laboured in the erecting of this engine were .xv. hundred To remoâ—e it from one place to another or from one Citâ—e to another were appointed an hundred and fiftie yoke of oxen or els 300. couple of borses and mules WheÌ„ as thei should assault any fortes or cities that stode vpoÌ„ hilles then must thei deuide it in parts and bringe it vp to the siege by piece-meele and there set it together againe Now when the Romains had battred the walles of Iorpata and Ioseph perceiued the wall to shake he toke greatâ— sackes filled them full of Chaffe and hanged them downe by the Walles that the hornes of the Ramme coulde not come nie the stones of the wall but light vpon the sacks which by the reasoÌ„ of their softnes of the chasse damned the stroke that the wal was lesse hurt For such is the nature of soft things to geuâ— back to the hard to weakeÌ„ their force But Vaspasian seinge the subtiltie of Ioseph vsed also policie for policie for he sent into the towne secretely Iewes spies which when the batteries should he might cut asunder the coardes that the sackes were tied to and with them slipt downe the walles where the Romains were ready to receiue them that they did not hurt them in the fall and immediatly they stroke the wall with the ramme There was at that present in the citie a certaine valeant man named Eleasar of the house of Anani the hie prieste that then dwelt at Hierusalem This Eleasar perceiuyng the Romains to go about to batter downe the walles as â—hey did before plucked out of the wall a mightye stone so that hee made a great hole or gappe wherat he â—idde downe the wall and light stridelinge vppon the engine made fast an fron cheine to the hornes thereof and gate vp againe quickelye and nimlye from the beame into the towne wyth the cheyne in his hande for the walle was not verye hye aboue his heade as he stode vpon the Ramme Then other tall fellowes tooke holde vppon the cheyne and fastened it to Pillers and Walles in the Towne that the Romaynes myghte rather hee constrayned to breake their Ramme then take it awaye from thence The Prieste Eleasar yet once agayne boldlye wente downe and sate vppon the beame slue fiftie menne that laboured aboute the Ramme and the rest he put to flighte then returned into the Towne beinge drawen vp againe from the beame by theim that were wythin the Towne greatlye reioyâ—ynge in his manhode After that went he vp vpoÌ„ a hie tower from whence he tuÌ„bled downe with a mighty force a great stone and a harde vppon the heade of the Ramme brake it that bothe a great parte of the heade and the bornes fell vpon the grounde For the yron that it was couered with all was olde and rustye so that it was muche wasted and eaten therwyth the ropes also were olde After that Eleasar went downe agayne toke parte of the bead that was broken and hurled it into the toune the Romains that remaiâ—ed either he flue or put to flyght The archers shotte at him wounded him with fiue arrows wherfore by the helpe of his felowes vpon the walles he climed vp otherwise he had not ben able for the griefe of his wounds The people then gaue a shout for ioye of the dictory of the worthi priest Eleasar that had slaine the Romaines and broken their Ramme wherein they put their confidence brought part of it into the toune fastned it with an iron cheine that the Romains could not pull it backe again to them nor haue thuse of it after warde Wherfore diuers of the valiantest citizens of Iorpata armed them selfes the day being stirred with the great courage that they had sene in Eleasar and went down hewed the beame into pieces brought the poyses with the ringes and two mastes with them into the towne and the same daye died Eleasar with great renowne as one that had sought for the sanctuary of the lord and for his people and countrye of Israel like a faithful seruant and souldier of the Lorde whome all the people mourned for buriyng him in the town and honoring him for his deathe worthinesse and faithfulnesse appointinge him a worthy memory also for that he had waged battail with the ennemies of the Lorde The yonge menne of the Iewes seing this and specially two of them the one called Nitra thother Polipus men of wisdome and vnderstanding therwith expert in the warres being moued with zeale for the god of Israel opened the gates issued out against the Romaines skirmished with them slue mani of theÌ„ But at length thei were slain them selues in the skir mishe for the sanctuarie of their God for Israell and their countrey When Ioseph saw the wars to encrease more and more he issued oute and made a great slaughter in the Romains tents burnt the mounte engines of warre that the Romaines had left by which meanes the warres wared yet hoater and hoater in so muche that Iosephus repulsed the Romaines for when they saw the Iewes so desperatelys geue their liues for their God and land they woulde not abide their force When Vaspasian sawe his menne shrinke he stode vp then and put them in hearte exhorting them with faire wordes and promises aswell golde and siluer as meate and drinke wherewith the Romaines allured foughte with Iosephe that day vnto the Sunne setting and as the battaile waxed hote the Iewes wouÌ„ded Vaspasian with an arrowe in his right legge which fore dismaies the Romaines when they saw the bloude run down his legge and that day was a fore fighte betwene the Iewes and the Romaines Titus seinge his father wounded fore abashed ranne to him to helpe him to whome his father saide how it is my sonne that thou art thus astonied take harte to thee and with a courage reuenge thy father of these Iewes that haue now the better hand of vs. So they fought both Titus and Vaspasian withal their hole host the day a very sore fight and many were slain of both partes yea very few were lefte on Iosephes part with whoÌ„ he returnd into the towne The nexte day the Râ—maines raised a newe mounte in stede of that that Ioseph had brent and plaÌ„ted an other iron Ram therupon betwene two postes accordingly for Vaspasian had brought .iiii. of this sortwith him froÌ„ Rome but other battering peces vpoÌ„ wheles had he with him thirti what more what lesse the bigger sort were of .xxx. cubites longe the leaste ten He broughte also ten engines to hurâ—e greate and weighty stenes with al which he placed abâ—ute the walles The Romaines therefore renued the warres assaults against the town as thei were woÌ„t afore But the town was now desolate and naked of the stoutest warlike men for they were al slain in the fightes Albeit Ioseph remained a fewe with him who went euery one the women also to defend the wals for there was almost no men lefte
