there to meete with Caesar. And as soone as he arriued in that citie he tooke the Diademe from his head and laid it apart but as for his other princely ornaments he chaunged them in no sort and being admitted to Caesars presence he at that time gaue a more ample testimony of the greatnes of his magnanimitie and courage for neither addressed he his speech to intreat his fauour according to the custome of suppliants neither presented he any request as if he had in any sort offended him but gaue account of al that which he had done without concealing or mistrusting any thing For he freely confessed before Caesar that he had intirely loued Antonius and that to the vtmost of his power he had done him seruice to the end that he might obtaine the soueraigntie and monarchie not by annexing his forces vnto his in that he was otherwaies imployed in the Arabian warre but in furnishing him both with wheat and money and that this was the lest office which it behooued him to performe towards Antonius for that being once his professed friend it behooued him not onely to imploy his best endeuours on his so princely benefactor but also to hazard both his head and happines to deliuer him from perils All which said he I haue not performed according as I ought to haue done yet notwithstanding I know that at such time as he was ouercome in the Actian battell I did not alter my affection with his fortune neither did I restraine my selfe for although I befriended not Antonius with my presence and assistance in his Actian warre yet at leastwise I assisted him with my counsaile certifying him that he had but one onely meanes left him for his securitie and preuention of his vtter ruine which was to put Cleopatra to death for that by cutting her off hee might enioy her estate and might more easily obtaine his peace and pacifie thy displeasure against him And for that he gaue but slender regard for these mine admonitions by his owne sottishnesse and indiscretion he hath hurt himselfe and profited you because as I said he did not follow my counsaile Now therefore O Caesar in regard of the hate which you beare vnto Anthony you condemne my friendship also I will not denie that which I haue done neither am I affraid freely and publikely to protest how much I haue loued him but if without regard of persons you consider how kindly I am affected towards my benefactors and how resolute and constant a friend I am and how mindefull of kindnesse the effect of that which I haue done may make me knowne vnto thee For if the name be onely changed the friendship notwithstanding may remaine and deserue a due praise By these words which were manifest testimonies of his resolute and noble courage he so inwardly indeered himselfe vnto Caesar who was a magnificent and worthy monarcke that hee conuerted this his accusation into an occasion to winne and worke him to be his friend for which cause Caesar in setting the diademe vpon his head exhorted him that he should no lesse respect his friendship then he had in former time Anthonies and withall did him much honour certifying him moreouer that Capidius had written vnto him how much Herode had assisted him in his warres that he had with the monarches of Syria Herode seeing that he was thus entertained and that contrarie to his expectation the kingdome was more surely confirmed vnto him then before time both by Caesars bountie as also by the decree of the Senate which he had practized to obtaine for his greater assurance accompanied Caesar as farre as Aegypt presenting both himselfe and his friends with many rich gifts beyond the proportion of his estate endeuouring by these means both to win their fauors and to shew also the greatnes of his courage requiring moreouer at Caesars hands that Alexander who was one of Anthonies deerest friends might not be sought out to be punished yet notwithstanding he could not obtaine the same by reason of an oath that Caesar had past before he sollicited him That done he returned backe againe into Iewry with more greater honour and assurance then before whereby he stroke them with wonderfull amazement who expected his contrarie successe as if by Gods especiall prouidence he alwaies ouerwent his dangers to his greater honour Incontinently therefore hee prepared himselfe to entertain Caesar who returned out of Syria to take his iourney into Aegypt and receiued him at Ptolemais with all royall honour and gaue his army presents with all abundance of munition so that he was accounted for one of Caesars most affectionate friends and rode about with him at such time as he tooke the view of his army he entertained him also and his friends with one hundreth and fiftie men adorned with most rich and sumptuous apparell And for that they were to passe thorow a countrey wherein there was great scarcitie of water he furnished them both with water and wine so that they needed neither of them He gaue Caesar also eight hundreth talents and so royally satisfied he all men that they confessed themselues to haue had farre greater entertainment then the reuenues and profits of his kingdome could affoord them By which meanes he gaue the more ample testimonie of his forward friendship and free affection to deserue well and making vse of the opportunitie of the time he obtained the reputation of a prince of an heroicke and noble spirite so that hee was helde inferiour vnto no man for the good entertainment that he gaue to the chiefest Romans in their returne out of Aegypt CHAP. XI Herode being incensed by false accusations putteth his wife Mariamme to death BVt as soone as he returned into his kingdome he found all his houshold troubled and both his wife Mariamme and her mother Alexandra grieuously displeased with him For they supposing and not without cause that they were not shut vppe in that Castle for their securities sake but as it were in a prison so that in as much as they neither might make vse of other mens nor enioy their own goods they were highly discontented Mariamme also supposed that her husband did but dissemble his loue rather for his owne profit and commoditie then for any intire affection he bare towards her But nothing more grieued her but that she had not any hope to liue after him if so be he should happen to die especially for the order he had left as concerning her neither could she euer forget what commandement before that time he had left with Ioseph so that by all meanes possible she laboured to winne the affections of those that had the charge of her and especially Sohemus knowing verie well that her safetie depended wholy on his hands Who in the beginning behaued himselfe verie wisely and faithfully containing himselfe verie circumspectly within the bounds of his commission but after these Ladies had with prettie presents and feminine
the second day of this solemnitie he shewed himselfe being apparrelled in a Robe of siluer made with admirable workmanship and came in the same to the Theater in the morning Whereas the first reflexe of the rising sunne â—…eat vpon his Robe he shined after such a sort that all those that beheld him were seazed with reuerence and feare Whereupon certaine sycophants which did not a little dishonour him exclaimed one on the one side the other on the other saluting him for a God and in speaking to him cried out thus Be mercifull vnto vs hitherto haue we feared thee as a man but hence forward we wil confesse and acknowledge thee to be of a nature more excellent then mortall frailtie can attaine vnto Agrippa reproued them not for vsing these words neither reiected he their palpable and detestable flattery But not long after he looking vpwards perceiued an owle ouer his head perched vpon a cord and knew the same incontinently that he was but a message of his misfortune whereas before time he had denounced vnto him his felicitie and conceiued thereupon a most hearty and inward griefe And sodainly he was seazed with a terrible griping in his belly which began with verie great vehemencie for which cause turning his eies towards his friends he spake vnto them after this manner Behold him said he whom you esteeme for a God condemned to die and destinie shall apparantly conuince you of those flattering and false speeches which you haue lately vsed in my behalfe For I who by you haue been adored as one immoitall am vnder the hands of death But I must willingly entertaine that which God pleaseth to send me For I haue not liued in obscuritie but in so great and wonderfull felicitie that each one of you haue tearmed and helde me happy Whilest he spake thus his griefes augmented in such sort as he was brought almost to his last for which cause with all expedition he was conuaied into his royall pallace and the rumor was spred in euerie place that verie shortly he would be dead For which cause the people with their wiues and children put on sackcloth according to the custome of the countrey to the end they might sollicit Gods mercie in the kings behalfe and all the Citie was filled with teares and lamentations The king that lay in an vpper chamber and looking downe into the court sawe them lying thus on the earth could not refraine himselfe from teares And after he had for the space of fiue daies without ceasing beene tormented with griping in his belly hee gaue vp the ghost in the fiftie fourth yeere of his age and the seuenth yeere of his raigne For hee had raigned foure yeeres vnder the Empire of Caius Caesar hauing first of all gouerned Philips Tetrarchy three yeeres to which was annexed the signiorie of Herode in the fourth yeere and three yeeres vnder the Empire of Claudius Caesar during which time he gouerned ouer the aboue named countries and moreouer ouer Iudaea Samaria and Caesarea His reuenue amounted to twelue hundreth myriades besides which he made many loanes For in that he was verie liberal in giuing he spent farre more then his reuenue and spared not any thing to shew himselfe magnificent Before the people knew of his death Herode his brother prince of Chalcis and Chelcias the kings lieutenaut and friend agreed betweene themselues to send Aristo one of their trustiest seruants to kill Silas who was their enemie as if they had beene commaunded by the king Thus died king Agrippa leauing behinde him a son called Agrippa seuenteen yeeres old and three daughters one of which that was called Bernice was married to Herode his fathers brother when she was sixteene yeeres olde The two other were Mariamme and Drâ—…silla this Mariamme being of the age of ten yeeres was promised in marriage by her father to Iulius Archelaus Chelcias sonne and Drusilla which was sixe yeeres olde was promised also to Epiphanes sonne to the king of Comagena After Agrippas death they of Caesarea Sebaste forgot themselues of those benefits they had receiued from him and vsed him no lesse despitefully then as if he had been their vtter enemy For they reprochfully abused him after his death and reuiled him in such sort as it is vnseemely to report the same Furthermore all the men of warre who were at that time many in number went vnto the kings lodging and with one accord seazed the statues of the kings daughters and carried them to the brothell house where after they had placed them they vttered all the indignities that they could possibly practizing such shamefull matters as they may not be expressed Besides this resting themselues in the publike places they banqueted in the open street wearing chaplets of flowres vpon their heads and perfuming themselues with odors to sacrifice to Charon drinking to one another for ioy the king was dead Thus expressed they their ingratitude not only towards their king Agrippa who had bestowed so many liberalities on them but also towards Herode his grandfather who had builded their Cities and to his extreame charge erected their ports and temples At that time Agrippa the deceased Agrippas son was at Rome and was brought vp vnder the Emperour Claudius When Caesar vnderstood how those of Caesarea and Sebaste had iniuriously dealt with Agrippa he was sore displeased and mooued with their ingratitude his purpose was to send the younger Agrippa with all expedition to take possession of the kingdome of his father and therewithall to discharge himselfe of his oath but diuers of his freeman and friends who were in great credit with him disswaded him from the same alleadging that it would be a dangerous matter to commit the greatnesse of such a kingdome to a young man who scarcely had as yet attained to the age of eighteene yeeres and for whom it was impossible to support the care of so great a kingdome considering that if he were at mans estate he should finde himselfe ouerburthened with the charge of a kingdome This aduice of theirs was allowed by Caesar and for this cause hee sent Cuspius Fadus to gouerne Iudaea and the whole realme honouring his dead friend in this in that he would not suffer Marsus who had been his enemy to enter into his kingdome He gaue especiall commission also that Fadus should sharply punish those of Caesarea and Sebaste for the outrages they had offered to his deceased friend and the excesse that was committed against his daughters who were yet liuing commaunding him to transport the companies of the Caesarians and Sebastens and the fiue Roman legions into the countrey of Pontus to serue in that place and to take those Roman souldiers that bare armes in Syria to serue in their place yet notwithstanding this commandement of his they were not displaced For they sent Embassadours to Claudius to appease him and by this means they obtained the fauour to remaine in Iudaea
third at Amathunt the fourth at Iericho the fift at Sephoris a citie of Galilee and the Iewes being deliuered from the gouernment of one man only willingly suffered themselues to be ruled by the nobility But shortly after Aristobulus escaping from Rome raised new troubles who gathering a great army partly of those that desired a change partly of them that loued him before tooke Alexandrium began to compasse it again with a wal but hearing that Gabinius had sent Sisenna Antonius Seruilius against him with an army he went to Macherunt and forsaking those that were not fit for warre he tooke with him almost 8000. armed men amongst whom was Pytholaus gouernor of them that were reuolted who with 1000. men fled out of Ierusalem But the Romans followed pursued them and ioyning battell with them Aristobulus with his men fought valiantly till being by force ouercome the Romanes slue fiue thousand of them and almost two thousand fled into a mountaine and the other thousand breaking the ranks of the Romans with Aristobulus vvere forced to Macherunt where the king hiding himselfe the first night amongst the ruines hoped that hauing respite he might gather another army fortifie the castle but hauing for two daies sustained the forces of the Romans although vnable to do it at last he was taken with his son Antigonus who had bin imprisoned with him at Rome he was carried to Gabinius from thence to Rome and the Senate put him in prison but his sonnes they sent into Iudaea because Gabinius writ that he had so promised Aristobulus his wife vpon condition the castles might be yeelded Now Gabinius being prepared to warre against the Parthians Ptolomaeus hindred him who returning from Euphrates wēt into Aegypt leauing Antipater Hyrcanus his friends to dispose of al things belonging to the vvar for Antipater helped him vvith mony vveapons corne men and he perswaded the Iewes vvho kept the vvaies that lead vnto Pelusium to suffer Gabinius to passe Now in the other part of Syria at the departure of Gabinius there began a commotion Alexander Aristobulus son once more incited the Iewes to rebellion hauing gathered a mightie power purposed to destroy all the Romans that vvere in that country vvhich Gabinius fearing vvho vvas returned out of Aegypt at the beginning of these tumults he sent Antipater before who perswaded some of the rebels to be quiet yet 30000. remained with Alexander For which cause he was very forward to fight and went out to battel the Iewes came against him neere vnto Itabyrium they fought where 10000. were slaine and the rest were put to flight and Gabinius returned to Ierusalem through the counsell of Antipater who hauing established that estate went from thence and ouercame the Nabathaeans in battel he likewise permitted Mithridates Orsanes priuily to depart who were fled from the Parthians saying that they had escaped from the souldiers In the meane time Crassus who was appointed to be his successor had Syria deliuered him who toward the maintenance of the Parthian wars tooke all the gold that was in the temple of Ierusalem and the 2000. talents which Pompeius had forborne to do who passing ouer Euphrates was both himselfe and his whole army vtterly ouerthrowne of which thing it behooueth vs not to speake in this place After the death of Crassus the Parthians endeuored themselues to enter Syria but Cassius who succeeded him in the gouernment repulsed them and hauing gotten the vpper hand he speedily resorted into Iudaea and taking Tarichea he caried away about 3000. men captiues and put Pytholaus to death for gathering a company of seditious people vnto Aristobulus his part He that caused and consailed his death was Antipater who was maried vnto a noble woman of Arabia called Cypris by vvhom he had foure sons Phasaolus king Herode Ioseph and Pheroras and one daughter called Salome vvho sought the friendship of al potentates round about him by courtesie and hospitalitie and especially he got the good vvill of the king of Arabia by affinitie vnto whose fidelitie he committed his sonnes because he had vndertaken the wars against Aristobulus But Cassius made a truce vvith Alexander and in the meane time went to Euphrates to hinder the passage of the Parthians of which we vvill speake hereafter CHAP. VII Of the death of Aristobulus and the warre betweene Antipater and Mithridates AFter that Caesar had forced the Senate and Pompey to flie beyond the Ionian sea and by that means made himselfe sole Master of all at Rome he set Aristobulus at libertie and with two legions of men sent him in haste into Syria hoping through his means speedily to winne both it and also all places adioining to Iudaea but both the hope of Caesar and the forwardnes of Aristobulus was ouerthrown through enuie for he was poysoned by Pompeies fauorites and euen in his owne countrey his bodie lay vnburied which notwithstanding was preserued from putrefaction with hony till such time as Antonius sent it vnto the Iewes commaunding them to burie it in the kings sepulcher His sonne Alexander also was beheaded at Antiochia by Scipio being first according to the tenour of Pompeies letters accused before the tribunall seat of such things as he had committed against the Romanes Ptolemaeus the sonne of Minaeus who ruled Chalcis which was vnder Libanus hauing taken his brethren sent his sonne Philippio with them to Ascalon and he violently taking away Antigonus and his sisters from the wife of Aristobulus brought them to his father and falling in loue with the yongest tooke her to his wife for which cause he was afterward put to death by his father For Ptolemaeus hauing slaine his sonne married Alexandra and for that affinitie sake was more carefull for her brethren After the death of Pompey Antipater sought all meanes to get Caesars fauour and when Mithridates of Pergamenus was hindred by the garrison at Pelusium to passe any further with an armie into Aegypt and was by that meanes staied at Ascalon he perswaded the Arabians to assist him the rather because he was but a straunger and he himselfe also seconded him with almost three thousand armed Iewes Moreouer he incited the potentate of Syria and Ptolemaeus who inhabited Libanus and Iamblicus and another Ptolemaeus to assist him for whose sakes the cities of that countrey did willingly vndertake the wars And now Mithridates strengthned by Antipaters meanes came to Pelusium and because they would not suffer him to passe he besieged the citie in which siege Antipater shewed his valour for making a breach on that side of the wall where his quarter was he first of all with his company brake into the citie and so Pelusium was taken But the inhabitants of Onias countrey who were Aegyptians and Iewes suffered him not to passe any further yet did Antipater handle the matter so discreetly with them that they did not only suffer him to passe
sisters sonne the other vnto Phasaelus his brothers sonne When Antipater had quite ouerthrowne the hope of the Orphans ioyned affinitie as he thought good he now held himselfe on a sure ground and adding confidence to his malice he became intolerable to all men And seeing he could not auoid their hatred he now sought by feare to worke his owne safetie and so much the more because Pheroras now assisted him as one that was confirmed and established for king Also the women in the court fell at variance and raised a new broyle for Pheroras wife with her mother and her sister and the mother of Antipater did vse themselues verie insolently in many things abusing also two of the kings daughters verie contumeliously to which matter she was chiefly set on by Antipater who hated them hauing the others at his commaund onely Salome hindred their agreement who went vnto the king and told him that their meetings were not for his profit The women vnderstanding how she had enformed the king that Herod was offended thereat they came no more together openly and abstained from their wonted familiaritie and in the kings hearing fained themselues to fall out one with another Antipater also made the same shew so that he stucke not openly to offend Pheroras notwithstanding they had meetings and banquets in the night and the vnitie was the more confirmed because they perceiued themselues to be noted for Salome knew all this and told it vnto the king The king was verie angrie and especially against Pheroras wife whom chiefly Salome blamed and hauing called togither his kinred and friends he laid many accusations against her before them and told them how contumeliously she had behaued her selfe toward his daughter that she hired the Pharisees against him and that by her poyson she had made his brother his enemie And turning himself vnto Pheroras he asked him whether he had rather haue him for his brother or haue his wife And he answering that he had rather die then lose his wife Herode doubtfull what to do turned him to Antipater and commaunded him neuer to talke with Pheroras nor his wife nor any one belonging vnto them after that time But he obeyed his fathers commaund openly in shew but secretly lay in their house and fearing that Salome should perceiue it he by his friends in Italy caused himself to make a voyage to Rome by letters brought to Herod wherein it was commaunded that shortly after the receite thereof Antipater should be sent to Rome vnto Caesar. Wherefore Herode vsing no delay sent him presently furnishing him with all things necessarie and a great summe of money giuing him likewise his last Will and Testament to carie with him to Caesar wherein was written that Antipater should be king and after him Herod the sonne of Mariammes daughter of the high Priest But Syllaeus the Arabian neglecting Caesars commaundement at the same time failed to Rome there to contend with Antipater about matters which were before in controuersie between him and Nicholaus He had also a great contention with Aretas his king whose friends he had slaine and also Soemus the most potent in all the towne of Petra and seeing Fabatus Caesars procurator he vsed his fauour also against Herode But Herod giuing Fabatus a greater summe of money alienated him from Syllaeus and by his meanes dispatched that which Caesar commanded and because Fabatus restored nothing vnto him he accused him that he was procurator not for Caesar but for Herod wherewith Fabatus was moued and being as yet in great estimation with Herode he did disclose Syllaeus his secrets and signified vnto the king how that Syllaeus corrupted Corinthus one of his guard whom he vvilled to be taken and kept in hold And the king followed his counsel for this Corinthus though he vvas alwaies brought vp in the kings court yet was he borne in Arabia Wherefore he presently tooke him and two other Arabians that were found with him one of them was Syllaeus friend and the other Phylarchus who vpon their examination confessed that Corinthus for a great summe of money was hired to kill the King After this they vvere sent vnto Saturninus the gouernour of Syria and from him to Rome CHAP. XIX How Herode should haue beene poysoned and how it was knowne HErode still vrged Pheroras to forsake his wife for he knew not how to punish her hauing many matters against her at last he was so moued that he banished his brother and her Pheroras taking this iniurie patiently departed into his Tetrarchie taking an oath that his banishment should endure so long as Herode liued and that whilst he liued he would neuer come any more at him Insomuch as he would not come at this brother to visite him when he was sicke notwithstanding he was often sent for when as he thought he lay now on his death bed and would gladly impart something vnto him but contrarie to all hope he recouered and afterward Pheroras fell sicke At which time Herode shewed his patient and humble mind for he went vnto him and verie kindly sought helpe for him but he was too farre spent for a few daies after he died and although Herode loued him vntill his dying day yet was it bruted abroad that he poysoned him Herode caused his bodie to be brought vnto Ierusalem and commaunded all his nation to mourne and buried him with a sumptuous funerall And thus one of the murtherers of Alexander and Aristobulus came to his end but shortly after the reuenge of that wicked fact did fall vpon Antipater vvho was the chiefe author thereof it did but begin with Pheroras For certaine that belonged to Pheroras came in mournefull wise vnto Herode and complained vnto him how that his brother Pheroras was poysoned and that one of his wiues gaue him meat that was not seasoned after the accustomed maner which vvhen he had eatē he presently fell sick And that two daies before his death there came a witch out of Arabia who was sent for by his mother and his sister to giue Pheroras a loue potion and she in steed thereof through Syllaeus inducements gaue him poyson for she was of Syllaeus acquaintance The King daunted with so many suspicions caused diuers of Pheroras maids and libertines to be put to torments and one of them impatient therein exclaimed in this vvise O thou God ruler of heauen and earth reuenge vs vpon Antipaters mother vvho is the cause of these our euils When the king vnderstood thus much he ceased not to search out the truth and then the woman disclosed Antipaters mothers familiarity vvith Pheroras and his women and their secret meetings and that Pheroras and Antipater after they came from the king vsed to drinke with them all night long not suffering any seruant nor maid to be in the roume with them and one of the Libertines vviues reuealed this And vvhen euery
notwithstandinding the holinesse of the day departed But he accompanied with his mother Popla Ptolemaeus and Nicholaus his friends went vnto the sea coast leauing Philip for Gouernour of the kingdome and ouer his houshold with them departed Salome and her children and the kings brethren and kinred vnder pretence to assist Archelaus to the crowne but indeed it was to informe Caesar of that which was done in the Temple against the law When they came to Caesarea they met with Sabinus Gouernour of Syria who was comming toward Iudaea to take into his custodie Herods treasure whom Varus forbad to go anie further being sent for by Archelaus and Ptolemie requesting him thereunto And so Sabinus for the loue of Varus neither entred the Castles nor shut vp Herods treasure from Archelaus but promised that he would let all alone till Caesar vnderstood thereof But so soone as one of them that hindered him was gone to Antiochia and the other to wit Archelaus to Rome he still remaining at Casarea now hasted vnto Ierusalem and tooke the kings pallace where calling for the chiefe of the guard and the Purueyors he exacted of them an account and sought to take into his custodie the Castles and strong holds But the Captaines of the garrison mindfull of the charge which Archelaus gaue them kept vnto themselues the custodie of all affirming that they kept them more for Caesar then Archelaus At this time Antipas made a claime to the crowne alleaging that Herods first testament was of more force then the last and that he in the first was declared king and both Salome and many more of his kinred who sayled with Archelaus promised him their aid He tooke with him his mother and Ptolemaeus brother vnto Nicholaus perswading himselfe that they for their trustinesse and loyaltie vnto Herod would stand him in great steed for this Ptolemaeus was Herods dearest friend He had also great confidence in Irenaeus his orator because he had an excellent grace in pleading in so much as he refused the counsell of them who sought to perswade him to yeeld vnto Archelaus both for his age and for the last testament of his father Now he was well beloued of all his kin◅ed at Rome because they hated Archelaus and especially those that desired to liue at libertie and either to be gouerned by the Romans or else to haue Antipas for their king And to further him the more he vsed Sabinus letters vnto Caesar wherein Archelaus was accused and Antipas commended Therefore Salome and the rest of their accomplices brought the accusations vnto Caesar. And after them Archelaus deliuered all that which he had done in writing withall his fathers ring by Ptolemeus the reasons of that which he had done he sent inclosed vnto Caesar. Caesar pondering with himself what both parties alleaged and the greatnesse of the kingdome and large reuennes and number of Herods children reading also the letters of Varus and Sabinus he called the chiefe of the Romans to councell Wherein Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia by his assignment sate in the first place this Caius was Caesars adopted sonne and so he licensed the parties to plead their rights Then Antipater Salomes sonne being the most eloquent of all Archelaus aduersaries offered himselfe to be his accuser for that Archelaus seemed now in words to contend for the kingdome which he had alreadie possest himselfe of and that hee did now trouble Caesars eares with vaine cauillations whom he would not wish to iudge of his lawfull succession For after Herods death he suborned some to put a diademe vpon his head and then sitting in a throne of gold in kingly maner he partly changed partly aduaunced the orders of the souldiers and granted vnto the people their requests which could not be effected but by a king He had also set at libertie maniemen who for great crimes were imprisoned by his father and hauing done all this he came now vnto Caesar to craue the shadow of the kingdome the substance and bodie whereof he already occupied so that herein he left nothing vnto Caesar but a bare title Moreouer he alleaged that Archelaus did but counterfeit sorrow for his fathers death faining himselfe to mourne on the day time and in the night he would be drunke and rioted Finally he said that the sedition of the people came by hatred thereof But the force and drift of his speech was altogether bent to declare the multitude slaine about the Temple for he said that they only came against that festiuall day to offer sacrifice and that they themselues were sacrificed as they were offering their sacrifices which they brought and that there were such heapes of dead bodies in the Temple as neuer by anie forraine warres were slaine the like Therefore Herod foreseeing his crueltie neuer iudged him worthy of the kingdome till such time as his memorie fayled him and that now being more sicke in mind then body hee knew not whom he named his successour in his last will especially for that he had nothing wherein he could blame him whom in his former will he appointed his successour when he was in health both of mind and bodie Yet quoth he put case Herod in his extremitie knew what he did yet said he Archelaus hath depriued himselfe of all kingly dignitie hauing committed manie things against the lawes For said he what will he be after he hath receiued authoritie from Caesar who before hee receiued any hath murdered somanie Antipater hauing spoken much to this effect and at euerie accusation taking witnesse of his kinred that stood by ended his speech Then Nicholaus stood vp and first of all he shewed that the slaughter of them in the Temple was necessarie For they for whose death Archelaus was now accused were not only enemies of the kingdome but also of Caesar and for other crimes obiected he shewed how that they were done euen by the counsel and perswasion of the aduersaries He also requested that the second testament might be of force for that therein Herod requested Caesar to be a confirmer of his successour For he who had such remēbrance as to leaue the performance of his will to the discretion of him who was Lord of all did neither mistake himself in appointing his heire nor yet was depriued of his senses seeing he knew by whom he should be established When Nicholaus had ended his speech and declared all that he thought might make for Archelaus Archelaus comming into the middest of the Councell prostrated himselfe at Caesars feet whom Caesar curteously taking from the ground shewed that he was worthie to succeed his father Yet did he not pronounce a definitiue sentence but the same day the Councell being dismissed he deliberated with himselfe according to the euidence he knew whether anie of those nominated in the two wils should succeed their father in the kingdome or that the kingdome should be
