heauye iron chaines and assauted Ierusalem batteringe the walles verye sore til they of the towne issued out against him slue of his host .xii. M. mē After this hadde the Israelites ciuill warres within Ierusalem because the siege was greuous vnto them for they were deuided into factions one parte said Let vs open the gates to Pompeius let him in that we mai submit our selues vnder his protection The other said Let vs fight against him vnto the death But much people misliked that so that that side preuailed that woulde yelde Wherfore Pompeius entred the town the house of the sāctuary killed much people of the priests the people of the lād made Hircanus king of Israel the .ii. time Antipater his coūseler Moreouer he set one Securus a Romain in the countrey to receiue the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him boūd in irons And because he toke his iorney toward Arabia Hircanus Antipater wēt with him to cōduct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner his .ii. sons with him it fortuned that one of thē called Alexāder escaped And hauing intelligēce that Hircanus and his counselour were gone out of Ierusalem he came thither rebelled againste Hircanus made vp the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted vnto him made him Kinge in Hircanus place Wherupon he gathered an armye and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homewarde from Pompeius where he gaue Hircanus the ouerthrow Securus the receiuer of the tribute escaped Then Alexander returned to Ierusalē frō whence shortly after Gabinius a Romain with a stronge armye compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius hys mother Aristobulus wyfe went forthe to Gabinius weping and besought him that he would not destroy her sōne for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabinius therefore hauynge gotten all the Lande of Iudea made Hircanus king of Ierusalem now the .iii. time who set Romain captaines and rulers in Iericho and in Zephori and through all the lande of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus gat out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on euerye syde resorted men in such fort that he had a puissāt host of Israel Wherof whē he had takē muster he chose out .viii. thousand of the best with thē went agaynst Gabinius wher was a sore battayle foughte betwene them tyll the beste of Aristobulus men wer slayn and only one thousand left wherwith he fled to the mountaynes But the Romayns folowed the chase and slew them euery man Yet Aristobulus would not yeld but fought alone although his helmet was broken til he had dyuers sore woundes in hys head and then fell he to the ground and the Romayns toke him yet aliue brought hym to Gabinius who comforted hym commaundinge hys surgeons to heale hym and after sent hym to the Consul and Senat of Rome wher he was put in prison yet once agayne After thys the Senate takinge pitie of Aristobulus wife whiche was reported to bee a verye wise woman released her two sonnes out of prison and set theim at libertie Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once againe against Hircanus and the Romaine gouernours For he gathered together muche people of Israell encountred wyth one of the Romayn gouernours that Gabinius had appointed and gaue him the ouerthrowe But proceadyng further to fight with Gabinius hadde the worsse and many of the Israelites were slaine yet hee escaped him selfe and fled This done Gabinius came to Hierusalem and renewed the kingdome of Israel to Hircanus the .iiii. tyme. About this tyme one of the Senators wiues at Rome conceiued a childe dyed in the byrthe and trauaile thereof They therfore that were about her straite waye ripte her body and gate the childe out alyue whom they named Iulius and because his mother was cutte they called hym Caesar This childe growynge to great towardnes and commyng to mannes estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the warres and what so euer he did he had good fortune prosperous successe He depriued the Grecians of the empire and dominion translating it to the Romaines Manye prouinces also besides that did he subdue and returning to Rome with a power attēpted to get the dominion and sole regimente ouer them But they had made solempne statutes in the time of their progenitors neuer to suffre any kinge emongst them or any mā to haue perpetual rule ouer them wherfore they would not make Iulius kinge Vpon this risse amongst thē great and mortall warres so that Iulius slue wōderful many of them without number When Pompeius vnderstode that Cesar raigned at Rome had killed the Consul and the Senate with all the nobilitye of Rome be gathered together his hole army out of Arabia and made toward him Iulius hauinge intelligēce of his comming against him sente for Aristobulus oute of prisone spake frendlye vnto him gaue him a power and made him graund captain therof bidding him to go fight with Pompeius In dede his armye was a stronge armye and he him self was a Kinge of no small prowesse and valeantnesse Pompeius hearinge that Aristobulus came againste him was sore afraid of his valeantnesse and of his hoste Wherfore he sent to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that wer vnder his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift wherby they might deceiue him and poison him The inhabitantes of Ierusalem at his request sent vnto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men wherat Aristobulus was right ioyous and eat and banqueted with them til he was ouercame with drinke then thei gaue him poyson and he died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was four yeares and sixe monethes He was a good man of war hardy in fighte and a man of an amiable countenaunce Pompeius receiuinge tidinges of his deathe the more gladder proceded with his hoste to Rome to besiege if But Iulius met him in the waye and destroyed him and his hoste whereby the Empire was established vnto Iulius He after this sente presentes to the kinge of Siria and into Egipte by his captaines to allure them to his frendshippe Antipater aduised Hircanus to aide Iulius if perchaunce he might win his fauour whiche Hircanus did and Antipater was captaine of the hoste who plaied the man and founde suche fauoure with Iulius that he made him lieuetenant of his warres And after he had fought sondry great battails he retourned to Ierusalem with great honoure and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters sonne gouerned of Ierusalem and Herod his third sōne president of Galily There was a certaine yong man at that time in Ierusalem called Hizkias a valeant man of war to whom claue al such as were in any distresse and he became their captain These wente and raunged aboute into Siria rouing and murthering in such sort that the Sirians were
fyt for the warre Then the Romaines flonge with thengines stones into the towne on euery side from the mount munition It chaunced that a greate stone hit a woman with childe wyth such a violence that it passed through her body and caried the childe with it for the space of halfe a mile They cast vp and raised yet other munites also from whence they slinged stones and another like chauÌ„ce happened A stone came and hit one of Iosephes men of warre a valeant man in suche a sort that it deuided his head from his body and made it flie a large mile of AT the same time one of the Romain souldiours diuised with him selfe howe to strike Ioseph with a venomed arrow and gate him vnder the walle where Ioseph was to accomplishe his purpose But Ioseph espied him and cried vnto him hold thy haÌ„d thou wicked felowe and do not kil me With that the felow start somwhat aside being afraid at Iosephs voice and sodeÌ„ly the Iewes oute of the towne poured hote oyle vpon him from the wal that his skin was skalded of and he ran away naked howlinge and yellinge to the Romaines campe where he dyed Vaspasian and his Sonne Titus were fullye determined to continue the assaulte vntill the .xlviii. daye notwithstandynge the walles were so hie that they could not winne the towne Yet at leÌ„gth the men being so spent within the towne and they that remained a liue so weried with toyling that they were not able anye longer to furnishe their watch vpon the walles vpon a certaine nighte Vaspasian and Titus skaled the walles at a quarter wherâ— watchmen were lacking and after theÌ„ many other of the Romain souldiours folowed which went downe on the in side and brake open the greate gate of the towne wherat entred the hole army of the Romaines And being within the towne sounded their trompets and shouted vnto battall The Iewes with the alarme tumulte and hurlye burly of the Romaines awaked out of their slepe and were sore afraied Notwithstanding euerye man toke him to his weapon and into the market place as fast as they might They had made the market place of the towne so large of purpose that if anye busines should happen there might come together the hole city if they would So lokinge about them they saw the Romaine army entring into the town by the way that came from the greate gate Then fought thei with the Romains died eueÌ„ in the market place where they stode exhorting one an other and saiyng let vs die here fightinge and neuer suffer ourâ—solues to be taken aliue But Ioseph and fortye men with him worthye menne al fled out of the towne in to a woode where they founde a certaine caue and hid them selues therin All the reste of the citizens were slaine in that conflicte for they woulde not yelde nor commit them selues vnto the Romaines they trusted them so little For on a tyme a certayne Iewe besoughte a Romaine souldioure to saue his life and the Romaine sware vnto him sayinge God deale thus and thus with me if I slâ—a thee therefore yelde and come hither to me The Iewe required him to geue him his righthand that he might truste him and the Romain retch him his left haÌ„d The Iew beinge dismaied in that greate feare markte not that it was his left hande But when the Romain had once hold of him he kept him fast with that haÌ„d and with his right toke his sword and slue the Iewe that then was naked hauing cast awaye his weapon vpon trust of the Romaine When the Iewes sawe howe the Romaine regarded not his othe but slue the Iewe that vpon truste of his promisse and the othe had yealded him selfe vnto him they determined to dye all together and neuer to truste the Romaines Whereuppon they resolued with them selues