Seditious would step to him and kill him that the blood of the sacâ—…ifice and sacrificer should be mingled together In somuch that the pavement of the Temple being all of marble was made so slippery with the blood and fat of them that were slain that no man could go upon it without falling And the Priest should no sooner lay hands on the sacrifice but he was slain and straight another dead body should fall upon him stranger or other they spared none So thus the dead bodies of the good and bad clean and unclean wicked and vertuous theef and true man lay one upon another and their blood mixt together in the midst of the Temple without respect of any man of what degree or condition soever he were Wherefore the fight and slaughter waxt great both in the Town and in the Temple Nay whomsoever the Seditious overcame they set fire on their houses also whereby the fire took into the great men's houses that were nigh the Temple and into the store-houses whereas against times of necessity and besieging of the Town were laid up in store corn wine and oyl to the number of a thousand and four hundred store-houses all filled full of victuals For the Elders and other godly men what time as Vespasian was in Galilee they made up the doors of those Garner-houses and laid in victuals into them sufficient for two hundred thousand men twenty years and now in this one battel of the Seditious they were burnt every one stick and stone which was a speedy cause of famine and hurger in Ierusalem At the same time also the Seditious pulled down and razed all the fair houses and goodly buildings that there should be no monument of any noble house left to any in the City of Ierusalem So thus you see at that time the Lord visited the Citizens of Ierusalem with four kind of plagues sword pestilence hunger and fire besides this a fift was added the ruine and decay of all beautifull and glorious buildings And wheresoever a man turned him there was nothing but desolation pollution namely of the Temple and all holy things uproars without all rest and refuge no help no succour but every corner of Ierusalem was full of howling and yelling wailing and weeping sobbing and sighing of women and children Here should ye hear the roaring groaning of wounded men not yet thorough-dead there the mourning and lamentation of the Elders younger children crying out for hunger to be short most sorrowfull oppression of them that lived done by the Seditious Such lamentations were made every where that happy and fortunate was he that before this day died and unhappy and in a wofull case were all such as remained alive to see this day All these things when I Joseph heard tydings of I tore my hair with my hands and cast ashes on my beard sitting in great sorrow on the ground bewailing the misery and calamity of Jerusalem And this lamentation made Joseph upon Jerusalem How is the City quoth he laid wast that was wont to be more happy and more renowned than all the Provinces upon the earth How is the City that was heretofore in such highness and dignity now brought under the foot through the sons of the Citizens thereof Whereas sometime was the dwelling place of the faithfull now bear rule there such men as provoke and stir Gods wrath against it and turn it away from their God wasting it as theeves In the which sometime remained the brightness of the Godhead it is now become a by-word and mocking-stock to the enemies replenished with blood of wounded and slain men Instead of mirth gladness rejoycing harps and psalteries is sorrow sighing heart-breaks mourning and pensiveness come in place Even as heretofore the priests executed the service of the Lord in offering sacrifices so likewise now seditious persons murthered godly and faithfull men where was wont to be the dwelling place of most wise and prudent men now it is made a common hostry of wicked murtherers theeves O Lord God of Israel have not Angels in time past come down from heaven to earth to fight thy battels Have not the
he took a good heart unto him and valiantly brake through slaying whomsoever came in his way to lay hands on him and so he escaped If they had intended to have slain him they might have done it but being desirous to take him alive as he said they abstained from striking him and so they lost him And God did not deliver him into their hands that by him he might scourge Israel But the Jews seeing him to be thus escaped repented sore that they had not killed him saying one to another What meant we that we killed him not while we might it was ill done of us Therefore they pursued him huâ—…ling and shooting after him with Engins of war but they could not overtake him for God preserved him that he might afterward deliver Jerusalem into his hands So he returned to Ajelona and perceived the hearts of Kings to be in the hands of God The next morning brought Titus all his Army to Jerusalem determining to encamp himself upon the Mount Olivet wherefore he first spake unto his souldiers in this wise This day ye go to fight against a mighty Nation whose warriours be as