loe they haue sinned against their owne soules dying withoute discipline and all good order If thou wilt say how shal we do for oure othe that we haue sworne Doste thou not knowe that He that breaketh a vvicked othe do the nothing vvickedly him selfe For a man is not constreined to performe an othe vnto God but to the kepinge of his lawes and bereupon it is that Dauid saithe I haue svvorne and vvil perfourme For neither vow nor othe that is made against the commaundementes of God can be ratified before God And that more is before the we sware oure fathers sware firste a great while ago at the mounte of Sinai that they and their children woulde keepe the lawe of the Lorde Moyses also made a couenaunte with them vpoÌ„ the same and not only with theÌ„ that then were there but also with vs. Howe then dare we be so bolde to swcare to breake the law of our God and become maÌ„quellers seing it is one of the .x. commaundements expressely Thou shalt not kil Wherfore my brother thou shalt vnderstande that we nede not be sollititous nor careful for the oth that we haue made but rather to breake it for God wil neuer be displeased with vs for that for I beinge afraide of these wicked persones that lie nowe he are deade did inuente this subtil meanes and way to swear that I mighte saue my life Thou therfore my brother if thou wilte be ruled by mine aduise thou shalt saue thy life mine and I wil caste no lottes nor performe the othe that we made VVhiche is not good in the lavve if thou wilte not I wil withstande thee and fighte with thee to kill thee and skape my selfe And with this Ioseph lepte backe and drue oute his sworde standinge ouer againste him to see what his felowe woulde answer His companion hearinge this sturred neither hande nor foote againste him but saide Loe I am contente do what thou thinckest good because thou arte a manne of God And blessed be the Lorde God of Israel that bathe not withdrawne his mercye from me but made me to be in thy lotte whereby my soule is saued from goinge to helt thy lotte is a iuste lotte For the Lorde vvil not leaue the scourge of sinners vppon the lotte of the iuste Muche elsse besides this spake Iosephes companion vnto him for he was sore afraide of him leaste he shoulde haue killed him if they hadde entermedled together for Ioseph was the better man of his hands and therfore Ioseph chose him into his lot that he might be able to make his party good with him In this pointe Ioseph played the wyse mannes parte for he escaped by this meanes both from the handes of those wicked foles and also from his felow THerfore Ioseph called out of the caue to captain Nicanor and said to him in this wise Wilte thou promise mee that neither thou nor anye of thy men that be here with thee or in the Romains campe shal kyll vs before thou hast brought vs vnto Vaspasian and lâ—t hym dooe wyth vs as he thynketh good Nicanor aunswered So and so deale God with mee if I fulfyl not thy request if so be it thou wilt come forthe vnto mee together with the men that thou hast with thee Ioseph aunswered I will come forth vnto thee and so manye moe of vs as be aliue for so is it come to passe that some of vs be deade here in the caue wherefore howe can they come forthe Then said Nicanor neuer thincke frend Ioseph that I am come to deceiue thee come foorthe and trust in thy Lord God for thou neadest not to feare Ioseph said sweare vnto me this by the god of Israel although he be vnknowne vnto thee Nikanoâ— answered I sweare vnto the by that God that made the world by his wisdom that thou nedest not to fear me but boldly maist come forthe vnto me So Nikanor made a couenaunte with Ioseph and his felow coâ—firming and ratifying it in writing after the manner of the Romaines and reatched it into the caue vpon a speare holding the pointe of the speare in his owne hand Ioseph toke the writinge red it and beleued Nicanor theÌ„ came he forth to Nicanor and his felowe with him When Nicanor sitting vpon his seate of estate that was made him there in the wooâ—e nie vnto the caue sawe Ioseph come towardes him he rise vp embrasing him kissed him set him on his righthand and wept with him aboundauntly he honoured his felowe also plaringe him betwene Pohrinus and Gallicanus whom he had at that present with him Then Nicanor asked hym for the reste of the men that were wyth him willynge that they shoulde come forth and he would honour them also and dooe them no harme Ioseph declared the whole matter vnto hym what was become of theim Nicanor hearing of the pertinacious stubburnnesse of the Iewes heartes their wiâ—ked intentes was wonderfully moued So then he rose and went from thence with Ioseph and his companion vnto Vaspasian When the Romaine army sawe Ioseph they were greatly astonied and gaue a mightye shoute Some reioysed that Ioseph was takeÌ„ saiyng This is good lucke that our eyes shall see oure longe expected desire Other lamented and let teeres fal from their eyes wyth pensiue heartes saiynge Is not this that worthye manne who made all the Romayne hoste to quake for feare and whose Fame and renowne was knowen throughout all landes Howe is it come to passe that so mighty a man is taken in his owne countrey amongst his owne people If this chaunceth vnto suche a manne to be taken in his owne Lande in the middest of his family and frends How shal we escape in a straunge land Certaine euil disposed persons of the Romain souldiers went to Vaspasian and said Sir you shal do well to coÌ„maund this man to be slaine without mercye that hath ben the distruction of so many of the people of the Romains This is the self same that shot the arow and stroke you in the leg put him to death and then shal you be sure he shal neuer moue warre more against you If you do not ye shal see him one daye againe rayse an armye against vs and distroy vs. But Iosephe founde frendshippe at Titus Vaspasians sonnes handes whiche came of the LORDE Therfore when hee hearde those wycked mens wordes that desiered Vaspasian to put Ioseph to death he laught them to skorne and taunted theim saiynge Will you tell my father what he hath to dooe Will you geue him so wicked counsell to flea that man that yeldeth him self to vs vpoÌ„ the trust of our leaâ—e band of frendship which you now go about to breake and frustrate Did not captaine Nicanor in my fathers name Caesars with al the Romaines make a couenant with him Take hede what you saie Is it not treason that you go about to breake the Cesarical fidelitie Moreouer who can tel whether it may so happen that
