had refused to join with them against the Benjamites they sent twelve thousand chosen men against them who slew all that bore arms with the women and children reserving only four hundred Virgins At their return the Israelites sent Messengers to the Benjamites who fled into the desarts and had secured themselves in the rock Rimmon to desire them to come back to their former possessions which they had forfeited by the Just Judgment of God for their wickedness in protecting such impious offenders from condign punishment the Benjamites by the perswasions of their brethren came and possest their inheritance and the Israelites gave them the four hundred Virgin Captives in marriage but because two hundred yet remained without wives and they had solemnly sworn not to give them their daughters they concluded the Benjamites should take the advantage of seizing two hundred of the daughters of the City of Shiloh who came to a Feast every year near Bethel accordingly when the Feast approached these two hundred Benjamites went and hid themselves by two and three in a company among the Vines and thickets to surprize the Damsels who suspecting nothing were dancing very pleasantly in the Fields when the young men suddenly issuing out seized each upon a Virgin at unawares and carried them home to their houses and having married them they repaired their Cities and dwelt therein whereby the Tribe of Benjamin that was near extinguisht began in a short time to increase and flourish as before and thus ended this fatal War. In this History I have followed Josephus who differs in time from what is written in the Holy Scriptures After this another generation arose who forgot the works of the Lord and disobeyed his holy Laws and Commandments giving themselves up to all manner of Vice and Luxury and wallowing in all the abominations and Idolatry of the Canaanites for which cause the wrath of God was kindled and he stirred up the Nations round about against them delivering them into the hands of the king of Mesopotamia who ruled over them eight years taking many Prisoners and bringing their Cities into subjection In this their calamity they called upon the Lord who stirred up a certain man called Othniel who was warned from Heaven to deliver the Israelites out of this their cruel bondage he calling together some of his Companions in danger who were discontented at their present condition and desired a change they first fell upon the Garrison that the Mesopotamians had placed over them whom having soon discomfited they thereby took courage to meet them in the open Field and their numbers increasing by this first success they seemed equal to their Enemies whom they therefore ingaged in battle and overcame with a very great slaughter their King being taken Prisoner and the liberty of the Israelites thereby restored to them the terror of their arms after this was so great to all the Nations round about that none durst oppose them and Othniel for his valour received the Government from the peoples hands and exercised the Office of a Judge over them peaceably forty years After whose death the Government being void the affairs of the Israelites began again to decline the people neither giving due honour to God nor obedience to the Laws whence it came to pass that Eglon K. of the Moabites observing their disorders made War and prevailed often against them weakning their Forces and obliging them to pay tribute and proud of his Victories removed his Court to Jericho omitting no practices to vex and molest the Israelites so that they lived in much misery under him eighteen years when the Almighty moved with their supplications and sorrows freed them from this intolerable thraldom by the hand of Ehud the Son of Gera who insinuated himself into the favour of Eglon and by the gifts and presents he made him was much respected by the king and all his Court One day it happened that as Ehud carried certain presents to Eglon accompanied by two of his houshold Servants he privately girt a dagger under his Garments and entring into the presence he delivered his gifts to the King who was then solacing himself in a Summer Chamber being now by themselves Eglon having sent away his attendants to hear the secret Message which Ehud said he had to deliver him he suddenly stabbed the king into the belly with his dagger and left the weapon swallowed up in his bowels by reason Eglon was a very fat man and then privately escaped shutting the door upon him His Servants finding the door of the parlour locked suspected nothing of mischief but supposed it was upon some natural occasion in this error they continued till toward Evening when fearing what had happened they entred and found Eglon fallen down dead on the Earth In this interval Ehud had time to secure himself out of danger and coming to Jericho gave them an Account of the matter offering himself to be their Leader in recovering their lost liberty who readily accepting this proposal presently took arms and blowing a trumpet they assembled all the people of the Countrey who joining together fell upon the Moabites before they were prepared who were so dismayed at the dismal Accident of the death of their King that they knew not how to make any defence insomuch that the Israelites charging fiercely upon them killed many upon the place and the rest being about ten thousand betook themselves to flight hoping to recover their own Countrey but the Israelites having before fortified the passages of Jordan pursued and slew them all By this means the Israelites were freed from the servitude of Moab and continued quiet from any Invader fourscore years After this Shamgar the Son of Anath was Elected Governor who slew six hundred of the Philistines with an Ox-goad and thereby in some measure delivered them but the Israelites not yet reclaimed by their former sufferings returned again to impiety and disobedience though they had so lately shaken off the yoke of the Moabites So that God in just Judgment gave them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan who kept his residence at Hazor on the Lake of Sachonites He had an Army of thirty thousand Foot ten thousand Horse and nine hundred Chariots of iron Over these Forces Sisera was Commander in chief a great Favourite with the King who encountring with the Israelites reduced them into such a low condition that they accepted of servitude and were obliged to pay tribute for twenty years In this lamentable state they began to reflect upon their transgressions and provocations against the Almighty acknowledging the Justice of Heaven in punishing them for their ingratitude and contempt of the Divine Laws and repaired to a certain Prophetess named Deborah which in Hebrew signifies a Bee beseeching her that by her Prayers she would intreat the Lord to have mercy upon them and free them from their bondage under the Canaanites Hereupon God being inclined to compassion promised them deliverance and appointed
