they were presented to Herod and being askt whence proceeded that insolent presumption and rashnes they frankly answered that the businesse had been consulted of well discust among them and if it were yet to be done they were ready to put into execution forasmuch as they were more oblig'd to obey Moses then Herod Herod some what startled with their resolution and fearing greater commotions caus'd them secretly to be convey'd to Ierico whether himself was carried though weak and sickly Then assembling the chiefest of them he speaks to them from his couch making a large narration of the good offices hee had done to that nation of the Temple which he had built the ornaments with which he did enrich in adding that in few yeares he had done what their Hassamonean Kings could not in 120 and in recompence of his piety they went at high-noon to violate with strange insolence a sacred donative he bestowed on the Temple in the which God was more interessed then himselfe and therefore he did so much the more require a reason of this attempt These men fearing to awake his anger further did falsifie clude the blow and did transfer it all on their companions abandoning them to the discretion of the king Thereupon the Priest hood was taken away from Matthias and another Matthias who was held to be a ring-leader in the sedition was burnt alive with his companions that same night at which time was seen an ecclipse of the Moon which made the spectacle yet more terrible Herod some few daies after having tried and spent in vain all humane remedies was brought into a miserable state of sicknesse which is pertinently described by Iosephus and Ensebius It was Gods pleasure hee should drink often and deep of the cup of his justice in this life wasting his wretched body with tedious paines therefore hee was smote from heaven and was charged with a fierce squadron of incurable diseases he that froÌ„ his youth up did buâ—â— with a furious ambition felt at his death a greedy fire feeding on his entralls hee that all his lifetime had an insatiable thirst of a massing treasure insomuch that he digg'd up the tombes of David and Solomon for to ransack the spoiles was tormented with a Dog appetite a horrible disease and which modesty feares to deseribe which made him cry out for hunger eating day and night and could not be satisfied hee that made so many voiages and performed so many atchievements to raise himselfe aboue the levell of ordinary fortunes saw then his feet swolen with redundant humours He that practis'd so many â—ortures in his life time was now rackt with the violent and intolerable pangs of a Chollick he that bereav'd so many men of their breath did now draw breath with much difficulty and pain He that held humane wisdome and pollicie for the nerves and strength of his estate felt now in his body such Cramps and Convulsions of Nerves and Sinewes that hee was sorely and pittifully shaken Hee that had shed poore Mariamnes blood murther'd her Sonnes for to make the Kids boile in the milk of the Damme as the Scripture speaks Hee that had imbrued his hands in the bloud of about 14000 innocents with an intention to involve the Saviour of the world in that generall massacre died in his own bloud afflicted with a cruell dissentry He that had abused his member with monstrous luxurie was over-run and consum'd with an army of Lice accoÌ„panied with an ignominious satiriasme a disease which I scarce dare name And now say the eye of providence is not awakt for the punishing of delinquents This desperate wretch at his death insteed of adoring the justice of God and kissing the rod that gave him correction thinks on now slaughters Hee assembles by an edict the most principall of the lewes out of every Province unto Ierice and having pounded theÌ„ within the cirque hee calls to him his Sister Salome and her husband Alexander and addresseth his speech unto them in this manner It grieves mee not at all to dye and to render that tribute to nature which so many Kings before me have paid But it troubles mee that my death wil not be so much bemoaned as I could wish if you doe refrain your hands Know then that for this purpose I have sent for these Nobles of Irdea As soone as ever death shall draw these Curtaines over mine eyes let them all fall by the edge of the sword and let not my death be divulg'd before that the newes of these mens death arrive at each ones Country and kindred By this meanes I hope to fill all Iudea with lamentation and woe which will be musick to my soule as her last departure This pernicious fiendin thus spealing be fought Sister with hot teares by all that she esteemed in the world most precious sacred as she hoped for Paradise to perform his wil and to give him content she must promise it with an oath at that very instant though afterwards it was not at all put in execution In this sole act hee shewed that he was not inform'd with a reasonable soule he was but a wolfe in mans skin and shape and that the thirst of humane bloud was now chang'd into his nature As hee was making this goodly Testament Letters were brought him from Caesar which did acquaint him that one Acme a lewish Damsell who was of the train of Livia the wife of Augustus had beene convicted