this unto our Lord the anointed of God He was the King and high Priest what though he were a sinner yet his death shall be an expiation for all his iniquities Therefore we will bewail him and mourn for him yea we will carry his coffin our selves on our necks and bury him as it becometh a Kings Majesty and so they did The time that he had raigned was xxvii years after him raigned his wife Alexandra in his stead for the Pharisees after they had finished the seventh day of the morning they committed the Kingdom unto her She had two sons by the King the Elder was called Hircanus the other Aristobulus Hircanus was a just man and a righteous but Aristobulus was a Warriour and a man of courage besides that of a familiar and loving countenance He favoured also the learned men and followed their instruction But Hircanus his elder brother loved the Pharisees On a time therefore when the Queen sate in the throne of her Kingdom she cal'd the antients of the Pharisees before her honored them and commanded to release and set at liberty all such Pharisees as the King her husband and her father in Law had cast in prison and taking the Pharisees by the hands she commanded all Israel to obey their ordinances Then made she Hircanus her son high Priest and Aristobulus Lieutenant of the Wars She sent also to all the Lands that her husband and father in Law had subdued and demanded the noble mens sons for pledges which she kept in Jerusalem So the Lord gave to the Queen quietness from all that were under her subjection She gave also the Pharisees authority over the learned sort putting them in their hands to order at their will Whereupon straight way they found one Dogrus a great man amongst the learned sort whom they slew and much people besides of the Ancients of that Sect so that the Sectaries were in great distress They gathered themselves together therefore and came to Aristobulus the Lieutenant of the wars and with him they came to the Queen saying unto her Thou knowest the enmity that is between us and the Pharisees which hate thy husband and father in law yea and thy children also We were his men of war that went with him in all his affairs aided him now thou hast given us into their hands to be murthered and banished out of the Land What will Hartam King of Arabia do when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He will come and revenge him of all the battel that thy husband fought against him Yea the Pharisees will take his part and deliver thee and thy children into his hands that there shall not be left unto Hircanus the King and his Son Alexander thy husband any name or remnant at all The Queen gave them no word of answer whereat Aristobulus was angry and letted not to utter it to his mothers face but she would not hear him Wherefore Aristobulus counselled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart out of Jerusalem to choose them Cities in the land of Juda where they might dwell with their honor and not to suffer themselves to be slain under the Pharisees hands Wherefore departing from Jerusalem they dwelt in the Cities of Juda Not long after this it fortuned the Queen fell fore sick that she was like to dye whereof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisees would make his brother Hircanus King and at length apprehends him wherefore he fled away by night to the Ciâ—…y of the Saducees to be their head and make war upon his brother if he should presume to Raign He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducees called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a strong army of the Saducees his mother the Queeen sent unto him that he should return unto her which he would not do but rather went to war with the nations that dwelt about him where he won twenty Cities and got him great renown thereby Now as the Queen his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chief Pharisees came unto her with her Son Hircanus weeping before her and saying how they were afraid of her son Aristobulus who if he should come into Jerusalem and take it he would deliver them up into the hands of the Saducees Unto whom she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talk much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husband and my father gathered and their parents Kings of the posterity of Chasmonany take that to you and make my son Hircanus King over you If Aristobulus will disturb him and make war against him ye may leavy men of war therewith and succour him as you think good And even with this she fainted and dyed and was buried amongst her people after she had raigned nine years over Israel The Pharisees therefore and Priests with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Hircanus her son King in her stead Aristobulus hearing tidings of these things assembled his Army and came toward Jerusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nigh unto Jordan Jericho The Saducees of Aristobulus host were good men of war and too strong for the Pharisees wherefore Hircanus and the Pharisees had the overthrow at Aristobulus and the Saducees hands who with this victory proceeded forth to Jerusalem besiegeâ—… it and brought it to great distress Wherefore the Priests and the Ancient of the people consulted together and came forth to Aristobulus fell prostrate on the earth before him and besought him that he would not scatter abroad the inhabitants of the Lord. He condescended unto their desires upon these conditions that he should enter into Jerusalem with them and be King and his Brother Hircanus should be High Priest whereupon they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into Jerusalem his brother came out of the Sanctuary to meet him and with embracing he kissed him So Aristobulus was King and Hircanus executed the office of the High Priest The Lord also gave Israel rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sent an evill spirit among them which was the cause of translating the Kingdom from the stock of Chasmonany and of the destruction of his posterity for the sin of Hircanus the great and the sin of Alexander his Son in that they shed so much innocent blood and drew Israel from the obedience of the Prophets unto the lies and trifles of the Saducees For thus it chanced The Saducees beat into Aristobulus head that as long as his Brother Hircanus lived he nor his Kingdom could never be established Whereupon Aristobulus devised how to make away Hircanus which thing a certain man called Autipater was aware of a man of most power in all Israel and thereto also a wise expert and learned in all wisdom both in the laws and in the knowledge of the Greek just of his word and prudent in any strange
thy Sisters husband to poyson me When Herod heard this he was exceedingly abashed that Joseph had disclosed his secret and began to mistrust with himself that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife indeed and upon that detected that secret Therefore he departed out of his palace in a great anger and rage whereby Salumith perceived that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further suborning false accusers and forgers of lyes to witnesse that Marimi would have poisoned the King whereof she had divers presumptions also by her countenance She added moreover if thou saith she to the King let her escape thus she will speedily destroy thee and bereave thee of thy Kingdom the law giveth a man this counsâ—…l If any man go about to murther thee prevent him and slay him fiâ—…st With this and such like words she so moved the King that he commanded to bring Marimi forth and to be beheaded in the high street of the City And as she was brought forth into the Market place of the City all the women of the City followed her Alexandra her Mother also cursed and railed at her saying Come out thou that hast abhorred thy Husband and conspired against thy Lord Alexandra wept also as though it had been for the wickednesse that her daughter had committed thinking surely to please the King by that means and to blear his eyeâ—… if peradventure he might suffer her to live till she might have opportunity to poison him Marimi thus going to execution held her peace and looked neither to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innocent in deed and thought and therefore God would render her a good reward in the World to come wherefore she bared her Neck without fear and they cut off her head shedding the innocent blood But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestilence in the house of Herod so that his chief servants his Noble women and Concubines died sore thereof yea throughout all Judea raigned vehemently which afflâ—…ctions all Israel knew well enough chanced unto them for the blood of Marimi They câ—…yed therefore unto the Lord saying wilt thou for the offence of one man deal so cruelly with the whole congregation the Lord took pity therefore upon the land and withdrew the plague from the people The King repented him also that he had shed blood without a cause and love so grew in his heart that he was sick and at deaths door Then Alexandra Marimis mother sought means how to poyson him which being uttered unto the King he commanded to apprehend her and to kill her In this manner dealt Herod with all the posterity of the Machabees leaving none alive that were called by the name Herod put to death also Josephat the husband of Salumith The King had two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wife They were both at Rome when their Mother suffered for their Father the King had sent them thither to learn the Roman tongue When they heard tidings of their Mothers death they wept and mourned for her hating their Father for his cruelty Soon after the King their father recovered of his sickness was established in his Kingdom builded strong Cities and rose to great prosperity In the thirteenth year of his Raign therefell a great dearth in the land wherefore the King took out of his treasure much gold and silver and precious stones wherewith he sent into Egypt and procured plenty of corn and refreshed with bread all that lackt and were in distress of hunger yea he spared not his own proper goods And not only to the Israelits shewed he this liberality but also to all that came unto him out of other strange Nations hearing of his renown Moreover in all his wars he had good fortune Besides this he thought it good to renew the house of the Sanctuary whereupon he deliberated with the Israelits to have their advice for the building of it after the same quantity and measure that Solomon King of Israel had builded it For the Jews returning from captivity in the time of Coresch began to build it after the measure that Coresch prescribed them and not as it was before The King of Israel hearing that the King was purposed to pull down the Temple to the ground and build it afresh they made hâ—…m no answer fearing lest when he had pulled it down he would not be so hasty to build it up again But the King perceiving what they feared in their minds said he would not slack the matter nor rest till he had brought it to pass He said moreover that he would take out of his treasury plenty of gold and silver and give it to graving also precious stones stones of Thasies and Marble To the Carpenters also and Masons he would deliver Timber and Stones Gold and Silver Brass and Iron to make all things necessary to the work Wherefore if he pulled down the House he was able to build it straight waies again So he pulled down the House and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubits al of white Marble so that the whole height of the stone was in all a hundred and twenty cubits For the Foundation was twenty cubits within the ground and a hundred above The breadth of every stone was twelve cubits and the thickness thereof eight cubits every stone was of like bigness The gates of the House he covered with fine gold and precious Stones finely set therein the thresholds were of Silver and the tops also He made also a Vine of gold a marvellous cunning piece of work the arms thereof or bigger branches were glittering gold the lesser branches slips or latest shoots of gold somewhat red and all above was yellow gold whereupon hung clusters of Crystall The Vine was so great that it weighed a thousand pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porch and before the porch two walls of Silver marvellously and cunningly wrought Behind the house toward the West he made a court of a hundred fifty cubits long and a hundred in breadth which was paved with pure Marble Toward the south and north the length of the court was also a hundred and fifty cubits and a hundred in bredth He erected in it also a hundred and fifty Pillars of white Marble in 4 rancks The length of one ranck was fourty cubics and every Pillar was fourty cubits high and three cubits thick The pillars were all of like measure as the Court of the North side and of the South was also of like measure with all the pillars thereof Towards the east the court contained seven hundred and twenty cubits even to the brook Cedron no man ever saw the like building in all the world The Vine that he made placed he before the porch In â—…he extream parts of
burnt up the City He had wars also with the Romans and the Arabians and God prospered all that ever he took in hand Shortly after God gave him rest and quietnesse from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldly in peace and tranquility all his time On a time the King made a Feast to all the Sages of Israel that they might make cheer with him And being pleasantly disposed he said I am your Scholler and whatsoever I do that do I by your Authority Wherefore I pray you if you see any fault in me or if I do not as becometh me tell me of it that I might reform my evil way Then every man greatly extolled and commended him saying who is like unto thee our Lord King so worthy of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Priesthood so notable in good works whose works be done for the God of heaven which hast also done us so much good in Israel The King was well pleased with their answer and rejoyced greatly Yet was there one among them an undiscreet man called Elezaar who spake unadvisedly to the king And it please your Majesty it were sufficient for you to have the Crown of the Kingdom ye might leave the Crown of the Priesthood to the seed of Aaron for as much as your mother was Captain in mount Modiit Incontinent the King was moved and sore displeased against the Sages which certain of his servants that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of Sects perceiving one of them informed the King that whatsoever that undiscreet person had spoken it was not without the advise of the Sages Whereupon the King demanded of the Sages what law shall that man have that in despight of the King speaketh things to his reproach They made answer he is worthy to be whipt Then said one of the Saducees the matter is plain that according to the minds of the Sages and at their bidding he upbraided thee and therefore they would not award him to die Whereat the King held his peace and gave never a word to answer so all the joy was turned into sadnesse The next day at the commandment of the King proclamation went to all the Cities in the Kings Dominions that they should stand to the ordinance of Saboch and Bithus and whosoever should refuse to follow their Decrees or would observe the Traditions of the Sages and obey their will should suffer death This was John the high Priest which had the Priesthood forty years and in the end became a Saducee Notwithstanding the