vtterlye to die for the holinesse of the Lorde God of Israell But in so doinge they fie we muche people of the Romainesâ— and farre moe then they had done in anye other battaile So at the lengthe the Citye was taken When Vaspasian hadde knowledge where Ioseph was become and of his company he sent Nicanor Pilerimus and Gallicanus with him to Ioseph to wil him to come forth and he should haue his life and not be slaine Then Ioseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den asking them what say ye to this For my part ye wil folow my counsell I thinke best we go oute vnto them but vpon this conditioÌ„ that they wil make vs a formal assuraunce effectuallye as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vaspasian when we come vnto him will be appeased towardes vs. When those men perceiued Ioseph to be enclined to yeld vnto the Romaines they saide vnto him We maruaile at the Prince Ioseph thou that waste chosen oute of thousandes of people and promoted vnto the priesthode and kingedome to sanctifye and halow the LORDE God of Israell waste also appointed graund captaine of so huge an hoste haste seene with thine eyes the shameful reproche of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy sheepe that thou hast yet any desire to liue in this dishonoure What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to liue for shouldest thou not rather desire deathe then life PeradueÌ„ture thou perswadest thy self they cal thee to saue thy life or for thy commodity but without dout this were a vain perswasion For they cal thee for none other in tent then to take thee aliue to bragge how they haue ken Ioseph that was consecrated and addict to the warres and make that an argument their power prospereth and is exalted Now therfore our dear brother and oure prince consider that this thei wil do yea if thei saue thi life But put the case they put thee to death wer it not better for the to die of thine sword then of theirs Yea if it were for nothing but for this it is better forthe to die then to liue leaste thou shouldest heare their reproches their vpbraidinges and their quarrellinges And if they preserue the aliue neuer thinck they do iâ— for thy good but rather for thine ignominy shame whiche is far greuouser then death it self Wherfore our dear brother and our prince what cometh in thy minde that thou purposest to liue after that thou hast loste thy people and thy brethren and to what purpose serueth thi life after thei be gone Marke and consider diligentlye what Moyses of worthy memory oure master did howe he spake before God touchinge the people of Israell O pardone their sinnes saithe he or elsse blot me quite out of thy boke that thou hast written howe he would not liue after the destruction of his people although the almighty said vnto him let me alone that I may wreake mine anger vnon them and consume them Where is nowe Aaron with thee his brother that wente betwixte life and deathe in withstanding the angel that plaged the
people and offered him selfe to die for his people that the plage mighte cease from Israell Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the fielde Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed But hee when he sawe Israell haue the ouerthrowe in the battaile hadde no desire to liue anye lenger but chose rather deathe then life and woulde not be seperated from his brethren nother in life nor death as wel hee as Ionathan his Sonne those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne as the scripture termeth theim Why doest thou not remember our deare Prince the righteousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde who seinge a moste greuous pestilence to rage vppon the people of Israel saied Let thy hande O Lorde I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house For I am hee that haue sinned I haue transgressed as for these thy sheepe what haue they done What haue they offended Where is the holye Lawe smothered and stifled in thy hearte Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart with al our soul and withall oure strength If it be so that the seruice of God consisteth not in this that we should loue whome he loueth and die for his couâ—uaunt and saÌ„ctuary together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord Wherin staÌ„deth it then Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord his sanctuary his people and his law he is to be counted in the Lordes lot made worthye to goe vnto the greate light and shal not see euerlasting darknesse Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest that hast cried so ofteÌ„ in battail I am Ioseph the prieste consecrated to battaile that haue vowed my life for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye and his lande But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them and they order the dispitfullye what wilte thou say vnto them or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes I put the case they cast in thy teeth say thy wordes be but lies How shalt thou auoid that reproche Arte not thou he that saidst men shoulde fighte for the people of God vntil they die in the conflicte and in so doinge their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said whye then wilt thou shun deash and not folowe thy people that are gone before thee to that same lighte Euer hitherto thou hast had the vpper hand wher so euer thou camste in so muche that they that hearde of thee trembled for feare and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines as a vile slaue Shall not this thy dishonoure redound also vnto the people of God Thou that arte a prince a kinge and priest wilt thou be bound in cheines Euerye man shall saye this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die but hath â—â—ued him selfe and his owne life So when they hadde made an ende of talke eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue sainge Hearest thou thou Iosephe oure Prince if thou wilte be ruled by vs firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on that thou maiest die honourablye But if thou refuse to dye honestlye assure thy selfe of this that we will euerye manne set vpon thee and slea thee Ioseph aunswered In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him and receyue it vnto hym also For I am not ignoraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes But hee knoweth the secretes of mannes hearte and he it is that geueth life vnto menne It is God that closeth soules within the bodies and letteth theim oute againe bicause he is the liuinge GOD in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures He hath left with vs a Spirite of life and closed it vp within oure bodies What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut How shall we loose that that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe and that wee are his seruauntes If then we cast awaye life before that GOD take it shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous memorye and wyth other iuste and godlye menne our forefathers Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called and when they were called they came and soo dealt GOD with all holye and Godly men To Moyses our master of worthie memorye the electe of GOD ye knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim and so he did But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe had not God called him Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a maÌ„ to surrendre his life vnto God excepte he require it againe Take example I praye you of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in mighte not he ether haue hanged him self or haue run vppon a knife or at the least haue folowed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die Not withstanding he abode paciently in most extreme paine waitinge til God demaunded again his life and then restored it vnto his Lord god and would not restore it vndemaunded but taried till hys appoynted ende came King Dauid also of famous memory saide Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye and that none mighte let it forth but God I wot wel that death is a greate commodity so be that the soule may return in his due time vnto God that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord he shal come to the greate lighte But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth him self maketh hast to restore his soul before his time and withoute the Lordes calling Wherfore my frendes brethren I would ye shoulde knowe it I am no more cowarde then you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities but that I know I shoulde commit a
the greke tong Ptolomee reioysing much in their wisdome honored them with princely apparell and great rewards brought thē also home again mery and glad Moreouer he sendeth by them oblations to our God At that time there were many contented to folow the lawes of the Grecians but these seuentye refused Not longe after captaine Seleucus Ptolomies cōpanion in office died in whose stede Antiochus raigned in Macedonia This Antiochus makyng warre vpon Ptolomee bereft him of all his dominions and slewe him After that he subdued all the lande of Israel then vnder the regiment of Ptolomee and waxed verye proude He hated Israel also because they loued Ptolomee and ayded him in the warres againste him This is that Antiochus that builded a great citye vppon the sea coaste and called it Antiochia wherein he made a golden ydole commaundyng that the children of Israel should be brought vnto it and worship it But some of them chose rather to suffer deathe for the religion of their god although some other fel from the synagoge their mother church Before this he toke away also their Sabboth their new mone and leage of circumcision forbiddyng that in any wise they should obserue these commaundementes in anye place throughout his whole dominiōs For the which he put many of the Israelits to death oppressed thē more then did euer anie of their enmies or aduersaries The second mā in honor next him self in Ierusalē was one Polipus he erected an ymage in the tēple cōmaundyng the people of Israell to worship it and who so euer was disobedient to be slaine Therfore he put to death Hanna and her seuen children as it is mencioned in other places When Antiochus perceiued this it increased his hatred towarde Israel in so muche that he did his endeuour that none of them should scape or be left aliue except such as would worship the image Then fledde