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
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
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
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
wee make amendes for this synne Who shall pray and make intercession for vs And wyth this Ioseph burste oute on weepynge abundauntlye but they laught him to scorne THen Ioseph helde vp his handes to heauen saiynge Thou Lorde almightye art our father thou hast shapened vs and by thy great mercye taken vs out of cley thou art he that leadest vs in thy faieth and the multitude of thy mercies and benignitie towards vs hath not ceassed And although our sinnes haue seperated vs from thee yet neuerthelesse we are thy handy worke euery one of vs and of longe haue ben called thy people Thou art Lorde ouer all creatures soules Thou doest what thou wilt and no man dare saye to thee whye doest thou so Thou arte our father we are cley thou hast geuen vs our shape and fashion Therefore if it please thee to take oure Soules take them by the handes of thine aungels that wee commit none euyll againste theim And if these my fellowes that be presente with mee wyll not bee partakers of my Prayer beholde my life alone for the whiche I beseche thy benigne Clemency if it please thee to take it for thou gauest it mee therefore dooe wyth it whatsoeuer shal seeme good vnto thee it is in thy handes thou lendst it mee and hast preserued it wythin me I will not distroye it my selfe or let it out of prison before thou aske for it For thou knowest that As man can not liue vvithout iudgemeÌ„t so likevvise the same can not die vvithout iudgement Vnto thee therefore do I lifte vp myne eyes thou that dwellest in Heauen to deale mercifullye wyth thy seruauntes and with mee to tourne our heartes that wee consente not vnto thys to murther our selues If thou knowe anye amongst them that entende so wycked an Acte I beseche thee O Lorde my GOD let me finde fauoure in thyne eyes geue them an hearte to heare holesome counsel that I may deliuer my self and mine owne life which I commend into thy bandes that thou wouldest receiue it vnto thee for in thy hand is the life of euerye liuinge creature Thus whan Ioseph had finished his praier he turned him vnto his felowes and saluted theÌ„ Then said they canst thou therfore encline oure mindes because thou hast praâ—ed vnto God for thy selfe for vs did not we tel the erewhile like as we tel the now the we are determined to die by one means or other wher fore say thy minde tel vs what kinde of death thou wilt ende thy life for we haue euer knowen the a iust man and a worthy prince therfore art thou worthy to die first Ioseph perceiuinge that his felowes were vtterlye determined to die and woulde geue no eare to his perswasions for he coulde by no reasons drawe them to his opinion he wente subtilty to worke with them sayinge Seinge it will be none otherwise brethren I wil shewe you my deâ—ise Ye are determined to die ye saye and that vppon your owne sworâ—es therefore there is no better waye then to do it by lot in this wise Let vs caste lottes amongste oure selues that we maye be ioyned together by couples then will we caste lottes whiche couple shall die firste after they two shall cast lottes betwene theÌ„ which shal kil hys fellowe he that remaineth shall chuse him one of the seconde couple to kil him Likewise the seconde couple shal caste lottes betwene them selues who shal die firste and he that is lefte shal chuse him one of the thirde couple whome he hathe a fansy to be killed of â–ª Then they shal trye by lot who shal die firste who beinge slaine the other maye chuse him selfe one of the four the couple to kil him and so on til al be slaine that we see not the captiuitie of oure people The laste couple that shal remaine shal do thus runne one vppon the others sworde or elsse set them caste lottes betwixte theim selues and vpon whome it falleth let him die firste But for asmuche as we are fortye and one so that we can not be iustlye ioyned in couples let vs cast lottes firste of all and see whiche of vs shal firste be slaine and when he is once oute of the waye then lette vs deuide the couples He that is to be staine firste lette him chuse oute one of the firste couple to be slain of and when he is deade the firste couple shall caste lottes and do as I haue deuised Then euery man likt his deuise which was gods doing who hard Iosephes prayer and saide all with one mouth we wil do as thou hast deuised and to the it perteineth to deuide the men and to caste the lottes Ioseph answered but let vs sweare by the name of the lord that this deuise shal stand be ratified and perfourmed Wherunto they accorded and sware all by the name of the Lorde that they woulde haue that deuise to be ratified kepte which Ioseph had inuented of casting of lottes Then Ioseph began to make lottes who should be thod man and it light vpon Iehoiada a prieste sonne of Eliakim a Galilean which was a valeant man and chiefest in euery counsell next to Ioseph and the principall perswader of this wicked fact to kill them selues After that did he craftely deuide them into couples so that the lot of his owne couple came forth last of al who loked to be saued and trusted in God beâ—eninge that he woulde deliuer him from this abhominable dede Then Iehoida chose him one of the first couple who slue him That done the first couple cast lottes betwene them so th one killed his felowe and chose him one of the second couple to kil him TheÌ„ they of the second couple caste lots betwene them selues in the presence of Ioseph and th one killed theother then he that remained chose him one of the thy de couple to flea him And in this manner did they til there were al slaine none lefte aliue but Ioseph and his felowe who said vnto Ioseph go to let vs cast lottes that we may go to our brethren Ioseph answered him we wil do so if thou be so disposed but first heare me I praye the speake a fewe thinges in thine eares Tel me haue not these sinners rebelled against god in thus murthering of them selues so shamefully nether could I by ani meanes diswade them nor haâ—e them from this opinioÌ„ Wherfore shuld we two sinne against God so greuously against our own soules if the lot should so fal that I shuid kil thee I shuld be counted a maÌ„sâ—ear that worthily it may so chauÌ„ce that I shal escape after thee and saue my life But if the lot shoulde so fal that thou shouldest flea me thou shouldest be taken also for a murtherer and perauenture thou shuldest not escape after me and althoughe thou thinkest yes Notwithstanding we lose our hope in god for that we sinne againste oure owne soules For all these men that thou seest heare dead
