favourable to you it behoveth you not only to be touched with a desire of recovering your liberty but also to endeavor to recover the same in effect Hedio Ruffin cap. 2. Beware therefore lest through the corruption of your own manners you make your selves unworthy thereof and let each one of you endeavor to follow justice and expelling all sin out of your minds The punishment of the Israelites 1 Sam. 7. 3 ad 6. convert your selves in all purity to God and persevere constantly in his service For in doing these things you shall shortly obtain all felicity and especially a new liberty and an assured victory against your Enemies which neither by valor or by the strength of your bodies or by the multitude of your Armies Samuels oration to the people you were able to obtain for God hath not proposed Rewards for these things but for virtue and justice and trust me he will not deceive your I expectation Samuels exhortation to the people as touching their repentance nor fail in the execution of his promises When he had spoken after this manner all the People testified their consent by acclamations shewing the pleasure they conceived by this discourse and promising to do that which should be well-pleasing to God Whereupon Samuel assembled them the second time in the City of Maspha which word signifieth conspicuous there they erected an Altar and sacrificed unto God and after they had fasted for a days space they made publick Prayers to God The Philistines being advertis'd of this Assembly came suddenly with a great Army and many Forces intending to surprize the Hebrews who neither expected nor were prepared for them This sudden approach of theirs much dismayed the Hebrews so that running to Samuel they told him that their hearts failed them through fear The prayers supplications and fasts of the Israelites in Maspha and their minds were troubled K with the remembrance of their former losses for which cause they ought to hold themselves in quiet for fear lest the Enemy should employ his power against them Thou hast led us hither to pray sacrifice and offer up our vows to God and behold the Philistines are encamped near us v. 8. 9 and ready to surprize us naked and disarmed we have no other hope therefore of security What things in warfare are to be opposed against the-Enemy but what proceedeth from thee and unless God moved by thy prayers give us means to escape their hands Samuel in way of answer wished them to be of good cheer assuring them that God would give them some testimony of his assistance whereupon sacrificing a sucking Lamb in the name of the People he pray'd God that it would please him to stretch forth his right hand for them in the Battel against the Philistines Samuel comforted the people v. 10. and that he would not permit them to fall this second L time into the Enemies hands To these prayers of his God gave ear and accepted their humble hearts and dutiful observance v. 11 12 c. being well-pleas'd with their offering and promising them victory Samuels sacrifice and prayer Before the Sacrifice was wholly consumed with the flame and the Ceremonies performed the Enemies ranged their Battels in the Israelites sight supposing the day already theirs The sacrifice devoured by celestial flame a token of Gods assistance in that they had surprized the Jews unprepared for fight as being assembled in that place to no such end But the matter fell out contrary to what they expected and had they been foretold the same they would have scarcely believed it For first by an effect of Gods Omnipotence the Earth trembled under their feet so that they could scarce stand v. 10 and some were suddenly swallowed up by the Earthquake A horrible earth-quake among the Enemies and a great Thunder was accompanied with such scorching Lightnings that their eyes being M dazled and their hands blasted therewith they could not wield or manage their Weapons Samuels victory over the Enemy and so were constrained to repose all their hope and confidence in flight But Samuel seeing them thus dismayed suddenly set upon them and killing many of them ceased not to pursue the rest as far as a place called Corre where he erected a stone for a Trophee or mark both of his own Victory and the Enemies flight and called the same the strong Rock to testifie that the People had received from God all the strength which they had us'd in this famous Battel The Philistines after they had received this overthrow sallied not out any more against the Israelites but remembring their fear and the strange accidents that befel them they remained in peace offering no further invasion for the confidence which the Philistines had before that time conceived against the Hebrews was N removed into the hearts of the Hebrews ever after this Victory Samuel continu'd the War against them v. 14. and slew a great number of them and for ever abased their pride taking from them that Countrey which formerly by Conquest they had cut off from the inheritance of the Jews Samuel recovereth those Lands which the Israelites had lost which Countrey extendeth from the Frontier of Geth to the City of Accaron and the rest of the Canaanites at that time had peace with the Israelites O A CHAP. III. The year of the World 2871. before Christ's Nativity 1093. Samuel unable by reason of his old age any longer to Govern the State committeth it to the administration of his Sons NOw when the Prophet Samuel had reduced the people to a good form of Government Samuel prescribeth laws and disposeth the judgment-seat in several Cities he assigned them a City whither they might appeal and decide those differences that fell out amongst them and he travelled twice every year from City to City Hedio Ruffinus chap. 3. to administer justice unto them and continued this policy for a long time But when he found himself overburdened with years and unapt to execute his ordinary B offices 1 Sam. 8. 1 2. surrendred the Government and Superintendency of the people to his Sons the elder of whom was called Joel Samuel committeth the Government and care of the common-wealth to his two Sons and the younger Abiha and he commanded that one of them should make his seat of justice in Bethel and the other reside at Bersheba dividing the people and attributing each part to its particular Judge Now it became manifest by experience that Children are not alwayes like their Fathers but sometimes of evil Parents there are good Children bred Joel and Abia. as contrariwise at this time of a good Father there were evil Sons For forsaking the instructions of their Father they followed a quite contrary course and perverted justice with corruptions and rewards and surfeited in delights and pleasures in contempt of