Ant. lib. 14. cap. 11. Alexanders mother striueth to pacifie Gabinius with rewards The change of y e gouernment of the Iewes Ant. lib. 14. cap. 12. Aristobulus escaping from Rome raiseth new troubles Aristobulus fighteth with the Romans The Romans obtaine the victory and cary away Aristobulus and his son to Rome Alexander Aristobulus son once more prouoketh the Iewes to rebellion The Iewes ouercome by the Romans Gabinius ouercommeth the Nabathaeans in battell Ant. lib. 14. cap 13. Marcus crassus taketh away the rest of the gold of the temple Antipaters wife a noble woman of Arabia The yeare of the world 3917 before Christs birth 47. Ant lib. 14. cap. 14. Caesar deliuereth Aristobulus from his bonds Aristobulus his son slain by PoÌ„peies frieÌ„ds Ant. lib. 14. cap. 15. Ptolemaeus son marieth Antigonus yonger daughter and for that cause is slaine by his father Ant. lib. 14. cap. 16. Mithridates goeth to Pelusium therby obtaineth Antigonus helpe Mithridates victory against the Egyptians Antipater performeth many noble exploits and exposeth himselfe to all daunger for Caesars sake Caesar maketh Antipater a free citizen of Rome Antigonus Aristobulus son commeth to Caesar to accuse Pompeies friends for his fathers death The yeare of the world 3917. before the birth of Christs 47. Antigonus fallely accuseth Hyrcanus and Antipater Antipater casting off his garment sheweth his many woundes Caesar createth Hyrcanus hie priest and to Antipater he giueth the gouerâ—…ment of Iudaea Ant. lib. 14. cap. 16. Antipater repaireth y e wals of his country Antipater chargeth his subiects to obey Hyrcanus Phasaelus and Herode Antipaters sonnes Herodes fortitude Herod banisheth y e theeues out of Syria Phasaelus obtained the fauour of the people of Ierusalem Hyrcanus animated by enuious men against Antipater and his sonnes Herode called to his answere before the councell The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 24. Hyrcanus absolueth Herod Hircanus once more incited by the wicked Herode gathering a great army commeth to Ierusalem to depose Hyrcanus Herode disswaded by Antipater from attempting against Hyrcanus Bassus murthereth Sextus Caesar by treason Marcus Sextus successor Ant. lib. 14. cap. 2. Iulius Caesar slaâ—…ne by Brutus Cassius Cassius leuieth money in the cities Herode Cassius friend Cassius seuere in his exactions The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. Malichus forgetfull of Antipaters kindnes Antipater gathereth an armie against Malichus Octauius Augustus succeedeth after Caesar Cassius promiseth Herode after the warre to make him king of Iudaea Antipater poisoned by Malichus Herode intendeth to reuege his fathers death Malichus ioyneth with Hyrcanus Cassius chargeth Herode by letters to reuenge his fathers death The decree of fate laugheth at human hope Herods tribunes murther Malichus The yeare of the world 3923 before Christs birth 41. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 20. Foelix commeth with an army against Phasaelus Phasaelus ouercommeth Foelix toucheth Hyrcanus with ingratitude Antigonus Aristobulus son put to flight by Herode Doris Herods first wife of good birth by whom he had Antipater The chiefest Iewes repaire to Caesar to accuse Phasaelus and Herod Ant. lib. 14. cap 21. The Iewes once more coÌ„plaine against y e two brothers Antonius maketh the two brothers Tetrarches Antonius coÌ„mandeth in Tyre Sedition in IerusaleÌ„ against the brethren Antonius slue the captiues The yeare of the world 3923. before the birth of Christ. 41. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 21. Lysanias persuadeth Batzapharnes to depose Hyrcanus and enstate Antigonus A sore fight in the market place betwixt Antigonus and Hyrcanus Daily slaughters in Ierusalem Phasaelus entertaineth the Parthians and with him fiue hundreth horse Pacorus treason and subtiltie The yeare of the world 3924. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 40. * Or free Herode in Ierusalem and Phasaelus in the camp are in danger of their liues The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Herod is laid for to be betraied Herode in the night time flieth into Idumaea Herod more hotely pursued by the Iewes then the Parthians Herods victory Herodium Massada Petra a citie of Arabia The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Antigonus â—…weth off Hircanus eares Phasaelus words before he died The Parthians establish Antigonus king The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs Natiuitie 39. Animaters to impudence Herode perceiueth the Arabians to be his enemies Herod in great dangers repaireth to Rome Herod repairing to Rome hath conference with Antonius Ant. lib. 14. cap. 13. Herod â—…ndeth both Caesar and Antonius fauourable vnto him Herode praised before the Senate Herode made king by the 〈◊〉 Romane Senate The yeare of the world 3925 before Christs birth 39. Ant. lib. 14. cap. 23. Antigonus getteth Massada The wars between Antigonus soldiers Ioseph Herods brother Ventidius the Romane generall taketh money from Antigonus Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24. Herod against Antigonus Herod intendeth that after he hath taken Massada and Ioppe to besiege Ierusalem Herod begirteth Ierusalem with a siege proclaimeth the cause of his comming Siloes subtiltie being corrupted by y e Iewes Herod gathereth great store of prouision The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Herod accompanied with ten troupes commeth to Iericho The Romane got a great pray Ant. lib. 14. cap. 24. Herod taketh the citie of Sephoris Herode setteth forth against the theeues The yeare of the world 3926. before Christs birth 38. Ant. lib. ca. 25. The description of the caues where the theeues kept The yeere of the world 3926. before Christs birth 38. Ptolemey captaine of Herods souldiers slaine Machaeras iniquitie The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs birth 37. Antonius admireth Herods valour Antigonus cruelty against Iosephs care as The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Herode certified of his brothers death in a dreame Herods dining roume fell after he had forsaken it and gone to bed The number of the carcasses hinder the souldiers passage The yeare of the world 3928 before Christs birth 36. Herode beheadeth Pappus Antigonus captaine Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1â—… Ierusalem besieged The yeare of the world 3929 before Christs birth 35. The Iewes valiantly defend themselues Herods souldiers after fiue moneths siege enter the citie Slaughter in Ierusalem Sosius taketh Antigonus The yeare of the world 3929. before the birth of Christ. 35. Herode liberally bestoweth mony vpoÌ„ the souldiers Antigonus beheaded Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1. Cleopatras cruelty against her kinred Cleopatras couetousnes The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 5. Clapatras subtill treason against Herode The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 6. The Arabians defeat Herods army The Actian warre between Antonius and Augustus Another calamitie of Herodes Herodes oration to his dismaied souldiers Feare giueth confidence Thâ—… yâ—…re of 〈◊〉 world 3934. befoâ—… Christs birth 30. Herodes peroration Herode sacrificeth to God before the battell Herode assaileth the enemie The Arabiâ—…
was a man of mightier substance and greater minde and withall more moderate in his demand whereas Hircanus was poore and couetous and notwithstanding he demaunded greater things then his brother did yet was his promise of lesse assurance For it was a harder matter to subdue a Citie that was so defenced and strong then to repulse a troupe of runnagate Nabatheans and they scarcely well animated to prosecute that warre For these causes therefore he receiuing his money leuied the siege commanding Aretas to returne which if he refused he declared him an enemy to Rome This done Scaurus returned to Damasco and Aristobulus led foorth his army against Aretas and Hircanus and fighting with them in a place called Papyron he obtained the victorie and slew about some seuen thousand of his enemies amongst the number of which was Cephalius Antipaters brother CHAP. V. How Aristobulus and Hircanus debate their titles in the presence of Pompey NOt long time after this Pompey came vnto Damasco and as he trauailed thorow Coelesyria diuers Embassadours resorted vnto him from all parts of Syria Aegypt and Iudaea For Aristobulus sent him a present of great valew namely a golden vine of fiue hundreth talents price Hereof Strabo the Cappadocian maketh mention in these words There came an Embassadour out of Aegypt bearing a crowne of foure thousand pieces of gold and an other from Iewry with a vine or garden and the workmanship was called Terpole that is to say recreation And this vine haue we beheld at this day in the Citie of Rome in the temple of Iupiter Capitoline hauing the inscription of Alexander king of the Iewes and it was esteemed and valewed at fiue hundreth talents It is said that Aristobulus prince of the Iewes sent the same Straight after this there came other fresh Embassadors vnto him Antipater from Hircanus and Nicodemus frō Aristobulus who accused those that had taken mony namely Gabinius for that he first of all had receiued three hundreth talents beside other presents and secondly Scaurus who had receiued foure hundreth alleadging that by that meanes they had incensed them against him He therefore gaue direction that they should repaire vnto him about the spring each of them to iustifie and maintaine their seuerall rights as for himselfe he drew his forces from their wintring places and marched towards Damasco destroying in his way a certaine fortresse which Antiochus the Cyzicenian had fortified in Apamea He visited also the countrey of Ptolomey Mennaeus who was a peruerse and wicked man and no waies differed from Dionysius Tripolitane who was punished with the losse of his head and was vnited also with him in friendship and affinitie yet acquitted of the death he deserued by the meanes of a thousand talents raunsome which Ptolomey distributed amongst his souldiers for their pay He raced likewise the Castle of Lysias wherein a Iewe called Silas tyrannized and passing by the Cities of Heliopolis and Chal◅is and hauing likewise ascended the mountaine which is betweene them he came to Coelesyria and from Pella repaired to Damasco In which place he gaue audience to the Iews and their princes Hircanus and Aristobulus who were at oddes the one against the other as touching their particular interests as all the whole nation against them both alleadging that they would not be gouerned by kings because their custome was to obey Gods Priests whom they honored affirming that these two brethren who were descended of the race of priests sought to draw their nation vnder a different forme of gouernmēt to the intent to reduce ◅m vnder seruitude Hircanus complained for that being the elder borne he had bin depriued of his inheritance by Aristobulus and had onely but a small portion of the countrey allotted him because Aristobulus had seazed the rest by force He complained likewise of those incursions that both by land and sea Aristobulus followers had endomaged the frontires with For the people had not reuolted if he had not been a violent and turbulent man To this accusation of his a thousand of the principallest of the Iewes drawne on by Antipaters perswasion subscribed who auerred and iustified the same But Aristobulus answered that Hircanus was dispossessed of the kingdome by reason of his incapacitie and naturall defects alleadging for himselfe that the gouernment was enforced on him by a necessitie for feare it should be transported to others in effect he protested that he challenged no other title then that which his father Alexander had had Hee brought in also for his witnesses certaine arrogant young men who were hated for their pompe purple robes their curiositie in painting and curling their haire and bard horse and other braueries which they presented not like men that intended to expect iudgement but as if their pretence had been to make shew of their pompe After that Pompey had heard them he condemned Aristobulus violence but for that time he dismissed them after some fauourable and gracious conference promising them that he would come into their countrie and determine their differents after he had seene the region of the Nabatheans commanding them in the meane while to liue in peace He vsed Aristobulus likewise very kindly fearing least he should incense the people and shut vp his passage which notwithstanding came to passe For Aristobulus came into the Citie of Delion and from thence went into Iudaea without respect of that which Pompey had commaunded him CHAP. VI. Pompey maketh himselfe Lord of the Castles by a warlike stratageme POmpey hearing this was sore displeased therewith and taking with him his army which he had prepared against the Nabatheans with the supplies he had in Damalco and the rest of Syria besides the other Roman companies that he had he marched forth against Aristobulus when as therefore he had left Pella and Scythopolis behind him he came to Core as which is the entrance into Iudaea drawing toward the heart of the countrey There found he a goodly Castle scituate vpon the top of a mountaine called Alexandrion whither Aristobulus was retired For which cause he sent Embassadours to inuite him to come and parlee with him who perswaded by the counsaile of many of his inward friends in no sort to commence warre against the Romanes came downe vnto him and after he had debated his title with his brother as touching the kingdome Pompey permitted him to returne againe into his Castle And this did he two or three times alwaies flattering Pompey thorow the hope he had of the kingdome and making a shew that he would be obedient vnto him in whatsoeuer he would command him Meane while he retired himselfe and fortified the place and made preparation for the warre for feare least Pompey should transferre the kingdome to Hircanus But when as Pompey commaunded him that he should deliuer vp the fortresses that he held and had written with his owne hand to the captaines of the garrisons who otherwise would not
are we ouermuch afflicted neither as some thinke hath this miserie befallen vs thorow Gods displeasure but these are the casualties of fortune And if by the will of God these things are come to passe it is maruell if by the same will our calamitie cease not and that our punishment should not satisfie his displeasure But that this present war is approued by him for iust he himselfe hath euidently declared For whereas diuers thorow the whole region haue been oppressed by the earthquake none of you that bare armes haue incurred any mischiefe but all of you haue beene preserued which is a manifest token of the will of God and if your children and wiues had generally followed the warres as you doe none of you should haue beene wanting When as therfore you shall haue bethought your selues of these things and moreouer in regard that God hath at all times an especiall care ouer you faile not to pursue this iniurious nation with a iust warre that neither respecteth the lawes of friendshippe nor keepeth the league of couenant valiunt in murthering sacred Embassadours and abiect and villanous where things are to be attempted by valour These perswasions of his did not a little encourage the Iewes to the battell and made them more forward then before As for Herode after he had offered sacrifice according to the custome he drewe his army foorth and led them with great confidence against the Arabians and passing Iordan he encamped neere vnto the enemy with an intent to surprise a fort scituate betweene them both making his account that it would further him much either if vpon the present he should be drawne forth to fight or if it concerned him to march onward for that this place would serue him to encampe in with more securitie The same resolution also had the Arabians for which cause they fell to skirmish in that place wherein the first on both sides that gaue the charge and afterwards some other followers were slaine so that those of the Arabians side being ouercome betooke them to retreat This successe of theirs bred no little hope in the Iewes who seeing the enemies army addressed to attempt any thing rather then to fight waxed the more hardie to assaile the Arabian in his trenches and beate him from his campe They being forced by these assaults drew forward to their defence in great disorder bringing neither courage nor hope of victorie with them yet notwithstanding they defended themselues both in regard of their great number as also in respect of that necessitie whereunto they were inforced by the Iewes The skirmish on both sides was hot and diuers on either party were put to the sword but in the end the Arabians being put to the worst turned their backes The slaughter was so great that they not onely perished by their enemies swords but they themselues also murthered one another in the prease and disorderly flight in which they were troaden vnder foote and lay slaughtered in a manner by their owne weapons So that in that discomfiture there died some fiue thousand the rest hastily fled on the other side of the rampire But being ouerpressed with want of victuals and in especiall with lacke of water they had not any ground or assurance to escape After them posted the Iewes and being vnable to recouer the fortresse with them they begirt the campe with a siege and shut vp all the passages that no succour could come vnto them and tooke from them all opportunitie to escape although they should affect flight When as therefore they saw themselues reduced into such extremitie they sent Embassadours vnto Herode first of all to demaund a truce and afterwards for that they were oppressed with thirst to craue some remedy for their present necessities But he neither respected the Embassadours neither the profered raunsome for the captiues nor any other whatsoeuer reasonable demaund desiring earnestly to reuenge himselfe of those iniurious treacheries they had practised against his Embassadours Being therfore inforced by thirst which amongst other plagues most grieuously afflicted them many of them forsooke their trenches and offered themselues to bonds and to be led away captiues so that within fiue daies space foure thousand of them yeelded themselues prisoners On the sixt day all the rest determined to sally out and assaile the enemy rather making choise of assured death then thus lingeringly and ignominiously to pine away When as therefore they had all concluded hereupon they incontinently brake out of their trenches but like vnapt souldiers for a skirmish decaied not onely in body but in minde reputing their death for an aduantage to escape thereby their extreme misfortunes For which cause vpon the first onset about some seuen thousand of them were slaine and thus the fiercenesse of this nation being alaied by this ouerthrow they submitted themselues to Herode whom to their owne sorrow they had approoued to be a valiant souldier CHAP. IX Herode constrained to repaire vnto Augustus Caesar putteth Hircanus to death HErode puffed vp with his succesfull good fortune returned backe into his owne country hauing obtained great estimation and reputation by his valour and vertue But at such time as he supposed his state to be most assured he grew in danger both to lose his dignitie and life by reason of that victorie that Caesar obtained against Anthony in the Actian war For at that time he not onely supposed himselfe to be vtterly ouerthrowne but both his friends and enemies that were round about him lost their hopes for that it was vnlikely that he should escape vnpunished who had beene so inwardly vnited in friendship with Anthonie Whereby it came to passe that his friends in no sort concealed their despaire and his enemies vnder their colourable and dissembled griefs couered their ioy promising themselues thereafter a better and more pleasing administration of the common weale Hereupon Herod perceiuing that except Hircanus there was not any one of the bloud royall aliue determined to cut him off resoluing with himselfe that if he hapned to escape the danger that a man who at that time was more worthier the kingdome then himselfe should not entermeddle amongst his affaires and if anie misfortune should be fall him in regard of Caesar he desired to dispossesse Hircanus of the kingdome in regard of the enuy which he bare him for that he was the onlie man who deserued to be aduanced to that dignitie Whilest thus he was tormented and trauelled in his thoughts he had an occasion offered him by Hircanus owne followers to execute his intention For Hircanus being of a mild and gentle nature during all his life time forbare to entermeddle with state affaires committing all things to fortune and contenting himselfe with whatsoeuer condition it pleased her to alot him But Alexandra being an ambitious woman and vnable to conceale with modestie the hope she conceiued of change sollicited her father that he should not any longer endure
things wasted by diuers calamities that a man could conceiue no hope of remedie Besides this the people grew in hatred of their king for that it is their custome ordinarily to accuse their gouernours as if they were the authors of all their euils Yet did the king bethinke himselfe how he might remedy these inconueniences but hardly could he find the means for that their neighbours had no meanes to sell them victuals because they were no lesse afflicted then themselues and although he might haue recouered some little meanes for a great summe of money yet wanted he it also to defray the charges notwithstanding in that he knew that it behooued him to imploy his vttermost indeuours in yeelding a generall remedie to such and so violent an oppression he molted downe all those moueables he had either of gold or siluer within his pallace and spared nothing either for the matter the excellencie or the fashion no not so much as the vessels wherein he was ordinarily serued This money sent he into Aegypt where at that time vnder Caesar Petronius held the gouernment This man being Herodes friend in that he desired the safetie of his subiects at such time as diuers of them retired themselues vnto him by reason of that their necessitie he permitted them to buy vp corne and assisted them in all things both in their bargaines and in their cariages so that the greater or the whole summe of their succours was attributed to him But after their returne Herode wrought so much that the care that was taken by him did not onely change the affections of those which before time were his enemies but beside all this he purchased great praise and commendation for his liberalitie and singular prouidence For first of all he distributed a certaine quantitie of corne to all those who were not able of themselues to supply their owne wants vsing herein both great care and diligence After this for that there were a great number of such who in regard of their age or some other infirmitie were vnable to prepare their victuals he tooke order for their reliefe and appointed them certaine bakers who should furnish them with bread both sufficient and meet for their sustenance He gaue order also that they should not passe the winter disfurnished of cloathing but prouided for such as were naked sufficient raiment cōsidering that the sheep were partly dead partly deuoured that there was no wool to let men awork or other stuffe to make garments of Now after he had furnished his subiects with these things he thought good also to shew kindnes to the neighbouring cities and stored the Syrians with seed corne to sow their lands which yeelded him no little profit for the earth incontinently gaue him a large and plentifull tribute for that she had receiued so that all of them had aboundance of victuals and as soone as the haruest was readie he sent fiftie thousand men into that countrey which hee had releeued and by this meanes hee with all diligence restored his afflicted kingdome and comforted his neighbours who were oppressed with the like calamitie For there was not any man in necessitie that according to his qualitie was not assisted and succoured The villages likewise and the cities and those of the common sort who entertained great households and were in want hauing their recourse vnto him receiued that which they had need of so that to reckon vp all the come which he gaue vnto those who were not his subiects it appeareth that he imploied ten thousand Cores of wheat now the Core containeth ten Athenian bushels and within the compasse of his Realme he imploied eightie thousand which care of his and discreetly imploied fauour wrought so much in the hearts of the Iewes and was so highly renowmed amongst other nations that the ancient hatred which they had conceiued against him for that he had altered certaine customes of their kingdome was wholy forgotten and he was supposed by them to haue made a sufficient recompence by the diligence he had shewed in assisting them in their necessities and no lesse either grace or glory obtained he among strangers so that by these miseries the kings honour was not a little magnified and whatsoeuer damage he receiued at home so much honour and reputation atchieued he abroad For whereas in straungers necessities he had shewed himselfe so full of magnanimity each man did not respect what he had beene before but such as they had lately found him to be About the same time also he sent Caesar certaine supplies namely fiue hundreth chosen men of his guard whom Elius Gallus led into the warres in Arabia and had often vse of them in his most daungerous attempts When as therefore his kingdome was restored to his former felicitie he builded a royall pallace in the higher part of the citie furnished with many large buildings and decked with gold and marble seats so as they might receiue a great number of men he named also each roome of the house according to their seuerall names and called one the lodging of Caesar and another of Agrippa After this being entangled with loue he maried a wife least he should be distracted by vaine desires and the cause of this his new mariage was this There was among those that dwelt in Ierusalem a certaine citizen called Simon the sonne of Boethas the Alexandrine who was a Priest one of the chiefest in nobility among thē this man had a daughter the fairest and comeliest creature of that age whose beautie renowmed by the common voice it came to passe that with her fame Herod at one time entertained a good affection towards her and afterwards obtaining the sight of her he grew in loue with her yet would not vse his authority least he should seeme to behaue himselfe tyrannically but chose rather to accept her for his bethrothed wife Whereas therefore Simon seemed vnworthy his affinitie and yet too worthy to be blasted by contempt he made election of a conuenient meanes to obtaine the fulnes of his desire which was to raise both Simon and his to higher dignities For which cause he presently deposed the high Priest Iesus the sonne of Phabetes and established Simon in his place and that done he contracted affinitie with him After the mariage was consummate he builded a new castle in that place wherein he had ouercome the Iewes vpon the time and incontinently after the ouerthrow of Antigonus and when he had taken vpon him the gouernment This place is distant from Ierusalem some sixtie furlongs or stades strong by nature and fit for defence and good fortification For neere vnto the same there is a certaine steepe hill made by art after the manner of a round dugge enuironed with round towers with a steepie ascent of two hundreth steps cut out of hewed stone Within the same there are diuers pallaces builded with great and sumptuous workmanship made both for defence
resorted thither but they were lodged in Pollios house who amongst all the rest was an intire friend of Herodes They might haue lien also at Caesars house who entertained them with as great familiaritie and kindnesse as might be possible and gaue Herode licence in like manner to confirme the kingdome in one of his children which soeuer best liked him annexing to his gouernment the countries of Trachona Batanea and Auranita for the occasion which ensueth A certaine man called Zenodorus had hired Lysanias demains or Lordship and not contenting himselfe with those reuenues which he gathered but desirous to gather more he liued vpon spoiles and robberies in Trachona which is a countrey the inhabitants whereof commonly liue by pillage and spoile which they purchase from the citizens and merchants of Damasco And so farre was Zenodorus from prohibiting these robberies that he himselfe also was partaker of the bootie so that the nations that neighboured round about seeing themselues thus abused sought for remedie at Varus hands who was their gouernour requiring him to certifie Caesar of Zenodorus wrongs and outrages Which when he vnderstood he commanded that such lawlesse rioters should be punished and that the countrey should be added vnto the iurisdiction of Herode to the intent that by his vigilancie the inhabitants of Trachona should no more molest their neighbours For it was hard to restraine them considering that they were accustomed and traded in such thest and could not liue otherwaies For they neither had townes nor lands neither heritages nor any possessions but onely certaine retraits and caues vnder ground and liued pell mell like beasts and hauing made abundant prouision of water and victuals they might easily endure warre a long time and maintaine themselues in their caues when their enemies assailed them without The doores of these dens were so narrow that they could be entred but by one at once but within it was incredible spacious and large the vpper part thereof was not steepie but plaine and in forme of a smoothe earth for the whole place naturally consisteth of a sharpe and ragged rocke with a hard and difficult passage thereon vnlesse a man be guided thorow the pathes For the way was not direct and straite but full of windles and many turnings At such time as they wanted opportunitie to spoile their neighbours they robbed oue another and omitted no kind of wickednesse Herode hauing receiued the gift of this countrey at Caesars hands resorted thither vnder the conduct of certaine guides that knew the waies and hauing brought their power and prolling to an end he left the neighbouring nations in assured peace But Zenodorus being partly whetted on with enuie partly incited by the griefe which he conceiued thorow the losle of his possessions resorted to Rome to accuse Herode yet could effect nothing of that which he intended When Agrippa was sent into Asia by Caesar to gouerne the prouinces beyond the seas Herode because hee was his verie friend and familiar went to salute him at Mitelene where he wintered for that he was one of his inward friends and asterwards returned into Iewry But certame Gadareans came vnto Agrippa with an intent to accuse Herode but he sent them bound vnto the king and vouchsafed them no audience On the other side the Auranites who of long time hated Herodes gouernment stirred vp commotions and laboured to draw the countrey into rebellion and that vpon a iust ground as it seemed at that time for Zenodorus despairing of his affaires went and sold them a certaine part of the Lordship in Auranita which was comprehended within Caesars donation to Herode for the sum of fiftie talents of yeerely reuenue wherewith they grew discontented for that they were vniustly depriued of their estates and hereupon they made often incursions indeuouring themselues sometime to recouer the same by force and otherwhile contending for the right of their possession by course of iustice They drew also vnto them certaine needy souldiers who according to the custome of wretched men expected their better fortunes by change and innouation which though Herode knew and could haue prouidently preuented them yet exhorted he them to maintaine their titles rather by good meanes then open violence being loth to giue any occasion of new trouble or disquiet At length in the seuenteenth yeere of his raigne Caesar came into Syria vpon whose arriuall diuers of the Gadareans began to exclaime against Herode accusing him of his seueritie and tyrannie which accusation they the rather attempted because they were chiefely incited thereunto by the instigations and false suggestions of Zenodorus who bound himselfe by an oath that he would neuer giue ouer vntill that deliuering them from Herodes tyrannie they were reduced vnder Caesars protection The Gadareans perswaded by these his protestations began to continue their exclamations and that some what the more audaciously for that they perceiued that they liued as yet vnpunished whom Agrippa had deliuered into Herodes hands for Herode had set them at libertie without any punishment not with standing that in regard of his owne subiects he was inexorable as euer man was and most patient in induring those iniuries that were offered him by strangers whom he alwaies dismissed without reuenge When as therefore they accused him of violence and rapine and for violating and racing downe their temples Herode being nothing dismaied thereat presented himselfe before the Emperour to iustifie his actions But Caesar entertained him verie kindly and diminished nothing of the good affection which he bare vnto him notwithstanding all the vprores and insolent tumults of the people Thus was the first day spent in audience of their complaints in those daies that followed there were no further obiections to be heard of For the Gadareans perceiuing both Caesars disposition and the inclination of his counsaile and fearing as it was most likely to be deliuered into Herodes hands the next night after some of them slew themselues other some for feare of torments brake their owne necks and some of them also drowned themselues in the riuer And thus whereas they seemed to foreiudge themselues Caesar presently absolued Herode And this felicitie of his was seconded with an other of no small consequence For Zenodorus hauing his bowels broken through an extreame flux of bloud finished his life at Antioch in Syria Whereupon Caesar gaue Herode his countrey which was a large and ample signiorie and was scituated betweene Trachonita and Galilee containing Vlatha Paneas and the countries there abouts He made him one of the gouernours of Syria also commanding them to execute nothing without his aduise At this time attained he to the height of all worldly felicitie For whereas within the huge and ample Roman Emperie all things were disposed by Caesar and Agrippa Caesar honoured no man more then Herode next to Agrippa and Agrippa respected him aboue all men next to Caesar. Whereupon he grew to be so confident that
