vnto the Priest the breast and leg of the beast This is that allowance which Moses ratified to the Priests and besides this whatsoeuer the people offered for sinnes as we declared in the next precedent volume And what soeuer was contributed by the people to the order of the Priests he commaunded that both their wiues children and seruants should be made partakers of the same onely except those things which were offered for sinne offerings for these things the Priests onely themselues eate vp in the Temple the same day After that this policy was in this sort ratified by Moses that the mutinie was appeased he remoued his campe and with all his forces came to the borders of Idumaea where he sent Embassadours to the King thereof requiring him to grant him and his free passage and offering him such and so sufficient pledges as he should esteeme and recken of to assure him that no violence or iniurie should be offered assuring him to make payment for whatsoeuer victuall or drinke eyther he or his army should receiue But he setting light by their Embassage denied them passage and with a well furnished armie marched forth against Moses to withstand him if contrarie to his will he should attempt to passe thorow his countrey And for that God had not counselled Moses to begin the combate if he were inforced by the enemie he retired backe againe determining to seeke his passage athwart the desart At that time died his sister Mary the fortith yeare after their departure out of Aegypt and the first Moone of the moneth Xantique she was magnifically entombed at the common charge on a certaine mountaine called Sein and after the people had mourned for her fortie daies he purified them after this manner The Priest taking a young heifer which had neuer as yet borne yoake nor laboured in colour wholy red led him a little apart from the campe in a most cleane place and there cut his throat with the bloud thereof taken on his finger he seuen times besprinkled the Tabernacle of God and after he had consumed in fire the whole heifer with his skin and entrailes he cast a branch of Cedar into the fire with a little Hysope and red woole and wholy gathered vp the ashes thereof A man that is cleansed putteth it in a cleane place and they that are vncleane by meanes of one that is dead put a little of these ashes into a fountaine with Hysope and after they haue mixed the ashes in the fountaine they besprinkle themselues three times and on the seuenth day and after that are they purified He likewise ordained that the like purification should be vsed when a man should take possession of his inheritance But after the army that had so long mourned the dead sister of the generall were thus purified he led them thorow the desart into Arabia and arriuing in a place which the Arabians account for their Metropolitane citie in times past called Arce and at this present Petra which is inuironed with a high mountaine Aaron ascended the said mountaine Moses shewed him the place where he should yeeld vp his soule vnto God and in the sight of all the army standing on a high place he put off his stoale and gaue it to his sonne Eleazar to whom by eldership the succession appertained and thus in the sight of the people he died in that verie yeare wherein he lost his sister and in the hundreth twentie and third yeare of his age he departed on the newe moone in the moneth of August called by the Athenians Hecatombeon by the Macedonians Ious and Sabba by the Hebrewes The people mourned for him for the space of fortie daies and then desisted Moses displaced his campe from thence and pitched his tents neere vnto a riuer called Arnon which springeth from the mountaines of Arabia and runneth along the desart and then entreth into the Asphaltique lake separating the Region of the Moabites from that of the Amorites The countrey is fertill and sufficient to yeeld fruit to all the inhabitants in great foison to Sehon King of this countrey Moses sent Embassadors requiring passage thorow his kingdome vnder such assurance as should best please him that no wrong should be offered neither to his countrey nor the inhabitants thereof assuring him to pay the price of what soeuer his soldiers tooke either in victuals or water But Sehon refused him and arming his people pitched his tents on the banks of Arnon being readie to repulse the Hebrewes if they presumed to passe the riuer CHAP. V. Moses ouercommeth Sehon and Og Kings of the Amorites and distributeth their countrey by Lot vnto two Tribes and a halfe of the Hebrewes BVt when Moses perceiued that the Amorites were disposed to hostilitie for which cause supposing that the iniury and contempt was not to be endured and seeing the Hebrews were an intractable kind of men and such as either by idlenes or want might be easily perswaded to renue their former seditions and tumults and being willing to preuent all these occasions he asked counsell at Gods hands whether he would permit him to enforce his passage by the sword Now when God had allowed his purpose and besides that promised him the victorie he was greatly confirmed in hope and animated and encouraged his soldiers telling them that the time was now come wherein they might enterprise their long desired warre with Gods fauour and his approbation and encouragement who reioycing at this libertie that was granted them sodainly tooke armes and in a set battell hasted to charge the enemie On the other side the Amorite as soone as he saw them march forward and begin the onset forgetting his former fiercenes was both himselfe terrified and his soldiers likewise who before the sight of their enemies were as cruel and bloudy as Lions now waxed as feareful and as meeke as Lambs So that they scarcely had endured the first assault but that they fled reposing the whole hope of their prosperitie in their retreat they trusted likewise to their walled townes which notwithstanding did nought at al auaile them For no sooner did the Hebrewes perceiue that their enemies began to trust their feete and that their rankes were broken but they more freshly pursued them and brought them into extreme feare so that being vtterly put to flight and dispersed vpon the field they were inforced to flie vnto their Cities Yet ceased not the Hebrewes to pursue them more fiercely but began more and more to molest them with those kind of weapons wherein they were exercised before time for being expert and well trained in the sling and bow and perfect in casting the dart and nimble in bodie by reason of their light armours they ran after their enemies and with their shafts and bowes shot at those which were a farre off and might not bee ouertaken So that there followed a most huge slaughter and they that escaped were
vessels which were destinated for sacrifice Then followed the whole multitude distinguished in their Tribes hauing inclosed within their battels the women children whereby they might be the more secure from the force of the floud But when as the Priests had marched formost and found the riuer passible and that the water was decreased and that the current thereof was not so violent neither the billowes so incensed but that in the bottome there was good footing for that the grauell and sand was not quicke but setled then all of them without feare passed ouer the foord finding all things assuredly perfourmed vnto them which God had both foreprophesied and promised vnto them but the Priests kept them in the midst of the channell vntill the multitude were past ouer and were in securitie and when as euerie one had go◅en the other banke the priests issued out permitting the riuer to flow according to his free and ordinarie course which pleasantly flowing grew to that greatnesse and swiftnes which it retained at the first Now when the Hebrewes had marched fiftie furlongs they incamped themselues some ten furlongs from Hiericho But Iesus building an Altar of stones which euery one of the Princes of the tribes had gathered out of the channell of Iordan according as the Prophet had commaunded to the end it might be a monument of the prodigious restrainment of the floud and on the same he sacrificed vnto God and the solemnity of the Paschal was celebrated in that place and at that time they who in times past were in great necessitie were largely furnished with all plentie and aboundance for they did reape the corne of the Chanaanits which at that time was ripe caried away the rest for a pray In the same season likewise their nourishment of Manna failed thē wheron they had fed for the space of forty yeers And whereas the Israelites did all these things with securitie and freely and the Chanaanites neuer sallied out against them but appauled with feare shut themselues vp within their wals Iesus decreed and resolued to besiege them in their cities so that on the first day of the feast the Priests bearing the arke and garded on euerie side with troupes of armed men drew neere vnto the Citie sounding their seuen hornes and exhorting their soldiers to behaue themselues manfully they walked about and inuironed the walles round about being attended both by the Senate and Elders neither did they any other thing but blow their hornes and so returned backe into their campe Which when they had done for the space of sixe daies on the seuenth Iosuah assembled the armie and all the people bringing them ioyfull newes of the Citie which that day should be surprised without labour the walles falling downe of their owne accord and without mans hand and yeelding them free passage and entrance into the Citie and he encouraged them to kill all those whom they met withall and not to giue ouer the slaughter of their enemies although they were wearie neither to be moued with compassion nor allured from the slaughter and execution by desire of pray or to permit the enemie in any sort to flie but that they should extinguish and roote out all that which breathed and had life reseruing nothing for pray or priuate profit He commaunded likewise that all that which was found either of gold or siluer should be brought into one place reserued to be the first fruites of the happie works of God and after the surprisall first of the Citie that onely Rahab with her kinred should be saued by reason of the othes which the spies had sworn vnto her This said he arranged his host and made them approch the Citie then did they once more walke round about the City the Arke marching before them and encouraging the armie to valour by the sound of their Cornets And after they had enuironed the wals seuen times and had a little reposed themselues the walles fell whereas then neither the Hebrewes had enforced any engine against them or vsed any other violence So that they entring into the Citie slue all those that were therein who were alreadie discomforted by the sodaine and vnexpected ouerthrow of their walles and thorow their sodaine feare made vnapt to fight so that they were slaine amidst their streets finding neither refuge nor reliefe to succour them yea so were they fleshed in the slaughter that they neither spared women nor children but filled the Citie with dead carcasses which at length being set on fire serued them for a funerall flame to consume them in and with equall furie rauaged and burnt the fields Only Rahab and her houshold who kept themselues within her hostrie were saued by the spies who brought to Iosuahs presence he gaue her thanks for sauing his spies and promised her that he would reward her courtesies and anone after gaue her possessions and euer after held her in great honour All that of the Citie which the fire spared the sword consumed And Iosuah pronounced curses against those who should afterward endeuour to erect that which he had ruinated namely that he that should lay the first foundation should be depriued of his first begotten sonne and he that should finish the worke might lose his yongest sonne neither pleased it God that this imprecation of his should be frustrate as hereafter it shall be spoken At the surprise and sacke of this Citie there was gathered an infinite quantitie of gold siluer and brasse so that no man brake the Edict or sought any pray or lucre thereby for himselfe These spoiles Iesus deliuered vnto the Priests to be laid vp in the treasurie and after this manner was the citie of Iericho destroied But Achar the sonne of Zebed of the tribe of Iuda hauing gotten a royall pall altogether embrodered with gold with an ingot of gold of three hundreth sicles in waight and thinking in himselfe that it were a verie fond thing that the profit he had made by the hazard of his life should be taken from him and presented vnto God who had no need thereof digged a deepe pit in his tent and buried his spoiles therein thinking by this means to defraud God and deceiue his companions At that time their tents were pitched in a place which was called Galgal which signifieth Enfranchized because that hauing past the riuer Iordan they knew that they should be delmered from the affliction of Egypt and the penurie of the desart But some few daies after the destruction of Iericho Iosuah sent out three thousand armed men against Ainan a Citie scituate a little aboue lericho who encountring with the Ainites in battell and by them put to flight lost thirtie and sixe of their company The newes of which disaster being brought into the campe the Israelites were seased with exceeding griefe not onely for the men they had lost which were all of them valiant men and worthie of honour but also by
In this estate were the affaires of Asa king of the two Tribes Now will I returne to Basa King of the multitude of Israel who hauing slaine Nadab the son of Ieroboam vsurped the kingdome He made his aboad in the citie of Thersa and raigned foure and twenty yeeres shewing himselfe more wicked impious then either Ieroboam or his son had bin He plagued the people many waies dishonoured God very greatly who sent the Prophet Gimon vnto him to foretell him that his whole race should perish and that his house should be persecuted with as many miseries as himselfe had inflicted on Ieroboams posterity because that hauing receiued the gouernment from God he shewed himselfe vngratefull vnto him for his goodnesse and gouerned his people impiously and vniustly whereas iustice and pietie are both profitable vnto those that practise them and wel-pleasing vnto God Further in that he had conformed himselfe in life to the dissolute course that Ieroboam vsed and was wholy contaminated with all his vices he might assure himselfe that resembling him in wickednesse he should vndoubtedly equall him in punishment When Basa heard all those euils that should shortly fall on him and his posteritie by reason of his wickednesse he redeemed not the time neither indeuoured himselfe to gaine the reputation of a reconciled life or to obtaine pardon at Gods hands by repenting himselfe of his forepassed sinnes but euen as they that haue a recompence proposed vnto them to make them more affectionate in exploiting any thing doe diligently indeuour themselues to performe the same so Basa notwithstanding the prophet had foretold him of that which should happen persisted in his wickednesse as if it had been in vertue and became worse and worse to the vtter ruine and confusion both of him and his houshold and daily addicted himselfe vnto all wickednesse with no lesse greedinesse then if he had enterprised to beare away the honour in such a combate In the end he assembled an army and assailed Ramath once more which was a great Citie some foure leagues distant off of Ierusalem which he tooke and determined to leaue a garrison therein and fortifie the same with a resolution from thence to make his roades into Asaes kingdome But Asa fearing the inuasion of his enemy and considering that the souldiers who were left in Ramath did most grieuously spoile all the dominions that were vnder him sent embassadours to the King of Damasco with gold and siluer to induce him to a societie in warre and to renew that amitie betweene them which was confirmed betwixt both their fathers Who willingly receiued those treasures that were sent him and made a league with him and brake the truce which he had with Basa so that he sent the gouernours of his dominions against those Cities that were vnder Basaes subiection with commandement to destroy them Of these they burned some and ransackt other some amongst which were Elon Dan and Abellane Which when the King of Israell vnderstood he gaue ouer the fortifying of Ramath and with all expedition returned to yeeld those of his subiects his assistance who were vtterly distracted But Asa in the meane while builded two strong townes Gabath and Maspha of that stuffe which Basa had prepared to build withall Basa afterwards preuented by the common debt of death had no more opportunitie to make warre against Asa. He was buried in the Citie of Arsane and his sonne Ela succeeded him in the kingdome who after he had raigned some two yeeres was traiterously slaine by Zamri a captaine of a halfe regiment of horsemen For whilest Ela banquetted with Osa who was the steward of his house Zamri wrought so effectually that he perswaded some of his horsemen to assault Ela who at that time was alone and destitute of men of warre and captaines for that all of them were at the siege of Gabathon a Citie of the Philistines CHAP. VII Basaes ofspring being extinct among the Israelites Zamri raigned in Israel and after him Amri and his sonne Achab. AFter that Ela was slaine Zamri tooke the Kingdome vpon him and wholy rooted out Basaes posteritie according as the prophet Gimon had foretold For after the same maner was his family vtterly ouerthrowne for their impietie as Ieroboams progeny was ex tinguished for their iniquitie as we haue toforetime declated For the army which bâ—…â—…ged Gabathon hearing newes of the Kings death that Zamri had murthered him and seased the kingdome they made Amri generall of the army and annointed him for their king who leuying the siege before Gabathon came before the royall Citie of Thersa which he besieged and tooke perforce Zamri seeing the Citie destitute of defence had retired himselfe into the most secret and retired place of the pallace where setting it on fire he burned both himselfe and it after he had raigned seuen daies Sodainly after this the Israelites fell at controuersie amongst themselues because that some of them sought to preferre Thaman to the kingdome and others were wholy addicted to Amri but they of Amries side had the better and being of the better sort slew Thaman and made Amri soueraigne ouer the people The thirteenth yeare of Asa Amri began his raigne and was King for twelue yeeres space six yeeres gouerned he in Thersa and six in Mareon which the Greekes call Samaria himselfe imposed this name of Samaria calling it by the name of Samar who had giuen him the land on which he builded this Citie He differed in nothing from the other kings his predecessors but in that he was worser then any of them for all of them busied their heads on this thing onely that by daily impieties they might alien the people from God For which cause God being displeased cansed the one of them to cut off the other and finally extinguished both the posteritie and name of one another This Amri died in Samaria and Achab his sonne was his successor Hereby a man may truely and easily perceiue what care the diuine maiestie hath of humane affaires and how he loueth the vertuous and vtterly rooteth out the vicious For the kings of Israel through their impietie in a short and successiue course the one after the other were cut off and confounded with all their families But Asa king of Ierusalem and the two Tribes liuing happily in the fauour of God for his pietie and iustice attained to a reuerend and old age and after he had raigned one and fortie yeeres he died a good death And after his decease Iosaphat his sonne whom he begat on his mother Abida succeeded him who in all things that concerned either pietie or fortitude seemed to emulate and equall his grandfather Dauid according as it shall be declared hereafter But Achab King of Israel made his aboad in Samaria and gouerned the kingdome for the space of twenty two yeeres without any alteration of those ordinances which his progenitors kings of Israel had established but that he exceeded
them bound vnto him The number of them was ten thousand eight hundreth thirtie and two persons besides Ioachin his mother and his neere allies whom they tooke prisoners CHAP. IX Sedechias is made King ouer Ierusalem by the Babylonian IN steed of Ioachin he appointed Sedechias his vncle king of Ierusalem whom hee bound by an oth that he should gouerne the countrey without any innouation or partiall fauour towards the Aegyptians This Sedechias was one and twentie yeeres olde at such time as he came vnto the kingdome and was Ioachims brother by the mothers side he was a contemner of all lawes and a peruerter of ordinances For the yoong men that were about him were without the feare of God and all the people vnder his dominions committed whatsoeuer outrages were best liking vnto them For this cause the Prophet Ieremy came vnto him protesting oftentimes against him and denouncing that if he renounced not all those impieties and iniquities he vsed and addicted not himselfe to that which was iust but gaue eare vnto his gouernours amongst which there were many wicked men and to those false Prophets that misled him trusting that the Babylonians should not make warre against his Citie but that the Aegyptians should leuie an army and ouercome them that then he should incurre much miserie for said he they haue no truth in their sayings and those things also which they pronounce are not to be spoken Whilest Sedechias gaue eare to these discourses of the Prophet he was perswaded and acknowledged al that to be true which he had spoken very profitable both for him his people but anon after his friends corrupted him diuerted him according to their own opinions Ezechiel also at the same time had prophecied in Babylon all those calamities which were to fall vpon the tēple sent notice to Ierusalem of that which he had receiued frō God Notwithstanding Sedechias gaue no credit to his prophecies by reason that all the Prophets were accustomed to accord in all things the one with the other as touching the surprisal of the city and the imprisonment of Sedechias but Ezechiel differed in this that he said that Sedechias should not see Babylon notwithstanding that Ieremy had prophecied that the king of Babylon should lead him away prisoner in bonds because therefore these two accorded not in their sayings he concluded that the matter wherein they agreed was of no consequence Notwithstanding all things hapned vnto him according as the Prophets had pronounced as we will declare in a conuenient place After that he had continued his alliance and friendship with the king of Babylon for the space of eight yeers he brake the league that was between them and confederated with the Aegyptians vnder hope that they should ouercome the Babylonians Which when the king of Babylon vnderstood he led forth his army against him and destroied his countrey to the vttermost so that after he had taken his Cities of defence he finally planted his army and besieged Ierusalem The Aegyptian perceiuing the estate wherein his allie Sedechias was leuied a huge army and came into Iudaea with an intent to raise the siege Whereupon the Babylonian withdrew his army from Ierusalem to encounter with the Aegyptian and fought with him and ouercame him in battell and pursued him with such alacritie that he put him to flight and droue him altogither out of Syria As soone as the Babylonian was dislodged from Ierusalem the false prophets deceiued Sedechias telling him that the Babylonian should neuer more returne to make warre either against him or his nation and that he should neuer any more depart from his house in Babylon and that they who had beene led away captiues should returne home againe loaden with those vessels of the temple which the king of Babylon had taken from them But the Prophet Ieremie presenting himselfe before the king prophecied the contrary to these impostures assuring both him and the people that no profit could befall them by meanes of the Aegyptians for that the Babylonians should ouercome them and should returne and encampe before Ierusalem and besiege the same and destroy the people by famine and lead them away prisoners that were remaining and carry away all their substance that after they were seazed of the riches of their temple they should finally burne the same As for the Citie they should race it and said he they shall keepe vs captiue for the space of seuentie yeares And from this seruitude the Persians and Medes shall deliuer vs at such time as they haue gotten the Empyre out of the hands of the Babylonians then shall they send vs backe againe into our countrey and we shall build our temple anew and establish the Citie of Ierusalem Diuers men gaue credit to these words of Ieremie but the gouernours and contemners of God intreated him verie cruelly as if he had beene a man transported out of his sense And whereas he had an intent to visit his natiue countrey Anathoth some twentie stounds off of Ierusalem one of the magistrates encountring him in his iourney laying hold on him retained him loading him with this slander that he went stole away to submit himself to the Babylonians But Ieremy answered that he was falsely accused that he repaired only to the place where he was borne This Prince giuing him no credit arrested him and brought him before the iudgement seat where he sustained all sorts of outrages torments and was shut vp in prison to be punished remained there for a time suffering the extremitie of wrong and iniurie The ninth yeare of the raigne of Zedechias and on the tenth day of the ninth moneth the King of Babylon came and encamped the second time before Ierusalem and entrenched himselfe round about the same for the space of eighteene moneths and laid batterie and siege thereto with as great spleene as might be possible And they that were besieged therein were encountred with two most hainous afflictions famine and most grieuous pestilence At this time the Prophet Ieremy being in prison held not his peace but cried with a loud voice and preached and exhorted the people willing them to entertaine the Babylonians and to open their gates vnto them because that in so doing they might warrantize themselues with all their families whereas otherwaies they were assured of destruction He foretold them also that if any one remained in the Citie he should most assuredly either perish by famine or the enemies furie but if so be they submitted themselues to the enemies mercy they should escape from death But those gouernours that heard him speake after this sort gaue him no credit in that they were not as yet pressed with the danger for which cause they came vnto the king and after a despitefull manner told him all that which had beene spoken accusing Ieremy and reprouing him for a mad man vrging this that he had abated their courage and by
haue obeyed him Aristobulus submitted and in discontent repaired to Ierusalem with full intent to prepare for warre Not long after this when as Pompey marched towards him with his army certaine messengers comming from Pontus certified him of Mithridates death who was slaine by his sonne Pharnaces CHAP. VII They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romanes WHen Pompey was encamped neere vnto Iericho in which place there were a number of Date trees and where also groweth that balme which is the most precious of all other oyntments distilling from a little shrub which is opened and slit by a sharpe cutting stone the next morning he marched towards Ierusalem At that time Aristobulus being sorie for his misbehauiour came vnto him offering him money and promising him to receiue him into Ierusalem he besought him that dismissing publike enmities and quarrels he would peaceably doe what him listed hereafter Whereupon Pompey pardoned him and condescended to his request and sent Gabinius with his soldiers both to receiue the money as also to enter the citie but his purpose failed him in both for Gabinius returned because he was excluded out of the citie neither receiued he any money for that Aristobulus soldiers would not permit that any promise should be performed Hereupon Pompey waxed wroth so that after he had committed Aristobulus to prison he went in person against the citie which was strongly fortified on euerie side except toward the quarter that extendeth northward which was easie to be beaten downe for this side is inuironed with a large and deepe valley compassing the temple which is inclosed with a meruailous strong wall of stone CHAP. VIII Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the Citie perforce BVt within the Citie there grew a diuision and faction by reason of the difference and dissident opinions of those that kept the same for some thought good to yeeld vp the citie into Pompeies hands othersome that were of Aristobulus faction counsailed that the gates should be kept shut and preparation for warre should be made for that the Romanes detained Aristobulus prisoner These later preuailing more then the rest seazed the temple and breaking downe the bridge which was betwixt it the Citie addressed themselues to stand on their defence But the others not onely deliuered the Citie into Pompeies hands but the royall pallace also who sent Piso his lieutenant thither with his forces to take possessiō therof to plant his garrisons therein and to fortify the houses neere adioining the temple whatsoeuer conuenient habitation without the walles First therefore Piso offered the besieged certaine conditions of peace which for that they refused he fortified and shut them in on euerie side being in all these his indeuours assisted by Hircanus On the out side of the Citie Pompey incamped with his army on the north part of the temple which was the easiest and meetest side to be assaulted on this side also there were certaine high towers and a huge trench besides a deepe valley tha◅ begirt the temple For towards the citie all waies and passages were so broken vp that no man could either go vp or downe and the bridge was taken away on that side where Pompey was encampt Each day did the Romanes trauell earnestly to raise a mount and cutting downe all the timber round about them hauing fitly applied the same the trench being fild vp although very hardly by reason of the incredible depth thereof the Rammes and Engines that were brought from Tyre were addressed with which they inforced and darted stones against the temple and had not the ordinance of the countrey commaunded to keepe the Sabbath which was the seuenth day of the weeke holy and to labour in no sort on that day the Romans had neuer bin able to haue raised their bulwarke if they within the temple had opposed themselues against them For the law permitteth to defend themselues against their enemies at such time as they are assailed vrged to fight but not assaile them when they intend any other worke Which when the Romanes vnderstood they neither gaue assault nor proffered skirmish on those daies which we call Sabbaths but they built their fortifications and towers and planted their engines so that the next day they were readie to put them in vse against the Iewes And hereby it is easie to coniecture how incredible the piety of our nation is how studious industrious they be in obseruing the diuine lawes For notwithstanding any present or imminent feare yet desisted they neuer to offer their solemne sacrifices but twice a day in the morning about the ninth houre the Priests offered vpon the altar notwithstanding any difficultie or daunger of the siege that might happen they omitted not the course of their oblations For at such time as the temple was taken in the third moneth and on a fasting day in the hundreth seuentie nine Olympiade in the yeere wherein Caius Antonius and Marcus Tullius Cicero were Consuls the enemy entred the temple by force and slue those that withstood them Yet notwithstanding all this the priests ceased not to exercise their accustomed sacrifice and neither the hazard of their liues nor the great number of those that were dead could force them to fly but that they held it more conuenient for them to indure all things that might happen in attending vpon the Altar thē to transgresse or vary one iot from their ordinances And that this may seeme to be no fable or praise of their dissembled deuotion but the exact and perfect truth all those that write the Histories concerning Pompey and his actes do witnesse no lesse amongst the number of which are Strabo Nicholas Titus Liuius the Romane Historiographer the most famous among the rest The greatest of those towers was battered by these engines and fell bearing a great pane of the wall to the earth with it which was the cause that the enemies in multitudes brake in by the breach The first that ascended the wal was Cornelius Faustus the sonne of Sylla with his soldiers After him mounted the Centurion Furius accompanied with those that followed him on the other side and thorow the midst of the breach did the Centurion Fabius enter with a strong squadron The whole circuite was filled with murthers and some of the Iewes died by the Romanes swords other some slue one another the rest cast themselues downe headlong from the steepie places many likewise set fire on their houses and consumed themselues therein for feare they should behold the executions that were performed by their enemies There died about twelue thousand Iewes and verie few Romanes Absolom also who was Aristobulus father in law and vncle was taken prisoner The religion of the temple likewise was not a little prophaned For whereas before that time no prophane man eyther entered or beheld that which was in the temple Pompey and diuers others that accompanied him entred the
warre against the Romans in a safer place then that from whence they fled was for none but vnaduised and rash headed men would fight for such a citie as Giscala and other places that were not able to resist seeing that it behooued them all to reserue their vigour and strength to defend the Metropolitane citie They also signified vnto them how Giscala was taken by the Romans and that they departed in good sort away though some reported that they fled The people of Ierusalem hearing what these men reported and how many were captiues vnto the Romans they fell into a great feare as though that which they told did portend their ruine But Iohn nothing ashamed in that he had so shamefully forsaken them of Giscala who fled with him went first to one and then to another enciting them all to warre vnder a vaine hope alleaging the weakenes of the Romans and extolling their own puissance deceiuing the simple people perswading them that though the Romans sought to reuenge yet could they neuer enter the wals of Ierusalem who had so much adoe and endured such afflictiō in entering the little burges and villages of Galilee against whose wals they had broken all their engines These words of his encited many young men to sedition but all the wiser sort foresaw what was like to ensue and euen now mourned their lost citie And in this case were they of Ierusalem yet before this sedition in the citie the countrey people began to be at discord amongst thēselues For Titus departed from Giscala vnto Caesarea Vespasian went from Caesarea to Iamnia Azotus and took them both leauing there garrisons he returned to Caesarea bringing with him a huge companie of them who had yeelded vnto him All cities were at ciuill wars amongst themselues so that when the Romans did not war vpon thē one part of the Iewes in euerie citie fought against the other there was a great dissension between those that desired peace the seditious people and at first this discord began only in priuate houses but in the end euerie one ioyning with them that were of their mind they now beganne in companies to rebel openly Thus euerie place was troubled with ciuill discord and euery where rash young men who desired wars preuailed against wise and graue olde men who foreseeing the calamitie like to ensue desired peace At first the inhabitants one by one robbed and spoiled what they could but at last in whole troups they ioined togither robbed openly and wasted all the countrey about and they in their robberies shewed such crueltie that the harme and iniurie they did vnto their owne countreymen was altogither equal to the miseries which befel them by the means of the Romans they who by these miscreants were spoiled wished rather to haue fallen into the Romans hands But they who kept the citie either because they were loath to wearie themselues or else for that they hated the citizens or people did nothing or very little succour thē that fel into theeues hands At last the theeues assembled themselues togither from all places and ioyning companies they brake into Ierusalem This citie had no gouernour and according to the custome of that countrey receiued all that came thither that were their countreymen and so much more willingly at that time because they that thought that they came thither came of good will to helpe them which onely was afterward the cause that the citie was destroyed setting aside the ciuil dissension For a great multitude of people vnapt for fight being there cōsumed the victuals that would haue sufficed for the fighting men beside the wars they brought also vpon it famine ciuil dissensiō Then other theeues came out of the fields thereabout ioyning themselues with those that were within the citie omitted no kind of villanie for not content to rob and spoile they also attempted to commit murders not onely priuily or in the night vpon meane men but euen on the day time they publikely set vpon the chiefest of the nobilitie For first of al they tooke Antipasse who was borne of the bloud royall a man so eminent amongst them that the publike treasure was committed vnto his charge and custodie and put him in prison and after him they tooke Sopha a worthie man and sonne to Raguel and Laeuia both of them of the kings houshold and after them all that seemed to beare any sway or were in authoritie amongst the people Great feare fell vpon the Inhabitants and euerie one prouided to saue himselfe as though the Citie were euen now surprised by the enemies But these people were not content thus to haue imprisoned those potentates neither did they thinke it safetie for themselues any longer to detaine such men aliue for many came dayly vnto them to visit them and vnto their houses who were able to reuenge their iniuries and moreouer they feared that the people would make a head against them being moued with their iniquitie Wherefore they determined to kill them and to effect their purpose they sent one Iohn a cruel murderer who was the sonne of Dorcas he accompanied with ten more all hauing swords went vnto the prison and slew as many as they found there To excuse this cruell fact of theirs they alleaged this to wit that all they who were slaine in prison had conference with the Romans concerning the betraying of the Citie into their hands and that for this cause they had slaine them being traytors to their Countrie they also boasted that this fact of theirs had preserued the Citie and that therefore they had well deserued of it The people was brought vnto such slauerie and terror that the chusing of the high Priest was in their hands to elect whom they pleased so much was their insolence increased Thus they not respecting the families out of which it was onely lawfull to chuse the high Priest they now elected straungers and base persons to that sacred dignitie and such as would be partakers of their villanies and impieties for they who not deseruing it attained to such dignitie were as it were obliged vnto their will in all things by whom they were so exaited They also deuised many lies to make those that were in authoritie one at variance with another thereby as it were to hold them occupied who were able to refist their enterprises til that being now satisfied with the bloud of the Citizens they began to commit impietie against God himselfe and with prophane and vnpure feete to enter into the sanctuarie Then the people was incited against them by Ananus his meanes who was one of the priests and the most auncient and wisest of them all who perhaps had laued the Citie had he escaped the hands of these miscreants But they vsed the Temple as a Castle and defence of themselues against the people and made the Sanctuarie a place for them to exercise tyrannie in
him partly desiring peace partly to saue their goods and liues and promised him to yeeld the towne into his hands for there were many rich men dwelling in Gadara and their enemie knew not of their Ambassage till they saw Vespasian at the Citie gates And so despairing that they were able to keepe the Citie by reason they had in the towne many enemies more in number and stronger then themselues and moreouer seeing Vespasian euen now almost at the Citie and thinking it a shame to flie and not be reuenged of their enemies they tooke Dolesus who was both a nobleman and chiefe of the Citie and also the author of that Ambassage and killed him and for anger beating him after hee was dead they fled out of the Citie Now the Romans armie approching neere vnto the Citie the people of Gadara went forth and receiued Vespasian ioyfully who also confirmed a league betwixt them and him and left them a companie of horse and footemen to defend them against the incursions of the fugitiues their enemies for they themselues before the Romanes requested it destroyed the Citie wals that so they might shew themselues to desire peace in that destroying their wals if after they desired to rebell they could not Vespasian then sent Placidus with fiue hundreth horsemen and three thousand footemen to pursue those that were fled out of Gadara and he with the rest of his armie returned to Caesarea But the fugitiues perceiuing themselues to bee pursued by Placidus before hee could ouertake them got into a towne called Bethenabris and finding there many young men partly for that they â—…re willing partly by force they compelled them to arme themselues and so rashly they came against Placidus Placidus and his armie seemed a little to giue backe to the intent to drawe them further from the wall and then hauing compassed them about in a fit place they wounded them a farre off with darts and arrowes Then the Iewes seeking to flie were preuented by the horsemen and they who offered to fight were by the Romane footemen all put to the sword neuer shewing any signe of valour For the Iewes assaulting the Romans being all inuironed and quite couered with their shields as with a wall and not being able to breake into their battell they were slaine by the Romans darts but their darts could do the Romans no harme and so like fierce and sauage beasts they wilfully ran vpon their enemies sword and so were slaine some hauing all their face cut with swords some killed by the horsemen For Placidus was carefull to intercept their passage vnto the towne and to hinder their recourse vnto it and brought those backe againe that fled towards it vsing his darts and killing those that were next him and those who fled a far off for feare he caused to returne till at last the strongest amongst them brake away and got vnto the towne wals And those that were within the Citie knew not what to doe for they would not shut the fugitiues of Gadara out of the Citie because they desired to let their owne Citizens in and againe they perceiued that if they let them in they thereby should worke the ouerthrow of the Citie as it fell out indeed they did For the gates being set open for them to come in the Romane horsemen almost brake into the towne with them yet the gates were shut before they could get in Then Placidus with all his souldiers assaulted the towne and fighting a sore fight which continued euen vntill the Euening at last hee got the wals and the towne and slew the weaker sort for the stronger fled so the souldiers sacked the houses and then fired the towne They who escaped thence incited the whole Countrie to flie with them reporting their calamities with the most and affirming that all the Romane armie was at hand and so they put all the Inhabitants there in great feare and hauing assembled a great multitude they fled vnto Iericho which place they put their confidence in for that it was strong and populous Placidus hauing horsemen and being incouraged with his former victorie pursued them vnto Iordan and whom soeuer he ouertooke he slew and at the riuer he fought with all the multitude there gathered together and staying because that the riuer being waxed deeper by aboundance of raine that had lately fallen they could not passe ouer it Wherefore necessitie forced them to fight because they could not flie and placing themselues along the bankes of the ryuer they there receiued the horsemen and warded their darts yet manie for feare fell into the riuer so the Romanes slew there thirteene thousand and the rest not able to resist cast themselues into the riuer which were an infinite number also the Romanes tooke two thousand and two hundreth men aliue and a hugh bootie of Sheepe Asses Camels and Oâ—…en This massacre though it was no greater then the former yet it seemed to the Iewes far greater because that many all ouer the countrey flying were killed and Iordan was so filled with dead carkases that none could passe ouer it and also the lake Asphaltites was full of dead bodies brought thither out of diuers riuers Placidus hauing so good successe went into the townes and villages adioyning and tooke Abila Iulias Besemoth and all the townes euen vnto the lake Asphaltites and placed in them garrisons of them that fled vnto him and afterward preparing ships and furnishing them with soldiers he pursued them that were fled by water and ouercame them and so all the countrey beyond Iordan yeelded vnto the Romans and euen vnto Machaeron all places were by them conquered CHAP. IIII. How certaine townes were taken and the description of Iericho AT this time came newes of the troubles in Gallia and how that Vindex togither with the nobilitie of that countreyhad reuolted from Nero whereof we haue made mention in another place This newes caused Vespasian to be more earnest to end the wars of the Iewes for euen then he foresaw the ciuill wars that ensued and the danger of the whole Empire and he thought that if he could before the beginning of those troubles end the wars in the East part of the world that then Italy was not in so â—…uch danger But Winter hindring him he in the meane time placed garâ—…sons in all townes and villages about the whole countrey and placed decurions in euerie Citie and repaired many places which he had before destroied And first of all he with his whole army that was at Caesarea went to Antipartis and there hauing setled the estate of that Citie after his abode there two daies the third day he departed spoiling and burning all the countrey as also all the countrey about Thamnia the Toparchy and so went into Lydda and Iamnia But seeing that those two places submitted themselues vnto him leauing there such inhabitants as he thought good he went thence vnto Ammaus and placing himselfe
