al their captaines thre principal most expert warriours of whome I Ioseph prieste that writ this history was one who by the deuine fauour am valeant in battaile and Anani the hie prieste and Eleasar his sonne To these thre they committed the hole land of Iudea deuidinge it to them by lot and gaue them all furniture of warre One third part therfore which was hole Galile from the land af Napththaly and beyond fel to Ioseph the prieste sonne of Gorion to his honoure and glorye whome for his worthinesse they named also Iosiphon because he was then annointed apointed consecrated to the warres The second lot came forth by the whiche fell vnto Anani the hie prieste the citie of Hierusalem and the countrey aboute it with a charge to repaire the walles of the citie to sustaine the brunt of Vaspasian if he should come so farre The thirde lot fell to Eleasar the sonne of Anani the priest to whom was ioyned captaine Iehoscua and other Iewish captaines By the vertue of this lot fell to them the whole lande of Edom from Elath vnto the redde sea The rest of the land from Iericho to Euphrates with that also that is beyond the riuer and all the lande of Mesopotamia fell to captaine Menasches lotte To other Princes also of Iudea and to the worthiest priestes they committed the fensed cities from the frontiers and boundes of Hierusalem vnto Egipt Vaspasian taking his iourney with his hoste froÌ„ Antiochia came pitched his teÌ„tes in Aram Zofa For he had deuised and determined thus with his counsel first to inuade Galile and after to try what they could do in Ivdea Ioseph the soÌ„ne of Gorion hauing intelligence of thys his purpose departed from Ierusalem to Galile built vp the townes that were destroied repaired their wals gates barres palaces Ordeined captaines ouer the people to lead gouern them some of thousandes some of hundreds tribunes and Decurians He instructed the people also in feates of warres what the soundes of trompettes signified what sound serued to fal in aray what to gather the souldioures together and what to deuide them and after he had instructed them the disciplâ—â— and feates of warre he spake vnto theÌ„ in this wife Ye shal vnderstand deare lites that ye go to fight at this present againstyour enemies Wherfore let no effeminate feare ouercome your harts nor dismaye your selues at the sight of your ennemies but play the men and take a good courage vnto you to fight for your cities for your countrye and for your selues Be not afraid of death but rather be stoute in the defence of your countrye that ye be not led away from it and to fighte for the sanctuary of the Lorde that it be not steined and polluted with thunclennesse of the gentiles Consider that it is better to die in battaile then to liue in captiuitye and bondage Therefore when as ye shall come to ioyne with your ennemies and shall see anye of theym beaten downe and attempte to rise againe who soeuer of you is by and seeth him remember the zeale of your GOD wherewith it becommeth you to reuenge his quarell and beinge moned therewith strike him that he neuer rise agaiene But if you shal se any of your selowes downe being enkindled with the zeale of your God rescue him from the handes of the enemies and if he be not yet slaine cure him If he be dead ye shall do what ye can to burie him in the Israelites burial And so if we shal chuse rather to die then to liue we shall prospere in our warres we shal die for the couenaunt of our God and deliuer our soules bringinge them to the light of life in heauen After he had said this he chose out of the Iewes .ix. thousand fotemen and but fewe horsemen And out of these he chose .vi. hundred of the beste suche as one of them woulde not shrinke from ten ten from an hundred a hundred from a thousande a thousaÌ„d from ten thousand With them Ioseph went to the cities of Agrippas that were in Iehudea to winne them For Agrippas stucke to the Romaines were it right or wronge with al the power he could make He went firste to Tiarua a greate citie that belonged to Agrippa where as both his treasure and municion of warre was WheÌ„ he came theâ— ther he spake to the people vppon the walles and offered them peace on condicion that they should open the gates and deliuer vnto him all the treasure of Agrippas and all his iewels Thus if they would do he then would spare them and flea none of them Were it not better for you saith he to take part with them that defende the sanctuary of God his inheritance then to ioyne your ayde with Agrippas which is coÌ„federate with our enemies and assayleth vs augmenting the power of theÌ„ that hats vs so that he refuseth not to fight against the sanctuary of the lord and the people of his inheritaunce The men of the toune condescending to Ioseph openeth the gates and he â—niring the toune made peace with them and they deliuered him al the kinges treasures for they liked Iosephs woordes consented to take such part as he toke At that time came newes vnto Ioseph that troubled him sore namely that Tiberias had rebelled were reuolted from the people that dwelt at Hierusalem and were chaunged from his lot to become Vaspasianus subiectes who had set a Romaine captaine ouer theÌ„ For reformation wherof he left his armie at Tiarua and toke those six hundreth yong men with him to Tiberias commyng vpon it sodeinly and at vnwares And as he stode vpoÌ„ the bankes of Genosar he espied the nauy of the Romaines that laye there at road to aide Vaspasian whiche Ioseph coÌ„maunded to be brooken in peaces and to be scattered abrode in the sea laake The meÌ„ of Tiberias therefore seinge the shypbordes dispersed in that fashion they conieciured it was done by some of Iosephs hoste wherfore the bandes of the Romaines fled to the towne gate in shytte the gates Ioseph notwithstanding came to one gate of the citie and â—â—tes that the people myght heare saiyng What meaneth this coÌ„spiracie of yours against me yea not against me but rather againste the Lorde God whose couenaunt ye haue transgressed and brooken the bonde that we made with hym ye haue also violated your othe that ye sware by the GOD of Israell that we shoulde altogether fyght againste oure enemies to abate their pryde The people aunswered from the walles wee beseche thee oure Lorde heare thy seruauntes speake God forbidde we shoulde aide the Romaines and not rather the people of the Lorde God of Israell and his sanctuary with the people of his enheritaunce Howbe it there be amongest vs certain proude meÌ„ vngodly persoÌ„es that haue made a league with Vaspasiane and haue broughte into the towne one of his chieftaynes Wherefore and it please thee our Lorde to enter the cytie with
the people that warded that wal wer sain to get them selfes within the sauegarde of the seconde wall â–ª Then Titus commaunded his souldiers to race to the ground that wal that he had pearsed and to carye awaye the stones thereof that they shoulde be no let nor hinderaunce to his men This was the mooste substanciall and strongest wal of al thicker then bothe thother and was builded by Herode The Romaines labouring earnestly in the defacing of the vtter wal were slaine in great noumber by the Iewes from the middle wall before they coulde finishe their purpose The chiefe of the Iewes perceiuing that Titus had not only taken but also quite pulled down the vtter wal howe there was now but two walles left about the towne it went to their hartes and made them loke aboute them therefore began the seditious now earnestlye to thinke of vnity and concord amongst theÌ„ selues so then they deuided the town amoÌ„gst them into three wardes Iehochanan was appointed vnto that warde that is on the Northe parte of the temple beside the Antochia That parte of the town that was toward the tombe of Iochanan the highe prieste was attributed to Schimeon To Eleasar was committed the keepinge of the wall These exhortinge one an other to playe the menne did valeantlye resiste the Romaines so that the conflictes then began to be sore and hard The Romaines for their renown and fame laide on loade and the Iewes againe stucke stiflye to the defence seinge their ende at hande if they were slacke Titus nowe and then exhorted his Souldioures to playe the menne promysinge them that woulde valeauntlye geue the onsette vppon the Iewes aboundaunce of golde siluer and muche honoure withall Then stepte forthe one of his souldiours named Longinus and put hym selfe amongste the routes of the Iewes that were issued out of the toune where he slew a couple of the chiefe of them and streyght recouered hym selfe agayne wythin the araye of the Romaynes But the Iewes shrinkt not frome the Romaynes for they were in a feruent rage and a wonderfull disdayne and to further theyr courage Schimeon came vnto hys men and cryed vpon them wyth a loude voyce saynge For the reuerence of God frendes flye not thys daye who soeuer dothe â–ª flye let hym be sure he shall dye for it and hys house destroyed Titus also admonyshed hys to kepe theyr araye and not to geue back to Schimeon Then wente he hym selfe to that parâ—e of the toune where Iehochanans warde was there he caused an Iron Ram to be planted and bente agaynst the wall for there was a large playne There was at that tyme in Ierusalem one called Kantor who gat to hym a company of the sedicious and shote frome the walles into the Romaynes armye where he slewe very manye compellynge the reste to retyre he wyth nyne other tale felowes whereof he was the Decurian defended one part of the toune Nowe as the Romaynes bended the Ramme to batter the wall Kantor cryed vnto Titus I beseche thee my Lorde Titus be mercyfull of thys moste famous Citie that is almoste bete doune all redye do not deface it vtterly but take pitye of the sanctuary that is in it and destroye not the habitacion of the Lorde God Titus at hys requeste commaunded hys men to staye and to leaue of batterynge the wall then sayed he to Kantor Come forthe hyther