of bad intelligence with Antipater and was therefore punisht with death as for his sonnes hee referr'd them wholly to his own disposall This man at the point of death suckt revenge yet with wonderfull pleasure This newes was balme to his tortur'd carcase he calls for an apple and a knife thinking to pare it himselfe but thereupon his paines that had given him but short truce assaild him with double force so that he was quite weary of his life which he had so dearely lov'd One of his grand children nam'd Achiabus who at that time stood neere the bed perceived that hee rolled his eyes furiously and lookt as though he would have rid himself of his torments with the knife hee had in his hand which did much affright the young Prince who holding his arme as gently as hee could hee beganne to cry out as though his good father had yeelded up the Ghost wherewith the whole Court was mustered up Antipater out of his prison over-heard the tumult and suspected that Herod was a dying he did not yet despaire of the Crown offering mountaines as wee say of gold to his Warder to let him escape But behold the judgement of God! the keeper of the prison insteed of all the ample rewards that were promised him and which he might have enjoyed he goes strain way to the Father and relates to him how that Antipater had urg'd him withall supplications promises to let him loose out of the prison that he might take possession of the kingdome Herod raâ—ing and beating his head cries out what will the villain murther mee in my bed I have yet life enough to take away his then raising him selfe a litle upon the boulster and leaning upon his elbow he cals to one of the Guard goe you quoth he hence to the prison kill that parriciâ—e there and let him be interred in the Castle of Hyrcanus with out any Rites or solemnities of a funerall This was instanrly executed and such was the end of this unhappy thing who mov'd Earth and Hell for to mount his fathers throne according as some Matherfaticians had foretold Five daies being exphed from the death of Antipater Herod after he had declared Archeâ—aus for his Succed out in the Realme contrary to 〈◊〉 determinatioÌ„ whereby he had designed it for Antipater after he had astorted to his two other Sonnes such portions as hee thought good and beqdeathed large Legacies to August us Caesar he gave up his wretched soule in rage and despaire in the yeare of his life threescore and ten and of his raigne 37. A man saith losephus whose actions alwaies over-rul'd the Lawes land his passions them who notwithstanding all his prosperity was esteem'd the most miserable man in the world Mark how this Author speaks who was a wise Statesman to instruct humane pollicy that there is neither wisdome nor greatnesse nor happinesse where God is wanting For to let passe 〈◊〉 eternall torments of the othâ—◠〈◊〉 â—hich this barbaroâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—nder the hand of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am verily perswadâ—◠〈◊〉 there is no Pesant nor Hinâ—â— if he be not stupid would change one day of his life for the thirty seven yeares of Herods raigne which hee past in continuall jealousnesse troublesome affaires perilous voyages sinister mistrusts barbarous cruelties and remorse of conscience which is the harbenger preamble of Hell Leaving more over behinde him a numerous and unhappy Posterity FINIS
strong presumptions and evident circumstances that there was now nothing left to suspend his beliefe Herod asks where was this poyson The young man replied it was with the window of his brother Pheroras she being questioned concerning it got up to an upper roome pretending to goe and fetch it but being got up to the top of the house in a desperate manner shee casts her selfe down headlong but it pleased God that this fall proved not mortall according to her desire They did incourage her and made all promises of impunity if she would but freely confesse the truth She confesseth that indeed her husband had a poyson sent from Antipater and that hee was once minded for to doe the deed but it repented him a litle before his death he detested such wickednesse upon these words shee takes out the poyson which they sound to be most deadly by making experiment upon condemn'd persons At that very time Eathillus a freeman of Antipaters was surprised comming from Rome to Iudea to advise Pheroras to hasten his designe bringing another poyson in case the former did not prove effectuall In the mean time Antipater writes to his Father that hee labour'd diligently at Rome to dispell some cloudes of slander and to cleare his affaires which hee hoped to bring about and to return very shortly for Iudea Herod who would have long since caught him in his clawes sends to him these lines Sonne my declining age the crazinesse of my body doe every day instruct me that I am mortall one thing comforts me that I have made choice of your person to succeed me in my Throne I shall see my old age spring againe flourish in your and my death to be smother'd as it were in your life seeing that I shall liue in my other halfe which is your deare selfe I would you had continued still neere my person not only for the assistance your piety still afforded me but