The yeare of the world 4014 after Christs birth 52. The souldier executed that burned the Bible A Galilean slaine in Samaria Eleazar and Alexander two princes of the Iewes exercise much crueltie Conspiracy in robbery Quadratus gouernour of Syria heareth the Samaritanes Iewes Quadratus giueth sentence betwixt the Iewes and Samaritanes The yeere of the world 4014. after Christs birth 52. Claudius sentence against some Samaritanes Cumanus and Celer Claudius dieth and Nero succeeded him The yeare of the world 4015. after the Natiuitie of Christ. 53. Nero killeth his brother his mother and wife The yeare of the world 4018. after Christs natiuitie 56. Ant. lib. 20. cap. 1â—… Felix surpriseth Eleazar the captaine of the theeues and many others and sendeth them bound to Rome Another sort of theeues who at 〈◊〉 daies went about the city to murther men Ionathas the high priest with many others slaine Ant. lib. 20. cap. 12. An Egyptian Prophet gathereth welny â—…0000 men Felix ouerthroweth the Egyptian The theeues and magitians work much mischiefe to many men The yeare of the world 4020. after the 〈◊〉 of Christ. 50. Ant lib. 20. cap. 13. A fight betweene the Iewes and Syrians about Caesarea Sedition and slaughter among the Iewes The yeare of the world 4024. after Chrisâ—… 〈◊〉 62. Ant lib. 20. cap 11. Albinus president of Iudaea full of all wickednes The seditious bribe Albinus to winke at their robberies The yeare of the world 4028. after Christs birth 66. Ant. lib. 20. cap. 16. Gessius Florus succeeded Albinus and proued worser then Albinus The couetousnes of Florus spoileth whole cities The yeare of the world 4018. after Christs birth 66. Cestius Gallus appeaseth the people and requireth a mitigation of Florus seueritie The beginning of the warre of the Iewes the 12. yeare of Neros raigne Ant. lib. 20. cap. 15. The causes of the warre of the Iewes The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Florus periury and decoit toward the Iewes The conflict of the Iewes with the Caesareans Florus imprisoneth twelue of the chiefest Iewes in Caesarea Another cause of warre raised by Florus The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs Natiuitie 68. Another occasion of the war Florus scorneth the gratulation of the Iewes Florus in his tribunal requireth them to be yeelded vnto him who had spoken ill of him The outrage of Florus soldiers Florus soldiers kill 630. Iewes in one day Berenice requi reth Florus to pacifie his displeasure against the Iewes The furie of the souldiers against Beroâ—… nice The people exclaime against Floruâ—… The yeare of the world 4030 after Christs birth 68. Florus renueth the discontents of the people Florus subtiltie and treason The exhortation of the priests and princes to the people The euent sheweth Florus intent counsel The slaughter of the Iewes The seditious for 〈◊〉 least Florus should seâ—…se their spoiles flie to the temple Florus taketh the spoiles and entreth the temple Florus seeing the Iewes inexpugnable in the temple surceaseth his violence and leauing a band behind him goeth to Caesarea The yeare of the world 403â—… after Christs birth 68. Cestus Gallus president of Syria coâ—…ulteth with the princes what were bestro be done Politianus is sent to Ierusalem and meeteth with Agrippa The multitude of the people go out to meet Agrippa and Politianus Politianus assembleth the people and inciteth them to peace and after returneth to Cestius The Iewes require the king y t there might be some embassadors sent to Rome to conplaine of Florus to Nero. Agrippas oration to the Iewes Agrippa striueth to make the common sort flexible attentiue The yeâ—…re of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. It be hooueth to honour the magistrate and not to prouoke him by iniury Agrippa excuseth Caesar and the Romanes Depulsion of the Iewes libertie which they so vehemently seeke forâ—… The exaÌ„ple of the Athenians others who obey the Romane empire The Lacedemonians The Macedonians The comparison of the Romans force with the Iewes weaknes The Romans haue brought the whole world vnder their gouernment haue â—…ought another world beyond the Ocean The 〈◊〉 of the world 4030. after Christs Natiuitie 68. Fiftie Cities of Asia obey the Romans The defence of France The Spaniards subiect to the Romans The Germains mulâ—…de vertue and huge stature The Britaines subiect to the Romans The Parthians The Carthaginians made subiect by Scipâ—…os hands The Romans gouerne the Moores The yeare of the world 4030 after Christs birth 68. Alexandria acknowledgeth the power of the Romans Gods fauour towaâ—…ds the Romans The last argument that proueth the Iewes destitute of Gods mans helpe and vnapt to make warre Whilest the ship is yet in the Port it is good to preuent the â—…uture tempest Agrippas prophecie of the Iewes future miserie Agrippâ—… protesteth that hee hath omit ted no counsel that he thoght expedient for the Iewes The yeare of the world 4030. after the birth of Christ. 68. Agrippa the king is by the people driuen out of the citie with stones The Iewes refuse Caesars sacrifices for the prosperitie of the Romanâ—… Against those who refuse forrain sacrifices None of the seditious gaue eare to those that were in authoritie Embassadours sent to Florus and Agrippa against the seditious The yeare of the world 4030. after Câ—…sts birth 68. Warre in Ierusalem between thâ—… seditious and those that â—…auored peace Xylophoria aâ—…east The kings souldiers are ouercome The Iews take Antonia and burne it Manahemus the chiefe of y t rebels giues the kings faction and friends licence to depart The Romans forsaking the Stratopedon flie into the Kings sortes The yeare of the world 4030. after Chrâ—…sts birth 68. The death of Ananias the high priest and Ezechias his brother Eleazars followers assault Manahem in the Temple Manahem with the princes slaine The Romans vnable any â—…on ger to resist yeeld themselues The Romanâ—… against all couenant law are all slaine saue Metiliâ—… Slaughter on the Sabaoth day The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. The Iewes spoyle the villages and burn the Cities of Syria Al Syria full of miserable calamities Iewes against Iewes The Scythopolitans kill thirteene thousand Iewes Simon daily killeth many of his countrimen in Scythopolis The yeare of thâ—… world 4030. after the birth of Christ. 68. Simon killeth his parents his wife and children and at last himselfe An other slaughter of the Iewes The cities in armes against the Iewes Varus killeth 70. Iewes in in their iourney The Romans yeeld vp theiâ—… castle in Marichunte to the Iewes Sedition in 〈◊〉 betweene thâ—… Greeks and Ieweâ—… The yeere of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Tiberius Alexander exhorteth the seditious Iewes to keepe peace A cruell victorie wherein 〈◊〉 thousand Iewes are slaine Huge companies of the Romans Zâ—…bulon 〈◊〉 strong Citie of Galilee spoiled and burnt The Iewes kill two thousand Syrians The Romans take Ioppe and burne it and kill eight thousand and foure hundreth 〈◊〉 â—…nd
other Cities of Galilee doe friendly entertaine the Romanes The yeare of the world 4030. after the birth of Christ. 68. Two thousand seditious slaiâ—… in Galilee by the Romans Antipatris spoyled and burned Lydda burnt Cestius planteth his armie fiftie furlongs from Ierusalem The assault victorie of the Iewes against the Romans The courage of the Iewes against the Romans The rebels kill one of the kings Ambassadors an o ther of them escapeth being wounded Cestius draweth forth his whole armie against the Iewes The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs birth 68. Diuers Iewes cal for for Cestius as 〈◊〉 they intended to open their gates vnto him The Romans couer themselues with their shields and vndermin the wals and burne the Temple gates Cestius sodain departure maketh the theeues more confident The Iewes pur sue their enemies and bring them into a desperate estate The mourning and lamentation the Romans and the Iewes exhortation Cestius stratageme The yeare of the world 4030. after Châ—… birth 68. The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Diuers of the noblest Iewes forsake the Citie as if they had beene a ship ready to sinke The Damascenâ—…s kill ten thousand Iews in one houre Ioseph the son of Gorion and Ananus the high priest appointed to gouerneâ—…e the Citie Ioseph the Historiographer gouernour of both Galilees Ioseph maketh 70. Elders rulers in Galilee and appointeth seuen in euerie Citie to determine the causes of lesse waight The yeare of the world 403â—… after Christs birth 69. Ioseph fortifieth the conuenient cities with walles Ioseph instructeth the Galileans in warre Ioseph teacheth the Galileans how they should obey in the warres Euerle one of the cities of Galilee send the halfe of their multitude into warfare the rest they keepe to prouâ—…de them victuals Iohn a notable 〈◊〉 and a thirstie murtherer vnder hope of gaine The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Iohn imploieth the money he got against him by whose meanes he gained it Agrippâ—… president robbed An hundreth thousaÌ„d armed men come out against Ioseph All Iosephs friends and guard saue foure flie from him Iosephs oration to the seditious The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Another stratageme of Iosephs against the Iewes Iohns enuie treason against Ioseph Iohn perswadeth the Tiberians to reuolt from Ioseph Iohn sendeth certaine armed men to kill Ioseph Ioseph flies in a little boat by the lake Iohn flieth into his countrey Giscala The Galileans flocke to Ioseph against Iohn Iohns treason against Ioseph The yeare of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. Foure Cities of Galilee submit theÌ„selues to Iosephs enemies Tiberias is recouered by Ioseph and saued by a stratagem Ioseph with seuen souldiers commeth to Tiberias and terrifieth his enemies Ioseph by a sub till pollicie tolleth out the chiefest of Tybetias and carrieth them away in boates to Tarichea Clitus the author of the sedition drawing his sword with his right hand cut off his left The troubled estate of Ierusalem The yâ—…re of the world 4031. afâ—… Christs birth 69. Simon the Son of Giora committeth great rapines and murthers in Acrabatena and Idumaea The yeare of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. Nero is amazed and afraid at â—…ie valiant acts of y e Iewes Nero sendeth Vespasian to gouerne in Syria and direct his warres Vespasian and Titus gather great forces against y e Iewes The Iewes besiege Ascalon Antonie fighteth with the Iewes The Romans ouercome the Iewes make a great slaughter of them Ten thousand Iewes slaine The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Eight thousand Iewes slaine at Ascalon Vespasian with his whole army commeth to Ptolemais The Sephorits doe courteously entertaine the Romans The description and scituation of the higher Galilee The length and breadth of the lower Galilee The fertilitie of Galilee The description of the couÌ„trey beyond the floud The yeare of the world 4030. after Christs Natiuitie 68. The descriptioÌ„ of the Region of Samaria The description of Iury whose midle part is Ierusalem The diuision of Iudaea Vespasian sendeth helpe to the Sephorites but filleth Galilee with sword and fire Titus bringeth a mightie army into Iudaea The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. The diligence and labour of the Romans in prouiding things necessary for the wars The industry of the Romans The order of the Romans in their campe The reuerence and obedience of the Roman souldiers to their captains How the Romans forsake their campe The armour of the Roman footmen The furniture of the Roman horsemen The Romans attempt nothing vnaduisedly or rashly The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. The Romans grow more diligentby feare The obedience of the Romane souldier is no small occasion of his victorie How farre the Romane gouernment extendeth Placidus draweth his forces against Iotapata and being repulsed flies Vespasian directeth the Ro mans march The yeere of the world 4031 after Christs birth 69. The Eagle by the Romans is held the ensigne of the Empire and a signe of victorie Ioseph forsaken by his friends flies to Tiberias Ioseph is afraid of the Romans and writeth to Ierusalem Ioseph commeth to Iotapata from Tiberias Iotapata besieged The yeere of the world 4031. after the birth of Christ. 69. Nothing is more effectuall in warre or more desperate then necessitie A fight between the Romans and the Iewes continued a whole day and broken off by night The scituation of Iotapata Vespasian intendeth to begin a sharpe siege The Iewes break out and beat down the bulwarke Ioseph fixeth stakes in the ground and fastneth vnto them raw Oâ—… hides to raise the wall and beat off the shot The yeere of the world 〈◊〉 after Christs births 69. 〈◊〉 Vespasian restraineth his souldiers from fight and besiegeth the citie Ioseph deliuereth his souldiers water by measure Iosephs stratagem Another policie of Iosephs The people beleeched Ioseph that he would not forsake them Iosephs prudence The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Ioseph stayeth in Iotapata Where as there is no hope of helpe there was iâ—… the last remedie The audacious courage of the Iewes in their extreame desperation The Iewes with their slings are repulsed by the ArabiaÌ„ archers A Ramme Iosephs deuise how to breake the force of the Ramme The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs birth 69. Ioseph burneth the engines turneth off the Romans Eleazars strength and courage Netiras and Philips valour against the Romans Vespasian wounded in the sole of the foot by an arrow The warre renued against the Iewes The force of the Roman darts The yeare of the world 4031. after Christs Natiuitie 69. Vespasian leadeth on his armie to enter the Citie Iosephs subtill policie The cries of women and children in the battell The warre of the Romans with the Iewes vpoÌ„ the bridge The Iewes powre scalding oyle vpon the Romans The yeâ—…re of the world 4031. after
Citizens exhort the people to reuenge The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Zelous the most wretched occasiō of these violences Ananus sharpe inuectiue against the Zelous Ananus twitteth the Iews with their feare The crueltie of the theeues The Temple the strongest fortres of the Citie Warres are intended for libertie The comparison of the Romans and Iews and their properties The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. An answere to their contrarie opinion who obiect the number and boldnesse of the enemy The Epilogue of Ananus Oration to the people Ananus disposeth his souldiers against the Zelous The fight of the Citizens and Zelous in the temple The yeare of the world 4032 after Christs birth 70. Iohnful of deceit and a betraier of the citizens Iohn sweareth to be faithfull to the people Iohn contrarie to his oath reuealeth their secrets to the Zelous Iohn stirreth vp the Zelous against the Citizens Eleazar one of the Zelous causeth the Idumaeans to besent for The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Zealous require helpe from the Idumaeans The nature and manners of the Idumaeans Twentie thousand Idumaeās come to Ierusalem Iesus oration and exhortation to the Idumaeans The disproofe of the Zealous fiction who intended the ouerthrow of the citie and obiected the betraying thereof The yeare of the world 403◅ after Christs birth 70. Peace is better then death Iesus exhorteth the Idumaeans that since they are come they should oppose themselues against the Zealous Iesus requireth the Idumaeans to iudge the differents betweene the Zealous and them The end of Iesus oration to the Idumaeans The yeare of the world 4032. aftter Christs Naiuitie 70. Simons answer to Iesus oration The Idumaeans are displeased because the Citie gates were lockt against them The reproches the Idumeans obiect against the high priests and Citizens The Idumaeans pitch their tabernacles neer the wals A huge storme The Zelous consult to breake open the gates to assaile the watch and let in the Idumaeans The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The watchmen are oppressed with sleepe The Idumaeans by the meanes of the Zelous enter by night The Idumaeans ioyne themselues with the Zelous in the Temple The immanitie of the Idumaeans and Zelous against the Citizens of Ierusalem Ananus and Iesus the high Priests executed Ananus death the first cause of the destruction of the Citie The praise of Ananus the hie priest The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The crueltie of the Idumaeans the Zelous Twelue thousand of the nobilitie executed Zacharie condemned to death by the Zelous Seuentie iudges absolue and acquite Zacharie Zacharie slaine in the midst of the temple One of the Zelous discouereth their crueltie and barbarous dealing to the Idumaeans The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs Natiuitie 70. The Idumaeans depart out of Ierusalem Gorions death and Niger Peraita Nigers praiers tooke effect as the end testified The souldiers incite Vespasian to resort to Ierusalem The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70 Vespasian expecteth victory by the ciuill dissension of his enemies Many citizens to flie the Zealous resorted to Vespasian The Zealous tytannize both ouer the liuing and the dead The yeere of th◅ world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Iohns pride and ambition The greater part of the con trarie faction fall from Iohn The tempest of three miseries assailed Ierusalem at once Of those desperate rebels that kept the Castle of Massada Slaughter and desolation thorow Iurie A Similitude The sugitiue◅ beseech Vespasian to assist the Citie and reserue ◅he rest of the people The ye◅re of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. The Gadarensian◅ entertain Vespasian with ioy and acclamations Placidus con◅ct with the fugitiues Placidus taketh and burneth Bethenabris Placidus victorie ouer the fugitiues The yeare of the world 4032. after the birth of Christ. 70. Placidus maketh vse o◅ his good fortune against the Iewes Troubles in France Vespasian visiteth all Iudaea Vespasian commeth to Iericho The grea◅ field Two lakes Asphaltite and y e Tiberian lake A large fountaine neere Iericho The yeare of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. A miracle wrought by Helizaeu◅ Fruitfull and pleasant gardens about Iericho The cause why the ground about Iericho is fruitfull The ayre temperate and warme An admirable propertie of the Asphaltite lake The land of Sodom is neer vnto the lake Asphaltite The yeere of the world 4032. after Christs birth 70. Ter◅ul in Apologet cap. 39. L. Annius taketh Gerasa Vespasian hath tidings of Neroes death Galba Otho Vitell◅ Vespasian de◅erreth his siege at Ierusalem Galba is slaine and Otho gouerneth The ye◅re of the ◅ld 4033. after Christs birth 71. Simon of Gerasa resorteth to the theeues Simon assemble◅ all robbers in the mountainous places The fight betweene Simon the Zealous Eleazar Simōs fellow casteth himselfe headlong into the trench and presently dieth Iames of Idumaea the betraier of his countrey The yeare of th◅ world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Simon beyond all expectation entreth Idumaea without bloudshed Hebron an ancient Citie where Abrahams house was A Turpentine tree that hath continued since the creation of the world Simon spoyled all Idumaea The Zelous take Simons wife Simons immanitie cruelty The Zelous ◅nd backe Simons wife Sedition thorow the whole Romane Empi◅e Vespasian onc◅ more inuadet◅ Iudaea The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Capharis submits to Cerealis Cerealis burneth the ancient Citie of Hebron The Zelous fill the whole Citie with iniquitie The way of flight was quite cut off The discord betweene the Zelous and the Idumaeans The fight of the Zealous with the Idumaeans in the Temple Simon entreth the Citie with a great army The yeare of the world 4033. after the birth of Christ. 71. Simon assaulteth the temple wherin the Zelous kept The office of the priests to sig◅e the beginning of the seuenth day by the sound of a ◅umpet Vitellius incampeth his army in Rome Vespasiā knew both how to gouerne and how to obey The captaines consult with the souldiers openly of a change Vespasians shame◅astnesse and modestie The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. The causes that mooued the people to elect Vespasian Emperour The souldiers elect Vespasian Emperour The bounds of Aegypt The length and breadth of Aegypt A most high tower in the Island Pharos giuing light to those that faile three hundreth stounds off Tiberius Alexander gouerneth Alexandria Aegypt The yeare of the world 4033. after Christs birth 71. Vespasian by common voice is created Emperour and crowned Vespasian consulteth with his captains about Iosephs liberty Ioseph discharged out of bonds and rewarded Vespasian bethinketh himselfe to returne to Rome Caecinna perswadeth the souldiers to forsake Vitellius and honour Vespasian The yeere of the world 4033.
conquering Egypt they generally wasted the same and hauing tasted of the sweetnesse of pillage without anie temper or moderation in their victorie they were incensed to attempt greater matters And whereas they perceiued that hauing wasted all their neighbour regions no man durst sally out to encounter them in armes they marched forward toward Memphis euen vnto the sea arriuing neere no Citie that either had the heart or durst make head against them By which calamities the Egyptians being ouersore oppressed they send one to take counsell of the Oracle in what manner they might preuent their miseries and when as an answer was giuen them that they should choose an Hebrew to assist them in the warres the king commanded his daughter to giue them Moses who together with the Empire might gouerne the whole armie She taking an oath of the king that no iniurie or violence should be offered him deliuered him into his hands esteeming it to be a great good fortune for Moses that he was called to the succours of her countrey and contrariwise she blamed the Sacrificers who were not ashamed to demaund his aid and assistance whom they had foreiudged and adiudged to be slaine as their common enemie But Moses exhorted by Thermuthis and the king willingly tooke the charge vpon him Whereat the Priests of both nations were verie ioyfull for the Egyptians hoped that when by his vertue and valouâ—… he had ouercome their enemies they afterwards might more easily dispatch murther him by some treason and sinister meanes and the Hebrewes conceiued a hope that they might depart out of Egypt by reason that Moses was the Generall of the armie Moses therefore making haste before such time as the enemies had any notice that he was dislodged he leuied his army and conducted them not along the bankes of the riuer but through the maine land wherein he made manifest his most admirable prudence For the iourney by land being very dangerous by reason of the multitude of serpents for the countrey thereabouts breedeth vp al sorts of theÌ„ and some of that kind as the like thereof are not seene in anie place els all different in proprietie malignitie and horrible forme and amongst these likewise there are some winged and apt to fly who not only offend those that they encounter on the earth very priuily but also tower verie high in the aire who houer about to hurt those that are not aware of them he for the securitie of his armie and to the end he might march without anie inconuenience inuented this marueilous and admirable stratageme For he caused two paniers of sedge to be made in forme of cofers and filled them with certaine birds which were called Ibes who are mortall enemies to serpents and before whom the serpents flee and sometimes in flying from them like Harts they are laid hold of and swallowed by them Otherwise these birds are managed and made tame and are not harmefull to any but to serpents of whom I will now cease to write anie further because the Greekes do already know what kind of bird it is When as therefore he arriued in the countrie of serpents he let flie his Ibes against the venemous beasts and made vse of them to encounter the other and when he had marched in this sort he attained and surprised the Ethiopians before they suspected him and sodainly câ—…arging them he ouercame them in battell spoyling them of the hope they had to conquer Egypt and entring the townes of Ethiopia he rased them and made a great slaughter of the inhabitants The Egyptian armie hauing tasted the happie successe that happened vnto them vnder the conduct of Moses intermitted not their occasion especially for that they saw that the Ethiopians were welnigh conquered or rather wholy destroyed and in the end hauing driuen them euen vnto Saba the chiefe citie of Ethiopia which Cambyses called Meroë for the loue which he bore vnto his sister who was so called they besieged them The Citie was strong and verie hard to be assailed by reason of the riuer Nilus which enuironed it round about on the other side the riuers of Astapus and Astaborra did flow in so freshly as they could neither breake the course of the water nor wade ouer the streame for the citie is builded in an Island inuironed with a strong wall round about hauing great rampiers betwixt the riuers and the walles built to resist the inundations of the waters which are the cause that the Citie may be very hardly taken although the opposite armie had found meanes to passe the water Now when Moses was verie sore grieued that his armie profited nothing by reason that the enemies durst not encounter them in open field behold what a chaunce happened Tharbis the daughter of the king of Ethiopia beholding Moses at such time as he approched with his armie neere vnto the walles of the Citie and seeing how valiantly he fought and behaued himselfe and wondering at the exploits and enterprises which he made which was the cause that the Egyptians almost despairing of their estates and libertie were growne so forward and how the Ethiopians not long before esteemed the conquereâ—…s and happie in their warlike exploits and fortunate executions were in the greatest extremitie of daunger she was surprised with his loue and for that this passion augmented more and more in her she sent vnto him seuen of heâ—… most faithfull and houshold seruants to offer him her loue and intreat with him of mariage The which he accepted vnder that condition that she should deliuer the Citie into his hands promising her vnder a solemne oath that at such time as he were master thereof he would take her to wife without falsifying or breach of his promise The matter was no sooner motioned but the effect followed so that hauing surprised conquered the Ethiopians and after he had giâ—…en thankes vnto God Moses accomplished the mariage and sent the Egyptians backe againe into their countrey Who conceiued an occasion of hatred against Moses because he had beene the cause of their safetie and began seriously to consult and deuise amongst themselues how they might betray him sâ—…pecting least he by reason of the happie successe he had had should beginne to quicken and reuiue some alterations in Egypt they accused him therefore of murther before the King who alreadie of himselfe had him in suspicion as well in respect of this hatred he bare him for his noble cariage and courage during such time as he was generall as also for the feare he had conceiued of the destruction of Egypt foretold by his priestes who incessantly incited him against Moses so that the King was vpon the point to lay hands on him and mâ—…rther him But he hauing intelligence of those his practises escaped and fled secretly flying from his presence thorow the desart by which the enemies least suspected that he should haue fled and although at no
the Tabernacle was remoued this manner was obserued Assoone as the first charge was sounded they that were encamped towards the East first of all dislodged at the second charge they to the southward disincamped then was the Tabernacle vnpitched and caried in the midst sixe of the tribes marching before and sixe of them after the Leuites were all about the Tabernacle And when they sounded the third time the quarter towards the Westward remoued and the fourth was that to the Northward They made vse also of these Cornets in the diuine seruice with which they ordered the sacrifices on the Sabboth and other daies Then also was the first Passeouer celebrated with solemne offerings after their departure out of Aegypt they being in the desart CHAP. XII Sedition against Moses through the scarcitie of victuals and the punishment of the Rebellious NOt long after this they remoued their campe from the mountaine of Sinai and after certaine encampings of which we will speake they came to a place which is called Iseremoth where the people once more began to ruminate and reuiue their seditions and lay the fault of their laborious pilgrimage vpon Moses obiecting that by his perswasion they had left a fertile countrey and now not onely that they were destitute of the plentie thereof but also in stead of hoped felicitie forced to wander here and there in extreame miserie and trauelled with want of water and that if Manna likewise should in any sort faile them they were like all of them without question to perish for want of sustenance Hereunto annexed they diuers contumelies which were euery where inflicted against him being a man of so great desert and consequence Meane while there arose one amongst the people who admonishing them of the forepassed benefits receiued by the hands of Moses counselled them to be of good courage assuring them that at that time they should not be frustrate either of that hope or helpe which they expected at Gods hands But the people were the rather incēsed against him by these words and more more whetted their spleanes against the prophet who seeing them so desperate willed them to be of a good courage promising them that although by iniurious speeches he had vndeseruedly beene offenced by them yet that he would giue them store of flesh not for one day onely but also for many But they being incredulous and some one amongst them demaunding how he could make prouision for so many thousand men God saith he and I although we be euill spoken of by you yet will we neuer desist to be carefull for you and that shall you shortly perceiue Scarce had he spoken this but that all the campe was filled with quailes which they hunted for by heapes Yet God not long after that punished the insolencie and slaunder of the Hebrewes by the death of no small number for at this day the place retayneth his name which for that cause vvas imposed thereon and it is called Cabrothaba as if you should say the monuments of concupiscence CHAP. XIII Of the spies that were sent to search the land of Chanaan and how returning to the Israelites they amated them with feare BVt after that Moses had led them out of that place and had brought them into a countrey not so apt for habitation not farre from the borders of the Chanaanites which is called the Iawes he called the people to a councell and standing vp in the midst of them he spake after this manner God saith he hauing decreed to grant you two great benefits namely the libertie and possession of a happie countrey hath granted you alreadie the possession of the one and will shortly make you partakers of the other For we are vpon the borders of Chanaan from whence both the Cities and Kings are so farre from driuing vs as the vvhole nation being vnited together is not of power to expell vs. Let vs therefore addresse our selues verie confidently to attempt the matter for neither vvithout fight will they resigne the title of their countrey vnto vs neither vvithout great conflicts may we obtaine the palme of victorie Let vs therefore send out certaine spies to search into the secrets of the countrey and such as may coniecture how great their power is but aboue all things let vs be at vnitie one with another and let vs honour God who assisteth vs in all daungers and fighteth for vs. After that Moses had spoken after this manner the people applauding his counsels chose twelue out of the most noblest families of the tribes to go and search the countrey out of euery tribe one vvho beginning from the parts extending towards Egypt visited all the countrey of the Chanaanites vntill they came to the Citie of Amathe the mountaine of Libanus and hauing searched out both the land and the nature of the inhabitants they returned home againe hauing consumed fortie daies in those affaires Moreouer they brought with thē such fruits as the coūtrey yeelded by the beautie thereof by the quantity of those riches which they reported to be in that countrey they incouraged the harts of the people to fight valiantly but on the other side they dismaid thē with the difficultie of the conquest saying that there were certaine riuers impossible to be ouerpassed both for their greatnes depth that there were therin also inaccessible moūtalnes and Cities fortified both with wals and bulwarks moreouer they told them that in Hebron they found a race of Giants And thus these spies when as they had found all things farre greater amongst the Chanaanites then to that day they had seene since their departure out of Egypt they of set purpose by their feare brought the rest of the multitude into a dangerous suspition and perplexitie Who coniecturing by their discourse that it was impossible to conquer the land dissoluing the assembly returned each one to their houses lamenting with their wiues and children saying that God had onely in words promised many things but that in effect he gaue them no assistance moreouer they blamed Moses reuiled both him and his brother Aaron the high priest And thus spent they all the night in disquiet vrging their discontents both against the one and the other but on the morrow they reassembled their councell vnder this pretence that stoning Moses and his brother they might returne backe againe to Egypt from whence they came Which euent when two of the spies greatly suspected namely Iesus the sonne of Naue of the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb of the tribe of Iuda they went into the middest of them and appeased the multitude praying them to be of good hope and not to challenge Almightie God of deceit by yeelding certaine slight beliefe to some who by spreading vaine rumors of the affaires of Chanaan had terrified the credulous multitude but rather that they should follow them who both would be the actors and conductors also of
reason of the despaire they conceiued of their future successe For being alreadie perswaded that they were masters of the field and that their armie should be alwaies warranted and safe at such time as they should fight according as before times God had promised them they saw contrarie to their opinion that their aduersaries had taken heart insomuch as clothing themselues in sackcloth vpon their raiments they spent all the day in teares lamentations without tasting any meate so grieuously were they afflicted with the inconuenient that had hapned But Iosuah perceiuing the army discomfited after this manner and conceiuing some sinister hope of their estates boldly addressed himselfe vnto God saying We haue not beene induced by our owne temerity to attempt the conquest of this land by force but we haue beene hereunto incouraged by thy seruant Moses to whom thou hast promised by diuers signes that thou wouldest giue vs this country to inhabite in that our army should haue alwaies the vpper hand in battell and of these thy promises we haue often times experimented the euent But now beyond all expectation hauing receiued an ouerthrow and lost some of our soldiers being terrified by this accident and suspitious of thy promises to Moses we both abstaine from warre and after so many enterprises and entrances of warre we cannot hope of any fortunate or succesful proceedings Be thou therefore assistant vnto vs O Lord for it lieth in thy power by thy mercy relieue our present sorrow with a largesse of victory take from vs the thought of despaire wherein we are too farre plunged Iosuah lying prostrate on his face made this praier vnto God who presently answered him that he should arise commāding him to purge the army of that pollution that had hapned therein and of a theft committed by one of the multitude who was so hardie as to violate and conceale those things which were ◅onsecrated vnto him assuring him that that cause was the meanes of the present calamitie but that as soone as he had searched out and punished the sacriledge the Israelites should become fortunate and obtaine the victory This Oracle Iosuah declared vnto the people and calling for the high Priest and the Magistrates he cast lots vpon the tribes and when as the lot had fallen on the tribe of Iuda it was againe cast by kinreds and when againe the sacriledge was found to be committed in Zacharias kinred they examined the same once more man by man and found out Achar who hauing no meanes to denie the same and being discouered by God himselfe confessed the fact and brought forth those things which he had concealed Whereupon being presently put to death he was by night buried after an ignominious manner according as he deserued it But Iosuah hauing purified the people led them forth against Ainan and laying an Ambuscado by night time aboue the Citie early in the morning he drew the enemie out to fight who boldly broke forth being incouraged by their former victorie but Iosuah making a shew of retreat drew them farther off from their Citie forming in them an imaginarie hope that the Israelites fled and that they should gaine a second victorie ouer them But when Iosuah sodainly made a stand and freshly charged them and gaue a signall vnto those that lay in ambush they were incontinently addressed and incouraged to fight and with all expedition entred the gates of the Citie on the walles whereof there stood diuers of the inhabitants being eye witnesses as they thought of their atchieued victorie In this manner was the Citie taken and all they that were therein were slaine and Iosuah on the other side inforced those in such manner with whom he maintained skirmish that they turned their backs and fled towards the Citie as if it had beene in the same estate as they left it but when they perceiued that it was surprised and saw both it their wiues and children consumed with fire they scattered themselues about the fields not being able to rallie themselues by reason of their disturbance and disorder After this ouerthrow of the Ainites there were a great number of women children and bondslaues taken captiue and store of all sorts of moueables The Hebrewes also became Lords of much cattell and gathered a great quantitie of siluer for the countrey was rich All which Iosuah vpon his returue to Galgal distributed amongst the soldiers But the Gabeonites who dwelt not farre off from Ierusalem vnderstanding what had hapned to them of Hiericho and seeing the estate of the Ainites and fearing least the like misfortune might fall vpon them thought it not good to offer treaties of peace to Iosuah supposing they should find no tolerable conditions at his hands because they knew that he warred vnder that resolution vtterly to roote out and extinguish the nation of the Canaanites from off the earth They therefore made a league with the Cepherites and Cathierimites their neighbours telling them that they should not escape the daunger if so be it so fell out that the Gabeonites were first taken by the Israelites but that if they were vnited together they might both resist the greatnesse and auoid the dangers of them Which counsell of theirs being accepted they sent Embassadours vnto Iosuah such men as they thought to be both most capable and wisest amongst them in the affaires of common-weale to the intent to entreate a peace betwixt them and the Israelites who knowing that it would be verie dangerous for them if they should say that they were Canaanites that on the contrarie side they should auoid the danger if they protested that they had no communitie or alliance with them but that they dwelled far off from them told Iosuah that being incited by his fame they had vndertaken a long iourney the truth whereof he might coniecture by their habits for vpon their setting forth their garments were new and now by their long iourney quite worne for they had purposely put vpon them old raiment to the end it might be sutable to their subtill insinuation Standing vp therefore in the middest of the multitude attired after this maner they told them that they were sent by the Gabeonites and the neighbouring Cities thereabouts farre disioyned from that countrey to articulate and ratifie a peace betweene them according as they haue bin accustomed to proceed in their accords For knowing well that the countrey of Canaan was giuen vnto them by the grace and gratuitie of God to the end they should be maste◅ and possessours thereof they were much reioyced thereat and required them to be receiued as their confederates By these words and tokens of their garments and intimation of their long iourney they perswaded the Hebrewes to intreate an accord and amitie with them And the high Priest Eleazar with the councell of the Elders sware vnto them that they should be reputed for friends and allies and that no vniust action
incamped apart in the plaine and the Ammonites stood in battell aray neere vnto their Citie gate to make head against the Hebrewes Ioab perceiuing this vsed this stratageme to counteruaile their complot for he chose out the ablest and stoutest of his men to serue vnder him against Syrus and the other kings confederates with him and gaue the rest vnto his brother Abisat commaunding him to oppose himselfe against the Ammonites whilest he charged the rest willing him that if he perceiued that the Syrians were stroâ—…er then he was and did put him to the worst to displace his squadron and to succour him promising to do the like if he perceiued him to be ouerpressed by the Ammonites Whenas therefore he had exhorted his brother to behaue himselfe valiantly and vertuously and to take heed least he should light on some dishonour he sent him before to charge the Ammonites and he on the other side assailed the Syrians who valiantly resisted him for a little space yet notwithstanding Ioab slew many of them and finally constrained them to turne their backs Which when the Ammonites perceiued who were afraid of Abisai and his people they retreated likewise and conforming themselues according to the example of their allies they tooke their flight into the Citie By which meane Ioab hauing obtained the vpper hand ouer his enemies returned in triumph and with victorie vnto the king to Ierusalem Yet were not the Ammonites wholy weakned by this losse for although they had by their lamentable experience a certaine knowledge that the Hebrewes were stronger then themselues yet would they by no meanes listen after peace They therefore sent vnto Chalama king of the Syrians on the other side of Euphrates whose confederacie they attained by bribes and huge sums of money This king had one who was called Sabecus for his lieutenant generall and vnder him fourescore thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen Dauid vnderstanding that the Ammonites drew to head and intended anew to beare armes against him he surceased to prosecute the war against them by his lieutenants himself in person with al his forces passed ouer the riuer of Iordan and went out against them and at last meeting and fighting with them ouercame them killing welny fortie thousand of their footmen and seuen thousand of their horsemen he hurt Sabecus also Chalamas Lieutenant who likewise died of that wound The issue of this combate being thus the Mesopotamians yeelded themselues vnto Dauid and gaue him many great and magnificent presents He therefore by reason of the winter retired himselfe for that time to Ierusalem but incontinently vpon the spring time he sent out his Lieutenant Ioab once more to make warre vpon the Ammonites who ouerrunning their countrey vtterly spoyled it and shut them vp in Aramath their principal citie which he ouercame entred About this time it so fel out that Dauid notwithstanding he were a iust man one that feared God an exact obseruer of all the lawes and ordinances of his forefathers fell and offended God most greeuously For as he walked on the top of his royall pallace from the time of mid-day vntill the euening for betwixt these times he vsed accustomably to walke he perceiued a woman of incomparable beautie and supassing perfection whose name was Bethsabe who in her house bathed her selfe in a cleere and pleasant fountaine and being deuoured and rauished with her beautie he could not refraine his concupiscence but sending for her tooke the spoile of her beautie and chastitie and by that meanes got her with child Which when she perceiued she sent vnto the king beseeching him to bethinke himselfe of some meanes whereby her shame might be concealed and her life which was in hazard by the law for her adulterie might be preserued Who thereupon sent for Vrias Bethsabes husband and one of Ioabs soldiers who at that time was at the siege of Aramath and questioned with him vpon his arriuall as touching the estate of the siege of the armie who answering him that all things were fallen out according as he could wish Dauid tooke a portion of his owne supper and gaue it him willing him to repaire vnto his owne house and repose him selfe with his wife But Vrias did nothing lesse but slept amongst his fellow soldiers neere vnto the person of the king Which when Dauid vnderstood he asked him wherefore he repaired not to his owne house according to the custome of husbands that had beene long time absent vpon a long voiage and why he entertained not his wife from whom he had beene sequestred so many daies Vrias replied that it became him not either to repose or take pleasure with his wife whilest his companions and generall lay vpon the bare ground in the enemies countrey Which said Dauid commaunded him to soiourne there all the day long to the end that on the next morrow he might send him backe againe to Ioab That night the king inuited him to supper and although he were made drunke thorow the aboundance of wine he receiued which the king had purposely caused to be giuen him yet notwithstanding he slept at the kings gate without any desire to repaire home vnto his wife Herewith the king was much despited so that he wrote vnto Ioab commaunding him to punish Vrias because he had offended him and to the end that this intent of his should not be discouered he suggested him both in the meanes and manner of the prosecution of his death enioyning him to place him in the ranke of greatest danger and in face of the enemie to the intent that in the fight his person might be endaungered abandoned and left alone whilest they that fought next vnto him retired when they sawe him charged Whenas he had thus written and sealed vp the letter with his owne seale he deliuered it to Vrias to beare vnto Ioab who receiuing the same and conceiuing the kings pleasure placed Vrias in that quarter where he knew the enemies would fight most desperately appointing him out certaine of his best soldiers to second him with purpose that he would come and succour them with all his power to the end he might breake thorow the wall and enter the Citie Vrias who was a noble soldier and for his valour had gotten great honour by the king and reputation amongst all those of his tribe and tooke delight to be employed in hazardous attempts and refused no daunger valiantly accepted the execution But Ioab gaue priuate intelligence to those that were ranked next vnto him that when they should see the enemie sally out with greatest fury they should abandon Vrias When as therefore the Hebrewes drew neere vnto the Citie the Ammonites feared least the enemie should speedily scale and enter the Citie on that side where Vrias was ranked for which cause they picked out a squadron of the most resolute men amongst them and setting open their gates sodainly with swift course force