to me and thou shalte saue thy lyfe I wyll pardon thee thou shalte not be destroyed Kantor answered I wyl see if I canne perswade these my felowes to come wyth me But he dyd it vppon coloure for none other cause then craftily to tryfle out time to make Titus to leaue of the assaulte for a while So he spake vnto his fellowes that knewe his minde that the Romaines mighte heare Let vs go downe and flye to the Romaine armye Then they drewe oute theyr swordes and made as thoughe they woulde kill him strikinge vppon his harnes and he fel down to the ground in the sighte of the Romaines whiche were ignoraunâ—e of his disceite Then one of the Romaines let flie an arrow that wounded Kantor vppon the face and glauncinge from him slewe an other that stode by him Then Kantor cried oute What do ye will ye shoote at vs that desire to be at peace with you whiche ye graunted your selues and nowe will breake your promisse that ye made vnto vs Is this the rewarde my Lorde Titus that thou rendrest me for goinge aboute to flye vnto thee that thy souldiours shal shoote at me hearinge me to require condicions of peace Nowe therefore my Lorde pleaseth it thee to sends hither some man of honoure to whome I maye come downe and receiue assuraunce of thy promisse and come to thee afterwardes to be as one of thine owne menne Titus thinckinge he mente good faithe spake vnto Ioseph willinge him to goe and make peace with the Iewe in his name then to bringe him vnto him that he might finde sauegarde of his life from the common destruction Iosephe answered Whye wilt thou sende me what haue I offended thee haue I not euer done the true and faithfull seruice Therefore if thou beare me any good will or fauoure sende me not vnto him whome I canne not truâ—â—e for Iosephe mystrusted some subteltye knowinge Kantor afore So Titus sente â—ne captaine Iiarus who sayde vnto Kantor come downe and let vs go together to Cesars sonne Kantor desired him to holde abroade his cloke lappe that he mighte hurle hym downe his monye that he had there least the Iewes perceiuing it woulde take it from him and then he woulde come downe And as Iiarus helde vp his lappe to receyue the money that Kantor spake of Kantor wyth all his myght caste downe a greate Stone whiche Iiarus espiynge lepte asyde and auoyded but it lyghte vppon one of hys fellowes and slewe hym Titus was wonderfull wrothe at thys and foorthwyth planted yet an other yron Ramme agaynste the Walle and at lengthe layed it flatte vpon the grouÌ„d Then commaunded Titus to make fires aboute the Walle whereas the Iewes shoulde escape by Kantor seing that woulde haue fled and as he made haste to scape the fires the weight of bys armour bare hym downe into the fire and there hee dyed more desierous of death then lyfe Then entered the Romaynes within the seconde Walle agaynste whome the Sedicious issued and foughte wyth suche vehemente force that they preuayled agaynste theyr ennemyes slewe manye of the Romaynes and forced the reste to retyre vnto the firste Walle that they hadde beaten downe afore In thys skyrmyshe Titus him selfe tooke a bowe and shotte at the Iewes in suche wyse that no one of hys arrowes were spente in vaine but that it did some anoyaunce vnto the Iewes yet for all that the Iewes gaue theim the repulse from the Towne and the Romaynes were not able to make their partye good wyth theim Wythin foure dayes after came vnto Titus a newe supplye of Souldiours oute of
demaunded restitution of such cities as Hircanus father had taken frō him to whom Hircanus consented in all thinges Wherfore Hartam raysed all the people of Arabia and led theim to Hierusalem to warre vppon it To Hircanus also came all the men of Iuda saue onely they that dwelt at Hierusalem So betwixt them they beset the citie rounde aboute It fortuned that in the solemnitie of the Passeouer they coulde not haue their seruice of the solemnitie in the holy place bicause of the warres Wherupon a certain iust and perfect man of the towne called Hony auriga Onias brake out priuely into the camp of Hircanus and Antipater his counseler besought thē with much prayer teares that they would graunt a truce vnto Ierusalē while the feast of swete breade lasted that they might execute the seruice of Solemnitie in the holye place To whom Hircanus saide Thou art a iust manne and often when thou hast prayed the Lord hath heard thee pray now therfore vnto thy lord God to deliuer Aristobulus into our hands and that Israel may haue rest Hony auriga answered Am I a God or able to remoue battailes that be stirred vp for manye mennes iniquities Thus when he semed to bee vnwillynge to to pray Hircanus men compelled him drawinge their swordes and saiynge If thou wilt not praye thou shalte dye for it Therefore as he sawe his life in ieopardye he cryed vnto the Lorde O Lorde euerlastyng which haste chosen thy people Israell oute of all people hast set thy name in this house maye it please thy maiestie to plant amonge the children of Israel frendshippe and brotherhode take away from amonge them this hatred which is risen of nothing let not th one of these factions preuail against thother seing thei al be thy seruantes and children of thy couenaunt When the seruantes of Hircanus heard him saie so they ranne vpon him with their swords and killed him But God deferd not his vengeance for he strake the host aswel of the Arabiās as of Hircanus wyth a greuous pestilence At the same time came frō Rome a famous captain called Pompeius Pōpeius to warre against the coūtry of Armenia This Pompeius sent one of his chiefe men to Damasco of whom as Aristobulus thus besieged had heard that an armye of the Romaines was come into Damasco he sent him a presente of .iiii. C. pound weight of golde desiring him to remoue the armye of the Arabians frō him and raise the siege In those daies all the worlde obeyed the Romaines That captain therfore writ vnto Hartam king of Arabia in this wise Depart from Ierusalem if not thou shalt vnderstande thou haste broken thy league with the Senate of Rome and the hole armye of the Romaines shall shortly inuade thy land Hartam vppon the sight of this letter raised his siege and departed frō Hierusalem Hircanus also and Antipater departed with shame and reproche Aristobulus vpon that gathered a power and pursued after them gaue the Arabians Israelites that toke Hircanus part a greate ouerthrowe and after returned to Ierusalem with ioy Shortly after Pompeius came to Damasco him Aristobulus presēted with a vine of gold merueylous artificially wrought The rotes of the vine leues clusters grapes that were vpon it wer pure gold the weight therof was .v. C pound Pompeius was very glad therof sent it to Rome to the Cōsul And the hole benche of the Senate whiche was of the nōber of .iii. C .xx. senators wondered at the cunning wit of him that made it and with great ioy they bare it into the temple of their gods placing it in the presēce of the great Idol Iupiter so called after the name of the planet Iupiter Pompeins writ his letters to Aristobulus with great thākes cōmendaciō for the same assuring him how both he the hole Senate fauored him that he shuld haue a frēd of him to speke in his cause as lōg as he liued Hircanus hearing of this was cleane dashed in dispair But Antipater cōforted him saying let not the frēdship that is betwixt Pōpeius thi brother dismay thee I wil go to him make him thy frēd Vpō that he wēt to Pompeius perswaded his minde to hate Aristobulus to fauor Hircanus informinge him thus If thou saith he defēd Hircanus al Israel wil be cōtent to be vnder thy protection for they loue him euery mā But if thou defēd Aristobulus the people wil not obei the for thei hate him Pompeius charged him that no man should be made priuy of their cōmunication For I saith he wil sende for Aristobulus to come vnto me to Damasco and then wil I cause to lay handes of him and deliuer him bound to his brother restoring the kingdō to him Aristobulus vppon the sighte of Pompeius letters resorted vnto him Hircanus also came from the rocke of the wildernesse And as they appeared together before Pompeius Antipater desired him that he woulde do iustice betwixte Hircanus the king and Aristobulus hys brother that rebelled againste him and toke hys kingedom from him without cause Whose saiynges a thousād of the elders of Israel stode vp witnessed to be true Aristobulus made answer I neuer stroue with him for the kingdom vntill such time as I saw al these that made Hircanus king to run in great obloquy to susteine muche reproche because he was so feble a person and of no great wit nor forced much of the kingdome yea til al nations that wer about him whose dominions our progenitors cōquered began nowe to dispise him to passe little for offending him to denye him tribute for his simplicitye mopishnesse with lacke of courage Whē Aristrobulus had said there stode vp a great multitude of goodlye and beautiful yong men apparailed in cloth of Hiacinth and purple with mighti tergettes vpon the same and other ornamentes of gold christall and precious stones affirming with one accord that Aristrobulus saide the truthe namelye that Hircanus forced not of the kingedome At whom Pompeius merueiled saying Happy is this people hauinge so many hansome menne true in their wordes and wise Happy also wer the Senate of Rome if they could bringe to passe that this great nation mighte be vnder their gouernance So he toke his iourney to Ierusalem with Hircanus and Aristobulus But after Aristobulus perceiued the Pompeius stode not to the promise he made him at the beginning for the vine he set light by him and fled from him to Alexandria in Egipt whether Pompeius folowed with his host and beseged Alexādria From thence Aristobulus fled againe to Ierusalem and Pompeius pursued him also thither writing to Aristobulus a letter of truce pardon So Aristobulus came forth to him Pōpeius did him at that time no harme but demaunded to be geuen vnto him all the vessels of the house of the Lord which Aristobulus refusing to do but Pōpeius in a rage caused to lay him faste in