the will of God and the instructions of their Father who had no greater care than that they should acquit themselves well of C their duty CHAP. IV. How the people being displeased with the manners and government of the Sons of Samuel demanded a King WHen therefore the people saw v. 4 5 6. that the Sons of the Prophet committed so many outrages against their Lawes The Israelites report unto Samuel the leâ—wd behaviour of his Sons and beseech him to nominate a King that may reign over them and Policy they were greatly displeased and had recourse to their Father who dwelt in the City of Kamatha where relating to him the misdemeanours of his Sons they desired him that seeing his age rendred him unfit D to administer the affairs of the Common Weal he would nominate and elect a King over them who might both command their Nation and take vengeance on the Philistines for their many injuries This demanded of the people sensibly afflicted Samuels mind for he extremely loved justice and liked not Kingly government being of opinion that Aristocracy was the happiest of all governments Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. This matter so troubled him that v. 6. by reason of his care he could neither eat nor sleep but all night long he tossed and tumbled in his bed Samuel is discomforted through the peoples demand through the great agitation of his mind Whilst this his indisposition continued God appeared to him and comforted him bidding him not to be grieved at what the people had required that this injury not only concerned him but God himself whom they disclaimed for their King and Governor That this was not E the first time of their taking up this resolution v. 7 8. that they had inclined to it from the day that they departed out of Egypt Samuel â— comforted by God But ere it be long said he they shall repent themselves but too late when the evil is past remedy and they shall condemn themselves for their ingratitude towards me their God and towards thee their Prophet I will therefore that thou chuse them a King him that I shall nominate to thee after thou hast advertised them what evils they shall endure by their having a King and what inconveniences follow the change which so vehemently and unhappily they pursue The next day Samuel assembled the people about break of day and promised them that he would establish them a King God commandeth Samuel to create a King But saith he before I effect that which you request I must declare to you what condition you shall live in under subjection to royalty and F how many and grievous evils you shall be pressed with v. 10 ad 18. by those Kings that shall Govern you Samuel expresseth unto the Israelites those inconveniences they should suffer under a King Know therefore first of all that your Kings will take your Children from you and make some of them Coachmen and others Horsemen and Archers of their Guard others their Posts and Tribunes and Centurions some likewise their Handicrafts men and Armorers and Chariot-makers and Smiths and Forgers of Weapons and Husbandmen of his fields and Ploughers and diggers of his Vineyards neither is there any thing which they shall not be compelled to do after the manner of bond-slaves that are bought with money They shall take your Daughters also and make them their Perfumers Cooks and Bakers and they shall employ them in all servile offices wherein bond-maids are employed either by fear or punishment They shall take from you your substance and give it to their Eunuchs and other Servants They G shall take your flocks and distribute them amongst their Domesticks In a word you and all yours shall be subject not only to one King but also to his Servants When you endure these things then shall you call to remembrance what I have foretold you and with repentance beseech God The year of the World 2880. before Christ's Nativity 1804. that he will have mercy on you and give you speedy deliverance from the servitude H of your Kings but he will not respect your prayers but neglecting them will suffer you to bear the penalty of your imprudence and ingratitude Although these future inconveniences were foretold them yet did the people neglect them and not suffering the perverse opinion they had conceived in their minds to be altered or diverted they insisted with all obstinacy v. 19. and without care of future mischiefs that they might have a King created over them The people obstinately persevereth in craving a King because as they said it was necessary to have a King that might manage War for them to revenge them on their Enemies and repress their Forces and that there was nothing more reasonable than that they should be governed in the same sort as their Neighbours were Samuel finding his perswasions could prevail nothing at all with them and that they could not be diverted from their resolution He spake thus I Go your ways for this time every one of you to your houses and I will cause you to be assembled in a short time when God shall have informed me what King he will give you CHAP. V. Saul by the command of God is declared King THere was a man of the Tribe of Benjamin 1. Sam. 9. v. 1. ad 3. of Noble Birth and commendable manners called Cis who had a young Son named Saul who was tall of stature and had so much spirit and courage that he might well pass for an extroardinary man This Cis having fair Asses wherein for their handsomness he took more pleasure than K in any other kind of Cattel lost some of them which were strayed from the rest of his flock whereupon he sent his Son accompanied with a Servant to seek them out Saul having travelled in quest of them thorow all his Fathers Tribe journeyed thorow the rest of the Tribes without any tidings of them for which cause he determined to return home again for fear lest his Father should conceive some care and grief for him in his absence v. 3. As he arrived near the City of Ramath the Servant that followed him Saul seeketh the Asses that were lost told him that there dwelt a Prophet in that place who always foretold the truth and he counselled him to address to him with assurance that by him he should understand what was become of his Asses Saul answered that he had no money left to recompence the Prophet having consumed all they brought forth with them in their L journey His Servant replyed that he had still the fourth part of a Sicle which they might give him for he was ignorant that the Prophet was not wont to receive mony of any When they drew near the Gates of the City they met certain Maidens that went out to fetch water v. 6 ad 10. of whom Saul
from thence unto Tyre where he was taken and after he had suffer'd many miseries by the hands of his Enemies he finally died Alexander having by this means obtained the Kingdom Alexander slain in the conflict betwixt him and Antiochus Gryphus made a league of amity with I Hircanus And whereas it fell out that Antiochus sirnamed Gryphus the son of Demetrius made War against him he was overcome and slain in the battel When Antiochus had taken possession of the Kingdom of Syria he forbare to make War against the Jews for that he had intelligence that his brother by the mothers side who was in like sort named Antiochus assembled an Army against him at Cyzicus Remaining therefore in his Countrey he resolved to make preparation against his brothers coming who was called Cyzicenus because he was brought up in that City and was the son of Antiochus called the Conserver who died in the Countrey of the Parthians and who was brother to Demetrius the father of Gryphus and it fell out that both these brothers were married to one and the same Cleopatra as we have heretofore express'd When Antiochus the Cyzicenian K was arrived in Syria he made War against his brother which continued many years during all which time Hircanus lived in peace for presently after Antiochus's death he revolted from the subjection of the Macedonians and from that time forward gave them no succors Hircanus whilest the brothers weaken themselves by civil wars liveth in peace neither as Subject or Friend but his fortunes both augmented and flourished greatly during the time of Alexander Zebina and principally during the Reign of these two brothers For the War wherein