fyt for the warre Then the Romaines flonge with thengines stones into the towne on euery side from the mount munition It chaunced that a greate stone hit a woman with childe wyth such a violence that it passed through her body and caried the childe with it for the space of halfe a mile They cast vp and raised yet other munites also from whence they slinged stones and another like chauÌ„ce happened A stone came and hit one of Iosephes men of warre a valeant man in suche a sort that it deuided his head from his body and made it flie a large mile of AT the same time one of the Romain souldiours diuised with him selfe howe to strike Ioseph with a venomed arrow and gate him vnder the walle where Ioseph was to accomplishe his purpose But Ioseph espied him and cried vnto him hold thy haÌ„d thou wicked felowe and do not kil me With that the felow start somwhat aside being afraid at Iosephs voice and sodeÌ„ly the Iewes oute of the towne poured hote oyle vpon him from the wal that his skin was skalded of and he ran away naked howlinge and yellinge to the Romaines campe where he dyed Vaspasian and his Sonne Titus were fullye determined to continue the assaulte vntill the .xlviii. daye notwithstandynge the walles were so hie that they could not winne the towne Yet at leÌ„gth the men being so spent within the towne and they that remained a liue so weried with toyling that they were not able anye longer to furnishe their watch vpon the walles vpon a certaine nighte Vaspasian and Titus skaled the walles at a quarter wherâ— watchmen were lacking and after theÌ„ many other of the Romain souldiours folowed which went downe on the in side and brake open the greate gate of the towne wherat entred the hole army of the Romaines And being within the towne sounded their trompets and shouted vnto battall The Iewes with the alarme tumulte and hurlye burly of the Romaines awaked out of their slepe and were sore afraied Notwithstanding euerye man toke him to his weapon and into the market place as fast as they might They had made the market place of the towne so large of purpose that if anye busines should happen there might come together the hole city if they would So lokinge about them they saw the Romaine army entring into the town by the way that came from the greate gate Then fought thei with the Romains died eueÌ„ in the market place where they stode exhorting one an other and saiyng let vs die here fightinge and neuer suffer ourâ—solues to be taken aliue But Ioseph and fortye men with him worthye menne al fled out of the towne in to a woode where they founde a certaine caue and hid them selues therin All the reste of the citizens were slaine in that conflicte for they woulde not yelde nor commit them selues vnto the Romaines they trusted them so little For on a tyme a certayne Iewe besoughte a Romaine souldioure to saue his life and the Romaine sware vnto him sayinge God deale thus and thus with me if I slâ—a thee therefore yelde and come hither to me The Iewe required him to geue him his righthand that he might truste him and the Romain retch him his left haÌ„d The Iew beinge dismaied in that greate feare markte not that it was his left hande But when the Romain had once hold of him he kept him fast with that haÌ„d and with his right toke his sword and slue the Iewe that then was naked hauing cast awaye his weapon vpon trust of the Romaine When the Iewes sawe howe the Romaine regarded not his othe but slue the Iewe that vpon truste of his promisse and the othe had yealded him selfe vnto him they determined to dye all together and neuer to truste the Romaines Whereuppon they resolued with them selues vtterlye to die for the holinesse of the Lorde God of Israell But in so doinge they fie we muche people of the Romainesâ— and farre moe then they had done in anye other battaile So at the lengthe the Citye was taken When Vaspasian hadde knowledge where Ioseph was become and of his company he sent Nicanor Pilerimus and Gallicanus with him to Ioseph to wil him to come forth and he should haue his life and not be slaine Then Ioseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den asking them what say ye to this For my part ye wil folow my counsell I thinke best we go oute vnto them but vpon this conditioÌ„ that they wil make vs a formal assuraunce effectuallye as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vaspasian when we come vnto him will be appeased towardes vs. When those men perceiued Ioseph to be enclined to yeld vnto the Romaines they saide vnto him We maruaile at the Prince Ioseph thou that waste chosen oute of thousandes of people and promoted vnto the priesthode and kingedome to sanctifye and halow the LORDE God of Israell waste also appointed graund captaine of so huge an hoste haste seene with thine eyes the shameful reproche of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy sheepe that thou hast yet any desire to liue in this dishonoure What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to liue for shouldest thou not rather desire deathe then life PeradueÌ„ture thou perswadest thy self they cal thee to saue thy life or for thy commodity but without dout this were a vain perswasion For they cal thee for none other in tent then to take thee aliue to bragge how they haue ken Ioseph that was consecrated and addict to the warres and make that an argument their power prospereth and is exalted Now therfore our dear brother and oure prince consider that this thei wil do yea if thei saue thi life But put the case they put thee to death wer it not better for the to die of thine sword then of theirs Yea if it were for nothing but for this it is better forthe to die then to liue leaste thou shouldest heare their reproches their vpbraidinges and their quarrellinges And if they preserue the aliue neuer thinck they do iâ— for thy good but rather for thine ignominy shame whiche is far greuouser then death it self Wherfore our dear brother and our prince what cometh in thy minde that thou purposest to liue after that thou hast loste thy people and thy brethren and to what purpose serueth thi life after thei be gone Marke and consider diligentlye what Moyses of worthy memory oure master did howe he spake before God touchinge the people of Israell O pardone their sinnes saithe he or elsse blot me quite out of thy boke that thou hast written howe he would not liue after the destruction of his people although the almighty said vnto him let me alone that I may wreake mine anger vnon them and consume them Where is nowe Aaron with thee his brother that wente betwixte life and deathe in withstanding the angel that plaged the
knowledge therof cōmaunded a fast through out all Israel for three daies after toke muster of all his armie and made ouer them captains of thousands hundreds fifties and tennes These saide to their souldiours VVho so euer is aferde c. Wherupon many of the people returned home yet there remayned .vii. M. and fiue hundred of suche courage all that one would not haue runne awaye from an hundreth Lisias deuided his hoste into three partes committing thē vnto three capitaines Nicanor Bagris and Ptolomee But after the Israelites had once geuen a great shoute the lord beat downe the Grekes so that the Israelites destroyed nine thousand horsmen of them spoyled the whole host and they that remayned alyue tooke them selues to flight The next daye Kynge Iudas kepte his Sabboth together wyth all Israell in the campe for the battayle was vppon the sixte daye The morowe after the Israelites returned to the spoyle of those that were kylled and after to pursue other that were not able to resist but they founde none for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaiim Durynge the tyme of this warres Antiochus inuaded the land of Persia for they hadde moued warre agaynste hym and done hym iniurye Wherfore he fought against them but hauynge the ouerthrowe at their handes he retourned to Antiochia wyth great shame where also he founde hys armyes wyth an other dishonoure and foyle Wherewyth he was in suche a rage that he gathered together all the valiauntest and beste Warriours in al Grecia yea all that were able to beare weapon swearinge he woulde bringe with him suche an armye that all the grounde about Hierusalem should not suffice theim to stande vppon that hee woulde haue wyth him euen for hys sotemen onelye And so he set forwarde his horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all maner of furnitures for the warres as Bowes shieldes Targets swordes and speares brestplates and mourens besides a huge noumber of Elephantes and suche that a dosen valiant men might fight vpon one Elephant the Elephants being to them as a Fortresse But kinge Iudas toke heart to him put his truste in his God and ioyned battaile with him At length when he with the power of Israel approched to the Elephants they slew theim downe right so that the Elephantes roared the Horses and all the beastes that caried the baggage and furnitures were verie soore afrayed Kinge Antiochus also beinge mounted vppon his mare and not able to sit her in her flight was throwen downe His seruauntes therfore findyng him toke him vp and bare him a while vpō their shoulders and being a corpulent and a grose man they were not able to carye him further but cast him downe in the waie The Lorde had plaged him also and his whole hoste before with a drye scabbe or rottē mattier and with other most horrible diseases which as he saw he confessed it to be the hande of God Wherfore he made a vowe that if he escaped be woulde circumcise him selfe with all his souldiours and would conuert them to the worshippynge of the God of Israel but God heard him not He fledde therfore a fote as well as he might and died bi the way through his greuous and soore diseases and Opiter his sonne raigned in his stede Kynge Iudas with all Israell retourned wyth great ioye to the house of the Lord offered sacrifices and as they had layed wodde vpon the alter and the sacrifice vpon that they called vnto the Lorde louingly to accept their sacrifice and in the meane space fire came forthe of the aulter by the owne accorde consumed the sacrifice and the wodde the lyke neuer chaunced vnto them to this day This miracle was wrought the .xxv. daie of the moneth Elul August The Kynge made an expedicion also into Arabia to warre vpon the people thereof made of them a great slaughter brought thē into subiection and made theim tributaries In his returne he set vppon a great citie of the Grekes wanne it and raced it After that he made a roade into Grece ten dayes iourney where as came against him with a huge armye the chiefe man in king Opiters realme next his persone but Iudas discomfited him and all his people From thence he went to the citye Sipolis that was vnder the Romains where as came foorthe to meete hym Godolias with a royal present informing him that they had euer borne the Israelits good will were their neighbours shewed them pleasures The Kinge examined the matter and founde their wordes true so receiuinge their presentes departed thence After this Gorgorius a captain of the Romaines moued warre wyth Iudas but Iudas stroke a battaile wyth him and destroied his whole armye so that none escaped Opiter sonne of Antiochus hearinge what Actes Iudas did in all countreys rounde aboute he mustred all his people leuied a puissante armie wherwith he came and besieged Bethar Then cried Iudas and all Israel vnto their God with fastynge and sacrifices The night after Iudas deuided his men into certaine bandes cōmaundynge theim to geue the Grecians a Camisado and to enter their Campe whiles it was darke whiche they did and slewe verie manie of the best of the Grecians about a foure thousand preparinge neuerthelesse for the fielde againste the morowe where as also the Israelites did beat downe many of the Greekes In that battaile was slaine Eleasar sonne of Mattathias the kinges brother For when he espied one wyth a golden sworde vpon an Elephant he thought him to be kinge Opiter who had .xx. Elephants in his armie Therfore he toke hart to him and beat doun the souldiours of the Grekes on bothe sides him were they neuer so stronge till he came to that Elephant And because the Elephant was so hye that he coulde not reache them that sate vpon him he shoued his sworde into the bealy of the beast to ouerthrowe the king wherat the Elephant shronke together and fel vpon Eleasar that he died there For whose sake al Israel mourned and made great lamentation But Opiter hearinge this straite waye made suite to king Iudas for peace and a league to be made betwene them whiche after Iudas had consented vnto he returned home into Grece againe and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slewe him After him succeded Demetrius his enemie who was the cause of his death Ther were at the time certain euil disposed persōs of the Iewes the serued the king of the Grecians in his warres namelye one Alkimus who went to the king of the Grekes at that tyme liynge at Antiochia and stirred him to moue warre vpon Israell and king Iudas Whereupon Demetrius sent against him a capitaine called Nicanor with a stronge armye He nowe comminge to Hierusalem let Iudas vnderstande that he bare him good will and was desierous to make peace and enter into a league with him Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sonnes of Chasmonanye Nicanor met him in the waie imbrased
him and kissed him after that ledde him to his pauilion and set hym vpon his seate◠of honour Kinge Iudas also after he returned from the campe made vnto Nicanor a greate feaste callyng him and his noble men with him into Hierusalem where they eate and dranke at the kinges table Kynge Iudas was yet vnmaried wherfore Nicanor moued him to take a wife that hee might haue issue and not lose his succession whose counsaile Iudas alowed This done the lewde pickethanke Alkimus declared to kynge Demetrius the league that Nicanor hadde made wyth king Iudas Whereat Demetrius being wrothe writ vnto Nicanor that he had intelligence of his traiterous practises Nicanor was in Hierusalem when this letter was deliuered him When Iudas hearde of the contentes of the letter he fled out of Hierusalem into Samaria where he sounded a trumpet gathered Israel together Nicanor vpō these letters entred into the house of the lord to seeke Iudas but he founde him not Then he examined the Priestes who sware they knewe not where he was become After he had now sought him in euerye corner throughout Hierusalem and could not finde him in a fume he sware he woulde beate downe the temple And gathering together ai his hoste he made spede againste Iudas When he hearde of Nicanors cōming he issued out of Samaria to mete him and after they hadde stroke the battail Iudas slewe of the Grekes to the number of .xviii. thousande horsemen toke Nicanor aliue and was minded to kyll him But Nicanor besought him of pardon alledgynge that the kinge knewe well inough that he beganne not this battaile with his good will but lest he shoulde traunsgresse the commaundement of the king his maister Wherefore saieth he I humblye beseche your maiestie not to kill mee and I sweare vnto you that I wyll neuer beare armour againste you nor anoye you in any wise Vpon this the kynge made a league with hym and dimissed him So he returned to the king his master with shame inough After this Demetrius dyed and Lisia his sonne raigned in his stede Yet the wicked men ceased not but moued againe Kinge Lisia to make a voyage in his owne Persone with a puissant armye againste Iudas but hauinge the ouerthrowe of kynge Iudas he fled vnto Asdotum till he had repaired againe his armye strongelye Then came he the seconde time vppon Iudas in whiche conflicte the Israelites were put to flight King Iudas notwithstandinge fled nother one waye nor other but called to his men exhorted them to returne and sticke by him yet they would not obeye him So he abid alone with his drawen sworde in hys hand vnto whom none of his enemies durst approche nie but with charettes and horsemen they enuironned hym and archers shot at him woūding him sore till he fell downe