were taken by him To the performance whereof Ananias perswaded Albinus by manifest reason and by obtaining his demaund encreased and begat a number of miseries For the theeues vsed all the wilie meanes they could deuise in apprehending some one of Ananias house and when they had taken any one of them aliue they would not deliuer him except before they might haue one of their owne deliuered So that increasing both in courage and number they waxed more more insolent to afflict the countrey At the same time king Agrippa enlarged the citie of Caesarea surnamed Philippi and in honour of Nero called it Neronias He builded also to his great charge a Theater in fauour of the Berytians wherein euerie yeere he spent diuers thousands of siluer in sports He distributed oyle and corne to euery one of the people and garnished all the citie with most anticke and goodly counterfaited portraitures vpon the porches Briefely he welny transported into the citie all the ornamnts of the rest of his kingdom for which cause his subiects began to hate him seeing he depriued thē of their rare ornaments to adorn one strange citie Iesus the sonne of Gamaliel succeeded in the priesthood which the king had giuen him and taken away from Iesus the sonne of Damneus who resigned him his place against his will Whereupon there arose a discord betweene them For hauing assembled their resolutest followers they grew from bitter words to fatall blowes and stones But amongst all the rest Ananias was the richest in wealth and by his bountie reconciled the more vnto him Costobarus also and Saul gathered each of them a band of rascall and desperate men These two were of the bloud royall and by reason of their affinitie and alliance with Agrippa they were well beloued ◅or which cause they were outragious and violent in spoiling and rauishing the fortunes of the weaker sort From this time forward the estate of our Citie grewe desperate encrcasing daily more and more in wickednesse When Albinas vnderstood that Gessius Florus came to succeed him desirous that they of Ierusalem should acknowledge some good turne at his hands he called before him all those prisoners that were notoriously guiltie of murther and caused them to be executed As for those that were imprisoned vpon any small or sleight cause vpon paiment of their fines he deliuered them and in so doing the prison was cleansed of malefactors and from that time the countrey remained full of theeues and Robbers The Leuites who were ordained to sing the hymnes vnto God sollicited the king to assemble the councell and thereby to permi◅ them to weare the linnen Robe which the priests were accustomed to vse telling him that such an ordinance would dignifie his estate verie much in that he would be alwaies famous in memory of this new establishment This suit of theirs was easily respected and admitted For the king after he had consulted with those who were his assistants suffered the Leuites that sung the hymnes to lay aside their ordinarie Robe and to apparrell themselues in linnen as best liked them He permitted also that another part of the Leuites who intended the seruice of the temple should learne to sing the hymnes and psalmes according ◅s they had required All which he did contrarie to the ordinances of the countrey which being broken there was nought else to be expected but punishment At that time was the building of the temple finished And the people perceiuing that more then eighteene thousand workmen should be idle and depriued of wages whereupon they were accustomed to liue in trauailing in the building of the temple on the other side being Ioath to reserue their money thorow the feare they had of the Romanes to prouide that these workmen in the intertainment of whom they resolued to employ their treasure for if any one of them trauailed but one howre in the day he was sodainly paide his wages they requested the king that it might please him to repaire the Easterne gate on the outward part of the temple scituate in a descent the wals whereof were in height foure hundreth cubits made of square stones of white marble from the top to the bottome and euery stone twentie foot long and six foot thicke This worke was first builded by king Salomon who was the first that builded our temple But the king to whom Claudius Caesar had giuen the commission of building the temple thinking with himselfe that it was verie easie to breake it downe but very hard to build it vp and that to reedifie the porch it would cost much time and expence he denied their request permitting them neuerthelesse to paue their citie with broad stone Hee tooke the priesthoode from Iesus the sonne of Gamaliel and gaue it to Matthias the sonne of Theophilus In whose time the warre betwixt the Romanes and Iewes grew to the first head But I thinke it not amisse but verie answerable to the course of this present historie to speake of the priests and to shew how they had their beginning and to whom this honour may be lawfully communicated and how many they were in number vntill the end of the warre The first of them was Aaron Moses brother after whose death his children succeeded him and from that time forward the honour hath continued with their successors For it is a law obserued by our auncestors that no man shall be admitted to the priesthood except he be of Aarons posteritie for albeit he were a king if so be that he were of an other line it was impossible for him to obtaine the priesthood All the priests after Aaron who as we haue said was the first vntill Phanasus whom the seditious created priest in the time of the warre haue been in number 83. whereof 13 haue executed the office from the time that Moses erected Gods tabernacle in the desart vntil such time as arriuing in Iudaea king Salomon builded a temple to God For in the beginning the hie priesthood continued with the possessors for terme of life but afterwards although the priests were yet aliue yet were there other successors planted in their roomes These thirteene were of Aarons posteritie and obtained this degree in succession the one after the other Their first gouernment was Aristocratia which is the gouernment of the nobilitie afterwards a monarchy and finally a royall gouernment The number of yeers wherein these thirteene flourished were sixe hundreth and twelue yeeres from the day that our fathers departed out of Aegypt vnder the conduct of Moses vntill the edification of the temple that was builded in Ierusalem by king Salomon After these thirteene high priests there were eighteene others who after Salomons time succeeded one after another vntill the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hauing encamped before the Citie tooke the same and burned the temple and transported our nation into Babylon and led away the high priest Iosedech prisoner The time of the priesthood
affectionate friend for such as enterprise any wicked action do often and subtilly dissemble and make shew of honestie to the end to expell out of the innocents mind all iealousie or euill suspition where singling him from his other company and making a shew to informe him of certaine secrets and hauing drawne him into a by-way besides the wall accompanied only with his brother Abisai he drew his rapier and thrust it into his short ribbes Of which wound Abner died surprised by the treason of Ioab who pretended and coloured that act of his with the reuenge and death of his brother Azael whom Abner had slaine vpon the chase in the first warre at Hebron but in truth it was but the suspition of his greatnesse and honour fearing least he should be depriued and Abner inseated by obtaining the next degree of honour vnto Dauid Hereby may a man conceiue how many and how mightie things men attempt and hazard for their auarice and ambition sake and to the end they may not be inferiour vnto any others in those matters For when as they desire to attaine riches and honours they atchieue it by ten thousand mischiefes and at such time as they feare to be dispossest they striue to continue their estates by meanes more pernicious because they thinke it to be the lesse sinne and that the calamitie is lesse actiue rather not to haue obtained to any greatnesse and power then after the possession thereof to fall into disgrace Thence it commeth that all of them intend and practise many hazards and difficult encountries thorow the feare they haue to lose their degree But it sufficeth to haue briefly touched this point Dauid hauing notice of the murther of Abner conceiued a great griefe in his heart and called all his assistants to witnesse lifting vp his hands vnto God and protesting that he was no partaker of the murther and that Abner had beene slaine without his commandement or will He likewise vttered most grieuous curses against the murtherer his house and accomplices by which he wished them to be subiect to the fatal penalty of murther for he greatly suspected least he should be held in suspition to be a party in that which had hapned vnto Abner contrarie to his faith oth and promise which he had past vnto him Moreouer he commanded that all the people should weep and lament for him and that the funerals of his bodie should be honored according to the accustomed fashion in renting of garments and putting on sackcloth and that the same should be done the coffin being carried before which both he and the chiefest gouernours of the Israelites followed beating on their breasts and shedding teares and testifying the loue which they bare vnto him during his life and their displeasure to see him dead who had bin murthered contrary to their wil and intention He was entombed in Hebron with great magnificence and Epitaphs composed in his praise by Dauid himselfe who setting himselfe on the tombe first of all lamented and gaue others cause of lamentation And so much was hee confused at the death of this Abner that he swore to forbeare all kind of meat vntill the sunne-set notwithstanding all the instances of his friends who vrged him to take refection which act of his purchased him much good will and loue amongst the people For they that loued Abner were verie glad to be witnesses of that honour which he did him in his death and that faith which he maintained in honouring him euerie way according to the custome as if he had been his kinsman or friend and not embasing him with a vilde and contemptible tombe as if he had beene his enemie And in generall all of them were so glad of the curtesie sweetnesse and royall nature of king Dauid that they esteemed in the like case that he would haue the like estimate of them as they saw him haue of deceased Abner And by this means Dauid happely maintained his credit and increased the peoples good opinion of him escaping thereby the suspition and conceit that he might in some sort haue bin accessarie to his death He protested also vnto the people that he conceiued no small griefe at the losse of so good a man declaring thereby that it was no small staine vnto the state of the Hebrewes to be depriued of him who had the meanes to maintaine their peace by his good aduise and to ratifie the same by his executions and warlike valour But God said he who hath care of all things shall not suffer him to die vnreuenged And he it is that shall beare me witnesse that it lieth not in my power to punish Ioab and Abisai who haue greater credit in the armie then my selfe yet shall they not escape Gods iustice for this fault Thus ended the life of Abner CHAP. II. Isboseth is slaine thorow the treason of his friends and followers the whole kingdome descendeth to Dauid WHen Isboseth Sauls sonne had notice of Abners death he was sore displeased not onely for that he perceiuing himselfe to be depriued of his neere kinsman but also of so great a personage as had setled the crowne on his head Neither did he himselfe long time remaine aliue after him but by the sonnes of Ieremon Banaoth and Thannus he was traiterously done to death These two being Beniamites and of the chiefest nobilitie amongst them made their reckoning that they would make away Isboseth and thereby obtaine great recompence at Dauids hands supposing that such an act of theirs would get them the chiefest place and dignitie in the army or some other credit For which cause finding Isboseth alone in his house about mid-day laide on his bed and asleepe and vnassisted by any of his guard and perciuing likewise that the porter was fast who thorow his trauaile and other businesse by reason of the extreme heate was laid downe to rest they entred into his lodging whereas Isboseth was a sleepe and slew him and hauing cut off his head they trauelled all the night and day long as if they fled from those whom they had offended and sought their rescues from them who would succour and assure them from perill and when they came to Hebron they presented Dauid with Isboseths head offering themselues as his most dutifull liegemen to doe him seruice who had deliuered him of an enemy and made away an aduersarie against his royaltie But Dauid allowed not their act in such sort as they hoped but spake thus vnto them O cursed men said he on whom I intend presently to execute iustice haue you not heard how I punished him that murthered Saul and brought his royall crowne vnto me Yea although he slew him vpon his owne instant request and to the intent the enemy should not surprise him aliue Were you of that opinion that I was changed and that I am not the same that I was but that I take delight to be partakers with you in your mischiefes
that their auncestors had transgressed the lawes of Moses they should be in danger to be dispossessed of their countrey and abandoned by all men should at length perish miserably When the prophetesse had heard the kings commandement she willed those that were sent vnto her to returne vnto the king and to certifie him from her that God had giuen a sentence against them which might not be reuoked by any praiers whatsoeuer namely that since they had transgressed the law of Moses the people should perish and should be cast out of their countrey and depriued of al their goods that they had and for that they haue not grown to amendment in so long time notwithstanding the prophets had exhorted them to repentance and had foretold the punishment of their impieties which should happen vnto them to the end that they might beleeue that God is God and that he faileth not in any thing that he hath foretold by his prophets Furthermore she said that he forbore as yet to send these afflictions vpon them for Iosias sake who was a vertuous man but that after his decease God would poure his intended punishments vpon the people This prophecie of the woman they signified vnto the king who sent into all parts and assembled the people in Ierusalem commanding the Priests and Leuites and generally all men without distinction of age or person to be present in that conuention Now when they were assembled he first of all caused the sacred bookes to be read and afterwards standing aloft vpon his throne he caused all the people to sweare and promise that they would serue God and keepe Moses lawes Whereupon all of them did willingly approoue whatsoeuer he said promising to doe that whereunto they were exhorted And therewithall offering vp present sacrifices vnto God they besought him to shew himselfe fauourable and mercifull towards them The king likewise commanded the hie priest that if there were any necessarie in the temple which were made by his predecessors in honour of Idols and strange Gods he should cast it out And after that a great quantitie was found therein all of it was gathered togither and burnt and the ashes afterwards were scattered here and there And as touching the Priests that appertained to Idols that were not of the race of Aaron he put them to death When these things were thus executed in Ierusalem he came afterwards to the plaine countrey and all that which Ieroboam had erected there in honour of Idols he vtterly defaced it and the bones of the false Prophets were burnt vpon the altar that Ieroboam had builded This had the prophet foretold that came to Ieroboam at such time as he offered sacrifice and told him in the presence of all the people all that which should happen namely that one of Dauids posteritie called Iosias should doe these abouenamed things which prophecie tooke effect three hundreth sixtie and one yeere after After this King Iosias transported himselfe to the Israelites who had auoided the captiuitie and seruitude of the Assyrians and perswaded them to forsake their impieties and the seruices they had performed to strange Gods and to honour the soueraigne and true God of their fathers and to cleaue vnto him He made a search also thorow euerie house borough and citie fearing least as yet there should be any Idol hidden Hee likewise sought out the chariots that were made by his auncestors in honour of the sunne and all that which was adored whatsoeuer it were and vtterly abolished the same After hee had in this sort purged the countrey he assembled all the people in Ierusalem where he celebrated the feast of vnleauened bread and the solemnitie of Easter Towards the performance whereof he gaue the people young kiddes and lambes to the number of thirtie thousand and three thousand bullocks for burnt offrings and the chiefe amongst the Leuites distributed amongst the other Leuites fiue hundreth lambs and fiue hundreth bullocks Hauing therefore such an abundance of beasts they sacrificed according to the law of Moses the priests taking charge thereof and confirming the rest of the people by their example Neither was there euer such a solemnitie kept by the Hebrewes since the time of Samuel the Prophet because all things were done according to the lawes and auncient customes which were obserued in the time of their fathers After this Iosias liued in peace riches honour and estimation amongst all men and thus finished his life CHAP. V. Diuers exploits of Nechao NEchao King of Aegypt hauing gathered great forces conducted his army towards the floud Euphrates to warre against the Medes and Babylonians who had destroied the empire of Assyria for Nechao affected the gouernment of all Asia Now when he drew neere vnto the Citie of Mende which was vnder Iosias subiection King Iosias denied him passage and would not suffer his army to march thorow his countrey For which cause Nechao sent a Herauld vnto him to let him vnderstand that it was not against him that he made warre but that he bent his course towards Euphrates for which cause he wished him in no sort to hinder his intended iourney least thereby he should be constrained to make warre vpon him But Iosias respected not this demaund of his but resolued himselfe to hinder his passage thorow his countrey And truely I suppose that the destinies pricked him forward to this arrogance to the end he might haue some occasion to doe something against Nechao For whilest he disposed his army and rode from one band to an other being mounted vpon his chariot he was strooken with an arrow that was shot by a certaine Aegyptian which cooled and tempered the spleene he had in warre For feeling himselfe sorely ouerpressed with paine by reason of his wound he commanded his army to retire and returned himselfe to Ierusalem where he died of his wound and was buried with his fathers with great magnificence after he had liued nine and thirtie yeeres and raigned thirtie and one For him the people mourned with great heauinesse lamenting and sorrowing for many daies The Prophet Ieremy also made a deploration ouer him in lamentable verse which is as yet extant euen in these daies This Prophet left in writing those euils that should afterwards happen vnto the citie and the captiuitie wherewith we are entangled at this present and the surprisall of Babylon Neither hath he alone foretold the same but the Prophet Ezechiel hath likewise done the like who first left two bookes written of the same argument These two Prophets were of the race of the Priests But Ieremy kept in Ierusalem from the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of Iosias vntill the destruction of the Citie and temple as in time and place conuenient we will declare setting downe those occurrences that hapned to this Prophet After the death of Iosias heretofore mentioned his sonne Ioaz succeeded him in the kindome at such time as he was
the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their familie but rather that he should stand vpon his owne guard and reserue himselfe to his better hoped fortunes She furthermore gaue him counsell to write vnto Malchus who had the gouernment of Arabia requesting him to graunt him both protection and entertainment For that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtlesse the kingdome would returne vnto him both in regard of his nobility as also of the peoples fauour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being ouercome by the importunitie of the woman who ceased not day and night to sing the same song of future hope and of Herods treasons he gaue certaine letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certaine horsmen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite lake which lieth distant from the confines of Ierusalem some three hundred furlongs And therefore especially committed hee these letters to Dositheus trust both for that he fauoured Hircanus and his daughter and seemed likely for diuers causes to hate Herod for he was Iosephs kinsman who was slaine by Herod and not long before certaine of his brothers were slaine amongst others at Tire by Anthonies command yet for none of these occasions continued he faithfull to Hircanus For he setting more by the present fauour of the king that then raigned then the rest discouered the letter vnto the king who first of all giuing him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding vp the letter and sealing it he should conueigh and deliuer the same to Malchus and returne his answer for that it merely concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently perfourmed the Arabian returned this answer that he was readie to entertaine both himselfe and his whole family and all those Iewes likewise which were of his faction promising to send him a band of souldiours who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soone as Herod was seazed of these letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus who denied the same But Herod protesting and bringing forth his letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters registred in Herodes commentaries for by some are they deliuered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some treasons against the king For they write to this effect that Herod at a certaine banquet dissembling his suspition demaunded of Hircanus whether he had receiued anie letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had receiued letters but such as conteined nothing els but officious salutations Further that another asked him whether he had receiued anie present therewithall and when he had answered that he had receiued nothing but foure coursers for his saddle the king wrested this to a capitall offence of corruption and treason and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltlesse they alleage this for a most approued argument namely his gentle disposition who euen in his youthfull yeares neuer gaue signe or appearance of rashnesse or pride or signification of audaciousnesse no not euen then when he had the royall gouernment in his hands but in that freedome of authoritie disposed the most things by Antipaters aduise But at that time he was more then fourscore yeares old and knew that Herods estate was secured and passing Euphrates also and liuing on the other side of the riuer he left such as held him in great honour and returned home into his owne countrie to the end he might liue vnder Herodes gouernment Whereby it is lesse likelie that he would attempt any alteration so farre different from his nature so that all these things seeme to be fained by Herode Thus ended Hircanus his life after his variable and aduerse fortune wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For at such time as his mother Alexandra liued he was created high priest of the Iewes and obtained that honour for the space of nine yeeres and after his mothers death he had scarcely gouerned the kingdome for the space of three moneths but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus and afterwards restored by Pompeies assistance and receiuing all his former honours he liued in full possession of them for the space of fortie yeeres After this he was once more distated by Antigonus and being maimed in his bodie liued certaine yeeres in captiuitie among the Parthians from whence not long after he returned home and though he had many things promised him by Herode yet after so many alterations of fortune he obtained nothing at his hands and that which amongst all the rest is most of all to be lamented as we haue said he was vniustly put to death an innocent and in his olde age For he was a louer of iustice and an obseruer of perpetuall modestie and gouerned his kingdome for the most part by other mens direction being onely guiltie in himselfe of ignorance and the loue of idlenesse Truly Antipater and Herode by this mans goodnesse obtained their so great riches for which deserts of his against all lawe and right hee was cruelly put to death But Herode after Hircanus death addressed himselfe to performe his iourny towards Caesar and hauing little hope of any good fortune in regard of his friendship with Antonius he grew desperately iealous of Alexandra for feare least she taking oportunitie of the time should incite the people to rebell and fill the kingdome with domesticall sedition for which cause committing the gouernment of the estate to his brother Pheroras he left his mother Cypros his sister and all his kinred in the castle of Masada and commaunded his brother that if any misfortune should befall him he should retaine the kingdome in his owne hands and maintaine it As for his wife Mariamme for that by reason of certaine dislikes betwixt her his mother and sister they might not liue togither he left her with her mother Alexandra in the castle of Alexandrian and committed them to the custodie of his treasurour Ioseph and Sohemus the Iturian and with her the keeping of his castles both which had alwaies beene his faithfull friends and to whom in way of honour he committed the custodie of these princely Ladies But he gaue them also this commandement that if they should be certified that any sinister mishap had befallen him they should presently kill them both and to the vtmost of their power continue the kingdome in his children and his brother Pheroras CHAP. X. How Herode obtained the kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands AFter he had in this sort giuen order for all his affairs he withdrew himselfe vnto Rhodes intending
