stones And another like chance hapned A stone came and hit one of Josephs men of war a valiant man in such sort that it divided his head from his body and made it fly a large mile off At the same time one of the Roman souldiers devised with himself how to hit Joseph with a venomed arrow and gat him under a wall where Joseph was to accomplish his purpose but Joseph espied him and cryed to him Hold thy hand thou wicked fellow and do not kill me With that the fellow started somewhat aside being afraid at Josephs voice and suddenly the Jews out of the Town poured hot Oyl upon him from the wall and his skin was scalded off and he ran away naked howling and yelling to the Romans Camp where he died Vespasian and his son Titus were fully determined to continue the assault until the 47. day notwithstanding the walls were so high that they could not win the Town Yet at length the men were so spent within the Town that they that remained alive were so wearied with toyling that they were not able any longer to furnish theirwatch upon the wall This upon a certain night Vespasian and Titus understanding scaled the walls at a quarter where watchmen were lacking and after them many more of the Roman souldiers followed which went down on the inside and brake open the great gate of the Town whereat entred the whole Army of the Romans And being within the Town sounded their Trumpets and shouted to battel The Jews with the alarum tumult and hurly burly of the Romans awaked out of their sleep and were sore afraid Notwithstanding every man took him to his weapon and drew to the Market-place as fast as they might They had made the Market-place of the Town so large of purpose that if any businesse should happen there might come together the whole City if they would and as they looked about them they saw the Roman Army entring in at the Town by the way that came from the great gate Then fought they with the Romans and divided even in the Market-place where they stood exhorting one another and saying Let us die here fighting and never suffer our selves to be taken alive But Joseph and forty men with him worthy men all fled away into a wood where they found a â—…ain Cave and hid themselves therein All the 〈◊〉 of the Citizens were slain in that conflict for they would not yield nor commit themselves to the Romans they trusted them so little For on a time a certain Jew besought a Roman souldier to save his life and the Roman sware unto him saying God deal thus and thus with me if I slay thee therefore yield and come hither to me The Jew required him to give his right hand that he might trust him and the Roman reached him his left hand The Jew being dismayed in that great fear mark't not that it was his left hand But when the Roman had once hold of him he kept him fast with that hand and with his right took his sword slew the Jew that then was naked having cast away his weapon upon trust of the Roman When the Jews saw how the Roman regarded not his oath but slew the Jew that upon the trust of his promise and oath had yielded himself unto him they determined to die altogether and never to trust the Romans Whereupon they resolved with themselves utterly to die for the holinesse of the Lord God of Israel but in so doing they slew much people of the Romans and far more than they had done in any other battel yet at length the City was taken When Vespasian had knowledge where Joseph and his company was he sent Nicanor Pilerinus and Callicanus with him to Joseph to will him to come forth and he should have his life and not be slain upon that Joseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the Den requiring their advice For my part saith he if ye will follow my counsel I think it best we go unto them but upon this condition That they will make us a formal assurance of our lives effectually as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vespasian when we come unto him will extend his favour towards us When these men perceived Joseph to be inclined to yield unto the Romans they said We marvel at thee O Prince Joseph at thee we say that wast chosen out of thousands of people and promoted to the Priesthood and Kingdom to sanctifie and hallow the Lord God of Israel who wast also appointed Captain General of so great an host and hast seen with thine eyes the shameful reproach of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy Sheep that thou hast yet any desire to live in this dishonour What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to live Should'st thou not rather desire death than life Peradventure thou perswadest thy self that they call unto thee to save thy life or for thy commodity but without doubt this were a vain perswasion For they call thee for none other intent than to take thee alive and to brag how they took Joseph that was consecrated and addicted to the Wars and make it an argument that their power prospereth Now therefore our dear Brother and our Prince consider that this they will do yea if they save thy life But put the case they put thee to death Were it not better for thee to die on thine own sword than on theirs yea if it were for nothing but this it is better for thee to die than live lest thou should'st hear their reproaches their upbraidings and their quarrellings and if they preserve thee alive never think they do it for thy good but rather for thy ignominy and shame which is far more grievous than death it self Wherefore our dear Brother and our Prince What comes in thy mind that thou purposest to live after that thou hast lost thy people and thy brethren And to what purpose serveth thy life after they be 〈◊〉 one Mark diligently what Moses of worthy memory our Master did how he spake before God touching the people of Israel O pardon their sins saith he or else blot me quite out of thy book whiâ—…h thou hast written He would not live after the destruction of his people although the Almighty said unto him Let me alone that I may wreak mine anger upon them and consume them Why dost thou not call unto thy remembrance Aaron his brother that went betwixt life and death in withstanding the Angel that plagued the people and offered himself to die for his people that the plague might cease from Israel Where is King Saul and his son Jonathan that foughtfor the people of God and died in the field Could not Saul have saved his life and his sons both if he had been so disposed But he when he saw Israel had the overthrow in the battel he had no desire to live longer but chose to die rather than to
and in their will they brake the Crib Gen. 29. Crib for an Oxe Least the King should deride them and ask what hath a man to do with an Oxe The seventh And Moses took his wife and his sons and set them upon that that could bear a man Exod. 4. That that could bear a man for an Ass least the King should delude our Master Moses because he rod on an Ass and that he should not say how should an Ass bear a woman and two children He would never have done it if he had not been a begger The eighth And the dwelling of the Children of Israel in Egypt and other lands was 430. years Exod. 12. Notwithstanding they abode not in Egypt but 210. years and that is that their father Jacob told them Descend ye the letters of the which word in Hebrew signify 210 thither Furthermore the computation of 430. years is from the year that Isaac was born which was the holy seed unto Abraham The ninth And unto the little ones of the children of Israel stretched he not his hand Exod. 4. Little ones for Princes As who would say yea also unto their little ones he stretched not his hand Because he should not say the great men escaped but the children of the sons of Israel escaped not The tenth I took of them nothing of value Numb 16. Of value for an ass Least he should say he took not an Ass but he took one reward The eleventh Which things thy Lord God hath divided that they may shine on all People Deut. 4. That they may shine is added Least he should take an argument thereof and say Loe the Holy and blessed Lord hath divided them to all People and hath given them Licence to worship them The twelfth He went and worshiped strange gods which I commanded not to worship Deut. 17. To worship is added Least he should say now hast thou called them to strange worshiping of gods The thirteenth They Translated an Hare Little feet because the Kings wife was called Hare least he should say the Jews mock't me When these Seventy elders had Translated the Law into the Greek Tougue Ptolomy rejoycing much in their wisdom honored them with Princely apparel and great rewards brought them home again merry and glad Moreover he sent by them oblations to our God At that time there were many that condescend to follow the Laws of the Grecians but these Seventy refused Not long after Captain Seleâ—…cus Ptolomyes companion in Office died in whose stead Antiochus reigned in Macedonia This Antiochus making war upon Ptolomy bereft him of all his Dominions and slew him After that he subdued the Land of Israel then under the Regiment of Ptolomy and waxed very proud He hated Israel also because they loved Ptolomy and aided him in thâ—… wars against him This is that Antiochus that builded a great City upon the sea coast and called it Antiochia wherein he made a golden Idol commanding that the children of Israel should be brought unto it and worship it But some of them chose rather to suffer death for the religion of their God and some other fell from the Synagogue their mother Church Before this he took away also their Sabbath their New Moon and league of Circumcision forbidding that in any wise they should observe these Commandments in any place throughout all his Dominions For the which he put many of the Israelites to death and oppressed them more then did ever any of their enemies or adversaries The second man in honor next himself