of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
had expresse charge to Write for the very last the yeere since the creation of the World 2513. and of his life the 80. yeere and hath continued his Holy Stories euen to the yeere of his Death and of the world 2553. Now since that time GOD hath alwayes so prouided for the aduancement of his Glory and the edification of his Church that the perpetuall History of her and the certaine account of the yeeres of the World hath beene continued and still put in Writing by his Prophets As it is to bee seene in the Holy Bookes that treate and contayne the Gouernment of Ioshua and the Iudges then to Samuel and the Kings of the People vnto the transmigration into Babylon and of other Gouernors which haue succeeded them after their returne from thence And finally the Prophet Daniel hath declared the rest of the time that is The 490. yeeres since the sayd Deliuerance of the Iewes and returne from Babylon by the meanes of Cyrus Daniel 9. King of Persia euen to the Death and Resurrection of Christ the Redeemer promised to the holy Fathers which is our Lord Iesus the eternall Sonne of God true God and true Man who appeared liuing after his Luk 24. 1 Cor. 15. Death and Resurrection to more then fiue hundred faithfull Witnesses at one time besides his other manifestations and mounted visibly into Heauen in the yeere of the World 3961. Now if wee will search all the Histories of all the Nations of the World of whom the Writings are ariued to our Age the most Ancient time of which they make mention shal be of their Antique destruction of Troy by the Greekes The History whereof hath beene written by Dictis of the I le of Creet which is the best Testimony they haue for the present and since by Homer and many others And from this Destruction Diodorus Siculus renowned amongst the Historians began his Bookes now the same according with the common Iudgement and Calculation of knowing men comes onely to be about 358. yeeres before the building of Rome the same time then fallsâ— to bee in the 16. yeere of the Gouernment of Elon Iudge of the People of Iudgeâ— 12 Israel mentioned in the Booke of Iudges And the same was 316 yeeres before the first Olympiade the reckoning of the Annalls of the Greekes So then the sayd Destruction of Troy falls to be onely vnder the yeere of the World 2838. when therefore wee shall giue consent that their Writings the most certaine whose Narrations wee may best giue credit vntoâ— Yet the Prophet Moses shal be found much more Auncient then all the Writers of the World what Nation soeuer though they are in great number and of whom wee see yet the Old Bookes in these last times in their proper Tongues And that hee hath put his hand to the Pen and began to Write his Diuine Reuelations of the Creation and Conduct of the World euen to his time and his sacred History and Prophesies touching the Church of GOD shall at least bee 325 yeeres before all other Writers of whom there is any mention or newes in the World that is to say in the yeere of the World 25â—3 Whereupon wee note euen to this Present against all those prophane mockers that haue disgorged that enormious blasphemy amongst others that the World is eternall and of it selfe which if it were so as they dreame and that it had no such beginning as is written by Moses they might finde then by all and in all Languages many Histories of infinite times and many Chronicles of many Ages and of old times that haue praeceded Moses in the account of yeeres But wee see that there is no such and that the Holy Bible is found euen in the middle amongst all sorts of enemies that strâ—ue to destroy loose abollish burne and extermine from the World the Bookes of it and for all thereto they had so long time yet neuerthelesse they neuer could nor euer shall For wee see the sayd Bible yet in his proper Writing and Language and of all others of what Nation soeuer the most celebrated and renowned And if they could finde any History which had beene written before Moses was borne into the World yet shall it contayne their time and composition with more yeeres and ages as wee can gather from the Holy Scriptures euen to this present yeere 1633. since the Natiuity of Christ The which account of times past from the Creation vnto this present yeere shall come to amount to 5563 yeeres but such Histories neyther can bee found nor euer were But for Moses and his faithfull Writings euen prophane Authors and Histories of the Gentiles themselues haue beene euen as it were â—iuinely constrayned to â—eaâ—e testimony maâ—ger their Calâ—mnies Lyeâ— Dreames and Disguisings through and by the Invincible force of Truth And so they haue serued for Certificates to all Nations of the venerable and well knowne Antiquity of him and his Holy Writs For some of them haue noted and writ thus as a thing notorious of their times to witt That is the East Trogus Iustinus parts and of Syâ—ia it selfe there had beene an Abraham an Israel and euen a Ioseph who say they was a Sonne of the sayd Israel sold by his brethren and led into Aegypt Then how hee was receiued into the Court and held very dearely with the King to whom hee foretold the grieuous and great famine so as without the diuine Counsell by him giuen whereupon the admonished King gathered vp and made reseruation of Corne before the time of the sayd Famiâ—e Aegypt had perished And finally how his Successor Moses and all his People issued out of Aegypt came to Mount Syna how they consecrated the Seuenth day for their Sabbaoth or Resting dayâ— But I wil leaue this Discourse though diuersified from a spark of Truth that these Historians haue mixed with their owne deuices as prophaâ—â—e and in which they were poorely Aduertised and deceiued by the subtilty of Sathan as we may well know by conferring their VVriting with the Holy Bible And bee it that these Scofferâ— of GOD and his Holy Word dare be so bold to say and calumniate that MOSES and his haue suppressed and abolished all praeceâ—ent Histories making their Writings to be before all others thereby to Authorize them the better but wee will leaue those their calumnies to the iudgement of any of sound sense and vnderstanding If that could be or can haue any place or shaddow of beliefe amongst men of sound iudgement or reasonable Discourse for if they wil put into mature consideration the small meanes and contemptible quality in the world of these poore Israelites but Shepheards and breeders of Cattle and which is worse people exposed to the oppressions and hard seruitude vnder their puissant Enemies and euill disposed Neighbours Then who shall make comparison of them with great Kings and people of the Earth Babilonians Aegytians Syrians Romans and other Potentates who with all their Authority