instructed vs we are all of one mind and all alike affected doe therefore no longer prolōg the time in vaine I came hither for to suffer not to speake vse all your tyrannie possible against this bodie for you haue no power at all ouer my soule The tyrant hereat moued to see this third nothing relent by his brothers death he deuised more crueltie thē humane wit alone could inuēt Wherefore he commaunded a globe to be brought and tied the holy martyr about it in such sort that all his bones were set out of ioynt and displaced whereat the holy martyr was nothing dismaid The skin also of his head and face was pulled off and then he was put vpon the wheele but he could not be racked any worse for that all his bones were displaced and did hang one separated from an other in most pitifull manner and when bloud issuing from him aboundantly he was depriued of the vse of his hands and feete but perceiuing his life to be spent he spake thus and died We O tyrant endure this torment for the loue of God and thou the author of such iniust crueltie shalt suffer euerlasting paine Then his tongue being cut out of his mouth he was put into a frying panne and so amidst those torments yeelded vp the Ghost Next after followed Iudas the fourth brother whom all the people perswaded and entreated to obey the king but he contemning their praiers and exhortations said thus with all constancie Your fire shall neither separate nor seuer me from the law of God nor from my brethren who in steed of this mortall life enioy life euerlasting I denounce vnto thee O tyrant destruction and ouerthrow but to such as beleeue saluation make triall of me therefore thou cruell wretch and see if God will forsake me who hath with open and stretched out armes receiued my three brethren that are gone before me and whom the wombe of so holy a mother at seuerall times brought forth vnto glorie The cruell tyrant hearing this was much moued and lept downe from his chaire to torment this martyr himselfe that so he might ouercome him and in his furie commaunded his tongue to be cut forth but he hereat not terrified said vnto Antiochus This crueltie will nothing auaile thee neither shalt thou hereby tyrannt as thou supposest conquer me Our God needs not by voice to be awakened but rather by secret cogitation to be praied vnto to helpe his seruants he prouideth for them that hold their peace and heareth the praiers of such as doe call vpon him if they deserue to be heard and onely requireth puritie of soule For our God knoweth all things before we aske and before we our selues enter into cogitation thereof he vnderstādeth our necessitie cut out my toong thou canst not cut out my mind while my life remaineth Those praiers which by it I haue vttered to Almightie God haue taught it to suffer would God thou wouldest so sanctifie all parts of my body by punishing them for thou therein inflictest punishment vpon thy selfe and reward vpon me thinke not that thou shalt thus escape long vnpunished When he had thus spoken his tongue was cut out of his mouth and he bound to a stake and there he was beaten with ropes ends and he did patiently endure this notwithstanding the colour of his face became dead and wanne Being loosed from thence he was put vpon the wheele and then praying for his countriemen he by death went vnto the rest of his brethren Then Achas the fifth brother before he was haled to torments spake in this manner Behold thou tyrant I come to be punished before thou commaund me hope not therefore any iot to alter his mind who as thou seest desireth to be tormented The bloud of my foure innocent brethren which thou hast shed hath condemned thee to hell fire I am to make them vp the number of fiue that by it thy paines may be encreased Tell me bloudie wretch for what offence by vs committed dost thou thus punish vs for what impietie dost thou so persecute vs what villany haue we committed what wickednesse what naughtinesse haue we attempted This is all thou canst alleage against vs that we honour God our creator liue iustly in obedience of his lawes and therefore do not esteeme thy punishments but they are to vs honour and saluation and not punishment we shall be greatly rewarded by God if no part of vs be left free from torment Whilest thus he spake his executioners by the kings commaund tooke him and cast him into a brasen pot and was prest downe in it his head to his feet and afterward he suffered all other torments which his brethren had indured yet not amazed hereat he sodainly started vp and thus bitterly inueighed against the tyrant Cruel tyrant how great benefits dost thou against thy will bestow vpō vs yea the more thou art incensed against vs the more acceptable to God shalt thou make vs yea I should be sory if thou shouldest shew mercie vpon me This short affliction gaineth vs life euerlasting if this tēporall death should not beride me euerlasting life could not befall me And thus he finished his agonie and died When the tormentors laid hands vpon the sixt brother who was called Areth whom the tyrant permitted either to chuse honour or else punishment but he agrieued at this offer said Although tyrant I be younger in yeeres then my martyred brethren yet my constancie of minde to theirs is not inferiour for we were all nourished vp togetheraltoger her instructed and we will all die together in the feare of God Hasten therfore to thy deuised torments that time which thou couldest spend in exhorting me spend it in deuising tortures for me Antiochus hereat confounded commaunded him to be bound to a pillar with his head hanging downe in such wise as humours running into it might cause ach and this done he caused a fire to be made so far Off him that it could not burne him but rost him He also commaunded as he hung to be pricked with awles that so the heat might pierce into the holes that they made in his flesh Whilest thus he was tormented much bloud like froth gathered about his head and face and he then spake in this manner O noble fight O valiant war O strife betweene pietie and impietie These men haue past their agonies whose crowne of martyrdome is the punishment of their persecutors I do most willingly follow my brethren that as by bloud I am conioyned vnto them so by death I may not be separated from them Deuise O tyrant some new torment for these which thou hast alreadie deuised are alreadie ouercome O master of crueltie enemie of pietie persecutor of iustice we sixe worthie young men haue conquered the kings power what his kingdome or the whole world could offorde Thy fire is cold and heateth not and the kings weapons are bended and blunted in our bodies
a. high priesthood confirmed to him 80. g h i. giueth his stoole to Eleazar 82. h. his death ibid. h. Aarons rod fructifieth 81. a. Abdon Iudge of Israel 120. k. renowmed for his issue ibid. k. Abel second son of Adam 5. a. is commended ibid. a b. is stain by his brother and why ibid b c. Abias leuieth an army 211 b. ouercommeth Ieroboam 211. f. dieth 212. g. his issue ibid. Abiathar escapes Sauls hands 149. d. telleth Dauid of his families slaughter 150. g. asketh counsell of God 157. b. dispossessed of the priesthood 191. d. holpe Adonias 186. l. Abigal pacifieth Dauid 152 k l m. after married to Dauid 153. b. Abihu Aarons son burned 67. a. and why ibid a. Abimelech king of Gerar enamoured of Sara 16 i. plagued for taking her ibid i. made a couenant with Abraham ibid l. expelleth Isaac his countrey 21. b. after maketh a league with him ibid. c. d. Abimelech Gedeons bastard sonne 117. c. killeth 69. of his brethren and vsurpeth ibid. e f. practiseth against the Sichemites 118. i k. slaieth them and sacketh their Citie ib. l. burned the Sichemites fled to the rock 118. l m. taketh Tebez 119. a. is wounded and slaine ibid. Abiram rebellious 79. a b. he and those that were with him swallowed vp 80. g. Abisai ouercommeth the Idumaeans 167. c. sent against the Ammonites 169. a. Abisai 183. c. Abisace nourisheth Dauid 186. i. Abner Sauls vncle 132. l. questioneth with Saul ibid. m. Generall of his army 147. c. maketh Isboseth king 160. g. reuolteth from Isboseth 161. a. killeth Azael 160. perswadeth the Gouernours to create Dauid king 161. c d. is slaine 162. g. Abraham son of Thares 11. c. tenth from Noe ib. e. taught the Aegyptians religion artes 13. b c. first preacher of the word 12. i. his wisedome ib. an Astronomer 12. k. 13. c. an Arithmetitian ibid. c. his house 12. l. oppressed by famine ibid. m. deuided the land with Lot 13. c. rescueth Lot and the Sodomites 14. h. A son promised him 14. k. 15. b. foretolde his progenie to be euill intreated 14. k l. circumcised himselfe and Ismael 15. b. entertaineth Angels and entreateth for the Sodomites ib. d e. intended to offer his son 18. h. k. marrieth Chetura 19. prouideth a wife for his son ib. d. dieth 20. l. is commended ibid. Absence of Dauid excused 147. c d. Absolon killeth Amnon 173. a. fled to Gessur 173. c. reuoked from banishment and how ibid. d e. affecteth the kingdome 174. k. proclaimed king ibid. l. passeth ouer Iordan 177. d. his ouerthrow 178. h. slaine by Ioab ib. i. Abundance foretold 40. l. Abundance of siluer 204. h. Abundance of victuals foreshewed 228. i k. effected 229. d. Abundance of victuall shewed 722. g h. Acclamation of the people 451. c. Accusation of Laban against Iacob 25. b. of Iacob against him ib. d e. of Putifars wife against Ioseph 32. g. of Doeg against Achimelech 149. a. of Aristobulus and Hyrcanus 353. b c. of Antipater against his brethren 595. f. of Herod and Nicholaus 602. m. 603. a. 604. h. of Antipater against Archelaus 609. d. of the Iewes 612. k. Achab son of Amri king of Israel 214. h. followeth impieties ibid. tooke to wife Iesabell ibid. seeketh Elias 215. c. coueteth Naboths vineyard 217. b. his repentance ibid. f. twise ouercommeth the Syrians 219. a b d. reprooued for dismissing Adad 220. h i. imprisoneth Micheas and why 220. i. 221. b. reiected his aduice 221. e. f. wounded dieth 222. g h. Achabs 70. sons 232. Achar stole the spoiles dedicated to God 102 m. hid them in his tent 103. a. found guiltie and put to death ibid. c. d. Achaz of Iuda sacrificeth his son 241. a. serueth Idols ib. a b. 242. g. ouerthrown in battell 241. c. hireth Theglaphalasar 241. f. shutteth the temple gates 242. h. dieth ibid. Achias reprooued Salomon 204. l. foretold Ieroboam to be king ouer 10. tribes 205. c. Achis a king of the Philistines 148. h. leadeth out Dauid against the Hebrewes 156. k. dismisseth him and why ibid. l m. Achitophels counsell against Dauid 176. a. hangeth himselfe 177. b. Acmes letter to Antipater 446. m. 447. a. executed 450. g. Acquaintance of Rebecca with Abrahams seruant 20. g. Act of Saul most malicious 149. d. an Action how said to be good 140. h. Action of Saul and his people 139. e. Acts of the Israelites 109. b c d e f. Acts of Simon against the Zelous 692. h. c. Act most cruell 723. c. d. Actian warre 584 h. Adad king of Damasco ouercome 167. a. Adad king of Syria proposeth conditions to Achab 218. h i. k. ouerthrowne 217. a. his second expedition ibid. c. taken prisoner is dismissed ibid. d e. discomfiteth and slaieth Achab 222. g. h. asketh counsell of Elizaeus 229. c. his death foretold 229. f. Adam created and how 3. f. placed in paradice 4. g. forbidden the tree of knowledge onely 4. h. transgresseth ibid. i. cast out of Paradice 5. a. begot Cain and Abel ibid. a and other children also 6. g. his age and death ibid. g h. 7. b. prophecied of a twofold destruction ibid. h. Adar a moneth of the Hebrewes 99. e. Ader enemie to Salomon 205. a. spoiled the landes of the Israelites 205. c. Adoni-bezec taken 109. c. punished confesseth Gods iustice ibid. c. Adonias affecteth the kingdome 186. i. flieth to the Altar 187. d. requireth Abisace 291. a c. slaine ibid. c. Aduersities befell the Israelites 113. c. and why ibid. c. Aduice of Raguel allowed 58. i. of the Elders reiected 206. i. of young men accepted ibid. l. Adulteresse her policie 32. g h. Adulterie 71. b. punished 94. h. Adulterie of Elies sonnes 125. b. Adulterie of Dauid 169. d. Affaires of Ioseph 639 b. Affection of Ioseph toward his brethren 38. l. of Ionathan to Dauid 144 m. Affinitie of Iacob with Rachel 23. b. of Saul and Ionathan with Dauid 144. i. 145. b. of Demetrius with Ptolemey 326. h. Affliction of the Hebrewes with the causes thereof 41 b c d. 46. g. l. 47. e. Africa from whence it tooke his name 19. c. Agag king of the Amalechites taken 139. c. spared and why ibid c. put to death 140. l m. and why ibid. Agar Saraes handmaid 14. m. contemned her mistris and why ibid. m. fled commanded to returne 14. m. 15. a. promised happines 17. c. brought forth Ismael ibid. a. cast out with her sonne 17. b. comforted ibid c. Age of Isaac at his offring 18. g. when he died 27. d. Age of the fathers before the floud 7. a b c. Age of Abraham 20. l. of Iacob 40. m. Aggaeus the prophet encourageth the Iewes 271. b. Agreement of the seditious 700. m. 710. h. Agrippa offereth 100. fat Oxen 413. c. reconciled to the Ilyensians 414. g. confirmeth the Iewes priuiledges 415. c. writeth to the Ephesians 422. h. Agrippa becommeth poore 472. i. k. borroweth money 473. b c e admitted to Caesars
to be almost desperate yet our only hope as yet resteth in your goodnes and clemencie For which cause we beseech you that you will not only haue compassion of vs but of your owne nature and that in this cause you would be pleased to take counsaile not of your iust indignation but your natiue goodnesse gouerning your wrath with a great mind to which vulgar men both in great and small occurrences are wont to submit Consider I pray you whether it stand with your dignitie to kill those who present themselues to be punished desire in no sort to liue except it be by the benefit of your mercie Suffer not your selfe to be depriued of this honour that after you haue deliuered vs from famine and liberally furnished vs with come so of your mercie likewise you haue permitted vs to returne vnto our family being trauelled by the same perill and to bring them home sustonance For one and the same bounty is it to continue them in life who are trauelled with famine and to forgiue them death who haue merited it by their offences to whom their wickednes hath enuied that bounty which you haue heroically extended towards them It is one and the same grace imparted by you in diuers manners For thou shalt saue those whom thou hast fed and that life which thou wouldest not suffer to faile by force of famine thou shalt redeliuer and giue againe whereby thy clemencie may be more commendable whilest both thou giuest life and those things likewise whereby life is maintained Moreouer I thinke that God himselfe hath giuen thee this meanes to expresse thy vertue that it may appeare that thou settest lighter by the iniuries offered vnto thee then by thy will to doe good and that thou art not liberall to them only who are poore and innocent For although it bee a great praise to yeeld succour in aduersities yet is a prince no lesse honoured by his clemencie especially in a cause that concerneth his particular interest For if they that remit small offences are followed by deserued praise what is it to restraine a mans ire in a capitall crime doth it not most neerely approximate the diuine clemencie And hadde I not good experience by Iosephs death how grieuously my father digesteth the want of his children I would not so earnestly intreat for his safety but so farre forth and no otherwise but as it might redound to the praise of thy clemencie and were there not some to whom our death would bring both griefe and discontent we were willing all of vs to suffer punishment But now whereas we haue not so much commiseration of our selues although as yet we be but yong and haue not much tasted the pleasures and fruit of this life as of our wretched parents being drowned in yeares and cares we offer vp vnto thee these our prayers in his name also and beseech thee to graunt vs life though at this day wee are vnder thy iustice for our offences Assuredly hee is a good man and begate vs that we should be like vnto him worthy is he neuer to taste or to be tried by any such calamitie who now thorow our absence is discruciate with care and sorrow Now if so be he should receiue any tydings either of our death or the cause thereof he will not indure any more to liue the infamy of our deaths will shorten his daies and make his death by this meanes more vnhappy who rather then he should heare the rumors of our shame would hasten his death in supposing them All these wel considered although thou art iustly moued by this offence remit the reuenge vnto our father and rather let thy pity towards him then our iniquity towards thee preuaile with thee Impart this honor to his old age which if it be depriued of our presence neither wil nor can desire to liue yeeld this respect to thy fathers memory yea ascribe it to the very name of a father wherewith thou art honoured so God the father of all men will blesse thee in that name and fortunate thee in thy increase whom also thou shalt honour if in respect of that common name thou take compassion of our father in considering the sorrow that he shall endure if perhaps he shall be depriued of his children It now lieth in your power to giue vs that which you may depriue vs of by that power which God hath giuen you and in doing vs this fauour you shall imitate the nature of God and in this respect become like vnto him For since it lieth in your power to doe both the one and the other it were better thou didst good then euill and contenting thy selfe with thy power not to remember or vrge thy reuenge but onely to thinke that thy power was giuen thee to keepe and conserue men and that the more mercie thou extendest towards many the more honour thou redoublest on thy head now it lieth in thy power by for giuing our brothers errour to giue vs all life For neither can we be safe except he be saued neâ—…ther may we returne home vnto our father except he returne but here must we suffer whatsoeuer our brother suffereth Neither doe we craue any other mercy at thy hand dread prince if we be repulsed in this but that thou wilt inflict one and the same punishment on vs in no other manner then as if we had been partakers of the felony for this were more better for vs then that we our selues thorow sorrow should offer violence to our owne soules I will not alleadge or vrge his youth or iudgement as yet vnripened neither will I inferre that pardon is vsually granted vnto such but here will I make an end that whether we be condemned in that I haue not sufficiently pleaded his cause or whether we be absolued we may wholy ascribe this grace to your fauour and clemencie to the bounds of whose praise this likewise shall be added that not onely thou hast saued vs but also in pardoning vs of the punishment which we haue iustly deserued hast had more care of vs then we our selues If therefore it be thy pleasure to adiudge him to die suffer me to suffer for him and send him backe vnto our father or if it please thee to retaine him for thy slaue I am more fit then he to doe all sorts of seruices as you may perceiue and am ready to suffer all that which may be inflicted on me When Iuda had spoken thus he humbled himselfe at Iosephs feete indeuouring as much as in him lay to mollifie and appease his ire in like sort also all the other brothers prostrated themselues offering themselues to die for Beniamin But Ioseph conquered with pitie and vnable any longer to personate a displeased man sent away all those that were present and being alone with them discouered himâ—…elfe vnto his brothers and in this sort to them onely he disclosed himselfe and said I cannot but commend the
most odoriferous drugge the halfe of the said waight and he caused all these to be beaten and infused in a Hin of oyle of oliue others write palme this Hin is one of our measures contayning two Choas of Athens all which he mixed boyled together according to the art of perfumers and he made thereof a most odoriferous oyntment which he tooke and annoynted the priest withall and all that which belonged to the Tabernacle to the intent to purifie them offering many and sundrie sorts of beasts of great price to sacrifice within the Temple vpon the Altar of gold whereof I forbeare to speake any further for feare I should grow offensiue and tedious to the readers Twice a day before the sunne rise and sunne set they were to burne incense and purifie the oyle and refresh the lampes whereof three ought to burne euerie day vpon the sacred Candlesticke in honour of God and the rest were lighted in the euening Amongst them that wrought and finished these things Beseleel and Eliab were the most excellent and expertest workemen for whatsoeuer had been enterprised by others they in their art polished and perfected and they of themselues found many new things of their owne inuention yet was Beseleel iudged the most excellent of them two All the time employed in this worke was seuen months and at that time was the yeare accomplished which began at their departure out of Egypt In the beginning of the second yeare in the month which the Macedonians call Xanthicus and the Hebrewes Nisan vpon the new moone they dedicated the Tabernacle with all things belonging thereunto according as I haue made mention And God presently testified that both their gifts were gratious in his eyes and the Hebrewes labors fruitfull and pleasant in his sight testifying his presence in that Temple after this manner Whereas the heauen was otherwaies cleere and faire ouer the Tabernacle only there was a cloud not wholy thicke like a winter storme nor obscure and yet not so thin as a man could see thorow the same from whence there descended a dewe that gaue testimonie of Gods presence vnto them that had will and beliefe Moses honoured the workemasters that made the worke with such rewards as appertained vnto them by desart and sacrificed according as God had commanded him in the doore or porch of the Tabernacle a Bull a Ramme and a Kid for their sinnes but with what ceremonie these things are done I will declare when I intreat of sacrifices as also what offerings are to be burned by fire and according to the law are allowed to be fed vpon and with the blood of the slaughtred beasts he besprinkled the vestment of Aaron and purified both him and his children with fountaine water and the pretious oyntâ—… 〈◊〉 to the end they might be sanctified to God And for seuen daies space he consecrated both themselues and their vestments and the Tabernacle with those things which appertained thereunto with that oyle whereof I haue before time foretold you with the bloud of Buls and Rammes slaine euery other day after their kind But on the eight day he proclaimed a holy day and festiuall to all the people and decreed that euery one of them should particularly sacrifice according to his abilitie and they with emulation striuing to exceed one another obeyed him and offered vp their sacrifices according as it was commaunded them Whilest thus the sacrifices were vpon the Altar sodainly there issued a fire from them which kindled of it selfe the flame whereof resembled the light or brightnes of lightning and consumed all that which vvas vpon the Altar At that time there happened an inconuenient to Aaron which although it somewhat moued and amated his fatherly patience yet digested he it with a constant and generous mind for he was a man of much constancie and such a one as knew that nothing could befal him without the prescience and prouidence of God For of those foure sons which I told you that he had the two elder brethren Nadab and Abihu bringing sacrifices vnto the Altar not such as were appointed by Moses but of that sort they were accustomed to offer before times were burned by the violent flame that issued from the Altar seasing both their breasts and faces in such a sort as by no meanes possible that might be extinguished so that at length they died Moses commaunded both their father and brothers to take their bodies and carry them out of the host and burie them sumptuously all the people wept and were amased verie much at this their death so straunge and vnsuspected But Moses ordained that neither the father nor his sonnes should lament but that they should rather make estimate of Gods honour then of their owne misfortune for Aaron was alreadie inuested in the sacred robe But as touching Moses he refused all honours which were offered him by the people neither applied he himselfe vnto any other thing but to the seruice of God neyther did hee ascend any more vp to the mountaine of Sinai but entred into the Tabernacle to take counsaile at Gods hands in those things whereof he had neede to be informed He demeaned himselfe like a priuate man not onely in his apparrell but in all other things and liued verie popularly perseuering in that familiar and ciuill course of life and challenging no priuiledge aboue anie man but onely in those things which pertayned to the administration of the common weale Besides these he reduced vnder writing both the lawes and ordinances as touching Policie in due performance whereof if they should liue they should bee both agreeable to God and liue without cause of controuersie the one against the other And all this established he following those directions which God had instructed him in But now will I returne and bend my stile to discourse vpon that which I haue omitted in the ornament of the high priest for this apparrell of theirs leaueth not any occasion to false prophets to execute their wicked impostures and if there be any such as dare intermeddle with that which appertaineth to Gods maiestie this habite maketh them know that it is in Gods power to be present with the sacrificers at such time as it pleaseth him and to be absent when him listeth which God would haue made knowne not onely to the Hebrewes but to all those straungers who by any occurrence might be eye witnesses of the same For of those stones which the high Priest bare or his shoulders which were Sardonixs whose nature is so notorious to all men that it were vnnecessarie to reueale it the one shined at such times as there was any offering that other which was fastened on his right shoulder shined verie cleerely at such time as God was present at the sacrifice and cast his raies a farre off that it might be perceiued by those that beheld the same both contrarie to his nature and custome which truly