most excellent in their art and champions that wrastled being naked and annointed with oyle there was also a great many that fought with swords a great number of sauage beasts and all things else that at such times were vsed and in account either at Rome or in other countries These sports were also consecrated vnto Caesar and were to be renewed euery fifth yeere All this prouision the king at his owne cost and charges prouided to be brought from any place whatsoeuer to shew the greatnes of his magnificence Iulia Caesars wife also bestowed much of hir owne to the furnishing hereof and sent many precious things out of Italy so that the worth of them all amounted vnto fiue hundreth talents And a great company being gathered togither to beholde these sports he receiued all Embassadours sent vnto him from other nations to thanke him for the benefits he had bestowed on them and he lodged feasted and sported them and being all day long amongst the people to see those sports at night he receiued them with banquets and shewing them his magnificence and gaining great praise and commendations for a worthie king For he in all things so prouided that the last was more pleasing and gratefull then the first and caused him to be more admired And it is reported that Caesar himselfe and Agrippa often did say that Herodes magnanimitie was greater then his present reuenewes could beare and that he well deserued an empire as big as all Syria and Egypt These sports being ended he builded another towne in a field called Capharsaba chusing for it a watery soyle fit for plants the citie was compassed with a riuer and he also planted round about it a wood full of most goodly trees This towne he called Antipatris after his fathers name Antipater After which he also builded a castell aboue Iericho called after his mothers name Cypron which was verie strongly defenced and adorned within with rare and sumptuous edifices And not forgetting his brother he dedicated vnto him most goodly buildings for first he built a tower as bigge as Pharo in the citie in remembrance of his dead brother and called it by his name Phasaelus which also was the strongest hold and defence in all the citie After this he builded a towne neere vnto the valley of Iericho as one goeth toward the north whereby the fields that before almost lay desert were now tilled and inhabited by the townesmen so that of them it was named Phasaelus field It were hard to recount all his liberalitie in particular shewed both vnto the Cities of Syria and Grecia and all other places wheresoeuer he came for he helped many either by building publike places or if there were any new workes begun and not finished for want of money by giuing them money to finish them the chiefest amongst all which were that he builded at his owne cost and charge the temple of Apollo at Rhodes and gaue them many talents of siluer to build their ships He also builded the greatest part of the publike houses and places in the Citie by Actium which Caesar built for the Nicopolitanes there inhabiting and that with his owne proper costs and charges He also for the Antiochians inhabiting the greatest Citie of Syria builded porches on each side of the greater streete that goeth quite thorow the middest of the Citie and doth as it were part it into two and that street it selfe that lay open he paued with polished stone which worke was as great a commoditie to the inhabitants as a beautie vnto their Citie He also helped to maintaine the sports at Olympus with yeerely reuenues that now for want of maintenance began to decay so that by his meanes there were more solemne sacrifices and all things more sumptuous to please them that came to behold them for which his liberalitie he was declared a perpetuall master and maintainer of those sports It is admirable to see in one man such diuersitie of mindes for on the one side if we respect his liberalitie and beneficence towards all men we must needs say he was of a most free and bountifull nature contrariwise if we consider the iniuries and crueltie he shewed against his subjects and dearest friends we must confesse him to haue been a hard man and intractable and who passed all bounds of modestie so that we would thinke him to haue beene of two contrarie dispositions But I am otherwise perswaded and thinke that both these did proceed from one matter for because he thirsted after glorie and honour and wholy applied himselfe thereunto he became liberall wheresoeuer he was in hope either to reape present thankes for his labour or a future remembrance Wherefore spending aboue his reuenues for this matter he was forced to be chargeable vnto his subiects for it was necessatie that he that so lauishly bestowed such huge summes of money vpon others should some where get it though with euill meanes Lastly seeing himselfe for such like iniuries hated of his subiects he thought it a hard matter to get their good wils which he could doe no way else but by remitting the tribute they paid him Wherefore he abused the hatred of his people for his owne commoditie for if any one of them did not tolerate that slauerie wherein they liued or did endeuour to shake off the yoke of his dominion against such he vsed a meruailous crueltie and outraged them no lesse then as if they had been his enemies neither respecting friendship nor kindred for that he desired alone to be honoured of all men And how greedy of honour he was we may guesse by the honours he did vnto Caesar Agrippa and others of their friends for he desired to be an example vnto his subiects that as he himselfe honoured men better then himselfe so they should all honour him likewise thereby declaring what thing he did naturally most desire But the Iewes religion doth not permit them license to honour potentates who of necessitie ought to haue greater care and respect of right and equitie then of such officiousnesse toward superiours for it was disprofite enough vnto the Iewes that they could not with statuaes and temples obtaine the kings fauour and with such like flatteries satisfie the fonde appetites of a vaineglorious man And this seemeth to me to be the reason that Herode was vniust and hard towards his friends and to those whom he made partakers of his counsels and enterprises and franke and bountifull towards strangers CHAP. X. Of the Embassage of the Cyrenian and Asian Iewes vnto Caesar. THe Asian and Cyrenian Iewes were greatly afflicted by the Citizens of those countries who hauing had the same priuiledges granted vnto them by the auncient kings that the Citizens had were now greatly iniured by the Greeks as though they carried money out of the countrey and were preiudiciall vnto the rest of the inhabitants And the Greeks making no end of these their iniuries they were
they at that time againe subdued in the kings absence by the captaines that he left at home and forty of the chiefest of the theeues amongst them being taken the rest terrified by their example left their owne countrey and fled into Arabia where Syllaeus receiued them in reuenge that he could not obtaine Salome for his wife and receiuing of him a strong hold to dwell in they did not onely make incursions and rob and spoyle the borders of Iudaea but also of Coelesyria and droue away the praies they got into the place allotted them Syllaeus protecting them and their villanies Herode returning from Rome found that his people were greatly endomaged by these theeues and seeing he could not subdue them by reason the Arabians did protect them not enduring that iniurie and entering into Trachon he killed all their families whereby they were so much the more enraged against his countrey for they had a law amongst them whereby they were commanded to reuenge the death of their families and so contemning all dangers they came and wasted all Herodes countrey with continuall incursions Then the king complained hereof vnto Saturninus and Volumnius then presidents sent thither by Caesar requesting that he might haue the theeues to punish them They hearing this newes with as much speede as they might gathered their forces togither and making themselues stronger then they were before with sodaine incursions wasted all where they came destroying both the fields and villages and killing all they could finde so that now this resembled a warre rather then a robberie for now they were a thousand in number Wherefore Herode required these theeues and robbers to be deliuered vnto him and required the debt that Obodas ought him for Herode had lent Obodas threescore talents and sent them vnto him by Syllaeus and now the time was expired where in the money was to be repaied But Syllaeus who had taken all the rule from Obodas and himselfe now gouerned all denied that those theeues were in Arabia and deferred the payment of the money so that now this matter was debated on before Saturninus and Volumnius then Presidents of Syria At last it was by them determined that within thirtie daies the money dewe to Herode should be repaied and the runnawaies of both countries deliuered each to other But there was no one Arabian that either had fled vnto Herode for any offence committed nor for any other cause but the Arabians were conuicted to receiue the theeues that fled from Herode CHAP. XIIII How Herode went into Arabia with an army WHen the day was come that was appointed Syllaeus not minded to stand vnto the agreement made went in the meane time to Rome But Herode exacted his money and the theeues to be restored vnto him Saturnius and Volumnius permitting him with force of armes to persecute those obstinate people so he leuying an army went into Arabia in three daies space going as farre as ordinarily men were wont to march in seuen and comming vnto the castle wherein the theeues kept at the first onset he tooke it destroyed it being called Repta did no other harme vnto the inhabitants And a captain of the Arabians named Nacebus came to succor the theeues and so fought with Herodes army in which battaile a few of Herodes men were slaine but of the Arabians were slain fiue twentie with their general and the rest were put to flight Being thus reuenged vpon the theeues he led three thousand Idumaeans into Trachon to keepe the inhabitants from robbing and sent letters vnto the Roman gouernours who aboad in Phaenicia that he had only vsed the authoritie which they gaue him against the rebellious Arabians that resisted him and nothing else which afterwrad also they making enquirie they found true CHAP. XV. How Syllaeus accused Herode vnto Caesar. BVt then were messengers hastily sent vnto Syllaeus at Rome and enformed him otherwise aggrauating euerie thing according vnto their fashion Syllaeus being then before insinuated into Caesars acquaintance by chance was then also about the pallace and hearing these newes he presently chaunged his apparrell and clothing himselfe in blacke he went in this manner vnto Caesar informing him how Arabia was afflicted with warres that the whole kingdome was wasted by Herode who had entred into the countrey with an army and with teares complained that two thousand and fiue hundreth of the Arabian nobilitie were slaine and amongst them his friend and kinsman Nacebus and great riches were taken away which were laid vp at Repta and that all this was done in contempt of Obodes who had no army readie nor a fit captaine for his forces he being not there Syllaeus hauing thus spoken adding moreouer that he would not haue come to Rome but that he was perswaded that Caesar would haue had a care of the common peace and tranquilitie of his subiects and that had he beene at home Herode to his cost should haue violated that peace Caesar hereat was greatly mooued and enquired of some of Herodes friends who were then present and of certaine men that were larely come out of Syria also whether Herode had led an army out of the limits of his owne kingdome Which they not denying and Caesar not vouchsafing to heare the cause why his displeasure against Herod was greatly encreased so that he writ threatning letters vnto him telling him that hitherto hee had vsed him as a friend but hereafter he would vse him as a subiect which also Syllaeus signified vnto the Arabians By which letters of his they were made proud and would neither render vp vnto him the theeues that were escaped nor restore the money he lent their king not pay him rent for the pasture ground that they hired of him boulstering themselues herewith that the king had offended Casar Moreouer the Trachonites hearing this rebelled against the garrison of the Idumaeans and ioyning with the Arabian theeues who wasted their countrey not so much respecting their owne gaine as their reuenge and particular profit they did many misciefes and exercised great cruelty against them Herode did put vp all iniuries and durst not once mutter Caesar being offended at him for the which cause he was not couragious nor valiant as before For first of all Caesar would not admit his embassadours whom he sent to pleade his cause before Caesar and Herode againe sending other embassadours Caesar sent them backe a-againe their busines vndone Wherefore Herod being in this perplexitie greatly feared Syllaeus who being now at Rome did easily perswade Caesar anything for that Caesar was now verie credulous and Syllaeus aymed at some greater matter For Obodas dying Aeneas succeeded him in the kingdome of Arabia who chaunging his name called himselfe Aretas whom Syllaeus by forged calumniations did seeke to depose from the crowne and vsurpe the kingdome vnto himselfe giuing great summes of money vnto the courtiers and promising great summes
vnto Caesar whom he now perceiued to be angry against Aretas for that without his consent he presumed to take vpon him the gouernment of the kingdome But at last he also sent letters and giftes vnto Caesar and amongst the rest a crowne of gold worth many talents and in those letters he accused Syllaeus who as an impious and disloyall seruant had poysoned his king Obodas in whose life time he had also inuaded the gouernment of the kingdome committing adulterie with the Arabians wiues getting togither other mens money thereby to obtaine the kingdome Caesar would not permit these embassadors to haue audience but refusing their gifts suffered them to depart without obtaining that they came for In the mean time the affaires of Iudaea and Arabia euerie day became worse and worse euerie one seeking to trouble the estate of both kingdomes and no man endeuouring to quiet them For the king of Arabia was not yet established in his kingdome and therefore could not controule his subiects And Herode feared that if he did defend himselfe he should so much the more incite Caesar against him and so was forced to put vp all iniuries that were done vnto him and finding no end of his miseries he finally determined to send againe to Rome embassadours to see if by the helpe of his friends Caesar might be perswaded to thinke better of him and so committed that embassage vnto Nicholaus of Damasco and sent him to Rome CHAP. XVI Of Euryclis his calumniations against Herodes sonnes AT this time the dissension of Herodes house was much encreased and although at all other times his court was neuer void of suspition which is a pernicious euill to Kings and Princes yet at that time especially this mischiefe was in his principal vigor and force For one Eurycles a Lacedemonian and a noble man of his countrey but hauing a turbulent wit giuen ouer to flattery pleasure yet cunningly dissembling both vices comming vnto Herode and giuing him gifts receiuing greater gifts at his hands was by him courteously entertained and familiarly conuersing with him brought it so to passe that he was receiued amongst his especiall friends This Eurycles lodged at Antipaters house being also familiar with Alexander for their often meeting one another for he said that Archelaus king of Cappadocia and himselfe were great friends and therefore he counterfaited himselfe to reuerence Glaphyra verie much and all men iudging him in different vnto all parties he diligently noted whatsoeuer past and euery word that was spoken seeking by all meanes he could matter to gratifie others by carrying of tales and with such flattering faire speeches he insinuated himselfe into euery mans friendship that he seemed as Alexanders sole trustie friend and to vse other men as it behooued a friend And by this his deceit he so insinuated himselfe into Alexanders fauour that the young man thought him to be his onely friend vnto whom he might impart his secrets so that Alexander opened vnto him his griefe for that his father was something alienated from him and recounted vnto him his mothers misfortune and that Antipater had now gotten all authoritie and dignity from him and his brother and was the onely man that could doe all and that these iniuries were no longer tollerable their father being now so incited against them that now he would neither admit them vnto his counsels nor banquets And he committed his griefes as he then thought into his friends bosome But Eurycles told Antipater all affirming that though it nothing concerned him yet he could not but speake of it for the greatnes of the daunger then imminent willing him to beware of Alexander who did not sticke openly to shew what mind he bare but did as it were manifestly shew that he desired to make away his father Which done he receiued of Antipater most rich gifts as pledges of his good will towards him and finally he was by him perswaded to relate this newes himselfe vnto Herode The king lent a greedie care whilest he recounted Alexanders malice and was so mooued with the circumstances of his speeches that he conceiued a deadly hatred against his sonne which also without futer delay he did make manifest for he rewaded Eurycles for his pains with fiftie talents Which he hauing receiued went vnto Archelaus and talâ—…g and speaking well of Alexander recounted vnto him in what steed he had stood him in reconciling him vnto his father and receiuing of him also a summe of money he departed before his maliâ—… was discoâ—…d and returning into his countrey and vsing the like shifts there also he was finally by his countrimen banished from Lacedemonia Furthermore Herode not content now as before he was to heare onely that which was tolde him of Alexander and Aristobulus did now himselfe also conceiue a proper hatred against them himselfe obseruing all things and making diligent enquirie though no man accused them and permitting all men to speake what they list against them And amongst the rest Euaratus of Cous had conspired with Alexander and he seemed now to heare no talke more willingly then this and such like But then greater misfortunes then all the rest befel the young mens false accusations neuer ceasing to be forged against them and euerie one as it were striuing to accuse them of some crime or other vnto the king pretending the care they bare of his safetie Herode had two champions Iucundus and Tyrannus both acceptable and gratefull vnto him for their strength and tall stature bignes of body these two for some offence were banished the court and receiued into Alexanders seruice and placed amongst his stipendarie horsemen and for that they were verie actiue he bestowed many gifts and much money vpon them Whereat the king presently conceiuing suspition began to torture them and after many torments they confessed that Alexander had hired them to kill Herode as he was a hunting wilde beasts for so it might easily be bruited abroad that he falling off of his horse fell vpon his owne launce and so was slaine which once before had almost hapned vnto him They also declared vnto him that certaine golde was hidden and buried in the stable and they also accused Herodes chiefe huntsman that at Alexanders commaund he had giuen Alexanders seruants the kings launces and his armour After them the Prefect of the Castle of Alexandrium was taken and examined vpon tortures and it was obiected against him that he promised to receiue them into the Castle and to deliuer vnto them the kings treasure there But he denying it his owne sonne affirmed all to be true and brought foorth letters to testifie the same resembling Alexanders hand written to this effect So soone as by Gods assistance we haue done that which we entend to doe we will presently come vnto you be carefull therefore that according vnto your promise you doe receiue vs into the Castle Herode hauing had a view of these
D. talents and that he had a writing in pawne wherein he was permitted after the day appointed if then it were not repaied him againe to pray vpon all the whole country and satisfie himselfe and that this was no hostile inuasion but according to law and equitie a requiring of his right and debt due vnto him And that this was not rashly done though by the writing he was so permitted to doe but by the consent of Saturninus and Volumnius presidents of Syria in whose presence Syllaeus swore by Caesars good fortune at Bery◅m that within thirtie daies after both the debt and also certaine fugitiues from the king should be restored vnto him and that Syllaeus performed none of this and so Herod went againe vnto the presidents and they permitted him to go and take pledges for his money and that so by their permission he went into Arabia And this quoth he is the warre that his aduersaries haue so tragically exaggerated and yet quoth he how can it be called a warre seeing that it was done by the consent of the presidents and that by couenant after periurie wherewith both other gods and also Caesars name was violated It now quoth he remaineth that I speake something concerning the captiues There were fortie theeues of Trachon and afterward more that fled from Herode for feare of punishment and fled vnto Arabia whom Syllaeus protected and succoured to the iniurie of all men and gaue them ground to inhabite and was partaker of their praies notwithstanding that by his forced oath he was bound to restore them togither with the borrowed money neither can he name any man beside them taken in Arabia and carried away captiue and some of them also escaped Thus his forged tale concerning the captiues being thus refuted heare O Soueraigne Caesar the lying inuention which to prouoke thee to wrath himselfe deuised For I am well able to affirme this that when the Arabian army assaulted vs and one or two of our men were slaine then at last Herode forced to make resistance he slew Nacebus and with him fiue and twentie and no more for euerie one of which Syllaeus falsely recounted vnto Caesar a hundreth and so told him that two thousand and fiue hundreth were slaine Caesar hereat greatly mooued with an angrie countenance looking vpon Syllaeus he asked him how manie Arabians were slaine in that fight he amazed and knowing not what to reply answered that he erred in the number Presently Caesar commanded the writings to be read containing the conditions betweene them and the writings of the presidents and the letters of the Cities containing the complaints of the robberies And so the matter was brought to this passe that Caesar was reconciled vnto Herode and condemned Syllaeus to die and repenting himselfe to haue written so threatning letters vnto Herode he obiected that also vnto Syllaeus affirming that by his false enformations he had caused him to passe the limits of friendship in vsing his friend so hardly And so he sent Syllaeus into his countrey that after he had satisfied his creditors he might be punished according to the sentence But he still continued angry with Aretas for that without his authoritie he had vsurped the crowne and kingdome and he was minded also to bestow Arabia vpon Herode but the letters which Herode sent him changed his minde For Olympus and Volumnius so soone as they vnderstood that Caesars wrath towards Herode was pacified presently they deliuered vnto him the letters as they were commanded wherein was contained the arguments whereby his sons were conuicted of treason against him Which Caesar hauing read he thought it not conuenient to trouble the olde man infortunate with his sonnes with an other kingdome and so he admitted Aretas Embassadours and chiding them that their king had rashly vsurped the kingdome without his authoritie and knowledge not expecting his pleasure he receiued their gifts and confirmed him in the kingdome by his authoritie This done being now reconciled vnto Herode he writ vnto him that he was sorrowfull for him that had such children and that he should if they had attempted any treason against him punish them as men that sought to murther their father for he gaue him free and full authoritie but if they onely attempted to flie he should also be sufficed with a lesse punishment Wherefore he counselled him to call a consistorie at Berytum and togither with the Roman presidents and Archelaus king of Cappadocia and the rest of his friends and the nobilitie thereabout according as they should aduise him so to doe And this was the effect of Caesars letters CHAP. XVII How Herodes sons were condemned in the councell at Berytum HErode receiuing this letter reioyced aboue measure both for that he had againe obtained Caesars fauour and also for that Caesar had giuen him full authoritie to doe what he pleased vnto his sonnes And yet I know not how it came to passe that he who in his prosperitie was a hard father did yet shew himselfe not rash in putting his sonnes to death and now his estate being better then it was and he recouering his wonted assurance he now began anew hatred Wherefore by letters he called togither all those whom Caesar appointed onely Archelaus excepted either for that he hated the man or els for that he feared he would haue withstood that his purpose and when they were all come togither as well the presidents as the rest who were called out of diuers Cities he would not bring his sonnes into the councell but kept them in a village of the Sidonians named Platan not farre distant from the Citie to the intent that if they were called for he might bring them forth Then Herod himselfe alone entring into the councel before an hundreth fifty men there assembled for that purpose began to accuse his sonnes before them and vsed a speech not onely pitifull for his owne calamities but also little becomming a father For he was verie vehement and vnheady in inueying against their offence neither did he sufficiently expresse his minde shewing many signes of furie and anger neither did he deliuer in writing any proofes of the accusations vnto the Iudges but vndecently himselfe alleadged there the father against the sonne himselfe also reading before them certaine letters written by them wherein was contained no impietie nor treason but only a consultation to fly away and certaine hard speeches whereby they shewed themselues offended Which when he came vnto he exclaimed as though hereby they confessed their trecherous practises greatly exaggerating the matter and protesting that he had rather die then heare such speeches Lastly affirming that both nature and Caesar permitted him authoritie against them and that his country lawes so cōmanded that if any one being accused his father or mother should lay their hands vpō his head and the standers by must presently stone him to death which though he might easily do in
his letters vnto him as touching Antipater sending certaine appointed messengers who by word of mouth might certifie him of his cursed treasons At the verie same time there was a letter intercepted sent by Antiphilus to Antipater which Antiphilus remained in Aegypt which letter being opened by the king was written to this effect I haue sent you Armes letter hazarding thereby mine owne life for you know that I am in danger of the displeasure of two mightie families if I should be discouered As for your selfe bethinke you well of your affaires in this respect Such were the contents of this letter The king made diligent search for others also but he could finde none for Antiphilus seruant who had brought that which was read denied that he had any other But whilest the king was in this doubt one of his seruants and friends perceiued that the inside of the messengers vnder-coat was newly sowed for he had two garments the one vpon the other and coniecturing that the letters might be hidden in the sould thereof as indeed they were he ripped the same and found them The tēnour thereof was this Acme to Antipater Health I haue written the letters to your father according as you gaue me instructions and haue counterfaited the copy of my letter as if it had been sent by Salome my mistris I assure my selfe that when he hath read the same he wil punish Salome as one that hath practised treason against him But that letter that was supposed to haue been written by Salome to Acme was of Antipaters inuention and written in Salomes name according to his inuention and in Acmes stile The contents were these Acme to king Herode Health Whereas I haue an especiall care that nothing be concealed from thee that concerneth thy securitie hauing found a letter of Salomes written against thee vnto my Ladie I haue not without danger taken the copy therof and sent it vnto you in which she required that she might haue licence to marrie Syllaeus Teare this copy least thorow the knowledge of the same I grow in danger of my life Now in that which she had written to Antipater she had discouered that she had written these words to Herode according to that commandement he had giuen her as if Salome had conspired to worke some treason against him She sent also the copy of those counterfaite letters in the name of Salome and sent them vnto her mistris to worke treason This Acme was a Iew borne and chambermaid to Iulia Caesars wife and did that which is aboue written for the loue which she bare to Antipater whom he had hired by great summes of money to the end that she should assist him to execute the mischiefe which he practised against his father and against his Aunt Herode made almost desperate by the great mischiefes of Antipater was stirred vp on the sodaine to shorten his daies for that he was the only meanes that stirred vp these great tempests of sedition in his kingdome and who not only practised against his father and his Aunt but against his sister also and had in like sort corrupted Caesars familie Salome also incensed him the more beating her breasts and offering her selfe to all deaths if any such like matter might be duely prooued against her For which cause Herod sent for Antipater commanding him to speake freely all that which he had to say without feare But he hauing not one word to answere for his defence Herode said vnto him Since that on all sides thou art conuicted and surprised in thy wickednesse delay not but discouer those that are of thy confederacie Whereupon he laid all the fault vpon Antiphilus and named none other At that time Herode being wounded by extreme griefe would haue sent Antipater to Rome vnto Caesar that he might receiue his iudgement from him but afterwards he feared least by the interest of his friends he should escape the danger for which cause he kept him bound and fettered in prison as he had done before And in the meane while sent certaine messengers with letters to Caesar to accuse his sonne and to declare wherein Acme had been his confederate producing the copy of the letters These embassadors therefore resorted to Rome instructed in those things they were to answere to those interrogatories that should be offered them and with them he sent his letters CHAP. VIII Herodes sicknesse and the sedition amongst the Iewes MEane while Herode fell sicke and made his will and appointed his youngest sonne to succeede him in the kingdome for that through Antipaters instigations he had conceiued a hatred against Archelaus and Philip. He sent also one thousand talents vnto Caesar and fiue hundreth to his wife and to his children friends and freemen He bestowed also money rents and lands vpon his own children he gaue his sister Salome an ample possession for that she had alwaies perseuered in louing him and had neuer offended him And hauing lost all hope of recouerie for that he was about seuentie yeeres olde he became verie tutchie and froward in whatsoeuer his affaires The cause hereof was that opinion he had conceiued that he waxed contemptible and that the whole nation tooke pleasure in those mishaps which befortuned him which some of those who were fauoured by the people made him the rather beleeue vpon this occasion which ensueth Amongst those that were most learned among the Iewes Iudas the son of Saripheus and Matthias the sonne of Margalothus the most excellent interpreters of the lawes and ordinances of the countrey and for this cause were in greatest estimation among the people by reason that they instructed and trained vp the youth For all those that desired to obtaine vertue spent all their time with them who vnderstanding that the kings sicknesse was dangerous they incensed the younger sort counsailing them to ouerthrow all those workes that the king had caused to be made contrarie to the law and custome of the countrey to the ende that they fighting for pietie might obtaine the reward that attendeth the same For in that the king had enterprised and done many things contrarie to the law diuers vnaccustomed miseries had befallen him and namely that sicknes wherewith he was detained For Herod had done diuers things contrarie to the auncient lawe against which Iudas and Matthias exclaimed openly For he had erected ouer the portall of the great temple an Aegle of gold of great valew Now the law prohibiteth that they who pretend to liue according to the same should not in any sort erect any image nor represent any figures of liuing creatures whatsoeuer For this cause these doctors counsailed them to pull down that Aegle telling that that although the matter seemed to want no peril yet ought they rather to prefer an honest death before a pleasant life if so be it be imploied for the defence of their countrey lawes and religion For in so doing they should
