souldiers in warlike order did follow their Captaines and leaders and 500. seruants and libertines carried perfumes And thus the corps was carried the space of two hundreth furlongs into the Castle named Herodion where as himselfe had appointed it was interred And this was the end of king Herode THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 2. booke 1 Of Herods successour Archelaus how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking away the golden Eagle 2 Of the fight and massacre in Ierusalem betweene the Iewes and Sabinians 3 Of Varus his deeds concerning the Iewes that were crucified 4 How the Iewes had an Ethnarcha constituted ouer them 5 Of the false supposed Alexander and how he was taken 6 Of the death of Archelaus 7 Of Simon the Galilean and the three sects of the Iewes 8 Of Pilates gouernment 9 Of the pride of Caius and of Petronius the President 10 Of the raigne of Claudius the Emperour and the raigne and death of Agrippa 11 Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria 12 Of the tamults in Iudaea vnder Foelix 13 Of Albiuns and Florus Presidents of Iudaea 14 Of Florus crueltie towards the Iewes of Caesarea and Ierusalem 15 Of another opperession of those of Ierusalem through Florus his meanes 16 Of Politianus the Tribune and Agrippa his oration to the Iewes wherein he exhorted them to obey the Romans 17 Of the beginning of the rebellion of the Iewes against the Romans 18 Of the murther of Ananias the high Priest Manahemus and the Roman souldiers 19 Of a great slaughter of the Iewes in Caesarea and throughout all Syria 20 Of another grieuous slaughter of the Iewes 21 Of the massacre of the Iewes at Alexandria 22 Of the massacre of the Iewes by Cestius 23 Of the battell of Cestius against Ierusalem 24 Of the besieging of Ierusalem by Cestius and the massacre there 25 Of the crueltie of them of Damascus towards the Iewes and of Iosephus his practises in Gablee 26 Of Iosephus his dangers and euasion and the malice of Iohn Giscaleus 27 How Iosephus recouered Tiberias and Sephoris 28 How the citizens of Ierusalem prepared themselues to warre and of Simon Gioras tyrannie CHAP. I. Of Herods successour Archelaus and how he entred into the Temple and the mutinie that arose for the reuenge of those that were executed for taking downe the golden Eagle ARchelaus being appointed successor in the kingdom of Herod late dead necessitie constrained him to go to Rome which iourney gaue occasion of new broyles For after that for seuen dayes space hee had celebrated his fathers funerals and largely feasted the people for this is a custome amongst the Iewes which bringeth manie of them to pouertie yet he that doth not so is reputed impious he went vnto the Temple attired in a white garment where he was with great ioy receiued of the people and he himselfe sitting in a tribunall seat a throne of gold did verie curteously admit the people to his presence and thanked them for their diligent care vsed in his fathers funerals and for that they exhibited honour vnto him as though he were alreadie king Yet he said that he would not take vpon him the authoritie nor name of a king till such time as his succession was approued by Caesar who by his fathers testament was Lord and maister of all and for that cause he withstood the souldiers at Iericho when they would haue crowned him But he promised that if he were confirmed king by those who were in authoritie he would largely recompence both the souldiers and the people for their good will and that he fully purposed to be better vnto them then his father was The multitude hereat greatly reioyced and made present triall of his mind and purpose for some cried out requesting that the tribute might be no more exacted Others desired that the yearly paiments might cease Others requested to giue all prisoners libertie Archelaus in fauour of the people graunted all their requests then offering sacrifices he banquetted with his friends when sodainly after the noone time of the day a great multitude desirous of alteration the common lamentation for the kings death being ceased began a priuate mourning bewailing their mischance whom Herod had put to death for pulling down the golden Eagle from off the porch of the Temple This sorrow was not secret but the whole citie did resound with laments for them that were thought to haue lost their liues for the temple and their countrie lawes They also cried that reuenge was to be taken vpon them whom Herod for that fact rewarded with money And that first of all he who by Herod was constituted high Priest was to bee reiected and another more holy and deuout to be put in his place Archelaus although he was hereby moued to reuenge yet because he was presently to take such a iourny abstained frō it fearing least that if he brought the multitude into hatred of him they might hinder him Wherfore he sought rather by admonishing them then by force to reclaime those that were seditious and sent the Gouernour of the souldiers to request them to bee pacified But the authours of that sedition so soone as he came to the temple before he spake one word threw stones at him and in like manner they vsed others sent after him to appease them for Archelaus dispatched many messengers vnto thē whom they spitefully intreated making a shew that if they had beene more in number they would not haue beene appeased Therefore when the feast of vnleauened bread drew nigh which the Iewes call Easter wherein an infinite number of sacrifices were appointed an innumerable multitude of people came out of all villages thereabout for deuotion sake to that solemnitie and they who so lamented the death of the Sophisters remained in the Temple seeking by all meanes to nourish their sedition Which Archelaus fearing sent a band of souldiers and a Tribune with them to take the chiefe of the seditious before such time as they had drawne vnto them the multitude of the people against whom the whole number being stirred vp slewe a great many of them with stones and the Tribune himselfe being sore hurt had much ado to escape And when they had so done they presently went and offered sacrifice as though that no hurt had beene done But Archelaus perswaded himselfe that the multitude would not be appeased without slaughter wherefore he sent vnto them the whole armie the footmen into the citie and the horsmen into the field who inuading the seditious people as they were sacrificing slew of them almost three thousand and scattered the residue into the mountaines neere adioyning There were also criers who followed Archelaus and proclaimed by vertue of his commaund that euerie one should depart home to his house so euerie one
any publike office sparing none of them in particular or in generall but made them all grone vnder the burthen of his furie Now they knew well one another that all of them were displeased to see the common weale in that estate but the apprehension of the danger suffered them not to manifest the hatred that each one of them bare to Caius although that their secret conceit engendred amongst them a certaine amitie For before that time as oftentimes as they met togither they were accustomed to esteem Minucianus for the most honourable man of the companie as in truth among all the Citizens of Rome he was the most famous valiant and best esteemed among them being therefore assembled at that time he was first of all requested to speake his opinion For which cause he asked Chaereas what the watchword was he had receiued that day for all the citie knew verie well what mockerie Caius vsually vsed in giuing Chaereas the watchword Chaereas notwithstanding this disgrace failed not to answere him relying on the wisedome of Minucianus and said vnto him But giue you me for the watchword Libertie meane while I giue you thanks for that you haue awakened me more speedily then of my selfe I haue accustomed to be You neede not now any further inforce your selfe to incite me by your words since both you and I haue vndertaken the same resolution Before we were assembled in this place our thoughts were vnited Beholde here my sword that is girt vnto my side this shall suffice for vs both And if you please you shall be my captaine and I will march vnder your commaund and will follow you vnder assurance of your assistance and wisedome They who haue valiant harts neuer want armes for it is a confident courage that makes the weapon walke That which enkindleth me thus to this action is not the consideration of my particular interest For I haue not the leisure to thinke on those dangers that threaten me thorow the griefe that I conceiue to see the libertie of my countrey changed into seruitude and the force of the lawes wholy abolished and all sorts of men assigned to death by the crueltie of Caius It is I that deserue to be trusted in this execution and I make you my iudge since you haue the like intention as I haue Minucianus perceiuing with what affection Chaereas spake embraced him with all loue and after he had praised him he exhorted him to continue his constancie then departed they the one from the other with prayers and wishes and at that time there hapned a presage that confirmed them the more For as Chaereas entred into the Senate some one among the people cast out a word that redoubled his courage Dispatch said he that which thou hast to do for God will assist thee Chaereas was somewhat affraid least some one of his associates had betraied him But at last he thought that it was some one of those who being priuie to his resolution gaue him a watchword to animate him the more or that it was God who gouerning and obseruing humane affaires pushed him forward After he had imparted this his deliberation to diuers sundry Senators Knights and men of war being aduertised hereof were in armes For there was not any one that supposed not that Caius death was the greatest good hap the common weale could expect For which cause all of them enforced themselues as much as was to them possible to assist that execution with couragious and vertuous resolution and as forward were they in affection as in power in words as in effect desiring each of them to be partakers in the dispatch of a tyrant For Calisthus also who was Caius free-man and raised by him to great authoritie yea such as he almost equalled him adioyned himselfe vnto them for the feare he apprehended of all men and for those great riches which he had gathered togither for that he was a man of a corrupt conscience and easily woon by bribes and presents doing wrong vnto all men and abusing the power that he had against whomsoeuer he pleased contrarie to all right and reason Besides for that he knew the vnbridled nature of Caius who hauing once conceiued an ill opinion of any man could neuer afterwards be disswaded or reconciled Amongst diuers other dangers that he had to apprehend the greatnesse of the danger of his riches was not the least which was the cause that made him serue Claudius and secretly to follow him vnder hope that after Caius death he should be his successor in the Empire and that at that time he should by him be maintained in the same estate which he inioyed and by this means thought he to obtaine his amitie and good liking by giuing him to vnderstand how Caius had commaunded him to poison him and how he had inuented infinite delaies to defer this execution As for mine owne part I thinke that Calisthus forged this matter For if Caius had pretended to kill Claudius he had not been disswaded by Calisthus allegations who had incontinently receiued his reward if he had deferred to execute his Masters command with all expedition in a matter so acceptable to him So it is that the prouidence of God would not permit Caius to execute that rage against Claudius and Calisthus was thereby thanked for a benefite which he no waies deserued Those that were about Chaereas day by day followed the action verie slowly notwithstanding that he willingly delayed not but thought all occasions fit to finish his purpose in for that hee might assaile him at such time as he ascended vp into the Capitol or euen then when he solemnized those ceremonies which he had instituted in honour of his daughter or at such time as hee stood in the pallace to scatter gold and siluer money among the people by casting him from the toppe of the pallace into the market place or at such time as he celebrated those mysteries that were introduced by him For no man suspected Chaereas so discreetly had he behaued himselfe in al things and he perswaded himselfe that no man would haue thought that he should lay violent hands on Caius And although he had done nothing to any effect yet so it is that the power of the gods was sufficient to giue him force and to kill him without drawing weapon Chaereas was sore displeased against his companions in respect that he feared that they would let slippe their occasions and although they perfectly knew that he trauailed for the maintenance of the lawes and for the good of them all yet did they request him to delay a little for feare least in the execution he should in some sort miscarrie and for that cause the citie might be brought in trouble by the informations that would be made of that act and that finally when Caius should be so much the better defenced against them they should not know how to shew their vertue when the time required that they
Aristobulus 3. Hyrcaâ—…us The race of Herod Antipater Herod the great Archelaus the great Agrippa the son of Agrippa The names of such as were high Priests from the time of their departure out of Egypt vntill the building of the temple which was made by Salomon Aaron Eleazâ—… Phinees Abiâ—…a Busqui Oses Heli Achitob Achimelech Ab aâ—… haâ—… Sadoc Achimaas Azarias From the building of the temple vntill the Captiuâ—…tie of Babylon Ioraâ—… Ioses Axioram Sudeas Ioathan Urias Nerias Odeas Sellum Helcias From their returne out of Babylon vntill the Machabees time Sarâ—…ia Iosedech Iosâ—… Ioacim Eliasib Eleazar Manasses Onias 2. Simon 2. Onias 3. Ioiada Ionathaâ—… Iadus Onias 1. Simon 1. Iason Onias 4. Lysimachus Alcimus High Priests since the Machabees time vntill the last destruction and ouerthrow of that Citie and nation Simon Bâ—…thus Ioseph 1. Ioseph 2. Ioazar Eleazar Iosuah the son of Sias Ioazar Aâ—…us 〈◊〉 Theophâ—… Sâ—… Mattathias Elion Ioseph 3. Ananias Ismael Ioseph Annas Eleazar Simon Ioseph Caiphas Ionathan Iosuah the son of Daâ—…eus Iosuah the son of Gâ—…liel Matthias Phinees or Paâ—…s Kingâ—… of Israel otherwise called kings of the ten tribes or of Samaria Ieroboam 1. Nadab Baasa Ela Zamri Amri Achab Ioram Iehu Ioachaâ—… Ioas Ieroboam 2. Zacharie Manahem Pecha the son of Manahem Pecha the son of Romelia Oseas Kings of Assyria and Babylon Phulhelechus Phulassar Salmanassar Sennacherib Assaradon Berodach Benmerodach Nabuchodonosor 1. Nabuchodonosor the great Euilmerodach Neriglossorar Labosardach Baltassar Kings of Persia. Cyrus Cambyses Smerdes Magus Darius the son of Hystaspis Zerxes the son of Darius Artabanus the tyrant Artaxerxes w t a long hand Zerxes Sogdianus Darius the bastard Artaxerxes Mnemoâ—… Artaxerxes Ochus Arsames Darius the son of Arsames Kings of Syria after the death of Alexander the great Seleucus Nicanor Antiochus Soter Antiochus surnamed God Seleucus Callinicus Seleucus Cerauâ—…s Antiochus the great Seleucus Philopator Antiochus Epiphanes Antiochus Eupator Demetrius Soter Alexander Epiphanes Demetrius Nicâ—…nor Antiochus Sedetes Demetrius Nicanor Alexander Zebina Antiochus Gryphus Antiochus Cyzicenâ—… Seleucus Gryphius Antiochus Pius The kings of Egypt after the death of Alexander the great Ptolomey Soter Philadelphus Euergetes Philopator Epiphanes Philometor Euergetes Phiscon Lathyrus Alexander Auletes Cleopatra Kings of the Tyrians Abibalus Hiram Belastartus Abdastartus Astartus Astarimus Phelletes Ithoballus Badezor Mettâ—… Pigmâ—…lion For the better vnderstanding of the Coines and measures whereof there is some mention made in this Historie obserue I pray you that which followeth Sath was a measure containing about some seuen pintes French The Epha contained three Saths The Core or Homer contained ten Ephas that is to say thirtie Saths and was the same measure both in drie and liquid things The Log contained a French pinte in measure The Hin contained twelue Logs The Bath contained as much as the Epha The Cad was a kinde of pitcher containing such a quantitie as a young maiden might well carrie The common Sicle contained the waight of foure ounces whether it were of gold siluer or of any other mettall The sacred or holy Sicle waied halfe an ounce of any mettall whatsoeuer The common Sicle of siluer was valued at about some shilling of our money The holy Siâ—…e of siluer was valued at about some two shâ—…llings The common Drachme was the eight part of an ounce The sacred Diachme was the fouâ—…th part of an ounce The Pound waied twelue ounces The ordinarie Taleâ—… contained fiftie foure pounds eight ounces and a quarter of Troy waight in any mettall yet was it not currant money but a masse made vp after the manner of an ingot The sacred Talent contained one hundreth pounds Furthermore note this for your better knowledge that when as Iosephus quoteth the Olympiades without any specification of the yeeres therein contained he orderly comprehendeth the space of foure yeers compleat Furthermore where the Latin word Stadium hath diuers Significations amongst both Greekes and Latins as the 〈◊〉 betweene Pâ—…ie and Diodorus Siculus may well testifie and for that diuers of our English translators haue somenmes called it a Stade other whiâ—…e a Stound and otherwhiles improperly a Fuâ—…long I pray you in reading this Historie wheras any of these words occurre suppose them for one and the same measure of ground and according to the Greekes account which I suppose Iosephus most respected in this Historie conclude it to be either of 600. foote as the Olympique that is of 120. paces or as the Pyrâ—…hique which contained 1000. foote that is 200. paces As for the furlong either multiply him 8. times to make him a Stade or as an ouersight in the printing let it passe with the Errata The names of those Authors which are alleadged in this Historie A Acusilaus Agatharcidâ—…s Alexander Andrew Apioâ—… Apollonius Molo Apollodorus Ariphanes Aristaeus Aristotle B Berosus C Cadmus Castor Chaeremon Chaerilus Clearcus Conon D Demetrius Phalereus Dius E Ephorus Euhemerus Eupolenâ—…us H Hecataeus Hellanicus Hermippus Hermogenes Herodotus Hesiodus Hestiaeus Hierâ—…m of Egypt Homer Hyâ—…rochides I Isidorâ—… L Titus Liuius Lysimachus M Manethon Menander Mnaseas Mochus N Nicholas of Damas. P Pherecydes Philon Philostratuâ—… Polybiâ—… Polycratet Posidonius Pythagoras S Strabo T Thales Theodotus Theophilus Theopompus Theophrastus Thucydides Timaeus Z Zopyrion Francis Patritius de Regno lib. 2. cap. 10. Historiarum cognitio Regibus Ducibus Imperatoribus et omnibus principibus perquam necessaria habenda est quam Cicero appellat testem temporum vitae Magistram veram memoriae et veritatis nunciam GEntle reader let it stand with thy patience I beseech thee to correct those errors that shall occurre in this historie as fauourablie as wee haue ouerslipt them vnwillinglie and count it no lesse virtue in thee to wincke at them with discretion as for mee to let them passe thorowe ouer-sight if thou doe this hope better for thy sufferance shall make me circumspect if not according to that in Plautus Quod dedi non datum vellem quod reliquum est non dabo Errata Fol. 4. line 3. for who read which f. 21. l. 14. for sâ—…aightes read straightes Ibidem l. 50. for Sara read Rebecca f. 37. l. 42. for thou read you f. coâ—… l. 45. for thou read you f. 134. l. 51. for deliuer them from those read deliuer those f. 261. l. 40. for Babylon read Ierusalem f. 274. l. 39. for be began read begâ—…n f. 279.l 38. for compassion read composition f. 299. l. 57 read for ould ould yeares ould yeares f. 361. l. 36. read for Iâ—…dea Iudaea f. â—…80 l. 40. for 15 read 50. f. 63â—… l. 1. for aide read warre THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE MOST AVNCIENT HISTORIE OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY IOSEPH THE SONNE OF MATTHIAS A most excellent Preface containing the causes which induced the Author to write this Historie together with the contents and intents of the same CHAP. I. THEY that indeuour themselues to write Histories seeme not in my opinion to haue one and the same intent and
of euery kind and of some of them seuen couples The sides of this Arke were strong and the couer also so that no water could pearce the same and whatsoeuer storme might come it was able to resist it Thus was Noe by succession of nature the tenth from Adam saued with all his household for he was the son of Lamech whose father was Methusala the sonne of Enos the sonne of Iared the sonne of Maleel who with diuers other brethren were begotten of Cainan by Enos who was the son of Seth the sonne of Adam This destruction happened the sixe hundreth yeare of Noahs age and the second moneth which was called Dius by the Macedons and by the Hebrewes Marsomane foâ—… so haue the Aegyptians distinguisht the yeare but Moses set downe Nisan for the first moneth in his Chronicles which is Zanthicus among the Macedons for that in this moneth he brought the Israelites out of the thraldome of the Aegyptians He made this law therefore that all things which appertaine to diuine seruice should take their beginning and reckoning from this moneth but in respect of the times and termes of buying and selling and all other trafficke he obserued the first pollicie of the yeare beginning in December Moses wrote that the Deluge began the seuen twentith day of the aboue named moneth which was the yeare two thousand sixe hundreth fiftie and fixe after the creation of the first man Adam which time is carefully calculated in holy writ in which the birth and death of great personages of that time are most exactly set downe At such time then as Adam was 230. yeares old his sonne Seth was borne vnto him and the said Adam liued 930. yeares Seth about the age of 250. yeares begat Enos who after he had liued 905. yeares left the gouernment of his affaires to his sonne Cainan whom he had begotten about the 190. yeare of his age After that Cainan had liued 910. yeares he had his sonne Maleel begotten by him the 170. yeare of his age The said Maleel hauing liued 195. yeares died leauing his sonne Iared who about the age of 162. yeares engendered Enoch who liued 962. yeares After Enoch succeeded his sonne Mathusala begotten about the age of 162. yeares at such time as the said Enochs father was yet aliue and after that Enoch had liued 365. yeares he was taken vp vnto God whence it commeth to passe that his decease hath not beene exemplified in writing Mathusala the sonne of Enoch in the yeare of 〈◊〉 â—…ge 187. yeares haâ—… Lamech for his sonne who liued 782. yeares to whom he left the soueraintie hauing heâ—…d the same 969. yeares And Lamech after he had gouerned 707. yeares declared his sonne Noe for gouernour at such time as the said Lamech had liued 182. yeares which Noe gouerned for the space of 900. yeares All these yeares calculated into one sonne accomplish the time aboue written Yet to perfect this accompt we ought not to seeke out the decease of these personages for they liued in the same time that their children and successors did but the onely thing we are to obserue is their birthes As soone then as God had giuen the signe and that it began to raine for the space of whole fortie daies the water fell and ouerflowed the whole earth fourteene cubits hie which was the cause that diuers could not escape because there was no means of â—…ight or place of refuge But as soone as the raine was ceased the water began to decrease by little and little for the space of one hundreth and fiftie daies about the 27. day of the seuenth moneth Noe perceiuing then that the Arke was on ground vpon the top of a certaine mountaine of the countrey of Armenia he opened the same and seeing the earth did a little discouer it selfe round about the same he conceiued some better hope and held himselfe satisfied Some fewe daies after when the water was ebbed somewhat more he sent out a Crow desiring to know if the rest of the earth were deliuered from the waters and whether without danger he might issue out of the Arke but the Crow finding the earth bebayned in water returned vnto Noe who the seuenth day after sent out a Pigeon to finde out the estate of the earth which returned bemired and bearing in his neb an Oliue braunch whereby Noe perceiued that the earth was deliuered from the Deluge and hauing as yet expected seuen daies more he â—…et at libertie all liuing creatures that were in the Arke But as soone as himselfe his wife and his family forsooke it he offered sacrifice vnto God and feasted and reioyced both he and al his houshold The Armenians in their language haue called the place where Noe descended by a name Aprobaterion which signifieth as much as discent and in that place euen at this present the inhabitants of that countrey shewe some remnants and memories of the same All those that haue written strange histories haue made mention of this Deluge and of the Arke among the number of whom is Berosus the Chaldean who setting downe occurrences of this Deluge writeth after this manner Some say likewise that a certaine part of this Arke is in Armenia neere to the mountaine of the Cordaeans and that some men haue brâ—…ght from thence some part of the pitch wherewith it was calked which the men of that place are wont to vse in stead of a preseruatiue against inchantment Hierome the Aegyptian also who hath written the antiquitie of the Phenicians hath made mention of this mâ—…tter as also Mnaseus with diuers other Nicholas of Damas likewise in his nintie sixe booke speaketh heereof after this manner Aboue the Region of Mineans there is a great mountaine in Armenia called Baris in which it is reported that diuers retyred themselues for safetie during the time of the Deluge and there escaped they and that a certaine man borne on an Arke arriued vpon the highest top of that mountaine and that certaine timbers of that bottome had beene kept a long while and it may be that this is that whereof Moses the law-maker of the Iewes maketh mention But Noe fearing least God hauing condemned all men to a generall perdition should euery yeare ouerflow the earth after this manner offered burnt sacrifice vnto God beseeching him that hereafter he would entertaine the auncient order and that no so great calamitie might succeede by which all liuing creatures should come in daunger to be vtterly extinct and extermâ—…nated but that inflicting deserued punishment on the reprobate he would spare the innocent whom in his mercie he had preserued from daunger otherwise they should be more miserable and condemned by a harder censure if they were not wholy warranted but should be reserued to be swallowed vp by an other Deluge and hauing suffered the feare and sight of the first to perish by the second He praied him therefore that he would be
approched the well and required those virgins that they would giâ—…e him drinke which they denied him saying that they could not get water but with great labour which they must beare into their howses and not lauishly bestow on others whereupon one amongst them reproued the rest for that discourtesie which they vsed towards the straunger saying that they had neuer beene conuersant amongst men that refused to giue him water that requested it wherupon she gaue him drink with an amiable countenance and he conceiuing good hope of all his busines yet being further desirous to know the euent of the matter he praised the honestie and courtesie of Rebecca who had not refused to trauell in her owne person to satisfie his necessitie asking her of what parents she was terming them happie that had such a daughter praying God that it might please him to grant them the good hap to marrie her to their contentment and match her with a man of honest reputation by whom she might be plentifull in good and lawfull children Rebecca made no difficultie to tell him the names of her parents the better to gratefie him neither concealed she her owne name but answered in this sort I am called said she Rebecca my father was named Bathuel who is long since dead Laban is our brother who together with my mother hath care of all our family and hath the charge and protection of my virginitie Which when he vnderstood he reioiced at all that which had happened vnto him and was comforted wâ—…th those things which he had heard perceiuing manifestly how God had prospered his iourney Whereupon drawing out a Iewell with certaine other ornaments such as virgins take delight to weare he offred them vnto the maid telling her that he gaue her these presents in requitall of that kindnesse she had offered him in satisfying his thirst for that she amongst so many other virgins had onely shewed her selfe affable and gracious requiring her that he might be entertained in her brothers house by reason that night had depriued him of the means from trauelling any further and that he was charged with certain Iewels of an espoused of great price which in no place as he said might be in more safety then in their custody whom in effect he had found so curteous honest assuring her that the vertue which appeared in her gaue him sufficient testimony both of the curtesy of her mother and brother who would not as he supposed take it in ill part if he were entertained to conclude that he would in no waies be chargeable vnto them but would pay for his lodging and expences To this Rebecca answered that he had reason to conceiue a good opinion of her parents humanitie but yet did in some sort preiudice them in suspecting their liberalitie assuring him that his entertainement should in no sort be mercenary but voluntary and free according to heir affection Yet first said she I will certifie my brother Laban hereof and afterwards guide and intertaine you in our house which done she conducted him into their tent commaundâ—…g her brother Labans seruants to take care of his Camels as for himselfe she entertained and feasted him at her brother Labans table When supper was past he spake both to the brother and mother of the virgin after this manner Abraham the sonne of Thares is your cousen For Nachor good mistres the grandfather of your children was Abrahams brother of one and the same father and mother He now sendeth me vnto you requiring you to giue this Damsell for wife to his legitimate and onely sonne educated and brought vp to be heire of all his substance whom although he might haue matcht with the richest maidens of his countrey yet hath he refused all of them desiring rather to impart this honour to one of his kinred and nation set not light therefore his good affection and desire For besides all other blessings and good fortunes which haue happily befallen me in this my iourney I haue by Gods especiall prouidence found out both the maid and your house For at such time as I drew neere the Citie and beholding many virgins that went a watering I besought God that I might light vpon this maiden and he vouchsafed me my desire Ratâ—…fie therefore on your part this mariage contracted by Gods prouidence and honour Abraham in granting your consent by this your daughters mariage whom I am sent to request at your hands with most intire affection Now they in that they both allowed a thing so behoofull and perceiued also that it was conformable to the will of God they sent their sister vnto him vnder the conditions demaunded and Isaac then maried her at such time as he had the managing of Abrahams affaires by reason that the other sonnes of Abraham were alreadie departed to take possession of their Colonies CHAP. XVII Of Abrahams death AFew daies after this Abraham deceased a man full of vertue vntill his last ende and honoured by God according to that intire loue he had to vertue with great affection All the daies of his life contained one hundreth seuentie and fiue yeares and he was buried in Hebron with his wife Sara and by his sonnes Isaac and Ismael CHAP. XVIII Of Isaacs sonnes Esau and Iacob and of their Natiuitie and education AFter the death of Abraham Rebecca Isaacs wife waxed bigge with child and the time of her reckoning being neere at hand Isaac was sore troubled and sought counsell at Gods hands who answered him that Rebecca should bring forth two twins and that of those two sonnes two nations should be deriued both which should be called by their names and that he who seemed to be the least of them should grow to be the greatest not long time after according as God had foretold him she was brought a bed of two twins the eldest of whom was verie hairy from the top of the head vnto the soale of the foote and at such time as he issued out of his mothers wombe his yonger brother held him by the heele The Father loued the elder who was called Esau and Seir by reason of his haire which the Hebrewes call Seir in their language but the younger who was called Iacob was deerely beloued by his mother Now for that a great famine raigned in that countrey Isaac hauing resolued to retyre himselfe to Egypt by reason of the abundance and plenâ—…ie of that countrey he went and dwelt at Gerat according as God had commanded In which place king Abimelech receiued and entertained him according to the law of hospitalitie and the league of friendship which was betwixt Abraham his father and him In the beginning therefore he shewed vnto him great signes of friendship but afterwards the enuie he had conceiued hindred him from persisting in the same for perceiuing that God was fauourable vnto Isaac and had an especiall care ouer him he droue him out of his countrey
be helde for vs to be conuicted to be the murtherers of our brother whose death will heape sorrow on our fathers head and draw our mother into great griefe and desolation thorough the losse of her sonne robbed and bereft from her beyond the ordinarie course of men For which cause he praied them to be aduised in these things that they would consider in their mindes what thing might happen if this child who was faire vertuous and yoong should be done to death praying them to giue ouer this vnnaturall resolution and to feare God who was both the iudge and witnesse of their deliberation intended against their brother and that if they would desist from this haynous act God would take pleasure in their repentance and reconcilement but if they proceeded in their enterprise he assured them that he would punish them like fratricides since nothing is hidden from his prouidence whether it be committed in the desart or attempted in the Citie For wheresoeuer men are there is it alwaies to be thought that God likewise is Further that when they should haue perpetrated this fact that they should alwaies haue their consciences as an armed aduersarie against them which neuer would forsake them whether they were good or whether such as theirs would be if they should fortune to murther their brother Furthermore he alleadged that it was an impious fact to kill a mans owne brother although he had done him iniurie and much more meritorious to forgiue a mans friend that had offended against him Moreouer he said that Ioseph had done them no wrong whose tender yeares rather required care and compassion at their handes then hate and tyrannie Besides that the cause of his slaughter would aggrauate their offence if it should be knowen that for enuie of his future felicitie they should take away his life all which good happe they likewise might participate by reason of consanguinitie and that it was their dutie to thinke that whatsoeuer blessing God imparted to Ioseph was theirs that for that cause they were to imagine that God would be more displeased against them if they should endeuour to depriue him of his life whom he had esteemed and adiudged worthy of prosperitie to come Ruben alledging these and many other things besought them and laboured to diuert them from shedding their brothers bloud but seeing that all these his motiues could in no sort mollifie them but that they hastened the rather to commit and perpetrate the murther he counselled them that at least wise they should allot him some milder kinde of death Telling them that he endeuoured all what in him lay at the first to disswade them but since it was throughly resolued among them that he should not liue that lesse mischiefe should follow of it if they would be ruled by his counsell for by that meanes their will should haue effect yet a more milde and lesse hurtfull in comparison of murther that it were better for them to temper their hands and keepe them immaculate by casting him into the next pit and there leauing him in the hands of death to this counsell all of them agreed So Ruben tooke Ioseph and bound him with cords and let him downe easily into a pit which was drie which done he departed to seeke out a more conuenient place for pasture But when Ruben was gone Iuda one of Iacobs sonnes espying certaine merchants of Arabia of the countrey of the Ismaelites who from the countrey of Galadena caried Spicerie and Syrian merchandise into Egypt he counselled his brothers to draw vp Ioseph out of the well and to sell him to those Arabians assuring them that by that meanes it would come to passe that Ioseph should die the farther off from them amongst straungers and as touching themselues they should be exempt from that pollution which counsell of his being commended by them all they drew Ioseph out of the pit and sold him to the Arabians for the summe of twentie siluerlings at such time as he was seuenteene yeares of age Now had Ruben resolued in himselfe to saue Ioseph without his brothers priuitie for which cause comming by night vnto the pit he called him with a loud voice seeing that he gaue him no answer he began to coniecture with himselfe that his brethren had done him to death he reproued them therefore verie bitterly but after they had told him what was become of him he gaue ouer his mourning After these things were thus brought to passe the brethren consulted amongst themselues in what sort they might cleere themselues from their fathers suspition and conclude among themselues to teare the coat wherewith Ioseph was attired at such time as he came vnto them and which they had taken from him when they cast him into the well to the end that hauing defiled it in the bloud of a Goate they might afterwards beare it vnto their father and shew it him to the ende he might suppose that Ioseph was slaine by wild beastes which done they came vnto the olde man not altogether ignorant of his sonnes misfortunes and told him that they had not seene their brother Ioseph neither could they assure him what mishappe had befallen him but that notwithstanding they had found his Ierkin altogether bebloudied and torne which made them suspect that he was slaine by some wilde beastes if so be he were sent vnto them attired in that coate But Iacob that hitherto expected and hoped for more succesfull tidings in that he supposed and hoped that Ioseph had onely beene captiue gaue ouer this opinion and tooke the coate for a most assured testimonie of his sonnes death for he knew that he was apparelled therewith at such time as he sent him to his brothers for which cause he lamented Ioseph from that time forward as being dead and as if he had not any more sonnes And such was the griefe of his heart that he conceiued no consolation in the rest but suffered himselfe to be perswaded by the brothers that Ioseph had beene slaine by sauage beastes he therefore sat him downe being clothed in sackcloth and charged with sorrow and neither could his sonnes by their counsels mittigate his moanes nor he himselfe remit the rigor of his Iamentation Now Ioseph was sold by the merchants and bought by Putiphar an Aegyptian Lord and a steward of King Pharaos houshold who held him in high estimation and trained him vp in all liberall sciences suffering him to liue not after a seruile but liberall manner and committing vnto his charge the care of all his houshold all which fauours he made vse of Yet was he no waies diuerted by these his priuiledges and promotions from his innated vertue testifying hereby that prudence doth not submit to aduerse fortune if a man vse the same orderly and not at that time onely when fortune fauneth and flattereth It fortuned not long after that his masters wife was enamoured with him both in
steward they carefully excused saying that they found the money among their wheat at such time as they emptied their sacks which now in discharge of their truth they had brought backe againe but he denying that he euer missed their money they being deliuered from this feare began to be more secure so that Simeon was sodainly set at liberty to conuerse among his brethren Now when Ioseph was returned from the seruice of the King they offer him presents and requiring of them how their father did they answered that he was in health then perceiuing that Beniamin was yet aliue whom he saw among them he asked whether that were their younger brother and hearing that it was he he onely vttered these words that God had the prouidence of all things and departed from them being vnwilling that any of them should see him shed teares which he could not any longer containe Inuiting them afterwards vnto a banquet he commaunded them to sit downe in order according as they were wont to do when they were with their father and whereas he kindly intertained all of them he honoured Beniamin with a double share After the banquet at such time as they were all laid downe to rest he commaunded the Steward to measure out the wheat which euery one should beare away with him and to hide the price thereof againe in their sacks but in Beniamins sacke he commaunded him to shut his cup wherein he most delighted which he therefore did with intent to make triall of their loues towards Beniamin and whether they would sticke vnto him being accused of theft or leauing him behind as a malefactor returne vnto their father as if the matter no waies touched them Which being done according as he had commaunded it earely in the morning all Iacobs sonnes arose and taking with them Simeon departed onwards of their iourney reioycing as well at his restitution as Beniamins returne whom they both promised and protested to bring backe againe to their father when behold sodainly a troupe of horsemen roundly beset them amongst whom was that seruant who had hid the cup in the sacke Now they being troubled by this sodaine incursion and asking them why they set vpon them whom they so lately had both inuited intertained so honourably the Aegyptians answered and exclaimed against them calling them wicked men who forgetting their late benefits receiued and Iosephs gentlenes and humanitie were so wicked as to returne him iniuries for his courtesies threatning them that they should be punished for their theft and telling them that although for a time they had deceiued the minister of the table yet could they not deceiue God and againe asking them whether they were well in their wits in supposing that for this offence they should not be incontinently punished In these or such like speeches the seruant insulted ouer them But they who nothing at all suspected this subtilie accused him saying that they wondred at the mans intemperancy who durst so rashly accuse them of theft who did not keepe backe no not the price of their corne which they found in their sacks whereas none but themselues knew ought of that money so farre were they from purposely offring any wrong yet in that they thought this inquisition would better satisfie them then deniall they bid them search their sacks offering themselues each of them to suffer punishment if any one of them were found guiltie of the theft This search which they offered the Aegyptians accepted yet referred they the punishment to be inflicted onely on him who had done the iniury Afterwards beginning to search and orderly looking into each mans sacke at last they came vnto Beniamins not for that they were ignorant that the cup lay hid in his sacke but that they might seeme to discharge their duty more cunningly now all the rest being secured in themselues they onely as yet were carefull of their brother Beniamin they hoped also that he would not be found guilty of falshood for which cause they more freely vpbraided their persecuters obiecting vnto them how thorow their importunitie they had beene hindered the better part of their iourney Now as they searched Beniamins sacke they found the cup whereupon all the brothers began to mourne and lament both bewayling their brothers fortune who was like presently to suffer death for the theft and their owne mishap who hauing plighted their faiths vnto their father for Beniamins safe returne were compelled to falsifie the same thorow this present accident And that which further increased their griefe was that when as they most of all hoped to be free from dangers they were by fortunes enuy thrust into so great calamitie confessing themselues to be the authors both of their fathers and this their brothers misfortune who neuer ceased to importune and compell their father although he were vnwilling and resisted to send the child with them Now the ho◅semen hauing la◅d hands on Beniamin led him vnto Ioseph whom his brothers presently followed Who beholding his brother thrust into prison and the rest bemoaning them round about him in mourning habits Haue you said he o most wicked men either so contemned my humanity or Gods prouidence as that you durst attempt offer such an hainous iniurie against him who enterta◅ned you with hospitalitie and dismissed you with benefits To whom they answered that they were ready to suffer punishment for Beniamin calling againe to their remembrance Iosephs iniu◅ies saying that he was happy who deliuered by death from life was exempt from all calamities and that if he liued God inflicted that plague on them for his sake They said also that they were the plague and great misfortune of their father because that to his former sorrow which he had conceiued euen vntil that time of Iosephs death they had also annexed this new miserie neither did Ruben desist to reprehend them in bitter manner of that wickednesse which they had committed But Ioseph told them that he dismissed them all saying that their innocencie was approued vnto him and that he onely would be contented with the lads punishment For said he neither is it reasonable that he should be deliuered for the loue of those who had not offended neither that they should be punished for him who had done the theft He commanded them therefore to depart and promised them safe conduct on their way Whilest al of thē were grieuously wounded with these words so that scarcely one of thē could speake for sorrow Iuda who had perswaded his father to send Beniamin with them and who amongst the rest was a man of confidence purposed to expose himselfe to all danger vnder resolution to deliuer his brother from perill whereupon he addressed himselfe to Ioseph and spake thus Dread Lord quoth he we confesse that we are all ready to suffer punishment although we haue not all of vs committed the offence but only the yongest amongst vs and although we suppose his life
pietie and loue which you beare vnto your brother which I find to be greater then I did expect gathering my coniectures from those things which in times past haue hapned vnto me For to this end haue I done all this that I might make triall of your brotherly beneuolence whereof since you haue giuen me a notable proofe I will not ascribe that which you haue done vnto me to your natures but rather wholy to the will of God who hath at this present furnished you with all things which are profitable for you and will hereafter giue you greater things if he withdraw not his fauourable hand from vs. When as therefore I vnderstood of my fathers rather desired then hoped health and found you to be such as I desired you should be towards your brother I freely forget those iniuries which in times past were done vnto me rather making choice to giue you thankes as the ministers of Gods prouidence that against this time prouided for our common profit then remember me as then it seemed vnto me of your pretensed malice I therefore pray you that forgetting those things which are past you will be of courage and waxe confident suffering willingly the good euent of an ill intent neither that blushing at your former faults you should be any waies amated Let not therefore the euill sentence which in times past you pronounced against me any waies trouble you since you perceiue i◅ hath wanted effect but reioice ye at these workes of God and gō and tell your father that which you haue seene for feare least he being cōsumed with immoderate care of you I my selfe be depriued of the chiefest fruit of my feliciti before he come to my presence and be made partaker of those benefits Wherfore depart you bringing with you him your wiues and children and all your kinred come backe vnto me for it were inconuenient my deare brethren that you should not be partakers of my felicitie especially since this famine is as yet to continue for the co◅e of fiue yeares This said ◅eph embraced his brethren but they were wholy confounded in teares and sorrow and the grea◅er was their repentance in that they had sinned against so kind a brother After all this there followed a banquet And the king vnderstanding that Iosephs brethren were arriued as if some good fortune had befallen him right hartily reioyced and he gaue them chariots laden with corne and gold and siluer with other presents to present their father with who enriched with diuers gifts some by their brother vnto his father other some to themselues but in especiall to Beniamin they returned home into their countrey But after that Iacob vnderstood by his sonnes in what estate his sonne Ioseph was that he had not only escaped from death which he had so long time bewailed but also that he liued in high prosperitie and ministred to the king of Egypt and had welnie the whole gouernment of the kingdome vnder his hands he easily beleeued all things that were told him acknowledged the great works of God and his goodnesse shewed vnto him although for a time it seemed to be intermitted And a little time after he addressed himselfe to go and visit his sonne Ioseph CHAP. IIII. How Iacob with all his progenie departed vnto his sonne BVt when he arriued neere the fountaine of Couenant he offered in that place a sacrifice vnto God and fearing least his children should inhabit Egypt by reason of the fertility of the place and that his posteritie by not returning backe into the land of Chanaan should leese the possession of that which God had promised them and furthermore doubting least that his iourney into Egypt being by him enterprised against the will of God should be ominous vnto his children and suspecting likewise least he should die before he came to Iosephs presence he was wonderfully perplexed in mind Whilest thus he rumina ted and examined these things in his thought he was surprised with a heauy sleepe during which time God appeared vnto him and called him twise by his name who asking who it was that called him God answered Doest thou not acknowledge O Iacob that God who hath both protected thee and thine auncestors and succoured you all in your necessities who contrarie to thy fathers purpose made thee Lord of his family and when as by thy selfe thou diddest trauell into Mesopotamia I brought to passe that being matched in wedlocke verie happily thou returnedst into thy countrey backe againe being blessed with many children and stored with much riches I also kept thy progenie in safety and when it seemed thou hadst lost Ioseph I raised him to that high steppe of dignitie wherein now he liueth and made him the next in person to the king of Egypt And now also am I come vnto thee vnto this end that I may guide thee in this thy iourney and that I may fo◅ell thee that thou shalt leaue thy life betwixt the hands of Ioseph and that thy posteritie shall be mightie and famous for many ages and shall posses◅e that land the empire whereof I haue promised them Assured and made confident by this dreame he more willingly ◅astened both he his sons with all their progenie into Egypt whose number amounted to the summe of 70. Their names in that they are somewhat hard I had not written downe except it were to satisfie some who contend that we are Egyptians and not Mesopotamians The sonnes of Iacob therefore were twelue in number of whom Ioseph came thither long before them Now are the rest to be reckoned vp with euerie one of their progenies Ruben had foure sonnes Anoches Phalles Essaron and Char◅sus Simeon had sixe Iumilus Iaminus Puthodus Iachenus G◅r Saar Leui also had three ◅lsemis Caathus and Mararis Iuda had likewise three Sala Phar◅s Zara with two sonnes of Phares Esrom and Amyrus Issachar had foure Thulas Phruras Iobus and Samaron Zabulon had three Saradus Elon and Ianel And these were the children ◅e had by Lea who also led with her Dina her daughter the number of whom amounteth to 33. But Rachel had two sonnes of which the elder who was called Ioseph had likewise two Manasses and Ephraim But Beniamin had ten Bolossus Baccharis Asabel G◅a Naemanes Ises Aros Nomphthis Optais and Sarodus These foureteene added to those abouenamed make vp the number of fortie seuen And this was the legitimate issue of Iacob But on Bala Rachels handmaid Dan and Nephthalim who was attended by foure sonnes Eleinus Gunes Sares and Hellimus But Dan had onely one sonne called Vsis Now if those be added to the aboue named they make vp the number of 54. But Gad and Asser were borne by Zelpha Leas handmaid of these Gad was attended by seuen sonnes Zophonias Vgis Sunis Zabros Erines Erodes and Ariel Asser had one daughter and sixe male children whose names were Iomnes Essus Iubes Baris Abarus Melmiel
them For they were inioyned by them to cut Nilus into diuers trenches and to e◅iron their Cit◅es with walles and to build fortifications and banks whereby the inundations of the floud might be diuerted They also vexed our nation in building their hie and vaine Pyramides compelling them to learne diuers artes and to accustome themselues to endure labour and in such afflictions led they their liues for the space of 400. yeares the Aegyptians studying nought else but to tire the Israelites with continuall labour our country men endeuouring themselues alwaies to performe farre more then was expected from thē Liuing thus in this estate there grew afterwards an other occasion which instigated them the more to seeke the ruine and desolation of our Nation For one of the sacred secretaries to whose predictions those kind of people do very much attribute foretold the King that about that time there should be one bred and borne amongst the Israelites that in time to come should grieuously afflict the estate of the Aegyptians and wonderously enhance the good hap of the Israelites who should su◅passe all other in vertue and purchase to himselfe immortal glory if so be he should attaine to ◅ns estate Wherewith the King being greatly terrified he published an edict by the aduise of this secretary that whatsoeuer male child should be borne amongst the Israelites he should be cast into the floud to be drowned he commaunded likewise the Aegyptian midwiues diligently to obserue the time when the Hebrew women trauelled with child carefully to keepe marke their children at such time as they were deliuered For it was enioyned thē that they should be brought to bed by such midwiues who by reason of consanguinitie with that Nation should not transgresse the king◅ commaundement He enacted also a law with a penaltie that if any should be so bold to conceale their children both they and all their family should be done to death Great was this their calamity not onely in that respect because they were depriued of their children and for that the parents themselues were made the ministers to murther their owne children but foreseeing also the future time they were intolerably dismayed expecting nought else but the certaine and fatall ex◅pation of their wholenation by reason that when the children were s◅ine the parents themselues not long after were ass◅ed to die thus conceited they in themselues into what extreame misfortune they were fallen But no man whosoeuer although he complot neuer so many stratagems can resist the wil of God For both the child of whom the sacred secretary had fore prophecied was secretly brought vp vndiscouered by the kings spies and approued by the euents of his life that he was no false Prophet Amarames an Hebrew borne a noble man amongst his Nation fearing both the pub like perill least the wholenation should be brought to nothing thorow the want of issue and his owne priuate misfortune whose wife at home was big with child and readie to lye downe was troubled in his mind and vncertaine what to doe For which cause he made his recourse vnto God beseeching him that at the length he would haue mercy on those men of whom onely he had beene perpetually honoured and that it would please him to bring to end the present affliction which threatned the whole nation with vtter ruine and destruction But God being moued vnto mercy by his most humble prayer appeared to him in a dreame and recomforted him commaunding him to be confident telling him that he had in memory the pietie of his auncecestors and that he would for euer remunerate them euen as in times past he had beene gratious to their forefathers For it was he that had increased their posteritie and multiplied them to so mighty a nation that by his fauor Abraham departing alone out of Mesopotamia into Chanaan besides other felicities had issue by his wife that was before time barren and left ample possessions to his successors to Ismael Arabia to Chaeturas children Troglottida and to Isaac Chanaan Neither can you euer forget without note of impietie and ingratitude the attempts also which were happily atchieued in warre by my meanes but Iacobs name also is renowmed amongst forraine nations both in respect of the felicitie wherein he liued also for that prosperitie which by hereditarie right happened vnto his posteritie who taking their originall from 70. men that accompanied their father into Egypt are now increased to the number of sixe hundreth thousand know therefore now also that I inwardly and heartily affect your publike securitie and priuately thy glory For this child for feare of whose natiuitie the Egyptians haue condemned all your children vnto death shall be borne vnto thee he neither shall be discouered by the constituted spies and after he hath escaped beyond all expectation shall he be brought vp and in his time shall he deliuer the Hebrewes from the thraldome of the Egyptians and shall obtaine an eternall memorie for this his famous action not onely amongst his owne nation but also amongst straungers for this fauour will I extend vnto thee and on thy posteritie that followeth after thee he shall also haue such a brother who shall deserue both in himselfe and in his posteritie to inherite the priesthood for euer After these things were declared in a vision vnto Amram he awaked and told it to his wife Iochabel and by reason of the prediction of this dreame their suspition and feare the rather increased more and more for they were not onely pensiue in respect of their child but also by reason of the future great good fortune that was promised them But anone after the woman being brought a bed gaue credit to the Oracle who had so easie and gentle a labor that she beguiled the ouerseers spies in that she felt none of those throwes which do commonly afflict such as are in labor so that she nourished the infant three moneths secretly in her house without being in any sort discouered But afterwards Amram fearing to be surprised sore doubting least he should incurre the kings displeasure if the matter were discouered whereby both he and the child should be made away and Gods promises should be frustrate he had rather wholy commit the safety of his sonne to his prouidence supposing that if the boy were hidden which notwithstanding would be hard to effect yet that it would be troublesom vnto him to liue in continuall perill both of his owne and his sonnes safetie moreouer he thought that God would puruey some meanes of assurance to the intent that nothing of that which he had foretold might be proued false Grounding himselfe on this resolution they prepared and made a cradle of sedge after the manner of a couch so great as it was sufficient to lay the child in at ease and hauing pitched it on euery side least the water should pierce the same they put the child into it and
bread of twentie foure Assars of flower and those loaues they baked two by two the day before the Sabboth and the day of the Sabboth in the morning they bring it and set it on the sacred Table opposing sixe to sixe the one against the other and vpon them are imposed two platters full of incense and these things remaine after this maner till the next Sabboth and then set they new in the place of the first which are giuen to the Priests for their maintenance The incense is cast into the sacred fire in which the burnt offerings are consumed and in place thereof there is new incense put The Priest also sacrificeth on his owne charge flower mingled with oyle and a little baked by fire and this doth he twise euerie day and bringeth to the fire halfe an Assar of flower in the morning and the other halfe in the euening But I will entreat hereof more expresly hereafter for the present me thinks I haue sufficiently spoken already Moses separated the tribe of Leui and exempted them from the other people to the end they might be consecrated vnto God and he purified them with liuing fountaine water and purged them with solemne sacrifice and committed the Tabernacle to their charge with all the holy things pertaining therunto and all the rest which had bin made for the couer of the Tabemacle to the end they might be ministers to the Priests their superiours who were already consecrated to God After this he distinguished the beasts also namely those that were to be eaten froÌ„ those which were to be forborne and abstained from of which we will speak at such time as occasion is offered vs and will bring proofes and the reason which induced him to ordaine that some were proper to feede vpon and for what cause he would that we should abstaine from other some He hath generally interdicted all vse of bloud in meates esteeming the bloud to be the soule and spirit of beasts He hath also generally prohibited to eat the flesh of those beasts that died by theÌ„selues likewise the caule and fat of goates of sheepe and oxen He thrust them likewise out of the company and conuersation of men who were leprous such as were troubled with the fluxe of their seed And as touching women that haue their sicknesse he sequestred them for the space of seuen dayes after which it was lawfull for them to conuerse indifferently the one with the other The like decreed he of those that had assisted the buriall of a dead man whom he permitted to conuerse with other after seuen dayes were expired It was a thing also decreed by law that he that was surprised with vncleannesse and vnpurified beyond the number of those dayes he should sacrifice two Wethers one of which should bee purified and the other giuen to the Priests The like sacrifice is made for him that hath had vnnaturall pollution who first washeth himselfe in cold water The like must they offer that haue vse of their lawfull wiues Hee altogether droue the leprous out of the citie not permitting them to frequent any mans companie but esteeming them as men little differing from the dead And if any one by his prayers made vnto God was deliuered from this disease and his skin reduced to his natiue colour such a one presented himselfe before God in diuers oblations and sacrifices of which wee will speake hereafter For which cause they are worthy to be laughed at who say that Moses fled out of Aegypt because he was a leper and that he conducted with him other such as were trauelled with that disease and brought them into the land of Canaan For if that were true Moses had not made these ordinances to his owne preiudice which if other had proposed it behooued him to haue opposed himselfe against them especially since amongst diuers other nations there are lepersâ—… who are held in great honour and who are so far from disdaine and contempt as that they haue beene made Generals of most notable armies and elected for Gouernours of common-weales hauing libertie to enter the Temples and to be present at the sacrifices What therefore hindred Moses if he had beene polluted with the like hatefull sicknesse to make such lawes and ordaine such statutes among those people who honoured and obeyed him whereby such as were therewith infected might be preferred By which it is manifest that those things that are obiected against him are rather of malice then probability But Moses being cleane from such sickenesse and conuersing amongst his countrimen which were vntainted made these ordinances for them that were sicke hauing regard to the honour of God But of these things let each man censure as best liketh him He forbad that women should enter into the Temple after their deliuerance or to assist the sacrifice vntill fortie dayes were expired if they had beene brought a bed of a sonne but if it were a daughter he willed that the number of the dayes should be doubled and that when they should enter they should present their offerings vnto God and to the Priests that offered them And if any one suspected that his wife had committed adultery hee brought an Assar of grinded barley and cast a handfull thereof before God and the rest was reserued for the maintenance of the Priests and then the Priest placing the woman in the porch which is right ouer against the Temple and taking the couer from her head writeth the name of God vpon a skinne and maketh her sweare that she hath not plaid false with her husband and wish if she had transgressed thè bounds of chastity that her right thigh might be put out of ioint her womb might rot and that death might follow thereupon but if through entire loue and iealousie proceeding therefro her husband had beene inconsiderately drawne into that suspition that she might within ten moneths bring forth a male child And after such an oath ministred vnto her the Priest wipeth out the name of God that was written on the skinne and wringeth it into a viall and then taking of the earth of the Temple according as he findeth it and hauing mingled the same giueth it the woman to drinke and if she hath beene vniustly accused she continueth with child and beareth her fruit her full time but if she hath falsified her faith to her husband forsworn herselfe before God then dieth she a shameful death for her thigh is nummed her wombe growes full of water See here how Moses hath prouided for these sacrifices at the purifying of a woman He furthermore made these lawes which ensue He generally forbad adulterie iudging it to be a great good hap if men demeaned themselues honestly in mariageÌ„ that both in politique estates and priuate families it was a thing most profitable that children should be borne in lawfull matrimonie The law also forbiddeth a man to haue the
and sorrow in her first husband Let not free men match themselues with such as are seruants no not although they be thereunto moued by loue For it is a thing worthie and besitting honour to surmount a mans affections Let no man meddle with an Harlot whose sacrifice God refuseth by reason of the filthinesse of her bodie For the children shall be of a free heart and addressed in vertue not if they be engendred in villanous and vnlawfull concupiscence but if they be begotten and borne by a free father and mother If anie one that is married for a virgin bee afterwards found to the contrarie let her be brought before the Iudge and let him produce all the signes that hee can and let the new married wiues cause be defended by her father or brother or by them who next vnto them shall seeme to be her next in bloud and if the Damosell be found to haue committed no crime let her returne dwell with him that hath accused her who cannot any more refuse her except she giue him great occasions whereunto she cannot contradict But hee that without cause and rashly shall accuse and slaunder his wife he shall be punished with thirtie nine stripes and in way of amends shall pay fiftie sicles to her father But if it be proued that she hath beene defloured and hath beene common then shall she be stoned to death for that she hath not chastlie conserued her virginitie till the time of her lawfull marriage and if she be of the race of the Priests she shall be burned aliue If any man haue two wiues the one of which he holdeth in great honour and amitie either for loue or by reason of her beautie and that the other be not in the like condition and estimate if the sonne of her that is better beloued demaundeth to haue the prerogatiue of the elder which is two portions of that which commeth to all the rest by his fathers patrimonie for so much import our ordinances and challengeth the same by reason that his father more dearely loueth his mother then the other let it not be granted him For it is an act against iustice that the eldest should be depriued of that which appertaineth vnto him because his mothers condition is inferiour to that of the others by reason of his fathers affection Whosoeuer shall violate a maiden being betrothed to another man if by perswasion she hath consented to lie with him let her die with him For they are both of them equally guiltie of sinne the man because he hath perswaded the maiden to suffer an insufferable dishonour and to preferre her lust before an honest mariage and the maid for suffering her selfe to be ouercome and abandoning her bodie to villany either for lust or lucres sake But if meeting her alone he inforce her and she haue none to succour her hard by let him die alone He that shall defloure the virgin that is vnmarried he shall take her to wife but if he condescend not to the father to entertaine her in wedlocke he shall pay fiftie sicles for amends of the iniurie If any man pretend to separate himselfe from his wife for certaine causes such as ordinarily happen amongst married couples let him confirme it in writing that he will neuer more entertaine her againe and so may she marrie againe vnto another and refuse the former husband And if it hapned that she were euill intreated by the second or that he being dead the first would take her againe in marriage it is not lawfull for the wife to returne vnto him If the brother of him that is deceased without issue take to wife her whom his deceased brother had married and that the sonne which was borne by this second wedlocke beareth his name let him be brought vp as the successor of his inheritāce which thing is granted for publike profit sake to the end that families should not come to ruine and that the goods should remaine to those of the same kinred Furthermore it is allowed for the comfort of afflicted women that they may be ioyned in marriage with the next akin of their first husbands but if the brother will not take her to wife she shall repaire vnto the Senate and make this protestation that the brother of her deceased husband will not intertaine her although she had desired to remaine in that line and bring forth infants vnto him protesting that by him onely the memorie of her deceased husband was dishonoured And when the Senate shall haue examined the cause why he estrangeth himselfe from this marriage his excuse shall be allowed of how great or sleight consequence soeuer it be and then shall the widow vnloose his shoe and spit in his face and tell him that he hath deseruedly suffered these things in that he hath iniured the memorie of his dead brother and thus shall he depart out of the court being defamed for his whole life time and the woman may marry whomsoeuer she list If any man take a virgin prisoner or such a one as hath beene alreadie married and bee desirous to take her to his wife it is not lawfull for him to touch or approch her before such time as she hath beene shauen and hauing put on her mourning apparrell hath bewailed her parents or friends slaine in battell but after she hath in this sort asswaged her sorrow she may afterwards addict her selfe to mirth and marriage For it is a matter both honest and iust that he that entertaineth her to haue issue by her should condescend vnto her wil in all that wherein he might gratifie her and that he should not onely addict himselfe to the pursuit of his pleasure when as then the thirtie daies of mourning shall be expired for that time is sufficient for the wife to bewaile her friends in then may she harken after marriage and if after he hath had his pleasure with her it fortune that he mislike her and will not accept her for his wife he can no more make her his slaue but she may goe whither soeuer she pleaseth for that she beareth with her her liberite All those young men that shall make no reckoning of their fathers and mothers and that shall not doe them that honour which belongeth vnto them whether the same proceed of shame or spring from folly by which meanes they grow to neglect their dutie these first of all shall be admonished by discreete counsel of their parents who are by nature appointed sufficient iudges in that behalfe who shall signifie vnto them that they were matched together in matrimonie not for their pleasures sake neither that by vniting their possessions they might become the more richer but to the end they might beget children who might nourish them in their age and minister vnto them in their necessities That they had receiued them at Gods hands with great thanksgiuing and infinite ioy and brought them
of the assembly gaue this answere in defence of the common cause Men and brethren neither will we neglect our kinred neither innouate any thing in that religion of which we make a reuerend account we know that there is one God cōmon vnto all the nation of the Hebrewes and acknowledge also his brasen Altar which is before the Tabernacle and no other but that shal receiue our sacrifices As for that which we haue now erected and that breedeth in you at this present a cause of suspition we built it not to the intent to pacific God by sacrifices but that it might remaine as a perpetuall argument of our friendship and might admonish vs of our countrey religion not to the end you should suspect it were an induction toward the violating of religion And that this was the onely cause which allured and induced vs to build the same we onely challenge God for our faithfull witnesse for which cause hereafter conceiue a better opinion of vs and God forbid you should suppose vs to be so besotted in that sinne of which whosoeuer of Abrahams posteritie is guiltie and whosoeuer shall degenerate from the maners and customes of his forefathers may not expiate that crime without a capitall punishment As soone as Phinees had heard these things and praised their constancie he returned vnto Iesus and declared all those things vnto the people who reioycing in that they had no occasion to leuie men nor cause of ciuill warre or bloudshed offered vnto God their sacrifices of thankgiuing and presently dissoluing the assembly each man returned vnto his owne home but Iesus chose his habitation in Sichama Twentie yeares after Iosuah being extremely old calling vnto him the most honourable of euery Citie and both the Elders and Magistrates and as many of the people as might commodiously be assistant spake vnto them after this maner First he called vnto their remembrance the diuers benefites which God had bestowed vpon them by meanes whereof from their poore and afflicted estates they had attained to so great riches and glorie then exhorted he them that they should endeuour themselues hereafter in such sort as God might hold and continue his mercifull hand ouer them since they knew that his beneuolence could be allied vnto them by no other meanes but by their good indeuours he further alledged that it was his dutie before he departed out of this life to admonish them of their duty last of all he required them that they should accept of that his good admonition and should be perpetually mindfull of the same After this his oration he paid the due of nature and died in the hundreth and tenth yeere of his life whereof he spent fortie as minister vnder Moses their magistrate and after his death gouerned the common-weale twentie fiue yeares a man of incomparable both prudence and eloquence Moreouer strong and expedite in matter of gouernement and both good and profitable in affaires of peace finally most exact in all sorts of vertue he was buried in a Citie called Thamna belonging to the Tribe of the Ephraimites About the same time likewise died Eleazar the high Priest leauing the inheritance of the Priesthood to Phinees the monument laid on his sepulcher is extant in the Citie Gabatha After their deaths Phinees being demaunded by the people what Gods pleasure was and to whose charge the affaires and warres against the Chanaanites should be committed answered them that God commaunded them to giue the gouernment to the tribe of Iuda which by election chosing Simeon and his they for their associates vndertook the warre vnder this condition that when they had vtterly rooted out the remnant of the Chanaanites out of their owne dition they should likewise employ themselues to extinguish all the reliques of that race amongst the other tribes CHAP. II. How the Israelites after the death of their Emperour forgetting the religion of their forefathers fell into extreme calamities and how thorow a ciuill warre raised amongst them therewere onely 600. of the tribe of Beniamin left aliue BVt the Chanaanites whose estate at that time was in sufficient securitie expected them with a great host about the Citie of Bezeca hauing their army conducted by the king of that place called Adoni-Bezec which name signifieth Lord of the Bezecenites for Adoni in the Hebrewe tongue is as much to say as Lord now these men promised vnto themselues the vpper hand by reason that Iosuah was deceased Against these of whom I haue forespoken the two tribes sought verie valiantly and slaying ten thousand of them whilest they pursued the rest they tooke Adoni-Bezec captiue who hauing his hands and feete cut off acknowledged the diuine iustice for he confessed that he had vsed seuentie and two kings before times after the same maner In this plight they conducted him neere vnto Ierusalem where departing out of this life they buried him Then ouerranne they the countrey sacking and taking the Cities and after they had diuers of them in their possession they besieged Ierusalem and entring the lower Citie thereof they put all the inhabitants to the sword But the higher towne was verie hard to be assaulted by reason of the fortresses and strength of the walles and the naturall and strong scituation of the place which was the cause that they leuied their campe to goe and besiege Hebron which they tooke slew all those that were therin In that time there were some remainder of the race of Giants who in that they were greater in stature vnlike vnto other mē were horrible to behold and terrible to be heard Their bones are to be seene as yet at this day which for their highnes surpasse all credulitie or conceit This Citie was giuen in way of honour to the Leuites with two thousand cubits of land or there abouts and as touching the rest of the countrey it was freely giuen to Caleb according as Moses had commaunded it this was one of those spies which Moses sent to ouerlooke the land of Chanaan They gaue lands and possessions likewise to Iethro the Madianites posteritie who was father in law to Moses for that they had forsaken their owne territories and annexed themselues to the Israelites and had beene with them in the desart The tribe of Iuda and Simeon tooke those Cities of the mountainous countrey of Chanaan and those that were in the plaine neere vnto the sea coast namely Ascalon and Azoth But as touching Gaza and Accaron they escaped for these Cities being in the plaine and defenced with a great number of chariots repulsed those that assaulted the same to their disaduantage So these two tribes hauing had good successe in warres retired themselues into their Cities and laid aside their weapons As touching the Beniamites to whom Ierusalem appertained they receiued the inhabitants thereof as their tributaries so that all of them being in peace and the one ceasing from slaughter and the other
fall vpon the Israelites that there is not any tongue that may expresse the same or man that may beleeue it The sonnes of Eli shall die and the Priesthood shall be transported into the family of Eleazar For Eli hath more loued his children then my seruice and more then was expedient for them Eli inforced the Prophet by imprecations to declare vnto him that which he had heard But Samuel for feare he should discomfort him would not disclose the same vnto him which made him the more assured of the intended and imminent death of his sonnes And because that which Samuel prophecied in effect proued true his reputation increased daily more and more In that time the Philistines leading out their armie against the Israelites incamped neere vnto the Citie of Amphec and for that the Hebrewes were negligent to withstand them they passed further into the countries thereabout so that in fighting with their enemies the Philistines at last got the vpper hand and slew the Hebrewes and had them in chace for the space of foure miles pursuing the rest of those that fled euen vnto their owne tents Whereupon the Hebrewes grew iealous and affraid of their whole estate and therefore sent they to the councell of the Elders and the high Priest praying them to bring the Arke of God with them to the end that hauing it in presence with them they might strike the battell and ouercome their enemies But they bethought them not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamitie against them was greater then the Arke which was made for him The Arke then was brought and the sonnes of Eli attended it whom their father had expresly commaunded that if it so fell out that the Arke were taken they should neuer more come before his presence except they would die Now Phinees executed the office of the high Priest by the permission of his father by reason he was verie aged The Hebrewes because of the presence of the Arke conceiued very great hope and assurance that they should haue the vpper hand of their enemies The Philistines likewise were sore amazed fearing the presence of the same but the issues were not answerable according to the one or the others expectation For when they ioyned battell the victorie which the Hebrewes hoped should be theirs fell vnto the Philistines the losse which the Philistines feared fell vpon the Hebrewes who at last perceiued that they had reposed their confidence on the Arke all in vaine For as soone as their enemies and they fought pell mell with them they turned their backs and lost about thirtie thousand men amongst whom the sonnes of the high Priest were slaine and the Arke was taken and carried away by the enemie CHAP. XII Eli vnderstanding of the losse of his sonnes fell from his seate and died AS soone as the newes of this ouerthrow was brought into Silo and that it was certainly knowne that the Arke was taken for a young Beniamite who was at the execution was come to bring tidings thereof all the Citie was filled with sorrow and Eli the high Priest who sate in one of the gates on a high throne vnderstanding the lamentation and iudging that some desaster had befallen his people sent to seeke out this young messenger by whom he was aduertised of that which had hapned This accident of his sonnes and the army he bare with great moderation because that before that time he had vnderstood by God what should happen for those aduersities which are least suspected do more grieuously oppresse vs at such time as they happen But when he knew that the Arke was surprised and in the enemies hands by reason that it hapned beyond his expectation he was in such sort attainted with griefe that he suffered himselfe to fall from his throne vpon the ground where he died he liued ninetie and eight yeares in all and had spent fortie of them in the gouernment of the people The same day died the wife of Phinees the sonne of Eli who had no more power to liue when she vnderstood of the misfortune of her husband for she was with child at such time as the message of this his death was brought vnto her and she brought forth a sonne in the seuenth month which liued and was called Ichabod which signifieth ignominie by reason of the infamie receiued at that time by the armie Eli was the first that gouerned among the successours of Ithamar one of the sonnes of Aaron for before that time the house of Eleazar was possessed of the Priesthood the sonne receiuing it from his father Eli transferred it to Phinees after him Abiezar his sonne occupied the place and left it to his sonne Boci whose sonne called Ozes receiued it after whom Eli of whom we speake at this present tooke the same whose posteritie retained that dignitie till the time of the raigne of Salomon for at that time the posteritie of Eleazar were reinstalled THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 6. booke 1 How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent the Arke of God backe againe vnto the Hebrewes 2 The victorie of the Hebrewes vnder the conduct of Samuel 3 How Samuel when his strength failed him thorow age committed the administration of the affaires to his sonnes 4 How the people being offended with the manners of Samuels sonnes required a King that might rule ouer them 5 Saul by Gods commaundement was annointed King 6 Sauls victorie against the Ammonites 7 The Palestines assailing the Hebrewes are ouercome by them in battell 8 The victorie of Saul against the Amalechites 9 Samuel translateth the Royall dignitie vnto Dauid 10 The expedition of the Palestines against the Hebrewes 11 Dauids single fight with Golias and the slaughter of the Palestines that succeeded 12 Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter in marriage 13 How the King sought Dauids death 14 How Dauid oftentimes hardly escaped from the kings treasons yet hauing him twice in his power how he would not hurt him 15 The Hebrewes are ouercome in a great battell by the Palestines wherein Saul the king and his sonnes fighting valiantly are slaine CHAP. I. How the Palestines compelled by pestilence and famine sent backe the Arke of couenant vnto the Hebrewes AFter that the Philistines had gotten the victorie ouer the Hebrewes and taken the sacred Arke as we haue before this declared they brought it with other their spoiles vnto the City of Azot and placed it in maner of a trophee in the Temple of Dagon their Idoll But on the next day after when earely in the morning they came and entred into the Temple to adore their god they found him fallen from that base or pillar that sustained him and lay along vpon the ground his face vpward before the Arke whereat being fore moued they tooke and fastned him in his former place
people were mustered in the Citie of Bala In this suruey besides those of the tribe of Iuda there were numbred seuen hundreth thousand men and of the tribe of Iuda in particular there were seuentie thousand Hauing therefore passed Iordan and marched some ten cables length of Nilus which is about some three leagues all the night time before the sunne rise he attained the place whither he intended to conduct them and deuiding his army into three parts he assailed the enemie on euery side that expected no such encountry and fighting valiantly against them he slew diuers and amongst the rest Nahas king of the Ammonites This victorie made Sauls name famous amongst all the Hebrewes so that he was wonderfully praised and honoured for his valour so that if before that time any one had contemned him at that time they chaunged their opinions and honoured him and accounted him the worthiest of them all For he was not satisfied to redeeme and deliuer those of Iabes but he entred the countrey of the Ammonites also and forraged the same with his army and vtterly ouerthrew them and after he had obtained a great bootie and pray both he and his victoriously magnifically returnd to their dwelling places The people highly pleased with this noble action atchieued by Saul reioyced because they had chosen them so noble a King and exclaimed against those that said that it would be discommodious and vnprofitable for their common-weale saying where are now these murmurers let them be put to death with other such like words that a people besorted with some good successe is wont to speake and inforce against them that set light by the authors inducers of the same Saul receiued great content and comfort thorow this good liking and allowance of the people yet notwithstanding he swore that no one of their tribe should be put to death that day because it would not seeme conuenient nor agreeable that the victorie which was giuen them by God should be mixed with the bloud of their brethren but rather that it was more decent and comely that the time should be spent in feast and iollitie Hereupon Samuel told them that it behooued them to confirme the kingdome to Saul by a second election and to that end they assembled together in the Citie of Galgal according as he had commanded them and there in the sight of all the people Samuel annointed Saul the second time with the consecrated oyle and proclaimed him king ar◅ew Thus was the Aristocracie and gouernment of the better sort amongst the Hebrewes turned into a Monarchie For vnder Moses and his disciple Iesus who gouerned the Empyre and armie at that time the nobilitie and elected worthie men ruled the state After whose death for the space of 18. whole yeares the people was without gouernment the common-weale not long after reassumed her pristine pollicie and the gouernment was giuen vnto him which was esteemed the most valiant in warre and the most vpright in doing of Iustice. All which time for this cause hath beene called the time of the Iudges After this the Prophet Samuel assembled the people and spake vnto them after this manner I coniure you by that great God that hath giuen life to those two brothers I meane Moses and Aaron and that hath deliuered your forefathers from the Egyptians and their tyranny that without any affection either of feare or shame or instigation of any other passion you truly testifie whether I haue committed any sinister or wicked act either for profit sake or for auarice or fauor Reproue me if I haue taken away any mans calfe or sheepe or any other thing-whatsoeuer but that which I might lawfully take for my reliefe and sustenance and at such hands as willingly offered me the same or if I haue drawen any mans beasts to my vse or vsed his cattell to my profit and his hinderance in these and such like if I haue offended any man let him now accuse me in the presence of the king All of them cried out with one voice that no such default had beene committed by him but that he had gouerned their nation in holines and iustice After that the people had thus publikely testified in the behalfe of Samuel he said vnto them Since you haue liberally freely protested that you haue no cause of wrong to vrge or inforce against me heare I pray you that wherewith I can iustly accuse you of You haue grieuously offended against the maiestie of God in that you haue required a king at his hands you should haue rather remembred that your old father Iacob accompanied onely with his 70. sons came into Egypt constrained thereunto by famine and that in that countrey diuers thousands of persons issued from his loynes whom the Egyptians kept in captiuitie offering them extreme outrages And whenas your fathers called vpon God how he wonderfully deliuered thē from the necessities wherin they were without giuing them any king contenting themselues with two brothers Moses and Aaron who brought and conducted you into this countrey which you possesse at this present And although you participated these benefits by the hands of God yet notwithstanding you haue not forborne both to forget religion and neglect pietie This notwithstanding at such time as you haue beene conquered by your enemies he hath set you free gracing you first of all with the ouerthrow of the Assyrians their forces secondly giuing you victorie ouer the Ammonites and Moabites and finally ouer the Philistines Now these great exploits were performed by you not vnder the conduct of a king but by the direction of Ieptha and Gedeon what folly therefore hath bewirched you to make you flie from God and to seeke to liue vnder the subiection of a king But I haue named such a one vnto you whom God hath chosen to be your gouernour Notwithstāding to the intent that I may giue you a manifest testimony that Gods wrath is whetted against you because you haue desired to haue a king I will striue to expresse it vnto you by visible signes done by God himselfe I will therefore require of God that he wil make you see in this place and in the hart of sommer such a storme that there is not any one of you that hath euer seene the like thereof Scarce had he spoken the words but that so dainly there fell great store of lightning thunder and haile in approbation of that which the Prophet had said so that amased and transported with feare all of them confessed that they had offended They notwithstanding professed that their errour was of ignorance not of obstinacie and besought the Prophet that with a good and fatherly affection he would beseech God to appease his wrath towards them and forgiue them their offences at that present which to their other grieuous negligences they had annexed and whereby they had transgressed his holy will All which Samuel promised them to