deade vppon the ground and they that were about him were taken alyue The tyme that he raigned ouer Israel was .vi. yere Manie of the Grekes captains were slaine also in that battaile and the king him selfe so wounded that he was faine to get him into his countreye to be cured of his woundes After he hadde recouered his health he returned again came to Hierusalem and to all the cities of Israell wyth the power of the Grekes wherwith he so afflicted them at that tyme for the space of foure monethes after the death of Iudas that the like tribulation was neuer sene in Israell In the meane season the Israelites resorted to Ionathas the sonne of Mattathias and made him king in Iudas stede and were sworne vnto hym This Ionathas foughte diuers greate battails against the Grekes hauynge the aide of one Sauinus of the kinred of kyng Alexander the first who had made a league with Ionathas toke his part againste Grecia wasted and spoyled it sore till at length the king of the Grecians slewe Ionathas by a traine His raigne ouer Israel dured .vi. yere Then was Schimeon his brother king in his stede Against him Antiochus the secōd kinge of the Grecians came to warre But Schimeon met him and laied first an ambushe to entrapte the Grekes then ordered his battayles in araye against Antiochus After that he wyth his whole hoste made a face fayninge as though they fledde and retired tyll thei perceiued Antiochus who pursued them to be within their daunger then the ambushe brake foorthe vppon the Grekes made a very great slaughter After this Schimeon returned to Ierusalē with great ioye Then sent Ptolome king of Egipt an imbassage to Scimeō king of Israel offering him his daughter in mariage To his request when king Schimeon had cōsented Ptolome came to Ierusalē where was made a great feast they were alied together Whereupō Antiochus king of the Greciās writ to Ptolome king of Egipt priuily to murder Schimeō king of Israel Whō Ptolomee durst not but obey for at that time the king of Egipt was in subiection to the Grekes Therefore when Schimeon came into Egipt to se his father in lawe Ptolomee he was receiued with greate feastinge but in the same he had poyson geuen him that he died thereof Besides this also his sonne which came with him Ptolome cast in prisō These things iustly chaūced vnto Schimeon for that he hadde traunsgressed the worde of the Lorde that forbade all aliance with the Gentiles The time that he raigned ouer Israel was .xviii. yeres Then Iohn his sonne raigned in his steede who was called Hircanus in the Greke tongue The same Ptolomee king of Egipt inuaded Israel with al the power that he coulde make But Iohn the sonne of Schimeon mette him and the Lorde ouerthrewe Ptolomee wyth his whole hoste that they were slaine of the Israelites and pursued to the citye Dagon about the whiche the Israelites made trenches and beseged it Nowe within the towne thei had the mother of kyng Hircanus whom Ptolomee caused to be sette vppon the Walles and to bee scourged with whippes in the sight of her sonne When Hircanus sawe the great affliction of his mother he wold haue raised his siege and departed frō Ptolomee But his mother called vnto him and said My deare sonne Iohn regarde not my tribulation for all chasteninges come from GOD. Procede manfully with thy siege againste thys citye for it is in great distresse and reuenge me thy father and brother murdered by Ptolomee The king folowed her aduise manfully raysed a mount from the which he battered the walles with engynes of yron like charrettes till it began to shake Wherfore many of the souldiours of the towne fledde and their companies began to scatter Ptolomee seinge this commaunded to afflict hys mother yet more and to encrease her scourgynges vntill the entrails of Hircanus was moued that he could abide no lenger to see his mother so cruelly handled but left the siege let Ptolomee escape who neuerthelesse killed his mother and fled into Egipt In the fourth yeare of kinge Hircanus raigne Pius king Grece came and besieged
said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thée therfore they would not awarde him to die Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to answer So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse The next day at the commaundement of the king proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil shuld suffer death This was Ihon the hie priest whiche had the priesthode xl yeares and in th end became a Saducie Notwithstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages The king him selfe and all his seruantes folowed the traditions of the Saducies making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to deathe as many as he coulde get knowledge of By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere and then he died After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus for he had .iii. sonnes Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence He went therfore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthode but set light by it wherfore he wold not execute the office therof but toke the kingdome vppon him and set the crowne vppon his heade and was called the great king Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother and wold not suffer them to dwell in Ierusalem But he loued his brother Antigonus and made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in hād and returned safe to Ierusalem Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king which at that time was greuously sicke and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God his goodnesse and mercye towardes him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the warres inquyred ▪ of thy health when it was told him thou wast sicke he saide I will go to him to day rid him out of the world When the kinge heard this he was wrothe towarde the sages commaunded his brother to be apprehēded and caried to the palaice of Starton there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed he cried mainly out and wepte smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande that he sowned and muche blud issued out of his mouth He reigned ouer Israel .ii. yere After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called king Ianai being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him and made king of Israel He was a mighty man and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies preuailing against thē He had warres with the Philistines namelye Azam and Ascalon whom he put to the worsse and ouercame them This man refused not the priesthode but was his priest It chaunced on a time when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare crying geue me my sword Then the Sages kneled down before him and sware they did it not of anye contempt but rather say thei that we thus sporting before the Lord would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again saiynge Althoughe ye play and reioyie yet it is not the maner of the country to vse any such dispitful custome with the king The cōtencion waxed hot amongste them til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit wherby her seede was steined The king was sore moued at that in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine Therefore wher so euer they founde them in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusalem they killed them forthwith Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatiō some fel vpon the sworde some fled awaye and some taried at home with dishonor and shame After these matters the king made an expedicion into Arabia entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes against Hartam kinge of Arabia and subdued his lande After that he warred vpon Medaba and the hole lande of Moab vanquishing them and bringing them vnder tribute and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem When he had after this wel bethought him of his doings it repēted him of his euil waies wherfore he altered his minde and began to make much of the Sages submitted him to their ordinaunce and estemed their tradicions There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called * These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before Phariseis of whom such as had escaped the kinge sente to call them home again and when they wer come into his presence he spake vnto them comfortable wordes saying My brethern ye shal vnderstand that that is once done and past must nedes be termed as it is and can not be reuoked And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed Notwithstanding I confesse my faulte vnto you and haue chaunged my indignation to loue praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes reioysyng in your reconciliation and atonement with me be of good cheare But they made him answere We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie for thou speakest but disceitfully we speake that is truthe Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and elders neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie but also Hircanus thy father who began such mischiefe thou hast holden on and cōtinued it Wherfore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge tyll thou dye and God take vengeaunce vpon thee for our sakes then shal wee reioice when we see vengeaunce So they departed from his presence neither did the kinge
euer geue them any answere But when thei perceiued the kinge to be incensed against them and by that meanes the matter mighte redounde to their owne harme after consultation had they went to the king of Grece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his soÌ„ne had done vnto the Phariseis and all the Israelites that bare them good will and folowed their traditions and how thei also hated Alexander for the mischiefe that hee hathe wrought them So that if any manne would come and reueng the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aide him Demetrius folowed their aduise and assembling together all his people to the number of .xl. thousand horsemeÌ„ and fotemen without number He toke his iourney and encamped against Sichem Then kinge Alexander waged .vi. thousand horsemen to aid him But the king of the Grecians writ priuilye to the auncientes of the Sectaries that they shold not aide Alexander To the mercinary souldiours also that Alexander had hired he sent rewardes golde and siluer that they returned home to their couÌ„trey aided not Alexander Wherupon he was not able to withstande Demetrius Therfore hearing that Demetrius was remoued froÌ„ Sichem toward IerusaleÌ„ entending to take him in the citie he fled by nighte with a fewe of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the menne of Israel that were in Iudea heard the king was fled out of Hierusalem and that the citye was in hasarde to come into the haÌ„des of the Grecians they gathered them selues together stode for their liues as thoughe all had bene one man to the number of .x. thousand and set vpoÌ„ Demetrius Campe killed all his beste men of warre and spoyled his whole host that he fled from them returned home into his couÌ„trey with shame dishonour This done the king toke hart vnto him returned to his kingdom but the Pharises fled to Betshemes streÌ„gthning theÌ„ selues against the king Who hauing intelligeÌ„ce therof gathered an army went against theÌ„ wan the city and toke viii.c of the chiefest Pharisies bound theÌ„ in chains brought them to IerusaleÌ„ Then baÌ„queted he al his seruants vpon the roufe of his palaice in a very hie place where the chiefe learned men eat dranke vntil he and thei were dronke And in his merye mode he commaunded those viii.c Pharisies prisoners to be brought forth to be haÌ„ged euery man of theÌ„ vppon gallowes before him at which sight he dronke laughed hartely After this he fel sick the xxiiii yere of his raigne of a greuous disease a quartan ague that held him thre yere yet for all this he shronke not nor letted to go to the war to encounter fight with his enemies what nation so euer they were of round about him as though he had ben a hole man In the xxvii yere of his raign which was the third of his sicknes he made an expeditioÌ„ into the land of Moab against a certain city called Ragaba to get it bi force At which time he was very sicke and weake wherfore his wife Alexandra the Quene wente with him fearinge least he shuld die by the waye And as be encamped him self against the city and vrged it sore with assaultes his sicknesse increased vpon him more and more Wherfore his wife perceiuinge that he was like to die wept bitterly before him said To whoÌ„ shal I be so bold as to shew my face wheÌ„ thou art once dead seing thou haste wroughte such mischief vpon the pharisies whoÌ„ all the lande fauoureth and foloweth their traditions obeiyng their institucions If they shal be disposed to wreke them selues vppon me and thy yonge children they shal haue aid of all that dwel in the laÌ„d The king answered Wepe not nor shew any reseÌ„blance of peÌ„sifnes I wil tel the what thou shalt do if thou wilt folow my counsell thou shalt prosper and raigne thou and thy children as thou woldest desire Be it that I die there is no man in the world nede know therof Tel thou euery maÌ„ therfore that aske for me that I am sick wil not that ani maÌ„ shal come at me In the meane while anointe season me with balmes fight with a courage against this city til thou win it then return to Ierusalem with ioy and beware thou put on no mourninge apparail nor weepe but bringe me into Ierusalem and laye me vpon a bedde like a sicke man and after call together the chiefe of the Phariseis bryng them where I am and speake vnto them gentilly in this sort Alexander hath bene euer your enemy I knowe it very wel wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogges or bury him it shal be at your choise I knowe wel they are pitifull men and so ful of merci that they wil bury me honorably and shall apointe some one of my sonnes whoÌ„ they like best to be king The Quene did therfore as she was instructed of the king Whan she had won Ragaba she ioyfully returned to Ierusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisies and spake to them as the king had aduised her The Pharisies hearing the king was deade and that his bodye was in their handes to do withal what they liste they answered the Quene God forbid we shoulde do this vnto our Lorde the annointed of God He was the king and hie prieste what though he were a sinner yet his deathe shal be an expiation for him of al his iniquities Therfore we wil bewaile him and mourne for him yea we wil cary his coffen our selues vpon our neckes and burye him as it becommeth a kinges magnificence and so they did The time that he reigned was .xxvii. yeares After him reigned his wife Alexandra in his stede for the Pharisies after they had finished the .vii. daies of the mourning they comitted the kingdoÌ„ vnto her She had .ii. sons by the king the elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a iust man righteous but Aristobulus was the warrioure man of prowes besides that of a familier louing countenance He fauored also the learned men folowed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loued the Pharisies On a time therfore when the Quene sate in the throne of her kingdom she called the auncients of the Pharisies before her honoured them commaunded to release set at liberty al such Pharisies as the king her husband her father in lawe had cast in prison and taking the pharisies by the handes she commaunded all Israel to obey their ordinaunces TheÌ„ made Hircanus her sonne hie prieste and Aristobulus lieueteuaunte of the warres She sent also to al the landes that her husbande and father in lawe had subdued and demaunded the nâ—ble mennes sonnes for pledges which she kept in IerusaleÌ„ So the lord gaue vnto the Quene quietnesse froÌ„ al that were vnder her subiection She gaue also the Pharisies