altar and to conduct him to the iudgement seat that he might in that place iustifie his actions But Ioab said that he would neuer abandon the Temple but that he had rather die in that place than in another When Banaia had certified the king of this his answer he commanded him to cut off his head in the same place according as he required and that in that sort he should be punished by reason of the two murthers which he had cursedly committed vpon the persons of Abner and Amasa commanding that his bodie should be buried in the same place to the end that his sinnes should neuer depart from his race and that both Dauid and Salomon might be held guiltlesse of the death of Ioab This commaund of his Banaia executed and was afterward made generall of all the men of warre Moreouer the king established Sadoc soly in the place of Abiathar whom he had deposed He commanded Semei also to build him a house in Ierusalem and to keepe himselfe therein without passing the floud of Cedron for if he chanced to breake that commaundement the penaltie which he should incurre should be no lesse then death and to the more serious performance of this his iniunction he tied him by a solemne oath Semei thanked Salomon for the charge he had imposed on him and swore that he would fulfill the same so that forsaking his owne countrey he came and dwelt in Ierusalem where after he had soiourned for the space of three yeeres it hapned that he had newes that two of his fugitiue slaues had fled and retired themselues in Geth whereupon he went to finde them out and no sooner returned he backe againe with them but that the king had intelligence that he had neglected his commandement and that which is more that he had broken that oath which he made vnto God wherewith he was wroth For which cause calling him vnto him he spake after this manner Hast thou not sworne said he that thou wilt no waies abandon or issue out of this Citie to depart into an other Truely thou shalt not escape the penalty of thy periurie but I will see iustice done vpon thee for the same and for those outrages thou didst offer vnto my father during his flight at which time thou didst shew thy selfe to be a wicked man in all things to the end that thou maiest vnderstand that the wicked receiue no priuiledge although that their punishments be for the present deferred but at such time as they suppose themselues to be assured because they haue suffered no punishment their punishment is augmented and made more grieuous then it had been if they had presently beene executed for their offences Whereupon Banaia slew Semei according as he was commanded From that day forward Salomon had his royall estate secured and after that his enemies had receiued condigne punishment he tooke to wife the daughter of Pharao king of Aegypt and afterwards builded the walles of Ierusalem farre greater and more stronger then they were before and all the rest of his life he gouerned his common-weale in peace so that his youthly yeeres hindred him not from the obseruation of iustice and the maintenance of lawes neither excluded the remembrance of that which his father had charged him at the houre of his death but behauing himselfe in all things exactly he executed the affaires of his kingdome with that circumspection that such as excelled him in yeeres and were aduanced in prudence could not surpasse him CHAP. II. Of the wisedome prudence and riches of Salomon and how first of all he builded the Temple in Ierusalem AS soone as he came to Hebron he determined to pay his vowes vnto God on that brazen altar which was erected by Moses and sacrificed thereon in burnt offrings a thousand head of cattell which honourable deuotion of his was most acceptable vnto God For the very same night after he had appeared vnto him in a dreame he commaunded him to aske whatsoeuer blessing as he imagined sufficient to recompence this his pietie But Salomon required a most high and excellent thing which God doth most liberally bestow and men in like sort very happily receiue For he demanded neither gold nor siluer nor any otherkind of riches such as a youthly man would require for these are onely affected by the common sort when the other are onely worthy of the diuine magnificence But giue me said he O Lord a ripe iudgement and a good vnderstanding to the intent that by these meanes I may administer iustice to this people with truth and equitie With this demaund of his God was greatly delighted and promised him to giue him all other things wherof he had made no mention namely riches and glorie and aboue all these such an vnderstanding and wisedome as no one man either king or priuate hath had before him Moreouer that he would continue the kingdome in his family for many ages if so be that he continued in the waies of iustice and obeyed God in all things and walked in his fathers waies in imitating his chiefest vertues After that Salomon had receiued these blessings from God and was made happy by these promises he forsooke his bed and worshipping God returned vnto Ierusalem where he offered great sacrifices before the Tabernacle and magnifically feasted all those of his houshold About the same time a verie difficult iudgement was brought him to decide the resolution whereof was very hard to bee discouered And I haue thought it necessarie to declare the occasions whereon at that present the debate was grounded to the end that the readers may vnderstand the difficultie of the cause in question and that if they happen at any time to be assistant in such like affaires they might draw as it were from the counterfeit of this kings wisedome a perfect modle whereby they may directly shape an answere to such demaunds as shall be offered them Two women of loose and lustfull conuersation came vnto him one of which who seemed to haue suffered the iniurie began after this manner I O king said she and this woman dwell togither in one chamber but so it fortuned that both of vs on one day and at the same houre bare each of vs a sonne some three daies after we were brought a bed this woman lying by her infant hath in sleepe ouerlaid it and stifled it and hath taken my childe from betweene my knees and laid it by her and setled the dead childe whilest I slept in my bosome Now on the morrow when I thought to offer the teate vnto mine infant I found not mine owne but perceiued that her child lay dead by me for I knew it because I had exactly marked it This my childe I haue redemaunded at her hands and because I could not recouer it I haue made my recourse vnto your maiesties iustice O king for in that we were sole women and she is obstinate and feareth not to be
seuen and twentie thousand being slaine by the ruine of the walles that fell vpon them besides one hundreth thousand men that gaue vp the ghost in that fight But Adad attended by some of his faithfull friends went and hid himselfe in a certaine caue vnder the ground who protesting vnto him and concluding amongst themselues that the kings of Israel were curteous and mercifull and that there was hope of pardon to be had if after the manner of suppliants they might be attired and sent vnto him Adad permitted them Wherupon they incontinently presented themselues to Achab cloathed in sackcloth and hauing their heads wreathed about with cords according to the manner of suppliants amongst the Syrians telling him that Adad besought his maiestie to grant him his life promising on his behalfe that from thenceforth he would alwaies continue his seruant and acknowledge his fauour Achab answered them that it highly contented him that their king was as yet aliue and had escaped from the furie of the fight offering him by them that good will and honour which one brother ought to shew vnto another After this they drew an oath from Achab that he should offer him no wrong if so be he discouered himselfe vnto him and withall presently resorted vnto Adad whom they drew out of the place where he was hidden and afterwards brought him vnto Achab who was mounted vpon a chariot Adad prostrated himselfe before him but Achab stretching out his hand made him incontinently mount vp with him into his chariot and kissed him willing him to be of good courage assuring him that hee should receiue neither iniurie nor iniustice at his hands Hereupon Adad gaue him thanks protesting that during his life time he would neuer be forgetfull of his fauours promising him moreouer to restore vnto him those cities which his predecessors kings of Syria had taken from the Israelites He likewise gaue him power to come into Damasco in like maner as before time his ancestors had the credite to repaire vnto Samaria When these accords were made and confirmed by oath Achab gaue him many worthy presents and sent him backe into his kingdome Thus ended the warre betwixt Adad and the king of the Israelites After this a certaine Prophet called Micheas came vnto another Israelite commanding him to wound him vpon the head assuring him that God was so pleased and had so commanded him When as this Israelite would in no sort condescend hereunto he prophecied vnto him that since hee had disobeyed Gods commandement he should meet with a lyon which should rent him in peeces Which comming to passe according as it was foretold the Prophet addressed himselfe again vnto another commanding him to do the like and when he had wounded him in the head he bound vp the wound came vnto the king telling him that he had been in war had receiued a prisoner in charge from his Captaines hands and how that his prisoner being fled from him he feared least he that had committed him to his charge should for that cause take his life from him the rather for that he had threatned no lesse Achab answered him that he was iustly condemned Whereupon Micheas discouered his head and made it knowne who he was And to this intent vsed the Prophet this policie that his words might be of greater force and value For hee told the king that God would bend himselfe against him because he had permitted the blasphemer Adad to depart vnpunished assuring him that God would cause him to be slaine by Adad and suffer the people of Israel to be slaughtered by the Syrian armie The king displeased with the libertie and free speech of the Prophet commanded him to be cast into prison and being vehemently affrighted with this his prediction he departed home vnto his house CHAP. IX Of Iosaphat King of Ierusalem HItherto haue we spoken of Achabs estate but now must I returne vnto Iosaphat king of Ierusalem who hauing inlarged his kingdome and planted garrisons in those cities that were subiect vnto him and in those likewise which his grandfather Abiah had possessed in the portion of Ephraim at such time as Ieroboam raigned ouer the ten Tribes This king had perpetuall assistance and fauour at Gods hands in that he was a iust vertuous Prince studying day and night for nothing more then how he might please and honour God The kings his neighbors round about him honoured him with presents so that his riches were great and his honours excellent In the third yeare of his raigne he assembled the gouernours and priests of his countrie enioyning them to ride their circuit about the prouinces and to teach the inhabitants of euerie citie the law of Moses training them vp in the obseruance thereof and in the studie of pietie Which all the Citizens embraced and entertained so willingly that they seemed to emulate and striue the one with the other which of them should exceede the rest in the seruice of God The Nations likewise that dwelt round about him loued Iosaphat and were at peace with him The Philistines also payed those tributes which were imposed on them And the Arabians furnished him euerie yeare with sixe hundreth and thirtie lambes and the like number of kids He fortified also other great cities of importance made preparation of munition of war and armes against the enemie He mustered in the tribe of Iuda three hundred thousand men ouer whom he placed Edraus Generall and two hundred thousand vnder the conduct of Iohanan Who besides these had two hundred thousand Archers on foote of the tribe of Beniamin Another Chieftaine called Ochobat leuied and led for the king one hundred and fourescore thousand men armed at assay besides those which he sent into the defenced cities Hee maried his sonne Ioram to Athalia the daughter of Achab king of the tenne tribes And not long after resorting to Samaria Achab receiued him verie curteously and magnificently entertained his armie with bread wine and flesh in all abundance requiring him to yeeld him his assistance against the king of Syria to the intent he might recouer the cirie of Ramath in the country of Galaad which Adads father had wonne and conquered from his father Iosaphat promised to assist him and being no wayes inferiour vnto him in force he sent his armie from Ierusalem to Samaria When these two kings were departed out of the citie and each of them were seated vpon their thrones they distributed their pay to euery one of their souldiers At that time Iosaphat commanded that if at that present there were as yet any prophets amongst them they might be sent for to giue notice what the issue should be of this their warre against the Syrians and whether they thought it good to make warre against them by reason that at that time there was amitie and peace betwixt Achab and the Syrians confirmed for the space of three yeares since the
time that he tooke Adad prisoner and deliuered him to that present CHAP. X. Achab fighteth against the Syrians and is ouer come and slaine in the battell HEreupon Achab called for the Prophets who were in number foure hundreth and commaunded them to enquire of God whether he would giue him the victory in that battell which he enterprised against Adad or no and whether he should recouer the Citie which he intended to besiege Who answered and counselled him to hazard the battell in that he should haue the vpper hand ouer the Syrian and should take him prisoner as he had done before time Iosaphat vnderstanding by their words that they were false Prophets asked Achab if he had not any other Prophet of God who might more exactly certifie him of that which might succeed Achab answered that he had one as yet remaining but that he hated him because he prophecied nought else but mishap and misery vnto him and had foretold him that if he should fight against the Syrian he should be ouercome and slaine and for that cause he held him at that time in prison signifying vnto him that his name was Micheas the sonne of Imlah Iosaphat required that he might be brought into his presence which was accordingly performed by one of his Eunuches who by the way certified Micheas that all the other Prophets had prophecied to the king victory But Micheas told him that it was not lawful for him to lye against God but that it concerned him to speake that which God should informe him of concerning the king As soone as he came before Achab and was adiured to speake the truth he said that God had shewed him the Israelites put to flight and dispersed by the Syrians that pursued them no otherwise then sheepe without their shepheard All which signifieth no lesse said hee but that the rest of the people returning home in safetie Achab onely should be slaine in the battell When Micheas had spoken after this manner Achab turning himselfe towards Iosaphat said vnto him I told you before this how this fellow was affected towards me But Micheas constantly auowed that he prophecied nothing but that which God had commāded him to speake assuring Achab that he was sollicited by the false Prophets vnto war vnder hope of victory wheras he should assuredly perish in the battel These words of his made Achab much discomforted But Sedechias one of the false Prophets stepped forth and exhorted him to set light by Micheas words the rather for that he spake vntruely And in confirmation of this his allegation he alleaged Elias who was a farre more skilfull Prophet in foretelling things to come then Micheas was yet that the same Elias had foretold that the dogs should licke Achabs bloud in the Citie of Iezrael in the field of Naboth because Naboth had beene stoned to death by the instance of Achab. Whereby it appeared manifestly that since he contradicted a Prophet so excellent as he was he lyed in saying that the king should die within three daies Moreouer said hee it shall appeare whether he be truly sent from God or no if as soon as he shal receiue a buffet from me he cause my hand to wither according as Iadon made Ieroboams hand shrinke at such time as he thought to apprehend him For I thinke said he O king that thou art assuredly informed hereof which said he strooke him and for that no inconuenient fell vpon him by reason of that his audacious attempt Achab assured himselfe and recouered his courage forwardly set forth against the Assyrian army For as it is to be supposed the will of God was of such power that it caused the false Prophets to triumph ouer the true which was the cause that the false prophets were trusted more then the true to the intent that Gods preordained will might be fulfilled But Sedechias made him yron hornes and said vnto Acha◅ that God by them signified vnto him that he should ruinate all Syria But Micheas prophecied to the contrarie that within verie few daies Sedechias should walke from cane to caue to hide himselfe and auoid the punishment of his falshood Achab displeased hereat commanded that he should be led thence and kept prisoner with Achmon the gouernour of the Citie yeelding him no other allowance but bread and water for his sustenance Thus marched these two kings with their armies against Ramath which is in Galaad which when the king of Syria vnderstood he drewe his army into the field came out to meet with them and incamped neere vnto Ramath Now was it concluded betwixt these two confederate kings that Achab should enter the battel in a priuate habit and Iosaphat should be inuested with the royall ornaments and supply Achabs person in the battell to the intent that Micheas prediction might be made frustrate But notwithstanding this popular disguise Gods iustice preuented him for Adad king of Syria commaunded his army that they should put no one of the enemy to the sword but only the king of Israel As soone as the charge was giuen the Syrians perceiuing Iosaphat in the front of the army and coniecturing that it was Achab they made head altogither against him and hauing inuironed and pressed him very neerely they perceiued that it was not he for which cause they retired backe againe But although they had fought from the morning vntill the euening and had the vpper hand yet flew they no man because they sought after no other but Achab to put him to the sword whom notwithstanding they could by no meanes meet withall At length one of Adads seruants called Aman shot at randon amongst the enemies and by fortune hurt Achab in the brest and shot him thorow the lungs This hurt of his concealed he from his souldiers for feare least they should be discomforted For which cause he commanded his coachman to driue his chariot out of the battell for that he felt himselfe grieuously and mortally wounded and although he were terribly pained yet sate he in his chariot vntill sunne set at which time his heart failed him and he gaue vp the ghoast When night came the Syrian army withdrew themselues into their campe and receiuing tidings by an Herault that Achab was dead euerie one retired home vnto his house but Achabs body was conueied to Samaria interred in that place As for his chariot it was washed in the fountaine of Iezrael because it had been bebloudied by reason of the kings hurt whereby the truth of Elias prediction was ratified and confirmed for the dogs lickt his bloud from that time forward the common women continually washed themselues in that fountaine He died also in Ramath according as Micheas had foreprophecied Whereas therefore all things befortuned Achab according as two prophets had foretold him it appeareth that we ought to honour and magnifie the maiestie of God in all places and to reuerence his prophecies deliuered by them and
deaths After that Ioram had taken possession of the kingdome he resolued to make warre vpon Misa the king of the Moabites who paid Achab his father before him the tribute of 200000. sheepe bearing wooll Whenas therefore he had assembled his forces he sent vnto Iosaphat requiring him that since he had beene his fathers friend he would likewise second and send him ayde in his intended warre against the Moabites who had as then newly reuolted from his gouernment Iosaphat not only promised him to yeeld him succours but moreouer he assured him that he would draw the king of Idumaea who was his subiect into their association When Ioram vnderstood these things by those whom he had sent vnto Iosaphat hee tooke his army with him and repaired to Ierusalem where he was magnificently receiued and intertained by the King of that Citie where after they had concluded to march thorow the desart of Idumaea and that way to charge the enemie in that they expected nothing lesse then to be endangered on that side these three kings departed together from Ierusalem namely the king of Ierusalem the king of Samaria and the king of Idumaea Now when they had marched some seuen daies iourney they found a great sarcitie of water amongst them both to water their horses to refresh their whole army by reason that their guides had led them astray out of the high way so that they were in great want and in especiall Ioram who by reason of the necessitie wherwith he was pressed cried vnto God expostulating with him for what offence of his he would betray three such kings as were there present into the hands of the king of Moab without stroke strooken But Iosaphat who was a vertuous man encouraged him and sent into the army to know whether there were any Prophet of God that had followed them to the battell to the intent said he that we may vnderstand by God what we ought to do and whereas one of the seruants of Ioram said that he had seene Elizaeus the sonne of Saphat the disciple of Elias all the three kings by the sollicitation of Iosaphat resorted vnto him now when they drewe neere vnto the Prophets tent which he had pitched apart from the rest of the company they asked him what should become of the army and Ioram in especiall questioned with him To whom Elizeus answered that he had no reason to sollicite him in this sort but to repaire vnto his fathers and mothers Prophets who would certifie him the truth Notwithstanding Ioram intreated him that he would prophecie and continue the preseruation of the army and the defence of his life but Elizeus sware by the liuing God that he would answere him nothing except for Iosaphats sake who was an vpightman and such a one as feared God Afterwards calling vnto them a certaine man that could cunningly play vpon instruments for so had the Prophet commaunded whilest he sung Elizeus was rauished with a diuine spirit and enioyned the kings to make certaine trenches in the channell of the riuer for said he you shall see the riuer full of water without either vvind cloud or raine so that both the whole army and all their cattell shall be saued and sufficiently sustained and God will not onely bestow these benefits on you but will giue you the vpper hand of your enemies also and you shal surprise the fairest and strongest Cities of the Moabites and you shall cut downe their trees ruinate their countrey and fill vp their fountaines and riuers When the Prophet had spoken thus the next day before sunne rise the riuer flowed aboundantly with water for some three daies iourney off God had suffered a very strong and setled raine to fall in Idumaea so that both the soldiers and their horses were sufficiently refreshed and watered When the Moabites were informed that the three kings came out against them tooke their way thorow the desart their king presently assembled his army and commaunded them to keepe the passages of the mountaines to the end they might hinder the enemy from entring their countrey vnawares Who beholding about the sunne rise that the water of the riuer was bloud red for at that time it arose in the countrey of Moab and at this houre the water is red they conceiued a false opinion that the three kings being pressed by thirst had slaine one another and that the riuer flowed with their bloud Being in this sort seduced with this imagination they besought the king to giue them leaue to gather their enemies spoiles which when they had obtained they altogether inconsiderately matched forth as if to a pray alreadie prepared for them and came vnto the kings campes vnder hope to find no man to resist them But their hope deceiued them for their enemies enuironed them round about and some of them were cut in peeces the rest turned backe and fled towards their owne countrey and the three kings entring into the territories of the Moabites destroyed their Cities pillaged the champion countrey disfigured their inclosures filling them with stones and mud taken out of the riuer cut downe their fairest trees stopped vp the sources of their waters and leuelled their wals with the ground The king of the Moabites himselfe seeing himselfe pursued and besieged and that his Citie was in daunger to be taken perforce sallied out verie valiantly with seuen hundreth men hoping by the swiftnes of his horse to breake thorow the Israelites campe on that side where he thought it was least defenced Which when he had attempted and could not execute because he charged on that side which was the best defended he returned backe againe into the Citie and committed a desperate and hatefull action for he tooke his eldest sonne who ought in right to succeede him in the kingdome and set him on the wall of the Citie and in the sight of all his enemies offered him for a burnt sacrifice vnto God The kings beholding this wofull spectacle were moued with compassion of his necessitie and ouercome with humanitie and mercy leuied the siege and returned backe againe into their countries After that Iosaphat was returned into Ierusalem he enioyed a peaceable gouernment but liued not long time after this exploit but died when he was threescore yeares olde in the fiue and twentith yeare of his raigne and was magnificently buried in Ierusalem according as the successour of Dauids vertue and kingdome ought to be entombed CHAP. II. Ioram obtaining the kingdome of Ierusalem slewe his brothers and his fathers friends HE left behind him diuers children the eldest of whom he appointed his successor in the kingdome who was called Ioram as his vncle was who was his mothers brother and Achabs sonne whilome king of Israel The king of the ten lines returning backe vnto Samaria kept with him the Prophet Elizaeus whose actions I wil heere recite because they are notable deserue to be registred in writing
the solemnizing of this marriage Alexander by letters inuited the high Priest Ionathan commanding him to repaire vnto him to Prolemais Where after he was arriued and had both presented his seruice with other magnificent presents to both the kings he was highly honoured by both insomuch as Alexander constrained him to put off his ordinarie garments and to put on a purple to be and after that to sit vpon a royall throne commanding his captaines to march before him thorow the Citie and to commaund by publike edict that no man should dare to speake any thing against him neither offer him any cause of discontent in what sort soeuer All which the captaines performed so that they who purposely and maliciously repaired thither to accuse him seeing the honour that was done vnto him by this publication fled away hastily for feare least some mishap should befal the. This king Alexander loued Ionathan so intirely that he affoorded him the chiefest place amongst the number of his deerest friends CHAP. VIII Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius ouer commeth Alexander obtaineth the kingdome and contracteth friendship with Ionathan IN the hundreth sixtie and fifth yeere of the raigne of the Greekes Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius accompanied with diuers hired soldiers whom Lasthenes Candiot furnished him with departed out of Candia and came into Cilicia Which newes as soone as Alexander heard he was grieuously vexed troubled for which cause he instantly posted from Phaenicia to Antioch with intent to assure the affaires of his kingdome in that place before the arriual of Demetrius He left behind him for his gouernor in Coelesyria Apollonius Dauus who comming vnto Iamnia with a great army sent a messenger vnto the high Priest IonathaÌ„ signifying vnto him that it was not conuenient that he onely should liue in assurance at his owne ease and in authoritie without submitting himselfe vnto a King and that it was a great indignitie for him in all mens eies for that he had not inforced himselfe to stoupe vnder the obedience of a King For which cause said he deceiue not thy selfe neither hope thou by skulking in the mountaines or depending on thy forces to continue thy greatnes but if thou trustest to thy power come down into the field encounter with me my army in the plaine to the end that the issue of the victory may shew which of vs is most valiant Be not thou so ignorant that the noblest of euerie Citie beare armes vnder one who haue alwaies ouercome thy predecessors For which cause I challenge thee to meet me in that place where we may vse our swords and no stones and where the vanquished shall haue no aduantage by his flight Ionathan whetted by this bitter message chose out ten thousand of his best soldiers and departed from Ierusalem accompanied with his brother Simon and came vnto Ioppe and encamped without the Citie because the Citizens had shut the gates against him for they had a garrison planted in that place by Apollonius But as soone as he addressed himselfe to batter the Citie the inhabitants were afraid for feare least he should surprise the same by force and for that cause they opened him the gates Apollonius vnderstanding that Ioppe was taken by Ionathan he tooke three thousand horsemen and eight thousand footmen with him and came into Azot whence he departed leading out his army with a sober march foot by foot arriuing at Ioppe he retired back to draw Ionathan into the field assuring himselfe vpon his horsemen and grounding his hope of victorie vpon them But Ionathan issuing out boldly pursued Apollonius as farre as Azot who finding himselfe in the champion field tumed backe vpon him and charged him Ionathan was in no sort abashed to see the thousand horsmen that Apollonius had laid in ambush neere vnto a certaine streame to the end they might charge the Iewes behind but disposed his army in such sort that his soldiers on euery side turned their faces vpon the enemy commaunding his mento defend themselues on both sides fighting with those that assailed them eyther in the vantgard or the rereward This battell continued vntill euening and Ionathan had giuen his brother Simon a part of his forces charging him to set vpon the enemies battell as for himselfe he drew himselfe and his soldiers into a forme of a battalion resembling a Tortuse to the end that being couered with their bucklers ioyned the oâ—…e with the other they might beare off the horsmens arrowes to which all of them shewed themselues obedient The enemies horsemen shooting all their arrowes against them did them no harme for they pierced not as farre as the flesh but lighting vpon the bucklers enclosed and fastned the one within the other they were easily beaten backe borne off and fell downe being shot all in vaine But when as the enemies were wearied with shooting from betimes in the morning vntill euening and that Simon perceiued they could charge no further he set vpon them with his soldiers so couragiously that he put them all to flight The horsmen of Apollonius perceiuing that the footemen were disarâ—…aid grew heartles likewise and wearied also for that they had fought vntill the euening and hauing lost the hope that they had in the footmen they took their flight in great disorder and confusion so that they brake their rankes of themselues and were scattered thorow all the plaine Ionathan also pursued them as farre as Azot and taking the Citie by assault he slue diuers of them constraining the rest that were in despaire to flie into the temple of Dagon which is in Azot and taking the Citie by assault he burned it with the villages round about and spared not the temple of Dagon but burned it and al 〈◊〉 that were therein The number as well of those that were slaine in the battell as of those that were consumed by fire in the temple was eight thousand men Hauing therefore in this sort discomfited this army he departed from Azot and marched towards Ascalon and as he was encamped without the Citie the Ascalonites came out vnto him and both presented and honoured him He willingly entertaining their good affection departed from thence and iournied towards Ierusalem charged with great spoiles which after his victory against his enemy he droue before him after he had spoiled the countrey As soone as Alexander heard that Apollonius the generall of his army was discomfited and forced to flie he made a shew that he was glad thereof pretending that it was against his will that Ionathan had beene molested by warre who was both his friend and ally Whereupon be sent an Embassadour vnto him to signifie vnto him how much he reioyced at his victory offering him presents and honours with a chaine of gold such as the kings were accustomed to giue to those of their kinred he likewise gaue him Accaron and the countrey thereunto belonging to him and his heires for euer
without expecting that I should sacrifice my bloud poured out so many times to those whom I haue so traiterously slaine Whilest he pronounced these words he died after hee had raigned one yeere He was called Philelles that is to say a louer of the Greeks Thus after he had prouted his countrie many wayes and subdued the Iurreans and ioyned the greater port of the countrey ◅o Iudaea and had constrained them likewise who should remaine in that countrey to be circ◅sed and to liue according to the lawes of the Iewes he died thus miserably He was by nature curtious and verie shame fast as Strabo testifieth speaking after this maner by the authoritie of Timagenes This was a curteous man and profitable to his countrimen the lewes in many things for he enlarged their countrie and conquered a part of the nations of the I◅eans whom he tied ◅to him by the bond of circumcision CHAP. XX. The exploits of Alexander king of the Iewes WHen Aristobulus was dead Salome his wife 9whom the Greekes called Alexandra set his brothers at libertie whom as we haue heretofore declared he had shut vp prisoners and made Iannaeus who was called Alexander king who both in age and modesty surpassed all the other brethren but such mishap had he that from his birth day vpward his father had cōceiued so great a hate against him that he neuer admitted him to his presence so long as he liued The cause whereof as it is reported was this When as Hircanus loued Aristobulus and Antigonus who were his two eldest sons with most intire affection God appeared vnto him in his sleep of whom he demanded who should be he that should succeed him Wherupon God presented vnto his sight the semblance of Alexander wherewith he grew discontent in that he conceiued that he should be heire of all his goods and so much preuailed displeasure with him that as soone as he was borne he sent him out of his presence into Galilee to be nourished and brought vp in that place But God hath apparantly prooued that he lied not to Hircanus For after Aristobulus death he taking possession of the kingdome caused one of his two brethren to be put to death who affected and laboured to make himselfe king and as for the other who resolued himselfe to liue in idlenes and pleasure he honoured him greatly After that he had established his estate according as he thought it most expedient he led foorth his army against Ptolemais and hauing obtained the vpper hand in the battell he couped vp the men within their Citie and afterward besieged and entrenched about the same For amongst all the Cities of the sea coast these two only namely Ptolemais and Gaza remained as yet vnconquered and there was no opposite left but Zoilus who was seased of the tower of Straton and Dora where he gouerned Whilest Antiochus Philometor and Antiochus Cyzicenus were thus at debate and warre the one against the other and consumed each others forces the Ptolemaidans had not any succour from them But whilest they were trauailed with this siege Zoilus who held the tower of Straton and Dora assisted them with that army he had vnder him and gaue them some succours by reason that since these two kings were whetted with intestine troubles and warres he cast how to aduance himselfe to the crowne and soueraigntie For these two kings seemed to neglect their owne dangers resembling herein those wrastlers who though being wearied with fight yet are ashamed to submit vnto their aduersarie but giue themselues a breathing time that they may the better be hartned to encounter The only hopes they had were in the kings of Aegypt and in Ptolomey Lathyrus who held the Isle of Cyprus at that time whither he retired himselfe after he had been driuen out of his kingdome by Cleopatra his mother To him the Ptolemaidans sent Embassadours as vnto their allie requiring him to come and deliuer them from Alexanders hands into which they were in danger to fall These embassadours perswaded him that if he would passe into Syria he should haue both Zoilus to friend and those of Gaza to his followers in the rescue of the Ptolemaidans and moreouer they assured him that the Sidonians and diuers others would second him and by this meanes so encouraged him with promises that he hasted himselfe to set saile But in the meane space Demaenetus who was both eloquent and in great authoritie with the Citizens made the Ptolemaidans change their resolution telling them that it was much better for them to hazard themselues in some vncertaine danger wherewith the Iewes threatned them then to deliuer themselues into the hands of such a master from whom they could expect nothing but manifest seruitude And moreouer not onely to sustaine a present war but that which is more an imminent warre from Aegypt for that Cleopatra would not permit that Ptolomey should leuy an army of the neighbouring nations but would come against them with a great power and would enforce her selfe also to thrust her sonne out of Cyprus And as for Ptolomey if he were frustrate of his hope yet might he notwithstanding once more returne againe to Cyprus where as they were to expect no lesse but extreme danger Now although that Ptolomey being at sea vnderstood how the Ptolemaidans had changed their opinion yet continued he his course onward and landing in the port of Sycamine he caused his army who were of foote and horse to the number of thirtie thousand men to take land and with them he approched Ptolemais and perceiuing that vpon his encamping they of the Citie admitted not his embassadors neither in any sort gaue eare vnto them he was wondrously perplexed But after Zoilus and they of Gaza were come vnto him requiring him to yeeld them assistance for that their countrey was destroied by the Iewes and by Alexander For which cause Alexander raised his siege from before Ptolemais for feare of Ptolomey and retiring his army into his owne countrey he began to vse this stratageme For couertly he incited Cleopatra against Ptolomey and openly he made a shew of amitie and confederation with Ptolomey promising him to giue him foure hundreth talents of siluer prouided that he would deliuer him of the tyrant Zoilus and assigne those possessions held by him vnto the Iewes Ptolomey hauing made a peace and league with Alexander did at that time willingly lay hold on Zoilus but after that he vnderstood that Alexander had sent and incensed his mother against him he brake all accord and went and besieged Ptolemais that would not entertaine him After therefore he had left his lieutenants at the siege with part of his forces he departed with the rest to enter vpon and spoile the countrey of Iudaea Alexander perceiuing Ptolomies intent assembled about fiftie thousand fighting men of his owne countrey or as some historians haue written eightie thousand with whom he went
the Gazeans had the vpper hand because that they made their enemies beleeue that Ptolomey was come to their rescue and to assault the Iewes afresh but as soone as the day appeared and this opinion was found false assoone as the Iewes were assured of the truth they turned backe vpon them and charging the Gazeans they slew about some one thousand fighting men of them All this notwithstanding they bethought them on no surrender but stood out being neither amated with losse of men or lacke of prouision whatsoeuer resoluing themselues rather to endure any miserie then to submit themselues into the hands of their enemies and that which made them more confident was the hope of help which they expected from Aretas king of Arabia who had promised no lesse But it came to passe that Apollodotus was slaine before his arriuall and the Citie taken For Lysimachus his brother conceiued a iealousie against him by reason of the good opinion which the inhabitants had of him and hauing slaine him and gathered those fighting men that he might he yeelded vppe the Citie vnto Alexander who at the first made a peaceable entrie but afterwards dispersed his souldiers and gaue them licence to execute all hostilitie against the Citizens so that they acted their crueltie in euerie place and slew many of the Gazeans Neither died these Citizens ◅euenged but so manfully behaued they themselues that they butchered no lesse number of Iewes then they murthered Citizens among them Some of them likewise perceiuing themselues to be alone set fire vpon their houses taking away first that which was therein to the intent that the enemy might be enriched with none of their spoiles Other some killed their wiues and children with their owne hands meaning this way to deliuer them from the enemies seruitude But the Senators to the number of fiue hundreth were fled into the temple of Apollo for at such time as the enemy entred the towne they were by chance assembled in councell all these did Alexander put to the sword and instantly rased and leuelled that Citie with the ground which done he returned to Ierusalem after he had spent one whole yeere at the siege before Gaza About this time Antiochus surnamed Gryphus died by the treason of Heracleon in the fortie and fifth yeere of his age and in the nine and twentith of his raigne His sonne Seleucus had the kingdome after him who made warre against his vncle Antiochus surnamed Cyzicenus and hauing ouercome and taken him he slue him Not long after Antiochus the sonne of Cyzicenus and Antoninus surnamed the Deuout came to Arade and placed the Diademes vpon their heads and made warre against Seleucus whom they ouercame in one conflict and droue him out of all Syria who flying into Cilicia and arriuing againe in the Citie of the Mopseates he exacted a summe of money at the Citizens hands But the people were so incensed that they set fire on his pallace whereby it came to passe that both he and his friends were burned to dust During the time that Antiochus the sonne of Cyzicenus raigned in Syria another Antiochus Seleucus brother made warre against him but he was not onely ouercome but both hee and his army were put to the sword After him Philip his sonne tooke the Diademe and gouerned in certaine places of Syria Meane while Ptolomey Lathurus sent to Gnidus for his fourth brother Demetrius Eucaerus and made him king of Damasco Against these two brothers Antiochus made a manly and valiāt resist but died verie shortly after For repairing to Laodicea to succour the Queene of the Galadenians who made warre against the Parthians he died fighting valiantly and his two brothers Demetrius and Philip possessed Syria as hereafter it shall be declared As for Alexander a domesticall sedition was raised against him for the people arose and mutined at such time as he assisted at the Altar to solemnize the feasts of Tabernacles and during the time that he intended the sacrifice they cast Citrons at him for as we haue declared else where the Iewes haue this custome that on the feast of the Tabernacles each one bringeth a braunch of palme and of Citrons They vpbraided him also with many iniurious speeches reproching him that he had bin prisoner in warre and that he was also vnworthy of the honour of the Priesthood Whereupon he being moued by these disgraces slaughtered about sixe thousand men and hauing made an enclosure of wood about the temple and the altar as farre as the place whereinto it was lawfull for none to enter but the Priests he kept there to the intent the people might not apprehend him he entertained also certaine strange soldiers Pisidians and Cilicians For in that he was at oddes with the Syrians he made no vse of them After this hauing ouercome the Arabians he constrained the Moabites and Galaadites to pay him tribute and destroyed the Citie of Amath whilest Theodore for feare gaue ouer to resist him But encountering with Obeda the king of Arabia and being surprised and betraied by an ambuscado in certaine miry and vnhaunted places hee was thrust by the presse of the Camels into a deep trench neere to Gadara a village of Galaad from whence he almost despaired to escape notwithstanding auoyding that daunger he came to Ierusalem And besides this his last mishap the people hated him against whom he made warre for the space of sixe yeers slue at the least fiftie thousand of them and the more he intreated them to compremit these hainous debates betweene thē the more grieuous displeasure conceiued they against him because of the inconuenients they had suffered so that when he demaunded of them what they would haue him to do they all of them with one voice cried out that he should kil himselfe And thereupon they presently sent messengers to Demetrius Eucaerus requesting him of his fauour and assistance CHAP. XXII Demetrius Eucaerus ouercommeth Alexander in battell HE comming onward with his army taking with him those who had incited him to the enterprise came and encamped neere vnto the Citie of Sichem But Alexander gathering togither some twentie thousand Iewes whom he knew to be well affected towards him with sixe thousand and two hundreth mercenary soldiers and straungers marched forward against Demetrius who led with him three thousand horsemen and fortie thousand footmen Both on the one and the other side there fell out many subtill stratagems the one of them striuing on the one side to enueigle and withdraw the forraine soldiers who were Grecians and the other inforcing himselfe to reconcile those Iewes that were of Demetrius followers to his faction but neither the one nor the other preuailed ought at all by these deuices so that finally they were driuen to decide their quarrell by the sword in which encountry Demetrius had the vpper hand For all the strangers that were on Alexanders side were euery one hewed in peeces after they had made sufficient
