heinous offence against the Lord if I should kil my self And howe say ye you princes that sticke vnts your God to you I speake tel me who shall make intercession vnto God for vs if we should commit this sinne and eche kil other Wold not a man iudge him a slaue a foole a froward person a rebel and a stubburne man that woulde be forced with any misery to be so maâ— that because all thinges fall not oute as he woulde wishe woulde therefore hange or desperatly murther him self with his owne hands Such ye know the law thus punisheth their righthaÌ„d is cut of wherewith they forced them selues to die then they are lefte vnburied as men that haue destroied their owne soules by what reason then shall we kill oure selues I woulde wishe that we mighte be slaine of oure ennemies rather then we shoulde so shamefully murther our selues wherby euer after we shoulde be taken for manslears if anye manne flea him selfe as did Saule whome ye commended withoute doubte he committeth a heinous crime and suche a one as no satisfaction can be made for Besides that he shall be reckened fainte hearted and as one that dispaireth of his recouerye Wherefore our forefathers haue taughte vs. A man oughte not to despaire of his sauegarde and deliueraunce vvhiche commeth of God no not vvhan the knife is put to his throte to cut it For kinge Hezekia of famous memory when he heard these woordes of Esaye that worthye prophet Make thy vvil and set thy thinges in a stay for thou shalt die and not escape Neuerthelesse he fainted not nor ceassed to pray vnto God for the proioÌ„ging of his life in this worlde that he might amende his life and send a better soule vnto God Then the Lorde God of Israel seing his vnweried and strong hope with his repentaunce â–ª suffred him to liue .xv. yeares yet longer But Saul that saw he was not appointed kinge ouer Israel after the Lordes minde but alonely by the peoples that craued vppon Samuel Geue vs a Kinge to reigne ouer vs Whereuppon afterwarde God departed from Saule for he was not obediente to Goddes will but wente aboute by force to establishe his kingdome The Lorde then seynge the wyckednesse of hys hearte gaue him ouer and chose him an other to be kynge ouer hys people annointinge Dauid hys seruaunte whyles that Saule was yet liuinge Whiche Saule perceiuinge persecutinge Dauid and laboured with all his endeuoure to destrdy him because he knew God was with him and prospered all that he did whereas contrary al went backward with him For these causes I say he chose rather to die then liue and would not liue after the people of Israel was ouerthrown in the mouÌ„tains of Gilboa And in mine opinion he slue him selfe for nothinge but for that he was a â—aint harted coward and vtterli dispaired of his sauegarde For althoughe he saide Leaste these vncircumcised come and run in throughe yet if he had bene of a valeant courage he woulde haue standed to his defence vnto the death perauenture God woulde haue deliuered him But he contrary al in dispaire procured him self and his sonne a shamefull deathe But ye shall consider this He was an vnmerciful king and therfore did Gâ—â—â—rid him out of the worlde for he that wil not spare his own life and his sonnes howe woulde he spare other And where as ye alledge Aaron vnto me I woulde know of you why did he put him self betwene the liuing and the deade was it not because he would turne away the plage from Israell If he had knowen that he him selfe shoulde haue bene stricken therewith doubtlesse he woulde not haue striuen against the striker but trusting in the holines of his righteousnesse he stode before the Aungell to deliuer Israell from that miserie I am not to be compared with Aaron albeit I am one of his children and neuer yet in all my life did I shrinke to venter my life in the warres of the Lorde And nowe I am not determined to kill my selfe lest I should sinne against God and spoyle my soule of hope of saluation I know it well it were more expedient for me to be slaine of mine enemies then that I should slea my selfe And if ye say the word let vs go forth and sodainely set vpon our enemies to kill and to be killed in the battaile of the Lorde and so shall we do well peraduenture GOD will geue them into our handes For God is able to saue as vvell by a small armie as by a great Then if you see me to be afrayed of mine enemies sworde â–ª ye shal therbi know me to be a dastard and one that fawneth vppon his enemies and huÌ„teth for their fauour But you shal see me go afore you as a valiant man should nor once turn my face from death But what did ye euer see in me that ye should iudge me fearful Did ye euer knowe mee to refuse to fight In the towne of Iorpata I haue euer kept my quarter and warde and euery daie haue I fought with mine enemies whom I haue not spared but empaired and that not a little whiles I defended that little citie 48. daies against them For I thought wyth my selfe peraduenture I maye driue away the ennemyes of the LORDE out of our Lande and put theim by Hierusalem that they goe not thither and so haue I foughten with theim tyl all my valeaunt Souldioures be spente and none lefte but you I coulde no lenger withstande their force and I woulde not yelde my self as a Prisoner vnto them therfore I sledde hither with you into this Caue Now therefore brethren ye shal vnderstande that death is commodious and good in dede whiche commeth in his time But it is neither good nor godly for a manne to kill him selfe and his brother to go afterwarde â–ª for that deede into Hell and perdicion And what other thing can more clearelye set for the a mannes manhode and hautye minde wyth hys hope in GOD then Pacience for a manne to suffer pacientlye what so euer chaunseth vnto hym vntyll hys ende come Beholde the Lyons and other Beastes howe they are wonte to wythstande their aduersaries that lye in wayte for theim to the intente they maye saue their lyues Whose armoure is their Teeth and Clawes wherewyth neuerthelesse they hurte not theim selues but vse them against other that assayle theim til they ether ouâ—rcome or be ouercommed Therefore if a manne wyll wyth his owne handes let foorthe his soule oute of his closure before his tyme God will not receiue it neither shall it finde anye reaste but be destroyed And whye Because it is expulsed and thruste out of his place before his time and before God dooe call it wherfore it shall wander inconstantlye for euer Whye then my deare Brethren and frendes dooe you aduise vs to kill one another and to expell and banish our Soules from vs they not called for Howe can wee put awaye this opprobrye Howe can
Ierusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to mete encouÌ„ter within the field suffered him selfe to be closed vp in the Citye The Kinge of the Grecians therfore raysed great Towers against the citye aparte from the wall digged a trench cast vp a mount TheÌ„ planted their engins named Rams against the gates so that the citie was hard besieged for they beat downâ—one of the turrets the stode vpon the wall wherat all Israel was afraied agreed togither to issue out skirmishe with theÌ„ whatsoeuer should come theron life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet thei so did and slewe many of their enemies put theim also to flighte that thei were coÌ„strayned to encampe them selues furder of from Ierusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Grekes had builded and raced theÌ„ to the grounde Thus they issued oute daiely skirmishynge with Pius vntill the feast of the tabernacles Then sent kyng Hircanus to Pius desierynge him that he would graunt them truice and let them be in peace while the feast lasted His request Pius graunted sent a fatte Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel coueryng his hornes with beaten golde and dressynge hym with fillets of Cristall other precious stones Clad him also in a garment of purple and diuers other precious clothes He sent moreouer plate bothe of siluer and golde full of diuers kinde of spices all to be offered vnto the Lorde When king Hircanus sawe this he went out vnto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chiefe men of warre a great feast and offred him