in Jerusalem was one Polipus he erected an Image in the Temple commanding the people of Israel to worship it and whosoever was disobedient to be slain Therefore he put to death Hanna and her seven children as it is mentioned in other places When Antiochus perceived this it increased his hatred towards Israel insomuch that he did his endeavour that none of them should escape or be left alive except such as would worship the Image Then fled many of the Israelites to the mount Modiit and to Jericho because of the law of Polipus and Antiochus his lord having to their Governour the high Priest Mattathias son of John otherwise called Casmoname The Priest enjoyned them to fast and punish themselves before the Lord with weeping sackcloth and ashes And after this he saith unto them if ye will jeopard your lives for the holy Lord why dye we like women Let us go and fight with Polipus and if we dye we shall dye with honor parad venture the Holy and blessed God will help us and will not root out the remnant of Israel To this counsel every man assembled and made a covenant with him upon this thing Polipus hearing this gathered his forces together and made towards them to destroy them and what Israelite soever he found in his way he slew him Mattathias the Priest and all the remnant of Israel understanding that Polipus came against them they went up the mount Modiit with their wives and children Then put he himself and his sons in aâ—…or He had five sons Judas the eldest the next Johonathan the third Joachan the fourth Schimeen the fift Eleazar All these were va iant men of war When Polipus came to them he craftily spake to Mattathias saying Thou art one of the chiefmen in Israel and a man of honor and estimation Come down therefore and all that be with thee worship the Image and strive not against the King that ye may live and not be destroyed Thou shalt be their Prince also if thou shalt be conformable But the Priest in no wise would be seduced by him but rather cursed and reviled him Mattathias had an Altar at the foot of the hill whereupon when he had offered sacrifice to the most blessed God there came one of the wicked Israelites out of Polipus Camp and killed upon it a swine This villain was young and lusty but the Priest was old yet when he saw what this lewd fellow had done crying to his God to strengthen him he challenged a combat between himself and the fellow Which thing being liked both of the fellow and of Polipus with his whole army Mattathias came down with his drawn sword in his hand and the fellow stood against him ready to receive him But the Priest rushing upon him by the assistance of his God overcame him cut off his head and cast his carcass upon the Altar whereat Polipus and his whole Hoast were much astonied beholding one another The Priest stood still by the Altar crying which of you will come to me man for man Then Polipus picked out a strong champion the best of all his army and brought him out of the arreis of his hoast to teach him his lesson how he should behave himself with the Priest The Priest therefore drew toward the camp with his naked sword in his hand as though he came to joyn with their champion but leaving him he turned his sword upon Polipus struck of his
burnt up the City He had wars also with the Romans and the Arabians and God prospered all that ever he took in hand Shortly after God gave him rest and quietnesse from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldly in peace and tranquility all his time On a time the King made a Feast to all the Sages of Israel that they might make cheer with him And being pleasantly disposed he said I am your Scholler and whatsoever I do that do I by your Authority Wherefore I pray you if you see any fault in me or if I do not as becometh me tell me of it that I might reform my evil way Then every man greatly extolled and commended him saying who is like unto thee our Lord King so worthy of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Priesthood so notable in good works whose works be done for the God of heaven which hast also done us so much good in Israel The King was well pleased with their answer and rejoyced greatly Yet was there one among them an undiscreet man called Elezaar who spake unadvisedly to the king And it please your Majesty it were sufficient for you to have the Crown of the Kingdom ye might leave the Crown of the Priesthood to the seed of Aaron for as much as your mother was Captain in mount Modiit Incontinent the King was moved and sore displeased against the Sages which certain of his servants that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of Sects perceiving one of them informed the King that whatsoever that undiscreet person had spoken it was not without the advise of the Sages Whereupon the King demanded of the Sages what law shall that man have that in despight of the King speaketh things to his reproach They made answer he is worthy to be whipt Then said one of the Saducees the matter is plain that according to the minds of the Sages and at their bidding he upbraided thee and therefore they would not award him to die Whereat the King held his peace and gave never a word to answer so all the joy was turned into sadnesse The next day at the commandment of the King proclamation went to all the Cities in the Kings Dominions that they should stand to the ordinance of Saboch and Bithus and whosoever should refuse to follow their Decrees or would observe the Traditions of the Sages and obey their will should suffer death This was John the high Priest which had the Priesthood forty years and in the end became a Saducee Notwithstanding the Israelites obeyed not the kings commandment but rather privily followed the ordinances of the Sages The king himself and all his servants followed the Traditions of the Saducees making Inquisition for them that stuck to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of By this means he drew much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus ruled over Israel was 31. years and then he died After him reigned his son Aristobulus for he had three sons Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his Father and banished out of his presence He went therefore and made War upon Tyre and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high Priest-hood but set light by it wherefore he would not execute the office thereof but took the Kingdom upon him and set the Crown upon his head and was called the great King Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her son his younger brother and would not suffer them to dwell in Jerusalem But he loved his brother Antigonus and made him Lieutenant General of all his Wars setting him forward into the Wars against his enemies Wherein the young man Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in all things that he took in hand and returned safe to Jerusalem where he entred into the house of the Sanctuary to pray for his brother the King which at that time was grievously sick and also to acknowledge before the Lord God his goodnesse and mercy towards him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person unto the King and informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the wars inquired of thy health and when it was told him thou wast sick he said I will go to him to day and rid him out of the world When the King heard this he was wroth toward the Sages and commanded his brother to be apprehended and carried to the place of Starton there to be kept in prison till he had made further inquisition of this matter In the mean space the Queen the Kings wife commanded him to be put to death there without knowledge of the Kings mind But when the King heard that his brother was killed he cryed out and wept bitterly smiting his breast in such sort with his hand that he swouned and much blood issued out of his mouth He reigned over Israel two years After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called King Janai being brought out of Prison where his brother had put him and made King of Israel He was a mighty man and valiant in all his wars against his enemies prevailing against them He had wars with the Philistims namely Asam and Ascalon whom he put to the worse and overcame them This man refused not the Priesthood but was high Priest It chanced on a time when he stood at the Altar to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast a Cedar tree on him whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the Altar crying give me my sword Then the Sages kneeled down before him and sware they did t not of any contempt but rather say they that we thus sporting before the Lord would be merry upon the High solemn day But the Kings servants answered roughly again saying although ye play and rejoyce yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such despightfull custome with the King The contention waxed hot against them till at length the Sages spake evil of the King casting in his teeth that he was an unhallowed and suspended person and that his Grand-mother on the fathers side was a Captain in mount Modiit whereby her seed was stained The King was sore moved at that insomuch that he commanded all the Sages to be slain Therefore wheresoever they found them in the Sanctuary or in the streets of Jerusalem they killed them forthwith Then the King commanded that every man should obey the governance and traditions of the Saducees So in those daies had the Sages great tribulation some fell on the sword some fled away and some tarried at home with great dishonor After these matters the King made an expedition into Arabia entred the country as far as the rock of the Wilderness against Hattam King of Arabia and subdued his land After that he warred on Medaba and the whole Land of Moab vanquished them and bringing