things wasted by diuers calamities that a man could conceiue no hope of remedie Besides this the people grew in hatred of their king for that it is their custome ordinarily to accuse their gouernours as if they were the authors of all their euils Yet did the king bethinke himselfe how he might remedy these inconueniences but hardly could he find the means for that their neighbours had no meanes to sell them victuals because they were no lesse afflicted then themselues and although he might haue recouered some little meanes for a great summe of money yet wanted he it also to defray the charges notwithstanding in that he knew that it behooued him to imploy his vttermost indeuours in yeelding a generall remedie to such and so violent an oppression he molted downe all those moueables he had either of gold or siluer within his pallace and spared nothing either for the matter the excellencie or the fashion no not so much as the vessels wherein he was ordinarily serued This money sent he into Aegypt where at that time vnder Caesar Petronius held the gouernment This man being Herodes friend in that he desired the safetie of his subiects at such time as diuers of them retired themselues vnto him by reason of that their necessitie he permitted them to buy vp corne and assisted them in all things both in their bargaines and in their cariages so that the greater or the whole summe of their succours was attributed to him But after their returne Herode wrought so much that the care that was taken by him did not onely change the affections of those which before time were his enemies but beside all this he purchased great praise and commendation for his liberalitie and singular prouidence For first of all he distributed a certaine quantitie of corne to all those who were not able of themselues to supply their owne wants vsing herein both great care and diligence After this for that there were a great number of such who in regard of their age or some other infirmitie were vnable to prepare their victuals he tooke order for their reliefe and appointed them certaine bakers who should furnish them with bread both sufficient and meet for their sustenance He gaue order also that they should not passe the winter disfurnished of cloathing but prouided for such as were naked sufficient raiment cōsidering that the sheep were partly dead partly deuoured that there was no wool to let men awork or other stuffe to make garments of Now after he had furnished his subiects with these things he thought good also to shew kindnes to the neighbouring cities and stored the Syrians with seed corne to sow their lands which yeelded him no little profit for the earth incontinently gaue him a large and plentifull tribute for that she had receiued so that all of them had aboundance of victuals and as soone as the haruest was readie he sent fiftie thousand men into that countrey which hee had releeued and by this meanes hee with all diligence restored his afflicted kingdome and comforted his neighbours who were oppressed with the like calamitie For there was not any man in necessitie that according to his qualitie was not assisted and succoured The villages likewise and the cities and those of the common sort who entertained great households and were in want hauing their recourse vnto him receiued that which they had need of so that to reckon vp all the come which he gaue vnto those who were not his subiects it appeareth that he imploied ten thousand Cores of wheat now the Core containeth ten Athenian bushels and within the compasse of his Realme he imploied eightie thousand which care of his and discreetly imploied fauour wrought so much in the hearts of the Iewes and was so highly renowmed amongst other nations that the ancient hatred which they had conceiued against him for that he had altered certaine customes of their kingdome was wholy forgotten and he was supposed by them to haue made a sufficient recompence by the diligence he had shewed in assisting them in their necessities and no lesse either grace or glory obtained he among strangers so that by these miseries the kings honour was not a little magnified and whatsoeuer damage he receiued at home so much honour and reputation atchieued he abroad For whereas in straungers necessities he had shewed himselfe so full of magnanimity each man did not respect what he had beene before but such as they had lately found him to be About the same time also he sent Caesar certaine supplies namely fiue hundreth chosen men of his guard whom Elius Gallus led into the warres in Arabia and had often vse of them in his most daungerous attempts When as therefore his kingdome was restored to his former felicitie he builded a royall pallace in the higher part of the citie furnished with many large buildings and decked with gold and marble seats so as they might receiue a great number of men he named also each roome of the house according to their seuerall names and called one the lodging of Caesar and another of Agrippa After this being entangled with loue he maried a wife least he should be distracted by vaine desires and the cause of this his new mariage was this There was among those that dwelt in Ierusalem a certaine citizen called Simon the sonne of Boethas the Alexandrine who was a Priest one of the chiefest in nobility among thē this man had a daughter the fairest and comeliest creature of that age whose beautie renowmed by the common voice it came to passe that with her fame Herod at one time entertained a good affection towards her and afterwards obtaining the sight of her he grew in loue with her yet would not vse his authority least he should seeme to behaue himselfe tyrannically but chose rather to accept her for his bethrothed wife Whereas therefore Simon seemed vnworthy his affinitie and yet too worthy to be blasted by contempt he made election of a conuenient meanes to obtaine the fulnes of his desire which was to raise both Simon and his to higher dignities For which cause he presently deposed the high Priest Iesus the sonne of Phabetes and established Simon in his place and that done he contracted affinitie with him After the mariage was consummate he builded a new castle in that place wherein he had ouercome the Iewes vpon the time and incontinently after the ouerthrow of Antigonus and when he had taken vpon him the gouernment This place is distant from Ierusalem some sixtie furlongs or stades strong by nature and fit for defence and good fortification For neere vnto the same there is a certaine steepe hill made by art after the manner of a round dugge enuironed with round towers with a steepie ascent of two hundreth steps cut out of hewed stone Within the same there are diuers pallaces builded with great and sumptuous workmanship made both for defence
being about some hundreth stades off of the citie robbed one Steuen that was Caesars seruant in the high way and tooke from him all that which hee had Which when Cumanus vnderstood he presently sent some of his souldiers to spoyle those villages which were neerest to the place where the fact was committed and to bring the chiefest inhabitants thereof in bonds vnto him In this pillage a certaine souldier found a booke of the law of Moses in one of these villages which hee tooke and brought and before them all ◅ore it in peeces with hainous blasphemies and vile speeches against the law and whole nation The Iewes vnderstanding hereof sodainly assembled themselues in great numbers and ran to Caesarea where Cumanus kept for that present requiring him that he would reuenge not their cause but Gods whose law was on that sort dishonoured signifying vnto him that it was impossible for them to liue so long as their law was thus contemned Cumanus fearing least a second mutinie and vpore should be raised among the people by the counsell of his friends cut off the souldiers head who had committed that outrage against the law and by this meanes appeased he the sedition that was ready to take head CHAP. V. The sedition of the Iewes against the Samaritanes THere hapned also an enmitie betwixt the Samaritanes and Iewes vpon this occasion They of Galilee who resorted to the citie of Ierusalem at the times of our solemne feasts were accustomed to passe thorow the countrey of the Samaritanes And at that time it hapned that their way lay thorow a borough called Nais scituate in a great champion field where a quarrell arising betwixt diuers inhabitants of the place and certaine passengers a great number of the Galileans were murthered Which when the magistrates of Galilee vnderstood they resorted to Cumanus requiring him to execute iustice on those that had murthered their countrimen but he being corrupted with money by the Samaritanes made no account of their complaint The Galileans being prouoked by this contempt of his perswaded the common people of the Iewes to betake them to their weapons and maintaine their liberty telling them that seruitude is of itselfe tedious but that when it is accompanied with outrages it is intolerable But their gouernours laboured to pacifie them promising them to deale so effectually with Cumanus that he should take punishment of the murtherers but they gaue them no audience but fell to armes requiring Eleazar the sonne of Dinaeus to be their chieftaine This Eleazar was a theefe who for many yeeres made his abode in the mountaines They therfore spoyled and burnt certaine villages of the Samaritanes After that the report of all that which had passed came to Cumanus eares he tooke a company of the souldiers of Sebaste with foure bands of footmen and armed the Samaritanes likewise to go and make warre against the Iewes whom they tooke and slue many of them and led more of them away prisoners When the chiefest gouernours in Ierusalem saw into what an infinitie of mischiefs they were fallen they cloathed themselues in sackcloth and cast ashes on their heads exhorting those that were mutinous to forethinke themselues of the ruine of their countrey the daunger the temple was in to be burned the seruitude both of themselues their wiues and children to prophane and straunge nations and desired them to chaunge their aduice and to lay aside their weapons and cease to offer violence to the end that they might hereafter liue in quiet and that euery one of them would retire themselues peaceably to his owne habitation By which words in the end they being perswaded returned home and betooke them to their busines The theeues also retired themselues againe into their strong holds and from that time all Iudaea was replenished with thefts The gouernours of Samaria resorted to Numidius Quadratus gouernour of Syria who dwelt at that time in Tyre to accuse the Iewes for that they had fired their villages and spoiled them telling him that their losse did not so much trouble them as for that they saw the Romanes were contemned by the Iewes who notwithstanding ought to appeare before them as their competent Iudges yet naithelesse that they assembled themselues in such sort as if the Romaines were not their superiours For which cause they addressed themselues to him to the end they might haue redresse of those wrongs which they had receiued by them This is that wherewith the Samaritanes charged the Iewes who answered to the contrary alledging that the Samaritanes themselues had beene the authors of that mutiny and vprore and that Cumanus being wholy corrupted by their money had smothered the matter and done no iustice on the murtherers When Quadratus heard this he reserued the iudgement till another time telling them that he would giue sentence in the matter at such time as he came into Iudaea and had examined the truth of both sides so that they returned without doing any thing Anone after Quadratus came into Samaria where he heard that the Samaritanes had beene the authors of the trouble and on the other side knowing that some Iewes likewise intended some insurrection he caused them to be crucified whom Cumanus had left in prison From thence he transported himself to Lydda which is a burrow of no lesse bignesse then a citie in which place he sitting on his tribunall seat heard the Samaritanes the second time and discouered by the report of a certaine Samaritane that one Dortus one of the principallest among the Iewes and foure other his confederates induced the people to rebell against the Romanes These did Quadratus cause to be executed As for Ananias who was the high Priest and the captaine Ananus he sent them bound to Rome to render an account to the Emperour Claudius of that which they had don Moreouer he commaunded the chiefe gouernours both of the Samaritanes and Iewes that they should speedily repaire to Rome whither Cumanus and captain Celer should conduct them to the end they might be iudged by Caesar himselfe vpon the information taken on both sides And fearing least the common people of the Iewes should breake out into some rebellion he repaired to the citie of Ierusalē to giue order that the Iewes should attempt to raise no new stirres but when he came thither he found all in peace busied in the celebration of the feast and offering sacrifices to God according to their accustomed ceremonies Being therefore assured that no man would innouate or rebell in that place he left them to their solemnities and repaired to Antioch But the Iewes that were sent to Rome with Cumanus and the principall Samaritanes had a day assigned them by the Emperour to decide the differents that were betweene them Cumanus and the Samaritanes laboured all that they might by the mediation of Caesars friends and freemen to haue the vpper hand of the Iewes and indeed the day had beene theirs if young
were taken by him To the performance whereof Ananias perswaded Albinus by manifest reason and by obtaining his demaund encreased and begat a number of miseries For the theeues vsed all the wilie meanes they could deuise in apprehending some one of Ananias house and when they had taken any one of them aliue they would not deliuer him except before they might haue one of their owne deliuered So that increasing both in courage and number they waxed more more insolent to afflict the countrey At the same time king Agrippa enlarged the citie of Caesarea surnamed Philippi and in honour of Nero called it Neronias He builded also to his great charge a Theater in fauour of the Berytians wherein euerie yeere he spent diuers thousands of siluer in sports He distributed oyle and corne to euery one of the people and garnished all the citie with most anticke and goodly counterfaited portraitures vpon the porches Briefely he welny transported into the citie all the ornamnts of the rest of his kingdom for which cause his subiects began to hate him seeing he depriued thē of their rare ornaments to adorn one strange citie Iesus the sonne of Gamaliel succeeded in the priesthood which the king had giuen him and taken away from Iesus the sonne of Damneus who resigned him his place against his will Whereupon there arose a discord betweene them For hauing assembled their resolutest followers they grew from bitter words to fatall blowes and stones But amongst all the rest Ananias was the richest in wealth and by his bountie reconciled the more vnto him Costobarus also and Saul gathered each of them a band of rascall and desperate men These two were of the bloud royall and by reason of their affinitie and alliance with Agrippa they were well beloued ◅or which cause they were outragious and violent in spoiling and rauishing the fortunes of the weaker sort From this time forward the estate of our Citie grewe desperate encrcasing daily more and more in wickednesse When Albinas vnderstood that Gessius Florus came to succeed him desirous that they of Ierusalem should acknowledge some good turne at his hands he called before him all those prisoners that were notoriously guiltie of murther and caused them to be executed As for those that were imprisoned vpon any small or sleight cause vpon paiment of their fines he deliuered them and in so doing the prison was cleansed of malefactors and from that time the countrey remained full of theeues and Robbers The Leuites who were ordained to sing the hymnes vnto God sollicited the king to assemble the councell and thereby to permi◅ them to weare the linnen Robe which the priests were accustomed to vse telling him that such an ordinance would dignifie his estate verie much in that he would be alwaies famous in memory of this new establishment This suit of theirs was easily respected and admitted For the king after he had consulted with those who were his assistants suffered the Leuites that sung the hymnes to lay aside their ordinarie Robe and to apparrell themselues in linnen as best liked them He permitted also that another part of the Leuites who intended the seruice of the temple should learne to sing the hymnes and psalmes according ◅s they had required All which he did contrarie to the ordinances of the countrey which being broken there was nought else to be expected but punishment At that time was the building of the temple finished And the people perceiuing that more then eighteene thousand workmen should be idle and depriued of wages whereupon they were accustomed to liue in trauailing in the building of the temple on the other side being Ioath to reserue their money thorow the feare they had of the Romanes to prouide that these workmen in the intertainment of whom they resolued to employ their treasure for if any one of them trauailed but one howre in the day he was sodainly paide his wages they requested the king that it might please him to repaire the Easterne gate on the outward part of the temple scituate in a descent the wals whereof were in height foure hundreth cubits made of square stones of white marble from the top to the bottome and euery stone twentie foot long and six foot thicke This worke was first builded by king Salomon who was the first that builded our temple But the king to whom Claudius Caesar had giuen the commission of building the temple thinking with himselfe that it was verie easie to breake it downe but very hard to build it vp and that to reedifie the porch it would cost much time and expence he denied their request permitting them neuerthelesse to paue their citie with broad stone Hee tooke the priesthoode from Iesus the sonne of Gamaliel and gaue it to Matthias the sonne of Theophilus In whose time the warre betwixt the Romanes and Iewes grew to the first head But I thinke it not amisse but verie answerable to the course of this present historie to speake of the priests and to shew how they had their beginning and to whom this honour may be lawfully communicated and how many they were in number vntill the end of the warre The first of them was Aaron Moses brother after whose death his children succeeded him and from that time forward the honour hath continued with their successors For it is a law obserued by our auncestors that no man shall be admitted to the priesthood except he be of Aarons posteritie for albeit he were a king if so be that he were of an other line it was impossible for him to obtaine the priesthood All the priests after Aaron who as we haue said was the first vntill Phanasus whom the seditious created priest in the time of the warre haue been in number 83. whereof 13 haue executed the office from the time that Moses erected Gods tabernacle in the desart vntil such time as arriuing in Iudaea king Salomon builded a temple to God For in the beginning the hie priesthood continued with the possessors for terme of life but afterwards although the priests were yet aliue yet were there other successors planted in their roomes These thirteene were of Aarons posteritie and obtained this degree in succession the one after the other Their first gouernment was Aristocratia which is the gouernment of the nobilitie afterwards a monarchy and finally a royall gouernment The number of yeers wherein these thirteene flourished were sixe hundreth and twelue yeeres from the day that our fathers departed out of Aegypt vnder the conduct of Moses vntill the edification of the temple that was builded in Ierusalem by king Salomon After these thirteene high priests there were eighteene others who after Salomons time succeeded one after another vntill the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hauing encamped before the Citie tooke the same and burned the temple and transported our nation into Babylon and led away the high priest Iosedech prisoner The time of the priesthood
regard of their league of friendship continued with the Romanes and contracted and ratified by Senius Gallus Gouernour of Syria But I deliuered them all of that feare and appeased the common people by permitting them to send at all times when they pleased their hostages to Gessius who lay at Do◅a a Citie of Phoenicia I found likewise that the inhabitants of Tiberias were already in armes vpon this occasion following There were in that Citie three different factions the one of the nobilitie whose chief◅aine was Iulius Capella and all those that accompanied him that is to say Herode the sonne of Miarus Herode the sonne of Gamalus and Compsus the sonne of Compsus for Crispus his brother who in times past had been gouernour for Agrippa surnamed the Great was amongst his possessions on the other side of Iordan all these I say gaue counsell at that time to subscribe to the Romans authoritie and to obey their king But Pistus would no waies accord to this aduice in regard of his sonne Iustus for naturally he was vainglorious The second faction was of the common sort who concluded vpon war Iustus Pistus sonne who was the ringleader of the third faction carried himselfe very doubtfully as touching the warre yet notwithstanding he sought and thirsted after innouation hoping that by a change he should encrease his power Presenting himselfe therfore in the midst of the multitude he enforced himselfe to perswade the common sort that their Citie had alwaies belonged to Galilee and that during the daies of Herode the Tetrarch who founded the same it was the chiefest Citie whose pleasure it was that the Citie of Sephoris should yeeld obedience to that of Tiberias Furthermore he auowed that they had not lost that preheminence in the time of king Agrippa the father but had continued the same till Foelix obtained the gouernment of Iudaea But for the present wherein they had been giuen by Nero to the younger Agrippa they had fallen and lost their superioritie For the Citie of Sephoris obtained the soueraigntie of Galilee after that she acknowledged the Roman gouernment who had abolished the table royall and publike registers By these words and others of like nature inforced against king Agrippa he incited the people to rebellion signifying vnto them that the opportunitie inuited them to take armes to the end that being associated with the Galileans they might make themselues Lords for that all of them would willingly ioyne themselues with them thorow the hatred they ◅are to the Sephorites on whom they would reuenge themselues with great force because they continued in their allegiance which they promised to the Romans And by these words he woon the peoples hearts vnto him for he was a man that was verie eloquent and by his subtiltie and politike discourse easily ouerthrew all that which his aduersaries produced against him For hee was not ignorant of those sciences that are knowne vnto the Greekes but trusting to his wisedome and good discourse hee began to discouer howe all things had past at that time to the intent that by such colourable insinuations he might smother the truth But in the processe of our discourse we will declare that he was a man of a dissolute life and that by his and his brothers meanes he wanted little of vtterly ouerthrowing his countrey When as therefore this Iustus had perswaded the Citizens of Tiberias to take armes and had constrained diuers men likewise who were of the contrarie opinion to do the like he issued out with them and burned the villages of the Gadarenians and Hippenians that are scituate in the confines of Tiberias and Scythopolis In this estate was Tiberias and as touching Gischala their estate and affaires were brought to this issue Iohn the sonne of Leui seeing some of the Citizens waxen proud by meanes of their reuolt from the Romans laboured to restraine them and required them to continue in their allegiance but notwithstanding all his perswasion and diligence he could not containe them For the nations round about them as the Gadarenians Gabaraganeans and Tyrians assembled a great army and with the same assailed Gischala and tooke it by force and after they had consumed it by fire and vtterly destroied the same they returned euerie one to their dwelling places Iohn being sore displeased with this act armed all those that were with him and set vpon these abouenamed nations and hauing obtained the victorie he reedified Gischala in farre better so◅ then it was before inclosing it with a wal to the intent it might be the better fortified against future inuasions But those of Gamala perseuered in their faith towards the Romans for the occasion that ensueth Philip the sonne of Iacim who gouerned vnder king Agrippa escaping beyond all opinion and flying to the royall pallace in Ierusalem at such time as it was besieged fell into another great danger to wit to be slaine by Manahem and those theeues that were with him but certaine Babylonians his kinsmen being at that time in Ierusalem hindered the theeues from executing their purpose at that time When as therefore Philip had soiourned there for the space of foure daies on the fift he fled away disguizing himselfe in a false haire for feare he should be discouered And as soone as he was arriued in one of those villages which was of his owne possession scituate neere vnto the mount Gamala he sent for certaine of his subiects to make their repaire vnto him But God would not permit it but for Philips greater good he crossed the scope of his intent which otherwise had been the ruine of many for being surprised by a sodain feuer he committed certaine letters of his written to Agrippa and Bernice who were yet but young to one of his free-men comman̄ding him to deliuer them to Varus who was put in trust by the king and Queene to administer the affaires of their kingdome for that they were gone to Beryth to meete with Gessius As soone therefore as he had receiued Philips letters and vnderstood that he was escapt he tooke it verie hardly for that he thought it would be said that the king and the Queene had no vse of him since Philip was arriued He ◅refore brought him that had the carriage of these letters into the peoples presence obiecting against him that he had forged that writing alleadging that he falsely lied in that he reported that Philip was in Ierusalem making warre with the Iewes against the Romans and for that cause he commanded him to be executed Philip being ignorant of the cause why his free-man did not returne sent another with letters to the intent he might discouer what was become of his first messenger and for what cause he staied so long But Varus accusing this second messenger also verie falsely commanded him to be executed as he had done the first For the Syrians that inhabite Caesarea had made him proud insomuch that he aspired
third at Amathunt the fourth at Iericho the fift at Sephoris a citie of Galilee and the Iewes being deliuered from the gouernment of one man only willingly suffered themselues to be ruled by the nobility But shortly after Aristobulus escaping from Rome raised new troubles who gathering a great army partly of those that desired a change partly of them that loued him before tooke Alexandrium began to compasse it again with a wal but hearing that Gabinius had sent Sisenna Antonius Seruilius against him with an army he went to Macherunt and forsaking those that were not fit for warre he tooke with him almost 8000. armed men amongst whom was Pytholaus gouernor of them that were reuolted who with 1000. men fled out of Ierusalem But the Romans followed pursued them and ioyning battell with them Aristobulus with his men fought valiantly till being by force ouercome the Romanes slue fiue thousand of them and almost two thousand fled into a mountaine and the other thousand breaking the ranks of the Romans with Aristobulus vvere forced to Macherunt where the king hiding himselfe the first night amongst the ruines hoped that hauing respite he might gather another army fortifie the castle but hauing for two daies sustained the forces of the Romans although vnable to do it at last he was taken with his son Antigonus who had bin imprisoned with him at Rome he was carried to Gabinius from thence to Rome and the Senate put him in prison but his sonnes they sent into Iudaea because Gabinius writ that he had so promised Aristobulus his wife vpon condition the castles might be yeelded Now Gabinius being prepared to warre against the Parthians Ptolomaeus hindred him who returning from Euphrates wēt into Aegypt leauing Antipater Hyrcanus his friends to dispose of al things belonging to the vvar for Antipater helped him vvith mony vveapons corne men and he perswaded the Iewes vvho kept the vvaies that lead vnto Pelusium to suffer Gabinius to passe Now in the other part of Syria at the departure of Gabinius there began a commotion Alexander Aristobulus son once more incited the Iewes to rebellion hauing gathered a mightie power purposed to destroy all the Romans that vvere in that country vvhich Gabinius fearing vvho vvas returned out of Aegypt at the beginning of these tumults he sent Antipater before who perswaded some of the rebels to be quiet yet 30000. remained with Alexander For which cause he was very forward to fight and went out to battel the Iewes came against him neere vnto Itabyrium they fought where 10000. were slaine and the rest were put to flight and Gabinius returned to Ierusalem through the counsell of Antipater who hauing established that estate went from thence and ouercame the Nabathaeans in battel he likewise permitted Mithridates Orsanes priuily to depart who were fled from the Parthians saying that they had escaped from the souldiers In the meane time Crassus who was appointed to be his successor had Syria deliuered him who toward the maintenance of the Parthian wars tooke all the gold that was in the temple of Ierusalem and the 2000. talents which Pompeius had forborne to do who passing ouer Euphrates was both himselfe and his whole army vtterly ouerthrowne of which thing it behooueth vs not to speake in this place After the death of Crassus the Parthians endeuored themselues to enter Syria but Cassius who succeeded him in the gouernment repulsed them and hauing gotten the vpper hand he speedily resorted into Iudaea and taking Tarichea he caried away about 3000. men captiues and put Pytholaus to death for gathering a company of seditious people vnto Aristobulus his part He that caused and consailed his death was Antipater who was maried vnto a noble woman of Arabia called Cypris by vvhom he had foure sons Phasaolus king Herode Ioseph and Pheroras and one daughter called Salome vvho sought the friendship of al potentates round about him by courtesie and hospitalitie and especially he got the good vvill of the king of Arabia by affinitie vnto whose fidelitie he committed his sonnes because he had vndertaken the wars against Aristobulus But Cassius made a truce vvith Alexander and in the meane time went to Euphrates to hinder the passage of the Parthians of which we vvill speake hereafter CHAP. VII Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre betweene Antipater and Mithridates AFter that Caesar had forced the Senate and Pompey to flie beyond the Ionian sea and by that means made himselfe sole Master of all at Rome he set Aristobulus at libertie and with two legions of men sent him in haste into Syria hoping through his means speedily to winne both it and also all places adioining to Iudaea but both the hope of Caesar and the forwardnes of Aristobulus was ouerthrown through enuie for he was poysoned by Pompeies fauorites and euen in his owne countrey his bodie lay vnburied which notwithstanding was preserued from putrefaction with hony till such time as Antonius sent it vnto the Iewes commaunding them to burie it in the kings sepulcher His sonne Alexander also was beheaded at Antiochia by Scipio being first according to the tenour of Pompeies letters accused before the tribunall seat of such things as he had committed against the Romanes Ptolemaeus the sonne of Minaeus who ruled Chalcis which was vnder Libanus hauing taken his brethren sent his sonne Philippio with them to Ascalon and he violently taking away Antigonus and his sisters from the wife of Aristobulus brought them to his father and falling in loue with the yongest tooke her to his wife for which cause he was afterward put to death by his father For Ptolemaeus hauing slaine his sonne married Alexandra and for that affinitie sake was more carefull for her brethren After the death of Pompey Antipater sought all meanes to get Caesars fauour and when Mithridates of Pergamenus was hindred by the garrison at Pelusium to passe any further with an armie into Aegypt and was by that meanes staied at Ascalon he perswaded the Arabians to assist him the rather because he was but a straunger and he himselfe also seconded him with almost three thousand armed Iewes Moreouer he incited the potentate of Syria and Ptolemaeus who inhabited Libanus and Iamblicus and another Ptolemaeus to assist him for whose sakes the cities of that countrey did willingly vndertake the wars And now Mithridates strengthned by Antipaters meanes came to Pelusium and because they would not suffer him to passe he besieged the citie in which siege Antipater shewed his valour for making a breach on that side of the wall where his quarter was he first of all with his company brake into the citie and so Pelusium was taken But the inhabitants of Onias countrey who were Aegyptians and Iewes suffered him not to passe any further yet did Antipater handle the matter so discreetly with them that they did not only suffer him to passe
dignitie of the man conducted him to Alexandria whither he no sooner resorted but Cleopatra receiued him verie honorably intending to make him the generall of her army which she was preparing at that present But he neither regarding the offers and request of the Queene nor yet discouraged by the hard winter season nor the dangers of the seas tooke his iourney towards Rome and being in great danger of shipwrack neere vnto Pamphilia both hee the rest of the passengers were inforced to cast away the most part of their loading with much adoe he arriued safe at Rhodes vvhich had been sore molested by Cassius vvarres there was he entertained by certaine of his friends Ptolomaeus and Saphinius and although his money grew scant yet there he builded a great galley vvith three rankes of oares and in it being accompanied with his friends he sailed to Brundusium and from thence went presently to Rome Where first of all in regard of familiaritie betweene his father and him he went to Antonius declaring vnto him both his owne calamitie and the miserable desolation of his vvhole countrey and howe leauing his dearest friends besieged in a Castle himselfe in humble manner through the stormie vvinter seas was come vnto him humbly crauing succor at his hands VVherupon Antonius compassionating his calamitie and remembring his familiaritie with Antipater and contemplating the vertue of Herod vvho stood before him determined vpon the present to make him king of the Iewes vvhom before he himselfe had made Tetrarch for he loued not Herode so vvell but he hated Antigonus as much for he held him both for a seditious person and for an enemie to the Romans Now to the accomplishing of this he found Caesar farre more ready then himselfe who called to minde the seruice that Antipater did in Aegypt vnder his father and his entertainment and friendship in all things and beside all these he vvas wrought and vvoon by Herods courage and valour For vvhich cause he procured the Senate to be assembled at vvhich time Messala and after him Aratinus in the presence of Herod recounted his fathers deserts and fidelitie towards the Romans declaring Antigonus to be an enemy not onely because that not long before he had reuolted but for that now lastly in despite of the Romans he had by the assistance of the Parthians vsurped the kingdome Vpon vvhich considerations the Senate being mooued and Antonius affirming it to be expedient for the Roman vvarres that Herod should be created king the vvhole Senate condescendéd and after the Senate vvas dismissed Antonius and Caesar went forth with Herod betweene them and the Consuls went before accompanied with other Magistrates to offer sacrifice and to register the decree of the Senate in the Capitoll And Antonius feasted Herod the first day of his raigne CHAP. XII Of Herods warre after he returned from Rome to recouer Ierusalem and against the theeues AT this time Antigonus besieged those that vvere left in the Castle of Massada vvho had great store of victuals and wanted nothing but vvater For vvhich cause Iesophus Herods brother purposed to flie vnto the Arabians with two hundreth of his dearest friends for that he had intelligence that Malichus repented him that he had giuen Herod no better entertainment Yea he had forsaken the Castle had not great store of raine fallen that verie night wherein he intended to flie for the vvels and cesternes being now filled vvith water there vvas no cause to flie so that voluntarily issuing out of the Castle he assaulted Antigonus souldiers and killed verie many of them sometime in open war and sometime by pollicie yet fought they not alwaies vvith fortunate successe but returned sometimes vvith losse In the meane time Ventidius vvho was Generall of that Roman army vvhich was sent to expulse the Parthians out of Syria after he had repulsed them resorted into Iudaea vnder pretence to succour Ioseph and the rest that vvere besieged but in effect to get Antigonus money When as therefore he drew neere vnto Ierusalem and had receiued the money he looked for he departed vvith the greatest part of his army leauing Silo behinde him vvith a few to colour his pretence and Antigonus hoping for a second supply from the Parthians feed Silo not to molest him for the present seeing he vvas in great possibilitie By this time Herode hauing sailed from Italy to Ptolemais and gathered a great army of strangers and his owne countrimen togither came into Galilee against Antigonus being assisted vvith the forces of Ventidius and Silo vvhom Delius vvho was sent from Antonius perswaded to establish Herod in his kingdome But Ventidius vvas busie in appeasing the broiles that the Parthians had made in the Cities and Silo vvas corrupted by Antigonus yet did not Herod vvant aide for euerie day the further he marched into the countrey the more his army encreased for all Galilee a verie few excepted yeelded vnto him Wherupon he purposed first of al to go to Massada to deliuer his friends that vvere there besieged but Ioppe hindred his purpose vvhich for that it vvas an enemy towne he thought it best to take it before he vvent further least that vvhilest he was going to Ierusalem his enemies should haue a place behinde him to flie vnto Now Silo ioyned armies vvith Herod reioycing that he had found occasion to resist because he vvas persecuted by the Iewes vvhom Herod with a loose wing of his army and a small companie of men terrified and presently put to flight and saued Silo also vvho had much adoe to make resistance against them This done and Ioppe taken he hasted to Massada and the people of the countrey some of them for his fathers sake othersome for his owne and many for both ioyned themselues vnto him many also came vnto him for hope because he vvas now king so that nowe he had a verie puissant army but Antigonus hindred his iourney by planting certaine ambushes in places conuenient vvhere Herode was to passe and yet for all this he little harmed him Herod hauing easily taken Massada and rescued his friends from thence he vvent to Ierusalem vvhere both Siloes souldiers and many of the Citie came and followed him being nowe terrified vvith the greatnesse of his forces there pitching their tents at the west side of the town they that guarded that part assaulted them with dartes and arrowes and others issuing by troupes foorth of the Citie assaulted the forefront of the army Whereupon Herode caused one to go about the wals of the Citie and to proclaime how that he was come for the good of the vvhole Citie and that he would not take reuenge of any though he were his open enemy and that he would pardon euen them that had been most seditious But when Antigonus his followers with lowd exclamations hindred the criers voices from being heard least any man should alter his minde Herod presently commaunded
his men to beat the enemies off of the wall who with their arrowes speedily forced all that were in the towers to flie At this time Silo was detected to haue been hired with money for he solicited many souldiers to crie out that they vvanted all things and to aske money and victuals and to craue to be dismissed and sent into some place of opportunitie there to abide during the vvinter nay he himselfe sought to be gone But Herode went vnto the captaines that serued vnder Silo and called many of the souldiers togither requesting them not to forsake him at that exigent whom Caesar Antonius and the whole Senate as they knew had sent thither promising them that within one day he vvould relieue all their necessities When he had thus entreated them himselfe went about the fields and brought them so much prouision that he cut off all Siloes excuses and forecasting least hereafter there should be any want he sent letters to Samaria for that citie about this time had rendred it selfe vnto him willing them to bring victuals and wine and oyle and cattell vnto Iericho Antigonus hearing this presently sent certaine of his men to lie in ambush in the fields and sodainly to set vpon those that came for prouision and kill them so hinder them from carying any victuals to the campe who obeying his commandement went with a great number of souldiers to Iericho and placed themselues vpon the mountaines with an intent to espie if any body carried prouision to the armie In the meane time Herod rested not for taking with him ten companies fiue of the Romanes and fiue of the Iewes amongst whom were mixed three hundred that were hired and besides them a few horsmen he came to Iericho where he found the citie without inhabitants and fiue hundreth with their wiues and families had placed themselues vpon the tops of the mountaines whom when he had surprised he permitted them to depart But the Romanes brake into the citie and sacked it where they found the houses stored with al maner of riches and the King leauing a garrison at Iericho returned He sent likewise the Romane souldiours to the cities which were on his side to wit Idumaea Galilee and Samaria that they might abide there till winter was past Antigonus also through Silo his meanes whom he by money had made his friend obtained that a part of his armie might during the winter time abide at Lydda for Antonius sake and the Romans being now discharged from warres abounded in all things All this time Herod was not idle for accompanied with two thousand footmen fiue hundreth horse he went about Idumaea and sent also his brother Ioseph least by Antigonus his means the people should rebell And he himselfe hauing carried his mother and the rest of his kindred whom he tooke from Massada into Samaria and hauing placed them where no danger might betide them himselfe went into Galilee to subdue that part of the country which as yet was not in his hands to expell from thence the garrisons left by Antigonus And when hee was come to Sephoris notwithstanding it snew mightily he easily tooke it for the garrison before he assaulted it fled and finding there great store of prouision he refreshed his souldiers which now with winter weather were sore tired and then sent them against the theeues that lay lurking in dennes and caues who making often incursions vpon the countrey molested the inhabitants no lesse then if they had beene an armie of enemies And sending before three companies of footmen and one troope of horsemen into a village called Arbela himselfe fortie dayes after came thither with the whole armie For all this the theeues feared him not but arming themselues came to meete him trusting to their experience in warlike affaires and their owne desperate courage and ioyning battel the right wing of their battell put the left wing of Herods to flight but he with his right wing presently succoured them and recalled his men that fled and rushing violently vpon his enemies he a little asswaged the forces of the enemy till at last the forefront of their battell not able to stand any longer fled Herod pursued them euen vnto Iordan and killed manie of them those that escaped fled ouer the riuer thus he freed Galilee from that feare saue that yet hee had left some lurking in the caues and therfore he was constrained there to make a longer abode Wherfore first of all he gaue the souldiours the fruit of their labours and distributed to euerie one of them an hundreth and fiftie drachmes of siluer and vnto the Captaines more and so sent them where they should passe the winter Also he writ vnto his youngest brother Pheroras to prouide necessaries for them in the market and to build a wal about the castle of Alexandrium which he performed In the meane while Antonius passed the time about Athens and Ventidius sent for Silo and Herod to assist him in the warre against the Parthians charging them that before their comming they should settle the estate of the Iewes Now Herod gladly and willingly sent Silo vnto Ventidius and in the meane time he with his armie went against the theeues in the caues These caues were in verie steepe mountaines so that there was no way to come vnto them saue onely by crooked verie narrow passages and these moūtains were all rocks of stone cleane throughout hanging ouer the valleyes so that the king a great while was doubtfull what to doe seeing the place was so difficult to come to At last Herod deuised a way scarsly heard of before for he put the valiantest of all his men into coffers so let them downe into the edge of the caues and they killed the theeues and their families and cast fire at them that resisted And Herod seeking to saue some of them caused a crier to bid them come vnto him but there was not one that willingly came vnto him and those that were forced chose rather to die then to be his captiues So that an old man hauing seuen sonnes and a wife who all requested that they might go forth to the king and saue their liues killed them all after this maner Himselfe stood before the doore of the caue and bad them come forth one by one and alwaies as one of them came forth he killed him And Herod being in a place where he might behold this spectacle being moued with compassion stretched forth his hand requested him to spare his children but he being nothing moued to compassion by Herodes words vpbraided Herodes base mind and hauing butchered his sonnes he also killed his wife and casting the dead bodies downe into the vallies finally he cast himselfe likewise downe headlong Herod hauing thus taken the caues and slaine those that were in them leauing a part of his armie so much as he thought might suffice to represse any that should