a present of .ccc. pounde weight of golde After that he went to war with Pius in his armye to aide him againste the king of Persia that rebelled against him But sone after he was come with in the laÌ„d of Persia that time of Pentecost was at hande Wherfore kyng Hircanus and the hoste of Israel retourned but Pius and his armye of the Grecians proceaded Whom the king of the Persians met in the fielde slewe Pius hym selfe and vainquished the residue that almost none remained Whereof when tidynges came to Hircanus he was verye glad and returned to Hierusalem with peace and ioye After this Hircanus made manye great battails with the nacions aboute him and had euer the victorye He also came to the mount of Gorizim where he wanne a forte of the Sectaries and Samaritans raced downe the temple that the Sectaries hadde there as their house of Sanctuarye whiche they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Grekes He that builded it was Manasse the priest brother to Schimeon the iust But Hircanus the hye priest pulled it downe .cc. yere after it was builded From thence he went to the citye of Samaria and besieged it This was the mother citye of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to suche distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were faine to eate the carcases of dogges The feast of Propiciation then beinge at hande Hircanus made spede to Ierusalem to execute his office in that feaste for he was the hye priest appointing for generalles of his army Aristobulus his eldest sonne and his second son Antigonus In the mean season they within the towne writ to the kinge of Grece to come to succoure theÌ„ which he did with a great power But these .ii. yong men the kings sons went to meete them with the strength of the Israelites and gaue them the ouerthrow killing them vp almost euery one to the noÌ„ber of .xxi. M. fightyng meÌ„ the rest fled That done the yong men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coÌ„ming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceiued they shoulde haue the GreciaÌ„s of th one side of them the Samaritans Sectaries of thother But he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chauÌ„ced the .ix. day of Tisre Septembre His hart therfore was careful for his sons for Israel Notwithstanding he proceded in his office according as the feast required So as he entred into the house of SanctuÌ„ sactoruÌ„ or the most holiest to offer inceÌ„ce to cal for mercy for his childreÌ„ for the army he heard a voice speaking vnto him Neuer trouble thy minde with thy childreÌ„ with the host of Israel for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard theÌ„ according to the greatnes of his goodnes for thi fathers sakes Let thy heart therfore be right thy haÌ„d pure So the king going out of the saÌ„ctuary declared if to the people WherupoÌ„ the next day they seÌ„t post to Samaria had word again that this was true Wherfore king Hircanus was manified greatly of all Israel for thei knewe that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiryng him with the holy gost and increasyng his kingdome priesthode After this he tooke his iourney to Samaria besieged it a whole yere and at length wan it slewe all also that bare life within it He raced the walles the palaice and burnt vp the citye He had warres also with the Romains and the Arabians and God prospered all that euer he toke in hande So shortly after God gaue him rest and quietnes from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldlye in peace tranquilitie al his time On a tyme the kinge made a feaste to all the sages of Israel that they might make good cheare with hym And being merily disposed he said I am your scholar and what so euer I do that do I bi your aucthoritie Wherfore I pray you if you see any faulte in me or if I do not as it becometh me tell me of it that I maye reforme mine euill waye Then euery man greatly extolled and commended hym saiynge Who is like vnto thee our Lorde kyng so worthye of the kingdome and priesthode so notable in good workes whose woorkes be done for the God of heauen which hast also done so much good to Israel The king was very well pleased with their aunswere and reioysed greatlye Yet was there one amongest them an vndiscrete manne called Eleaser who spake vnaduisedlye to the king And it please your maiestie it were sufficient for you to haue the crown of the kingdome ye might leaue of the crowne of â—he priesthode to the sede of Aaron forasmuch as your mother was captiue in the mount Modiit Incontinente the king was moued and soore displeased against the Sages whiche certaine of his seruauntes that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of sectes perceiuyng one of them inâ—ourmed the king that what so euer that vndiscrete person had spoken it was not without the aduise of the Sages Whereupon the king demaunded of the Sages What law shal that man haue that in the dispiâ—e of the kinge speaketh thinges in his reproche They made answere he is worthy to be whipt Then
been for the wickednes that her doughter had coÌ„mitted thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eies if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue oportunitie to poison him Marimi thus going to execution helde her peace and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innoceÌ„t in dede and thought and therfore God would reÌ„der her a good rewarde in the world to come Wherfore she bared her necke without feare and thei cut of her head sheding the innocent bloud But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestileÌ„ce in the house of Herode so that his chief seruauntes his noble women and concubines died sore therof Yea throughout all Iudea reigned the pestilence vehemently whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto theÌ„ for the bloude of Marimi They cried therefore vnto the lorde saiyng Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion The lorde toke pitie therfore vpâ—â— the lande and withore we the plague from the people The king repeÌ„ted him also that he had shed bloud without cause and loue so grew in his harte that he was sicke and at deathes dore Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge he commaunded to apprehende her and to kil her In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees leauing none aliue that were called by the name He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wyfe They were both at Rome when their mother suffered for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain toÌ„gue When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death they wepte and mourned for her hating their father for his rcueltie Sone after the king their father recouered of his sickenes was established in his kingdome builded stronge cities and rose to great prosperitie In the. â—iii yeare of his reigne there fell a great dearth in the lande wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer and precious stoones wherwith he sent into Egipt and procured plentie of corne and refresâ—hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of huÌ„ger yea he spared not his owne propre goodes And not onely to the Israelites shewed he this liberality but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations hearing of his renoume Moreouer in all his warres he had good fortune Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary wherupon he deliberated with the Israelites to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it For the Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch Cirus began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed theÌ„ not as it was afore The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pul down the teÌ„ple to the grouÌ„d and buylde it a freshe they made hym none aunswere fearing left whan he had pulled it downe he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes saide he woulde not flack the matter nor reste till he hade brought it to passe He said moreouer that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer and geue it to grauing also precious stones stones of Thasies marble To the carpenters also and masons he would deliuer timber stones