manie of the Israelites to the mounte Mediit and to Iericho because of the lawe of Polipus and Antiochus his lorde hauinge to their gouernour the hie priest Mattathias sonne of Iohan Hasmonany otherwise called Chasmonany The priest enioyned them to faste and punishe thē selues before the lorde with wepinge sackeclothe and asshes and after this he saith vnto them If ye wil ieoparde your liues for the holy Lorde why die we like women Let vs go and fight with Polipus and if we die wee shal die with honour peraduenture the holie and blessed God wil helpe vs and will not roote out the remnaunt of Isracll To this counsell euerie man assented and made a couenant with hym vpon this thing Polipus hearing this gathered his force together and made toward them to destroye them what Israelite so euer he found in his waie he slewe him Mattathias the priest and all the remnant of Israel vnderstāding that Polipus came againste them they went vp vpon the mount Mediit wyth their wiues and children Then hee put him selfe and his sōnes in armour He had fiue sonnes Iudas the eldest the next Iehonathan the thirde Iochanan the fourth Schimeon and the fifte Eleasar All these wer valiant and good men of warre When Polipus came to them he vsed crafte with Mattathias saiynge vnto him Thou arte one of the chiefe men in Israell and a man of honour estimation Come doune therfore and all that be with thee worship the ymage and striue not againste the kinge that ye mai liue and not be destroied Thou shalt be their prince also if thou wilt be conformable But the priest in no wise woulde bee seduced by him but rather cursed and reuiled him Mattathias had an aulter at the fote of the hill whereupon when he had offered Sacrifice to the most blessed God there came one of the wicked Israelites oute of Polipus campe and killed vpon it a swine This villaine was yong and lustye but the prtest was olde yet when he saw what this lewde felow had done criyng vnto his god to help him strenthen him he chalenged a combate betwene him self the felow Which thinge being liked both of the felowe and of Polipus with his whole Armye Mattathias came downe wyth his drawen sworde in his hande and the felow stode against him readye to receiue him But the prieste russhed vpō him by the assistence of his god ouercame him cut of his head and cast his carcas vpon the aulter wherat Polipus and his whole host were much astonied beholdyng one another The prieste stode still by the aulter criynge whiche of you wil come to me man for man Thē Polipus picked out a strong champion the best in all his armye and brought him out of the arayes of hys hoste to teache him his lesson howe he should behaue him selfe with the priest The prieste therfore drewe toward the Campe with hys naked sworde in hys hand as though he came to ioyne with their Champion but afterwardes leauynge him he turned his sworde vpon Polipus stroke of his heade and fledde to the hill Then blowing their hornes and makynge a shoute together they russhed doun vpō the Grecians campe But when the Grecians saw that their graunde captaine was slaine they fled Chasmonany and his sonnes with all Israell folowed the chase ouerthrewe thē and made a great slaughter This done Mattathias the priest went to Ierusalem purified the tēple restored the worshippyng of god commaunded al that were born during the time of Polipus to be circumcised for bi the means of his inhibition they were vncircūcised Thus being established he sate vpō the throne of the kingdome and droue the Grekes out of the lande of Israell His kingdome endured one yere whiche was the .cc. xii yere frō the building of the seconde house After this he fell sicke and like to die charged his sonnes to kepe the obseruations of the Lorde and to walke in his waies Also to play the men againste the Grecians for the religion of the Lord. Then brought he forth Iudas a tall man and a hardy and placynge him in the sanctuarie toke a horne of oyle and poured it vppon his head wherat all the Israelites clapped their handes and gaue a great shoute saiynge God saue the kinge God saue the kinge Sone after Iudas gathered an armie of Israel and made an expedicion against the rēnant of the Grekes that were left in the holdes of Israell and whatsoeuer he toke in hande God gaue it good successe Notwithstanding Antiochus sent against him a puissant army vnder the leadyng of one captain Pelonius against whom Iudas so warred that the Grecians went to wrack for he espied his tyme when they were destitute of victuals and spedely set vpon them beat thē doune handsmoth approched to captain Pelonius slew the valiauntest about him yea him also When Antiochus heard of this he was in a great rage wherefore he chose out a most valiaunt captaine called Lisias and sent him against Hierusalem with a thousande horsemen and fotemenne without number Iudas hauing
said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thée therfore they would not awarde him to die Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to answer So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse The next day at the commaundement of the king proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil shuld suffer death This was Ihon the hie priest whiche had the priesthode xl yeares and in th end became a Saducie Notwithstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages The king him selfe and all his seruantes folowed the traditions of the Saducies making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to deathe as many as he coulde get knowledge of By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere and then he died After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus for he had .iii. sonnes Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence He went therfore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthode but set light by it wherfore he wold not execute the office therof but toke the kingdome vppon him and set the crowne vppon his heade and was called the great king Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother and wold not suffer them to dwell in Ierusalem But he loued his brother Antigonus and made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in hād and returned safe to Ierusalem Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king which at that time was greuously sicke and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God his goodnesse and mercye towardes him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the warres inquyred ▪ of thy health when it was told him thou wast sicke he saide I will go to him to day rid him out of the world When the kinge heard this he was wrothe towarde the sages commaunded his brother to be apprehēded and caried to the palaice of Starton there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed he cried mainly out and wepte smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande that he sowned and muche blud issued out of his mouth He reigned ouer Israel .ii. yere After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called king Ianai being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him and made king of Israel He was a mighty man and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies preuailing against thē He had warres with the Philistines namelye Azam and Ascalon whom he put to the worsse and ouercame them This man refused not the priesthode but was his priest It chaunced on a time when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare crying geue me my sword Then the Sages kneled down before him and sware they did it not of anye contempt but rather say thei that we thus sporting before the Lord would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again saiynge Althoughe ye play and reioyie yet it is not the maner of the country to vse any such dispitful custome with the king The cōtencion waxed hot amongste them til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit wherby her seede was steined The king was sore moued at that in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine Therefore wher so euer they founde them in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusalem they killed them forthwith Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatiō some fel vpon the sworde some fled awaye and some taried at home with dishonor and shame After these matters the king made an expedicion into Arabia entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes against Hartam kinge of Arabia and subdued his lande After that he warred vpon Medaba and the hole lande of Moab vanquishing them and bringing them vnder tribute and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem When he had after this wel bethought him of his doings it repēted him of his euil waies wherfore he altered his minde and began to make much of the Sages submitted him to their ordinaunce and estemed their tradicions There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called * These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before Phariseis of whom such as had escaped the kinge sente to call them home again and when they wer come into his presence he spake vnto them comfortable wordes saying My brethern ye shal vnderstand that that is once done and past must nedes be termed as it is and can not be reuoked And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed Notwithstanding I confesse my faulte vnto you and haue chaunged my indignation to loue praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes reioysyng in your reconciliation and atonement with me be of good cheare But they made him answere We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie for thou speakest but disceitfully we speake that is truthe Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and elders neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie but also Hircanus thy father who began such mischiefe thou hast holden on and cōtinued it Wherfore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge tyll thou dye and God take vengeaunce vpon thee for our sakes then shal wee reioice when we see vengeaunce So they departed from his presence neither did the kinge