the .iii. time ye haue approched the wals this is the .iii. time ye haue ben slain for your labours And al this coÌ„meth bicause ye wil not be ruled by me but transgresse your generall lords coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t But now mi brethreÌ„ take hede what ye do herafter it becometh you not to rebel agaiÌ„st mi words which yet ye haue done ofteÌ„times Do ye not remeÌ„bre a certain nâ—ble man of our couÌ„try in the wars of Augustus Caesar against the Persians how he put his own son to death bicause the contrary to his fathers commaundemeÌ„t who was grand captain of the army vnder Augustus he had fough with his enemies yea although he kild iii. PersiaÌ„s But what speke I of once ye haue oftentimes set life by my coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts skirmishing dayly with the Iewes that without al discretioÌ„ rashly out of order wherthrough your coÌ„flicts can haue no good successe If you coÌ„tinue these maners it shall redownde vnto your owne dishonours Wherefore it were better for you to leue of this and lay away your pryde contumaâ—ye and stubburunesse whiche if ye dooe thinges shall be in better sauegarde Muche more spake Titus to his men rebuking them sharpely not mencioned here but declared at large in the volume that wee writ vnto the Romains When he had said his princes and captains fel euery one prostrate to the earth besought him of pardon for their rashnes in that they had so vnaduisedlye and without order against his mind encofitred with the Iewes Then Titus taking pitie of theÌ„ pardoned them requesting theÌ„ to be ware herafter that they coÌ„mitted nothing agaiÌ„st his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t nother in word nor dede so doing theâ— shold haue his fauour auoid his displesure dauÌ„ger of deth for the coÌ„trary But if thei refused to do it whatsoeuer he wer the shold traÌ„sgres his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t he wold not spare him but put him to death geue his body to be eateÌ„ of the fouls of thayre They aunswered all with one voyce We are content with these condicioÌ„s and wil do what so euer thou shalt coÌ„maunde vs. After this Titus considering howe earnestly the Ierosolimites were set one againste an other howe they were become such cruel and morâ—al enemies that eche of them conspired others death he caused the pittes cesterns and trenches that were about Ierusalem to be damde vp and stopte with earthe that the waies mighte be leuilled for his army That don he enâ—aÌ„pt him self nearer the wals Against whiche attempte the Iewes issued not out of the town after their accustomed manner to put them backe from the walles For Schimeon was otherwise occupied he had enterteined ten thousande men of the best of the seditious Iewes and ioyned him selfe to Iacob the Edomite captaine of .ix. thousande Edomites with whome he had made a conspiracy vtterly to destroye captaine Iehochanan And settinge vppon him they coÌ„pelled him to flie into the courte of the temple where he remained in the gate of thentrance of the temple with eight thousand and .iiii. hundreth good men of war al wel appointed in â—acks Eleasar also was against him and ioyned with Schimeon becomming an enemy to him that before had saued his life and so they both together aâ—â—ailed Iehochanan neglectinge the defence of the towne By this meanes the Romaines encamped them selues aboute the walles at their pleasure raisings toures and castinge trenches to plante their iron Rammes vpon to batter the wals The coÌ„mon people of the Iewes that were vnder the rule and gouernment of the three seditious captaines namelye Schimeon Eleasar and Iehochanan which although they were ill inough al yet the tiranny of Iehochanan far passed Schimeon Schimeon was far worsse then Eleasar thoughe Eleasar was the head author and firste beginner of sedicion in al Israel were amongst them as she pe redy to be killed For the forsaid sedicious captains slew the people at their pleasures and deuided them into bandes casâ—yng lots vpon them who should haue which so that one had anothers men another man his And this did they not onelye with their owne men but also with al the rest of the people in suche wise that when the Romains made any assault then ioyned they together as one man to resist the Romayns wheÌ„ they had geuen them a repulse then wouldthey returne to their câ—uel warres fal together by the eares among them selfes Extreme and dreadfull was the ciuyll conflict at that season betwene the thre foresaid captains and so sore that the bloude streamed downe the chanel out of the gates of Hierusalem like as a broke that runneth out of a fountayne and well sprynge The Romeynes seinge it were moued with much pitie that they wept bitterly But Ioseph that was amongst theÌ„ was striken with so great heauinesse that he burst out into a sorowful lamentation liftyng vp his woful voyce in this wise ALas alas Ierusalem the citie of the great kinge howe shail I now call thee at this daye or what name shal I geue thee Sometyme thou wast called Iebus of Iebusaeus that builded thee first in all thys lande After that thy name was Zedek that is iustice wherupon thy kinge Iehoram was called Malkizedek for hee was a ryghteous kyng and because he raygned in thee wyth sustice therefore was thy name Zedek Then ryghtuousnesse hadde his abidyng in thee and thy bright starre that shined in thee was Zedek Moreouer in his time was thou called Schalem as the Scripture witnesseth and Malki zedek king of Schalem and that because the iniquitie of the people that dwelte in thee was then fulfilled For at that tyme chose Abraham oure father of worthye memorye to worship god in thee and to take thee to his enheritaunce to plant in thee the rote of good woorkes Whereupon the tabernacle of God remayneth in thee to thys daye as it was reuealed vnto the same our father Abraham In the say His the sanctuarye of the Lorde For in that place did Abraham binde his onlye Sonne vpon the toppe of one of thy hilles that is called mount Moriah holy and halowed and therfore art thou called Ierusalem because oure father Abraham of famous memory called the place of thy sanctuary Adonai ijreeh the Lorde shall see Then thy late name beinge Schelem this ioyned to it made it Ijreshalem For the Lord God shall behold the place of thy sanctuarye at what time as it shal be Schalem that is pure vncorrupte without lacke or spot but wheÌ„ so euer it is polluted and defiled as it is at this daye then wil he turne awaye his face from it Furthermore thou arte also called Ierushalaim therfore because that who so vnderstande the dignity and worthinesse of the place wherin thy sanctuary is shall bid the angelles of heauen to teache in it the doctrine of the holye ghoste and the spirite of wisdome and vnderstanding wherwith litle childreÌ„ and the vnlearned in thy lande may be made wise He also that ministred in thy
the people that warded that wal wer sain to get them selfes within the sauegarde of the seconde wall â–ª Then Titus commaunded his souldiers to race to the ground that wal that he had pearsed and to carye awaye the stones thereof that they shoulde be no let nor hinderaunce to his men This was the mooste substanciall and strongest wal of al thicker then bothe thother and was builded by Herode The Romaines labouring earnestly in the defacing of the vtter wal were slaine in great noumber by the Iewes from the middle wall before they coulde finishe their purpose The chiefe of the Iewes perceiuing that Titus had not only taken but also quite pulled down the vtter wal howe there was now but two walles left about the towne it went to their hartes and made them loke aboute them therefore began the seditious now earnestlye to thinke of vnity and concord amongst theÌ„ selues so then they deuided the town amoÌ„gst them into three wardes Iehochanan was appointed vnto that warde that is on the Northe parte of the temple beside the Antochia That parte of the town that was toward the tombe of Iochanan the highe prieste was attributed to Schimeon To Eleasar was committed the keepinge of the wall These exhortinge one an other to playe the menne did valeantlye resiste the Romaines so that the conflictes then began to be sore and hard The Romaines for their renown and