battailes on euerye side They within the towne when they sawe their felowes once at the mounte Oliuet they opened the gates issued withall their power that was left in the towne and encountred with Titus where he had set his men in arraye ouer againste the gate where thei made a great slaughter of the Romaines whiche striuing to auenge the shame gotteÌ„ the dai before fled not but stucke to it hard The Iewes also toke hart vnto them fought manfully bet downe the Romaines that at lengthe they toke theÌ„ to flighte toward the mouÌ„t Oliuet and in their flight many of theÌ„ were slaine of the Iewes that pursued the chase Vpon this diuers of Titus souldioures seinge them selues beset both before and behind couÌ„seled Titus to flee with them vnto the mountains to saue his life least he should be slain by the Iewes and they all together with him For thou saye they arte a greate Lord of many kingdomes and God shal one day bring thee to the imperial crowne of our Lorde thy father Nowe therefore if thou shouldest be slaine of the Iewes we are al but dead and what good should thy deathe do other to thy selfe or to other to be slaine like one of vs Yet Titus would not be ruled by them nor receiue their counsel but kept his ground boldly without once turninge his face sayinge I vvill chuse rather to die vvith honoure then to liue vvith shame And with that he rushed vpon the Iewes that were nye him and drue them to recule When the Iewes that had enuironned the Romaine campe sawe that they lefte the Romaines and came flocking about Titus by routes assailinge him on euerye side endeuouringe also withal their might to ouercharg him wherthrough in that place was a sore and vehement fight and muche people slaine on both parties yea Titus scapt narowly from being slain in that fight and he had dyed in deede if certaine of his valeant souldiours had not returned vnto him and rescued him ouâ—e of the Iewes handes That day were the chiefe of Titus souldiours slaine Then the Iewes retyred to their place at the walles side Thei also that went to the mount Oliuet returned homeward by the broke Cedron The Romaynes seinge that pursued them wherupon the Iewes tourned againe vppon the Romayns who fled by and by Thus the Iewes put the Romayns to flight thrise vpon one day IT came to passe theÌ„ that the external warres paused and internall ciuill warres reuiued most terribly amongst the sedicious at Hierusalem For vpon the firste daye of the hye solemne feast of Passeouer captaine Iehochanan and his menne came into the temple of the Lorde where he was honourablye receiued of the priestes and Elders with the rest of the comminaltie And when thei were within they cast of their vpper garmentes vnder which thei were armed with coats of fence swords tied to their thighs After that they beset the dores laid hold of the priests slue theÌ„ the people also their hearts was so cruelly bent against their brethren nether regarding the reuerent countenaunces of olde men nor enclining to the praiers of them that besought theÌ„ without sparing ether wemen or children no not the suckinge babes This done Iehochanan stode vp opeÌ„ly protested that nether Schimeon nor Eleasar nor any of the reast of the captains of the seditious nor any manne elsse shoulde haue the soueraintie in that citye but he The other hearinge that Iehochanan had wrought such displeasure to the people of God in the temple risse together and slue very many of Iehochanans part but in the meane season what of th one parte and what of the other the Israelites wente to wracke and were slain in great nomber Tidinges came to Titus how the Iewes conspired against them selues and slue one an other daily wherat he reioysed greatly came with his hole hoste to the town where he found certain Iewes withoute that had fled because of the rage of the ciuill warres WheÌ„ they saw Titus they came besought him to enter the town and deliuer them from the crueltye of the sedicious they wold be his seruantes for these warres had made theÌ„ almost wearye of their liues Yet Titus gaue litle credit to their tale although they made manye wordes to perswade him that it was true For he remembred howe within three daies afore he sawe the Iewes fighte againste him egarlye al with one accorde so earnestlye one rescuing and defending an other that no discorde appeared to be amongst them Wherfore he wold not beleue their wordes in that they required succour and offred to yeld And as they wer thus debatinge the matter sodeÌ„ly they heard an vprore in the town and wonderful hurliburly some cryinge Open the gates and let Titus come in other cried shut the gates let not the Romayns come in Then certaine vppon the walles called vnto the Romayns to make spede and come vnto the towne they would open them the gates that they might enter in and deliuer theim from the tyrannye of the sedicious least they should be all slayne by the handes of those rauinous and cruel sedicious persons The Romains therfore ranne to the gates and when they approched nye the Walles and were come within daunger the Iewes hurled stones from the walles shotte arrowes at them fleaynge very many of the Romayns The other Iewes also that were without the towne and had besought Titus to deliuer them froÌ„ the hands of the sedicious began to assayle the Romaynes that wer gon to the walles with suche force that many of them they slew the residue they put to flyght the Iewes folowed the chase almoste to Aiclona Then the Iewes mockâ— flouted the Romaynes calling them freshe water souldiers men of no experience and innocent fooles that neuer sawe the traynes of warre before clappyng also theyr targetes and shakyng theyr swordes agaynste the Romaynes in mockage The Romayne captaines seing these thinges thei toke greate disdayne at the matter and in a great yre would haue turned back vpoÌ„ the Iewes again had not Titus caused the retreate to be blowen Vpon this Titus asseÌ„bled al his counsailours captains and souldiours together and said vnto them in this wise I haue a sufficient trial and vnderstand wel mough your valiantnes courage most worthy men deare souldiers whych farre passeth the streÌ„gth maÌ„hode of al other nacions not onely in this most excelleÌ„t vertue do ye excel but also in know ledge and sleightes of war in wisdome forecast ye haue ben chief of al other Now therfore brethre frends I marueil not so greatly at the Iewes subtiltie craft in their swearing to you for the persuading of a thing after kepe not their oth but this semeth wonderful to me that ye suffer your selues styl to be disceiued of them to be slaine by their wiles For al the wit ye haue could not deliuer you out of their snares but now yet again
