him and kissed him after that ledde him to his pauilion and set hym vpon his seate◠of honour Kinge Iudas also after he returned from the campe made vnto Nicanor a greate feaste callyng him and his noble men with him into Hierusalem where they eate and dranke at the kinges table Kynge Iudas was yet vnmaried wherfore Nicanor moued him to take a wife that hee might haue issue and not lose his succession whose counsaile Iudas alowed This done the lewde pickethanke Alkimus declared to kynge Demetrius the league that Nicanor hadde made wyth king Iudas Whereat Demetrius being wrothe writ vnto Nicanor that he had intelligence of his traiterous practises Nicanor was in Hierusalem when this letter was deliuered him When Iudas hearde of the contentes of the letter he fled out of Hierusalem into Samaria where he sounded a trumpet gathered Israel together Nicanor vpō these letters entred into the house of the lord to seeke Iudas but he founde him not Then he examined the Priestes who sware they knewe not where he was become After he had now sought him in euerye corner throughout Hierusalem and could not finde him in a fume he sware he woulde beate downe the temple And gathering together ai his hoste he made spede againste Iudas When he hearde of Nicanors cōming he issued out of Samaria to mete him and after they hadde stroke the battail Iudas slewe of the Grekes to the number of .xviii. thousande horsemen toke Nicanor aliue and was minded to kyll him But Nicanor besought him of pardon alledgynge that the kinge knewe well inough that he beganne not this battaile with his good will but lest he shoulde traunsgresse the commaundement of the king his maister Wherefore saieth he I humblye beseche your maiestie not to kill mee and I sweare vnto you that I wyll neuer beare armour againste you nor anoye you in any wise Vpon this the kynge made a league with hym and dimissed him So he returned to the king his master with shame inough After this Demetrius dyed and Lisia his sonne raigned in his stede Yet the wicked men ceased not but moued againe Kinge Lisia to make a voyage in his owne Persone with a puissant armye againste Iudas but hauinge the ouerthrowe of kynge Iudas he fled vnto Asdotum till he had repaired againe his armye strongelye Then came he the seconde time vppon Iudas in whiche conflicte the Israelites were put to flight King Iudas notwithstandinge fled nother one waye nor other but called to his men exhorted them to returne and sticke by him yet they would not obeye him So he abid alone with his drawen sworde in hys hand vnto whom none of his enemies durst approche nie but with charettes and horsemen they enuironned hym and archers shot at him woūding him sore till he fell downe deade vppon the ground and they that were about him were taken alyue The tyme that he raigned ouer Israel was .vi. yere Manie of the Grekes captains were slaine also in that battaile and the king him selfe so wounded that he was faine to get him into his countreye to be cured of his woundes After he hadde recouered his health he returned again came to Hierusalem and to all the cities of Israell wyth the power of the Grekes wherwith he so afflicted them at that tyme for the space of foure monethes after the death of Iudas that the like tribulation was neuer sene in Israell In the meane season the Israelites resorted to Ionathas the sonne of Mattathias and made him king in Iudas stede and were sworne vnto hym This Ionathas foughte diuers greate battails against the Grekes hauynge the aide of one Sauinus of the kinred of kyng Alexander the first who had made a league with Ionathas toke his part againste Grecia wasted and spoyled it sore till at length the king of the Grecians slewe Ionathas by a traine His raigne ouer Israel dured .vi. yere Then was Schimeon his brother king in his stede Against him Antiochus the secōd kinge of the Grecians came to warre But Schimeon met him and laied first an ambushe to entrapte the Grekes then ordered his battayles in araye against Antiochus After that he wyth his whole hoste made a face fayninge as though they fledde and retired tyll thei perceiued Antiochus who pursued them to be within their daunger then the ambushe brake foorthe vppon the Grekes made a very great slaughter After this Schimeon returned to Ierusalē with great ioye Then sent Ptolome king of Egipt an imbassage to Scimeō king of Israel offering him his daughter in mariage To his request when king Schimeon had cōsented Ptolome came to Ierusalē where was made a great feast they were alied together Whereupō Antiochus king of the Greciās writ to Ptolome king of Egipt priuily to murder Schimeō king of Israel Whō Ptolomee durst not but obey for at that time the king of Egipt was in subiection to the Grekes Therefore when Schimeon came into Egipt to se his father in lawe Ptolomee he was receiued with greate feastinge but in the same he had poyson geuen him that he died thereof Besides this also his sonne which came with him Ptolome cast in prisō These things iustly chaūced vnto Schimeon for that he hadde traunsgressed the worde of the Lorde that forbade all aliance with the Gentiles The time that he raigned ouer Israel was .xviii. yeres Then Iohn his sonne raigned in his steede who was called Hircanus in the Greke tongue The same Ptolomee king of Egipt inuaded Israel with al the power that he coulde make But Iohn the sonne of Schimeon mette him and the Lorde ouerthrewe Ptolomee wyth his whole hoste that they were slaine of the Israelites and pursued to the citye Dagon about the whiche the Israelites made trenches and beseged it Nowe within the towne thei had the mother of kyng Hircanus whom Ptolomee caused to be sette vppon the Walles and to bee scourged with whippes in the sight of her sonne When Hircanus sawe the great affliction of his mother he wold haue raised his siege and departed frō Ptolomee But his mother called vnto him and said My deare sonne Iohn regarde not my tribulation for all chasteninges come from GOD. Procede manfully with thy siege againste thys citye for it is in great distresse and reuenge me thy father and brother murdered by Ptolomee The king folowed her aduise manfully raysed a mount from the which he battered the walles with engynes of yron like charrettes till it began to shake Wherfore many of the souldiours of the towne fledde and their companies began to scatter Ptolomee seinge this commaunded to afflict hys mother yet more and to encrease her scourgynges vntill the entrails of Hircanus was moued that he could abide no lenger to see his mother so cruelly handled but left the siege let Ptolomee escape who neuerthelesse killed his mother and fled into Egipt In the fourth yeare of kinge Hircanus raigne Pius king Grece came and besieged
therfore to his house with a heuy hart hanging downe his head and hidynge his face There his mother toâ—de hym how their counsaile concerning the viall of poyson was bewraied and howe the king was wonderfully incensed towardes him that encreased yet his fear more and more The next daie by the kings coÌ„mauÌ„dement he was broughtâ— forth before al the chief of Israell asseÌ„bled together the king sate to iudge Antipaters cause There rehearsed the king vnto theÌ„ his sons lewdnes lies how he had seduced him stirred him to kil his children that wer of the king bloude farre better and more vertuous then he in so much that with a loude voice the king burst out and bewailed his wife Marimi whoÌ„ he put to death without a cause and his two Sonnes that they that were far of might heare him Then Antipater lift vp his head and began to speake craftely and subtilly First he forgote not to geue gentle words to pacifie his fathers wrath but that he coulde not do After he fel to intreatie in such sort that all the nobles were moued to pity and bewailed his euill Fortune not without teares saue only Niraleus the kings serretary who loued the kinges children that were put to death He rebuked them al that were sory for the calamity of Antipater crying with al his might wher are ye Alexander Aristobulus that were slaine giltlesse Lift vp your heads behold this bloudy wicked man fal into the pit which he him self made see how how his foote is catched in the net that he laid his selfe for other Marke ye not how your maker reuengeth your death and requireth yourbloude at his hande in the time of his destruction For the wicked man is spared vntil the time of his death So the king him selfe verye much infensed sent to fetch a condemned person oute of prisone who beinge brought before them and tasting a litle of the poison in the Vial fel down starke deade forthwith Then the kinge commaunded Antipater to be caried to prison to be laied in the strongest irons The .xl. yeare of his reign which was the .lxx. yere of his age kinge Herode fel sicke no remedy no phisicke could be found to helpe him Nether his seruauÌ„tes nor phisiciaÌ„s could procure him any rest so greuously came his disease vpoÌ„ him with lacke of breth through the anguish of the manifold euils that had happened vnto him by his owne folke Wheâ—upon he cried out saiyng Woe may he beâ— that hathe none left to succede him in his kyngdome nor none to go before his Coffin and mourne for him at his death Then called he to his remembraunce his wyfe Marimi and his two sonnes rehearsynge them by name howlyng and wepyng styll continually Vpon a certaine daye when his sicknes came sore vpon him he called to his seruauntes to fetche him some pleasaunt apple to see if he myght comforte his hearte and when they had brought it he axed for a knife to cut it one was brought hym Then he gathered his strength vnto him and rered hym selfe vp vpon his left arme and perceyuyng his lyfe to bee full of sorowe and lamentacion he tooke the knyfe with his right hande and fetched his way to thrust it into his bely But his seruauntes stept to him and caught his arme holdyng his handes and woulde not suffer hym to dooe it Then wepte he sore