wery of their liues for feare of them Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode ruler of Galily desiring him to kil that Hizkias his complices Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria came vpoÌ„ him at vnwares and slue him and his menne Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified he sent a noble reward vnto Herode of siluer gold and precious stones bi whiche and by like meanes he became very famous The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his soÌ„nes for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda desiring that Herode might be called froÌ„ Galily to appere in iudgment and answer with other for the killing of Hezkias The king therfore sente for him he vpon that came to Ierusalem appered before the iudges princely apparelled with a gilt sword gird aboute him whose pride an aunciente man called Samai blamed and repreheÌ„ded also his stoute hearte but he woulde not geue eare vnto him nor yet regarde the iudges When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man to make him away he toke pitie vpon him said We wil not geue senteÌ„ce to day to morow is a new day and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death That night therfore he fled to the king of Siria declaring all what had happened vnto him The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army came with him him self purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him saiyng Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem vnto whom he condiscended after he had once let the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do and had shewed theÌ„ his power Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time as he was worshippinge in the house of his GOD was murdered by the conspyracye of certaine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine as is afore mencioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the couÌ„trey of Macedonia who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self Yea Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him for he had no rule him selfe but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme Moreouer Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time And for asmuch as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him and conspired to kil hym There was a man in great aucthoritie about Aâ—rcanus by whose meanes thei wrought this matter He corrupted the kinges Butler with rewardes to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe which as he had dronke he died These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstandinge they priuely writ vnto Cassius that raigned in Macedonia certifiynge him of this deede Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him who came with hym Malchias Phaseus and Herode Cassius entertainynge them all in his lodgynge willed his men that whatsoeuer Herode had them thei should do it Herode willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demauÌ„ded of the soÌ„nes of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him and wee knowe not whye Therfore Hircauus stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode being certain that this was their dede Wherfore he saide vnto theim This Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an vserer These thinges done Octauian Augustus brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered came vnto Rome and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the gouernement at Rome sent Marcus Antonius to warre vppon Cassius and to reuenge Iulius death Vnto him Hircanus sent a presente a crowne of golde in whiche were set sundrye precious stones praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings and him as there was betwene him and Iulius which Antonius graunted Pacorus About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus to remoue him and to restore the kingdome to him self and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth pouÌ„d weight of gold and a hundreth Israelitish virgins So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel and Antigonus departed oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel that toke his part and foyned them selues to Pagurus These came to Ierusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes gaue many greate assaultes vnto it til at lenght they vndermined the city Then toke they Hircanus and slue Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom cut of besides that one of his eares But Herode escaped fled to August emperour of Rome Pagurê° therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem returned home into Persia cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda geuing to him a very strong army of the Romaines to obtein it withall In the way thither Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus doughter and Marimi her doughter thou she had by Alexander soÌ„ne of Aristobulus and brought theÌ„ again into the land of Israel where he tooke Marimi to wife and was maried with her in the mount of Galile For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte with whome he toke peace Marcus Antonius companion in office vnto Octauian Augustus aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries to subdue them vnto the Romaines together with Egipt Damasco and Siria Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Euphrates and helped him not a litle For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and slue all that would aide Marcus Antonius But Herode mette with them and slue them Wherefore Antonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres hauinge also his letters to all the captaines of Siria after this tenure Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings hath appointed Herode the soÌ„ne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda Therefore assone as these letters shall come
to manye woordes in persuadinge the peace and league Vppon this Eleasar assembled the priestes and people together to go out fight with Castius Castius perceiuinge howe Eleasar and the people were affected and what mindes they were of how thei had vtterly conspired to distroy the Romaines that were there and to consume them cleane hauing a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantnesse of the rebels he determined fullye to go to Rome for he perceiued he was not able to matche with the sedicious neither his owne power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he woulde go see what ende shoulde come of this warres and what counsell Caesars maiestie would geue Taking his iourney therfore to the citye Iapho he founde there letters of the Romaines for thither was their armie come FroÌ„ thence wente hee with theim and his owne host to Rome and made relation vnto Caesar of such things as had chauÌ„ced him whereat Nero was wonderfully abashed not onely he but all the people of Rome were soore astonied to hear of the great puissant and valiantnes of the Iewes For the which cause the warres ceased for that yere so that the land of Iudea was at great rest quietnes the yere through Eleasars means the head rebel specially froÌ„ the hands of wicked Castius that had sworne to reueng the Romaines to quite the Iewes and that he would destroye all the Iewes that none shoulde be left aliue Therefore these are they that deliuered Israel in the time of the second temple oute of the handes of their ennemies what time as warres were moued against the Iewes and their countrye what time also commotions and tumultes began in Israell The first businesse was made by Antiochus the wicked kinge of Macedonia who had determined not to leaue one man in Israel His mischeuousnesse proceded so farre that he slue of the people of God the Sages wise men princes elders and yonge men children greate and smal Israelites Leuites also and priestes vntil all the chiefe men of Iuda cast their heades together and went to Matthathias sonne of Iochanan the hie prieste in the mounte of Modiith where he had him self for the iniquity of Antiochus and his rulers cryinge vpon him and sayinge Deliuer at this season the people of the Lord and neuer thinke to escape thy self whiles the moste wicked enemy rauÌ„geth thus and runneth vpon thy people sheadeth thy bloud For the bloud of all Israel what is it but thy bloude and the eies of euery man are fixed vpon thee hopinge that thou shouldest assist and aide them in this calamitie that they may finde deliuerance by thy meanes Mattathias hearyng this wept bitterly and said vnto them Feare ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lorde shal fighte for you be ye onelye quiet So theÌ„ was Mattathias stirred deliuered Israell oute of the handes of Antiochus and after he had ouercomed him he was hie priest for one yere and then died In whose roume succeaded Iudas his sonne who executed the office in the temple .vi. yeres and was slaine in battaile Then his brother Iochanan was chief in the temple .viii. yeres and died likewise in battaile After him his brother Schimeon was ruler .18 yeres whoÌ„ Ptolomae his wiues father poysoned at a banket Then Iochanan his sonne succeaded his father in thoffice that is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a king of that name called Hircanus he raigned .21 yeres and died Afterwardes raigned Aristobulus one yere he was called the great kinge because he firste put the royall crowne vpon his heade and turned the dignitie of the hie priesthode into a kingdome vnhallowing and staining the holines therof 480. yeares and .iii. monethes after the retourninge of Israell from Babilon He beyng dead his brother Alexander reigned .xxvii. yeares After whose death Alexandra his wyfe held the kyngdome .ix. yeares and died In whose stede succeded her sonne Aristobulus and reigned thre yeares In his tyme Pompei a Romain captain came against Hierusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in iroÌ„s and caried him captiue to Rome In whose place he ordeiued Hircanus his brother to succede who reigned fourty yeares During his reigne rebelled An tigonus forme of Aristobulus Hircanê° brother with the aide of an armie of the Persians encountred with Hircanus toke him prisoner and sent him to Babilon cutting of his eares that he should neuer after be meet either for the priesthod or for the kingdome Antigonus reigned .iii. yeres In his daies Herode fled and ioyned himselfe with the Romaines by whose helpe he slue Antigonus the .iii. yeare of his reigne reigned after him .xxxvii. yeares and then died After Herode succeded in the king dome Archelaus his sonne who was taken by the Romaines the .ix. yeare of his reigne layde in bondes and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who chaunged his name called him