they consum'd one another gave Hircanus an opportunity to levy all the Revenues of Judea without any contradiction so that by the same means he gather'd infinite sums of money For whil'st the Cyzicenian destroy'd his brothers Countrey Hircanus also made known his inclination and disposition and seeing likewise that Antiochus was destitute of those succors he expected out of Egypt and L that both himself and his brother also through their natural discords weakned one anothers estates he despised them both CHAP. XVIII Hircanus taketh Samaria and ruines it totally How much this High-Priest was in God Almighties favor He leaveth the Pharisees and betakes him to the Sadduces His happy death HIrcanus seeing himself so powerful resolv'd to besiege Samaria which was a strong M City and is at this day called Sebasta because it was re-edifi'd by Herod as we will make manifest in time and place convenient He therefore began to besiege and batter the same with all diligence Hircanus besiegeth Samaria animated thereunto because of the extreme hatred he bare the Samaritans who on purpose to please the King of Syria had offer'd many grievous affronts to the Marissens who were descended from and allied with the Jews He therefore made a Trench round about the City with a double Wall of 80 furlongs and committed the general command of this siege to his sons Antigonus and Aristobulus who so diligently and valiantly behaved themselves Antiochus seeking to relieve the Samaritans is overcome and put to flight by Aristobulus that the Samaritans being overpressed with extreme famine were constrained to eat such things as were unusual and unaccustomed amongst men and to call Antiochus the Cyzicenian to their aid who readily repaired N thither but was repulsed by Aristobulus's Soldiers and being pursu'd by the two brethren as far as Scythopolis he hardly escaped and they returning to their siege freshly assaulted and besieged the Samaritans within their own Walls so that once more they were constrained to send Ambassadors to Antioch for aid who was their Ally who sent unto Ptolomey Lathyrus for about some 6000 men who furnish'd him with them contrary to his mothers mind who therefore had almost thrust him out of his dominion As soon as he had receiv'd them he made a road into Hircanus's Countrey and spoilt and forag'd the same as far as Egypt For he durst not give him battel hand to hand because he had not competent Forces but thought that in spoiling the Countrey he might cause them to raise the siege and forsake Samaria but after he had lost a great number of his O men by divers snares of his Enemies he went unto Tripoly committing the general charge of that War to Callimander and Epicrates two of his Captains Callimander more rashly than wisely attempting to set upon the Enemy was himself slain and his Soldiers routed The year of the World 3854. before Christ's Nativity 110. And Epicrates given over to covetousness did openly yield up Scythopolis and A other Cities into the hands of the Jews so that it was impossible for either of them to raise the siege At last after that Hircanus had continued his siege before the City for the space of one whole year he became master of it and not contenting himself with the taking hereof Epicrates corrupted with money selleth Scythopolis and other places to the Jews he utterly destroy'd it enforcing the Rivers through the midst thereof yea he ruined the same in such sort that the mud and soil both of the water and earth took away all the appearance of the City so that it seemed as if it had never been Of this Hircanus there is a certain incredible matter committed to memory namely how during his High-Priesthood God had conference with him For it is reported That the very same day wherein his sons fought against Antiochus the Cyzicenian whil'st being B himself alone Hircanus taketh Samaria he offer'd incense in the Temple he heard a voice saying That his two sons had at that present overcome Antiochus Hircanus is foretold by a voice in the Temple of his sons victory all which he incontinently signifi'd unto the people at the gate of the Temple and according as he had said so it came to pass See here what occurrences hapned in Hircanus's time About this very instant likewise the affairs of the Jews prospered not only in Jerusalem and Judea but also amongst the Inhabitants of Alexandria and finally in Egypt and Cyprus For Queen Cleopatra rebelling against her son Ptolomey Lathyrus appointed Chelcias and Ananias Chelcias and Ananias Captains of Cleopatras Army the sons of that Onias who had built the Temple in Heliopolis according to the pattern of that in Jerusalem her Generals And having committed her Army unto their hands she acted nothing without their advice according as Strabo the Cappadocian witnesseth Strabo of Cappadocia his report of the loyalty of the Jews speaking after this manner Divers of those who came with us and C of those who had been sent into Cyprus from Cleopatra suddenly revolted to Ptolomey only the Jews that were of Onias 's faction remained constant in their duty because the Queen made great account and reckoning of Chelcias and Ananias their Countreymen Thus
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
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
Historiographers of untruth and declareth his intent and specifieth the principal points of this History THe War of the Jews against the Romans The duty of an Historiographer and how things that are past should be written was of all other the greatest that ever was attempted in our Age or heard of in D any other either between City and City or Nation against Nation Yet there have been some persons who rather building their discourse on the vain and false reports of others than their own knowledge have written the History of it by hear-say and filled their discourse not only with Vanity but also with Contradiction Others there are who though Witnesses or Actors in the same nevertheless have according to their own fancy related many falshoods either out of flattery to the Romans or hatred against the Jews Whose Writings are full of nothing but Accusations of the one and Praises of the other without observation of Historical E Verity Joseph himself had a hand in the Wars of the Jews For this cause I Joseph the Son of Matthias by Birth an Hebrew a Citizen and Priest of Jerusalem who in the beginning of those Wars bore Arms against the Romans and afterwards being thereunto forced by necessity was present at all those things which were attempted and prosecuted in those Wars have thought good to write in the Greek Tongue in favour of all those who acknowledge the Sovereignty of the Roman Empire all that which heretofore in my own Language I have written to inform other Nations When these great Wars began the Romans were at Civil Wars among themselves And the younger and more turbulent sort of Jews trusting to their Riches and Courage excited so great troubles in the East to make use of this opportunity that whole Nations were in apprehension to be brought into subjection to them because F they had confederated with those of their Nation that inhabited the parts beyond Euphrates to revolt all together Moreover at that time the Gauls who bordered upon the Romans suffered them not to live in peace And the Germans also began to take Arms. After Nero's time all things full of trouble In a word after the death of Nero Seditions reigned every where so that by