Courtiers to sound and seeke out Dauids resolution and how he was affectioned towardes marriage who began to deuize with him telling him that the king bare him a most intire fauour and that the people admired him and how they would procure him the mariage of the kings daughter Whereunto Dauid replied Thinke you it to be a small matter to be son in law vnto the king for my selfe I esteeme otherwise considering in especial mine own base condition who haue neither reputation nor any honorable qualitie When Sauls seruants had related vnto him what answere Dauid had made them Tell him said he that I neither want goods nor presents for that were to expose my daughter to sale and not to match her with a husband I seeke for a sonne in law that hath valour and that is adorned with all vertue such as is manifest and apparant in thee and my desire is that for the dower of my daughter thou giue me neither gold nor siluer nor any other valuable wealth out of thy fathers house but the punishment of the Philistines and six hundreth of their heads which shall be the most desired and accepted dower thou canst present me with My daughter also requesteth aboue all the dowers that may accrew vnto her by order of law to be married to such a man that is so enobled and famous by the ouerthrow of his enemies When these words were reported vnto Dauid he was verie ioyfull thinking that Saul spake sincerely of this affinitie and without delay or taking counsaile or deliberation whether the thing were easie or impossible for him to execute hee incontinently departed with his company to go and finde out the enemy and execute the condition vnder which the marriage was promised him For it was God that made all things easie and possible to Dauid for after he had slaine diuers of them and cut off six hundreth of their heads he returned and presented them to the king and in consideration thereof required the performance of his marriage CHAP. XII Saul admiring Dauids fortitude giueth him his daughter to wife BVt Saul that could not flie from his promise for feare least it should be a great dishonour for him to be found a lier or to haue promised Dauid his daughter vnder colour either to murther him or to draw him to the execution of things that were impossible deliuered his daughter Michol vnto him But his intention was not to continue long in that mind For perceiuing that Dauid was gracious in Gods sight and in good reputation amongst the people he was affraid of him and being vnable to conceale his feare he had conceiued to be depriued of two things of such consequence as were his kingdome and life he resolued to kill Dauid giuing commission to his sonne Ionathan and diuers other of his seruants to execute the same But Ionathan amased to see this change in his father in steed of the singular good liking he had of Dauid in times past sought to hurt Dauid not in any slight sort but by indangering his life and on the other side being singularly affected towards him and respecting of his vertue he communicated the secret and deliberation of his father with him counselling him to haue care of himselfe and to flie vpon the next morrow and that in the meane time he would go and salute his father and as soone as the occasion presented it selfe hee would speake and conferre with him to know the cause of his conceiued displeasure against him to the intent he might pacifie the same supposing it to bee a matter vnreasonable that he should be depriued of life to whom the people were so much indebted and who in particular was his esteemed and vowed friend yea in respect of his former merits although he were found guiltie of many hainous offences yet ought he to obtaine a deserued pardon I will tell thee afterward said he what my fathers resolution is Dauid gaue credit to his holesome counsaile and retired himselfe from the presence of the king CHAP. XIII How the King practised to murther Dauid THe next day after Ionathan came vnto Saul and finding him merrie and well disposed he began to speake vnto him to this effect as concerning Dauid In what fault O Father either great or small haue you found Dauid guiltie that you haue ordained commanded him to be done to death who is such a man as for the conseruation of your own person hath been very profitable and besides that hath preiudiced the estate of the Philistines and inhaunced the honour of the people of the Hebrewes and hath deliuered them from that disgrace and mockerie wherewith they haue been curbed for the space of fortie yeares so that he onely hath dared and opposed himselfe against the proud defies of the enemy and since that time hath brought so many of the Philistines heads as was commanded him in recompence whereof he hath had my sister to wife so that his death should be a great displeasure vnto vs not onely by reason of the vertue wherwith he is endowed but also thorow occasion of his alliance with vs in bloud and consanguinitie For by his death your daughter shall partake part of the iniurie by reason that she shall suffer the incommoditie of widowhood before she hath tasted the fruites and commodities of marriage Way these things and pacifie your displeasure and do no wrong vnto such a man who first of all hath beene the author of your so good and great fortunes as is the conseruation of your person at such time as you were possessed and tormented with euil spirits and hath brought to passe that your furies are alayed and secondly hath reuenged you of your enemies For it is a thing vnworthy either your maiestie or the name of a man to forget good deserts With these words was Saul pacified so that he swore vnto his sonne that he would not iniure Dauid for his iust perswasions and arguments were more stronger then the choler and feare of the king Ionathan sent to seeke out Dauid and told him these good and happy tidings from his father and brought him vnto him where he liued and remained in sort as he did before time CHAP. XIIII How hardly Dauid escaped the ambushes that were often layd for him by the king yet hauing him twice at aduantage and in his power would not murther him ABout the same time whilest the Philistines led forth their army anew against the Hebrewes Saul sent out Dauid against them accompanied with his forces who encountring them slew a great number of them returned vnto the king with a great victorie But Saul entertained him not both as he deserued and the happy exploit atchieued by him did merit but despited and enuied his good actions honorable deserts as if Dauids happy successe had bin Sauls disaduantage and preiudice But at such time as the euill spirit returned anew and both seased and vexed him he lodged
him in his owne chamber where he lay and hauing at that time a iauelin in his hand he commanded him to play on his harp to sing hymnes Now whilest Dauid executed that his commandement Saul stretching out his arme threw his dart at him but Dauid foreseeing it auoided the stroke and fled into his owne house where he soiourned all the day long Now when the night was come the king sent out certaine of his seruants to watch his house for feare least he should escape to the end that the next day being drawen and appearing in iudgement he might be condemned and put to death But Michol Dauids wife and Sauls daughter hauing intelligence of her fathers intention ran vnto her husband telling him in how great peril both he and she were who without his presence neither could nor would liue any longer Beware said she least the sunne finde thee in this place for he shall no more behold thee here hereafter Flie therefore whilest the present night offereth thee opportunitie which God doth lengthen for thy safetie-sake for be assured that if thou beest surprised in this place my father will make thee die a miserable death This said she let him downe by a window and so saued him and incontinently after she prepared his bed and trimmed it as if he laye sicke therein and vnder the couering thereof she laid the liuer of a new slanghtered Kid and when her father had sent the next morning to apprehend Dauid she answered that he had beene sicke all the night long then discouering the bed that was couered she gaue them to vnderstand that Dauid was laid therein making them touch the couerlet vnder which the liuer stirred and made them beleeue that the liuer that lay there was Dauid who panted breathed verie hardly Which being signified vnto Saul he commaunded that he should be brought vnto him in that estate wherein he was because he was resolued to put him to death But when Sauls messengers were arriued and returned thither and had discouered the bed they perceiued Michols subtiltie and went and certified the king thereof who reproued her verie grieuously for that she had saued his aduersarie and deceiued her father But she defended her selfe with words full of good apparance saying that Dauid had threatned to kill hir and how for that cause and by the impulsion of feare she was drawen and induced to aide and saue him For which cause she ought to be pardoned since by constraint and not of set purpose she had furthered his escape For said she I thinke that you seeke not so greedily after the death of your enemie as you preferre the same before the safetie and securitie of your daughter On these perswasions Saul pardoned his daughter Dauid deliuered from this perill came vnto the Prophet Samuel to Ramatha and told him what ambushes the king had laid for him how hardly he had escaped death by the stroke of his Iauelin whereas in all things that concerned Saul he had alwaies shewed himselfe obedient againe how he had neuer ceased to warre vpon his enemies and had by Gods assistance beene fortunate in all things which was the cause that Saul was so displeased with him The Prophet informed of Sauls iniustice forsooke the Citie of Ramath and led Dauid to a certaine place called Galbaath where he remained with him But as soone as Saul was informed that Dauid was retired and accompanied with the Prophet he sent out certaine soldiers to lay hands on him and bring him vnto him who repairing to Samuel and finding the congregation of the Prophets were seased with the spirit of God and began to prophecie Which when Saul vnderstood he sent out others who had the like incounter with the first For which cause he sent out others and seeing the third companie prophecie likewise he was in the end so much despited that he came thither in his owne person And when he drew neere the place before that Samuel saw him he made him prophecie so that Saul comming towards him was seased by aboundance of the spirit so that he was rauished out of himselfe and hauing despoyled himselfe of his raiment he lay prostrate all the day and the night long in the presence both of Samuel and Dauid Dauid departed from thence and went vnto Ionathan to whom he complained of those ambushes which his father had laid to intrap him in telling him that notwithstanding he had neuer committed either iniurie or fault against his father yet did he earnestly pursue him to put him to death Ionathan perswaded him that he should neither rashly suspect these things nor be ouer-credulous in those reports which perhaps might be brought vnto him but that he should trust him onely who was assured that his father intended no euill against him For if he had he would haue told him who is neuer wont to act any thing without his counsell But Dauid sware vnto him that it was so and besought him that he would beleeue his vnfained assertiōs wherby he might the more easily procure his securitie least contemning his words and supposing them to be fained and friuolous he should by his death be ascertained of the sight and truth thereof For he assured him that his father for that cause did not communicate his counsailes with him because he was assured of the loue and friendship that was betweene them Ionathan sore aggrieued that Dauid was so perswaded and Sauls intention was such asked him what he desired at his hands or wherein he might shew him friendship Dauid said vnto him I know that thou wilt further me in what thou maist and refuse me in nothing Now to morrow is the first day of the moneth in which I was accustomed to dine at the kings table and if thou thinkest good I will depart out of the Citie into the field where I will lie hidden if he aske for me thou shalt say I am gone into the countrey of Bethleem where my tribe solemnizeth a feast thou shalt certifie him also that thou hast giuen me leaue And if he say God speed him which is an ordinary wish that friends vse to such as go a iorney know that he hath no hiddē rancor nor secret malice conceiued against me but if he answer otherwise it shall be an assured testimonie that he complotteth some mischiefe against me and this shalt thou ascertaine me of as both becommeth my present calamitie and our mutual friendship which by vowed oth thou being my Lord hast plighted with me who am thy seruant And if thou thinke me vnworthie of this fauour and iniurious towards thy father without expecting the sentence of his iustice kill me now at this present with thine owne sword These his last words so grieuously stroke Ionathan to the heart that he promised him to accomplish his request assuring him to certifie him if he any waies could perceiue that his father was ill affected towards him
of them perished being loaden with sleep gorged with wine They likewise that were compleatly armed intending to make resistance were as easily slaine as they that lay naked vpon the earth Thus Dauids men abode with him from the first hower of the morning till the euening doing nought else but kill murther that that only foure hundreth of the Amalechites escaped who likewise fled being mounted on their Dromodaries So recouered he all that which the enemie had ransackt and amongst other things he released both his own wiues those of his companions Wherupon they returned to the place where they had left the other two hundreth which might not follow them because they were appointed to guard the baggage To these the abouesaid foure hundreth would not grant a part of the booty and profit because they had not as they said followed the enimie with them but shewed themselues slacke in the pursuit alledging that they ought to content themselues with the recouerie of their wiues But Dauid said that the sentence which was pronounced by them was both euill and vniust for since God had granted them the grace to defeat their enemies all of them merited to haue part in the profit which ought equally to be deuided amongst them both amongst those that had fought and amongst those likewise that staied behiâ—…d to guard the baggage And from that day forward this ordinance hath beene held firmely amongst them that they that keepe the baggage should haue equall part and portion of the pray with those that should goe out to the battell But when Dauid was returned to Siceleg he sent vnto all his familiars and friends of the tribe of Iuda a seuerall part of the spoyle In this manner was Siceleg sacked and burned and thus were the Amalechites discomfited But the Philistines assailed and fought a bloudie battell with Saul and his followers wherein the Philistines had the vpper hand and slew a great number of their enemies Saul king of Israell with his sonnes fought therin verie valiantly and with stout hearts seeing that all their honour consisted in that onely point to die nobly and to hazard themselues against all camisadoes of their enemies For since the Philistines bent all their forces against them they saw no meanes of recouerie so that encompassed by them they died in the middest of them and yet before their death slewe a great number of the Philistines There were there present Sauls three sonnes Ionathan Aminadab and Melchi who being defeated all the Hebrewe armie turned their backes so that being instantly pursued by the enemie there fell a great disorder confusion and slaughter amongst them Saul fled also although he had about him a strong squadron of men And although the Philistines marshalled foorth against him a multitude of archers that shot many dartes and arrowes at him yet were they all but a verie fewe repulsed and although he had fought verie brauely hauing receiued on him diuers wounds yet being vnable to support the paine and griefe of his woundes and trauailed with shortnesse of breath he commanded his esquier to drawe his sword and to thrust it thorow his body before he should be surprised aliue by his enemies which his esquire refused to doe not daring to lay hands vpon his master For which cause Saul drew his owne sword and setled the point to his breast and cast himselfe thereon but vnable to force it home enough nor make it by goaring himselfe thereon to pierce quite thorow him he looked backe and perceiued a yoong man hard beside him of whom he demaunded what he was and hearing that hee was an Amalechite he requested him that since himselfe was vnable to pierce himselfe with his owne hands that he would leaue vpon him and make the sword passe thorow him and bring him to that death which he so earnestly desired which he did and hauing taken from him the gold which he had about his armes and the royall crowne likewise he fled away The Esquire seeing Saul dead sodainly slew himselfe Not one of all the kings guard escaped but all of them were slaine neere vnto the mountaine Gelboa When they that inhabited the valley on the other side of Iordan and in the plaine had intelligence that Saul and his sonnes were dead and with them a great number of their nation was slaine they abandoned their Cities and fled to others that were more defenced The Philistines finding these Cities destitute of inhabitants encamped therein The next day whilest the Philistines spoyled the dead they found the bodies of Saul and his sons which they spoyled beheaded sending their heads round about the countrey to make it knowne that their enemies were defeated They offered vp their armes also in the temple of Astaroth and as for their bodies they hung them on the wals of the Citie of Bethsan at this day called Scythopolis When they of Iabes a Citie of Galaad vnderstood how the Philistines had thus cut off the heads of Saul and his sonnes they were sore moued and thought it became them not to be so carelesse of them but that they should be rescued For which cause the most valiant and hardie amongst them for that Citie bringeth vp men both valiant in heart and strong in body departed and marched all night long so as they attained Bethsan and approching neere the wals tooke downe the body of Saul and his sonnes and carried them vnto Iabes without any resistance of the enemy in that they durst not attempt the rescue These Iabesians lamented ouer their dead bodies and made publike lamentations and buried them in the fairest place of their countrey which place is called Arar They mourned after this manner weeping both men and women and children and beating their breasts and lamenting the king and his sonnes and tasting neither meat nor drinke This was the end of Saul according as Samuel had foretold him because he had disobeyed God in his war against the Amalechites and for that he had slaine the race of Achimelech and Achimelech himselfe also and destroyed the Citie of the Priests He raigned during the life of Samuel for the space of eighteene yeares and twentie two yeares after his death Thus finished Saul his life THE SEVENTH BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 7. booke 1 Dauid is created king of one tribe in Hebron ouer the rest Sauls sonne obtaineth the soueraignty 2 Isboseth is slaine by the treacherie of his domesticall seruants and the whole kingdome commeth vnto Dauid 3 Dauid hauing surprised the Citie and cittadell of Ierusalem driueth the Chananites from thence and causeth the Iewes to inhabit the same 4 Dauid assayled by the Philistines obtaineth a famous victorie against them neere vnto Ierusalem 5 Dauid ouercomming the neighbouring nations imposeth tributes on them 6 They of Damasco are ouercome by Dauid 7 How Dauid ouercame the Mesopotamians 8 How
affectionate friend for such as enterprise any wicked action do often and subtilly dissemble and make shew of honestie to the end to expell out of the innocents mind all iealousie or euill suspition where singling him from his other company and making a shew to informe him of certaine secrets and hauing drawne him into a by-way besides the wall accompanied only with his brother Abisai he drew his rapier and thrust it into his short ribbes Of which wound Abner died surprised by the treason of Ioab who pretended and coloured that act of his with the reuenge and death of his brother Azael whom Abner had slaine vpon the chase in the first warre at Hebron but in truth it was but the suspition of his greatnesse and honour fearing least he should be depriued and Abner inseated by obtaining the next degree of honour vnto Dauid Hereby may a man conceiue how many and how mightie things men attempt and hazard for their auarice and ambition sake and to the end they may not be inferiour vnto any others in those matters For when as they desire to attaine riches and honours they atchieue it by ten thousand mischiefes and at such time as they feare to be dispossest they striue to continue their estates by meanes more pernicious because they thinke it to be the lesse sinne and that the calamitie is lesse actiue rather not to haue obtained to any greatnesse and power then after the possession thereof to fall into disgrace Thence it commeth that all of them intend and practise many hazards and difficult encountries thorow the feare they haue to lose their degree But it sufficeth to haue briefly touched this point Dauid hauing notice of the murther of Abner conceiued a great griefe in his heart and called all his assistants to witnesse lifting vp his hands vnto God and protesting that he was no partaker of the murther and that Abner had beene slaine without his commandement or will He likewise vttered most grieuous curses against the murtherer his house and accomplices by which he wished them to be subiect to the fatal penalty of murther for he greatly suspected least he should be held in suspition to be a party in that which had hapned vnto Abner contrarie to his faith oth and promise which he had past vnto him Moreouer he commanded that all the people should weep and lament for him and that the funerals of his bodie should be honored according to the accustomed fashion in renting of garments and putting on sackcloth and that the same should be done the coffin being carried before which both he and the chiefest gouernours of the Israelites followed beating on their breasts and shedding teares and testifying the loue which they bare vnto him during his life and their displeasure to see him dead who had bin murthered contrary to their wil and intention He was entombed in Hebron with great magnificence and Epitaphs composed in his praise by Dauid himselfe who setting himselfe on the tombe first of all lamented and gaue others cause of lamentation And so much was hee confused at the death of this Abner that he swore to forbeare all kind of meat vntill the sunne-set notwithstanding all the instances of his friends who vrged him to take refection which act of his purchased him much good will and loue amongst the people For they that loued Abner were verie glad to be witnesses of that honour which he did him in his death and that faith which he maintained in honouring him euerie way according to the custome as if he had been his kinsman or friend and not embasing him with a vilde and contemptible tombe as if he had beene his enemie And in generall all of them were so glad of the curtesie sweetnesse and royall nature of king Dauid that they esteemed in the like case that he would haue the like estimate of them as they saw him haue of deceased Abner And by this means Dauid happely maintained his credit and increased the peoples good opinion of him escaping thereby the suspition and conceit that he might in some sort haue bin accessarie to his death He protested also vnto the people that he conceiued no small griefe at the losse of so good a man declaring thereby that it was no small staine vnto the state of the Hebrewes to be depriued of him who had the meanes to maintaine their peace by his good aduise and to ratifie the same by his executions and warlike valour But God said he who hath care of all things shall not suffer him to die vnreuenged And he it is that shall beare me witnesse that it lieth not in my power to punish Ioab and Abisai who haue greater credit in the armie then my selfe yet shall they not escape Gods iustice for this fault Thus ended the life of Abner CHAP. II. Isboseth is slaine thorow the treason of his friends and followers the whole kingdome descendeth to Dauid WHen Isboseth Sauls sonne had notice of Abners death he was sore displeased not onely for that he perceiuing himselfe to be depriued of his neere kinsman but also of so great a personage as had setled the crowne on his head Neither did he himselfe long time remaine aliue after him but by the sonnes of Ieremon Banaoth and Thannus he was traiterously done to death These two being Beniamites and of the chiefest nobilitie amongst them made their reckoning that they would make away Isboseth and thereby obtaine great recompence at Dauids hands supposing that such an act of theirs would get them the chiefest place and dignitie in the army or some other credit For which cause finding Isboseth alone in his house about mid-day laide on his bed and asleepe and vnassisted by any of his guard and perciuing likewise that the porter was fast who thorow his trauaile and other businesse by reason of the extreme heate was laid downe to rest they entred into his lodging whereas Isboseth was a sleepe and slew him and hauing cut off his head they trauelled all the night and day long as if they fled from those whom they had offended and sought their rescues from them who would succour and assure them from perill and when they came to Hebron they presented Dauid with Isboseths head offering themselues as his most dutifull liegemen to doe him seruice who had deliuered him of an enemy and made away an aduersarie against his royaltie But Dauid allowed not their act in such sort as they hoped but spake thus vnto them O cursed men said he on whom I intend presently to execute iustice haue you not heard how I punished him that murthered Saul and brought his royall crowne vnto me Yea although he slew him vpon his owne instant request and to the intent the enemy should not surprise him aliue Were you of that opinion that I was changed and that I am not the same that I was but that I take delight to be partakers with you in your mischiefes
incamped apart in the plaine and the Ammonites stood in battell aray neere vnto their Citie gate to make head against the Hebrewes Ioab perceiuing this vsed this stratageme to counteruaile their complot for he chose out the ablest and stoutest of his men to serue vnder him against Syrus and the other kings confederates with him and gaue the rest vnto his brother Abisat commaunding him to oppose himselfe against the Ammonites whilest he charged the rest willing him that if he perceiued that the Syrians were stroâ—…er then he was and did put him to the worst to displace his squadron and to succour him promising to do the like if he perceiued him to be ouerpressed by the Ammonites Whenas therefore he had exhorted his brother to behaue himselfe valiantly and vertuously and to take heed least he should light on some dishonour he sent him before to charge the Ammonites and he on the other side assailed the Syrians who valiantly resisted him for a little space yet notwithstanding Ioab slew many of them and finally constrained them to turne their backs Which when the Ammonites perceiued who were afraid of Abisai and his people they retreated likewise and conforming themselues according to the example of their allies they tooke their flight into the Citie By which meane Ioab hauing obtained the vpper hand ouer his enemies returned in triumph and with victorie vnto the king to Ierusalem Yet were not the Ammonites wholy weakned by this losse for although they had by their lamentable experience a certaine knowledge that the Hebrewes were stronger then themselues yet would they by no meanes listen after peace They therefore sent vnto Chalama king of the Syrians on the other side of Euphrates whose confederacie they attained by bribes and huge sums of money This king had one who was called Sabecus for his lieutenant generall and vnder him fourescore thousand footmen and ten thousand horsemen Dauid vnderstanding that the Ammonites drew to head and intended anew to beare armes against him he surceased to prosecute the war against them by his lieutenants himself in person with al his forces passed ouer the riuer of Iordan and went out against them and at last meeting and fighting with them ouercame them killing welny fortie thousand of their footmen and seuen thousand of their horsemen he hurt Sabecus also Chalamas Lieutenant who likewise died of that wound The issue of this combate being thus the Mesopotamians yeelded themselues vnto Dauid and gaue him many great and magnificent presents He therefore by reason of the winter retired himselfe for that time to Ierusalem but incontinently vpon the spring time he sent out his Lieutenant Ioab once more to make warre vpon the Ammonites who ouerrunning their countrey vtterly spoyled it and shut them vp in Aramath their principal citie which he ouercame entred About this time it so fel out that Dauid notwithstanding he were a iust man one that feared God an exact obseruer of all the lawes and ordinances of his forefathers fell and offended God most greeuously For as he walked on the top of his royall pallace from the time of mid-day vntill the euening for betwixt these times he vsed accustomably to walke he perceiued a woman of incomparable beautie and supassing perfection whose name was Bethsabe who in her house bathed her selfe in a cleere and pleasant fountaine and being deuoured and rauished with her beautie he could not refraine his concupiscence but sending for her tooke the spoile of her beautie and chastitie and by that meanes got her with child Which when she perceiued she sent vnto the king beseeching him to bethinke himselfe of some meanes whereby her shame might be concealed and her life which was in hazard by the law for her adulterie might be preserued Who thereupon sent for Vrias Bethsabes husband and one of Ioabs soldiers who at that time was at the siege of Aramath and questioned with him vpon his arriuall as touching the estate of the siege of the armie who answering him that all things were fallen out according as he could wish Dauid tooke a portion of his owne supper and gaue it him willing him to repaire vnto his owne house and repose him selfe with his wife But Vrias did nothing lesse but slept amongst his fellow soldiers neere vnto the person of the king Which when Dauid vnderstood he asked him wherefore he repaired not to his owne house according to the custome of husbands that had beene long time absent vpon a long voiage and why he entertained not his wife from whom he had beene sequestred so many daies Vrias replied that it became him not either to repose or take pleasure with his wife whilest his companions and generall lay vpon the bare ground in the enemies countrey Which said Dauid commaunded him to soiourne there all the day long to the end that on the next morrow he might send him backe againe to Ioab That night the king inuited him to supper and although he were made drunke thorow the aboundance of wine he receiued which the king had purposely caused to be giuen him yet notwithstanding he slept at the kings gate without any desire to repaire home vnto his wife Herewith the king was much despited so that he wrote vnto Ioab commaunding him to punish Vrias because he had offended him and to the end that this intent of his should not be discouered he suggested him both in the meanes and manner of the prosecution of his death enioyning him to place him in the ranke of greatest danger and in face of the enemie to the intent that in the fight his person might be endaungered abandoned and left alone whilest they that fought next vnto him retired when they sawe him charged Whenas he had thus written and sealed vp the letter with his owne seale he deliuered it to Vrias to beare vnto Ioab who receiuing the same and conceiuing the kings pleasure placed Vrias in that quarter where he knew the enemies would fight most desperately appointing him out certaine of his best soldiers to second him with purpose that he would come and succour them with all his power to the end he might breake thorow the wall and enter the Citie Vrias who was a noble soldier and for his valour had gotten great honour by the king and reputation amongst all those of his tribe and tooke delight to be employed in hazardous attempts and refused no daunger valiantly accepted the execution But Ioab gaue priuate intelligence to those that were ranked next vnto him that when they should see the enemie sally out with greatest fury they should abandon Vrias When as therefore the Hebrewes drew neere vnto the Citie the Ammonites feared least the enemie should speedily scale and enter the Citie on that side where Vrias was ranked for which cause they picked out a squadron of the most resolute men amongst them and setting open their gates sodainly with swift course force
of his people the death of his wiues and children and lastly his owne death which should happen vnto him by a sicknesse in his belly wherewith hee should be so tormented that his entrailes strangely rotting within him should drop out of his belly and that he himselfe should see his misery which should be such as neither might be recouered by medicine or should euer leaue him vntill he had finished his daies These things did Elias denounce vnto him by his letters CHAP. III. Iorams armie is discomfited his sonnes are slaine except one and himselfe finally dieth a miserable death NOt long after the Arabian army that dwel towards Aethiopia confederating themselues with other Barbarians inuaded Iorams countrey and spoiled the same and ransacked the kings house and slew his sons and daughters and left him but one onely sonne called Ochozias who escaped from his enemies hands After this 〈◊〉 he himselfe was strooken with a long sicknes according as the Prophet had foretold him for God powred his displeasure vpon his entrailes whereupon he died miserably seeing them fall out of his belly The people likewise handled his bodie ignominiously supposing as I thinke that being cut off in that sort by Gods displeasure he was vnworthie of royall funerall for he was not buried in the sepulcher of the kings neither was there any honour done vnto him He liued fortie yeares and raigned eight and they of Ierusalem made his sonne Ochozias king CHAP. IIII. The king of Damasco warreth against the king of Israel IOram king of Israel hoping after the death of Adad to recouer Ramath in Galaad from the Assyrians after he had made greater preparation and apparation for the warre he led his army against the same In this siege he was hurt by an arrow which was shot by a certaine Syrian but not vnto the death and retired himselfe into the Citie of Iezrael vntill he were recouered of his wounds leauing behind him his whole armie at the siege of Ramath vnder the conduct of Iehu the sonne of Nimshi who tooke the Citie by force intending vpon his recouery to make warre against the Syrians But the Prophet Elizeus sent one of his disciples to Ramath gaue him the holy oyle and willed him to annoint Iehu to say vnto him that God had chosen and annointed him for king and after he had informed him likewise in certaine other instructions he commaunded him to depart after the manner of one that flieth making no man priuie of his departureâ—… When this disciple of his came vnto the appointed Citie he found Iehu sitting in the midst of the captaines at warre according as Elizaeus had told him and drawing neere vnto him he told him that he would communicate certaine secrets with him for which cause he arose and followed him into his chamber Whereupon the young man taking out the oile poured it on his head saying that God had chosen him to exterminate the race of Achab and reuenge the bloud of the Prophets vniustly murthered by Iezabel and that both he and his house might be brought to nought in like sort as the sonnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat and the children of Basa were extinguished for their impietie so that no one of the race of Achab might suruiue in the world As soone as he had spoken thus he issued out of the chamber with all speed endeuouring that he might not be discouered by any of the army Now when as Iehu was come out he returned to his place where he sate with the captains who demaunded of him besought him to declare vnto them wherefore the young man came vnto him alledging that they supposed him to be out of his wits Truly said he you haue diuined well for he hath talked vnto me after the manner of a mad man wherein they desirous to vnderstand wherefore he came and beseeching him to expresse the cause he told them what he had said vnto him namely how God had chosen him to beking ouer the people As soone as he had spoken these words euery one of them cast off their garments spred them before him and sounding a trumpet they proclaimed Iehu king who assembling his army determined to conduct them toward the Citie of Iezrael against Ioram who lay there to recouer his wound which he had receiued at the siege of Ramath in Galaad as we haue heretofore declared Thither also was resorted in way of friendship and consanguinitie Ochozias king of Ierusalem both to visit Ioram and to see how he was recouered of his wound for he was his nephew and sonne vnto his sister as we haue said before Iehu desirous to surprise Ioram and his followers on the sodaine made an ordinance by which he prohibited that none of his soldiers should runne before to giue any intelligence of his repaire vnto Ioram alledging that it should be a manifest demonstration of their good will towards him whereas contrariwise they that did otherwise declared that they held him not for their king CHAP. V. Ioram with all his race is slaine by Iehu Ochozias king of Ierusalem is likewise slaine with him THe men of warre were very ioyful to execute this his ordinance and garded the waies to the intent that no man might secretly steale into Iezrael and beare tidings to the inhabitants of that which had hapned Meane while Iehu attended by certaine of his choicest horsemen and mounted â—…n his owne person vpon a chariot marched towards Iezrael And when as he drew neere vnto the Citie the sentinell that was appointed by Ioram to discouer those that repaired to the Citie perceiued Iehu resorting thither with a multitude of attendants and told Ioram that a troupe of horsemen were at hand Whereupon a scout was sent out to discouer who they were who drawing neere vnto Iehu asked him what newes there was in the army telling him that the king was desirous to know the same Iehu willed him to take no care thereof but to follow after him The sentinell perceiuing this certified Ioram that the messenger whom he had sent trouped along with them that came and followed their generall Whereupon the king sent out a messenger the second time and Iehu commanded him to attend him as he did the first which the sentinell signified to Ioram likewise who finally mounted his chariot to go out and meet them accompanied with Ochozias king of Ierusalem who as we haue said was come into the Citie to see how the king recouered vpon his hurt because he was neerely allied vnto him But Iehu marched on softly in goodly array til Ioram meeting with him in the field of Naboth asked him how the army did Who in steed of answere reuiled him bitterly and called him the son of a poisoner of a harlot For which cause Ioram fearing his turbulent spirit and suspecting least he hammered vpon some sinister intent turned his back and fled away as swiftly as his chariot could be
that their auncestors had transgressed the lawes of Moses they should be in danger to be dispossessed of their countrey and abandoned by all men should at length perish miserably When the prophetesse had heard the kings commandement she willed those that were sent vnto her to returne vnto the king and to certifie him from her that God had giuen a sentence against them which might not be reuoked by any praiers whatsoeuer namely that since they had transgressed the law of Moses the people should perish and should be cast out of their countrey and depriued of al their goods that they had and for that they haue not grown to amendment in so long time notwithstanding the prophets had exhorted them to repentance and had foretold the punishment of their impieties which should happen vnto them to the end that they might beleeue that God is God and that he faileth not in any thing that he hath foretold by his prophets Furthermore she said that he forbore as yet to send these afflictions vpon them for Iosias sake who was a vertuous man but that after his decease God would poure his intended punishments vpon the people This prophecie of the woman they signified vnto the king who sent into all parts and assembled the people in Ierusalem commanding the Priests and Leuites and generally all men without distinction of age or person to be present in that conuention Now when they were assembled he first of all caused the sacred bookes to be read and afterwards standing aloft vpon his throne he caused all the people to sweare and promise that they would serue God and keepe Moses lawes Whereupon all of them did willingly approoue whatsoeuer he said promising to doe that whereunto they were exhorted And therewithall offering vp present sacrifices vnto God they besought him to shew himselfe fauourable and mercifull towards them The king likewise commanded the hie priest that if there were any necessarie in the temple which were made by his predecessors in honour of Idols and strange Gods he should cast it out And after that a great quantitie was found therein all of it was gathered togither and burnt and the ashes afterwards were scattered here and there And as touching the Priests that appertained to Idols that were not of the race of Aaron he put them to death When these things were thus executed in Ierusalem he came afterwards to the plaine countrey and all that which Ieroboam had erected there in honour of Idols he vtterly defaced it and the bones of the false Prophets were burnt vpon the altar that Ieroboam had builded This had the prophet foretold that came to Ieroboam at such time as he offered sacrifice and told him in the presence of all the people all that which should happen namely that one of Dauids posteritie called Iosias should doe these abouenamed things which prophecie tooke effect three hundreth sixtie and one yeere after After this King Iosias transported himselfe to the Israelites who had auoided the captiuitie and seruitude of the Assyrians and perswaded them to forsake their impieties and the seruices they had performed to strange Gods and to honour the soueraigne and true God of their fathers and to cleaue vnto him He made a search also thorow euerie house borough and citie fearing least as yet there should be any Idol hidden Hee likewise sought out the chariots that were made by his auncestors in honour of the sunne and all that which was adored whatsoeuer it were and vtterly abolished the same After hee had in this sort purged the countrey he assembled all the people in Ierusalem where he celebrated the feast of vnleauened bread and the solemnitie of Easter Towards the performance whereof he gaue the people young kiddes and lambes to the number of thirtie thousand and three thousand bullocks for burnt offrings and the chiefe amongst the Leuites distributed amongst the other Leuites fiue hundreth lambs and fiue hundreth bullocks Hauing therefore such an abundance of beasts they sacrificed according to the law of Moses the priests taking charge thereof and confirming the rest of the people by their example Neither was there euer such a solemnitie kept by the Hebrewes since the time of Samuel the Prophet because all things were done according to the lawes and auncient customes which were obserued in the time of their fathers After this Iosias liued in peace riches honour and estimation amongst all men and thus finished his life CHAP. V. Diuers exploits of Nechao NEchao King of Aegypt hauing gathered great forces conducted his army towards the floud Euphrates to warre against the Medes and Babylonians who had destroied the empire of Assyria for Nechao affected the gouernment of all Asia Now when he drew neere vnto the Citie of Mende which was vnder Iosias subiection King Iosias denied him passage and would not suffer his army to march thorow his countrey For which cause Nechao sent a Herauld vnto him to let him vnderstand that it was not against him that he made warre but that he bent his course towards Euphrates for which cause he wished him in no sort to hinder his intended iourney least thereby he should be constrained to make warre vpon him But Iosias respected not this demaund of his but resolued himselfe to hinder his passage thorow his countrey And truely I suppose that the destinies pricked him forward to this arrogance to the end he might haue some occasion to doe something against Nechao For whilest he disposed his army and rode from one band to an other being mounted vpon his chariot he was strooken with an arrow that was shot by a certaine Aegyptian which cooled and tempered the spleene he had in warre For feeling himselfe sorely ouerpressed with paine by reason of his wound he commanded his army to retire and returned himselfe to Ierusalem where he died of his wound and was buried with his fathers with great magnificence after he had liued nine and thirtie yeeres and raigned thirtie and one For him the people mourned with great heauinesse lamenting and sorrowing for many daies The Prophet Ieremy also made a deploration ouer him in lamentable verse which is as yet extant euen in these daies This Prophet left in writing those euils that should afterwards happen vnto the citie and the captiuitie wherewith we are entangled at this present and the surprisall of Babylon Neither hath he alone foretold the same but the Prophet Ezechiel hath likewise done the like who first left two bookes written of the same argument These two Prophets were of the race of the Priests But Ieremy kept in Ierusalem from the fourteenth yeere of the raigne of Iosias vntill the destruction of the Citie and temple as in time and place conuenient we will declare setting downe those occurrences that hapned to this Prophet After the death of Iosias heretofore mentioned his sonne Ioaz succeeded him in the kindome at such time as he was
who respited the execution of the Magitians for that night vntill he might see what would become of Daniels promise who retiring himselfe with his companions into his chamber besought God all the night long to manifest vnto him the dreame and deliuer the Magitians and Chaldees from the kings wrath with whom both he and the rest of his companions were like to die except he might know what the king had dreampt the night past and what was the interpretation thereof Whereupon God hauing compassion of the daunger wherein they were and taking pleasure in Daniels wisedome signified vnto him both the dreame and the signification thereof to the intent the king might be resolued in the meaning thereof Daniel hauing receiued the truth from God arose verie ioyfully and certified his brethren who had alreadie lost all hope of life and thought on no other thing but death and gaue them courage and hope of life Hauing therefore rendred thanks vnto God for that he had had compassion of their young yeeres as soone as it was day he went vnto Arioch requesting him that he might be brought to the kings presence certifying him that he would open vnto him the dreame which he had seene the night past Now when Daniel was brought vnto the kings presence he besought him that he would not esteeme him to be more wise then the other Chaldeans and magicians in that whereas none of them could expound his dreame he did attempt to expresse the same for that came not to passe by reason of his experience or for that he was more industrious then they were but said he God hath had compassion on vs that were in daunger of death and at such time as I requested him to grant me and my countrie men life he hath certified me both of your dreame and the signification thereof I was not so much agrieued for that in our innocency we were adiudged to death by thee as afraid of thine estimation and glory which was hazarded by condemning so many and so innocent and iust men to death whereas that which you haue required of them sauoreth nothing of humane wit but is the onely worke of God Whilest therefore thou thoughtest in thy selfe who it was that should commaund the whole world after thy selfe at such time as thou wert asleepe God intending to let thee know all those that should gouerne after thee presented thee with this dreame It seemed vnto thee that thou sawest a great statue wherof the head was of gold the shoulders and armes of siluer the belly and thighes of brasse and the legs and feete of yron Thou beheldst after that a great stone that was drawen from a mountaine that fell vpon the statue and beat downe and burst the same and left no whole peece thereof so that the gold siluer yron and brasse were poudered as small as dust whereupon a violent wind seemed to blow which by the furie and force thereof was borne away and scattered into diuers countries on the other side the stone grewe so mightie that it seemed to fill the whole earth This was that vision that appeared vnto you the signification whereof is expressed after this manner The head of gold signifieth your selfe and those kings of Babylon that haue been before you The two hands and shoulders signifie that your Empyre shal be destroied by two kings the one part by the king of the east cloathed in brasse whose force shall be abated by an other power resembling that of yron and he shal haue the power ouer the whole earth by reason of the nature of yron which is more strong then gold siluer or brasse he told the king also what that stone signified But for mine owne part I thought it not expedient to expresse it in this place because the onely but and intent of my writings is onely to register such things as are past and not such matters as are to come But if any man haue a desire to know these things and cannot bridle his curiositie but will vnderstand such matters as are hidden let him â—…ead the book of Daniel which he shal find amidst the sacred scriptures When king Nabuchodonosor had heard these things and remembred himself of his dreame he was astonished at Daniels wisedome and casting himselfe prostrate on the earth after the manner of those that adore God he embrased Daniel giuing direction that sacrifice should be offered vnto him as if he were God Moreouer he called him by the name of God and committed the administration of his whole kingdome to him and his companions who by reason of the commotions and conspiracies of their maligners and detractors hapned to fall into most eminent and dreadfull daunger vpon this occasion that ensueth The king built a golden Image sixtie cubits high and sixe in bignesse and erected it in a great plaine neere vnto Babylon and being readie to dedicate the same he assembled all the gouernours and princes of his countries commanding then first of all that as soone as they should heare the trumpet sound they should prostrate themselues on the earth to adore the statue threatning that whosoeuer should do the contrarie he should be cast into a burning furnace whereas therefore all of them adored the statue vpon the sound of the trumpet Daniel and his companions vtterly refused to performe that dutie alledging for their iustification that they would not transgresse the lawes of their countrey for which cause being apprenended they were instantly cast into the furnace of fire and protected therein by Gods prouidence escaped death beyond all mens expectation For the fire touched them not neither could it burne during their aboad in the furnace For God so fortified their bodies that they could not be consumed by fire which accident made them in greater estimation with the king for that he saw they were vertuous and beloued by God and for that cause they were highly honoured by him Not long after this the king saw an other vision in his sleepe which signified vnto him that being cast from his empire he should conuerse with sauage beasts and that hauing liued in that estate in the desart for the space of seuen yeares he should recouer his kingdom again Hauing had this dreame he assembled the Magitians once more demanding their answere and the signification thereof But it was impossible for any one of them eyther to find out or declare the intelligence of this dreame vnto the king onely Daniel discouered the same and the effect was answerable to his prediction For the king passed the forelimited time in the desart so that no man durst intermeddle with the affaires of estate during seuen yeares But after he had called vpon God that it would please him to restore him to his kingdome he repossessed the same again Let no man in this place accuse me for reporting these particularities according as I haue found them written in holy books for in the
and wine and all other things which the Priests should think meet to offer sacrifice to the intent that they might pray for the preseruation of the king of Persia commanding that they that should transgresse or contradict this commandement of his should be laid hold on and hanged on a gibbet and that their goods should be confiscate to the kings vse Moreouer he besought God that if any man went about to hinder the building of the temple that he would punish him and strike him and restraine his wickednes therby When Darius had found these things written in his Panchartes and Chronicles he wrote backe to Sisin and his companions in this forme King Darius to Sisin and Sarabazan with their associates health Hauing found amongst the memorials of Cyrus the copy of your missiue I haue sent it you and my pleasure is that the contents thereof be executed Fare you well Sisin and his associates being câ—…tified of the kings pleasure resolued themselues conformably to execute the same and taking the care of the sacred buildings vpon them they assisted the Princes and magistrates of the Iewes in such sort as the building of the temple was finished with great diligence by the instigation of the Prophets Aggeus and Zachary according to Gods commandement and by the directions of the kings Cyrus and Darius so that it was finished within seuen yeeres In the ninth yeere of the raigne of Darius and the three and twenty of the eleuenth moneth called by vs Adar and by the Macedonians Distre the Priests and Leuites and all the rest of the people offered sacrifices for the renouation of their former felicitie after their captiuitie and for their new temple also sacrificing one hundreth bulles two hundreth sheepe foure hundreth lambes twelue goates according to the number of the twelue tribes of Israel and for the sinnes of each of them The Priests and Leuites also according to the lawes of Moses appointed porters to euery gate For the Iewes had builded galleries round about and within the temple Now when the feast of vnleauened bread which is the feast of Easter drew neere in the first moneth called Xanthicus by the Mecedonians and Nisan by the Hebrewes all the people of the townes round about Ierusalem resorted thither and celebrated the feast purifying both themselues their wiues and children according to the ordinance of their forefathers And after they had solemnized the feast called Easter or the passeouer in the 14. moone they banquetted for seuen daies space sparing no cost how great soeuer it were They offered burnt offrings also and sacrifices of thankesgiuing acknowledging Gods goodnesse that had brought them home into their natiue countrey to liue according to the lawes of their forefathers and had made them gracious in the king of Persiaes eies Thus dwelled they in Ierusalem in all ioy sacrificing and seruing God with great affection and liuing vnder the gouernment of their nobilitie For the chiefest authoritie remained in the hie Priests vntill the Asmonaeans obtained the kingdome for before the captiuitie of Babylon they were vnder the gouernment of kings who began from Saul and Dauids times about some fiue hundreth thirtie two yeeres six moneths and ten daies and before their kings certaine gouernours called Iudges raigned and vnder this sort of pollicie liued they more then fiue hundreth yeeres from the death of Moses and Iosuah See here the estate of the Iewes deliuered from their captiuitie during the daies of Cyrus and Darius True it is that the Samaritanes were their mightie and malicious aduersaries and did them many mischiefes trusting in their riches and pretending themselues to be the Persians kinsmen because their originall proceeded from thence For they refused to pay that tribute which the king had commanded them to disburse vnto the Iewes to make their sacrifices and had their gouernours likewise affectionate and forward to further their malice neither was there any of them idle or negligent in working them mischiefe either in themselues or by others For which cause the Iewes determined to send Embassadors vnto king Darius to accuse the Samaritanes and to that intent Zorobabel and foure others were sent As soone therefore as the king vnderstood by these Embassadors what crimes and accusations they had brought against the Samaritanes he dispatched his letters and addressed them to the gouernours and counsaile of Samaria the tenour of which letters was to this effect King Darius to Tangara and Sambaba gouernours of Samaria to Sadrach and Bobelon and to their companions our seruants being in Samaria health Zorobabel Ananias and Mardocheus Embassadours in the behalfe of the Iewes accuse you to be perturbers of the building of their temple alleadging that you refuse to discharge that which by my decree you ought to furnish them with for the charge of the sacrifices My will is therefore that vpon the sight of these letters you deliuer out of the royall treasurie in Samaria appointed for the tributes all that which shall be necessary for them to performe their sacrifices vpon the request of the Priests to the intent they let passe no day without sacrifice and praier vnto God for me and for the Persians This was the contents of his letter CHAP. V. The beneficence of Zerxes Darius sonne towardes the Iewes AFter Darius death his sonne Zerxes succeeded him not onely as heire in the gouernment of his kingdome but also as successor vnto his pietie and deuotion towards God for he no waies changed those institutions of his fathers that concerned religious seruice but with great beneuolence fauoured all the Iewes During his raigne Ioacim the sonne of Iesus was hie priest Amongst them also that remained in Babylon there liued a hie priest with the Iewes in that place called Esdras a iust man and one of great reputation amongst the people and whereas he was verie skilfull in the lawes of Moses hee obtained great friendship with the king This man intending with certaine other Iewes of Babylon to make his repaire vnto Ierusalem besought the king that he would vouchsafe to bestow his letters of commendations to the gouernors of Syria in his behalfe Whereupon the king wrote his letters pattents of grace certifying his fauour toward Fsdras to the princes in those parts to this effect Zerxes king of kings to Esdras the high priest and reader of the diuine law health It is decreed by me and seuen other of my counsaile that whosoeuer in my kingdome of the Israelites their Priests or Leuites will repaire with thee vnto Ierusalem he may freely performe the same with my good licence and reuisit Iudaea according to the law of God bearing with you those presents vnto the God of Israel which both I and my friends haue vowed I likewise giue thee licence to take with thee all the gold and siluer whatsoeuer that any of thy nation liuing here in Babylon will offer vp vnto God to buy offrings to be
and of his sonne Titus who behaued themselues with such moderation after so great a warre and so grieuous battels as they had fought against vs. Now will I returne to my purpose from whence I haue digressed At such time as Antiochus the great raigned in Asia the countrey of Iewry was grieuously spoiled and both the Iewes and the inhabitants of Coelesyria endured many miseries For Antiochus making war against Ptolomey Philopator and his son called Ptolomey the Famous they were pitifully perplexed For whether Antiochus either ouercame or was ouercome they were continually spoiled so that betwixt the prosperitie aduersity of Antiochus they fared like a ship tossed and tormented with a storm Finally after Antiochus had ouercome Ptolomey he conquered Iewry After the death of Philopator his sonne sent a great army into Coelesyria vnder the conduct of Scopas who seazed a great number of those Cities and our nation also was inforced by warre and conquered by him Not long after this Antiochus fought with Scopas neere vnto the floud Iordan and obtained the victorie discomfiting the greater part of his enemies army at which time Antiochus recouered againe those Cities of Coelesyria which were before time surprised by Scopas He tooke Samaria also which when the Iewes perceiued they submitted themselues of their owne accord vnto him and hauing entertained him in the Citie of Ierusalem they gaue both his army and his Elephants abundance of prouision and willingly assisted him with their forces to subdue those garrisons which Scopas had planted in the fortresses of the higher Citie For which cause Antiochus supposing it to be a matter behoouefull for his honor to acknowledge and remunerate the affection and forwardnesse which the Iewes had expressed in his seruice wrote vnto his captaines and friends signifying vnto them how forward the Iewes had been in his warres and to expresse likewise what gifts he intended to bestow vpon them Hereafter I will insert the copy of his letters which he wrote in fauour of them after I haue recited that which Polybius the Megalopolitane writeth answerable to this purpose which I will recite out of the sixteenth booke of his histories Scopas saith he the generall of Ptolomeies army marching towards the midland did in one winter ouercome the whole nation of the Iewes He reciteth also in the same booke that after that Scopas had beene ouercome Antiochus seazed Bathanaea Samaria Abila and Gadara and anon after the Iewes which dwelt at Ierusalem where the temple was ioyned themselues with him and although we are to speake more amply and particularly of that apparition that hapned neere vnto the temple yet notwithstanding we will referre the recitall thereof vntill an other time This is that which Polybius hath written But to returne vnto our purpose I will recite in this place the copy of those letters which were sent by the King King Antiochus to Ptolomey Health Whereas the Iewes haue giuen vs a most apparant testimony of their affection towards vs since the first time of our entrance into their countrey and haue magnificently entertained vs at such time as we were in person before their Citie by presenting themselues before vs with all their Elders and haue also furnished vs largely with all that which was necessarie for our souldiers and our Elephants and haue likewise taken armes with vs against the Aegyptian garrison we haue thought it a matter answerable to our honor to affoord them some satisfaction in repairing their Citie ruinated by humane casualties to the intent it might be inhabited and peopled againe by gathering togither those Iewes that are scattered abroad in diuers places and planting them againe in the same And in especiall to the end that the seruice of God may be renued we haue set downe a certaine summe of money to be imployed in sacrifices and in buying beasts for their offrings wine oyle and incense that is to say twenty thousand sicles of siluer and for fine flower according to the law of the place one thousand four hundreth and sixtie measures of wheate and three hundreth seuentie and fiue measures of salt And my will is that all these things that are abouenamed be deliuered vnto them according to the forme of our ordinance We likewise commaund that the worke of the temple be finished with the galleries and other necessary buildings and that all the stuffe of timber be brought out of Iudaea and other places and especially out of Libanus without any taxe or tallage which exemption also shall take effect in all other necessaries that are requisite towards the reparation of so famous a temple My pleasure likewise is that all they of the same nation gouerne their estate according to their owne lawes Let the ancient Priests and Scribes of the temple also and the singing men be freed from all taxations that are paide by the powle and the tributes of the crowne and all other whatsoeuer And to the end that the city may be the sooner builded I grant vnto all them that inhabite the same at this present or that hereafter shall transport themselues thither within the moneth of October to inhabite the same exemption of all charges for three yeeres space We forgiue them moreouer the third part of their tributes to the intent they may recouer themselues of their losses We will also that those Citizens that haue beene forcibly led from thence into seruitude be set at liberty both they themselues as also those that are of their alliance commanding their goods to be restored vnto them Farewell These were the contents of this letter And to yeeld the more honour vnto the temple he sent an edict thorow all his kingdom to this effect That it should not be lawful for any stranger to enter within the inclosure of the temple without the Iewes permission except those that should be purified according to the law and custome of the place That no man should bring into the Citie any flesh of horse mulet wilde or tame asses leopards foxes or hares or generally of any cattell prohibited to be eaten by the lawes of the Iewes That it should not be lawful likewise for any man to bring their skins into the Citie or to nourish any such beasts in the same but that it might onely be lawfull to vse those beasts which might be sacrificed vnto God according to the law of their ancestors That whosoeuer should contradict those inhibitions he should pay 3000. drachmes of siluer vnto the Priests Furthermore to expresse his pietie and fidelitie towards vs at such time as he heard of the troubles that hapned in Phrygia and Lydia he wrote also vnto Zeuxis gouernour of one of the higher prouinces and his intire friend commaunding him to send certaine of our nation from Babylon to Phrygia writing vnto him to this effect King Antiochus to Zeuxis his father Health If thou art well I am glad of it I likewise am no lesse healthy Vnderstanding that those
of Lydia and Phrygia are newly growne to rebellion I haue thought good according to my duty to preuent the same and whilest I consulted with my friends what was to be done it hath been thought fit that two thousand families of the Iewes with all their housholds should be sent thither all which should be drawne out of Mesopotamia and Babylon to plant them in garrisons and places of securitie For I am perswaded of their good affection and zeale towards vs both in respect of their deuotion towards God as also for the testimony which our predecessors haue borne of them namely that they are faithfull and ready to execute that wherein they are imployed And although it be a difficult matter to remooue them yet resolue I my selfe that it shall be done and withall I permit them to liue according to their lawes Now when as they shall arriue in that place thou shalt bestow on euery one of them places to build them houses on with sufficient lands both for tillage and to plant their vineyards in for which they shall pay no tribute for ten yeeres space and during such time as they may gather of their owne for their sustenance they shall be allowed their prouision of corne for them and their seruants Our will is also that they who shall be employed in necessarie affaires be sufficiently prouided of that they neede to the intent that being so bountifully delt withall by vs they may shew themselues the more affectionate in that which concerneth vs. Thou shalt giue order also to the vttermost of thy power that this nation be no waies ouerpressed or interessed by any man Farewell Hitherto haue we sufficiently declared what friendship Antiochus the great bare vnto the Iewes After this Antiochus contracted alliance and friendship with Ptolomey who gaue him his daughter Cleopatra in mariage and assigned him for her dowry Coelesyria Samaria Iudaea and Phoenicia and for that these two kings deuided the tributes betweene them the chiefest in authoritie in euerie prouince redeemed the exaction of their countrey and paid the summe agreed vpon to the kings treasurie At that time the Samaritanes puffed vp with their prosperitie vexed the Iewes spoyling their countrey and leading them away prisoners perforce This hapned vnder the high Priest Onias For after the decease of Eleazar Manasses his vncle obtained the Priesthood and after the death of Manasses Onias the sonne of Simon surnamed the Iust enioyed this dignitie Simon was brother to Eleazar as I haue heretofore declared This Onias was of no great capacitie and withall was very couetous by which meanes he failed to paye the twenty talents of siluer which his predecessors were woont to pay to the kings of Aegypt of that tribute which the people paid vnto him Whereupon Ptolomey Euergetes the father of Philopator was grieuously incensed against him so as he sent an embassadour to Ierusalem to accuse him for that he failed to pay his accustomed tribute threatning him that if hence forward he receiued it not he would deuide his countrey amongst his souldiers and send them to inhabite the same When the Iewes were ascertained of his complaints they were confused and amazed but Onias was no whit mooued thereby because he was wholy giuen ouer to couetousnesse CHAP. IIII. Ioseph the sonne of Tobias preuenteth the imminent calamitie of the Iewes and becommeth Ptolomies friend BVt a certaine man called Ioseph the sonne of Tobias and of Onias sister who was the high Priest being yoong in yeeres but honoured in Ierusalem for his wisedome foresight and iustice hauing certaine notice by his mother of the arriuall of this Embassadour came vnto the Citie for he had been ablent in the village of Phicala where he was borne and sharpely reprooued Onias his vncle on the mothers side for that he did not any waies prouide for the securitie of his Citizens but sought to draw his countrymen into a generall hazard for that he retained in his hands that money which was leuied for the tribute Whereby he told him that he had obtained the gouernment ouer the people and purchased the high priesthood And that if he were so bewitched with money that for the loue of the same he could haue the patience to see his countrie in hazard and behold his Citizens also suffer all that which cruelty could inflict vpon them he counsailed him to repaire vnto the king and to require him to bestow the whole or the halfe of the Tribute vpon him Hereunto Onias answered that he would no more execute the gouernment and that if it were possible for him he was ready to giue ouer the priesthood and that therefore he would not repaire vnto the king because he was not any waies moued with these occurrences Whereupon Ioseph asked him if hee would permit him in the peoples behalfe to go Embassadour vnto Ptolomey Whereunto Onias answered that he gaue him free leaue Vpon this occasion Ioseph went vp into the temple and summoned the people to a generall assembly exhorting them to be no waies troubled and to conceiue no feare thorow the negligence of his vncle Onias requesting them to be confident in heart and estraunged from all sinister suspition promising them that he himselfe would go in Embassage vnto the king and faithfully pleade their cause before him and perswade him that they had committed no insolent neglect or contempt against his maiestie Which when the people vnderstood they gaue Ioseph harty thankes Whereupon he presently came downe from the temple and honourably entertained the Embassadors that came from Ptolomey and hauing presented them with gifts of great price and feasted them magnificently for many daies he sent them backe vnto their Prince assuring them that he himselfe would in person follow them And the rather was he incited to this iourney because the Embassador had perswaded him to repaire into Aegypt vnder such assurance that he would obtaine all his requests at Ptolomeies hands the rather for that he was woon with the yoong mans free spirit and noble entertainment Assoone as the Embassadour returned into Aegypt he certified the king of Onias ingratitude and Iosephs humanitie certifying him that he would come in person to intreat pardon for the people for that offence they had committed against him and the rather for that he was in especiall authoritie among the people and so farre vsurped he vpon Iosephs praises that both the king and the Queene Cleopatra had a good opinion of him notwithstanding he was as yet absent But Ioseph sent vnto Samaria vnto his friends and borrowed money making his preparation for his voiage Hauing therefore furnished himselfe with apparell vessels and horses with the expence of almost twenty thousand drachmes he arriued in Alexandria At that very time it chanced that the Princes and gouernours of Phoenicia and Syria repaired thither to buy their tributes for the king was accustomed euery yeere to sell them to the men of most respect in euery Citie
vnto him See here my liege what store of bones are before Hircanus hereby you may coniecture that his father hath fleeced all Syria as he hath bared these bones of flesh The king laughing at Triphons words asked Hircanus how he came by so many bones before him Not without great cause said he O king for dogs deuoure the flesh with the bones as these doe in which speech he glanced at those who sate with him at the table because they had no bones before thē but men eat the flesh and cast the bones away as I do because I am a man The king wondring at his discreet answere commanded all the rest to applaud him in approbation of his witty vrbanity The next day he sought out all the kings friends and the principals in court and saluted them one by one enquiring of their seruants what presents they would court the king with vpon the birth of his sonne Who told him that some of them would giue twelue talents and othersome that were in dignitie would present him according to their abilitie Whereupon Hircanus made a shew of discontent in that he wanted power to offer such a present pretending that he had no more but fiue talents All which these seruants presently reported to their masters who were very ioyfull thereat for the hope they had conceiued that Ioseph should be blamed and would offend the King thorow the abiectnesse of his present Now when the day of the solemnitie was come and they likewise that pretended to present the king most magnificently offered no more then twenty talents Hircanus presented the hundreth yoong Lads he had bought to the King and the virgins vnto Cleopatra for whom he had paid a talent by the powle At this vnexpected magnificence of his gift all men were amazed but beside this he gaue gifts of diuers talents to the King and Queenes fauourites and seruants and their attendants whereby he warranted himselfe from the danger that might fall vnto him by their meanes For the brothers of Hircanus had written vnto them to murther him Ptolomey was highly delighted in the great magnificence of this yoong man and willed him to aske whatsoeuer gift he best liked at his hands But he required no other thing but that it would please the King to recommend him by his letters to his father and brethren When as therefore the king had singularly honoured him and had giuen him many bountifull rewards he wrote vnto his father and his brethren and all his gouernours and commissaries and in that sort sent him away His brothers hearing newes how hee had in all things highly contented the king and that he returned with great glorie they issued out to meet with him with an intent to murther him with their fathers knowledge For he being displeased with him by reason of his aboue named large expence had no care to warrantize him yet concealed he his discontent for feare of the king But when his brothers came and encountred him on the way he slew diuers of those that accompanied them and two of his brethren also were left slaine vpon the place and the rest fled to Ierusalem vnto their father And when as vpon his repaire vnto Ierusalem he perceiued that no man entertained him he waxed affraid and departed presently from thence to the other side of Iordan where he past his life in receiuing and gathering the tributes of the Barbarians In that time Seleucus surnamed Soter the sonne of Antiochus the great raigned in Asia At that time also died Ioseph Hircanus father who was a man of good conceit and great courage who established the people of the Iewes in their entire peace and had released them from prouertie and many desasters and had held the tributes of Syria Phoenicia and Samaria for the space of twenty two yeers His vncle Onias died also about the same time leauing the priesthood to his sonne Simon after whose death his sonne Onias was made high priest to whom Arius king of Lacedemon sent an embassade and letters the copy whereof hereafter ensueth CHAP. V. The frienship and societie of the Lacedemonians with Onias the high Priest of the Iewes ARius King of Lacedemon to Onias Health We haue found out a certaine writing wherin it is recorded that the Iewes and Lacedemonians are of the same race and both of them descended from Abraham It is therefore requisite that since you are our brethren that you giue vs to vnderstand wherein we may pleasure you The like will we doe also and will repute that which is yours to be ours as that which is ours shall in communitie be yours Demoteles our messenger bringeth you our letters foulded in square the seale whereof is an Aegle holding a Dragon in hertalous These were the contents of the Lacedemonians letters After the death of Ioseph it came to passe that the people began to mutine in the quarrell of his children For the elder brethren made warre against Hircanus who was the yoonger by meanes whereof the people were deuided The greater part of them followed the Elder faction and the high Priest Simon also by reason of his affinitie with them followed their partie Whereupon Hircanus resolued to repaire no more vnto Ierusalem but fixing his habitation on the other side of Iordan he made continuall warre against the Arabians slaying a great number of them and taking many prisoners He builded a huge tower of white marble from the bottome to the toppe and on the same planted he the figures of many liuing creatures in sculpture of great height About the same he drew and forced a deepe trench of flowing water and hauing hewed the front of the rocke that stood opposite against his building hee made diuers caues therein many furlongs long He made also diuers chambers therein both to eate sleepe and dwell in He drew thither likewise currants of springing water in so great abundance that it gaue much delight to those that dwelt there and great ornament to the whole building The mouth of euery caue was so little that but one only man could enter at once which he therfore made so narrow because they might the better serue for his securitie and refuge that if so be he were at any time assailed by his brethren he might auoid the danger of surprisall Moreouer he builded many huge halles which he adorned with great and goodly gardens and this place thus builded was called by him Tyre and is scituate betweene Arabia and Iudaea on the other side of Iordan not far from the countrey of Essebonitis He commanded in this countrey some seuen yeeres all that time that Seleucus raigned in Syria After whose death his brother Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes obtained the kingdome Ptolomey also King of Aegypt who was likewise called Epiphanes died and left two children very young behind him of whom the eldest was called Philometor and the yonger Physcon When as therfore Hircanus perceiued that
spoiled the temple of Diana in the countrey of Persia. For since he had onely intended to commit sacriledge but had not effected it he merited not to suffer punishment for the same And if it seemeth good vnto Polybius that Antiochus was punished by death for this occasion it is farre more likely to be true that his death befell him for the sacriledge he had committed in the temple of Ierusalem But our purpose is not to argue against those that maintaine that Polybius reasons are of greater truth and consequence then ours are CHAP. XIIII Antiochus Eupator discomfiteth the Iewes and besiegeth Iudas and shutteth him vp in the temple BEfore Antiochus gaue vp the ghost he called for Philip one of his chiefest familiars and made him gouernor of his kingdome And hauing deliuered the diademe into his hands his royall robe and his ring with other iewels he charged him to beare and deliuer them to his sonne Antiochus requiring him earnestly to haue care of his bringing vp and to maintaine the kingdome in his behalfe vntill he comming vnto the yeeres of discretion were fit to manage it himselfe This done Antiochus died the hundreth fortie and ninth yeâ—…re of the kingdome of Syria After that Lysias had certified the people of the kings death he pâ—…oclaimed his sonne Antiochus whom at that time he had in his protection king surnaming him Eupator according to the instructions that were giuen him About that time the garrisons and Apostataes that were in the fortresse in Ierusalem did much mischiefe vnto the Iewes For setting vpon those at vnawares who ascended the temple to worship and offer their sacrifice they slew them for the fortresse commanded the temple For these causes Iudas resolued to cutte off these garrisons and to that intent he assembled all the people and besieged it This enterprise was vndertooke in the yeere one hundreth and fiftie after that Seleucus had vsurped the gouernment of those countries Hauing therefore made him certaine engins and raised diuers rammes he industriously continued the siege But diuers of those Apostataes that were reuolted and of that garrison issued out by night and assembling togither such men as were of so malicious nature as themselues they came vnto king Antiochus requiring him that he would not suffer them to be abused in such sort by those of our nation nor so carelesly neglected by them considering their disgrace grew by his fathers seruice for whose sake they had forsaken their own religion followed his lawes and ordinances Furthermore they inferred that the fortresse was in danger to be surprised by Iudas and his associates except some present succours were sent vnto them When Antiochus the yonger had notice hereof he was sore displeased and sent for his captaines and friends commanding them to hire strange souldiers and all those in his kingdome who were of yeeres to beare armes so that he gathered in short time an army of one hundreth thousand footmen and twentie thousand horsemen and thirtie two Elephants and with this Equipage departed he out of Antioch committing his army to Lysias direction As soone as he came into Idumaea he went vp vnto Bethsura a walled Citie and very difficult to be surprised which he besieged and begirt but with such disaduantage that the Bethsurians resisting him valiantly and sallying out vpon him burned those preparations and engines which he had furnished for the batterie of the town When as therefore a long time was consumed about this siege Iudas hauing intelligence of the kings approch raised his campe from before the Castle of Ierusalem and marching forward to meet the enemy he shut his army in a certaine streight in a place called Beth-zacharia some seuentie stounds distant from the enemies campe The king hauing tidings hereof raised his siege from Bethsura marched towards the streight wherein Iudas army was inclosed and about the morning he set his souldiers in battel aray He first of all caused his Elephants to march one after another thorow the streight for that it was impossible for them to march in square About euery Elephant were one thousand footmen and fiue hundreth horsemen These Elephants bare high towers on their backs garnished with archers Touching the rest of his forces he caused them to ascend two seuerall waies by the mountaines vnder the conduct of his most intirest friends commanding them with a huge shout and crie to charge their enemies to discouer their golden and brazen bucklers to the end the reflection thereof might dazel the eies of the Iewes whereupon the mountaines resounded with fearfull cries of Antiochus army Yet was not Iudas any waies amated hereat For entertaining the charge with a noble courage he slew almost six hundreth of the forlorne hope But Eleazar surnamed Auranes Iudas brother seeing a huge Elephant among the rest armed with royal trappings supposing that the king was vpon the same he ran against him with a mightie courage and after he had slaine diuers of them that enuironed the Elephant and scattered the rest he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast and wounded him to the death so that the Elephant falling vpon Eleazar slew him with the waight thereof and thus nobly died this worthy man ouerthrowing a great number of his enemies thorow his infinite valour Iudas seeing his enemies forces so great in number retired backe to Ierusalem to continue his siege and Antiochus sent part of his army to Bethsura to surprise the same and with the rest he himselfe marched onward to Ierusalem The Bethsurites being affraid of this mighty army of the king and seeing their necessarie prouisions failed them yeelded vp their Citie after they had taken the kings oth that they should receiue no outrage When as therefore Antiochus became Lord of this Citie he offered them no iniurie onely he thrust them out disarmed from the Citie and planted a garrison therein Hee spent a long time also in besieging the temple of Ierusalem for that they who kept the same defended it valiantly For against euerie engine the king builded raised vp against them they erected a counter-engine Their only want was victuals because their old prouision was consumed the ground had not bin manured that yeere because it was the seuenth in which according to the law the countrey soyle should not be stirred which was the cause that diuers of those that were besieged fled secretly for want of victuals insomuch that very fewe remained for the defence of the temple In this estate were they who were besieged in the temple When as King Antiochus and Lysias the generall had receiued tidings that Philip comming out of Persia intended to make himselfe master and lord of the countrey they concluded to giue ouer the siege for that time and to march forward against Philip without giuing any inckling thereof either to his souldiers or captaines He onely commanded that Lysias should communicate the same with the captaines
vnable to resist Iudas made his account to recouer Demetrius fauour For which cause he repaired to Antioch incensed Demetrius grieuously against Iudas accusing him for inforcing many iniuries against him protesting that he should endure farre more except he were preuented and punished by a good army sent out against him CHAP. XVII Nicanor being sent after Bacchides to be chieftaine of the warre against Iudas is discomfited with all his army DEmetrius imagining that if Iudas should increase in power it should be some preiudice to his estate he sent Nicanor his most intire and faithfull friend to make war against him who was one of them also who accompanied him in his flight from Rome Hauing therefore furnished him in his owne opinion with a sufficient army and able to make head against Iudas he commaunded him to spare no one of that nation As soone as Nicanor came to Ierusalem he intended not incontinently to make warre vpon Iudas but cast with himselfe to surprise him by some subtiltie to this intent he sent him a peaceable message alledging that it was neither necessary not conuenient for him to fight or hazard his fortune protesting vnto Iudas that he would offer him no iniury and that he resorted thither with his friends onely to expresse the good affection of king Demetrius towards him and how well he was affected towards the nation of the Iewes Iudas and his brethren beleeued this false embassage of Nicanors and suspecting no kind of sinister dealing they gaue him credite and entertained both him and his armie When as therefore Nicanor had saluted Iudas he conserred with him and in the meane while gaue a signe vnto his souldiers to lay hands on him who perceiuing and discouering his treason betime incontinently brake from him and fled vnto his souldiours When Nicanor sawe that his intent and subtiltie was discouered he resolued to make open warre vpon Iudas and to bid him battell neere vnto a borough called Caphar-salama in which place obtaining the victorie he constrained Iudas to retire himselfe into the fortresse in Ierusalem When as therefore Nicanor returned from the siege of Iudas in the temple of Ierusalem certaine of the Priests and Elders went out to meet with him and after they had done their reuerence they shewed him those sacrifices which as they said they intended to offer vnto God for the kings prosperity and health But he blaspheming threatned them that if the people did not deliuer Iudas into his hands he would destroy the temple vpon his returne and with these menaces he departed out of the citie Which when the Priests heard they began to shed aboundant teares praying God that it might please him to defend his sacred tēple togither with those which called on his name therin from the violence and outrage of their enemies Whenas therefore Nicanor departing from Ierusalem arriued neere vnto the borough of Bethoron he encamped there and to that place a great supply of soldiers came vnto him out of Syria Now Iudas was encamped in an other borough called Adas about thirtie furlongs distant from Bethoron hauing with him at the most not aboue one thousand men Notwithstanding he exhorted his soldiers not to be afraid of the multitude of their enemies neither to thinke with themselues against how many they were to fight but against whom and for what recompence they were to fight to the intent they might altogether couragiously set vpon the enemy at such time as he should lead them forth to the onset Whereupon assailing Nicanor there arose a dangerous conflict betweene them wherein Iudas had the vpper hand for he slue a great number of the enemie and finally Nicanor himselfe fighting couragiously was slaine and as soone as hee fell downe dead his army betooke them to flight For hauing lost their chieftaine they dispersed themselues and cast away their weapons Iudas speedily pursuing them made a great slaughter and by sound of trumpet certified them of the neighbouring villages that he had discomfited the enemie Whereupon the inhabitants there about vnderstanding hereof betooke them to their weapons and meeting with those that fled in the foreward slue them so as no one escaped from this battell notwithstanding they were to the number of nine thousand This victorie hapned on the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar as our countrimen call it and the Macedonians Distre And hereof each yeere there is both a solemne feast and memoriall obserued From this time forward the nation of the Iewes were in quiet without any inuasion and liued in peace for a little time but afterwards they were troubled with the like combates and daungers Whereas therefore the high Priest Alcimus intended to beate downe an olde wall of the sanctnarie which had beene builded by the holy Prophets he was sodainly strooken by God so that he incontinently lost his speech and fell to the ground and after he had endured many grieuous torments for diuers daies at last he died miserably after he had enioied the Priesthood for the space of foure yeeres After his death the people with a generall consent gaue his place to Iudas Who vnderstanding of the great power of the Romanes and how they had conquered Gaule Spayne Carthage Greece and the Kings Perseus and Philip and besides all these the great King Antiochus determined to make friendshippe with them and sent Eupolemus the sonne of Iohn and Iason the sonne of Eleazar his two intire friends vnto Rome to intreate the Romanes to be their allies and confederates and to write vnto Demetrius that he should giue ouer to warre against the Iewes When the Embassadours that were sent from Iudas were arriued in Rome the Senate entertained them and after they had discoursed with them vpon the occason of their Embassage they accepted and concluded vpon their alliance and made a decree the copie whereof was then brought into Iudaea and the originall reserued in the Capitoll engraued in a Table of Brasse Which arrest or decree of the Romanes as touching their alliance and good affection they bare vnto the Iewes contained these articles That no man vnder the obedience of the Romanes should maintaine warre against the nation of the Iewes neither should furnish them with victuals shippes or siluer who should make warre vpon them And if any enemies should assaile the Iewes the Romanes should giue them succours to the vttermost of their power And that likewise if any one should make warre against the Romanes the Iewes should succour them That if the Iewish nation would adde or diminish any thing of that association it should be done with the common aduise of the people of Rome and that that which should be ordained should remaine irreuocable This arrest was written by Eupolemus the sonne of Iohn and by Iason the sonne of Eleazar at such time as Iudas was high Priest and his brother Simon generall ouer the army See heere how the first amitie and alliance was contracted
