knowledge therof cōmaunded a fast through out all Israel for three daies after toke muster of all his armie and made ouer them captains of thousands hundreds fifties and tennes These saide to their souldiours VVho so euer is aferde c. Wherupon many of the people returned home yet there remayned .vii. M. and fiue hundred of suche courage all that one would not haue runne awaye from an hundreth Lisias deuided his hoste into three partes committing thē vnto three capitaines Nicanor Bagris and Ptolomee But after the Israelites had once geuen a great shoute the lord beat downe the Grekes so that the Israelites destroyed nine thousand horsmen of them spoyled the whole host and they that remayned alyue tooke them selues to flight The next daye Kynge Iudas kepte his Sabboth together wyth all Israell in the campe for the battayle was vppon the sixte daye The morowe after the Israelites returned to the spoyle of those that were kylled and after to pursue other that were not able to resist but they founde none for they were fled into Astaroth Karnaiim Durynge the tyme of this warres Antiochus inuaded the land of Persia for they hadde moued warre agaynste hym and done hym iniurye Wherfore he fought against them but hauynge the ouerthrowe at their handes he retourned to Antiochia wyth great shame where also he founde hys armyes wyth an other dishonoure and foyle Wherewyth he was in suche a rage that he gathered together all the valiauntest and beste Warriours in al Grecia yea all that were able to beare weapon swearinge he woulde bringe with him suche an armye that all the grounde about Hierusalem should not suffice theim to stande vppon that hee woulde haue wyth him euen for hys sotemen onelye And so he set forwarde his horsemen with horses and wagons laden with all maner of furnitures for the warres as Bowes shieldes Targets swordes and speares brestplates and mourens besides a huge noumber of Elephantes and suche that a dosen valiant men might fight vpon one Elephant the Elephants being to them as a Fortresse But kinge Iudas toke heart to him put his truste in his God and ioyned battaile with him At length when he with the power of Israel approched to the Elephants they slew theim downe right so that the Elephantes roared the Horses and all the beastes that caried the baggage and furnitures were verie soore afrayed Kinge Antiochus also beinge mounted vppon his mare and not able to sit her in her flight was throwen downe His seruauntes therfore findyng him toke him vp and bare him a while vpō their shoulders and being a corpulent and a grose man they were not able to carye him further but cast him downe in the waie The Lorde had plaged him also and his whole hoste before with a drye scabbe or rottē mattier and with other most horrible diseases which as he saw he confessed it to be the hande of God Wherfore he made a vowe that if he escaped be woulde circumcise him selfe with all his souldiours and would conuert them to the worshippynge of the God of Israel but God heard him not He fledde therfore a fote as well as he might and died bi the way through his greuous and soore diseases and Opiter his sonne raigned in his stede Kynge Iudas with all Israell retourned wyth great ioye to the house of the Lord offered sacrifices and as they had layed wodde vpon the alter and the sacrifice vpon that they called vnto the Lorde louingly to accept their sacrifice and in the meane space fire came forthe of the aulter by the owne accorde consumed the sacrifice and the wodde the lyke neuer chaunced vnto them to this day This miracle was wrought the .xxv. daie of the moneth Elul August The Kynge made an expedicion also into Arabia to warre vpon the people thereof made of them a great slaughter brought thē into subiection and made theim tributaries In his returne he set vppon a great citie of the Grekes wanne it and raced it After that he made a roade into Grece ten dayes iourney where as came against him with a huge armye the chiefe man in king Opiters realme next his persone but Iudas discomfited him and all his people From thence he went to the citye Sipolis that was vnder the Romains where as came foorthe to meete hym Godolias with a royal present informing him that they had euer borne the Israelits good will were their neighbours shewed them pleasures The Kinge examined the matter and founde their wordes true so receiuinge their presentes departed thence After this Gorgorius a captain of the Romaines moued warre wyth Iudas but Iudas stroke a battaile wyth him and destroied his whole armye so that none escaped Opiter sonne of Antiochus hearinge what Actes Iudas did in all countreys rounde aboute he mustred all his people leuied a puissante armie wherwith he came and besieged Bethar Then cried Iudas and all Israel vnto their God with fastynge and sacrifices The night after Iudas deuided his men into certaine bandes cōmaundynge theim to geue the Grecians a Camisado and to enter their Campe whiles it was darke whiche they did and slewe verie manie of the best of the Grecians about a foure thousand preparinge neuerthelesse for the fielde againste the morowe where as also the Israelites did beat downe many of the Greekes In that battaile was slaine Eleasar sonne of Mattathias the kinges brother For when he espied one wyth a golden sworde vpon an Elephant he thought him to be kinge Opiter who had .xx. Elephants in his armie Therfore he toke hart to him and beat doun the souldiours of the Grekes on bothe sides him were they neuer so stronge till he came to that Elephant And because the Elephant was so hye that he coulde not reache them that sate vpon him he shoued his sworde into the bealy of the beast to ouerthrowe the king wherat the Elephant shronke together and fel vpon Eleasar that he died there For whose sake al Israel mourned and made great lamentation But Opiter hearinge this straite waye made suite to king Iudas for peace and a league to be made betwene them whiche after Iudas had consented vnto he returned home into Grece againe and by the way fell into the hands of his enemies that slewe him After him succeded Demetrius his enemie who was the cause of his death Ther were at the time certain euil disposed persōs of the Iewes the serued the king of the Grecians in his warres namelye one Alkimus who went to the king of the Grekes at that tyme liynge at Antiochia and stirred him to moue warre vpon Israell and king Iudas Whereupon Demetrius sent against him a capitaine called Nicanor with a stronge armye He nowe comminge to Hierusalem let Iudas vnderstande that he bare him good will and was desierous to make peace and enter into a league with him Therefore as Iudas came forth accompanied with his brethren the sonnes of Chasmonanye Nicanor met him in the waie imbrased