authority ouer the learned sort puttinge them into their handes to ordre at their pleasure Wherupon straight way they founde one Dogrus a greate man amongst the learned sort whom they stewe much people besides of the auncients of that sect so that the Sectaries were in great distresse Thei gathered them selues together therfore and came to Aristobulus the lieutenaunt of the warres and with him they came to the Quene saiyng vnto her Thou knowest the enmitie that is betwene vs and the Pharisies which hate thy busband and father in lawe yea and thy children also We were his men of warre that went with him in all his affaires and ayded him now thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the Lande What will Hartam kinge of Arabia dooe when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He wâ—â— come and reuenge him of all the battaile that thy husband fought agaynst him Yea the Pharisies will take his parte and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes that there shall not be left vnto Hircanus the kynge and his sonne Alexander thy husbande anye name or remnant at all The Quene gaue them no word to answer wherat Aristobulus was angrye and letted not to vtter it to his mothers face but she would not heare him Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart oute of Ierusalem to chuse them cities in the laÌ„d of Iuda where they mighte dwel with their honor not to suffre them selues to be slain vnder the Pharisies hands Wherfore departing from Ierusalem they dwelte in the cities of Iuda Not longe after this it fortuned the Quene fel sore sicke that she was like to die Wherof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisies wold make his brother Hircanus kinge and at length apprehende him wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies to be their heade and make war vpon his brother if he would presume to reigne He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a stronge armye of the Saducies his mother the Quene sent vnto him that he shoulde returne vnto her which he wolde not do but rather went to war vppon the nacions that dwelt about him where he wan .xx. cities and gate him great renowne therby Now as the Quene his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her with her sonne Hircanus weping before her and saiyng how they were afraid of her sonne Aristobulus who if he should come into Ierusalem take it he would deliuer them vp into the handes of the Saducies Vnto whome she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talke much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husbande and my fathered gathered and their pareÌ„ts kings of the posterity of Chasmonani take that vnto you and make my soÌ„ne Hircanus king ouer you If Aristobulus wil perturbe him and make warre againste him ye may wage menne of war therwith and succour him as you thinke good And euen with this she fainted and died and was buried amongst her people after she had reigned .ix. yeare ouer Israel The Pharisies therfore and priestes with all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Hircanus her sonne king in her stede Aristobulus hearinge tidinges of these thinges assembled his army and came toward Ierusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nye vnto Iordane Iericho The Saducies of Aristobulus hoste were good men of warre and to strong for the Pharises Wherfore Hircanus the Pharisies had the ouerthrow at Aristobulus and the Saduces handes who with this victorye proceded forth to Ierusalem besieged it brought it to great distres Wherfore the priestes and the aunciente of the people consulted together came forth to Aristobulus fel prostrate vpon th earth afore him and besought him that he wold not scatter abrode the inheritaunce of the Lorde He condiscended vnto their desires vpon these conditions that he should enter into Ierusalem with them and be kinge and his brother Hircanus shoulde be the hie priest Wherunto they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into IerusaleÌ„ his brother came out of the sanctuary to mete him and with embrasings he kissed him So Aristobulus was king Hircanus executed the office of the hie priest The Lord also gaue Israell rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sente an euil spirite amongst them which was the cause of translating the kingdoÌ„ from the stock of Chasmonani and of the destructioÌ„ of his posteritye For the sonne of Hircanus the great and the sonne of Alexander his sonne in that they shed so much innocent blud drue Israel froÌ„ thobedience of the Prophets vnto the lies trifles of the Saduces For thus it chauÌ„ced The Saduces bet into Aristobulus heade that as long as his brother Hircanus liued he nor his kingdome could neuer be stablished Wherupon Aristobulus deuised how to make awai Hircanus Which thing a certain maÌ„ called Antipater was aware of a maÌ„ of most power in al Israel therto also a wise expert learned man in all wisdome both in the lawes in the knowledge of the Greke iust of his word prudent if ani strauÌ„ge or new matters chauÌ„ced His ofspringe was not out of the children of Israell but of those Romaines which chauÌ„ced to be vainquished became subiect vnder the dominion of the Israelits being but strauÌ„gers of no noble house in Israel Phaselus He had iiii soÌ„nes Ioseph his eldest the nexte Pasilus the third Herode the .iiii. Pheroras These had also a sister called Salumith Antipater fauoured Hircanus so intirely for his iustice vprightnes sake that he opened vnto him him his brother Aristobulus the Saducies intent geuing him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Arabia but Antipater him self went before to breake the matter to HartaÌ„ of whose comminge Hartam was very glad Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus kinge of Hierusalem was in minde to flee vnto him because of Aristobulus his brother If thou wilt helpe him saith he and let him haue speedy aide thou shalte easilye set Aristobulus besides the kingdome for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus and fauoure not Aristobulus Hartam answered I am afraied of the Iewes and their wilines Alexander his father put mee thrise to the foile in battail by his subtiltie and toke my dominioÌ„s from me TheÌ„ Antipater sware vnto him He shal be saith he thy true trustye frend to do what soeuer thy hart desiereth Thus HartaÌ„ was perswaded they made a league together Then Antipater returnyng to Hierusalem caused Hircanus to flee in the night and they both went together to the king of Arabia who muche reioyced at Hircanus commynge and receiued him honourably When they came together to entreat of the league Hartam
heauye iron chaines and assauted Ierusalem batteringe the walles verye sore til they of the towne issued out against him slue of his host .xii. M. mē After this hadde the Israelites ciuill warres within Ierusalem because the siege was greuous vnto them for they were deuided into factions one parte said Let vs open the gates to Pompeius let him in that we mai submit our selues vnder his protection The other said Let vs fight against him vnto the death But much people misliked that so that that side preuailed that woulde yelde Wherfore Pompeius entred the town the house of the sāctuary killed much people of the priests the people of the lād made Hircanus king of Israel the .ii. time Antipater his coūseler Moreouer he set one Securus a Romain in the countrey to receiue the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him boūd in irons And because he toke his iorney toward Arabia Hircanus Antipater wēt with him to cōduct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner his .ii. sons with him it fortuned that one of thē called Alexāder escaped And hauing intelligēce that Hircanus and his counselour were gone out of Ierusalem he came thither rebelled againste Hircanus made vp the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted vnto him made him Kinge in Hircanus place Wherupon he gathered an armye and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homewarde from Pompeius where he gaue Hircanus the ouerthrow Securus the receiuer of the tribute escaped Then Alexander returned to Ierusalē frō whence shortly after Gabinius a Romain with a stronge armye compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius hys mother Aristobulus wyfe went forthe to Gabinius weping and besought him that he would not destroy her sōne for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabinius therefore hauynge gotten all the Lande of Iudea made Hircanus king of Ierusalem now the .iii. time who set Romain captaines and rulers in Iericho and in Zephori and through all the lande of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus gat out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on euerye syde resorted men in such fort that he had a puissāt host of Israel Wherof whē he had takē muster he chose out .viii. thousand of the best with thē went agaynst Gabinius wher was a sore battayle foughte betwene them tyll the beste of Aristobulus men wer slayn and only one thousand left wherwith he fled to the mountaynes But the Romayns folowed the chase and slew them euery man Yet Aristobulus would not yeld but fought alone although his helmet was broken til he had dyuers sore woundes in hys head and then fell he to the ground and the Romayns toke him yet aliue brought hym to Gabinius who comforted hym commaundinge hys surgeons to heale hym and after sent hym to the Consul and Senat of Rome wher he was put in prison yet once agayne After thys the Senate takinge pitie of Aristobulus wife whiche was reported to bee a verye wise woman released her two sonnes out of prison and set theim at libertie Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once againe against Hircanus and the Romaine gouernours For he gathered together muche people of Israell encountred wyth one of the Romayn gouernours that Gabinius had appointed and gaue him the ouerthrowe But proceadyng further to fight with Gabinius hadde the worsse and many of the Israelites were slaine yet hee escaped him selfe and fled This done Gabinius came to Hierusalem and renewed the kingdome of Israel to Hircanus the .iiii. tyme. About this tyme one of the Senators wiues at Rome conceiued a childe dyed in the byrthe and trauaile thereof They therfore that were about her straite waye ripte her body and gate the childe out alyue whom they named Iulius and because his mother was cutte they called hym Caesar This childe growynge to great towardnes and commyng to mannes estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the warres and what so euer he did he had good fortune prosperous successe He depriued the Grecians of the empire and dominion translating it to the Romaines Manye prouinces also besides that did he subdue and returning to Rome with a power attēpted to get the dominion and sole regimente ouer them But they had made solempne statutes in the time of their progenitors neuer to suffre any kinge emongst them or any mā to haue perpetual rule ouer them wherfore they would not make Iulius kinge Vpon this risse amongst thē great and mortall warres so that Iulius slue wōderful many of them without number When Pompeius vnderstode that Cesar raigned at Rome had killed the Consul and the Senate with all the nobilitye of Rome be gathered together his hole army out of Arabia and made toward him Iulius hauinge intelligēce of his comming against him sente for Aristobulus oute of prisone spake frendlye vnto him gaue him a power and made him graund captain therof bidding him to go fight with Pompeius In dede his armye was a stronge armye and he him self was a Kinge of no small prowesse and valeantnesse Pompeius hearinge that Aristobulus came againste him was sore afraid of his valeantnesse and of his hoste Wherfore he sent to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that wer vnder his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift wherby they might deceiue him and poison him The inhabitantes of Ierusalem at his request sent vnto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men wherat Aristobulus was right ioyous and eat and banqueted with them til he was ouercame with drinke then thei gaue him poyson and he died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was four yeares and sixe monethes He was a good man of war hardy in fighte and a man of an amiable countenaunce Pompeius receiuinge tidinges of his deathe the more gladder proceded with his hoste to Rome to besiege if But Iulius met him in the waye and destroyed him and his hoste whereby the Empire was established vnto Iulius He after this sente presentes to the kinge of Siria and into Egipte by his captaines to allure them to his frendshippe Antipater aduised Hircanus to aide Iulius if perchaunce he might win his fauour whiche Hircanus did and Antipater was captaine of the hoste who plaied the man and founde suche fauoure with Iulius that he made him lieuetenant of his warres And after he had fought sondry great battails he retourned to Ierusalem with great honoure and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters sonne gouerned of Ierusalem and Herod his third sōne president of Galily There was a certaine yong man at that time in Ierusalem called Hizkias a valeant man of war to whom claue al such as were in any distresse and he became their captain These wente and raunged aboute into Siria rouing and murthering in such sort that the Sirians were
wery of their liues for feare of them Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode ruler of Galily desiring him to kil that Hizkias his complices Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria came vpoÌ„ him at vnwares and slue him and his menne Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified he sent a noble reward vnto Herode of siluer gold and precious stones bi whiche and by like meanes he became very famous The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his soÌ„nes for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda desiring that Herode might be called froÌ„ Galily to appere in iudgment and answer with other for the killing of Hezkias The king therfore sente for him he vpon that came to Ierusalem appered before the iudges princely apparelled with a gilt sword gird aboute him whose pride an aunciente man called Samai blamed and repreheÌ„ded also his stoute hearte but he woulde not geue eare vnto him nor yet regarde the iudges When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man to make him away he toke pitie vpon him said We wil not geue senteÌ„ce to day to morow is a new day and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death That night therfore he fled to the king of Siria declaring all what had happened vnto him The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army came with him him self purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him saiyng Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem vnto whom he condiscended after he had once let the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do and had shewed theÌ„ his power Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time as he was worshippinge in the house of his GOD was murdered by the conspyracye of certaine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine as is afore mencioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the couÌ„trey of Macedonia who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self Yea Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him for he had no rule him selfe but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme Moreouer Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time And for asmuch as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him and conspired to kil hym There was a man in great aucthoritie about Aâ—rcanus by whose meanes thei wrought this matter He corrupted the kinges Butler with rewardes to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe which as he had dronke he died These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstandinge they priuely writ vnto Cassius that raigned in Macedonia certifiynge him of this deede Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him who came with hym Malchias Phaseus and Herode Cassius entertainynge them all in his lodgynge willed his men that whatsoeuer