so feeble a person and of no great wit nor sought much the Kingdom yea till all nations that were about him whose Dominions our progenitours conquered began now to despise him to pass little for offending him to deny him tribute for his simplicity and mopishness with lack of courage When Aristobulus had said there stood up a great multitude of goodly and beautifull young men apparrelled in cloth of Hyacinth and purple with mighty targets upon them other ornaments of gold chrystal and precious stones affirming with one accord that Aristobulus said the truth namely that Hircanus was not favoured by the kingdom At which Pompeius marvelled saying Happy is this people having so many goodly men true in their words and wise Happy also were the Senate of Rome if they could bring to passe that this great Nation might be under their Governance So he took his journey to Jerusalem with Hircanus and Aristobulus But after Aristobulus perceived that Pompeius stood not to the promise he made him at the beginning or the Vine he set light by him and fled from him to Alexandria in Egypt whither Pompeius followed with his Host and besieged Alexandria From thence Aristobulus fled again to Jerusalem and Pompeius pursued him also thither writing to Aristobulus a letter of Truce and pardon So Aristobulus came forth unto him and Pompeius did him at that time no harm but demanded to be given unto him all the vessels of the House of the Lord which Aristobulus refused to do Pompeius in a rage caused to lay him fast in heavy iron chains and assaulted Jeâ—…usalem battering the walls very sore till they of the town issued out against him and slew of his Host twelve thousand men After this had the Israelites civil Wars within Jerusalem because the siege was grevious unto them for they were â—…ivided into Factions one part said let us open the Gates to Pompeius and let him in that we may submit our selves under his protection The other said Let us fight against him unto death But much people disliked that so that that side prevailed that would yield Wherefore Pompeius entered the Town and the House of the Sanctuary killed much people of the Priests and the people of the Land made Hircanus King of Israel the second time and Antipater his Counsellor Moreover he set one Securus a Roman in the Country to receive the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him bound in iron And because he took his journey toward Arabia Hircanus and Antipater went with him to conduct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner and his two sons with him it fortuned that one of them called Alexander escaped and having intelligence that Hircanus and his Counsellour were gone out of Jerusalem he came thither and rebelled against Hircanus made up the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted unto him and made him King in Hircanus place Whereupon he gathered an Army and went forth to meet with Hircanus as he came homeward from Pompeius where he gave Hircanus the overthrow and Securus the receiver of the tribute fled and escaped Then Alexander returned to Jerusalem from whence shortly after Gabianus a Roman with a strong Army compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabianus his Mother Aristobulus wife went forth to Gabianus weeping and besought him that he would not destroy her Son for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabianus therefore having gotten all the Land of Judea made Hircanus King of Jerusalem now the third time who set Roman Captains and Rulers in Jericho and in Zephori and through all the Land of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus got out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on every side resorted men in such sort that he had a puissant Host of Israel Whereof when he had taken Muster he chose out eight thousand of the best and with them went against Gabianus where was a sore Battel fought between them till the best of Aristobulus men were slain and only one thousand left wherewith he fled to the Mountains But the Romans followed the chase and slew them every man Yet Aristobulus would not yeild but fought alone although his Helmet was broken till he had divers sore wounds in his head and then fell he to the ground and the Romans took him yet alive brought him to Gabianus who comforted him commanding his Surgeons to heal him and after sent him to the Consul and Senate of Rome where he was put in prison yet once again And this the Senate taking pity of Aristobulus wife which was reported to be a very wise woman released her two sons out of Prison and set them at liberty Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once again against Hircanus and the Romans Governours For he gathered together much people of Israel encountred with one of the Romans Governors that Gabianus had appointed and gave him the overthrow but proceeding further to fight with Gabinius had the worse and many of the Israelites were slain yet he escaped and fled This done Gabinius came to Jerusalem and renewed the kingdom of Israel to Hircanus the fourth time About this time one of the Senators Wives at Rome conceived a chiâ—…d and dâ—…ed in the birth and travel thereof They therefore that were about her straight-way ript her and got the child out alive whom they named Julius and because his mother was cut they called him Caeâ—…ar This child growing to great towardnesse and coming to mans estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the Wars and whatsoever he did he had goâ—…d fortune and prosperous successe He deprived the Grecians of the Empire and Dominion translating it to the Romans Many Provinces also besides that he did subdue and returning to Rome with a power attempted to get the Dominion and sole power over them But they had made solemn statutes in the time of their progenitors never to suffer any King among them or any man to have perpetual rule over them wherefore they wâ—…uld not make Julius king Upon this rose amongst them great and mortal Wars so that Julius slew a great many of them and without number When Pompeius understood that Caesar raigned at Rome and had killed the Consul and Senate with all the Nobility of Rome he gathered together his whole Army out of Arabia and made toward him Julius having intelligence of his coming against him sent for Aristobulus out of prison spake friendly unto him gave him a power and made him grand Captain thereof bidding him to go and encounter with Pompeius Indeed his Army was a strong Army and he himself a King of no small prowess and valiantnesse Pompeius hearing that Aristobulus came against him was sore afraid of his valiantnesse and of his Host wherefore he sent to the inhabitants of Jerusalem that were under his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift whereby they might
deceive him and poison him The Inhabi ants of Jerusalem at his request sent unto Aristobulus a present by certain Noble men whereat Aristobulus was right joyful and did eate and banquet with them till he was overcome with drink then they impoisoned him and he died The time that he raigned over Israel was four years and six moneths He was a good man of War hardy in fight and a man of amiable countenance Pompeius receiving tidings of his death the more gladder proceeded toward Rome to besiege it But Julius met him in the way and destroyed him and his Host whereby the Emâ—…ire was established unto Julius He after this sent Presents to the King of Syria and into Egypt by his Captains to allure them to his friendship Antipater advised Hircanus to aid Julâ—…us if perchance he might win his favour which Hircanus did and Antipater was Captain of the Host who played the man and found such favour with Julius that he made him Lieutenant of his wars and afâ—…er he had fought sundry and great Battels he returned to Jerusalem with great honour and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters son Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his third son President of Galilee There was a certain young man at that time in Jerusalem called Hizkias a valiant man of war to whom adhered all such as were in any distresse and he became their Captain These went and ranged about in Syria roving and murdering in such sort that the Syrians were weary of their lives for fear of them Wherefore the King of Syria sent unto Herod Ruler of Galilee desiring him to kill that Hizkias and his complices whereupon Herod prepared himself and went to meet with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Syria came upon him unawares and slew him and his men Whereupon when the King of Syria was certified he sent a noble reward unto Herod of Silver Gold and precious Stones by which and by like means he became very famous The Noble men of Juda made their complaint unto Hircanus upon Antipater and his sons for their sore oppressing the Land of Juda desiring that Herod might be summoned from Galilee to appear in judgement and answer with other for the killing of Hizkias The King therefore sent for him and he upon that came to Ierusalem appeared before the Judges princely apparelled with a guilt sword girt about him whose pride an antient man called Samai blamed and reprehended also his stout heart but he would not give ear unto him nor yet regard the Judges When Hircanus perceived that the Judges had almost determined to give judge-ment against the young man and to make him away he took pity on him and said We will not give sentence to day to morrow is a new day and by that means delivered him out of their hands Herod knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death that night therefore he fled to the King of Syria declaring all what had hapned unto him The King of Syria let him have a strong Army and came with him himself purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his Father Antipater and his