for the prejudice that might acrew to your fortune by your absence Faile not therefore with the good leave of Caesar to render your self here present with the best speed you can delay will not any way favour your affaires here This bayt had charm enough to allure and art enough to conceale the hook Vpon these news hee was ready to ride upon the wings of the winde to present himselfe in Ierusalem He dispatcheth his businesse takes leave of Augnstus makes all expedition possible to shew the behests of his father It was very strange that hee could never have any advertisements by the way of what had passed so odious was he to God and man But being at Cilicia hee learnt that his mother was discarded and expell'd the Court which did much affright him and hee thought to beat his way back againe But one of his Councell perchance suborn'd by Herod begins to tell him that if there were nothing intended against him he needed not to feare and if any slander was broacht of him hee ought to make the more hast to quash it other wise his absence would but cause further suspicion He swallowes the advise and not withstanding some secret reluctancie remorse of conscience he followes the road for Iâ—dea when hee was arrived at the haven of Sebaste he began to 〈◊〉 into deeper apprehensions of danger then ever for having seen at this very Port not long before at his departure such a throng of people tearing the ayre with their acclamatioÌ„s not for any love they owed to him but to shew their obeisance to Herod who would have it so but he now perceived that fortune had turn'd tail he was receiv'd with a lowring countenance some did look upon him askue with a quarter face murmur'd between their teeth as cursing him for that hee had spilt his brethrens bloud He was engag'd too far on to make retrair Gods vengeance had already markt out his lodgings He goes on from Sebaste strait for Ierusalem and marches to the Pallace sumptuously apparelled and with a numerous traine the Gard made way for him to enter but were commanded by the King to keep back all those that attended him hee was quite astonisht to see himselfe caught so like a bird in a net neverthelesse he goes on his vvay enters the hall vvhere his father staid expecting his approach accompanied with Quintilius Varus lately sent from Rome to bee Governour of Syria When hee had made a most reverend submissive congy he drawes neere to kisse his father according to the manner of the Countrey but he straightvvaies heares the roaring of a Lion for Herod dravving a step backe cryes out Stand aloofe Murtherer it is not for you any more or any such to receive the welcome kisses of a father Behold there Q. Varus your Iudge bethink your selfe by to morrow how to answer to such crimes as you are charged with He was thunderstrooke with this speech and withdrew himself out of the roome with palenesse in his face and the horrour of his crime in his conscience In the next chamber he findes his mother and his wife all drencht in teares who with lamenting eyes had already solemniz'd his funerall such an astonishment seiz'd upon him that hee had neither a tongue to comfort them nor so much as teares to bewaile his own misfortunes He past over all the night with much disquiet of minde finding now by experiment that it was easier for to commit a crime then excuse it The morrow being come hee was call'd before the judgement seat where hee found his father with Q. Varus a good number of the Counsellers of state Vpon the very point newes was brought of some letters of his mother that were intercepted which did give him notice that all was discover'd and that he should beware to return and put himselfe into the hands of his father if hee would not fall into the jaws of a Lion This was shewed him at his entrie into the Councell Chamber hee expected but the houre when he should be strangled hee was already under the Strapadoes of his conscience therefore casting himselfe down on his knees hee begs of his father that hee might not be condemn'd before he vvere heard Herod replies Varlet what hast thou to say Hath God reserved thee to be the last scourge of my old age Thou knowest I have taken thee from the bottome and lees of fortune for to place thee aboue thy brethren both beyond and against all hopes I have put all my treasures my revenues my authority my affection my secrets my heart and my Crowne into thy hands by a testament scaled with mine own hand and couldst not thou expect till thy Fathers eyes were closed up by a naturall death that thou mightest freely enjoy them This was it that thy designes did then ayme â—â— when thou didst so hotly pursue the death of thy brethren I have done nothing in their araignment but by thy denunciation and advice Accurst wretch I am afraid that
