good seeing himself so much honour'd by us Let this suffice to express the honours bestow'd on Hircanus by the People of Rome and the Citizens of Athens After that Caesar had given order for the affairs of Syria Hedio Ruffinus cap. 18. he returned back by Sea And as soon as Antipater had accompanied Caesar out of Syria Caesar departeth out of Syria he returned into Judea and suddenly built up the Walls of Jerusalem which Pompey had beaten down and in riding a Circuit about the Countrey he pacified the troubles not only by threatnings but by good advice also Antipater pacifieth all occasion of commotion in Judea which he gave every one to live in peace assuring them That if they submitted themselves to Hircanus their Prince they should live happily and enjoy their possessions without any trouble and that if they hoped to advance themselves by any new commotion M supposing by that means to benefit themselves they should feel that instead of a Governor they had a Master and instead of a King they should find Hircanus a Tyrant and instead of the Romans and Caesar to be their Governors they should find them to be their most hateful Enemies for they would not suffer that any thing should be altered that they had established By these and such like admonitions he kept and continued all the Country in peace N O CHAP. XVII The year of the World 3921. before Christ's Nativity 43. A Antipater gaineth great repute by his virtue His eldest son Phasaelus is made Governor of Jerusalem and Herod his second son is made Governor of Galilee Herod causeth to be executed several Robbers Some great mens jealousie against Antipater and his children They made Hircanus accuse Herod for those that he had put to death He compareth in judgment and then retireth He cometh to besiege Jerusalem which he had taken if Antipater and Phasaelus had not hindred him Hircanus reneweth his alliance with the Romans The testimony of the Romans esteem and affection for Hircanus and the Jews Caesar is B murther'd in the Capitol by Cassius and Brutus ANtipater perceiving that Hircanus was slow and idle he declared and appointed Phasaelus his eldest son Alias cap. 20. Governor over Jerusalem and the Countrey thereabout As for Herod who was very young Antipater maketh Phasaelus Governor in Jerusalem and Herod in Galilee for he was not at that time above 15 years old he committed Galilee unto his charge who although young in years yet he was ripe in courage and conduct which he witnessed in apprehending Ezechias who was the chief of those Thieves who ranged over all Syria he put him to death with divers of his Complices Which act of his got him esteem and credit among the Syrians for by that means he freed their Countrey of all those Robbers according as they desir'd He was therefore praised thorow the Villages and Cities for this action Herod executeth Ezekias and his followers for robberies as he that had given them peace C and assured possession of their Estates For this cause he was made known to Sextus Caesar who was Uncle to Caesar the Great Furthermore his brother Phasaelus was encouraged to follow his noble actions and inforced himself to obtain no less reputation than he had Sextus Caesar Governor of Syria for which cause he strove to get the good will of the common People in Jerusalem and govern'd the City with such discretion that he acted all things to every mans content The form of Phasaelus's government and abused not his power to any private mans injury which was the cause that Antipater was honour'd by the whole Nation with no less respect than if he had been their only Lord and Soveraign Antipater notwithstanding his high authority was alwayes faithful to Hircanus Yet did not this eminency of estate so far distract him that he forgot the love and duty he ought to Hircanus as in such like occasions it oftentimes falleth out notwithstanding divers of the greatest amongst the Jews seeing D Antipater and his sons so highly advanced both by the publick favor of the whole Nation as also by the Revenues that they drew both out of Jewry as also by the employment of Hircanus's money were grievously incensed against them Antipater winneth the Romans hearts by Hircanus's money and draweth the Jews into hatred For Antipater had made friendship with the Emperors of Rome and having persuaded Hircanus to send them money he had appropriated the same unto himself sending it not in Hircanus's name but in his own which though Hircanus knew yet he was not moved therewith but rather well contented But that which most of all terrifi'd the Princes of the Jews was to behold the violent and audacious nature of Herod who govern'd after a tyrannical manner The Jews accuse Antipater and Herod before Hircanus For this cause they address'd themselves to Hircanus and accus'd Antipater openly How long said they will you dissemble and wink at those things that are daily practised E See you not that Antipater and his sons possess in effect the Royal Power and Authority of the Kingdom and that you have only the name Assure your self that you are not out of danger in contemning thus both your self and your Kingdom For Antipater and his sons are not now your Substitutes neither intend they your profit or your Countries good whatsoever your opinion is of them they are publickly acknowledg'd Lords and Masters For Herod Antipater 's son hath already put Ezechias and his Confederates to death and thereby transgressed our Laws which forbid to take away any mans life how wicked soever he be except he be first of all condemned to death by the Council Herod called in question appeareth with a great train and notwithstanding this he hath been so bold as to do justice without your authority When Hircanus heard this he grew angry for their mothers whom Herod had slain had incensed him by their continual Exclamations in the Temple F exhorting the King and People to call Herod to account before the Council of that which he had done So that Hircanus moved by these Women called Herod to answer unto those accusations which were objected against him Who made his appearance forewarned by his father not to present himself after the manner of a private person but well attended and accompanied to withstand all inconveniencies Sextus Caesar writeth to Hircanus to discharge Herod After he had taken order for the affairs in Galilee according as he thought fit and that he himself was sufficiently accompanied to make his Voyage with such a Guard as neither might terrifie Hircanus with number nor leave himself unsecured in danger he resorted to Jerusalem Moreover Sextus Caesar Governor of Syria wrote unto Hircanus to absolve him adding G threats to his persuasions if so be he should perform the contrary which gave Hircanus
been declared King at Rome and encamping in the places which were fittest for battery he took up his own quarter before the Temple as Pompey had done formerly Having therefore erected three bulwarks in three places he built Towers thereon by means of a great quantity of Wood which he caused to be cut down round about the place and having pâ—t the siege in a forwardness he went to Samaria to marry Mariamna who was Alexander's daughter and Aristobulus's Grand-daughter with whom he had been contracted as we have already L told you M N O CHAP. XXVIII A Herod assisted by Sosius General of a Roman Army taketh Jerusalem by force buyeth the Plunder from the Soldiers in favor of the City Sosius taketh Antigonus Prisoner and carrieth him away to Antonius AFter this Marriage was solemniz'd Hedio Ruffinus cap. 26. Al. 27. Sosius repaireth thither through the Countrey of Phoenicia and having first of all sent his Army through the Continent he himself also resorted thither with many Foot and Horse thither also repaired the King from Samaria Sosius and Herod lead a mighty Army against Jerusalem with a considerable Army to join with the old Bands for he had about 30000 B Men. All these assembled themselves together near unto the Walls of Jerusalem and planted their siege nigh unto the Wall of the City that extendeth towards the Northward The Army consisted of eleven Legions of Foot with 6000 Horse besides the Auxiliaries that came from Syria Two Generals commanded this Army namely Sosius who was sent by Antonius to succor Herod and Herod himself who made War for himself with an intent that having dispossessed Antigonus whom he had proclaimed Enemy to Rome he himself might be King in his place according to the Senates decree Those Jews that were within the Walls that is to say almost all the Nation resisted the Herodians with great courage boasting much of the Temple of the Lord and wishing all good success to the people namely that God would deliver them from all dangers C and spoiling all provision without the City that was either behoveful for the use of man and beast by their secret excursions they made the besiegers destitute of victuals Herod preventeth the dearth Which inconvenience Herod prevented having laid ambushes to out them off As for victuals he made much provision be brought from remote places so that within a very little space they had abundance of all that which was necessary in the Camp He erected also with no less care three bulwarks by the diligent labour of a great number of Workmen for it was Summer-time and neither was the air incommodious or negligence of the Workmen such but that they presently furnish'd and finish'd them Afterwards having raised their Engines upon them they batter'd the Wall with as much violence and diligence as was possible notwithstanding all this they did no wayes daunt D those that were within who for their parts used all the cunning imaginable to defend themselves and by divers sallies set on fire the Enemies Engines and burnt not only those that were half made but those that were wholly perfected and when necessity drave them to close fighting The Jews without fear resist those that besieged them they shew no less valor than the Romans but they were inferior to them in skill and martial discipline And when as the first Wall was beaten down they built up a new and countermined against those Mines that were made by the Enemy so that they fought under-ground hand to hand Thus using despair rather than courage they resisted to the uttermost notwithstanding they were besieged by a great Army and pressed by famine and want of victuals for the year wherein the siege was continued was the seventh in which the earth was unmanured which by us is called E the year of rest But at last 20 chosen Soldiers first of all mounted upon the Wall and after them one of Sosius's Centurions for the first Wall was taken in the fortieth day after the siege and the second on the fiftieth and some galleries were burnt which were near unto the Temple which as Herod said were burnt by Antigonus to bring him into more hatred among the Jews When the outward part of the Temple and the lower part of the City were taken The outward part of the Temple and the lower City taken the Jews fled into the Temple and into the higher Town lest the Romans should hinder them from offering their daily and ordinary sacrifices unto God and they sent Aâ—â—â—dors to their Enemies to require that it might be lawful for them only to bring in certain beasts to offer them for sacrifices VVhich F Herod their King granted them The Jews flâ—e to the upper City and the Temple Jerusalem taken hoping by this means that they would submit themselves and yield up the places But perceiving that his opinion failed him herein and that they obstinately resisted him to continue the sovereignty in Antigonus he gave the assault and took the City by force where all places were presently filled with murthers in that the Romans were displeased because they had continued the siege so long and the Jews that were on Herods side enforced them utterly to destroy all those that were of the contrary party so that slaughters ranged and reigned everywhere both in porches and in the houses whereinto they entred Neither did the religious reverence of the Temple save those Suppliants that resorted thither for safety but without compassion both old and young were put to death neither did their murthering hand spare or refrain from Women nay not so much as from young Infants And although the King requested G them to forbear yet no man gave over but all sorts of persons were murthered by them without respect either of sex or age Antigonus inconsiderate of that estate wherein he H had been or the fortune and disaster that at that present attended him came down from the Tower and humbled himself on his knees before Sosius's feet who having no compassion of the change of that estate wherein he saw him outragiously mocked him calling him Madam Antigona yet he left him not without guard after the manner of a Woman Antigonus submitteth himself to Sosius but fast bound for his further assurance But Herod was busied in devising how he might moderate his associates and strangers after he had the upper hand over his Enemies for the strangers swarmed into the City and not only into the Temple but also into the Sanctuary He therefore exhorted some and threatned others and restrained the rest by force of arms and he was more troubled at that present in being a Conqueror than if he had been conquered for that those things that were not lawful to be I seen were beheld by prophane men He prevented likewise the spoil of the City as much as in him lay beseeching Sosius most