priests place Now although Archelaus was sore displeased at these their violent proceedings yet notwithstanding he conformed himselfe to their good likings in that he was with all expedition to repaire vnto Rome to vnderstand and attend Caesars pleasure He therfore called for the general of his army willing him to perswade them not to seeke a reuenge for those men who were dead notwithstanding they were their friends because whatsoeuer was done was done according to lawe and that no enquirie might be made thereof except to the great preiudice of his reputation and hazard of his state in regard of the incertaintie of the time that it was more expedient for him to studie for the maintenance of peace vntil such time that being established in the kingdome by Caesars consent he should returne backe againe vnto them and that then he would consult with them for the common profit according to their iust demaunds wishing them for the present to containe themselues and to take heede least they stirred vppe sedition When he had thus instructed his Generall he sent him vnto them But they cried out with a lowd voice and would not suffer him to speake but for feare of danger and death they put him to silence And if any other were so forward as to speake vnto them and perswade them to some moderation and to alter their sinister resolutions he was also in danger for that they had this perswasion that all things ought rather to be ordered according to their pleasures then by the authoritie of their superiours supposing that although during Herodes life time they had been depriued of their deerest friends it should be now a matter vnworthy their courages after his death to be cut off from the priuiledge to demaund their reuenge For they were transported with their owne opinions and held all that for lawfull and vpright which was in any sort conformable to their pleasures without foreseeing the danger that might happen thereby so much were they pleased to be reuenged on those whom they reputed to be their enemies Now wheras diuers were sent by Archelaus to consult with them and diuers came vnto them not as messengers from him but as friends and louers of peace of their owne motion with an intent to pacifie them they would not permit any of them to speake and thorow their rage there arose a great tumult which had growne to a further extremitie if a greater number of people had ioyned themselues with them At that time fell the feast of vnleauened bread which is called Pascha which is a memoriall of their deliuerance out of Aegypt at which time all mâ—… doe most willingly present their sacrifices and a greater number of beasts are slaine at that feast then at any other time To this solemnitie also an infinite number of people assembled from all parts to honour God whereby the seditious supposing that they had gotten a fit opportunity lamented Iudas and Matthias who were the expositors of the law and kept themselues within the temple whither they had gathered good store of victuals which they were not ashamed impudently to begge for But Archelaus fearing least their rage should produce some more grieuous effect of mischiefe sent out a band of armed men with a captaine and a regiment of a thousand men to represse their headlong furie before the rest of the people were infected with their follies and to bring them likewise vnto him whom they found to be the forwardest in that commotion Against those thâ—… seditious cried out with great clamors and incensed the people against them so that al of them rushed in vpon the men of war and slew diuers of them The rest of them escaped with their captaine yet not without diuers wounds That done they which were within the temple returned againe to their diuine seruice Now Archelaus supposing that his whole fortune was endangered except he repressed the rage of the multitude he sent out all his footmen with a certaine number of horsemen to preuent least they that were without should yeeld assistance to those who had taken vp their lodging in the temple and to put those to the sword who hauing escaped the violence of the footmen supposed themselues to be in securitie These horsemen slew about three thousand men the rest retired themselues into the mountaines that were neere adioyning Hereupon Archelaus made proclamation that each one should repaire vnto his owne house For which cause they departed and abandoned the feast for feare of greater mischiefe notwithstanding they had spleen enough as it is the ordinarie custome of the ignorant multitude After this Archelaus accompanied with his mother betooke himselfe to sea and led with him Nicholas and Ptolomey with diuers other his friends committing the gouernment of all his houshold and kingdome to his brother Philip with him also departed Salome Herodes sister leading with her her children There went also diuers other of his kinred who said that they would all of them labour for Archelaus that he might obtaine the kingdome but in effect it was to contradict him with all their power and in especiall to vrge that against him with great vehemencie that was done in the temple Sabinus Caesars Viceroy in Syria posting into Iewrie to take charge of Herodes money met with Archelaus in Caesarea But Varus arriuing in the meane while detained him from finishing that voiage for Archelaus had sent for him to come thither by Ptolomey and Sabinus willing to doe Varus a pleasure would not seaze the fortresses of Iewrie neither sealed vp Herodes treasuries but left them in Archelaus possession vntill such time as Caesar had giuen order for the estate and after he had made this promise he staied in Caesarea After Archelaus had set saile towards Rome and Varus was departed for Antioch Sabinus went to Ierusalem where he seazed the kings pallace and calling before him the kings agents and the captaines of his gatrisons he required them to deliuer vp their Castles into his hands But they according as Archelaus had commanded them continued the possession in their accustomed manner according to the kings direction pretending to keep the same in Caesars behalfe At the same time Antipas Herods sonne trauailed to Rome likewise vnder the hope to be elected king in regard of Salomes promises and for that he better deserued the same then Archelaus considering that in the first testament which should be of more force then the latter he had been appointed king He led his mother also with him and Ptolomey the brother of Nicholas who had been one of Herodes most esteemed friends and was well affected to further and set forward his title But especially he was stirred vp to seeke the kingdome by Ireneus a man very eloquent and to whose charge in regard of his sufficiencie the affaires of the kingdome had been committed For which cause although he were perswaded to giue ouer the kingdome vnto his elder brother
three and with the assistance of the kings and Tetrarches he hasted into Iewrie to relieue those that were besieged commaunding those that were sent out before he dislodged to meete him at Ptolemais and passing by the Citie of the Berythians he receiued a thousand fiue hundreth soldiers at their hands to attend him in his war Arctas also who was Lord of Petra drawing himselfe into confederacie with the Romans in regard of that hatred he bare toward Herode sent him horsemen and footmen When all these forces were assembled at Ptolemais he deliuered a part thereof to his son and one of his friends commanding them to make warre vpon the Galileans who bordered vpon that Citie who entering that region and putting all those to flight whosoeuer durst make head against him he tooke Sephoris and selling the inhabitants vnder the speare he consumed the Citie with fire Varus himselfe marching towards Samaria with his army violenced not the Citie in that he knew it was free from the contagion of the seditious but he pitched his campe in a certain village which was Ptolomies possession called Arus The same did the Arabians burne reuenging themselues on Herodes friend for his sake and marching onward the Arabians spoiled also an other village called Sampho and for that it was strongly fortified burned the same Besides in that iourney nothing escaped their hands but they put all to fire and sword For both Emmaus was burned by Varus commaund and in reuenge of his souldiers that were slâ—…ine in that place it was left desolate and void of inhabitants From thence drawing neere to Ierusalem those Iewes that besieged the legion on that side vpon the sodaine view and approch of the army of the Romans fearefully fled giuing ouer that siege which they intended But those Iewes of Ierusalem being grieuously reprooued by Varus alleadging in their excuse that the people in regard of the feast were assembled in that place and that the warre was not begunne by their consent but vndertaken by their boldnesse who resorted thither from diuers places and that they were so farre off from assailing the Romans as they rather seemed to be besieged by them And long before this Ioseph king Herodes nephew Gratus and Rufus with their souldiers were gone out to meet Varus and those Romans that had sustained the siege had done no lesse But as touching Sabinus he would not appeare in Varus presence by stealing away priuily out of the Citie he fled vnto the seaward Then Varus sending a part of his army thorow the whole region sought out the authors of this sedition and those that were noted men in the action some of which who were most guiltie were punished the rest were deliuered Now of those that were punished for this occasion there were about two thousand crucified and that done seeing that his army stood him in little steed he dismissed them For diuers disorders and outrages contrarie to Varus expresse commaund were acted by his souldiers who sought after nothing more then to increase their meanes by other mens miseries And hearing that ten thousand Iewes were assembled togither he hasted to apprehend them but they not daring to hazard their fortune in a fight with him by Achiabus aduice submitted themselues But Varus hauing pardoned the people for this their rebellion sent all those that were the ringleaders thereof to Caesar who discharged diuers of them But he chastised certaine of Herodes allies and such as bare armes with them for that neither in regard of kindred nor respect of iustice they had abstained from rebellious insurrection After that Varus had in this sort appeased all the troubles in Iewrie and left the first legion in garrison in Ierusalem he returned to Antioch But Archelaus was crossed in Rome by an other occurrent that arose vpon this occasion Certaine Embassadors of the Iewes resorted thither by Varus permission requiring that it might be lawfull for them to liue according to their owne lawes these presented themselues to the number of fiftie and were backt by eight thousand Iewes that inhabited the Citie And when as Caesar had assembled the councell of his friends and chiefest citizens in Apolloes temple which he had builded to his mightie charge thither resorted the Embassadours who were followed by a troupe of Iewes and Archelaus also attended by his friends But the kings kindred neither stood by Archelaus in regard of the hate they bare him and yet disdained they to assist the embassadors for that they were ashamed in Caesars presence to oppose themselues against their neerest friend and kinsman Philip also was present at that time who by Varus perswasion resorted thither out of Syria especially to the intent to plead for his brother to whom Varus wished all good fortune besides that hoping not a little that if the Iewes should obtaine the libertie to liue according to their laws it might come to passe that the kingdome being deuided amongst Herods children he might also light on some part thereof After therfore the Embassadors of the Iewes had obtained licence to propose their demaunds pretending with themselues wholy to extinguish the royalty they began to rippe vp Herodes disgraces alleadging how onely in name he had been a king whereas otherwise he had vsed all the tyrannous practises that the most wickedest person could haue inuented toward the destruction of his nation and that not content with these he had of his owne head practised and inuented new Neither that it needed them to reckon vp how many he had depriued of life when as the estate of those that were aliue was farre more desperate whom he not onely affrighted with perpetuall terror and seueritie but also with iniurious hands had not abstained from their goods By which meanes it came to passe that he not only builded but beautified forraine Cities inhabited by forraine nations to the ende he might the rather vtterly spoile those by exactions which were scituate and seated in his owne countrey and that he inforced his nation to extreame pouertie which he receiued in most happy estate whilest he spoileth those nobles of their estates who vpon weake probabilities were condemned to die or granting them life depriueth them of their possessions Furthermore whereas yeerely tributes were imposed on euerie one yet seuerally was the rauenous couetous desires of his friends and courtiers to be satisfied yea and of his seruants also who had the authority to exact these things that by this meanes they might redeeme their iniurious vexations As for the deflowring of virgins and the scornfull betraying of a matrons chastitie they couered them vnder silence for that it is a great comfort to those that suffer such outrage if their disgraces be but knowne to a fewe In briefe that Herode had in no other sort gouerned then as if the gouernment of them had been committed to a most sauage beast For which cause whereas in times past that nation had bin
frequented verie familiarly with Alexander held it for a matter most assured that he was the man none other and affirmed vnto other vpon their othes that it was he so that this rumor at last came to Rome And all the Iewes that dwelt there came forth to meet him saving that it was Gods handie worke that he was after that sort preserued beyond all mens expectation and they greatly reioyced in his mother Mariammes behalfe from whom he was descended and hee was carried in a litter thorow the streets with all the apparrell of a king the charge whereof was defraied by those who were his friends He was attended with a great multitude of men and honoured with great applause as it ordinarily falleth out at such time as beyond all expectation any one is found to haue been miraculously preserued When this newes was brought to Caesars eares he gaue small credit thereunto perswading himselfe that it was a hard matter to deceiue Herode in a cause of so great importance notwithstanding conforming himselfe in some sort to the opinions of men he sent a certaine free-man of his called Celadus who had very familiarly conuersed with Alexander and Aristobulus during their infancy giuing him in charge to bring Alexander vnto him to the end he might see him which he did and was neuer the wiser in discouering him This notwithstanding Caesar was not fully deceiued For although he resembled him somewhat yet was he not so neerely like him that he could deceiue those who narrowly obserued him For this counterfait Alexander had hard hands in that he had beene accustomed to labour which the true Alexander could not haue in regard of his tender and delicate education and contrariwise this man was of a rough skin and hard flesh Caesar therefore discouering the trecherie both of the counterfait scholler and lying master and how they accorded in their confident iustifications he enquired of them what was become of Aristobulus who was secretly hidde with him for what cause he presented not himselfe to enioy the honor that appertained to those who were so nobly descended It was answered him that he remained in the Isle of Cyprus for feare of dangers to which they are exposed who saile by sea to the end that if any misfortune should befall them all Mariammes race should not be extinguished but that at leastwise Aristobulus might be left aliue Whilest he auowed these things the author of this fable iustified no lesse Caesar drawing the young man aside said vnto him my friend if thou wilt not deceiue me thou shalt haue this recompence that thou shalt not be punished Tell me therefore what thou art who hath emboldned thee to practise this fraud for this malice is so great that it surpasseth thine age Whereupon being vnable to conceale the truth he discouered the trecherie to Caesar how and by whom it was contriued At that time Caesar being loth to falsifie his promise that he had past to this false Alexander and seeing that in times past he had trauailed with his hands he caused him to be enrowled among the number of his saylers to row caused the other that induced him to this fraud to be put to death contenting himselfe that the inhabitants of Melos had lost their charges which they had employed vpon this false Alexander who had a shameful end as it hath been heretofore declared CHAP. XV. Archelaus is accused anew and afterwards banished and sent into Vienna AFter that Archelaus had taken possession of that Soueraigntie that was allotted him he came into Iudaea where he deposed Ioazar the son of Boëthus from the high priesthood accusing him to haue fauoured the seditious and established Eleazar his brother in his place After this he reedified the pallace in Iericho and sumptuously adorned it drawing away the halfe of those waters which serued the burrough of Neara and conuaying them thorow a field which he had planted with palme trees he builded a burrough in that place which he named Archelais and contrarie to the lawes of his country he married Glaphyra Archelaus daughter who had been his brother Alexanders wife by whom also he had diuers children notwithstanding the lawe of the Iewes forbiddeth a man to marrie his brothers wife Neither did Eleazar enioy the priesthood any long time but during his life time Iesus the sonne of Sias was substituted in his place The tenth yeere of Archelaus gouernment the chiefest gouernours among the Iewes and Samaritanes vnable any longer to endure his crueltie and tyrannie accused him before Caesar and especially after they had vnderstood that he had transgressed Caesars commaund who had charged him to behaue himselfe gratiously towards them Which when Caesar vnderstood he was sore displeased and caused Archelaus agent to be called before him who was then at Rome and sent for Archelaus also and esteeming it too base an indignitie for him to write vnto him Go said he vnto him with all expedition and bring him vnto me without delay He posting forward with all diligence at length arriued in Iudaea where he found Archelaus banquetting with his friends and hauing certified him of Caesars pleasure he incited him to hasten onward of his way As soone as he came to Rome after that Caesar had heard certaine of his accusers and his iustifications he banished him and confined him in the Citie of Vienna in France and confiscated all his goods But before Archelaus was sent for to Rome he reported vnto his friends this dreame which ensueth Him thought that he sawe tenne eares full of wheate and verie ripe which the oxen broused vpon and as soone as he awoke he conceiued an opinion that his vision presaged some great matter For which cause he sent for certaine soothsaiers who made it their profession to interpret dreames Now whilest they were debating one with an other for they differed for the most part in their exposition a certaine man called Simon an Essean hauing first of all obtained securitie and licence to speake said that the vision pretended that a great alteration should befall in Archelaus estate to his vtter disgrace For the oxen signified afflictions in respect that those kinde of creatures doe ordinarily trauell and as touching the change of estate it was signified by this in that the earth being laboured by the trauell of the oxen retained not the same estate and as touching the ten eares of corne they signified the like number of yeeres And therefore when as one sommer should be ouerpast that then the time of Archelaus soueraigntie should be at an end Thus interpreted he this dreame And the fift day after the vision therof his factor Archelaus by Caesars commandement came into Iewrie to summon him to Rome Some such like matter happened to Glaphyra his wife also the daughter of king Archelaus she as we haue said married Alexander Herods sonne when she was a maid and brother to this Archelaus who being
called Agrippa and Drusus Drusus died verie young but Agrippa was brought vp by his grandfather amongst his other brethren Herode Aristobulus and Bernice These were Herodes children sonne vnto him who was surnamed the Great Bernice was Costobarus daughter begotten on Salome Herodes sister Aristobulus died leauing his children vnder age vnder his fathers charge with Alexander his brother as we haue alreadie recounted These attaining their full age were in this sorte married Herode brother to Agrippa was matched with Mariamme Olympias daughter who was Herodes the Great his daughter and of Ioseph Herodes brother By her he had his sonne Aristobulus Aristobulus Agrippas third brother married Iotape the daughter of Sampsigeram king of the Emesenians They had a daughter which in like sort was called Iotape which was deafe These were the children begotten by Herodes three sonnes But Herodias their sister married Herode the sonne of Herode the Great whom he begot on Mariamme the daughter of Simon the high priest by whom Salome was begotten After her birth Herodias in contempt of the lawes of the countrey married her selfe with Herode her husbands brother begotten of the same father being separate from him during his life time who was Tetrarch of Galilee His daughter Salome was married to Philip the Tetrarch of Trachonitis Herodes sonne who dying without children Aristobulus married her who was Herodes sonne and Agrippas brother They had three sonnes Herode Agrippa and Aristobulus See here the posteritie of Phasaelus and Salampson Antipater by Cypros had a daughter that in like sort was called Cypros which was married to Alexas Selcius the sonne of Alexas of whom he begate a daughter called likewise Cypros As for Herode and Alexander who as I said were Antipaters brothers they died without issue Alexander Herodes sonne who was slaine by his father begate Alexander and Tigranes on the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia Tigranes being king of Armenia died without issue after he had been accused at Rome Alexander had a sonne called Tigranes after his brothers name who was sent by Nero to raigne in Armenia who had a sonne called Alexander who married Iotape the daughter of Antiochus king of Comagena This Alexander by Vespasian was elected king in Lesis a Citie of Cilicia As soone as Alexanders posteritie began to multiply they fell from their countrey religion to follow the customes of the Greekes All the rest of king Herodes daughters died without issue Hauing after this manner reckoned vp Herods posteritie which continued vntill such time as Agrippa the great began to raigne it remaineth at this time to declare what aduentures befell this Agrippa and how he escaping his dangers obtained at last so great power and dignitie CHAP. VIII Agrippas voyage to Tiberius where he is accused and shut in prison and is deliuered after Tiberius death by Caius his successor SOme little time before the death of king Herode Agrippa conuersing at Rome grew into great familiaritie and acquaintance with Drusus Tiberius the Emperours sonne and was beloued by Antonia the wife of Drusus the elder by y e means of his mother Berenice whom Antonia held in great estimation and to whom she had recommended her sonne And whereas by nature he was of a liberall and high spirit as long as his mother liued he would not discouer his intent least he should prouoke her displeasure against him But incontinently after Berenice was dead and he became Lord of himselfe partly by his daily and bountifull entertainment and liuing partly by his immoderate liberalities but especially by his lauish prodigalitie towards Caesars freemen whose fauour he hunted after he was brought into extreame pouertie and could no more liue at Rome the rather for that Tiberius hauing lost his sonne forbad his friends to come into his sight for feare least their presence should refresh and encrease the sorrow he conceiued for the losse of his sonne For these causes he returned backe into Iudaea hauing but badly ordered his estate spent his money and left himselfe no meanes to satisfie his importunate and many creditors For which cause incertaine how to dispose himselfe and ashamed of his present estate he withdrewe himselfe into a Castle called Malatha in Idumaea bethinking himselfe after some sort to cut off his miserable daies Which purpose of his when Cypros his wife apperceiued she endeuoured by all meanes to preuent his resolution she wrote also to his sister Herodias who was married to Herode the Tetrarch certifying her both what Agrippa had decreed as also by what necessitie he was inforced thereunto and she exhorted her that in regard of affinitie she should assist him and imitate her in this who as much as in her lay relieued his miserie although her fortunes were farre weaker then hers Being therfore sent for by his sister and wife he was commaunded to dwell in Tiberias and had a certaine summe of money assigned him for his maintenance and for his greater honor was appointed Magistrate of that Citie Yet did not Herode continue long time in that minde although by the meanes he had giuen him he had not satisfied his kinsmans necessities For being in the Citie of Tyre in a certaine company where he dronke immoderately Agrippa esteemed it for an extreame iniurie that Herode had vpbraided him with his pouertie and hit him in the teeth that he maintained him at his charge For which cause he withdrew himselfe to Flaccus who had sometimes been Consul at Rome and for the present was president of Syria with whom at Rome he had fallen into familiaritie who entertained by him liued with him who long before that time had entertained Aristobulus who though Agrippas brother yet was he his enemy yet notwithstanding this dissension betweene them Flaccus entertained them both with equall fauour But Aristobulus remitted nothing of his hatred he bare his brother neither euer rested he before he had drawne Flaccus into dislike with his brother vpon this occasion The inhabitants of Damasco contending with the Sidonians about their demaines and being to debate their cause before Flaccus knowing what interest Agrippa had in him they besought him that he would further their cause promising him a great summe of money whereupon he addressed himselfe in what he could to further those of Damasco But Aristobulus who had an inkling of this conclusion and promise accused his brother to Flaccus and after inquisition was made and he found guiltie of the fact Agrippa grew out of the presidents fauour and falling againe into extreame pouertie he came to Ptolemais and for that he had no meanes of maintenance he determined to saile into Italie And for that he wanted money he commanded Marsyas his free-man that by all meanes whatsoeuer he should seeke to take vp money vpon interest He spake vnto Protus who was Agrippas mothers free-man who by the testament of his deceased Mistris was left vnto Antonias protection that vpon his Masters bill