mouing him to toyn with the Iewes and to aid them The people also came wholly the space of .lx. miles out of the city of Ierusalem to mete him and fell down flat before him crying God saue our king Agrippa But the king studied al he might to procure quietnes and peace to the city people So he entred in to Ierusalem accoÌ„panied with a couple of noble meÌ„ of Rome worthy captains whoÌ„ he brought with him in his train And wheÌ„ he came into the midst of the city the people cried mainlye out vpon him saying Deliuer vs o king and let thy hand help be on oure side to succoure vs for we wil neuer more be vnder the Romains subiection The king hearinge this pitied the people verye muche not withstandinge he was not content that they were mineded to rebell againste the Romaine Empire Wherfore he called together the people at thentrance of the courte of the temple where were presente the elders of Israel and all the chiefe men with the hie priest Anany declared vnto theÌ„ the power of the Romaines the strengthe of their kingdome and what nations rounde aboute them they had subdued in suche sorte as no remayne of them was left Wherfore he besought â—them not to prouoke the Romaines nor to destroye the people remaining of Israel He added moreouer HarkeÌ„ my brethren saith he I knowe well inoughe that there reasteth in your heartes a greate griefe and I my selfe am ful of sorowe and anguishe that we are not of power able to withstande the Romaines All be it if ye wil be ruled by my counsell ye shall finde a redresse for this matter For vvhere as counsell is and good deliberation there is safetye and things come to prosperous successe Ye shall susteine for a while the yocke of the Romaine captaines til I maye certify Nero of the matter by mi letters and intrete him to ridde vs of these rulers I beseche you be not to hastye of libertye Manye sekinge libertye haue fallen into further captiuitie and greater bondage There be amongste oure people manye euell disposed persones whose delite is in warres for it is their whole study amongst whoÌ„ many good meÌ„ do also pearish Wherfore hear my wordes as for them that be wise maye perceiue the matter them selues they that lacke experience let them learne wisdom at my sayinges Kepe therfore silence whiche shal be as well to mine as to your owne commodity for I shal not nede to streine my selfe but speake the softlier with lesse pain and ye on the other side may the better heare and vnderstand what I say If ye holde not your peace ye shall haue two discommodities ye shall interrupte my communication and let your selues from hearinge But nowe to the purpose ye shal be content and suffer til I write to Rome of these matters that Cesar mai remoue these euill rulers and sende vs theÌ„ that be more humain and geÌ„tle If ye may haue once such then shal ye not thinke your selues in bondage but in libertie and worthilye for then only is seruitude greuous whan as the ruler is an vniuste manne and wicked Now therfore stay your selues quarell not with them for althoughe they bee wicked yet wyll they be ashamed to do wrong openly as that that they do thei do it secretly But if ye shuld accuse theÌ„ to much thei would rub their foreheads and do it openly without all shame so shoulde you make of your iudges and rulers your open enemies But it vvere farre better to suffer an vniust gouernour then a iust enemie For the one robbeth men priuely the other is an open destroier prouoke them not therfore Consider the wylde beastes that be vnder mans power and be kepte in cheynes as Lions Beares and Leopardes if a man lette them alone they are quiet and harme no man But if a man go to their dennes and anger theÌ„ then they will flee vpon hym worry him and other to that be present The same ye maye perceaue in a seuer and an agew which if a man wil go about to cure at the beginning he shall make it more greuous but if he will remedy it by leasure the seruencie of it wil easly be quenched Nowe therfore refrayne your selues take hede ye set not Caesar in your toppes the hole Romain empire Caesar coueteth not your harme neither sent he vnto you these rulers to hurt you His eies can not see froÌ„ easte to west nor his hand reatch froÌ„ Rome hether for it is flesh and bloud But if ye will abide til I may sende embassadours to Caesar I doubt not but I shal remoue these rulers and rid you of theÌ„ peaceably without any warre or bloud shed If ye be vtterly determined to resist the Romaine Empire you shal vnderstand you be in no wise able to dooe it for god is euery where on their side so that they be Lordes throughout all the worlde and all people serue them and shall till their ende also come But if ye will not dooe this for your owne sakes yet do it for your own countreis sake your children and wifes the sanctuary priestes whome ye are bouÌ„den to loue and spare least ye caste awaye and vndoe all them at once I beseche you take my wordes in good parte for I haue spoken nothyng but that that is for your wealth and that may further oure peace with the Romaines whiche I moste wishe If you will be ruled and chuse peace I will take your parte and dooe the beste I can for you but if ye wyll nedes haue warres ye shall haue it alone for me I will not medle with you With this Agrippas fell on weping and so did also all the elders with him and the men of moste wysdome the chiefe in all Israell yea Ananie the hie priest also coulde nor refreine from teares NotwithstaÌ„ding Eleasar his stoute soÌ„ne with his routes of warlike yonge men about him they wepte not at all nor would harken or geue any eare to holsom couÌ„sell but all at once with their drawen swoordes violently rushed vpon the Romayne capitaines that came with Agrippas slue theÌ„ their men al the multitude that was with him in Hierusalem Iudea The elders in Iudea with the wisest godliest Israelites seynge what was done departed froÌ„ Hierusalem fearing Nero the crueltie of the Romaines Therfore they toke the toure of Sion remained there For they woulde not be taken of the Romaines to be of the same confederacie with the other The sedicious seing that tooke the temple of the Lorde So dissention and ciuyll warres fell betwene the sedicious and the auncieÌ„tes For when Eleasar heard the elders and heades of the people were fled to the mount Sion he and his company set vpon them preuailed against them and slew a great meany of them Agrippas perceiuing the power of the sedicious grewe apace he sent oute of his campe where he laye without the towne twoo valeaunt captaines one named