age and beloved of him whom Alexander much accounted of This fellow many times amidst the multitudes exclaimed that truth and equity were banished out of the world and that in their stead malice and untruth reigned Whereby there was such a mist and a fog caused over the whole world that no man could see his own errors This his free Speech though it was not without danger yet all men hereat were moved for that he had some reason to shew his fortitude in so dangerous a time and every one was willing to hear his Speech and though themselves for fear were silent yet did they not reprehend him for speaking freely For the expectation of the event of so great mischief was able to have wrested from every one of them words of commiseration B Tyro with great audacity also came unto the King and begged of him that he might talk with him alone Tyro speaketh to Herod and not observing modesty he and the Captains were imprisoned which the King granting he used these words with great lamentation I can no longer O my King suppress this my grief which causeth me so boldly to speak though with my own peril yet if it please thee my King that which I intend to speak shall be for thine advantage Where now my Lord are thy wits Where is thy couragious mind ever hitherto able to match all difficult businesses whatever How happeneth it that thou hast so few Friends and Kindred For I account not them Kinsmen or Friends that permit such wickedness and hatred in thy Court which was most happy and fortunate And what art thou unto thy self Wilt thou not look and see what is done Wilt thou put to death C the two young Princes born unto thee by the Queen thy Wife who abound in all vertue and commit thy self now in thy old age unto one only Son who nourisheth impious Hopes and Designs and to thy Kindred who by thy own censure have often deserved death Dost thou not perceive that the people keeping themselves quiet and still do both condemn the errour of thy Friends and also pity and compassionate the two Princes Moreover all thy Soldiers and the Captains themselves have compassion on them and curse the Authors of this unfortunate calamity The King at first took these words of Tyro in good part as being admonished of the perfidious dealing of them about him and his own calamity But Tyro immodestly and Soldier like urging the King and for his own simplicity not able to D discern what fitted that time the King at last thought this rather a turbulent upbraiding him than a friendly adomonition and asking who those Captains and Soldiers were he commanded them all and Tyro also to be bound and kept in prison Then one Tripho the Kings Barber taking hereat occasion told the King that Tyro had often sollicited him Tyro is by his Son and a Barber accused to have practised Treason against the King as he shav'd the King to cut his throat with his razor promising him for recompence great rewards and that he should be one of Alexander's chief Friends Having spoken these words the King commanded him to be apprehended and the Barber and Tyro and his Son to be tortured Tyro his Son seeing his Father in most miserable torments and that he still persisted in them and by the Kings displeasure conjecturing that there was no hope of life told them that tortured E his Father that he would confess all the truth conditionally that his Father and himself might be no more tormented and having his request granted he told them that it was agreed that Tyro with his own hand should have killed the King for he could get opportunity to come unto the King when no man else was with him and so he would kill him and for Alexander's sake endure any torments whatsoever This spoken he delivered himself and his Father from further tortures but it is uncertain whether the tale he told was true or whether he devised it to free them both from torments Then Herod now laying all doubt aside if before he were in any thought what death his Sons should die Tyro with 300 Captains are accused before the people and slain Alexander and Aristobulus strangled at Sebaste and buried in Alexandrium and leaving no place to repentance and mercy he hastened to execute his purpose and producing 300 Captains and Tyro and F his Son and the Barber his accuser he accused them all before the people and the people throwing any thing that came to their hands at them they killed them every one And Alexander and Aristobulus was carried unto Sebaste and there by their Fathers command were strangled and their bodies carried by night into the Castle Alexandrium where there Grand-father by their Mothers side and many of their Progenitors lay buried But perhaps some will not marvel that a hatred so long a breeding should in the end so prevail that it overcame natural affections But one may justly doubt whether the fault were in the young Princes who exasperated by a hard Father so long time The cause of these calamities was Destiny and Gods Providence fell into such a hatred of him or whether it is to be imputed unto his unkindness and immoderate desire of Honour and Rule who could G not abide any to be his equal but rather chusing to do all at his own pleasure Or rather unto Fortune whose power the wisest living is not able to resist Wherefore I am perswaded Fortune hath predestinated all humane actions so that they must have a necessary event And this inevitable force we call Fate or fatal Destiny H for that there is nothing which it effecteth not But it sufficeth briefly to have touched this high matter which of it self is very difficult which attributeth something unto our actions and examineth the causes of the variety of our actions which speculation is already comprised in the two Volumes of our Law Wherein Alexander and Aristobulus offended Furthermore touching the Princes fault we may accuse their youthful arrogancy and their pride who did give too great ear to their Father's accusers and for that they were unjust searchers into his life and actions and that they maliciously suspected him and could not rule their tongues Herod's shameful errour not to be excused but hereby gave double occasion to their Adversaries and matters unto those tale-bearers that sought to get the King's favour But their Father 's shameful fault cannot be excused who suffered himself so to be over-ruled with passion that he I put them to death that were begotten of his own body without any proof or argument of the crimes laid unto their charge yea two young Princes of excellent feature of body not only beloved of their own Nation but also of strangers they were dextrous in all Exercises and commendable in Military Affairs and eloquent in Civil Discourses For in all these things
Ambassadours of the Ammonites Then Jeptha prayed to God that it would please him to grant him victory and he made a vow that if he returned to his house in safety he would Sacrifice the first living creature that he should meet with at his return v. 30 ad 40. After this encountring the Enemy Jeptha maketh a vow he defeated and pursued him killing those that fled continually till he came O to the City of Minnith Then entring the Countrey of the Ammonites he destroyed divers Cities and carried away a great booty and so delivered his Nation from the A servitude which they had endured for the space of eighteen years The year of the World 2624. before Christ's Nativity 1270. But as he returned homeward he fell into such an inconvenience as was no ways answerable to his noble actions For the first person he met as he returned home was his only Daughter a Virgin of eighteen years who came out to meet him Whereupon melting into tears he began to check her He overcometh the Ammonites for that so hastily she had come forth to meet him by reason he had vow'd the first thing he met with to God But this accident was no ways displeasing to the Virgin who with a wounderful constancy answered her Father that a death which had for its cause the victory of her Father and the liberty of her Countrey could not but be very acceptable to her and that the only favour she desired of him was that he would please to grant her two months C. 11. v. 39 before she were sacrificed to the end she might B lament her youth Jeptha Sacrificeth his Daughter with her companions and that after that term her father might acquit himself of the vow which he had made Jeptha granted her the time she had limited which being expired C. 12. 1 2. c. he sacrificed his Daughter for a burnt-offering Which oblation of his The Ephraimites are incensed against Jeptha was neither conformable to the Law nor desired by God But he was resolved to accomplish his vow without considering what judgment men might make of it The Tribe of Ephraim hearing of his victories Judg. 12 declared War against him by reason he had not communicated to them his enterprise against the Ammonites that he might have the prey and the honour of the enterprise to himself He answered that being of his kindred they could not be ignorant that both he and his were assailed by War C and had besides that also been desired to give them their assistance whereunto they had answered very faintly and being requested would not be present Then he told them that that which they undertook was unlawful wicked in that not daring to encounter the Enemy they made no scruple to set upon their Brethren and Friends and he threatned them v. 6. that if they restrained not themselves he would by the assistance of God be revenged on them Almost forty thousand of the Ephraimites slain But these words of his were both neglected and despised so that he was forced to Arm himself against them and with an Host of men sent from Galaad v. 7. he made a great slaughter partly in pursuing those that fled partly also in preventing their passage who fled to Jordan Jeptha dieth the number of the slain amounted to about forty thousand Ibzan was for seven years space the Judge in Israel After Jeptha had governed six years he deceased and was buryed D in Sebei in the place where he was born and the Countrey of Galaad After his death Ibzan took upon him the Government He was of the Tribe of Juda of the City of Bethleem v. 11. and had sixty Children Elon reigned ten years thirty males and thirty females which he left all alive and married he died when he was very old without performing any thing worthy of memory during the space of his seven years Government he was buried in his own Countrey In like manner Elon a Zabulonite his successor did nothing memorable and during the term of ten years wherein he governed Abdon the Son of Elon and of the Tribe of Ephraim of the City of Pharathon was declared Soveraign Judge after Elon and is renowned only for his felicity in his Children the state of the Israelites being in peace v. 13 so that he exploited nothing worthy glory he had forty Sons who E had thirty Grand-children Abdoâ— Judge and rode accompanied with these seventy who were all of them expert Horse-men He left them all alive and died when he was very old and was magnificently buried in Pharathon CHAP. X. Of Samsons valour and how many mischiefs he did to the Philistines AFter his death Judg. 13. 1. the Philistines prevailed over the Israelites and exacted tribute from them for the space of forty years The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines From which misery they were deliver'd F after this manner Manoah an excellent man and chief of the Tribe of Dan without exception had a Wife most famous for her beauty and excelling all others of that time yet had he no Children by her Hedio Ruffinâ—â— chap. 13. al. 10. whereat he was very much grieved and made his continual prayers unto God and especially when they were retired to a Countrey house which they had near the City that it would please him to give him a lawful heir v. 3 4 5. He loved his Wife very passionately The Angel foretelleth Samsons birth and not without some jealousie on a day as the woman was there by her self an Angel of God appeared to her in form of a young man of incomparable beauty and shape and told her that he came from God to inform her that she should be the mother of a child perfectly beautiful and whose strength should be so extraordinary that as soon as he was enter'd into the vigour of youth he should G humble the Philistines but God forbad her to cut his Hair and commanded likewise that he should taste no other drink but water and after he had said thus he departed As soon as her Husband returned home again she told him all that the Angel had said unto her The year of the World 2783. before Christ's Nativity 1181. and so extol'd the beauty and good grace of the young messenger who appeared H unto her that these praises encreased his jealousie which she perceiving and being no less chast than fair prayed to God once more to send his Angel that her Husband might see him and be cur'd of his unjust suspition Her prayer was heard and the Angel presented himself again to the woman being apart from her Husband But she desired him to say till she called her Husband v. 9. ad 13. which when she had obtained The Angel appeareth once more unto Manoah she went and fetched Manoah who notwithstanding
