Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	die_v	king_n	year_n	13,736	5	5.1327	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04666	A compendious and most marueilous history of the latter tymes of the Iewes commune weale beginnynge where the Bible or Scriptures leaue, and continuing to the vtter subuersion and laste destruction of that countrey and people: written in Hebrew by Ioseph Ben Gorion, a noble man of the same countrey, who sawe the most thinges him selfe, and was auctour and doer of a great part of the same. Translated into Englishe by Peter Morvvyng of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford.; Josippon. English. Abridgments.	Morwen, Peter.; Ibn Daud, Abraham ben David, Halevi, ca. 1110-ca. 1180. Sefer ha-Kabalah.; Joseph ben Gorion, ha-Kohen, attributed name.	1558 (1558)	STC 14795; ESTC S122046	196,775	569

said one of the Saduces the matter is plaine that according to the mindes of the Sages at their bidding he vpbrayded thÃ©e 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 maÌ„ Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in al thinges that he toke in haÌ„d 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 â–ª 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 appreheÌ„ded 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 prisoÌ„ 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 theÌ„ 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 trÃ©e 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 coÌ„tencion 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 grauÌ„dmother 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 maÌ„ should obei the gouernaunce and tradicions of the Saducies So in those daies had the Sages great tribulatioÌ„ 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 repeÌ„ted 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 coÌ„tinued 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

of reines very thicke powdred with precious stones cristal amethists and very many saphyres Then all his chief men of warre went about him in their coates of fence drawen swordes in their handes with helmes on their heades as in time of warre After theÌ„ came Archelaus his sonne that was made king Then folowed him all the people There were fiftie of his seruauntes that wente aboute the beare with euery man a chafing dishe of gold in his hande wherin they burnt swete woodes and perfumes euery foote casting vpon the herse pure miâ—rhe as many as went aboute hym He was borne by certayne great lordes noble meÌ„ of Israel vpoÌ„ their sholders going leasurably and with a maiestie til they came to ErodioÌ„ where they buried him with great honour that like was neuer done to any king These thinges done there resorted together suche as hated him were wery of their owne liues whiles Herode liued reioysyng that they hadde scaped his haÌ„des saying we haue loked till our eies bleared waytinge for the death of Herode that tirant and bloud sheder that oppressed vs with such heauy yokes left vs nothing to liue on for the great tributes taxes that he layd vpon vs. Yet now Archelaus his sonne is worse then he Wherfore thei coÌ„sulted together cast their mindes good willes toward Antipater the sonne of Salumith the kinges sister one of the bloud of Chasnonani and went with him to Oct. Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he woulde not graunt theÌ„ their sewte Yea rather he coÌ„firmed assured the kingdom to Archelaus Who wrought wickednes in the sight of the Lord for he maried his brother Alexanders wife that had children by Alexander coÌ„mitted other many great offences The .ix. yeare of Archelaus reigne it chaunced vpon a night he dreamed a dreame Him thought he saw .ix. eyres of corne very good full grow vpon one stalke theÌ„ came a great oxe and slopt them vp all at once at one bit by and by he waked and perceiued it was a dreame Therfore calling one of the Sages or Pharisies vnto him he shewed them his dreame The wise man said This is the interpretacioÌ„ of it The nine eyres freshe and ful be the .ix. yeres which hither to thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great kinge Octauian Augustus This yeare thou shalt be remoued from thy kingdoÌ„ because thou hast neglected the worde of God hast maried thy brothers wife To this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within fiue dayes after Octauian came toward IerusaleÌ„ and when Archelaus weÌ„t to mete him he put him in prison deposed him from his kingdom of Israel made Antipas his brother kinge in his stede He turned his name also called him Herode That done he returned to Rome whiles Antipas was king died themperor Octauian Augustus the .lvi. yere of his reigne Tiberius Cesar succeded him This Antipas also wroughte wickednesse and sundry abominations more then any that was afore him for he toke his brother Philips wife froÌ„ him which had al redy childreÌ„ by Philip. For this shamful deds rabbi Ihon the hie priest rebuked him Ihon baptist wherfor Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Iesus a wise man if it be lawful to cal him a man Iesus Christ for he was a worker of woÌ„derful straunge workes a teacher of such meÌ„ as gladly did heare the truth had many disciples both of the Iewes also of the geÌ„tils This maÌ„ was Christ whoÌ„ after he was accused of the chiefe rulers of our natioÌ„ condeÌ„ned bi Pilate to be crucified thei neuerthelesse ceased not to loue which loued him euen froÌ„ the beginning To these he appeared the. 3. day aliue according as the prophets by deuine inspiratioÌ„ had told before aswel of this as also of many other woÌ„derful thinges which should be done by him And eueÌ„ vnto this day the christiaÌ„ sect which toke their name of him doth coÌ„tinue Against this maÌ„ Antipas of whom we spake before came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whoÌ„ whan Antipas resorted he appreheÌ„ded him laid him in irons sent him into Spaine where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius reign TheÌ„ Tiberius made Agrippa the soÌ„ne of Aristobulus whoÌ„ Herode put to death Antipas brother king in his stede The time that Antipas reigned ouer Israel was .xi. yeres In Agrippas time died Tiberias Cesar Caius succeded him This Caius called him selfe a god and would suffer no man to worship anye thing in his empire but him self He coÌ„tinued not loÌ„g in his digniti but decaied died After him succeded Claudius Claudius beinge deade Nero Cesar was emperor Agrippa reigned ouer Israel xxiii yeares In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presideÌ„ts ouer theÌ„ left them nothing to liue vpoÌ„ besides that punished theÌ„ with diuers tormentes vntill at lengthe they were constrayned to rebell agaynste the Romaine Empire and Nero Cesar to rid them selues from vnder his subiection And aboue all other one Pilus president and captaine of the Romain armye mooste greuouslye oppressed the Iewes and had done many things very wickedlye For not only had he shed innocent bloude rauished at his pleasure wifes and deflored maides in the cities of Iuda but also robbed with great cruelty euery man of his goodes It chaunced that Beronice king Agrippas sister came at that time to Ierusalem of deuotion to visit the holy place She seing Pilus violently to oppresse the people and for paiment of exacttoÌ„s and tollage to flea many of them euen at the entrance of the temple she came forthe wepinge vnto Pilus besechinge him to be fauourable spare the people for she pitied them very greatli Yet Pilus relented nothing but wheÌ„ she was departed from him he flouted mockt her although she were the kings sister that in the temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valeant yoÌ„g man Eleasar sonne of Ananie the hie priest He whiles his father was executing his office could not abide to se the Israelites so ordered at Pilus handes but being enkindled with a ferueÌ„t zele souÌ„ded a troÌ„pet wherby there asseÌ„bled about him forthwith diuerse coÌ„panies bandes of yong meÌ„ good warriours by whose aid he raised a great coÌ„mocion encountred with Pilus the Romainsouldiours of whome he made a great slaughter preuailing much and getting at length thupper haÌ„d of Pilus ouerthrew al his host so that Pilus was constrained to fle alone out of IerusaleÌ„ vnto Egipt In the way as he fled he chaunsed to mete with kinge Agrippa coÌ„ming from Rome from Nero Cesar and going home into Iudea to whome Pilus declared what had happened him thorow the youth of the Iewes at Ierusalem And as Agrippa had passed Egipt and drue toward Ierusalem his sister Beronice directed her letters vnto him

to manye woordes in persuadinge the peace and league Vppon this Eleasar assembled the priestes and people together to go out fight with Castius Castius perceiuinge howe Eleasar and the people were affected and what mindes they were of how thei had vtterly conspired to distroy the Romaines that were there and to consume them cleane hauing a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantnesse of the rebels he determined fullye to go to Rome for he perceiued he was not able to matche with the sedicious neither his owne power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he woulde go see what ende shoulde come of this warres and what counsell Caesars maiestie would geue Taking his iourney therfore to the citye Iapho he founde there letters of the Romaines for thither was their armie come FroÌ„ thence wente hee with theim and his owne host to Rome and made relation vnto Caesar of such things as had chauÌ„ced him whereat Nero was wonderfully abashed not onely he but all the people of Rome were soore astonied to hear of the great puissant and valiantnes of the Iewes For the which cause the warres ceased for that yere so that the land of Iudea was at great rest quietnes the yere through Eleasars means the head rebel specially froÌ„ the hands of wicked Castius that had sworne to reueng the Romaines to quite the Iewes and that he would destroye all the Iewes that none shoulde be left aliue Therefore these are they that deliuered Israel in the time of the second temple oute of the handes of their ennemies what time as warres were moued against the Iewes and their countrye what time also commotions and tumultes began in Israell The first businesse was made by Antiochus the wicked kinge of Macedonia who had determined not to leaue one man in Israel His mischeuousnesse proceded so farre that he slue of the people of God the Sages wise men princes elders and yonge men children greate and smal Israelites Leuites also and priestes vntil all the chiefe men of Iuda cast their heades together and went to Matthathias sonne of Iochanan the hie prieste in the mounte of Modiith where he had him self for the iniquity of Antiochus and his rulers cryinge vpon him and sayinge Deliuer at this season the people of the Lord and neuer thinke to escape thy self whiles the moste wicked enemy rauÌ„geth thus and runneth vpon thy people sheadeth thy bloud For the bloud of all Israel what is it but thy bloude and the eies of euery man are fixed vpon thee hopinge that thou shouldest assist and aide them in this calamitie that they may finde deliuerance by thy meanes Mattathias hearyng this wept bitterly and said vnto them Feare ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lorde shal fighte for you be ye onelye quiet So theÌ„ was Mattathias stirred deliuered Israell oute of the handes of Antiochus and after he had ouercomed him he was hie priest for one yere and then died In whose roume succeaded Iudas his sonne who executed the office in the temple .vi. yeres and was slaine in battaile Then his brother Iochanan was chief in the temple .viii. yeres and died likewise in battaile After him his brother Schimeon was ruler .18 yeres whoÌ„ Ptolomae his wiues father poysoned at a banket Then Iochanan his sonne succeaded his father in thoffice that is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a king of that name called Hircanus he raigned .21 yeres and died Afterwardes raigned Aristobulus one yere he was called the great kinge because he firste put the royall crowne vpon his heade and turned the dignitie of the hie priesthode into a kingdome vnhallowing and staining the holines therof 480. yeares and .iii. monethes after the retourninge of Israell from Babilon He beyng dead his brother Alexander reigned .xxvii. yeares After whose death Alexandra his wyfe held the kyngdome .ix. yeares and died In whose stede succeded her sonne Aristobulus and reigned thre yeares In his tyme Pompei a Romain captain came against Hierusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in iroÌ„s and caried him captiue to Rome In whose place he ordeiued Hircanus his brother to succede who reigned fourty yeares During his reigne rebelled An tigonus forme of Aristobulus Hircanê° brother with the aide of an armie of the Persians encountred with Hircanus toke him prisoner and sent him to Babilon cutting of his eares that he should neuer after be meet either for the priesthod or for the kingdome Antigonus reigned .iii. yeres In his daies Herode fled and ioyned himselfe with the Romaines by whose helpe he slue Antigonus the .iii. yeare of his reigne reigned after him .xxxvii. yeares and then died After Herode succeded in the king dome Archelaus his sonne who was taken by the Romaines the .ix. yeare of his reigne layde in bondes and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who chaunged his name called him self Herode he reigning fully ten yeares ouercame and vasted Spaine because the king of Spayne had rauished and taken away his brothers wyfe and there died After him folowed Agrippas sonne of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned thre and twenty yeares After whose death his sonne Agrippas reigned twentye yeares This is that Agrippa of whom â–ª wee now speake of of the calamities that befel in his time vpon Israel For all the whâ—le that he raigned the warres betwene the Romains and Israell neuer ceased vntil the people of Iudea were led captiue into the prouince of the Romains what time also the temple was desolate I meane the desolation of the second temple which we saw with our eies builded and distroyed THe .xx. yere of the raigne of kynge Agrippas the .ix. daye of the fifte moneth that is called Af Nero Caesar sent a present for burnt offerings to be offred in the temple at HierusaleÌ„ â—â—ly requiring peace of thelders sages of Iudea Hierusalem that thei would receiue him into league with them saiyng My request is that you would offer my present to the Lorde your God for his sernice and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to ioyne in league with me accordinge as you haue done with the emperours of Rome my predecessours in time past I haue hearde what Castius the captain of mine armi hath done vnto you which displeaseth me out of measure Wherfore I assure vnto you a faithful league by the consent and couÌ„sel of the Senate of Rome that hereafter there shall neuer Romaine captaine stirre hand nor fote against you but rather your heades rulers iudges shal be al Iewes and of Ierusalem Yea Agrippas your kinge shal be Lorde of all your rulers what he commaundeth ye shal do it the Romains shal only be called your lordes and haue no more to do with you So when these legates came to IerusaleÌ„ they wente and spake with Anani the priest