fame laide on loade and the Iewes againe stucke stiflye to the defence seinge their ende at hande if they were slacke Titus nowe and then exhorted his Souldioures to playe the menne promysinge them that woulde valeauntlye geue the onsette vppon the Iewes aboundaunce of golde siluer and muche honoure withall Then stepte forthe one of his souldiours named Longinus and put hym selfe amongste the routes of the Iewes that were issued out of the toune where he slew a couple of the chiefe of them and streyght recouered hym selfe agayne wythin the araye of the Romaynes But the Iewes shrinkt not frome the Romaynes for they were in a feruent rage and a wonderfull disdayne and to further theyr courage Schimeon came vnto hys men and cryed vpon them wyth a loude voyce saynge For the reuerence of God frendes flye not thys daye who soeuer dothe â–ª flye let hym be sure he shall dye for it and hys house destroyed Titus also admonyshed hys to kepe theyr araye and not to geue back to Schimeon Then wente he hym selfe to that parâ—e of the toune where Iehochanans warde was there he caused an Iron Ram to be planted and bente agaynst the wall for there was a large playne There was at that tyme in Ierusalem one called Kantor who gat to hym a company of the sedicious and shote frome the walles into the Romaynes armye where he slewe very manye compellynge the reste to retyre he wyth nyne other tale felowes whereof he was the Decurian defended one part of the toune Nowe as the Romaynes bended the Ramme to batter the wall Kantor cryed vnto Titus I beseche thee my Lorde Titus be mercyfull of thys moste famous Citie that is almoste bete doune all redye do not deface it vtterly but take pitye of the sanctuary that is in it and destroye not the habitacion of the Lorde God Titus at hys requeste commaunded hys men to staye and to leaue of batterynge the wall then sayed he to Kantor Come forthe hyther to me and thou shalte saue thy lyfe I wyll pardon thee thou shalte not be destroyed Kantor answered I wyl see if I canne perswade these my felowes to come wyth me But he dyd it vppon coloure for none other cause then craftily to tryfle out time to make Titus to leaue of the assaulte for a while So he spake vnto his fellowes that knewe his minde that the Romaines mighte heare Let vs go downe and flye to the Romaine armye Then they drewe oute theyr swordes and made as thoughe they woulde kill him strikinge vppon his harnes and he fel down to the ground in the sighte of the Romaines whiche were ignoraunâ—e of his disceite Then one of the Romaines let flie an arrow that wounded Kantor vppon the face and glauncinge from him slewe an other that stode by him Then Kantor cried oute What do ye will ye shoote at vs that desire to be at peace with you whiche ye graunted your selues and nowe will breake your promisse that ye made vnto vs Is this the rewarde my Lorde Titus that thou rendrest me for goinge aboute to flye vnto thee that thy souldiours shal shoote at me hearinge me to require condicions of peace Nowe therefore my Lorde pleaseth it thee to sends hither some man of honoure to whome I maye come downe and receiue assuraunce of thy promisse and come to thee afterwardes to be as one of thine owne menne Titus thinckinge he mente good faithe spake vnto Ioseph willinge him to goe and make peace with the Iewe in his name then to bringe him vnto him that he might finde sauegarde of his life from the common destruction Iosephe answered Whye wilt thou sende me what haue I offended thee haue I not euer done the true and faithfull seruice Therefore if thou beare me any good will or fauoure sende me not vnto him whome I canne not truâ—â—e for Iosephe mystrusted some subteltye knowinge Kantor afore So Titus sente â—ne captaine Iiarus who sayde vnto Kantor come downe and let vs go together to Cesars sonne Kantor desired him to holde abroade his cloke lappe that he mighte hurle hym downe his monye that he had there least the Iewes perceiuing it woulde take it from him and then he woulde come downe And as Iiarus helde vp his lappe to receyue the money that Kantor spake of Kantor wyth all his myght caste downe a greate Stone whiche Iiarus espiynge lepte asyde and auoyded but it lyghte vppon one of hys fellowes and slewe hym Titus was wonderfull wrothe at thys and foorthwyth planted yet an other yron Ramme agaynste the Walle and at lengthe layed it flatte vpon the grouÌ„d Then commaunded Titus to make fires aboute the Walle whereas the Iewes shoulde escape by Kantor seing that woulde haue fled and as he made haste to scape the fires the weight of bys armour bare hym downe into the fire and there hee dyed more desierous of death then lyfe Then entered the Romaynes within the seconde Walle agaynste whome the Sedicious issued and foughte wyth suche vehemente force that they preuayled agaynste theyr ennemyes slewe manye of the Romaynes and forced the reste to retyre vnto the firste Walle that they hadde beaten downe afore In thys skyrmyshe Titus him selfe tooke a bowe and shotte at the Iewes in suche wyse that no one of hys arrowes were spente in vaine but that it did some anoyaunce vnto the Iewes yet for all that the Iewes gaue theim the repulse from the Towne and the Romaynes were not able to make their partye good wyth theim Wythin foure dayes after came vnto Titus a newe supplye of Souldiours oute of
you and hym Oh my deare children and brethren let neuer this imagination enter into youre heartes for it shall nothinge auail you Why will you my deare brethren and frendes make war vpon the Romains when as they are lords ouer nacions haue pearced the straightes of India of al Isles of the sea euen to the great Ocean sea froÌ„ thence to al the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extreame parâ—es of the earth Yea euen to Brytayn ouer al Scotlande whiche is enupronned on cuerye syde wyth Seas whose people is huge like Gyantes of a bigge stature and of a mightye courage most expert archeâ—s valiant souldiers in battail To whom when the Capitaine of the Romayns came they gaue him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Prynces of the Romaines came they brought them into subiection and seruitude vnder the Romayns But you saye my brethren frendes you wyll rather all dye then serue the Princes of the Gentyles and that death is better for you then lyfe to be driuen to see with youre eyes the calamities of the sanctuarye and people of GOD. Search the histories and chronicles frome the tyme of youre auncestours When was there euer anye tyme wherin you were free frome the yoke of the Gentils Do you not know that Iacob our father of worthy memorye who was alwayes wyth GOD and God with hym toke his iourney into Egypte to bee a straunger in a straunge land amongst a proude kinde of people least he his children housholde and cattell shoulde pearish with honger There he hadde wyth hym his twelue sons whiche he had begotten and dwelt there also with his smal familie for fear of the greuous famine that was at that tyme. Remember you not when that Iudas wyth hys brethren wente downe into Egypte howe Iosephe was moued as a straunger to pycke a quarell agaynste hys brethrene to brynge theim into bondage bearynge yet in hys minde what iuiurye they hadde done hym Wherefore some of theim he caste in Prisone and â—handeled theim at hys pleasure with crafty accusations especially Iuda who was the chiefe amongest them of whom all the Iewes toke their name whoe if he hadde bene so disposed hadde bene able to laye Ioseph at