and sorrow in her first husband Let not free men match themselues with such as are seruants no not although they be thereunto moued by loue For it is a thing worthie and besitting honour to surmount a mans affections Let no man meddle with an Harlot whose sacrifice God refuseth by reason of the filthinesse of her bodie For the children shall be of a free heart and addressed in vertue not if they be engendred in villanous and vnlawfull concupiscence but if they be begotten and borne by a free father and mother If anie one that is married for a virgin bee afterwards found to the contrarie let her be brought before the Iudge and let him produce all the signes that hee can and let the new married wiues cause be defended by her father or brother or by them who next vnto them shall seeme to be her next in bloud and if the Damosell be found to haue committed no crime let her returne dwell with him that hath accused her who cannot any more refuse her except she giue him great occasions whereunto she cannot contradict But hee that without cause and rashly shall accuse and slaunder his wife he shall be punished with thirtie nine stripes and in way of amends shall pay fiftie sicles to her father But if it be proued that she hath beene defloured and hath beene common then shall she be stoned to death for that she hath not chastlie conserued her virginitie till the time of her lawfull marriage and if she be of the race of the Priests she shall be burned aliue If any man haue two wiues the one of which he holdeth in great honour and amitie either for loue or by reason of her beautie and that the other be not in the like condition and estimate if the sonne of her that is better beloued demaundeth to haue the prerogatiue of the elder which is two portions of that which commeth to all the rest by his fathers patrimonie for so much import our ordinances and challengeth the same by reason that his father more dearely loueth his mother then the other let it not be granted him For it is an act against iustice that the eldest should be depriued of that which appertaineth vnto him because his mothers condition is inferiour to that of the others by reason of his fathers affection Whosoeuer shall violate a maiden being betrothed to another man if by perswasion she hath consented to lie with him let her die with him For they are both of them equally guiltie of sinne the man because he hath perswaded the maiden to suffer an insufferable dishonour and to preferre her lust before an honest mariage and the maid for suffering her selfe to be ouercome and abandoning her bodie to villany either for lust or lucres sake But if meeting her alone he inforce her and she haue none to succour her hard by let him die alone He that shall defloure the virgin that is vnmarried he shall take her to wife but if he condescend not to the father to entertaine her in wedlocke he shall pay fiftie sicles for amends of the iniurie If any man pretend to separate himselfe from his wife for certaine causes such as ordinarily happen amongst married couples let him confirme it in writing that he will neuer more entertaine her againe and so may she marrie againe vnto another and refuse the former husband And if it hapned that she were euill intreated by the second or that he being dead the first would take her againe in marriage it is not lawfull for the wife to returne vnto him If the brother of him that is deceased without issue take to wife her whom his deceased brother had married and that the sonne which was borne by this second wedlocke beareth his name let him be brought vp as the successor of his inheritāce which thing is granted for publike profit sake to the end that families should not come to ruine and that the goods should remaine to those of the same kinred Furthermore it is allowed for the comfort of afflicted women that they may be ioyned in marriage with the next akin of their first husbands but if the brother will not take her to wife she shall repaire vnto the Senate and make this protestation that the brother of her deceased husband will not intertaine her although she had desired to remaine in that line and bring forth infants vnto him protesting that by him onely the memorie of her deceased husband was dishonoured And when the Senate shall haue examined the cause why he estrangeth himselfe from this marriage his excuse shall be allowed of how great or sleight consequence soeuer it be and then shall the widow vnloose his shoe and spit in his face and tell him that he hath deseruedly suffered these things in that he hath iniured the memorie of his dead brother and thus shall he depart out of the court being defamed for his whole life time and the woman may marry whomsoeuer she list If any man take a virgin prisoner or such a one as hath beene alreadie married and bee desirous to take her to his wife it is not lawfull for him to touch or approch her before such time as she hath beene shauen and hauing put on her mourning apparrell hath bewailed her parents or friends slaine in battell but after she hath in this sort asswaged her sorrow she may afterwards addict her selfe to mirth and marriage For it is a matter both honest and iust that he that entertaineth her to haue issue by her should condescend vnto her wil in all that wherein he might gratifie her and that he should not onely addict himselfe to the pursuit of his pleasure when as then the thirtie daies of mourning shall be expired for that time is sufficient for the wife to bewaile her friends in then may she harken after marriage and if after he hath had his pleasure with her it fortune that he mislike her and will not accept her for his wife he can no more make her his slaue but she may goe whither soeuer she pleaseth for that she beareth with her her liberite All those young men that shall make no reckoning of their fathers and mothers and that shall not doe them that honour which belongeth vnto them whether the same proceed of shame or spring from folly by which meanes they grow to neglect their dutie these first of all shall be admonished by discreete counsel of their parents who are by nature appointed sufficient iudges in that behalfe who shall signifie vnto them that they were matched together in matrimonie not for their pleasures sake neither that by vniting their possessions they might become the more richer but to the end they might beget children who might nourish them in their age and minister vnto them in their necessities That they had receiued them at Gods hands with great thanksgiuing and infinite ioy and brought them
cause calling vnto him some fewe companions of his perils who were discontented with their present estate and desired a change he first of all discomfited the garrison which Schisart had placed ouer them and so much was he furthered with his first successe that the number of his followers increased more and more so that they seemed sufficient to equall the enemy in open field whereupon encountring him in one battaile they ouercame him and recouered their libertie and the rest of the scattered and confused army retyred themselues toward Euphrates Now after that Cenizus had by this effect giuen proofe of his valour he receiued the gouernment at the peoples hands and exercised the office of iudge fortie yeares at the end whereof he died CHAP. V. How the people were againe made subiect to the Moabites and how by Iodes they were exempt from seruitude AFter whose death the gouernment and seate being voide the affaires of the Israelites began againe to fall to ruine and the rather for that they neither yeelded due honour vnto God neither obedience to the lawes whence it came to passe that Eglon king of the Moabites seeing the disorder of their pollicie set them at nought so that he waged warre against them and ouercame them many times And for that he was a prince of greater forecast then any of his predecessors he fought against them and weakened their forces and constrained them to pay tribute This man translating his court to Iericho and proud in his victories omitted no meanes whereby he might vexe and molest the people so that they liued for the space of 18. yeares in great miserie But God being moued with their calamities and supplications deliuered them from their intolerable thraldome after this manner Iodes the sonne of Gera of the tribe of Beniamin a yong man both addressed by valour of minde and strength of hand to attempt any worthy action dwelt at Iericho This man insinuated himselfe into Eglons familiaritie and by presents and gifts entertained and courted him in such sort as he was well beloued and esteemed amongst all those courtiers that were neerest about the king It chanced one day that bearing certaine presents vnto the king attended by two of his houshold seruants he secretly girt a dagger to his right thigh at such time as he entred into the king now it was about midsommer and mid-day likewise whereby the watch was growne the more carelesse and slothfull partly by reason of the heate and partly for that the guard were occupied about their dinner The yong man therefore offering his presents vnto Eglon who at that time disported himselfe in a certaine sommer chamber began to discourse with him Now they were both alone by reason that the king resoluing to talke familiarlie with Iodes had sent away his guard and sate him downe in a seate but Iodes fearing least failing to stab home enough he should not giue him a fatall and deadly wound required him to rise telling him that he had a dreame to report vnto him by the commandement of God Whereat he reioicing very much leapt from his seate whereupon Iodes stabd him to the heart and leauing the poiniard sticking in his wound he escaped and locked the doore after him the guard making no noise at all supposing that the king had laide him downe to rest But Iodes giuing priuate notice hereof to them of Iericho offered himselfe to be their leader in the recouerie of their former libertie who willingly accepting thereof presently tooke armes and sent trumpets to publish the same thorow the whole countrey for after that manner were they woont to assemble the people They that were about Eglon were wholy ignorant of that which had hapned but about the eeuen-tide fearing least some mishap had befallen him they entred into the place where he was found him dead wherat they were greatly astonished so as they knew not what to doe For before they had assembled their forces togither the Israelites fiercely charged them and some they killed instantly the rest that were ten thousand in number betooke then selues to flie vnder hope to recouer their countrey of Moab but the Israelites hauing before that laide and fortified the passages of Iordan pursued them and slew them so that diuers of them perished in the Ferrie and not one of them remained that escaped their hands By this meanes the Israelites were deliuered from the seruitude of the Moabites and for this cause Iodes was aduanced to the gouernment of the people Finally after he had liued for the space of fourescore yeares he died A man besides the act of late rehearsed worthy of praise in all other things After him Sanagar the sonne of Anath was elected gouernour and in the first yeare of his raigne he left this life to partake the fruition of another CHAP. VI. How the Israelites were brought vnder the subiection of the Chanaanites and raunsomed from seruitude by Barac BVt the Israelites in no sort reclaimed or reconciled by their forepassed calamities fell againe into their former impietie and disobedlence and before they had sufficiently shaken off the seruitude of the Moabites were subiected vnto Iabin king of the Chanaanites This man kept his residence imperiall at Asor a Citie scituate on the lake of Sachonites he had in pay thirtie thousand foore and ten thousand horse and besides these hee had three thousand warlike Chariots Ouer all this huge army commanded Sisares an especiall man amongst the kings fauourites who encountring with the Israelites brought their affaires into so desperate an estate that they willingly for their owne securitie sake accepted seruitude and paied tribute whereunto they were inforced through the austeritie of their subiection almost for the space of twentie yeares not daring to lift vp their heads all which fell vpon them by the will of God to the end he might punish the too great contumacie and ingratitude of that nation Who at length repenting themselues and acknowledging the cause of their calamities namely that it proceeded from the contempt of their lawes they repaired to a certaine Prophetesse called Debora which name in the Hebrew toong signifieth a Bee beseeching her that by her prayers she would endeuour to prouoke God vnto mercie to the intent he should not suffer them so to be oppressed by the Chanaanites Hereupon God being inclined to take compassion on them granted them helpe and appointed Barac to be their gouernour a man of the tribe of Nephthali whose name signifieth lightning Debora therefore sending for Barac commandeth him to picke out and muster ten thousand chosen men and lead them foorth against the enemy alleadging that they were sufficient to obtaine the victorie which God had promised by his Oracle But Barac denying to vndertake the gouernment except she also would administer the same with him she moued therewith spake thes Wilt thou said she surrender the dignitie which God hath giuen thee
Courtiers to sound and seeke out Dauids resolution and how he was affectioned towardes marriage who began to deuize with him telling him that the king bare him a most intire fauour and that the people admired him and how they would procure him the mariage of the kings daughter Whereunto Dauid replied Thinke you it to be a small matter to be son in law vnto the king for my selfe I esteeme otherwise considering in especial mine own base condition who haue neither reputation nor any honorable qualitie When Sauls seruants had related vnto him what answere Dauid had made them Tell him said he that I neither want goods nor presents for that were to expose my daughter to sale and not to match her with a husband I seeke for a sonne in law that hath valour and that is adorned with all vertue such as is manifest and apparant in thee and my desire is that for the dower of my daughter thou giue me neither gold nor siluer nor any other valuable wealth out of thy fathers house but the punishment of the Philistines and six hundreth of their heads which shall be the most desired and accepted dower thou canst present me with My daughter also requesteth aboue all the dowers that may accrew vnto her by order of law to be married to such a man that is so enobled and famous by the ouerthrow of his enemies When these words were reported vnto Dauid he was verie ioyfull thinking that Saul spake sincerely of this affinitie and without delay or taking counsaile or deliberation whether the thing were easie or impossible for him to execute hee incontinently departed with his company to go and finde out the enemy and execute the condition vnder which the marriage was promised him For it was God that made all things easie and possible to Dauid for after he had slaine diuers of them and cut off six hundreth of their heads he returned and presented them to the king and in consideration thereof required the performance of his marriage CHAP. XII Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter to wife BVt Saul that could not flie from his promise for feare least it should be a great dishonour for him to be found a lier or to haue promised Dauid his daughter vnder colour either to murther him or to draw him to the execution of things that were impossible deliuered his daughter Michol vnto him But his intention was not to continue long in that mind For perceiuing that Dauid was gracious in Gods sight and in good reputation amongst the people he was affraid of him and being vnable to conceale his feare he had conceiued to be depriued of two things of such consequence as were his kingdome and life he resolued to kill Dauid giuing commission to his sonne Ionathan and diuers other of his seruants to execute the same But Ionathan amased to see this change in his father in steed of the singular good liking he had of Dauid in times past sought to hurt Dauid not in any slight sort but by indangering his life and on the other side being singularly affected towards him and respecting of his vertue he communicated the secret and deliberation of his father with him counselling him to haue care of himselfe and to flie vpon the next morrow and that in the meane time he would go and salute his father and as soone as the occasion presented it selfe hee would speake and conferre with him to know the cause of his conceiued displeasure against him to the intent he might pacifie the same supposing it to bee a matter vnreasonable that he should be depriued of life to whom the people were so much indebted and who in particular was his esteemed and vowed friend yea in respect of his former merits although he were found guiltie of many hainous offences yet ought he to obtaine a deserued pardon I will tell thee afterward said he what my fathers resolution is Dauid gaue credit to his holesome counsaile and retired himselfe from the presence of the king CHAP. XIII How the King practised to murther Dauid THe next day after Ionathan came vnto Saul and finding him merrie and well disposed he began to speake vnto him to this effect as concerning Dauid In what fault O Father either great or small haue you found Dauid guiltie that you haue ordained commanded him to be done to death who is such a man as for the conseruation of your own person hath been very profitable and besides that hath preiudiced the estate of the Philistines and inhaunced the honour of the people of the Hebrewes and hath deliuered them from that disgrace and mockerie wherewith they haue been curbed for the space of fortie yeares so that he onely hath dared and opposed himselfe against the proud defies of the enemy and since that time hath brought so many of the Philistines heads as was commanded him in recompence whereof he hath had my sister to wife so that his death should be a great displeasure vnto vs not onely by reason of the vertue wherwith he is endowed but also thorow occasion of his alliance with vs in bloud and consanguinitie For by his death your daughter shall partake part of the iniurie by reason that she shall suffer the incommoditie of widowhood before she hath tasted the fruites and commodities of marriage Way these things and pacifie your displeasure and do no wrong vnto such a man who first of all hath beene the author of your so good and great fortunes as is the conseruation of your person at such time as you were possessed and tormented with euil spirits and hath brought to passe that your furies are alayed and secondly hath reuenged you of your enemies For it is a thing vnworthy either your maiestie or the name of a man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore vnto his sonne that he would not iniure Dauid for his iust perswasions and arguments were more stronger then the choler and feare of the king Ionathan sent to seeke out Dauid and told him these good and happy tidings from his father and brought him vnto him where he liued and remained in sort as he did before time CHAP. XIIII How hardly Dauid escaped the ambushes that were often layd for him by the king yet hauing him twice at aduantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time whilest the Philistines led forth their army anew against the Hebrewes Saul sent out Dauid against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them returned vnto the king with a great victorie But Saul entertained him not both as he deserued and the happy exploit atchieued by him did merit but despited and enuied his good actions honorable deserts as if Dauids happy successe had bin Sauls disaduantage and preiudice But at such time as the euill spirit returned anew and both seased and vexed him he lodged
or that I wil countenance them as if these actes of yours who are murtherers of your Master were laudable in you in you I say who haue slaine a good man on his bed that iniured no man but was your benefactor and who had both cherished and honoured you nay rather assure your selues that you shall be punished in his behalfe and shall yeeld me satisfaction by the losse of your liues because you haue thought that Isboseths death would worke my contentment for you could not in any sort dishonour me more then by conceiuing such an opinion of me Which said he adiudged them to die by the most cruell torments that might be imagined and with all the honour that he might he caused Isboseths head to be interred in Abners tombe These murtherers being thus done to death all the chiefest of the people repaired to Dauid vnto Hebron both they that commanded ouer thousands as such also as were gouernours and submitted themselues vnto him reckoning vp the good affection they had borne him both during Sauls life time as also the honour which they had neuer discontinued to beare him since the first time that he was Coronell ouer a thousand especially for that he had beene chosen by God thorowe the mediation of the Prophâ—… Samuel to be their king and his children after him declaring vnto him that God had giuen him the countrey of the Hebrewes to defend the same and discomfit the Philistines Dauid accepted their promptitude and affection exhorting them to persist assuring them that they should neuer repent themselues of their obedience and after he had banquetted and entertained them he sent them to assemble all the people Of the tribe of Iuda there came togither about six thousand eight hundreth men of war bearing for their armes a buckler and a iauelin who before that time had followed Sauls sonnes and besides whom the tribe of Iuda had assigned the kingdom to Dauid Of the tribe of Simeon seuen thousand a hundreth or somewhat more of that of Leui 4700. whose chiefetaine was Iodam with whom was Sadoc the high priest accompanied with 20. two gouernors of the same linage Of the tribe of Beniamin 4000. men of warre for this tribe were as yet of opinion that some of the heires of Saul should raigne Of that of Ephraim 20800. both strong and stout men Of that of Manasses almost the halfe as many namely 8000. Of that of Issachar 200. who were skilfull in diuination and 20000. men of warre Of that of Zabulon 20000. chosen fighting men For onely this intire tribe was wholy at Dauids commaund who were armed in like manner as they of Gad were Of the tribe of Nepthali there were 1000. chiefetaines famous for their valour and armed with shield and iauelin attended by an infinite number of their tribe Of the tribe of Dan there were 27000. chosen men Of that of Aser 40000. Of the two tribes on the other side of Iordan and of the halfe tribe of Manasses six score thousand armed men with buckler iauelin murrion and sword The rest of the other tribes also wore swords All this multitude was assembled togither in Hebron before Dauid with great prouision of victuals and wine sufficient to sustaine them all who all of them with one consent appointed Dauid to be their King Now when the people had mustred and banquetted for three daies space in Hebron Dauid dislodged from thence with his whole host and repaired to Ierusalem But the Iebusites who at that time inhabited the citie and were of the race of the Chanaanites shutting vp their gates against his comming and placing on their wals as many as were blind and lame or maimed in any other sort in contempt of him scoffingly iested and said that these were sufficient to keepe out the enemy so much trusted they to their fortifications Wherewith Dauid being sore displeased began to besiege Ierusalem and vsing all diligence and industrie to surprise the same he incontinently expressed how strong he was checking thereby other mens pride who perhaps would haue done the like vnto him and afterwards tooke the lower towne And for that the higher towne was as yet vnsurprised the king resolued to encourage his men of warre to shew themselues valiant promising them honors and recompence proclaiming that he would make him Generall ouer all the people that should first of all scale ascend and seaze the wall Whilest thus they inforced themselues to mount without refusing any trauell thorow the desire they had to obtaine the gouernment that was promised Ioab the sonne of Saruia was the forwardest amongst the rest and hauing got vpon the wall cried vnto the king requiring him to grant him the generall gouernment CHAP. III. Dauid hauing taken Ierusalem by force casteth out all the Chanaanites from thence and deliuereth the Citie to be inhabited by the Iewes AFter therefore he had cast out the Iebusites out of the higher Citie and repaired Ierusalem he called it the Citie of Dauid and remained therein all the time of his raigne so that the whole time that he ruled in Hebron ouer the sole tribe of Iuda was seuen yeares and six moneths But after he had establâ—…shed Ierusalem for his royall Citie his fortunes daily more and more increased because God both furthered and bettered them Hiram also King of Tire sent vnto him and made a league of amitie with him he presented him likewise with presents of Cedar wood and workemen and masons to build him a royall house in Ierusalem Now when the king had seazed the higher Citie he annexed the rocke thereunto and made one body of twaine and hauing walled it in he gaue the gouernment thereof to Ioab This king was the first that droue the Iebusites out of Ierusalem and called the same by his name For from the time of Abraham our forefather it was called Solyma neither want there some that inferre that Homer vnder that name intended Ierusalem For in the Hebrew toong Solyma is as much to say as Securitie All the time from the exploit of warre made by Iosuah against the Chanaanites and since the diuision of the countrey during all which time the Israelites could not driue the Chanaanites out of Ierusalem vntill such time as Dauid tooke the same by force were fiue hundreth and fifteene yeares But in this place I will not forget one Orphon a rich man amongst the Iebusites who for that he was well affected towards the Hebrewes was not put to death in the surprisall which Dauid made of Ierusalem but as I will shortly hereafter declare was graced and greatly honoured by the king Dauid espoused other wiues besides those which he had besides many other concubines By them he had eleuen sonnes whose names are these which follow Amnas Emma Ebamatha Salomon Iebar Eliel Phalna Ennapha Ienaah Eliphal besides these he had a daughter called Thamar Nine of these were begotten on noble mothers but the
to exterminate his race for he was by nature a capitall enemy of the Iewes by reason that the Amalechites from whom he challenged his descent had been wholy ruinated by them For which cause he addressed himselfe vnto the king and accused them saying that there was a certaine cursed nation spred thorow his whole kingdome insociable and abhorring the customes of other men who vsed diuers lawes and ceremonies hatefull both for their manners and studies to all the rest of his subiects and all mortall men This nation saith he if thou wilt doe a gratious and acceptable fauour vnto thy people thou shalt vtterly extinguish and leaue neither captiue nor slaue aliue amongst them And least your maiesties tribute should be any waies impaired by these meanes I promise you of mine owne reuenewes forne thousand talents of siluer desiring rather willingly to forbeare so much money then that your kingdome should be vnpurged of such a cursed race of men When Aman had made this his request the king answered that he forgaue him the money and that he permitted him to deale with that nation as best him liked When Aman had obtained this his desire he presently sent an edict thorow all nations in the kings name and to this effect The great king Artaxerxes vnto his gouernours of a hundreth and seuen and twenty prouinces extending from India as farre as Aethiopia Health Hauing obtained the Empire ouer so many nations and extended my dominion ouer the world according to mine owne pleasure without being constrained to offend any of my subiects by vsing our power more proudly and importunately then becommeth vs but shewing our selues fauourable and mercifull in prouiding for their peace and plentifull estate we haue searched out the meanes thereof to the intent that we might perceiue the fruit Being therefore admonished by my friend Aman who for his wisedome and iustice is more honoured then all others by me and for his approued fidelitie hath the second place in authoritie next mee that there is a certaine race of men intermedled among you enemies to all humanitie vsing none but their owne lawes and such as are different from others disobedient to their kings and of depraued manners and customes that neither allow our monarchie nor further our affaires I will and command that they being made knowne by Aman a man whom we hold as deere as our father be slaine with their wiues and children so as you spare none of them attributing more vnto your owne mercie then our edict and this commaund we to be done the fourteenth day of the twelfth moneth of this present yeere that in one day cutting off all our enemies hereafter it may be lawfull for you to liue in peace and securitie This edict being spred thorow all places of the countrey and published in euerie citie all men addressed themselues against the prefixed day vtterly to exterminate the Iewes and no les diligence was there vsed in Sufan the Metropolitane city Meane while the King and Aman feasted and made good cheere whilest the Citie hung in suspence being troubled with the expectation of the euent of that which should follow But Mardocheus hauing intelligence hereof rent his garments put on sackcloth and cast ashes on his head walking thorow the Citie and crying that their nation had not committed any crime that deserued death and vsing these or such like speeches he came vnto the Kings pallace stood before the gate because it was vnlawfull for him to enter thereinto in that habit The like also did the Iewes that were in the Cities where those edicts had beene published against them weeping lamenting their miseries But when the newes hereof was brought vnto the Queene that Mardocheus stood before the pallace gate in a lamentable estate she was sore troubled sent certain of her seruants vnto him to cōmand him to exchange his attire but they could not perswade him to put off his sackcloth because the inconueniēt for which he had put it on was not ouerpast She therefore called vnto her her Eunuch Acratheus and sent him vnto Mardocheus to know what hatefull accident had befallen him that made him put on this desolate habit and poure forth those lamentable teares notwithstanding she had instantly praied him to disrobe him of the one and dry vp the other Hereupon Mardocheus told the Eunuch of the edict made against the Iewes and sent by the king vnto all his prouinces the offer of the money that Aman likewise had tendered to the king whereby he had bought the vtter ruine of his nation at the kings hands Moreouer he gaue him the copie of that which had beene proclaimed in Susan to be deliuered vnto Esther whom he commaunded to beseech the king and to esteeme it no dishonour to put on an abiect and base garment to saue her nation and to preserue the Iewes from that death whereunto at that time they were exposed for that Aman the next in honour to the king had accused the Iewes and incensed his maiestie against them When Esther vnderstood this she sent againe vnto Mardocheus giuing him to vnderstand that she was not called for by the king and that whosoeuer entred vnto him and was not called should die except the king would warrantize him by stretching out his golden scepter for he vnto whom the king extended that fauour although he were not called vnto him yet suffered he not death but obtained pardon When these things were reported by the Eunuch from Esther vnto Mardocheus he commanded him to tell hir that she ought not so much to tender the particular respect of her life as the liues of her whole nation assuring hir that if at that present she had not care of them their succours should wholy proceed from God by some other meanes then this but she and her fathers house should be destroyed by them whom she had contemned Vpon this reply Esther sent the same messenger backe againe vnto Mardocheus commaunding him to repaire vnto Susan and to call a generall assembly of all the Iewes that remained there willing them for three daies space to fast and abstaine from all kind of meat for her safetie and that both her selfe and her seruants would doe the like promising them that at that time she would present her selfe to the king notwithstanding his contrarie edict and that if she must needs die she would willingly endure it Mardocheus following this direction of hers caused the people to fast and to pray vnto God for her he likewise himselfe besought him that it might please him at that present to haue compassion their desolate and destressed nation as before that time he had oftentimes had care of them and that as he had pardoned them at such time as they had offended so now also at this present he would deliuer them from that perdition which was denounced against them For that they were not in daunger to die infamously for any offence of their