betweene the Romanes and the Iewes CHAP. XVIII Bacchides is sent once againe into Iudaea and obtaineth a victory WHen as Nicanors death and the discomfiture of his army was reported to Demetrius he sent a new army into Iudaea vnder the conduct of Bacchides who departing from Antioch and repairing to Iudaea encamped in Arbela a city of Galilee where hauing inforced conquered and taken a great number of those that were retired into caues he departed from thence and repaired in all haste to Ierusalem And vnderstanding that Iudas was encamped in the village of Berzeth he marched out against him with twentie thousand footmen and two thousand horsemen Now Iudas had not on his side in all aboue two thousand men who perceiuing the multitude of Bacchides soldiers were afraid so that some of them forsaking their camp fled away by which meanes there remained no more with Iudas but eight hundreth men Seeing himselfe therefore abandoned by so many of his men and pressed by his enemies who gaue him neither truce nor time to reassemble his forces he resolued to fight with those eight hundreth which he had whom he exhorted to be of good courage and to fight valiantly but they answered that they were insufficient to make head against so huge an army and counsailed him to retire and to stand on his guard for that time vntill he had gathered forces that might be able to confront the enemy But Iudas replied to this effect God forbid said he that the sunne should see me turne my backe vpon mine enemies And if by this meanes I meete with my death and that I must needes spend ◅y last bloud in this battell I will neuer soile so many notable actions so worthily atchieued nor staine so much glorie obtained with so great vertue by one ignominious flight And hauing in this sort exhorted the small remnant of those souldiers that were with him he commanded them that without any apprehension of danger they should bend themselues altogither against the enemy CHAP. XIX Iudas ouercome in the battell dieth BVt Bacchides drew out his army and arranged them in battell placing the horsemen on both the wings his light armed souldiers and archers in the front of the army and after these a strong band called the Macedonian Phalanx and he himselfe led the right wing of the battell And in this array he approched Iudas campe and caused the trumpets to be sounded commanding all his souldiers to giue a great shoute to charge their enemies Iudas did the like and encountred Bacchides so that on both sides there was a most cruell conflict which continued vntill the sunne-set And when as Iudas perceiued that Bacchides and the flower of his army fought in the right wing he chose out a certaine number of his most resolute followers and drew towards that quarter and setting vpon them he brake their squadron and afterwards thrusting into the midst of them he forced them to flie and pursued them as farre as the mount Aza They of the left wing perceiuing the flight of those in the right went after Iudas and enclosed him on the backpart He being vnable to flie and seeing himselfe enclosed by his enemies resolued with his souldiers to fight it out When as therefore he had slaine a great number of his enemies and being enfeebled more through wearinesse then by the woundes receiued of them he fell to the ground and was himselfe at last slaine likewise adding this honourable manner of death to his former notable and valiant exploites His souldiers seeing him dead and hauing no gouernour of respect left amongst them after the losse of so valiant a captaine betooke them all to flight Simon and Ionathan his brothers vpon intreatie recouered his body and carried it to Modim a place where his father was buried there was he interred by all the people who wept for him diuers daies and honoured him publikely according to the custome of their countrey Such was Iudas end who was a valiant man a great warriour and verie respectiue of the commandements of his father Matthias hauing done and suffered all that he might for the libertie of his countrey Being therefore after this manner adorned with vertue he hath left behinde him a perpetuall renowne of his worthy actes and an honourable memorie of himselfe obtained by the libertie in which hee reestablished his nation retyring them from the seruitude of the Macedonians who died also after he had discharged the office of the high priest for the space of three yeeres THE XIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 13. booke 1 Ionathan after his brother Iudas death succeedeth him in the gouernment 2 Ionathan hauing wearied Bacchides by warre compelleth him to draw to a league and to depart away with his army 3 Alexander the sonne of Antiochus Epiphanes maketh warre vpon King Demetrius 4 Demetrius sendeth an embassador to Ionathan with presents perswading him to be of his faction 5 Alexander by greater proffers then Demetrius did offer and by offering the high Priests place to Ionathan draweth him to fauour his faction 6 Of the temple of God builded by Onias 7 How Alexander after the death of Demetrius highly honoured Ionathan 8 Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius ouercomming Alexander possesseth the kingdome and plighteth friendship with Ionathan 9 Tryphon Apamenus after he had ouercome Demetrius reserueth the kingdome for Antiochus Alexanders sonne who receiueth Ionathan into fauour 10 Demetrius being ouercome by the Parthians Tryphon breaketh his couenant of peace and laying hold on Ionathan traiterously killeth him and afterwards assaulteth Simon his brother 11 How the nation of the Iews cōmitted both the priesthood the gouernment of the army to Simon 12 Simon driuing Tryphon into Dora besiegeth him and entreth friendship with Antiochus surnamed Pius 13 A debate arising betweene Antiochus and Simon Cendebaeus the kings captaine is driuen out of the countrey 14 How Simon was traiterously slaine at a banquet by Ptolomey his father in law 15 How Prolomies endeuours being made frustrate Hircanus obtained the gouernment 16 How Antiochus surnamed the Iust leading an army against Hircanus for three hundreth talents is both reconciled and tied in league of friendshippe 17 Hircanus expedition into Syria 18 How Antiochus Cyzicenus assisting the Samaritanes is both conquered and enforced to flie 19 Aristobulus was the first that set the Diademe on his head 20 The actes of Alexander King of the Iewes 21 The victorie of Ptolomey Lathurus against Alexander 22 Demetrius Eucaerus ouercommeth Alexander in battell 23 The expedition of Antiochus Dionysius into Iewry 24 Alexander being dead his wife Alexandra succeeded him in the kingdome CHAP. I. Ionathan after the decease of his brother Iudas succeedeth him in the gouernment WE haue declared in our former booke how the nation of the Iewes after they had been vnder the subiection of the Macedonians recouered their liberty we
haue likewise discouered the great and grieuous conflicts which Iudas their captaine performed and in which he finally died in the behalfe of their libertie how likewise after the death of Iudas all the wicked Apostate Iewes who had reuolted from their religion tooke courage molesting and doing many iniuries to the rest of their countrimen Finally how besides their malice the famine inuaded the countrey so that diuers being vnable to sustaine these two mortall scourges of famine and warre were constrained to submit themselues vnto the Macedonians In the meane while Bacchides gathering togither the false Apostataes who were fallen from the religion of the Iewes with an intent to liue after the prophane manner of the Paganes committed the gouernment of the countrey vnto them who laying hold on Iudas friends and partakers betraied and deliuered them to Bacchides who first of all tormented and beat them at his pleasure and afterwards put them to death This so grieuous affliction then which the Iewes had neuer endured a worse since their returne from Babylon was the cause that those of Iudas faction who were yet aliue fearing the totall and cruell ruine of their nation addressed themselues to Ionathan his brother exhorting him to imitate his brother Iudas vertues to haue no lesse care of his countrimeÌ„ then the other had who fought for their libertie vntill his latest breath requiring him not to abandon the gouernment of his nation especially in that 〈◊〉 miserable estate wherin they were pluÌ„ged Ionathan answered them that he was ready to die for them and being in all things esteemed no lesse valiant and politique then his brother Iudas he was proclaimed generall and chiefetaine of the Iewes Bacchides hauing notice hereof feared least Ionathan should be no lesse infestuous to the king and Macedonians then his brother Iudas before him had been for which cause he sought the meanes to make him away by treason But both Ionathan and his brother Simon gat intelligence hereof and hauing discouered his practise they tooke all their families with them and fled into the desart that confined the Citie Ierusalem and retiring themselues neere vnto a water called the lake of Asphar they remained in that place When Bacchides perceiued that they mistrusted him and were drawne thither he went out against them with all his forces and being encamped on the other side of Iordan he gathered his army togither Ionathan knowing well that Bacchides came out to seeke him sent his brother Iohn surnamed Gaddis vnto the Arabians Nabatheans to commit the trust of their goods vnto their hand vntill the end of the warre betwixt him and Bacchides for the Arabians were his friends Whilest therefore Iohn marched towards the Nabatheans the sonnes of Amaraeus laid an ambuscado for him who were of the citie of Medaba and after they had furiously set vpon him on the way laid hold on whatsoeuer he brought with him they at length slew him and all his company for which fact of theirs they were shortly after punished by his brethren as we will make manifest in that which afterward followeth When Bacchides knew that Ionathan was incaÌ„ped in the marshes of Iordan he made choise of the Sabboth day to set vpon him hoping that he would not defend himselfe on that day because of the prohibition of the law But he contrary to his expectation incouraged his companions declared vnto them how it concerned their liues to be valiant for that it was impossible for them to escape because they were shut vp in the midst betwixt the floud and the enemy for they had the enemy before them and the floud on their backes As soone therefore as he had made his praier vnto God that it might please him to grant him the victorie he set vpon the enemy with a stout courage and slew a great number of them and perceiuing Bacchides how with great fiercenesse he set forward against him he stretched out his right hand to strike him but he preuenting the stroke by stepping aside Ionathan and his companions lept into the riuer and so saued themselues by swimming ouer to the other side of Iordan because the enemies durst not passe the water to pursue them Whereupon Bacchides returned incontinently to the Castle of Ierusalem after he had lost about some two thousand of his men After this he fortified diuers Cities which were before tâ—…ne ruinated namely Ierico Emaus Betheron Bethella Thamnata Pharathon Techoa and Gazara and builded in euery one of them certaine towers and great and strong walles and afterwards he planted garrisons therein to sally out vpon the Iewes and vex them but in especiall he fortified the cittadel of Ierusalem in which hee kept for hostages the children of the principallest men of Iudaea About that time there came a certaine man to Ionathan and his brother Simon bringing them newes that the sonnes of Amaraeus would solemnize their nuptials and were to leade the bride from the Citie of Gabatha which was daughter to one of the noblest amongst the Arabians for which cause she should be conducted with great magnificence and sumptuous pompe Ionathan and his brother supposing that a fit oportunitie was offered them to reuenge their brothers death and to punish the Medabanes for the wrongs they had done vnto their brother they tooke with them the greatest forces that they could and marched towards Medaba where they lay in ambush vnder the couert of a mountaine But when they saw them that led the bride and accompanied the bridegroome and a great troupe of their friends likewise according to the accustomed manner of marriages they brake out of their couert and put them all to the sword and after they had seazed their Iewels and all other bootie of that company that followed them they retired backe againe ioyfully hauing obtained their purpose and thus reuenged they the death of their brother Iohn vpon the sonnes of Amaraeus For not onely these alone but their friends that accompanied them with their wiues and children were all of them slaine to the number of foure hundreth And in this manner Simon and Ionathan returned into the marshes aforesaid and aboade there But Bacchides hauing fortified all the garrisons of Iudaea returned backe vnto the king And at that time the estate of the Iewes was in peace for the space of welny two yeeres But the wicked and such as were reuolted from the religion of the Iewes seeing that Ionathan and his followers conuersed in the countrey in great assurance by reason of the peace they sent certaine Embassadours vnto king Demetrius requiring him to send them Bacchides who might apprehend Ionathan declaring that it might easily be done and that in one night breaking in vpon them he might murther them all before they were aware When Bacchides by the kings commaundement came into Iury he wrote vnto all his friends both Iewes also his other allies requiring them to lay hold on Ionathan but
friends Moreouer in way of present I send you a purple robe and a crowne of gold exhorting you that since you are thus honoured by vs you will in like sort yeeld vs an answerable respect and friendshio Ionathan hauing receiued this letter inuested himselfe in the habite of the high Priest and the day of the feast of the Tabernacles which was the fourth yeere after the death of his brother Iudas For during al that time there had not been any high priest He assembled also a great number of souldiers and caused a great quantitie of armors and weapons to be forged When Demetrius heard these newes he was much troubled and accused himselfe of sloth and too much negligence in looking to his affaires for that he had not preuented Alexander in the courteous entertainment of Ionathan but had suffered him to take the benefit of this occasion He sent letters likewise to Ionathan and the people containing that which followeth King Demetrius to Ionathan and to all the nation of the Iewes Health Since you haue obserued the friendship that you beare vnto vs and haue not entangled your selues with our enemies notwithstanding their diuers sollicitations we praise your fidelity and pray you to perseuere in the same estate assuring you that you shall receiue the like fauours from vs in all integritie For I will forgiue you the greater part of the tributes and taxes that you haue vsually paid either to the kings my predecessors or to me and from this time forward I acquite you from those tributes you are to pay hereafter And moreouer I release you of the price of salt and of the gold which you were woont to giue vnto vs for our crowne We likewise acquite you of the thirds of the fruit of your lands and the halfe of the fruit of your trees which heretofore you haue been accustomed to pay me to keepe and hold them peaceably from this time forward I acquite you also at this present for euer of all that which the inhabitants of Iudaea and the three prouinces annexed therunto Samaria Galilee and Peraea are bound to pay me willing and commanding that the Citie of Ierusalem be held sacred and to haue the right of the freedome exempt from all tributes and tenths both in it selfe also all the countrey belonging thereunto And I commit the fortresse in the same to the hands of Ionathan the high Priest permitting him to plant such a garrison therein as in his opinion shall be held both honest and lawfull and such as will faithfully maintaine it to his vse I will also that all the Iewes who are imprisoned in my countrey be set at libertie Moreouer it is my pleasure that no horses of the Iewes be taken vp to runne post for vs. I grant also on the Sabboths and other festiuall daies yea three daies also before euery one of those feasts libertie and freedome be vsed And my will is that the Iewes who inhabit within my dominions be likewise freed of all molestations The like priuiledge grant I them that will beare armes with me to the number of thirty thousand who in what place soeuer they shall be shall haue no worser entertainment then mine owne army and part of them will I place in my garrisons the rest shall be of my guard and I will make them captaines in my court and will permit them to liue according to the ordinances of their countrey which they shall obserue and I wil also that the three gouernments annexed to Iudaea be made subiect vnto the same lawes My pleasure is in like manner that the high Priest shall take order that no Iew adore in any other temple then in Ierusalem and of mine owne charge I giue euery yeere a hundreth and fiftie thousand sicles of siluer to be emploied in making sacrifices and that which shall be ouer and aboue those sacrifices my pleasure is that it shall be yours Moreouer I acquite the Priests and ministers of the tēple of the ten thousand drachmes of siluer which the kings leuied on the temple because they appertaine vnto the Priests who serue in the temple as I haue been rightly enformed I grant also to all those who shall repaire vnto the temple of Ierusalem for refuge and within the precincts thereof whether it be for money due vnto the king or for any other cause that they be acquit thereof and receiue not any domage in their goods I permit also that the temple be repaired and builded at my charge My will is also that the walles of the Citie be reedefied and that certaine towers be builded about the same at my costs Furthermore if there be any places fit to build fortresses and strong holes in through all the countrey of Iudaea and to place garrisons in them my will is that all this be done and fortified at the charges leuied out of mine owne coffers These are the promises and offers that Demetrius made vnto the Iewes But king Alexander hauing gathered great forces as wel of strange hired soldiers as of those who in Syria had reuolted from Demetrius led foorth his whole army against the enemy and after the ensignes were displaied and the onset giuen the left wing of Demetrius compelled Alexanders souldiers that fought against it to flie and his men pursuing them hard at heeles spoiled their campe But the right wing in which the king himselfe was being forced to retire was discomfited and as for the rest they betooke them all to flight but Demetrius fighting valiantly slew some of his enemies and in pursuing other some who could not endure his fierce assault was in the end by setting spurres to his horse mainly carried into a deepe and muddy bogge whereinto by misaduenture his horse fell and being vnable to get out he was slaine in that place For being discouered by his enemies they turned backe vpon him and hauing inclosed him they altogither shot their arrowes against him who being on foote and fighting valiantly was at length slaine after he had receiued diuers wounds and was no more able to sustaine himselfe Thus died Demetrius who departed this life the eleuenth yeere of his raigne as we haue discoursed in an other place CHAP. VI. Onias winneth the fauour of Ptolomey Philometor and obtaineth leaue of him to build a temple in Aegypt which was called the temple of Onias BVt Onias the sonne of the high priest called also Onias who flying out of his countrey liued in Alexandria with Ptolomey Philometor as we haue heretofore declared seeing all Iudaea destroied by the Macedonians and their kings and intending in his heart to purchase an immortall memorie he determined to beseech the king Ptolomey and the queene Cleopatra by letters that it might be lawfull for him to build a temple in Aegypt resembling in all points that which was at Ierusalem and that he might haue liberty to plant Leuites and Priests in the same of his owne kinred And hereunto was
sollicited him by often Embassadours to come vnto them promising him to subscribe to his authoritie and to warre with him against Arsaces King of the Parthians He puffed vp with those hopes marched towards them with great speed resoluing with himselfe that after he had ouercome the Parthians if he had any forces left him he would wage warre with Tryphon and easily driue him out of the kingdome of Syria Being therefore entertained by those of the countrey with great affection he leuied a great army and assailed Arsaces but he lost the day and himselfe was taken prisoner as we haue elsewhere declared CHAP. X. Demetrius is taken prisoner Tryphon breaketh the couenant of peace betwixt him and Ionathan and surpriseth and killeth him trecherousle and afterwards maketh warre against his brother Simon WHen Tryphon vnderstood that Demetrius affaires had so vnfortunate an issue he forsooke Antiochus and his seruice and complotted with himselfe how hee might kill him and make himselfe king But the feare that he had of Ionathan Antiochus friend hindred this intent of his For which cause he resolued first of all to deliuer himselfe of Ionathan and that â—…one afterwards to make Antiochus the young king away Hauing therefore concluded with himselfe to kill Ionathan by some stratagem of treason he came from Antioch to Bethsan which the Greekes call Scythopolis whither Ionathan came to meete him with fortie thousand chosen men supposing that Tryphon resorted thither to make warte vpon him But he knowing that Ionathan came thither with so much strength wrought him by presents and counterfeit curtesies commanding his captaines to obey Ionathan thinking by that meanes to perswade him that he intirely and truely loued him and to extinguish his suspition to the intent he might lay hold and intrap him at such time as he had least suspition of him He counselled him to dismisse his army likewise because hauing cut off all occasion of warre he had no reason to retaine them for that there was no suspition of alteration After this he inuited Ionathan to come to Ptolemais and to bring with him some few of his souldiers signifying vnto him that he would deliuer the Citie into his hands and resigne all the fortresses that were in the countrey to his possession vrging further that he came into that countrey to no other ende but to performe it Ionathan suspecting no sinister dealing and beleeuing that Tryphon spake of good and intire affection discharged his forces and tooke onely three thousand men with him whereof two he left in Galilee and with one thousand repaired to Ptolemais vnto Tryphon But the Ptolemaidans shutting the gates as soone as he was entred according as Tryphon had commanded them tooke Ionathan prisoner and slew all those that attended vpon him He presently sent also part of his army vnto the two thousand that were left in Galilee to the intent to put them all to the sword but they hauing notice of that which had befallen their chiefetaine taking vp their armes speedily departed out of Galilee And although the souldiers of Tryphon exceeded them farre in number yet were they not so hardy as to trie whether part were the stronger because they knew that the Iewes were ready to expose themselues to all dangers to defend their liues and so they returned backe to him that sent them without doing anything CHAP. XI The people maketh Simon generall of their army and declareth him the high priest THey of Ierusalem vnderstanding of the surprisall of Ionathan and the losse of his souldiers grieuously lamented for this accident that so great a man as he was was taken from them in that they feared that not without cause that being destitute after his decease both of his valour and prudence the nations that were round about them would seeke their trouble and molestation who hauing held themselues quiet in admiration of him would at that time lift themselues vp against them and not only persecute them with warre but bring them into extreame danger of their liues Neither did their expectation deceiue them For the neighbouring nations vnderstanding of Ionathans death began presently to make war vpon the Iewes on all sides as against those who had no longer any chiefetaine vnder whose conduct they might wage warre and shew themselues valiant And Tryphon likewise hauing gathered forces was determined to ascend into Iudaea to warre against the inhabitants thereof Simon perceiuing that the Citizens of Ierusalem were dismaied with the feare which they apprehended of those rumours and new tumults of warre and being desirous to animate them against all incursions attempts intended by Tryphon assembled the people in the temple and began to exhort them after this manner You are not ignorant men and brethren how both I my father and brethren haue voluntarily offered our selues vnto death for your liberty Since therefore I haue abundance of such like examples and that it is the ordinarie course of our family to die for our law and religion there is no feare so great as can plucke out this resolution out of my heart as it may plant such a desire of life in me as to be drawne to forget all honour Wherefore since you haue such a chiefetaine and commander as setteth light by all danger whereby he may endure or act any thing for your safetie it behooueth you to follow me couragiously to what place soeuer I shall conduct you For I am of no better account then were my brethren whereby I should spare my life neither am I lesse then they whereby I should thorow negligence and cowardise shun and forsake that which they haue esteemed to be honourable as is to die for the law and the seruice of our God I will make manifest therefore by all the testimonies that I can that I am their true and lawfull brother for I trust in God that he will giue me power to take vengeance of our enemies and deliuer not onely all of you but your wiues and your children from the iniury which they intend against you and by the grace of God I will preserue the holy temple that it may not be ruinated by their prophane hands I or I already perceiue that the prophane nations set vs at naught and contemne you as if you had no chiefetaine and I know already that they are marching forward to fight with you By these words Simon harmed the people who were distracted with feare so that they reuiued their spirits and conceiued better hope Wherupon all of them cried out with a loud voice that Simon was their generall and that he was to succeed his two valiant brethren Iudas and Ionathan in the gouernment and that as touching themselues they would be obedient in all things that he should commaund them He therefore assembled in one instant all the men at armes in that countrey and hasted himselfe to repaire the Citie walles defencing them with high and strong towers and sent
a certaine friend of his called Ionathan the sonne of Absalom with an army to Ioppe commanding him to expulse the inhabitants of that citie from thence for that he feared least they should submit themselues to Tryphon As for himselfe he remained in Ierusalem to secure the same Tryphon departing from Ptolemais with a great army came into Iudaea leading his prisoner Ionathan with him Whereupon Simon with his army went out against him as farre as Addida a Citie scituate vpon a mountaine at the foote whereof beginneth the champion countrey of Iudaea Tryphon knowing that Simon was made gouernour of the Iewes sent messengers vnto him intending to circumuent him by treason and pollicie giuing him to vnderstand that if he were des◅ous of his brothers enlargement he should send him one hundreth talents of siluer and two of Ionathans children for hostages to assure him that being set at liberty he should not withdraw Iudaea from the obedience of the king For till that present he was held and kept prisoner by reason of the money which he ought the king Simon was no waies ignorant of this cunning intent of Tryphons but knew well enough that he should both lose his money if he should deliuer the same and that his brother should not be enlarged no though his children were deliuered for hostages on the other side he feared least the people should conceiue sinisterly of him as if he had been the cause of his brothers death both by not deliuering the money neither yet the children Hauing therefore assembled the army he declared vnto them what Tryphon demanded telling them that the whole scope of his actions were nought els but traiterous stratagemes and subtilties yet notwithstanding he told them that he had rather send both the mony and the children to Tryphon then by refusing his conditions and demands to be accused to haue neglected the life of his brother Simon therefore sent both the money and children of Ionathan but Tryphon hauing receiued both kept not his promise but detained Ionathan and leading his army thorow the countrey intended to passe by Idumaea to repaire to Ierusalem He came therfore to Dora a Citie in Idumaea and thitherward marched Simon to encounter with him encamping alwaies right ouer against him They that were in the Castle of Ierusalem hearing newes hereof sent Tryphon word that he should hasten and come vnto them and send them munition whereupon he addressed his horsemen pretending that very night to ride vnto Ierusalem but the snow about that time fell in such abundance that it couered the way in such sort and was so thicke as the horses could not trauell which hindred his repaire to Ierusalem For which cause he departed from thence and came into Coelesyria and speedily inuading the countrey of Galaad he put Ionathan to death in that place and after he had buried him there he returned to Antioch But Simon sent vnto Basca and transported his brothers bones and interred them in his countrey Modin in his fathers sepulcher and all the people mourned and lamented for him many daies Simon also builded a great monument of white and polished marble for his father and his brethren and raised it to a great height and garnished it round about with galleries and pillers all of one piece which was an admirable worke to behold Besides that he erected seuen Pyramides for his father mother and brethren for each of them one so great and so faire as they mooued admiration in those that beheld them and are as yet to be seene at this present day So great was Simons care that Ionathan and the rest of his family should be honoured with so magnificent a sepulcher which Ionathan died after he had exercised the place of high priest and possessed the gouernment for foure yeeres Thus much as touching his death As soone as Simon had taken possession of the high priesthood by the election of the people the very first yeere of his gouernment he acquitted the people of the tribute which they were woont to pay to the Macedonians This libertie and exemption from tribute hapned amongst the Iewes one hundreth and seuentie yeeres since the time that Seleucus surnamed Nicanor obtained the kingdome of Syria And in so great honour was Simon amongst the people that in their priuate contracts and publike letters the date began from the first yeere of Simon the benefactor and gouernour of the Iewish nation For they prospered greatly vnder his gouernment and had the victorie of all their neighbouring enemies round about them For he destroied the Cities of Gaza Ioppe and Iamnia he raced also the cittadel of Ierusalem and leuelled it with the ground to the intent the enemies might be neuer seazed thereof any more nor retreat themselues thither to endomage the city as before time they had done Which when he had brought to passe he thought it not amisse but very profitable to leuell the hill whereon the Castle stood to the intent the temple might be the eminentest place All this perswaded he the people to doe in a common assembly laying before their eies how many euils they had suffered by the meanes of the garrisons and how much they were like to suffer hereafter if a stranger should once more be master of the kingdome and build a cittadel in that place By these exhortations he perswaded the people to finish these workes and all of them began to trauell without intermission both day and night so that in the space of three yeers they plained the mountaine and wrought it downe and from that time forward there was nothing but the temple that commanded the Citie See here what Simon performed hitherto CHAP. XII Simon besiegeth Tryphon within Dora and contracteth alliance with Antiochus surnamed the Deuout NOt long after the captiuity of Demetrius Tryphon slew Alexander the sonne of Antiochus surnamed God notwithstanding he had the care and charge of his education for foure yeeres during which time he raigned and spreading abroad a certaine noise and rumour that the yong king in exercising himselfe fortuned to die he sent his friends and familiars vnto the men of warre promising them that if they would elect and choose him king he would giue them a huge summe of money giuing them to vnderstand that Demetrius was prisoner among the Parthians and that if Antiochus his brother should obtaine the kingdome he would punish them diuers waies and reuenge their reuolt and rebellion which they had committed by forsaking him The army hoping that if they bestowed the kingdome on Tryphon it would redound highly to their profit they proclaimed him king But after he had attained the fulnesse of his desites he shewed how malicious and wicked his nature was For at such time as he was a priuate man he flattered the people and made shew of moderation and by such allurements he drew thē to do what him listed but after he had taken possession of
the kingdome he discouered his hypocrisie and shewed plainly that he was not vnaptly called Tryphon that is to say a trifler or mocker By which meanes he drew the hearts of the better sort from him and as for his army they grew so much in hatred of him that they submitted themselues to Cleopatra Demetrius wife who had at that time shut vp both her selfe and her children in Seleucia And wheras Antiochus surnamed the Deuout and brother to Demetrius was driuen from place to place and had not any Citie that would entertaine him for feare of Tryphon Cleopatra sent vnto him enuiting him both to be her husband and to take the possession of the kingdome And hereunto did she the rather draw him partly for that she was thereunto perswaded by her friends and partly for the fear she had least some one of Seleucia should betray the citie to Tryphon As soone as Antiochus was arriued in Seleucia and that from day to day his forces increased he marched forth into the field and fought with Tryphon and ouercame him in battell and droue him out of the higher Syria and pursued him as farre as Phoenicia where after he had retired himselfe into Dora a strong and impregnable Castle he besieged him therein and sent present Embassadors to Simon the high priest of the Iewes to confirme a friendship and confederacie with him Simon very curteously accepted his demaunds and presently sent Antiochus both money and victuals sufficient to furnish his army at the siege of Dora so that in short space he was accepted amongst the number of his intire friends Tryphon flying from Dora to Apamea was in that place besieged taken and flaine after he had raigned three yeeres CHAP. XIII After Tryphons death Simon made warre against Antiochus and droue Cendebaeus out of Iudaea BVt the innated auarice that was in Antiochus and the malignitie of his nature made him forgetfull of those offices and seruices that Simon had done him so that he sent Cendebaeus his great friend with a mighty army to inuade Iewry and to surprise Simon But he hauing some priuie intelligence of Antiochus treacherie notwithstanding that at this time hee was verie olde was in such sort moued with the iniuries that Antiochus had done him as animated with courage more then became his age he went himselfe to the warre as if as yet he had beene but youthfull he therefore caused his sonne to march before with the picked soldiers of his army and hauing left a number of his soldiers in ambush in the hollow retreats of the mountains he executed al his deseignes without failing in any one of them so that after he had euery way obtained the vpper hand of his enemies he euer after enioied his gouernment in peace during the remainder of his life and renewed likewise the confederacy with the Romans CHAP. XIIII Simon is traiterously slaine by his sonne in law Ptolomey at a banquet HE gouerned Iudaea for the space of eight yeeres and was at length slaine at a banquet by the trechery of Ptolomey his sonne in law who being seased of Simons wife and his two children and detaining them in prison sent out certaine of his traine besides to kill Iohn the third sonne surnamed Hircanus But the young man hauing-some inkling of their drift retired himselfe speedily into the citie and auoided the daunger that they complotted against him assuring himselfe of the good will of the people in consideration of the benefits they had receiued at his fathers hands and the hatred that they bare vnto Ptolomey who intending to enter the citie gates was sharply repulsed by the citizens for that they had alreadie entertained Hircanus CHAP. XV. How Ptolomey failing of his hopes Hircanus obtained the Soueraigntie WHereupon Ptolomey retired vnto a certaine Castle scituate beyond Ierico called Dagon but Hircanus was made high Priest in his fathers steed who after he had recommended himselfe to God by the firstling sacrifices that he offered marched out against Ptolomey his brother in law to make warre vpon him Now when he was fully addressed to besiege the place whither Ptolomey was retired he had the aduantage in all other things but onely by the affection that he bare vnto his mother and his brethren he was ouercome For Ptolomey hauing taken them and whipt them vpon the walles in all mens presence threatned Hircanus that vnlesse he leuied his siege he would cast them downe headlong from the top of the Castle now whereas one way Hircanus had a great desire to enforce and surprise the place so also on the other side he was wholy weakned thorow the desire that he had to redeeme those whom he loued from the enemies tyranny True it is that his mother stretching out her hands besought him that for her sake he should not giue ouer valiantly to assault the place but that he should bee the more encouraged to surprise the fortresse and to lay hold vpon his enemy be reuenged on the wrong that was offered vnto his decrest friends alledging that she thought it better to die in the middest of a thousand torments then that the enemie should escape vnpunished who had beene so manifest an occasion of their misery When Hircanus heard his mother speake thus he was more furiously incensed to giue the assault but as soone as he saw his mother so beaten and so sore wounded his heart melted within him and that seruent desire which he before had to batter and beat downe the citie was presently alaid and cooled and so the pitifull compassion on his mother surmounted and ouercame his irefull affection of reuenge Whilest thus the siege was continued and prolonged the yeere of reposâ—… celebrated among the Iewes was come For they obserued the seuenth yeere as the seuenth day is obserued in the weeke so that by this occasion Ptolomey was deliuered of this siege who afterwards slue both Hircanus mother and brethren which done he fled vnto Zeno surnamed Cotyla who at that time tyrannized in the citie of the Philadelphians CHAP. XVI Antiochus the Deuout maketh warre against Hyrcanus and vpon the receit of three hundreth talents contracteth alliance with him ANtiochus calling to mind the manifold losses he had receiued by Simons meanes inuaded Iury in the fourth yeere of his raigne and in the first of Hyrcanus gouernment which was in the hundreth sixtie and two Olympiade And after he had spoiled all the countrey he locked vp Hyrcanus within the Citie of Ierusalem which he had besieged with seuen campes yet with no aduantage at all both in regard of the strength of the walles as in respect of the valour of the Citizens as also the want of water which he had in his campe which was notwithstanding remedied by a great fall of raine which fell about the setting of the Pleiades in the beginning of Aprill On the North side also where there is a great plaine Antiochus caused one hundreth towers
that the gouernment which she enioyed during her life time was after her death distracted with infinite troubles and calamities wherewith her family was replenished And notwithstanding her regiment after this manner yet during her life time she kept the kingdome in peace And thus died Alexandra THE XIIII BOOKE OF THE ANTIQVITIES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 14. booke 1 How after the death of Alexandra her youngest sonne Aristobulus made warre against his brother Hircanus for the kingdome who obtaining the victorie compelled Hircanus to flie into a castle in Ierusalem And how after it was agreed and concluded between them that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man without dignitie 2 Of the race of Antipater and how he purchaseth renowme great power and authoritie both to himselfe and his children and of the flight of Hircanus to Aretas king of Arabia 3 Aristobulus being vanquished is pursued as farre as Ierusalem 4 Hircanus and Aristobulus send Embassadours to Scaurus to request his aid and succour 5 Aristobulus and Hircanus present themselues before Pompey to debate their titles touching the kingdome 6 Pompey is seazed of the fortresses by a warlike stratageme 7 They of Ierusalem shut their gates against the Romans 8 Pompey taketh the Temple and lower part of the citie by force 9 Scaurus maketh warre against Aretas and by the perswasion sollicitation of Antipater maketh aleague with him 10 Alexander being ouercome by Gabinius retireth himselfe into a castle where he is shut vp and besieged 11 Aristobulus escaping out of prison flieth from Rome who being taken againe in Iudaea by Gabinius is sent backe prisoner to Rome 12 Crassus warring against the Parthians passeth through Iewrie and spoyleth the Treasurie of the Temple 13 Pompey retireth into Epirus and Scipio commeth into Syria 14 Caesars voyage into Egypt wherein the Iewes do him faithfull seruice 15 Antipaters valiant acts and the amitie betwixt him and Caesar. 16 Caesars letters and the Senates decree as touching the friendship betwixt the Iewes and Romans 17 Antipater committeth the gouernment of Galilee to his sonne Herod and that of Ierusalem to Phasaelus his other sonne and how Sextus Caesar aduāced Herode to great honour and dignitie 18 Cassius afflicteth Iurie and exacteth eight hundreth talents 19 Malichus poisoneth Antipater 20 Herode putteth Malichus to death by Cassius commandement 21 Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus seeking to recouer his fathers kingdome by the aide of the King of Tyre is discomfited and driuen out of Iudaea by Herod 22 Herod meeting Antonius in Bithynia winneth his fauour with a great summe of money to the intent he should giue no ◅are to his accusers 23 Antonius arriuing in the prouince of Syria establisheth Herode and Phasaelus for Tetrarches 24 The Parthians make warre in Syria to restore Antigonus the sonne of Aristobulus to the kingdome 25 The Parthians take Hircanus and Phasaelus prisoners and lead them away 26 Herode at Rome is declared King of Iury by the Senate 27 Herode returneth from Rome and fighteth against Antigonus 28 Antigonus is discomfited by Sosius and Herode CHAP. I. How after the Contention betweene the two brethren touching the kingdome it was agreed that Aristobulus should be king and Hircanus liue as a priuate man WE haue alreadie intreated in our former Booke both of the actes and death of Queene Alexandra it now remaineth at this present to prosecute and continue the sequell of our History to the end that we neither omit any thing thorow ignorance or burie ought in forgetfulnes For they that make profession to write Histories and to recite such things as are obserued by antiquitie ought not onely studiously to conforme their stile but also to beautifie the same with the ornaments of eloquence to the intent the reader may conuerse in their writings with the more delectation But aboue all things they must haue an especiall care so exactly to set downe the truth that they who know not how these things came to passe may be the more duely and fitly informed When as therefore Hircanus had taken vpon him the high Priesthood in the third yeere of the hundreth seuentie and seuenth Olympiade and in the yeere that Q. Hortensius and Q. Metellus called the Cretensian were consuls at Rome Aristobulus sodainly vndertooke the warre against Hircanus and fought with him neere vnto Iericho where a great number of Hircanus followers submitted themselues of their owne accord to Aristobulus Thorow which accident Hircanus was inforced to fly to the fortresse of the higher citie wherein Alexandra Aristobulus mother had imprisoned both his wife and children as before this it is specified The rest of his faction for feare of his brother who had gotten the victory retired themselues within the enclosure of the temple where they were besieged and taken After this a peace was intreated of betwixt both the brethren and their different was accorded in this manner that Hircanus should passe the remnant of his life without entermedling with affaires of estate but should onely intend his security and peace and Aristobulus should commaund the kingdome This league was ratified betweene them in the temple and confirmed with othes coniunction of hands and embraces in the sight of all the people which being finished Aristobulus retired himselfe into the pallace and Hircanus to Aristobulus lodging to lead a priuate and quiet life CHAP. II. Of the race of Antipater and how he is aduanced to high estate and how Hircanus flieth to Aretas King of Arabia BVt acertaine friend of Hircanus by nation an Idumaean and by name Antipater being wel monied and by nature both factious and industrious and thorow ambition but badly affected toward Aristobulus the rather for that he affected Hircanus faction began to stir much trouble True it is that Nicholas Damascene writeth of this man that he was descended from the noblest amongst those Iewes who returned from out of Babylon into Iury but this he did of set purpose to gratifie Herode Antipaters sonne who by a casualtie became afterwards King of the Iewes as we will expresse hereafter in time and place conuenient This Antipater was at the first called Antipas according to his fathers name who as it is reported was made gouernour of all Idumaea by king Alexander and his wife and afterwards made a league with the Arabians Gazeans and Ascalonites corrupting them and insinuating himselfe into their fauours by diuers great presents bestowed vpon them This young Antipater considering with himselfe what Aristobulus power was and fearing least some mischiefe might be fall him thorow the hatred the young king had conceiued against him he communicated with certaine of the greatest reckoning amongst the lewes and secretly and cunningly incensed them against Aristobulus telling them that they had done amisse both to see and suffer Aristobulus to detaine the kingdome vniustly in his hands and to dispossesse
laid vp there and eight hundreth talents of the Iewes But we haue no publike money but that which is dedicated vnto God It is therefore a thing most manifest that the Iewes that inhabite Asia transported this money into Coos for the feare that they had of Mithridates For it is not likely that they who inhabited Iudaea and had a Citie so strong and a temple so well defenced should send their money to Coos Neither is it credible likewise that the Iewes remaining in Alexandria should do it for that they feared not to fal into danger thorow this warre of Mithridates The same Strabo also saith in an other place that at such time as Sylla passed thorow Greece to make warre against Mithridates and Lucullus he sent men to Cyrene which was troubled by reason of the mutinies of our nation wherewith the whole world was filled and saith thus There were foure sorts of people in the Citie of the Cyrenians One of them were Citizens the second were Labourers the third were Soiourners and the fourth were Iewes who at this present are intermingled thorow all Cities neither is there an inhabited place thorowout the world neither was there any nation that inhabite the same wherein these haue not set foote and fortified For both Aegypt and Cyrene being vnder the subiection of the same princes and diuers other regions conformed themselues to their customes and nourished assemblies of Iewes and aduanced them and more and more vsed the Iewish ordinances It appeareth therefore that there was a colony of Iewes in Aegypt Furthermore in Alexandria a great part of the Citie is assigned to this nation They haue likewise their peculiar magistrate who gouerneth the people endeth and decideth their differents and maintaineth their contracts and ordinances as if he gouerned in his owne common weale By this means this nation hath fortified and established it selfe in Aegypt for that the Iewes had their originall amongst the Aegyptians and for that Iudaea is neere vnto Aegypt from whence the Iewes are descended And as touching Cyrene they haue entred it in that it confineth that countrey which is vnder the obedience of the Aegyptians in like manner as Iudaea doth or rather for that in times past it appertained to the same kingdome Thus farre Strabo After that Crassus had disposed all things according to his owne pleasure he dislodged and marched forward to make warre against the Parthians where both he and all his army were destroied as it is declared in an other place As for Cassius he retired himselfe into Syria and tooke possession thereof to the end he might affront the Parthians who being proud of their victorie lately obtained made excursions so farre and comming to Tyre he finally arriued in Iudaea where vpon his first entrance he tooke the Citie of Taâ—…ichaea and led away from thence thirtie thousand prisoners He put Pitholaâ—…s also to death for that he maintained Aristobulus faction All which he did by Antipaters procurement and instigation who was in great credit with him and who also at that time was highly esteemed amongst the Idumaeans amongst whom he maried his wife who was descended of one of the most famous families of Arabia her name was Cypron by whom he had these foure sonnes Phasaelus and Herode who after was made king Ioseph and Pheroras and one daughter called Salome This Antipater also made alliance with other princes and especially with the Arabian to whose custodie he committed his children during the time he made warre against Aristobulus But Cassius gathered another army and marched towards Euphrates to make head against the Parthians as it is specified and registred by other writers CHAP. XIII Pompey retireth himselfe into Epirús and Scipio commeth into Syria ANon after this Caesar being Lord of Rome after that Pompey and the Senat were fled on the other side of the Ionian sea set Aristobulus at liberty determining to send him into Syria with two legions as being a sufficient man to gouerne the state affaires in that quarter Naitheles Aristobulus failed of his hopes and authoritie he expected at Caesars hands For Pompeies partakers preuented and poisoned him wherethrough he died so that he was buried by those of Caesars faction His bodie was kept embalmed with hony for a long time vntill that Antonius sent it into Iury to be entombed among the kings and princes Scipio by Pompeies commaundement caused Alexander Aristobulus sonnes head to be cut off charging him with some misdemeanors which he had committed against the Romanes and after this manner finished he his daies being executed in Antioch Ptolomey the sonne of Mennaeus who gouerned in Chalcis at the foote of the mount Libanus tooke his brothers and sent his sonne Philippion to Ascalon to Aristobulus wife commaunding her to send her sonne Antigonus and his daughters one of which called Alexandra was beloued by Philippion and maried by him but afterwards he being slaine Ptolomey Philippions father maried her and continued the carefull maintenance of his brethren in law CHAP. XIIII Caesars voyage into Egypt wherein he was assisted by the faithfull seruice of the Iewes AFter Pompeies death and that victory which Caesar had obtained against him Antipater gouernour of Iudaea by the commaundement of Hircanus was verie profitable vnto Caesar. For whereas Mithridates the Pergamenian brought him certaine supplies and could not bring them on by reason of an arme of Nilus passing thorow Pelusium but was constrained to stay at Ascalon Antipater came vnto him and brought with him three thousand soldiers and so dealt with the princes of Arabia to associate them with Caesar that by his meanes all they of Syria gaue him their assistance and neuer altered their affection that they bare vnto Caesar These were Iamblicus a great Lord and Ptolomey his sonne Tholomaeus the sonne of Sohemus dwelling on the mount of Libanus and welny all the Cities Mithridates being departed from Syria came to Pelusium where being repulsed and excluded by the Citizens he besieged the Citie Antipater in this warre behaued himselfe valiantly and after he had beaten downe a pane of the wall he first of all set forward to enter the Citie Whilest Pelusiâ—…m was in this estate the Iewes that inhabited Aegypt in the countrey of Onias would neither grant passage to Antipater nor Mithridates that marched towards Caesar. But Antipater who was of their nation perswaded them to take their parts shewing them the letters of the high Priest Hircanus in which he inuited them to be friends vnto Caesar and exhorted them to furnish his army in whatsoeuer they stood in need of so that seeing that Antipater and the high Priest were accorded togither they submitted themselues They that dwelt round about Memphis hearing that they were thus vnited sent for Mithridates also vnto them who came and receiued them into his fauour CHAP. XV. The noble actions of Antipater and the amitie that hee had with Caesar. WHen he was come
king and you honourable assistance I could neuer yet remember that euer any man which was called in question to defend his cause before vs hath appeared in this equipage and I suppose that none of you can say that the like hath euer happened but whosoeuer commeth into this place to receiue iudgement he presenteth himselfe with humilitie and feare with a countenance prepared to implore mercie hauing his haire long and his garment blacke but this gallant Herode accused of murther and for this occasion called before vs who could imagine that he should appeare before vs in a purple robe hauing his haires trimmed and besides that a guard of armed men about him with an intent that if we condemne him according to law he may put vs to death without lawe that after he hath violated all right he might escape and saue himselfe But I blame not Herode in this action for that he hath a more inward regard of his particular profit then of the lawe but I accuse both you and the king who haue giuen him such assurance Know therefore that there is a soueraign God that will one day punish both you and the king and him whom you will deliuer by the kings meanes And so generally fell it out as he had said For as soone as Herode had obtained the kingdome he put all those of the councell to death and Hircanus himselfe likewise onely Sameas was exempted for he held him in great estimation because of his wisedome and iustice and because that at such time as the Citie was besieged by Herode and Sosius Sameas perswaded the people to receiue Herode telling them that by reason of their sins and offences they might not escape from him whereof we will speake in place conuenient Hircanus perceiuing that the iudges were inclined to condemn Herode deferred the sentence till the next day and sent secretly vnto Herode counsailing him to flie out of the Citie assuring him that there was no other meanes to saue his life Thus posted he to Damasco as if he fled from the kings presence and presenting himselfe before Sextus Caesar after he had assured his person he resolued with himselfe that if the councell should call him once more to his answere he would not obey them But after his departure the councel were displeased with Hircanus and laboured to perswade him that all these things tended to his destruction which he well perceiued yet knew he not what to doe he was so negligent and void of foresight When Sextus had made Herode gouernour of Coelesyria which estate he sold vnto him for ready mony Hircanus was affraid least Herode should make war against him neither passed there long time before the effect grew answerable to his feare For Herode marched forth against him with a great army supposing himselfe to be much wronged by the assignation he had sent him and in that he was summoned to giue a reason of his actions before the councell But his father Antipater and his brother Phasaelus came forth against him to hinder his approch towards Ierusalem striuing to appease his furie and counsailing him not to attempt any thing by way of action but that contenting himselfe that he had threatned and affrighted Hircanus he should not attempt any further against him who had raised him to that high degree They told him also that it became him not onely to remember that he was cited to answere but that he was absolued also and permitted to depart without danger or any violence Moreouer that he ought to thinke that God gouerneth the ballance of warre and that the issue of battels is vncertaine and for that cause he ought not to expect the victorie if he made warre against the king who was his familiar and from whom hee had receiued farre more kindnesse and no displeasure who though he made some appearance and shadow of seueritie touching the accusation intended against him yet notwithstanding it proceeded not so much from him as from his euill counsellors Herode in some sort pacified by these perswasions obeyed his father supposing that it sufficed him in regard of his future hopes that he had giuen the people so large a testimony of his power This was the estate of the Iewes at that time But Caesar arriuing at Rome prepared himselfe to set saile towards Affricke with an intent to make warre against Scipio and Cato To him Hircanus sent Embassadours beseeching him to confirme the amitie and association that he had with him But now at this present I thinke it very conuenient to declare all the prerogatiues and associations that the Romans and their Emperors haue made with those of our nation to the end that all other people might know that the kings of Asia and Europe haue been well affected towards vs and haue made great account of our valour and fidelitie And although diuers men lewdly affected towards vs beleeue not that which the Macedonians and Persians haue written of vs because the same matters are not extant in all places neither set downe in publike writings but only amongst our selues and some Barbarians yet is it manifest that they cannot contradict the declarations made by the Romans which are manifestly affixed in publike places in Cities as likewise also at this present they are written in the Capitol in brazen pillars Iulius Caesar in like manner in a brazen pillar erected by him hath declared vnto the Iews that inhabited Alexandria that they were free Citizens therin And to the intent that these things may more manifestly appeare I will propose the decrees of the Senate and of Iulius Caesar made in fauour of Hircanus and our nations Caius Iulius Caesar Emperour high Priest Dictator the second Time to the gouernours Senate and people of the Sidonians Health If you are well we are in health both our selues and our army I haue sent you the copy of an inscription registred in fauour of Hircanus Alexanders sonne high priest â—…d prince of the Iewes to the end it may be placed among your publike monuments and my will is that it be engrauen in a table of brasse both in Greek and Latin letters the tenour whereof is this that followeth Because Hircanus Alexanders sonne the Iew both at this present as also heretofore as well in peace as in warre hath expressed his fidelity towards vs and our estate as diuers chieftaines of our armies yeeld testimonie of him and for that in our last Alexandrine warre he seconded vs in the battell with fifteene hundreth men and hauing beene sent by vs to Mithridates hath surmounted all those of his company in valour For these causes my will is that Hircanus Alexanders sonne and his successors be princes of the Iewes and further that they continue alwaies in the high Priesthood according to the ordinance and custome of their countrey that both he and his children be our associates and be enrowled likewise amongst our chiefest
shall do well to disanull them by reason of the vertue of the Iewes and the forwardnes they haue protested in performance of our seruice After Caius Caesars death the Consuls Marcus Antonius and Publius Dolobella assembled the Senate and hauing brought in Hircanus Embassadours they declared their requests and contracted amitie with them the Senate likewise ordained that each thing should be granted them that they required And Dolobella hauing receiued Hircanus letters sent them thorowout all Asia and to Ephesus which is the Metropolitane citie of Asia in these termes The generall Dolobella to the Princes Senate and people of Ephesus Health Alexander the sonne of Theodore Embassadour to Hircanus the high priest and prince of the Iewes hath giuen vs to vnderstand that his subiects cannot go on warfare because it is not lawful for them to beare armes nor to trauell on the Sabboth day as also for that they may not seeke for their victuals and other necessaries on that day according to the custome of their countrey for this cause I grant them exemption from the warre in like manner as my predecessors haue done permitting them to vse the ceremonies and rites of their country assembling themselues to make their oblations and sacrifices as their lawes and customes require in contributing to the offering of the sacrifices in the temple And my will is that you write to this effect to euery citie of the prouince See heere how Dolobella honoured Hircanus at such time as he sent his Embassadours vnto him Lucius Lentulus Consul pronounceth that the Iewes that are citizens of Rome and that obserue and offer the sacrifices of the Iewes in Ephesus before the tribunall be exempt from warfare by reason of their religion Giuen the ninteenth of October There are besides these many other Edicts and ordinances made to the like effect by the same generals and by the Romane Senate in fauour of Hircanus and our nation and some other cities In like sort there were diuers decrees and writs sent vnto the gouernours and rulers of the prouinces touching our priuiledges all which may be easily beleeued by those that shall read our Historie with no preiudicate opinion if they consider those that we haue heere inserted For we haue shewed most expresse and liuely testimonies of the friendship that we haue had with the Romanes and such as at this day are affixed to pillers and engrauen in tables of brasse in the Capitol and that hereafter shall remaine affixed for euer For which cause I haue thought it to be a friuolous and vnnecessarie matter to insert all in this place and I thinke that there is not any man of so sinister iudgement that will not beleeue how much we haue been esteemed by the Romans as they haue giuen testimonies by diuers decrees published in our behalfe neither may any man suppose that we lie considering the truth of that which we publish Thus haue we sufficiently declared the amitie and association that in times past we haue had with the Romans About this time it came to passe that the estate of Syria was sore troubled vpon the occasion that ensueth Caecilius Bassus one of Pompeies partakers laid an ambush for Sextus Caesar and slew him and seazing vpon his army vsurped the gouernment wherby there arose great warre nigh Apamea For Caesars captaines marched out against Caecilius with great force both of foote and horsemen to whom Antipater sent his sonnes with a power to second them in remembrance of the benefits he had receiued at Caesars hands supposing it to be an act of iustice that the murtherer should be punished for his so hainous offence Now whereas this war continued a long time Marcus came and succeeded Sextus Meane while Caesar was slaine by Cassius and Brutus in the midst of the Senate after he had commanded three yeeres and six moneths as it is expressed in an other place CHAP. XVIII Cassius afflicteth the Iewes and exacteth about eight hundreth talents at their hands AFter Caesars death the brand of ciuill war began to flame and the greatest men of Rome trauailed the one this way the other that way to gather men of warre But Cassius came into Syria with an intent to take the army that was neere to Apamea and hauing leuied the siege he drew both Bassus and Marcus to be of his faction and trauailing from Citie to Citie he gathered a number of souldiers and much furniture and imposed huge tributes but especially he afflicted Iewry and exacted of that countrey more then seuen hundreth talents of siluer Antipater seeing the state in so great feare and trouble committed the exaction of the two parts of this money to his sonnes the other he commanded to be assigned to Malichus who was his enemy and the other part vnto an other Herode first of all gathered that which was commanded him in the countrey of Galilee and for this cause was greatly beloued by Cassius for he being prudent and discreet thought it no small policie at that time to win the Romans good will by other mens expence Vnder the other gouernours the Cities were set to sale togither with their inhabitants and amongst them these foure were the chiefest namely Gophna Emaus Lydda and Thamna for Cassius sold the people thereof to them that would giue most Furthermore Cassius was so much transported with Choler that he had slaine Malichus so much was he moued against him if Hircanus had not restrained his furie by sending him one hundreth talents of his owne money by Antipater But as soone as Cassius was departed out of the countrey of Iudaea he practised Antipaters death supposing that his cutting off would assure Hircanus state the more strongly But Antipater was not ignorant of this his resolution for hauing an inckling thereof he got himselfe on the other side of Iordan and assembled an army of souldiers both Iewes and Arabians Hereupon Malichus who was a politike and subtill fellow denied stoutly that he had intended any treason purging himselfe with an oath before Antipater and his children that he had neuer any such intent especially for that he saw that Phasaelus hâ—…ld Ierusalem and Herode had an army at commaund And in the end perceiuing the difficultie wherein he was he reconciled himselfe to Antipater and they agreed at that time that Marcus gouerned Syria who perceiuing that Malichus began to raise troubles in Iewry resorted thither and theâ—… wanted little but that hee had slaine him had not Antipater by earnest request obtained his life CHAP. XIX Malichus poysoneth Antipater BVt imprudent Antipater saued Malichus to his owne mischiefe For when Cassius and Marcus had assembled their army they committed all the charge into Herodes hands and made him gouernour of Coelesyria and deliuered him great forces both of foot and horse and ships by sea They promised him likewise the kingdome of Iudaea after they had finished the war that was at that time betwixt them
burrough of Idumaea Ioseph his brother came forth to meete him and to consult with him as touching their whole estate and to know of him what should become of that great multitude that followed them considering that they had no souldiers in pay and the Castle of Massada whither he pretended to flie was too little to hold all the people for which cause he sent away many to the number of nine thousand willing them to disperse themselues here and there in the countrey of Idumaea and for the better dispatch of their iourney he furnished them with victuals As for himselfe he tooke with him his most able souldiers and inward friends and repaired to the Castle of Massada in which place he left the women and their traine to the number of eight hundreth or thereabouts and furnishing the place with corne water and other prouisions necessarie he went vnto Petra the chiefest Citie of Arabia As soone as it was day the Parthians sacked all that which appertained to the Citizens of Ierusalem and amongst other things they spoiled the palace notwithstanding they medled not with Hircanus money which amounted to some three hundreth talents They left diuers other things behind them also that appertained to Herode and especially that which had been transported into Idumaea by his mature prouidence Neither were the Parthians content with the spoile of the Citie but they forraged all the countrey round about and raced Marissa a verie rich Citie Thus Antigonus brought backe into his countrey by the king of the Parthians receiued Hirtanus and Phasaelus that were prisoners yet was he vehemently displeased because the women had escaped whom according to his promise he intended to haue deliuered with the money and fearing least Hircanus thorow the fauour of the people should be reestablished in his kingdome who was then prisoner in the custody of the Parthians he cut off both his eares depriuing him by that meanes from enioying the priesthood any more by reason of that maime because the law commaundeth that they who are in that dignitie should be sound in all their members But Phasaelus is to be admired for his great courage at this time for vnderstanding that hee must needly die he was no waies dismaied with death but that which he held most miserable and dishonourable was that he must needs die by the hands of his enemy Seeing therefore that he could not dispatch himselfe by other meanes because he was bound and chaiâ—…ed he knockt out his owne braines against a stone and so ended his life with as great honour as may be imagined in such a desperate estate depriuing his enemy of that power which he intended to practise in tyrannizing ouer him at his pleasure It is said that the wound being very deepe Antigonus sent priuily surgeons to cure him and that vnder colour of healing him they should put poison into the same wherethrough he might die But before Phasaelus gaue vp the ghost he vnderstood by a certaine woman that his brother Herode had escaped from his enemies for which cause he endured his death with far greater cheerfulnesse and constancie seeing that he left behind him such a man as would reuenge his death and punish his enemies But Herode was no waies discomforted with the greatnesse of those aduersities which enuironed him round about but was the more whetted on to find out new inuentions and to aduenture dangerous attempts For he went vnto Malchus king of the Arabians to whom before time he had shewed much curtesie hoping to receiue the like of him in this time of his great necessitie and to draw some money from him either by loane or gift according as he had often and verie bountifully pleasured him For being ignorant of his brothers death he endeuoured himselfe to raunsome him speedily from his enemies by paying his raunsome which amounted to three hundreth talents and for that cause he led with him the sonne of Phasaelus who was onely seuen yeeres olde to leaue him in pledge amongst the Arabians for the summe that was demaunded But certaine messengers came vnto him from Malchus who charged him in the kings behalfe to retire backe againe for that the Parthians had enioyned him that he should neither receiue nor retaine Herode And this colourable pretence vsed he because he would not pay his debts and hereunto was he perswaded by the aduice of the greatest in authoritie among the Arabians who pretended thereby to make themselues masters of that treasure that Antipater had committed to their custody Herode answered them that he repaired not into their countrey to giue them cause of any trouble but onely to consult with him about certaine matters of great importance touching his owne estate and that afterwards he was resolued to depart and withdraw himselfe into Aegypt as secretly as might be possible He returned therefore to a certaine temple where he had left diuers of his followers and the next day hee came to Rhinocura in which place he heard tidings of his brothers death But afterwards Malchus repented himselfe of his in gratitude and speedily sent after Herode but he could not ouertake him for he had gotten farre onward of his way and was already arriued in post neere to Pelusium where being denied his passage to Alexandria in those ships that were there he addressed himselfe to the magistrates of the place who highly respected and honoured him and sent him to the Citie where Cleopatra was who entertained him kindly yet notwithstanding could she not perswade him to remaine with her Whereupon he repaired towards Rome notwithstanding the winter and those grieuous troubles that at the verie same time afflicted Italie as it was reported Embarking himselfe therefore to saile into Pamphilia he was tossed with a most cruell storme so that with great danger at last he arriued in Rhodes hauing been inforced in the tempest to cast into the sea a good part of his substance There met he with Sappinas and Ptolomey two of his indeered friends He found also that the Citie of Rhodes had suffered much miserie by Cassius warres and although his meanes were very scant yet profited he them in what he might and caused their walles to be repaired notwithstanding that by so doing he greatly hindred himselfe After that he caused a little frigote to be built and embarked himselfe with his friends to repaire into Italy and arriued at Brundusium and from thence went to Rome The first to whom he discouered his misfortunes was Marcus Antonius to whom he reported all the occurrences in Iudaea and how his brother Phasaelus was taken by the Parthians and slaine and how Hircanus was imprisoned with him The manner also how they had established Antigonus king vnder promise to giue them one thousand talentes and fiue hundreth of the fairest women whom hee intended to choose out of his owne race Lastly how he stole away by night and rescued them and escaping his enemies hands
was vpon the point of execution surprised her at such time as she thought to flye and yet notwithstanding he pardoned her that fault in that he durst not decree any punishmēt against hir though he could haue found in his heart to haue vsed seueritie for that Cleopatra vvould not haue contained her selfe had she but had such an occasiō offered her to expresse her hatred against Herod For which cause vnder the colour of a high and magnanimous spirit he made shewe to pardon her of his meere clemencie yet inwardly resolued hee to make young Aristobulus away yet not rashly and vpon the instant least the act should growe apparant and palpable Now the feast of Tabernacles was at hand which was one of those that was ceremoniously and solemnly celebrated among vs for which cause he concealed his intents during the festiuall daies intending both in himselfe and in the presence and companie of the people to follow all kinde of pleasure and delight yet did his enny incite him to hasten the execution of his will Aristobulus was at that time some seuenteene yeere olde who at such time as he approched the altar to offer sacrifices according to the lawe apparelled in the high priests ornaments to performe the ceremonies he who for amiable countenance and goodly stature surpassed the young and tendernesse of his yeeres expressing in his countenance the dignitie and nobilitie of his race drew the eies and good affection of all the people vnto him so that they openly called to remembrance the noble actions of Aristobulus his grandfather All the people therfore being surmounted by those their affections and at that present time being all of them troubled with the ioy they conceiued they brake out by little and little into happy acclamations mixed with wishes and praiers so that the good will the people bare to Aristobulus discouered it selfe openly and they manifestly although too hastily in such a kingdome declared what euils they generally endured For all which causes Herode concluded to execute that which he had heretofore complotted and conceited against Aristobulus As soone therefore as the feast was ouerpassed he soiourned in Iericho where Alexandra entertained him In that place he vsed Aristobulus with all kindnesse to the end to draw him into some place where he feared nothing playing also with him and counterfaiting to sport after the fashion of the young men to gratifie him Now for that the place where they disported themselues was by nature too hoat they quickly wearied left their sport and went out togither to take the fresh aire and recouering a pleasant shade vnder certaine arbors and neere certaine fishpooles which were largely spread round about they beheld certain of their seruants and friends that swomme therein with whom not long after Aristobulus began to swim being perswaded thereunto by Herode Whereupon Herodes confederates who were deputed to execute the murther laid hands of him and thrust him vnder the water pretending to duck him in sport and neuer gaue him ouer vntill such time as they had stifled him in the water This hapned about the euening and after this manner died Aristobulus after he had liued in all for the space of eighteene yeeres and administred the priesthood one whole yeere and after this Ananel presently recouered his former dignitie Now when this accident was reported to the women all of them were sodainly deuoured in teares and transported with strange lamentations which they spent ouer the dead body All the Citie also was marueilously amated neither was there any priuate family that thought not it selfe touched by this inconuenient but imagined the losse in particular to concerne himselfe and no other But aboue all when Alexandra had notice of this wicked deede she was more passionate and perplexed then any other being so much the more discomforted for that she knew how all things had hapned But the feare of a farre greater mischiefe constrained her to represse her passion in such sort that diuers times she was ready to bereaue her of her owne life and dispatch her selfe out of miserie with her owne hands But she contained her selfe to the end that suruiuing and liuing after her sonne who was so traiterously and fraudulently slaine and prolonging her owne life without giuing any suspition or shadow that she supposed her sonne to be thus cursedly murthered she might with more opportunitie expect the occasion to reuenge her selfe For which cause she dissembled all things gouerned her griefe and made shew that she knew nothing of that which was either intended or had hapned As for Herode he laboured by all means to perswade the strangers that this death had befallen Aristobulus without his knowledge and did not onely prepare that which was requisite for the funerall but vext himselfe likewise made shew of a man truely deuoured in his sorrow and it may be that in remembrance of Aristobulus beauty and flourishing young yeeres he was truely touched with compassion notwithstanding that he imagined that this death of his should be a means of his intire securitie demeasning himselfe in all things very circumspectly with intent to purge himselfe of that crime But especially he shewed his great magnificence in the interring of his body both in the furnishing and preparation of the herse as in the perfumes and other things thereunto belonging in such sort as the griefe which the Ladies had conceiued was pacified after this manner of consolation CHAP. IIII. Cleopatra thirsting after the kingdomes of Arabia and Iewry laboureth to beg a part of them at Anthonies hands BVt none of all these things could either mooue or mollifie Alexandra but that daily more and more she increased her sorrow and in the heart of her teares kindled her wrath and heate with a desire of reuenge She therefore certified Cleopatra by her priuate letters of Herodes treasons and her sonnes most miserable and vntimely death Cleopatra long before that time desirous to assist her and hauing compassion of her miserie vndertooke the matter and ceased not to incite Anthony to reuenge Aristobulus death telling him that it was an vnpardonable errour that Herode being created king in such a state whereunto he had no right should be suffered to practise such conspiracies against the true and lawfull kings Anthony perswaded by these her words as soone as he came vnto Laodicea sent for Herode to the end that making his appearance he might answere that which might be obiected against him as touching Aristobulus death for he disliked the act notvvithstanding that Herode himselfe had attempted it But although Herode vvas affraid of this accusation and did not a little suspect Cleopatraes displeasure for that she ceased not continually to prouoke Anthony against him yet obeyed he this commandement and transported himselfe thither the rather for that he durst not otherwise do notwithstanding he left his vncle Ioseph behind him committing the gouernment both of the kingdome his priuate
for that he would not haue discouered those things which had been spoken to him in secret except they had greatly trusted the one the other and in this emotion or rage of iealousie hardly contained he himselfe from killing his wife But the force of loue ouercame him so much that he bridled his rage notwithstanding it were irkesome and grieuous vnto him Yet gaue he order that Ioseph should be slaine without either audience or iustification of his innocencie and as touching Alexandra who was the cause of al these troubles he kept her prisoner About the same time there grew certaine troubles and alterations in Syria for that Cleopatra continually sollicited and importuned Anthony and whetted on his displeasure against all perswading him to remooue all from their gouernments and to bestow the same on her selfe And for that Anthony loued her extremely she was in great estimation and credit with him and being in her owne nature inclined to couetousnesse shee abstained from no kinde of corrupt dealing and wickednesse For knowing that the kingdome should descend vnto her brother she caused him to be poisoned when he was but fifteene yeeres olde as for her sister Arsinoe she caused her to be slaine by Anthonies meanes at such time as she made her prayers in the temple of Diana in Ephesus Moreouer in what place soeuer she vnderstood that there was any hope to get money whether it were in robbing of temples or in breaking open sepulchers she would be possessed thereof neither was there any religious place so sacred from whence she tooke not away the ornaments Furthermore there was not any thing so prophane and interdicted which she laid not hands on to satisfie her vnbridled auarice Neither was the whole world sufficient enough to content this magnificent Ladie who was made slaue to her owne desires and her disordinate appetite was such that all the riches in the world were not able to to saciate and fill the same For this cause she incessantly importuned Antonius to take from others to be liberall towards her and therefore intring into Syria with him she presently bethought her selfe how she might get it into her possession For she caused Lysanias Ptolomeies sonne to be put to death obiecting against him that he had priuate intelligence with the Parthians She begged Iury also at Antonius hands and required him besides that to dispossesse the kings of Arabia He was in such sort possessed by this woman that he seemed not only to be bewitched with her words but also inchāted by her poisons to obey her in whatsoeuer she thought meet yet was he ashamed to cōmit so manifest an iniquity for feare least being so farre ouerruled by her he should happen to offend in matters of more consequence Least therefore either by denying her he should draw her to discontent or by condiscending to her demands he should seeme to be the wickeddest man aliue he deducted a seuerall portion of both their dominions presented her with the same He gaue her likewise those cities that are scituate between the floud Eleutherius Aegypt except Tyre and Sydon which he knew to be free cities of long continuance although by earnest sollicitation she sought to be seazed of these also CHAP. V. Cleopatras progresse into Iudaea AFter that Cleopatra had obtained all these things and had accompanied Antonius as farre as Euphrates who at that time went to make warre in Armenia she returned backe againe and by the way visited Apamea and Damasco and at last tooke her progresse into Iury Where King Herode met with her and assured that portion which had beene giuen vnto her in Arabia with all the reuenewes of Iericho vnto her This countrey bringeth forth that balme which of all other oyntments is the most precious and onely groweth in that place and no other to the bignes of great Dates Being arriued in that place and growen inwardly familiar with Herode she fought to allure and draw him to her lust being of her selfe naturally addicted to such pleasures and intemperance and happily also being somewhat touched with loue or rather as it seemeth most likely she in this sort laid the foundation to intrap him vnder colour to reuenge her selfe of some outrage by that meanes But in effect she generally manifested that she was ouercome by her desire and sensuall lust But Herode was not ouer kindly bent towards Cleopatra knowing of long time how badly she was enclined towards al men and at that time he conceiued the greater hatred against her because by that intemperance of hers she pretended to destroy him and although that from the beginning he had reiected her sollicitations yet determined he to reuenge himselfe on her if so be by these her subtill vnderminings she should prosecute and continue her subtil pollicies to betray him He asked counsaile also of his friends whether hauing her in his possession he should put her to death For in so doing all those should be deliuered from diuers euils whom either in time past she had molested or hereafter s◅d bring in trouble Moreouer that it would be profitable for Antonius also whom without all doubt she would forsake if any occasion or necessitie should enforce him to make triall of her friendship But whilest he debated and discoursed vpon this resolution his friends restrained and disswaded him assuring him that it was a great indignitie for him who was a Prince of high thoughts and hautie resolutions to cast himselfe into manifest perill beseeching him to attempt nothing rashly For that Antonius would not endure the same notwithstanding it might be approued that it stood with his profit nay rather that by this meanes he should increase his desire for that by force subtilty he might seeme to haue lost her Further that no on colour of excuse should be left him in that she was the woman of greatest note nobility of that time that what soeuer profit might redound vnto him by her death should be annexed with Antonius iniurie Wherby it most euidētly appeared how great remediles domages would befall both to the kingdome the kings family also whereas nothing letted him by repulsing her vnlvwfull demand to dispose allthings for the present state with great discretion By these such like reasons and probable coniectures they deterred and disswaded him from aduenturing vpon his apparant daunger and attempting so hainous an act so that contrariwise they induced him to offer Cleopatra many rich presents and to conduct her onward on her way towards Aegypt As soone therefore as Antonius was seazed of Armenia he sent Artabazes Tigranes sonne with all his children who were great princes prisoners into Aegypt and presented them to Cleopatra with all those precious Iewels likewise which were taken by him or found in the kingdome But Artaxias his elder sonne who at that time had saued himselfe by flight raigned in Armenia whom Archelaus and Nero the
Iewes not daring to expect or preuent their assault for that their present miseries had deiected their mindes seemed to neglect their common weale and in a manner to despaire of their safetie These thus affected did the king incourage and called vnto him their captains and as much as in him lay awaking and reuiuing their drouping spirits and when he had restored those of better hope to more successefull good hap at length he attempted to speake vnto all the army who in the former ouerthrowes would yeeld no respect or allowance to perswasion These did he both comfort and exhort in such manner as followeth CHAP. VIII Herodes Oration to his army FRiends and fellow souldiers there is not one of you but knoweth that at this time there are so many present and impendent misfortunes attending our estates as are able to weary and amaze those men that are of the greatest resolution But since we must needly fight and that all those things that haue befallen vs vnto this present are of that kind that by your owne vertue and magnanimitie they may be recouered I haue resolued to informe and confirme you in those meanes whereby you may retaine and continue your accustomed valour and noble courage First of all therefore I will approue vnto you as touching our war that it consisteth on iust grounds for that we are inforced thereunto thorow the outrage of our enemies the knowledge whereof should chiefely make you recouer your courage Secondly I will apparantly approue vnto you that our estates are not so desperate but that we haue great and assured hopes to obtaine the victorie First of all therefore I will discourse of that which formerly I proposed and wil make your selues iudges of those things which I will discourse vpon For you your selues are priuie to the Arabians vniustice and how perfidious they are to their friends and impious and barbarous towards all men but in especiall they haue alwaies troubled vs prouoking vs thorow their extreme auarice and malignant enuy with perpetuall iniuries And yet to let slip all other our benefits to that nation who is he that deliuered them from their imminent perill and thraldome that was hazarded by Cleopatras meanes but our selues For the friendship I had with Anthony and his beneuolence towards me was the cause that their burthen of miserie was so lightned for that Anthony forbore to commit any thing that might draw vs to suspition Besides after she had wrought him by her sollicitation to cut off certain portions of the two kingdomes to be giuen vnto her the matter was so handled by me that by diuers presents particularly bestowed vpon him by my hands I haue obtained securitie for vs both and by disbursing two hundreth talents of mine owne and giuing my word for two hundreth more for others for the reuenues of that very land which in times past was ours and these now possesse and enioy Notwithstanding reason it were in my opinion that we that are Iewes should not be tributaries or giue any portion of our countrey to any man and if we must needly doe it it ill becommeth vs to pay it for these who enioy their liues by our meanes It should not be reasonable for the Arabians who after they had confessed with many plausible protestations and thankesgiuings that they enioy their libertie by our benefit to haue depriued and thrust vs from our own and to haue vniustly dealt with vs yea euen with vs I say who were not their enemies but rather on the contrarie side their chiefest friends in the time of peace And if fidelitie should be respected euen amongst those that are our most hated enemies much more necessarily ought it to be obserued by those that are friends But these men set light therby who thinke nothing honest but that which is annexed with Lucre and thinke no wrong vnexcusable nor impunitie iniurie that hath bâ—…t a shew of profit Is there any question then whether we should chastice these vniust men by a iust warre since both God commandeth no lesse and enioyneth vs alwaies to hate outrage and reuenge iniustice especially in that warre which is not onely iust but necessarie For that which both in the confession of the Graecians and opinion of the Barbarians is most hatefull and haynous this haue they perpetrated in murthering our Embassadours For the Greeks say that embassadours are sacred and inuiolable and we our selues haue receiued our most holesome and holiest precepts of the law of God by Angels that is from his heraulds and messengers for this name can both bring God to mans knowledge reconcile enemy vnto enemy What impiety therefore is more vnpardonable then to put those Embassadours to death who bring tidings of right and iustice or what prosperitie can they expect either in their warres or felicitie in their whole liues after so hainous a crime Truely I cannot imagine any But perhaps some man will say that right and equitie is on our side but that the greater number of men and means are with them but this their speech is vnwoorthy of my followers For with those with whome iustice is with those also is God and where God is there neither wanteth multitude nor fortitude But let vs wade further and way our owne forces by themselues In the first battell we had the victorie in the second vpon the first charge we put them to flight and found them vnable to make their partie good against vs. Afterwards when the victorie was ours behold Athenio not by lawfull warre but subtill treacherie assaulted vs. But shall this be called their fortitude or rather their fraud and second iniquitie why therefore should we haue lesse courage who ought to haue the greater confidence or why should we feare them who are alwaies inferiours if they fight openly and without fraud and when they seeme to ouercome they doe it by vniustice Moreouer if any man suppose them to be valiat this should the rather incite them more and more vnto vertue for it is no honour for a generous and noble mind to ouercome his inferiour but to haue meanes and might to conquer his superiour And if any one be terrified by our domesticke and homebred miseries by our late earthquake first of all let him think with himselfe that he erreth in that which deceiueth the Arabians by supposing the same to be more grieuous and terrible then indeed it was And afterwards let him thinke that it becommeth them not to draw matter of feare from thence whence the other tooke occasion of courage For as touching themselues they conceiue not any hope thorow any good that is in themselues but onely in the trust they haue that we are already deiected by our calamities But when they shall see vs march forth against them their courage will be weakned and our confidence by this means shal be awakened for that we are not at this time to encounter with desperate men For neither