hys foote a thousande tymes not knowynge hym to bee Iosephe Wherefore when he was so roughlye and so sharpelye taunted of hym hee myghte haue killed hym in hys rage For he was a verye bolde manne and a hardye and of a noble courage whiche surely hadde not forced a rishe to haue slayne that Egyptian and moe to of his fellowes Notwythstandynge he did not soo vut contrary submitted hym selfe vnder the yoke of Iosephe called hym his Lorde and good master supposing him to be some Egiptian humbled him self before him to obtain his peticion to get corne least his father his brethren and other familye should die for honger What should I saie of Ioseph so beautifull so wise wittye a man was not he faine to serue in Pharoos house wherein although his wisdome was well knoweÌ„ insomuch that Pharao set more by him then by al the noble meÌ„ that were then aliue was also called lord greatmaster and Pharaos father neuertheles he huÌ„bly besought Pharao that he might sustaine his father and brethrene wyth bread knowyng that at the time the dominion belonged to Pharao his people beinge geuen theim of God And although if Iosephe had list to returne into the lande of Canaan wyth all hys fathers whole housholde without Pharaos leaue no man coulde haue letted hym to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that tyme in Egypte yet did he not so Beniamin also who was likened to a reuenynge woulfe for hys fearcenes when he was fetched agayne by force of Iosephes Stewarde faynyng a lye vppon hym howe chaunced he did not kyll hym Or els when he alone pursued Beniamin and hys other brethren coulde not be if he hadde list haue slayne the felowe and buried him so that the matter shoulde neuer haue come to light Notwythstandyng they did nothinge so nor so but Iudas wiselye waiynge the eraltations and deiections the promocions and disgracynges wyth the common courses of the worlde retourned agayne wyth his brethren into the Citye wente to Iosephe and besought hym vntyl his bowels were moued to pitye and hee was knowen of his brethren All these thinges doth the most holy lawe of the Lord rehearse vnto vs putteth vs in minde of for this intent that we maye learne to beare for necessities sake the yoke of him that hath the preeminence rule for his time Nether let any iudge or thinke the Ioseph offended god in that he submitted him selfe vnder the yoke of Pharao for it is no shame for a wise maÌ„ to crouch vnto him whose helpe he staÌ„deth in nede of whatsoeuer he be much more if he be a kyng or a Lorde Do ye not knowe that oure fathers were in bondage to king Pharao in Aegypt But after the lorde remembred the couenaunt that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Aegipt he sent Moses our maister of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the lorde to be with hym wherby he was able to destroy who soeuer dyd ryse against him neuerthelesse when he came to Pharaos presence who then bare rule in Aegipt he showed not hym felfe in armes but rather wyth thunder and hayle that Pharao mighte well perceyue and knowe God was the Lord. But at what tyme as Pharao oppressed the Israelites to sore oure master Moyses by godes helpe brought them out of Aegipt with a strong hand and a stretched forthe arme agaynste the Aegiptianes whom he punished with continuall plages by that meanes deliuering the Israelites out of the handes of their Lordes and Maisters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heyres of all goodnes that is to saye of the moste holye lawe of God And after Iosua had subdued the holy lande to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chaunsed vnto oure fathers times of aduersitie as it is meÌ„tioned in the bookes of the Prophetes so that they were constreyned to serue the king of Aschur a long season and the kinges of Persia to the Chaldees also were we in bondage althoughe not very greuous but tollerable More ouer with other kinges of the gentiles we had warres and sometimes we were put to foyles sometimes we had the vpper hand Nowe therefore my brethern tell me what shame were it to you if you were subiecte to the Romaines or what ar you to be coÌ„pared to other nations that be vnder theyr dominion Do you not see that the Romaines reigne ouer your enemies and beare rule ouer them that sometimes were your maisters and haters were it not reason rather that you shuld loue them whiche haue brought doun your enemies and reuenged you of them whych notwithstanding you haue nothing at all dooen but rather haue
was in the â—â—tie forbade the Citizins to say â—â—â—â—ye thing to him afterward supposing hâ—â— to be besides him self mad Therfore he neuer left criyng for the space of iiii yeâ—â—â—il the waâ—rrs began saâ—yng Wo to Hâ—erusaleÌ„ to the sanctuary therof When the warres were once begâ—â—e and the towne besieged it fortuned as he wandered about vpon the wals â—â—iyng after his maner and at last adding this Woe vnto my felfe a stone came out of an engine from the campe and smitte out his braines At that time â–ª also there was a wrttynge founde 〈…〉 in a stene of olde whiche the Ieâ—â—â— redde the wordes were these VVhâ—â— tyâ—ne the building of the temple shal be brought to soure square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochâ—â— was taken and raced by the Romains and the walles of the temple were also broken the Iewes makinge spede to repaire the ruiâ—es and 〈…〉 without any remeÌ„â—raunce of this scripture thei made the teÌ„plâ—◠〈◊〉 squarâ— Besides this there was a scripture foâ—â—â—â—e in the wall of the Sanctâ—m sanâ—â—â—um on this wise VVhen the vvhole building of the temple shal be foure 〈◊〉 the â—f hall a king raine ouer Israel â–ª and that king and ruler shal raigne ouer all the lande of Israell Some interpâ—â—ted this vpon the king of Israell But the Priestes saide it is the kinge or ruler of the Romains The whole armye of the Romains being now commed into the temple and the Iewes also fled to the mount Syon the Romaines set vp their ydols in the temple of the Lorde and offered Sacrifice vnto theim blaspâ—eminge and raylinge at the Iewes and their god At that tyme there came downe to the Romaynes a little boye of the priestes from the mount Syon whiche wonte to a â—aptaine of the Romayns that was keper of the temple and desieted him to geue him some water to drinke He toke pitye of the boy and bade geue him water The boy takyng the vessel that the water was in first dranke him self then ranne away with the rest The captaine ranne after him hym selfe but he wonâ—â—e not ouertake hym of a purpose because he was delited with the Boyes doinge wherfore he let him go for the nonces so he gate vp to the priostres gaue theÌ„ drinke On a time when the Romains were aâ— theyr sacâ—â—fyes in the presence of Titus theyr Lordeâ— certayâ—e of the priestes came and besought Titus that be waulde not kyâ—l them to whom Tâ—tus made aunswâ—r why do ye wysh to lyue nowe and nâ—â—â—ather to dye with your bretherâ— that haue 〈◊〉 deathe for the Gods sake of thys house Then Tâ—tus commaunded hys menne to 〈◊〉 them and so dyed they After Schimcon and Iehochanan sent embassadoâ—â—â—â— Titus to requyer peace to whom Titus made â—unswer in 〈◊〉 wyse Ye 〈◊〉 thys thyng to late and howe cometh it to passe that ye now intreate for 〈…〉 lyues when that of so great a number of people ye haue left none saue a â—â—â—y sewe When as also ye haue wasted al thynges most cruelly and despeâ—â—â—â— ytâ— Howe after all these your mischiâ—ons actes ye reguire peace which