knowledge therof coÌ„maunded a fast through out all Israel for three daies after toke muster of all his armie and made ouer them captains of thousands hundreds fifties and tennes These saide to their souldiours VVho so euer is aferde c. Wherupon many of the people returned home yet there remayned .vii. M. and fiue hundred of suche courage all that one would not haue runne awaye from an hundreth Lisias deuided his hoste into three partes committing theÌ„ vnto three capitaines Nicanor Bagris and Ptolomee But after the Israelites had once geuen a great shoute the lord beat downe the Grekes so that the Israelites destroyed nine thousand horsmen of them spoyled the whole host and they that remayned alyue tooke them selues to flight The next daye Kynge Iudas kepte his Sabboth together wyth all Israell in the campe for the battayle was vppon the sixte daye The morowe after the Israelites returned to the spoyle of those that were kylled and after to pursue other that were not able to resist but they founde none for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaiim Durynge the tyme of this warres Antiochus inuaded the land of Persia for they hadde moued warre agaynste hym and done hym iniurye Wherfore he fought against them but hauynge the ouerthrowe at their handes he retourned to Antiochia wyth great shame where also he founde hys armyes wyth an other dishonoure and foyle Wherewyth he was in suche a rage that he gathered together all the valiauntest and beste Warriours in al Grecia yea all that were able to beare weapon swearinge he woulde bringe with him suche an armye that all the grounde about Hierusalem should not suffice theim to stande vppon that hee woulde haue wyth him euen for hys sotemen onelye And so he set forwarde his horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all maner of furnitures for the warres as Bowes shieldes Targets swordes and speares brestplates and mourens besides a huge noumber of Elephantes and suche that a dosen valiant men might fight vpon one Elephant the Elephants being to them as a Fortresse But kinge Iudas toke heart to him put his truste in his God and ioyned battaile with him At length when he with the power of Israel approched to the Elephants they slew theim downe right so that the Elephantes roared the Horses and all the beastes that caried the baggage and furnitures were verie soore afrayed Kinge Antiochus also beinge mounted vppon his mare and not able to sit her in her flight was throwen downe His seruauntes therfore findyng him toke him vp and bare him a while vpoÌ„ their shoulders and being a corpulent and a grose man they were not able to carye him further but cast him downe in the waie The Lorde had plaged him also and his whole hoste before with a drye scabbe or rotteÌ„ mattier and with other most horrible diseases which as he saw he confessed it to be the hande of God Wherfore he made a vowe that if he escaped be woulde circumcise him selfe with all his souldiours and would conuert them to the worshippynge of the God of Israel but God heard him not He fledde therfore a fote as well as he might and died bi the way through his greuous and soore diseases and Opiter his sonne raigned in his stede Kynge Iudas with all Israell retourned wyth great ioye to the house of the Lord offered sacrifices and as they had layed wodde vpon the alter and the sacrifice vpon that they called vnto the Lorde louingly to accept their sacrifice and in the meane space fire came forthe of the aulter by the owne accorde consumed the sacrifice and the wodde the lyke neuer chaunced vnto them to this day This miracle was wrought the .xxv. daie of the moneth Elul August The Kynge made an expedicion also into Arabia to warre vpon the people thereof made of them a great slaughter brought theÌ„ into subiection and made theim tributaries In his returne he set vppon a great citie of the Grekes wanne it and raced it After that he made a roade into Grece ten dayes iourney where as came against him with a huge armye the chiefe man in king Opiters realme next his persone but Iudas discomfited him and all his people From thence he went to the citye Sipolis that was vnder the Romains where as came foorthe to meete hym Godolias with a royal present informing him that they had euer borne the Israelits good will were their neighbours shewed them pleasures The Kinge examined the matter and founde their wordes true so receiuinge their presentes departed thence After this Gorgorius a captain of the Romaines moued warre wyth Iudas but Iudas stroke a battaile wyth him and destroied his whole armye so that none escaped Opiter sonne of Antiochus hearinge what Actes Iudas did in all countreys rounde aboute he mustred all his people leuied a puissante armie wherwith he came and besieged Bethar Then cried Iudas and all Israel vnto their God with fastynge and sacrifices The night after Iudas deuided his men into certaine bandes coÌ„maundynge theim to geue the Grecians a Camisado and to enter their Campe whiles it was darke whiche they did and slewe verie manie of the best of the Grecians about a foure thousand preparinge neuerthelesse for the fielde againste the morowe where as also the Israelites did beat downe many of the Greekes In that battaile was slaine Eleasar sonne of Mattathias the kinges brother For when he espied one wyth a golden sworde vpon an Elephant he thought him to be kinge Opiter who had .xx. Elephants in his armie Therfore he toke hart to him and beat doun the souldiours of the Grekes on bothe sides him were they neuer so stronge till he came to that Elephant And because the Elephant was so hye that he coulde not reache them that sate vpon him he shoued his sworde into the bealy of the beast to ouerthrowe the king wherat the Elephant shronke together and fel vpon Eleasar that he died there For whose sake al Israel mourned and made great lamentation But Opiter hearinge this straite waye made suite to king Iudas for peace and a league to be made betwene them whiche after Iudas had consented vnto he returned home into Grece againe and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slewe him After him succeded Demetrius his enemie who was the cause of his death Ther were at the time certain euil disposed persoÌ„s of the Iewes the serued the king of the Grecians in his warres namelye one Alkimus who went to the king of the Grekes at that tyme liynge at Antiochia and stirred him to moue warre vpon Israell and king Iudas Whereupon Demetrius sent against him a capitaine called Nicanor with a stronge armye He nowe comminge to Hierusalem let Iudas vnderstande that he bare him good will and was desierous to make peace and enter into a league with him Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sonnes of Chasmonanye Nicanor met him in the waie imbrased

euer geue them any answere But when thei perceiued the kinge to be incensed against them and by that meanes the matter mighte redounde to their owne harme after consultation had they went to the king of Grece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his soÌ„ne had done vnto the Phariseis and all the Israelites that bare them good will and folowed their traditions and how thei also hated Alexander for the mischiefe that hee hathe wrought them So that if any manne would come and reueng the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aide him Demetrius folowed their aduise and assembling together all his people to the number of .xl. thousand horsemeÌ„ and fotemen without number He toke his iourney and encamped against Sichem Then kinge Alexander waged .vi. thousand horsemen to aid him But the king of the Grecians writ priuilye to the auncientes of the Sectaries that they shold not aide Alexander To the mercinary souldiours also that Alexander had hired he sent rewardes golde and siluer that they returned home to their couÌ„trey aided not Alexander Wherupon he was not able to withstande Demetrius Therfore hearing that Demetrius was remoued froÌ„ Sichem toward IerusaleÌ„ entending to take him in the citie he fled by nighte with a fewe of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the menne of Israel that were in Iudea heard the king was fled out of Hierusalem and that the citye was in hasarde to come into the haÌ„des of the Grecians they gathered them selues together stode for their liues as thoughe all had bene one man to the number of .x. thousand and set vpoÌ„ Demetrius Campe killed all his beste men of warre and spoyled his whole host that he fled from them returned home into his couÌ„trey with shame dishonour This done the king toke hart vnto him returned to his kingdom but the Pharises fled to Betshemes streÌ„gthning theÌ„ selues against the king Who hauing intelligeÌ„ce therof gathered an army went against theÌ„ wan the city and toke viii.c of the chiefest Pharisies bound theÌ„ in chains brought them to IerusaleÌ„ Then baÌ„queted he al his seruants vpon the roufe of his palaice in a very hie place where the chiefe learned men eat dranke vntil he and thei were dronke And in his merye mode he commaunded those viii.c Pharisies prisoners to be brought forth to be haÌ„ged euery man of theÌ„ vppon gallowes before him at which sight he dronke laughed hartely After this he fel sick the xxiiii yere of his raigne of a greuous disease a quartan ague that held him thre yere yet for all this he shronke not nor letted to go to the war to encounter fight with his enemies what nation so euer they were of round about him as though he had ben a hole man In the xxvii yere of his raign which was the third of his sicknes he made an expeditioÌ„ into the land of Moab against a certain city called Ragaba to get it bi force At which time he was very sicke and weake wherfore his wife Alexandra the Quene wente with him fearinge least he shuld die by the waye And as be encamped him self against the city and vrged it sore with assaultes his sicknesse increased vpon him more and more Wherfore his wife perceiuinge that he was like to die wept bitterly before him said To whoÌ„ shal I be so bold as to shew my face wheÌ„ thou art once dead seing thou haste wroughte such mischief vpon the pharisies whoÌ„ all the lande fauoureth and foloweth their traditions obeiyng their institucions If they shal be disposed to wreke them selues vppon me and thy yonge children they shal haue aid of all that dwel in the laÌ„d The king answered Wepe not nor shew any reseÌ„blance of peÌ„sifnes I wil tel the what thou shalt do if thou wilt folow my counsell thou shalt prosper and raigne thou and thy children as thou woldest desire Be it that I die there is no man in the world nede know therof Tel thou euery maÌ„ therfore that aske for me that I am sick wil not that ani maÌ„ shal come at me In the meane while anointe season me with balmes fight with a courage against this city til thou win it then return to Ierusalem with ioy and beware thou put on no mourninge apparail nor weepe but bringe me into Ierusalem and laye me vpon a bedde like a sicke man and after call together the chiefe of the Phariseis bryng them where I am and speake vnto them gentilly in this sort Alexander hath bene euer your enemy I knowe it very wel wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogges or bury him it shal be at your choise I knowe wel they are pitifull men and so ful of merci that they wil bury me honorably and shall apointe some one of my sonnes whoÌ„ they like best to be king The Quene did therfore as she was instructed of the king Whan she had won Ragaba she ioyfully returned to Ierusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisies and spake to them as the king had aduised her The Pharisies hearing the king was deade and that his bodye was in their handes to do withal what they liste they answered the Quene God forbid we shoulde do this vnto our Lorde the annointed of God He was the king and hie prieste what though he were a sinner yet his deathe shal be an expiation for him of al his iniquities Therfore we wil bewaile him and mourne for him yea we wil cary his coffen our selues vpon our neckes and burye him as it becommeth a kinges magnificence and so they did The time that he reigned was .xxvii. yeares After him reigned his wife Alexandra in his stede for the Pharisies after they had finished the .vii. daies of the mourning they comitted the kingdoÌ„ vnto her She had .ii. sons by the king the elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a iust man righteous but Aristobulus was the warrioure man of prowes besides that of a familier louing countenance He fauored also the learned men folowed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loued the Pharisies On a time therfore when the Quene sate in the throne of her kingdom she called the auncients of the Pharisies before her honoured them commaunded to release set at liberty al such Pharisies as the king her husband her father in lawe had cast in prison and taking the pharisies by the handes she commaunded all Israel to obey their ordinaunces TheÌ„ made Hircanus her sonne hie prieste and Aristobulus lieueteuaunte of the warres She sent also to al the landes that her husbande and father in lawe had subdued and demaunded the nâ—ble mennes sonnes for pledges which she kept in IerusaleÌ„ So the lord gaue vnto the Quene quietnesse froÌ„ al that were vnder her subiection She gaue also the Pharisies

answered nether good nor bad From that daye forwardes there was perpetual hatred betwene Alexandra Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herode Salumith his sister that came of base seruile blud For Marimi cast in their teethe to their faces that they wer not of the sede of Israel but vnholy of base birth NotwithstaÌ„ding Herode loued Marimi as his life wherfore he would neuer displease her as loÌ„g as she liued nor say so much to her as whi saiest thou so These thinges done Marcus Antonius a noble maÌ„ of Rome next vnto Octauian Augustus kinge of kinges being sent by Augustus to war vpon the kinges of the west countries raigned in Egipt by the prouocation of his wife rebelled against Octauian Augustus made war with him both by sea land And forasmuch as Egipt is nie adioyninge to the lande of Israell Herode ioyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sorte that no kinge durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Wherupon whan Marcus conspired againste hys prynce and master Herode aided him with an army with horsmen and with shippes also against Octauian In which warres Octauian gate the victorye slue Antony and all his people comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes so into the land of Egipt Herode hearinge that Marcus Antonius was slaine and that Octauian Augustus was come into Egipte he fainted for feare of the displeasure of Octauian Yet at lengthe he tooke hearte vnto him prepared a royall presente to be caried afore him and folowed after him selfe to Octauian Augustus And setting forwardes he called Ioseph the husband of Salumnith his sister whome he made chiefe of his houshold commaundinge him that if Octauian Augustus put him to death he shuld poison Marimi his wife saying it shuld not be semely for kinges that any meane base man shuld mary with a kinges widow and sleepe wyth her vppon a kinges bedde So then he toke his iourney toward Octauian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he vnderstode Octauian to be displeased with him for that he had aided Marcus Antonius Therfore assone as Herode came to Octauian Augustus presence hauinge his croune vpon his head he toke it of fel down prostrate vppon the ground at Octauians feete saying Most noble emperour I confesse my trespasse against your maiesty that I loued M. Antonius my coÌ„panion in league who was my neighbor aided me And it is true that your maiesty seÌ„ce the time you made me king haue herd of mine affaires that haue happened vnto me but neuer succoured me This. M Antonius did not so I coÌ„fesse therfore that in his warres against your maiesty I aided him with an army with horsmeÌ„ ships Neyther went I out with him for ani warres vpoÌ„ mine own borders but when so euer I wente with him I holp him to the vttermost of mi power When he was falling I bolsterd him vp whaÌ„ he stoÌ„bled I raised him again Emongst al these thinges I coÌ„fesse also that I wolde not be counted of your maiestye a breaker of leage but nowe M. Antonius is deade Wherfore whither that it shal please your maiesty to restore me to my former estate or no forasmuch as I haue kept touch with M. Antonius against your maiesty amoÌ„gst other if you put me to death you shall do me no wrong but iustice because I haue deserued death When Octauian August herd him speake so he said vnto him Arise thou kinge of Israell in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nie yea next to my person I knowe that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife and would not folow thy counsel for if he had I dare saye he woulde neuer haue conspired against me So he commauÌ„ded the croune to be set againe vppon Herodes head and made a leage with him Then they went both together to ward Egipt to be reuenged vpoÌ„ Cleopatra But that wicked woman whan she saw her city to be ouercome put on her moste precious apparaile and sitting vpon the throne of her kingdom commauÌ„ded a vipor to be brought vnto her which assone as she had suffred to sting her brest she died As Octauian August came to her palaire sawe her sit there he reioyced that he mighte be reuenged of her and commaunded to thruste her from her throne but when they that came to her founde her dead Octauian was pensife and verye sore greued In this while Ioseph Salumithes husbande disclosed vnto Marimi that the kinge had commaunded if it so fortuned him to be put to deathe by Augustus that he shoulde poyson her Wherupon Marimi conceiued yet a greater hatred towarde the kinge in so muche that when the kinge was retourned in safetye sounde and with honoure also from Octauian and that all his menne and whole houshoulde reioysed greatelye Marimi shewed no countenaunce of gladnesse no not when the kinge him selfe told her how greatlye he was magnified and honored of Octauian but alwaies she was sadde Salumith the kinges Sister perceiuing that Marimi so vexed the king she toulde him howe Ioseph her husbande had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus Herode saye what she could gaue no credite to her wordes knowing that she enuied Marimi vntill at length he asked the cause of Marimi whye she reioysed not as other did when he returned in safetye from Augustus but was euer sad whiche shewed her to haue some rancoure and malice in her heart to wardes him She answered Thou haste saide heretofore that thou louedst me aboue all thine other wiues and concubines yet thou didst will Ioseph thy sisters husbande to poyson me Whan Herode hearde this he was exceadinglye abashed that Ioseph had disclosed his secrete began to mistrust with him self that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife in dede and vpon that had detected that secret Therfore he departed out of his palaice in a greate anger and rage wherby Salumith perceiued that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further hyring false accusars and forgers of lies to witnes that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the kinge whereof she had diuers argumeÌ„tes also by her couÌ„tenaunce She added moreouer if thou saith she to the king let her scape thus she wil spedely destroy thee and bereue thee of thy kingdom The lawe geueth a man this counsell If any man gooe aboute to murther thee preuent hym slea him first With this and suche like wordes she so moued the king that he commaunded to bring Marimi forthe and to be beheaded in the hie streate of the citie And as she was brought forth vnto the market place of the citie all the women of the citie folowed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her saiyng come oute thou that haste abhorred thy husbande and conspired against thy lorde Alexandra wepte also as thoughe it hadde