reason of the opportunity of these times many went about to make themselves Kings And the Soldiers lead with the hope of gain desired nothing more than trouble and alteration Now because these matters were important the trouble I had to see the truth disguised made me take care to inform exactly the Parthians Babylonians Joseph had written this History in the Hebrew Tongue before and the farthest distant Arabians and those of our Nation inhabiting beyond Euphrates together with the Adiabenites of the true cause of this War of all that G passed in it and how it was ended lest those who were not present in it should be ignorant thereof and deceived by flattering and fabulous Historians Yet some of these there be who besides their false informations stick not to write Histories not only void of all H truth but also no ways answerable to the Subject which they undertake For whereas they labour to extol the Romans The Glory of the Romans is diminished if you derogate from their labours at the Siege of Jerusalem and debase the Jews I cannot understand how they can be held great who triumph in the Conquest of men so obscure and abject Nay whilst they thus extol the Romans valour in conquering the Jews they consider not the continuance of the War nor the multitude of the Roman Forces nor the honour of their Captains whose Glory is much impaired if they lessen that of the ressistance by which the valour of the Jews render'd the execution of the Enterprise so difficult For my own part I am not resolved to contradict those who shall enhance the Glory and Noble Actions of the Romans nor to extol and cry up the Deserts of my own Nation but my resolution is in all truth and sincerity to set down each Occurrent without I respect or partiality towards either part In performance whereof I will order my discourse according to the matter I treat of and as my grief and sorrow shall invite me to lament the miseries of my Countrey For the Civil Dissension that dismember'd the same was the cause that brought it to confusion And those Tyrants that reigned amongst us were such who forcibly drew the Romans with Sword and Fire to effect the Desolation of our Holy Temple Titus his Piety towards the Jews The truth whereof Titus Caesar himself can justifie who destroyed the same who during all those Wars still pitied the people for that they as he well perceived were kept in awe by the Seditious And oftentimes of his own accord he deferred the taking of the City and purposely protracted the Siege to the intent that in the mean time the Authors of the Seditions K might have leisure to repent and submit themselves Now if any man think that I write this as one that exclaimeth against the Tyrants and their Depredations or that in bewailing the miseries of my lost Countrey I accuse their Villanies too passionately and thereby transgress the limits of a History let it be imputed to my grief and so pardoned For amongst all the Cities that ever were conquered by the Romans our City only attained to the top of felicity but now alas 't is brought into extreme Misery All Calamities that hapned since the beginning of the World being compared with those the Jews suffered are of no moment Captivity and Desolation Nay if all the Misfortunes and Calamities which the World from the beginning hath seen be compared with the infelicity and fall of the Jews they are slight and inconsiderable And to encrease our sorrow 't is not to Foreigners but to our own Countrey-men L that we are to attribute the cause of our miseries Wherefore if any man too severe and Stoical reprehend this my Lamentation let him consider only the deeds I recount in the History which I write and pass over the Lamentations and sorrows of me The Grecian Historiographers overpass the Wars of the Jews with silence who am the Historiographer I confess I have often blamed and perhaps with reason the most eloquent Grecians that although these our most miserable and memorable Wars hapned in their days in respect whereof all other former troubles are obscure and of no reckoning they have restrained their Tongues and Pens to the end they might carp at those with greater liberty who undertake the publishing thereof whom though in Learning and Eloquence they exceed yet they have the advantage M of having managed Publick Affairs These Censurers of others write the Histories of the Assyrians and Medes as if the ancient Writers had ill reported the same though indeed they come as far behind those ancient Authors in their manner of writing as they
were laid upon them he presently made Herod and them friends upon these conditions that they in all D things should be obedient to their Father and that their Father should leave the Kingdom to whom he pleased Hereupon Herod returned from Rome and though he seemed to have forgiven his Sons yet he laid not his jealousie and suspicion aside For Antipater still persisted to make Herod hate his other two Sons though for fear of him that reconciled them he durst not openly shew himself an enemy to them Afterward Herod sailed by Cilicia Archelaus kindly entertaineth Herod and his Sons and arrived at Eleusa where Archelaus received him very courteously thanking him for the safety of his Son-in-law and declaring himself very joyful that they were made friends for he had writ to his friends at Rome with all speed possible that they should be favourable to Alexander when he came to plead his cause And E after this entertainment he conducted Herod to Zephyria and made him a present of thirty talents and so took his leave of him Herod as soon as he came to Jerusalem assembled the people together and in the presence of his three sons he shewed them the cause of his going to Rome and blessed God and thanked Caesar who had appeased the discord of his family and made his Sons friends which he esteemed more than his Kingdom Herod's worthy Oration to the people wherein he distributeth honours to his three Sons And I saith he will make their friendship firm For Caesar hath not only given me an absolute power in my State but lieve also to chuse whom I please of my Sons for my Successor And now I declare my intention to divide my Kingdom amongst my three Sons which purpose of mine first I beseech Almighty God and secondly you to favour for one of them for his years the other for their Nobility of Birth F have right to the Kingdom which is so large that it may suffice them all Wherefore honour those whom Caesar hath conjoyned and I their father ordained my successors Give them the respects and duty according to their age which they have reason to expect from their Charge not the order establisht by nature For a man cannot do a greater pleasure to the younger when he honoureth him above his years than he shall give discontent to the elder For which cause I will constitute to every one of them such friends and well-willers as with whom they may be most conversant and of them I will require pledges of concord and unity amongst them For I know that discords and contentions arise by malice of those who are conversant with Princes Herod 〈◊〉 not the Kingdom to his Sons but the honours of the Kingdom and that if they be well disposed they will increase friendship And I require not only these but also all G such as bear rule in my army that they regard me only for the present for I give not my Sons the Kingdom but only the hope and assurance thereof and they shall have pleasure as though they were Kings themselves yet I my