had refused to join with them against the Benjamites they sent twelve thousand chosen men against them who slew all that bore arms with the women and children reserving only four hundred Virgins At their return the Israelites sent Messengers to the Benjamites who fled into the desarts and had secured themselves in the rock Rimmon to desire them to come back to their former possessions which they had forfeited by the Just Judgment of God for their wickedness in protecting such impious offenders from condign punishment the Benjamites by the perswasions of their brethren came and possest their inheritance and the Israelites gave them the four hundred Virgin Captives in marriage but because two hundred yet remained without wives and they had solemnly sworn not to give them their daughters they concluded the Benjamites should take the advantage of seizing two hundred of the daughters of the City of Shiloh who came to a Feast every year near Bethel accordingly when the Feast approached these two hundred Benjamites went and hid themselves by two and three in a company among the Vines and thickets to surprize the Damsels who suspecting nothing were dancing very pleasantly in the Fields when the young men suddenly issuing out seized each upon a Virgin at unawares and carried them home to their houses and having married them they repaired their Cities and dwelt therein whereby the Tribe of Benjamin that was near extinguisht began in a short time to increase and flourish as before and thus ended this fatal War. In this History I have followed Josephus who differs in time from what is written in the Holy Scriptures After this another generation arose who forgot the works of the Lord and disobeyed his holy Laws and Commandments giving themselves up to all manner of Vice and Luxury and wallowing in all the abominations and Idolatry of the Canaanites for which cause the wrath of God was kindled and he stirred up the Nations round about against them delivering them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia who ruled over them eight years taking many Prisoners and bringing their Cities into subjection In this their calamity they called upon the Lord who stirred up a certain man called Othniel who was warned from Heaven to deliver the Israelites out of this their cruel bondage he calling together some of his Companions in danger who were discontented at their present condition and desired a change they first fell upon the Garrison that the Mesopotamians had placed over them whom having soon discomfited they thereby took courage to meet them in the open Field and their numbers increasing by this first success they seemed equal to their Enemies whom they therefore ingaged in battle and overcame with a very great slaughter their King being taken Prisoner and the liberty of the Israelites thereby restored to them the terror of their arms after this was so great to all the Nations round about that none durst oppose them and Othniel for his valour received the Government from the peoples hands and exercised the Office of a Judge over them peaceably forty years After whose death the Government being void the affairs of the Israelites began again to decline the people neither giving due honour to God nor obedience to the Laws whence it came to pass that Eglon K. of the Moabites observing their disorders made War and prevailed often against them weakning their Forces and obliging them to pay tribute and proud of his Victories removed his Court to Jericho omitting no practices to vex and molest the Israelites so that they lived in much misery under him eighteen years when the Almighty moved with their supplications and sorrows freed them from this intolerable thraldom by the hand of Ehud the Son of Gera who insinuated himself into the favour of Eglon and by the gifts and presents he made him was much respected by the king and all his Court One day it happened that as Ehud carried certain presents to Eglon accompanied by two of his houshold Servants he privately girt a dagger under his Garments and entring into the presence he delivered his gifts to the King who was then solacing himself in a Summer Chamber being now by themselves Eglon having sent away his attendants to hear the secret Message which Ehud said he had to deliver him he suddenly stabbed the king into the belly with his dagger and left the weapon swallowed up in his bowels by reason Eglon was a very fat man and then privately escaped shutting the door upon him His Servants finding the door of the parlour locked suspected nothing of mischief but supposed it was upon some natural occasion in this error they continued till toward Evening when fearing what had happened they entred and found Eglon fallen down dead on the Earth In this interval Ehud had time to secure himself out of danger and coming to Jericho gave them an Account of the matter offering himself to be their Leader in recovering their lost liberty who readily accepting this proposal presently took arms and blowing a trumpet they assembled all the people of the Countrey who joining together fell upon the Moabites before they were prepared who were so dismayed at the dismal Accident of the death of their King that they knew not how to make any defence insomuch that the Israelites charging fiercely upon them killed many upon the place and the rest being about ten thousand betook themselves to flight hoping to recover their own Countrey but the Israelites having before fortified the passages of Jordan pursued and slew them all By this means the Israelites were freed from the servitude of Moab and continued quiet from any Invader fourscore years After this Shamgar the Son of Anath was Elected Governor who slew six hundred of the Philistines with an Ox-goad and thereby in some measure delivered them but the Israelites not yet reclaimed by their former sufferings returned again to impiety and disobedience though they had so lately shaken off the yoke of