been for the wickednes that her doughter had coÌ„mitted thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eies if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue oportunitie to poison him Marimi thus going to execution helde her peace and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innoceÌ„t in dede and thought and therfore God would reÌ„der her a good rewarde in the world to come Wherfore she bared her necke without feare and thei cut of her head sheding the innocent bloud But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestileÌ„ce in the house of Herode so that his chief seruauntes his noble women and concubines died sore therof Yea throughout all Iudea reigned the pestilence vehemently whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto theÌ„ for the bloude of Marimi They cried therefore vnto the lorde saiyng Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion The lorde toke pitie therfore vpâ—â— the lande and withore we the plague from the people The king repeÌ„ted him also that he had shed bloud without cause and loue so grew in his harte that he was sicke and at deathes dore Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge he commaunded to apprehende her and to kil her In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees leauing none aliue that were called by the name He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wyfe They were both at Rome when their mother suffered for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain toÌ„gue When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death they wepte and mourned for her hating their father for his rcueltie Sone after the king their father recouered of his sickenes was established in his kingdome builded stronge cities and rose to great prosperitie In the. â—iii yeare of his reigne there fell a great dearth in the lande wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer and precious stoones wherwith he sent into Egipt and procured plentie of corne and refresâ—hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of huÌ„ger yea he spared not his owne propre goodes And not onely to the Israelites shewed he this liberality but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations hearing of his renoume Moreouer in all his warres he had good fortune Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary wherupon he deliberated with the Israelites to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it For the Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch Cirus began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed theÌ„ not as it was afore The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pul down the teÌ„ple to the grouÌ„d and buylde it a freshe they made hym none aunswere fearing left whan he had pulled it downe he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes saide he woulde not flack the matter nor reste till he hade brought it to passe He said moreouer that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer and geue it to grauing also precious stones stones of Thasies marble To the carpenters also and masons he would deliuer timber stones gold siluer brasse iron to make all thinges necessary to the woorke Wherefore if he pulled downe the house he was able to builde it streight waies again So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubites in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites and in height a hundreth cubites all of white marble so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde and a hundreth aboue The breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites euery stone was of like bignesse The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin the thresholdes were of siluer the tops also He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold the lesser braunches slips or latest shutes of gold sumwhat red al aboue was yelow gold wherupon hong clusters of cristal The vine was so great that it weied a thousaÌ„d pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porche before the porche ii walles of siluer marueilous cuÌ„ningly wrought Behind the house toward the west he made a court of .c. l. cubites loÌ„g and a. C. in bredth whiche was paued with pure marble Toward the south north the length of the court was also Cl. cubites a. C. in breadth He erected in it also C. l. pillers of white marble in foure orders The length of one order was fortye cubites and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie and three cubites thicke The pillers were all of like measure as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure with al the pilloures thereof Toward the east the court conteined D. ccxx cubites euen to the broke Cedron No man euer se the like building in all the world In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height that they the walked therin might easily se the waters running in the broke Cedron by the space of a cubit Betwene the porch and the house also as though it were a vaile or perticion the king made a wal of siluer of halfe a handful thicke In the which was a dore of beaten golde and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii pound weight There were certain poses grauen in the sworde as this VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her let him die for it So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful nether was there euer hard of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building When the worke was finished the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bullâ—ckes and verye many shepe accordinge to his Princelye estate So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great â—oy and gladnesse There was one certain day in the yeare when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court to al his nobles sages in Israel Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes whiche made bothe him

in his Vyal But the seller tolde him not what it was before he hadde bought it and paide deare for it Then whispered he in his eare tellinge him that it was a strong poison that would kil one out of hand This Vyal Antipater sente to Pheroras to be kepte vntill he retourned from Rome In the meane season Pheroras died and his wife hidde the Vyall After when Antipater came home againe from Rome Pheroras wife and he fel at variance insomuche that she obiected vnto him that he was the cause that Pheroras was banished the kinges presence the sorow wherof was his death On the other side Antipater went aboute to accuse her sowinge discorde betwene her and the king to stirre him against her He suborned also a certain Ennuch or gelded parson to go vnto the king and informe him howe that at what time as he tooke displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his presence Pheroras procured a strong poisoÌ„ and gaue it to his wife commaunding her to destroy the king therewith The king hearinge this was wrothe with the Ennuche and saide I searched for that venom longe a go when it was noysed that my housholde seruauntes would geue it me to drinke but I could not finde the thinge to be true Yea I haue bene to rashe in such matters for I put my wife Marimi to deaths without a cause and Alexandra my mother in law with my two children When Antipater heard that the king credited not the Ennuche he made sute to the king to send him to Octauian the secoÌ„d time for he was a fearde for the Viall that was in Pheroras wifes house He had writen also with his hande howe that he sent it intending therewith to poison the kinges sonnes children But he that prepareth a pit for another oft times falleth into it him self So desiring the kinge to sende him he let him go After this the kinge commaunded to make searche if the Ennuches woordes were true or no he sente firste for all Pheroras housholde seruauntes examined theim whether euer they coulde perceiue that Pheroras was in minde to hurte him They all sware no. Then the king coÌ„maunded to scourge them verye fore but they confessed nothynge althoughe some dyed vnder their handes in the examination Some he ordered with diuers kinde of torments of some he caused to pluck oute all their teethe And as he hade scourge a certaine woman seruaunt which hadde bene verye trusty to Pheroras at length when she could no leÌ„ger stand for strokes she cried out and said The holy blessed God reueÌ„g vs of Rostios the kings wife Antipaters mother Dosis Antipaters mother which is cause of this The kinge hearyng these wordes bad let her alone she will disclose all Then spake shee Antipater made feasts euerie foote for thy Brother Pheroras and him selfe and as thei eate and dranke they deuised how to poyson thee specially when as Antipater was going to Octauian For thei said Except we destroy him he wil destroy vs as he hath done al the children of his house Moreouer he loueth the children of his sonnes that were put to deathe whiche grow apace and it is possible he maye chaunge his minde and make one of them kinge Antipater also said to thy brother The king makes as though he were much my frende but I trust him not He gaue me saith he a. C. pounde weight of golde but all that satifieth not me When the kinge heard this he told how he had geuen Antipater this gold secretely The woman said moreouer There is yet a Vyal of stroÌ„g poison in Pheroras house that thy sonne sent out of Egipte Streightwaye the king sent to Pheroras wife that she shoulde bringe him the Vyall of poison her own self When she espied the kings Ennuches come to fetche her whether she woulde or no she gate her vp to the top of the house and cast her self downe headlonge to kil her selfe because she would not see the kinge nor abide his tormentes But she died not therof whereuppon the kynges messengers brought her in a horse litter and set her afore the king Then she confessed vnto him how Antipater his sonne had coÌ„spired with Pheroras to kil him with a strong poyson that he had bought in Egipte and sente to Pheroras when he want to Octauian And how that Pheroras being at the point of death repeÌ„ted him therof charging that we shuld neuer geue that venome to Antipater but poure it out vpon the ground that the king mighte not be poisoned therewith and I did as he bad me cast it out al saue a litle that I kepte in the glase botome for I euer feared that whiche is now come to passe Then at the kinges commaundement the Vyall was broughte forthe before him and there was a litle of the venome left wherefore they gaue better creadite to her wordes so that the king was contente with her and bad his Phisitions heale her and she recouered This done the king write to Antipater to come home with spede because I am old saithe he weake vncertain how shortly I shal dye The kinge had yet also two other sonnes at Rome Archelaus Polimus So wheÌ„ Antipater writ to answer his fathers letters he signified vnto him that his .ii. soÌ„nes had diffamed the king and slaundred him vnto Octauian But the king answered him come and brynge them with thee I wil order them as thou thinkest good Notwithstandinge Antipater dalied delaied for the space of .vii. monethes to se if he might learn somwhat of his fathers doings but he could heare nothing The messengers that his father had sent lay vpon him euery day drged him to make spede Therfore at the .vii. monethes ende he toke his iourney towardes Iudea and came to Cesarea There hearde he that his father had taken displeasure with his mother and banished her the courtâ— but he coulde not learne what shoulde be the cause therfore he was strokeÌ„ in such feare that he woulde haue gone backe again and left his iourney But they that waited vpon him beinge desirous to go home to their houses family crafted with him and perswaded him that if he shuld now return backe out of his waye he shoulde iustifye his enmies saiyngs to be true But if thou come once to thy fathers presence saye they who loueth the so intirelye thou shalt preuaile againste thy foes and get the vpper hande of them that trouble thee So he folowed their counsell and came to Ierusalem WheÌ„ he entred into the city no maÌ„ came forth to meete him nor once to bid him welcome home For al the people hated him for his lies slauÌ„ders peruers wicked couÌ„sel but chiefly for fear of the king Yet went he forward to the court although with a fearful heart When he came to the kinges presence he fell downe and did his dutye but the Kinge turned away his face and could not abide to loke vpon him He went home