strong as Lions valiant as Libards and nimble as Fawns that run in the Mountains to overturn Chariots and such as sit upon them Now therefore take good hearts unto you and be couragious for it behoves you Do not think them to be like the Nations that heretofore ye have had to do withall I my self have experience otherwise of their valiantnesse and sleights of war This said he marched in aray most strongly that they should not be scattered asunder and gave them charge especially to the Vangard to take heed of stumbling upon Wells and Cisterns whereby they might be hindred for as yet the day was scarce broken and besides this Titus had knowledge how the Jews fearing of his coming had digged secret trenches and pitfalls Wherefore to avoid them he led his host to Mount Olivet in which place it never came in their minds to dig Therefore when he came to the Mount Olivet he encamped there against Jerusalem right over against the Brook Cedron that ran between the City and the Hill and many times ran very â—…hallow Titus Camp was about six furlongs from the Town The next morning they of the Town seeing Titus to be encamped on the Mount Olivet the Captains of the Seditious with their Companies assembled together and fell to agreement every man with another intending to turn their cruelty upon the Romans confirming and ratifying the same attonement and purpose by swearing one to another and so there was peace amongst them Wherefore joyning together that before were three several parts they set open the gates and all the best of them issued out with an horrible noise and shout that they made the Romans afraid withall in such wise that they fled before the Seditious which suddenly did set upon them at unawares But Titus seeing his men flee rebuked them saying Are ye not ashamed of this timourous cowardliness when ye are so many and a hundred for one of them Whar ignominy is it so many to be repulsed of so few Wherewithall Titus stayed them and brought them manfully to withstand the Jews so that very many were slain on both sides But the Romans were not able long to abide the force of the Jews albeit that Titus with his choiâ—…est and most valiant souldiers did manfully keep their ground and never retreated Titus also laboured and encouraged the rest to sight but they were so dismayed that they wist not what to do For to forsake Titus they were ashamed and to resist the violence of the Jews they were not able Notwithstanding Titus and all his Company made his party good against the Jews who at length left the field and withdrew themselves towards the Town Then Titus being wroth with his souldiers that they had fled from the Jews said unto them Shall I not be revenged of these Jews Shall so few of them put us to flight not able to stand in their hands and will ye flee or retreat seeing me abide by it The next day Titus took all his Army save a few that he left in his Camp to keep his baggage and went down the Mount Olivet setting his men in battel aray even against the gates of the City Then exhorted he them to play the men and although they were come down the hill yet they should not fear the Jews concerning their Camp that they had left behinde them for the Brook Cedron saith he is between our Camp and the Israelites With these words they were encouraged and determined to encounter with the Jews under the walls hard to the gates of the City trusting to the safegard and defence of the Brook Cedron The Captains of the Seditious likewise used policy for they dividing their men sent one company to passe suddenly the Brook Cedron to invade and spoil the Roman Camp that was left in the Mount Olivet These therefore went and fought with the Romans upon the Mount and drove them out of their Camp Titus looking behind him and perceiving that the Jews had gotten over the Brook and were in hand with his men he was wonderfully afraid seeing himself environed with battels on every side They within the Town when they saw their fellows once at the Mount Olivet they opened the gates issued out with all their power that was left in the Town and encountred with Titus where he had set his men in array over against the gate where they made a great slaughter of the Romans which desirous to avenge the shame gotten the day before fled not but stoutly withstood their force Also the Jews took heart to them fought manfully and beat down the Romans so that at length they betook them to flight toward Mount Olivet and in their flight many of them were slain by the Jews that pursued the chase Upon this divers of Titus souldiers seeing themselves beset both before and behinde counselled Titus to flee with them to the Mountains to save his life lest he should be slain by the Jews and they all together with â—…m For thou say they art a great Lord of many Kingdoms and God shall one day bring thee to the Imperial Crown of our Lord thy father Now therefore if thou shouldest be slain of the Jews we are all but dead and what good should thy death do either to thy self or to others to be slain like one of us Titus would not be ruled by them nor receive their counsel but kept his ground boldly without once turning his face saying I will choose rather to die with honour than to live with shame And with that he rushed upon the Jews that were nigh him and compelled them to recoyl When the Jews that had environed the Roman Camp saw that they left the Romans and came flocking about Titus by routs assailing him on every side indeavouring also with all their might to overcharge him Where in