Israelites obeyed not the kings commandment but rather privily followed the ordinances of the Sages The king himself and all his servants followed the Traditions of the Saducees making Inquisition for them that stuck to the constitutions of the Sages and putting to death as many as he could get knowledge of By this means he drew much people of Israel into this opinion The time that Hircanus ruled over Israel was 31. years and then he died After him reigned his son Aristobulus for he had three sons Aristobulus Antigonus and Alexander This Alexander was hated of his Father and banished out of his presence He went therefore and made War upon Tyre and Sidon subdued them and compelled them to be circumcised Aristobulus regarded not the high Priest-hood but set light by it wherefore he would not execute the office thereof but took the Kingdom upon him and set the Crown upon his head and was called the great King Besides this he banished his mother and Alexander her son his younger brother and would not suffer them to dwell in Jerusalem But he loved his brother Antigonus and made him Lieutenant General of all his Wars setting him forward into the Wars against his enemies Wherein the young man Antigonus had good fortune and prospered in all things that he took in hand and returned safe to Jerusalem where he entred into the house of the Sanctuary to pray for his brother the King which at that time was grievously sick and also to acknowledge before the Lord God his goodnesse and mercy towards him in that he aided him against his enemies Then came a certain wicked person unto the King and informed him with this tale Thy brother saith he returning from the wars inquired of thy health and when it was told him thou wast sick he said I will go to him to day and rid him out of the world When the King heard this he was wroth toward the Sages and commanded his brother to be apprehended and carried to the place of Starton there to be kept in prison till he had made further inquisition of this matter In the mean space the Queen the Kings wife commanded him to be put to death there without knowledge of the Kings mind But when the King heard that his brother was killed he cryed out and wept bitterly smiting his breast in such sort with his hand that he swouned and much blood issued out of his mouth He reigned over Israel two years After him his brother Alexander reigned who was also called King Janai being brought out of Prison where his brother had put him and made King of Israel He was a mighty man and valiant in all his wars against his enemies prevailing against them He had wars with the Philistims namely Asam and Ascalon whom he put to the worse and overcame them This man refused not the Priesthood but was high Priest It chanced on a time when he stood at the Altar to offer sacrifice one of the sages cast a Cedar tree on him whereat he lifted up his right hand upon the Altar crying give me my sword Then the Sages kneeled down before him and sware they did t not of any contempt but rather say they that we thus sporting before the Lord would be merry upon the High solemn day But the Kings servants answered roughly again saying although ye play and rejoyce yet it is not the manner of the country to use any such despightfull custome with the King The contention waxed hot against them till at length the Sages spake evil of the King casting in his teeth that he was an unhallowed and suspended person and that his Grand-mother on the fathers side was a Captain in mount Modiit whereby her seed was stained The King was sore moved at that insomuch that he commanded all the Sages to be slain Therefore wheresoever they found them in the Sanctuary or in the streets of Jerusalem they killed them forthwith Then the King commanded that every man should obey the governance and traditions of the Saducees So in those daies had the Sages great tribulation some fell on the sword some fled away and some tarried at home with great dishonor After these matters the King made an expedition into Arabia entred the country as far as the rock of the Wilderness against Hattam King of Arabia and subdued his land After that he warred on Medaba and the whole Land of Moab vanquished them and bringing
unto the Sages whom his father and grandfather slew and the injury commiâ—…ted to Honyauriga might return upon his head and be reyenged so that no remnant of the house of 〈◊〉 no name no residue no kinsman oâ—… posterity should be left alive Hircanus therefore took his journey toward Jerusalem and Herod came forth to meet him eâ—…mbraced him aâ—…d kissed him after brought him to his house and feasted him daâ—…y calling him his father before all men albeit in his heart he conspired to kill him which Alexandra his daughter and Mother in law to Herod knew well enough who opened it unto Hircanus but he would not credit her at the first till on a time he perceived the matter clear to be so then devised he how to flye to Maloc King of Arabia he sent therefore to Maloc to send him horses and a Chariot to flye withall but the Messenger dealt unfaithfully and lewdly with him for he brought Hircanus letters privily unto Herod who rewarded him well for his labour and bad him go to Maloc and to let him know what answer Maloc gave The Messenger upon this went and delivered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a Charlot writing in this sort I have sent thee horses and horsemen come therefore unto me and whatsoever thy heart desireth I will do it for thy sake So the Messenger brought the answer secretly to Herod whereupon he sent straight to the place in which he understood Malocs men to lurk waiting for Hircanus and caused to apprehend them alive Then Herod commanded to call together the Elders before whom he willed also Hircanus to be brought and of him the King demanded tell me whither thou hast written any letter to Maloc King of Arabia he answered I writ none Then was Ristius the Messenger brought in as his acuser and the men of war also of Arabia that were apprehended who declared the whole matter before the Council so that Hircanus was quite dashed Then the King commanded him to be put to death and so was the kingdom established unto Herod The time that Hircanus raigned was 40. years and 6. moneths After the death of his mother he raigned 3. years and Aristobulus his brother removed him making him Priest Again 3. years after he returned to his kingdom and raigned 40. years Then Antigonus son of Aristobulus deposed him cutting off his ear and banished him out of the holy City So after when Herod his servant came to the kingdom he returned to Jerusalem and Herod shed his blood guiltless yet notwithstanding he had delivereâ—… Herod from the hands of the Elders who would have put him to death for the death of Hizkias From that time Hircanus wrought no evil in the sight of the Lord nor offended him in any great matter save only in this that he bare too much with Herod in shedding the innocent blood wherefore his own life went for the other Therefore happy is he that never forgetteth any part of his duty Marimi the daughter of Alexander the son of Aristobulus the Wife of Herod had a brother whose name was Aristobulus him Herod would in no wise promote to the high Priesthood because he feared the children of Chasmonany although his wife made earnest suite and lay sore upon him for the matter But the King made high Priest one that was nothing of the kindred of Chasmonany whose name was Haniel Notwithstanding when he had once dispatched Hircanus his wives Progenitors father of Alexandra his mother in law then he deposed Haniel the high Priest and preferred his wifes brother Aristobulus to the dignity who although he were but a child yet he was wise and of good understanding and beautifull withall so that in all Israel was not a goodlier nor hansomer young man than he was And this Haniel was the first that ever was deposed from that office of the high priest-hood for never did King of Israel attempt the like afore Herod who did this to quiet his wife and to fulfill his mother in laws mind notwithstanding this Alexandra his wives mother was not content nor satisfied for the death of her Father was such a grief but alwaies spake snappishly to the King that he committed her to ward Then she writ to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt wife unto M. Antonius a Noble man of Rome declaring unto her all the mischief that Herod had done to the posterity of Chasmonany and desiring of her aid to whom Cleopatra made this answer if thou canst find the means to come to me secretly thou shalt perceive what I shall do for thee When Alexandra had read the Letter she sent to Aristobulus her son the high Priest shewing him that she would flye to the Sea Japho and from thence would take shipping into Egypt perswading him also to flye with her We will saith she make two Coffers one for me and another for thee and we will with rewards allure our Servants to carry out us privily whereby we may flye to save our lives This their device was perceived of one of Herods Servants who forthwith made the King privy unto it The King commanded his Servant that bewrayed them that when they did convey the Coffers they should bring them to him which the servant did So when the Coffers were brought to the Kings presence he caused them to be opened and took out Alexandra and her son Aristobulus to whom the King spake sharply and rebuked them sore But Alexandera answered him again as short insomuch that the King moved with anger flung away from her into his chamber saying It is better to fit solitary in a corner of the house than with a brawling and scolding woman in an open place The King dissembled the matter and shewed no great displeasure a year after As Aristobulus the high Priest apparralled in his Pontificial vestures stood in the temple nigh unto the Altar to offer sacrifices the Israelits beheld his beauty his wisdom and behaviour in the ministery whereat every man rejoyced praising God that had not taken all away but left one to revenge the injuries done to the house of Chasmonany The King hearing this was sore afraid and not a little displeased thinking to himself the Israelits would restore the Kingdom of their fathers unto him He perceived every mans heart to be enclined towards him Wherefore he deliberated a while and in the feast of the Tabernacles he removed to Jericho with all his houshold whereas he made a great feast to all his nobles and servants placing them every one after hiâ—… degree before him Aristobulus the high Priest he seâ—… upon the right hand And as they eat drank and made merry certain of the Kings servants were disposed to go swim in Jordan To these the King had given secret commandment that they should desire Aristobulus to go and bath with them in Jordan and then to drown him So when they were going they came to Aristobulus and moved him to keep them
Gold and Silver as chaffe and stones he kept Israel in peace from all his enemies he buiâ—…ded also a fairer Temple than King Solomon but he made the yoke of tribute and exaction in Israel more heavy and gave open ear to evâ—…l tongues He was a cruel blood-shedder of poor and innocent persons and Archelaus his son reigned in his room He willed before his death that they should bury him in the City of Erodion two dayes journey and a half from Jerusalem So they put him in a Coffin covered with Gold set here and there with precious stones The Bed under him was wrought with Gold and full of precious stones likewise upon his head was a cloth of Rayes powdred with precious stones and upon that a Royal Crown made fast to the left side of the Coffin and on the right side was a Regal Scepter upon the Bier was also a cloth of Rayes very thick powdred with precious stones Crystal Amethysts and very many â—…aphirs Then all the chief men of War went about him in their coats of fence and drawn swords in their hands with helmets on their heads as in the time of war After them came Archelaus his son that was made King then followed him all the people There were fifty of his servants that went about the Bier every one having a chaffindish of Gold in his hand wherein they burnt sweet woods and perfumes continually as many as went about him casting upon the Hearse pure Myrrhe He was born by certain great Lords and Noblemen of Israel upon their shouldders going leisurely and with a majesty till they came to Erodion where they buried him with great honour the like was never done to any King These things done there resorted together such as hated Herod and were weary of their own lives whiles he lived rejoycing that they had escaped his hands saying We have looked till our eyes bleared waiting for the death of Herod that Tyrant and bloodshedder that oppressed us with such heavy yokes that left us nothing to live on for the tributes and taxes that he laid upon us yet now Archelaus his son is worse than he Wherefore they consulted together and cast their minds and good will toward Antipater the son of Salumith the Kings Sister one of the blood of Chasmonany and went with him to Octavian Augustus requesting him to translate the kingdom from Archelaus to Antipater but he would not grant them their suite yea he rather confirmed and assured the kingdom to Archelaus who wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord for he married his brother Alexanders Wife that had children by Alexander and committed many great offences The ninth year of Archelaus's raign it chanced upon a night he dreamed a dream He thought he saw nine eares of corn very good and full grown upon one stalk then came a great Oxe and did eate them up all at one bit by and by he awaked and perceived it was a dream therefore calling one of the Sages of Israel unto him he shewed him his dream The wise man said this is the interpretation of it The 9. eares fresh and full be the 9 years which thou hast raigned The great Oxe is the great King Octavian Augustus This year thou shaâ—…t be removed from thy kingdom because thou hast neglected the word of God and hast married thy brothers wife to this Archelaus answered him neither good nor bad Within five dayes after Octavian came towards Jerusalem and when Archelaus wenâ—… to meet him he put him in prison deposed him from the kingdom of Israel and made Antipas his brother King in his stead he turned his name also and called him Herod that done he returned to Rome Whiles Antipater was King died the Emperour Octavian Augustus the 56. year of his raign and Tiberius Caesar succeeded him This Antipas also wrought wickedness and sundry abominations more than any that was before him for he took his brother Philips Wife from him which had already children by Philip for this shameful deed Rabbi John Baptist the high Priest rebuked him wherefore Antipas put him to death There was at that time one Jesus a wise man if it be lawful to call him a Man for he was a worker of wonderfull works and a teacher of such men as gladly did hear the truth and had many Disciples both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles This man was Christ. who after he was accused of the chief Rulers of our Nation and condemned by Pilate to be crucified was nevertheless much beloved by them who loved him even from the beginning To these he appeared the third day alive according as the Prophets by Divine inspiration had told before aswell of this as also of many other things which should be done by him And even to this day the Christian sect which took their name of him continueth Against this man Antipas before named came Tiberius Emperour of Rome to whom when Antipas repaired he apprehended him laâ—…d him in irons and sent him into Spain where he died Archelaus also that was deposed before died in the time of this Tiberius raign Then Tiberius made Agrippa the son of Aristobulus whom Herod put to death Antipas brother King in his stead The time that Antipas raigned over Israel was 11. years In Agrippas time died Tiberius Caesar and Caius succeeded him This Caius called himself a God and would suffer no man to worship any thing in his Empire but himselfe he continued not long in this dignity but decayed and died After him succeeded Claudius Claudius being dead Nero Caesar was Emperor Agrippa raigned over Israel 23 years In his time Nero sore oppressed Israel by setting cruel presidents over them which left them nothing to live upon and besides that he punished them with divers torments until at length they were constrained to rebel against the Roman Empire and Nero Cesar to rid themselves from under his subjection And above all other one Florus president and Captain of the Roman Army most grievously oppressed the Jews and had done many things very wickedly For not onely he shed innocent blood ravishing at his pleasure wives and deflouring maids in the Cities of Juda but also robbed with great cruelty every man of his goods he polluted the Temple and upon the beams thereof he hung those that he took displeasure at It chanced that Beronice King Agrippa's sister came at that time to Jerusalem out of devotion to vifit the holy place She seeing Florus violently oppress the people and for payment of exactions and tallage to slay many of them even at the entrance of the Temple she came forth weeping unto Florus beseeching him to spare the people for she pitied them very greatly Yet Florus relented nothing but when she was departed from him he flouted and mockt her though she were the Kings sister and that in the Temple of the Lord. There was present at that time a valiant young man Eleasar the son of Anani the high Priest
