the sacred tongue signifieth a King and Sos a shepheard or shepheards according to the common speech and Hicsos is a compound word Some say these people were Arabians but in other coppies I find that Hicsos is not interpreted kings shepheards but shepheards that were captiues for Hic and Hac also when it is pronounced doth in the Egyptian tongue signifie a captiue and this latter exposition seemeth to me to bee the truest for it is more agreeable with the historie Wherefore Manathon reporteth these foresaide kinges and sheapheards to haue ruled Egypt fiue hundreth and eleuen yeares and after these the king of Thebes and the king of the residue of Egypt vniting their forces togither inuaded the sayde sheapheards and held on great and long wars against them and that the sayde sheapheards were ouercome by the king Alisfragumthosis also that then they lost all Egypt which hee had in their power and that they were shut vp in a place called Auaris conteining ten thousand acres of ground which as Manathon reporteth these shepheards enuironed round about with a huge wall to the end that all their whole prouision might be fortified and all their prayses which they got defended Moreouer that Themosis sonne of the saide Alisfragumthosis endeuored by force to subdue them and for this cause besieged them with foure hundreth and foure score thousand armed men and at last despairing to take them by siege he couenanted with them that they should safly depart out of Egypt whether they would and that they vpon these conditions togither with all their families and goods and cattle departed out of Egypt into the wildernes so into Syria being in number two hundreth fortie thousand that fearing the puissaunce of the Assirians who at that time raigned in Asia they builded a citie in the countrie now called Iudea which they made so large as that it might receiue them all and this citie they called Ierusalem Further the saide Manathon in an other booke of the Egyptians affaires sayth that in the holy writings he sendeth the foresaide shepheards called captiues wherein he saith most true For our auncesters were wont to feede cattle so leading a pastorall life were called shepheards neither are they vniustly called captiues for our forefather Ioseph tould the king of Egypt that he was a captiue and long time after hee called his brethren into Egypt by the kinges commaund but wee will hereafter examine this point more straightly I will now cite the testimonie of the Egyptians concerning this point and also relate the words of Manethon touching the time when this befell who sayeth as followeth After that the nation of shepheards were departed out of Egypt vnto Ierusalem king Themosis who droue them out of the land raigned twentie fiue yeares and foure moneths and then dyed and his sonne Chebron succeeded him who raigned thirteene yeares and after him Amenophis twentie yeares and seuen moneths next his sister Amesses one and twentie yeares and nine moneths then raigned Mephios twelue yeares and nine moneths Mephamuthosis twentie fiue yeares and ten moneths Thimosis nine yeares and eight moneths Amenophis thirtie yeares and ten moneths Orus thirtie sixe yeeres and fiue moneths after him his daughter Achencheres twelue yeeres and one moneth and the brother of Rathotis nine yeeres Achencheres twelue yeeres and fiue moneths an other Achencheres twelue yeeres and three moneths Armais foure yeeres and one moneth Armesis one yeere and foure moneths Armesesmiamus threescore and sixe yeeres and two moneths Amenophis nineteene yeeres and sixe moneths Moreouer that Sethosis hauing made readie a huge armie both of foote and horse and also a Nauie at Sea left the gouernment of Aegypt vnto his brother Armais and permitted vnto him all other kingly authoritie onely forbidding him to weare a Diademe and to oppresse the Queene mother to his children commaunding him also to abstaine from the rest of the Kings concubines And Sethosis himselfe went to Cyprus and Phaenicia against the Assirians and Medes and subdued them all partly by the sword partly by feare of his power and greatnesse and being proud of all this his fortunate successe he bent himselfe against the Easterne Countrie and destroyed with fire and sword the Cities of that place with whole Prouinces and spending much time in these warres his brother Armais whome hee left in Egypt did without feare commit all that hee forbad him to doe for hee oppressed the Queene violently and dayly lay with the rest of the Kings concubines and being thereto councelled by his friends hee put a Crowne vpon his head and rebelled against his brother Also that he who was then â—…hiefe of the Egyptians holy customes sent letters vnto Sethosis containing all that had happened and how Armais had rebelled against him who returning to Pelusia came and enioyed againe his owne kingdome which by his name was called Egypt for Manethon writeth that this Sethosis was named Egyptus and his brother Armais Danaus Thus farre Manethon out of whome it is euident by computation of the foresaid times that our nation was deliuered out of Egypt three hundred nintie and three yeeres before Danaus and inhabited this Countrie of Iudaea so long before Danaus came vnto Argos notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Argos boast that their Citie is most auncient Wherefore Manethon recounteth two things for vs out of the Egyptian letters first that we came from another place to them afterwards went out of their Countrie againe and that so long agoe as it was almost a thousand yeeres before the Troyan warres Touching those things which Manethon professeth himselfe not to haue gathered out of the writings of the Egyptians who did write out of certaine tales and reports I will hereafter shew how they are alleadged without any reason for them For I will once againe leaue these and go to the testimonie of the Phaenicians which they writ concerning our nation The Tyrians therefore haue Chronicles of verie great antiquitie which they haue kept with all diligence concerning that which hath beene done amongst them and indeed they are worthie of memorie Amongst these Recordes it is written that king Salomon built a Temple at Ierusalem a hundred fortie three yeeres and eight months before the Tyrians erected Carthage So they haue registred the building of our Temple for Hiramus king of the Tyrians was our kings Salomons friend obliged vnto him for his fathers sake who for this cause also of his owne liberalitie gaue Salomon a hundred and twentie talents of gold towardes the building of the Temple and cut downe the most goodly wood called Libanus which hee bestowed vpon him to make the roofe of the Temple withall for which bountie Salomon gaue him againe manie liberall gifts and among the rest a Countrie of Galilee named Zabulon but Salomons wisedome was the chiefe cause of this Kings friendship towards him For they sent problemes one to the other to bee answered and Salomon in his answeres appeared