Herode had them thei should do it Herode willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demauÌ„ded of the soÌ„nes of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him and wee knowe not whye Therfore Hircauus stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode being certain that this was their dede Wherfore he saide vnto theim This Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an vserer These thinges done Octauian Augustus brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered came vnto Rome and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the gouernement at Rome sent Marcus Antonius to warre vppon Cassius and to reuenge Iulius death Vnto him Hircanus sent a presente a crowne of golde in whiche were set sundrye precious stones praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings and him as there was betwene him and Iulius which Antonius graunted Pacorus About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus to remoue him and to restore the kingdome to him self and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth pouÌ„d weight of gold and a hundreth Israelitish virgins So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel and Antigonus departed oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel that toke his part and foyned them selues to Pagurus These came to Ierusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes gaue many greate assaultes vnto it til at lenght they vndermined the city Then toke they Hircanus and slue Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom cut of besides that one of his eares But Herode escaped fled to August emperour of Rome Pagurê° therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem returned home into Persia cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda geuing to him a very strong army of the Romaines to obtein it withall In the way thither Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus doughter and Marimi her doughter thou she had by Alexander soÌ„ne of Aristobulus and brought theÌ„ again into the land of Israel where he tooke Marimi to wife and was maried with her in the mount of Galile For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte with whome he toke peace Marcus Antonius companion in office vnto Octauian Augustus aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries to subdue them vnto the Romaines together with Egipt Damasco and Siria Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Euphrates and helped him not a litle For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and slue all that would aide Marcus Antonius But Herode mette with them and slue them Wherefore Antonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres hauinge also his letters to all the captaines of Siria after this tenure Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings hath appointed Herode the soÌ„ne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda Therefore assone as these letters shall come
do it for thy sake So the messenger brought the aunswer secretly vnto Herode wherupon he sent streight to the place in whiche he vnderstode Maloces men to lurke waiting for Hircanus and caused to apprehende them aliue Herode coÌ„maunded to cal together the elders before whome he willed also Hircanus to be brought and of him the king demaunded Tell me if thou writtest any letters to Maloc king of Arabia he aunswered I wrote none TheÌ„ was Restius the messenger brought in as his accuser and the meÌ„ of war also of Arabia that were apprehended which declared the hole matter before the couÌ„sel so that Hircanus was quite dasshed Then the king coÌ„maunded him to bee put to death and so was the kingdome establisshed vnto Herode The tyme that Hircanus reigned was fourty yeares and sixe monethes After the death of his mother he reigned thre yeares and Aristobulus his brother remoued hym makynge hym priest Agayne thre yeares after he returned to his kingdome and raigned fourty yeares Then Antigonus sonne of Aristobulus deposed hym cuttynge of his eare banishing him out of the holy citie So after when Herode his seruaunte came to the kingedome Herodes ingratitude he returned to Ierusalem and Herode shed his bloud without cause Yet he notwithstaÌ„dyng had deliuered Herode froÌ„ the hands of the elders who would haue put him to death for the death of Hizkias From that time Hircanus wrought none euil in the sight of the Lorde nor offended him in any great matter saue onely in this that he bare to much with Herod in sheadyng the innocent bloud wherfore his owne life wente for the other Therfore happy is he that neuer forget teth any part of his dutye Marimi the daughter of Alexander the Sonne of Aristobulus the wyfe of Herode had a brother whose name was Aristobulus hym Herode woulde in no wise promote to the hye priesthode because he feared the children of Chasmonany althoughe his wyfe sued harde and laye sore vppon him for the same matter But the kyng made hye priest one that was nothing of the kinred of Chasmonany whose name was Haniel Notwithstandynge when he had once made awaye Hircanus his wiues progenitour father of Alexandra his mother in lawe then he deposed Haniel the hie priest and promoted his wiues brother Aristobulus to the dignitie although he were but a child yet he was wise and of good vnderstandyng and beautifull withall so that in al Israell was not a goodlier nor hansomer yong man theÌ„ he was And this Haniel was the first that euer was deposed froÌ„ that office of the hie priesthode by any king of Israel afore Herode who did this to quiet his wyfe and to fulfil his mother in lawes minde NotwithstaÌ„ding this Alexandra his wyfes mother was not coÌ„tent nor satisfied for the death of her father was suche a griefe but alwaies spake snappishly to the kynge that he sent her to warde Then she writ to Cleopatra Quene of Egypt wyfe vnto Marcus Antonius a noble manne of Rome declaryng vnto her all the mischiefe that Herode had dooen to the posteritie of Chalmonani and desiring her of aide To whom Cleopatra made this answer If thou caÌ„st finde the meanes to come to me secretly thou shalt perceiue what I will dooe for thee WheÌ„ Alexandra had red the letter she sent to Aristobulus her sonne the hie priest shewing him that she wold flee to the sea Iapho and from thence wold take shipping into Egipt perswading him also to flee with her We wil saith she make two great coffers one for my self the other for thee we wil with rewardes procure our seruauntes to cary vs oute priuily wherby we may flee to saue our liues This their deuise was perceiued of one of Herodes seruauÌ„tes who forthwith made the king priuie vnto it The king coÌ„maunded his seruaunt that bewraied them that when they did coÌ„uey the coffers they shoulde bring them to him whiche the seruauntes did So when the coffers were broughte to the kinges presence he caused them to bee opened and tooke out Alexandra her sonne Aristobulus to whom the kynge spake sharpely and rebuked them sore But Alexandra aunswered him again as short in somuch that the king moued with anger flang away from her into his chamber saiyng It is better to sit in a corner of the house then with a brawling skolding womaÌ„ in an open place The king dissembled the matter shewed no great displeasure A yeare after as Aristobulê° the hie priest apparailed in his ponticall vestures stode in the the teÌ„ple nie vnto the alter to offer sacrifices the Israelites beheld his beautie his wisdome behauiour in the ministery wherat euery maÌ„ reioysed praising God that had not taken al away but left one to reuenge that iniuries done to the house of Chasmonani The kyng hearyng this was sore afrayed and not a litle displeased thinking to him selfe the Israelites woulde restore the kyngdome of their fathers vnto hym He perceiued euery maÌ„s hart to be inclined towards him Wherfore he deliberated a while in the feaste of the tabernacles he weÌ„t to Iericho withal his seruaÌ„ts wheras he made a great feast to al his nobles and seruaunts placing them euery man after his degree before him Aristobulus the hie priest he set vpoÌ„ his righthand And as they eate dronke made mery the kinges seruants were disposed to go and swim in Iordane To these the king had geuen secret coÌ„maundemente that they shoulde desire Aristobulus to go and bathe with them in Iordane and then to drown him So when they were goinge they came to Aristobulus desired him to go bathe with them which he would not vnlesse the kinge gaue him leaue wherfore he asked the king leaue but he denied him at the first yet at length the yong man intreated him so instaÌ„tly that the king bad him do what he would He wente therfore with the other yong menne to swim The king toke his horsse straitwaye and returned to Iericho withall his traine leauinge the yonge men behinde which continued swimming till Sunne setting and as it began to be darke they drowned the prieste Aristobulus emongst them Wherof when tidinges came to the kinge and it was knowen that he was deade the people wept and made great lameÌ„tacion considering his vertue nobility and beauty euery man was ful of sorow that he should haue so short a life and they bewailed so much that it was harde a far of But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the yonge mannes mother could in no wise be comforted Yea the kinge also wept and made great moane for it repented him that he had done so wicked an acte Yet all the people knewe well inough that the thinge was procured by the king In so much that Alexandra his mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face that he was the murtherer of her husband and her father now last of al of her sonne to whoÌ„ the king
answered nether good nor bad From that daye forwardes there was perpetual hatred betwene Alexandra Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herode Salumith his sister that came of base seruile blud For Marimi cast in their teethe to their faces that they wer not of the sede of Israel but vnholy of base birth Notwithstāding Herode loued Marimi as his life wherfore he would neuer displease her as lōg as she liued nor say so much to her as whi saiest thou so These thinges done Marcus Antonius a noble mā of Rome next vnto Octauian Augustus kinge of kinges being sent by Augustus to war vpon the kinges of the west countries raigned in Egipt by the prouocation of his wife rebelled against Octauian Augustus made war with him both by sea land And forasmuch as Egipt is nie adioyninge to the lande of Israell Herode ioyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sorte that no kinge durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Wherupon whan Marcus conspired againste hys prynce and master Herode aided him with an army with horsmen and with shippes also against Octauian In which warres Octauian gate the victorye slue Antony and all his people comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes so into the land of Egipt Herode hearinge that Marcus Antonius was slaine and that Octauian Augustus was come into Egipte he fainted for feare of the displeasure of Octauian Yet at lengthe he tooke hearte vnto him prepared a royall presente to be caried afore him and folowed after him selfe to Octauian Augustus And setting forwardes he called Ioseph the husband of Salumnith his sister whome he made chiefe of his houshold commaundinge him that if Octauian Augustus put him to death he shuld poison Marimi his wife saying it shuld not be semely for kinges that any meane base man shuld mary with a kinges widow and sleepe wyth her vppon a kinges bedde So then he toke his iourney toward Octauian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he vnderstode Octauian to be displeased with him for that he had aided Marcus Antonius Therfore assone as Herode came to Octauian Augustus presence hauinge his croune vpon his head he toke it of fel down prostrate vppon the ground at Octauians feete saying Most noble emperour I confesse my trespasse against your maiesty that I loued M. Antonius my cōpanion in league who was my neighbor aided me And it is true that your maiesty sēce the time you made me king haue herd of mine affaires that haue happened vnto me but neuer succoured me This. M Antonius did not so I cōfesse therfore that in his warres against your maiesty I aided him with an army with horsmē ships Neyther went I out with him for ani warres vpō mine own borders but when so euer I wente with him I holp him to the vttermost of mi power When he was falling I bolsterd him vp whā he stōbled I raised him again Emongst al these thinges I cōfesse also that I wolde not be counted of your maiestye a breaker of leage but nowe M. Antonius is deade Wherfore whither that it shal please your maiesty to restore me to my former estate or no forasmuch as I haue kept touch with M. Antonius against your maiesty amōgst other if you put me to death you shall do me no wrong but iustice because I haue deserued death When Octauian August herd him speake so he said vnto him Arise thou kinge of Israell in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nie yea next to my person I knowe that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife and would not folow thy counsel for if he had I dare saye he woulde neuer haue conspired against me So he commaūded the croune to be set againe vppon Herodes head and made a leage with him Then they went both together to ward Egipt to be reuenged vpō Cleopatra But that wicked woman whan she saw her city to be ouercome put on her moste precious apparaile and sitting vpon the throne of her kingdom commaūded a vipor to be brought vnto her which assone as she had suffred to sting her brest she died As Octauian August came to her palaire sawe her sit there he reioyced that he mighte be reuenged of her and commaunded to thruste her from her throne but when they that came to her founde her dead Octauian was pensife and verye sore greued In this while Ioseph Salumithes husbande disclosed vnto Marimi that the kinge had commaunded if it so fortuned him to be put to deathe by Augustus that he shoulde poyson her Wherupon Marimi conceiued yet a greater hatred towarde the kinge in so muche that when the kinge was retourned in safetye sounde and with honoure also from Octauian and that all his menne and whole houshoulde reioysed greatelye Marimi shewed no countenaunce of gladnesse no not when the kinge him selfe told her how greatlye he was magnified and honored of Octauian but alwaies she was sadde Salumith the kinges Sister perceiuing that Marimi so vexed the king she toulde him howe Ioseph her husbande had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus Herode saye what she could gaue no credite to her wordes knowing that she enuied Marimi vntill at length he asked the cause of Marimi whye she reioysed not as other did when he returned in safetye from Augustus but was euer sad whiche shewed her to haue some rancoure and malice in her heart to wardes him She answered Thou haste saide heretofore that thou louedst me aboue all thine other wiues and concubines yet thou didst will Ioseph thy sisters husbande to poyson me Whan Herode hearde this he was exceadinglye abashed that Ioseph had disclosed his secrete began to mistrust with him self that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife in dede and vpon that had detected that secret Therfore he departed out of his palaice in a greate anger and rage wherby Salumith perceiued that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further hyring false accusars and forgers of lies to witnes that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the kinge whereof she had diuers argumētes also by her coūtenaunce She added moreouer if thou saith she to the king let her scape thus she wil spedely destroy thee and bereue thee of thy kingdom The lawe geueth a man this counsell If any man gooe aboute to murther thee preuent hym slea him first With this and suche like wordes she so moued the king that he commaunded to bring Marimi forthe and to be beheaded in the hie streate of the citie And as she was brought forth vnto the market place of the citie all the women of the citie folowed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her saiyng come oute thou that haste abhorred thy husbande and conspired against thy lorde Alexandra wepte also as thoughe it hadde