the Moabites So that God in just Judgment gave them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan who kept his residence at Hazor on the Lake of Sachonites He had an Army of thirty thousand Foot ten thousand Horse and nine hundred Chariots of iron Over these Forces Sisera was Commander in chief a great Favourite with the King who encountring with the Israelites reduced them into such a low condition that they accepted of servitude and were obliged to pay tribute for twenty years In this lamentable state they began to reflect upon their transgressions and provocations against the Almighty acknowledging the Justice of Heaven in punishing them for their ingratitude and contempt of the Divine Laws and repaired to a certain Prophetess named Deborah which in Hebrew signifies a Bee beseeching her that by her Prayers she would intreat the Lord to have mercy upon them and free them from their bondage under the Canaanites Hereupon God being inclined to compassion promised them deliverance and appointed
Baruc whose name signifies Lightning of the Tribe of Napthali to be their Chief to him therefore Deborah sends a message That he should instantly raise ten thousand choice men and lead them against their Enemies affirming that they were sufficient with the assistance of Heaven to conquer that mighty Host But Baruc denying to undertake the War except she would join with him and accompany him in the War Deborah being somewhat moved Wilt thou said she surrender up the Dignity that God hath given thee to a Woman well I will not refuse to go with thee but remember that this expedition will not be for thine honour since the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a Woman Whereupon having levyed ten thousand Soldiers they pitched their Tents near the Mountain Itabar of which Sisara having notice proceeded presently by the Kings command to fall upon them and incamped near them Baruc and the Israelites being terrified with the multitude of their Enemies were incouraged by Deborah who commanded them that very day to give Battel assuring them that God would assist and certainly deliver their Adversaries into their hands Whereupon they charged the Canaanites with much valour who were in a short time wholly discomfited and all their Host fell with the edge of the Sword Sisera alighted from his Chariot and fled away afoot Josephus relates that in the beginning of the fight there suddenly fell a storm of rain mixed with hail which the wind drove against the faces of the Canaanites and took away their sight whereby those that fought with Darts and Slings were made unserviceable and the Targetiers had their hands so benummed with cold that they could scarce weild their Swords but the Tempest being on the back of the Israelites was so far from disturbing them that believing it a manifest token of the immediate favour and assistance of Heaven they were thereby incouraged to assault their enemies with the greater vigor and breaking through the front of their Battel they made a very great slaughter of them so that a vast number fell by the Sword and the rest were over-run by their own Chariots and Horsemen Sisera flying with all speed after he saw his Army turn their backs arrived at the Tent of a woman of Cenetis called Jael the wife of Heber and earnestly besought her to conceal him which she seemed very willing to do and covered him with a Mantle who being very dry desired a Cup of water when she presented him with a dish of milk And then covering him again he intreated her That if any came to inquire she should deny she had seen him and then fell asleep whilst he lay buried in slumbers by reason of his extream toyl and weariness Jael took a nail and with a hammer struck it through his temples and fastned it to the ground whereby he instantly gave up the Ghost soon after Barue with his Souldiers coming thither she brought them in and shewed what she had done and thus a woman according to the prediction of the worthy Prophetess Deborah was the Author of this glorious Victory The Army being likewise managed by the conduct of Deborah a woman the Israelites thereby subduing their inveterate Foes the Canaanites And Baruc leading his Army to Hazor slew Jabin their King who came out against them levelling the City to the ground and thereby freed the Land from bondage which had rest forty years after this notable success And that they might not seem ingrateful to the Lord for so great a deliverance Deborah and Baruc composed the following Song of praise and thanksgiving which they sung in the hearing of all the people Deborah lived in the year from the creation 2641. and before the Nativity of our Saviour 1350. Judges 5. YOur Great Preserver celebrate He who reveng'd our wrongs of late When you his Sons in Israels aid Of life so brave a tender made You Princes with attention hear And you who awful Scepters bear While I in sacred numbers sing The praise of our Eternal King. When he through Seir his Army led In Edoms Fields his Ensigns spread Earth shook the Heavens in drops descend And Clouds in tears their substance spend Before his face the Mountains melt Old Sinai unknown servor felt When Israel Shamgars Rule obey'd And Jael that Virago swaid She bold of Heart He great in War Yet to the fearful Traveller All ways were then unsafe who crept Through woods or past when others slept The land uncultivated lay When I arose I Deborah A mother to my Countrey grew At once their Foes and Fears subdue When to themselves new Gods they chose Then were their Walls besieg'd by Foes Did one of forty thousand wear A Coat of Steele or shook a Spear You who with such alacrity Led to the Battail O how I Affect your valour with me raise Your voices sing Jehovahs praise Sing you who on white Asses ride And justice equally devide You who those ways so fear'd of late Where now no thieves assassinate You lately from your Fountains barr'd Where you their clattering quivers heard There with united