as soone as they came into Galilee the gouernours of the Cities in that countrey came forth armed to meete them Barzapharnes also at the first gaue them friendly entertainment and honoured them with presents but anon after he began to practise treacherie For Phasaelus and his attendants were conducted to a lodging that adioyned the sea where hearing tidings that Antigonus had promised one thousand talents and fiue hundreth virgins to the Parthians he began already to suspect the Barbarians For a certaine friend of his had giuen him an inckling that there were treasons intended against him that verie night and that his lodging was priuily beset with a guard And surely they had been surprised had they not expected that the Parthians who were round about Ierusalem should be seazed of Herode fearing least he hauing an inckling of their desaster should betake himselfe to flight And that this was true they incontinently gathered by the guard that was set about them For which cause there were certaine of Phasaelus friends who counsailed him that without any more delay he should betake him to his horse and flie from thence and amongst the rest Ofilius was most earnest who had wrought out of Saramalla a rich Syrian who offered them his ships that road hard by to further their flight all that which they pretended But Phasaelus would neither forsake Hircanus nor leaue his brother Herode in danger but repairing to Barzapharnes he told him that he did him wrong to vse these sinister practises against them For that if he had neede of money he was more likely to receiue it at his hands then from Antigonus and howsoeuer he wrought it was an intolerable iniurie to put Embassadours to death who came vnto him vnder pledge of his honour and had no waies offended him But the Barbarian hearing these things protested by an oth that no one point of that which he had suspected was true but that he was onely troubled with false surmises wherupon he presently departed to Pacorus CHAP. XXV The Parthians lead away Hircanus and Phasaelus into captiuitie AS soone as he was departed certaine of the Parthians tooke Hircanus and Phasaelus prisoners who mightily detested their periuries But the Eunuch that was sent vnto Herode had commandement giuen him to entice and traine him without the Citie walles and afterwards to apprehend him But Herode was forewarned of this treacherie by certaine messengers who were sent by Phasaelus to giue him notice thereof who being intercepted by the enemy in the way and Herode getting notice thereof he addressed himselfe to Pacorus and those in greatest authoritie among the Parthians as to them that were the masters who subtilly dissembled notwithstanding they knew how all things went telling him that he should doe well to repaire with them without the wall to go and meete those messengers who brought him letters who had not as yet been seazed by their aduersaries but came to certifie him of Phasaelus good estate But Herode gaue them no credit because he was already other waies aduertized of his brothers surprisall and had also â—…rre greater suspicion of the Parthians by the solicitation of Hircanus daughter whom he had married And although the rest made no account of her aduertisements yet Herode gaue credit vnto her for that she was a most wise woman Now whilest the Parthians were in deliberation what were best to be done in that it was held no policie to make open assault vpon such a man they deferred the whole matter vntill the next morning Whilest thus they were debating of their differents Herode came vnto them who rather giuing credit to that which he had heard as concerning his brother and touching the treasons intended against him by the Parthians then to his aduersaries as soone as it was night concluded to make vse of the time and to make away without staying any longer amongst those vncertaine dangers which his enemies intended against him For which cause he fiâ—… with those men of warre which hee had with him and mounting his mother his sister and his betrothed whom he was to marry who was Alexanders daughter the neece of Aristobulus and her mother who was Hircanus daughter and her younger brother with all their family and traine he departed into Idumaea without espiall or suspicion of the enemy Amongst whom there was not one so hard orâ—…yron-hearted who seeing such a pitifull spectacle could not be mooued to compassion beholding the mothers drag away their little children and abandon their countrey with tears and complaints and that which was worse to leaue their friends in bondage without any hope of comfort or redresse But Herode mastered these misfortunes by his inuincible courage and for that he was a constant man in all fortunes he exhorted euery one of them whom he met in the way to be of good courage and not to abandon themselues to immeasurable sorrow for that by such meanes they might hinder his retreat on which their sole and securest conseruation depended whereupon they for their parts indeuoured themselues to digest their griefes according to Herodes exhortation Meane while he hardly refrained from laying violent hands on himselfe by reason of the chariot wherein his mother roade which ouerturned and had almost slaine her yea so much did this casualtie terrifie him for feare least the enemy in pursuit should surprise him during these delaies as that he drew and prepared his sword to kill himselfe had not some assistants and followers stept in to him and staied the stroke beseeching him instantly not to forsake them leaue them subiect to the enemies violence assuring him that it was not the part of a valiant man to respect his owne priuate interest and neglect his friends perill By these perswasions he was induced to hold his hands both by reason of the apprehension of these words which were spoken vnto him as also for that he was ouerruled by the multitude of those who would not permit his hand to execute his will so that taking vp his mother and doing her all the seruice that the time permitted he followed on his way and with the speediest and neerest meanes he could he retired toward the Castle of Massada where in the way he oftentimes fought against the Parthians that charged and pursued him and returned alwaies with victorie from them The Iewes also were not in peace with him during this his flight for scarcely had he trauailed sixtie stounds out of the Citie but that they assailed him in the high way but he put them to flight and obtained the victorie not like a desperate man enforced thereunto thorow necessitie but like a discreet well furnished and valiant souldier So that in the very place where he obtained that victorie against the Iewes after such time as he was made king he builded a most sumptuous pallace and neere vnto the same a citie which he called Herodium Whilest he remained at Ressa a
which had passed to prosecute the rest that appertained to the inquest and approbation of his crime But Antipater turning himselfe towards his father began to iustifie himselfe vrging the same testimonies and fauours that his father had shewed vnto him and the honours hee had receiued at his hands which he would neuer haue shewed him if he had beene vnworthy of the same and had not by his vertue deserued these fauours He alledged also that by his vertue he had preuented all that which might haue hapned and that where the cause required his labour or diligence he dispatched all things with his owne industrie that it was vnlikely that he who had deliuered his father from those treasons which were intended against him by other men should himselfe attempt the like and as farre from probabilitie that he should go about to extinguish that vertue whereof euen vntill that day he had giuen testimonie to the end that alwaies hereafter he might be defamed for such an indignitie For long before this time he was named and entitled to succeede him and to enioy those verie honours whereof alreadie he pertooke no small part whereby he protested that it was vnlikely that he who might enioy the halfe of all that his father had in all securitie vertue and honour should desire the whole with infamy and daunger yea and with incertitude to obtaine the same considering in especial that the punishment which had befallen his brothers whom he had both disclosed and accused at such time as they were hidden was procured by him who if he had listed might haue concealed them in secret and whose wickednes towards their father after it was approued he himselfe had reuenged vpon them neither as he said repented he himselfe of that which he had done for that action of his might be an argument to approue how incorruptly he loued his father And as touching that which he had delt in at Rome Caesar himselfe was witnes thereof who could be no more deceiued then God himselfe whereof those letters bore record which were written by him which in equitie should be of no lesse force then the slaunders of those who fought to set them at oddes the most part of which obiections and reproches had beene complotted and deuised by his enemies who haue had the leasure to pursue the same during his absence which they could not haue performed in his presence Finally he auowed that all those confessions were false which were extorted by torture in that it ordinarily falleth out that such as are put to the triall confesse many things by force of torment that are vntrue to satisfie them that put them thereto briefly without all fauour he offered himselfe to the racke in iustification of his innocencie Vpon these his protestations all the councell and assistants were confounded For all of them had great compassion of Antipater who was wholy drowned in his teares so that his verie enemies began to pitie him And Herode himselfe made it appeare that he seemed in some sort to be altered in his opinion notwithstanding he enduoured to conceale the same But Nicholaus according as he was requested prosecuted that accusation which the king had begunne vrging all things to the vttermost and producing all the witnesses and those manifest prooues that were gathered from their examinations who were tortured In especiall he amply discoursed of the kings vertue which he had fatherly expressed in the education and instruction of his children for which he had beene so vnkindly and vnnaturally required Moreouer that his first childrens foolish rashnes was not so much to be wondred at for that being yong they had beene corrupted by the malice of their counsellors had blotted out of their hearts al the lawes of nature rather through ambition of rule then desire of riches But that Antipaters boldnes was both wonderfull and wicked who more cruell then the cruellest beasts who toward their benefactors acknowledge each good tume was nothing mollified by his fathers so great indulgence neither terrified by his brothers calamitie but that he must needs emulate them in their crueltie And thou thy selfe said he O Antipater wett the Iudge of their attempted treasons by thy inquisition they were indited thou didst execute the iustice against them being conuicted Neither do we disallow that thou didst prosecute them with iust indignation but rather admire thee for that thou imitatest their intemperance we easily gather that those acts of thine were not attēpted for thy fathers securitie but intended for thy brothers ouerthrow that by detesting their malice thou mightst insinuate thy selfe into the allowance and good liking of their father and thine that afterwards thou mightest more cunningly and securely bring him to his end which at length thou hast attempted to performe For whilest thou adiudgest thy guiltie brothers to death and sparest their confederates thou makest it manifest in all mens eies that thou art in good liking liking with them whose assistance thou mighest hereafter vse in oppressing thy father Thou hast therefore taken a double pleasure worthy thy manners the one openly as if reioycing and glorying that by thy brothers death thou hast atchieued a matter of honour the other secretly by indeuouring with greater wickednes but more secret fraud to make an end of thy father the reuenger of whose iniuries thou pretendedst to bee For if thou haddest truely detested their malice thou hadst neuer esteemed the same to be worthie of thy imitation For thou haste not cut them off for committing such capitall offences as were answerable vnto thine but for that they had a more iust and rightfull title to succeed in the kingdome then thou hast And thou hast thought good to mixe the murther of thy father with the slaughtered bodies of thy brothers for feare least thou shouldest be sodainly conuinced in thy conspiracies against them and to the end that the punishment which thou well deseruest to suffer should light vpon thy vnfortunate father proiecting with yourselfe such a patricide and so rare and hainous a murther that to this day the like thereof hath not beene heard of amongst men For thou being his sonne hast practised these treasons not onely against thy father but against him that loued thee aboue measure and did thee good beyond hope with whom thou hast actuall participation of the gouernment of the kingdome and who had appointed thee his heire in the same being no waies hindered eyther for the present or in times past to participate the pleasure of soueraigntie and being assured of the hope of succession both by the will and writings of thy father But you haue measured the course of your affaires not according to Herodes vertue but according to your owne appetite and malice intending to depriue such a father of his part who graunted you the whole and seeking in effect to murther him whom in words you pretended heretofore to protect from iniurie And not content of your selfe to
obtaine immortall praise for the present and a memorable and eternall glorie in time to come neither that they should protract the execution therof for feare of danger since death was a thing that might not be auoided so that since by the generall course of nature they must needly die it should become them brauely to forsake their liues with praise and honour in embracing vertue For to die in the execution of some noble exploit which cannot be atchieued without hazard or danger their children should be richly rewarded with the fruits thereof their other parents that should ou◅liue them of what sex soeuer should reape the fruits of that glorie which was honourably atchieued by them In these or such like words encouraged they the young men About that time there was a rumour spred that the king was dead which gaue verie great furtherance to the doctors resolution For at high noone they went vp into the temple they pulled and hewed downe the Aegle with their axes in the sight and assembly of a great number of people that were in the temple Now when the tidings hereof came vnto the eares of the kings captaine he fearing least some further and more fatall tumult might be raised drew out a strong companie of souldiers with him to repulse those that were assembled to hew downe the Aegle and charging the rude disarmed multitude who were gathered togither he easily flew and dispersed the most as for those 40. young men that valiantly addressed thēselues to resist he apprehended them and with them the authors of this sedition Iudas Matthias who thought scorne to submit thēselues and led them to the king who demanding of them how they durst deface the sacred image they answered that long before that time they had resolued it and that now according as they had resolued they had like valiant men performed the same For we said they maintaine the honour of God and the doctrine of our lawe whereof we are disciples neither ought you to admire that with contempt of your ordinances we haue preferred the lawes of our forefathers which Moses hath left vs in writing according as he was suggested and taught them by God neither doe we refuse any death or punishment which thou shalt inflict vpon vs being assured in our consciences that we suffer not for our impietie but pietie sake Thus spake they all of them continuing the like constant boldnesse in their answeres as they had shewed in their actions being also ready constantly to endure any punishment for that which they had attēpted Hereupon the king commanded them to be bound and sent them to Iericho then calling before him those principall Iewes who had the gouernment vnder him being brought into their assembly vpon his pallat by reason of his weaknesse he recited vnto them the numberlesse trauels he had endured for their sakes in like manner how vpon his great charges he had repaired and reedified the temple whereas the Asmoneans for the space of 125. yeeres wherein they raigned could not performe such a building in the honour of God Moreouer he signified vnto them how he had adorned the same with precious gifts for which he hoped that after his death his memorie and glorie should suruiue After this he expostulated with them for what cause they abstained not from offering him that outrage during his life time And why at noon daies and in the sight of all the people they had laid hands on those presents which he had dedicated vnto God and had taken those things away violently which though in words they appertained to him yet in effect if the act were well examined they had taken from God The gouernors suspecting his crueltie and fearing least his vnbridled passion should vrge him further by which meanes they might be assured of some seuere punishment answered him that those things were not done by their consents and that in their opinion the iniurie ought not to be let slip without punishment At that time Herod shewed himselfe more fauourable towards the rest but he caused Matthias to be depriued of the priesthood as one in part who had been the cause of that which had hapned and in his place substituted Iozar one of his wiues brethren During the priesthood of this Matthias it hapned also that an other high priest was elected that verie day wherein the Iewes did vsually celebrate their fast For Matthias the night before the day of the fast seemed in his dream to haue had the company of his wife and whereas for this cause he was vnfit to offer the deuine sacrifice he had Ioseph the sonne of Ellemus appointed him to be his assister and substitute by reason of his alliance Herode therefore deposed Matthias and as touching the other Matthias who had mooued this trouble both he and his companions were by his commandement consumed with fire This verie night the moone was ecclipsed Herods sicknesse grew more vehement For God punished those sins which he had committed For he was inflamed with a lent or slow fire which to the outward sense seemed not so vehement but Inwardly searched and afflicted all his entrails he had also a rauenous and an vnnaturall appetite to his meat which might no waies be satisfied Besides that he had an vlcer in his bowels with a strange and furious colicke His feet were swolne with moist and shining f◅egme and his stomacke was no lesse affected also His members rotted were full of crawling wormes with a filthie and no lesse troublesome Priapisme accompanied with an intollerable stench besides all this he had a strong con◅ulsion of his nerues and shortnesse of breath For which cause it was a generall opinion amongst holy men and such as had the knowledge of prophecie that the king was thus punished for his infinite impieties and sinnes committed against the maiestie of God And although he was tormented with an vnsupportable sicknes yet had he hope to escape and for that cause he sent for phisitions from all places and refused none of those remedies which they thought behoouefull for him He therefore past ouer Iordan and went into the hot bathes of Calliroes the waters whereof are potable besides other vertues they haue against all other kind of sicknes this water dischargeth it selfe into the lake called Asphaltite Being there it was thought good by his phisitions that he should refresh himselfe in those waters There being set by them into a bathing tub be filled with oyle he waxed so sicke that they held him for dead Whereupon all his household seruants wept and grieuously lamented and all his familiar friends crying out and bewailing him with their great noise caused him to come to himselfe and seeing himselfe wholy out of hope to escape he gaue order that there should a distribution be made to euery soldier the summe of fiftie drachmes and he offered great presents to their captaines his friends Afterwards
he returned to Iericho where a melancholy humour possessed him which made him vnsociable and displeased against all men so that seeing that he must needlie die he bethought him of this facinorous action that followeth For the noblest men among the nation of the Iewes resorting vnto him from all parts vpon his commaundement vnder the expresse penaltie of losse of life to whosoeuer should neglect the same the king shewed himselfe to be displeased as well against those whom he thought guiltie as against them who had giuen him no occasion of discontent For he caused them to be shut vp in a place called the Hippodrome which was the tilt yard to runne horses in and sent for his sister Salome and Alexas her husband telling them that his end was at hand for that his griefes did incessantly tormēt him which as he said he ought to beare patiētly because it was an end that should happen to all men But that which most grieued him was that he saw himselfe depriued of those mournings and lamentations which a king deserued For he was not to seeke of the Iewes affections neither how his death was desired and longed for by them since that in his life time they presumed so farre as to reuolt and dishonour and deface those gifts which he had bestowed vpon the commonweale It therefore behooued them to afford him some solace in that his bitter anguish for that if they refused not to performe that which he had contriued in his mind the lamentation of his death should be magnificent as great as any king euer had and the pleasure and laughter that might accompany his death should be abated by their sorrow who should vnfainedly lament for the whole nation He therefore willed them that at such time as he should giue vp the ghost they should cause the Hippodrome to be inuironed by his soldiers as yet vnaduertised of his death which he would not haue published before this execution were ended and to commaund them to shoot their arrowes at those that were shut vp therein And that when they had slaine them all after this manner they should make him triumph reioice in a double ioy first for that in his death his commaundement should be ratified by effect secondly for that he should be honoured by a memorable lamentation Thus weeping he besought his kinsfolke for the loue they bare vnto him and for the faith they bare vnto God that they should not suffer him to die frustrate of this last honour and they protested that they would not transgresse any point of this his commandement Hereby may a man coniecture what his nature was who tooke pleasure in these aboue named impieties and who through the desire he had of long life hath after this sort delt with those of his bloud and it may be coniectured by these his last commandements that he had nothing in him that fauoured any humanitie for that departing out of the world he had such a mind that all the nation and all such as were most affectioned towards him should be driuen to sorrow and desolation commaunding that in euery house one should be slaine yea such as had not in any sort offended him and were not accused of any misdeed committed against any other whereas they that haue any vertue finding themselues at that state haue beene accustomed to lay aside the hatred which they haue before time borne vnto their enemies CHAP. IX Antipaters death WHilest he deliuered these instructions to his kinred he receiued letters from those Embassadours which he had sent to Rome vnto Caesar the effect whereof was that Acme was put to death by Caesars commaund who was displeased with her for that she had beene of Antipaters conspiracy who was remitted to Herodes pleasure like a king and father to vse him as best pleased him either to exile and banish him or if it so pleased him to put him to death Herode receiuing these newes recouered his spirits a little thorow the pleasure he receiued in the contents of those letters both of the death of Acme as of the power that was granted him to punish his sonne But being assailed afresh with grieuous dolours and vrged with a desire to eate he called for an apple and a knife for before time he was accustomed to pare his apples himselfe and to cut a little and afterwards to eate it when as therefore he had gotten holde of the knife he looked round about him determining to giue himselfe a mortall wound therewith and had surely done it had not Achiabus his nephew hastily stept within him and staied his hand and called for assistance At that time the sorrow and lamentation was renewed in all the pallace as if the king had beene alreadie dead and Antipater certainly beleeuing that his father was departed began to hope and confirmed no lesse in his words that being deliuered out of prison he should obtaine the possession of the kingdome without any difficulty and deuised with the Gaoler as touching his deliuerāce offring him great presents both in hand hereafter as if there had beene no other question but of that But so farre was the Gaoler from obeying that which Antipater demaunded that he presently went and certified the king what his intent was and what offers he had made him Herode who had alreadie conceiued a sinister opinion of his sonne hearing what the Gaoler had said began to exclaime and to beat his head although he was almost at the vttermost gaspe and lifting himselfe vp vpon his elbowes he commaunded that one of his guard should presently haste and kill him and that done that he should be buried in the castle of Hircanion without any honour CHAP. X. Herodes will death and buriall AFter this hauing changed his mind he made a new testament For he appointed Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and of Peraea whereas before that he had instituted him for his successour in the kingdome He created Archelaus king he gaue the prouinces of Gaulonites Trachonites Batanea and Paneade to Philip his sonne and Archelaus brother by the mothers side to be Tetrarch ouer those places He gaue his sister Salome Iamnia Azot and Phasaelis with fiftie thousand crownes of gold He prouided also for his other kinsmen all whom he left rich in money which he gaue them and reuenues which he assigned them He gaue Caesar ten millions of drachmes in siluer amounting to the summe of eleuen hundreth thousand francs besides a great quantitie of gold and siluer plate and of precious moueables To Iulia Caesars wife and to certaine others he bequeathed fiue millions of drachmes amounting to fiue hundreth and fiftie thousand francs or there abouts After he had in this manner disposed all things some fiue daies after he had caused Antipater to be executed he departed this life hauing raigned after Antigonus death for the space of thirtie and foure yeeres and thirtie and seuen yeeres after he was elected and approued