and all his seruauntes that the voyce was heard out of the courte and shortly all the cytie was in a sturre sayinge the kynge is dead the kynge is dead Antipater being in the prison heard the noyse and asked what busines is this they aunswered hym the kynge is dead Then was he glad and reioyced wonderfullye saiyng vnto the Iayloâ—â—â—â— Strike of mine irons and let me dute that I may go the palaice and Iwyll remember thee with a good turne â–ª The keper answered I feare least the kinge be yet altue I will go therfore know the truthe and come againe by and by Antipater saw he coulde not get loose wept for anger at the keper So the keper came to the court which as it was tolde to the king he commaunded him to be brought to his presence Then the kinge asked him What did Antipater I pray thee when he heard this mourning and that I was dead The keper answered He was verie glad thereof and when I woulde not smite of his irons and let him out he wept for anger The king crted out vnto his lords See howe he hateth me beinge yet in prison if he were here he would dooe what he could to kill me He would not doe as my seruauntes did make haste to wrest the knife out of my hande As true as God liueth he shal neuer haue that he gapeth for So the king commaunded he shoulde bee put to death And there was neuer a maÌ„ that wold intreatâ— for him or desier the kinge to the contrary but euery man was glad of his destruction The king commauÌ„ded the kepar to bring him forth to the market place whiche dooen his head was smiten of and so he lepte besides his purpose The kinge commaunded moreouer his body to be taken and caried to the citie of Ankalia there to be buried and not in the citie That done HircaniuÌ„ and the people returned from the buriall the king sent to call al the nobles of Israell together and enforsinge his strength he sat vp in his bedde and coÌ„maunded to call his sonne Archelaus vpon whome he layde his handes and made him kinge ouer Israell Then showted euery maÌ„ God saue the king god saue the king The king liued .v. dais after the execution of Antipater then fainted died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was fourty yeres He was a worthy warriour a wise a prudent man a goodly man of persone hauing God on his syde He loued euer the sages Hillell and Samai with their companies He enriched the seconde house more then all other kinges and was more liberall then all the kynges that were before him His giftes and rewardes were ryche for he counted gold and syluer as chaffe stones He kepte Israel in quiet and peace from al their enemies He buylded also a more royal temple then did kyng Salemon But he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israell heuier and gaue open eare to euill tonges He was a cruell bloudshedder of poore and innocente persones He willed before his death that they should bury hym in the citie Erodion twoo daies iourney and a halfe from Hierusalem So they put him in a coffin couered with gold sette here there with precious stones The bed vnder him was wrought with gold ful of precious stones Likewise vpoÌ„ his head was a cloth of reines powdred with precious stones vpon that a royall crowne made fast to the left syde of the coffin vpoÌ„ the right side was the regall scepter Vpon the beare was also a clothe
temple had on a garmente of .iiii. coloures Skarlet Violet Bisse and Purple Skarlet in respecte of the heanens that be aboue the firmamente Violet and Bisse coloures whiche be made of flaxe because of the earthe of which they come finally purple in respect of the sea where purple is gotten Therfore when as the priest came into the temple to minister apparailed in these .iiii. colours he saide before the almighty God I come to presente my self here in thy sighte O Lorde of the world in .iiii. kindes of coloures that do represent the partes of thy worlde and in suche wise do I appeare before theâ— as though I shoulde bring all the hole world into thy sight Moreouer the foresaid apparail was garnished with pure gold and precious stones after the likenesse of the tribes of the sonnes of Iacob who was called Israell that in that garment he might haue the souerainty before the angels that be aboue and by them preuail to bringe the vertue of the holy ghost by the which they should obteine wisdome that dwell in thee and prospere in their study and faith that they mighte haue wisdome and vnderstandinge together Hys loines also were girded with linnen sloppes wherewith he couered his secrete partes for it becommeth priestes most of al other persons to be shamfast and bashful specâ—ally when he should minister in the two sanctuaries For there are .ii. sanctuaries the vtter and thinnar which is the sanctum sactoruÌ„ or the holiest of all In the vtter the priestes minister as the hie priest commauÌ„deth theÌ„ but into the inner that is the sanctuÌ„ sanctoruÌ„ entreth no maÌ„ saue the bie priest only that but once a yeare For in it was the arcke of the couenaunt of the Lord in the which were laid vp the .ii. tables of thecouenaunt the God made with the people of Israell in the mount Sinai There is also the rod of Aaron that florished broughte forth leaues All these were in the first temple whiles it was yet standing Ouer against that saÌ„ctuary were .xiiii. stairs or steppes vpon the which apeared the miracle to kinge Chiskiahu And thou Ierusalem at that time was stronger then other cities Lady of al prouinces for greate kinges and princes builded thee Kinge Herode much exalted thee raising thy walles on height besides that also defenced thee with an other wall Antochia that he named Antochia of Antiochas a Romain who liberally gaue much mony toward the repairinge of the ruines decaies that were in thée How commeth it to passe therfore that thou art broughte thus lowe the gentils haue the rule ouer thee now and besiege thee racing thee casting thee down yea they are now in the midst of thee Wo be to vs for our sinnes for the hautines of thy strength is dashed thy sanctuary is troden vnder the fote and made a sinck of the bloud of slain persons Drinke now of thy cup O Ierusalem with thy daughter Sion drinke I say the cup of veration and grief together with her for yet the time shall come that visions shall be reueiled and redemption also it selfe that thy children shal retourne to their coastes with the healthe of their redeamer Then shal be the time of frendshippe and then shalt thou drincke the cuppe of health and consolation After this Titus wente to vewe what waye he might best assault the citye and as he deuised with him self he espied a plain on that side where the sepulchre of Iochanan the hie priest was whereas he staied a while and sent one of his captaines that were there with him called Nikanor to common with the Iewes that were vppon the walles to moue them to peace willing him to say thus vnto them Frendes my Lord Titus is desirous to spare you and to make a league with you that ye mighte be at quiet and oute of this daunger of desiruction And if you be so disposed to consent thereunto Titus shall make a league with you yet before night Nikanor wente and spake with the people in such wise as Titus hadde willed him The Iewes gaue him no word to answer but held their peace wherfore Nikanor spake vnto them againe and as he was talkynge vnto them one froÌ„ the walles stroke him with an arrowe and killed him Wherat Titus was exceadyng wrathe that they should shout at his captaine offerynge theim peace and his death grened him marueilously Wherfore he commaunded ladders brakes slynges yron rammes and other engins of warre to be brought to assaulte the towne So the souldiours brought an yron Ramme to batter the walle and planted it vppon a mounte accordynglye The Iewes seinge that were soore afrayed wherfore the three capitaynes of the sedicious sell at one and openynge the gates issued out and beat the Romaynes from their pieces and engyns that were nowe ready addressed settynge fire on them and burnyng them the ram slings al thother engines a few excepted which Titus his men saued from the fire In this coÌ„flicte the men of Alexandria that serued Titus behaued them selues like tall fellowes in the rescuinge of the slinges from the Iewes yet the Iewes preuailed and gate the vpper hand of them till Titus came with a stronge power of picked men to succoure the Alexandrians whereas twelue of the stoutest Iewes were slaine In the same skirmishe Iehochanan a captain of the Edomites that came to aide the Iewes was slain by an Arabian that came behinde him and stroke him with an arrowe whiles he was talkinge with the Romains that had entreated him to come vnto them For whome the Edomites mourned and lamented sore for he was a good man of warre The nexte nighte certaine of the seditious chieflye of Iehochanan and Schimeons companye issued oute and came to the three wodden towers that Titus hadde crected before the Walles and sette a greate Garrison of valiaunt Souldiours aboute theim to defende theim and to viewe also the toune oute of them to see what the Iewes dyd And whosoeuer were nye the touâ—es those the Iewes slew the other fled to Titus campe But the Romayns that were within the towers wiste nothing of the matter trustinge to them that were set about the toures for theyr sauegarde and therfore slept all the night The Iewes after they had slayne the Romayne watche and put them to flyght they came to the toures wyth sawes and cut the feyt a sonder so that they fell sodenly together wyth them that were wythin them whyche were very manye and slewe them euery one Titus hearynge the alarme and the crasshing of the fallynge of the towres was sore afrayed and all hys hole armye and not knowing what the matter was they durst not sturre toward it so the Iewes returned clere into the toune On the morowe Titus brought his hole power to the walles and whyles the Iewes were at their coÌ„tenciones in the toune he addressed an other Iron Ramme wherwith he sodenlye strake the vtter wall and battered it through whervppon