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

heauye iron chaines and assauted Ierusalem batteringe the walles verye sore til they of the towne issued out against him slue of his host .xii. M. meÌ„ After this hadde the Israelites ciuill warres within Ierusalem because the siege was greuous vnto them for they were deuided into factions one parte said Let vs open the gates to Pompeius let him in that we mai submit our selues vnder his protection The other said Let vs fight against him vnto the death But much people misliked that so that that side preuailed that woulde yelde Wherfore Pompeius entred the town the house of the saÌ„ctuary killed much people of the priests the people of the laÌ„d made Hircanus king of Israel the .ii. time Antipater his couÌ„seler Moreouer he set one Securus a Romain in the countrey to receiue the tribute departed leading Aristobulus with him bouÌ„d in irons And because he toke his iorney toward Arabia Hircanus Antipater weÌ„t with him to coÌ„duct him Aristobulus thus being prisoner his .ii. sons with him it fortuned that one of theÌ„ called AlexaÌ„der escaped And hauing intelligeÌ„ce that Hircanus and his counselour were gone out of Ierusalem he came thither rebelled againste Hircanus made vp the breaches of the wall that Pompeius had battered yea the Israelites resorted vnto him made him Kinge in Hircanus place Wherupon he gathered an armye and went forth to meie with Hircanus as he came homewarde from Pompeius where he gaue Hircanus the ouerthrow Securus the receiuer of the tribute escaped Then Alexander returned to IerusaleÌ„ froÌ„ whence shortly after Gabinius a Romain with a stronge armye compelled him to flee to Alexandria And being in the same place besieged also of Gabinius hys mother Aristobulus wyfe went forthe to Gabinius weping and besought him that he would not destroy her soÌ„ne for whose sake he did Alexander no harm Gabinius therefore hauynge gotten all the Lande of Iudea made Hircanus king of Ierusalem now the .iii. time who set Romain captaines and rulers in Iericho and in Zephori and through all the lande of Israel It fortuned after this that Aristobulus gat out of prison at Rome and came into Israel to whom on euerye syde resorted men in such fort that he had a puissaÌ„t host of Israel Wherof wheÌ„ he had takeÌ„ muster he chose out .viii. thousand of the best with theÌ„ went agaynst Gabinius wher was a sore battayle foughte betwene them tyll the beste of Aristobulus men wer slayn and only one thousand left wherwith he fled to the mountaynes But the Romayns folowed the chase and slew them euery man Yet Aristobulus would not yeld but fought alone although his helmet was broken til he had dyuers sore woundes in hys head and then fell he to the ground and the Romayns toke him yet aliue brought hym to Gabinius who comforted hym commaundinge hys surgeons to heale hym and after sent hym to the Consul and Senat of Rome wher he was put in prison yet once agayne After thys the Senate takinge pitie of Aristobulus wife whiche was reported to bee a verye wise woman released her two sonnes out of prison and set theim at libertie Alexander the one of those could not be content but rebelled once againe against Hircanus and the Romaine gouernours For he gathered together muche people of Israell encountred wyth one of the Romayn gouernours that Gabinius had appointed and gaue him the ouerthrowe But proceadyng further to fight with Gabinius hadde the worsse and many of the Israelites were slaine yet hee escaped him selfe and fled This done Gabinius came to Hierusalem and renewed the kingdome of Israel to Hircanus the .iiii. tyme. About this tyme one of the Senators wiues at Rome conceiued a childe dyed in the byrthe and trauaile thereof They therfore that were about her straite waye ripte her body and gate the childe out alyue whom they named Iulius and because his mother was cutte they called hym Caesar This childe growynge to great towardnes and commyng to mannes estate the Consul and Senate sent him into the warres and what so euer he did he had good fortune prosperous successe He depriued the Grecians of the empire and dominion translating it to the Romaines Manye prouinces also besides that did he subdue and returning to Rome with a power atteÌ„pted to get the dominion and sole regimente ouer them But they had made solempne statutes in the time of their progenitors neuer to suffre any kinge emongst them or any maÌ„ to haue perpetual rule ouer them wherfore they would not make Iulius kinge Vpon this risse amongst theÌ„ great and mortall warres so that Iulius slue woÌ„derful many of them without number When Pompeius vnderstode that Cesar raigned at Rome had killed the Consul and the Senate with all the nobilitye of Rome be gathered together his hole army out of Arabia and made toward him Iulius hauinge intelligeÌ„ce of his comming against him sente for Aristobulus oute of prisone spake frendlye vnto him gaue him a power and made him graund captain therof bidding him to go fight with Pompeius In dede his armye was a stronge armye and he him self was a Kinge of no small prowesse and valeantnesse Pompeius hearinge that Aristobulus came againste him was sore afraid of his valeantnesse and of his hoste Wherfore he sent to the inhabitantes of Ierusalem that wer vnder his obedience that they should present Aristobulus with some gift wherby they might deceiue him and poison him The inhabitantes of Ierusalem at his request sent vnto Aristobulus a present by certain noble men wherat Aristobulus was right ioyous and eat and banqueted with them til he was ouercame with drinke then thei gaue him poyson and he died The time that he reigned ouer Israel was four yeares and sixe monethes He was a good man of war hardy in fighte and a man of an amiable countenaunce Pompeius receiuinge tidinges of his deathe the more gladder proceded with his hoste to Rome to besiege if But Iulius met him in the waye and destroyed him and his hoste whereby the Empire was established vnto Iulius He after this sente presentes to the kinge of Siria and into Egipte by his captaines to allure them to his frendshippe Antipater aduised Hircanus to aide Iulius if perchaunce he might win his fauour whiche Hircanus did and Antipater was captaine of the hoste who plaied the man and founde suche fauoure with Iulius that he made him lieuetenant of his warres And after he had fought sondry great battails he retourned to Ierusalem with great honoure and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters sonne gouerned of Ierusalem and Herod his third soÌ„ne president of Galily There was a certaine yong man at that time in Ierusalem called Hizkias a valeant man of war to whom claue al such as were in any distresse and he became their captain These wente and raunged aboute into Siria rouing and murthering in such sort that the Sirians were

do it for thy sake So the messenger brought the aunswer secretly vnto Herode wherupon he sent streight to the place in whiche he vnderstode Maloces men to lurke waiting for Hircanus and caused to apprehende them aliue Herode coÌ„maunded to cal together the elders before whome he willed also Hircanus to be brought and of him the king demaunded Tell me if thou writtest any letters to Maloc king of Arabia he aunswered I wrote none TheÌ„ was Restius the messenger brought in as his accuser and the meÌ„ of war also of Arabia that were apprehended which declared the hole matter before the couÌ„sel so that Hircanus was quite dasshed Then the king coÌ„maunded him to bee put to death and so was the kingdome establisshed vnto Herode The tyme that Hircanus reigned was fourty yeares and sixe monethes After the death of his mother he reigned thre yeares and Aristobulus his brother remoued hym makynge hym priest Agayne thre yeares after he returned to his kingdome and raigned fourty yeares Then Antigonus sonne of Aristobulus deposed hym cuttynge of his eare banishing him out of the holy citie So after when Herode his seruaunte came to the kingedome Herodes ingratitude he returned to Ierusalem and Herode shed his bloud without cause Yet he notwithstaÌ„dyng had deliuered Herode froÌ„ the hands of the elders who would haue put him to death for the death of Hizkias From that time Hircanus wrought none euil in the sight of the Lorde nor offended him in any great matter saue onely in this that he bare to much with Herod in sheadyng the innocent bloud wherfore his owne life wente for the other Therfore happy is he that neuer forget teth any part of his dutye Marimi the daughter of Alexander the Sonne of Aristobulus the wyfe of Herode had a brother whose name was Aristobulus hym Herode woulde in no wise promote to the hye priesthode because he feared the children of Chasmonany althoughe his wyfe sued harde and laye sore vppon him for the same matter But the kyng made hye priest one that was nothing of the kinred of Chasmonany whose name was Haniel Notwithstandynge when he had once made awaye Hircanus his wiues progenitour father of Alexandra his mother in lawe then he deposed Haniel the hie priest and promoted his wiues brother Aristobulus to the dignitie although he were but a child yet he was wise and of good vnderstandyng and beautifull withall so that in al Israell was not a goodlier nor hansomer yong man theÌ„ he was And this Haniel was the first that euer was deposed froÌ„ that office of the hie priesthode by any king of Israel afore Herode who did this to quiet his wyfe and to fulfil his mother in lawes minde NotwithstaÌ„ding this Alexandra his wyfes mother was not coÌ„tent nor satisfied for the death of her father was suche a griefe but alwaies spake snappishly to the kynge that he sent her to warde Then she writ to Cleopatra Quene of Egypt wyfe vnto Marcus Antonius a noble manne of Rome declaryng vnto her all the mischiefe that Herode had dooen to the posteritie of Chalmonani and desiring her of aide To whom Cleopatra made this answer If thou caÌ„st finde the meanes to come to me secretly thou shalt perceiue what I will dooe for thee WheÌ„ Alexandra had red the letter she sent to Aristobulus her sonne the hie priest shewing him that she wold flee to the sea Iapho and from thence wold take shipping into Egipt perswading him also to flee with her We wil saith she make two great coffers one for my self the other for thee we wil with rewardes procure our seruauntes to cary vs oute priuily wherby we may flee to saue our liues This their deuise was perceiued of one of Herodes seruauÌ„tes who forthwith made the king priuie vnto it The king coÌ„maunded his seruaunt that bewraied them that when they did coÌ„uey the coffers they shoulde bring them to him whiche the seruauntes did So when the coffers were broughte to the kinges presence he caused them to bee opened and tooke out Alexandra her sonne Aristobulus to whom the kynge spake sharpely and rebuked them sore But Alexandra aunswered him again as short in somuch that the king moued with anger flang away from her into his chamber saiyng It is better to sit in a corner of the house then with a brawling skolding womaÌ„ in an open place The king dissembled the matter shewed no great displeasure A yeare after as Aristobulê° the hie priest apparailed in his ponticall vestures stode in the the teÌ„ple nie vnto the alter to offer sacrifices the Israelites beheld his beautie his wisdome behauiour in the ministery wherat euery maÌ„ reioysed praising God that had not taken al away but left one to reuenge that iniuries done to the house of Chasmonani The kyng hearyng this was sore afrayed and not a litle displeased thinking to him selfe the Israelites woulde restore the kyngdome of their fathers vnto hym He perceiued euery maÌ„s hart to be inclined towards him Wherfore he deliberated a while in the feaste of the tabernacles he weÌ„t to Iericho withal his seruaÌ„ts wheras he made a great feast to al his nobles and seruaunts placing them euery man after his degree before him Aristobulus the hie priest he set vpoÌ„ his righthand And as they eate dronke made mery the kinges seruants were disposed to go and swim in Iordane To these the king had geuen secret coÌ„maundemente that they shoulde desire Aristobulus to go and bathe with them in Iordane and then to drown him So when they were goinge they came to Aristobulus desired him to go bathe with them which he would not vnlesse the kinge gaue him leaue wherfore he asked the king leaue but he denied him at the first yet at length the yong man intreated him so instaÌ„tly that the king bad him do what he would He wente therfore with the other yong menne to swim The king toke his horsse straitwaye and returned to Iericho withall his traine leauinge the yonge men behinde which continued swimming till Sunne setting and as it began to be darke they drowned the prieste Aristobulus emongst them Wherof when tidinges came to the kinge and it was knowen that he was deade the people wept and made great lameÌ„tacion considering his vertue nobility and beauty euery man was ful of sorow that he should haue so short a life and they bewailed so much that it was harde a far of But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the yonge mannes mother could in no wise be comforted Yea the kinge also wept and made great moane for it repented him that he had done so wicked an acte Yet all the people knewe well inough that the thinge was procured by the king In so much that Alexandra his mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face that he was the murtherer of her husband and her father now last of al of her sonne to whoÌ„ the king

in Scithopoles I will speake vnto you a fewe woordes full of lamentacion and sorowe Nowe I perceiue that iustli and not without a cause ye make warre against me withoute any fauor or coÌ„sideracion that I haue deliuered you from the hostes of the Iewes neuer suffred theÌ„ to do any displesure to you your wiues and children nor to your city as they had done to other cities of Siria For I am he that for your sakes haue warred against my country men to please you withall yea bothe their bloud and mine owne haue I pledged vnto you and haue kept immolated the loue of straungers hatinge mine owne people of whome for your pleasures I haue slain oft both the fathers and the children and nowe you render euill for the good that I haue done vnto you But in dede God of his iust iudgmente hathe stirred you vp to rewarde me in this sorte to murther me that haue so oft receiued you Now therfore ye shall beare me witnesse that I shal sufficieÌ„tly and sharpli inough take vengeaunce of my self not withoute rage and furye most seuerly because I haue slaine my felowes frendes I will therfore likewise slea my selfe to be auenged of my self for my brothers bloude that I haue shed and so shal I be a reueÌ„ger of their blud And ye shal wel perceiue me to be of that hardinesse courage that rather then ye shuld slea me and after boast bragge how ye haue killed Schimeon I wil bereue my selfe of my life and punishe the sheadinge of my brothers bloud none otherwise then the law punisheth a murtherer and a maÌ„queller When he had spokeÌ„ this his eies were filled with bloud his face with rage and so inflamed with furie latynge aparte all pity ran and caught holde of his father haled him oute of the woode and slue him Then slue he his mother least she should intreat him for the children and be sory for their sakes That done his wife came runninge of hir owne accord and held her necke downe to the sword leaste she shoulde be constrained to see her children die Yea Schimeons children came and offered them selues to be slain least they should see the deathe of their father or remain after him to be deliuered to the ennemies After this he slue all his hole family that not one of his shoulde come into the haÌ„des of their enemies Finallye he gathered their bodies together into one place like a valiaunte stoute warrioure and then boldlye goarded him selfe vpon his owne sworde least any maÌ„ else should impare his streÌ„gth or boast that he had killed him Al this Schimeon did with a greate courage to take punishment of him self because he had bestowed his loue rather vpon straungers then vpon his owne people and to declare his force and manhode So he died an abhominable and detestable death saue onlye it was an argument of his hauty minde great courage as it is said before NOw when the Iews had thus rebelled against the Romains slain their souldioures and captaines king Agrippas went to Rome and recounted vnto Nero Cesar the Emperour of Rome al that was happened Wherevpon Nero sente captaine Castius that was at that time in Siria had made warre vpon the kinge of Persia had vanquished him and al his power and subdued hys dominyons to the Romaines and with him a puissante armie of Romaines commaunding him to go into Iudea to offer peace vnto the people to comfort them and to bringe them again into league with the Romaines if it might be Castius therfore toke his iourney toward Iudea whom Agrippas met in the waye informed him what had happened vnto him of the Iewes howe he had offred them peace and they would none of it howe also they had burnte his palaice sacked it Castius hearing that was verye glad that he had gotten suche an occasion to reuenge the bloude of the Romaines and Sirians whiche the Iewes had shed Wherfore he leuied a mighti army and came to Cesarea And whersoeuer he might espy the goodliest buil dinges those caused he to be burnte From thence wente he to the citye Iapho which he besieged both by land by water and at length wan it where he slue in the streates eyghte thousand and foure hundreth menne After that he came to Iabes where he fyrste brente all the Countrye aboute it and whom so euer he caught withoute the town he slue them But the citizins of Zippori went out to mete Castius besought him of peace whom he spared came not nie their towne nor slew any that dwelt in their countrey The sedicious Iewes that were in the citye of Zippori hearing of Castius coÌ„ming fledde vnto the mountains But in the waie they lighted vpon part of Castius army wherof they slew .ii. hundred meÌ„ and wounded their captaine Glaphira Yet at lengthe the sedicious were put to flight and manye of them Glaphira with his horsmen pursued ouerthrew and distroyed the rest fled to the mountains Then Glaphira captaine of Castius armie wente to Cesaria that was subdued to the Romaynes there to cure his wouÌ„ds that the Iewes had geueÌ„ him From thence wente hee to Antipire which as he would haue assaulted perceiued it to be furnished with a greate power of the Iewes sedicious These hearing that Castius also was coÌ„ming thei went purposely to fight with him but perceiuing that Castius power was very great thei determined to encounter with him in the plaine of Gibeon 50. miles from Hierusalem WherupoÌ„ the Iewes with their companies fayned them selues to flee to thintent they might stale the Romaines after them And within .vi. daies they came to Gibeon and there rested Castius pursued after with his whole hoste till he came to Gibeon whiche he besieged and assaulted also It chaunced then vppon one of the Sabbothes in the mornyng watch the Iewes armed at al places issued out of the towne to geue their enemies a Camisado So after they had geuen a token of warre they marched towarde the hoste of Castius whereof they slewe 515. horsemen and fotemen 27. thousand with the losse of onely 22. of their owne companie In that battaile did well appeare the valiantnesse of Mugbas a captain of the Iewes armie One Baudius also plaied the man at the same time for at the commaundement of Eleasar the priest chief of the sedicious he set the first fote within the Romains caÌ„pe Then began the Iewish warriours to be famous after they had once so manfully encountred with the Romains This done Castius and Agrippas sente their embassadours yet once agayne to Hierusalem to Eleasar the sonne of Anany the priest chiefe of the rebels that were in Iudea and Hierusalem requiring peace and to come in league with Eleasar least the people the people of the Iewes shoulde be distroied bi the Romains incursions and inuasions on euerye side But Eleasar refused to heare the legates and slewe one of them because he made