joy record The Righteous Judgments of the Lord You who your Cities repossess Who reap in peace his praise profess Arise O Deborah arise In heavenly Hymns express thy Joys Arise O Baruc Thou the Fame And Off-spring of Alcinoam Of Israel the renowned head Captivity now Captive lead Nor shall the noble memory Of our strong aids in silence dye The quiver bearing Ephraimite Marcht from his Mountain to the fight Those who on Amalek confine The small remains of Benjamine From Machir Princes not a few Wise Zebulun with Letters drew The valiant chiefs of Issachar With Deborah hasted to this war Who down into the valley tread The way which noble Baruc led But Reuben from the rest disjoin'd By Hills and Flouds was so in mind Did'st thou these glorious wars refuse To hear the bleating of thy Ewes O Great in Council Oh how wise That couldst both Faith and Fame despise Gilead of thundring drums afraid Or slothful beyond Jordan staid Dan his swift failing ships affects And publick liberty neglects While Ashur on his clifts resides And fortifies against the Tydes But Zebulun and Napâ—hali Who never would from danger fly Were ready for the publick good On Tabors top to shed their bloud Then Kings Kings of the Cananites To Tanach Plains addrest their fights Where swift Megiddo's waters ran Yet neither spoil nor Trophy wan The Heav'ns ' gainst Sisera fought the Stars Mov'd in their Courses to those wars By Ancient Kishon swept from thence Whose Torrent falling clouds incense Thou O my joyful Soul at length Hast trod to dirt their mighty strength Their wounded Horse with flying hast Fall headlong and their Riders cast Thus spake an Angel cursed be Thou Meroz all who dwell in thee That basely wouldst no aid afford In that great battel to the Lord. O Jael Hebers wife thou best Of women be thou ever blest Blest above all
to appease them when Imbert their Chief suddenly let fly an arrow at him which Corineus soon returned with such force that it clave his head in sunder whereat the rest of the Poictovins fled and brought the news to Goffarius who instantly raised a mighty Army wherewith he marched to encounter the Trojans between whom a sharp battel was fought but in the end Brute by the admirable courage of Corineus obtained the Victory and Goffarius fled further up into Gallia or France endeavouring to incite all his Neighbour Princes to join with him in this common danger Brute mean time marcht forward destroying all before him with Fire and Sword and having got great booty carried it to his Ships Goffarius and his Confederates with mighty forces resolving to revenge these injuries came suddenly upon the Trojans being thirty times as many and assaulted them often in their Camp with so much fury and such inequality of numbers that they besieged them therein hoping by famine to compel them to yield to mercy In this extremity Corineus and Brute resolved to use some stratagem for their deliverance and the next night Corineus drawing three thousand choice men out of the Camp into a wood that lay on the back of the enemy in the morning Brute fell upon them furiously in the front when at the same time Corineus assaulting them couragiously on the Reer they were so surprized and confounded that they instantly fled whom the Trojans eagerly pursued with great slaughter Brute lost many of his men in this battel and among others his Nephew Turnus from whom it is said the City of Tours in France which Brute built took its name and was called Turonium Turnus being there buried though Brute had cause to rejoice in this victory yet finding his forces decay every day and his enemies increase it was resolved they should bring the riches they had got to their Ships and all imbark once again to find out the Island the Oracle had promised After a few daies sailing they arrived at an haven now called Totnes in Devonshire in the year from the Creation of the World 2850. After the destruction of Troy 66. From the deliverance of the Israelites out of Babylon 397. in the eighteenth year of the reign of Tyneas King of Babylon and the thirteenth of Melanthus King of Athens Before the building of Rome 368. And before the Nativity of our Saviour 1116. For as the Poet sings of Brute The Gods did guide his sail and course The winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shoar Where first he came to land Brute having entred the Countrey he immediately went in search of it from one end to the other and found it to abound in Woods Grass pleasant Springs and fair Rivers though in the way he was encountred by divers strong and mighty Giants whom he at length subdued and brought the Land wholly into subjection Among others there was one Giant of extraordinary strength and reputation called Gogmagog with whom Brute obliged Corineus to wrestle at a place neer Dover where it happened that Gogmagog broke one of the ribs of Corineus with a fall who being therewith enraged recovered himself and redoubling his courage he prevailed against the Giant and cast him down headlong from one of the Rocks now called Dover Clifts but for many ages after retained the name of Gogmagogs leap and if Tradition is to be relied on in this case it may somewhat confirm the truth of the foregoing History since the two Figures placed in Guild-hall London are by some believed to represent these two Giants Gogmagog and Corineus For this and many other valiant Atchievements Brute bestowed upon Corineus the whole Countrey of Cornwall whose Inhabitants are still famous for wrestling occasioned it may be from this their first governor I. Brute having conquered all that opposed him in the whole Island resolved to build a City which might be the Royal Seat of his kingdom to which purpose he chose a plat of ground on the Northside of the Thames convenient for pleasantness clearness of air goodness of soil plenty of woods and especially accommodated with a Noble River for bringing in Merchandise and all other necessaries proper for a