authority ouer the learned sort puttinge them into their handes to ordre at their pleasure Wherupon straight way they founde one Dogrus a greate man amongst the learned sort whom they stewe much people besides of the auncients of that sect so that the Sectaries were in great distresse Thei gathered them selues together therfore and came to Aristobulus the lieutenaunt of the warres and with him they came to the Quene saiyng vnto her Thou knowest the enmitie that is betwene vs and the Pharisies which hate thy busband and father in lawe yea and thy children also We were his men of warre that went with him in all his affaires and ayded him now thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the Lande What will Hartam kinge of Arabia dooe when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He wâ—â— come and reuenge him of all the battaile that thy husband fought agaynst him Yea the Pharisies will take his parte and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes that there shall not be left vnto Hircanus the kynge and his sonne Alexander thy husbande anye name or remnant at all The Quene gaue them no word to answer wherat Aristobulus was angrye and letted not to vtter it to his mothers face but she would not heare him Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart oute of Ierusalem to chuse them cities in the laÌ„d of Iuda where they mighte dwel with their honor not to suffre them selues to be slain vnder the Pharisies hands Wherfore departing from Ierusalem they dwelte in the cities of Iuda Not longe after this it fortuned the Quene fel sore sicke that she was like to die Wherof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisies wold make his brother Hircanus kinge and at length apprehende him wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies to be their heade and make war vpon his brother if he would presume to reigne He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a stronge armye of the Saducies his mother the Quene sent vnto him that he shoulde returne vnto her which he wolde not do but rather went to war vppon the nacions that dwelt about him where he wan .xx. cities and gate him great renowne therby Now as the Quene his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her with her sonne Hircanus weping before her and saiyng how they were afraid of her sonne Aristobulus who if he should come into Ierusalem take it he would deliuer them vp into the handes of the Saducies Vnto whome she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talke much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husbande and my fathered gathered and their pareÌ„ts kings of the posterity of Chasmonani take that vnto you and make my soÌ„ne Hircanus king ouer you If Aristobulus wil perturbe him and make warre againste him ye may wage menne of war therwith and succour him as you thinke good And euen with this she fainted and died and was buried amongst her people after she had reigned .ix. yeare ouer Israel The Pharisies therfore and priestes with all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Hircanus her sonne king in her stede Aristobulus hearinge tidinges of these thinges assembled his army and came toward Ierusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nye vnto Iordane Iericho The Saducies of Aristobulus hoste were good men of warre and to strong for the Pharises Wherfore Hircanus the Pharisies had the ouerthrow at Aristobulus and the Saduces handes who with this victorye proceded forth to Ierusalem besieged it brought it to great distres Wherfore the priestes and the aunciente of the people consulted together came forth to Aristobulus fel prostrate vpon th earth afore him and besought him that he wold not scatter abrode the inheritaunce of the Lorde He condiscended vnto their desires vpon these conditions that he should enter into Ierusalem with them and be kinge and his brother Hircanus shoulde be the hie priest Wherunto they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into IerusaleÌ„ his brother came out of the sanctuary to mete him and with embrasings he kissed him So Aristobulus was king Hircanus executed the office of the hie priest The Lord also gaue Israell rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sente an euil spirite amongst them which was the cause of translating the kingdoÌ„ from the stock of Chasmonani and of the destructioÌ„ of his posteritye For the sonne of Hircanus the great and the sonne of Alexander his sonne in that they shed so much innocent blud drue Israel froÌ„ thobedience of the Prophets vnto the lies trifles of the Saduces For thus it chauÌ„ced The Saduces bet into Aristobulus heade that as long as his brother Hircanus liued he nor his kingdome could neuer be stablished Wherupon Aristobulus deuised how to make awai Hircanus Which thing a certain maÌ„ called Antipater was aware of a maÌ„ of most power in al Israel therto also a wise expert learned man in all wisdome both in the lawes in the knowledge of the Greke iust of his word prudent if ani strauÌ„ge or new matters chauÌ„ced His ofspringe was not out of the children of Israell but of those Romaines which chauÌ„ced to be vainquished became subiect vnder the dominion of the Israelits being but strauÌ„gers of no noble house in Israel Phaselus He had iiii soÌ„nes Ioseph his eldest the nexte Pasilus the third Herode the .iiii. Pheroras These had also a sister called Salumith Antipater fauoured Hircanus so intirely for his iustice vprightnes sake that he opened vnto him him his brother Aristobulus the Saducies intent geuing him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Arabia but Antipater him self went before to breake the matter to HartaÌ„ of whose comminge Hartam was very glad Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus kinge of Hierusalem was in minde to flee vnto him because of Aristobulus his brother If thou wilt helpe him saith he and let him haue speedy aide thou shalte easilye set Aristobulus besides the kingdome for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus and fauoure not Aristobulus Hartam answered I am afraied of the Iewes and their wilines Alexander his father put mee thrise to the foile in battail by his subtiltie and toke my dominioÌ„s from me TheÌ„ Antipater sware vnto him He shal be saith he thy true trustye frend to do what soeuer thy hart desiereth Thus HartaÌ„ was perswaded they made a league together Then Antipater returnyng to Hierusalem caused Hircanus to flee in the night and they both went together to the king of Arabia who muche reioyced at Hircanus commynge and receiued him honourably When they came together to entreat of the league Hartam
vnto you ye shall with all spede aide him No man shal be excused all that can beare weapon shall go with him to Ierusalem to vanquish Antigonus the kings aduersary Who so refuseth to go with him it shal be leful for the warriours â—o slea him forthwith I Marcus Antonius haue sworne by my sword that I will not alter this that I haue saide When the captaines of Siria had red this thei resorted wholly to Herode so that his host was woÌ„derfully encreased Antigonus hearing of this sent one Pompeius lieuetenant of his warres againste theÌ„ who fought a sore battaile with them that muche people were slaine on bothe sides Ioseph kinge Herodes brother was slaine in that battaile Notwithstandinge at lengthe Antigonus hoste wente to the worsse and had the ouerthrow So Herode Caâ—â—ius proceded to Ierusalem and besieged it the third yere after Herod was made king of Israel And wheÌ„ they had battred downe a peece of the wal Cassius with the Romains entred the towne and made a greate slaughter in IerusaleÌ„ They entred also into the Sanctuary and attempted to enter into the Sanctum sanctorum but Herod and his men lept betwene it and theÌ„ and stode with their drawn swordes in the temple dore that they shoulde not Herod was also displeased with Casius for his crueltye and saide If ye wil destroy all the inhabitantes of the citye vpon whom shal I reign in this kingdome that Augustus hathe geuen me Wherfore streight way Cassius caused proclamation to be made throughe all his hoste that no man vppon paine of death shuld kil one Israelite moe This done Herode apprehended Antigonus and deliuered him bound to Cassius He rewarded also Cassius souldiours both with gold and siluer TheÌ„ Cassius offred a present vnto the Lord a crowne of Golde for he was soore afrayed of gods displeasure bicause he had fought against the holye citye That done he toke his iorney returned into Egipt and Antigonus as prisoner with him Thither sent Herode vnto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus to murder him fearinge least he shoulde make clayme vnto the Kingedome againe Wherunto Cassius consented slew Antigonus Thus was the kyngdome surely established to Herode TheÌ„ made he warres vpon all the nacions that were about him constrainyng theÌ„ to become tributaries bi which means he grew to such power as neuer any of his predecessours were to be compared vnto him After al this Pagurus king of Persia released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander promoted him to be head of al the Israelites that were fled or flitted into the land of Sennaar into the dominion of the Persians he became their king This Hircanus had a ferueÌ„t desire to see the holy citie the house of the saÌ„ctuary Also how Herode whoÌ„ he toke for his sonne his kingdome did Herode hearynge the Hircanus who had bene prisoner at Babilon was now set at liberty in great honour he was afraied of him mistrusting lest the Israelits would restore vnto theÌ„ selues the kingdome of their fathers Wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him mischiefe He theÌ„ writeth his letters vnto Pagurus the coÌ„tents wherof were such Thou shalt vnderstand the Hircanus is he that brought me vp