are we ouermuch afflicted neither as some thinke hath this miserie befallen vs thorow Gods displeasure but these are the casualties of fortune And if by the will of God these things are come to passe it is maruell if by the same will our calamitie cease not and that our punishment should not satisfie his displeasure But that this present war is approued by him for iust he himselfe hath euidently declared For whereas diuers thorow the whole region haue been oppressed by the earthquake none of you that bare armes haue incurred any mischiefe but all of you haue beene preserued which is a manifest token of the will of God and if your children and wiues had generally followed the warres as you doe none of you should haue beene wanting When as therfore you shall haue bethought your selues of these things and moreouer in regard that God hath at all times an especiall care ouer you faile not to pursue this iniurious nation with a iust warre that neither respecteth the lawes of friendshippe nor keepeth the league of couenant valiunt in murthering sacred Embassadours and abiect and villanous where things are to be attempted by valour These perswasions of his did not a little encourage the Iewes to the battell and made them more forward then before As for Herode after he had offered sacrifice according to the custome he drewe his army foorth and led them with great confidence against the Arabians and passing Iordan he encamped neere vnto the enemy with an intent to surprise a fort scituate betweene them both making his account that it would further him much either if vpon the present he should be drawne forth to fight or if it concerned him to march onward for that this place would serue him to encampe in with more securitie The same resolution also had the Arabians for which cause they fell to skirmish in that place wherein the first on both sides that gaue the charge and afterwards some other followers were slaine so that those of the Arabians side being ouercome betooke them to retreat This successe of theirs bred no little hope in the Iewes who seeing the enemies army addressed to attempt any thing rather then to fight waxed the more hardie to assaile the Arabian in his trenches and beate him from his campe They being forced by these assaults drew forward to their defence in great disorder bringing neither courage nor hope of victorie with them yet notwithstanding they defended themselues both in regard of their great number as also in respect of that necessitie whereunto they were inforced by the Iewes The skirmish on both sides was hot and diuers on either party were put to the sword but in the end the Arabians being put to the worst turned their backes The slaughter was so great that they not onely perished by their enemies swords but they themselues also murthered one another in the prease and disorderly flight in which they were troaden vnder foote and lay slaughtered in a manner by their owne weapons So that in that discomfiture there died some fiue thousand the rest hastily fled on the other side of the rampire But being ouerpressed with want of victuals and in especiall with lacke of water they had not any ground or assurance to escape After them posted the Iewes and being vnable to recouer the fortresse with them they begirt the campe with a siege and shut vp all the passages that no succour could come vnto them and tooke from them all opportunitie to escape although they should affect flight When as therefore they saw themselues reduced into such extremitie they sent Embassadours vnto Herode first of all to demaund a truce and afterwards for that they were oppressed with thirst to craue some remedy for their present necessities But he neither respected the Embassadours neither the profered raunsome for the captiues nor any other whatsoeuer reasonable demaund desiring earnestly to reuenge himselfe of those iniurious treacheries they had practised against his Embassadours Being therfore inforced by thirst which amongst other plagues most grieuously afflicted them many of them forsooke their trenches and offered themselues to bonds and to be led away captiues so that within fiue daies space foure thousand of them yeelded themselues prisoners On the sixt day all the rest determined to sally out and assaile the enemy rather making choise of assured death then thus lingeringly and ignominiously to pine away When as therefore they had all concluded hereupon they incontinently brake out of their trenches but like vnapt souldiers for a skirmish decaied not onely in body but in minde reputing their death for an aduantage to escape thereby their extreme misfortunes For which cause vpon the first onset about some seuen thousand of them were slaine and thus the fiercenesse of this nation being alaied by this ouerthrow they submitted themselues to Herode whom to their owne sorrow they had approoued to be a valiant souldier CHAP. IX Herode constrained to repaire vnto Augustus Caesar putteth Hircanus to death HErode puffed vp with his succesfull good fortune returned backe into his owne country hauing obtained great estimation and reputation by his valour and vertue But at such time as he supposed his state to be most assured he grew in danger both to lose his dignitie and life by reason of that victorie that Caesar obtained against Anthony in the Actian war For at that time he not onely supposed himselfe to be vtterly ouerthrowne but both his friends and enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was vnlikely that he should escape vnpunished who had beene so inwardly vnited in friendship with Anthonie Whereby it came to passe that his friends in no sort concealed their despaire and his enemies vnder their colourable and dissembled griefs couered their ioy promising themselues thereafter a better and more pleasing administration of the common weale Hereupon Herod perceiuing that except Hircanus there was not any one of the bloud royall aliue determined to cut him off resoluing with himselfe that if he hapned to escape the danger that a man who at that time was more worthier the kingdome then himselfe should not entermeddle amongst his affaires and if anie misfortune should be fall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossesse Hircanus of the kingdome in regard of the enuy which he bare him for that he was the onlie man who deserued to be aduanced to that dignitie Whilest thus he was tormented and trauelled in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus owne followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a mild and gentle nature during all his life time forbare to entermeddle with state affaires committing all things to fortune and contenting himselfe with whatsoeuer condition it pleased her to alot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and vnable to conceale with modestie the hope she conceiued of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure
the subiection of Herod who was the very scourge of their familie but rather that he should stand vpon his owne guard and reserue himselfe to his better hoped fortunes She furthermore gaue him counsell to write vnto Malchus who had the gouernment of Arabia requesting him to graunt him both protection and entertainment For that if Herod should chance to be cut off by Caesars displeasure doubtlesse the kingdome would returne vnto him both in regard of his nobility as also of the peoples fauour These perswasions of hers Hircanus at the first repulsed but afterwards being ouercome by the importunitie of the woman who ceased not day and night to sing the same song of future hope and of Herods treasons he gaue certaine letters to a friend of his written to the Arabian wherein he required him to send him certaine horsmen who might conduct him to the Asphaltite lake which lieth distant from the confines of Ierusalem some three hundred furlongs And therefore especially committed hee these letters to Dositheus trust both for that he fauoured Hircanus and his daughter and seemed likely for diuers causes to hate Herod for he was Iosephs kinsman who was slaine by Herod and not long before certaine of his brothers were slaine amongst others at Tire by Anthonies command yet for none of these occasions continued he faithfull to Hircanus For he setting more by the present fauour of the king that then raigned then the rest discouered the letter vnto the king who first of all giuing him thanks required one office of friendship more at his hands which was that folding vp the letter and sealing it he should conueigh and deliuer the same to Malchus and returne his answer for that it merely concerned him if he knew his resolution also Which when Dositheus had diligently perfourmed the Arabian returned this answer that he was readie to entertaine both himselfe and his whole family and all those Iewes likewise which were of his faction promising to send him a band of souldiours who should be able to conduct him safely thither and should be obedient to his command in all things Now as soone as Herod was seazed of these letters he called for Hircanus and demanded of him whether he had any confederacy with Malchus who denied the same But Herod protesting and bringing forth his letter in an open assembly commanded him afterwards to be put to death Thus are these matters registred in Herodes commentaries for by some are they deliuered otherwise namely that he was executed not for this crime which he had committed but for some treasons against the king For they write to this effect that Herod at a certaine banquet dissembling his suspition demaunded of Hircanus whether he had receiued anie letters from Malchus and that he answered that he had receiued letters but such as conteined nothing els but officious salutations Further that another asked him whether he had receiued anie present therewithall and when he had answered that he had receiued nothing but foure coursers for his saddle the king wrested this to a capitall offence of corruption and treason and commanded him presently to be led to death Now that he died guiltlesse they alleage this for a most approued argument namely his gentle disposition who euen in his youthfull yeares neuer gaue signe or appearance of rashnesse or pride or signification of audaciousnesse no not euen then when he had the royall gouernment in his hands but in that freedome of authoritie disposed the most things by Antipaters aduise But at that time he was more then fourscore yeares old and knew that Herods estate was secured and passing Euphrates also and liuing on the other side of the riuer he left such as held him in great honour and returned home into his owne countrie to the end he might liue vnder Herodes gouernment Whereby it is lesse likelie that he would attempt any alteration so farre different from his nature so that all these things seeme to be fained by Herode Thus ended Hircanus his life after his variable and aduerse fortune wherewith during all his life time he was afflicted For at such time as his mother Alexandra liued he was created high priest of the Iewes and obtained that honour for the space of nine yeeres and after his mothers death he had scarcely gouerned the kingdome for the space of three moneths but that he was expulsed by his brother Aristobulus and afterwards restored by Pompeies assistance and receiuing all his former honours he liued in full possession of them for the space of fortie yeeres After this he was once more distated by Antigonus and being maimed in his bodie liued certaine yeeres in captiuitie among the Parthians from whence not long after he returned home and though he had many things promised him by Herode yet after so many alterations of fortune he obtained nothing at his hands and that which amongst all the rest is most of all to be lamented as we haue said he was vniustly put to death an innocent and in his olde age For he was a louer of iustice and an obseruer of perpetuall modestie and gouerned his kingdome for the most part by other mens direction being onely guiltie in himselfe of ignorance and the loue of idlenesse Truly Antipater and Herode by this mans goodnesse obtained their so great riches for which deserts of his against all lawe and right hee was cruelly put to death But Herode after Hircanus death addressed himselfe to performe his iourny towards Caesar and hauing little hope of any good fortune in regard of his friendship with Antonius he grew desperately iealous of Alexandra for feare least she taking oportunitie of the time should incite the people to rebell and fill the kingdome with domesticall sedition for which cause committing the gouernment of the estate to his brother Pheroras he left his mother Cypros his sister and all his kinred in the castle of Masada and commaunded his brother that if any misfortune should befall him he should retaine the kingdome in his owne hands and maintaine it As for his wife Mariamme for that by reason of certaine dislikes betwixt her his mother and sister they might not liue togither he left her with her mother Alexandra in the castle of Alexandrian and committed them to the custodie of his treasurour Ioseph and Sohemus the Iturian and with her the keeping of his castles both which had alwaies beene his faithfull friends and to whom in way of honour he committed the custodie of these princely Ladies But he gaue them also this commandement that if they should be certified that any sinister mishap had befallen him they should presently kill them both and to the vtmost of their power continue the kingdome in his children and his brother Pheroras CHAP. X. How Herode obtained the kingdome of Iudaea at Caesars hands AFter he had in this sort giuen order for all his affairs he withdrew himselfe vnto Rhodes intending
flatteries mollified and wrought him by little and little at last he blabbed out all that which the king had commanded him especially for that he hoped not that he should returne with the same power and authoritie which before he had and for that cause he thought thus in himselfe that without incurring any danger in regard of Herod he might greatly gratifie the Ladies who in all likelihood should not be depriued of that dignitie wherein they were at that time but would returne him the like kindnes when Mariamme should be Queene or next vnto the king Furthermore he hoped that if Herode also should return with all things answerable to his desires that he would performe nothing without his wiues consent or vpbraid him with the act if she contradicted for he knew too well that the king loued her in such sort as it was impossible to equall or expresse his affections and for these causes he disclosed the trust that was committed vnto him But Mariamme was verie sore displeased to heare that there was no end of her miseries but they were altogither vnited and tied to the dangers of Herode and she oftentimes wished that he might neuer more returne againe in safetie supposing that her life with him should be verie intollerable all which she afterwards dissembled not but openly confessed that which afflicted her with discontent For when as Herode beyond all expectation a◅ined in his countrey being adorned with mightie fortune he first of all as it became him certified his wife of his good tidings and happy successe whom onely amongst all other his friends and wiues he embraced and saluted for the pleasing conuersation and affection that was in her But she whilest he repeated vnto her these fortunate euents of his affaires rather enterned the same with a displeasant attention then applauding ioy and these affections of hers likewise she could not conceale For at such time as he folded his armes about her necke she vnfolded her sorrow in her sighes so simple and vnfained were her affections and seemed rather to be displeased then appeased by his narrations Whereupon Herode was sore troubled perceiuing these things not onely suspected but also fully manifest but aboue all things he was distracted when he considered the incredible and apparant hatred that his wife had conceiued against him which in such sort incensed him that he could not resist the loue that had attainted him so that he neither could continue in wrath nor listen long to peace and being vnresolued in himselfe he now was attempted by this straight distracted by a contrarie affection so much was his mind trauailed between loue hatred that whē as oftentimes he desired to punish the womans pride his heart by loues mediation failed him in the enterprise For nothing did more torment him then this feare least executing his displeasure against her he should by this meanes more grieuously wound himselfe thorow the desire he bare vnto his deceased delight Whilest thus he was sweltered and deuoured in his passions and conceiued sinister opinions against Mariamme his wife Salome his sister and his mother hauing an inckling of his discontents thought that they had gotten a fit opportunitie to expresse and execute their hatted towards Mariamme for which cause they conferred with Herode and whetted his spleene and displeasure with varietie of slanders sufficient at one assault to engender hatred and kindle his iealousie against her To these reproches of theirs he lent no vnwilling eares yet had he not the heart to attempt any thing against his wife or to giue free credit to their report notwithstanding his displeasure increased and was inflamed more and more against her for that neither she could colour her cares and discontents nor he containe himselfe from exchanging his loue into hatred and perhaps at that time he had published some fatall doome against her had not a happy messenger brought him word that Anthony and Cleopatra being dead Caesar was become Lord of Aegypt for which cause hasting forward to meete and entertaine him he left his family in that present estate Vpon his departure he recommended Mariamme to Sohemus giuing him great thanks for the care he had had of her and granted him in way of gratuitie a part of Iewry to gouerne When Herode was arriued in Aegypt and had friendly and familiarly conferred with Caesar he was highly honoured by him for Caesar gaue him those foure hundreth frenchmen that were of Cleopatras guard and restored that part of his countrey vnto him againe which was taken away and spoiled by her He annexed also vnto his kingdome Gadara Hippon and Samaria and on the sea coasts the Cities of Gaza Anthedon Ioppe with the tower of Straton which when he had obtained he grew more mightie then before And after he had accompanied Caesar as far as Antioch he returned into his owne countrey Vpon his arriuall he found that fortune which was fauourable vnto him abroad too froward at home especially in regard of his wife in whose affection before time he seemed to be most happy For he was as inwardly touched with the lawfull loue of Mariamme as any other of whom the Histories make report and as touching her she was both chast and faithfull vnto him yet had she a certaine womanly imperfection and naturall frowardnesse which was the cause that shee presumed too much vpon the intire affection wherewith her husband was intangled so that without regard of his person who had power and authoritie ouer others she entertained him oftentimes very outragiously All which he endured patiently without any shew of discontent But Mariamme vpbraided and publikely reproched both the kings mother and sister telling them that they were but abiectly and basely borne Whereupon there grew a great enmitie and vnrecouerable hatred betweene the Ladies and from thence also there arose an occasion of greater accusations and calumniations then before These suspitions were nourished amongst them for the space of one whole yeere after Herodes returne from Caesar and finally this long contriued and fore-imagined hatred at last brake out violently vpon this occasion that ensueth When as about midday the king had withdrawne himselfe into his chamber to take his rest he called Mariamme vnto him to sport with her being incited thereunto by the great affection that he bare vnto her Vpon this his commaund she came in vnto him yet would she not lie with him nor entertaine his courtings with friendly acceptance but vpbraided him bitterly with her fathers and brothers death The king tooke these reprochfull words in verie euil part was almost ready to strike her but his sister hearing a greater stir and noise within then was vsuall sent in the butler who long before that time was suborned by her whom she commanded to tell the king that Mariamme had prepared a drinke for him to incite and quicken him vnto loue willing him that if the king should be mooued thereat and
should demaund what he meant he should certifie him that Mariamme hauing prepared a poison for his grace had dealt with him to deliuer it to his maiestie Charging him moreouer that if the king in hearing him speake of this portion should seeme to be mooued therewith that then he should proceede no further in his discourse He therefore being in this manner before hand instructed what he ought to doe at that very instant was sent in to discouer his treacherie vnto the king for which cause with a sober and staied countenance be entred in vnto him being seriously and well prepared to discourse and told him that Mariamme had bribed him to present his Maiestie with an amorous cup of drinke Now when he perceiued that the king was troubled with these words he prosecuted his discourse alleaging that the potion was a certaine medicine which Mariamme had giuen him the vertue whereof he knew not which he had receiued according as he had told him knowing that it concerned both his owne securitie and the kings safetie Herode who before this was highly displeased hearing these words was so much the more incensed for which cause he presently commanded Mariammes most faithfull seruant to be examined by torments as concerning the poison supposing that it was impossible for her to vndertake any thing whatsoeuer without his priuitie He being tired and tormented after this cruell manner confessed nothing of that for which he was tortured but declared vnto the king that the hatred which his wife had conceiued against him proceeded from certaine words that Sohemus had told her Scarcely had he finished these words but that the king cried out with a loud voice saying that Sohemus who before time had beene most faithfull both to him and his kingdome would not haue declared these his priuie commands except there had been some more inward familiaritie and secrecie betwixt him and Mariamme for which cause he presently commanded his ministers to lay hands on Sohemus and to put him to death As for his wife he drew her to her triall and to this effect he assembled his most familiar friends before whom he began to accuse her with great spight and spleene as touching these potions and poisons aforesaid wherin he vsed intemperate and vnseemly speeches and such as for their bitternesse did ill become him in cause of iustice so that in the end the assistants seeing the butte and bent of his desire pronounced sentence of death against her which being past both he and all other the assistants were of this opinion that she should not so speedily be executed but that she should be kept close prisoner in some sure place of the pallace But by Salomes sollicitations Herode was incited to hasten her death for that she alleaged that the king ought to feare least some sedition should be raised amongst the people if he should keepe her aliue in prison And by this meanes Mariamme was led vnto her death Alexandra her mother considering the estate of the time and fearing no lesse mischiefe from Herodes hands then her daughter was assured of she vndecently changed her minde and abiectedly laid aside her former courage and magnanimitie For intending to make it knowne that she was neither partie nor priuie to those crimes wherewith Mariamme was charged she went out to meete her daughter and entertained her iniuriously protesting publikely that she was a wicked woman vngrateful towards her husbād and that she wel deserued the punishment that was adiudged her for that she durst be so bold to attempt so hainous a fact neglecting to requite her husbands intire loue with her vnfained loyaltie Whilest thus dishonestly she counterfaited her displeasure and was readie to pull Mariamme by the haire the assistants according to her desert condemned her generally for her shamefull hypocrisie but she that was led to be punished conuicted her by her mild behauiour For first of all she gaue her no answere neither was any waies altered by her reproches neither would so much as cast her eie vpon her making it appeare that she discreetly concealed and couered her mothers imperfections was agrieued that she had so openly shewed so great indignitie expressing for her owne part a constant behaiour and going to her death without chaunge of colour so that those that beheld her perceiued in her a kind of manifest courage and nobilitie euen in her vtmost extremitie Thus died Mariamme hauing beene a woman that excelled both in continence and courage notwithstanding that she defaulted somewhat in affabilitie and impatience of nature for the rest of her parts she was of an admirable and pleasing beautie and of such a cariage in those companies wherein she was intertained that it was impossible to expresse the same in that she surpassed all those of her time which was the principall cause that she liued not graciously and contentedly with the king For being entertained by him who intirely loued her and from whom she receiued nothing that might discontent her she presumed vpon a great and intemperate libertie in her discourse She disgested also the losse of her friends verie hardly according as in open termes she made it known vnto the king whereby also it came to passe that both Herodes mother and sister and himselfe likewise grew at ods with her and in especiall her husband from whom onely she expected no hard measure After her death the king began more powerfully to be inflamed in his affections who before times as we haue declared was alreadie miserably distracted For neither did he loue after the common manner of maried folke but whereas almost euen vnto madnes he nourished this his desire he could not be induced by the too vnbridled manners of his wife to alay the heat of his affection but that daily more and more by doting on her he increased the same And all that time especially he supposed that God was displeased with him for the death of Mariamme his wife Oftentimes did he inuocate her name and more often vndecently lamented he her And notwithstanding he deuised all kind of delights and sports that might be imagined by preparing banquets and inuiting guests with princely hospitalitie to passe away the time yet all those profited him nothing For which cause he gaue ouer the charge and administration of his kingdome And in such sort was he ouerwhelmed with griefe that oftentimes he commaunded his ministers to call his wife Mariamme as if as yet she had beene aliue Whilest thus he was affected there befell a pestilence within the citie that consumed a great sort of the people and the better part of the nobilitie and each man interpreted that this punishment was inflicted by God vpon men for the vninst death of the Queene Thus the kings discontents being by these meanes increased he at last hid himselfe in a solitarie wildernesse vnder pretext of hunting where afflicting himselfe incessantly at last he fell into a most grieuous sicknes
and delight At the foote of this hill there are two houses worthie the sight for diuers their singularities namely by reason of those conduits of water which although they spring or in that place yet notwithstanding are they brought from farre with great cost and expence The plaine that adioyneth vpon it is all full of buildings after the manner of a citie and the top of the castle commaundeth all the plaine As soone as therefore he had disposed all his affaires according to his hearts desire he possessed his kingdome in great quietnes for that he made his subiects obediēt vnto him both by feare in shewing himselfe inexorable when it concerned him to punish and by liberality whereby he prouided for their publike necessities he therefore tooke an especiall care of himselfe as if the life and safetie of his person had beene the securitie of his people He behaued himselfe officiously and fauourably towards all forraine cities he entertained the princes by presents which according to his occasions he sent vnto them to insinuate himselfe into their fauours being in his owne nature magnificent and fit to gouerne so that all his fortunes increased and all things fell out happily according to his hearts desire True it is that the care which he imployed in honouring Caesar and other mightie magistrates of Rome caused him to outstrip his customes and to falsifie diuers ordinances of his countrey in building cities and erecting temples in honour of them although he builded them not in the land of Iury for the Iewes would not haue endured it because we are forbidden to honour Images and figures formed according to the likenes of a man as the Greekes are accustomed to do but he did this in the countrey and forraine cities and excused himselfe to the Iewes saying that he did it not of his owne head but performed that according to the charge and commaundement which he had from others who were greater then himselfe and in the meane while gratified Caesar and the Romanes in that he respected their honour more then he did the ordinances of his countrey although in all things he had a respect to his particular aduantage and determined with himselfe to leaue behind him after his death large and ample testimonies of his power and greatnes which was the cause that he builded cities with great charge and expence CHAP. XIII The building of the Citie of Caesarea WHen as therefore he had found out a fit and conuenient place vpon the sea coast to build a citie on which of long time had beene called the tower of Straton he both magnificently designed and set downe the modell and forme thereof and made many sumptuous buildings both of royall pallaces and of other priuate lodgings not builded after a sleight manner or of weake and fading matter but of marble stone But the greatest and busiest worke of all was the hauen which he made exempt and free from stormes and tempests that in greatnes resembled that of Piraeus and was so spacious that it was able to receiue many great ships into the road and had diuers roumes and warehouses to lay vp the merchandize therein And the more admirable was this pile because the stuffe that was fit to finish this so great work was not gathered or gotten in that place but must needly be brought from another place vpon great charge and expence This citie is seated in Phoenicia vpon the coast in the way to Aegypt betweene Ioppe and Dora certaine villages scituate vpon the sea coasts vnfit either for landing or harbour by reason of the Affricke wind that driuing the sand of the sea vpon the shore giueth not any quiet road vnto the ships but that the marchants are enforced for a long time to ride at ancor To correct this incommoditie of the place he made the circuit round about the port so spacious that it was able to receiue a great fleet and he cast downe to the bottome thereof which was about some twentie fathoms deepe certaine huge stones that for the most part were fifty foot long eight foot broad and nine foot high some more and some lesse The pile that was erected vpon this to affront the sea was a pane of two hundreth foot the halfe whereof was opposed against the waues to breake the fury of the streame and for this cause was called in the Greeke tongue Procymation that is to say Before floud The other halfe serued as a foundation to beare vp a wall of stone fortified with diuers towers the chiefest whereof was a faire pile or building which was called Drusus in memorie of Drusus Caesars sonne in law who died very young it had also diuers retreats or hostries in the same into which the mariners were receiued and lodged The descent being hard by encompassed all the portlike a round platforme that serued for a pleasant walking place for whom soeuer listed The entrance and mouth of the hauen was toward the north which is a wind that of all other most purifieth and cleanseth The supporter and strength of all the circuit on the left hand vpon the entrance to the port was an ample and huge tower to fasten it the more strongly and on the right hand were two huge pillars of stone more higher then the tower that stood opposite against them erected and fastned togither All round about the hauen there were certaine buildings abutting one vpon another of pollished marble and in the midst there was a little hillocke on which there was a certaine monument placed in honor of Caesar which presented it selfe to their sight who sayled to the port in which there were the figares of the Citie of Rome and of Caesar. This citie also was called Caesarea as much to be wondred at for the matter whereof it was built as for the arte whereby it was erected and no lesse cunning was there shewed in the vaults and conduits vnder ground then in those buildings that were aboue them some of them were conuaied toward the port and discharged themselues into the sea by certaine compassed spaces but there was one that went athwarts that comprehended all the rest to the end that there by the raine-water and the clensings of the Citie might be conuaied into the sea and that when the sea should flow it might wash and cleanse all the citie He erected also a Theater of stone and behinde the same to the Southward an Amphitheater that was able to receiue a great number of men and so pleasantly and fitly scituated that stom the same a man might discouer the sea This Citie was finished at the end of twelue yeers during which time the king was neither wearied by intending the worke nor negligent in furnishing the necessarie charges After this perceiuing that the Citie of Sebaste was already inhabited also hee resolued to send his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome to present them vnto the Emperour Caesar who no sooner
were taken from the Barbarians which king Herode had placed there with all those spoiles which he had taken frō the Arabians In a corner on the north side there stood a verie strong and defenced fortresse builded by the Asmonians who were Herods predecessors and had beene both kings and high priests and had imposed a name on that tower which was Baris in which they kept the priestly vesture where with the high priest was wont to be adorned at that time onely when he was to offer sacrifice King Herode kept the same in that place and there remained it after his death vntill the time of Tiberius Caesar vnder whom Vitellius gouernour of Syria came vnto Ierusalem where he was entertained by all the people with as great magnificence as was possible and being desirous to acknowledge the fauours that he had receiued at their hands being requested by them that they might haue the keeping of the high priests ornaments he wrote vnto Tiberius Caesar to grant them that fauour til the death of king Agrippa the Iewes had the same in their possessiō But after that Agrippa was dead Cassius Longinus that gouerned Syria Cuspius Fadus lieutenant of Iudaea commaunded the Iewes to return the same into the fortresse Antonia saying that the Romans ought to be Lord therof as they had beene in times past For which cause the Iews sent embassadors vnto Claudius Caesar to request his fauour therin who arriuing at Rome found the young king Agrippa there who besought the Emperour that it might be lawfull for him to haue the keeping of the habit who commaunded Vitellius the gouernour of Syria to deliuer it vnto his hands Before time it was kept vnder the seale of the high priest and the custodie of the tresurers on the eeue of a certaine solemne feast the tresurers went vp to the captain who kept the forttesse for the Romans and after they had opened their seale they tooke the habit and after the feast was past they returned it backe againe vnto the same place and shut it vp vnder the same seale in the presence of the captaine All which we haue thought good to lay open to make the diuersitie knowne that was vsed in that care After that Herode had in this sort builded this strong tower for the securitie and guard of the temple he called it Antonia for the loue of Antonius his friend and one of the chiefest men in Rome In the westeme part of this porch there were foure gates whereof the one opened vpon the kings pallace to which there was a direct way thorow the midst of the valley the two others led vnto the suburbes and the fourth opened vpon the rest of the citie and gaue open passage vnto the same by the meanes of a number of staires by which men might descend to the foot of the valley and from thence there was an ascent by other staires to ascend vpwards For the citie was scituate neere vnto the temple after the manner of a theater and was bended to the southward by a deepe valley As touching the fourth side turned toward the south it had likewise certaine gates in the midst thereof and vpon the same there was a triple gallery verie royall and princely the length whereof extended from the orientall valley as farre as the westerne For it was impossible to extend it any further This worke was one of the most famous peeces that was euer seene vnder the sunne For the depth of the valley was so great that it was impossible for a man to see the bottome if he looked downward from the higher part and notwithstanding on the same he erected this porch of so great a height that but to looke from the toppe thereof and to consider the depth as well of the valley as the height of the porch it would make a man giddie and his eye could not peirce vnto the immesurable bottom of the same It had in length foure rankes of pillars opposed the one right ouer against the other for the fourth pane of the wall was fortified with a wall of hewen stone the thicknesse of the pillars was such that it was as much as three men could fadome holding one an other by the hand and the length was of twentie and seuen foote with a double base at the bottome The whole number of them was one hundreth sixtie and two and they had Chapters engrauen and damaskt with Corinthian worke All this building was so huge that it mooued admiration in those that beheld the same Betwixt these foure rankes there were three porches whereof two were on either side containing in breadth each of them thirtie foote and in length a stade or furlong and more then fiftiē foote in height That in the midst was in breadth once and a halfe as much as these two and in height twise as much For it surpassed the rest by farre The floore was made of goodly plankes engrauen with diuers figures and the roofe thereof was farre higher then any of the rest in which certaine huge beames were morteised on which there were certaine pillars builded vnited and annexed so fitly togither that it is a matter incredible to those that haue not seene the same and admirable to him that beholdeth it Such was the fashion of the circuit of the first porch In the midst and not farre off from the other stood the second whereunto there was an ascent made with few steppes It was inclosed with a separation of stone with an inscription forbidding any stranger to enter the same vpon paine of death This inward porch both to the southward and the northward had three gates in ranke equidistant the one from the other and toward the eastward had one great gate by which those men entred who were cleansed with their wiues For beyond that place it was not lawfull for the women to haue accesse But the third inward space was onely accessible by the Priestes In it was the Temple and before the same the altar on which they were woont to offer burnt sacrifices vnto God But Herode durst not enter the interior sanctuarie from whence prophane men were excluded by the lawe but by the mediation of the priests he intended the structure and building of the inward porch and finishing in eight yeeres space the rest of the edifice at length also he finished the Temple it selfe by the indeuours of the same priests within the terme of one yeere and six moneths By which meanes the people were replenished with the fulnesse of ioye and euerie one gaue thankes vnto God for that the whole worke was finished so speedily and wished all happinesse to the king for his cost and diligence in the execution and finishing thereof and they celebrated a great feast in honour of the restauration of the Temple Then did the king offer vp three hundreth oxen vnto God and the rest of them each one according to his abilitie offered
but rather encreased he hauing a shamefull beginning and comming to a sorrowfull end Herod had three Eunuches whom he greatly esteemed for their beauty one of them was his butler the other his cooke and the third his chamberlaine whom also he was wont to employ in serious affaires of his kingdome Some one or other enformed the king that these three Eunuches were corrupted by his sonne Alexander with great summes of money and being vpon tortures examined if they had accompanied with him they confessed all yet they affirmed that they knew no practise of his attempted against his father But their torments being encreased by Antipaters fauorites they were forced to confesse that Alexander secretly hated his father and he exhorted them to forsake Herode who was now good for nothing who dissembled his age by painting his face to make himselfe seeme younger then he was and colouring his head and beard blacke which were alreadie growne verie white through age but rather fer their mindes vpon him who would in despite of his father enioy his kingdome due vnto him and that then he would aduance them to the highest honors of the kingdome for he had not onely title vnto it by his birth but also was now prepared likewise to inuade it and that he had many of the captaines of the souldiers and many of the kings friends on his side who were prepared to doe or endure any thing for his sake Herode hearing this feare and anger did inuade him by reason that his sonnes words seemed both contumelious and threatning and being for both these causes in a rage he feared some greater matter to be put in practise against him which he could not sodainly and hauing so little warning auoide and not daring to make open enquirie he set secret spies a worke to tell him how all matters stood himselfe now mistrusting all men and accounting it his securitie to mistrust all euen them that deserued it not and not moderating his suspicious minde now whosoeuer was the nearest vnto him was the more suspected as of most power to iniure him As for others that were but onely named by his spies he presently esteemed it his safetie to put them to death Then they of his household euerie one being carefull to saue himselfe were one turned against another euerie one deeming it his owne safetie to preuent others by accusing them vnto Herode which done presently they incited other mens enuie against them and euerie one of them to desire such measure as they had measured vnto others and thus they also reuenged their priuate quarrels and presently after they themselues were taken and did by other mens meanes suffer the like being intrapped in the same trappe they set for their enemies For the king did quickly repent himselfe because he had put verie many to death who were not conuicted yet for all that he was not hereby admonished to beware of the like hereafter but on his repentance for their death raged so farre as to cause him to inflict the same punishment vpon their accusers which he had done vpon them So great trouble and feare then fell vpon all the whole court He then commaunded many of his dearest friends and them especially whose fidelitie he had before times experienced not to come in his sight nor within his court gates For he did now shake off the friendship between Andromachus and Gemellus and himselfe who were his auncient friends and oftentimes had gone Embassadors for him and alwaies been of his counsell and had been tutors vnto his children in whom he had alwaies reposed more trust then in any others the one of them for that his sonne Demetrius was familiar with Alexander and Gemellus for that he knew him to wish well vnto Alexander for he was one of them who had brought him vp and had aboad with him at his being at Rome And no doubt but he had censured them with some more heauie sentence had it not been that they were so eminent persons Wherfore at that time he was contented to haue banished them and depriued them of all their authoritie to the end that hauing now disgraced these good men he might the more freely play the tyrant Antipater was the cause of all this mischiefe who from the first time that he perceiued his father to be fearefull and suspicious still after that ioined with him as a counsellor and as it were increased his rage and crueltie and then he gallantly plaied his part endeuouring that whosoeuer would resist him should be made away Wherfore Andromachus the rest of his friends being now banished the court the king presently tortured all that he imagined any way to fauor Alexander to see if they were guilty or if they knew of any treason to be practised against him but they knowing nothing to informe him of died amidst their torments Where he so much more tortured others for that contrarie to his opinion he found not so much as an euill thought against him Antipater craftily interpreting it that they had rather in torments conceale the truth then to shew themselues not trustie to their masters and friends wherefore many being taken he caused them to be tortured to get some thing out of some of them At last one amongst the rest not able to endure those torments imposed vpon him said that he had often heard Alexander say so often as any one commended his goodly stature or skilfull shooting the rest of his vertues that these qualities nature bestowed vpon him rather then other benefits for his father for enuy hereat was offended so that when he talked with him he did vpon purpose draw his body togither least his father should perceiue the talnes of his stature and that when he went a hunting with him he vpon purpose did misse the mark he could haue hit because he knew his father could not endure that he should be cōmended And whilest these his words were considered pondred and his torments intermitted he again accused Alexander to haue conspired with his brother Aristobulus to kill his father when he was hunting then to flie with speed vnto Rome and begge the kingdome of Caesar. There were also found some of this young mans letters written vnto his brother complaining of the iniurious dealing of his father who had giuen certaine grounds vnto Antipater the yeerely reuenues whereof amounted vnto two hundreth talents Then Herode thinking himselfe to haue probabilitie enough his former suspition was now confirmed and so he tooke Alexander and cast him in prison and againe he began to rage notwithstanding that himselfe did scarcely beleeue the informations against him neither could he himselfe deuise any cause wherefore they should seeke to worke treason against him And those complaints seemed childish neither was it probable that hauing openly killed his father he would afterwards haue gone to Rome Wherfore endeuouring to finde some stronger argument of his sonnes impietie
letters did now without any hesitation beleeue that in deede some treacherous practise was plotted against him by his sonnes But Alexander affirmed that Diophantus the scribe had counterfeited his hand and that that letter was Antipaters deuise For Diophantus was accounted cunning in such matters and afterward being taken with the like he was therefore put to death And the king produced them that had been tortured at Iericho before the people to accuse his sonnes where they were stoned to death and the people hereat moued would also haue killed Alexander and Aristobulus with the same death But Herode by the meanes of Ptolomeus and Pheroras did restraine them and commanded the young men to be cast into prison and there to be kept so streight that no man was admitted vnto them but manie spies were set who should narrowly marke all their actions and words and now they were acconnted as condemned men both by other mens opinions and also by their owne One of them to wit Aristobulus for griefe enuiting his Aunt and mother in law to compassionate his present calamitie and to hate him that was the author hereof affirming that she also was in great danger being accused in hope to marry with Syllaeus to haue signified vnto him by letters all that past in Herods court Which words the woman presently came and recounted vnto her brother Herod The king no longer able to bridle his furie commanded them both to be bound and kept in seueral places one from another and each of them to write what they had plotted against their father being thus commanded they wrote that they neither prepared treason nor yet thought of any treason against him onely they purposed to flie because they perceiued that they could no longer liue here because they were so suspected in continual care At that time a prince of Cappadocia came Embassadour from Archelaus named Mela who was one of the greatest lords of the country and Herod willing to shew his sons malice he sent for Alexander out of prison commanding him to recount how and after what order or whither they meant to flie he answered vnto Archelaus who had also promised them to send them to Rome but that they had no further intent or purpose to effect any vnlawfull practise against their father and that all other accusations were false And that he requested that Tyrannus and the rest might haue been better examined but Antipater preuented that who by his owne forged tumours spread amongst the people did cause them to hasten their deaths Which being said Herode commanded both him and Mela to be lead vnto Glaphyra that she might be asked whether she were any way priule vnto the conspiracie against Herod and comming vnto her the woman seeing her husband bound presently tore her haire and being amazed with great compassion cried out amaine The young â—…ans cheekes were also bedewed with teares so that a long time after those that were present amazed and mooued to compassion at this miserable sight could neither speake or doe the kings commaund At last Ptolomeus to whose charge Alexander was committed willing him to speak whether his wife was priuie to his intent he answered how could it be otherwise who is dearer vnto me then my owne life being mother of her and my children Then she answered crying out alowd that she was priuie to nothing that was any harme yet quoth she if it will auaile you any thing or helpe to saue your life I am ready to tell any lie whatsoeuer seeing I must die and will denie nothing you would haue me to say Alexander answered neither did I purpose any impietie against my father as some suppose who ought not to thinke so neither doest thou know of any one this thou knowest that thou and I purposed to flie vnto Archelaus thy father and that he promised to conuay vs to Rome which she also affirmed Herode now thinking that Archelaus was conuicted of euill will towards him deliuered letters vnto Olympus and Volumnius commanding them in the way as they went to passe by Eleusa a towne of Cilicia and deliuer certaine letters vnto Archelaus himselfe to the same effect and that from thence they should go to Rome and if so be when they came there they found that Caesar had been reconciled vnto him by Nicholaus his meanes that then they should also deliuer certain letters vnto him declaring all that was past betweene him and his sonnes and the proofes alleaged to conuince the young men Archelaus writ againe vnto Herod that indeede he would haue entertained the young men for feare that any greater mischance should befall them or their father by reason of the suspition against them yet was he not minded to send them to Caesar nor to haue confirmed them in any malicious course The messengers comming to Rome found Caesar reconciled vnto Herode and deliuered the letters vnto him For Nicholaus his embassage was to this effect So soone as he came vnto Rome and had entred the pallace beside the charge he had giuen him he did also vndertake to accuse Syllaeus For he perceiued the Arabians at variance amongst themselues and that some of them had declared all Syllaeus his bad practises and that by his means and procurement many of Obodas kinsmen were murthered as his aduersaries manifestly prooued by certaine of his letters which they intercepted Now Nicholaus desirous to reconcile Herode vnto Caesar omitted not this occasion by chance offered him for he well knew that if he began with the kings defence he should then find a hard and heauie iudge against him but if he began to accuse Syllaeus he should finde also fit occasion to pleade his kings cause Wherefore Nicholaus taking vpon him to prooue the accusation against him at the day appointed he accompanied with the king Aretas Embasladours accused Syllaeus as a murtherer of his Lord and king and many other Arabians and that he had borrowed much money to trouble the peace of the common wealth and that he had corrupted many women and honest matrons both at Rome and in Arabia He added hereunto a most grieuous crime to wit that he by his lies and false reports had deceiued Caesar whom in all things he had misinformed concerning that which Herode had done Which when he once mentioned Caesar commaunded him to omit the rest and onely to recount the matter concerning Herod whether Herod did not enter into Arabia with an army and did slay two thousand and fiue hundreth men and carrie away captiues and robbe and spoile the countrey Nicholaus answered that to these demannds himselfe was able to answere that Herode did none of all these or at least verie little hereof which he did recount and that he did not deserue any displeasure Caesar contrarie to his expectation hearing this began to giue diligent eare to what Nicholaus said and hereupon Nicholaus recounted vnto Caesar howe Herode had lent
which had passed to prosecute the rest that appertained to the inquest and approbation of his crime But Antipater turning himselfe towards his father began to iustifie himselfe vrging the same testimonies and fauours that his father had shewed vnto him and the honours hee had receiued at his hands which he would neuer haue shewed him if he had beene vnworthy of the same and had not by his vertue deserued these fauours He alledged also that by his vertue he had preuented all that which might haue hapned and that where the cause required his labour or diligence he dispatched all things with his owne industrie that it was vnlikely that he who had deliuered his father from those treasons which were intended against him by other men should himselfe attempt the like and as farre from probabilitie that he should go about to extinguish that vertue whereof euen vntill that day he had giuen testimonie to the end that alwaies hereafter he might be defamed for such an indignitie For long before this time he was named and entitled to succeede him and to enioy those verie honours whereof alreadie he pertooke no small part whereby he protested that it was vnlikely that he who might enioy the halfe of all that his father had in all securitie vertue and honour should desire the whole with infamy and daunger yea and with incertitude to obtaine the same considering in especial that the punishment which had befallen his brothers whom he had both disclosed and accused at such time as they were hidden was procured by him who if he had listed might haue concealed them in secret and whose wickednes towards their father after it was approued he himselfe had reuenged vpon them neither as he said repented he himselfe of that which he had done for that action of his might be an argument to approue how incorruptly he loued his father And as touching that which he had delt in at Rome Caesar himselfe was witnes thereof who could be no more deceiued then God himselfe whereof those letters bore record which were written by him which in equitie should be of no lesse force then the slaunders of those who fought to set them at oddes the most part of which obiections and reproches had beene complotted and deuised by his enemies who haue had the leasure to pursue the same during his absence which they could not haue performed in his presence Finally he auowed that all those confessions were false which were extorted by torture in that it ordinarily falleth out that such as are put to the triall confesse many things by force of torment that are vntrue to satisfie them that put them thereto briefly without all fauour he offered himselfe to the racke in iustification of his innocencie Vpon these his protestations all the councell and assistants were confounded For all of them had great compassion of Antipater who was wholy drowned in his teares so that his verie enemies began to pitie him And Herode himselfe made it appeare that he seemed in some sort to be altered in his opinion notwithstanding he enduoured to conceale the same But Nicholaus according as he was requested prosecuted that accusation which the king had begunne vrging all things to the vttermost and producing all the witnesses and those manifest prooues that were gathered from their examinations who were tortured In especiall he amply discoursed of the kings vertue which he had fatherly expressed in the education and instruction of his children for which he had beene so vnkindly and vnnaturally required Moreouer that his first childrens foolish rashnes was not so much to be wondred at for that being yong they had beene corrupted by the malice of their counsellors had blotted out of their hearts al the lawes of nature rather through ambition of rule then desire of riches But that Antipaters boldnes was both wonderfull and wicked who more cruell then the cruellest beasts who toward their benefactors acknowledge each good tume was nothing mollified by his fathers so great indulgence neither terrified by his brothers calamitie but that he must needs emulate them in their crueltie And thou thy selfe said he O Antipater wett the Iudge of their attempted treasons by thy inquisition they were indited thou didst execute the iustice against them being conuicted Neither do we disallow that thou didst prosecute them with iust indignation but rather admire thee for that thou imitatest their intemperance we easily gather that those acts of thine were not attēpted for thy fathers securitie but intended for thy brothers ouerthrow that by detesting their malice thou mightst insinuate thy selfe into the allowance and good liking of their father and thine that afterwards thou mightest more cunningly and securely bring him to his end which at length thou hast attempted to performe For whilest thou adiudgest thy guiltie brothers to death and sparest their confederates thou makest it manifest in all mens eies that thou art in good liking liking with them whose assistance thou mighest hereafter vse in oppressing thy father Thou hast therefore taken a double pleasure worthy thy manners the one openly as if reioycing and glorying that by thy brothers death thou hast atchieued a matter of honour the other secretly by indeuouring with greater wickednes but more secret fraud to make an end of thy father the reuenger of whose iniuries thou pretendedst to bee For if thou haddest truely detested their malice thou hadst neuer esteemed the same to be worthie of thy imitation For thou haste not cut them off for committing such capitall offences as were answerable vnto thine but for that they had a more iust and rightfull title to succeed in the kingdome then thou hast And thou hast thought good to mixe the murther of thy father with the slaughtered bodies of thy brothers for feare least thou shouldest be sodainly conuinced in thy conspiracies against them and to the end that the punishment which thou well deseruest to suffer should light vpon thy vnfortunate father proiecting with yourselfe such a patricide and so rare and hainous a murther that to this day the like thereof hath not beene heard of amongst men For thou being his sonne hast practised these treasons not onely against thy father but against him that loued thee aboue measure and did thee good beyond hope with whom thou hast actuall participation of the gouernment of the kingdome and who had appointed thee his heire in the same being no waies hindered eyther for the present or in times past to participate the pleasure of soueraigntie and being assured of the hope of succession both by the will and writings of thy father But you haue measured the course of your affaires not according to Herodes vertue but according to your owne appetite and malice intending to depriue such a father of his part who graunted you the whole and seeking in effect to murther him whom in words you pretended heretofore to protect from iniurie And not content of your selfe to
he returned to Iericho where a melancholy humour possessed him which made him vnsociable and displeased against all men so that seeing that he must needlie die he bethought him of this facinorous action that followeth For the noblest men among the nation of the Iewes resorting vnto him from all parts vpon his commaundement vnder the expresse penaltie of losse of life to whosoeuer should neglect the same the king shewed himselfe to be displeased as well against those whom he thought guiltie as against them who had giuen him no occasion of discontent For he caused them to be shut vp in a place called the Hippodrome which was the tilt yard to runne horses in and sent for his sister Salome and Alexas her husband telling them that his end was at hand for that his griefes did incessantly tormēt him which as he said he ought to beare patiētly because it was an end that should happen to all men But that which most grieued him was that he saw himselfe depriued of those mournings and lamentations which a king deserued For he was not to seeke of the Iewes affections neither how his death was desired and longed for by them since that in his life time they presumed so farre as to reuolt and dishonour and deface those gifts which he had bestowed vpon the commonweale It therefore behooued them to afford him some solace in that his bitter anguish for that if they refused not to performe that which he had contriued in his mind the lamentation of his death should be magnificent as great as any king euer had and the pleasure and laughter that might accompany his death should be abated by their sorrow who should vnfainedly lament for the whole nation He therefore willed them that at such time as he should giue vp the ghost they should cause the Hippodrome to be inuironed by his soldiers as yet vnaduertised of his death which he would not haue published before this execution were ended and to commaund them to shoot their arrowes at those that were shut vp therein And that when they had slaine them all after this manner they should make him triumph reioice in a double ioy first for that in his death his commaundement should be ratified by effect secondly for that he should be honoured by a memorable lamentation Thus weeping he besought his kinsfolke for the loue they bare vnto him and for the faith they bare vnto God that they should not suffer him to die frustrate of this last honour and they protested that they would not transgresse any point of this his commandement Hereby may a man coniecture what his nature was who tooke pleasure in these aboue named impieties and who through the desire he had of long life hath after this sort delt with those of his bloud and it may be coniectured by these his last commandements that he had nothing in him that fauoured any humanitie for that departing out of the world he had such a mind that all the nation and all such as were most affectioned towards him should be driuen to sorrow and desolation commaunding that in euery house one should be slaine yea such as had not in any sort offended him and were not accused of any misdeed committed against any other whereas they that haue any vertue finding themselues at that state haue beene accustomed to lay aside the hatred which they haue before time borne vnto their enemies CHAP. IX Antipaters death WHilest he deliuered these instructions to his kinred he receiued letters from those Embassadours which he had sent to Rome vnto Caesar the effect whereof was that Acme was put to death by Caesars commaund who was displeased with her for that she had beene of Antipaters conspiracy who was remitted to Herodes pleasure like a king and father to vse him as best pleased him either to exile and banish him or if it so pleased him to put him to death Herode receiuing these newes recouered his spirits a little thorow the pleasure he receiued in the contents of those letters both of the death of Acme as of the power that was granted him to punish his sonne But being assailed afresh with grieuous dolours and vrged with a desire to eate he called for an apple and a knife for before time he was accustomed to pare his apples himselfe and to cut a little and afterwards to eate it when as therefore he had gotten holde of the knife he looked round about him determining to giue himselfe a mortall wound therewith and had surely done it had not Achiabus his nephew hastily stept within him and staied his hand and called for assistance At that time the sorrow and lamentation was renewed in all the pallace as if the king had beene alreadie dead and Antipater certainly beleeuing that his father was departed began to hope and confirmed no lesse in his words that being deliuered out of prison he should obtaine the possession of the kingdome without any difficulty and deuised with the Gaoler as touching his deliuerāce offring him great presents both in hand hereafter as if there had beene no other question but of that But so farre was the Gaoler from obeying that which Antipater demaunded that he presently went and certified the king what his intent was and what offers he had made him Herode who had alreadie conceiued a sinister opinion of his sonne hearing what the Gaoler had said began to exclaime and to beat his head although he was almost at the vttermost gaspe and lifting himselfe vp vpon his elbowes he commaunded that one of his guard should presently haste and kill him and that done that he should be buried in the castle of Hircanion without any honour CHAP. X. Herodes will death and buriall AFter this hauing changed his mind he made a new testament For he appointed Antipas Tetrarch of Galilee and of Peraea whereas before that he had instituted him for his successour in the kingdome He created Archelaus king he gaue the prouinces of Gaulonites Trachonites Batanea and Paneade to Philip his sonne and Archelaus brother by the mothers side to be Tetrarch ouer those places He gaue his sister Salome Iamnia Azot and Phasaelis with fiftie thousand crownes of gold He prouided also for his other kinsmen all whom he left rich in money which he gaue them and reuenues which he assigned them He gaue Caesar ten millions of drachmes in siluer amounting to the summe of eleuen hundreth thousand francs besides a great quantitie of gold and siluer plate and of precious moueables To Iulia Caesars wife and to certaine others he bequeathed fiue millions of drachmes amounting to fiue hundreth and fiftie thousand francs or there abouts After he had in this manner disposed all things some fiue daies after he had caused Antipater to be executed he departed this life hauing raigned after Antigonus death for the space of thirtie and foure yeeres and thirtie and seuen yeeres after he was elected and approued
king by the Romans a man without respect cruell and seuere towards all men slaue to his wrath Lord of the lawes yet so fauoured by fortune as no man more for from a priuate man he became a king and being inuironed with many perils he alwaies happily escaped them and he liued also a verie long time And as touching his family and children in this also in his owne opinion was he happie in that he ouercame his enemies and aduersaries but in my opinion he was most vnfortunate But before the kings death was thorowly knowen Salome and Alexas discharged those that were locked vp in the Hippodrome and sent euerie one of them home vnto his owne house telling them that the king commaunded them to depart and follow their household affaires and till their land wherein they performed a most noble action and benefited the whole nation with an especiâ—…ll good turne After that the kings death was bruited abroad Salome and Alexas caused all the men of warre to be assembled in the Amphitheater in Iericho and first of all they caused Herods letters to be read after which were addressed to the soldiers in which he gaue them thanks for the fidelitie and good will which they had expressed towards him praying them to continue the same to Archelaus his sonne whom he had appointed to be their king after him That done Ptolomey to whom the king had committed the custodie of his seale recited his testament which was to take no effect except that Caesar approoued the same Thereupon all of them began to applaud and honour Archelaus for their king The men of war flocked about him in troupes accompanied with their captaines promising him to serue him with no lesse will and affection then they had done his father praying God to yeeld him his assistance At that time also the kings herse was prepared and Archelaus gaue order that his obsequies should be most royallie performed and bestowed all the furniture that was requisite for that funerall and princely enterment He was carried out in a gilded litter distinguished with diuers precious stones the couer thereof was of azure colour The dead body was apparelled in a purple raiment hauing a diademe vpon his head ouer which there was set a crowne of gold and a scepter was couched in his right hand About this litter marched a great number of his children and kinsfolke and after them followed the men of warre disposed in bands and troupes according to the manners of euerie nation The first of these were the Archers of his guard after them went the Thracians and lastly marched the Germans and Galathians all of them in their warlike abiliments and discipline After them followed all the army marching in order in like manner as when they were addressed to battell each one vnder his corporall and captaine Next these followed fiue hundreth of his houshold seruants bearing perfumes and all these in this equipage marched to the Castle Herodion distant some eight stades or furlongs off For there was he entombed according to the tenor of his testament Thus died Herode Archelaus continued his mourning for seuen daies space in honour of his father For the law of the country ordaineth no lesse And after he had feasted the people and laid aside his mourning apparell he ascended vp into the temple All the way as he went all the people with shouts and acclamations cried God saue the king and with praiers and praises honoured him to their vttermost and he being conducted vp to a high station and state which was made for the purpose and placed in a throne that was embelished with gold entertained the people verie gratiously taking pleasure in their acclamations and congratulations that they bestowed vpon him He gaue them thankes also for that they had blotted out of their remembrance the iniuries that his father had done vnto them protesting in his owne behalfe that he would enforce himselfe to requite their kindnes with an intire affection He likewise tolde them that for the present he accepted not the stile of a king because the honour was bequeathed vnto him with this condition that Caesar should ratifie his fathers testament For this cause although the souldiers that were in Iericho enforced themselues to set the diademe vpon his head yet would he not accept that vncertaine honour because it was not as resolued whether Caesar who was the principall partie in the gift would grant him the gouernment or no. He alleadged likewise that if his affaires succeeded according to his desire he would not according as his honour commaunded him forget their loue or leaue their good affection vnrequited And that in the meane while he would enforce himselfe by all meanes to further those things that concerned them and entertaine them with more kindnesse then his father had done But they according as it is the custome of the common people thinking that those that enter into such dignities declare and open their mindes at the first day the more Archelaus spake kindely and curteously vnto them the more they applauded him and presented him with diuers petitions for certaine grants and donations from him Some of them cried out vnto him that he should cut off some part of their taxes and tallages which they paied annually Othersome cried vpon him to deliuer those prisoners that were committed by Herode of whom diuers had pined a long time in prison Others instantly vrged him to cut off those tributes which had been imposed by him vpon bargaines and sales which was to pay the halfe of the bargaine Whereunto Archelaus did not in any sort contradict striuing to the vttermost of his power to please the people for that he knew full well that their good affection would be no small aduantage toward him in the confirmation of his kingdome That done he sacrificed vnto God and afterward fell to banquetting and entertainment of his friends CHAP. XI The people mutinie against Archelaus MEane while certaine men among the Iewes that were desirous of innouation in their priuate conuenticles bewailed Matthias and his confederates whom Herode had put to death and condemned for racing and defacing the golden Aegle for that incontinently after their decease they had neither been publikely honoured nor lamented for by reason of the feare that the people had conceiued of Herode For which cause at that time they required with lamentations and great cries that their obsequies might be solemnized and as if the dead bodies had receiued some contentation by their teares and tempest of exclaimes they vttered many hainous and disgracefull speeches against Herode and assembling themselues togither they required Archelaus to doe them iustice against those that during Herodes life were in authoritie and especially they demaunded that the high priest who was aduanced by his father should be deposed and that an other more lawfull and vpright might be placed in his steed to offer and exercise the high
who was confirmed in the kingdome by his fathers testament yet would he not giue eare thereunto But Antipas no sooner arriued in Rome but all his kinsfolke reuolted from Archelaus vnto him not so much for the loue they bare him as for the hatred they had conceiued against Archelaus and aboue all for the desire they had to recouer their libertie and to draw themselues vnder a Roman gouernour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they indeuoured to procure the roialtie should be more profitable vnto them then Archelaus Sabinus also by his letters accused Archelaus to Caesar But Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited vnto Caesar a supplication containing his right and title to the kingdome his fathers testament and the account of the money which Herode his father had sealed vp togither with his ring and expected the issue But when he had read these letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and vnderstood what summes of money he had left and what the annuall reuenue was and how Antipas challenged the kingdome and appropriated it to himselfe according as his letters made mention he assembled all his friends to haue their aduise thereupon Amongst them was Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the assistants to speake what they would touching this matter At that time Antipater Salomes sonne a man verie eloquent and a great aduersarie to Archelaus spake first saying that it was a mockerie for him at that time to speake of the kingdome â—…nsidering that before Caesar had granted it him he had alreadie seazed the forces of the state when as vpon a festiuall day he had slaine so many who although they had deserued that punishment yet ought the iustice thereof to haue been reserued to a lawfull power and not to haue bin vsurped by him either being king with Caesars preiudice whose authoritie he had contempned or by being a priuate man which was a greater ouersight For which cause he vndeseruedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had depriued of the title and authoritie of his allowance Moreouer he obiected against him that of his owne authoritie he had chaunged certaine chieftaines of the armie and that he had seated himselfe in the royall throne and like a king had determined certaine causes and had granted certaine demaunds of the people finally that he had left nothing vndone which he might haue performed had Caesar confirmed his title He alledged also that they who were inclosed in the Hippodrome were dismissed by him and diuers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to gouerne do ordinarily commit such things besides this his neglect in mourning for his father and withall his reare banquets all night long at that verie time his father died whereat the people began to mutinie seeing the smal regard he had of his fathers death from whom he had receiued so great goods and honours How all the day long he made a shew of his sorrow and teares in his pauilion but all the night tooke pleasures like a king and being such if Caesar should grant him the kingdome he would behaue himselfe no lesse vnkindly towards him then he had done towards his most kind father That it was no lesse then a hainous crime in him to delite himselfe with songs and daunces at his fathers death as if he had beene his enemie That he now came to Caesars presence to the intent to obtaine the kingdome by his consent whereas alreadie he had behaued himselfe no otherwise then if he had alreadie beene established king by his authoritie But most of all he exaggerated the slaughter he had committed in the temple and the impietie perpetrated so neere to the feast of Easter at which time diuers both straungers and citizens had beene slaughtered after the manner of sacrifices and the temple filled with carcasses not by a straunger but by him who vnder the colour of religion desireth the gouernment of the kingdome to the end he might satisfie the vniustice of his nature in exercising each way his tyranny toward all men for which cause his father neuer thought nor euer dreampt to substitute him king in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former testament and that of greatest force had ordained his aduersarie Antipater to be king For he had beene allotted the kingdome by his father not when his mind was dead before his bodie but when both his iudgement was sound and his bodie in health Yea although at that time Archelaus father had such a conceit of him as in his latter testament and bequest he pretendeth yet that he had alreadie declared what kind of king he was likely to be who contemned Caesars authoritie in confirming the kingdome and being as yet a priuate man doubted not to murther the citizens in the temple This said Antipater to giue greater credit to his words bringing diuers of his kindred as witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholas arose and alledged in Archelaus behalfe as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impietie who could not be restrained from their tumults and vprores before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging that they were so much the more guiltie for that they had not onely exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so hainous a reuenge against them for their insolencie seemed in appearance to concerne Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacie pertianed to Caesars iniurie For those that had beene sent by him to appease and represse their sedition were against all law and right charged and slaine by them without respect of God or regard of the solemne feast whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equitie so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare vnto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from iniurie but whetted those swords which were drawen in maintenance of the peace against their owne bosomes He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselues saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grieuous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their kinsman a man both well respected and affected by his father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the testament that it was made by the king when he was in perfect estate of minde and bodie and of greater force then the former because the authoritie and confirmation thereof was ascribed to Caesar the soueraigne of the world Further that Caesar would
not imitate them in that wrong they did vnto Herode who being during his life time bountifully graced by him by many benefits do now after his death go about to violate his last and truest testament 〈◊〉 that rather like a friend and confederate he would confirme his will who like his faithfull and sworne welwiller had committed all things to his trust For that there must needs be a great difference betweene their malice and Caesars vertue and faith which was renowmed thorow the whole world For which cause he would not iudge his decree to be inconsiderately past who left his succession to his well deseruing sonne and referred all things to his trust For that it was vnlikely that he should erre in the choise of his successor who had so discreetly submitted all things to Caesars iudgement After this manner Nicholas also finished his discourse Hereupon Caesar courteously raised Archelaus who lay prostrate and humbled before his feet telling him that he was most worthie to be king by giuing an apparant testimony that he was constant in his resolutions pretending that he would do nothing but that which should be answerable to Herodes testament and Archelaus profit and seeing the young man was confirmed in some good hope with this his promise he determined nothing more for that time but dismissing the councell he debated with himselfe whether he should ratifie the kingdome to Archelaus onely or deuide it amongst Herodes kinred especially since all men had need of his assistance CHAP. XII The Iewes mutinie against Sabinus and how Varus punisheth the authors of the sedition BVt before Caesar had determined any thing certainly in this behalfe Marthalce Archelaus mother died of a sicknes Varus the presideÌ„t of the Iews in Syria had sent letters which certified the emperor of the rebellioÌ„ of the Iewes For after Archelaus departure al the natioÌ„ was in an vprore To pacifie which Varus resorted thither punished the authors of the same after he had in this sort appeased all things he returned to Antioch leauing a regimeÌ„t of soldiers in Ierusalem to restraine the factious invocations amongst the Iewes yet preuailed he nothing by this his pollicy For as soone as Varus was departed Sabinus who inteÌ„ded Caesars affaires remaining in that place grieuously burthened the Iews trusting to that power that was left him supposing that he was alreadie enabled to withstand the multitude For he armed diuers souldiers and made vse of them to oppresse the Iewes and to prouoke them to sedition For he enforced himselfe to surprise their fortresses and forcibly to make search after the kings treasures for his priuate lucre and couetousnes sake When as therefore the feast of Whitsontide was come which is one of our festiuals diuers thousands from all parts repaired to Ierusalem not onely for religion sake but also for the despite and hatred they had conceiued against those violences and iniuries which Sabinus had offered them And not onely were those of Iudaea grieuously offended but diuers also resorted out of Galilee and Idumaea from Iericho and the Cities scituate on the other side of Iordan desiring all of them to be reuenged on Sabinus And deuiding their campe into three bands after this manner the one part of them tooke vp the Hippodrome and of the other two the one seazed the southerne quarter of the temple and the other the easterne and the third which was in the Hippodrome were planted to the westward where the kings pallace stood and thus prepared they al things that were necessarie to set vpon the Romans whom they had besieged on all sides At that time Sabinus fearing their number and resolution who were resolued either to die or to ouercome sent present letters vnto Varus requiring him with all expedition to send him a supply because the regiment that was left by him was in great daunger and must needs vtterly perish without his speedie rescous as for himselfe he withdrew into the tower and dungeon of the castle Phasaelus which was a fortresse which was builded and so called in honour of Herodes brother who was slaine by the Parthians and from the top thereof made a signe to the Romanes that they should sally out vpon the Iewes being afraid to trust himselfe to his owne friends and supposing that the rest ought to expose their liues to daunger in maintenance of his seruice The Romans hauing made this sally there arose a desperate skirmish wherein the Romanes diuers waies had the vpper hand yet were not the Iewes any waies discomforted notwithstanding they had lost many men but wheeling about so long till at last they seazed the outward galleries and those that encompassed the temple and in that place there was a hot assault for they flung downe stones with their hands and slings and there were certaine archers mixed amongst them who in that they had recouered a place of aduantage grieuously gauled the Romans which were below in that they had no meanes to auoid their shot but were in such sort exposed therunto as their enemies had the better And with this disaduantage fought the Romans a long time till at length sore aggrieued at this their present indignitie they secretly fired the galleries and porches without any discâ—…uery of those that were therein which fire brought thither by many and fedde with such matter as would speedily flame incontinently tooke holde of the roofe because the roofe was couered with pitch and waxe and guilded vpon the waxe so that these great and excellent buildings were burnt downe to nothing in a moment and they that were resorted thither were all of them consumed before they were aware For some of them fell with the roofe of the Galleries othersome shot at and slaine by those that stood round abouts othersome despairing of their liues and amazed at the mischiefe either cast themselues into the fire or slew themselues with their one swords and all those that retired vnder hope to saue themselues by that way they ascended were encountred by the Romans who slew them all in that they were discouraged and disarmed though furiously desperate so that no one of them that ascended the porches escaped with life Afterwards the Romans thrusting forward one another by those waies where the fire was aslaked entred the treasure house where the sacred money was kept by which meanes a great part thereof was stolne away by the souldiers and Sabinus to all mens knowledge carried away foure hundreth talents But the Iewes being afflicted with a double calamitie first of all with the losse of their friends in that fight and lastly with the spoile of the treasurie yet assembled they a troupe of the most valiantest souldiers and besieged the pallace threatning to burne the same with Sabinus and all other the Romans that were therein except they speedily departed and in so doing they promised both them and Sabinus all assurance and securitie whereby it came to passe that
was poisoned by Piso whereof he died as it is declared in another place CHAP. IIII. The rebellion of the Iewes against Pontius Pilate PIlate Gouernour of Iudâ—… led his army from Caesarea to Ierusalem where he wintered them with an intent to bring in Caesars statues and standards into the Citie in contempt of our lawe which forbiddeth vs to make images For which cause those Gouernours that were before him were wont to make their entries into the Citie without such pictures or paintings Pilate was the first who vnawares and by night entered Ierusalem bringing with him his images Which when the people vnderstood in great multitudes they resorted to Caesarea beseeching him for many daies that he would transport those images into some other place But when as Pilate denied them to performe their request because the matter would redound to Caesars dishonour and the Iewes also ceased not to sollicite him some sixe daies after commanding his souldiers to lie in ambush in a readinesse he sate him downe in the Tribunall within the Hippodrome making vse of the oportunitie of the place for that it was most fit for a stratageme There being vrged once more about the same businesse he gaue a signe to his souldiers to beset them threatning them with death except they would presently giue ouer their suite and repaire euerie one of them with all speed to their owne houses But they prostrating themselues vpon the earth and offering their naked throats tolde him that they rather desired to die then to see their lawes violated which were with so great iudgement and reason proposed vnto them Pilate amazed at the confidence they shewed in the conseruation of their lawes sodainly caused Caesars images to be transported out of Ierusalem into Caesarea and out of the sacred treasurie he made certaine conduits of water that had their fountaine heads more then two hundreth stades off But the people tooke no pleasure in those conduits and diuers thousands of men assembled themselues exclaiming against Pilate endeuouring thereby to make him giue ouer his enterprise Some of them also vttered diuers iniurious speeches against him as it ordinarily falleth out amongst an vnbridled multitude But he causing them to be hemmed in by a great number of his souldiers attired in a popular habite as soone as they began to exclaime against him gaue a signe to his souldiers they as it was before time commanded them made vse of their maces and without distinction either of the persons or the offenders fell on all those whom they had encompassed And so vnmercifully laid on them who were naked and disarmed that some of them were slaine othersome grieuously hurt and after this manner was the tumult and sedition appeased At that time was IESVS a wise Man if it be lawfull to call him a Man For he was the performer of diuers admirable workes and the instructer of those who willingly entertaine the truth and he drew vnto him diuers Iewes and Greekes to be his followers This was Christ who being accused by the princes of our nation before Pilate and afterwards condemned to the Crosse by him yet did not those who followed him from the beginning forbeare to loue him for the ignominie of his death For he appeared vnto them aliue the third day after according as the diuine Prophets had before testified the same and diuers other wonderfull things of him and from that time forward the race of the Christians who haue deriued their name from him hath neuer ceased At that time also there fell out another accident which verie sore troubled the Iewes and in the temple of Isis at Rome there were many shamefull acts committed But I will first of all recount the accident in the temple of Isis and then will I declare that which befell the Iewes There was in Rome a Ladie called Paulina renowmed both for the nobilitie of hir house as also thorow her studie and exercise in vertue Besides this she was verie rich and with her riches beautifull and in her flowring yeeres and notwithstanding a verie mirrhor of chastitie She was married vnto a certaine noble man called Saturnine that equald her in all those her excellent perfections A certaine young man called Decius Mundus one of the knights of greatest account at that time fell in loue with her But she was of that disposition that it was impossible for him to corrupt her by presents And the more she refused those infinite presents which he sent vnto her the more was Mundus heart inflamed with ardent affection so that to enioy her but onely one night he offered her two hundreth thousand drachmes amounting in our English money to some sixe thousand pound yet for all this he could not ouercome her For which cause being vnable to endure this his vnfortunate loue he thought best to pine himselfe away for want of sustenance thereby to deliuer himselfe from the tyrannie of that passion wherewith he was afflicted Finally that he confidently resolued he constantly put in execution Now there was a certaine free woman that belonged to Mundus father whose name was Idâ—… expert in all sorts of subtilties who being sore aggrieued to behold the young mans resolution whom she saw wholy addicted to a desperate death she addressed her selfe vnto him and encouraged him with hope promising him to bring him to Paulinas speech by the meanes of a certaine bribe which she intended to offer He reioycing verie much at her motion demanded what summe would serue her who requiring nothing more then fiftie thousand drachmes to obtaine Paulina he furnished her presently When as by this means she had quickened the young mans spirit and receiued all that which she demanded she shaped not the same course which others had kept that had the sollicitation of the matter before seeing she saw that money would not tempt her but knowing that she was deepely deuoted to the seruice of Isis she practised this subtill and vnexpected policie She addressed her selfe to certaine priests of the temple and vpon great hopes and offer of greater presents and paying them downe vpon the present twentie and fiue thousand drachmes and promising them as much more vpon the performance of the bargaine she disclosed vnto them the passionate loue which the young man bare vnto Paulina exhorting them to worke so wisely that he might enioy her They bewitched with this huge present they had and hoped to receiue promised her to worke the feat Whereupon the eldest among them resorted to Paulina and hauing free accesse vnto her presence he required that he might haue conference with her in secret which when he had obtained he tolde her that he was sent vnto her by God Anubis in that the God was surprised with her loue and desired that she would come vnto him Paulina tooke great pleasure in this his discourse and tolde her familiars how she had been honoured with the amorous solicitation of a God and certified