self Herode he reigning fully ten yeares ouercame and vasted Spaine because the king of Spayne had rauished and taken away his brothers wyfe and there died After him folowed Agrippas sonne of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned thre and twenty yeares After whose death his sonne Agrippas reigned twentye yeares This is that Agrippa of whom â–ª wee now speake of of the calamities that befel in his time vpon Israel For all the whâ—le that he raigned the warres betwene the Romains and Israell neuer ceased vntil the people of Iudea were led captiue into the prouince of the Romains what time also the temple was desolate I meane the desolation of the second temple which we saw with our eies builded and distroyed THe .xx. yere of the raigne of kynge Agrippas the .ix. daye of the fifte moneth that is called Af Nero Caesar sent a present for burnt offerings to be offred in the temple at HierusaleÌ„ â—â—ly requiring peace of thelders sages of Iudea Hierusalem that thei would receiue him into league with them saiyng My request is that you would offer my present to the Lorde your God for his sernice and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to ioyne in league with me accordinge as you haue done with the emperours of Rome my predecessours in time past I haue hearde what Castius the captain of mine armi hath done vnto you which displeaseth me out of measure Wherfore I assure vnto you a faithful league by the consent and couÌ„sel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall neuer Romaine captaine stirre hand nor fote against you but rather your heades rulers iudges shal be al Iewes and of Ierusalem Yea Agrippas your kinge shal be Lorde of all your rulers what he commaundeth ye shal do it the Romains shal only be called your lordes and haue no more to do with you So when these legates came to IerusaleÌ„ they wente and spake with Anani the priest
yoke from their necks and rebelled against the dominion of Ierusalem ioyning their power with the Romaine armye to ayde Vaspasian and Titus For these were afore subiectes vnto the Iewes that sore hadde burthened thē wherefore they came to aide the Romaines and to inuade Ierusalem and the people of the Iewes But the Edomites had not yet associate them selues with Vaspasian and Titus for they were in subiection to the Iewes and serued them So that not one of them aided the Romaines For longe before they hadde moued warre againste Ierusalem and coulde not gette the victorye but the Iewes preuailed againste them and subdued them Hircanus also the fyrste kinge of the Iewes circumcised them They dwelte also in Ierusalem kept watche and warde aboute the house of the Lorde and his couenaunte withoute all rebellion againste the Iewes and Ierosolimites And at that present was thirtye thousande of the best of the Edomites to keepe the walles of Ierusalem and the house of the Lorde After this Vaspasian and Titus with all their hoste toke their iourney from Acho and came to Galile and in the moūt they pitched their tentes Wherof when tidinges was brought to Ioseph howe the hoste of the Romaines lay vpon the moūt of Galile and howe Vaspasian had sent afore him a greate power to repayre the broaken waies to fyll the hooles and caste downe the hilles to leuel the waye that his people might passe the better for he was sore moued against the Iewes Ioseph issued out of zipporie with al his power sette vpon them and flewe them with the sworde takynge suche vengeaunce of them as neuer was the lyke afore for his God was with him Vaspasian and Titus hearing of this determined to set vpon Ioseph at vnwares and to beset all the wayes that he should escape of no syde But Ioseph had intelligence of their commynge wherefore he lefte zipporie and went to Tiberia whether Vaspasian folowed with his hoste Ioseph perceiuing them comming fled from thence to Iorpata the biggest city in al Galile closed vp the gates there remained with his armie THen sent Vaspasian certaine noble men in embassage vnto Ioseph to debate the matter with hym in this wyse Vaspasian generall of the Romaine armie desyreth to know what it should auaile the to be thus pend vp within a walled toun he willes the rather to come forth to entreate of peace with him enter in a league together for it shal be for thy auaile to serue Caesar emperour of the Romaines the thou maiest liue and not be destroied nor yet any of the people with the. Then Ioseph sent embassadours againe to Vaspasian demaunding treuce for a fewe daies that he might cōmen of the matter with the people and let them vnderstande his wordes peraduenture saith he they wil be perswaded to make peace with thee and then wyll we enter in league with the Romaine empire So Vaspasian ceassed from fighting againste Ioseph permittinge him space to deliberate of the thinge Vpon that Ioseph sente Embassadoures to all the people at Ierusalem to the priestes chiefe men rulers and to the reaste of the people lettinge them to witte this Ye shall vnderstande brethren and frendes that Vaspasian generall of the Romaines sente his Embassadoures vnto me inquiring what it shuld auaile vs to be so stiffe against them ▪ and not rather to com forth and to entreate of peace and to ioyne in league together that we maye serue the Emperour of the Romaines so to saue our liues and not to be destroyed And I pray you why wil ye lose your liues your wiues your sōnes doughters why wil ye all fal together vpon the sword that bothe they that shal be left aliue among you shal be led captiue oute of your countrye to a people that ye neuer knewe whose language ye vnderstande not and your countrye to be made desolate your sanctuarye laide waste that there shal not be so much as one man to enter into it Neuer suffre this you that be wise men but rather receiue my counsell come hither to vs that we may deliberat together what conditiōs of peace we shal make for the sauegard of your liues rather then to be destroyed and that ye maye vse the cōmodities of your country be at reaste and peace therin For life and quietnes is to be preferred before death and banishmente The inhabitantes therefore of Ierusalem bothe priestes chief men rulers and all the noble mē of Iudea with the reaste of the people sente vnto Ioseph sayinge Take hede to thy self that thou neuer consent vnto this to receiue conditions of peace with them but be stronge and bolde to fighte vntill suche time as thou shalt consume them or till thou and all the people die in battaile and so shalt thou fighte the fightes of the Lorde for his people and his sanctuarye with the cities of oure God In the meane season be as be maye so thy power be not with them When Ioseph hearde the determination of the people of Hierusalem howe all sortes with one consent willed by the embassadours the continuaunce of the warres he was wonderful wroth and in a great fury he issued out with all his people and set them in aray againste Vaspasian and the Romaine hoste in whiche conflicte were stayne very many of the Iewes And from the day forward Vaspasian began earnestly and fearcely to warre vpon the Iewes He departed from thence to the citie Gerarta a great citie in the higher Galile beseged it and wan it raced it flewe all the people man woman and childe oxen shepe camelles and asses leauing nothing alyue And then he saide nowe begin I to be reuenged for the Romains which the Iewes murthered in the lād of Iuda Frō thēce he departed brought his armie to Iorpata where Ioseph remained The first day that he entamped aboute Iorpata he gaue his souldiours meate and drynke plenty and made them good chere thē furnished euerye man with weapons So on the next morrow early the Romaine army gaue a great shoute and beset the city round aboute on euerye side In this businesse Ioseph stoode vpon a certaine towre from whence he behelde the huge campe of the Romaines wherefore he sounded forthe a Trumpet gaue a signe to battaile issued oute with the hole power of the Iewes that he had with him and sette vpon the Romaines campe at the fote of the hil continuinge the fighte from morning vntil night And when it began to be darke they ceassed fighting and departed the one sort frō the other the Iewes into the towne the Romaines to their tentes In this battail were very manye slaine on bothe parties aswel Iewes as Romaines The Romaines aduauncinge them selues proudly and stoutly said we wil quickly vanqueshe this little nation as we haue subdued all other nations that we haue conquered that they shall anoy vs no more and afterwardes we shal be at reaste The Iewes also on thother side encouraged them selues
Warres at Hierusalem encreased yet styll and muche bloude was shedde thorowe the wyckednesse of Iehochanan Capitayne of Thieues a lymme of the Deuyll and throughe the cut-throate murtherers that were wyth hym who had all euen sworn the vtter destruction of the citye of the Lorde and the deathes of hys people There was also an other cutthroate a noble manne of Iudea at Hierusalem aboute the same tyme called Schimeon who begā also to follow Iehochanans manners in sleainge innocentes and robbynge and reauing in Hierusalem for asmuche as Anani the hye Prieste hadde once appointed him Prince and chiefe Capitaine of Hierusalem and afterwardes findynge hym an ennemye banished hym the Citye Wherefore Schimeon wente and gate hym a route of Vnthriftes murtherers and thieues castynge in hys minde and saiynge Excepte I ioyne my selfe vnto suche good felowes I shall neuer bee able to be reuenged of Anani and his assistauntes that haue thus bannished mee oute of Hierusalem into exyle wrongfullye vnto my greate dishonoure Shall I that haue bene in suche estate now be caste out of my dignitie and be constrained to wander here and there as a banished manne He wente therfore throughe all the cities of Iudea and Galile causinge to be proclaimed in the stretes and market places and sente his letters where he coulde not come him selfe in this manner and fourme Who so euer listeth to be ridde from the bondage of his master or hathe had anye iniurye in his countrye or what seruaunte so euer desireth to be sette at libertye or who so can not abide the rule of his father or his master all that be in debte and stande in feare of their creditours or feare the iudges for sheadinge any innocente bloude and therfore lurketh solitarilye in woodes or mountaines if there be anye man that is accused of anye notorious crime and in any daunger therefore to be shorte