the array of the Romans but the Jews shrunk not from the Romans for they were in a fervent rage and wonderfull disdain and to further their courage Schimeon came to his men and cryed unto them with a loud voyce saying For the reverence of God friends flee not this day whosoever doth flee let him be sure he shall dye for it and his house be destroyed Titus also admonished his to keep their array and not to give back to Schimeon Then went he himself to that part of the Town where Jehochanans ward was there he caused a battering Ram to be planted and bent against the wall for there was a very large Plain There was at that time in Jerusalem one called Kantor who got to him a company of the Seditious and shot from the walls into the Romans Army where he slew very many and compelled the rest to retire This Kantor with nine other tall fellows whereof he was the Decurion defended one part of the Town Now as the Romans bended the Ram to batter the wall Kantor cryed unto Titus I beseech thee my Lord Titus be mercifull unto this most famous City that is almost beaten down already do not deface it utterly but take pitty of the Sanctuary that is in it and destroy not the habitation of the Lord God Titus at his request commanded his men to stay and to leave off battering the wall Then said he to Kantor Come forth hither to me and thou shalt save thy self I will pardon thee thou shalt not be destroyed Kantor answered I will see if I can perswade these my fellows to come with me But he did it upon colour for none other cause than craftily to trifle out time whereby he miâ—…ht cause Titus to leave off the assault for a while So he spake unto his fellows which knew his mind that the Romans might hear Let us go down and flee to the Roman Army Then they drew out their swords as though they would kill him and striking upon his harness he fell down to the ground in the sight of the Romans which were ignorant of his deceit Then one of the Romans let flye an arrow that wounded Kantor upon the face and glauncing from him slew another that stood by him Then Kantor cryed out What do ye will ye shoot at us that desire to be at peace with you which ye granted your selves and now will break your promise that ye made unto us Is this the reward my Lord Titus that thou renderest me for going about to flee unto thee that thy souldiers should shoot at me hearing me require conditions of peace Now therefore my Lord may it please thee to send hither some man of honour to whom I may come down and receive assurance of thy promise to be as one of thine own men Titus thinking he meant good faith spake unto Joseph willing him to go and make peace with the Jews in his name then to bring him unto him that he might find safe-gard of his life from the common destruction Joseph answerd Why wilt thou send me What have I offended thee Have I not ever done thee true and faithfull service Therefore if thou bear me any good will or favour send me not unto him whom I cannot trust For Joseph mistrusted some subtilty knowing Kantor afore So Titus sent one Captain Jiarus who said unto Kantor Come down and let us go together to Caesars son Kantor desired him to hold abroad his cloak lap that he might hurl him down his money that he had there lest the Jews perceiving it would take it from him and then he would come down And as Jiarus held up his lap to receive the money that Kantor spake of Kantor with all his might cast down a great stone which Jiarus espying lept aside and avoided but it lighted upon one of his fellows and slew him Titus was wonderfull wroth at this and forthwith planted yet another Ram against the wall and at length laid it flat upon the ground Then commanded Titus to make fires about the Wall where the Jews should think to escape Kantor seeing that would have fled and as he made haste to escape the fires the weight of his armour bare him down into the fire and there he died more desirous of death than life Then entred the Romans within the second wall against whom the Seditious issued and â—…ought with such vehement foâ—…ce that they prevailed against their enemies slue many of the Romans and forced the rest to retire unto the first wall that they had beaten down afore In this skirmish Titus himself took a bow and shot at the Jews in such wise that not one of his arrows were spent in vain but that it did some annoyance unto the Jews The Jews notwithstanding gave them the repulse from the Town and they were not able to make their party good with them Within four daies after came unto Titus a new supply of souldiers out of all quarters for ayd