Baruc whose name signifies Lightning of the Tribe of Napthali to be their Chief to him therefore Deborah sends a message That he should instantly raise ten thousand choice men and lead them against their Enemies affirming that they were sufficient with the assistance of Heaven to conquer that mighty Host But Baruc denying to undertake the War except she would join with him and accompany him in the War Deborah being somewhat moved Wilt thou said she surrender up the Dignity that God hath given thee to a Woman well I will not refuse to go with thee but remember that this expedition will not be for thine honour since the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a Woman Whereupon having levyed ten thousand Soldiers they pitched their Tents near the Mountain Itabar of which Sisara having notice proceeded presently by the Kings command to fall upon them and incamped near them Baruc and the Israelites being terrified with the multitude of their Enemies were incouraged by Deborah who commanded them that very day to give Battel assuring them that God would assist and certainly deliver their Adversaries into their hands Whereupon they charged the Canaanites with much valour who were in a short time wholly discomfited and all their Host fell with the edge of the Sword Sisera alighted from his Chariot and fled away afoot Josephus relates that in the beginning of the fight there suddenly fell a storm of rain mixed with hail which the wind drove against the faces of the Canaanites and took away their sight whereby those that fought with Darts and Slings were made unserviceable and the Targetiers had their hands so benummed with cold that they could scarce weild their Swords but the Tempest being on the back of the Israelites was so far from disturbing them that believing it a manifest token of the immediate favour and assistance of Heaven they were thereby incouraged to assault their enemies with the greater vigor and breaking through the front of their Battel they made a very great slaughter of them so that a vast number fell by the Sword and the rest were over-run by their own Chariots and Horsemen Sisera flying with all speed after he saw his Army turn their backs arrived at the Tent of a woman of Cenetis called Jael the wife of Heber and earnestly besought her to conceal him which she seemed very willing to do and covered him with a Mantle who being very dry desired a Cup of water when she presented him with a dish of milk And then covering him again he intreated her That if any came to inquire she should deny she had seen him and then fell asleep whilst he lay buried in slumbers by reason of his extream toyl and weariness Jael took a nail and with a hammer struck it through his temples and fastned it to the ground whereby he instantly gave up the Ghost soon after Barue with his Souldiers coming thither she brought them in and shewed what she had done and thus a woman according to the prediction of the worthy Prophetess Deborah was the Author of this glorious Victory The Army being likewise managed by the conduct of Deborah a woman the Israelites thereby subduing their inveterate Foes the Canaanites And Baruc leading his Army to Hazor slew Jabin their King who came out against them levelling the City to the ground and thereby freed the Land from bondage which had rest forty years after this notable success And that they might not seem ingrateful to the Lord for so great a deliverance Deborah and Baruc composed the following Song of praise and thanksgiving which they sung in the hearing of all the people Deborah lived in the year from the creation 2641. and before the Nativity of our Saviour 1350. Judges 5. YOur Great Preserver celebrate He who reveng'd our wrongs of late When you his Sons in Israels aid Of life so brave a tender made You Princes with attention hear And you who awful Scepters bear While I in sacred numbers sing The praise of our Eternal King. When he through Seir his Army led In Edoms Fields his Ensigns spread Earth shook the Heavens in drops descend And Clouds in tears their substance spend Before his face the Mountains melt Old Sinai unknown servor felt When Israel Shamgars Rule obey'd And Jael that Virago swaid She bold of Heart He great in War Yet to the fearful Traveller All ways were then unsafe who crept Through woods or past when others slept The land uncultivated lay When I arose I Deborah A mother to my Countrey grew At once their Foes and Fears subdue When to themselves new Gods they chose Then were their Walls besieg'd by Foes Did one of forty thousand wear A Coat of Steele or shook a Spear You who with such alacrity Led to the Battail O how I Affect your valour with me raise Your voices sing Jehovahs praise Sing you who on white Asses ride And justice equally devide You who those ways so fear'd of late Where now no thieves assassinate You lately from your Fountains barr'd Where you their clattering quivers heard There with united joy record The Righteous Judgments of the Lord You who your Cities repossess Who reap in peace his praise profess Arise O Deborah arise In heavenly Hymns express thy Joys Arise O Baruc Thou the Fame And Off-spring of Alcinoam Of Israel the renowned head Captivity now Captive lead Nor shall the noble memory Of our strong aids in silence dye The quiver bearing Ephraimite Marcht from his Mountain to the fight Those who on Amalek confine The small remains of Benjamine From Machir Princes not a few Wise Zebulun with Letters drew The valiant chiefs of Issachar With Deborah hasted to this war Who down into the valley tread The way which noble Baruc led But Reuben from the rest disjoin'd By Hills and Flouds was so in mind Did'st thou these glorious wars refuse To hear the bleating of thy Ewes O Great in Council Oh how wise That couldst both Faith and Fame despise Gilead of thundring drums afraid Or slothful beyond Jordan staid Dan his swift failing ships affects And publick liberty neglects While Ashur on his clifts resides And fortifies against the Tydes But Zebulun and Napâ—hali Who never would from danger fly Were ready for the publick good On Tabors top to shed their bloud Then Kings Kings of the Cananites To Tanach Plains addrest their fights Where swift Megiddo's waters ran Yet neither spoil nor Trophy wan The Heav'ns ' gainst Sisera fought the Stars Mov'd in their Courses to those wars By Ancient Kishon swept from thence Whose Torrent falling clouds incense Thou O my joyful Soul at length Hast trod to dirt their mighty strength Their wounded Horse with flying hast Fall headlong and their Riders cast Thus spake an Angel cursed be Thou Meroz all who dwell in thee That basely wouldst no aid afford In that great battel to the Lord. O Jael Hebers wife thou best Of women be thou ever blest Blest above all
whose mercy and goodness endures forever The people were even transported with joy at this unexpected deliverance and seeing the dismal head only by torch-light were almost perswaded it was but a dream But that the multitude which saw the same thing confirmed them their eyes were not deluded They therefore shouted with praises to the God of Heaven the only worker of Miracles and then turning to Judith they gave her a thousand thanks and blessings for being the instrument of so marvellous a salvation that day Then Ozias the Prince of the people of Israel in Bethulia spake thus to her Blessed be you O Daughter and most excellent above all the women in the Earth and praised be the great Creator of Heaven and Earth who hath assisted your Victorious arm for the destruction of the principal of our Enemies whereby you have rendred your name immortal to all ages to come and shall be had in admiration by all that have any sense of the wonderful works of God while the world endures since none can forget how little you valued your own life and honour so that you might thereby free your Nation from the inevitable ruin which seemed to hang over their heads After this Achior was called to whom shewing the head of Holofernes and assuring him that what he had affirmed of the might power of the God of Israel was now fully verified since he that had vowed their total desolation was now no more and their great Commander Holofernes was himself without a head Achior was even astonisht at her words and action and with the surprize fell down into a swound but at length recovering he threw himself at her feet with so much reverence as was near to adoration and by her means was more confirmed in the true Religion and he with all the people shouted and gave glory to God with a loud voice Judith to perfect her Conquest advised the people to place the head upon one of the highest Towers of the City and in the morning to make a salley out upon the Assyrians who at the alarum would presently run to the Tent of Holofernes to awake him and finding what had happened would be extreamly amazed and sell their lives at a cheap rate and might be