thorow extreame thirst are inforced to yeeld to thâ—… Iewes Ant. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 7. Herods oration to Augustus Caesar. Herode speaketh freely before Câ—… The yeare of the world 3934. before Christs birth 30 Caesars anâ—… to Herod Herods gratulation toward Caesar. Caesar increaseth Herodes Dominion Herode made gouernour of Syria The yeâ—…re of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Ant. lib. 15. cap. 10. 12. 13. 14. Herodes buildings The yeare of the world 3947. before the birth of Christ. 17. The fountaine head of Iordan Herod maketh a greater port then that of Piraeum An apt description of a haueÌ„ The yeere of the world 3947. before Christs birth 17. Caesarea in time past called the tower of Straton Ant. lib. 15. ca. 10. 12. lib. 17. cap. 5. Agrippium Antipatris Cyprus Phasaelus tower Herodium Herodium a castle resembling a citie Herods bountie to all men Herod famous thorow the world The yeare of the world 3954 before Christs birth 10. Herode a great hunter The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Herod besides the vertue of mind and body had the blessings of fortune Ant. lib. 15. cap. 3. 8. lib. 16. cap. 13. Herod expelseth Antipater out of the citie and killeth Hyrcanus his wiues grandmother Herods children by Maririamme Mariamme hatefully vpbraideth Herode with Hyrcanus death Herods mother and sister do falsely accuse Mariamme to him Herod secretly chargeth Ioseph to kill his wife Herodes suspition betwixt Ioseph and his wife The yeare of the world 3954. before Christs birth 10. Herode commandeth both Ioseph and Mariamme to be slaine Mariammes sons inheritor of her displeasure The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Herods debate with those sons he had by Mariamme Ant lib. 16. cap. 4. Antipater by disgracing his brothers is declared his fathers heire Herod accuseth Alexander before Caesar. A reconciliation betweene Herode and his sonnes Archelaus kindly entertaineth Herod and his sonnes Herods worthy oration to the people wherein he distributeth honours to his three sonnes The yeare of the world 3956. before the birth of Christ. 8. Herod giueth not the kingdome to his sons but the honours of the kingdome Herode conuerteth his speech to his sonnes Herod by his words did not vtterly extinguish the hatred betweenâ—… his sonnes Antipaters treason against his brother Alexander By whatmeans Antipater corrupted his brother Alexanders friends Anupater whetâ—…eth Herode and his courtiers against Alexander The yeare of the world 3956 before Christs birth 8. Glaphyra Alexanders wiâ—…e increased his conceiued suspition by her words Aristobulus obiecteth to his wife her base birth Ant. lib. 16. cap. 7. Alexander and Aristobulus often times bewaile their mother and by that meanes prouoke their father The two brothers excuse themselues before their father Herod The yeare of thâ—… world 3956. before Christs Natiuitie 8. Alexander corrupteth his fathers Eunuches and telleth them â—…e 〈◊〉 to succeed in the kingdome Herod seareth his sonne Alexander Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. Hrods cruelty Herode casteth Alexander into prisoâ—… and tortured his friends Alexander during his imprisonment wrote â—…oure bookes against his enemies Archelaus king of Cappadocia The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Archelaus and Herode consulte vpon Alexanders bookes Herode is incensed against his brother Pheroras Pheroras attired in a mourning garment with teares falleth before Herodes 〈◊〉 and craueth pardon Pheroras by Archelaus meanes pacifieth Herode Archelaus compelleth Herode of his owne accord to be intreated for Alexander Herod dismisseth Archelaus and his friends with great presents Ant. lib. 16. cap. 11. Eurycles the Lacedemonian secretly accuseth AlexaÌ„der to his father and is the cause of his death The yeare of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Eurycles by fained friendship deceiueth Alexander Another false accusation of Alexander his brother moueth Herod to indignation The yeere of the world 3956. before Christs birth 8. Diophanrus the kings notary writeth fained letters in Alexanders name Cous Euaratus Ant. lib. 16. cap. 12. Herode by Salomes counsaile imprisoneth his sons The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. lib 16. cap. 13. Herode gathereth a councell against Alexander Aristobulus Herode accuseth his sonnes in open iudgement Herodes sentence against his sonnes The yeare of the world 3961. before the birth of Christ. 3. Tiro an olde souldier exclameth against Herodes crueltie Tyro with his sonne are by the kings command laid hands on Ant. lib. 16. cap. 13. Another false accusation against Tyro Herode commaundeth his sonnes to be strangled and to be buried with Alexander their mothers vncle Ant. lib. 17. cap. 21. Anupater striueth by gifts and bribes to creepe into mens fauours The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Herode grieuously bemoned his sons expressing the same by his â—…ation toward their children Herode betrotheth his nephewes Herodes children by his seuen wiues Herode is perswaded by Antipaters flatteries to breake off the mariages Ant. lib. 17. cap. 3. Antipater buildeth vpon the kingdome Adebaâ—… betwixt the Ladies in y t court The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Ant. li. 17. ca. 4. Herode forbiddeth Antipater of his brothers company or to haue conference with his wife Fabatus Caesars gouernor discouereth Syllaeus secrets Herod banisheth his brother Pheroras and and his wife Pheroras died and was buried in Ierusalem Ant. lib. 17. cap. 5. The yeare of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. A witch of Arabia The confession oâ—… the women in their tortures Doris Antipaters mother is spoyled of her Iewels and thrust out of the pallace Pheroras wife freely confesseth what was become of the poyson The yeare of the world 396â—… before Christs Natiuitie 3. Gods iustice leaueth nothing vnpunished Antipaters treasons against Archelaus and Philip his brothers Antipater giueth a great summe of money to those that counterfait letters against his brothers Ant. lib. 18. cap. 8. Antipater is solicited By Herode with many kind words to hasten his returne The yeare of the world 3961 before Christs birth 3. Antipater hated in Caesarea Antipaters entertainment at his fathers hands Antipater is iudged before Varus Herods accusation against Antipater The years of the world 3961. before Christs birth 3. Herodes kindnes towards his children Herode loued Antipater aboue the rest and bestowed many benefits on him Antipaters answer and excuse Antipater calleth Rome and Caesar to witnesse The yeere of the world 3â—…61 before Christs birth 3. Nicholaus by the kings commaund beginneth a most hainous and bitter accusation against Antipater Nicholaus peroration The venome tried vpon a condemned man An other proofe against Antipater Herod intendeth Antipaters punishment therefore blotteth his name out of his Testament Ant. lib. 17. cap. 8. The yeare of the world 3963. before Christs Natiuitie 3. Iudas and Matthias perswade the people to pul downe the golden Eagle The yong men that puld downe the Eagle are brought before Herod