to the Romans by whose help they prevailed against the Jews at such time as they issued out of the Town and constrained them to withdraw themselves within the walls Yet Titus pittying the miserable state of the City Temple and People of the Lord at that time commanded his people to withdraw themselves from the walls and to leave off the assault for a while that he might offer peace to the Jews to see if they would now be content to submit themselves unto the Romans to have quietness and rest without danger of destruction Wherefore he gave them truce for five daies and upon the fift day he came to the gate of the City where he straightway espyed Schimeon and Jehochanan together preparing fire to destroy the Romans Engins of war for all the Jews had agreed together with one mind still to withstand the Romans Wherefore Titus perceiving the Jews to be so desperately bent that they had even vowed their lives to death he began to offer and propose unto them conditions of peace and sharply to reprove and blame their obstinate stubborness saying I have now won two of your walls and ye have but one left Therefore if yeâ—… will continue still in this self willed frowardness what will ye do most miserable creatures when as I shall gain also the third wall and quite destroy your City pulling down your Temple and all Why do ye not rather favour and spare your own lives your wives and children But the Jews set upon a sullen obstinacy would in no wise hear Titus speak Therefore Titus sent Joseph to declare his mind unto them in Hebrew that they might safely credit his promises and the peace that was offered Joseph therefore went and stood over against the gate keeping himself aloof off for he was afraid to come nigh the wall knowing that the people hated him because he had yielded himself to the Romans He called therefore unto them aloud Hearken all ye Hebrews and Jews I will declare unto you that
all the trees and cut down all the bushes round about Jerusalem by the space of thirteen miles so that the whole field and territory of Jerusalem was spoyled which heretofore was replenished with marvellous goodly gardens and most pleasant Paradises After that the Romans made up another Iron Ram very terrible this they bended against the walls to see if there were any souldiers left in the Town so stout as they were in times past When the Captains of the Seditious saw that they issued out with their companies against the Romans and slue very many of them in that skirmish Wherefore Titus said It is not wisdom to fight with them any more but rather with the Rams to shake and batter the wall for they have no more but this wall left and so we may bring our whole Army at once upon them and subdue the Seditious This counsell of Titus was liked of all the Princes and people The Captains of the Seditious mistrusting what the Romans intended that they would be occupied hereafter in battering the wall began to build a countermure within overgainst the place where the Romans wrought with their Ram which was in the Plain by the Tomb of Jochanan the high Priest for there was none other place besides that they might approach unto with their Rams and there the Rams had mâ—…de two breaches in the two other walls before The Seditious made this Countermure because they were not able to burn the Iron Ram as they had done before being now almost famished and so pin'd away that they could scarce stand upon their Legs For if they had been so lusty as they were before and able to set the Engines on fire the Romans had never been able to win the Town but should have been compelled to leave the assault as they were constrained to give over skirmishing and fighting On a certain time when the Romans fled the Seditious pursuing and killing many of them said The Romans will be weary leave off their siege and go their waies that we may dwell at liberty and turn to the Lord our â—…od And when they returned at this time or at any other time prosperously into the Town they oppressed the people more cruelly exacting food of them and saying Give us meat if ye will not we will eat your flesh and your sons But the Romans took courage to themselves to fight stoutly and said one to another Let us stick to it hard and be valiant in our fights it shall be a shame for us to flee from these feeble and hunger-starved Jews which are more like dead Images than living persons Therefore they began most earnestly to set upon the walls and to make a battery suddenly they beat down a great part of that inner wall which the Jews had newly erected and gave a great shout saying Jerusalem is won we have gotten the Town But when they looked a little further they espyed another countermure raised over against the breach Wherefore the Jews thorow the Town gave also a great shout and sounded their Trumpets rejoycing that they had another new Countermure for that which was battered down The same was in Captains Jehochanans Ward The Romans seeing the countermure and hearing the Jews make such triumphs in the Town were much astonied all their joy was