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

fyt for the warre Then the Romaines flonge with thengines stones into the towne on euery side from the mount munition It chaunced that a greate stone hit a woman with childe wyth such a violence that it passed through her body and caried the childe with it for the space of halfe a mile They cast vp and raised yet other munites also from whence they slinged stones and another like chauÌ„ce happened A stone came and hit one of Iosephes men of warre a valeant man in suche a sort that it deuided his head from his body and made it flie a large mile of AT the same time one of the Romain souldiours diuised with him selfe howe to strike Ioseph with a venomed arrow and gate him vnder the walle where Ioseph was to accomplishe his purpose But Ioseph espied him and cried vnto him hold thy haÌ„d thou wicked felowe and do not kil me With that the felow start somwhat aside being afraid at Iosephs voice and sodeÌ„ly the Iewes oute of the towne poured hote oyle vpon him from the wal that his skin was skalded of and he ran away naked howlinge and yellinge to the Romaines campe where he dyed Vaspasian and his Sonne Titus were fullye determined to continue the assaulte vntill the .xlviii. daye notwithstandynge the walles were so hie that they could not winne the towne Yet at leÌ„gth the men being so spent within the towne and they that remained a liue so weried with toyling that they were not able anye longer to furnishe their watch vpon the walles vpon a certaine nighte Vaspasian and Titus skaled the walles at a quarter wherâ— watchmen were lacking and after theÌ„ many other of the Romain souldiours folowed which went downe on the in side and brake open the greate gate of the towne wherat entred the hole army of the Romaines And being within the towne sounded their trompets and shouted vnto battall The Iewes with the alarme tumulte and hurlye burly of the Romaines awaked out of their slepe and were sore afraied Notwithstanding euerye man toke him to his weapon and into the market place as fast as they might They had made the market place of the towne so large of purpose that if anye busines should happen there might come together the hole city if they would So lokinge about them they saw the Romaine army entring into the town by the way that came from the greate gate Then fought thei with the Romains died eueÌ„ in the market place where they stode exhorting one an other and saiyng let vs die here fightinge and neuer suffer ourâ—solues to be taken aliue But Ioseph and fortye men with him worthye menne al fled out of the towne in to a woode where they founde a certaine caue and hid them selues therin All the reste of the citizens were slaine in that conflicte for they woulde not yelde nor commit them selues vnto the Romaines they trusted them so little For on a tyme a certayne Iewe besoughte a Romaine souldioure to saue his life and the Romaine sware vnto him sayinge God deale thus and thus with me if I slâ—a thee therefore yelde and come hither to me The Iewe required him to geue him his righthand that he might truste him and the Romain retch him his left haÌ„d The Iew beinge dismaied in that greate feare markte not that it was his left hande But when the Romain had once hold of him he kept him fast with that haÌ„d and with his right toke his sword and slue the Iewe that then was naked hauing cast awaye his weapon vpon trust of the Romaine When the Iewes sawe howe the Romaine regarded not his othe but slue the Iewe that vpon truste of his promisse and the othe had yealded him selfe vnto him they determined to dye all together and neuer to truste the Romaines Whereuppon they resolued with them selues vtterlye to die for the holinesse of the Lorde God of Israell But in so doinge they fie we muche people of the Romainesâ— and farre moe then they had done in anye other battaile So at the lengthe the Citye was taken When Vaspasian hadde knowledge where Ioseph was become and of his company he sent Nicanor Pilerimus and Gallicanus with him to Ioseph to wil him to come forth and he should haue his life and not be slaine Then Ioseph debated the matter with them that were with him in the den asking them what say ye to this For my part ye wil folow my counsell I thinke best we go oute vnto them but vpon this conditioÌ„ that they wil make vs a formal assuraunce effectuallye as we shall require them which done I doubt not but Vaspasian when we come vnto him will be appeased towardes vs. When those men perceiued Ioseph to be enclined to yeld vnto the Romaines they saide vnto him We maruaile at the Prince Ioseph thou that waste chosen oute of thousandes of people and promoted vnto the priesthode and kingedome to sanctifye and halow the LORDE God of Israell waste also appointed graund captaine of so huge an hoste haste seene with thine eyes the shameful reproche of thy people with the displeasures and damages of thy sheepe that thou hast yet any desire to liue in this dishonoure What seest thou that thou wouldest desire to liue for shouldest thou not rather desire deathe then life PeradueÌ„ture thou perswadest thy self they cal thee to saue thy life or for thy commodity but without dout this were a vain perswasion For they cal thee for none other in tent then to take thee aliue to bragge how they haue ken Ioseph that was consecrated and addict to the warres and make that an argument their power prospereth and is exalted Now therfore our dear brother and oure prince consider that this thei wil do yea if thei saue thi life But put the case they put thee to death wer it not better for the to die of thine sword then of theirs Yea if it were for nothing but for this it is better forthe to die then to liue leaste thou shouldest heare their reproches their vpbraidinges and their quarrellinges And if they preserue the aliue neuer thinck they do iâ— for thy good but rather for thine ignominy shame whiche is far greuouser then death it self Wherfore our dear brother and our prince what cometh in thy minde that thou purposest to liue after that thou hast loste thy people and thy brethren and to what purpose serueth thi life after thei be gone Marke and consider diligentlye what Moyses of worthy memory oure master did howe he spake before God touchinge the people of Israell O pardone their sinnes saithe he or elsse blot me quite out of thy boke that thou hast written howe he would not liue after the destruction of his people although the almighty said vnto him let me alone that I may wreake mine anger vnon them and consume them Where is nowe Aaron with thee his brother that wente betwixte life and deathe in withstanding the angel that plaged the

people and offered him selfe to die for his people that the plage mighte cease from Israell Where is kinge Saule and his sonne Iehonathan that fought for the people of God and died in the fielde Coule not Saule haue saued his life and his Sonnes bothe if he hadde bene so disposed But hee when he sawe Israell haue the ouerthrowe in the battaile hadde no desire to liue anye lenger but chose rather deathe then life and woulde not be seperated from his brethren nother in life nor death as wel hee as Ionathan his Sonne those dearlye beloued and moste amiable menne as the scripture termeth theim Why doest thou not remember our deare Prince the righteousnes of Dauid the anointed of the Lorde who seinge a moste greuous pestilence to rage vppon the people of Israel saied Let thy hande O Lorde I beseche thee be tourned vpon mee and my fathers house For I am hee that haue sinned I haue transgressed as for these thy sheepe what haue they done What haue they offended Where is the holye Lawe smothered and stifled in thy hearte Arte not thou an annoynted Prieste that haste declared and taughte vs the holye Lawe wherby we might learne how to loue our Lord God withal our hart with al our soul and withall oure strength If it be so that the seruice of God consisteth not in this that we should loue whome he loueth and die for his couâ—uaunt and saÌ„ctuary together with his seruaunts that be slain for the vnity of the name of the Lord Wherin staÌ„deth it then Hast not thou oft times taught and proued vnto vs howe that euerye man that dieth in warres for the lord his sanctuary his people and his law he is to be counted in the Lordes lot made worthye to goe vnto the greate light and shal not see euerlasting darknesse Arte not thou that Ioseph the priest that hast cried so ofteÌ„ in battail I am Ioseph the prieste consecrated to battaile that haue vowed my life for the people of the Lord his sanctuarye and his lande But nowe when thou baste yealded thy selfe vnto them and they order the dispitfullye what wilte thou say vnto them or what amendes canst thou haue at their handes I put the case they cast in thy teeth say thy wordes be but lies How shalt thou auoid that reproche Arte not thou he that saidst men shoulde fighte for the people of God vntil they die in the conflicte and in so doinge their deathe shoulde be a raunsome for their sinnes and that they were sure to go to that great light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said whye then wilt thou shun deash and not folowe thy people that are gone before thee to that same lighte Euer hitherto thou hast had the vpper hand wher so euer thou camste in so muche that they that hearde of thee trembled for feare and nowe wilte thou yelde thy life into captiuity to the Romaines as a vile slaue Shall not this thy dishonoure redound also vnto the people of God Thou that arte a prince a kinge and priest wilt thou be bound in cheines Euerye man shall saye this is he that hathe geuen his souldioures and the reaste of his people to die but hath â—â—ued him selfe and his owne life So when they hadde made an ende of talke eche manne drew out his sword and came vnto him in the middest of the Caue sainge Hearest thou thou Iosephe oure Prince if thou wilte be ruled by vs firste we shall slea thee as a Lorde and a greate Prince and thou shalte chuse what deathe thou wilt die on that thou maiest die honourablye But if thou refuse to dye honestlye assure thy selfe of this that we will euerye manne set vpon thee and slea thee Ioseph aunswered In deede I knowe my Brethren that your woordes are iuste and true For who is so madde to desire to liue in this hurlye burlye and woulde GOD that hee woulde call my Soule vnto him and receyue it vnto hym also For I am not ignoraunt that it were more expediente for mee to die then to liue for the great troubles that haue passed through my braynes But hee knoweth the secretes of mannes hearte and he it is that geueth life vnto menne It is God that closeth soules within the bodies and letteth theim oute againe bicause he is the liuinge GOD in whose handes remaine the Soules and Spirites of all liuinge creatures He hath left with vs a Spirite of life and closed it vp within oure bodies What is hee then that will open that that he hath shut How shall we loose that that he woulde haue bounde and knitte fast within vs Dooe ye not al knowe that the life is a thinge that he hath left with vs to kepe and that wee are his seruauntes If then we cast awaye life before that GOD take it shall he not worthelye bee displeased with vs and make that we shall not find life in the place of the liuing with Abraham our father of famous memorye and wyth other iuste and godlye menne our forefathers Dooe you not knowe that they wente not vnto God before they were called and when they were called they came and soo dealt GOD with all holye and Godly men To Moyses our master of worthie memorye the electe of GOD ye knowe that the Lorde God of Israell said get the vp vppon this mountaine Abarim and so he did But he woulde not haue done it of him selfe had not God called him Wherby ye may see it is not lawful for a maÌ„ to surrendre his life vnto God excepte he require it againe Take example I praye you of Iob. What time he curst the daye that he was borne in mighte not he ether haue hanged him self or haue run vppon a knife or at the least haue folowed his wifes counsel to cursse God and die Not withstanding he abode paciently in most extreme paine waitinge til God demaunded again his life and then restored it vnto his Lord god and would not restore it vndemaunded but taried till hys appoynted ende came King Dauid also of famous memory saide Leade thou my life oute of his pinfolde and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the bodye and that none mighte let it forth but God I wot wel that death is a greate commodity so be that the soule may return in his due time vnto God that gaue it vs. I knowe also that he that dieth in the warres of the lord he shal come to the greate lighte But I knowe not what can appease gods wrath toward the soul of that man that killeth him self maketh hast to restore his soul before his time and withoute the Lordes calling Wherfore my frendes brethren I would ye shoulde knowe it I am no more cowarde then you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a fainte heart for feare of these presente calamities but that I know I shoulde commit a