wee make amendes for this synne Who shall pray and make intercession for vs And wyth this Ioseph burste oute on weepynge abundauntlye but they laught him to scorne THen Ioseph helde vp his handes to heauen saiynge Thou Lorde almightye art our father thou hast shapened vs and by thy great mercye taken vs out of cley thou art he that leadest vs in thy faieth and the multitude of thy mercies and benignitie towards vs hath not ceassed And although our sinnes haue seperated vs from thee yet neuerthelesse we are thy handy worke euery one of vs and of longe haue ben called thy people Thou art Lorde ouer all creatures soules Thou doest what thou wilt and no man dare saye to thee whye doest thou so Thou arte our father we are cley thou hast geuen vs our shape and fashion Therefore if it please thee to take oure Soules take them by the handes of thine aungels that wee commit none euyll againste theim And if these my fellowes that be presente with mee wyll not bee partakers of my Prayer beholde my life alone for the whiche I beseche thy benigne Clemency if it please thee to take it for thou gauest it mee therefore dooe wyth it whatsoeuer shal seeme good vnto thee it is in thy handes thou lendst it mee and hast preserued it wythin me I will not distroye it my selfe or let it out of prison before thou aske for it For thou knowest that As man can not liue vvithout iudgemeÌ„t so likevvise the same can not die vvithout iudgement Vnto thee therefore do I lifte vp myne eyes thou that dwellest in Heauen to deale mercifullye wyth thy seruauntes and with mee to tourne our heartes that wee consente not vnto thys to murther our selues If thou knowe anye amongst them that entende so wycked an Acte I beseche thee O Lorde my GOD let me finde fauoure in thyne eyes geue them an hearte to heare holesome counsel that I may deliuer my self and mine owne life which I commend into thy bandes that thou wouldest receiue it vnto thee for in thy hand is the life of euerye liuinge creature Thus whan Ioseph had finished his praier he turned him vnto his felowes and saluted theÌ„ Then said they canst thou therfore encline oure mindes because thou hast praâ—ed vnto God for thy selfe for vs did not we tel the erewhile like as we tel the now the we are determined to die by one means or other wher fore say thy minde tel vs what kinde of death thou wilt ende thy life for we haue euer knowen the a iust man and a worthy prince therfore art thou worthy to die first Ioseph perceiuinge that his felowes were vtterlye determined to die and woulde geue no eare to his perswasions for he coulde by no reasons drawe them to his opinion he wente subtilty to worke with them sayinge Seinge it will be none otherwise brethren I wil shewe you my deâ—ise Ye are determined to die ye saye and that vppon your owne sworâ—es therefore there is no better waye then to do it by lot in this wise Let vs caste lottes amongste oure selues that we maye be ioyned together by couples then will we caste lottes whiche couple shall die firste after they two shall cast lottes betwene theÌ„ which shal kil hys fellowe he that remaineth shall chuse him one of the seconde couple to kil him Likewise the seconde couple shal caste lottes betwene them selues who shal die firste and he that is lefte shal chuse him one of the thirde couple whome he hathe a fansy to be killed of â–ª Then they shal trye by lot who shal die firste who beinge slaine the other maye chuse him selfe one of the four the couple to kil him and so on til al be slaine that we see not the captiuitie of oure people The laste couple that shal remaine shal do thus runne one vppon the others sworde or elsse set them caste lottes betwixte theim selues and vpon whome it falleth let him die firste But for asmuche as we are fortye and one so that we can not be iustlye ioyned in couples let vs cast lottes firste of all and see whiche of vs shal firste be slaine and when he is once oute of the waye then lette vs deuide the couples He that is to be staine firste lette him chuse oute one of the firste couple to be slain of and when he is deade the firste couple shall caste lottes and do as I haue deuised Then euery man likt his deuise which was gods doing who hard Iosephes prayer and saide all with one mouth we wil do as thou hast deuised and to the it perteineth to deuide the men and to caste the lottes Ioseph answered but let vs sweare by the name of the lord that this deuise shal stand be ratified and perfourmed Wherunto they accorded and sware all by the name of the Lorde that they woulde haue that deuise to be ratified kepte which Ioseph had inuented of casting of lottes Then Ioseph began to make lottes who should be thod man and it light vpon Iehoiada a prieste sonne of Eliakim a Galilean which was a valeant man and chiefest in euery counsell next to Ioseph and the principall perswader of this wicked fact to kill them selues After that did he craftely deuide them into couples so that the lot of his owne couple came forth last of al who loked to be saued and trusted in God beâ—eninge that he woulde deliuer him from this abhominable dede Then Iehoida chose him one of the first couple who slue him That done the first couple cast lottes betwene them so th one killed his felowe and chose him one of the second couple to kil him TheÌ„ they of the second couple caste lots betwene them selues in the presence of Ioseph and th one killed theother then he that remained chose him one of the thy de couple to flea him And in this manner did they til there were al slaine none lefte aliue but Ioseph and his felowe who said vnto Ioseph go to let vs cast lottes that we may go to our brethren Ioseph answered him we wil do so if thou be so disposed but first heare me I praye the speake a fewe thinges in thine eares Tel me haue not these sinners rebelled against god in thus murthering of them selues so shamefully nether could I by ani meanes diswade them nor haâ—e them from this opinioÌ„ Wherfore shuld we two sinne against God so greuously against our own soules if the lot should so fal that I shuid kil thee I shuld be counted a maÌ„sâ—ear that worthily it may so chauÌ„ce that I shal escape after thee and saue my life But if the lot shoulde so fal that thou shouldest flea me thou shouldest be taken also for a murtherer and perauenture thou shuldest not escape after me and althoughe thou thinkest yes Notwithstanding we lose our hope in god for that we sinne againste oure owne soules For all these men that thou seest heare dead
Ierusalem with a great power and strength whom Hircanus was not able to mete encouÌ„ter within the field suffered him selfe to be closed vp in the Citye The Kinge of the Grecians therfore raysed great Towers against the citye aparte from the wall digged a trench cast vp a mount TheÌ„ planted their engins named Rams against the gates so that the citie was hard besieged for they beat downâ—one of the turrets the stode vpon the wall wherat all Israel was afraied agreed togither to issue out skirmishe with theÌ„ whatsoeuer should come theron life or death Which although Hircanus liked not yet thei so did and slewe many of their enemies put theim also to flighte that thei were coÌ„strayned to encampe them selues furder of from Ierusalem Then the Israelites came to the towers that the Grekes had builded and raced theÌ„ to the grounde Thus they issued oute daiely skirmishynge with Pius vntill the feast of the tabernacles Then sent kyng Hircanus to Pius desierynge him that he would graunt them truice and let them be in peace while the feast lasted His request Pius graunted sent a fatte Oxe to be offered to the God of Israel coueryng his hornes with beaten golde and dressynge hym with fillets of Cristall other precious stones Clad him also in a garment of purple and diuers other precious clothes He sent moreouer plate bothe of siluer and golde full of diuers kinde of spices all to be offered vnto the Lorde When king Hircanus sawe this he went out vnto Pius and after he had made peace with him he made him and his chiefe men of warre a great feast and offred him a present of .ccc. pounde weight of golde After that he went to war with Pius in his armye to aide him againste the king of Persia that rebelled against him But sone after he was come with in the laÌ„d of Persia that time of Pentecost was at hande Wherfore kyng Hircanus and the hoste of Israel retourned but Pius and his armye of the Grecians proceaded Whom the king of the Persians met in the fielde slewe Pius hym selfe and vainquished the residue that almost none remained Whereof when tidynges came to Hircanus he was verye glad and returned to Hierusalem with peace and ioye After this Hircanus made manye great battails with the nacions aboute him and had euer the victorye He also came to the mount of Gorizim where he wanne a forte of the Sectaries and Samaritans raced downe the temple that the Sectaries hadde there as their house of Sanctuarye whiche they builded by the licence of Alexander the first king of the Grekes He that builded it was Manasse the priest brother to Schimeon the iust But Hircanus the hye priest pulled it downe .cc. yere after it was builded From thence he went to the citye of Samaria and besieged it This was the mother citye of the Samaritans and Sectaries which was brought to suche distresse by the long siege of Hircanus that they within were faine to eate the carcases of dogges The feast of Propiciation then beinge at hande Hircanus made spede to Ierusalem to execute his office in that feaste for he was the hye priest appointing for generalles of his army Aristobulus his eldest sonne and his second son Antigonus In the mean season they within the towne writ to the kinge of Grece to come to succoure theÌ„ which he did with a great power But these .ii. yong