pursued and utterly destroyed out of all their Coasts with very little damage to themselves This was put in execution and the Captains instantly repaired to the Generals Tent to receive orders desiring Bagoas the Eunuch to wake their Lord since the Israelitish slaves had presumed to make a sally upon them tho to their own destruction The Eunuch after long tarrying at last ventred in and coming near the bed and hearing no body stir he at length opened the curtains thinking he had still slept with Judith but instead thereof found the dead body cast on the floor and his head taken from him At this fight he cryed out aloud and became so furious that he rent his cloths and went in a rage to Judiths apartment threatning her with a thousand deaths but missing her there he sent out many frightful Schreeches among the People and declared aloud That the Slaves had dealt treacherously with them and that one Hebrew woman had brought shame and confusion upon the House of Nebuchadnezzar who had slain Holofernes and left his carcase without a head All ran to behold this dismal Spectacle and the whole camp was filled with horror astonishment and despair Tears and howling had taken possession of the whole Army when at the same time the head of Holofernes appeared upon one of the Towers of Bethulia which so astonished the Assyrians that they fled and scattered themselves round about the City every one seeking safety in running away and none durst trust another The Israelites pursued with all manner of briskness and vigor making a great noise that their number might appear considerable though there needed no great force to vanquish run-a-ways All the neighbouring Cities came in to take part of the spoil and to pillage their routed enemies whom they cut off with a most dreadful slaughter and the booty in the Camp was so prodigious that the people were thirty days in dividing it The rich moveables of Gold Silver Pearls and Jewels found in Holofernes Tent were all presented to Judith with the praises and acclamations of the multitude who unanimously applauded her as the glory of Jerusalem the joy of Israel the honour of her people the gallant woman the chast and valiant Princess by whose hand God had done great things in delivering his people and whose fame should live to eternal Ages The women of Israel likewise assembled themselves to meet and bless her dancing before her with branches of Olive in their hands whereof they composed a Garland which they put upon her head and then Judith leading the dance before them proceeded toward her own house all the men of Israel following in their armour with garlands on their heads and songs in their mouths Judith likewith made the following song of Praise and Thanksgiving which all the people sang after her SIng to the Lord my God sing praise A new Psalm to him sing Exalt his glorious name always He is our God and King. The Armies he to pieces breaks Of those that are his Foes He me delivered from their hands Who did me round inclose Assur with thousands from the North Came Israel to assail And by his multitudes did not doubt Against them to prevail He boasted he our Towns would burn And our young men destroy Women and Virgins ravish and Our Infants make a prey But they have disappointed been By the Almighty Lord. A womans hand did them withstand They fled with one accord Their Great Commander did not fall By any Giants power 'T was Judiths beauty him inthrall'd And brought his fatal hour For her oppressed people she Her mourning laid aside And to surprize his amorous eyes Her Person beautified Her Charms over his Soul prevail'd And ravished his sight He 's made a Prisoner to her face She is his Hearts delight The Sword quite through his neck did pass And parted it asunder The Persians at her boldness quake The Medes thereat did wonder Th' Afflicted then did shout for joy Thy weak Ones cry'd aloud The Foes astonisht were ' cause God Had overthrown the proud The Young men have them pierced through And wounded them in Fight The Fugitives fiercely they pursue And slay their men of Might I unto God new Songs will sing O Lord thou art most Glorious In power thou art Wonderful Invincible Victorious Let all the Creatures worship thee At whose word made were they At thy voice they created were None thee can disobey The Fountains shall be mov'd at thee The Rocks shall melted be Yet merciful thou art to those That serve and worship thee All Sacrifice and Offerings Unto thee are but small But those that fear the Lord their God To Honour he will call Wo to the Nations that advance Themselves
she undertook this mighty Action she retired to her closet and putting ashes on her head and sackcloth on her loyns prostrated her self to the earth and prayed earnestly to God in this manner O Lord the God of my Fathers to whom nothing is impossible look down upon the Armies of Assyria who exalt themselves against thee and glory in the strength and number of their Forces and let them know that thou art the God of Battels and the Lord of Hosts is thy name and that thou breakest in pieces the mighty powers of the earth with one glance of thy eyes Throw down their strength by thy Almighty arm and lift up that hand which hath made it self renowned from all ages by so many wonders as thou hast wrought against those that have opposed thy peculiar people Confound their pride and suffer them not to violate thy Temple pollute thy Sanctuary nor destroy thy Tabernacle where thy Glorious name resteth and is called upon by thy afflicted Servants Send thy wrath upon them and deliver into my hand who am a weak widdow the Commander of their Camp give me such eloquence and utterance that my words may prevail upon him to his destruction And since thy strength is not in the multitude of Souldiers nor in the valour of Horsemen make it now appear that thou canst save by the most weak and unlikely means and that thou who art the God of the distressed the helper of the oppressed the supporter of the most destitute and the Protector and Saviour of those that are without hope art able to bring down thy most haughty and presumptuous Foes even by the hand of an impotent woman Remember thy Covenant O Lord give counsel to my heart words to my mouth and strength to my arm for the defence of thy House and People that all the Nations of the world may know there is no God like unto thee Having thus armed her self with her Prayers and Confidence in the God of Heaven she puts off her mourning and sackcloth and washes and adorns her self with Rings and Jewels to the best advantage so that she appeared exceeding amiable in the eyes of all though her virtues and graces were much the greater ornament to her and then having prepared meat and drink for her self and servant because she would not be polluted with the dainties of the Heathens she leaves her house and goes toward the gate of Bethulia where she finds Ozias and the Chiefs of the City Chabris and Charmis who seemed ravished with the lustre of her heavenly beauty yet inquired not into her design but implored the blessing of God upon her and the enterprize she had undertaken and the gates being opened she attended only by her maid went directly toward the Camp of the Assyrians all the people of the City looking after her as far as they could see As she went down the Mountain at break of day the Souldiers having discovered her ran presently to seize on so lovely a prize and were much surprized with the charms and splendor of her countenance and having inquired of her Countrey and present intentions she told them That she was a woman of Bethulia and that she had that night deserted the people of that miserable City who were obstinate to procure their own destruction from the triumphant arms of the Assyrians into whose hands they would at last certainly fall but that she would have no share in their crime hoping to escape their disasters also and that her business was to reveal to