Herode to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Father of the people signifieth this that followeth Vnderstanding that the Iewes inhabitants in Alexandria and for this cause called Alexandrines haue at all times enioyed the selfesame priuiledges of the Citie which the ancient and first Alexandrines haue had Which fauors they haue obtained by the largesse of those princes that were our predecessors as it hath been plainly made knowne vnto vs as well by letters which haue been written vnto vs as by confirmed decrees and that since Alexandria hath beene annexed to our Empire by Caesar Augustus their priuiledges haue continued in force during the seuerall successions of many of our gouernours which rights of theirs haue neuer been called in question no not in that time when Aquila was gouernour in Alexandria Since in like sort Caesar Augustus hath not letted them but when the chiefetaine of their nation was dead they might establish other substitutes and gouernours in his place willing that all of them should yeeld him obedience in obseruation of their lawes and customâ—…s without constraint or impulsion to doe any thing contrarie to their religion yet notwithstanding the Alexandrines haue mutined against the Iewes being in the Citie of Alexandria in the time of the Emperour Caius by reason of the folly and frenzie of Caius who disgraced and oppressed the nation of the Iewes because they would not violate their religion nor acknowledge the said Caius for a god Our wil and pleasure is that no one of the priuiledges of the nation of the Iewes be abolished by reason of Caius frenzie but my minde is to maintaine those which heretofore haue beene giuen them to the ende they may continue and liue according to their auncient lawes and customes Commanding you and euerie one of you verie carefully to prouide that after the publication of this our ordinance they be in no sort troubled This was the tenor of that ordinance which was made in fauour of the Iewes in Alexandria But that which was generally made in fauour of those who were dispersed thorow the whole world was to this effect Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus High priest Father of the people elected Consul the second time signifieth that which ensueth Our we beloued friends the kings Agrippa and Herode haue required vs that we will permit all those Iewes that liue vnder the Roman Empire to vse the same lawes and priuiledges which they haue vsed heretofore as we haue granted to the Iewes that dwell in Alexandria Which suite of theirs we haue willingly granted not onely in fauour of those that require the same but also for that I thinke them worthy such a grace for whom I haue been intreated in regard of the fidelity and friendship they haue alwaies expressed towards the Romans My pleasure therfore is that no Citie either Grecian or otherwise shall deny any priuiledge from whence they shall be excluded for that since the Emperour Augustus time they haue neuer been exempted from them It standeth with reason therefore that henceforth the Iewes who liue vnder our Empire of what place soeuer they bee may obserue their auncient customes without any contradiction Giuing them to vnderstand that hereafter they vse our clemencie so much the more moderately without neglecting the religion of other nations in retaining their own And our wil is that this present ordinance be published by the Magistrates of Cities Colonies and countries of Italy and be sent vnto kings and forraine princes by fit embassadours within thirtie daies at the least to the end that they should be in such sort set vp that they may be seene and read by all those that passe by CHAP. V. Agrippas returne into Iudaea BY these edicts of Claudius Caesar which he sent both to Alexandria and other parts of the world it plainly appeareth how well affected he was towards the nation of the Iewes And presently after this after he had dignified Agrippa with all kinds of honour he sent him backe into his kingdome to gouerne the same commanding all his presidents and lieutenants in his prouinces thorow which he was to passe to giue him a friendly and honourable conuoy But he hauing wisely and happily dispatched his affaires returned in all haste As soone as he came to Ierusalem he offered his sacrifices of thanksgiuing which he had vowed without omitting any thing that was commanded by the law He caused also diuers Nazarites to be pould and offered in gift that chaine of gold that Caius had giuen him which was of the same weight the yron chaine was of wherewith his royall hands were manacled in memorie of the aduersitie he had past and the testimonie of the exchange thereof into better fortune commaunding that it should be hanged vp in the temple and ouer the chamber of the treasurie to testifie vnto those that should behold the same that the highest estates are subiect to alterations and that God can raise men againe from obscuritie to happy fortune For this chaine that hanged in the temple being consecrated to God manifestly expressed vnto all men that king Agrippa was vpon a verie small occasion despoiled of his former dignitie and made prisoner and then a little while after that he being deliuered from his bonds was raised and exalted to a famous kingdome To signifie thereby that humane affaires are of that nature that that which is the greatest may be easily ouerthrowne and that which is declining may recouer againe his auncient honour and dignitie When as therfore Agrippa had duely and deuoutly acknowledged Gods mercies he deposed the hie priest Theophilus the son of Ananus and bestowed that honour on Simon surnamed Canthara the son of Boëthus This Simon had two brothers Boëthus was their father whose daughter had bin married to king Herod as heretofore it hath bin spoken Simon held the priesthood with his brethren and his father in such sort as before time the three sons of Simon hie priest son of Onias had done during the Empire of the Macedonians as we haue declared in our former bookes After the king had giuen order for the priesthood he thought good to recompence the good affection that they of Ierusalem had borne vnto him for which cause he acquited them of those tributes that euerie family paied knowing well that it became him to shew kindnesse vnto them who had been faithfull and wel affected towards him He created Silas who had been his companion in many dangers generall of all his army Not long after certaine young men that were Dorites vnder the colour of constancie in case of religion who also had daily expressed in their actions an vnbridled rashnesse brought the image of Caesar into the temple of the Iewes and erected it in that place which insolence of theirs highly offended Agrippa who construed it as an act that tended to the abolition of the religion of their countrey for which cause with all expedition he
being about some hundreth stades off of the citie robbed one Steuen that was Caesars seruant in the high way and tooke from him all that which hee had Which when Cumanus vnderstood he presently sent some of his souldiers to spoyle those villages which were neerest to the place where the fact was committed and to bring the chiefest inhabitants thereof in bonds vnto him In this pillage a certaine souldier found a booke of the law of Moses in one of these villages which hee tooke and brought and before them all ◅ore it in peeces with hainous blasphemies and vile speeches against the law and whole nation The Iewes vnderstanding hereof sodainly assembled themselues in great numbers and ran to Caesarea where Cumanus kept for that present requiring him that he would reuenge not their cause but Gods whose law was on that sort dishonoured signifying vnto him that it was impossible for them to liue so long as their law was thus contemned Cumanus fearing least a second mutinie and vpore should be raised among the people by the counsell of his friends cut off the souldiers head who had committed that outrage against the law and by this meanes appeased he the sedition that was ready to take head CHAP. V. The sedition of the Iewes against the Samaritanes THere hapned also an enmitie betwixt the Samaritanes and Iewes vpon this occasion They of Galilee who resorted to the citie of Ierusalem at the times of our solemne feasts were accustomed to passe thorow the countrey of the Samaritanes And at that time it hapned that their way lay thorow a borough called Nais scituate in a great champion field where a quarrell arising betwixt diuers inhabitants of the place and certaine passengers a great number of the Galileans were murthered Which when the magistrates of Galilee vnderstood they resorted to Cumanus requiring him to execute iustice on those that had murthered their countrimen but he being corrupted with money by the Samaritanes made no account of their complaint The Galileans being prouoked by this contempt of his perswaded the common people of the Iewes to betake them to their weapons and maintaine their liberty telling them that seruitude is of itselfe tedious but that when it is accompanied with outrages it is intolerable But their gouernours laboured to pacifie them promising them to deale so effectually with Cumanus that he should take punishment of the murtherers but they gaue them no audience but fell to armes requiring Eleazar the sonne of Dinaeus to be their chieftaine This Eleazar was a theefe who for many yeeres made his abode in the mountaines They therfore spoyled and burnt certaine villages of the Samaritanes After that the report of all that which had passed came to Cumanus eares he tooke a company of the souldiers of Sebaste with foure bands of footmen and armed the Samaritanes likewise to go and make warre against the Iewes whom they tooke and slue many of them and led more of them away prisoners When the chiefest gouernours in Ierusalem saw into what an infinitie of mischiefs they were fallen they cloathed themselues in sackcloth and cast ashes on their heads exhorting those that were mutinous to forethinke themselues of the ruine of their countrey the daunger the temple was in to be burned the seruitude both of themselues their wiues and children to prophane and straunge nations and desired them to chaunge their aduice and to lay aside their weapons and cease to offer violence to the end that they might hereafter liue in quiet and that euery one of them would retire themselues peaceably to his owne habitation By which words in the end they being perswaded returned home and betooke them to their busines The theeues also retired themselues againe into their strong holds and from that time all Iudaea was replenished with thefts The gouernours of Samaria resorted to Numidius Quadratus gouernour of Syria who dwelt at that time in Tyre to accuse the Iewes for that they had fired their villages and spoiled them telling him that their losse did not so much trouble them as for that they saw the Romanes were contemned by the Iewes who notwithstanding ought to appeare before them as their competent Iudges yet naithelesse that they assembled themselues in such sort as if the Romaines were not their superiours For which cause they addressed themselues to him to the end they might haue redresse of those wrongs which they had receiued by them This is that wherewith the Samaritanes charged the Iewes who answered to the contrary alledging that the Samaritanes themselues had beene the authors of that mutiny and vprore and that Cumanus being wholy corrupted by their money had smothered the matter and done no iustice on the murtherers When Quadratus heard this he reserued the iudgement till another time telling them that he would giue sentence in the matter at such time as he came into Iudaea and had examined the truth of both sides so that they returned without doing any thing Anone after Quadratus came into Samaria where he heard that the Samaritanes had beene the authors of the trouble and on the other side knowing that some Iewes likewise intended some insurrection he caused them to be crucified whom Cumanus had left in prison From thence he transported himself to Lydda which is a burrow of no lesse bignesse then a citie in which place he sitting on his tribunall seat heard the Samaritanes the second time and discouered by the report of a certaine Samaritane that one Dortus one of the principallest among the Iewes and foure other his confederates induced the people to rebell against the Romanes These did Quadratus cause to be executed As for Ananias who was the high Priest and the captaine Ananus he sent them bound to Rome to render an account to the Emperour Claudius of that which they had don Moreouer he commaunded the chiefe gouernours both of the Samaritanes and Iewes that they should speedily repaire to Rome whither Cumanus and captain Celer should conduct them to the end they might be iudged by Caesar himselfe vpon the information taken on both sides And fearing least the common people of the Iewes should breake out into some rebellion he repaired to the citie of Ierusalē to giue order that the Iewes should attempt to raise no new stirres but when he came thither he found all in peace busied in the celebration of the feast and offering sacrifices to God according to their accustomed ceremonies Being therefore assured that no man would innouate or rebell in that place he left them to their solemnities and repaired to Antioch But the Iewes that were sent to Rome with Cumanus and the principall Samaritanes had a day assigned them by the Emperour to decide the differents that were betweene them Cumanus and the Samaritanes laboured all that they might by the mediation of Caesars friends and freemen to haue the vpper hand of the Iewes and indeed the day had beene theirs if young
Arabians helpe were driuen to hope for succour euen at their aduersaries hand For which cause as soone as Pompey after he had entred Syria came to Damascus they in humble manner came to him and giuing him many giftes protested vnto him that which before they had done to Aretas earnestly requesting him that he would consider the violence offered by Aristobulus and restore Hyrcanus to the kingdome to whom both by yeeres and manners it was due Meane while Aristobulus slept not but hauing corrupted Scaurus came in as royall pompe as he could but not abiding to debase himselfe and thinking it a disparagement in more abiect manner then beseemed a king to seeke his owne commoditie returned from Diospolis Wherat Pompey being angrie at the request of Hyrcanus and his followers he went against Aristobulus accompanied both with the Roman army and the Syrians who assisted them When they had passed Pella and Scythopolis and came to Corea where the confines of Iudaea begins as they passed thorow the midst of the countrey they vnderstood that Aristobulus was fled to Alexandriū which was a Castle richly built and scituate vpon a verie high hill Pompey arriuing in that place sent messengers vnto him commanding him to descend but he because he was called in question about the kingdome determined rather to hazard himselfe then obey But when he saw that the people began to feare and that his friends willed him to thinke of the power of the Romans whose strength he was no waies able to resist he allowed their counsaile and came vnto Pompey where hauing alleadged many reasons to shew that he had iust title vnto the crowne he returned againe into the Castle And afterward being vrged by his brother to come plead his title he came and returned thither againe without any contradiction from Pompey Thus wandred he betwixt hope and feare and doubting how the matter would go with him he came to Pompey as it were to entreat him to pardon all and returned againe vnto the mountaine least he should seeme to derogate any thing from the maiestie of a king yet because Pompey willed him to depart from his Castles and to warne his gouernours thereof to do the like whom he had commanded to disobey except they receiued letters written by his owne hand in this he fulfilled Pompeies minde yet being angrie and discontented he departed into Ierusalem and now fully determined to fight with Pompey But Pompey not thinking it best to let him haue time to prepare himselfe followed him with all speede and so much the willinger because that neere vnto Ierico he had newes of Mithridates his death euen in the fruitfullest place of * Iudaea where there are great store of palmes and balme This balsome is a shrub whose stem being cut with sharpe stones droppeth balme out of the wounds thereof which men gather as it droppeth from the wounds thereof After he had rested there that night he in the morning hasted to Ierusalem At whose sodaine arriuall Aristobulus being daunted in humble manner came vnto him and promising him money and to yeeld himselfe and the Citie into his hands he by this meanes appeased Pompeies anger But he performed no part of his promise for Aristobulus his associates would not suffer Gabinius who was sent for the money to enter into the Citie For which cause Pompey being mooued to displeasure put Aristobulus in hold and comming neere the Citie he tooke a view at what place it might be easiliest entred for he did not lightly perceiue how he might batter the walles they were so strong Moreouer there was a huge ditch before the wall and hard by he beheld the Temple so strengthened that although the Citie were taken yet it might be a second refuge for the enemy Whilest thus he long deliberated what to doe there arose a sedition within the Citie wherein Aristobulus confederates thought it meete to fight and deliuer the king out of prison but those that fauoured Hyrcanus woulde that the gates should be opened to Pompey At last Aristobulus friends hauing the worst fled into the temple and to the end that they might fight it out to the last they cut downe the bridge by which men go out of the Citie into the temple When the rest had receiued the Romans into the Citie and deliuered vnto them the kings pallace Pompey sent a captaine called Piso with souldiers to seaze the same who leauing agarrison in the towne seeing he could perswade none of them that were in the temple to peace prepared all places about it to batter it All which time Hyrcanus and his friends shewed themselues ready to helpe them with counsell and to doe whatsoeuer they were commanded Pompey at the north side filled the ditch and valley with all kind of matter which his souldiers carried although that by reason of the huge depth and for that the Iewes made resistance it was a thing hard to be done and it had been left vndone had not Pompey obseruing the seuenth day wherein the Iewes religion forced them to abstaine from all labour caused it to be filled vpon those daies forbidding the souldiers to fight at that time to the intent he might fill the ditch more conueniently for it is lawfull for the Iewes onely to fight for their bodies vpon the Sabboth At last when the ditch was filled and the towers were built vpon the rampire he beat the walles with those engines which he brought from Tyre but they were beaten backe by those who resisted from the top of the wals who darted diuers stones at them Against the violent power whereof the towers that were builded in that quatter being of a great and goodly building resisted as valiantly and as long as they possibly could But the Romans found but hard measure in this place and Pompey admired the constancie of the Iewes who being amongst the thickest of their enemies darts yet omitted not any ceremonie but as though they had had firme peace they euerie day obserued their ceremonies offered sacrifices and offerings and most diligently obserued all honour and diuine seruice yea in the verie taking of the place although euerie day they were killed at the altar yet did they not cease from the lawfull rites of their religion At last in the third moneth of the siege whereas scarcely one tower was beaten downe they brake into the temple and the first that attempted to climbe ouer the wall was Faustus Cornelius Sylas sonne and after him two Centurions Furius and Fabius with their regiments who compassing the temple about while some sought to hide themselues and other some resisted they slew them all There were many priests also among the rest who although they saw the enemies with naked swords rushing vpon them yet being nothing at all dismaied thereat continued still their sacrifices and were slaine euen whilest they offered and incensed in the temple preferring the duetie they ought to religion euen before their owne safetie
but also prouided victuals for his army Whereupon the citizens of Memphis would not fight but yeelded of their own accord vnto Mithridates so that passing through Delta he fought with the other Aegyptians in a place called the tents of the Iewes being with all his cōpany in danger he was rescued by Antipater who marching along the riuer side set vpon discomfited the left wing of the enemies battel rushing vpon them that pressed vpon Mithridates he slue many pursued the rest that fled till he got their tents and al with the losse of fourescore men But Mithridates flying lost eight hundreth men being against all hope preserued out of those wars was without all enuie a true witnes before Caesar of al that vvhich Antipater had both done deserued Wherupon Caesar redoubled his courage vvith praise and promises vnto him and made him forward to hazard himselfe for him In a word he proued shewed himselfe a stout vvarrior hauing many vvounds in euery part of his bodie he bare a badge testimonie of his valour and vertue Afterward when the state of Aegypt was quiet he returned into Syria where he made him a citizen of Rome and granted him the immunities thereof and did so honour him in other things and vse him so friendly that he made him a patterne for all to imitate and for his sake he confirmed Hyrcanus in the high Priesthood CHAP. VIII How Antipater was accused before Caesar of the Priesthood of Hyrcanus and how Herode made warre AT the same time Antigonus the sonne of Aristobalus repairing to Caesar against his will was a cause of Antipaters greater felicity for comming to complain of his fathers death who was as it was thought through Pompeies enuie poisoned and to accuse Scipio of crueltie which was vsed against his brother whereas he should haue abandoned all passion which moued him to mingle hatred with his miseries contrariwise he accused Hyrcanus and Antipater as though they had vniustly driuen him and his brethren out of their natiue soile and grieuously iniured the people to obtaine their intent Alleadging that they had sent aide into Aegypt to Caesars forces not for good will but for feare of auncient enmitie and that hereby they might acquite themselues of the good will they bare to Pompey At these words Antipater casting away his vesture shewed the number of his wounds saying it was not needfull to vse words to proue what affection he had borne to Caesar for his verie body would shew it although hee himselfe held his peace adding that he admired the impudent boldnesse of Antigonus who being sonne to an enemie of the Romans and a fugitiue from the Romans and still continued his fathers purpose of noueltie and sedition should dare to accuse others before the Roman Emperour demaunding of him how he durst hope to obtaine any good thing who ought to be contented with his life onely alleadging that hee craued not maintenance for that he wanted but that he might raise a rebellion amongst the Iewes and against them who should bestow any thing vpon him Which when Caesar heard he said that Hyreanus was most worthy to be high priest and bid Antipater wish what dignitie he would haue who leauing that to the pleasure of the giuer he was made gouernour of all Iudaea And moreouer he obtained to reedifie the rased wals of his countrey and Caesar commanded that those honours should be engraued in the Capitoll that it might be a token in time to come of Antipaters Iustice and vertue Antipater hauing attended Caesar out of Syria first of all repaired the ruined walles of his countrey which Pompey had raced and going thorowout all the countrey he threatned the obstinate and perswaded the seditious to obedience admonishing them that if they obeied Hyrcanus they might liue in wealth and peace and enioy happinesse and an vniuersall selicitie but if they suffered themselues to be led with the vaine hopes of those who for their priuate commodities sought for alteration that then they should find him in steed of a Procurator the Lord of all and Hyrcanus in steed of a king a tyrant and the Romans and Caesar in steed of friends deadly enemies for that they would not suffer his power to be ouerthrowne whom they themselues had established for king But notwithstanding he spake these words yet because he saw Hyrcanus more dull and not of so seruent a spirit as the care of a kingdome required he himselfe setled the estate of the countrey and made Phasaelus his eldest sonne gouernour of the army and the Lord of Ierusalem and of his owne liuing and sent Herode his youngest son to gouerne Galilee although he was very young who being by nature of a valiant courage found out a present occasion to shew his braue minde for he tooke Ezechias which was captain of theeues who as he vnderstood was woont to pray vpon the confines of Syria with a great multitude and put him to death with many other theeues which thing was so gratefull vnto the Syrians that in all townes and villages they made songs of Herod as though he had restored them to peace and to their possessions At length the glorie of this fact came to the eares of Sextus Caesar who was Caesar the Emperours kinsman who then ruled Syria Phasaelus also did striue to ouercome the towardnesse and good reputation of his brother by daily increasing and winning to himselfe the good wils of the inhabitants of Ierusalem so that during the time he gouerned the Citie he did nothing insolently through might or power for which cause the people honoured Antipater as their king and reuerenced him as Lord of all yet was his fidelitie and good will neuerthelesse towards Hyrcanus But it is impossible that any man that liueth in prosperitie should not be enuied For Hyrcanus although before time he were mooued something at the glorie of these young men and especially with the prosperous successe of Herod being often annoied with frequent messengers who spred his praise for euerie thing he did yet in particular he was stirred vp by many enuious persons who are woont to haunt the courts of Princes who were grieued that Antipater and his sonnes ruled without offence These men tolde Hyrcanus that he onely enioyed the bare name of a king and that Antipater and his sonnes ruled all and that he so long would permit winke at them til that at last they would make themselues kings for they now did no more so much as pretend themselues to be procurators But leauing that title they took vpon them the dignities of Lords and maisters without any regard or reuerence toward him for Herod had put to death a great multitude of Iewes against the law whereas neither by word of mouth nor by writing the king had giuen him any such authoritie and that Herode if he were not a king but a priuate
person was to be brought into iudgement there to answere the matter and shew the king a reason and satisfie the lawes of his countrey which permitted no man to be put to death before by law he was conuicted By these perswasions Hyrcanus grew angrie so that not concealing his wrath he caused Herode to be sent for to answere the matter who both for that his father aduertised him thereto and because he trusted to the equity of his cause first leauing a garrison in Galilee he repaired vnto the king came accompanied with a strong guard least either he should seeme to derogate from Hyrcanus dignitie if he should lead forth many or that for want of defence he should expose himselfe to the enuie of his aduersaries Sextus Caesar also fearing the young man least any euill should betide him amongst his enemies sent vnto Hyrcanus manifestly warning him to free Herode from the crime of murther For which cause Hyrcanus who loued Herode and was willing so to do of his owne accord did acquite him Whereupon he supposing that he had escaped against the kings will went to Damascus vnto Sextus purposing not to obey if hereafter he were sent for Naithelesse Hyrcanus was once againe incited by bad people against Herode who certified him that he was gone away in a rage and that he would enterprise something against him which Hyrcanus beleeuing knew not what to doe seeing his enemie more potent then himselfe Shortly after Sextus Caesar proclaimed him Generall of the army both in Syria and Samaria so that now he was greatly to be feared not onely for that he was highly in fauour with the comminaltie but also for the forces which he commanded So that hereupon Hyrcanus fell into an extreme feare verily perswading himselfe that Herod with his whole army would presently come against him Neither was his suspition in vaine for Herod angrie at the pretended crime wherof he was accused came with a great army to Ierusalem intending to depose Hyrcanus which he had effected had not his father and his brother gone forth to meet him and pacified him entreating that he would account that terror wherein he had put his enemies and his owne indignation for a sufficient reuenge and that he should spare the king by whose fauour he came to be so potent adding moreouer that he should not thinke it a disdaine that he was called to answere his accusations but seeing that he was acquited of them he should shewe himselfe gratefull to the king Neither ought he so to reuenge the discontent he had taken that he should shew himselfe vnthankfull to him who had saued his life Moreouer he was to consider the fortune of warres togither with the cause thereof and thinke that the warres he now pretended were very vniust bidding him not to be too confident of the victorie being to fight against his owne king who had alwaies been gratious vnto him and neuer cruell only being as it were vrged thereunto by some of his councell who being meerely enuious rather to satisfie their owne mislikes then in regard of his disgraces framed a shadow of an accusation Herode pacified herewith supposing it to be sufficient for him to obtaine the thing he hoped for to haue shewed his forces vnto his nation At this time began Ciuill warre among the Romans neere vnto Apamia for Caecilius Bassus for the loue he bare to Sextus Pompey slew Sextus Caesar at vnawares and made himselfe gouernour of his army and other captaines of Caesars to reuenge his death made after Bassus with all their forces vnto whom Antipater by his two sonnes sent aide both for Caesars sake that was slain as for Caesars sake that was yet aliue for he was an entire friend welwiller vnto them both and these warres continuing long Marcus came out of Italy to succeed Sextus CHAP. IX Of the dissension amongst the Romans after Caesars death and of the treacherie of Malichus AT this time arose great and bloudy ciuill warres amongst the Romans at such time as Caesar was traiterously slaine by the treason of Cassius and Brutus after he had ruled the Empire 3. yeers and seuen moneths By reason of which murther their troubles daily increased and the nobilitie being at variance amongst themselues euerie one followed that course that they thought most expedient for themselues Whereupon Cassius presently marched into Syria to take possession of the gouernment of the army which was about Apamia where hee made Marcus and the legions that were at variance and Bassus friends and raised the siege from Apamia and leading the army in his owne person he forced euerie citie to be tributarie so that he grew to exact without measure Whereas therefore he commanded the Iewes to contribute seuen hundreth talents Antipater who feared his displeasure appointed his sons and other of his friends presently to gather the money and especially among the rest he gaue this charge to one Malichus a friend of his being by necessitie inforced thereunto But Herode first of all got Cassius his fauour who brought a hundreth talents which he had collected out of Galilee which was his part or prouince for this cause Cassius accounted him as a deare friend As for the rest he accused them of negligence and was angrie at the other Cities So that for that cause he destroied Gophna and Ammauntes and other two of the basest cities marching onward as if he intended to kill Malichus for that he had been so carelesse and negligent in gathering the tribute mony But Antipater presently disbursing vnto Cassius a hundreth talents saued both him and all the rest of the Cities Yet Malichus after Cassius was departed did no more remember how beneficiall Antipater had been vnto him but oftentimes did treacherously lie in waite for to murther Antipater who hindred and withstood his villanous pretence notwithstanding that himselfe had often confessed that Antipater had saued his life Antipater fearing both his power and subtiltie passed ouer the riuer Iordan to gather an army that he might reuenge those treacheries But Malichus being discouered by his impudencie ouercame Antipaters sons for through many oths and excuses he woon Phasaelus chiefe of the garrison in Ierusalem and Herod also who was master of the armorie that they should be a meanes to reconcile him to Antipater Whereupon Antipater entreating Marcus who was Generall of the army in Syria and had determined to kill him he was saued The reason that Marcus would haue put him to death was because Malichus sought to make an alteration Now Caesar being young and Antonius warring against Cassius and Brutus Marcus and Cassius hauing gathered an army in Syria in consideration that Herode had stood them in steed where need required they made him Procurator of all Syria giuing him a band of horsemen and footmen Moreouer Cassius promised him that if the warres had a happy end he would make him king of