and strike him on the face according as the Law had ordained which done Boos espoused Ruth by whom about a year after he had a Son which Naomi brought up and called his name Obed in hope he would assist in her old age E for Obed in the Hebrew tongue signifies assistance v. 13. Obed begat Jesse Boos begetteth Obed Davids grand father upon Ruth and Jesse begat David who was King and who left the Realm to his successors for one and twenty Generations I was obliged to relate these things touching Ruth because I would declare how God by his Soveragin power 1 Sam. 2. 12. ad 17. raises whom he pleases from obscurity to the highest dignity as he did David whose original I have shewed you The affairs of the Hebrews were at this time in very poor estate Ophni and Phinees the wicked Sons of Eli the High-Priest and they entred into a new War against the Philistines upon this occasion The High Priest Eli had two Sons Ophni and Phinees They against all right and law offering outrages to men and committing impieties against God suffered no sin to escape them Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1◠all 12. for they were not contented to receive what belonged to them but they took what did not And as women F came to the Tabernacle for devotion they abused them ravishing some against their wills and corrupting others by presents and thus they exercised a manifest and licentious tyranny their Father was much displeased with them for these crimes as well as the people And God having declared to Eli and the Prophet Samuel who then was very young what vengeance should fall upon Eli's Children he mourned over them as if they had been already dead But I will first speak something concerning this Prophet Samuel and afterwards of the Children of Eli and what calamity fell upon all the Hebrew Nation Elcana was a Levite of mean condition living in Ramath a part of Ephraim 1 Sam. 1. v. 10 12 13. he had married two Wives the one called Anna the other Phenenna by Phenenna he had children Anna. the Wife of Elcana requireth a Son at Gods hand yet he loved Anna very intirely although she was barren G One day when Elcana with his Wives were at Silo where the Tabernacle of God was as we have before declared to the intent to offer Sacrifice in that place during the festival he distributed the portion of his meat to his Wives and Children Anna beholding the Children of his other Wife sitting neer their Mother began to weep and H lament with her self The year of the World 2818. before Christ's Nativity 1468. because she was without issue and could not be eased with all consolation which her Husband gave her She went into the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to make her a Mother and made a vow that if he gave her a Son he should be dedicated to the service of God And for that she employed much time in making her prayers the High Priest Eli who sate before the Tabernacle commanded her to depart from thence supposing that she had drunk too much Wine but after she told him that she drank nothing but Water and that being oppressed with grief she was come to the Tabernacle to beseech God that it would please him to grant her Children he exhorted her to be of good courage and assured her that God had heard her prayers whereupon she returned to her Husband full of good hope and I took her repast with joy v. 20. ad finem They returned to their own house she began to be big with child Hannah bare Samuel to Elkanah her Husband and at last she brought forth a Son whom she called Samuel that is to say requested of God Afterwards they returned to offer Sacrifice and give thanks to God for the birth of the child which God had given them and to bring their tenths Hannah remembring the vow she had made delivered the child into the hands of Eli and consecrated him to God to be his Prophsie For which cause they suffered his Hair to grow and he drank nothing but Water and he was brought up in the Temple Elkanah had by Hannah other Sons also and three Daughters 1 Sam. 3. v. 3. ad 10. As soon as Samuel had attained to the age of twelve years he began to prophecy For on a certain night whilest he slept God called him by his name and he supposing that it was the High Priest that K called him came unto him but Eli told him that he had not called him The same thing was done three times and then Eli easily judging what it was said to him Samuel I neither called thee now nor before but it is God that calleth thee answer him therefore and say Here I am ready to obey He heard the voice of God once more and he answered behold me O Lord what wouldst thou have me to do I am ready to obey Then God answered saying Go and tell the Israelites that so great a calamity shall fall upon them that no tongue can express it The Sons of Eli shall die in one day and the Priest hood shall be removed from his Family to that of Eleazar For Eli hath loved his Children more than my service and hath drawn my curse upon them Samuel fearing to overwhelm the old man with sorrow C. v. 11. ad 21. would not disclose L this oracle to him God foresheweth Samuel of the death of Eli and his Sons but Eli constrained him to tell it and it made him the more assured of the imiminent death of his Sons And because all the things which Samuel prophesied came to pass his reputation increased daily more and more At that time the Philistines leading out their Army against the Israelites incamped near the City of Amphec Hedio Ruffinus chap. 16. and for that the Hebrews were negligent to oppose them 1. Sam. 4. v. 1. 〈◊〉 4. they advanced further into the Countrey So at length in a fight with their Enemies the Philistines got the upper hand and slew 4000 Hebrews The Philistines kill four-thousand of the Israelites and pursued those that fled even to their own Tents The fear of the Hebrews after this overthrow was so great that they sent to the Council of the Elders and the High Priest praying them to bring the Ark of God with them to the end that having it present with them they might give M battel and overcome their Enemies But they considered not that he that had pronounced the sentence of their calamity against them C. 4. v. 4. was greater than the Ark which deserved not to be reverenced but for him The Hebrews bring the Ark into the battel The Ark was brought and the Sons of Eli attended it whom their Father expresly commanded that if it fell out that the Ark was
such time as Joab Ader fled into Egypt General of Davids Army had conquer'd Idumaea and in the space of six months defeated all the youth and those that were capable to bear Arms he fled unto L Pharaoh King of Egypt Ader beseecheth Pharaoh to dismiss him that he might return into his Countâ—â—y who entertain'd him very courteously and gave him an house and lands for his maintenance and loved him dearly when he came to mans estate so that he married him to Taphines his wives sister on whom he begat a Son who was brought up with the Kings children who having intelligence in Egypt of David and Joabs death address'd himself unto Pharaoh and besought him to give him leave to repair into his own Countrey The King ask'd him what he wanted or what the cause was that mov'd him to be so forward to forsake him Notwithstanding therefore that he importuned and requested him divers times yet prevailed he not with him But when Solomons fortunes began to decline Ader returneth into Idumaea and from thence departeth into Syria by reason of his iniquities above-mentioned and the wrath of God provoked M against him Ader by Gods permission came into Idumaea after he had obtained leave of Pharaoh to depart But being unable to move the people to revolt from Solomon by reason of the strong Garisons he held Raas and Ader enemies to Solomon and knowing that without hazard of his own person he could move no alterations or innovation in that place he departed from thence and went into Syria where confederating himself with a certain man called Raas who was fled from his Master Adarezer King of Sophone and lived like an Outlaw in that Region he contracted friendship with him and a great sort of Outlaws and Thieves that were his followers and went into Syria and seizing on that Countrey proclaimed himself King thereof From whence making excursions into the lands of the Israelites he spoiled and pillaged the same during Solomons life-time Thus were N the Hebrews enforced to sustain those Outrages at Aders hands Moreover a certain Man called Jeroboam the son of Nebat by Nation a Jew rebelled against Solomon Ver. 26 ad 35. and raised his hopes above his estate persuaded thereunto by a Prophesie that concerned him Jeroboam rebelleth against Solomon and incited him unto the action For being left very young by his Father and carefully instructed by his Mother as soon as Solomon perceived him to be of a noble and couragious spirit he made him Commissary over the building of the Walls at such time as he immured and fortified Jerusalem In this office he behaved himself so well Ver. 30. that the King thought very well thereof and by way of recompence made him General over the Tribe of Joseph Achâ—as the Prophet foretelleth that he should be King over the ten Tribes Towards which whil'st he travelled from Jerusalem a certain Prophet met him upon the way who was of the City of Silâ— called O Achias who approaching near unto him and saluting him drew him out of the way into a place where none but themselves were present and there renting the garment which he wore upon his back in twelve pieces he commanded Jeroboam to take ten telling him That God had so decreed The year of the World 2971. before Christ's Nativity 993. and how he would rent the Government from Solomon and reserve A only one Tribe unto his son with that other which was annexed unto it by reason of the promise made to David and to thee said he he giveth the other ten because Solomon hath offended God and addicted himself to the love of strange Women and the service of foreign gods Now since thou knowest the cause wherefore God hath alienated the Kingdom from Solomon be thou just and observe the Laws for if thou behavest thy self in such sort as thou knowest David did a great reward of thy piety and recompence of thy observance attendeth thee so that thou shalt become as mighty as David hath been before thee Jeroboam confirmed in great hopes by these words of the Prophet being by nature haughty in years young and besides that Ver. 40. desirous of authority Jeroboam flieth into Egypt and remaineth there until Solomons death he took no rest but being possessed of the place of B General and remembring himself of that which had been told him by Achias he presently began to persuade the people to revolt from Solomon and to choose him for their King Solomon hearing news of this his design sought means to lay hands on him and to put him to death but Jeroboam preventing him fled unto Susac King of Egypt with whom he remained until the death of Solomon And thus for that time escaped he punishment and thus was he reserved to the fortune of a Kingdom CHAP. III. After the death of Solomon the people revolt from Rehoboam his Son and proclaim Jeroboam King of the Ten Tribes C BUT when Solomon was very old The death of Solomon he dyed after he had Reigned fourscore years and lived ninety four and was buried in Jerusalem of all Kings the most happy rich and prudent Hedio Ruffinus cap. 8. al. 4. except that sin whereunto he was drawn by Women in his old age of whom and those calamities that presently after befell the Hebrews we have sufficiently spoken 1 Reg. 12. 1 ad 11. After the death of Solomon as soon as his son Rehoboam whom he begat upon an Ammonitish woman called Noma succeeded him in the Kingdom the Governors of the people sent certain messengers into Egypt to recall Jeroboam who arriving in the City of Sichem Rehoboam came thither also resolving in that Assembly of the Israelites to take the Kingdom upon himself by the peoples consent The people require Rehoboam to mitigate their burthen To him therefore the Princes D of the people resorted with Jeroboam beseeching him That he would remit somewhat of their servitude and shew himself more merciful than his father had been for that under his government they had been sorely oppressed assuring him that by that means his Kingdom should be the more secured if so be he had rather be beloved than feared He three days after promised them to return an answer to their demands and by that means drew them into suspition that upon the motion he misliked of the offers they had proposed for they thought it became his years to be affable and ready to deserve well yet remained there some hope in them Ver. 6 7 8. that they had not presently suffered a repulse Mean while he calling about him his fathers friends The wholesom advice of the Elders consulted what answer he should give the people they that wished his welfare and knew the nature of the people very well persuaded E him to speak familiarly unto the people and remitting a little of his Kingly