staffe passed I this Iordane Hys necessaries tooke wyth him for his iourney was praier wherwith he made al his wars That was it for the whyche God assisted him when he went away to Laban and when he returned from him when also he was deliuered out of the hands of hys brother Esau that sought to kyll hym Moreouer by the way as he returned when he wrasteled with a certaine man and ouercame him Oh lorde who is able to number the mercies of the Lord the maruails which he wrought wyth our fathers of worthye memorie Abraham Isaac and Iacob What should I speake of Moyses our shepeherd the man of god that feared the cruelty of Pharao vntil he writ in the law that he had called the name of his son Eliasar for he said the god of his father helped him deliuered him out of the handes of Pharao And when he came before Pharao to deliuer Israell oute of hys handes and to leade thē out of Egypt what thing els ouercame he the tyrāt withal thē with praier Did he not ouerthrow the prid of Pharao his charmers only with the rod of the Lord which he had with him Wherwith also he smote Aegipt with ten plages deuided the sea into twelue pathes And at the red sea Moyses resisted not Pharao and hys hostes wyth force of armes but with prayer wherfore Pharao all his ware drouned in the botom of the sea But Moyses sang a song of prayse vnto oure God whyle the souldiers of the Aegiptians perished that came agaynste Moyses and the people of Israell with weapons horses chariotes notwithstāding by the meanes of Moyses prayer they wer ouerwhelmed al in the sea so that not one of thē escaped Who is ignorant of this that prayer is of more force then all instrumentes of war that it spedeth and hasteneth the help of the Lorde and his sauing health Do you not know whā Iosua the minister of Moyses passed ouer Iordan that he was a warlyke man and had with him very manye moste valeant souldiers Neuertheles he destroyed not the seuen walles of Iericho by force of war but all onlye with prayer and with the showtes noyse of the preestes of the Lorde our forfathers Knowe ye not howe that prayer auayled Gedeon when as he with 300. men vanquished the hole hoste of Median Amalek the people of the east if prayer had not helped him I praye you what had 300. men ben able to do against so great a multitude Mark ye fond people what chaūsed in the arke of the couenant of the Lorde that the Philistins toke away Our fathers truly were not able to recouer it by theyr swordes force of armes But with the prayer that the iust men of that adge made the ark was brought agayn vnto his place Cōsider the times of Hezekia king of Iuda when as Sennacherib king of Assur came vp blaspheming rayling vpō the sanctuary of the Lord God of hostes vttering the pryd malice of his hart by what meanes was he ouerthrone did our fathers ouercome him by force of armes Nay without doubte but with prayer supplication For Hezekia the king went put on apparail mete for prayer in sted of a shild he toke sack cloth for a helmet he cast dust vpō his heed in steed of arrowes a sword he set hand vpon prayer and supplieatiō And the prayer the Hezekia made mounted vp so far as no arrow had bene euer able to flee so that hys one petition and prayer ouerthrou 185. thousand most valeāt men of the hoste of Sennacherib Forthermore the king of Iuda king of Israell king of Edom ioyning their powers together inuaded the Moabites in a wildernes an vnoccupied barē dry lād they wer in great peril for thyrst what profited thē their artillery furniture of war Did there not issue out for thē at the instant praier of Eliseus a prophet mā of God plēty of waters in the desert a broke in the wildernes Came it not to passe also by the praier of the same Eliseus that a wonderful hurlybucly a rūbling ratling of chariots of war of horses was hard in the camps of the Sirianes besedging the citie of Samaria with the which noyse the Sirianes being a ferd fled noman pursuing nor folowing thē ye know also the by the prayer of the forsayd prophet the famin and lack of victuales that was in the toune of Samaria was turned into great abundaūce and plenty in so much that thirty Ephas or mesures of fine meale were sold for one piece of siluer Do you not see most folish men how our forfathers had the victory euer by prayer But let vs come to the beginning agayn and speak of Moyses what tyme as he held vp his handes toward heauen had not Israell the vpper hand of the Amalekites by his prayer Iosua also by hys prayer stayed the sunne and mone in the sight of the people of Israell the sunne stode stil in Gibeon the moone in the valey of Ailon that the euening was chaūged into monday and so Israel vanquished their enemies Sampson also that moste valeant gyant vntill such time as he had sinned did not God euermore heare his praier euer he gat the victory therby After he had once sinned he decayed as any other meane person Lykewyse also kynge Saule al the while he walked perfectly and purely his prayer encreased hys valeantnes and strenght but after he had once sinned God left hym gaue him ouer Dauid also king of Israel of famous memory from the time of his youth till his laste end his valiantnes neuer fayled him and why bycause he alwayes was helped bi his praier neither wolde he euer fight agaynst hys coūtry men and natiue people whan as Saule persecuted him Wherefore he preuayled agaynst his enemies and bycause he absteyned to lay his hādes vpon hys brethern therfore afterward all nations feared him Dyd not Assa king of Iuda accompanied with a smal numbre of men make an expedition againste the Aethiopianes and praing to the Lorde God sayd on this wyse VVe in dede knovve not vvhat to do but oure eyes are bente vpon thee c. Which prayer the almighty dyd hear and the victory followed so that Assa slew in the campes of the Aethiopians tenne hundreth thousand men Deboras a prophetyse by her prayer brought to pas great health in Israel What shal I tel of diuers other iuste godly wemen which by theyr prayers obteined many thīgs Tel me ye mad mē know ye not what Amaziahu king of Iuda did He hauing warres wyth the Edomites vāquished them and led them prysoners with their wyues and children idoles also to Ierusalē then fell to worshipping of the same idoles that he had taken from the Edomites saing vnto thē you ar they which haue saued me by the reason Iworship you therfore haue I ouercomed the Edomits