men the kings sons went to meete them with the strength of the Israelites and gaue them the ouerthrow killing them vp almost euery one to the noÌ„ber of .xxi. M. fightyng meÌ„ the rest fled That done the yong men returned to the siege of Samaria King Hircanus their father had tidings of the coÌ„ming of the Grecians against his sons so that he perceiued they shoulde haue the GreciaÌ„s of th one side of them the Samaritans Sectaries of thother But he knew nothing what was hapned for that victory chauÌ„ced the .ix. day of Tisre Septembre His hart therfore was careful for his sons for Israel Notwithstanding he proceded in his office according as the feast required So as he entred into the house of SanctuÌ„ sactoruÌ„ or the most holiest to offer inceÌ„ce to cal for mercy for his childreÌ„ for the army he heard a voice speaking vnto him Neuer trouble thy minde with thy childreÌ„ with the host of Israel for yesterday the lord of his mercy heard theÌ„ according to the greatnes of his goodnes for thi fathers sakes Let thy heart therfore be right thy haÌ„d pure So the king going out of the saÌ„ctuary declared if to the people WherupoÌ„ the next day they seÌ„t post to Samaria had word again that this was true Wherfore king Hircanus was manified greatly of all Israel for thei knewe that the blessed Lord accepted his doings inspiryng him with the holy gost and increasyng his kingdome priesthode After this he tooke his iourney to Samaria besieged it a whole yere and at length wan it slewe all also that bare life within it He raced the walles the palaice and burnt vp the citye He had warres also with the Romains and the Arabians and God prospered all that euer he toke in hande So shortly after God gaue him rest and quietnes from all that dwelt about him and from all his enemies so that Israel rested boldlye in peace tranquilitie al his time On a tyme the kinge made a feaste to all the sages of Israel that they might make good cheare with hym And being merily disposed he said I am your scholar and what so euer I do that do I bi your aucthoritie Wherfore I pray you if you see any faulte in me or if I do not as it becometh me tell me of it that I maye reforme mine euill waye Then euery man greatly extolled and commended hym saiynge Who is like vnto thee our Lorde kyng so worthye of the kingdome and priesthode so notable in good workes whose woorkes be done for the God of heauen which hast also done so much good to Israel The king was very well pleased with their aunswere and reioysed greatlye Yet was there one amongest them an vndiscrete manne called Eleaser who spake vnaduisedlye to the king And it please your maiestie it were sufficient for you to haue the crown of the kingdome ye might leaue of the crowne of â—he priesthode to the sede of Aaron forasmuch as your mother was captiue in the mount Modiit Incontinente the king was moued and soore displeased against the Sages whiche certaine of his seruauntes that hated the Sages and smelled somewhat of sectes perceiuyng one of them inâ—ourmed the king that what so euer that vndiscrete person had spoken it was not without the aduise of the Sages Whereupon the king demaunded of the Sages What law shal that man haue that in the dispiâ—e of the kinge speaketh thinges in his reproche They made answere he is worthy to be whipt Then
authority ouer the learned sort puttinge them into their handes to ordre at their pleasure Wherupon straight way they founde one Dogrus a greate man amongst the learned sort whom they stewe much people besides of the auncients of that sect so that the Sectaries were in great distresse Thei gathered them selues together therfore and came to Aristobulus the lieutenaunt of the warres and with him they came to the Quene saiyng vnto her Thou knowest the enmitie that is betwene vs and the Pharisies which hate thy busband and father in lawe yea and thy children also We were his men of warre that went with him in all his affaires and ayded him now thou hast geuen vs into their handes to bee murdered and banished out of the Lande What will Hartam kinge of Arabia dooe when he heareth this that we shall forsake thee He wâ—â— come and reuenge him of all the battaile that thy husband fought agaynst him Yea the Pharisies will take his parte and deliuer thee and thy children into his handes that there shall not be left vnto Hircanus the kynge and his sonne Alexander thy husbande anye name or remnant at all The Quene gaue them no word to answer wherat Aristobulus was angrye and letted not to vtter it to his mothers face but she would not heare him Wherefore Aristobulus counseled the Sectaries to go their waies and depart oute of Ierusalem to chuse them cities in the laÌ„d of Iuda where they mighte dwel with their honor not to suffre them selues to be slain vnder the Pharisies hands Wherfore departing from Ierusalem they dwelte in the cities of Iuda Not longe after this it fortuned the Quene fel sore sicke that she was like to die Wherof when Aristobulus heard he feared least the Pharisies wold make his brother Hircanus kinge and at length apprehende him wherefore he fled away by night to the cities of the Saducies to be their heade and make war vpon his brother if he would presume to reigne He came therefore to the Prince of the Saducies called Galustius who was a good man of war And after he had gathered a stronge armye of the Saducies his mother the Quene sent vnto him that he shoulde returne vnto her which he wolde not do but rather went to war vppon the nacions that dwelt about him where he wan .xx. cities and gate him great renowne therby Now as the Quene his mother waxed sicker and sicker the chiefe Pharisies came vnto her with her sonne Hircanus weping before her and saiyng how they were afraid of her sonne Aristobulus who if he should come into Ierusalem take it he would deliuer them vp into the handes of the Saducies Vnto whome she answered I am as you see at the point of death not able to talke much with you there is here in my house great treasure that my husbande and my fathered gathered and their pareÌ„ts kings of the posterity of Chasmonani take that vnto you and make my soÌ„ne Hircanus king ouer you If Aristobulus wil perturbe him and make warre againste him ye may wage menne of war therwith and succour him as you thinke good And euen with this she fainted and died and was buried amongst her people after she had reigned .ix. yeare ouer Israel The Pharisies therfore and priestes with all the inhabitantes of Ierusalem made Hircanus her sonne king in her stede Aristobulus hearinge tidinges of these thinges assembled his army and came toward Ierusalem to fight against his brother But Hircanus met him and encountred with him nye vnto Iordane Iericho The Saducies of Aristobulus hoste were good men of warre and to strong for the Pharises Wherfore Hircanus the Pharisies had the ouerthrow at Aristobulus and the Saduces handes who with this victorye proceded forth to Ierusalem besieged it brought it to great distres Wherfore the priestes and the aunciente of the people consulted together came forth to Aristobulus fel prostrate vpon th earth afore him and besought him that he wold not scatter abrode the inheritaunce of the Lorde He condiscended vnto their desires vpon these conditions that he should enter into Ierusalem with them and be kinge and his brother Hircanus shoulde be the hie priest Wherunto they agreed Then as Aristobulus entred into IerusaleÌ„ his brother came out of the sanctuary to mete him and with embrasings he kissed him So Aristobulus was king Hircanus executed the office of the hie priest The Lord also gaue Israell rest and peace for a while But afterward the Lord sente an euil spirite amongst them which was the cause of translating the kingdoÌ„ from the stock of Chasmonani and of the destructioÌ„ of his posteritye For the sonne of Hircanus the great and the sonne of Alexander his sonne in that they shed so much innocent blud drue Israel froÌ„ thobedience of the Prophets vnto the lies trifles of the Saduces For thus it chauÌ„ced The Saduces bet into Aristobulus heade that as long as his brother Hircanus liued he nor his kingdome could neuer be stablished Wherupon Aristobulus deuised how to make awai Hircanus Which thing a certain maÌ„ called Antipater was aware of a maÌ„ of most power in al Israel therto also a wise expert learned man in all wisdome both in the lawes in the knowledge of the Greke iust of his word prudent if ani strauÌ„ge or new matters chauÌ„ced His ofspringe was not out of the children of Israell but of those Romaines which chauÌ„ced to be vainquished became subiect vnder the dominion of the Israelits being but strauÌ„gers of no noble house in Israel Phaselus He had iiii soÌ„nes Ioseph his eldest the nexte Pasilus the third Herode the .iiii. Pheroras These had also a sister called Salumith Antipater fauoured Hircanus so intirely for his iustice vprightnes sake that he opened vnto him him his brother Aristobulus the Saducies intent geuing him counsel to flee to Hartam king of Arabia but Antipater him self went before to breake the matter to HartaÌ„ of whose comminge Hartam was very glad Then Antipater declared to him how Hircanus kinge of Hierusalem was in minde to flee vnto him because of Aristobulus his brother If thou wilt helpe him saith he and let him haue speedy aide thou shalte easilye set Aristobulus besides the kingdome for all Israel is inclined to Hircanus and fauoure not Aristobulus Hartam answered I am afraied of the Iewes and their wilines Alexander his father put mee thrise to the foile in battail by his subtiltie and toke my dominioÌ„s from me TheÌ„ Antipater sware vnto him He shal be saith he thy true trustye frend to do what soeuer thy hart desiereth Thus HartaÌ„ was perswaded they made a league together Then Antipater returnyng to Hierusalem caused Hircanus to flee in the night and they both went together to the king of Arabia who muche reioyced at Hircanus commynge and receiued him honourably When they came together to entreat of the league Hartam