thyther we shal be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sonnes and prepare vs a place O that I might goo before you the lorde knoweth I would doo it gladly But ye my sonnes maruell neuer at thys that is chaunced vnto vs for it is no new thing suche lyke hath happened before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus bi his wickednes put to death the seuen brethern yong men in the sight of theyr mother whiche was a righteous and a godly woman who chaunced to find this mercy at the lordes handes that she might kisse her sonnes and embrase them as they also kist one an other before they died Al thei wer put to death by the crueltye of the vncircumcised king of the Macedonians yet obteined they that which is denied at this daye to vs the are put to death by Schimeon who hathe the name of an Israelite who beareth also the couenaunte of oure father Abraham in his flesh And would God it mighte fortune vs to liue in their inne or place of reast whiche al be it it wil not be graunted yet we shal be their neighboures seinge that we also die for the law of the lord Therfore be of good comfort my soÌ„nes and lament not for my sake for I iudg this my miserie easier and not so great as the calaâ—itie of Zidkiahu whose sonnes were firste killed then his eyes put out by the king of Chalâ—ea and he liued manâ— yeres after we are so much the more happier in my minde because we shal dye together Then said Amittai to Schimeons seruaunte whiche should kill him Make spede I pray thee and kil me first before my children die then after kill them also that we maye die together for so it is more expedient for vs then to se the temple of the lord tourned into a butcherye or slaughter-house to slea men in After cryed he vnto God saiyng I beseche thee O Lord God most high whiche dwellest in the hyest iudge this Schimeon accordynge to his works reward him according to his deseruings For thou art the god almighty dreadful let not this thief die therfore amongst the people of thy pasture but that his death maye be seuered froÌ„ the death of other men let him dye a horrible and a sodayne death that he haue no time to confesse his sinneâ— and to returne him selfe to thee that thou maiest receiue him for thou art wontâ— to receiue theim whiche turne to thee by repentaunce for he is not worthy of repentaunce which hath spoyled wasted many goodly thinges in thy teÌ„ple besides that hath murdered most holye men in the same To thintent therfore that thy iudgementes may be declared in him I beseche thee make him to be taken of his enmies together with his wife children and family al that euer loue him Nether geue vnto his soul any part with the people of god nor let his porcion be with the iust men in thy sanctuary for he is vnworthy of theÌ„ bicause he hath not only sinned him self but hath caused Israel to sinne Wherfore let his iudgmeÌ„t sentence go forth froÌ„ thy sight that he may se his wife children his hole house led into captiuity boÌ„dage before his face Afterward let him die a straunge death such as neuer maÌ„ herd of let him be kild of must cruel men which wheÌ„ thei haue smiteÌ„ him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet aliue and that he may see his go into bondage Let him also be a curse before al that shall see him More ouer let him perceiue that my wordes and desteny is better then his when as I go vnto thee in that great light which he shal be depriued of After these wordes Amittai said to the seruaunt who was appointed to kill him I beseche thee let me finde so much fauour atthy handes that when thou hast slain my Sonnes thou wouldest kill me with the same sworde while it is yet wet with the bloud of my sonnes that our bloud may be mingled and this maye be a recreation to my soule Kil me also in the sighte of the Romaines that they maye auenge me and my sonnes vpon this most cruell Schimeon they shal be witnesses againste him that I was not their frende But would God my matters were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceiue me to be an ennemye of Schimeons and a frend of theirs â–ª Woulde God I had withstanded Schimeon at the first so earnestly as I made warre vpoÌ„ the Romaines that I might haue auoided his cruelty from the people of God when he had said al these things he prayed before god almighty saying O God which dwellest in the highest thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy iudgements consider and iudge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is be comen vnmeasurable vpon the people of God that he whiche sheadeth the bloude of them that feare thee in the midst of the temple may be rebuked of thee with thy rebukinges according to his workes make spedy vengaunce prolonge not and that for the deathes sake of thy saintes for thy iudgemeÌ„tes are the iudgementes of truthe Then Schimeon gaue commaundemente to four cut throtes of his that thre of theÌ„ should kil Amittais thre sonnes before their fathers face the fourth shoulde kil Amittai him self and so the blud of the sonnes was mixte with the blud of their father Afterwarde Schimeons seruaunte tooke the bodye of Amittai and layde it vppon the bodyes of hys sonnes as his desire was then tumbled them ouer the walles After that commaunded Schimeon that Chananehu the hie priest shuld be put to death whose bodye was caste vnto the bodies of Amittai and his sonnes Aristius also the scribe one of the noble men of Ierusalem was killed at the same time and ten mo iust men of his kinred and house because they murned for the deathe of Aristius It fortuned while Schimeon was a killing of those ten certaine substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfullye amased when they sawe the thynge sayinge one to an other Howe longe wyll God suffer the malice of Schimeon and wyll not searche oute the bloude of iuste menne nor reuenge them Certain seditious persons hearinge this tolde it vnto Schimeon who commaunded them to be apprehended and murthered the same daye After this there passed by a leuen of the noble men of Ierusalem whiche seinge two and fortye innocentes to be put to deathe by Schimeon they lift vp their eyes to the heauens and said O Lord god of Israel how longe wilt thou hold thy hande and kepe in thine anger againste these transgressoures of thy wil whiche whan Schimeon heard of he commaunded them to be apprehended and killed them with his owne handes Eleasar the sonne of Anani the prieste seinge the malice wickednes of Schimeon to be great that he made away the iust and godly