comditions of peace whether whē he was come he sente his embassadours to the citizens to intreate the peace with thē Whereunto the Cityzens accorded and were readye to enter in league with Titus When as this wicked Iehochanan perceiued the auncient men of the towne and the heades wolde receiue peace he commaunded his companions to kepe the walles to let them from speaking with the Romaines and that they woulde geue the Romaines their answer So therfore seditious Iehochanā made answer to the embassadoure of Titus saying to morow haue we a solempne feast to the Lord God tell thy master Titus therfore that he graunte vs truce for two daies and the thirde day we wil geue him answer Wherwith Titus was contente and lefte the assaulte for two daies These thinges were done vpon Whitson euen which was called the feaste of weakes and haruest The night afore the third day appointed was come Iehochanan and his complices gate them oute of the towne and fled toward Ierusalem ere Titus knew therof On the morow he sent his embassadour to demaūd their answer what they would do They answered we desire to entre in a league with you for we are yours to do you what pleasure your hart desireth vpon this condicion that none of the Romaines hurt ether our bodies or goodes Titus vpon this made peace with them confirminge it by writinge sealed for the better assuraunce therof So they opened the gates and Titus came into the town with his hole armi the Iewes receiued him with great ioy honoring him very much Then Titus inquired for Iehochanan and his confederates the citizens declared vnto him how he fled by night withal his towards Ierusalem Titus hearing that sent after to pursue him yet they found him not he had made such spede Notwithstanding many of the people that wēt out of the town with him that they might escape the daunger both men wemen children old and impotent persōs they enertoke slue them euery one and returned with a great spoyle After this Titus wan all the cities in Galile and set rulers in them Then Vaspasian dislodged from thence and came to the mount Tabor which hath snow vpon it continually the height therof is .xxx. furlonges and vpon the top is a plaine of .xxiii. furlong◠broade Thither sent Vaspasian one of his Captaines called Palgorus whiche tooke the mountaine and the towne that stode thereon But here I will leaue of the historie of the rest of the battails that were fought in other places in the lande of Israel and Galile and speake no more of them in this boke for they be almoste innumerable and we haue made mencion of them in the historie of the Romains ⧠The Historye of the siege of Hierusalem NOwe wyll wee discribe the battails of Hierusalem howe the city was besieged by the Romains wherin we will declare all thinges truelye as our maner is faithfullye accordynge to the veritie of that was done It came to passe therfore as Iehochanan the Galilean was fled to Hierusalem he found there men mete for his purpose iniurious persons wicked menne murtherers disceiuers bloudsheaders an infinite number for out of all countreys within the land of Iuda there repared thither all men of warre to defende the sanctuarie of our God and Anani the hie priest receiued al that came These seinge Iehochanan and his valeantnesse fell from Anani the hie priest and claue vnto him deuising with him of al their affaires So Iehochanan conspired with those cutthrotes to laye handes vppon the rich men of the city and to spoile them of their goodes and this was their maner when they espied any notable rich man of the city they woulde after this sort quarrel with him Art not thou he that hast sent letters to the Romains and to Vaspasian to betraye the citye vnto them Thus woulde thei examin him before the people and when he woulde answer God forbid I shoulde so do then woulde they bringe in lims of the Deuil of their owne companye to beare false witnesse againste him that he might be condempned to death by the law for a rebel Thus dealt thei with Antipas and Lohia bothe noble men and of the chiefe of the citye and their goodes withal their iewels the seditious ceased for them selues They quarels also to the hie priestes thruste them from their charges that thei could not execute their seruice Moreouer thei cast lottes who should haue the priests office and who should be no priest For they helde the priesthode and seruice of God for ioyes gaudes and trifles So the lotte fel vpon one that was called Pani the sōne of Peniel a carterly husbandman ignorant what belonged to the priestes office so that he was vtter lie vnworthy of the priesthode yet thei made him hye priest for all the so light a matter made they of the priest hode The good Godlye men of Hierusalē seing the power of these Ruffians and wicked persons beare suche swinge they stack together and determined to with stande them by force The people therfore earnestlye moued with anger set vpon them and encountred with them in suche sort that the fight was greate on bothe sides in the streates in the market place in the temple and in the entraunce of the Temple till all the citye was filled full of dead bodies and slaine men For there was not so much as one streate but there was some skirmishes in it The people at length gat the vpper hand of the Ruffiās for thei were eigerly set earnestly bēt against thē The sedicious therfore seing thē selues not able to make their party good with the people fled euerie man into the temple of the Lorde shutte it after them and there remained But Anani the hie Prieste seinge the wicked to be fledde to the temple willed the people to cease their fightynge vpon theim in the holie temple of the Lorde least they shoulde pollute it with the bloude and dead carcases of these wicked persons The people therefore left of the fight Then Anani beset the temple rounde about with a vs thousande of the beste and pickedst men of the people wel armed all of them wyth iackes and Sallettes and as well weapened with euerye manne a sworde a Target and a Speare or Pyke to keepe the Temple that they shoulde not come foorthe Moreouer Anani caste in his minde that besides the settynge vppon theim in the Temple whiche were in no wise semelye it shoulde also bee as greate a dammage if the people of the Lorde shoulde one riue and sticke an other in the verye Temple For these causes he sente Embassadours to Iehochanan the Galilean chiefe Capitaine of the the sedicious and thieues offerynge hym peace but Iehochanan refused it For the Sedicious had sente for the Edomites to come and ayde them These Edomites hadde bene euer from their firste beginnynge verie hardye and Valiaunte menne and warrelyke yet were they subiecte to the Iewes For Hircanus kynge