been for the wickednes that her doughter had coÌ„mitted thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eies if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue oportunitie to poison him Marimi thus going to execution helde her peace and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innoceÌ„t in dede and thought and therfore God would reÌ„der her a good rewarde in the world to come Wherfore she bared her necke without feare and thei cut of her head sheding the innocent bloud But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestileÌ„ce in the house of Herode so that his chief seruauntes his noble women and concubines died sore therof Yea throughout all Iudea reigned the pestilence vehemently whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto theÌ„ for the bloude of Marimi They cried therefore vnto the lorde saiyng Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion The lorde toke pitie therfore vpâ—â— the lande and withore we the plague from the people The king repeÌ„ted him also that he had shed bloud without cause and loue so grew in his harte that he was sicke and at deathes dore Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge he commaunded to apprehende her and to kil her In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees leauing none aliue that were called by the name He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wyfe They were both at Rome when their mother suffered for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain toÌ„gue When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death they wepte and mourned for her hating their father for his rcueltie Sone after the king their father recouered of his sickenes was established in his kingdome builded stronge cities and rose to great prosperitie In the. â—iii yeare of his reigne there fell a great dearth in the lande wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer and precious stoones wherwith he sent into Egipt and procured plentie of corne and refresâ—hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of huÌ„ger yea he spared not his owne propre goodes And not onely to the Israelites shewed he this liberality but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations hearing of his renoume Moreouer in all his warres he had good fortune Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary wherupon he deliberated with the Israelites to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it For the Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch Cirus began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed theÌ„ not as it was afore The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pul down the teÌ„ple to the grouÌ„d and buylde it a freshe they made hym none aunswere fearing left whan he had pulled it downe he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes saide he woulde not flack the matter nor reste till he hade brought it to passe He said moreouer that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer and geue it to grauing also precious stones stones of Thasies marble To the carpenters also and masons he would deliuer timber stones gold siluer brasse iron to make all thinges necessary to the woorke Wherefore if he pulled downe the house he was able to builde it streight waies again So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubites in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites and in height a hundreth cubites all of white marble so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde and a hundreth aboue The breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites euery stone was of like bignesse The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin the thresholdes were of siluer the tops also He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold the lesser braunches slips or latest shutes of gold sumwhat red al aboue was yelow gold wherupon hong clusters of cristal The vine was so great that it weied a thousaÌ„d pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porche before the porche ii walles of siluer marueilous cuÌ„ningly wrought Behind the house toward the west he made a court of .c. l. cubites loÌ„g and a. C. in bredth whiche was paued with pure marble Toward the south north the length of the court was also Cl. cubites a. C. in breadth He erected in it also C. l. pillers of white marble in foure orders The length of one order was fortye cubites and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie and three cubites thicke The pillers were all of like measure as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure with al the pilloures thereof Toward the east the court conteined D. ccxx cubites euen to the broke Cedron No man euer se the like building in all the world In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height that they the walked therin might easily se the waters running in the broke Cedron by the space of a cubit Betwene the porch and the house also as though it were a vaile or perticion the king made a wal of siluer of halfe a handful thicke In the which was a dore of beaten golde and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii pound weight There were certain poses grauen in the sworde as this VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her let him die for it So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful nether was there euer hard of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building When the worke was finished the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bullâ—ckes and verye many shepe accordinge to his Princelye estate So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great â—oy and gladnesse There was one certain day in the yeare when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court to al his nobles sages in Israel Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes whiche made bothe him
more glad and al his people The same also commaunded he to be done in all the prouinces of his kingdom sending his letters by his poastes to the noble men captaines presideÌ„tes of the prouinces that they shuld obserue the dai after the same maner euery yeare The people also that were flitted into their enemies couÌ„tries their head rulers captains came out of eueri couÌ„tri far ners to see the house and the kinge for they could neuer beleue it til they had seene it and when they had seene it it excâ—aded farre that they hadde hearde of it These thinges done the kinges two Sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus whiche he had by Marimi came home from Rome to Ierusalem in a greate heate and fury with a stronge company yea their hartes were verye hautye also for Alexander the elder had maried the kinge of Capadocies doughter and Aristobulus the doughter of Salumith the king his fathers sister These comminge to Ierusalem wente not to the court to do their duety to the kinge their father neither wold se him wherby the king gathered they went about some mischief against him Moreouer all his men gaue him warning to take hede of them and to kepe his power or gard about him He had had a wife of base stocke out of the country before he came to the kingdome by whome he had a soÌ„ne named Antipater And wheÌ„ he had put Marimi his beloued wife to death he called home his wife which he had disdained before to his courte Wherfore now seinge the two sonnes of Marimi hated himhe appointed Antipater his soÌ„ne to be his heir apparaÌ„t and to raise his estimacion gaue him al his treasure made him Lord and ruler of all that he had affirminge that he shuld reign after him This Antipater had a subtile witte and a crafty for he said dailye to his father If it like your maiesty wherto should you geue me al these thinges when as these two lions shal be euer in my top and ready to destroy me By such surmised meanes he raised discord and hatred betwene them and their father Albeit the kinge was lothe to hurt his two sonnes Not long after he toke his iourney to Rome to Octauian his soÌ„ne Alexander waited vpoÌ„ him hoping the Octauian wold be a meanes for him to turn his fathers hatred froÌ„ him put al malice oute of his minde When the king was come thither Octauian reioysed much of his coÌ„uring saying I haue thought loÌ„g to se thee To whom hast thou left the land of Iuda Herode answered for the obedience that I owe vnto my Lorde the Emperour I am come to declare him my chaunces with this my sonne his seruaunte So he tolde him the whole matter from the beginning to the end Then Octauian Augustus blamed the yonge manne because he hated his father The yong man answered Howe can I otherwise do How can I forget the mooste chaste wombe that bare me whiche was of the holye stocke If I forget my mother that was slaine giltlesse and withoute crime then let me forget my righthand These and suche like spake the yonge manne not withoute teares in the presence of Octauian so that his bowels was muche moued and the noble menne also that were aboute Octauian coulde not abstaine from wepinge but lamented greatlye Octauian firste reproued Herode for his greate transgression and crueltie then labored to pacify the yoÌ„g manne wyth comfortable woordes and biddinge him honoure his father submit him selfe vnto him When he had done as he was willed for he wold not striue against the Emperoures coÌ„maundement Octauian toke the yong man by the hande and put it into Herodes bosome Then his father kissed him and embrased him so that they wepte eche of them After that they toke their leaue and departed from Octauian who comforted them and gaue them a gifte committinge it into Herodes hands Herode yet perceiued that the hatred of the children of Marimi woulde not be apeased Whereupon when he came home to Ierusalem he called together al thelders of Israell said vnto theÌ„ I had determined once to place one of my soÌ„nes captain ouer the people of the Lord but I might not do it without the consent of Octauian Augustus Now therfore I haue appointed my .iii. soÌ„nes haue deuided my kingdoÌ„ equally emongst them Helpe ye theÌ„ against their enenmies but in no wise shal ye help one of theÌ„ against another And if ye perceiue any breach of trendship betwene them do that lieth in you to take it awaye Whereunto he made them sweare presentlye in Ierusalem and the bonde made eche man departed home to his house But for all this the hatred betwene Antipater and his two brethren was nothinge diminished for he feared them because they were of the house of Chasmonani and alied with kinges of greate power he suborned therfore false accusers to say vnto the king that the yong men soÌ„nes of Marimi were determined to destroy him Likewise he set variance betwene Salumith and theÌ„ for she was in greater estimacion then he in so muche that the kinge did nothinge withoute her counsell The same wroughte he also betwene Pheroras the kinges brother and them But to Salumith he saied doest thou not consider how the sonnes of Marimi knowe that their mother was put to death by thy counsel Therfore if they maye bringe to passe to make the king away they wil hew thee to peces But when the yong men herd of this they came before the king sware thei neuer entended to hurt their father and with weping they perswaded the king that he beleued them and they gote his fauour again Wherat Antipater was not a litle displeased wherfore he hired fals witnesses to say they saw Alexander the kinges sonne vppon a certaine night with his sword drawn before the kinges palaice mindinge to murther Antipater He suborned also certaine of the kinges seruauntes to witnesse againste Alexander that he should geue them great rewardes to allure them to his pleasure and to abuse them in filthy buggery which they refused More ouer that he desired them to poison the king which they wold not also agre to do Wherupon the kinge was sore displeased towarde him commaundinge not only him but al that toke his parte or defended his integritye to be apprehended and put in prison that execution mighte be done vppon them Then Alexander writ vnto Archelaus his father in lawe desiring him to come to HierusaleÌ„ to his father Herode This Archelaus was a very wyse man and a notable counseler When he was come to Hierusalem Herode was very glad of his comming and demaunded what matters brought hym thether at that present He aunswered I haue hearde that Alexander thy sonne and my sonne in lawe hath attempted to rebel against thee it is not possible but my doughter his wife shoulde be accessarye of this thinge and yet she hathe not shewed it vnto the wherfore I vtterly detest
in his Vyal But the seller tolde him not what it was before he hadde bought it and paide deare for it Then whispered he in his eare tellinge him that it was a strong poison that would kil one out of hand This Vyal Antipater sente to Pheroras to be kepte vntill he retourned from Rome In the meane season Pheroras died and his wife hidde the Vyall After when Antipater came home againe from Rome Pheroras wife and he fel at variance insomuche that she obiected vnto him that he was the cause that Pheroras was banished the kinges presence the sorow wherof was his death On the other side Antipater went aboute to accuse her sowinge discorde betwene her and the king to stirre him against her He suborned also a certain Ennuch or gelded parson to go vnto the king and informe him howe that at what time as he tooke displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his presence Pheroras procured a strong poisō and gaue it to his wife commaunding her to destroy the king therewith The king hearinge this was wrothe with the Ennuche and saide I searched for that venom longe a go when it was noysed that my housholde seruauntes would geue it me to drinke but I could not finde the thinge to be true Yea I haue bene to rashe in such matters for I put my wife Marimi to deaths without a cause and Alexandra my mother in law with my two children When Antipater heard that the king credited not the Ennuche he made sute to the king to send him to Octauian the secōd time for he was a fearde for the Viall that was in Pheroras wifes house He had writen also with his hande howe that he sent it intending therewith to poison the kinges sonnes children But he that prepareth a pit for another oft times falleth into it him self So desiring the kinge to sende him he let him go After this the kinge commaunded to make searche if the Ennuches woordes were true or no he sente firste for all Pheroras housholde seruauntes examined theim whether euer they coulde perceiue that Pheroras was in minde to hurte him They all sware no. Then the king cōmaunded to scourge them verye fore but they confessed nothynge althoughe some dyed vnder their handes in the examination Some he ordered with diuers kinde of torments of some he caused to pluck oute all their teethe And as he hade scourge a certaine woman seruaunt which hadde bene verye trusty to Pheroras at length when she could no lēger stand for strokes she cried out and said The holy blessed God reuēg vs of Rostios the kings wife Antipaters mother Dosis Antipaters mother which is cause of this The kinge hearyng these wordes bad let her alone she will disclose all Then spake shee Antipater made feasts euerie foote for thy Brother Pheroras and him selfe and as thei eate and dranke they deuised how to poyson thee specially when as Antipater was going to Octauian For thei said Except we destroy him he wil destroy vs as he hath done al the children of his house Moreouer he loueth the children of his sonnes that were put to deathe whiche grow apace and it is possible he maye chaunge his minde and make one of them kinge Antipater also said to thy brother The king makes as though he were much my frende but I trust him not He gaue me saith he a. C. pounde weight of golde but all that satifieth not me When the kinge heard this he told how he had geuen