incomparable griefe shee lov'd this brother entirely as the portrait of her selfe as the dispositary of her heart as the hope of her house too miserably rent and all wounded with griefe as she was yet good Lady she thought of the sorrows of her mother and lies behind the dead body of her brother as if she had been the very shadow thereof Then turning to God with an affectionate heart she sends up this â—jaculation O my God behold mee now in an estate wherein I have nothing more to feare but thy justice and nothing more to hope for then thy mercies Hee for whom I fear'd and in whom I hop't all that might be fear'd or hopt for in all the events and affaires of this world is ravisht from me by some secret decree of thy providence which I have taught my hart to adore though the weaknesse of my apprehension cannot trace the footsteps of it If among so many calamities I did yet suck any sweetnes from the world in presence of this object which thou hast bereaved mee of loe I am now robd of all hence for ward I shal finde nothing but worm wood that so renouncing all earthly comforts I may learne to rellish those which are proper to thy children reserv'd in Heaven Behold how pious and gentle souls can extract hony out of the rock and turn all to merit even the distillation of a teare that trickles down the cheekes The impatient as Alexandra wound themselves without all consolation torture themselves without remedy and sometimes split against the rock of dispaire without remission What shall wee say that Herod too in this sad consort of grief did beare his part He made indeed an outward shew and by close hypocrisie did well personate a reall mourner He curst the sport rail'd against fortune He charg'd Heaven with sinister envy in bereaving him of an object on whom he desired to expresse all the cordiall love and respect that he bore to the royall house to the which he did in part owe his advancement He went to visit the Queen and her Mother very ceremoniously and when he beheld them bemoaning about the dead body the brinish teares gusht out of his eyes whether it was that he had taught them to drop at command to carry this dissembling the more artificially or whether indeed he had some compassion or pang of grief beholding on the one side this tender flowre so early cut down with deaths impartiall sickle together with so many celestiall graces which found their period and horizon at the point of their uprising and nativity and on the other side considering the poore Queene drown'd in a sea of sorrow which to behold might force teares from rocks This perfidious wretch that had something yet of a man and I believe that nature for that time did extort those teares from his barbarous cruelty hitherto he feigned himselfe to have supprest his griefe manfully then turning to the Ladies tells them that hee was not come then to dry up the flouds of their teares so soone which had but too just a subject to be spent upon himselfe had not the power to keep back his he was forc't to give nature leave to haue her course and act her part time would shortly act his too and apply a plaister to their griefes that he would performe in the memory of the dead Prince as much as an only son could expect from an affectionate father and potent King and that thenceforth hee would bee the son of Alexandra the husband and brother eke of Mariamne since God would needs redouble his obligations by the losse that they had suffered Genuine Tytanny what is it but an insatiable appetite of revenge Alexandra who a man would think should have thundred in injurious and reproachfull termes as one that knew well that Herod whatsoever hee put upon it was author of this Tragoedy did dissemble the matter very strongly without shewing towards the king on her part so much as a discontented look when time and place would favour her Herod withdrawing himselfe now from the stage thought hee had acted his part wondrous well without casting any shadow of suspicion on his side seeing that Alexandra did not utter a syllable whose manner was to pout and quarrell on farre smaller occasions To bring in the last lenitive he causes the funcralls of the deceased Prince to bee celebrated with such pomp and magnificence that nothing more could be added both for the order or conduct and for the rarity of the spices and odours and also for the costly structure of the Sepulchre the simpler sort did verily belieue that this proceeded from a true sincere affection but wiser judgements said they were but feigned teares or wrung out perforce and that Herod could not be sad in earnest for this accident which took the mote out of his eye and did lettle him in full possession of the Kingdome of Iude a. Alexandra joyning the passion of sorrow with that of vengeance fayl'd not presently after funerall rites performed to advertise Queen Cleopatra of all that had haphed and in such dolefull accents that each period seem'd to have beene writ in teares of bloud Cleopatra who was already well prepar'd took fire suddenly shee entertaines the matter so hotly as though it had been her own she gives the alarme to the whole Court shee stormes doth continually lash the eares of M. Anthony crying that this was a thing insupportable to see a forreigner weare a Scepter that did by no right belong to him to massacre the heyre apparent with such barbarous cruelty to keep poore Queenes in slavery against all reason and the priviledge of their births Anthony who knew that Herod was his creature the work of his own hands did not willingly give eare to these complaints Neverthelesse to satisfie Cleopatra he swore a solemn oath that hee would examine the businesse and would send for Herod and if he found