gold siluer brasse iron to make all thinges necessary to the woorke Wherefore if he pulled downe the house he was able to builde it streight waies again So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubites in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites and in height a hundreth cubites all of white marble so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde and a hundreth aboue The breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites euery stone was of like bignesse The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin the thresholdes were of siluer the tops also He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold the lesser braunches slips or latest shutes of gold sumwhat red al aboue was yelow gold wherupon hong clusters of cristal The vine was so great that it weied a thousaÌ„d pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porche before the porche ii walles of siluer marueilous cuÌ„ningly wrought Behind the house toward the west he made a court of .c. l. cubites loÌ„g and a. C. in bredth whiche was paued with pure marble Toward the south north the length of the court was also Cl. cubites a. C. in breadth He erected in it also C. l. pillers of white marble in foure orders The length of one order was fortye cubites and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie and three cubites thicke The pillers were all of like measure as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure with al the pilloures thereof Toward the east the court conteined D. ccxx cubites euen to the broke Cedron No man euer se the like building in all the world In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height that they the walked therin might easily se the waters running in the broke Cedron by the space of a cubit Betwene the porch and the house also as though it were a vaile or perticion the king made a wal of siluer of halfe a handful thicke In the which was a dore of beaten golde and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii pound weight There were certain poses grauen in the sworde as this VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her let him die for it So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful nether was there euer hard of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building When the worke was finished the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bullâ—ckes and verye many shepe accordinge to his Princelye estate So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great â—oy and gladnesse There was one certain day in the yeare when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court to al his nobles sages in Israel Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes whiche made bothe him
therfore to his house with a heuy hart hanging downe his head and hidynge his face There his mother toâ—de hym how their counsaile concerning the viall of poyson was bewraied and howe the king was wonderfully incensed towardes him that encreased yet his fear more and more The next daie by the kings coÌ„mauÌ„dement he was broughtâ— forth before al the chief of Israell asseÌ„bled together the king sate to iudge Antipaters cause There rehearsed the king vnto theÌ„ his sons lewdnes lies how he had seduced him stirred him to kil his children that wer of the king bloude farre better and more vertuous then he in so much that with a loude voice the king burst out and bewailed his wife Marimi whoÌ„ he put to death without a cause and his two Sonnes that they that were far of might heare him Then Antipater lift vp his head and began to speake craftely and subtilly First he forgote not to geue gentle words to pacifie his fathers wrath but that he coulde not do After he fel to intreatie in such sort that all the nobles were moued to pity and bewailed his euill Fortune not without teares saue only Niraleus the kings serretary who loued the kinges children that were put to death He rebuked them al that were sory for the calamity of Antipater crying with al his might wher are ye Alexander Aristobulus that were slaine giltlesse Lift vp your heads behold this bloudy wicked man fal into the pit which he him self made see how how his foote is catched in the net that he laid his selfe for other Marke ye not how your maker reuengeth your death and requireth yourbloude at his hande in the time of his destruction For the wicked man is spared vntil the time of his death So the king him selfe verye much infensed sent to fetch a condemned person oute of prisone who beinge brought before them and tasting a litle of the poison in the Vial fel down starke deade forthwith Then the kinge commaunded Antipater to be caried to prison to be laied in the strongest irons The .xl. yeare of his reign which was the .lxx. yere of his age kinge Herode fel sicke no remedy no phisicke could be found to helpe him Nether his seruauÌ„tes nor phisiciaÌ„s could procure him any rest so greuously came his disease vpoÌ„ him with lacke of breth through the anguish of the manifold euils that had happened vnto him by his owne folke Wheâ—upon he cried out saiyng Woe may he beâ— that hathe none left to succede him in his kyngdome nor none to go before his Coffin and mourne for him at his death Then called he to his remembraunce his wyfe Marimi and his two sonnes rehearsynge them by name howlyng and wepyng styll continually Vpon a certaine daye when his sicknes came sore vpon him he called to his seruauntes to fetche him some pleasaunt apple to see if he myght comforte his hearte and when they had brought it he axed for a knife to cut it one was brought hym Then he gathered his strength vnto him and rered hym selfe vp vpon his left arme and perceyuyng his lyfe to bee full of sorowe and lamentacion he tooke the knyfe with his right hande and fetched his way to thrust it into his bely But his seruauntes stept to him and caught his arme holdyng his handes and woulde not suffer hym to dooe it Then wepte he sore and all his seruauntes that the voyce was heard out of the courte and shortly all the cytie was in a sturre sayinge the kynge is dead the kynge is dead Antipater being in the prison heard the noyse and asked what busines is this they aunswered hym the kynge is dead Then was he glad and reioyced wonderfullye saiyng vnto the Iayloâ—â—â—â— Strike of mine irons and let me dute that I may go the palaice and Iwyll remember thee with a good turne â–ª The keper answered I feare least the kinge be yet altue I will go therfore know the truthe and come againe by and by Antipater saw he coulde not get loose wept for anger at the keper So the keper came to the court which as it was tolde to the king he commaunded him to be brought to his presence Then the kinge asked him What did Antipater I pray thee when he heard this mourning and that I was dead The keper answered He was verie glad thereof and when I woulde not smite of his irons and let him out he wept for anger The king crted out vnto his lords See howe he hateth me beinge yet in prison if he were here he would dooe what he could to kill me He would not doe as my seruauntes did make haste to wrest the knife out of my hande As true as God liueth he shal neuer haue that he gapeth for So the king commaunded he shoulde bee put to death And there was neuer a maÌ„ that wold intreatâ— for him or desier the kinge to the contrary but euery man was glad of his destruction The king commauÌ„ded the kepar to bring him forth to the market place whiche dooen his head was smiten of and so he lepte besides his purpose The kinge commaunded moreouer his body to be taken and caried to the citie of Ankalia there to be buried and not in the citie That done HircaniuÌ„ and the people returned from the buriall the king sent to call al the nobles of Israell together and enforsinge his strength he sat vp in his bedde and coÌ„maunded to call his sonne Archelaus vpon whome he layde his handes and made him kinge ouer Israell Then showted euery maÌ„ God saue the king god saue the king The king liued .v. dais after the execution of Antipater then fainted died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was fourty yeres He was a worthy warriour a wise a prudent man a goodly man of persone hauing God on his syde He loued euer the sages Hillell and Samai with their companies He enriched the seconde house more then all other kinges and was more liberall then all the kynges that were before him His giftes and rewardes were ryche for he counted gold and syluer as chaffe stones He kepte Israel in quiet and peace from al their enemies He buylded also a more royal temple then did kyng Salemon But he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israell heuier and gaue open eare to euill tonges He was a cruell bloudshedder of poore and innocente persones He willed before his death that they should bury hym in the citie Erodion twoo daies iourney and a halfe from Hierusalem So they put him in a coffin couered with gold sette here there with precious stones The bed vnder him was wrought with gold ful of precious stones Likewise vpoÌ„ his head was a cloth of reines powdred with precious stones vpon that a royall crowne made fast to the left syde of the coffin vpoÌ„ the right side was the regall scepter Vpon the beare was also a clothe