Holofernes a certain way how to take the City and all the Countrey round about without loss of a man. The Souldiers were amazed at her comeliness and discourse and assured her she had taken the only course to secure her life and honour and that their Lord would receive and entertain her with all manner of kindness and respect It may seem a rash attempt that a woman so handsom as Judith should venture her self and her honour to the rudeness of the dissolute Souldiers who propound to themselves the ravishing of women for one part of the reward of their dangers and toils in war And we may be apt to think that an honest woman would scarce expose her chastity to so many hazards and affronts although it were to save a City In humane reason this conduct of hers can hardly be defended but who dares condemn what seems to proceed from a manifest inspiration of Heaven which kept her as safe in the midst of the greatest seeming difficulties as if immured in the strongest Castle She was then conducted to the Tent of Holofernes who was leaning upon his Bed under a rich Canopy of State imbroidered with Gold Purple Emeralds and Jewels who having notice of her approach came to the door of his Tent with Silver Lamps before him Judith being come into his presence struck him and all his Attendants into admiration at her furprizing handsomness and being fallen at his feet he caused her to be instantly raised up and to incourage her treats her with incomparable sweetness assuring her That he was not terrible to any who would submit themselves to the obedience of his great Master Nebuchadnezzar the King of all the Earth neither would he have permitted a Sword to have been drawn against her Nation if according to their duty they had rendred their Towns to the arms of that Mighty Monarch and therefore desired her to inform him upon what account she had forsaken the City and was come to his Camp. Judith endeavoured to gratifie his request by this subtle Oration My Lord I am very well satisfied that the Great Nebuchadnezzar is ordained of God to be the King of the whole world and that all the strength of his Monarchy and management of his warlike affairs is included in your Person and conducted by your wisdom and policy for the safety and protection of the good and the chastisement of evil doers The valour and prudence of the worthy Holofernes is renowned through all the Earth who desires to be powerful only that he may be merciful of which all the Provinces which have fallen under his conquering arm have had comfortable experience As for the words which Achior declared to my Lord he hath repeated the same in the ears of the people of Bethulia thereby endeavouring to incourage them to defend themselves valiantly and what he hath said is most true and certain that the Israelites shall not be punished neither can the Sword prevail against them except they sin against their God But now their sin will overtake them and thereby make them an easy prey to their enemies for since their victuals and water fail them they are resolved to kill all their Cattel and to eat all things even those forbidden by their Law and not to spare those which were sanctified and reserved for the use of the Priests and service of the Temple whereby they will provoke their God to anger For this cause my Lord have
Chamberlains had conspired to murther him and in all probability their Treason had succeeded but that Mordecai the Jew happily discovered the whole Conspiracy for which the Traitors received their deserved punishment At the recital of this passage the King was somewhat moved and asked whether there were no mention of any honour or reward bestowed upon Mordecai as a recompence for this worthy service who replyed That he found nothing set down of that kind neither had he as yet received any reward upon that account Hereupon in the morning the King demanded who was in the Court and being told Haman was there who came thither more early than usual to beseech the king that he would please to give him leave to put Mordecai to death The K. commanded him to come into his presence to whom he said That as his faithful friend and servant he desired him to advise what honour and dignity was fit to be bestowed on that Person whom the K. had a very great favour respect for Haman who did not in the least doubt but the person designed to be thus advanced was himself made this confident-reply The man to whom your Majesty intends so much honour as to be counted the Kings Friend and Favourite ought to be mounted upon one of your own Horses and to be clothed with the Royal Robes with a Chain of Gold about his neck and the Imperial Crown upon his head and let one of your most Worthy Princes go before him through all the streets of the City and make proclamation That thus it shall be done to the man whom the King delighteth to honour The King liking the proposal commands Haman to go instantly to Mordecai that sate at the gate and to invest him and proclaim before him according to his own advice Haman with a heavy heart performs the Kings Orders through the whole City and Mordecai returned triumphantly to the Pallace Haman hastned home confounded and ashamed at what had happened and with tears related his strange misfortune to his Wife and Friends who all concluded That it was a very ominous accident for Mordecai was of the seed of the Jews and since he had begun to fall before him it was much to be feared that it would end in his ruin because God was with that Nation to save and defend them from their Enemies While they were thus discoursing a Messenger came from Esther to call Haman to the Banquet The King seated at this second Entertainment began again to be earnest with Esther to declare the petition and request she had to make to him since he was fully resolved to gratifie her therein yea to divide his Crown and Scepter with her rather than deny her suit To whom Esthe after a sad sigh declared the danger she and her people were in to this purpose If in the bounty of your Princely grace Your sad Petitioner may find a place To shroud her most inutterable grief Which if not there may hope for no relief If I have favour found O let my Lord Grant me my life my life so much abhorr'd To do him service and my peoples life Which now lye open to a Tyrants knife Our lives are sold 't is I 't is guiltless I Your Loyal Spouse 't is she and hers must dye The spotless bloud of me your faithful Bride Must swage the swelling of a Tyrants pride The King inraged at her discourse asks who was the man that had thus conspired the destruction of her self and all the Jews she replyed Even that wicked Haman to whom your Majesty hath given your Seal it is that perfidious Traytor that hath caused bloudy Letters to be written not to banish or sell us for Slaves for then I should have held my peace but that we should be cut off by the Sword in the Provinces of the Empire Who is the man that durst attempt this thing Where is the Traytor what am I a King May not our Subjects serve but must our Queen Be made the Subject of a Villains Spleen Is not Queen Esther bosom'd in our heart What Traytor then dares be so bold to part Our heart and us who dares attempt this thing Can Esther then be slain and not the King Reply'd the Queen the man that hath done this That cursed Haman wicked Haman is The King rose furiously from the Table and went into the Garden when Haman began to beseech Esther to intercede for him and forgive the offence he had committed and being very earnest he fell down on the bed where the Queen was when the King returning hastily back and finding him in that posture was much more displeased than before and cryed out O thou most cursed among men wilt thou ravish my Queen also Haman was so confounded at these words that he could make no reply and the Officers covered his face Hereupon one of the Chamberlains stept forth and told the King that Haman had erected a Gallows fifty foot high