who was confirmed in the kingdome by his fathers testament yet would he not giue eare thereunto But Antipas no sooner arriued in Rome but all his kinsfolke reuolted from Archelaus vnto him not so much for the loue they bare him as for the hatred they had conceiued against Archelaus and aboue all for the desire they had to recouer their libertie and to draw themselues vnder a Roman gouernour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they indeuoured to procure the roialtie should be more profitable vnto them then Archelaus Sabinus also by his letters accused Archelaus to Caesar But Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited vnto Caesar a supplication containing his right and title to the kingdome his fathers testament and the account of the money which Herode his father had sealed vp togither with his ring and expected the issue But when he had read these letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and vnderstood what summes of money he had left and what the annuall reuenue was and how Antipas challenged the kingdome and appropriated it to himselfe according as his letters made mention he assembled all his friends to haue their aduise thereupon Amongst them was Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the assistants to speake what they would touching this matter At that time Antipater Salomes sonne a man verie eloquent and a great aduersarie to Archelaus spake first saying that it was a mockerie for him at that time to speake of the kingdome â—…nsidering that before Caesar had granted it him he had alreadie seazed the forces of the state when as vpon a festiuall day he had slaine so many who although they had deserued that punishment yet ought the iustice thereof to haue been reserued to a lawfull power and not to haue bin vsurped by him either being king with Caesars preiudice whose authoritie he had contempned or by being a priuate man which was a greater ouersight For which cause he vndeseruedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had depriued of the title and authoritie of his allowance Moreouer he obiected against him that of his owne authoritie he had chaunged certaine chieftaines of the armie and that he had seated himselfe in the royall throne and like a king had determined certaine causes and had granted certaine demaunds of the people finally that he had left nothing vndone which he might haue performed had Caesar confirmed his title He alledged also that they who were inclosed in the Hippodrome were dismissed by him and diuers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to gouerne do ordinarily commit such things besides this his neglect in mourning for his father and withall his reare banquets all night long at that verie time his father died whereat the people began to mutinie seeing the smal regard he had of his fathers death from whom he had receiued so great goods and honours How all the day long he made a shew of his sorrow and teares in his pauilion but all the night tooke pleasures like a king and being such if Caesar should grant him the kingdome he would behaue himselfe no lesse vnkindly towards him then he had done towards his most kind father That it was no lesse then a hainous crime in him to delite himselfe with songs and daunces at his fathers death as if he had beene his enemie That he now came to Caesars presence to the intent to obtaine the kingdome by his consent whereas alreadie he had behaued himselfe no otherwise then if he had alreadie beene established king by his authoritie But most of all he exaggerated the slaughter he had committed in the temple and the impietie perpetrated so neere to the feast of Easter at which time diuers both straungers and citizens had beene slaughtered after the manner of sacrifices and the temple filled with carcasses not by a straunger but by him who vnder the colour of religion desireth the gouernment of the kingdome to the end he might satisfie the vniustice of his nature in exercising each way his tyranny toward all men for which cause his father neuer thought nor euer dreampt to substitute him king in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former testament and that of greatest force had ordained his aduersarie Antipater to be king For he had beene allotted the kingdome by his father not when his mind was dead before his bodie but when both his iudgement was sound and his bodie in health Yea although at that time Archelaus father had such a conceit of him as in his latter testament and bequest he pretendeth yet that he had alreadie declared what kind of king he was likely to be who contemned Caesars authoritie in confirming the kingdome and being as yet a priuate man doubted not to murther the citizens in the temple This said Antipater to giue greater credit to his words bringing diuers of his kindred as witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholas arose and alledged in Archelaus behalfe as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impietie who could not be restrained from their tumults and vprores before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging that they were so much the more guiltie for that they had not onely exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so hainous a reuenge against them for their insolencie seemed in appearance to concerne Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacie pertianed to Caesars iniurie For those that had beene sent by him to appease and represse their sedition were against all law and right charged and slaine by them without respect of God or regard of the solemne feast whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equitie so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare vnto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from iniurie but whetted those swords which were drawen in maintenance of the peace against their owne bosomes He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselues saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grieuous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their kinsman a man both well respected and affected by his father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the testament that it was made by the king when he was in perfect estate of minde and bodie and of greater force then the former because the authoritie and confirmation thereof was ascribed to Caesar the soueraigne of the world Further that Caesar would
not in that which exceedeth thy power to shew thy vertuous affection towards me For which cause I thinke that it should be a great shame for me if I should suffer my selfe to be ouercome by thee in kindnesse without some answerable correspondence I will therfore put that in practise which I haue heretofore omitted For all those things that hitherto I haue bestowed on thee are of no reckoning My will is that thy readines and vertue should at this present be requited by such means as might for euer make thee happy Now he spake after this manner hoping that Agrippa would begge some great prouince at his hands or the reuenues of some Cities But although he had already prepared his demaund yet did he not discouer his intent but gaue Caius this ready answere that whereas he had serued him to the dislike of Tiberius it was not for the gaine he expected heretofore and for the present also he did nothing vnder hope to be rich contenting himselfe that he was in the Emperours good fauour That the benefites he had receiued by him were great yea exceeding all that which he durst euer haue hoped For said he although they be but small in comparison of your greatnesse yet in respect of my selfe who haue receiued them and in my conceit and qualitie they are verie great Caius being amazed at this his courage insisted the rather to perswade him that he would grant him all that he would require at his hands Whereupon Agrippa said Dread prince since it is your good pleasure to thinke me worthy to be honoured by your presents I will not request any thing at your hands that may tend to inrich me for that by those goods you haue already giuen me I am greatly honoured but I beseech and request one thing at your hands which will purchase you the reputation of pietie and will procure God to be propitious vnto you in all your actions and which also will breed me much glorie among those who shall heare that I haue not been refused in my demaund which concerneth me more then the necessities of this life I therefore beseech you that it will please you to giue commandement that that statue which you haue charged Petronius to erect in the temple of the Iewes may neuer be aduanced there This was Agrippas request which to his great hazard he presented the Emperour with knowing verie well how perilous a matter it was and as much as concerned his life to demaund any such thing at Caius hands that was not answerable to his humour Caius on the one side mooued with the seruice Agrippa had done him and on the other side seeing how great an indignitie it should be for him if before such an assembly of witnesses he should deny that which he had so instantly pressed Agrippa to request as if he sodainly had repented himselfe and admiring Agrippas vertue who hauing meanes within a little time to augment his particular estate either by reuenues or other commodities had preferred the common cause the lawes of his countrey and pietie before all these he granted him his supplication wrote to Petronius praising him for that he had vsed such diligence in assembling his army as also for al that wherof he had certified him annexing these words If said he you haue alreadie planted the statue as I commanded you let it remaine in the place but if it be not done be thou no more troublesome to the Iewes but dismisse thine army and repaire thou in person to that place whither I haue sent thee For I vrge no more the erection of that statue for the desire that I haue to gratifie Agrippa whom I intirely honour and in such sort as it is impossible for me to contradict any thing whatsoeuer that either he hath neede of or shall require These were the contents of those letters which Caius wrote to Petronius before he vnderstood that the Iewes bethought them of reuolt for they made it known that rather then they would endure that statue they would hazard a warre against the Romans which when Caius vnderstood he was extremely sorrowfull and being a man addicted to all villanie and estranged from all honestie and who gaue place to no good counsel incontinently after he had conceiued a displeasure against any man who likewise thought it a great good hap for him to accomplish all that whatsoeuer he pleased hee wrote againe to Petronius to this effect Since the presents which the Iewes haue giuen thee haue preuailed more with thee then my commaundements haue done so as to please them thou hast despised that which I haue enioyned thee I make thy selfe the iudge how much thou hast deserued to incurre my displeasure to the end that thou maist serue for an example to all those who shall come after thee that an Emperours commandement ought not in any sort to be neglected Although this Epistle was both written and sent yet did not Petronius receiue the same during Caius life time for that they that carried the same were staied by crosse windes so that Petronius receiued those letters that certified him of Caius death before he receiued the other For God would not forget Petronius who exposed himselfe to great dangers for the loue of the Iewes and for the honour of God And Caius being taken out of the world by Gods wrath being kindled against him by reason that he affected diuine honors receiued his reward and Petronius obtained fauour both at Rome and thorow all his whole gouernment and especially among the principall Senators against whom Caius was accustomed to vomit his cholericke disgraces He died a little after he had written the letter to Petronius by which he threatned and denounced him death Hereafter will I declare the cause why he was taken out of this world and the maner how treason was complotted and wrought against him The letter that brought tydings of Caius death was deliuered to Petronius first and incontinently after hee receiued that wherein he enioyned him to kill himselfe He highly reioiced at this his good hap and Caius death and admired Gods prouidence who speedily and happily had rewarded him both for the honour that he bare vnto his Temple as also for the assistance he vsed towards the Iewes Behold how Petronius escaped from death by an vnexpected meanes CHAP. XII That which hapned to the Iewes tâ—…t were at Babylon and of the two brethren Asinaeus and Anilaeus IN those daies there hapned a grieuous commotion amongst those Iewes that inhabited Mesopotamia and Babylon and such slaughters and calamities as neuer the like hath bin declared in our former narrations which in that I intend to report both particularly and seriously I will rippe vp the whole cause thereof from his first originall There was a Citie called Nearda belonging to Babylon stored with inhabitants and enriched with many fruitfull possessions sufficiently to sustaine so great a multitude Moreouer it was such as might
the Iewes how he came how he fought against me the first time neere to the Citie of Taricheaâ—…how I departed from thence to repaire to Iotapata my taking my deliuerance and all my actions and fortunes during the warres of the Iewes and the siege of the Citie of Ierusalem But now me seemeth that it is necessarie that I describe other things exploited by me during my life time in other places then in the warres of the Iewes After the siege of Iotapata was ended I was prisoner with the Romans and kept verie carefully yet notwithstanding Vespasian did me much honour For by his commandement I married a virgin that was one of those that had been taken captiue in Caesarea But she remained not long time with me for after I was set at libertie and that I followed Vespasian she retired her selfe to Alexandria After which I married another woman in Alexandria from whence I was sent to Titus to the siege of Ierusalem where I was oftentimes in danger of death For the Iewes laboured what they might to take and punish me and the Romans supposing that as many and oftentimes as they were repulsed it was by my treason cried out continually to the Emperour to execute me for a traitor But Titus well experienced in the changes of warre pacified the violence which his souldiers intended against me by his silence And after the Citie of Ierusalem was taken Titus often solicited me to take that which I liked among the ruines of Ierusalem promising to giue it me But I making but small account of any thing after the ruine of my countrey besought him that he would giue me certaine free men and the sacred Bible which I receiued for a great consolation in my miseries All which he gratiously granted me Not long after hauing begd my brother and fiftie other of my friends they were giuen me and I was refused in nothing Entring into the temple by Titus permission I found a great number of prisoners shut vp therein and all those women and children of my friends and familiars whom I knew I deliuered them to the number of one hundreth and ninetie without paying any raunsome and I restâ—…d them to their former free condition Being sent with Cerealis and one thousand horse into the Citie of Thecoa by the Emperour Titus to espie if the place were fit for a campe in returning from thence I saw diuers prisoners who were on the gibbet amongst which were three of my familiars whereat I was grieued in my soule and I came and signified the same vnto Titus with teares who incontinently commaunded thâ—… they should be taken downe and as carefully drest and cured as might be two of which died notwithstanding the vtmost diligence of the Phisitions and the third suruiued After that Titus had appeased the troubles of Iudaea coniecturing with himselfe that the possessions which I had in Ierusalem would yeeld me but little profit by reason of the Roman garrison that should be placed there he planted me in a possession in a champion countrey and intending to embarke himselfe to depart for Rome he tooke me with him in his owne ship and did me great honour As soone as we came to Rome Vespasian had great care of me for he lodged me in his owne house where he kept before he was Emperour and honoured me with the title of a citizen of Rome and gaue me an annuall pension in money and as long as he liued continued his good affection towards me forgetting no kind of bountie which he might vse towards me Whereupon I was so much enuied that I grew in daunger thereby to lose my life For a certaine Iew called Ionathan hauing stirred vp a sedition in Cyrene gathered about him some two thousand inhabitants of the countrey was the cause of their ouerthrow and as touching himselfe being bound by the gouernour of that countrey and afterwards sent vnto the Emperour he said it was I that had sent him armes and money But Vespasian knew his falshood and condemned him to death and commaunded him to be executed After this mine enemies obiected diuers crimes against me in regard that I was in good reputation but God so wrought that I escaped them all Moreouer I receiued in gift from Vespasian an ample possession in Iudaea and at that verie time I forsooke my wife because her manners pleased me not although she were the mother of my three children of whom two are deceased and the third who was called Hircanus is yet aliue After this I maried a wife that was borne in Candie and was by nation a Iew and by birth noble and one of the greatest reputation amongst the inhabitants endowed with as laudable manners as any other vertuous woman whatsoeuer as her after life most plainly expressed By her I had two sonnes Iustus who was the eldest and Simonides who was also surnamed Agrippa Thus farre as touching my domesticall affaires That bountie which I receiued from the hands of the Caesars hath alwaies continued mine For after Vespasians death Titus who succeeded him in the Empire continued the same fauour which his father had shewed me For although I were oftentimes accused yet were not mine aduersaries beleeued Domitian who succeeded him augmented mine honours For he punished those Iewes that accused me and gaue order that the Eunuch and slaue whom I kept to teach my sonne and by whom I was accused should be punished He granted me extemption also from all the tributes of Iudaea which is one of the most greatest honours that a man may receiue And as touching Domitia the Emperours wife she alwaies continued her good affection towards me Behold heere the short recitall of my whole life whereby let each man coniecture of my manners as him listeth But O thrice excellent Epaphroditus after I haue giuen and offered thee all this ancient history of our nation I will for this present pause in this place THE LAMENTABLE AND TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF THE VVARS AND VTTER RVINE OF THE IEWES Comprised in seuen Bookes by Flauius Iosephus the Sonne of Matthias And newly translated out of the Latin and French into English by Tho. Lodge D. M. P. Printed at London on Bread-street hill at the signe of the Starre 1602. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL HIS esteemed friend M. Anthony Palmer Esquier SIR my affection that had rather be an actor then an orator doe well then speake well hath pickt you out to be the patron of this tragicall historie of the wars of the Iewes The reasons that draue me herevnto are neither the expectance of worldlie benefits nor the fruitlesse vp-shot of ostentation but your virtue which is not beloued respectiuelie but onely for it selfe hath created this good conceit in me which if you so please your acceptance may continue Now since as the Philosopher supposeth it is an action worthy a good man to do good vnto his friend so is it no lesse commendable to accept
kingdome and railed against such as he had no power ouer Antipater increased this mischiefe more and more and gathering togither a great company of his friends he omitted no kind of calumniation The king likewise was terrified by the rumours tales of pickthanks that he thought alwaies that he saw Alexander before him with a drawen sword For which cause he sodainly tooke him and cast him in prison and tortured his friends many of which died in torments because they would not confesse more then in conscience was true others not able to endure the torments were forced to confesse that Alexander and his brother Aristobulus thought to haue wrought treason against their father that they expected their time till he went a hunting resolued in themselues that hauing killed him they would presently flie to Rome Although these and such like calumniations were nowaies probable yet extremitie of paine forced men extempore to inuent them and the king willingly beleeued them as it were comforting himselfe thereby in that he might not be thought to haue imprisoned his sonne vn◅stly Alexander perceluing that it was vnpossible for him to abolish his fathers suspition thought it better to yeeld hi◅selfe guiltio and so wrote foure bookes against his aduersaries and confessed the treason affirming that he had many partakers therein namely Pheroras Salome who were the chiefe auouching that before that time he had had the vse of her body in the night time and how though he himselfe was vnwilling yet she forced him thereunto Now the bookes came vnto Herods hands which charged the greatest amongst the nobilitie with most hainous matters Archelaus fearing his son in law and daughter to be in great danger speedily came into Iudaea and ingeniously appeased the kings wrath for so soone as he came vnto Herod he cried where is that wicked son in law of mine or where may I see the face of that wre◅h that goeth about to murther his father that I may teare him in peeces with mine own hands marrie my daughter anew to a better husband for although she be not priuie to his cou◅sell yet is she defiled for that she was wife to such a man Nay I admire thy patience who art in such daunger and sufferest Alexander yet to liue for I came thus hastily out of Cappadocia thinking he had beene put to death to talke with thee concerning my daughter whom I maried to him for thy sake and honour Wherefore now let vs take counsell what to do with them both and seeing thouart too father like and not able to punish thy sonne thy ◅echerous sonne let vs chaunge roumes and let me be in t◅y place to reuenge thee with such like inuections he deceiued Herode though otherwise firme in his purpose Then Herode shewed him the bookes that Alexander had writ and reading euery chapter with deliberation Archelaus tooke occasion fit for his purpose and by little and little laid al the fault on Pheroras and those that were accused in the booke And perceiuing the king to giue eare vnto him let vs quoth he consider whether the young man was not circumuented by the trechery of so many lewde persens and not thou by the yong man for there appeares no cause why he should fall into such wickednes who now enioyed the kingdome and hoped to succeed thee therein had he not beene perswaded thereto by other men who seeing him a young man entised him vnto such naughtines For we see that through such men not onely young men but also olde men and most noble families yea and whole kingdomes are ruinated Herode vpon these speeches began somewhat to relent so that he appeased his wrath toward Alexāder encreased it towards Pheroras for he was as it were the subiect of the whole booke Who perceiuing the king so to trust vnto Archelaus friendship that he was lead by him to do what he pleased leauing Alexander he in humble manner came to Archelaus seeking impudently for succour at his hands of whom he had not deserued any fauour Archelaus answered him that he knew no waies to obtaine his pardon who was guiltie of so hainous crimes and conuicted manifestly to haue practised high treason against the kings owne person and to be the cause of all these miseries that had now befallen the young man except that he would lay aside all subtle dealing and denying of his fact and confesse the crimes wherof he was accused and so in humble wise go vnto his brother who loued him dearely and craue pardon promising him that if he would so do he would do him what good he could Hereupon Pheroras obeyed Archelaus his counsell and putting on a blacke attire he in pitifull maner and with teares prostrated himselfe at Herodes feete and crauing pardon obtained it confessing himselfe to be a most wicked and vile person and to be guiltie of al that which was obiected against him and that the cause which moued him to do al those things was the franticke and madde fits he fell into for the loue of that woman Now when Pheroras became his owne accuser a witnesse against himselfe then Archelaus endeuored to mitigate Herodes wrath towards him and excuse his faultes with fit examples for he alleaged that his brother attempted greater matters against him whom notwithstanding for natures cause he pardoned adding that in euery kingdome as in mightie bodies alwaies some part began to swell which notwithstanding was not presently to be cut off but to be cured by easie means Archelaus vsing many speeches vnto Herod to this purpose at last quite appeased his wrath toward Pheroras still counterfaiting himselfe to be angrie with Alexander affirming that he would take his daughter away with him till at last he forced Herode of his owne accord to entreat for the yong man requesting him again to despouse his daughter vnto him Archelaus after much entreatie answered that he was willing the king should bestow his daughter vpō any saue Alexander for he greatly esteemed the law of affinity Herod replied that if he did not diuorce his daughter from Alexander he should thinke that he bestowed his sonne vpon him for they had no children and his daughter was dearely loued of the young man so that if he would permit her to stay still there for her sake he would pardon all Alexanders offences Heereto Archelaus with much ado agreed and so was reconciled vnto his sonne in law and he vnto his father Yet Herode affirmed that he must needs be sent to Rome to speake with Caesar for he had written the whole matter vnto Caesar. Thus Archelaus craftily deliuered his sonne in law from daunger and after this reconciliation was made they spent the time in feasting and mirth Vpon Archelaus departure Herode gaue him seuentie talents and a throne of pure gold adorned with precious stones and Eunuches and a concubine named Pannychis and rewarded euery one of his