Antipater this gold secretely The woman said moreouer There is yet a Vyal of strōg poison in Pheroras house that thy sonne sent out of Egipte Streightwaye the king sent to Pheroras wife that she shoulde bringe him the Vyall of poison her own self When she espied the kings Ennuches come to fetche her whether she woulde or no she gate her vp to the top of the house and cast her self downe headlonge to kil her selfe because she would not see the kinge nor abide his tormentes But she died not therof whereuppon the kynges messengers brought her in a horse litter and set her afore the king Then she confessed vnto him how Antipater his sonne had cōspired with Pheroras to kil him with a strong poyson that he had bought in Egipte and sente to Pheroras when he want to Octauian And how that Pheroras being at the point of death repēted him therof charging that we shuld neuer geue that venome to Antipater but poure it out vpon the ground that the king mighte not be poisoned therewith and I did as he bad me cast it out al saue a litle that I kepte in the glase botome for I euer feared that whiche is now come to passe Then at the kinges commaundement the Vyall was broughte forthe before him and there was a litle of the venome left wherefore they gaue better creadite to her wordes so that the king was contente with her and bad his Phisitions heale her and she recouered This done the king write to Antipater to come home with spede because I am old saithe he weake vncertain how shortly I shal dye The kinge had yet also two other sonnes at Rome Archelaus Polimus So whē Antipater writ to answer his fathers letters he signified vnto him that his .ii. sōnes had diffamed the king and slaundred him vnto Octauian But the king answered him come and brynge them with thee I wil order them as thou thinkest good Notwithstandinge Antipater dalied delaied for the space of .vii. monethes to se if he might learn somwhat of his fathers doings but he could heare nothing The messengers that his father had sent lay vpon him euery day drged him to make spede Therfore at the .vii. monethes ende he toke his iourney towardes Iudea and came to Cesarea There hearde he that his father had taken displeasure with his mother and banished her the court◠but he coulde not learne what shoulde be the cause therfore he was strokē in such feare that he woulde haue gone backe again and left his iourney But they that waited vpon him beinge desirous to go home to their houses family crafted with him and perswaded him that if he shuld now return backe out of his waye he shoulde iustifye his enmies saiyngs to be true But if thou come once to thy fathers presence saye they who loueth the so intirelye thou shalt preuaile againste thy foes and get the vpper hande of them that trouble thee So he folowed their counsell and came to Ierusalem Whē he entred into the city no mā came forth to meete him nor once to bid him welcome home For al the people hated him for his lies slaūders peruers wicked coūsel but chiefly for fear of the king Yet went he forward to the court although with a fearful heart When he came to the kinges presence he fell downe and did his dutye but the Kinge turned away his face and could not abide to loke vpon him He went home
therfore to his house with a heuy hart hanging downe his head and hidynge his face There his mother toâ—de hym how their counsaile concerning the viall of poyson was bewraied and howe the king was wonderfully incensed towardes him that encreased yet his fear more and more The next daie by the kings coÌ„mauÌ„dement he was broughtâ— forth before al the chief of Israell asseÌ„bled together the king sate to iudge Antipaters cause There rehearsed the king vnto theÌ„ his sons lewdnes lies how he had seduced him stirred him to kil his children that wer of the king bloude farre better and more vertuous then he in so much that with a loude voice the king burst out and bewailed his wife Marimi whoÌ„ he put to death without a cause and his two Sonnes that they that were far of might heare him Then Antipater lift vp his head and began to speake craftely and subtilly First he forgote not to geue gentle words to pacifie his fathers wrath but that he coulde not do After he fel to intreatie in such sort that all the nobles were moued to pity and bewailed his euill Fortune not without teares saue only Niraleus the kings serretary who loued the kinges children that were put to death He rebuked them al that were sory for the calamity of Antipater crying with al his might wher are ye Alexander Aristobulus that were slaine giltlesse Lift vp your heads behold this bloudy wicked man fal into the pit which he him self made see how how his foote is catched in the net that he laid his selfe for other Marke ye not how your maker reuengeth your death and requireth yourbloude at his hande in the time of his destruction For the wicked man is spared vntil the time of his death So the king him selfe verye much infensed sent to fetch a condemned person oute of prisone who beinge brought before them and tasting a litle of the poison in the Vial fel down starke deade forthwith Then the kinge commaunded Antipater to be caried to prison to be laied in the strongest irons The .xl. yeare of his reign which was the .lxx. yere of his age kinge Herode fel sicke no remedy no phisicke could be found to helpe him Nether his seruauÌ„tes nor phisiciaÌ„s could procure him any rest so greuously came his disease vpoÌ„ him with lacke of breth through the anguish of the manifold euils that had happened vnto him by his owne folke Wheâ—upon he cried out saiyng Woe may he beâ— that hathe none left to succede him in his kyngdome nor none to go before his Coffin and mourne for him at his death Then called he to his remembraunce his wyfe Marimi and his two sonnes rehearsynge them by name howlyng and wepyng styll continually Vpon a certaine daye when his sicknes came sore vpon him he called to his seruauntes to fetche him some pleasaunt apple to see if he myght comforte his hearte and when they had brought it he axed for a knife to cut it one was brought hym Then he gathered his strength vnto him and rered hym selfe vp vpon his left arme and perceyuyng his lyfe to bee full of sorowe and lamentacion he tooke the knyfe with his right hande and fetched his way to thrust it into his bely But his seruauntes stept to him and caught his arme holdyng his handes and woulde not suffer hym to dooe it Then wepte he sore and all his seruauntes that the voyce was heard out of the courte and shortly all the cytie was in a sturre sayinge the kynge is dead the kynge is dead Antipater being in the prison heard the noyse and asked what busines is this they aunswered hym the kynge is dead Then was he glad and reioyced wonderfullye saiyng vnto the Iayloâ—â—â—â— Strike of mine irons and let me dute that I may go the palaice and Iwyll remember thee with a good turne â–ª The keper answered I feare least the kinge be yet altue I will go therfore know the truthe and come againe by and by Antipater saw he coulde not get loose wept for anger at the keper So the keper came to the court which as it was tolde to the king he commaunded him to be brought to his presence Then the kinge asked him What did Antipater I pray thee when he heard this mourning and that I was dead The keper answered He was verie glad thereof and when I woulde not smite of his irons and let him out he wept for anger The king crted out vnto his lords See howe he hateth me beinge yet in prison if he were here he would dooe what he could to kill me He would not doe as my seruauntes did make haste to wrest the knife out of my hande As true as God liueth he shal neuer haue that he gapeth for So the king commaunded he shoulde bee put to death And there was neuer a maÌ„ that wold intreatâ— for him or desier the kinge to the contrary but euery man was glad of his destruction The king commauÌ„ded the kepar to bring him forth to the market place whiche dooen his head was smiten of and so he lepte besides his purpose The kinge commaunded moreouer his body to be taken and caried to the citie of Ankalia there to be buried and not in the citie That done HircaniuÌ„ and the people returned from the buriall the king sent to call al the nobles of Israell together and enforsinge his strength he sat vp in his bedde and coÌ„maunded to call his sonne Archelaus vpon whome he layde his handes and made him kinge ouer Israell Then showted euery maÌ„ God saue the king god saue the king The king liued .v. dais after the execution of Antipater then fainted died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was fourty yeres He was a worthy warriour a wise a prudent man a goodly man of persone hauing God on his syde He loued euer the sages Hillell and Samai with their companies He enriched the seconde house more then all other kinges and was more liberall then all the kynges that were before him His giftes and rewardes were ryche for he counted gold and syluer as chaffe stones He kepte Israel in quiet and peace from al their enemies He buylded also a more royal temple then did kyng Salemon But he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israell heuier and gaue open eare to euill tonges He was a cruell bloudshedder of poore and innocente persones He willed before his death that they should bury hym in the citie Erodion twoo daies iourney and a halfe from Hierusalem So they put him in a coffin couered with gold sette here there with precious stones The bed vnder him was wrought with gold ful of precious stones Likewise vpoÌ„ his head was a cloth of reines powdred with precious stones vpon that a royall crowne made fast to the left syde of the coffin vpoÌ„ the right side was the regall scepter Vpon the beare was also a clothe
of reines very thicke powdred with precious stones cristal amethists and very many saphyres Then all his chief men of warre went about him in their coates of fence drawen swordes in their handes with helmes on their heades as in time of warre After theÌ„ came Archelaus his sonne that was made king Then folowed him all the people There were fiftie of his seruauntes that wente aboute the beare with euery man a chafing dishe of gold in his hande wherin they burnt swete woodes and perfumes euery foote casting vpon the herse pure miâ—rhe as many as went aboute hym He was borne by certayne great lordes noble meÌ„ of Israel vpoÌ„ their sholders going leasurably and with a maiestie til they came to ErodioÌ„ where they buried him with great honour that like was neuer done to any king These thinges done there resorted together suche as hated him were wery of their owne liues whiles Herode liued reioysyng that they hadde scaped his haÌ„des saying we haue loked till our eies bleared waytinge for the death of Herode that tirant and bloud sheder that oppressed vs with such heauy yokes left vs nothing to liue on for the great tributes taxes that he layd vpon vs. Yet now Archelaus his sonne is worse then he Wherfore thei coÌ„sulted together cast their mindes good willes toward Antipater the sonne of Salumith the kinges sister one of the bloud of Chasnonani and went with him to Oct. Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he woulde not graunt theÌ„ their sewte Yea rather he coÌ„firmed assured the kingdom to Archelaus Who wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord for he maried his brother Alexanders wife that had children by Alexander coÌ„mitted other many great offences The .ix. yeare of Archelaus reigne it chaunced vpon a night he dreamed a dreame Him thought he saw .ix. eyres of corne very good full grow vpon one stalke theÌ„ came a great oxe and slopt them vp all at once at one bit by and by he waked and perceiued it was a dreame Therfore calling one of the Sages or Pharisies vnto him he shewed them his dreame The wise man said This is the interpretacioÌ„ of it The nine eyres freshe and ful be the .ix. yeres which hither to thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great kinge Octauian Augustus This yeare thou shalt be remoued from thy kingdoÌ„ because thou hast neglected the worde of God hast maried thy brothers wife To this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within fiue dayes after Octauian came toward IerusaleÌ„ and when Archelaus weÌ„t to mete him he put him in prison deposed him from his kingdom of Israel made Antipas his brother kinge in his stede He turned his name also called him Herode That done he returned to Rome whiles Antipas was king died themperor Octauian Augustus the .lvi. yere of his reigne Tiberius Cesar succeded him This Antipas also wroughte wickednesse and sundry abominations more then any that was afore him for he toke his brother Philips wife froÌ„ him which had al redy childreÌ„ by Philip. For this shamful deds rabbi Ihon the hie priest rebuked him Ihon baptist wherfor Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Iesus a wise man if it be lawful to cal him a man Iesus Christ for he was a worker of woÌ„derful straunge workes a teacher of such meÌ„ as gladly did heare the truth had many disciples both of the Iewes also of the geÌ„tils This maÌ„ was Christ whoÌ„ after he was accused of the chiefe rulers of our natioÌ„ condeÌ„ned bi Pilate to be crucified thei neuerthelesse ceased not to loue which loued him euen froÌ„ the beginning To these he appeared the. 3. day aliue according as the prophets by deuine inspiratioÌ„ had told before aswel of this as also of many other woÌ„derful thinges which should be done by him And eueÌ„ vnto this day the christiaÌ„ sect which toke their name of him doth coÌ„tinue Against this maÌ„ Antipas of whom we spake before came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whoÌ„ whan Antipas resorted he appreheÌ„ded him laid him in irons sent him into Spaine where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius reign TheÌ„ Tiberius made Agrippa the soÌ„ne of Aristobulus whoÌ„ Herode put to death Antipas brother king in his stede The time that Antipas reigned ouer Israel was .xi. yeres In Agrippas time died Tiberias Cesar Caius succeded him This Caius called him selfe a god and would suffer no man to worship anye thing in his empire but him self He coÌ„tinued not loÌ„g in his digniti but decaied died After him succeded Claudius Claudius beinge deade Nero Cesar was emperor Agrippa reigned ouer Israel xxiii yeares In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presideÌ„ts ouer theÌ„ left them nothing to liue vpoÌ„ besides that punished theÌ„ with diuers tormentes vntill at lengthe they were constrayned to rebell agaynste the Romaine Empire and Nero Cesar to rid them selues from vnder his subiection And aboue all other one Pilus president and captaine of the Romain armye mooste greuouslye oppressed the Iewes and had done many things very wickedlye For not only had he shed innocent bloude rauished at his pleasure wifes and deflored maides in the cities of Iuda but also robbed with great cruelty euery man of his goodes It chaunced that Beronice king Agrippas sister came at that time to Ierusalem of deuotion to visit the holy place She seing Pilus violently to oppresse the people and for paiment of exacttoÌ„s and tollage to flea many of them euen at the entrance of the temple she came forthe wepinge vnto Pilus besechinge him to be fauourable spare the people for she pitied them very greatli Yet Pilus relented nothing but wheÌ„ she was departed from him he flouted mockt her although she were the kings sister that in the temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valeant yoÌ„g man Eleasar sonne of Ananie the hie priest He whiles his father was executing his office could not abide to se the Israelites so ordered at Pilus handes but being enkindled with a ferueÌ„t zele souÌ„ded a troÌ„pet wherby there asseÌ„bled about him forthwith diuerse coÌ„panies bandes of yong meÌ„ good warriours by whose aid he raised a great coÌ„mocion encountred with Pilus the Romainsouldiours of whome he made a great slaughter preuailing much and getting at length thupper haÌ„d of Pilus ouerthrew al his host so that Pilus was constrained to fle alone out of IerusaleÌ„ vnto Egipt In the way as he fled he chaunsed to mete with kinge Agrippa coÌ„ming from Rome from Nero Cesar and going home into Iudea to whome Pilus declared what had happened him thorow the youth of the Iewes at Ierusalem And as Agrippa had passed Egipt and drue toward Ierusalem his sister Beronice directed her letters vnto him