Earth This Amri dyed in Samaria and Achab his Son was his Successor Hereby a Man may easily perceive what care the Divine Majesty hath of humane affairs and how he loveth the virtuous and utterly rooteth out the vicious For the Kings of Israel through their impiety in a short and successive course the one after the other O were cut off and confounded with all their Families But Asa King of Jerusalem and the two Tribes living happily in the favor of God for his piety and justice attained to a reverend and old age and after he had reigned one and forty years he dyed a good death The year of the World 3028. before Christ's Nativity 936. and after his death Jehoshaphat his son whom he begat on his wife Abida succeeded A him who in all things that concern'd piety or fortitude seem'd to emulate and equal his Grandfather David according as it shall be declar'd hereafter But Achab King of Israel made his abode in Samaria and govern'd the Kingdom for the space of 22 years without any alteration of those ordinances which his progenitors Kings of Israel had established alias chap. 10. but that he exceeded them daily in wickedness For he imitated all their impieties Asa dieth Jâ—hoshaphat succeedeth him but especially the Apostasie of Jeroboam for he adored those Calves that were erected by him and besides that 〈◊〉 far worse impieties than the former 2 Chron. 17 1 2. He took to wife Jezabel the daughter of Iâ—â—obal King of the Tyrians and Sidonians of whom he learnt to adore the gods of her Nation for she was a busie and audacious woman â— Kings 16. 30 31. and so insolent that she feared not to build a Temple in honour of Bell the god B of the Tyrians and to plant a Grove furnish'd with all kind of Trees and to ordain Priests and false Prophets also in honour of that god The King also took delight to have these Men oftentimes about him exceeding all other Kings before him in madness and malice Jezabel To him came a certain Prophet named Elias 1 Reg. 17. 1 ad 4. sent by Almighty God that was born in Thesbon in Galaad telling him that he fore-prophesied That neither dew nor rain should fall on the Earth a long time The dearth of victuals prophesied to the Israelites until that himself who was prepar'd to depart from him should appear again unto him and binding the same with an oath for the better confirmation thereof he retir'd himself to the Southward where he liv'd by a certain River from whence he fetcht his drink for his meat was daily brought him by Ravens C Now when the River through want of rain was grown dry God commanded him to repair unto Sareptha a City not far from Sidon and Tyre and scituate in the midst between them both where he should find a Widow-woman who would furnish him with food Ver. 4 5. As soon therefore as he drew near unto the gate Crows feed Elias he saw a woman that lived by her labour gathering of sticks and God gave him to understand that it was she to whom he was sent Ver. 9 ad 16. Whereupon he came unto her and saluted her praying her that she would bring him some water to cool his thrist The widow of Sareptha entertaing Elias neither flowre nor oyl fail and as she was ready to depart he called her back again and willed her to bring him some bread also Whereupon she sware unto him that she had nothing in her house but an handful of flowre and a little oyl and that she was come forth togather sticks to the end she might bake the same and make bread D for her self and her son and when they had eaten the same they must needs perish through famine because they had not any thing more left Go said the Prophet and be of good courage and conceive better hopes and when thou hast prepared meat for me bring it for I tell thee that thy flowre shall not fail nor thy pot of oyl be empty until God send rain upon the earth When the Prophet had spoken thus she approach'd unto him and performed that which he commanded and she herself had sufficient to feed upon and she gave the rest unto her son and to the Prophet so that they wanted nothing so long as the drought continued Menander maketh mention of this great drought in the acts of Ithobal King of the Tyrians Menander of the famine during the time of Elias speaking after this manner In this time there was a season without rain from the E Month of October until October in the next year after whereupon the Prince caused prayers and supplications to be made which were follow'd with great store of Thunder He built the City of Botris in Phoenicia and Auzate in Lybia Doubtless he expressed hereby the drought that hapned in Achab's time for about that time Ithobal reigned over the Tyrians as Menander â—â—stifieth in his History The woman of whom we have spoken heretofore that entertained the Prophet seeing her son fallen sick and lying sensless as if he had been already dead or yielding up the ghost wept and brake out into so great a passion that she forbore not to say that the cause of her misfortune was in that the Prophet was come into her house and had discover'd her sins and that he had been the cause that God for her punishment had taken away her onely son But he F comforted her and willed her to be of good courage and commanded her to bring the child unto him assuring her that he would restore him to life Now when she had brought him he took the child and carried him into his lodging and laid him on his bed 1 Kings 17. 17. ad finem and cryed unto God saying That since the loss of her onely son seem'd to be but an unequal recompence unto her that had so charitably received him he therefore besought him Elias restoreth the widows son to life that he would command the soul to return into the body and restore life unto the Infant Whereupon God having compassion on the mother and being willing to gratifie the Prophet and to the intent that no man might suppose that he came unto her to prejudice her he restored the child to life beyond all expectation For which the mother gave thanks unto the Prophet saying That by this means she was thorâ—wly persuaded G that God had spoken unto him Not long after he sought out Achab according as God had commanded him to let him know that he should have rain At that time the famine H reigned over the whole Countrey The year of the World 3040. before Christ's Nativity 924. and there was great want of necessary victuals so that Men did not only faint for want of bread but the Earth also for want of rain could not bring
close prisoner in some sure place in the Palace But by Salomes sollicitations Herod was incited to hasten her death for that she alledged that the King ought to fear lest some sedition E should be raised amongst the people if he should keep her alive in prison And by this means Mariamne was led unto her death Alexandra her mother considering the estate of the time and fearing no less mischief from Herods hands than her daughter was assured of she undecently changed her mind and abjectly laid aside her former courage and magnanimity For intending to make it known that she was neither party nor privy to those crimes wherewith Mariamne was charged she went out to meet her daughter and entertained her injuriously protesting publickly that she was a wicked woman Alexandra undecently striveth to acquit her self of Mariamnes Treason and ungrateful towards he husband and that she well deserved the punishment that was adjudged her for that she durst be F so bold to attempt so heinous a fact respecting to requite her husbands entire love with her unfeigned loyalty Whilst thus dishonestly she counterfeited her displeasure and was ready to pull Mariamne by the hair the assistants according to her desert condemned her generally for her hypocrisie but she that was led to be punished convicted her self by her mild behaviour for first of all she gave her no answer neither was any ways altered by her reproaches neither would so much as cast her eye upon her making it appear that she discreetly concealed and covered her mothers imperfections and was aggrieved that she had so openly shewed so great indignity expressing for her own part a constant behaviour and going to her death without change of colour so that those that beheld her perceived in her a kind of manifest courage and G nobility even in her utmost extremity H Thus died Mariamne having been a woman that excelled both in continence and courage notwithstanding that she failed somewhat in affability and impatience of nature for the rest of her parts she was an admirable and pleasing beauty and of such a carriage in those companies wherein she was entertained that it was impossible to express the same in that she surpassed all those of her time which was the principal cause that she lived not graciously and contentedly with the King For being entertained by him who intirely loved her and from whom she received nothing that might discontent her she presumed upon a great and intemperate liberty in her discourse She digested also the loss of her friends very hardly according as in open terms she made known unto the King whereby also it came to pass I that both Herods mother and sister and himself likewise grew at odds with her After her death the King began more powerfully to be inflamed in his affections Herods miserable estate and moan after the death of his wife who before as we have declared was already miserably distracted For neither did he love after the common manner of married folk but whereas almost even unto madness he nourished this his desire he could not be induced by the too unbridled manners of his wife to allay the heat of his affection but that daily more and more by doating on her he increased the same And all that time especially he supposed that God was displeased with him for the death of Mariamne Oftentimes he did invocate her name using such lamentable expressions that did not become the Majesty of a King And notwithstanding he devised all kinds of delights and sports that might be imagined by preparing banquets and inviting K guests with Princely hospitality to pass away the time yet all those profited him nothing for which cause he gave over the charge and administration of his Kingdom At length he was so besotted with grief A plague invadeth Jerusalem that oftentimes he commanded his servants to call his wife Mariamne as if she had been alive Whilest thus he was afflicted there came a pestilence within the City that consumed a great part of the people and most of the nobility and all interpreted that this punishment was inflicted by God upon them for the unjust death of the Queen Herod falleth grievâ—usly sick Thus the Kings discontents being by this means increased he at last hid himself in a solitary wilderness under pretext of hunting where afflicting himself incessantly at last he fell into a most grievous sickness This disease of his was an inflammation or pain in the neck he seemed also in some sort to rave and grow mad neither L could any remedies relieve him of his agony but when the sickness seemed rather to increase all men at last grew almost desperate of his recovery For which cause his Physician partly in respect of the contumacy of his disease partly because in so great a danger there was not any free election of dyet they gave him leave to taste whatsoever best pleased his appetite committing the uncertain event of his health to the hands of fortune Whilest thus he continued in Samaria Alxandra in Herods absence seeketh to get the possession of the Castles which now is called Sebaste Alexandra being at that time in Jerusalem having notice of this his condition endeavored to reduce all the strong fortresses that were within the City under her subjection the one of which was hard by the Temple the other was situate within the City for they that are Masters of these keep all the rest of the nation under their awe because that without these neither the usual and M daily sacrifices may be performed neither may the Jews live without such sacrifices and oblations who had rather lose their lives than contemn their religion She therefore solicited those that had the government thereof to surrender them up to her and Herods children begotten of her daughter Mariamne lest he being dead they should be seised on by others and if it should fortune him to recover his health in the mean while they mâ—ght be kept and held by no man more securely than such as were his nearest friends This suit and solicitation of hers was but coldly received and the Captains who at all times shewed themselves always faithful at that time were the rather far more constant in their duty both for that they hated Alexandra and also that they thought it a great offence to despair of the health of their Prince Herods counsellors certifie him of Alexandras intent For these were the Kings old friends and one of them was Herods own Nephew N whose name was Achiabus For which cause they sent presently messengers unto him to shew him Alexandra's intent who having heard these news presently commanded her to be put to death Alâ—xandra put to death and at length overcoming his sickness he grew so badly affected both in body and mind that he grew hateful unto all men so that all those who offended him and for how little cause