vnto you ye shall with all spede aide him No man shal be excused all that can beare weapon shall go with him to Ierusalem to vanquish Antigonus the kings aduersary Who so refuseth to go with him it shal be leful for the warriours â—o slea him forthwith I Marcus Antonius haue sworne by my sword that I will not alter this that I haue saide When the captaines of Siria had red this thei resorted wholly to Herode so that his host was woÌ„derfully encreased Antigonus hearing of this sent one Pompeius lieuetenant of his warres againste theÌ„ who fought a sore battaile with them that muche people were slaine on bothe sides Ioseph kinge Herodes brother was slaine in that battaile Notwithstandinge at lengthe Antigonus hoste wente to the worsse and had the ouerthrow So Herode Caâ—â—ius proceded to Ierusalem and besieged it the third yere after Herod was made king of Israel And wheÌ„ they had battred downe a peece of the wal Cassius with the Romains entred the towne and made a greate slaughter in IerusaleÌ„ They entred also into the Sanctuary and attempted to enter into the Sanctum sanctorum but Herod and his men lept betwene it and theÌ„ and stode with their drawn swordes in the temple dore that they shoulde not Herod was also displeased with Casius for his crueltye and saide If ye wil destroy all the inhabitantes of the citye vpon whom shal I reign in this kingdome that Augustus hathe geuen me Wherfore streight way Cassius caused proclamation to be made throughe all his hoste that no man vppon paine of death shuld kil one Israelite moe This done Herode apprehended Antigonus and deliuered him bound to Cassius He rewarded also Cassius souldiours both with gold and siluer TheÌ„ Cassius offred a present vnto the Lord a crowne of Golde for he was soore afrayed of gods displeasure bicause he had fought against the holye citye That done he toke his iorney returned into Egipt and Antigonus as prisoner with him Thither sent Herode vnto him a royal reward to make away Antigonus to murder him fearinge least he shoulde make clayme vnto the Kingedome againe Wherunto Cassius consented slew Antigonus Thus was the kyngdome surely established to Herode TheÌ„ made he warres vpon all the nacions that were about him constrainyng theÌ„ to become tributaries bi which means he grew to such power as neuer any of his predecessours were to be compared vnto him After al this Pagurus king of Persia released out of prison Hircanus son of Alexander promoted him to be head of al the Israelites that were fled or flitted into the land of Sennaar into the dominion of the Persians he became their king This Hircanus had a ferueÌ„t desire to see the holy citie the house of the saÌ„ctuary Also how Herode whoÌ„ he toke for his sonne his kingdome did Herode hearynge the Hircanus who had bene prisoner at Babilon was now set at liberty in great honour he was afraied of him mistrusting lest the Israelits would restore vnto theÌ„ selues the kingdome of their fathers Wherefore he cast in his mind how to do him mischiefe He theÌ„ writeth his letters vnto Pagurus the coÌ„tents wherof were such Thou shalt vnderstand the Hircanus is he that brought me vp vsed me euer as his son Now therfore sence I came to be king of IerusaleÌ„ I haue called to my remeÌ„brance the goodnes that he hath done to me wherfore my desire is to rewarde him accordyng to his benefites Therfore I require thee to send him to me otherwise assure thi self of wars betwene thee the Israelits with their coÌ„federats Pagurus hauing red this letter seÌ„t for Hircanus asked him if he wold go to Herod notwithstaÌ„ding Herods threats he ceased not to geue to Hircanê° al good couÌ„sel he could aduising him to take heede of Herode because he is saith he a bloude sheader a breaker of his league And he hath called thee for no loue he beareth thee but because he feareth thee As longe as thou liuest shal he neuer slepe sound slepe lest the kingdome shold be deuoluted vnto the. It is better therefore for thee to tarye here in some honour thoughe it be not of suche aucthoritie then to go thither to dye with great dispite and end thine olde age with a bloudy death Furdermore thou shalt knowe such is the disposition of mannes heart If there be two men the one in honour the other in contempt after time shall come that the dispised shal be had in honoure and the honoured to be neglected neuer will he that is now honoured and before was in contempt be content to see him that was before honoured nor speake frendelye to him For he wyll thinke Hitherto according his accustomed maner he hathe dispised me how much more wheÌ„ his dominioÌ„ is taken froÌ„ him his seruaunt raigneth in his roume Moreouer Herode knoweth right well that mens heartes are inclined to him that is the true kinge And it might so be if thou were mete for the priesthode that he woulde promote thee vnto it and be gouernoure of the kingdome him selfe But seinge thou arte dismembred hast one of thy eares cut of and thereby arte vnmete for the Priesthodeâ— thou shalt remaine in Hierusalem depriued both of kingdome and priesthode which is vncomely for thee Such counsaile gaue Pagurus kyng of the Persians vnto Hircanus yea and all the Iewes that were in BabiloÌ„ besought hym that he wold not go vnto Herode Notwithstanding he would not be perswaded and why For it was the Lordes wyll and hys dede that the iniury done vnto the Sages whom his father and graundfather slew and the iniury committed to Hony auriga myght returne vpon his head and be reuenged so that no remnant of the house of Chasmonany no name no residue no kinsman or posteritie shoulde be left aliue Hircanus therfore toke his â—ourney toward Hierusalem and Herode came forthe to mete him embrased him kissed him after brought him into his house and feasted him dayly called him his father before all men albeit in his hearte he conspired to murther him And that knewe Alexandra his doughter and mother in lawe to Herode who opened it vnto Hircanus but he wold not credite her at the first til on a time he perceiued the matter cleare to be so theÌ„ deuised he how to flee to Maloc kynge of Arabia He sent therfore a messenger to Maloc to send him hors and a charet to flee withall but the messenger dealt vnfaithfully lewdly with him for he broughte Hircanus letters priuely vnto Herode who rewarded hym well for his laboure and bad him goe to Maloc and to let hym knowe what aunswere Maloc gaue The messenger vpon this went and deliuered the letters to Maloc who fulfilled Hircanus request sent him horses and a charet writing in this sorte I haue sent the horses horsemen come therfore vnto me and whatsoeuer thy hart desireth I wil
thy souldiours come vnto vs that we maye liue with thee rather then to pearishe in the handes of theim that hate vs. So they opened the gates that Iosephe wente in and tooke the towne Then he caused to apprehende those vngodly persones that were there aboute sixe hundred men and laid them in irons sending theÌ„ to Tiarua whiche â–ª he had afore taken the other wicked men that had aided Vaspasian he put to the sworde But the chiefe gouernor of the towne he apprehended aliue caried him out of the city and commuuÌ„ded one of his souldioures to cut of his handes forthwith Then the captaine besought Ioseph saying I beseche the my Lorde let but one of my handes be cut of and thother to be left me This sute Ioseph and his souldiours loughe to scorne iudgeging him to be no valeaunt man nor of any hautye courage Yet Ioseph hade his souldiour to gâ—ue him the sword in his owne hande and let him cut of whither hand he list and leaue him whiche he will So the Romaine captaine toke the sword and cut of his left hand him self leauinge him the right so was he let go He came therfore vnto Vaspasians caÌ„pe to shew what shame was done him After thys the citizens of Zippori rebelled also making a league with Vaspasian and the Romaines host Ioseph being certified of this made thither with his hole host to besege it but the town abid the brunt of the assaulte that Ioseph coulde preuaile nothing against it Wherfore he besieged it a long season ABout that time it was signified also to theÌ„ of IerusaleÌ„ that the Askelonites had entred in frendship with the Romaines They sente therfore Neger the Edomite Schiloch the Babilonian Iehochanon with a power of the coÌ„moÌ„ people these came to Askalon be seged it a great space Within the town was a Romain captain called Antonius a valeant man a good warriour he vpon a certain night in the morning watch issued out of the town with his companye to geue a camisado to the Iewes that besieged the town entred their campe and made a great slaughter continuing the same iâ—l it was day lighte so that aboute ten thousand of the Iewes were slaine The reaste neuer moued out of their place saying it is better for vs to die in this battayle then to flie from our enemies therfore they toke a good heart vnto them and stode manfullye in their stations and places trustinge in the Lorde God of Israell And when it was daye they also sette them selues in araye againste Antony slue manye of his menne not withoute losse also of their own parte for Schiloch the Babilonian and Iehochanan of Ierusalem were bothe slain by the Romaines with other also of the Iewes to the noumber of eyghte thousande fightingmen that were vnder Schiloh and Iehochanan And neuer a one of the Iewishe captaines escaped that conflicte saue onlye Neger the Edomite whiche hid him self in a certaine sepulchre that was there in the plaine whome the Romaines in their pursuts soughte but founde him not Wherefore they set afire the wod that it burnte rounde aboute the sepulchre wherein he laye hid and consumed all the trees shrubs and bushes but came not nie the sepulchre for Neger had called vnto the Lord with his hole hart to deliuer him this once from his