called Agrippa and Drusus Drusus died verie young but Agrippa was brought vp by his grandfather amongst his other brethren Herode Aristobulus and Bernice These were Herodes children sonne vnto him who was surnamed the Great Bernice was Costobarus daughter begotten on Salome Herodes sister Aristobulus died leauing his children vnder age vnder his fathers charge with Alexander his brother as we haue alreadie recounted These attaining their full age were in this sorte married Herode brother to Agrippa was matched with Mariamme Olympias daughter who was Herodes the Great his daughter and of Ioseph Herodes brother By her he had his sonne Aristobulus Aristobulus Agrippas third brother married Iotape the daughter of Sampsigeram king of the Emesenians They had a daughter which in like sort was called Iotape which was deafe These were the children begotten by Herodes three sonnes But Herodias their sister married Herode the sonne of Herode the Great whom he begot on Mariamme the daughter of Simon the high priest by whom Salome was begotten After her birth Herodias in contempt of the lawes of the countrey married her selfe with Herode her husbands brother begotten of the same father being separate from him during his life time who was Tetrarch of Galilee His daughter Salome was married to Philip the Tetrarch of Trachonitis Herodes sonne who dying without children Aristobulus married her who was Herodes sonne and Agrippas brother They had three sonnes Herode Agrippa and Aristobulus See here the posteritie of Phasaelus and Salampson Antipater by Cypros had a daughter that in like sort was called Cypros which was married to Alexas Selcius the sonne of Alexas of whom he begate a daughter called likewise Cypros As for Herode and Alexander who as I said were Antipaters brothers they died without issue Alexander Herodes sonne who was slaine by his father begate Alexander and Tigranes on the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Tigranes being king of Armenia died without issue after he had been accused at Rome Alexander had a sonne called Tigranes after his brothers name who was sent by Nero to raigne in Armenia who had a sonne called Alexander who married Iotape the daughter of Antiochus king of Comagena This Alexander by Vespasian was elected king in Lesis a Citie of Cilicia As soone as Alexanders posteritie began to multiply they fell from their countrey religion to follow the customes of the Greekes All the rest of king Herodes daughters died without issue Hauing after this manner reckoned vp Herods posteritie which continued vntill such time as Agrippa the great began to raigne it remaineth at this time to declare what aduentures befell this Agrippa and how he escaping his dangers obtained at last so great power and dignitie CHAP. VIII Agrippas voyage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison and is deliuered after Tiberius death by Caius his successor SOme little time before the death of king Herode Agrippa conuersing at Rome grew into great familiaritie and acquaintance with Drusus Tiberius the Emperours sonne and was beloued by Antonia the wife of Drusus the elder by y e means of his mother Berenice whom Antonia held in great estimation and to whom she had recommended her sonne And whereas by nature he was of a liberall and high spirit as long as his mother liued he would not discouer his intent least he should prouoke her displeasure against him But incontinently after Berenice was dead and he became Lord of himselfe partly by his daily and bountifull entertainment and liuing partly by his immoderate liberalities but especially by his lauish prodigalitie towards Caesars freemen whose fauour he hunted after he was brought into extreame pouertie and could no more liue at Rome the rather for that Tiberius hauing lost his sonne forbad his friends to come into his sight for feare least their presence should refresh and encrease the sorrow he conceiued for the losse of his sonne For these causes he returned backe into Iudaea hauing but badly ordered his estate spent his money and left himselfe no meanes to satisfie his importunate and many creditors For which cause incertaine how to dispose himselfe and ashamed of his present estate he withdrewe himselfe into a Castle called Malatha in Idumaea bethinking himselfe after some sort to cut off his miserable daies Which purpose of his when Cypros his wife apperceiued she endeuoured by all meanes to preuent his resolution she wrote also to his sister Herodias who was married to Herode the Tetrarch certifying her both what Agrippa had decreed as also by what necessitie he was inforced thereunto and she exhorted her that in regard of affinitie she should assist him and imitate her in this who as much as in her lay relieued his miserie although her fortunes were farre weaker then hers Being therfore sent for by his sister and wife he was commaunded to dwell in Tiberias and had a certaine summe of money assigned him for his maintenance and for his greater honor was appointed Magistrate of that Citie Yet did not Herode continue long time in that minde although by the meanes he had giuen him he had not satisfied his kinsmans necessities For being in the Citie of Tyre in a certaine company where he dronke immoderately Agrippa esteemed it for an extreame iniurie that Herode had vpbraided him with his pouertie and hit him in the teeth that he maintained him at his charge For which cause he withdrew himselfe to Flaccus who had sometimes been Consul at Rome and for the present was president of Syria with whom at Rome he had fallen into familiaritie who entertained by him liued with him who long before that time had entertained Aristobulus who though Agrippas brother yet was he his enemy yet notwithstanding this dissension betweene them Flaccus entertained them both with equall fauour But Aristobulus remitted nothing of his hatred he bare his brother neither euer rested he before he had drawne Flaccus into dislike with his brother vpon this occasion The inhabitants of Damasco contending with the Sidonians about their demaines and being to debate their cause before Flaccus knowing what interest Agrippa had in him they besought him that he would further their cause promising him a great summe of money whereupon he addressed himselfe in what he could to further those of Damasco But Aristobulus who had an inkling of this conclusion and promise accused his brother to Flaccus and after inquisition was made and he found guiltie of the fact Agrippa grew out of the presidents fauour and falling againe into extreame pouertie he came to Ptolemais and for that he had no meanes of maintenance he determined to saile into Italie And for that he wanted money he commanded Marsyas his free-man that by all meanes whatsoeuer he should seeke to take vp money vpon interest He spake vnto Protus who was Agrippas mothers free-man who by the testament of his deceased Mistris was left vnto Antonias protection that vpon his Masters bill
not in that which exceedeth thy power to shew thy vertuous affection towards me For which cause I thinke that it should be a great shame for me if I should suffer my selfe to be ouercome by thee in kindnesse without some answerable correspondence I will therfore put that in practise which I haue heretofore omitted For all those things that hitherto I haue bestowed on thee are of no reckoning My will is that thy readines and vertue should at this present be requited by such means as might for euer make thee happy Now he spake after this manner hoping that Agrippa would begge some great prouince at his hands or the reuenues of some Cities But although he had already prepared his demaund yet did he not discouer his intent but gaue Caius this ready answere that whereas he had serued him to the dislike of Tiberius it was not for the gaine he expected heretofore and for the present also he did nothing vnder hope to be rich contenting himselfe that he was in the Emperours good fauour That the benefites he had receiued by him were great yea exceeding all that which he durst euer haue hoped For said he although they be but small in comparison of your greatnesse yet in respect of my selfe who haue receiued them and in my conceit and qualitie they are verie great Caius being amazed at this his courage insisted the rather to perswade him that he would grant him all that he would require at his hands Whereupon Agrippa said Dread prince since it is your good pleasure to thinke me worthy to be honoured by your presents I will not request any thing at your hands that may tend to inrich me for that by those goods you haue already giuen me I am greatly honoured but I beseech and request one thing at your hands which will purchase you the reputation of pietie and will procure God to be propitious vnto you in all your actions and which also will breed me much glorie among those who shall heare that I haue not been refused in my demaund which concerneth me more then the necessities of this life I therefore beseech you that it will please you to giue commandement that that statue which you haue charged Petronius to erect in the temple of the Iewes may neuer be aduanced there This was Agrippas request which to his great hazard he presented the Emperour with knowing verie well how perilous a matter it was and as much as concerned his life to demaund any such thing at Caius hands that was not answerable to his humour Caius on the one side mooued with the seruice Agrippa had done him and on the other side seeing how great an indignitie it should be for him if before such an assembly of witnesses he should deny that which he had so instantly pressed Agrippa to request as if he sodainly had repented himselfe and admiring Agrippas vertue who hauing meanes within a little time to augment his particular estate either by reuenues or other commodities had preferred the common cause the lawes of his countrey and pietie before all these he granted him his supplication wrote to Petronius praising him for that he had vsed such diligence in assembling his army as also for al that wherof he had certified him annexing these words If said he you haue alreadie planted the statue as I commanded you let it remaine in the place but if it be not done be thou no more troublesome to the Iewes but dismisse thine army and repaire thou in person to that place whither I haue sent thee For I vrge no more the erection of that statue for the desire that I haue to gratifie Agrippa whom I intirely honour and in such sort as it is impossible for me to contradict any thing whatsoeuer that either he hath neede of or shall require These were the contents of those letters which Caius wrote to Petronius before he vnderstood that the Iewes bethought them of reuolt for they made it known that rather then they would endure that statue they would hazard a warre against the Romans which when Caius vnderstood he was extremely sorrowfull and being a man addicted to all villanie and estranged from all honestie and who gaue place to no good counsel incontinently after he had conceiued a displeasure against any man who likewise thought it a great good hap for him to accomplish all that whatsoeuer he pleased hee wrote againe to Petronius to this effect Since the presents which the Iewes haue giuen thee haue preuailed more with thee then my commaundements haue done so as to please them thou hast despised that which I haue enioyned thee I make thy selfe the iudge how much thou hast deserued to incurre my displeasure to the end that thou maist serue for an example to all those who shall come after thee that an Emperours commandement ought not in any sort to be neglected Although this Epistle was both written and sent yet did not Petronius receiue the same during Caius life time for that they that carried the same were staied by crosse windes so that Petronius receiued those letters that certified him of Caius death before he receiued the other For God would not forget Petronius who exposed himselfe to great dangers for the loue of the Iewes and for the honour of God And Caius being taken out of the world by Gods wrath being kindled against him by reason that he affected diuine honors receiued his reward and Petronius obtained fauour both at Rome and thorow all his whole gouernment and especially among the principall Senators against whom Caius was accustomed to vomit his cholericke disgraces He died a little after he had written the letter to Petronius by which he threatned and denounced him death Hereafter will I declare the cause why he was taken out of this world and the maner how treason was complotted and wrought against him The letter that brought tydings of Caius death was deliuered to Petronius first and incontinently after hee receiued that wherein he enioyned him to kill himselfe He highly reioiced at this his good hap and Caius death and admired Gods prouidence who speedily and happily had rewarded him both for the honour that he bare vnto his Temple as also for the assistance he vsed towards the Iewes Behold how Petronius escaped from death by an vnexpected meanes CHAP. XII That which hapned to the Iewes tâ—…t were at Babylon and of the two brethren Asinaeus and Anilaeus IN those daies there hapned a grieuous commotion amongst those Iewes that inhabited Mesopotamia and Babylon and such slaughters and calamities as neuer the like hath bin declared in our former narrations which in that I intend to report both particularly and seriously I will rippe vp the whole cause thereof from his first originall There was a Citie called Nearda belonging to Babylon stored with inhabitants and enriched with many fruitfull possessions sufficiently to sustaine so great a multitude Moreouer it was such as might
was increased the more at such time as he deliuered the same to his companions who openly mocked and iested at him For when it was his turne to receiue the word from Caesars mouth he ordinarily fitted him with such a one as might moue laughter which made him the bolder to conspire with his confederates in that he had iust occasion to be displeased amongst these was a Senator and one that had past all honours and offices otherwaies an Epicure and louer of delights Him did Timidius accuse in that he was his enemy that he had vsed certaine iniurious speeches against Caius and for proofe thereof he alleadged Quintilia for his witnesse a woman amongst all stageplaiers deerely beloued by many but in especial by Popedius by reason of her incomparable beautie and for that she refused to beare witnesse in a matter falsely obiected against him whom she intirely loued Timidius required that she might be examined by torture Caius prouoked herewith commaunded Cheraeas with all expedition and diligence to see Quintilia tortured and the rather gaue he Cheraeas these commissions to kill and torment those whom he pleased for that he had conceiued this opinion that he would acquit himselfe with more crueltie to the intent he might exempt himselfe of that reproch of faint-heartednesse which was wrongfully inforced against him Whilest thus Quintilia was led forth to be tortured she trod vpon the foote of one of those who were of the confederacie giuing him to vnderstand that he should be of good courage for that there was no feare that she would bewray any thing in torture but would endure it with great constancie notwithstanding Cheraeas tormented her cruelly which he rather performed by constraint then of his owne free will And seeing he could enforce nothing out of her he brought her backe to Caius in so pitifull an estate that all they that beheld her had compassion of her Caius likewise himselfe was mooued and bethinking him of those paines which she had indured he desisted from the enquest and accusation which was prosecuted against Popedius and Quintilia and gaue her a certaine summe of money to comfort her against the indisposition that might happen by reason of her torments which she had so couragiously enduted This displeased Cheraeas verie much as if he had been the cause of all those euils that had hapned to those two persons hauing been so great that to heale them it behooued Caesar to minister a medicine He consulted therefore with Clement who was captaine of the footmen and Papinius who had the commaund of the guard and spake vnto them to this effect We haue said he O Clement imployed ourselues to the vttermost for the Emperours safetie for by our prouidence and trauell we haue wrought so much that of all those who haue conspired against him some of them haue been slaine the rest in such sort tormented and martyred as Caius himselfe had compassion on them But what reward or honour receiue we for all these seruices Clement hearing these words held his peace giuing manifest testimonie by his lookes and the change of his colour that he was greatly ashamed that he had so long time obeyed the Emperours commandements and whilest he thought with himselfe that it was no pollicie for him to open his mouth against Caius crueltie Cheraeas emboldned himselfe to discouer the calamities and dangers wherein both the Citie and the whole Empire were plunged telling him that the common report was that Caius was the cause of them but said he those that will narrowly examine the truth will iudge that I and Papinius that standeth by me and you Clement more then we haue caused the Romans torment and the worlds miserie for that of our own will we haue been ministers of Caius commaunds and although the means lieth in vs to make an end of those violences that are committed against the Citizens and iniuries to the whole world yet serue we him for his guard and hangmen insteed of men of warre And we beare armes not to maintaine our libertie and the Roman Empire but to preserue him who keepeth their bodies and mindes in seruitude and euerie day are we soiled in their bloud who are slaine and tortured vntill such time as some one serue vs with the like sauce to satisfie Caius crueltie For it is not for the good will he beareth vs that he maketh vse of vs but that which is more we are suspected by him and he will cause vs to be slaine as he hath done others For his displeasure is not limited by iustice but by his will we also shall serue him for a marke to ayme at For which cause it behooueth vs to prouide for the securitie and libertie of all men and especially to warrant our selues against those dangers that threaten vs. Clement declared by apparant signes that he thought well of Cheraeas resolution but he counselled him to make no wordes of it for feare the rumour thereof should be spred among the people and the secret should be discouered before the execution and least that Caius getting an inckling thereof they should all of them be drawne into danger of death and in the meane while it behooued them to hope that some good fortune would fall out to their furtherance and that for himselfe his age had taken from him the necessarie courage that belonged to such enterprises It may be said he that I may furnish you with some aduice more secure then yours is Cheraeas for a more honester then it is who is he that can propose This said Clement returned to his house ruminating with himselfe vpon those words which he had both heard and spoken But Chaereas waxed fearefull and conferred with the Colonell Cornelius Sabinus whom he knew to be a man of reputation a louer of libertie and greatly discontented with the estate about the miseries of the common weale and seeing it was necessarie to attempt that with all expedition which he had intended he thought good to impart the matter to him fearing least Clement should discouer all the conspiracie considering that delay and procrastination would be but an occasion to hinder the action When as therefore he perceiued him to giue willing eare to all that which he intended and that alreadie he was confirmed with no lesse resolution then himselfe was but in that he knew not with whom he might familiarly communicate the same he said nothing whereas otherwaies he was readie not onely to conceale that which he had heard but also declared that which he had in his heart he was so much the more incouraged For which cause without any further delay they went to Minucianus who was conformable vnto them in vertue good affection and great courage and who besides that was suspected by Caius by reason of Lepidus death For Minucianus and Lepidus were verie great friends and had been associates in the same dangers For Caius was feared by all those who had
should assault and set vpon him They therefore thought it good that the opportunitie to set forward this businesse should be the time in which the games of the pallace were celebrated which were solemnized in honour of Caesar who first of all disanulled the peoples authoritie and appropriated it to himselfe This solemnitie is celebrated in a tent before the pallace where the noble Citizens with their wiues and children remained to behold the sport and Caesar himselfe likewise At that time concluded they that it would be an easie matter for them when as so many thousands of people should be shut vp in so narrow a place so that he who would steppe formost to giue the stroke might verie easily be succoured for that hee could haue no force in armes although his guard should haue the courage and desire to defend him Chaereas resolued vpon this and it was concluded that the first day of those sports that were next at hand the deed should be done but their aduenture was greater then their conclusion For the delay was such as the third day was almost past hardly could they be drawn to attempt the matter on the third day At which time Chaereas assembled all the confederates told them that the opportunitie of time that ouerslipt them accused and reproched them of slacknesse in that execution which had been so vertuously resolued amongst them and that it was to be feared least if any thing should be discouered the whole matter should waxe frustrate by which meanes Caius might grow more cruell then he was before See we not said he that by howe much libertie we take from our selues by so much we augment Caius tyrannie wheras we ought first of all to obtaine securitie for our selues and afterwards purchase perpetual felicitie to others the greatest glorie whereof shall redound vnto our selues Now they hauing nothing to reply against so honourable a resolution and yet notwithstanding no waies enforcing themselues towards the action but remaining altogither dismaied without one word speaking Chaereas spake thus Most noble and generous Gentlemen what is the cause that we linger and delay in this sort see you not that this day is the last day of the games and that Caius is readie to depart to sea For he hath determined to saile into Alexandria and to see Aegypt verely it will be a small honour for vs if we suffer him to escape our hands to the end that both by land and sea he may triumph ouer the Romans vaine boast and negligence How can we chuse but condemne ourselues iustly and challenge nothing but dishonour if some Aegyptian supposing that men of free condition could not any longer endure his insolence should put the matter in execution For mine owne part I vvill dreame no longer vpon your consultations but this verie day vvill I hazard my selfe and betide me vvhat can I will sustaine all fortunes vvith pleasure and courage For I am a man of that mind that no danger can be so great or grieuous to daunt me then that Caius should be slaine during my life time and I should be depriued of so deserued an honour which so vvorthy an attempt may chalenge This said he departed with an intent to attempt and end the matter and encouraged the rest to do the like so that all of them vvere desirous to set hand to the enterprise vvithout any further delay The custome vvas that the captaines of the guard entred the pallace with their swords by their sides and in such equipage they asked the Emperour the watchword At that time it fortuned that it vvas Chaereas turne to fet the vvord when as a great number of people flocked to the pallace to take vp their places to behold the games vvith great prease and noyce wherein Caius vvas greatly delighted for there was no distinction of place eyther for Senators or Knights but each one sate togither confusedly men and vvomen slaues and freemen Caius arriuing there first had offered sacrifice in honour of Caesar Augustus in dignifying vvhom likewise those sports vvere solemnised It came to passe that vvhilst those beasts vvere embowelled that vvere appointed for sacrifice Asprenas gowne vvho at that time was a Senator was besprinkled vvith bloud wherat Caius began to laugh yet notwithstanding this vvas a presage for Asprenas For he was slaine that verie day that Caius was It is reported that Caius at that time contrary to his own nature behaued himselfe most affably towards al men so that all the assistants were astonished to behold the courtesie that he vsed After the sacrifice was done he sate him downe to behold the pastimes and had about him the most noble of his friends familiars Now was there euery yeere a Theater builded according to this forme and fashion that ensueth It had two gates the one towards the open yard the other opening vpon the porch by which the actors had their egresse and regresse without disturbance of those who sate to behold the pastime There was within the same a certaine seueral roome separated from the rest where the plaiers musitions kept When the people were seated and Chaereas with the captaines were neere about Caesar who sate on the right side of the Theater Batibius one of the Senators a man very expert in feats of armes asked Cluuitus priuily in his eare who sate by him had in like sort beene Consul whether he had heard any news who answering him that he had heard nothing on this day said Batibius shal the tragedy be plaid of a tyrāts death Cluuitus made him this reply in Homers words Whist least some Greeke should listen to our talke Now whilest some one darted certaine apples and rare and precious birds at the people Caius tooke great pleasure to behold how they stroue one with another round about him buffeting one another to see who should get the same but at that present there chanced two presages for the sport that was represented was of a Iudge who was apprehended crucified and in the daunce they represented Cynera who was slaine with Mirrha hir daughter and there was a great quantity of bloud gathered to counterfait both the murther of the Iudge that was crucified as also of Cynera It is affirmed likewise that the day was the very same whereon Philip the sonne of Amyntas king of Macedon had beene slaine by Pausanias one of his familiars at such time as he entred a Theater Whilest Caius was incertaine with himselfe whether he should remaine vntil the sports were finished for that it was the last day of them or rather should resort to the bath and after he had taken his refection returne backe againe thither as he had done before time Minucianus sitting next vnto him fearing least the occasion should be ouerslipt arose for that he had seene Chaereas depart out of doores with an intent to go and incourage him But Caius catcht him by the gowne saying whither go
you my friend at which time for the reuerence sake that he bare vnto Caesar he sate him downe againe but the feare that he had grew so forcible that he arose againe so that Caius could not detaine him supposing that he departed thence to dispatch some important busines At that time did Asprenas counsalle Caesar to repaire to the bath telling him that after his refection he might returne thither againe all which he did being desirous that the resolution might take effect They that were with Chaereas were alreadie disposed to take aduantage of the time and were agreed each of them to stand prepared and in a readines in a place appointed to the intent to act the tragedie and the delay was verie grieuous vnto them for that it vvas alreadie three a clocke after noone So that Chaereas seeing that Caius lingred so long intended to go in vnto him and assaile him in his seat but he conceiued that he could not bring that to passe-vvithout great losse and murther of Senators and Knights that were there present Now although he had this apprehension yet addressed he himselfe to the execution thereof supposing that the losse that might happen by the death of some one would be wel recompenced by the securitie and libertie that would redound vnto all men When as therefore they were in a readines to enter the Theater newes was brought them that Caius vvas risen to come forth by meanes whereof there arose some noice For which cause the confederates returned backe into the Theater and appeased the people telling them that they displeased and anoyed the Emperor but the effect was to draw him aside from all those who might yeeld him any assistance and so to set vpon him Before Caius marched Claudius his vncle and M. Minutianus his sisters husband and Valerius who at that time was Proconsul who might not any waies be drawen from their place although they had the will by reason of the place and dignitie which they held Caius followed after them accompanied with Paulus Aruntius Now when he was entred into the pallace he left the readie way where his officers were and Claudius vvith his associates held he turned aside by an vnfrequented way to the bathes vpon purpose to see certaine young boyes who vvere come out of Asia and were sent him out of that countrey partly to sing in those ceremonies that were instituted by him and partly to daunce in armes about the Theater and in that place Chaereas came and incountred him asking him the vvatchword which Caius gaue him verie reprochfully according to his custome For which cause vvithout any further delay Chaereas assailing him both in word and act drewe his sword and gaue him a great wound which notwithstanding vvas not mortall some say that Chaereas purposely vvounded him after that sort because he would not kill him at once but to his further torment encrease the number of his wounds but I cannot beleeue the same for that in such executions a man hath no leasure to determine how to strike And if Chaereas had such an intention I account him the veriest foole that might be for that he rather took his pleasure to content his despight then readily to deliuer both himselfe and others who by his delay in being of his confederacy might be drawen into hazard For if Caius had not beene sodainly slaine he could not haue wanted meanes of rescous and it should seeme that Chaereas had not pretended to doe so much mischiefe to Caius as to himselfe and his fellow confederates And being in this incertaintie whether his enterprise should haue fallen out happily or no he had without reason both vndone himselfe lost the occasion whereas hauing happily hit home he might without a word speaking warrantize himselfe against those who would offend him But let each man thinke what best pleaseth him Caius feeling the griefe of the wound for he was strooken betwixt the shoulder and the necke and his sword could not pierce further by reason that it hit vpon the first bone of the breast he cried not in any sort neither called for any of his friends whether it were that he distrusted them all or that he had some other thought and in lamenting himselfe he past onward But he was met by Cornelius Sabinus who was alreadie prepared to encounter him who thrust him downe vpon his knees whereupon all of them enuironed him round about and with mutuall exhortations encouraged one another to doe their vttermost in murthering him At length in all mens opinion they agreed on this that it was Aquila that gaue him the deadly wound that seuered his soule from his bodie But this act ought to be attributed to Chaereas For although diuers set to their hands in the action yet was he the first who had bethought him of the action hauing long time before any of them premeditated the same after what sort it should be attempted and he also was the first that durst boldly impatt it vnto others and who after they had allowed of his resolution assembled them and vvhen as euerie one was to speake his opinion hee concluded the same verie discreetly and had alwaies done farre more then the rest so that by his earnest and honourable perswasions hee encouraged those that were faint-hearted since at such time as the opportunitie presented it selfe to set hand to the execution hee vvas the first that attempted it and who valiantly strooke and made an easie vvay for the rest vvho found Caius calme inough in that hee vvas a man almost thorowly slaine For vvhich cause it is necessarie that all that vvhich others haue done should bee ascribed to Chaereas aduice vertue and diligence Thus died Caius being slaughtered with many mortall wounds now when Chaereas and his companions had dispatched him they perceiued well that it would be impossible for them to saue themselues if so be they should returne by the way that they came so much were they rauished with that which they had done For they drew themselues into no small daunger by murthering an Emperour who was cherished and beloued thorow the folly of the common people and whose death the men of warre vvould not leaue vnpunished Now in that the vvaies were narrow where the murther was done and they themselues also were hindered by reason of the great number of people and officers and souldiers that gaue their attendance that day in garding the Emperor they tooke another vvay and retired themselues into Germanicus lodging who vvas Caius father whom they had lately slaughtered This house adioyned vpon the pallace For although the pallace vvas but one yet consisted it of diuers lodgings vvhich were builded by seuerall Emperours vvhose names whether they had begunne or finished the workes were imposed on the same buildings When as therefore they were escaped from the prease they were in safetie as long as the inconuenient that had befallen the Emperor was as yet hidden The first
displeaseth him for that there is no superiour to countermaund their sayings or that is exempt from reproofe if he offend against the commonweale or that may threaten with the authoritie of an Emperour for that shall be said For what else in these latter times hath increased and furthered our ouertopping tyranny then their slouthful feare who durst in no sort oppose themselues against his lust For being entangled by a certaine kind of pleasure of a quiet life and accustomed to liue after the manner of slaues and being afraid also to die vertuously and desirous to liue with shame we are fallen into these scarce sufferable calamities and into such mischiefs as haue concerned vs too neerely First of all therefore you ought to honour those who haue slaine the tyrant by dignifying them with as â—…reat honours as may be imagined and especially Chaereas For he only hath beene the man who by the power of the Gods and thorow his great wisedome and valour hath giuen you your liberty Neither ought you to forget him but to heape honours on his head yea especiall fauours as to the man who first of all consulted and first of all hazarded himselfe against a tyrant for your libertie It is an honest and wel beseeming action in men of free hearts to restore and repay condigne kindnes for the benefits that they haue receiued such is this man in your behalfe not like to Brutus and Cassius who murthered Caesar for they were the originals of seditions and ciuill warres in this citie and this man by the death of a tyrant hath not onely at once deliuered you of him but also hath cut off all those mischiefs that arose by him Thus spake Sentius and his aduice was entertained with great applause not onely by the Senators but the knights also that were there present Whereupon a certaine Senator called Trebellius Maximus arose and stepping to him pulled off the ring which Sentius had on his finger wherin was inchased a stone with Caius picture in it which Sentius had forgot to pul off so intent was he about that which he both said did and by this means the engraued Image was broken Now for that it was late Chaereas demaunded the watchword at the Consuls hands who gaue him the word Libertie Thus all of them were astonished at this chaunge and could scarcely beleeue that which had hapned For since that time that the popular gouernment had beene abolished the Consuls had neuer giuen the watchword vntill that present time For before the citie was oppressed by tyrannie the Consuls commaunded the men of warre After that Chaereas had receiued the word he gaue it to his souldiers who subscribed to the Senates authoritie of these there were about foure companies which preferred the lawfull gouernment before a tyrannie who also retired themselues to their chieftaines As for their parts the people returned to their seuerall houses full of ioy hope and courage for that they had regained the gouernment of the state which belonged vnto them and not to any particular gouernour In a word Chaereas was their onely hope He foreseeing that there would some mischiefe follow if Caius wife and daughter should remaine aliue and that if all his friends and family should not be vtterly extinguished all those who should be spared vvould serue to no other end but to the ruine of the commonweale and the lawes and on the other side desiring to see a finall end of that which he had begunne and to satisfie that hatred he had conceiued against Caius he sent Iuius Lupus one of the captaines of the guard to kill both his wife and daughter vvhich he did And the cause why hee gaue this charge chiefely to Lupus was for that Lupus was Clements kinsman who was a confederate in the execution of Caius to the end that partaking after this manner the death of the tyrant he might be knowne to haue dealt as forwardly for the common-weale as if from the beginning he had beene a counseller and agent in the conspiracie Notwithstanding there were some of his companions of that opinion that it should be but cruelty to deale with a woman in that sort for that Caius had offended thorow the corruption of his owne nature and not by the counsaile of his wife and that all those euils which he committed in the commonweale by desolating the flower thereof was his owne offence not hirs There were others that accused her to be the cause of all that which Caius had committed alledging that she had giuen him an amorous drinke by which he was tied and entangled in such sort vnto her and so led and transported by her loue that she gouerned all that which concerned the estate of Rome and the world subiect to Rome but her defenders preuailed nothing For finally it was resolued that she should lose her life To finish this Tragedie Lupus was dispatcht who lost no time in the accomplishment of their intent who had sent him for feare he had to be blamed and accounted but coldly affectionate towards the good of the common weale As soone as therefore he came into the pallace he found Caesonia Caius widow lying fast by the body of her slaughtered husband destitute of all that which the lawe gratifieth those that are dead with altogither bloudy and greatly afflicted hauing her daughter fast couched by her Being in this estate she was heard to vtter no other words but that she blamed Caius for that he had not giuen credit to that counsell which she had giuen him so often which words of hers were by certaine of them interpreted two waies For some of them thought that she meant that she had counsailed her husband to giue ouer his crueltie and murthers which he exercised against his Citizens and that in his gouernment he should vse a tempered measure with vertue for feare least his subiects misliking of his manners should seeke his destruction Others tooke it as if she had encouraged Caius to set vpon the conspirators and kill them without any delay yea before they had committed any offence and by that meanes prouide for his securitie They therefore said that Caesonia blamed Caius for that he had behaued himselfe too carelesly in that wherein she had counsailed him Such were the words Caesonia spake and such was the exposition as diuers men interpreted the same She seeing Lupus comming shewed him Caius body and besought him with teares and complaints to come no neerer But perceiuing that hee continued in his resolution and made no account of her words but did that for which he came after that she knew the cause of his arriuall she offered her naked throat vnto him with a great courage vsing such supplications as they ordinarily doe who despaire of their liues For she willed him to defer no longer to finish that Tragedie which his companions had begun and died in this sort couragiously by the hand of Lupus and after her
vertue with Arise therefore and take possession of the throane of thine auncestors This said he lifted him on his shoulders for that Claudius could not walke on foote thorow the feare and ioy that he had conceiued of that which had been tolde him Vpon these speeches diuers of the souldiers of the guard assembled about Gratus and perceiuing that it was Claudius whom they supposed to be dragged to his death they had compassion of him as on an innocent for that they knew him to be a man of a milde nature who all the time of his life intermedled with nothing and who in like sort had beene often in great dangers during Caius life There were others of them that said that the iudgement of his matter appertained to the Consuls whereupon although a great number of souldiers flocked about him and the simple people that were vnarmed fled from them yet could not Claudius goe onward in his way so weake and feeble felt hee himselfe in his whole body It fortuned likewise that they who carried his litter perceiuing this flight fled away for feare and left him so little hope had they that their Maister should escape with his life whom they saw thus to be drawne by the souldiers Now when Gratus and his associates vvere arriued in the court of the pallace which as it is reported is the place vvhich was first of all inhabited in Rome they began to thinke vpon that which was to be done thither also there flocked a great number of other souldiers vnto them who tooke pleasure to behold Claudius enforcing themselues to place him in the imperiall dignitie in regard of that good affection which they bare to Germanicus his brother whose memorie was much honoured among all those who had at any time conuersed with him Moreouer they ripped vp how many auaritious acts the Senate had committed and how great errors the chiefest Senators had defaulted in before the publike gouernment was changed Moreouer they considered vpon the danger and difficultie of their actions then in hand for that the gouernment being administred by one only man would be dangerous for them if he should obtaine the same by any other meanes whereas if Claudius should enioy the same by their permission and good will he would haue them in remembrance who had fauouted him and would recompence them according to their merits This was the effect of their discourse which they held among themselues or when they met with one an other Finally all of them atlength concluded vpon this aduice and enuironed Claudius and lifting him vp vpon their shoulders they carried him into the army to the intent that no man might hinder them to finish that which they intended There fell a debate also betwixt the Senators and Citizens For the Senate desirous to recouer their former dignitie inforcing themselues to auoid the seruitude that had befallen them by the outrage of tyrants intended the maintenance of their offered good fortune Contrariwise the people enuied them that dignitie And knowing that their Emperours should be as it were certaine bridles to restraine the auarice of the Senate and the refuge of the people they were verie glad to see that Claudius was aduanced making their account that if he were created Emperour they should auoid a ciuill warre like vnto that which hapned in Pompeius time The Senate knowing that Claudius was carried into the army by the souldiers chose out some of their order now sent them as messengers in their behalfe to signifie vnto him that he ought to vse no violence in obtaining the Empire but rather to remit the charge of the common weale to the Senate That he both was and should be one of the Senators and haue the conduct of the common weale and dispose it according to lawe perswading him to call vnto his remembrance those grieuous mischiefes which the former tyrants had wrought in the common weale and what dangers he himselfe also had suffered with them during the raigne of Caius their late Emperour That it should ill become him who had detested the furie of others tyrannie at such time as they vsed outrages should willingly be drawne to oppose himselfe against his countrey That if he would obey them continue to expresse the vertue and constancie of his life which in times past he led with commendation he should obtaine those honours which free Citizens could affoord him and in suffering himselfe to be gouerned by lawes to the end he might haue part in the commandement and to be commanded in his turne he should obtaine the praise of vertue That if he would not be disswaded by the slaughter of Caius which was fresh in memorie for their owne parts they would hinder his proceedings as much as in them lay They also alleadged that they were furnished with men of warre with store of armour and a great number of domesticall seruants all which they would employ against him but ouer and aboue these things they had farre greater helpes namely their hope good fortune and the gods who are woont to fight for those who maintaine vertue and goodnesse They solemnly protested also for their owne parts that they were of that minde that there was nothing more honest and iust then to fight for their libertie and countrey The Embassadours that brought this message were Veranius and Broccus who both of them were Tribunes of the people They prostrating themselues on their knees before him humbly besought him that he would not drawe the common weale into ciuill warre And seeing that Claudius was inclosed with a great companie of men of warre in respect of whom the Consuls were of no force they besought him that it would please him to demaund the gouernment at the Senats hands and receiue it froâ—… them if he were resolued to be Emperour For that it would be an act more holy and coupled with iustice and goodhap if he should obtaine the same with their good will and not in desâ—…ight of those who would vouchsafe it him willingly CHAP. III. The Sedition that arose betwixt the Senate and the people ALthough Claudius knew with what presumption the Senate had sent this Emâ—…assage yet did he modestly entertaine the same for the present But supposing that it stood very little with his securitie to commit himselfe to their trust and being encouraged by the exhortation of the souldiers who promised him their vtmost endeuour and by the incitation of king Agrippa he determined in no sort to let the soueraigntie escape out of his hands â—…n that it was so willingly and freely bestowed on him when he thought least on it After that Aâ—…rippa had performed all those dueties vnto Caius which were requisite for such a one as had bin by him aduanced to honour and hauing taken his body and laid it in a litter he brought him out before the souldiers of his guard and certified them that Caius was yet aliue and foâ—… that
surprised hearing that they asked for a monarch promised that he would giue thē one if they would bring him a token from Eutychus who was the wagoner to the greene band whom Caius had loued extremely in somuch as he employed his souldiers in seruile labours as to build him stables for his horses reproched thē with diuers such like matters telling thē that he would bring them Claudius head shewing them that it was a matter ill beseeming them if after a mad man they should commend the Empire to a foole Yet none of these words could diuert them from their purpose but all of them drew their swords and with displaied ensignes marched towards Claudius to vnite themselues with those who had alreadie bound themselues by an oath to serue him faithfully So that the Senat was abādoned destitute of all defence so as there was no difference betwixt priuate men Consuls All of them were astonished confused not knowing what to do because they had thus prouoked Claudius displeasure against them And now fell they to reuiling one another in testimonie of the repentance they conceiued for these their proceedings Wherupon Sabinus one of those who had murthered Caius arose protested that he would sooner cut his own throat then consent to the establishment of Claudius or behold with his eies the misery thraldome of his country he likewise encouraged Chaereas telling him that he had deserued verie little by cutting off of Caius if he thought to liue without the liberty of his country To which he answered that he made no account of his life yet that he intended to sound Claudius mind and with this resolution they concluded Meane while certaine of the Senators sought on euery side to breake thorow the midst thickest of the souldiers to go and do reuerence and homage to Claudius amongst whom was Q. Pompeius one of the Consuls whom the men of war accused to be one of the principal actors to incite the Senat to recouer their liberty and they drew their naked swords against him And if Claudius had not restrained them they had surely dispatched him but he made him sit downe by him and by that meanes deliuered him from the daunger The other Senators who accompanied him were not entertained thus honourably but some of them were wounded euen then when they pressed forth to salute Claudias Aponius retired himselfe sore wounded and the rest were in great daunger to lose their liues But King Agrippa drawing neere vnto Claudius desired him to vse as much lenitie as was possible in him towards the Senators for that if any mischiefe should betide them he should haue no other persons to commaund To the which counsell of his Claudius gaue place and assembled the Senat in the Pallace causing himselfe to be caried thorow the citie in the company of his souldiers who marched before him doing much mischiefe to the common people But amongst those that slewe Caius Chaereas Sabinus were come out into the streets notwithstanding they were forbidden by Pollio whom not long before Claudius had made captaine of his guard And as soone as Claudius came into the pallace whither he assembled his friends hee pronounced sentence against Chaercas For although his action was accounted both generous and noble yet vvas he condemned for this because he vvas perfidious vvhereupon he vvas adiudged to die to giue example to others to the end that Princes and Emperours may hereafter liue in safetie He was therefore led to his death with Lupus and diuers other Romanes It is said of Chaereas that he endured this accident vvith a great courage vvhich he expressed not onely in that he chaunged not his countenance but also by the reproches vvhich he gaue Lupus vvho wept For vvhen as Lupus was putting off of his cloathes complained of the colde that he felt he taunted him thus alluding to his name which was Lupus That neuer any colde did harme to a woolfe Furthermore when he came to the place of execution where a great number of people were gathered togither to behold the spectacle he asked the souldier that was appointed to behead him if he were a cunning hea◅man and whether he had a new sword wishing him to vse that wherewith he murthered Caius His death was happy for he receiued but one stroke whereas Lupus was faintharted and receiued diuers because he stretched not out his necke freely Some few daies after at such time as the Romans solemnized their expiations and that euerie one honoured the memorie of his dead friend they gaue Chaereas a part of that honour and cast his portion into the fire saying that was to deface and purge their ingratitude whereof they were guiltie towards him Thus ended Chaereas his life But for Sabinus although Claudius had not only absolued him but also suffered him to exercise his office as before time he had done yet thought he that he should doe amisse and against iustice if he falsified his faith to his associates and confederates for which cause he shortned his owne daies thrusting his sword thorow his body to the verie hilts CHAP. IIII. Claudius confirmeth Agrippa in his fathers kingdome INcontinently after this Claudius cashierd all those of his souldiers whom he suspected and published an edict by which he confirmed the kingdome to Agrippa that Caius had giuen him accompanying his bountie with many praises annexing moreouer vnto his gouernment all that which Herode his grandfather had possessed to wit Iudaea and Samaria which in that they were as one lawfull inheritance appertained vnto him He gaue him also out of his owne dominions Abela and all the countrey about the mount Libanus that in times past appertained to Lysanias And he caused the alliance that was past betwixt them twaine to be engrauen and registred in an open place of the Citie of Rome He tooke from Antiochus the kingdome that he had and gaue him in exchange a portion of Cilicia and Comagena He set Alexander Lysimachus Alabarcha at libertie who had beene his olde friend and sometimes gouernour in Arabia and otherwhiles his mother Antonias steward who had been committed prisoner thorow Caius displeasure and married Bernice Agrippas daughter with his sonne Marcus which after the death of Marcus who died before he was espoused was afterwards married with her father Agrippas allowance to Herode his brother for whom Agrippa begd of Claudius the kingdome of Chalcis At that verie time the Iewes that were in the Citie of Alexandria mutined against the Greekes For after Caius death the nation of the Iewes which had been oppressed during his raigne and iniuriously dealt withall by the Alexandrines recouered their former courage and instantly fell to armes For which cause Claudius gaue commission to the gouernor of Aegypt to pacifie and appease that vprore He sent also his letters patents into Alexandria and Syria at the request of the two kings Agrippa and
repaired to Petronius who was gouernor of Syria and complained against these Dorites who was no lesse displeased with the action then he himselfe For he supposed that such breach of religion was the meanes to further impietie and for that cause he wrote to those which had attempted this innouation somewhat sharply to this effect following CHAP. VI. Petronius letter written to the Dorites in the behalfe of the Iewes PVblius Petronius lieutenant to Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus to the Magistrates of the countrey of Doria health Whereas Caesar hath published an edict by which he permitteth the Iewes to liue according to their lawes and customes some one amongst you haue been so presumptuous to contradict the same in effect although in words you protest that you obey him and doe all that which you can to hinder the Iewes from enioying their Synagogue in so much as in the same you haue planted Caesars image not onely therby opposing your selues against the Iewes but also against the Emperour himselfe whose image might haue been better placed in his owne temple then in a forraine temple and you haue placed it in their Synagogue whereas by right euerie one ought to be maister of his place according to Caesars iudgement For it should be verie ridiculous in me to alleadge mine owne iudgement after that of Caesars who hath granted the Iewes the liberty to liue according to their lawes and customes and hath commanded that they should conuerse in equall freedome among the Greekes For these causes I commaund you that they who haue been so bold as to contemne Augustus decree against whom their owne magistrates haue beene displeased excusing themselues that this accident hapned not by their motion but by the furie of the common people be brought before me by the captaine Proculus Vitellius to yeeld a reason of that which they haue done exhorting the magistrates that if they will not be accounted parties in this contempt they labour to discouer those that are guiltie vnto Proculus and giue order that no sedition or violence be offered thereupon Which notwithstanding it seemeth that they affect although we and the most honoured king Agrippa whom I take for my good and special friend labour nothing more then that the nation of the Iewes should not assemble and take armes vnder colour of their defence And to the end that whatsoeuer Augustus hath ordained as touching this matter may be the better knowne vnto all men I haue annexed his edict which he published in Alexandria and although they are sufficiently knowne vnto all men yet hath the most honoured king Agrippa read them vnto me at such time as I sate in my tribunal seat concluding according to right that the Iewes ought not to be excluded nor hindred from enioying those benefits which are granted vnto them by Caesar I therefore charge all men that hence forward they take heed least they seeke any occasion of mutinie or sedition and that euerie one liue according to his religion See here how Petronius proceeded in this matter both to amend that which was past as also to preuent that which was to come that none should be so bold to attempt the like After this Agrippa tooke the priesthood from Simon Canthara and gaue it againe to Ionathan the sonne of Anani whom he esteemed to be more worthy then the other But Ionathan declared that he was not desirous of this dignitie for in effect he refused it saying O King I most willingly acknowledge the honour which it pleaseth you to bestow vpon me and know well that it is a dignitie which of your owne freewill you bestow vpon me notwithstanding that God iudgeth me vnworthy It sufficeth me that I haue once been inuested with the sacred habite for at that time I wore it with more holinesse then I can now receiue it at this present yet notwithstanding if it please you to know one that is more worthy of this honour then my selfe I wil informe you of one My liege I haue a brother who towards God and you is pure and innocent whom I dare recommend vnto you for a most fit man for that dignitie The king tooke great pleasure in these his words and leauing Ionathan he bestowed the priesthood on Matthias his brother according as Ionathan had aduised him and not long after this Marsus succeeded in Petronius roome and tooke vpon him the gouernment of Syria CHAP. VII Agrippas acts vntill the time of his death SIlas was made generall ouer the kings army and for that he had alwaies beene faithfull vnto him and had neuer forsaken him in any daunger that was offered without partaking the vtmost extremitie but had alwaies aduentured on the greatest perils in respect of his intire and constant resolution he made his account that being so firme a friend to the king he should also be partaker and companion with him in the honour For which cause in all things whatsoeuer he submitted not himselfe to the king but chalenged to himselfe a liberty to speake what him listed For this cause he grew hatefull in the kings sight for that in particular he boasted of himselfe beyond measure and oftentimes refreshed the memory of those aduersities the king had past the rather to expresse how affectionate he had been toward him and his continuall talke was nothing else but of those trauailes he had endured Now for that he obserued no measure in this his discourse the king tooke it as an iniury intended to his honour was offended with the vnbridled licence of the mans prattle For nothing soundeth more harsh in a mans eare then the memorie of his forepassed miserie and it is but the fault of a foole to rip vp the courtesies he hath emploied on another man Finally Silas grieuously prouoked the kings displeasure against himself that rather subscribing to his wrath then his wit he not only dispossessed Silas of his generals roome but also sent him bound into his countrey in that place to be held prisoner This notwithstanding time asswaged his displeasure the king drawing himselfe into better consideration and remembring himselfe how many trauels Silas had endured in his behalfe he reuoked the sentence that he had pronounced At such time therfore as he was ready to celebrate the festiual day of his birth and al his subiects were addressed to take their pleasure he speedily sent for Silas to the end he might be partaker thereof and banquet with them But Silas who was of a free nature supposing that he had iust cause to be displeased concealed it not from those who were sent vnto him but spake vnto them after this manner To what honour doth the king inuite me at this present to the intent incontinently to depriue me thereof for he hath not onely depriued me of those honours which he bestowed vpon me in acknowledgement of the good affection I haue alwaies shewed vnto him but he hath altogither spoyled me and
the second day of this solemnitie he shewed himselfe being apparrelled in a Robe of siluer made with admirable workmanship and came in the same to the Theater in the morning Whereas the first reflexe of the rising sunne â—…eat vpon his Robe he shined after such a sort that all those that beheld him were seazed with reuerence and feare Whereupon certaine sycophants which did not a little dishonour him exclaimed one on the one side the other on the other saluting him for a God and in speaking to him cried out thus Be mercifull vnto vs hitherto haue we feared thee as a man but hence forward we wil confesse and acknowledge thee to be of a nature more excellent then mortall frailtie can attaine vnto Agrippa reproued them not for vsing these words neither reiected he their palpable and detestable flattery But not long after he looking vpwards perceiued an owle ouer his head perched vpon a cord and knew the same incontinently that he was but a message of his misfortune whereas before time he had denounced vnto him his felicitie and conceiued thereupon a most hearty and inward griefe And sodainly he was seazed with a terrible griping in his belly which began with verie great vehemencie for which cause turning his eies towards his friends he spake vnto them after this manner Behold him said he whom you esteeme for a God condemned to die and destinie shall apparantly conuince you of those flattering and false speeches which you haue lately vsed in my behalfe For I who by you haue been adored as one immoitall am vnder the hands of death But I must willingly entertaine that which God pleaseth to send me For I haue not liued in obscuritie but in so great and wonderfull felicitie that each one of you haue tearmed and helde me happy Whilest he spake thus his griefes augmented in such sort as he was brought almost to his last for which cause with all expedition he was conuaied into his royall pallace and the rumor was spred in euerie place that verie shortly he would be dead For which cause the people with their wiues and children put on sackcloth according to the custome of the countrey to the end they might sollicit Gods mercie in the kings behalfe and all the Citie was filled with teares and lamentations The king that lay in an vpper chamber and looking downe into the court sawe them lying thus on the earth could not refraine himselfe from teares And after he had for the space of fiue daies without ceasing beene tormented with griping in his belly hee gaue vp the ghost in the fiftie fourth yeere of his age and the seuenth yeere of his raigne For hee had raigned foure yeeres vnder the Empire of Caius Caesar hauing first of all gouerned Philips Tetrarchy three yeeres to which was annexed the signiorie of Herode in the fourth yeere and three yeeres vnder the Empire of Claudius Caesar during which time he gouerned ouer the aboue named countries and moreouer ouer Iudaea Samaria and Caesarea His reuenue amounted to twelue hundreth myriades besides which he made many loanes For in that he was verie liberal in giuing he spent farre more then his reuenue and spared not any thing to shew himselfe magnificent Before the people knew of his death Herode his brother prince of Chalcis and Chelcias the kings lieutenaut and friend agreed betweene themselues to send Aristo one of their trustiest seruants to kill Silas who was their enemie as if they had beene commaunded by the king Thus died king Agrippa leauing behinde him a son called Agrippa seuenteen yeeres old and three daughters one of which that was called Bernice was married to Herode his fathers brother when she was sixteene yeeres olde The two other were Mariamme and Drâ—…silla this Mariamme being of the age of ten yeeres was promised in marriage by her father to Iulius Archelaus Chelcias sonne and Drusilla which was sixe yeeres olde was promised also to Epiphanes sonne to the king of Comagena After Agrippas death they of Caesarea Sebaste forgot themselues of those benefits they had receiued from him and vsed him no lesse despitefully then as if he had been their vtter enemy For they reprochfully abused him after his death and reuiled him in such sort as it is vnseemely to report the same Furthermore all the men of warre who were at that time many in number went vnto the kings lodging and with one accord seazed the statues of the kings daughters and carried them to the brothell house where after they had placed them they vttered all the indignities that they could possibly practizing such shamefull matters as they may not be expressed Besides this resting themselues in the publike places they banqueted in the open street wearing chaplets of flowres vpon their heads and perfuming themselues with odors to sacrifice to Charon drinking to one another for ioy the king was dead Thus expressed they their ingratitude not only towards their king Agrippa who had bestowed so many liberalities on them but also towards Herode his grandfather who had builded their Cities and to his extreame charge erected their ports and temples At that time Agrippa the deceased Agrippas son was at Rome and was brought vp vnder the Emperour Claudius When Caesar vnderstood how those of Caesarea and Sebaste had iniuriously dealt with Agrippa he was sore displeased and mooued with their ingratitude his purpose was to send the younger Agrippa with all expedition to take possession of the kingdome of his father and therewithall to discharge himselfe of his oath but diuers of his freeman and friends who were in great credit with him disswaded him from the same alleadging that it would be a dangerous matter to commit the greatnesse of such a kingdome to a young man who scarcely had as yet attained to the age of eighteene yeeres and for whom it was impossible to support the care of so great a kingdome considering that if he were at mans estate he should finde himselfe ouerburthened with the charge of a kingdome This aduice of theirs was allowed by Caesar and for this cause hee sent Cuspius Fadus to gouerne Iudaea and the whole realme honouring his dead friend in this in that he would not suffer Marsus who had been his enemy to enter into his kingdome He gaue especiall commission also that Fadus should sharply punish those of Caesarea and Sebaste for the outrages they had offered to his deceased friend and the excesse that was committed against his daughters who were yet liuing commaunding him to transport the companies of the Caesarians and Sebastens and the fiue Roman legions into the countrey of Pontus to serue in that place and to take those Roman souldiers that bare armes in Syria to serue in their place yet notwithstanding this commandement of his they were not displaced For they sent Embassadours to Claudius to appease him and by this means they obtained the fauour to remaine in Iudaea
time Helena Queene of Adiabena and her sonne Izates conformed themselues to the religion of the Iewes vpon this occasion that ensueth Monobazus king of Adiabena who was also called Bazeos being surprised with the loue of his sister Helena espoused her and got her with child Vpon a time it hapned that sleeping with her he laid his hand on her belly whilest she lay asleepe him thought that he heard a voice that commanded him to take away his hand from off her belly least he should crush the fruit that was therein which by Gods prouidence should haue a happie beginning and no lesse fortunate ending Monobazus was sore moued at this voice and as soone as he awoke he told it to his wife and afterwards when the child was borne he called him Izates Besides he had another elder sonne by the same wife who was called Monobazus according to his owne name And he had also other sonnes by his other wiues yet notwithstanding Izates was most manifestly his best beloued and so cherished by him as if he had beene his only begotten sonne For which cause his other brothers enuied him which increased their hatred for that all the rest of them were aggrieued because Monobazus made most account of Izates The father manifestly perceiued all this yet did he pardon them knowing that they did it not for malice but for the desire that euerie one of them had to be best esteemed by his father Notwithstanding being affraid least some mishap should betide Izates by reason of the hatred his brethren bare vnto him he gaue him many great gifts and sent him to Abemerigus who raigned at that time in a fort called Spasinus committing his sons life into his hand Abemerigus also intertained him with kind affection and loued him in such sort that in processe of time he gaue him Samacha his daughter to wife and for her dowry hee gaue him a countrey of great reuenew Monobazus being olde and seeing he had no long time to liue desired before his death that his sonne might come and visit him he therefore sent for him and receiued him very louingly giuing him a countrey which he called Caeron which bringeth forth great aboundance of excellent Amomum In this place was the remainder of the Arcke in which Noe was saued during the Deluge which remnants are to be seene at this day if any man haue a desire to behold the same Izates remained in that place vntill his fathers decease But on the very day of his death Helena sent for all the Lords and Gouernours of the kingdome and captaines of all the Army and vpon their assembly she spake vnto them after this manner I suppose said she that you are not ignorant of my husbands mind who hath desired that Izates might be king in his steed and hath esteemed him most worthy of such an honour yet expect I your iudgement in this point For he that receiueth the soueraigntie not from one mans hand but from many and hath the same confirmed vnto him by their consent is happie She vsed this discourse vnto them to trie what their intent was who were there assembled They vnderstanding her mind prostrated themselues first of all vpon the earth before the Queene according to the custome of their countrey and afterwards aunswered her that they approued the kings election and tooke pleasure to obey Izates whom his father deseruedly and to all their contents and the desire of the common people had preferred aboue the rest of his brethren alledging moreouer that they would put his brethren and kinsmen to death before his comming to the end that he might enioy the kingdom with all securitie for by their deaths all the feare that might grow by their hatred and enuie might be extinguished Hereunto the Queene answered that she gaue them thanks for the fauour they bare vnto her and her sonne Izates notwithstanding she required them to suspend their iudgements as touching the death of his brethren vntil such time as Izates himselfe should giue his consent thereunto They seeing they might not obtaine the libertie to put them to death gaue counsaile that they should be kept prisoners vntill his comming to the end at leastwise for their owne parts that they might be out of daunger and that moreouer vntill his comming there might one be appointed to gouerne the estate whom she should esteeme most trustie and faithfull vnto him Whereunto Helena condescended and made his elder brother Monobazus king and set the Diademe on his head and gaue him his fathers seale ring with that robe which they call Sampsera exhorting him to gouerne the kingdome vntill his brothers arriuall Izates hauing certaine notice of his fathers death resorted thither speedily and receiuing his brother Monobazus willing surrender tooke vpon him the gouernment of the kingdome During such time as Izates soiourned in the fortresse of Spasinus a certaine merchant who was a Iew called Ananias hauing accesse to the kings wiues taught them the maner how to serue God according to the religion of the Iewes and Ananias by their meanes growing acquainted with Izates taught him the like and accompained him into Adiabena being drawen thereunto by his earnest intreaties at such time as Izates resorted thither vpon his fathers sending for It chanced also in like sort that Helena was in like manner instructed by another Iew and retained the rites and religion of the Iewes After that Izates came into his kingdome and knew that his brethren and kinsfolke were imprisoned he was much grieued Conceiuing therefore with himselfe that it would be a great impietie in him to suffer them to be slaine or kept bound in prison and that on the other side it were a daungerous matter for him if being at liberty they should remember the euil they had indured for which cause he sent some of them to Rome for hostages with their children vnto the Emperour Claudius and the rest vnto Artabanus king of Parthia Afterwards when he was thorowly assured that his mother was wholy addicted to the religion of the Iewes he endeuoured himselfe the more to shew himselfe zealous therein and supposing that he could not be a perfect Iew except he were circumcised he prepared himselfe to be circumcised Which when his mother vnderstood she laboured to her vttermost to hinder his resolution certifying him that in so doing he should bring himselfe in great daunger for that in being king he would draw himselfe into the dislike of his subiects if they should haue notice that he was addicted to a new religion and to straunge ceremonies and that they would not endure that in being a Iew he should be their king so she for a while by her disswasion restrained him from his desire But the king required counsell of Ananias who according with Helena in the course of her dislike threatned Izates that if he would not obey his mother he would forsake him and depart from him
honourable minded man knowing that their intent was such wrote himselfe vnto Artabanus who had nourished and brought him vp exhorting him to returne vpon his faith and to receiue againe his owne kingdome Artabanus vpon this motion gaue credit to his words and returned backe againe Whereupon Cinnamus came foorth and met him and prostrating himselfe before his feete called him king and afterwards taking the diademe from off his own head he set it vpon Artabanus head who by this means was restored to his former estate by Izates mediation after he had been driuen out of his kingdome by his chiefest nobilitie And hee did not forget the fauours which he had receiued at Izates hands but did him all the honour that possibly he could imagine For he permitted him to weare the straight Tiara and to sleepe vpon a guilded bed which is a priuiledge that belongeth only to the kings of Parthia He gaue him also a goodly and great countrey which he had taken from the king of Armenia This countrey was called Nisibis where in times past the Macedons had builded the Citie of Antioch by them called Mygdonia Presently after Izates was in this sort honoured Artabanus died leauing his kingdome to his sonne Vardanes who repaired to Izates praying him to ioyne with him in that warre which he intended to wage against the Romans but he preuailed not with him For Izates knowing the Romans force and good hap imagined that he vndertooke a matter beyond his power Furthermore he had sent fiue of his young sonnes to Ierusalem to learne our tongue and discipline and his mother likewise to adore in the temple for which cause he the rather held backe and disswaded Vardanes from enterprizing against the Romans whose power and puissant conquests he ordinarily reckoned vp vnto him to the end he might dismay him and by these his allegations cause him to giue ouer his purposed intent of war against them But the Parthian was displeased with this his perswasion and for that cause denounced a present warre against Izates But this his enterprize had but a fruitlesse issue for God cut off all his hopes For the Parthians vnderstanding what Vardanes intent was and how he was resolued to vndertake a war against the Romans slew him and gaue the kingdome to his brother Gotarza whom not long after this his brother Vologesus flew by treason restoring to his two brothers by the mother side these prouinces that is to say the kingdome of Media to Pacorus who was the eldest and Armenia to Tiridates who was the younger When Monobazus king Izates brother and the rest of his kinsfolke saw how happily all things succeeded to Izates and how in respect of his pietie towards God he was honoured and reuerenced by all men they also resolued themselues to forsake their religion and to serue God after the manner of the Iewes But this intent of theirs was discouered Whereupon the chiefest among them grew displeased yet did they not manifest their despite but kept it hidden in their hearts seeking some fit occasion to reuenge themselues as soone as they might They wrote also to Abias king of Arabia and promised him great summes of money if he would take armes against their king promising him that vpon the first charge they would forsake him for that they desired to be reuenged on him who was growne in hatred of their religion Hauing therefore confirmed their promise with an oath they incited him to make haste The king of Arabia performed that which they required and marched foorth against Izates with a great power And when as the first charge was ready to be giuen and before they came to handy-strokes all Izates souldiers forsooke him and turning their backes to their enemies fled in great disorder as if they had been surprized with a Panique feare yet was Izates no waies dismaied but hauing discouered that it was the treason and conspiracie of his greatest peeres he retired himselfe also into his campe where he inquired of the cause that they pretended After he knew that they had complotted with the Arabian he caused the conspiratours to be put to death and the next day after went out to fight and slew a great number of his enemies and constrained the rest to betake them to flight He pursued their king also into a fort called Arsam which he battered and assaulted with such spirit and diligence that he tooke the same with a great quantitie of bootie that was therein and returned to Adiabena with great triumph but he tooke not Abias aliue for hee himselfe had preuented his captiuitie with his death The Lords of Adiabena seeing themselues frustrated of their former hopes in that by Gods hand they were deliuered into the hands of their king could not containe their displeasure but practized further mischiefe for they wrote their letters to Vologesus king of Parthia desiring him to kill Izates and to bestow an other king vpon them who was a Parthian for that they hated their king who had abolished their religion and had embraced a strange lawe The Parthian vnderstanding hereof prepared himselfe for the warre and hauing no iust colour or pretext to inforce the same he sent a messenger vnto him to redemaund those honours which his father had giuen him which if he refused he denounced warre against him Izates was not a little troubled in his minde when he vnderstood this message For he thought that if he should restore the gifts he should offer himselfe great preiudice for that it would be imagined that he did it for feare knowing on the other side that if the Parthian should recouer that which he redemaunded yet would he not be in quiet he therfore commended his cause to God trusting that he would take care of him And building vpon this that the greatest good he might haue was to haue God to helpe he shut his wiues and children in a strong Castle and his corne in his strongest towers and afterwards burned all the hay and forrage and hauing after this manner prouided for all things he expected the approch of his enemie The Parthian came onward sooner then he was expected with a great power of horsmen and footmen For he marched forward in all haste and encamped neere vnto the floud that separateth Adiabena from Media Izates likewise encamped not farre from thence hauing with him about six thousand horsemen To whom the Parthian sent a messenger to giue him to vnderstand how great his power was which extended from the riuer of Euphrates as farre as Bactria recounting vnto him what kings he had vnder his subiection threatning him to punish him very seuerely in that he behaued himselfe so vngratefully towards his benefactors yea in such sort as the god whom he adored might not deliuer him out of the kings hands Hereunto Izates answered that he knew well that the Parthian farre exceeded him in power but that he was farre better assured that Gods power extended
beyond all mens contradiction And hauing returned him this answere he betooke himselfe to his prayers and prostrating himselfe vpon the earth and casting ashes on his head and fasting himselfe his wiues and all his children he called vpon God and praied after this manner O Lord Almightie if I haue not vainly submitted my selfe to thy protection but haue intirely chosen thee for mine onely and true God be thou my helpe and assistance and not onely deliuer me from mine enemies but also abate and controule their pride who haue not been affraid in their vnbridled language to prophane thy holy and sacred name and vtter blasphemous speeches against thy power Thus praied he with sighes and teares and God heard him For incontinently and the verie same night Vologesus receiued letters by which he was certified that a great number of Dahans and Sacans taking opportunitie by his absence were entred into the kingdome of Parthia and spoiled the whole countrey for which cause he returned backe into his countrey without any further trouble And thus Izates by Gods prouidence was warranted from the Parthians threats Not long after this at such time as he had liued fiftie fiue yeeres and raigned foure and twentie and left behinde him foure and twentie sonnes he died and appointed his brother Monobazus to succeed him in the kingdome requiting hereby his faith and loyaltie in that during the time of his absence and after the death of his father he had faithfully ruled and gouerned the kingdome to his vse His mother Helena hearing newes of his death lamented verie grieuously as reason would in that she being his mother was depriued of a sonne that so zealously honored and feared God Yet notwithstanding she was comforted when she vnderstood that her eldest sonne was to succeed him in the kingdome and hasted her selfe with all diligence to go and meet him As soone as she arriued in Adiabena she liued not long time after her son Izates Whereupon Monobazus tooke both her body and his brothers bones and sent them to Ierusalem commanding that they should be buried in three Pyramides which Helena had builded some three stades or furlongs off of Ierusalem But hereafter will we recite the acts and gests of Monobazus during his raigne But during Fadus gouernment in Iudaea a certaine Magician called Theudas who perswaded a great number of the people to take all their goods and substance and to follow him to the floud lordan for he said he was a prophet and told them that the riuer should deuide it selfe into two parts vpon his commandement and yeeld them free passage By these words of his he deceiued diuers of them But Fadus would not permit that such a furie of theirs should breede them any commoditie but he sent a troupe of horsemen who charged them on the sodaine and slew a great number of them and tooke diuers of them prisoners aliue amongst whom was Theudas whose head was stroken off and was afterwards carried to Ierusalem This is that which befell the Iewes vnder Fadus gouernment CHAP. III. The Gouernour Tiberius Alexander punisheth the sonnes of Iudas the Galilean AFter Fadus succeeded Tiberius Alexander the sonne of that Alexander who had been gouernour of Alexandria a man of as great riches as any one of his time and place who surpassed likewise his sonne Alexander in pietie and seruice of God who forsooke the religion of his forefathers In that time there hapned a great famine in Iewrie during which Q. Helena senthuge sums of money into Aegypt and bought come and distributed the same to those that were in want according as I haue forespoken At the same time Iames and Simon the sons of Iudas of Galilee who had busied themselues to incite the people to resist the gouernment of the Romanes were put to death at such time as Cyrenius valued each mans goods as we haue heretofore declared These did Alexander commaund to be crucified Herode king of Chalcis tooke away the soueraigne priesthood from Ioseph the sonne of Camydas and transferred it to Ananias the sonne of Nebedaeus After Tiberius Alexander succeeded Cumanus Then died Herod who was brother to king Agrippa the Great in the eighth yeere of Claudius Caesar. He left behinde him three sonnes Aristobulus whom he had by his first wife Bernicianus and Hircanus by Bernice his brothers daughter Claudius Caesar gaue the kingdome belonging to him to Agrippa the younger During the time that Cumanus gouerned there hapned a sedition in Iudaea whereby diuers Iewes miscarried The cause of all which accidents I will rippevp from the originall CHAP. IIII. How a great number of Iewes were slaine about the Temple AT the time of the feast of Pascha during which time we are accustomed to feede on vnleuened bread a great number of people assembled themselues from all parts to the citie of Ierusalem Whereupon Cumanus fearing least by this occasion there should arise some commotion he gaue order that a company of his souldiers should be armed and should keepe their guard in the porches of the temple to the end that if any trouble should happen they might represse it Those gouernours who had beene his predecessors had done the like in such manner of assemblies It came to passe on the fourth day of the feast that a certaine souldier discouering those priuities which were vndecent to be seene shewed them before the people wherewhith they that beheld the same were sore displeased and prouoked saying that the dishonour was not done vnto them but to God to whom it rightly appertained And some of them of best resolution cast out certaine speeches against Cumanus saying that the souldier was set on by him Which when Cumanus vnderstood he was in like manner grieuously offended in regard of those iniuries yet exhorted he those whom he saw too forward in raising factions to keepe the peace for feare least a sedition should grow during the time of the feast and seeing they would in no sort obey him but contrariwise that they ceased not to iniurie and reuile him he commaunded that all the forces he had should be in armes and retire themselues into the fortresse of Antonia that was neere vnto the temple as we haue heretofore declared The people seeing the armed souldiers were affraid and began to flie but because the places thorow which they issued were but narrow they imagined that they were pursued by their einmies so that they thrust on one another in their flight diuers of them were thronged to death In this mutiny there died twentie thousand men and after this in steed of a feast there was nothing but mourning and without bethinking themselues of their praiers and sacrifices all of them began to weepe and lament So great a mischiefe sprang from the insolence of one souldiour This first lamentation was scarcely finished before a second succeeded the same For some of those who had a part in this mutinie
Agrippa had not beene in Rome For he seeing that the matter was handled to the disaduantage of the Iewes besought Agrippina the Emperours wife that she would labour her husband in such sort that he would be pleased to take full knowledge of that which was done and that afterwards he should execute due iustice on those whom he found guiltie of that sedition Claudius fauourably gaue eare to this request and hearing the whole matter he found that the Samaritanes were the first authors of all those mischiefes and caused them to be put to death who came before him to pleade and banished Cumanus he gaue order also that captaine Celer should be sent backe to Ierusalem and that there in sight of all the people he should be dragged about the Citie vntil he died Furthermore he sent Claudius Foelix Pallas brother to gouerne Iudaea In the twelfth yeere of his raigne he gaue Agrippa Philips Tetrarchy with Batanea and besides that annexed thereunto Trachonitis and Abila which in times past appertained to Lysanias Tetrarchy taking from him the prouince of Chalcis which he had gouerned for the space of foure yeeres After that Agrippa had obtained this gift at Caesars hands he married his sister Drusilla to Azizus king of the Emesenians who consented to be circumcised because Epiphanes king Antiochus sonne would not giue care vnto the marriage for that he refused to entertaine the religion of the Iewes although in times past he had promised his father no lesse He gaue Mariamme also to Archelaus Chelcias sonne who by her fathers consent was before time promised him on whom he begat a daughter called Bernice A little after this the marriage of Azizus and Drusilla was broken off on this occasion following At such time as Foelix gouerned Iewrie he saw Drusilla and was surprised with her loue for that she surpassed all other women in beautie He therefore sent her a certaine Magician called Simon who was borne in Cypris and one of his greatest friends among the Iewes who perswaded her to forsake her first husband and to marrie with Foelix giuing her to vnderstand that she should be happy if she refused not this match She vnaduised and resolued to rid her selfe from the enuious affection which her sister Bernice bare towards her who hated her in regard of her beautie and for this occasion ceased not to iniurie her she condiscended to forsake the religion of the Iewes and to marrie with Foelix by whom she had a sonne who was called Agrippa His death hereafter will I declare and how in the Emperour Tiberius time he died and was burned in the fire of the mountaine Veâ—…ius with his wife Bernice remained a widow verie long time after Herodes death who was both her vncle and her husband and the report was that she had the company of her brother Finally she wrought so much that Polemon king of Cilicia caused himselfe to be circumcised to the end he might espouse her purposing by that means to make it knowne how falsely she had been accused Wherunto Polemon gaue eare because she was rich But this marriage continued not any long time For Bernice thorow her impudencie as it is reported abandoned Polemon who giuing ouer that marriage forsooke also the religion of the Iewes At the same time Mariamme hauing refused Archelaus her husband married with Demetrius one of the chiefest Iewes that were in Alexandria both in regard of his descent as also his riches who at that time also exercised the office of Alubarcha that is to say the gouernour of Arabia She caused the sonne she had by him to be called Agrippinus But of all this will I speake more exactly hereafter The Emperour Claudius died after he had raigned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and twentie daies Some say that he was poisoned by Agrippina his wife the daughter of Germanicus Claudius brother which was first married to Domitius Oenobarbus one of the greatest men of Rome after whose death and long widowhood she was finally married to Claudius into whose house she brought her sonne called Domitius by his owne fathers name Claudius had before time put Messalina his wife to death for the iealousie that he had of her although he had had children by her namely Britannicus and Octauius He had Octaâ—…ia also by his first wife Paetina which was elder then her brethren and was married to Nero whom Claudius so named and adopted for his sonne Agrippina fearing least Britannicus growing to mans estate should succeed his father in the Empire and desirous to make her owne sonne Emperor as it is reported she left nothing vnattempted that might bring her husband to his death and presently sent Bâ—…rrus who was generall of the army with certaine other captains and those of greatest power amongst his freemen to bring Nero into the field and to proclaime him Emperour He being thus established in the Empire caused Britannicus to be secretly poisoned and not long after this he openly caused his mother to be put to death yeelding her this recompence not onely for that she had borne him in her wombe but also for that by her pollicies he had obtained the Empire He likewise murthered Octauia his wife and diuers other noble men vnder colour of some conspiracie intended against him But I will no further prosecute this matter for that there are diuers who haue composed Neros historie of whom some haue had no regard of the truth but haue spoken at their pleasure for that he had been their benefactor othersome transported with hatâ—…ed and despite against him haue not been ashamed to publish such impudent lies against his renowne as they deserue to be condemned Neither doe I wonder that they haue inuented so many lies against Nero considering that in those histories which they wrote as touching the precedent Emperours they haue not studied to speake truth although they had not any occasion to hate them considering that they liued a long time after their death But let these contemners of truth write as them listeth for that they seeme to take delight in that licence For mine owne part I am intended to write nothing but the truth neither stand I much on that which concemeth not the matter which I intreat of purposing in all truth and diligence to declare that which hath befallen our nation of the Iewes without omitting of either their misfortunes or follies that haue proceeded with them I will therefore returne to the discouerie of our affaires Azizus king of Emesene being dead the first yeere of the Emperour Neros raigne his brother obtained the kingdome Aristobulus the sonne of Herode king of Chalcis had the gouernment of the signiorie of the lesser Armenia from Neros hands Caesar gaue Agrippa a certaine portion of Galilee commanding those of Tiberias and Tarichaea to liue vnder him Besides this he gaue him Iulias scituate beyond Iordan with fourteene burroughs neere adioyning thereunto CHAP.