self will bear the burden of affairs Let every one of you consider my age my course of life and piety for I am not so old that any H one may quickly despair of me nor have I accustomed my self to such kind of pleasure as is wont to shorten mens days and I have been so religious that I am in great hope of long life But if any one despise me and seek to please my Sons such a one will I punish I do not forbid them to be honoured whom my self have begotten for that I envy them but because I know well that such applauses nourish pride and arrogance in the fierce minds of young men Wherefore let all those that apply themselves to their service consider that I will be ready to reward the good and that those who are seditious shall find their malice to have an unprofitable event at their hands whom they so flatter I easily perswade my self that all men will be of my mind that are of my Sons mind For it is good for them that I reign Herod converteth his Speech to his and that I am friends with my Sons And you my Sons I exhort you to acquit I your selves religiously of all the duties to which Nature obliges you and which she imprints in the hearts of the most savage beasts also reverence Caesar who hath reconciled us And last of all obey me who request and intreat that at your hands which I might command namely that you remain Brethren I shall take order that you want nothing sutable to your royal Dignity if you continue and remain friends I pray God with all my heart that what I have ordain'd may tend to your advantage and to his glory After he had thus spoken he embraced them very lovingly and dismissed the people Herod by his words did not utterly extinguish the hatred between his Sons some praying that it might be as he had said others who desired alteration making as though they heard nothing Yet for all this the dissention amongst the K Brethren was not appeased but they were more divided in heart than ever For Alexander and Aristobulus could not endure that Antipater should succeed to part of the Kingdom and Antipater was griev'd that his Brethren should have a share with him yet he so craftily carried himself that no man could perceive his hatred towards them And they derived of a noble race spake all they thought and many endeavoured to set them on and others friends to Antipater insinuated themselves into their company to learn intelligence so that Alexander could not speak a word but presently it was carried to Antipater and from him to Herod with an addition so that when Alexander spake any thing simply meaning no harm it was presently interpreted in the worst sence possible and if he chanced at any time to speak freely L of any matter Antipater's treason against his Brother Alexander presently it was made a great thing Antipater suborned men to urge him to speak that so their false reports might be shadowed with a colour of truth and that if he could prove any one thing true all lyes and tales else divulged might thereby be justifyed All Antipater's familiars were either naturally secret or else he stopped their mouths with bribes lest they should disclose his intents so that one might justly have termed his life a mystery of iniquity By what means Antipater corrupted his Brother Alexander's friends All Alexander's friends were either corrupted by money or flattering speeches wherewith Antipater overcame all and made them thieves and proditors of such things as were either done or spoken against him But of all the means he employed to ruine his Brothers with the King Antipater whetteth Herod and his Courtiers against Alexander the most crafty and powerful was that instead of declaring
all of one sort Before they eat a Priest giveth thanks and no man may eat B any meat till this Prayer be made to God Likewise when dinner is ended they pray again for both before and after they give thanks to God the Giver of all And then putting off that Apparel as Sacred they apply themselves to their work till evening At supper they do as before causing their Guests to sup with them if by fortune any come Their house is never troubled with cries or tumults for every one is appointed to speak in his turn so that their silence produces respect in strangers The cause of this moderation is their continual sobriety and that every one is limited how much to eat or drink The Esseans in compassion and helping others have free choice in other things they are ruled by their Governour And although that in all other matters they are ruled by their Superior yet in these two to wit compassionating and helping they may do as they think good for every one may when he pleaseth help those whom he thinketh deserve C help and when he pleaseth give meat to them that are in need Yet may not they give any thing to their Kindred without the lieve of their Superior They take great care to suppress their anger they keep their promise and maintain peace and people account every word they speak of as much force The Esseans swear not as if they had bound it with an oath and they shun oaths worse than perjury for they esteem him a liar who is not to be believed without he call God to witness They study diligently ancient Writers chiefly gathering out of their Writings what is most convenient for the soul and the body Out of them they learn Remedies for Diseases and the Vertues of Herbs Stones and Mettals Those who are desirous to be of their Order do not straight way converse with them but for a year before live out of the Colledge and D have the same diet a little hatchet and such a girdle as is before spoken of and a white garment But at the years end if they perceive such a person to be continent they give him a diet more agreeing with their own and he is permitted to wash himself in cold water to the end to purifie himself yet is he not admitted in common amongst them The Esseans Vows and Covenants till for two years more they have observed his life and manners And at last when he is thought worthy he is admitted to their common company But before he is received to the common Table first he is to protest solemnly to honour and serve God with all his heart to observe Justice and Fidelity towards all men never willingly to hurt any man nor injure any for another man's command but always to hate the wicked and assist the good to keep his faith to all but especially to his Superiors E The Esseans circumspect in Justice because they hold their power from God To which they add that if he be put in Authority over others he never will abuse it to the prejudice of those that are under him and neither exceed the rest in apparel nor any other ambitious pomp that he will always love the truth and severely reprove liars and that he will keep his hands and soul pure from all theft and unjust gain and that he will not conceal any mysteries or secrets of their Religion from his companions nor reveal them to any strangers although he should be thereto threatned by death Adding moreover that he will never deliver any Doctrine save that which he hath received and diligently preserve the Books as well as the Names of those from whom they received it These Protestations they oblige those to take solemnly who enter into their Order to F the end to fortifie them against Vices Those of the Society who transgress notoriously they thrust out of their company and whosoever is so punished for the most part dieth a miserable death for it being not lawful for him to eat with any stranger he is reduced to feed