man at that same time for at the commandment of Eleazar the Priest chief of the seditious he set first foot within the Romans camp Then began the Jewish warriours to be famous after they had once so manfully incountered with the Romans This done Castius and Agrippa sent their Embassadours once again to Jerusalem to Eleazar the son of Anani the Priest chief of the rebells that were in Judea and Jerusalem requiring peace and to come in league with Eleazar lest the people of the Jews should be utterly destroyed by the Romans incursions and invasions on every side But Eleazar refused to hear the Legates and slew one of them because he made too many words in perswading the peace and league Upon this Eleazar assembled the Priests and people together to go out and fight with Castius Castius perceiving how Eleazar and the people were affected and what minds they were of how they had utterly conspired to destroy the Romans that were there and to consume them clean having a sufficient trial also of the force and valiantness of the rebels he determined fully to go to Rome for he perceived he was not able to match with the seditious neither his own power to be compared with theirs Wherefore he would go see what end should come of the wars and what counsel Caesars Majesty would give Taking his journey therefore to the City Japho he found there letters of the Romans for thither was their army come From thence went he with them and his own army to Rome and made report to Caesar of such things as have chanced whereat Nero was much abashed and not only he but all the people of Rome were sore astonied to hear of the great puissance and valiantness of the Jews For which cause the Wars ceased for that year so that the Land of Judea was at great rest and quietnesse that year through Eleazers means the head Râ—…bel especially from the hands of wicked Castius that had sworn to revenge the Romans to extinguish the Jews and that he would destroy all the race of them as none should be left alive Therefore these are they that delivered Israel in the time of the second Temple out of the hands of their enemies what time as wars were moved against the Jews and their Country what time also commotions and tumults began in Israel The first War was made by Antiochus the wicked King of Macedonia who had determined not to leave one man in Israel His mischievousnesse proceeded so far that he slew the people of God the Sages and Wisemen Princes Elders and young men children great and small Israelits Levites also and Priests until all the chief men of Judea cast their heads together and went to Matthathias son of Jochanan the High Priest in the Mount of Modiit where he hid himself for the iniquity of Antiochus and his Rulers crying upon him and saying Deliver at this season the people of the Lord and never think to escape thy self whiles the most wicked enemy rangeth thus and runneth upon thy people and sheddeth thy blood For the blood of all Israel What is it but thy blood and the eyes of every man are fixed on thee hoping that thou should'st assist and aid them in this calamity that they may finde deliverance by thy means Matthathias hearing this wept bitterly and said Fear ye not nor let these Macedonians dismay you the Lord shall fight for you Be ye only quiet So then was Matthathias stirred and delivered Israel out of the hands of Antiochus and after he had overcome him he was high Priest for one year and then died In whose room succeeded Judas his son who executed the office in the Temple six years and was slain in battel Then his brother Jochanan was chief in the Temple eight years and died likewise in battel Afterward his brother Simeon was Ruler eighteen years whom Pâ—…olomy his Wifes father poisoned at a Banquet Then Jochanan his son succeeded his father in the office this is he that was named Hircanus first of that name so called because he vanquished a King of that name He reigned 31. years and died After him reigned Aristobulus one year he was called the great King because he first put the Royall Crown upon his head and turned the dignity of the high Priesthood into a Kingdom unhollowing and staining the holinesse thereof 480. years and 3. moneths after the returning of Israel from Babylon He being dead his brother Alexander reigned 27. years After whose death Alexandra his wife held the kingdom nine years and then died In whose stead succeeded her son Aristobulus and reigned 3. years In his time Pompey a Roman Captain came against Jerusalem wan it and apprehended Aristobulus bound him in irons and carried him captive to Rome in whose place he ordained Hircanus his brother to succeed who reigned forty years During his reign rebelled Antigonus son of Aristobulus Hircanus brother and with the aid of an Army of the Persians incountred with Hircanus took him prisoner and sent him to Babylon cutting off his eares that he should never after be meet either for the Priesthood or for the Kingdom Antigonus reigned three years In his dayes Herod fled and joyned himself with the Romans by whose help he slew Antigonus the third year of his reign and reigned after him 32. years and then died After Herod succeeded Archelaus his son who was taken by the Romans the ninth year of his reign laid in bonds and ended his life at Rome Next to him reigned Antipater his brother who changed his name and called himself Herod he reigned full ten years overcame and wasted Spain because the King of Spain had ravished and taken away his brothers Wife and there died After him followed Agrippa son of Aristobulus that was his brothers son he reigned three and twenty years after whose death his son Agrippa reigned twenty years This is that Agrippa of whom we now speak of and of the calamity that befell in his time upon Israel For all the while he reigned the Wars between the Romans and Israel never ceased until the people of Judea were led captive into the Province of the Romans at that time also the Temple was desolate I mean the desolation of the second Temple which we saw with our eyes builded and destroyed The 20. year of the reign of King Agrippa the 9. day of the 5. moneth that is called Ab viz. July Nero Caesar sent a Present for a burnt-offering to be offered in the Temple at Jerusalem requiring peace of the Elders and Sages of Judea and Jerusalem and that they would receive him into league with them saying My request is that you would offer my present to the Lord your God for his service and religion liketh me very well so that I desire you to joyn in league with me according as you have done with the Emperours of Rome my Predecessors in time past I have heard what Castius the Captain of mine Army hath
avail tears Why do ye not rather go before me and I will follow as I may For what should I do now seeing God hath given me into the hands of a most cruel Tyrant who spareth neither mine age nor your youth But I trust we shall live together in the Light of the Lord And although I cannot be suffered now to see you enough yet when we shall come thither we shall be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sons and prepare us a place O that I might go before you the Lord knoweth I would do it gladly But ye my sons marvel not at this that is chanced unto us for it is no new thing The like hapned before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus by his wickednesse put to death the seven brethren young men in the sight of their mother which was a righteous and godly woman who chanced to find this mercy at the Lords hands that she might â—…sse her sons and embrace them as they also kist one another before they died Although they were put to death by the cruelty of the uncircumcised King of the Macedonians yet obtained they that which is denied at this day to us that are put to death by Schimeon who haâ—…h â—…he name of an â—…sraelite who beareth also the Covenant of our father Abraham in his flesh And would to God that we might live in their â—…nne or place of rest which albeit it will not be granted yet we shall be their neighbours seeing that we also die for the Law of the Lord. Therefore be of good comfort my sons and lament not for my sake For I judge this my misery easier and not so great as the calamity of Zedekiah whose sons were first killed then his eyes put out by the King of Chaldea and he lived many years after we are so much the more happie in my mind because we shall die together Then said Amittai to Schimeons servant which should kill him Make speed I pray thee and kill me first before my children die then after kill them also that we may die together for it is more expedient for us than to see the Temple of the Lord turned into a butchery or slaughter-house to slay men in After cryed he to God saying I beseech thee O Lord God most High which dwellest in the Highest judge this Schimeon according to his works reward him according to his deservings For thou art the God Almighty and dreadfull Let not this Destroyer die therefore among the people of thy pasture but that his death may be severed from the death of other men Let him die a horrible and sudden death Let him have no time to confesse his sins and to return himself to thee that thou mayest receive him for thou wert wont to receive them which turn to thee by repentance for he is not worthy of repentance which hath spoiled and wasted many goodly things in thy Temple besides that hath murdered most holy men in the same To the intent therefore that thy judgements may be declared in him I beseech thee make him to be taken Captive of his enemies together with his wife children and family and all that ever love him Neither give unto his soul any part with the people of God nor let his portion be with the just men in thy Sanctuary for he is unworthy of them because he hath not only sinned himself but hath caused Israel to sin Wherefore let his judgement and sentence go forth from thy sight that he may see his Wife Children and his whole House led into captivity and bondage before his face Afterward let him die a strange death such as never man heard of Let him be killed by most cruel men which when they have smitten him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet alive and that he may see his children go into bondage Let him also be a curse before all that shall see him Moreover Let him perceive that my words and destiny is better than his when as I go unto Thee in that great Light which he shall be deprived of After these words Amittai said to the servant who was appointed to kill him I beseech thee Let me find so much favour at thy hands that when thou hast slain my sons thou wouldst kill me with the same sword while it is yet wet with the blood of my sons that our blood may be mingled and this may be a recreation to my soul. Kill me also in the fight of the Romans that they may avenge me and my sons upon this most cruel Schimeon they shall be witnesses against him that I was not their friend But would God my affaires were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceive me to be an enemy of Schimeons and a friend of theirs Would God I had withstood Schimeon at the first earnestly as I made War upon the Romans that I might have avoided his cruelty from the people of God When he had said all 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 judgements consider and judge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is become unmeasurable upon the people of GOD that he which sheddeth the blood of them that fear thee in the midst of the Temple may be rebuked of thee with rebukings according to his works make speedy vengeance and prolong not and that for the deaths sake of thy Saints for thy judgements are the judgements of truth Then Schimeon gave commandment to four Cut-throats of his that three of them should kill Amittai's three sons before their Fathers face and the fourth should kill Amittai himself and so the blood of the sons was mixt with the blood of their father Afterward Schimeons servant took the body of Amittai and laid it upon the bodies of his sons as his desire was then tumbled them over the Walls After that Schimeon commanded that Chanacus the high Priest should be put to death whose body was cast unto the bodies of Amittai and his Sons Aristus also the Scribe one of the Noble men of Jerusalem was killed at the same time and â—…en just men more of his kindred and house because theâ—… mourned for the death of Aristus It hapned while Schimeon was killing of those ten certain substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfully amazed when they saw the thing saying one to another How long will God suffer the malice of Schimeon and will not search out the blood of just men nor revenge them Certain seditious persons hearing this told it unto Schimeon who commanded them to be apprehended and murthered the same day After this there passed by eleven of the Noble men of Jerusalem which seeing fourty two innocents to be put to death by Schimeon they lift up their eyes to the heavens and said O Lord God of Israel How long wilt