you and hym Oh my deare children and brethren let neuer this imagination enter into youre heartes for it shall nothinge auail you Why will you my deare brethren and frendes make war vpon the Romains when as they are lords ouer nacions haue pearced the straightes of India of al Isles of the sea euen to the great Ocean sea froÌ„ thence to al the parts of the East whose dominion extendeth to the extreame parâ—es of the earth Yea euen to Brytayn ouer al Scotlande whiche is enupronned on cuerye syde wyth Seas whose people is huge like Gyantes of a bigge stature and of a mightye courage most expert archeâ—s valiant souldiers in battail To whom when the Capitaine of the Romayns came they gaue him the repulse and would not be subdued but when the Prynces of the Romaines came they brought them into subiection and seruitude vnder the Romayns But you saye my brethren frendes you wyll rather all dye then serue the Princes of the Gentyles and that death is better for you then lyfe to be driuen to see with youre eyes the calamities of the sanctuarye and people of GOD. Search the histories and chronicles frome the tyme of youre auncestours When was there euer anye tyme wherin you were free frome the yoke of the Gentils Do you not know that Iacob our father of worthy memorye who was alwayes wyth GOD and God with hym toke his iourney into Egypte to bee a straunger in a straunge land amongst a proude kinde of people least he his children housholde and cattell shoulde pearish with honger There he hadde wyth hym his twelue sons whiche he had begotten and dwelt there also with his smal familie for fear of the greuous famine that was at that tyme. Remember you not when that Iudas wyth hys brethren wente downe into Egypte howe Iosephe was moued as a straunger to pycke a quarell agaynste hys brethrene to brynge theim into bondage bearynge yet in hys minde what iuiurye they hadde done hym Wherefore some of theim he caste in Prisone and â—handeled theim at hys pleasure with crafty accusations especially Iuda who was the chiefe amongest them of whom all the Iewes toke their name whoe if he hadde bene so disposed hadde bene able to laye Ioseph at hys foote a thousande tymes not knowynge hym to bee Iosephe Wherefore when he was so roughlye and so sharpelye taunted of hym hee myghte haue killed hym in hys rage For he was a verye bolde manne and a hardye and of a noble courage whiche surely hadde not forced a rishe to haue slayne that Egyptian and moe to of his fellowes Notwythstandynge he did not soo vut contrary submitted hym selfe vnder the yoke of Iosephe called hym his Lorde and good master supposing him to be some Egiptian humbled him self before him to obtain his peticion to get corne least his father his brethren and other familye should die for honger What should I saie of Ioseph so beautifull so wise wittye a man was not he faine to serue in Pharoos house wherein although his wisdome was well knoweÌ„ insomuch that Pharao set more by him then by al the noble meÌ„ that were then aliue was also called lord greatmaster and Pharaos father neuertheles he huÌ„bly besought Pharao that he might sustaine his father and brethrene wyth bread knowyng that at the time the dominion belonged to Pharao his people beinge geuen theim of God And although if Iosephe had list to returne into the lande of Canaan wyth all hys fathers whole housholde without Pharaos leaue no man coulde haue letted hym to do it for he bare the greatest rule at that tyme in Egypte yet did he not so Beniamin also who was likened to a reuenynge woulfe for hys fearcenes when he was fetched agayne by force of Iosephes Stewarde faynyng a lye vppon hym howe chaunced he did not kyll hym Or els when he alone pursued Beniamin and hys other brethren coulde not be if he hadde list haue slayne the felowe and buried him so that the matter shoulde neuer haue come to light Notwythstandyng they did nothinge so nor so but Iudas wiselye waiynge the eraltations and deiections the promocions and disgracynges wyth the common courses of the worlde retourned agayne wyth his brethren into the Citye wente to Iosephe and besought hym vntyl his bowels were moued to pitye and hee was knowen of his brethren All these thinges doth the most holy lawe of the Lord rehearse vnto vs putteth vs in minde of for this intent that we maye learne to beare for necessities sake the yoke of him that hath the preeminence rule for his time Nether let any iudge or thinke the Ioseph offended god in that he submitted him selfe vnder the yoke of Pharao for it is no shame for a wise maÌ„ to crouch vnto him whose helpe he staÌ„deth in nede of whatsoeuer he be much more if he be a kyng or a Lorde Do ye not knowe that oure fathers were in bondage to king Pharao in Aegypt But after the lorde remembred the couenaunt that he made with our fathers and had determined to lead them out of Aegipt he sent Moses our maister of famous memory his Angel his chosen who knew the lorde to be with hym wherby he was able to destroy who soeuer dyd ryse against him neuerthelesse when he came to Pharaos presence who then bare rule in Aegipt he showed not hym felfe in armes but rather wyth thunder and hayle that Pharao mighte well perceyue and knowe God was the Lord. But at what tyme as Pharao oppressed the Israelites to sore oure master Moyses by godes helpe brought them out of Aegipt with a strong hand and a stretched forthe arme agaynste the Aegiptianes whom he punished with continuall plages by that meanes deliuering the Israelites out of the handes of their Lordes and Maisters and bringing them to the mount of God made them heyres of all goodnes that is to saye of the moste holye lawe of God And after Iosua had subdued the holy lande to the Israelites and that they inhabited it there chaunsed vnto oure fathers times of aduersitie as it is meÌ„tioned in the bookes of the Prophetes so that they were constreyned to serue the king of Aschur a long season and the kinges of Persia to the Chaldees also were we in bondage althoughe not very greuous but tollerable More ouer with other kinges of the gentiles we had warres and sometimes we were put to foyles sometimes we had the vpper hand Nowe therefore my brethern tell me what shame were it to you if you were subiecte to the Romaines or what ar you to be coÌ„pared to other nations that be vnder theyr dominion Do you not see that the Romaines reigne ouer your enemies and beare rule ouer them that sometimes were your maisters and haters were it not reason rather that you shuld loue them whiche haue brought doun your enemies and reuenged you of them whych notwithstanding you haue nothing at all dooen but rather haue