on grass like beasts and so he perisheth through Famine For which cause oftentimes they are moved with compassion to receive many into their Order again when ready by Famine to yield up the ghost judging them to have endured pennance enough for their offences who with famine were almost brought to death's door They are very severe and just in their Judgments and to decide any matter there is never fewer of them than an hundred and that which is by them agreed upon is irrevocable Next after God they reverence their Law-giver insomuch that if any G one revile him they forthwith condemn him to death They take it for a great duty to obey their Elders and what is appointed by many so that if ten of them sit together no man of them must speak without he be licenced thereto by nine of the company They account it a great incivility to be in the midst of the Assembly or on H their right hand And they are more severe than any other Jews in observing the Sabbath for they do not only abstain from dressing meat which they dress the Evening before that day but also they may not remove any vessel out of its place nor satisfie the necessities of Nature The Esseans reverence the Sabbaths Upon other days they dig a pit a foot deep in the ground with the hatchet which as we before said every one at his entrance into their Order hath given him and then covering themselves diligently with their garment as if they feared to be irreverent to the light of Heaven in that pit they ease themselves and then cover their ordure with the earth they took out of the pit And this they do in most secret places And although this purging of their bodies be natural yet do they by washing purifie themselves after it as after great uncleanness Furthermore I amongst themselves they are divided into four Orders according to the time which they have continued this exercise of life and they that are Juniors bear such respect to the Seniors that if they do but touch one of them they are obliged to purifie themselves The Esseans live a long time as though they had touched a stranger They are long-liv'd so that most of them live an hundred years which I judge is by reason of their well ordered diet and their temperance They contemn adversity and by constancy and fortitude triumph over torments The Esseans constancy in the War with the Romans They prefer an honourable death before life The Wars which the Jews made against the Romans shewed what invincible courage and hardiness they have in all things for they suffered the breaking of the members of their bodies fire and Sword and all kind of Tortures rather than be brought to speak the least word against K their Lawgiver The year
for pardon the Romans about Titus desirous to hear what he would say unto them and Titus having commanded his Souldiers to be quiet and to forbear shooting Arrows spoke to them first in token of his Victory by an Interpreter to this effect Titus Oration to the Jews by an Interpreter Are ye not wearied said he with the Calamities suffered by your Country You who without considering our power and your own weakness have with rash fury destroyed your People City and Temple Your selves also have justly deserved N to perish who since Pompey first Conquered you have never ceased to be Seditious and at last have openly declared War against the Romans Did you trust to your multitude You have seen that a small parcel of the Roman Army hath sufficiently resisted you Or did you expect forreign aid What Nation is not under our Dominion And who would rather make choice of the Jews than of the Romans Did you trust in your strength of Body Why you know the Germans serve us Or in the strength of your Walls What Wall or what greater hinderance than the Ocean wherewith the Britains invironed have yielded to the Roman Forces Or to your Courage and politick Counsel of your Captains You have already heard that the Carthaginians have been by us surprized The Romans humanity incited the Jews against them It was therefore the Romans humanity that incited you against themselves who first of all permitted you to possess your Country and gave you Kings of O your own Nation and after all this we kept your Laws inviolate and suffered you to live A as your selves desired not only in your own Country but also amongst other Nations and which is the greatest of all our benefits bestowed upon you we permitted you to gather Contributions and Gifts to the maintenance of your Temple and Sacrifices to God of all which we neither forbad any to be brought unto you nor hindred any that would offer to your Temple but suffered you our Enemies to be made richer than our selves so that you have used our own money against us Having received so many benefits at our hands you have now diâ—gorged your selves upon us and like spiteful Serpents spit your poyson upon them that made much of you Let us omit that by Nero's negligence you became forgetful of your duty and like some Member in the Body broken or shrunk you being still tamultuous at last were taken in a greater offence and were encouraged with immoderate desires to hope for unlawful liberty My B Father came into your Country not to punish you for your Revolt against Cestius but by good counsel and gentleness to reduce you to good order And whereas if he had come to destroy your Nation he ought first to have cut down the very Root to have come to this City and destroyed it with the Inhabitants he rather chose first to enter Galilee and the places adjoyning that in the mean time you might repent you and consider of your Estate But this his mercy towards you was held for cowardliness and weakness in him and by our long-suffering you were emboldned against us and when Nero was dead you did as treacherous subjects are wont to do and took occasion by our civil dissention to revolt from us and whilst my Father and I were gone into Aegypt you prepared your selves for a War against us neither were you ashamed to oppose us when my Father was declared Emperour whom notwithstanding you had found most C gentle Captains unto you At last when the Empire fell to us and all things being now quieted all Nations with gifts and presents came to congratulate us behold again the Jews shewed themselves our Enemies and you sent an Embassador beyond Euphrates only to get aid to your Rebellion You wall'd and fortified your Towns anew and falling into factions among your selves at last you came to a Civil War all which none but the most vile people in the world would have committed Wherefore being commanded by my Faâ—her who was now urged thereunto I came against this City with a heavy charge yet did I rejoyce when I heard that the People desired Peace Before I exercised Hostility against you I exhorted you to Peace after the War was begnn I desisted a while from using severity I spared all those that of their own accord fled to me and kept my Promise to them pitying those that were Captives D I punished only those that drew you into this War and till forced so to do I set not the Rams against your Walls but alwayes restrained my Souldiers so much desirous of your blood As often as I overcame you so often did I exhort you to peace as though I had been vanquished Again when I approached the Temple I willingly omitting the Law of Arms requested you to spare both it and the holy things offering you leave to depart and promising you safety or licensing you to fight another time in another place if so you thought good All these my Offers