enemies lest he should be shamfully handled of theÌ„ promising at another time to be ready to die valeantly in his quarel So Neger escaped the Romaines by the helpe of the God of Israell in whome he put his truste Shortlye after sente the Ierosolimites muche people to Askalona to the nâ—mber of .xviii thousand good men of war to buri the body of the Iewes that were there slaine in the coÌ„flictes by Antoni they sought also the bodye of Neger the Edomite but they founde it not til at lengthe he cried vnto them oute of the sepulchre sayinge I am here for God hathe deliuered me oute of the handes of mine ennemies to the intente I maye yet be auenged of them in the warres of the LORDE So Negar declared vnto them at large all thinges howe they chaunced vnto him Wherefore the Iewes reioysed wonderfuâ—lye that that they had found him aliue that he was saued by such a miracle that the Lord had deliuered him Therfore thei put their confidence in the Lord beleuing that God wold be presente with them to aide them wherof this deliuerance of Neger they toke for a sure sign and token The Romaines kept them within the towne for feare of the multitude of the Iewes that were come to bury the bodies So the Iewes buried all the bodies of their owne parte that wer slain in bothe battails for the Romaines were not able to prohibit and let them but helde them in the towne And wheÌ„ the burial was finished they toke Neger with them to Ierusalem to geue God thankes there for his deliueraunce at that present TheÌ„ Ioseph the priest gathered his strengthe and came vpoÌ„ Askalon with his hole army assaulted them gate thupper hand and wan the towne after slue Antony and al his people with the sword that of al the valeante men of warre that were with him not one escaped Besides this all the villages and hamlets that were there aboute without the towne he burnt them euery one And in like maner serued he all the townes villages there aboute that had entred in league with the Romains fleaing both Iewes and Romaines that dwelte in them with the sworde as manye as be founde and their houses he brente This done Ioseph returned again to Zippori sought with them gate the vpper hande there shed he much bloud of the people that had conspired with the Romaines vtterlye destroyed theÌ„ burnt also their cities and villages led their wiues and children prisoners awaye to Ierusalem and what Romaines so euer he founde there hee slue them with the sworde Whan as Vaspasian and Titus his sonne hearde of all that Iosephe had wroughte againste the Romaines bothe howe he slue their garisones as manye as he coulde finde in Galile and also all the Iewes that hadde made anye league with him and his sonne they were wonderfull wrothe and in a greate rage They toke therfore their iourny came to Apitelma otherwise called Acho where as at that present Agrippas kinge of Iudea was abidinge and fortye thousande menne with him all good menne of warre and archers euerye one these ioyned them selues with Vaspasians armye by whyche meanes the Romaines campe became verye huge Moreouer oute of other nations rounde aboute Iudea good menne of warre withoute noumber ioyned with Vaspasian He had aid also of all the best menne of warre oute of Mesopotamia Aram Zofa Assur Sinear Persia Chaldea Macedonia and oute of the prouinces of the people of the East yea the people of Mizraim Lob Dedam and Seba with all prouinces farre and neare that were from vnder the subiection of the Iews caste of the
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
was hard harted and wolde not be intreated for it was Gods will that Amittai shuld be punished bycause he was the bringer of Schimeon into Ierusalem therfore fel he into his handes which for good rewarded him with euill Schimeon commaunded a sorte of murtherers to place Amittai vpon the walles in the syght of the Romaynes and sayde vnto hym seest thou Amittai why doo not the Romaynes delyuer and rescue the oute of my handes the I say whyche woldest haue fled away vnto them Amittai answered nothing to thys but still besought hym that before hys death he might kisse hys sonnes bid them fare wel but Schimeon vtterly denied hym Wherfore Amittai wept a loude sayng to hys sonnes I brought deare chyldren I brought thys thiefe into thys toun wherefore I am counted nowe for a thiefe my selfe all thys mischyefe whyche is comed vpon me and you it is myne own doynge bycaufe I brought this seditious villain into this holy City I thought then perauenture he wil be a helpe to the toune but it is nowe proued contrarye for he hathe bene a moste cruell enemy of the same It was not enough for vs to kepe one seditious person Iehochanan I mean whyche tooke vnto hym Eleasar the fyrste begynner of sedition but I muste bringe in also thys wycked Schimeon whyche is ioyned to oure fooes to destroye vs. In deed I neuer brought him in for any loue that I bare vnto hym but all the Priestes and the hoole multitude of the people sent me to fetche hym notwithstanding I am worthy of this iuste iudgement of God bycause I tooke vpon me suche an ambasage What shoulde I speake of thee thou moste wycked Schimeon for whyther so euer thou turnest thee thou bringst all thinges out of frame In deed thou dealest iustly with me bicause I haue sinned vnto God to his people and his citye in that I haue brought the in to be a plage to it Wherefore I were worthy to be stooned notwithstanding it had bene thy parte thou wycked murtherer to deliuer me and my sonnes frome the haÌ„des of the other seditions for I haue wrought them displeasure but to thee haue I done good Howbeit our God will not altar nor chaunge his iudgmentes whyche is that I shuld fall into the sword of thy hand for that I made thee to enter into this city wher in I offended God greuously If euer I had purposed to flee vnto the Romaynes could I not haue done it before euer I brought in thee for at that tyme barest thou no rule ouer vs. And before we called in thee Iehochanan with his sedition was an offence vnto this city wherfore wee perswaded all the anuncient of the toun that thou shuldest be an ayde vnto vs to dryue out our foes but thou in whom we put our trust arte become our enemye yea thou haste been worse then they for the other put men to death pryuily thou doest it openly Who is he that hath strengthened the power of the Romains art not thou he which hast killed the souldiers of God in the middest of thys citye Ierusalem for fewe haue bene slayn wythoute Titus woulde haue made peace with vs taking pitie vpon vs but that same didest thou let and hinder euery daye mouing new warres and stiring new battailes Titus gaue charge to hys souldiâ—rs to laye no handes vpon the temple but thou hast polluted and defyled the temple of the Lorde sheding bloud without measure in the middes thereof Titus went back from vs vpon the holy daye of the Lorde and ceased from fighting saying go and obserue your holy feastes in peace but thou vnhalowedst the feast of the Lord and leshedst out the continuall fyre wyth innocent bloud Al these euilles which thou hast committed thou murtherer at imputed vnto me bicause I brought the into the toune Now therfore this bengeaunce is appointed to mine age of the lord God and by thy haÌ„des shall I goo to my graue with sorow bicause I by my foolishnes was a doar in this mischief that is wrought by thee Albeit now thou wicked Schimeon in this that thou killest me before mine eyes may see the burnynge of the temple it pleaseth me very well but whanedeth thee thou murtherer to put my sonnes to death before my face whye doest thou not spare mine age Would God that like as I shall not se the burning of the temple so also I might not see the bloud of my children shed before my face But what shal I dooe when God hath deliuered me into the hands of a most wicked man Wee that were the auncients of Hierusalem abhorreâ— Iehochanan because he murthered olde men without al reuerence but he slew no yonge men thou destroyest â—ld and yonge greate and small without anye pitte or mercye Iehochanan mâ—uâ—ned for the dead and buried them also thou playest vpon instrumentes at their burials singest to the Lute and seundest the trumpet Then spake he to Schimeons seruaunte who was ready with a swerde in his hande and an are to kyll hym and to cutte of his heade saiynge Goe to nowe and execute Schimeons thy masters commaundement be head Sonnes in sighte of their father and let mee heare the voyce of cruelrye in my sonnes whyche notwithstandynge I forgeue thee For as I shall see and heare that againste my wyll so I dare saye thou killest them not willynglye Woulde God that Schimeon woulde suffer mee to kysse my Sonnes and whyles I am aliue to embrace theim or they dye But thou gentle minister in one thinge shewe thy pitie towards me that when thou hast put my soÌ„nes and mee to execution seperate not our bodies nether ley in sunder their corses from mine but so that my bodye mayâ— lye vppermost and couer theirs to defende them from the foules of the ayre lest they deuour my sonnes bodyes for it maye fortune they maie be buried I beseche thee also that my mouth and tongue when I am deade may â—ouche my sonnes faces that so I maye both embrace and kysse theim But what do I delay or tarye any lenger seynge the enemy denyes me this to kisse theÌ„ whyles we are yet aliue See thou therefore that our bodies be not seuered and if Schimeon will not permit this that our bodies may be ioyned in this world yet can he not let our souls to be ioyned for after I shal be once dead I doubt not but I shall see the lyght of the Lord. His sonnes hearing their fathers wordes began to wepe very sore with theyr father who sayd vnto them Alas my sonnes why wepe ye what auayleth teares why doo ye not rather go before me and I wil folow as I maye for what should I do now seyng God hath geuen me into the handes of a moste cruel tirant who spareth nether mine age nor youre youthe But I truste we shall lyue together in the light of the lord and although I can not be suffred now to see you enough yet when we shall come