eldest brother Phaselus came forth unto him and rebuked him saying Is this the reward that thou renderest unto King Hircanus that took pity on thee and would not have thy blood shed Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem unto whom he condescended after he had once let the Inhabitants of Ierusalem know what he could and had shewed them his power Julius Emperour of Rome about that time as he was worshipping in the house of his God was murthered by the conspiration of certain of them which had served Pompeius that was slain as is afore mentioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the Country of Macedonia who fled thither being afraid to tarry at Rome this Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a great scourge to the Noblemen of Juda and a great dâ—…al 〈◊〉 man than was Hircanus himself yea Hircanus could do nothing in comparison of him for he had no rule himself but Antipater and his Sons bare all the sway throughout all the Realm Moreover Antipater was in great estimation with all the Kings of that time And forasmuch as he so sore oppressed the Jews they therefore hated him and conspired to kill him There was a man in great authority about Hircanus named Malchias by whose means they wrought this matter He corrupted the Kings Butler with rewards to put poison in Antipaters cup which as soon as he had drunk he died These things his sons Phaselus and Herod dissembled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstanding they privily writ unto Cassius that reigned in Macedonia certifying him of this deed Soon after came Cassius to Tyre from whence he sent Messenges to Hircanus to come unto him who came and with him Malchias Phaselus and Herod Cassius entertaining them all in his â—…odging willed his men that whatsoever Herod bad them they should do it Herod willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therefore sitting hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demanded of the sons of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that King Cassius servants slew him and we know not why Therefore Hircanus stood in fear of Phaselus and Herod being certain that this was their deed Wherefore he said unto them this Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an Usurer These things done Octavius Augustus brothers son unto Julius that was murthered came to Rome and the people of Rome made him their Emperour He had a fellow in office named Marcus Antonius his Uncle Octavianus therefore seeing to the Government of Rome sent Marcus Antonius to war upon Cassius and to revenge Julius death Unto him Hircanus sent a Present a Crown of Gold in which were set sundry precious Stones praying him to strengthen his Kingdom in his hands and to be a means of a League to be made between Octavins Augustus King of Kings and him as there was between him and Julius which Antonius granted About that time Antigonus son of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus King of the Persians to aid him against Hircanus to remove him and to restore the Kingdom to himself promising to give him for his travel five hundred pound weight of Gold and an hundred 〈◊〉 Virgins So Pagurus gathered an Host against Israel and Antigonus departed out of Jerusalem with much people of Israel that took â—…is part and joyned themselves to Pagurus These came to Jerusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes and gave many great assaults unto it till at length they undermined the Ciâ—…y then took they Hircanus and slew Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus might be clean removed from the Priesthood Antigonus that had deprived him of the Kingdom cut off besides that one of his ears But Herod escaped and fled to Augustus Emperour of
man at that same time for at the commandment of Eleazar the Priest chief of the seditious he set first foot within the Romans camp Then began the Jewish warriours to be famous after they had once so manfully incountered with the Romans This done Castius and Agrippa sent their Embassadours once again to Jerusalem to Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest chief of the rebells that were in Judea and Jerusalem requiring peace and to come in league with Eleazar lest the people of the Jews should be utterly destroyed by the Romans incursions and invasions on every side But Eleazar refused to hear the Legates and slew one of them because he made too many words in perswading the peace and league Upon this Eleazar assembled the Priests and people together to go out and fight with Castius Castius perceiving how Eleazar and the people were affected and what minds they were of how they had utterly conspired to destroy the Romans that were there and to consume them clean having a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantness of the rebels he determined fully to go to Rome for he perceived he was not able to match with the seditious neither his own power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he would go see what end should come of the wars and what counsel Caesars Majesty would give Taking his journey therefore to the City Japho he found there letters of the Romans for thither was their army come From thence went he with them and his own army to Rome and made report to Caesar of such things as have chanced whereat Nero was much abashed and not only he but all the people of Rome were sore astonied to hear of the great puissance and valiantness of the Jews For which cause the Wars ceased for that year so that the Land of Judea was at great rest and quietnesse that year through Eleazers means the head Râ—…bel especially from the hands of wicked Castius that had sworn to revenge the Romans to extinguish the Jews and that he would destroy all the race of them as none should be left alive Therefore these are they that delivered Israel in the time of the second Temple out of the hands of their enemies what time as wars were moved against the Jews and their Country what time also commotions and tumults began in Israel The first War was made by Antiochus the wicked King of Macedonia who had determined not to leave one man in Israel His mischievousnesse proceeded so far that he slew the people of God the Sages and Wisemen Princes Elders and young men children great and small Israelits Levites also and Priests until all the chief men of Judea cast their heads together and went to Matthathias son of Jochanan the High Priest in the Mount of Modiit where he hid himself for the iniquity of Antiochus and his Rulers crying upon him and saying Deliver at this season the people of the Lord and never think to escape thy self whiles the most wicked enemy rangeth thus and runneth upon thy people and sheddeth thy blood For the blood of all Israel What is it but thy blood and the eyes of every man are fixed on thee hoping that thou should'st assist and aid them in this calamity that they may finde deliverance by thy means Matthathias hearing this wept bitterly and said Fear ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lord shall fight for you Be ye only quiet So then was Matthathias stirred and delivered Israel out of the hands of Antiochus and after he had overcome him he was high Priest for one year and then died In whose room succeeded Judas his son who executed the office in the Temple six years and was slain in battel Then his brother Jochanan was chief in the Temple eight years and died likewise in battel Afterward his brother Simeon was Ruler eighteen years whom Pâ—…olomy his Wifes father poisoned at a Banquet Then Jochanan his son succeeded his father in the office this is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a King of that name He reigned 31. years and died After him reigned Aristobulus one year he was called the great King because he first put the Royall Crown upon his head and turned the dignity of the high Priesthood into a Kingdom unhollowing and staining the holinesse thereof 480. years and 3. moneths after the returning of Israel from Babylon He being dead his brother Alexander reigned 27. years After whose death Alexandra his wife held the kingdom nine years and then died In whose stead succeeded her son Aristobulus and reigned 3. years In his time Pompey a Roman Captain came against Jerusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in irons and carried him captive to Rome in whose place he ordained Hircanus his brother to succeed who reigned forty years During his reign rebelled Antigonus son of Aristobulus Hircanus brother and with the aid of an Army of the Persians incountred with Hircanus took him prisoner and sent him to Babylon cutting off his eares that he should never after be meet either for the Priesthood or for the Kingdom Antigonus reigned three years In his dayes Herod fled and joyned himself with the Romans by whose help he slew Antigonus the third year of his reign and reigned after him 32. years and then died After Herod succeeded Archelaus his son who was taken by the Romans the ninth year of his reign laid in bonds and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who changed his name and called himself Herod he reigned full ten years overcame and wasted Spain because the King of Spain had ravished and taken away his brothers Wife and there died After him followed Agrippa son of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned three and twenty years after whose death his son Agrippa reigned twenty years This is that Agrippa of whom we now speak of and of the calamity that befell in his time upon Israel For all the while he reigned the Wars between the Romans and Israel never ceased until the people of Judea were led captive into the Province of the Romans at that time also the Temple was desolate I mean the desolation of the second Temple which we saw with our eyes builded and destroyed The 20. year of the reign of King Agrippa the 9. day of the 5. moneth that is called Ab viz. July Nero Caesar sent a Present for a burnt-offering to be offered in the Temple at Jerusalem requiring peace of the Elders and Sages of Judea and Jerusalem and that they would receive him into league with them saying My request is that you would offer my present to the Lord your God for his service and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to joyn in league with me according as you have done with the Emperours of Rome my Predecessors in time past I have heard what Castius the Captain of mine Army hath