answered I haue said he inuented this stratageme to make thee come vnto me seeing thou madest small account of my commissions whereby I haue charged thee to reconcile me vnto my father And at this present I beseech thee that thou wilt moue my father in my behalfe otherwise I shall thinke my returne more grieuous then my banishment hath been if so be my father shall as yet continue his displeasure Ioab was perswaded thorow the compassion he conceiued of the necessitie wherein he saw him and went and sollicited the king with whom he so effectually debated as touching Absalon that altering his contrarie disposition he graciously and speedily sent and called for him As soone as he came vnto his presence Absalon cast himselfe prostrate on the ground demaunding pardon for his offences But Dauid raised and lifted him vp and promised him that from thenceforth he would no more vpbraid him with those misdeedes After all things had thus fallen out Absalon within a little space assembled a great number of horses and chariots and entertained fiftie men for his guard and euerie day earlie in the morning presented himselfe before the kings pallace and talked with those that resorted thither about the triall of their differents and wheras some of them were condemned he talked with them according as he found thē affected alleadging that his father had no good counsellers that perhaps he himselfe had in some things iudged amisse and by these means indeuoured he to get the goodwil of al mē telling them that if he had the like authoritie he would make thē know by proofe what his equity was Hauing by these plausible perswasions drawne the hearts of the common people vnto him he thought himselfe alreadie seased of their seruices in whatsoeuer he intended Some foure years after his reconciliation he came to his father Dauid requiring of him that he might go to Hebron sacrifice vnto God according as he had vowed at such time as he fled from his presence Which request of his when Dauid had granted him he resorted thither being attended with great affluence and concourse of all the people by reason he had appointed diuers to meet him in that place amongst whom was Achitophel the Gelmonite one of Dauids counnsellers and 200. others of Ierusalem who altogither ignorant of his enterprise assembled themselues in that place to be assistant to his sacrifice by all whom he was declared king according as he himselfe had commanded them to do When the newes hereof came vnto Dauids eares and he was thorowly ascertained beyond all conceit how his sonne had behaued himselfe he suspected and doubted his impiety and arrogancie wondring that he should so soone and so lewdly forget himselfe of the pardon which he had obtained for his enormous and hainous crimes and contrarie to all law plunge himselfe and hazard his reputation in more grieuous offences as first of all to peruert the estate of the kingdome which God had established and secondly in complotting to depriue and degrade his owne father For which cause he determined to flie to the other side of Iordan conducting with him his most inward and harty friends to whom he reported the vnbridled furie of his sonne remitting all things vnto God who iudgeth all things and leauing the gouernment of his royall house to the disposition of his six concubines he departed from Ierusalem With him issued an affectionate and great number of people besides those six hundreth souldiers who had followed him in his banishment during Sauls life time And although the hie priests Abiathar and Sadoc with all the Leuites had concluded to depart with him yet perswaded he them to abide with the Arke assuring them that God would deliuer them yea although the Arke were vnremoued from his place He commanded Abiathar likewise to send him priuate intelligence of each occurrent that should happen reseruing with him for his intire and inward counsellers Achimaas the sonne of Sadoc and Ionathan the sonne of the abousaid Abiathar But Ethaeus the Gittite by no perswasions of the king could be induced to stay but contrarie to his commaund followed him whereby he more manifestly expressed his affection towards him But as he mounted and ascended on his bare feet vpon the mountaine of Oliuet and all they of his traine followed him intermixing their trauel with bitter teares a certaine messenger came and certified him that Achitophel was with Absalon and held on his side Which report aggrauated and increased his griefe so that he besought God that it might please him to alienate the affection of Absalon from Achitophel for feare least if he should giue him some sinister counsel he might easily be perswaded thereunto because that Achitophel was a man of ripe iudgement and readie execution in all that concerned him As soone as he came vnto the top of the mountaine he beheld the citie and as if he had vtterly beene banished from his kingdome he began with abundant teares to call vpon God There met he with Chusai his sincere and vnfained friend whom when he beheld with his garments rent with ashes on his head and lamenting the vnhappie chaunge which he then beheld Dauid cheered him and exhorted him to be no waies discomforted and finally besought him to returne vnto Absalon as vnder a colour that he had forsaken his part where diligently prying into his secrets he might oppose himselfe against Achitophels counsels because he might not so much pleasure him in keeping him cōpanie as in staying with Absalon Chusai being after this maner perswaded by Dauid returned back to Ierusalē where presently after he encountred with Absalon who repaired thither In the mean time Dauid marching onward a little further chanced to meet with Siba Mephiboseths seruant purueior of al those goods which Dauid had giuen him for that he was Ionathans sonne who was the sonne of Saul This man droue before him two Asses loaden with victuals which he presented to Dauid and his companie to refresh themselues with and being demanded where he had left Mephiboseth in Ierusalem said he where he expecteth to be chosen king thorow the occasion of those troubles that had hapned in memorie of the benefits that diuers men had receiued at Sauls hands Dauid displeased with that which he heard gaue Siba all those riches wherewith he had gratified Mephiboseth in times past deeming him more worthy of the same then Mephiboseth Wherewith Siba was verie highly contented When Dauid drew neere vnto a place which is called Choran a certaine cousen of Sauls called Simei the sonne of Gera came out against him and cast stones at him and reuiled him and the more Dauids friends inuironed and defended him the more obstinately perseuered he in his reproofes and scandalous raylings calling him murtherer and captaine of the wicked charging him like an impure and execrable man to get him out of the kingdome giuing God thanks for