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
maner that whan the ennemies marched to ioyn battail the Iewes he wold run vpon them with such force make slaughter of them that spite of their hartes he woulde driue them to retire and by that meanes his body was full of skarres of wounds and his face and his head wonderfullye mangled with the woundes that he had reâ—eiued in battails that he had ben in for the people of the Lord. Yet now because he wold not folow the most cruel villaines minde Iehochanan and take his parte Iehochanan commaunded him to be apprehended and broughte before him and when he was come said thus vnto him Make thy wil set thy house in a stay confesse thy self vnto the Lord for ther is no way with the but deathe and so they led him out of the town to kil him there least there shoulde be anye businesse about his death if they had put him to death within the towne for all the citizens of Ierusalem loued him he likewise loued them When they wer come to the place of execution Gorinion fel downe afore theÌ„ besoughte them with teares in this wise Seing ye haue so determined the ye wil nedes slea me when as notwithstandinge I haue committed no crime nor anye thinge offended and that ye will in no wise spare me although I be innocent as you know wel inough your selues yet I beseche you let me obteine this one thing at your haÌ„ds that you wold do so much at the least wise at mi request as to bury my body other fauour I desire not They made him answer If the hadst not spokeÌ„ vnto vs therof we had thought to haue done it for so we were determined with our selues But now seing thou art so bolde as to demaunde this of vs we wil flea thee but buriall gettest thou none thy body shal be cast forth vnto the beasts of th earth fouls of thair Gorion yet besoughte them to the contrary vntil the most cruel Iehochanan stroke him siue him and after threwe out his bodye to the beastes of the field this done they retourned into the city VAspasian in the meane season drue nâ—e IerusaleÌ„ for he had pitched his tentes at Cesaria where he vitailed his army and paide his souldioures greate wages wherefore they taried in that city manye daies for when Vaspasian vnderstode of the ciuill warres in Ierusalem he said vnto his people let vs make no haste to besege Ierusalem til suche time as they haue slaine one an other amongste them selues and so at length their pride will be pulled down when as they see them selues waste awaye with ciuil warres hunger and thurst For Vaspasian was a wonderful wise man in all affaires of warres and his wisdome neuer tourned him to more commoditye then in this denise onlye So he soiourned at Cesaria with his men many daies The people of Ierusalem made warre vpon Iehochanan and his complices vntill innumerable of them were destroied some of them were slain with swordes some the seditious stickte with shorte daggers For certaine of the sedicious caried short daggers secretly vnder their garmentes wher with they wold come sodenly vpon an honest and iust man thrust him to the hart that he shold faldown dead in the place without know ledge who stroke him So by thys meanes what with swordes in open fraies what with daggers secretlye very manye of the people were flaine and far mo that way then by the Romaines in so much that now very few citizens were lefte aliue Thus whan Iehochanan had gotten the vpper haÌ„d of the city he made an army out of Ierusalem to go and take the cities that had made peace with Vaspasian whiche they sacked and raced to the grouÌ„d and who so euer they founde in them Romaines or Iewes they flue them Yea Iehochanan went with them him self to aid the spoiling and cariyng away al the richesse that they founde in them They toke also the city Gerara that stode beyonde Iordane where as they remained Then the inhabitants of Ierusalem both priestes elders and the reast of the people seÌ„t embassaders to Vaspasian to desire peace with hym and succoures againste Iehochanan his wicked rabble which dailye in the towne flue very many of the people of God The citizens also of Gerara sente embassadours vnto Vaspasian saiyng If thou wilt be Lord ouer the lande of Iudea and the citye of Ierusalem and desierest to assure the rule thereof and establishe it vnto thee theÌ„ harken vnto our counsaile and come vnto vs without delaye to deliuer vs from the handes of Iehochanan and the wicked sedicious persones that with all their might endeuour to spoile al our goods and to get the dominion ouer vs oure wiues and children to none other purpose then by that meanes to distroy vs vtterly that no remnaunt of vs should be left If so be it thou wilte come and valiauntlye withstande them with thy power wee will also fight agaynste them within the towne till they be all flaine and then thou shalt be our Lord. And that done thou maiest go to Hierusalem without anye impediment or hinderaunce of any man for they also of that citie desire the same and would gladlye become Subiectes to the Romains When as therfore Vaspasian hearde the peticions of the Citizins of Gerara he tooke his iourney thither to succour them and deferred to go to Ierusalem But Iehochanan heard of his That done he retourned to Cesaria to take muster of his hole army and prepare to go to besiege Ierusalem But in the meane season came purseuants from Rome and brought him worde the Nero the Emperoure was deade and how that as he was a huntinge in the country the fire of the lord came down from heauen and fel vpon him that he died of it After whome reigned Galba not one half yeare for afore it was fully ended he was slaine by the noble meÌ„ of Rome and Vitellius created in his stede a fole yet a sore cruel man much geuen to drunkennesse so that he was in all points vnworthy of the Romain empire The noble men of Rome that were with Vaspasian hearinge this greatly disdained at the matter said Was there neuer a noble maÌ„ of Rome left to be placed in the Empire but ye muste chuse a dronken wine souffer Why did ye not rather elect the mighty prince Vaspasian that is here with vs a sage and wise man therto also moste valeaÌ„t one that coÌ„quered many cities and vanquished many nations those moste fearce What puissante kinges hathe he subdued vnder the Romaine empire howe farre and wide hathe he enlarged the dominioÌ„s of the Romains And now wheÌ„ as the empire ought to haue bene bestowed vppon Vaspasian or some one like vnto him and none such could be founde amongst you ye bestowed it vpoÌ„ a fole and a blowbole dronkard wherein ye haue done verye vndiscretely Well thempire of Rome shall haue a better emperour one day and God saye Amen