at his own house whereon he designed to have hanged Mordecai whereupon Ahasuerus commanded that Haman himself should be hanged thereon which was instantly executed accordingly For says the King it seemeth just and good To shed his bloud that thirsteth after bloud Who plants the tree deserves the fruit 't is fit That he who bought the purchase hansel it Hang Haman there for it is his own wood So let the Horse-leech burst himself with bloud And herein was the Justice of Heaven manifested ' not only in punishing the wickedness of Haman according to his deserts but in causing him to fall into that snare and pit he had prepared for an innocent person This was the end of that great but wretched Favourite who by abusing the interest he had in the Kings breast brought woful ruin upon himself and his whole Family his goods were given to the Queen who bestowed them on Mordecai whom the King understanding to be her Uncle he was called to the Pallace and had Hamans Ring given unto him and succeeded in his dignity After this Esther humbly intreated the King to command Letters to be sent through all the Provinces to countermand those contrived by Haman for the utter destruction of the Jews for how said she can I endure to see the ruin of my Nation and all my Relations This her request was thought very reasonable and the King granted it adding that as he had hanged Haman because of his bloudy intentions against her people so she her self should write on their behalf in his name and by his Authority to all the Governors of his Kingdom to reverse the dreadful sentence that was gone out against them In pursuance whereof the Secretaries of State were instantly imploy'd in that affair and writ to all the Magistrates of the Kingdom to this purpose Ataxerxes the Soveraign Lord and King of all the Nations that are from India to Ethiopia To the Princes and Governors of the seven and twenty Provinces of our Empire Greeting Whereas many through
Religion doth prize Which to promote she spar'd no cost nor pains Fully assur'd of Everlasting gains CLovis the husband of our worthy Heroine was King of France in the year of our Lord 485. And had scarce arrived to fifteen when he was seated on the Royal Throne a Prince of growing hopes born to build up that Great Monarchy where of his Predecessors had laid the foundation having the honour to be the first king who received the Christian Religion which was the choicest Jewel in his Crown France was at that time divided into several petty Royalties to which great priviledges were annexed yet acknowledging Clovis to be their Soveraign But this being little more than having the name and Title of King Clovis resolved if possible to become absolute Master of this goodly Countrey to obtain which he begins with the weakest and most obnoxious whereby he at length attained his end getting possession of the greatest part of Gaut and then having the County of Burgundy in his eye he desires Gombalt at that time Duke to let him have Clotilda the daughter of his younger brother Chilperick whom he had barbarously murthered to wife Gombalt was very averse to this alliance yet not daring to discover the real cause alleaged that his Niece had never the ambition to aim so high as to be Queen of France and besides there was one essential hindrance namely the diversity of their Religion it being a thing without example that a Christian Lady should marry an Heathen Prince which he could not permit to be done without manifest danger to her Soul and wounding his own honour to all posterity The French Ambassador replied That since his Master had a great respect for Clotilda he was very well pleased with her quality and that it was probable his Master by converse with a Princess of such admirable virtues and perfections might be at length induced to imbrace Christianity Gombalt said Matters of so great consequence ought not to be left at uncertainty And with this answer dismist the Messenger hoping he had now utterly prevented the match but Clovis transported with an entire affection to her soon returned an answer to this objection solemnly promising to renounce his Pagan Superstition and imbrace Christianity Whereat Gombalt was extreamly disturbed since he understood that in case he gave a denial the King of France would proceed to arms which might be fatal to his Countrey especially since many of the Burgundian Gentry were very conversant in the French Court and passionately desired this alliance as the greatest security and advantage to their Nation This business being of much importance was not thought fit to be concluded without the general consent of the States of the Countrey who being assembled to that purpose Gombalt endeavoured by many arguments to infuse jealousies into their minds of the great danger of being so nearly allied to so potent a Monarchy but found his allegations had little effect upon the Burgonians who unanimously concurred to have the marriage consummated as the surest bond of peace since the French were become so powerful it was dangerous to deny them any thing and it might therefore be feared that the entreaties of a Lover would be changed into the rage of a Conqueror That Clotilda whose Piety to God and love to her Countrey were both very eminent might by her worthy demeanor to her husband prevail upon him both to imbrace Christianity and to be very kind to her Nation Gombalt could not well find an answer to these convictive reasons but at length raised another scruple That Clotilda had vowed Virginity to Heaven and was resolved not to be married at all At this the Ambassador smiled desiring she might be called that her self might give him his answer Clotilda being asked the question replyed That she had never yet been so devout to make any vow of Virginity and though she were extreamly pleased with her present retirement yet if her Uncle thought fit to marry her to the King of France upon condidition he would become a Christian she would not be so undiscreet to refuse it At these words the Ambassador and his Attendants gave a loud shout declaring the marriage was concluded Gombalt dissembled his resentment fince he could not prevent the appointments of Heaven and therefore made speedy provision for her Journey into France saying Well Neice I now find you are of the humour of most other women and had rather be a Queen than continue with an Uncle your affectation of glory exceeding your devotion however I am very well satisfied with your choice and wish you all manner of content therein having alwaies made it my endeavour to advance your family according to my power And as for the death of your Parents I take God to witness no man was more concerned thereat than my self it being done by the advice of my Council to secure the peace and welfare of my Subjects and now I hope though you leave your Countrey you will not forget to perform all good Offices in your power for the benefit thereof After this he kissed her and taking his leave Clotilda began to weep though she had never more cause of Joy being now delivered out of the paw of the Lion and going to be the wife of a Great Monarch who expected her at Soissons with the utmost impatience and at her arrival was even transported at his happiness in the enjoyment of so absolute a beauty and so discreet a Princess He imbraced her with the most tender affection and was never weary of gazing on her She fell at his feet and told him She came to offer her service to him as her Lord and King and to be subject to all his commands He quickly takes her up kisses her and entertains her with the most indearing expressions of kindness The Nobility and People adored her even almost to Idolatry and nothing was to be seen in the Court but Feasting Comedies and all manner of diversions and demonstrations of satisfaction The Queen would not suffer her self to be too much elevated with these prosperities for she had still some kind of concernment how to manage the main affair which was the Conversion of her Lord and therefore during the preparations for solemnizing the Nuptials she offered divers occasions to him to discourse of Religion which he as politickly evaded but at length taking courage she resolved to discover her mind and spake thus to him I find your Majesty has so generous a soul that you bestow your bounty and liberality upon all the World and have therefore no reason to doubt your denial of one request that I shall make to you The King supposing she would ask some favour for one of her Attendants readily answered Madam Whatever you defire cannot be denied and therefore ask confidently what you please and it shall be granted Well then says she if your Majesty has that kindness for me which you seem to demonstrate I would beseech you that