To whome wheÌ„ a prophet of the Lord came asked him why sekest thou and seruest the Goddes of that people that were not able to deliuer theÌ„ out of thy hand By by he taunted the prophet agayne sainge who made the of the kinges counsel wherfore after that he was no moar repreheÌ„ded of the prophet for the lord had determined to distroy him as it is writen in the bokes of the chronicles of the kinges of Iuda Ther fore he was taken prisoner afterward like a fore when as he fought agaynst Ioas king of Israel in Bethschemesch so was he compared to a lowe vyle thorn or shrub And Ioas vnto the noble hye ceder tree Yea all the euilles that euer happened vnto vs in any age it came of our selues for our lord God is ryghteous in all his workes that euer he wrought vpon vs. Oure enemis did vs neuer so much harm as we did to our selues to our owne liues Ye wote the geÌ„tiles toke our precious vessels of our saÌ„ctuary away to babel brought vs theÌ„ agayn vndefiled but we polluted defiled them our selues the teÌ„ple also with innoceÌ„t blud which we shed abundantly within it adding sinnes to sinnes euer mo mo breking the lawe with our euil actes For who brought the Romains first against the city of IerusaleÌ„ but Hircanus Aristobulê° for they being at dissentioÌ„ betwixt theÌ„ selues one hating the other called the to mains against this city who brought Antoni Sosius princes of the Romains agaynst Ierusalem but Herod beyng at variance for the kingdom with the house of Chasmonanites who also called Nero Caesar to reygn ouer vs dyd you it not your selues Nowe therfore why rebel ye against the empyre dominion of the Romaines If you will saye bycause the Romayn presideÌ„t Edomaeus ordered you to bad had it not ben mete rather to complain of him to the Emperour then to rebel agaynste the Romaynes and to make warre against them But you wyll say we rebelled agaynst Nero Caesar because he did vs to muche wronge Wherefore then rebell ye now against Vaspasian Caesar a moste merciful man and one which neuer hurt you Or why make ye not peace with his son to be vnder him accordinge as other nationes be that ye might lyue and not peryshe Haue ye not a sufficient profe of hys clemencie and mercifulnes when as he hath cause to be cruel vpon no man so much as vpon me whiche drew out my sword agaynst the Romaines and killed many of them notwithstanding neyther he nor the reste of the Romains haue done me any harme Yea rather they haue bestowed many benefites vpon me and although I was in their handes yet they haue saued my lyfe Yea I coÌ„fesse that before they had me prisoner I wolde gladly many times haue fled to theÌ„ but I could neuer do it for I was euer aferd of my wicked coÌ„paions least they shulde haue killed me so my death had bene to no purpose But now I prayse the lorde God without ceassing bycause that for his vnmeasurable mercies sake he wold not suffer me to be entaÌ„gled in the same mischieues the you be in Nether wold I wish to be a coÌ„panion of such loste vnthriftes castawayes as you be which haue shed the bloud of innoceÌ„tes in the teÌ„ple of the lord In deed if I had bene with you I shuld haue ben voyd of al hope as ye be seinge ye spare not your owne liues your owne coÌ„tumacie stubbernes is made a snare for you See I pray you with how great mischiefes you are laden First the lord is not emongst you insomuch the through the warres whiche you haue made emoÌ„gst your selues almost the waters of Schiloach ar dried vp which her tofore wheÌ„ the nations made war against you flowed in great abuÌ„dance ran ouer the bankes on both sydes But you are oâ—erth wart rebelles that haue euer prouoked the lord God vnto wrath you haue made slaughteres one vpoÌ„ an other in the midest of the teÌ„ple of the lord how can then the glory of the lord dwel emongst you Knowe ye not bycause of Korach his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ the lord sayd vnto Moyses to his people Separate your selues froÌ„ emoÌ„g this coÌ„gregatioÌ„ and I shal coÌ„sume theÌ„ in a tvvinkling of an eye But you are far worse then they for without all remors or pitie â—e pull doun the teÌ„ple of the lord with our own haÌ„des you your selues set fyre on the sanctuary which most noble kinges most holy prophets builded besyds al this ye nether spare your sonnes nor doughters And although I be in the Romains caÌ„p yet I am not absent froÌ„ you for my moste dearly beloued wife is with you the wife of my youth whoÌ„ I can not set lightly by at this present although I neuer had childreÌ„ by her but rather loue her moste entierly bycause she came of a most honest godly house My dear father mother ar also with you very aged persones for my father is at this day a hundreth three yeres olde my mother four score and fyue but the yeres of my life ar very few euil ful of tribulacion sorowe about threscore seuen nether haue I lyued yet so long that according to nature I shuld desire to dye Now therfor if so be it you trust not me but suppose I haue proposed these thinges to you deceytfully and that ther is no trust of Titus coueuant and bonde or that his league shuld be to your hinderaÌ„ce and discoÌ„moditie go to if it come so to pas it shal be leeful for you to kil my father mother my wife yea I swere vnto you by the lorde our God that I shall deliuer my lyfe also into your handes that you may do with me what ye list and by that meanes shall the bloud of my parentes my wyues myne be in pledge Therfore let the auncieÌ„t of the city come forth I wil make a league betwixt them and our lord Titus And doubt ye not but as hytherto the lorde God wold you shuld be afflicted punished by the gouernement of the Romaynes so hereafter he shall benefyt you therby and doo you good if so be it you wil once acknowledg and coÌ„fesse that al dominion is chaunged and altered at his coÌ„mandement that God humbleth whome he lyste and agayn whom he list he setteth aloft But persuade your selues of this that as longe as ye refuse to be subiect vnto the Romaines so long ye styre agaynste your selues Godes wrath and hye displeasure and besydes that differ the lengar and prolong your redemption and deliuerance not only to your selues but also to your posteritye Nowe therfore my brethern I thought it my parte to declare al these thinges vnto you and it is in your power to chuse whyther ye lyste for who so will let him geue eare vnto me and who not let him absteyn from my