in Scithopoles I will speake vnto you a fewe woordes full of lamentacion and sorowe Nowe I perceiue that iustli and not without a cause ye make warre against me withoute any fauor or cōsideracion that I haue deliuered you from the hostes of the Iewes neuer suffred thē to do any displesure to you your wiues and children nor to your city as they had done to other cities of Siria For I am he that for your sakes haue warred against my country men to please you withall yea bothe their bloud and mine owne haue I pledged vnto you and haue kept immolated the loue of straungers hatinge mine owne people of whome for your pleasures I haue slain oft both the fathers and the children and nowe you render euill for the good that I haue done vnto you But in dede God of his iust iudgmente hathe stirred you vp to rewarde me in this sorte to murther me that haue so oft receiued you Now therfore ye shall beare me witnesse that I shal sufficiētly and sharpli inough take vengeaunce of my self not withoute rage and furye most seuerly because I haue slaine my felowes frendes I will therfore likewise slea my selfe to be auenged of my self for my brothers bloude that I haue shed and so shal I be a reuēger of their blud And ye shal wel perceiue me to be of that hardinesse courage that rather then ye shuld slea me and after boast bragge how ye haue killed Schimeon I wil bereue my selfe of my life and punishe the sheadinge of my brothers bloud none otherwise then the law punisheth a murtherer and a māqueller When he had spokē this his eies were filled with bloud his face with rage and so inflamed with furie latynge aparte all pity ran and caught holde of his father haled him oute of the woode and slue him Then slue he his mother least she should intreat him for the children and be sory for their sakes That done his wife came runninge of hir owne accord and held her necke downe to the sword leaste she shoulde be constrained to see her children die Yea Schimeons children came and offered them selues to be slain least they should see the deathe of their father or remain after him to be deliuered to the ennemies After this he slue all his hole family that not one of his shoulde come into the hādes of their enemies Finallye he gathered their bodies together into one place like a valiaunte stoute warrioure and then boldlye goarded him selfe vpon his owne sworde least any mā else should impare his strēgth or boast that he had killed him Al this Schimeon did with a greate courage to take punishment of him self because he had bestowed his loue rather vpon straungers then vpon his owne people and to declare his force and manhode So he died an abhominable and detestable death saue onlye it was an argument of his hauty minde great courage as it is said before NOw when the Iews had thus rebelled against the Romains slain their souldioures and captaines king Agrippas went to Rome and recounted vnto Nero Cesar the Emperour of Rome al that was happened Wherevpon Nero sente captaine Castius that was at that time in Siria had made warre vpon the kinge of Persia had vanquished him and al his power and subdued hys dominyons to the Romaines and with him a puissante armie of Romaines commaunding him to go into Iudea to offer peace vnto the people to comfort them and to bringe them again into league with the Romaines if it might be Castius therfore toke his iourney toward Iudea whom Agrippas met in the waye informed him what had happened vnto him of the Iewes howe he had offred them peace and they would none of it howe also they had burnte his palaice sacked it Castius hearing that was verye glad that he had gotten suche an occasion to reuenge the bloude of the Romaines and Sirians whiche the Iewes had shed Wherfore he leuied a mighti army and came to Cesarea And whersoeuer he might espy the goodliest buil dinges those caused he to be burnte From thence wente he to the citye Iapho which he besieged both by land by water and at length wan it where he slue in the streates eyghte thousand and foure hundreth menne After that he came to Iabes where he fyrste brente all the Countrye aboute it and whom so euer he caught withoute the town he slue them But the citizins of Zippori went out to mete Castius besought him of peace whom he spared came not nie their towne nor slew any that dwelt in their countrey The sedicious Iewes that were in the citye of Zippori hearing of Castius cōming fledde vnto the mountains But in the waie they lighted vpon part of Castius army wherof they slew .ii. hundred mē and wounded their captaine Glaphira Yet at lengthe the sedicious were put to flight and manye of them Glaphira with his horsmen pursued ouerthrew and distroyed the rest fled to the mountains Then Glaphira captaine of Castius armie wente to Cesaria that was subdued to the Romaynes there to cure his woūds that the Iewes had geuē him From thence wente hee to Antipire which as he would haue assaulted perceiued it to be furnished with a greate power of the Iewes sedicious These hearing that Castius also was cōming thei went purposely to fight with him but perceiuing that Castius power was very great thei determined to encounter with him in the plaine of Gibeon 50. miles from Hierusalem Wherupō the Iewes with their companies fayned them selues to flee to thintent they might stale the Romaines after them And within .vi. daies they came to Gibeon and there rested Castius pursued after with his whole hoste till he came to Gibeon whiche he besieged and assaulted also It chaunced then vppon one of the Sabbothes in the mornyng watch the Iewes armed at al places issued out of the towne to geue their enemies a Camisado So after they had geuen a token of warre they marched towarde the hoste of Castius whereof they slewe 515. horsemen and fotemen 27. thousand with the losse of onely 22. of their owne companie In that battaile did well appeare the valiantnesse of Mugbas a captain of the Iewes armie One Baudius also plaied the man at the same time for at the commaundement of Eleasar the priest chief of the sedicious he set the first fote within the Romains cāpe Then began the Iewish warriours to be famous after they had once so manfully encountred with the Romains This done Castius and Agrippas sente their embassadours yet once agayne to Hierusalem to Eleasar the sonne of Anany the priest chiefe of the rebels that were in Iudea and Hierusalem requiring peace and to come in league with Eleasar least the people the people of the Iewes shoulde be distroied bi the Romains incursions and inuasions on euerye side But Eleasar refused to heare the legates and slewe one of them because he made
heinous offence against the Lord if I should kil my self And howe say ye you princes that sticke vnts your God to you I speake tel me who shall make intercession vnto God for vs if we should commit this sinne and eche kil other Wold not a man iudge him a slaue a foole a froward person a rebel and a stubburne man that woulde be forced with any misery to be so maâ— that because all thinges fall not oute as he woulde wishe woulde therefore hange or desperatly murther him self with his owne hands Such ye know the law thus punisheth their righthaÌ„d is cut of wherewith they forced them selues to die then they are lefte vnburied as men that haue destroied their owne soules by what reason then shall we kill oure selues I woulde wishe that we mighte be slaine of oure ennemies rather then we shoulde so shamefully murther our selues wherby euer after we shoulde be taken for manslears if anye manne flea him selfe as did Saule whome ye commended withoute doubte he committeth a heinous crime and suche a one as no satisfaction can be made for Besides that he shall be reckened fainte hearted and as one that dispaireth of his recouerye Wherefore our forefathers haue taughte vs. A man oughte not to despaire of his sauegarde and deliueraunce vvhiche commeth of God no not vvhan the knife is put to his throte to cut it For kinge Hezekia of famous memory when he heard these woordes of Esaye that worthye prophet Make thy vvil and set thy thinges in a stay for thou shalt die and not escape Neuerthelesse he fainted not nor ceassed to pray vnto God for the proioÌ„ging of his life in this worlde that he might amende his life and send a better soule vnto God Then the Lorde God of Israel seing his vnweried and strong hope with his repentaunce â–ª suffred him to liue .xv. yeares yet longer But Saul that saw he was not appointed kinge ouer Israel after the Lordes minde but alonely by the peoples that craued vppon Samuel Geue vs a Kinge to reigne ouer vs Whereuppon afterwarde God departed from Saule for he was not obediente to Goddes will but wente aboute by force to establishe his kingdome The Lorde then seynge the wyckednesse of hys hearte gaue him ouer and chose him an other to be kynge ouer hys people annointinge Dauid hys seruaunte whyles that Saule was yet liuinge Whiche Saule perceiuinge persecutinge Dauid and laboured with all his endeuoure to destrdy him because he knew God was with him and prospered all that he did whereas contrary al went backward with him For these causes I say he chose rather to die then liue and would not liue after the people of Israel was ouerthrown in the mouÌ„tains of Gilboa And in mine opinion he slue him selfe for nothinge but for that he was a â—aint harted coward and vtterli dispaired of his sauegarde For althoughe he saide Leaste these vncircumcised come and run in throughe yet if he had bene of a valeant courage he woulde haue standed to his defence vnto the death perauenture God woulde haue deliuered him But he contrary al in dispaire procured him self and his sonne a shamefull deathe But ye shall consider this He was an vnmerciful king and therfore did Gâ—â—â—rid him out of the worlde for he that wil not spare his own life and his sonnes howe woulde he spare other And where as ye alledge Aaron vnto me I woulde know of you why did he put him self betwene the liuing and the deade was it not because he would turne away the plage from Israell If he had knowen that he him selfe shoulde haue bene stricken therewith doubtlesse he woulde not haue striuen against the striker but trusting in the holines of his righteousnesse he stode before the Aungell to deliuer Israell from that miserie I am not to be compared with Aaron albeit I am one of his children and neuer yet in all my life did I shrinke to venter my life in the warres of the Lorde And nowe I am not determined to kill my selfe lest I should sinne against God and spoyle my soule of hope of saluation I know it well it were more expedient for me to be slaine of mine enemies then that I should slea my selfe And if ye say the word let vs go forth and sodainely set vpon our enemies to kill and to be killed in the battaile of the Lorde and so shall we do well peraduenture GOD will geue them into our handes For God is able to saue as vvell by a small armie as by a great Then if you see me to be afrayed of mine enemies sworde â–ª ye shal therbi know me to be a dastard and one that fawneth vppon his enemies and huÌ„teth for their fauour But you shal see me go afore you as a valiant man should nor once turn my face from death But what did ye euer see in me that ye should iudge me fearful Did ye euer knowe mee to refuse to fight In the towne of Iorpata I haue euer kept my quarter and warde and euery daie haue I fought with mine enemies whom I haue not spared but empaired and that not a little whiles I defended that little citie 48. daies against them For I thought wyth my selfe peraduenture I maye driue away the ennemyes of the LORDE out of our Lande and put theim by Hierusalem that they goe not thither and so haue I foughten with theim tyl all my valeaunt Souldioures be spente and none lefte but you I coulde no lenger withstande their force and I woulde not yelde my self as a Prisoner vnto them therfore I sledde hither with you into this Caue Now therefore brethren ye shal vnderstande that death is commodious and good in dede whiche commeth in his time But it is neither good nor godly for a manne to kill him selfe and his brother to go afterwarde â–ª for that deede into Hell and perdicion And what other thing can more clearelye set for the a mannes manhode and hautye minde wyth hys hope in GOD then Pacience for a manne to suffer pacientlye what so euer chaunseth vnto hym vntyll hys ende come Beholde the Lyons and other Beastes howe they are wonte to wythstande their aduersaries that lye in wayte for theim to the intente they maye saue their lyues Whose armoure is their Teeth and Clawes wherewyth neuerthelesse they hurte not theim selues but vse them against other that assayle theim til they ether ouâ—rcome or be ouercommed Therefore if a manne wyll wyth his owne handes let foorthe his soule oute of his closure before his tyme God will not receiue it neither shall it finde anye reaste but be destroyed And whye Because it is expulsed and thruste out of his place before his time and before God dooe call it wherfore it shall wander inconstantlye for euer Whye then my deare Brethren and frendes dooe you aduise vs to kill one another and to expell and banish our Soules from vs they not called for Howe can wee put awaye this opprobrye Howe can
haâ—â—d them as men voyd of all perceyuing without weying considering that sence the timeye were vnder theÌ„ ye haue alwayes liued in most quietnes and peace I my self when I withstood the Romains in Gahle knew very wel that I shuld be ouercomed at lenght but I cold do nothing for the seditious persones that were with me whyche wolde in no wyse folowe my counsel yea it stode me in hand to take heed of myne owne person that I wer not killed of them after I had once counseled and moued them to geue vp the toune Wherfor seyng the matter stood soo and God knew my hart I thought beste to fight agaynste the Romaynes as I mought and when occasion serued to escape to the Romaynes to take it Further whan I was in the caue wyth my forty coÌ„pamoÌ„s I had ben lost vndone had not God geueÌ„ me couÌ„sel making me away to escape saue my â—yfe For they had almooste slayne me bycause I gaue them councell to yeld them selues to the Romaynes and to obey them For I sawe this was the tyme for the Romaynes to beare rule and that God had appointed them to be Lordes ouer all nacions For this is hys manner lyke as aboue he hath made some to be rulers ouer other some euen so benethe also he hath set rulers ouer the kinges of the earthe Who can iudge him that is stronger then he The Romaynes at thys presente haue the dominion ouer all landes and people ouer the Aegiptians Assirians Persians and Chaldeis to euery one of these you haue bene in bondage and ouer other nationes also whych neuerthethelesse till theyr ground sawe mawe plante and gather in theyr fruytes who hath the profyte of thys goodes and labour but the Romaynes who whyles the other toyle and trauayle liue in peace rest theÌ„ selues wherfore mark this also my brethrn the king of Macedonia but at this daye theyr empyry is taken frome them and they ar become subiectes to the Romaines They whan the Romaines fyrste fet vpoÌ„ them were very hautye and coye determined to resist the Romaynes Notwithstanding they were ouer come of the Romaines and are vnder there subiection at this daye What shuld I speake of the people of Philistins Which her to for alwayes haue vexed anoyed you doth not the meanest amongst al the Princes of the Romaines bear rule ouer them what hope then haue you to escape when ye know the Philistins were euer stroÌ„ger then you you were oftentymes ouercome of them as for example Saul your kinge was slayn by them But you wyll saye Dauid the annoynted of the Lorde of Israel pulled them doun and brought them into subiection Wote ye what then God loked vpon you with a favourable contenauÌ„ce and fought