thereof that the worthy nature of this king might be known vnto all men and how beloued he was of God and how surpassing in all kindes of vertue When Hiram king of Tyre vnderstood that Salomon succeeded his father in the kingdome he was glad thereof for he was Dauids friend for which cause he sent messengers vnto him to salute him and to congratulate with him of that good which had hapned vnto him by whom Salomon returned an answere in these tearmes Salomon to Hiram the king Know thou that my father hauing a wil to build a temple vnto God hath been withdrawen from the performance thereof by the continuall warres and troubles he hath had for he neuer tooke rest before he either had defeated his enemies or made thē tributaries vnto him For mine own part I thanke God for the peace which I possesse and for that by the means therof I haue opportunity according to mine own desire to build a temple vnto God for he it is that foretold my father that this house should be builded during my raign For which cause I pray you send some one of your skilfullest men with my seruants to the wood Libanus to hew downe trees in that place for the Sidonians are more skilfull in hewing and preparing timber then our people are and I will pay the cleauers of wood according to your direction When Hiram had read this letter he was very glad to p◅e the contents of the same and wrote backe againe vnto him to this effect The king Hiram vnto king Salomon Thou hast cause to thanke God in that he hath deliuered thy fathers kingdome into thy hands to thee I say who art a man wise and full of vertue For which cause since no newes can come vnto me more gratious nor office of loue more esteemed then this I will accomplish all that thou requestest for after I haue caused a great quantitie of Cedar and Cyprus wood to be cut downe I will send it thee by sea by my seruants whom I will commaund and furnish with conuenient vessels of burthen to the end they may deliuer the same in what place of thy kingdome it shall best please thee that afterwards thy subiects may transport them to Ierusalem You shall prouide to furnish vs with corne whereof we stand in need because we inhabit an Island The copies are yet at this day kept not onely by those of that nation but also by the Tyrians so that if any man desire exactly to know that they be let him search the publique records of the Tyrians and he shall finde in them matters accordant to that we haue said All which I say to that end that the readers might be assured that I outstrip not the truth in any sort and that I insert not in this historie matters that are meerly apparant deceitful and only fashioned for delight neither feare I that any man shall examine my writings neither desire I likewise that euery man giue credit at the first sight to the same or that I be held blamelesse in suffering my selfe any waies to vary or vnproperly dilate ought in this historie but contrariwise if I cannot approoue the truth by demonstration and sufficient testimonies I desire not to be allowed As soone as Salomon had receiued these letters from the King of the Tyrians he praised his facilitie and beneuolence and presently sent him that which he demanded euerie yeare therefore he sent him two thousand Cores of wheat and the like number of Ba ds of oyle this Bad containeth seuentie and two sextaries He gaue him also the like measure of wine From that time forward the friendship betwixt Hiram and Salomon increased more and more so that both of them protested that it should continue for euer The king imposed on his people the tribute of thirtie thousand workemen whom he gaue in charge to trauell continually and distributed them verie discreetly Hee ordained that ten thousand of them should cut wood in Libanus for the space of one moneth and that then they should rest two moneths returning euery man vnto his owne dwelling place vntill such time as the twentie thousand had in their turne accomplished the taske in the time that was prefixed vnto them and then the first 10000. renewed their work followed the same in the fourth month Ador◅ was constituted superintendēt ouer this tribute Besides these there were 70000. men appointed to cary stones wood who were the inhabitants of that countrey which Dauid had left There were foure score thousand hewers of stone ouer whichwere 3200. commissaries these had the king commaunded to cut the greatest stones to make the foundations of the temple which after they had hewed and prepared in the mountaine he commaunded should be drawne and brought into the Citie and not onely commaunded he his countrimen to performe this but those workemen also that were sent him by Hiram Salomon began this building in the fourth yeare of his raigne in the second month which the Macedons call Artemisium and the Hebrewes Iar fiue hundreth nintie and two yeares after the departure of the Israelites out of Aegypt one thousand and twentie yeares since the arriuall of Abraham in Mesopotamia one thousand foure hundreth and fortie yeares after the Deluge And since Adam the first man vntill Salomon who builded the Temple all the yeares that are passed haue beene three thousand one hundreth and two But the beginning of the building of the Temple hapned in the eleuenth yeare of the raigne of Hiram who gouerned in Tyre and since the first time that Tyre began to be inhabited vntil the said building of the temple there passed two hundreth and fortie yeares The king therefore laid the foundations of the Temple and made a most deepe trench and fortified it with most strong stones which might be able to resist al the iniuries of time These stones were so closely ioined the one vnto the other that for the strength of the foundations they might serue to make the base and ground both to fortifie the worke as also to sustaine that which should be builded thereupon either for embellishment or waight of the charge neither could the foundations be of lesse strength and hugenes which were to sustaine a sumptuous pile of that height greatnes magnificence and ornament The walles were made of white stone and continued of the same matter euen vntill the roofe The height of the Temple was sixtie cubits and the length as much and the bredth twentie Ouer that was another edifice hauing the like dimensions so that the whole height of the Temple was sixescore cubits and the entry therof was to the East-ward The porch that gaue entry thereinto had twentie cubits in length which was the bredth of the Temple and in bredth ten cubits and the height thereof was of sixescore cubits About the Temple were builded thirtie celles which inuironed the circuit of the same on