vsed the propriety of their Characters according to their Language all otherwayes then the Aegyptians following the disposition of theyr Letters they adopting and accommodating them to the propriety of their Voyce and that they were much deceiued who held they spake the Syrian tongue for theyr fashion of speaking was farre otherwayes To this the King replyed that hee would write to the Pontiffe of the Iewes to the end that all might be obtayned what was requisit to bring to effect this affayre as Demetrius pretended Then it came into my spirit that Time and occasion presented themselues for deliuery of all the Iewes the which his Father Ptolomeus Lagus had led prisoners from Iudea into Aegypt For the which deliuerance I had often prayed Sosibius the Tarâ—ntine and Andrea Captaine of the Guarde to the Kings Body For these two Commanding in the Army had brought into obedience all that which was in Syria and Phenicia filling all these Regions with feare and terrour and then were the Iewes led some Prisoners others in manner of Colonies in such a manner and multitude that there was brought into Aegypt to the number of a 100000 men of whom were chosen well neere 30000. all men of Warre who were established for the Guard of the Prouince True it is that before there had bin sent with the Persians and other Companies that were sent against the King of Aethiopia vnder the Charge of Psammiticke but all those which were there were not of so great nuÌ„ber as those which were led away by onely Ptolomeus Lagus For as we haue sayd hee adress'd to Armes all those whom Age or Force shew'd to bee proper and all the rest of the Populer as well Children Old men Woemen he instituted as Colonies determining in himselfe that if at any time his men of Warre grew insolent that none could surpasse them in course or necessity of Warre hee had meanes to abate such their presumption by those might rise from these Colonies Now then seeking the occasion to bring about the Liberty of these poore men as I haue formerly sayd and hauing found my opportunity I opened my desire to the King thus prosing The Proposition of Aristeus to King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the deliuery of the Iewes IT is nothing wonderfull my Gracious Lord and King if it come to passe many times that the very affayres which wee manage notes and argues vnto vs contrariety and as it were direct against vs for all the Nations of the Iewes haue one selfe-same Law the which wee desire to bee ours not onely Copied but also Translated into the Greeke language How then suppose you to send to them about this businesse when the greatest part of them is here in your Kingdome held Prisoners Vnlesse it may please Your Magnanimity and Worthy Noblenesse to desire theyr Holy Bookes after you haue giuen free Liberty to those who liue heere in great calamity and affliction hauing aboue all things Respect to that GOD which makes your Kingdome flourish and You in high prosperity who is the same GOD which hath giuen them that Sacred Law which wee desire to haue For they worshipping the GOD which hath made and created all things and is the very same whose wonderfull Workes all Humanes see and admires though some not so clearely as others for Sir wee and others Call him Iupiter and that not without reason for it hath seemed good to our Ancestors because by him are procreated and liue all Creatures the which also they esteeme the Conductor and Gouerâ—our of the whole Vniuerse And altough that hee holdes in his Domination all men mortall neuerthelesse shining with Spirituall light hee neyther frustrates nor deceiues the â—owes and Prayers of those implores his ayde Wee then ought humbly to desire that hee would incline our hearts to such good affections as to doe good and that freely to euery one and especially to deliuer and free those which are in slauery and bondage for being that Humane kind is the Worke and Creation of God who hath power to turne the heart and incline it to what part it pleaseth him Wee many times and in diuers fashions desire it would please him to lead vs to a perfection in goodnesse as the principall Ruler of hearts vnderstanding and spirit By this acknowledgement I conceiue a great hope to come to the Head of this businesse principally because I know God to be fauorable to those that pray for things reasonable and equitable For when men adopt themselues wholy to seeke and accomplish things tending to Iustice and perfection of good workes God the Lord of all things conducts and addresseth their actions and affections to blessed happy effects ends The King then as something gained with a contented Countenance sayd to Andrea how many is there of the Iewes detayned in Captiuity He answered in few words more then 100000. it is a small request then said the King Aristeus requires of vs Sosibius and some others then there present answered it is a thing Sir worthy of Your Highnesse and Magnificence to make an agreeable present vnto God by their deliuerance in liew of thankes and action of acknowledgement beeing that the Gouernour of Heauen and Earth haâ— exalted you into more Sublimiâ— then all your Predecessors and