ye would neuer receyue of me althoughe I desâ—red you neuer so ofâ—e For it â—ityed me to see youre people some to hee vered â—yth honger and some to bee caste â—ute of the Citye wythoute anye buriall But ye hardened youre neckes and woulde neuer admit anye Peace tyll all the people were destroyed Therefore Titus reprehended theim with manye other wordes saiyng vnto theim Tell mee you Sedicious you wycked and synnefull persones haue not you slayne the people of the Lorde You set his house on fire you brought vpon this Citye all this mischiefe Howe can you therefore persuade your selues or presume to desire the sauegarde of â—our liues and why will ye liue alone of all the Sages righteous innocente Godlye and holye menne whom ye haue slayne without anye mercye Howe maye I committe this not to be adâ—enged of you that haue done me so much mischiefe Ye desire lyfe and yet perseuer and continue in your malyce still holding your swetdes in your handes and beynge in Armes neuerthelesse ye entrâ—â—â—e â—â—es to saue youre lyues Haue we not nowe taken the Citye and also the temple the Sanctum sanctoruÌ„ haue wee not burnt it with fire What is there left for you to put anye hope in what loke ye for to remaine Wherfore cast away your swords and laie awaye your armoure then come vnto me and entreat me and then shal I knowe what I haue to do peraduenture I shall be gracious vnto you and pardon you your liues The captaynes of the sedicious Schimeon and Iehochanan made answere to Titus We haue sworne by the Lorde our God who is God of heauen earth â—â—at we wil neuer bear thy yoke no 〈◊〉 thee nor make any peace with thâ—â— to be subiect vnto thee Nowe therfore if it be thy pleasure to shewe vs mercye suffer vs to go out of the Citye and we will take our iourney into the wildernesse whiche if thou wilt graunt vs we wil reporte that we haue founde fauour at thy hande if not wee wyll remayne in this place to see what wee shall determyne and what maner of deathe we wyll dye When Titus heard this he was wonderfully wroth and said remaineth the pride of your hartes and the hardnesse of your neckes yet with you still although ye be taken yet ye dare be so bould to say we haue sworne that we wil not beare thy yoke Yea ye haue sworn vnto death for ye haue despised life when as your citye is wonne the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt and no refuge is left you Wher with theÌ„ caÌ„ ye put away your ignomini shame and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉 Then gaue Titus coÌ„maunde 〈…〉 the Romaines that they should not omit any oportunity to set vpoÌ„ the sedicious by one meanes or other to destroys Schimeon Iehochanan There was at time a certain man of the kinges bloud whose name was Serach he accompanied withal his brethren and sonnes that were there with him of the kinges bloude came downe from the Mount Sâ—on to Titus who receiued them honorably getlely ordered them When Iehochanan Schimeon vnderstode that Serach and the rest were gone and had yelded theÌ„ to Titus they wente and set fire vpon all that was in the kinges palaice that the Romains should haue no commodity therby FRom thence they wente to the temple where they founde certaine noble men and captaines whome Titus had put in authoriti about the temple of whome three were chiefe one captaine of the horsmen the seconde of the charrets and the thirde of the foote men him they killed and toke his companioÌ„ aliue This besought them that had taken him that he might be brought to Schimeon their captaine let hym saith he do with me as he lift and in this one thinge let me finde fauour at your
perswaded him selfe most certainly that he should promote him to the life light of the lord for as much as for the loue of God at his coÌ„maundement he should haue killed him Wey the thing that Ioschiiahu the iust kinge did who settyng at nought this wretched life aspiring to euerlastyng felicitie would not auoyde the ieopardye of hys lyfe when as as he might haue done it For althoughe Pharao Necho said he came not against him but against the kinge of the Chaldeis yet wold not Ioschiiahu heare him but rather procedinge againste Pharao in armes was slaine in the battaile and went vnto that great lights in the garden of paradise which is the lot enheritance of the iust We know that in this world no maÌ„ receiueth the reward of his righteousnesse but it is laid vp for him in the otherworld where he shall reape the frute of hys righteousnesse that he hathe sowne in this world Nether dothe longe life in this world profit a maÌ„ to thobtaining of euerlastinge blisse excepte he worke righteousnes lead his soule forthe of darknes into light like as coÌ„trariwise shortnesse of life hindreth no maÌ„ from euerlastinge happinesse if so be it hys soule haue no defecte in those thinges that pertein to the world to come For Abell whiche was slaine of hys brother liued no longe life yet whan he had ended it he obteined euerlastinge rest But Kain that liued longe in thys world was a wanderer a runnagate in this earth and after this life weÌ„t to perpetual miserye Nowe therfore my brethren if we also shal liue anye longer our life shal be a miserable life and our daies daies of vanitye and trauel yea our soule as long as it shal remain in this body it shal be tossed with great â—râ—bulation but if it once go forth then shall it reioyse and neuer be afraide And all the dayes that it is in the bodye it neuer linneth weepinge and mourninge for it is the spirite of life whiche is hedged in within the bodye sinnewes bones and other members none otherwise then if it were bounde with chaines The spirite is also that which quickneth the fleshe that is takeÌ„ of the duste of the earthe for fleshe can not quicken the spirite Besides this the spirite is that which obserueth and marketh the fleshe and searcheth the workes therof so longe as it is in the body Yea the fleshe can not se the spirite but the spirite seeth the fleshe alwayes neither is there anye member of the bodye hidde from it The eyes also of the bodâ—e caÌ„ not perceiue what time the spirite resorteth to the fleshe and departeth from the same for the spirite of manne whiche is hys soule is from heauen but the fleshe is taken from the earthe Wherefore the soule maye remaine withoute the body but not likewise the bodye wythoute the soule and when the spirite comes to the flesh it visiteth it as a neighbour is wonte to goe and see his neighboure and quickeneth it and when againe it departeth from it the fleshe dieth and if the soul wil folowe the desires of the fleshe then thys is the deathe of the soule but if it geue no eare vnto the fleshe then shall the soule come to the lighte of life and the fleshe shall dye Wherfore the soule is glad wheÌ„ it departeth out of the body like as one that hath bene bound is wel apaid wheÌ„ he is dimissed oute of prisone for all the while that the soule is kept closed in the flesh it is as it were a slaue in mooste hard greuous bondage vnder a hard master Therfore wheÌ„ it departeth froÌ„ the body it is glad because it muste go to the garden of paradise thus ye see that in this life the soule is compared to a bond seruaunt slaue Much more then this did he reason of thimmortality and blessednesse of the soule before them whiche we haue omitted here when he had done that he lamented wept moste bitterlye for the case of the city of Ierusalem saying VVhere is now the city of IerusaleÌ„ that great populous city where is that most beautiful