the trees brought forth and feeding on no other kind of meat but that which they willingly yeelded him washing himselfe oftentimes by day and night in cold water to keepe himselfe chast I began to imitate his course of life and after I had liued with him for the space of three yeeres and satisfied my desires at last I returned into the citie At the age of nineteene yeeres I began to intermeddle with publike affaires following the sect of the Pharisees which very neerely resembleth that sect among the Graecians who are called Stoicks After I was sixe and twentie yeeres olde it was my fortune to repaire to Rome vpon this occasion that ensueth During such time as Foelix gouerned Iudaea there were certaine priests my familiars men of much honour more vertue who vpon some slight occasion were bound and sent to Rome by his commaundement to aunswere to that which was obiected against them in Caesars presence Whereupon I being desirous to labour for their liberty hauing especiall intelligence that notwithstanding the torments wherewith they were martyred they buried not in forgetfulnes that pietie which they ought to God but liued on figs and nuts and for this cause I departed for Rome and was encountred with many great and grieuous hazards by sea For the ship wherein I sailed was wrackt in the midst of the Adriatike sea and there were about sixe hundreth of vs that swamme all night long and vpon the day spring by Gods prouidence a Cyrenian ship came in sight and both I and certaine others to the number of fourescore out swimming the rest were taken vp into it and saued After I had in this sort escaped I came to Dicaearchia which the Italians call at this day Puteol and grew acquainted with Aliturus a Iew borne who was a plaier and in good reputation with Nero by whose meanes insinuating my selfe into Poppeas knowledge whovvas Caesars wife I determined to beseech her to procure those Priestes liberties with all expedition which done I by her means recouered their present liberty and being gratified likewise by her with many great gifts I returned into my countrey There found I the commonweale too much addicted to factions and troubles and diuers too prone and readie to rebell and forget their alleageance to the Romanes I enforced my selfe to represse the seditious and exhorted them to chaunge their opinions representing before their eies the qualitie of those against whom they enterprised their warre with whom they neither might compare in experience of warre neither in good fortune for this cause I aduised them not to hazard and ouerthrow their countrey by their rashnesse and rage and with it their posterities and themselues To this effect spake I vnto them instantly intreated them to forsake their vntamed resolution for that I foresaw that the end of this warre would redound to our vtter ruine but I preuailed nothing with them For the furie of desperate dissolute men preuailed aboue reason for which cause fearing least by continuall inforcing of one thing I should grow into hatred and suspition among thē as if I fauored their enemies fearing likewise least if they should lay hold on me they should put me to death seeing that the fort of Antonia was alreadie seazed vpon by the seditious I retired my selfe into the inward part of the tēple In processe of time after Manahem the chiefest among the theeues vvere put to death I came out again from the temple and conuersed with the priests and chiefest Pharisees vvho were surprised with great feare And grieuously vvere vve disma◅ed when we saw the people in armes being vncertaine what to do wanting the meanes to pacifie these mutinies and apparantly perceiuing their manifest daunger both I and the Pharisees told them our opinion vvas answerable to theirs counsailed them to containe themselues in peace and not to prouoke the enemie For our hope was that Gessius vvould with al expedition draw out great forces and chastice those peacebreakers But as soone as he arriued and had fought vvith them he vvas ouercome and a great number of his men vvere slaine whereupon grew the vtter ruine of our vvhole nation For such as desired the vvarre vvere puffed vp vvith that victory and conceiued an assured hope that in the end they should ouercome the Romans Besides that this ensuing occasion presented it selfe The inhabitants of the cities that bordered vpon Syria laid hands on those Iewes that dwelt amongst them and slue both them their wiues and children without any iust cause or crime committed by them For they had not conspired any waies or intended to reuolt from the Romanes or to vse any hostilitie or any secret conspiracie against any of those with vvhom they were conuersant But among all the rest the citizens of Scythopolis exceeded all other in impietie and wickednes For being besieged without by certaine of the Iewes they inforced those Iewes that inhabited amongst them to take armes and to charge those of their owne nation vvhich is both prohibited and vnlawfull by our lawes vvho fighting against them discomfited them but after this ouerthrow they in such ◅ort falsified and forgot their faith that they had giuen to their associates and fellow citizens that they slue euerie mothers sonne of them to the number of many thousands The like misfortune also fell vpon those Iewes that inhabited Damasco But of this we haue more amply spoken in those our bookes vvhich vve haue vvritten of the warres of the Iewes and at this present I make mention hereof intending to signifie and certainly perswade the readers that the warre which vvas vvaged vvith the Romanes proceeded not of a resolute intent and purpose but for the most part of an inforced necessitie After that Gessius vvas ouercome as we haue heretofore declared the chiefest men of Ierusalem perceiuing that the theeues making a partie among the seditious and vvere strongly and plentifully armed and prouided they began to feare least if they should be found disarmed they should sodainly be ouerthrowne by their enemies as in effect it fell out afterwards and hearing that all Galilee was not as yet wholy reuolted from t◅ Romans but that a part thereof as yet entertained the peace they sent me with two other priests Ioazar and Iudas who were both vertuous and honourable men to perswade the mutinons to lay by their armes and to let them know that it was more behoouefull for the good of the nation that such men as were in authoritie and reputation should haue the keeping thereof The resolution that was taken by them was that they had them alwaies ready vpon all occasions but that they expected vntill they were certified what the Romans intended to doe With this commission and such like instructions I repaired into Galilee where I found the Sephorites were in no small hazard in respect of their countrey for that they of Galilee had resolued to forrage the same in
of that countrey committed to my hands by the Citie of Ierusalem When as therfore he could winne nothing at my hands he appealed to my companions who were improuident of those troubles that were to come and greedy of rewards and obtained at their hands thorow his ◅auish liberalitie a libertie to dispose of all the come that was in the prouince in that I my selfe was vnable to contradict them both After this Iohn vsed another subtiltie for he said that those Iewes who inhabited Caesarea Philippi being by the commaund of their king to whom they were subiect kept prisoners within their wals being in want of pure oyle desired to buy the same at his hands for feare least contrarie to their custome they should be compelled to vse that of the Greekes But this spake he not in respect of religion or deuotion but for his filthy lucres sake For knowing that among the Caesareans two sextaries were sold for a drachme and that at Gischalis eightie sextaries were solde for foure drachmes he sent all that oyle that was in that place vnto them doing it as he thought by my permission But I did not willingly condescend thereunto but for feare least if I should withstand the same the people should stone me to death As soone therefore as I had giuen him leaue Iohn gathered a great summe of money by this cunning shift From this place dismissed I my companions and sent them backe to Ierusalem imploying my selfe wholy afterwards in preparing armor and fortifying cities After this calling the stoutest theeues before me when as I perceiued that I might not recouer their vveapons from them I perswaded the multitude to hire them by rewards telling them that it was more profitable for them to entertaine them in their seruice then to suffer their countrey to be spoiled by their excursions And thus hauing taken their oathes did I dismisse thē vnder condition that they should not come into our region except they were called or to receiue their due pay vnder condition that they should abstaine from spoiling either the Romans or the inhabitants of the countrey But aboue all things my care was to keepe Galilee in peace And whereas my desire was to get seuentie pledges of their loyaltie chosen out amongst their nobilitie vnder pretext of friendship as soone as they came vnto me in way of frienship I made them my companions and fellow Iudges and decreed many things according to their opinions hauing an especiall care least thorow rashnes I should iniurie Iustice or thorow corruption of rewards distaine mine incorrupted honour At such time therefore as I was thirtie yeeres olde at which yeeres although a man bridle himselfe from vnlawfull affections yet hardly can he escape from the poisoned sting of detraction especially if a great authoritie be annexed to his greene yeeres I neuer offered vaine and vnlawfull courting to any vvoman neither could any man fasten bribe on me in that I pretended want of nothing yea I refused those tenths which in right of priesthood I might haue receiued from those that brought them me Yet after the conquest of the Syrians I tooke part of the spoile which as I freely confesse I sent to Ierusalem to my kinsmen And whereas at two times I had forcibly ouercome the Sephorites the Tiberians foure times and the Gadarenians once and had brought Iohn vnder my subiection who had oftentimes sought to entrap me neither could I endure to reuenge my selfe on him neither on any of the aboue named people as in the sequel of this storie I will make manifest For which cause I suppose that God who is the trier and searcher of all iust hearts both deliuered me at that time out of the hands of mine enemies and afterwards and that many times out of daungerous and seuerall misfortunes as hereafter shall appeare in time and place But so great was the faith and beneuolence of the common people of Galilee towards me that their cities being ouerthrowne and their families led into captiuitie they spent not so many teares for their owne calamities as they bestowed cares for my perseruation and securitie Which when Iohn perceiued he began to enuie me and besought me by his letters that I would giue him licence for his health sake to bath himselfe in the hot bathes of Tiberias which I suspecting no treason willingly granted him that which he demaunded Moreouer I wrote vnto those t◅ whom I had committed the trust and administration of the citie to prepare him a lodging and furnish all his companions with victuals and to prouide him also of all things necessarie for his diet and entertainement In the meanespace I my selfe past my time in a certaine village of Galilee called Cana. But after that Iohn came to Tiberias he wrought the townsmen in such sort that forgetting both their faith and dutie they reuolted vnto him and many of them lent a willing eare vnto his intreaties especially such as reioycing in innouations were too prone to chaunge and greedie of dissension but in espec◅ll Iustus and his father Pistus willingly entertained this occasion to reuolt from my obedience and to submit themselues to Iohn yet was this conspiracy of theirs preuented by my speedie accesse For a certaine messenger came vnto me from Silas whom I had in former time preferred to the gouernment of Tiberias who certified me of the citizens intent and exhorted me in all haste to make my repaire thither for that otherwise the citie would shortly fall into another mans hands As soone therefore as I had perused Silas letters I trauailed all night long with two hundreth chosen men and sending a messenger before me who might signifie my approch to the citizens I lost neither time nor way And in the morning when I drue neere vnto the citie the whole people came out to meet me and among the rest Iohn who after he had beheld me and saluted me with a suspicious countenance fearing least his treason being discouered he should grow in daunger of his life speedily retired himselfe into his lodging And when as I drew neere the citie within a furlong dismissing all my guard but one and retaining onely tenne armed souldiers with me I began to expostulate with the Tiberians from a certaine high place from whence I might be heard and I counsailed them that they should not reuolt least in so doing they might shortly repent them of their mutabilitie and breach of faith for that no man hereafter would giue them credit being alreadie either suspected or guiltie of this their perfidiousnes Scarcely had I spoken this but that I heard one of my attendants who perswaded me to descend telling me that it was no time now to reconcile the Tiberians or to perswade them but rather to seeke for mine owne securitie and how I might escape mine enemies For after that Iohn had learnt that I was destitute of followers he sent a thousand of
temple All which I wil recount without any dissimulation or swaruing from the truth of historie After this I will relate what cruelty the tyrants vsed against their own countrimen what humanitie the Romans shewed towards strangers and how oftentimes Titus who desired the safetie both of the Citie and Temple prouoked and inuited the seditious to mutual amitie Furthermore I wil report how the people of the Iewes after these many and grieuous wounds which they both suffered and suncke vnder sometimes by warre otherwhiles by sedition and many times by hunger were at length ouerthrowne to their vtter confusion Neither wil I omit the slaughter of such as reuolted neither the punishment inflicted on those that were captiue but I will set downe how the temple was burned against Caesars will and what an infinit masse of sacred treasure was deuoured by the fire But to shut vp the historie I will annex the surprisall of the Citie and what signes and wonders hapned before the same the captiuitie also of the tyrants themsel◅es and the number of those that were led away into captiuitie and what miserie euerie one of them end◅red how the Romans continuing their wars vtterly raced the fortresses of their captiues finally how Titus in trauailing thorow the whole countrey established a for me of gouernment therein and afterward returning into Italy triumphed with much honour All these things haue I comprehended in seuen bookes indeuouring as much as in me lieth to flie and auoide all occasion of reproofe and reprehension from those men who knew these affaires and were actors in the warres All which I haue done for their sakes who rather affect truth then follow their pleasure and according to that order and for me I haue proposed I will begin and prosecute my stile and Historie THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE WARRES OF THE IEWES WRITTEN BY FLAVIVS IOSEPHVS The Contents of the Chapters of the 1. booke 1 The destruction of Ierusalem by Antiochus 2 The succession of Princes from Ionathan vntill Aristobulus time 3 Of Aristobulus Antigonus Iudas Essaeus Alexander Theodore and Demetrius 4 Of the warre attempted betweene Alexander Antiochus and Aretas and of Alexandra and Hircanus 5 Of the warre betweene Hircanus and the Arabians and of the Expugnation of Ierusalem 6 Of the warre of Alexander with Hircanus and Aristobulus 7 Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre of Antipater against Mithridates 8 How Antipater was accused before Caesar and how Hircanus was high priest and Herod beg◅ to make warre 9 Of the dissension of the Romans after Caesars death and of Malichus his deceits 10 How Herod was accused and set free 11 Of the warre of the Parthians against the Iewes and of Herods flight and fortune 12 Of Herods warre for the recouering of Ierusalem after his returne from Rome and how he warred against the theeues 13 Of Iosephus death brother to Herod and how Ierusalem was besieged by the s◅e Herod and how Antigonus was slaine 14 Of the treacherous practises of Cleopatra against Herod and of his warre against the Arabians and of a great earthquake 15 How Herode was confirmed in the peaceable possession of the kingdome of Iudaea by Augustus Caesar. 16 Of the Cities and monuments repaired and builded by Herod and of his felicitie and liberalitie towards strangers 17 Of the discord betwixt Herod and his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus 18 Of Antipaters conspiracie against his father Herod 19 How Herod should haue been poisoned and how the treason was discouered 20 How Antipaters practises against Herod were knowne and punished 21 Of the golden Eagle and of Antipater and Herods death CHAP. I. How Ierusalem was destroied by Antiochus AT such time as Antioch◅ surnamed Epiphanes made warre against Sextus Pompeius for the whole gouernment of Syria there arose a sedition among the Iewes wherein euerie one indeuoured himselfe to haue the soueraignty ouer others and those of chiefest authoritie and nobilitie amongst the rest disdained to submit themselues to such as were their equals At that time a certaine man called Onias who was one of the high priests hauing gotten the vpper hand did driue the sonnes of To◅ias out of the Citie who flying to Antiochus for refuge besought him in all humilitie that he would leade his forces into Iudaea offering themselues to be his guides in that expedition and voiage Antiochus who long before that time desired such an occasion easily condescended to their requests leuying a great army entred their countrey and tooke the citie by force and ◅ue the most part of them who fauou◅ed Ptolomy and giuing his souldiers libertie to sacke the cit◅e he himselfe spoiled the temple also and for the space of three yeres and sixe moneths forbad al sacrifices and ceremonies which before time were accustomed and vsed in that place Whereupon Onias the high Priest fled vnto Ptolomey and hauing obtained a grant of a peece of ground from him within the liberties and precinct of Heliopolis he built a towne and temple in that place resembling the citie and sanctuarie in Ierusalem But neither was Antiochus satisfied with the vnexpected surprise of the citie nor with the pillage slaughter of the citizens but was so far transported by his passions incensed with the remembrance of those euils which he sustained during the siege of the citie that he compelled t◅ Iewes to forsake the customes of their country cōmanding them from that time forward to vs◅ no more circumcision of their children but that they should immolate swine vpon the Altar which when al of them iointly refused to obey the most constant among them were for that cause put to death Bacchides being made chiefe of the garrisons by the appointment of Antiochus what with his innated cruelty the impious commandement that was left him omitted no occasion to further his wicked impietie insomuch as he particularly tormented such as were of noble birth and qualitie so that each day for the most part he represented vnto them the fresh face and memorie of the desolation of their citie till all of them at the last being prouoked and whe◅d on through the grieuousnes of that which both themselues and others indured addressed themselues with confidence to prosecute the◅ reuenge A◅ length Matthias the sonne of Asmoneus one of the Priests who was borne in a village called Modin accompanied with his fiue sonnes and his owne household armed with swords slue Bacchides and fearing the power and multitude of the enemies garrisons speedily retired himselfe into the mountaines Thither resorted diuers of the people vnto him for which cause he waxing more confident and couragious came downe from the mountaines and ouercomming the captaines of Antiochus droue them out of the borders of Iudaea At such time therefore as through his happie successe he became potent and was by common consent of the people for that he had deliuered them from the subiection of straungers made their
ruler he died leauing his eldest sonne who was called Iudas to succeed him in the gouernment Who fearing least Antiochus would stil continue warres against him gathered togither an armie of his countrimen and was the first amongst the Iewes that made a league with the Romans and droue backe Antiochus Epiphanes at such time as he enforced himselfe once more to inuade the borders of Iudaea repulsing him with a great ouerthrow And whereas the remembrance of this victorie was yet fresh in mens minds and memory he assaulted the garrison of the citie For as yet they were not destroyed in which conflict he forced them to forsake the highest part thereof which is called holy and to betake themselues into the lower part and hauing obtained the temple he made euery place cleane and compassed it with a wall and made new vessels for the seruice of the temple and planted them therein because those that had beene before time consecrated there were prophaned Hee builded likewise an other Altar and began to renue the accustomed sacrifice and obserue the rites of religion Scarcely was the citie brought to the former estate but Antiochus died who left a sonne and heire behind him who was not onely inheritor of his kingdome but also of his hatred against the Iewes who hauing gathered togither fiftie thousand footmen and almost fiue thousand horsemen and fourescore Elephants entred by the mountaines of Iudaea and tooke a towne named Bethsara neere which Iudas met him in a place called Bethzacharie where the passage was something streight and before the armies ioyned battell Eleazar Iudas brother seeing one Elephant higher then the rest bearing a great tower on his backe and adorned with golden furniture thinking Antiochus had beene there ranne from his company and breaking the rankes of the enemies came vnto the Elephant but he could not reach him whom he deemed to be the king he was so highly mounted for which cause wounding the Elephant in the belly the Elephant fell vpon him and pressed him to death which act of his had no other successe but this that by attempting so great a matter he gaue manifest testimonie that he preferred his renowne before his life Now he that gouerned the Elephant was but a priuate person and although by happe Antiochus had beene there Eleazar had atchieued nothing else in this his valiant attempt but yet he aduentured his life vnder hope to performe some valiant exploit And this act of his was a presage vnto his brother of the euent of the whole warre that ensued For the Iewes fought stoutly and a long time but yet Antiochus armie being both more in number and more prosperous obtained the vicâ—…rie so Iudas therefore after the losse of many of his companie fled vnto the Gophonites with those of his side who escaped And Antiochus went to Ierusalem from whence after some stay he departed for want of necessaries leauing a sufficient garrison as for the rest of his armie he led them for the winter time into Syria Yet notwithstanding the kings departure Iudas rested not but encouraged by many of his nation who daily came vnto him and gathering also togither those who escaped out of the former battell at a village named Adaâ—…a he fought with Antiochus captaines where after much and many approbations of his valour in assaulting and slaughtering a great number of his enemies he himselfe at length was slaine and within a few daies after his brother Iohâ—… also was slaine and betrayed by their trecheries who fauoured Antiochus CHAP. II. Of the succession of Princes from Ionathas vntill Aristobulus AFter him succeeded his brother Ionathas who carefully studied for the peace and securitie of his people and fortified himselfe by the friendship of the Romans and was reconciled to Antiochus his sonne yet did none of all these things profit him or acquit him from danger For the tyrant Tryphon who was tutour to Antiochus laying wait for him and seeking to spoile him of his friends took Ionathas at such time as he came with a small company to Antiochus who was at Ptolemais and binding him lead an army against Iudaea from whence being repulsed by Simon Ionathas brother and ouercome by him in displeasure and reuenge thereof he slue Ionathas But Simon valiantly bestirring himselfe in the gouernment and guide of the affaires of the common-wealth tooke Zara Ioppe and Iamnia which were bordering townes and ouercomming the garrison at Accaron he destroyed the citie and assisted Antiochus against Tryphon who besieged Dora before that expedition which he made against the Medes Yet would not the greedie mind of the king be satisfied notwithstanding that Simon had thus faithfully serued and assisted him in the death of Tryphon but that within short time after he sent vnto Cendebeus who was the generall of the army commaunding him to sacke and spoile Iudaea and to take Simon and make him a slaue But Simon though aged in yeeres fought both youthfully and valiantly and sent his sonnes with the most resolute men he had before against Antiochus and himselfe with the residue of his army assaulted another quarter of their enemies campe and hauing laid many ambushes euen in the mountaines he in euery place was victorious and after this his most famous victorie he was proclaimed high priest and deliuered the Iewes from the gouernment of the Macedonians vnder which they had beene 270. yeeres Finally by the trecherie of Ptolemaeus his son in law he was murthered at a banquet who imprisoning his wife and two sonnes sent certaine men to kill the third sonne whose name was Iohn otherwise called Hircanus But the yong man vnderstanding the successe of his fathers voiage hasted vnto the citie accompanied with a great multitude for he greatly hoped that the people would remember his fathers prowes especially because Ptolemaeus iniquitie was hated of all men Ptolemaeus also hasted to enter the citie at another gate but he was speedily repulsed by the people who had alreadie receiued Hircanus For which cause he presently retired himselfe into a Castle named Dagon scituate beyond Iericho After that Hircanus had obtained the office of the high Priest which was left him by his father and had offered sacrifices vnto God he led forth his forces with all speed against Ptolemaeus hoping to helpe and deliuer his mother and brethren that were detained prisoners with him and assaulting the Castle notwithstanding that in all other things he had the better hand yet was he ouercome by iust griefe and compassion For at such time and so often as Ptolemaeus perceiued himselfe to be in daunger he brought Hircanus mother and brethren vpon the walles and beat them where he might behold them in their torments threatning to cast them downe from the wal except Hircanus would presently depart For which cause Hircanus was more moued with compassion and feare then with anger wrath But his mother being no waies dismaid with stripes which she indured
Arabians helpe were driuen to hope for succour euen at their aduersaries hand For which cause as soone as Pompey after he had entred Syria came to Damascus they in humble manner came to him and giuing him many giftes protested vnto him that which before they had done to Aretas earnestly requesting him that he would consider the violence offered by Aristobulus and restore Hyrcanus to the kingdome to whom both by yeeres and manners it was due Meane while Aristobulus slept not but hauing corrupted Scaurus came in as royall pompe as he could but not abiding to debase himselfe and thinking it a disparagement in more abiect manner then beseemed a king to seeke his owne commoditie returned from Diospolis Wherat Pompey being angrie at the request of Hyrcanus and his followers he went against Aristobulus accompanied both with the Roman army and the Syrians who assisted them When they had passed Pella and Scythopolis and came to Corea where the confines of Iudaea begins as they passed thorow the midst of the countrey they vnderstood that Aristobulus was fled to Alexandriū which was a Castle richly built and scituate vpon a verie high hill Pompey arriuing in that place sent messengers vnto him commanding him to descend but he because he was called in question about the kingdome determined rather to hazard himselfe then obey But when he saw that the people began to feare and that his friends willed him to thinke of the power of the Romans whose strength he was no waies able to resist he allowed their counsaile and came vnto Pompey where hauing alleadged many reasons to shew that he had iust title vnto the crowne he returned againe into the Castle And afterward being vrged by his brother to come plead his title he came and returned thither againe without any contradiction from Pompey Thus wandred he betwixt hope and feare and doubting how the matter would go with him he came to Pompey as it were to entreat him to pardon all and returned againe vnto the mountaine least he should seeme to derogate any thing from the maiestie of a king yet because Pompey willed him to depart from his Castles and to warne his gouernours thereof to do the like whom he had commanded to disobey except they receiued letters written by his owne hand in this he fulfilled Pompeies minde yet being angrie and discontented he departed into Ierusalem and now fully determined to fight with Pompey But Pompey not thinking it best to let him haue time to prepare himselfe followed him with all speede and so much the willinger because that neere vnto Ierico he had newes of Mithridates his death euen in the fruitfullest place of * Iudaea where there are great store of palmes and balme This balsome is a shrub whose stem being cut with sharpe stones droppeth balme out of the wounds thereof which men gather as it droppeth from the wounds thereof After he had rested there that night he in the morning hasted to Ierusalem At whose sodaine arriuall Aristobulus being daunted in humble manner came vnto him and promising him money and to yeeld himselfe and the Citie into his hands he by this meanes appeased Pompeies anger But he performed no part of his promise for Aristobulus his associates would not suffer Gabinius who was sent for the money to enter into the Citie For which cause Pompey being mooued to displeasure put Aristobulus in hold and comming neere the Citie he tooke a view at what place it might be easiliest entred for he did not lightly perceiue how he might batter the walles they were so strong Moreouer there was a huge ditch before the wall and hard by he beheld the Temple so strengthened that although the Citie were taken yet it might be a second refuge for the enemy Whilest thus he long deliberated what to doe there arose a sedition within the Citie wherein Aristobulus confederates thought it meete to fight and deliuer the king out of prison but those that fauoured Hyrcanus woulde that the gates should be opened to Pompey At last Aristobulus friends hauing the worst fled into the temple and to the end that they might fight it out to the last they cut downe the bridge by which men go out of the Citie into the temple When the rest had receiued the Romans into the Citie and deliuered vnto them the kings pallace Pompey sent a captaine called Piso with souldiers to seaze the same who leauing agarrison in the towne seeing he could perswade none of them that were in the temple to peace prepared all places about it to batter it All which time Hyrcanus and his friends shewed themselues ready to helpe them with counsell and to doe whatsoeuer they were commanded Pompey at the north side filled the ditch and valley with all kind of matter which his souldiers carried although that by reason of the huge depth and for that the Iewes made resistance it was a thing hard to be done and it had been left vndone had not Pompey obseruing the seuenth day wherein the Iewes religion forced them to abstaine from all labour caused it to be filled vpon those daies forbidding the souldiers to fight at that time to the intent he might fill the ditch more conueniently for it is lawfull for the Iewes onely to fight for their bodies vpon the Sabboth At last when the ditch was filled and the towers were built vpon the rampire he beat the walles with those engines which he brought from Tyre but they were beaten backe by those who resisted from the top of the wals who darted diuers stones at them Against the violent power whereof the towers that were builded in that quatter being of a great and goodly building resisted as valiantly and as long as they possibly could But the Romans found but hard measure in this place and Pompey admired the constancie of the Iewes who being amongst the thickest of their enemies darts yet omitted not any ceremonie but as though they had had firme peace they euerie day obserued their ceremonies offered sacrifices and offerings and most diligently obserued all honour and diuine seruice yea in the verie taking of the place although euerie day they were killed at the altar yet did they not cease from the lawfull rites of their religion At last in the third moneth of the siege whereas scarcely one tower was beaten downe they brake into the temple and the first that attempted to climbe ouer the wall was Faustus Cornelius Sylas sonne and after him two Centurions Furius and Fabius with their regiments who compassing the temple about while some sought to hide themselues and other some resisted they slew them all There were many priests also among the rest who although they saw the enemies with naked swords rushing vpon them yet being nothing at all dismaied thereat continued still their sacrifices and were slaine euen whilest they offered and incensed in the temple preferring the duetie they ought to religion euen before their owne safetie
but also prouided victuals for his army Whereupon the citizens of Memphis would not fight but yeelded of their own accord vnto Mithridates so that passing through Delta he fought with the other Aegyptians in a place called the tents of the Iewes being with all his cōpany in danger he was rescued by Antipater who marching along the riuer side set vpon discomfited the left wing of the enemies battel rushing vpon them that pressed vpon Mithridates he slue many pursued the rest that fled till he got their tents and al with the losse of fourescore men But Mithridates flying lost eight hundreth men being against all hope preserued out of those wars was without all enuie a true witnes before Caesar of al that vvhich Antipater had both done deserued Wherupon Caesar redoubled his courage vvith praise and promises vnto him and made him forward to hazard himselfe for him In a word he proued shewed himselfe a stout vvarrior hauing many vvounds in euery part of his bodie he bare a badge testimonie of his valour and vertue Afterward when the state of Aegypt was quiet he returned into Syria where he made him a citizen of Rome and granted him the immunities thereof and did so honour him in other things and vse him so friendly that he made him a patterne for all to imitate and for his sake he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high Priesthood CHAP. VIII How Antipater was accused before Caesar of the Priesthood of Hyrcanus and how Herode made warre AT the same time Antigonus the sonne of Aristobalus repairing to Caesar against his will was a cause of Antipaters greater felicity for comming to complain of his fathers death who was as it was thought through Pompeies enuie poisoned and to accuse Scipio of crueltie which was vsed against his brother whereas he should haue abandoned all passion which moued him to mingle hatred with his miseries contrariwise he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater as though they had vniustly driuen him and his brethren out of their natiue soile and grieuously iniured the people to obtaine their intent Alleadging that they had sent aide into Aegypt to Caesars forces not for good will but for feare of auncient enmitie and that hereby they might acquite themselues of the good will they bare to Pompey At these words Antipater casting away his vesture shewed the number of his wounds saying it was not needfull to vse words to proue what affection he had borne to Caesar for his verie body would shew it although hee himselfe held his peace adding that he admired the impudent boldnesse of Antigonus who being sonne to an enemie of the Romans and a fugitiue from the Romans and still continued his fathers purpose of noueltie and sedition should dare to accuse others before the Roman Emperour demaunding of him how he durst hope to obtaine any good thing who ought to be contented with his life onely alleadging that hee craued not maintenance for that he wanted but that he might raise a rebellion amongst the Iewes and against them who should bestow any thing vpon him Which when Caesar heard he said that Hyreanus was most worthy to be high priest and bid Antipater wish what dignitie he would haue who leauing that to the pleasure of the giuer he was made gouernour of all Iudaea And moreouer he obtained to reedifie the rased wals of his countrey and Caesar commanded that those honours should be engraued in the Capitoll that it might be a token in time to come of Antipaters Iustice and vertue Antipater hauing attended Caesar out of Syria first of all repaired the ruined walles of his countrey which Pompey had raced and going thorowout all the countrey he threatned the obstinate and perswaded the seditious to obedience admonishing them that if they obeied Hyrcanus they might liue in wealth and peace and enioy happinesse and an vniuersall selicitie but if they suffered themselues to be led with the vaine hopes of those who for their priuate commodities sought for alteration that then they should find him in steed of a Procurator the Lord of all and Hyrcanus in steed of a king a tyrant and the Romans and Caesar in steed of friends deadly enemies for that they would not suffer his power to be ouerthrowne whom they themselues had established for king But notwithstanding he spake these words yet because he saw Hyrcanus more dull and not of so seruent a spirit as the care of a kingdome required he himselfe setled the estate of the countrey and made Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour of the army and the Lord of Ierusalem and of his owne liuing and sent Herode his youngest son to gouerne Galilee although he was very young who being by nature of a valiant courage found out a present occasion to shew his braue minde for he tooke Ezechias which was captain of theeues who as he vnderstood was woont to pray vpon the confines of Syria with a great multitude and put him to death with many other theeues which thing was so gratefull vnto the Syrians that in all townes and villages they made songs of Herod as though he had restored them to peace and to their possessions At length the glorie of this fact came to the eares of Sextus Caesar who was Caesar the Emperours kinsman who then ruled Syria Phasaelus also did striue to ouercome the towardnesse and good reputation of his brother by daily increasing and winning to himselfe the good wils of the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that during the time he gouerned the Citie he did nothing insolently through might or power for which cause the people honoured Antipater as their king and reuerenced him as Lord of all yet was his fidelitie and good will neuerthelesse towards Hyrcanus But it is impossible that any man that liueth in prosperitie should not be enuied For Hyrcanus although before time he were mooued something at the glorie of these young men and especially with the prosperous successe of Herod being often annoied with frequent messengers who spred his praise for euerie thing he did yet in particular he was stirred vp by many enuious persons who are woont to haunt the courts of Princes who were grieued that Antipater and his sonnes ruled without offence These men tolde Hyrcanus that he onely enioyed the bare name of a king and that Antipater and his sonnes ruled all and that he so long would permit winke at them til that at last they would make themselues kings for they now did no more so much as pretend themselues to be procurators But leauing that title they took vpon them the dignities of Lords and maisters without any regard or reuerence toward him for Herod had put to death a great multitude of Iewes against the law whereas neither by word of mouth nor by writing the king had giuen him any such authoritie and that Herode if he were not a king but a priuate
person was to be brought into iudgement there to answere the matter and shew the king a reason and satisfie the lawes of his countrey which permitted no man to be put to death before by law he was conuicted By these perswasions Hyrcanus grew angrie so that not concealing his wrath he caused Herode to be sent for to answere the matter who both for that his father aduertised him thereto and because he trusted to the equity of his cause first leauing a garrison in Galilee he repaired vnto the king came accompanied with a strong guard least either he should seeme to derogate from Hyrcanus dignitie if he should lead forth many or that for want of defence he should expose himselfe to the enuie of his aduersaries Sextus Caesar also fearing the young man least any euill should betide him amongst his enemies sent vnto Hyrcanus manifestly warning him to free Herode from the crime of murther For which cause Hyrcanus who loued Herode and was willing so to do of his owne accord did acquite him Whereupon he supposing that he had escaped against the kings will went to Damascus vnto Sextus purposing not to obey if hereafter he were sent for Naithelesse Hyrcanus was once againe incited by bad people against Herode who certified him that he was gone away in a rage and that he would enterprise something against him which Hyrcanus beleeuing knew not what to doe seeing his enemie more potent then himselfe Shortly after Sextus Caesar proclaimed him Generall of the army both in Syria and Samaria so that now he was greatly to be feared not onely for that he was highly in fauour with the comminaltie but also for the forces which he commanded So that hereupon Hyrcanus fell into an extreme feare verily perswading himselfe that Herod with his whole army would presently come against him Neither was his suspition in vaine for Herod angrie at the pretended crime wherof he was accused came with a great army to Ierusalem intending to depose Hyrcanus which he had effected had not his father and his brother gone forth to meet him and pacified him entreating that he would account that terror wherein he had put his enemies and his owne indignation for a sufficient reuenge and that he should spare the king by whose fauour he came to be so potent adding moreouer that he should not thinke it a disdaine that he was called to answere his accusations but seeing that he was acquited of them he should shewe himselfe gratefull to the king Neither ought he so to reuenge the discontent he had taken that he should shew himselfe vnthankfull to him who had saued his life Moreouer he was to consider the fortune of warres togither with the cause thereof and thinke that the warres he now pretended were very vniust bidding him not to be too confident of the victorie being to fight against his owne king who had alwaies been gratious vnto him and neuer cruell only being as it were vrged thereunto by some of his councell who being meerely enuious rather to satisfie their owne mislikes then in regard of his disgraces framed a shadow of an accusation Herode pacified herewith supposing it to be sufficient for him to obtaine the thing he hoped for to haue shewed his forces vnto his nation At this time began Ciuill warre among the Romans neere vnto Apamia for Caecilius Bassus for the loue he bare to Sextus Pompey slew Sextus Caesar at vnawares and made himselfe gouernour of his army and other captaines of Caesars to reuenge his death made after Bassus with all their forces vnto whom Antipater by his two sonnes sent aide both for Caesars sake that was slain as for Caesars sake that was yet aliue for he was an entire friend welwiller vnto them both and these warres continuing long Marcus came out of Italy to succeed Sextus CHAP. IX Of the dissension amongst the Romans after Caesars death and of the treacherie of Malichus AT this time arose great and bloudy ciuill warres amongst the Romans at such time as Caesar was traiterously slaine by the treason of Cassius and Brutus after he had ruled the Empire 3. yeers and seuen moneths By reason of which murther their troubles daily increased and the nobilitie being at variance amongst themselues euerie one followed that course that they thought most expedient for themselues Whereupon Cassius presently marched into Syria to take possession of the gouernment of the army which was about Apamia where hee made Marcus and the legions that were at variance and Bassus friends and raised the siege from Apamia and leading the army in his owne person he forced euerie citie to be tributarie so that he grew to exact without measure Whereas therefore he commanded the Iewes to contribute seuen hundreth talents Antipater who feared his displeasure appointed his sons and other of his friends presently to gather the money and especially among the rest he gaue this charge to one Malichus a friend of his being by necessitie inforced thereunto But Herode first of all got Cassius his fauour who brought a hundreth talents which he had collected out of Galilee which was his part or prouince for this cause Cassius accounted him as a deare friend As for the rest he accused them of negligence and was angrie at the other Cities So that for that cause he destroied Gophna and Ammauntes and other two of the basest cities marching onward as if he intended to kill Malichus for that he had been so carelesse and negligent in gathering the tribute mony But Antipater presently disbursing vnto Cassius a hundreth talents saued both him and all the rest of the Cities Yet Malichus after Cassius was departed did no more remember how beneficiall Antipater had been vnto him but oftentimes did treacherously lie in waite for to murther Antipater who hindred and withstood his villanous pretence notwithstanding that himselfe had often confessed that Antipater had saued his life Antipater fearing both his power and subtiltie passed ouer the riuer Iordan to gather an army that he might reuenge those treacheries But Malichus being discouered by his impudencie ouercame Antipaters sons for through many oths and excuses he woon Phasaelus chiefe of the garrison in Ierusalem and Herod also who was master of the armorie that they should be a meanes to reconcile him to Antipater Whereupon Antipater entreating Marcus who was Generall of the army in Syria and had determined to kill him he was saued The reason that Marcus would haue put him to death was because Malichus sought to make an alteration Now Caesar being young and Antonius warring against Cassius and Brutus Marcus and Cassius hauing gathered an army in Syria in consideration that Herode had stood them in steed where need required they made him Procurator of all Syria giuing him a band of horsemen and footmen Moreouer Cassius promised him that if the warres had a happy end he would make him king of
came flocking vnto him a verie great number of Iewes both from Iericho and from other parts of the countrey some of them hating Antigonus other some louing Herode for his valiant deeds for many without any reason desired an alteration Whilest thus he hasted to fight Pappus with his men neither fearing the multitude nor strength of their â—…nemies came fiercely vpon them and offered battell The battell being begun the others awhile abstained only Herod remembring his brothers death ventured more then the rest to the end to be reuenged vpon them that were the authors thereof and so he easily ouercame the enemies army and still assaulting the fresh men he put them all to flight There was a mightie slaughter for many being forced to flie into the village from whence they came he pursued them and slew an infinite number Lastly rushing amongst the enemies that fled he brake into the village where all the houses were full of armed men and euerie house toppe full of men to defend it and because he easily ouercame those that were abroad he ouerthrew the houses and so forced them that were within to come foorth Others he killed in companies with the ruines of the houses wherein they were and if any one chaunced to escape the same the souldiers that were ready armed with swords killed him so that there were such heaps of dead bodies that they who had the victorie could not passe thorow the streets for them The enemies were so discouraged with this ouerthrow that the whole multitude of them seeing those that were slaine in the village fled away and Herod by the benefit of his good fortune had euen then come to Ierusalem had not winter stormes hindred him which was the onely cause that he at that time got not a full conquest and that Antigonus was not vtterly ouerthrowne who thorow feare and desperation was purposed to leaue the Citie But Herode towards night hauing giuen his friends leaue to depart to rest their wearie bodies being himselfe heated with his armour after the manner of souldiers went to wash himselfe accompanied onely with one page And before he came to the bath one of his enemies met him hauing a sword drawne in his hand and then another and afterwards a third and after them more and these escaped out of the battell and came to the bath to hide themselues and seeing the king there they were sore affraid and sought to hide themselues and so passed by him being astonished and amazed although the king at that time was naked and weaponlesse in so much as none were present there to surprise them they escaped and Herode was verie well contented that he had no harme by them The next day after he beheaded Pappus who was the Generall of Antigoâ—…s his army and sent his head to his brother Pheroras who was ruler of his army in reuenge of his brother that was slaine for Pappus was he that slew Ioseph The winter being past he with his army came to Ierusalem and besieged it pitching his tents before the temple where it was easiest to take the Citie and where before time Pompey had entred it which was about the third yeere after Herod was made king in Rome Now when he had quartered his army as he thought best for his purpose and cut off the suburbs he caused three rampiers to be raised and towers to be builded vpon them and leauing there his trustie friends that would not slacke their businesse he went into Samaria to visit his betrothed which was the daughter of Alexander who was sonne to Aristobulus who as we before made mention was despoâ—…sed vnto him he wedded her euen in the time of the siege as who should say now he contemned his enemies after his marriage rites were performed he returned to Ierusalem with a far greater army Sosius also seconded him with a great army of footmen and horsemen whom he sent before him through the middest of the countrey and he himselfe came after by Phoenicia Now when all his whole army was assembled togither to the number of about some 11. legions of footmen and six thousand horsemen beside the Syrians that came to helpe him which were no small number he laid his assault and batterie to the northermost wall and the rather because he thought himselfe warranted by the decree of the Senate whereby he was declared to be king Sosius also was warranted by Antonies letters whereby he commanded him to helpe Herode with all the army that was vnder his gouernment Meane while those Iewes that were within the Citie were diuersly troubled for a multitude of the weaker sort gathering themselues togither about the temple grew to this resolution that whosoeuer should fortune to die in this attempt should be most happy and beloued by God But those who were hardiest amongst theâ—… ioyning themselues togither robbed and tooke away from the rest what they could but in especiall they tooke victuals from that part that was next the Citie so that they neither left meat for horses nor men and the valiantest of them all being set to defend the wals against those that besieged them hindred the aduersarie from erecting their rampiers so that they still found some new deuice to hinder the force of their engines neither did they any waies preuaile so much as by their mines which they made As for the theeues the king sought to represse their excursions by placing an ambush of men to intercept them by which meanes he relieued the want and scarcitie of victuals by fetching prouision from places farre distant But notwithstanding they in their fight faiâ—… in no sort to expresse their incredible â—…lour yet did that militarie experience which the Romans had ouermaster them by ods Naithelesse notwithstanding the imminent danger wherein they were plunged they fought with them in open field but where it chanced that the Romans by digging two seuerall mines brake all at once into the midst of them yet sodainly repaired they the breach that was made in the wall and fortified the other part thereof In a word they neither spared hands nor engines but were all of them determined to fight it out euen vnto the last cast and although they were besieged with so huge an army yet they defended the town from them fiue moneths till such time as certaine of Herodes chosen men valiantly scaling and clearing the wals brake into the Citie and aâ—…er them Sosius his Centurions Those places that neerest adioyned the temple were the first of all that they intercepted the whole army entring the citie it was lamentable to see how in euerie corner y e people were massacred for the Romans being displeased that the siege continued so long time became more cruell and Herods army endeuoured to let no one of the aduerse part escape By which meanes many were slaine both in the narrowest places of the streetes as also in their owne houses yea euen then also
when they fled into the temple without respect of age or womanhood For although the king intreated the souldiers to spare the people yet for all that they neuer restrained their cruell hands but like mad men they raged against all men women and children At that time also Antigonus neither respecting his former condition nor his present estate came and prostrated himselfe at Sosius hi◅ feete beseeching him to be mercifull vnto him but Sosius nothing compassionating his calamitie cruelly derided him and called him Antigona yet did he not permit him to depart free as a woman but put him in prison Now when Herode had conquered his enemies he endeuoured to the vttermost to appease the furie of the souldiers for all the whole multitude were desirous to see the temple and the holy vessels therein but he resisted them appeasing some by threatnings reclaiming others by force and the rest by entreaties supposing that it had been better for himselfe to haue been conquered then by obtaining the victorie to minister a meanes whereby those things should be discouered which were not lawfull to bee reueiled He therefore presently repressed the souldiers from sacking the citie inueying much against Sosius and obiecting against him that the Romans would desolate the Citie both of men and money and leaue him king of a place without subiects adding further that he esteemed not the empire of the whole world to be a recompence for such a massacre of his Citizens Hereunto Sosius replied that in equitie the souldiers were to haue the sacking of the towne in recompence of that labour they had spent in the siege But Herode gaue him this answere that he had rather recompence euerie man out of his owne treasurie and by this means he redeemed as it were the reliques of his desolate countrey and in the end performed that which he had promised For he bountifully rewarded euerie souldier and captaine according to his merit and gaue Sosius a kingly reward so that no man went away without money This done Sosius dedicated a golden crowne vnto God and so departed leading Antigonus captiue with him to the intent to present him vnto Antonius This man desirous to continue his life and entertaining himselfe with this cold hope euen vntill the last receiued in the end that reward which his faint heart desired and was beheaded Herode being now king made a distinction betweene the Citizens and those who had fauoured him he vsed verie honourably and put those to death who had followed Antigonus and when money failed he distributed all his kingly ornaments and sent them to Antonius and his companie Yet did not he quite redeeme himselfe from all annoiances for Antonius being now captiuate through Cleopatra her loue in all things yeelded vnto her desire and Cleopatra hauing raged so against her owne kindred that she had not left one of them aliue now turned her furie vpon strangers and accusing the nobilitie of Syria vnto Antonius she perswaded him to put them to death that she might thereby the easier obtaine their possessions Afterward her couetous minde sought to effect the like against the Arabians and the Iewes also in so much as she secretly went about to cause the kings of those places Malichus and Herode to be put to death Antonius made a shew as though he would haue granted her request yet he thought it great impietie to kill good men and so great kings yet notwithstanding he no more accounted them his friends but tooke a great quantitie of ground from the limits of both their countries and a vineyard in Iericho where balme grew and gaue her all the Cities on this side the riuer Eleutherus Tyre and Sydon onely excepted Now when she had obtained the dominion of these Cities she followed Antonius vnto Euphrates who set forward to make warre against the Parthians and afterward by Apamia and Damascus she came into Iudaea where Herode hauing something pacified her angrie minde with great gifts obtained to pay her yeerely two hundreth talents for that part of his countrey which Antonius had giuen her and seeking by all meanes possible to get himselfe an interest in her fauour he conducted her vnto Pelusium and not long after Antonius returned out of Parthia and brought Artabazes the sonne of Tigranes captiue and gaue him vnto Cleopatra for all the money and riches which he had got and the captiue likewise were bestowed on her CHAP. XIIII Of the treacherous practise of Cleopatra against Herod of Herods warre against the Arabians and of a verie great earthquake ABout such time as the Actiacum war was on foot Herode prepared himselfe to attend Antonius for that for the time present all troubles were pacified in Iudaea and he had already gotten the castle of Hyrcanion which Antigonus sister had in her possession But Cleopatra c◅aftily preuented him in this his iourny so that he could not go with Antonius for she desiring the ruines of both the kings as was before mētioned perswaded Antonius that he should ◅se Herod to make warre against the Arabians whom if he ouercame then she should be made Queene of Arabia and if so be he himselfe were ouercome then she should be Queene of iudaea intending hereby that one of these potentates should ruinate the other But this practise of hers was greatly to Herods gaine For first of all making head against those of Syria that were his enemies with all the power of horsemen he could make which was verie many and meeting them at Diospolis he ouercame them although they valiantly resisted who hauing the ouerthrow stirred vp a mightie armie of the Arabians to helpe them so that an infinite company was gathered togither about Coelesyria expecting the Iewes neere vnto a citie called Canatha Where king Herode meeting them purposed not to fight vnaduisedly but to compasse his owne armie round about with a wall but his armie remembring their former victorie would not be counselled but violently assaulted the Arabians and at the first onset put them to flight Herode pursuing his enemie was greatly endaungered by the treason of the inhabitants of Canatha who were set on by Athenio that vvas one of Cleopatras captaines vvho had alwaies borne him ill vvill for the Arabians encouraged by their helpe returned againe to battel and they two ioyned their forces togither and set vpon Herode in stonie and difficult places and put his armie to flight and killed many of them those that escaped fled vnto a little village hard by called Ormiza vvhere the Arabians compassing them about took both the men their tents with al their furniture Not long after this ouerthrow of Herods souldiers he came and brought helpe but too late and to little purpose but the cause hereof was for that the captaines of his army would not obey his commaundement for if they had beene obedient Athenio had not had the opportunitie to worke him that iniury yet
For Caesar had giuen no such authoritie for he gaue him licence to take any one that was a fugitiue from him out of any Citie although it were not vnder his dominions And the young men were ignorant of the offences laide vnto their charge and so were more easily entrapped being vnawares of them for their father did not openly tell them of any matter but they euerie day perceiued their fathers good will towardes them to decay which so much the more encreased their griefe In like manner Antipater by little and little mooued Pheroras their vncle and Salome their aunt against them daily consulting with his wife whom he should incite against them Now Glaphyra Alexanders wife encreased their malice euery day recounting her owne nobilitie bearing her selfe aboue all that were in the whole kingdom for she deriued her petigree by the fathers side from Timenus by the mothers side from Hystaspis his sonne called Darius inueying verie much against the basenesse of Herodes wiues and his sister who were chosen for their beautie and not for their nobilitie of birth For Herod as we haue said had many wiues both for that it was lawfull by the custome of their countrey and because Herode delighted in many and all of them hated Alexander for Glaphyras pride and contumelious speeches And Aristobulus made Salome his enemy although she was his wiues mother for she was before mooued by Glaphyras speeches and he often vpbraided his wife with her base birth still telling her that he had married a priuate woman and his brother Alexander a Queene And his wife often with weeping teares told this to her mother adding moreouer that Alexander and Aristobulus threatned that if they got the kingdome they would make their other brethrens mothers weaue with their maids and that they would make them notaries of villages deriding that they applied themselues to learning Salome mooued hereat could not containe her selfe but tolde all to Herod who easily beleeued her because she spake against her sonne in law Moreouer another accusation was laid to their charge wheâ—…eat the king was greatly mooued for he was enformed that Alexander and Aristobulus did often bewaâ—…le their mother and lament her hard happe with sighes and cursed him and that often when he bestowed some of Mariammes cloathes vpon his latter wiues they threatned that in short time in steed of princely attire they should weare a black habite Whereupon Herod though he feared the constant mindes of the young men yet because he would not take away all hope of amendment he called them vnto him for he was to saile to Rome and as a king threatned them in few words and like a father gaue them many admonitions and requested them to loue their brethren promising them forgiuenes of their former offences so that hereafter they amended all But they beseeching him not to beleeue accusations forged against them vpon malice and aunswering that the effect of matters would easily acquite them requesting him not so easily to beleeue tales but refuse to giue malignant people opportunitie and recourse vnto him for that there would alwaies be some that would maliciously inuent tales to tell whilst there was any one that would giue them the hearing and beleeuing thereof For they knew that Salome was their enemie and Pheroras their vncle and both of them bare cruell minds and were hard hearted and especially Pheroras who was fellow with his brother of all sauing onely the crowne and had his owne reuenues amounting to a hundreth talents a yeere and receiued all fruits of the whole countrey beyond Iordane which was giuen him by his brother Herode also had obtained of Caesar to make him Tetrarch and bestowed vpon him a princesse for his wife despousing vnto him his wiues sister after whose decease he despoused vnto him his eldest daughter and gaue him three hundreth talents with her for a dowrie But Pheroras fell in loue with his maid and forsooke a princesse whereat Herode being angrie maried his daughter vnto his brothers sonne who was afterward slaine by the Parthians but Herode presently pardoned Pheroras offence Diuers before this time were of opinion that in the life time of the Queen he would haue poisoned Herode and Herode although he loued his brother verie well yet because many who had accesse vnto him told him so he began to misdoubt and so examining many that were suspected lastly he came to Pheroras friends none of them confessed it yet they confessed that he was determined to flie vnto the Parthians with her whom he was so in loue withall and that Costabarus Salomes husband was priuie thereunto vnto whom the king maried her after her first husband for sâ—…pition of adultery was put to death Salome her selfe also was not free from accusation for Pheroras accused her that she had contracted matrimony with Syllaeus who was procurator to Oboda king of Arabia who was a great enemie of the kings and she being conuicted both of this and all things else whereof her brother Pheroras accused her yet obtained pardon as likewise Pheroras did so that the whole tempest of all their family was turned against Alexander and light vpon his head The king had three Eunuches whom he loued dearly and euery one knowne by their offices for one of them was his butler the other was his cooke and the third got him to bed and lay with him these three Alexander with great gifts ouercame Which the king vnderstanding by torments forced them to confesse it and declared with what promises they were therto by Alexander induced and how he had deceiued them affirming that there was no trusting to Herode who was a shamelesse olde man and that he died his haire to make himselfe seeme young and that he in despite of him would be his successor and then he would be reuenged vpon his enemies and make his friends happie and especially them and that the whole nobilitie did secretly obey him and the captaines of the army and gouernours did priuily come vnto him Hereat Herode was so terrified that he durst not presently diuulgate their confessions but night and day he sent spies to learne what was said or done and whom he suspected them he presently killed so that his whole kingdome was full of iniquitie For euery one as his malice moued him fained calumniations and many desirous of bloudshed abused the kings wrath as they pleased against their enemies and credit was giuen to euerie lie and no man was so soone accused but presently he was punished and he who presently before accused others was now accused himselfe aâ—…d carried to be punished with him whom he accused For the kings perils shortned the time of triall for their liues and he became so tyrannous that he afforded not a good looke vnto them that were not accused and shewed himselfe most fierce and violent euen to his deerest friends so that he banished many out of his
compassion towards his father promised to disclose all the matter vnto the king so that he would pardon his father who being released of his torments presently declared how his father through Alexanders means and procurement was purposed to haue killed him Manie that were present thought this was a deuise of the young man to free his father from torments and yet others were perswaded that it was true Vpon this Herod made a speech vnto the people wherein he inueighed against the Gouernours of his armie and Tiro and made the people arme themselues and kill both them and the Barber with staues and stones Now he sent his sonnes vnto Sebaste which was not farre from Caesarea and there he caused them to be strangled and hauing quickely dispatched the matter he caused them to bee brought into the Castle Alexandrium there to be buried with their mothers vncle And this was the end of Alexander and Aristobulus CHAP. XVIII Of Antipaters conspiracie against Herod his father BVt Antipater now hoping without all controuersie to succeed in the kingdome was generally hated of the whole nation for it was openly knowne that he by false caluâ—…niations had caused his brethrens deaths And on the other side he stood in no little feare of his brothers children whom he perceiued now to begin to grow to yeares for Alexander had by Glaphyra two sonnes Tigranes and Alexander and Aristobulus had by Berenice daughter to Salome fiue children to wit three sonnes Herod Agrippa and Aristobulus and two daughters Herodias and Mariamme Herod after hee had put Alexander to death sent away Glaphyra with her dowrie into Cappadocia married Berenice Aristobulus his wife vnto Antipaters vncle For Antipater deuised this match to become friends with Salome whom he before time hated and enuied He also by his great gifts sought to get Pheroras fauour and the friendship of such as were friends vnto Caesar sending to that end great summes of money to Rome He gaue Saturninus and all the rest great riches in Syria But the more he gaue the more he was hated of all men for euery one iudged that he did not consume such wealth for that he was liberall but that he lauished it out for feare so that he got not the loue of them vpon whom he bestowed it and they to whom he gaue nothing were so much the more his enemies Yet he became euerie day more bountifull seeing against his expectation Herode made much of their children whose parents he had slaine intending to shew how much hee repented their deaths by the pitie and compassion he tooke vpon their children For assembling together his friends he caused the children to be placed by him and the teares standing in his eyes he sayd Hard cruell and sinister fortune tooke away from me the fathers of these children but I pitie to see them orphans and naturall affection commendeth them vnto me Wherefore I will endeuour that seeing I haue beene an infortunate father I may be a wiser and happier grandfather and leaue them who are most deare vnto me to raigne after me Wherefore brother Pheroras I betroth thy daughter vnto Alexanders eldest sonne that for that cause thou maist be carefull to prouide for him and assist him and vnto thy sonne Antipater I assure the daughter of Aristobulus that so thou maist be a father to her who wants a father and my son Herod whose mothers vncle was high Priest shall marrie with her sister And this is my will and pleasure touching this matter and let no man who loueth me seeke to alter this And I beseech Almightie God for the good of my countrie and of these my Nephewes to prosper these mariages and to looke vpon these children with a more fauourable eye then he did their fathers Hauing thus spoken he wept and ioyned the childrens hands and curteously saluting euerie one he dismissed the Councell Vpon this Antipater was amazed and all the Orphans well perceiued how sorrowfull hee was For now he thought himselfe dishonoured by his father and that his good fortune was endangered seeing that Alexanders sonne was like to haue both Archelaus and Pheroras the Tetrarch to assist him Moreouer he considered how he was hated and how the people did compassionate the children for that they were fatherlesse and affected them remembring their fathers who were dead were terrified at his wickednes Wherfore he attempted all means possible to breake off the marriages yet he feared to insinuate anie thing to his father cunningly who was now verie seuere and warie and mistrustfull And therefore went openly vnto him to make his humble suit request him that he would not leaue him without honour nor depriue him of that dignitie which before time he had iudged him worthy of giuing him onely the bare title of a king and leauing the substance of the kingdome in other mens powers For it would be impossible for him to obtaine the kingdome if Alexanders sonne beside Archelaus his fauor were by marriage made sonne in law vnto Pheroras Wherefore he earnestly besought him that seeing he had a great manie daughters to change the marriages for the king had nine wiues and by seuen of them hee had children Antipater by Doris Herod by Mariamme daughter of the high Priest and Antipas and Archelaus by Malthace the Samaritane and his daughter Olympias whom his brother Ioseph married and by Cleopatra of Ierusalem Herod and Philip and by Pallas Phasaelus he had two other daughters also Roxane and Salome one of them by Phaedra and the other by Elpis Hee had likewise two wiues by whom he had no issue his cousin and his neece and beside these he had two daughters by Mariamme sisters to Aristobulus and Alexander Wherefore Antipater seeing his father had such choise of daughters he requested the mariages to be altered The king well perceiuing his mind and purpose towards the Orphans was verie angrie and calling to remembrance the misfortune of his sonnes whom he had put to death he greatly feared least Antipater by some false accusations should ouerthrow them and so with sharpe words did driue him off for that time yet afterward he so flattered Herod that he got the mariages to be altered And first of all he ioyned Aristobulus daughter with Antipater himselfe and his sonne to Pheroras daughter Here one may see what Antipater could do by flattering speeches for Salome in the like matter could not speed although that she was his sister and procured many times Iulia Caesars wife to speake for her that shee might marie with Syllaeus the Arabian yet was not she permitted so to do But Herode sware that he would account her as an vtter enemie except she would desist from that purpose and afterward against her will he maried her vnto one Alexas a friend of his and one of her daughters to Alexanders sonne and the other to Antipaters vncle As for Mariammes daughters one of them was maried to Antipater his
thâ—…se matters Behold here I am vvho notwithstanding a murtherer of my father yet did I neuer suffer any misfortune by sea nor land is not this O father a sufficient argument of my innocencie For I know father that before God and thee I am condemned and being condemned I beseech thee giue not credit to reports extracted by torments let me be bumed inflict all torments vpon me spare not my wicked bodieâ—… For if I be a murtherer of my father I must not die without torments crying out aloud after this manner and vveeping he moued all that vvere present and Varus also to compassion but Herode onely abstained from teares for his anger gaue attention to the truth And presently Nicholaus at the kings commaundement making a long speech of Antipaters craft and subtiltie tooke away all hope of mercy and began a verie bitter accusation ascribing all mischiefe vvhich had befallen that kingdome vnto him and especially the death of the two brethren who through his calumniations vvere made away affirming also that he vsed trecherous practises against those vvho vvere yet aliue fearing least they should seek to succeed in the kingdome for he vvho had prepared poyson for his father would much lesse spare his brethren And then comming to the proofe of his pretence to poyson his father he declared in order all euidence thereof aggrauating his offence by Pheroras as though Antipater also were the cause why he purposed to murther his brother and how he had corrupted the kings deerest friends and so filled the wholecourt with wickednes And when he had accused him of many other things and brought proofe thereof he ended his speech Then Varus when he had commaunded Antipater to make aunswere vnto those things and that he said nothing more then God is a witnesse of my innocencie he called for the poyson and gaue it to one that was condemned to die who hauing drunke thereof presently died Then Varus talked secretly with Herod and what was done there in that councell he wrote vnto Caesar. Yet notwithstanding when Herod had sent Antipater to prison he sent messengers vnto Caesar to shew him his hard fortune and calamitie After this it was proued that Antipater wrought treason against Salome For one of Antiphilâ—…s seruants came from Rome and brought letters in the name of Acmes who was one of Iulia her maides which she writ vnto the king telling him that she found a letter of Salomes amongst Iulias letters and so for good will she had sent it him â—…the letter which she affirmed to be Salomes contained many bitter inuectiues against Herod and many accusations But these letters were written and fained by Antipater who for money had perswaded Acmes so to do as we haue said for the letter which she writ to Antipater euidently shewed it to be so for she wrote as followeth I haue written vnto thy father as you requested me and sent also other letters and I assure my selfe he will not spare his sister if he doe but read the letters and you may do wel seeing I haue performed all your requests that now you would be mindful of your promise This letter against Salome and others being found to be counterfaited the king began to doubt that Alexander was made away by such counterfaited letters and he was verie angry that he had almost put his sister to death through Antipaters deuise Wherefore he no longer delaied to punish him for all yet he was hindred by a great sicknesse from accomplishing his purpose He also sent letters vnto Caesar concerning Acme the maid and Salomes false accusation and changed his testament and blotted out the name of Antipater and in his roome vvrote Antipas leauing out Archelaus and Philippus who were the elder brethren because Antipater had accused them And he bequeathed vnto Caesar a thousand talents beside many other rich gifts and to his wife and children and kinred and libertines about fiue hundreth and gaue euery one a great gift either in ground or money and honoured his sister Salome with most rich gifts And thus he corrected his will CHAP. XXI Of the golden Eagle and of Antipaters and Herodes death HErods disease encreased partly through age and especially for his gâ—…ese and sorrow for he was now three score and ten yeeres olde and his mind was so troubled by the death of his children that though he were in health yet he tooke no pleasure in any thing and his sicknes was so much the more grieuous vnto him because that Antipater was yet aliue for he purposed to put him to death when he was recouered of his sicknes To encrease his calamitie there arose a tumult amongst the people For there were in the citie two sophisters who made a shew as though they were very skilful in their country lawes for that were renowmed all ouer the countrey One of them was named Iudas who was sonne vnto Sepphoraeus the other was called Matthias sonne vnto Margalus These two were followed by a great many yong men so that when they expounded the law they had an assembly like a great armie all young men These two hearing that the King partly by griefe and partly by his disease was verie like to die spake vnto their acquaintance saying that it was now a fit time vvherein God might be reuenged and those things which were made against their countrey lawes taken away for it was a great offence to God to permit the Images or shapes or likenesse of any liuing thing to be in the temple This they said because the king had set a golden Eagle vpon the chiefest porch of the temple which the Sopâ—…sters now willed the yong men to take away saying that it was meritorious although danger might ensue thereon yea euen to die for their countrey lawes For they that died for such a cause should haue their soules immortall and enioy euerlasting blisse and that many vnwise men ignorant of that doctrine so loued their liues that they chose rather to die by sicknesse then to spend their liues in a vertuous quarrell Whilest they said thus there was a rumour spred that the king was now at the last cast whereat the young men being incouraged about noone when many were walking in the temple they let themselues downe from the top of the temple with great ropes and so with hatchets cut downe the Eagle Whereof the captaine of the souldiers being aduertised accompanied with a great many soldiers went speedily to the temple and tooke almost fortie of the young men and caried them to the King Who first of all asked them if they were so bold as to cut down the golden Eagle and they confessed they had done it then he demaunded by vvhose commaundement they answered by the commaundement of their country lawes After this it was asked them why they who were presently to die were so ioyfull they answered for that after death they hoped to enioy
distributed amongst the whole family for he thought that they for number wanted succour CHAP. II. Of the fight and massacre at Ierusalem betweene the Iewes and the Sabinians BEfore such time as Caesar determined any thing concerning this matter Malthace the mother of Archelaus fell sicke and died and many letters came out of Syria signifying that the Iewes had rebelled Which Varus foreseeing after the departure of Archelaus from thence went vnto Ierusalem to represse and resist the authors of that sedition and because the multitude would not be quiet he left one legion of the three which he brought out of Syria in the citie and so hee returned vnto Antiochia But Sabinus comming afterward to Ierusalem was the cause that the Iewes beganne a new broyle For one while he forced the garrisons to render to him the Castles another while he rigorously made search for the kings treasure and he was not onely assisted by those that Varus left there but also he had a great multitude of his owne seruants all armed to further his auarice And in the feast of Pentecost so called because of the number of seuen weekes the people assembled themselues togither not for religion sake but for anger and hatred so that there was an infinite multitude of people which came out of Galilee and Idumaea and Iericho and the countries beyond Iordan Yet the Iewes which were inhabitants of the Citie surpassed the rest both in number and courage and they therefore parted themselues into three bands and made three campes one vpon the North part of the temple the other on the South part neere vnto the Castle called Hippodromus the third on the West-part neere the pallace and so they besieged the Romanes on euerie side Sabinus greatly fearing them both for their multitude and for their courage sent many letters vnto Varus earnestly requesting him with all speed to bring succour for if hee did not the whole legion would be extinguished Hee himselfe got him into the highest tower of the Castle Phasaelus which is so called by the name of Herodes brother whom the Parthians killed and from thence hee gaue a signe vnto the souldiers to issue out sodainly vpon their enemies for himselfe was in such a feare that hee durst not come downe to the souldiers of whom he was gouernour The souldiers obeying his commaund issued into the temple and there fought a sore battell with the Iewes who hauing no bodie to assist them being vnexperienced in warlike affaires were soone conquered by them that were skilfull At last many Iewes got vpon the porches and cast dartes at them from the toppe thereof so that they killed many but the other could not reuenge themselues of them who fought against them from so high a place neither could they sustaine the force of them who ioyned battaile with them till at last they fired the porches which for greatnes and curious worke were admirable And so many were eyther destroyed with the sodaine fier or else leaping downe amidst their enemies were by them slaine others going backward were cast headlong from the wall others despairing of life killed themselues with their owne swords and they who priuilie came downe the walles and assaulted the Romans being astonished with feare were easily ouercome till at last all being eyther put to the sworde or caste downe through feare the treasure dedicated to God was left destitute of keepers so that the Souldiers tooke away thereof about foure hundreth talents and that which they left Sabinus got But this losse of men and money stirred vp many moe Iewes and those more warlike then the first against the Romans who besieging the kings pallace threatned all their destructions vnlesse they would presently depart from thence promising Sabinus and the legion leaue to depart if he so liked Part of the kings souldiers who of their owne accord fled vnto them did assist them But the most warlike and valiant amongst them were three thousand of Sebaste whose rulers were Rufus and Gratus one leader of the footmen and the other ouer the horsemen both which although they had had no souldiers with them for their valour of bodie and counsell might yet haue beene a great helpe vnto the Romanes in those warres The Iewes earnestly continued the siege and assaulted the castle walles crying vpon Sabinus to depart and not to hinder them now after so long time to haue their countries liberty Sabinus though with all his heart he wished himselfe away yet durst he not trust them but he suspected that their courtesie was but a plot to entrappe him and on the other side hoping that Varus would come and helpe him he still indured the daunger of the siege At the same time there were tumults in many places of Iudaea and many through opportunitie of the time aspired to the kingdome For in Idumaea two thousand olde souldiers who had borne armes vnder Herod gathering togither and hauing armed themselues came and fought with the kings forces whom Achiabus the kings cousen resisted in the strongest villages alwaies eschewing to fight in the open field At Sephoris also a towne of Galilee Iudas the sonne of Ezechias the captaine of the theeues who before was taken by king Herode and had vvasted that countrey gathered togither a great multitude and brake into the kings armory and armed all his company and fought against them who affected the royall dignitie Also beyond the riuer Simon one of the kings seruants being faire and of a huge stature put a crowne vpon his owne head and gathering togither a companie of theeues went about with them vnto Iericho and burned the kings pallace and many faire and sumptuous houses there and so got great pray by burning the houses and he had surely fired all buildings of account had not Gratus captaine of the kings footmen made haste to meete him with the bowmen of Trachon and the most warlike men of Sebaste where many footmen were slaine But Simon though he fled into a streight valley yet he ouertooke him and cut him ouerthwart the necke and so he fell downe In like manner other of the kings pallaces neere Iordan by Bethara were burned by a multitude of others gathered togither in bands from beyond the riuer At this time a shepheard named Athrongaeus presumed to vsurpe the crowne he was thereunto induced by the courage he bare and the disdaine of death With this resolution he armed his foure brethren and euerie one of them had a companie armed and they were as his captaines and champions to make incursions and he like a King medled onely with great affaires and then he put a crowne vpon his head and thus he continued a long time wasting the country and killing especially the Romans and also the kings souldiers so that none of the Iewes escaped if they were in hope to gaine by them They also presumed to meet a company of the Romanes at Ammauns who caried corne