and to enter their Camp whiles it was dark which they did and slew very many of the best of the Grecians about 4000. preparing neverthelesse for the Field against the morrow where also the Israelites did beat down many of the Greeks In that Battel was slain Eleazar son of Mattathias the Kings brother For when he espied one with a golden sword upon the Elephant he thought him to be King Opiter who had 20. Elephants in his Army therefore he took heart to him and beat down the souldiers of the Greeks on both sides were they never so strong till he came to the Elephant And because the Elephant was so high that he could not reach them that sate upon him he thrust his sword into the belly of the beast to overthrow the King whereat the Elephant shrunk together and fell upon Eleazar that he died there for whose sake all Israel mourned and made great lamentation But Opiter hearing this straightway made suite to King Iudas for peace and a League to be made between them which after Iudas had consented unto he returned home into Greece again and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slew him After him succeeded Demetrius his enemy who was the cause of his death There were at that time certain evil disposed persons of the Jews that served the King of the Grecians in his Wars namely one Alkimus who went to the King of the Greeks at that time lying at Antiochia and stirred him to move War upon Israel and King Iudas By whose suggestion Demetrius sent against Iudas a Captain called Nicanor with a strong Army Hâ—… now coming to Jerusalem let Iudas understand thaâ—… he bare him good will and was desirous to make peace and to enter into a League with him Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sons of Chasmoname Nicanor met him in the way imbraced him and kissed him after that led him to his pavillion and set him upon his pavillion and set him upon his seat of Honour King Iudas aâ—…so after he returned from the Camp made unto Nâ—…canor a great feast calling him and his Noble men with him into Jerusalem where they eat and drank at the Kings Table King Iudas was yet unmarried wherefore Nâ—…canor moved him to take a Wife that he might have issue and not loose his succession whose counsel Iudas allowed This done the â—…ewd pick thank Alkimus declared to King Demetrius the League that Nicanor had made with King Iudas whereat Dâ—…metrius being wroth writ unto Nicanor that he had intel igence of his traiterous practises Nicanor was in Jerusalem when this Letter was delivered him When Iudas heard of the contents of the Letter he fled out of Jerusalem into Samaria where he sounded a Trumpet and gathered Israel together Nicanor upon these letters entred the House of the Lord to seek Judas but he found him not Then he examined the Priests who sware they knew not what was become of him After he had now sought him in every corner throughout Jerusalem aud could not find him in a fume he sware he would beat down the Temple and gathering together all his Host He made speed against Judas When he heard of Nicanors coming he issued out of Samaria to met him and after they had joyned battel Judas slew of the Greeks to the number of eighteen thousand Horsemen took Nicanor alive and was intended to kill him But Nicanor besought pardon of him alledging that the King knew well enough that he began not this battel with his good will but left he should transgresse the Commandment of the King his Master Wherefore saith he I humbly beseech your Majesty not to kill me and I will sweare unto you that I will never bear Arms against you nor annoy you any more Upon this the King made a League with him and dismissed him So he returned to the King his Master with shame enough After this Demetrius died and Lysia his son raigned in his stead yet the wicked men ceased not but moved against King Lysia to make a voyage in his own person with a puissant Army against Judas but having the overthrow of King Judas he fled unto Asdotum till he had strongly repaired again his Army Then came he the second time upon Judas in which conflict the Israelites were put to flight King Judas notwithstanding fled neither one way nor other but called to his men and exhorted them to return and stick to him yet they would not obey him So he abod alone with his drawn sword in his hand unto whom none of his enemies durst approach nigh but with chariots and horsemen they environed him and Archers shot at him wounding him sore till he fell down dead upon the ground and they that were about him were taken alive The time that he reigned over Israel was six years Many of the Greeks Captains were slain also in that battel and the King himself so wounded that he was fain to get him into his Country to be cured of his wounds After he had recovered his health he returned again came to Jerusalem and to all the Cities of Israel with the power of the Greeks wherewith he so afflicted them at that time for the space of four moneths after the death of Judas that the like tribulation was never seen in Israel In the mean season the Israelits resorted to Ionathas the son of Mattathias and made him King in Iuda's stead and were sworn unto him This Ionathas fought dâ—…vers great battels against the Greeks having the aid of one Samnus of the kindred of Alexander the first who had made a League with Ionathas and took his part against Grecia wasted and spoiled it sore till at length the King of the Grecians slew Ionathas by a train His reign over Israel was six years Then was Simeon his brother King in his stead against him came Antiochus the second King of the Grecians came to war but Simeon met him and laid first and an ambush to entrap the Greeks and then ordered his battel in array against Antiochus After that he with his whole Host made a face faining as they fled and retired till they perceived Antiochus who pursued them to be within their danger then the ambush brake forth upon the Greeks made a very great slaughter After this Simeon returned to Jerusalem with great joy Then sent Ptolomee King of Egypt an Embassage to Simeon King of Israel offering him his daughter in marriage To this request when King Simeon had consented Ptolomee came to Jerusalem where was made him a great Feast and they were allyed together Whereupon Antiochus King of the Grecians writ to Ptolomee King of Egypt privily to murther Simeon King of Israel Whom Ptolomee durst not but obey for at that time the King of Egypt was in subjection to the Greeks Therefore when Simeon came into Egypt to see his father in law Ptolomee he was received with great feasting but in the same
deceive him and poison him The Inhabi ants of Jerusalem at his request sent unto Aristobulus a present by certain Noble men whereat Aristobulus was right joyful and did eate and banquet with them till he was overcome with drink then they impoisoned him and he died The time that he raigned over Israel was four years and six moneths He was a good man of War hardy in fight and a man of amiable countenance Pompeius receiving tidings of his death the more gladder proceeded toward Rome to besiege it But Julius met him in the way and destroyed him and his Host whereby the Emâ—…ire was established unto Julius He after this sent Presents to the King of Syria and into Egypt by his Captains to allure them to his friendship Antipater advised Hircanus to aid Julâ—…us if perchance he might win his favour which Hircanus did and Antipater was Captain of the Host who played the man and found such favour with Julius that he made him Lieutenant of his wars and afâ—…er he had fought sundry and great Battels he returned to Jerusalem with great honour and by the way prospered much more Hircanus after this made Phaselus Antipaters son Governour of Jerusalem and Herod his third son President of Galilee There was a certain young man at that time in Jerusalem called Hizkias a valiant man of war to whom adhered all such as were in any distresse and he became their Captain These went and ranged about in Syria roving and murdering in such sort that the Syrians were weary of their lives for fear of them Wherefore the King of Syria sent unto Herod Ruler of Galilee desiring him to kill that Hizkias and his complices whereupon Herod prepared himself and went to meet with Hizkias as he returned from the spoil of Syria came upon him unawares and slew him and his men Whereupon when the King of Syria was certified he sent a noble reward unto Herod of Silver Gold and precious Stones by which and by like means he became very famous The Noble men of Juda made their complaint unto Hircanus upon Antipater and his sons for their sore oppressing the Land of Juda desiring that Herod might be summoned from Galilee to appear in judgement and answer with other for the killing of Hizkias The King therefore sent for him and he upon that came to Ierusalem appeared before the Judges princely apparelled with a guilt sword girt about him whose pride an antient man called Samai blamed and reprehended also his stout heart but he would not give ear unto him nor yet regard the Judges When Hircanus perceived that the Judges had almost determined to give judge-ment against the young man and to make him away he took pity on him and said We will not give sentence to day to morrow is a new day and by that means delivered him out of their hands Herod knew not afore that it was a matter of life and death that night therefore he fled to the King of Syria declaring all what had hapned unto him The King of Syria let him have a strong Army and came with him himself purposing to besiege Ierusalem But his Father Antipater and his eldest brother Phaselus came forth unto him and rebuked him saying Is this the reward that thou renderest unto King Hircanus that took pity on thee and would not have thy blood shed Therefore they willed him to depart from Ierusalem unto whom he condescended after he had once let the Inhabitants of Ierusalem know what he could and had shewed them his power Julius Emperour of Rome about that time as he was worshipping in the house of his God was murthered by the conspiration of certain of them which had served Pompeius that was slain as is afore mentioned The name of one of them that killed him was Cassius of the Country of Macedonia who fled thither being afraid to tarry at Rome this Cassius had great dominions in Macedonia Antipater also of whom we spake was a great scourge to the Noblemen of Juda and a great dâ—…al 〈◊〉 man than was Hircanus himself yea Hircanus could do nothing in comparison of him for he had no rule himself but Antipater and his Sons bare all the sway throughout all the Realm Moreover Antipater was in great estimation with all the Kings of that time And forasmuch as he so sore oppressed the Jews they therefore hated him and conspired to kill him There was a man in great authority about Hircanus named Malchias by whose means they wrought this matter He corrupted the Kings Butler with rewards to put poison in Antipaters cup which as soon as he had drunk he died These things his sons Phaselus and Herod dissembled and winked at as though they knew nothing Notwithstanding they privily writ unto Cassius that reigned in Macedonia certifying him of this deed Soon after came Cassius to Tyre from whence he sent Messenges to Hircanus to come unto him who came and with him Malchias Phaselus and Herod Cassius entertaining them all in his â—…odging willed his men that whatsoever Herod bad them they should do it Herod willed them to kill Malchias they slew him therefore sitting hard by Hircanus side Hircanus demanded of the sons of Antipater the cause hereof who answered Is it not manifest that King Cassius servants slew him and we know not why Therefore Hircanus stood in fear of Phaselus and Herod being certain that this was their deed Wherefore he said unto them this Malchias was worthy of such a death for he was a crafty man and an Usurer These things done Octavius Augustus brothers son unto Julius that was murthered came to Rome and the people of Rome made him their Emperour He had a fellow in office named Marcus Antonius his Uncle Octavianus therefore seeing to the Government of Rome sent Marcus Antonius to war upon Cassius and to revenge Julius death Unto him Hircanus sent a Present a Crown of Gold in which were set sundry precious Stones praying him to strengthen his Kingdom in his hands and to be a means of a League to be made between Octavins Augustus King of Kings and him as there was between him and Julius which Antonius granted About that time Antigonus son of Aristobulus writ to Pagurus King of the Persians to aid him against Hircanus to remove him and to restore the Kingdom to himself promising to give him for his travel five hundred pound weight of Gold and an hundred 〈◊〉 Virgins So Pagurus gathered an Host against Israel and Antigonus departed out of Jerusalem with much people of Israel that took â—…is part and joyned themselves to Pagurus These came to Jerusalem besieged it fought many skirmishes and gave many great assaults unto it till at length they undermined the Ciâ—…y then took they Hircanus and slew Phaselus And to the intent Hircanus might be clean removed from the Priesthood Antigonus that had deprived him of the Kingdom cut off besides that one of his ears But Herod escaped and fled to Augustus Emperour of
company which he would not unlesse the King gave him leave wherefore he asked the king leave but he denied him at the first yet at length the young man intreated him so instantly that the king bad him do what he would He went therefore with the other young men to swim The king presently took his horse and returned to Jericho with all his train leaving the young men behind which continued swimming till Sun setting and as it began to be dark they drowned the Priest Aristobulus among them Wherof when tidings came to the king and it was known that he was dead the people wept and made great lamentation considering his Virtue Nobility and Beauty every man was full of sorrow that he should have so short a life and they bewailed so much that it was heard afar off But Marimi chiefly and Alexandra the young mans Mother could no wise be comforted Yea the king also wept made great mone for it repented him that he had done so wicked an act yet all the people knew well enough that the thing was procured by the king insomuch that Alexandra his Mother in law letted not to tell it him to his face that he was the murtherer of her husband and of her father and now last of all of her son to whom the King answered neither good nor bad From that day forwards there was continuall hatred between Alexandra and Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herod and Salumith his Sister that came of base and servile blood For Marimi cast in their teeth to their faces that they were not of the seed of Israel but prophane unholy and of base birth Notwithstanding Herod loved Marimi as his life wherefore he would never displease her as long as she lived nor say so much to her as why saist thou so These things done Marcus Antonius a Noble man of Rome next unto Octavian Augustus King of Kings being sent by Augustus to war upon the Kings of the West Countries reigned in Egypt and by the provocation of his wife rebelled against Octavian Augustus made war with him both by the Sea and Land And forasmuch as Egypt is near adjoyning to the Land of Israel Herod joyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sort that no King durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Whereupon when Marcus conspired against his Prince and master Herod aideth him with an Army with horsemen and with ships also against Octavian In which wars Octavian got the victory slew Antony and all his people coming by ship to the I le of Rhodes and so into the Land of Egypt Herod hearing that Marcus Antonius was slain and that Octavian Augustus was come into Egypt he fainted for fear of the displeasure of Octavian Yet at length he took heart unto him prepared a royall present to be carried before him and followed after himself to Octavian Augustus And setting forwards he called Joseph the husband of Salumith his sister whom he made chief of his houshold commanded him that if Octavian put him to death he should poyson Marimi