thyther we shal be satisfied with beholding one another Go ye therefore my dear sonnes and prepare vs a place O that I might goo before you the lorde knoweth I would doo it gladly But ye my sonnes maruell neuer at thys that is chaunced vnto vs for it is no new thing suche lyke hath happened before this in the time of the Chasmonanites when as Antiochus bi his wickednes put to death the seuen brethern yong men in the sight of theyr mother whiche was a righteous and a godly woman who chaunced to find this mercy at the lordes handes that she might kisse her sonnes and embrase them as they also kist one an other before they died Al thei wer put to death by the crueltye of the vncircumcised king of the Macedonians yet obteined they that which is denied at this daye to vs the are put to death by Schimeon who hathe the name of an Israelite who beareth also the couenaunte of oure father Abraham in his flesh And would God it mighte fortune vs to liue in their inne or place of reast whiche al be it it wil not be graunted yet we shal be their neighboures seinge that we also die for the law of the lord Therfore be of good comfort my soÌ„nes and lament not for my sake for I iudg this my miserie easier and not so great as the calaâ—itie of Zidkiahu whose sonnes were firste killed then his eyes put out by the king of Chalâ—ea and he liued manâ— yeres after we are so much the more happier in my minde because we shal dye together Then said Amittai to Schimeons seruaunte whiche should kill him Make spede I pray thee and kil me first before my children die then after kill them also that we maye die together for so it is more expedient for vs then to se the temple of the lord tourned into a butcherye or slaughter-house to slea men in After cryed he vnto God saiyng I beseche thee O Lord God most high whiche dwellest in the hyest iudge this Schimeon accordynge to his works reward him according to his deseruings For thou art the god almighty dreadful let not this thief die therfore amongst the people of thy pasture but that his death maye be seuered froÌ„ the death of other men let him dye a horrible and a sodayne death that he haue no time to confesse his sinneâ— and to returne him selfe to thee that thou maiest receiue him for thou art wontâ— to receiue theim whiche turne to thee by repentaunce for he is not worthy of repentaunce which hath spoyled wasted many goodly thinges in thy teÌ„ple besides that hath murdered most holye men in the same To thintent therfore that thy iudgementes may be declared in him I beseche thee make him to be taken of his enmies together with his wife children and family al that euer loue him Nether geue vnto his soul any part with the people of god nor let his porcion be with the iust men in thy sanctuary for he is vnworthy of theÌ„ bicause he hath not only sinned him self but hath caused Israel to sinne Wherfore let his iudgmeÌ„t sentence go forth froÌ„ thy sight that he may se his wife children his hole house led into captiuity boÌ„dage before his face Afterward let him die a straunge death such as neuer maÌ„ herd of let him be kild of must cruel men which wheÌ„ thei haue smiteÌ„ him may after quarter him also whiles he is yet aliue and that he may see his go into bondage Let him also be a curse before al that shall see him More ouer let him perceiue that my wordes and desteny is better then his when as I go vnto thee in that great light which he shal be depriued of After these wordes Amittai said to the seruaunt who was appointed to kill him I beseche thee let me finde so much fauour atthy handes that when thou hast slain my Sonnes thou wouldest kill me with the same sworde while it is yet wet with the bloud of my sonnes that our bloud may be mingled and this maye be a recreation to my soule Kil me also in the sighte of the Romaines that they maye auenge me and my sonnes vpon this most cruell Schimeon they shal be witnesses againste him that I was not their frende But would God my matters were all in that state as they were before for then should they perceiue me to be an ennemye of Schimeons and a frend of theirs â–ª Woulde God I had withstanded Schimeon at the first so earnestly as I made warre vpoÌ„ the Romaines that I might haue auoided his cruelty from the people of God when he had said al these things he prayed before god almighty saying O God which dwellest in the highest thou only art most mighty and fearful open now the eyes of thy iudgements consider and iudge betwixt me and seditious Schimeon whose malice is be comen vnmeasurable vpon the people of God that he whiche sheadeth the bloude of them that feare thee in the midst of the temple may be rebuked of thee with thy rebukinges according to his workes make spedy vengaunce prolonge not and that for the deathes sake of thy saintes for thy iudgemeÌ„tes are the iudgementes of truthe Then Schimeon gaue commaundemente to four cut throtes of his that thre of theÌ„ should kil Amittais thre sonnes before their fathers face the fourth shoulde kil Amittai him self and so the blud of the sonnes was mixte with the blud of their father Afterwarde Schimeons seruaunte tooke the bodye of Amittai and layde it vppon the bodyes of hys sonnes as his desire was then tumbled them ouer the walles After that commaunded Schimeon that Chananehu the hie priest shuld be put to death whose bodye was caste vnto the bodies of Amittai and his sonnes Aristius also the scribe one of the noble men of Ierusalem was killed at the same time and ten mo iust men of his kinred and house because they murned for the deathe of Aristius It fortuned while Schimeon was a killing of those ten certaine substantial rich men passed by and were wonderfullye amased when they sawe the thynge sayinge one to an other Howe longe wyll God suffer the malice of Schimeon and wyll not searche oute the bloude of iuste menne nor reuenge them Certain seditious persons hearinge this tolde it vnto Schimeon who commaunded them to be apprehended and murthered the same daye After this there passed by a leuen of the noble men of Ierusalem whiche seinge two and fortye innocentes to be put to deathe by Schimeon they lift vp their eyes to the heauens and said O Lord god of Israel how longe wilt thou hold thy hande and kepe in thine anger againste these transgressoures of thy wil whiche whan Schimeon heard of he commaunded them to be apprehended and killed them with his owne handes Eleasar the sonne of Anani the prieste seinge the malice wickednes of Schimeon to be great that he made away the iust and godly
answered nether good nor bad From that daye forwardes there was perpetual hatred betwene Alexandra Marimi and Kiparim the mother of Herode Salumith his sister that came of base seruile blud For Marimi cast in their teethe to their faces that they wer not of the sede of Israel but vnholy of base birth Notwithstāding Herode loued Marimi as his life wherfore he would neuer displease her as lōg as she liued nor say so much to her as whi saiest thou so These thinges done Marcus Antonius a noble mā of Rome next vnto Octauian Augustus kinge of kinges being sent by Augustus to war vpon the kinges of the west countries raigned in Egipt by the prouocation of his wife rebelled against Octauian Augustus made war with him both by sea land And forasmuch as Egipt is nie adioyninge to the lande of Israell Herode ioyned with him and helped him For Marcus Antonius had aided him before in such sorte that no kinge durst meddle with him for fear of Marcus Antonius Wherupon whan Marcus conspired againste hys prynce and master Herode aided him with an army with horsmen and with shippes also against Octauian In which warres Octauian gate the victorye slue Antony and all his people comming by ship to the Isle of Rhodes so into the land of Egipt Herode hearinge that Marcus Antonius was slaine and that Octauian Augustus was come into Egipte he fainted for feare of the displeasure of Octauian Yet at lengthe he tooke hearte vnto him prepared a royall presente to be caried afore him and folowed after him selfe to Octauian Augustus And setting forwardes he called Ioseph the husband of Salumnith his sister whome he made chiefe of his houshold commaundinge him that if Octauian Augustus put him to death he shuld poison Marimi his wife saying it shuld not be semely for kinges that any meane base man shuld mary with a kinges widow and sleepe wyth her vppon a kinges bedde So then he toke his iourney toward Octauian Augustus who then was at the Rhodes where he vnderstode Octauian to be displeased with him for that he had aided Marcus Antonius Therfore assone as Herode came to Octauian Augustus presence hauinge his croune vpon his head he toke it of fel down prostrate vppon the ground at Octauians feete saying Most noble emperour I confesse my trespasse against your maiesty that I loued M. Antonius my cōpanion in league who was my neighbor aided me And it is true that your maiesty sēce the time you made me king haue herd of mine affaires that haue happened vnto me but neuer succoured me This. M Antonius did not so I cōfesse therfore that in his warres against your maiesty I aided him with an army with horsmē ships Neyther went I out with him for ani warres vpō mine own borders but when so euer I wente with him I holp him to the vttermost of mi power When he was falling I bolsterd him vp whā he stōbled I raised him again Emongst al these thinges I cōfesse also that I wolde not be counted of your maiestye a breaker of leage but nowe M. Antonius is deade Wherfore whither that it shal please your maiesty to restore me to my former estate or no forasmuch as I haue kept touch with M. Antonius against your maiesty amōgst other if you put me to death you shall do me no wrong but iustice because I haue deserued death When Octauian August herd him speake