him guilty of such barbarousnesse he would execute exemplary justice upon him Behold Herod is summoned to Laodicea where M. Anthony for a time was to sojourn ' hither hee is citee to make his appearaÌ„ce to purge himselfe of the murther of Aristobulus which hee was held to be the author of This was a crack of thunder to his guilty soule which did terribly awaken him when he least of all thought of it put him in such fearefull dumps and apprehensions that can scarce bee imagined On the one side hee had before his eyes the guilt of his ofsence and the voice of blood which cryed loudly in his eares On the other side hee saw that all his fortune did depend on M. Anthony who would not have stirr'd then but by the instigations of Cleopatra his mortall adversary whom hee knew to have had a great longing after the Kingdome of Iudea for her own accommodation But nothing tortur'd his braines so much as some franticke fit of jealousie for hee imagined that Anthony a
wanton Prince who went about to observe the beauties of Queenes would have had a tast of his wife whose picture had been before brought unto him and that for to purchase his quietnesse he would cause him to prostitute her as a sacrifice to his lustfull pleasures The man was puzzl'd and perplext on all sides and did descry every where objects of feare and danger sometimes he resolves on a voluntary banishment sometimes hee thought it the better course to rid himselfe out of the world another time he musters up his wits and strength and goes about to make resistance but nothing seem'd better in his judgement then to delay and protract the businesse as much as he could possibly Anthony being ready prest for his expedition against the Parthians sends for him in good earnest his delayes and evasions did improve the former suspicion He must needs travell or resolve to loose all Hee takes leave of his Mother-in-law Alexandra and his wife Mariamne without all feare or complaining not shewing any signe of discontentment as if he had been tomake a journy only for pleasure Moreover he had yet his own Mother at Court and his Sister Salome to whom hee gave strict charge to watch heedfully the steps and behaviour of those whō he thought had wrapt this web for him Then taking his unkle Ioseph aside hee speakes to him in these words Uncle you know the businesse which cals me to Laodicea which is indeed of no smal consequence seeing my innocence undermin'd with so much study eagernes and by many powerfull personages who were the more to be feared if their purposes could take so much effect as it hath of affection But I hope to break through this mist and fowle weather that you shall see me triumph over calumny by mine integrity as you have er'st seen me triumph over hostile attempts by mine Armes if God dispose of it otherwise all this trouble is procured mee for my beauteous wifes sake on whō M. Anthony might have some plot this might be the occasion of hastning my journey for to give his passion more ease and liberty But for the present I adjure you by the respect you did alwaies beare towards me by my fortune which you doe reverence by our bloud and nature that if peradventure you doe understand that I bee otherwise entreated then my quality and innocence will beare you permit not after the death of Herod that his bed be injur'd Maintaine the Kingdome for you and yours and cause my wife forthwith to be dispatcht out of the world for to beare mee company in another life Kill her resolutely for feare some take possession of her after my death If soules departed have any sense or seeling of the affaires of this world this will greatly solace and content me Ioseph was not a litle startled at this tale yet promises notwithstanding to put all things in execution according to his will in case necessity required it But his fortune alwaies dreadfull and invincible made him to conceive farre better hopes Hereupon hee sets him on his way taking with him the choicest pieces and ornaments in his Treasury for to present unto those whom he should stand in need of shewing moreover such confidence in his countenance as he harbour'd dispaire in his heart When he was arrived at Laodicea he found many strange informations articles drawn against him which did charge him sorely with the murther of Aristobulus It was made manifest to M. Anthony that Herod had alwaies his eyes and thoughts bent upon the kingdome of Iudea set on by his furious and exorbitant ambition so that nothing more did check his hopes then to see Aristobulus living to whom hee knew in his conscience the Scepter so justly to belong that he durst not beg it himselfe from the Romans but with the title of Regency Protectorship during the minority of the right heire That hee had converted his Regency first into a Royalty then to Tyranny removing as much as possibly hee could the blood Royall from all dignities for to advance men of naught into such places witnesse Ananel substituted to the Pontificate whereof Hyrcanus was dispoil'd that which made him change his purpose was not his good will and affection but importunity and the apparent danger which he saw to arise by the peoples insurrection for the repulse of the Royall family That Aristobulus being promoted