his wife saying It should not be seemly for Kings that any mean man should marry with a Kings widdow and sleep with her upon the Kings bed So then he took his journey towards Octavian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he understood Octavian to be displeased with him for that he had ayded Marcus Antonius Therefore as soon as Herod came to Octavian Augustus presence having his crown upon his head he took it of and fell down prostrate upon the ground at Octavians feet saying Most Noble Emperour I confess my trespass against your Majesty that I loved Marcus Antonius my companion in league who was my neighbour and ayded me and is true that your Majesty since the time you made me King have heard of mine affairs that hapned unto me but never succoured me This Marcus Antonius did not so I confess therefore that in his wars against your Majesty I ayded him with an Army with Horse-men and ships Neither went I out with him for any wars upon mine own borders but whensoever I went with him I helped him to the uttermost of my power When he was falling I bolstered him up and whâ—…n he stumbled I raised him again Amâ—…gst all these I protest also that I would not be counted of your Majesty a breaker of league but now Marcus Antonius is dead Wherefore whether that it shall please your Majesty to restore me my former estate or no forasmuch as I have kept touch with Marcus Antonius against your Majesty amongst others if you put me to death you will do me no wrong but justice because by the Law of arms I have deserved death When Octavian Augustus heard him speak so he said unto him Arise thou King of Israel in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nigh yea next unto my person I know that Marcus Antonius was inticed by his wife and would not follow thy counsel for if he had I dare say he would never have conspired against me So he commanded the Crown to be set again upon Herods head and made a league with him Then they went both together toward Egypt to be revenged upon Cleopatra But that wicked woman when she saw her City to be overcome put on her most precious apparrel and sitting upon the throne of her Kingdom commanded a Viper to be brought unto her which as soon as she had â—…uffered to sting her brest she died As Octavian Augustus came to the Pallace and saw her sit there he rejoyced that he might be revenged of her and commanded to thrust her from her Throne but when they came to her and found her dead it grieved Octavian very sore In this while Joseph Salumiths husband disclosed unto Marimi that the King had commanded if it so happened to him to be put to death by Augustus that he should poyson her Whereupon Marimi conceived yet a greater hatred toward the King insomuch that when the King was returned in safety and sound and with honor also from Octavian and that all his men and whole houshold rejoyced greatly Marimi shewed no countenance of gladness no not when the King himself told her how greatly he was magnified and honored of Octavian Augustus but alwaies she was very sad Salumith the Kings Sister perceiving that Marimi so vexed the King she told him how Joseph her husband had lien with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus But Herod say what she could gave no credit to her words knowing that she envyed Marimi until at length he asked the cause of Marimi why she rejoyced not as others did when he returned in safety from Augustus but was very sad which shewed her to have rancor and malice in her heart towards him She answered Thou hast said heretofore that thou lovedst me above all thy other wives and concubines yet thou didst will Joseph
the Court he made also walks and galleries of such height that they that walked therein might easily see the waters running in the brook Cedron by the space of a Cubit Between the porch and the house also as though it were a vail or partition the King made a wall of Silver of half an handfull thick In the which was a door of beaten gold and upon the gate a sword of gold of twelve pound weight There were certain Posies graven in the sword as this What stranger soever approached nigh here let him dye for it So the things that Herod made in the Temple were wonderfull neither was there ever heard of in all the world any King that was able to erect such a building When the work was finished the King sent to Saroas his pastures for his Cattel from whence were brought him three hundred young Bullocks and very many sheep according to his Princely estate So then they dedicated and hallowed the house with great joy and gladness There was one certain day in the year when as the King was accustomed to make a great feast to all his Court to all his Nobles and Sages in Israel Against that self same day the King was minded to finish his works which made both him more glad and all his people The same also was commanded to be done in all the Provinces of his Kingdom sending his Letters by his Pursuivants to the Noble men Captains and Presidents of the Provinces that they would observe that day after the same manner every year The people also that were squandred in their enemies countries their head Rulers and Captains came out of every Country far and neer to see the House and the King for they could never believe it till they had seen it and when they had seen it it exceeded far that they had heard of it These things done the Kings two Sons Alexander and Aristobulus which he had by Marimi came home from Rome to Jerusalem in a great heat and fury with a strong company yea their hearts were very heavy also for Alexander the elder had married the King of Capadoci as Daughter and Aristobulus the Daughter of Salumith the King his Fathers Sister These coming to Jerusalem went not to the Court to do their duty to the King their Father neither would they see him whereby the King gathered they went devising some mischief against him Moreover all his men gave him warning to take heed of them and to keep his power or Guard about him He had a Wife of base stock out of the Country before he came to the Kingdom by whom he had a son named Antipater And when he had put Marimi his beloved wife to death he called home his wife which he had disdained before to his Court. Wherefore now seeing the two Sons of Marimi hated him he appointed Antipater his son to be heir apparant and to raise his estimation he gave him all his treasure made him Lord and ruler of all that he had affirming that he should raign after him This Antipater had a subtile wit and his talk was daily to his Father If it like your Majesty wherefore should you give me all these things when as these two Lions shall be ever in my top and ready to destroy me By such surmised means he raised discord and hatred between them and their father albeit the King was loath to hurt his two sons Not long after he took his journey to Rome to Octavian and his son Alexander waited on him hoping that Octavian would be a means for him to turn his fathers hatred from him and put all malice out of his mind When the King was come thither Octavian rejoyced much at his coming saying I have thought long to see thee To whom hast thou left the Land of Juda Herod answered for the homage that I owe unto my Lord the Emperour I am come to appear before him and to declare my chances with this my son his Servant So he told him the whole matter from the beginning to the end Then Octavian Augustus blamed the young man because he hated his Father The young man answered How can I otherwise do How can I forget the most chast womb that bare me which was the holy stock If I forget my mother that was slain guilâ—…less and without crime then let me forget my right hand These and such like words spake the young man not without tears in the presence of Octavian so that his bowels were much moved and the Noble men that were about Octavian could not abstain from weeping but lamented greatly Octavian first reproved Herod for his great transgression and cruelty then laboured he to pacify the young man with comfortable words bidding him to honor his Father and to submit himself unto him When he had done as he was willed for he would not strive against the Emperour's commandment Octavian took the young man by the hand and put it into Herods bosome Then his Father kissed and embraced him so that they both wept after that they took their leave and departed from Octavian who comforted them gave them a gift committing it into Herods hands Herod yet perceived that the hatred of the children of Marimi would not be appeased whereupon when he came home to Jerusalem he called together all the Elders of Israel and said unto them I had determined once to place one of my Sons Captain over the people of the Lord but I might not do it without the consent of Octavian Augustus Now therefore I have appointed my three Sons and have divided my Kingdom equally amongst them Help ye them against their enemies but in no wise shall ye help one of them against another And if ye perceive any breach of friendship between them do what lyeth in you to make it up Whereunto he made them swear presently in Jerusalem and the bond being made each man departed home to his house But for all this the hatred between Antipater and his two brethren was nothing diminished for he feared them because they were of the house of Chasmonany and allied with Kings of great power he suborned therefore false accusers to say unto the King that the young men sons of Marimi were determined to destroy him Likewise he set variance between Salumith and them for she was in greater estimation than he insomuch that the King did nothing without her counsell the same wrought he also between Pheroras the Kings brother and them But to Salumith he said doest thou not consider how the sons of Marimi know that their mother was put to death by thy counsell therefore if they may bring to pass to make the King away they will hew thee to pieces But when the young men heard this they came before the King and swore they never intended to hurt their Father and with weepâ—…ng they so perswaded the King that he believed them and they got his favour again whereat Antipater was not a little displeased
therefore he hired false witnesses to say they saw Alexander the Kings Son upon a cerâ—…ain night with his sword drawn before the Kings Palace minding to murther Antipater He suboâ—…ned also certain of the Kings servants to witness against Alexander that he should give them great rewards to allure them to his pleasure and to abuse them in unnaturaâ—…l venery which they refused Moreover that he desired them to poyson the King which they would not agree also to do Whereupon the King was sore displeased towards him commanding not only him but all that took his part or defended his integrity to be apprehended and put in prison that execution might be done upon them Then Alexander writ â—…nto Archelaus his Father in Law desiring him to come to Jerusalem to his Father Herod This Archelaus was a very wise man and a Noble Counsellor when he was come to Jerusalem Herod was very glad of his coming and demanded what matters brought him thither at that pâ—…esent he answered I have heard that Alexander thy Son and my Son in law hath attempted to rebell against thee It is not possible but my daughter his Wife should be accessary of this thing and yet she hath not shewed it unto thee wherefore â—…utterly detest her as one that hath conspired against thee yet neverthelesse I know well that for the love thou bearest unto me thou wouldest spare her for this cause I am come unto thee that when thou hast put him to death I also may slay my Daughter for it is better that we should make them away than they us Herod hearing this was very glad and gave credit to his friendship when Archelaus perceived that Herod had a good opinion of him he altered his communication saying to the King First let us diligently examine and well try the cause forasmuch as there are many false witnesses and lying persons in the world and let us not shed innocent blood upon any uncertainty For Archelaus had a great suspiâ—…ion that Herod had given too leight credit knowing how ready he was to hear an evil tale which was the cause of the mischief that befell upon the people of his house Wel Herod thought his counsel good One of them that accused the kings children was Pheroras the kings brother and to say the truth he was the chief of all Herod loved Archelaus the king of Cappadocia as himself Archelaus perceiving turned his tale to rebuke the king saying Thou art now waxen old well stricken in years thou sufferest these backbiters to rule thee who stir thee to work all these mischiefs in thy house yea Pheroras thy brother hath falsely provoked thee against thy sons When Pheroras heard these words he was sore afraid for indeed he had seduced the king Therfore came Pheroras to Archelaus and besought him to save his life Archelaus answered him If thou wilt obtain pardon for thy wickedness come and fall before his feet and confess that thou hast spoken falsely against his sons then will I promise thee that he shall be merciful unâ—…o thee and to his sons Pheroras did so confessed that he had falsely accused the kings Sons Then Archelaus besought the king for pardon and he granted it after that he entreated him that the young men might be delivered out of prison which the king aâ—…so commanded to be done The young men therefore came before the king and fell down at his feet and the king was loving to them and embraced them kindly He made great joy also that Archelaus came in so good an hour unto him to whom he gave for a gift seven hundred pound weight of Gold with many precious Stones and Concubines and dismissed him But Antipater again suborned false accusers and writ counterfeit letters in the name of the kings sons to one of the Captains declaring how they would conspire and kill the king and by such means he encreased the enmities between them and their father many wayes that the king commanded them to be put in prison and most strong irons to be laid upon them Besides this Antipater had surprized and won the hearts of the kings chief Rulers and servaâ—…ts that they procured his Barber to bear false witnesse against Alexander how he hired him to kill the king at such time as he should shave his beard When the king heard his Barber speak he was much troubled in his mind insomuch that he said I am weary of my life to hear these pick-thanks that open my eares to fill my head with tales I can do no way better than to give charge that whosoever brings me any such accusations hereafter of any body he shall suffer death for it wherefore he commanded the Barber to be slain and his two sons to be brought forth and hanged upon Gallowses shedding their innocent blood Then rejoyced Antipater supposing himself to be as sure of the kingdom as though it were in his hands when he was not aware that although he were never so high aloft yet was there one higher than he who considered his doings Alexander had two sons Thigarus and Aristobulus And Aristobulus had three sons Herod Agrippa and Alexander When the King returned to Jerusalem for he was in Samaria by the Lake side when his sons were put to death he commanded that his nephews should be brought to the Court and taking pity on them imbraced and kissed them weeping very sore both he and all his servants for it greatly repented him for the hainous deed that he had done But when the time of mourning was past he called the chief of Israel together and said unto them I am now grown in age and waxen gray-headed uncertain how shortly I shall die I see here before me these little fatherlesse children which I never can behold without great anguish of mind for when I look upon them I call to remembrance what great dammage I have done unto their father in my furious outragiousnesse Now therefore I would commit them to the tuition and custody of some man that might be a Patron and as a Father unto them to succour them continually to his power All the people answered that he had well spoken He spake therefore unto his brother Pheroras Thou shalt be their Patron and Defender and shalt give thy Daughter to Thigarus Alexanders Son He also commanded his Son Antipater to give his Daughter to Herod Son of Aristobulus And the Marriages were knit and composition made in the Kings presence When Antipater marked the love that the King bare towards the Nephews he began to be in great care for Thigarus Alexanders Son had a Grand-father by the Mothers side a King of great power namely Archelaus King of Capadocia He falls down therefore at the Kings feet to dissolve and break the friendship that he bare towards his Nephews and to leave speaking in their cause as he had done but he prevailed not Therefore he left his father and went to Pheroras the kings brother made a confederacy with