possible to come and fire them and euerie one was fully determined not to shrinke out of his place till he were slaine For besides that if so be that worke were destroyed they had no hope left to build more they also accounted it a shame that their vertue should be ouercome by subtiltie or their weapons by rashnes and temerity or their skil by a multitude or the Romans by the Iewes Also they had engines to cast darts at them as they came downe their wals And when any one of the Iewes that was slaine fell downe he hindred them that followed and the daunger of him that went before terrified them that came after They also that rashly aduentured within the shot of a dart either were terrified with the discipline and multitude of their enemies or else wounded with their darts and so they all retired one accusing another of cowardlines and atchieued nothing The first day of Iuly the citie was assaulted and the Iewes being now retired the Romans set vp their Rammes notwithstanding that they were assaulted from Antonia with stones fire and sword and whatsoeuer their enemies in that extremitie could finde For though the Iewes had great confidence in their wals as that they could not be battered yet did they not permit the Romans to place their Rammes against them And the Romans being perswaded that the Iewes so laboured because they knew their wals to be weake and least Antonia by the breach of the wall should be hurt did striue to place thē against the wals But the wal would not yeeld vnto the Ram yet did the Romans safely without danger notwithstanding that many darts were cast at them from off the wals persist to beat the wal with their Rams who being below and seeing the stones broken with the force of their engines they shielded themselues with their bucklers and so some with their hands pulled the stones out of the wall some digged vnder the foundation thereof and when foure stones with much labour were broken and shaken the night hindred both parties from doing any more at that time and in it the wall now shaken with the Ramme in the place which Iohn had vndermined to destroy the mounts the mine setling fell downe So that fell out otherwise then either part expected For the Iewes who indeed had cause to be sorrowfull for the mine of the wall and for that they did not preuent that mischance were ioyfull and couragious as though Antonia did yet remaine firme and ◅ong And the Romans reioycing for this vnexpected fall were againe dismaied seeing the other wall that Iohn had built within yet they iudged it easier to be taken then the former but no man durst ascend it for that he who first assaulted it was certaine to die Titus thinking that by hope and perswasion his souldiers might be encouraged and knowing many times promises and exhortations made men forget daunger and sometime to contemne death it selfe hee called together the most valiant of all his souldiers and spake thus vnto them as followeth Fellow souldiers it is manifest cowardlinesse to exhort men to enterprise a thing without danger both in them that are exhorted and in him that exhorteth for exhortations are onely to be vsed in doubtfull affaires wherein it is praise worthie for euerie man to aduenture himselfe So that I confesse it is hard for you to ascend the wall yet will I shew you that it is a glorious death to die in such a fight and especially it becommeth them that are desirous to winne honour and that they that first aduenture valiantly to doe it shall not goe away vnrewarded And first let this moue you which terrifieth others to wit the patient mind of the Iewes and their constancie in aduersitie For it is a shame for the Romane souldiers who in time of peace practise themselues in warlike feares and are accustomed in warre to get the victorie now to be ouercome by the Iewes and that in the end of the victorie wee hauing also God to helpe vs for all our harmes proceede from the Iewes desperation and their destruction and calamitie by Gods fauour and your valour is euerie day increased For what else is betokned by their sedition amongst themselues their famine the fall of their wals without our engines to batter them and the siege it selfe then the wrath of God towards them and his fauour towards vs Wherefore it is vnseemely for you either to giue place to your inferiours or to betray Gods fauour and furtherance It is not a shame that the Iewes who were they conquered sustained no great reproch as being accustomed to serue obey others should so valiantly contemne death least they should hereafter suffer or endure the like and many times boldly to aduenture make excursions euen amongst the midst of vs not for hope they haue to ouercome vs but onely to shewtheir valour and that we who haue conquered almost the earth and sea to whom it is an infamie not to be victorious to lie idle and neuer make any valiant assault vpon our enemies but being thus armed to expect till fortune and famine deliuer them into our hands Especially seeing that by vndergoing a little danger all will be ours If we get into Antonia we haue taken the Citie For suppose that we were then to fight against them that are within the Citie which I doe not thinke we hauing gotten the highest part of the Citie being aboue our enemies head are then assured of a perfect victorie ouer them I omit now their commendations who haue beene slaine in warres and their immortalitie whom Martiall furie hath depriued of this life and those that doe not so thinke I pray that they may die of some euill death in peace whose soules are condemned to be enterred with their bodies For what valiant man knoweth not that the soule of him that dieth in warre is presently receiued into the most pure ayrie element and from thence carried and placed amongst the sta◅es of heauen and the good and valiant ghosts doe alwayes assist his posteritie And that all that in peace doe die of some disease and sicknesse their soules are kept in the bowels of the earth in darknesse notwithstanding that they bee most iust and pure and presently they are forgotten and their life and memorie together with them extinguished Seeing therefore that we are all certaine to die and that to die by the sword is a more easie death then to die by any disease why should wee depriue ourselues of this opportunitie seeing that at last we must necessarily forgoe our liues as due debt vnto the destinies And this I haue spoken as though it were vnpossible to escape with life you doing your endeuours yet they that beare the minds of men can find meanes to saue themselues euen in the greatest dangers For first of al that part of the wall that is fallen may easily be entred and the
these speeches he ioyfully yeelded vp the Ghost It is most true therefore which we at first affirmed to wit that the enduring of paines and torments is wrought by our reasons lore which once determined and resolued maketh a prosperous suffering of paines with all patience who wisely aduising men to that which is best doth settle confirme our opinions to follow it If therefore reason and the inferiour powers be at variance we must subiect them to reason if we will make a perfect victorie With this guide of reason our father Eleazar was most safely directed neither to be ouercome with paines nor to giue place vnto vnlawfull enticements and allurements he saued the ship of his bodie from all shipwracke that might arise by the tempestuous stormes of vanitie and suffered himselfe with no contrarie winde to be driuen from the right course yea though it was tossed vpon the waues of tyrannie yet did it remaine sound and vnbroken and keeping a direct course arriued in the hauen of saluation Neuer any man did seeke so valiantly to defend his Citie from an enemie as this holy olde man did his soule who amongst stripes crosses and flames was still the same man he was before For as the toppe of a high rocke standeth sase and resisteth the waue without any domage vnto it selfe euen so did the rocke of reason in this man beat backe the rage of those tempestuous waues that did beat against his bodie not permitting them to breake in and pierce the celestiall and diuine power of the soule O happie olde man more blessed then all of thy age O priest more sacred then all other priests who didst not pollute thy sacred lips with prophane meats impietie found no entrance that way from whence so many praiers to God had proceeded The tyrants cruelty could not preuaile against thee thou therfore art made an example for all priests of God to imitate Such a one behooued it a priest to be more strong then torments more able to suffer then the torturers to inflict punishment more forcible then princes commands yea and more potent then the fire wherein thou didst perish and finally thou wast ordained to be crowned with the lawrell of martyrdome for thy sufferance Thou hast surpassed all antiquitie thou shalt be an example to all posterity If then feeble olde age wherein al strength and heat of bodie was extinguished now vnfit to suffer torments as being alreadie broken with age could by the aduice of reason endure so many torments so many miseries who dare denie reason to be the chiefe cause of our sufferance We haue seene that all cruelty hath beene ouercome by a determination to persist in the seruice and feare of God yet many affirme that not all men who vse the aduice of reason are able to vndergoe such agonies but their assertion is vaine and of no force for most euident it is that he onely is ouercome by paine whom wisedome hath not armed with patience And no maruaile if he who rashly enterprise so waightie a matter and with due consideration do at last forsake and repent himselfe of that which he so vnaduisedly vndertooke But if we with due aduice and deliberation arme ourselues it is not an easie matter to remoue vs by any misfortune from our determination when we make account that misfortune will betide vs we are not easily dismaied thereat when it doth beride for that nothing befell vs that we expected not Therefore he that is wise and valiant is able to conquer his passions for that he doth well deli berate and when he commeth to his agony can put his determination in execution Neither is the wisedome of this olde man so much to be admired seeing children and as it were infants haue so deserued commendations in this point that they did worke astonishment in their tormentors for the courage and crueltie of Antiochus being ouercome by the wisedome of old age was now the more increased and by wicked counsell caused seuen worthie children of the Hebrews to be brought vnto Antioch out of their Castle Sosandrum who being young in yeeres and so as hee thought weake and vnable to suffer torments his hope was that either by perswasions or terror of tortures he might force them to renounce their religion He therefore commaunded these seuen together with their mother Salomona who now grew well in yeeres to bee brought before him so they according to his commaund were brought being of excellent beautie and worthie children of so vertuous a mother yea they resembled angels their faces shining like the cleare light of the Sunne their eyes sparkled in most comely and decent maner as testifying that they surpassed in vertue al other of humane race and condition Shee was descended of most vertuous and noble parentage and so shee her selfe had continued and liued but that excellent feature of body enriched with nobilitie of bloud and dignitie was now also made more noble by vertue and fortitude wherein shee passed all other things that could bee said in her commendations The tyrant beholding them and their mother amongst them with merrie and gladsome countenance hee thus craftily spake vnto the children I wish your good O admirable young-men for so both your beautie of body and noble parentage perswade me doe not therefore like mad men resist my commaund auoide not onely torments but death also For I desire not onely to exalt you vnto honour but also to increase your riches and possessions contemne the superstitious and superfluous beliefe of your Countrimen and imbrace our religion Which if you refuse to doe as I hope you will not I will deuise all torments whereby I may by a lingering and paineful death consume you And to the end to terrifie them the more he commaunded all instruments of torment to bee presented vnto their view and eye-sight So wheeles roddes hookes rakes rackes caudrons cagâ—… gridirons were brought forth and engines to torment the fingers and hands gauntlets awles bellowes brazen pots and frying pans for these are the names which we find For that which I terme bellowes was a thinne plate of yron to kindle or blow the fire with like a fanne and farre more horrible deuises of torments were shewed vnto them too long to rehearse whereof they hauing had a sight Antiochus said Consent vnto me O prudent young men for if that I commaund you to commit a sinne yet doe you not offend in doing it seeing you commit it onely vpon compulsion But the young youthes inflamed with a diuine spirit and sense contemned so many kinds of torments and despised the tyrants threates and flatteries and most godly for they gaue him no iust occasion they did driue the tyrant into a greater rage And by this it is euident how reason is maister ouer passion for if any slouthful man not before trained vp to it should of a sodaine come to such a push at the verie sight of such torments
vnspeakable None of you were terrefied with feare but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had onely beene to go to blisse and felicitie you were truely brethren who euen by death were linked together God hath greatly in you magnified our nation and in you shewed vs all an example of fortitude whom therefore I thinke he caused to be so many in number as were the daies wherein he created the world so that seuen brethren may resemble the seuen daies wherein in all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her selfe with contempt of death who indeed is not to be called a mother but to be honoured with a higher title then humane frailtie can afford who bare into this world so many triumphs For the mother seeing her children dead was with a kind and godly zeale inflamed also to suffer and no maruaile seeing that the verie bruit beasts if they perceiue violence offred to their young do oppose themselues to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and talents yea and euerie one that is any way able to make resistance opposeth her selfe to the enemie to defend her young And not onely bruit beasts doe this but euen Bees doe defend not onely their young but also their honie threatning their sting to them that offer to taste thereof and more esteeming the good of their young then their owne liues But this zealous mother directed by the spirit of God and reasons loare hasted that her children might die before her who not being to liue depriued of her children chose rather to see them die ioyfully then to perish in care and sorrow Therefore when al her family had suffered she then the last glorie of them al came to her agony despising the tyrants threats and offering her motherly breast to those torments which her children had suffered O blessed stocke and blessed encrease of the selfesame wombe Why should I not affirme that in all lineaments and feature of the bodie you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside the shape of bodie receiue nothing else of their mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in fortitude vertue and religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are euerie way equall vnto her saue onely herein that she with her eies beheld the immanitie of your torments being also as constant in her owne martyrdome as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seuen torments before she came to suffer in her owne person and feared in euerie one of them least she should be ouercome But O thou example of all women I cannot tel whether thou bare these children in thy wombe or created them who could with drie eies looke vpon them whilst they were torne in peeces yea I say little affirming that thou with patience didst behold these sights for euen thou thy selfe didst exhort them thereunto thou reioycedst to see one of them torne in peeces with fleshhookes the other to be racked vpon the wheele and the third to be bound and beaten thou ioyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified herewith and although whilest thou beheldest their torments thy griefe was greater then that which thou hadst in childbirth yet didst thou frame a lightsome and merry countenance as though it had beene one trumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing onely one of all thy children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how euerie one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths when their sinewes were cut in two their heads fleane their tongues pulled forth by the roots their hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast vpon yron plates red hotte and vpon wheeles and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for the which we want names Neuer was any swanne which by the report of antiquitie sung so sweet a note before her death sweeter then the most melodious harmonie and the most pleasant voice was the funerall verses of those thy children that perished You children were not ouercome by the fabulous Syrens enchauntments who to honour God doubted not to leaue your mother without children And she sprung of noble stocke chose rather to want you all for a short time then to incurre eternall damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her children should be tormented then their soules Well she knew that nothing was more fraile infirme then our bodies which though persecutiō be wanting are often killed with agues and aboundance of blould or fluxes And who is ignorant of shipwracke incident to sailers hazard of life vnto them that trauaile and sodaine death to those that liue in ease Sodaine casualtie by fire and by the hands of theeues and a thousand other waies to dispatch our liues seeing then that our morrall bodies are subiect to so many miseries to bring vs to our ende who would not make choise of a quicke dispatch whereby we loose the goods of this world and gaine life euerlasting O thou most reuerent of all women the credit of thy nation and honour of our religion who like the Arke of Noe didst persist inuiolate amongst such stormie waues for as it withstood the force of the Deluge and being built strongly with firme bords did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the tyrant to ouercome the holy Ghost which thou hadst receiued in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacie reason is which often time maketh vs men inferiour to women For neither was Daniel so terrified at the sight of the Lions nor the three children with the firie furnace as this woman was grieued at the death of euery one of her children before she came to her owne agonie What would another woman mother haue done in this case but wept with pitiful lamentations haue cried Ah wretch that I am most vnhappie and miserable of all that breath who therefore bare so many children into this world that their seueral deaths might be so many seueral occasions of my griefe and sorrow she would haue iterated her frequent births and her toyle in her ten moneths bearing them she would haue bewailed her haplesse fortune who brought forth so many deaths and daungers she would haue recounted the milke wherewith she fed them and their meat she had prepared for them the paines she had taken with them how she had caried them in her armes and sung to them and taught them to speake her cares her watchings her feare least any mishap should betide them And with weeping teares would haue said shall I a grandmother embrace your children who a while agoe was a too fruitfull mother and am now depriued of you all If this day I die I haue none to burie me But this handmaide of
God forgot all these laments that another mother would haue had and with an adamant sense stouter then the neuer yeelding rocks did neither forsake her children in their torments nor in their death but in a manner compelled them to perish and neuer sorrowed thereat For being apprehended together with her seuen sonnes she considering Eleazars martyrdome did thus exhort them in the Hebrew tongue O my most deare and louing children let vs hasten to that agonie wherein we may bee a credite to our nation and gaine of God an euerlasting reward let vs without feare present our selues vnto those torments which Eleazars aged bodie endured call to mind our father Abraham of worthie memorie who hauing but one onely sonne did sacrifice him being willed by God so to doe and feared not to bring him to the Altar whome he scarcely in his age obtained Isaak also was willing to bee sacrificed by his father knowing that God was to be obeyed in all things the like may be said of Daniel and the three children beleeue me wee are rather tried then tormented For whatsoeuer this world affordeth is mortall and like a shadowe Thus did this mother arme her childrens minds with fortitude and shee a woman wrought in men manlike minds Last of all her children being all dead shee a worthie mother of so manie champions kneeling downe in the place of torment besought of God an end of this life protesting that shee had not for loue of life so long deferred to die but onely for her childrens sake and that now shee had seene them all seuen triumphing The furie of Antiochus now waxed hot and he commanded this worthie mother to be tormented who was as the tyrant willed stripped naked and hanged vp by the hands and most cruelly whipped her dugges and paps were pulled off and shee put into the red hot frying pan being most willing to follow her childrens steps in torment and lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen shee praied for all women with child and so yeelded her chast soule to God But Antiochus was strucken with fire from heauen O mistris of iustice who followed thy triumphing children O conquerour of tyrants and a looking glasse for all Martyrs O example of patience not onely to women but to all men that shall bee after thee reuerenced of them that now are and to bee worshipped of them that are to come and to be admited not onely of our nation but of all other people Thy light obscureth the bright shining Moone and though shee fill the world with her brightnesse yet is shee not comparable to thy shining light Seuen lights enuiron thee about daseling the brightnesse of the seuen planets could any Painter expresse or any hand in writing declare the torments of your passions none could with drie eye read or behold them all people would flocke about to see it all people would praise and esteeme him to haue offered a great gift who to Gods glorie had painted that noble stratageme And if any skilfull workman should engraue this Tragedie vpon a sepulchre or in his house doubtlesse he should bee freed from all plague and misfortune But where could a stone bee found able to containe so many torments Therefore the olde man Eleazar the mother and her seuen sonnes are for their nobilitie graced with a sepulchre and great reuerence is done vnto them of all men yea euen by men that are not of our religion and there is a constellation of eight starres ordained as an argument of their iustice and Angels did execute their funerals The tyrant himselfe was astonished to see the constancie of such godly minds And thus haue they found such fauour in the sight of God that they haue obtained remission of the sinnes of our nation for presently after the tyrant was destroyed and Israell there was freed from his tyrannie But Antiochus seeing the greatnesse of their faith and their contempt of death gathered an armie of footemen out of the Hebrewes by whose helpe he terrified his enemies and got great renowne O blessed seede of Abraham behold what benefit the agonie of the mother and her seuen sonnes brought vnto vs their Countrimen let vs persist in this pietie that so we may bee like our forefathers behold the death of a few did end all the miseries and sinnes of our whole nation and you by your Countrimens hands vanquished your persecutors enemies and after that victorie our sinnes were remitted and last of all Antiochus being mad and his entrailes deuoured with wormes hee smelling most like carrion gaue vp the ghost and was euer after death punished for his offence For when he could not make the Citizens of Ierusalem to forsake their law he made warre against the Persians and there receiued that which he deserued It now remaineth that we briefely repeate all that is before said For in her agonie this sacred mother said thus vnto the standers by Whilest it was lawful for me I kept my selfe a virgine and then I married and liued a chast wife and forsooke not my owne house I brought forth such sonnes as I need not be ashamed of and though daunted with my husbands death yet I did not forsake my faith this and many things else shee recounted And what more Shee set before her childrens eyes the example of the Prophets how Abel by his brother was slain Isaak to be offered insteade of a sacrifice how Iacob was banished Ioseph kept in prison Daniel cast before the Lyons the three children into the fierie furnace she rehearsed also vnto them the booke of Esaias where it is said Although thou doe goe through the fire the flame shall not burne thee That of Dauid The iust shall haue much tribulation and Salomon who proposeth the tree of life to such as doe the will of God not omitting that of Ezechiel These drie and withered bones shall liue againe Also that of Moses Canticle I will kill and restore to life and the length of your dayes is in my hand Vnhappie tyrant what did thy caudrons red hot and thy torments profit thee what auailed it thee to cut away their eye lids and to pul out their tongues thou thy selfe for so doing dost now endure farre worse then all these And they whome thou killedst beleeue me enioy euerlasting comfort are now secure of blisse reuenge For they who suffer for Gods sake shall haue happie successe when God the Father of all things shall reward them with life euerlasting that follow him Thus haue I consecrated these worthie memorials which I find in the holy Scriptures of the sacred Machabees to the reading of all men that shall liue in any age heereafter The end of all Iosephus workes FINIS A Tahle of the chiefest and most memorable things which are handled in this Worke. A AAron Moses brother 47. a. commeth to meet him ibid. a. holdeth vp Moses hands 57. a. elected high priest 65. c. his sonnes 66.