it will do well you by this make â—e manifestation of your thankes The King then disposed to Banqueting A Dâ—ma is 3 shillinâ— sixe penâ— that is 3. Pound â— 10. shillings thâ—â—eaâ— and pastines in a full Feast and assembly of his Noble Commanded that the Iewes should bee all searcht out and that euery body of them should bee rebought for the summe of 20. Drackmes by pole and to confirme the same that his Edicts should bee made and that heerein as much speed and promtitude should be made as might possible be And so it seemed that GOD perfitted and brought to passe our desires for hee pleased to put into the heart of the King to set at liberty not onely those that by the Army of the King his Father led Captiues into Aegypt but also all others that before or since had beene carried Prisoners into Aegypt by what meanes soeuer the summe then of those were franchis◠〈◊〉 Talenâ—â— 600 F 〈…〉 Crâ—â—nes mounted vnto 400. Talents Moreouer I hold it not out of purpose to â—â—d you the Copie and Tenour of the Edict by which you may vnderstand the greatnesse of the Affayre and â—e debonarity and facility of the King who was moued by the Goodnesse of God for the saluation of many ⧠The Edict of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus for the Deliuerance of the Iewes WEe will and commaund all those that followed Armes vnder our deceased Father through the Countrey of Syria and Phaenicia entring into the Land of Iudea and their taking the Iewes and leading them prisoners hauing applied them to their workes and seruice both in Townes and fields That they shall deliuer and restore them into full Liberty moreouer we will
that all the Iewes that eyther before or since haue beene taken and led away in what fashion or manner soeuer shall be sent francke and free For the ransome wee haue ordayned that is to say twenty drachmes for euery head the which summe the men of Warre shall take vpon the distribution of the staple and munition of Victuals and the rest shall goe vpon the reuenew of the Table to the King or reserued For we are duely informed that those Iewes were constituted and brought away prisoners agaynst the Counsell of our deceased Father and agaynst all right and reason And that by the boldnesse and insolence of the Men of Warre they were Conducted into Aegypt and their Countrey wasted and desolated when it was sufficient to haue the men of Warre of the said Countrey at their deuotion and all the Prouince reduced into obedience Intending then to doe and render right to euery one Vniuersally and especially to those who receiue iniury vnder the iniust domination of another Moreouer to search diligently and particularly all things concerning right and equity and to preferre Piety and Religion aboue all things Our will and pleasure is that all Iewes whatsoeuer beeing bond and Slaues in this Realme in what part soeuer they be found be it in the Colonies or else where or be it in what soeuer manner they were brought into our Kingdome shall be deliuered enfranchised and set at Liberty for we are pleased it shal bee so done And to the ende that no person shall be interessed or receiue dammage wee commaund that three dayes after the publication of this present Edict euery one whom it doth concerne shall bring before vs their requests contayning the number of heads that euery one hath set at liberty For so it pleaseth vs to haue it for the profit of Vs and our Kingdome Declaring further that the goods of those who are not obedient to this our Edict that their shall be forfeit and Consiscate And we giue liberty to whosoeuer will to accuse and bring in their contumacy or contempt of our will and pleasure THIS Edict being written perfited and brought to the King to know if his pleasure were it should be Published in this manner or that hee would Correct and acknowledge it When hee perceiued that these Words viz. And those that before and since had bin led Prisoners were wanting hee inserted of his liberality and magnificence He then made presently the money to be doubled in the summe to his Treasurer and Officers of his Finances The which distribution was dispatched in the space of seauen dayes And there was defrayed well neere sixe hundred sixty thousand Talents for there were found a great multitude of Children with their mothers which were all set at liberty and for euery head of those was payed by the Commaundment of the King twenty Drachmes Which was accomplished by the King to his great liking and contentment And after all was done he commanded Demetrius by course of estate to deliuer him the denomberment of the Hebrew Volumes For these Kings haue in Custome to comprehend all things by Edicts and to do nothing be it neuer so small a businesse without Writing aswell because of their Royall highnesse as also that beleefe may more certainly bee giuen thereto Therefore to the end you may as it were see all before your eyes I will here inserte the Tenour and Copy of the request made to the King by Demetrius and the Epistles which were sent for those that were franchis'd so as one may see the multitude and in what habite they were and in what Artes and Professions they were different and how they were Registred and inroled The Exemplary of Demetrius his request to the King was this The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to the King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS GReat Sir Since it hath pleased you to giue me Commaundment to search in all places for all manner of Bookes to fill serue and Decorate your Library I haue thought it good and necessary wee obtayne and get the Bookes of the Iewes Lawes and some other we are yet short and vnfurnisht of and because the sayd Bookes of the Iewes are Written in Hebrew Characters proper and best knowne to the Iewes onely and therfore not yet falne into your Royall hands Neuerthelesse that they may be gayned and ranked amongst your other Volumes partly for the Wisedome contayned in them partly