multitude of inhabitants He began to lay the foundation thereof in the tenth year of his reign which he called Troynovant or New Troy in remembrance of that famous City from whence he and his people were descended but now named London which having finished he by the advice of his Nobility commanded the Isle of Albion to be called Brittain and the people Brittains as a perpetual memorial that he was the first who brought them hither He had by his wife three sons Locrinus Camber Albanack to the elder at his death he gave that part now called England which was long called Loegria from his name To the second Wales named from him Cambria and to the third all the North part of the Isle beyond the River Humber which he called Albany now Scotland Having thus divided the Land Brute died in the twenty fourth year after his arrival and was buried at Troynovant or London but in what place is now unknown II. Locrinus his eldest Son succeeded in Loegria and his brother Albanack in Albania but Humber King of the Hunns or Scythians invading his Countrey slew him in battel and took possession of his Land till Locrinus with his brother Camber King of Wales joining their Forces to revenge their brothers death fell upon him with such valour that they put his Army to flight and pursued him so eagerly that he with abundance of his people were drowned in the River which divided Loegria from Albania and from that K. hath ever since retained the name of the River of Humber among many others three Virgins of excellent beauty were taken Prisoners with one of whom called Estrild a Scythian Kings daughter Locrinus fell so in love that notwithstanding a former contract between him and Guendolen daughter of Corineus King of Cornwall he resolved to marry her but by the perswasions and threats of her Father durst not do it in his life time and though he married Guendolen he kept Estrild as his Concubine and after Corineus death forsook Guendolen and married her Who being thus cast off by her husband went to her kindred in Cornwall whom she provoked to make War upon Locrine her husband wherein he was slain neer the water of Stour after he had reigned twenty years and was buried by his Father at Troynovant III. Madan his Son by Guendolen succeeded him but being under age his Mother was by common consent of the Brittans made Ruler of the kingdom wherein she administred justice and equity fifteen years till her Son came to manhood to whom she then resigned the government of whom little is recorded but that he used much Tyranny over his Subjects forty years after which as he was one day going on hunting he lost his company and was devoured of Wild Beasts
I might not enter the bed of a Pagan the first night of my Nuptials but that I may imbrace a Christian for my Husband and Soveraign than which nothing can be more desirable to your most obedient Wife The King a little surprized told her It was not yet time to think of that matter though he would take the first opportunity to consider seriously of it and act accordingly his thoughts being now too much imploy'd in admiring her perfections to think of any thing else but however she need not scruple in the mean time to converse with a Pagan Husband since her own Law taught her That the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife Clotilda somewhat doubted whether she should imbrace his company till he had fulfill'd his promise but fearing to exasperate and make him quite reject Christianity she resolved to render him all marriage duties and endeavour to gain him by her prayers and good example The King observing her discreet carriage was very much pleased and respected her the more who finding she had an absolute Empire over his heart used her power with all kind of sweetness and complasance exercising her devotions with the greatest sincerity and constancy so that her Apartment seemed rather like an Oratory or Chappel than a place dedicated to vanity or pleasure which the King having very often observed it bred in him a very great inclination and reverence to her Religion and caused him more highly to honour her Person But upon occasion he would be objecting to her some difficulties that appeared in the Christian Religion as beleiving the Trinity and the Doctrine of a Crucified Jesus The threats of Judgment and promises of mercy in another life And therefore he thought it better to continue in his own Religion wherein he was educated and did not doubt but God would have mercy upon him since he practised to the best of his knowledg To this Clotilda answered That he ought not to be deterred by such seeming difficulties fince God who created the Soul of man hath made it capable of beleiving things above the reach of human reason and whose small understanding must submit to the Divine Wisdom and his finite knowledge must not think to equal that which is infinite since God alone is the immense Fountain of Goodness Wisdom and Knowledg That if his Majesty should promise a Servant what to his reason might seem impossible and incredible yet he is bound to beleive it without any reply as depending upon the Kings infallible word now if one smful mortal man doth thus exact faith of another why should you doubt says she what the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth has declared to be true Why should we not believe there are three Persons and one only God fince we dayly find our memory understainding and will make but one Soul Why should we scorn to adore a Crucified Man since nothing can more confirm our believe than that Consideration For if our blessed Saviour had come to subdue the World by Legions of Horses Armies as your Majesty conquers Kingdoms it would not have appeared so great a wonder but when only by sufferings and the cross he hath brought the greatest part of the World yea many Crowned heads under the Dominion of his Laws and Precepts this makes it appear that all is done only by the Almighty power of God since so