and Sabinus were come out into the streets notwithstanding they were forbidden by Pollio whom not long before Claudius had made Captain of his Guard And as soon as Claudius came into the Palace whither he assembled his friends he pronounced sentence against Chaereas For although his action was accounted both generous and noble yet he was condemned for this because he was perfidious whereupon he was adjudged to die to give example to others to the end that Princes and Emperours may hereafter live in safety He was therefore led to his death with Lupus Those that murthered Caius are executed and divers other Romans It is said of Chaereas that he endured this accident with a great courage which he expressed not only in that he changed not his countenance but also by the reproaches which he gave Lupus O who wept For when Lupus was putting off his Cloaths and complained of the cold that he felt he taunted him thus alluding to his name which was Lupus That never any cold A did harm to a Wolf Furthermore when he came to the place of Execution where a great number of people were gathered together to behold the spectacle he asked the Soldier that was appointed to behead him if he were a cunning heads-man and whether he had a new Sword wishing him to use that wherewith he murthered Caius His death was happy for he received but one stroke whereas Lupus was faint-hearted and received divers because he stretched not out his neck freely Some few days after at such time as the Romans solemnized their Expiations and that every one honoured the memory of his dear Friend they gave Chaereas a part of that honour and cast his portion into the fire saying That was to deface and purge their ingratitude whereof they were guilty towards him Thus ended Chaereas his Life But for Sabinus B although Claudius had not only absolved him but also suffered him to exercise his Office as he had done before Sabinus Killeth himself yet he thought that he should do amiss and against Justice if he falsified his Faith to his Associates and Confederates for which cause he shortned his own days thrusting his Sword through his own body to the very hilts CHAP. IV. Claudius the Emperour confirmeth Agrippa in his Kingdom adding Judaea and Samaria C thereunto He giveth the Kingdom of Chalcis to Herod Agrippa's Brother and maketh Edicts in favour of the Jews ONe of the first things that Claudius did after his establishment in the Empire Hedio Ruffinus chap 5. was to disband those Soldiers whom he suspected and published an Edict by which he confirmed the Kingdom to Agrippa Alias 4. that Caius had given him accompanying his bounty with many Praises Claudius giveth Agrippa Judaea Samaria and Lysanias 's Countrey adding moreover unto his Government all that which his Grandfather had possessed towit Judaea and Samaria which in that they were as one Lawful Inheritance appertained unto him He gave him also out of his own Dominions Abela and all the Countrey about Libanus that in times past appertained to Lysanias And D he caused the Alliance that was past betwixt them to be engraven and registred in an open place of the City of Rome Antiochus King of Comagena He took from Antiochus the Kingdom that he had and gave him in exchange a portion of Cilicia and Comagena He set Alexander Lysimachus Alebarcha at liberty Alexander Lysimachus Alebarcha who had been his old Friend and sometimes Governour in Arabia and once his Mother Antonia's Steward who had been committed Prisoner through Caius's displeasure and espoused Bernice Agrippa's Daughter to his Son Marcus which after the death of Marcus who died before he was maried was afterwards married with her Father Agrippa's allowance Herod Agrippa's Brother created King of Chalcis to Herod his Brother for whom Agrippa begg'd of Claudius the Kingdom of Chalcis At that very time the Jews that were in the City of Alexandria mutined against the Greeks For after Caius's death E the Nation of the Jews which had been oppressed during his Reign and injuriously dealt withal by the Alexandrines Sedition in Alexandria betwixt the Greeks and Jews recovered their former courage For which cause Claudius gave Commission to the Governour of Egypt to pacifie and appease that Uproar He sent also his Letters Patents into Alexandria and Syria at the request of the two Kings Agrippa and Herod to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Claudius's Edict in favour of the Jews in Alexandria Father of the people signifieth this that followeth Vnderstanding that the Jews Inhabitants in Alexandria and for that cause called Alexandrines have at all times enjoyed the self same Privileges of the City which the ancient and first Alexandrines have had Which Favours they have obtained by the Leave of those Princes that were our Predecessors as it hath been plainly made known F unto us as well by Letters which have been written unto us as by confirmed Decrees And that since Alexandria hath been united to our Empire by Caesar Augustus their Privileges have continued in force during the several Successions of many of our Governours which Rights of theirs have never been called in question no not in that time when Aquila was Governour in Alexandria Since in like sort Caesar Augustus hath not letted them but when the Governour of their Nation was dead they might establish other Substitutes and Governours in his place commanding that all of them should yield him obedience in observation of their Laws and Customs without constraint or impulsion to do any thing contrary to their Religion Yet notwithstanding the Alexandrines have mutined against the Jews being in the City of Alexandria in the time of the Emperour Caius by reason of the G folly and frenzy of Caius who disgraced and oppressed the Nation of the Jews because they would not violate their Religion nor acknowledge the said Caius for a God Our Will and Pleasure is that no one of the Privileges of the Nation of the Jews be abolished by reason of Caius's frenzy but my mind is to maintain those which heretofore have been H given them to the end they may continue and live according to their ancient Laws and Customs Commanding you and every one of you very carefully to provide that after the publication of this our Ordinance they be in no ways troubled This was the Tenour of that Ordinance which was made in favour of the Jews in Alexandria But that which was generally made in favour of those Claudius's Edict in the behalf of the Jews scattered thorough the whole Empire who were dispersed thorough the whole World was to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus High Priest Father of the people elected Consul the second time signifieth that which ensueth Our well-beloved Friends the Kings Agrippa and Herod have required us that we will permit all those
saluted in the Theatre for a God and spieth the Owl which the German foretold him of that five days after he should die Whereupon a company of base Sycophants whose flatteries do usually poyson the hearts of Princes cried out thus Be merciful unto us hitherto we have feared thee as a man but hence-forward we will confess and acknowledge thee to be of a Nature more excellent than Mortal Frailty can attain unto Agrippa reproved them not for using these words neither rejected he their palpable and detestable Flattery as he ought to have done But not long after he looking upwards perceived an Owl over his head pearched upon a cord and knew presently that he was but I a messenger of his misfortune whereas formerly he had denounced unto him his felicity and conceived thereupon a most hearty and inward grief And suddenly he was seized with a terrible griping in his belly which began with very great vehemency For which cause turning his eyes towards his friends he spake unto them after this manner Behold him said he whom you esteem for a God condemned to die and destiny shall apparently convince you of those flattering and false speeches which you have lately used in my behalf For I who by you have been adored as one immortal am under the hands of death But I must willingly entertain that which God pleaseth to send me For I have 〈◊〉 lived in obscurity but in so great and wonderful felicity that each one of you have held me happy K Whilst he spake thus his griefs augmented in such sort that he was brought almost to his last for which cause he was with all expedition conveyed into his Royal Palace and the rumour was spread in every place that very shortly he would be dead For which cause the people with their Wives and Children put on Sack-cloth according to the custom of the Countrey to the end they might solicit God's Mercy on the King's behalf and all the City was filled with tears and lamentations The King that lay in an upper Chamber and looking down into the Court saw them lying thus on the earth could not refrain from tears And after he had for the space of five days without ceasing been tormented with griping in his belly he gave up the Ghost in the fifty fourth year of his Age and the seventh year of his Reign for he had reigned four years under the Empire of Caius Caesar having first of all governed Philip's Tetrarchy I three years to which was added the Segniory of Herod in the fourth year and three years under the Empire of Claudius Caesar during which time he governed over the above-named Countreys and moreover over Judaea Samaria and Caesarea His Revenue amounted to twelve hundred Myriades The year of the World 4009. after Christ's Nativity 47. besides which he made many Loans For in regard he was very liberal in giving he spent far more than his Revenue and spared not any thing to shew himself magnificent Before the people knew of his death Herod his Brother Prince of Chalcis and Chelcias the King's Lieutenant and Friend agreed between themselves to send Aristo 1200 Myriades amount to 15 Tuns of Gold one of their trustiest Servants to kill Silas who was their enemy as if they had been commanded by the King M Thus died King Agrippa leaving behind him a Son called Agrippa seventeen years old Herod the Prince of Chalcis and Chelcias kill Silas and three Daughters one of which that was called Bernice was married to Herod his Father's Brother when she was sixteen years old The two other were Mariamne and Drusilla this Mariamne being of the age of ten years was promised in marriage by her Father Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. alias chap. 9. to Julius Archelaus Chelcias's Son and Drusilla which was six years old was promised also to Epiphanes Son to the King of Comagena After Agrippa's death Agrippa's Children alive they of Caesarea and Sebaste forgot those benefits they had received from him and used him no less despightfully than as if he had been their utter enemy The Caesareans and Sebastians revile Agrippa being dead For they reproachfully abused him after his death and reviled him in such sort that it is unseemly to report the same Moreover all the Soldiers who were at N that time many in number went into the King's Lodging and with one accord seized the Statues of the King's Daughters and carried them to the Brothel-house where after they had placed them they uttered all the indignities they could possibly practising such shameful matters as they may not be expressed Besides this resting themselves in the publick places they banquetted in the open Street wearing Chaplets of Flowers on their heads and perfuming themselves with Odours to sacrifice to Charon drinking to one another for joy that the King was dead Thus they expressed their ingratitude not only towards their King Agrippa who had bestowed so many Liberalities on them but also towards Herod his Grand-father who had builded their Cities and to his extream charge Agrippa Agrippa 's Son erected their Ports and Temples At that time Agrippa the deceased Agrippa's Son was at Rome and was brought up under the Emperour Claudius O When Caesar understood how those of Caesarea and Sebaste had injuriously dealt with A Agrippa he was highly displeased and moved with their ingratitude And his purpose was to send the younger Agrippa with all expedition to take Possession of the Kingdom of his Father and therewithal to discharge him of his Oath but divers of his Free-men and Friends who were in great credit with him disswaded him from it alledging that it would be a dangerous thing to commit the greatness of such a Kingdom to a young man Claudius intendeth to send young Agrippa into his Father's Kingdom but is disswaded and sendeth Caspius Fadus for President into Judaea and those parts who scarcely had as yet attained to the age of eighteen years and for whom it was impossible to support the care of so great a Kingdom considering that if he were at man's estate he should find himself over-burthened with the charge of a Kingdom This advice of theirs was approved by Caesar and for this cause he sent Cuspius Fadus to govern Judaea and the whole Realm honouring his dead Friend in B this in that he would not suffer Marsus who had been his Enemy to enter into his Kingdom He gave especial Commission also that Fadus should sharply punish those of Caesarea and Sebaste for the injuries they offered to his deceased Friend and the excess that was committed against his Daughters who were yet living commanding him to transport the Companies of the Caesarians and Sebastens and the five Roman Legions into the Countrey of Pontus to serve in that place and to take those Roman Soldiers that bare Arms in Syria to serve there Yet notwithstanding this Command they were not displaced