for their Sublimity and Diuine hight of matter they contayne Of which Poets and Historians make often mention as very profitable to instruct to good mannets to institute and addresse the Republicke into the fairest shape of Gouernment by reason of the excellency of men therein mentioned to the Reuerence of matters therein intreated as a Scripsit librum de Iudaeis teste Suida Hecateus Abderita plainely testifieth These things seriously considered Great King it would doe properly well if it would please you to write to Ierusalem and to the great Pontiffe therein that he would send you sixe men of euery Tribe or Line and that they be such as are of good parts and Condition of venerable age best knowing and Vers'd in their owne Law that being all able Translators they may with iudgement choycely elect and choose that course of expression may be consonant and Harmoniously agreeing amongst themselues And this done great Sir I shall hope you will accomplish a course worthy of so excellent an intention and at last wel agreeing with your desires The King hauing read this request ordayned Letters should bee drawne and sent to Eleazer the High Priest about this businesse In the which was signified vnto him the deliuerāce of the Iewes from their Captiuity With the Letter he ordayned also to be made ready Cups Vessels and a Table of pure Gold with fifty Talents of Gold and seauenty of siluer for oblations there to be offered with many precious Iewels and stones of very great price Commanding the Gold-workers with all speede to finish these things and the money in Talents for the oblations to be raysed incontinently And because you shal at full vnderstand the Kings viuacity in this businesse I send you here the Coppy of the Letter the King Writ whereof the Tenour is as followeth King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS to ELEAZER Chiefe Pontiffe of the Iewes COnsidering the great Multitude of Iewes inhabiting within our Territories of whom some had beene led from Hierusalem in the times that the Persians had the Domination the others following our deceased most Honourable Lord and Father being adioyned with him whereof many were receiued into his pay and ranke as his Souldiers and men of Warre whereof the most faythfull and trusty were established in the most strong Forts as Garrisons by that meanes to bridle the insolences of the Aegyptians Wee since being come to the Crowne and hauing singular affection to exercise Liberality and Munificence towards all persons and in speciall vnto the Cittizens we haue franchised and set at Liberty more then a hundreth Thousand
ordayning that from our Money a iust ransome should bee payed to all those that held them Prisoners valuing at a certayne price and summe for euery head of them with desire to giue order by reason and to remit them into good estate and tranquillity whom the Impetuosity Cruelty and Disorder of Warre had disturb'd and diuerted from Right and Equity In which wee esteeme to haue done a good and holy deede as a worke yeelding thankes to the Great GOD for all his great benefits receiued from him wee make him this Offering for hauing adorned and celebrated before all the World this our Kingdome with a most remarkable Peace Tranquility and notable Glory And those others which had beene Slaues and Bondmen in our Army wee haue ordayned Souldiers in the Company and them who haue beene found more recommendable in Faith and Fidelity wee haue made them Chiefes and most aduanced in our Court. Further because we desire those and all others of the Nation spread and scattered through the Vniuerse to bee thankefull to our Fauours wee haue deliberated to make that your Law which is Written in Hebrew Letters should bee Translated into the Greeke Language and that our Royall Library bee adorned therewith as it is with other Books you shall doe well then as a thing to vs very agreeable and correspondent to our Designe and Intention if you elect out of euery Tribe or Line of your Nation sixe of the most Ancient Personages and those shall bee found of the best breeding and sufficiency and most Authorised in the Seruice of the Law and haue the best Style in Writing to make for vs this Translation for so shall the Verity thereof bee best and cafiliest drawne if the Company of the Interpreters bee men of mature Iudgement and well exercised in the Law well waighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needefull there be Solicitude curious Study and Meditation which may bee found in the Many see more then one onely consideration of many who are more sharpe more subtile and more cleare-seeing then of one alone Moreouer wee shall esteeme that by th' accomplishment of so great a Worke there will redound to vs great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore wee haue sent vnto you Andrea Chiefe of the Guarde belonging to our Person and Aristeus men of Honorable place in our Court hauing Commission from our part to present you with Iewels for your Sacrifices and for other vses an Hundred Talents of Siluer Besides heerein you shall doe vs contentable pleasure and courtesie resenting Amitie if you haue neede of any thing to require it of vs for wee will not fayle to accomplish and accommodate you therwith immediately To this Epistle Eleazar made Answere in these words ELIAZER Pontiffe to King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queene Arsinöe and my Lady your Sister and your Children my Lords praysed be God for health is a thing to be desired and thanked for as a due vnto him which is the Giuer thereof As for vs wee are in good prosperity also lauded be the Giuer Wee haue receiued your Letters which brought vnto Vs great Contentment by reason of your Counsell Enterprise and Designe as also for the loue and good will you beare to vs. Hauing receiued them wee made a great Assembly of the People to whom by a long Discourse hauing made knowne your Liberality towards our Nation and demonstration