in suretye of my life as longe as I am in thy company and thy sonnes seing Agrippas his sonne innocently put to death by you Gaesar answered Holde thy peace Ioseph I neuer loked for anye goodnesse of Arippas and hys sonne Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my maiestie and how thei wente about to rebell Thou hast brent their bones with thy hands Doest thou not know how I honoured him and his sonne in Iewrye howe I woulde not suffer mine armye to annoy anye of his Cities I aunswered Yes I knowe it was so as your maiestie saieth Then saied he but for all this hath Agrippas requited me again with euill For what time as the nobles of Rome in Iewry went about to make me emperour thinking me somwhat more mete to rule thempire then Vitellius Agrippas persuaded wyth thē that they should not make me Emperoure affirmynge that there was nothinge in me worthye wherefore they shold promote me to that dignitie And after when he came to Rome he wente from one bishop to an other and caused them go to the hye bishop to accuse me of suche crimes as in my conscience I knewe nothinge at all By this I perceiued that Agrippas heart was ful of rancour and rebellion therefore I iudged him to death For vvhere as vvickednes is there it is mete that condigne punishment should not be slackinge And I put his sonne to death likewise For the sonne of a traytoure ought not to liue vppon the earth because that in his hart remaineth the vvorke of his father being conceiued and borne of a rebellious sede But I haue founde thee alwaies faithful and true and therfore I commend my sonne to thy wisdome With this he commaunded my yrons to be taken away from me and beinge released and at libertie he set me honorably amongst the Princes and Senatours Then saied I vnto him Is not this a great dishonour vnto me that I shoulde be deliuered from my bondes and neuertheles the Israelites that be with me to be kept in prison still Now therefore if I haue founde fauoure in thy sighte and if thou wilte do any◠thinge at my sute loose the bonds like wise of al the rest of the Israelits that be with me set them at libertye also and thou shalt be assured that I wil be thy faithfull counselloure while my life lasteth and an ennemye to thy foes to make warre vppon them that assaile thee Vaspasian graunted Iosephe his request and willed them to be let at libertye as manye as were prisoners with Ioseph Shortlye after sente he Ioseph to his sonne Titus that abode at that presente at Alexandria in Egipt to whome he writte concerninge Ioseph in this wise I send vnto thee here my beloued sonne Ioseph a prince of the Iewes a manne of experience trained in warre in whome is greate wisdome he shal be thy father and faithfull counselour thou shalt not do against his counsel nether one way nor other for he is a wise man Wherfore thou shalt reuerence and honoure him accordinge as he is worthye for the Lorde his God is with him and beleue not rashly anye man that shall defame Ioseph vnto thee Yea rather put him to deathe streighte waye that will accuse him for Ioseph is a faithfull man and a good counselloure and who so is ruled by his counsell shall haue prosperous successe in that he goeth aboute Therefore when Ioseph shall come vnto thee after he hathe refreshed him selfe a fewe daies of the laboures and trauailes of the sea then shalt thou prepare to take thy iourney againste Ierusalem to besiege it And if the Iewes receiue the peaceably and wil submit them selues vnder the Romain empire then beware thou endamage them in nothing but rather repair their cities let them be fre frō altribute for the space of .ii. yeares yet of this condition that thrise euery yere they sette a flagge with the armes of the Romaines vppon their wals that is to say at their thre solempne feastes when as all the Israelites are wonte to resort to Hierusalem to appeare before the Lorde their God Moreouer they shall offer for vs euery feast a sacrifice vpon the most holy alter that is in Hierusalem And if they refuse to make peace with thee thou shalt vtterly race their townes and whosoeuer is left aliue and escape the sworde those shalt thou leade away captiue If so be it they desire to haue Ioseph to be their king we are content therwith In any wise remember to be ruled by Iosephs counsaile he shall be thy father thou his sonne After this Ioseph departed from Rome and came to Alexandria to Titus who hearinge of Iosephs arriual was wonderous glad and al the auncient and wise men with him For Iosephe was full of the spirite of wisedome vnderstandyng counsaile valiauntnes knowledge and feare of God Wherfore he went forth to mete hym accompanied with the captaines of the Romains armye receiued him with great honour Then Ioseph deliuered to Titus his fathers letters Whiche Titus hauinge red saide vnto Ioseph What so euer my father hathe written in these letters I would haue done thē by mine own accord but now that my father admonisheth me of the same I ought to do it the more Wherefore remaine here with me and I will be thy sonne and thou shalt be my father to rule and gouerne me with thy counsel So Ioseph abode with Titus at Alexandria a hole moneth after he came from Rome Then consulted they together to go to Ierusalem and besiege it for Ioseph vnderstode wel inoughe that this came of the Lorde and that his vvorde could not be letted nor hindered Titus therfore and Ioseph with him departed from Alexandria withal their army and pitched their tentes at Nicopolis from thence they came by water to Thanisa so forthe to Iraclea and leauinge that came to Pelisis From thence they trauailed through the desert to Baale Iouim after that to Dicron so to Gaza next to Askelon then to Inboam after to Iapho and so to Cesarea In these iourneis he wan Asam Askalon Iapho withall their townes and castels lying about them THe first yeare of the reign of Vaspasian December the tenthe moneth and senenth daye of the same came Titus with Ioseph and his armye to Cesaria a famous citye built by king Herod In this city he soiourned vntil his hole host were come together as wel of Romaines as of other natione that were vnder the dominion of the Romaines and came to aide them in the siege of Ierusalem Therefore Titus armye was wonderful huge and puissant wherewith he aboade at Cesarea til the could of winter was paste and the moneth of Af drewe nye Iulye The same yeare the ciuil warres grew and encreased in Ierusalem for the Citizens slue one an other withoute anye truce reaste or quietnesse no not in winter when as warres were wonte to cease but sommer and winter both the warres neuer
the .iii. time ye haue approched the wals this is the .iii. time ye haue ben slain for your labours And al this coÌ„meth bicause ye wil not be ruled by me but transgresse your generall lords coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t But now mi brethreÌ„ take hede what ye do herafter it becometh you not to rebel agaiÌ„st mi words which yet ye haue done ofteÌ„times Do ye not remeÌ„bre a certain nâ—ble man of our couÌ„try in the wars of Augustus Caesar against the Persians how he put his own son to death bicause the contrary to his fathers commaundemeÌ„t who was grand captain of the army vnder Augustus he had fough with his enemies yea although he kild iii. PersiaÌ„s But what speke I of once ye haue oftentimes set life by my coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts skirmishing dayly with the Iewes that without al discretioÌ„ rashly out of order wherthrough your coÌ„flicts can haue no good successe If you coÌ„tinue these maners it shall redownde vnto your owne dishonours Wherefore it were better for you to leue of this and lay away your pryde contumaâ—ye and stubburunesse whiche if ye dooe thinges shall be in better sauegarde Muche more spake Titus to his men rebuking them sharpely not mencioned here but declared at large in the volume that wee writ vnto the Romains When he had said his princes and captains fel euery one prostrate to the earth besought him of pardon for their rashnes in that they had so vnaduisedlye and without order against his mind encofitred with the Iewes Then Titus taking pitie of theÌ„ pardoned them requesting theÌ„ to be ware herafter that they coÌ„mitted nothing agaiÌ„st his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t nother in word nor dede so doing theâ— shold haue his fauour auoid his displesure dauÌ„ger of deth for the coÌ„trary But if thei refused to do it whatsoeuer he wer the shold traÌ„sgres his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t he wold not spare him but put him to death geue his body to be eateÌ„ of the fouls of thayre They aunswered