to beseech the King that it might be lawfull for him to put Mardocheus to death Now when the officers had brought the king tydings that Aman was before the pallace they were commanded presently to call him in As soone as he came into the kings presence he said vnto him Knowing that thou art my affectionate and onely friend I prithee giue me thy counsaile how I may condignly honour him according to my greatnesse whom I doe most affectionately loue Aman thinking the aduice he should giue should be giuen for himselfe because he supposed that he only was beloued by the king more then all others counsailed him that which in his opinion was the best in this manner For said he if you intend to inuest the man with glorie who as you say is beloued by you cause him to be mounted vpon a braue horse and let him be apparelled in a royall habit and put a chaine of gold about his necke and let some one of thy chiefest friends march before him and proclaime thorow out the Citie that thus is the man honoured whom the king loueth Aman gaue this counsaile in that he hoped that it should be his owne fortune But the king highly contented with this his aduise turning towards him spake thus vnto him Thou hast a horse a garment and a chaine seeke out therefore the Iewe Mardocheus and giue them him and match thou before him making this publike crie For said he thou art mine inward friend and it is verie decent that the execution of that thing be committed to thy trust which thou hast so faithfully counsailed And this commaund I to be done in this sort because Mardocheus hath been the preseruer of my life Aman hearing these words beyond al expectation was confused in his spirit being wholy discomforted knew not which way to turne him he therefore issued out hauing with him the horse the purple habite and the chaine of gold Meeting therefore with Mardocheus before the pallace who was cloathed in sackcloth he enioyned him to lay his mourning habite aside and to cloath himselfe in purple But he who was wholy ignorant of that which had hapned and supposing that he mocked him said O thou wickedest man amongst men doest thou thus mocke at our afflictions Notwithstanding being afterwards informed that the king had bestowed this honour on him for sauing his life and discouering the trecherie of those Eunuches that would haue slaine him he put vpon him the scarlet habite that the king wore ordinarily and put the chaine about his necke and afterwards mounting his horse he went round about the Citie Aman also walking before him and crying that thus should be dealt and done with him whom the king honoured loued and thought worthy of estimation Now after they had circuited the whole Citie Mardocheus gaue his attendance on the king but Aman came not in presence so much was he ashamed at that which had hapned for which cause he repaired home and told his wife and friends with teares of all that which had hapned who told him that it was no waies possible for him to reuenge himselfe as yet on Mardocheus because God was with him Now whilest they were discoursing and debating this matter togither Esthers Eunuches came to hasten Aman to the banquet and Sabuchadas one of the Eunuches seeing the gibbet erected in Amans lodging whereon he intended to execute Mardocheus demanded of one of the seruants wherefore it was raised vp and vnderstanding that it was for the queenes vncle whom Aman would require at the kings hands to the end he might put him to death for that time he held his peace But when the king being seated with Aman at the banquet required the Queene to declare what she would require that he might grant her she began to lament the danger of hir people saying that she with her whole nation were made a pray to the sword and that for that cause she brake out into that discourse For said she I had not troubled your maiestie neither had I been agrieued if you had commanded that all the Iewes should be sold and led away captiues to extreme miserie for that affliction might haue been borne she therefore praied him to redeeme them from those miseries When as therefore the king demaunded who it was that practised that tyrannic she began publikely to accuse Aman saying that he alone was that wretched and enuious man who had complotted their tragedie Hereupon the king was verie sore troubled and rose from the banquet to depart into the garden then began Aman to pray and beseech Esther to forgiue him his offence for that at that present he was in a dāgerous estate Now whilest he was fallen vpon her bed to beseech her fauour the king entred and grew the more displeased at that he saw and said O thou cursed amongst men darst thou attempt to enforce my wife Aman was wholy confounded with this question so as he had not a word to answere him Hereupon the Eunuch Sabuchadas stepping forth accused him for that he had found him in his lodging erecting a gibbet for Mardocheus assuring the king that one of his houshold seruants had told him it at such time as he was sent to call him to the banquet alleadging moreouer that the gibbet was fiftie cubits hie Which when the king vnderstood he adiudged Aman to no other death but that which he intended against Mardocheus and thereupon presently commanded that he should be hanged vpon the same gibbet vntill he were dead And in this place it behooueth me to admire the maiestie of God in considering what his wisedome and iustice is in that he not onely punished the wickednesse of Aman as he had deserued but also caused him to fall into the same snare which he had prepared for an other man Thus died Aman who had vniustly abused the kings friendshippe as for his goods they were giuen vnto the Queene After this the king called for Mardocheus vnto him for already he had notice that he was his wiues vncle and gaue him the ring which he had giuen vnto Aman the Queene likewise gaue him his goods and required the King to deliuer the nation of the Iewes from that dismay whereinto they were fallen thorow the perill of their liues letting him see those letters which were sent by Aman the Amadathite thorow all his countries assuring him that she could not liue to behold the death of her brethren and the totall ruine of her countrey The king assured her that he had vndertaken nothing that might discomfort her auowing to her that he would not contradict her will wishing her to write her selfe in the kings name all that which she would haue done in the behalfe of the Iewes promising that when she had done the same he would seale it with his owne seale giuing her authoritie to send the same thorow all his realmes to the end that they that read those letters