of your Presents and Oblations to the end they should vnderstand your holy affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickely the twenty Vessels and Viols of Golde the thirty of siluer which we haue sent the fiue cuppes of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of siluer for the prouision and re-eadying of the victimes and other Vses requisite to the Sacrificers Which Iewells were to vs presented by Andrea one of our Princes and Aristeus Persons truely worthy of note both in corporall beauty and excellency of Behauiour and Condition as also rare Knowledge briefely Lords worthy in all things of your Conuersation and Iustice by whom wee haue beene fully informed of your will and intention according with the Tenor of your Letter Wherefore wee will wholy put our selues into endeauour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to well bring to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you haue obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an inestimable Benificence Whereupon wee haue offered to GOD the Sacrifice of Thankesgiuing for You your Sister Children and Friends and the whole multitude of people hath prayed to GOD for your Prosperity and that it will please him to addresse your affection in all your Acts and that GOD the Ruler of all things will make your Realme to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound vnto your Vtility and Profite After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being to 〈…〉 wee haue chosen the persons 〈…〉 sort and men of honor and of good life and Report beeing sixe of euery Tribe or Line which we haue sent to you with the Holy Law which was left to vs by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to returne them vs after the Translation of the Bookes shal be accomplished These are the Names of those which were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes for to go into Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of MOSES Of the first Tribe IOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoâ—lus Adeus Mathias Eschâ—â—ias Of the third Neemias Iosephus Theodosius Baseas Ornias Dacis Of the fourth Ionathas Auxeus Heliseus Annanias Chebrias Sacheus Of the fifth Iasacus Iacobus Iesus Cabateus Simon Leuis Of the sixth Iudas Iosephus Simon Zacharias Somelns Selemias Of the seauenth Sabbateus Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The eighth Theodosius Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The ninth Theophilus Abrahamus Arsamus Iason Endemias Danielus The tenth Hieremias Eleazarus Zacharias Baneas Heliseus Datheus The eleauenth Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the answere to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare vnto you the most succinctly I possible can the beauty and Decoration of the things we found in Hierusalem being with Eleazer and those also which were sent vnto him for all was wrought with singularity of manufacture and of most exquisite beauty the King beeing therein so carefull and intentiue to performe abundantly all that was necessary for excellency of finishing the Worke that of his owne proper motion hee went and came visiting euery one of the Maister-Worke-men and Gold-smithes whom hee helde so close to their businesse
the custome of the Countrey is that when any Ambassadours arriue for any businesse they are sent about it is not permitted that they be presented to the King if they are not Ambassadours from Kings or or of Signiories and excellent Common-weales without great difficulty to haue Audience vntill thirty dayes after their Arriuall and sometime longer according as the King shall haue respect to the dâ—gnity and grâ—atnesse of those which sent them But the King â—aâ—â—ng made auoydance of those he esteemed not necessary to this Entertayment remayned in the Hall there walking vntill the Doctors were preseâ—ted vnto him to do him their Reuerence Who being introduced did their duties in deliuering the Presents sent to the King from ELEAZER â— Likewise they Presented him with diuers skins of Parchment exceeding fine smooth and delicate bound to one so the other by a binding that was fareâ— and excellent In these Skins was the DIVINE LAVV of MOSES in Letters of The deliuery of the Hâ—ly LAVV or Sacred Bookes of MOSES in Hebrevv characters to King PTOLOMY Gold and in the HEBREVV Language a thing truely admirable to looke vpon As they presented them to the King sitting in his Estate The King presently turned towards them regarding them All the one after the other and then demaunded of them the Bookes of the LAVV Then they displayed the Roules involued in these skins of Parchment or Vellame afore-sayd Which the King seriously beholding remayned as one â—auish'd a pritty space Then after adored the HOLY LAVV by seauen times saying these Words We giue you thankes my Maisters and much more him that hath sent them hither and the High GOD aboue all of whom these are the Sacred Words Then the sayde Doctors and all those who were assistant with the King shewed great tokens of ioy with plaudities and there fell teares of Ioy from the Kings eyes as wee see many times that excessiue contentments will draw teares from the Eyes especially in excellencies that are of spirituall condition and inclination Then the King commanded that the Skins and Bookes of the LAVV should be returned into their placeâ— Which done hee saluted them saying Reason will graue Sirs that first I do you Honour and Reuerence because I haue made you to come hither of which I giue you my hand to the ende I assure you that this very day shal be to me the Day that all the dayes of my life I will hold great and memorable and shal bee Celebrated euery yeare with feasting because you not only come to see me but in like sort it hapned I obtayned a Sea-fight agaynst Antigonus Wherefore wee will that this very day you reioyce your selues in Feasting with vs. Incontinently hee commanded the Princes should