you refused and with your own hands fired your Temple And now you wicked wretches dare to present your selves before me in Arms. What thing can you now preserve so excellent 〈◊〉 that which is already perished What pardon can you expect seeing your Temple is destroyed nay even now you stand armed not so much as counterfeiting E submission at the last cast O wretches with what hope Is not your People dead Is not your Temple destroyed and your City now in my hands yea and your lives too And can you imagine after this to end them by an honourable death I will not strive with your obstinacy yet if you will cast down your weapons and yield to my discretion Titus grants the Jews life on condition they should lay aside their weapons and submit themselves I will spare your lives and I shall reserve the rest to my self to use as a good Master who punishes not but with regret even the most unpardonable crimes To this they answered That they could not yield themselves to him though he gave them his word having vowed the contrary but they requested licence to depart with their Wives and Children into the Desart and leave the City to the Romans Titus was greatly enraged that they being in a manner already his Captives should impose upon him Conditions F as though they were Victors and he commanded a Herald to tell them that henceforth they should not flie to him nor hope that he would receive them that he would pardon none and that they might employ all their force to fight and save themselves as they could for he would now in all things use the Law of Arms and so he permitted the Souldiers to sack the City and set it on fire The same day they did nothing The Souldiers set the City on fire but the next day following they fired the Councel house the Palace Acra and Ophia the place of
only money but hopes of procuring him great honours as soon as the Emperor C should come to Alexandria where they did not question but he would suddenly be and on the other side there was nothing but he promised them so much did he hugg himself in the hopes of receiving those great honours in the presence of the Embassadors who would not fail to repair to so famous a City from all parts of the World to pay their Complements to so great a Prince Having no knowledge that we had an Enemy so dangerous and considerable as Helico we aimed only to defend our selves against such as were professed But when we found it we applyed all our Interest and industry to sweeten and take him off No man did or could do us more mischief than he for he was one at all Games at all Recreations Feasts and Debaucheries with Caius His Office of first Gentleman of the D Bed-Chamber which was one of the best places about the Court gave him the advantage of his Ear when ever he desired and his Master took great pleasure in hearing him He laid aside all other designs and intended nothing so earnestly as to ruine us by his Calumnies and Scandals which he did with so much artifice and mingled them with his Jokes in so pleasant a manner under pretence of entertaining of Caius rather than malice to us that he made such an impression against us in the Emperours mind as we could never extinguish E CHAP. XI The Jews of Alexandria appoint an Embassie to Caius to represent their Sufferings in which Embassie Philo is chief Caius receives them kindly in appearance but Philo found he was not to be trusted AFter we had tried all our skill to make Helico our Friend finding it was but labour in vain because he was so insolent and proud no body durst come near him and not knowing besides whether it was from any personal or particular spleen against us that he provoked and exasperated the Emperour to our Destruction we concluded to F steer another Course and resolved to present a Petition to the Emperour which should contein in short what we had Remonstrated not long before to King Agrippa when he was at Alexandria in his passage to Syria to take possession of that Kingdom which had been conferred upon him by Caius Hereupon we departed for Rome secure as we thought of finding the Emperour an equitable Judge whereas we could not have had a mortaller Enemy He received us in the field of Mars as he was coming out of his Mothers Gardens his Countenance was pleasant and chearful his Words obliging he made a sign with his hand that he would be our Friend and sent us word afterward by the Master of the Ceremonies called Homus that he would hear our business at leisure In so much as there was not one of those who were present nor indeed one of G our whole Nation unless of more than ordinary sagacity that believed not our Embassie would succeed to our desires and every body came and Complemented us thereupon But my age and experience in Mundane affairs giving me a further prospect H and penetration that which transported other people became suspected by me for I reasoned thus with my self How comes it to pass that Embassadors being here from all quarters of the World we should be the only persons to whom the Emperour should vouchsafe to send word that he would give us Audience For do's not he know that being Jews we should think our selves happy to be treated like other People Can we without folly expect favour extraordinary from a young Prince of another Nation or believe that he has not greater inclination for the Alexandrians than for us and makes such haste to determine our business in obligation to them I wish to God that in stead of being an equal Arbitrator his sentence be not Arbitrary and that he does not prove himself our Enemy and their Protector I CHAP. XII Philo and his Collegues discover that Caius had commanded Petronius the Governour of Syria to set up his Statue in the Temple of Hierusalem WHilst these thoughts were in my head and gave me no quiet either night or day another misfortune that could not be foreseen and portended not only K the destruction of a part but of the whole Nation of the Jews fell out to accomplish my trouble We waited upon the Emperour to Puteoli to which place being retired along the River for diversion he entertain'd himself in the Houses of Pleasure which are numerous and very Magnificent not thinking in the least of our Affaire though he had ordered us to follow the Court and we were ready expecting every hour when he should have decided our Controversie when on a suddain a certain Person came to us with his Eyes staring his Breath spent and an universal discomposure in his Looks he took some of us aside and said Have ye not heard the terrible News He would have proceeded but his Tears came so fast upon him that they stifled his Words so strangely that do what he could it was not possible for him to go L on One may easily conceive our astonishment and surprize We conjur'd him to tell us the cause of his affliction seeing it was nothing in appearance but for weeping before us and if the occasion was worthy of so many tears it was but just being accustomed to sorrows as we had been that we should consent and add our Compassion to his He made a new effort and told us with more sighs than words The Ruine of our Temple is decreed for the Emperour has ordered his Statue to be set up in the Sanctuary and to give the Name of Jupiter to it as an Inscription The unexpectedness of the news made us almost immovable and it was quickly confirmed to us by other People We immediately retired and shut our selves up in our Lodgings to lament the general destruction of our Nation and sorrow being Eloquent what was it that it did not prompt us to say M Having in this manner expos'd our selves in the midst of Winter to the perils of a dangerous Voyage in hopes to have founâ—d some redress for our Sufferings we met upon the Land with a Tempest much more cruel than those which happen at Sea because they are natural and by consequence supportable whereas this was caused by a man who had nothing humane but his shape by a young Prince who lov'd nothing but change and trouble and who seeing his Will and Pleasure sustained by the whole Power of the Empire he suffered himself to be carried away without any restraint to all Licentiousness and Tyranny which was an Evil the more great and deplorable because not capable of any visible remedy For who durst be so bold as to represent to him that it was not consistent with his duty to violate the sanctity of the most August N Temple in the World Or could