out by flocks of their own accord they offered theÌ„selues to the Iewes so that in this sort there came â—…orth foure thousand 〈◊〉 daies the sixt day the whole multitude despairing of their liues came out to fight with whom Herod conflicting slew about seuen thousand Hauing in this sort weakned the Arabians that he had now extinguished all thâ—… strong men the countreymen admired him and were so much daunted at his puissance that they wished him for their ruler CHAP. XV. How Herode was exalted vnto the kingdome INcontinent after this his prosperous successe there did betide vnto him a sea of cares and griefes in respect of the loue which he bare vnto Antoâ—…s whom Caesar had now lately ouerthrown at the battel which was fought at Actium yet was he more aâ—…aid then hurt by this his suspition for Caesar accounted not Antonius fully conquered so long as Herode and he kept togither For which cause the king timely foreseeing those dangers that might ensue went to Rhodes where at that time Caesar abode in which place in the habit of a priâ—…te man and without a crown but with a kingly courage he presented himselfe before him and with vnfained constancy spake vnto him in such maner as followeth I was O Caesar made king of Iudaea by Antonius his means and I must confesse that I haue beene a king who what in mee lay haue serued his turne and sought his profit yea I must not denie but that had nor the Arabians hindred me I had with all the power I could haue made seconded and assisted Antony against thee yea although personally I could not go yet did I what I could to helpe him and sent him many thousand measures of corne Nay though he had the ouerthrow at Acâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sake him who had deserued wel at my hands although I was not able to assist him with 〈◊〉 of armes yet I confirmed him by my coâ—… the best I could inâ—…cating often times vnto him that there was one onely way to redresse his adueâ—…itie to wit by the death of Clâ—…ra whom if he killed I promised him to assist him with money strong holds and an army yea and with mine owne person against thee but the loue of Cleopatra and God who had already designed the victorie vnto thee stopped his eares For which cause O Caesar I am conquered with Antonius and haue forsaken my crowne and dignitie with his fortunes and am come vnto thee hoping that at thy hands I may obtaine pardon To this Caesar answered Liue in safetie and raigne now with greater securitie then before for thou deseruest to rule others who with such constancie didst defend and maintaine thy friendship At this time endeuour thy selfe to continue faithfull toward them that are more fortunate then Antonius was for for my part I haue conceiued a great hope and expectation of thy valour and prowesse yet did Antonius well in that he rather obeied Cleopatra then thee for by his follies haue we now purchased thy friendship That thou hast begun to doe well it thereby appeareth because Ventidius hath signified vnto me that thou hast sent him succours against his enemies For which cause by this my present decree be thou established in thy kingdome and I will shortly let thee know that I will be beneficiall vnto thee so as thou shalt haue no cause to bewaile the losse of Antonius By this speech he exhorted the king not to misdoubt of his friendship and withall put a crowne vpon his head and made a decree and sealed it testifying how he had remitted all things done by Herod and confirmed him in his kingdome and rehearsed many things therein greatly tending to Herodes praise Herode hauing first pacified Caesar with many gifts requested him to pardon Alexander one of Antonius his friends who earnestly and in humble manner desired the same but Caesar being verie angrie answered that he for whom he entreated had greatly and many times offended and so repeld Herod with this answere Afterward Caesar trauailing into Aegypt through Syria was entertained by Herode with all royall pompe possible and that was the first time that he shewed himselfe to take part with Caesar when neere vnto Ptolemais he tooke a view of the soldiers with Caesar made a banquet for him and all his friends feasted the whole army likewise And inasmuch as they trauailed to PelusiuÌ„ through drie grounds when they returned againe he prouided water for them and furnished the army with all necessaries so that both Caesar and the souldiers thought the kingdome a small recompence for his deserts For which cause after he came into Aegypt and that Antonius Cleopatra were now dead he did not only increase his honor but also restored vnto him that portion of his countrey which was taken away and giuen to Cleopatra and beside that Gadara and Hippon and Samaria and other cities about the sea coast to wit Gaza and Anthedon and loppe and Stratons tower and moreouer gaue him foure hundreth Galathians which before were Cleopatra her guard and there was nothing that so much mooued Caesars liberalitie as the couragious minde of him vnto whom he was so liberall after the first Actian solemnitie he added vnto Herodes dominion Trachon and Batanaea and Auranitis bordering vpon it For this cause Zenodorus who for mony hired Lysanias his house continually sent theeues out of Trachon to rob the people of Damascus who in humble manner went to Varus who was at that time gouernour of Syria entreating him to informe Caesar of their calamitie Caesar vnderstanding therof writ backe againe commanding him to extinguish all the theeues whereupon Varus with an army went to those places which were most suspected and ridde the countrey of the theeues and tooke the territorie from Zenodorus and Caesar least it should againe be a refuge for theeues to spoile Damascus gaue it to Herode and made him ruler ouer all Syria And ten yeeres after returning to his owne countrey he commanded the gouernours to doe nothing without Herodes counsell and after Zenodorus his death he gaue him all the countrey betweene Trachon and Galilee But that which Herod esteemed aboue all the rest was that Caesar loued him best of al next vnto Agrippa and Agrippa loued him most of all men next vnto Caesar. Thus nowe he touched the verie toppe of felicitie and so encreasing in high minde he employed himselfe chiefly to pietie CHAP. XVI Of the Cities and buildings reedified and built by Herod and of his liberalitie towards strangers and of his felicitie IN the fifteenth yeere of his raigne he repaired the temple and enclosed twise so much ground as was before about the temple with a strong wall whereon he bestowed great costs and charges to beautifie it as the great porches will testifie which he built about the temple and a Castle on the north part thereunto adioyning which he builded euen from the foundation
but after he had made him high Priest in the seuenteenth yeere of his age he presently put him to death after he had so honoured him who when he came to the Altar clothed in sacred attire vpon a festiuall day all the people wept and the same night was he sent to Iericho and drowned in a lake by the Galatheans who had receiued commission to performe the murther These things did Mariamme daily cast in Herodes teeth and vpbraided both his mother and sister with verie sharpe and reprochfull words yet he so loued her that notwithstanding all this he held his peace But the women were set on fire and that they might the rather moue Herode against her they accused her of adulterie and of many other things which bare a shew of truth obiecting against her that she had sent her portraicture into Aegypt vnto Antonius and that through immoderate lust she did what she could to make her selfe knowen vnto him who doted vpon womens loue and was of sufficient power to do what wrong he pleased Hereat Herode was sore moued especially for that he was iealous of her whom he loued bethinking himselfe vpon the crueltie of Cleopatra for vvhose sake king Lysanias and Malichus king of Arabia were put to death and now he measured not the daunger by the losse of his wife but by his owne death which he feared For which cause being drawen by his affaires into the countrey he gaue secret commaundement vnto Ioseph his sister Salomes husband whom he knew to be trustie and one who for affinitie was his well-willer to kill his wife Mariamme if so be Antonius should haue killed him But Ioseph not maliciously but simply to shew her how greatly the king loued her disclosed that secret vnto her and she when Herode was returned and amongst other talke with many oaths sware that he neuer loued woman but her indeed quoth she it may well be knowne how greatly you loue me by the commaundement you gaue to Ioseph whom you charged to kill me Herode hearing this which he thought to be secret was like a mad man and presently perswaded himselfe that Ioseph would neuer haue disclosed that commaundement of his except he had abused her so that hereupon he became furious and leaping out of his bed he walked vp and downe the pallace vvhereupon his sister Salome hauing fit opportunitie confirmed his suspition of Ioseph For which cause Herode growing now raging mad with Iealousie commanded both of them to be killed Which done his wrath was seconded by repentance and after his anger ceased the affection of loue was presently renewed yea so great was the power of his affection that he would not beleeue she was dead but spake vnto her as though she were aliue vntill in processe of time being assertained of her funerall he equalled the affection he bare her during her life by the vehemencie of his passion for her death Mariammes sonnes succeeded their mother in her wrath and recogitating what an impious act it was they accounted their father as a mortall enemie both before and after they went to studie at Rome and especially after they came againe into Iudaea For as they encreased in yeeres so did the violence of their mind encrease And they being now mariageable one of them maried the daughter of their aunt Salome who accused their mother the other maried the daughter of Archelaus king of Cappadocia And now to their hatred was there ioyned a libertie to speake more freely against them and by this occasion of their boldnes many were animated to calumniate them so that some did openly tell the king that both his sonnes sought to worke treason against him and that the one of them prepared an army to helpe the other to reuenge the death of their mother and that the other to wit he that was sonne in law to Archelaus purposed to flie and accuse Herode before Caesar. Herode giuing eare vnto those calumniations sent for Antipater whom he had by Doris to the end he might defend him against his two sons and sought to aduance him aboue them But they thought this alteration intolerable seeing one whose mother was but a priuate woman so preferred and they moued with their owne noblenes of birth could not containe their indignation but vpon euerie occasion shewed themselues offended yet were they euery day lesse accounted of As for Antipater he wrought himselfe into fauour for he knew how to flatter his father and raised many slaunders vpon his two brethren partly inuented by himselfe partly diuulgated by some of his fauorites whom he set a worke about that matter till that at last he put his brethren out of all hope of hauing the kingdome For he was now by the kings Will and Testament declared king so that he was sent as a King vnto Caesar in a kingly habit and pompe only he wore no Crowne and in time he so preuailed that he wrought his mother into Mariammes steed and with flatteries and calumniation so moued the king that he began to deliberate about the putting to death of his sonnes For which cause he conducted his sonne Alexander with him to Rome and accused him before Caesar that he had giuen him poyson But he with much adoe hauing obtained libertie to plead his owne cause and that before an vnskilfull Iudge yet more wise then Herode or Antipater he modestly held his peace in all things that his father had offended in and first of all he purged his brother from daunger of that crime and taking the vvhole matter vpon himself he in verie good sort acquited himselfe therof And afterwards he inueighed against Antipaters subtiltie complained of those iniuries which had been offered him hauing besides the equitie of his cause sufficient eloquence to acquit himselfe for he was a vehement orator and knew wel how to perswade Last of al he obiected that his father hauing a desire to put both him and his brother to death had laid an accusation vpon him where at the whole audience wept and Caesar was so moued that not regarding the accusations that were laid vnto them he presently made Herode and them friends vpon these conditions that they in all things should be obedient vnto their father and that their father should leaue the kingdome to whom he pleased Hereupon Herode returned from Rome and though he seemed to haue forgiuen his sonnes yet laid he not his iealousie and suspition aside For Antipater stil vrged his argument to make Herod hate his other two sonnes though for feare of him that reconciled them he durst not openly shew himselfe an enemie vnto them Afterward Herode sailed by Cilicia and arriued at Elaeusa where Archelaus receiued him verie courteously thanking him for the safetie of his sonne in law and verie ioyfull for that they were made friends for he wrote vnto his friends at Rome with all speede possible that they should be
fauourable vnto Alexander when he came to plead his cause And after this entertainement he conducted Herode vnto Zephyrius giuing him gifts to the value of thirtie talents and so tooke his leaue of him Herode so soone as he came to Ierusalem assembled the people togither being assisted by his three sons he shewed vnto them the cause of his going to Rome and blessed God and thanked Caesar who had appeased the discord of his house and that had made his sons friends which he esteemed more then his kingdome and I quoth he will make their friendship firme For Caesar appointed me king and gaue me leaue to chuse whom I pleased for my successour for the which I giue him heartie thanks And now I here constitute al three of my sons kings which purpose of mine first I beseech Almightie God and secondly you to fauour for the one of them for his yeers the other for their nobilitie of birth haue right to the crown kingdom which is so large that it may suffice many so that you for your parts reuerēce them whom Caesar conioyned and I their father ordained giuing them not vnfit nor vnlike honours but such as they haue deserued For a man cannot do a greater pleasure vnto him whom he honoureth aboue his yeeres then he shall giue discontent vnto him whom he dishonoureth For which cause I will constitute to euery one of them such friends welwillers as with whom they be most conuersant and of them I will require pledges of a concord and vnitie amongst them For I know that discords and contentions arise by malice of those who are conuersant with Princes and that if they be well disposed they will encrease friendship And I request that not onely these but also all such as beare rule in my army that they hope in me onely for the present for I giue not my sonnes the kingdome but the honour and dignitie thereof and they shall haue pleasure as though they were kings themselues yet I my selfe will beare sway although I am vnwilling to do it Let euery one of you consider my age my course of life and pietie for I am not so olde that any one may quickly despaire of me nor I haue not accustomed my selfe to such kind of pleasure as is wont to shorten young mens daies and we haue beene so religious that we are in great hope of long life But if any one despise me and seeke to please my sonnes such a one will I punish I doe not forbid them to be honoured whom my selfe haue begotten for that I enuie them but because I know wel that such applauses nourish pride and arrogancie in the fierce minds of young men Wherefore if all they that apply themselues in their seruice consider that I will be readie to reward the good and that those who are seditious shall find their malice to haue an vnprofitable euent at their hands whom they so flatter I easily perswade my selfe that all men will be of my mind that are of my sonnes mind For it is good for them that I raigne and that I am friends with my sonnes And you O my good sonnes retaine in your minds that sacred nature which maketh the very brute beast to entertaine naturall affection then reuerence Caesar who rconciled vs and last of all obey me who request and entreat that at your hands which I might commaund namely that you remaine brethren And I will now giue you both kingly attire and honour and I pray God that if you will continue and remaine friends I may continue in this mind After he had thus spoken he saluted them verie louingly and dismissed the people some praying that it might be as he had said others who desired alteration made as though they had heard nothing Yet for all this the dissension amongst the brethren was not appeased but each of them mistrusting worser euents departed from one another For Alexander and Aristobulus stomached the matter that Antipater had his desert confirmed and Antipater was grieued that his brethren should haue the second place after him yet he could craftily so carrie himselfe that no man could perceiue his hatred towards them And they deriued of a noble race spake all they thought and many endeuoured to set them on and others as friends insinuated themselues into their companie to learne what newes so that Alexander could not speake a worde 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 harme it was presently interpreted in the worst sense possible and if hee chaunced at any time to speake freely of any matter presently it was made a great thing Antipater suborned men to set him on that so his lies might be shadowed with a colour of truth and that if he could prooue any one thing true all lies and tales els diuulgated might thereby be iustified to be true Now all Antipaters familiars were either naturally secret or els he stopped their mouthes with bribes least they should disclose his intents so that one might iustly haue termed his life a secrecie of malice All Alexanders friends were either corrupted by mony or flattering speeches wherwith Antipater ouercame al made thē theeues and proditors of such things as were either done or spoken against him and himselfe doing all things he dealt so warily that at last those calumniations came vnto Herodes eare and he counterfeited his brothers person and suborned other tale carriers telling what they could against Alexander pretēding good will towards his brother at first fainedly reproued thē afterward seriously alleadged their sayings as accusations so that hereby Herod was verie wrath but turned all as though Alexander went about treason and sought to kill his father and nothing made so much credit be giuē to these calumniations as that Antipater colorably excused his brother Herod incēsed herat euerie day withdrew his affection more more frō the two brethren daily encreased his loue towards Antipater The nobilitie also were inclined after the same manner partly of their onwe accord and partly for that they were so commanded so did Ptolemaeus the chiefest of all the nobilitie and the kings brethren and all his kinred for all mens expectation was vpon Antipater And that which grieued Alexander the more was that all these mischiefes wrought to his ouerthrow were done by the counsell of Antipaters mother for she being a step mother was cruell and hated them being borne of a Queene farre more then a steppe mother doth her sonnes in lawe And although all men followed Antipater for the hope which they had of him yet were they also compelled thereunto by the kings commaunde who gaue an especiall charge to their dearest friends that none should follow Alexander or his brother so that he did not only terrifie those of his owne kingdome but also those of other forraine nations
and armour vnto the legion where they killed with darts one Arius a Centurion and fortie of the most valiant amongst them and the rest being in the like daunger through the helpe of Gratus with his souldiers of Sebaste escaped When they had done many things in this manner against the inhabitants straungers at last three of them were taken the eldest by Archelaus and the two others who were eldest after him fell into the hands of Gratus and Ptolemaeus and the fourth yeelded himselfe vnto Archelaus vpon composition and thus at last they came to their end And all Iudaea by their example was filled with theeues CHAP. III. Of Varus his deedes concerning the Iewes that were crucified WHen Varus had receiued the letters of Sabinus and of the nobles with him fearing the whole legion he hasted to succour them Wherefore he came to Ptolemais with two other legions and foure comets of horsemen vvhere he vvilled the kings forces and the nobles to meete him Moreouer as he passed by Berytum they accompanied him with 15. hundreth armed men Aretas also the King of Arabia for the hatred he bare to Herode was come with a great number of horsmen and footmen Assoone as the host vvas assembled Varus incontinently directed part of his armie into Galilee adioyning thereto and appointed a friend of his the sonne of Caius for their gouernour who presently put them all to flight against whom he was sent and hauing taken the castle of Sephoris he fired it and made the inhabitants therofbond slaues Varus with the rest of the armie went into Samaria and tooke it yet hee did the Citie no harme because he founde that amiddest al those tumults they had been quiet When he had pitched his tents at a village called Aun which was in the possession of Ptolemaeus the Arabians sacked it for they hated them who loued Herod From thence they went to Sapp◅o an other strong borough which they in like manner sacked and destroyed with all the fruits reuenewes they founde there All was filled with the slaughter and fiers which the Arabians made and there was no end nor hinderance of their auarice Also Varus commaunded Ammaus to bee burned being angrie for the death of Arias and the rest that were slaine there and the inhabitants thereof were scattered euery one by flight seeking to saue himselfe From thence hee went to Ierusalem and at the sight of him the Iewes fled and scattered themselues some here some there all about the country they that remained in the Citie excused themselues that they were not consenting to that tumult but that for the celebration of the feasts sake they permitted thē to come into the citie affirming that they had rather beene besieged together with the Romans then to haue conspired with those of the sedition and so they laid the cause of that tumult vpon others But first Iosephus Archelaus his cousin with Gratus Rufus came to meet him leading the kings armie and the Sebastians the Roman souldiers adorned in their accustomed apparrell Sabinus durst not be seene of Varus and therefore got him out of the towne before and went vnto the sea coast Varus deuided his armie and sent it into the fields against the Authours of that tumult and those that were brought vnto him who were in lesse fault hee committed to prison and those who were the chiefest he crucified to the number of two thousand And vnderstanding that in Idumaea there yet remained ten thousand of armed men he presently sent the Arabians home because he perceiued that they did not warre as those that came to helpe him but as they themselues pleased wasting the country against his will and so accompanied with his own armie he hastened against the enemies But they without anie fight through Achiabus counsell yeelded themselues to Varus And he pardoned the common souldiers and sent the Captaines to Caesar to answere the matter Who pardoning the most of them yet punished some that were the kings kinsmen for some of them were a kin to Herod because they altogether rebelled against their king Varus hauing thus quieted the estate of Iudaea and Ierusalem leauing the same legion that was there before departed to Antiochia CHAP. IIII. How the Iewes had an Ethnarcha constituted ouer them NOw Archelaus had a new processe at Rome against the Iewes who before the sedition with the leaue of Varus were gone to Rome to craue the libertie of their countrie These who came as Embassadours in their countries behalfe were fiftie in number and they were assisted by more then eight thousand Iewes that liued at Rome Wherefore Caesar called a Councell of the Nobilitie of Rome in the Temple of Apollo which was situate vpon mount Palatine and ioyned to Caesars priuate pallace which was most sumptuously adorned and the multitude of Iewes appeared with the Legats against Archelaus and his friends Archelaus kinred neither came with him nor with the rest of the Iewes with him they would not ioyne for enuie and with the Iewes they durst not for shame Amongst them also was Philip the brother of Archelaus whom Varus sent in curteous maner to assist his brother or if that it pleased Caesar to deuide Herods kingdom amongst his children that then he might haue a part The aduersaries were comaunded to shew what Herod had committed contratie to the lawes First of all they answered that they found him not a King but the most cruell tyrant that euer was and that he murdered many and those whom he left aliue endured such miserie as they thought themselues far vnhappier then those who were so butchered For said they he was not onely contented to teare his subiects bodies with torments but also defacing and ruinating the elde◅ of his owne countrie he adorned and reedified the cities of strangers and permitted fortainers to massacre the Iewes without reuenge And in steed of their ancient and wonted happinesse and their lawes inuiolated their countrie was by him made so poore and so filled with inquitie that within those few yeares that Herod raigned they had sustained more murders and massacres then all their ancestors had from the time of their departure out of Babylon vntill the beginning of his raigne being then pouoked to take armes when Xerxes was king of Persia. Yet they by enduring such miserie being now accustomed therunto would willingly be subiect to such a successour of his as they knew would make them liue in most bitter seruitude for they when Herod his father was dead presently called Archelaus king notwithstanding he was the sonne of such a tyrant and with him mourned for the death of Herod and offered sacrifice for the prosperitie of his successor But he to shew himselfe Herods son began his reigne with the slaughter of three thousand citizens and because he had so well deserued the kingdome he offered so many men to God for sacrifice and on a festiuall day filled
torments which if they continue in wickednes they shall endure This is the Esseans Philosophie touching the immortalitie of the soule wherein they propose an ineuitable allurement to those who haue once tasted of their Philosophie There are also some amongst them who promise to foretell things to come who from their tender age haue studied and followed holy bookes diuers purifications and sayings of the Prophets and their diuination seldome faileth There is another colledge of these Esseans agreeing with the former both in apparrell meat and kind of life and obserue the same lawes and ordinances onely they differ in the opinion of marriage affirming that they who abstaine from mariage do cut off the greatest part of mans life to wit succession of mankind For say they if all men should follow that opinion presently all mankind would perish yet notwithstanding these people are so continent that for three yeeres space they maketrial of the women they are to marry and when they haue proued them fit to beare children then they marrie them None of them must lie with their wiues when they are with child to shew that they do not marry to satisfie lust but for to haue children When their wiues wash themselues they are couered with a garment as the men are and this is the manner and custome of this sect Of the two former sects the Pharisees are said to be most skilfull in interpreting the law and are of opinion that all things are to be attributed to God and Fate and that euerie man may of his owne power doe good or ill yet say they destinie helpeth in euery action â—…d that the soules of men are all incorruptible but onely the soules of good men goe into other bodies and the soules of wicked men are sent into euerlasting paine But the Sadduces denie Fate and Destinie and affirme that God is the author of no euil auowing likewise that a man hath free will to doe well or ill and euerie man may chuse whether he will be good or bad and they generally denie both paines and rewards for the soules after this life The Pharisees are sociable and louing one to another but the Sadduces are at discord among themselues liuing like sauage beasts and as vncourteous to their owne sect as to straungers This is all which I haue to speake concerning the Philosophers amongst the Iewes Now I will returne to my purpose CHAP. VIII Of the cities which Philip and Herode builded and of Pilates gouernment ARchelaus his Ethnarchie being now made a prouince the rest of his brethren to wit Philip and Herode who was surnamed Antipas gouerned their Tetrarchies And Salome dying left vnto Iulia by her testament the Toparchie which she ruled as also Iamnia a ground set with palme trees in Phasaelis When Tiberius Caesar after the death of Augustus was made Emperour of Rome after that he had raigned seuen and fiftie yeeres sixe moneths and two daies Herode and Philip remaining in their Tetrarchies Philip builded a citie neere vnto the head of Iordan in the countrey of Paneade and called it Caesarea and another he built in the lower part of Gaulanitis and named it Iulias Herode in Galilee built the Citie called Tiberias and another in Peraea on this side Iordan which also he named Iulias Pilate being sent by Tiberius to be gouernour ouer the Iewes caused in the night time the statua of Caesar to be brought into Ierusalem couered which thing within three daies after caused a great tumult among the Iewes for they who beheld it were astonished and moued as though now the law of their countrey were prophaned for they hold it not lawfull for any picture or Image to be brought into the citie At their lamentation who were in the citie there was gathered togither a great multitude out of the fields adioyning and they went presently to Pilate then at Caesarea beseeching him earnestly that the Images might be taken away out of Ierusalem and that the law of their countrey might remaine inuiolated When Pilate denied their suit they prostrated themselues before his house and there remained lying vpon their faces for fiue daies and nights neuer mouing Afterward Pilate sitting in his tribunall seat was verie carefull to call all the Iewes togither before him as though there he would haue giuen them an answere when vpon the sodain a company of armed souldiers for so it was prouided compassed the Iewes about with a triple ranke the Iewes were here at amazed seeing that which they expected not Then Pilate told them that except they would receiue the Images of Caesar he would kill them all and to that end made a signe vnto the souldiers to draw their swords The Iewes as though they had agreed thereto fell all downe at once and offered their naked neckes to the stroke of the sword crying out that they would rather lose their liues then suffer their religion to be prophaned Then Pilate admiring the constancy of the people in their religion presently commaunded the statuaes to be taken out of the citie of Ierusalem After this he caused another tumult amongst them for they haue a sacred treasure called Corban which Pilate vsed to bring water in vnto the Citie foure hundreth furlongs off for this cause the people murmured so that when Pilate came to Ierusalem they flocked about his tribunall crying and exclaiming Pilate fore seeing that tumult caused souldiers secretly armed to mingle themselues amongst the people in priuate apparrell and commanded them not to vse their swords but to beat those with clubs whom they saw make such clamours And when he had thus plotted the matter sitting in his Tribunall he gaue a signe vnto the souldiers and presently the Iewes were beaten and many of them partly with blowes and partly troden vpon by the multitude died miserably The multitude amazed aâ—… the calamitie of those that were slaine held their tongues For this cause Agrippa sonne to Herod the Tetrarch whose father Aristobulus Herode the King put to death went to Rome and accused him to Caesar. Tyberius not admitting his accusation he remained still at Rome and sought the fauour of other potentates there and especially he reuerenced Caius the sonne of Germanicus he being yet a priuate person vpon a certaine day being with him at a banquet he stretcht forth his hands openly began to beseech Almightie God that Tyberius Caesar might quickly die that he might see him Lord of all the world Tyberius hauing notice here of by one of his familiar friends caused Agrippa to be imprisoned where he endured a hard and streight imprisonment vntill the death of Tyberius which was six moneths after After he was dead hauing raigned 22. yeares sixe moneths and three dayes Caius Caesar who succeeded him in the Empire freed him from prison and gaue him the Tetrarchie of Philip who was now deceased and the title of a king When Agrippa came into his