him and desired him to frustrat the bond that was between himself and Herod and also between him and Thigarus the Son of Alexander that was hanged So Pheroras came to the king turned his mind and dissolved the covenant of Marriage This done Pheroras and Antipater that sate upon the kings Throne were become great friends banquetting one another day and night and discoursing of their affairs When this came to the kings eare he was sore afraid of their combinings and commanded that his Brother Pheroras should for evermore be banished the Court Antipater his Sonne was sent to Octavian Augustus to establish the kingdom unto him and to enter in League with him For Herod was so old that he could not go Antipater journeying toward Rome passed thorough Egypt desirous to see it before the death of his Uncle Pheroras And as he travelled by the high-wayes of Egypt there came a certain Merchant with a viall in his hand close covered which cryed saying Who will buy a thing of great price before he see it Antipater marvelled at his words and ask't him what was in the viall But the Seller told him not what it was before he had bought it and paid dear for it Then whispered he in his ear telling him that it was a strong poison that would kill one out of hand This vial Antipater sent to Pheroras to be kept until he returned from Rome In the mean season Pheroras died and his Wife hid the viall After when Antipater came home again from Rome Pheroras Wife and he fell at striffe insomuch that she objected unto him that he was the cause Pheroras was banished the Kings presence the sorrow whereof was his death On the other side Antipater went about to accuse her sowing discord between her and the King to stir him against her He suborned also a certain Eunuch or gelded person to go to the King and enform him how that at what time as he took displeasure with Pheroras his brother and banished him his presence Pheroras procured a strong poison and gave it to his Wife commanding her to destroy the King therewith The king hearing this was wroth with the Eunuch and said I searched for that venome long ago when it was noised that thy houshold servants would give it me to drink but I could not find the thing to be true yea I have been too rash in such matters for I put my Wife Marimi to death without cause and Alexandra my Mother in law with my two children When Antipater heard that the king credited not the Eunuch he made suite to the king to send him to Octavian the second time for he was afraid of the Viall that was in Pheroras Wifes house He had writ also with his hand how that he sent it intending therewith to poison the kings Sons Children But he that prepareth a pit for another oftimes falleth into it himself So desiring the king to send him he let him go After this the king commanded to make search if the Eunuchs words were true or no he sent first for Pheroras houshold servants and examined them whether ever they could perceive that Pheroras was in mind to hurt him They all sware No. Then the king commanded to scourge them very sore but they confessed nothing although some died under their hands in the examination Some he ordered with many kind of torments of some he caused to pluck out their teeth and as he had scourged a cerâ—…ain woman servant which had been very trusty to Pheroras at the length when she could no longer stand for strokes she cryed out and said The holy and blessed God revenge us of Rostios the kings Wife Antipaters Mother which is the cause of this The king hearing these words bad let her alone she will disclose all Then spake she Antipater made Feasts every foot for thâ—… brother Pheroras and himself and as they eat and drank they devised how to poison thee especially when as Antipater was going to Octavian for they said except we destroy him he will destroy us as he hath done all the children of his house Moreover he loâ—…eth the children of his sons that were put to death wâ—…ich grow a pace and it is possible he may change his mind and make one of them king Antipater also said to thy Brother The king makes as though he were much my friend but I trust him not he gave me saith he a hundred pound weight in Gold but all that satisfieth not me Wâ—…en the king heard this he told how he had given Antipater this Gold secretly And the woman said moreover There is a viall of strong poyson in Pheroras house that thy Son sent out of Egypt straightway the king sent to Pheroras Wife that she should bring him the viall of poison her own self when she saw the kings Eunuches comâ—… to fetch her whether she would or no she go 〈◊〉 up to the top of her house and cast her self down headlong to kill her self because she would not see the king nor abide his torments but the died not thereof whereupon the kings Messengers brought her in a Horse litter and set her before the King Then she confessed to him how Antipater his Son had conspired with Pheroras to kill him with a poyson that he had bought in Egypt and sent it to Pheroras when he went to Octavian and how Pheroras being at the point of death repented him thereof charging that we should never give that venome to Antipater but poure it upon the ground that the king might not be poysoned therewith And I did as he bad me cast it out all save a liâ—…tle that I kept in the glasse-bottom for I ever feared that which is now come to paâ—…se Then at the Kings commandment the Vial was brought forth before him and there was a little of the venome left wheresore they gave better credit to her words so that the King was content with her and bad his Physitian heal her and she recovered This done the King writ to Antipater to come home with speed because I am old saith he and weak uncertain how shortly I shall die CHAP. IIII. THe King had also two other sons at Rome Archelaus and Pâ—…lemus So when Antipater writ to answer his father's letters he signified unto him that his two sons had defamed the King and slandered him unto Octavian But the King answered him Come and bring them with thee and I will order them as thou thinkest good Notwithstanding Antipater lingred for the space of six moneths to see if he might learn somewhat of his father's doings but he could hear nothing The messengers his father had sent lay upon him every day and urged him to make haste Therefore at the seven moneths end he took his journey towards Judea and came to Caesarea There heard he â—…is father had taken displeasure with his Mother and banished her the Court but he could not learn what should be the cause therefore he was strucken with
such fear that he would have gone back again But they that waited upon him being desirous to go home to their houses and families dealt crastily with him and perswaded him that if he should now turn back out of his way he should justifie his enemies words to be true but if thou come once to thy fathers presence say they who loveth thee so entirely thou shalt prevail against thy foes and get the upper hand of them that trouble thee So he followed their counsel and came to Jerusalem When he entred into the City no man came forth to meet him nor once to bid him welcome home For all the people hated him for his lyes slanders perverse and wicked counsel but chiefly for fear of the King Yet went he forward to the Court although with a fearful heart When he came to the King's presence he fell down and did his duty but the king turned away his face and could not abide to look upon him He went home therefore unto his house with a heavy heart hanging down his head and hiding his face There his mother told him how their counsel concerning the vial of poyson was bewrayed and how the king was wonderfully incensed toward him that increased his fear more and more The next day by the kings command he was brought forth and before all the chief of Israel assembled together the king sat to judge Antipater's cause There the king rehearsed unto them his sons lewdnesse and lyes how he had seduced him and incited him to kill his children that were of the kings blood far better and more virtuous than he insomuch that with a loud voice the king burst out and bewailed his Wife Marimi whom he put to death without a cause and his two sons that they that were far off might hear him Then Antipater lift up his head and began to speak craftily and subtilly First he forgot not to give genâ—…le words to pacifie his father's wrath but that he could not do after he fell to entreaty in such sort that all the Nobles were moved to pity and bewailed his evil Fortune not without tears save only Niraleus the kings Secretary who loved the kings children that were put to death He rebuked them all that were sorry for the calamity of Antipater crying with all his might Where are ye Alexander and Aristobulus that were slain guiltless Lift up your heads and behold this wicked man fall into the pit that he himself made see how his foot is catched in the net that he laid himself for others Mark you noâ—… how your Maker revengeth your deatâ—… and requireth your blood at his hand in the time of his destruction For the wicked man is spared until the tâ—…me â—…f his dâ—…ath So the King himself very much incensed sent to fetch a condemned person ouâ—… of prison who being brought before them and 〈◊〉 a liâ—… of the poyson in the Vâ—…al fell down 〈◊〉 therewiâ—…h Then the King commanded Antipater to be carried to prison and to be laid in strong irons The fortieth year of hiâ—… reâ—…n which was the seventy year of his age King Herod fell sick and no remedy no Physick could be found to help him neither his servants nor Physitians could procure him any rest so grievously came his disease upon him with shortnesse of his breath and through the anguish of the manifold evils that had hapned upon him by his own folk Whereupon he cryed out saying Wo may he be that hath none left to succeed him in his Kingdom nor none to go before his Coffin and mourn for him at his death Then called he to his remembrance his wife Marimi and his two sons rehearsing them by name howling and weeping still continually Upon a certain day when his sickness came sore upon him he called to his servants to fetch him some pleasant Apple to see if it might comfort his heart when they had brought it he asked for a knife to cut it and one was brought him Then he gathered his strength unto him and reared himself up upon his left arm and perceiving his life to be full of sorrow and lamentation he took the knif with his right hand and fetched his sway to thrust it into his belly but his servants stept to him and caught his arm holding his hands and would not suffer him to do it then wept he sore and all his servants that their voice was heard out of the Court and shortly all the City was in an uprore saying The King is dead the King is dead Antipater being in the prison heard the noise and asked What business is this they answered him The King is dead Then he rejoyced wonderfully saying unto the Jaylors Strike off my irons and let me out that I may go to the Palace and I will remember thee with a good turn the Keeper answered I fear lest the King be yet alive I will go therefore and know the truth and come again by and by Antipater seeing he could not get loose wept for anger at the keeper So the keeper came to the Court which being told to the King he commanded him to be brought before him then the King asked him What did Antipater I pray thee when he heard this mourning and that I was dead The keeper answered He was very glad thereof and when I would not smite off his irons and let him out he wept for anger The King cryed unto his Lords See how he hateth me being yet in prison if he were here he would do what he could to kil me he would not do as my servants did make haste to wrest the knife out of my hand As true as God liveth he shall never have that which he gapeth for so the King commanded he should be put to death and there was not one that would intreat for him or desire the King to the contrary but every man was glad of his destruction The King commanded the keeper to bring him forth to the Market-place which done his head was cut off and so he missed of his purpose Moreover the King commanded his body to be taken and carried to the City of Ankalia there to be buried but not in the City That done and the people being returned from the burial the King sent to call all the Nobles of Israel together and enforcing his strength he sat up in his bed commanded to call his son Archelaus on whom he laid his hands and made him King over Israel then shouted every man God save the King The King lived five dayes after the execution of Antipater then he fainted and died He raigned over Israel 40. years he was a worthy Warriour a wise and prudent man a goodly man of person having God on his side He ever loved the Sages Hillel and Samai with their companions he enriched the second House more than all other Kings and was more liberal than all the Kings that were before him His gifts and rewards were rich for he counted