wee make amendes for this synne Who shall pray and make intercession for vs And wyth this Ioseph burste oute on weepynge abundauntlye but they laught him to scorne THen Ioseph helde vp his handes to heauen saiynge Thou Lorde almightye art our father thou hast shapened vs and by thy great mercye taken vs out of cley thou art he that leadest vs in thy faieth and the multitude of thy mercies and benignitie towards vs hath not ceassed And although our sinnes haue seperated vs from thee yet neuerthelesse we are thy handy worke euery one of vs and of longe haue ben called thy people Thou art Lorde ouer all creatures soules Thou doest what thou wilt and no man dare saye to thee whye doest thou so Thou arte our father we are cley thou hast geuen vs our shape and fashion Therefore if it please thee to take oure Soules take them by the handes of thine aungels that wee commit none euyll againste theim And if these my fellowes that be presente with mee wyll not bee partakers of my Prayer beholde my life alone for the whiche I beseche thy benigne Clemency if it please thee to take it for thou gauest it mee therefore dooe wyth it whatsoeuer shal seeme good vnto thee it is in thy handes thou lendst it mee and hast preserued it wythin me I will not distroye it my selfe or let it out of prison before thou aske for it For thou knowest that As man can not liue vvithout iudgemeÌ„t so likevvise the same can not die vvithout iudgement Vnto thee therefore do I lifte vp myne eyes thou that dwellest in Heauen to deale mercifullye wyth thy seruauntes and with mee to tourne our heartes that wee consente not vnto thys to murther our selues If thou knowe anye amongst them that entende so wycked an Acte I beseche thee O Lorde my GOD let me finde fauoure in thyne eyes geue them an hearte to heare holesome counsel that I may deliuer my self and mine owne life which I commend into thy bandes that thou wouldest receiue it vnto thee for in thy hand is the life of euerye liuinge creature Thus whan Ioseph had finished his praier he turned him vnto his felowes and saluted theÌ„ Then said they canst thou therfore encline oure mindes because thou hast praâ—ed vnto God for thy selfe for vs did not we tel the erewhile like as we tel the now the we are determined to die by one means or other wher fore say thy minde tel vs what kinde of death thou wilt ende thy life for we haue euer knowen the a iust man and a worthy prince therfore art thou worthy to die first Ioseph perceiuinge that his felowes were vtterlye determined to die and woulde geue no eare to his perswasions for he coulde by no reasons drawe them to his opinion he wente subtilty to worke with them sayinge Seinge it will be none otherwise brethren I wil shewe you my deâ—ise Ye are determined to die ye saye and that vppon your owne sworâ—es therefore there is no better waye then to do it by lot in this wise Let vs caste lottes amongste oure selues that we maye be ioyned together by couples then will we caste lottes whiche couple shall die firste after they two shall cast lottes betwene theÌ„ which shal kil hys fellowe he that remaineth shall chuse him one of the seconde couple to kil him Likewise the seconde couple shal caste lottes betwene them selues who shal die firste and he that is lefte shal chuse him one of the thirde couple whome he hathe a fansy to be killed of â–ª Then they shal trye by lot who shal die firste who beinge slaine the other maye chuse him selfe one of the four the couple to kil him and so on til al be slaine that we see not the captiuitie of oure people The laste couple that shal remaine shal do thus runne one vppon the others sworde or elsse set them caste lottes betwixte theim selues and vpon whome it falleth let him die firste But for asmuche as we are fortye and one so that we can not be iustlye ioyned in couples let vs cast lottes firste of all and see whiche of vs shal firste be slaine and when he is once oute of the waye then lette vs deuide the couples He that is to be staine firste lette him chuse oute one of the firste couple to be slain of and when he is deade the firste couple shall caste lottes and do as I haue deuised Then euery man likt his deuise which was gods doing who hard Iosephes prayer and saide all with one mouth we wil do as thou hast deuised and to the it perteineth to deuide the men and to caste the lottes Ioseph answered but let vs sweare by the name of the lord that this deuise shal stand be ratified and perfourmed Wherunto they accorded and sware all by the name of the Lorde that they woulde haue that deuise to be ratified kepte which Ioseph had inuented of casting of lottes Then Ioseph began to make lottes who should be thod man and it light vpon Iehoiada a prieste sonne of Eliakim a Galilean which was a valeant man and chiefest in euery counsell next to Ioseph and the principall perswader of this wicked fact to kill them selues After that did he craftely deuide them into couples so that the lot of his owne couple came forth last of al who loked to be saued and trusted in God beâ—eninge that he woulde deliuer him from this abhominable dede Then Iehoida chose him one of the first couple who slue him That done the first couple cast lottes betwene them so th one killed his felowe and chose him one of the second couple to kil him TheÌ„ they of the second couple caste lots betwene them selues in the presence of Ioseph and th one killed theother then he that remained chose him one of the thy de couple to flea him And in this manner did they til there were al slaine none lefte aliue but Ioseph and his felowe who said vnto Ioseph go to let vs cast lottes that we may go to our brethren Ioseph answered him we wil do so if thou be so disposed but first heare me I praye the speake a fewe thinges in thine eares Tel me haue not these sinners rebelled against god in thus murthering of them selues so shamefully nether could I by ani meanes diswade them nor haâ—e them from this opinioÌ„ Wherfore shuld we two sinne against God so greuously against our own soules if the lot should so fal that I shuid kil thee I shuld be counted a maÌ„sâ—ear that worthily it may so chauÌ„ce that I shal escape after thee and saue my life But if the lot shoulde so fal that thou shouldest flea me thou shouldest be taken also for a murtherer and perauenture thou shuldest not escape after me and althoughe thou thinkest yes Notwithstanding we lose our hope in god for that we sinne againste oure owne soules For all these men that thou seest heare dead

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

the people that warded that wal wer sain to get them selfes within the sauegarde of the seconde wall â–ª Then Titus commaunded his souldiers to race to the ground that wal that he had pearsed and to carye awaye the stones thereof that they shoulde be no let nor hinderaunce to his men This was the mooste substanciall and strongest wal of al thicker then bothe thother and was builded by Herode The Romaines labouring earnestly in the defacing of the vtter wal were slaine in great noumber by the Iewes from the middle wall before they coulde finishe their purpose The chiefe of the Iewes perceiuing that Titus had not only taken but also quite pulled down the vtter wal howe there was now but two walles left about the towne it went to their hartes and made them loke aboute them therefore began the seditious now earnestlye to thinke of vnity and concord amongst theÌ„ selues so then they deuided the town amoÌ„gst them into three wardes Iehochanan was appointed vnto that warde that is on the Northe parte of the temple beside the Antochia That parte of the town that was toward the tombe of Iochanan the highe prieste was attributed to Schimeon To Eleasar was committed the keepinge of the wall These exhortinge one an other to playe the menne did valeantlye resiste the Romaines so that the conflictes then began to be sore and hard The Romaines for their renown and fame laide on loade and the Iewes againe stucke stiflye to the defence seinge their ende at hande if they were slacke Titus nowe and then exhorted his Souldioures to playe the menne promysinge them that woulde valeauntlye geue the onsette vppon the Iewes aboundaunce of golde siluer and muche honoure withall Then stepte forthe one of his souldiours named Longinus and put hym selfe amongste the routes of the Iewes that were issued out of the toune where he slew a couple of the chiefe of them and streyght recouered hym selfe agayne wythin the araye of the Romaynes But the Iewes shrinkt not frome the Romaynes for they were in a feruent rage and a wonderfull disdayne and to further theyr courage Schimeon came vnto hys men and cryed vpon them wyth a loude voyce saynge For the reuerence of God frendes flye not thys daye who soeuer dothe â–ª flye let hym be sure he shall dye for it and hys house destroyed Titus also admonyshed hys to kepe theyr araye and not to geue back to Schimeon Then wente he hym selfe to that parâ—e of the toune where Iehochanans warde was there he caused an Iron Ram to be planted and bente agaynst the wall for there was a large playne There was at that tyme in Ierusalem one called Kantor who gat to hym a company of the sedicious and shote frome the walles into the Romaynes armye where he slewe very manye compellynge the reste to retyre he wyth nyne other tale felowes whereof he was the Decurian defended one part of the toune Nowe as the Romaynes bended the Ramme to batter the wall Kantor cryed vnto Titus I beseche thee my Lorde Titus be mercyfull of thys moste famous Citie that is almoste bete doune all redye do not deface it vtterly but take pitye of the sanctuary that is in it and destroye not the habitacion of the Lorde God Titus at hys requeste commaunded hys men to staye and to leaue of batterynge the wall then sayed he to Kantor Come forthe hyther to me and thou shalte saue thy lyfe I wyll pardon thee thou shalte not be destroyed Kantor answered I wyl see if I canne perswade these my felowes to come wyth me But he dyd it vppon coloure for none other cause then craftily to tryfle out time to make Titus to leaue of the assaulte for a while So he spake vnto his fellowes that knewe his minde that the Romaines mighte heare Let vs go downe and flye to the Romaine armye Then they drewe oute theyr swordes and made as thoughe they woulde kill him strikinge vppon his harnes and he fel down to the ground in the sighte of the Romaines whiche were ignoraunâ—e of his disceite Then one of the Romaines let flie an arrow that wounded Kantor vppon the face and glauncinge from him slewe an other that stode by him Then Kantor cried oute What do ye will ye shoote at vs that desire to be at peace with you whiche ye graunted your selues and nowe will breake your promisse that ye made vnto vs Is this the rewarde my Lorde Titus that thou rendrest me for goinge aboute to flye vnto thee that thy souldiours shal shoote at me hearinge me to require condicions of peace Nowe therefore my Lorde pleaseth it thee to sends hither some man of honoure to whome I maye come downe and receiue assuraunce of thy promisse and come to thee afterwardes to be as one of thine owne menne Titus thinckinge he mente good faithe spake vnto Ioseph willinge him to goe and make peace with the Iewe in his name then to bringe him vnto him that he might finde sauegarde of his life from the common destruction Iosephe answered Whye wilt thou sende me what haue I offended thee haue I not euer done the true and faithfull seruice Therefore if thou beare me any good will or fauoure sende me not vnto him whome I canne not truâ—â—e for Iosephe mystrusted some subteltye knowinge Kantor afore So Titus sente â—ne captaine Iiarus who sayde vnto Kantor come downe and let vs go together to Cesars sonne Kantor desired him to holde abroade his cloke lappe that he mighte hurle hym downe his monye that he had there least the Iewes perceiuing it woulde take it from him and then he woulde come downe And as Iiarus helde vp his lappe to receyue the money that Kantor spake of Kantor wyth all his myght caste downe a greate Stone whiche Iiarus espiynge lepte asyde and auoyded but it lyghte vppon one of hys fellowes and slewe hym Titus was wonderfull wrothe at thys and foorthwyth planted yet an other yron Ramme agaynste the Walle and at lengthe layed it flatte vpon the grouÌ„d Then commaunded Titus to make fires aboute the Walle whereas the Iewes shoulde escape by Kantor seing that woulde haue fled and as he made haste to scape the fires the weight of bys armour bare hym downe into the fire and there hee dyed more desierous of death then lyfe Then entered the Romaynes within the seconde Walle agaynste whome the Sedicious issued and foughte wyth suche vehemente force that they preuayled agaynste theyr ennemyes slewe manye of the Romaynes and forced the reste to retyre vnto the firste Walle that they hadde beaten downe afore In thys skyrmyshe Titus him selfe tooke a bowe and shotte at the Iewes in suche wyse that no one of hys arrowes were spente in vaine but that it did some anoyaunce vnto the Iewes yet for all that the Iewes gaue theim the repulse from the Towne and the Romaynes were not able to make their partye good wyth theim Wythin foure dayes after came vnto Titus a newe supplye of Souldiours oute of