be inuited Amongst whom he did me the Honor to make me sit Moreouer he caused to be put foorth in full shew all the rich mooueables wherewith the Pallace Royaâ—l was in great Feasts vsed to be decked â— In like sort hee commaunded â— they should make ready Lodgings very neare to the Castle in the most sumptuousâ— manner they could And in like sort the King ordayned that the Feasts should bee readied in most Opulent and Magnificent manner could be possible And then the King commaunded Niâ—anor his Chiefe Physitian to bid Dorothea Controuler of the House as from the Will and Commaund of his Maiesty that he should and that with all dilligence deliuer all things necessary for euery one of the Doctors as well for their vse as for the adornment of their Lodgings and that without fayling as from the ordinance and commaund of the King which incontinently was accomplished with great celerity by many hands As wee see is conformable in great Citties when they prepare to make great Feasts and publicke Banqueting when there is chosen CoÌ„missaries which are ordayned to furnish euery one of that is in his charge and office The establishments of the King who assisted in care euen himselfe and his people in Truth were Nature of good Officers and Subiects not troublesome people grumlers at their paynes taking or vnwilling to their Commaunders for they furnished with all freenesse and Ioyfulnesse and with Honour all they saw requisite and necessary executing the commaunds of the King with pleasant and ioyfull countenances so was the King fully serued and freely Obayed in this and diuers other Respects For Dorothea was very liberall and Magnificent and very carefull in his charge and Office which was chiefly to haue in regard the Furnish for these graue and Reuerent persons not vsing things formerly adopted to such vses but choyse and fresh stuffes sparing nothing was in his power He assigned to euery one of them his Couch of Ease besides his Bed with fayre Ornaments as the King had Commaunded Moreouer the King would that the halfe of them should be so placed and seated at the Table that they might bee face to face agaynst him and the others here and there from his Seate Royall Forgetting nothing might any wayes do them honour or might serue and accommodate their very thoughts After the seats of the Table were well and magnificently placed and prepared for euery one the Kings commaund to Dorotheae was that all those that came from Iudeae should haue Victuals distributed and such as they desired according to the fashion of their Countrey and ordinance of their Law Neuerthelesse that they should be furnished therein abundantly as also for their Oblations Vowes and Sacrifices according to the custome of their Nation After all these Ceremonies the King prayed one of them named Eleazer the most aged of all those came with vs to make the Prayers Who as he was very Venerable being then risen from his Seate began in this manner GOD Almighty fill thee O King with all goodnesse and giue grace to thy Wife and to thy Children and that thy plenty may bee Permanâ—nâ— without alteration or change all the course of thy Life and theirs Hardly had he ended this Prayer but there rose a bruite and exclamation of ioy with a pleasant murmur and plaudite that lasted a pritty while Thus all things being disposed and prepared to jouisance all the Company betooke themselues to make great cheare and those who attended vppon the Table were very ready and dilligent to their Offices as the Controler had ordayned them Amongst those who serued at the Table were the Children of the King Custom of agypt vvas so and all the most greatest Peeres and Lords Answers of the Doctor Iewes to the Questions propounded by King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS WHen the time came and occasion presented it selfe for Discourse the King by certaine pauses began to aske them by order and as they were plac'd at the Table according to the age of euery one to him therefore that was set most highest hee made to him this Question How he should maintaine his Kingdome whole and safe vnto the end AFter the Doctor had a little studied he answered you shall great
equity and bearing themselues iustly for good workes are gifts of GOD. To the other How hee should liue without sorrow IF you offend no body and that you ayde euery one doing Iustice to all the world For from so doing one gathereth such pleasant fruites as they shall liue alwayes pleasantly Neuerthelesse wee ought to craue of GOD that the accidents which comes against our hope bring vs not damage as death sicknesses and such like inconueniences the which can doe you no damage if that you bee full of Piety To the other What is the thing of the World worthy of the most great Glory THat is to serue GOD not by Sacrifices neyther by oblations so much but by purity and sincerity of Spirit and to conforme himselfe to the will of a simple and liuely faith Which if you doe Great King you will imprint firmely in your heart that all you haue done and shall doe hereafter shall be euident and discouered to all the World After these things the King with a high voyce saluted them all attributing to them great praise and so did also the assistants especially the Philosophers which were there present and not without cause for these Personages were excellent in deeds and in words putting alwayes the foundations of their Answers and Opinions in GOD. This done the King began to reioyce in this Feast and Bâ—nquet merrily The day following the Tables were couered in the same manner as before aod all the Lords aforesayd being set to the Table the King taking his opportunity of Deuising began to to interrogate those who followed the others in the precedent day of answering and made this Question I would know if Prudence may be taught PRudence is a certaine decoration and ornament to the Soule flowing from the puissance Diuine hauing propriety to receiue good things and to repulse