that were under the subjection of the Jews cast off the yoke from their necks and rebelled against the Dominion of Jerusalem joyning their power with the Roman Army to aid Vespasian and Titus For these were also subjects unto the Jews that sore had burthened them wherefore they came to help the Romans and to invade Jerusalem and the people of the Jews But the Edomites had not associated themselves unto Vespasian and Titus for they were in subjection to the Jews and served them so that not one of them aided the Romans For long before they had moved war against Jerusalem and could not get the victory but the Jews prevailed against them and subdued them Hircanus also the first King of the Jews circumcised them They dwelt also in Jerusalem kept watch and ward about the house of the Lord and his covenant without all rebellion against the Iews and Ierusolimites And at that present was thirty thousand of the best of the Edomites in Jerusalem which kept the walls and the house of the Lord. After this Vespasian and Titus with all their host took their journey from Acho and came to Galilee and in the mount they pitched their tents Wherefore when tidings was brought to Joseph how the host of the Romans lay upon the mount of Galilee and how Vespasian had sent before him a great power to repair the broken waies to fill the holes and cast down the hills to levell the way that his people might pass the better for he was sore moved against the Jews Joseph issued out of Zippory with all his power set upon them and slew them taking such vengeance of them as never was the like before for his God was with him Vespasian and Titus hearing of this determined to set upon Joseph at unawares and to beset all the waies that he should escape of no side but Joseph had intelligence of their coming wherefore he left Zippory and went to Tiberias whither Vespasian followed Joseph perceiving them coming fled from thence to Iorpata the biggest City in Galilee closed up the gates and there remained with his Army Then sent Vespasian certain Noble men Embassadours to Joseph to debate the matter with him in this wise Vespasian Generall of the Roman Army desireth to know what it should avail thee to be thus pend up within a walled town he wills thee rather to come forth to intreat of peace with him and to enter into a league together for it shall be to thy avail to serve Caesar Emperor of the Romans that thou mayest live and not be destroyed nor any of thy people with thee Then Joseph sent Embassadours again to Vespasian demanding truce for a few daies that he might deliberate upon the matter with the people and let them understand his words Peradventure saith he they will be perswaded to make peace with thee and then will we enter league with the Roman Empire So Vespasian ceased from fighting against Joseph permitting him to consult of the thing Upon that Joseph sent Embassadours to all the people at Jerusalem to the Priests Chief men Rulers and to the rest of the people giving them to understand Vespasians mind Ye shall understand brethren that Vespasian Generall of the Romans sent his Embassadors unto me enquiring What it would avail us to be stiffe against them and not rather to come forth and intreat of peace and to joyn in league together that we may serve the Emperour of the Romans so to save our lives and not to be destroyed And I pray ye why will ye lose your lives your wives your sons and daughters Why will ye all fall together on the sword that both they that should be left alive among you shall be led Captive out of your Countrey to a people that they never knew whose language they understand not and your Country to be made desolate your Sanctuary laid wast that there shall not be so much as one man left to enter into it Never suffer this you that be wise men but rather receive my counsell and come hither to us that we may deliberate together what conditions of peace we shall make for the safety of our lives rather than to be destroyed and that we may use the commodities of your Countrey being at peace therein For life and quietness is to be preferred before death and banishment The inhabitants therefore of Jerusalem both Priests Chief men Rulers and Noble men of Judea with the rest of the people sent unto Ioseph saying Take heed to thy self that thou never consent to this to receive conditions of peace with them but be strong to fight till such time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the people dye in battel and so shalt thou fight the battel of the Lord for his people and his Sanctuary with the Cities of our God in the mean season be it as it may but let thy power not be with them When Joseph heard the determination of the people of Ierusalem how all sorts with one consent willed by the Embassadors the continuance of the wars he was wonderfull wroth and in a great fury issued out with all his people and set them in array against Vespasian and the Roman host in which conflict were slain very many of the Jews and from that day forward Vespasian began fiercely to war upon the Iews He departed thence to the City Geerara a great City in the highest Galilee besieged it and won it razed it slew all the people Man Woman and Child Oxen Sheep Camels and Asses leaving nothing alive And then he said Now begin I to be revenged for the Romans which the Iews murthered in the land of Iudea From thence he departed and brought his Army to Iorpata where Joseph remained The first day that he incamped about Iorpata he relieved his souldiers with meat and drink plenty and made them good cheer then furnished he every man with weapons So on the next morning early the Roman Army gave a great shout and beset the City round about on every side In this business Ioseph stood upon a certain Tower from whence he beheld the huge camp of the Romans wherefore he sounded forth a Trumpet and gave a sign to battel issued out with the whole power of the Jews that he had with him and set upon the Romans camp at the foot of the hill continuing the fight from morning till night And when it began to be dark they ceased fighting and departed the one from the other the Jews to the town the Romans to their tents In this battel were many slain on both sides as well Jews as Romans The Romans advancing themselves proudly and stoutly said We will quickly vanquish this little Nation as we have subdued all other Nations that we have conquered that they shall annoy us no more and afterwards we shall be at rest The Jews also on the other side encouraged themselves against the Romans saying At this time we will all dye together for the
live and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death as well he as Jonathan his son these were dearly beloved and most amiable men as the Scripture termeth them Why doest thou not remember our dear Prince the righteousnesse of David the anointed of the Lord who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel said Let thy hand O Lord I beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house For I am he that have sinned I have transgressed as for these thy sheep What have they done What have they offended Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the Holy Law whereby we might learn how to love our Lord GOD with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength If it be so that the service of God consists not in this that we should love him whom he loveth and die for his Covenant and Sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord wherein standeth it then Hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us how that every man that dieth in the wars for the Lord his Sanctuary his people and his Law he is to be counted in the Lords lot and made worthy to go unto the great Light and shall not see everlasting darknesse Art not thou that Joseph the Priest that hast cryed so often in battel I am Joseph the Priest consecrated to battel that have vowed my life for the people of the Lord his Sanctuary and his Land But now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them and they order thee despitefully What wilt thou say unto them or what amends canst thou have at their hands I put the case they cast in thy teeth and say thy words be lyes How shalt thou avoid the reproach Art thou not he that said'st that we should fight for the people of God until we die in the conflict and in so doing death should be ransome for our sins and that we were sure to go to that great Light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said Why then wilt thou shun death and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st insomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the Romans as a vile slave Shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of God Thou art a Prince a King and a Priest Wilt thou be bound in chains Every man shall say This is he that gave his souldiers and the rest of the people to die but saved himself and his own life So when they had made an end of talk each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Hearest thou Joseph our Prince if thou wilt be ruled by us first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die that thou mayest die honourably But if thou refuse to die honestly assure thy self