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
testimonie of assurance That done Artabanus sent backe Anilaeus to perswade his brother Asinaeus to come to the court Artabanus did this supposing that this his amitie with the two brothers would be a bridle for the Iewes who otherwaies might encroach vpon his gouernments For he feared least if any rebellion should happen and he should be troubled in that warre Asinaeus and they of Babylon should grow more strong both by the voluntarie submission of the Iewes as by force and thereby should do him the more mischiefe Vpon this deliberation he sent Anilaeus who easily perswaded his brother giuing him to vnderstand among other things what goodwill the king bare him and the oath that he had sworne so that both of them resorted to Artabanus who receiued them verie gratiously admiring Asinaeus vertue who had so great a courage to exercise his enterprises considering especially that hee was a man of a lowe stature and who to looke on seemed to be contemptible And hee told his friends that without comparison he had a greater heart then his bodie And whē as in banqueting he had named Asinaeus shewed him to Abdagasis the general of his army signifying vnto him with what valour these brethrē were endowed in feats of arms Abdagasis required that it might be lawful for him to kil Asinaeus to the end that he might punish the wrōgs he had done to the estate of the Parthiās Neuer said the king wil I giue my consent to betray a man who hath committed himselfe to my protection and hath giuen me his hand and who buildeth vpon the oath I haue past vnto him in the name of the Gods But if thou art a valiant man in feats of armes thou hast no need to make me foresweare my selfe to the end I might do iustice on him for his outrages committed against the Parthians but at such time as he and his brother shall depart from hence assaile him and ouercome him by thy valour prouided that I be not priuie to thy attempt And afterwards calling Asinaeus to him in the morning It is time said he that thou returne homeward for feare thou prouokest diuers of the captains of my court which contrary to my will vvill endeuour themselues to kill thee I commit the countrey of Babylon to thy protection and guard which by thy care and vigilancy shal remaine exempt from all robberies and other such calamities Reason it is that I procure thy good because I haue engaged mine honour faith irreuocably vnto thee not vpon any light matter but for things that importune thee as neerly as thy life This said he gaue him certaine presents and incontinently disinissed him Now as soone as he returned home to his owne fortress he fortified the places both those which before time he had thorowly defenced as the other which as yet no man had attempted to strengthen and in short time he grewe to that greatnes as no one man of so obscure fortune beginning attained before him Neither contented with the honours of the Babylonians he was also held in great account by the captaines of the Parthians who were sent to gouern in the neighbouring prouinces yea so much increased his authority with his power that all Mesapotamia was at his commaund In this felicitie and increasing glory of his he continued for the space of fifteene yeeres which neuer began to waine vntill such time as neglecting the auncient studie of vertue and contemning the lawes of his forefathers both he and his factious followers being deuoured in pleasure yeelded themselues captiue to forraine lusts It fortuned that a certaine gouernour of those Parthians came into that countrey accompanied with his wife not onely enriched and endowed with other perfections but also admired for her incomparable comlines and beauty Whom without euer seeing her only by report of her beautie Anilaeus Asinaeus brother loued intirely and when as by no one of his allurements he could obtaine her fauour neither had any other hope to enioy the Lady he could not bridle his vnruly lust but he made warre against her husband and killing the Parthian in their first conflict his wife became his both in subiection and bed-seruice which thing was the originall of many mightie calamities both to himselfe and towards his brother For when as hauing lost her former husband she was led away captiue she carried with her the images of the gods of her country which she highly esteemed according as it was the custome of those that inhabited that place to haue their gods whom they adored in their houses whom at such time as they trauell into a forraine country they carrie about with them She therfore brought them with her and vsed them according to the fashion of her countrey at the first secretly but after she was knowne for Anilaeus wife then adored she them according to the custome and with the same seruice which she vsed during her first husbands daies sacrificing to her gods Their chiefest friends seeing this first of all reprooued them for that Anilaeus committed such things as were no waies vsed amongst the Hebrewes and altogither repugnant to their lawes for that he had married a woman of a forraine nation that contradicted and violated their accustomed religion for which cause they aduised them to beware least in submitting themselues too much to their vnbridled pleasures they should lose the honor and power they had receiued from God euen vntill that present But seeing their perswasions profited nothing and that Anilaeus likewise had villanously slaine one of his deerest friends who had somewhat too freely reproued him who at such time as he lay a dying being touched with the zeale of the lawes of his auncestors with griefe against his murtherer wished that Asinaeus and Anilaeus and all their associates might die the like death they for that they were transgressors of the lawe the other for that they succoured not themselues in that oppression which they suffered for the maintenance of their lawes They were sore displeased yet notwithstanding they contained themselues calling to their remembrance that their felicity proceeded from no other cause but from the valour of those brethren But when they vnderstood that the Parthian gods were adored by this woman they bethought them that it behooued them not any more to beare with Anilaeus in contempt of their lawes for which cause addressing themselues to Asinaeus in great assemblies they exclaimed against Anilaeus saying that he ought although at first he had no power to dispose of himselfe yet now at last to correct this error before it should redound to their publike plague for that both his mariage was disallowed in all mens eies as altogither contrarie to their countrey lawes and that the superstitious obseruance of the gods which the woman presumed to vse was an apparant iniurie offered to the true God But he although he knew that his brothers fault would breed some great inconuenience both to