live and would not be separated from his brethren neither in life nor death as well he as Jonathan his son these were dearly beloved and most amiable men as the Scripture termeth them Why doest thou not remember our dear Prince the righteousnesse of David the anointed of the Lord who seeing a most grievous pestilence to rage upon the people of Israel said Let thy hand O Lord I beseech thee be turn'd upon me and my fathers house For I am he that have sinned I have transgressed as for these thy sheep What have they done What have they offended Where is the holy Law smothered and stifled in thy heart Art not thou an anointed Priest that hast declared and taught us the Holy Law whereby we might learn how to love our Lord GOD with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength If it be so that the service of God consists not in this that we should love him whom he loveth and die for his Covenant and Sanctuary together with his servants that be slain for the unity of the name of the Lord wherein standeth it then Hast not thou oft-times taught and proved unto us how that every man that dieth in the wars for the Lord his Sanctuary his people and his Law he is to be counted in the Lords lot and made worthy to go unto the great Light and shall not see everlasting darknesse Art not thou that Joseph the Priest that hast cryed so often in battel I am Joseph the Priest consecrated to battel that have vowed my life for the people of the Lord his Sanctuary and his Land But now when thou hast yielded thy self unto them and they order thee despitefully What wilt thou say unto them or what amends canst thou have at their hands I put the case they cast in thy teeth and say thy words be lyes How shalt thou avoid the reproach Art thou not he that said'st that we should fight for the people of God until we die in the conflict and in so doing death should be ransome for our sins and that we were sure to go to that great Light that is the light of life Which if it be true according as thou hast said Why then wilt thou shun death and not follow thy people that are gone before thee to that same light Ever hitherto thou hast had the upper hand wheresoever thou cam'st insomuch that they that heard of thee trembled for fear and now wilt thou yield thy life to captivity to the Romans as a vile slave Shall not this thy dishonour redound also to the people of God Thou art a Prince a King and a Priest Wilt thou be bound in chains Every man shall say This is he that gave his souldiers and the rest of the people to die but saved himself and his own life So when they had made an end of talk each man drew out his sword and came to him in the midst of the Cave saying Hearest thou Joseph our Prince if thou wilt be ruled by us first we shall slay thee as a Lord and a great Prince and thou shalt chuse what death thou wilt die that thou mayest die honourably But if thou refuse to die honestly assure thy self of this we will every man set upon thee and kill thee Joseph answered Indeed I know my brethren that your words are just and true For who is so mad to desire to live in this hurly burly and would God that he would call my soul unto him and receive it unto him also For I am not ignorant that it were more expedient for me to die then to live for the great troubles that have passed through my heart but he knoweth the secrets of mens hearts and it is he that giveth life unto men It is our GOD that closeth souls within the bodies and letteth them out again because he is the living God in whose hands remain the souls and spirits of all living creatures He hath left with us the spirit of life and closed it up within our bodies What is he that will open that he hath shut How shall we loose that he would have knit fast within us Do ye not all know how the life is a thing that he hath left us to keep and that we are his servants If then we cast away life before that God take it Shall he not worthily be displeased with us so that we shall not find life in the place of the living with Abraham our father of famous memory and with those just and godly men our forefathers Do ye not know that they went not unto God before they were called and when they were called they came and so dealt God with all the holy and godly men To Moses our Master of worthy memory the elect of God ye know that the Lord God of Israel said Get thee upon this mountain Abiram and so he did but he would not have done it of himself had not God called him whereby ye may see it is not lawful for a man to surrender his life unto the Living GOD except he require it again Take example I pray you of Job what time he curst the day that he was born in Might he not either have hanged himself or have run upon a knife or at the least have followed his wife's counsel to curse God and die Notwithstanding he abode patiently in most extream pain waiting till God demanded again his life and then restored it unto his Lord God and would not restore it undemanded but tarried till his appointed time came King David also of famous memory said Lead thou my life out of this pinfold and prison For he knew that the life was inclosed in the body and that none might let it forth but God I wot well that death is a great commodity so that the soul may return in his due time unto God that gave it us I know it also That he that dieth in the Wars of the Lord he shall come to the great Light But I know not what can appease Gods wrath towards the soul of that man that killeth himself and maketh haste to restore his soul before his time and without the Lords calling Wherefore my friends and my brethren I would ye should know it I am no more coward than you and I do not disagree with you because I am of a faint heart for fear of these present calamities but this I know I should commit a hainous offence against the Lord if I should kill my self And how say ye you Princes that stick unto your God to you I speak Tell me who shall make intercession unto God for us if we should commit this sin and each kill one another Would not a man judge him a slave a fool a froward person a rebel and a desperate man that should be forced with any misery to be so mad that because all things fall not out as he would wish would therefore hang or desperately murder himself with his
Jehochanan took Eleazars part and defended him For Eleazar was alwayes Jehochanan's friend and aided him His father was high Priest and bare a great rule in Jerusalem wherefore Eleazar was of a great estimation and authority with the Elders so that they durst not apprehend him and his father also looked negligently unto him and let him do what he list because he had no more sons but him So he was the first that assembled naughty persons together and held ever on Jehochanans side from his first coming to Jerusalem And for his sake fell division and dissention between Jehochanan and Schimeon so that they became enemies and warred the one upon the other ever after as we shall declare hereafter CHAP. I. IN this while Vespasian had sent Antony and Mankiminus two Noble men and of his Council to Rome against Vitellius that they might make him out of the way and then would he come to Rome to receive the Imperial Crown there These two Captains went therefore and raised an Army by whose aid they set upon Vitellius and â—…w him not without much ado for there were slain that day at Rome 80. thousand good men of war When Vespasian had word that he was dispatched he made speed to Rome to his Coronation dividing first his Army into two parts whereof he took the one with him to Rome as a safegard for himself whatsoever should happen and the other he left with Titus his son to besiege Jerusalem withall So departing he left his son Titus at Alexandria commanding him to remain there till such time as he should signifie unto him otherwise by his Letters and shew him what he should do and that in no wise he should attempt the siege of Jerusalem in the mean space Titus answered I shall do dear Father according unto your commandment for to you it belongeth to command and unto me to obey Vespasian took with him King Agrippa and Munabas his son he fearing lest they would rebell and me Joseph Priest and prisoner also fast bound in chains for so had his Council moved him saying We cannot say the contrary but that we have found no sign of rebellion in Joseph hitherto neither think we that he hath gone about any but Who can tell when we are gone hence whether he will not flee to Jerusalem and help â—…o set them at unity and concord then they make him their King and after he be the sorer enemy unto us Besides this you shall have need of him in this journey he being a man of such great prudence and wisdom that whosoever followeth his coâ—…sel shall bring his matters to good and fortunate successe Vespasian liked well their advice and took him prisoner with him together with King Agrippa and his son albeit they had no irons upon them neither on hand or foot but only had their Keepers appointed them that they should not step aside And as Vespasian drew nigh Rome all the Citizens came forth to meet him and received him with great joy and mighty Shews Then he commanded that I should be put in prison but Agrippa and his son he let go at liberty The next day assembled all the Senate of Rome to create Vespasian Emperour after the manner of the Romans with whom was Agrippa and his son I also intreated the Jaylor to let me have Keepers with me and so to bring me to the place where he should be Crowned Caesar which the Jaylor granted me and went with me himself to the place and brought me where I might see all that was done Within few dayes after Vespasian took displeasure with Agrippa upon the information of certain evil disposed persons that had slandered him and perswaded Vespasian that he went about to rebell and how he had sent letters unto Jerusalem concerning the same matter wherefore Vespasian put both him and his son Munabas to death This befel three years and a half before the destruction of Jerusalem Moreover before this deed the continual Sacrifice ceased for a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes as it is written in Dan. Chap. 22. And from the time that the continual Sacrifice shall be taken away and abomination shall be put into desolation a thousand two hundred and ninety dayes The same year and moneth that Agrippa was put to death God moved the minde of Vespasian to remember me with his mercy wherefore he commanded that I should be fetched out of prison and brought to his presence And as I stood in irons before him Caesar bad me welcome and spake comfortably unto me saying Thou knowest very well that I have loved thee from the day I first saw thee and though I have kept thee continually in durance do not think I did it of any ill will or malice toward thee but rather thou mayest perswade thy self I did it lest the Roman Princes should disdain at thee and say See here is a fellow that in our wars hath endamaged us so greatly yet now goeth he check-mate with us in as great favour as we Let us kill him and put him out of the way But my friend Joseph be of good chear I will deliver thee from these iron-bands and thou shalt be with me in no worse case than one of my chief Princes I will send thee into Jewry to my son Titus to whom thou shalt be as a father and a counsellour Thou knowest Titus was he that took pity on thee and would not suffer thee to be put to death Yea he hath sundry times moved me to release thee of thy bonds and to honour thee which I have deferred to do only for this cause that I shewed thee I made him answer But how can I be quiet or in surety of my life as long as I am in thy company and thy sons seeing Agrippa and his son were suddenly put to death by you Caesar answered Hold thy peace Joseph I never looked for any goodnesse of Agrippa and his son Thou knowest not what they had wrought against my Majesty and how they went about to rebel thou hast born their bones with thy hands Doest thou not know I honoured him and his son in Jewry how I would not suffer any of my Army to annoy any of his Cities I answered Yes I know it was so as your Majesty saith Then said he But for all this hath Agrippa requited me again with evil For what time as the Nobles of Rome in Jewry went about to make me Empeperour thinking me somewhat more meet to rule the Empire than Vitellius Agrippa perswaded them that they should not make me Emperour affirming that there was nothing in me worthy wherefore they should promote me to that dignity And after when he came to Rome he went from one Bishop to another and caused them to go to the Bishops to accuse me of such crimes as in my conscience I knew nothing at all of By this I perceived that Agrippa's heart was full of rancour and rebellion and therefore I judged him
Romans and are under their subjection at this day What should I speak of the people of the Philistines which heretofore alwayes have vexed and annoyed you Doth not the meanest amongst all the Princes of the Romans bear rule over them What hope then have you to escape when ye know the Philistines were ever stronger than you and you were oftentimes overcome of them As for example Saul your King was slain by them But you will say David the annointed of the Lord of Israel pulled them down and brought them into subjection Wote ye what then God looked upon you with a favourable countenance and fought your battels Himself but at this day He is in no wise present with you for he hath turned away his countenance of salvation from you Because ye have sinned against him And which of you can say he hath intelligence of the secret of the Lord or hath received any such watch-word as God gave at that time unto David When thou shalt hear a sound of mourning in the tops of Mulbery-trees then shalt thou set forward for then shall the Lord go before thy face smite the Tents and Camps of the Philistines 2 Sam. 5. Whosoever I say hath knowledge of any such token let him reveal it to his neighbour and I could well consent to follow it But seeing there is no such thing hearken unto me my dear brethren Come and serve the Romans in peace and tranquillity It shall be no dishonesty for you with the Kings of Persia to be subject to the Romans they that sometime were your Masters shall be now your fellows and companions But if you will persevere and stand in your opinion still I will enter into this discourse with you Tell me I pray you when were ever your ancestours free and when were they not entangled with the wars of the Gentiles and the Dominion of other Nations Had you not ever the victory from the time you came out of Egypt until the reign of Saul the son of Cis So long as the Lord was your King you were in bondage to no man you served God as your only King But after that your evil and corrupt desire stirred you to be irksome to the Lord and lest he should reign alone to chuse a man to have the Dominion over you according as the custom was in other Nations I mean Saul the son of Cis and the other Kings every one then served you him you and your sons and the chiefest of you became his servants your goodliest daughters were made his Confectionaries his Cooks and his Bakers After Saul reigned David of worthy memory who ruled over many Nations But he also brought you into bondage and put divers of you to death to satisfie his pleasure withal He being dead you served Solomon his son who no lesse than the other even as he listed exercised Dominion over you he also took up your sons and daughters and made them his slaves After this succeeded other most wicked Kings so that from that time your Country began to go to wrack and he that was the best amongst them was Rehoboam which said unto you My father corrected you with whips but I will scourge you with Scorpions And so did the rest of the Kings which reigned after him very few of them pleased God All the other wrought abomination not one of them did any good or reigned in the fear of the Lord. And in this manner remained the Empire long time with you until the Kings of Chaldea came and led you Captive into Babylon where you were kept until Cyrus time King of Persia who sent you again into your own Country with a wonderful deal of gold and silver with great honour which was counted unto him for righteousnesse After Cyrus death there rose against you the most wicked Kings of Greece who warring upon you gave you great overthrows until God stirred up the spirits of certain Sage Priests of the stock of Chasmonani that revenged your injuries At that time you were Brethren and Friends with the Romans and friendship grew betwixt you many years After that you fell from the stock of Chasmonani which had delivered you and chose one whose name was Herod who oppressed you grievously After him succeeded Archelaus his son he yet laid a sorer yoke upon you wherefore falling upon him ye protested never hereafter to serve the Kings of Juda. So going to the Romans willingly ye submitted your selves under their subjection to serve Augustus the Emperour who ordered you gently Him you served as other Nations did and it was to your praise because ye were under a good Governour Therefore now my Brethren and Children of my people What mean you at this present that you have determined to die and do not rather spare your selves and your children Consider I beseech you the things that grow upon the earth and all living creatures beasts worms that creep upon the ground fowls of the air and fishes of the sea Do you not see that ever the stronger hath the Dominion over the weaker neither is it any rebuke or shame for the weaker to give place and obey that which is stronger For the Oxe and the Goat are in awe of the Lyon the Ram and the Ewe of the Woolfe the Cow and the Lamb fear the Bear the Goat the Liberd the Hawk is afraid of the Eagle the Dove of the Hawk Weigh the manner of beasts and birds amongst their own kind you shall see ever the bigger and stronger to be master over the lesse and weaker And so in all other things the stronger set themselves before the weaker alwayes Wherefore ye mortal men learn by me Did not one God make all things and He himself hath Dominion over them all Notwithstanding all things are so knit together amongst themselves that no one thing can stand without another But he that holds up all things is the Blessed God who if he list can bring them all into dust again His Name be extolled for ever Take example I pray you from the parts of the whole World you shall see one part to be in subjection another to bear rule Be not then too stiffe-necked to pervert the natural courses of the World but rather let your election follow the causes and events of the same which if you do you shall be esteemed wise men Now my dear Countrymen never think it shame for you to serve the Romans it is time for you now to turn to the Lord with your whole heart and then you shall have the dominion over other Nations according to your desire this shall then come to passe when you follow your Lord God with all your strength Therefore never think that the Romans which have rule over you at this day are of lesse power than other people that heretofore have had dominion over you For they are a mighty Nation their Empire and rule over other people they have from above as I have proved to you by the similitudes