vsed me euer as his son Now therfore sence I came to be king of IerusaleÌ„ I haue called to my remeÌ„brance the goodnes that he hath done to me wherfore my desire is to rewarde him accordyng to his benefites Therfore I require thee to send him to me otherwise assure thi self of wars betwene thee the Israelits with their coÌ„federats Pagurus hauing red this letter seÌ„t for Hircanus asked him if he wold go to Herod notwithstaÌ„ding Herods threats he ceased not to geue to Hircanê° al good couÌ„sel he could aduising him to take heede of Herode because he is saith he a bloude sheader a breaker of his league And he hath called thee for no loue he beareth thee but because he feareth thee As longe as thou liuest shal he neuer slepe sound slepe lest the kingdome shold be deuoluted vnto the. It is better therefore for thee to tarye here in some honour thoughe it be not of suche aucthoritie then to go thither to dye with great dispite and end thine olde age with a bloudy death Furdermore thou shalt knowe such is the disposition of mannes heart If there be two men the one in honour the other in contempt after time shall come that the dispised shal be had in honoure and the honoured to be neglected neuer will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt be content to see him that was before honoured nor speake frendelye to him For he wyll thinke Hitherto according his accustomed maner he hathe dispised me how much more wheÌ„ his dominioÌ„ is taken froÌ„ him his seruaunt raigneth in his roume Moreouer Herode knoweth right well that mens heartes are inclined to him that is the true kinge And it might so be if thou were mete for the priesthode that he woulde promote thee vnto it and be gouernoure of the kingdome him selfe But seinge thou arte dismembred hast one of thy eares cut of and thereby arte vnmete for the Priesthodeâ— thou shalt remaine in Hierusalem depriued both of kingdome and priesthode which is vncomely for thee Such counsaile gaue Pagurus kyng of the Persians vnto Hircanus yea and all the Iewes that were in BabiloÌ„ besought hym that he wold not go vnto Herode Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded and why For it was the Lordes wyll and hys dede that the iniury done vnto the Sages whom his father and graundfather slew and the iniury committed to Hony auriga myght returne vpon his head and be reuenged so that no remnant of the house of Chasmonany no name no residue no kinsman or posteritie shoulde be left aliue Hircanus therfore toke his â—ourney toward Hierusalem and Herode came forthe to mete him embrased him kissed him after brought him into his house and feasted him dayly called him his father before all men albeit in his hearte he conspired to murther him And that knewe Alexandra his doughter and mother in lawe to Herode who opened it vnto Hircanus but he wold not credite her at the first til on a time he perceiued the matter cleare to be so theÌ„ deuised he how to flee to Maloc kynge of Arabia He sent therfore a messenger to Maloc to send him hors and a charet to flee withall but the messenger dealt vnfaithfully lewdly with him for he broughte Hircanus letters priuely vnto Herode who rewarded hym well for his laboure and bad him goe to Maloc and to let hym knowe what aunswere Maloc gaue The messenger vpon this went and deliuered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a charet writing in this sorte I haue sent the horses horsemen come therfore vnto me and whatsoeuer thy hart desireth I wil
al their captaines thre principal most expert warriours of whome I Ioseph prieste that writ this history was one who by the deuine fauour am valeant in battaile and Anani the hie prieste and Eleasar his sonne To these thre they committed the hole land of Iudea deuidinge it to them by lot and gaue them all furniture of warre One third part therfore which was hole Galile from the land af Napththaly and beyond fel to Ioseph the prieste sonne of Gorion to his honoure and glorye whome for his worthinesse they named also Iosiphon because he was then annointed apointed consecrated to the warres The second lot came forth by the whiche fell vnto Anani the hie prieste the citie of Hierusalem and the countrey aboute it with a charge to repaire the walles of the citie to sustaine the brunt of Vaspasian if he should come so farre The thirde lot fell to Eleasar the sonne of Anani the priest to whom was ioyned captaine Iehoscua and other Iewish captaines By the vertue of this lot fell to them the whole lande of Edom from Elath vnto the redde sea The rest of the land from Iericho to Euphrates with that also that is beyond the riuer and all the lande of Mesopotamia fell to captaine Menasches lotte To other Princes also of Iudea and to the worthiest priestes they committed the fensed cities from the frontiers and boundes of Hierusalem vnto Egipt Vaspasian taking his iourney with his hoste froÌ„ Antiochia came pitched his teÌ„tes in Aram Zofa For he had deuised and determined thus with his counsel first to inuade Galile and after to try what they could do in Ivdea Ioseph the soÌ„ne of Gorion hauing intelligence of thys his purpose departed from Ierusalem to Galile built vp the townes that were destroied repaired their wals gates barres palaces Ordeined captaines ouer the people to lead gouern them some of thousandes some of hundreds tribunes and Decurians He instructed the people also in feates of warres what the soundes of trompettes signified what sound serued to fal in aray what to gather the souldioures together and what to deuide them and after he had instructed them the disciplâ—â— and feates of warre he spake vnto theÌ„ in this wife Ye shal vnderstand deare lites that ye go to fight at this present againstyour enemies Wherfore let no effeminate feare ouercome your harts nor dismaye your selues at the sight of your ennemies but play the men and take a good courage vnto you to fight for your cities for your countrye and for your selues Be not afraid of death but rather be stoute in the defence of your countrye that ye be not led away from it and to fighte for the sanctuary of the Lorde that it be not steined and polluted with thunclennesse of the gentiles Consider that it is better to die in battaile then to liue in captiuitye and bondage Therefore when as ye shall come to ioyne with your ennemies and shall see anye of theym beaten downe and attempte to rise againe who soeuer of you is by and seeth him remember the zeale of your GOD wherewith it becommeth you to reuenge his quarell and beinge moned therewith strike him that he neuer rise agaiene But if you shal se any of your selowes downe being enkindled with the zeale of your God rescue him from the handes of the enemies and if he be not yet slaine cure him If he be dead ye shall do what ye can to burie him in the Israelites burial And so if we shal chuse rather to die then to liue we shall prospere in our warres we shal die for the couenaunt of our God and deliuer our soules bringinge them to the light of life in heauen After he had said this he chose out of the Iewes .ix. thousand fotemen and but fewe horsemen And out of these he chose .vi. hundred of the beste suche as one of them woulde not shrinke from ten ten from an hundred a hundred from a thousande a thousaÌ„d from ten thousand With them Ioseph went to the cities of Agrippas that were in Iehudea to winne them For Agrippas stucke to the Romaines were it right or wronge with al the power he could make He went firste to Tiarua a greate citie that belonged to Agrippa where as both his treasure and municion of warre was WheÌ„ he came theâ— ther he spake to the people vppon the walles and offered them peace on condicion that they should open the gates and deliuer vnto him all the treasure of Agrippas and all his iewels Thus if they would do he then would spare them and flea none of them Were it not better for you saith he to take part with them that defende the sanctuary of God his inheritance then to ioyne your ayde with Agrippas which is coÌ„federate with our enemies and assayleth vs augmenting the power of theÌ„ that hats vs so that he refuseth not to fight against the sanctuary of the lord and the people of his inheritaunce The men of the toune condescending to Ioseph openeth the gates and he â—niring the toune made peace with them and they deliuered him al the kinges treasures for they liked Iosephs woordes consented to take such part as he toke At that time came newes vnto Ioseph that troubled him sore namely that Tiberias had rebelled were reuolted from the people that dwelt at Hierusalem and were chaunged from his lot to become Vaspasianus subiectes who had set a Romaine captaine ouer theÌ„ For reformation wherof he left his armie at Tiarua and toke those six hundreth yong men with him to Tiberias commyng vpon it sodeinly and at vnwares And as he stode vpoÌ„ the bankes of Genosar he espied the nauy of the Romaines that laye there at road to aide Vaspasian whiche Ioseph coÌ„maunded to be brooken in peaces and to be scattered abrode in the sea laake The meÌ„ of Tiberias therefore seinge the shypbordes dispersed in that fashion they conieciured it was done by some of Iosephs hoste wherfore the bandes of the Romaines fled to the towne gate in shytte the gates Ioseph notwithstanding came to one gate of the citie and â—â—tes that the people myght heare saiyng What meaneth this coÌ„spiracie of yours against me yea not against me but rather againste the Lorde God whose couenaunt ye haue transgressed and brooken the bonde that we made with hym ye haue also violated your othe that ye sware by the GOD of Israell that we shoulde altogether fyght againste oure enemies to abate their pryde The people aunswered from the walles wee beseche thee oure Lorde heare thy seruauntes speake God forbidde we shoulde aide the Romaines and not rather the people of the Lorde God of Israell and his sanctuary with the people of his enheritaunce Howbe it there be amongest vs certain proude meÌ„ vngodly persoÌ„es that haue made a league with Vaspasiane and haue broughte into the towne one of his chieftaynes Wherefore and it please thee our Lorde to enter the cytie with