contu◅eliously intreated me but if he thinke that he can restraine me from speaking freely he deceiueth himselfe For my conscience knoweth how many hazards I haue deliuered him from and as long as I breath I will ring it in all mens eares how many trauels I haue endured for his conseruation and honour in recompence where of I am at this day in bonds and shut vp in an obscure prison which I wil neuer forget Yea and when my soule shall depart out of this bodie she shall beare with her the remembrance of those benefits I haue imployed on him These words spake he with a loud voice willing them to relate the same vnto king Agrippa who seeing that he was grounded in an incurable folly left him in prison After this the king began to fortifie the walles of Ierusalem on the side of the new towne vpon the common charge increasing them both in length and bredth might he haue thorowly finished them it had beene a fortresse inuincible by all humane force But Marsus the gouernour of Syria certified Caesar what the worke was and Claudius suspecting some commotion wrote expresly to Agrippa commaunding him thence forward to desist from further building of the walles according to that forme wherein he had begunne whereunto he would not disobey This king Agrippa was of a nature so readie to exercise liberalitie and tooke so great pleasure to vse his magnificence toward all sorts of nations that the great expences he was at obtained him great reputation So that his whole pleasure and delight was to shew courtesie vnto al men and to purchase good esteem being euery way differēt in nature disposition from king Herod his predecessor For Herod was naturally malicious extreme in punishing mē irrecōciliable to those with vvhom he vvas displeased manifestly expressing that he loued the Grecians better then the Iewes For he beautified those cities that belonged to straungers gaue them money and erected them bathes and sumptuous Theaters and Temples in some of them galleries but as touching the cities of the Iewes he bestowed not this bountie on any one of them no not the least reparation or gift that vvas worthy the speaking of Contrariwise king Agrippa was verie courteous and lowly and equally imparted his bountie vnto all men He was courteous vnto straungers and testified no lesse by the bountie he bestowed on them To his countrimen he behaued himselfe affably and in especiall he was mercifull to all those that were in misery For which cause his ordinarie court and the place he tooke most pleasure in was Ierusalem He was a diligent obseruer of the lawes of his countrey and liued religiously and with as great pietie as was possible neither passed there one day wherein he offered not sacrifice It hapned at one time that a certaine cunning lawyer who was called Simon and dwelt in Ierusalem had assembled the people by reason of the kings absence who for the present was in Caesarea In which assembly he alleaged many things against him that he was a prophane man and that vpon iust cause he was forbidden to enter the temple in that it was not lawfull nor decent for those that were vncleane to enter thereinto These words of Simons thus wrongfully vrged against him were signified to the king by certaine letters sent him by the gouernour of the citie when as therefore he sate him downe in the Theater he commaunded that verie Simon to sit next him and in peaceable and kind manner he spake thus vnto him Tell mee I pray thee what thing thou seest fault worthy or done contrarie to the law in that which is done heere Simon hauing not any thing to reply besought him to pardon him The king grew friends with him farre sooner then it could be imagined resoluing with himselfe that mercie doth farre better become a king then wrath and that moderation is more requisite then-◅aughtie courage so as he after he had bestowed certaine presents on Simon he dismissed him Now although he had many reparations in diuers places yet honoured he those of Beryth aboue all the rest and builded them a Theater surpassing all other in sumptuousnes and beauty and besides that he made them a sumptuous Amphiatheater and bathes and porches in which he neither spared cost neither scantled the beautie and greatnes of the works in any sort The dedication also of these things were celebrated with great pomp and magnificēce he also made great shewes plaies in the Theater in which there were all sorts of musicke and recreation He made also diuers ◅aments in the Amphiatheater expressing in all things the greatnes of his magnificence and being desirous to delight the people with a combate he gathered all the malefactors that he might get and made two seuerall companies of seuen hundreth apeece and brought them togither to fight to the end that in skirmishing they might receiue their punishment and besides that by this warlike exercise he might present the people with a pastime concluded with the punishment of wicked men for each of these combatants slue one another After that he had finished these aboue named buildings in Beryth he resorted to Tiberias a citie of Galilee and was admired of all the otherkings so that Antiochus king of Comagena came to visit him the like did Samsigeran king of the Emesenians Cotys king of Armenia the lesse and Polemon Lord of Pontus and besides all these Herode prince of Chalcis and his brother all whom he receiued and entertained most magnificently and amiably to shew his greatnes to the end that all men might perceiue that he was deseruedly honoured with the presence of so many kings And during the time that these princes were with him Marsus the gouernour of Syria visited him likewise whom to the end he might expresse the reuerēce he bare to the Romans he met with seuen furlongs off from the citie This interuiew of so many kings was the original of that discontent that grew betwixt him and Marsus for whilest he sate in his litter he sent for these other kings But Marsus suspected this concord and so great amitie supposing that this agreement of so many kings would be no waies profitable or beneficial to the Romans For which cause he presently sent vnto them charging them with all expedition to returne each of them into their owne countries which strict commission of his Agrippa tooke in ill part and for this occasion he conceiued scarce kindly of Marsus He tooke the priesthood from Matthias and gaue it to Aelioneus the son of Cithaeus After he had raigned three vvhole yeeres ouer Iudaea he came to Caesarea which in times past was called the tower of Straton and there made he sports in honour of Caesar ordaining a certaine feast for his conseruation to the celebration whereof there vvere assembled a great number of all those vvho were of estate and dignitie thorow the whole countrey On