little of man is seen in it I would therefore humbly beseech your Majesty no longer to defer your Baptism that you may be one of the most glorious Kings on earth that France ever enjoyed and happy in Heaven to all Eternity Clovis replyed that her persuasions and arguments were unanswerable and that his soul was convinced of the truth of what she had affirmed but Policy and Religion being different things he ought maturely to confider whether forsaking the Gods of his own Countrey who were worshipped by such a multitude of his Subjects might not occasion some rebellion or disturbance among his people in defence of their Old Religion Clotilda who found this one of the main obstacles of his Conversion briskly answered That his Nobility and People were already sufficiently convinc't of the falsity of their Idolatrous superstition and wanted nothing but his example and incouragement to declare their belief of the truth of the Christian Faith but that if it were otherwise yet he ought to encounter all difficulties and venture all dangers for the salvation of his Soul. These earnest sollicitations of the Queen being often renewed the King at length began seriously to consider the reasonableness of them and soon after Clotilda being delivered of a Son he permitted him to receive Christian Baptism but the Child dying soon after he told her Shewas too vehement in her Religion and that he feared the health of the Child was impaired by its being so soon Baptized The Queen answered that life and death were in the hands of God and this Infant was not so much to be lamented having now changed this vain life into that of Angels and that God if he pleased could yet bless their Royal Bed with a numerous issue and she was sure Baptism was no prejudice to him since it was an Ordinance and Appointment of Heaven and therefore being delivered of a second Son she conferred Baptism upon it as well as on the former which likewise dying soon after Clovis was more offended than before saying He believed that that water was fatal to Children and she should take care never to move him for the like liberty again Clotilda with a resolved mind alledged that if God should have made her barren he ought to have been contented and adore the divine providence and not to reflect upon the Baptism of Christians but upon her sins as the cause of the loss of her Children The King was fully pacified with this prudent return and at length became resolved to profevs Christianity which was hastened upon this occasion The Swevi a People of Germany passing the Rhine under the command of several Princes with design to root out the Gauls or French and ruin their new erected Monarchy Clovis with the assistance of some of his neighbours resolved to oppose their numerous Forces and a great Battel was fought near Collen where the King commanding in chief he was suddenly surrounded by his Enemies and in great danger of his life and though he performed the duty both of a great Captain and a valiant Souldier yet terror had so seized his flying Army that his affairs were in a very desperate posture when by the perfuasion of one of his chief Favourites he made a solemn Vow to God That if he returned victorious he would perform his promise made to the Queen and be Baptized a Christian and then calling aloud upon the God whom Clotilda worshipped for assistance and deliverance his Forces rallied and his Foes seemed to decline whom he so vigorously prosecuted that the Fields were all covered with dead bodies
whose mercy and goodness endures forever The people were even transported with joy at this unexpected deliverance and seeing the dismal head only by torch-light were almost perswaded it was but a dream But that the multitude which saw the same thing confirmed them their eyes were not deluded They therefore shouted with praises to the God of Heaven the only worker of Miracles and then turning to Judith they gave her a thousand thanks and blessings for being the instrument of so marvellous a salvation that day Then Ozias the Prince of the people of Israel in Bethulia spake thus to her Blessed be you O Daughter and most excellent above all the women in the Earth and praised be the great Creator of Heaven and Earth who hath assisted your Victorious arm for the destruction of the principal of our Enemies whereby you have rendred your name immortal to all ages to come and shall be had in admiration by all that have any sense of the wonderful works of God while the world endures since none can forget how little you valued your own life and honour so that you might thereby free your Nation from the inevitable ruin which seemed to hang over their heads After this Achior was called to whom shewing the head of Holofernes and assuring him that what he had affirmed of the might power of the God of Israel was now fully verified since he that had vowed their total desolation was now no more and their great Commander Holofernes was himself without a head Achior was even astonisht at her words and action and with the surprize fell down into a swound but at length recovering he threw himself at her feet with so much reverence as was near to adoration and by her means was more confirmed in the true Religion and he with all the people shouted and gave glory to God with a loud voice Judith to perfect her Conquest advised the people to place the head upon one of the highest Towers of the City and in the morning to make a salley out upon the Assyrians who at the alarum would presently run to the Tent of Holofernes to awake him and finding what had happened would be extreamly amazed and sell their lives at a cheap rate and might be pursued and utterly destroyed out of all their Coasts with very little damage to themselves This was put in execution and the Captains instantly repaired to the Generals Tent to receive orders desiring Bagoas the Eunuch to wake their Lord since the Israelitish slaves had presumed to make a sally upon them tho to