all with one voyce We are content with these condicioÌ„s and wil do what so euer thou shalt coÌ„maunde vs. After this Titus considering howe earnestly the Ierosolimites were set one againste an other howe they were become such cruel and morâ—al enemies that eche of them conspired others death he caused the pittes cesterns and trenches that were about Ierusalem to be damde vp and stopte with earthe that the waies mighte be leuilled for his army That don he enâ—aÌ„pt him self nearer the wals Against whiche attempte the Iewes issued not out of the town after their accustomed manner to put them backe from the walles For Schimeon was otherwise occupied he had enterteined ten thousande men of the best of the seditious Iewes and ioyned him selfe to Iacob the Edomite captaine of .ix. thousande Edomites with whome he had made a conspiracy vtterly to destroye captaine Iehochanan And settinge vppon him they coÌ„pelled him to flie into the courte of the temple where he remained in the gate of thentrance of the temple with eight thousand and .iiii. hundreth good men of war al wel appointed in â—acks Eleasar also was against him and ioyned with Schimeon becomming an enemy to him that before had saued his life and so they both together aâ—â—ailed Iehochanan neglectinge the defence of the towne By this meanes the Romaines encamped them selues aboute the walles at their pleasure raisings toures and castinge trenches to plante their iron Rammes vpon to batter the wals The coÌ„mon people of the Iewes that were vnder the rule and gouernment of the three seditious captaines namelye Schimeon Eleasar and Iehochanan which although they were ill inough al yet the tiranny of Iehochanan far passed Schimeon Schimeon was far worsse then Eleasar thoughe Eleasar was the head author and firste beginner of sedicion in al Israel were amongst them as she pe redy to be killed For the forsaid sedicious captains slew the people at their pleasures and deuided them into bandes casâ—yng lots vpon them who should haue which so that one had anothers men another man his And this did they not onelye with their owne men but also with al the rest of the people in suche wise that when the Romains made any assault then ioyned they together as one man to resist the Romayns wheÌ„ they had geuen them a repulse then wouldthey returne to their câ—uel warres fal together by the eares among them selfes Extreme and dreadfull was the ciuyll conflict at that season betwene the thre foresaid captains and so sore that the bloude streamed downe the chanel out of the gates of Hierusalem like as a broke that runneth out of a fountayne and well sprynge The Romeynes seinge it were moued with much pitie that they wept bitterly But Ioseph that was amongst theÌ„ was striken with so great heauinesse that he burst out into a sorowful lamentation liftyng vp his woful voyce in this wise ALas alas Ierusalem the citie of the great kinge howe shail I now call thee at this daye or what name shal I geue thee Sometyme thou wast called Iebus of Iebusaeus that builded thee first in all thys lande After that thy name was Zedek that is iustice wherupon thy kinge Iehoram was called Malkizedek for hee was a ryghteous kyng and because he raygned in thee wyth sustice therefore was thy name Zedek Then ryghtuousnesse hadde his abidyng in thee and thy bright starre that shined in thee was Zedek Moreouer in his time was thou called Schalem as the Scripture witnesseth and Malki zedek king of Schalem and that because the iniquitie of the people that dwelte in thee was then fulfilled For at that tyme chose Abraham oure father of worthye memorye to worship god in thee and to take thee to his enheritaunce to plant in thee the rote of good woorkes Whereupon the tabernacle of God remayneth in thee to thys daye as it was reuealed vnto the same our father Abraham In the say His the sanctuarye of the Lorde For in that place did Abraham binde his onlye Sonne vpon the toppe of one of thy hilles that is called mount Moriah holy and halowed and therfore art thou called Ierusalem because oure father Abraham of famous memory called the place of thy sanctuary Adonai ijreeh the Lorde shall see Then thy late name beinge Schelem this ioyned to it made it Ijreshalem For the Lord God shall behold the place of thy sanctuarye at what time as it shal be Schalem that is pure vncorrupte without lacke or spot but wheÌ„ so euer it is polluted and defiled as it is at this daye then wil he turne awaye his face from it Furthermore thou arte also called Ierushalaim therfore because that who so vnderstande the dignity and worthinesse of the place wherin thy sanctuary is shall bid the angelles of heauen to teache in it the doctrine of the holye ghoste and the spirite of wisdome and vnderstanding wherwith litle childreÌ„ and the vnlearned in thy lande may be made wise He also that ministred in thy
thyther we shal be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sonnes and prepare vs a place O that I might goo before you the lorde knoweth I would doo it gladly But ye my sonnes maruell neuer at thys that is chaunced vnto vs for it is no new thing suche lyke hath happened before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus bi his wickednes put to death the seuen brethern yong men in the sight of theyr mother whiche was a righteous and a godly woman who chaunced to find this mercy at the lordes handes that she might kisse her sonnes and embrase them as they also kist one an other before they died Al thei wer put to death by the crueltye of the vncircumcised king of the Macedonians yet obteined they that which is denied at this daye to vs the are put to death by Schimeon who hathe the name of an Israelite who beareth also the couenaunte of oure father Abraham in his flesh And would God it mighte fortune vs to liue in their inne or place of reast whiche al be it it wil not be graunted yet we shal be their neighboures seinge that we also die for the law of the lord Therfore be of good comfort my soÌ„nes and lament not for my sake for I iudg this my miserie easier and not so great as the calaâ—itie of Zidkiahu whose sonnes were firste killed then his eyes put out by the king of Chalâ—ea and he liued manâ— yeres after we are so much the more happier in my minde because we shal dye together Then said Amittai to Schimeons seruaunte whiche should kill him Make spede I pray thee and kil me first before my children die then after kill them also that we maye die together for so it is more expedient for vs then to se the temple of the lord tourned into a butcherye or slaughter-house to slea men in After cryed he vnto God saiyng I beseche thee O Lord God most high whiche dwellest in the hyest iudge this Schimeon accordynge to his works reward him according to his deseruings For thou art the god almighty dreadful let not this thief die therfore amongst the people of thy pasture but that his death maye be seuered froÌ„ the death of other men let him dye a horrible and a sodayne death that he haue no time to confesse his sinneâ— and to returne him selfe to thee that thou maiest receiue him for thou art wontâ— to receiue theim whiche turne to thee by repentaunce for he is not worthy of repentaunce which hath spoyled wasted many goodly thinges in thy teÌ„ple besides that hath murdered most holye men in the same To thintent therfore that thy iudgementes may be declared in him I beseche thee make him to be taken of his enmies together with his wife children and family al that euer loue him Nether geue vnto his soul any part with the people of god nor let his porcion be with the iust men in thy sanctuary for he is vnworthy of theÌ„ bicause he hath not only sinned him self but hath caused Israel to sinne Wherfore let his iudgmeÌ„t sentence go forth froÌ„ thy sight that he may se his wife children his hole house led into captiuity boÌ„dage before his face Afterward let him die a straunge death such as neuer maÌ„ herd of let him be kild of must cruel men which wheÌ„ thei haue smiteÌ„ him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet aliue and that he may see his go into bondage Let him also be a curse before al that shall see him More ouer let him perceiue that