the greke tong Ptolomee reioysing much in their wisdome honored them with princely apparell and great rewards brought thē also home again mery and glad Moreouer he sendeth by them oblations to our God At that time there were many contented to folow the lawes of the Grecians but these seuentye refused Not longe after captaine Seleucus Ptolomies cōpanion in office died in whose stede Antiochus raigned in Macedonia This Antiochus makyng warre vpon Ptolomee bereft him of all his dominions and slewe him After that he subdued all the lande of Israel then vnder the regiment of Ptolomee and waxed verye proude He hated Israel also because they loued Ptolomee and ayded him in the warres againste him This is that Antiochus that builded a great citye vppon the sea coaste and called it Antiochia wherein he made a golden ydole commaundyng that the children of Israel should be brought vnto it and worship it But some of them chose rather to suffer deathe for the religion of their god although some other fel from the synagoge their mother church Before this he toke away also their Sabboth their new mone and leage of circumcision forbiddyng that in any wise they should obserue these commaundementes in anye place throughout his whole dominiōs For the which he put many of the Israelits to death oppressed thē more then did euer anie of their enmies or aduersaries The second mā in honor next him self in Ierusalē was one Polipus he erected an ymage in the tēple cōmaundyng the people of Israell to worship it and who so euer was disobedient to be slaine Therfore he put to death Hanna and her seuen children as it is mencioned in other places When Antiochus perceiued this it increased his hatred towarde Israel in so muche that he did his endeuour that none of them should scape or be left aliue except such as would worship the image Then fledde manie of the Israelites to the mounte Mediit and to Iericho because of the lawe of Polipus and Antiochus his lorde hauinge to their gouernour the hie priest Mattathias sonne of Iohan Hasmonany otherwise called Chasmonany The priest enioyned them to faste and punishe thē selues before the lorde with wepinge sackeclothe and asshes and after this he saith vnto them If ye wil ieoparde your liues for the holy Lorde why die we like women Let vs go and fight with Polipus and if we die wee shal die with honour peraduenture the holie and blessed God wil helpe vs and will not roote out the remnaunt of Isracll To this counsell euerie man assented and made a couenant with hym vpon this thing Polipus hearing this gathered his force together and made toward them to destroye them what Israelite so euer he found in his waie he slewe him Mattathias the priest and all the remnant of Israel vnderstāding that Polipus came againste them they went vp vpon the mount Mediit wyth their wiues and children Then hee put him selfe and his sōnes in armour He had fiue sonnes Iudas the eldest the next Iehonathan the thirde Iochanan the fourth Schimeon and the fifte Eleasar All these wer valiant and good men of warre When Polipus came to them he vsed crafte with Mattathias saiynge vnto him Thou arte one of the chiefe men in Israell and a man of honour estimation Come doune therfore and all that be with thee worship the ymage and striue not againste the kinge that ye mai liue and not be destroied Thou shalt be their prince also if thou wilt be conformable But the priest in no wise woulde bee seduced by him but rather cursed and reuiled him Mattathias had an aulter at the fote of the hill whereupon when he had offered Sacrifice to the most blessed God there came one of the wicked Israelites oute of Polipus campe and killed vpon it a swine This villaine was yong and lustye but the prtest was olde yet when he saw what this lewde felow had done criyng vnto his god to help him strenthen him he chalenged a combate betwene him self the felow Which thinge being liked both of the felowe and of Polipus with his whole Armye Mattathias came downe wyth his drawen sworde in his hande and the felow stode against him readye to receiue him But the prieste russhed vpō him by the assistence of his god ouercame him cut of his head and cast his carcas vpon the aulter wherat Polipus and his whole host were much astonied beholdyng one another The prieste stode still by the aulter criynge whiche of you wil come to me man for man Thē Polipus picked out a strong champion the best in all his armye and brought him out of the arayes of hys hoste to teache him his lesson howe he should behaue him selfe with the priest The prieste therfore drewe toward the Campe with hys naked sworde in hys hand as though he came to ioyne with their Champion but afterwardes leauynge him he turned his sworde vpon Polipus stroke of his heade and fledde to the hill Then blowing their hornes and makynge a shoute together they russhed doun vpō the Grecians campe But when the Grecians saw that their graunde captaine was slaine they fled Chasmonany and his sonnes with all Israell folowed the chase ouerthrewe thē and made a great slaughter This done Mattathias the priest went to Ierusalem purified the tēple restored the worshippyng of god commaunded al that were born during the time of Polipus to be circumcised for bi the means of his inhibition they were vncircūcised Thus being established he sate vpō the throne of the kingdome and droue the Grekes out of the lande of Israell His kingdome endured one yere whiche was the .cc. xii yere frō the building of the seconde house After this he fell sicke and like to die charged his sonnes to kepe the obseruations of the Lorde and to walke in his waies Also to play the men againste the Grecians for the religion of the Lord. Then brought he forth Iudas a tall man and a hardy and placynge him in the sanctuarie toke a horne of oyle and poured it vppon his head wherat all the Israelites clapped their handes and gaue a great shoute saiynge God saue the kinge God saue the kinge Sone after Iudas gathered an armie of Israel and made an expedicion against the rēnant of the Grekes that were left in the holdes of Israell and whatsoeuer he toke in hande God gaue it good successe Notwithstanding Antiochus sent against him a puissant army vnder the leadyng of one captain Pelonius against whom Iudas so warred that the Grecians went to wrack for he espied his tyme when they were destitute of victuals and spedely set vpon them beat thē doune handsmoth approched to captain Pelonius slew the valiauntest about him yea him also When Antiochus heard of this he was in a great rage wherefore he chose out a most valiaunt captaine called Lisias and sent him against Hierusalem with a thousande horsemen and fotemenne without number Iudas hauing