who so euer is disposed to robbe and reaue to do iniurye and wronge to haunt hores to steale to murther to eat and drinke at other mennes coste withoute laboure of his handes let him resorte to me and I will deliuer him from the yoake and daunger of the lawes I will finde him his fill of booties and spoiles There assembled vnto hym aboute twentye thousande men al murtherers theues rebelles lawlesse persones wicked and sedicious menne Then began Schimeon also to vexe the Israelites to tourne all vppe side downe where so euer he came When the citizens of Ierusalem the priestes elders and Anani the hie priest hearde tidinges of Schimeons dispitefull wickednesse howe he helde on still oppressinge the people of God they were verye pensiue and saide nowe will this felowe more trouble vs than Iehochanan be he neuer so cruel They consulted therefore and agreed secretelye to sende a power against him that might sodenlye fall vpon him and ouerrunne him perauenture saye they they may flea him or take him aliue before his wickednesse grow to further inconuenience and ioyne him selfe with oure foes then shall they assaile vs bothe within the towne and without They made oute therefore agaynste hym a greate armye of Israelites and Iewes with Charettes and horsemenne and footemenne in greate number whiche came where his campe laye and found him in the corne fieldes distroiynge of the graine pullinge downe of barnes and burninge all bothe corne and Oliue trees Then the Ierosolimites deuided their armie and set vppon Schimeons tentes sodainelye smote downe his tentes and made a greate slanghter vppon the sedicious But shortelye after Schimeon gate the vpper hand of the people of GOD for he came vpon them in the nighte season and made a soore slaughter amongest them Then they that remained tooke theim selues to flighte towardes Hierusalem and Schimeon pursued them killinge them vnto the harde gates of Hierusalem so that mauye of them were slaine in the waye and verye fewe escaped After this Schimeon went and moued warre vpon the Edomites to subdue them vnto him selfe whiche before were vnder the dominion of the Hierosolimites And first the came to the Citye Asa otherwise called Gaza for it was the firste Citye wythin the borders of Edome as menne come from Hierusalem But the Edomites met hym in the fielde in greate noumber and ioyned wyth hym but nether part hadde the vyctorye wherefore at lengthe they retired bothe Then was Schimeon in so greate a rage when as he coulde not ouercome these Edomites that he wishte him selfe out of his lyfe So he ceassed fightynge a whyle and encamped hym selfe in the borders of the Lande of Edome ryght agaynste it and there abode thynkynge to sette vppon theim at an other tyme. And as hee was deuisynge howe to order all thynges there came vnth hym an Edomite called Iacob one of the chiefest menne amongste them and a warrioure He hearinge of Schimeons proclamation was moned to come and enter in league wyth him therupon sayd vnto hym Neuer let it discomfort thee that thou couldest not ouercome the Edomites at the firste battail If thou wilte be rulled by my counsell thou shalt winne all the cities in the whole lande and I will deliuer thē into thy handes Schimeon desired to knowe how therfore sayde he let vs here thy counsell and shewe vs how it may be brought about and when it is come to passe then wil we honour thee and rewarde thee accordinglye Iacob said geue me the one halfe of thine armie which I will lead with me into an ambushe then shalte thou in the mornyng betimes set thy men in araye againste the Edomites for a stale and when thou shalte perceiue them come againste thee then make as thoughe thou fledst vntill thou hast staled them out of the towne into the feldes to pursue thee Then will I with my menne come out of our ambushe and make spede to the gates where wee shal kill the Warders and fodainely enter the towne likewise kill all that wee finde there and set vp a flagge vpon a tower of the town Then ▪ when the Edomites shal see that their heartes wil be done and deade for sorowe then maiest thou turne again vpon them and beat them downe at thy pleasure Or if thou like not this deuise heare yet another way I haue bene a captaine amongst theim a longe while therefore I will returne in the night season into the towne if the watche examine mee from whence I come I will tell theim I come from Schimeons campe whither I went as a spie Then will I go to the elders of the towne and will thē to let me haue a companie of the best souldiours and I wil bringe Schimeon into their handes if he sette vppon vs againe For I haue vewed his campe and his power and vnderstande that hee entendes to morow to entermeddle with vs which thou shalt doe in dede And when thou seest me to issue against thee thou shalt set thy staffe in the reste and come towardes me then will I take me to flight and caste a feare
you and hym Oh my deare children and brethren let neuer this imagination enter into youre heartes for it shall nothinge auail you Why will you my deare brethren and frendes make war vpon the Romains when as they are lords ouer nacions haue pearced the straightes of India of al Isles of the sea euen to the great Ocean sea froÌ„ thence to al the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extreame parâ—es of the earth Yea euen to Brytayn ouer al Scotlande whiche is enupronned on cuerye syde wyth Seas whose people is huge like Gyantes of a bigge stature and of a mightye courage most expert archeâ—s valiant souldiers in battail To whom when the Capitaine of the Romayns came they gaue him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Prynces of the Romaines came they brought them into subiection and seruitude vnder the Romayns But you saye my brethren frendes you wyll rather all dye then serue the Princes of the Gentyles and that death is better for you then lyfe to be driuen to see with youre eyes the calamities of the sanctuarye and people of GOD. Search the histories and chronicles frome the tyme of youre auncestours When was there euer anye tyme wherin you were free frome the yoke of the Gentils Do you not know that Iacob our father of worthy memorye who was alwayes wyth GOD and God with hym toke his iourney into Egypte to bee a straunger in a straunge land amongst a proude kinde of people least he his children housholde and cattell shoulde pearish with honger There he hadde wyth hym his twelue sons whiche he had begotten and dwelt there also with his smal familie for fear of the greuous famine that was at that tyme. Remember you not when that Iudas wyth hys brethren wente downe into Egypte howe Iosephe was moued as a straunger to pycke a quarell agaynste hys brethrene to brynge theim into bondage bearynge yet in hys minde what iuiurye they hadde done hym Wherefore some of theim he caste in Prisone and â—handeled theim at hys pleasure with crafty accusations especially Iuda who was the chiefe amongest them of whom all the Iewes toke their name whoe if he hadde bene so disposed hadde bene able to laye Ioseph at hys foote a thousande tymes not knowynge hym to bee Iosephe Wherefore when he was so roughlye and so sharpelye taunted of hym hee myghte haue killed hym in hys rage For he was a verye bolde manne and a hardye and of a noble courage whiche surely hadde not forced a rishe to haue slayne that Egyptian and moe to of his fellowes Notwythstandynge he did not soo vut contrary submitted hym selfe vnder the yoke of Iosephe called hym his Lorde and good master supposing him to be some Egiptian humbled him self before him to obtain his peticion to get corne least his father his brethren and other familye should die for honger What should I saie of Ioseph so beautifull so wise wittye a man was not he faine to serue in Pharoos house wherein although his wisdome was well knoweÌ„ insomuch that Pharao set more by him then by al the noble meÌ„ that were then aliue was also called lord greatmaster and Pharaos father neuertheles he huÌ„bly besought Pharao that he might sustaine his father and brethrene wyth bread knowyng that at the time the dominion belonged to Pharao his people beinge geuen theim of God And although if Iosephe had list to returne into the lande of Canaan wyth all hys fathers whole housholde without Pharaos leaue no man coulde haue letted hym to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that tyme in Egypte yet did he not so Beniamin also who was likened to a reuenynge woulfe for hys fearcenes when he was fetched agayne by force of Iosephes Stewarde faynyng a lye vppon hym howe chaunced he did not kyll hym Or els when he alone pursued Beniamin and hys other brethren coulde not be if he hadde list haue slayne the felowe and buried him so that the matter shoulde neuer haue come to light Notwythstandyng they did nothinge so nor so but Iudas wiselye waiynge the eraltations and deiections the promocions and disgracynges wyth the common courses of the worlde retourned agayne wyth his brethren into the Citye wente to Iosephe and besought hym vntyl his bowels were moued to pitye and hee was knowen of his brethren All these thinges doth the most holy lawe of the Lord rehearse vnto vs putteth vs in minde of for this intent that we maye learne to beare for necessities sake the yoke of him that hath the preeminence rule for his time Nether let any iudge or thinke the Ioseph offended god in that he submitted him selfe vnder the yoke of Pharao for it is no shame for a wise maÌ„ to crouch vnto him whose helpe he staÌ„deth in nede of whatsoeuer he be much more if he be a kyng or a Lorde Do ye not knowe that oure fathers were in bondage to king Pharao in Aegypt But after the lorde remembred the couenaunt that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Aegipt he sent Moses our maister of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the lorde to be with hym wherby he was able to destroy who soeuer dyd ryse against him neuerthelesse when he came to Pharaos presence who then bare rule in Aegipt he showed not hym felfe in armes but rather wyth thunder and hayle that Pharao mighte well perceyue and knowe God was the Lord. But at what tyme as Pharao oppressed the Israelites to sore oure master Moyses by godes helpe brought them out of Aegipt with a strong hand and a stretched forthe arme agaynste the Aegiptianes whom he punished with continuall plages by that meanes deliuering the Israelites out of the handes of their Lordes and Maisters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heyres of all goodnes that is to saye of the moste holye lawe of God And after Iosua had subdued the holy lande to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chaunsed vnto oure fathers times of aduersitie as it is meÌ„tioned in the bookes of the Prophetes so that they were constreyned to serue the king of Aschur a long season and the kinges of Persia to the Chaldees also were we in bondage althoughe not very greuous but tollerable More ouer with other kinges of the gentiles we had warres and sometimes we were put to foyles sometimes we had the vpper hand Nowe therefore my brethern tell me what shame were it to you if you were subiecte to the Romaines or what ar you to be coÌ„pared to other nations that be vnder theyr dominion Do you not see that the Romaines reigne ouer your enemies and beare rule ouer them that sometimes were your maisters and haters were it not reason rather that you shuld loue them whiche haue brought doun your enemies and reuenged you of them whych notwithstanding you haue nothing at all dooen but rather haue