to the and receiv'd with the generall shouts and acclamations of the people this action was so distastfull and odious unto him that hee could not conceale the madnesse of his envy under the mask of his ordinary hypocrisie that since that time he never gave over to persecute the deceased Prince and his mother in such amanner that they finding no place of rest among the living hid themselves in the Coffins among the dead so to be convei'd to Sea and thence to saile for Egypt that hee caused them to bee apprehended in the fact and that from thence forward he studied nothing more then how to rid them out of his way that the young Prince died in the waters not solitary abandoned to himselfe but stifled manifestly by some insolent Pages of the Court and bosome of Herod All this processe or bill of information say they was so evident and cleare as if it were written with the Sun-beam The voice of blood reacht up into heaven that the Traytor could not still the cry They shew'd the picture of this poore Prince which was a litle before his death brought into Egypt for the singular admiration of his beauty they made his Ghost also to speak to demād justice of M. Anthony for being so inhumanely assascinned in the flowre and spring of his yeares by the blackest treason that ever had been devis'd The regrets and sorrows of the poor mother amongst all these were not pretermitted in her absence Cleopatra did act on the Tragoedy the onset was hot the battery very fierce and violent Herod who never wanted an eloquent and smooth tongue in his own behalfe makes his Apology with a most demure and sober modest countenance Illustrious Prince ANd you my Noble Lords that assist at this Councell I doe not hold the Scepter of Iudea from Hyrcanus nor yet from Alexandra I never had the intention to flatter them to this effect and have lesse reason yet to stand in awe of them You know most noble Anthony that the Kingdome that is now in my hands I hold from you by you have I advanced my greatnesse and in you are terminated all my hopes If you command I am ready at this houre not to lay downe my Scepter only but also my life which I was never desirous to preserve but for your service But it troubles mee that the way of death being wide and open to all the world that of reputation which to mee is dearer then my life is blockt up against mine innocence I am persecuted by women and I doe greatly wonder that
when hee caus'd those false reports to be instill'd afresh into his Fathers eares by some creatures well taught and rewarded He fain'd also with a borrowed modesty to take their cause in hand but hee excused them so slily to his own advantage that he brought them within greater suspicion then before King Herod for to bring him into some esteem and authority thought it were not amisse to send him to Rome for a time which he did giving him a flourishing attendance and an infinite deale of recommendations Here hee sate a brooding more ingenious mischiefs from hence pursued his plots more closely with more art In a letter to his father hee wrote that he had discovered at Rome strange plots that he should beware of his brethren Alexander and Aristobulus for they had every where ingrossed the hearts of the people and that their designe was no other then to shorten his daies to dispossesse him of his kingdome This had the more colour for that the yong Princes being not a litle moved with their late rejection or degradation could not dissemble their discontents and did dayly cast about some words which were gather'd up by the spies of Pheroras and Salome that no fillable fell to the earth It griev'd Herod to see that having compos'd all in peace abroad the fire had caught hold on his own house and thence forward he had a minde to seize upon his sonnes but hee would not make any attempt upon their persons without Casars command to whom he referr'd all both for the expression of his obeisance and for the safety of his estate After he had meditated on the matter with himselfe very carefully and seriously for it did much grieve his heart whence all his Counsels did spring had their first rise he resolv'd to bring his sonnes to Rome there to accuse them before Caesar All along the way frō Palestine to Italy did hee carry his thoughts so close that his lookes did never betray them nor did he shew any symptoms of distast towards his Sonnes lest hee should cast some shadowes of suspition Being arriv'd at Rome hee understands that Caesar was then in Aquilegia whither hee posts without delay bringing his two sons along who were by the Emperor who was as a father to them very courteously received with all demonstrations of affection In the interim this wretched father espying his opportunity begges from Caesar a day of audience in a businesse as he said of great consequence which he granted him he came upon the very instant agreed upon bringing with him the two delinquēts who intended nothing as then but to laugh passe the time with their old acquaintance When they were in the midst of a glorious assembly which were of purpose there met Herod fetching a deep sigh addresseth his speech to the Emperour You now behold Great Caesar a King happy enough by your Grace and favour but a most unhappy