bold to kil those that are escaped vn to it how dare ye shede the bloud of the vncircumcised therin whom ye abhor and yet mixt their bloud with yours The Lord your God is my witnesse that I woulde not haue this house destroyed but your owne wicked workes your owne handes pull it downe And wold god you wold receiue our peace which if it were once done done we wold honour this house of the sanctuary temple of the Lorde yea we would depart away from you But your heartes are hardened like yron your neckes and foreheds are become obstinate as brasse to your owne vndoing For ye shal carie your owne sinnes die in the land of the Romaines I and my fathers house are innocent and gilties of your death as the Lorde and his temple in whose presence we stand shal beare vs witnes this day But wheÌ„ he saw that none of the sedicious gaue any regard to his words he chose out of his Romain xxx M. valiaÌ„t fighting men gaue theÌ„ coÌ„maundemeÌ„t to take occupy then try of the teÌ„ple which is a holy court determined to go with theÌ„ him selfe but his nobles wold not suffer him but wil led him to remain vpoÌ„ a hie place wher he might behold his sodiers fight And when theâ—se thee a farre of their hâ—â—ts shalâ—e coÌ„forted they shall fight accâ—rding as thou wilt wishe theÌ„ but come noâ— at then try of the teÌ„ple thy selfe lest thou be destroied amongst other Titus folowed the couÌ„sel of his capâ—ains and went not at the time with his meÌ„ to the battel He made chiefe captains of that host of .xxx. M. one Karilius Rostius iâ— noble men whoÌ„ he coÌ„maunded to set vpoÌ„ the Iewes the night wheÌ„ thei shold be a slepe with wearines The Romains therfore doing after his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t set vpoÌ„ the Iewes But the Iewes hauing intelligence of the matter kept diligeÌ„t watch withstede the Romains valâ—auntly al that night But the Romaynes were not hastye to fyghte in the darke fearinge lest it might turne to their owne harme Assone therfore as it was daye the Iewes deuided theim selues and bestowed their companies at the Gates of the entraunce and foughte lyke menne Karilius and Rostius beset the Temple roundâ— aboute that not one of the Iewes might escape out and so the battail increased betwene theim for the space of vâ—â— dayes sometime the Romains gettynge the vpper hande of the Iewes driuynge them within the entraunce sometime the Iewes encouraging theÌ„ selues made the Romaines retire and pursued them to the walles of the Antochia in this maner fought they these vii dayes Afterwarde the Romaynes retourned backe from the Iewes and woulde not fight hande to hande with them any more Then Titus coÌ„maunded the Walles of the Antochia to bee pulled downe further that there might be place for his whole hoaste to enter The famine in the mean season grew more greuous so that no fode was nowe left For the Iewes began now to issue out and steale horses asses and other beastes what soeuer they coulde catch euen out of the Romayns campe that they might dresse them some meat and susteine their liues Which they doing often tymes at length the Romaynes perceiued it were wonderfulfye â—â—â—pleased with the matter Wherefore they set watch and ward round about the caÌ„pe lest by the disceit of the Iewes they should be spoyled of their cattel so after that the Iewes could steale no more from thence After warde notwithstanding they armed them selues and issued out at the East gate and brake the wal that Titus had raised for his owne safety lest the Iewes should issue oute vpon a sodayne and come vpon him at vnwares â–ª A sort of tall felowes therefore of the you the of the Iewes issued out by the breaches of the wall gate vp quickly to the mount Oliuet wheras they found horses mules asses and much other cattel and fleyng their kepers they driue them before them with great shoutes into the toune The Romayns perceyuing that pursued them to fyghte Wherefore the yonge men deuiâ—eâ— theim selues into two bandesâ— the one to dryue the bootye and the other to resist the Romaynes So there was a sore â—yght betwyxt theim but the Iewes gate the vpper hande and went their wayes cleare with the ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ towarde Hierusalem For the ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ came for the constrayned by the necessitie of honger and foughte for their liuynge the Romaynes had no cause to fyghte saue onelye for shame to â—â—e their cattell driuen awaye before their eyes for otherwise they put not their liues in ieopardye to fight vnto drathe as the Iewes did yet was there many of the Komaynes slaine in that â—ighte The Iewes whyle the Romayns pâ—â—sued theim in dayne they gate into the towne with their spoyle and ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ and straight waye tourned vpponâ—â—â— Râ—maines and driue theâ—â—n backe paâ—suynge theim agayne tyl they â—â—the aâ—most to Titus â—ampe whiche when the other Romaynes sawe the â—â—ame to the rescue of their felowes â–ª ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ ed agayne those yong men to ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ to take theÌ„ albeit theâ— scaped ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ without any haâ—the saue that ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ toke a boy and brought him vnto ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ that toke this lad ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ So the Romaynes ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ the Iewes at that tyme and for a certaine token of victory they hadde this yâ—g Iewe prisoneâ— Pornas the toke hym was hadde in great estimation for that act of Titus and all the Romayâ—s Titus appareled the boye and committed hym to Iosephus to kepe This Boye had a brother amongest theim that escaped into the toune a vyle personage euil fauoured and of a lowe stature hys name was Ionathan He seyng his brother taken coÌ„meth forth to the toÌ„be of Iochanan the hie priest ouer against Romaines and cryed vnto Titus and to all the armye saiynge If there bee euer a manne amongest you let hym â—ome forthe vnto mee here wyll I abyâ—â— hym and fyght with hym vppon thyâ— grounde and ye shall knowe this daye whether the Romaynes or the Iewes be the better menne The Romaynes dispised hym yet durste they â–ª not meddle wyth hym but said if wee kyll hym wee shall neuer bee counted the better menne for such an acte and if he shoulde kyll anye of vs it shoulde be a great dishonoure to be slayne of a wretche Ionathan sayde to to the Romaynes howe muche is the manhode of the Romaynes to bee regarded in our eyes Haue not you bene flayne and put to flyght by vs What were you then if that bandes and companies of the Gentils came not euerye daie to ayde you If they had not helpt you we had longe agoe eaten you vp We haue destroyed our selues â–ª one an other with ciuil warres so that we are but few left but what are you Who is so hardy of the best of you alâ—o come and declare his strength and to fyght with me I am one of the meanest and outcastes of the Iewes picke you onte the chiefest and vale antest man amengest you

all and you shall knowe by and by whether parte is more valiant When Ionathan hadde spaken thus proudelye there came for the one of the most valiantst souldiers of the Roâ—ains whose name was Pornas the same that had taken the brother of this Ionathan and brought him to Titus he came no soner at Ionathan but he was killed of him streight way leauing behinde him a diuers inheritaunce to Ionathan and the Romains To Ionathan a fame of fortitude valeantnes to the Romains shame and reproche Whan Ionathan had so slain the Romain the Iewes chauÌ„ged his name called him Iehonathan by an honorable name gaue him a septer of dominioÌ„ in his haÌ„d But Iehonathan wheÌ„ he had gotten this victori gaue not the glory to god but ascribed it to his owne prowesse became verye proud withal he was not content with one victory but would yet prouoke the Romains â—ailing at them and calling for an other valeaunte champion to be sent to him that I might kil him saith he and â—â—lare my force vpon him And euen as he said so one of the Romains whose name was Poriian stroke him throughe with an arrowe at vnwares and killed him By whose example we may perceiue It is euerye mannes parte chieflye to take hede that vvhen they ouercome their enemies they reioyce not ouer muche nor vvaxe proude for the matter for vvho knovveth vvhat ende they shal haue theÌ„ selues These things done the Iewes seing the walles of the temple the three walles that compassed the town to be raced puld down knowinge also that they had no hope left nor any thing to truste vnto they consulted what were best to be done There was a greate huge house ioyninge vpon the side of the temple that king Salomon had builded of a great height whose walles also the kings of the second teÌ„ple had raised on height had decked it with timber of firre and ceder trees The Iewes weÌ„t anointed euery where the Ceder timber of the house with brimstone and pitch abouÌ„dauntly So whan the Romains came again to the teÌ„ple to assault the Iewes pursued them vnto that palaice they entred the palaice after the Iewes who went out again an other waye some climed vp to the battlemeÌ„tâ— of the house other set vp ladders to scale it Then reioysed they wonderfully saying â–ª the palaice is taken now haue the Iewes no place lefte to flee vnto for refuge Thus whan the Romains had gotteÌ„ the palatre the house was thrâ—nge ful of theÌ„ a certain Iewe a yoÌ„g maÌ„ vowing him self desperatly to die wente shut vp the palaice set fire of the gates before annointed with brimstone and pitch And streightway the side walles of the house the whole building begaÌ„ to be on a light fire so that the Romaines had no waye to escape because the fire coÌ„passed the house on euerye side The Iews also stode in harners reuÌ„d about the house leaste anye of the Romaines should escape Wherfore so many of the Romaines as entred the house were destroied with the fire which was .xxii. M. men of war Titus hearing the cryâ— of the Romaines that pearished in the fire made spede with his men to come and rescue them but they coulde not deliuer them oute of the fire it brente so vehementlye wherefore Titus and his wepte verye bitterlye The Romains that were aboue vpoÌ„ the house wheÌ„ they saw their master Titus wepe and the fire to be betwene them that nether coulde come at other they caste them selues downe headlong from the batlementes of the house whiche was very hie died saiynge we wil die in Titus preseÌ„ce to get vs a name therby The Iewes kepte the gates of the palace if they perceiued any man go about to escape out of the fire or to come downe of the batlementes them they killed with their swordes In that fire was a certain noble man of the stocke of kinges whose name was Longinus to whome the Iewes cried and flouted him saying come hither to vs the thou maist saue thy life and not be destroied but he durst not go out at the gate fearing least the Iewes woulde kill him wherfore he drue oute his sworde and thrust him self through before their faces An other noble man also was in the fire whose name was Artorius who loking forth from the top of the house saw one of his deare frendes by Titus whiche was called Lucius to whome Artorius called saying My deare frend Lucius get on thine armour and come hither that I may leape downe vppon thee and thou maiste receiue me If I die I make thee mine heir if thou die thy children shal inherite my goodes Wherfore Lucius ran and held his lap opeÌ„ at the house side and Artorius lept down and light vpon him wyth suche waight that they both died therwith Titus commaunded the couenauÌ„t that they two made before their death to be written vpon a sword with bloud and their frendship to be noted in the chronicles of the Romaines that it mighte be an example to all men to learn true frendship by At that time therfore the Iewes reuenged them selues meetely wel vpon the Romains The fire breÌ„t till it came to the house of Chiskiiahu kinge of Iehudah and hadde almooste taken the temple of the Lorde whiche the Romains seing fled out of the toun and gate them to their tentes a greate parte of theim beings destroied by the crueltye of the Iewes so that fewe of them remained The reste therefore lay stil in their siege rounde about the towne sayinge we shal not be able to win the town by the sword but rather we must be fain to driue theÌ„ to yeld by famin wherefore they compassed it on euery side In the towne now had thei no victuals left THere was a certaine notable rich woman at Ierusalem of a noble house also whose name was Miriam her dwelling was beyond Iordan but wheÌ„ she perceiued the warres to grow more more in the time of Vaspasian she came vp with her neighbors to IerusaleÌ„ bringing with her not only her men seruants women seruants all her whole family but also her goods riches which were very great When the hunger was greuous at IerusaleÌ„ the seditious wente froÌ„ house to house to seeke meate they came also to thys womans house toke awaye from her by force al that euer she had and lefte her nothinge remaininge After therefore she her selfe was oppressed wyth very greate hunger so that she wishte her oute of the worlde but her time was not yet come to die Wherfore that she mighte slake her hunger and suâ—â—eine her life she began to scrape in the chaffe and duste for beastes dong but coulde finde none She hadde one sonne when she saw the famin ware greater greater vpoÌ„ her she laid aside all womanhode and mercye and toke vpon her an horrible cruelty for when she heard her boye weepe and aske

handes They agreed broughte him to Schimeon who commaunded his seruauntes assone as he was come to flea him But while he that was apointed to this businesse made delay and killed him net by and by he whipt downe of the hill escaped and came to Titus who commaunded him oute of his sighte being wroth with him that he had not sought vnto deathe rather then to be taken quicke But with the Iewes was he wonderfullye displeased that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men wherfore he commaunded to kil all the Iewes as many as could be founde in the streetes of the â—â—ye whome he woulde haue spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughoute all hys campe for theyr safetye Then died many of the Iewes so that euerye place was full of deade bodies The menne of warre of the Edomites whythe were wyth Schimeon perceiuinge howe the matter wente they sente Embassadoures to Titus to desire peace and to saue theyr lyues which when it came to Schimeons ear he wente vnto them and slue the chiefe of them and their noble men the rest of the people of the Edomites fledde vnto Titus From that time forthe Titus commaunded his men to vse no more truelty vpoÌ„ the Iewes Sone after fled Iehochanan and Schimeon and hid theÌ„ selues in certain caues The rest of the chief meÌ„ of the Iewes that were with them seing them nowe to be fled came nowne from the Mounte vnto Titus set downe vpon their face before hym vpon the ground whome Titus receiueâ— gentlelye As for the sedicious that were with Schimeon Iehochanan they fought till they al died together TheÌ„ cam forth vnto Titus one Iosua a priest sonne of Schaftai the hie prieste bringing with him two candelstickes of gold which were in the sanctuary and the tables of gold with other vessels of siluer and gold and also the holye vestures decked with golde and precious stones all those he gaue vnto Titus who made him chiefe priest ouer them that remained nexte vnder Ioseph the priest for Titus gaue Ioseph authority as wel ouer the priestes and Leuites as ouer the whole people of the Iewes Then was Gorion the father of Ioseph that writ this history brought oute of the prison with his wife and children among whoÌ„ was one Bonian Iosephs yonger brother he was a verye wise a godly priest by whome god bestowed many benefites vpoÌ„ the Israelites For Titus lefte him at Ierusalem and tooke him not with him as he did Ioseph Iosephes father liued after the city was taken twenty moneths died They tooke then also one Phmeas a prieste who was keper of the treasure house he bewraied and vttered to the Romains al the treasures of the priestes and their vestements he gaue also vnto Titus a moosse precious oyle wyth swere oâ—ours and perfumes and garmentes also of purple which the kinges of the second temple had geueÌ„ Wherfore both this Phineas and Iosua whoÌ„ we mentioned afore transgressed the couenaunte of the Lord and offended God in that they deliuered his iewels to the ennemies of his people whiche thei ought not to haue done but rather to haue died for the glory of the Lord as the other priestes did whiche caste them selues into the fire Thus was the city of Ierusalem takeÌ„ with al the precious thinges that were therein and Titus went vp to the mount Sion â—â—ke it and raced the walles therof Vpon a three daies after Iehochanan sore vert with hunger leste his place where he lucked and came to Titus fell downe afore him and kissed his feete sayinge saue me O Lord king Titus commauded him ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ be fettered with iraÌ„ cheins when he had caused him to be carted about the campe so bound to be mocked of al men by the space of .vii. daies he commaunded to hanâ— him so gate he a iuste ende and fit rewarde for his cruelty After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den being driueÌ„ with famin he had out on king ye apparel shewed him self a far of to the Romaine host who seing him were afraide to go to him but he called vnto theÌ„ askt foâ— sâ—me captaine Then one came forth sâ—id vnto Schimeon tel me who the art I wil not kil thee Schimeon answered therefore tolde him I am Schimeon that sedicious Captaine of the Iewes whiche haue made you so muche a not now I beseche thee shew me so muche sauour as to bring me to Titus thi master which he did Titus therfore when he saw Schimeon he coÌ„maunded him to be fast bound and to be â—ed about the whole host that he might be deluded mâ—ckt Afterward he was put to a fore death first his head was striken of theÌ„ he was cut in many peces and cast vnto dogges so he died an abhominable death being punished for his iniquity THe number of the Iewes aswell citizens as other that came vnto the feast to Ierusalem whiche were flaine partly by the Romaines partly by the sedicious duringe the whole tyme of those warâ—es was knowen to be thus many eleuenth hundreth thousand besides them whose noumber was not knowen Onlye they were counted which were slaine buried besides theÌ„ also that after the death of Iehochanan Schimeon died with Eleasar the sonne of Anam the priest whiche were not reckened Thei that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were .xvi. M. men Titus therfore with Ioseph wente to Rome leauing Bonian Iosephs brother at Ierusalem who was appointed the chiefe priest of them that abode there for that did Ioseph request of Titus whiche he perfourmed The sedicious were all slaine in that battaile whiche they toke in hand for the peoples sake and the temple of the Lord â–ª They also that Titus toke prisoners were put to vile deathes For he reserued many to be mocking stocks in euery ã€ˆâ€¦ã€‰ whâ—re he passed by in his way is Rome and in euery towne he commaunded some to be brought forthe and caste vnto the Lions til they were al confumed THere was a certain people ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat that were called Alamites whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearinge closed them in on euery side This people although they had no knowledge of the vse of yron nor armour yet this was their maner that one of theÌ„ with a great poal burnt a little at the ende would put to flight a hundred good souldiours were they neuer so well appointed and armed Vntill this yeare they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout al their land they sent Embassadours to the People of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that thei would open the straightes of the mountayns that they might come forth with their wiues and children to seke theim fode The Hurkans grauÌ„ted their requests opened them the entrances of the mouÌ„tains So they came forth wanderyng here and there and spoilynge diuerse countreis til at lengthe they toke