for meat which she had not to geue him she said vnto him What shal I do my soÌ„ne for the wrath of God hath enuironed the whole city in euerye corner therof famin reigneth without the citie the sword killeth vp all within we stand in feare of the sedicious our ennemies preuail without in the towne are fires burnings and ruines of houses famine pestilence spoiling and destroying so that I can not fede thee my sonne Nowe therefore my sonne if I shoulde dye for hunger to whoÌ„ shoulde I leaue thee beinge yet a childe I hoped once that when thou shouldest come to maÌ„s state thou shouldest haue susteined mine age with meat drinke and cloth and after when I shuld dye to bury me honorablye like as I was mineded to bury thee if thou shouldest haue died before me But now misoÌ„ne the art as good as ded al redi for I haue no meat to bringe thee vp withall because of this great famin and crueltye of the enemies both within and without If thou shuldest die now amongst other thou shouldest haue no good nor honourable tombe as I woulde wishe thee Wherfore I haue thoughte good to chuse that a sepulcher eueÌ„ mine own body least thou shouldest die dogges eate thee in the stretes I will therfore be thy graue thou shalt be my fode And for that that if thou hadst liued growen to maÌ„s state thou oughtest by right to haue nourished me now feede me with thy fleshe and with it sustein mine age before that famine deuoure thee and thy body be consumed Render therfore vnto thy mother the whiche she gaue vnto thee for thou câ—mmest of her and thou shalte returne into her For I will brynge thee into the selfe same shop in the whiche the breathe of life was breathed into thy nosethrilles forasmuch as thou art my welbeloued sonne whom I haue loued alwayes with al my strength be therfore meate for thy mother an ignominy reproch to the Sedicious that by violence haue taken awaye our fode Wherefore my sonne heare my voice and susteine my soule and my life and go to th end that is determined for thee by my handes thy lot be in the gardein of Eden and Paradise be thou meate for me a rebuke and shame to the Sedicious that they maie be compelled to saie Loe a woman hath killed her sonne and hath eaten him So wheÌ„ she had thus spokeÌ„ to her sonne she toke the child and turning her face awaye lest she should see him dye she killed him with a sword after cut his body into certaine pieces wherof some she rosted some she sodde when she had eaten of them she laâ—ed vp the reste to kepe The sauoure of the flesshe rosted when it came out into the streates to the People they saied one to an other see here is a smell of coste meate whiche thinge came vnto the knowledge of the Sedicious 〈◊〉 lengthe who wente into the house of the woman and spake roughlye vnto her whye shouldest thou haue meate to liue with and wee dye for hongâ—r â–ª The woman made theim aunswerâ— and saide vnto theim Be not dispeased I beseche you wyth youre handemaide for this for you shall see I haue kepte parte for you Sit you downe therefore and I will bringe it you that ye maye taste thereof for it is verye goodimeate And by and by shee layed the Table and set before theim parte of the childes fleshe saiyâ—ge Cate I pray you here is a childes hand se here his fote and other parts and neuer report that it is any other womans child but mine owne onelye Sonne that ye knewe with me him I bare and also haue eaten part and part I haue kepte for you Whiche when she hadde spoken she burst out and wepte saiyngeâ— Oh my sonne my sonne howe swete waste thou to mee whiles thou yet liâ—edst and now at thy death also thou art sweter to me then honye for thou hast not onely sed me in this most grâ—â—ous famin but thou hast defended me from the wrath of the sedicious wherwith they were incensed towards me when the smell of the meate broughte theim into my house Nowe therefore are they become my frendes for they sit at my table and I haue made them 〈◊〉 feast with thy fleshe After she turned her to the sedicious and bade them eat and satisâ—ie them selues for why saith she shoulbe ye abhorre my meat which I haue set before you I haue satisfied my selfe therwith why therfore do you not eat of the flesh of mi son Tast and se how swete my sonnes flesh is I dare saye ye wil saye it is good meat What neadeth pitie ought ye to be more moned therewith then a womanne If yâ— will in no wyse eate of the Sacrifice of my Sonne when as I haue eaten therof mi self Shal not this be a shame for you that I shold haue a better hart and greater courage then you Behold I haue prepared a faire Table for you most valiant men why eat ye not Is it not a good feast that I haue drest for you and it was your wil that I should make you this feaste It hadde bene my parte rather to haue bene moued with pitie of my sonne then yours and how chaunceth it therfore that ye are more mercifull then I Are not ye they thâ—â— spoiled my house and lest me no kinde of sode for me and my sonne Are 〈◊〉 ye thei that coÌ„strained me to make you this feast notwithstandinge the greate bonger that I haue Why then â—at yâ— not therof wheÌ„ as ye were the auct◠〈◊〉 and the causers that I did this dedâ— The Iewes hearynge this matter were wonderfullye smitten into â—â—dnesse yea euen the gouernourâ— of the sedicious beganne to stoupe when they hearde of this so that they all in a manner desiered deathe they were so amased at this horrible Acte Manye therefore of the common people stale out in the nighâ—e forthe of Hierusalem with al their substance to the Romainê campe and shewed Titus of this who wepte thereat and was sorie for the matter exceadinglye holdynge vp his bandes to heauen and criynge Thou Lorde God of the worlde God of this house to whom al secrets are knowen whiche also knowest my hearte that I came not againste this Citie as desierous of Warres but rather of Peace whiche I euer offered them but yet the citizins thereof euermore refused it although I often times intreated theim and when they distroied one another by their ciuil dissention I would haue deliuered theim but I founde theim alwaies like moste fierce cruel beastes nothinge sparinge theim selues this mischiefe is come nowe so farre that a woman hathe eaten her owne flesshe beinge driuen therunto by moste extreame necessitie I haue hearde and my forefathers haue tolde mee all the power that thou hast exercised in times past towardes them and their fathers how thy name dwelt amongst theÌ„ For thou broughtest theim out of Egypte with
a stronge hande and a stretched forth arm out of the house of bondage â—o whom also thou deuidedst the Sea ledâ—est theim throughe it drye drownedst their enemies in the water after coÌ„dâ—â—tedst thy people through the wilâ—erhes and seddest theim with breaâ—â— from heauen thou causedst quayles to â—â—ee vnto them and broughtest out water out of the rocke for theim At â—ength thou broughtest them into this holye lande by greate and terrible myracles and wonders For thou 〈…〉 vp the waters of Iordane and maâ—est â—heÌ„ stande as it were on a â—â—ape â—yll they were passed ouer Thou cauâ—edst the sunne and the mone also to stayâ— theâ—â— course for thy peoples saâ—e till they might vanquishe theiâ— enâ—emies thou wouldest also the thy name should 〈◊〉 amongst theim and thou gauest thâ—â—â—â—â—his citye by inheritaunce Some of 〈◊〉 thou chosedst for thy selfe to be Prophets which might correct thy people teache them and lead them in the right waie to geue them warnynge of miseries folowinge that they mighte take hede of them selues and beware of theÌ„ â–ª Thou stirredst vp wise men amongest theim â—o the intente Israell myghte knowe what were to be done Moreouer thou diddest chuse of them priesteâ— to serue thee and to blesse thy people Israell Certayne Godlye menne of theim also thou drewedst vnto thee â—â—d in a fierye Charriot thou cariedst them vp into Heauen Thou smotest the â—enâ—es of the king of Assur and killâ—â—st in theim .clxxxv. thousand menne These and diuers other thinges haue I learned of my forefathers yea and Iosephe the priest a verie wise manne â—â—the tolde mee a greate partâ— of the 〈◊〉 And now Lorde GOD this people which I haue stryuen against I would haue â—aied they had trusted in thâ—â— but thou seest thei trust not in thy sauing helth but in their owne sword thou seest also howe proude they beâ— notwithstandynge thy terrible signes and wonders wherewyth thou haste â—ought on my side againste them whiche they will not acknowledge They saie there is no manne can brynge vs vnder because the Lorde our God will helpe vs yea althoughe we be wicked for as muche as for oure sakes he rayned breade downe from heauen deuided the sea brought out waters forth of the harde Rocke and staied the courses of the Sunne and all for vs. But they consider not that thou shâ—wâ—â—st those sygnes to their fathers for their rightuousnesse sake and those for their wickednesse thou haste stroken in 〈◊〉 warres to make their 〈…〉 and to laye waste their Cities because of the multitude of their traâ—â—â—gâ—â—â—â—iâ—ns and howe thou haste consuâ—â—â— theim with Sworde Pestilence 〈◊〉 Famine that they are fayne to 〈◊〉 the flesshe of their Childrene and yet for all this they can not finde in 〈◊〉 harâ—es to humble theÌ„ selfes before thee nor to acknowledge thy hande to haue bene vpoÌ„ theÌ„ for their wicked workes I also haue not bene very earnest