wife of Elcana praied to God for a sonne 125. d. bare Samuel and consecrated him to God ibid. d e. Annius taketh Gerasa 689. b. Answere of Simon to Iesus oration 679. a. Answere of Isaac 18. i. of Balaam to Balac 83. m. of God to Iosuah 103. c. of Achab to the Syrians 218. k. of Caesar to Herode 586. g of Antipater to Herode 603. d e. of Iohn 671. b c. of Eleazar to Antiochus 803. b. of Alexander 286. g. Antaeus against whom Hercules made warre 19. c. Antigonus copartner in the kingdome 339. d. his death complotted ibid. e. effected 340. g. 562. h i. Antigonus accuseth Hyrcanus and Antipater 360 i. 571. a. promiseth the Parthians money and why 370. l. restored to the kingdome 373. a. cutteth off Hyrcanus eares ibid. a. 570. l. declared an enemie to the Romans 374. i. k. 577. e. vpbraideth Herode 375. e. getteth Massada 578. g. repulseth Herods power ibid. f. surpriseth Herods victualers 376. h i. cruelly handleth Iosephs careas 580. m. submitteth himselfe to Sosius 381. a. put to death 382. d. 383. a. Antiochus the great vexeth the Iewes 296. g h. recouereth cities of Caelesyria ibid. i. his Epistle to Ptolomey 296. his Edict in honour of the Temple 297. b. his Epistle to Zeuxis ibid. c h. Antiochus Epiphanes departeth Egypt 303. c. spoileth the temple of Ierusalem ibid. d. 558. m. abrogateth Gods lawes 304. g. 559. a. inforceth the Iewes to Idolatrie ibid. g. h. tortureth Eleazar 803. d e. â—…slayeth him 804. h. forbiddeth the Iewes to vse their lawes 304. m. 305. a c. inuadeth Iudaea againe 507. a. departeth into Persia ibid. b. besiegeth Elymais 311. a. falleth sicke and dieth ibid. b. 559. c. Antiochus Eupator created king 311. e. marcheth into Iudaea 312. g. 559. e. fighteth with Iudas Machabees 312. i. marcheth against Philip ibid. l. entreth a league with Iudas 313. a. slaieth Philip ib. c. displaceth Onias 526. i. is slaine ibid. d. Antiochus sonne of Alexander 327. a. crowned king ibid f. discomfiteth Demetrius 328. g. fauoureth Ionathan ibid. Antiochus marrieth Cleopatra 333. d. putteth Tryphon to flight ibid. e. warreth against Hyrcanus 335. a b. c. permitteth a truce ibid. slaine 336. g. Antiochus Gryphus ouercommeth Alexander 337. b. his war against his brother ibid. b. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Cyzicenus warreth against his brother 337. b. 341. d. put to flight 337. e. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Eusebius putteth Seleucus to flight 344. h. slaieth Seleucus brother ibid dieth ibid. l. m. Antiochus Seleucus slaieth his vncle 344. g. burned ibid. Antiochus Dionysius king 345. e. thrust out of his kingdome ibid. slaine 346. g. Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens 747. c d. e. Antiochus king of Comegena accused 754. his choise c. ibid. k. l. reconciled to Caesar. 755. a b. Antipas Herods sonne 449. d. claimeth the kingdome 608. m. accuseth Archelaus 609. a b. hath part of the kingd with Archelaus 459. d. Antipater the Idumean 350. m. incenseth the princes against Aristobulus 351. a. relieueth Gabinius 357. d. his wife and children 359. a c. gathereth souldiers for Caesars seruice ibid. d. made a Citizen of Rome and Gouernour ouer Iudaea 360. h i k l. 570. l. maketh his sons gouernours 361. f. perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie 565. f. 666. a. his exploits 570. k. poisoned 367. a. 577. c. Antipater banished 589. b. aduaneed 416. l. enciteth his father against his brothers 417. a d. his congratulation 419. f. plotteth against his brethren 423. e. 591. e d. cause of mischiefe 426. k. gouerneth the kingdome c. 436. l. practiseth his fathers death ibid. m. 601. e. could not deceiue his Aunt 437. b. hateth his brothers children 437. c. his treasons 601. d. accuseth Syllaeus 601. e. 440. i. studieth to winne fauour 547. e f. conspireth against his father 597. e. accused by Herod 443. e. c. 602. m. answereth his fathers obiections 444. g. hated of all 602. h. 446. g. hath libertie to iustifie himselfe ibid. h. 603. d. put to death 450. g h. 606. h. Antipater accuseth Antipater 441. e. Antipater accuseth Archelaus 453. e. 609. b. c. Antipatris built 420. m. burned 637. a b. Antiphilus letter to Antipater 446. l. blamed 447. c. Antiquitie of the Iewes prooued 768. l. m. 769. a. c. see Arguments Antiquities when written 528. h. Antonia described 708. h i. not vnlike a Citie ibid. i. Antonius writeth to Hyrcanus 368. l. m. writeth in the Iewes behalfe 369. c. maketh Tetrarchs 370. h. loueth Herod 374. maketh Herod king ibid. k. requireth Aristobulus 384. i. giueth Cleopatra a portion of Iudaea and Arabia 389. b. conquereth Armenia ibid. e. Aphrica once called Lybia â—…9 b c. Apollonius accuseth the Iewes 790. l. Apollonius sent to rob the temple 802. h. acknowledged his offence ibid. i. Generall of Antiochus army 306. k. discomfited and slaine ibid. k. Apollonius Darius put to flight 324. h. i. Apologie of Achimelech 149. b. of Aristobulus 353. d. Apostasie of the priests 284. l. Apostates from the Iewish religion 303. a b. Apparell 615. c. Appion wrote coldly 782. i. of Moses and the Iewes ibid. his fiction refuted 783. a. b. c. denieth his countrey 784. g. raileth against the Iewes ibid h. his obiection of the Asses head answered 786. m. vpbraideth the Iewes 789. c. praiseth himselfe ibid. accuseth the Iewes 480. g. Apples of Mandragora 24. 〈◊〉 Apprehension of Iohn and Simon 744. m. Apsan gouerned Israel 120. i. his children ibid. i. Arabians Ismaels posteritie 17. a. c. slay Herods souldiers 390. m. kill the Iewes embassadours 391. c. ouercome 393. b. receiue theeues 429. a. brake the league made 577. a. defeate Herods army 584. g. are ouercome 585. c. an Arbiter betwixt the Senate and Claudius 619. f. Archelaus accused 442. i k. promiseth his subiects fauour 608. g. appointed k. 451. a b. 606. k. c. lamenteth 607. f. suppresseth the sedition 452. l. m. 453. a. repaires to Rome ib b. approoued c. 455. a. accused 458. k. excused 459. b. accused and banished 461. a. c. 614. h. his dreame ibid. i. Archelaus k. of Cappadocia 427. c. his ingenious speech 593. e. f. conferreth with Herod 594. g. reconcileth Alexander to his father 428. g. made Herod and Pheroras friends 428 h. 594. h. i. excuseth himselfe 432. h. Aretas king of Arabia 342. e. ouerthroweth Alexander 346. g. putteth Aristobulus to flight 351. e. furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000. souldiers 556. g. Aretas accuseth Syllaeus 440. f. discomfiteth Herods army 470. k. l. Arguments for the Iewes Antiquitie 768. l m. 769. a. c. 770. g. c. 771. a. c. 772. g. c. 773. a. c. 774. g. c. 775. a. Arioch a captaine of the Assyrians 13. c. Aristaeus obtaineth the Iewes libertie 289. b c. Aristobulus first king c. 339. c. imprisoneth his brethren famisheth his mother ib. 561. f. his punishment 340. i k. 562. m. compelleth the Ituraeans to be circumcised ibid. l.
b. inuented the vse of the plough ibid. b. father of hypocrites 6. g. Caius succeedeth Tiberius 471. c. certiâ—…eth the Senate of Tiberius death 478. i. maketh Agrippa king ibid. k. 618. i. banisheth Herod 479. d. vsurpeth diuine honor 479. f. 480. g. 618. k. his statue c. ib. k. writeth letters to Petronius 483. c. calleth himselfe Iupiters brother c. 489. a. b. c. causeth many to be murthered 490. k. sacrificeth 494. h. builded a hauen 501. e. slaine 495. b. 501. e. Caleb and Iosuah appease the people 74. h. Callimander slaine 338. g. Calling of Moses 46. g h. of Elizaeus 217. a. Calâ—…tie of the Israelites 41. c. 53. a e f. 54. g. 111. d. c. m. 112. g. 126. g. foretold 251. c. 252. k. Calamitie of Herod 584. h. of Syria 634. i k. Calamitie in Ierusalem 698. l m. 724. h i k. c. Calamitie of the Romans 733. b c. of the Iewes recounted 〈◊〉 the Romans 734. l m. Calamitie of the Iewes at Antioch 747. b c e. Calamitie of the Iewes taken by the Romans 760. g h. Calumniation 425. b. Calues of Ieroboam 207. b. Cambyses inhibiteth the building of the temple 266. l m. Campe of the enemies spoiled 229. c. Campe of the Romans how ordered 648. h i. 3. Campes of the Iewes 610. i. Candlesticke of gold 63. a. 198. g. Capharis submits to Caerealis 692. g. Captaine ouer a thousand 143. f. Captaines of Salomon 193. d e. 2. Captaines of Ochozias destroied and why 224. f. 225. 〈◊〉 the 3. preserued ibid. a. Captaine troden to death 229. d. Captiuitie of Babylon foreprophesied 247. c. 150. i k. effected 255. c d. 715. d. Carcases hinder the passages 581. e. Carcases innumerable 87. e. Carcases cast out of the Citie how many 724. i k. Care of God for the Israelites safetie 47. a. for his seruants 216. l m. Carthage built 771. c. Carelesnesse of Abner touching Sauls safetie 153. e. Carpenters how imployed 195. b. Cassius resisteth the Parthians 358. m. exacteth of the Ieweâ—… 700. talents of siluer 366. i. Cassius Longinus gouernour of Syria 512. m. Castle fortified 318. l. 356. k. rased ibid. Castle of Dauid 763. f. Castor a subtill Iew 7â—…2 g. Catalogue of Iacobs sonnes and nephewes 39. e f. 40. g. Catalogue of Gods benefits on Israel 54. i k l. Catalogue of the commandements 59. f. 60. g. Cattell gotten in warre 87. e. 103. f. 106. l. Catullus slaieth 3000. Iewes 763. b c. Cause of errour concerning God 796. i. Causes of discord 765. e. 766. g. Causes of malice betweene Egyptians and Iewes 776. h i. Causes of the Israelites ruine 41. c. Causes of the warres of the Iewes 624. i m. Causes of Vespasians election 694. g. Causes of writing the Antiquities 1. d. e. Caues of the theeues described 579. e. Ceasing of Manna 102. h. Celebration of the passeouer 249. f. 272. Celles about the temple 195. e. Cendebaeus put to flight 334. g. 560. i. Cenizus deliuereth the Israelites 113. e. vanquisheth 〈◊〉 ibid. f. iudged Israel foâ—…ie yeeres ibid f. Censors affixed to the brazen Altar 80. i. and why ibid. Censors of gold 197. b. Centuâ—…ion of Florus 625. a. Cesennius president of Syâ—…ia 754. accused Antiochus ibid. Cesterne digged to be inclosed 96. k. Cestius Gâ—…ppeaseth the people c. â—…24 g. i. burnt Zabulon Ioppe 636. k l. consulteth with the princes c. 627. a. his siege against Ierusalem 636. m. 637. b d. Chaereas and his complices conspire Caius death 490. g. h. why incited against Caius ibid. k conferreth with Clement c. 491. c. 492. g. intends to kill Caius ibid. expecteth occasion to assaile Caius 493. b. slaieth Caius 495. b. honoured 500. h. sendeth Lupus to kill Caius wife ibid. k l. executed 505. f. 505 g. Challenge of a single cumbate 142. h. Chaldaeans mutine against Abraham 12. k. C ham Noahâ—… sonne 9. a. his progenie 10. l. discouereth his fathers nakednes 11. c. Chambers of pleasure 200. k. Champions of Dauid 183. c. c. Chanaan Iacobs inheritance 28. g. Chanaanites put the Israelites to flight 76. k. wholy to be extinguished 97. f. 106. k. ten thousand slaine 109. b. made tributaries 202. l. Charges of the temple to be supplied 272. k. Chariots of labin 115. a. of Salomon 199. f. Chariots armed seene in the ayre 738. Chartisement bettered not Cain 5. d e. Chastitie of Ioseph 3â—… a b. 801 c. Chaunce medley 88. k. Chaunge of the Iewes gouernment 569. a b. Chaunge of names wâ—…nce 10. k. Cherubim 62. k. in the temple 196. h. Chetura Abrahams second wife 19. b. bare to Abraham sixe children ibid. b c. Chieftaines of Achis 15â—… l. cause Dauid to be dismissed ibid. l. of Salomon 193. d c. Children are to learne the law 91. c. 70. Children of Achab slaine 232. m. Children of Herode 598 i k. Children not to be punished for the fathers offence 96. m. Children male done to death 41. d e. Children of Chanaan 11. b. Children of Abraham 17. d. 19. b c of Iacob 24. i k l. 27. c. Children of Roboam 209. b. Children vnlike their fathers 130. k. 247. c. 230 i. k. Chodollogomor an Assyrian Captaine 13. c. ouerthrew the Sodomites ibid. Choice of the Esseans in compassion and helping 615. d. Chore mutineth against Moses 77. b. affecteth the office of high Priest ibid. d. 80. h. he and his companie consumed with fire ibid. l. Chosby a daughter of Madian 86. h. enticed Zambrias to Idolatrie ibid. h. i. slaine with him 87. a. Christ crucified 466. l. m. Chronicles of the Tyrians 244. g. Churlishnes of Nabal 152. i. Chusais opposition to Achitophel 176. i. his counsel accepted 176. l. certified Dauid of the victorie 178. l. Chuthites remoued vnto Samaria 243. c. plagued and why 244. h. i. claime kinred of the Iewes ibid. i. k. Circumcision commaunded and instituted 15. b. one sacred Citie in Canaan 90. l. and why ibid. Cities of refuge 88. i. k. 90. l. 106. â—…l Citie of of Dauid 164. i. Cities of the Beniamites burnt 112. h. Citie of the Priests burnt 149. d. Cities builded of Salomon 201. d e. Cities vnder Archelaus subiection 613. b. Cities taken from the Iewes 345. c. chiefe Cities of Galilee 549. c. Cities in armes against the Iewes 635. b. 4. Cities of Galilee reuolt from Ioseph 643. 2. Citizens of Iabes burie Saul and his sons bodies 158. i k. Citizens taken prisoners 252. c. Citizens of Giscala entertaine Titus 671. â—… Citizens resort to Vespasian 684 i. Ciuill wars of the Israelites 111. d. Ciuill wars of the Romans 691. f. Claudius chosen Emperour 498. l m. vnwillingly accepted it 502. â—…carried on mens shoulders 503. denieth to giue ouer the dignitie ibid. f. confirmed by Agrippa 504. g. perswaded to vse the Senators mildly 500. g. 620. i. giueth Agrippa Iudaea c. 506. i. his edict in fauour of the Iewes ibid. 507. a. commaundeth Agrippa to desist from building 509. c. grants the Iewes
345. d. Mithridates king of Pontus slaine 354 h. Mithridates warreth with the Egyptians 360. g. commendeth Antipater to Caesar ibid. Moabites put to flight 114. k l. warre against Iosaphat 223. c. kill one another 224. h. Modle of the Temple 188. k. Modle of the Tabenacle proposed to Moses 60. m. Moderation of Saul 133. c. of Dauid 151. d. Moderation in abundance hardly kept 237. e f. Monarchie of the Assyrians destroyed 247. b. Money taken out of Dauids tombe 290. g. 335. f. distributed 713. e. Monobazus king of Adiabena 513. f. Moone made 3. e. her end and motion ibid. c. Monument of the priesthood confirmed 80 i. Monument of Rachel 132. l. of Ionathan 332. l. of Dauid 335. e. of Iohn the high Priest 709. b. orning what 3 d. Moses the sonne of Amram 42. i k. foretold to afflict the Egyptians estate and aduance the Israelites 41. d. cast into the floud 42. k l. taken out thereof ibid. m. called Moses 43. b. adopted by Pharaohs daughter spurned the crowne ibid. b c d. conducted the Egyptians against the Ethiopians 44. g. c. his victory 44. the Iewes lawmaker 2. k l. more ancient then other lawmakers 791. a. flieth to Raguel and why 45. b. c. marieth his daughter ibid. d. sent to deliuer the Israelites 46. k l. confirmed in his calling ibid. g. h i k. perswadeth Pharao to dismisse the Israelites 47. b c. worketh miracles ibid c d e. instituteth the Passeouer 49. c d. conducteth the Israelites 50. g i. exhorteth them ibid. m. praieth to God 51. c. leadeth them through the red sea 51. d. praiseth God 52. g h. sacrificed to God in Sinai ibid. h. beseecheth God to sweeten the waters 53. d. putteth the people in mind of Gods benefits 54. h i. imploreth Gods helpe ibid. l. striking the rocke bringeth out water 55. e. encourageth the Israelites 56. i k. lifting vp his hands c. 57. a. ascendeth Sinai 58. l. how long remaineth there 60. h. fasted ib. asketh counsell of God c. 68. h. numbreth the people 72. h i. sendeth spies to search the land 73. e. retireth the people into the desart 76. l. sendeth forces against the Madianites â—…7 b. appointeth Iosuah his successor ibid. f. exhorteth the people to obedience 89. a b c. sweareth them to keepe the lawe 98. k. 99. a. exhorteth Iosuah 98. m. commaundeth the Iewes to heare the lawe 792. h i. dieth 99. e. Mother eateth her child 228 g h. 734. i k. Mother of the seuen brethren 805. a. 808. k. 810. g. c. Moueables of all sorts 103. f. Mourning of Ruben for Ioseph 30. i. of the Romans 638. l m. of them in Ierusalem 699. a. Mourning for thirtie daies 94. l m. Mourning for Moses death 99. b c. for Saul his sons 158. k. for Abners 162. i. for Herods 451. c. Mountaine of Sinai 45. f. 47. f. Mounts builded lost 719. e f. Mounts raised neere the Temple 732. g. Multiplication of Iacobs posteritie 42. h. Multitude of busines 57. f. of dead carcasses 725. f. Mundus defileth Paulina 467. a c. banished ibid. Murmur of the Israelites 53. f. 74. g. Murther of Simeon and Leui 27. a. Murther of Azael 160. k. of Abner 162. g. of Iorams brethren 230. k. of infants foretold 230. g. Murther of Saul punished 159 f. of Isboseth 163. d. Musicke by whom inuented 5. f. Mutabilitie of fortune 668. l. m. Mutinie of Chore and his complices 77. b c c. Mutinie about the golden Eagle 448. h. Mutinie against Archelaus 452. g h c. N Naas king of the Ammonites 133. c. his outrages offred the Israelites ibid. e f. proposeth hard conditions of peace 134. g. granteth to the inhabitants of Iabes a truce ibid. h. is slaine 134. l. Nabals flocks spared 152. g. his currish answere to Dauids men ibid. i died for griefe 153. a. Nabathaea the countrey of Ismaels posteritie 17. c. Nabathaeans spoiled 330. i. Naboth falsely accused 217. d. stoned to death ibid. d. Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon 250. m. vanquisheth Nechao ibid. 251. a. exacteth tribute and slaieth Ioachim 251. a. establish Ioachin king ibid. e. besiegeth and destroyeth Ierusalem 254. i. 255. a. dreameth a dreame 258. k. erecreth an Idol 259. c conuersed with beasts 260. g h. conquereth the rebels 771. e. builded a pallace 772. g h. besiegeth Tyre 773. b. his death 260. h. Nadab Aarons sonne burned and why 67. a. Nadab Ieroboams sonne 212. g. his impietie and death ibid. g. Name of Saul famous 134. l. Naming of the creatures 3. f. Names of Regions and Nations 10. g. Noami her sorrow 123. e f. returneth into her countrey 124. g. her counsell to Ruth ibid. i k. Norbanus for the Iewes 422. k. Narration of the Arabian wars 432. l. Nathan the Prophet 166. h. forbiddeth Dauid to build the Temple ibid. h. reprooued Dauid 170. m 171. a b. Natiuitie of Iacob and Esau 20 m. two nations proceed of them ibid. m. Nation of the Iewes mixed with all people 747. b. Nations whence descended 10. g c. 11. a. c. Nature forbids a man to kill himselfe 659. c. f. Nature of the Idumaeans 677. b. Nauie of Salomon 202. k. Naum the Prophet 240. l. foretelleth the ouerthrow of the Assyrians ibid. l. Nazarites 81. d. Nechao his exploits 250 h. is ouercome ibid. m. 251. a. 252. l m. Necessitie a sharpe weapon 651. a. Neglect of Gods seruice cause of all euill 207. e f. Negligence of Sauls guard 153. c. d e. Nehemias his sadnes and why 275. c d. inciteth the people to build the wals c. ibid. e. his ardent care in building them 276. h. his death ibid. k. Nemrod 9. b c. Sonne of Chus 11. a. Nephanus and Sabach Dauids captaines 182. m. 183. a. Nephewes of Iacob 39. e. of Herode 598. g h. Nepthalim the sonne of Iacob 24 k. his sonnes 40. g. Nero proclaimed Emperour 521. e. his murders ibid. e f. 622. h. amased at the actes of the Iewes 645. a. sendeth Vespasian to gouerne Syria 745. b. Nicanor labereth to surprise Iudas 314. g. slaine 315. a. Nicanor knowne to Ioseph 658. k. Nicanor wounded 709. b. Nicaule Queene of Ethiopia 202. h. resorteth to Salomon ibid. l. wondreth and praiseth Salomons wisedome 202. m. 203. a. giueth him presents ibid b. Nicholaus Oration 414. i. c. Nicholaus the Historiographer reproued 423. c. Nicholaus accuseth Syllaeus excuseth Herode 432. i. k. prosecuteth the kings accusation 444. k. 445. a c. excuseth Archelaus 454. k. 609. c. defendeth Herod and Archelaus 459. b. 613. a. Nicon the Romans great Ram 711. a. Niger slaine c. 683. c d. Nilus 4. h. maketh Aegypt fertile 40. i. how farre nauigable 694. k. Niniue admonished 239. a. her destruction prophecied 240. l. effected 247. b. Nisan a moneth with the Hebrewes 49. c. Noah the sonne of Lamech 6. m. admonisheth the wicked ibid. k l. buildeth the Arke 6. l. saued with
prophets giueth no eare to Ieremy Ezechiel prophecieth the destruction of the temple The yeare of the world 3354. before Christ birth 610. Sedechias reuolt from the Babylonian Hedio and Ruffinus chap. 10. The king of Egypt comming to rescue the king of Ierusalē is ouerthrowne by Nabuchodonosor with all his army and driuen out of Syria The yeare of the world 3346. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 618. Sedechias seduced by false prophets The prophecy of the captiuitie of Babylon and the deliuerie Ier. 25. 29. 37. The yeare of the world 3354. before Christs birth 610. Ierusalem besieged 4 Reg. 25. Ier. 39. Two mightie enemies Famine and pestilence Ieremy perswadeth them to yeeld The reward of godly preachers in this life Sedechias neglecteth the prophets good counsaile for feare of the gouernours The yeare of the world 3354 before Christs birth 610. Ierusalem besieged eighteene moneths and at length taken The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs birth 608. Sedecias flyeth by night and is suprised by the enemie The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs Natiuitie 608. Sedechias hath his eies pulled out and his children slaine before his face How many and how long the kings raigned that were of Dauids luie The temple the pallace and the citie spoiled and burnt The captiuitle of Babylon The high Priests in Ierusalem Sedecias death Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. The yeare of the world 3356. before Christs birth 608. Godolias captaine of the fugitiues Ieremy set at libertie by the Baby lonian and richly offered and presented Baruch dismissed out of prison The Iewes resort to Masphath to Godolias The yeare of the world 3356. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 608. Iohn releaseth limaels captiues Iohn asketh counsaile of God and being informed refuseth the same Ier. 42. 43. The prophecy of the Babylonian armie and the Iewes captiuitie The yeare of the world 3361. before Christ birth 603. The yeare of the world 3361 before Christs birth 603. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. Dan 1. Daniels forwardnes and his fellowes towardnes in studying wisedome and good letters The yeare of the world 3363. before Christs natiuite 601. Dan. 2. Nauchodonosor dreaming forgetteth his vision sendeth for the magitions not able to discouer his doubts he threatneth them with death The yeare of the world 3◅63 before Christs birth 601. The vision and the Rouelation thereof opened to Daniel Daniel telleth the king his dreame and the enterpretation thereof Nabuchodonosors dreame of the foure monarches of the world Daniel and his fellowes aduanced to honour The yeare of the world 3364 before Christs birth 600 The kings edict for honouring the goldē statue Dan. 3. Daniel and his kinsmen refusing to adore the statue are cast into the furnace The yeare of the world 3364. before Christs Natiuitie 600. The yeare of the ◅ld 3369. before Christs na◅uitie 595. Dan. 4. The dreame and exposition thereof Nabuc◅odosors death The yeare of the world 3381. before Christs birth 583. Berosus of Nabuchodosor Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. Megasthenes of Nabuchodonosor D◅ocles Philostratus The yeare of the world 3382. before Christs Natiuitie 582. Euilmerodach releaseth lechonias from his long imprisonment 4. Reg 25. Ierem. 52. Niglisar Labosardach Balthasar or Naboandel king of Babyl◅ The yeare of th◅ world 3421. before Christs birth 543. Dan. 5 Balthasar see◅h a hand thrust out of a wall and writing certaine sillables The yeare of the world 3425. before the birth of Christ. 539. ◅he yeare of the ◅rld ◅25 before Christs birth 9◅9 Daniel interpreteth the writing to the king The king performeth his promises to Daniel Babylon surprised by Cyrus king of Persia. The force of enuie Daniels honour and vprightnes Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. Dan. 6. Daniel cast into the Lions denne The yeare of the world 3425. before Christs birth 539. Daniels enemies rent in pieces by the Lions Daniels prophecies Daniels vision of the Ramme and Goat by whom the king of Media and Persia were prefiguted Dan. 2. The yeare of the world 3425. before Christs Natiuitie 539. Daniels predictions of the Romane Empyre Dan. 9. The Epicures errour conuicted The yeare of the world 3426. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 538. The end of the Babylonian captiuitie after seuentie yeares 1. Esd. 1. 3. Esd. 2. The edict of Cyrus king of Persia. Esay chap. 44. 45. his prophecy of Cyrus Cyrus permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrey to build their temple citie The vessels belonging to the temple sent backe from Babylon to Ierusalem Cyrus mandate to the princes of Syria The yeare of the ◅orld 3426. before Chriss birth 538. The number of the Iewes that returned from the captiuity of Babylon to Ierusalem Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2. 1. Esd. 4. The Samaritanes inhibite the Iewes from building the temple Alias cap. 3. The letters of the Samaritās and others written to Cambysis as touching the reedifying of the citie and tēple of Ierusalem The yeare of the world 3435. before Christs birth 529. Cambyses answere wherein he inhibiteth the Iewes from building the citie or temple The yeare of th◅ world 3443. before Christ birth 521. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. al. chap 4. Darius the son of Hystaspis made emperour of the Persians 1. Esd. 5. 6. Darius voweth to send the sacred vessels to Ierusalem Zorooabel Dar◅us propoundeth three questions to three of his gard 3. Esd. 4. The first expresseth the power of wine The second extelleth the kings power 3. Esd 4. The yeare of the world 3443. before Christs birth 521. Zorobabel the third expresseth the power of women and at length attributeth the palme vnto truth Zorobabel obtained both praise great rewards by his good discourse Darius being put in memory of his vow commandeth that the temple should be restored Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. The yeare of t◅e world 3443. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 521. Darius letters for the liberty possession and erection of the temple granted to the Iewes 1. Esd. 6. Glad tidings brought to the Iewes The Iewes depart from Babylon to Ierusalem 3. Esd. 5. The number of the Iewes that went ou◅ of Babylon 3. Esd. 2. Zorobabel chieftaine and Iesus high priest of this company 1. Esd. 3. The yeare of the ◅orld 3443 before Christs birth 521. The feast of Tabernacles The temple began to be built The Samaritans desirous to further the building of the temple are reiected The Samaritanes suppose to hinder the building of the temple The Syrian princes examine the cause why the Iewes repaire their citie and tēple The yeare of the world 3444. before Christs birth 520. 1. Esdras 5. Aggeus and Zachary the Prophets The Satharitans indeuouring to hinder the reparatiō of the temple and citie doe further it the more Cyrus decree as touching the temple and the Iewes The yeare of the world 3450. before Christs birth 514. 3. Esdras 6. Darius epistle to the prefects of Syria The finishing of the temple The yeare of the ◅orld 3450. before Christs