the Temple with so many dead bodies Wherfore they who had escaped that massacre had iust occasion to consider their calamitie and after the law of armes to turne their faces to them who wounded them and beseech the Romans that they would thinke the remnant of the Iewes worthie of compassion and not to abandon and expose the residue of their nation as a pray vnto theÌ„ by whom they should be most cruelty 〈◊〉 but that it might please them to adioyne their country to the borders of Syria to let 〈◊〉 be ruled by the Romans and so they should find that the Iewes who now were accounted 〈◊〉 and rebellious vnder peaceable and quiet gouernours to be a peaceable nation and with this petition the Iewes ended their accusation After this Nicholaus stood vp against them and first of all acquited the kings of the crimes laid to their charge and then reproued his countrey-men for that they would not be easily gouerned and by their owne nature would not except they were forced obey their kings and he also blamed the kinsmen of Archelaus who ioined with his accusers Caesar hauing heard what both parts could say dismissed the Assembly And within a few dayes after he gaue Archelaus halfe of the kingdome vnder the title of an Ethnarch promising him moreouer to make him king if he behaued himselfe well the other halfe he deuided into two Tetrarchies and gaue them to the rest of Herods sonnes one vnto Philip the other vnto Antipas who contended with Archelaus for the crowne Antipas his part lay from Galilee beyond the riuer Iordan the reuenues whereof was two hundreth talents a yeere And Philip had Batanaea and Trachons and Auranitis and part of Zeno his house neere Iamnia the reuenues whereof amounted to one hundred talents a yeere Archelaus had in his Ethnarchie Idumaea and all Iudaea and Samaria which was freed from the fourth part of their tribute because they rebelled not with the rest And these Cities were giuen him ouer which he was Lord Stratons tower Sebaste Ioppe and Ierusalem The rest Gaza and Gadara and Hippon Caesar tooke from the kingdome and ioyned them to Syria Archelaus yearely reuenues amounted to foure hundreth Talents a yeere Caesar also beside that which Herod left her made Salome Ladie of Iamnia Azotus and Phasaelis and the Pallace at Ascalon all which amounted to threescore talents a yeere But Caesar made her house subiect vnto Archelaus his Ethnarchie And hauing distributed vnto the rest of Herods kinred that which in his testament he left them he gaue his two daughters that were virgins ouer and aboue fiue hundreth thousand drachmes of siluer and married them vnto Pheroras sonnes and hauing deuided Herods patrimonie amongst them hee also distributed that which Herod bequeathed vnto him amounting vnto a thousand talents leauing himselfe onely some iewell of small value which he reserued in honour and remembrance of the dead CHAP. V. Of the false supposed Alexander and how he was taken AT the same time a certaine young man a Iew borne brought vp by a Libertine of Rome in the towne of Sidonia being verie like vnto Alexander whom Herod put to death went to Rome hauing one of his countrimen for his companion who knew verie well all the estate of the kingdome by whom he receiuing instructions affirmed that they who should haue put him and Aristobulus to death being moued to compassion let them goe and tooke two others in their roome like them With this tale he deceiued manie Iewes liuing in Creete where he was honourably receiued and from thence hee failed to Melos where he was yet entertained with greater pompe and enriching himselfe he vsed such means that he got his oasts which gaue him entertainment to saile with him to Rome and after arriuing at Dicaearchia he receiued all maner of rich gifts of the Iewes which dwelled there and there by his fathers friendes was honoured as a king For hee was so like vnto Alexander that they that had seene Alexander and knew him well would haue sworne he had beene Alexander Wherefore all the Iewes at Rome desired to see him so that an infinite multitude followed him whithersoeuer he went in the streetes and they so doted vpon him that they carried him in a horslitter and at their owne proper cost and charges prepared for him a royall traine But Caesar well remembred Alexanders visage for Herod accused him before him and although before he saw him he iudged that it was some that presumed because of his likenesse vnto Alexander to say that hee was the same yet he made as though he beleeued all and sent one Celadus who knew Alexander well to will this yong man to come vnto him Who no sooner beheld him but forthwith he perceiued the difference betwixt them and especially when he felt his hard flesh and seruile shape he presently vnderstood the whole matter But he was greatly moued with his bold speeches for when they demaunded of him what was become of Aristobulus hee answered that he was aliue yet he vpon purpose â—…aried behind and liued in Cyprus fearing some treason for they being asunder could not so easily bee intrapped Celadus taking him apart from the rest of the companie told him that Caesar would saue his life if he did trulie confesse by whose counsell he fained himselfe to be Alexander He accepting of this offer followed him to Caesar and declared himselfe to be a Iew who for â—…re sake being verie like him counterfeited himselfe to be Alexander affirming that 〈◊〉 had receiued such great gifts of the Cities by which he passed that he thought if Alexander had beene aliue he should not haue receiued the liâ—…e Caesar laught at this iest and made false Alexander for the abilitie of his bodie a galley-slaue and put him to death who induced him thereto And as for the Iewes of Milo he thought that they had punishment sufficient if they lost all that which they had laid out and bestowed vpon him CHAP. VI. Of the banishment and death of Archelaus ARchelaus being now made Prince remembred the discord past and in reuenge thereof he tyrannized not onely ouer the Iewes but also ouer the Samaritans and in the ninth yeere of his raigne the Iewes and Samaritans sent Embassadours against him vnto Caesar and finally hee was banished and sent to Vienna a Citie of Gallia and â—…ll his patrimonie was confiscate vnto Caesar. Before hee was summoned to appeare before Caesar hee reported that he had a maruellous dreame for he saw nine great eares full of corne deuoured by oxen and presently sending for Prophets and Chaldaeans he demanded what that dreame betokened Some interpreted it one way and some another but one Simon an Essean told him that the eares of corne betokened yeares the oxen signified the changes mutations of this world for as much as in labouring the land they turned vp and altered it and therefore he
Petronius receiued the letters of Caius Caesars death twentie and seuen dayes before the other threatning letters came CHAP. X. Of the Empire of Claudius and of the raigne and death of Agrippa CAius Caesar being slaine by treason when he had raigned three yeares and sixe moneths Claudius was made Emperour by the armie which was at Rome The Senate by the instigation of the Consuls Sentius Saturnius and Pomponius the second commanded three legions of Souldiers to keepe the Citie during the Councell holden in the Capitol and for Caius Caesars crueltie they determined to fight against Claudius intending to reduce the Empire to the ancient gouernmēt that as before time so for euer after those shuld rule that the Senate iudged worthy It chanced that at this time Agrippa came to Rome and the Senate sent vnto him requesting him to come and be one of their Councell Claudius also desired him to take part with the armie intending to vse his helpe where neede required Agrippa perceiuing that Claudius was already as it were Emperour for his power hee tooke part with him who presently sent him as Embassadour to the Senate to tell them his purpose how that first of all the souldiers whether he would or no set him in that dignitie and it had beene in him an vndiscreet part to haue forsaken such an offer at the souldiers hands who did it for good will nay if he had refused it his life should be in continuall danger for it was sufficient cause of enuie that hee had beene elected Emperour Moreouer he purposed to rule not as a tyrant but as a most mild prince for he would be contented only with the title of an Emperour and doe nothing without the common consent of them all And although he was not naturally inclined to modest and curteous behauiour yet he had a sufficient example to beware that he abused not his authoritie by Caius Caesars death Agrippa bare this message to the Senate who answered as though they trusted vnto their souldiers and learned Counsell that they would not thrust themselues into wilfulbondage Claudius receiuing this answer sent Agrippa againe to tell them that nothing could cause him to betray them by whom he was made Emperour and that he was forced to make warre against them with whom hee was verie loth to striue and therefore willed them to chuse a place out of the Citie for the battell to be fought in for it stood with no reason to deface the Citie with ciuill wars and massacres for the obstinacie of some few Agrippa did also this message vnto the Senate and one of the souldiers that were for the Senate drew his sword and said Fellow souldiers what should moue vs to massacre our friends and kinred and parents who follow Claudius especially seeing wee haue an Emperour with whom we can find no fault vnto whom we should rather go forth with entreaties then with armes When he had said this he passed through the midst of the court and all the souldiers followed him The Senate being thus left desolate the Lords abādoned of their force began to be in great feare and seeing it was no standing out for them they followed the souldiers went vnto Claudius Before the Citie walles there met them some that indeuoured to shew themselues dutifull vnto Claudius for his fortune sake hauing their swords drawne and they almost killed fiue before Caesar vnderstood the outrage of the souldiers and they had done it had not Agrippa ranne and told him of the matter saying that if he did not presently appease the souldiers furie now raging against the Citizens that all his Nobilitie would presently be extinguished and he should be left an Emperour of a desolate place When Claudius heard this hee repressed the souldiers furie and verie honourably receiued the Senate into his campe and went forth presently with them and offered sacrifice to God as the maner is for the good estate of the Empire Also hee presently made Agrippa King of all his fathers dominions giuing him likewise that which Augustus gaue Herod to wit Trachonite and Auranite and beside them another kingdome called the kingdome of Lysania and published this his gift by an edict vnto the people and commaunded the Senate to engraue that donation in brasen tables and to place it in the Capitoll Moreouer he rewarded his brother Herod who was his kinsman with the kingdome of Chalcis and married him to the Queene Berenice Agrippa receiued greater reuenues of his kingdome then he could desire which he spent not vainly but in building such a wall about Ierusalem as had he finished it the Romans could neuer haue taken it but before he could end that worke he died in Caesarea hauing raigned three yeeres with the title of a king and other three yeeres before in the state of a Tetrarch Hee left behind him three daughters which he had by Cypris Berenice Mariamme and Drusilla and one sonne by the same wife named Agrippa who because he was verie young Claudius reduced the kingdome into a prouince and made Cestius Festus Gouernour thereof But after him Tyberius Alexander who nothing violating the lawes of the nation ruled them in peace After this Herod king of Chalcis departed leauing behind him two sonnes which he had by his brothers daughter Berenice to wit Berenicianus and Hircanus and by his first wife Mariamme Aristobulus His other brother also Aristobulus died a priuate person leauing one daughter Iotapa And these were the posterity of Aristobulus king Herods sonne and Herod had Alexander and Aristobulus by Mariamme whom he put to death but Alexanders posteritie raigned in the greater Armenia CHAP. XI Of diuers tumults in Iudaea and Samaria AFter the death of Herode who raigned in Chalcis Claudius created Agrippa the sonne of the former Agrippa king of Chalcis in his vncles kingdome and Cumanus was made ruler of the other prouince after Alexander vnder whō there were many tumults and new calamities which befell the Iewes For when they were assembled togither at the feast of vnleuened bread in Ierusalem the Romane souldiers standing in the porch of the temple for alwaies armed men kept that place vpon festiual daies least the people gathered togither should make any tumult one of the souldiers taking vp his coat turned his bare buttocks against the Iewes faces speaking words as vnseemely as was his gesture Whereat all the whole multitude began to murmur so that they flocked about Cumanus requesting him to punish the souldier for this misdemeanour and some of them rash young men and as it were prone to sedition began to reuile the souldiers and threw stones at them Then Cumanu fearing that the whole multitude of the Iewes would violently rush vpon him called vnto him many armed souldiers and sent them into the porch of the temple The Iewes being in a great feare fled and left the temple and there was such a throng that as they
rushed out to flie aboue tenne thousand people were prest and troden to death so that this festiuall day was turned into wofull lamentations and mournings in euerie place This calamitie was encreased afterward by a company of theeues for neere Bethoron one Stephanus seruant vnto Caesar caried some household stuff which the theeues tooke from him in the high way But Cumanus sending for those in the villages next adioyning to make inquirie of these theeues commaunded them to be bound and brought vnto him because they had not taken the theeues in one of which villages a certaine souldier finding the booke of the holy scripture cut it in peeces and burnt it Hereupon the Iewes gathered themselues togither from all places as though their religion were now violated and drawen by the force of their superstition as with an engine all of them at one call went to Caesarea to Cumanus there beseeching him that the souldier who had so blasphemed God and their law might not escape vnpunished But Cumanus perceiued the Iewes would not be appeased without some satisfaction wherefore he condemned the souldier to death and sent him to execution before their faces which done they all departed At last there arose a tumult betweene the Galileans and Samaritans for at a village called Geman scituate in the great field of Samaria a certaine Galilean of the number of the Iewes that came to the feast was slaine for which fact many Galileans ranne to fight with the Samaritans and the nobilitie of the countrey went vnto Cumanus requesting him before any more harme were done to go into Galilee and punish the authors of this euill But Cumanus being busied in greater affaires sent them away without granting their request When this murther was knowne in Ierusalem all the multitude left the solemnitie of the day and went into Samaria without any guide refusing to be restrained by the nobilitie Of this their tumult and sedition the sonne of Dinaeus called Eleazar and one Alexander were captaines who with violence entering the borders of the countrey of Acrabatena killed man woman and child sparing no age and burning the townes When Cumanus heard this he tooke a cornet of ho◅semen called the Sebastians to come and helpe them that were thus oppressed and so tooke and killed many of them who tooke part with Eleazar Now the nobles of Ierusalem came out to the rest of that multitude which so wasted Samaria clothed in sackcloth ashes vpon their heads beseeching them not so to seeke reuenge vpon the Samaritanes as thereby to moue the Romans to destroy Ierusalem and to be mercifull to their countrey the temple their wiues and children and not at once hazard all and ouerthrow their whole countrie and nation in reuenging the death of one Galilean The Iewes hereby were pacified and departed At the same time many conspired togither to robbe and steale as most commonly people by long peace grow insolent so that they robbed in euery part of the countrie they that were most strong and able offered violence to those that were weaker Then the princes of Samaria went to Tyre beseeching Numidius Quadratus being gouernour of Syria to reuenge them of those that so robbed and spoiled their countrey There was also the nobilitie of the Iewes Ionathas the sonne of Ananus who was high Priest who defended the Iewes against the Samaritanes accusations affirming the Samaritanes to haue beene cause of that tumult in killing the Galilean and after that Cumanus was cause of the rest of their calamities who refused to punish the murtherers Quadratus for that time sent away both parties promising thē that when he came into their countries he would diligently enquire of the matter and comming from thence to Caesarea he crucified all those whom Cumanus tooke aliue And departing from thence to Lydda he heard the Samaritans complaints and sent for eighteene men whom he vnderstood for certaine to haue bin in that broile beheaded them sent the two high priests Ionathas and Ananias his son Ananus with some other of the nobilitie of the Iewes to Caesar and also the chiefe of the Samaritans He likewise commanded Cumanus and Celer the tribune to go to Rome and yeelde account vnto Claudius for that which they had done in that countrey This done he went from Lydda to Ierusalem and finding there the multitude celebrating the feast of vnleuened bread without any tumults or disorders he returned to Antiochia Caesar at Rome hearing the allegations of Cumanus and the Samaritanes Agrippa was also there earnestly defending the cause of the Iewes as also Cumanus was assisted by many potentates he pronounced sentence against the Samaritans commanded three of their chiefe nobilitie to be put to death and banished Cumanus and sent Celer the tribune bound vnto Ierusalem that the Iewes might draw him about the citie and then cut off his head This done he sent Felix brother to Pallas to rule Iudaea Samaria and Galilaea And he preferred Agrippa from Chalcis vnto a greater kingdome making him king of that prouince whereof Philip had beene ruler to wit Trachon Batanaea and Gaulanitis adding thereunto Lysanias kingdome the Tetrarchy whereof Varus was gouernour And hauing raigned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and thirtie daies Claudius departed this life leauing Nero to succeed him whom by the perswasions of his wife Agrippina he adopted to the Empire hauing a lawfull begotten sonne of his owne named Britannicus by his former wife Messalina and a daughter called Octauia whom he maried vnto Nero he had also another daughter by Agrippina named Antonia How Nero abused his wealth and felicitie and how he slew his brother mother and his wife and afterward raged against all his kinred and how in a mad vaine he became a player vpon a stage because it requireth a long narration I will speake nothing thereof CHAP. XII Of the tumults in Iudaea vnder Felix WHerefore I will begin to recount what Nero did against the Iewes He made Aristobulus Herodes sonne king of the lesser Armenia and ioyned vnto Agrippas kingdome foure cities and the ground belonging vnto them two of them Abila and Iulias were in the countrey of Peraea the other Tarichaea and Tiberias were in Galilee and he made Felix gouernour ouer the rest of Iudaea This Felix tooke Eleazar captaine of the theeues after he had robbed and spoyled the countrey twentie yeeres and many more with him and sent them bound vnto Caesar and he crucified a great number of them who either were theeues and his confederates or else such as assisted him The countrey was no sooner clensed from these but presently another sort of theeues arose in Ierusalem called Sicarij with short swords who at high noone in the midst of the citie killed many in euery place and especially at the celebrating of holy feasts they mixt themselues with the multitude hauing short swords vnder their coates and therewithall killed those to whom they bare
bring foorth presently all those that had vsed any opprobrious words against him threatning to be reuenged vpon them except they did it The Iewes made answere that the people intended nothing but peace and quietnesse requesting that they that had offended in words might obtaine pardon For it was no maruell in so great a multitude if there were some rash and foolish young men and that it was vnpossible to discerne all that offended seeing euery one was now penitent for that which was done and at least for feare would denie it And that if he were carefull to conserue and maintaine the quietnesse of the nation and preserue the Citie stil to obey the Romans he then must rather pardon a few seditious for so many good mens sake then to reuenge himselfe of a few wicked persons to hurt and molest so many that thought no harme Hereat Florus wrath was encreased and presently he commanded the souldiers to sacke the market place which was in the higher part of the Citie where things were solde and put all they met or found vnto the sword The souldiers who were desirous of gaine hauing now authoritie from their ruler did not only sacke the place they were sent vnto but also all houses and murthered the inhabitants All streets and gates were filled with them that sought to flie and the dead bodies of them that did light into the souldiers hands no sort of spoiling was omitted They also apprehended many of the nobilitie and brought them to Florus and he causing them to be whipt afterward hanged them vp And there were slaine that day of men women and children for they spared not infants six hundreth and thirtie Which did not afflict the Iewes so much as to see the sodaine crueltie and tyrannie of the Romans Florus then doing that none before durst euer presume to doe for he caused knights before the tribunall seate to be whipped and after hanged them vp who though they were Iewes borne yet receiued they that dignitie from the Romans CHAP. XV. Of another opperession of the Citizens of Ierusalem by Florus his meanes AT the same time king Agrippa was gone to Alexandria to entertaine Alexander whom Nero sent to be ruler ouer Aegypt his sister Berenice in the meane while remained in Ierusalem who seeing the cruelty of the souldiers was much grieued and often sent the lieutenants of her horsemen and her owne guard vnto Florus requesting him to abstaine from the slaughter of the citizens But he neither regarding the multitude of them that were slain nor the dignitie of her that entreated but only his priuate gaine and what he could gather by oppression and rapine denied her request so that the rage of the souldiers extended it selfe also against the Queene For they did not onely before her face beate and kill all that came in their way but they had also killed her had she not fled into the pallace where she watcht all night keeping a trusty guard about her fearing that the soldiers would breake in vpon her She came to Ierusalem to fulfill her vow to God for it is the custome that if any be afflicted with a grieuous sicknesse or be in any other destresse they must abide in prayer thirtie daies before they offer sacrifice and abstaine from wine and shaue their haire which custome Queene Berenice then obseruing stood also barefoot before Florus his tribunall seat to entreat him whom he not only contemned but also put her in danger of her life This was done the sixteenth day of May. The day after the multitude gathered togither in the vpper part of the Citie in the market place with great cries murmured that so manie were slaine and especially vsed contumelious words against Florus which the nobilitie and high priests fearing their deaths apprehended beseeching them to abstaine from such words as had alreadie caused that calamitie in the citie and not to prouoke Florus vnto greater indignation And so the multitude was pacified for their sakes who entreated and hoped that hereafter Florus would desist from such crueltie Florus when he saw the multitude quieted was sorie and that he might againe prouoke them he assembled togither the nobilitie and high Priests telling them that it would be an argument that the people did not seeke alteration any more if they would go in courteous wise and meete the souldiers which were comming from Caesarea whereof were two legions Hauing thus assembled the Iewes togither to go meet the souldiers he also sent and commaunded the Centurions not to salute the Iewes who came to meet them and if therefore the Iewes were offended and gaue any hard speeches they should fall vpon them with their weapons The high priests assembling the Iewes togither in the temple besought them to go solemnly to meet and entertaine the souldiers for feare of a greater inconuenience Notwithstanding their counsell those that were seditious refused to do as they were requested and others for griefe of them that were slaine tooke part with the seditious Then all the Priests and Leuites brought forth the holy vessels and ornaments of the temple and with Harpes songs and musicall instruments came before the multitude beseeching them to endeuour that the honour and pompe of the temple might still remaine not to incite the Romans through contumelious words to sacke the temple There might you see the chiefe of the high Priests with ashes vpon their heads and cloathes rent so that their naked breasts were perceiued calling euerie noble man by his name and speaking vnto al the multitude requested not for a small offence to betray their whole countrie to them who still gaped after the destruction thereof For what commoditie should the Romans reape by the Iewes salutation and what amendement of their miseries could they expect if they did not go to meet them Contrariwise if they would go to them in solemne sort then they tooke from Florus al occasion of persecution saued their countrey from ruine themselues from further calamities Adding that it was a great shame that such a multitude should be led away with a few seditious persons that it was more fit that so many should force those few seditious people to obey them ioyne with them in opinion With these perswasions they did mollifie the malice of the Iewes and also perswade many of the seditious people some with threats and some with reuerence of themselues to be pacified And so they going before all the people followed went out to meet the Roman souldiers And comming neere them they saluted them who answering nothing againe those of the Iewes that were seditious began to rayle against Florus by whose consent this was done and presently the souldiers apprehending them did beat them with clubs and the rest flying the Roman horsemen pursued them and trode vpon them with their horses Many were slaine by the Romanes and more were killed in the throng
as they were willed suspecting nothing and the Scythopolites were quiet for two daies after and did nothing But the third night they sent forth scouts to see what they were doing who finding some of them a sleepe and others not resisting they surprised them in a moment and killed them all who were in number thirteene thousand and afterward tooke their goods I thinke it not amisse to speake of the death of Simon who was the sonne of Saul a man of regard he was a man of great courage and strength of bodie which both he vsed to the great hurt of his owne nation for he daily killed many Iewes who dwelt neere vnto Scythopolis and hee alone often scattered diuers companies and put whole armies to flight who had an end worthie for his deedes and murdering of his Countrimen For when the Scythopolites had compassed the wood about so that none could escape their hands they killed the Iewes in euerie part thereof Symon drawing his sword made no resistance to any of his enemies for he saw that it was bootlesse to striue against such a multitude Then pitifully crying out I receiue O Scythopolites a worthy reward for that which I haue done who to shew my fidelitie towards you haue killed so many of mine own countrimen it is a iust plague that a strange nation should be false vnto vs who impiously forsooke our own brethren I wil do therfore as a prophane person killing my selfe with my owne hands this death will bee a sufficient punishment for my offences a full argument of my magnanimitie that none of my enemies may boast of my death nor insult ouer me When he had thus spoken he beheld al his family with cōpassion and rage mixt togither he had a wife and children aged parents And first taking his father by the haire of the head stood vpō him thrust him through after him he killed his mother who was willing to die after them his wife and children euerie one of them as it were offering their bodies to the sword desirous to preuent the enemies When he had slaine all his kinred himselfe remaining aliue he stretched forth his arme that they might see what he would do and thrust his sword into his own bodie vp to the hilts A young man who for his magnanimitie strength of bodie was worthie to be pitied had yet a iust and deserued end for trusting forraine nations CHAP. XX. Of another grieuous slaughter of the Iewes AFter this so great a massacre of the Iewes in Scythopolis other cities also did rise against them where they inhabited and two thousand and fiue hundreth were slaine at Ascalon and two thousand at Ptolemais and the Tyrians killed diuers and kept many in prison likewise they of Gadara and Hippon slew the most valiant and those of least courage they cast into prison Also all other cities who either feared or hated the Iewes rose vp against them Onely they of Antiochia Sidonia and Apamia spared them that dwelt with them and neither killed nor imprisoned any of them perhaps they stood in no feare of them if they should haue risen because their citie was so populous yet I thinke they spared them onely for pitie sake because they saw that they were quiet and not seditious The inhabitants also of Gerasa did no harme to the Iewes amongst them but when they desired to depart they conducted them safely vnto the end of their borders In the kingdome also of Agrippa much crueltie was shewed against the Iewes For he being gone to Cestius Gallus at Antiochia left the rule of his countrey to one of his friends named Varus kinsman vnto king Sohemus and there came vnto him seuentie of the chiefe nobility of the country Batanaea requesting a garrison to represse those that should attempt rebellion amongst them Varus sent certain of the kings souldiers armed and killed them al as they were comming to him But he did this impietie without Agrippa his consent onely for auarīce a◅◅t were emboldened by this fact he ruinated the whole realme still continuing such crueltie and impietie against his nation til such time as Agrippa vnderstood therof who for Sohemus sake durst not put him to death but dispossessed him of his place In the meane while the rebels tooke the fort called Cyprus which is scituate aboue Iericho and after they had killed the garrison they destroyed the fortresse At the same time a multitude of Iewes laid siege before the Castle of Macheron and perswaded the souldiers left in garrison to yeeld the Castle who fearing that if they denied they should be compelled thereto deliuered it vnto them vpon condition that they might quietly depart and they of Macherunt placed a strong guard within it CHAP. XXI How the Iewes were slaine at Alexandria THe citizens of Alexandria had alwaies a quarrel against the Iewes that liued with thē since the time that that famous Alexander vsed their helpe against the Aegyptians and therefore permitted them to inhabite in Alexandria and to haue the same priuiledges that the rest of the citizens had And this honor was also continued with them vnto the time of the successors and heires of Alexander who also gaue them a certaine place in the citie to dwell in that there they might liue more commodiously the Gentiles hauing nothing to doe amongst thē permitted them also to cal thēselues Macedoniās And afterward when Aegypt was brought vnder the rule of the Romans neither Caesar nor any one else did diminish the Iewes dignitie in that place which Alexander had giuen them So that now there was daily conflicts betweene them and the Greekes and although the Iudges on both parts still punished them that were in fault yet the sedition more and more encreased and when all cities else were filled with troubles there the tumult was more vehement For when the Alexandrians had called togither the people to determine of an embassage to Nero certaine Iewes mingled themselues amongst the Greeks and so went into the Amphitheater who being espied by their aduersaries the Greeks cried out that the Iewes were enemies and came as spies and so laid violent hands vpon them Some of them ◅led onely three of them were taken by the Greeks whom they drew to a place to burne them aliue All the Iewes of the citie came to succour them and first they threw stones at them and then taking firebrands they ran in a rage into the Amphitheater and threatned to burne all the people there assembled which they had done if Tiberius Alexander gouernour of the citie had not appeased their furie who did not at the first vse force of armes against them but sent their nobilitie to perswade them to cease and not incite the Roman army against them But the seditious Iewes refused his admonition and mocked Tiberius who seeing that they would not otherwise be appeased sent two legions of armed Romans against them which
were partakers of this calamitie who assembled themselues togither in mount Garizin which they account a sacred place But both their assembly their courage did portend their warres and not vvarned by their neighbours harmes nor with any aduise or iudgement considering their ovvne infirmitie and the Romans power began to be tumultuous Vespasian foreseeing this thought it good to preuent them and although all the region of Samaria had garrisōs in it yet for all the great multitude assembled it was thought that the garrisons were able to keepe thē vnder Wherefore he sent thither Caerealis the Tribune of the fift legion with sixe hundreth horsemen and three thousand footmen Caerealis thought it not the best way to goe vnto the mountaine and fight with the whole multitude because a great many of their enemies were vpon it wherefore he commanded his souldiers to beleger the mountaine about at the foote thereof and so keepe them there all the whole day There happened at that time a vehement heate and the Samaritans wanted water for it was then sommer and the people had not prouided themselues of victuals so that many in one day onely for want of drinke dyed of thirst the rest preferred death before the miserie they endured and so fled vnto the Romans of whom Caerealis learned that those that yet remained on the mount were euen dismayed by the miserie they endured Wherefore hee ascended the mountaine and compassing about the enemies with his armie he first exhorted them to yeeld willing them to saue themselues promising them all their liues if they would cast downe their weapons but nothing preuailing with them he set vpon them and killed them all in number eleuen thousand and six hundreth and this was done the seuen twentith day of Iune and these were the miseries that befell the Samaritans CHAP. XIII Howe Iotapata was taken THe Citizens of Iotapata endured this hard siege contrarie to all expectation and in the seuen and fortith day the Romans mounts were raised higher then their walls on this same day one of the Citie fled vnto Vespasian and tould him in what case the citie stoode and how fewe citizens were left and that with dayly watchings and fighting they were far spent whereby they were not able to resist any more and that they might be taken by pollicie if they were followed for in the last part of the night being wearie they ceased from their labour and slept vntill the morning wherefore hee perswaded Vespasian to assault them at that time But Vespasian knowing how faithfull the Iewes were one vnto another how they contemned all punishment gaue little credite vnto this run-away for a little before one of Iotapata being taken could not by any torments be compelled to confesse or disclose the estate of the Citie whom the fire nothing moued so at last he was crucified laughing scorning death yet a probable coniecture which he had perswaded him to giue credite somwhat vnto this traitors words for that he knew no great harme could befall him if he so assaulted the Citie as the traitor willed he cōmanded the man to be kept and made all his armie in readinesse to assault the towne So at the hower appointed hee made towards the walles with silence Titus being the first accompanied with one Domitius Sabinus a Tribune a few of the fifteenth legion who killing the watchmen entred into the citie and after thē Sextus Caerealis and Placidus with their companies so the Castle was taken and the enemies were in the middest of the towne and it was faire day light and yet the townes men knewe nothing being now fast a slepe after their great labours watchings and they that did watch could see nothing there was so thicke a mist by chance that morning the rest neuer wakened till death was at their dore and that they perceiued their calamitie and destruction The Romans mindfull of all that had befallen them in the time of the siege did neither spare nor pitie any one but driuing the people out of the higher part of the citie into the lower part thereof they massacred them all where they that would could not fight for the narrownesse of the place so being cumbred for want of roome sliding downe the bāks for haste their enemies still pursuing them they were easily slaine Many of Iosephs guarde seeing this that they could not fight gathered themselues together in a corner of the citie and slew themselues that the Romans might not kill them But some of the watchmen who first perceiued the citie to be taken fled into a tower and resisted a while this tower was scituate on the North side of the citie and at last being enuironed with their enemies towards euening yeelded and offered themselues to be slaine And the Romans might haue boasted that that victorie had beene without bloudshed on their part had not Antonius a centurion been slaine trecherously For one of them who fled into the caues as many did requested Antonius to giue him his hande in token that he might come out safe and without danger which he doing vnaduisedly straightway the Iewe with a speare smote him in the flancke whereof he presently dyed The Romans that day slew all people that they found and the dayes following they searched all secret places and drewe those out of caues dennes that had fled thither and slew all but women infants so that they tooke away a thousand and two hundreth Captiues and the number of them who were slaine during the siege and at such time as the citie was taken amounted vnto fortie thousand And Vespasian commanded the citie to be destroyed and the castles to bee burned and so Iotapata was taken the thirteenth yeare of Nero his raigne in the first of Iuly CHAP. XIIII How Ioseph was taken and howe he redeemed his life with deedes and wordes BVt especially aboue all others the Romans made diligent search for Ioseph both for the hatred they bare him and also because Vespasian greatly desired to get him for that he◅ being taken the greatest part of the wars were then ended so they sought him amongst the dead and amongst those that were hid but he fortune fauouring him when the citie was taken escaped from the middest of his enemies and lept into a deepe Well which had a large caue on the one side the which they aboue could not perceiue where he founde fortie principall men who had prouision for many dayes The enemies being in euery place hee in the day time lay hid and in the night he went forth to see if he could escape and perceiuing that all places about were diligently watcht for to take him he returned againe into the caue and lay there two daies the third day a certaine woman that had been with them in the caue was taken and so he was descried Then Vespasian sent two tribunes to him to promise
in heauen and from thence after a reuolution of the heauens departing are againe commanded to dwel in chast bodies And that they who haue vvrought their owne death goe vnto darke hell and that God punisheth this their offence vpon all their posteritie Hence it is that God is displeased therewith and it is forbidden by our most wise lawmaker For if any amongst vs kill themselues it is decreed that till the sunne go downe they shall lie vnburied yet we hold it lawfull to burie our enemies Other nations cause their right hands to be cut off who haue killed themselues iudging that as the soule thereby was made a straunger to the bodie euen so by that fact was the hand made a straunger vnto it Wherefore O companions thinke on that which is decent and not to adde to our humane misery impietie against God who created vs. If vve desire to be saued let vs saue our selues for it is no disgrace to receiue our liues at their hands vvho are witnesses of so many valiant deeds of ours If we desire to die let vs die by their hands that haue ouercome vs. I will not go into my enemies campe to be a traitor against my selfe For I beare not their mind who forsake their owne company to flie vnto their enemies for they flie vnto them to saue their liues but I go vnto them to worke mine owne death euen the death of my selfe And I would to God that the Romans would breake promise with me for if they kil me after they haue promised to saue my life I shall willingly die and with great courage hauing their breach of promise and periurie for a comfort of the last victorie Ioseph spake much to this effect to disswade his companions from killing themselues But they stopping their eares with desperation wherewith they had armed themselues to die came furiously towards him with their swords drawne vpbraiding him that he was a coward and euerie one was readie to strike him Then Ioseph calling one by his name and looking vpon another with a countenance like a gouernour holding anothers hand and intreating the rest distracted in such daunger at last escaped from being killed at that instant for stil as one came neere him to strike him he turned his face vpon him like some cruell beast and some of them who remembred how he had beene their captaine in their extremitie with reuerence of his personage trembled so that their swords fel out of their hands and many lifting vp their armes to strike him of their owne accord let their weapons fall Ioseph notwithstanding his desperate estate yet was he not voide of counsell but assisted by Gods prouidence he hazarded his life and spake vnto them as followeth Seeing quoth he that ye are all determined to die let vs cast lots who shall kill one another and he vnto whom the lot falleth shall be killed by him who next ensueth and so the lots shall be cast vpon euerie one of vs so that none of vs shall be forced to kill our selues For it were iniustice that when some of vs be slaine the rest should repent themselues and so escape They all liked well of this and alwaies he vpon whom the lot fell was slaine by him that followed as though they were now to die with their captaine for death was more acceptable because they thought Ioseph should die with them Now it hapned by the prouidence of God that Ioseph remained aliue only with one other and then perswaded him who was left aliue to liue and not seeke death for feare the lot should fall vpon himselfe and for that if he suruiued he should be polluted with the murther and slaughter of his owne nation Thus Ioseph deliuered both from the warres of the Romans and also of his owne nation went with Nicanor vnto Vespasian All the Romans came about him to see him and pressing about their generall they made a great noyse some reioycing that he vvas taken others crying out to punish him others striuing to come neere to behold him better and they who were a farre off cried to kill their enemie but those that vvere neere him and beheld him remembring his prowesse vvere astonished to see that chaunge And there was no captaine nor ruler but although before they were all moued against him yet now beholding him they all began to pitie him and especially Titus who being of a gentle disposition admited Iosephs vaiour his constancy in aduersitie and his age and thereby was moued to take compassion vpon him remembring what a manner of man he had beene during the wars and vvhat he now was being fallen into his enemies hands calling also to mind the force and power of fortune and how small a stay the chance of warres had and that no humane affaires had any stay or hold in them wherefore he drew many mens minds to pitie him so that Titus vvas the chiefe author of Iosephs life yet Vespasian caused him to be carefully kept as though he meant to send him to Caesar. Which Ioseph hearing requested that he might speake a vvord or two with him alone then all but his sonne Titus departing and two of his friends Thou O Vespasian quoth he thinkest onely that thou hast Ioseph for thy captiue but I am a messenger vnto thee of greater matters from God otherwise I knew my countrey lawes and how it behooued the generals of our nation to die and not to be taken aliue by their enemies Wilt thou send me to Nero Wherefore As though Nero should still liue and thou not succeed him Thou O Vespasian art Caesar and the Emperour of Rome and Titus also thy sonne and keepe me in bonds with thee for thou art not onely my Lord but Lord of all the world and sea and land and all mankind And if I now faine these things in this state that I am of my owne mind against God let me be reserued vnto a greater punishment After hee had thus spoken Vespasian gaue small credit vnto his words and onely thought that Ioseph feined these things of himselfe to saue his life yet by little and little hee began to giue credit vnto him because God put it in his mind to hope for the Empire and foretelling his reigne by many signes and tokens he also found Ioseph to tel the truth in other matters For one of Vespasians friends answered that it was marueile that hee knowing that could not prophecie the euent of the warres against Iotapata and what was like to befall himselfe that so he might haue auoided those euils Ioseph answered that he foretold the Citizens of Iotapata that after seuen and fortie dayes they should be destroyed and that the Romans should keepe him aliue in hold Vespasian secretly enquired of these matters and finding by the relation of the captiues that it was true he began to giue more credit vnto that which Ioseph had told him concerning himselfe
the whole world abide our owne nation to tyrannize ouer vs Some may account it aduerse fortune to be once ouercome by strangers but to be slaues vnto the basest of our owne nation it argueth that we haue no sparke of generositie in vs that we beare base seruile minds And seeing I haue made mention of the Romanes I will not sticke to declare vnto you that which now commeth to my mind to wit that if we be taken by them which God forbid yet shall we suffer no greater miserie at their hands then now we do vnder these base tyrants And how can you abstaine from teares beholding this Temple enriched by the gift of the Romanes robbed and spoyled by them of our owne nation this being our mother Citie and to see those men murdered whome the Romanes although they had conquered vs would not haue touched The Romanes neuer durst presume to passe beyond the limites of prophane places nor euer violated they our sacred lawes and customes but alwaies reuerenced the sanctuarie beholding it onely a farre off yet now some borne and brought vp amongst vs who are called Iewes tremble not to walke in the sanctuarie hauing their hands bathed in the bloud of their countrimen and brethren Who will now feare forraine wars seeing these ciuill broiles are such Much better were it for vs to fall into our enemies hand yea if you will call euerie thing by such a name as it deserueth we shall finde that the Romans haue not violated our lawes but haue beene the confirmers thereof and they within our wals are our enemies True it is that those that haue thus tyrannized ouer vs deserue death and that no punishment can be deuised great enough for their offence and all of you were so perswaded before I spake of it and you were incited against them by that which you haue endured at their hands but yet you feare the multitude of them their courage and moreouer that they are in a higher place then you yet as all this came by your negligence and suffering so by your delaying they will grow stronger For their number is daily encreased and euerie wicked person flieth vnto his like and they are so much the more embol dened for that as yet no man did once offer to resist their enterprises and be sure that if they haue time they will make vse of the higher place and that to your domage But beleeue me if you would but once offer to go against them their very consciences would abate their hautie minds and the remembrance of their misdeedes would put them so farre out of tune that they will not make any benefit of the higher place Perhaps God in his vengeance will turne their own darts against them for their impietie and consume them therewith Let vs but onely shew our selues and we shall dismay them yet it is an honour for vs if need be to sacrifice our liues for the defence of the holy temple My selfe will assist you with hand and aduise and you shall see that you shall neither want counsell nor that I will spare my owne body to defend you from their treacheries Ananus thus exhorted the people against the Zelous yet he knew wel that it was great difficultie to ouercome them being lustie young men many in number of great courage the more desperate for the remorse of conscience of y e horrible crimes and execrable deeds which they had committed for they despaired of all hope of pardon for their misdeeds Yet Ananus thought it altogither intolerable that the common wealth should be so ouerruled After this exhortation the people cried out that they were ready to go against the theeues and to doe as they were requested Whilest that Ananus selected out the most able men for warre and set them in order the Zelous came and issued out vpon him and hauing intelligence of all his intents and proceedings by certaine spies which they had appointed vpon purpose being inraged sallied out and in companies sometime all at once othertimes in ambushes sparing none that they met with Ananus quickly gathered togither the people who were more in number then the theeues yet were they not so well armed as they but what they wanted in armes their courage did supply For the Citizens were armed with furie stronger then armor and they which were gone out of the temple with a more desperate boldnesse then all the multitude how great soeuer it was For the Citizens thought it no abiding for them in the Citie except they could driue away the Zelous and the Zelous thought that they could not escape torments and death it selfe except that they were victors So at last they ioyned battell each vnder their captaines and leaders and first of all both parties cast stones one against another and if any part fled then the conquerors pursued them with drawne swords and many were wounded and slaine on both parts Those townesmen that were vvounded were by their friends carried into their houses but the Zelous that were hurt went into the temple and polluted the sacred pauements with their bloud so that their religion was prophaned by their bloud Alwaies the theeues in making excursions got the vpper hand Hereat the Citizens being angrie seeing their number euerie day encreased reprooued the cowards so that if any of their company offered to flie from the Zelous they made him stand and resist whether he would or no not permitting him to passe away And thus they bent all their forces against their enemies At last the theeues not able to make any longer resistance by little and little retired themselues into the temple and Ananus with his company entred the temple by force with them and brake the ranke of his enemies Then they in the vtter temple were in great feare and fled into the inner temple and shut the gates with all speed Ananus would not offer violence to the sacred gates beside that the enemies cast darts from aloft for he thought it a great offence against God although he might haue got the victorie to introduce the people not being purified Wherefore he elected six thousand of the chiefe of all his men well armed and appointed them to keepe the porches and others to succeed in their places while they tooke rest And many of the better sort of the Citizens being by the chiefe of the Citie placed to keepe watch there hired other poore folke to watch in their steeds But Iohn who as before we haue tolde fled from Giscala wrought the ruine of all these This man being full of deceit and aboue all measure desirous of rule long ago intended to ouerthrow the common wealth This man from that time counterfeited himselfe to be against the theeues and so day and night accompanied Ananus and the rest both in their consultations and when they went to visite the watch and he disclosed all their secrets vnto the
your parts and duties to ioine with vs and helpe vs to exterminate these malefactors and be reuenged of them for this lie in that they presumed to call you to helpe them whom they had iust reason to feare as reuengers for their impieties yet if you make account of these mens praiers vouchsafe laying your weapons aside to come into our citie like friends and be your selues Iudges betweene vs and them whom you came to helpe And consider what fauour we shew them who permit them to plead their owne causes before you they being guiltie of so hainous crimes and hauing put to death persons of such account neuer accused nor permitted to speake for themselues yet this commoditie we will grant them for your sake But if you continue in your anger against vs and refuse this offer to be our Iudges then let vs intreat you that leauing both parts you would neither imbrue your hands in our bloud nor lend your aide vnto these miscreants against your mother citie And if you suspect any of vs to be confederates with the Romans you may keepe all passages and then seeke to defend your Metropolis when you haue proofe of any such matter as is alledged against vs and punish the authors of that treason when you haue conuicted them The enemies cannot preuent you being alreadie planted so neere the citie If you like of none of these maruell not that we shut our gates against you comming in armed and hostile manner Iesus spake thus vnto them But the Idumaeans being angrie were not moued hereby and so much the more for that entrance into the citie was denied them and their generals were exceedingly wrath thinking it slauerie to lay downe their armes especially at the commaund of another Then one of the captaines named Simon the sonne of Cathla hauing with much adoe gotten his souldiers to be silent hee stood in a place where the priests might heare him and said That he now did not wonder that those who maintained libertie were enclosed and besieged in the Temple seeing that they of the Citie now shut their gates against his followers the Citie being common and free for all men and that perhaps they were readie to open the Citie gates for to receiue the Romans And he spake vnto the Idumaeans from a tower and commanded them to cast down their armes which they tooke only for the libertie of the citie when they durst not trust their own nation to keep the same yet wold haue them iudges of the discord and that accusing others for killing some not conuicted they themselues doe condemne all the whole nation of ignominie and that they had now shut the Citie gates against their owne Countrimen which was common for al strangers to come vnto for religion sake Did we make haste towards you to fight against our owne nation which came onely to preserue your libertie But this is as true as that they whom you thus besiege haue wronged you and as the accusations you forge against them And you keeping in hold those that are the defenders of the Commonwealth doe then shut the Citie gates against men of your owne bloud lastly you impose vpon vs contumelious commands and say that they do tyrannize ouer you ouer whom indeed you do Who can any longer endure this your mockerie that perceiueth how vnpossible your allegations are For who can iustly accuse those that yee keepe shut vp in the Temple because that they presumed to punish traytors whom you grace with the title of noble innocent because they were your cōfederats Onely in this they are blame worthie that they did not begin with you but left aliue such members of that conspiracie Except also you will say that the Idumaeans shut you out of your Citie you your selues not permitting vs to come offer sacrifices But though they were too mercifull yet we Idumaeans will conserue the house of God and will fight for the common good of our Countrie and will bee reuenged both of the enemies that are without the Citie and the traytors within And here will we remaine before the Citie till either the Romans come and deliuer you or till you change your minds and bethinke your selues what a Iewell it is to haue libertie CHAP. VII Of the massacre of the Iewes by the Idumaeans ALl the whole multitude agreed with a lowd crie vnto these speeches of Simon And Iesus departed sorrowful seeing that the Idumaeans wold agree to no reason and that thereby their Citie should suffer double warres For the Idumaeans wrath was not yet asswaged who tooke the matter in great disdaine that they were not permitted to enter into the Citie and also for that they thought the Zelous verie strong and they themselues were ashamed that they could not come to helpe them so that many repented that they were come thither Yet would they not for shame returne nothing being done by them and so rashly placing their tabernacles neere vnto the Citie wals they determined to staie there But that night there fell a most huge tempest for there was a great stormie wind and an exceeding great raine mixt with fearefull thunder and horrible lightning and the Earthquake with strange noyses whereupon all men thought that this motion of the earth did signifie the death of mankind and portend some great matter The Idumaeans and townes-men were both of one mind for they thought that God was angrie with them for bearing armes against their Metropolis and perswaded themselues that they could not escape death if they continued in their purpose Ananus and his followers perswaded themselues that they had now ouercome them without warre and that God had fought for them against the Idumaeans But they were false Prophets and what they iudged was to befall their enemies that fell vpon themselues In the meane while the Idumaeans lay as close together as they could and couered their heads with their shields so that by this meanes the raine did them not so much harme The Zelous were pensiue for the Idumaeans more then for themselues and deuised which way they might succour them Then the boldest amongst them aduised the rest by force to oppresse the watchmen and 〈◊〉 goe into the Citie and open the gates to the Idumaeans that came to helpe them for it was easie to surprise the watchmen by reason that many of them were vnarmed and vnfit for warre and the Citizens could not easily be assembled together for euerie man because of this tempest kept his house And suppose that there were danger yet were it better to endure all mischiefes that might ensue then to permit such an army shamefully to perish who came at their request to helpe them But the wiser sort disswaded the rest from this seeing both a stronger watch placed to keepe them in and the Citie wals diligently guarded because of the Idumaeans and moreouer perswading themselues that Ananus ceased not but went
and presently leauing the citie they went vnto Simon of whom we will speake hereafter and so they departed home Their departure was against the expectation of both parts for the people not knowing that the Idumaeans were penitent for that they had done reioiced as now deliuered from their enemies and the Zelous grew more insolent and proud as though they neuer had needed helpe but now were deliuered from them in reuerence of whom they abstained from villanie So now they vsed no delaie to effect their impietie for they spent not much time in taking aduise but whatsoeuer seemed best vnto them presently without any delay they put it in practise But chiefly they murthered those men that were strong and valiant for they enuied the nobilitie for their vertue And they thought it a principall point first to be effected not to leaue any one man of account aliue Wherefore they slew amongst the rest Gorion a noble man of great birth and dignitie one who loued the people and was verie bountifull and a louer of libertie so that there was none amongst the Iewes like him who for desire of libertie and his other vertues was put to death But neither could Niger Peraita escape their hands a man who in the warres against the Romans had shewed himselfe â—…aliant who although he often cried out and shewed the scars of his wounds receiued in defence of his country yet they ceased not for all this most shamefully to drag him through the citie and being led out of the citie despairing of life he entreated that he might be buried But the barbarous people denying his request slew him Who at his death besought God that the Romans might come and reuenge it vpon them and that plague and famine and ciuill discord might light vpon their citie Whose praiers God heard sending all vpon them which he did iustly require and first of all they were plagued with ciuill warres amongst themselues Niger being thus slaine they were freed from the feare that they had of him how that he would resist their wickednes There was no part of the common people who were not by some forged tale or other put to death For some were slaine for that long since they had borne armes against their owne citizens and they who were innocent in all points were put to death for some occasion deuised in the time of peace and they who did not conuerse with them were murthered as such that contemned them and they that did freely and friendly conuerse with them were slaine as men that sought to betraie them and the greatest offenders and the least offenders were all punished alike to wit with death for no man escaped except he was either poore or of verie base condition CHAP. II. The ciuill discord amongst the Iewes IN the meane while the Romans addressed all their courage against the citie of Ierusalem and seeing them at great variance amongst themselues thought this to be for their great aduantage Vpon this they incited Vespasian their generall affirming that it was Gods prouidence who fought for them that the Iewes should be at ciuill wars amongst themselues and that therefore he should not ouerslip so good an opportunitie for the Iewes would quickly be friends againe one with another either by the wearines of ciuill wars or else repenting themselues of that which they had done To whom Vespasian answered that they were ignorant what was to be done being rather desirous as it were in a theater to shew their forces strength then with him to consider what was profitable and expedient For said he if we presently assault them our comming will make concord amongst our enemies and so we shall bring vpon our selues their forces yet firme and strong but by expecting alittle while they should haue lesse adoe to conquer them their chiefest forces being destroied by their owne ciuill wars And that God was more their friend then they were aware of who without their labour and paine deliuered the Iewes into their hands and will giue vs the victorie without indaungering of our armie And that therefore it was rather their parts to be as it were beholders of that tragedie then to fight against men desirous of death and troubled with the greatest euill that possiâ—…le could be to wit domesticall sedition and ciuill wars And if anie thinke that the victorie is not famous being gotten without fight let him know and consider the vncertaine euent of wars and that it is better if it be possible to get a victorie without bloudshed then therewith to hazard the victory For they who by counsell and aduice do any worthie act deserue no lesse praise then they who by force of armes atchieue a victorie Moreouer in the meane time that the enemie one destroied another his souldiers might take rest and so be stronger and better able to fight when need should require Beside that it seemed not that there was so much haste required to get the victorie for the lewes neither prepared armes or engines of warre nor leuied any forecs nor sought for aide and so by delaie no domage could insue but that they would plague one another more by ciuill wars then his armie would by taking them and their citie And therefore whether they considered it best to abstaine from assaulting them who fought with one another for securitie sake or else for vaine glorie thought the honour of the victorie diminished thereby yet he held it not meet to fight against them who were at ciuill wars amongst themselues for so it would be iustly said the victorie was not to be imputed to vs but to their discord The captaines all consented and thought this aduise of Vespasians best And presently it appeared how profitable his counsell was For euerie daie manieâ—…led vnto him to escape the hands of the Zealons yet it was hard dangerous to â—…ie because all the waies were garded with watchmen And if anie man vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer were taken vpon the waie he was presently killed as one who intended to haue fled vnto the Romans yet he that feed the watchmen with monie escaped awaie safelie and he that did not was counted as a traitor so that onely richmen could escape and the poore were left to the slaughter The multitude of dead bodies that lay on heapes togither was innumerable and manie of them who â—…d fled vnto the Romans returned againe into the citie chusing rather to die there for the hope they had to be buried in their natiue soile made death there seeme more tolerable But they became so cruell that they neither permitted them who were slaine within nor them without the citie to be buried But like men that had now determined togither with their countrey lawes to abolish the law of nature yea and by their impietie to pollute the sacred diuinitie with iniustice let the dead bodies rot aboue the ground and whosoeuer attempted to burie anie one of them that were
them tell the Citizens that except they presently restored his wife vnto him that hee swore by God who gouerned all that hee would breake downe their wals and vse all that hee found in the Citie after that fashion and that he would spare no age nor respect the innocent more then the guiltie These his threates did not onely terrifie the people but also the Zelous in so much that they sent him his wife againe and so his anger being something asswaged he ceased a while from daily slaughter CHAP. VIII Of Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian NOt onely in Iudaea but also in Italy at this time were ciuill warres for Galba was slaine in the middest of the market after whome Otho was created Emperour and fought against Vitellius who affected the Empire whome the Germaine legions had elected So the battell being fought neere vnto Bebrias a towne in Gallia Cisalpina the first day Otho got the victorie against Valens and Caecinna the Generals of Vitellius his armie But the day following they ouercame Otho so many being slaine on both parts newes being brought that Vitellius his armie had gotten the victorie Otho being at Brixels slew himselfe when he had ruled the Empire three months and two dayes Then Othoes souldiers came vnto Vitellius his Captaines and ioyned with them and so Vitellius came to Rome with his armie In the meane time Vespasian the fift day of Iune departed from Caesarea and went vnto those parts of Iudaea which were yet vnconquered and first of all he went into the high Countries and subdued the two Toparchies of Acrabatena and Gophnitis and after them two townes called Bethel and Ephrem and placed garrisons in them and so went vnto Ierusalem killing many that hee found in the way and hee tooke many captiues And one of his Captaines called Cerealis with a part of his horse and footmen wasted all the higher Idumaea and in the way as he went hee tooke Caphetra a Castle and burnt it besieged an other called Capharis enclosed with a strong wall for the which ca◅ he deemed that he should haue made long abode there but contrarie to his expectation the Inhabitants opened the gates vnto him and came and yeelded themselues beseeching him to be good vnto them When he had ouercome them Cerealis went vnto Hebron an ancient Citie and set it on fire this Hebron as I haue alreadie said was situated vpon the mountaines not farre from Ierusalem and breaking into it by force hee slew all them that he found there and fired the Citie And hauing subdued all places saue onely three Castles to wit Herodium Massada and Macheron which were kept by the theeues now onely Ierusalem remained to be conquered CHAP. IX Of Simons acts against the Zelous WHen Simon had receiued againe his wife from the Zelous he went into Idumaea to rob and spoyle that which he had left and chasing the Inhabitants vp and downe at last hee forced them to flie vnto Ierusalem he himselfe followed them thither and besieging the wals he killed al the workmen he took that returned out of the fields from their labour T◅s Simon without the citie was more terrible to the people then the Romans and the Zelous within the citie crueller then them both being encouraged and incited therto by the counsel of the Galileans For they had put Iohn in authoritie Iohn in reward therof permitted al things to be don which they requested There was no end of robbing spoyling rich mens houses and of slaughtering both of men and women and now to iniurie any person was a pastime And hauing with bloudshed obtained their pray in securitie and without all feare after they had gotten what they liked they now began to lust after women yea they became thēselues effeminate thorow luxuriousnesse dressing their haire and cloathing themselues in womens apparrell and they annoynted themselues with sweete oyntments that their beautie might bee pleasing and annoynting their eyes wanton-like they now did not onely imitate the attire of women but also their impudencie and became so shamelesse that they now thirsted after vnnaturall pleasures as though they had kept a stewes and so prophaned the whole Citie with their execrable impurities Yet though they did effeminate their faces their hands were prone to bloudshed and although they liued in ignominious maner as people giuen ouer to pleasure yet could they quickly become warriours vnder the habites of women drawing their swords they did kil whom so euer they met Whosoeuer escaped Iohns hands Simon crueller murdered and whosoeuer escaped the tyrannie within the Citie was slaine by the tyrant without So now there was no way to flie vnto the Romans Furthermore the armie of Iohn began to be deuided for all the Idumaeans separated themselues from the other people and there began a mutinie against the tyrant partly enuying his puissance partly hating his crueltie And so assaulting him they slew many of the Zelous and compelled the rest to flie into the Kings house builded by Grapta father of Izata king of Adiabena The Idumaeans also brake in thither with them and droue them from thence into the Temple and so seazed vpon Iohns treasure for Iohn liued in that pallace and thither carried all his spoyles Then those Zelous that were dispersed in the Citie came vnto them that were in the Temple and Iohn purposed to send them against the townesmen and the Idumaeans But they feared not so much their forces although they knew them to be the better warriors as they did feare that now being desperate they would steale out of the Temple in the night and so slay them and fier the Citie Wherfore assembling themselues they deliberated with the priests how to auoide their assaults but it pleased God to turne their owne counsel to be their destruction and that they should prouide a remedie of safetie farre worse then death it selfe For to depose Iohn they deuised to introduce Simon and as it were to intreate yet another to tyrannize ouer them So this counsell was thought best and Matthias the Priest was sent vnto Simon whom before they stood in great feare of now to request him to come into the Citie With them also came such as had fled from Ierusalem for feare of the Zelous entreating him in like maner because they desired to returne to their wiues and families So he entred into the Citie proudly promising them to be their Lorde and all the people cried with lowd voices as he came into the Citie that he was their preseruer and giuer of life and libertie Being now within the Citie presently he deliberated with them about him to establish his dominion thinking as well them that called him into the Citie as those against whom he was called his enemies Then Iohn and the Zelous with him finding no way to come out of the temple and hauing lost all that he had in the Citie
buttocke with a dart and Castor pulling it out of his flesh shewed it vnto the Emperour and complained of it as being iniured Titus presently with sharpe words corrected him that shot it and forthwith would haue sent Ioseph to promise Castor pardon and peace But Ioseph denied to go affirming that Castor onely dissembled and so hindred his friends that would haue gone At last one Aeneas who had fled vnto the Romans offered himselfe to go Castor inuited him as though he would giue him some thing in token of his true meaning Then Aeneas opened the skirt of his garment thinking Castor would haue cast him downe something of worth and when he came vnderneath the tower Castor tooke a great stone threw it down vpon him yet hurt him not because he was aware of it and auoided the stone but it wounded another souldier standing by Then Caesar considering this deceit began to thinke that pitie and mercie in warres was hurtfull and that crueltie was not so easily deceiued and so being verie angrie at this deceit he caused the wall to be beaten with the ramme more then before Castor and his fellowes perceiuing the tower to shake they set it on fire and so passed through the flame and conueied themselues into a mine of the tower so that againe the Romans admired their courage thinking that they had burned themselues Titus assaulting the wall on this part tooke it fiue daies after that he had taken the first and causing the Iewes to flie from thence he accompanied with a thousand chosen men about him entred in where the woolmen and coppersmiths and merchant tailors dwelt which place was the new Citie hauing only narrow and streight waies to go vnto the wall And had he presently beaten downe a great part of the wall or according to the lawes of armes destroied that which he had gotten he had obtained the victorie without any losse on his side Yet now hoping the Iewes would yeelde seeing that if he pleased he might take them by force he gaue the more ample and easie passage to retire for he did not thinke that they whose good he sought would haue been traitors vnto him CHAP. X. How the Romans did twise take the second wall WHen Titus was entred the citie he suffred none of them that were taken to be slaine nor the houses to be burned but permitted the seditious if they were so minded to fight and that without the preiudice of the people and also promised the people to restore vnto them all their goods For many besought him to spare the Citie for them and the temple for the citie The people were glad hereof and many of the warlike Iewes thought the humanitie of Titus to proceed from cowardize and iudged that Titus for that he despaired to winne the rest of the citie did now cowardlike propound these conditions They likewise threatned al the people that whosoeuer should speake one word concerning peace and yeelding vnto the Romans should presently die and some of them did resist the Romans from out of their houses and others in the narrow waies and others going out at the higher gates began a battell wherewith the watchmen being troubled fled from the wall and forsaking the towers they retired themselues into their campe The Romane souldiers within the citie cried out because they were enclosed with the enemies the gates being shut and assaulted without by those who apprehended their companions to be in great daunger The number of the Iewes encreasing and preuailing for that they knew the waies and turnings of the streets many of the Romans were slaine and violently borne downe when they offered to resist in that necessitie for a multitude togither could not flie by reason of the narrownesse of the streets that went vnto the wall and all that entered into the citie had beene slaine had not Titus succoured them For placing at the beginning of euerie street archers himselfe being where most need was he so did driue away the Iewes with darts and arrowes and with him Domitius Sabinus vvho in that fight was proued a stout warriour who so long continued beating the Iewes with arrowes till all the souldiers were escaped away Thus the Romans hauing got the second wall were beaten from it againe And the citizens fit for vvarre vvere hereat encouraged and were drunken vvith this good fortune thinking that now the Romans durst no more offer to come into the citie and that they could not be ouercome if they did arme themselues to fight For God because of their iniquitie had darkened their vnderstanding so that they neuer considered that the Roman forces were farre greater then they that were ouercome nor the famine that presently ensued for as yet they liued vpon the destruction of the people and dranke the bloud of the citie but the good did euen now suffer famine and many of them had alreadie perished for vvant of foode yet the seditious did reioyce at the death of the Citizens as though thereby they were eased of a great burthen onely desiring their liues that bare rebellious mindes and would ioyne vvith them against the Romanes reioycing at the death of the rest as freed from a heauie clogge and this vvas the affection they bare vnto their Citizens And so they armed themselues and resisted the Romans who now againe did attempt to enter the breach and they threw downe stones and part of the vvall vpon them as they came vp and so draue them backe againe and valiantly resisted them for three daies But the fourth day they were not able to vvithstand Titus his assault but were forced to retire as before and he hauing gotten the wall destroyed all the North part thereof and placed a garrison in the towers and fortresses of the South part CHAP. XI Of the mounts raised to batter the third wall and a long Oration of Iosephs to perswade the people to yeelde and of the famine in the Citie TItus now determined to batter the third wall and he thought to continue that siege but a short time and that it was conuenient to giue the seditious some time to bethinke themselues to see if that either by the taking of the second wall or terrified with famine they would repent For now there was no more praies for them left in the citie and he lay before the wals thereof euen as he desired And the time being come that euery souldier should receiue victuals and prouision for himselfe Titus caused them to be led euery one in order into a place where the Iewes in the citie might perfectly behold them and caused his captains to distribute money to euerie one And the souldiers as their custome is all armed and drawing their swords out of their sheathes marched along the horsemen leading their horses gallantly adorned and a great part of the suburbes glistered with gold and siluer This spectacle was gratefull to their owne souldiers and terrible
Yet did that destinie befal him which no man can escape for hauing his shooes full of sharpe nailes as other souldiers haue running vpon the pauement he slipt and fell down his armour in the fall making a great noise whereat his enemies who before fled now turned againe vpon him Then the Romans in Antonia fearing his life cried out but the Iewes many at once strooke him with swords and speares And he defended many blowes with his shield and many times attempting to rise they strooke him down againe yet as he lay he wounded many neither was he quickly slaine because that all parts of his body which being wounded might cause present death were armed and shrunke in his necke a long time til the rest of his body being cut off no man helping him his strength failed Caesar was verie sorrowful to see a man of so great force and fortitude slaine in the sight of such a multitude and that the place wherein he was hindred him from helping Iulian and others that might haue helped him durst not for feare At last when Iulian had a long time striuen with death and wounded many of them that slewe him he was with much ado killed leauing behind him a renowmed memorie not only amongst the Romans and Caesar but also amongst his enemies Then the Iewes tooke his dead body and did beate backe the Romans and shut them in Antonia In this battell one Alexas and Gyphthaeus two of Iohns companie fought valiantly and of Simons companie Malachias and Iudas the sonne of Merton and Iames the sonne of Sosa captaine of the Idumaeans and two brethren of the Zelous the sonnes of Iairus Simon and Iudas CHAP. IIII. Iosephs speech perswading the Iewes to yeeld their Citie and how many of them fled vnto the Romans AFter that Titus had commanded his souldiers to pull downe the foundations of Antonia and make an easie entrance for the whole army He called Ioseph vnto him for he vnderstood that day being the seuenteenth of Iuly that the Iewes were woont to celebrate a certaine feast to God which they called Entelechismus and that it was not solemnized for want of men so that the people greatly mourned therfore and againe commanded him to tell Iohn that whereof before he had sent him word to wit that if he desired to fight he should haue libertie to come with what multitude he pleased so that the Citie and the temple might not both perish with him willing him now to desist from prophaning the holy place and not from sinning against God sending him also word that if he so pleased he would grant him leaue to celebrate the festiuitie which had been now long time omitted and that by what companie he pleased Ioseph to the intent that not onely Iohn might heare this offer of Titus but also the rest of the people he stood in an eminent place from whence he might be heard and in the Hebrew tongue he recounted vnto the Iewes Caesars pleasure earnestly requesting them to spare their countrey and forbid the fire now ready to take holde of their temple and to offer the accustomed sacrifices vnto God When he had thus said the people were verie sorrowfull and euerie one held his peace not knowing what to say But the tyrant Iohn hauing vsed many railing speeches against Ioseph at last he answered that he need not feare the destruction of the temple and Citie seeing that it belonged to God Then Ioseph with a lowd voice cried out true it is you haue kept it pure and vnprophaned for God and the holy things you haue kept inuiolate neither hast thou committed any iniquitie against him from whom thou expectest helpe but hast offred solemne sacrifice vnto him If any man should take from thee thy daily food no doubt thou wouldest account him thy enemy canst thou then hope that God whom thou hast depriued of daily sacrifice wil assist thee in these wars Doest thou impute these offences to the Romans why they euen now doe defend our religion and commaund sacrifice to be offered which thou hast forbidden Who doth not bewaile this vnexpected change and lament our Citie strangers and enemies correct thy impietie and thou a Iewe borne and brought vp in our lawe art more cruell then they But consider Iohn it is no shame to repent thy wickednes in extremitie and at the last cast if thou be desirous to saue thy countrey thou hast a good example of Iechonias sometime king of the Iewes who when the Babylonians warred against him of his owne accord went out of the Citie before it was taken and willingly endured captiuitie with all his family and kinred only least he should betray these holy places vnto his enemies and behold the temple fired And for this act of his he is of sacred memorie amongst the Iewes and hath thereby gained immortall credit amongst all his posteritie This is a good example O Iohn although danger be at hand and I wil promise thee also pardon from the Romans onely remember that I thy countriman admonish thee and promise this vnto the Iewes behold who is the author and counsellor hereof God forbid that euer I should so liue a captiue that I should not liue according to the lawes of our countrey Yet againe art thou incensed against me and exclaimest vpon me and cursest me But true it is I deserue worse then this who seeke to perswade contrarie vnto the determination of Gods prouidence and striue to saue them whom his sentence hath condemned Who is ignorant of the writings of the auncient prophets and their prophecies now hanging ouer this wretched citie For then it is foretold by them to be destroied when we murther our owne nation and now not onely the citie but also the temple is full of your dead bodies Certainly it is God God it is that togither with the Romans bringeth in fire to purge this citie filled with iniquitie Ioseph thus crying with teares and lamentations he could speake no more for sobbing And the Romans compassionating his sorrow and affliction were astonished But Iohn and his confederates were so much the more incited against the Romans and sought to take Ioseph yet his speech did mooue many of the nobles and diuers fearing the seditious watchmen remained still where they were making full account both of their owne destruction and the subuersion of the Citie Yet some there were who finding opportunitie fled vnto the Romans amongst whom were two priests Ioseph and Iesus and three sons of Ismael the priest who was beheaded at Cyren and foure sonnes of Matthias the priest and one of the other Matthias who escaped vnto the Romans before his father was put to death by Simon Giora with his three sons as is before said and many other nobles reuolted with the priests whom the Emperour receiued verie curteously and then sent into Gophna knowing that it was a griefe for them to conuerse amongst