thy souldiours come vnto vs that we maye liue with thee rather then to pearishe in the handes of theim that hate vs. So they opened the gates that Iosephe wente in and tooke the towne Then he caused to apprehende those vngodly persones that were there aboute sixe hundred men and laid them in irons sending theÌ„ to Tiarua whiche â–ª he had afore taken the other wicked men that had aided Vaspasian he put to the sworde But the chiefe gouernor of the towne he apprehended aliue caried him out of the city and commuuÌ„ded one of his souldioures to cut of his handes forthwith Then the captaine besought Ioseph saying I beseche the my Lorde let but one of my handes be cut of and thother to be left me This sute Ioseph and his souldiours loughe to scorne iudgeging him to be no valeaunt man nor of any hautye courage Yet Ioseph hade his souldiour to gâ—ue him the sword in his owne hande and let him cut of whither hand he list and leaue him whiche he will So the Romaine captaine toke the sword and cut of his left hand him self leauinge him the right so was he let go He came therfore vnto Vaspasians caÌ„pe to shew what shame was done him After thys the citizens of Zippori rebelled also making a league with Vaspasian and the Romaines host Ioseph being certified of this made thither with his hole host to besege it but the town abid the brunt of the assaulte that Ioseph coulde preuaile nothing against it Wherfore he besieged it a long season ABout that time it was signified also to theÌ„ of IerusaleÌ„ that the Askelonites had entred in frendship with the Romaines They sente therfore Neger the Edomite Schiloch the Babilonian Iehochanon with a power of the coÌ„moÌ„ people these came to Askalon be seged it a great space Within the town was a Romain captain called Antonius a valeant man a good warriour he vpon a certain night in the morning watch issued out of the town with his companye to geue a camisado to the Iewes that besieged the town entred their campe and made a great slaughter continuing the same iâ—l it was day lighte so that aboute ten thousand of the Iewes were slaine The reaste neuer moued out of their place saying it is better for vs to die in this battayle then to flie from our enemies therfore they toke a good heart vnto them and stode manfullye in their stations and places trustinge in the Lorde God of Israell And when it was daye they also sette them selues in araye againste Antony slue manye of his menne not withoute losse also of their own parte for Schiloch the Babilonian and Iehochanan of Ierusalem were bothe slain by the Romaines with other also of the Iewes to the noumber of eyghte thousande fightingmen that were vnder Schiloh and Iehochanan And neuer a one of the Iewishe captaines escaped that conflicte saue onlye Neger the Edomite whiche hid him self in a certaine sepulchre that was there in the plaine whome the Romaines in their pursuts soughte but founde him not Wherefore they set afire the wod that it burnte rounde aboute the sepulchre wherein he laye hid and consumed all the trees shrubs and bushes but came not nie the sepulchre for Neger had called vnto the Lord with his hole hart to deliuer him this once from his enemies lest he should be shamfully handled of theÌ„ promising at another time to be ready to die valeantly in his quarel So Neger escaped the Romaines by the helpe of the God of Israell in whome he put his truste Shortlye after sente the Ierosolimites muche people to Askalona to the nâ—mber of .xviii thousand good men of war to buri the body of the Iewes that were there slaine in the coÌ„flictes by Antoni they sought also the bodye of Neger the Edomite but they founde it not til at lengthe he cried vnto them oute of the sepulchre sayinge I am here for God hathe deliuered me oute of the handes of mine ennemies to the intente I maye yet be auenged of them in the warres of the LORDE So Negar declared vnto them at large all thinges howe they chaunced vnto him Wherefore the Iewes reioysed wonderfuâ—lye that that they had found him aliue that he was saued by such a miracle that the Lord had deliuered him Therfore thei put their confidence in the Lord beleuing that God wold be presente with them to aide them wherof this deliuerance of Neger they toke for a sure sign and token The Romaines kept them within the towne for feare of the multitude of the Iewes that were come to bury the bodies So the Iewes buried all the bodies of their owne parte that wer slain in bothe battails for the Romaines were not able to prohibit and let them but helde them in the towne And wheÌ„ the burial was finished they toke Neger with them to Ierusalem to geue God thankes there for his deliueraunce at that present TheÌ„ Ioseph the priest gathered his strengthe and came vpoÌ„ Askalon with his hole army assaulted them gate thupper hand and wan the towne after slue Antony and al his people with the sword that of al the valeante men of warre that were with him not one escaped Besides this all the villages and hamlets that were there aboute without the towne he burnt them euery one And in like maner serued he all the townes villages there aboute that had entred in league with the Romains fleaing both Iewes and Romaines that dwelte in them with the sworde as manye as be founde and their houses he brente This done Ioseph returned again to Zippori sought with them gate the vpper hande there shed he much bloud of the people that had conspired with the Romaines vtterlye destroyed theÌ„ burnt also their cities and villages led their wiues and children prisoners awaye to Ierusalem and what Romaines so euer he founde there hee slue them with the sworde Whan as Vaspasian and Titus his sonne hearde of all that Iosephe had wroughte againste the Romaines bothe howe he slue their garisones as manye as he coulde finde in Galile and also all the Iewes that hadde made anye league with him and his sonne they were wonderfull wrothe and in a greate rage They toke therfore their iourny came to Apitelma otherwise called Acho where as at that present Agrippas kinge of Iudea was abidinge and fortye thousande menne with him all good menne of warre and archers euerye one these ioyned them selues with Vaspasians armye by whyche meanes the Romaines campe became verye huge Moreouer oute of other nations rounde aboute Iudea good menne of warre withoute noumber ioyned with Vaspasian He had aid also of all the best menne of warre oute of Mesopotamia Aram Zofa Assur Sinear Persia Chaldea Macedonia and oute of the prouinces of the people of the East yea the people of Mizraim Lob Dedam and Seba with all prouinces farre and neare that were from vnder the subiection of the Iews caste of the
sincere seruice vnto god wil I set vpon theÌ„ Eleasar therfore chose an hundred valiant souldiours with them he issued oute of the towne before day The same night the Romains hadde made fires about their engines where thei watched bicause of the cold The artificers souldiours that kept watch and warde about the Ramms were in number a hundreth and fifty The daye was the. 27. of the moneth of Kislef NoueÌ„ver which was the ninth moneth that Titus had besieged Ierusalem Eleasar his companye thus beinge issued out came found some of the Romains snorting about the fires other watching in their wardes killed theÌ„ all that not one remained Then some of Eleasars coÌ„pany set fire vpon the Rams burnt the standinge postes roapes cheynes other instruments of warre The artificers that were there they catched aliue and burnte them so that no man escaped When it was daye Titus was aware of the Smooke of the fire mountyng vp very foule and stinking of the woode men together he drew towardes the place therfore with his hoast to see what the matter was Eleasar in the meane season and hys company toke as they might get euerye man a piece of the engines oute of the fyre or some of theyr heades that they hadde killed and retourned with great ioy flouting the Romaines and laughing them to skorn by the waye til they came to the gates of IerusaleÌ„ wher they were receiued of Schimeon and Iehochanan with great honor SOne after this came many soldiors great bandes of meÌ„ out of all nations that were subiect to the Empyre of the Romains to ayd Titus to whome Titus declared what had hapened him in the siedg the stoutnes of the Iewes how they had anoyed many waies the Romain army adding moar ouer and asking them dyd ye euer see four men withstaÌ„d ten thousand fyue hunderd so that they al together could nether ouer throw theÌ„ nor take theÌ„ prisoners but the four slew the other lyke as it had ben tops of cucumers smiteÌ„ of with most sharp swordes when they hard this they woÌ„derd all very much Then Titus spake vnto his hoste to theÌ„ which wer newly repaired vnto him to shew their aduise best couÌ„sell what was to be don least we shuld be shamed saith he before al theÌ„ the shall herafter heer of our wars The grauist most auncieÌ„t of the nations that were newly come to his ayde answered If it plese your maiestie let the Romains breath a while take theyr rest which are now weried with the sundry batayls of the Iewes we who are not so brokeÌ„ with labor but freshe and lusty shall try what the Iewes caÌ„ do we caÌ„ not think that they arable to withstaÌ„d so great a multitude But the princes of the Romains desired Titus that he wold not permit them this lest he shuld encrese theyr oune sorowes if peradueÌ„ture they shuld be discoÌ„fited say they of the Iewes the matter redound vnto our shame For if we which are acquainted with theÌ„ know their maner of fight can not susteyne their violence how shal they do it the neuer had profe of the strength force of the Iewes They shal be to theÌ„ like Isop which groweth vpoÌ„ the walles in coÌ„parison of the ceder trees