Priest Mâ—…reover Titus was minded to have put Rabby Gamaliel father of Râ—…hbag to death but Rabby Jochâ—… son of 〈◊〉 made suice for him and obtained pardon for his life This Râ—…bby Jochanan was he that came forth of Jerusalem in the beginning when Vâ—…spasian father of Titus came first against Jerusalem whom Vespasian honoured greatly insomuch that when he returned to Rome he commended this Râ—…bby Jochanan to his son Titus commanding him to honour him for he perceived he was a wise man Titus râ—…igned two years after he had taken Jerusalem anâ—… died He was a very eloquent 〈◊〉 expert in the Laâ—…ne and Greek Tongue and writ divers Works in both Tongues He loved most intirely justice and equity for he wasted the City of Jerusalem against his will and being compelled thereunto â—…ea all the mischief that came upon it hapned through the malice and naugâ—…ness of the Seditious as we have touched before THE Ten Captivities OF THE JEWES THe Israelites were Ten times led into Captivity Four times by the hands of Sanherib and Four times by Nabuchadnezzar Once by Vespasian and Once by superstitious Adrian First invaded them Sanherib and transporthe Rubenites the Gadites and the half tribe of Manosseh He took away also the golden Calf which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had made He led them into Helah Habor to the River of Gozan and to the â—…ities of the Medes This Captivity was in the time of Pekah the son of Remaliah The second Captivity Hosea the son of Ela remained and slue Pekah the son of Remalâ—…h After he became the servant and subject of Sanherib seven years Then came Sanherib the second time and carried away the tribes of Asar Isachar Zebulon and Nephtali of whom he let go free only one of every eight He took away also another â—…alf that was in Bethel After the death of Ahaz raigned Zedekia his son in his stead four years The fourth year of whose raign Sanherib came and intrenched about Samarâ—…a besieging it three years and at length took it in the sixt year of the raign of Hizkiahu So led he away the Israelites that were in Samaria the tribe of Ephraim and Mannasse This is the third Captivity When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned eight years he made wars against Jerusalem bringing with him the Chutean Hereticks out of Babylon Ethiopia Hemates Avim and Sepharvavim and as he warred upon Judea he took in that Country a hundred and fifty Cities in the which there were two tribes Juda and Simeon whom he took with him and caused them forthwith to be led into Halah and Habar untill the King of the Ethiopians rebelled against him whose kingdom was on the hinder parts of Egypt Then taking Juda and Simeon with him he made war with the King of Ethiopia So the holy and blessed God placed them in the dark mountains Here was four Captivities whereby ten tribes went into exile by Sanherib There remained yet of Juda one hundred and ten thousand and of Benjamin one hundred and thirty thousand in the City of Jerusalem over whom raigned Hizkiahu Moreover Sanherib came out of Ethiopia against Jerusalem again leading with him one hundred and ten thousand but the holy Lord overthrew him there as it is written And the Angel of the Lord issuing forth smote in the house of Asar 175 thousand men His people therefore was slain and no man left but Sanherib and his two sons and Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuzaraden this slaughter was in the fourteenth year of Hizkâ—… From which overthrow untill the time that Nebuchadnezzar invaded the Jews in the raign of Jehojakim were a hundred and seven years The fourth year of Jehojakim came Nebuchadnezzar the first time and carried away three thousand and twenty and three of the tribes of Juda and Benjamin and of other tribes seven thousand all the able men and all their power binding them with chains This is the fift captivity Seven years after this Captivity came Nebuchadnezzar another time unto Dophna a City of Antioch from whence he led four thousand and six hundred of the tribe of Juda and of Benjamin fifty thousand of the other tribes seven thousand This transmigration made he in Babylon which is the sixt Captivity Furthermore betwixt the sixt bondage and the seventh were nine years of the raign of Zidkiahu When Nebuchadnezzar had raigned nineteen years he came the third time unto Jerusalem and overcoming Zidkiahu he burnt the Temple and took away the Pillars the brazen Sea and the furnitures that Solomon made and all the vessels of the house of the Lord and the â—…reasures of the house of the King which was in Jerusalem all the vessels he sent to Babylon He slew also of the Israelites nine hundred and one thousand besides them that were slain to revenge the blood of Zacharias The Levites stood singing a song whiles â—…laughter was made of them but they were not able to finish it before the enemies entred the Temple and found them standing in their place with harps in their hands Therefore he carried away in this Captivity the Levites which were of the seed of Moses six hundred thousand whom when the Gentiles had brought unto the Rivers of Babylon they demanded of the Jews Sing us a song of Sion And by and by they gnawed off the tops of their fingers with their teeth saying How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange Land And the blessed Lord seeing that they would not sing a song he enlarged them and placed them on the further side of Sambatia Moreover he translated and carried away eight hundred and thirty two thousand which were all of the tribe of Juda and Benjamin whereof he left in Jerusalem six thousand setting over them for their Ruler Gedalia the son of Ahikam who was slain after by Ishmael the son of Natania whereupon the Isrâ—…elites being afraid fled from their Country into Egypt This is the seventh transmigration and 〈◊〉 The 27. year of the raign of Nebuchadnezzar he â—…ook Egypt and Tyre drowned the Jews that were therein and the Nations which descended of Amon and Moab and of the Land bordering upon Israel and led Jeremy and Baruch with them into Egypt This is the eighth Captivity Then the Israelites that remained alive in Egypt departed unto Alexandria and remained in it untill they grew and increased unto many thousands and who so saw not their glory saw no glory in his time For there was in it the Sanctuary the Altar the offerings incenses the ordinance of bread of faces the houses of studies and schools without number men of great substance riches and power But wicked Troganus made war upon them and slew very many of them After came Alexander against them who slew also many of them These are the eight Captivities or bondages which befell in the first House and time of the first Temple After the desolation of the first House seventy years Cyrus the son of Esther sent unto Nehemiah Zerubbabel
them under tribute and so returned with honor to Jerusalem When he had after this well bethought him of his doings it repented him of his evil waies wherefore he altered his mind and began to make much of the Sages submitting him to their ordinance and esteemed their traditions There was at that time a kind of Sect that were called Pharisees of whom such as had escaped the King sent to call them home again and when they came into his presence he spake unto them words of comfort saying My brethren ye shall understand that the thing which is once done must needs be tearmed as it is and cannot be revoked And truth it is you cannot excuse the reproach that ye did me nor I cannot call again the blood that I have shed Notwithstanding I confess my fault unto you and have changed my indignation to love praying you to put out of your heart all rancor and malice lay away all your mourning and sorrowfulness of your minds rejoycing in your reconciliation and atonement with me and be of good cheer But they made him answer we will not lay away our hatred and enmity for thou speakest but deceitfully and we speak that is truth Furthermore thou hast killed our chief men and Elders neither hast thou only done us this injury but as Hircanus thy father began this mischief so thou hast holden on and continued it Wherefore this hatred between thee and us hath taken some root neither can we leave our lamentation till thou dye and God take vengeance on thee for our sakes Then shall we rejoyce when we see vengeance So they departed from his presence neither did the King give them any answer at all But when they saw the King to be incensed against them and by that means the matter might redound to their own harm after consultation had they went to the King of Greece whose name was Demetrius shewed him what Hircanus and Alexander his son had don to the Pharisees and all the Israelites that bare them good will and followed their traditions and how they also hated Alexander for the mischief that he had wrought them so that if any man will come and revenge the malice of Alexander they would be ready to aid him Demetrius followed their advice and assembling together all his people to the number of 400000. horsemen and footmen without number he took his journey and encamped against Sichem The King Alexander raised six thousand horsemen to aid him But the King of the Grecians writ privily to the Antients of the Sectaries that they should not aid Alexander to the souldiers also that Alexander had hired he sent rewards gold and silver that they returned home to their country and aided not Alexander whereupon he was not able to withstand Demetrius Therefore hearing that Demetrius was removed from Sichem toward Jerusalem intending to take him in the City he fled by night with a few of his men to the mountains and lurked there When the men of Israel that were in Judea heard that the King was fled out of Jerusalem and that the City was in fear to come into the hands of the Grecians they gathered themselves together and stood for their lives as though all had been one man to the number of ten thousand and sâ—… upon Demetrius Camp killed all his best men of war and spoiled all his Host that he fled from them and came home into his Country with great dishonor This done the King took heart to him and returned to his Kingdom but the Pharisees fled to Bethshemes fortifying themselves against the King who having intelligence thereof gathered aâ—… Army and went against them won the City and took 800 of the chiefest Pharisees bound them in chains and brought them to Jerusalem Then banqueted he all his servants upon the roof of his Pallace in a high place where his learned Peers did eat and drink till they were drunk And in his merry mood he commanded those eight hundred Pharisees prisoners to be fetcht forth and to be hanged every man of them upon gallowses before him at which sight he drunk and laughed heartily After this he fell sick in the four and twentieth year of his Reign of a grievous disease a Quartain Ague that held him three years and for all this he shrunk not nor letted to go to the war to encounter and fight with his enemies what nation soever they were round about him as though he had been a whole man In the 27. year of his Reign which was the third of his sickness he made an expedition into the Land of Moab against a certain City called Rabaga to get it by force At which time he was very sick and weak wherefore his wife Alexandra the Queen went with him fearing least he should dye by the way And as he encamped himself â—…gainst the City and urged it sore with assaults his fickness increased upon him more and more Wherefore his wife perceiving that he was like to dye wept bitterly for him and said to whom shall I be so bold as to shew my face when thou art once dead seeing thou hast wrought such mischief against the Pharisees whom all the Land favoureth and following their traditions obey their instructions if they shall be disposed to revenge themselves upon me and thy young children they shall have aid of all that dwell in the Land The King answered Weep not nor shew any resemblance of pensiveness I will tell thee what thou shalt do and if thou wilt follow my counsell thou shalt prosper and Raign thou and thy children as thou wouldest desire put case I dye there is no man in the world need know thereof tell thou every man therefore that ask for me that I am sick and will not that any man shall come at me In the mean while anoint and season me with balms fight with courage against this City till thou win it and then return to Jerusalem with joy and beware thou put on no mourning apparrell nor weep but bring me unto Jerusalem and lay me on a bed like a sick man and after call together the chief of the Pharisees bring them where I am and speak unto them gently in this sort Alexander hath been ever your enemy I know it very well wherefore take him if ye list and cast him into the fire or to the dogs or bury him it shall be at your choise I know well they are pitifâ—…ll men and so full of mercy that they will bury me honorably and appoint some one of my sons whom they like best to be King The Queen did therefore as she was instructed of the King And when she had won Rabaga she joyfully returned to Jerusalem after that gathered together the elders of the Pharisees and spake to them as the King had advised her The Pharisees hearing that the King was dead and that his body was in their hands to do withall what they list they answered the Queen God forbid we should do