my wordes and desteny is better then his when as I go vnto thee in that great light which he shal be depriued of After these wordes Amittai said to the seruaunt who was appointed to kill him I beseche thee let me finde so much fauour atthy handes that when thou hast slain my Sonnes thou wouldest kill me with the same sworde while it is yet wet with the bloud of my sonnes that our bloud may be mingled and this maye be a recreation to my soule Kil me also in the sighte of the Romaines that they maye auenge me and my sonnes vpon this most cruell Schimeon they shal be witnesses againste him that I was not their frende But would God my matters were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceiue me to be an ennemye of Schimeons and a frend of theirs â–ª Woulde God I had withstanded Schimeon at the first so earnestly as I made warre vpoÌ„ the Romaines that I might haue auoided his cruelty from the people of God when he had said al these things he prayed before god almighty saying O God which dwellest in the highest thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy iudgements consider and iudge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is be comen vnmeasurable vpon the people of God that he whiche sheadeth the bloude of them that feare thee in the midst of the temple may be rebuked of thee with thy rebukinges according to his workes make spedy vengaunce prolonge not and that for the deathes sake of thy saintes for thy iudgemeÌ„tes are the iudgementes of truthe Then Schimeon gaue commaundemente to four cut throtes of his that thre of theÌ„ should kil Amittais thre sonnes before their fathers face the fourth shoulde kil Amittai him self and so the blud of the sonnes was mixte with the blud of their father Afterwarde Schimeons seruaunte tooke the bodye of Amittai and layde it vppon the bodyes of hys sonnes as his desire was then tumbled them ouer the walles After that commaunded Schimeon that Chananehu the hie priest shuld be put to death whose bodye was caste vnto the bodies of Amittai and his sonnes Aristius also the scribe one of the noble men of Ierusalem was killed at the same time and ten mo iust men of his kinred and house because they murned for the deathe of Aristius It fortuned while Schimeon was a killing of those ten certaine substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfullye amased when they sawe the thynge sayinge one to an other Howe longe wyll God suffer the malice of Schimeon and wyll not searche oute the bloude of iuste menne nor reuenge them Certain seditious persons hearinge this tolde it vnto Schimeon who commaunded them to be apprehended and murthered the same daye After this there passed by a leuen of the noble men of Ierusalem whiche seinge two and fortye innocentes to be put to deathe by Schimeon they lift vp their eyes to the heauens and said O Lord god of Israel how longe wilt thou hold thy hande and kepe in thine anger againste these transgressoures of thy wil whiche whan Schimeon heard of he commaunded them to be apprehended and killed them with his owne handes Eleasar the sonne of Anani the prieste seinge the malice wickednes of Schimeon to be great that he made away the iust and godly
men of the city that there was no hope left he toke the toure of Ierusalē remained in it kept it with his Iehudas also a captaine ouer a M. men whiche kepte a turret the Schimeon had made to put iust and godly men in gat him vp vpon the top of the walles and cried to the Romains if perauēture they would deliuer him the rest that were at Ierusalē Wherfore he wēt about to escape with his M. men that he had could I euer haue loked that I should haue ouer liued my sōne that I shuld not be suffred to see him to burt him I had trusted he shuld haue buried me and that he should haue bene a help to me in mine age and when my whole family by the seditious was almooste made away extinguished yet I said this shal cōsort me Now therfor what shal I do when I haue none left to cōfort me of al my children that I bare for betwene the seditious and the gentiles oure ennemies they haue slaine xviii sonnes that I had what shal I do now frō henstorth but couet death for I desire not to liue nowe anye longer And how shuld I receiue any consolation whan I see my sonne dead I cā not bury him Lord that I might die by and by for I can not liue anye longer sence my sonne Ioseph is dead She wente vp yet farther vppon the wals till she came to the turret where her husbande was in prison stretch out her hands toward heauen criynge with a loud voice O my sonne Ioseph my sonne where art thou come speke vnto me comforte me The seditious hearing her laught her to scorne but the Romains when they hard her and knew of Ioseph that it was his mother they wepte lamented her case manye of the Iewes also that were in Hierusalem but they were faine to refrain it lest they shuld be perceiued of Schimeons cruel cutthrotes Then Iosephes mother said to the seditious that were by her vpō the walles why do ye not kil me also which bare Ioseph my sonne and nurst him with these brests ye ennemies of the Lorde haue murthered him with other iust and righteous men why kill ye not me also God be iudge betwixte me and you that hau◠killed my sonne giltlesse The seditious answered her canst thou not if thou liste fall downe ouer the wal and dye◠we will geue thee good leaue When thou haste done so the Romaines shall take thee vp and burye thee honorably because that thou arte Iosephes mother who is their frende She answered how shoulde I do this euil vnto my selfe to kil my selfe and constreine my soule to go forthe of my bodye before that God do cal it If I should do so I shoulde haue no hoope left in the world to come for no bodye wil burye them whome they perceiue to haue killed them selues These and such like while she reasoned wiselye the seditious heard and mocked her Wherfore she wept the more aboundantlye so that the Romaines and other godly men hearing her wisdome could not abstein from weping Ioseph when he hard his mother speake he gate on armour and approched to the walle accompanied with moste valeaunt Romaines to defende him from the arrowes of the Iewes and spake to his mother Fear not my deare mother nor take no thought for me for I haue escaped the handes of the seditious God hath not suffred me to come into their handes Wherefore I haue hard the wordes of those wicked counselloures that aduised thee to kill thy selfe and thine aunswere agayne to them whiche before thou gauest them I knew thou wouldest aunswere God forbid I say God forbid that Iosephes mother and the wise of Gorion should consente to the councell of the wicked Wherfore my dear mother be content and beare the yoke of the sedicious patiently and humble thy self before thē Neuer striue against the miseries and calamities of this time vvhich thou canst not alter nor remedy For they shal perishe but we shall stand and continue THere were certaine men of Hierusalem at that time that came to the Gates ouercame the warde and gate out with their wiues and children and so escaped to the Romaynes because they could no lenger abide the famine and the iniquity of the sedicious They were faythful citizins and of great auctoritie whom when Ioseph heard of be brought to passe that Titus spared them and receiued them to mercy For Iosephe bare witnesse and reported for them that they were noble men of Ierusalem Wherfore the Romayns receiued theim and gaue them fode and sustenaunce but certain of them could not brouke nor take it because of their great honger wherwith they had bene longe pined and when the meat went downe into their bealyes they dyed straight And their little children when thei sawe breade they fell vpon it and toke it in dede with their teeth but thei were not able to chew it and dyed holding the breade betwixt their teeth Titus seing them dye when they tasted of meate had ruthe and compassion vpon them and was very sorye saiyng vnto Ioseph What shal I do for thy people which assone as they beginne to eate dye straight way Iosephe aunswered My Lorde I remember I haue seene thys experience that they whiche fast longe and after woulde take meate fyrste they drinke a little