one indeed without the loss of his Life have remonstrated against so great an impiety Let us dye then said we among our selves seeing nothing can be more honourable than to lay down our Lives in defence of our Laws But our Death not being able to produce any good effect and being Embassadors as we are may it not be to augment the affliction of those who sent us and give advantage to such of our own Nation as have no friendship for us to say that to deliver our selves from some present inconvenience we deserted the Interest of the Publick though the lesser Interests are alwayes to give place to the greater and Private to Publick For in the subversion of Government all the Laws by which its Grandure and Consistance was maintained do for the most part suffer the same O Fate and are abolished with it A May it not be imputed to us likewise as a crime to abandon the Jews in Alexandria by abandoning an affair in which their Safety or Ruine is involved and the Safety or Ruine of our whole Nation and leave them in fear that a Prince of his Violence and Cruelty will entirely destroy them If it be Objected That seeing which way so ever we resolve no Success is to be expected why should not we think of retiring in safety I Answer That to do so we must have either no hearts or no knowledge in our divine Laws God perhaps will make use of this opportunity as a tryal of our Virtues and to see how we are disposed to comport under affliction Rather in stead of placing our safety in the uncertain succours of B Man let us put our whole confidence in God with a firm Faith that he will assist us as he has assisted formerly our Fore-fathers when their Perils were in appearance beyond all Remedy Thus it was we endeavoured to comfort our selves under so great and unexpected a Calamity flattering our selves with hopes of seeing happier times When we had remained silent for a time we said to him who brought us the first ill News Why do you content your self by having thrown an unhappy word among us to have kindled an universal trouble in our minds which as a single Spark will grow to a Flame and do not tell us what it is that hath transported the Emperour to so extravagant a resolution Every body knows replied the person that he would be reverenced as a God and because he is perswaded that the Jews are the only persons who will not acknowledge him for such C he believes he cannot any way afflict and punish them more than by dishonouring the Majesty and profaning the sanctity of their Temple which he knows is the most beautiful in the World decorated and enriched with the Presents of so many Ages which no doubt but his boldness and impiety will tempt him to seize Capito a Commissioner for the receipt of the Tributes in Judea has irritated him likewise against us by Letters which he has writ This Capito having little or no fortune before he was sent into this Province and having feathered his Nest well by his exaction since he came he has a mind to prevent by his Calumnies the just Complaints which he apprehended the Jews would make against him and he has made use of the occasion aforesaid Jamnia is one of the most populous Towns in Judea and all its Inhabitants are Jews except some few Strangers who unhappily for us are come thither to acquaint themselves with D the neighbouring Provinces Their aversion for our Manners and Customs is so great that they cease not to do us all the mischief that they are able to do and understanding that Caius was inslamed with an idle passion to be worshipped as a God and that on that account he had conceived a mortal hatred against us they thought they could never hope for a fairer opportunity to destroy us Wherefore they erected an Altar of Brick upon no other design but because they were sure we would never suffer the Laws of our Ancestors to be violated in that manner and their malice and cunning has had the effect which was intended For the Jews having pull'd down their Altar they who set it up made complaint immediately to Capito who was the contriver of the plot on purpose to ruine their fellow Citizens This wicked man transported as it were to have succeeded so far failed not to write to Caius exaggerating every thing and E adding much to the truth to provoke him the more The violent and audacious Emperour no sooner had the news but he commanded that in stead of an Altar of Brick they should set up a Statue of him as big as a Colossus which was to be Guilt over with Gold and placed in the Temple of Jerusalem in which resolution he had two principal Councellors Helico that notorious Buffoon and Apelles the famous Comedian who as is reported having prostituted himself and exposed his beauty for money when he was young was now got upon the Theater in his old age and the modesty of that profession every man knows By these excellent qualities these two excellent persons were got to be of Caius his Counsel With the one he consulted in matters of Railery and Wit and with the other how such a speech was to be pronounced upon the Stage not so much as concerning himself with the Peace and Tranquility of the Empire F Helico being an Egyptian bit us like an Asp and Apelles being of Ascalon was no kinder than he Every word that this person spoke was like a dagger at our hearts but these two wicked Counsellors were not long without their Reward For Caius caused Apelles to be clapt in irons for other Crimes and tortured him upon the Wheel but with several intervals to increase and spin out his punishment and Claudius succeeding Caius in the Empire he put Helico to death for other considerable Reasons G H CHAP. XIII Petronius his great trouble about executing the Order which he had received from Caius to set up his Statue in the Temple of Jerusalem because he was sensible of the injustice of it and foresaw the ill Consequences CAIuS wrote then that his Statue should be consecrated and set up in our Temple and omitted nothing that might injoyn the Execution of that Order He I commanded Petronius Governour of Syria to take half the Army which was disposed along the Euphrates to defend those Countries against the Kings and People of the East and to cause them to attend the Statue not that they were to add to the Solemnity of its Consecration but to cut those Jews in pieces who should have the boldness to oppose him Is it so then most cruel Prince that fore-seeing these poor people will sooner expose themselves to death than suffer the violation of their Laws and the profanation of their Temple you declare War against them and send a formidable army to consecrate your