said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thée therfore they would not awarde him to die Whereat the kinge helde his peace and gaue neuer a worde to answer So all the ioye was dashed and turned into sadnesse The next day at the commaundement of the king proclamations went out to all the Cities in the kinges dominions that they shoulde stande to the ordenaunce of Sadoch and Bithus and who soeuer should refence to folow their decrees or would obserue the tradicions of the Sages and obey their wil shuld suffer death This was Ihon the hie priest whiche had the priesthode xl yeares and in th end became a Saducie Notwithstandinge the Israelites obeyed not the kinges commaundement but rather priuilye followed the orders of the sages The king him selfe and all his seruantes folowed the traditions of the Saducies making inquisition for them that stake to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to deathe as many as he coulde get knowledge of By this meanes he drue much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus reygned ouer Israell was .xxxi. yere and then he died After him reigned his sonne Aristobulus for he had .iii. sonnes Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his father and banished out of his presence He went therfore and made warre vpon Tire and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high priesthode but set light by it wherfore he wold not execute the office therof but toke the kingdome vppon him and set the crowne vppon his heade and was called the great king Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her sonne his yonger brother and wold not suffer them to dwell in Ierusalem But he loued his brother Antigonus and made him lieuetenant generall of all his warres setting him forward into the warres againste hys ennemies Wherin the yong mā Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in hād and returned safe to Ierusalem Wheras he entred into the house of the sanctuary to pray for his brother the king which at that time was greuously sicke and also to acknowledge before the Lorde God his goodnesse and mercye towardes him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person vnto the king informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the warres inquyred ▪ of thy health when it was told him thou wast sicke he saide I will go to him to day rid him out of the world When the kinge heard this he was wrothe towarde the sages commaunded his brother to be apprehēded and caried to the palaice of Starton there to be kepte in prisonne till he hadde made inquisition of his doinges In the meane space the Quene the kinges wife commaunded him to be put to death there without knowlege of the kinges minde But when the Kinge hearde that hys brother was killed he cried mainly out and wepte smiting his brest in such a sorte with his hande that he sowned and muche blud issued out of his mouth He reigned ouer Israel .ii. yere After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called king Ianai being broughte out of prisō where his brother had put him and made king of Israel He was a mighty man and valeante in all his warres against his ennemies preuailing against thē He had warres with the Philistines namelye Azam and Ascalon whom he put to the worsse and ouercame them This man refused not the priesthode but was his priest It chaunced on a time when he stode at thaltare to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast Ceder trée vpon him wherat he lift vp his righthand vpon the altare crying geue me my sword Then the Sages kneled down before him and sware they did it not of anye contempt but rather say thei that we thus sporting before the Lord would be mery vpon the hie solempne daye But the kinges seruauntes answered roughly again saiynge Althoughe ye play and reioyie yet it is not the maner of the country to vse any such dispitful custome with the king The cōtencion waxed hot amongste them til at the length the Sages spake euil of the king castinge in his tethe that he was an vnhallowed and suspended person and that his graūdmother on the fathers side was a captiue in the mount Modiit wherby her seede was steined The king was sore moued at that in so much that he commaunded all the Sages to be slaine Therefore wher so euer they founde them in the sanctuary or in the stretes of Ierusalem they killed them forthwith Then the king commaunded that euery mā should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatiō some fel vpon the sworde some fled awaye and some taried at home with dishonor and shame After these matters the king made an expedicion into Arabia entred the country as farre as the rocke of the wildernes against Hartam kinge of Arabia and subdued his lande After that he warred vpon Medaba and the hole lande of Moab vanquishing them and bringing them vnder tribute and so retourned with honor to Ierusalem When he had after this wel bethought him of his doings it repēted him of his euil waies wherfore he altered his minde and began to make much of the Sages submitted him to their ordinaunce and estemed their tradicions There were also at that time a kinde of secte that were called * These I take to be the same that he calleth sages before Phariseis of whom such as had escaped the kinge sente to call them home again and when they wer come into his presence he spake vnto them comfortable wordes saying My brethern ye shal vnderstand that that is once done and past must nedes be termed as it is and can not be reuoked And truth it is you can excuse the reproche that ye did me nor I can not call againe the bloud that I haue shed Notwithstanding I confesse my faulte vnto you and haue chaunged my indignation to loue praiynge you to put out of your heart all rancour and malice laye awaie also your mournynge and sorowfulnesse of your mindes reioysyng in your reconciliation and atonement with me be of good cheare But they made him answere We wil not laie away our hatred and enmitie for thou speakest but disceitfully we speake that is truthe Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and elders neither hast thou onely done vs this iniurie but also Hircanus thy father who began such mischiefe thou hast holden on and cōtinued it Wherfore this hatred betwene thee and vs hath taken some roote neither can we leaue our sorowe and mourninge tyll thou dye and God take vengeaunce vpon thee for our sakes then shal wee reioice when we see vengeaunce So they departed from his presence neither did the kinge