of Libanus Thother said nay thei shuld do wel enough with theÌ„ they vrged Titus so instaÌ„tly dishonor retourned vnto Titus who reprehended them bycause they would not beleue the Romaines The nexie day folowing the Iewes brought forth the thre thousand nobles and gentlemen that thei had taken prisoners and plucked out of euery one of them an eye and cut of of euery man the toon hand after sent them back with shame reproche to Titus camp Then Titus consulted with all hys princes what were best to doo with the Israelites when euery man had sayd his mind he liked neuer a mans couÌ„sel but said vnto them Well I haue deuised thys with my selfe whyche I will folow and no man shall bring me frome my purpose we will kepe the siedge withoute any assaulte or skermishe for theyr victuales fayled them long agoo and so they shal be famished Besides thys when they shall see vs cease to fyght wyth them they wyll fall at variaunce emongst them selues and kyll one an other Thys counsell was thought good of all Titus Prynâ—es wherfore they beseged the toune as Titus commaunded and closed vp all the wayes of the Cytye rounde aboute leaste the Iewes shuld as they had done before come vpon them at vnwares They appoynted more ouer watche daye and nyght to take heed that no man shoulde come out of the towne to gather herbes for theyr sustenance Then encreased the hungar in Ierusalem whych if it had not bene so greuous the Citye had neuer bene wonne for the souldiors of the toune were lyghter then Egles and fearcer then Lyones There dyed therefore of the famin wonderfull manye of the Ierosolomites so that the Iewes coulde not fynde place to burye them in they were so manye in euery place of the toune Many caste theyr dead folkes into theyr welles and tumbled in them selues after and dyed many also made them selues graues went into them alyue where they taried day and nyght and dyed vnmourned for For all mourning and customed lamentacion for the dead was lefte of bycause of the vnmesurable famin which was so great that it can not be tolde and I can not reherse the thousand parte of the mischief that folowed of the hungar Titus seyng the innumerable carcasses of the dead that were cast into the broke Kidron lyke dong was wonderfully amased with feare and stretched out his handes toward heauen saing lord God of heauen and earth whome the Israelites beleue in clense me from this sinne whyche surely I am not the cause of for I required peace of them but they refused it and they theÌ„ selues are longe of thys mischeif they haue sinned againste their owne soules and lyues I besech thee reken it not to me for a sinne that the Iewes dye on this fashion AT that tyme certain wicked persones of Ierusalem slaundered Amittai the priest falsly saing to captain Schimeon behold Amittai the hye priest which did let thee into the citye goeth aboute to flee to the tenâ—es of the Romaines Thou haste experience of hys great wit and craft how he also knoweth al the secret wayes vnto the toun temple and sanctuary and who can tell whyther he wil bring the Romaines some night at midnight into the city Therfore Schimeon sent certayn to fetch Amittai and his foure sonnes vnto him They thou were sent brought Amittai but three of his sonnes for one was fled to the Romaines came to Ioseph Amittai with the other when he came to Schimeons presence he besought hym not to lyue but that he might be put to death by by least he shulde lyue to see the death of hys childreÌ„ But Schimeon
was hard harted and wolde not be intreated for it was Gods will that Amittai shuld be punished bycause he was the bringer of Schimeon into Ierusalem therfore fel he into his handes which for good rewarded him with euill Schimeon commaunded a sorte of murtherers to place Amittai vpon the walles in the syght of the Romaynes and sayde vnto hym seest thou Amittai why doo not the Romaynes delyuer and rescue the oute of my handes the I say whyche woldest haue fled away vnto them Amittai answered nothing to thys but still besought hym that before hys death he might kisse hys sonnes bid them fare wel but Schimeon vtterly denied hym Wherfore Amittai wept a loude sayng to hys sonnes I brought deare chyldren I brought thys thiefe into thys toun wherefore I am counted nowe for a thiefe my selfe all thys mischyefe whyche is comed vpon me and you it is myne own doynge bycaufe I brought this seditious villain into this holy City I thought then perauenture he wil be a helpe to the toune but it is nowe proued contrarye for he hathe bene a moste cruell enemy of the same It was not enough for vs to kepe one seditious person Iehochanan I mean whyche tooke vnto hym Eleasar the fyrste begynner of sedition but I muste bringe in also thys wycked Schimeon whyche is ioyned to oure fooes to destroye vs. In deed I neuer brought him in for any loue that I bare vnto hym but all the Priestes and the hoole multitude of the people sent me to fetche hym notwithstanding I am worthy of this iuste iudgement of God bycause I tooke vpon me suche an ambasage What shoulde I speake of thee thou moste wycked Schimeon for whyther so euer thou turnest thee thou bringst all thinges out of frame In deed thou dealest iustly with me bicause I haue sinned vnto God to his people and his citye in that I haue brought the in to be a plage to it Wherefore I were worthy to be stooned notwithstanding it had bene thy parte thou wycked murtherer to deliuer me and my sonnes frome the haÌ„des of the other seditions for I haue wrought them displeasure but to thee haue I done good Howbeit our God will not altar nor chaunge his iudgmentes whyche is that I shuld fall into the sword of thy hand for that I made thee to enter into this city wher in I offended God greuously If euer I had purposed to flee vnto the Romaynes could I not haue done it before euer I brought in thee for at that tyme barest thou no rule ouer vs. And before we called in thee Iehochanan with his sedition was an offence vnto this city wherfore wee perswaded all the anuncient of the toun that thou shuldest be an ayde vnto vs to dryue out our foes but thou in whom we put our trust arte become our enemye yea thou haste been worse then they for the other put men to death pryuily thou doest it openly Who is he that hath strengthened the power of the Romains art not thou he which hast killed the souldiers of God in the middest of thys citye Ierusalem for fewe haue bene slayn wythoute Titus woulde haue made peace with vs taking pitie vpon vs but that same didest thou let and hinder euery daye mouing new warres and stiring new battailes Titus gaue charge to hys souldiâ—rs to laye no handes vpon the temple but thou hast polluted and defyled the temple of the Lorde sheding bloud without measure in the middes thereof Titus went back from vs vpon the holy daye of the Lorde and ceased from fighting saying go and obserue your holy feastes in peace but thou vnhalowedst the feast of the Lord and leshedst out the continuall fyre wyth innocent bloud Al these euilles which thou hast committed thou murtherer at imputed vnto me bicause I brought the into the toune Now therfore this bengeaunce is appointed to mine age of the lord God and by thy haÌ„des shall I goo to my graue with sorow bicause I by my foolishnes was a doar in this mischief that is wrought by thee Albeit now thou wicked Schimeon in this that thou killest me before mine eyes may see the burnynge of the temple it pleaseth me very well but whanedeth thee thou murtherer to put my sonnes to death before my face whye doest thou not spare mine age Would God that like as I shall not se the burning of the temple so also I might not see the bloud of my children shed before my face But what shal I dooe when God hath deliuered me into the hands of a most wicked man Wee that were the auncients of Hierusalem abhorreâ— Iehochanan because he murthered olde men without al reuerence but he slew no yonge men thou destroyest â—ld and yonge greate and small without anye pitte or mercye Iehochanan mâ—uâ—ned for the dead and buried them also thou playest vpon instrumentes at their burials singest to the Lute and seundest the trumpet Then spake he to Schimeons seruaunte who was ready with a swerde in his hande and an are to kyll hym and to cutte of his heade saiynge Goe to nowe and execute Schimeons thy masters commaundement be head Sonnes in sighte of their father and let mee heare the voyce of cruelrye in my sonnes whyche notwithstandynge I forgeue thee For as I shall see and heare that againste my wyll so I dare saye thou killest them not willynglye Woulde God that Schimeon woulde suffer mee to kysse my Sonnes and whyles I am aliue to embrace theim or they dye But thou gentle minister in one thinge shewe thy pitie towards me that when thou hast put my soÌ„nes and mee to execution seperate not our bodies nether ley in sunder their corses from mine but so that my bodye mayâ— lye vppermost and couer theirs to defende them from the foules of the ayre lest they deuour my sonnes bodyes for it maye fortune they maie be buried I beseche thee also that my mouth and tongue when I am deade may â—ouche my sonnes faces that so I maye both embrace and kysse theim But what do I delay or tarye any lenger seynge the enemy denyes me this to kisse theÌ„ whyles we are yet aliue See thou therefore that our bodies be not seuered and if Schimeon will not permit this that our bodies may be ioyned in this world yet can he not let our souls to be ioyned for after I shal be once dead I doubt not but I shall see the lyght of the Lord. His sonnes hearing their fathers wordes began to wepe very sore with theyr father who sayd vnto them Alas my sonnes why wepe ye what auayleth teares why doo ye not rather go before me and I wil folow as I maye for what should I do now seyng God hath geuen me into the handes of a moste cruel tirant who spareth nether mine age nor youre youthe But I truste we shall lyue together in the light of the lord and although I can not be suffred now to see you enough yet when we shall come