their own destruction The Eunuch after long tarrying at last ventred in and coming near the bed and hearing no body stir he at length opened the curtains thinking he had still slept with Judith but instead thereof found the dead body cast on the floor and his head taken from him At this fight he cryed out aloud and became so furious that he rent his cloths and went in a rage to Judiths apartment threatning her with a thousand deaths but missing her there he sent out many frightful Schreeches among the People and declared aloud That the Slaves had dealt treacherously with them and that one Hebrew woman had brought shame and confusion upon the House of Nebuchadnezzar who had slain Holofernes and left his carcase without a head All ran to behold this dismal Spectacle and the whole camp was filled with horror astonishment and despair Tears and howling had taken possession of the whole Army when at the same time the head of Holofernes appeared upon one of the Towers of Bethulia which so astonished the Assyrians that they fled and scattered themselves round about the City every one seeking safety in running away and none durst trust another The Israelites pursued with all manner of briskness and vigor making a great noise that their number might appear considerable though there needed no great force to vanquish run-a-ways All the neighbouring Cities came in to take part of the spoil and to pillage their routed enemies whom they cut off with a most dreadful slaughter and the booty in the Camp was so prodigious that the people were thirty days in dividing it The rich moveables of Gold Silver Pearls and Jewels found in Holofernes Tent were all presented to Judith with the praises and acclamations of the multitude who unanimously applauded her as the glory of Jerusalem the joy of Israel the honour of her people the gallant woman the chast and valiant Princess by whose hand God had done great things in delivering his people and whose fame should live to eternal Ages The women of Israel likewise assembled themselves to meet and bless her dancing before her with branches of Olive in their hands whereof they composed a Garland which they put upon her head and then Judith leading the dance before them proceeded toward her own house all the men of Israel following in their armour with garlands on their heads and songs in their mouths Judith likewith made the following song of Praise and Thanksgiving which all the people sang after her SIng to the Lord my God sing praise A new Psalm to him sing Exalt his glorious name always He is our God and King. The Armies he to pieces breaks Of those that are his Foes He me delivered from their hands Who did me round inclose Assur with thousands from the North Came Israel to assail And by his multitudes did not doubt Against them to prevail He boasted he our Towns would burn And our young men destroy Women and Virgins ravish and Our Infants make a prey But they have disappointed been By the Almighty Lord. A womans hand did them withstand They fled with one accord Their Great Commander did not fall By any Giants power 'T was Judiths beauty him inthrall'd And brought his fatal hour For her oppressed people she Her mourning laid aside And to surprize his amorous eyes Her Person beautified Her Charms over his Soul prevail'd And ravished his sight He 's made a Prisoner to her face She is his Hearts delight The Sword quite through his neck did pass And parted it asunder The Persians at her boldness quake The Medes thereat did wonder Th' Afflicted then did shout for joy Thy weak Ones cry'd aloud The Foes astonisht were ' cause God Had overthrown the proud The Young men have them pierced through And wounded them in Fight The Fugitives fiercely they pursue And slay their men of Might I unto God new Songs will sing O Lord thou art most Glorious In power thou art Wonderful Invincible Victorious Let all the Creatures worship thee At whose word made were they At thy voice they created were None thee can disobey The Fountains shall be mov'd at thee The Rocks shall melted be Yet merciful thou art to those That serve and worship thee All Sacrifice and Offerings Unto thee are but small But those that fear the Lord their God To Honour he will call Wo to the Nations that advance Themselves
in the Isle of Anglesey These saith J. Caesar in his Commentaries had the office of sacrificing of discussing points in Religion of educating youth determining differences with full power to exclude those from Sacrifice who disobeyed their precepts and sentence To make the people valiant they strove to arm them against the fear of death by teaching That mens Souls could not dye but passed out of one body into another They were likewise Astrologers and not altogether ignorant of one Eternal and Almighty God All their Learning was written in the Greek Tongue of which the Brittish language retains many words to this day But as all things degenerate so these Druides in time grew very barbarous for they use to stab men to death and by their falling bleeding or dismembring pretended to foretel things to come for which and many other wicked practices this Sect was extirpated in Gallia and long after in Brittain by King Lucius when he had received the Gospel Bardus the Son of Druis succeeded and was much admired by his People for inventing Songs and Musick and such as excelled therein he constituted into an Order of Philosophical Poets or Heraulds calling them by his own name Bards and J. Caesar reports he found some of them here at his arrival Their business was to record the noble exploits of their valiant Captains in Songs and Ditties which they sung to their Instruments at the solemn Feasts of their Grandees and were so highly esteemed that when two Armies were even ready to ingage if a Bard had stept between both Parties would have held their hands to hear his advice till he were out of danger of whom Lucan thus sings Vos quoque qui fortes animas belloque peremptus