the contrary To the other Which is the thing is most profitable to the health of the Soule THat is Prudence which no person can acquire or obtayne vnlesse GOD prepares his vnderstanding to receiue it To the other By what meanes may one sufficiently and enough yeeld thankes to their Father and Mother IF you giue them no cause of griefe in the world although there is scarse any person to bee found which can so gouerne themselues excepting GOD Prince of all light doe inluminate his vnderstanding to all the actions of Vertue To the other How he might be made couetous to heare many things IF you consider Great King how much it is to you gainefull and profitable to know euery thing Created for by that meanes accommodating and comparing that which you haue vnderstood to the quality of the times present you shall haue the choice and election of that which to you shal be most agreeable and conveniable in which you ought alwayes to pray vnto GOD that hee wil be your succourer for from him proceeds all the accomplishment of good workes To the other What he shoul'd doe not to transgresse the Lawes IF you know that GOD hath inspired the vnderstanding of those who hath established the Lawes for the gouernment and addresse of the life of vs humanes you shall well follow the Lawes To the other What profit may arise to him by Parentage GReat King if wee will weigh the accidents which happen we shall finde that when our Parents fall into any aduersity that wee receiue our part thereof and are oppressed and also grieued with the greatnesse of their sorrow And if there come also any prosperity and happy fortune wee are glad finde content and pleasure in which wee reioyce And in verity if the Parents are so well aduised that they can transpose and so intreate their affaires amiably together and that all things betweene them be so well linked together by astriction of firme Amity one neede not desire a life more happy and from the same there remaineth no other or further blessing but onely to pray vnto GOD that hee will giue prosperity vnto all things To the other How he might be free from all feare IF your conscience be free from all knowings of former euill dealings putting alwayes GOD before your eyes for your guide and addresse of all your counsels to happy and good issue To the other How he should be readily prouided with right Reason and Sense at all times IF you seriously bethinke you how â—to the importunate accidents of this humane life all the world is exposed putting often before your eyes the admirable changes that GOD hath sent to men How some are aduanced vnto riches and honours others fettered with calamities and strucke downe into extreame ignominy To the other What meanes hee should hold and follow not to be vanquished by idlenesse or by voluptuousnes THe same to you Great King is easâ—e that haue the Regiment of a great Kingdom and by consequent so the management of great affayres So that by doing according to your estate it is impossible that you shall haue the leasure to settle seriously your fantasie vpon other things then to your affaires which will neyther promit nor permit any repose For it is conuenient therefore you be alwayes carefull of your charge and to pray vnto GOD that â—ee will giue you the grace to omit nothing of that which concernes your function To the other By what signes he may know those that would deceiue him IF you take heede in your selfe what liberty euery one vseth in your behalfe if hee hath alwayes so ☞ done and if hee continueth the same fashion still so to court you according to his will Or if hee holds the same meanes in giuing you Counsell as a custome and if his conuersation and manner of life is the same as before And if hee hath forgot nothing of that which loue and obseruance that hee owes you doth requireâ— Briefly if his affections and other fashions of doing are changed GOD instruct your vnderstanding to fore-see the surplus Then the King gaue prayse to all naming euery one by his name wherewith all the assistants reioyced The next day when the King espied his oâ—portunity in the Feast he began to Question the others in this same manner What is the most greatest negligence of the World THat is not to hold an account of his Children and not to take care for their instruction to institute them in Vertue and good manners behauiour For pray we not ordinarily to GOD not for our selues but also desire him that it will please him to addresse our Children in all goodnesse and to impart to them Doctrine and Wisedome the which proceeds from the grace of GOD also To the other How he should come to be a louer of his Country IF you perswade your selfe that it is a happy thing to liue and dye in your House and that peregrinations brings nothing but folly to the poore and dishonour to the Rich for most people are of opinion that they haue beene chased out of their Countries for some misdeed
THE Auncient History Of the Septuagint VVritten in Greeke by ARISTEVS 1900. Yeares since Of his Voyage to Hierusalem as Ambassador from PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS vnto ELEAZER then Pontiffe of the IEWES Concerning the First Translation of the HOLY BIBLE by the 72. Interpreters With many other remarkable Circumstances Newly done into ENGLISH By I. DONE Tempora Tempera Tempore LONDON Printed by N. OKES 1633. ⧠TO THE Intelligent Generall READER ALthough TIME and DEATH from our Cradles to our Graues pursue vs swiftly and according to the Almighties Ordinance ouertake and seaze vpon our fraile and Terrestriall parts vpon some sooner vpon others later Yet Excellent Acts like strong Eagles breake from their seazure and soare aboue them in so sublime a pitch as neither Time with all his Power and rusty Powder with which hee blots and rubs out Brasse and Marble can quite obscure or extinguish them neither Death close in his darke-gaping Mouth the Graue their Noblenesse Witnesse this small yet Auncient History