your battayles him selfe but at thys day he is in no wyse present with you for he hath turned away his countenauce of saluacion from you bycause you haue sinned against hym And which of you can say he hath intelligence of the secrete of the Lord or hath receiued any such watche word as god gaue at that tyme vnto Dauid 2. Samuel 5. VVhen thou shalte heare a sound of mouing in the toppes of the Mulbery trees then shalt thou set forvvarde for then shall the Lorde goo forth before thy face to smite the tentes and campes of the Philistines Whosoeuer I say hath knoledge of any such token let him vtter it to hys neyghbour and I cold wel consent to folow it But seyng there is no suche thinge herken vnto me my deare brethren come serue the Romaines in peace tranquillity It shal be no dishonesty for you with the kinges of Persia to be subiecte to the Romaines they that somtyme were your maysters shal be now your felowes and companiones If you wyll perseuer stande in your opinion still I will reason the matter with you thus Tell me I praye you when were euer your auncetors free when were they not entangled with the wars of the gentiles and the dominion of other natioÌ„s had you not euer the victory froÌ„ the tyme you came out of Aegipt vntyll the reign of Saule the sonne of Cis. So long as the lord was your king you were in bondage to no maÌ„ you serued god as your only king But after that your euyll and corrupt desyre stired you to be yrk of the lorde and lest he should reygn alone to chuse a man to haue the dominion ouer you according as the custome was in other nationes I meane Saul the son of Cis and the other kinges euery one then serued you him you your sonnes the chefest of you became his ministers your goodliest doughters were made his coÌ„fectionaries his cookes his bakers After Saule reygned Dauid of worthy memory who ruled ouer manne nations But euen he also brought you into bondage and put dyuers of you to death to satisfie hys pleasure withall He beyng dead you serued Salomon his sonne who neuer a whit lesse them the other euen as he listed exercised dominion ouer you he also toke vp your sones and doughters and made them his slaues After thys came other moste wicked kinges so the from that tyme your cuntrye began to go to wrecke and he that was the beste amongst them was Rehoboam whyche sayde vnto you my father corrected you with whippes but I will scourge you wyth scorpions And so dyd the reste of the kynges whyche reigned after hym very fewe of them pleased God All thother wrought abomination not one of them did any good or reygned in the feare of the Lorde And in this maner remained the Empyre longe tyme with you vntyll the kinges of Chaldea came and led you captiue into Babilon where as you were kept vntill Coresches tyme king of Persia who seÌ„t you agayn into your cuntrey wyth a woÌ„derful deal of gold and siluer with great honour which was couÌ„ted vnto him for rightousnes After Coreschs death rose against you the most wicked kinges of Grece who warrynge vpon you gaue you greate ouerthrowes vntill God stirred vp the spirites of certaine sage priestes of the stocke of Chasmonani that reuenged your iniuries At that time were you brethren and frendes of the Romayns and frendship grew betwixte you manie yeares After that you fell from the stocke of Chasmonani which had deliuered you and chose one whose name was Herode who oppressed you grenouslye After him succeaded Archelaus his sonne he yet layed a sorer yoke vpoÌ„ you wherfore falling from him ye protested neuer after to serue the Kynges of Iuda So goynge to the Romayns willinglye you submitted youre selues vnder their subiection to serue Augustus themperour who ordred you gentilly Him you serued as other nacions did and it was to your prayse because ye were vnder a good gouernoure Therfore nowe my brethren and children of my people what meane you at this present that you haue determined to dye and dooe not rather spare your selues and your children Consider
thyther we shal be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sonnes and prepare vs a place O that I might goo before you the lorde knoweth I would doo it gladly But ye my sonnes maruell neuer at thys that is chaunced vnto vs for it is no new thing suche lyke hath happened before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus bi his wickednes put to death the seuen brethern yong men in the sight of theyr mother whiche was a righteous and a godly woman who chaunced to find this mercy at the lordes handes that she might kisse her sonnes and embrase them as they also kist one an other before they died Al thei wer put to death by the crueltye of the vncircumcised king of the Macedonians yet obteined they that which is denied at this daye to vs the are put to death by Schimeon who hathe the name of an Israelite who beareth also the couenaunte of oure father Abraham in his flesh And would God it mighte fortune vs to liue in their inne or place of reast whiche al be it it wil not be graunted yet we shal be their neighboures seinge that we also die for the law of the lord Therfore be of good comfort my soÌ„nes and lament not for my sake for I iudg this my miserie easier and not so great as the calaâ—itie of Zidkiahu whose sonnes were firste killed then his eyes put out by the king of Chalâ—ea and he liued manâ— yeres after we are so much the more happier in my minde because we shal dye together Then said Amittai to Schimeons seruaunte whiche should kill him Make spede I pray thee and kil me first before my children die then after kill them also that we maye die together for so it is more expedient for vs then to se the temple of the lord tourned into a butcherye or slaughter-house to slea men in After cryed he vnto God saiyng I beseche thee O Lord God most high whiche dwellest in the hyest iudge this Schimeon accordynge to his works reward him according to his deseruings For thou art the god almighty dreadful let not this thief die therfore amongst the people of thy pasture but that his death maye be seuered froÌ„ the death of other men let him dye a horrible and a sodayne death that he haue no time to confesse his sinneâ— and to returne him selfe to thee that thou maiest receiue him for thou art wontâ— to receiue theim whiche turne to thee by repentaunce for he is not worthy of repentaunce which hath spoyled wasted many goodly thinges in thy teÌ„ple besides that hath murdered most holye men in the same To thintent therfore that thy iudgementes may be declared in him I beseche thee make him to be taken of his enmies together with his wife children and family al that euer loue him Nether geue vnto his soul any part with the people of god nor let his porcion be with the iust men in thy sanctuary for he is vnworthy of theÌ„ bicause he hath not only sinned him self but hath caused Israel to sinne Wherfore let his iudgmeÌ„t sentence go forth froÌ„ thy sight that he may se his wife children his hole house led into captiuity boÌ„dage before his face Afterward let him die a straunge death such as neuer maÌ„ herd of let him be kild of must cruel men which wheÌ„ thei haue smiteÌ„ him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet aliue and that he may see his go into bondage Let him also be a curse before al that shall see him More ouer let him perceiue that my wordes and desteny is better then his when as I go vnto thee in that great light which he shal be depriued of After these wordes Amittai said to the seruaunt who was appointed to kill him I beseche thee let me finde so much fauour atthy handes that when thou hast slain my Sonnes thou wouldest kill me with the same sworde while it is yet wet with the bloud of my sonnes that our bloud may be mingled and this maye be a recreation to my soule Kil me also in the sighte of the Romaines that they maye auenge me and my sonnes vpon this most cruell Schimeon they shal be witnesses againste him that I was not their frende But would God my matters were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceiue me to be an ennemye of Schimeons and a frend of theirs â–ª Woulde God I had withstanded Schimeon at the first so earnestly as I made warre vpoÌ„ the Romaines that I might haue auoided his cruelty from the people of God when he had said al these things he prayed before god almighty saying O God which dwellest in the highest thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy iudgements consider and iudge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is be comen vnmeasurable vpon the people of God that he whiche sheadeth the bloude of them that feare thee in the midst of the temple may be rebuked of thee with thy rebukinges according to his workes make spedy vengaunce prolonge not and that for the deathes sake of thy saintes for thy iudgemeÌ„tes are the iudgementes of truthe Then Schimeon gaue commaundemente to four cut throtes of his that thre of theÌ„ should kil Amittais thre sonnes before their fathers face the fourth shoulde kil Amittai him self and so the blud of the sonnes was mixte with the blud of their father Afterwarde Schimeons seruaunte tooke the bodye of Amittai and layde it vppon the bodyes of hys sonnes as his desire was then tumbled them ouer the walles After that commaunded Schimeon that Chananehu the hie priest shuld be put to death whose bodye was caste vnto the bodies of Amittai and his sonnes Aristius also the scribe one of the noble men of Ierusalem was killed at the same time and ten mo iust men of his kinred and house because they murned for the deathe of Aristius It fortuned while Schimeon was a killing of those ten certaine substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfullye amased when they sawe the thynge sayinge one to an other Howe longe wyll God suffer the malice of Schimeon and wyll not searche oute the bloude of iuste menne nor reuenge them Certain seditious persons hearinge this tolde it vnto Schimeon who commaunded them to be apprehended and murthered the same daye After this there passed by a leuen of the noble men of Ierusalem whiche seinge two and fortye innocentes to be put to deathe by Schimeon they lift vp their eyes to the heauens and said O Lord god of Israel how longe wilt thou hold thy hande and kepe in thine anger againste these transgressoures of thy wil whiche whan Schimeon heard of he commaunded them to be apprehended and killed them with his owne handes Eleasar the sonne of Anani the prieste seinge the malice wickednes of Schimeon to be great that he made away the iust and godly
people and offered him selfe to die for his people that the plage mighte cease from Israell Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the fielde Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed But hee when he sawe Israell haue the ouerthrowe in the battaile hadde no desire to liue anye lenger but chose rather deathe then life and woulde not be seperated from his brethren nother in life nor death as wel hee as Ionathan his Sonne those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne as the scripture termeth theim Why doest thou not remember our deare Prince the righteousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde who seinge a moste greuous pestilence to rage vppon the people of Israel saied Let thy hande O Lorde I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house For I am hee that haue sinned I haue transgressed as for these thy sheepe what haue they done What haue they offended Where is the holye Lawe smothered and stifled in thy hearte Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart with al our soul and withall oure strength If it be so that the seruice of God consisteth not in this that we should loue whome he loueth and die for his couâ—uaunt and saÌ„ctuary together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord Wherin staÌ„deth it then Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord his sanctuary his people and his law he is to be counted in the Lordes lot made worthye to goe vnto the greate light and shal not see euerlasting darknesse Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest that hast cried so ofteÌ„ in battail I am Ioseph the prieste consecrated to battaile that haue vowed my life for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye and his lande But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them and they order the dispitfullye what wilte thou say vnto them or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes I put the case they cast in thy teeth say thy wordes be but lies How shalt thou auoid that reproche Arte not thou he that saidst men shoulde fighte for the people of God vntil they die in the conflicte and in so doinge their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said whye then wilt thou shun deash and not folowe thy people that are gone before thee to that same lighte Euer hitherto thou hast had the vpper hand wher so euer thou camste in so muche that they that hearde of thee trembled for feare and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines as a vile slaue Shall not this thy dishonoure redound also vnto the people of God Thou that arte a prince a kinge and priest wilt thou be bound in cheines Euerye man shall saye this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die but hath â—â—ued him selfe and his owne life So when they hadde made an ende of talke eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue sainge Hearest thou thou Iosephe oure Prince if thou wilte be ruled by vs firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on that thou maiest die honourablye But if thou refuse to dye honestlye assure thy selfe of this that we will euerye manne set vpon thee and slea thee Ioseph aunswered In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him and receyue it vnto hym also For I am not ignoraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes But hee knoweth the secretes of mannes hearte and he it is that geueth life vnto menne It is God that closeth soules within the bodies and letteth theim oute againe bicause he is the liuinge GOD in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures He hath left with vs a Spirite of life and closed it vp within oure bodies What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut How shall we loose that that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe and that wee are his seruauntes If then we cast awaye life before that GOD take it shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous memorye and wyth other iuste and godlye menne our forefathers Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called and when they were called they came and soo dealt GOD with all holye and Godly men To Moyses our master of worthie memorye the electe of GOD ye knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim and so he did But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe had not God called him Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a maÌ„ to surrendre his life vnto God excepte he require it againe Take example I praye you of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in mighte not he ether haue hanged him self or haue run vppon a knife or at the least haue folowed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die Not withstanding he abode paciently in most extreme paine waitinge til God demaunded again his life and then restored it vnto his Lord god and would not restore it vndemaunded but taried till hys appoynted ende came King Dauid also of famous memory saide Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye and that none mighte let it forth but God I wot wel that death is a greate commodity so be that the soule may return in his due time vnto God that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord he shal come to the greate lighte But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth him self maketh hast to restore his soul before his time and withoute the Lordes calling Wherfore my frendes brethren I would ye shoulde knowe it I am no more cowarde then you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities but that I know I shoulde commit a