was in the â—â—tie forbade the Citizins to say â—â—â—â—ye thing to him afterward supposing hâ—â— to be besides him self mad Therfore he neuer left criyng for the space of iiii yeâ—â—â—il the waâ—rrs began saâ—yng Wo to Hâ—erusaleÌ„ to the sanctuary therof When the warres were once begâ—â—e and the towne besieged it fortuned as he wandered about vpon the wals â—â—iyng after his maner and at last adding this Woe vnto my felfe a stone came out of an engine from the campe and smitte out his braines At that time â–ª also there was a wrttynge founde 〈…〉 in a stene of olde whiche the Ieâ—â—â— redde the wordes were these VVhâ—â— tyâ—ne the building of the temple shal be brought to soure square then it shall be destroyed Now when the Antochâ—â— was taken and raced by the Romains and the walles of the temple were also broken the Iewes makinge spede to repaire the ruiâ—es and 〈…〉 without any remeÌ„â—raunce of this scripture thei made the teÌ„plâ—◠〈◊〉 squarâ— Besides this there was a scripture foâ—â—â—â—e in the wall of the Sanctâ—m sanâ—â—â—um on this wise VVhen the vvhole building of the temple shal be foure 〈◊〉 the â—f hall a king raine ouer Israel â–ª and that king and ruler shal raigne ouer all the lande of Israell Some interpâ—â—ted this vpon the king of Israell But the Priestes saide it is the kinge or ruler of the Romains The whole armye of the Romains being now commed into the temple and the Iewes also fled to the mount Syon the Romaines set vp their ydols in the temple of the Lorde and offered Sacrifice vnto theim blaspâ—eminge and raylinge at the Iewes and their god At that tyme there came downe to the Romaynes a little boye of the priestes from the mount Syon whiche wonte to a â—aptaine of the Romayns that was keper of the temple and desieted him to geue him some water to drinke He toke pitye of the boy and bade geue him water The boy takyng the vessel that the water was in first dranke him self then ranne away with the rest The captaine ranne after him hym selfe but he wonâ—â—e not ouertake hym of a purpose because he was delited with the Boyes doinge wherfore he let him go for the nonces so he gate vp to the priostres gaue theÌ„ drinke On a time when the Romains were aâ— theyr sacâ—â—fyes in the presence of Titus theyr Lordeâ— certayâ—e of the priestes came and besought Titus that be waulde not kyâ—l them to whom Tâ—tus made aunswâ—r why do ye wysh to lyue nowe and nâ—â—â—ather to dye with your bretherâ— that haue 〈◊〉 deathe for the Gods sake of thys house Then Tâ—tus commaunded hys menne to 〈◊〉 them and so dyed they After Schimcon and Iehochanan sent embassadoâ—â—â—â— Titus to requyer peace to whom Titus made â—unswer in 〈◊〉 wyse Ye 〈◊〉 thys thyng to late and howe cometh it to passe that ye now intreate for 〈…〉 lyues when that of so great a number of people ye haue left none saue a â—â—â—y sewe When as also ye haue wasted al thynges most cruelly and despeâ—â—â—â— ytâ— Howe after all these your mischiâ—ons actes ye reguire peace which ye would neuer receyue of me althoughe I desâ—red you neuer so ofâ—e For it â—ityed me to see youre people some to hee vered â—yth honger and some to bee caste â—ute of the Citye wythoute anye buriall But ye hardened youre neckes and woulde neuer admit anye Peace tyll all the people were destroyed Therefore Titus reprehended theim with manye other wordes saiyng vnto theim Tell mee you Sedicious you wycked and synnefull persones haue not you slayne the people of the Lorde You set his house on fire you brought vpon this Citye all this mischiefe Howe can you therefore persuade your selues or presume to desire the sauegarde of â—our liues and why will ye liue alone of all the Sages righteous innocente Godlye and holye menne whom ye haue slayne without anye mercye Howe maye I committe this not to be adâ—enged of you that haue done me so much mischiefe Ye desire lyfe and yet perseuer and continue in your malyce still holding your swetdes in your handes and beynge in Armes neuerthelesse ye entrâ—â—â—e â—â—es to saue youre lyues Haue we not nowe taken the Citye and also the temple the Sanctum sanctoruÌ„ haue wee not burnt it with fire What is there left for you to put anye hope in what loke ye for to remaine Wherfore cast away your swords and laie awaye your armoure then come vnto me and entreat me and then shal I knowe what I haue to do peraduenture I shall be gracious vnto you and pardon you your liues The captaynes of the sedicious Schimeon and Iehochanan made answere to Titus We haue sworne by the Lorde our God who is God of heauen earth â—â—at we wil neuer bear thy yoke no 〈◊〉 thee nor make any peace with thâ—â— to be subiect vnto thee Nowe therfore if it be thy pleasure to shewe vs mercye suffer vs to go out of the Citye and we will take our iourney into the wildernesse whiche if thou wilt graunt vs we wil reporte that we haue founde fauour at thy hande if not wee wyll remayne in this place to see what wee shall determyne and what maner of deathe we wyll dye When Titus heard this he was wonderfully wroth and said remaineth the pride of your hartes and the hardnesse of your neckes yet with you still although ye be taken yet ye dare be so bould to say we haue sworne that we wil not beare thy yoke Yea ye haue sworn vnto death for ye haue despised life when as your citye is wonne the house of the Sanctum sanctorum is burnt and no refuge is left you Wher with theÌ„ caÌ„ ye put away your ignomini shame and what is your hope if a man 〈…〉 Then gaue Titus coÌ„maunde 〈…〉 the Romaines that they should not omit any oportunity to set vpoÌ„ the sedicious by one meanes or other to destroys Schimeon Iehochanan There was at time a certain man of the kinges bloud whose name was Serach he accompanied withal his brethren and sonnes that were there with him of the kinges bloude came downe from the Mount Sâ—on to Titus who receiued them honorably getlely ordered them When Iehochanan Schimeon vnderstode that Serach and the rest were gone and had yelded theÌ„ to Titus they wente and set fire vpon all that was in the kinges palaice that the Romains should haue no commodity therby FRom thence they wente to the temple where they founde certaine noble men and captaines whome Titus had put in authoriti about the temple of whome three were chiefe one captaine of the horsmen the seconde of the charrets and the thirde of the foote men him they killed and toke his companioÌ„ aliue This besought them that had taken him that he might be brought to Schimeon their captaine let hym saith he do with me as he lift and in this one thinge let me finde fauour at your