away F Now when they came to Rome the younger Agrippa who was his Son that lately died knowing the cause of their coming and being ordinarily accustomed to attend upon Caesar according as we have heretofore declared besought Caesar that he would grant the Jews their request concerning the Sacred Robe and that it might please him to signifie no less unto Fadus On this his Petition Claudius gave the Ambassadours Audience and told them that he favoured their suit desiring them to be thankful to Agrippa upon whose suit he respected them and granted their Demands And besides this Answer he delivered them a Letter to this effect Claudius Caesar Germanicus Conserver of the people Consul created the fifth time G Emperour the fourth time Father of the Countrey the tenth time to the Magistrates of Jerusalem the Senate People and all the Nation of the Jews Being required by our well beloved Agrippa whom I both have and at this present do bring up with me I have heard your Ambassadors who were admitted to my Presence by his H means and have received their thanks for the benefits I have bestowed on your Nation I have also willingly inclined to that instant and express request you have made unto me and it is my pleasure that the Sacred Robe of the High Priest and the Holy Miter remain in your custody Claudius upon the younger Agrippa's motion granteth the Jews liberty to have the custody of the High Priest's Vestments in such manner as our most dear and right honoured Friend Vitellius heretofore ordained To which demand of yours I vouchsafe my allowance first in regard of mine own Piety and that I desire that every one should serve God according to his own Religion Moreover in so doing I shall gratifie King Herod and young Aristobulus whose affection towards me I am privy to and whose good inclination towards you I can witness for whom I have a particular kindness by reason of their singular Virtue I have also written to this effect to Cuspius Fadus mine Agent the names of those who have received my I Letters are Cornelius the Son of Ceron Tryphon the Son of Theudeon Dorotheus the Son of Nathanael alias chap. 3. and John the Son of John Given the eight and twentieth of June in the year wherein Rufus and Pompeius Silvanus were Consuls Claudius's Epistle to the Jews At the same time Herod who was Agrippa 's Brother that had lately deceased to whose hands in times past the Government of Chalcis had been committed Alias cap. 9. required the Emperour Claudius to grant him the power over the Temple Herod Prince of Chalcis hath Authority granted him to create the High Priest and the Sacred Vestments and the Authority of chusing the High Priest all which he obtained And from that time forward until the end of the War of the Jews this power remained in all his Successors According to this Authority Herod deposed Canthara from the Priesthood and gave the Succession thereof to Joseph the Son of Caneus K CHAP. II. Izates King of Adiabena and Queen Helena his Mother embrace the Religion of the Jews Their singular Piety and the great Actions of this Prince whom God protects visibly Fadus Governour of Judaea punisheth a man and his followers who deceived the Jews L AT that time Helena Queen of Adiabena Hedio Ruffinus cap. 2. and her Son Izates conformed themselves to the Religion of the Jews Alias 5. upon this occasion that ensueth Monobazus King of Adiabena Monobazus the King of Adiabena begetteth two Sons on Helena his Sister Monobazus and Izates who was also called Bazeos having fallen deeply in love with his Sister Helena married her and got her with Child Upon a time it happened that sleeping with her he laid his hand on her belly whilst she lay asleep and he thought that he heard a voice that commanded him to take away his hand from off her belly lest he should crush the Fruit that was therein which by God's Providence should have a happy beginning and no less fortunate ending Monobazus was much troubled at this voice and as soon as he awoke he told it to his Wife and afterwards when the Child was born he called him Izates Besides he had another elder Son M by the same Wife who was called Monobazus according to his own name And he had also other Sons by his other Wives yet notwithstanding Izates was most manifestly his best beloved and so cherished by him as if he had been his only begotten Son for which cause his other Brothers envied him The Father manifestly perceived all this yet he pardoned them knowing that they did it not for malice but for the desire that every one of them had to be best esteemed by his Father Notwithstanding being afraid lest some mis-hap should betide Izates by reason of the hatred his Brethren bare unto him Izates sent to Abemerigus marrieth his Daughter Samacha he gave him many great Gifts and sent him to Abemerigus who reigned at that time in a Fort called Spasinus committing his Son's life into his hands Abemerigus also entertained him very kindly and loved him so N that in process of time he gave him Samacha his Daughter to Wife and for her Dowry he gave him a Countrey of great Revenue Monobazus being old Caron very fruitful in 〈◊〉 in which the Relikes of Noahs Ark are to be seen and seeing he had not long time to live desired before his death that his Son might come and visit him he therefore sent for him and received him very lovingly giving him a Countrey which he called Caeron which bringeth forth great abundance of Odoriferous Plants In this place was the remainder of the Ark in which Noah was saved during the Deluge which remnants are to be seen at this day if any man have a desire to behold the same Izates remained in that place until his Father's decease But on the very day of his death Helena sent for all the Lords and Governours of the Kingdom and Captains of all the Army and upon their O assembly she spake unto them after this manner I suppose said she that you are not ignorant of my Husband's mind who hath desired that A Izates might be King in his stead and hath esteemed him most worthy of such an honour yet I expect your judgment in this point For he that receiveth the Sovereignty not from one mans hand but from many and hath the same confirmed unto him by their consent is happy She used this discourse unto them to try what their intent was who were there assembled Izates was made King by his Mother Helena and the Nobility and Monobazus governeth the Kingdom till his coming They understanding her mind prostrated themselves first of all upon the earth before the Queen according to the custom of their Country and afterwards answered her that they approved the Kings election
Another proof against Antipater contained many invectives against Herod and many accusations But these Letters were feigned by Antipater who for money had perswaded Acme to write them in her own name as the Letter that she writ to Antipater evidently shewed for she writ as followeth I have writ to your Father as you requested me and sent also other Letters and I assure D my self he will not spare his sister if he do but read the Letters You may do well seeing I have performed all your requests to be mindful of your promise This Letter against Salome and others being found to be counterfeited the King began to doubt that Alexander was made away by such counterfeited Letters and he remember'd that he had almost put his Sister to death through Antipater's device Wherefore he resolved no longer to delay to punish him for all yet was he hindred by a great sickness from accomplishing his purpose Herod intendeth Antipater's punishment and therefore blotteth his name out of his Testament He only sent Letters to Caesar concerning Acme's treachery and false accusation of Salome and changed his Testament and blotted out the name of Antipater and in his room writ Antipas leaving out Archelaus and Philippus who were the elder Brethren because Antipater had render'd them odious to him E He bequeathed to Augustus a thousand Talents beside many other rich gifts and to his Wife the Empress and Children and Kindred and Freed men about five hundred he also gave great gifts to others either in land or money and left to his Sister Salome great riches CHAP. XXI Of the Golden Eagle and of Antipater's and Herod's death F HErod's disease increased partly through age and especially by his grief and sorrow Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. for he was now threescore and ten years old and his mind was so troubled for the death of his Children that though he were in health yet he took no pleasure in any thing and his sickness was so much the more grievous to him because that Antipater was yet alive but he purposed to put him to death as soon as he was recovered of his sickness To increase his calamity there arose a tumult among the people There were in the City two Doctors reputed very skilful in our Country-laws One of them was named Judas the Son of Sariphaeus the other was called Matthias the Son of Margalote These two were followed by a great number of young men so that when they expounded the Law they had an assemby like a great Army G And hearing that the King partly by grief and partly by his disease was very like to die they told their acquaintance that now it was a fit time to revenge the injury which God received by those profane works which were made against his express Commandment The year of the World 3963. after Christ's Nativity 1. which forbids to place the Images or likeness of H any living thing in the Temple This they said because the King had set a Golden Eagle upon the chief Porch of the Temple which they exhorted the young men to take away saying that it was meritorious although danger might ensue thereon yea Judas and Matthias perswade the people to pull down the Golden Eagle even to die for their Countrey-laws For they that died for such a cause should enjoy everlasting life and glory And that many unwise men ignorant of that Doctrine so loved their lives that they chose rather to die by sickness than to spend their lives in so glorious an enterprize Whilst they spoke thus there was a rumour spread that the King was now at the last gasp whereby the young men being encouraged about Noon when many were walking in the Temple they let themselves down from the top of the Temple with great ropes and so with hatchets cut down the Eagle I Whereof the Captain of the Soldiers being advertised The young men that pulled down the Eagle are brought before Herod and are examined he went with a great many Soldiers speedily to the Temple and took almost forty of the young men and carried them to the King Who asked them if that were true that they were so bold as to cut down the Golden Eagle They confessed they had done it Then he demanded by whose Commandment They answered by the Commandment of the Law After this it was asked them why they who were presently to die were so joyful They answered Because after death they hoped to enjoy Eternal Bliss The King hereat was so greatly moved with anger that for all his disease he went forth and made a Speech to the people wherein he inveighed against these persons as Sacrilegious who under pretence and colour of their Countrey-laws and Religion attempted some great matter K and he adjudged them as impious people worthy of death The people fearing that he would torture many to learn who had favoured the act requested him that only the Authors and Actors of that Crime might receive punishment and that he would remit the offence to all the people besides The young men with the Ring leaders condemned to die The King with much ado entreated caused the young men that let themselves down with Cords and the two Doctors to be burned and the rest which were taken in the act to be beheaded After this the King's sickness spread over his whole body and he was afflicted with most grievous pains The King troubled with many diseases For he had a great Fever and an Itch over all his body which was intolerable and a dayly Collick and his feet were swelled as though he had the Dropsie Ant. l. 17. c. 9. His belly also was swelled and his privy members putrified so that the worms L bred in the putrified places He was also grievously tormented with difficulty of breath and a Convulsion of the whole body so that some said that this was a punishment laid upon him Herod seeketh remedy in his sickness at the hot Baths for the death of the two Doctors Herod notwithstanding he was afflicted with so many and grievous sicknesses yet he was desirous to live and sought remedy in hope of health At last he passed over Jordan where he used the warm Waters of Calliroe which run into the Lake of Asphaltites and are so sweet that men use to drink of them There the Physicians caused his body to be bathed in hot Oyl and he was therewith so weakened that his sense failed and he was as though he were dead whereat those that were about him being troubled with their cries they caused him to look up and now despairing of life he caused fifty Drachmes M to be distributed to every Soldier and great Summs of money to the Captains and his friends As he returned Herod full of melancholy When he came to Jericho he was in a very great likelihood to die and his melancholly put into his head a wicked