dashed and turned into dumps so that they could not tell what they should do with that stubborn people of Jerusalem which had done them such damages The Romans set upon the Town again another way whom Titus willed to remove the Engine and to bend it to the new wall whiles it was yet green and unsetled saying Let us batter it and we shall see it fall by and by and then shall we enter the Town The Roman Captains followed not Titus counsell but scaled the walls which they had battered The Jews therefore defending their Countermure â—…ought with the Romans within the breach repulsed them from the wall and the Town and so having abated much the strength of the Romans returned to their quarters Then said some of the Romans We will never besiege this Town any longer for we shall not be able to get it while we live And therefore let us break up and depart before we be all destroyed with this siege for except we do so we shall be consumed therein Titus seeiâ—…g his souldiers to make so hard a matter of the winning of the Town called them all together and said unto them Tell me now ye Roman Captains do ye not know that all wars and other business whatsoever they be are more hard and require greater diligence in the end then in the beginning In which who so travel if they faint in the end do they not labour in vain Even as your labour shall be in vain if ye give over the siege now Consider a Ship when it hath compassed the whole Sea and is now ready to arrive at the shore being troubled with a Tempest if the Mariners should then be negligent the Ship may be easily lost and all they which are in it perish the Mariners disappointed of their purpose in that they shall not attain unto the place which they coveted to come unto Likewise builders if they finish not their work but leave off afore they make an end is not all their labour lost and spent in vain Husbandmen also if they till their ground and then sow it with seed shall they not lose their pains unless they will also mow it In like manner you have fought very long against this City many valiant Captains and worthy men have been slain and now you may see the strongest walls of the Town are broken and made equall with the earth the people your adversaries consumed with hunger pestilence and sword what shall it then avail you all that ever you have done if you slack your diligence and will not finish the work of the siege Have ye not then imployed your labour in vain And why should this new wall so dismay you Yea why do you not prepare your selves to beat down this new Wall which yet is slenderer then the other three that ye have cast down If so be ye would determine to leave off the siege had it not been better for you to have done it at the beginning whiles your Army was yet whole Now when as you are few and your most valiant Souldiers slain why do you not rather choose to dye then to live Did not you once enter this Town in the time of Nero Caesar and defend the honor of his name now therefore when Vespasian my father raigneth who is not only of greater power then Nero but also more gentle toward you then ever was Nero If you should abate and slack your endeavour diligence it should be to your great shame and reproach Why take ye not example of these Jews valiantness whom now already sword pestilence and famine bath wasted so that they have no hope left nevertheless they fight still and never
Baruch and his whole society and they builded the second House Then after four years of the reign of Cyrus after the House was destroyed Ezra went from Babylon with forty thousand in his company and the Israelites were afflicted and vexed under Cyrus for the space of 33. years Then came Alexander the King of Macedonia and slew Cyâ—…us and when he had reigned tvvelve years he died After him came four Usurpers vvhich afâ—…licted the Israelites 158. years But after that the sons of Hasmonani came and slevv those Usurpers and taking the Dominion from them reigned themselves 103. years Then reigned one Herod the Servant to Chasmonani vvho killed his Masters and their vvhole family save one Maâ—…d vvhom he loved But she climbed up to the top of an house and said There is no body left alive of my fathers house but I alone so she cast her self headlong from the top of the house and died Herod did lay her in honeâ—… and preserved her for the space of seven years There vvere that said he had carnal copulation vvith her after she vvas dead Herod and Agrippa his son and Monazab his nephevv possessed the Kingdom one hundred and three years So hast thou four hundred and three years of the second House Then came Vespasian Caesar and Titus his wives son and wasted the second House carrying away Israel unto Rome This is the ninth transmigration Moreover Bitter remained after the desolation and wasting of the Temple fifty two years After that Aâ—…rianus who used superstition with bones made wars upon them and transported Israel from their Country after he had spoiled it conveying them into Spain This is the tenth Captivity This Adrian vanquished the Jews which