the Iewes how he came how he fought against me the first time neere to the Citie of Taricheaâ—…how I departed from thence to repaire to Iotapata my taking my deliuerance and all my actions and fortunes during the warres of the Iewes and the siege of the Citie of Ierusalem But now me seemeth that it is necessarie that I describe other things exploited by me during my life time in other places then in the warres of the Iewes After the siege of Iotapata was ended I was prisoner with the Romans and kept verie carefully yet notwithstanding Vespasian did me much honour For by his commandement I married a virgin that was one of those that had been taken captiue in Caesarea But she remained not long time with me for after I was set at libertie and that I followed Vespasian she retired her selfe to Alexandria After which I married another woman in Alexandria from whence I was sent to Titus to the siege of Ierusalem where I was oftentimes in danger of death For the Iewes laboured what they might to take and punish me and the Romans supposing that as many and oftentimes as they were repulsed it was by my treason cried out continually to the Emperour to execute me for a traitor But Titus well experienced in the changes of warre pacified the violence which his souldiers intended against me by his silence And after the Citie of Ierusalem was taken Titus often solicited me to take that which I liked among the ruines of Ierusalem promising to giue it me But I making but small account of any thing after the ruine of my countrey besought him that he would giue me certaine free men and the sacred Bible which I receiued for a great consolation in my miseries All which he gratiously granted me Not long after hauing begd my brother and fiftie other of my friends they were giuen me and I was refused in nothing Entring into the temple by Titus permission I found a great number of prisoners shut vp therein and all those women and children of my friends and familiars whom I knew I deliuered them to the number of one hundreth and ninetie without paying any raunsome and I restâ—…d them to their former free condition Being sent with Cerealis and one thousand horse into the Citie of Thecoa by the Emperour Titus to espie if the place were fit for a campe in returning from thence I saw diuers prisoners who were on the gibbet amongst which were three of my familiars whereat I was grieued in my soule and I came and signified the same vnto Titus with teares who incontinently commaunded thâ—… they should be taken downe and as carefully drest and cured as might be two of which died notwithstanding the vtmost diligence of the Phisitions and the third suruiued After that Titus had appeased the troubles of Iudaea coniecturing with himselfe that the possessions which I had in Ierusalem would yeeld me but little profit by reason of the Roman garrison that should be placed there he planted me in a possession in a champion countrey and intending to embarke himselfe to depart for Rome he tooke me with him in his owne ship and did me great honour As soone as we came to Rome Vespasian had great care of me for he lodged me in his owne house where he kept before he was Emperour and honoured me with the title of a citizen of Rome and gaue me an annuall pension in money and as long as he liued continued his good affection towards me forgetting no kind of bountie which he might vse towards me Whereupon I was so much enuied that I grew in daunger thereby to lose my life For a certaine Iew called Ionathan hauing stirred vp a sedition in Cyrene gathered about him some two thousand inhabitants of the countrey was the cause of their ouerthrow and as touching himselfe being bound by the gouernour of that countrey and afterwards sent vnto the Emperour he said it was I that had sent him armes and money But Vespasian knew his falshood and condemned him to death and commaunded him to be executed After this mine enemies obiected diuers crimes against me in regard that I was in good reputation but God so wrought that I escaped them all Moreouer I receiued in gift from Vespasian an ample possession in Iudaea and at that verie time I forsooke my wife because her manners pleased me not although she were the mother of my three children of whom two are deceased and the third who was called Hircanus is yet aliue After this I maried a wife that was borne in Candie and was by nation a Iew and by birth noble and one of the greatest reputation amongst the inhabitants endowed with as laudable manners as any other vertuous woman whatsoeuer as her after life most plainly expressed By her I had two sonnes Iustus who was the eldest and Simonides who was also surnamed Agrippa Thus farre as touching my domesticall affaires That bountie which I receiued from the hands of the Caesars hath alwaies continued mine For after Vespasians death Titus who succeeded him in the Empire continued the same fauour which his father had shewed me For although I were oftentimes accused yet were not mine aduersaries beleeued Domitian who succeeded him augmented mine honours For he punished those Iewes that accused me and gaue order that the Eunuch and slaue whom I kept to teach my sonne and by whom I was accused should be punished He granted me extemption also from all the tributes of Iudaea which is one of the most greatest honours that a man may receiue And as touching Domitia the Emperours wife she alwaies continued her good affection towards me Behold heere the short recitall of my whole life whereby let each man coniecture of my manners as him listeth But O thrice excellent Epaphroditus after I haue giuen and offered thee all this ancient history of our nation I will for this present pause in this place THE LAMENTABLE AND TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF THE VVARS AND VTTER RVINE OF THE IEWES Comprised in seuen Bookes by Flauius Iosephus the Sonne of Matthias And newly translated out of the Latin and French into English by Tho. Lodge D. M. P. Printed at London on Bread-street hill at the signe of the Starre 1602. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL HIS esteemed friend M. Anthony Palmer Esquier SIR my affection that had rather be an actor then an orator doe well then speake well hath pickt you out to be the patron of this tragicall historie of the wars of the Iewes The reasons that draue me herevnto are neither the expectance of worldlie benefits nor the fruitlesse vp-shot of ostentation but your virtue which is not beloued respectiuelie but onely for it selfe hath created this good conceit in me which if you so please your acceptance may continue Now since as the Philosopher supposeth it is an action worthy a good man to do good vnto his friend so is it no lesse commendable to accept