handes They agreed broughte him to Schimeon who commaunded his seruauntes assone as he was come to flea him But while he that was apointed to this businesse made delay and killed him net by and by he whipt downe of the hill escaped and came to Titus who commaunded him oute of his sighte being wroth with him that he had not sought vnto deathe rather then to be taken quicke But with the Iewes was he wonderfullye displeased that they had so dispitefullye ordered his men wherfore he commaunded to kil all the Iewes as many as could be founde in the streetes of the â—â—ye whome he woulde haue spared before and caused proclamation to be made throughoute all hys campe for theyr safetye Then died many of the Iewes so that euerye place was full of deade bodies The menne of warre of the Edomites whythe were wyth Schimeon perceiuinge howe the matter wente they sente Embassadoures to Titus to desire peace and to saue theyr lyues which when it came to Schimeons ear he wente vnto them and slue the chiefe of them and their noble men the rest of the people of the Edomites fledde vnto Titus From that time forthe Titus commaunded his men to vse no more truelty vpoÌ„ the Iewes Sone after fled Iehochanan and Schimeon and hid theÌ„ selues in certain caues The rest of the chief meÌ„ of the Iewes that were with them seing them nowe to be fled came nowne from the Mounte vnto Titus set downe vpon their face before hym vpon the ground whome Titus receiueâ— gentlelye As for the sedicious that were with Schimeon Iehochanan they fought till they al died together TheÌ„ cam forth vnto Titus one Iosua a priest sonne of Schaftai the hie prieste bringing with him two candelstickes of gold which were in the sanctuary and the tables of gold with other vessels of siluer and gold and also the holye vestures decked with golde and precious stones all those he gaue vnto Titus who made him chiefe priest ouer them that remained nexte vnder Ioseph the priest for Titus gaue Ioseph authority as wel ouer the priestes and Leuites as ouer the whole people of the Iewes Then was Gorion the father of Ioseph that writ this history brought oute of the prison with his wife and children among whoÌ„ was one Bonian Iosephs yonger brother he was a verye wise a godly priest by whome god bestowed many benefites vpoÌ„ the Israelites For Titus lefte him at Ierusalem and tooke him not with him as he did Ioseph Iosephes father liued after the city was taken twenty moneths died They tooke then also one Phmeas a prieste who was keper of the treasure house he bewraied and vttered to the Romains al the treasures of the priestes and their vestements he gaue also vnto Titus a moosse precious oyle wyth swere oâ—ours and perfumes and garmentes also of purple which the kinges of the second temple had geueÌ„ Wherfore both this Phineas and Iosua whoÌ„ we mentioned afore transgressed the couenaunte of the Lord and offended God in that they deliuered his iewels to the ennemies of his people whiche thei ought not to haue done but rather to haue died for the glory of the Lord as the other priestes did whiche caste them selues into the fire Thus was the city of Ierusalem takeÌ„ with al the precious thinges that were therein and Titus went vp to the mount Sion â—â—ke it and raced the walles therof Vpon a three daies after Iehochanan sore vert with hunger leste his place where he lucked and came to Titus fell downe afore him and kissed his feete sayinge saue me O Lord king Titus commauded him 〈◊〉 be fettered with iraÌ„ cheins when he had caused him to be carted about the campe so bound to be mocked of al men by the space of .vii. daies he commaunded to hanâ— him so gate he a iuste ende and fit rewarde for his cruelty After ware came Schimeon also forth of his den being driueÌ„ with famin he had out on king ye apparel shewed him self a far of to the Romaine host who seing him were afraide to go to him but he called vnto theÌ„ askt foâ— sâ—me captaine Then one came forth sâ—id vnto Schimeon tel me who the art I wil not kil thee Schimeon answered therefore tolde him I am Schimeon that sedicious Captaine of the Iewes whiche haue made you so muche a not now I beseche thee shew me so muche sauour as to bring me to Titus thi master which he did Titus therfore when he saw Schimeon he coÌ„maunded him to be fast bound and to be â—ed about the whole host that he might be deluded mâ—ckt Afterward he was put to a fore death first his head was striken of theÌ„ he was cut in many peces and cast vnto dogges so he died an abhominable death being punished for his iniquity THe number of the Iewes aswell citizens as other that came vnto the feast to Ierusalem whiche were flaine partly by the Romaines partly by the sedicious duringe the whole tyme of those warâ—es was knowen to be thus many eleuenth hundreth thousand besides them whose noumber was not knowen Onlye they were counted which were slaine buried besides theÌ„ also that after the death of Iehochanan Schimeon died with Eleasar the sonne of Anam the priest whiche were not reckened Thei that were led prisoners by Titus to Rome were .xvi. M. men Titus therfore with Ioseph wente to Rome leauing Bonian Iosephs brother at Ierusalem who was appointed the chiefe priest of them that abode there for that did Ioseph request of Titus whiche he perfourmed The sedicious were all slaine in that battaile whiche they toke in hand for the peoples sake and the temple of the Lord â–ª They also that Titus toke prisoners were put to vile deathes For he reserued many to be mocking stocks in euery 〈…〉 whâ—re he passed by in his way is Rome and in euery towne he commaunded some to be brought forthe and caste vnto the Lions til they were al confumed THere was a certain people 〈◊〉 that time dwelling amongst the moutaines of Arat that were called Alamites whose power Alexander king of Macedonia fearinge closed them in on euery side This people although they had no knowledge of the vse of yron nor armour yet this was their maner that one of theÌ„ with a great poal burnt a little at the ende would put to flight a hundred good souldiours were they neuer so well appointed and armed Vntill this yeare they were alwayes shut in but now being oppressed with a great dearth and famine throughout al their land they sent Embassadours to the People of Hurkan their neighbours requiring them that thei would open the straightes of the mountayns that they might come forth with their wiues and children to seke theim fode The Hurkans grauÌ„ted their requests opened them the entrances of the mouÌ„tains So they came forth wanderyng here and there and spoilynge diuerse countreis til at lengthe they toke