Aristobulus Alexanders sonnes Hircanus high Priest The Pharisees admitted to the administration of the commonweale are greedie of reuenge Aristobulus his followers accuse the Pharisees of tyranny The yeare of the world 3890. before Chrâ—… 〈◊〉 74. Alexandra coÌ„mitteth the custody of the Castles to the Iewes Aristobulus iâ—… sent to 〈◊〉 against Ptolomy Tigranes inuading Syria heareth 〈◊〉 of Lucullus pursuit of Mithridates and returneth home The yeare of the world 3893. before Christs birth 71. The yeare of the world 3894. before Christs birth 70. Alexandras sicknes and Aristobulus attempt The yeare of the world 3897 before Christs birth 67. Aristobulus seazeth the castles and great coÌ„ course of people resort to him Hircanus and the elders informe the Queene and accuse Aristobulus Alexandras death The yeare of the world 3899. before Christs birth 65. The yeare of the world 3899. before the 〈◊〉 of Christ 65. Alexandras family in cuâ—… much trouble The yeere of the world 3899. before Christs Natiuitie 65. The office and duty of an Historiographer Aristobulus and Hircanus striue for the kingdome The peace betwixt Hircanus and Aristobulus Hedio Ruffinus chap. 〈◊〉 Antipater the Idumaean Hircanus friend Antipater of Iudaea as Nicholas Damascenus impliâ—…th first called Antipas The yeare of the world 3899. before Christs birth 65. Antâ—…er incenâ—… the princes of the lewes against Aristobulus The yeare of the world 3900. before Christs natiuitie 64. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. Aretas maketh warre against Aristobulus and enforceth him to flie to Ierusalem The Arabian besiegeth Aristobulus in the temple The Iewes flye into Egypt The yeare of the world 3900. before Christs birth 64. Onias contradicting the Iewes petition is stoned to death Breach of faith and the reuenge therof Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Hircanus and Aristobulus embassadours vnto Scaurus Scaurus is presented Aristobulus maketh warre against Aretas and Hircanus Pompey commeth into Syria and Aristobulus sendeth a royal present vnto him The yeare of the world 3900. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 64. Antipater for Hircanus and Nicodemus for Aristobulus come as embassadors to Pompey Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. A castle destroyed in Apamea Ptolomey MeÌ„naeus fined at a great summe of money The yeare of the world 3902. before the birth of Christ. 62. Aristobulus Hircanus accused by the Iewes before Pompey Aristobulus Apology before Pompey Hedio Ruffinus chap. 6. Pompey marcheth out against Aristobulus Aristobulus descendeth from his fortresse to con ferre with Pompey The yeâ—…re of the world 3902. before Christs Natiuitie 62. Aristobulus deliuereth the fortresses to Pompeis haÌ„ds Hedio Ruffâ—…s chap. 7. Mithridates king of Pontus slaine by his sonne Pharnaces Gabinius comming to receiue the money Ariâ—…obulus had promised hath the citie gates shut against him Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Pompey besiegeth IerusaleÌ„ The yeare of the world 3903. before Christs birth 61. Ierusalem partly betraied partly besieged by Pompey Pompey maketh preparation to besiege the temple The yeare of the world 3903. before Christs birth 61. The Iewes intermitted not their sacrifice notwithstanding the siege The taking of the temple Twelue thousand Iewes slaine Pompey entering the temple neither toucheth or taketh away any thing Alias cap. 9. Pompey â—…estoweth the Priesthood on Hircanus Ierusalem tributary to Româ—… Gadara restored Cities taken from the Iewes The yeare of the world 3903. before Chriâ—…s Natiuitie 61. Stâ—…rus president of Coelesyria Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. The yeare of the world 3904 before Christs birth 60. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. al. 11. Castles fortiâ—…ed Gabinius causeth dâ—…ers cities in Iury to be repaired that were defaced Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. al. 11. Alexandrion other castles raâ—…ed The yeare of the world 3904. before Christs birth 60. Fiue presidiall â—…eidges in Iury. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. al. 13. Aristobulus returning 〈◊〉 Roâ—…e 〈◊〉 to reestablish Alexandrion Aristobâ—…s ouercome in battell by the Romans Aristobulus sent backe again prisoner to Rome with his son Antigonus Aristobulus sons discharged Antipater releeueth Gabinius in his iourney to Egypt to install Ptolomey Alexander Aristobulus son vsurpeth the Monarchie Alexander ouercome by Gabinius The conquest of the Nabatheans Mithridares and Orsanes The yeare of the world 3904. before Châ—…s birth 60. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. al. 14. Marcus Crassus in his expedition against the Parthians taketh the treasure out of the temple of Ierusalem The yearâ—… of the world 3911. before Christs birth 53. Crassus breaketh his oth Whence the temple of Ierusalem grew so rich Sâ—…abo of Cappadocia Crassus slaine in Paâ—…thia Cassius resisteth the Parthians The yeare of the world 3911. before Christs birth 53. Antipaters wife and children The yeare of the world 3917. before Christs birth 47. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 14. al. 15. Aristobulus deliuered out of prison iâ—… poysoned Hedio Ruffinus chap. 15. al. 16. The slaughter of Aristobulus sonne Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. al. 17. Antipater gathereth soldiers out of Syria for Caesars seruice Antipater helpeth Mithridates to take Pelusium The Iewes 〈◊〉 Onias countrey are confederated with Caesar. Memphis in Egypt The yeare of the world 3917. before Christs Natinitiâ—… 47. The conflict of the Egyptians with Mithridates at Delta Alias cap. 18. Mithridates commendeth Antipaters seruice to Caesar Caesar confirmeth Hircanus in the priesthood and maketh Antipater a citizen of Rome Strabo Aâ—…nius Hypâ—…rates The yeare of the world 3919. before Christs birth 45. Antigonus Aristobulus sonne accuseth Hircanus and Antipater before Caesar. Antipaters answere to his obiection Antipater made gouernour ouer Iudaeâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 17. al 18 Hircanus by Caesars permission repâ—…ireth the wals of Ierusalem The Senates decree as touching their league with the Iewes The yeare of the world 3919. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 45. Hircanus honoured by the Athenianâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 18. Caesar departeth out of Syria Antipater pacifieth all occasion of commotion in Iudaea The yeare of the world 3921. before Christs birth 43. Alias chap. 20. Antipater maketh Phasaelus gouernour in Ierusalem and Herode in Galilee The yeere of the world 392â—… before Christs Natiuitie 43. Herode executeth Ezechias and his followers for robberies Sextus Caesar gouernour of Syria The forme of Phasaelus his gouernment Antipater notwithstanding his high authority was alwaies faithfull to Hircanus Antipater winneth the Romans hearts by Hircanus money and draweth the Iewes into hatred The Iewes accuse Antipater and Herode before Hircanus The yeare of the world 3922. before the birth of Christ. 42. Herode called in question appeareeth with a great traine Sextus Caesar writeth to Hircanus to discharge Herode Same as one of the Iudges foretelleth Hircanus and his counsailers of their imminent death by Herodsmeans The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. Herode honoured Sameas Herode admonished by Hircanus saueth himselfe by flight and appeareth no more in iudgement Alias chap. 21. Sextus Caesar selleth his presidents place to Herode for ready money Herode marcheth
two sonnes and accused them before Caesar of insolencie and for hauing attempted to poyson him complaining their hatred to be gone so farre that now by any wicked and execrable way whatsoeuer they sought their fathers kingdome notwithstanding that Caesar had giuen him full power and liberty to leaue the kingdome to him whom he found most dutifull and obedient vnto him And that they though thereby they might not gaine the kingdome yet they could be contented with their fathers death and that they sought it with danger of their owne liues and that this horrible and detestable hatred was now rooted in their hearts And that he hauing long endured this calamitie was now forced to open it vnto Caesar and trouble his eares with these complaints And spake after this manner Haue I deserued this at their hands what wrong haue I done them or how can they thinke it reason that I who haue exposed my selfe to so many dangers and vndergone so difficult labours for a long time to obtaine the kingdome should not peaceably enioy the same and suffer me to be Lord of my owne dominion and permit me the libertie to leaue it vnto him who shall deserue such honour in the best performance of a son-like duety So that the beholders hereof seeing pietie so rewarded might hereby be the more incited thereunto especially seeing that without violating the lawe of nature it is not lawfull to thinke any such thought for no man can affect his fathers kingdome but he doth also desire his fathers death seeing that it is not permitted men to succeede those in the kingdome who are yet aliue He alleaged moreouer that for his part he had had a care that they should want nothing conuenient for a kinde father to prouide for princely children neither ornaments nor followers nor delights that also he had prouided for them wiues of noble race and had married one of them vnto his sisters daughter and the other vnto Archelaus his daughter king of Cappadocia and which was the greatest matter of all he had not vsed the authoritie of a father against them after these their enterprises but brought them vnto Caesar their common benefactor and that forsaking his owne right of a father who had been iniured or of a king against whom treason had bin wrought he now was content to debate his matter with them before such a iudge as well knew how to decide the thing in question according to right equitie yet requested he him that that offence of theirs might not be left vnpunished nor he forced to lead the rest of his life still in perpetuall feare seeing that it was expedient that they should neuer see light againe after such hainous offences and to escape vnpunished after the violating of all lawes of God and nature Herode hauing with a vehement voice obiected these accusations against his sonnes before Caesar the young men not able to absteine from teares whilest he was yet speaking and hauing ended his speech they were wholy resolued into teares not for that they were guiltie of those impieties laid vnto their charge but for that they were accused by their father against whom it was not decent to speake freely for themselues nor expedient to refuse to defend their owne cause Where they remained doubtfull what to doe moouing the auditors to pitie them by their teares and lamentations and carefull withall least it should be thought that their guiltie conscience did so trouble them that they were not able to speake in their owne defence seeing that in deede it was their want of skill and tender yeeres by reason whereof they were so amazed Which also Caesar well perceiued and all that were present were so mooued to compassion that neither their father who was their accuser could long refraine from being mooued hereat to compassion CHAP. VIII Of Alexanders defence and how the two brethren were reconciled vnto their father Herod THen the young men perceiuing both their father and Caesar to relent and the rest that were present partly to pitie them partly to shed teares of compassion the one of them named Alexander who was the elder framing his speech vnto his father began thus to purge himselfe of the crimes obiected against them My father how well friendly minded thou art towards vs this present iudgement declareth for hadst thou determined any heauy sentence against vs thou wouldest not haue brought vs before him who is the preseruer of vs all for thou mightest being a king or for the authoritie ouer vs as a father haue punished vs for our offence according to thy power but in that thou hast brought vs to Rome and made Caesar our iudge it is an argument that thou seekest to saue vs for no man bringeth any one to the temple whom he purposeth to destroy which greatly aggrauateth our cause who do censure our selues vnworthy to liue rather then to incurre an opinion of impietie committed against thee such a father How farre more expedient is it to die guiltlesse then to liue suspected of such offences Wherfore if truth be our patrone we shall be happy either by thy owne iudgment or for that we haue escaped danger but if calumniations doe preuaile against vs it is superfluous and to no purpose that we liue For what good would it doe vs if we liue in continuall suspition It is a probable accusation to accuse our yeeres as hauing affected the kingdome and our vnfortunate mothers calamitie maketh it seeme more probable But consider I beseech thee if the same crime may not be as well framed against any one whomsoeuer as against vs. For any king hauing children by a wife that is now dead may if it please him suspect them as practising treason against him their father But suspition is not sufficient to prooue a man impious and guiltie wherfore bring any one forth that can tell any argument of this crime by vs to haue been attempted which may adde credit to this calumniation Can any man shew that poyson was prepared by vs for you or that we conspired with any or that we corrupted any seruants with mony and gifts or that we writ any letters against thee yet may calumniation faine euery one of these vpon no occasiō It is a grieuous matter for discord to be in a princes court and the hope of dominion which your maiestie affirmed to be the reward of pietie doth often impell mens minds vnto hainous offences But although it be most certaine that we cannot be conuicted of any crime yet how can we cleare our selues from accusations forged against vs before them that will not heare vs But did we speake some insolent words yet were they not against thee O my father for that had beene impietie but against them who tell all they heare We bewailed our mothers misfortune It is true but not because she is dead but because after her death she is euill spoken of by those who ought not
to doe it We affect the kingdome of our father he being yet aliue Wherein Is not that purpose of ours vaine and friuolous we hauing alreadie beene graced with kingly honours And suppose we were not yet might we hope for them But could we expect them by killing of thee whom both earth and seas would disdaine after so execrable an offence Or could we haue expected that the loyaltie of thy subiects and the lawes of our nation would haue permitted vs hauing gotten the kingdome by murthering our father to haue enioyed the same and entred into the holy temple which thou didst repaire Or suppose we despised them all yet could any one that murthered thee escape Caesar being liuing Thy children by thee begotten are not so impious nor foolish though more infortunate then thy estate requireth And seeing thou hast nothing to accuse vs of or nothing to prooue any accusation laid vnto our charge how canst thou be perswaded that we are guiltie of such inhumane actes Is it because our mother was put to death But her death ought rather to haue made vs more warie then insolent and rash We could speake more in our owne defence then this but what need is it to excuse that which was neuer done Wherefore we beseech Caesar who is Lord of all and now our Iudge onely this that if thou canst O my father put away out of thy minde all suspition of vs to suffer vs to liue hereafter how vnhappie and vnfortunate soeuer for what is more miserable than to be rashly accused without cause But if thou canst not we liuing liue without feare of vs let vs die condemned by our owne censure For our liues are not so deere vnto vs that we desire to keepe them to his molestation that bestowed them vpon vs. Caesar with these words though before not greatly crediting such accusations and slaunders laid against them was now more mooued to beleeue that they were guiltlesse and the rather for that fixing his eies vpon Herode he perceiued him also to be much mooued and all that were present were sorrowful for the young men so that all courtiers present thought hardly of the king for the absurd friuolous accusation framed against thē and the flower of their age wherin they were now indaungered moued all mens minds what they could to assist them And much more were they incited after that Alexander had ingeniously refuted his fathers accusations the accused remaining stil in the same habit and place and for griefe fixing their eies vpon the ground At last some hope appeared so that the king himselfe seemed to need some excuse for hauing so rashly accused his sonnes without any certaine proofe of his accusations At last Caesar hauing a while deliberated with himselfe pronounced that the young men were innocent and guiltlesse of the crimes laid vnto their charge yet herein they were culpable in that they had so behaued themselues that they gaue their father occasion herein to suspect them And as for Herode he requested him to lay aside all suspition and to be reconciled vnto his children For it was vniustly done of him to beleeue such forged accusations against those whom he had begotten and that one might recompence another in time to come for their former offences and renew the good will betweene them in times past if to abolish all suspicions either did hereafter shew himselfe more friendly to other then before Caesar hauing thus admonished the young men they preparing themselues to intreat their fathers wonted fauour he not expecting so long came and embraced each of them one after another they weeping exceedingly and all those that were present both seruants and others did the like Then giuing humble thanks vnto Casar they departed togither and Antipater with them counterfaiting himselfe to congratulate their good hap for that they were now reconciled vnto his father Within a few daies after Herode gaue Caesar three hundreth talents who was now bestowing his gifts and presents at Rome and exercising his liberalitie vpon the people And Casar againe bestowed vpon him halfe of the reuenewes out of the mines of the mettall in Cyprus and the other halfe vnto the ouerseer thereof and gracing him otherwaies also he gaue him leaue to chuse which of his sonnes he pleased for to succeed him in his kingdome or if he had rather to distribute it amongst them all which Herode presently would haue done but Caesar would not permit him affirming that during his life he should keepe it all whole and vndeuided and his sonnes should be subject vnto him After this Herode returned againe into Iudaea in whose absence the Trachonites that were no small part of his kingdome were reuolted yet by the industrie of the captaines he left to ouersee all in his absence they were conquered againe and forced to doe as they were commaunded As Herode and his sonnes were sailing towards home arriuing at Eleusa a citie of Cilicia which is now called Sebaste he found Archelaus there who was king of Cappadocia Archelaus did courteously entertaine Herode and was verie ioyfull that his sonnes and he were made friends and that Alexander his sonne in law had so well cleered himself and his brother of the crimes laid vnto their charge And so each one bestowing vpon the other princely gifts they departed taking their leaues one of the other After this Herode being new returned into Iudaea and calling the people togither into the temple told them all that had past in his absence from them and the courtesie of Caesar and tolde them also of other affaires that he thought meet for them to know and turning the latter end of his speech vnto his sonnes and exhorting the courtiers and common people to concord he told them that his sonnes should raigne after him and first of all Antipater and after him his sonnes that he had by Mariamme Alexander and Aristobulus in the meane time euerie one of them should honour him as King and Lord notwithstanding his olde age which for long experience was the fitter to gouerne seeing there was nothing in him wanting to keepe both his subiects and children in their obedience and that the soldiers also if they onely respected him should liue in all happines and felicitie without molestation Hauing thus spoken he dismissed the people some thinking he had spoken according to equitie others thinking cleane contrarie For hauing now as it were caused an emulation amongst his children there was as it were alreadie a shew of some mutation CHAP. IX How Herode hauing finished Caesarea for ioy thereof did celebrate euerie fifth yeere certaine sports ABout this time Caesarea was finished the tenth yeere after it was begunne to be built the eight and twentith yeere of Herodes raigne in the hundreth foure score and twelue Olympiade In the dedication hereof there was great pompe and sumotuous preparations for all musitians were brought hither to striue one with another who was