citye of SioÌ„ that holy city which made merye the whole earth Oh thou worship of Israell the mirthe of our heartes whither is thy glory come where is thi magnificence O Ierusalem where be the hils of the doughter of Sion where be her kings and princes where be the kinges that were wonte to come to inquire of her welfare in her gates where are her sages and elders her yong and most vavaleaunt men which were iocund and mery in her stretes vpoÌ„ her sabbathes festiual daies where is her famous sanctuarye the dwelling of thalmighty god where is the house of Sanctum sanctorum the habitacion of holinesse wherin no man might set his fote but the hie priest whiche in all ages onlye once a yeare entred into it But now O Ierusalem thou wast once replenished with people renowned amoÌ„gste kinges beloued of God in thee was established the seate of the kingdome of â—ustice and iudgemente whose streetes were paued with moste precious marble whose walles glisterd and shined with the same stone whose gates euerye one were plated with golde and siluer whose wals were builded with great stones moste honorablye whose priestes in the middes of the sanctuary like to angels of God and princes of holinesse with sacrifices and burnt offerings made the lord louing to thee thy people How art thou now stuffed ful of slaine men and carcases whyche haue pearished some by the sword som by famin and how are thi sonnes that dwelt in thee the straungers also the resorted vnto thee to honor thy feastes fallen now in thee How art thou fallen from the hight of thy pride how art thou set a fire and brent euen vnto thy foundations and art left desolate solitary What eye is so hard that can beholde thee what hart so stonye that can abide to see thee How art thou become a buriyng place of carkases and how are thy stretes made void and destitute of liuing creatures they whiche heretofore were replenished wyth liuing are now stuffed with dead How hath the ashes of fire couered thee that the sunne can not come at thee Howe do the aunciente men which in times past did sit in the midst of thee in the seat of wisdom iuogment and iustice now they sit by the carcases of their childreÌ„ to driue awaye crowes and beastes froÌ„ theÌ„ hauing their hoar heades be syrinkled with dust ashes in stead of their glorye And those wemen thy doughters that are lefte they remaine in the houses of theÌ„ that made thee desolate not that they may liue but to be vnhalowed and polluted who shall see all these thinges in thee and shal desire to liue rather then to die who knowing thy magnificence that thou haddest of late and nowe shall see thine ignominye and the dishonour of the same wil not chuse
to dye And woulde God we had bene dead before the we might not haue seene in thee thy reproch or who would bring to passe the we might lacke eyes that we shuld not be compelled to see these mischeues the are in the mids of thee And behold we liue a most sorowful life for our enemies eueÌ„ now afore we be dead cast lots vpon our sonnes daughters to deuide theÌ„ amoÌ„gst theÌ„ to be their seruaÌ„tes handmaids When Eleasar had ended this lamentacion he spake to the people that was w e him thus NOw therfore brethreÌ„ frends take pitye of your selues your wiues children with old men which he with you let theÌ„ not be led into boÌ„dage with out al merci the they be not coÌ„streined to mourn vnder the haÌ„ds of their enemies for if ye do this ye leese withoute all doubte all places that are prepared for you in the world of rightousnesse neither shall ye haue any part in the light of life But rather with your owne handes kil them thus if ye wil do they shal be couÌ„ted as sacrifices most accdptable vnto God and that done we wil after issue out vpon oure enemies and fight against them till we vse valeaÌ„tly for the glory of the lord for we wil nener suffer them to bind vs with boÌ„des and cheins as bond slaues in the handes of the vncircumcised Nether wil we se our aunciente men to be haled by the berdes before our eyes most miserably nor yet oure maides wifes and doughters to be vnhalowed and defloured nor oure sonnes criynge to vs and we can not helpe them for what shal oure life auaile vs after that our land is desolate our sanctuary pulled downe the Romains rauishe our wiues doughters before our eyes and oppresse oure sonnes with a most greuous and hard yoke Nowe therfore it is better for vs to kil al our wiues and childreÌ„ whose bloud God shal accepte thankfullye as the blud of burnt offerings after â–ª we wil issue out vpon the Romains fight til we be al destroyed die for the glory of the Lord our God These menne therfore wente and gathered together their wiues and doughters embrased 〈◊〉 and kissed them saying is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini shame into the landes of your ennemies and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles These saiynges wheÌ„ the people had beard thei droue forth that night in great sorow and pensifenesse weping and makinge great lamenâ—â—cion but they all confest with one accorde that they had rather chuse to die then liue Therefore assone as it was daye â–ª Eleasars companions killed their wines and children caste their bodies into the â—esterns and welles that were in Mezirah couering and stepving theÌ„ with earth Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his meÌ„ and â—orced a battel vpon the Romains of wheÌ„ the Iewes killed a great forte and fought so long till they al died maÌ„fully for the Lord God BUt Titus left a remnaunt of Israel in the citye Iafnah and the villages thereabout and in the estye Bitter and Aossa their villages in whiche place Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the priest yonger brother to Iosephe the Prieste was put in authority by Titus for Iosephs sake ouer al the Iewes which were at Ierusalem At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to â—â—ath â–ª and Ischmael soÌ„ne of Elischa the 〈◊〉 priest Moreouer Titus was minded to haâ—â— put Rabban Gamaliel father of Raâ—chbag to deathe but Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai made sute for him and obteined to saue his life This Rabban Iochanan was he that came forthe of Ierusalem in the beginning wheÌ„ Vaspasian father of Titus came firste against Ierusalem whoÌ„ Vaspasian honoured greatly in so much as when he returned to Rome he commended this Rabban Iochanan to his sonne Titus comaunding him to honor him for he perceiued he was a verye wise man Titus reigned two yeares after he had taken Ierusalem and died He was a very eloquent man expert in the Latin and Greke tong writ diuers workes in both the tonges He loued moste intirely iustice and equitye for he wasted the city of Ierusalem against his wil being compelled therunto Yea all the mischiefe that came vpon it happened through the malice and noughtinesse of the sedicious as we haue touched before And thus far of the warres of the second house ¶ Thus endeth the destruction of Ierusalem Nn. ii ⧠The ten Captiuities of the Ievves i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captiuitie foure times by the handes of Sanherib and foure times by Nabuchadnezar once by Vaspasian and once bi supersticious Adrian First inuaded them Sanherib â—â—ennache â—â—b and traunsposed the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasse He toke awaye also the golden calfe whiâ—he Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had made He ledde them into Halah Habur to the floud of Gozan and to the