the miserie of Ierusalem vntill Albinus thinking him to bee out of his wits suffered him to depart This man euen vntill the time of warre neuer went to any Citizen nor was seene speake to any one but stil as it were studying of some speech he cried woe woe vnto Ierusalem Neither did he euer curse any one though euerie day one or other did beate him nor thanke any one that offered him meate All that he spake vnto any man was this heauie prophecie He went crying as is aforesaid chiefely vpon holy-dayes so doing continually for the space of seuen yeeres and fiue moneths his voice neither waxing hoarse nor wearie till in the time of the siege beholding that which he foretold them hee ceased and then once againe vpon the wals going about the Citie with a lowde voice he cried Woe woe vnto the Citie Temple and people and lastly he said woe also vnto my selfe which words were no sooner vttered but a stone shot from out an engine smote him and so he yeelded vp the ghost lamenting them all If any one doe diligently consider all these he shall find that God hath a care of mankind and doth euerie way foreshew betime what is most expedient for them and they through their owne madnesse to haue voluntarily perished in their wickednesse For the Iewes when the Castle Antonia was taken made the Temple foure square notwithstanding that it was written in the holy Scripture that the Citie and Temple should be taken when the Temple was made foure square But that which chiefely incited them to warre was the doubtfull prophecie likewise found in the holy Scriptures that at the same time one in their dominions should be Monarche of the whole world and many wisemen were deceiued in this interpretation making account that hee should be one of their owne nation yet indeed thereby was foretold Vespasians Empire But men cannot preuent destinie though they foresee it Thus the Iewes interpreted some of the signes as they pleased and at others they laughed till by the ruine of their Countrie and their owne wofull ouerthrow their iniquitie appeared CHAP. XIII How Titus was made Emperour and of the death of the priests AFter the seditious were fled into the Citie all the Temple and places thereabout being set on fire the Romans placed their ensignes in the Temple ouer against the East gate and there celebrating sacrifice with great cries declared Titus Emperour and the Romans got such prayes and booties that they sold gold in Syria for halfe the valew And amongst those Priests that kept on the wall a child being thirstie desired peace of the Romane watchmen saying that he was thirstie So they pittying both his yeeres and his need gaue him their hands that he should haue no harme and then he came downe and drunke and filled a bottle which he brought with him and when he had done hee ranne vp againe to his fellowes and none of the watchmen were able to ouertake him and they vpbraided him with falsehood But he answered that he had done nothing but that which hee and they intended for they did not giue him their hands to secure him to remaine with them but onely to come downe and take water which hee had done The Romane watchmen greatly admired the subtiltie of him that was but a child The fift day the Priests being almost famished came downe and the watchmen carried them to Titus whom they besought to graunt them their liues But he answered them that the time of pardon was past seeing that was destroyed for the which he might haue pardoned them and that it was meete that the Priests should perish with the Temple and so he commaunded them to be put to death Then the tyrants with their followers being on euerie side beset with warres and hauing no way to flie they being thus beleaguerd rounde requested to parly with Titus who for his naturall meeknesse his friends also perswading him thereto thought at least to saue the Citie iudging indeed that now the seditious had altered their minds and so he stood in the West part of the inner Temple for there was a gate built aboue a gallerie and a bridge that ioyned the Temple and Citie together which was then betweene Titus and the tyrants Many souldiers on both parts flocked about their rulers the Iewes about Simon and Iohn hoping for pardon the Romans about Titus desirous what he would say vnto them and Titus by an Edict commaunding the souldiers to be quiet and to shoote no arrowes spake vnto them first by an interpreter thereby shewing that he had the vpper hand and said O yee men of Ierusalem are you not now glutted with the calamities of your Countrie Neither calling to mind our power nor your owne infirmitie but with a rash furie haue destroyed your people Citie and Temple your selues also hauing instly deserued to perish who since Pompey first conquered you haue neuer ceased to be seditious and at last haue openly borne armes against the Romans Did you trust vnto your multitude You haue seene that a small parcell of the Romans armie hath sufficiently resisted you Or did you expect forraine aide What nation is not vnder our dominion and who wold rather make choyse of the Iewes then of the Romans Did you trust in your strength of bodie Why you know that the Germanes serue vs. Or in the strength of your wals What wall or what greater hinderance then the Ocean wherewith the Britaines inuironed haue yeelded vnto the Romane forces Or to your courage and politicke counsell of your Captaines You haue alreadie heard that the Carthaginians haue beene by vs surprised It was therefore the Romanes humanitie that incited you against themselues who first of all permitted you to possesse your Countrie and gaue you Kings of your owne nation and after all this wee kept your lawes inuiolate and suffered you to liue as your selues desired not onely in your owne Countrie but also amongst other nations and which is the greatest of all our benefits bestowed vpon you wee permitted you to gather tribute and gifts to the maintenance of your Temple and sacrifices to God of all which we neither forbad any to be brought vnto you neither hindered any that would offer vnto your Temple but suffered you our enemies to be made more rich then our selues so that you haue vsed our owne money against vs. Wherefore hauing receiued so many benefits at our hands you haue now disgorged your selues vpon vs and like spitefull Serpents spit your poyson vpon them that made much of you Let vs omit that by Nero his negligence you became forgetfull of your dutie and like some member in the bodie broken or shrunke you being still tumultuous at last were taken in a greater offence and were incouraged with immoderate desires to hope for vnlawfull libertie My father came into your Countrie not to punish you for your misdemeanour toward Cestius but by
moreouer to prouide for their owne safetie in yeelding the castle vnto the Romans vertue and fortunate successe Then they mooued with his words and many also within the Citie intreating for him for he came of a great parentage and had many kinsfolks though contrarie to their natures compassion tooke place in them and so sending some of their companie speedily they desired to parley affirming that they would yeeld their castle vpon condition that they might safely depart away and Eleazar might be likewise restored vnto them Which offer of theirs the Romans accepted and the Iewes in the lower part of the Citie hauing intelligence of this couenant resolued themselues to flie away in the night but so soone as they had opened their gates those that had agreed with Bassus gaue him intelligence thereof either enuying that their countrimen should escape or els fearing that Bassus would punish them for their flight yet for all this the most valiant of them that sled escaped who were gone before the rest and the rest were slaine to the number of a thousand and seuen hundreth men for the women and children were made bondslaues And Bassus thinking it meete to keepe his promise vnto them of the castle permitted them safely to depart and restored Eleazar vnto them CHAP. XXVI Of the Iewes that Bassus slew and how he sold Iudaea THis done he prepared to carrie his army into the pasture called Iardes for he had notice that many Iewes were there assembled togither who had escaped from Ierusalem and Machaera during the siege So comming vnto the place and finding it to be as it was reported vnto him he first of all enuironed it with horsemen that if any one of the Iewes sought to escape the horsemen might withstand them and he commanded the footmen to cut downe the wood into the which they fled to hide themselues And so through necessitie they were constrained to fight hoping by a couragious fight to find opportunitie to flie wherefore they altogither with a crie violently assaulted them by whom they were inuironed and they did valiantly withstand them and by their valour and the Iewes desperation the fight endured a long time yet the euent of the warre was not like vnto the rest of the fight for onely twelue Romans were slaine and verie few wounded and all the Iewes were slaine in that fight being in number three thousand and their captaine Iudas the sonne of Iairus of whom we haue already made mention who during the siege of Ierusalem was commaunder of a companie there hid himselfe in a certaine caue and secretly escaped from thence At that time Caesar writ vnto Liberius Maximus his Gouernour and vnto Bassus to sell Iudaea for he did not build in all the countrey any Citie but appropriated it vnto himselfe leauing there onely eight hundreth souldiers and giuing them a place to dwell in called Emaus thirtie stounds distant from Ierusalem and he imposed a tribute vpon all Iewes vvheresoeuer they liued commanding euerie one of them euerie yeere to bring two drachmes into the Capitole according as in former times they weere woont to pay vnto the temple of Ierusalem and this was the estate of the Iewes at that time CHAP. XXVII Of the death of King Antiochus and how the Alanes inuaded Armenia IN the fourth yeere of Vespasians raigne it happened that Antiochus king of the Comagenes with all his family fell into great miserie vpon this occasion Cesennius Petus gouernour of Syria either for enuie or for that indeed it was so for it is not wel knowne sent letters vnto Caesar declaring vnto him that Antiochus was determined to reuolte from the Romans togither with his sonne Epiphanes and had made a league with the king of the Parthians and that therefore it was necessarie to preuent them in time least that if they first began to reuolt openly they might trouble all the Roman Empire with warres Caesar did not neglect these newes for that the neerenesse of both the kings countries one to another seemed to require that they should be quickly preuented for Samosata the greatest Citie of Comagena is scituate vpon Euphrates which might both easily receiue the Parthians and be a strong hold for them and also there they might easily passe ouer the riuer Wherfore Vespasian beleeuing it permitted him to doe what he thought expedient and he forthwith Antiochus thinking nothing suddenly entred into Comagene with the sixt legion and certaine other companies of footmen and troupes of horsemen accompanied with Aristobulus king of Chalcidis and Sohemus king of Emesa who came to assist him So they entred the countrey without any fight for none of the inhabitants offered to resist Antiochus daunted with these vnexpected newes did not so much as thinke of any warre against the Romans wherefore he determined to leaue the whole kingdome in that estate that then it was in and with his wife and children depart from thence hoping hereby to cleare himselfe vnto the Romans from that which they suspected of him and going almost a hundreth and thirtie stounds from the Citie into a field there he placed a tabernacle And Petus sent men vnto Samosata to take it and left them to keepe the Citie and he with the rest of the souldiers purposed to go against Antiochus But for all this the king though by necessitie vrged thereunto yet would he not fight against the Romans but bewailing his misfortune enduted patiently all whatsoeuer but his sonnes being Iustie strong young men and skilfull in martiall affaires could not easily abstaine from fight in that their distresse Wherefore Epiphanes and Callinicus his two sonnes had recourse vnto their forces and in a great fight that dured a whole day they shewed their valour and departed receiuing no losse But Antiochus after this fight would not any longer abide in his countrey but taking his wife and daughters he fled into Cilicia and thereby discouraged his souldiers who despairing to keepe the kingdome for him reuolted vnto the Romans But Epiphanes and the rest were forced to seeke to saue themselues before such time as they were left destitute and so accompanied with ten horsmen he passed the riuer Euphrates and thus being out of daunger they came to Vologesus of whom they were receiued not as fugitiues but with great honor and according to their degree as though they yet possessed their auncient dignitie And Petus comming to Tarsus of Cilicia he sent a Centurion to carrie Antiochus bound vnto Rome But Vespasian permitted not a king to be so brought vnto him thinking it meete to consider the olde friendship betweene them then to perseuer in danger and not to be pacified by reason of vvarre Wherefore he commaunded that in the way as he came he should be vnbound and a while to liue at Lacedemon and leaue his iourney towards Rome allowing great store of mony sufficient to maintaine a kingly dignitie Epiphanes and they
it downe euen vnto the earth which hangeth vpon it and hath receiued his proper habitation then it enioyeth free perfect 〈◊〉 and remaineth inuisible to our mortall eies as God himselfe is neither is it visible in our bodies For it commeth secretly into them and so departeth from them againe that no man can perceiue it hauing onely a nature incorrupt and causing a change in our bodies For whatsoeuer the soule toucheth that presently liueth and flourisheth and what it forsaketh that incontinently withereth and dieth so much doth it participate of immortalitie The sleepe may be an euident argument vnto you of this which I speake where the soule not distracted taketh a most pleasant and sweete repose and â—…ommunicating with God it is with him present in euene place by reason of affinitie and foretelleth many future euents Wherefore should we then feare death who loue the rest that we take in sleepe were not he a mad man that for a short life would hinder himselfe of eternall life It were necessarie that we who are instructed in the law of our nation should giue example to other to despise and contemne death But if we seeke confirmation hereof from strangers let vs see the example amongst the wiser sort of the Indians for they being iust men doe tolerate this life as a necessarie office of nature for a certaine time though against their wils yet do they hasten to vnloose the soule bound in this mortall body though not vrged thereunto by any calamitie or necessitie but onely for desire of immortalitie telling others that they will depart out of this life neither doth any one seeke to hinder them but all men esteeming them most fortunate send by them commendations and other messages vnto their friends departed so firme is their beliefe that the soules of them that are dead haue communion and conuersation togither And so they hauing all instruction what to say to the soules departed doe with great applause leape into the fire that thereby their soules may be purified from their bodies And their friends go more ioyfully with them when they go to their deaths then any doth that bringeth his friend on the way when he is to go a great iourney and they bewaile themselues not those who are dead and haue attained immortalitie Shall not we then be ashamed not to beleeue so firmly as the Indians do despising through our own sloath our countrey lawes which are to be emulated of all men Nay supposing that by our law we had bin instructed contrariwise to wit that to liue in this life is blisse and to die is calamitie yet notwithstanding this present necessitie this present time had been a sufficient motiue to cause vs to embrace death rather then life seeing that by Gods appointment and of necessitie we must now die In times past it appeateth God so prouided that he shortned their daies of our owne nation that would not vse their life as they ought to haue done I dare not ascribe it vnto the Romans nor report of our selues that their warres consumed vs all For this did not happen through their forces but a more potent cause hereof there was which made them conquerours Which of the Romans slew the Iewes that inhabited at Caesarea whom the inhabitants thereof vpon the Sabaoth day they being assembled in one place togither with their wiues and children did massacre notwithstanding that they had no intent to reuolt from them nor neuer lifting vp their hands in their owne defence nothing fearing the Romans who onely accounted them of our nation their enemies that reuolted from them But some may obiect the Iewes at Caesarea and the inhabitants thereof were alwaies aâ—… variance and that now they reuenged their olde quarrel hauing gotten opportunitie What then shall we say of the Scythopolitans who bare armes with the Graecians against vs and denied to assist their owne kinred against the Romans What profit did they receiue by this their goodwill and fidelitie for they were altogither with their whole families cruelly slaine and this was the reward they had for their labour for hauing with stood vs to haue done the like vnto them it were too long to recount all things seuerally to this effect For as ye know there is no Citie in all Syria that hath not massacred the Iewes their inhabiting being more our enemies then the Romans were where they of Damascus although they could not deuise any probable cause for it yet did they massacre all the Iewes liuing amongst them who amounted to the number of eighteene thousand beside their wiues and families And as we haue heard it reported the number of the Iewes slaine by the Aegyptians were aboue three score thousand It may be that finding no aduersitie in a strange countrey they were put to death by their enemies But they that in their owne countrey fought against the Romans wanted nothing that might haue caused a perfect hope of a full victorie ouer the Romans they had weapons armour wals and strong holds inexpugnable their valorous courage in fighting for libertie shunned no danger and encouraged men to reuolt which all hauing a while serued their turnes at last was a cause of their greater miserie For all were taken and subdued by the enemies as though they had been built and made to make their enemies victorie more famous and not to doe them seruice And we may iustly deeme them happy who were slaine in the warre for they died in libertie Yet who doth not pitie the multitude of them that fell into the Romans hands or who would not hasten to die rather then endure the like miserie that they suffered Some of them being tortured and some with fire and stripes perished and others halfe eaten of wilde beasts were reserued aliue for their second foode and they are most miserable of all that are yet aliue who often wish for death and cannot finde it Where is now that gorgeous Citie where is it that was once the mother Citie of all the nation of the Iewes so strengthened with such strong wals so fortified with towers and castles to defend the wals scarcely able to containe the prouision made for warre hauing in it so huge a multitude of men to fight for it what is it now become wherein God himselfe was thought to dwell It is now razed downe euen vnto the verie foundations and no other memorie or reliques thereof is left standing their campe is destroied onely a few olde men and vnhappy suruiue who sate amongst the ashes of the temple and a few women whom their enemies reserued to satisfie their filthie lust And will any amongst vs considering all these things desire to behold the light of the sunne although he could liue without molestation Who is such an enemy to his natiue soile who is so effeminate or desirous of his life that doth not grieue to haue liued till this time Would God we had all been
in our graues before we had seene that sacred Citie fired by a hostile hand before we beheld the holy temple destroied by impietie and seeing that the hope we had to be reuenged vpon our enemies is now vanished away and that we are left alone in miserie and necessitie let vs hasten to die well and take compassion vpon our selues our wiues and children and that whilest we haue time to compassionate our selues For both we are borne to die and all that are begotten by vs and the strongest men liuing cannot auoid it but iniurie and bondage and to see our wiues and children abused before our faces is no necessitie proceeding from mans nature but they onely are forced to endure it who when they might haue died without it did refuse for feare We first of all trusting to our strength rebelled against the Romans nowe lastly they exhorting vs to obedience we denied which of them then will not be enraged against vs if they can take vs aliue Most miserable shall those young men be whose strength will endure many torments and those olde men will mooue compassion whose aged yeeres cannot suffer tortures one shall see his wife carried away from him and another his sonne hauing his hands bound behind him crie vnto his father for helpe who now whilest they are free from the thraldome of their enemies may gloriously assist vs with their swords Let vs with our wiues and children die freemen let vs altogither depart out of this life This our religion commandeth this our wiues and children perswadeth God himselfe hath driuen vs vnto this necessitie for this purpose The Romans would haue it otherwise who feare least any of vs should perish and not fal into their hands aliue Let vs therefore hasten that in steed of their expected hope whereby they verily perswaded themselues to take vs aliue we may contrarie to their expectation daunt them with asodain admiration of our glorious deaths Whilest Eleazar was yet speaking and desirous still to continue his exhortation they all interrupted him euerie one now in a furie bent to follow his aduice made haste to effect it and as though they had been vrged by some bad spirit thereunto euerie one laboured to preuent one another in the execution thereof iudging him to shew most valour and fortitude that first dispatched himselfe They were also desirous to kill their wiues and their children with themselues And which is most strange their mindes were nothing altered when they came to effect this bloudy worke but with the same resolution that they had when they heard Eleazars speech euerie one retained his good affection towards his friends yet permitting reason to take no place and perswading themselues that thus they had well prouided for their children they all at once embraced their wiues and children for their last farewell and tooke their leaues of them kissing them with teares and then at once slew them as though it had been done by the hands of other men and not their owne comforting themselues being forced so to doe in that hereby they should escape the tyranny and crueltie of their enemies Finally no man was so cowardly who durst not presume to this action so euerie one of thē killed his deerest friends O miserable people whom necessitie forced to slay their wiues and children accounting the action thereof to be the verie least of all their miseries Wherefore now not enduring the griefe that ensued vpon this fact and thinking that in liuing any while after them they should iniure them whom they had slaine they with all speed possible gathered all their riches togither and set them on fire which done they elected ten by lot who should slay the rest euerie one prostrating himselfe vpon his wife and children embracing them in his armes and was was so slaine willingly by them that executed that wretched office who hauing without feare dispatched them they cast lots whose fortune it was to kill all the rest and he vpon whom the lot did fall should kill the other nine and lastly himselfe vpon them all euerie one so encouraging one another that there was no difference betweene them that were to be killed and them that were to kill and so the rest offered themselues to death which done one who was the last of all being yet aliue went amonst the dead bodies and searched to see if none liued that needed his hand in so great a multitude of slaine people and finding all of them dispatched he went and fired the pallace which done he with all his force thrust his sword into his owne bodie vp to the hilts and so fell downe by his deerest freinds In this maner they died thinking they had left no one aliue to haue fallen into the Romās hands but one certaine olde woman another that was Eleazars cosins who in learning wisedome surpassed all other women fiue children who all hid themselues in a caue wherein water was reserued to drinke whilest the rest were busied in this massacre who were in number 900. and 60 beside women and children This calamitie hapned the fifteenth day of Aprill In the morning the Romans expecting that the Iewes would fight with them made bridges from their mounts vnto the wals and so assaulted the wals and seeing none of their enemies appeare but all the wals wasted and on fire and deepe silence in euerie place they could not coniecture what was done and at last they made a crie at once as though they had beene beating the wals with a Ramme thereby to see if they could make any enemies come out The women in the vaults heard this crie and comming forth they declared vnto the Romans all that had hapned one of them relating vnto them the euent of all the whole matter yet for all this the Romans did not easily beleeue her words by reason of the greatnesse of that fact but they endeuored to quench the fire and passing through it they presently came into the pallace where they beheld all the dead bodies yet they did not insult ouer them as their enemies but admired that so many should be so obstinately minded to despise death CHAP. XXIX Of the death of the Sicarians that were fled vnto Alexandria and Thebes THe Castle being thus taken the generall of the Romans leauing a garrison there went vnto Caesarea for there was no one enemie left in all that countrey but now all Iudaea was destroyed through continuance of long wars and many of that nation though far distant from it tasted of those troubles for it so fell out that afterward many Iewes perished in Aegypt at Alexandria for those Sicarians who had escaped thither were not content to be safe and free from daunger but there also they attempted alteration and to defend their liberty against the the Romans esteeming themselues nothing inferiour vnto them and that onely God was their Lord. And some of the nobler race of the Iewes
presently assembling togither the people of Aegypt and consulting with the princes of his countrey he sent all holy beasts and all that the priests esteemed before him giuing the priests especiall charge to hide their Idols and he commended his sonne Sethones who also by his father Rampses was called Ramesses being but fiue yeeres olde vnto the custodie of a friend of his and then accompanied with three hundred fighting men he met his enemies but would not fight with them fearing least he should fight against the pleasure of the gods and so he retired himselfe vnto Memphis and taking Apis and the rest of the Aegyptian gods hee with all his troupes of Aegyptians tooke shippe and fled into Aethiopia For the king of Aethiopia vpon curtesie obeied him and for this cause he entertained him his followers prouided all necessaries for them for that fatall thirteen yeers banishment and this was done in Aethiopia In the meane time the inhabitants of Ierusalem came downe into the country with the vncleane Aegyptians and did so tyrannize ouer the inhabitants that all their beholders iudged their victorie to be full of crueltie for not contented to fire the cities and townes and to commit all manner of sacriledge and to destroy the Idols of the gods they did also most cruelly teare in pieces the sacred beasts and forced the priests and prophets to lay violent hands vpon them and kill them after which deed they draue them out of the countrey naked It is therefore reported that a Heliopolitan priest Osarsiphus by name made lawes for them and statutes to gouerne them This priest was called Osarsiphus taking his name from the God of Heliopolis called Osiris who being now thus conuersant with this people changed his name and called himselfe Moses Thus the Aegyptians report of the Iewes and many things els which for breuitie sake I omit Manethon furthermore writeth that afterward Amenophis the king came with a great power out of Aethiopia and his son Rampses with him accōpanied with a great army and that ioining battell with the shepheards and polluted persons he gaue them an ouerthrow and pursued them vnto the borders of Syria And this is Manethons report but for as much as he writeth olde wiues tales dotages and lies I will by manifest reason conuince him first distinguishing that whereof I am to speake hereafter He of his owne accord granteth and confesseth that our auncestors at first were not Aegyptians but strangers that came thither from another place and conquered the countrey and againe departed from thence I will now out of his owne writings endeuour to shew that the weake people of Aegypt were not mixed with vs and that Moses who indeed was our conducter out of Aegypt and liued many ages before was no Lepar He therfore first of all setteth downe a ridiculous cause of this forementioned faction which was that king Amenophis was desirous to see the gods Which gods trow yee he could already see the Oxe the Goate the Crocodile and the Munkey but the God of heauen how could he see And why had Amenophis this desire forsooth because a certaine king one of his predecessors had seene them he therefore knowing by him what things they were and how he came to the sight of them needed no new deuice to accomplish his desire but perhaps the foresaid prophet was a man of great wisedome by whom the king had confidence to attaine his desire but if so he had been how chanceth it that he was so vnwise he could not perceiue that it was an impossible thing to satisfie the kings desire for that which he promised was not brought to passe Or what reason mooued him to thinke that the gates were inuisible because of Lepars and weake people The gods are offended with mens impieties not with the defects of their bodies And how was it possible that at one instant so many thousand Lepars and infirme persons should be gathered togither or wherein did not the king obay the Prophet he commaunded that the Lepars and infirme persons should be exiled the countrey and the king did not banish them the countrey but sent them to hew stones as though he had needed workemen and not purposed to cleanse the countrey from Lepars Lastly he saith that the Prophet foreseeing that Aegypt was to suffer and fearing the wrath of the gods he killed himselfe and left his minde in a booke written vnto the king How chanced it then that the prophet did not at first foresee his own death and so opposed himselfe vnto the kings desire to see the gods or wherefore did he feare such calamities as were not to fall in his life or what great miserie hanged ouer his head which might worthily cause him to kill himselfe to preuent it But let vs heare that which followeth more sottish then all the rest The king quoth he hearing this and stroken with feare did not for all this expell those Lepars he ought to haue exiled but at their request gaue them as he saith a Citie wherein before time the shepheards did inhabite called Auaris whereinto they being come they made a priest of Heliopolis their prince who deuised lawes for them commaunding them neither to adore the gods nor to abstaine from offering violence to such beasts as amongst the Aegyptians are sacred but that they should kill and spoile all things that they should marrie with none but such as were their confederates that he bound the people with an oath to keepe those lawes and that they fortified Auaris to fight against the king Adding moreouer that he sent to Ierusalem for helpe promising to yeeld Auaris vnto them being a place sometime possessed by their ancestors and that they from that place leading their forces might easily subdue all Aegypt he then saith that the Aegyptian king Amenophis came against them with three hundreth thousand and yet for that he would not striue againct the decree of the gods he fled into Aethiopia and carried with him Apis and other holy beasts and that the inhabitants of Ierusalem comming downe inuaded the land fired the townes and Cities slew their nobles vsed all sort of crueltie possible and that the priests name who made lawes and statutes for them to liue vnder was one of Heliopolis Osarsiphus by name deriuing the same from Osiris the god of Heliopolis and that this man changing his name was afterward called Moses Moreouer that Amenophis hauing liued in banishment thirtie yeeres came with a strong power out of Aethiopia and fighting with the shepheards and polluted he slew many of them and put the rest to flight pursuing them vnto the borders of Syria Manethon remembreth not that heere againe he telleth a verie vnskilfull tale for although the Lepars and impotent persons were offended with the king for appointing them to hew stones yet is it to be thought that they receiuing their owne desire at the kings hands to wit a Citie to dwell in
earth nor vsed any handy craft but ceasing from all labours and paines taking liued in their Citie far and faire-liking hauing both their meate and all other necessaries prouided and prepared for them by others and esteemed that onely their felicitie to doe or endure any thing so that they might preuaile against those against whom they enterprised warres and that they failed also herein I omit to rehearse For not onely one or two of them at once but oftentimes whole companies of them forgetting their owne lawes yeelded themselues to their enemies And can anie one tell of I say not so many but of one or two of vs that euer was treacherous to his own lawes or that feared to die for them I meane not a common death such as souldiers are subiect vnto but such a death as is effected by all torments and tortures that can be deuised Which I think those that preuailed against vs imposed vpon vs not for hatred but that they desired to see so admirable a matter and to see if we being but men and such who esteemed it the greatest impietie possible to doe it could be compelled by them to speake or doe any thing contrarie to our lawes Yet it is no wonder that we for our law doe die with such constancie rather then any other nation for other nations cannot abide to endure that which we account a triflle to wit labour and simple fare and that no man eate whatsoeuer or what he desireth or lie with them whom he ought not or be idle except he be of noble birth or go gallantly attired and we are alwaies carefull that when we fight against our enemy we obserue our lawes concerning our meats And thus we take pleasure to obserue and keepe our lawes and to exercise fortitude in obeying them Let now Lysimachus or Molonus passe and such as they be wicked lying writers and Sophisters deceiuers of young men and detracters of our owne nation as though we were the wickedest people liuing As for me I will not examine the lawes of other nations for it is our custome to keepe and obserue our owne not to detract others yea and our law-maker openly prohibited vs from blaspheming such as other nations hold for gods onely for the name of God attributed vnto them yet may we not leaue the obiections of our accusers vnanswered seeing that which wee are to speake against them is not our owne deuice but many before vs haue spoken it Who then of all the wise Greekes will not condemne the most famous Poets and especially the law-makers who at first brought and setled such vaine opinions of the gods amongst the cōmon people affirming the number of them to be so many as they thought good and to be borne at diuers times one of another allotting to euerie one his proper place as vnto other liuing creatures some to be vnder the earth others in the sea and the ancientest amongst them in Hell fettered and bound and those whom they place in heauen in words they do terme him a father but in deeds they shew him to be a tyrant and for this cause they report that his wife his brother and his daughter whom they affirme to haue been borne of his braine conspired against him to binde him and hang him as they report him also to haue dealt by his father Against these vanities all excellent and wise men doe worthily inueigh who beside this already rehearsed too in derision adde how some of the gods are young and some olde and some infants others are gods of artes and sciences and one is a Smith another a Weauer another a Pilgrime and is at variance with mortall men others delight in musicke others in shooting moreouer that they are at variance one with another amongst themselues and that they fall our one with another in mens behalfe and that not onely one of them laieth violent hands vpon the other but that also they are wounded by mortall men and sorrow feele griefe for the wounds and that which is most abominable of all do vse carnall copulation with mankind and that most vndecently that their vnbridled lust is extended both to men and women Then that their chiefe God of all whom they call father contemned and drowned certaine women whom he himselfe had deceiued and gotten with childe and that he could not deliuer the children borne of these women from calamitie for that destinie had obliged him not see their deaths without teares This is all good stuffe as also is that which followeth to wit adulteries committed in heauen so openly and impudently amongst the gods that some professe themselues to enuie their fellow gods and goddesses tied togither in such filthinesse And what should the rest of them doe when as their king and the most auncientest amongst them could not refraine his lustfull licentiosnesse from the company of women Moreouer some of them became seruants vnto men and some built houses for money and others became shepheards others like malefactors were chained in hell What man then that euer was accounted wise would not blush at these follies and reprooue the inuentors thereof and the foolish beleeuers also Others presumed to feigne both terror and feare and madnes and such simplicitie as that they might be deceiued and all other naughty passions to be found in the nature of their gods haue perswaded whole cities to offer sacrifices to the most noble amongst them And they are in great perplexitie thinking that some of the gods are the giuers of all good things others again to be their enemies and so seeke to please them with gifts as they would doe wicked men and they are verily perswaded that they shall sustaine great domage by their meanes except they doe daily pacifie their wrath by frequent gifts What is the cause of this shamefull ignorance and erronious iniquitie concerning God Truely I am perswaded for that their first law-makers were themselues herein to seeke and ignorant of the nature of God and that they did not faithfully deliuer vnto their common wealth so much as themselues knew concerning this point but as thought it had bin a thing of least moment did wilfully let it passe giuing licence to Poets and permitting them to deifie and make gods whom they pleased and that the Orators should write of the common wealths affaires and tell what them liked of strange gods Moreouer the painters and image-makers amongst the Greeks had a great hand in making of gods it being lawfull for them euerie one to frame what shape he list and how he list some of earth others in colours and the chiefest godmakers amongst them vse iuorie and gold to make their gods of a true argument of their mutable noueltie And then the auncient gods whom they first so honoured and reuerenced as they could possibly deuise being now withered with age are out of credit and other youngsters possesse their places and honours their
God forgot all these laments that another mother would haue had and with an adamant sense stouter then the neuer yeelding rocks did neither forsake her children in their torments nor in their death but in a manner compelled them to perish and neuer sorrowed thereat For being apprehended together with her seuen sonnes she considering Eleazars martyrdome did thus exhort them in the Hebrew tongue O my most deare and louing children let vs hasten to that agonie wherein we may bee a credite to our nation and gaine of God an euerlasting reward let vs without feare present our selues vnto those torments which Eleazars aged bodie endured call to mind our father Abraham of worthie memorie who hauing but one onely sonne did sacrifice him being willed by God so to doe and feared not to bring him to the Altar whome he scarcely in his age obtained Isaak also was willing to bee sacrificed by his father knowing that God was to be obeyed in all things the like may be said of Daniel and the three children beleeue me wee are rather tried then tormented For whatsoeuer this world affordeth is mortall and like a shadowe Thus did this mother arme her childrens minds with fortitude and shee a woman wrought in men manlike minds Last of all her children being all dead shee a worthie mother of so manie champions kneeling downe in the place of torment besought of God an end of this life protesting that shee had not for loue of life so long deferred to die but onely for her childrens sake and that now shee had seene them all seuen triumphing The furie of Antiochus now waxed hot and he commanded this worthie mother to be tormented who was as the tyrant willed stripped naked and hanged vp by the hands and most cruelly whipped her dugges and paps were pulled off and shee put into the red hot frying pan being most willing to follow her childrens steps in torment and lifting vp her eyes and hands to heauen shee praied for all women with child and so yeelded her chast soule to God But Antiochus was strucken with fire from heauen O mistris of iustice who followed thy triumphing children O conquerour of tyrants and a looking glasse for all Martyrs O example of patience not onely to women but to all men that shall bee after thee reuerenced of them that now are and to bee worshipped of them that are to come and to be admited not onely of our nation but of all other people Thy light obscureth the bright shining Moone and though shee fill the world with her brightnesse yet is shee not comparable to thy shining light Seuen lights enuiron thee about daseling the brightnesse of the seuen planets could any Painter expresse or any hand in writing declare the torments of your passions none could with drie eye read or behold them all people would flocke about to see it all people would praise and esteeme him to haue offered a great gift who to Gods glorie had painted that noble stratageme And if any skilfull workman should engraue this Tragedie vpon a sepulchre or in his house doubtlesse he should bee freed from all plague and misfortune But where could a stone bee found able to containe so many torments Therefore the olde man Eleazar the mother and her seuen sonnes are for their nobilitie graced with a sepulchre and great reuerence is done vnto them of all men yea euen by men that are not of our religion and there is a constellation of eight starres ordained as an argument of their iustice and Angels did execute their funerals The tyrant himselfe was astonished to see the constancie of such godly minds And thus haue they found such fauour in the sight of God that they haue obtained remission of the sinnes of our nation for presently after the tyrant was destroyed and Israell there was freed from his tyrannie But Antiochus seeing the greatnesse of their faith and their contempt of death gathered an armie of footemen out of the Hebrewes by whose helpe he terrified his enemies and got great renowne O blessed seede of Abraham behold what benefit the agonie of the mother and her seuen sonnes brought vnto vs their Countrimen let vs persist in this pietie that so we may bee like our forefathers behold the death of a few did end all the miseries and sinnes of our whole nation and you by your Countrimens hands vanquished your persecutors enemies and after that victorie our sinnes were remitted and last of all Antiochus being mad and his entrailes deuoured with wormes hee smelling most like carrion gaue vp the ghost and was euer after death punished for his offence For when he could not make the Citizens of Ierusalem to forsake their law he made warre against the Persians and there receiued that which he deserued It now remaineth that we briefely repeate all that is before said For in her agonie this sacred mother said thus vnto the standers by Whilest it was lawful for me I kept my selfe a virgine and then I married and liued a chast wife and forsooke not my owne house I brought forth such sonnes as I need not be ashamed of and though daunted with my husbands death yet I did not forsake my faith this and many things else shee recounted And what more Shee set before her childrens eyes the example of the Prophets how Abel by his brother was slain Isaak to be offered insteade of a sacrifice how Iacob was banished Ioseph kept in prison Daniel cast before the Lyons the three children into the fierie furnace she rehearsed also vnto them the booke of Esaias where it is said Although thou doe goe through the fire the flame shall not burne thee That of Dauid The iust shall haue much tribulation and Salomon who proposeth the tree of life to such as doe the will of God not omitting that of Ezechiel These drie and withered bones shall liue againe Also that of Moses Canticle I will kill and restore to life and the length of your dayes is in my hand Vnhappie tyrant what did thy caudrons red hot and thy torments profit thee what auailed it thee to cut away their eye lids and to pul out their tongues thou thy selfe for so doing dost now endure farre worse then all these And they whome thou killedst beleeue me enioy euerlasting comfort are now secure of blisse reuenge For they who suffer for Gods sake shall haue happie successe when God the Father of all things shall reward them with life euerlasting that follow him Thus haue I consecrated these worthie memorials which I find in the holy Scriptures of the sacred Machabees to the reading of all men that shall liue in any age heereafter The end of all Iosephus workes FINIS A Tahle of the chiefest and most memorable things which are handled in this Worke. A AAron Moses brother 47. a. commeth to meet him ibid. a. holdeth vp Moses hands 57. a. elected high priest 65. c. his sonnes 66.
wife of Elcana praied to God for a sonne 125. d. bare Samuel and consecrated him to God ibid. d e. Annius taketh Gerasa 689. b. Answere of Simon to Iesus oration 679. a. Answere of Isaac 18. i. of Balaam to Balac 83. m. of God to Iosuah 103. c. of Achab to the Syrians 218. k. of Caesar to Herode 586. g of Antipater to Herode 603. d e. of Iohn 671. b c. of Eleazar to Antiochus 803. b. of Alexander 286. g. Antaeus against whom Hercules made warre 19. c. Antigonus copartner in the kingdome 339. d. his death complotted ibid. e. effected 340. g. 562. h i. Antigonus accuseth Hyrcanus and Antipater 360 i. 571. a. promiseth the Parthians money and why 370. l. restored to the kingdome 373. a. cutteth off Hyrcanus eares ibid. a. 570. l. declared an enemie to the Romans 374. i. k. 577. e. vpbraideth Herode 375. e. getteth Massada 578. g. repulseth Herods power ibid. f. surpriseth Herods victualers 376. h i. cruelly handleth Iosephs careas 580. m. submitteth himselfe to Sosius 381. a. put to death 382. d. 383. a. Antiochus the great vexeth the Iewes 296. g h. recouereth cities of Caelesyria ibid. i. his Epistle to Ptolomey 296. his Edict in honour of the Temple 297. b. his Epistle to Zeuxis ibid. c h. Antiochus Epiphanes departeth Egypt 303. c. spoileth the temple of Ierusalem ibid. d. 558. m. abrogateth Gods lawes 304. g. 559. a. inforceth the Iewes to Idolatrie ibid. g. h. tortureth Eleazar 803. d e. â—…slayeth him 804. h. forbiddeth the Iewes to vse their lawes 304. m. 305. a c. inuadeth Iudaea againe 507. a. departeth into Persia ibid. b. besiegeth Elymais 311. a. falleth sicke and dieth ibid. b. 559. c. Antiochus Eupator created king 311. e. marcheth into Iudaea 312. g. 559. e. fighteth with Iudas Machabees 312. i. marcheth against Philip ibid. l. entreth a league with Iudas 313. a. slaieth Philip ib. c. displaceth Onias 526. i. is slaine ibid. d. Antiochus sonne of Alexander 327. a. crowned king ibid f. discomfiteth Demetrius 328. g. fauoureth Ionathan ibid. Antiochus marrieth Cleopatra 333. d. putteth Tryphon to flight ibid. e. warreth against Hyrcanus 335. a b. c. permitteth a truce ibid. slaine 336. g. Antiochus Gryphus ouercommeth Alexander 337. b. his war against his brother ibid. b. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Cyzicenus warreth against his brother 337. b. 341. d. put to flight 337. e. slaine 344. g. Antiochus Eusebius putteth Seleucus to flight 344. h. slaieth Seleucus brother ibid dieth ibid. l. m. Antiochus Seleucus slaieth his vncle 344. g. burned ibid. Antiochus Dionysius king 345. e. thrust out of his kingdome ibid. slaine 346. g. Antiochus perfidious to his Citizens 747. c d. e. Antiochus king of Comegena accused 754. his choise c. ibid. k. l. reconciled to Caesar. 755. a b. Antipas Herods sonne 449. d. claimeth the kingdome 608. m. accuseth Archelaus 609. a b. hath part of the kingd with Archelaus 459. d. Antipater the Idumean 350. m. incenseth the princes against Aristobulus 351. a. relieueth Gabinius 357. d. his wife and children 359. a c. gathereth souldiers for Caesars seruice ibid. d. made a Citizen of Rome and Gouernour ouer Iudaea 360. h i k l. 570. l. maketh his sons gouernours 361. f. perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie 565. f. 666. a. his exploits 570. k. poisoned 367. a. 577. c. Antipater banished 589. b. aduaneed 416. l. enciteth his father against his brothers 417. a d. his congratulation 419. f. plotteth against his brethren 423. e. 591. e d. cause of mischiefe 426. k. gouerneth the kingdome c. 436. l. practiseth his fathers death ibid. m. 601. e. could not deceiue his Aunt 437. b. hateth his brothers children 437. c. his treasons 601. d. accuseth Syllaeus 601. e. 440. i. studieth to winne fauour 547. e f. conspireth against his father 597. e. accused by Herod 443. e. c. 602. m. answereth his fathers obiections 444. g. hated of all 602. h. 446. g. hath libertie to iustifie himselfe ibid. h. 603. d. put to death 450. g h. 606. h. Antipater accuseth Antipater 441. e. Antipater accuseth Archelaus 453. e. 609. b. c. Antipatris built 420. m. burned 637. a b. Antiphilus letter to Antipater 446. l. blamed 447. c. Antiquitie of the Iewes prooued 768. l. m. 769. a. c. see Arguments Antiquities when written 528. h. Antonia described 708. h i. not vnlike a Citie ibid. i. Antonius writeth to Hyrcanus 368. l. m. writeth in the Iewes behalfe 369. c. maketh Tetrarchs 370. h. loueth Herod 374. maketh Herod king ibid. k. requireth Aristobulus 384. i. giueth Cleopatra a portion of Iudaea and Arabia 389. b. conquereth Armenia ibid. e. Aphrica once called Lybia â—…9 b c. Apollonius accuseth the Iewes 790. l. Apollonius sent to rob the temple 802. h. acknowledged his offence ibid. i. Generall of Antiochus army 306. k. discomfited and slaine ibid. k. Apollonius Darius put to flight 324. h. i. Apologie of Achimelech 149. b. of Aristobulus 353. d. Apostasie of the priests 284. l. Apostates from the Iewish religion 303. a b. Apparell 615. c. Appion wrote coldly 782. i. of Moses and the Iewes ibid. his fiction refuted 783. a. b. c. denieth his countrey 784. g. raileth against the Iewes ibid h. his obiection of the Asses head answered 786. m. vpbraideth the Iewes 789. c. praiseth himselfe ibid. accuseth the Iewes 480. g. Apples of Mandragora 24. 〈◊〉 Apprehension of Iohn and Simon 744. m. Apsan gouerned Israel 120. i. his children ibid. i. Arabians Ismaels posteritie 17. a. c. slay Herods souldiers 390. m. kill the Iewes embassadours 391. c. ouercome 393. b. receiue theeues 429. a. brake the league made 577. a. defeate Herods army 584. g. are ouercome 585. c. an Arbiter betwixt the Senate and Claudius 619. f. Archelaus accused 442. i k. promiseth his subiects fauour 608. g. appointed k. 451. a b. 606. k. c. lamenteth 607. f. suppresseth the sedition 452. l. m. 453. a. repaires to Rome ib b. approoued c. 455. a. accused 458. k. excused 459. b. accused and banished 461. a. c. 614. h. his dreame ibid. i. Archelaus k. of Cappadocia 427. c. his ingenious speech 593. e. f. conferreth with Herod 594. g. reconcileth Alexander to his father 428. g. made Herod and Pheroras friends 428 h. 594. h. i. excuseth himselfe 432. h. Aretas king of Arabia 342. e. ouerthroweth Alexander 346. g. putteth Aristobulus to flight 351. e. furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000. souldiers 556. g. Aretas accuseth Syllaeus 440. f. discomfiteth Herods army 470. k. l. Arguments for the Iewes Antiquitie 768. l m. 769. a. c. 770. g. c. 771. a. c. 772. g. c. 773. a. c. 774. g. c. 775. a. Arioch a captaine of the Assyrians 13. c. Aristaeus obtaineth the Iewes libertie 289. b c. Aristobulus first king c. 339. c. imprisoneth his brethren famisheth his mother ib. 561. f. his punishment 340. i k. 562. m. compelleth the Ituraeans to be circumcised ibid. l.
and talketh with Pharao 40. h i. blesseth his sonnes and dieth ibid. l m. Iaddus high priest 284. h. meeteth Alexander 285. e. and in what manner ibid. sheweth him Daniels prophecie 286. h. Iadon prophecieth against the Altar at Bethel 207. e. restoreth Ieroboams hand ibid. f. breaketh Gods commaundement 208. h. slaine of a Lyon ib. i. his prophecie detracted 208. l. Iael killeth Sifara 115. d. Iair gouerneth Israel 119. b. was rich and had thirtie sonnes ibid. b. Iames accused and stoned 524. k. Iames c. betraies his countrey 690. m. Iapha taken 656. i. Iaphet Noahs eldest sonne 9. 〈◊〉 his issue 10. g h. couered his fathers shame 11. c. Iason warreth against Onias 303. a. Iauan and his progenie 10. i. Iauelin of Saul 153. d. Iâ—…ziel a prophet 223. f. assureth Iosaphat of victorie ibid. f. Ibes enemies vnto Serpents 44. i k. Ichabod when borne 126. m. and why so called ibid. m. Idolaters plagued 87. a b. Idolatrie of the Israelites 86. h i. 207. d. of Salomon 204. i. of Ioram 230. h. of Iezabel and Achab 214. i. of Amasias 237. d. 238. h. of Achaâ—… 241. a. of Ieroboam 207. b c. of the Egyptians 776. i. Idols to be destroyed 90. h. Idumaea the countrey of Esau 28. g. Idâ—…maeans reuolt 230. i. admit circumcision 336. i. pardoned by Varus 612. h. 20000. come to Ierusalem 677. c. shut out of the citie 670. a. obiect reproches against the citizens ibid. pitch their tents neere the wals ibid. d. enter the citie by night 680. h. depart out of Ierusalem 683. b. consult of their submission 742. i. Iealousie 71. b. Iealousie of Herode 590. g. Iebusites expelled 164. i. Iechonias made king of Iuda 251. reuolteth 252. h. taken prisoner ibid. released 261. a. Iehu king of Israel 217. a. 231. b. slaieth Ioram and Ochozias 232. h i. despiseth Gods lawes 235. b. dieth ibid. Iehu the Prophet 223. b. reprooueth Iosaphat and why ibid. b. Ieptha Iudge of Israel made a vow 119. d e ouercommeth the Ammonites ibid. f. sacrificeth his daughter 120. g. killeth 40000. of the Ephranites ibid. h i. Ieremie foretelleth the captiuitie 250. i k. keepeth at Ierusalem ibid. k. prophecieth the destruction thereof 251. b c. admonisheth Ioachim ibid. a. perswadeth the Iewes to yeeld 253. c. imprisoned in a pit ibid. his counsell to the king 254 a. set at libertie 256. g. Iericho the citie surueyed 100. m. the wals thereof fell downe 102. k. destroyed ibid. l. neuer to be reedified ibid. l. Ieroboam rebelleth 205. c. foreshewed to raigne ouer tenne tribes ibid. d. fled into Egypt ibid. e. recalled 206. h. proclaimed king 207. a. perswaded the people to Idolatrie ibid. b c. his hand withered and was restored 207. e f. his impietie 210. 〈◊〉 his punishment foreprophecied ibid. k. his expedition against Abias 211. 〈◊〉 dieth 212. g. Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas 238. i. warred against the Syrians and enlarged his kingdome 238. k. dieth 239. a. Ierusalem taken 164 h. Dauids royall citie ibid. i. surprised 209. e. besieged 245. c. 253. c. 254. k. 582. g. taken and burned 2â—…5 b c. surprised 288. g. tributarie to Rome 355. e. taken by Sosius 380. l m. 582. k. described 703. e f. 704. g c. second time burned 741. b. sixe times spoyled 745. a b. Iesse begat Dauid 125. a. Iesus high Priest 269. e. Iesus high Priest 302. m. depose 303. a. Iesus captaine of theeues 535. c. Iesus conspireth against Ioseph 537. c. his talke with him 547. a. Iesus exhortation to the Idumaeans 677. c. 680. l. Iesus his exclamation against Ierusalem c. 738. m. 7â—…9 a. b. his death ibid. Iewels of great price 20. g. Iewes more ancient then the Greekes 768. l m. arguments thereof ibid. came not of the Egyptians 779. b c. when got Iudaea and built Ierusalem 781. b. trustie to their princes 786. g. why eate not swines flesh 790. g. Iewes impietie reproued 209. e. their captiuitie 255. b c. 257. d. depart from Babylon 269. c. in daunger to be exterminated 276. l. lament 279. a. fast pray ibid. c d. reuenge them on their enemies 283. b. led away captiue 288. g. set at libertie 289. c. tormented 304. h. slaine on the Saboth 3â—…5 d. brought out of Galaad 310. i. discharged of tribute 332. l m. terrified 342. e. l. Lords of Syria c. 346. h i. shut their gates against the Romans 354. h. honored by kings of Europe Asia 363. e. slain 371. i. fauor Herod for his bounty 444 i. complain to Agrippa 414. i. Iewes embassage to Caesar 421. e. 50000. slaine 488. i. cause of the wars 512. g. Iewes slaine about the Temple 519. a b. plagued 530. k. constrained to make to war ib. m. reuolt froÌ„ the Romans 540. h i. valiantly de end themselues 582. i. 3000. slaine 608. k. call Archelaus in question 612. i. will not consent to Pilate to alter their lawes 617. e. their fight with the Samaritanes 623. b. sedition and slaughter among them 623. b. their request to Agrippa 627. d. refuie Caesars sacrifices 631. i. take Antonia 632. i k. spoile the villages and cities of Syria 634. g. Iewes against Iewes ibid. k. slaine 634. 635. 636. g c. ouercome the Romans 637. c. besiege Askalon 645. d. 10000. slaine 645. f. 8000. slaine 646. g. repulsed 653. 〈◊〉 powre scalding oile vpon the Romans 655. e f. 12000. slaine 656. l. 40000. perisht at Iotapata 658. h. flie into the citie 664. i. 9000. slaine 670. i k. turne their weapons against themselues 672. k l. driue the Romans from their campe 701 b. shewed the tortures of the fugitiues 718. l. m. curse Caesar 715. a. embowelled for gold 723. c d. vpbraid God 726. g. afraid ibid h. surprise the Romans horses 732. h. burne the porch of the temple ibi eate their girdles shoes c. 734. h. ouercome the Romans 733. c. arrogant in calamitie 741. e. refuse to submit themselues ibid. f. 40000. saued an infinite number sold 742. l. slaine in Syria Egypt 760. g. burne their goods 761. a b. the number of captiues and slaine 744. i. Iezabel builded a temple to Bel 214. i. ordained Priests and Prophets ibid. i. killed the true Prophets 215. c. complotted Naboths death 217. c d. persecuted Elias 216. l. her death foreshewed 217. 〈◊〉 deuoured by dogs 23â—… k. l. Image of a godly prince 249. c d. Image of Gold 259. 〈◊〉 Imitation in sinne 139. c. 207. d. 209 b. 240. i. 248. i. Immanitie of the Idumaeans and Zealous 680. k. of Simon 691. d. Immunitie granted to the Iewes 295. d. Impietie of Elies sons 125. b. of Basa 213. a. of Achab and Iezabel 214. i. 216. k. l. of Amri and his predecessors ibid. g h. of Achaz 241. a. 242. g h. of Ochozias 224. k. of Ozias 239. d. of Phaceâ—…as 240. 〈◊〉 of Oseas 242. h. of Manasses 247. e. of Ioaz 250. k. of Ioachim ibid. l. Impietie cause of calamitie 113. c. d.
the Magistrates The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. The Israelites are commanded to kil their enemies and destroy their idols Moses deliuereth the Iâ—…raelites a booke wherein their lawes and maner of life was written â—…awes made by Moses Ruâ—…finus ch 7. The excuse of the Writer of this Historie why he innouated the order of the lawes Item the Israelites shall liue in the land of Canaan A sacred citie and Temple in Canaan Blasphemie against God Leuit. 4. Deut. 16. Thrise in the yeare the Hebrewes ought to meete The yeare of the world 2493. before Chriâ—…s Naâ—…tie 1571. Tenths Deâ—… 18. The hire of a harlot Other gods Deut. 22. Linnen and woollen Deut. 11. The booke of the law is to be read on the feaâ—…t of the Tabernacles Children shall learne the law Deut. 6. Thâ—… signes of the law The seuen Pâ—…dents Honour to the Magistrate The office of Iudges Iustice is Gods power Deut. 19. The punishment of a falle witnesse Deut. 21. Of homicide committed The yeare of the world 2493. before Christs birth 1471. Aristocracie the best kind of gouernment Deus 17 Of the election of a king Deus 19. The bounds of lands are not to be remoued Leuiâ—… 25. The plants that are not of foure yeares grouth are prohibited Vines to 〈◊〉 planted The law of the plough Som gleanings are to be left for the poore in the field The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1571. Deâ—… 25. Oxen â—…eading or gâ—…inding Trauelleâ—…s aâ—…e not to be dâ—…uen away from ripe fruits Thirtie ninâ—… stripes The tenth for the pooâ—…e The first fruits Deuâ—… 26. Of marriage Free men ought not to marry seruaÌ„ts The marriage of an harlot The penaltie of a woman married for a virgin and not found so Deuâ—… 24. The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. Deut 21. The first begotten should hold his right The punishment of adulterie or rather rauishing Deut. 22. The deflouring of a virgin Leuit. 25. The wife of the dead brother married Marriage with a bondman Deut. 21. The lamentation mour ning of thirtie daies Deut. 21. Disobedience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1571. Enemies to be buried Deut. 23. That which is borrowed must be paid Deut. 24. A pledge Theft An Hebrew slaue is to be set at liberty after seuen yeares Goods that are sound The yeare of the world 2493. before Christes Natiuity 1471. Deut. 22 The law of violence Poyson Talions law Of an Oxe striking with his horne Deut. 21. A pit Deut. 24. In the same place Hire Children are not to be punished for their parents offences The yeare of the world 2493. before Christs Natiuitie 1471. Eunuches The lawes of warre Deut. 20. Heraulds to be sent Fruitfull trees are not to be cut downe The Chanaanites are wholy to be extinguished Deut 30. 31. 32 33. 34. Moses song and blessing The yeare of the world 2493 before Christs birth 1471. The Amalechites to be punished Deut. 29. Moses bindeth the Hebrewes by an oth to keepe the law Moses exhorteth Iosuah The yeare of the world 2493. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1471. Deut 31. Deut. 33. 34. The Hebrewes lamentation at Moses death Moses when he died was 120 yeares old Amongst the Hebrewes Adar is the 12. month but amongst vs it is called March Moses was a good gouernour and a great prophet The yeare of the world 2494. before Christes Natiuity 1470. Iesus sendeth spies into Iericho Iesus calleth to memory reckoneth vp what the tribes of Gad. Ruben and Manasses had promised Moses Num 13. The spies suruay Iericho The yeare of the world 2494. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 1470. Rachab hideth the spies Iosuh 3. Iesus passeth Iordan with his armie Iosuah 4. 3 The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs birth 1470. Iesus buildeth an Altar on the other side of Iordan The Israelites celebrate Easter enioy the fruites of the earth and cease to feede on Manna Iosuah 6. Iesus with his army walketh about the citie Iesus commaÌ„deth that none but Rahab and hirs should be saued The wals of Iericho fall downe of themselues Iericho is takeÌ„ the men slain the citie destroyed and burnt Rahab and hers reserued The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs birth 1470. Ios. 7. 8. Achar hideth certaine parts of the pray contrary to Gods commandement Galgal signifieth liberty Iosuah 5. The Israelites are put to flight by the Ainites Iosuahs praier vnto God Gods answere to losuahs praier Achar found out by Lot and punished Ainan sackt and burnt The pray distributed amongst the people The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs Natiuitie 1470. Iosua 9. The Gabeonites send Embassors to Iesus The Gabeonites oration to the Hebrewes Iesus maketh a couenant with the Gabeonits The Gabeonites are appointed to publike ministeries Iosuah 10. The king of Ierusalem moueth warre against the Gabeonites Iesus driueth them of Ierusalem to flight The Sun stood still Fiue kings slaine Iosuah 11. The yeare of the world 2494. before Christs Natiuitie 1470. The kings of the Chanaanites moue warre against the Hebrewes The huge army of the Chanaanites All the kings of the Chanaanites slain Iosuah spoyleth the whole land of Chanaan Iosuah deuideth his armie into parts The yeare of the world 2499. before the birth of Christ. 1465. Hedio Ruffinus ch 3. Ios. 13. 14. 18. Iosuah commandeth the deuiding of the countrey counselleth that the two tribes and a halfe should be dismissed Iosuah sendeth certaine men to measure and deuide the land The yeare of the world 2499. before Christs Natiuitie 1465. Iosuah 9. Iosuah deuideth the Region of ChanaaÌ„to thenine tribes and the halfe tribe of Manasses Iosua 16. 17. 18 Supra lib. 4. chap. 7. Num. 32. Iosuah 13. Iesus seuerally commaundeth euerl tribe to root out the race of the Chanaanites The eities of refuge Num. 35. Deut 4. Iosuah 20. The distribution of the pray Iosuahs oration to those that dwelt on the other side of lordan and had serued with the rest The yeare of the world 2499. before Christs birth 1465. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 4. Iosuah 22 The Israelites after they had past ouer lordan builded an Altar on the banke thereof The embassage of the ten tribes to the rest of the Israelites Phinees oration to the Rubonites The yeare of the world 2499. before Christes Natiuity 1565. The Rubenites answer Iosuah dwelt in Sichama Iosuahs exhortation at his death to the magistrates and Elders amongst the Hebrewes Iosuh 23. 24. Iosuahs death Eleazars death The yeare of the world 24â—… before the Natiuitie of Christ. 14â—…5 Iudg. 1. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. al. 2. Ten thousand Chanaanites flame and Adoni-Bezec taken The yeare of the world 2525. before the birth of Christ. 1439. Ios. 11. Iethroes posteritie who was the father of Moses possested of lands The Israelites ouercame 〈◊〉 the Chanaanites at one time The Ephraimites recouer Bethel by
me which is the affection that I beare vnto my husband whom if I should forsake in this his misety it would verie ill beseeme me in that I haue beene a partner with him in his felicity Caius displeased with this her resolute answere banished her likewise with her husband and gaue the confiscation of her estate also to Agrippa God did after this maner punish Herodias in regard of that enuâ—…e which she had conceiued against her brother and plagued Herode in that he had so lightly listned to the foolish perswasions of a woman But Caius gouerned the Empire the first and second yeere of his raigne with most noble directions behauing himselfe graciously towards all men whereby he obtained the good liking of the Romanes and the fauour of his other subiects But in processe of time the greatnes of his estate made him surpasse the limits of humane condition and challenge to himselfe the title of diuinitie whereby he gouerned all things in contempt of God CHAP. X. The sedition of the Iewes and Grecians in the citie of Alexandria ANd whereas there arose a sedition betwixt the Iewes and Grecians that inhabited Alexandria three chosen Embassadours on eyther side were sent vnto Caius One of these Embassadours of Alexandria was Appion who charged the Iewes with many outrages and amongst other things he alledged that they made no reckoning of honouring Caesar And that whereas all other subiects of the Romane Empire had erected altars and temples in honour of Caius and in all other things had receiued him as a God the Iewes supposed it to be a dishonor for them to honour his statues or sware by his name After that Appion had vrged many things and inueyed grieuously against the Iewes hoping that Caius would be prouoked against them as in all likelihood and appearance it should haue fallen out Philo the chiefest among the Embassadours of the Iewes a man offamous memory and brother to Alexander Alabarcha being experienced in Philosophy enforced himselfe to answere those accusations which were vrged against the Iewes But Caius commaunded him silence and willed him instantly to withdraw himselfe and was so sore displeased that it appeared very manifestly that he intended some hainous reuenge against them Whereupon Philo departed after he had beene grieuously â—…aunted and spake thus vnto the Iewes that flocked about him We must be of good courage since Caius in words seemeth to be displeased with vs for in effect he will arme God in our behalfe against himselfe CHAP. XI Caius sendeth Petronius into Syria to make warre against the Iewes who should refuse his statue BVt Caius being sore displeased for that the Iewes only despised his ordinances sent Petronius into Syria to succeed Vitellius in his roome charging him with a strong army to inuade Iudaea and if they willingly admitted his statue that then he should place it in the temple of God but if they denied the same then that ouercomming them by warre he should inforce them to condiscend thereunto As soone as Petronius came into Syria he endeuoured himselfe to satisfie Caesars commaund and hauing assembled as great an army as he could possibly leuy and leading forth with him two legions of Romane souldiers he wintered at Ptolemais intending vpon the first spring to inuade Iudaea All which he signified to Caius by his letters who commending him for his industry aduised him to vse all expedition therein and to make warre against those who should disobey his commaundements Meane while diuers thousands of the Iewes resorted to Petronius who soiourned at Ptolemais beseeching him not to constraine them to do that thing which was contrary to their lawes or to transgresse the ordinances of their forefathers For if said they you haue wholy decreed to bring and erect this statue in our temple first depriue vs of our liues and afterwards doe that which shall seeme good in your eyes For it is impossible for vs as long as our soules remaine within our bodies to permit that which is forbidden by our lawes or to suffer such impiety in regard of that honour which we owe vnto our lawmaker and our predecessors who haue ratified our lawes to the entent we should increase in vertue Petronius enraged at this their protestation answered thus If I were Emperour and of mine owne mind enterprised this action you had reason to vse these kinds of insinuations vnto me But since Caesar hath sent me this commission there is no contradiction but that I must obey his decrees For if you resist the same you shall endure a most seuere and rigorous punishment for your disobedience and contumacy Hereunto the Iewes answered My Lord said they since your pleasure is such as you will not in any sort transgresse the commaund and contents of Caesars letters neither wil we also any waies violate or infringe the prescript of our law vnder hope of the diuine assistance and in imitation of the vertue of our ancestors For we are not so faint hearted that vnder hope of a vaine and vntimely desire of life we should break those lawes which almighty God hath proposed vnto vs vnder the reward of eternall felicity for which cause we will endure all fortunes whatsoeuer so as our countrey law and religion may remaine inuiolate and we are readie to encounter any misfortune vnder hope that God will assist vs for whose honour we feare not to aduenture on any danger This had we rather doe then by obeying thee thorow cowardise to incurre perpetuall ignominie and that which is more Gods wrath in neglect of his lawes whose authoritie euen in thine owne iudgement is more to be regarded then Caius commission Petronius coniecturing by these their answeres how hard a matter it was to estrange them from their opinion perceiuing that he could not do for Caius that he expected in the erection of his statue without great bloudshed wherby much murther and inconuenience might follow he tooke certaine of his neerest and deerest friends with him and posted to Tiberias that he might more conueniently and circumspectly looke into the Iewes actions They fearing some imminent danger thorow the warres they expected from the Romans and greater mischiefe thorow the breach of their lawes assembled once more many thousands of them and met with Petronius at Tiberias beseeching him that he would not inforce them to that necessitie nor defile their sacred Citie with forbidden images Whereunto Petronius answered Therfore said he you will fight with Caesar without regard either of his abilitie or your owne weakenesse We will not fight said they but we will rather die then depart from our lawes Whereupon prostrating themselues and laying open their naked throats they said they were readie to entertaine their deaths In these tearms continued they for the space of 40. daies neglecting their husbandrie whereas at that time it was the chiefest seed time For it was most resolutely concluded among them rather to suffer death then
to admit the statue Whilest the matter stood vpon these tearmes Aristobulus Agrippas brother and Elcias surnamed the Great accompanied with diuers of their houshold traine and some of the chiefest among the Iewes came vnto Petronius beseeching him that he would consider the obstinacie of the people neither giue them occasions to draw them into desperate actions but rather that he would write vnto Caius with what obstinacie the people refused the dedication of his image in the Temple and how giuing ouer the care of their husbandrie they prepared themselues for the warre without any trust or confidence in their owne strength being rather addressed to die then to suffer so great an indignitie to be offered to their religion Besides how giuing ouer their tillage there was nothing to be expected but robberie whereas they should want meanes to pay their customes by which meanes they hoped that Caesar would be mooued to moderate his seueritie towardes that nation and not to giue them cause of rebellion and that if he might not be mooued from the prosecution of the warre that then he might go forward with his businesse This was the effect of Aristobulus request But Petronius partly in respect of their praiers who instantly vrged him and the waightinesse of the action partly in regard of the contentious purpose of the Iewes supposing that it was a matter vnworthy a man to put so many thousands of men to death to satisfie Caius vnbridled desire and insolence and touched with the feare of God and the remorse of his own conscience he had rather to his owne danger informe the Emperour of the absurditie of the matter by his letters being no waies ignorant of his wrathfull spirit and forwardnesse in reuenge except his furious passion and expectation were answered For this thought he that although it altered not his resolution but happily inforced his displeasure against him in that he did not speedily execute his cōmaund yet that it was the duetie of a good man no not to refuse an assured death if so be he might saue so guiltlesse and huge a multitude When as therefore he had assembled the Iewes togither in Tiberias when many thousands of them resorted thither and disposed all those warlike forces that at that time gaue attendance on him round about him he tolde the Iewes first of all not his owne but the Emperours intent who would make them shortly taste his displeasure and enforce them to beare the burthen of his indignation who were so bold as to contradict him For himselfe that it necessarily concerned him that since by the Emperours fauour he had receiued so great houour he should not commit any thing contrarie to his commaund I hold it said he a matter most iust to employ my life honor for you to the end that so huge a number of men should not be drawne into danger of death and I will respect the excellencie of the lawes of your fathers for which you thinke you ought to entertaine warre and danger neither is it lawful to suffer the temple of God to be defiled by the authority of princes I wil therfore write vnto Caesar and certifie him of your mindes and in all that I may I will assist you to obtaine your requests God whose power surpasseth all industrie and humane force vouchsafe to conduct you and make you constant in the obseruation of your lawes and grant that he thorow excessiue desire of humane glorie commit not any thing that may offend God And if Caius be displeased and inforce his ineuitable displeasure against me I will vndertake all danger and endure all torments both in body and spirit to the end that I may not behold so many vertuous men as you are perish in your good and iust actions Go therefore each of you and plie your worke and till your lands my selfe wil send vnto Rome and both in my selfe and by my friends I wil employ my selfe for you After he had spoken thus he dismissed the assembly praying the chiefest amongst them to encourage the husbandmen to plie their businesse and to confirme the rest of the people in their good hope Of himselfe also he ceased not to animate them And truely God shewed his assistance to Petronius and assisted him in ◅ll his affaires For as soone as he had finished his discourse vnto the Iewes there sodainly fell a great raine beyond all humane expectation For the day was verie faire neither was there any appearance of raine in the ayre and all that yeere long there was an extreme drought so that men were past hope to haue any moisture notwithstanding that sometime there appeared certaine clouds in the heauens At that time therfore the water fell in great abundance and besides the expectation and opinion of men the Iewes conceiued hope that Petronius solliciting their cause should not bee repulsed But Petronius was more amazed then all the rest seeing euidently that God vndertooke the affaires of the Iewes and gaue them testimonie of his manifest assistance so that they that were their professed aduersaries had no meanes to contradict them as he himselfe wrote to Caius at large with inductions and exhortations to the end he should not drawe so many thousand men into a desperate resolution and vnhappy death For without warre it was impossible for them euer to make them forsake their religion Furthermore that he would not cut off and lose the reuenue which he receiued of that nation and would not erect a trophey of an euerlasting curse and malediction against himselfe Adding moreouer what the power of their God was which he had so cleerely declared that no man ought to doubt but that his mercifull hand was ouer them This is the content of Petronius letters On the other side king Agrippa who at that time conuersed at Rome grew more and more in fauour with Caius hauing entertained him at a banquet wherein he enforced himselfe to exceede all others in sumptuousnesse as in all other sorts of delights and pleasures yea with such festiuals entertained he him that not onely others but also the Emperour himselfe could not attaine to such magnificence so much inforced he himselfe to exceed all others thorow the great desire he had to content and satisfie Caesar in all things Caius was abashed at this his courage and magnificence seeing Agrippa enforce himselfe aboue his power and meanes to abound in siluer and all this to the intent to please him For which cause Caesar in acquitall of his kindnes intending to honour Agrippa to his vtmost power in granting him that which he most desired being one day whet with wine inuited him to drinke a carouse adding these words Agrippa I haue heretofore known the honour thou hast shewed towards me and thou hast expressed the earnest affection that thou bearest me in hazarding thy selfe in diuers dangers into which thou hast been drawne during Tiberius life time and hast omitted nothing no
enuironed it round about with vallies so deepe that the bottome thereof cannot bee descried neither could one passe ouer them nor fill them vp for that which is on the West part is threescore stounds large and endeth at the lake Asphaltites and on this side Macherus hath a verie high prospect and it is inuironed on the North and South with vallies of the like measure that the former is whereby it is impossible to winne the Castle but that vallie which is on the East side is at least a hundred cubits deepe and it endeth vpon a mountaine neer vnto Machaerus King Alexander seeing the nature of the place did there build a Castle which afterward Gabinius in the warre against Aristobulus destroyed But Herode when he was King iudged this place worthie to be fortified as a principall defence against the neighboring Arabians For it was aptly situate vpon a mountaine where one might behold their borders wherefore making a large wall he builded a Citie there in the place that men doe enter vnto the Castle he also compassed the verie top thereof with another wall and in the corners he placed towers that were threescore cubites high and in the verie middest of all he built a pallace for largenesse and beautie admirable and made many Cesterns to receiue water in conuenient places which serued the people aboundantly as it were striuing with nature that the places which he had made inexpugnable he by Art might make places more strong then that was He also laid vp there in store arrowes and engines and made all prouision wherewith the Inhabitants might bee able to hold out a great siege In the Kings pallace there grew the herb called Rue which was verie admirable for the greatnesse for there was no figge tree taller or broader then it and it was reported that it had continued euer since Herods time and had endured longer had not the Iewes Inhabitants of the place cut it downe In the vallie that lieth on the North side of the Citie there is a place called Baaras where also groweth a roote of the same name the colour whereof resembleth the flame and it shineth at night like the Sunne beames and is not easie to bee pulled vp till that one cast vpon it the vrine of a woman or her flowers which done whosoeuer toucheth it is sure to die except he carrie the roote hanging on his hand It is also gathered another way without daunger after this manner They digge all round about it so that they leaue a verie little of the roote couered with earth and then they tie a dog vnto it which striuing to follow his master who maketh as though he would goe away he easily pulleth vp the roote and the dogge presently dieth as it were in his stead that seeketh to get it so that afterward none that handleth it or taketh it neede to stand in any feare therof This herb notwithstanding al this danger is diligently sought out for the vertue it hath Fo◅ it driueth away diuels which are the spirits of wicked men out of mens bodies if it be but applied vnto them whereas otherwise if they had no helpe these diuels possessing their bodies would kill them Out of that place also doe spring certaine hot waters verie different in taste one from another for some are bitter some sweete there are also sources of could waters one neere vnto another in a plaine but which is most admirable there is a caue hard by not very deepe enuironed with an eminent rocke aboue from the which their cōmeth as it were two dugges or paps hard by one another and out of the one of them their floweth verie cold water out of the other verie hot which mingled together make a pleasant bath and serue to cure many diseases and especially helpeth all paines of the sinnewes In the same place also are mines of Sulphure and Alume Bassus hauing viewed this place on euerie side resolued to besiege it and endeuoured to fill vp the valley that was on the East side and so make away vnto it which he began to doe hastening to raise a verie high mount and so make it easie to be taken Those that were inhabitants constrained Iewes that were strangers to go into the lower citie iudging them an vnprofitable multitude and so caused them to endure the first brunt of the enemies and they themselues kept the Castle both for that it was strong and also to preserue themselues hoping that by yeelding the place vnto the Romans they might obtaine pardon of them yet first they purposed to make triall if they could auoide the siege and therefore verie couragiously euerie day they made excursions and fought with them they found and many were slaine on both parts Fortune and opportunitie sometime caused one to be victors sometime another for the Iewes got the best when they could assault the Romans at vnawares and the Romans ouercame when they were aware of the Iewes comming and armed themselues But the siege was not ended by these skirmishes yet a chance befell that forced the Iewes to yeelde their Castle Amongst them that were besieged was one Eleazar a young man and verie hardy and bold in any enterprise who oftentimes made excursions and sought to hinder the Romans worke who alwaies in euerie fight did greatly endomage the Romanes and by his valour and aduenturous courage he gaue them that were his fellowes opportunitie to assault the Romans and to flie againe and retire in safetie himselfe being alwaies the last that so retired It happened one day that the fight being ended and both parts parted he as it were contemning all men and thinking that none of his enemies durst vndertake to combate with him staied without the gate speaking to them that were vpon the wall giuing great attention vnto them Then one Rufus an Aegyptian one of the Roman army espying this opportunitie ranne vpon him so suddenly that he at vnawares tooke him all armed as he was and they vpon the wals stood amazed whilest Rufus led him vnto the Romans campe Then the General of the Romans caused him to be led into a place where they in the citie might see him there to haue all his cloathes taken off him and whipped and the misfortune of this young man did greatly discourage the Iewes and all the citie was resolued into teares for the calamitie of that one man Bassus seeing this he deuised this councell against them for he sought to mooue them so to compassion that for to saue him they should yeeld their castle which fell out as he desired For he presently commanded a crosse to be erected as though he would presently haue crucified Eleazar which sight greatly mooued them in the Castle to sorrow so that now with lowd cries they lamented saying that this calamitie was insupportable Then Eleazar besought them not to despise him who was now to die a most miserable death and