came flocking vnto him a verie great number of Iewes both from Iericho and from other parts of the countrey some of them hating Antigonus other some louing Herode for his valiant deeds for many without any reason desired an alteration Whilest thus he hasted to fight Pappus with his men neither fearing the multitude nor strength of their â—…nemies came fiercely vpon them and offered battell The battell being begun the others awhile abstained only Herod remembring his brothers death ventured more then the rest to the end to be reuenged vpon them that were the authors thereof and so he easily ouercame the enemies army and still assaulting the fresh men he put them all to flight There was a mightie slaughter for many being forced to flie into the village from whence they came he pursued them and slew an infinite number Lastly rushing amongst the enemies that fled he brake into the village where all the houses were full of armed men and euerie house toppe full of men to defend it and because he easily ouercame those that were abroad he ouerthrew the houses and so forced them that were within to come foorth Others he killed in companies with the ruines of the houses wherein they were and if any one chaunced to escape the same the souldiers that were ready armed with swords killed him so that there were such heaps of dead bodies that they who had the victorie could not passe thorow the streets for them The enemies were so discouraged with this ouerthrow that the whole multitude of them seeing those that were slaine in the village fled away and Herod by the benefit of his good fortune had euen then come to Ierusalem had not winter stormes hindred him which was the onely cause that he at that time got not a full conquest and that Antigonus was not vtterly ouerthrowne who thorow feare and desperation was purposed to leaue the Citie But Herode towards night hauing giuen his friends leaue to depart to rest their wearie bodies being himselfe heated with his armour after the manner of souldiers went to wash himselfe accompanied onely with one page And before he came to the bath one of his enemies met him hauing a sword drawne in his hand and then another and afterwards a third and after them more and these escaped out of the battell and came to the bath to hide themselues and seeing the king there they were sore affraid and sought to hide themselues and so passed by him being astonished and amazed although the king at that time was naked and weaponlesse in so much as none were present there to surprise them they escaped and Herode was verie well contented that he had no harme by them The next day after he beheaded Pappus who was the Generall of Antigoâ—…s his army and sent his head to his brother Pheroras who was ruler of his army in reuenge of his brother that was slaine for Pappus was he that slew Ioseph The winter being past he with his army came to Ierusalem and besieged it pitching his tents before the temple where it was easiest to take the Citie and where before time Pompey had entred it which was about the third yeere after Herod was made king in Rome Now when he had quartered his army as he thought best for his purpose and cut off the suburbs he caused three rampiers to be raised and towers to be builded vpon them and leauing there his trustie friends that would not slacke their businesse he went into Samaria to visit his betrothed which was the daughter of Alexander who was sonne to Aristobulus who as we before made mention was despoâ—…sed vnto him he wedded her euen in the time of the siege as who should say now he contemned his enemies after his marriage rites were performed he returned to Ierusalem with a far greater army Sosius also seconded him with a great army of footmen and horsemen whom he sent before him through the middest of the countrey and he himselfe came after by Phoenicia Now when all his whole army was assembled togither to the number of about some 11. legions of footmen and six thousand horsemen beside the Syrians that came to helpe him which were no small number he laid his assault and batterie to the northermost wall and the rather because he thought himselfe warranted by the decree of the Senate whereby he was declared to be king Sosius also was warranted by Antonies letters whereby he commanded him to helpe Herode with all the army that was vnder his gouernment Meane while those Iewes that were within the Citie were diuersly troubled for a multitude of the weaker sort gathering themselues togither about the temple grew to this resolution that whosoeuer should fortune to die in this attempt should be most happy and beloued by God But those who were hardiest amongst theâ—… ioyning themselues togither robbed and tooke away from the rest what they could but in especiall they tooke victuals from that part that was next the Citie so that they neither left meat for horses nor men and the valiantest of them all being set to defend the wals against those that besieged them hindred the aduersarie from erecting their rampiers so that they still found some new deuice to hinder the force of their engines neither did they any waies preuaile so much as by their mines which they made As for the theeues the king sought to represse their excursions by placing an ambush of men to intercept them by which meanes he relieued the want and scarcitie of victuals by fetching prouision from places farre distant But notwithstanding they in their fight faiâ—… in no sort to expresse their incredible â—…lour yet did that militarie experience which the Romans had ouermaster them by ods Naithelesse notwithstanding the imminent danger wherein they were plunged they fought with them in open field but where it chanced that the Romans by digging two seuerall mines brake all at once into the midst of them yet sodainly repaired they the breach that was made in the wall and fortified the other part thereof In a word they neither spared hands nor engines but were all of them determined to fight it out euen vnto the last cast and although they were besieged with so huge an army yet they defended the town from them fiue moneths till such time as certaine of Herodes chosen men valiantly scaling and clearing the wals brake into the Citie and aâ—…er them Sosius his Centurions Those places that neerest adioyned the temple were the first of all that they intercepted the whole army entring the citie it was lamentable to see how in euerie corner y e people were massacred for the Romans being displeased that the siege continued so long time became more cruell and Herods army endeuoured to let no one of the aduerse part escape By which meanes many were slaine both in the narrowest places of the streetes as also in their owne houses yea euen then also
in so much as there was no way to flie nor to resist Now not knowing what to do they began to weep and crie out as men in desperation and the Iewes answered them with an incouraging one another to play the men being glad of their enemies aduersitie and cruelly bent against them and all the armie of Cestius had there perished had not the night come on and helped them which by her darknesse gaue leasure to the Romanes to flie into Bethoron In the meane while the Iewes kept all the places thereabouts besieged and garded the passages Cestius seeing it not possible to march openly thought it best to flie and chose almost 400. of his strongest souldiers set them in verie eminent places commanding them that when they were aloft they shold crie as they did before that the Iewes might think that the whole army was there and so he with the rest of his army marched quietly 30. furlongs In the morning the Iewes perceiuing the Romans to be fled assaulted the 400. wherby they were deceiued and presently killed them with darts forthwith they followed Cestius who hauing fled a great way in the night made more haste the next day so that the souldiers for feare left their rammes and instruments to beat downe the wals and slings much other munition which the Iews taking after vsed against them And thus they followed the Romans vnto Antipatris and seeing they could not ouertake them they returned bringing with them the warlike instruments and rifling those that were slain and taking whatsoeuer the Romans had left behind and so singing songs of victory they returned vnto Ierusalem hauing lost very few of their company and slaine fiue thousand and three hundreth and eightie of the footmen of the Romans and their helpers and nine hundreth and fourescore horsemen And this was done vpon the eight day of October and in the twelfth yeere of the raigne of Nero. CHAP. XXV Of the crueltie of those of Damascus against the Iewes and of Iosephs affaires in Galilee INcontinently after Cestius aduerse fortune many of the chiefest amongst the Iewes daily fled and forsooke the Citie as a ship presently ready to sinke Costobarus and Saul two brethren and Philip the sonne of Ioachim Generall of Agrippas army fled out of the Citie and yeelded themselues vnto Cestius As for Antipas who was also besieged with them in the kings pallace he would not flie with the rest and so was killed by the rebels But Cestius sent Saul and the rest of his companie into Achaia vnto Nero to let him vnderstand the cause of their flight and to shew how Florus had caused all these warres for so he hoped that Nero would bend his wrath against Florus and quit him from danger Then the people of Damascus vnderstanding the death of the Romans deuised how to destroy the Iewes which inhabited amongst them and they thought it was easie to be accomplished for that the Iewes were already assembled in the common bathes for feare of some such matter yet they mistrusted their women who all except a few were Iewes in religion Wherfore they tooke great heed to conceal their intent from them and so assaulting the Iewes altogither in a narrow place and hauing nothing to defend them they put them all to the sword who were in number ten thousand The rebels that so pursued Cestius returned into Ierusalem and ceased not to ioine all vnto them that fauoured the Romans either by force or by flatterie and assembling themselues in the temple they determined to choose a greater number of captaines Wherefore Ioseph the sonne of Gorion and Ananus the high priest were appointed rulers of the Citie and especially to see the wals thereof repaired Eleazar the sonne of Simon was put in no authoritie notwithstanding that he had in his custodie all praies and spoiles taken from the Romans and Cestius his money and a great part of the publike treasure because they perceiued him through authoritie to wax proude and his attendants become stately Yet in time Eleazar by money and craft perswaded the people to obey him in all things And they requested other captaines to be sent into Idumaea who were Iesus the sonne of Sapphas and Eleazar the sonne of the new high priest and they commaunded Niger who was borne beyond Iordan to obey these captaines who was therefore called Peraides and was then Gouernour of Idumaea And they neglected not to doe the like by other regions for Ioseph the sonne of Simon was sent to Iericho and Manasses beyond the riuer and Iohn the Essean to Tamna euerie one to rule the gouernment of his country as a Toparchy Lydda Ioppe and Ammaus were annexed to Iohn the Essean and Iohn the sonne of Ananias was appointed Gouernour of Gophnitis and Acrabatena And Ioseph the son of Matthias was made ruler ouer both Galilees vnto which was ioyned Gamala the strongest Citie in that coast As for other Gouernors euerie one discharged his place according to his wisdome dexteritie When Ioseph came to Galilee which was committed to his protection his first care was to get the good will of the inhabitants knowing that it might much profit him although in other matters he had offended Then considering that he should haue most mightie assured friends if he made them partakers of his authoritie and likewise get the loue of the common people if he did esteeme of those things which they should thinke well of He chose seuentie of the most auncientest wise men amongst them and made them rulers ouer all Galilee elected seuen iudges ouer the lesser townes to iudge inferiour mattersâ—… for he reserued all great affaires and criminall causes to his owne hearing Moreouer hauing ordained a forme of iustice that those seuentie should follow he tooke counsell how to worke their outward securitie And being assured that the Romans would come into Galilee he compassed those places with strong wals that were fit for his purpose to wit Iotapata Bersabea Selamis Pereccho Iapha and Sigoph with the mountain Itaburium Tarichea Tyberias Moreouer he fortified the caues neer the lake Genesar which is in the lower Galilee and in high Galilee Petra which is also called Achaberon and Seph Iamnith and Mero in Gaulanitis also Seleucia and Soganes and Gamala he only permitted them of Sephoris to build their own wals because he perceiued them to be rich and proâ—…e to waâ—… of themselues Likewise Iohn the sonne of Leuias at Iosephs commaund built the wall of Giscala himselfe alone but in all other places that were fortified Ioseph put to his helping hand and tolde how they should be done He leuied also an army of a hundreth thousand who were all young men whom he armed with olde armour which he gathered from all parts of the countrey and considering that the Roman army was inuincible for that they were all obedient vnto their rulers and expert in warre he could
should receiue no harme if he remained with them He then bethought himselfe that if he staied with them he fulfilled their request and if he denied he feared they would force him Wherefore being partly moued by compassion he determined to stay and being now as all the citie was desperate he told them that now it was time to fight seeing there was no hope of safetie and that it was a goodly matter to spend their liues renowmedly and do some noble act to leaue a remembrance vnto their posteritie of their valour and so went about it And issuing out of the citie with the most valiant amongst them when he had killed the watchmen at the first incounter he came euen vnto the Romans tents and tore the skins that their tents were made of fired others and their engines so he did the second and the third day and for certain daies and nights afterward neuer ceased When Vespasian perceiued the Romans greatly endoinaged by such excursions and verie loath to s◅e for shame and not able to follow them being so loden with their armour and that the Iewes alwaies did some exploit before they retired themselues into the citie he gaue commandement vnto his souldiers to ◅ue their assault and not to fight against men who desired to die affirming that no men were stronger then those in despetation that it they found none to assaile their courage would soone be alaid like vnto a flame of ◅ne when the matter that nourisheth it is cōsumed Moreouer the Romans must seeke victory more warily for that they fought not for necessitie but onely to increase their dominions and after that oftentimes they beat the Iewes by the Arabian archers and with slings and darts and other shot which neuer ceased and so the Iewes by this meanes were repressed But so soone as they were without the danger of the shot they more furiously assailed the Romans sparing neither bodie nor mind but continually fought by turnes and euery one of the citie assisted them that so laboured CHAP. IX How Vespasian did beat the walles of Iotapata with a Ramme and other warlike Engines VEspasian thinking himselfe as it were besieged both for the long time which he had continued the siege and also for the diuers assaults and priuie excursions of the Iewes hauing now almost raised the Rampiers as high as the wals of the citie determined to batter them with a Ramme A Ramme is a huge beame like the mast of a ship whose end is armed with a strong massiue yron made in the forme of a Rams head whereupon it taketh his name because he butteth with his head It hangeth on another beame with ropes like the beame of a paire of ballances the beame it hangeth on lying a crosse is held vp with two props which being drawne backe by force of many men and then ioyntly with all their forces shooued forward it striketh the wall with the head of yron And there is no wall nor tower so strong but though it abide the first strokes of the engine yet can it not hold out long The generall of the Romans thought good to vse this meanes to take the citie by force for that the siege was daungerous by reason that the Iewes neuer rested so the Romans with alkind of shot endeuoured to beat the Iewes from off the walles that made any resistance the archers and they who vsed slings were hard by and when they saw that none of the Iewes durst come vpon the wals they applied the Ramme vnto them and couered it alost with hurdles and skins both for to defend themselues and the engine at the first assault the wals were shaken so that the citizens cried as though the towne had beene alreadie taken Ioseph seeing them still beat one place and that presently the wall would fall deuised away to resist the force of the Ramme and so he filled sackes with chaffe and let them downe off the wal iust against that place where the Ramme stroke ordinarily so brake the force of the blowes the loosenesse of the chaffe making no resistance and so drowning or abating the violence of the stroke By this means the Romans were hindered for whither soeuer they brought the Ramme thither did they vpon the wals also remoue the sacks of chaffe and brake the force thereof til at last the Romans also deuised a way to cut these sacks taking long poles and binding Siethes vnto the ends of them and so cut these sackes of chaffe And the Ramme shooke the wall the wal newly built was not strong enough to resist Then Ioseph and his souldiers sought to help themselues by fire workes and so they fired all that was made of drie wood in three seueral places and withall the engines and fortes and mounts of the Romans who now had much adoe to defend themselues first because that they were terrified with the valour of the Iewes and secondly because euerie one had worke enough to defend himselfe against the fire which seasing vpon drie matter with Brimstone and Pitch wonderfully encreased so that in one houres space it consumed all the workes that the Romans had made with so great labour There was a Iew the sonne of Samaeus called Eleazar who deserued eternall memorie this man was borne at Saab in Galilee This Eleazar tooke vp a great stone and cast it downe with such force vpon the Ramme that he brake off the head thereof and nothing fearing lept downe amongst the middest of his enemies and brought it away into the Citie at last being vnarmed and as it were a marke for his enemies to shoote at he receiued in his bodie fiue arrowes and as though hee had not felt them so soone as he had gotten vp the wall where all might see him he boldly stood still so through griefe of his wounds hauing the head of the Ramme in his armes fell downe Next vnto him two brethren of Ramath in Galilee shewed themselues valiant named Netiras and Philip who assaulted the tenth legion of the Romans with such violence that they brake their ranks and put all to flight that sought to withstand them which Ioseph and those that were with him perceiuing tooke fire and burnt the engines works and defences of the fifth and tenth legions that were fled and those that followed destroyed al engines other matter that was left In the euening the Romans againe erected the Ramme against that part of the citie which before they had beaten so began a fresh to shake the wall in the same place that before they had battered and one of the Iewes shot an arrow from the wall and wounded Vespasian in the sole of the foot yet the wound was not great for that the force of the arrow was spent before it came to him hauing come a great way off This fact greatly troubled the Romans who seeing Vespasian bleed presently spred these newes through the
were partakers of this calamitie who assembled themselues togither in mount Garizin which they account a sacred place But both their assembly their courage did portend their warres and not vvarned by their neighbours harmes nor with any aduise or iudgement considering their ovvne infirmitie and the Romans power began to be tumultuous Vespasian foreseeing this thought it good to preuent them and although all the region of Samaria had garrisōs in it yet for all the great multitude assembled it was thought that the garrisons were able to keepe thē vnder Wherefore he sent thither Caerealis the Tribune of the fift legion with sixe hundreth horsemen and three thousand footmen Caerealis thought it not the best way to goe vnto the mountaine and fight with the whole multitude because a great many of their enemies were vpon it wherefore he commanded his souldiers to beleger the mountaine about at the foote thereof and so keepe them there all the whole day There happened at that time a vehement heate and the Samaritans wanted water for it was then sommer and the people had not prouided themselues of victuals so that many in one day onely for want of drinke dyed of thirst the rest preferred death before the miserie they endured and so fled vnto the Romans of whom Caerealis learned that those that yet remained on the mount were euen dismayed by the miserie they endured Wherefore hee ascended the mountaine and compassing about the enemies with his armie he first exhorted them to yeeld willing them to saue themselues promising them all their liues if they would cast downe their weapons but nothing preuailing with them he set vpon them and killed them all in number eleuen thousand and six hundreth and this was done the seuen twentith day of Iune and these were the miseries that befell the Samaritans CHAP. XIII Howe Iotapata was taken THe Citizens of Iotapata endured this hard siege contrarie to all expectation and in the seuen and fortith day the Romans mounts were raised higher then their walls on this same day one of the Citie fled vnto Vespasian and tould him in what case the citie stoode and how fewe citizens were left and that with dayly watchings and fighting they were far spent whereby they were not able to resist any more and that they might be taken by pollicie if they were followed for in the last part of the night being wearie they ceased from their labour and slept vntill the morning wherefore hee perswaded Vespasian to assault them at that time But Vespasian knowing how faithfull the Iewes were one vnto another how they contemned all punishment gaue little credite vnto this run-away for a little before one of Iotapata being taken could not by any torments be compelled to confesse or disclose the estate of the Citie whom the fire nothing moued so at last he was crucified laughing scorning death yet a probable coniecture which he had perswaded him to giue credite somwhat vnto this traitors words for that he knew no great harme could befall him if he so assaulted the Citie as the traitor willed he cōmanded the man to be kept and made all his armie in readinesse to assault the towne So at the hower appointed hee made towards the walles with silence Titus being the first accompanied with one Domitius Sabinus a Tribune a few of the fifteenth legion who killing the watchmen entred into the citie and after thē Sextus Caerealis and Placidus with their companies so the Castle was taken and the enemies were in the middest of the towne and it was faire day light and yet the townes men knewe nothing being now fast a slepe after their great labours watchings and they that did watch could see nothing there was so thicke a mist by chance that morning the rest neuer wakened till death was at their dore and that they perceiued their calamitie and destruction The Romans mindfull of all that had befallen them in the time of the siege did neither spare nor pitie any one but driuing the people out of the higher part of the citie into the lower part thereof they massacred them all where they that would could not fight for the narrownesse of the place so being cumbred for want of roome sliding downe the bāks for haste their enemies still pursuing them they were easily slaine Many of Iosephs guarde seeing this that they could not fight gathered themselues together in a corner of the citie and slew themselues that the Romans might not kill them But some of the watchmen who first perceiued the citie to be taken fled into a tower and resisted a while this tower was scituate on the North side of the citie and at last being enuironed with their enemies towards euening yeelded and offered themselues to be slaine And the Romans might haue boasted that that victorie had beene without bloudshed on their part had not Antonius a centurion been slaine trecherously For one of them who fled into the caues as many did requested Antonius to giue him his hande in token that he might come out safe and without danger which he doing vnaduisedly straightway the Iewe with a speare smote him in the flancke whereof he presently dyed The Romans that day slew all people that they found and the dayes following they searched all secret places and drewe those out of caues dennes that had fled thither and slew all but women infants so that they tooke away a thousand and two hundreth Captiues and the number of them who were slaine during the siege and at such time as the citie was taken amounted vnto fortie thousand And Vespasian commanded the citie to be destroyed and the castles to bee burned and so Iotapata was taken the thirteenth yeare of Nero his raigne in the first of Iuly CHAP. XIIII How Ioseph was taken and howe he redeemed his life with deedes and wordes BVt especially aboue all others the Romans made diligent search for Ioseph both for the hatred they bare him and also because Vespasian greatly desired to get him for that he◅ being taken the greatest part of the wars were then ended so they sought him amongst the dead and amongst those that were hid but he fortune fauouring him when the citie was taken escaped from the middest of his enemies and lept into a deepe Well which had a large caue on the one side the which they aboue could not perceiue where he founde fortie principall men who had prouision for many dayes The enemies being in euery place hee in the day time lay hid and in the night he went forth to see if he could escape and perceiuing that all places about were diligently watcht for to take him he returned againe into the caue and lay there two daies the third day a certaine woman that had been with them in the caue was taken and so he was descried Then Vespasian sent two tribunes to him to promise
being come hee expected his sonnes comming and departing from thence with three legions he pitched his Tent in a place called Enabris where the seditious people of Tiberias might behold his armie this place was thirtie furlongs frō Tyberias from thence he sent Valerianus the Decadarch to entreate a peace with them and sent fiftie horsemen to accompanie him for hee vnderstood that the people desired peace and against their will were forced to warre by some of the seditious amongst them Valerianus comming neere vnto the citie wals lighted from his horse commaunding all his companie to doe the like that they of Tyberias might not thinke that they came to fight but in peaceable maner but before he spake any one word the boldest and strongest of the seditious persons came out armed against him hauing one Iesus the sonne of Tobias who had beene a Captaine of theeues for their gouernour and leader Valerianus not presuming to fight without authoritie from his Generall although he had beene certaine of the victorie againe hee considered that it was great danger for so few to fight against a whole multitude and withall terrified with the boldnesse of the Iewes contrarie to his expectation he fled on foote accompanied onely with fiue other leauing his horse and the rest behind him whom Iesus and his followers tooke and brought into the Citie reioycing as though they had taken them in fight and not by treason But the Senators and chiefe of the Citie fearing what might ensue of this fact went vnto the Romans and together with king Agrippa came vnto Vespasian and prostrated themselues at his feete beseeching him not to despise them and not to thinke that the whole Citie were partakers with those few wicked persons that so had merited his displeasure requesting him to spare the people who alwayes had honoured the Romans but rather that hee should punish the authors of that reuolt and misdemeanour who also had withheld the whole Citie euen vntill now to yeeld it selfe vnto the Romanes Vespasian moued by their intreaties pardoned the Citie though he was incited against them all for taking of Valerianus his horse and that hee perceiued Agrippa was sorrowfull for feare that the Citie should bee destroyed and so by them Vespasian promised the townes men pardon Then Iesus and his associates thinking it not safe for them to abide there fled vnto Tarichea The next day Vespasian sent before him Traianus with certaine horsemen into the Castle to see if all the multitude desired peace and finding the people to beare peaceable mindes hee with his whole armie came vnto the Citie And the Inhabitants opening the gates of their citie went out to meete him with great ioye all crying out that he was the author of their welfare and benefactor and wishing him all prosperitie and felicitie The gates of the citie were narrowe so that the armie could not quickly enter in wherefore Vespasian commanded a part of the wall on the south side to be pulled down and so entred in yet did he not sacke the citie nor ruine the wals for Agrippaes sake who promised that from thencefoorth the Citizens would bee quiet And so hee pacified that Citie greatly troubled with sedition CHAP. XVII How Tarichea was besieged VEspasian departed from Tiberias and pitched his Tents betwixt it and Tarichea and encamped himselfe foreseeing that there he should haue some trouble and long abode for all rebels that desired wars came thither trusting both to the strength of the Citie and the lake adioyning vnto it called Genesar For this citie was scituate like Tiberias vnder the mountaines and Ioseph had enclosed it with a wall on euery side where it was not compassed by the lake But the wall though it were strong yet was it not so strong as that of Tiberias for Ioseph builded that in y e beginning of the rebellion hauing men and mony at will but that of Tarichea was built only by the remainder of his liberalitie The Taricheans had great store of ships in the lake adioyning to the end that if they were ouercome by land they might flie by water and therefore they had prepared their shippes for a battell by water if neede should be Whilest the Romans entrenched themselues Iesus and his followers not dismayde either with the multitude or militarie discipline of his enemies issued out of the citie slewe the workmen and destroied a part of the worke and perceiuing the Romans armed assembled togither against him he fled againe vnto his companie without any losse or harme receiued But the Romans pursued them so fast that they forced them to take their ships and so being gone as farre from the shoare as that yet they might easily reach them with the shot of an arrowe they cast anchor and disposed their ships in warlike manner and fought against the Romans who were on shoare Vespasian vnderstoode that a great multitude of them were gathered togither in a place neere vnto the citie wherefore he sent his sonne Titus against them with sixe hundreth horsemen who finding the number of the enemies to be infinite certified his Father that he needed more forces and perceiuing many of his horsemen of good courage before any more ayde came and yet that some of them were a frayde of the Iewes he stoode in a high place where all might heare him and sayde O ye Romans I will first put you in minde who you are and of what nation that so you considering what your selues are may also consider who they are with whome wee are to fight neuer yet was there any enemie in any part of the world that could escape our hands The Iewes themselues though already ouercome yet doe they indure and manfully beare out their miserie if therefore they constantly indure warres and fight valiantly being in aduersitie what should we doe who are in prosperitie I reioice to see you shew good countenance yet I feare least so huge a multitude of our enemies discourage some of you let euery one therefore once againe consider who himselfe is with whom he is to fight and that although the Iewes be bold and valiant enough yet they obserue no warlike order and are vnarmed and so are more fitly tearmed a multitude then an armie I need not speake of your knowledge and skill in wars nay for this only cause are we trained vp in warlike discipline in the time of peace to the end that our number should answere to the number of our enemies when wee are to ioine battell for what fruite shall we shew of this our perpetuall warlike order discipline if we dare only fight with a rude multitude that are no more in number then our selues Thinke that you being armed are to fight with vnarmed and being horsmen are to fight with footmen being guided by the aduise of a captaine with them who haue no head nor ruler and that these things considered do supplie in
seruice of the rest that were all strong young men he sent six thousand vnto Nero at Isthmos neere Corinth The rest of the multitude he sould in number thirtie thousand and foure hundreth beside others that he gaue vnto Agrippa for he permitted him to do what he would with those that were of his kingdome But Agrippa sould also those who were giuen him The rest of them were fugitiues and seditious persons of Trachon Gaulanitis and Hippenis and many of Gadara whose contempt of peace iustly procured these warres They were taken the sixt of the Ides of September THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 4. booke 1 How Gamala was besieged 2 How Placidus tooke Itaburium 3 How Gamala was destroyed 5 How Titus tooke Giscala 5 Of the beginning of the destruction of Ierusalem 6 Of the comming of the Idumaeans vnto Ierusalem and of their deeds 7 Of the Massacre of the Iewes by the Idumaeans CHAP. I. How Gamala was besieged AFter that Tarichea was conquered all those that from the time that Iotapata was surprised til this instant had reuolted from the Romans did now againe vnite themselues vnto them so that the Romans had now gotten into their hands all Castles and townes Giscala only excepted and Itaburium a mountaine so called With these two rebelled Gamala a towne ouer against Tarichea and situated vpon the lake belonging to the kingdome of Agrippa and also Sogane and Seleucia and these two last were both belonging vnto Gaulanitis and Sogane appertained to the higher part called Gaulana and Gamala vnto the lower Seleucia vnto the lake Semechonitis which is thirtie furlongs in breadth and threescore large whose marishes reach euen vnto Daphne which Countrie is verie pleasant of it selfe and famous for that it entertaineth the streame called little Iordan and at the foote of the golden mountaine deriueth it into great Iordan Agrippa in the beginning of the rebellion vnited Sogane and Seleucia vnto himselfe but Gamala by reason of the situation apt to resist did not yeeld vnto him for it is farre stronger then Iotapata For from an exceeding high mountaine there descendeth a hill verie difficult for any to passe rising high in the middest and then descendeth lower and lower both before and behind so that it representeth the figure of a Camel which the Hebrewes call Gamal and so thereof it tooke the name though the Inhabitants doe not keepe that exact signification Before it and on either side there are deepe vallies into the which a man can hardly descend onely it may be taken and assaulted on that side where it ioyneth vnto the mountaine which also the Inhabitants haue made inaccessible by cutting out there a deep ditch In that place the Citie was verie well inhabited on the descent of the hill and towards the South part it stood on so steepe a hill that it seemed as though it would haue fallen euerie houre and the South hill serued the Inhabitants in steed of a Castle being vnwalled for it was an exceeding high rocke and reached downe euen vnto the bottome of the valley in the towne and at the wals thereof there was a fountaine Although this Citie were of his owne nature inuincible yet Ioseph compassing it with a wall and with ditches and mines made it more strong Wherefore the Inhabitants of this place put farre more confidence in their wals then they of Iotapata did yet were they fewer in number and not so warlike people as they but for the situation of the Citie they esteemed themselues more then their enemies for the Citie was full of men that fled thither by reason of the strength of the place so that for seuen moneths they resisted them that were sent by Agrippa to besiege them Vespasian departed from Ammaus and pitched his Tents before Tyberias and so went vnto Gamala Ammaus is interpreted hot waters for there is a fountaine of hot water which cureth many diseases and the Citie was so situate that he could not besiege 〈◊〉 round about wherefore he placed men to keepe watch in such places as it was passible and obteined the highest mountaine where his souldiers pitching their Tents lastly intrenched themselues On the East part of the Citie in the most eminent place there was a Castle where the fifteenth and fifth legions laboured against the towne and the â—…th legion filled vp the ditches and vallies King Agrippa went vnto the wals and spake vnto them that defended them willing them to yeeld vnto the Romanes but one of them with a sling stroke him on the right arme and hurt him his familiar friends came about him to defend him Then the Romans for anger that the king was hurt and for feare of such mischances to themselues made them earnest to assault the towne perswading themselues that they would vse strangers and their enemies hardly if it lay in their lot seeing they had so euill entreated one of their owne nation for perswading them vnto that was profitable for them Hauing quickly intrenched themselues by reason of the multitude that laboured in that businesse and by reason that they were accustomed vnto such like worke they began to place the engine against the towne wals Chares and Ioseph were two of the most potent men in the towne they therefore animated and armed their Citizens and brought them vnto the wals who trembled for feare And although they well perceiued that the Citie could not long hold out seeing they wanted water and many other things necessarie to withstand a siege yet notwithstanding they exhorted the townes men to be valiant and so brought them vnto the wals and a while they resisted notwithstanding the shot but at last they were therewith so terrified that leauing the wals they fled into the Citie Then the Romans did batter the wals with Ramms in three seuerall places and where the wall fell there they issued in with trumpets and a great noyse and cries and fought with the townes-men who in the first conflict so valiantly resisted them that they permitted them not to enter any further into the towne at last being ouercome both in strength and number they all fled into the highest part of the Citie and from thence they turned againe vpon the Romanes who pursued them and draue them downe into the vallies and killed many and diuers in that streight passage were troden to death by their fellowes The Romans seeing that they neither could flie nor resist their enemies aboue their heads fled into their houses which adioyned vnto the plaine and so filled them that being ouercharged they fell downe and lighted vpon other houses beneath them which did beare them downe also and they likewise others situated beneath them Many of the Romanes this way perished for being amazed and not knowing what to do they fled into other houses notwithstanding they did see them shak and
and assault him at vnawares Placidus for the nonce gaue them faire speeches hoping to get them downe into the plaine they as though they would haue obeyed him followed him thither meaning when they came there sodainly to assault him yet Placidus his deuise tooke place For when the Iewes assaulted him he fained himselfe to flie and the Iewes hauing pursued him a great way from the mountainne he turned againe vpon them and wounded many on the backes as they fled and killed some and hindred the rest of the multitude from ascending the mountaine so the rest left Itaburium and fled vnto Ierusalem and the inhabitants now water failing them yeelded vnto Placidus and deliuered the mountaine vnto him CHAP. III. How Gamala was destroied NOw the most presumptuous amongst the Gamalians fled and hid themselues the weaker sort did perish through famine yet the most couragious that were left amongst thē defended the wall till the seuen and twentith day of October Vpon which day three souldiers of the fifteenth legion towards breake of the day vndermined the highest tower in their quarter and entred into it those that kept it neither perceiuing them when they came in nor when they went out for it was in the night time These souldiers being warie least any noise should be made remooued fiue of the greatest stones and presently leapt away and incontinently the tower fell with a hideous noise and with the fal killed those that kept it and many that kept watch in other quarters fled being sore afraid and those who sought to escape the Romans were killed amongst whom one Ioseph was stroken with a dart frō a part of the wal that was fallen downe and there died They who were within the Citie were terrified with the noise hereof and ranne vp and downe as though all the enemies were already entred into it And Chares Iosephs companion being sicke yeelded vp the ghoast feare increasing his disease and helping to shorten his life The Romans remembring the bad successe at the last assault did not enter the Citie till the three and twentith day of the foresaid moneth Then Titus as it were vexed at the misfortune of the Romans in his absence accompanied with two hundreth horsemen and certaine chosen footmen entred the Citie no man resisting him and he being passed into the same the watchmen then first perceiuing it cried to armes Those within the citie fearing that Titus was entred some tooke their children some their wiues and fled into the castle with pitifull cries and weeping others met Titus and were all put to the sword and they that could not get into the castle not knowing what to doe fell amongst the Roman watchmen then the skies were filled with the cries of men dying and the lower places of the Citie flowed with bloud Vespasian led his whole army against those that were fled into the castle which was of a huge height and scarcely to be come vnto being all of stone and full of ditches and deepe dens and compassed with steepie rockes so the Iewes did driue downe the Romans that offered to come vp vnto them partly with dartes partly with stones which they rouled downe vpon them and they were so high that the Romans arrowes could not reach them But at last as it were by Gods prouidence who would haue it so a whirlewinde arose which carried the Romans arrowes amongst them into the castle and the Iewes arrowes from the Romans and the winde was so violent that it was not possible for them to stand vpon those high places and so not being able to stand nor to see those that came against them the Romans ascended and tooke the Castle some resisting for their defence others yeelding themselues The Romans now called to minde their fellowes who perished in the first assault and so became more cruell Many despairing of their liues cast their wiues their children and themselues headlong downe those high places into the deepe vallies vnderneath So that the crueltie that the Romans shewed against the people of Gamala was not so great as that which they vsed against themselues for there were only four thousand that perished by the Romans sword and the number of them who so cast themselues downe was found to be fiue thousand and not one escaped but two women that were sisters and daughters vnto Philip who was sonne vnto Ioachimus a woorthy man and gouernour ouer all Agrippas army vnder him and these two were saued onely because at such time as the citie was taken they hid themselues for they spared not infants but many tooke them and cast them downe from the castle And thus was Gamala destroied the 23. day of October which began to rebell the 21. day of September CHAP. IIII. How Titus tooke Giscala NOw all the Cities and strong places of Galilee were taken Giscala onely excepted the inhabitants whereof desired peace for that they were husbandmen and their riches consisted in the fruits of the earth but there were many theeues in the Citie to which vice also many of the Citizens were addicted These people were incited to rebell by one Iohn a witch and a deceitfull person sonne vnto one Leuias who was of strange manners and bold to presume any thing and wonderfully atchieuing all he tooke in hand and he was known vnto all men for one that desired warre to make himselfe mightie This man was ringleader of the seditious persons in Giscala and for feare of them the people who perhaps otherwise would haue sent legates to the Romans to request peace were hindred and forced to stay till the Romans came to warre against them Against these people Vespasian sent Titus and with him a thousand horsemen and the tenth legion towards Scythopolis and he with the rest went to Caesarea to refresh them after their great labour at the charges of the townes adioyning iudging it necessarie to comfort their bodies and encourage their mindes to sustaine manfully the wars that were to ensue for he foresaw that he should haue much adoe to winne Ierusalem both for that it was woont to be the kings seate and also because it was the chiefe and head Citie of all the nation And his care in this point was so much the more encreased for that he perceiued that many out of all parts fled thither and that it was naturally strong and also compassed with almost inuincible walles and beside this the boldnesse and desperate courage of the inhabitants who although that they had no walles at all yet had been scarcely to be conquered and therefore he thought it necessarie to comfort his souldiers before the fight like champions who ought to enter the field and fight couragiously Titus comming on horseback vnto Giscala perceiued that it might easily be taken yet knowing that if it were taken by force all the people should be destroyed by the Romans and now he was wearie of bloudshed he