cities of the Medes This captiuitie was in the time of Pekah the sonne of Remaha ii The second Captiuitie Hoscha the sonne of Ela remained and slew Pekah the sonne of Remalia Afterwarde he became the seruant and subiect of Sanherib seuen yeares Then came Sanherib the seconde time and caried awaye the tribes of Aâ—ar Isachar Zebulon and Naphtali of whom he let go free onely one of euery eight He tâ—ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel iii. After the death of Ahaz raigned Hiz kiahu his soÌ„ne in his steede four yeres Hezekia the fourth yere of whose rain Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria beseging it .iii. yeares and at lengthe roke it in the vi yeare of the raigne of Hiskijahu So led he awaye the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Manasse This is the .iii. captiuity iiii When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii yeares Sanheriâ— perauenture he made warres againste Ierusalem bringynge wyth hym the Chuteans heretikes out of Babilon E. thiopia Hemates Auim and Sepharuauim and as he warred vpon Iudea he toke in that countrye a. C and. l. cities in the which there were .ii. tribes Iuda and Simeon whome he toke with him caused them forthwith to be led into Halah Habur vntil the king of the Ethiopians rebelled againste him whose kingdoÌ„ was on the hinder parts of Egipt Then taking Iuda Simeon with him he made war with the king of Ethiopia So the holye and blessed God placed them in darke mountains He re was foure captiuities whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib There remained yet of Iuda Cx. thousand and of Beniamin Cxxx. thousand in Ierusalem ouer whoÌ„ raigned Hizkiahu Moreouer Sanherib came out of Ethiopia againste Ierusalem the fifte time leading with him Cx. thousand but the holye Lorde ouerthrewe hym there as it is written And the angell of the
to Schimeon to bring him into the town But Schimeon craftily refused it alledginge what shoulde I come into the towne to you that hate me and of late banished me your towne Yet they ceased not so but sent the same Amittai to him again to intreat him in the name of al the people to come vpon a certain nighte so he entred into the town with his hole army Notwithstanding he was no soner within the town but he brake his promise and league that he had made with the citizens and whereas he had promised to succour them and aid theÌ„ now he was altered and became their ennemie ioyning him selfe with Iehochanan And they two rebelles reigned in the city of Ierusalem by course one one moneth and an other another so where before Schimeons coÌ„myng they thought much to bear the yoke oppressioÌ„ of one sedicious persoÌ„ now wer thei coÌ„strayned to hold down their shoulders bear the yoke of two Yet with in a few daies after ther fel a variance discord betwene Iehochanan and Schimeon about Eleasar priest the sonne of Anani the hye Priest This Eleasar was the beginner and first sower of sedicion amongst the Israeliâ—s whom Schimeon wold now haue put to death to be wroken of his father that banished him out of Hierusalem but Iehochanan toke Eleasars part and defended him For Eleasar was alwayes Iehochanans frende aided him His father was hie priest and bare a great rule in Hierusalem wherfore Eleasar was of great estimation and aucthoritie with the elders so that they durst not reprehend him and his father also loked negligently vnto him let him do what he list because he had no moe sonnes but him So he was the first that assembled naughtye persons together helde euer on Iehochanans side from his first comming to Hierusalem And for his sake fel deuision and dissention betwene Iehochanan and Schimeon so that thei became enemies and warred the one vpon thâ—ther euer after as we shal declare hereafter IN this while Vaspasian had sent Antoni and Mankiminus two noble meÌ„ and of his counsel to Rome againste Vitellius that thei might make him out of the way and then woulde be come to Rome to receiue the imperial crowne there Those .ii captains went therfore raised an army bi whose aide thei set vpon Vitellius slew him not without much ado for there were slain that day at Rome 80. M. good meÌ„ of war WheÌ„ Vasp had word that he was dispatcht he made spede to Rome to his coronatioÌ„ deuiding first his army in .ii. parts wherof he toke th one with him to Rome as a sauegard for him self whatsoeuer shold happen the other he left with Titus his son to besiege IerusaleÌ„ withal So departing he left his son Titus at Alex andria coÌ„mauÌ„ding him to remain there ill suche time as he should signify vnto him otherwise by his letters shewe him what he should do and that in no wise he should medle with the siege of IerusaleÌ„ in the mene space Titus answered I shal do dear father according vnto your coÌ„maundemeÌ„t for to you it belongeth to coÌ„maunde to me to obey Vaspasian toke with him king Agrappas Munabas his son for he feared left they would rebel me Ioseph priest also as prisoner fast bouÌ„d in chains for so had his couÌ„sel moued him saying we caÌ„not say the coÌ„trary but the we haue fouÌ„d no sign of rebellioÌ„ in Ioseph hitherto nether thinke we that he hath gon about any but who can tell whan we are gon hence whither he wil flie to IerusaleÌ„ help to set theÌ„ at vnity and concord theÌ„ they make him their king after he be the sorer enemy vnto vs. Besides this you shal haue nede of him in this iourney he being a maÌ„ of such greate prudeÌ„ce wisdo that whosoeuer foloweth his couÌ„sel shal briÌ„g his maters to good fortunate successe Vaspasian thought their couÌ„sel good and toke me prisoner with him together with king Agrippas his soÌ„ne albeit they had no irons vpoÌ„ theÌ„ nether of haÌ„d nor fote but only had their kepers appointed them that they shuld not step aside And as Vaspasian drue nie Rome all the citizens came forth to meâ—e him receiued him with great ioy mighty shouts Then commaunded he me to be put in prisoÌ„ but Agrippas his sonne he let go at liberty The nerte daye assembled all the Senate of Rome to create Vaspasian emperour after the manner of the Romaines with whoÌ„e was Agrippas and his sonne I also entreated the iaylor to let me haue kepers with me and so to bringe me to the place where he should be crowned and created Cesar which the iaylour grauÌ„ted me went with me him self to the place brought me where I mighte see all that was done Within fewe daies after Vaspasian tooke displeasure with Agrippas vppon the information of certain euill disposed persones that had slaundered him and perswaded Vaspasian that he went about to rebel how he had sent letters to Ierusalem concerninge the same matters Wherefore Vaspasian put bothe him his sonne Munabas to death This befel .iii. yeres and a half before the destruction of Ierusalem Moreouer before this dede the continual sacrifice ceased for a. M. CC. and ninetie daies as it is written in Daniel Capitu. 12. And from the time that the continual sacrifice shal be taken avvaye and abomination shal be put into desolation a thousand 290. daies The same yeare and moneth that Agrippas was put to deathe God moued the minde of Vaspasian to remember me with his mercy wherfore he commauÌ„ded that I should be fetched out of prisoÌ„ brought to his presence And as I stode in irons before him Cesar had me welcom and spake comfortably vnto mee sayinge Thou knowest well that I haue euer loued thee from the daye I firste sawe thee and although I haue kept the coÌ„tinually in duraunce do not thincke I did it of ani euiâ— wil or malice towards thee but rather maiste thou perswade thy selfe I did it leaste the Romaine princes shoulde disdaine or enuy thee saye See here this felow that in our warrs hath endomaged vs so greatly nowe goeth he checkmate with vs in as great fauour as we Let vs kil him and put him oute of the waye But my frende Iosephe be thou of good cheare I will deliuer thee from these iron bondes and thou shalt be with me in no worsse case then as one of mi chiefe princes And I will sende â—hee into Iewrye to my sonne Titus to whome thou shalt be as a father and a counselloure Thou knowest Titus was be that tooke pitye on thee and woulde not suffer thee to be putte to deathe Yea he hathe soundrye times moued me to release thee of thy boÌ„des and to honoure thee whiche I haue differred to do onlye for this cause that I shewed thee I made him aunswere But howe canne I bee quyet or