and especially the engines that the tenth legion had to cast darts and others that cast stones which did not onely repulse them by whom they were assaulted but also those that stood vpon the wal for euerie stone was a talent weight and were shot more then a furlong and slew not onely those that they did first strike but also many that were stroken with the rebound But the Iewes alwaies espied the stones before they came for they were white and so auoyded them and they were not onely descried by the noyse they made in flying but they might easily bee perceiued and by this meanes the watchmen in the tovvers gaue vvarning alvvayes vvhen these engines vvere shot off and vvhen the stones came crying in their Countrie language The sonne commeth so the Ievves vpon the vvals knovving vvhat they meant auoyded the stones so receiued no harme Then the Romans deuised to blacke the stones vvith inke and so they could not be seene as they flevv but at one stroke slevv many But the Ievves vvere not herevvith so terrified that they permitted the Romans peaceably to build the mount but night and day they hindered them vvith stratagemes and valour Novv vvhen the Romans had finished their vvorke the Carpenters measured the space betweene the mounts the vvals with a plummet fastned vnto a line which they cast from one place vnto another for they could not measure it otherwise because of the darts cast from the wals and finding that they had Rams long enough they set them vp and Titus commaunded the wall to bee battered in three places to the end that the batterie might not bee hindred The noyse that these rams did make was heard round about the Citie and the Citizens cried mainely out and the seditious persons were also sore afraid And seeing themselues all in like danger they now determined to ioyne all together in resisting the Romans and the seditious cried one vnto another saying that they rather assisted the enemies then resisted them and therefore exhorted one another at least for that time to become friends if not for euer onely to resist the Romans And Simon sent a crier vnto the Temple licensing all such as would to come vnto the wals which also Iohn did permit notwithstanding he mistrusted Simon so they forgetting their old quarrell ioyned al together and resisted the Romans and guarding the wals round they cast much fire vpon the engines of the Romanes and against those that did rule them and threw darts against thē without intermission the boldest amongst thē in great companies lept downe and destroyed that wherewith the engines were couered and assaulted those that stood to defend them and so did the Romans much harme by reason of their desperate boldnes more then by their skill Titus was still at hand to succour them that stood in need and placing horsemen and Archers about the engines he repulsed the Iewes who came to cast fire and repressed them that cast darts and shot arrowes from the towers and so gaue the rams time and opportunitie to beate the wals Yet for all this the wall was not shaken with the rams saue onely that the ramme of the fift legion did shake the corner of a tower but yet the wall stood firme and was not harmed by the shaking of the tower for it was farre higher then the w◅ll and so could not draw downe any part of the wall as it fell So soone as they had a while ceased from excursions they perceiued that all the Romans were busied in one labour or other and so dispersed all ouer the campe thinking that the Iewes for feare durst come no more The Iewes all secretly issued out of the gate by the tower Hippicos and cast fire vpon the works and couragiously made incursion vpon the Romans euen vnto the tampire of their campe The Romans seeing what danger might ensue presently assembled themselues both they that were neere and those that were farre off The discipline of the Romans ouercame the furie of the Iewes and putting those to flight that first met them they assaulted those that opposed themselues against them afterward So there began a grieuous battell about the engines the Iewes striuing to fire them and the Romans fighting to hinder them and a doubtfull crie was raised on both parts and many in the forefront were sla◅e on both sides But the Iewes audacitie got them the vpper hand and their fire did somthing touch the engines and all had beene consumed quite with fire had not the chosen souldiers that came from Alexandria hindred it who for the opinion that they had of themselues did fight stoutly for they were accounted to haue beene the most valiant of all in this battell till such time as the Emperour with certaine selected horsemen came and set violently vpon the enemies and he himselfe slew twelue men that did resist him for whose deaths the rest fearing fled and were forced to retyre themselues into the Citie and so saued the engines from being fired It chanced that one of the Iewes was in this fight taken aliue and Titus commaunded that he should be crucified before the wall that perhaps the rest being herewithall terrified might yeeld After Caesar was retired Iohn the Captaine of the Idumaeans talking vpon the wall with one of his friendes being strucken in the brest with an arrow by an Arabian souldier presently died which caused great lamentation among the Iewes and sorrow amongst the seditious for he was valiant of his hands and verie wise and of good aduise CHAP. VIII Of the fall of the tower and how the two wals were taken THe night following there was a great tumult amongst the Romans For Titus the Emperour had commaunded to bee builded three towers fiftie cubits high a peece each one vpon a seuerall mount that from thence hee might the more easily beate the enemies from off the wals but one of these towers in the middest of the night fell downe without any assault And making a great noyse with the fall feare fell vpon the whole armie who suspecting that it came to passe by some stratageme wrought by the Iewes euerie one ranne and armed himselfe and so there was a great tumult in the armie and for that no man could tell what the matter was a longtime they stoode as it were all amazed euerie one asking his fellow what had happened and seeing no enemies come they began to feare some treason amongst themselues and so were in a great feare they knew not wherefore till such time as Titus vnderstanding the matter caused the truth thereof to be presently proclaimed throughout the campe and so the tumult although with much ado was appeased The Iewes valiantly bearing and enduring all other dangers were sore troubled by reason of these towers vvhich Titus had erected for they were slaine and vvounded from thence with smal engine shot darts arrowes neither could they build themselues any so
by famine and the Romans hauing so much laboured at the lower vvals did now by fortune take these which their engines could neuer haue shaken for there vvere thre inexpugnable towers that could not be battered vvith the engines vvhereof before vve haue made mention So the tyrants hauing forsaken these or rather being by Gods vvill driuen from hence presently they fled vnto the valley Siloa after the feare was past they againe tooke heart and vvent vnto the wall that was in that place yet not vsing such courage and violence as their need required they were beaten by the watchmen that guarded it their strength now failing vvearied with labour feare famine and calamitie And some was driuen one way and some another so were forced to hide themselues in vaults and sinks The Romans hauing obtained the wal placed their colours in the towers and clapping their hands and singing for ioy they cried victorie finding the end of the warre nothing so terrible as the beginning Yet did they not beleeue that vvas the end because they got the vvall without any bloudshed but admired seeing no man did offer to resist them And now issuing into euerie street they slew whom soeuer they found without any respect and fired houses and all the people that had fled into them and destroying many whereas they entred 〈◊〉 to get a pray and they found whole families dead and houses full of dead bodies consumed by famine Thus terrified with that heauie sight they departed out not taking any thing away yet for all that they pitied not them that were left aliue but slew whom soeuer they met whereby they filled the narrow streets so ful of dead bodies by them slaine that none could passe that way for them all the whole citie flowed with bloud so that many things set on fire were quenched with the bloud of them that were slaine At euening they ceased from killing but all the night long the fire increased and so in the morning which was the eight day of September all was now on fire the citie in the time of the siege hauing endured more miserie and calamitie then euer it receiued ioy and happinesse from the time of the first foundation notwithstanding that they were so great that all cities might iustly enioy it and it no wise deserued so to be oppressed with such miserie saue onely for that it fostered and bred such impious persons as wrought the ouerthrow thereof Titus entring into the Citie amongst the rest admired the strong holds thereof and the rockie towers which the tyrants like madde men depriued themselues of seeing the height firmenes bignesse and the ioyning of the stones togither and their breadth and hight he said surely God hath assisted vs in the fight and he it was that did withdraw the Iewes from these fortresses For what could mens hands and engines preuaile against them And hauing spoken much to this effect communing with his friends he set them at libertie whom the tyraÌ„ts had left bound in the castles when he destroied the rest of the citie wals he left those towers standing as a monument of his good fortune and victorie by the which he had gained them though vnexpugnable The souldiers now being wearie with killing the miserable Iewes and yet a great multitude remaining aliue Caesar commaunded that onely the armed Iewes and they that resisted should be slaine and the rest left aliue But the souldiers also killed olde folkes and weake persons 〈◊〉 king all able men and lusty they caried them into the temple and shut them there in the place appointed for the women Caesar left one Fronto a libertine and his friend to keepe them giuing him also charge to make inquirie who had deserued punishment whollew all the thâ—… and seditious one of them bewraying another and reserued certaine chosen young men of 〈◊〉 stature and beautiful withall for the triumph and all the rest that were aboue sâ—…uenteen yeeres olde he sent bound into Aegypt to be imployed in certaine workes there as digging dâ—…ng 〈◊〉 manuring the fields and to be vsed in other publike busines Titus also sent many of â—…em vnto diuers prouinces to be slaine in the theaters with beasts or swords and they that were vnder seuenteene yeeres of age were sold. And during the time that Fronto kept them ten thousand died for hunger partly for that their keepers hating them would not giue them any meat parâ—…y for that som refused meat when it was offered them For there was now scarcitie of come by reason of the great multitude of the people CHAP. XVII Of the number of the captiues and them that were slaine THe number of all the captiues that were taken during the whole time of warre was foure score and seuenteene thousand the number of all that died and were slaine during the siege was eleuen hundreth thousand the most of them being Iewes by natioÌ„ but not inhabitants of that place For being assembled togither from all parts to the feast of vnleauened bread presently on a sodaine were enuironed with war and first of al a plague amongst them by reason of the streightnesse of the place and immediately after famine worse then it And that the Citie was capable of so many men it is euident for that Cestius before numbred them who desirous to signifie the flourishing estate and strength of Ierusalem vnto Nero who contemned our nation requested the high priests that if possibly they could they should number all the people in their Citie and that vpon the feast of Easter when they killed offerings from the ninth houre of the day vntill the eleuenth to eate a lambe not fewer then ten persons were assembled for it is not lawfull for any to feast alone yea many times twentie are in a companie they numbred two hundreth fiftie six thousand fiue hundreth oblations or lambs to be killed so that if we reckon to euery lambe ten men the number amounteth vnto seuen and twentie hundreth thousand men all purified whole sound For it was not lawful for any that were leapers or had a fluxe of seed nor women that had the monthly tearmes to eat of that sacrifice nor for any stranger except he came thither for religion sake And this multitude was assembled togither from other places was there by the prouidence of God shut vp as it were in a prison And the city being filled with men of warre was besieged that the number of them that were slaine passed all that euer perished either by any plague sent from God or by the means of men who were partly openly slaine partly taken by the Romans who searching the vaults opening the sepulchers spared none they met with all There also were found more then two thousand whereof some slew themselues with their own hands other some killed by others the rest perished with famine The stinch of dead bodies vvas so great that many
prohibited the Aegyptians from hauing the priuiledges of any Citie and so this gallant gentleman being himselfe incapable of dignitie endeuoreth likewise to hinder them from it who haue true right vnto it For Alexander labouring with all diligence to build that Citie did not make choice of vs for want of people to furnish the same withall but for that he bestowed the libertie thereof vpon vs as a reward and testimonie of our vertue and fidelitie endeuouring indeed to honour and credit our nation thereby for Hecataeus reporteth that Alexander for the Iewes good seruice and fidelitie bestowed vpon them the countrey of Samaria and freed them from paying tribute for it The same good affection towards the Iewes of Alexandria Ptolomaeus Lagus continued after him for he deliuered into their hands the strong holds of Aegypt for that he iudged that their valour and fidelitie would keepe them and intending to make himselfe Lord of Cyren and other places in Lybia he sent certaine Iewes to inhabite the same After him Ptolomaeus Philadelphus did not onely release and set free all captiues of our nation in his countrey but also did many times remit their paiments of money and which was the principall point of all he desired to be instructed in our lawes and holy scriptures for this cause sent vnto vs requesting that we would send him some learned men to interpret them vnto him and that this might be performed with more diligence he committed the care hereof not to any but Demetrius Phalerius Andreas Aristeus Demetrius being the onely mirror of learning in his age the other two being Esquires of his own body neither would he haue euer desired to haue bin instructed in our lawes and customes if he had despised vs had not rather admired vs. But Apion know that almost all the Macedonian kings his successors in order did peculiarly affect our nation For Ptolomaeus the third which was also called Euergetes cōquering Syria by force did no sacrifice vnto the gods of Egypt for his victory but came to Ierusalē there after our maner sacrificed many hosts vnto our God to him dedicated gifts worthy of such a victory Ptolomaeus also surnamed Philometor his wife Cleopatra cōmitted the rule of his whole kingdom vnto the Iews Onias Dositheus both Iews were generals of his army whose credit Apion detractes wheras he rather ought to haue admired them haue thanked them for deliuering Alexandria whereof he maketh himselfe a citizen For when there was a rebellion in Cleopatras kingdome and all was in perill to be destroyed these two men deliuered Alexandria from ciuill warres But Apion saith that after this Onias came and brought a little armie into the citie at such time as Thermus the Roman Embassadour was there present True it is and that fact of his was most iust For Ptolomaeus Physcon after the death of his father Ptolomaeus Philometor comming out of Cyrene endeuored to expell the Queene Cleopatra and the kings sonnes to the ende that he contrary to all iustice might possesse the kingdome and this was the cause why Onias tooke armes against him in Cleopatras behalfe not forsaking his fidelitie vnto kinges in the time of necessitie yet God himselfe did manifestly witnesse his iustice in this actiom For when Ptolomaeus Physcon presumed to fight against Onias his armie and tooke all the Iewes their wiues and childrenthat were in the Citie and bound them and stripping them naked cast them before Elephants to be destroyed and to the intent that the Elephants might the rather treade vpon them made the said beasts dronken all things fell out contrarie to his expectation for the Elephants forsaking the Iewes which were cast before them did fall vpon Ptolomaeus his friends that stood by and slew many of them which done there appeared vnto Ptolomaeus a most horrible vision forbidding him to harme the Iewes and his chiefest best beloued concubine also whom some cal Ithaca other Herene came vnto him besought him to abstaine from such impietie wherrupon he being sorie did penance for that he had alreadie committed and that which he thought to commit so that the Iewes of Alexandria celebrate this day in remembrance that vpon it God did manifestly deliuer them yet Apion who speaketh well of no man accuseth the lewes of impietie for bearing armes against Physcon whereas indeed he ought rather to haue commended them for it But Apion extolleth Cleopatra the last Queene of Alexandria onely for that she was vniust and ingratefull vnto vs when he rather ought to haue reproued her in whom all impietie and wickednes raigned both concerning her owne kinred and her husbands who loued her and also generally against all the Romans and the Emperours his bene factors who killed her owne sister Arsinoe in the temple who had not any wife offended her shealso trecherously slew her owne brother and destroyed her auncestors Gods and sepulchers and receiuing the kingdome from the first Caesars gift she ingratefully rebelled against his son and successor and infecting Antonie with her poisoned drinks and amorous enchauntments she made him rebell against his countrey and to be vnconstant to his own friends depriuing some of kingly dignitie and compelling others to be instruments of her impietie And what else shall we say of her who in the battaile by sea sorced Antonius her owne husband who also had many children by her to yeeld himselfe the Empire and armie vnto her and become one of her followers Lastly when Alexandria was taken by Caesar she was so cruelly minded that not remembring her owne estate she accounted this her safetie if with her owne hand she might kill the Iewes that she might be cruell and trothlesse to euery bodie Is it not a glorie thinke you to vs that as Apion reporteth in the time of dearth and famine wheat was so plentiful in Iury that it was not solde by measure But Cleopatra was punished as she deserued And we call great Caesar himselfe to witnesse of our fidelitie and the seruice we did him against the Aegyptians the Senate also and their decrees and the writings of Augustus Caesar wherein our deserts are testified These letters Apion ought to haue read and to haue examined all testimonies of vs which were left first by Alexander and then by all the Ptolomees and what the Senate of Rome decreed and the mightie Emperours And if so be Germanicus could not get corne to suffice all the inhabitants of Alexandria that was a token of scarcitie and dearth and not the Iewes fault For what all Emperours thought of the Alexandrian Iewes it is manifest enough for the Iewes want of corne was not onely left vnsupplied but also the want of other Alexandrians But they haue alwaies kept that wherewith the auncient Princes did put them in trust to wit the keeping of the riuer and whole countey as not being thought vnfit for their
the people 165. f. of Artaxerxes 277. a b. of Ptolemey 294. g. of Archelaus 451. c. of Herode 469. c. Barak appointed generall 115. b. putteth Sisara to flight ibid. c d. flew Iabin and gouerned Israel fortie yeeres 115. e. f. Bareas one of the fiue kings of Assyria 13. c. Baruch Ieremies secretarie 252. c. dismissed 256. h. Barzapharnes seased vpon Syria 575. a. instateth Antigonus ibidem Barzillais excuse to Dauid 180. l. Battaile between Iosuah the Chananites 105. b. betweene the Beniamites and Israelites 111. e. betweene Saul and the Philistinâ—…s 157. e f. betweene Ioab and Absalom 177. f. Battell of Herod 390. i k. Battell betweene the Romans and Iewes 455. e f. Batterie of Iotapata 653. c d e. of Ierusalem 709. b. 710. g. Bathes 752. l. Bathes of Calliroes 449. 605. e. Bathuel sonne of Nathor 12. g. fâ—…ther â—…f Rebecca and Laban ibid. g. Beame of gold 358. h. Bearing of armes inhibited 136. i. Beasts venemous a plague of Egypt 48. 〈◊〉 Beautie of superiour bodies 6. h. Beautie of bodie not to be respected 141. b. Beautie of Saâ—… 13. 〈◊〉 of Rachel 23. b. of Ioseph 31. a. of Dauid and his brethren 141. a b c. of Bethsabe 169. d. Bâ—…d of Iron 83. c. Beginning of the warre of the Iewes 624. h. Behauiour of Rachel toward Iacob 23. b. Bellies of the Iewes ripped for gold 723 d. Beneficence of Xerxes 272. l. m. Benefits of God recited 54. i. k. l. Benefits of Herode 588. i. k. l. Beniaâ—…in Iacobs sonne by Rachel 27. e goeth into Egypt 3â—… g. what hapned to him there 36. m. attached and imprisoned 37. a b. Beniamites expert in shooting 111. e. ouerthrew the other tribes twice ibid. d. e. 25. thousand slaine and why 112. g. onely sixe hundreth escape ibid. g. take them wiues by force ibid. l. m. Berenice her request to Florus 625. e. Berosus a Chaldaean writer 771. d. Berosus 12. k. his testimonie of Abraham ibid. of Senacherib 246. k. of Nabuchodonosor 260. i. Bersabe the pit of swearing 16. b. Beseleel a workemaster of the Tabernacle 60. l. 66. i. Bethel what it signifies 23. a. Bethsabe defiled by Dauid 169. d. bare him a sonne 170. l. brought forth Salomon 171. e. certifieth Dauid of Adonias c. 186. k. Birth-day of Vespasian celebrated 744. a. of Pâ—…rao 33. b. Birthright of Esau sold 28. 〈◊〉 Birth of Moseâ—… 42 k. l. Birth of Sampson 121. c. Bâ—…nesse of thâ—… watâ—…rs 53. d e. chaunged ibid. 〈◊〉 Bâ—…phemie againsâ—… God 90. l. Blasphemer of God to be stoned ibid. l. Blaspheming of Goliah 142. h i k. Blessings of God vpon the Israelites 54. h i k. Blessing of Isaac on Iacob 22. g. h. of Iacob on his sons 40 l. m. Blessing of Moses to the Israelâ—…es 97. f. Blindnes of the eneâ—… and how 226. h. 227. d. Blindnes of the Iewes 7â—…2 h. 738. i. Bloud royall destroied 223. f. Bodies celestiall their beautie and order 6. h. Bodie of Iacob translated into Hebron 40. m. of â—…is sonnes brought thither also 41. a. Bodies of Saul and his sonnes hung vp 158. i. Boldnesse of the Iewes 711. c. Bondage of the Israelites see seruitude Bones of Ioseph translated 41. b. 50. g. Booke of Moses lawes 90. h. when to be read 96. b. holy book 98. a. found and read 249. a b. Bookes of holy writ how many 766. m. Booke of Ieremie 251. c. burnt ibid. d. Boos friend to Naomie and Ruth 124. h. exhorts his kinsman to marrie Ruth ibid. m. espouseth Ruth 125. a. begetteth Obed ibid. a. Bootie of Oxen and Camels 154. i. of sheepe c. 686. m. Borders of Galilee 646. k. l. of Iudaea 647. b. of the possession of the nine tribes and an halfe 106. h. c. Borrowed things must be repaied 95. c d. Botches a plague of Aegypt 48. m. Bounds of land not to be remooued 92. i. Bounds of the nine tribes and halfes possessions 106. h c. Bounds of Aegypt 694. i. Boules or ewers 197. b. Bountie requited 203. c. Bountie of Ezechias 243. a b. Bountie of Alexander to the Iewes 286. i. Bountie of Herod to all men 588. i k l. of Caesar to Archelaus 609. f. of Titus 714. h. Brazen Altar 197. a. vessels pertaining to the same 197 a. Brazen gate of the temple openeth of it selfe 738. k. Breach of Gods law losse of his fauour 690. i k. Breach of oath 245. b c. 358. h. of faith 352. h. Breadth of the Arke of Noah 6. l m. Bread of proposition or shew bread 70. g. Brethren Cain and Abel 5. a. Brethren of Ioseph hate him and complot his death 28. l. 29. f e. sell him ibid c. and 30. h i. perswade their father that he was deuoured of beasts ibid l. repent of the euill they did to Ioseph 35. c. returne out of Aegypt ibid. d. go thither againe 36. g h. staied in their iourney and accused of theft ibid. k l. died 41. a. 7. Brethren tormented put to death 806. g. 807. b. 808. g c. Briberie of Elies sonnes 12â—… b. of Antonius 381. d. of Ventidius 374. m. 578. h. of Silo ibid. 578. l. of Antipater 597. e. f. Brothers of Abraham 11. f. of Ioseph 28. k. of Antipater 591. d. see brethren Brothers bewaile their mother 592. k. excuse themselues ibid. k. l. Broile at Caesareâ—… 5â—…3 a. at Ierusalem 610. h. Bâ—…ilding of the temple 195. c. inhibited 266. i. permitted 268. m. 269. a. Bulwarkes builded by the Romans 719. d. Buriall of Sara 19. a. of Abraham 20. l. of Isaac 27. d. of Iacob 40. m. of Samuel 151. f. of Iadon 208. i. of Herod 45 â—…Word d c. Burning of the temple 255. c. 463. b. 736. h. Burthen required to be eased 206. g. Bush of fire about Moses 46. g. Bushell of corne sold for a talent 724. k. Businesse of Moses 57. f. Butlers dreame expoâ—…ded 32. l. Buâ—…cherie of the theeues 522. i k. C Caecinna perswadeth the souldiers to reuolt 695. e f. apprehended 696. g. freâ—…d and honoured ibid. h. Caerealis conquereth the Samaritans 657. b c. Caeâ—… confirmeth Hyrcanus in the priesthood 360. h. departeth out of Syria 361. d. his testimonie of the Iewes 363. e. slaine 572. l. 366. h. deliuereth Aristobulus 570. g. Caesar slaieth Cassius 368. k. Herods friend 374. i. ouercommeth Antonius 393. 〈◊〉 confirmeth Herod in the kingdome 396. h. giueth him 800. talents ibid. k. Lord of Aegypt 397. e. enlargeth Herods dominions ibid. 406. h. 407. d. 586. i k. made Pheroras Teâ—…arch 407. d. gaue Herod reâ—…nues 420. g. offended with Herod 430. g. alloweth Herod to punish malefactors 433. d. maketh Archelaus king 455. a. confirmeth Herods â—…estament 459. d. â—…als a councell 609. b. makes Archelaus an Ethnarke 613. a. Caesarea built by Herod 405. c d. was called Stratons tower 588. g. a great Citie 661. i. Cain Adams first sonne 5. a. slew his brother ibid. b. nor bettered by Gods chastisement ibid. d. builded a Citie 5.
against Hircanus with a great army and is disswaded from war by his father Antipater and his brother Phasaeluâ—… Hedio Ruffinus chap. 19. Hircanus embassadours to Caesar. The Iewes much honoured by the kings of Europe Asia Iulius Caesar testified in a braien pillar that the Iewes were free citizens of Alexandria Iulius Caesars decree as touching the honors immunities and priuiledges granted to thâ—… Iewes The yeare of the world 3922. before Christs birth 42. The yeare of the world 3922. before the Naâ—…itie of Christ. 42. M. Antonius and P. Dolobella bring Hircanus embassadors into the Senate Dolobeâ—… letters â—…o thâ—… Ephesians Lucius Lucullus in the French Lentulus in the Latine being Consul maketh an edict in behalfe of the Iewes Iosephus conclusion concerning these edicts The yeere of the world 3922. before Christs Natiuitie 42. Caecilius Bassuâ—… murthereth Sextus Caesar. Marcus succeedeth Sextus in Syria Caesar slaine by Cassius and Brutus Hedio Ruffinus chap. 20 Cassius commeth into Syria and exacteth more theÌ„ 700. talents of siluer from the Iewes Herode winneth Cassius heart by the money he leuieth in Galilee The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41. Malichus layeth in wait to muâ—…er Antipater but forsweareth the same and is reconciled Cassius and Marcus make Herode gouernour of Coelesyria The yeare of the world 3923. before Christs birth 41 Malichus causeth Antipater to be poisoned The yeare of the world 3924. before the birth of Christ. 40. The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs Natiuitie 40. Faelix assaileth Phasaelus in Ierusalem and is ouercome by him Ptolomey MeÌ„naeus adopteth Antigonus Aristobulus son Herode expelleth Antigonus out of Iurie Herode marrieth Maâ—…aÌ„me Hircanus neece by his daughter Doris Herods wife The iudge corrupted with money Hircanus embassadours present Antonius with a crowne of gold require the captiue Iewes liberty sold by Cassius Antonius writeth to Hircanus as touching Brutus and Cassius actions and deathes The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Marcus Antonius writeth to the magistrates of Tyre to restore Hircanus and the Iewes their lands goods and liberty The yeare of the world 3924. before Christs birth 40. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 21. Cleopatra coÌ„meth into Cilicia to Antonius Herode accused by one hundreth Iews before Antonius Antonius maketh Phasaclus and Herode Tetrarches A thousand Iewes repaire to Tyre to accuse Herode who are partly slaine partly wounded and partly put to flight The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. Antigonus promiseth the Parthians a great summe of money to install him in the kingdome Pacorus sendeth horsemen to Antigonus in Iudaea The Iewes inhabiting about mount Carmel ioyne themselues with Antigonus The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Penticost Herode fighteth with his enemies in the suburbes Pacorus chieftaine of the Parthians entering the citie perswadeth Phasaelus to go embassador to Barzapharnes The Parthians complot trecheries against Phasaelus Hircanus and Phasaelus surprised by the Parthians The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs Natiuitie 39. The Parthians lay a plot to surprise Herod 〈◊〉 discouereth iâ—… and preuenteth them by flight Herode comforteth his friends in their flight Herode seeing his mothers chariot ouerturned is ready to murther himselfe Herode retiring toward Massada is assailed by the Parthians The Parthians spoile the citizens of Ierusalem and destroy Marissa The yearâ—… of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Antigonus restored to the kingdome by the Parthians cuâ—…th off Hircanus cares to preuent his reinstalment in the Priesthood Phasaelus dash eth out his owne braines Antigonus putteth poison into Phasaelus wounds in steed of curing him Herode flieth to Malchus king of Arabia to borow mony Herode is comanded out of Arabia and flieth into Egypts from thence after some stormes he repaireth to Rome where he certifieth Antonius of thatwhich had befallen him The yeare of the world 3925. before Christs birth 39. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 23. al. 25. Antonius loued Herode and hated Antigonus Caesar Augustus Herodes friend Herode admitted into the Senate and declared king Herode intending the kingdome for his wiues brother enioyeth the same himselfe Herode ascendeth the Capitol with Antonius Caesar. Herodes family besieged by Antigonus in Massada Ventidius vnder pretext to helpe Ioseph fisheth to get money of Antigonus The yeare of the world 3926. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 38. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 2â—… al. 16. Herode returning backe out of Italy leadeth forth his army against Antigonus Herode assaulteth Ioppe and taketh it Many submit themselues to Herode Ressa taken Massada deliuered from the siege after which Herode marcheth towards Ierusalem Herode proclaimeth about the wals of Ierusalem that he repaired thither for the good of the people the common-weale Antigonus vpbraideth Herode that he is but halfe a Iewe and of no kingly race The enemie repulseth Herodes power from the wall The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Silon suâ—…orneth some of his soldiers to take an occasion to depart from IerusaleÌ„ Herode procured and furnished the army with victuals and 〈◊〉 â—…ion Antigonus sendeth out soldiers to surprise Herodes victualers The Romans sent to their garrisons to winter Robbers Herode fighteth with his enemies in Galilee and ouercommeth them and bringeth all Galilee vnder his subiection Antigonus refuseth to victuall the Roman army Ventidius sendeth for Silon to war against the Parthians The yeare of the world 3927. before Christs birth 37. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 25. Herode leadeth his soldiers against those theeues that held the caues Herode letteth downe his soldiers from the top of the mountaine in cofers A certaine old man killeth his wife and seuen of his sons and at last casteth himselfe headlong from the rocke Herode retireth toward Samaria to fight with Antigonus Herodo punisheth the rebels in Galilee Ventidius ouercommeth Pacorus and the Parthians in battell Machaeras killeth many Iewes Herode resoluing to depart to Antonius and to accuse Machaeras is reconciled by him and leaueth his brother Ioseph with an armiâ—… behind him The yeere of the world 3927. before Christs Natiuitie 37. Herode repaireth to Antonius at the siege of Samosata in the way killeth many Barbarians Herode was honourably entertained by Antonius and his host The yeare of the world 3928. before the birth of Christ. â—…6 Sosius hath the army committed to his charge by Antonius who departeth into Egypt Ioseph Herods brother is slain by Antigonus The Galileans reuolt from Herode Machaeras fortifieth Geth Herode departeth from Daphne a suburbe of Antioch into Galilee Herode fighteth with the Galileans ouercommeth them and driueth them into a castle The yeare of the world 3928. before Christs birth 36. The house wherein Herod soleÌ„nized his feast fell downe when the guests were gone without any mans detriment Herode wounded by his enemies Antigonus sendeth Pappus to Samaria Fight in the