compassionating the wel disposed people which were otherwise like to perish togither with the wicked attempted to take it by condition Wherefore the wals being full of people amongst whom were many of the seditious he told them that he maruailed what helpe they had or expected or by whose aduise all other cities being now taken they alone would abide the last brunt of the Roman forces especially when as they had already seene many townes farre stronger then theirs ouerthrowne at the first assault and contrariwise those who had yeelded themselues vnto the Romans liued in peace and peaceably enioyed all that was theirs Which offer said he I now also make vnto you and am not yet incensed against you because that which you doe is for your libertie but if quoth hee you doe still perseuere in this impossible course my displeasure shall be kindled against you And if so be that they refused his kind offer they should presently perceiue the Roman sword to be sharpned for their destruction and incontinently should find that their wals were but a mockery and no waies able to resist the Romane engines where contrariwise if they yeelded themselues and trusted vnto the fidelitie of the Romans they should be the most happie people of all Galilee None of the townsmen were admitted to make any aunswere not to come vnto the wals for the theeues were masters of them and a guard was placed at euerie gate least any one should go forth to submit themselues or any horsemen should be receiued into the citie Then Iohn made answere that he liked well of the conditions offered and that he would either perswade or compel the inhabitants to accept of them yet he requested that that day might be granted vnto the Iewes for it was the seuenth day wherein it was not lawfull for them to entreat of peace nor make warre For as the Romans knew the Iewes euerie seuenth day ceased from all worke and which if they prophaned they who caused it to be so abused though it were Titus himselfe were as great offenders as they who were forced to it Moreouer so short time could not preiudice the Romans to wit one ◅ghts space for nothing he could effect in that time to endomage them except onely by flying out of the citie which Titus might preuent by placing a strong guard and watch in euerie place thereabout and that he thought it a great priuiledge to be suffered to keepe the custome of his countrey and that it was his part who offered peace and safetie to them that expected it also to keepe their lawes whose safetie he graunted With these and such like speeches Iohn sought to delude Titus being not so religious about the keeping of the Sabboth as carefull for his owne safetie for he feared that the citie would presently be taken and he left alone so he determined in that night to flie as the onely way to saue his life Truly God would haue it so that Iohn should then escape to be the ouerthrow of Ierusalem and that Titus should not onely grant him the time he requested to deliberate but also that night should pitch his tents neere Cydaessa by the higher part of the towne which is the strongest village of al that are in the heart of the Tyrian soile which the Galileans alwaies hated In the night time Iohn perceiuing no Romans to keepe watch about the towne hauing now opportunitie fled not onely with the armed men about him but also with many of the chiefe of the citie and whole families whom he promised to conduct vnto Ierusalem But Iohn fearing captiuitie and carefull for his owne safetie hauing caried them twentie furlongs out of the citie forsooke them vvho being so left desolate began grieuously to lament For euerie one thought himselfe as neere his enemies as he was fa◅◅rom the citie and his friends and still euerie steppe they thought their enemies at hand readie to take them and euer they looked backe as though their enemies heard the noise they made as they went and so came against them insomuch that many rushed forward on heapes and many were killed in the way vvith the prease of them that followed so that vvomen and infants did perish miserably or if they spake any thing onely it vvas entreating their parentes or their kinsfolke to stay for them But Iohns exhortation tooke effect vvherein he cried vnto them to saue themselues and hasten vnto such a place vvhere they might be safe and reuenge themselues of the Romans for the outrages vvhich they that remained behind were like to endure and so the multitude that fled euery one as he was able dispersed themselues Titus earely in the morning came vnto the wals to know whether they accepted of his offer Then the people set open the gates and with their wiues and children came to meet him all crying that he was their safetie and vvorker of their welfare and that he had deliuered their citie out of captiuitie also they certified him how Iohn vvas fled and besought him to pardon them and execute iustice vpon those malefactors that remained in the citie And at their request he sent certaine horsemen to pursue Iohn but they could not take him for before they came he had gotten into Ierusalem yet they slew almost two thousand of them that fledde with him and brought backe againe three thousand women and children Titus was angrie that he suffered Iohns deceit to escape vnpunished yet his anger vvas something appeased for that hee perceiued Iohns purpose preuented in that so manie of his companie vvere slaine and so many brought backe for captiues Thus he peaceably entred the citie commaunding the souldiers to breake downe a little peece of the wall as it were to take possession of it and so punished the seditious rather with threats then torments For he thought that many were accused only for priuate hatred so were in daunger to suffer being innocent he thought it better to let the wicked liue in feare thē with them to destroy the guiltlesse Thinking moreouer that hereafter they would be more quiet either for feare of punishmēt or for shame of their former offence for the which they were pardoned that if any man suffered vnworthily he could not afterward complain Then he placed there a garrison both to represse the seditious and also to confirme them that desired peace And thus was Galilee conquered after it had much toyled the Romans CHAP. V. Of the beginning of the destruction of Ierusalem SO soone as Iohn was entered into Ierusalem all the people flocked about him and those that came with him enquiring what calamitie had be fallen them without the citie Some of them being yet out of breath and not able to speake by signes discouered their necessitie yet amidst these their miseries they boasted that it was not the Roman power that forced them to flie but that they of their owne accord fled thither to
slaine whether hee were friend or kinsman were presently put to death and left vnburied as men forsaking their citie and flying to the enemie To be breefe nothing so much increased their calamitie as mercie for the wicked people were herewith as it were prouoked to wrath whose displeasure and crueltie was extended from the liuing vnto the dead and from the dead vnto the liuing And such feare fell vpon the whole citie that those that were left aliue deemed them happie that being dead were at rest and free from those miseries and they that were in prison in respect of the torments they endured thought themselues vnhappier then they who lay vnburied All humane iustice was by them peruerted and they scorned and mocked at all diuine and holy things and proudlie derided the oracles of the prophets esteeming them as fables and iests But hauing now contemned all lawes established by their forefathers for the punishment of vice and increasing of vertue at last they found that true which by them was foretold concerning the destruction of themselues and their countrey For there was an olde prophecie that when sedition raigned amongst them and their owne hands had first violated the temple of God and holy things that then their citie should be destroied by warre their holy places should be burned with fire according to the vse and custome of warre And the Zealous giuing credite vnto this prophecie made themselues the ministers of this action CHAP. III. How Gadara was yeelded and of the massacre there BVt Iohn who long agoe desired to bee in chiefe authoritie as tyrant ouer all the rest thought it not sufficient to bee in as great reputation as his fellowes wherefore by little and little ioyning vnto himselfe the most impious of all the Zelous he diuided himselfe from their vnion and fellowship So that now euerie one perceiued in that hee alwayes neglected what others commaunded and imperiously commanded what himselfe thought good that he affected principalitie and many ioyned to him for feare some for fauour for hee had a smooth tongue able to perswade them vnto what he would many also followed him thinking it better that al the impietie before cōmitted were laid to one mans charge in particular then vnto all men in generall Moreouer being a valiant man of his hands and one able to giue politicke counsell hee wanted not followers notwithstanding that many of the contrarie faction left him enuying that he who before was their equall should now be their Lord and commander Feare also terrified them from liuing vnder the gouernment of one only man for they thoght that if he once preuailed hee could not easily be ouercome and againe if he were deposed that he would picke quarrels against thē in the end because that they resisted him in the beginning So euerie man determined rather to suffer all miserie in warre then to submit himselfe and perish like a slaue Thus the sedition was deuided and Iohn was chiefe of the faction against the Zelous so betweene them they appointed garrisons in euerie place and if by chance they combatted together they did little or nothing hurt one another but their chiefe contention was who should beare most sway amongst the people and they did striue on both parts who should h◅e the greatest part of the spoyle Thus the Citie at one time was vexed with three vntolerable mischiefes and euils to wit warre tyrannie and sedition and yet warre seemed a lesse euill then the rest vnto the communaltie In briefe many leauing their natiue soyle fled vnto straungers for succour and found amongst the Romanes safetie who with their owne nation liued in continuall danger There was also then begun the fourth euill which wrought the ruine of the whole nation Not farre from the Citie there was a Castle called Massada builded by the ancient Kings of Ierusalem verie strong to lay their treasure in and their munition for warre and to retire themselues thereunto in time of need for the safetie of their persons This Castle was taken and kept by that sort of theeues that were called Sicarij who for feare durst robbe no more These theeues seeing the Romane armie now idle and the Iewes in Ierusalem at ciuill warres and sedition amongst themselues they tooke courage and againe fell to their villanies And so vpon that day which is the feast of vnleauened bread which the Iewes doe keepe holy in memorie of their deliuerance out of the Aegyptian captiuitie deceiuing the watchmen they seased vpon a Fort called Engaddi and before the townes-men could arme and vnite themselues together they were by these persons driuen out of the towne who also killed them that could not flie to wit women and children to the number of more then seuen hundreth and so sacking the houses and taking the fruites that were now ripe they carried all vnto Massada and so they wasted all the villages and whole Countrie round about them many wicked persons daily flocking vnto them and ioyning with them and by their example other theeues that a while had beene quiet now robbed againe and spoyled in euerie part of Iudaea And as in a bodie if the principall member thereof bee sicke all other parts of it are afflicted so Ierusalem being filled with tumults and discord those that were without the Citie found licence to robbe and spoyle and all they that had their townes destroyed where they were wont to inhabite went into the wildernes Then they assembling and vniting themselues together not so many as an armie yet more then a companie of theeues they brake into the townes and temples and as in warre it commeth to passe they purposed to assault them by whome they had suffered such iniurie but they were preuented for the theeues vnderstanding of their comming fled with the spoyle they had gotten And there was no part of Iudaea that did not perish together with Ierusalem their mo◅her Citie Those that fled vnto the Romans certified Vespasian hereof for although the seditious persons did keepe and obserue all passages and kill them that offered to flie yet many secretly stole away from them and besought Vespasian both to help the oppressed citie and to take compassion vpon the relikes of their nation affirming that many had beene butchered for wishing well to the Romans and many being yet aliue were yet in great danger And Vespasian moued to compassionate their calamities came with his armie neerer Ierusalem as though he would haue besieged it but in deed his intent was to deliuer it from the siege hoping in the meane time to conquer that part of the Countrie that was yet vntoucht and so to leaue nothing to hinder him when hee should begin the siege Wherefore comming vnto Gadara the strongest place and mother Citie of all the Countrie beyond the riuer hee entered into it the fourth day of March for the chiefest of the Citie vnknowne vnto the seditious people had sent Ambassadors to
them tell the Citizens that except they presently restored his wife vnto him that hee swore by God who gouerned all that hee would breake downe their wals and vse all that hee found in the Citie after that fashion and that he would spare no age nor respect the innocent more then the guiltie These his threates did not onely terrifie the people but also the Zelous in so much that they sent him his wife againe and so his anger being something asswaged he ceased a while from daily slaughter CHAP. VIII Of Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian NOt onely in Iudaea but also in Italy at this time were ciuill warres for Galba was slaine in the middest of the market after whome Otho was created Emperour and fought against Vitellius who affected the Empire whome the Germaine legions had elected So the battell being fought neere vnto Bebrias a towne in Gallia Cisalpina the first day Otho got the victorie against Valens and Caecinna the Generals of Vitellius his armie But the day following they ouercame Otho so many being slaine on both parts newes being brought that Vitellius his armie had gotten the victorie Otho being at Brixels slew himselfe when he had ruled the Empire three months and two dayes Then Othoes souldiers came vnto Vitellius his Captaines and ioyned with them and so Vitellius came to Rome with his armie In the meane time Vespasian the fift day of Iune departed from Caesarea and went vnto those parts of Iudaea which were yet vnconquered and first of all he went into the high Countries and subdued the two Toparchies of Acrabatena and Gophnitis and after them two townes called Bethel and Ephrem and placed garrisons in them and so went vnto Ierusalem killing many that hee found in the way and hee tooke many captiues And one of his Captaines called Cerealis with a part of his horse and footmen wasted all the higher Idumaea and in the way as he went hee tooke Caphetra a Castle and burnt it besieged an other called Capharis enclosed with a strong wall for the which ca◅ he deemed that he should haue made long abode there but contrarie to his expectation the Inhabitants opened the gates vnto him and came and yeelded themselues beseeching him to be good vnto them When he had ouercome them Cerealis went vnto Hebron an ancient Citie and set it on fire this Hebron as I haue alreadie said was situated vpon the mountaines not farre from Ierusalem and breaking into it by force hee slew all them that he found there and fired the Citie And hauing subdued all places saue onely three Castles to wit Herodium Massada and Macheron which were kept by the theeues now onely Ierusalem remained to be conquered CHAP. IX Of Simons acts against the Zelous WHen Simon had receiued againe his wife from the Zelous he went into Idumaea to rob and spoyle that which he had left and chasing the Inhabitants vp and downe at last hee forced them to flie vnto Ierusalem he himselfe followed them thither and besieging the wals he killed al the workmen he took that returned out of the fields from their labour T◅s Simon without the citie was more terrible to the people then the Romans and the Zelous within the citie crueller then them both being encouraged and incited therto by the counsel of the Galileans For they had put Iohn in authoritie Iohn in reward therof permitted al things to be don which they requested There was no end of robbing spoyling rich mens houses and of slaughtering both of men and women and now to iniurie any person was a pastime And hauing with bloudshed obtained their pray in securitie and without all feare after they had gotten what they liked they now began to lust after women yea they became thēselues effeminate thorow luxuriousnesse dressing their haire and cloathing themselues in womens apparrell and they annoynted themselues with sweete oyntments that their beautie might bee pleasing and annoynting their eyes wanton-like they now did not onely imitate the attire of women but also their impudencie and became so shamelesse that they now thirsted after vnnaturall pleasures as though they had kept a stewes and so prophaned the whole Citie with their execrable impurities Yet though they did effeminate their faces their hands were prone to bloudshed and although they liued in ignominious maner as people giuen ouer to pleasure yet could they quickly become warriours vnder the habites of women drawing their swords they did kil whom so euer they met Whosoeuer escaped Iohns hands Simon crueller murdered and whosoeuer escaped the tyrannie within the Citie was slaine by the tyrant without So now there was no way to flie vnto the Romans Furthermore the armie of Iohn began to be deuided for all the Idumaeans separated themselues from the other people and there began a mutinie against the tyrant partly enuying his puissance partly hating his crueltie And so assaulting him they slew many of the Zelous and compelled the rest to flie into the Kings house builded by Grapta father of Izata king of Adiabena The Idumaeans also brake in thither with them and droue them from thence into the Temple and so seazed vpon Iohns treasure for Iohn liued in that pallace and thither carried all his spoyles Then those Zelous that were dispersed in the Citie came vnto them that were in the Temple and Iohn purposed to send them against the townesmen and the Idumaeans But they feared not so much their forces although they knew them to be the better warriors as they did feare that now being desperate they would steale out of the Temple in the night and so slay them and fier the Citie Wherfore assembling themselues they deliberated with the priests how to auoide their assaults but it pleased God to turne their owne counsel to be their destruction and that they should prouide a remedie of safetie farre worse then death it selfe For to depose Iohn they deuised to introduce Simon and as it were to intreate yet another to tyrannize ouer them So this counsell was thought best and Matthias the Priest was sent vnto Simon whom before they stood in great feare of now to request him to come into the Citie With them also came such as had fled from Ierusalem for feare of the Zelous entreating him in like maner because they desired to returne to their wiues and families So he entred into the Citie proudly promising them to be their Lorde and all the people cried with lowd voices as he came into the Citie that he was their preseruer and giuer of life and libertie Being now within the Citie presently he deliberated with them about him to establish his dominion thinking as well them that called him into the Citie as those against whom he was called his enemies Then Iohn and the Zelous with him finding no way to come out of the temple and hauing lost all that he had in the Citie
was able without their assistance to subdue all the rest but Vitellius was not able with their helpe to keepe that he had speaking much to this effect he perswaded them to all that which he would haue done And so he with his whole armie ioyned with Antonius The same night the souldiers repenting themselues of that they had done and also fearing that Vitellius should get the vpper hand who sent them against Antonius drew their swords and would haue slaine Caecinna And had done it had not the Tribunes come and entreated them to the contra◅e wherefore they did not kill him but kept him bound meaning to send him to Vitellius as a traitor Primus Antonius hearing this came with his armie and assaulted them who were reuolted from him and they a while resisted yet at last forced to retire they fled vnto Cremona And Primus accompanied with horsemen preuented their courses and so slew the most of them before the citie and afterward setting vpon the rest gaue his souldiers the spoile of it wherein many merchants of other countries and many townsmen were slaine and all Vitellius his armie thirtie thousand and two hundreth men and Antonius lost in that battell foure thousand fiue hundreth of those whom he brought with him out of Moesia And deliuering Caecinna from prison he sent him to beare newes hereof to Vespasian who comming vnto him was praised for his fact greatly honoured aboue his expectation in reward of his treason Sabinus who was at Rome hearing that Antonius was at hand greatly reioyced and tooke courage and gathering togither the companies of the watchmen in the night time he tooke the Capitoll and in the morning many of the nobles came ioyned with him and Domitianus his brothers son who was a great cause and helpe to obtaine the victorie Vitellius little esteemed Primus but he was angr◅e against Sabinus those that had reuolted with him as it were naturally thirsting after the bloud of the nobilitie he set all the armie he brought out of Germany with him to assault the Capitol where many valiant deeds were shewed on both parts and at last the Germains being most in number got the Capitoll hill And Domitian with many braue noblemen as it were by the prouidence of God escaped safe the rest of the multitude were there slaine And Sabinus was caried to Vitellius and there by his commandement put to death the souldiers taking away al the gifts and treasure in the temple set it on fire The day after came Antonius and Vitellius his souldiers met him and fighting in three seuerall places of the citie they were all slaine Then Vitellius came drunke out of his pallace and being full gorged with delicate meat he was drawn through the midst of the people and after many contumelies slaine hauing raigned eight moneths and fiue daies who if he had liued longer I thinke verily the Empire had not beene sufficient to haue maintained this gluttony There were slaine aboue fiftie thousand of other people And this was done the third day of October The day after Mutianus with his armie came and entred into Rome and repressed the souldiers of Antonius who still sought about in euerie place for Vitellius souldiers and many other of his fauorits and slew whom they thought good not examining any matter by reason of their fury and bringing out Domitian he declared vnto the people that he was to gouerne the citie till his father came The people being deliuered from feare proclaimed Vespasian Emperour and made feasts and triumphs both vnder one for his establishing in the Empire and for ioy that Vitellius was deposed CHAP. XIIII How Titus was sent by his father against the Iewes WHen Vespasian came to Alexandria newes were brought vnto him what was done at Rome And Embassadours came vnto him from all parts of the world to congratulate him And although next after Rome this citie was the greatest in the world yet was it scarcely able to receiue the people that came thither vnto him Vespasian now being established Emperour of all the world the commonwealth of the Romans being contrarie to his expectation freed from troubles he now began to thinke vpon the reliques of Iudaea And so he himselfe winter being ended prepared to go to Rome and in the meane time he hastened to dispose of all things at Alexandria Moreouer he sent his sonne Titus with certain chosen men to destroy Ierusalē Who departed from Alexandria vnto Nicopolis by land which is distant from it twenty furlongs there he did ship his men so sailed along the riuer Nilus by Medensia vnto Thmuin there landing his men he came to the citie called Tanis And the second place he rested in was the citie Heraclea the third Peleusiū there resting refreshing his souldiers two daies space the third day he passed the borders of Peleusium and hauing gone one daies iourney through the wildernes he pitched his tents at the temple of Iupiter Cassian the next day at Ostracine where there is no water but all that the inhabitants do vse they bring from other places After that he rested at Rhinocolura and from thence in foure daies he came to Raphia where beginne the borders of Syria the fift day he lodged at Gaza from thence to Ascalon and so to Iamnia Ioppe from whence he went to Caesarea purposing to gather the rest of the souldiers there THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 Of the three seditions in Ierusalem 2 How Titus went vnto Ierusalem to see their strength and how he was in daunger 3 How the Iewes did issue out vpon the Romans pitching their Tents 4 Of the fight within the Citie vpon the feast of unleauened bread 5 Of the deceite the Iewes vsed against the Romane souldiers 6 The description of Ierusalem 7 The Iewes refuse to yeeld and assault the Romans 8 Of the fall of the tower and how two of the wals were wonne 9 How Castor the Iew did floute the Romans 10 How the Romans did twise get the second wall 11 Of the mounts raised against the third wall and a long Oration of Ioseph perswading the Iewes to yeeld and of the famine within the Citie 12 Of the Iewes that were crucified and how the towers were burnt 13 How the Romans in three dayes space built a wall about Ierusalem 14 Of the famine in Ierusalem and how they built another tower or mount 15 Of the massacre of the Iewes both within and without the Citie 16 Of the sacrilege about the Temple and the dead bodies that were cast out of the Citie and of the famine CHAP. I. Of the three sorts of seditions in Ierusalem TItus being thus come out of Aegypt by the desert into Syria hee departed from thence vnto Caesarea for there hee purposed to set his armie
and large hals for to place tents in so that for all conuenient roomes and places it seemed to be a citie and for the magnificence thereof a kings pallace In outward fashion it was built like a tower and inuironed about vvith foure other towers at euerie corner one vvhereof they that vvere on the South and East side were threescore and ten cubits high the other two vvere onely fiftie so out of these two highest one might haue a perfect view of all the vvhole temple Where it ioyened vnto the porches of the temple there vvas on either side a paire of staires for the souldiers to come downe out of it into the temple For alwaies the Roman souldiers lodged there and guarded the temple in armour vpon festiuall daies least the people should attempt any rebellion or sedition For the temple vvas as a castle to keepe the towne in awe and the castle Antonia to ouerthrow the temple there also vvere placed the souldiers likewise in Herodes pallace vvhich serued for a castle ouer the higher part of the citie The hill Bezetha vvas deuided from the citie as is before mentioned vvhich being the highest of all was ioyned vnto part of the new citie vvhich did obscure the view of the temple on the North side And thus I haue here spoken sufficiently of the citie and the wall in this place because we meane hereafter to describe them more at large CHAP. VII How the Iewes refused to yeelde and how they assaulted the Romanes THe most warlike of all the people ioyned with Simon being in number ten thousand beside the Idumaeans and those ten thousand had fiftie captaines of their owne fellowes yet all subiect vnto Simon The Idumaeans that tooke his part were fiue thousand and had ten captaines the chiefe of whome were Iacob the sonne of Sosas and Simon the sonne of Cathla And Iohn who kept the temple had sixe thousand armed men ouer whom were twentie captains and then there came vnto him two thousand of the Zealous and foure hundreth who before had followed Eleazar and Simon the sonne of Iairus So these warring one against another the people was their bootie and the multitude that were not seditious as they were was their pray Simon kept the higher part of the citie and the greater wall euen vnto Cedron and all that part of the olde wall which is betweene Siloa and the pallace of Monobazus who was king of Adiabena that lieth beyond Euphrates he also kept all the hill Acra which is the lower part of the citie vnto Helenas pallace who was Monobazus his mother But Iohn kept all the temple and the space about it Ophla and the valley Cedron and that which vvas betweene these two places vvhich Simon and Iohn kept was all consumed with fire and made a place to fight in For although the Romans tents were pitched neere vnto the wals of the citie yet did not this sedition cease but hauing recouered some securitie a while at the Romans first comming presently they returned vnto their former wont And deuiding themselues againe euerie man fought for his owne part doing all that the Romanes could wish to be done For the Romans did thē no more harme then they did themselues for after them the citie suffered no new calamitie but indured farre more miserie before it was taken and destroyed by the Romanes then it did at that time For the Romans in destroying it did rather end their miserie then bring them into it For the seditious did take the Citie and the Romanes did ouercome and take the seditious which was farre stronger then the wals so that one may ascribe all their miseries to their owne nation and equitie and iustice vnto the Romanes as euerie one shall clearely see by that which ensued The Citie being in the estate before said Titus with chosen horsemen went vp and downe without it to espie where he might most easily assault the wals And being in doubt a long time what to doe for that where the vallie was footemen could not possible get vp to it and where it was walled they seemed to be impossible to be battered downe with engines At last he determined to assault it on that part where was the monument of Iohn the high Priest for onely in this place the first wall was lower then in other places and it was not compassed here with the second wall for this place was not fortified because that those parts of the new Citie were not much inhabited So that from this place the wall might easily be assaulted whereby Titus was perswaded that the higher Citie and the Temple and Antonia might easily bee taken As hee was thus viewing the place one of his friends called Nicanor came vnto him who was shot in the left shoulder with an arrow because he desired to come neere Ioseph who went thither of purpose to perswade the Iewes which were vpon the wall to yeeld For Nicanor was verie eloquent Caesar perceiuing their minds and that they could not abstaine from him who perswaded them to that which was most expedient for them was now moued and began earnestly to besiege them and so he permitted his souldiers to wast all the suburbes and to gather all the rubbish stones wood other matter together and made therewith a mount And deuiding his armie into three parts he disposed of euerie one what he should doe and in the middst of all vpon the mounts he placed archers and before them engines for shot where withall hee hindered the excursions of his enemies least they should annoy the worke and also did beate those off from the wall who made anie resistance from thence And presently all trees being cut downe the suburbes appeared naked Whilst the Romanes hauing gathered the wood together were busied in their worke the Iewes were not idle and then the people who were troubled with murders and robberies did hope to haue an end of their miserie the seditious people being busied against their enemies and they now hoped that if the Romanes did ouercome they might bee reuenged vpon them Iohn still kept where he was fearing Simon yet were his followers verie earnest to assault the Romans But Simon being next vnto the siege did not rest but placed all along that part of the wall men with darts which before were taken from Sesleis Gouernour of the Romanes and found in the Castle of Antonia But the darts did the Iewes small pleasure by reason that few of them knew how to vse them onely some who were taught by certaine that had fled from the Romans could vse them a little Yet did they assault the Romane souldiers that were building the mounts with arrowes and stones and also made excursions vpon them by companies and fought with them But the Romane workmen were defended by hurdles that were of purpose set before them and euerie legion had strange and admirable engines against the excursions of their enemies
and especially the engines that the tenth legion had to cast darts and others that cast stones which did not onely repulse them by whom they were assaulted but also those that stood vpon the wal for euerie stone was a talent weight and were shot more then a furlong and slew not onely those that they did first strike but also many that were stroken with the rebound But the Iewes alwaies espied the stones before they came for they were white and so auoyded them and they were not onely descried by the noyse they made in flying but they might easily bee perceiued and by this meanes the watchmen in the tovvers gaue vvarning alvvayes vvhen these engines vvere shot off and vvhen the stones came crying in their Countrie language The sonne commeth so the Ievves vpon the vvals knovving vvhat they meant auoyded the stones so receiued no harme Then the Romans deuised to blacke the stones vvith inke and so they could not be seene as they flevv but at one stroke slevv many But the Ievves vvere not herevvith so terrified that they permitted the Romans peaceably to build the mount but night and day they hindered them vvith stratagemes and valour Novv vvhen the Romans had finished their vvorke the Carpenters measured the space betweene the mounts the vvals with a plummet fastned vnto a line which they cast from one place vnto another for they could not measure it otherwise because of the darts cast from the wals and finding that they had Rams long enough they set them vp and Titus commaunded the wall to bee battered in three places to the end that the batterie might not bee hindred The noyse that these rams did make was heard round about the Citie and the Citizens cried mainely out and the seditious persons were also sore afraid And seeing themselues all in like danger they now determined to ioyne all together in resisting the Romans and the seditious cried one vnto another saying that they rather assisted the enemies then resisted them and therefore exhorted one another at least for that time to become friends if not for euer onely to resist the Romans And Simon sent a crier vnto the Temple licensing all such as would to come vnto the wals which also Iohn did permit notwithstanding he mistrusted Simon so they forgetting their old quarrell ioyned al together and resisted the Romans and guarding the wals round they cast much fire vpon the engines of the Romanes and against those that did rule them and threw darts against thē without intermission the boldest amongst thē in great companies lept downe and destroyed that wherewith the engines were couered and assaulted those that stood to defend them and so did the Romans much harme by reason of their desperate boldnes more then by their skill Titus was still at hand to succour them that stood in need and placing horsemen and Archers about the engines he repulsed the Iewes who came to cast fire and repressed them that cast darts and shot arrowes from the towers and so gaue the rams time and opportunitie to beate the wals Yet for all this the wall was not shaken with the rams saue onely that the ramme of the fift legion did shake the corner of a tower but yet the wall stood firme and was not harmed by the shaking of the tower for it was farre higher then the w◅ll and so could not draw downe any part of the wall as it fell So soone as they had a while ceased from excursions they perceiued that all the Romans were busied in one labour or other and so dispersed all ouer the campe thinking that the Iewes for feare durst come no more The Iewes all secretly issued out of the gate by the tower Hippicos and cast fire vpon the works and couragiously made incursion vpon the Romans euen vnto the tampire of their campe The Romans seeing what danger might ensue presently assembled themselues both they that were neere and those that were farre off The discipline of the Romans ouercame the furie of the Iewes and putting those to flight that first met them they assaulted those that opposed themselues against them afterward So there began a grieuous battell about the engines the Iewes striuing to fire them and the Romans fighting to hinder them and a doubtfull crie was raised on both parts and many in the forefront were sla◅e on both sides But the Iewes audacitie got them the vpper hand and their fire did somthing touch the engines and all had beene consumed quite with fire had not the chosen souldiers that came from Alexandria hindred it who for the opinion that they had of themselues did fight stoutly for they were accounted to haue beene the most valiant of all in this battell till such time as the Emperour with certaine selected horsemen came and set violently vpon the enemies and he himselfe slew twelue men that did resist him for whose deaths the rest fearing fled and were forced to retyre themselues into the Citie and so saued the engines from being fired It chanced that one of the Iewes was in this fight taken aliue and Titus commaunded that he should be crucified before the wall that perhaps the rest being herewithall terrified might yeeld After Caesar was retired Iohn the Captaine of the Idumaeans talking vpon the wall with one of his friendes being strucken in the brest with an arrow by an Arabian souldier presently died which caused great lamentation among the Iewes and sorrow amongst the seditious for he was valiant of his hands and verie wise and of good aduise CHAP. VIII Of the fall of the tower and how the two wals were taken THe night following there was a great tumult amongst the Romans For Titus the Emperour had commaunded to bee builded three towers fiftie cubits high a peece each one vpon a seuerall mount that from thence hee might the more easily beate the enemies from off the wals but one of these towers in the middest of the night fell downe without any assault And making a great noyse with the fall feare fell vpon the whole armie who suspecting that it came to passe by some stratageme wrought by the Iewes euerie one ranne and armed himselfe and so there was a great tumult in the armie and for that no man could tell what the matter was a longtime they stoode as it were all amazed euerie one asking his fellow what had happened and seeing no enemies come they began to feare some treason amongst themselues and so were in a great feare they knew not wherefore till such time as Titus vnderstanding the matter caused the truth thereof to be presently proclaimed throughout the campe and so the tumult although with much ado was appeased The Iewes valiantly bearing and enduring all other dangers were sore troubled by reason of these towers vvhich Titus had erected for they were slaine and vvounded from thence with smal engine shot darts arrowes neither could they build themselues any so
buttocke with a dart and Castor pulling it out of his flesh shewed it vnto the Emperour and complained of it as being iniured Titus presently with sharpe words corrected him that shot it and forthwith would haue sent Ioseph to promise Castor pardon and peace But Ioseph denied to go affirming that Castor onely dissembled and so hindred his friends that would haue gone At last one Aeneas who had fled vnto the Romans offered himselfe to go Castor inuited him as though he would giue him some thing in token of his true meaning Then Aeneas opened the skirt of his garment thinking Castor would haue cast him downe something of worth and when he came vnderneath the tower Castor tooke a great stone threw it down vpon him yet hurt him not because he was aware of it and auoided the stone but it wounded another souldier standing by Then Caesar considering this deceit began to thinke that pitie and mercie in warres was hurtfull and that crueltie was not so easily deceiued and so being verie angrie at this deceit he caused the wall to be beaten with the ramme more then before Castor and his fellowes perceiuing the tower to shake they set it on fire and so passed through the flame and conueied themselues into a mine of the tower so that againe the Romans admired their courage thinking that they had burned themselues Titus assaulting the wall on this part tooke it fiue daies after that he had taken the first and causing the Iewes to flie from thence he accompanied with a thousand chosen men about him entred in where the woolmen and coppersmiths and merchant tailors dwelt which place was the new Citie hauing only narrow and streight waies to go vnto the wall And had he presently beaten downe a great part of the wall or according to the lawes of armes destroied that which he had gotten he had obtained the victorie without any losse on his side Yet now hoping the Iewes would yeelde seeing that if he pleased he might take them by force he gaue the more ample and easie passage to retire for he did not thinke that they whose good he sought would haue been traitors vnto him CHAP. X. How the Romans did twise take the second wall WHen Titus was entred the citie he suffred none of them that were taken to be slaine nor the houses to be burned but permitted the seditious if they were so minded to fight and that without the preiudice of the people and also promised the people to restore vnto them all their goods For many besought him to spare the Citie for them and the temple for the citie The people were glad hereof and many of the warlike Iewes thought the humanitie of Titus to proceed from cowardize and iudged that Titus for that he despaired to winne the rest of the citie did now cowardlike propound these conditions They likewise threatned al the people that whosoeuer should speake one word concerning peace and yeelding vnto the Romans should presently die and some of them did resist the Romans from out of their houses and others in the narrow waies and others going out at the higher gates began a battell wherewith the watchmen being troubled fled from the wall and forsaking the towers they retired themselues into their campe The Romane souldiers within the citie cried out because they were enclosed with the enemies the gates being shut and assaulted without by those who apprehended their companions to be in great daunger The number of the Iewes encreasing and preuailing for that they knew the waies and turnings of the streets many of the Romans were slaine and violently borne downe when they offered to resist in that necessitie for a multitude togither could not flie by reason of the narrownesse of the streets that went vnto the wall and all that entered into the citie had beene slaine had not Titus succoured them For placing at the beginning of euerie street archers himselfe being where most need was he so did driue away the Iewes with darts and arrowes and with him Domitius Sabinus vvho in that fight was proued a stout warriour who so long continued beating the Iewes with arrowes till all the souldiers were escaped away Thus the Romans hauing got the second wall were beaten from it againe And the citizens fit for vvarre vvere hereat encouraged and were drunken vvith this good fortune thinking that now the Romans durst no more offer to come into the citie and that they could not be ouercome if they did arme themselues to fight For God because of their iniquitie had darkened their vnderstanding so that they neuer considered that the Roman forces were farre greater then they that were ouercome nor the famine that presently ensued for as yet they liued vpon the destruction of the people and dranke the bloud of the citie but the good did euen now suffer famine and many of them had alreadie perished for vvant of foode yet the seditious did reioyce at the death of the Citizens as though thereby they were eased of a great burthen onely desiring their liues that bare rebellious mindes and would ioyne vvith them against the Romanes reioycing at the death of the rest as freed from a heauie clogge and this vvas the affection they bare vnto their Citizens And so they armed themselues and resisted the Romans who now againe did attempt to enter the breach and they threw downe stones and part of the vvall vpon them as they came vp and so draue them backe againe and valiantly resisted them for three daies But the fourth day they were not able to vvithstand Titus his assault but were forced to retire as before and he hauing gotten the wall destroyed all the North part thereof and placed a garrison in the towers and fortresses of the South part CHAP. XI Of the mounts raised to batter the third wall and a long Oration of Iosephs to perswade the people to yeelde and of the famine in the Citie TItus now determined to batter the third wall and he thought to continue that siege but a short time and that it was conuenient to giue the seditious some time to bethinke themselues to see if that either by the taking of the second wall or terrified with famine they would repent For now there was no more praies for them left in the citie and he lay before the wals thereof euen as he desired And the time being come that euery souldier should receiue victuals and prouision for himselfe Titus caused them to be led euery one in order into a place where the Iewes in the citie might perfectly behold them and caused his captains to distribute money to euerie one And the souldiers as their custome is all armed and drawing their swords out of their sheathes marched along the horsemen leading their horses gallantly adorned and a great part of the suburbes glistered with gold and siluer This spectacle was gratefull to their owne souldiers and terrible