and this sudden discomfiture struck such terror into the other German Princes that they speedily sent to desire Peace and became Tributary to him The Queen was very joyful at this notable success but much more at the devout resolution of her husband and therefore went several miles to meet him in his return accompanied by a renowned Bishop called Remigius a person famous for piety in that age Clovis no sooner approached the Queen but even ravished both with her presence and his great Victory he told her That he had indeed triumpht over the Almains but she had conquered him and that he would now defer his Baptism no longer The Queen extreamly pleased at the news told him that the glory of his Conquests was only due to the God of Battels to whom he could not make a more pleasing return than by giving up himself to his worship and service and that she had brought an Holy person with her to perform that acceptable duty to the Almighty Soon after he was accordingly Baptized with great Solemnity at Rhemes and it is said that his Children his Sisters and above three thousand Courtiers Gentlemen Commanders and Souldiers were made partakers of the like blessing at the same time After which Clovis publishing a favourable Edict toward the Christians almost all the French Nation were converted and with much Zeal threw down the Idols and Altars of their former Superstition The Queen to prosecute this blessed work she had so happily begun persuaded Clovis to build divers Christian Churches and endow them with considerable revenues after which he subdued Burgundy and united it to his Kingdom together with Provence Dauphine and Savoy and then marches with his Victorious Army into Langudoc against the Visegoths where he slew Alarick their king with his own hand and obtained a remarkable Victory seeming irresistible in all his attempts and having extended his Empire from the Rhine to the Sein and from the Pyrenean Mountains to the Ocean he at length submited to the fate of all other Mortals and died leaving his dominions divided between his four Sons Clotilda was very sensibly afflicted for the loss of so indulgent an husband and so great a Conqueror but time having in some measure abated her sorrows she resolved to wear out the remainder of her days in a devout and retired life but however was much disturbed in this her recluse condition by hearing of the horrible confusions and disorders among her Sons who not content with their Fathers allotment raised dreadful wars against each other till at length after the destruction of all the rest Clotair the third Son alone enjoyed the whole kingdom Clotilda used her utmost endeavours to have appeased their quarrels and one time among the rest prevented a battel ready to begin by her prudent advice saying My Dear Children I had great expectation that after the death of my loving Lord I should have reaped much comfort from your mutual agreement and never expected that you could believe it a worthy matter to unpeople the World or that you ought to violate the law of nature and brotherly love for inlarging your power or to establish your Thrones by the bloud of each other Return then my Children to the waies of peace which you have forsaken and be united in an indissoluble affection do justice to your people and live now as you expect to dye I give you my last farewel and pray remember the words of your dying Mother and bury me in the Sepulcher of the King your Father as I have ever desired At which words they laid by all their anger and were at present made Friends After this being sensible of her death approaching she continued in sweet extasies of Soul and praises to God for her deliverance out of this troublesom World and about midnight uttering with much earnestness these words To thee O Lord I commit my Soul O God I have put my trust in thee therefore let me never be ashamed She gave up the ghost Her name and memory being in much reverence in France to this very day The History of Andegona Princess of Spain SWeet Andegon the most endeared wife Of Ermangild who lov'd her as his life Though of Great Sufferings she did partake Yet the true Faith by no means would forsake Neither could all the Wiles nor cruelty Of a Step-mother shake her constancy Which o're her husbands Soul such power did gain He the same Faith with zeal did entertain And with such courage doth the same profess His bloudy Father could not dispossess His mind thereof But with unnatural rage Puts him to death his fury to asswage OUr Ninth and last Feminine Worrhy I shall fetch from Spain her name Andegona who in the year of our Lord 486. was married to Ermangild Son to Lenigild King of Spain an Arrian she was one of the most accomplisht Princesses in the World in whom virtue grace and beauty made an admirable harmony Her native Countrey was France being the daughter of Sigebert grand-child of the pious Clotilda our former Heroine At her arrival in Spain her husband Ermangild was surprized with her graces and his Soul was transported with a sweet violence toward a person of such extraordinary endowments so that never were Nuptials more full of content nor amities more faithful than between these two endeared Lovers which yet in a short time met with some Clouds of discontent and trouble Lenigild her Father in Law was about this time married to a second Wife an Arrian named Gosintha as deformed in body as mind who notwithstanding had obtained such Soveraignty over the heart of this old King that she had the sole management of his affairs and all was acted according to her will and pleasure However she pretended an extraordinary contentment at the consummation of this marriage and went in Person to wait upon and entertain the Princess seeming to overwhelm her with kindness and courtesy Yet at length out of an envious or malicious disposition she seemed much disturbed at the chast dalliances between them especially since she saw Ermangild wholly transported with love to his excellent Lady so that he could hardly endure her out of his fight whereby their discourses conversation and pleasures became as troublesom to Gosintha as if she had been one of those Infernal Spirits that possess and torment poor mortals Though Andegona had the greatest passion in the World for her Lord yet she durst not refuse the company of this troublesome Creature whereby her husband to his great regret was deprived of it who told her That she ought to be satisfied with the power and interest she had in affairs of state and not pry into nor interrupt his converse with his dearest spouse Gosintha repled That the frequent Conferences she had with his Princess were only in order to convert her to the Arrian Faith so called from Arrius Bishop of Alexandra the author of a wicked and blasphemous Heresy against the Divinity of our