rebelled the second time against the Romans with a final and utter destruction forbidding and not suffering them in any wise to enter into Jerusalem which he had began to fortify with very strong walls and caused it to be called Helius after his own name He caused also a Sow to be graven over the chief gate of the City and a Jew under her feet carved in stone in token of their subjection A Corollary THus the ancient Nation of the Jews which in former times might have been called the Favorite of God Almighty was utterly destroyed and their City demollished the famous City of Jâ—…rusalem which had been five times surprized and sacked before First Asocheus King of Egypt after him Antiochus then Pompey And after him Herod with Sosius took it yet did they not dismantle much less destroy it But before them the Kings of Babylon ruin'd it after they had possessed it 1300 years eight months and â—…ix daies after the building of it The first founder of it was one of the Princes of the Cananites â—…called in his own Language the just King and indeed he was so for he was the first Priest that sacrificed to God and dedicated a Temple there calling the City Solyma But David King of the Iews having driven out the Cananites gave it unto his people to be inhabited and after 464 years and 3. months it was destroyed by the Babyâ—…nians And from King David who was the first Iew that raigned there unâ—…ill the time that Titus destroyed it were 1179 years And from the time that it was first Erected unâ—…ill it was thus râ—…ed were 2177 years yet neither the Antiquiâ—…y nor riches nor fame thereof then spread over the world nor the glory of Religion did any thing avail to hinder this hard destiny Such was the end of besieging Ierusalem when there were none left to kill more or any thing remaining for the souldiers to get or whereon they should exercise their courage for they would have spared nothing that they could have spoiled Titus câ—…mmanded â—…hem to destroy the City and Temple only leaving standing certain Towers that were more beautifull and stronger then the rest viz Phasclus Hippiâ—…os and Mariamne with the wall that stood on the west side intending to keep a Garrison there and these were left to stand for Monuments of their strength and the Roman valour which had overcome a City so well fortified All the rest of the City they so flatted that they who had not seen it before would not believe it had ever been inhabited Eheu quà m tenui pendent Mortalia filâ—… And now for an upshot of all that hath been said take a short view of the whole Matter Together with a true Character of the JEWS as they are at this day With the hopes and desires of all good Men for their Conversion WHen the Jews had made the full measure of their sins run over by putting to death the LORD of LIFE Gods judgements as they deserved and our Saviour foretold quickly overtook them For a mighty Army of the Romans beâ—…ieged and sackt the City of Jerusalem wherein by Fire Famine Sword Civil discord and Forrein force eleven hundred thousand were put to death An incredible number it seemeâ—… yet it cometh within the compasse of our belief if we consider that the siege began at the time of the Passâ—…over when in a manner all Jâ—…ea was inclosed in Jerusalem all private Synagogues doing then their duties to the Mother-Temple so that the City then had more guests than Inhabitants Thus the Passeover first instituted by God in mercy to save the Israelites from death was now used by Him in justice to hasten their destruction and to gather the Nation into a bundle to be cast into the fire of his anger Besides those who were slain ninety seven thousand were taken captives And they who had bought our Saviour for thirty pence were themselves sold thirty for a peny The General of the Romans in this action was Titus son to Vespasian the Emperour A Prince so good that he was styled the Darling of mankind for his sweet and loving nature and pity it was that so good a stock had not been better grafted So vertuously disposed that he may justly be counted the glory of all Pagans and shame of most Christians He laboured what lay in his power to have saved the Temple and many therein but the Jews by their obstinacy and desperateness made themselves uncapable of any mercy Then was the Temple it self made a Sacrifice and burnt to ashes And of that stately Structure which drew the Apostles admiration not a stone left upon a stone The walls of the City more shaken with the sins of the Jews deâ—…ending them than with the baâ—…tering Raâ—…s of the Romans assaulting them were levelled to the ground only three Towers left standing to witnesse the great strength of the place and greater valour of the Romans who conquered it But whilest this storm fell on the unbelieving Jews it was calm amongst the Chrians who warned by Christ's predictions and many other prodigies fled betimes out of the City to Pâ—…lla a private place beyond Jordan which served them instead of a little Zâ—…ar to save them from the imminent destruction Threescore years after