vpoÌ„ them but haue assaulted them euer geÌ„tlely If so be it thou wilte not deliuer them into my handes I will get me hence from these moste wicked men â—â—e away to saue my life leaste I also perish in their â—innes when thou shalt ouerthrow theÌ„ as thou didst ouerthrow Sedom and Amora Wherefore loâ— I wil get me out of their land with spede leaste we be destroyed with theâ—â— for our eyen do see Sedom that was ouerthrown in their borders Yea but this hardeneth their hartes also like iron that they fay whye shoulde we not be like to our fathers in crueliye for oure forefather Abraham whan as he had but one onlye sonne he wente to â—acriâ—lâ—e him to the lord whome in deede I do not apprehend for this fact for whi I know not the mistery therof al be it I maruel how he had no pitye on hys sonnne I haue heard also of a certaine king of theirs who the same day he set forwardes to the warres made a vâ—â—â— to God that he would offer a sacriâ—â—câ— iâ— he should haue good successe in hys warres and when he returned froÌ„ the warres he offred to god his onlâ— dough ter and so performed his vowe that he had vowed vnto God And hereby I know they are men of a stubburn spirit for what so euer it geueth them in their heades to do that they thinke muste nedes be done and they are a noughty people most heinous sinners Wherfore except thou 〈◊〉 deliuer theÌ„ to â—e I wil gene ouer the waâ—â—es for I wil not be slain with theÌ„ without al iudgment When Titus had saide all these things he coÌ„maunded to bring an 〈◊〉 Ram to bend it against the new 〈◊〉 whiche the sedicious had raised that they might batter the wal cast it downe Then came forth many of the nobles of the sedicious vnto Titus made peace with him whome he placed amougstâ— his chiefe men SHortlye after the Romains set a fire a certain gate of the teÌ„ple that was shut whose dore was couered ouer with siluer while the timber of it burnt the siluer melted ran vpon the grouÌ„d So when the gate was opeÌ„ there appeared the way which goeth to the SanctuÌ„ saÌ„ctorum or holiest of all Assone as Titus saw it he honored it with great renerence forbad his people that no man shuld come niâ— it saying take heede ye medie not with this house til we take further deliberation what is to be done in the matter Wherfore he coÌ„mauÌ„ded proclamation to be made throughoute at his campâ— in this wise Whosoeuer coâ—â—eth nie this Sanctuary shal suffer death for it He appointed also a strong kande of men to kepe the temple that it were not suspended and vnhalowed by anye of his But his princes and captainâ— answered him â—aiyng vnles this house be set a fire thou shalt neuer subdue this people so asmuch as to saue it they vowe them selues to die Notwithstanding Titus wold not harken to their couÌ„sel in this matter but apointed of his soldiers such Iews as had made peace with him to kepe warde geuinge them charge to kepe the temple and Sanctum sanctorum leaste it should be polluted till they had consulted vppon the matter The sedicious Iewes that remained in Ierusalem seing the Romains departed from the temple and leauinge the kepers there behinde them they ranne vppon them with their swords drawen and slue the ward vp lettinge neuer a man scape Which Titus hearing of be broughte his whole army thither against the sedâ—â—ious and killed manye of them the reast fled to the mount Sion The next day the Romaines set fire vppon the Sanctum fanctorum laiyng woode to the dores that were couered ouer with gold and then set fire in them So after the gold waxte hote and the timber of the gates was once brent the house of the Sanctum sanctorum was opeÌ„ that all men might see it the ninth daye of fift Moneth Iuly which was the very same day that it was opened also in the time of the Chaldeis The
handes They agreed broughte him to Schimeon who commaunded his seruauntes assone as he was come to flea him But while he that was apointed to this businesse made delay and killed him net by and by he whipt downe of the hill escaped and came to Titus who commaunded him oute of his sighte being wroth with him that he had not sought vnto deathe rather then to be taken quicke But with the Iewes was he wonderfullye displeased that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men wherfore he commaunded to kil all the Iewes as many as could be founde in the streetes of the â—â—ye whome he woulde haue spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughoute all hys campe for theyr safetye Then died many of the Iewes so that euerye place was full of deade bodies The menne of warre of the Edomites whythe were wyth Schimeon perceiuinge howe the matter wente they sente Embassadoures to Titus to desire peace and to saue theyr lyues which when it came to Schimeons ear he wente vnto them and slue the chiefe of them and their noble men the rest of the people of the Edomites fledde vnto Titus From that time forthe Titus commaunded his men to vse no more truelty vpoÌ„ the Iewes Sone after fled Iehochanan and Schimeon and hid theÌ„ selues in certain caues The rest of the chief meÌ„ of the Iewes that were with them seing them nowe to be fled came nowne from the Mounte vnto Titus set downe vpon their face before hym vpon the ground whome Titus receiueâ— gentlelye As for the sedicious that were with Schimeon Iehochanan they fought till they al died together TheÌ„ cam forth vnto Titus one Iosua a priest sonne of Schaftai the hie prieste bringing with him two candelstickes of gold which were in the sanctuary and the tables of gold with other vessels of siluer and gold and also the holye vestures decked with golde and precious stones all those he gaue vnto Titus who made him chiefe priest ouer them that remained nexte vnder Ioseph the priest for Titus gaue Ioseph authority as wel ouer the priestes and Leuites as ouer the whole people of the Iewes Then was Gorion the father of Ioseph that writ this history brought oute of the prison with his wife and children among whoÌ„ was one Bonian Iosephs yonger brother he was a verye wise a godly priest by whome god bestowed many benefites vpoÌ„ the Israelites For Titus lefte him at Ierusalem and tooke him not with him as he did Ioseph Iosephes father liued after the city was taken twenty moneths died They tooke then also one Phmeas a prieste who was keper of the treasure house he bewraied and vttered to the Romains al the treasures of the priestes and their vestements he gaue also vnto Titus a moosse precious oyle wyth swere oâ—ours and perfumes and garmentes also of purple which the kinges of the second temple had geueÌ„ Wherfore both this Phineas and Iosua whoÌ„ we mentioned afore transgressed the couenaunte of the Lord and offended God in that they deliuered his iewels to the ennemies of his people whiche thei ought not to haue done but rather to haue died for the glory of the Lord as the other priestes did whiche caste them selues into the fire Thus was the city of Ierusalem takeÌ„ with al the precious thinges that were therein and Titus went vp to the mount Sion â—â—ke it and raced the walles therof Vpon a three daies after Iehochanan sore vert with hunger leste his place where he lucked and came to Titus fell downe afore him and kissed his feete sayinge saue me O Lord king Titus commauded him 〈◊〉 be fettered with iraÌ„ cheins when he had caused him to be carted about the campe so bound to be mocked of al men by the space of .vii. daies he commaunded to hanâ— him so gate he a iuste ende and fit rewarde for his cruelty After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den being driueÌ„ with famin he had out on king ye apparel shewed him self a far of to the Romaine host who seing him were afraide to go to him but he called vnto theÌ„ askt foâ— sâ—me captaine Then one came forth sâ—id vnto Schimeon tel me who the art I wil not kil thee Schimeon answered therefore tolde him I am Schimeon that sedicious Captaine of the Iewes whiche haue made you so muche a not now I beseche thee shew me so muche sauour as to bring me to Titus thi master which he did Titus therfore when he saw Schimeon he coÌ„maunded him to be fast bound and to be â—ed about the whole host that he might be deluded mâ—ckt Afterward he was put to a fore death first his head was striken of theÌ„ he was cut in many peces and cast vnto dogges so he died an abhominable death being punished for his iniquity THe number of the Iewes aswell citizens as other that came vnto the feast to Ierusalem whiche were flaine partly by the Romaines partly by the sedicious duringe the whole tyme of those warâ—es was knowen to be thus many eleuenth hundreth thousand besides them whose noumber was not knowen Onlye they were counted which were slaine buried besides theÌ„ also that after the death of Iehochanan Schimeon died with Eleasar the sonne of Anam the priest whiche were not reckened Thei that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were .xvi. M. men Titus therfore with Ioseph wente to Rome leauing Bonian Iosephs brother at Ierusalem who was appointed the chiefe priest of them that abode there for that did Ioseph request of Titus whiche he perfourmed The sedicious were all slaine in that battaile whiche they toke in hand for the peoples sake and the temple of the Lord â–ª They also that Titus toke prisoners were put to vile deathes For he reserued many to be mocking stocks in euery 〈…〉 whâ—re he passed by in his way is Rome and in euery towne he commaunded some to be brought forthe and caste vnto the Lions til they were al confumed THere was a certain people 〈◊〉 that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat that were called Alamites whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearinge closed them in on euery side This people although they had no knowledge of the vse of yron nor armour yet this was their maner that one of theÌ„ with a great poal burnt a little at the ende would put to flight a hundred good souldiours were they neuer so well appointed and armed Vntill this yeare they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout al their land they sent Embassadours to the People of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that thei would open the straightes of the mountayns that they might come forth with their wiues and children to seke theim fode The Hurkans grauÌ„ted their requests opened them the entrances of the mouÌ„tains So they came forth wanderyng here and there and spoilynge diuerse countreis til at lengthe they toke