to the Iewes for all the old wals and the North part of the citie and many houses were filled with the multitude of them who came to view this sight and there vvas no part of the citie that was not filled with people to see and behold it And feare came vpon the verie boldest amongst all the Iewes seeing both the Romans armour and their order and perhaps that shew would haue caused the seditious people to haue relented had they not despaired to haue found mercy and pardon at the Romans hands for their offences committed and so they thought it better to be presently slaine in warres then to be put to death shamefully if they desisted from fight Destiny also hindred this vvhereby it was decreed that the innocent should perish vvith the wicked and the citie vvith the seditious And for foure daies space they were distributing necessaries vnto the souldiers and on the fift day Titus perceiuing that for ought he could do the Iewes were still obstinate he deuided his armie into two parts and about Iohns tomb he began to raise mounts against Antonia hoping that waies to take the higher part of the citie by Antonia to sease the temple vvhich except he could effect he could not safely take the citie against either of these places he raised two mounts euerie legiō making one The Iewes Simons followers did hinder the vvorke that vvas begunne before Iohns tombe and Iohn likewise with a great number of the Zealous hindred them that made the mounts ouer against Antonia vvho not only did fight vvith the aduantage of the higher ground but also had now learned the vse of engines for continuall vse by little and little made them skilfull and they had three hundreth engines called Balistaes and fortie engines to cast stones wherewith they greatiy annoyed the Romanes and hindred them from their worke Titus foreknowing that fortune vvould fauour him that the citie was like to perish he hasted to take it neuer ceasing to perswade the Iewes to yeeld and with his deeds he ioyned counsel For he knew that many times vvords preuaile more then violence of armes and exhorted them to saue themselues and yeeld the citie vnto him and told them of Ioseph how that he should make a speech vnto them in their owne language for he hoped that they would heare their owne countriman Then Ioseph going about the citie without the daunger of shot cried vnto them to spare themselues the citie the temple the people and not become more hard hearted against them then straungers vvere For the Romans did reuerence the holy places notwithstanding they had no societie or portion in them and how euen till this day they had abstained from violating them and they vvho were nourished within them and might onely saue them did vvilfully cause their destruction and bad them consider that their strongest wals were battered downe and onely now the weaker remaining vnbattered hee willed them to consider how they were not able to withstand the Romans forces And that it was no newes to the Iewes nor straunge to be subiect vnto the Romans For although it be a good and commendable thing to fight for libertie yet that was to be done in the beginning but he that vvas once subiect and would rebell hauing a long time liued vnder the obedience of the Romans seemed rather to be desirous of a shamefull death then a louer of libertie Moreouer that they should disdaine to be subiect vnto base people and not vnto them whom the whole world obeyed For said he what place haue not the Romans that may be inhabited Nay themselues might perceiue how fortune did still fauour them And that God who guided the Empire to be placed in all parts was now in Italy Also that euen by the law of nature aswell by the example of beasts as of men we are taught to giue place vnto them that are stronger then our selues and be contented that they should get the victorie that are valiantest in armes And this quoth he vvas the cause that your auncestors vvho vvere farre more strong and politicke then you and had better meanes to resist yet did they submit themselues vnto the Romans vvhich if God had not beene pleased withall hee would neuer haue permitted them to haue done And how could they hope to resist seeing the citie was as it were alreadie taken And that the citizens supposing their wals were vvhole yet were they all destroyed For the Romans well knew what famine was amongst them and how it did euerie day waste the people and would also in short time destroy the warriors amongst them For suppose that the Romans would cease and not besiege the citie nor offer with drawne swords to assault it yet is there a ciuill warre within the citie which the Iewes cannot ouercome or auert it euerie day increasing except they would also fight against hunger and they alone ouercome aduerse fortune Further he added that it was best before intollerable calamities befell them to chaunge their opinion and whilest they had time to be counselled by good aduise And that the Romās would not punish them for that which was alreadie past except they persisted obstinate euen vnto the end For they are quoth he kind courteous and gentle to their subiects and do prefer their commoditie before reuenge And they thought it an aduantage to haue the citie and the country inhabited therefore the Emperour would make a league of peace with them but if he tooke the citie by force he would not spare one especially seeing that they were willed by him to saue themselues euen in the greatest necessitie they refused to obey him Likewise he told them that the third wall would also be taken verie shortly as wel they might perceiue by the two other wals and suppose that their citie was inexpugnable yet the famine would cause it to be yeelded into the Romans hands in despite of them As Ioseph did thus aduise them many standing vpon the wals did rayle against him many vpbrayded him others shot at him Ioseph seeing hee could not auert thē from their imminent calamities recounted vnto them all their own Histories making for his purpose O wretches quoth he and vngratefull to them that helpe you you fight against the Romanes and beare armes against them as though this way you had cōquered some others that came as they now do against you When doth God the maker of all things denie his helpe vnto vs if we be oppressed Wil ye not remember your selues For what cause did you enterprise these warres and how great a friend and assister of yours doe you daily offend Doe yee not remember the myraculous workes of your auncestors and this holy place and how in times past it was by the enemies destroyed But I quake and tremble to recount the workes of God to such vnworthie hearers yet hearken that you may know that you doe not onely
resist the Romans but also God himselfe Nechias at that time king of Aegypt who also was called Pharao came and with an infinite armie tooke away Queene Sara the mother of our nation And what did our first father Abraham in this case Did he with weapons and armes reuenge this iniurie hauing vnder his commaund three hundreth and eighteene Captaines and vnder them an infinite multitude Or did he rather desist from warre perceiuing God not to accompanie him Wherefore lifting vp pure and vndefiled hands towards this holy place which now you haue defiled and prophaned he chose God an inuincible helper to aide him And was not the Queene the second night after sent home againe vnto him vntouched And the Aegyptian adoring this holy place which yee haue polluted with murders of your owne nation and trembling at the visions he saw in the night time fled rewarding the Hebrewes with gold and siluer whom he perceiued to bee so beloued of God Shall I recount vnto you the going of our auncestors into Aegypt who hauing for fower hundreth yeeres beene slaues vnto the Aegyptian tyrants and kings and able to haue reuenged themselues by force of armes yet did they rather expect and staie Gods leasure Who knoweth not that then Aegypt in reuenge of the Hebrewes was filled with all kinds of serpents and infected with all diseases and the earth became so barren that Nilus waxed drie the ten plagues followed one another without ceasing whereby our auncestors were safely deliuered without any bloudshed for God conducted them as willing to reserue them for his Priests When the Assyrians had taken away from vs the holy Arke did not Palestina and Dagon repent that fact did not all the nation of them that tooke it weepe and lament therefore For their priuie parts being putrified their bowels and the meate they did eate ranne out there and so with vncleane hands they were forced to bring it backe againe with Cymbals and trumpets thereby to make satisfaction for their offence It was God that did this for our ancestors because that they laying their arms aside wholy resigned thēselues to his pleasure Was Senacherib king of Assyria comming with all the power of Asia and incamping himselfe before this Citie ouercome by humane force Did not our auncestors leauing armes flie to praiers and by an Angell God in one night destroyed an infinite armie And the next day the Assyrian rising found a hundred fourescore and fiue thousand of his men dead and so fled with the rest from the Hebrewes being vnarmed and not pursuing him You know also that in the captiuitie of Babylon where the people liued the space of seuentie yeeres they got not their libertie till such time as God put in Cyrus heart to suffer them to go into their owne countrie Who still assisting them they againe as the priests in old time were wont did serue and reuerence their helper In briefe our ancestors did neuer atchieue any great matter by force of armes neither did they leaue any thing vndone wherein they expected Gods helpe but still remaining quiet at home they ouercame their enemies through his prouidence And when they did fight after their owne wils they alwaies failed of their expectation For when Zedechias our king contrarie to the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie did goe foorth and fight with the king of Babylon then besieging the Citie both he and all his were taken and this Citie destroyed Yet consider how farre your Captaines are inferiour vnto that King and your selues vnto the people of those times For Ieremie crying vp and downe the Citie and saying that God was offended at their iniquitie and that except they did yeeld the same it should be taken by force yet did not the King nor any of the people lay hands vpon him And you that I may omit your iniquitie done within the Citie which though I would I could not sufficiently discipher doe attempt to kill me and vse rayling speeches against me who once gaue you holesome counsell for your good onely for that I put you in mind of your sinnes you not enduring to heare of that which you daily commit This same betided also when Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes besieged the Citie God being highly displeased at our auncestors who going out in armes against him were all slaine the towne spoyled and this holy place for three yeeres and sixe months made desolate What should I shew vnto you any more examples Who first incited the Romanes themselues against the Iewes Was it not the impietie of our owne Countrimen that did it Whence began our bondage at that time Did it not proceede from the sedition of our auncestors when the furie of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus brought Pompey into our Citie and so God subdued them vnto the Romans being now vnworthie of libertie And at length hauing for three months space endured a siege being not so great offenders as you are and better able to abide the siege then you yet did they yeeld themselues Are we ignorant of the end of Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus who inuading the kingdome brought our nation againe into subiection God so laying this bondage vpon them for that he was moued at the iniquitie of our nation And Herode the sonne of Antipater brought Sosius and the Romane armie and besieged the Citie round sixe months space and at last for the greatnesse of their iniquitie was taken and punished for their offences and the Citie sacked by the enemies So you euidently see that our nation did neuer preuaile by force of armes And assure your selues that the Citie will be taken by this siege It is meet therfore that you who keepe this holy place wholy commit your selues to Gods wil and pleasure then feare not the forces of the enemies when by reason of your pietie you are assured of Gods helpe and succour But what one parcell of Gods law haue you obserued Nay what mischiefe haue you left vndone that hee detesteth not How farre greater is your impietie then theirs that did sodainly perish for their sinnes For you making small accompt of secret sinnes to wit stealing deceit and adulteries do violently take away mens goods by open force and murder whom yee please an◅ haue deuised new wayes to sinne Moreouer you haue made the holy Temple a place of all these your impieties and the seate that the Romanes did adore is by our owne nation polluted much derogating from the honour of our religion by your impious facts Last of al you hope of his helpe whom you haue so hainously offended Truely you are verie iust people and obedient and with pure hands you aske helpe of God Did our king thus pray vnto God when he obtained that in one night so many of the Assyrians should bee destroyed Or doe the Romanes commit such impietie as the Assyrians did that you may hope of the like reuenge against them for he hauing
receiued a peece of money to saue the Citie did not regarding his oth seeke to destroy the same The Romanes doe onely request the tribute that our auncestors were wont to pay vnto them which if they haue they will neuer destroy the Citie nor touch our holy things They will also permit you to enioy freely your families and possessions and suffer our lawes to remaine inuiolate It is altogether madnesse for you to hope that God will so punish iust men as he did sinners and impious persons who knoweth to punish at his pleasure To be short hee destroyed the Assyrians the first night that they encamped before the Citie And if he purposed also to deliuer you and punish the Romans he would then haue done it when Pompey and Sosius came against the citie or when Vespasian wasted Galilee or lastly now when Titus came to assault it But neither Pompey nor Sosius suffered any harme yet both of them tooke the Citie Vespasian so gained by warring against vs that he hath hereby got the whole empire And the fountaines which before gaue you no water yeeld it to Titus in great aboundance You know that before his comming the fountaines without the Citie and Siloa were so dried vp that water was sold by measure yet now they flow so plentifully that they doe not onely serue all the armie their cattell also but besides that do water all the gardens about What this wonder foretelleth you haue already experience When the king of Babylon came with his armie and destroyed the citie who tooke it and fired it and the Temple notwithstanding that as I am perswaded the Iewes of that time were nothing so wicked as you are Wherfore I thinke that God hath forsaken this holy place and is now gone to them that doe besiege you Wil not a good man flie a wicked house and hate the impious that dwell therein And doe you then thinke that God will abide your impietie who beholdeth all secrets and knoweth al things that are hid But what is secret amongst you Or what doe you seeke to hide Nay what doe you that your enemies doe not know All your iniquities are disclosed to all men and you euerie day striue one with another who shall bee most impious And you doe as greatly labour to shew your selues vicious as others doe to shew themselues vertuous Yet for all this there is time to amend and Gods wrath will be appeased if yee acknowledge your sins be penitent for your offences Cease from armes be ashamed of your Countrie now ruined through your owne meanes Turne your eyes and behold the beautie of the place whose ruine you seeke How braue a Citie how gorgious a Temple how rich with the giftes of all nations Who would fire these who would desire the ruine of these Or what is there in the world that better deserueth to bee serued then these O hard hearted people and more blockish then stones If you doe not pittie these yet let your families moue you euerie one of you looke vpon your children wiues and parents who shall all presently be consumed either with sword or famine I know that together with you shall perish my family and wife and house which sometime were of no small account And perhaps some of you doe thinke me therfore to speake this vnto you but kill them and take my bloud for recompence of your welfare and liues I my selfe am also prepared to die if after my death you would remember your selues Ioseph crying thus vnto them with teares trickling downe his cheekes the seditious were nothing mooued but told him that it was not safetie for them to yeeld But the people were perswaded to flie and some selling their possessions and that they had for smal prices they did swallow downe the gold for feare the theeues should take it from them And so when they had escaped vnto the Romans they emptying their bellies found it againe and so had money to buy them necessaries Titus also permitted many to go away whither soeuer they pleased which thing caused diuers to flie seeing that thereby they were deliuered out of their calamitie which in the citie they aboad and were not forced to serue the Romans But Iohn and Simon were as diligent to stop the waies least the Citizens should escape as they did hinder the Romans from entring into the Citie so that whosoeuer did but giue any suspition of flight he was presently by them put to death The richer sort whether they staid or fled were slain for their wealth and possessions The famine of the citie and the desperation of the theeues both increased alike euerie day more and more so that now there was no more corne found Wherfore the seditious persons brake into the houses and searched euerie corner for to find corne and if after their search they found any then they did beat the owners for denying it at the first and if they found none they tortured the housholders as hauing more cunningly hidden it And whosoeuer was yet strong of body and well liking him they presently kild for hereby they deemed him to haue store of food or els he should not haue bin in so good plight of body as he was And they that were pined with famine were by these barbarous seditious people slain who esteemed it no offence to kil them who would shortly after die though they were left aliue Many both rich and poore secretly exchanged all that they had for one bushell of corne and presently shutting themselues in the secretst roome of their house some of them did eate the corne as it was vnground others made bread therof as necessitie and feare required No man in the whole Citie sate downe to eat his meate on a table but greedily taking it not boiled from the fire they euen rawe as it was did eat it Most miserable was this manner of liuing and a spectacle which none without tears was able to behold for the strongest still got the most and the weakest bewailed their miserie for now famine was the greatest calamitie they endured And nothing doth arme men more then shame for during this famine no reuerence was had towards any man for wiues tooke the meate euen out of their husbands mouths and children from their parents and mothers euen from their infants which was the most lamentable thing of all No body had now any cōpassion neither did they spare their dearest infants but suffered them to perish euen in their armes taking from them the verie drops of life Yet could they not eate thus in such secrecie but presently some came to take away from them that whereon they fed For if in any place they saw any doore shut presently hereupon they coniectured that they in the house were eating meat and forthwith breaking downe the doores they came in and taking them by the throat they tooke the meat out of their mouths already chewed
and ready to be swallowed downe The olde men were driuen away and not permitted to keepe and defend their food from being taken from them the women were drawn vp and downe by the haire of the head for that they hid betweene their hands some part of their meat and would not forgo it No pitie was now remaining neither to olde age nor infancie but they tooke young babes eating their mouth full of meat and not permitting it to be taken out of their mouths and threw them against the ground Now if any one had preuented these theeues and eaten their meat before they could come at them then they were more cruell and the other so much more tyrannously handled as hauing committed some greater offence against them They also deuised most barbarous and cruell torments to extort food from others for they thrust sticks or such like into the cauitie of mens yards and sharpe thornie rods into their fundaments and it is abominable to heare what the people endured to make them confesse one loafe of bread or one handfull of corne which they had hidden These miscreants did not yet for all this feele either hunger or thirst for then these their impieties had been more tolerable but they did it only to exercise their crueltie preparing six daies food for themselues aforehand Wherfore meeting such as had escaped the Roman watch in the night and gone into the fields to gather weeds or herbs when they againe came into the Citie and thought they had now escaped the danger of their enemies they there tooke from them the hearbs they had gotten with hazard of their liues denying to giue them any smal part of that for which they had vndergone such danger and they required them for Gods sake to doe it yea they thought it a benefit if being thus robbed and spoiled they did not also perish by the swords of these miscreants These calamities the baser sort of people endured at the hands of the common souldiers but the nobles and chiefe men of the citie were led vnto the tyrants and accused before them of betraying the Citie vnto the Romans and so by some forged treason or other put to death And many times their suborned accusers would testifie against them that they purposed to flie vnto the Romans And those that Simon robbed he sent vnto Iohn and those that Iohn spoiled he sent vnto Simon and so they did as it were one drinke vnto another the bloud of the people and diuide their dead carkases betweene them insomuch that they disagreed onely for their desire of rule and domination but both conspired to doe mischiefe and commit iniquitie For he that did not giue to the other part of that which by crueltie he had extorted from the miserable Citizens was accounted impious and he that receiued not part did now grieue as sustaining losse in not hauing a share in crueltie and impietie I am not able to recount all their iniquities but briefly I thinke that neuer any Citie endured the like nor neuer any people since the memorie of men were so cruell and barbarous and finally to the intent that their impietie vnto strangers might seeme the lesse they spake euill of the nation of the Hebrewes and cursed them and openly confessed themselues to be slaues people of diuers countries vnited togither in wickednesse bastards and abortiues of their nation They ouerthrew the Citie and forced the Romans though against their wils to accept of this sorrowfull and heauie victorie and almost drew the fire into the temple as though it staid from it too long Neither did they weepe or lament when they saw the higher part of the city on fire but many amongst the Romans did with sorrow behold that sight which we will speake of hereafter where we wil describe the euent of that businesse CHAP. XII Of the Iewes that were crucified and the rampiers burnt THe mounts and rampiers that Titus built did greatly aduantage him and although his souldiers endured some losse by the Iewes who were vpon the wal yet he sent part of his horsemen and commanded them to lay wait for the Iewes that came out of the Citie into the vallies to fetch food and amongst them were also some fighting men For now that which they could rob and take from the Citizens was not sufficient for all of them yet the greater part of them were poore people who durst not flie vnto the Romans for feare that some harme should thereupon betide their dearest friends not induring to leaue them behinde to be murthered by the theeues Famine did now embolden them to go foorth of the Citie and now it only remained for them to go forth priuily and be taken by the enemies And being taken necessitie forced them to fight for feare of torments for they now thought it too late to request mercie after the fight they were beaten and tortured al waies possible and then crucified before the Citie wals Titus deemed this calamitie most miserable for euery day fiue hundreth Iewes and sometime more were taken and yet did he not thinke it expedient to dismisse so great a multitude nor to keepe them who would be as a guard of guards But the principall point for which he did not hinder this was that by this spectacle he might terrifie the Iewes and make them feare to suffer the like except they did quickly render themselues and the citie vnto him Wherefore the souldiers for a hatred which they conceiued against our nation crucified all they took one after one fashion and another after another in derision And the multitude of the captiues was now so great that there remained no more space to set crosses in nor any more crosses to crucifie bodies vpon But the seditious Iewes within the Citie were so farre from relenting by this massacre that rather their harts were hereby more hardned so that herewith they terrified the rest of the multitude for they catried the kinred of them that had fled vnto the Romans to the walles and bad them behold how those were vsed that had fled vnto the Romans the same sight they also shewed vnto them that desired peace affirming that they whom the Romans had so vsed were those that fledde vnto them for succour and not captiues by them taken This terrified many who desired to flie vnto the Romans from effecting their desire till such time as the truth hereof was knowne Yet some presently went boldly vnto the Romans as it were intending to suffer death and torment at their hands accounting that death comming vnto them by their enemies hands was farre more tolerable then the famine they endured Hereupon Titus cut off many of the captiues hands and so sent them into the Citie vnto Simon and Iohn that their calamitie might testifie them to be captiues and not such as had fled and yeelded vnto the Romans willing to admonish them at least now to yeeld and not compel him to
beene to view a place to build an other rampier and he greatly blamed the souldiers who hauing gotten their enemies wals did now suffer themselues to be in daunger in their owne wals and now forced to abide that which earst the Iewes did suffer being now as it were broken out of prison and so he with certaine chosen men assaulted the enemies on one side and they though stricken vpon the faces yet did they not giue backe but stoutly resisted him and so ioyning the battaile the dust was so thicke that none could see one another nor any heare what was said for the cries and noise so that now no man could discerne his friends from his foes The Iewes persisted still in the battaile not for that they trusted to their force or thereby preuailed but because they were desperate The Romans on the other part tooke courage and fought stoutly for shame and for that Caesar himselfe was in daunger amongst them So that I thinke that had not the Iewes retired themselues into the citie the furie of the Romans had then consumed the whole multitude The Romans were now sorrowfull for the losse of their rampiers who in one houre had lost that which with such labour and so long time they had beene making and many of their engines being now displaced they despaired to take the citie CHAP. XIII Of the wall which the Roman armie built about Ierusalem in three daies space TItus now deliberated with his captaines what was to be done and they that were most forwarde amongst them thought it best with all the whose armie to assault the wals for that as yet the Iewes had onely fought with one part of the armie but they were not able to withstand the force of the whole armie but would be all consumed with darts and arrowes The wiser sort againe perswaded Titus to build rampiers but others counselled the contrarie to hold themselues quiet there and onely to keep all places about that no food should be conueied into the citie and so famish the citie and neuer fight with the enemie For that the Iewes being now desperate and desiring to be slaine would not be ouercome by force or if not to slay others which was worse of all But Titus thought it a shame to lie there idle with so huge an armie and do nothing yet he deemed it superfluous to fight with them who would willingly fight to be slaine and he could not make any mounts because he wanted matter it was most difficult of all to guard euerie place about the citie that none could go forth for that it could not be beleagerd round on euery side by reason of the difficult places and huge compasse thereof fearing also the daungers that so might ensue the Iewes issuing out of the citie For the Iewes seeing their open waies all guarded by the Romans they would deuise some secret waies both vrged thereunto by necessitie and also because they knew all places there about verie well And if so be that the Iewes should secretly effect any thing to preiudice them that then their siege was like to continue so much the longer so that he feared that the countinuance of time would diminish the glorie of his victorie For though all these waies might be taken yet he preferred haste before glorie and if so be hee would both vse celeritie and safetie that then it was needfull for him to compasse the whole Citie round about with a wall for so all wayes and passages might bee hindred and so the Iewes seeing now no hope of saftie should either be compelled to yeeld the Citie or else be consumed with famine otherwise he could not be in saftie and at quiet and that so hee might erect mounts hauing that wall to defend them And if any one thinke that worke difficult and not to be atchieued let him cōsider that it did not become the Romans to make a base or slender peece of worke and that no man in the world could without labour effect any great matter but God onely Hauing with these speeches encouraged his Captaines he caused them to leade the souldiers and dispose them all in these businesses The souldiers had as it were some diuine force and courage fallen vpon them for the Captaine parting the circuit amongst them not onely they but the souldiers also did striue who should first effect their part And euerie souldier laboured to please his Decurio the Decurio to content the Centurion and the Centurion the Colonell the Colonell to please the Captaine and the Captaine to please Caesar who euerie day went round about and beheld the worke and so beginning at the place called the Assyrians campe where he was encamped he drew a wall all about euen vnto the new Citie and from thence by Cedron and mount Oliuet and so turned toward the South and inclosed the mountaine to the rocke called Peristereonos and the hill next adioyning thereunto which hangeth ouer Siloa and from thence bending his worke into the West hee brought it downe all along the valley of the fountaine from thence ascending to the monument of Ananus the high Priest where Pompey pitched his Tents so brought it about by the North side of the Citie and comming a long vnto the village called Erebinthonicus hee compassed the monument of Herode towards the East and so ioyned the wall vnto his campe where he began This wall was nine and thirtie furlongs about Without this wall he builded also thirteene forts euerie one ten furlongs in compasse And all this whole worke was finished in three dayes space which desired moneths to haue beene builded in so that the celeritie in the building thereof doth make it scarcely credible The Citie being thus encompassed with a wall and guards placed in euerie fort Titus himselfe did still goe round about the first watch to see al things in good order the second watch hee allotted vnto Alexander and the third vnto the Captaines of the legions and the watchmen appointed euerie one in his turne to sleepe in and so all night long some of them went about the Castle CHAP. XIIII Of the famine in Ierusalem and of the building of the second rampire by the Romans THe restraint of libertie to passe in and out of the Citie tooke from the Iewes all hope of saftie and the famine now increasing consumed whole housholds and families and the houses were full of dead women and infants and the streetes filled with the dead bodies of old men And the young men swollen like dead mens shadowes walked in the market place and fell downe dead where it happened And now the multitude of dead bodies was so great that they that were aliue could not burie them neither cared they for burying them being now vncertaine what should betide themselues And many endeuouring to burie others fell downe themselues dead vpon them as they were burying them And many being yet aliue went vnto their
done The seditious with lowd cries reioyced as hauing slaine him whose death they chiefely desired and so they reported within the Citie Hereupon the people were most sorrowfull verily beleeuing him to be slaine by whom they had confidence to flie vnto the Romans When Iosephs mother who was in prison heard this she said vnto those of Iotapata that were her keepers that she verily beleeued it for that he was neuer taken aliue by the Romans yet secretly vnto her maidens she wept and said that this benefit she receiued by hauing borne a son that she could not burie him by whom she hoped to haue been buried her selfe But this false report did not long grieue her nor cōfort the theeues for Ioseph was quickly healed of his wound and recouered and shewing himselfe he cried vnto them that ere long they should finde that he would be reuenged on them for his wound yet he ceased not to exhort the people to obey the Romans and yeeld but the seditious seeing him aliue were astonished and the people conceiued good hope Many present necessitie vrging them leapt off the wals and fled vnto the Romans diuers with stones going forth vnder pretence to fight with the Romans yeelded themselues who had harder fortune there then within the Citie and were now more harmed by plentie of victuals which they found amongst the Romans then with their famine they suffred in the Citie for many became by famine all swollen as though they had the dropsie presently filling their emptie bodies they brust and so all died saue onely those who being warie did by little and little accustome their bodies to food which they had long wanted Yet they who thus escaped fel into another grieuous misfortune for one of the Iewes that were fled vnto the Romans was found amongst the Syrians gathering gold out of his owne dung which he had swallowed as is before said for that the seditious did search all and take that they could finde from them and there was verie great store of gold in the Citie and that now was sold for twelue Atticks which before was worth twentie fiue This deuice being discouered in one presently a report was spred all ouer the whole campe that the Iewes that fled from the Citie came full of gold And now the Arabians and Syrians did rippe the bellies of their poore suppliants to see if they could find any gold or siluer within them And I am perswaded that there was no greater calamitie befell the Iewes then this was for in one night the bellies of two thousand Iewes were ript Titus hearing of this crueltie had caused the authors here of to haue been compassed round with horsemen and slaine with darts had the multitude of the offenders been knowne many more of them should haue bin punished then of the Iewes that were so murthered Wherfore he called togither the leaders of the souldiers that came to helpe him and the Roman captains for some of the Romans also did commit this fault and said vnto them in anger that if any of his souldiers did commit any such acts for vncertaine gaine and were not ashamed that their armour should be made of gold and siluer or if the Arabians in these warres against strangers did what they pleased and presently cause the infamie of their vile facts to redound vnto the Romans they committing such murders and exercising their hatred against the Iews for now euerie one that bare armes vnder him were di◅amed with this vile report he declared vnto them that such being hereafter found in that fact should be put to death Also he commanded his owne legions to make enquirie who were suspected among them for this matter and bring him word thereof But auarice is not terrified by feare of punishment and cruell people haue naturally a desire of lucre and gaine and no one calamitie may be compared to the desire of wealth yet sometime it is bridled and restrained for feare But now God who had giuen ouer the people to perdition suffred all things to be turned to their destruction for that which Caesar did so streightly forbid was stil secretly committed against the poore Iewes that fled for mercie vnto the Romans So that now whosoeuer fled out of the Citie the souldiers first looking about them least any of the Romans should see them ript their bellies and so got an vngodly and impious booty yet in verie few did they finde that they sought for and the most of them that were slaine had no gold nor siluer found within them And this mischiefe caused many that fled vnto the Romans to returne againe into the Citie CHAP. XVI Of the sacrilege committed about the Temple and the dead bodies cast out of the Citie and of the samine WHen Iohn could rob no more nor get any spoile from the Citizens whom he had robbed of all they had he presently fell to sacrilege and tooke many gifts that were bestowed vpon the temple and carried away sacred vessels for diuine seruice as cups plates tables and the cruets of gold that Augustus and his wife sent So that now a Iew robbed and spoiled the temple of all gi◅ts wherewith the Roman Emperours and other nations had honoured it affirming vnto his associates that without feare they might vse the holy things of the temple seeing they fought for God and the temple and therfore it was lawfull for them to be fed by the riches of the temple Moreouer that it was lawfull for them to spend the holy wine and oile which the priests reserued for diuine sacrifice which he distributed in the temple amongst the multitude and they without feare were annointed therewith and dranke thereof I will not cease to speake that which griefe compelleth me I verily thinke that had the Romans forborne to haue come against these seditious that either the earth would haue swallowed the city vp or some deluge haue drowned it or els the thunder and lightning which consumed Sodome would haue light vpon it for the people of this Citie were farre more impious then the Sodomites In briefe by their desperation and obstinacie the whole nation was extinguished What need I recount euerie particular miserie Mannaeus the sonne of Lazarus flying to Titus out of the gate that was committed vnto his custodie and yeelding himselfe vnto him recounted vnto Titus that from the time that the Romans army was placed neere the Citie from the fourteenth day of Aprill vntill the first of Iuly were carried out of that gate he kept a hundreth fifteene thousand and fourescore dead bodies yet was not he the keeper of the gate but being appointed to pay for the burying of the dead at the charges of the Citie was forced to number the dead bodies For others were buried by their parents and this was their buriall to cast them out of the Citie and there let them lie And certaine noble men flying vnto Titus after him reported that there
the miserie of Ierusalem vntill Albinus thinking him to bee out of his wits suffered him to depart This man euen vntill the time of warre neuer went to any Citizen nor was seene speake to any one but stil as it were studying of some speech he cried woe woe vnto Ierusalem Neither did he euer curse any one though euerie day one or other did beate him nor thanke any one that offered him meate All that he spake vnto any man was this heauie prophecie He went crying as is aforesaid chiefely vpon holy-dayes so doing continually for the space of seuen yeeres and fiue moneths his voice neither waxing hoarse nor wearie till in the time of the siege beholding that which he foretold them hee ceased and then once againe vpon the wals going about the Citie with a lowde voice he cried Woe woe vnto the Citie Temple and people and lastly he said woe also vnto my selfe which words were no sooner vttered but a stone shot from out an engine smote him and so he yeelded vp the ghost lamenting them all If any one doe diligently consider all these he shall find that God hath a care of mankind and doth euerie way foreshew betime what is most expedient for them and they through their owne madnesse to haue voluntarily perished in their wickednesse For the Iewes when the Castle Antonia was taken made the Temple foure square notwithstanding that it was written in the holy Scripture that the Citie and Temple should be taken when the Temple was made foure square But that which chiefely incited them to warre was the doubtfull prophecie likewise found in the holy Scriptures that at the same time one in their dominions should be Monarche of the whole world and many wisemen were deceiued in this interpretation making account that hee should be one of their owne nation yet indeed thereby was foretold Vespasians Empire But men cannot preuent destinie though they foresee it Thus the Iewes interpreted some of the signes as they pleased and at others they laughed till by the ruine of their Countrie and their owne wofull ouerthrow their iniquitie appeared CHAP. XIII How Titus was made Emperour and of the death of the priests AFter the seditious were fled into the Citie all the Temple and places thereabout being set on fire the Romans placed their ensignes in the Temple ouer against the East gate and there celebrating sacrifice with great cries declared Titus Emperour and the Romans got such prayes and booties that they sold gold in Syria for halfe the valew And amongst those Priests that kept on the wall a child being thirstie desired peace of the Romane watchmen saying that he was thirstie So they pittying both his yeeres and his need gaue him their hands that he should haue no harme and then he came downe and drunke and filled a bottle which he brought with him and when he had done hee ranne vp againe to his fellowes and none of the watchmen were able to ouertake him and they vpbraided him with falsehood But he answered that he had done nothing but that which hee and they intended for they did not giue him their hands to secure him to remaine with them but onely to come downe and take water which hee had done The Romane watchmen greatly admired the subtiltie of him that was but a child The fift day the Priests being almost famished came downe and the watchmen carried them to Titus whom they besought to graunt them their liues But he answered them that the time of pardon was past seeing that was destroyed for the which he might haue pardoned them and that it was meete that the Priests should perish with the Temple and so he commaunded them to be put to death Then the tyrants with their followers being on euerie side beset with warres and hauing no way to flie they being thus beleaguerd rounde requested to parly with Titus who for his naturall meeknesse his friends also perswading him thereto thought at least to saue the Citie iudging indeed that now the seditious had altered their minds and so he stood in the West part of the inner Temple for there was a gate built aboue a gallerie and a bridge that ioyned the Temple and Citie together which was then betweene Titus and the tyrants Many souldiers on both parts flocked about their rulers the Iewes about Simon and Iohn hoping for pardon the Romans about Titus desirous what he would say vnto them and Titus by an Edict commaunding the souldiers to be quiet and to shoote no arrowes spake vnto them first by an interpreter thereby shewing that he had the vpper hand and said O yee men of Ierusalem are you not now glutted with the calamities of your Countrie Neither calling to mind our power nor your owne infirmitie but with a rash furie haue destroyed your people Citie and Temple your selues also hauing instly deserued to perish who since Pompey first conquered you haue neuer ceased to be seditious and at last haue openly borne armes against the Romans Did you trust vnto your multitude You haue seene that a small parcell of the Romans armie hath sufficiently resisted you Or did you expect forraine aide What nation is not vnder our dominion and who wold rather make choyse of the Iewes then of the Romans Did you trust in your strength of bodie Why you know that the Germanes serue vs. Or in the strength of your wals What wall or what greater hinderance then the Ocean wherewith the Britaines inuironed haue yeelded vnto the Romane forces Or to your courage and politicke counsell of your Captaines You haue alreadie heard that the Carthaginians haue beene by vs surprised It was therefore the Romanes humanitie that incited you against themselues who first of all permitted you to possesse your Countrie and gaue you Kings of your owne nation and after all this wee kept your lawes inuiolate and suffered you to liue as your selues desired not onely in your owne Countrie but also amongst other nations and which is the greatest of all our benefits bestowed vpon you wee permitted you to gather tribute and gifts to the maintenance of your Temple and sacrifices to God of all which we neither forbad any to be brought vnto you neither hindered any that would offer vnto your Temple but suffered you our enemies to be made more rich then our selues so that you haue vsed our owne money against vs. Wherefore hauing receiued so many benefits at our hands you haue now disgorged your selues vpon vs and like spitefull Serpents spit your poyson vpon them that made much of you Let vs omit that by Nero his negligence you became forgetfull of your dutie and like some member in the bodie broken or shrunke you being still tumultuous at last were taken in a greater offence and were incouraged with immoderate desires to hope for vnlawfull libertie My father came into your Countrie not to punish you for your misdemeanour toward Cestius but by