perswaded him selfe most certainly that he should promote him to the life light of the lord for as much as for the loue of God at his coÌ„maundement he should haue killed him Wey the thing that Ioschiiahu the iust kinge did who settyng at nought this wretched life aspiring to euerlastyng felicitie would not auoyde the ieopardye of hys lyfe when as as he might haue done it For althoughe Pharao Necho said he came not against him but against the kinge of the Chaldeis yet wold not Ioschiiahu heare him but rather procedinge againste Pharao in armes was slaine in the battaile and went vnto that great lights in the garden of paradise which is the lot enheritance of the iust We know that in this world no maÌ„ receiueth the reward of his righteousnesse but it is laid vp for him in the otherworld where he shall reape the frute of hys righteousnesse that he hathe sowne in this world Nether dothe longe life in this world profit a maÌ„ to thobtaining of euerlastinge blisse excepte he worke righteousnes lead his soule forthe of darknes into light like as coÌ„trariwise shortnesse of life hindreth no maÌ„ from euerlastinge happinesse if so be it hys soule haue no defecte in those thinges that pertein to the world to come For Abell whiche was slaine of hys brother liued no longe life yet whan he had ended it he obteined euerlastinge rest But Kain that liued longe in thys world was a wanderer a runnagate in this earth and after this life weÌ„t to perpetual miserye Nowe therfore my brethren if we also shal liue anye longer our life shal be a miserable life and our daies daies of vanitye and trauel yea our soule as long as it shal remain in this body it shal be tossed with great â—râ—bulation but if it once go forth then shall it reioyse and neuer be afraide And all the dayes that it is in the bodye it neuer linneth weepinge and mourninge for it is the spirite of life whiche is hedged in within the bodye sinnewes bones and other members none otherwise then if it were bounde with chaines The spirite is also that which quickneth the fleshe that is takeÌ„ of the duste of the earthe for fleshe can not quicken the spirite Besides this the spirite is that which obserueth and marketh the fleshe and searcheth the workes therof so longe as it is in the body Yea the fleshe can not se the spirite but the spirite seeth the fleshe alwayes neither is there anye member of the bodye hidde from it The eyes also of the bodâ—e caÌ„ not perceiue what time the spirite resorteth to the fleshe and departeth from the same for the spirite of manne whiche is hys soule is from heauen but the fleshe is taken from the earthe Wherefore the soule maye remaine withoute the body but not likewise the bodye wythoute the soule and when the spirite comes to the flesh it visiteth it as a neighbour is wonte to goe and see his neighboure and quickeneth it and when againe it departeth from it the fleshe dieth and if the soul wil folowe the desires of the fleshe then thys is the deathe of the soule but if it geue no eare vnto the fleshe then shall the soule come to the lighte of life and the fleshe shall dye Wherfore the soule is glad wheÌ„ it departeth out of the body like as one that hath bene bound is wel apaid wheÌ„ he is dimissed oute of prisone for all the while that the soule is kept closed in the flesh it is as it were a slaue in mooste hard greuous bondage vnder a hard master Therfore wheÌ„ it departeth froÌ„ the body it is glad because it muste go to the garden of paradise thus ye see that in this life the soule is compared to a bond seruaunt slaue Much more then this did he reason of thimmortality and blessednesse of the soule before them whiche we haue omitted here when he had done that he lamented wept moste bitterlye for the case of the city of Ierusalem saying VVhere is now the city of IerusaleÌ„ that great populous city where is that most beautiful citye of SioÌ„ that holy city which made merye the whole earth Oh thou worship of Israell the mirthe of our heartes whither is thy glory come where is thi magnificence O Ierusalem where be the hils of the doughter of Sion where be her kings and princes where be the kinges that were wonte to come to inquire of her welfare in her gates where are her sages and elders her yong and most vavaleaunt men which were iocund and mery in her stretes vpoÌ„ her sabbathes festiual daies where is her famous sanctuarye the dwelling of thalmighty god where is the house of Sanctum sanctorum the habitacion of holinesse wherin no man might set his fote but the hie priest whiche in all ages onlye once a yeare entred into it But now O Ierusalem thou wast once replenished with people renowned amoÌ„gste kinges beloued of God in thee was established the seate of the kingdome of â—ustice and iudgemente whose streetes were paued with moste precious marble whose walles glisterd and shined with the same stone whose gates euerye one were plated with golde and siluer whose wals were builded with great stones moste honorablye whose priestes in the middes of the sanctuary like to angels of God and princes of holinesse with sacrifices and burnt offerings made the lord louing to thee thy people How art thou now stuffed ful of slaine men and carcases whyche haue pearished some by the sword som by famin and how are thi sonnes that dwelt in thee the straungers also the resorted vnto thee to honor thy feastes fallen now in thee How art thou fallen from the hight of thy pride how art thou set a fire and brent euen vnto thy foundations and art left desolate solitary What eye is so hard that can beholde thee what hart so stonye that can abide to see thee How art thou become a buriyng place of carkases and how are thy stretes made void and destitute of liuing creatures they whiche heretofore were replenished wyth liuing are now stuffed with dead How hath the ashes of fire couered thee that the sunne can not come at thee Howe do the aunciente men which in times past did sit in the midst of thee in the seat of wisdom iuogment and iustice now they sit by the carcases of their childreÌ„ to driue awaye crowes and beastes froÌ„ theÌ„ hauing their hoar heades be syrinkled with dust ashes in stead of their glorye And those wemen thy doughters that are lefte they remaine in the houses of theÌ„ that made thee desolate not that they may liue but to be vnhalowed and polluted who shall see all these thinges in thee and shal desire to liue rather then to die who knowing thy magnificence that thou haddest of late and nowe shall see thine ignominye and the dishonour of the same wil not chuse

to dye And woulde God we had bene dead before the we might not haue seene in thee thy reproch or who would bring to passe the we might lacke eyes that we shuld not be compelled to see these mischeues the are in the mids of thee And behold we liue a most sorowful life for our enemies eueÌ„ now afore we be dead cast lots vpon our sonnes daughters to deuide theÌ„ amoÌ„gst theÌ„ to be their seruaÌ„tes handmaids When Eleasar had ended this lamentacion he spake to the people that was w e him thus NOw therfore brethreÌ„ frends take pitye of your selues your wiues children with old men which he with you let theÌ„ not be led into boÌ„dage with out al merci the they be not coÌ„streined to mourn vnder the haÌ„ds of their enemies for if ye do this ye leese withoute all doubte all places that are prepared for you in the world of rightousnesse neither shall ye haue any part in the light of life But rather with your owne handes kil them thus if ye wil do they shal be couÌ„ted as sacrifices most accdptable vnto God and that done we wil after issue out vpon oure enemies and fight against them till we vse valeaÌ„tly for the glory of the lord for we wil nener suffer them to bind vs with boÌ„des and cheins as bond slaues in the handes of the vncircumcised Nether wil we se our aunciente men to be haled by the berdes before our eyes most miserably nor yet oure maides wifes and doughters to be vnhalowed and defloured nor oure sonnes criynge to vs and we can not helpe them for what shal oure life auaile vs after that our land is desolate our sanctuary pulled downe the Romains rauishe our wiues doughters before our eyes and oppresse oure sonnes with a most greuous and hard yoke Nowe therfore it is better for vs to kil al our wiues and childreÌ„ whose bloud God shal accepte thankfullye as the blud of burnt offerings after â–ª we wil issue out vpon the Romains fight til we be al destroyed die for the glory of the Lord our God These menne therfore wente and gathered together their wiues and doughters embrased ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ and kissed them saying is it not better for you to die in your holy country honorabli then to be led away into houdage with great ignomini shame into the landes of your ennemies and be compelled to die before the idols of the gentiles These saiynges wheÌ„ the people had beard thei droue forth that night in great sorow and pensifenesse weping and makinge great lamenâ—â—cion but they all confest with one accorde that they had rather chuse to die then liue Therefore assone as it was daye â–ª Eleasars companions killed their wines and children caste their bodies into the â—esterns and welles that were in Mezirah couering and stepving theÌ„ with earth Afterward issued Eleasar the priest forth of the town withal his meÌ„ and â—orced a battel vpon the Romains of wheÌ„ the Iewes killed a great forte and fought so long till they al died maÌ„fully for the Lord God BUt Titus left a remnaunt of Israel in the citye Iafnah and the villages thereabout and in the estye Bitter and Aossa their villages in whiche place Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai was appointed chief Bonian the priest yonger brother to Iosephe the Prieste was put in authority by Titus for Iosephs sake ouer al the Iewes which were at Ierusalem At the same time was Rasch bag a prince of Israel put to â—â—ath â–ª and Ischmael soÌ„ne of Elischa the ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ priest Moreouer Titus was minded to haâ—â— put Rabban Gamaliel father of Raâ—chbag to deathe but Rabban Iochanan sonne of Sakkai made sute for him and obteined to saue his life This Rabban Iochanan was he that came forthe of Ierusalem in the beginning wheÌ„ Vaspasian father of Titus came firste against Ierusalem whoÌ„ Vaspasian honoured greatly in so much as when he returned to Rome he commended this Rabban Iochanan to his sonne Titus comaunding him to honor him for he perceiued he was a verye wise man Titus reigned two yeares after he had taken Ierusalem and died He was a very eloquent man expert in the Latin and Greke tong writ diuers workes in both the tonges He loued moste intirely iustice and equitye for he wasted the city of Ierusalem against his wil being compelled therunto Yea all the mischiefe that came vpon it happened through the malice and noughtinesse of the sedicious as we haue touched before And thus far of the warres of the second house Â¶ Thus endeth the destruction of Ierusalem Nn. ii â§ The ten Captiuities of the Ievves i. THE Israelites were ten times led into captiuitie foure times by the handes of Sanherib and foure times by Nabuchadnezar once by Vaspasian and once bi supersticious Adrian First inuaded them Sanherib â—â—ennache â—â—b and traunsposed the Rubenites the Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasse He toke awaye also the golden calfe whiâ—he Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat had made He ledde them into Halah Habur to the floud of Gozan and to the cities of the Medes This captiuitie was in the time of Pekah the sonne of Remaha ii The second Captiuitie Hoscha the sonne of Ela remained and slew Pekah the sonne of Remalia Afterwarde he became the seruant and subiect of Sanherib seuen yeares Then came Sanherib the seconde time and caried awaye the tribes of Aâ—ar Isachar Zebulon and Naphtali of whom he let go free onely one of euery eight He tâ—ke away also an other calf that was in Bethel iii. After the death of Ahaz raigned Hiz kiahu his soÌ„ne in his steede four yeres Hezekia the fourth yere of whose rain Sanherib came and entrenched Samaria beseging it .iii. yeares and at lengthe roke it in the vi yeare of the raigne of Hiskijahu So led he awaye the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Manasse This is the .iii. captiuity iiii When Nabuchadnezar had reigned viii yeares Sanheriâ— perauenture he made warres againste Ierusalem bringynge wyth hym the Chuteans heretikes out of Babilon E. thiopia Hemates Auim and Sepharuauim and as he warred vpon Iudea he toke in that countrye a. C and. l. cities in the which there were .ii. tribes Iuda and Simeon whome he toke with him caused them forthwith to be led into Halah Habur vntil the king of the Ethiopians rebelled againste him whose kingdoÌ„ was on the hinder parts of Egipt Then taking Iuda Simeon with him he made war with the king of Ethiopia So the holye and blessed God placed them in darke mountains He re was foure captiuities whereby ten tribes went into crile by Sanherib There remained yet of Iuda Cx. thousand and of Beniamin Cxxx. thousand in Ierusalem ouer whoÌ„ raigned Hizkiahu Moreouer Sanherib came out of Ethiopia againste Ierusalem the fifte time leading with him Cx. thousand but the holye Lorde ouerthrewe hym there as it is written And the angell of the

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