c. Then you brave Bards securely sung The Praises of dead Peers In lofty strains so to prolong Their Fame for many years And because these Poets were neither repugnant to the Roman civility nor the Christian Religion they alone above all other Sects were suffered to continue long after the birth of Christ nay some report there are many of them to be found in Wales to this day still called Barthes and an Island near that Countrey is named Bardsey upon that account After Bardus death the people neglecting the Laws of their Predecessors and falling into Luxury were easily subjected by Albion the Giant said to be the Son of Neptune the Sea God and the same with Naphthuim mentioned by Moses the Son of Cham who had by his wife Amphitrea four Sons to each of whom he gave an Island Albion the youngest landed in England which he quickly subdued arriving in light Ships covered over with beasts skins and called the Countrey by his own name so that the race of the Samotheans being extinguished the Succession was changed from the Family of Japhet to that of cursed Cham Having named the Isle Albion he and his Companions were called Giants though not as some think from their stature which yet was much larger than now but Gigantes or Sons of the Earth many huge bones discovered in our age demonstrating that they were much taller than we are now As Albion conquered Brittain so his Brother Berguin commanded in Ireland and the Orkneys These two had notice that the Great Hercules their Cozen after he had subdued Spain resolved to pass into Italy against their Brother Lestrigo to revenge the murther of his Father Osyris whom these Sons of Cham had slain though he was their uncle as being Brother to Neptune and to add to their barbarity had divided his carcase each preserving a piece of his flesh as a monument of their victory Upon this account Hercules whom Moses calls Laabin proclaiming War against them having first destroy'd the Tyrants Tryphon and Busiris in Egypt Anteus in Mauritania and the Gerions in Spain he leads his Armies thence toward Italy both the Brothers joined to oppose him and near Rhodanus a terrible Battel was fought wherein Hercules doubting of success his Souldiers having spent all their arrows he commanded them to throw stones whereof there were plenty at their enemies by which they obtained an entire victory killing Albion and Berguin in the field with most of their Forces which made the Poets feign that Jupiter assisted his Son Hercules by throwing down stones from Heaven Albion being thus slain the people at home having no Governor fell into all kind of disorders and seemed to differ little from wild beasts till the arrival of the daughters of Danaus of whom ancient Historians give this Account Belus the son of Epaphus had two sons Danaus and Egyptus both Kings of Egypt Danaus ruled the upper Region and by divers wives had fifty daughters and his brother Egyptus happened likewise to have 50 sons who desiring the Dominion of the whole Countrey earnestly required the daughters to be married to his sons But Danaus having notice by an Oracle That he should receive his death by a son in law refused the proposal whereupon his brother made War upon him and drove him out of his Kingdom who imbarquing himself and his daughters in some small Boats arrived in Greece and dispossessing Gelenor King of Argos of his Realm by the assistance of his own subjects who hated him he reigned there with so much glory that the Greeks were after called Danai from his name Egyptus his brother vext that he should escape sent his Sons with a great Army to pursue their uncle with commission not to return till they had either slain Danaus or obtained his daughters in marriage who thereupon coming into Greece were so successful that he was forced to give them up and married they were but Danaus bent upon revenge gave every one a dagger charging them after their husbands were asleep to kill them all and that he would certainly be the death of her who should refuse They all obey his will but Hypermenestra over whom love prevailed more than fear of her Fathers severity who awake't her husband Lynceus and advising him to fly back to Egypt for safety Danaus having notice of the disobedience of Hypermenestra resolved to have put her to death but was hindred by the Argives yet kept her close Prisoner He then endeavoured to get husbands for his daughters but they were so abhored for their treachery that it was hard to procure them Lynceus arriving safe in Egypt his Father was so incensed at the murder of his other sons that he sent him back with strong Forces against his uncle who prevailed and soon dispatcht him setting his wife at liberty and subduing the whole Kingdom of the Argives and then sending for Danaus daughters he judged them not worthy to live for their cruelty yet being his wives sisters he would not put them to death but commanded they should be put into a Ship without Sails or Oars and so left to the mercy of the wide Ocean Who after many dangers were at length cast happily upon this Isle of Albion where getting ashoar and