Father was so far prevaild on by these discourses that he sent an Executioner to his Son in prison with this Message That a Sword or a Crown were now presented to his choice that if he would renounce his Religion he should be received into favour and enjoy the Scepter after him But if not he should be instantly beheaded in that place Ermangild told him That he would rather dye by a thousands torments than forsake the true faith which he had imbraced and added I thank thee O Almighty God that as thou hast given me a mortal perishing uncertain life from my Father so by his means I shall now receive a glorious and happy life to all Eternity And then kneeling down and praying earnestly for his Father Step-mother and all his enemies and persecutors he cheerfully stretcht out his neck to the Executioner pronouncing the name of his dear Andegona to the last moment and at one blow had his head severed from his body The sad tydings of this lamentable accident arrived to Andegona who had made her escape into Africa where she likewise received the last Letter from her husband out of Prison Her attendants at the news began to make doleful Lamentations as if themselves had been condemned to dye But Andegora kissing the Letter of her dear Lord and then reading it cryed out Ah noble and faithful Soul thou hast acted as a good man ought to do thou hast fought the good fight of Faith and hast now attained the Crown of glory and I desire nothing but to imitate thy constancy Weep not then my Servants for me since it is this day I am a Queen indeed and esteem my self the most happy Princess on earth who have a husband a Martyr in Heaven And then taking her little Son Ermangild almost tired with hard Travel she said Go sweet babe partake of the blessings of your dear Father God hath bestowed great favours in you to be banished already for your Religion go then little Innocent and rejoice with others before the Altar of the Lamb your Mother will not stay long behind you The Child dyed soon after and the magnanimous Andegona having long combated with these Armies of afflictions at length resigned up her Soul with these words O my God the father and son are at rest there now remains nothing but to take the mother I have ended all my hopes in this World why stayest thou O my blessed Saviour to receive my Soul which is now upon my lips Her prayer was heard for a few days after wasted with love travel and desires she died an exemplary death and found a Tomb in Africa FINIS There are Newly Published one and Twenty other very useful pleasant and necessary Books all sold by Nath. 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Let all that dwell In Tents thy Act O Jael tell She brought him milk above his wish And butter in a princely dish A hammer and a nail she took And into Sisera's Temples strook He fell fell down unto the floor Lay where he fell bath'd in his gore Lay groveling on his feet and there His wretched Soul sigh'd into air His mother at her window staid And looking out from thence she said Why are his Chariot whee it so slow And don 't my Son in Triumph show When her wise Ladies standing by Yea she her self made this reply Have not their Swords yet won the day Have they not shar'd the wealthy prey Now every Souldier for his pains A Hebrew Dame or Virgin gains While Sisera choosing lays aside Rich Robes in various colours dy'd Rich Robes with curious needles wrought On either side from Phrygia brought The thread spun from the Silk-worms womb Such as a Conqueror become Great God! so perish all thy Foes Love such as love thee On let those Shine like the Sun when he displays I' th Orient his increasing Rays The History of the Valiant Judith WHen Holofernes by the proud command Of Nebuchadnezzar was sent the Land Of Israel to invade and overthrow Their Towns and Cities so to bring them low The Hearts of all were fill'd with fear and dread How such great force should be encountered Then Valiant Judith for her Countries sake Deliverance for them does undertake Couragiously the General she slays And Israels dying hopes doth thereby raise Who do their flying foes fiercely pursue And unto Judith render praises due THough the History of Judith is placed among the Apocryphal writings and not allowed to be canonical Scripture as not being delivered by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit yet it is thought by the learned that the matter thereof is true and the worthy and reverend Arch-bishop Usher in his Scripture Chronology sets it down as a matter very certain and that it happened in the year from the Creation 3348. in the raign of Manasseh King of Israel and before the birth of our Saviour about 652. Having premised this to incourage the reading the life of this famous Heroine not as a fiction or Romance but a story full of veracity I proceed Nothing feminine must be expected in this woman all her actions were manly and full of generosity and what was wanting in her Sex was fully recompenced in her Virtue and Valour her hand was triumphant in destroying above an hundred thousand men by cutting off only one head but her eye did much more than her hand that first conquered Holofernes and with a little ray of its flames burnt up a whole Army It was in the raign of Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria that this female worthy lived who being elevated by the many victories and successes he had obtained his ambition sweld him so much that he resolved to afflict the whole earth and to destroy all the Gods of the Lands and oblige all Nations to worship him and that all Tongues and people should adore him only as God to prosecute this impious design he commanded Holofernes his Chief Captain to muster an Army of an hundred and twenty thousand foot and twelve thousand Horse with this mighty force this renowned General ruined all before him that made resistance and received those to mercy who desired peace and submitted to those idolatrous terms he required of them the motions of this dreadful host brought terror to the stoutest hearts and confusion to the weak and cowardly before it marches Noises Affrights and Threats after it Weepings Ruins and Desolations The report of this overflowing deluge of men came to the poor Israelites at Jerusalem which raised Sighs and Groans in the most obdurate Souls who being sensible of this furious tempest approaching their courage was dismaid their hands hang down and their tongues were silent having no other defence but their tears which they poured out abundantly in prospect of the Funerals of their Native Countrey At this time Manasseh was king of Jerusalem who not foreseeing any possibility of stoping this violent torrent or preventing the impending misery of his kingdom abandoned himself to sorrow and desperation but Joachim the High Priest who likewise executed the Office of a General used all possible means to revive the drooping Spirits of this disconsolate people he sends Messengers to all the Cities to furnish what men and provisions they were able to stop if possible the course of this barbarous enemy and to endeavour to take possession of the streights and narrow passages of the Mountains where a few might do great execution and thereby prevent their descent into the Plains where the multitude of their Forces would soon incompass and swallow all that opposed them He then commands publick supplications to be made to the Almighty and covers the Altar-of the Lord with Sackcloath and the Priests with Haircloth who with tears and fastings even the little children too prostrated themselves on the earth to implore the mercy of Heaven toward them but knowing that prayers without endeavours would be fruitless he visits all the Cities in person comforting the afflicted strengthning the weak and enlivening the dull thereby giving life and vigor to all the members of the body politick Holofernes having advice that the Jews made preparations to oppose him by force was filled with rage and disdain and called the Princes of Ammon Moab and the Governors of the Sea-coasts to him of whom he demanded what people they were who inhabited canaan what strength they had and who was their King that they presum'd to withstand them and would not come and submit themselves as the other