of this we will every man set upon thee and kill thee Joseph answered Indeed I know my brethren that your words are just and true For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly and would God that he would call my soul unto him and receive it unto him also For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live for the great troubles that have passed through my heart but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts and it is he that giveth life unto men It is our GOD that closeth souls within the bodies and letteth them out again because he is the living God in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures He hath left with us the spirit of life and closed it up within our bodies What is he that will open that he hath shut How shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us Do ye not all know how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep and that we are his servants If then we cast away life before that God take it Shall he not worthily be displeased with us so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory and with those just and godly men our forefathers Do ye not know that they went not unto God before they were called and when they were called they came and so dealt God with all the holy and godly men To Moses our Master of worthy memory the elect of God ye know that the Lord God of Israel said Get thee upon this mountain Abiram and so he did but he would not have done it of himself had not God called him whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the Living GOD except he require it again Take example I pray you of Job what time he curst the day that he was born in Might he not either have hanged himself or have run upon a knife or at the least have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die Notwithstanding he abode patiently in most extream pain waiting till God demanded again his life and then restored it unto his Lord God and would not restore it undemanded but tarried till his appointed time came King David also of famous memory said Lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the body and that none might let it forth but God I wot well that death is a great commodity so that the soul may return in his due time unto God that gave it us I know it also That he that dieth in the Wars of the Lord he shall come to the great Light But I know not what can appease Gods wrath towards the soul of that man that killeth himself and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time and without the Lords calling Wherefore my friends and my brethren I would ye should know it I am no more coward than you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities but this I know I should commit a hainous offence against the Lord if I should kill my self And how say ye you Princes that stick unto your God to you I speak Tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us if we should commit this sin and each kill one another Would not a man judge him a slave a fool a froward person a rebel and a desperate man that should be forced with any misery to be so mad that because all things fall not out as he would wish would therefore hang or desperately murder himself with his
away all the riches that they found in them They took also the City Gerara that stood beyond Jordan whereas they remained The inhabitants of Jerusalem both Priests Elders and the rest of the people sent Embassadours to Vespasian to desire peace of him and succour against Jehochanan and his wicked rabble which daily in the Town slew very many of the people of God The Citizens also of Gerara sent Embassadours unto Vespasian saying If thou wilt be Lord over the Land of Judea and the City of Jerusalem and desirest to assure the rule thereof and establish it unto thee then hearken unto our counsell and come unto us without delay to deliver us from the hands of Jehochanan and the wicked seditious persons that with all their might endeavour to spoyl all our goods and to get the dominion over us our wives and children to none other purpose than by that means to destroy us utterly that no remnant of us should be left If so be thou wilt come and valiantly withstand them with thy power we will also fight against them in thâ—… Town till they be all slain and then thou shalt be our Lord And that done thou mayest go to Jerusalem without any impediment or hinderance of any man for they also of that City desire the same and would gladly become subjects unto the Romans When as therefore Vespasian heard the petitions of the Citizens of Gerara he took his journey thither to succour them and deferred to go to Jerusalem But Jehochanan heard of his repair wherefore he slew the chief Governour of Gerara and got him out of the Town with his companions and took them to their feet determining to flee into a certain wood Vespasian having knowledge thereof made after them sending out Poligorus who overtook them and made a great slaughter of them And in his return toward Gerara upon Jordan side he light upon much people going to Jerusalem that they might escape together with the Seditious Them Poligorus drove back to the River where he slew 13. thousand of them the rest leaped into Jordan and were drowned to the number of 91. thousand men women and children with much Cattell that were all drowned together in the River insomuch that the channell of Jordan was so stuffed and stopt with dead bodies that the waters rose and ran over the banks here and there into the fields and plains yet at the length the waters increased and bare the carkases down the River as far as the sea of Sodom which is the sea of Pitch otherwise called the salt-Sea and all the banks of Jordan lay full of dead bodies After this Vespasian took his journey from thence and went into the land of Edom where he won two strong Cities the one called Legarith the other Cephar Toco and slew ten thousand of the people thereof leading the rest away in bondage Thence he dislodged and came to a Town call'd Chamath Gedi which he subdued In this City were wel-springs of hot waters from whence the hot baths of Tiberias have their Originall The natural Philosophers and Astronomers of that Country held an opinion that these are the heads of all the hot Wel-springs in that whole Country Departing from thence he came to Samaria and won it Then repaired he again all the Towns that he had subdued and made up their walls placing Garrisons therein to ayd him what time he should besiege Jerusalem That done he returned to Cesarea to take muster of his whole Army and prepared to go to besiege Jerusalem But in the mean season came Messengers from Rome and brought him word that Nero the Emperour was dead and how that as he was a hunting in the Country the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and fell upon him that he died of it After whom reigned Galba not one whole year for afore it was fully ended he was slain by the noble men of Rome and Vitellius created in his stead a fool yet a sore cruel man much given to Drunkenness so that he was in all points unworthy of the Roman Empire The Noble men of Rome that were with Vespasian hearing this greatly disdained at that matter and said Was there never a Noble man in Rome left to be placed in the Empire but ye must choose a drunken wine-sucker why did ye not rather elect the mighty Prince Vespasian that is here with us a Sage and a Wise man thereto also most valiant one that conquered many Cities and vanquished many Nations and those most fierce What puissant Kings hath he subdued under the Roman Empire How far and wide hath he enlarged the Empire of the Romans And now when as the Empire ought to have been bestowed upon Vespasian or some one like unto him and none such could be found amongst you ye bestow it upon a fool and a blowbole drunkard wherein ye have done very undiscreetly Well the Empire of Rome shall have a better Emperour one day and God say Amen Whereupon the Princes that were there laid their heads together and decreed to make Vespasian Emperour Therefore with one consent they went unto Vespasian and said unto him Thou shalt be our head for the Empire belongeth to such a one and thou shalt have Dominion over us But Vespasian refused to take it on him and would in no wise consent to them Notwithstanding they compelled him and placed him upon the Throne of Majesty setting an Imperiall Crown upon his head which he would have put away and pulled off with his hand because he would not be Emperour Wherefore the Roman Captains drew out their swords and said Thou shalt be Emperour and reign over us therefore refuse it not if thou do thou shalt dy upon our swords Vespasian therefore seeing himself constrained being afraid of his life he was content to suffer himself to be proclaimed Emperour Then all the Army was sworn unto him and he sate upon the royall seat as Emperour and King of Kings The civil wars at Jerusalem encreased more and more and much blood was shed through the wickedness of Jehochanan Captain of the theeves a limb of the divel and through the cut-throat murtherers that were with him who had all even sworn the utter destruction of the City of the Lord and the deaths of the people There was also another cut-throat Ruffian of a noble house of Judea and Jerusalem about the same time called Schimeon who began also to follow Jehochanans manners in slaying innocents and robbing and raving in Jerusalem For Anani the High Priest had once appointed him Prince and chief Captain of Jerusalem and afterwards finding him an enemy banished him the City Whereâ—…ore Schimeon went and gaâ—… him a rout of unthrifts murtherers and theeves casting in his mind and saying Except I joyn my self with such good fellows I shall never be able to be revenged of Anani and his assistants that have thus banished me out of Ierusalem into exile wrongfully unto my great dishonour Shall I that