which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise to put into an English Habite That the Story is Auncient I may well say for it is 1900. yeeres since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philocrates which Aristeus St. Hierome in his Epistle to the Pentatucke of the Bible Great Esquire sayes was Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus King of Aegypt Syria Phâ—nicia and Cilicia and Sonne of Ptolomeus Lagus one of the great Captaines of Alexander Magnus that diuided his Conquests the World amongst them This Ptolomeus Philadelphus then a most accomplish'd young Gentleman vertuously disposed and so great a louer of Learning as hee had accumulated into his Library according to some Authors 1800000. Volumes Printing Argument of the HISTORY not then risen in our Hemispheare was by the sayd Aristeus a most Noble Person and a great friend of the then captiued Iewes as an Instrument of God for the liberty and freedome of them then his people practised with Demetrius Phalerius to tell the King that his so aboundant Library was but poore because it wanted the Booke of Bookes the sacred Volume of GOD which we call the Holy Bible The King vertuously couetous thereof demanded how hee should best acquire it Aristeus wayting this desiered occasion proportioned his aduice that he should first set all the Captiued Iewes not onely in Aegypt but also in Syria c. at free liberty send Ambassadours and Presents to Eleazer their High Priest and Pontiffe The King willingly accordes thereto as to the Musick of his desires and prepares most rich presents as a Table of Massie Gold embellish't with Precious Stones Cups of Gold and Siluer likewise adorned sets at freedome the Captiued by publicke Edict Embasies with these gifts and diuers Talents of Gold and Siluer Aristeus and Andrea Prince and great Captaine of the Guard of his Person They goe deliuer his Letters of Request and Commends haue gracious entertainment returne with the 72. Interpreters Iewes Letters and also Eleazers Presents to the King and in especiall with the Sacred Volume and Word of God The good King adores the Bookes feasts the Bringers who after fall to the Businesse and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greeke the common learned Language of those Times made famous by the Sword of Alexander And this in briefe is the effect of this Venerable History which is by mee thus made yours And though I seeme to Anticipate thus to you yet it is as nothing for in it selfe as you may further see it is Elabourately and Eloquently Written by the sayd Aristeus and let no man wonder too much thereat as thinking our Times excels theirs in Eloquence no For who euer exceeded Demostenes the Greeke or Cicero the Latine therein Lastly to speake the Praise of History Libri sunt vasa memoriae and worthy Historicall Bookes haue in them a kinde of Diuine Permanency and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble actions so ought they to cherish the Registers as their Honourers For hath not Plutarcke made those Gyant Heroes as Theseus Romulus Alexander Iulius Caesar and the rest yet liue and himselfe more praysefully longer then them all So as an ignorant swaggering Fellow threatned his Aduersary to kill him if he had as many liues as Plutarcke Did not Alexander sigh for an other Homer Lastly if I haue in honour of the History like one holding a lighted Taper to the cleare noone-shining Sunne made an Appendix shewing the Antiquitie and Dignity of the Bookes by the said SEPTVAGINT Translated and the Excellency of their inspired Writer Moses and haue therein beene too prolixious pardon mee because of the Profoundity and Worthinesse of the matter So I referre you to that and the rest and so rest Yours Iohn Done The Elenchus or Contence of the Following Booke CHaracters of the Persons that were herein ayders imploying and imployed p. 1. Aristeus to his Brother Philocrates p. 11. The Discourse that Aristeus helde with King Ptolomy for the deliuerance of the Iewes p. 20 The Request of Demetrius Phalerius to King Ptolomy p. 30. Tenour of the Letter of King Ptolomy to Eleazer great Pontife of Ierusalem p. 33. Eleazer Pontiffe to King Ptolomy our most Illustrious friend p. 38. The names of those which were chosen of all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes to goe into Aegypt for the Translation of the LAVV of MOSES p. 41. Of the Presents sent to Eleazer Pontiffe of the Iewes by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 45 Of the Vessels Cups and Viols of Gold p. 55. Of the City of Hierusalem and Region there-abouts as it was 260. yeeres before the Birth of our Sauiour p. 61. Of the Sacrificators p. 65. Of the Great Pontiffe Eleazer p. 67 Of the Fortresse or Castle of Hierusalem p. 69. Yet â—ore of the Towne p. 71. Of the Region about Hierusalem and of the Policy of the Country-people or Pesants p. 72. What manner of men the Translators of the LAVV were p. 79. Of the Answere made by Eleazer vpon certaine points of the LAVV of MOSES p. 91. Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors Iewes and how the King adored the Holy Law seuen times with teares in his eyes p. 109 Answers of the Doctors Iewes to Questions propounded by King Ptolomeus Philadelphus p. 118. The meanes held by the 72. Doctors in their interpreting the Law p. 171. A Discourse in way of Apology concerning the truth of this Story Also diuers Opinions of both Auncient and Moderne Authorities and Fathers concerning the manner of the Translation p. 181 Lastly an Appendix in my honour of this Auncient and Famous History discoursing the Antiquity and Dignity of the Books and the excellency of their inspired Writer Moses p. 198. CERTAINE Praecognita or Characters of the chiefe Persons mentioned in the insuing HISTORY 1. Of PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS PTOLOMEVS second of that Name Surnamed Philadelphus King of Aegypt of Phaenicia and of Cypres sonne of the first Ptolomeus sonne of a One