it what he could upon intelligence that their rapine and plunder in the Town being not sufficient to supply their necessities the Jews were forc'd to seek out into the Valleys for food he disposed certain parties of Horse and other select men in Ambush to intercept them for though their exigences were very great yet being for the most part poor people with Families in the City they durst not run over to the Romans lest their Wives and Children should be murdered in their absence wherefore they were forc'd to make private excursions in the night to conceal themselves from the Enemy and having fallen unexpectedly into this Ambuscade they fought it couragiously as knowing it too late to expect mercy after such untractable obstinacy but they were defeated N many of them taken and tortur'd and afterwards crucified before the Walls of the City Titus crucifieth many Jews before the Walls Titus looked upon their condition as very deplorable for scarce a day past in which there were not 500 Jews taken and served in that manner by those partys of Horse yet he thought it inexpedient to remove them because they were a great security to the rest of his Army But his great design was by the cruelty of that spectacle to terrifie the City and hasten its surrender Wherefore the Souldiers in hatred to our Nation crucified all they took one after one fashion and another after another in derision And the multitude of the Captives was become so great there was left no space for the crosses nor indeed crosses for their bodies to be crucified upon But the seditious Jews within the City were so far from relenting by this massacre that rather their hearts were more hardned so that herewith they terrified the rest of the multitude O for they * The Jews carried the kindred of those that were fled out of the City to the Romans and shewed them the tortures they suffered carried the relations of those who were taken by the Romans to the Walls A that they might see how those were used that fled to the Romans the same sight they also shewed unto them that desired peace affirming that they whom the Romans had so used were those that fled unto them for succour and not captives by them taken This deterred many who would otherwise have fled to the Romans till such time as the truth hereof was known Yet some there were that ventured to the Enemy as preferring Death and Torment at their hands before the Miseries and Famine which they endured at home Hereupon Titus cut off many of the Captives hands and sent them into the City to Simon and John that their Calamity might testifie them to be Captives and not such as had fled voluntarily to the Romans willing them to admonish their Friends to yield B and not compel him to destroy the City and to assure them that in so doing they might still save their lives their Country and Temple which had not the like in the whole World and he continually went about the Rampires hastning the workmen in their business as though he presently meant to effect that in deeds which in words he had spoken The Jews both curse Caesar and is Father The Jews that stood upon the Walls reviled both him and his Father affirming that they contemned Death and would chuse rather to die than become slaves That whilest they lived they would to their power defend themselves against the Romans without any care either of themselves or their Country which Caesar sent them word were both in imminent danger Moreover they said that the whole World was a Temple dedicated to God far more excellent than theirs C which notwithstanding should be conserved by him that dwelt in it whose help they hoped to enjoy and did therefore deride all his threatnings as things that could never come to pass without his divine permission Thus did they opprobriously abuse the clemency of the Romans At this time arrived also Antiochus Epiphanes and with him a considerable supply of Men among which there was a company called the Macedonians of equal years and little older than young men all trained up in Martial Discipline and armed after the Macedonian manner from whence they took their name yet for the most part they did not answer the expectation that men had of the Macedonians For the King of Comagne was the most fortunate and happy of all Kings that were subject to the Roman Empire D till such time as he felt the frown of Fortune who in his old age proved that none ought to be accounted happy before his death whilest Comagne was in prosperity his Son said he marvelled that the Romans did delay to assault the City and enter the battered Walls for this young Man was a great Warriour and of exceeding strength to the which he trusting too much did many things rashly Titus smiled and answered The insolence of Antiochus and the Souldiers that that was a work too great for the Romans Upon which young Antiochus accompanied with his Macedonians assaulted the Wall and himself with his strength and dexterity avoided the darts of the Jews and cast his darts at them but his whole Party a few excepted were there slain for obliged by their extravagant boasting they continued longer in â—ight than it was expedient for them at last many E being wounded retired perceiving that the Macedonians to win a Victory had need of Alexanders fortune The Romans iu seventeen days build four huge bulwarks The Romans the twelfth day of May began to build their Rampires and labouring seventeen whole days with much ado they ended them the nine and twentieth of the said Month. For they builded four vast Rampires one of them over against Antonia which was built by the fifth Legion opposit to the midst of the Struthian Waters another was built by the twelfth Legion twenty Cubits distant from the other But the tenth Legion which was of more account than the two former erected a Mount opposit to the Pond called Amygdalon on the North-side and the fifteenth Legion made the fourth thirty Cubits distant from the other over against the Monument of the High Priest John F The Mounts being thus finished John undermined that which was over against Antonia and underpropped it with posts of Wood and filling the Mine with Wood Bitumen and Pitch he fired it so the posts that held it up being burnt the Mine fell and the Mount also with a hideous noise fell into it and first of all there arose a great smoak and dust for the Mines covered the flame at last the fire having consumed the matter that covered it the flame appeared The Romans at this sudden and unexpected exploit were much amazed and disordered so that thereby those who before made account of the victory as certain began now to dispair Two days after Simon and his associates set upon the other Rampires for thereon were planted
named it Carthage so that from the time of King Hyramus unto the building of Carthage is by this computation a hundred fifty five years and two Months and for as much as the Temple of Jerusalem was built in the twelfth year of Hyramus his reign the computation of the time since that year until the building of Cartbage is a hundred forty three years and eight Months What need we more beside this testimony of the Phoenicians The truth is now sufficiently made manifest for our Ancestors must needs have come into this Country we inhabit before such time as they D built a Temple in it as I have also prov'd in my Books of Antiquity collected out of our Holy Scripture I will now speak of that which the Chaldees writ of us in their Histories Berosus the Historiographer a Chaldean which do much agree in all other Matters with those of our Nation And first let Berosus be my witness who was a Chaldean born a man famous and known unto all that love learning for he in the Greek tongue writ Astronomy and the Philosophy of the Chaldeans Berosus imitating the most ancient Histories writeth of the Deluge how mankind was therein extinguished and he in all things imitateth Moses He also speaketh of the Ark wherein our forefather was preserved and affirmeth that it was carried into the tops of the Mountains in Armenia after this he prosecuteth the Genealogy of all that reigned E from Noe Nabulassarus Father to Nabuchodonosor the King of Babylon and Chaldea until Nabulassarus King of the Babylonians and Chaldeans He likewise setteth down how long every one reigned and in prosecuting the deeds of this King he recounteh how he sent his Son Nabuchodonosor into Egypt our Country with great power who finding them in rebellion subdued them and burnt the Temple at Jerusalem Nabuchodonosor conquered the rebels and so departed carrying with him all our Nation into Babylon whereupon our City was desolate seventy years until the reign of Cyrus King of the Persians Moreover he affirmeth that this Babylonian kept in subjection Egypt Syria Phoenicia and Arabia exacting more of them than ever any King of Babylon or Chaldea had done before his time And the words of Berosus must needs be to this effect Nabulassarus his Father hearing that his Substitute in Egypt Coelosyria and Phoenicia had rebelled he himself F not being able to take such pains committed his Affairs unto his his Son Nabuchodonosor gave him a part of his Army for that he was in the flower of his age and sent him against him Nabuchodonosor fighting with the said Substitute overthrew him and subdued the Country which of old belonged unto them and at the same time his Father Nabulassarus fell sick in Babylon Nabuchodonosor succeedeth in his Fathers Kingdom and died having Reigned twenty nine years But Nabuchodonosor long after understanding his Fathers death disposed of Egypt and other Provinces as he thought good and taking the Captives of Judea Phoenicia and the Syrians that lived in Egypt he committed them to certain of his friends to be brought after with his Carriages and Army to Babylon and so he himself accompanied with a very few took his jorney to Babylon through the Desart being G arriv'd he found the Chaldees ruled all and that their Nobility reserved the Kingdom for him he was made King and commanded Houses to be built for the Captives that H were coming in the most convenient places of Babylon and with the spoil he beautified the Temple of Belus and other places most richly and built a new City without the Wall of the old and providing lest hereafter the Enemies might turn the River and so have access unto the City he invironed the inner City with three several Walls and the outmost City likewise the Walls whereof were made of Brick but the Walls of the inner City were of Brick and Bitumen this done he builded most sumptuous Gates which might have become Temples 〈…〉 and moreover neer unto his Fathers Palace he builded another far greater and more costly than they the beauty and costliness whereof were hard and perhaps tedious to express Yet this we will say and it is considerable that this rich and incredibly beautiful Palace was builded in fifteen days in I it he erected Rocks of Stone like Mountains beset with all sorts of Trees he made a famous Mount and supported it with Pillars for his Wife having been brought up in the Country of the Medes desired to have a prospect into the fields and Mountains according to their way 〈…〉 This he relateth of the forementioned King and many things more in his Book of the affairs of the Chaldeans wherein he reproveth the Greek Writers who falsly affirme that Sâ—miramis the Assyrian Queen built Babylon and that they falsly report those wonderful works about Babylon to have been by her made and finished We must needs think that the Chaldean History is true seeing it agreeth with that of the Phoenicians which Berosus writ of the King of Babylon who subverted both Phaenicia and K all Syria with them also accordeth Philostratus in his History of the siege of Tyria and Megasthenes also in his fourth Book of the affairs of India The King of Babylon excelled Hercules in strength and 〈…〉 where he laboureth to prove that the said King excelled Hercules in strength and valour affirming that he subdued the greatest part of Africk and Spain and that the Temple of Jerusalem was burnt by the Babylonians and again re-edified by Cyrus and we may prove it out of Berosus who in his third book saith as followeth Nabuchodonosor having begun the third Wall fell sick and died when he had reigned forty three years and his Son Evelmeradochus succeed him who for his iniquity and licenciousness was treacherously slain by his Sisters Husband named Niriglissoroor after he had reigned two years He being dead the Traytor Niriglissoroor usurped the Kingdom and reigned four years L whose Son then a child was mace King called by name Laborosardochus and he reigned nine months The Walls of Babylon built of brick and bitumen who for corruptness of his manners was slain by his own Friends after whose death they who slew him consulting together made one Nabonidus a Babylonian King At this time the Walls of Brick and Bitumen about the River of Babylon were built In the eighth year of this Kings reign Cyrus coming with an Army out of Persia conquered all Asia and came with his Forces against Babylon but the King of Babylon having notice of his coming levied an Army advanc'd against him and gaue him Battel but being overcome he with a very few of his men was forced to flye into Borsippa Cyrus now besieged Babylon and purposed to destroy the outward Walls thereof but finding them too strong and impenetrable he returned to Bersippa to besiege Nabonidus the King of Babylon Cyrus