which shall be to your commodity Then the people gave ear unto Joseph who spake unto them in this wise AN Oration of Josephus to the Citizens of Jerusalem YOu should ere this good people of Jerusalem have fought so earnestly whiles your Cities were yet standing and your Land replenished with people ere ever this mischief had lighted upon you Now that with murthers and slaughters amongst your selves having destroyed one another and polluted the Temple of the Sanctuary with the blood of the murthered and not spared your own lives you are become few in number a small sort of you left What hope have you to prevail Again you have provoked a valiant Nation which is ruler over all people and hath subdued all other Lands which also hath those Nations in subjection under him which sometimes reigned over you besides this you wage battell with the Romans without all discretion and wisdom without any remorse of this famous City without any regard of the Sanctuary of the Lord without any compassion of your own lives Neither yet do ye forsake your purpose for I perceive you continue in this self-will to withstand the Romans still which is nothing else than to spread abroad this calamity further both on the people of God and on his holy Temple Albeit I am not afraid only for this holy Temple and most renowned City lest it should be razed and destroyed but for the Sacrifices and burnt offerings lest they should cease as the daily sacrifice is ceased And why because we have sinned against our Lord God Wherefore is his shaddow departed from us Because that in this same Temple we have kept wars making it an habitation for the wicked a tabernacle of seditious persons yea even the Ministers and Holy men of God have ye murthered and within the walls of the Temple have ye shed innocent blood without measure See now dear brethren and mark what Ordnance what Engins what Instruments of destruction are prepared to beat down the Temple the fire is already kindled to set a fire the Sanctuary and loe even your very enemies are so pitifull of your Temple that they would not have it defaced But you dear brethren and friends why are ye led with no remorse of your selves that your enemies may once remove from you these Engins of war What have you now left to trust unto when as two of your walls are already battered down and one only remaineth You will say peradventure we put not our trust in our walls but in our God Are ye not aware that your God hath long agone given you over and hath turned him to your enemies because they have with greater honour and reverence worshiped his name than we which rebelliously are fallen away from him Wherefore God assisteth not us but our enemies insomuch that except it be in such countries whereas either for extream cold of the one side or exceeding heat on the other no man is able to abide all Lands all Nations are under their Dominion Tell me I pray you what hope have you seeing God hath made them a terrour unto all Nations upon the earth who serveth them Why will not you obey them that you may live and not perish Do ye not consider it is come to their turn to rule over all that God hath committed Dominion unto them and ayded them with his assistance Remember you not how God in times past aided the Egyptians insomuch that they obtained the dominion over all the whole world but afterward departed from them and assisted you to get the Soveraignty over other Nations After that forsook you again and gave the Empire to the Chaldeans Assyrians and Persians which reigned far and wide over many countries Now also hath he given them over and helpeth the Romans these many years so that they bear rule over all If you will object and say To what intent should God give the dominion unto the Romans or other Nations over the world and over his inheritance and people also which is an holy people a peculiar and special Nation of all the earth Should ye not be ashamed to say this With what discretion can you wonder at this knowing that all mankind one or other are the handy-work of God who exalteth whom he list and whom he listeth he thrusteth down Ye say Ye be the children of God and his proper possession and ye aspire to the Soveraignty therefore it cannot be that God should determine any thing upon you by chance fortune or sudden anger and displeasure I grant But wot ye what The shadow or protection of the Lord hath forsaken you becausâ—… of your sins and transgressions against the Teâ—…ple and his holy ministers How can you stay upon his help when as he hath withdrawn his loving countenance from you and your sins have made a divorce between you and him O my dear children and brethren let never this imagination enter into your hearts for it shall nothing avail you Why will you my dear brethren and friends make war upon the Romans when as they are Lords over Nations and pierced the streets of India and all the Isles of the Sea even to the great Ocean-Sea and from thence to all the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extream parts of the earth Yea even to Britain which is environed on every side with seas whose people are huge like Giants of a big stature and of mighty courage most expert archers and valiant souldiers in battel To whom when the Captain of the Romans came they gave him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Princes of the Romans came they brought them into subjection and seâ—…itude under the Romans But you say my brethren and friends you will rather all dye than serve the Prince of the Gentiles and that death is better for you than life to be driven to see with your eyes the calamities of the sanctuary of the people of God Search the Histories and Chronicles from the time of your Ancestours When was there any time wherein you were free from the yoak of the Gentiles Do you not know that Jacob our father of worthy memory who was alwaies with God took his journey into Egypt to be a stranger in a strange land amongst a proud kind of people left he his children houshold and cattell should perish with hunger There he had with him his twelve sons which he had begotten and dwelt there also with his small family for fear of the grievous famine that was at that time Remember you not when that Judas with his brethren went down into Egypt how Joseph was moved as a stranger to pick a quarrel against his brethren to bring them into bondage bearing yet in his mind what injury they had done unto him Wherefore some of them he cast in prison and hanged them at his pleasure with crafty accusations especially Judas who was the chief amongst them of whom all the Jews took their name who if
reserved part for you Siâ—… you down therefore and I will bring it you that ye may taste thereof for it is very good meat And by and by she covered the table and set before them part of the childs flesh saying Eat I pray you here is a child's hand see here is his fooâ—… and other parts and never report that it is another Womans Child but my own only Son that ye knew with me him I bare and also have eaten part and part I have kept for you When she had spoken she burst out and wept saying O my Son my Son how sweet wast thou to me whiles thou yet livedst and now at thy death also thou aâ—…t sweeter to me than hony For thou hast not only fed me in this most grievous famine but hast defended me from the wrath of the Seditious wherewith they were incensed towards me when the smell of the meat brought them into my house Now therefore are they become my friends for they sit at my Table and I have made them a feast with thy flesh After she turned her to the Seditious and bad them eat and satisfie themselves for why saith she should ye abhor my meat which I have set before you I have satisfied my self therewith why therefore do you not eat of the flesh of my son Taste and see how sweet my sons flesh is I dare say ye will say It is good meat What needeth pitty Ought ye to be more moved therewith then a Woman If ye will in no wise eat of the sacrifice of my son when as I have eaten thereof my self shall not this be a shame for you that I should have a better heart and greater courage then you Behold I have prepared a fair Table for you most valiant men why eat ye not Is it not a good feast that I have drest for you and it is your will that I should make you this feast It had been my part rather to have been moved with pity of my Son then yours and how chanceth it therefore that you are more mercifull than I Are ye not they that spoiled my house and left me no kind of food for me and my Son Are ye not they that constrained me to make you this Feast notwithstanding the greater hunger that I have Why then eat ye not thereof when as ye were the Authors and causers that I did this deed The Jews hearing this matter were wonderfully â—…mitten in sadness yea even the Governours of the Seditious began to stoop when they heard of this so that they all in a manner desired death they were so amazed at this horrible Act. Many therefore of the common people stole out in the night forth of Jerusalem with all their substance to the Romans Camp and shewd Titus of this Who wept thereat and was sorry for the matter exceedingly holding up his hands to Heaven and crying Thou Lord God of the world God of this house to whom all secrets are known which also knowest my heart that I came not against this City as desirous of Wars but rather of Peace which I ever offered them but yet the Cittizens thereof evermore refused it although I oftentimes intreated them And when they destroyed one another by their civil dissention I would have delivered them but I found them alwaies like most fierce and cruel beasts nothing sparing themselves And this mischief is come now so far that a woman hath eaten her own flesh being driven thereunto by most extream