man as was any amongst al the coÌ„pany of Kuttiim he seing the Iewes to preuaile and to haue thupperhande of the Romaines which now had left of fighting fled the Iewes pursuing theÌ„ in a rage he ran against them and met them at the newe wal that Herode builded called Antochia driue them backe and made them take thentri of the temple again wheras pressing into the routes of the Iewes he was sore wounded of a certain Iew. And when he perceiued him selfe wounded he woulde haue lepte backe but stombled at a stone in the pauement of the courte of the temple sel downe where he â—oughte yet stil tâ—â— a certaine Iewe killed him outrighte He foughte in deede verye boldly and valeauntlye but vnwarily for he considered not his grounde wherin he had to do with the Iewes Titus waitinge for Golinus returne and hearinge him to be slain would haue gon him self to rescue the reaste of his whiche were with him But hys men woulde not suffer him fearinge leafte he him selfe shoulde be slaine The Iewes therfore gate the vpper hande that day and slue wonderful manye Romaines in that bat taile spoilinge them also whyche were killed of their armoure Thesâ— were the names of the Iewes the made that skirmishe Of the company of captain Iehochanan Elasa and Iphtach of Schimeons companye Malchiah and Iaikob a Prince of the Edomites And Arsimon and Iehudah of the company of Eleasar the sonne of Anam These with their companions made thys flaughter of the Romaines in the entranâ—â— of the temple and droue them back to the Antochia where they kept â—hem vp that they coulde not get oute Wherfore when Titus perceiued that the Antochia was in the Romaines waye and hindred them he caused it to be 〈◊〉 pulled down to the ground These thinges were done vpon the .v. day of Siuan Maye â–ª the third moneth vpâ— the euen of the solemâ—ne festiuall daye of weekes which otherwise is called Pentecost and that 〈◊〉 the .xiiii. moneth from the beginninge of Titus siegâ— against this citye SHortly after vpon the third dai of the feast of weekes theÌ„ Iewes as maâ—â—e as were at Ierusalem kept holy 〈◊〉 and celebrated the waste Titus takingâ— with him Ioseph the sonne of Gorion â–ª weÌ„t vnto the house of the saÌ„ctuarâ— where the seditious souldiours of the Iewes were gathered together and called vnto Iehochanan the rest of the captains of the seditious to whome he 〈…〉 the meanâ—s of Ioseph beinge his interpreter in this wise What hath this teÌ„ple offeÌ„ded thee thou seditious Iehochanan why hast thou brought vpoÌ„ it thiâ— great euil and mischief If so be it thou truste so muche to thy 〈…〉 forthe to vs with thy menne into the fieldes and we shall fight with thee thy fill Is not this your solempne festiuall daye Whye then will ye fighte in that place where ye should offer your sacrifices Ye pollute and defile the sanctuary of your God and his name we spare it knowinge it is the house of God And thonlye cause whye we make war vppon you is your stubburne stifneckednesse that you will not submit your selues to vs whome God hathe geuen the dominion vnto whose will ye lahoure in vayne to disappoynt Eyther therefore if ye wyl fighte no more humble your selues vnder oure subiection that ye maye saue your liues or else if ye be determined still desperatelye to fighte wyth vs then get ye forthe from hence and let vs goe into the fieldes there to set oure battailes in aray for why wil ye defile your sanctuary hinder the worshipping of your God Muche more besides this spake Titus partlye blaming their stubburnnes in that thei had defiled their temple and yet ceased not to pollute it more and more partly with fayre words and gentlenes exhorting them to yelde admonishing them not to resist so mighty an army when as they could not do it withoute daunger of vtter destruction These many other thinges Ioseph expressed in Hebrue to the people as Titus willed him but the Iewes answered neuer a word for Iehochanan had geuen a charge that no man should speake Then captainâ— Iehochanan answered Titus him self sayinge We can offer no kinde of sacrifices more acceptable to God then to vowe ieoparde and habandon oure owne bodies and bloud for his names sake Wherefore we wil dye free in this oure towne and wyl neuer come in bondage to serue you Titus made him answer by Ioseph sayinge This your city I graunt is a holy cityâ— and your temple is moâ—â—e holye whyche no man dothe deny But ye haue greuouslye sinned in that ye haue polluâ—ed the temple of the Lorde your God by sheadinge in it the innocente bloÌ„ude of sainâ—es and priestes of God wyth other mooste godlye and holye menne By what reason canne ye then saye that you shal be accepted for sacrifices and offerynges before God Yea rather God abhorreth and detesteth you vtterly when as he requireth in his sacrifices that thei should haue no defaut nor spot but ye are all to be spotted so that no sounde place is in you For tell me I praye you if there be anye more abhominable spot in man then synne when as he traunsgresseth the lawe of God as ye haue done Neither is there anye wisedome or intelligence in you For wise men wold wisely beare with the calamities of times and know the courses of thinges How then are ye so â—olishe to saie that ye are an acceptable and well pleasynge sacrifice vnto god when as ye resist the wyll of GOD so proudelye But thou Iehochanan and the rest of the sedicious capitaines that are with thee tell me art not thou a mortall man subiecte vnto the griefes and vexacions of this life and wormes meat as we be Shold he not displease thee that should take awaye a table or such like thing prepared to the honour of thee wouldest thou take it in good parte holde him excused that should do so vnto thee Why then haste thou taken awaye the sacrifices of thy God out of his Temple and haste stuffed it with innumerable deade bodies Who can see or heare this and abstain from wepinge when he shall knowe so manie Israelites to haue suffered death by thee and Schimeon and Eleasar thy felowes Nether canst thou yet apply thy minde to cease and leaue of thy malice and yet neuertheles perswadest thi self the whyle that God is wyth thee and that thou with thy felowes arte an acceptable and well pleasynge Sacrifice vnto GOD nothynge perceiuynge that your synnes seperateth you and kepeth you a sunder more strongelye then ante Brasen walle It is true I confesse that it becommeth euerye valeant man to stande stoutelye in the defence of his people citye and countrey For it is better to dye valiantlye then to com into the subiectioÌ„ of his enmy that goeth about to plucke him from his religion and driue him out of his couÌ„trey But I came not hither for
for meat which she had not to geue him she said vnto him What shal I do my soÌ„ne for the wrath of God hath enuironed the whole city in euerye corner therof famin reigneth without the citie the sword killeth vp all within we stand in feare of the sedicious our ennemies preuail without in the towne are fires burnings and ruines of houses famine pestilence spoiling and destroying so that I can not fede thee my sonne Nowe therefore my sonne if I shoulde dye for hunger to whoÌ„ shoulde I leaue thee beinge yet a childe I hoped once that when thou shouldest come to maÌ„s state thou shouldest haue susteined mine age with meat drinke and cloth and after when I shuld dye to bury me honorablye like as I was mineded to bury thee if thou shouldest haue died before me But now misoÌ„ne the art as good as ded al redi for I haue no meat to bringe thee vp withall because of this great famin and crueltye of the enemies both within and without If thou shuldest die now amongst other thou shouldest haue no good nor honourable tombe as I woulde wishe thee Wherfore I haue thoughte good to chuse that a sepulcher eueÌ„ mine own body least thou shouldest die dogges eate thee in the stretes I will therfore be thy graue thou shalt be my fode And for that that if thou hadst liued growen to maÌ„s state thou oughtest by right to haue nourished me now feede me with thy fleshe and with it sustein mine age before that famine deuoure thee and thy body be consumed Render therfore vnto thy mother the whiche she gaue vnto thee for thou câ—mmest of her and thou shalte returne into her For I will brynge thee into the selfe same shop in the whiche the breathe of life was breathed into thy nosethrilles forasmuch as thou art my welbeloued sonne whom I haue loued alwayes with al my strength be therfore meate for thy mother an ignominy reproch to the Sedicious that by violence haue taken awaye our fode Wherefore my sonne heare my voice and susteine my soule and my life and go to th end that is determined for thee by my handes thy lot be in the gardein of Eden and Paradise be thou meate for me a rebuke and shame to the Sedicious that they maie be compelled to saie Loe a woman hath killed her sonne and hath eaten him So wheÌ„ she had thus spokeÌ„ to her sonne she toke the child and turning her face awaye lest she should see him dye she killed him with a sword after cut his body into certaine pieces wherof some she rosted some she sodde when she had eaten of them she laâ—ed vp the reste to kepe The sauoure of the flesshe rosted when it came out into the streates to the People they saied one to an other see here is a smell of coste meate whiche thinge came vnto the knowledge of the Sedicious 〈◊〉 lengthe who wente into the house of the woman and spake roughlye vnto her whye shouldest thou haue meate to liue with and wee dye for hongâ—r â–ª The woman made theim aunswerâ— and saide vnto theim Be not dispeased I beseche you wyth youre handemaide for this for you shall see I haue kepte parte for you Sit you downe therefore and I will bringe it you that ye maye taste thereof for it is verye goodimeate And by and by shee layed the Table and set before theim parte of the childes fleshe saiyâ—ge Cate I pray you here is a childes