it came to pass that none of them offended but each one resolute in his Religion took example of the virtue courage and constancy of their fore-father Isaac who understanding that it was God's will that he should be Sacrificed refused not to submit his body to his Fathers Sword Let us said they yield our Souls to him of whom we receied both Soul and Body It is a small matter for us to suffer loss of these members seeing that we shall in lieu of them receive everlasting bliss Abraham Isaac and Jacob do joyfully expect us as L Co-heirs of their Kingdom let us glorifie that womb wherein we were for ten months space let none of us be more coward than the other nor none of us degenerate from the other True brotherhood we that were all begotten of one Father and sucked of one milk must in all things resemble one another we had one teacher and one law inviolate And in this golden bond of concord were these brethren linked together and none of them mourned to see the other tormented but all rejoyced at the others death O Children whose dignity surpasseth the Royalty of Kings and Princes whose glory and virtue is unspeakable None of you were terrified with fear but you so hastened to your deaths as though you had been to go to bliss and felicity you were truly brethren who even by death were linked together A pledge and sign of brotherly amity God hath greatly in you magnified our Nation in you M shewed us all an example of fortitude whom therefore I think he caused to be so many in number as were the days wherein he created the World so that these seven brethren may resemble the seven days wherein all things were made And why should we so admire this fortitude in these young men when a woman armed her self with contempt of death Who indeed is not to be called a Mother but to be honoured with a higher title than humane frailty can afford who bare into this World so many triumphs For the Mother seeing her Children dead was with a kind and godly zeal inflamed also to suffer The mothers grief and no marvel seeing that the very brute beasts if they perceive violence offered to their young do expose themselves to perils in their defence and protect them with their wings teeth and tallons yea and every one that is any way able to N make resistance opposeth herself to the Enemy to defend her young And not only brute Beasts do this but even Bees do defend their young and their honey threatning their Stings to them that offer to tast thereof and more esteeming the good of their young than their own lives But this zealous mother directed by the Spirit of God and the dictates of reason incouragd her Children to dy and being to dy after them chose rather to be a spectator of their death than otherwise When all her family had suffered she as the last and glory of them all came to execution despising the Tyrants threats offering her motherly brest to those torments which her Children had suffered O blessed stock and blessed increase of the self same womb Why should I not affirm that in all lineaments and feature of O the body you are like your mother and if this be a commendation in them that beside A features of the body receive nothing of their Mother I will say more of you that you are like your mother in Fortitude Vertue and Religion and that you so in all things resemble her that you are every way equal unto her save only herein that she with her Eyes beheld the immanity of your torments and was afterward as constant in her own Martyrdom as you in yours She therefore herein excelled you that she suffered seven torments before she came to suffer in her own person The mother suffereth seven torments before she was tormented feared in every one of them lest she should be overcome But O thou example of all women I cannot tell whether thou barest these Children in thy womb or createdst them who couldst with dry Eyes look upon them whilst they were torn in pieces yea I say little affirming that thou B patiently didst behold those sights for even thou thy self didst exhort them thereunto thou rejoycedst to see one of them torn in pieces with Flesh-hooks the other to be racked upon the Wheel the third to be bound and beaten thou joyfully admiredst the others burning and exhortedst the rest not to be terrified here with and although whilst thou beheld'st their torments thy grief was greater than that which thou hadst in Child-birth yet didst thou bear a lightsome and chearful countenance as though it had been one triumphing While they were a killing thou didst laugh and seeing only one of all thy Children left hereat thou didst nothing relent Can I describe how every one perished seeing thou their mother didst laugh at their deaths and when their sinews were cut in two their heads flaid their tongues pulled forth by the Roots their C hands broken their bodies in the fire and cast upon Iron plates red-hot and upon Wheels and their ribs pulled in sunder and many other torments for which we want names Never was any Swan which if you will believe antiquity Sings sweetest before her death comparble to the Funeral notes of thy dying Children And you blessed ofspring were not overcome by that Syren's enchantments but to honour God scrupled not to leave your Mother without Children And she being as pious brave on her side chose rather to want you for a time than to incur eternal damnation wishing rather that the bodies of her Children should be tormented than their Souls Well she knew that nothing was more frail and infirm than our bodies which though persecution be wanting are often killed with Agues and other Maladies Who is D ignorant that shipwrack is incident to Sailers disasters to them that travel sudden death to those that live at ease sudden casualty by fire and by the hands of Theives and a thousand other ways to dispatch our lives Seeing then that our mortal bodies are subject to so many miseries to bring us to our end who would not make choice of a quick dispatch A similitude from the Deluge whereby we lose goods of this World and gain life everlasting O thou most reverend of all women the credit of thy Nation and honour of our Religion who like the Ark of Noe didst persist inviolate amongst such stormy Waves for as the Arke withstood the force of the deluge and being built strongly with firm boards did not suffer any thing within it to perish so thou sufferedst not the Tyrant to overcome the holy Ghost which thou hadst received in thy heart Behold of what force and efficacy Reason is which oftentimes maketh men inferiour E to women For neither was Daniel so tortured at the sight of the Lions nor
of calamity 132 n. 133 d. 144 k. see piety contemned Religion renewed 224 n. Religion of the Esseans 613 a. Relicks of Jupiter taken away 33 d. Remisness in punishing cause of sin 157 d. Renown of Solomon's vertues 213 e f g. Repairing of the Temple 245 n. 259 h. Repairing of the City Jerusalem 249 m. Repentance of the people 97 b. of Achab 229 k. of David 185 c. of Joachas 246 â— of Manasses 258 c. Report of Joseph's death 675 a. Report of the behaviour of Samuel's sons 149 d. Repose 27 g. Request of Jonathan 337 k. of the Jews 610 l m. of the Romans to Caesar 717 c. Requital of courtesie 42 m. 66 m. required 122 i. performed 123 c. Resolution of Joseph's brethren 51 e. Restitution of things borrowed 116 i. Restoring â— God 's service 245 i k. 258 d. Returns of Jacob's sons 57 c. of the Spies 96 k. 122 k. of Vespasian 761 c. Revenues of Priests 103 c. of Mephibosheth's lands 183 b Revenues of Agrippa 524 l. of Aâ—chelaus 610 n. of Pheroras 589 d. Reverence of the Sabbath 614 h. Reverence of the Roman souldier 661 b c. Revolt from the laws of the Fathers 107 e. Revolt of the ten Tribes 219 i. Revolt of the Germans 764 i. Reward of learned Preachers 231 l. 263 m. Reward of valiant men 741 g. Reward of such as keep the Law 811 b. Rewards oppress Justice 149 b. Riches of the Madianites 109 a b. of the Ainites 124 l. of David 202 f. of Solomon 215 c d e. of Ozias 249 n. Riddle of Samson propounded to the Thamnites 140 m. dissolved ibid. n. Ripping of women's wombs foretold 240 g. River of Arnon 104 k. River Sabbaticus 765 b. Robbers punished 372 c. 416 b. Robberies in Trachona 416 a. winked at 621 d. Roboam entreated to ease the people's burden 218 d. denied their petition ib. f. abandoned of ten Tribes 219 i. forbidden to make war ib. i. builded strong Cities 221 b. his wives and children ibid. b. impiety ibid. maketh brazen shields 222 c. dieth ibid. Rock yieldeth forth water 75 f. Road of the Philistines 167 a. Rod of Moses turned into a serpent 68 k. devoureth the Egyptians rods 68 l. Rod of Aaron fructifieth 103 a. The Romans government how far it extended 661 b. Romans overcome the Jews 568 i k. sack Jericho 576 i. get a great prey ib. k. skirmish with the Jews 618 i. fire the porches ib. i. have subdued the Athenians c. 626 n. yea the whole world ib. m. and 627 a c. flee into the King's forts 631 b. are slain ibid. e. burn Joppa c. 634 n. burn the Temple gates 636 k. overcome the Jews 658 e. retire without their purpose 668 o. enter Jotapata 670 e f. moved with no compassion 670 g. their warlike discipline 661 b. attempt nothing rashly 661 d. drive the Jews to their ships 676 k. assault Gamala 680 l. 683 b c. many slain ib. f. win Gamala ib. f. fight with the Jews 713 c. their fear and trouble ib. f. overcome the seditious 725 b. get the first wall 725 o. driven out by the Jews â—23 b. hindred by the Jews 728 l. plant their courts of guard 735 d. fear the desperateness of the Jews 740 k. undermine the wall 741 a. invade Antonia 742 m. set Jerusalem on fire 755 f. enter Jerusalem 758 k. finds treasure in the vaults 759 e. ruinate City and Temple 760 k. Dining Room fell down 578 k. Ruben the son of Jacob 46 n. why so called ib. his sons 61 b. his disswasion 51 e. and his perswasion 52 k. intended to save Joseph 52 l. pleads before Joseph 56 m. Rue of admirable greatness 767 g. Ruine of the Israelites sought 62 n o. Ruine of the Amalechites foretold 77 d. Rulers of Jerusalem 637 f. Rumour of Herod's death 397 f. Rumour of the Emperour 492 â— 511 g. Ruth her love to Naomi 142 m. married to Booz 143 d. S. Saba chief City of Aethiopia 65 f. called Meroâ— and why ibid. f. Sabach and Naphanus David's Captains 196 b c. Sabbath 27 g. called a day of rest and why ibid. o. Sabinus repaireth to Jerusalem 465 b. and why ib. 606 i. 607 e f. Sabinus pursueth those that slew Caius 511 h. alloweth not of Claudius 518 l. killeth himself 519 b. Sabinus took the Capitol 710 e. slain ibid. k. Sabinus valiant 742 h. slain ibid. l. Sacks of chaff 666 m. Sacred sanctuary 720 n. Sacrifice acceptable to God 157 e. Sacrifice of Cain and Abel 29 c. Sacrifice of Noah 31 e. of Jacob 49 d. Sacrifices of the Princes of the Tribes 90 m. Sacrifice of thanksgiving 91 c. Sacrifice for sin 91 d. Sacrifice of Pentecost 92 m. Sacrifice of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple 212 d Sacrifice of Samuel 148 l. Sacrifice of Ezechias 253 h i. Sacrifice of Herod 581 g. Sacrifice of the old Testament 89 g. 809 e. Sacrifice consumed of it self 89 f. Sacrilege of Achar 123 e. punished with death 124 i. of Crassus 368 c. 568 m. of John 738 k. Sadoc sent to David 190 l. being pursued is hidden 190 m Sadoc established high Priest 204 l. ibid. m. Sadduces a sect 339 m. 476 m. their opinion 477 c d. Safety of David respected 162 k. Sale of the Jews 679 m. Salmanasar King of Assyria 2520. overcometh Oseas and why ibid d. taketh Oseas prisoner and transporteth the Israelites 253 m. spoiled Syria and Phoenicia 253 o. Salome accuseth Mariamne 497 k. accuseth Alexander c 426 l. enticeth her daughter c 434 k. denyed to Syllaeus in marriage 435 c d. excuseth her self 434 o. marrieth Alexis 449 b. discovereth conspiracies 450 o. releaseth the Nobles 450 m. 603 b. Princes of Jamnia 618 o. dyeth 454 l. Solomon's Coronation 202 a. King of Israel 203 d. requireth wisdom of God 205 b. marrieth a wife 204 n. decideth the two womens debate 205 a b. buildeth the Temple 207 f. prayeth to God 211 k m. exhorteth the people to praise God 212 c. buildeth a Palace ib. g. dissolveth hard questions 213 f. repaireth the walls of Jerusalem 214 k buildeth Cities ibid. k. maketh the Chanaanites tributary 215 b. buildeth a Navy ib. b. remunerateth Nicaule the Queen ibid. f. marrieth strange wives 216 o. committeth idolatry ibid o. his punishment denounced 217 i. had enemies raised against him ibid. k. dyeth 218 b. Saltis subdued the Egyptians 785 a. Samaria besieged 238 g. of whom so called 225 n. taken 347 m. described 659 d. Samaritans hinder the building of the Temple 275 n o. 279 o. their offer rejected ib. n. Jews enemies 281 l. kinsmen to the Jews when 295 n. disdain the Jews 3â—4 d. send letters to Antiochus ib. e. contend with the Jews 333 i k. accuse the Jews 534 n. their strife with the Jews 619 e. 11000 slain 670 c. Samaeus reproveth the Jews impiety 221 f. comforteth the people ibid. Samaeus his admonition 373 h. honoured ibid. i. Samson killeth a Lyon 140