Father in the disgraces ill fortunes of my house if nature had deni'd me issue fortune would haue sav'd me much misery and trouble It doth much grieue mee to soile your eares renowned Caesar with the recitall of such ungraciousnesse but necessity which hath no law compels me your justice which protects all Lawes invited me to it Loe here my two Sonnes unnaturall Sons who had the honour to bee brought up at your feet after that they had receiv'd from mee all favour that might be expected from a king by your goodnesse potent enough from a father by his own nature most indulgent betraying the glory of their education received at your hands and forgetting their bloud and nature receiv'd from me they have attempted a crime which I am afraid to utter I endured much for them add their welfare and I enjoy a kingdome now a faire terme of yeares which I have purchas'd with so much sweat and turmoile I have opened the gate of honour for them to enter at after my decease when a naturall death should close up mine eyes but they would needs enter in at the gate of paricide laying ambush for my life for to take away the spoile soakened in my bloud I haue them here at your feet not retaining in mine own wrongs any right of a King or father but what your justice will think fit to ordaine and prescribe Yet Creat Caesar I must beg of you this request that you would grant my old age which you have so much honoured some rest in mine own house to rescue me from the hands of these Paricides Also I doe not think it any way expedient that such gracelesse ungratefull Sons that have trod under feet the Laws of God and men should any longer look the Sun in the face which should both witnesse and upbraid their folly The man spake this with wonderfull vehemency so that he did amaze all the assembly and the poor youths which had as much innocence as simplicity seeing themselves thus battered overborne with a tempest of words which they did never presage made their eyes to weep an Apologie they fall a crying in good earnest they strove to recover their speech fearing that their silence would prove them guilty but the more they labour'd to vent their thoughts the more did their sobs interrupt their course Augustus Caesar a judicious and humane Prince saw well by their demeanour and countenance that the young men were guilty of more misery then mischiefe and casting a gracious look upon them Courage my Youths saith hee to them stand firme answer all by leasure let nothing dismay or trouble you All the Court did now pitty them and Herod too shew'd in his countenance that he was a litle mov'd so eloquent are our naturall strength and armes Alexander seeing the eyes of all to cast propitious and favourable beames upon them wakens his spirits and breaking through a throng of sighs as he was pretty well tongu'd he spake as followeth My Lord and Father your Majestie hath not I trust brought us so far before the Altars of mercy for to make us a sacrifice to vengeance wee are at the knees of Caesar as in the temple of clemencie whither being conducted by your consent command I must needs say that as your words were rough and bitter so are your proceedings most faite and gentle If calumnie could have so altered your good nature as to have wrought you to assaile our lives to the disadvantage and hazard of our innocence this you might have done in Palestine as a Father and as a King the doome and execution was in your own power but God permitted it that you have led us to the court of Caesar not to leave our heads here which you have destinated to a Crowne but to bring them backe victoriously triumphing over detractio It is a strange thing to invent so erroneous a crime against persons of our quality reputation without alleaging why or how Here is no speech of
thou hast stain'd mee with their blood thy crimes doth now giue light to their 〈◊〉 At these words hee wept bitterly recalling to minde his Marâ—â—â—â— and unhappy children hee fouâ—â— his heart so opprest with sorrow that he was faine to entreat his Chancellour Nicholas Damascene to proceed Antipater prevented him and spake in his own defence That they did him great wrong to believe slaves and women to his prejudice that he had Casars letters whom he could no more deceive then God himselfe which gave ample testimony of his good abeare and what content he gaue to all at Rome that he was never wanting in his piety towards his Father and it were a peece of extreme folly to thrust himselfe into uncertain dangers for a Crowne that he was certain of and had in his own hands Briefly not to make a longer discourse that hee offered himselfe to be used like a slave and to bee set upon the rack to prove his innocence And speaking this he did rave and stamp in a fearefull manner insomuch that he began to move all the bench to pitty and wonder Nicholas Damascene being a stern and rough Iudge takes him in hand confronts him with witnesses canvasseth him presseth puzles quite confounds him then dischargeth a invective against him exaggerating like an Orator all the circumstances of his crime Is it not saith he a brutish stupidity to conspire against your Father the bloud of your brethren being as yet before your eyes and all the assurances of a Scepter