suspition and he exhorreth the father to be reconciled to his children Herode is reconciled to his children Antipater friendly dotâ—… congratulate his brethreÌ„ returned into his fathers fauour Herode ditâ—… giue Caesar â—…00 taleâ—… The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Caesar gaue Herode halfe his reuennes out of the mines of Cyprus The rebels are conquered The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs natiuitie 7. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 5. al. 10. Caesrea is finished Oâ—…nale â—…men Caesar and Agrippa commend Herods magnanimity Aâ—…ipartis is built Cypron is built The tower and towne of Phasaelus is built The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Herode built the temple of Pythius The sports of Olympus Why Herode was liberall to strangers and cruell to his owne nation Herod greedie of honour Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. The Iewes of Asia and Cyrenc being afflicted by the inhabitaÌ„ts there send an embassage to Caesar and do obtain of him immunitie The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Agrippa writ vnto the rulers of Ephesus in the Iewes behalfe and to Syllanus and the magistrats of Cyrena Caius Norbanus Flaccus writeth in the Iewes behalfe Iulius Antonius procoÌ„full The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 7. al. 7. 12. The desire of gold Herode lost two of his men in Dauids sepulchre Nicholaus the histotiographer reproued Ioseph came of the priestly line of the Asamoncens A discord in Herods house Antipaters crafty plotting against his brethren The women ax discord and variance Pheroras refused the kings daughter offered him tâ—… wife The yeere of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Salome entised 〈◊〉 daughter to bewray her husbands seâ—…ts Herode greatly moued against Pheroras for aâ—…firming that he was a in loue with Glaphyra The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birâ—… 7. Salome excuseth her selfe The effect of calumniation Syllaeus the Arabian desiring Salome to wife was denied Herod maried his daughter to Pheroras son The sons hatred towards their father is bewraied The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs Natiuitie 7. Herode crediteth all tales and so putteth many to death vniustly Hedio Ruffinus chap. 8. Herode denieth to be familiar with Andromachus and Gemellus Antipater the cause of all mischiefe Many were tortured and examined for Alexanders cause The yeare of the world 3957. before the Natiuitie of Christ. 7. Alexander being in prison his frieÌ„ds were tortured One accused Alexander to haue sent letters to Rome against his father Alexander confesseth the treason and who had a hand in it Herode was so troubled with the contention in his house that he was wearie of his life Hedio Ruffinus chap. 9. al. 13. Archelaus the king of Cappadocia seineth displeasure against Alexander his son in law and so reconciled Herods vnto him The yeare of the world 3957. before Christs birth 7. Archelaus lai cth the fault of Alexanders offence vpon others and especially vpon â—…roas Pheroras confessed himselfe to be author of all mischiefe and obtaineth pardon of his brother Herode accompanied Archelaus vnto Antioch The yeare of the world 3958. before Christs natiuitie 6. The cause of the Arabian warre Caesar gaue Trachonitis to Herode Alias chap. 14. Herodes captaines subdue the rebels in Arabia The theeues taken and punished Alias chap. 15 Herode demaunded the theeues to be deliuered vnto him and the money he had lent to be repared The yeare of the world 3958. before Christs birth 6. Saturninus Volumnius the rulers of Syria do reconcile Herod the ArabiaÌ„s Herode by the permission of Saturninus Volumnius entred into Arabia with an army destroied the castle callep Repra Nacebus with 25. Arabians slaine Herode caried 3000. Idumaeans into Trachon Hedio Ruffinus chap. 10. al. 16. Syllaeus accused Herode vnto Caesar. The Arabians and Trachonites vnderstanding that Caesar was offended with Herode resolce thereat The yeare of the world 3960. before Christs Natiuitie 4. Caesar offended with Herode Obodas dying Aeneassucceeded him in the Arabian kingdome Caesar would not giue audience to the Arabian embassadors Herode sent Nicholaus Damascene to Caesar. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 11. al. 17. Eurycles a Lacedemonian â—…nuateth 〈◊〉 into Herodes familiaritie Eurycles insinuated himselfe into Alexanders friendship Eurycles obseruing all Alexanders words and actions related them to Antipater and Herode Eurycles by craft got mony of Archelaus The yeare of the world 3960. before the Natiuitie of Christ 4â—… Herode doth giue care vnto the accusers of Alexander Aristobulus Iucundus and Tyrannus confesse that Alexander did solicite them to kill Herode as he was a hunting How AlexaÌ„der writ vnto the captaine of AlexandriuÌ„ to receiue him Dyophantus the scribe doth counterfait other mens hands Alexander and Aristobulus arâ—… imprisoned and Aristobulus warneth his mother in law AlexaÌ„der confesseth to Herode that he purposed to fly to Archâ—…laus Mela embassador of Archelauâ—… king of Cappadocia Glaphyra Alexanders wiâ—… is demanded if she knew of any treason against Herode The â—…art of the world 3960. before Christs birth 4â—… Archelaus excuseth himselfe to Herode Caesar and Herode made friends Hedio Ruffinus chap. 12. al. 18. Nicholaus accuseth Syllaeus and excuseth Herode A â—…arration of the Arabian wars the boâ—…owed money The theeues of Trachon The yeare of the world 3960. before Christs birth 4. Syllaeus condemned to dy Caesar was purposed to giue the kingdome of Arabia to Herode was altered by Herodes letters The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 13. Aretas embassadors vnto Caesar. Caesar alloweth Herode to punish malefactors Herode affembleth all that Caesar willed except Archâ—…laus Herode â—…ccuseth his sons The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Naâ—…tie 3. Saturninus doth pronouÌ„ce an indifferent sentence Volumnius other of Herods friends pronounce Herodes sons to be beheaded Herode asked of Nicholaus what his frieÌ„ds at Rome thought of his sonnes Tyro speaketh to Herode and not obseruing modesty he and the captaines were imprisoned The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Tyro is by his son and a barber accused to haue practised treason against the king Tyro with 300 captains are accused before the people and slaine Alexander Aristobulus strangled at Sebaste and buried in Alexandrium The cause of these calamities was destiny and Gods prouidence Wherein Alexander and Aristobulus offended Herod shamefull errour not to be excused The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Hedio Ruffinus chap. 1. Antipater after hee had made away his brothers grew hatefull both to the soldiers and the people Antipater gouerned the kingdom with his father Antipater wish eth his fathers death The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Antipater spared no cost to winne his fathers friends Antipater could not deceiue his aunt Herode compelleth Salome
sithence the beginning of the world being compared with those the Iewes suffered are of no moment The Grecian Historiographers ouerpasse the wars of the Iewes with silence Who may rightly be called a Historiographer Antiochus Epiphanes the first author fountaine of the warres of the Iewes The Epiromâ—… of the warreâ—… of the Iewes The signes and changes after Neroes death Titus besiegeth Ierusalem The manners and sacrifices of the Iewes The humanity of thâ—… Romans towards the Iewes The burning of the temple and the ouerthrow of the citie The Romans triumph ouer the Iewes The cause why he wrote this historie The yeare of the world 3802 before Christs birth 162. Ant. li. 12. ca. 6. Antiochus being stirred vp by 〈◊〉 soâ—… inuadeth Iudaea and surpriseth Ierusalem Ant lib. 15. cap. 4. The yeare of thâ—… world 3802. before the birth of Christ. 162. The high priest Onâ—… flieth to Ptolomey Ant. lib. 1â—… cap. 7. Antiochus altereth the customes of the Iewes Bacchides crâ—…eltie towards the Iewes Ant. lib. 1. cap. 7. 8. Matthias confederated with others maketh warre againâ—… Antiochus Antiochus dieth and leaueth the kingdome to his sonne Antiochus who gathereth a huge power and inuadeth Iurie Ant. lib. 12. cap. 14. 15. Eleazar dieth being slaine bâ—… an Elephant Eleazar preferred honour before life The yeare of the world 3802. before Christs birth 162. Antiochus departing from Ierusalem leaueth sufficient garrison there Ant. lib. 12. cap. 18. ludas fighteth with Atiochuâ—… captains and is slaine Ant. li. 13. c2 1. The yeare of the world 3805. befoer Christs Natiuitie 159. Ionath as taken by Tryphons subtilue is slain Ant. lib. 15. cap. 9. The yeare of the world 3823. before Christs birth 141. Simon encouÌ„treth with Cendebeus ouercommeth him Ant. lib. 13. cap. 14. Simon by the treachery of his son in law Ptolemaeus is taken slaine Iohn otherwise called Hircanus the son of Simon The yeare of the world 3831. before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 133. Hircanus obtaineth the honour of the hie priesthood which his father had Ptolemaeus cruelty against Hircanus mother brethreÌ„ The yeare of thâ—… world 3831. before Christs birth 133. Ptolemaeus murthereth Hircanus mother and brethren The yeâ—… of the world 3839. before Christs birth 125. Antiochus vpon â—…e paimeÌ„t of three hundreth talents raiseth his siege Ant. lib. 13. cap 15. Aristobulus Antigonus besiege Sebaste Sebaste ouerthrowen and spoiled The seditios ouercome in warre Iohn after he had happily gouerned the countrey for 30. yeeres space dieth The yeare of the world 3861. before Christs birth 103. Ant. lib. 13. cap. 19. Aristobulus saÌ„misheth his mother Aristobulus loued Antigonus very deerly The yeare of the world 3861. afâ—… Christs birth 103. Antigonus in honour of his brother ascended vp into the temple Antigonus falsely accused to his brother Aristobulus commandeth his guard that if Antigonus came armed they should kil him The Queenes cunning Stratageme against Antigonus Antigonus suspecteth not his brother Iudas the prophet foretelleth Antigoâ—… death Aristobulus thorow the griefe he conceiued at his brothers death falleth sicke A seruant spilleth bloud in the same place where Antigoâ—…us was slaine The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before the birth of Christ. 102. The eie of God discouereth euery sinne Aristobulus dieth milerably Ant lib. 13. cap 9. Alexander aduanced to the kingdome vâ—…eth much cruelty Alexander is ouerthrowne by Theodore The sedition of the Iewes against Alexander vpon a festiuall day Alexander assaileth the castle of Amathunt and raseth iâ—… Demetrius commeth to helpe y e Iewes Ant. lib. 13. cap. 20. The warre betwixt Demetrius and Alexander wherein Demetrius is conquerer The yeâ—…e of the world 3â—…62 before Christs birth 10â—… The Iewes reuolt from Deâ—…trius Aleâ—…aÌ„ders immoderate wrath who crucified eight hundreth captiues Alexander ceaseth from warre Alexander feareth Antiochus Demetriâ—…s brother The king of the Arabianâ—… inuadeâ—… Antiochus souldieâ—… vnawares The king of Arabia putteth Antiochus forces to flight and killeth a great number of them They of Damasco and Aâ—…ctas against Alexander Alexander sick of a quartane feuâ—…r Ant. lib. 13. cap. 2â—… Alexandra Alexanders wife thorow the opinion of vertue obtaineth the kingdome The yeare of thâ—… world 3862. before Christs Natiuitie 102. Hyrcanus first made high priest and afterwards king The Pharisees getting in fauour with the Queene are made her chief gouernours and enjoy all honours Alexandra willingly obeieth the Pharisees The Pharisees by their enuies and acculatioÌ„s are the death of many good men Aristobulus expostulâ—…teth with his mother Aristobulus proclaimeth himselfe king Alexandra imprisoneth Aâ—…stobulus wife and children The yeare of the world 3873 before the Natiâ—…itie of Christ. 95. Alexandra dieth and Hyrcanus succeedeth her in the kingdome Ant. lib. 14. cap. 1. The brethren contending for the kingdome are accorded vpon certaine conditions Ant. lib. 14. ca. 2. 3. 4 Antipater perswadeth Hyrcanus to flie to Aretas king of Arabia and to craue his assistance to recouer his kingdome The yeare of the world 3873 before Christs birth 95. Antipater with Hyrcanus flie from Ierusalem by night to Aretas king of Arabia Aretas furnisheth Hyrcanus with 50000 souldiers Scaurus captaine of the Romans The yeare of the world 3899. before Christs birth 65. Scaurus receibeth 300. talents from Atistobulus and commandeth the Arabians and Hyrcanus to depart out of the countrey Antipater and Hyreanus seek for Pompeies helpe Ant. lib. 14. cap. 6. 7. Pompey furnished both with the Syrians and Romane army setteth forth against Aristobulus Pompey commaundeth Aristobulus to descend Aristobulus resorteth to Pompey Aristobulus intendeth to fight with Pompey Hedio * Idumaea The yeare of the world 3903. before Christs birth 61. Pompey besiegeth Ierusalem Aristobulus humbly presenteth himselfe to Pompey Ant. lib. 14. cap. 7. 8. Pompey vieweth the citie which way it might most easily be battered Sedition within the citie betwixt Hircanus and Aristobulus friends Pompey his enter the citie and search the kings house Aristobulus with his frieÌ„ds flie to the temple Pompey filleth vp the trench and obserueth the seuenth day Pompey buildeth towers vpon his platformes The Iewes intermit not sacrifice in the midst and heat of the siege Twelue thousand Iewes slaine in the temple Pompey his followers enter the sanctuary Pompeies continencie Hyrcanus made hic priest The yeare of the world 3903 before Christs birth 61. Pompey causeth the chiefest conspirators to be beheaded Pompey deliuereth many goodly cities from the subiection of the Iewes Aristobulus his family caried to Rome Ant. lib. 14. cap 9. The Arabian is reconciled to Scaurus Ant. lib. 14. cap. 10. Alexander Aristobulus son gathereth a great power gainst Hyrcacanus The yeare of the world 3904 before the Natiuitie of Christs 60. Alexander gathereth 10000 footmen and 1500. horsmen Antipater with his forces goeth out to meet Alexanâ—…nder Alexander fighteth with his enemies and loseth sixe thousand men Marcus Antonius a captain What cities the Iewes receiued to inhabite The yeare of the world 3804. before Christs Natiuitie 60.
and delight At the foote of this hill there are two houses worthie the sight for diuers their singularities namely by reason of those conduits of water which although they spring or in that place yet notwithstanding are they brought from farre with great cost and expence The plaine that adioyneth vpon it is all full of buildings after the manner of a citie and the top of the castle commaundeth all the plaine As soone as therefore he had disposed all his affaires according to his hearts desire he possessed his kingdome in great quietnes for that he made his subiects obediēt vnto him both by feare in shewing himselfe inexorable when it concerned him to punish and by liberality whereby he prouided for their publike necessities he therefore tooke an especiall care of himselfe as if the life and safetie of his person had beene the securitie of his people He behaued himselfe officiously and fauourably towards all forraine cities he entertained the princes by presents which according to his occasions he sent vnto them to insinuate himselfe into their fauours being in his owne nature magnificent and fit to gouerne so that all his fortunes increased and all things fell out happily according to his hearts desire True it is that the care which he imployed in honouring Caesar and other mightie magistrates of Rome caused him to outstrip his customes and to falsifie diuers ordinances of his countrey in building cities and erecting temples in honour of them although he builded them not in the land of Iury for the Iewes would not haue endured it because we are forbidden to honour Images and figures formed according to the likenes of a man as the Greekes are accustomed to do but he did this in the countrey and forraine cities and excused himselfe to the Iewes saying that he did it not of his owne head but performed that according to the charge and commaundement which he had from others who were greater then himselfe and in the meane while gratified Caesar and the Romanes in that he respected their honour more then he did the ordinances of his countrey although in all things he had a respect to his particular aduantage and determined with himselfe to leaue behind him after his death large and ample testimonies of his power and greatnes which was the cause that he builded cities with great charge and expence CHAP. XIII The building of the Citie of Caesarea WHen as therefore he had found out a fit and conuenient place vpon the sea coast to build a citie on which of long time had beene called the tower of Straton he both magnificently designed and set downe the modell and forme thereof and made many sumptuous buildings both of royall pallaces and of other priuate lodgings not builded after a sleight manner or of weake and fading matter but of marble stone But the greatest and busiest worke of all was the hauen which he made exempt and free from stormes and tempests that in greatnes resembled that of Piraeus and was so spacious that it was able to receiue many great ships into the road and had diuers roumes and warehouses to lay vp the merchandize therein And the more admirable was this pile because the stuffe that was fit to finish this so great work was not gathered or gotten in that place but must needly be brought from another place vpon great charge and expence This citie is seated in Phoenicia vpon the coast in the way to Aegypt betweene Ioppe and Dora certaine villages scituate vpon the sea coasts vnfit either for landing or harbour by reason of the Affricke wind that driuing the sand of the sea vpon the shore giueth not any quiet road vnto the ships but that the marchants are enforced for a long time to ride at ancor To correct this incommoditie of the place he made the circuit round about the port so spacious that it was able to receiue a great fleet and he cast downe to the bottome thereof which was about some twentie fathoms deepe certaine huge stones that for the most part were fifty foot long eight foot broad and nine foot high some more and some lesse The pile that was erected vpon this to affront the sea was a pane of two hundreth foot the halfe whereof was opposed against the waues to breake the fury of the streame and for this cause was called in the Greeke tongue Procymation that is to say Before floud The other halfe serued as a foundation to beare vp a wall of stone fortified with diuers towers the chiefest whereof was a faire pile or building which was called Drusus in memorie of Drusus Caesars sonne in law who died very young it had also diuers retreats or hostries in the same into which the mariners were receiued and lodged The descent being hard by encompassed all the portlike a round platforme that serued for a pleasant walking place for whom soeuer listed The entrance and mouth of the hauen was toward the north which is a wind that of all other most purifieth and cleanseth The supporter and strength of all the circuit on the left hand vpon the entrance to the port was an ample and huge tower to fasten it the more strongly and on the right hand were two huge pillars of stone more higher then the tower that stood opposite against them erected and fastned togither All round about the hauen there were certaine buildings abutting one vpon another of pollished marble and in the midst there was a little hillocke on which there was a certaine monument placed in honor of Caesar which presented it selfe to their sight who sayled to the port in which there were the figares of the Citie of Rome and of Caesar. This citie also was called Caesarea as much to be wondred at for the matter whereof it was built as for the arte whereby it was erected and no lesse cunning was there shewed in the vaults and conduits vnder ground then in those buildings that were aboue them some of them were conuaied toward the port and discharged themselues into the sea by certaine compassed spaces but there was one that went athwarts that comprehended all the rest to the end that there by the raine-water and the clensings of the Citie might be conuaied into the sea and that when the sea should flow it might wash and cleanse all the citie He erected also a Theater of stone and behinde the same to the Southward an Amphitheater that was able to receiue a great number of men and so pleasantly and fitly scituated that stom the same a man might discouer the sea This Citie was finished at the end of twelue yeers during which time the king was neither wearied by intending the worke nor negligent in furnishing the necessarie charges After this perceiuing that the Citie of Sebaste was already inhabited also hee resolued to send his two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus to Rome to present them vnto the Emperour Caesar who no sooner
who was confirmed in the kingdome by his fathers testament yet would he not giue eare thereunto But Antipas no sooner arriued in Rome but all his kinsfolke reuolted from Archelaus vnto him not so much for the loue they bare him as for the hatred they had conceiued against Archelaus and aboue all for the desire they had to recouer their libertie and to draw themselues vnder a Roman gouernour For they thought that if there were any contradiction that Antipas for whom they indeuoured to procure the roialtie should be more profitable vnto them then Archelaus Sabinus also by his letters accused Archelaus to Caesar But Archelaus by Ptolomey exhibited vnto Caesar a supplication containing his right and title to the kingdome his fathers testament and the account of the money which Herode his father had sealed vp togither with his ring and expected the issue But when he had read these letters and those which Varus and Sabinus had sent him and vnderstood what summes of money he had left and what the annuall reuenue was and how Antipas challenged the kingdome and appropriated it to himselfe according as his letters made mention he assembled all his friends to haue their aduise thereupon Amongst them was Caius the sonne of Agrippa and his daughter Iulia adopted by him whom he caused to sit in the chiefest place which done he commanded the assistants to speake what they would touching this matter At that time Antipater Salomes sonne a man verie eloquent and a great aduersarie to Archelaus spake first saying that it was a mockerie for him at that time to speake of the kingdome â—…nsidering that before Caesar had granted it him he had alreadie seazed the forces of the state when as vpon a festiuall day he had slaine so many who although they had deserued that punishment yet ought the iustice thereof to haue been reserued to a lawfull power and not to haue bin vsurped by him either being king with Caesars preiudice whose authoritie he had contempned or by being a priuate man which was a greater ouersight For which cause he vndeseruedly at this time hoped for his approbation whom already as much as in him lay he had depriued of the title and authoritie of his allowance Moreouer he obiected against him that of his owne authoritie he had chaunged certaine chieftaines of the armie and that he had seated himselfe in the royall throne and like a king had determined certaine causes and had granted certaine demaunds of the people finally that he had left nothing vndone which he might haue performed had Caesar confirmed his title He alledged also that they who were inclosed in the Hippodrome were dismissed by him and diuers other acts partly true partly probable in regard of the ambition of young men who desirous to gouerne do ordinarily commit such things besides this his neglect in mourning for his father and withall his reare banquets all night long at that verie time his father died whereat the people began to mutinie seeing the smal regard he had of his fathers death from whom he had receiued so great goods and honours How all the day long he made a shew of his sorrow and teares in his pauilion but all the night tooke pleasures like a king and being such if Caesar should grant him the kingdome he would behaue himselfe no lesse vnkindly towards him then he had done towards his most kind father That it was no lesse then a hainous crime in him to delite himselfe with songs and daunces at his fathers death as if he had beene his enemie That he now came to Caesars presence to the intent to obtaine the kingdome by his consent whereas alreadie he had behaued himselfe no otherwise then if he had alreadie beene established king by his authoritie But most of all he exaggerated the slaughter he had committed in the temple and the impietie perpetrated so neere to the feast of Easter at which time diuers both straungers and citizens had beene slaughtered after the manner of sacrifices and the temple filled with carcasses not by a straunger but by him who vnder the colour of religion desireth the gouernment of the kingdome to the end he might satisfie the vniustice of his nature in exercising each way his tyranny toward all men for which cause his father neuer thought nor euer dreampt to substitute him king in his place For he knew both his life and disposition and by his former testament and that of greatest force had ordained his aduersarie Antipater to be king For he had beene allotted the kingdome by his father not when his mind was dead before his bodie but when both his iudgement was sound and his bodie in health Yea although at that time Archelaus father had such a conceit of him as in his latter testament and bequest he pretendeth yet that he had alreadie declared what kind of king he was likely to be who contemned Caesars authoritie in confirming the kingdome and being as yet a priuate man doubted not to murther the citizens in the temple This said Antipater to giue greater credit to his words bringing diuers of his kindred as witnesses of that he had said ended his Oration Whereupon Nicholas arose and alledged in Archelaus behalfe as touching the slaughter that it was to be imputed to their impietie who could not be restrained from their tumults and vprores before Archelaus was enforced to appease them by force alledging that they were so much the more guiltie for that they had not onely exercised their malice but also had enforced others to attempt so hainous a reuenge against them for their insolencie seemed in appearance to concerne Archelaus yet in a sort their contumacie pertianed to Caesars iniurie For those that had beene sent by him to appease and represse their sedition were against all law and right charged and slaine by them without respect of God or regard of the solemne feast whose defence Antipater was not ashamed of without respect of equitie so that he might satisfie that hatred which he bare vnto Archelaus That therefore it was their fault who first of all abstained not from iniurie but whetted those swords which were drawen in maintenance of the peace against their owne bosomes He enforced all other things also whereof they had accused Archelaus against themselues saying that none of these things were done without their consents and that the offence was not so grieuous as they intended it should be esteemed to the end they might discredit Archelaus So great a desire was in them to hurt their kinsman a man both well respected and affected by his father as also kind and officious towards them in all things that concerned them As for the testament that it was made by the king when he was in perfect estate of minde and bodie and of greater force then the former because the authoritie and confirmation thereof was ascribed to Caesar the soueraigne of the world Further that Caesar would
not imitate them in that wrong they did vnto Herode who being during his life time bountifully graced by him by many benefits do now after his death go about to violate his last and truest testament 〈◊〉 that rather like a friend and confederate he would confirme his will who like his faithfull and sworne welwiller had committed all things to his trust For that there must needs be a great difference betweene their malice and Caesars vertue and faith which was renowmed thorow the whole world For which cause he would not iudge his decree to be inconsiderately past who left his succession to his well deseruing sonne and referred all things to his trust For that it was vnlikely that he should erre in the choise of his successor who had so discreetly submitted all things to Caesars iudgement After this manner Nicholas also finished his discourse Hereupon Caesar courteously raised Archelaus who lay prostrate and humbled before his feet telling him that he was most worthie to be king by giuing an apparant testimony that he was constant in his resolutions pretending that he would do nothing but that which should be answerable to Herodes testament and Archelaus profit and seeing the young man was confirmed in some good hope with this his promise he determined nothing more for that time but dismissing the councell he debated with himselfe whether he should ratifie the kingdome to Archelaus onely or deuide it amongst Herodes kinred especially since all men had need of his assistance CHAP. XII The Iewes mutinie against Sabinus and how Varus punisheth the authors of the sedition BVt before Caesar had determined any thing certainly in this behalfe Marthalce Archelaus mother died of a sicknes Varus the presideÌ„t of the Iews in Syria had sent letters which certified the emperor of the rebellioÌ„ of the Iewes For after Archelaus departure al the natioÌ„ was in an vprore To pacifie which Varus resorted thither punished the authors of the same after he had in this sort appeased all things he returned to Antioch leauing a regimeÌ„t of soldiers in Ierusalem to restraine the factious invocations amongst the Iewes yet preuailed he nothing by this his pollicy For as soone as Varus was departed Sabinus who inteÌ„ded Caesars affaires remaining in that place grieuously burthened the Iews trusting to that power that was left him supposing that he was alreadie enabled to withstand the multitude For he armed diuers souldiers and made vse of them to oppresse the Iewes and to prouoke them to sedition For he enforced himselfe to surprise their fortresses and forcibly to make search after the kings treasures for his priuate lucre and couetousnes sake When as therefore the feast of Whitsontide was come which is one of our festiuals diuers thousands from all parts repaired to Ierusalem not onely for religion sake but also for the despite and hatred they had conceiued against those violences and iniuries which Sabinus had offered them And not onely were those of Iudaea grieuously offended but diuers also resorted out of Galilee and Idumaea from Iericho and the Cities scituate on the other side of Iordan desiring all of them to be reuenged on Sabinus And deuiding their campe into three bands after this manner the one part of them tooke vp the Hippodrome and of the other two the one seazed the southerne quarter of the temple and the other the easterne and the third which was in the Hippodrome were planted to the westward where the kings pallace stood and thus prepared they al things that were necessarie to set vpon the Romans whom they had besieged on all sides At that time Sabinus fearing their number and resolution who were resolued either to die or to ouercome sent present letters vnto Varus requiring him with all expedition to send him a supply because the regiment that was left by him was in great daunger and must needs vtterly perish without his speedie rescous as for himselfe he withdrew into the tower and dungeon of the castle Phasaelus which was a fortresse which was builded and so called in honour of Herodes brother who was slaine by the Parthians and from the top thereof made a signe to the Romanes that they should sally out vpon the Iewes being afraid to trust himselfe to his owne friends and supposing that the rest ought to expose their liues to daunger in maintenance of his seruice The Romans hauing made this sally there arose a desperate skirmish wherein the Romanes diuers waies had the vpper hand yet were not the Iewes any waies discomforted notwithstanding they had lost many men but wheeling about so long till at last they seazed the outward galleries and those that encompassed the temple and in that place there was a hot assault for they flung downe stones with their hands and slings and there were certaine archers mixed amongst them who in that they had recouered a place of aduantage grieuously gauled the Romans which were below in that they had no meanes to auoid their shot but were in such sort exposed therunto as their enemies had the better And with this disaduantage fought the Romans a long time till at length sore aggrieued at this their present indignitie they secretly fired the galleries and porches without any discâ—…uery of those that were therein which fire brought thither by many and fedde with such matter as would speedily flame incontinently tooke holde of the roofe because the roofe was couered with pitch and waxe and guilded vpon the waxe so that these great and excellent buildings were burnt downe to nothing in a moment and they that were resorted thither were all of them consumed before they were aware For some of them fell with the roofe of the Galleries othersome shot at and slaine by those that stood round abouts othersome despairing of their liues and amazed at the mischiefe either cast themselues into the fire or slew themselues with their one swords and all those that retired vnder hope to saue themselues by that way they ascended were encountred by the Romans who slew them all in that they were discouraged and disarmed though furiously desperate so that no one of them that ascended the porches escaped with life Afterwards the Romans thrusting forward one another by those waies where the fire was aslaked entred the treasure house where the sacred money was kept by which meanes a great part thereof was stolne away by the souldiers and Sabinus to all mens knowledge carried away foure hundreth talents But the Iewes being afflicted with a double calamitie first of all with the losse of their friends in that fight and lastly with the spoile of the treasurie yet assembled they a troupe of the most valiantest souldiers and besieged the pallace threatning to burne the same with Sabinus and all other the Romans that were therein except they speedily departed and in so doing they promised both them and Sabinus all assurance and securitie whereby it came to passe that