so he said vnto him Arise thou kinge of Israell in peace be of good comfort and fear not for thou art worthy to be nie yea next to my person I knowe that Marcus Antonius was set on by his wife and would not folow thy counsel for if he had I dare saye he woulde neuer haue conspired against me So he commaūded the croune to be set againe vppon Herodes head and made a leage with him Then they went both together to ward Egipt to be reuenged vpō Cleopatra But that wicked woman whan she saw her city to be ouercome put on her moste precious apparaile and sitting vpon the throne of her kingdom commaūded a vipor to be brought vnto her which assone as she had suffred to sting her brest she died As Octauian August came to her palaire sawe her sit there he reioyced that he mighte be reuenged of her and commaunded to thruste her from her throne but when they that came to her founde her dead Octauian was pensife and verye sore greued In this while Ioseph Salumithes husbande disclosed vnto Marimi that the kinge had commaunded if it so fortuned him to be put to deathe by Augustus that he shoulde poyson her Wherupon Marimi conceiued yet a greater hatred towarde the kinge in so muche that when the kinge was retourned in safetye sounde and with honoure also from Octauian and that all his menne and whole houshoulde reioysed greatelye Marimi shewed no countenaunce of gladnesse no not when the kinge him selfe told her how greatlye he was magnified and honored of Octauian but alwaies she was sadde Salumith the kinges Sister perceiuing that Marimi so vexed the king she toulde him howe Ioseph her husbande had line with Marimi whiles he was with Augustus Herode saye what she could gaue no credite to her wordes knowing that she enuied Marimi vntill at length he asked the cause of Marimi whye she reioysed not as other did when he returned in safetye from Augustus but was euer sad whiche shewed her to haue some rancoure and malice in her heart to wardes him She answered Thou haste saide heretofore that thou louedst me aboue all thine other wiues and concubines yet thou didst will Ioseph thy sisters husbande to poyson me Whan Herode hearde this he was exceadinglye abashed that Ioseph had disclosed his secrete began to mistrust with him self that which Salumith had told him that he had slept with his wife in dede and vpon that had detected that secret Therfore he departed out of his palaice in a greate anger and rage wherby Salumith perceiued that he detested Marimi and therefore she accused her further hyring false accusars and forgers of lies to witnes that Marimi woulde haue poysoned the kinge whereof she had diuers argumētes also by her coūtenaunce She added moreouer if thou saith she to the king let her scape thus she wil spedely destroy thee and bereue thee of thy kingdom The lawe geueth a man this counsell If any man gooe aboute to murther thee preuent hym slea him first With this and suche like wordes she so moued the king that he commaunded to bring Marimi forthe and to be beheaded in the hie streate of the citie And as she was brought forth vnto the market place of the citie all the women of the citie folowed her Alexandra her mother also cursed and rayled at her saiyng come oute thou that haste abhorred thy husbande and conspired against thy lorde Alexandra wepte also as thoughe it hadde
been for the wickednes that her doughter had coÌ„mitted thinking suerly to please the king by that meanes and to bleare his eies if peraduenture he might suffer her to liue til she might haue oportunitie to poison him Marimi thus going to execution helde her peace and looked nether to the right hand nor to the left nor yet feared death any thing knowing that she was innoceÌ„t in dede and thought and therfore God would reÌ„der her a good rewarde in the world to come Wherfore she bared her necke without feare and thei cut of her head sheding the innocent bloud But God made no delay in punishing the same for there fell a sore plague and pestileÌ„ce in the house of Herode so that his chief seruauntes his noble women and concubines died sore therof Yea throughout all Iudea reigned the pestilence vehemently whiche affliction all Israell knew well ynough chaunced vnto theÌ„ for the bloude of Marimi They cried therefore vnto the lorde saiyng Wilt thou forthe offence of one man deale so cruelly with the hole congregacion The lorde toke pitie therfore vpâ—â— the lande and withore we the plague from the people The king repeÌ„ted him also that he had shed bloud without cause and loue so grew in his harte that he was sicke and at deathes dore Then Alexandra Marimies mother soughte meanes how to poyson hym Whiche being vttered vnto the kynge he commaunded to apprehende her and to kil her In this maner dealt Herode with all the posteritie of the Machabees leauing none aliue that were called by the name He put to death also Ioseph the busband of Salumith The king hadde two sonnes Alexander and Aristobulus by Marimi his wyfe They were both at Rome when their mother suffered for their father the king had sent them thither to learne the Romain toÌ„gue When thei heard tidinges of their mothers death they wepte and mourned for her hating their father for his rcueltie Sone after the king their father recouered of his sickenes was established in his kingdome builded stronge cities and rose to great prosperitie In the. â—iii yeare of his reigne there fell a great dearth in the lande wherfore the kinge tooke out of his treasure muche gold and siluer and precious stoones wherwith he sent into Egipt and procured plentie of corne and refresâ—hyng with bread all that lackt and was in distres of huÌ„ger yea he spared not his owne propre goodes And not onely to the Israelites shewed he this liberality but also to all that came vnto him out of other straunge nations hearing of his renoume Moreouer in all his warres he had good fortune Besides thys he thought it good to renew the house of the sanctuary wherupon he deliberated with the Israelites to haue their aduise for the building of it after the same quantitie and measure that Salolomon king of Israel builded it For the Iewes returning from captiuite in the time of Coresch Cirus began to build it after the measure the Coresch prescribed theÌ„ not as it was afore The people of Israel hearing that the king was purposed to pul down the teÌ„ple to the grouÌ„d and buylde it a freshe they made hym none aunswere fearing left whan he had pulled it downe he would not bee so hasty to builde it vp againe But the the king perceauing what they feared in their mindes saide he woulde not flack the matter nor reste till he hade brought it to passe He said moreouer that he would take out of his treasure plentie of gold and syluer and geue it to grauing also precious stones stones of Thasies marble To the carpenters also and masons he would deliuer timber stones gold siluer brasse iron to make all thinges necessary to the woorke Wherefore if he pulled downe the house he was able to builde it streight waies again So he pulled downe the house and repaired it again and finished it in length a hundred cubites in bredth lykewise a hundreth cubites and in height a hundreth cubites all of white marble so that the whole height of the stone work was in all a hundreth and .xx. cubites For the foundacion was .xx. cubites within the grounde and a hundreth aboue The breadth of euery stone was .xii. cubites and the thicknes thereof .viii. cubites euery stone was of like bignesse The gates of the house he couered with fine gold and precious stoones finely sette therin the thresholdes were of siluer the tops also He made also a vine of gold a marueilous cunning pece of worcke the armes therof or bigger braunches were glittering gold the lesser braunches slips or latest shutes of gold sumwhat red al aboue was yelow gold wherupon hong clusters of cristal The vine was so great that it weied a thousaÌ„d pound weight of pure gold In all the world was not the like to be seen He made also a porche before the porche ii walles of siluer marueilous cuÌ„ningly wrought Behind the house toward the west he made a court of .c. l. cubites loÌ„g and a. C. in bredth whiche was paued with pure marble Toward the south north the length of the court was also Cl. cubites a. C. in breadth He erected in it also C. l. pillers of white marble in foure orders The length of one order was fortye cubites and euerye piller was .xl. cubites hie and three cubites thicke The pillers were all of like measure as the court of the north side and of the South was also of like measure with al the pilloures thereof Toward the east the court conteined D. ccxx cubites euen to the broke Cedron No man euer se the like building in all the world In the extreme partes of the courts he made also walkes and and galeries of such height that they the walked therin might easily se the waters running in the broke Cedron by the space of a cubit Betwene the porch and the house also as though it were a vaile or perticion the king made a wal of siluer of halfe a handful thicke In the which was a dore of beaten golde and vpon the gate a sword of golde of xii pound weight There were certain poses grauen in the sworde as this VVhat straunger so euer approcheth nie her let him die for it So the things that Herode made in the temple were wonderful nether was there euer hard of in all the worlde any king that was able to make suche a building When the worke was finished the king sente to Sarons his pastures for his Cattell from whence were broughte him thre hundreth yonge Bullâ—ckes and verye many shepe accordinge to his Princelye estate So then they dedicated and and halowed the house with great â—oy and gladnesse There was one certain day in the yeare when as the kinge was euer accustomed to make a greate feast to all his court to al his nobles sages in Israel Against that self same daye the kinge was mineded to finishe his workes whiche made bothe him