sodden milke or elsse eate of a certayne Corne called Simill sodden in mylke wherewyth they strenghthen their bowelles before they toke meate specially such as walked through wildernesses whose bowels were longe empty when they came to places inhabited and founde meate they were wonte to vse this meanes Therfore Titus commaunded his men to do as Ioseph bad them wherby many of the Iewes recouered and many dyed of the flyre These Iewes whiche were escaped thus out of Hierusalē to the campes of the Romayne had swalowed vp first their gold siluer precious stones to hide thē least thei should be found of the sedicious They therefore whyche recouered and brouked meate when they woulde satisfye nature thei went alone out of the campe after sought their gold siluer precious Stones whiche were disgested in their excrementes and so did they euerye daye At length certaine Aramites and Arabians espiynge the Iewes to vse this fashion tolde it amongst their fellowes one to an other and made a conspyracye to laye wayte for the Iewes and whom so euer that they gate they ript their bealies to finde the Goulde and other iewels whiche the Iewes hadde hidde there And by this meanes the Aramites and Arabians had murdered two thousand Iewes But when Titus heard of this he was wonderfull wrothe and commaunded them to be apprehended that had done this wicked dede to be put to deathe whose goodes wer geuen to the Iewes that remayned aliue They that were put to deathe for this facte were two thousande Aramites and Arabians together After this Titus seing his princes
was in the â—â—tie forbade the Citizins to say â—â—â—â—ye thing to him afterward supposing hâ—â— to be besides him self mad Therfore he neuer left criyng for the space of iiii yeâ—â—â—il the waâ—rrs began saâ—yng Wo to Hâ—erusaleÌ„ to the sanctuary therof When the warres were once begâ—â—e and the towne besieged it fortuned as he wandered about vpon the wals â—â—iyng after his maner and at last adding this Woe vnto my felfe a stone came out of an engine from the campe and smitte out his braines At that time â–ª also there was a wrttynge founde 〈…〉 in a stene of olde whiche the Ieâ—â—â— redde the wordes were these VVhâ—â— tyâ—ne the building of the temple shal be brought to soure square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochâ—â— was taken and raced by the Romains and the walles of the temple were also broken the Iewes makinge spede to repaire the ruiâ—es and 〈…〉 without any remeÌ„â—raunce of this scripture thei made the teÌ„plâ—◠〈◊〉 squarâ— Besides this there was a scripture foâ—â—â—â—e in the wall of the Sanctâ—m sanâ—â—â—um on this wise VVhen the vvhole building of the temple shal be foure 〈◊〉 the â—f hall a king raine ouer Israel â–ª and that king and ruler shal raigne ouer all the lande of Israell Some interpâ—â—ted this vpon the king of Israell But the Priestes saide it is the kinge or ruler of the Romains The whole armye of the Romains being now commed into the temple and the Iewes also fled to the mount Syon the Romaines set vp their ydols in the temple of the Lorde and offered Sacrifice vnto theim blaspâ—eminge and raylinge at the Iewes and their god At that tyme there came downe to the Romaynes a little boye of the priestes from the mount Syon whiche wonte to a â—aptaine of the Romayns that was keper of the temple and desieted him to geue him some water to drinke He toke pitye of the boy and bade geue him water The boy takyng the vessel that the water was in first dranke him self then ranne away with the rest The captaine ranne after him hym selfe but he wonâ—â—e not ouertake hym of a purpose because he was delited with the Boyes doinge wherfore he let him go for the nonces so he gate vp to the priostres gaue theÌ„ drinke On a time when the Romains were aâ— theyr sacâ—â—fyes in the presence of Titus theyr Lordeâ— certayâ—e of the priestes came and besought Titus that be waulde not kyâ—l them to whom Tâ—tus made aunswâ—r why do ye wysh to lyue nowe and nâ—â—â—ather to dye with your bretherâ— that haue 〈◊〉 deathe for the Gods sake of thys house Then Tâ—tus commaunded hys menne to 〈◊〉 them and so dyed they After Schimcon and Iehochanan sent embassadoâ—â—â—â— Titus to requyer peace to whom Titus made â—unswer in 〈◊〉 wyse Ye 〈◊〉 thys thyng to late and howe cometh it to passe that ye now intreate for 〈…〉 lyues when that of so great a number of people ye haue left none saue a â—â—â—y sewe When as also ye haue wasted al thynges most cruelly and despeâ—â—â—â— ytâ— Howe after all these your mischiâ—ons actes ye reguire peace which ye would neuer receyue of me althoughe I desâ—red you neuer so ofâ—e For it â—ityed me to see youre people some to hee vered â—yth honger and some to bee caste â—ute of the Citye wythoute anye buriall But ye hardened youre neckes and woulde neuer admit anye Peace tyll all the people were destroyed Therefore Titus reprehended theim with manye other wordes saiyng vnto theim Tell mee you Sedicious you wycked and synnefull persones haue not you slayne the people of the Lorde You set his house on fire you brought vpon this Citye all this mischiefe Howe can you therefore persuade your selues or presume to desire the sauegarde of â—our liues and why will ye liue alone of all the Sages righteous innocente Godlye and holye menne whom ye haue slayne without anye mercye Howe maye I committe this not to be adâ—enged of you that haue done me so much mischiefe Ye desire lyfe and yet perseuer and continue in your malyce still holding your swetdes in your handes and beynge in Armes neuerthelesse ye entrâ—â—â—e â—â—es to saue youre lyues Haue we not nowe taken the Citye and also the temple the Sanctum sanctoruÌ„ haue wee not burnt it with fire What is there left for you to put anye hope in what loke ye for to remaine Wherfore cast away your swords and laie awaye your armoure then come vnto me and entreat me and then shal I knowe what I haue to do peraduenture I shall be gracious vnto you and pardon you your liues The captaynes of the sedicious Schimeon and Iehochanan made answere to Titus We haue sworne by the Lorde our God who is God of heauen earth â—â—at we wil neuer bear thy yoke no 〈◊〉 thee nor make any peace with thâ—â— to be subiect vnto thee Nowe therfore if it be thy pleasure to shewe vs mercye suffer vs to go out of the Citye and we will take our iourney into the wildernesse whiche if thou wilt graunt vs we wil reporte that we haue founde fauour at thy hande if not wee wyll remayne in this place to see what wee shall determyne and what maner of deathe we wyll dye When Titus heard this he was wonderfully wroth and said remaineth the pride of your hartes and the hardnesse of your neckes yet with you still although ye be taken yet ye dare be so bould to say we haue sworne that we wil not beare thy yoke Yea ye haue sworn vnto death for ye haue despised life when as your citye is wonne the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt and no refuge is left you Wher with theÌ„ caÌ„ ye put away your ignomini shame and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉 Then gaue Titus coÌ„maunde 〈…〉 the Romaines that they should not omit any oportunity to set vpoÌ„ the sedicious by one meanes or other to destroys Schimeon Iehochanan There was at time a certain man of the kinges bloud whose name was Serach he accompanied withal his brethren and sonnes that were there with him of the kinges bloude came downe from the Mount Sâ—on to Titus who receiued them honorably getlely ordered them When Iehochanan Schimeon vnderstode that Serach and the rest were gone and had yelded theÌ„ to Titus they wente and set fire vpon all that was in the kinges palaice that the Romains should haue no commodity therby FRom thence they wente to the temple where they founde certaine noble men and captaines whome Titus had put in authoriti about the temple of whome three were chiefe one captaine of the horsmen the seconde of the charrets and the thirde of the foote men him they killed and toke his companioÌ„ aliue This besought them that had taken him that he might be brought to Schimeon their captaine let hym saith he do with me as he lift and in this one thinge let me finde fauour at your