good counsell and warning to reprehend and quiet you And whereas if he had come to destroy your nation hee ought first to haue cut downe the verie roote and to haue come vnto this Citie and destroyed it with the Inhabitants hee rather chose first to waste Galilea and the places adioyning that in the meane time you might repent you and consider of your estate But this his mercie towards you was held for cowardlinesse and infirmitie in him and by our long suffering you were emboldned against vs and when Nero was dead you did as treacherous subiects are wont to doe taking occasion by our ciuill dissension to reuolt from vs and whilest my father and I were gone into Aegypt you prepared your selues to war against vs neither were you ashamed to trouble them that were designed Pinces whō notwithstanding you had found most gentle Captaines vnto you At last when the Empire fell vnto vs and all things being now quieted all nations with gifts and presents came to congratulate vs Behold againe the Iewes shewed themselues our enemies and you sent an Ambassador beyond Euphrates onely to nourish your rebellion walling fortifying your townes a new and contending like seditious and tyrants one with another set abroach ciuill warres al which none but impious people would haue committed Wherefore being commanded by my father who was now vrged thereunto I came against this Citie with a heauie charge yet did I reioyce when I heard that the people desired peace Before I warred against you I exhorted you to peace after warre was begun I desisted awhile from vsing seueritie I spared all them that of their owne accord fled vnto me and kept my promise vnto them pitying those that were captiues I with strokes restrained them that hasted the warre against you against my will and euen forced so to doe I set the Romans against your wals and alwayes restrained my souldiers so much desirous of your bloud How often did I ouercome you so often did I exhort you to peace as though I had beene vanquished Againe when I approched vnto the Temple I willingly omitting the law of armes requested you to spare your Temple and holy things offering you leaue to depart and promising you safetie or else I gaue you leaue to fight another time in another place if so you thought good Al these my offers you refused with your own hands fired your temple And now you wicked wretches prouoke me to parly with you What thing can you now preserue so excellent as that which is already perished what pardon can you expect seeing your temple is destroied nay euen now yo◅ stand armed not so much as counterfeiting submission in the last cast O wretches with what hope Is not your people dead is not your temple destroied your citie now in my hands yea your liues also But do you thinke death the renowne of fortitude I will not striue with your obstinacie yet if you will cast downe your weapons and yeeld your bodies I will spare your liues And like as in priuate house I wil shew my selfe vnto you a gentle maister and after I haue punished that which otherwise is incurable I will reserue the rest for my selfe To this they answered that they could not receiue pardon at his hands hauing vowed the contrarie wherfore they requested licence to depart with their wiues and children by the camp which he had enuironed with a wall and so to go into the wildernesse and leaue the Citie vnto the Romans Titus was hereat greatly enraged that they being in a manner captiues should impose vpon him conditions as though they were victors and commaunded a crier to tell them that hence foorth they should not flie vnto him nor hope that he would pardon them for hee would spare nothing willing thē with all their forces to fight and saue themselues as they could for he would now in all things vse the law of armes and so he permitted the soldiers to sack the Citie and set it on fire And that day they did nothing but the next day following they fired the councell-house the pallace Acra and Ophla and the fire came vnto Queene Helens pallace which was scituate in the midst of Acra also the houses and streets of the Citie full of dead bodies were set on fire The same day the sons and brethren of king Izates and with them many nobles of the people assembled togither befought Caesar to pardon them and he though incensed against them all yet not changing his manner receiued them to mercie and put them all in prison and afterward carried them bound to Rome for hostages that were the kings sonnes and kinsmen CHAP. XIIII Of the pray of the seditious and how the inner part of the Citie was fired THe seditious went vnto the kings pallace where many had left all their wealth because it was a strong place and driuing the Romans from thence they slew all the people there assembled amounting to the number of eight thousand and foure hundreth and carried away all the money and they tooke there two Roman souldiers aliue one a horseman and another a footman and they slew the footman and drew him all along the Citie as it were in the body of that one reuenging themselues vpon all the Romans But the horseman affirmed that he had something to say vnto them which would greatly profit them and saue their liues who was carried vnto Simon and not hauing there any thing to say Simon deliuered him to one of his captaines called Ardala to be slaine and he brought him where the Romans might behold him with his hands bound behinde him and a veile before his eies meaning there to behead him but he whilest the Iew drew out his sword fled vnto the Romans And Titus would not put him to death because he had escaped from the enemies yet deeming him vnworthy to be a Roman souldier who suffred himselfe to be taken aliue he tooke from him his armes and discharged him from bearing them any more which to a wiseman was worse then death The next day the Romans putting the seditious to flight that were in the lower Citie they fired all vnto Siloa reioycing that the towne was destroied yet they got no booties because the seditious had already robbed and spoiled all and carried it into the higher Citie For they nothing repented them of their wickednesse but were as arrogant as though they had been in prosperitie so that they with ioy beheld the Citie on fire affirming that they desired death for that the people being slaine the temple destroied and the Citie on fire they should leaue nothing vnto their enemies Yet Ioseph in that extremitie laboured to saue the reliques of the Citie much inueighing against their crueltie earnestly exhorting them to saue thēselues yet he nothing profited in al this but was derided for his labour for neither would they yeeld vnto the Romans for
their oths sake neither were they able to fight with the Romans being now as it were besieged round by them yet their accustomed murthers did encourage them to stand out Thus dispersed all ouer the Citie they lurked in the ruines lying in wait for those that sought to flie vnto the Romans and many of them were taken and all of them were slaine for famine had so weakned them that they could not flie and they cast their dead bodies vnto dogs And any death were easie in respect of famine So that many fled vnto the Romans hauing no promise no nor hope to be pardoned by them and vpon purpose fell into the hands of the seditious who neuer ceased from murther and now there was no place in the whole Citie voide but was filled with dead bodies who either perished by famine or sedition But the tyrants and factious theeues put their last refuge in the vaults where they hoped whatsoeuer hapned to saue themselues hoping that there they could not be found and so after the Citie was destroied to escape which was only their vaine phantasie For they could neither be hid from God nor the Romans yet at that time they trusted in those caues from whence they fired the Citie more then the Romans and cruelly murthered them that hauing escaped the flames came and fled into secret places and spoiled them also if they in any place found any meate though all bloudy yet they tooke it and did eate it and now one of them began to fight with an other about the spoile they gotte And I verily perswade my selfe that had they not beene preuented by the destruction of the Citie their crueltie would haue beene such that they would haue eaten the bodies of dead men CHAP. XV. How the higher part of the Citie was assaulted and how many Iewes fled vnto Titus Caesar perceiuing that the higher part of the Citie could not be woon without mounts being scituate in a soile round about the which were high and deepe places on the twentith day of August he set all his souldiers on worke and the carrying of wood for that purpose was verie painfull all trees within a hundreth furlongs off the Citie were already cut downe and vsed in the former worke as is before said So the foure legions raised a mount on the West side of the Citie and all the rest made a mount against the porch bridge and tower which Simon during his warres with Iohn had built About this time the captaines of the Idumaeans assembling togither deliberated to yeeld themselues and sent fiue of their companie vnto Titus beseeching him to confirme a peace vnto them and he hoping that the tyrants would yeeld after them who were the greatest part of his army with much ado granted them life and so sent them vnto their fellowes but Simon had notice of their departure and presently slew those fiue that were sent vnto Titus and taking the captaines the noblest of whom was Iames the son of Sosa he put them in prison and also kept and guarded the Idumaeans who now hauing no gouernours knew not what to do yet the guard could not hinder them from flying for although many of them were killed yet diuers fled and escaped and all were receiued by the Romans Titus curtesie being such as that he remembred not his former edict to the contrarie and now the souldiers hoping for gaine and hauing already gotten sufficient abstained from murthers for leauing onely the common people they solde the rest with their wiues and children for a small price many being exposed to sale and few comming to buy them so that he hauing made an edict that none should flie vnto him alone intending thereby to bring their families with them yet he now receiued them also appointing some to enquire who had deserued punishment and to inflict it on them And an infinite number was solde and more then fortie thousands of the people were saued whom the Emperour dismissed and permitted to go whither they pleased The same time a certaine priest the sonne of Thebathus named Iesus was promised pardon vpon condition that he should deliuer certaine holy things giuen vnto the temple and so he came and brought out of a wall two candlesticks like vnto them that were in the temple tables goblets cuppes all made of solide and massiue golde also the veile and the ornaments of the priests and the precious stones about them and many vessels made for sacrifice Moreouer the keeper of the holy treasure called Phineas brought forth the garments and all things that did belong vnto the priests and much purple and scarlet which were laid vp in store to make tapestrie or hangings amongst which also was some Cinamon Cassia and many other odoriferous things whereof were compounded sweet odors to be offered to God He also deliuered him much wealth of other mens and much sacred treasure for the which notwithstanding that he was taken by force yet he was pardoned as they were that fled vnto Caesar. CHAP. XVI How the rest of the Citie was taken THe seuenth day of September the mounts being finished which was the eighteenth day after they were begun some of the Romans placed theie rammes and engines to batter them some of the seditious who now despaired to keepe the citie left the wals and fled into Aâ—…a others hid themselues in certaine vaults and many hindred the Romans and resisted them for placing their rammes against the wals who were ouercome by them being both more in number then they were and also stronger and more valiant The Iewes being now all discouraged and sorrowfull so soone as any part of the wall was broken downe or shaken with the force of the rammâ—…s straight waies fled and now the tyrants were surprised with a greater feare then needed For euen before such time as the enemies had entred the wall they stood in doubt whether they might flie or no and they who a little before were proud and arrogant malefactors did now â—…emble and quake so that it was pitifull to see such a chaunge in them though they were wicked persons And they endeuored to assaile the vvall that Titus had built to compasse the whole citie vvithall but seeing themselues forsaken of all those that vvere vvont to be trustie vnto them euerie one fled vvhether necessitie did driue him Presently newes vvere brought them that all the west vvall of the citie was beaten downe others affirmed that the Romans had entred and that they had seene the enemies in the towers feare daseling their eies and prostrate vpon the ground they bewailed their misfortune and as though they had beene lame they stood still sought not to flie From vvhence one may chiefely perceiue Gods iustice towards the impious and the Romans fortune for the tyrants depriued themselues of their strong holds and voluntarily departed out of their towers vvherein they could neuer haue beene taken but
to the end that all people might haue a better view of them But the spectacles there exhibited both for number varietie and costlinesse cannot be described sufficiently being excellent in all things which any man could deuise both workmanship riches and varieties and nouelties of nature For almost all things that euer were in any place amongst men that liued in felicitie either rich or beautifull and pleasant to behold all of them were that day shewed and seene in that triumph giuing a testimonie of the large dominions of the Romans For there was such store of works of gold siluer and yuorie that one would not haue deemed them to haue beene made onely for the pompe of that day but to beene so plentifull as if they had flowed all about the citie some caried fine tapestrie made of all sorts of purple othersome caried others diligently wrought with pictures and Babylonian worke and there were so many gemmes and precious stones some set in crownes of gold some in other works that it appeared that without reason we iudged them to be rare and scarce Moreouer the pictures of their Gods were caried with them which were admirable both for greatnesse and workmanship and all of pretious matter And diuers sorts of liuing creatures were there to be seene all adorned with some attire agreeing and alluding vnto their nature There was also an infinite multitude of men in purple garmentes ouer wrought with gold which carried all these things and they who were separated from the rest to bee seene were attired in such garments that as many as beheld them admired The captiues went not without their gorgeous attires but the varietie and beautie of the garments hid all the deformitie of their bodies which happened through their bad vsage The Pageants that were borne in that triumph were of an admirable bignesse so that the people that beheld them wondred how it was possible that men should carie them for many were builded with three or foure lofts one aboue another surpassing all that can be imagined of them for worke and cost for many of them were hanged about with Tapestrie of gold and all things annexed vnto them whereon they were carried were made of wrought gold or Iuorie Therein was curiously represented the maner of warre and stratagemes and maners of fighting that could bee deuised some in one part of the Pageant some in another There might one haue beheld a most fertile and fortunate land destroyed and all the armie of enemies to be slaine and some flying others taken prisoners and strong and huge wals battered downe with Rammes and Castles and strong holds destroyed and the wals of populous Cities to be ruined and the armie entring the wals all places filled with massacred men and how those that were not able to fight yeelding themselues asked mercie the temples set on fire and after al else was wasted the houses throwne down vpon the owners heads and a riuer representing sorrow not flowing as it was wont into tilled places and to serue the vse of man nor for cattell to drinke but into a Countrie which was in euerie part burning and enuironed with flames all which the Iewes in their warres endured These things were so artificially represented vnto their viewes that had not seene them as though they were now a doing Before euerie Pageant went the Captaine of the Citie representing the maner how it was taken After all these followed many ships and in euerie place were caried the spoyles taken in warre amongst all which those that were taken in the Temple of Ierusalem were most excellent for there was a golden table weighing many talents and likewise a golden Candlesticke the vse whereof was now not such as we were wont to put it vnto for in the middest of the stem thereof was fixed a base and out of it proceeded many smal branches framed like a three forked speare euerie one being at the top made like a Lampe which were seuen in number shewing the honour of the seuenth day which is called the Sabaoth amongst the Iewes After all this was carried the Iewes law which was the last of all the spoyles Then followed many carrying the image of victorie all made of gold and Iuorie Afterwards came Vespasian and after him Titus and with him Domitian gallantly adorned and mounted vpon an excellent horse and so they went al to the Temple of Iupiter Capitolinus and there was the end of all this pompe where they made some abode For it was an auncient custome of their Countrie to repose themselues there till some came and brought newes vnto them of the death of him who was Generall of their enemies This as then was Simon Giora who was also carried in the triumph and hauing a rope fastned about his necke was drawne all along the market place where they that drew him did kill him For it is the custome of the Romanes there to put malefactors to death that are condemned After word was brought that he was dead all the people made ioyfull exclamations and so they began to sacrifice which done according to the custome they returned into the pallace and they feasted some other some had prepared banquets for themselues at their owne houses For this day was sacred amongst the Romanes in ioy of the victorie ouer their enemies and an end of ciuill calamitie and the beginning of good fortune and hope which they had in their new princes When the triumphs were ended and all the Romane Empire quieted Vespasian built a Temple and dedicated it vnto peace which hee did in so short a space as it was admirable and hauing bestowed great cost vpon it he also beautified it with diuers pictures and carued workes And hee placed in that Temple all things that men of former ages had come to see from the vttermost parts of the earth And he placed there all the golden vessels and other necessaries that the Iewes vsed in their Temple doing them great reuerence But their law and the Tapestrie or purple veiles of the Sanctuarie he commaunded to be kept in the pallace CHAP. XXV How Herodium and Machaerus were taken by Bassus Caesar sent Lucius Bassus into Iudaea to bee Lieutenant there who receiuing an armie of Cerealis Vetilianus hee tooke the Castle and garrison of Herodium being yeelded vnto him After this gathering together all his armie who were dispersed in diuers places of the Countrie he with the tenth legion purposed to warre against Machaerus for he thought it necessarie to destroy that Castle least that for the strength it might moue many to rebell for by reason of the situation of the place they that were in it had certaine hope of their safetie and those that sought to assault it were in great daunger for it was built vpon a rocke that was exceeding high which made it almost inexpugnable and nature had so deuised that it is hard to come vnto it who hath
enuironed it round about with vallies so deepe that the bottome thereof cannot bee descried neither could one passe ouer them nor fill them vp for that which is on the West part is threescore stounds large and endeth at the lake Asphaltites and on this side Macherus hath a verie high prospect and it is inuironed on the North and South with vallies of the like measure that the former is whereby it is impossible to winne the Castle but that vallie which is on the East side is at least a hundred cubits deepe and it endeth vpon a mountaine neer vnto Machaerus King Alexander seeing the nature of the place did there build a Castle which afterward Gabinius in the warre against Aristobulus destroyed But Herode when he was King iudged this place worthie to be fortified as a principall defence against the neighboring Arabians For it was aptly situate vpon a mountaine where one might behold their borders wherefore making a large wall he builded a Citie there in the place that men doe enter vnto the Castle he also compassed the verie top thereof with another wall and in the corners he placed towers that were threescore cubites high and in the verie middest of all he built a pallace for largenesse and beautie admirable and made many Cesterns to receiue water in conuenient places which serued the people aboundantly as it were striuing with nature that the places which he had made inexpugnable he by Art might make places more strong then that was He also laid vp there in store arrowes and engines and made all prouision wherewith the Inhabitants might bee able to hold out a great siege In the Kings pallace there grew the herb called Rue which was verie admirable for the greatnesse for there was no figge tree taller or broader then it and it was reported that it had continued euer since Herods time and had endured longer had not the Iewes Inhabitants of the place cut it downe In the vallie that lieth on the North side of the Citie there is a place called Baaras where also groweth a roote of the same name the colour whereof resembleth the flame and it shineth at night like the Sunne beames and is not easie to bee pulled vp till that one cast vpon it the vrine of a woman or her flowers which done whosoeuer toucheth it is sure to die except he carrie the roote hanging on his hand It is also gathered another way without daunger after this manner They digge all round about it so that they leaue a verie little of the roote couered with earth and then they tie a dog vnto it which striuing to follow his master who maketh as though he would goe away he easily pulleth vp the roote and the dogge presently dieth as it were in his stead that seeketh to get it so that afterward none that handleth it or taketh it neede to stand in any feare therof This herb notwithstanding al this danger is diligently sought out for the vertue it hath Fo◅ it driueth away diuels which are the spirits of wicked men out of mens bodies if it be but applied vnto them whereas otherwise if they had no helpe these diuels possessing their bodies would kill them Out of that place also doe spring certaine hot waters verie different in taste one from another for some are bitter some sweete there are also sources of could waters one neere vnto another in a plaine but which is most admirable there is a caue hard by not very deepe enuironed with an eminent rocke aboue from the which their cōmeth as it were two dugges or paps hard by one another and out of the one of them their floweth verie cold water out of the other verie hot which mingled together make a pleasant bath and serue to cure many diseases and especially helpeth all paines of the sinnewes In the same place also are mines of Sulphure and Alume Bassus hauing viewed this place on euerie side resolued to besiege it and endeuoured to fill vp the valley that was on the East side and so make away vnto it which he began to doe hastening to raise a verie high mount and so make it easie to be taken Those that were inhabitants constrained Iewes that were strangers to go into the lower citie iudging them an vnprofitable multitude and so caused them to endure the first brunt of the enemies and they themselues kept the Castle both for that it was strong and also to preserue themselues hoping that by yeelding the place vnto the Romans they might obtaine pardon of them yet first they purposed to make triall if they could auoide the siege and therefore verie couragiously euerie day they made excursions and fought with them they found and many were slaine on both parts Fortune and opportunitie sometime caused one to be victors sometime another for the Iewes got the best when they could assault the Romans at vnawares and the Romans ouercame when they were aware of the Iewes comming and armed themselues But the siege was not ended by these skirmishes yet a chance befell that forced the Iewes to yeelde their Castle Amongst them that were besieged was one Eleazar a young man and verie hardy and bold in any enterprise who oftentimes made excursions and sought to hinder the Romans worke who alwaies in euerie fight did greatly endomage the Romanes and by his valour and aduenturous courage he gaue them that were his fellowes opportunitie to assault the Romans and to flie againe and retire in safetie himselfe being alwaies the last that so retired It happened one day that the fight being ended and both parts parted he as it were contemning all men and thinking that none of his enemies durst vndertake to combate with him staied without the gate speaking to them that were vpon the wall giuing great attention vnto them Then one Rufus an Aegyptian one of the Roman army espying this opportunitie ranne vpon him so suddenly that he at vnawares tooke him all armed as he was and they vpon the wals stood amazed whilest Rufus led him vnto the Romans campe Then the General of the Romans caused him to be led into a place where they in the citie might see him there to haue all his cloathes taken off him and whipped and the misfortune of this young man did greatly discourage the Iewes and all the citie was resolued into teares for the calamitie of that one man Bassus seeing this he deuised this councell against them for he sought to mooue them so to compassion that for to saue him they should yeeld their castle which fell out as he desired For he presently commanded a crosse to be erected as though he would presently haue crucified Eleazar which sight greatly mooued them in the Castle to sorrow so that now with lowd cries they lamented saying that this calamitie was insupportable Then Eleazar besought them not to despise him who was now to die a most miserable death and
moreouer to prouide for their owne safetie in yeelding the castle vnto the Romans vertue and fortunate successe Then they mooued with his words and many also within the Citie intreating for him for he came of a great parentage and had many kinsfolks though contrarie to their natures compassion tooke place in them and so sending some of their companie speedily they desired to parley affirming that they would yeeld their castle vpon condition that they might safely depart away and Eleazar might be likewise restored vnto them Which offer of theirs the Romans accepted and the Iewes in the lower part of the Citie hauing intelligence of this couenant resolued themselues to flie away in the night but so soone as they had opened their gates those that had agreed with Bassus gaue him intelligence thereof either enuying that their countrimen should escape or els fearing that Bassus would punish them for their flight yet for all this the most valiant of them that sled escaped who were gone before the rest and the rest were slaine to the number of a thousand and seuen hundreth men for the women and children were made bondslaues And Bassus thinking it meete to keepe his promise vnto them of the castle permitted them safely to depart and restored Eleazar vnto them CHAP. XXVI Of the Iewes that Bassus slew and how he sold Iudaea THis done he prepared to carrie his army into the pasture called Iardes for he had notice that many Iewes were there assembled togither who had escaped from Ierusalem and Machaera during the siege So comming vnto the place and finding it to be as it was reported vnto him he first of all enuironed it with horsemen that if any one of the Iewes sought to escape the horsemen might withstand them and he commanded the footmen to cut downe the wood into the which they fled to hide themselues And so through necessitie they were constrained to fight hoping by a couragious fight to find opportunitie to flie wherefore they altogither with a crie violently assaulted them by whom they were inuironed and they did valiantly withstand them and by their valour and the Iewes desperation the fight endured a long time yet the euent of the warre was not like vnto the rest of the fight for onely twelue Romans were slaine and verie few wounded and all the Iewes were slaine in that fight being in number three thousand and their captaine Iudas the sonne of Iairus of whom we haue already made mention who during the siege of Ierusalem was commaunder of a companie there hid himselfe in a certaine caue and secretly escaped from thence At that time Caesar writ vnto Liberius Maximus his Gouernour and vnto Bassus to sell Iudaea for he did not build in all the countrey any Citie but appropriated it vnto himselfe leauing there onely eight hundreth souldiers and giuing them a place to dwell in called Emaus thirtie stounds distant from Ierusalem and he imposed a tribute vpon all Iewes vvheresoeuer they liued commanding euerie one of them euerie yeere to bring two drachmes into the Capitole according as in former times they weere woont to pay vnto the temple of Ierusalem and this was the estate of the Iewes at that time CHAP. XXVII Of the death of King Antiochus and how the Alanes inuaded Armenia IN the fourth yeere of Vespasians raigne it happened that Antiochus king of the Comagenes with all his family fell into great miserie vpon this occasion Cesennius Petus gouernour of Syria either for enuie or for that indeed it was so for it is not wel knowne sent letters vnto Caesar declaring vnto him that Antiochus was determined to reuolte from the Romans togither with his sonne Epiphanes and had made a league with the king of the Parthians and that therefore it was necessarie to preuent them in time least that if they first began to reuolt openly they might trouble all the Roman Empire with warres Caesar did not neglect these newes for that the neerenesse of both the kings countries one to another seemed to require that they should be quickly preuented for Samosata the greatest Citie of Comagena is scituate vpon Euphrates which might both easily receiue the Parthians and be a strong hold for them and also there they might easily passe ouer the riuer Wherfore Vespasian beleeuing it permitted him to doe what he thought expedient and he forthwith Antiochus thinking nothing suddenly entred into Comagene with the sixt legion and certaine other companies of footmen and troupes of horsemen accompanied with Aristobulus king of Chalcidis and Sohemus king of Emesa who came to assist him So they entred the countrey without any fight for none of the inhabitants offered to resist Antiochus daunted with these vnexpected newes did not so much as thinke of any warre against the Romans wherefore he determined to leaue the whole kingdome in that estate that then it was in and with his wife and children depart from thence hoping hereby to cleare himselfe vnto the Romans from that which they suspected of him and going almost a hundreth and thirtie stounds from the Citie into a field there he placed a tabernacle And Petus sent men vnto Samosata to take it and left them to keepe the Citie and he with the rest of the souldiers purposed to go against Antiochus But for all this the king though by necessitie vrged thereunto yet would he not fight against the Romans but bewailing his misfortune enduted patiently all whatsoeuer but his sonnes being Iustie strong young men and skilfull in martiall affaires could not easily abstaine from fight in that their distresse Wherefore Epiphanes and Callinicus his two sonnes had recourse vnto their forces and in a great fight that dured a whole day they shewed their valour and departed receiuing no losse But Antiochus after this fight would not any longer abide in his countrey but taking his wife and daughters he fled into Cilicia and thereby discouraged his souldiers who despairing to keepe the kingdome for him reuolted vnto the Romans But Epiphanes and the rest were forced to seeke to saue themselues before such time as they were left destitute and so accompanied with ten horsmen he passed the riuer Euphrates and thus being out of daunger they came to Vologesus of whom they were receiued not as fugitiues but with great honor and according to their degree as though they yet possessed their auncient dignitie And Petus comming to Tarsus of Cilicia he sent a Centurion to carrie Antiochus bound vnto Rome But Vespasian permitted not a king to be so brought vnto him thinking it meete to consider the olde friendship betweene them then to perseuer in danger and not to be pacified by reason of vvarre Wherefore he commaunded that in the way as he came he should be vnbound and a while to liue at Lacedemon and leaue his iourney towards Rome allowing great store of mony sufficient to maintaine a kingly dignitie Epiphanes and they
pursued them they fled into the safest tower of a towne called Bezedel Antonius knowing it to be in vaine to stay about the tower that was inuincible yet loth to let the Generall of their aduersaries to escape set fire on the walles and so departing triumphed thinking that Niger had beene burned But he lept into a deepe vault in the Castle and so escaped and three daies after he shewed himselfe vnto his souldiers who sought for him weeping that they might burie his body for they thought him dead whō against all expectation seeing aliue they were verie glad as though by Gods prouidence he escaped to be still their leader Vespasian came to Antiochia which is the mother Citie of all Syria and brought his army with him which for greatnesse and happy successe doubtlesse was the third in the whole world and finding that king Agrippa did expect his comming he hasted with all his forces from thence to Ptolemais At this place there came vnto him the Citizens of Sephoris a Citie of Galilee who had no thought at all of rebellion these both prouident for their owne safetie and well knowing the forces of the Romans before Vespasian came submitted themselues vnto Cestius Gallus and receiued from him a garrison of souldiers and now also curteously entertaining Vespasian offered their help against their countrimen To whom Vespasian at their request gaue a guard of horse and foote so great as he thought was able to resist the force of their enemies if the lewes should attempt any thing against them For he thought it would be a great help vnto him in his warre to come to haue Sephoris the greatest Citie of Galilee scituate in a strong place on his side which otherwise might be a safegard to the whole nation CHAP. II. The description of Galilaea Samaria and Iudaea THere are two places named Galilaea the one is called high Galilaea and the other lowe Galilee and they are both compassed with Phoenicia and Syria On the west Ptolemais with the limits of his territorie doth part their borders and the mount Carmel which in time past belonged vnto Galilee but now vnto the Tyrians Vnto which adioineth Gabaa which signifieth the horsemens Citie so called for because king Herods horsmen were sent thither to inhabite On the South part it ioyneth to the Samaritanes and Scythopolitanes vnto Iordan On the East part it bordereth vpon Hippene and Gadaris and Gaulanitis which are the borders of king Agrippa his countrey On the North it bordereth vpon Tyria The length of lower Galilee reacheth from Tiberias vnto Zabulon neere which is Ptolemais by the sea coast In breadth it reacheth from the Village Xaloth scituated in a great field vnto Bersabe where also beginneth the breadth of high Galilee and reacheth vnto the village called Baca bordering vpon the Tyrians and the length thereof is from a village neere Iordan named Thella vnto Meroth And being of such bignesse and enuironed with so many nations yet did they alwaies resist forraine forces For the Galileans are from their childhood warlike and neuer are daunted by feare or penurie for their countrey is most fruitfull set with all manner of trees and verie fertill notwithstanding the inhabitants take small paines in tilling the ground All parts thereof are tilled by the inhabitants and there is no waste part There are many Cities and in euerie place there are villages populous and rich so that the least village there hath in it aboue fifteene thousand inhabitants And although Galilee be lesse in compasse then the region beyond the riuer yet it is more populous fertiler and richer then the same for it is all tilled and al beareth fruit But that beyond the water though it be bigger yet is it not all inhabited for there are many desert and barren places and onely beareth wilde fruits Peraea hath a good soile large fields beset with diuers trees especially oliues vines and palme trees and it is abundantly watered with brooks running from the mountaines and springs that continually come downe when in the dog daies they are almost drie The length of this place is from Macherunt to Pella the breadth from Philadelphia to Iordan This towne Pella before mentioned lieth on the North part and Iordan on the West and the countrey of the Moabites bordereth on the South and on the East Arabia Silbonitis Philadelphia and Gerasis Samaria is seated betweene Iudaea and Galilee beginning at a towne scituate in a place called Ginaea endeth in the Toparchy of Acrabatena nothing differing in nature from Iudaea For both of them are full of mountaines and fields and good for tillage full of trees abounding both with wild apples and others for they are of their nature drie but haue raine inough and haue passing sweet waters and aboundance of good grasse and great store of milch beasts and which is a great argument of wealth both places are verie populous The confines of these countries is Anauth a village otherwise called Borceos which lieth on the North part of Iudaea The South part of Iudaea if you measure the length is extended vnto the village of the Arabians called Iardan the breadth reacheth from Iordan vnto Ioppe in the midst thereof is scituate Ierusalem so that some call that citie the nauell of that countrey Iudaea also bordereth on the sea coast euen vnto Ptolemais It is deuided into eleuen portions the first is Ierusalem head chiefe of al being aboue all the rest as the head is aboue the bodie and the rest are Toparchies Gophna is the second after that Acrabatena then Thamna afterward Lydda also Ammaus and Pella and Idumaea and Engadda and Herodium and Iericho besides these Iamnia and Ioppe commaund the places adioyning Moreouer there is Gamala Gaulanitis Batanea Trachonitis which are portions belonging to King Agrippa his kingdome This countrey beginneth at mount Libanus and the fountaines of Iordan and reacheth in breadth vnto the lake neere Tiberias And in length it reacheth from Iulias to Arphas and the inhabitants are partly Iewes and partly Syrians CHAP. III. How aide was sent vnto the people of Sephoris and of the militarie discipline of the Romans I Haue alreadie spoken of Iudaea as briefely as might be and with what countries it is enuironed Now Vespasian sent helpe vnto the inhabitants of Sephoris to wit one thousand horsemen and sixe thousand foote Placidus the tribune being their gouernour the horsmen deuided themselues into two companies and lodged in a great plaine and the footmen were in garrison in the citie for to defend it but the horsemen staied without These horsemen made excursions on euerie side and greatly molested Ioseph who was quietly bent and also spoiled all that was without the cities alwaies repulsed the inhabitants if at any time they tooke courage to reuenge themselues Notwithstanding Ioseph assaulted the citie Sephoris hoping to take it which he before such time as it
reuolted vnto the Romans had compassed with so strong wals that the Romans themselues could not haue taken it so his hope was frustrate for neither by force nor faire meanes would the Sephorites yeeld vnto him Hereat the Romans being angry troubled the country more then before who now neither night nor day ceased frō destroying it but robbed spoiled all they found and all men able to beare armes they slew and made the rest their slaues Thus all Galilee was filled with fire and sword and no man escaped that calamitie onely they saued themselues that fled into the Cities that Ioseph had walled Titus came to Alexandria being winter sooner then he was expected and so receiued there the souldiers that he sent for and hauing a prosperous iourney he quickly came to Ptolemais and finding his father there with two of the chiefest legions to wit the fifth and tenth he also adioyned that fifteenth legion that he brought with him And there followed them eighteene companies fiue out of Caesarea one troupe of horsemen and fiue companies of horsemen out of Syria tenne of these companies of foote had in euery one of them a thousand men the rest only sixe hundreth thirteene and in euerie troupe of horsemen were a hundreth twentie The kings also brought great ayde for Antiochus Agrippa Sohemus brought each of them 2000. bowmen and a thousand horsemen and Malchus king of Arabia brought 5000. foot and 1000. horse and the most of his footmen were archers so that the whole army togither with the kings aide amounted vnto the number of threescore thousand horse and foot togither besides them that followed the campe who were a great multitude and not inferiour vnto the souldiers in warlike discipline so that one may admire the Romans who so traine vp their seruants in time of peace that they are verie fit for warres So that whosoeuer well beholdeth their militarie discipline he shal perceiue that they gained not this their goodly Empire by chance and fortune but by vertue for they do not onely then begin to vse weapons when they come to fight but they practise militarie discipline before they need and they are not idle in time of peace but alwaies practise themselues therein without ceasing Their exercises are like warre it selfe and euery souldier is euerie day exercised in euery sort of weapons euen as though they were fighting against the enemie so that hereby they easily indure the burthen and trauaile of warres For their disorder doth not make them forget what to do neither doth feare dismay them nor continuance of fight and warre wearie and tire them So that whosoeuer they fight against who are not so well prouided in these affaires as they are they alwaies ouercome them And one may well call their practises amongst themselues conflicts without bloudshed and their wars indeed conflicts with bloudshed They are not easily ouercome at vnawares for in what enemie-countrey soeuer they come they fight not before they haue fortified their campe about which they do not rashly neither do they pitch their tents in marish or high places after a disordered maner for if the place be vnequall they make it plaine And they proportion their campe foure square for they haue many smiths and all kind of workemen needfull which do still follow the armie to accomplish such busines And in the innermost part of the campe they make tabemacles whose outside resembleth a wall with towers equally distant one from another and betweene them engines of warre to cast stones and such like that all kind of shot may be in readines They also build foure gates large and wide both for their cattell easily to come in at and also for themselues if need require to enter in or issue out speedily Within the campe there are streets deuided into certaine spaces in the midst their rulers and amongst them all the generals tent like a temple so that it seemeth a citie and a market full of shops made in an instant There are also seats builded for the gouernours to iudge of controuersies if any arise betweene the souldiers and others All this place and all things belonging thereto are made in an instant partly by reason of the multitude partly by the industrie of them that worke and if need require they compasse it with a trench foure cubits deepe and as many broad Thus the souldiers enclosed with armes do liue quietly in their tents without disorder and all things are done with good aduice and order whether they need vvater or corne or vvood for they must all go to dinner at the time appointed and all sleepe at once and a trumpet giueth notice vvhen to watch and guard and nothing is done that is not commaunded In the morning all the souldiers come vnto their captaines to salute them and the captaines to the tribunes and they all to the generall and he giueth them a watch word and telleth them what he thinketh good and how they shall behaue themselues towards those that are vnder them whereby in fight they may demeane themselues and well know when to assault and when to retire When they go forth of the campe a trumpet soundeth and no man is idle but at the first becke taketh away his tabernacle makes all readie for their departure Then the trumpet soundeth again warning them to be readie and hauing laden their beasts with their baggage they expect the sound againe as though they were to run a race and at their departure they burne their campe because it is easie to build the like againe and also least afterwards it may aduantage their enemies When the trumpet hath sounded the third time which is a signe to set forward then they hasten those that are slow least they forsake their order And a crier standeth on the right hand of the general asking thrice if they be prepared to fight and they as often answere that they are holding vp their right hands with loftie courage and so they march on easily euerie man keeping his ranke as though they were readie to giue battell The footmen haue a head peece a breast plate and a sword on the left side and on the right side a dagger The footmen that guard the generall haue lauelin and a shield the rest are armed euery one with bucklers and pikes Moreouer they carry a saw a basket a fardle a hatchet also a cord a syeth and a chaine and victuals for three daies so that the footmen are as much loden as their cattell The horsmen carrie at their right side a long sword in the left hand adart and a long shield hanging against the horse side and a quiuer with three darts with broad edges which are as bigge as a speare they haue also helmets and breastplates like the footmen And the generals horsemen that guard his bodie doe nothing differ from the rest That companie alwaies leadeth that the lot falleth vnto And these are