hand se here his fote and other parts and neuer report that it is any other womans child but mine owne onelye Sonne that ye knewe with me him I bare and also haue eaten part and part I haue kepte for you Whiche when she hadde spoken she burst out and wepte saiyngeâ— Oh my sonne my sonne howe swete waste thou to mee whiles thou yet liâ—edst and now at thy death also thou art sweter to me then honye for thou hast not onely sed me in this most grâ—â—ous famin but thou hast defended me from the wrath of the sedicious wherwith they were incensed towards me when the smell of the meate broughte theim into my house Nowe therefore are they become my frendes for they sit at my table and I haue made them 〈◊〉 feast with thy fleshe After she turned her to the sedicious and bade them eat and satisâ—ie them selues for why saith she shoulbe ye abhorre my meat which I haue set before you I haue satisfied my selfe therwith why therfore do you not eat of the flesh of mi son Tast and se how swete my sonnes flesh is I dare saye ye wil saye it is good meat What neadeth pitie ought ye to be more moned therewith then a womanne If yâ— will in no wyse eate of the Sacrifice of my Sonne when as I haue eaten therof mi self Shal not this be a shame for you that I shold haue a better hart and greater courage then you Behold I haue prepared a faire Table for you most valiant men why eat ye not Is it not a good feast that I haue drest for you and it was your wil that I should make you this feaste It hadde bene my parte rather to haue bene moued with pitie of my sonne then yours and how chaunceth it therfore that ye are more mercifull then I Are not ye they thâ—â— spoiled my house and lest me no kinde of sode for me and my sonne Are 〈◊〉 ye thei that coÌ„strained me to make you this feast notwithstandinge the greate bonger that I haue Why then â—at yâ— not therof wheÌ„ as ye were the auct◠〈◊〉 and the causers that I did this dedâ— The Iewes hearynge this matter were wonderfullye smitten into â—â—dnesse yea euen the gouernourâ— of the sedicious beganne to stoupe when they hearde of this so that they all in a manner desiered deathe they were so amased at this horrible Acte Manye therefore of the common people stale out in the nighâ—e forthe of Hierusalem with al their substance to the Romainê campe and shewed Titus of this who wepte thereat and was sorie for the matter exceadinglye holdynge vp his bandes to heauen and criynge Thou Lorde God of the worlde God of this house to whom al secrets are knowen whiche also knowest my hearte that I came not againste this Citie as desierous of Warres but rather of Peace whiche I euer offered them but yet the citizins thereof euermore refused it although I often times intreated theim and when they distroied one another by their ciuil dissention I would haue deliuered theim but I founde theim alwaies like moste fierce cruel beastes nothinge sparinge theim selues this mischiefe is come nowe so farre that a woman hathe eaten her owne flesshe beinge driuen therunto by moste extreame necessitie I haue hearde and my forefathers haue tolde mee all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towardes them and their fathers how thy name dwelt amongst theÌ„ For thou broughtest theim out of Egypte with
to dye And woulde God we had bene dead before the we might not haue seene in thee thy reproch or who would bring to passe the we might lacke eyes that we shuld not be compelled to see these mischeues the are in the mids of thee And behold we liue a most sorowful life for our enemies eueÌ„ now afore we be dead cast lots vpon our sonnes daughters to deuide theÌ„ amoÌ„gst theÌ„ to be their seruaÌ„tes handmaids When Eleasar had ended this lamentacion he spake to the people that was w e him thus NOw therfore brethreÌ„ frends take pitye of your selues your wiues children with old men which he with you let theÌ„ not be led into boÌ„dage with out al merci the they be not coÌ„streined to mourn vnder the haÌ„ds of their enemies for if ye do this ye leese withoute all doubte all places that are prepared for you in the world of rightousnesse neither shall ye haue any part in the light of life But rather with your owne handes kil them thus if ye wil do they shal be couÌ„ted as sacrifices most accdptable vnto God and that done we wil after issue out vpon oure enemies and fight against them till we vse valeaÌ„tly for the glory of the lord for we wil nener suffer them to bind vs with boÌ„des and cheins as bond slaues in the handes of the vncircumcised Nether wil we se our aunciente men to be haled by the berdes before our eyes most miserably nor yet oure maides wifes and doughters to be vnhalowed and defloured nor oure sonnes criynge to vs and we can not helpe them for what shal oure life auaile vs after that our land is desolate our sanctuary pulled downe the Romains rauishe our wiues doughters before our eyes and oppresse oure sonnes with a most greuous and hard yoke Nowe therfore it is better for vs to kil al our wiues and childreÌ„ whose bloud God shal accepte thankfullye as the blud of burnt offerings after â–ª we wil issue out vpon the Romains fight til we be al destroyed die for the glory of the Lord our God These menne therfore wente and gathered together their wiues and doughters embrased 〈◊〉 and kissed them saying is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini shame into the landes of your ennemies and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles These saiynges wheÌ„ the people had beard thei droue forth that night in great sorow and pensifenesse weping and makinge great lamenâ—â—cion but they all confest with one accorde that they had rather chuse to die then liue Therefore assone as it was daye â–ª Eleasars companions killed their wines and children caste their bodies into the â—esterns and welles that were in Mezirah couering and stepving theÌ„ with earth Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his meÌ„ and â—orced a battel vpon the Romains of wheÌ„ the Iewes killed a great forte and fought so long till they al died maÌ„fully for the Lord God BUt Titus left a remnaunt of Israel in the citye Iafnah and the villages thereabout and in the estye Bitter and Aossa their villages in whiche place Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the priest yonger brother to Iosephe the Prieste was put in authority by Titus for Iosephs sake ouer al the Iewes which were at Ierusalem At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to â—â—ath â–ª and Ischmael soÌ„ne of Elischa the 〈◊〉 priest Moreouer Titus was minded to haâ—â— put Rabban Gamaliel father of Raâ—chbag to deathe but Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai made sute for him and obteined to saue his life This Rabban Iochanan was he that came forthe of Ierusalem in the beginning wheÌ„ Vaspasian father of Titus came firste against Ierusalem whoÌ„ Vaspasian honoured greatly in so much as when he returned to Rome he commended this Rabban Iochanan to his sonne Titus comaunding him to honor him for he perceiued he was a verye wise man Titus reigned two yeares after he had taken Ierusalem and died He was a very eloquent man expert in the Latin and Greke tong writ diuers workes in both the tonges He loued moste intirely iustice and equitye for he wasted the city of Ierusalem against his wil being compelled therunto Yea all the mischiefe that came vpon it happened through the malice and noughtinesse of the sedicious as we haue touched before And thus far of the warres of the second house ¶ Thus endeth the destruction of Ierusalem Nn. ii ⧠The ten Captiuities of the Ievves i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captiuitie foure times by the handes of Sanherib and foure times by Nabuchadnezar once by Vaspasian and once bi supersticious Adrian First inuaded them Sanherib â—â—ennache â—â—b and traunsposed the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasse He toke awaye also the golden calfe whiâ—he Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had made He ledde them into Halah Habur to the floud of Gozan and to the cities of the Medes This captiuitie was in the time of Pekah the sonne of Remaha ii The second Captiuitie Hoscha the sonne of Ela remained and slew Pekah the sonne of Remalia Afterwarde he became the seruant and subiect of Sanherib seuen yeares Then came Sanherib the seconde time and caried awaye the tribes of Aâ—ar Isachar Zebulon and Naphtali of whom he let go free onely one of euery eight He tâ—ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel iii. After the death of Ahaz raigned Hiz kiahu his soÌ„ne in his steede four yeres Hezekia the fourth yere of whose rain Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria beseging it .iii. yeares and at lengthe roke it in the vi yeare of the raigne of Hiskijahu So led he awaye the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Manasse This is the .iii. captiuity iiii When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii yeares Sanheriâ— perauenture he made warres againste Ierusalem bringynge wyth hym the Chuteans heretikes out of Babilon E. thiopia Hemates Auim and Sepharuauim and as he warred vpon Iudea he toke in that countrye a. C and. l. cities in the which there were .ii. tribes Iuda and Simeon whome he toke with him caused them forthwith to be led into Halah Habur vntil the king of the Ethiopians rebelled againste him whose kingdoÌ„ was on the hinder parts of Egipt Then taking Iuda Simeon with him he made war with the king of Ethiopia So the holye and blessed God placed them in darke mountains He re was foure captiuities whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib There remained yet of Iuda Cx. thousand and of Beniamin Cxxx. thousand in Ierusalem ouer whoÌ„ raigned Hizkiahu Moreouer Sanherib came out of Ethiopia againste Ierusalem the fifte time leading with him Cx. thousand but the holye Lorde ouerthrewe hym there as it is written And the angell of the