necessity I have heard and my forefathers have told me of all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towards them and their Fathers how thy Name dwelt amongst them For thou broughtest them out of Egypt with a strong hand and a strâ—…tched forth Arm out of the House of bondage to whom also thou dividedst the Sea leadest them through it dry and drownedst their Enemies in the water after conductedst thy people thorow the wilderness and fed'st them with bread from Heaven thou causedst Quailes to fly unto them and broughtest out water out of the rock for them At length thou broughtest them into this holy Land by great and terrible Miracles and Wonders For thou dryedst up the water of Jordan and madest them stand up in a heap till they were passed over Thou didst cause the Sun and Moon also to stay their course for thy peoples sake til they might vanquish their enemies Thou wouldest that thy Name should dwell amongst them and thou gavest them this City by inheritance Some of them thou didst choose for thy self to be Prophets which might conduct thy people teach them and lead them into the right way to give them warning of future miseries that they might take heed and beware of them Moreover thou didst choose of them Priests to serve thee and to bless thy people Israel certain godly men amongst them thou drewest unto thee and in a fiery Chariot thou didst carry them up to Heaven Thou smotest the tents of the King of Asâ—…ur and killedst in them 8718 men These and divers other things have I heard of my forefathers yea and of Joseph the Priest a very wise man And now Lord God this people which I have striven against I would have saved had they trust edin thee but thou seest they trust not in thy saving health but in their own Sword When Titus had sayed all these things he commanded to bring an iron Ram and to bend it against the new wall which the Sediâ—…ious had raised that they might batter it down but many of the Nobles among the Seditious came forth unto Titus and made peace with him whom he placed among his chief men Shortly after the Romans set on fire one of the Gates of the Temple that was shut whose door was covered over with silver and while the timber of it burnt the silver melted and ran upon the ground so when the Gate was open the way appeared which leadeth to the Sanctum Sanctorum As soon as Titus saw it he honored it with great reverence and foâ—…bad his people that none should come niâ—… iâ—… Wherefore he commanded a Proclamation to be published throughout all his Camp to this tenor Whâ—…soever cometh near the Sanctuary shall suffer death for it He appointed also a strong band of men to keep the Temple that it might not be prophaned and unhallowed by any of his But his Princes and Captains answered Unless this House be set on fire thou shalt never subdue this people in regard that to preserve it they vow to die Notwithstanding Titus would not hearken to their counsell but appointed some of his own souldiers and such Jews as had come in to him to keep Ward giving them charge to preserve the Temple and Sanctum Sanctorum lest it should be polluted The Seditious Jews that remained in Jerusalem seeing the Romans depart fâ—…om the Temple and leaving Guards behind they ran upon them with their swords drawn and slew every foul of them Which Titus
his place where he lurked and came to Titus fell down before him and kissed his feet saying Save me O Lord King Titus commanded him to be fetâ—…ered with iron chains and when he had caused him to be carryed about the Camp so bound and to be mâ—…cked of all men by the space of seven dayes he commanded to hang him and so got he a just end and fit reward for his cruelty Afterward came Schimeon also forth of his den being driven to it with famine He had put on Kingly apparel and shewed himself afar off to the Roman host who seeing him were afraid to go to him but he called unto them and askt for some Captain Then one came forth and said unto Schimeon Tell me who thou art and I will not kill thee Schimeon answered therefore and told him I am Schimeon that Seditious Cap-tain of the. Jews which have made you so much ado now I beseech thee shew me so much favour as to bâ—…ing me to Titus thy Master which he did Titus therefore when he saw Schimeon he commanded him to be fast bound and to be led about the whole host that he might be derided and mockt Afterward he was put to a sore death first his head was striken off then he was cut in many pieces and cast unto dogs So he died an abominable death being punished for his iniquity The number of the Jews as well Citizens as others that came unto the Feast to Jerusalem which were slain partly by the Romans partly by the Seditious during the whole time of these Wars was known to be eleven hundred thousand besides them whose number was not known only they were counted which were slain and buried Besides them they also were not reckoned that after the death of Jehochanan and Schimeon died with Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest They that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were sixteen thousand men So Titus with Joseph went to Rome leaving Bonian Josephs brother at Jerusalem who was appointed to be the chief Priest of them that abode there for Joseph did request it of Titus which he performed The Seditious were all slain in the battel which they took in hand for the peoples sake and the Temple of the Lord those also that Titus took prisoners were put to vile deaths for he reserved many to be mocking stocks in every City where he passed by in the way to Rome and in every Town he commanded some of them to be brought forth and cast unto the Lions till they were all consumed CHAP. V. THere were certain people at that time dwelling amongst the Mountains of Ararat that were called Alanites whose power Alexander King of Macedonia fearing closed them on every side This people although they had no knowledge of the use of Iron nor Armour yet this was their manner That one of them with a great pole burnt a little at the end would put to flight a hundred good souldiers were they never so well appointed and armed Until this year they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout all the land they sent Embassadors to the people of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that they would open thestraights of the Mountains that they might come forth with their wives children to seek them food The Hurkans granted their requests and opened them the entrances of the Mountains So they came forth wandering here and there spoiling divers Countries till at length they took their journey toward the Mountains of the Land of Madai where they found horses namely in the Desart of Madai amongst the people of Ararat They got those horses leapt upon them and â—…ntred the land of Madai The President oâ—… Ruler of the Country hearing thereof fled into the highest hills leaving his wife and children behind him for haste he was so afraid of the Alanites knowing their valiantnesse Straightway he sent unto them Embassadours to make peace with them and he would let them have victuals upon this condition that they would not spoil his Country They made answer If so be he would maintain them and let them have food for the space of one moneth till the corn in their own Country were ripe they would return home again at the moneths end for we desiâ—…e not say they thy gold or silver being men separaâ—… from all entercourse in traffick wiâ—…h other people nor any thing else than food do we seek This their request the Ruler granted them and let them have a certain Grain called Mill sodden with one kind of flesh or other The number of them was seven thousand one hundred and fifty and five thousand one hundred and forty persons When the moneth was ended and the Aâ—…anites understood the corn in their own Country was ripe they departed out of the land of Madai according as they had sworn and returned toward their own Country And as they were in their way homeward Mithridates King of Aâ—…arat came against them to annoy them minding to drive them from his coasts lest they should waste his Country Therefore while they marched through this Country going toward their own Mithridates made War upon them but his men were beaten down by the Alanites like as grasse falls upon the ground when a strong man treads upon it Then one of the young men of the Alanites in despight put a rope about Mithridates's neck and drew him after him unto his great shame Mithridates gat out his sword and cut asunder the rope and fled To whom the Alanites looking back said Go thy way get thee home and make no more war upon us hereafter for we were not minded to waste thy Land â—…or yet to kill thy people For if we had ever intended it Could we not have done it long ago when as nothing is betwixt us and you but the Mountains of Ararat But we were of this mind that we should greatly offend to kill men of our own shape and likenesse See now how Alexander which went about to subdue the whole earth and to declare his power closed us up within our land Why because he was afraid we should come out upon him But we laught him to scorn when he did it If we had listed we could have letted him from shuâ—…ting us in and to make no peace with him but we made no reckoninâ—… of his doings For it is our custom to keep us within our own Country we seek no other Land when as our own Land is better than any other It pleased us well that he inclosed us that the cruel wild beasts which are in the Mountains of Ararat could have no passage to us The cause we came out now was nothing else then that we were oppressed with a great dearth and we determined to be no longer from home then till our own fruits were ripe then to return as you see we do If we had been minded to win your Land had we not been able utterly to have