wery of their liues for feare of them Wherefore the king of Siria sent vnto Herode ruler of Galily desiring him to kil that Hizkias his complices Wherupon Herode prepared him selfe and wente to meete with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Siria came vpoÌ„ him at vnwares and slue him and his menne Whereof when the kinge of Siria was certified he sent a noble reward vnto Herode of siluer gold and precious stones bi whiche and by like meanes he became very famous The noble men of Iuda made their complainte vnto Hircanus vpon Antipater and his soÌ„nes for their sore oppressing of the lande of Iuda desiring that Herode might be called froÌ„ Galily to appere in iudgment and answer with other for the killing of Hezkias The king therfore sente for him he vpon that came to Ierusalem appered before the iudges princely apparelled with a gilt sword gird aboute him whose pride an aunciente man called Samai blamed and repreheÌ„ded also his stoute hearte but he woulde not geue eare vnto him nor yet regarde the iudges When Hircanus perceiued that the iudges had almoste determined to geue iudgement agaynste the younge man to make him away he toke pitie vpon him said We wil not geue senteÌ„ce to day to morow is a new day and by that meanes deliuered him out of their hands Herode knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death That night therfore he fled to the king of Siria declaring all what had happened vnto him The kinge of Siria let him haue a strong army came with him him self purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his father Antipater and his elder brother Phaselus came forthe vnto him and rebuked him saiyng Is this the rewarde that thou rendrest to kinge Hircanus that toke pitie vppon thee and woulde not haue thy bloude shedde Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem vnto whom he condiscended after he had once let the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem knowe what he could do and had shewed theÌ„ his power Iulius Emperour of Rome aboute that time as he was worshippinge in the house of his GOD was murdered by the conspyracye of certaine of theim whiche hadde serued Pompeius that was slaine as is afore mencioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the couÌ„trey of Macedonia who fledde thither beinge afraied to tarie at Rome This Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a greate scourge to the noble men of Iuda and a great deale forer man then was Hircanus him self Yea Hircanus could do nothinge in comparison of him for he had no rule him selfe but Antipater and his sons bare all the swaye throughoute the whole realme Moreouer Antipater was in great estimation amongest all the Kinges of that time And for asmuch as he so sore oppressed the Iewes thei therfore hated him and conspired to kil hym There was a man in great aucthoritie about Aâ—rcanus by whose meanes thei wrought this matter He corrupted the kinges Butler with rewardes to put poyson in Antipaters cuppe which as he had dronke he died These things his sonnes Phaselus and Herode dissimuled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstandinge they priuely writ vnto Cassius that raigned in Macedonia certifiynge him of this deede Sone after came Cassius to Tyrus from whence he sente messengers to Hircanus to come vnto him who came with hym Malchias Phaseus and Herode Cassius entertainynge them all in his lodgynge willed his men that whatsoeuer Herode had them thei should do it Herode willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therfore sittyng hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demauÌ„ded of the soÌ„nes of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that Kynge Cassius seruauntes slew him and wee knowe not whye Therfore Hircauus stode in feare of Phaselus and Herode being certain that this was their dede Wherfore he saide vnto theim This Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an vserer These thinges done Octauian Augustus brothers sonne vnto Iulius that was murdered came vnto Rome and the people of Rome made hym their Emperoure He had a felowe in office named Marcus Antonius his Vncle. Octauianus therefore seinge to the gouernement at Rome sent Marcus Antonius to warre vppon Cassius and to reuenge Iulius death Vnto him Hircanus sent a presente a crowne of golde in whiche were set sundrye precious stones praiyng him to strengthen his Kingedome in his handes and to be a means of a league to be made betwen Octauian Augustus king of kings and him as there was betwene him and Iulius which Antonius graunted Pacorus About that time Antigonus fonne of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus kyng of the Persians to aide him against Hircanus to remoue him and to restore the kingdome to him self and he agreed to geue him for his trauail fiue hundreth pouÌ„d weight of gold and a hundreth Israelitish virgins So Pagurus gathered an host against Israel and Antigonus departed oute of Ierusalem with muche people of Israel that toke his part and foyned them selues to Pagurus These came to Ierusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes gaue many greate assaultes vnto it til at lenght they vndermined the city Then toke they Hircanus and slue Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus shuld be cleane remoued from the priesthod Antigonus that had depriued him now of his kingdom cut of besides that one of his eares But Herode escaped fled to August emperour of Rome Pagurê° therfore hauing made Antigonus king of Ierusalem returned home into Persia cariynge Hircanus as prisoner with him But Augustus appointed Herod to be king ouer al Iuda geuing to him a very strong army of the Romaines to obtein it withall In the way thither Herode met with Alexandra Hircanus doughter and Marimi her doughter thou she had by Alexander soÌ„ne of Aristobulus and brought theÌ„ again into the land of Israel where he tooke Marimi to wife and was maried with her in the mount of Galile For ther the chiefe of al Israel dwelte with whome he toke peace Marcus Antonius companion in office vnto Octauian Augustus aboute that time made a voyage through all the East countries to subdue them vnto the Romaines together with Egipt Damasco and Siria Him Herode accompanied to the flud of Euphrates and helped him not a litle For the Arabians lay in wait for him in the way and slue all that would aide Marcus Antonius But Herode mette with them and slue them Wherefore Antonius was verye gladde of Herodes valiauntnesse and brought him again into Israell together with Cassius his captain and lieuetenant of his warres hauinge also his letters to all the captaines of Siria after this tenure Ye shall vnderstand that our Lord and maister Octauian Augustus kinge of kings hath appointed Herode the soÌ„ne of Antipater to be kinge of all the land of Iuda Therefore assone as these letters shall come