in your hands must a man needs be a Parricide for to bee possessour of a Crown which was bequeathed you by Testament so solemne and authentick Did you expect any more then â—hat your Fathers blood should be the seal and such a father whose life is precious among all good men and whose nature is so indulgent in favour of his children deserve they never so litle An ingratitude able to make heaven to blush and the earth to tremble under our feet yea and worthy that all the elements should conspire to chastise it The man ran on thus in fire and fury powring out a torrent of words while the wreteh Antipater with a dejected countenance praâ—'d God to work some miracle in his behalf for to manifest his innocence seeing that he was mercilesly opprest by the malice of his adversaries It is strange that a man who had no god in his life time would now seek one at his death This maÌ„ lived as though there were neither heaven nor Hell and seeing him so neere the brink of death he besough a Daity to patronize his offence Varus speaks to him my friend expect not any extraordinary signes from heaven on your behalfe but if you haue any specious reason or Apologie produce it into evidence the King your Father desires nothing more then that you might quit your selfe nobly Vpon this hee was confounded as a lost man Varus taking the poyson which was brought to the judgement seat caus'd it to be giuen to a Malefactour that was sentenced to death who died immediatly in the place whereupon all the assembly arose forth with thereby giving manifest token of Antipater's condemnation His Father now holding him for convict demands of him who were his complices he nam'd but Antiphilus Philus only who had brought the poison and said that that Varlet had been the cause of his undoing It wanted but litle that Herod did not then presently execute the sentence of death but according to his ordinary proceedings he resolv'd to acquaint Caesar therewith first and to send him the processe with full instructions of the examination that so he might doe according to his good pleasure In the mean while Antipater is shut up in close prison expecting each day like a piacular victime the fatall stroak Herod moreover had now about threescore and ten yeares upon his back and by the feeblenesse of his age perceived the signalls of deaths approch This was a bit very tough to digest never did any man love this life so well hee had verily parted with his portion in the other world that hee might enjoy this forever for that indeed he was superlatively wicked Towards his later daies hee grew so pensive and thenso cholerick and furious that his domestick servaÌ„ts knew not how to boord him Hee was in his Court like an old Lion bound in the chaines of incurable diseases Hee perswaded himselfe that hee was hated of all the world and hee was not deceived in his opinion for hee had given but too much occasion The people burst the yoke of duty and allegiance and could no longer endure him As soon as the rumour ran of his sicknesse Iudes and Mathias two of the most famous Doctors of the Iewish law who had all the youth of Hierusalem under their charge instigated stigated some of the boldest of their sect unto a veÌ„turous attempt as thus Herod having reëdified much beautified the Temple of Hierusalem as hee had alwaies shewed himselfe for his own interrests an Idolater of Caesars fortune caus'd on the chiefest gate thereof to bee planted the Roman Eagle which glittered all in gold This was a great eye-sore to the Iews who never could endure any shape of man or beast within their Temples so much did they abhor these monsters which their fathers in Aegypt ador'd Loe this was the reason why Iudas Mâ—athias who were as the principall men thinking that Herods sicknesse favour'd their purposes began to exhort in good earnest the most valiant of the young men that frequented their houses to take in hand Gods quarrell according to the noble spirits of their ancesters and to batter down this abomination that was advanc'd upon the Temple the danger was not now so great Herod being cumbred with businesses and diseases but if it should happen that any should loose his life to dye in so good glorious an act was to dye triumphant and Laurells would grow up out of their tombes They faild not to spur up these younkers to set an edge on their courage with many specious and plausible arguments Loe a regiment of the most resolute of them goes forth at mid-day arm'd with axes and hatchets who scale the Temple quash in pieces the Eagle in the sight of all the world Judas and Matthias being then present and serving as trumpets to the sedition The noise arriv'd presently at Court the Captain of the Guard runs thither with a maniple of the hardiest souldiers hee was afraid of some greater matter towards that this demolition was but a velitation or skirmish of a greater tumult But at first onset when he began to charge the people did retire which did encourage him to fall on and to follow closer forty young men that were busiest were taken in the place Iudas and Matthias bearing them company thinking it a dishonour to recoile and that they ought to follow them at least into danger whom they at first had lead into mischiefes As