who then commanded some of Cleopatra's Forces in those parts bearing a secret grudge to Herod stood ready to observe the event of the battel resolving not to meddle if the Arabians overcame but they having the worst he sent them a fresh supply who snatched the Victory out of the hands of the Jews and made a great slaughter among them so that they were wholly discomfited Though Herod with some recruits made divers successful inroads afterward into Arabia and prevailed notably against them Whereat being much elevated his joy was soon checked by the death of Mark Anthony his Patron who was slain by Augustus Caesar in the battle of Astium and his Army wholly overthrown Wherewith Herod was much dismay'd not doubting but he should be severely treated for entertaining so strict a friendship and alliance with him as he had hitherto done His Friends and Enemies judged him a lost man yet having escaped so many dangers he resolves not to despair but to find out Caesar then at Rhodes and prostrate himself before him but was loth to undertake this Voyage while Hyrcanus the only remainder of the Royal Line was alive and his own friends gave a seeming pretence to effect his wicked purpose For Hyrcanus being of a very mild temper was unwilling all his life time to intermeddle in state affairs but Alexandra his daughter a proud aspiring woman sollicited him continually no longer to suffer Herods Tyranny who was the plague of their Family but to endeavour to resettle himself in the Kingdom Which motion he at first absolutely refused but by her continual importunity was at length prevailed upon by her advice to send to the Governor of Arabia to assist him with some Horsemen to make his escape from Jerusalem The Letters being intercepted and brought to Herod he commanded Hyrcanus to be presently put to death After which Alexandra and Mariamne were more closely confined than before yet the daughter endeavoured to sweeten the discontents of the Mother though she her self received no comfort but from Heaven and thus discourst with her self How unhappy am I above all women from the time the Diadem was placed on my head I have felt nothing but Thorns and Royal Dignity hath been to me Royal slavery but since I can find no consolation here I must expect it in another place to which I care not how soon I remove Hyrcanus being thus dispatcht the bloudy Herod addresseth himself with more satisfaction to his Journey to Caesar and committed Alexandra and his wife close Prisoners in the Castle of Alexandriam to the custody of Sohemus the Itrurian giving him strict order that if any finister hap befel him he should kill them both and endeavour to the utmost to retain the Kingdom in his Family Here these poor Ladys were detained in a continual expectation of death and every visit the Jaylor made them expected he came to fetch them to execution but at length Sohemus growing more familiar with his Royal Prisoners Mariamne presumed to ask him what news there was abroad adding That though they were now in this deplorable condition yet she did not doubt but that the storm would blow over and we says she may be able to reward your kindness therefore pray tell us why Herod has lockt us up here and how his Affairs stand Sohemus wonderfully surprized at these words knew not what return to make but at length overcome by their repeated intreaties he gave a full account of his Commission Well then said the poor Princess we must dye whatever happens where-ever I turn me I behold the Image of death with which I now begin to be well acquainted Herod all stained with bloud was now imbarqued in his Voyage to Caesar and being admitted into his presence freely declared what service he had done to Mark Anthony promising no less duty and service to him if he might be received into his favour Caesar observing the resolution wherewith he made his defence was inclined to imbrace his Friendship and setting the Diadem on his head exhorted him to be as faithful to him as he had been to Anthony Herod over-joyed at this Royal bounty attended Caesar toward Egypt and entertained his Army by the way with all kind of Provisions and having presented him with eight hundred Talents for his many favours returned to his own Kingdom where he found Alexandra and Mariamne much discontented especially his wife who could see no end of her miseries and going to visit and give her an account of his exalted fortune she instead of receiving satisfaction therein burst forth into a floud of tears which so discontented Herod that he entred into new jealousies and was confirm'd in his mind that she had an utter hatred and aversion to him so that he was even distracted between love and revenge when at the same time his Sister Salome and her mother having notice of his disturbance resolved to take this opportunity to ruin her and endeavoured to whet his anger by many vile slanders raised against her which he seemed willing to hear yet had not the heart to attempt any thing against his wife who was both chast and faithful to him but not able to bear the many injuries she imagined were offered her presumed so much upon the entire affection he bare toward her as sometimes publickly to reproach him with his crimes It happened one day that the King having withdrawn into his Banquetting room sent for Mariamne whom he entertained with all kind of pleasantness and dalliance but found her very averse to his humor neither would she accept of his addresses but told him severely of his cruelty to her Father and Brother wherewith Herod extreamly moved was ready to strike her when Salome his Sister hearing a noise within sent the Butler whom she had hired falsly to accuse Mariamne into the room commanding him to tell the King That his Wife had prepared a drink to incite and quicken him to love and if he found him disturbed at it and should inquire the meaning to tell him boldly That Mariamne having prepared a Cup of Poyson for his Majesty had been tempting him to present it Having delivered this message Herod was much troubled and caused one of Mariamnes most faithful Servants to be tortured and examined concerning the Poyson judging it could not be undertaken without his knowledge He in the midst of his Torments confessed nothing about the poysoning but told the King That the aversion Mariamne discovered toward him proceeded from what Sobemus had revealed to her He had scarce uttered these words when Herod cryed out aloud That if Sohemus who had hitherto been so faithful to him and his Kingdom had declared his secret Orders to Mariamne it was a clear evidence of a criminal familiarity between them and therefore commanded him to be instantly seized and put to death He then resolved to bring his wife to a publick tryal always endeavouring to procure some colour of Justice for hiding his most exorbitant actions