in suretye of my life as longe as I am in thy company and thy sonnes seing Agrippas his sonne innocently put to death by you Gaesar answered Holde thy peace Ioseph I neuer loked for anye goodnesse of Arippas and hys sonne Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my maiestie and how thei wente about to rebell Thou hast brent their bones with thy hands Doest thou not know how I honoured him and his sonne in Iewrye howe I woulde not suffer mine armye to annoy anye of his Cities I aunswered Yes I knowe it was so as your maiestie saieth Then saied he but for all this hath Agrippas requited me again with euill For what time as the nobles of Rome in Iewry went about to make me emperour thinking me somwhat more mete to rule thempire then Vitellius Agrippas persuaded wyth thē that they should not make me Emperoure affirmynge that there was nothinge in me worthye wherefore they shold promote me to that dignitie And after when he came to Rome he wente from one bishop to an other and caused them go to the hye bishop to accuse me of suche crimes as in my conscience I knewe nothinge at all By this I perceiued that Agrippas heart was ful of rancour and rebellion therefore I iudged him to death For vvhere as vvickednes is there it is mete that condigne punishment should not be slackinge And I put his sonne to death likewise For the sonne of a traytoure ought not to liue vppon the earth because that in his hart remaineth the vvorke of his father being conceiued and borne of a rebellious sede But I haue founde thee alwaies faithful and true and therfore I commend my sonne to thy wisdome With this he commaunded my yrons to be taken away from me and beinge released and at libertie he set me honorably amongst the Princes and Senatours Then saied I vnto him Is not this a great dishonour vnto me that I shoulde be deliuered from my bondes and neuertheles the Israelites that be with me to be kept in prison still Now therefore if I haue founde fauoure in thy sighte and if thou wilte do any◠thinge at my sute loose the bonds like wise of al the rest of the Israelits that be with me set them at libertye also and thou shalt be assured that I wil be thy faithfull counselloure while my life lasteth and an ennemye to thy foes to make warre vppon them that assaile thee Vaspasian graunted Iosephe his request and willed them to be let at libertye as manye as were prisoners with Ioseph Shortlye after sente he Ioseph to his sonne Titus that abode at that presente at Alexandria in Egipt to whome he writte concerninge Ioseph in this wise I send vnto thee here my beloued sonne Ioseph a prince of the Iewes a manne of experience trained in warre in whome is greate wisdome he shal be thy father and faithfull counselour thou shalt not do against his counsel nether one way nor other for he is a wise man Wherfore thou shalt reuerence and honoure him accordinge as he is worthye for the Lorde his God is with him and beleue not rashly anye man that shall defame Ioseph vnto thee Yea rather put him to deathe streighte waye that will accuse him for Ioseph is a faithfull man and a good counselloure and who so is ruled by his counsell shall haue prosperous successe in that he goeth aboute Therefore when Ioseph shall come vnto thee after he hathe refreshed him selfe a fewe daies of the laboures and trauailes of the sea then shalt thou prepare to take thy iourney againste Ierusalem to besiege it And if the Iewes receiue the peaceably and wil submit them selues vnder the Romain empire then beware thou endamage them in nothing but rather repair their cities let them be fre frō altribute for the space of .ii. yeares yet of this condition that thrise euery yere they sette a flagge with the armes of the Romaines vppon their wals that is to say at their thre solempne feastes when as all the Israelites are wonte to resort to Hierusalem to appeare before the Lorde their God Moreouer they shall offer for vs euery feast a sacrifice vpon the most holy alter that is in Hierusalem And if they refuse to make peace with thee thou shalt vtterly race their townes and whosoeuer is left aliue and escape the sworde those shalt thou leade away captiue If so be it they desire to haue Ioseph to be their king we are content therwith In any wise remember to be ruled by Iosephs counsaile he shall be thy father thou his sonne After this Ioseph departed from Rome and came to Alexandria to Titus who hearinge of Iosephs arriual was wonderous glad and al the auncient and wise men with him For Iosephe was full of the spirite of wisedome vnderstandyng counsaile valiauntnes knowledge and feare of God Wherfore he went forth to mete hym accompanied with the captaines of the Romains armye receiued him with great honour Then Ioseph deliuered to Titus his fathers letters Whiche Titus hauinge red saide vnto Ioseph What so euer my father hathe written in these letters I would haue done thē by mine own accord but now that my father admonisheth me of the same I ought to do it the more Wherefore remaine here with me and I will be thy sonne and thou shalt be my father to rule and gouerne me with thy counsel So Ioseph abode with Titus at Alexandria a hole moneth after he came from Rome Then consulted they together to go to Ierusalem and besiege it for Ioseph vnderstode wel inoughe that this came of the Lorde and that his vvorde could not be letted nor hindered Titus therfore and Ioseph with him departed from Alexandria withal their army and pitched their tentes at Nicopolis from thence they came by water to Thanisa so forthe to Iraclea and leauinge that came to Pelisis From thence they trauailed through the desert to Baale Iouim after that to Dicron so to Gaza next to Askelon then to Inboam after to Iapho and so to Cesarea In these iourneis he wan Asam Askalon Iapho withall their townes and castels lying about them THe first yeare of the reign of Vaspasian December the tenthe moneth and senenth daye of the same came Titus with Ioseph and his armye to Cesaria a famous citye built by king Herod In this city he soiourned vntil his hole host were come together as wel of Romaines as of other natione that were vnder the dominion of the Romaines and came to aide them in the siege of Ierusalem Therefore Titus armye was wonderful huge and puissant wherewith he aboade at Cesarea til the could of winter was paste and the moneth of Af drewe nye Iulye The same yeare the ciuil warres grew and encreased in Ierusalem for the Citizens slue one an other withoute anye truce reaste or quietnesse no not in winter when as warres were wonte to cease but sommer and winter both the warres neuer