Nations had done To whom Achor Prince of Ammon thus replyed If my Lord will not be angry I will give him a full Account of those people which dwell near the Hill Countreys without diminishing or concealing any thing of the truth Be it known to my Lord that they are originally descended from the Caldeans but separated themselves from them by reason of their Religion refusing to worship the Gods of their Fathers and adoring only one God the Maker of Heaven and Earth and departed into Mesopotamia where they continued many years but were at length commanded by their God to depart from thence and go into the Land of Canaan where they dwelt and multiplyed exceedingly increasing in Gold Silver Cattle and all the blessings of this life After this a terrible Famine happening in their Countrey they went down into Egypt to get food where they were kept alive and grew to a very great number insomuch that they began to be a terror to the Egyptians and that King endeavoured by all means to diminish them imposing cruel bondage upon them in making bricks thereby to bring them low upon which they cried to the Lord their God who revenged their wrongs by horrible plagues upon the Egyptians so that they were forced to let them go whithersoever they pleased
when they were gone the King repented of what he had done and resolved to pursue and utterly destroy them but God dried up the Red Sea before them so that they passed safely through and the Egyptians were all drowned therein From hence their God led them to Mount Sinai and through the barren desarts of Arabia and miraculously nourished them there with food from Heaven and waters out of the Rock and caused them to be victorious over all the people of the Countreys through which they passed Thus as long as they served their God they were invincible over all their enemies devouring the Amorites Jebusites Perezites and other Nations as fire consumes the chaff and possessing their Lands and Estates But when they departed from Gods worship and defiled themselves with iniquity they were then forsaken of Heaven defeated in many battles and led captive into the land of their adversaries the Temple of their God being cast down and their Cities taken from them But they are now again returned to their former worship and their Countrey and Temple at Jerusalem where they fortifie themselves against us Let us therefore my Lord be advised before we proceed against them for if their God be angry with them by reason of any provocation it will be easy for us to subdue and destroy them but if he be reconciled and will defend them it will be in vain to attempt any thing since he will certainly ruin and defeat all that shall assault them be their strength and multitude never so great Achior having thus spoken the Commanders of the Army were extreamly incensed against him and desired he might be slain who had the confidence to imagine that so small a number of people as the Israelites were should be able to withstand the force of the Royal Army of Nebuchadnezzar whom they doubted not but to discomfit at their very first appearance Holofernes having quieted the tumult raised among his Souldiers by this Oration spake thus to him and his Associates Who art thou Achior and who are you Hirelings of Ephraim that you have prophesied we should not make War with the people of Israel because their God will defend them as if there were any other God but Nebuchadnezzar whose Servants will utterly destroy them the Mountains shall be drunk with their bloud and their Fields covered with their dead bodies And thou Achior shalt see my face no more till I take vengeance of these people that came out of Egypt and in the mean time I will deliver thee into their hands Accordingly some Souldiers were sent to carry Achior bound and throw him down the Hill near the walls of the City which the Israelites perceiving came and brought him into Bethulia and being carried before the Priests and Governors of the City who inquired the meaning of this adventure he gave them an account of all he had said to Holofernes and what Testimony he had given of the Power and Majesty of God whereat the people were even ravished for joy and fell down crying to the Lord of Heaven to behold the pride of their enemies and pity the low estate of his servants And then comforted Achior and promised him all security and protection Mean time Holofernes endeavoured to surprize little Bethulia but found it hard to be effected by reason of some valiant men who lay in ambush in the Mountains and much gauled his Army in the narrow passages whereupon his Souldiers perswaded him not to hazard his whole Army in this dangerous attempt but endeavour to stop the channels that carried the water from the Fountains which would quickly oblige them to yield This was performed accordingly and was very like to have effected their design for the people began to murmur and mutiny aloud against the Priests for bringing them into this dangerous condition by their rashness since there was little hope of prevailing against such a formidable power as had already subdued so many Nations and with one voice required them to surrender up the Town to the Assyrians Ozias in the absence of Joachim endeavoured to appease the cries and tears of the people and desired them to take courage and trust in God and if deliverance did not come in five days he would then do as they pleased There was then in the City of Bethulia a great Treasure whose worth and merit was utterly unknown It was the valiant Judith of a worthy Family of the Tribe of Reuben whose husband was named Manasseh and had been dead about three years and an half leaving her very rich She was exceeding beautiful and very religious spending all her time in devotion and wearing sackcloth upon her loyns whereby she gained much reputation among the people This worthy Lady hearing of the resolutions of Ozias was much disturbed at the miseries of her Countrey and sending for Ozias and the rest of the Princes of the people she thus addrest them O ye Governors and Inhabitants of Bethulia in my opinion you have been very rash in what you have spoken this day to the people and in the Oath you have taken and pronounced between the Lord and them in promising to deliver up the City to the enemy if God do not send you help within five days which is to tempt and prescribe to him the time of his mercies and not to depend upon his providence who knows best when and how to bring Salvation to those that put their trust in him Let us therefore continue to serve the Lord according to his Laws and Commandments and not turn aside to worship other Gods as our Fathers did before us and for which they were given up to the Sword of their Adversaries and in Gods good time which is the best he will work out deliverance for us Ozias replyed All that she had said was true and excellent and that it was not the first time wherein she had manifested her wisedom and knowledge for which she was always held in admiration but that the extream thirst of the people and the violent exclamations they raised had caused them to enter into an Oath which they durst not break But said he since we know thee to be a religious woman and upright in thy conversation we beseech thee to pray to God for us that he will please to send us rain and fill our Cisterns and then we shall take courage to defend our selves Hereupon Judith told them That she would perform an Act which should resound through all generations defiring them to leave one of the City Gates open through which she might freely pass that very night accompanied with her Servant since she had some good work in her heart for the benefit of her Countrey which she would not yet discover but assured them that God would save them by her hand within the time limited for giving up the City Ozias and the Princes bid her go in peace and pray'd the Lord God to be with her and to take vengeance of their enemies Before