to Schimeon to bring him into the town But Schimeon craftily refused it alledginge what shoulde I come into the towne to you that hate me and of late banished me your towne Yet they ceased not so but sent the same Amittai to him again to intreat him in the name of al the people to come vpon a certain nighte so he entred into the town with his hole army Notwithstanding he was no soner within the town but he brake his promise and league that he had made with the citizens and whereas he had promised to succour them and aid theÌ„ now he was altered and became their ennemie ioyning him selfe with Iehochanan And they two rebelles reigned in the city of Ierusalem by course one one moneth and an other another so where before Schimeons coÌ„myng they thought much to bear the yoke oppressioÌ„ of one sedicious persoÌ„ now wer thei coÌ„strayned to hold down their shoulders bear the yoke of two Yet with in a few daies after ther fel a variance discord betwene Iehochanan and Schimeon about Eleasar priest the sonne of Anani the hye Priest This Eleasar was the beginner and first sower of sedicion amongst the Israeliâ—s whom Schimeon wold now haue put to death to be wroken of his father that banished him out of Hierusalem but Iehochanan toke Eleasars part and defended him For Eleasar was alwayes Iehochanans frende aided him His father was hie priest and bare a great rule in Hierusalem wherfore Eleasar was of great estimation and aucthoritie with the elders so that they durst not reprehend him and his father also loked negligently vnto him let him do what he list because he had no moe sonnes but him So he was the first that assembled naughtye persons together helde euer on Iehochanans side from his first comming to Hierusalem And for his sake fel deuision and dissention betwene Iehochanan and Schimeon so that thei became enemies and warred the one vpon thâ—ther euer after as we shal declare hereafter IN this while Vaspasian had sent Antoni and Mankiminus two noble meÌ„ and of his counsel to Rome againste Vitellius that thei might make him out of the way and then woulde be come to Rome to receiue the imperial crowne there Those .ii captains went therfore raised an army bi whose aide thei set vpon Vitellius slew him not without much ado for there were slain that day at Rome 80. M. good meÌ„ of war WheÌ„ Vasp had word that he was dispatcht he made spede to Rome to his coronatioÌ„ deuiding first his army in .ii. parts wherof he toke th one with him to Rome as a sauegard for him self whatsoeuer shold happen the other he left with Titus his son to besiege IerusaleÌ„ withal So departing he left his son Titus at Alex andria coÌ„mauÌ„ding him to remain there ill suche time as he should signify vnto him otherwise by his letters shewe him what he should do and that in no wise he should medle with the siege of IerusaleÌ„ in the mene space Titus answered I shal do dear father according vnto your coÌ„maundemeÌ„t for to you it belongeth to coÌ„maunde to me to obey Vaspasian toke with him king Agrappas Munabas his son for he feared left they would rebel me Ioseph priest also as prisoner fast bouÌ„d in chains for so had his couÌ„sel moued him saying we caÌ„not say the coÌ„trary but the we haue fouÌ„d no sign of rebellioÌ„ in Ioseph hitherto nether thinke we that he hath gon about any but who can tell whan we are gon hence whither he wil flie to IerusaleÌ„ help to set theÌ„ at vnity and concord theÌ„ they make him their king after he be the sorer enemy vnto vs. Besides this you shal haue nede of him in this iourney he being a maÌ„ of such greate prudeÌ„ce wisdo that whosoeuer foloweth his couÌ„sel shal briÌ„g his maters to good fortunate successe Vaspasian thought their couÌ„sel good and toke me prisoner with him together with king Agrippas his soÌ„ne albeit they had no irons vpoÌ„ theÌ„ nether of haÌ„d nor fote but only had their kepers appointed them that they shuld not step aside And as Vaspasian drue nie Rome all the citizens came forth to meâ—e him receiued him with great ioy mighty shouts Then commaunded he me to be put in prisoÌ„ but Agrippas his sonne he let go at liberty The nerte daye assembled all the Senate of Rome to create Vaspasian emperour after the manner of the Romaines with whoÌ„e was Agrippas and his sonne I also entreated the iaylor to let me haue kepers with me and so to bringe me to the place where he should be crowned and created Cesar which the iaylour grauÌ„ted me went with me him self to the place brought me where I mighte see all that was done Within fewe daies after Vaspasian tooke displeasure with Agrippas vppon the information of certain euill disposed persones that had slaundered him and perswaded Vaspasian that he went about to rebel how he had sent letters to Ierusalem concerninge the same matters Wherefore Vaspasian put bothe him his sonne Munabas to death This befel .iii. yeres and a half before the destruction of Ierusalem Moreouer before this dede the continual sacrifice ceased for a. M. CC. and ninetie daies as it is written in Daniel Capitu. 12. And from the time that the continual sacrifice shal be taken avvaye and abomination shal be put into desolation a thousand 290. daies The same yeare and moneth that Agrippas was put to deathe God moued the minde of Vaspasian to remember me with his mercy wherfore he commauÌ„ded that I should be fetched out of prisoÌ„ brought to his presence And as I stode in irons before him Cesar had me welcom and spake comfortably vnto mee sayinge Thou knowest well that I haue euer loued thee from the daye I firste sawe thee and although I haue kept the coÌ„tinually in duraunce do not thincke I did it of ani euiâ— wil or malice towards thee but rather maiste thou perswade thy selfe I did it leaste the Romaine princes shoulde disdaine or enuy thee saye See here this felow that in our warrs hath endomaged vs so greatly nowe goeth he checkmate with vs in as great fauour as we Let vs kil him and put him oute of the waye But my frende Iosephe be thou of good cheare I will deliuer thee from these iron bondes and thou shalt be with me in no worsse case then as one of mi chiefe princes And I will sende â—hee into Iewrye to my sonne Titus to whome thou shalt be as a father and a counselloure Thou knowest Titus was be that tooke pitye on thee and woulde not suffer thee to be putte to deathe Yea he hathe soundrye times moued me to release thee of thy boÌ„des and to honoure thee whiche I haue differred to do onlye for this cause that I shewed thee I made him aunswere But howe canne I bee quyet or